Drip free steambox

Claim 1

A device for directing a flow of condensable gas toward a moving sheet surface, comprising: a chamber for containing the condensable gas, the chamber having a wall means adapted to oppose the sheet surface and a gas exit slot having a length extending across the wall means, wherein the wall means is in close proximity to the sheet surface for a sufficient distance in the direction of sheet movement so that the condensable gas not immediately absorbed by the sheet is deflected back and forth between the sheet surface and the wall means as the condensable gas moves downstream in the direction of sheet movement; a valve associated with the chamber for selectively controlling the flow of the condensable gas into the chamber; and dam means located downstream from the valve for substantially preventing condensate from dripping out of the chamber.

Claim 2

A device for directing a flow of condensable gas toward a moving sheet surface, comprising: a chamber for containing the condensable gas, the chamber having a wall means adapted to oppose the sheet surface and a gas exit slot having a length extending across the wall means, wherein the wall means is in close proximity to the sheet surface for a sufficient distance in the direction of sheet movement so that the condensable gas not immediately absorbed by the sheet is deflected back and forth between the sheet surface and the wall means as the condensable gas moves downstream in the direction of sheet movement; a valve associated with the chamber for selectively controlling the flow of the condensable gas into the chamber; and dam means located downstream from the valve for substantially preventing condensate from dripping out of the chamber.

Claim 9

A system for directing a condensable gas toward a moving sheet for controlling an amount of moisture in the sheet, comprising: an elongated plenum, having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a wall means extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge so that the gas not immediately absorbed by the sheet is deflected back and forth between the sheet surface and the wall means as the gas moves downstream in the direction of sheet movement, wherein the wall means of the plenum is disposed adjacent to and faces the sheet, conforms to the shape of the sheet surface, and extends across the width of the sheet in the cross-direction, the plenum having a gas exit slot having a length extending along the wall means of the plenum facing the sheet, the gas exit slot being located, relative to the direction of sheet travel, in close proximity to the leading edge of the plenum; and pressurizing means for pressurizing the plenum with the gas such that the gas is jetted out of the exit slot and impinges on the sheet.

Claim 10

A system for directing a condensable gas toward a moving sheet for controlling an amount of moisture in the sheet, comprising: an elongated plenum, having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a wall means extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge so that the gas not immediately absorbed by the sheet is deflected back and forth between the sheet surface and the wall means as the gas moves downstream in the direction of sheet movement, wherein the wall means of the plenum is disposed adjacent to and faces the sheet, conforms to the shape of the sheet surface, and extends across the width of the sheet in the cross-direction, the plenum having a gas exit slot having a length extending along the wall means of the plenum facing the sheet, the gas exit slot being located, relative to the direction of sheet travel, in close proximity to the leading edge of the plenum; and pressurizing means for pressurizing the plenum with the gas such that the gas is jetted out of the exit slot and impinges on the sheet.

Claim 24

The system for directing a flow of condensable gas toward a web surface, comprising: a plenum for containing the condensable gas, wherein the plenum has a gas exit opening disposed in a lower wall thereof; a valve associated with the plenum for controlling the flow of the condensable gas into the plenum; and umbrella means, substantially shielding the opening, for preventing condensate in the plenum from escaping through the opening an dripping on the web.

Claim 25

The system for directing a flow of condensable gas toward a web surface, comprising: a plenum for containing the condensable gas, wherein the plenum has a gas exit opening disposed in a lower wall thereof; a valve associated with the plenum for controlling the flow of the condensable gas into the plenum; and umbrella means, substantially shielding the opening, for preventing condensate in the plenum from escaping through the opening an dripping on the web.

Claim 27

A system for controlling the amount of moisture in a sheet material, comprising: an enlongated plenum, wherein the plenum is disposed adjacent to the sheet and extends across the width of the sheet in a cross-direction, the plenum having at least one member disposed inside the plenum dividing the plenum into chambers on each side of the member, such that each chamber is shorter in the cross-direction than the plenum, the plenum having a fluid exit slot extending along a wall of the plenum facing the sheet, the slot extending across a substantial portion of the entire width of the sheet; pressurizing means for selectively pressurizing each plenum chamber with a fluid such that the fluid is jetted out of the exit slot and impinges on the sheet; dam means for substantially preventing condensed fluid from dripping out of the plenum chambers, comprising a first member disposed adjacent to one side of the slot and a second member disposed adjacent to the other side of the slot, both the first and the second members extending into the chamber along an entire length of the slot, the distal end of the first member extending directly over the slot; and drainage means in the chamber for removing condensate from within the chamber.

Claim 28

A system for controlling the amount of moisture in a sheet material, comprising: an enlongated plenum, wherein the plenum is disposed adjacent to the sheet and extends across the width of the sheet in a cross-direction, the plenum having at least one member disposed inside the plenum dividing the plenum into chambers on each side of the member, such that each chamber is shorter in the cross-direction than the plenum, the plenum having a fluid exit slot extending along a wall of the plenum facing the sheet, the slot extending across a substantial portion of the entire width of the sheet; pressurizing means for selectively pressurizing each plenum chamber with a fluid such that the fluid is jetted out of the exit slot and impinges on the sheet; dam means for substantially preventing condensed fluid from dripping out of the plenum chambers, comprising a first member disposed adjacent to one side of the slot and a second member disposed adjacent to the other side of the slot, both the first and the second members extending into the chamber along an entire length of the slot, the distal end of the first member extending directly over the slot; and drainage means in the chamber for removing condensate from within the chamber.

Claim 29

A system for controlling the amount of moisture in a moving sheet material, comprising: an elongated plenum, wherein the plenum is disposed adjacent to the sheet and extends across the width of the sheet in a cross-direction, the plenum having at least one member disposed inside the plenum dividing the plenum into chambers on each side of the member, such that each chamber is shorter in the cross-direction than the plenum, the plenum having a fluid exit slot extending along the wall of the plenum facing the sheet, the slot extending across a substantial portion of the entire width of the sheet; pressurizing means for selectively pressurizing each plenum chamber with a fluid such that the fluid is jetted out of the exit slot and impinges on the sheet; dam means for substantially preventing condensed fluid from dripping out of the plenum chambers, comprising a first member disposed adjacent to one side of the slot and a second member disposed adjacent to the other side of the slot, both the first and the second members extending into the chamber along an entire length of the sot, the distal end of the first member extending directly over the slot; drainage means in the chamber for removing condensate from within the chamber; a moisture sensor, disposed adjacent to the sheet and spaced from the plenum in the direction of movement of the sheet, for sensing the moisture content of the sheet and producing signals indicative of the sheet moisture content; and a computer operatively coupled to the moisture sensor and the pressurizing means for receiving the signals from the moisture sensor and controlling the pressurizing means to selectively pressurize each plenum chamber in response to the moisture sensor signals.

Claim 30

A system for controlling the amount of moisture in a moving sheet material, comprising: an elongated plenum, wherein the plenum is disposed adjacent to the sheet and extends across the width of the sheet in a cross-direction, the plenum having at least one member disposed inside the plenum dividing the plenum into chambers on each side of the member, such that each chamber is shorter in the cross-direction than the plenum, the plenum having a fluid exit slot extending along the wall of the plenum facing the sheet, the slot extending across a substantial portion of the entire width of the sheet; pressurizing means for selectively pressurizing each plenum chamber with a fluid such that the fluid is jetted out of the exit slot and impinges on the sheet; dam means for substantially preventing condensed fluid from dripping out of the plenum chambers, comprising a first member disposed adjacent to one side of the slot and a second member disposed adjacent to the other side of the slot, both the first and the second members extending into the chamber along an entire length of the sot, the distal end of the first member extending directly over the slot; drainage means in the chamber for removing condensate from within the chamber; a moisture sensor, disposed adjacent to the sheet and spaced from the plenum in the direction of movement of the sheet, for sensing the moisture content of the sheet and producing signals indicative of the sheet moisture content; and a computer operatively coupled to the moisture sensor and the pressurizing means for receiving the signals from the moisture sensor and controlling the pressurizing means to selectively pressurize each plenum chamber in response to the moisture sensor signals.