Abstract: The apparatus for drying an electrode plate for a battery has: a support drum of a cylindrical shape having a peripheral face on which a long sheet-like electrode plate for a battery is to be wound, and in which a large number of blow holes for allowing the electrode plate for a battery to run in a levitated manner are formed; external air blowing means which is adjacent to the support drum and which has a blowing port through which air is blown to a surface of the electrode plate for a battery wound on the support drum; and moving means for causing the electrode plate for a battery to run in a longitudinal direction of the electrode plate for a battery. The heat loss is small and the productivity is excellent, and a high-performance battery electrode plate which is free from a crack and a scratch and which has a stable quality can be produced.

Abstract: A seal device for use in the flange mating surfaces of a vacuum container of the type, in which there are provided a first member and a second member, both of which are formed with flanges, respectively, and in which the aforesaid flanges are bolted together so as to maintain the interior of the container to a lower pressure, as compared with the atmospheric pressure. With this type container, the aforesaid bolts are located outwardly on the flange mating surfaces, and a first space is provided on the innermost side of the flange mating surfaces but inwardly of the aforesaid bolts, while a second space is provided thereon between the bolts and the first space. The first space is communicated with steam guide holes provided in either of the aforesaid flanges, while steam guide holes are in communication with a steam generating source so that steam having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure outside the container is introduced into the first space.