Abstract: A portable self-contained hair drying helmet is taught that has thermal storage, desiccants, a phase change material, and thin lithium ion polymer batteries to allow one to dry their hair while walking around and performing personal and household duties.

Abstract: A shoe preserver having a permeable flexible covering received within a shoe. An absorbing material is disposed within the permeable flexible covering to retain moisture withdrawn from the interior surface area of the shoe. A bladder including an inlet valve is also disposed within the absorbing material. The bladder is adapted to expand the shoe preserver to completely fill an interior surface area of the shoe.

Abstract: An undried honeycomb formed body 41 is subjected to high-frequency heating in an atmosphere where humidity and temperature are maintained at 30 to 65% and 75 to 130° C., respectively, such that 50 to 99 mass % of water contained in the undried honeycomb formed body 41 is evaporated at the end of high-frequency heating, whereby the amount of water vaporized from the outer part of the undried honeycomb formed body 41 is increased, thereby reducing a difference between amount of water vaporized from the inner part of the undried honeycomb formed body 41 and that of water vaporized from the outer part thereof as well as reducing a difference between drying degree of the inner part of the undried honeycomb formed body 41 and that of the outer part thereof, thereby producing a dried honeycomb formed body 42 in which deformation of the partition walls is suppressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for hardening an UV varnish and thermohardening varnish or the similar for coating an object, in particular a motor car body (12) comprising at least one emitter (48, 48?) generating electromagnetic radiation. The inventive device is provided with a conveying system (14, 16) which conveys the object (12) closely to the emitter (48, 48?) and, afterwards removes it. Said conveying system comprises an overhead travelling carriage (16) which is translatory displaceable along at least one guideway (14) suspended above at least one emitter (48, 48?). Two suspension supports (66) extending downwards and making it possible to suspend the object (12) are arranged successively in a longitudinal direction (85) on a chassis (50) of the travelling carriage (16). The length of said suspension supports is individually modifiable with the aid of a motor.

Abstract: A device and method for drying containers, in particular bottles, having a drying unit for removing water on the container surface. The drying process saves energy and is adapted to ambient conditions, so that labels, for example, can be applied reliably in a downstream labeling machine. The device includes at least one measuring unit for measuring ambient parameters. In addition, a control unit designed so that the drying performance of the drying unit can be regulated as a function of at least one measured ambient parameter is provided. The device and method makes it possible to prevent the condensation of water on the container surface or to keep it below a certain minimum.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for inner wall toasting of casks for wine guard by hot air convection, with controlled temperature which allows setting desired cask heating time and temperature. The process comprises: (a) connecting the inside of the cask to mechanical elements to form a hermetic toasting chamber wherein no aromatic compounds are liberated to the outside; (b) circulating an air stream within said chamber; (c) directly or indirectly heating said air stream to a temperature varying from 140° C. to about 230° C.; (d) directing said air stream to the inner cask walls; (e) capturing said air stream at the cask outlet; (f) directly or indirectly reheating said captured air stream to a temperature between 140° C. to about 230° C.; (g) recycling said reheated air stream to the inner cask walls; and (h) maintaining stage (g) for a required time to achieve the desired temperature and/or toasting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the rapid cooling of screen masks used in the fabrication of semiconductor components is provided. The method and apparatus use a specially designed cooling plate which is contacted with a mask frame holding the screening mask. After a heated cleaning step which cleans the mask frame and screening mask of metal paste used in the screening operation, the cooling plate having one or more concave lower surfaces contacts the upper surfaces of the mask frame and bends the mask frame in the shape of the concave surfaces. This ensures intimate contact between the cooling plate and mask frame and enhances the thermal efficiency of the cooling step.

Abstract: A garment drying apparatus includes a housing forming a base. A heater is mounted in the base for warming ambient air drawn into the base via a fan through openings formed in the base. A pair of air ducting walls are mounted in the base to direct a portion of the warm air in a first flow path and the remaining portion of the warm air in a second flow path. The flow paths are disposed in substantially diametrically opposed directions within the base. The housing further includes a top wall for covering the base. The top wall includes vent openings aligned with distal ends of the first and second flow paths. Garment support members are mounted on the top surface of the top wall and are pivotable between a first position where support is aligned substantially horizontally in a stowed position on the top wall and a second position where the support is substantially upright relative to the top wall.

Abstract: A plastic suit drying system comprises a drying chamber with an air warmer, and a mobile dryer rack. The mobile rack has a wheeled air plenum base, a number of drying positions (each comprising three perforated air pipes protruding up from the base), and a flanged air inlet in the back of the base that mates with a connection flange in the drying chamber. Through this flanged connection hot air is forced into the base/plenum and then into the perforated pipes. For use, wet plastic suits are placed upside down on the drying positions. Then, the mobile rack is rolled into the drying chamber so that the rack's flange mates with the drying cabinet's connection flange. Next, the drying chamber doors are closed, and the drying cycle started, during which heated air is blown into the mobile rack plenum and up into the air pipes extending into the suits.

Abstract: A microfilm drying device and method are presented for salvaging and drying microfilm which has become wet due to excessive moisture resulting from high water, floods and the like. The device includes a needle assembly which is slidably affixed within a frame to direct air into the internal compartments of a flexible jacket containing microfilm strips. In another embodiment, a hand held drying device allows air to pass through a series of needles to dry the interior of the flexible jackets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller belt drier. The drying of panel-shaped products often requires the drier to have considerable construction lengths in order to achieve a high capacity. Long roller belt dryers, which are usually equipped with chain drives and a motor for each chain, present the problem that very strong chains are required to transmit the necessary driving forces. When the drier reaches a certain length, it is no longer possible to provide chains that are able to accommodate these forces. According to known solutions, a chain is divided and the drives are located in the centre of the drier. This causes problem s in terms of sealing the drier, as well as extra expense for the driving and tension station. The aim of the invention is to create a drier which has a driving and tension system that is structurally simple and economical even for considerable construction lengths. A chain is equipped with two drives (15, 23), the second drive (23) being integrated in a tension device (24).

Abstract: A centrifuge for draining washed egg trays comprises a centrifuge chamber in a housing (9). A bottom (8) for receiving a washed stack (7) of egg trays in a feeding position is displaceable with respect to said housing (9) between the feeding position and a centrifuging position. The stack (7) of egg trays is centred on the bottom in the centrifuging position, and in this position the bottom is in engagement with a rotational drive (22, 23), which is vertically non-displaceable with respect to the housing.

Abstract: This invention provides a conveyor and tunnel oven, where the conveyor is continuous, the tunnel oven is gas fired, having its ignited and heated gases passed through a tubular system, being attracted by one or more blowers, to generate by conduction infrared energy to furnish curing to products passing along the continuous conveyor. A control system is provided for controlling the operating parameters such as conveyor speed, regulating emitted gas, the velocity generated by the blowers, and the capacity of the BTUs created, during operations of the oven.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying and stacking treated workpieces includes a housing defining a drying chamber; a workpiece carrying assembly mounted to the housing for moving the workpieces along a travel path through the drying chamber, including an endless strand trained around a plurality of wheels, and a plurality of pins spaced along and projecting outwardly from the strand for supporting and carrying workpieces; a workpiece removal assembly for removing workpieces from the pins including a ramp formed with an abutment surface and a slot formed therein through which the pins can pass to engage workpieces being carried on the pins wherein each workpiece is forced off its respective pin as the respective pin advances through the slot; a workpiece collection arrangement for receiving workpieces removed from the pins, with the travel path being generally vertically oriented and the pins being generally horizontally oriented wherein workpieces fall into the workpiece collection arrangement; and a workpiece ejector assemb

Abstract: Sports glove drying devices. In one embodiment, an accessory allows attachment of gloves to a vehicle. The aerodynamic drag of the wind against the vehicle during the vehicle's movement speeds up the drying of the gloves. In a further embodiment, an accessory for adhering to a vehicle, existing tags or so forth, allowing any surface to be utilized for drying the gloves. In further embodiments, the accessory includes a receptacle for interchanging promotional material therein. In a preferred embodiment, the accessories are used with golf gloves and can be attached to a golf cart. In alternate embodiments, the accessories can be used with any other sporting activity using gloves, such as bicycling, baseball, or so forth.

Abstract: A shoe holder for attaching a shoe to a dryer for preventing the tennis shoes from banging in the drum of the dryer while being dried. The shoe holder for attaching a shoe to a dryer includes a piece of material being adapted to fasten about a sole of a shoe; and also includes fastening members for fastening the piece of material about the sole of the shoe; and further includes dryer attachment members securely attached to the piece of material and being adapted to detachably attach to a drum of a dryer.

Abstract: Containers are conveyed through an oven on a conveyor to cause a foamable material on each container to foam and become a heat insulative layer. The containers are supported on respective holders of the conveyor, which prevent the containers from contacting one another. Preferably, the holders support the containers loosely, to enable the containers to wobble relative to the holders under the influence of oven air currents and conveyor vibration. The holders thus do not make contact with any given point on their respective containers for a time period that is sufficient to enable the holders to draw enough heat away from the container to adversely affect the foaming operation. The containers are conveyed in single file, along a serpentine path through the oven.

Abstract: An environmental protection compliant, higher productivity footwear vacuum dryer and conveyance apparatus having a conveyor belt on which is disposed a plurality of footwear placement rod support and footwear placement tray units that convey the footwear sole and upper covering. The conveyor belt moves past one or more heating boxes and vacuum activation boxes and is accessible at intervals between the adjoining heating box and vacuum activation box. Inside the vacuum activation boxes, moisture content is evacuated and footwear of different materials are warmed by radiated heat, preventing damage to the footwear, while also activating the adhesive applied on the footwear to facilitate adhesion between the sole and upper covering of the footwear.

Abstract: A batch process for making galvanized steel products with a low lead or no lead zinc coating is described. Metal parts are cleaned, rinsed, pickled and rinsed and are immersed in a hot, pre-flux solution and thoroughly dried before they are immersed in a molten zinc bath. The dryer system includes a mechanism for rotating the batch of parts as they are dried. In one embodiment of the invention, a batch of steel pipe is dried by hot air having a maximum temperature of 125° C. The descrambler system rotates the pipe and moves the pipe in contact with the divider apparatus to separate the pipe in the dryer. The pipe, thoroughly dried, is immersed into a molten zinc bath having less than 0.05% by weight lead, and the use of a top-flux on the molten zinc bath is optional.

Abstract: A gas fired garment drier is described in which a base is provided with an air conduit including an internal air passageway leading from a bottom end to a top end. A gas burner is positioned adjacent the bottom end of the conduit. A heat exchanger is situated adjacent the gas burner and leads into the air conduit and the air passageway. The heat exchanger includes a convection air duct extending into the air conduit within the air passageway. A garment support is provided adjacent the top end of the air conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the conditioning of a commodity (12) such as clothing suitable for vacuum packing in which there is provided a conditioning tunnel (2) including a floor (4), a ceiling (6) and two side walls (8), through which tunnel runs a conveyor system (10) for transporting the commodity. The tunnel is provided with air inlets (14) for directing streams of air into tunnel, and means for extracting and transporting air from the tunnel to apparatus for dehumidifying the air. There is further provided means for conveying the dehumidified air to the air inlets. Means are provided on at least one side wall for influencing the flow path of the air passing from the inlet to the outlet. Use of the apparatus conditions the commodity so that when vacuum packed, the commodity does not crease.

Abstract: A dryer for drying articles, such as vials of pharmaceutical bulk product, such as vaccines is disclosed. The dryer circulates ambient air through a plenum to evenly evaporate condensation on vials of pharmaceutical brought from refrigeration for labeling and further handling.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for the rapid drying of crockery, cutlery, glasses, and similar objects using the passage of a drying material. Inside of a body or housing there is included a loading plate (11) for the objects to be dried; a tank (13) of drying material; and some ducting (14) for the conveying and blowing of the drying material from the tank to the objects on the said loading plate from different directions.

Abstract: A vessel drier for producing a powder material, includes a cylindrical container, a heating source, and a plurality of heat conductive members. The cylindrical container has an inner space to contain a fluid raw material and is adapted to rotate along a rotation axis thereof. The heating source is provided outside the cylindrical container to heat the cylindrical container. The heat conductive members are provided at an outer surface of the cylindrical container so as to enlarge the area of the outer surface of the cylindrical container.

Abstract: A device for drying wet interior surfaces of a hollow container having an opening for access which employs an elongated hollow flexible moisture and air permeable member closed at both ends. One member end terminates in a long relatively thin extension. A plurality of small beads are disposed moveably in the member. The beads collect and store moisture when the member is inserted through the container opening into said container and is moved into contact with the surfaces. The beads release the moisture into ambient air thereby drying the beads after the member is removed from the container by pulling on the extension and is then exposed to ambient conditions.

Abstract: A drying apparatus for surface treated cans or the like, with at least one chain conveyor which has holders for the cans. A hot air apparatus for the surface drying of the cans has an air conducting device, which directs at least one first stream of hot air at the base regions of the cans and guides at least one other second stream of air to the wall regions of the cans. The second stream of air is directed toward the can wall by at least one air conducting wall that runs obliquely in the direction toward the wall of the cans and the wall forms a wall jet of the second stream of in at least one area along the can wall.

Abstract: Containers and a method for forming such containers having larger brims with reduced brim curl defects is disclosed including providing a plurality of container blanks for forming containers, forming a plurality of container shells from the plurality of blanks, accumulating the plurality of container shells at an accumulation station, subjecting at least an upper periphery of the shells to a humid atmosphere to precondition the shells with the atmosphere preferably including steam, successively removing the shells from the accumulator and subsequently forming a brim curl about an upper periphery of the shell with the shells being subject to the humid atmosphere for a predetermined time period sufficient to form defect-free brim curls by extending the forming strain limits of the paperboard material. This method being carried out by using an accumulator for accumulating the container shells for further processing.

Abstract: An article separating and drying system which receives container ends from an infeed station, separates and dries the container ends and the compound applied thereto in a separating and drying station, and passes the articles to an outfeed station. The article separating and drying system includes a magnetic separating assembly which imposes a magnetic field on the container ends passing thereby for similarly magnetizing the container ends causing neighboring ends to repel one another. The magnetic repulsion of neighboring ends produces gaps between the neighboring ends as they move through the separating and drying station. A conveying device is provided to controllably move the container ends through the separating and drying station. An air distribution assembly is provided to deliver air to said separating and drying station and drive the air through the gap between neighboring container ends thereby contacting the liner compound applied to the container ends and removing moisture therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving articles, such as lids for containers, from one location to other locations depending on processing requirements of a manufacturing operation wherein a continuous supply of lids are separated into units, each having a plurality of lids, which units are moved into a plurality of infeed stations and transferred to one of a plurality of inclined generally planar surfaces in spaced apart generally parallel relationship and wherein the lids roll over the inclined generally planar surfaces under the influence of gravity and wherein the transfer of a unit from an infeed station to one of the plurality of inclined generally planar surfaces and the movement thereover is controlled by a plurality of pivotally mounted gates. Heating means are provided for curing a heat curable coating on portions of the lids when necessary.

Abstract: A pin oven for curing a decorative or other coating laid down by a rotary decorator on cans has an associated transfer device by which the cans are decelerated and transferred in succession from the decorator onto the chain of the oven. The chain carries two cows of pins which are arranged in staggered and offset relation. By operating at a smaller chain circulating speed than the can output velocity of the decorator, the oven provides benefits in the size and thermal efficiency of the oven and reduced chain wear.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus serve for drying industrial barrels (60). The industrial barrels (60) are positioned on an inclined base (12, 20) and are enclosed by a pressure-tight vacuum hood (30). A suction pipe (40) that is connected with the vacuum hood (30) extends through a bunghole (63) provided in the tilted barrel (60) at its lowest point (71) where the residual liquid quantity (70) gathers. A heating rod (55) is arranged inside the suction pipe (40). The suction pipe (40) is connected to a vacuum pump (48). The heated suction pipe (40) removes from the interior of the barrel (60) at first die liquid residual liquid quantity (70), and then the vaporizing residual liquid. Compared with conventional methods, using hot steam for drying, this method leads to cost savings and an improved drying effect (FIG. 1 ).

Abstract: An improved heating method and heating nozzle useful in the forming of a two-piece thermoplastic foam cup assembled from two thermoplastic foam pieces on a cup-forming turret machine. The method and apparatus of the invention prevent premature sticking of the foam bottom piece to the foam sidewall piece and result in better sealing of the foam bottom to the sidewall.

Abstract: An oven for drying the sealing compound on beverage and food can ends utilizes a prior art serpentine track along which a line of abutting can ends is conveyed through a drying chamber in which heated drying air is directed against the edges of the can ends through a plurality of linear nozzles. The improved apparatus of the present invention utilizes a drying chamber which substantially surrounds the track and includes a plurality of nozzles which direct a substantially uniform flow of drying air against all sides of the line of can ends. The improved apparatus is particularly effective in drying lining compounds on steel food can ends, but is suitable as well for the treatment of aluminum beverage can ends.

Abstract: A rotary oven conveyor apparatus is provided for receiving a continuous flow of articles such as can ends and for conveying the articles in an on-edge, spaced apart condition for a selectable predetermined period of time, to facilitate a treatment such as oven curing of a coating previously applied to the articles. The rotary oven conveyor comprises an enlarged wheel structure defining an axis and having a diameter many times the cross-sectional dimensions of the articles and mounted for rotation about its axis. A drive rotates the wheel structure about its axis. An article-receiving area is defined about an outer periphery of the wheel structure and is configured for partially surroundingly recieving the articles.

Abstract: Plate-like workpieces such as thin ceramic plates which are ultrasonically cleaned are housed in a tray having an air-permeable bottom plate and a plurality of air-impermeable sidewall plates extending from peripheral edges of the bottom plate. To dry the cleaned workpieces, the tray is placed in a drying tank and supported on a support base on the bottom of the drying tank at an inclined attitude. The drying tank is combined with a hot-air duct which is detachably coupled to respective edges of the sidewall plates of the tray when the tray is supported on the support base. The hot-air duct supplies hot air into an interior space of the tray which is surrounded by the sidewall plates. A suction duct is coupled to the bottom plate of the tray supported on the support base and draws hot air supplied from the hot-air duct from within the interior space through the bottom plate.

Abstract: An automated yarn conditioning apparatus and process is provided. This apparatus and process allows for unconditioned yarn packages to be brought from a source to a yarn conditioning station where they are conditioned and then ejected onto a takeaway conveyor. Yarn conditioning is achieved within an airtight chamber inside of a vessel. The yarn conditioning process used first evacuates the airtight chamber and then injects steam or other conditioning vapor into the airtight chamber while partially elevating the internal chamber pressure and/or temperature. Simultaneously with the conditioning of the yarn packages inside the airtight chamber, unconditioned yarn packages are brought to the conditioning station for placement inside the vessel when the prior conditioning step has been completed.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying articles, especially ceramic articles comprises a mould (14) For supporting the article to be dried, a turntable (10) For supporting and rotating the mould and at least one nozzle (18) For directing heated air on to the article (12), especially near its periphery.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a resin coating on the surface of an article having a three-dimensional structure, comprising: (i) a compartment (a) in which the surface of the article is coated with a resin solution, (ii) a compartment (b) in which said resin solution coated on said article is cured; and (iii) means for successively transporting said article through said compartments; wherein said compartment (b) is substantially shut off from the outside air and has an entrance and an exit for said article transport means, said entrance and said exit being provided with respect guide members having substantially the same cross-sectional configuration.

Abstract: Microprocessor controlled isopropyl alcohol vapor dryer system for robotic drying of wafer cassettes containing wafers or substrates. A wetted wafer or substrate is robotically placed into a virgin isopropyl alcohol vapor zone. The wetted surface and free-moving contaminants are replaced by a layer of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) which condenses on the surface. The dryer then robotically moves the IPA coated wafer or substrate into an upper cooling zone causing the isopropyl alcohol layer to flash off of the substrate surface, leaving the surface completely dry to a molecular level. IPA vapors are heated at the bottom of a quartz tank and maintained as a vapor by electric heating panels surrounding the quartz tank.

Abstract: A high speed pin oven for drying the exterior coatings on open ended cans includes a U-shaped duct through which the cans mounted on a conventional pin chain are conveyed with the side and end walls of the duct provided with orifice patterns to direct high velocity heated air against the can bottoms and side walls to provide rapid heat up and drying. The uniform high velocity air flows also help stabilize the cans against movement, thereby preventing damage and dislodgement from the carrier pins. The generally vertical serpentine chain path through the oven includes substantially larger diameter turn sections which are defined by a series of circumferentially spaced small diameter sprockets to significantly reduce the affects of centrifugal force on the cans traveling through the turns. The combination of rapid drying and high chain speed provides a much smaller pin oven with greater can capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for drying the outside of hoses (2), particularly fire hoses is described, which has a pneumatic suction apparatus with suction nozzles (6) located on the hose wall below the hose (2) moved through the apparatus (1) and which is characterized in that the suction nozzles (6) are arranged in spaced succeeding manner in the movement direction of the hose (2) and that the hose (2) is curved in the vicinity of the suction nozzles (6) and that the suction nozzles (6) are externally located on the outwardly curved area of the hose surface. (cf. FIG.

Abstract: A shoe preserver having a wicking portion and an absorbing portion retained within a flexible porous covering. The preserver is sized to substantially fill the volume defined by the interior of the shoe. A pair of preservers is interconnected by a flexible strap attached to the forward portion of the preserver such that upon insertion into the shoe, the shoe and preserver may be carried by the strap.

Abstract: A pin oven for stoving a decorative or other coating laid down by a rotary decorator (28") on cans has an associated transfer device (40") by which the cans are decelerated and transferred in succession from the decorator onto the chain (20") of the oven. The chain carries two rows of pins which are arranged in staggered and offset relation. By operating at a smaller chain circulating speed than the can output velocity of the decorator, the oven provides benefits in the size and thermal efficiency of the oven and reduced chain wear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for roasting barrels used in aging alcoholic spirits involves directing a heated air stream through the inside of the barrel at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined duration. Compared to prior methods and apparatus which utilize direct flame impingement and often result in nonuniform roasting and undesired burning of the barrel staves, a heated air stream produces uniform roasting of the entire inside surface of the barrel. An indexable conveyor adapted to hold a plurality of barrels moves each barrel into alignment with an outlet. A stream of heated air flowed from the outlet enters an open end of the aligned barrel. A diverter plate located at the other end of the barrel partially impedes outflow of the stream, thereby increasing residence time of the air to uniformly roast the inside surface.

Abstract: A drying arrangement includes transport device which uses suction or magnetism to produce an attractive force via which containers can be picked up by their bottom wall after they have come out of a washing station, and carried with an open end thereof oriented downwardly, over a nozzle arrangement which suctions off water in liquid form from the containers and over an arrangement which uses hot air to dry off the remaining water.

Abstract: A drying carrier adapted for carrying honeycomb structures includes a plurality of perforated plates spaced to each other in the longitudinal direction of the drying carrier and made of a material having a conductivity higher than that of the drying carrier. Each of said perforated plates is provided with a convex portion having an upper contacting surface to be contacted with the bottom surface of the honeycomb structure to be carried. The surface area (A) of the upper contacting surface of the convex portion is smaller than the bottom surface area of the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: Novel method and apparatus are disclosed for dielectrically drying green ceramic or wet honeycomb structures, by rotating such structures about their longitudinal axis between a pair of parallel dielectric electrodes and simultaneously blowing heated air through the longitudinal cells of the honeycomb structure. Preferably the dielectric electrodes are oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis of the honeycomb structure, and the rotation thereof between the electrodes accordingly results in a more uniform energy transfer to the honeycomb structure by leveling out the non-uniformities and variations in the dielectric field.

Abstract: The continuous furnace serves for the simultaneous two-sided sintering of sintered sheets upon substrates. It has a muffle and a conveyor belt longitudinally traversing the muffle and carrying the substrates and consisting of a pair of individual belts which are guided in parallel next to each other and synchronously. The belt surfaces are mutually inclined at a small angle to the horizontal in the muffle. The substrates which are self-supporting between two parallel lateral edges, lie with one lateral edge on the belt surface of one individual belt and with the second lateral edge on the belt surface of the other individual belt, so that the bottom side of the substrate does not touch the individual belts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying footwear and handwear utilizing a compartment having a blower assembly and a central tube for directing air into a tree-rack for contact with the wet or damp footwear. A second embodiment includes a drying fitting for drying handwear. The apparatus includes a rotating element to ease the installation of the footwear.

Abstract: A method of shrinking a foamed sleeve onto a tapered wall container which includes moving containers through a predetermined path, subjecting the containers to infrared heat applied by directing air past infrared heaters against the containers as they are moved in the predetermined path and progressively applying additional heat to the containers as they are moved in the predetermined path by first directing heat at the maximum container diameter and progressively applying the heat toward the minimum container diameter. In a preferred form, the heat is applied by directing heated air against the containers. In one form, the containers are rotated progressively in the predetermined path while the additional heat is applied. In another form, the containers are moved without rotation in a predetermined path while the additional heat is applied along the sides of the path.