Sequential Drying Treatments Patents (Class 34/423)
  • Patent number: 8984767
    Abstract: A laundry drying unit includes a process air circuit and a component arranged in the process air circuit. Provided above the component is a washing tank for dispensing a cleaning fluid, with a flow of cleaning fluid dispensed from the washing tank to the component being controlled by a controllable valve. The valve can be controlled on the basis of an amount of cleaning fluid in the washing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Guido Sattler
  • Publication number: 20150080668
    Abstract: The invention relates to a material for the detection of biological electro-magnetic signals made of a epidermis of a living organism and a diagnostic device using the same, and more particularly, to a material for the detection of biological electro-magnetic signals made of a epidermis of a living organism, through drying is one stage, also selecting is another stage of production, and a diagnostic device using the same. The material of the invention has an effect of detecting biological electro-magnetic signals. Accordingly, the material for the detection of biological electro-magnetic signals of the invention can be used for manufacturing a diagnostic device for detecting biological electro-magnetic signals non-invasively as well as effectively used in diagnosis in cases where biological electro-magnetic signals are changed by cancer, inflammations due to immunodeficiency and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Sang-Moon Lee
  • Patent number: 8899627
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a mobile machine, such as hydronic surface heater designed to be transported to a potentially remote worksite and operated for an extended period of time. The machine has a fueled component, such as a burner, fueled by a fuel supply system having at least two fuel tanks that are operably connected to one another by a connection line having an electronically controlled valve therein. The valve is coupled to the machine's electrical system, such as being coupled to the output of the machine's main breaker, so as to be opened whenever the machine is operating but to be otherwise closed. The fuel supply system thus has, in effect, a single tank when the machine is running and multiple separated tanks when the machine is not running. Fuel spill risks therefore are mitigated without having to sacrifice operating time and without significantly complicating the machine's fuel supply systems or its controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLC
    Inventors: Paul Krause, Jason Fu, John Lane, Todd Lutz
  • Patent number: 8869422
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for a Marangoni vapor knife assembly. The assembly includes a base having a channel extending longitudinally through the base and a plurality of passages extending laterally from the channel toward an outer face of the base; a top plate adapted to be removeably coupled to the base with an outer face flush with the outer face of the base; and a shim adapted to be disposed between the base and the top plate and further adapted to form a plurality of spray orifices in the assembly. Numerous additional features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Velazquez, Allen L. D'Ambra, Jim K. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 8806774
    Abstract: A process of dewatering tailings is provided comprising mixing the tailings with a sufficient amount of an additive or a mixture thereof; depositing the resulting mixture into a disposal area; pumping water from the deposit to one or more sumps, and allowing the deposit to reach a sufficient strength; and removing remaining deposit water and rainfall through one or more of a network of ditches, a decant tower, or a plurality of dike drainage structures to yield a non-segregating deposit for reclamation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: James Lorentz, Barry Bara, Randy Mikula, Eric Leneve, Nan Wang
  • Patent number: 8561317
    Abstract: A system for drying freshly grown forage involving the steps of placing loose mass forage on a receiving system; transporting the loose mass forage from the receiving system to a detangling mechanism; passing the loose mass forage through the detangling mechanism to break up any large clumps of forage and to create a forage carpet of a substantially uniform thickness; passing the forage carpet through a drying oven containing multiple chambers; drying the forage carpet to moisture content below the desired moisture content for the forage; and adding moisture to the forage carpet to bring the moisture content of the forage up to the desired moisture content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Top Quality Hay Processors LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Warren, John E. Davie
  • Patent number: 8468715
    Abstract: A method for forming an engineered wood product from pulpwood, comprising providing a quantity of pulpwood; crushing and scrimming the pulpwood to form a mat; drying in a first drying step the mat in a first pass dryer; applying a resin to the mat; and, drying in a second drying step the mat in a second pass dryer. The drying process controls moisture content using the rate of change between the entering and exiting airflow temperature. The resulting product has a high modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Loblolly Industries, LLC
    Inventors: William Anderson Thomas, Jr., Roy Daniel Seale, James Michael White, Bobby Lyn White, Adam Glen Barwick
  • Patent number: 8286367
    Abstract: A system for continuous (re-)drying of wood pieces. A conveyor arrangement receives and carries the wood pieces in file following a course. A moisture content of each wood piece travelling on the conveyor arrangement is measured during the course. The wood pieces whose measured moisture content are above a target content are diverted towards a drying equipment, in particular by high-frequency, whereas the other wood pieces continue their course on the conveyor arrangement. The drying equipment removes a moisture portion from the diverted wood pieces. The moisture contents of the processed wood pieces are again measured. The pieces whose moisture content dropped below the target content are routed towards the conveyor arrangement whereas the other pieces are routed in the drying equipment for a re-drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: James Kendall, Sylvain Chénard, Vincent Lavoie
  • Patent number: 8241540
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head including a flow path member for forming a flow path communicating with a discharge port discharging a liquid includes forming a mold of the flow path made of a positive photosensitive resin on a substrate; applying a coated layer on the mold for forming the flow path member, which coated layer includes a solvent, an epoxy resin, and a curing agent of the epoxy resin; removing the solvent from the coated layer at a normal temperature under substantially 1 atm. so that the weight of the coated layer may become 93% or less of that thereof at a time of applying of the coated layer, and then further removing the solvent from the coated layer under a depressurized condition; curing the coated layer; and removing the mold to form the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Watanabe, Shuji Koyama, Kenji Ono, Kenji Fujii, Shuhei Oya, Seiko Minami
  • Patent number: 8176653
    Abstract: A method for removing moisture from a substrate coated with a transparent electrode comprises the steps of placing the substrate coated with the transparent electrode in an infrared oven, applying heat to the substrate in the infrared oven, drawing the substrate from the infrared oven, loading the substrate in a chamber and reducing pressure in the chamber and performing a heat treatment on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Kisco
    Inventor: Seung-Yeop Myong
  • Patent number: 8109010
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for drying an applied film formed by applying an application liquid containing an organic solvent to a traveling long support medium, wherein the temperature Tb of the long support medium before application is not less than 2° C. lower than the temperature Tc of the application liquid and the wind velocity in the vicinity of the applied film after application is not more than 0.5 m/s, thereby the applied film is dried uniformly in the initial drying of the applied film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Hamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100325913
    Abstract: A substrate processing method dose not use or only use the least possible amount of an organic solvent, and can quickly and completely remove a liquid from a wet substrate surface without allowing the liquid to remain on the substrate surface. The substrate processing method for drying a substrate surface which is wet with a liquid, includes: removing the liquid from the substrate surface and sucking the liquid together with its surrounding gas into a gas/liquid suction nozzle, disposed opposite the substrate surface, while relatively moving the gas/liquid suction nozzle and the substrate parallel to each other; and blowing a dry gas from a dry gas supply nozzle, disposed opposite the substrate surface, toward that area of the substrate surface from which the liquid has been removed while relatively moving the dry gas supply nozzle and the substrate parallel to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Xinming WANG, Kazuo Yamauchi, Akira Kodera, Tsukuru Suzuki, Yasushi Toma, Takayuki Saito, Hirokuni Hiyama
  • Patent number: 7846373
    Abstract: A method for treating a wooden material includes applying steam and vacuum to the wooden material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Xorella AG
    Inventors: Peter R. Philipp, Fritz Steiner
  • Publication number: 20090249641
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for drying and gasifying substances using the calorific value contained in the substances, and it more specifically relates to apparatus and methods for processing wet, pasty, sticky substances, such as municipal wastewater treatment sewage sludge, into a workable, powdered product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: WasteDry, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Graham, Tony A. Kuipers, T. Terry Tousey, Joseph C. Snodgrass, David E. Prouty
  • Patent number: 7444761
    Abstract: Parts to be chemically treated are processed in a controlled-environment processing chamber. The process includes applying a negative gauge pressure to the chamber to remove air or other non-condensable gases. The process includes introducing an oxygen free solvent or aqueous solution in a vapor or liquid state. A first system removes oxygen and volatile contaminants from the object being processed and chamber, and a second system further recovers residual solvent from the object and chamber. Eliminating oxygen from the process prevents deflagration within the system thus allowing for the use of flammable solvents within the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Donald J. Gray
  • Publication number: 20080172903
    Abstract: According to the drying method and apparatus of the present invention, at first, the coated film on one end side of the support is more quickly dried than that on the other end side, because drying air is supplied from one end side of the support. Subsequently, the coated film on the other end side of the support is more quickly dried than that on one end side, because drying air is supplied from the other end side of the support. Accordingly, the method and the apparatus can diminish a difference between drying rates in on one end side and in the other end side of the long support, in the whole drying zone. Thus, the method and the apparatus can uniformly dry the support and inhibit the production of a dry spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SHIMODA, Kyohei YOSHIMURA, Nobuo HAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7316079
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying resin pellets to be supplied to a molding machine under reduced pressure of a desired level by a reduced pressure drying means comprises a preheating means for heating resin pellets to be supplied to the reduced pressure drying means to a temperature level that allows the moisture of the resin pellets to turn into steam under reduced pressure but maintain the resin pellets in an unmolten state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Star Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hatsuhiko Kawase
  • Patent number: 7178263
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing incombustible wood that enables maximization of the amount of an incombustion agent used to be impregnated into wood. Further provided is a method of manufacturing incombustible wood that completely satisfies incombustible-wood conditions required by the Building Standard law and that can be relatively easily manufactured. The method of manufacturing incombustible wood includes performing plural times of individual drying steps for drying wood (for example, board material B), decompression steps for decompressing the wood, decompression impregnation steps for impregnating the wood with an incombustibility treatment agent in a decompressed state, and compression impregnation steps for impregnating the wood with the incombustibility treatment agent in a compressed state, wherein two times of the individual decompression steps, individual decompression impregnation steps, and compression impregnation steps are performed, and three times of the drying steps are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Asano Mokuzai Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nariaki Asano, Hiroya Asano, Takahito Asano
  • Patent number: 7162811
    Abstract: A method for completely drying polished nails without any smudging or nicking. The method utilizes first warm air and then very cold air followed by a brief return to warm air. The warm air of the inital step uses air at a temperature of approximately eighty-five degrees Farenhit for approximately four minutes. The very cold air has a temperature of approximately thirty-five degrees and is blown for approximately two minutes. The last step utilizes the intial heating temperature of eighty-five degrees Farenheit but for only fifteen seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventors: Diane E. Delaney, Cornelia A. Arndt
  • Patent number: 7146747
    Abstract: A multichamber timber drying kiln in which different conditions are maintained in each chamber and methods of drying timber using such a kiln. In one aspect timber is rapidly heated within a first chamber (2; 202; 207) and then transferred to a further chamber (3; 203; 208) for further drying. Timber may be transferred from the first chamber (2; 202; 207) when the moisture content of the timber approaches the fibre saturation point A preheating chamber (1; 201; 206) may be provided to preheat the timber before passing to the first chamber (2; 202; 207). A conditioning chamber (4; 204; 209) may be provided after the further chamber (3; 203; 208) to condition the timber. Energy transfer means (49–53; 54–58) may be provided to transfer energy between chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Windsor Engineering Group
    Inventors: William Paul Studd, Vaughan Raymon Furniss, Peter Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6892474
    Abstract: In drying the interior of an indoor unit, room humidity (Rh) is detected by a humidity sensor, and a drying operation cycle, in which after first heating operation, which is weak heating operation in which a compressor included in a refrigerating cycle is operated at a low rotational speed, has been performed for a predetermined period of time, second heating operation, which is heating operation close to air blowing operation in which the compressor is stopped, is performed for a predetermined period of time, is repeated a predetermined number of times according to the room humidity (Rh). Thus, the indoor unit's interior can be dried properly without occurrence of dew condensation therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventor: Nobutaka Nakahen
  • Patent number: 6783602
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for controlled environment processing of parts in a chamber or chambers wherein solvents and/or solutions used for processing the parts can be introduced. The process includes applying a negative gauge pressure to the chamber to remove air or other non-condensable gases. Next a solvent, solvent mixture or solution in either a liquid or vapor state is introduced to the chamber. A first system is then applied to recover the solvent(s) or solution(s) from the object being processed and chamber, and a second system, separate from the first system, is applied that further recovers residual solvent or solution from the object and chamber. Treatment of the part may be in the form of coating, etching, deposition, cleaning, stripping, plating, adhesion, dissolving, penetrating, anodizing, impregnating, debinding or any other process in which material is removed or deposited on a solid surface by transfer from or to a liquid or gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Donald Gray
  • Publication number: 20040154186
    Abstract: A method for etching a metal layer on which an oxide-based ARC layer is coated in a semiconductor device comprises the step of performing a dry cleaning process by using a Cl2/CHF3 based gas, after dry cleaning the ARC layer by using the oxide-based gas. As a result, the etching rates of the center area and the edge area are substantially same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Sang Hun Oh
  • Publication number: 20040123485
    Abstract: In drying the interior of an indoor unit, room humidity (Rh) is detected by a humidity sensor, and a drying operation cycle, in which after first heating operation, which is weak heating operation in which a compressor included in a refrigerating cycle is operated at a low rotational speed, has been performed for a predetermined period of time, second heating operation, which is heating operation close to air blowing operation in which the compressor is stopped, is performed for a predetermined period of time, is repeated a predetermined number of times according to the room humidity (Rh). Thus, the indoor unit's interior can be dried properly without occurrence of dew condensation therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Nobutaka Nakahen
  • Publication number: 20040025369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying a fibre-based pulp web (2), and to a drying box (1) used in the method. According to the invention, the drying box (1) contains drying zones (9a-9e), to each one of which hot drying air can be blown independently so that the web can be dried in the various zones at different temperatures. The temperature of the first zone (9a) can thus be lower than that of one or more subsequent zones (9b-9e) to prevent the water in the incoming wet web from boiling. The last zone in the drying box (1) can be a separate cooling zone (11), wherein the web is cooled by indoor air from outside the box. The temperatures can be adjusted by adjusting, with the aid of valves (8), the pressure of the steam, which heats the drying air that is fed into the various zones (9a-9e), on the basis of the temperatures measured by the sensors (23) for the various zones and of the basis weight and moisture measurements carried out on the web (2) that goes into the box (1) and comes out of the box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Matti Nestori Luukkanen
  • Patent number: 6684526
    Abstract: An improved process for removing trace solvent from a material comprises rewetting the product with water during the drying process. Finished products such as suramin are produced efficiently to a high quality on a factory scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Pfizer Science and Technology Ireland, Limited
    Inventor: William Tully
  • Publication number: 20040003906
    Abstract: The energy efficiency of a primary drying papermaking process is improved by the use of auxiliary dryers to dry the wet tissue webs to a final moisture of about 5% or less and adjust the CD moisture profiles of the wet and partially-dried tissue webs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Wordwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Charlcie Christie Kay Leitner, Michael Joseph Garvey
  • Publication number: 20040003512
    Abstract: A conditioning device to change the moisture content of printing stock, in which the stock is brought into contact with at least one endless cloth that absorbs moisture. The endless cloth is heated by heated transport rolls. A reduction of the moisture content contributes to a reduction of distortions of the printing image in two-sided printing, especially in digital printing machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Kai-Michael Gundel, Gerhard Klukas, Andreas Schweizer
  • Patent number: 6569331
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for processing of animal excreta or manure for further use or environmentally friendly disposal introduces a new first stage and ancillary elements for improved processing of manure material. The improvement involves an initial process to rapidly sterilize the material to remove undesirable microorganisms prior to further processing. This new first stage processing results in a refined end product for further use or environmentally friendly disposal. Additionally, ancillary equipment for digesting the initial material input to extract methane gas for use as a fuel in the process is included. Further, a thermal oxidizer to treat extracted gasses created in the new first stage process is used to reduce pathogens, other pollutants and toxic gasses prior to passing the gas to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Rodney Raeyes
  • Publication number: 20030079369
    Abstract: A process of forming a thick film structure comprising depositing a layer of thick film on a supporting carrier and drying the thick film layer in a plurality of controlled stages, and an apparatus for executing the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: POWER PAPER LTD.
    Inventors: Shalom Luski, Nitzan Zvi
  • Patent number: 6536136
    Abstract: To provide a substrate transfer apparatus capable of forming a hermetically-closed space integrated between a normal substrate processing apparatus which is not integrated with a substrate transfer unit and a substrate transfer container, the substrate transfer apparatus includes a main body in a box-like shape containing a substrate W, an upper opening (first opening) provided at the main body and connected to a bottom opening (substrate transfer port) of a container while maintaining an air tight state against outside air, a side wall opening (second opening) provided at the main body and connected to a substrate transfer port of the transfer processing apparatus while maintaining the air tight state against outside air, an exhaust pipe connected to the main body, an opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing a bottom lid relative to the bottom opening in a state in which the upper opening and the bottom opening of the container are connected and transfer mechanisms installed in the main body for tra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koichiro Saga
  • Patent number: 6473992
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for drying mash-products, and more particularly to a 2-step device for drying mash-products comprising a first drying unit (a flow rotary drying unit) and a second drying unit (a mixing rotary drying unit), the first drying unit and the second drying unit being arranged in series, and a 2-step method for drying mash-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kiyoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanobu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6412190
    Abstract: A combined infrared and hot air dryer includes a pressurized hood which is fed with combustion air through an air delivery duct. Each cross-direction zone of the hood includes a mixer. The air enters the mixer without any direct connection between the delivery duct and the mixer. Gas is supplied to each mixer from a gas manifold having a gas supply tube for each mixer. Excess air from the hood is fed through thin-walled tubes into the IR exhaust duct in a counter flow fashion to provide pre-heated clean air for air bars trailing the infrared zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Smith
  • Patent number: 6321462
    Abstract: Integrated web dryer (10) and regenerative heat exchanger (20), as well as a method of drying a web of material using the same. The apparatus and method of the present invention provides for the heating (22) of air and the converting of VOC's to harmless gases in a fully integrated manner via the inclusion of a regenerative combustion device as an integral element of the drying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Seidl, Michael P. Bria, Steve J. Zagar, Andreas Ruhl
  • Patent number: 6311906
    Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus and method for recycling waste paint, for completely removing a bad smell generated in the course of drying up the waste paint and extracting a bad smell from a filler. The method for recycling waste paint comprises the steps of: shaping the waste paint into a cake of a predetermine thickness while removing water from the waste paint using centrifugal force of a dehydrator; drying up and dehydrating the cake-shaped waste paint at about 80° C.˜300° C. using a twin screw extruding method to remove water; drying up the waste paint dried up at the above step at about 100° C.˜300° C. using a vacuum dry method to remove remaining water; pulverizing the waste paint dried up by the vacuum dry method into minute powder; separating the pulverized waste paint based upon density; and collecting and discharging dust, vapor, and gas generated during the above steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sam Sin Mechanical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Kon Kim
  • Patent number: 6161305
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for mechanical and thermal dewatering of solid-liquid mixture, particularly industrial and sewage sludges, feeds the sludge to a dewatering device to produce a dewatered material which is then dried in a thermal drier. The dewatered sludge is reduced to a granulate-like structure without any intermediate stage and is then dried immediately afterwards. An apparatus for implementing the process includes a mechanical dewatering device being directly connected to a feed unit to produce a granulate-like structure and which is permanently connected to the thermal drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Andritz-Patentverwaltungs-Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Christian Maier, Erwin Brunnmair
  • Patent number: 6092303
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and method utilizes the combination of radiant heat and air to quickly dry photosensitive material. The arrangement of the drying apparatus is such that radiant heat is first applied to photosensitive material at a radiant heat application section to substantially dry the photosensitive material without emulsion side contact and, thereafter, an air flow is directed onto both sides of the photosensitive material after it leaves the radiant heat application section. A plurality of air flow nozzles are used to direct the air onto the photosensitive material with the nozzles being oriented so as to direct air away from the radiant heat application section of the drying apparatus. This provides for an efficient and quick drying of photosensitive material in a compact unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Piccinino, Jr., Kevin H. Blakely, Daniel C. Davis, Raymond E. Wess
  • Patent number: 6061926
    Abstract: An effect is induced within a chemical system consisting of at least two substances having differing degrees of microwave transparency, by exposing the mixture to focused microwave energy having a generally uniform energy density level, and an energy density at a level exceeding the capacity of at least one of the substances to dissipate the energy as thermal energy. The treatment is carried out until the thermodynamic state of the system is in a non-equilibrium state. The rate at which the effect is carried out is substantially increased over that which would be expected under equilibrium thermodynamic conditions. The effect may consist of an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction or a separation process including a volatilization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of the Environment
    Inventors: J. R. Jocelyn Pare, Jacqueline M. R. Belanger, Monique M. Punt
  • Patent number: 5983521
    Abstract: A process for drying a wet material in a drying system includes supplying a current of heated gas to a dryer from a combustion chamber. The material is exposed to the current in the dryer. The dried material is separated from the current of heated gas. The current of heated gas is split into a first stream of heated gas and a second stream of heated gas after the dried material has been separated. The first stream of heated gas is introduced into the combustion chamber so that the first stream is further oxidized therein. A third stream of heated gas is removed from the combustion chamber. The third stream includes at least a portion of the first stream. The second stream of heated gas is introduced into the combustion chamber so that it makes up a portion of the current conveyed to the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley P. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5906862
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating and drying coated substrates without introducing significant surface imperfections while running at higher web speeds than known drying methods. The substrate is preferably coated within the drying enclosure or the coating bead may form a closure at the entrance of the drying enclosure. The substrate is moved through a first drying enclosure along a first axis. The first drying enclosure is substantially isolated from an external environment. A first low velocity, substantially laminar flow field of a drying gas is directed across the front surface of the substrate. The first flow field is generally parallel to the front surface and generally perpendicular to the first axis to minimize the formation of surface imperfections during the evaporation of the coating solvent. The substrate may then be moved to subsequent drying enclosures through transition enclosures that minimize surface imperfections due to high velocity interaction between the adjacent drying enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Yapel, Omar D. Brown, Wayne P. Ray, Daniel V. Norton, Bernard A. Scheller, Manley C. Marcellus
  • Patent number: 5743022
    Abstract: A dryer arrangement for use in the production of a dried cast sheet, in particular reconstituted tobacco sheet, is formed of a plurality of steam plates in side-by-side arrangement providing a substantially flat surface. The plates are hollow and a heated fluid is fed to the interior thereof. A slurry of sheet forming material is cast at one end of the flat surface. The cast sheet material travels over the steam plates under momentum imparted thereto by the belt dryer, if used, and/or is transported for example by a heat conductive plastic belt driven over the upper surface of the steam plates to provide good heat transfer between the sheet material being dried and the flat surface of the steam plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: TMCI (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Simon Hall Taylor
  • Patent number: 5737851
    Abstract: A thermal processing unit for the processing of plastisol-based floor coverings comprising a radiant heat transfer section which raises the temperature of a plastisol-based floor covering to an approach temperature followed by a convection heating section which raises the temperature of the plastisol-based floor covering to a predetermined target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Congoleum Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Novak, Peter J. Rohrbacher, Rudolph Kist, III
  • Patent number: 5692317
    Abstract: A method and a facility for dehydrating plants, particularly for dehydrating forage. The method consists in introducing the forage to be dehydrated in a drier with a retention time and a temperature that are suitable to achieve the at least partial drying of the leaves of the forage. The forage, when it leaves the drier, is subjected to an operation for separating the leaves from the stalks, and the leaves and stalks thus separated are then subjected, separately from each other, to additional treatments that include at least one additional drying for at least one of the two components constituted by the leaves and the stalks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Marlegreen Holding S.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Imo Manzolli
  • Patent number: 5678323
    Abstract: A method and drying apparatus for drying a quantity of sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventors: Hille Domingue, James A. Martin
  • Patent number: 5657555
    Abstract: In a process for drying coated surfaces in a hot-air dryer, part of the hot air in the dryer is continuously circulated therein as a secondary air stream which is mixed with a primary air stream heated to above the drying temperature (T.sub.max). This reduces the quantity of hot air to be fed into the dryer and thus the material requirements are reduced and the heating time shortened. A hot-dryer for implementing the process has, in the hot-air chambers (7,8) arranged symmetrically on either side in the interior (6) of the dryer, a separating wall (22) dividing an internal chamber (7) and an outer chamber (8) which has fun intake aperture (9) at its lower end for secondary air. At the lower end of the inner chamber (7), the primary air is fed in at a higher flow rate and mixed with the secondary air taken in through the aperture (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: ABB Flakt AB
    Inventors: Dragoslav Milojevic, Manfred Losch
  • Patent number: 5604990
    Abstract: The printing plate drying apparatus includes carrying devices such as flower pattern comb rollers which carry a printing plate having a printing surface including an image-formed portion and a non-image-formed portion, the printing surface being applied with a coating solution; first warm air duct which blows warm air to dry the printing surface of the printing plate on which the coating solution is applied; first solution-absorbing roller which touches the printing surface of the printing plate dried by the first warm air duct to absorb the solution therefrom; and second warm air duct which blows warm air to dry the printing surface of the printing plate which the solution is absorbed by the first solution-absorbing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Takekoshi
  • Patent number: 5599398
    Abstract: For the purpose of cleaning parts (8), the invention comprises subjecting the latter to a prior treatment for lowering the temperature by means of a neutral gas, for example nitrogen, in an oxygen free medium, passing the parts into a cleaning chamber (4, 30) followed by subjecting the parts in succession to a partial reheating treatment in an oxygen free medium and to a treatment for drying and raising the temperature substantially to the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Lenglen
  • Patent number: 5588222
    Abstract: In a process for drying material in a drying system, a first current of heated gas is supplied to a first dryer from a corresponding first combustion chamber. Material to be dried is exposed to the first current in the first dryer. The dried material is separated from the first current of heated gas. The first current of heated gas is split into a first stream of heated gas and a second stream of heated gas after the dried material has been separated. The first stream is introduced into the first combustion chamber so that the gas generated in the first combustion chamber and the first stream are combined to constitute the first current of heated gas. At least a portion of the second stream is introduced into the second combustion chamber. A second current of heated gas is supplied to a second dryer from the second combustion chamber. The portion of the second stream introduced into the second combustion chamber constitutes a portion of the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley P. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5555642
    Abstract: A process for upgrading low-quality wood to high-quality wood comprising the following stages:a) softening the wood by directly heating it electrically in the presence of a softening agent at a pressure of at least the equilibrium vapor pressure of the softening agent at the operating temperature;b) drying the softened wood;c) curing the dried wood; andd) cooling the cured wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter C. Rem, Hans van der Poel, Herman P. Ruyter
  • Patent number: RE45408
    Abstract: A low pressure dryer for granular or powdery material includes a plurality of hoppers rotatable about a common vertical axis serially among material filling and heating, vacuum drying and material discharge positions; pneumatic piston-cylinder means for rotating the hoppers about said axis among said filling and heating, vacuum drying and discharge positions; means for heating contents of a hopper at said filling and heating positions; means for sealing a hopper at said vacuum and drying positions; means for drawing vacuum within a hopper at said vacuum drying position and means for selectably permitting downward flow of dried granular or powdery material out of a hopper at said discharge position where said hoppers move collectively and unitarily one with another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen B. Maguire