Including Roller-type Conveyor Patents (Class 34/620)
  • Patent number: 10161677
    Abstract: A dryer dries a strip-shaped object to be dried by directing stream of air toward the object while conveying the object in a conveyance direction. The dryer includes a loading and conveying unit that conveys the object and a blowing box arranged above the loading and conveying unit and including an outlet through which the stream of air is blown toward the loading and conveying unit. The loading and conveying unit includes a roller, supporting portions rotatably supporting the roller. The blowing box is positioned above the loading and conveying unit and formed in a box shape extending in the width direction, the blowing box including a box body that forms the outlet and accommodates air and positioning portions that determine a position of the box body in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 8955235
    Abstract: An oxidation furnace for the oxidative treatment of fibers, which, comprises a process chamber arranged inside a housing, a blowing device arranged in the center of the process chamber, a suction device arranged in the two opposite end regions of the process chamber, at least one ventilator that circulates the hot air through the blowing device, the process chamber and the suction devices, and at least one heating device arranged in the flow path of the hot circulated air. The blowing device comprises a plurality of vertically interspaced blowing boxes comprising an inlet, and, on opposite sides, outlets for the hot air. Two stacks of vertically interspaced blowing boxes may be provided, said blowing boxes being interspaced one behind the other in the direction of movement of the fibers, and/or the built-in boxes in a stack comprise at least one additional outlet in the upper side and the lower side, for hot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Eisenmann AG
    Inventor: Karl Berner
  • Patent number: 8910398
    Abstract: A drying system of a coated continuous film equipped with roller conveyor devices of the continuous film that allow easy and rapid removal of the rollers from the system to facilitate cleaning and maintenance operations. The conveyor roller is substantially separable into two parts with at least one of the two support shafts separable from the rest of the roller to facilitate the disassembly and reassembly operations of the conveyor roller from and on the system. In this way, it is unnecessary to remove all the motion transmission elements connected to one of the two support shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nordmeccanica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Cerciello
  • Patent number: 8864047
    Abstract: Methods for producing a mono- or multilayer composite are provided in which one or several layers are applied onto a carrier material by coating, the coated mono- or multilayer composite is dried and rolled up, and the installation is subsequently cleaned. The air circuit in the drying oven is entirely set to fresh air supply, and the drying oven is configured to be cleaned in a controlled manner. All components of the drying oven that come into contact with the product do not have to be removed during cleaning, but can be cleaned-in-place using technology integrated into the drying oven. The drying oven Outer housing is designed so that it can be lifted upwardly. All assembly parts in the drying oven interior are designed to eliminate disassembling for cleaning purposes. Transport rollers within the drying oven are designed as hollow shafts and provided with spraying nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventors: Rudi Brathuhn, Peter Schwarz, Wolfgang Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8820236
    Abstract: A device for supplying radiant energy onto a printing substrate (14), including at least one radiant energy source (10) whose light (12) impinges on the printing substrate (14) on the path (16) of the printing substrate (14) through a printing press at a position (116) downstream of at least one printing nip (18) in a printing unit. The radiant energy source (10) emits light (12) having a peak-to-valley homogeneity of less than 15% in a direction transverse to the direction of the path (16) of the printing substrate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bernard Beier, Uwe Ernst, Heiner Pitz
  • Publication number: 20140201983
    Abstract: A dryer for an electrode substrate of a rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a drying oven for drying an electrode substrate by feeding the electrode substrate to an inlet and discharging it through an outlet; fixed guide rolls provided at a distance from each other between the inlet and the outlet to guide the electrode substrate; lifting guide rolls ascended or descended at one side of the respective fixed guide rolls to guide the moving electrode substrate; driving rolls disposed to correspond to locations of the lifting guide rolls; and a shuttle moving toward the outlet from the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Kwan-Seop SONG, Kyoung-Heon HEO, Ji-Hyang PARK, Gi-Sung KIM, Seon-Hyeok AN
  • Publication number: 20140101960
    Abstract: A drying device has a travel path (2) along which a web (W) of paper travels, a plurality of drying ovens (10) arranged side by side along the travel path (2), a plurality of conveyor rolls (23) provided in each of the drying ovens (10) to convey the web (W) along the travel path (2), a plurality of roll units (28a to 28c) each constituted by one or more of the conveyor rolls (23) and separated from each other along the travel path (2), and a plurality of conveyor motors (29) connected to the respective roll units (28a to 28c) to rotate the conveyor rolls (23), wherein a downstream one of the roll units with respect to the travel path is rotated at a lower rotating speed than an upstream one of the roll units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shinzo KIDA, Masaaki FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20140033564
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plant for continuously drying a coated film including a cavity (3) with a first open end (3a) through which a film (F) enters and a second open end (3b) through which the dried film exits, a plurality of rollers (7) for supporting the film inside the cavity (3), a feed and extraction system (10) adapted to feed a flow of air to a first blowing element (9), adapted to direct a flow of air onto the surface of the coated film (F), and to extract a flow of air from the cavity (3) through a suction element (27, 28), characterised in that it includes a second blowing element (11) fed by the feed and extraction system (10), adapted to direct a flow of heated air onto the opposite surface of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Nordmeccanica Spa
    Inventor: Antonio Cerciello
  • Patent number: 8533973
    Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for flash drying paste provided on strips of battery plate grids, wherein the paste is dried through contact with a plurality of heated rollers. The plurality of heated rollers are individually driven and heating of the heated rollers is controlled on an individual basis with a feedback loop. The plurality of heated rollers are positioned so as to move the pasted strip of battery plates through contact with the heated rollers; as a result of this contact with the heated rollers, moisture is removed from the paste, so as to provide a pasted strip that with a sufficiently low moisture content to be divided into battery plate grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Mac Engineering and Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis S. Ulrich, Richard A. Biastock
  • Publication number: 20130174442
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a heat treatment apparatus, which can improve a thermal processing speed by increasing a transfer rate of heat energy applied to a heat treatment target using hot air and can reduce a temperature deviation in the heat treatment target. The heat treatment apparatus includes a hot air generator that generates hot air; a heat treatment furnace for performing a thermal process on a heat treatment target disposed therein using the hot air generated from the hot air generator; and a temperature radiator disposed in the heat treatment furnace to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from the heat treatment target, wherein the temperature radiator absorbs some of the hot air supplied from the hot air generator and supplies the same to the heat treatment target as radiant energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seonhyeok An, Kwanseop Song, Kyoungheon Heo, Jihyang Park
  • Patent number: 8322047
    Abstract: A drying unit includes a frame having an air box mounted thereon, wherein the air box includes an intake port and an exhaust port. A plurality of rollers define a web path within the frame and a heat source is removably attached to the frame, wherein removal of the heat source does not require removal of a web from the web path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Moore Wallace North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Soltysiak, Henderikus A. Haan, Theodore F. Cyman, Jr., Anthony V. Moscato
  • Publication number: 20120023773
    Abstract: The present invention reduces thermal stresses in a rotating, foraminous thin-shelled roll for drying permeable and semi-permeable webs by blocking axial flow of heated air through the axial channel formed between two corrugated layers in the shell. The axial channels extend between spaced-apart, parallel end members each having an inner face, and a plurality of alternating straight thin divider strips and bent thin strips extending axially between and evenly-spaced around the circumference of the inner faces of the end members to form an annular cylinder with radial channels therethrough. Affixing at least one impermeable into a radial channel so that it extends through the radial channel and across at least a portion of the faces of the two tiers of bent strips blocks the axial channel therebetween and prevents the passage of air therethrough to the end member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Richard A. Parker
  • Publication number: 20110035958
    Abstract: A drying device for moving webs of material has at least two serial drying groups each having a plurality of heatable drying cylinders. The drying cylinders of at least one first drying group are steam-heated in a first heat circuit. The drying cylinders of at least one second drying group have supply piping for a combustible energy source and discharge piping for waste heat originating from the combustion. A first heat exchanger is provided that couples the first heat circuit for the steam-heated drying cylinders to the discharge piping for the waste heat from the drying cylinders of the second drying group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Klaus Gissing, Rodney Smith
  • Publication number: 20110023323
    Abstract: A drying system contains a dryer unit for a web of goods passing through and eliminates solvents during the drying. The dryer unit has nozzles, which apply a drying gas to both paper web sides. The paper web passes through a first dryer region of the dryer unit and there drying gas is applied onto a first paper web site. A deflection roller is disposed between the first dryer region and a second dryer region. The deflection roller deflects the paper web to a second dryer region, where drying gas nozzles are directed at the second paper web side. Support gas nozzles that are directed at the second paper web side are provided at least in the first dryer region. A support gas is conducted through the nozzle at the second paper web side and has a lower pressure than the drying gas applied to the first paper web side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: PRINOTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Härle, Stephan Krauss
  • Publication number: 20090288311
    Abstract: A method for drying a fibrous web, especially a paper, cardboard or tissue web, the moving web is treated with hot air from a hot air hood in the area of a upstream pre-defined drying zone, and is subsequent carried to the drying zone in a downstream drying cylinder, especially a Yankee-Cylinder, to which an additional hood is allocated and in whose area the fibrous web is dried further. The hot air for the hot air hood allocated to the upstream drying zone is recovered, at least partially, from the exhaust air of the hood allocated to the downstream drying cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Luiz C. Da Silva, Thomas Scherb, Ronaldo Parucker, Oswaldir Rizzatto
  • Publication number: 20090272005
    Abstract: A drying apparatus includes a thermal roll for contacting and heating aluminum web in a continuous sheet form. The thermal roll includes a roll surface, having a static friction coefficient ? defined by contact with the web. The static friction coefficient ? satisfies a condition of: t+V?G wherein ? G = ? ? · ? A ? ? 1 = ? ? · t · sin ? ( ? / 2 ) where t is tension applied to the web; G is roll retaining force with which the roll surface frictionally retains the web; V is thermal expansion force generated by thermal expansion of the web retained on the roll surface; ?A1 is pressing force caused by the tension to the web and applied to the roll surface by the web; ? is a wrap angle at which the web contacts the roll surface. Thus, distortion of the web can be prevented even with a great difference in the temperature from the thermal roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hayashi, Toru Onogawa
  • Publication number: 20090165332
    Abstract: A dryer arrangement for drying a paper-, cardboard-, tissue- or other fibrous web in a machine for the production and/or conversion of same includes: at least one heated dryer cylinder which is wrapped at least partially by the fibrous web and at least one outer support belt; a pressure hood which impinges the dryer cylinder in the wrap area with a pressurized liquid or gaseous medium, whereby the temperature of the medium is lower than the temperature on the outside of the dryer cylinder in the wrap area; and at least one support belt which is routed over a guide roller immediately prior to and/or after the wrap of the dryer cylinder, the diameter of the dryer cylinder being greater than 1.5 m, the diameter of the guide roller being greater than 400 mm, and the angle of wrap of the support belt being greater than 150°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Herbert Boden, Robert Attwenger, Rainer Kloibhofer
  • Patent number: 7536806
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for improving runnability, and dryer section length, by using a vertical impingement dryer before a first dryer cylinder of a group of dryer cylinders. After a pressing section, the web is dried with a pre-impingement dryer, closely followed by a vertical impingement dryer, which is closely following by the first dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer and vertical impingement dryer of the first dryer cylinder to have a drying temperature of approximately 80° C. with no undesirable sticking to the dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer can be arranged to dry a first side of the web, and a vertical impingement dryer after the first dryer cylinder is arranged to dry a second side of the web. The impingement drying takes place directly against the web without an intervening fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen, Markku Lummila, Michael Odell, Martti Salminen, Riikka Antikainen, Petter Honkalampi
  • Patent number: 7510086
    Abstract: This invention relates to an arrangement for sealing off a fluid-filled, stationary pressurized compartment from an endlessly circulating, impermeable belt of a machine for producing and/or refining a paper, paperboard, tissue or other fibrous web with the help of at least one seal of the pressurized compartment, whose contact pressure toward the belt is variable, wherein the belt is pressed by the pressurized compartment against a co-driven support element and the fibrous web runs alone or jointly with one or more function belts between the belt and the support element. The sealing is improved in this case, while producing as little leakage and wear as possible, in that the contact pressure of the seal is controlled as a factor of the drive power and/or the drive torque channeled into the belt and/or as a factor of the leakage of fluid through the gap between the seal and the belt and/or as a factor of the pressure of the fluid in the pressurized compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventors: Joachim Henssler, Christoph Haase, Herbert Boden, Helena Johansson
  • Publication number: 20090013553
    Abstract: A drying unit includes a frame having an air box mounted thereon, wherein the air box includes an intake port and an exhaust port. A plurality of rollers define a web path within the frame and a heat source is removably attached to the frame, wherein removal of the heat source does not require removal of a web from the web path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: John R. Soltysiak, Henderikus A. Haan, Theodore F. Cyman, JR., Anthony V. Moscato
  • Patent number: 7370437
    Abstract: A sheet handling device for a printer or copier which includes a print surface for supporting a first surface of a sheet, a feed plate having an edge adjacent to the print surface, and a feed mechanism for feeding the sheet to the print surface through a gap between the edge of the feed plate and the print surface, wherein the edge of the feed plate has notches arranged such that at the edge, the notches provide space for the sheet at a second surface of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Lodewiik T. Holtman
  • Patent number: 7320187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for blowing a fluid onto at least one face of a thin element of the band type, comprising, within a containment (2) having a horizontal longitudinal axis (XX?) corresponding to the axis of travel of the band, at least one radial-flow fan (3) with a vertical axis (ZZ?), having at least one outlet connected to at least one pipe (51, 52) for feeding nozzles (43) directed towards the said face, characterized in that the nozzles (43) induce fluid jets in at least one plane perpendicular to the direction (XX?) of travel of the said band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Seva
    Inventors: Georges Bancon, Jean-Jacques Bris, Francois Bonnamour
  • Patent number: 7254902
    Abstract: A sheet dryer includes sprockets and a delivery chain, at least one heat-resistant glass plate, at least one lower-surface drying lamp, a guide plate, a plurality of first discharge holes, and a plurality of second discharge holes. The sprockets and delivery chain convey a paper sheet along a convey path. The heat-resistant glass plate is arranged under the sheet convey path. The lower-surface drying lamp is arranged under the heat-resistant glass plate and dries the lower surface of the printed/coated paper sheet. The guide plate is arranged adjacent to the heat-resistant glass plate in a sheet convey direction. The first discharge holes are formed in the heat-resistant glass plate. Air is discharged upward through the first discharge holes. The second discharge holes are formed in the guide plate. Air is discharged through the second discharge holes in the widthwise direction of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hayasaka, Satoshi Shibata
  • Patent number: 7191544
    Abstract: A lint removal system includes a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. Each of the front and back walls has an elongated opening therein. The openings are aligned. A clothes moving apparatus is positioned in the housing and is adapted for moving clothes into the opening in the front wall and outwardly of the opening in the back wall. A plurality of motors is mechanically coupled to the moving apparatus for selectively actuating the moving apparatus. A pair of lint rollers is rotatably mounted in the housing and is positioned adjacent to the back wall. The lint rollers are positioned above and below the opening in the back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Darlene Collins
  • Patent number: 7062864
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for blowing a fluid onto at least one face of a thin element of the band type, comprising, within a containment (2) having a horizontal longitudinal axis (XX?) corresponding to the axis of travel of the band, at least one radial-flow fan (3) with a vertical axis (ZZ?), having at least one outlet connected to at least one pipe (51, 52) for feeding nozzles (43) directed towards the said face, characterized in that the nozzles (43) induce fluid jets in at least one plane perpendicular to the direction (XX?) of travel of the said band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Seva
    Inventors: Georges Bancon, Jean-Jacques Bris, Francois Bonnamour
  • Patent number: 7018201
    Abstract: A dehydration tunnel for fruits, vegetables, and other products reduces the vulnerability of the products to damage from carmelization and case hardening by dividing a row of product vessels into two segments, passing heated air simultaneously over both segments but in opposite directions, and advancing the row of vessels unidirectionally through the tunnel. Each vessel is thus exposed to a stream of heated air traversing the vessel in one direction, followed by a separate stream of heated air traversing the vessel in the opposite direction. This allows the tunnel to be operated at moderate temperatures and reduces the harmful temperature cycling of each vessel that is typical of tunnel dryers of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sunsweet Growers, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian N. Pierce, Steven Ralph Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6928753
    Abstract: The preferred quality requirements postulated by producers for the product cold-rolled strip include, among good flatness and optimum thickness tolerances, also dryness of the strip in the outlet of strip rolling mills. Already existing devices that are disposed in the outlet of roll stands comprise stationarily installed and mobile partitions, a roll barrel and a roll strip venting device and a vapor escape. The aim of the invention is improve the aforementioned device by disposing above the rolled strip (10) a strip deflector (3) with an integrated fan-operated strip venting device (4) by means of a low-pressure nozzle (7) and an upper roll barrel gap seal (5) in the form of a slotted nozzle (6) and below the rolled strip (10) an extraction device (16) with integrated lower strip deflector (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Richter, Armin Klapdor
  • Patent number: 6918195
    Abstract: It is known from the art to mount a wire gauze (10) onto a drum (1) with a permeable drum jacket (8) under pretension, for example, for allowing air to flow through a web of material placed on said drum, said wire gauze optionally being disposed even at a distance to the drum jacket surface. The air thus flows more evenly across the surface of the web of material and no visible marks on the web of material, caused by the contact of the web with the intermediate space between the holes of the drum, occur. The wire gauze has to be elastically fastened on the front faces of the drum to compensate also for thermal stresses. According to the invention, preferably U-shaped spring elements (11) extending radially to the axis of the drum are fastened on the front face of the drum and on a tensioning ring (13) for the gauze provided on the level of the drum outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Fleissner GmbH & Co., Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Gerold Fleissner
  • Patent number: 6877251
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for a sheet-fed offset printing machine which dries sheets as they pass along a sheet path with forcefully directed air and/or heat. The drying apparatus of the present invention is adapted for more effective sheet drying by means of an electrode and a corresponding counter electrode, wherein the electrode is connected to a high-voltage source and a high voltage is applied to the electrode by the high-voltage source in dependence on the operation of the sheet-fed printing machine and/or the length of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Andreas Ihme
  • Patent number: 6827435
    Abstract: A dryer assembly for drying a liquid ink image formed on a substrate comprising a housing defining a portion of a sheet moving path; a plenum positioned within the housing, the plenum including air flow and outlet means contiguous to the plenum permitting forced air to exit the plenum, the outlet being in the form of a plurality of moving openings adapted to direct flowing air through the openings to the liquid image, the openings moving relative to the image; and a substrate transport device for moving the substrate carrying the liquid ink image on a front side thereof through the housing and under the plurality of moving openings. The dryer assembly has particular use in an ink jet printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald A. Domoto, Elias Panides, S. Warren Lohr, Roger Leighton, Dawn Api, Narayan V. Deshpande, Andrew W. Hays
  • Publication number: 20040181967
    Abstract: The present invention dries an ink absorption layer using a drying apparatus after applying an ink absorption layer application liquid containing inorganic particles and water-soluble resin to a continuously running web and thereby reduces a drying speed distribution in the width direction of the ink absorption layer to 20% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Fujinami, Yutaka Kashiwabara, Katsuhiko Takada
  • Patent number: 6701638
    Abstract: A machine for the conditioning of laminar flexible products such as industrial hides and skins, including at least one conditioning unit crossed by the products to be processed, blowers for blowing and extracting air directed toward products, and a series of air jets blowing simultaneously on both sides of the products under treatment in a transverse direction with respect to the advancement direction of the products. The products are caused to advance along a substantially horizontal plane by means of pairs of annular threads uniformly distributed across the useful width of the conditioning paths. The threads of each pair are placed on opposite sides and in contact with the products to support and transfer them along the path leaving their side surfaces substantially free. As an alternative, the advancement means are formed by pairs of endless belts in mutually facing relationship to firmly hold the products while permitting passage of blown air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Officine di Cartigliano SpA
    Inventor: Antonio Polato
  • Patent number: 6668468
    Abstract: A drier for commercial printers comprises an air receiving and directing member having end walls, side walls, and a bottom wall and characterized by air receiving slots formed in the side walls and air discharging slots formed at the intersections between the side walls and the bottom wall. A lamp support frame having an imperforate top wall is positioned within the air receiving and directing member. A fan support plate positions a fan above the top plate of the lamp frame for directing air onto the top plate thereof then downwardly along the side walls of the air receiving and directing member and out through the air discharging slots thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Graphic Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose A. Villarreal
  • Patent number: 6634115
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Kai-Michael Gundel, Gerhard Klukas, Andreas Schweizer
  • Patent number: 6615509
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying a fibre web of paper or paperboard is provided. The apparatus includes an adjustable heated press nip including at least one pressure device. The pressure device includes a roll, supporting one side of the web and at least two pressure shoes opposite the device and acting on the other side of the web. Each of the pressure shoes include means for providing an individual pressure respectively on the web. At least one intermediate conduit is arranged in-between the pressure shoes. The intermediate conduit includes means forming an additional individual pressure zone on the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: STFI
    Inventor: Hannes Vomhoff
  • Publication number: 20030154621
    Abstract: A drier for commercial printers comprises an air receiving and discharging member having end walls, side walls, and a bottom wall and characterized by air receiving slots formed in the side walls and air discharging slots formed at the intersections between the side walls and the bottom wall. A lamp support frame having an imperforate top wall is positioned within the air receiving and discharging member. A fan support plate positions a fan above the top plate of the lamp frame for directing air onto the top plate thereof then downwardly along the side walls of the air receiving and discharging member and out through the air discharging slots thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Graphic Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose A. Villarreal
  • Patent number: 6557268
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dryer (1) for drying continuously conveyed products, e.g. a warp, comprising essentially a first dryer array (2) and a second dryer array (3). A passage (4) for passing through the product (W) is formed between the dryer arrays (2, 3). The second dryer array (3) is configured in such a way as to be able to move in relation to the first dryer array (2). When the dryer (1) is in stop position (S), the second dryer array (3) is disposed relative to the first dryer array (2) in such a way that the cross section of the passage (4) is bigger than in the operating position (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Benninger Zell GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Berg, Heinrich Johann Mensing, Wolfgang Lange
  • Patent number: 6536134
    Abstract: A drier for commercial printers comprises an air receiving and discharging member having end walls, side walls, and a bottom wall and characterized by air receiving slots formed in the side walls and air discharging slots formed at the intersections between the side walls and the bottom wall. A lamp support frame having an imperforate top wall is positioned within the air receiving and discharging member. A fan support plate positions a fan above the top plate of the lamp frame for directing air onto the top plate thereof then downwardly along the side walls of the air receiving and discharging member and out through the air discharging slots thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Graphic Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose A. Villarreal
  • Patent number: 6397488
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying printing composition on a print medium are disclosed. A method embodiment for use in a printing device includes depositing printing composition onto a print medium and enclosing the print medium in a sealed environment. The method additionally includes reducing a pressure in the sealed environment below an ambient pressure and heating the print medium in the sealed environment to dry the printing composition on the print medium. An apparatus embodiment for use in a printing device having a print engine for depositing printing composition onto a print medium includes an enclosure configured to provide a sealed environment around the print medium. The apparatus additionally includes a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to reduce a pressure in the sealed environment below an ambient pressure and a heater configured to apply heat energy to the print medium in the sealed environment to dry the printing composition on the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Richard Brinkly
  • Publication number: 20020002982
    Abstract: A method of removing organic impurities from a surface of a substrate that is used for feeding or processing web material, wherein a jet of an atmospheric plasma is directed onto the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Fornsel, Christian Buske
  • Patent number: 6314660
    Abstract: A system and method for fabricating flexible circuits. The inventive system includes an oven and three or more independent tensioners for moving a strip of flex tape therethrough. In total, N tensioners are provided per side. The tensioners provide a cumulative tension force T on the tape and each tensioner applies T/N of the total tension. The tension is applied tangentially in a single plane of the tape along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof In the illustrative embodiment, the tensioners are sprocket wheels. Eight sprocket wheels are disposed on a supply side of the system and eight wheels are disposed on a take-up side of the system. The sprocket wheels are adapted to engage sprocket holes in the tape. The tape has a sprocket wheel area and a die area. A silicon die is typically bonded to the die area with a suitable epoxy. Copper conductors on the tape communicate electrical signals from a printer or other mechanism to the silicon die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: John Dangelewicz, Steven W. Steinfield
  • Patent number: 6058621
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and method utilizes radiant heat and forced air to provide for rapid drying of photosensitive material without emulsion side contact. The forced air is supplied through air passages formed between cover members that partially surround radiant heating bars, and is directed onto the photosensitive material where it impinges upon the photosensitive material. As the air passes through the air passages, it is heated by radiant heat from the heating bars. The heated air increases the drying effect of the drying apparatus and at the same time, impinges on the photosensitive material in a manner which assists in holding the photosensitive material firmly against, for example, drive rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Piccinino, Jr., Kevin H. Blakely, Daniel C. Davis, Raymond E. Wess
  • Patent number: 5775002
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroo Iwase, Yasuhiko Yamasaki, Takeo Takayanagi, Tomohide Rokutani, Saburou Nakatsuka, Takashi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 5755042
    Abstract: Air-blowing nozzles 21 for blowing a hot air are provided in both sides of an electrode sheet 33 for a battery both surfaces of which an electrode compounding agent has been applied to. In each of the air-blowing nozzles 21, a pair of slit-shaped blowholes 65 being extended in the width direction of the electrode sheet 33 are provided on both of the upper and lower sides of the end face part 63. The hot air blown off from a pair of the upper and lower blowholes 65 dries the electrode compounding agent as well as pressurizes a space between the electrode sheet 33 and the end face part 63 to form a pressure room P, and the left and right pressure rooms P hold the electrode sheet 33 to suppress its sway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignees: Toshiba Battery Co., Ltd., Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Gen Takayama, Tsutomu Horikoshi, Shigeo Kasahara, Yoshiyuki Sakai, Toshihiko Kusago, Yasuhiro Kuroki
  • Patent number: 5669157
    Abstract: A apparatus for separating pieces of laundry, comprising a drum which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and with an open front and an open rear, which drum is accommodated in a housing, in which the rear of the drum is almost closed off by a stationary wall, which is provided in the middle with an engaging opening in which engaging means for engaging and feeding through the pieces of laundry are arranged, and in that in the housing air conveying means are provided for transporting the pieces of laundry from the front to the rear of the drum. A method for separating pieces of laundry with the help of the apparatus according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Amko International B.V.
    Inventor: Gerardus Henricus Maria Kuipers
  • Patent number: 5589321
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling drying of a photographic material in which, by controlling respective temperatures of a contact-heating device and warm air, temperatures can be controlled to the minimum temperature necessary to provide the photographic material with optimal effects so that the relative contributions of drying the photographic material by the contact-heating device and the warm air are always constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5568693
    Abstract: An apparatus for the processing of photographic sheet material having upstream and downstream drying chambers (101, 102). A heater (106) heats air entering the downstream chamber (102) to a downstream drying temperature. A fan (108) recirculates drying air from the downstream chamber (102) through the heater (106) while taking in fresh air through an inlet (116). A heater (110) heats air entering the upstream chamber (101) to a temperature higher than the downstream drying temperature. A fan (112) recirculates air from the upstream chamber (101) through the heater (110) while taking in air from the downstream chamber (102). Optimum drying of the sheet material is thereby achieved without risk of dimensional instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Van den Bergen, Frans Joos, Marc De Niel, Bartholomeus Verlinden
  • Patent number: 5494529
    Abstract: A method of treating printed circuit boards or other items is provided, wherein a drying apparatus is specifically provided, generally for use as part of a cleaning or other treatment apparatus, but which can be separately provided, if desired. The drying apparatus employs preferably warm air discharge tubes, for drying items of varying thicknesses, and/or that have varying thicknesses of components mounted thereon. Generally, the printed circuit or other items are carried through the apparatus between upper and lower foraminous conveyor belts, with one of the belts, conforming to the varying thicknesses of the items, or components carried by the items. While some of the air discharge tubes may be stationarily mounted, at least some of them are pivotally mounted, such that their discharge opening zones can slide along and conform to variations in thickness. The discharge tube will pivot in response to the varying thicknesses. The pivotal motion of the tube may be provided with a means for balancing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Atotech USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Ciccarelli, Charles Seager, Jr., Ricky Himes
  • Patent number: 5452524
    Abstract: A photosensitive material drying method for drying a photosensitive material conveyed along a conveying path, including steps of: training a front surface and a rear surface of the photosensitive material alternately around a plurality of heat rollers whose outer circumferences are heated by heat sources; heating the photosensitive material by an amount of heat provided on a basis of a temperature of the outer circumferences of the heat rollers and on the basis of a time of contact between the photosensitive material and the heat rollers; and evaporating moisture from a surface of the photosensitive material not contacting the heat rollers. High-quality drying can be effected in a small space and with little use of electric power. Efficient drying in which dimensions of films are stable can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Isozaki, Mitsuru Katsumata
  • Patent number: 5345696
    Abstract: A device (1) for the hot-air drying of a printed film in a rotogravure machine, comprising a support structure (3) to house a blowing group (4) which blowing group (4) will feed hot air towards a film (2) to be dried, a plurality of pinions (5) mutually distanced and arranged along a predetermined course, aimed at favoring the introduction of the film (2), a plurality of idler running and supporting rollers (6), mutually distanced and arranged along a predetermined course, to support the film (2) and cause it to run. The said blowing group (4) is fixed and exhibits two lateral uprights (8) into which hot air is introduced, which air flows from above downwards in a plurality of blowing elements (9), mutually-distanced at a good hand's-width from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Schiavi Cesare Costruzioni Meccanichi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giannino Bosoni