Abstract: Methods and systems for extending the shelf life of produce are disclosed which provide an accelerated drying process for washed produce in order to further clean and fully crystallize a layer of solute-laden slurry that has been applied on the external surface of an item of produce (20). The drying process typical comprises three basic steps. The first step (10) is to mechanically remove excess moisture from the solute-laden slurry to form a moisture-reduced slurry layer (22) on the external surface of the item of produce (20). The second step (12) is to employ heat and/or light energy to accelerate the in-situ moisture removal process to create a protective stratum (24) on the external surface of the item of produce (20). The third step (14) is to further remove remaining moisture to permit the formation of crystalline structures (26) on the external surface of the item of produce (20).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for drying semiconductor wafers by using an IPA drying apparatus. The present invention uses a vapor generator to generate an IPA vapor. The IPA vapor is generated and saved in a closed surrounding and then transferred in a porous hollow plate in the dryer tank by using a quartz pipe. The IPA vapor is diffused evenly from the porous hollow plate. Furthermore, the present invention increases the safety of the process and can easily control the input amount of the IPA vapor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grain roasting apparatus in which a blower is installed at one side of a body having a support at a lower portion of the same, a heated air flow path is installed in the blower, a heater is provided, a peel collecting port and a discharge port are installed at the other side of the body, rotation portions are installed in an upper portion of the heated air flow path and an upper portion of the discharging port, respectively, a rotary drum is installed in the rotation portions, rotation members are rotated together with the rotary drum, the rotary drum is inserted into the rotation members, the rotary is installed eccentrically about a rotation center, support portions are installed opposite each other at both ends of the same, a heated air flow port having a net and connected with the heated air flow path is protruded from one side of the support, the heated air inlet is inserted into an insertion portion of the rotary port, respectively, and is supported therein, a ring gea

Abstract: A multiple-ejector system for printing arrays of biofluids include a tooling plate having a plurality of sets of tooling pins extending outward from the surface of the tooling plate. A printed circuit board is provided having pairs of power connection pins and ground return pins extending from a surface of the circuit board. A plurality of biofluid drop ejection units are provided and include alignment grooves and at least a transducer. Each of the plurality of biofluid drop ejection units are connected to a corresponding one of a set of tooling pins by connection of the tooling pins and alignment grooves. The power connection pins of the pairs are in operational connection with respective transducers and the ground return connection pins of the pairs are in operational connection with a body portion of the drop ejection units. The different drop ejection units will contain different biofluids which are to be emitted onto a substrate.

Abstract: The process of mitigation of spacecraft surface charging using ionized water vapor is used, since it helps taking excess surface electrons away from a spacecraft surface, leaving practically no residue after complete evaporation.

Abstract: A safety hot air blowing gun includes a housing, an inner barrel mounted inside the housing and holding a high-impedance resistance type heating element around the inside wall thereof, a nozzle tip fastened to the front side of the housing, a fan motor assembly mounted inside the housing behind the inner barrel and controlled to blow air through the inside of the inner barrel and the outside of the inner barrel within the housing, and a protective ring mounted within the housing to support the inner barrel, the protective ring having inside protruded portions abutted against the periphery of the inner barrel and defining a plurality of open spaces around the inner barrel for the passing of currents of air from the fan motor assembly to reduce the temperature of the peripheral wall of the inner barrel and to prevent the housing from deformation due to high temperature.

Abstract: The invention is a distributed airways airflow dryer system for coffee beans and other such bulk crops. The interior volume or container of the dryer or dehydrator system that holds the bulk crops, is filled with an airways network structure that provides uniformly distributed open wall airflow passageways in the bulk crops. The airflow passages communicate with airflow openings in the walls or bottom of the container, to divide and admit the drying airflow into and through the full volume of the bulk crops as a large number of individual airstreams. Corrugated, ribbed, or cross-ribbed airflow plates are preferred embodiments that provide narrow open grooves or channels that expose the beans or kernels of the bulk crop directly to the airflow. This results in faster drying and greater uniformity of the drying effect on the full volume of the bulk crops.

Abstract: A cabinet for clothes drying and dewrinkling which comprises a main enclosure that defines an inner area for housing clothes, a fan for supplying air to the inner area, a steam generator for supplying steam to the inner area, a controller for regulating the air supply and steam supply, and at least one airing duct. The airing duct can be opened and closed by the controller.

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 said assembly including a heating bar and a reflective cover positioned on one side of said conveying path, and a reflective member disposed on the other side of said conveying path, said reflective cover and said reflective member reflecting the heat from said heating bar toward said conveying path.

Abstract: The drying assembly includes a drying apparatus with a far-infrared-ray radiator and ultraviolet irradiator. This ultraviolet irradiator is provided in the rear of the drying apparatus and the irradiation amount irradiated from the device is about 300 to about 600 mJs/cm2.

Abstract: A fiber containing pulp, such as chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, thermomechanical pulp, TMP, de-inked water, or fiber containing sludge, is dried in an effective and efficient manner. The wet pulp is first dewatered mechanically, such as by using a drum or screw press. Then dewatered pulp is passed to a dryer. The dryer has first and second apertured cylindrical surfaces defining a gap between them, and drying gas is blown through one of the apertured surfaces, then through a pulp layer moving in the drying gap between the cylindrical surfaces, and then through the apertures in the other cylindrical surface, to evaporate water from the pulp and dry it to a dry matter content of over 80%, preferably about 85-90%.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying and deagglomerating substances of finely-divided solids suspended in a fluid medium. The apparatus includes the basic components of a phenumatic friction dryer, a flash dryer and a ring dryer.

Abstract: A spray dryer apparatus and method suitable for the production of detergents, cleaners and components thereof wherein the inner wall of the drying chamber is provided with an air-permeable textile material lining at a distance from the inner wall, and at least one outlet for compressed gas is provided between the inner wall and the textile material lining whereby adherence of sticky deposits on the inner wall of the drying chamber is avoided or reduced.

Abstract: The invention is a convective airflow dryer system for coffee beans and other such crops, that includes a removable materials container. The removable, stackable container has at least one interior airway structure extending from, preferably, the bottom or sidewall surface to about the top of the container. The airflow structure is configured to freely admit, flow and transfer air, including moisture ladened air, through a port or vent in the bottom or sidewall, over its length and breadth into and out of the coffee beans or other crops or materials being dried, and out the top of the container. The dryer system and the containers are configured for directing the full airflow of the dryer system through the container or set of interconnected containers when in place, and to easily remove the containers from the dryer for emptying, refilling and reuse.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveyance tobacco dryer which includes a conveyance duct having a first portion, a second, upwardly extending portion and a third, curved portion intercommunicating the first and second portions. A tobacco feed chute extends downwardly and opens into the second portion of the duct. The geometry of the dryer at and in the region of the feed chute is such as to effect the object of reducing the contact of tobacco particles with the inner surfaces of the conveyance duct.

Abstract: A roaster and method for roasting utilizing a tangential flow reducing structure which directs and guides airflow from a blower device into a roasting vessel with minimal swirl and circular flow. The tangential flow reducing structure is preferably one or more baffles, and is preferably located within a plenum in the base of the roaster. More preferably, the roaster has a number of substantially vertical baffles channeling airflow into a vertical and reduced-swirl flow entering the roasting vessel. The roaster also preferably has a unique connection between the roasting vessel and a base upon which the roasting vessel rests, with a flat washer-shaped gasket maintaining a fluid tight seal between the roasting vessel and the base. To tighten the seal, the roaster also preferably includes a cover which is pivotably attached to a support structure supporting the cover in position over the roasting vessel when the roasting vessel is on top of the base.

Abstract: A water-driven jet or venturi extraction means is used to remove, capture and cool the hot, highly humid air created within commercial dishwashers during a wash rinse or sanitization cycle. A cold water spray is used to create a pressure reduction zone which serves to draw in hot, highly humid air from the dishwasher. Water vapor cools and condenses on contact with the cold water spray within the venturi. The invention also serves to help vent the dishwasher. Cool, fresh air is drawn into the dishwasher while the hot air is drawn into the venturi.

Abstract: A cross-direction dryer for typically drying a continuous web of paper or paper to which coating has just been applied provides both for baseline drying and a linear moisture profile by the use of respectively gas and electric heating portions of the heater units. Profile control is normally provided by control of the voltage to electric heating lamps. Such heating lamps are suspended over a large area gas burner to provide a combined increased infrared heat output. Encapsulation of the heating lamps with quartz provides for reradiation of the medium wavelength radiation produced by the gas burner. Thyristor switching for the quartz halogen heat lamps may be located adjacent to each heater unit and cooled by the combustion air for the gas burners.

Abstract: A solids dryer is post-connected to an invertible filter centrifuge, wherein a dehumidification and drying of the solids takes place in the invertible filter centrifuge by means of centrifugation, pressure gas compression and/or heat convection and in the solids dryer by means of heat contact and/or heat convection. The invertible filter centrifuge and the solids dryer are connected to one another to form a unit via a closure device. Sensors serve to measure the respectively prevailing degree of dehumidification and drying as well as to determine additional operating parameters. The sensors actuate a common control device which regulates the operating parameters.

Abstract: A system and method is described for processing waste citrus peel to remove oil from the peel in a highly efficient manner for subsequent processing, where the temperature of the peel is elevated, the peel is then finely fragmented to create a slurry, the solid particles are removed from the slurry and dried, and the oil is separated from the water in the slurry. The temperature of the peel is elevated by exposing the peel to steam so that minimal water is added.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating an object and specifically a substantially flat object described. The apparatus may be a hot plate post-baking apparatus for heat treating a substantially flat object such as a photomask used in a semiconductor photolithographic process. The apparatus is provided with an upper heat reflector plate that is equipped with upwardly curved edge portions such that the amount of heat reflected by the reflector can be controlled and the center region on the substantially flat object can be temperature compensated for achieving more uniform temperature profile across the entire surface of the mask. By utilizing the heat reflector plate in a post-baking apparatus, the normally observed 5.degree. C. temperature difference across a mask surface is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A method for closely protecting materials (10) sensitive to contamination by airborne contaminating agents and placed on a work surface (P). At least one decontaminated gas stream (1, 2) is fed from either side towards the materials in a direction substantially parallel to the work surface, and each gas stream (3) leaves the work surface in an intermediate area between the edges of the work surface and in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. Alternatively, at least one gas stream is fed towards the materials from above the work surface at an intermediate area between the edges thereof, and in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and each gas stream leaves the work surface in a direction substantially parallel thereto and on either side of the materials.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing oxide from a silicon substrate having a silicon substrate temperature including an evaporation chamber having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, whereby a carrier gas can be passed through the evaporation chamber from the inlet to the outlet, means for introducing a preselected charge of a hydrous cleaning solution into the evaporation chamber, means for heating the preselected charge of the liquid cleaning solution to evaporate the charge completely and thereby form a mixture of vapors with the carrier gas flowing through the evaporation chamber, a heat exchanger connected to the outlet of the evaporation chamber for lowering the temperature or the mixture to below the silicon substrate temperature, a process chamber for holding the silicon substrate, the process chamber having an inlet connected to the heat exchanger and an outlet and an exhaust controller connected to the outlet of the process chamber for removing gas mixture from the process chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for agitation-free, low temperature drying of fragile, temperature sensitive, granular materials at atmospheric pressure using Radio Frequency (RF) energy to provide the heat of evaporation. A relatively low velocity flow of purge air through either a continuously moving or stationary product bed provides means for removing moisture from the product at atmospheric pressure. The purge air is maintained at a controlled humidity, temperature and velocity, and the intensity of the RF field is controlled in response to temperature sensing means to control the temperature of the product. For the case of a continuously moving product bed the RF applicator is preferably divided into multiple zones, which may be independently controlled, to effect control of the moisture and temperature profile of the product as it passes through the apparatus.

Abstract: An automatically controlled seed dryer of the present invention is adapted to efficiently and precisely dry seed by automatically controlling the temperatures directions and air flow rate; of air flow through the seed within the bin. The invention includes an upper plenum for supplying a source of hot airs a lower plenum for supplying a source of ambient air, and a mixing plenum for mixing various proportions of hot and ambient air from the upper and lower plenums. The mixing plenum has upper and lower supply doors formed between the mixing plenum and the bin for supplying the mixed air to the bin either above or below the seed. Upper and lower exhaust doors are formed in the bin above and below the seed such that by controlling the operation of the supply and exhaust doors, the direction and air flow rate of the mixed air through the seed can be precisely controlled by an electronic controller. A plurality of linear actuators control the operation of the doors.

Abstract: Heat can be supplied effectively to a porous member of a vaporizer apparatus so that a vaporizing operation can be carried out smoothly and efficiently. The vaporizer apparatus includes a vaporizer section having a porous member including a liquid receiving surface and a vapor discharge surface. A feed supply section supplies a liquid feed material to the liquid receiving surface of the porous member. A heating medium passage is in thermal contact with the porous member. A heating medium supply system flows a heating medium of a temperature higher than a vaporization temperature of the liquid feed material through the heating medium passage.

Abstract: A process for the protective or decorative coating of a continuously moving metal sheet, in which the sheet, after having received its coating, is heated by electromagnetic induction in a tunnel oven in order to evaporate the solvents and to cure the coating. The solvents are continuously extracted from the chamber of the oven, wherein a gas at a temperature greater than the dew point of the solvents is injected into the oven and which is gastight and thermally insulated in order to keep the hot internal walls above this dew point.

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.

Abstract: A far infrared radiation heater 33 is disposed on the back of a ceiling of a drying chamber 11. The inside of the drying chamber 11 is evenly heated by the heat emitted from the far infrared radiation heater 33. The drying chamber 11 is provided with air charge means 16 and air exhaust means 17 each communicating with the inside thereof. Outside air is introduced into the drying chamber 11 by means of the air charge means 16. On the other hand, the air exhaust means 17 continuously maintains the inside of the drying chamber 11 in a state of reduced pressure. Thus, objects to be dried which are placed in the drying chamber are dried by heating under reduced pressure while continuously introducing fresh air. Therefore, the present invention provides a system for drying objects to be dried whereby not only can dried products be produced within a short period of time but also the flavor is satisfactorily retained in the dried products.

Abstract: An apparatus including both an ultraviolet curing unit and a hot air dryer, either one of which may be operated at a given time. A wall of the dryer has an opening through which the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the curing unit passes when the curing unit is activated. A moveable slide plate covers the opening when the dryer is activated, creating the proper hot air dryer chamber volume for effective dryer operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining sensitive articles such as IC wafers or the like contaminant-free including a base member having a removable cover defining a sealed unit having an interior in which a plurality of sensitive articles are supported and through which a particle-free ionizing gas from a source on a wheeled table is continuously passed, the sealed unit being movable from a storage position on the table to an access position on associated processing without interruption of the ionized gas flow and at which the cover is removed and the supported articles continuously bathed with a particle-free, ionized gas to permit the articles to be sequentially moved to a fabricating position in the processing equipment and back to the access position while being continuously bathed with a particle-free ionized gas for subsequent assembly of the cover and base member and return of the sealed unit to the storage position.

Abstract: In order to dry and cure a coating based on a water dilutable system, heat is supplied to the coating using an infrared radiator (1). In order to accelerate evaporation of the water, an air flow aligned perpendicularly to the infrared radiation is produced between the article on which the coating is applied, and the infrared radiator (1), using a fan (2). The power of the infrared radiator (1) and/or that of blower (2) can be changed in the course of drying and curing.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying the inside of the air duct of a vehicle air conditioner with heating, cooling and drying mode, which includes a first duct part containing a heater unit, a second duct part containing an evaporation unit, the first and second duct parts forming the air duct, an auxiliary blowing fan for introducing in the cooling and drying mode air firstly into the first duct part to heat the air and supply the heated air to the inside of the second duct part, and a main blowing fan for introducing air firstly into the second duct part then to flow towards the heater unit.

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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing sodium perborate monohydrate by dehydrating sodium perborate tetrahydrate in a fluid bed with heated air. Contact surfaces are arranged inside the fluid bed whose total area is the same as up to 500 times the area of the approach-flow bottom of the fluid bed. The contact surfaces are advantageously designed as heat exchangers whose surface temperature is adjusted to maintain 90.degree. to 110.degree. C. at the contact surfaces. The method results in a sodium perborate monohydrate with especially high abrasion resistance. In addition, the energy requirement is lower than that provided in the previously known method commonly used in the industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a one-pot mixer/granulator/dryer constituting a single step or one-pot production apparatus for successively mixing, moist-granulating and drying solid pharmaceutical products, for example in the manufacture of powdered products, pellets or granules. The dryer according to the invention has a substantially improved drying performance compared with conventional production equipment. The high efficiency of drying is achieved by the simultaneous use of four different drying mechanisms.

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.

Abstract: The device for continuous filtration and drying of a solid suspension comprises a belt filter (1) and downstream a belt drier (2). By use of a porous conveyor belt (3) the filter cake generated in the belt filter (1) is conveyed further into the belt drier (2) in which there are provided heating devices for heating and drying the filter cake (7) which is on the conveyor belt (3). After leaving the belt filter (1), the filter cake (7) is present on the conveyor belt (3) in the form of a gas-permeable bed of solids in layer form having a maximum layer thickness of 50 mm, preferably a maximum of 20 mm. The heating devices in the belt drier (2) comprise, on the one hand, a hot gas chamber (8) disposed above the conveyor belt (3) to generate a hot gas which flows through the bed of solids downwardly from above and, on the other hand, one or more contact heating elements (10, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22) disposed above and/or below the conveyor belt (3).

Abstract: The present invention disclosed and claimed herein comprises an apparatus and method for curing and drying coatings on nails of the human hand. A housing (12) is provided having two elongated solid sides (14), one elongated solid top (15), two solid ends (16), and an elongated underneath side (18) having a length. Restrictive air vents (22) are provided along the length of the elongated underneath side (18) of the housing (12), such that the housing (12) and air vents (22) define a substantially closed air pressure chamber (34). An ultraviolet light source (20) is disposed along the underneath side (18). A flat surface (26) running the length of the underneath side (18) is disposed a distance beneath the restrictive air vents (22) and the ultraviolet light source (20).

Abstract: A device for coating a paper web includes two applicator rolls disposed parallel to one another, forming a roll gap for the passage of a paper web therethrough. At least one applicator for applying a coating onto a surface of at least one of the rolls is also provided. The coating roll thereafter transfers the coating onto one side of a paper web disposed in the roll gap. Guide elements disposed downstream of the roll gap with respect to a direction of travel of the paper web through the device include at least one beam-like air guide element adapted to create an air cushion-between the paper web and a surface of the air guide element facing the paper web. The air guide element is disposed in such a manner as to deflect a paper web at least once downstream the roll gap. At least one air guide element is disposed directly downstream of the roll gap at a distance from the roll gap of about 0.3 times to about 1 time the diameter of at least one of the rolls.

Abstract: Device for the heat treatment of moving yarns, during, for example, a texturizing stretching operation. The yarn is subject to two successive treatments, one at a high temperature, the other at a normal treatment temperature. The device is one wherein these successive phases are obtained by means of a heating unit formed by a cylindrical assembly comprising two heating zones on either side of which are provided guide means for the yarn. The zones are heated by means of two resistance elements embedded inside the cylindrical assembly. The two resistance elements are mounted in parallel, offset with respect to each other along the length of the unit, and each associated with a thermocouple element enabling temperature to be regulated accurately.

Abstract: A method and a device (1) to treat a paper web (12) by using air, which flows around and cools the infrared lamps (4), to impinge against the paper web and thereafter be removed. A glass plate (9), supported by a pair of glass holders (8), is used to shield the paper web from the infrared lamps. In order to improve the total efficiency and, in particularly, to achieve even and efficient drying of the paper web by using less energy, the cooling air outlets adjacent the glass holders are designed as adjustable width nozzles (19) to direct the heated air against the paper web. The nozzles extend across the entire width of the paper web and the cooling air is ejected from the nozzles at high speed thereby forming an air knife to tear apart the boundary layer of humid air which follows the paper web and subjects the paper web to a more intense heat treatment.

Abstract: A device (10) for tempering substances has a metal block arrangement (12) th at least one zone (32) the temperature of which can be set at a determined mean value, as well as at least another zone (32'). The device (10) has a metallic base plate (31) with a receptacle for the substances, and at least one of its outer surfaces can be brought into thermal contact with the metal block arrangement (12). In addition, a pressure generator (49) generates a pressure that deviates from the ambient pressure between at least one outer surface and the metal block arrangement. The device (10) further has a conveyor (33) that selectively conveys the base plate (31) into one of the zones (32, 32') of the metal block arrangement (12) along a conveying path (44). The pressure generator (49) is capable of generating an overpressure or a depression.

Abstract: A photosensitive material drying apparatus equipped with a plurality of rollers, which are disposed along a direction of transport of a photosensitive material and form a transport path and which are able to provide heat to the photosensitive material, and a plurality of hot air supplying portions, which blow hot air toward the photosensitive material. The rollers and the hot air supplying portions are disposed such that portions having drying irregularities which occur on surfaces of the photosensitive material, due to the photosensitive material receiving heat from the rollers and from hot air blown from the hot air supplying portions, in accordance with irregularities in a transport speed of the photosensitive material due to driving irregularities in a substantially uniform cycle of the rollers, are scattered substantially evenly on the surfaces of the photosensitive material along the direction of transport thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat shrinking an envelope of heat shrinkable film into close conformity to a product enclosed within the film envelope includes a housing; a first assembly disposed within the housing for directed heated air to at least a first portion of the film envelope; a second assembly disposed with the housing and operable subsequent to the first assembly for directing heated water onto at least a second portion of the envelope, both causing the envelope to shrink into conformity with the product; an arrangement for drying the product after water has been applied thereto; and an arrangement for circulating the hot water into heat transfer relation with a moving stream of the hot air for enhanced water heating prior to its application to the product.

Abstract: A calender for treating a material web, particularly a paper web, with at least two rolls forming with each other a roll gap for passage of the web, with a heating system and with a removable cover system. The cover system comprises a foil which is tightened at least around part of the circumference of at least one of the rolls while forming a machine-wide gap between itself and the shell surface of the respective roll, and extending in planes situated parallel to the roll axes.

Abstract: A method of drying plastically deformable metal structures using high frequency energy in a frequency range greater than 10 MHz. The highly efficient drying of the invention is accomplished by shielding the structure from the electrodes using a material whose dielectric constant is greater than that of air.

Abstract: A method of treating a continuously travelling belt-like article with various processes in a tightly closed treatment chamber, comprising the steps of: introducing the belt-like article horizontally into the treatment chamber; guiding the introduced belt-like article up and down in a meandering path between an upper guide roller and a number of successive drive rollers in the treatment chamber while the belt-like article is being treated with the various processes, the guiding including firstly directing the belt-like article upwards via the first drive roller, twisting the belt-like article by 90.degree. in one direction, winding the belt-like article around the upper guide roller, then directing the belt-like article downwards and winding around the second drive roller, secondly directing the belt-like article upwards again, twisting the belt-like article by 90.degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying and curing a coating which as been applied in liquid form to a metal substrate. The process and apparatus include a precuring or drying of the coating by rapidly heating the sheet in an electromagnetic induction coil to volatilize solvents in the coating. The precured sheets are then immediately conveyed to a conventional convection oven for further heating the sheets by baking the sheets at a temperature and for a duration in accordance with the drying and curing specifications of the coating manufacturer. The induction coil is designed to heat the sheet metal in a narrow transverse band as the sheet moves through the induction coil. The power supply to the induction circuit is designed to permit the induction coil to be turned on under varying load.

Abstract: A method for drying photographic materials from an initial moisture content to a desired final moisture content is provided. At least one side of a photographic material having an initial moisture content is heated, with a first heater stage, to achieve an intermediate moisture content in the material. The intermediate moisture content is less than the initial moisture content of the material and greater than the desired final moisture content. The intermediate moisture content of the material is measured and an output signal corresponding to the intermediate moisture content is provided to a control means. The material is then heated with a second heater stage to the desired final moisture content. The second stage heating is controlled using the output signal and the desired final moisture content.