Abstract: Apparatus and process for treating wood and other fibrous materials within a hermetically sealed, heat insulated chamber comprising means for applying a predetermined mechanical pressure to said fibrous materials, means for controlling the conditions within said chamber whereby steam is generated in the center of said fibrous materials, and means for subsequently removing said steam; means are additionally provided for staining, finishing, fireproofing, laminating, forming, shaping, and increasing the density and tensile strength of said fibrous materials.

Abstract: A dry wood material free from seasoning check is produced with good yield from undried wood material with water content of 50 to 200% by drying the undried wood material while controlling the rate of evaporation of water from the undried wood material by providing on its surface a barrier layer having a water vapor permeability in the specific range from 10 to 100 g/m.sup.2.day.

Abstract: A multilayer felt band, particularly for paper manufacture consisting of rmoplastic material where at least one layer comprises storage spaces having the shape of channels obtained by melting binding portions of fibers, the channel walls being inclined with respect to the surface of the felt band at angles between 0.degree. to 80.degree..

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an improved method of kiln drying architectural grade plywood and lumber which has been treated with a water borne agent. The improved method utilizes coated wire mesh as the kiln stickers. Use of the coated wire mesh stickers greatly reduces the incidence of sticker marks on the decorative faces of the plywood and lumber.

Abstract: A method of air drying of refractory hardwoods which reduces the surface checking and splitting of such wood by utilizing articles consisting of hygroscopic sheets and spacing means which are, in turn, alternately layered with boards of lumber.

Abstract: A paper making apparatus of the type having a movable endless belt which conveys a wet web of paper between a pair of pressure rollers for driving water out of the web and then passing the web to a drying zone. A surface layer of the belt is formed from a water-absorbent nonwoven fiber material and a backing layer is provided which is coarser than the surface layer and is formed from water-absorbent wads of separate fibers. The surface layer has hydrophobic properties such that the surface layers has a critical surface tension less than 33 dynes per centimeter and is held in intimate contact with the backing layer by fibers of the surface layer which penetrate and are needled into the backing layer. The layers are thus so integrated that water forced into the surface layer by the pressure rollers is readily taken up by both layers to be retained thereby.

Abstract: Scrubbing and drying apparatus particularly suited for use in scrubbing and drying printed circuit boards is disclosed. The apparatus is characterized by single knob precision adjustment of the scrubbing rollers incorporated therein and quiet operation at noise levels well within employee noise safety limits by the elimination of high pressure air nozzles typically employed in such scrubbing and drying apparatus according to the prior art. A novel anti-sway mounting is employed in conjunction with the scrubbing rollers to affect the single knob adjustment capability. A chamois covered roller is used to blot the surface of the board of substantially all its water content prior to final drying by low pressure airstreams.

Abstract: Upper and lower contiguous filter sheets are bonded to each other at the outermost contiguous edges thereof to form an enclosure. The enclosure is divided into a plurality of sectional compartments which are isolated from each other by dissolving barrier sheets. The dissolving barrier sheets consist essentially of a water soluble carboxy methyl cellulose compound. Each of the sectional compartments contain a predetermined quantity of absorbent granules. The barrier sheets function to dissolve when the granules have absorbed a predetermined amount of moisture so as to provide for increased space in which to contain moist granules.

Abstract: A compact inexpensive dryer unit for photographic processors which includes a liquid removing squeegee unit, transport rollers and guiding means for moving photographic sheet material through the drying area, a pair of opposed tapered air distribution manifolds to uniformly distribute warm drying air against both sides of the sheet material in close proximity thereto as it travels through the dryer with provision for recirculating substantial portions of the warmed air after it travels through the drying area of the unit, one of said manifolds being hinged to facilitate access to said drying area for servicing.

Abstract: A method of drying a cardboard or a paper web by passing the wet web supported by a drying band between two moving, nonpermeable surface elements having good heat conducting properties. The surface element contacting the web is subjected to heating and the surface element contacting the drying band is subjected to cooling. Due to the heating of the web the water contained therein is caused to evaporate and the evaporated water is caused to condense into the drying band due to the cooling of the drying band. The water is removed from the drying band after the web and the drying band have left the surface elements and have been separated from each other.

Abstract: Veneer is dried by passing a veneer sheet by at least one set of spaced orifices or nozzles through which jets of superheated organic solvent vapor are directed against one or both of the bottom and top sides of the sheet. After impinging on the wood surface, the spent solvent vapor plus moisture and other volatile substances from the wood passes to a condenser where the solvent is separated and passed to a vaporizer and superheater for recycle to the process. In an optional variation, a preliminary extraction of the entering veneer by condensing solvent is achieved by adjusting the flow rate or temperature of the solvent vapor in the fore part of the drying apparatus. Apparatus for carrying out the veneer drying process with means for recovering and recycling spent solvent is shown.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming glass filament in which a fluid is applied to the filament which is passed in contact with a suction means to contact the filament with air to remove the fluid from the filament and subsequently applying a sizing composition to the filament.

Abstract: Pasty materials are mechanically dried by passing them through a pressing zone established between conjugate elements for subjecting the material to be treated to the action of pressure in direct contact with the free surface of a layer of open and communicating cell foam which serves as a sponge and is supported by its surface opposite to said free surface against a wall for the application of pressure in such a manner that the spongy layer becomes impregnated in the said pressing zone with liquid previously contained in the said material to be treated. The liquid is caused to pass right through the spongy layer up to its opposite surface while filtering through the open communicating cells. It then issues from the supporting wall -- which is porous to this end -- so as to be finally evacuated.

Abstract: The apparatus heat fixes a toner image on one surface of a wet-developed, image-carrying copy sheet while maintaining the opposite surface of the sheet in sliding contact with the surface of a heated plate. A portion of the heating surface is formed with a concave surface, or a curved surface having a positive curvature, and there is provided a guide roller for introducing the sheet onto the curved surface. When introduced onto the curved surface, the sheet achieves a good sliding contact with the heating surface by virtue of its resiliency without application of a back pressure thereto, thus accomplishing an efficient heat fixing without any accompanying degradation in the image quality.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for drying wet footballs. The apparatus comprises a housing supported on wheels and including a drying chamber for receipt of a wet football therein. The drying chamber includes a pair of concave contoured moisture absorbent rollers. The rollers are disposed parallel to one another and spaced apart by sufficient distance that a football can be placed within the space between the rollers and supported thereon. A motor is coupled through pulley means to effect the rotation of the rollers in the same direction but at different speeds. The frictional engagement between one of the rollers and the ball causes the ball to rotate at a different speed than the speed of rotation of the other rollers to effect the rubbing action between the ball and the other roller thereby wiping the surface of the ball. A spring biased hold down roller is provided to hold the ball in place during the rotation thereof by the first and second rollers.

Abstract: Traditionally flowers are dried for decorative purposes by being left immersed in a bed of fine sand. The sand holds the flower in a constant conformation and prevents damage such as the crinkling of petals during dehydration. The invention provides a process in which the labor-intensive operation of covering the flower manually with the sand is avoided. The sand is fluidized by means of a gentle current of air rising therethrough, enabling the flower to be simply immersed in the sand without damage or change in conformation. Fluidization is stopped, and the flower is instantly locked in place by the sand ready for dehydration. After dehydration, the flower can be removed from the sand easily by re-fluidizing the sand.

Abstract: Wood is impregnated with a solution of a preservative in a vaporizable, water-free, organic solvent and thereafter treated with a warm high-boiling oil composition under subatmospheric pressure conditions effecting evaporation of the solvent used in the impregnation step.

Abstract: Surface accumulation of crystalline treating agents, such as pentachlorophenol, and water insoluble extracted wood resins, developed during solvent removal after pressure impregnation, and readily removed by contacting the so treated wood while still in a heated condition with liquid solvent thereby causing ebullient boiling of the solvent at the surface effecting a cleaning action and dissolution of the removed crystalline agent in the body of the solvent. If the solvent is contacted with the hot surface and removed immediately following cessation of ebullient boiling no additional post treatment is necessary to remove solvent from the surface of the wood. If desired a light (short duration) post steaming, however, may be employed without adverse effect, i.e., bringing more treating agent to the surface which would again permit crystallization of the agent at the surface.

Abstract: A photographic copying apparatus of the type in which a copy is guided through a hermetically sealed drying chamber disposed behind a developing liquid tank so that the copy may be dried by heat produced in the drying chamber is improved in that at least one heating plate is provided for guiding the copy thereon.

Abstract: Fresh cut flowers and foliage are preserved by drying with a material composed of ground, harvested crop residues sprayed with oil.

Abstract: The efficiency of fixed-bed vapor/solids contacting towers operating on a mass transfer-limiting basis is optimized if the relationship among the structural and operating parameters of the tower, ##EQU1## falls within the limits of from 1 to 100. The relationship is applicable to operations with non-condensing vapor systems at flow velocities of up to 35 m/sec. and bed depths of 0.03 to 3.5 meters.

Abstract: A process for the drying of textile material, preferably made from hydrophobic fibers, which comprises bringing the textile material to be dried into contact with an absorbent material and, after the two materials have been separated, continuously squeezing off the absorbent material to regenerate its absorptivity, and a device for carrying out this process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the removal of liquid from an absorbent substrate, comprising passing the substrate through the nip between a pair of rollers, at least one of said rollers having an effective surface of a sponge material, the sponge material having capillary pores, the average diameter of which is less than 1 mm and at least 50% of said pores having a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 0.001 mm, the pressure applied at the nip between said rollers being less than 1 kg per cm roller length.

Abstract: A method for producing clean surface treated wood by subjecting the wood, containing the treating agent and its carrier, to steaming under pressure thereby to cause the solvent in the atmosphere about the wood to condense on the wood surface during the steaming, thereafter reducing the pressure to about atmospheric pressure, removing the carrier vapors from association with the wood as they form, and continuing the steaming until the carrier is substantially removed from the wood.

Abstract: A dimensionally stable warp knitted paper maker's felt includes a plurality of interlocked yarns having a weight per unit length equivalent to at least 500 denier. Laid-in yarns and/or resin may be used to impart the desired stability to the felt.

Abstract: Drying rollers for use in the dryer section of an automatic X-ray or other film developing machine which incorporates a pair of tangentially contacting, thermoplastic, micro-porous rollers which form a nip therebetween to receive the developed film from the wash tank. The rollers serve to dry the film surface by absorbing the moisture into the roller pores by capillary action. The usual dryer section heater continuously dries the rollers as they are rotated in the dryer section when the film travels through the developing apparatus.