Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a drying installation for treating a web of material including a drying hood having flow channels therein and heat sources and blowers for the circulation of a drying medium which is passed through apertures to said web and drawn off again through exhaust channels, the improvement comprising a plurality of profiled tube means mounted adjacent said web, the distances between said tube means constituting diffuser-like gaps serving as exhaust channels, and a plurality of apertures in said tube means directed toward said web, said apertures being in a triangular configuration and distributed over said tube means at a constant distance.

Abstract: A vertical strip heating furnace includes at least two vertical direct fired heating chambers which are arranged in parallel which are communicated with each other. A separation chamber for housing inside furnace rolls at adjacent pairs of the chambers is provided in at least one location. The inside furnace rolls are separated from the main flow of the combustion gases and the temperature of the atmosphere in the chambers housing the inside furnace rolls is adjusted to within a fixed range. This strip heating furnace is capable of large capacity processing and is designed to save energy, and the inside furnace rolls are free from breakage due to thermal stress.

Abstract: A furnace for receiving continuously advancing stock in linear array is assembled from a number of independent furnace units. In each unit, a furnace chamber surrounds the advancing stock with a radiative wall. Each chamber is fired by gas burners which surround the stock at the chamber exit. The burners include a series of gas jets which feed the fuel, with or without air, radially into the chamber toward the stock and a series of air jets which are paired with the gas jets to feed combustion air axially into the chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for sterilizing a thermoplastic band used in the production of sterile packs.During the sterilization operation in the sterilization zone the edge of the thermoplastic band which subsequently forms the inside of the pack is applied to a movable sterilization support which is heated to the sterilization temperature and accompanies the band over part of its path to the shaping station located in the sterile enclosure and the contact being maintained between the support and the band until the latter enters the sterile enclosure.

Abstract: Continuous method and apparatus for treatment of a solid material submerged in a body of liquid wherein the material is sticky and/or has weak tensile strength. The material is supported, while it is so submerged, by a dynamic layer of the liquid lying between the material and a moving surface. The method is illustrated by heating and thereby foaming a strip of heat foamable thermoplastic resin while it is held submerged in a denser heat transfer liquid by a dynamic layer of that liquid generated by a moving belt above the foaming material. In an example, expandable high density polyethylene strip is foamed continuously while it is so held submerged in molten salt.

Abstract: A process for heating one or more bodies in a furnace in which heated gas is introduced into the furnace chamber through one or more injectors and are conveyed to the bodies in a manner involving appreciable resistance to gas flow to generate an air cushion for supporting the bodies. In a preferred arrangement a continuous metal strip is conveyed through the furnace on a gaseous support cushion, the gas being introduced into the furnace under pressure through injectors which communicate with the lower portion of the furnace. The injectors and the furnace internal wall structure generate a substantial recirculation of gas within the furnace.

Abstract: A preheating saddle for elevating the temperature of a recording carrier upstream of a fixing station in an electrostatic copier or printer. The saddle has heating elements disposed therein in such a manner as to supply the greatest quantity of heat at the upstream end of the saddle while maintaining a constant temperature along the length of the saddle.

Abstract: A method of heat treating a workpiece, and an oven for carrying out the method in which, the gaseous atmosphere within each zone is continuously recirculated by recirculating fan and duct systems within each zone, and directed onto the workpiece, thereby losing heat to the workpiece, and coating thereon. A substantial proportion of the oven atmosphere containing solvent vapors is continuously passed through individual zone incinerators located within each of the oven zones, thereby oxidizing the solvent vapor content of such portion. The incinerated proportion of gases is then re-mixed with the untreated gaseous atmosphere prior to entry to the recirculating fan and duct system thereby re-heating the gaseous atmosphere to a controlled elevated temperature.

Abstract: An exposure device for a thermal stencil sheet having a linear electronic flash discharge tube and an enclosure made of a plate member curved around the tube in a substantially cylindrical shape coaxial with the tube while defining a slit opening parallel to the tube, wherein a thermal stencil sheet is loaded into the enclosure through the slit opening and is supported in a substantially cylindrical shape coaxially around the tube for receiving direct infrared radiation from the tube with no interposition of a glass layer or the like.

Abstract: A combination heater, a processing oven and incinerator in which a single burner constitutes the source of heat for processing materials in an oven and also constitutes the means of incinerating the products of combustion to an innocuous residue, capable of being discharged into the air without environmental damage. The products of combustion do not pass through the oven.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing extruded thermoplastic material by advancing a hollow extrudate from the die member of an extruder through auxiliary equipment followed by stress relieving the extrudate through a mesh guide means, wherein the initial portion is heated while the subsequent portion is cooled by passing it through the mesh guide which may be contained in a temperature controlled water bath.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus for an electrophotographic copying machine in which heat fusible developing material is deposited in image-wise configuration on a sheet of paper and fixed thereto by the application of heat. The fusing apparatus has a conveyor system for conveying the sheet of paper past a source of heat for fusing the developing material into the paper. The fusing apparatus includes a secondary driving means to maintain operation of the conveying system in the event of any failure of the normal source of driving power to the conveying system so that the conveying system does not stop with the sheet of paper still adjacent the source of heat, which would allow the sheet of paper to catch fire. The secondary driving means includes stored energy means which becomes automatically operable to maintain operation of the conveying system for a period of time sufficient to eject the copy sheet from the fusing apparatus in the event of an electrical power failure in the copying machine.

Abstract: An elongatable endless belt passes around four rollers and, in so doing, passes adjacent to the heated surface of a U-shaped platen which has its edges adjacent to two of the rollers. The surface of the belt which faces the platen is in driving engagement with a film coming from a recording means. One of the noted two rollers is driven faster than the other so that the belt moves the film along the platen surface and leaves one edge of the latter at a higher speed than that at which the belt arrives at the other edge of the platen surface. Therefore, the belt progressively elongates and moves along the film as it is moving the latter along the platen surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating the recirculated air from a web dryer in such a manner that the recirculated air does not come in direct contact with the flame of the burner in which the fuel and air for combustion are mixed and burned. Because the solvent-laden recirculated air does not come in contact with the flame, alteration or partial incineration of the hydrocarbons does not occur. When printing inks are formulated with non-photochemically reactive solvents and used in conjunction with the present apparatus, other methods of solvent collection are available for air pollution control instead of energy-consuming incineration (thermal or catalytic); and in some cases no control method is required. The present apparatus provides an area for the complete combustion of the fuel/air mixture from the burner before leaving the containment tube and mixing with the recirculated air.

Abstract: A fire prevention device for a fixing stage of an electrophotographic copying machine includes a heat shield plate movable to close the fixing stage. The heat shield plate may be controlled by a control mechanism having first and second solenoids so that the heat shield plate shuts the fixing stage only when a driving power for the copying machine is stopped or an abnormality is detected in a fixing step, during the copying operation.

Abstract: An oven system useful for baking coatings on steel sheet and the like is disclosed. The system includes an oven through which material to be heated is conveyed. A hot air supply system provides substantially all of the heat requirements of the oven and air from the oven is passed into a fuel fired incinerator wherein incineration and heating of the air and combustion of any solvent present is effected. A regenerative heat interchange means such as a pebble bed regenerator is interposed between the exit of the incinerator and the hot air supply system and serves to effect of heating of the fresh air to provide at least a portion of the hot air for the hot air supply system using the heat content of the incinerated air from said incinerator.

Abstract: A thermal fusing device for softening toner images is provided in combination with a transport at the exit of the fuser which transport is characterized by a pair of nip-forming members one of which is provided with a plurality of recesses for receiving belt structures fabricated from a silicone rubber material. A second roll is provided also having recesses for receiving the belts and this roll is positioned remotely from the first mentioned roll so that the belts are entrained about the two rolls such that they protrude from the recesses to thereby provide a nip-forming roll wherein only the belts contact the toner material carried by the copy substrate. Additionally, a fan is provided for cooling the surface of the belt so that the toner will more readily solidify and the paper can be stripped therefrom due to the beam strength of the paper.

Abstract: A radiant heat fuser for an electrostatic copying machine in which heat for fusing the delicate toner image on top of a sheet is applied using a top heater of radiant type, and background heat to the underside of the sheet is provided by means of heat-absorbing and -radiating elements positioned in the fuser bed and arranged to absorb radiant heat while no sheet is being fed and to radiate and convect heat to the underside of the sheet as it passes through the fuser. The control of the temperature of these heat-absorbing and -radiating elements is achieved by way of a cooling air system throttled in accordance with temperature-responsive deformation of the heat-absorbing and -radiating elements some of which are accordingly of bimetallic form.

Abstract: In a heat-fixing device for fixing a member to be fixed as it is conveyed on a conveyance path provided with a heat source, there is provided suction means having a suction port adjacent to the conveyance path. The suction means is operable to draw the member to be fixed as it is conveyed.

Abstract: A steel strip such as stainless steel is passed in uncoiled form through a jet recuperator, an intermediate furnace section, and a main fired furnace section in which a fuel such as natural gas is burned. The exit end of the main furnace section has an opening only slightly greater than the cross-section of the strip. The strip is preheated in the jet recuperator by forcing waste gases from top and bottom waste gas chambers through holes in the bottom and top, respectively, of the waste gas chambers against both sides of the strip. The strip is further heated by the waste gases in the unfired intermediate section and brought to final temperature in the main fired section.

Abstract: A furnace for heating one or more bodies in which heated gas is introduced into the furnace chamber through one or more injectors and are conveyed to the bodies in a manner involving appreciable resistance to gas flow. In a preferred arrangement a continuous metal strip is conveyed through the furnace on a gaseous support cushion, the gas being introduced into the furnace under pressure through injectors which communicate with the lower portion of the furnace. The injectors generate a substantial recirculation of gas within the furnace.

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: A furnace work supporting roll and a spare work roll are mounted on a frame in diametrically opposed positions with the spare roll normally out of the furnace. The frame is mounted on an axis parallel to the roll axis and equal distance therefrom. A water cooled shield is mounted on the frame between the rolls to protect the spare roll from the heat of the furnace and has an outer surface with a diameter equal to that between the outside of the rolls. To inspect and/or remove the work roll from the furnace, the frame is rotated so that the position of the rolls are reversed. A water cooled heat shield is provided at the ends of the diameter perpendicular to the diameter through the roll axes at a distance equal to that between the outside of the rolls. A roll supporting table beneath the position of the spare roll is movable toward and away from the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a metered quantity of release material is applied to a fuser roll. The release material is heated to maintain it substantially in a fluid state.

Abstract: Apparatus where stripping copy sheets from a heated fuser member utilized in a xerographic copier. The apparatus is characterized by the provision of a plurality of stripper fingers and combination support and bias means therefor wherein the support and bias means comprises a unitary member and each stripper finger in conjunction with its associated unitary member constitutes an integral assembly. The assemblies are fixedly supported adjacent the fuser member whereby the leading edges of the stripper fingers engage the fuser member to strip the copy sheets therefrom. The position of the assemblies can be varied in order to vary the pressure exerted by the stripper finger on the fuser assembly.

Abstract: A yarn heater has an elongate, hollow metal yarn heating member with a substantially constant internal cross-section, an electric yarn heating element mounted externally of the heating member and a baffle located internally inside of the heating member extending longitudinally therein and dividing the inside space into two passageways. The heating member is filled with a heating fluid which when heated by the heating element consists of a liquid phase and a vapor phase. Located at the lower end of the baffle is an aperture for permitting automatic circulation of the heating fluid. A yarn heating surface located at the front of the heating member and extending along the length thereof is formed with a pair of longitudinal grooves for guiding the yarn.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a powder pattern formed on a sheet of support material is permanently affixed thereto. The sheet of support material is advanced along a path of movement by a conveyor belt. As the sheet advances, the powder pattern thereon is heated. The belt is extended when positioned in the drive system to form a normal force therebetween. This normal force and associate coefficient of friction develops a frictional force minimizing relative movement or slippage therebetween.

Abstract: Carbon fibers are produced by continuously heat-treating acrylonitrile fibers up to the crystal collapse starting temperature of said fibers while maintaining said fibers under a fixed length or tension in an oxidizing atmosphere, then sufficiently thermally stabilizing fibers by further subsequently continuously heat-treating them in a temperature range gradually elevated up to a fixed temperature in a range of from a temperature about 20.degree. C lower than the deterioration starting temperature of said fibers to a temperature about 20.degree. C higher than said deterioration starting temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere. The thus sufficiently thermally stabilized fibers are treated with a reducing liquid and subsequently carbonized or graphitized in a non-oxidizing atmosphere or under a vacuum.

Abstract: A fixing unit for fixing the developing powder on a copy sheet produced in a copy machine which comprises a first roller having its outer surface covered by a layer adapted to resist adhesion of the powder thereto, a second roller cooperating with the first and defining with said first roller a nip through which the copy sheet is passed by rotation of the rollers, with the face bearing the powder in contact with the surface of the first roller, and a third roller rotated in contact with the first roller carrying in its interior a plurality of selectively actuable heating units for selectively heating portions of the surface of the first roller, in accordance with the length of a copy sheet.

Abstract: An improvement in false-twist yarn texturing machine of the type having a plurality of treatment positions each of which includes a yarn feed device, a first yarn delivery carriage, a heating tube, a cooling tube, a false-twist spindle, a second yarn delivery carriage, and a winding device, as well as an air blowing device located at the inlet of the heating tube and a suction device for removing smoke at the outlet of the heating tube, the improvement being a tubular connection between the outlet of the heating tube and the inlet of the cooling tube, which connection is pivotally mounted so that one end thereof can temporarily be engaged with the outlet of the heating tube, and the cooling tube is slidably mounted to permit sliding in the direction of its own longitudinal axis, the other end of the tubular connection being connected to the inlet of the cooling tube so that pivoting of the tubular connection may be caused by sliding the cooling tube in the direction of the tubular connection.

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: Apparatus for fixing toner images electrostatically adhered to copy paper or other suitable support material. The apparatus is characterized by the provision of a plurality of radiant energy sources through which the copy paper having the toner images thereon is moved such that the radiant heat energy softens the toner whereby the toner becomes impregnated in the paper fibers. The apparatus is further characterized by the provision of paper transport structure for moving the copy paper intermediate the radiant heat sources without physically contacting the sources, said transporting means comprising a first transport disposed adjacent the inlet to the fixing apparatus and a second transport disposed adjacent the outlet thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a continuously moving web has a housing defining a vertical zigzag path having a succession of oppositely directed and inclined stretches each flanked by a pair of parallel and confronting walls each in turn provided with an array of nozzles. Rollers are provided at the ends of the stretches for reversal and guiding of the web, and a blower is provided whose pressure side is connected to the nozzles for creating a gas cushion to each side of the web which supports the web and guides it along the path. Each of the walls is corrugated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the web, and the nozzles are provided on each side of the crests of the corrugations. The gas cushion is drawn off at the ends of the troughs of the corrugations.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a material containing a burnable organic liquid by igniting and burning the liquid from the material, consisting of an enclosed burning chamber having at one end an inlet for the material to be dried, a combustion air inlet and an ignition means for igniting the burnable organic liquid and having at the opposite end transport means for drawing the material through the chamber, an outlet means for hot combustion gases and an outlet means for dried material.

Abstract: An apparatus for impregnating and drying a material containing an inflammable organic liquid by igniting and burning the liquid from the material, consisting of an impregnating means, an enclosed burning chamber having at one end an inlet for the material to be dried, a combustion air inlet and an ignition means for igniting the inflammable organic liquid and having at an other end transport means for drawing the material through the chamber, an outlet means for hot combustion gases and an outlet means for dried material.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixing electrophotographic images produced by an electrophotographic copying machine, comprising a conveyor belt for transporting image bearing sheets on its upper run and a planar heater which extends substantially parallel to the upper run and is disposed closely above it but out of contact with the sheets.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for heat-fixing a heat-fixable material to a carrier in which process the heat is generated by contact between the side of the carrier face from the material and a friction element during relative motion of the carrier and the element. The apparatus includes a friction roller or belt around which the carrier is partly wrapped and which can be rotated relative to the carrier by a driving motor. The roller may comprise a material or low heat conductivity having a thin wall with the interior being filled with insulating material. The apparatus also may include a probe for measuring the temperature of the carrier material in or immediately after contact with the friction element.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to heat fix a heat fusible xerographic powder image to a final support material in which the powder image is first transferred to a final support material and the image-bearing support material then brought into contact with a bath of hot liquid metal for a period of time sufficient to fix the image to the support material. The temperature of the bath is maintained at a temperature high enough to fuse the image but below that at which the support material is damaged. The liquid metal bath has floating on it a layer of molten non-metal to prevent oxidating of the metal and to precoat the support material on its entry into the bath to prevent particles of the liquid metal from embedding in the support material. The relative high density of the molten metal acts as a wringer to keep the plasticized coating very thin when drawn out of the bath.This is a division of application Ser. No. 500,411 , filed Aug. 26, 1974.

Abstract: Flash fusing method and apparatus for fusing toner images onto flexible support material in which the support material is transported in a cylindrical path encircling the flash fusing lamp. The support material is a web or alternatively is in the form of copy sheets tacked onto a transport belt either by electrostatic tacking or by a vacuum transport and then advanced in a circular path around the flash with the toner images facing the flash lamp and receiving a uniform radiation therefrom.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to heat fix a heat fusible xerographic powder image to a final support material in which the powder image is first transferred to a final support material and the image-bearing support material then brought into contact with a bath of hot liquid metal for a period of time sufficient to fix the image to the support material. The temperature of the bath is maintained at a temperature high enough to fuse the image but below that at which the support material is damaged. The liquid metal bath has floating on it a layer of molten non-metal to prevent oxidating of the metal and to precoat the support material on its entry into the bath to prevent particles of the liquid metal from embedding in the support material. The relative high density of the molten metal acts as a wringer to keep the plasticized coating very thin when drawn out of the bath.

Abstract: Stripping apparatus for stripping copy sheets bearing electrostatic developed images from a heated pressure fusing roll after fusing of the images to paper sheets. The stripping apparatus comprises a flexible blade member supported by a retaining device and positioned into contact with the heated fusing roll surface. The tip of the blade has a hollow ground edge of a radius slightly greater than the fuser roll. The blade is slideably positioned to enable lateral expansion axially relative to the retaining device. A modification of the stripping device consists of a comb design with blade and retaining members having inter-locking tines.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus for temporary holdup of textile strands, especially crimped strands for setting. Screenlike conveyor belts receive the strand between downwardly converging flights and discharge the strand from between upwardly diverging flights. The conveyor apparatus is housed in a heated steam-fed enclosure.

Abstract: A yarn singeing burner, comprises a housing which has a vertical yarn passage defined threthrough, and a front wall having an entrance opening to the yarn passage. An insert member is located within the passage, and has a wall portion spaced inwardly from the housing, so as to define a burner fuel and air chamber therebetween. The insert member is provided with a plurality of apertures for the passage of a singeing flame jet which is generated by the burning of fuel and air which is directed into the fuel and air chamber, defined between the insert and the housing. A yarn guiding channel extends through the yarn passage between the flame jets and the yarn, and it has an open side which is opened to the entrance for the passage of the yarn therethrough.