# US 12,760,966 B2 · Apparatus for the treatment of a chemical product applied to surfaces of items > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,966 B2 - Document ID: US12760966B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/271,988 - Filed: 2021-12-28 - Published: 2024-03-14 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-10 - Assignees: Ecosys S.R.L. - Applicants: Ecosys S.R.L. - Inventors: Massimo Bertola; Asefaw Fessehaye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760966B2 ## CPC - F26B 3/28: by radiation, e.g. from the sun - C08F 2/46: Polymerisation initiated by wave energy or particle radiation - F26B 15/18: the objects or batches of materials being carried by endless belts - F26B 21/40: using gases other than air - F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27) - C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS ## Abstract The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of a chemical product applied to surfaces of items. The apparatus includes: a tunnel chamber, a conveyor belt element, first injection means configured to supply an inert gas in the tunnel chamber, and radiation means configured for the treatment of the chemical product. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a suction chamber in fluid communication with the tunnel chamber, and suction means fluidly connected to the suction chamber. Specifically, the suction chamber is in fluid communication with the tunnel chamber through a plurality of through ducts formed on a wall element separating the chambers, and the conveyor belt element is provided with a plurality of through openings which pass through its thickness. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for the treatment of a chemical product applied to surfaces of items, said apparatus comprising: a covering element defining a tunnel chamber, the tunnel chamber being configured to allow the items to be transported through the tunnel chamber by a conveyor belt element, a first injection passage configured to supply inert gas in said tunnel chamber, radiation means configured for the treatment inside said tunnel chamber of said chemical product by radiation, a suction chamber in fluid communication with said tunnel chamber, suction means fluidly connected to said suction chamber, wherein said suction chamber is in fluid communication with said tunnel chamber through a plurality of through ducts formed on a wall element separating said chambers, said wall element being arranged so that said conveyor belt element is configured to be operatively at least partially interposed between said items and said plurality of through ducts, and said conveyor belt element being provided with a plurality of through openings which pass through its thickness, wherein the suction means, the wall element and the conveyor belt element are configured such that at least a part of the inert gas is suctioned from the tunnel chamber into the suction chamber through the plurality of through openings of the conveyor belt element and the plurality of through ducts of the wall element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor belt element comprises a plurality of protruding elements extending from its surface, said protruding elements being operatively adapted to support said items keeping the latter spaced from said plurality of through openings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first injection passage is arranged upstream of said radiation means with respect to a transport direction of said items in said tunnel chamber by said conveyor belt element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of through ducts is arranged upstream of said radiation means with respect to the transport direction of said items in said tunnel chamber by said conveyor belt element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wall element is configured so that said plurality of through ducts comprises a first ducts group arranged at or upstream of said radiation means and at least one second ducts group distinct from said first ducts group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wall element is configured so that said at least one second ducts group is arranged upstream of said first injection passage, and said first ducts group and said at least one second ducts group being formed on said wall element so that between them there is a continuous wall portion of said wall element which is free from through ducts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second injection passage configured to supply inert gas in said tunnel chamber, said radiation means comprising a radiation emitter and a reflector element adapted to reflect the radiation towards the surfaces of said items on said conveyor belt element in said tunnel chamber, wherein said reflector element is interposed between said radiation emitter and said second injection passage and further provides for passage means configured for allowing entry of the inert gas from said second injection passage in said tunnel chamber through said reflector element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said radiation means comprise a radiation emitter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said suction chamber is defined by a plurality of sub-chambers in fluid communication with each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between said conveyor belt element and said covering element is adjustable so as to adjust a volume of said tunnel chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wall element is arranged within a loop of the conveyor belt element.