Method of curing coated articles

Abstract

An oven for curing coatings on articles removes the volatile components of the coating by a heated circulated atmosphere directed at high velocity at the coated articles and increasing in temperature between the entrance and the exit of the articles from the oven. Prior to their exit from the oven, the coated articles are exposed to infrared radiation in relatively still air to effect the final curing of the coating. The oven enclosure includes an open portion and a ducted portion. The ducted and open portions of the oven enclosure and the heating means are arranged to contribute to the effective use of energy. Within the ducted portion is a removable fan means supported and driven from outside of the oven enclosure. The ducted portion of the oven communicates with an exhaust opening in the oven enclosure having a damper valve that can be automatically controlled to permit exhaust when the level of the volatile coating material components in the oven atmosphere exceeds a preset amount. Adjacent the exhaust opening is an inlet opening in the open portion of the oven enclosure to permit incoming fresh air to make up the exhausted oven atmosphere, and a heat exchanging means transfers heat from the exhausted oven atmosphere to the make-up air entering the oven.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.