Evaporative-cooling apparatus and method for the control of web or web-production machine component surface temperatures

An apparatus for use in the non-contact cooling of a web or a machine component in contact with the web, said apparatus being positioned adjacent said web or component to be cooled, said apparatus comprising:

• means for creating fog within said apparatus, said fog having a temperature lower than the temperature of said web or component to be cooled;
• means for directing said created fog from said apparatus to a surface of the web or machine component;
• means for exhausting vapor from a location adjacent said surface of the web or machine component, said vapor being created by the contact of said fog with said surface which causes evaporation of said fog, said exhausting means preventing the residual build-up of moisture on said web or machine component.

A method for the non-contact cooling of a web or a machine component in contact with a web, said method comprising the steps of

• creating a supply of fog, the temperature of which is lower than the temperature of the web or machine component to be cooled;
• directing fog from said created supply of fog to a surface to be cooled;
• exhausting vapor, created by evaporation of said fog which is caused by the contact of fog and the surface of the web or machine component to be cooled, from a location adjacent a surface to be cooled to an ambient atmosphere.