US 5,537,925 AGranted

Infra-red forced air dryer and extractor

AssigneeHoward W. DeMoore

InventorsHoward C. Secor, Ronald M. Rendleman, Paul D. Copenhaver

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Abstract

An infra-red dryer utilizes high velocity air jets which scrub and break up the moist air layer which clings to the surface of a freshly printed and/or coated sheet. The high velocity air jets are directed through multiple air flow apertures across an array of infra-red lamps onto the freshly printed and/or coated sheets. An extractor exhausts the moisture-laden air from an exposure zone while short wave infra-red radiation heats the ink and/or protective coating. The effective exposure to pressurized air is increased by the air jets which produce a balanced pressure air blanket along the sheet travel path. The moist air layer is displaced from the printed and/or coated sheet and is extracted from the press as the sheet moves through the exposure zone.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A dryer for use in combination with a printing press of the type having conveyor apparatus for transporting a freshly processed substrate along a travel path comprising, in combination:

a dryer head adapted for installation in a position adjacent the travel path and facing a freshly processed substrate as it moves along the travel path, the dryer head including a housing defining an air distribution manifold, the air distribution manifold having an inlet port for receiving pressurized air and having discharge port means;
a heat lamp assembly disposed on the dryer head, the heat lamp assembly including multiple heat lamps supported between the travel path and the air distribution manifold;
a reflector plate disposed intermediate the air distribution manifold housing and the heat lamp assembly, the reflector plate being intersected by multiple air flow apertures disposed in air flow communication with the discharge port means of the air distribution manifold, and the air flow apertures being oriented to direct jets of pressurized air onto a freshly processed substrate moving along the travel path;
an extractor head disposed in a position adjacent the travel path and spaced from the dryer head, thereby defining an exposure zone therebetween, the extractor head including a housing defining an air extractor manifold having inlet port means coupled in airflow communication with the exposure zone for extracting air from the exposure zone and having a discharge port for exhausting the extracted air from the press;
a support plate spaced from the heat lamp assembly across from the exposure zone and disposed adjacent the substrate travel path for supporting a freshly processed substrate as it is transported through the exposure zone;
and,
a cooling air circulation manifold having a housing panel spaced from the support plate and defining an air circulation passage therebetween, the air circulation manifold having an inlet port for connecting the air circulation passage in communication with a source of cooling air, and having a vent port connecting the air circulation passage in air flow communication with the extractor manifold discharge port.

4 more elements

A dryer for use in combination with a printing press of the type having conveyor apparatus for transporting a processed substrate along a travel path comprising, in combination:

a dryer head adapted for installation in a position facing the freshly processed side of a substrate as it moves along the travel path, the dryer head having a housing defining an air distribution manifold, the air distribution manifold including an inlet port for receiving pressurized air and having discharge port means for directing pressurized air jets toward the travel path;
a radiant heat lamp assembly disposed within the dryer head, the heat lamp assembly including multiple radiant heat lamps supported between the travel path and the air distribution manifold;
and,
an extractor head adapted for installation in a position facing the back side of a freshly processed substrate as it moves along the substrate travel path, thereby defining an exposure zone therebetween, the extractor head including a first extractor manifold having an inlet port coupled in air flow communication with the exposure zone along one side of the travel path, a second extractor manifold having an inlet port coupled in air flow communication with the exposure zone along the laterally opposite side of the travel path, and extractor port means coupled to the first and second extractor manifolds for extracting moisture laden air.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.