Coated substrate drying system
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsGary L. Huelsman, William B. Kolb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus of drying a substrate uses a condensing surface located within 15 cm of the substrate on the side of the substrate being dried. The liquid from the substrate is evaporated and then condensed on the condensing surface without applied convection. The condensed liquid is removed from the condensing surface while the condensed liquid remains liquid. Evaporation can be performed by heating the substrate without applied convection.
Claims41
A method of drying a coated substrate comprising:
- locating a condensing surface above the substrate which substantially corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a substantially constant longitudinal gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
- evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
- condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
- and
- removing the condensate from the condensing surface while the condensate remains in the liquid state.
An apparatus for drying a coated substrate comprising:
- a condensing surface spaced above the substrate which corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a substantially constant longitudinal gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
- means for evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
- means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
- and
- means for removing the condensate from the condensing surface.
An apparatus for drying a coated substrate comprising:
- a condensing surface spaced within 15 cm of the substrate which corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a substantially constant gap between the substrate and the condensing surface, wherein the condensing surface is a capillary surface that satisfies the Concus-Finn Inequality;
- means for evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
- means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface without applied convection to create a condensate;
- and
- means for removing the condensate from the condensing surface while the condensate remains in the liquid state.
A method for drying a coated on a first substrate surface of a substrate, comprising the steps of:
- locating a condensing surface adjacent to the substrate to create a gap between the substrate and the condensing surface, the condensing surface having at least one condensing surface side edge;
- evaporating a liquid within the coating to create a vapor;
- condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
- and
- removing the condensate from the condensing surface by moving the condensate toward the at least one condensing surface side edge.
An apparatus for drying a coating on a first substrate surface of a substrate, comprising:
- a condensing surface locatable relative to the substrate to create a gap between the substrate and the condensing surface, where the condensing surface has at least one condensing surface side edge;
- means for evaporating liquid within the coating to create a vapor;
- means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to a condensate;
- and
- means for removing the condensate from the condensing surface by moving the condensate toward the at least one condensing surface side edge.
A method for drying a coated on a first substrate surface of a substrate, comprising the steps of:
- locating a condensing surface adjacent to the substrate to create a gap between the substrate and the condensing surface, wherein the first substrate surface is orientable upwardly and adjacent to the condensing surface which is orientable downwardly;
- evaporating a liquid within the coating to create a vapor;
- condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to a condensate;
- and
- removing the condensate from the condensing surface while preventing the condensate from bridging from the condensing surface to the substrate.
An apparatus for drying a coated on a first substrate surface of a substrate, comprising:
- a condensing surface located adjacent to the substrate to create a gap between the substrate and the condensing surface, wherein the first substrate surface is orientable upwardly and adjacent to the condensing surface which is orientable downwardly;
- means for evaporating a liquid within the coating to create a vapor;
- means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to a condensate;
- and
- means for removing the condensate from the condensing surface and for preventing the condensate from bridging from the condensing surface to the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.