Coating heater system
AssigneeResearch Corporation
InventorsPaul D. Rudd, Bruce E. Bailey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for applying heat to wet coatings applied to selected areas on a front surface of a continuous substrate includes an energy emitter for applying energy to the substrate to heat the substrate, a metallic roll contacting a back surface of the substrate opposite the front surface being heated, a mechanism for advancing the continuous substrate over and around the metallic roll and a contact member having a surface engaging the surface of the substrate. The metallic roll conducts heat away from non-selected areas on the substrate while the substrate is heated to prevent overheating of the non-selected areas. The contact member engages a surface of the substrate so that the substrate is in contact with greater than 180.degree. of the metallic roll.
Claims19
A system for drying wet coatings applied to selected areas on a front surface of a continuous substrate by liquid vaporization, the system comprising:
- an energy emitter for applying energy to the substrate to heat the substrate, the energy emitter including:
- a plurality of infrared lamps arcuately surrounding a portion of the substrate, wherein the infrared lamps apply infrared energy to the substrate to heat the substrate and to dry the wet coatings, wherein darker and rougher areas of the substrate absorb the infrared energy at a higher rate than lighter and smoother areas;
- a metallic roll contacting a back surface of the substrate opposite the front surface being heated, wherein the metallic roll conducts heat away from the darker and rougher areas of the substrate while the substrate is heated;
- and
- a liquid coolant circulating through the metallic roll, wherein the liquid coolant absorbs excess heat conducted through the roll from the darker and rougher areas while the substrate is heated to prevent overheating of the darker and rougher areas.
A method for printing upon a continuous substrate, the method comprising:
- applying a wet coating containing a base to selected areas on a front surface of a portion of the continuous substrate;
- continuously advancing the portion of the continuous substrate over and around a metallic roll;
- applying infrared energy to the continuous substrate in contact with the metallic roll to vaporize the base within the wet coating on the portion of the continuous substrate as the portion advances over and around the metallic roll, wherein darker and rougher areas of the substrate absorb the infrared energy at a higher rate than lighter and smoother areas;
- and
- circulating a liquid coolant through and within the metallic roll, wherein the liquid coolant absorbs excess heat conducted through the metallic roll from the darker and rougher areas to prevent overheating of the darker and rougher areas of the substrate.
A system for applying energy to wet coatings applied to selected areas on a front surface of a substrate, the system comprising:
- a substrate support for supporting the substrate;
- a source of radiant energy;
- a housing adjacent the substrate supporting the source of radiant energy adjacent the substrate, the housing including a bar of ceramic fiberboard which supports the source of radiant energy so that radiation emitted by the source of radiant energy is reflected towards the substrate;
- and
- a source of hot, dry air, wherein the source of hot, dry air includes a plurality of vent passages extending through the bar of fiberboard so that air passing through the vent passages heats up and decreases in relative humidity for drying the wet coating as the air is applied to the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.