Coated substrate drying system
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsGary L. Huelsman, William B. Kolb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of drying a substrate uses a condensing surface located adjacent 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.
Claims27
A method of drying a coated substrate comprising:
- locating a condensing surface spaced from the substrate which substantially corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a longitudinal gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
- evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
- transporting the vapor to the condensing surface without requiring applied convection;
- condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
- removing, using more than gravity, the condensate from the condensing surface without allowing nonuniformities of the condensate film to occur.
An apparatus for drying a coated substrate comprising:
- a condensing surface spaced from the substrate which substantially corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a longitudinal gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
- means for evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
- means for transporting the vapor to the condensing surface without requiring applied convection;
- means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
- and
- means for removing, using more than gravity, the condensate from the condensing surface without allowing nonuniformities of the condensate film to occur.
A method of drying a coated substrate comprising:
- locating a condensing surface spaced less than 5 mm from the substrate which substantially corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a longitudinal gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
- evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
- transporting the vapor to the condensing surface without requiring applied convection;
- condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
- and
- removing the condensate from the condensing surface.
An apparatus for drying a coated substrate comprising:
- a condensing surface spaced less than 5 mm from the substrate which substantially corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a longitudinal gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
- means for evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
- means for transporting the vapor to the condensing surface without requiring applied convection;
- means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
- and
- means for removing the condensate from the condensing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.