Claims
- 1. Air flotation bar comprising:
- a. air bar header including a bottom, with at least one air inlet, opposing sides affixed to said bottom, end plates affixed between said bottom and said sides, a support plate with opposing holes affixed to said sides, a fixed air bar channel secured to said plate and forming Coanda slots between said sides and each side of said air bar channel; and
- b. removable channel supported in said air bar channel, opposing electrical connector means in said removable channel, at least one infrared bulb affixed between said connector means, a lens engaged beneath upper ends of said removable channel.
- 2. Air flotation bar comprising:
- a. air bar header including a bottom, with at least one air inlet, opposing sides affixed to said bottom, end plates affixed between said bottom and said sides, a support plate with opposing holes affixed to said sides, a fixed air bar channel secured to said plate and forming Coanda slots between said sides and each side of said air bar channel; and,
- b. a removable channel supported in said air bar channel, opposing terminal block means in said removable channel, at least one infrared bulb affixed between said terminal block means, a quartz lens engaged beneath upper ends of said removable channel, a reflector positioned between said bulb and said removable channel whereby said quartz lens provides a pressure pad area between said Coanda slots.
- 3. Air flotation bar of claim 2 comprising means for passing air between ends of said removable channel for cooling said bulb and flushing out solvent laden air.
- 4. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said air passage means is pressurized by cool air and air flow is an open end to an opening in an underside surface of said removable channel.
- 5. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said infrared energy is shortwave of 0.78 to 1.2 microns.
- 6. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said infrared energy is medium wave of 1.2 to 4.0 microns.
- 7. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said infrared energy is long wave of 4.0 to at least 10 microns.
- 8. Air flotation bar of claim 2 including opposing Coanda curves on said air bar channel.
- 9. Air flotation bar of claim 2 including a longitudinal cooling hole in said quartz lens.
- 10. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein infrared electromagnetic energy radiates directly through said quartz lens to transmit infrared energy to the traversing web.
- 11. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein infrared electromagnetic energy reflects off said reflector and through said quartz lens to impart infrared energy to the traversing web.
- 12. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said infrared bulb is positioned at the point of optimum energy transfer.
- 13. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein Coanda air flow impinges on the traversing web to dry said web.
- 14. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein infrared electromagnetic energy impinges on the traversing web to dry said web.
- 15. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein Coanda air flow and infrared electromagnetic energy impinges on the traversing web to dry said web.
- 16. Air flotation bar of claim 2 comprising a plurality of said infrared air float bars below the traversing web.
- 17. Air flotation bar of claim 2 comprising a plurality of said infrared air flotation bars above the traversing web.
- 18. Air flotation bar of claim 2 comprising a plurality of vertically aligned opposing infrared air flotation bars.
- 19. Air flotation bar of claim 2 comprising a plurality of alternatively opposing vertically aligned infrared air flotation bars.
- 20. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said infrared energy is shortwave.
- 21. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said infrared energy is medium wave.
- 22. Air flotation bar of claim 2 wherein said infrared energy is long wave.
- 23. An apparatus for infrared radiation enhancement drying of a travelling web of material suspended on a cushion of air comprising:
- a. a housing comprising a bottom and two opposing sides;
- b. means for supplying pressurized air to said housing;
- c. a fixed channel affixed in said housing between said opposing sides so as to define with each said side nozzle openings in said housing through which said air is expelled;
- d. a removable channel disposed in said fixed channel, said removable channel housing infrared irradiating means; and
- e. means responsively coupled to said supplying means and said housing for cushioning said travelling web on pressurized air.
- 24. An apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising means responsively coupled to said supplying means and said irradiating means for cooling said irradiating means with pressurized air.
- 25. An apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising means responsively coupled to said cooling means for ensuring that the pressurized air used for cooling said irradiating means has not previously been used by said cushioning means to cushion said travelling web.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
Attention is drawn to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/203,138, filed Jun. 7, 1988, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1443679 |
Jul 1976 |
GBX |