Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for drying printed web material, comprising: a chamber, housing a fan disposed within a casing, said casing having a fan inlet in open communication with the interior of said chamber; duct means for discharging a drying flow of air from said fan to outside said chamber; means disposed outside said chamber for heating said flow; means disposed outside said chamber for directing the heated air onto the printed web; collector means for collecting the solvent mixture resulting from the web-drying operation; first and second outlet means for allowing outflow of the collected solvent mixture from said collector means, said first outlet means being connected to the interior of said chamber; fresh air inlet means also connected to the chamber interior; and, valve means for independently controlling flow through the first outlet means, the second outlet means and the fresh air inlet means whereby the solvent mixture can be both recirculated and exhausted, without opening the fresh air inlet means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for drying printed web material, comprising: a chamber, housing a fan disposed within a casing, said casing having a fan inlet in open communication with the interior of said chamber; duct means for discharging a drying flow of air from said fan to outside said chamber; means disposed outside said chamber for heating said flow; means disposed outside said chamber for directing the heated air onto the printed web; collector means for collecting the solvent mixture resulting from the web-drying operation; first and second outlet means for allowing outflow of the collected solvent mixture from said collector means, said first outlet means being connected to the interior of said chamber; fresh air inlet means also connected to the chamber interior; and, valve means for independently controlling flow through the first outlet means, the second outlet means and the fresh air inlet means whereby the solvent mixture can be both recirculated and exhausted, without opening the fresh air inlet means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, provided with an atmospheric outlet means and solvent recovery means and means for selectively connecting the second outlet means with one or either of the atmospheric outlet means and the solvent recovery means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve means comprise louvres.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, provided with means sensitive to the temperature of the drying flow of air and operable so as to control the thermal output of the means for heating said flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, provided with control means sensitive to changes in the air to solvent ratio of the solvent mixture and operable so as to adjust the valve means for controlling flow through the first and second outlet means and also the fresh air inlet means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a machine for printing the web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 6, further comprising control means sensitive to changes in a ratio of the air and solvent in the solvent mixture and operable so as to adjust the valve means for controlling flow through the first and second outlet means and the fresh air inlet means, and operable to shut down said machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said machine comprises a rotogravure printing machine.