US1518580A

US1518580A - Web drier

Info

Publication number: US1518580A
Application number: US539668A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gordon D Harris
Original assignee: IND DRYER CORP
Current assignee: IND DRYER CORP; INDUSTRIAL DRYER Corp
Priority date: 1922-02-27
Filing date: 1922-02-27
Publication date: 1924-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1941-12-09

Description

G. D. HARRIS WEB DRIER Filed Feb 27, 1 922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /M//v 70a 6. Blame/5,

- G. D. HARRIS WEB DRI ER Filed Feb. 27, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 QML Deg; 9, 3 924..

G. D. HARRIS WEB DRI ER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb, 27, 1922 De 9, 1.924. swma G. D. HARRIS WEB DRIER Filed Feb. 2" "1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i I I 1 WSW Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES v a 1,518,580 PATENT OFFICE.

GoRDoN D. HARRIS, or IsLIr, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T INDUSTRIAL DRYER coR- IPORATION, or NEW. ARK, NEW JERSEY, A coRroRArIon or NEW JERSEY.

- wan DRIER.

Application filed. February 27, 1922. Serial No. 539,668.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, Gonnon DON.HA RRIS,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Islip, county of Nassau, and State of fiew 6 York, have invented a certain new and useful Web Drier, of which, the following is a specification.

This invention is a drying apparatus, and, more particularly, a drier wherein material in web form is hung or suspended in festoons, loops, or the like, from a carrier or carriers adapted for transporting said materialwithin a drying chamber.

The apparatus is useful in drying differcially adapted for drying such fibrous materials as paper, and more particularly paper coated on one or both surfaces thereof, for which purpose there is associated with the drying apparatus a traveling conveyer running from a press or coating machine directly to and into the d ing chamber, the capacity of the drier an the speed of the drying operation being so related to the output 2 of the press or coating machine that the latter machine may, in nearly all cases, be speeded up to meet the capacity of the drier, whereby increased output is obtained by an apparatus which occupies a. minimum floor :o space The drying apparatus in conjunction with a press or coating machine operates to deliver a given or specified output'of the product, i. e., paper or coated paper, irrespective of weather conditions, and to accord such treatment to the material as to condition said material whereby the product is of uniform character, and, at the same time, economy is obtainedtin the consumption of the heating agent, (steam) and the drying operation is, furthermore, carried into practice under conditions which eliminate, to a great extent, the hot humid condition of the atmosphere usually prevailing in rooms or lofts for drying paper and other materials in web form. According to this invention, provision is made for conditioning the drying atmosphere by regulating the temperature and the humidity thereof to the end that the heat units, required to lift or evaporate from the material a known quantity of moisture within a s ecified time, areconstantly supplied to sai drying atmosphere, whereas the humidity or moisture content of such drying atmosphere is modified by the admixture'of ent'materialsin web. form, but it is espe fresh air with moist air drawn from the drying chamber, to the end that the drying atmosphere flowing into contact with the material is suited to the condition of the paper and to the character of the coating thereon, whereby the paper is dried uniformly. In the treatment of coated material, the coating is not dried merely on the surface thereof, the effect of which would be to leave the interiorof the coating in a soft condition occasioned by the presence of moisture; but, on the contrary, the moisture is evapoi ated from the body or interior of the coating, so as to (by such coating uniformly and thoroughly. The flow of the drying atmosphere is controlled and distributed with respect to the festoons of material while the latter is undergoing transportation within the drying chamber, to the end that the atmosphere is delivered downwardly upon the web, the downwardly flowing air being controlled and directed for .contact with the web throughout the width, from side to side thereof, and from top to the bottom thereof, -as a result of which the suspended festoons are dried as rapidly at the middle regions thereof as they are at the edges, attaining a desirable conditioning of the web material, or a desirable conditioning of the coating on such web material, with uniformity and rapidity inthe conduct of the drying operation.

In the feed of' the drying atmosphere downwardly upon the web, and in the distribution of suzh atmosphere in a manner to flow into contact with the surface of the web from side to side thereof, I employ a flue or duct extending in overhead relation to the web carrier and spaced relatively thereto, said duct or flue being provided in the thin plate constituting the bottom thereof with orifices for the outflow of the drying atinoshere in such manner that said atmosphere 1s dispersed with respect to the width of the web, rather than concentrated in definite areas with'respect to the middle portion of said web, which concentration of the outllow obtained heretofore by the use of monies, has a tendency to compact the tibres of a paper web, or to compact thc coating tin-rton, so as to result in the production of spots or streaks in the web or the coating thereon. It is preferred to employ oriliccs in staggered relation to the path of-tbe underlying web, said orifices being in series lengthwise of the drying chamber and crosswise of said chamber, and the,crossw1se series of orifices being out of line or stag ered, as a result of 1 festoons and the delivery of thedrying atmosphere upon the .web moving below the orifices is so controlled that the air is not blown constantly into contact with the given area of the web, there being certain periods in the movement of the web below certain of said longitudinal series of the orifices wherein air does not flow constantly into contact with the samesurfaces of said web, althou h over other areas of the webthere exists t e required feed of air, and on the whole air is supplied constantly throughout certain areas of said web.

Provision is made for the efficient channeling within the drying chamber of the flow of the drying atmosphere to suit web materials which vary in width within certain limits, and to this end there is pro vided, at one or both sides of the path of the web carrier, a barrier or curtain in a desired parallelrelation to the path ofthe suspended material, each barrier or curtain, where twoare used, 'being shiftable relatively to the path of web movement and at all times parallel thereto, to the, end that there will be no spaces of appreciable width for the escape of the drying atmosphere laterally from the edges of the suspended festoons, the drying atmosphere being exhausted from the drying chamber below said suspended festoons, with a view to removin moisture laden air from the presmee of the web material.

For attaining the desired humid condition of the drying atmosphere, means are provided for effecting the discharge from the so-called wet end of the dryin chamber of the atmosphere charged wit moisture evaporated from the material as it passes into and within a given length of the drying chamber, such atmosphere flowing within the wet end of the chamber taking up the heavy lift of moisture from the more or less wet material; but the atmosphere flowing out of the dry end, so-called, of the chamber carries a relatively decreased moisture content, such outfiowing atmosphere with its decreased moisture content being utilized by recirculating the same, and such recirculated atmosphere being modified as regards its moisture content by mixing fresh atmospheric air therewith, and by reheating the mixed atmosphere in the period of its recirculation, whereby the atmosphere is conditioned both as respects ten'ipcrature and humidity, and I am enabled to secure economy of the heating agent (steam), as well as to attain constant and unlform drying of the web material under conditions and at temperatures best suited for the materials, and to carry on the drying operation efiiciently and regardless of weather conditions. A

In a practical form of apparatus adapted for drying such web'material as paper, or coated paper, I employ a housing having a continuous chamber, within which chamber operates a traveling conveyer. In a preferred form, the web carrying means is embodied in a plurality of conveyers, one of which conveyers is adapted for carrying festoons whichare spaced in relatively wide or open order to each other and within the wet end, so-called--of the chamber, 8 whereas the other conveyer is constructed for carrying festoons in closer order or relation to each other. and within the dry end, so-ealled, of said chamber.

The apparatus is located within a drying room or loft, and adjacent-a press or coat: ing machine, so that the conveyer is loaded with material directly from said ress or machine. The conveyers positione within the drying chamber operate to carry said 9 material at a desired speed therein, and the operation of drying the material is conducted wholly within the housing of the drier, some of the moisture laden-air bein carried by appropriate fines from said housing and being discharged into the outer atmosphere, whereby the material is 'condi-- tioned and dried within the housing and the air from the machine is not discharged into the drying room or loft. The employment 1 of a plurality of conveyers for carrying the festoons in open order and in a closer order within the chamber, and the control of the drying atmosphere for conditioning the material, enables me to use a housing of re- 1 duced dimensions as regards the area of a drying loft, so as to materiall economize the floor area taken up by the rier, and at the same time the capacity and the speed of the apparatus for drying and conditioning the material is so increased and related to the output of the press or the coating machine, that the latter can be increased in speed, and consequently in output, thereby resulting in a desirable increase in the out- 3 put of the material coupled with economy of space occupied by the drier.

Other functions and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the j drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation taken in the irregular plane indicated by the dotted line 1-1 of Figure 6 extending through the drying chamber of a web drying apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure is a horizontal sectional plan view taken in the irregular plane indicated by the dotted line 2-2 of Figure 3.

. nally thereof of the side walls, said wall dividing the inthe entry of the Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectionthrough the apparatus taken in the irregular plane indicated by the dotted line 3-3 of Figure 6.

Figure 4 partly in-elevation, termediate the delivery end is a detail vertical section,

through-the gearing in- .of one con- ,veyer and the loading end of an adjacent conveyer.

Figure, 5 is a detail view illustrating another embodiment of-means for supporting one of the curtains so that it may bezshifted to different operative positions relative to ing a drying atmosphere crosswise ofthe web.

' The housing A of the drying apparatus is of any appropriate dimensions and construction. baid housing is provided interwith a wall, a, parallel to one terior of said housing into a material chamber, B, and a chamber C, the latter being divided into-compartments for. the. accommodation of a plurality of heaters, L, L,

Chamber B is open at the respective ends thereof, the ingress opening being at b for material in 100p form, and the egress opening indicated at b for the outgoing material, said festoons of material at the entrance I) and exit I) of said chamber B serving as a means for substantially excluding the open ends I) I1 of the drying chamber.

The material is carried into, from and within chamber B by a'conveyer of one form or another; but in a practical embodiment of the conveyer means it is preferred to employ two conveyors, indicated at D D. As is usual in the paper and textile drying art, the web of material is suspended in festoons or loops within the treating chamber, for which purpose I em- .ploy sticks, so-called, over which the web of material is looped. In my invention, the festoons whenentering the chamber, and while undergoing transportation within' the fwet end, so-called, of said chamber, are suspended in open order, by which *I mean the festoons are spaced apart in relatively wide order, so that the drying atmosphere may circulate freely between and within such relatively widely separated loops, whereas the festoonsafter partial drying thereof and while being carried within the so-called dry end of said chamber, are suspended in closer order or relation to. each other, such closer order of the festoons also providing for the circulation therebetween inflow of fresh air at said are in the same horizontal plane,

grouped sticks at E in said Figure 1, the

sticks E being associated with conveyer D and sticks E with conveyer D. The sticks are transferred from conveyer D at the delivery end thereof to conve er D' at the loading-end of the lat-ten' y. suspending the festoons in close order within a definite part of the chamber, the capacity of said chamberB for containing web material is considerably increased. Each conveyer D is shown as consisting of an endless series of links, the load carrying run of conveyer D is inthe same plane' as the load carrying run of conveyer D, whereb the sticks on the lnconnng-conveyer are adapted to be transferred from said conveyer D to the load carrying run of the outgoing conveyer D, as shown in Figure 1. I

Theendless chains comprising the conveyer D are supported at one end by sprockon a shaft 0 which is journaled in a bearing 0 of bracket 0* fixed to a wall of the-chamber. This stub shaft 0 is provided with a pinion (l, the latter meshing with the internal gear teeth d of a sprocket wheel d which is mounted on a stub shaft (1, the perimeter of the sprocket wheel (Z being flush with the top perimeter of the sprocket wheel 0, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4:. By supporting the sprocket 0 for the chains of the conveyer D to occupy the required relation to the sprocket wheel ets 0, each mounted (1 relative to the chains of the conveyer D i the upper runs of the two conveyer-s D D and thus the sticks E of conveyer D are adapted to be transferred to the chains of the conveyer D without jarring the suspended material at the time of transferring the sticks from one conveyer to the other conveyer.

As shown, the sticks for supporting the festoons of web material are fitted in seats on the proper conveyer; but the sticks E for the conveyer Dare spaced at a considerable interval apart, so that the festoons of material are in open order or separated at relatively wide intervals. The chains of the conveyer D are provided with pockets or seats which are more'closely grouped together than the pockets of the conveyer D.

and thus the sticks E of the conveyer D -material while passing through the length of the drying chamber,

tion or length of the drying chamber B, termed thew'et end of the machine,- so that the drying atmosphere is free to circulate into contact with the suspended open order festoons in a manner to take up the heavy lift of moisture evaporated from the wet end, so-called, of the drying chamber. The .other conveyer D carries the festoons of material in closer grouped relation and within another definite section 'or length of the drying chamber, said definite section of length of the drying chamber B constitutmg a .dry end of the said chamber. By arranging the two conveyers for carrying festoons in open order within one. definite part of the chamber and in close order within another definite part of the chamber, the capacity of the chamber for containing web material is substantially increased, so that the drying apparatus will take care of all the material delivered from the press or the coating machine. A further advantage is that the-material carried within the drying chamber is subject to such treatment-that the material or the coating thereon is thorou hly and uniformly dried within the de nite section or length termed the dry end of the drying .chamber, and the ca pacity of the drying chamber for containing material, and the expeditious treatment accorded to such material by the drying at niosphere in accordance with this invention, so increase the capacity. of the drying apparatus for handling material that the press or the coating machine can be speeded up, the net result being that the output of the press is increased, and the material is dried uniformly and thoroughly during its transportation within the drying chamber.

The heating chamber C extends lengthwise of the drying chamber, parallel thereto, and on one side thereof. The upper part of the heating chamber has free communication with a supply duct or flue F, the same extending over the chamber B lengthwise and crosswise thereof. This supply duct is above the ath of the conveyor, being in overhead re ation to the festoons of material suspended by the sticks of said conveyer. Said overhead arrangement of the supply duct or flue provides for the discharge of the drying atmosphere downwardly within the drying chamber, and in order to secure a desired distribution of the downward flowing drying atmosphere, the thin plate or wall constituting the bottom of the feed duct or flue is provided with orifices 'f f F, see Figures 1, 3 and 6. As shown in Figure 3, the thin metal plate f, which forms the bottom of the overhead flue, extends the and for a suitable distance crosswise of said chamber, said thin metal plate 7 being in spaced relation to the web carrier, substantially contact with the parallel therewith, so as to provide a chamber or space intermediate the under surfacev of said overhead flue and the path of said web carrier, see Figures 1 and 3. Obviously,

the chamber or space referred to may be of a desired depth, but when the air is supplied through a single row of central orifices it is preferable to use a chamber or space of such depth that the air issuing from the centrally positioned orifices will be free to flow in all directions and to become scattered within said chamber, as a result of which the air supplied by centrally positioned orifices will flow downwardly into contact with the web throughout the width-of said web, more particularly at the top thereof, so. that the air is thus adapted to have the required web from top to bottom and from side to side thereof. The employment of centrally positioned orifices in the thin metal bottom I of the overhead flue, does not in my drier perform the function of directing the air in well defined streams against the middle portion only of the web, for the rea trolor diree g h'e air with a nozzle-like action; but, (in the contrary, the air feeding arrangement which I may employ acts to so distribute the air through the space or chamber that said air with the full width of the webat thetop thereof, the air thence flowing downwardly into contact with the web throughout the entire depth and the full width thereof.

In my preferred arrangement of the orifices, or parts, they extend in series len thwise and crosswise of the chamber an to the path of the web as the latter --is carried within said chamber, and below said ports, the preferred port arrangement being illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 6. The ports or orifices are in series, any desired number of series being used, three being shown in Figure 6, and indicated at f f F. The ports f of one series extend lengthwise of the ch her, the ports being spaced one from the other at desired intervals, (which. intervals in some instances exceed the spaces'between the suspended festoons, particularly so in the dry end of the machine), and said ports 1 being in line with each other, so that a line drawn centrally through the ports of one longitudinal series is arallel to the axial line of the chamber or substantially so. The described order of arrangement of ports f relatively to each other applies equally to the other ports of each series of ports f f so far as relates to the order of arrangement of said ports with respect to each other and to the drying chamber, and the ports f of the middle ongitud-inal series are spaced apart from the ports of the series f, and this applies, also, to the relation of the ports f with reference to theports f. As

hat said orifices do not conflows into contact shown, the plurality of series of ports f f f are spaced relatively one to the other in a direction crosswise of the web moving be low them, and such spacing results in the supply of the drying atmosphere crosswise of the web, so that the atmosphere is mechanically distributed for the full width of said web, more especially at the top thereof. In my ort arrangement, the orifices are staggere or out of line in a direction crosswise of the web as shown clearly in Figure 6; thus adjacent single ports f f f constitute a transverse series which are relatively positioned for the port f to lie somewhat in the rear and at one side of port f, whereas port 7 is somewhat in the rear and to one side of the port f. The effect of this is not only to distribute the air crosswise of the web, but in addition thereto, the air is so delivered upon the underlying festoon that as said festoo-n is advanced below the staggered ports f f f and within thedrying chamber, the air is delivered successively to diiferent portions or areas of the same festoon and crosswise thereof, whereby I am able to control the supply of air to each festoon in a manner to prevent the How of air for such a period against the Web as to compact the fibres of said web or'the coating thereon, thus to preclude the formation of spots or streaks m the paper or textile, or in the coating on the aper or fabric. As each festoon is carried slowly below the staggered ports of each transverse series, the air from port f impinges the web for a definite area, then as the web continues to advance the air from port f has contact with the same festoon at the middle portion of the web, and finally in the continued movement of the same festoon the air from port f has contact with still another area or portion of the same festoon, this being true of each festoon passing below the ports 7 7" f successively, whereby the flow of air is distributed in a general direction crosswise of the web, and said air flows successively into contact with different areas of each festoon, the effect of which is to distribute the fiow of air in a zig-zag course to each of the festoons as said festoons are carried successively below the successive series of staggered ports.

-By distributing the drying atmosphere into contact with the suspended web throughout its full widthand depth, said atmosphere is s read over the entire surface of the festoons 1n a manner to dry such festoons uniformly throughout the entire area thereof. Such distribution of the drying atmosphere across the full width of the web, and the downward flow of such atmosphere between the festoons, requires the downwardly flowing body of "air to be confined within the limits of the festoons, in, order to preclude the air from spilling out of the festoons at the edges thereof, such confinement or restriction of the downwardly flowing air being desirable to secure the contact of said atmosphere with the full width of the web from top to bottom thereof. To so confine or restrict the flow of air, I find it desirable to use curtains positioned in close relation to the web at c the respective edges thereof. For the purpose of removing moist air from the presence of the material under treatment, as well as to contribute to the downward flow of air in a positive manner and throughout the full width of the web, such moist air is exhausted from'below the side curtains and below the suspended web, as'will presently a pear. By confining the downwardly owing body of air Within the limits of the suspended festoons, through the ac? ber, I have provided curtains G G at the respective sides of the path of the festoons suspended from the conveyer. Each curtain is composed of fabric, or any other material suitable for the purpose, and the two curtains at the respective sides of the festoons are parallel to each other and to said side edges of the suspended web. Each curtain is carried on a rod g, and said rods are supported by appropriate means within the drying chamber, so that each rod and its complemental curtain may be shifted into diflerent operative positions, but always parallel with the suspended web material. As shown in Figure 5, the rod 9 for one ourtain 'is'carried by swivel bracket 9', having vertical pintles g fitted in bearing 9 attached to a wall of the chamber, whereby said brackets 9 may turn on vertical axes and the curtain can be shifted inwardly or outwardly with reference to the path of the web according to the width of said web, each curtain being at all times parallel to the edge of the suspended material. It will be understood that the swiveled brackets y are free to turn .in a horizontal plane and on vertical axes afforded by the pintles 9 so that the brackets 9' may be operated at will, in order to turn them inwardly or outwardly with respect to the path of the web. The curtain rod g is connected in a suitable manner with the swiveled brackets g, and when the brackets are turned in one directoons, it strikes the closed loops or bights at: the bottoms of said fe'stoons, as is usual m tion or the other, said curtain rod moves therewith, whereby the rod and the curtain are movable in a horizontal plane and toward or from the path of the web.

Thisadjustment of the curtains is quite an important feature of my apparatus, for

the reason that the web of paper, or other material, to be dried may and does vary in width, and by making provision for the movement of the curtains relatively to the path of the web, said curtains are adapted to co-operate with the webs which vary in width, whereby the curtains perform theirwhich bound the lower ends of the sus-' pended festoons, so as to leave relatively narrow spaces between saidlower curtain edges and the closed bights of the festoons'. The air in its downward flow within the limits of the festoons, is confined by the curtains against spilling laterally out of the festoons for practically the full depth of said festoons; but to remove the moist air (which becomes partially cooled by the exchange of heat for moisture) from the presence of the moist web material, I make provision for mechanically exhausting said air below the festoons, the air being drawn through said narrow spaces intervening the lower edges of the curtains and the closed bights at the lower ends of the festoons. In the downward flow of air-within the festhis art, but by exhausting the air mechanically from the respective sides of the festoons at the lower closed bights and below the side curtains, the air is so controlled in its down flow by the exhausting operation and by the curtains that said air contacts with the full width of the web, from top to bottom thereof.

The particular means for supporting the curtains in parallel relation to the path of movement of the suspended material maybe modified as illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the rod 9 of the curtain is supported by a series of arms h, each inclined downwardly from the curtain rod 9 and pivotedat 71. to bearingrh on a wall of the chamber. The adjustment of the curtain rod g is obtained one or a number of chains h each attached to the rod 9 and running over a direction sheave h to the outside of the housing. It will be noted that the adjusting chain or cable h can be slackened. so that the weight of the rod and the curtain will swing the arms h inwardly, said'arms h turning on the horizontal axes afforded by pintles h, thus disposing the curtain in close relation to the ed e portion of the suspended material, ut' by pulling downwardly on the chains or cables h the arms h swing upwardly and outwardly, so as to 'lift the-rod g and shift the curtain away from the edge portion of the suspended material.

H, I, designate eduction flues extending longitudinally within the drying chamber,

at the bottom portion thereof. The eduction flue H on one side of the apparatus is provided with a series of ports a controlled by dampers i, see Figures 1 and 3, and to this flue is connected an exhauster H, the outlet from which is by way of a flue (not shown) for discharging some of the warm moisture-laden air to the outside of the dry-' ing room or loft. The other flue I is provided with ports 1', controlled by dampers i and, as shown in Figure 2, the dampers 2' in the dry section of the drying chamber are open, whereas the dampers i in the wet section of the drying chamber are closed, so that the air laden with less moisture from the dry section of the drying chamber is free to pass through theports 11 and into the flue I, to be recirculated within the drying chamber. Said eduction flue I is in communication with circulating device J, shown as a fan or blower operated by pulley 7'. The intake j of the, fan or blower is in direct communication with the eduction flue I, whereas the outlet 7' of said fan or blower is in direct communication with heating chamber C, see Figure 2.

It will be noted that my apparatus pro-f vides means for discharging some of the moist air from the drying chamber through the action of fan H exhausting air through theduct H, whereas some of the moist air from said drying chamber is drawn by fan J through the duct I, the air so flowing within duct I being recirculated by blower tent, for the reason that such air drawn by said blower from the so-called dry end of the chamber, and it is desirable, first, to modify the air to berecircula-ted by admixture of fresh atmospheric air therewith, thus reducing the moisture content of the air to be delivered back to the drying chamber, and, second, to control the temperature of the air by reheating or boosting the same prior to the flow of such air back to the drying chamber, such operation of boosting or reheating the air being for the purpose of imparting thereto the heat units necessary to effect the exchange of heat for moisture during the flow of the modified and reheated air into contact with the material to be treated. The apparatus shown makes provision for conditioning the air to be recirculated. In one embodiment of means for modifying the moisture content of the air to be recirculated, the fan or blower J is provided with the fresh air inlet adapted to be controlled by a slide damper K so that the volume of fresh air to be mixed with the atmosphere to be recirculated may be governed by the adjustment of said damper K. The fresh air is mixed with the warm moist air exhausted from the drying chamber, the admixture of fresh air with the moist humid atmosphere taking place within the blower and the chamber C, so that the air is conditioned as respects its moisture content by the admission of fresh atmospheric air to the humid atmosphere.

Means are provided for heating to desired temperatures the drying atmosphere 'recirculated by the blower J, such heating means being shown as a plurality of heaters L L L The drying atmosphere recirculated by the blower is channeled or divided prior to its delivery to duct or flue F, by which said atmosphere is returned to the drying chain 1 her by being blown downwardly upon the web. Such division or channeling of the recirculated atmosphere takes place within chamber (7. and is due to the division of said chamber into compartments by the provision of vertical partitions 0 the latter being positioned within chamber C intermediate the wall a and the adjacent side wall of I the housing. Said partitions are parallel to each other, and they extend from flue plate f at the top down to the plane of the eduction flue I, see Figure 3, whereby the air set in motion by the blower passes into the lower part of chamber C and thence flows upwardly between the vertical partitions c and through the channels provided by the compartments into which chamber C is divided.

The air heaters L L L are'of varying capacities, thus producing a differential heating means, whereby separate streams of the drying atmosphere recirculated by blower J and divided into streams by the channeling means, are heated to different temperatures suited to the condition and temperature in different portions of the product undergoing transportation within the drying chamber. The web entering the drying chamber contains the maximum moisture content, for which reason it is desirable to suspend the festoons in relatively wide order and thus allow the tree contact of the drying atmosphere therewith, and it is desirable, also, to supply a drying atmosphere heated to a relatively high tempera ture for contact with the surfaces of the wet web or the coating on such web, whereby the drying atmosphere acts efliciently in the exchange of heat for moisture and carries off the heavy lift of moisture from the web at the wet end of the ap )ara'tus, the dampers i in the e duction flue I l being open at said wet end of the chamber for the free egress of the heavy moisture laden air under the suction of exhauster H, whereas the dampers .5 in the flue I are closed at the Wet end of the machine. 7

As the moisture content of the web decreases due to the exchange of heat for moisture at thewet end of the chamber, it is not required to subject the web to such hi h temperatures during the movement of said web into successive definite regions or areas of the drying chamber. To meet such conditions, and to supply a drying atmosphere at temperatures suited to the moisture content ot the product, I have provided differential heating means by which, as stated. a stream of the drying atmosphere at a relatively high temperature is supplied to the web within the wet end of the chamber, and by which other streams of the drying atmosphere are supplied at progressive decreased temperatures to the web in the middle region or area of the chamber and to the web within the dry or exit portion of said -chamber. In the apparatus shown, the drying atmosphere circulated by blower J flows in separate streams or currents through the compartments or channels produced'by partitions 0 within chamber C, and the heaters LL L are positioned within said channels or compartments so as to be in the line of flow of the individual streams or currents. Said element L is the heater of maximum heating capacity of the series used, for the element L. and said element L operates to heat air flowing into the middle region of the chamber to a less temperature than the air heated by L. In like manner, element L is of less heating capacity than element L. said element L operatingio heat the air to be supplied to the dry or delivery end portion of chamber B to a decreased temperature; in fact, the temperature of the air flowing into the dry area of the chamber may be at or about the temperature of the product; within said delivery region.

The heating means employed in conjunction with the means for channeling the air to flow in divided streams thus coact efliciently for heating the separate streams of air to temperatures which decrease proportionately to a decrease in the moisture content of the web. Thus, at-the part of the web having a maximum moisture content,

the air is supplied at a relatively high temperature; that part of the web which lies in the middle region of the chamber and which has been deprived of part of its moisture content is treated by air heated to a det crcased temperature, but which, however, is

to the moisture content of the web present.

in the different regions of the drying chamher, the several streams of air so supplied being constituted by air exhausted from the drying chamber so as to carry a desired moisture content, and modified as to such moisture content by the admixture therewith of fresh atmospheric "air, whereby the drying atmosphere so circulated by blower J is delivered to the drying chamber in conditions suited to the moisture content and temperature of the product.

The dampers a" of the eduction flue H and the dampers i of the recirculating flue I provide for the controlof the escaping moisture laden air through flue H under the action of exhauster H, as well as controlling the volume of air to be recirculated by the blower J. As shownin Figure 2, the dampers i may be open in flue H for the full length thereof, so that exhauster I-I' may discharge a maximum volume of moist air, whereas the air to be recirculated by blower J is exhausted from that region of chamber B which contains the part of the web having the least moisture content, for which purpose the dampers i are closed at the wet end and the middle region of chamber B while dampers i at the dry end of the chamber are open (see Figure 2), for the blower J to exhaust air with a low moisture content from the dry end of the chamber, which air is drawn through flue I into blower J and recirculated as described. The emplo ment of the independent flues H I and t etwo series of dampers provides for a reversal in the conditions of the air discharge and air recirculation suited to the conditions of treatment of the material; thus it may be festoons. 1

having been supplied to the coils constitutthe series of heaters, the circulating devices H J are set into motion whereby the drying atmosphere is circulated within the drying chamber. The action of the fan H draws the moisture laden air through the ports 7: into the eduction flue H, whereby a certain proportion of the moisture laden air is discharged from the cham ber. v The circulating device J draws the atmosphere from tlife dry end of the chamber, the atmosphere flowingthrough orts i into flue I and thence into blower Valve K havin been opened, more or less fresh air is admitted to the drying atmosphere circulated by blower J, the atmosphere within which divides said atmosphere into separate streams which flow in an upward direction into contact with the different heaters. The upward flowin streams of air within the chamber C are de ivered intov the overhead flue F, by which the streams of air are delivered through the orts downwardly upon the web to flow within the suspended --mitting said air to pass into the drying room or loft, but a certain proportion of the moist 4 mg chamber passes warmair from the. (1 into flue I and is blown by blower J in separate streams through the chamber C so as to flow into flue F and thence be discharged bein blown into the chamber C, the channels llO downwardly into the drying chamber, thus eifecting the recirculation of some of the warm humid atmosphere. z

During the recirculation of said drying atmosphere it is conditioned by mixing fresh air therewith and by heating the separate streams to different temperatures. In case wide material is suspended from the sticks of the conveyer, the operator should adjust the curtains G G according to the width of such material, but when narrow material is suspended from the conveyor the curtains are shifted inwardly and into close proximity to the edges of the material, parallel therewith. I

Briefly stated, the drying operation is conducted according to the principle that as the reieteo moisture content of the material decreases so does the temperature of the drying atmosphere decrease proportionately to such reduction in the moisture content of the material, the drying atmosphere at the higher temperature bein fed to that part of the web material having the maximum moisture content, for effecting the heavy moisture lift, and the streams of the drying atmosphere being decreasedin temperature in the successive zones of the chamber, as a result of which economy is attained in the steam required for the efficient conditioning of the drying atmosphere, and the evaporation from the web of material is conducted under such conditions as to attain a substantially uniform temperature in and of the material itself whereas the drying atmosphere supplied to the successive zones of the drying chamber are decreased in temperature proportionately to a decrease in the moisture content of the material.

My invention involves a mode of drying and conditioning material in web form, such 25- as paper, while the same is being carried through a substantially closed chamber and with said material suspended in festoons, whereby said Web of paper is not only dried uniformly but its physical condition is improved owing to the fact that the drying atmosphere, usually air, is controlled for downward flow between and within the festoons'and for substantially the full width of th web. The-flow of air into contact with the middle portion of the web, and under such velocity as will carry the air downwardly between the festoons to the bottoms of the festoons, has a tendency to establish spots or streaks in the surface ofthe web owing to the impact of streams of air against the wet paper stock. Bydistributing the air in its downward flow into contact with the web for the full width thereof, this tendency to compact the fibres ofthe web within definite areas by the velocity and pressure of the air, is overcome so that the paper is not spotted or streaked. Again, the treatment of the web includes flowing. air downwardly -within the festoons, and exhausting air from the closed bottoms of said festoons at the respective edges thereof in a way to spread the festoons and to preclude offsetting of the coated surfaces thereof, and

to preclude, also, the suspended festoons from swaying within the dryin chamber, thus overcoming all contact of t e festoons with the walls or surfaces of the drying chamber, so as to minimize any tendency to spoil or injure the paper. Furthermore, the paper is dried and conditioned by the flow into conta 'ct with the festoons of a drying atmosphere the temperature and humidity of which is controlled within certain limits, owing to the fact that said drying atmosphere is composed in part of moist heated air exhausted from the drying chamber, and in part is composed of fresh atmospheric air which is mixed with the moist air, and the temperature of which modified atmosphere is increased by boosting or heating the same at a period subsequent to exhausting the air from the drying chamber and the flow of the modified drying atmosphere back to the chamber by blowing the same downwardly upon the web.

My invention includes a mode of treating a web of paper, or a web of coated paper, for drying the same uniformly and without curling the edge portions of said festoons. This is due to the presence in the drying atmosphere of a certain moisture content, said atmosphere performing the function of a carrier for the heat units which are necessary to effect the exchange of heat for moisture. In short, the feed of warm moist air into contact with the web operates to dry said web without curling the edges thereof.

Again, the staggered arrangement of the ports in each transverse series blows air downwardly upon the festoons hung over the sticks in a manner to feed the downtion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Drying apparatus embodying a housing provided with a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of web material, means for carrying festoons of web material adapted for partially closing said ingress and egress ends of the chamber, and means for recirculating a drying atmosphere within said chamber and downwardly upon the festoons of material suspended from said carrying means.

2. Drying apparatus embodying a housing provided with a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress ofweb material, carrying means for transporting festoons of material in open order within a definite length ofthe chamber and in closer order within another definite length of the chamber, said festoons of material being suspended for partially closing the ingress to and the egress from said chamber, and means for circulating a drying atmosphere within the chamber and downwardly upon the festoons of material suspended therein.

3. Drying apparatus embodying a housing provided with a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of web material, a conveyer adapted for carrying festoons in open order within a definite part of the chamber, another conveyer operating to carry festoons in closer order within another definite part of the chamber, means for.-

circulating a drying atmosphere within said chamber, said circulating means including a flue extending lengthwise of the chamber and above the path of the conveyer whereby the drying atmosphere is discharged downwardly upon the festoons of material suspended from the conveyers.

4. Drying apparatus embodying a housing provided with a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of web materiaL-a conveyer positioned within said chamber and operating to transport festoons in 0 en order within a definite part of the cham er, mother conveyer adapted for carrying festoons in. closer order within another definite part of the chamber, means for circulating a drying atmosphere within the chamber and downwardly upon the festoons of the material, and means for conditioning said drying atmosphere as to temperature and humidity during such circulation.

5. Drying apparatus embodying a housing provided with a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of web material, a conveyer for carrying festoons in open order within a definite part of the chamber, another conveyer adapted for carrying fes toons' in closer order within another definite part of the chamber, means for discharging from the chamber a certain ortion of moisture laden atmosphere owing therein, means for recirculating within said chamber a definite volume of the humid atmosphere, and means for conditioning the recirculated atmosphere by mixing fresh atmospheric air therewith. v v

6. Drying apparatus embodying a housing provided with a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of web material, a conveyer for carrying festoons in open order within a definite part of the chamber, another conveyer adapted for carryin festoons in closer order within another de nite part of the chamber, means for discharging from the chamber a certain volume of moisture laden atmosphere flowing therein, means for recirculating within said chamber a definite volume of heated and humid atmosphere present therein, means for reheating the dryin'g atmosphere during the recirculation thereof, and means for mixing fresh atmospheric air with the drying atmosphere dur- I ing the period of recirculating the same.

7. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of material in web form, a conveyer for transporting festoons of such material within said chamber, means for exhausting a drying atmosphere from the chamber below the festoons suspended therein, and recirculating means the intake of which is in communication with said exhausting means at one side of the chamber and the outlet of which delivers the recirculated atmosphere downwardly upon the festoons. suspended within said chamber.

8. Drying apparatus embodying a cham-- communication with said exhausting means at one side of the chamber and the outlet of which delivers the recirculated; atmosphere downwardly upon the festofons suspended within said chamber, and means for heating the recirculated drying atmosphere in the intervals between its egress gfrom the chamber and its return to said chamber.

9. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of material in web form, a conveyer for transporting'festoons of such material within said chamber, means for exhausting a drying atmosphere from the chamber at the bottom portion thereof, recirculating means the intake of which is in communication with said exhausting means at one side of the chamber and the outlet of which delivers the recirculated atmosphere downwardly upon the festoons of material suspended within said chamber, and means for mixing fresh air with the recirculated drying atmosphere at a stage between the egress of said atmos phere from the chamber and the return of the mixed atmosphere to said chamber.

10. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of material in web form, a conveyer for transporting festooris of suchmaterial within said chamber, means for exhausting a drying'atmosphere from the chamber at' the respective sides thereof, recirculating means the inta-ke'of which is in communication with said exhausting means at one side of the chamber and the outlet of which delivers the recirculated atmosphere downwardly'u on the festoons of material suspended within said chamber, means formixing fresh atmospheric air with the drying atmosphere at a stage between its egress.

pended therein, and a plurality of heaters of difi'erent heating capacity positioned in the line of fiow'of the recirculated drying atmosphere for heating such atmosphere to different temperatures and for feeding such atmosphere at varying temperatures into difl'erent drying zones within said chamber.

12. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of material in web form, a conveyer for transporting festoons of such material within said chamber, an exhaust flue in communication with the chamber at one side thereof, a heating chamber the outlet of which is a flue positioned for delivering a drying atmosphere downwardly upon the festoons of'materia-l, heaters within said heating chamber, and a circulating device the intake of which is connected with the exhaust flue and the outlet of which is connected with the heating chamber.

13. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber open at the ends for the ingress and egress of material in web form, a conveyer for transporting festoons of such material within said chamber, an exhaust flue in communication with the chamber at one side thereof, a heating chamber the outlet of which is a flue positioned for delivering a drying atmosphere downwardly upon t'he festoons of material, heaters. within said heating chamber, a circulating device con,-

nected with the exhaust flue and with the heating chamber, and means for feeding atmospheric air in regulated volumes to said circulating device. 7 14. Drying apparatus embodying a cham-' 'ber, means for conveying material within said chamber, an eduction flue extending len thwise of the chamber and in communication therewith for the outflow of a controllable volume of the drying atmosphere,

a heating chamber the outlet of which is a flue extending above the first chamber for delivering a dryingatmosphere downwardly therein, a circulating device connected wit said eduction flue and with the heating chamber, and means for modifying the con 'dition of the atmosphere circulated within connected with the other eduction delivering a drying atmosphere downwardly therein, a circulating device connected with said eduction flue and with the heating chamber, means for feeding fresh air into the atmosphere recirculated by said circulating device, and means within the heating chamber for imparting heat to the. mixture afi'orded by the drying atmosphere and the fresh air.

16. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, means positioned therein for supporting material, a heating chamber the out-let of which is a flue extending lengthwise of the first chamber for feeding a drying atmosphere downwardly therein, a plurality of eduction fiues at. the lower part of said first chamber, each having inlets by which a drying atmosphere is free to flow out, of the first chamber, means for exhausting one of said-eduction flues, and a circulatin device flue and with said heating chamber.

17. In a drier, the combination with a chamber, and means for carrying web material therein, of a curtain positioned in parallel relation to the path of said :ma-

curtain in operative positions and parallel to the path of said material, means for feed ing air into the chamber and downwardly upon the web material therein, and means for exhausting air from the chamber and substantially below the web material therein. i

18. In a drier, the combination with a chamber, a conveyer therein, and means for feedin a drying atmosphere into the upper part 0 said chamber and downwardly upon material suspended within said chamber by said conveyer, of a plurality of curtains positioned in parallel relation to the path of material suspended from said conveyer, means for supporting each curtain in shiftable relation to the material, and means for exhaustin the drying atmosphere from said chamber the. intake to said exhaustin means being below the material suspende within said chamber by the conveyerr 19. In a drier, the combination with a chamber, and a conveyer, of a curtain rod, a curtain suspended. fromsaid rod and positioned parallel to the path of the material suspended from said conveyer,'and a rodsuppoi'ting bracket mounted for movement on a vertical axis and operable. for shiftably supporting said rod in parallel relation to the material.

20. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber within which web material is carried in festoons, means for recirculating a drying atmosphere within said chamber, and heating means for said drying atmosphere, the heating capacity of said heating means decreasing in proportion to the decrease in the moisture content of the material under treatment.

'21. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber within which web material is carried in fest-oons, means for recirculating a drying atmosphere Within said chamber, and differential heating means in the line of flow of the drying atmosphere during recircula-' chamber, means for recirculating a drying atmosphere within said drying chamber and the heating chambers, and heaters within said heating chambers, said heaters decreasing in capacity for giving off heat units and said heaters acting to imp-art to the drying atmosphere flowing into the different zones of the drying chamber temperatures which decrease proportionately to the decrease in the moisture content of the material under treatment.

23. Drying apparatus embodying a-chamber, means for carrying within a definite part of said chamber a web the festoons of which are relatively separated-by intervals of appreciable width, other means for carrying within another definite part of said chamber a web with festoons separated by intervals of less appreciable width than the festoons first mentioned, in combination with means for feeding air into said chamber and downwardly upon said festoons of the web, and exhausting means the intake of which is in communication with the chamber below the festoons of said web.

24. Drying apparatus embodying a chamher, web carriers operating to suspend festoons in widely separated order within a definite part of the chamber and to suspend festoons in closer relation to each other with; in another definite portion of said chamber, means for blowing air downwardly upon the festoons of said web and exhausting means the intake to which is in communication with the chamber below the festoons suspended from said web carriers.

25. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, means for carrying a web the festoons' 'of which are relatively separated by intervals which vary in width whereby the festoons in one part of the chamber are more closely disposed than are'the festo/ons in another part of said chamber, means for feeding air to the chamber and downwardly upon the festoons, exhausting air the intake to which is in communication with said chamber below the path of the web, and means for defining the'downflowing air substantially within the limits of said web.

- 26. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a carrier operating to suspend a web the festoons of which within one part of the chamber are more closely disposed to each other than are the festoons in. another part.

of the chamber, means for feeding air downwardly upon the web, and means for exhausting air the intake to which is in communication with the lower part of said chamber; and substantially below the path of said we 27. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a plurality of stick conveyers operable for transferring sticks from one conveyer to the other conveyer and said sticks being relatively spaced for the suspension of a web the festoons of which are positioned in closer. order to each other below one conveyer than are the festoons suspended below the other conveyer, means for feeding air into the chamber and downwardly upon the web, means for exhausting air, the intake to which is in communication with the chamber substantially below the path of said Web, and means for confining the downflowing air substantially within the limits of said web.

28'. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web within said chamber, means for feeding air downwardly upon said'web festoons, means adjacent the suspended festoons for confining the downwardly flowing air within the limits of said festoons, and exhausting means the intake to which is in communication with the chamber substan tially below'the path of said web. 1

29. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web" within said cham er, means for feeding air downwardly upon said festoons, a plurality of curtains positioned adjacent the path of said web, one of said curtains being shiftable laterally with reference to the path of the web and substantially free from contact therewith, and exhausting means the intake to which is in communication with thechamber and in such relation thereto as to exhaust air from the festoon's of the web and from said chamber.

31. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a 'web within said chamber, means for feeding air downwardly upon said festoons, a plurality of curtains positioned adjacent the path of said web and in parallel relation thereto, each of said curtains being shiftable laterally with.respect to the path of the web, and exhausting means the intake to which is in communication with the chamber substantially at the lower part thereof and adjacent the festoons suspended therein.

32. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a-carrier for moving festoons of a web within said chamber, means for feeding air downwardly upon said web, exhausting means below the path of said web, and means intermediate the air feeding means and the exhausting means for confining the downwardly flowing air within the limits .of said festoons.

33. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a carrier for moving festoons of a web within said chamber, means for exhausting air below the festoons of said web, and a plurality of curtains positioned adj acentthe path of said festoons, said curtains being intermediate the air feeding means and the air exhausting means for confining the downwardly flowing air substantially within the limits of the said festoons.

34. Drying apparatus embodying a charm her, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web within said chamber, means for.

feeding and distributing air to secure a downward flow intermediate the festoons and for substantially width of said web, and means for exhaust'ng air below said festoons of the web.

35. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web within said chamber, means for feeding and distributing air to secure a downward flow intermediate the festoons and for substantially the width of said web, and means for confining the downwardly flowing air within tb limits of said festoons,

36. Drying appara'us embodying a chain her, a carrier for mo g suspended festoons of a web within said chamber, means for feeding and distributing air to secure a downward ilow intermediate the lest/cons and for substantially the width said web, means for confining he flowing air substantially wi nin the limits oi the suspended festoons, means for exhaust ing air below said suspended festoons.

3?. Drying apparaus embodying a her, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web within chamber, means for Fe ding and distributing ir to secure downward flow for substantially t said web, and air channe L I n said chamber and tree said suspended festoons and positioned adjacent the path of said web for confining the downwardly flowing air substantially within the limits of said festoonsf 38. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web within said chamber, and air recirculating means the intake of which is below the suspended festoons and the outlet from which feeds air downwardly upon the web, and means for conditioning the recirculated air by the admixture therewith of fresh air supplied to the recirculated air at a point exteriorly of the chamber.

39. Drying apparatus embodying a chamher, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web within said chamber, air recirculating means the intake of which is below the suspended festoons and the outlet from which feeds air downwardly upon the web, and means for boosting the recirculated air by heating the same intermediate the intake to and the outlet from said recirculating means.

40. ing apparatus embodying a chamher, a carrier for moving suspended festoons of a web within said chamber, air recirculating means the intake of which is supplied with air from said chamber below the festoons and the outlet of which feeds air downwardly upon the web, means for conditioning the recirculated air by the mixture therewith or fresh air supplied to the recirculated air at a point exteriorly of the chamher, and means for heating the air as it is recirculated and conditioned.

d1. lin the art of drying and conditioning material web form, the process which consists in feeding air downwardly upon suspended festoons of the web, exhausting moist air laterally from the bottoms of said fest-oons, and confining the downwardly flowing air substantially within the limits of said suspended festoons.

42. In the art of drying and conditioning paper in web form, the process which consists in moving a web suspended in -lestoons within a substantially closed chamber, blowing air downwardly within the festoons and for substantially the width of the web, and confining the downwardly flowing air substantially within the width of the festoons and for substantially the depth thereof,

l3. in the art oi drying and conditioning paper in web form, process which consists in moving a web suspended in leetoons within a substantially closed chamber, blowing air downwardly within the i estoons, confining e downwa' y flowing air within the wit n of the web and for tially the c 1 oi the i testoons, exhausta-ir laterally from the bottoms of said stoons,

r and co oning paper in webform, the process which consists in carrying aapaper web suspended in festoons within a'substantially closed chamber, blowing downwardly upon said web a drying atmosphere the humidity of which is modified by the admixture of fresh air with moist air drawn from said chamber, dividing the drying atmosphere into separate currents adapted to flow into different regions of the chamber, and heating the separate currents of the drying atmosphere to difierent temperatures suited to the moisture content of .the material under treatment prior to flowing said difi'erent currents into contact'wi'th the web in different regions of said chamber.

45. In ,the art of drying and conditioning paper in web form, the process which consists in carrying a paper web suspended in festoons within a substantially closed chamber, distributing for substantially the width of the web and blowin downwardly thereon a dryin atmosphere t e humidity of which is modified by mixing fresh air with moist air drawn from said chamber, dividing the drying atmosphere into separate streams or currents, and separately heating the streams to temperatures which decrease in propor tion to a decrease in the moisture content of the web.

46. In the art of drying and conditioning material in web form, the process which consists in moving a web suspended in festoons within a substantially closed chamber, distributing air for substantially the width of the web, and exhausting air below the web for carrying moist air away from the presen'ce of said web.

47. In the art of drying and conditioning material in web form, the process which consists in moving a web suspended in festoons within a substantially closed chamber, and feeding and distributing air for substantially the width of, and downwardly upon, said web.

48. In the art of drying and conditionin material in Web form, the process whic consists in moving a. web suspended in festoons within a substantially closed chamber, 7

feeding air downwardly into contact with the web'and for substantially the width of said web, whereby air is distributed for contact with the web throughout the Width thereof, and exhausting air from the bottom [of the festoons.

ing the separate streams of air to progressively increasing temperatures whereby the separate and differently heated streams are Web.

adapted for contact with difl'erent portions of the web according to the moisture content of such web.

50. In the art of drying and conditioning material in web form, the process which consists in moving within a substantially closed chamber a web of material suspended in festoons and the moisture content of which web is decreased proportionately to the advance of said web into different regions of the chamber, and circulating difi'erent streams of a drying atmosphere into contact the web, the temperature of said different streams ofthe drying atmosphere'decreasing in proportion to a decrease in the moisture content in the different portions of said 51. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, means for moving therein a web suspended infestoons, and means for feeding air downwardly upon said web, said feeding means includin ports extending in a plurality of series longitudinally over the path of said web.

52. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, means for moving therein a Web suspended in festoon's, and means for feeding air downwardly upon said web, said feeding means including ports positioned in sta geiied order transversely to the path of said we 53. Drying apparatus embodying a chamas I ber,- means for moving therein a web susi -web, said ports in adjacent longitudinal series being in disalined relation one to the other in a direction crosswise of the path of the web. 55. Drying apparatus embodying a-chamber, means for moving therein a web. suspended in festoons, and means for feeding air downwardly upon said web, said air feeding means including ports in staggered order to each other in a direction crosswise of the path of said web. 1

56. Drying apparatus embodying a chamber, means for moving. therein a Web suspendedin festoons, means for circulating a drying atmosphere divided into separate streams and flowing downwardly upon the web within separate regions of said chamher, and differential heating means whereby the separate streams are heated to temperatures varying according to the moisture content of the web contained within said means whereby said divided streams are separate regions of the chamber. heated to different temperatures prior to 57. Drying apparatus embodying a chamflowing into contact with the web present her, means for moving therein a web suswithin said different regions ofthe chamber.

5 pended in festodns, means for circulating a In testimony whereof I have hereto signed drying atmosphere divided into separate my name this' 24th day of February, 1922. streams and delivered into difi'erentregions 7 of said chamber, and differential heating GORDON D. HARRIS.