Patent ID: 6682598
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: C04B,F26B

Abstract:
In combination:a casting machine for coating a support strip with a slurry containing a volatile liquid to form green ceramic tape, comprising: a casting head for applying the slurry; and a movement system for moving the support strip relative to the casting head; and a drying apparatus for drying the applied slurry by controlled evaporation of the volatile liquid; comprising: a tunnel; including: a floor; a cover spaced above said floor; a barrier dividing said tunnel into a first chamber and a second chamber; each said chamber including: a gas outlet disposed adjacent said barrier for controllably removing carrier gas and entrained vapor of the volatile liquid from said chamber; and a gas inlet connected to a carrier gas source for introducing carrier gas into said chamber disposed opposite said gas outlet; and solvent vapor removal means connected to each said gas outlet for removing the vapor of the volatile liquid from the carrier gas; and wherein: the movement of carrier gas in said first chamber is substantially parallel with the relative movement of the support strip and applied coating; and the movement of carrier gas in said second chamber is counter to the relative movement of the support strip and applied coating.