Patent ID: 8857448

Claim:
A tunnel washer for washing an article, comprising: a pre-washing chamber, a washing chamber, and a rinsing chamber; an exhaust duct in fluid communication with a ventilation system, said exhaust duct having a first inlet; a first dividing curtain disposed at an entrance to said pre-washing chamber of said tunnel washer; a second dividing curtain disposed at said entrance to said pre-washing chamber and spaced from said first dividing curtain in a horizontal conveying direction through said tunnel washer, said first and second dividing curtains disposed generally parallel to each other to define a gaseous fluid pathway therebetween, wherein said gaseous fluid pathway communicates with said first inlet of said exhaust duct and wherein said first and second dividing curtains provide a physical barrier to liquids between the gaseous fluid pathway and all liquid fluid dispensing devices; and a blower for drawing fluid into the exhaust duct from the gaseous fluid pathway and for exhausting through the ventilation system; a drying chamber; and a recirculation duct in fluid communication with both the drying chamber and second gaseous fluid pathway for circulating fluid between said gaseous fluid pathway and said drying chamber.