Patent ID: 7621285

Claim:
A tunnel washer for washing an article, comprising: a plurality of processing chambers including a drying chamber for drying an article; a fluid exhaust pathway located between the drying chamber and an exterior of the tunnel washer, the fluid exhaust pathway being isolated from fluid dispensing devices; a first curtain located between the fluid exhaust pathway and the exterior of the tunnel washer; a second curtain located between the fluid exhaust pathway and the drying chamber, the second curtain mounted generally parallel to the first curtain at a location spaced from the first curtain, wherein the first curtain and the second curtain isolate the drying chamber from the exterior of the tunnel washer; a first conduit having an inlet located between the first curtain and the second curtain and an outlet fluidly connected to the drying chamber; a blower for conveying a gaseous fluid along the first conduit from the inlet to the outlet; and a heater located along the conduit to heat the gaseous fluid before it enters the drying chamber.