Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Victoria M Dunlop

Steven W Tanamachi

Temperature control apparatus for controlling the temperature of an electrically heated moveable object such as an electrically heated rotatable drum. A temperature control mechanism, rotatably mounted in conjunction with the cylindrical drum and electrically coupled to the electrical heater, controls the temperature by controlling the flow of electricity to the electrical heater in response to control signals. A temperature sensor mechanism, rotatably mounted in conjunction with the cylindrical drum and electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, senses the temperature of the surface of the cylindrical drum and produces temperature signals indicative thereof. A microprocessor, non-rotatably mounted with respect to the cylindrical drum, controls the temperature of the electrically heated drum by generating the control signals in response to the temperature signals. An optical mechanism, coupled to the temperature control means, the temperature sensor means and the microprocessor means, optically couples the temperature signals from the rotating temperature sensor means to the non-rotating microprocessor means and optically couples the control signals from the non-rotating microprocessor means to the rotating temperature control means.

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St. Croix, WI, United States of America

Victoria M Dunlop