Infrared heater

Abstract

An infrared heating element of the present invention includes a facing (preferably a fiberglass cloth) which is cut to a desired shape and size, an insulating blanket of the same shape and size as the facing, a heating filament sandwiched between the facing and the insulating blanket. The insulating blanket, which is preferably a ceramic fiber blanket, is rigidized by soaking the blanket is a rigidizing solution, such as a colloidal silica solution, The step of rigidizing the blanket provides at least one face of blanket which is impregnated with the rigidizing solution and a core which remains free of rigidizing solution. While the insulating properties of the blanket at the surfaces are reduced by the rigidizing, the insulating properties of the core of the blanket are not substantially affected. The heating element is included in a portable dryer for use in drying items such as screen printed articles. The dryer includes an adjustable column to selectively alter the height of the heating element of the dryer and a dryer head which is mounted on a carriage to enable the head to be moved between an extended and retracted position. The head is also pivotal relative to the column. The heating element is also incorporated in a heater unit which may be easily assembled substantially without tools. A plurality of the heater units may be assembled together to form a bank of heater units which are physically and electrically connected. The housing for the units allow for the wires to pass from one unit to another, without exposing the wires externally of the bank of heater units and without the use of wire conduits, and for a plurality of heater units to be connected to a single control or power supply.