Drying module, continuous drying system and method for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023724185
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-04-28
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-05
AI Technical Summary
Conventional continuous drying systems for painted workpieces and assemblies, such as vehicle bodies, suffer from significant heat loss through drying air lines, leading to reduced energy efficiency and increased assembly and maintenance efforts.
A continuous drying system with a drying module that incorporates a self-contained drying air circuit within the module housing, eliminating the need for separate hot air generation means and air lines, and utilizing an electric drying air heating device connected directly to the electrical network, along with a thermally insulating module housing to minimize heat losses.
The solution results in a more energy-efficient, space-saving, and cost-effective drying system with reduced assembly and maintenance requirements, allowing for efficient drying of painted workpieces and assemblies while minimizing heat loss and operational costs.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Drying module, continuous drying system and method for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies
[0002] Technical area
[0003] The invention relates to a drying module for a continuous drying system for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, comprising at least one module housing, at least one drying tunnel, which is radially enclosed on the outside by the module housing with respect to its longitudinal extent and in which the painted workpieces or assemblies passing through the drying tunnel can be exposed to drying air, and at least one intermediate space arranged between the module housing and the drying tunnel. Furthermore, the invention relates to a continuous drying system for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, using at least one drying module of a continuous drying system.
[0004] State of the art
[0005] To accelerate the curing of coatings, hereinafter referred to collectively as paints, on substrates such as vehicle bodies, it is known to subject coated substrates to hot drying air in a continuous drying system. This drying process is particularly used in automotive manufacturing, for example, for drying vehicle bodies painted using a cathodic dip coating process.
[0006] For example, DE 20 2011 104 983 U1 discloses a conventional continuous-flow system for drying painted vehicle bodies. The system comprises a continuous-flow dryer and separately arranged means for generating hot drying air, which are connected to the continuous-flow dryer via drying air ducts to supply hot drying air to and from the continuous-flow dryer. A disadvantage of such a conventional drying system is that a relatively large amount of heat is lost to the environment via the drying air ducts, which impairs the energy efficiency of such a conventional drying system.
[0007] Disclosure of the invention
[0008] An object of the invention is to enable more energy-efficient drying of painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular of painted vehicle bodies, with less assembly effort.
[0009] This object is achieved by the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are recited in the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figures, whereby these embodiments, either individually or in combination with at least two of these embodiments, may represent an advantageous and / or further developing aspect of the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the drying module or the continuous drying system may correspond to advantageous embodiments of the method, and vice versa, even if this is not explicitly referred to below.
[0010] A drying module according to the invention for a continuous drying system for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, has at least one module housing, at least one drying tunnel which is enclosed radially outwardly by the module housing with respect to its longitudinal extent and in which painted workpieces or assemblies passing through the drying tunnel are dried.Components can be supplied with drying air, and at least one intermediate space arranged between the module housing and the drying tunnel, wherein the intermediate space is communicatively connected to the drying tunnel via at least one air inlet of the drying tunnel and at least one air outlet of the drying tunnel to form at least one drying air circuit, and at least one drying air blower, with which the drying air can be circulated within the drying air circuit, and at least one electric drying air heating device, with which the drying air can be heated within the intermediate space, are each at least partially arranged in the intermediate space. According to the invention, a drying air circuit is constructed entirely within the drying module or the module housing of the drying module.Therefore, according to the invention, means for generating hot drying air arranged separately from the drying module and drying air lines for connecting the drying module to the means for generating hot drying air arranged separately from the drying module are superfluous and are not required. This eliminates heat loss via such means and drying air lines, allowing the drying module according to the invention to be operated in a significantly more energy-saving and energy-efficient manner than conventional drying modules.
[0011] By eliminating the need for means for generating hot drying air and the drying air ducts, a continuous drying system comprising the drying module(s) according to the invention can also be designed to be significantly more space-saving and installed with significantly reduced assembly effort. The inventive use of an electric drying air heating device further reduces this assembly effort, since the electric drying air heating device simply needs to be connected to an existing electrical network. No connection of the electric drying air heating device to fluid-carrying systems is required, so that ultimately the installation of such fluid-carrying systems can also be eliminated, which further reduces assembly effort.Even in the event of repair and / or maintenance, the drying module according to the invention does not require the electrical drying air heating device to be disconnected from fluid-carrying systems, thus reducing the repair and / or maintenance effort associated with the drying module according to the invention compared to conventional drying modules. Overall, the use of one or more drying modules according to the invention thus significantly reduces the assembly and operating costs of a continuous drying system for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, painted body components, or other painted vehicle components.
[0012] The module housing is preferably also designed to be thermally insulating in such a way that heat losses via the module housing are reduced as much as possible. For example, the module housing can be designed partially or completely according to DE 10 2014 015 705 A1 or provided with correspondingly designed walls. The content of DE 10 2014 015 705 A1 is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference into the present application. The module housing can, in particular, be cuboid-shaped and have at least a ceiling, a floor, and two side walls. The dimensions of the module housing can be selected such that the drying module can be transported as a whole using a transport vehicle, in particular a truck. The drying module can thus be largely or completely prefabricated by the manufacturer, then transported to the respective site of use, and installed there easily and quickly.In order to be able to adapt a length of the module housing parallel to the longitudinal extension of the drying tunnel to the respective application, the ceiling, the floor and / or the side walls can be at least partially modular in design, so that the length of the module housing can be determined by the number of ceiling modules, floor modules and / or side wall modules used.
[0013] The drying tunnel can, for example, run centrally through the module housing. The drying tunnel can be designed such that the longitudinal directions of painted vehicle bodies passing through the drying tunnel are aligned parallel or transversely to the longitudinal extent of the drying tunnel. The drying tunnel can be enclosed radially on the outside by a ceiling, a floor, and side walls of the module housing. The drying tunnel can be delimited laterally by a respective partition wall, on which one or more air inlets can be arranged in order to be able to supply the painted workpieces or assemblies passing through the drying tunnel with drying air. The intermediate space of the drying module can, for example, be arranged between such a partition wall and a side wall of the module housing. The at least one air inlet of the drying tunnel can be formed on the partition wall.The air inlet can be designed as a simple opening in the partition wall or as an air nozzle arranged at an opening in the partition wall.
[0014] The intermediate space, the drying tunnel, the at least one air inlet of the drying tunnel, and the at least one air outlet of the drying tunnel form sections of the drying air circuit formed within the drying module or module housing, within which the drying air can be circulated by means of the drying air blower. The intermediate space can be connected to the drying tunnel directly or indirectly via the at least one air inlet of the drying tunnel and / or directly or indirectly via the at least one air outlet of the drying tunnel.
[0015] The drying air blower is arranged partially or entirely within the intermediate space. For example, an impeller or paddle wheel of the drying air blower, with which the drying air can be circulated within the drying air circuit, can be arranged entirely within the intermediate space, while an electric motor of the drying air blower that drives the impeller or paddle wheel can be arranged partially within the intermediate space and partially outside the intermediate space, in particular partially outside the module housing, or completely inside or outside the intermediate space, in particular completely outside the module housing. The drying module can also have two or more drying air blowers.
[0016] The electric drying air heater is arranged partially or entirely within the intermediate space. The electric drying air heater can have at least one heating resistor unit with which the drying air within the intermediate space can be heated. The drying module can also have two or more electric drying air heaters.
[0017] The drying module according to the invention is particularly suitable for a continuous drying system for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies. Of course, the drying module can be used to thermally treat workpieces for purposes other than drying a paint or coating, for example, for curing an adhesive or the like. For the purposes of this application, a paint is understood to mean any curable coating, for example, a primer, a topcoat, a protective coating, or the like.
[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the intermediate space is arranged between a side wall of the module housing and a partition wall laterally delimiting the drying tunnel, with the at least one air inlet of the drying tunnel being arranged on the partition wall. Such a partition wall or a corresponding intermediate space can be present on both sides of the drying tunnel, each of which contains at least one drying air blower and at least one electric drying air heater. Alternatively, the intermediate space can be located above or below the drying tunnel.
[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one infrared radiation unit is arranged on a side of the partition wall facing the drying tunnel. The infrared radiation unit, which can also be controlled electrically, can be arranged, for example, in a region of the side wall in which the at least one drying air blower and the at least one electric drying air heating device are not directly arranged on an opposite side of the partition wall. For example, the infrared radiation unit can be arranged on the inlet side of the drying tunnel with respect to a throughput direction of the painted workpieces or assemblies in order to be able to form a preheating zone, after reaching which a heating zone can follow in which the at least one drying air blower and the at least one electric drying air heating device are arranged.Two or more infrared radiation units can also be distributed on the side of the partition wall facing the drying tunnel.
[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the drying air blower and / or the electric drying air heating device can be mounted on the drying module from outside the module housing as intended, or removed from the drying module. This makes it possible, for example, in the event of a repair, to remove the drying air blower and / or the electric drying air heating device from the drying module from outside the module housing and replace them with a functional drying air blower or a functional electric drying air heating device. The drying module can be designed such that the drying air blower and the electric drying air heating device are arranged on the drying module independently of one another or together as an assembly and can be mounted or removed from outside the module housing. This mountability orThe ability to deactivate the drying air blower and / or the electrical drying air heating device from outside the module housing means that, for example, in the event of damage, a defective drying air blower and / or a defective electrical drying air heating device can be quickly replaced, so that a suitably equipped continuous drying system can quickly be operated again in normal drying mode, i.e. without long downtimes during which the drying module would cool down, which would disadvantageously be associated with an increased energy requirement for the subsequent reheating of the drying tunnel or the components bordering it.
[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the drying module has at least one heating zone and at least one holding zone arranged upstream or downstream of the heating zone with respect to the longitudinal extent of the drying tunnel, wherein the drying air blower and the electric drying air heater are arranged in the heating zone. A maximum drying air temperature can be achieved in the heating zone in order to bring about a specific thermal treatment, in particular drying. In a holding zone arranged downstream of the heating zone, the painted workpiece or the painted assembly heated in the heating zone, in particular the painted vehicle body, can be held at a desired temperature, which requires less energy. The length of the heating zone can be substantially the same as the length of the holding zone. The drying module can also have two or more heating zones and / or holding zones.The heating zones and the holding zones can, for example, be arranged alternately.
[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the drying module has at least one floor-side conveyor unit with which the painted workpieces or assemblies can be conveyed through the drying tunnel. The conveyor unit can have rails running through the drying tunnel and carriages guided on the rails, each of which can be used to carry a painted workpiece or a painted assembly, in particular a painted vehicle body. The conveyor unit can be designed as a longitudinal conveyor unit, in which the longitudinal directions of the conveyed painted vehicle bodies are aligned parallel to the longitudinal extent of the drying tunnel, or as a transverse conveyor unit, in which the longitudinal directions of the conveyed painted vehicle bodies are aligned transversely to the longitudinal extent of the drying tunnel. The conveyor unit can be of conventional design.According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one sliding door is arranged on at least one end wall of the drying module running transversely to the longitudinal extent of the drying tunnel, with which a through opening arranged on the end wall can be selectively closed or at least partially opened. During drying operation of the drying module, the sliding door can open the front through opening in order to be able to move the painted workpieces or assemblies into or out of the drying module. The drying module can be arranged, for example, at the beginning or end of a continuous drying system, so that the continuous drying system can be closed at the end by means of the sliding door when not in operation in order to retain the heat within the drying system. This reduces the energy required to heat up the continuous drying system before drying operation is resumed.In particular, a corresponding drying module can be arranged at the beginning of the continuous drying system and another corresponding drying module at the end of the continuous drying system. Alternatively, corresponding sliding doors can be arranged on both end walls of the drying module. This allows the drying module to be designed as a chamber dryer, within which the desired drying process is carried out entirely with the sliding doors closed.
[0023] A continuous drying system according to the invention for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, has at least two drying modules according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments or a combination of at least two of these embodiments, which are arranged in series with one another with respect to a direction of passage of the painted workpieces or assemblies passing through the continuous drying system.
[0024] The advantages mentioned above with regard to the drying module are associated with the continuous drying system.
[0025] According to a method according to the invention for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, using at least one drying module of a continuous drying system, the painted workpieces or assemblies are dried using at least one drying air circuit generated exclusively within the drying module, which has at least one drying air blower arranged at least partially within the drying module and at least one electric drying air heating device arranged at least partially within the drying module.
[0026] The method offers the advantages mentioned above with regard to the drying module or the continuous drying system. In particular, the drying module or the continuous drying system can be used according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments or a combination of two of these embodiments to carry out the method.
[0027] In the following, the invention is explained by way of example with reference to the attached figures using a preferred embodiment, wherein the features explained below can represent an advantageous and / or further developing aspect of the invention both individually and in different combinations with one another.
[0028] Short description of the characters
[0029] It shows:
[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective representation of an embodiment of a drying module according to the invention;
[0031] Fig. 2 is a schematic end view of the drying module shown in Fig. 1;
[0032] Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the drying module shown in Fig. 1;
[0033] Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the drying module shown in Fig. 1;
[0034] Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the drying module shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the section plane VV of Fig. 4;
[0035] Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the drying module shown in Fig. 1, taken along the section plane VI-VI of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the drying module shown in Fig. 1, taken along the section plane VII-VII of Fig. 5; and
[0036] Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the drying module shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the section plane VI I l-VI 11 of Fig. 7.
[0037] Detailed description of the characters
[0038] In the figures, identical or functionally identical components are provided with the same reference numerals. A repeated description of such components may be omitted in detail to avoid unnecessary repetition.
[0039] Fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective representation of an embodiment of a drying module 1 according to the invention for a continuous drying system (not shown) for drying painted workpieces (not shown) and / or painted assemblies (not shown), in particular painted vehicle bodies (not shown).
[0040] The drying module 1 has a cuboid-shaped module housing 2 with a modular ceiling 3, a modular floor 4, two modular side walls 5 and two modular end walls 6.
[0041] In addition, the drying module 1 has a drying tunnel shown in Figs. 5 to 8, which is enclosed radially outwardly by the module housing 2 with respect to its longitudinal extent and in which painted workpieces or assemblies passing through the drying tunnel can be exposed to drying air.
[0042] On each end wall 6 of the drying module 1, which runs transversely to the longitudinal extension of the drying tunnel, two sliding doors 7 are arranged, which can be moved in opposite directions. These sliding doors can be used to selectively close or at least partially open a passage opening (not shown) arranged on the end wall 6. In Fig. 1, the sliding doors 7 are shown in their closed positions, in which they close the passage opening.
[0043] Furthermore, the drying module 1 has two intermediate spaces arranged between the module housing 1 and the drying tunnel, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8. The respective intermediate space is arranged between a respective side wall 5 of the module housing 1 and an intermediate wall, shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, which laterally delimits the drying tunnel.
[0044] The respective intermediate space is connected to the drying tunnel via the drying tunnel's air inlets shown in Figs. 5 to 8 and the drying tunnel's air outlets shown in Figs. 6 to 8, forming a drying air circuit as indicated in Fig. 6. The drying tunnel's air inlets are arranged on the partition walls. At least one infrared radiation unit (not shown) can be arranged on a side of the respective partition wall facing the drying tunnel, as shown in Figs. 5 to 8.
[0045] Two drying air blowers 8, with which the drying air can be circulated within the respective drying air circuit, and two electric drying air heaters 9, with which the drying air of the respective drying air circuit can be heated within the respective intermediate space, are each at least partially arranged in the respective intermediate space. An electric drive 10 of the respective drying air blower 8 is partially arranged outside the module housing 2. A cover 11 of the respective electric drying air heater 9 is arranged outside the module housing 2. The respective drying air blower 8 and the respective electric drying air heater 9 can be mounted on the drying module 1 or removed from the drying module 1 from outside the module housing 2.
[0046] The drying module 1 has two heating zones 12 and two holding zones 13 arranged downstream of the respective heating zone 12 with respect to the longitudinal extent of the drying tunnel. Two drying air blowers 8 and two electric drying air heaters 9 are arranged in each heating zone 12. No drying air blower 8 and no electric drying air heater 9 are arranged in the respective holding zone 13.
[0047] In addition, the drying module 1 has a bottom-side conveyor unit, shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5 to 8, with which the painted workpieces or assemblies can be conveyed through the drying tunnel. Furthermore, the drying module 1 has a drying air purification unit 27, with which pollutants can be removed from the drying air. A vertical duct section 30 of the drying air purification unit is shown. On the side wall 5 of the module housing 2 shown in Fig. 1, two control boxes 14 are also arranged, in which electrical control and / or regulation components of the drying module 1 (not shown) are arranged.
[0048] Fig. 2 shows a schematic end view of the drying module 1 shown in Fig. 1. In particular, the end wall 6 with the sliding doors 7 arranged thereon is shown. In addition, a drive unit 15 of the conveyor unit 16 is arranged laterally on the module housing 2, wherein a further drive unit 15 is concealed by the drive unit 15 shown in Fig. 2.
[0049] Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the drying module 1 shown in Fig. 1. Both drive units 15 of the conveyor unit 16 are shown. Also shown are the two additional drying air blowers 8 and the two additional electric drying air heaters 9, which are arranged on the opposite side wall 5.
[0050] Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of the drying module 1 shown in Fig. 1.
[0051] Fig. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the drying module 1 shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the section plane VV of Fig. 4. It shows the two modular partition walls 17, on which the air inlets 18 of the drying air tunnel 19 are formed. In a lower region, each partition wall 17 is angled toward the drying tunnel 19.
[0052] In addition, the two intermediate spaces 20 are shown, in each of which two electrical drying air heating devices 9 and two impellers (not shown) of two drying air blowers 8 are arranged, which are arranged concealed by the electrical drying air heating devices 9 in Fig. 5.
[0053] Furthermore, the conveyor unit 16 of the drying module 1 is shown. The conveyor unit 16 can be of conventional design and is largely unimportant for the invention, which is why its structure will not be explained in detail. Fig. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of the drying module 1 shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the sectional plane VI-VI of Fig. 4. In particular, the two drying air circuits 21 that can be formed using the drying air blowers 8 shown are indicated by arrows. The drying air located in the drying tunnel 19 is extracted from it via the floor-side air outlets 22 of the drying tunnel 19. This extraction can take place over the entire length of the drying module 1 or drying tunnel 19.Automatically movable sliding plates (not shown) may be provided in the area of the air outlets 22, with which the air outlets can be partially or completely opened in order to adjust the extraction. The drying air thus sucked in via the drying air blower 8 shown is moved by means of an impeller 25 of the drying air blower 8 driven by the electric drive 10 in the direction of a heating unit 26 of the electric drying air heating device 9 shown, which heating unit is formed by several heating rods (not shown). For this purpose, the impeller 25 and the heating unit 26 are arranged in a vertical shaft 31, which in particular ensures that the drying air flow emanating from the impeller 25 flows directly to the heating unit 26. The heated drying air exiting the shaft 31 is then blown through the high-temperature filters 23 and the partition wall 17 into the drying tunnel 19.
[0054] Furthermore, high-temperature filters 23 are shown in Fig. 6, which are arranged on the sides of the partition walls 17 facing away from the drying tunnel 19 and serve to filter the drying air to be blown through the partition walls 17.
[0055] Furthermore, Fig. 6 shows an exhaust air outlet 24 of the drying air cleaning unit 27 projecting into the respective intermediate space 20. Alternatively, the respective exhaust air outlet 24 can be arranged on the respective side wall 5.
[0056] Fig. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of the drying module 1 shown in Fig. 1, along the section plane VII-VII of Fig. 5. The module 28 of the partition wall 17 shown on the left in Fig. 7 is designed as an infrared module 28 and has four infrared radiation units 29 indicated by dashed lines. The infrared radiation units 29 are ventilated behind the drying air passing through the partition wall 17 for cooling. Fig. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of the drying module 1 shown in Fig. 1, along the section plane VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.
[0057] List of reference symbols
[0058] 1 drying module
[0059] 2 module housings
[0060] 3 ceiling of 2
[0061] 4 floor of 2
[0062] 5 side wall of 2
[0063] 6 end wall of 2
[0064] 7 Sliding door
[0065] 8 drying air blowers
[0066] 9 electric drying air heater
[0067] 10 electric drive out of 8
[0068] 11 Coverage of 9
[0069] 12 heating zones
[0070] 13 Holding zone
[0071] 14 Switch box
[0072] 15 Drive unit
[0073] 16 conveyor unit
[0074] 17 Partition wall
[0075] 18 Air intake
[0076] 19 drying tunnels
[0077] 20 space
[0078] 21 Drying air circuit
[0079] 22 Air outlet
[0080] 23 high-temperature filters
[0081] 24 Exhaust air outlet
[0082] 25 wheels of 8
[0083] 26 heating units of 9
[0084] 27 Drying air purification unit
[0085] 28 modules of 17
[0086] 29 Infrared beam unit
[0087] 30 canal section of 27
[0088] 31 Schacht
Claims
Claims: Drying module (1) for a continuous drying system for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, comprising at least one module housing (2), at least one drying tunnel (19) which is enclosed radially outside the module housing (2) with respect to its longitudinal extent and in which painted workpieces pass through the drying tunnel (19)Assemblies are capable of being exposed to drying air, and at least one intermediate space (20) arranged between the module housing (2) and the drying tunnel (19), characterized in that the intermediate space (20) is connected to the drying tunnel (19) via at least one air inlet (18) of the drying tunnel (19) and via at least one air outlet (22) of the drying tunnel (19) in a communicative manner, forming at least one drying air circuit (21), and at least one drying air blower (8) with which the drying air can be circulated within the drying air circuit (21), and at least one electric drying air heating device (9) with which the drying air can be heated within the intermediate space (20), are each at least partially arranged.Drying module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the space (20) is arranged between a side wall (5) of the module housing (2) and an intermediate wall (17) laterally delimiting the drying tunnel (19), wherein the at least one air inlet (18) of the drying tunnel (19) is arranged on the intermediate wall (17). Drying module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one infrared radiation unit (29) is arranged on a side of the intermediate wall (17) facing the drying tunnel (19). Drying module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drying air blower (8) and / or the electric drying air heating device (9) can be mounted on or removed from the drying module (1) from outside the module housing (2) as intended.
5. Drying module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by at least one heating zone (12) and at least one holding zone (13) upstream or downstream of the heating zone (12) with respect to the longitudinal extension of the drying tunnel (19), wherein the drying air blower (8) and the electric drying air heating device (9) are arranged in the heating zone (12).
6. Drying module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by at least one bottom-side conveying unit (16) with which the painted workpieces or assemblies can be conveyed through the drying tunnel (19).
7. Drying module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one sliding door (7) is arranged on at least one end wall (6) of the drying module (1) extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the drying tunnel (19), with which a passage opening arranged on the end wall (6) can be selectively closed or at least partially opened.
8. Continuous drying system for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, characterized by at least two drying modules (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, which are arranged in series with respect to a flow direction of the painted workpieces or assemblies passing through the continuous drying system.
9. Method for drying painted workpieces and / or painted assemblies, in particular painted vehicle bodies, using at least one drying module (1) of a continuous drying system, characterized in that the painted workpieces or assemblies are dried using at least one drying air circuit (21) generated exclusively within the drying module (1), which has at least one drying air blower (8) arranged at least partially within the drying module (1) and at least one electric drying air heating device (9) arranged at least partially within the drying module (1).