Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the controlled placement of a shear-thinnable polymer composition into a moving web. The controlled placement is preferably performed by applying the polymer composition onto a surface of a moving web, shear thinning the composition and placing it into the web, and curing the polymer composition. A preferred apparatus includes one or more process heads that has mounted thereto a rigid knife blade for engagement with the moving web. The knife blade is movable vertically and rotationally. The process head is also movable horizontally along the path of the moving web. A plurality of macro and micro tension zones are established and are monitored for controlling the apparatus and process. Additional measurements of web density, micro porosity, placement of an internal layer of polymer within the web, analysis of elements on the treated web, and the size of the polymer bead applied to the moving web are measured for controlling online the apparatus and the process of this invention. This method and apparatus produces webs that either has some of its structural elements encapsulated by the polymer composition while at least some of the interstitial spaces of the web are open; or has an internal layer extending through the web in a direction generally spaced from at least one major surface thereof; or has both encapsulated structural elements and an internal layer of polymer composition.
Abstract:
Products and methods for controlling the porosity and permeation of a web are provided using a curable thixotropic shear thinnable polymer composition that preferably encapsulates a plurality of fibers of the web and/or forms an internal layer within the web. Webs suitable for several different uses are featured, for example medical garments resistant to permeation by a virus or bacteria. The effective pore size of the web is controlled by regulating various factors such as the thickness of the polymer composition encapsulating the fibers and the thickness and placement of the internal polymer layer. Other factors include the polymer density, structure, and crosslinking orientation, as well as the diffusion, permeation and sorption of the polymer.
Abstract:
Paint or the like coating is applied to a gap between an elongated strip article and an extended surface, such as a coating head. A variable load, such as provided by air cylinders, is continuously exerted on the extended surface during operation for urging the extended surface against the applied layer on the strip, so as to maintain a uniform metering gap between the extended surface and the coated strip surface. The extended surface has a sensor for repetitively determining metering gap. A computer monitors the sensor output and causes load-exerting air cylinders to vary their applied load, in order to urge the coating head toward or away from the back-up roll, so as to reduce difference between the sensed metering gap and a predetermined gap, thus producing a uniform coating film thickness on strip articles having non-uniform surface topography.
Abstract:
A time-efficient method for smoothing a surface 20 of an applied coating composition 22 is disclosed herein. In particular, the present invention sets forth a technique for expediting the subsidence of coating surface nonmetallic vertical irregularities R1, R2. The technique of the present invention is applied subsequent to the application of the coating composition 22 to an electrically conductive object 24, which results in the formation of a coating surface 20. The technique of the present invention includes the step of generating electrically charged particles 40 in a volume of space adjacent to the coating surface 20. The charged particles 40 cause an electric field to develop across the coating composition 22, which induces the charged particles 40 to exert pressure on the coating surface 20.
Abstract:
A coater has a die member for discharging a coating material, and a pad member for supporting a web to be fed at a predetermined position and for controlling the gap sensitively to manufacture a coating film. The coater can flow a debris to downstream by moving the pad member away from the web.
Abstract:
A sensor and a method for determining the basis weight of coating material on a substrate is described. The determined basis weight is insensitive to changes in the amount of substrate material underlying the coating. Signals from the sensor may be used in the control of a coating mechanism to provide a coating having a uniform basis weight.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for coating a moving web and for independently controlling the coating's width, thickness and uniformity of thickness along the length of the web. A back-up roller supports the moving web on a portion of the roller's periphery. A stationary and pliant smoothing film is positioned adjacent the exposed surface of the web which is supported by the back-up roller. A coating liquid is metered to the confluence of the web and the smoothing film, the metering rate being selected to produce a desired coating width. A pliant pressure generating means, in the form of a membrane or a force web, holds a length of the smoothing film against the moving web with a static force whose magnitude is selected in accordance with a desired coating thickness. The relative position of the back-up roller and the pressure generating means determines the length of coincidence of the moving web, the coating liquid, and stationary smoothing film. This length is selected, by virtue of selecting a relative position, to apply high hydrodynamic pressure to the coating liquid for at least a critical time interval, such that slight variation of this time interval does not produce appreciable variation in coating thickness along the length of the web, and lineal uniformity of coating thickness is thus achieved.
Abstract:
A controller for maintaining a constant thickness of a layer applied to work pieces fed through a liquified curtain, the curtain itself being provided through a positive displacement pump which is driven by a motor having means for varying its speed from a remote locate. The work pieces are fed by an infeed conveyor, which is also driven by a motor of the variable speed type, and magnetic pickups or sensors are provided to produce two discrete trains of pulses indicative of the speed of the infeed conveyor, and of the positive displacement pump respectively. A digital readout ratio calculating unit is provided to produce a display indicative of the ratio of these pulse train frequencies, and the unit can be preset to provide an input to low and high limit preset counters. The preset low and the high preset counts are electrically connected to relays, which control the speed of the pump motor itself through conventional circuitry, and the resulting controller provides for continuously updating the speed of the pump motor to maintain a predetermined ratio of its speed to that of the infeed conveyor for maintaining a predetermined coating thickness on the work piece.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for evenly coating a moving web of material with a predetermined amount of a liquid and characterized by simplicity of design, uniformity of application of the liquid and accurate control of the amount of the liquid applied, as follows. Mechanisms are provided for supplying and feeding a web of material in a longitudinal path of travel at a predetermined speed. A coating roll is positioned for transverse rotating contact with one surface of the traveling web of material and includes a covering of soft, uniformly and highly absorbent material for receiving and uniformly absorbing the coating liquid and for transferring and uniformly coating the traveling web with the liquid. An open top pan is provided for continuously receiving the coating liquid therein. The coating roll rotates within the pan for contacting and continuously absorbing all of the coating liquid within the pan above the level of the coating roll. Mechanisms are provided for continuously metering coating liquid to the pan in a predetermined amount related to the speed of travel of the web of material and the amount of liquid to be coated thereon for continuous absorption by the coating roll and continuous coating of the web with all of the predetermined amount of metered liquid.
Abstract:
A cleaning method of cleaning a solution treatment apparatus for applying a coating solution onto a substrate, the solution treatment apparatus including a holder holding and rotating the substrate; a coating solution supplier; and an inner cup surrounding the holder from a lateral side and having a peripheral edge side upper surface inclining down outward in a radial direction. The cleaning method includes introducing the cleaning solution to the storage chamber via the introduction hole, discharging the cleaning solution from the discharge port and making the cleaning solution flow down along the peripheral edge side upper surface of the inner cup, thereby cleaning away the coating solution adhering to the peripheral edge side upper surface. The discharging in the cleaning discharges the cleaning solution from discharge ports of the inner cup outward in the radial direction and obliquely upward.