Patent ID: 7563322
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: B05C,C23C

Abstract:
1. An airknife apparatus for controlling a coating applied to sheet goods comprising: a pressurized air source; an inlet plenum, receiving pressurized air from the pressurized air source, having an inlet, a span, and a plurality of spanwise located outlet ports; a plurality of throttle valves positioned along the plenum span to adjust the spanwise distribution of air mass flow rate exiting the plenum outlet ports; an adjustable proportioning valve positioned within a housing downstream of the plenum outlet ports distributes a fractional amount of the air flow exiting each plenum outlet port into a flow direction element; and the air flow exiting the flow direction element enters into a high aspect ratio, slot nozzle having a span whereby the air exits the slot nozzle to form an air jet with the local flow velocity along the span of the nozzle controlled by the position of the proportioning valve within the housing.