Patent ID: 7361226
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: B05C,B29C,B29K

Abstract:
1. A coating die apparatus comprising: a die having a Z-dimension die width distance to X-dimension die distance and/or Z-dimension die width distance to Y-dimension die distance ratio greater than 2.5, and a steady state operating temperature, die lip faces in a Y-Z plane and a slot opening perpendicular to the die lip faces in an X-Z plane, the die lip faces forming the slot opening at a front portion distal from the rear portion, a coating gap being formed between the die lip faces and a substrate upon which a fluid layer is applied onto the substrate from the slot opening across the Z-dimension die width distance; and an integrated heating system having: wherein the Z-dimension die width distance to X-dimension die distance ratio is up to 11 and the Z-dimension die width distance to Y-dimension die distance ratio is up to 14, the steady state operating temperature is up to 200° C., the material of construction of the die is steel, the difference between the maximum cross-section temperature setting and minimum cross-section temperature setting is equal to or less than 10° C., and the front cross-section heaters supplying a characteristic 20%-60% of the total power required to maintain the steady state operating temperature and bending flatness of the die lip faces in the X-Z plane to less than .001″ flatness deviation, while not changing the magnitude of lip flatness deviation in the X-Z plane or Y-Z planes more than .001″ when coating commences, and having an ability to purposefully bend the die in the X-Z plane at a rate of 0.0005″ to 0.003″ per 1° F. of purposefully induced temperature gradient in the X-Z plane.