Patent ID: 6444269
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B05C

Abstract:
A method of continuously applying a layer of liquid coating material to a major surface of an elongated flexible strip article (10), including continuously longitudinally advancing an elongated flexible strip article (10) having a major surface to be coated along a path, supplying liquid coating material to an elongated, open-sided slit (34) with an entry side and an exit side defined in a die (28) of a coating head, said die including a land portion (60) at the exit side of the slit (34); characterized by:(a) providing an extended land surface (30a) at the exit side of slit (34); (b) supporting the die (28) in facing relation to a major surface of a strip article (10) advancing in the path while permitting individual translational movement of the die (28) in a direction normal to the last-mentioned strip (10) major surface, said die (28) being positioned such that the slit (34) opens toward and extends transversely of the last-mentioned strip (10) major surface, such that said land surface (30a) is disposed facing the last-mentioned major surface of the advancing strip article (10) and converging toward the path in the direction of strip article advance, and such that the last-mentioned article (10) major surface drags a layer of coating material from the slit (34), the layer being thereby deposited on the last-mentioned article (10) major surface; (c) continuously exerting a load on at least said land portion (60) of said die (28) such that the layer of coating material deposited on said last-mentioned article (10) major surface is pressed between said land surface (30a) and said last-mentioned article (10) major surface to maintain said layer at a predetermined constant thickness while said layer alone holds the head (20) entirely away from contact with the article (10) major surface; (d) said die (28) including a main body defining at least the entry side of the slit (34), and said land portion (60) being so connected to said main body as to flex relative thereto in said normal direction as variations in an advancing strip article (10) pass the land surface, but to resist flexing in the direction of article advance in said path; (e) said land portion being formed integrally with said main body; and (f) said load-exerting means exerting said load directly on the land portion.