Patent ID: 6692570
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: B28B,C04B,E04C,E04F,Y02W,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for applying a slurry to a substrate, the apparatus including:a delivery surface disposed to support a layer of slurry; spattering means adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the delivery surface and being movable so as to spatter the slurry from the delivery surface onto the substrate; recirculation means for allowing continuous flow of slurry upstream of the delivery surface; and regulation means for selectively varying or interrupting the flow of slurry from the delivery surface onto the substrate without interrupting the flow of slurry upstream of the delivery surface wherein the regulation means include a pair of barrier elements selectively movable to define an intermediate clearance space of variable effective cross-sectional flow area to thereby permit selective regulation of the flow rate of slurry from a reservoir, between the barrier elements, through an outlet, and to the delivery surface, the barrier elements being selectively adapted, in a closed configuration, to shut off flow between the reservoir and the delivery surface, a first barrier element comprising a delivery drum rotatable about a first axis and having an outer surface constituting the delivery surface, and a second barrier element comprising a metering roller rotatable about a second axis, parallel to the first axis, and selectively movable toward and away from the delivery drum, the delivery drum and the metering roller configured to rotate in opposite directions; a main frame supporting the delivery drum, and first sub-frame on which the metering roller is mounted, the first sub-frame being rotatable about a third axis parallel to and spaced apart from the second axis, to selectively displace the metering roller towards, and away from, the delivery drum while maintaining a parallel orientation therebetween.