Patent ID: 7326301

Claim:
A device for the direct or indirect application of liquid or viscous coating medium onto a moving application surface, in the direct application the moving application surface is a surface of a material web, in the indirect application the moving application surface is a surface of a transfer element, which transfers the coating medium to the surface of the material web, said moving application surface including a direction of travel, said device comprising: an applicator; and a weakening device located prior to said applicator as viewed in the direction of travel, said weakening device for weakening a boundary layer of air carried along by the moving application surface, said weakening device including: a blowing device located prior to said applicator as viewed in the direction of travel, said blowing device producing an air flow in an opposite direction to the direction of travel, wherein said moving application surface includes an area subtended by said blowing device, said area of said moving application surface taking on a curved progression, said blowing device including a baffle being approximately parallel with said curved progression, said blowing device including a blow nozzle adjacent a downstream end of said baffle, said blowing device including a blow box, said blow box including a blow box first lateral side, and a blow box second lateral side said blow box first lateral side opposing said blow box second lateral side, the moving application surface including a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, said first lateral edge corresponding with said blow box first lateral side, said second lateral edge corresponding with said blow box second lateral side, said blow box supplied with air flowing from only said blow box first lateral side and said blow box second lateral side and flowing generally towards said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge of the moving application surface; and a suction device being located prior to said blowing device as viewed in the direction of travel, said suction device suctioning both at least a part of said air flow and at least a part of said boundary layer of air.