Patent ID: 8267036

Claim:
An apparatus for printing an active material onto a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a first tool having a surface, the surface of the first tool having a first temperature; a heated coater unit including a multitude of extruder applicators positioned in close proximity to the surface of the first tool and above the surface of the first tool, the extruder applicators having a pitch of less than 15 mm, the heated coater unit being configured to apply the active material to the surface of the first tool at a temperature of between 70° C. and 250° C. in the form of a multitude of beads, wherein the temperature of the coater unit is at least 5° C. less than the temperature of the surface of the first tool; a coating blade positioned at an angle of between 5° and 40° with the tangent of the surface of the first tool, the coating blade being configured to apply pressure to the surface of the first tool; and a second tool including a surface, the surface of the second tool supporting and pressing against the surface of the first tool an article, series of articles or web of articles, wherein the article, series of articles or web of articles is configured to receive the active material.