Apparatus for applying a dispersion coating to a surface, such as a tape

Claim 1

A SPRAY SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING A DISPERSION COATING OF UNIFORM THICKNESS AND DENSITY ON A SURFACE OF AN OBJECT, SAID SPRAY SYSTEM INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A HOUSING DEFINING A CHAMBER FOR FORMING A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FOR SAID SPRAY SYSTEM, SAID HOUSING HAVING AT ONE END MEANS DEFINING AN OUTPUT OPENING ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED AGAINST AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SURFACE, A HOLLOW TUBE MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING AN INPUT END PROTRUDING EXTERNALLY BEYOND ANOTHER END OF SAID HOUSING FOR RECEIVING BOTH AIR AND COATING MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF A PAINT SPRAY, SAID TUBE HAVING AN OUTPUT END CONTAINED ENTIRELY WITHIN SAID CHAMBER AND LOCATED NEAR SAID OUTPUT OPENING, A SOURCE OF VACUUM CONNECTED INTO SAID CHAMBER FOR DRAWING OUTSIDE AIR INTO SAID TUBE, AND MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF AIR DUCTS DISPOSED IN SAID CHAMBER NEAR SAID OUTPUT OPENING AND HAVING OUTPUT ORIFICES ENTERING INTO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE OUTPUT END OF SAID TUBE, EACH OF SAID DUCTS HAVING AN INPUT ORIFICE AT ONE END THEREOF PROTRUDING EXTERNALLY OUTSIDE SAID CHAMBER FOR ADMITTING OUTSIDE AIR TO THE OUTPUT END OF SAID TUBE, AND EACH OF SAID OUTPUT ORIFICES OF SAID DUCTS BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED AS TO HAVE A SIDE PORTION THEREOF PROJECTING BEYOND THE OUTPUT END OF SAID TUBE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OUTPUT OPENING OF SAID HOUSING.