US3968772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Curtain coating apparatus
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1973-09-28
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Granted: 1976-07-13
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Expires: 1993-09-28
Abstract
Abstract In a method of coating a support with a liquid coating composition in which the coating composition is applied by impingement of a free-falling curtain of coating composition onto the surface of the moving support, formation of edge beads along the edges of the coating which are of greater thickness than the remainder of the coating is effectively avoided by use of laterally adjustable edge guides which are initially positioned so as to establish a stable free-falling curtain and then moved laterally to a position in which they are slightly further apart, whereby the coating assumes a uniform thickness. Apparatus for effecting this improvement in the coating process includes clamping means for holding the edge guides in a vertical position and means for effecting controlled lateral movement of the clamping means. The method and apparatus of this invention are useful in both single layer and multiple layer curtain coating and are especially advantageous in the manufacture of photographic film and photographic paper in view of the need for precisely uniform thickness over the entire coated area.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack F. Greiller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:18
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D1/00; B05D1/30; B05D1/305; B05C; B05C5/00; B05C5/007; B05C5/008; G; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/74; G03C2001/7433; G03C2001/747; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S118/00; Y10S118/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
In a curtain-coating apparatus having means for forming a free-falling curtain of liquid coating composition which is directed to impinge on the face of a moving support, a pair of edge guide members each having means defining a vertically oriented edge guide surface, and means for mounting each edge guide member with respect to the curtain forming means such that the edge guide surfaces are adjacent to and vertically aligned with the opposite edges of a formed curtain to engage the edges of said curtain, the improvement wherein said mounting means comprises: a. support means located in a predetermined position with respect to the curtain forming means; b. means movably mounting each of said edge guide members on said support means in such manner that each edge guide member is longitudinally stationary but laterally movable so that the vertically oriented edge guide surfaces can be moved laterally in the plane of the curtain; and c. control means for driving each said edge guide member a perdetermined distance laterally between first and second predetermined positions while maintaining the vertical orientation of the respective edge guide surfaces to adjust the width of a stable, free-falling curtain between said edge guide surfaces whereby the thickness of any edge bead formed in the curtain adjacent each edge guide surface is substantially reduced so that the coating assumes a substantially uniform
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a curtain-coating apparatus having means for forming a free-falling curtain of liquid coating composition which is directed to impinge on the face of a moving support, a pair of edge guide members each having means defining a vertically oriented edge guide surface, and means for mounting each edge guide member with respect to the curtain forming means such that the edge guide surfaces are adjacent to and vertically aligned with the opposite edges of a formed curtain to engage the edges of said curtain, the improvement wherein said mounting means comprises: a. support means located in a predetermined position with respect to the curtain forming means; b. means movably mounting each of said edge guide members on said support means in such manner that each edge guide member is longitudinally stationary but laterally movable so that the vertically oriented edge guide surfaces can be moved laterally in the plane of the curtain; and c. control means for driving each said edge guide member a perdetermined distance laterally between first and second predetermined positions while maintaining the vertical orientation of the respective edge guide surfaces to adjust the width of a stable, free-falling curtain between said edge guide surfaces whereby the thickness of any edge bead formed in the curtain adjacent each edge guide surface is substantially reduced so that the coating assumes a substantially uniform
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a flexible member extending from each said guide surface defining means, and adapted to bear on the edge portion of the coated surface of the moving support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said movable mounting means comprises a plate slidably mounted on said support means for movement of the respective edge guide surface in the plane of an established curtain; and each said control means comprises means defining a slot in said slidable plate, and cam means located in said slot and rotatably and eccentrically mounted for laterally driving the respective edge guide member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said edge guide surface defining means comprises a substantially straight, vertically mounted rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
320 words
In a curtain-coating apparatus having means for forming a free-falling curtain of liquid coating composition which is directed to impinge on the face of a moving support, a pair of edge guide members each having means defining a vertically oriented edge guide surface, and means for mounting each edge guide member with respect to the curtain forming means such that the edge guide surfaces are adjacent to and vertically aligned with the opposite edges of a formed curtain to engage the edges of said curtain, the improvement wherein said mounting means comprises: a. support means located in a predetermined position with respect to the curtain forming means; b. means movably mounting each of said edge guide members on said support means in such manner that each edge guide member is longitudinally stationary but laterally movable so that the vertically oriented edge guide surfaces can be moved laterally in the plane of the curtain; and c. control means for driving each said edge guide member a predetermined distance laterally between first and second predetermined positions while maintaining the vertical orientation of the respective edge guide surfaces to adjust the width of a stable, free-falling curtain between said edge guide surfaces whereby the thickness of any edge bead formed in the curtain adjacent each edge guide surface is substantially reduced so that the coating assumes a substantially uniform thickness; wherein each said movable mounting means comprises a plate slidably mounted on said support means; each said control means comprises a slot in said slidable plate and cam means located in said slot and rotatably and eccentrically mounted for laterally driving the respective edge guide member; and each said edge guide surface defining means is mounted on one of said slidable plates by a clamp having upper and lower edges that are sloped downwardly toward its respective edge guide surface to prevent liquid coating composition from flowing along such edges of said clamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
320 words
In a curtain-coating apparatus having means for forming a free-falling curtain of liquid coating composition which is directed to impinge on the face of a moving support, a pair of edge guide members each having means defining a vertically oriented edge guide surface, and means for mounting each edge guide member with respect to the curtain forming means such that the edge guide surfaces are adjacent to and vertically aligned with the opposite edges of a formed curtain to engage the edges of said curtain, the improvement wherein said mounting means comprises: a. support means located in a predetermined position with respect to the curtain forming means; b. means movably mounting each of said edge guide members on said support means in such manner that each edge guide member is longitudinally stationary but laterally movable so that the vertically oriented edge guide surfaces can be moved laterally in the plane of the curtain; and c. control means for driving each said edge guide member a predetermined distance laterally between first and second predetermined positions while maintaining the vertical orientation of the respective edge guide surfaces to adjust the width of a stable, free-falling curtain between said edge guide surfaces whereby the thickness of any edge bead formed in the curtain adjacent each edge guide surface is substantially reduced so that the coating assumes a substantially uniform thickness; wherein each said movable mounting means comprises a plate slidably mounted on said support means; each said control means comprises a slot in said slidable plate and cam means located in said slot and rotatably and eccentrically mounted for laterally driving the respective edge guide member; and each said edge guide surface defining means is mounted on one of said slidable plates by a clamp having upper and lower edges that are sloped downwardly toward its respective edge guide surface to prevent liquid coating composition from flowing along such edges of said clamp.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |