Method for applying a moistureproof insulative coating to printed circuit boards using triangular or dovetail shaped liquid films emitted from a flat-pattern nozzle

Claim 1

A mask-free method of applying insulative coating to selected areas of a circuit board without applying insulative coating to regions to be left uncoated, comprising the steps of: supplying insulative liquid coating material to a flat-pattern nozzle means at a supply pressure to produce a liquid film emission from the nozzle means in a flat pattern having a generally triangular shape with a lower horizontal base edge and an upper apex, which has a maximum width W at its lower base edge below which discrete liquid droplets of coating begin to form, and which decreases in width to an approximately zero width at a distance L above said lower base edge, said triangular shaped liquid film being substantially free of atomized particles of coating, positioning the nozzle means and circuit board at a specified distance apart relative to each other to position the circuit board in the path of the flat triangular shape liquid film pattern, producing relative movement between the nozzle means and circuit board in a direction generally transverse to the plane of the flat pattern, and controlling the liquid coating supply during relative movement between the nozzle means and circuit board to (a) supply liquid to the nozzle means when the flat pattern is directed toward the selected areas to be coated to impinge a flat liquid film thereon and thereby coat the areas to be coated, and (b) interrupt the supply of liquid to the nozzle means when the flat pattern is directed toward the regions to be left uncoated to terminate emission of the flat liquid film and prevent deposit thereof on the regions to be left uncoated.