Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for coating a flexible support with a coating solution from a supply thereof comprising: a coating head having a coating surface including an upstream side and a downstream side; means for moving the support along the coating surface, the coating surface defining a front face disposed on the upstream side of the coating surface and a back face disposed on the downstream side of the coating surface; a slit in the coating surface between the front and back faces, the slit being in communication with the supply of the coating solution, for extruding the coating solution through the slit onto the flexible support as the support moves along the coating surface from the front face to the back face; the front face including an introducing segment, a turning portion and an end section, wherein the end section has a radius of curvature r 1 ; the back face including an arcuate surface having radius of curvature r 2 along its entirety, the radii of curvature being related according to the relationships; 1 mm<r.sub.1 <r.sub.2 /2 ps 3 mm<r.sub.2 <20 mm; and the end section having a downstream end and at least a art of the back face extending beyond a line tangent to the downstream end of the front face.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for coating a flexible support with a coating solution from a supply thereof comprising: a coating head having a coating surface including an upstream side and a downstream side; means for moving the support along the coating surface, the coating surface defining a front face disposed on the upstream side of the coating surface and a back face disposed on the downstream side of the coating surface; a slit in the coating surface between the front and back faces, the slit being in communication with the supply of the coating solution, for extruding the coating solution through the slit onto the flexible support as the support moves along the coating surface from the front face to the back face; the front face including an introducing segment, a turning portion and an end section, wherein the end section has a radius of curvature r 1 ; the back face including an arcuate surface having radius of curvature r 2 along its entirety, the radii of curvature being related according to the relationships; 1 mm<r.sub.1 <r.sub.2 /2 ps 3 mm<r.sub.2 <20 mm; and the end section having a downstream end and at least a art of the back face extending beyond a line tangent to the downstream end of the front face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the introducing segment of the front face is curved.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the introducing segment of the front face is planar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the part of the back face extending beyond the tangent line at the downstream end of the front face includes a stop surface for interrupting the flexible support from contacting the downstream end of the front face, and preventing the support from being shaved by the downstream end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein r 1 and r 2 are 1.5 mm and 8 mm, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a support roll arranged on each of the upstream and downstream sides of the coating surface, for pressing the flexible support onto the coating surface, and fluid pressure means for providing fluid pressure on the flexible support at the front face to tension the flexible support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the downstream end of the front face has a length sufficient to form an angle of about 30° to 120° between a line connecting the radius curvature center of the downstream end of the end section and a line connecting the radius of curvature center to the turning portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the angle is preferably of about 75° to 100°.