Plural Pools Patents (Class 118/411)
  • Patent number: 7690326
    Abstract: A system for controlling the coating width of an electrode plate, The system includes: a coating device which ejects a paste at a predetermined width from each of a plurality of slit nozzles toward a fed core substrate to form a coating layer on the surface of the core substrate; a gap controlling device which controls the gap between the slit nozzles of the coating device and the core substrate; a coating width measuring device which measures the width of the coating layer on the surface of the core substrate; and a controlling unit which controls the gap controlling device based on the results obtained by comparing the measured coating width with a predetermined coating width. In this system, the stripe-shaped coating layer is formed without using a masking tape, and the width of the coating layer is controlled with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Wakai, Kaoru Okinaga, Yukio Koike, Tomofumi Yanagi
  • Patent number: 7673581
    Abstract: A device for the application of at least two liquid to pasty application media to one or both sides of a moving surface, having a curtain applicator for applying the application media. The curtain applicator discharges the application media onto the moving surface as curtains moving substantially under the force of gravity, and the moving surface being one of a surface of a material web and a surface of a transfer element, which transfers the application media to the surface of the material web. The device includes a collecting device for the separate collection of each application medium. The collecting device being positionable between the curtain applicator and the material web. The curtain applicator and the collecting device being movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Ueberschär
  • Patent number: 7669549
    Abstract: A machine for single or double sided application of a liquid or viscous coating medium by way of at least one applicator unit onto the surface of a mating material web, especially a paper or cardboard web. A medium collecting device that is allocated to the applicator unit or to a dispensing component of the applicator unit which includes the dispensing openings, is equipped with a receiving and release component which is allocated to the medium collecting device and which is or can be mounted detachably on same. During the start of the application process the component releases the curtain or veil due to a common adjustment with the medium collecting device or of a section component of same relative to the curtain or veil from a rim extending across the moving background or from an edge extending across the moving background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Ueberschär, Benjamin Méndez-Gallon, Bernd Bohnenkamp
  • Patent number: 7611584
    Abstract: A metal film-plating system including an unwinding process part configured to provide a film, a degreasing process part configured to remove impurities from the film, an etching process part configured to perform an etching process on the film, a neutralizing process part configured to perform a neutralizing process on the film, a coupling process part configured to couple the neutralized film with a coupling agent, a catalyst-adding process part configured to adsorb a catalyst onto the coupled film, an underplating process part configured to perform an underplating process on the film, and a plating process part configured to perform a plating process on the film. Further, at least one of the unwinding process part, the degreasing process part, the etching process part, the neutralizing process part, the coupling process part, the catalyst-adding process part, the underplating process part, and the plating process part includes a wetting apparatus configured to perform a wetting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ho Park, Woon Soo Kim, Min Keun Seo
  • Patent number: 7591900
    Abstract: A nozzle for supplying a treatment liquid which makes it possible to perform uniform cleaning to a surface of a substrate even in a case where the size of a substrate is large. A slit-shaped ejection hole is formed at the lower end of the nozzle for supplying a treatment liquid. In the nozzle, a passage for supplying a treatment liquid which leads to the slit-shaped ejection hole is formed by bonding two nozzle parts to each other. Projections are provided on the abutting surface of at least one of the two nozzle parts so as to divide a treatment liquid flowing downward through the supply passage into left and right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Futoshi Shimai
  • Patent number: 7591903
    Abstract: The invention is a die for dispensing flowable material. The die is comprised of a die block. An external face is disposed on the die block. At least one slot extends perpendicularly into the external face. The slot has a longitudinal dimension, a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side. At least one support member extends from the external surface into the slot. The support member extends continuously from the first longitudinal side to the second longitudinal side. At least a portion of the support member is disposed in a direction other than perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension. The support member is disposed to such that at least a portion of any plane extending from the first longitudinal side to the second longitudinal side, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the slot, passes through a void area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary W. Maier, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky
  • Patent number: 7575635
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying glue onto a moving, plane object comprises inlet pipes of the glues a dispenser extending across the path of travel of the object of the dispensing, dispensing nozzles of the glue and means for controllably opening and interrupting the glue flow to the nozzles. The means for interrupting the flow comprise a cylindrical case formed into the frame of the dispenser, extending along the total length thereof, inlet channels for the glue leading to the case, nozzle channels leading out from the case and a pipe element mounted into the case with a sliding fit, said pipe element being equipped with openings for forming a flow connection between the inlet channels of the glue and the nozzle channels in one position of the pipe element with respect to the frame and for closing said flow connection in the second position of the pipe element with respect to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Raute Oyj
    Inventors: Marko Perttilä, Petri Kymäläinen, Ari-Pekka Tiusanen
  • Patent number: 7556693
    Abstract: This invention relates to a curtain applicator on which a two-layer curtain is formed by dispensing two types of coating medium, for example color, from a medium feeder positioned to the upper side of a moving web in order to apply two layers of coating medium onto the web surface. The medium feeder has a middle lip, which is arranged in the flow channels for the two types of medium and has a pointed part projecting toward the web side from the pointed parts of the two side lips which are arranged on the outer side of the flow channels for the two types of medium on the outer side in the width direction of the web. The curtain applicator also includes a convexly formed medium separation device, which adjoins the pointed part of the middle lip and individually separates the two types of surplus medium, for example, color, which are dispensed from the medium feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hirofumi Morita, Akio Hirano, Hiroyuki Kohno
  • Patent number: 7438763
    Abstract: A coating apparatus and coating method include a device for conveying an object to be coated; a coating device which is disposed in a vicinity of a conveyed surface of the object, and which discharges a coating liquid, and which forms a bridge of the liquid between the device and the object which is conveyed by the device for conveying an object to be coated, and which coats the liquid on at least one surface of the object; and a gas stream blowing device which, immediately after starting of coating, blows out a gas from a direction substantially opposite to a object conveying direction, toward a portion of the object where coating starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Kanke
  • Patent number: 7419549
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to achieve a rapid, homogeneous application of a liquid with as little force as possible to a substrate. To achieve this, the invention provides a nozzle assembly (22) for applying a liquid to a substrate, said assembly having a nozzle body (26) comprising a plurality of nozzles (36) that are substantially arranged in a line and a guide plate (28) that extends essentially in a vertical direction with a straight lower edge. According to the invention, the nozzles (36) above the lower edge are directed towards the guide plate (28) in such a way that a film of liquid forms on the guide plate (28) and flows over the lower edge (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignees: Steag HamaTech APE GmbH & Co. KG, Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Anatol Schwersenz, Werner Saule, Andreas Nöring, Peter Dress, Christian Bürgel, Martin Tschinkl, Marlene Strobl
  • Patent number: 7416608
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for block type extrusion coating, and a process for forming block coating or grid-type coating on a substrate. The present invention uses a die set composed of an upper mold, a lower mold and a shim therebetween, which can be used to form a plurality of coated stripes. The present invention further uses several control valves, pumps and a controller to intermittently extrude a coating solution from the die set, so that the stripe coating is converted to a block coating. The block coated substrate can be rotated 90 degrees, followed by a stripe coating process to form a grid-type coating on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Ta-Jo Liu, E-Ron Chang
  • Patent number: 7347898
    Abstract: The present coating system (100) provides a multilayer coating apparatus for coating an object (112). The multilayer coating apparatus includes a slide hopper (116, 140). The slide hopper includes a main body (116, 140), the main body essentially including a plurality of separate cavities (118, 120, 122) for receiving coating materials, a plurality of separate slots (124, 126, 128) in communication with the corresponding cavities, and a plurality of separate projection portions (130, 132, 134) formed on the slide hopper, the projection portions each having a substantially sloping slide surface (131, 133, 135) configured for allowing the particular coating material exiting from the slot to directly flow onto the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhy-Chain Lin
  • Patent number: 7326302
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate has a liquid supply unit, a nozzle unit, a first valve and a second valve. The liquid supply unit has an output port and an input port, and a processing liquid is output from the output port. The nozzle unit has a first port and a second port, and the first port is connected to the output port of the liquid supply unit. The first valve is connected between the second port of the nozzle unit and the input port of the liquid supply unit. The second valve is connected between the second port of the nozzle unit and the output port of the liquid supply unit. Moreover, the switch states of the first and second valves are opposite in order to control whether the nozzle unit spreads the processing liquid on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Hsiang Chiang, Hua-Chun Yuan
  • Patent number: 7267722
    Abstract: A coating apparatus for a traveling web comprising two coating heads and a traveling path changing roller is disclosed. A bar coater is arranged close to a pass roller. The bar coater is fixed at such a position as to contact the web when the pass roller is moved down. An extrusion coater is arranged below a backup roller in such a manner as to move up and down. If the pass roller moves up and bends up the traveling path of the web, the web separates from the bar coater. Then, if the extrusion coater moves up, the web is coated with the coating solution by the extrusion coater. If the pass roller and the extrusion coater move down, the web is coated with the coating solution by the bar coater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhito Naruse, Atsushi Kakumoto
  • Patent number: 7211148
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a small volume of a selected liquid, such as a biological sample or reagent, onto a substrate. The device includes a tube adapted to contain the liquid. An elongated fiber is disposed within the tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions. Upon shifting or oscillating the fiber between its raised and lowered positions, a liquid spot can be formed at a selected position on the substrate. The device is readily adaptable for the production of micro-arrays having a great number of individual spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Zbigniew T. Bryning, Charles S. Vann
  • Patent number: 7083681
    Abstract: A method for forming a coating film on an internal surface of an elongated tube, includes longitudinally holding the elongated tube, applying a coating solution to the internal surface of the elongated tube; and drying the coating solution while carrying out a heat process for sequentially heating the elongated tube by using a heat source. The heat process includes adjusting the descending rate of the heat source so that a through-hole in the elongated tube is clogged with the coating solution whose viscosity is reduced by heating of the heat source, and sucking the through-hole in the elongated tube from the lower side thereof so that a portion of the through-hole that is clogged with the coating solution moves downwards along the elongated tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamada, Akira Tokai, Manabu Ishimoto, Kenji Awamoto, Tsutae Shinoda
  • Patent number: 6991825
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for dispensing material onto a substrate. The apparatus comprises a dispensing system having a dipenser and a control system adapted to adjust a quantity of material to be dispensed onto the substrate. It also includes an image capturing system adapted to acquire an image of the material that is dispensed onto the substrate, a measuring system to analyze the image and measure the quantity of material dispensed, and a compensation system adapted to provide a correction signal to the control system to vary the quantity of material dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: ASM Assembly Automation Ltd.
    Inventors: Hon Chiu Hui, Wing Fai Lam, Ka Yee Mak, Man Lai Manly Chau
  • Patent number: 6960261
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying fluid onto a substrate, in particular for glueing inner books, books, magazines and other substrates that need to be bound. The apparatus comprises a first slot nozzle, connectable with a fluid source, for applying a fluid film onto one side of the substrate to be coated. The first slot nozzle comprises a seal member for adjusting the width of the first slot nozzle outlet transversely to the principal direction of movement of the substrate. This enables the width across which fluid is applied to the inner book side to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Westermann
  • Patent number: 6881443
    Abstract: The adhesive application station (14) for binding stacked printed products (10) by means of a liquid or liquefiable adhesive (52) comprises an application station (14) with an adhesive discharge system (15). This system consists substantially of an application head (12) for the adhesive (52) with a slip surface (16) for the printed products (10), and an application nozzle (42) extending over the entire width (g) of the slip surface (16) with at least one outlet opening (20) for the adhesive, an adhesive reservoir (50) and means for generating a pressure on adhesive application. The adhesive discharge system (15) also comprises immediately adjacent to the outlet opening(s) (20), a metering device (44, 45) which can be sealed manually and/or electronically controlled by an actuator (130). This metering device (44, 45) forms with the adhesive reservoir (50) and an integral accumulator (54) a pressure compensation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Sogno AG
    Inventor: Walter Baltensperger
  • Patent number: 6849127
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a small volume of a selected liquid, such as a biological sample or reagent, onto a substrate. The device includes a tube adapted to contain the liquid. An elongate fiber is disposed within the tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions. Upon shifting or oscillating the fiber between its raised and lowered positions, a liquid spot can be formed at a selected position on the substrate. The device is readily adaptable for the production of micro-arrays having a great number of individual spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Charles S. Vann, Zbigniew Bryning
  • Patent number: 6814806
    Abstract: An applicator apparatus for controlling the uniform (or predetermined non-uniform) application of a treating fluid to a traveling fabric, web or other substrate includes one or more fluid applicators, each having spaced apart housing or body walls interconnected by a body edge preferably of a generally parabolic shape. Each applicator includes a fluid inlet in one body wall and a transversely elongated fluid outlet in the opposite body wall. The body walls define a fluid distribution chamber extending substantially equally and oppositely relative to the fluid inlet, with the chamber being divided by a plate member having preferably generally parabolically shaped peripheral edges substantially corresponding in shape with and spaced inwardly from the body edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Gaston Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter Friedrich Zeiffer, Christoph Walter Aurich, Hermann A. Neupert
  • Patent number: 6802903
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for applying adhesive to an outer circumference of a section of tubing. The apparatus includes opposed grippers with concave adhesive transfer areas that can be moved into surrounding relationship with the tubing. Adhesive dispensing passages communicate with the adhesive transfer areas for delivering adhesive to the tubing. Counterbores are at opposed ends of the adhesive transfer areas and communicate with a vacuum source for removing excess adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Brian Barber, John Young
  • Patent number: 6790480
    Abstract: In a coating apparatus, a nozzle connects a feed pipe for feeding a coat solution to a manifold of a die with an opening of the manifold. The nozzle satisfies conditions: 1.5≦B/A≦5.0 and 0.8≦C/B≦8.0, when A is an equivalent diameter of an end of the nozzle to be connected with the tube, B is an equivalent diameter of another end of the nozzle to be connected with the opening, and C is a length of the nozzle. The coat solution fed from the feed pipe enters in the nozzle. In the nozzle, the coating solution diverges along with an inner wall of the nozzle to enter into the manifold. In the manifold the coating solution flows in a widthwise direction and flows out through a slit extending from the manifold to a lip of the die, such that a moving web is coated with the coating solution uniformly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Oki, Yoshinobu Katagiri, Masahiro Morikawa
  • Patent number: 6767405
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for coating a plurality of articles in batches, in particular for applying a biocompatible layer on articles adapted to come into contact with blood or body tissue, e.g. a coagulation-preventing substance so as to render the articles non-thrombogenic. A plurality of article-carrying plates (14) are stacked upon one another and have a plurality of communicating wells (18) for receiving therein a respective article to be coated. A base plate (12) defines with a bottom side of a lowermost of said article-carrying plates a distribution chamber (34) for receiving and evenly distributing a solution containing a substance to be applied to said articles. The solution is fed through the wells of the stacked plates (14) in parallel vertical flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Carmeda AB
    Inventors: Rainer Eketorp, Per Tornblad
  • Patent number: 6758906
    Abstract: Apparatus for the application of adhesive to one side of a running web of tipping paper for use in filter cigarete makers has a single source of adhesive or two or more sources containing identical or different adhesives, and one or more conduits leading from the source(s) to one or more nozzles which applies or apply one or more films of a single adhesive or of different adhesives to selected portions of the one side of the web. The rate of admission of adhesive(s) to the nozzle(s), including interruption and restarting of admission of adhesive(s), is regulated by one or more valves each having a body receiving a rotary valving element provided with one or more peripheral projections and/or recesses serving to regulate the rate of flow of adhesive toward the single nozzle or the respective nozzles. The rotary elements of two or more valves can constitute disc-shaped sections of a single rotor confined in a valve body common to all valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hauni Mashinenbau AG
    Inventors: Berthold Maiwald, Torsten Mörke, Karl-Heinz Pawelko
  • Patent number: 6746537
    Abstract: In order to provide a coating apparatus in which an edge can be fixed rigidly so as to apply a coating agent at a uniform thickness, edge units are provided which comprise edge support members and edges which are attached to the tips of the edge support members so as to slide on a flexible tape support member. The edge which is not disposed at both ends in the running direction of the flexible tape support member is fixed to the edge support member by an edge fixing member which is inserted in a direction from a bottom portion of the coating apparatus toward the edge. The edge is fixed so as to be pulled into a recessed section formed on the edge support member by the edge fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Fukuda, Toshihiko Kanayama
  • Patent number: 6730359
    Abstract: In a case to coat a web by using coating heads which have plural slits, the coating method coats the web by adjusting a running speed, an average high shear viscosity, and a surface tension of the coating liquid of the top layer so that the capillary number Ca, which is calculated by an equation Ca═U&mgr;/&sgr;, satisfies an inequality 0.1<Ca<4, where U (m/s) is a running speed of the web, &mgr; (Pa·s) is an average high shear viscosity of the coating liquids, and &sgr; (N/m) is a surface tension of the coating liquid for the top layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Tomaru, Toshihiro Mandai, Hideaki Takekuma
  • Patent number: 6726958
    Abstract: A coater comprises upstream and down stream side bars between which a pocket and a slit are formed. The coating apparatus satisfies the following conditional formula: 6(t1−3+t2−3)&mgr;×hw×u×Ls(Ls/2+Lp)L3/(h4E)≦&Dgr;hdmax/hd where Ls is a length (mm) of the slit, h is a gap (mm) of the slit, Lp is a length (mm) of a cross section of the pocket, L=Ls+Lp, E is a Young's modulus (Pa) of the upstream and downstream bars, t1 and t2 are a thickness (mm) of the thinnest portion of the upstream and downstream side bars at the pocket, &mgr; is a viscosity (Pa·s), u is a coating speed (mm/s), and &Dgr;hdmax is a permissible maximum value (mm) among differences &Dgr;hd (mm) between the maximum value and the minimum value in the dispersion of a dried layer thickness hd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Shigetoshi Kawabe
  • Patent number: 6699326
    Abstract: An applicator includes a slot and a reservoir which extends from the slot and has a shape which generally conforms to the slot. The reservoir is configured to contain a liquid therein. A piston which conforms to the reservoir is configured to move in the reservoir to thereby urge the liquid in the reservoir toward the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Wieslaw J. Suszynski
  • Patent number: 6695923
    Abstract: A multiple orifice applicator system for dispensing a plurality of rows of fluid material onto a work piece is disclosed. A source of fluid material is in fluid communication with the multiple orifice applicator. The multiple orifice applicator is mounted to a robotic arm, which positions the multiple orifice applicator relative to the work piece to enable the multiple orifice applicator to dispense fluid material onto the work piece. Fluid material is caused to flow from the source of fluid material into the multiple orifice applicator. The fluid material enters the multiple orifice applicator through an inlet port and is dispersed and spread out in a dispersing chamber. The fluid material is dispensed onto the work piece through a plurality of outlet orifices in the multiple orifice applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sealant Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl L. Schultz, Denise Dudra, Thomas R. Tudor
  • Patent number: 6689411
    Abstract: A system for laying down stripes of solution on substrate is described. The substrate preferably comprises a web of material set on a backing roller passed by a specially configured die. The die includes at least a mouth with lips extending beyond a face or body of the die. The die is adapted to avoid fluid leakage therefrom. Upper and lower portions of the die defining the mouth are preferably substantially flat and mirror images of each other. The lips are preferably placed in close proximity to the material on which the solution is to be deposited. Solution passing through the mouth of the die is directed to the webbing and deposited in a substantially constant thickness stripe or band. Often, the solution comprises a reagent-type solution. The solution coating is typically dried onto the substrate. Dried product may then be used in reagent test strop production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Lifescan, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Dick, Gary Otake, Aaron Jessen
  • Publication number: 20040016399
    Abstract: An applicator apparatus for controlling the uniform (or predetermined non-uniform) application of a treating fluid to a traveling fabric, web or other substrate includes one or more fluid applicators, each having spaced apart housing or body walls interconnected by a body edge preferably of a generally parabolic shape. Each applicator includes a fluid inlet in one body wall and a transversely elongated fluid outlet in the opposite body wall. The body walls define a fluid distribution chamber extending substantially equally and oppositely relative to the fluid inlet, with the chamber being divided by a plate member having preferably generally parabolically shaped peripheral edges substantially corresponding in shape with and spaced inwardly from the body edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Gaston Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter Friedrich Zeiffer, Christoph Walter Aurich, Hermann A. Neupert
  • Patent number: 6660615
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for growing a layer on one surface of a wafer by liquid phase deposition are provided. At first, a first wafer is putted on a first wafer-holder by its first surface. Then, a growth-liquid vessel having a first opening at the bottom is mounted on the first wafer-holder. Thereafter, a growth liquid is poured into the growth-liquid vessel to expose a second surface of the first wafer to the growth liquid for growing the layer on the second surface of the first wafer. Then, the, first wafer is taken out from the first wafer-holder to obtain a wafer with a layer grown only on one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Windbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Kwei Lee, Hsin-Chih Liao
  • Patent number: 6613149
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for applying glue to banderoles, more particularly banderoles for cigarette packs, comprising a glue supply, a nozzle device (7, 9, 12), a guide for the banderoles to be glued and a means for controlling glue delivery, whereby the nozzle device (7, 9, 12) comprises a glue distributor (7) which applies the glue in two streaks to the banderole by a continual contact process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Jung, Thomas Kremer
  • Patent number: 6582768
    Abstract: Edge faces with level differences are formed by assembling blocks constructing a coating head, and level difference variances in the width direction of a web are measured by a level difference variance measurement device. Then, the level difference variances are adjusted with reference to measured results, so that the level difference variances can be reduced. Therefore, coating layers can be uniformly formed on the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mandai, Norio Shibata
  • Patent number: 6579576
    Abstract: A fluid treatment device and method for treating moving substrates with fluid as the substrates move through the device at a relatively high rate of travel. Fluid injection in combination with the application of vibration energy (e.g., ultrasonic) results in enhanced fluid treatment of the substrates. In one embodiment, a bifurcated horn is utilized in combination with fluid injector members having pluralities of rows of spaced injector ports, the injectors being strategically positioned relative to the vibrational source. In one example, the device and method may be used for enhanced penetration by dye materials of ceramic substrate surfaces to detect adverse surface conditions (e.g., cracks) and thus potentially defective product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Lawrence Miller, Richard Francis Nelson, John Keith Ostrom
  • Patent number: 6579367
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a small volume of a selected liquid, such as a biological sample or reagent, onto a substrate. The device includes a tube adapted to contain the liquid. An elongate fiber is disposed within the tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions. Upon shifting or oscillating the fiber between its raised and lowered positions, a liquid spot can be formed at a selected position on the substrate. The device is readily adaptable for the production of micro-arrays having a great number of individual spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Charles S. Vann, Zbigniew Bryning
  • Patent number: 6576058
    Abstract: In an optical fiber coating method comprising the steps of; applying an injecting first coating resin to the outer periphery of the optical fiber while inserting the optical fiber through a first die hole provided in a first coating die; and applying an injected second coating resin onto the first coating resin while inserting the optical fiber through a second die hole provided in a second coating die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Oishi, Kaoru Okuno, Ichiro Tsuchiya, Masahiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 6576296
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously coating moving web and splices with a coating fluid. The system includes a slide coating die having a slide surface with at least one feed slot for extruding the coating fluid onto the moving web. The slide coating die defines a coating gap with the moving web. The coating gap is adjustable between a coating position and a splice coating position. A web guide is positioned to guide the moving web in a first direction past the slide coating die such that a coating bead of the coating fluid can be formed in the coating gap. A vacuum system is positioned to generate a reduced pressure condition along a lower surface of the slide coating die. The vacuum system defines a vacuum gap with the moving web. The vacuum gap is adjustable independent of the coating gap between a coating position and a splice coating position. A detector signals an increase in web thickness. A controller is functionally connected to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Yapel, Aparna V. Bhave, Timothy J. Edman, Bernard A. Scheller, Lawrence B. Wallace, Jerry L. Warren
  • Patent number: 6554900
    Abstract: An apparatus for the application of a flowable medium (2, 2′) from a stock chamber (7, 8) to a surface (6) being moved along the apparatus, and to the use of an apparatus of this type. The stock chamber (7, 8) partly covers the surface (6), with formation of a sealing gap (14) and an exit gap (18). In order to prevent the formation of air bubbles in the medium (2, 2′), it is proposed to divide the stock chamber (7, 8) into a pre-chamber (7) and a main chamber (8). A dividing element (10) which, together with the surface (6), limits a dividing gap (15), is arranged between the chambers. Various shapes of the dividing element are proposed. The apparatus is particularly suitable for the application of a polymer dispersion to the surface (6). A process for operating an apparatus of this type is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Pagendarm Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Oral Aydin, Andree Dragon, Frank Reinhard
  • Patent number: 6548117
    Abstract: In a case to coat a web by using coating heads which have plural slits, the coating method coats the web by adjusting a running speed, an average high shear viscosity, and a surface tension of the coating liquid of the top layer so that the capillary number Ca, which is calculated by an equation Ca=U&mgr;/&sgr;, satisfies an inequality 0.1<Ca<4, where U (m/s) is a running speed of the web, &mgr; (Pa·s) is an average high shear viscosity of the coating liquids, and &sgr; (N/m) is a surface tension of the coating liquid for the top layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Tomaru, Toshihiro Mandai, Hideaki Takekuma
  • Patent number: 6540833
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a coating apparatus and method in which most of the relative movement between a dispensing head and the substrate to be coated is provided by the coating head. The moving head configuration reduces the system footprint and diminishes leveling problems. A powered shuttle mechanism carries a dispensing head above a substrate to be coated while riding on a bearing located underneath the chuck holding the substrate thereby providing rigidity and reducing the system footprint. Chuck support is designed to accommodate anticipated vertical sag in the dispensing head by supporting the chuck at points along its periphery thereby permitting the chuck to sag in conjunction with the dispensing head. The shuttle mechanism is equipped with means for automatically adjusting the height of the dispensing head with respect to substrate to compensate for substrate placement error, substrate dimensional variation, and mechanical drift in the mechanical machine parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: FAStar, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Gibson, Carl W. Newquist, John E. Hawes, Rene Soliz, Samer Mahmoud Kabbani, Scott A. Snodgrass, Altaf A. Poonawala, Darwin R. Frerking, Zi-Qin Wang, Ocie T. Snodgrass, Eric E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6537376
    Abstract: A coating device for applying a coating to a surface of a travelling continuous substrate by discharging it from a nozzle extending in a widthwise direction of the substrate. In the coating device, a plurality of discharge openings are arranged in a row at predetermined distances spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the nozzle. A flat surface is formed on at least a portion, of a tip end of said nozzle opposed to the substrate, which lies at a downstream side in a travelling direction of the substrate. The flat surface is adapted to permit the uniformization of the thickness of the coating discharged from the plurality of discharge openings onto the substrate. Thus, the coating can be applied widthwise uniformly onto the substrate with the aid of the flat surface. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent the deformation of the discharge openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshinari Yasui, Takashi Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20030037728
    Abstract: In order to provide a coating apparatus in which an edge can be fixed rigidly so as to apply a coating agent at a uniform thickness, edge units are provided which comprise edge support members and edges which are attached to the tips of the edge support members so as to slide on a flexible tape support member. The edge which is not disposed at both ends in the running direction of the flexible tape support member is fixed to the edge support member by an edge fixing member which is inserted in a direction from a bottom portion of the coating apparatus toward the edge. The edge is fixed so as to be pulled into a recessed section formed on the edge support member by the edge fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Fukuda, Toshihiko Kanayama
  • Patent number: 6511707
    Abstract: A controllable device for applying a flowable material such as anti-seize composition to a workpiece utilizes a plurality of elongated nozzles insertably accommodated through a fixture plate to deposit such material onto the workpiece in a predetermined pattern. The fixture plate is provided with a corresponding number of apertures which accommodate different sizes and numbers of nozzles so that material may be applied to a large variety of workpieces without significant maintenance and modification to the device. The fixture plate is essential to define a predetermined clearance between an outlet through which the flowable material escapes from a nozzle and a surface onto which such material is applied and further cleans the nozzles in between application cycles to prevent overrun on to a workpiece surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Loctite Corporation
    Inventors: David Francis MacDonald, Michael Rollins McKinley, Christopher Lee Musante, Salvatore John Shifrin
  • Patent number: 6495196
    Abstract: A process and apparatus, including a separate coating head, for coating a strip article with a coating material. The process involves coating a strip article with a film of coating material by passing the strip article through a coating apparatus having at least one floating coating head provided with a coating face facing and extending laterally across a surface of the strip article to be coated. The coating head exudes a coating material and floats on the coating material as it meters the coating to a film of the desired thickness. The coating face of the coating head has a preferred coating profile between its opposite ends, and wherein distortions of the preferred coating profile during coating of said strip article are substantially prevented by modifying heat flux to or from selected parts of the coating head to compensate for distortions caused by differences of temperature within the coating head. The apparatus provides means of modifying heat flux to prevent such distortions of the coating profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Innes, Melville Douglas Ball
  • Patent number: 6471775
    Abstract: A slot nozzle for coating webs of material, for example, paper, paperboard, cardboard, with a flowable coating substance, for example, a pigment coating, has a slot shaped outlet channel to which a distribution chamber extending over the width of the web is connected. A plurality of supply conduits are connected to the distribution chamber in spaced relationship across the width of the web and the length of the outlet channel and each supply conduit has a valve for adjusting the volume flow of the coating liquid. A respective diffuser is provided between each supply conduit and the distribution chamber and widens in the direction of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Jagenberg Papiertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Becker, Reinhard Knop, Bernd Bohnenkamp
  • Patent number: 6458421
    Abstract: A method for reducing coating defects caused by strikethrough when simultaneously slide coating a first fluid layer, a second fluid layer, and a third fluid layer. The method includes preparing the first, second, and third fluids such that the first solute is incompatible with the second and third solutes and such that the first fluid minimizes strikethrough of at least one of the second and third fluids to a slide surface when the first fluid is positioned between the slide surface and the second and third fluids. The present invention is useful in preparing imaging, data storage, and other media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aparna V. Bhave, Robert A. Yapel, Lawrence B. Wallace, Thomas M. Milbourn
  • Patent number: 6458422
    Abstract: A method for reducing coating defects caused by strikethrough when simultaneously slide coating a first fluid layer, a second fluid layer, and a third fluid layer. The method includes preparing the first, second, and third fluids such that the first solute is incompatible with the second and third solutes and such that the first fluid minimizes strikethrough of at least one of the second and third fluids to a slide surface when the first fluid is positioned between the slide surface and the second and third fluids. The present invention is useful in preparing imaging, data storage, and other media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aparna V. Bhave, Robert A. Yapel, Lawrence B. Wallace, Thomas M. Milbourn
  • Patent number: 6444269
    Abstract: A coating head, and coating apparatus and methods using the coating head, for applying a solvent free coating material to a strip article advancing longitudinally in a coating line. The head includes a die having a transverse slit through which the coating material is deposited on the strip surface and having a land portion with an extended land surface on the exit side of the slit, the die being supported for movement normal to the strip surface, and one or more air or hydraulic cylinders exerting a load on at least the land portion of the die to urge the land surface toward the strip, wherein the die is constituted of a main body and the land portion, and the land portion is so connected to the main die body as to be capable of flexing relative to the main die body in a direction normal to the strip surface but to resist flexing in the direction of strip advance in the coating line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Robert A. Innes, David G. Hallam