Abstract: An apparatus and method of flowing a fluid onto an incline planar surface across the entire with of the slot has a slot capillary number less than 0.04. The slot exit gap S is selected to be less than ##EQU1## where S is the slot gap in cm, .mu. is the fluid viscosity measured in poise, .rho. is the liquid density measured in gm/cm.sup.3, .sigma. is the liquid surface tension measured in dyne/cm, and N.sub.re is the Reynolds number as defined by N.sub.re =4M/.mu., where M is the liquid flow rate per unit of width measured in gm/sec-cm. The expression for a is defined as 0.981+0.3406 log N.sub.re.sup.0.3406. The fluid is flowed through a slot exit.

Abstract: The method of coating a substrate with plurality of layers of coatings includes moving the substrate along a path through the coating station. A composite layer is formed of first and second coating fluids. The substrate contacts the flowing composite layer to interpose the first coating fluid between the substrate and the second coating fluid. The composite layer is doctored with a gas from a gas knife to remove some portion of the composite layer from the substrate.

Abstract: A coating apparatus (10) for coating a radiation-sensitive emulsion (30) on a photographic support (24) is fabricated from hopper bars (12) having a ceramic coating surface (20). An initial surface finish treatment is first applied to the ceramic coating surface, after which the coating surface is polished, to decrease the roughness of the coating surface sufficiently to prevent the formation of streaks in the emulsion coating layer or layers on the support.

Abstract: For the trickle resin impregnation of mainly electrical windings or of other components, electric motors, etc., containing electrical elements, a curing agent-free trickle resin is allowed to leave separately from an outlet opening to form a jet, which is flowing onto the object that is to be impregnated. Before the jet strikes the object, a curing agent may be sprayed onto the jet surface of the flowing trickle resin, so that trickle resin, mixed with curing agent, comes into contact exclusively with the object to be impregnated and not with any other object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for coating a moving support by means of a curtain. According to the present invention, the lip of the coating device has a front surface 10 which is substantially vertical or positive, a positive rear surface 11 defining, with respect to the front surface 10, an angle of less than 90.degree. and a chamfer 12 between the lower ends of the said front and rear surfaces, the said device being characterised in that the ratio between the thickness of the coating composition at the level of the front surface 10 of the lip and the width of the chamfer 12 is at least one.

Abstract: A fountain applicator for applying coating liquid onto a web of paper carried past the applicator, has a coating liquid flow path that includes a curved surface along which a sheet of the coating liquid is flowed to subject the sheet to centrifugal force to cause air entrained in the coating liquid to move away from one side of the sheet that is toward the curved surface, so that the one side is relatively free of entrained air. After being flowed along the curved surface, the sheet of coating liquid is directed toward the web in a free standing jet curtain of coating liquid, to contact the web surface primarily with the one relatively air-free side of the coating liquid sheet to decrease the occurrence of skip coating on the web surface, especially when the web is traveling past the applicator at high speeds. The coating is applied in excess onto the web surface and is metered and leveled to a desired coat weight by a downstream doctor.

Abstract: A coating head is provided along a conveyor path, and directs a coating solution toward the objects traveling on the conveyor path below the coating head. The coating head feeds the coating solution in such a manner that it forms a curtain-like stream when it flows onto the objects. A collector receptacle is provided below the coating head for accepting the remainder of the coating solution therein, and a circulating conduit path connects between the collector receptacle and the coating head by way of an intervening circulating pump, for re-using the remainder of the coating solution. The coating solution comprises a brazing alloy powder solution.

Abstract: In a curtain pouring apparatus for coating circuit boards with a photopolymerizable lacquer, the improvement comprising a heatable roll disposed in a gutter heatable vat above a conveyor belt for the circuit boards and a heatable doctor blade is applied against the roll and infrared lamps are arranged parallel to the doctor blade.

Abstract: A curtain coating method and apparatus using a rotatable or slidable coating plate and in which a coating liquid freely falls in the form of a thin film from a hopper. The thin film collides with a web continuously running and circumferentially turning around a backup roller to coat the web. The coating plate is rotated or slid to retract so that the freely falling coating liquid reaches the web so as to coat the web after the freely falling coating liquid flows along a checking plate which is doglegged in section and provided on a forward end of the coating plate, thereby coating the web with an even thickness at the start of coating operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating hopper for applying one or more layers of photographic liquid onto a web of paper or film support. The device incorporates a liquid passage system with a metering slot of defined width which leads to an expansion section having an increasing width as liquid moves away from the metering slot. The expansion section is connected to a discharge slot having a defined width greater than that of the metering slot which delivers photographic liquid to a location on the coating device where a layer of that liquid is formed.

Abstract: The present invention minimizes the effects of capillary and inertial forces on the film profile for a slide hopper, thereby making the film profile smooth and predictable even when the transition section is short. The invention enables improved coating uniformity over the main width of the coating and particularly at the edges. The slide hopper has a slide surface and a lip surface, with a transition surface connecting the two surfaces. The transition surface profile has a variable curvature that is zero at the first end, increases continuously to a maximum at point between the first and second ends and decreases continuously to zero at the second end.

Abstract: The present invention is an edge blade (20) attached to an edge guide (12) for removing an edge of a falling curtain (10). The edge of the falling curtain is intercepted by the edge blade (20) and is vacuumed away by a vacuum tube (21) disposed near the edge blade. The present invention provides a uniform coated edge with maximum coating speeds at the edge being equal to maximum speed possible for the coating system far from the edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dual cavity hoppers and is an apparatus and method for controlling frowns. The dual cavity hoppers are provided with adjustable bypass means for providing fluid from the inner cavity to the outer cavity or alternatively for providing fluid directly to the outer cavity. The bypass means can be used on end-fed or center-fed dual cavity hoppers. The uniformity of the laydown across the width of the delivery slot is improved.

Abstract: A coating method that is capable of rapid curtain coating without causing "sagging" at high flow rates exceeding 4 cm.sup.3 /cm.sec. One or more layers of a coating solution are formed on a sliding surface, and a free falling curtain of the coating solution is allowed to impinge against a continuously running web. The web has a surface roughness of at least 0.3 .mu.m, the tip of the sliding surface forms an angle of 45.degree. to 120.degree. with respect to the horizontal, and the viscosity of the coating solution is adjusted to at least 90 cps for low shear rate, with the average for all layers formed being at least 80 cps.

Abstract: In curtain coating, uniform layer or layers are only obtained if the operational variables are held within precise limits. These limits define a "coating window". However, one of the boundaries of this "window" is governed by the occurrence of air-entrainment. Described herein is an improved coating process in which allows the "coating window" to be enlarged. This is achieved by using a material adjacent the support on to which the liquid material is to be coated which readily shear-thins.

Abstract: The present invention describes slot inserts for use in a coating hopper having at least one metering slot. The slot inserts allow widthwise adjustment of the coating width. The slot inserts push fit into the metering slot and are held by friction between the walls of the metering slot. In one aspect of the invention, the inserts have different widthwise dimensions at each end allowing control over the edges. For dual cavity hoppers, the slot inserts can be shaped so as to prevent stagnant regions within the hopper cavities.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for guiding the edge of a free-falling curtain. The apparatus includes first and second slides positioned at the top of the curtain which merge. An edge guide is positioned at the point where the slides merge. A lubricating liquid is provided to each slide surface which flows down each slide and the edge guide to guide the edge of the free-falling curtain. The present invention allows time for surfactant in the lubricating liquid time to diffuse to the surface and promotes dampening of disturbances in the lubricating liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is a method determining where to add hardener in a multilayer coating pack on a web fed through a coating station. The process includes determining the frequency and amplitude of the process noise associated with the coating station, determining the growth factor as a function of frequency on the incline surface and repeating these two steps for each of the layers in the coating pack. The plurality of growth factors obtained as a function of frequency is converted into a plurality of wave amplification versus frequency. After the plurality of wave amplitudes versus frequency is determined, one then selects from this plurality the one which is below a predetermined value in order to reduce coating cross streaks.

Abstract: A board to be coated is conveyed by means of first transport means in the form of a roller conveyor to a curtain coating device. The latter comprises second transport means in the form of two conveyor belts, each of which runs round an associated straightening bar in the direction of transport of the board. The straightening bars are movable and as they move towards one another they align the boards at the side edges thereof in such a manner that the side edges extend approximately parallel to the direction of transport of the board. Conical rollers are connected to the straightening bars. During alignment, that is to say, when the straightening bars are moved towards one another, the board to be coated is at the same time lifted from the roller conveyor by means of the conical rollers and conveyed via the surfaces of the conical rollers to the conveyor belts. The latter engage laterally at the board edges and transport the board through a pouring curtain for the purpose of coating.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for use on a curtain coating apparatus. In a curtain coater, edge guides (12) guide the free falling curtain from the hopper lip to the substrate to be coated. Lubricating liquid (15) is introduced near the hopper lip from the top of the edge guide (12). The present invention is a method and apparatus for introducing lubricating liquid (15) as close to the hopper lip as possible while avoiding any turbulence in the flow of the lubricating liquid (15).

Abstract: Methods for coating various liquid coating solutions onto continuously running support webs for use in the manufacture of photographic film materials, photographic printing paper, magnetic recording materials such as magnetic recording tape, adhesive tape, information recording paper such as pressure-sensitive paper or thermal paper, and materials for use in photomechanical processes, wherein uniform coating characteristics are obtained, both at the start of coating operations and at the passage of various seams in the web. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an electric field of a strength in a range of 100-1000 volts/cm as measured with a surface potentiometer is applied on the surface of the web to be coated and, at the same time, air having a relative humidity of 70-85% is blown against the surface of the web after the start of coating operation but just prior to a time when the thin film of coating solution impinges against the web.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for preparation of a coating hopper. A preparation pan is positioned beneath the hopper lip during hopper preparation wherein flow within the hopper is chaotic and the curtain is not stable. The preparation pan includes edge walls spaced apart from the edge guides to stabilize the unsteady curtain within the preparation pan. The invention minimizes splashing and splattering of the coating liquids thereby minimizing contamination of the coating equipment.

Abstract: A curtain coater and coating method for coating a moving web with at least one layer of a liquid coating composition utilizes a web-supporting roller for conveying the web along a path, a coating hopper for forming a free falling generally planar curtain of the coating composition which extends transversely of the web and impinges upon the web at a point on the path where the web is supported on the roller, edge guides on opposite sides of the web path for laterally guiding the falling curtain by contact with the curtain side edges, and a curtain intercepting member is occasionally displaceable from an inoperative position out of the path of the falling curtain to an intercepting position adjacent the web for intercepting the falling curtain, wherein the intercepting member has a dimension transversely of the web that is greater that the transverse dimension of the web itself and a portion of each of the edge guides adjacent to the web is displaceable independently of the coating hopper away from the web to a

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus is provided for application of a viscous sauce to a pizza shell. The apparatus includes a distribution roller system in combination with a waterfall dispensing device to form a thin sheet of the sauce that is discharged onto the roller which then throws the received sauce in droplet form onto the pizza shell in a uniform thickness layer. The distribution roller system in one embodiment of the apparatus includes a single roller formed with a plurality of conical projections arranged in angularly spaced axially extending rows for receiving the sauce from the waterfall dispensing device and revolved at a speed to throw the sauce in a generally downward direction in a shower of droplets.

Abstract: The present invention discloses edge guides (12) for use in guiding a curtain (17) of coating liquid onto a moving support. Each edge guide (12) is made of two or more small diameter wires (20) spaced apart a distance and running from the hopper lip (16) to the support web. The distance between the wires is approximately the thickness of the curtain. Flushing solution is introduced between the wires (20) near the hopper lip (16) and removed near the support web (15).

Abstract: A criss cross coating hopper 10 is provided which is capable of producing uniform flow distribution patterns. The hopper 10 is comprised of a first and second hopper halves 12,14. First and second hopper halves 12,14 each have a first and second planar surface 20,40, respectively, adjoining a first and second cavity 22,42, respectively, each cavity 22,42 having a land surface 28,50 near the entrance end 26,48 and exit end 24,46. Inserts 62,64 are positioned against the land surface 60 of the first hopper half 12 and the land surface 50 of the second hopper half 14, respectively. The first and second hopper halves 12,14 and the inserts 62,64 cooperate to form an exit slot 69 recessed into first and second planar surfaces 20,40.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for coating a plurality of coating compositions onto a moving support while minimizing the time required to switch from one coating composition to a different coating composition. The method involves supplying a first coating composition to a hopper at a first flowrate. When the switch is made to an alternate coating composition, the alternate coating composition is supplied to the hopper at a second flowrate while coating composition is removed from the hopper at a third flowrate equal to the first flowrate subtracted from the second flowrate. After sufficient pumping the alternate coating composition is supplied to the hopper at the first flowrate and no coating composition is removed from the hopper.

Abstract: A method for reducing the tendency toward the formation of ripple imperfections in the coating of a plurality of layers of liquid photographic compositions or moving webs is disclosed. Conditions for coating the compositions are determined according to a given formula to keep the ripple value below 35. The coating compositions are formed into a laminar flow of a plurality of distinct layers including the photographic compositions as upper, middle, and lower layers. The flowing plurality of layers is then received as a layered mass on a moving web. A method for predicting the tendency toward the formation of ripple imperfections in the coating of a multilayer photographic element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A film applying method in which a coating solution is applied by a solution injector having an edge guide onto a support member as a freely falling coating film, includes forming a solution contact surface of the edge guide to have one of a radius greater than 1.0 mm or a width d greater than 0.7 mm when the coating solution has at least one of a viscosity greater than 45 cp and a dynamic surface tension difference greater than 8 dyne/cm. The edge guide solution contacting surface is narrowed to have a radius less than 1.0 mm or a width d less than 0.7 mm when the coating solution has at least one of a viscosity less than 45 cp and a dynamic surface tension difference less than 8. In a second embodiment, the coating solution is prepared to have at least one of a viscosity greater than 45 cp and a dynamic surface tension difference greater than 8 dyne/cm when the solution contacting part of the edge guide has either a radius r greater than 1.0 mm or a width d greater than 0.7 mm.

Abstract: A coating apparatus for coating a predetermined amount of a coating liquid uniformly onto a continuously running web, said coating apparatus being formed of a ceramic material obtained by sintering at a temperature of not less than 1,000.degree. C., said ceramic material having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of not more than 11.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. at temperatures of 25.degree. to 500.degree. C., and said ceramic material having a Vickers hardness of not less than 700 kg/mm.sup.2.

Abstract: A slide-hopper-type coating method in which the viscosity of the coating solution forming a free-falling curtain and the angle .alpha. which the front edge of the lip of the slide hopper forms with respect to the horizontal are selected with respect to the flow rate of the curtain in such a way that the line of contact between the curtain and the web is concave with respect to the direction in which the web travels. In addition, the angle .beta. which the extension of the curtain in the direction of its fall forms with respect to the direction of travel of the web at the point where the curtain is deposited on the web is preferably adjusted so that it is an obtuse angle not larger than 140.degree.. By satisfying these conditions, the coating method of the present invention is capable of extending the upper limit of coating speeds without causing "sagging" in the range of high flow quantities of coating solution per unit length of curtain coat width.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid conditioning system having a primary distribution channel configured to distribute coating fluid transversely. Fluid from the primary distribution channel is carried by a second conduit to a secondary distribution channel which is configured to minimize transverse pressure gradients in fluids having Reynolds Numbers of up to 50 without substantial formation of eddies. A product conduit withdraws liquid from the secondary distribution channel. This fluid conditioning system is particularly useful in applying photographic liquids to a web of photographic film or paper. For this utility, the system can be incorporated in a conventional slide hopper between adjacent layering plates or the liquid-applying plate and its adjacent layering plate.

Abstract: A curtain coater for applying a layer or film of a liquid coating composition as a falling curtain on a surface of a continuous web moving around an arc of a backing roller, has a curved air shield arranged in closely spaced parallel relation to the roller periphery extending around a segment of said periphery directly upstream of the falling curtain to define an air gap through which the web passes before reaching said curtain. At the opposite end regions of the air shield and also at opposite side regions thereof are provided means, such as projections or sections of increased thickness, for increasing the resistance to air flow in the gap at the end and side regions compared to the air flow resistance in the region of the shield intermediate the end and side regions. A suction device communicates with the gap in the intermediate region to reduce the air pressure therein.

Abstract: A coating device for cast-coating webs and plates or the like comprises a swivelling casting channel with a cover and a draining trough connected with a supply tank for a coating material through a return line. A suction line leads from the supply tank, via a pump and a hose, to a supply pipe which is inserted in a connecting piece of the casting channel and opens into the interior of the casting channel. An overflow baffle and an underflow baffle are inserted in mountings or grooves, respectively, inside the casting channel. A gap is left open between the cover and the casting channel, through which gap the coating material flows over an overflow edge onto a casting plate which is attached to the outside of the casting channel and points vertically downward. The casting film flows upon the plates or webs conveyed horizontally through the coating device.

Abstract: In a curtain coating apparatus for the coating of photographic film and paper webs and the like, the line of impingement of the curtain on the moving web is controlled by providing a pressure controlled zone on one side of the flowing curtain. Small changes in the static air pressure in the zone cause the position of the curtain to move without disturbing the quality of the curtain. Wetted side walls of the pressure controlled zone can serve as edge guides for the curtain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a surface of a continuously moving substrate with a continuously flowing curtain of coating composition comprises transmitting a sound or light wave toward the curtain and detecting the sound or light wave after the transmitting of the sound or light wave. The presence of the curtain is confirmed by either a positive receiving of a reflected sound or light on the smae side of the curtain as the transmitting of the sound or light wave, or a negative receiving of the transmitted sound or light wave on the other side of the curtain. The position of a continuously flowing curtain of coating composition is determined by measuring a time lapse between the time a sound or light wave is transmitted and the time a sound or light wave after reflection from the curtain is received. If the time lapse is outside a predetermined range of a control time period, a signal is generated to indicate that the curtain is defective.

Abstract: Curtain coater for coating a layer of liquid photograph coating composition on a continuous web, which comprises a coating hopper (10), a roller (18) for supporting the web while moving past the coating hopper to receive a layer (16) of coating composition produced by the hopper and, arranged closely to and slightly upstream of the coating locus of the curtain on the web, an elongated brush arrangement (24) extending across the web, the bristles of which are flexible and in resilient contact with the web surface. The brush arrangement functions to reduce the effect of air carried along by the moving web on the liquid curtain in conjunction with an upstream air shield in the form of an arcuately curved plate coaxial with the supporting roller and spaced closely from the web surface.

Abstract: In the hopper coating of liquid compositions on moving webs, as in the coating of photographic layers on film supports, the trapping of solid particles or bubbles in the hopper slots causes line defects or streaks in the coated layers. These defects are avoided or reduced by determining the conditions under which the composition can be flowed through one or through a plurality of adjacent slots of the coating hopper at slot Reynolds numbers less than about 10 and flowing the composition through such slot or slots under said conditions.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of manufacturing a photographic plate of glass using a device in which an elastic flexible hanger is provided at the bottom of a liquid feeder located over the movement passage for the base of the plate, and the base is moved into contact with the hanger at the lower end thereof so that a liquid flowing out from the feeder is applied to the base. The base and the hanger are kept out of contact with each other until the leading edge of the base passes under the hanger. The base and the hanger are then put into contact with each other after the leading edge of the base has passed under the hanger so that the application is started. The base and the hanger are subsequently put out of contact with each other immediately before the liquid is applied to the base at the trailing edge thereof.

Abstract: A coating apparatus in which a series of substrates are conveyed along a predetermined path for receiving coating solution in which coating is carried out stably and coatings of uniform thickness are formed. A solution supplying unit is arranged above the path of the substrates. A flexible, elastic solid curtain member made of a water-impermeable material is attached to an outlet of said solution supplying unit, a front edge of which elastically contacts the substrates as they pass beneath the solution supplying unit so that coating solution flowing out of said solution supplying unit is applied to the substrates from the curtain member. A vertically movable solution receiver is positioned below the front edge of the curtain member with the solution receiver contacting the front edge of the curtain member when no substrate is located between the curtain member and the solution receiver so as to allow the coating solution to smoothly flow down the solution receiver.

Abstract: A transport device (1) for boards (2) or board-shaped workpieces, especially those having a sensitive surface, preferably for circuit boards which are coated with plastics material, for example UV-hardenable plastics material, with lacquer or the like and then dried, is constructed as a circulating coating system. The device (1) has holders (3) for taking hold of the boards (2) at the edges (2a) thereof when they are being handled, and advancing means, advantageously in the form of chains, for transporting those holders (3). The holder (3) has two parallel bars (10) on each of which there are provided two rows (11, 12) of prongs (13) arranged in the form of a rake, the prongs (13) of the one row (11) of a bar (10) forming an acute angle with those of the second row (12) of that bar (10) and the two rows (11, 12) accordingly being arranged with respect to each other in a "V" shape when viewed in cross-section.

Abstract: Apparatus for curtain coating a web or article includes a coating hopper, a support roller, guide rollers for leading the web to and from the support roller and an enclosure. Air which has been conditioned in respect of temperature, humidity and cleanliness is introduced into an upper region of the enclosure. Air flow controlling means are provided below the region into which the conditioned air is introduced. The flow controlling means serve to control the flow of air downwards so that it is uniform across a horizontal plane within the enclosure and has a speed of about 10 feed per minute in the region of the coating liquids in the curtain, that being a speed which will not cause disturbing effects on the liquids in the curtain. The enclosure prevents random air currents of uncontrolled velocity, temperature and cleanliness impinging on the liquids in the curtain and on the slide, which might otherwise adversely affect the product coating.

Abstract: A transport device for boards having a sensitive surface, especially for wet-coated circuit boards, comprises, within a common housing, a lacquering station and, arranged above the latter, a drying region. For transporting the boards (2) through the drying region holders (3) are provided which comprise at least two bars (30) each having rows (31,32) of prongs extending from a bar (30) in a "V" shape and arranged in the form of a rake. The free ends of the prongs of the one bar point towards the free ends of the prongs of the other bar. The bottom ends of the holders (3) are open. For supporting the bottom ends (2b) of a board (2) that is being transported in a holder (3), the transport device is equipped with a supporting device (12) that is movable synchronously with the holders (3).

Abstract: A novel catch pan is disclosed for use in apparatus for coating of a support or moving web using curtain coating method and apparatus. The catch pan is used during start-up and shut-down. In use the catch pan is positioned between first and second edge guides and in close proximity to a support. The catch pan includes a main catch pan surface and first and second opposing sides each having a resilient, flexible shim projecting out along the upper edge thereof and into contact with the first and second edge guides, respectively. Each shim strips liquids from the adjacent edge guide, and then directs such liquids onto the catch pan surface during start-up and shut-down without the deposition of excess liquids on the support, web, or coating roller. Means are provided for retracting the catch pan and controlling the falling curtain during start-up, and for inserting the catch pan for intercepting the falling curtain during shut-down.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for curtain coating of paint or varnish on objects having profiled application surfaces, such as profiled door leaves, comprising a curtain head provided with a paint/varnish inlet and return outlet. The curtain head hereby exhibits two curtain lips positioned opposite each other, as well as an upper and a lower flow-equalization rail. The curtain head is further positioned at a predetermined height over a collector channel. A return line connects the return outlet with the collector channel and a conveyor is arranged to feed the profiled object inbetween the curtain head and the collector channel when applying the paint/varnish. The invention relates specifically to that the curtain height between the lowermost edge of the curtain lips and the application surface of the profiled object is at least 250 mm, and that the distance between the upper and the lower flow-equalization rail decreases in a direction from the paint/varnish inlet to the return outlet.

Abstract: In a process for mass producing optical storage sheets, an elongate film of a liquid crystalline material is fed lengthwise along a path through an aligning gate. The aligning gate applies to successive areas of the film a field which aligns the molecules. The field may be an electric field and/or a shear field. An aligning layer, such as a surfactant layer may also be used for alignment of the film areas. The aligned film may then be cut into pieces for use as microfiches or microfilms. The film material is preferably a liquid crystal polymer material.

Abstract: A coating method and an extrusion-type coating head in which turbulence at the junction between two flows of coating materials is prevented to provide multi-layer simultaneous coating over a wide range of coating rates and with a good coating quality. An intermediate block is sandwiched betwen a rear block defining a back edge and a front block defining a doctor edge. Two coating flows pass through slits formed on either side of the intermediate block, joining at the top end of the intermediate block and flowing together into a short slot extending between the end of the intermediate block and the outlet of the head.

Abstract: A curtain coating width changing device in which the width of the backup device at a coating portion can be rapidly changed continuously and smoothly. A backup roller supports a continuously running web. A pair of collar members is provided at respective opposite edge portions of the backup roller and is movable in the axial direction of the backup roller, the collar members lying on an extension of a top portion of the backup roller. A pair of spacers is provided in the spaces between the roller and corresponding ones of the collar members so as to form an extended surface of the top portion of the backup roller and to fill the spaces. Each of the collar members has a spiral end surface, whereby the effective axial length of the extended portion of the top portion of the roller can be adjusted by rotation of the spacers.

Abstract: A curtain-type coating device including a coating head for applying a coating solution dropping in the form of a curtain from said coating head under force of gravity and which collides against the surface of a moving support to form a film layer on the support and a blade for guiding the curtain. A front edge of the blade is laid over a meeting line where the curtain meets the surface of the support in such a manner as to allow the passage of a film layer which has been formed on the support in advance.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for the coating of a support or moving web using curtain coaters during the start-up and shut-down of a free falling liquid curtain. The apparatus is typically a catch pan positioned between a first and second edge guide and in close proximity to a support. The catch pan includes a main catch pan surface and first and second opposing sides each having a shim projecting out along the upper edge thereof and into contact with the first and second edge guides, respectively. Each shim strips liquids from the adjacent edge guide, and then directs such liquids onto the catch pan surface during start-up and shut-down without the deposition of excess liquids on the support, web, or coating roller. Means are provided for retracting the catch pan and controlling the falling curtain during start-up, and for inserting the catch pan for intercepting the falling curtain during shut-down.