Drum design for web processing

A system for depositing a material on a continuous flexible workpiece advanced in a process direction, comprising:

• at least one drum that rotates about an axis that is transverse to the process direction, the at least one drum further including a peripheral surface that is parallel to the axis and which extends from a first edge to a second edge;
• a buffer film that is flexible and highly thermally conductive that covers at least a portion of the peripheral surface to support a section of the continuous flexible workpiece, wherein the portion of the peripheral surface covered by the buffer film extends from the first edge to the second edge of the peripheral surface;
• and
• at least one deposition unit disposed across from the portion of the peripheral surface, the at least one deposition unit continuously depositing the material across a width of some of the section of the continuous flexible workpiece.

A method of depositing a material on a continuous flexible workpiece advanced in a process direction through a deposition chamber, comprising:

• advancing the continuous flexible workpiece along a process direction and into the deposition chamber, wherein disposed in the deposition chamber is:
• at least one drum that rotates about an axis that is transverse to the process direction, the at least one drum further including a peripheral surface that includes a groove formed therein, thereby resulting in a recessed workpiece contact surface that is parallel to the axis and which is disposed between a first side wall and a second side wall;
• and
• at least one deposition unit disposed across from some of the portion of the peripheral surface,
• supporting a back surface of the section of the continuous workpiece with a portion of the recessed workpiece contact surface, while the first and second side walls maintain the section of the continuous flexible workpiece on the portion of the recessed workpiece contact surface as the continuous flexible workpiece is moved along the process direction;
• depositing the material onto an exposed surface of the section of the continuous flexible workpiece from the at least one deposition unit as the back surface of the section of the continuous flexible workpiece is supported by the portion of the recessed workpiece contact surface.

A method of depositing a material on a continuous flexible workpiece advanced in a process direction through a deposition chamber, comprising:

• advancing the continuous flexible workpiece along a process direction and into the deposition chamber, wherein disposed in the deposition chamber is:
• at least one drum that rotates about an axis that is transverse to the process direction, the at least one drum further including a peripheral surface that is parallel to the axis and which extends from a first edge to a second edge;
• a buffer film that is flexible and highly thermally conductive that covers at least a portion of the peripheral surface to support a section of the continuous flexible workpiece, wherein the portion of the peripheral surface covered by the buffer film extends from the first edge to the second edge of the peripheral surface;
• and
• at least one deposition unit disposed across from the portion of the peripheral surface,
• supporting a back surface of the section of the continuous workpiece with a portion of the buffer film and the portion of the peripheral surface therebelow as the continuous flexible workpiece is moved along the process direction;
• depositing the material onto an exposed surface of some of the section of the continuous flexible workpiece from the at least one deposition unit as the back surface of the section of the continuous flexible workpiece is supported by portion of the buffer film and the portion of the peripheral surface therebelow as the continuous flexible workpiece is moved along the process direction.