Method and apparatus for coating a substrate

A method of coating a substrate comprising:

• preheating a first portion of the substrate to a first temperature;
• ejecting a first material from a material applicator so that the first material is applied to the preheated first portion of the substrate, the first material including a first solvent component and a first coating component, wherein the first temperature is greater than an ambient temperature and less than a boiling point of the first coating component;
• preheating a second portion of the substrate to a second temperature, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature and less than the boiling point of the first coating component, the second portion of the substrate being closer to a vertical orientation than the first portion of the substrate;
• and
• ejecting the first material from the material applicator so that the first material is applied to the preheated second portion of the substrate.

An apparatus for coating a substrate with at least one material, the apparatus comprising:

• a material applicator configured to eject the at least one material;
• a heater;
• at least one device configured to provide relative movement between the substrate and the material applicator and between the substrate and the heater;
• and
• a controller in communication with the at least one device, the material applicator, and the heater, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the at least one device, the material applicator, and the heater such that the heater directs heat toward a first portion of the substrate and the material applicator subsequently applies the at least one material to the heated first portion.