Method and apparatus for processing and transporting sheet materials
AssigneeVisicon, Inc.
InventorQuentin D. Vaughan, IV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for processing a sheet material, for e.g. a photosensitive sheet material, with a flowable process substance. The flowable process substance is distributed via a pliable web which has defined on one of its surfaces a plurality of protrusions which define interconnected fluid reservoirs and distribution channels, and which are in surface-to-surface contact with the sheet material over a substantial portion its surface area while the sheet material is transported relative to such web.
Claims15
Apparatus for transporting and processing a sheet material with flowable process substance comprising:
- a source of flowable process substance;
- at least one pliable web having a multiplicity of protrusions defined on at least one surface thereof, said protrusions being spaced apart from one another in a substantially uniform distribution over said one surface and defining interstices therebetween for receiving effective volumes of said flowable process substance therein, said interstices being in fluid communication with adjacent interstices thereby defining fluid communication channels over substantially the entire area of said surface;
- means delivering a controlled volume of said flowable process substance to said web, said volume being sufficient to substantially fill said interstices;
- and
- means moving said sheet material and said web into surface-to-surface contact with and relative to one another with said protrusions in contact with said sheet material whereby said sheet material is caused to contact said process substance disposed in said interstices and said process substance is caused to flow within and between said interstices and said process substance in said reservoirs is agitated thereby transferring process substance which has contacted said sheet material away from said sheet material and causing such process substance to be mixed with other process substance in said reservoirs.
Apparatus for processing a sheet material with a flowable process substance in which said sheet material is moved relative to a supply of said process substance comprising:
- a source of said flowable process substance;
- a mesh assembly receiving and distributing said process substance, including at least one pliable web having a multiplicity of protrusions defined on at least one surface thereof, said protrusions being spaced apart from one another in a substantially uniform distribution over said one surface and defining interstices therebetween for receiving effective volumes of said flowable process substance therein, said interstices being in fluid communication with adjacent interstices thereby defining fluid communication channels over substantially the entire area of said surface, mounting means anchoring only one edge of said pliable web with the remainder of said web extending from said mounting means, and means associated with said mounting means for dispensing said process substance to said anchored edge of said web;
- means delivering a controlled volume of said process substance to said mounting means, said volume being sufficient to substantially fill said interstices;
- and
- means transporting said sheet material in surface-to-surface contact with and relative to said web with said protrusions in contact with said sheet material whereby said sheet material is caused to contact said process substance disposed in said interstices and said process substance in said reservoirs is agitated thereby transferring process substance which has contacted said sheet material away from said sheet material and causing such process substance to be mixed with other process substance in said reservoirs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.