# US 5,350,598 A · Apparatus and method for selectively coating a substrate in strip form

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,350,598 A
- Document ID: US5350598A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/166,456
- Filed: 1993-12-13
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1993-03-27
- Assignees: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Siegfried Kleyer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350598A

## CPC

- C23C 14/562: {for coating elongated substrates}
- C23C 14/042: {using masks}
- C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04)

## Abstract

A drum is provided on its surface with depressions corresponding to the portions of a web not to be coated and is partially enclosed by a chamber in which separating agent is evaporated. The depressions capture vapor as the drum is rotated, and the web is passed over the drum where it is not enclosed by the chamber. Separating agent condenses on selective of the web correspond to the depressions, and a functional coating is subsequently applied. Thereafter the functional coating is removed from the areas where the separating agent was applied.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for selectively coating a web, said apparatus comprising
a chamber,
a source of vaporized separating agent in said chamber,
a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface which is partially enclosed by said chamber and partially exposed from said chamber, said surface having a pattern of depressions which collect vaporized separating agent as said surface rotates through said chamber,
sealing means for retaining excess vaporized separating agent in said chamber,
means for passing a web over said partially exposed surface as said drum is rotated, whereby vaporized separating agent can condense on selective areas of said web corresponding to said depressions, and
means for coating said web including said selective areas.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for coating comprises a source of evaporated metal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said source of vaporized separating agent comprises discharge nozzle means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said discharge nozzle means comprises a slot for discharging vaporized separating agent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said discharge nozzle means comprises a row of holes for discharging vaporized separating agent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises wall means having an opening which is closed by said cylindrical surface of said drum, and sealing means effective between said wall means and said cylindrical surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising guide means which guide said web against said cylindrical surface of said drum over a circumferential portion where said web is exposed from said chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for guiding said web over said partially exposed surface at a distance from said surface.

### Claim 9

Method for selectively coating a web, comprising
providing a chamber,
providing a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface which is partially enclosed by said chamber and partially exposed from said chamber, said surface having a pattern of depressions,
exposing said partially enclosed surface in said chamber to a vaporized separating agent,
rotating said drum so that said surface has a surface speed,
moving a web past said partially exposed surface synchrously with said surface speed so that vaporized separating agent condenses on selective areas of said web corresponding to said depressions.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

Method as in claim 9 wherein said web is passed against said cylindrical surface of said drum over a circumferential portion where said web is exposed from said chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

Method as in claim 9 further comprising coating said web including said selective areas.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

Method as in claim 9 wherein said coating is done by evaporating metal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

Method as in claim 11 wherein said coating and said separating agent are subsequently washed from said selective areas.