Coating processes and apparatus
OwnerLeonard R. Sandockinventor
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Abstract
Processes and apparatus for uniformly coating discrete substrates by application of a controlled volume of fluid per unit surface area of a substrate. In one aspect, the invention provides a process comprising providing a fluid reservoir; and flowing fluid from the fluid reservoir without substantial interruption through one or more fluid applicators, the fluid applied with a controlled volume per unit surface area of the substrate, said fluid flow from the reservoir commencing and terminating to provide a fluid layer up to the perimeter of the substrate. The invention also provides fluid application apparatus which enable application of a uniform fluid layer, including apparatus that provides termination of fluid flow without fluid dripping or trailing of fluid.
Claims45
A process for applying a fluid layer on a discrete substrate comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a fluid reservoir containing a fluid having a controlled volatile component content, said fluid reservoir fluidly coupled with one or more fluid applicators by a valve member, each of said one or more fluid applicators having an elongate-shaped opening, and at least one of said one or more fluid applicators having walls within the applicator defining a chamber, said walls having at least some portions roughened in an amount sufficient to substantially reduce dripping or trailing of fluid after termination of fluid flow from the one or more fluid applicators;
- (b) at least primarily by manipulating the valve member, commencing a flow of the fluid without substantial interruption from the fluid reservoir through the elongate-shaped opening of the one or more fluid applicators onto the discrete substrate while relatively moving the discrete substrate and the one or more fluid applicators with respect to one another such that a fluid layer is applied on the substrate surface, the fluid applied with a controlled volume per unit surface area of the substrate.
A process for applying a fluid layer on a liquid crystal display substrate, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a fluid reservoir containing a fluid having a controlled volatile component content, said fluid reservoir fluidly coupled with one or more fluid applicators, and at least one of said one or more fluid applicators having walls within the applicator defining a chamber, said walls having at least some portions roughened in an amount sufficient to substantially reduce dripping or trailing of fluid after termination of fluid flow from the one or more fluid applicators;
- (b) flowing the fluid from the fluid reservoir through one or more fluid applicators onto the liquid crystal display substrate, the fluid applied in a controlled volume per unit surface area of the liquid crystal display substrate.
A process for applying a fluid on a discrete substrate, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to one or more fluid applicators, each of the one or more fluid applicators having an elongate-shaped opening and at least one of the one or more fluid applicators having walls, said walls within the applicator defining a chamber, said walls having at least some portions roughened in an amount sufficient to substantially reduce dripping or trailing of fluid that could occur after termination of fluid flow from the one or more fluid applicators;
- (b) flowing the fluid from the fluid reservoir through the elongate-shaped opening of the one or more fluid applicators onto the substrate to apply a uniform fluid layer thereon;
- (c) terminating flow of the fluid whereby an occurrence of fluid dripping and trailing after flow termination is reduced as a result of said roughened portions, and the fluid is applied with a controlled volume per unit surface area of the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.