Non-recirculating, die supplied doctored roll coater with solvent addition

An apparatus for coating an amount of fluid onto a substrate comprising:

• a coating die having a coating slot having an exit, a supply manifold from which the fluid enters the coating slot, feed openings into the supply manifold, and an external wall along which the fluid flows after exiting through the slot;
• a rotatable receiving roller located adjacent the coating die which applies the fluid onto the substrate;
• a reservoir having a bottom and located between the coating die and the receiving roller which receives the fluid flowing along the coating die which is applied onto the receiving roller;
• a doctor blade for regulating the amount of fluid applied to the receiving roller from the reservoir;
• and
• means for compensating for solvent evaporation, if any, during idling of the apparatus by removing the fluid from the reservoir and replacing it with a suitable solvent, wherein the compensating means comprises a pump connected near the bottom of the reservoir to enable substantially all of the fluid to be pumped from the reservoir, and means for adding solvent to the reservoir.

An apparatus for coating an amount of fluid onto a substrate comprising:

• a coating die having a coating slot, a supply manifold from which the fluid enters the coating slot, feed openings into the supply manifold, and an external wall along which the fluid flows after exiting through the slot;
• a rotatable receiving roller located adjacent the coating die which applies the fluid onto the substrate;
• a reservoir located between the coating die and the receiving roller which receives the fluid flowing along the coating die which is applied onto the receiving roller;
• a doctor blade for regulating the amount of fluid applied to the receiving roller from the reservoir;
• means for compensating for solvent evaporation, if any, during idling of the apparatus by removing the fluid from the reservoir and replacing it with a suitable solvent;
• and
• means for loading the doctor blade against the receiving roller.

An apparatus for coating an amount of fluid onto a substrate comprising:

• a coating die having a coating slot, a supply manifold from which the fluid enters the coating slot, feed openings into the supply manifold, and an external wall along which the fluid flows after exiting through the slot;
• a rotatable receiving roller located adjacent the coating die which applies the fluid onto the substrate;
• a reservoir located between the coating die and the receiving roller which receives the fluid flowing along the coating die which is applied onto the receiving roller;
• a doctor blade for regulating the amount of fluid applied to the receiving roller from the reservoir;
• and
• means for compensating for solvent evaporation, if any, during idling of the apparatus by removing the fluid from the reservoir and replacing it with a suitable solvent;
• wherein the reservoir comprises first and second ends, a front surface formed by the external wall of the coating die, a rear surface formed by the surface of the receiving roller, and a bottom surface formed at least in part by the doctor blade, and wherein the die comprises ends, further comprising first and second end seals which seal the die ends and the ends of the reservoir, wherein the end seals comprise a pad portion which seals against the doctor blade, and a wear plate portion which seals against the receiving roller, wherein the wear plate portion prevents the pad portion from contacting and wearing against the receiving roller.

An apparatus for coating an amount of fluid onto a substrate comprising:

• a coating die having ends, a coating slot, a supply manifold from which the fluid enters the coating slot, feed openings into the supply manifold, and an external wall along which the fluid flows after exiting through the slot;
• a rotatable receiving roller located adjacent the coating die which applies the fluid onto the substrate;
• a reservoir located between the coating die and the receiving roller which receives the fluid flowing along the coating die which is applied onto the receiving roller;
• a doctor blade for regulating the amount of fluid applied to the receiving roller from the reservoir;
• and
• means for compensating for solvent evaporation, if any, during idling of the apparatus by removing the fluid from the reservoir and replacing it with a suitable solvent;
• and
• first and second end seals which seal the ends of the die and ends of the reservoir;
• and
• means for adjusting the alignment of the end seals;
• wherein the reservoir comprises first and second ends, a front surface formed by the external wall of the coating die, a rear surface formed by the surface of the receiving roller, and a bottom surface formed at least in part by the doctor blade.

An apparatus for coating an amount of fluid onto a substrate comprising:

• a coating die having a coating slot, a supply manifold from which the fluid enters the coating slot, feed openings into the supply manifold, and an external wall along which the fluid flows after exiting through the slot;
• a rotatable receiving roller located adjacent the coating die which applies the fluid onto the substrate;
• a reservoir located between the coating die and the receiving roller which receives the fluid flowing along the coating die which is applied onto the receiving roller;
• and
• a doctor blade for regulating the amount of fluid applied to the receiving roller from the reservoir, wherein the cross section of the reservoir is comprised of first and second sides which are adjacent, the first side formed by a side wall of the coating die which is connected to the external wall and the second side formed by the doctor blade, wherein the side wall of the coating die and the doctor blade are substantially perpendicular, and on a third side by the receiving roller.