Apparatus for coating substrate

An apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a substrate comprising a discrete sheet and having a surface to be coated and a length, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising:

• substrate holding means for holding the substrate such that the surface to be coated is positioned vertically or inclined;
• a coating liquid tank for storing the coating liquid therein, said coating liquid tank having:
• a hollow body with opposing ends closed;
• a front end surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, said front end surface being adapted to face the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means and to extend over at least a prescribed range of width of the surface to be coated of the substrate;
• a coating liquid outlet disposed on said front end surface and having an outlet opening;
• a coating liquid inlet having an inlet opening disposed at a level below a level of said outlet opening;
• and
• a coating liquid outlet path extending between said outlet and said inlet, the coating liquid rising to reach said outlet at least by capillary action through said outlet path;
• and
• moving means for holding said coating liquid tank with its front end surface facing the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means with a gap of prescribed size therebetween, and for linearly moving said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other, while maintaining said gap of the prescribed size, with linear movement of said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other bringing about relative movement of said tank and said substrate holding means from a first position corresponding to said upper portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate starts to a second position corresponding to said lower portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate is terminated, wherein
• said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank is disposed at a level between said outlet and said inlet when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, and an upper edge disposed above a maximum height reached by said coating liquid rising in the gap of said prescribed size at least by capillary action which coating liquid flows from said outlet to said gap when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, both said front end surface of said coating liquid tank and the surface to be coated of said substrate being projected upward infinitely to define said gap of said prescribed size therebetween;
• and wherein
• when the coating liquid is introduced to said coating liquid tank with said coating liquid tank being held by said moving means, the coating liquid inside of said hollow body is bounded by an upper surface that is positioned at a level between a level of said inlet opening and said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank, and the coating liquid introduced to said gap through said coating liquid outlet path forms a pool in which flow is regulated by said lower edge of said front end surface, and a space that is free of coating liquid is formed above said pool.

An apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a substrate comprising a discrete sheet and having a surface to be coated and a length, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising:

• substrate holding means for holding the substrate such that the surface to be coated is positioned vertically or inclined;
• a coating liquid tank for storing the coating liquid therein, said coating liquid tank having:
• a hollow body with opposing ends closed;
• a front end surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, said front end surface being adapted to face the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means and to extend over at least a prescribed range of width of the surface to be coated;
• a coating liquid outlet disposed on said front end surface and having an outlet opening;
• a coating liquid inlet having an inlet opening disposed at a level below a level of said outlet opening;
• and
• a coating liquid outlet path extending between said outlet and said inlet, the coating liquid rising to reach said outlet at least by capillary action through said outlet path;
• moving means for holding said coating liquid tank with its front end surface facing the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means with a gap of prescribed size therebetween, and for linearly moving said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other while maintaining said gap of the prescribed size, with linear movement of said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other bringing about relative movement of said tank and said substrate holding means from a first position corresponding to said upper portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate starts to a second position corresponding to said lower portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate is terminated, wherein
• said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank is disposed at a level between said outlet and said inlet of said coating liquid tank when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, and said upper edge is disposed between said outlet and a maximum height reached by said coating liquid rising in the gap of said prescribed size at least by capillary action which coating liquid flows from said outlet to said gap to form a pool therein when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, both said front end surface of said coating liquid tank and the surface to be coated of the substrate being projected upward infinitely to define said gap of said prescribed size therebetween;
• said apparatus further comprising:
• pressure adjusting means coupled to said coating liquid tank for controlling, by amount, said coating liquid in said pool;
• and wherein
• when the coating liquid is introduced to said coating liquid tank with said coating liquid tank being held by said moving means, the coating liquid inside of said hollow body is bounded by an upper surface that is positioned at a level between a level of said outlet of said coating liquid tank and said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank, and the coating liquid introduced to said gap through said coating liquid outlet path forms said pool in which flow is regulated by said upper and lower edges of said front end surface.

An apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a substrate comprising a discrete sheet and having a surface to be coated and a length, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising:

• substrate holding means for holding the substrate such that the surface to be coated is positioned vertically or inclined;
• a coating liquid tank for storing the coating liquid therein, said coating liquid tank having:
• a hollow body with opposing ends closed;
• a front end surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, said front end surface being adapted to face the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means and to extend over at least a prescribed range of width of the surface to be coated;
• a coating liquid outlet disposed on said front end surface and having an outlet opening;
• a coating liquid inlet having an inlet opening disposed at a level below a level of said outlet opening;
• and
• a coating liquid outlet path extending between said outlet and said inlet, the coating liquid rising to reach said outlet at least by capillary action through said outlet path;
• and
• moving means for holding said coating liquid tank with its front end surface facing the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means with a gap of prescribed size therebetween, and for linearly moving said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other, while maintaining said gap of the prescribed size, with linear movement of said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other bringing about relative movement of said tank and said substrate holding means from a first position corresponding to said upper portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate starts to a second position corresponding to said lower portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate is terminated, wherein
• said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank having a lower edge disposed at a level between said outlet and said inlet of said coating liquid tank when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, and said upper edge is disposed above a maximum height reached by said coating liquid rising in the gap of said prescribed size at least by capillary action which coating liquid flows from said outlet to said gap to form a pool therein when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, both said front end surface of said coating liquid tank and the surface to be coated of the substrate being projected upward infinitely to define said gap of said prescribed size therebetween;
• said apparatus further comprising:
• pressure adjusting means coupled to said coating liquid tank for controlling, as to amount, said coating liquid in said pool;
• and wherein
• when the coating liquid is introduced to said coating liquid tank with said coating liquid tank being held by said moving means, the coating liquid inside of said hollow body is bounded by an upper surface that is positioned at a level between a level of said outlet and said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank, and the coating liquid introduced to said gap through said coating liquid outlet path forms said pool in which flow is regulated by said lower edge of said front end surface, and a space that is free of coating liquid is formed above said pool.

An apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a substrate comprising a discrete sheet and having a surface to be coated and a length, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising:

• substrate holding means for holding the substrate such that the surface to be coated is positioned vertically or inclined;
• a coating liquid tank for storing the coating liquid therein, said coating liquid tank having:
• a hollow body with opposing ends closed;
• a front end surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, said front end surface being adapted to face the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means and to extend over at least a prescribed range of width of the surface to be coated;
• a coating liquid outlet disposed on said front end surface and having an outlet opening;
• a coating liquid inlet having an inlet opening disposed at a level below a level of said outlet opening;
• and
• a coating liquid outlet path extending between said outlet and said inlet, the coating liquid rising to reach said outlet at least by capillary action through said outlet path;
• and
• moving means for holding said coating liquid tank with its front end surface facing the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means with a gap of a prescribed size therebetween, and for linearly moving said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other, while maintaining said gap of the prescribed size, with linear movement of said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other bringing about relative movement of said tank and said substrate holding means from a first position corresponding to said upper portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate starts to a second position corresponding to said lower portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate is terminated, wherein
• said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank is disposed at a level below said inlet when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, and said upper edge is disposed between said outlet and a maximum height reached by said coating liquid rising in the gap of said prescribed size at least by capillary action which coating liquid flows from said outlet to said gap to form a pool therein when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, both said front end surface of said coating liquid tank and the surface to be coated of the substrate being projected upward infinitely to define said gap of said prescribed size therebetween;
• said apparatus further comprising:
• pressure adjusting means coupled to said coating liquid tank for controlling, by quantity, said coating liquid in said pool;
• and wherein
• when the coating liquid is introduced to said coating liquid tank with said coating liquid tank being held by said moving means, the coating liquid inside of said hollow body is bounded by an upper surface that is positioned at a level between said inlet and said outlet of said coating liquid tank, and the coating liquid introduced to said gap through said coating liquid outlet path forms said pool in which flow is regulated by said upper and lower edges of said front end surface.

An apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a substrate having a surface to be coated and a length, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising:

• substrate holding means for holding and supporting the substrate substantially along the length of the substrate and such that the surface to be coated is positioned vertically or inclined;
• a coating liquid tank for storing the coating liquid therein, said coating liquid tank having:
• a hollow body with opposing ends closed;
• a front end surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, said front end surface being adapted to face the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means and to extend over at least a prescribed range of width of the surface to be coated;
• a coating liquid outlet disposed on said front end surface and having an outlet opening;
• a coating liquid inlet having an inlet opening disposed at a level below a level of said outlet opening;
• and
• a coating liquid outlet path extending between said outlet and said inlet, the coating liquid rising to reach said outlet at least by capillary action through said outlet path;
• and
• moving means for holding said coating liquid tank with its front end surface facing the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means with a gap of a prescribed size therebetween and, for linearly moving said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other, while maintaining said gap of the prescribed size, with linear movement of said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other bringing about relative movement of said tank and said substrate holding means from a first position corresponding to said upper portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate starts and to a second position corresponding to said lower portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate is terminated, wherein
• said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank is disposed at a level below said inlet of said coating liquid tank when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, and said upper edge is disposed above a maximum height reached by said coating liquid rising in the gap of said prescribed size at least by capillary action which coating liquid flows from said outlet to said gap to form a pool therein when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, both said front end surface of said coating liquid tank and the surface to be coated of the substrate being projected upward infinitely to define said gap of said prescribed size therebetween;
• said apparatus further comprising:
• pressure adjusting means coupled to said coating liquid tank for controlling, by amount, said coating liquid in said pool;
• and wherein
• when the coating liquid is introduced to said coating liquid tank with said coating liquid tank being held by said moving means, the coating liquid inside of said hollow body is bounded by an upper surface that is positioned at a level between said outlet and said inlet of said coating liquid tank, and the coating liquid introduced to said gap through said coating liquid outlet path forms said pool in which flow is regulated by said lower edge of said front end surface, and a space that is free of coating liquid is formed above said pool.

An apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a substrate comprising a discrete sheet and having a surface to be coated and a length, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising:

• substrate holding means for holding the substrate such that the surface to be coated is positioned vertically or inclined;
• a coating liquid tank for storing the coating liquid therein, said coating liquid tank having:
• a hollow body with opposing ends closed;
• a front end surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, said front end surface being adapted to face the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means and to extend over at least a prescribed range of width of the surface to be coated;
• a coating liquid outlet disposed on said front end surface and having an outlet opening;
• a coating liquid inlet having an inlet opening;
• and
• a coating liquid outlet path extending between said outlet and said inlet in said coating liquid tank through which outlet path the coating liquid flows to reach said outlet at least by capillary action;
• and
• moving means for holding said coating liquid tank with its front end surface facing the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means with a gap of a prescribed size therebetween, and for linearly moving said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other, while maintaining said gap of the prescribed size, with linear movement of said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other bringing about relative movement of said tank and said substrate holding means from a first position corresponding to said upper portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate starts to a second position corresponding to said lower portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate is terminated, wherein
• said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank is disposed at a level below said outlet when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, and said upper edge is disposed between said outlet and a maximum height reached by said coating liquid rising in the gap of said prescribed size at least by capillary action which coating liquid flows from said outlet to said gap to form a pool therein when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, both said front end surface of said coating liquid tank and the surface to be coated of the substrate being projected upward infinitely to define said gap of said prescribed size therebetween, said apparatus further comprising:
• pressure adjusting means coupled to said coating liquid tank for controlling, by amount, of said coating liquid in said pool;
• and wherein
• when the coating liquid is introduced to said coating liquid tank with said coating liquid tank being held by said moving means, the coating liquid inside of said hollow body is bounded by an upper surface that is positioned at a level above both said inlet and said outlet of said coating liquid tank, and the coating liquid introduced to said gap through said coating liquid outlet path forms said pool in which flow is regulated by said upper and lower edges of said front end surface.

An apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a substrate comprising a discrete sheet and having a surface to be coated and a length, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising:

• substrate holding means for holding the substrate such that the surface to be coated is positioned vertically or inclined, the surface to be coated having an upper portion and a lower portion;
• a coating liquid tank for storing the coating liquid therein, said coating liquid tank having:
• a hollow body with opposing ends closed;
• a front end surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, said front end surface being adapted to face the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means and to extend over at least a prescribed range of width of the surface to be coated;
• a coating liquid outlet disposed on said front end surface and having an outlet opening;
• a coating liquid inlet having an inlet opening;
• and
• a coating liquid outlet path extending between said outlet and said inlet in said coating liquid tank, through which outlet path the coating liquid moves to reach said outlet at least by capillary action;
• and
• moving means for holding said coating liquid tank with its front end surface facing the surface to be coated of the substrate held by said substrate holding means with a gap of a prescribed size therebetween, and for moving said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank linearly relative to each other, while maintaining said gap of the prescribed size, with linear movement of said substrate holding means and said coating liquid tank relative to each other bringing about relative movement of said tank and said substrate holding means from a first position corresponding to said upper portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate starts to a second position corresponding to said lower portion where coating of the surface to be coated of the substrate is terminated, wherein
• said lower edge of said front end surface of said coating liquid tank is disposed at a level below said outlet when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, and said upper edge is disposed above a maximum height reached by said coating liquid rising in the gap of said prescribed size at least by capillary action which coating liquid flows from said outlet to said gap to form a pool therein when said coating liquid tank is held by said moving means, both said front end surface of said coating liquid tank and the surface to be coated of the substrate being projected upward infinitely to define said gap of said prescribed size therebetween, said apparatus further comprising:
• pressure adjusting means coupled to said coating liquid tank for controlling, by amount, said coating liquid in said pool;
• and wherein
• when the coating liquid is introduced to said coating liquid tank with said coating liquid tank being held by said moving means, the coating liquid inside of said hollow body is bounded by an upper surface that is positioned at a level above both said inlet and said outlet of said coating liquid tank, and the coating liquid introduced to said gap through said coating liquid outlet path forms said pool in which flow is regulated by said lower edge of said front end surface, and a space void of coating liquid is formed above said pool.