Reverse feed film applicator

An applicator for applying coating material to a substrate, the applicator comprising:

• an applicator head housing positioned beneath a backing roll for application of coating to a substrate, and wherein the housing defines an application chamber which opens toward the backing roll and which extends along the backing roll in a cross-machine direction, and wherein the application chamber receives and retains mating material in a coating pond;
• a baffle plate extending toward the backing roll;
• a premetering plate mounted within the coater housing, downstream of the baffle plate, wherein the premetering plate extends toward the backing roll to define a wedge-shaped region of the application chamber, and wherein coating is applied by the premetering plate;
• a metering element mounted to the applicator housing downstream of the premetering plate, wherein a low pressure cavity is defined between the premetering plate and the metering element, and bounded by the backing roll, and wherein the desired level of coating applied is achieved by the metering element;
• and
• portions of the premetering plate which define a plurality of holes extending through the premetering plate, such that coating and air within the application chamber is drawn through the holes into the low pressure cavity;
• at least one valve connecting the low pressure cavity to a source of vacuum or to the atmosphere, wherein the valve controls the amount of pressure differential applied.

An applicator for applying coating material to a substrate, the applicator comprising:

• an applicator head housing positioned beneath a backing roll for application of coating, to a substrate, and wherein the housing defines an application chamber which opens toward the backing roll and which extends along the backing roll in a cross-machine direction, and wherein the application chamber receives and retains coating material in a coating pond;
• a baffle plate extending toward the backing roll;
• a premetering plate mounted within the coater housing, downstream of the baffle plate, wherein the premetering plate extends toward the backing roll to define a wedge-shaped region of the application chamber, and wherein coating is applied by the premetering plate;
• a metering element mounted to the applicator housing downstream of the premetering plate, wherein a low pressure cavity is defined between the premetering plate and the metering element, and bounded by the backing roll and wherein the desired level of coating applied is achieved by the metering element;
• and
• portions of the premetering plate which define a plurality of holes extending through the premetering plate, such that coating and air within the application chamber is drawn through the holes into the low pressure cavity;
• an infeed channel wall which is spaced from the housing to define an infeed channel through which coating is supplied to the coating pond;
• and
• portions of the infeed channel wall which define a plurality of openings through which coating is recirculated from the low pressure cavity into the infeed channel.