Method for minimizing waste when coating a fluid with a slide coater

A method for minimizing waste resulting from defects caused at edges of a coating on a substrate which was applied to the substrate by a slide coater, the slide coater having at least first and second slide surfaces, the slide.sub.-- coater further having at least a first slot through which a first coating fluid flows and a second slot through which a second coating fluid flows, the first slot having a first slot opening adjacent the first slide surface, the first slot further having a first slot width at the first slot opening which includes a first slot main portion and first slot right and left end portions, the method comprising the steps of:

• flowing the first coating fluid through the first slot main portion at the first slot opening at a first flow rate and onto the first slide surface and further onto the substrate;
• flowing the first coating fluid through the first slot end portions onto the first slide surface and further onto the substrate, the first coating fluid flowing from the first slot right end portion at the first slot opening having a second flow rate and the first coating fluid flowing from the first slot left end portion at the first slot opening having a third flow rate, the second and third flow rates being different from the first flow rate;
• and
• flowing the second coating fluid through the second slot and onto the second slide surface, the second slide surface being positioned relative to the first slide surface and oriented such that the second coating fluid flows from the second slide surface onto the first coating fluid on the first slide surface and such that the first and second coating fluids flow onto the substrate.