Method and apparatus for selectively removing or displacing a fluid on a web

Abstract

An apparatus for forming bands of reduced coat weight of a coating on a coated web that is moving through a laminating machine includes a supply of fluid and a nozzle for directing a stream of fluid from the supply toward the web, said nozzle having a relatively small outlet aperture for directing a relatively narrow width stream of fluid toward the web compared to the width of the web to impinge on the web to reduce the coat weight over a relatively narrow width band. The bands may be formed in the machine direction of travel of the web, across the width of the web in a direction other than the machine direction and may be of various width and may be precisely or randomly placed. The reduced coat weight areas may be narrow bands or broader areas of the web. A method for forming a band of reduced coat weight of a coating on a coated web includes directing a stream of fluid toward the web and extending over a relatively narrow width of the web compared to the width of the web to impinge on the web to reduce the coat weight over a relatively narrow width band or over a relatively broader area of the web.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.