Coating apparatus having a coating, recirculation and cleaning arrangement

An apparatus for applying at least one coating solution to a photosensitive material, the apparatus comprising:

• a support structure;
• first and second rollers rotatably mounted on said support structure so as to define a nip therebetween;
• a solution supply guide positioned relative to one of said first and second rollers to supply coating solution to said one roller, said one roller applying said coating solution to said photosensitive material as said photosensitive material passes said nip;
• and
• a washing arrangement mounted relative to said one roller to apply a cleaning solution onto at least a surface of said one roller;
• wherein said one roller is a wired roller having a wire wrapped around said one roller, so as to form spaces between said wire as the wire is wrapped around said one roller.

An apparatus for applying at least one coating solution to a photosensitive material, the apparatus comprising:

• a support structure;
• first and second rollers rotatably mounted on said support structure so as to define a nip therebetween;
• a solution supply guide positioned relative to one of said first and second rollers to supply coating solution to said one roller, said one roller applying said coating solution to said photosensitive material as said photosensitive material passes said nip;
• a washing arrangement mounted relative to said one roller to apply a cleaning solution onto at least a surface of said one roller, wherein said washing arrangement is a scrubber assembly;
• and
• a recirculation system having alternating coating and cleaning modes of operations, such that in said coating mode of operation said recirculation system delivers coating solution from a coating solution supply tank to said solution supply guide and recirculates said coating solution back to said coating solution supply tank, and in said cleaning mode of operation said recirculation system delivers cleaning solution to at least said scrubber assembly and collects said cleaning solution for delivery of said cleaning solution to a drain.