Method for conditioning a metering blade

A method for conditioning a metering blade of a coating machine comprising the steps of:

• providing a coating machine having at least one metering blade;
• passing a movable substrate through said coating machine such that said metering blade contacts said substrate to distribute a coating applied to said substrate;
• applying a primary coat to said substrate;
• applying a solution of abrasive material to said substrate at a location upstream of said metering blade such that said abrasive material engages and conditions said blade by abrading said blade, or cleaning debris off of said blade, or removing debris trapped between said blade and said substrate;
• and
• phasing out the application of said primary coat while simultaneously phasing in the application of said solution of abrasive material.

A method for forming a coating on a substrate using a coating apparatus including a metering blade for engaging said substrate and distributing a coating applied to said substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a fonnulation to said substrate, wherein said formulation includes sufficient levels of an abrasive material component to clean debris off of said metering blade or abrade said blade, or remove debris trapped between said blade and said substrate;
• causing said metering blade to engage said substrate such that said formulation cleans debris off of said metering blade, or abrades said blade, or removes debris trapped between said blade and said substrate;
• and
• adjusting the level of said formulation to decrease the level of said abrasive material component and simultaneously increase the level of a coating component of said formulation until said formulation essentially does not include any of said abrasive material.

A method for forming a coating on a substrate with reduced blade lines using a coating apparatus including a metering blade for engaging said substrate and distributing a coating applied to said substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a formulation to said substrate, wherein said formulation includes an abrasive material component and a coating component, and wherein said formulation includes sufficient levels of said abrasive material component such that said abrasive material can remove debris trapped between said metering blade and said substrate, or abrade said blade, or clean debris off of said blade;
• causing said metering blade to engage said substrate such that said formulation removes debris trapped between said metering blade and said substrate, or abrades said blade, or cleans debris off of said blade;
• and
• reducing the level of said abrasive material component of said formulation while simultaneously increasing the level of said coating component.