Coated substrate drying system with magnetic particle orientation

An apparatus for drying a coated substrate, wherein the coated substrate comprises magnetic particles, comprising:

• a condensing surface locatable spaced from and facing the substrate which substantially corresponds to the path of the substrate in the longitudinal direction to create a longitudinal gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
• means for evaporating the liquid from the substrate to create a vapor;
• means for transporting the vapor to the condensing surface without requiring applied convection;
• means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
• means for removing, using more than gravity, the condensate from the condensing surface without allowing non-uniformities of the condensate film to occur;
• and
• at least one magnetic field generator located outside of the space between the condensing surface and the coated substrate.

An apparatus for drying a coating on a substrate, wherein the coating comprises particles in a liquid, the particles being capable of being affected by a magnetic field, the apparatus comprising:

• a condensing surface locatable spaced from the substrate along the path of the substrate to create a gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
• means for evaporating the liquid from the coating to create a vapor;
• means for condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
• and
• a magnetic field generator located outside of the space between the condensing surface and the coated substrate for imposing a magnetic field upon the particles in the coating.

A method for drying a coating on a substrate, wherein the coating comprises particles in a liquid, the particles being capable of being affected by a magnetic field, the method comprising the steps of:

• locating a condensing surface spaced from the substrate along the path of the substrate to create a gap between the substrate and the condensing surface;
• evaporating the liquid from the coating to create a vapor;
• condensing the vapor on the condensing surface to create a condensate;
• and
• creating a magnetic field from outside of the space between the condensing surface and the coated substrate and imposing the field upon the particles in the coating.

A method for drying a coating on a substrate, wherein the coating has particles that can be affected by a magnetic field, comprising:

• locating a condensing member adjacent and spaced from the substrate to create a gap between the substrate and a condensing surface of the condensing member;
• forming a condensate on the condensing surface from the coating;
• and
• subjecting the coating to a magnetic field created at a location outside the gap.

An apparatus for drying a coating on a substrate, wherein the coating can be affected by a magnetic field, comprising:

• a condensing member spaced from the substrate forming a gap between the substrate and a condensing surface of the condensing member;
• means for forming a condensate on the condensing surface from the coating;
• and
• at least one magnetic field generator located outside of the gap forming a magnetic field that is imposed upon the coating.

An apparatus for drying a coating on a substrate, wherein the coating comprises particles that can be affected by a magnetic field, the apparatus comprising:

• a condensing member spaced from the substrate along the path of the substrate forming a gap between the substrate and a condensing surface of the condensing member;
• a heating member adjacent the condensing member for heating the coating causing vapor to emanate from the coating and condensate to form on the condensing surface;
• and
• a magnetic field generator located outside the gap for imposing a magnetic field upon the particles in the coating.

A method for drying a coating on a substrate, wherein the coating comprises particles that can be affected by a magnetic field, the method comprising the steps of:

• locating a condensing member spaced from the substrate along the path of the substrate forming a gap between the substrate and a condensing surface of the condensing member;
• heating the coating causing vapor to emanate from the coating;
• condensing vapor emanating from the coating on the condensing surface;
• and
• creating a magnetic field from outside the gap and imposing the magnetic field upon the particles.

A method for drying a coating on a substrate comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate having a coating thereon, wherein the coating can be affected by a field imposed upon the coating, and wherein the coating has a coating temperature;
• providing a first drying member, wherein the first drying member has a first drying member temperature, wherein the first drying member temperature is less than the coating temperature;
• transporting the substrate adjacent the first drying member forming a gap between the first drying member and the substrate;
• providing a field generator outside the gap;
• and
• affecting the coating by imposing a field upon the coating with the field generator.

A method for affecting a coating on a substrate comprising the step of:

• providing a condensing member and a field generator along a process path;
• providing a substrate having a coating thereon that can be affected by a field generated by the field generator;
• and
• transporting the substrate through the process path such that the condensing member is between the field generator and the substrate, wherein the condensing member condenses vapor from the coating and the field generator generates a field that passes through the condensing member to the coating.

A method for affecting a coating on a substrate, wherein the coating comprises a liquid and particles that can be affected by a field, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• providing a member spaced from the substrate forming a gap between the substrate and the member;
• providing vapor to the gap;
• controlling the temperature of the member creating a vapor concentration gradient that achieves one of removing liquid from the coating, preventing removal of liquid from the coating, and adding liquid to the coating;
• and
• subjecting the coating to the field generated by a field generator positioned outside the gap.

A method for drying a coating on a first surface of a substrate, wherein the coating has particles that can be affected by a magnetic field, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a condensing member and a heating member spaced from the condensing member to form a substrate path;
• providing a magnetic field generator adjacent the substrate path;
• transporting the substrate through the substrate path such that the condensing member is adjacent and spaced from the first surface of the substrate forming a gap between the condensing member and the first surface and such that the heating member is adjacent the substrate;
• heating the coating with the heating member forming a vapor in the gap from the coating;
• condensing the vapor on the condensing member;
• and
• subjecting the coating to a magnetic field created outside the gap by the magnetic field generator, wherein the subjecting step comprises magnetically orienting the particles in the coating during at least a portion of the heating and condensing steps to hold the particles in a desired orientation while the coating is being dried.

A method for drying a coating on a substrate comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate having a coating thereon, wherein the coating can be affected by a field imposed upon the coating;
• providing a first drying member, wherein the first drying member is configured to dry the coating by substantially other than heated air blown onto the coating;
• transporting the substrate adjacent the first drying member forming a gap between the first drying member and the substrate;
• providing a field generator outside the gap;
• and
• affecting the coating by imposing a field upon the coating with the field generator.

A method for drying a coating on a substrate comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate having a coating thereon, wherein the coating can be affected by a field imposed upon the coating;
• providing a first drying member, wherein the first drying member comprises a condenser;
• transporting the substrate adjacent the first drying member forming a gap between the first drying member and the substrate;
• providing a field generator outside the gap;
• and
• affecting the coating by imposing a field upon the coating with the field generator.