3m Innovative Properties Company

Bruce D Shalles

Robert A Yapel

Olester Benson, Jr

John P Baetzold

Steven J McMan

Mitchell A F Johnson

Andrew J Henderson

David L Phillips

Francis M Aguirre

James M Nelson

William Keith Leonard

Jennifer L Trice

Robert B Secor

Charles N DeVore

Keith R Bruesewitz

William R Dudley

Leslie A Kreilich

David W Leonard

Michael J Tichy

Leslie A Todero

Andrzej P Jaworski

Mitchell AF Johnson

Steven J Mcman

A system and a method for providing a film having a matte finish is described. A coatable material is applied to a substrate. The viscosity of the coatable material is changed and a face-side roller having patterned features thereon contacts the coatable material to impart a matte finish thereon; and hardening the coatable material.

System and method for making a film having a matte finish

A system and a method for providing a film having a matte finish. The system includes means for providing a coated substrate, the coated substrate comprising a first coatable material applied to a substrate, the coatable material forming a first major surface of the coated substrate; means for changing the viscosity of the first coatable material from a first viscosity to a second viscosity; a face-side roller having an outer surface positioned to contact the first major surface of the coated substrate to impart a matte finish thereon; and optionally, means for hardening the first coatable material. The method of the invention includes the steps of (1) providing a coated substrate comprising a coatable material disposed on a substrate, the coatable material providing a first major surface of the coated substrate; (2) changing the viscosity of the coatable material from the initial viscosity to a second viscosity; (3) contacting the first major surface of the coated substrate with at least one face-side roller to impart a matte finish; and (4) optionally, hardening the coatable material to provide the film.

Computer implemented method for making a die includes: selecting coating uniformity required to produce a particular coated product with the die and a value for one or more dimensions of the die; determining (using a mathematical model determined by regression analysis) total indicated run-out (TIR) of a die surface and dimensions of the die not having a user specified value; and machining die part or parts to the determined TIR and dimensions. A thermal treatment process for reducing the number of finishing (e.g., grinding) cycles needed to produce a desired die flatness is provided. A coating fluid rheological characteristic can be an input to the method.

System and method for designing a die to yield a desired coating uniformity

Continuous void-free uniform coatings are formed on substrates of limited length. The substrate is wrapped around a mounting roll and nipped between the mounting roll and one or more pick-and-place contacting rolls. Coating liquid is applied to the substrate or to a pick-and-place roll, preferably as a pattern of stripes. The mounting roll, substrate and pick-and-place rolls are caused to rotate for a plurality of revolutions. Wetted surface portions of the pick-and-place roll repeatedly contact the substrate, the coating is repeatedly picked up from and placed onto the substrate, and the coating becomes more uniform. Extremely uniform and extremely thin coatings can be quickly and easily obtained, with easy adjustment of the final coating thickness.

Method for coating a limited length substrate using rotating support and at least one pick-and-place roll

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River Falls, WI, United States of America

Bruce D Shalles