Eastman-kodak Company

Christoph H Seeling

Steven D Possanza

David J Sultana

Brenda H Hutton

Angela H Jones

Paul Morris

A method is taught for removing bubbles from a coating solution prior to a coating operation. The method comprises debubbling the coating solution in a tank open to atmosphere to remove bubbles having a diameter in the range of from about 200 to 300 &mgr;m and greater therefrom; flowing the coating solution from the tank to a bubble elimination tube; debubbling the coating solution in the bubble elimination tube to remove bubbles from the coating solution having a diameter greater than about 200 &mgr;m, the bubble elimination tube preferably including at least one ultrasonic horn; flowing the coating solution from the bubble elimination tube through an end cap round ultrasonic bubble eliminator, the end cap round ultrasonic bubble eliminator removing remaining bubbles in the coating solution having a diameter greater than about 30 &mgr;m; and delivering the coating solution from the end cap round ultrasonic bubble eliminator to the downstream coating operation.

Integrated use of deaeration methods to reduce bubbles and liquid waste

A debubbling apparatus for removing gaseous bubbles entrained in a liquid is taught which has improved dearation capacity. The debubbling apparatus includes a vessel including a liquid inlet, at least one well extending from the vessel, the at least one well having a liquid outlet, and an ultrasonic transducer horn residing in the at least one well, the at least one well and the ultrasonic transducer horn residing therein being positioned at an angle in the range of from about 20&deg; to about 45&deg; with respect to vertical. With the ultrasonic horn and well so angled, bubbles in the liquid in the at least one well are subjected to a buoyancy force, a drag force, and an acoustic wave force which yields a resultant force that drives the bubbles toward an upper wall section of the at least one well.

Growing community of inventors

Kew, Australia

Christoph H Seeling