Eastman-kodak Company

Gifford James Lewis

Eugene H Barbee

William Arthur Torpey

Robert A Wahlers

Ronald Jongsma

Larry R Lammes

John Dallas Lang

Method and apparatus are described for setting liquid photographic materials which have been applied as a coating on a support web, while the coated web is moving substantially horizontally with the liquid materials on the underside of the web. Chilling of the liquid materials may be commenced while the web is moving upwards or downwards after coating, but any setting is not permitted to occur until the web has been turned to move substantially horizontally with the liquid materials on the underside. In this way, gravity and surface tension forces act in opposition to one another where the coating lies adjacent surface non-uniformities in the web and tend to retain the uniformity of coating thickness achieved at the time of coating.

Horizontally chill-setting a downwards facing liquid photographic

Apparatus and method for coating a continuous web, such as paper or transparent film of cellulose acetate or polyethylene terephthalate, with liquid materials, such as photographic layer materials, which require chilling before they are dried, are described. Immediately before the chilling zone, the web with liquid materials thereon passes through isolation means which displaces higher dew point air travelling with the web with air having a dew point below the temperature of the atmosphere in the upstream end of the chilling zone. The displacement is achieved by directing several flows of low dew point air at the web. The flows are extensive transversely of the web and are spaced apart longitudinally of the web. Air may flow away from the web between the flows towards the web. By ensuring that the dew point of the air travelling with the web into the chilling zone is below the temperature in the upstream end of the chilling zone, condensation is avoided. Further, it becomes possible to operate at least the upstream end of the chilling zone at lower temperatures than previously. The flows of air onto the liquid coating are of such low velocity that the uniformity of thickness of the coating is not disturbed.

Apparatus for coating a continuous web

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Gifford James Lewis