Eastman-kodak Company

Richard A Gilkey

Kenneth J Ruschak

Rukmini B Lobo

David A Wakefield

Barry A Fitzgerald

Jess A Anderson

A method and apparatus is disclosed for gravure coating a liquid reactive with the atmosphere onto a web. The gravure apparatus comprises an engraved gravure cylinder, an impression roller backing the web and pressing it onto the gravure cylinder to form a nip, a curtain or jet formation means to wet the surface of the gravure cylinder, and a doctor blade means for wiping excess coating liquid from the surface of the gravure cylinder prior to the nip. A shroud encompassing the gravure cylinder and the curtain or jet formation means creates a first zone between the nip and a partitioning baffle extending from the shroud, a second zone between the partitioning baffle and the doctor blade means, and a third zone between the doctor blade means and the nip. A gas non-reactive with the coating liquid is supplied to each zone by a gas distribution means such that the reaction rate of the coating liquid with the atmosphere is greatly reduced and the curtain or jet is not disrupted. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the gravure apparatus and shroud are enclosed by solid walls and doors.

Gravure method and apparatus for coating a liquid reactive to the atmosphere

An apparatus for coating surfaces consists of a basin, open to the atmosphere, divided into two channels by a wall running perpendicular to the coating direction. Liquid is supplied to the primary channel, the channel farther from the curtain. A continuous, adjustable gap between the dividing wall and the bottom of the basin offers resistance to flow but passes the coating composition from the primary to the secondary channel. The secondary channel has an edge that is horizontal and relatively low so that the coating composition overflows it to form a free-falling curtain. The dividing wall, by providing flow resistance, assists in distributing the supplied coating composition along the length of the primary channel, and reduces any flow disturbances caused by the entering coating composition. The secondary channel promotes additional evening of the flow distribution before the curtain forms.

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Greeley, CO, United States of America

Richard A Gilkey