Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

William Keith Leonard

David W Leonard

Albert E Seaver

Stephen W Mohn

Donley D Rowenhorst

Richard J Rolando

James G Berg

Carl R Kessel

Kirit C Mody

Timothy J Edman

Todd A Berg

John W Louks

Kurt C Melancon

Bruce D Shalles

Philip D Schiller

P Daniel Schiller

Phillip D Schiller

Jerald A Scherger

Donald R Winberg

Improved apparatus and methods for filtering and applying coating fluids onto substrates. The apparatus and methods are useful for casting embossed sheeting, and in fluid application dies. Improved fluid filtration methods, apparatus, elements and media are also disclosed. An apparatus and method for collection of mist generated in high speed liquid film splitting processes are also disclosed.

Fluid transport media

Methods and apparatus for hydrodischarging and hydrocharging substrates and articles to produce enhanced ability to avoid attraction of contaminants or improved capability of removing contaminants from fluids are disclosed. In another form the method involves removal of electric charges or neutralization of charge on or within substrates. Also disclosed are methods of making using electret substrates and articles for removing particulates and mists from fluid streams.

Method and apparatus for electric

Method and apparatus for electric treatment of substrates

An apparatus and method for measuring or comparing rheological properties of fluid samples in parallel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensing elements which are comprised of flow channels and reservoirs in fluid communication. The channels provide flow paths for the fluid samples which are initially contained within external reservoirs. The method includes flowing the fluid samples at variable rates and monitoring simultaneously sample flow rates from the reservoirs through a plurality elements for one or more increments of time. The disclosed method is capable of measuring or comparing rheological properties of at least two fluid samples simultaneously. Useful flow rates monitoring devices include optical array sensors and image analysis systems.

Method of high throughput viscometry

Continuous void-free uniform coatings are formed on filamentous articles by applying a voided or otherwise substantially uneven coating to at least some of the exposed portion of a filamentous article or to a rotating substrate. The filamentous article or substrate is passed through an improvement station containing a plurality of coating-wetted rolls that contact and re-contact the wet coating at different positions along the length of the filamentous article or rotating substrate, wherein the periods of the rolls improve the uniformity of the coating. For coatings applied to a rotating substrate, the uniform wet coating is transferred to the filamentous article. The final coating can be very thin, very uniform and completely or substantially void-free. The coating improvement can be quickly and easily obtained using low cost equipment.

Strand coating device and method

A sufficient number of pick-and-place devices (e.g., rolls) whose periods of contact with a substrate are equal or substantially equal to one another are used to form continuous void-free uniform coatings despite the occurrence of unintended or intended coating caliper surges, depressions or voids. The wetted surfaces of the devices contact and re-contact the coating at positions on the substrate that are different from one another. Extremely uniform and extremely thin coatings can be obtained at very high rates of speed. The pick-and-place devices also facilitate drying and reduce the sensitivity of drying ovens to coating caliper surges. Equipment containing the pick-and-place devices is simple to construct, set up and operate, and can easily be adjusted to alter coating thickness and compensate for coating caliper variations.

Coating device and method using pick-and-place devices having equal or substantially equal periods

The uniformity of a wet coating on a substrate is improved by contacting the coating at a first position with the wetted surfaces of periodic pick-and-place devices, and re-contacting the coating with such wetted surfaces at positions on the substrate that are different from the first position and not periodically related to one another with respect to their distance from the first position. A coating is applied to a substrate by applying an uneven wet coating, contacting the coating at a first position with the wetted surfaces of periodic pick-and-place devices, and re-contacting the coating with such wetted surfaces at positions on the substrate that are different from the first position and not periodically related to one another with respect to their distance from the first position. These methods can provide extremely uniform coatings and extremely thin coatings, at very high rates of speed. The coatings can be applied in lanes with sharply defined edges and independently adjustable coating calipers. The pick-and-place devices facilitate drying and reduce the sensitivity of drying ovens to coating caliper surges. Equipment to carry out these methods is simple to construct, set up and operate, and can easily be adjusted to alter coating thickness and compensate for coating variation.

Wet coating improvement station

A liquid coating is formed on a substrate by electrostatically spraying drops of the liquid onto a liquid-wetted conductive transfer surface and transferring a portion of the thus-applied liquid from the transfer surface to the substrate. Optionally, one or more nip rolls force the substrate against the transfer surface, thereby decreasing the time required for the drops to spread and coalesce into the coating. Preferably, the coating is passed through an improvement station comprising two or more pick-and-place devices that improve the uniformity of the coating. The coating can be transferred from the conductive transfer surface to a second transfer surface and thence to the substrate. Insulative substrates such as plastic films can be coated without requiring substrate pre-charging or post-coating neutralization. Porous substrates such as woven and nonwoven webs can be coated without substantial penetration of the coating into or through the substrate pores.

Electrostatic spray coating apparatus and method

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

Continuous void-free uniform coatings are formed on substrates by repeatedly contacting the substrate at a first position with wetted surface portions of at least two rotating wire-wound coating rods and re-contacting the substrate with such wetted surface portions at a different position or positions on the substrate. The coating is repeatedly picked up from and placed onto the substrate and made more uniform. Extremely uniform and extremely thin coatings can be quickly and easily obtained using low cost equipment.

Growing community of inventors

River Falls, WI, United States of America

William Keith Leonard