Method of making a viewing screen structure for a cathode-ray tube

Abstract

An aluminized viewing screen structure for a cathode-ray tube includes a faceplate panel having a barrier coating and a heat absorptive overcoating comprising a plurality of layers overlying the aluminum metal layer. The barrier coating and the overcoating are applied to the panel which is preheated to accelerate drying of the barrier coating and the overcoating. The novel process includes (a) tilting the preheated panel to a 60.degree..+-.10.degree. angle relative to a horizontal plane, (b) loading the tilted panel onto a carrier, (c) and advancing the carrier by means of a conveyor in a first direction, through a spray assembly. A plurality of spray guns are mounted on a reciprocating device which moves up and down, that is, in a second and a third direction which is different from the direction of motion of the conveyor. The spray guns are directed substantially perpendicular to the faceplate panel. One of the spray guns is activated and deactivated to deposit a barrier coating of a volatilizable film-forming material on the aluminum metal layer. The remaining guns are sequentially activated and deactivated to deposit on the barrier-coated metal layer a heat absorptive overcoating comprising a plurality of layer. The conveyor can be reversed after the carrier and panel exit the spraying assembly and the carrier and panel can be transported through the spray assembly in a fourth direction which is opposite to the first direction. During the reverse transit of the carrier and the panel through the spray assembly, the spray guns are once again activated and deactivated to provide additional plural layers of the heat absorptive overcoating.