Claims
- 1. A liquid film die, comprising:
a body having
a slot; a fluid inlet orifice; a plurality of fluid outlet orifices communicating with said slot; a plurality of fluid passages leading from said fluid inlet orifice through said body to said fluid outlet orifices, and defining a plurality of fluid paths thereby, each said fluid path having a fluid path geometry and leading from said fluid inlet orifice to an associated said fluid outlet orifice, all of said fluid path geometries being substantially equal.
- 2. A liquid film die according to claim 1, wherein said fluid passages lie in a plane.
- 3. A liquid film die according to claim 2, wherein said fluid outlet orifices are disposed on a straight line.
- 4. A liquid film die according to claim 2, wherein said fluid outlet orifices are disposed on a curved line.
- 5. A liquid film die according to claim 2, wherein said slot is a straight line.
- 6. A liquid film die according to claim 2, wherein said slot is a curved line.
- 7. A liquid film die according to claim 2, wherein said die has a width, and wherein said fluid passages comprise:
a plurality of transverse legs running approximately parallel to said width; and a plurality of advance legs, wherein said transverse legs are at least approximately perpendicular to said advance legs.
- 8. A liquid film die, comprising:
a first member having
a recess; a fluid inlet orifice; a plurality of fluid outlet openings communicating with said recess; a plurality of fluid channels leading from said fluid inlet orifice to said fluid outlet openings; and a second member joined to said first member so that said fluid channels define a plurality of fluid paths thereby, each said fluid path having a fluid path geometry and leading from said fluid inlet orifice to an associated said fluid outlet opening, all of said fluid path geometries being substantially equal, and wherein when said first and said second members are joined, they define a slot and a plurality of fluid orifices.
- 9. A liquid film die according to claim 8, wherein said fluid paths lie in a plane.
- 10. A liquid film die according to claim 9, wherein said fluid outlet orifices are disposed on a straight line.
- 11. A liquid film die according to claim 9, wherein said fluid outlet orifices are disposed on a curved line.
- 12. A liquid film die according to claim 9, wherein said slot is a straight line.
- 13. A liquid film die according to claim 9, wherein said slot is a curved line.
- 14. A liquid film die according to claim 9, wherein said die has a width, and wherein said fluid passages comprise:
a plurality of transverse legs running approximately parallel to said width; and a plurality of advance legs, wherein said transverse legs are at least approximately perpendicular to said advance legs.
- 15. A liquid film die, comprising:
a first member having
a fluid inlet orifice; a plurality of fluid outlet openings; a plurality of fluid channels leading from said fluid inlet orifice to said fluid outlet openings; and a second member joined to said first member so that said fluid channels define a plurality of fluid paths thereby, each said fluid path having a fluid path geometry and leading from said fluid inlet orifice to an associated said fluid outlet opening, all of said fluid path geometries being substantially equal, and wherein when said first and said second members are joined, they define a plurality of fluid orifices.
- 16. A liquid film die, comprising:
a first member having
a first recess; a fluid inlet orifice; a plurality of first fluid outlet openings communicating with said first recess; a plurality of first fluid channels leading from said fluid inlet orifice to said first fluid outlet openings; a second member having
a second recess; a plurality of second fluid outlet openings communicating with said second recess; a plurality of second fluid channels leading from a point to said second fluid outlet openings; wherein said second member is joined to said first member in a manner such that said first and said second recesses, said first and said second fluid outlet openings, and said first and said second fluid channels all are in registry and thereby define a plurality of fluid paths, each said fluid path having a fluid path geometry and leading from said fluid inlet orifice, which fluid paths are in registry, to associated said first and said second fluid outlet openings, which are in registry, and providing for fluid communication therebetween, all of said fluid path geometries being substantially equal, and wherein when said first and said second members are joined, they define a slot and a plurality of fluid orifices.
- 17. A liquid film die according to claim 16, wherein said closed fluid channels lie in a plane.
- 18. A liquid film die according to claim 17, wherein said fluid outlet openings are disposed on a straight line.
- 19. A liquid film die according to claim 17, wherein said fluid outlet openings are disposed on a curved line.
- 20. A liquid film die according to claim 17, wherein said slot is a straight line.
- 21. A liquid film die according to claim 17, wherein said slot is a curved line.
- 22. A liquid film die according to claim 17, wherein said die has a width, and wherein said first and said second fluid passages each comprise:
a plurality of transverse legs running approximately parallel to said width; and a plurality of advance legs, wherein said transverse legs are at least approximately perpendicular to said advance legs.
- 23. A liquid film die, comprising:
a first member having
a fluid inlet orifice; a plurality of first fluid outlet openings; a plurality of first fluid channels leading from said fluid inlet orifice to said first fluid outlet openings; a second member having
a plurality of second fluid outlet openings; a plurality of second fluid channels leading from a point to said second fluid outlet openings; wherein said second member is joined to said first member in a manner such that said first and said second fluid outlet openings and said first and said second fluid channels all are in registry and thereby define a plurality of fluid paths, which fluid paths are in registry, each said fluid path leading from said fluid inlet orifice to associated said first and said second fluid outlet openings and having a fluid path geometry, which openings are in registry so as to define a plurality of fluid orifices, and providing for fluid communication therebetween, all of said fluid path geometries being substantially equal.
- 24. A fluid distribution process for applying a film of a fluid to a substrate, comprising the steps of:
providing a source of the fluid; providing a number of fluid outlets and a slot-shaped landing area which are dimensioned and disposed so that when the fluid flows therefrom the fluid flows as a continuous film; dividing, a plurality of times, the fluid coming from said source, to obtain a series of divided flows, equal in amount to the number of fluid outlets, each divided flow having a flow geometry, wherein said flow geometries all are substantially equal; and guiding said divided flows to said fluid outlets, so as to form said continuous film.
- 25. A fluid film applicator for applying a film of a fluid onto a substrate, comprising:
a dispensing head which dispenses the fluid so that the fluid is deposited as a continuous sheet on the substrate; and a meniscus forming member that controls a thickness of the fluid in the continuous sheet so as to form said film.
- 26. A fluid film applicator for applying a film of a fluid onto a substrate, said applicator and the substrate having a relative motion therebetween, comprising:
a dispensing die which dispenses the fluid so that the fluid is deposited as a continuous sheet on the substrate along a line; and a meniscus forming rod having an axis approximately parallel to said line, said meniscus forming member being disposed proximate to said dispensing head, wherein the fluid dispensed from said dispensing die forms an upstream meniscus and a downstream meniscus relative to the relative motion between the substrate and the fluid film applicator.
- 27. A fluid film applicator according to claim 26, wherein said meniscus forming rod is a wire-wound rod.
- 28. A fluid film applicator according to claim 26, wherein said meniscus forming rod is a smooth rod.
- 29. A fluid film applicator according to claim 24, wherein said meniscus forming rod rotates about said axis.
- 30. A fluid film applicator according to claim 24, wherein said dispensing head comprises:
an upper plate having a first edge; and a lower plate having a second edge, said upper plate being separated from said lower plate so as to define a fluid channel therebetween, wherein said first edge is offset backward from said second edge relative to a direction in which the fluid flows, and the fluid flows through said channel and emerges along the line.
- 31. A fluid distribution process for applying a film of a fluid to a substrate, comprising the steps of:
providing a source of the fluid; providing a number of fluid outlets dimensioned and disposed so that when the fluid flows therefrom the fluid flows as a continuous film; dividing, a plurality of times, the fluid coming from said source, to obtain a series of divided flows, equal in amount to the number of fluid outlets, each divided flow having a flow geometry, wherein said flow geometries all are substantially equal; guiding said divided flows to said fluid outlets, so as to form said continuous film; controlling a thickness of said continuous film on the substrate after said continuous film has been deposited on the substrate.
- 32. A fluid film applicator for applying a film of a fluid onto a substrate, said applicator and the substrate having a relative motion therebetween, comprising:
a dispensing head which dispenses the fluid so that the fluid is deposited as a continuous sheet along a line on the substrate, said dispensing head comprising;
an upper plate having a first edge; and a lower plate having a second edge, said upper plate being separated from said lower plate so as to define a fluid channel therebetween, wherein said first edge is offset backward from said second edge relative to a direction in which the fluid flows, and the fluid flows through said channel and emerges along the line; a liquid film die, having,
a fluid inlet orifice; a plurality of fluid outlet orifices communicating with said fluid channel; a plurality of fluid passages leading from said fluid inlet orifice to said fluid outlet orifices, and defining a plurality of fluid paths thereby, each said fluid path having a fluid path geometry and leading from said fluid inlet orifice to an associated said fluid outlet orifice, all of said fluid path geometries being substantially equal; and a meniscus forming rod having an axis approximately parallel to said line, said meniscus forming member being disposed proximate to said dispensing head, wherein the fluid dispensed from said dispensing head forms an upstream meniscus and a downstream meniscus relative to the relative motion between the substrate and the fluid film applicator.
- 33. A liquid film die, comprising:
a reference body; a deformable channel member having a groove; a plurality of fluid dispensers for dispensing a coating fluid into the groove, said fluid dispensers being connected to one another by a plurality of flexible sections; and a plurality of actuators corresponding in number to said fluid dispensers, each said fluid dispenser being connected to said reference body by an associated said actuator.
- 34. A liquid film die according to claim 31, wherein at least a portion of each said fluid dispenser and said flexible sections are integrally formed from a single piece of material.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/015,226, filed Apr. 10, 1996.
Government Interests
[0002] This invention was made in part with government support under grant no. DE-FC36-95G010069 awarded by the Department of Energy. The United States government has certain rights in the invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60015226 |
Apr 1996 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08831667 |
Apr 1997 |
US |
Child |
10136074 |
Apr 2002 |
US |