Claims
- 1. A method for continuously masking a web, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a web of a conductive material having opposed major surfaces providing a first width and a length substantially longer than the first width of the web; (b) providing a continuous masking apparatus comprising a plate roller having at least one proud area corresponding to an ink stripe to be coated on one of the major surfaces of the web; an ink source for transferring ink to the plate roller; an opposing roller disposed adjacent to the other major surface of the web opposite the plate roller for ensuring contact of the web with the plate roller; a radiation source for curing the ink on the web; and a motive means for moving the web through the continuous masking apparatus; and (c) actuating the motive means to move the web off of a spool to contact the plate roller and the opposing roller and to travel past the radiation source, wherein as the web moves past the plate roller, at least one stripe of ink is deposited on the web and the ink stripe is cured as the web moves past the radiation source, and including smearing the ink from the plate roller to the web along the length thereof.
- 2. The method of claim 1 including providing the web traveling either slower than or faster than a surface rate of rotation of the plate roller to provide the smeared ink on the web.
- 3. The method of claim 1 including providing a direction of travel of the plate roller opposite that of the web to provide the smeared ink on the web.
- 4. The method of claim 1 including providing the web traveling at a rate of speed of about 30 feet per minute to about 1,000 feet per minute.
- 5. The method of claim 1 including providing the continuous masking apparatus having at least one guide positioned either before or after where the web contacts the plate roller, and wherein the guide has spaced apart ceramic surfaces in contact with the opposed edges of the web.
- 6. The method of claim 5 including providing at least one of the ceramic surfaces as continuously adjustable perpendicular to a plane of a major surface of the web to compensate for variations in web width.
- 7. The method of claim 5 including providing at least one guide provided both before and after the plate roller.
- 8. The method of claim 6 including biasing the adjustable ceramic surface in contact with the edge of the web by a spring.
- 9. The method of claim 1 including providing at least one stripe of ink on each of its major surfaces.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the web has a thickness between the opposed major surfaces of about 0.0005 inches to about 0.040 inches.
- 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the stripe of ink smeared on the web has a second width which is about ±0.010 inches of a third width of the proud area on the plate roller.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein a line taken along a boundary between the smeared ink stripe and an unmasked portion of the web has a wander of about ±0.0005 inches with respect to a longitudinal axis of the length of the web.
- 13. The method of claim 1 including providing a contact surface of the plate roller of a polymeric material.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority based on provisional application Serial No. 60/060,737 filed Oct. 2, 1997 and is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/165,217, filed Oct. 1, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,145 issued Nov. 7, 2000.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/060737 |
Oct 1997 |
US |