Solution striping system

• US 20030099773A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson), LifeScan IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Otake, Gary, Dick, Kenneth W., Jessen, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 6,676,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/286
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 5/0254 Coating heads with slot-shaped outlet B05C5/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 5/027 Coating heads with several outlets, e.g. aligned transversally to the moving direction of a web to be coated B05C5/0254 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for laying down stripes of solution on substrate is described. The substrate preferably comprises a web of material set on a backing roller passed by a specially configured die. The die includes at least a mouth with lips extending beyond a face or body of the die. The die is adapted to avoid fluid leakage therefrom. Upper and lower portions of the die defining the mouth are preferably substantially flat and mirror images of each other. The lips are preferably placed in close proximity to the material on which the solution is to be deposited. Solution passing through the mouth of the die is directed to the webbing and deposited in a substantially constant thickness stripe or band. Often, the solution comprises a reagent-type solution. The solution coating is typically dried onto the substrate. Dried product may then be used in reagent test strip production.

Claims

1. A solution coating system comprising:

a die comprising a body and an open mouth, said body adapted for passing solution from a source to said mouth, said mouth comprising a pair of portions having substantially flat, substantially parallel solution directing surfaces extending beyond said body, each mouth portion terminating in a lip having an edge, said edges being substantially in alignment with one another, said die being adapted to avoid solution leakage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said adaptation to avoid leakage is provided by a die body consisting of upper and lower body portions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said top body portion includes an upper portion of said mouth including one of said solution directing surfaces, and wherein said bottom body portion comprises a lower portion of said mouth.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said die further comprises a shim located between said upper and lower body portions, said shim defining at least one groove for passing solution through said body to said mouth.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of mouths for delivering solution.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of pumps.

8. The system of any of claim 1, further comprising a roller in opposition to said die lips.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising webbing material.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said lips of said die are positioned between about 0.001 and 0.010 inches from said webbing material.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a solution.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said solution is a reagent solution.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said solution has a viscosity under about 5 centipoises.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said solution has a viscosity between about 1 and 2 centipoises.

15. A method of coating material with stripes of solution comprising:

providing a moving web of material,

advancing a die according to claim 1 to a position adjacent said material,

extruding solution through said die, past said lips, and

producing at least one stripe of coating on said material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said lips are advanced within about 0.001 in of said material.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said solution is a reagent solution.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said solution has a viscosity under about 5 centipoises.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said solution has a viscosity between about 1 and 2 centipoises.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising drying said reagent.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising forming individual test strips.

4. The system of clam 2, wherein said body includes at least one groove for passing solution through said body to said mouth.