POWDER FILLING PROCESSES
First Claim
1. A method for filling a plurality of microdepressions in a major surface of a web, said microdepressions having a depth of about 5 to 500 microns but less than the thickness of the web and an opening at the surface of the web of about 10 to 500 microns in width, with finely divided powder, said process comprising:
- continuously feeding the web to and through a powder filling stage;
at the powder filling stage, filling the powder into said microdepressions on the surface of the web using a driven roller, wherein said roller is rotating about an axis generally transverse to said direction of web movement, while the surface speed of the roller and the web speed are different and wherein the roller and web are positioned relative to one another, such that between the upper surface of the web and the outer surface of the roller there is a gap; and
wherein the powder is fed either onto the web upstream of the roller of the powder filling stage or to the roller of the powder filling stage.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for filling a plurality of microdepressions in a major surface of a web with finely divided powder in which the web is fed continuously to and through a powder filling stage including a driven roller. At the powder filling stage, the powder, which is fed either onto the web upstream of the roller or to the roller of the powder filling stage, is filled into the microdepressions of the web using the driven roller, wherein said roller is rotating about an axis generally transverse to the direction of web, while the surface speed of the roller and the web speed are different and wherein the roller and web are positioned relative to one another, such that between the upper surface of the web and the outer surface of the roller there is a gap. A method of manufacturing an elongate carrier with microdepressions containing finely divided powder comprising steps filling a plurality of microdepressions in a major surface of a web as described, removing from upper surface of the web excess powder not filled within the microdepressions and remaining on areas of the surface between the depressions, and optionally slitting and/or cutting the web in width and/or length.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for filling a plurality of microdepressions in a major surface of a web, said microdepressions having a depth of about 5 to 500 microns but less than the thickness of the web and an opening at the surface of the web of about 10 to 500 microns in width, with finely divided powder, said process comprising:
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continuously feeding the web to and through a powder filling stage; at the powder filling stage, filling the powder into said microdepressions on the surface of the web using a driven roller, wherein said roller is rotating about an axis generally transverse to said direction of web movement, while the surface speed of the roller and the web speed are different and wherein the roller and web are positioned relative to one another, such that between the upper surface of the web and the outer surface of the roller there is a gap; and wherein the powder is fed either onto the web upstream of the roller of the powder filling stage or to the roller of the powder filling stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 20, 24, 28, 29, 32)
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4. A method of manufacturing an elongate carrier with microdepressions containing finely divided powder said process comprising:
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providing a web comprising a plurality of microdepressions in a major surface of the web, said microdepressions having a depth of about 5 to 500 microns but less than the thickness of the web and an opening at the surface of the web of about 10 to 500 microns in width, continuously feeding the web to and through a powder filling stage at the powder filling stage, filling the powder into said microdepressions on the surface of the web using a driven roller, wherein said roller is rotating about an axis generally transverse to said direction of web movement, while the surface speed of the roller and the web speed are different and wherein the roller and web are positioned relative to one another, such that between the upper surface of the web and the outer surface of the roller there is a gap; removing from said surface of the web excess powder not filled within the microdepressions and remaining on areas of the surface between the depressions; and optionally slitting and/or cutting the web in predetermined widths and/or predetermined lengths; and wherein the powder is fed either onto the web upstream of the roller of the powder filling stage or to the roller of the powder filling stage. - View Dependent Claims (35, 37)
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7-8. -8. (canceled)
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10-11. -11. (canceled)
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14-19. -19. (canceled)
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21-23. -23. (canceled)
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25-27. -27. (canceled)
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30-31. -31. (canceled)
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33-34. -34. (canceled)
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36. (canceled)
Specification