Apparatus for coating a substrate quickly and uniformly with a small volume of fluid
First Claim
1. An apparatus for applying a fluid onto a surface of a solid substrate, comprising:
- a distribution member having an upper surface, a lower surface and a permeable portion formed by a plurality of channels extending from the upper surface to the lower surface;
an enclosure having an enclosure volume formed by an enclosing wall affixed about the permeable portion in sealed contact with the upper surface of the distribution member;
a spacer for positioning the distribution member in relation to the solid substrate surface such that the lower surface of the distribution member is in opposing relation to the solid substrate thereby providing an application volume;
means for introducing the fluid on to the upper surface of the distribution member within the enclosure; and
means for producing a pressure differential between the upper surface and the lower surface of the distribution member without using a squeegee, whereby the pressure differential causes a portion of the fluid to pass through the member and onto solid substrate surface.
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Abstract
A method is provided for applying a fluid onto a surface of a solid substrate. The method employs a distribution member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and including a permeable portion having channels therethough. The distribution member is positioned such that the lower surface of the distribution member is in opposing relation to the surface of the substrate. Once the distribution member is in position, the fluid is dispensed onto the upper surface of the permeable portion of the distribution member such that the fluid penetrates the distribution member and is retained thereby. In addition, a distribution pressure differential is applied between the upper and lower surfaces without using mechanical means such as a squeegee so that a portion of the fluid passes through the channels of the permeable portion of the distribution member and onto the solid substrate surface. Other embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned method and a reagent application station for applying a plurality of reagents onto a surface of a solid substrate.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying a fluid onto a surface of a solid substrate, comprising:
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a distribution member having an upper surface, a lower surface and a permeable portion formed by a plurality of channels extending from the upper surface to the lower surface;
an enclosure having an enclosure volume formed by an enclosing wall affixed about the permeable portion in sealed contact with the upper surface of the distribution member;
a spacer for positioning the distribution member in relation to the solid substrate surface such that the lower surface of the distribution member is in opposing relation to the solid substrate thereby providing an application volume;
means for introducing the fluid on to the upper surface of the distribution member within the enclosure; and
means for producing a pressure differential between the upper surface and the lower surface of the distribution member without using a squeegee, whereby the pressure differential causes a portion of the fluid to pass through the member and onto solid substrate surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A reagent application station for applying a plurality of reagents onto the surface of a solid substrate, comprising:
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a distribution member having an upper surface, a lower surface and a permeable portion formed by a plurality of channels extending from the upper surface to the lower surface;
an enclosure having an enclosure volume formed by an enclosing wall affixed about the permeable portion in sealed contact with the upper surface of the distribution member;
a spacer for positioning the distribution member in relation to the solid substrate surface such that the lower surface of the distribution member is in generally uniformly spaced opposition relation to the solid substrate thereby providing an application volume;
a source for each reagent;
a variable pressure pump having an inlet for each source and an outlet in fluid communication with the enclosure; and
a valve between each inlet and each source. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification