Advanced coating apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
- a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, wherein the first roller, second roller, or both first and second railers, comprise a plurality of ribs, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and
b) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers.
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Abstract
A coating apparatus for coating a rollable device including a device rotator having a pair of rollers and spray nozzle is described. The spray nozzle produces a spray of coating material that is directed towards a gap that is between the rollers of the pair. The majority of any spray not deposited on the rollable device during a coating process passes through the gap between the rollers.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, wherein the first roller, second roller, or both first and second railers, comprise a plurality of ribs, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers. - 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. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device, having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers and wherein the spray nozzle is at an angle less than 90°
but greater than 5°
relative to either the first axis or second axis.
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21. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers mounted on a tray, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device, having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; b) a roller drive mechanism that is engagable with the first roller, second roller, or both first and second rollers, and c) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis, and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers, and wherein the spray nozzle is movable in directions both parallel and perpendicular to a plane formed by the first and second roller axes. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An apparatus for coating a surface of a reliable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and comprising a sonicating member able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device, having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap in the range of 0.1 mm–
10 mm, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; andb) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis and a roller drive mechanism that causes rotation of the first roller, second roller, or both rollers, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle positioned above the gap and able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed Through the gap when a rollable device having a surface to be coated is not on the pair of rollers, and wherein the spray nozzle comprises a tip, the tip being a portion of the spray nozzle that is most proximal to the gap, and the distance from the tip to the gap is in the range of 1–
15 mm.
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32. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first roller axis and a first loller circumference and a second roller having a second roller axis and a second roller circumference, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap tat has a width that is less than the first roller circumference or the second roller circumference, wherein the first roller circumference or second roller circumference is in the range of 5 mm–
100 mm, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; andb) a spray nozzle able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device is not on the pair of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers mounted on a tray that is movable, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle able to produce a spray of a coating material in a controlled pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed through the gap when a rollable device is not on the pair of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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51. An apparatus for coating a surface of a rollable device comprising:
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a) a device rotator comprising at least one pair of rollers, each pair comprising a first roller having a first axis and a second roller having a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second rollers are separated by a gap, and wherein the device rotator is capable of supporting and rolling the rollable device in position as supported; and b) a spray nozzle able to produce a spray of a coating material in a control pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is operationally arranged so that its spray is directed at the gap and so that the majority of the spray can be passed trough the gap when a rollable device is not on the pair of rollers, and wherein the spray nozzle is movable in directions both parallel and perpendicular to the first or second axes via a movable arm.
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Specification