Inventors:
Kenneth J. Ruschak - Rochester NY
Rukmini B. Lobo - Webster NY
Barry A. Fitzgerald - Holley NY
Richard A. Gilkey - Greeley CO
David A. Wakefield - Canandaigua NY
Assignee:
Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY
International Classification:
B05D 130
B05C 500
Abstract:
An apparatus for coating surfaces consists of a basin, open to the atmosphere, divided into two channels by a wall running perpendicular to the coating direction. Liquid is supplied to the primary channel, the channel farther from the curtain. A continuous, adjustable gap between the dividing wall and the bottom of the basin offers resistance to flow but passes the coating composition from the primary to the secondary channel. The secondary channel has an edge that is horizontal and relatively low so that the coating composition overflows it to form a free-falling curtain. The dividing wall, by providing flow resistance, assists in distributing the supplied coating composition along the length of the primary channel, and reduces any flow disturbances caused by the entering coating composition. The secondary channel promotes additional evening of the flow distribution before the curtain forms.