Systems and methods for dispensing a fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9687872-B2
Application number	US-201414271700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2014
Priority date	Jul 29, 2010
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A fluid dispensing system may include a first die portion having a first face defining a first edge and a second die portion spaced from the first die portion and having a second face facing the first face and defining a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge define a fluid outlet opening. The fluid dispensing system may also include a fluid inlet for introducing fluid to a region between the first face and the second face, and a cavity in flow communication with the fluid inlet, wherein the cavity opens to the region between the first face and the second face. The fluid dispensing system may further include a shim disposed between the first die portion and the second die portion to maintain the spaced positioning of the first and second die portions, wherein the shim defines a plurality of channels bounded by the first and second faces and extending from the cavity in a direction toward the fluid outlet.

First claim

I claim:

1. A shim for a slot coating die, the shim comprising:
a base portion defining an edge; and
fingers extending lengthwise in a first direction from the edge of the base portion,
wherein each finger tapers toward a free end thereof and comprises:
a first cross-sectional region having a first length and a uniform first width along the first length;
a second cross-sectional region having a second length and a uniform second width along the second length, the second width being smaller than the first width; and
a first tapered region connecting the first and second cross-sectional regions, wherein the shim is configured to be positioned between a first die portion and a second die portion of a slot coating die such that the fingers extend over a fluid dispensing cavity of the slot coating die, the shim in combination with the first and second die portions defines a slot within the slot coating die, and the shim is configured such that a distance between the free ends of adjacent fingers is less than a distance between the free ends and an outlet of the slot.

2. The shim of claim 1 , wherein the fingers at least partially define channels that extend in the first direction.

3. The shim of claim 2 , wherein the fingers are configured such that a pressure drop along the channels is less than a pressure drop from a fluid inlet of the slot of the slot coating die to a fluid outlet of the slot during fluid dispensing.

4. The shim of claim 2 , wherein the fingers are configured such that a pressure drop along the slot is greater than a pressure drop across a meniscus of fluid at a coating surface during fluid dispensing.

5. The shim of claim 2 , wherein the fingers are configured such that the channels provide a substantially uniform fluid flow rate under ultra-low flow conditions.

6. The shim of claim 1 , wherein the fingers each comprise:
a third cross-sectional region having a third length and a uniform third width along the third length, the third width being smaller than the second width; and
a third tapered region connected to the third cross-sectional region and forming the free end thereof.

7. The shim of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional regions extend from the base portion.

8. The shim of claim 1 , wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

9. A shim for a slot coating die, the shim comprising:
a base portion defining an edge; and
fingers extending lengthwise in a first direction from the edge of the base portion,
wherein each finger tapers toward a free end thereof and comprises:
a first cross-sectional region having a first length and a uniform first width;
a second cross-sectional region having a second length and a uniform second width along the second length, the second width being smaller than the first width;
a third cross-sectional region having a third length and a uniform third width along the third length, the third width being smaller than the second width;
a first tapered region connecting the first and second cross-sectional regions; and

a second tapered region connecting the second and third cross-sectional regions, wherein the fingers each comprise a third tapered region connected to the third cross-sectional region and forming the free end thereof.

10. The shim of claim 9 , wherein:
the first length is greater than the second length; and
the second length is greater than the third length.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Joos Felipe Miguel

Classifications

• B05D1/265

  Extrusion coatings · CPC title

• B29C48/305

  having a wide opening, e.g. for forming sheets · CPC title

• B05C5/0254 Primary

  Coating heads with slot-shaped outlet (B05C5/0283 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C48/31

  being} adjustable {, i.e. having adjustable exit sections · CPC title

• B05D1/26

  performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface · CPC title