WO1998032890A1 - Coating thickness control - Google Patents

Coating thickness control Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998032890A1
WO1998032890A1 PCT/AU1998/000030 AU9800030W WO9832890A1 WO 1998032890 A1 WO1998032890 A1 WO 1998032890A1 AU 9800030 W AU9800030 W AU 9800030W WO 9832890 A1 WO9832890 A1 WO 9832890A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mouth
air knife
lips
facing
relative
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1998/000030
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Glen Wallace
Original Assignee
Industrial Automation Services Pty. Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Industrial Automation Services Pty. Ltd. filed Critical Industrial Automation Services Pty. Ltd.
Priority to GB9916682A priority Critical patent/GB2336377B/en
Priority to JP53142198A priority patent/JP4020217B2/en
Priority to US09/341,818 priority patent/US6199301B1/en
Priority to DE19881989T priority patent/DE19881989B4/en
Priority to AU56476/98A priority patent/AU721545B2/en
Publication of WO1998032890A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998032890A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23CCOATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C2/00Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
    • C23C2/14Removing excess of molten coatings; Controlling or regulating the coating thickness
    • C23C2/16Removing excess of molten coatings; Controlling or regulating the coating thickness using fluids under pressure, e.g. air knives
    • C23C2/18Removing excess of molten coatings from elongated material
    • C23C2/20Strips; Plates
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05CAPPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C11/00Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00
    • B05C11/02Apparatus for spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to a surface ; Controlling means therefor; Control of the thickness of a coating by spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to the coated surface
    • B05C11/06Apparatus for spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to a surface ; Controlling means therefor; Control of the thickness of a coating by spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to the coated surface with a blast of gas or vapour
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21HPULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D21H25/00After-treatment of paper not provided for in groups D21H17/00 - D21H23/00
    • D21H25/08Rearranging applied substances, e.g. metering, smoothing; Removing excess material
    • D21H25/16Rearranging applied substances, e.g. metering, smoothing; Removing excess material with a blast of vapour or gas, e.g. air knife

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the control of thickness of a coating applied to the
  • the present invention has been particularly developed for controlling the
  • the hot dip galvanising process aims to apply a controlled amount of a protective
  • galvanising line is employed to coat the sheet.
  • the galvanising line 1 includes input coils 2 which carry a
  • the metal sheet 3 is fed into an accumulator 4 and then passed
  • X-ray gauges 47 are located down the line beyond the air knives 15 to monitor the
  • the coat thickness is above the minimum required for the product in question.
  • the coating thickness is controlled by the application of a high pressure wiping
  • a typical air knife 15 is depicted schematically in
  • the distance from the air knife mouth to the sheet surface is controlled by
  • a bowed sheet profile can occur as the sheet exits the molten zinc bath
  • proximal sheet surface 32 This has the effect of introducing a variation in the thickness
  • Fig 3b illustrates a typical coating profile on the upper or
  • Fig. 3c illustrates a typical coating profile on the lower or
  • the width of the mouth opening varies at different points along its length. Constricting the width of the mouth reduces the gas flow at that point thus reducing the wiping effect
  • US-4524716 discloses an air knife in which movable obstructions are provided
  • gases gases, or even liquids, may be used and are encompassed by the invention.
  • an air knife assembly including:
  • moving means operable to move the lips relative to the air knife body.
  • the present invention also provides an air knife mouth arrangement for use in an
  • pressurised fluid passes to operate on a coating applied to a surface of a sheet material
  • the air knife mouth arrangement including a pair of facing lips defining the
  • the facing lips adapted to be movable relative to the air knife body.
  • the lips is varied along at least part of the length of the mouth
  • the present invention also preferably provides an air knife mouth arrangement
  • pressurised fluid passes to operate on a coating applied to a surface of a sheet material
  • the air knife mouth arrangement including a mouth defined by a pair of facing
  • said facing lips configured and adapted to co-operate with each other such that upon
  • mouth of the air knife can be employed to break free, and hence remove, small lumps of
  • each lip of the pair of facing lips has, in front elevation, a curved
  • each lip is provided along substantially the entire
  • each lip is defined by a mathematical function which,
  • each lip, in front elevation is defined by an odd
  • each lip has an identical shape to the other lip, although for some reasons
  • an initial non-uniform mouth width along its length may be required.
  • the moving means of the air knife assembly is operable to move both
  • the moving means is operative in response to signals from control
  • control means including sensing means located past the air knife and
  • this form of the present invention can be utilised to control the
  • Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a typical hot dip galvanising line for coating
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional air knife
  • Fig. 3a is a horizontal sectional view of a pair of air knives operating on a bowed
  • Figs. 3b & 3c illustrate a typical profile of the coating thickness resulting from
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of one preferred embodiment of an air
  • Fig. 5 graphically depicts the mouth shape and mouth width variation of a
  • Fig. 6 graphically depicts the mouth shape and mouth width variation of a
  • Fig. 7 graphically depicts the mouth shape and mouth width variation of a
  • FIG. 8a to 8c schematically depict plan views of a further preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 9 schematically depicts a further preferred embodiment of air knife
  • the present invention relates to an air knife mouth
  • arrangement 20 comprises a mouth 16 defined by a pair of facing lips 17, 18, each lip
  • lips 17, 18 face each other.
  • the lips 17, 18 of the air knife mouth arrangement are
  • the present invention also provides an air knife assembly 15, the assembly
  • Means 12 are provided for distributing a fluid under pressure through the
  • the moving means passing the air knife to thereby control the thickness of the coating.
  • each lip 17, 18 is
  • the mathematical function defining the shape or profile of the lips 17, 18 may be
  • x lateral (transverse) coordinate, with origin as shown in Fig. 4
  • A,B,C,D tuning constants chosen appropriately to achieve desired gap
  • each air knife by lateral or sideways displacement of the respective facing lips.
  • Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 will narrow the width of the mouth midway along the length of the
  • the amplitude of the variation in width of the mouth will vary dependent on the
  • the moving means 41 for displacing the lips laterally can be any suitable means.
  • a mechanical arrangement such as gears may be used.
  • a mechanical arrangement such as gears may be used.
  • a mechanical arrangement such as gears may be used.
  • a mechanical arrangement such as gears may be used.
  • a mechanical arrangement such as gears may be used.
  • a mechanical arrangement such as gears
  • Fig. 4 is operative to simultaneously move both lips in opposite lateral directions.
  • the moving means comprises racks 42, 43 connected to the
  • the moving means 41 may be
  • control means 46 including
  • sensing means 47 located past the air knife and operative to sense the coating thickness
  • air knife assembly enable the selective control of the width of the mouth at different
  • the mouth arrangement can be relatively simple in construction
  • mouth arrangement may be capable of being retro fitted to existing air knives so that the
  • invention provides for the adjustment of the mean distance between the mouth of the air
  • the air knife 15 is schematically depicted in plan view.
  • FIG 8a depicts the air knife 15 with the lips of the air knife mouth 20 in a
  • the moving means 86 can by utilised to move one end of the mouth forward and the
  • a wedge member 92 may be located to act upon either or both of the lip
  • the air knife supporting structure can be used to position the air

Abstract

This invention relates to the control of thickness of a coating applied to the surface of a sheet material. The invention provides an air knife assembly (15) including a body (14) for mounting adjacent to a sheet material which in use is moved past the body in a longitudinal direction, and a mouth (16) facing the sheet material and extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the sheet. The mouth (16) is defined by a pair of facing lips (17, 18) which are movable relative to the body (14). A moving means (41) is operable to move the lips (17, 18) relative to the air knife body (14). The assembly further includes a means for distributing a fluid under pressure through the body to enter and emerge from the mouth whereby pressurised fluid emerging from the mouth operates on a coating applied to a surface of the sheet material passing the air knife to thereby control the thickness of the coating.

Description

TITLE: COATING THICKNESS CONTROL
FIELD OF TFIE INVENTION
This invention relates to the control of thickness of a coating applied to the
surface of a sheet material.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The accurate and continuous control of the thickness of a coating being applied
to the surface of a sheet material is required in a number of industries. For example, it is
often necessary to control the thickness of coatings applied to paper or other similar
materials in the form of a continuous travelling web. Another field in which the control
of thickness of a continuously applied coating is required is in hot dip galvanising of
metal sheet. The present invention has been particularly developed for controlling the
coating thickness in a hot dip galvanising operation and it will be convenient to
particularly describe the invention in relation to this field of application. However it
should be appreciated that the apparatus and process of the present invention is
applicable to other coatings and to other sheet materials being coated.
The hot dip galvanising process aims to apply a controlled amount of a protective
coating, typically zinc and/or zinc alloy, to the surface of a metal item in order to
produce a reasonable corrosion service life for the coated component. In the case of
sheet metal for use in automobiles, roofing and similar applications a continuous hot dip
galvanising line is employed to coat the sheet. The basic elements of such a galvanising
line are depicted in Fig. 1. The galvanising line 1 includes input coils 2 which carry a
roll of metal sheet 3. The metal sheet 3 is fed into an accumulator 4 and then passed
through a furnace 5 (not shown). Upon leaving the furnace the metal sheet is passed through a bath of protective coating 6, such as molten zinc. The coated sheet 11 then
passes between a pair of air knives 15 located on opposing sides of the sheet. Scanning
X-ray gauges 47 are located down the line beyond the air knives 15 to monitor the
resulting thickness of the protective coating.
For metal sheet processed upon such a line the corrosion service life of the final
product is dictated by the thickness of the applied coating, and in particular by the
thinnest coating at any point of the applied coating. This is reflected in the standard
measures which are used to classify coated sheet, which focus upon the minimum single
spot thickness in the coating. Due to such standards specifying a minimum coat
requirement, the producers of galvanised sheet must ensure that at all points over the
sheet the coat thickness is above the minimum required for the product in question.
The coating thickness is controlled by the application of a high pressure wiping
jet which issues from an air knife adjacent to each surface of the metal sheet as the sheet
is withdrawn from a molten zinc bath. A typical air knife 15 is depicted schematically in
Fig. 2. The amount of coating which remains upon the surface of the sheet after passing
through the wiping jet is mainly determined by the following parameters:
• line speed,
• distance from the air knife mouth to the sheet surface,
• pressure within the air knife header, and
• dimensions of the mouth.
The distance from the air knife mouth to the sheet surface is controlled by
horizontal positioning of the air knife assembly and is dependent also on the profile
which the sheet adopts as it passes the air knives. Referring to the horizontal section - > -
shown in Fig. 3a. a bowed sheet profile can occur as the sheet exits the molten zinc bath
and passes the air knives. This reduces the knife mouth to sheet distance in the centre
section of the upper or distal sheet surface 31 relative to the knife mouth to sheet
distance in the edge regions of sheet surface 31. The reverse is true for the lower or
proximal sheet surface 32. This has the effect of introducing a variation in the thickness
of the coating across the sheet. Fig 3b illustrates a typical coating profile on the upper or
distal sheet surface 31 whilst Fig. 3c illustrates a typical coating profile on the lower or
proximal sheet surface 32. This coating defect is known as "crossbow".
The crossbow defect in the coating profile forces line operators to increase the
average amount of coating material which is applied to the sheet surfaces in order to
ensure that the minimum single spot requirements are satisfied across the entire width of
the sheet. Typical magnitudes of crossbow defect are of the order of 10% of the average
coating being applied. As such, the over-coating required in order to avoid crossbow
induced violations of minimum single spot coating requirements represents a significant
cost to continuous galvanising line operators.
There have been many systems proposed or implemented for controlling the
coating thickness, particularly in circumstances where bowing of the sheet material
causes variations in coating thickness across the width of the sheet. Such systems have
typically involved modifying the configuration or other parameters of the air knife. For
example, there have been proposed systems for changing the shape of the mouth of the
air knife through which the pressurised gas emerges by deforming one of the lips
defining the mouth; the deformation of the lip being non-uniform along its length so that
the width of the mouth opening varies at different points along its length. Constricting the width of the mouth reduces the gas flow at that point thus reducing the wiping effect
at that point and thereby producing an increased coating thickness, and vice versa.
Examples of such systems involving selective opening and closing of the width of the
mouth are shown in the published patent specifications US-5423913 and AU-37005/93.
In patent specification AU-50750/85 there is proposed a system of modifying the
gas flow through the mouth of the air knife by selectively opening fluid escape passages
which open into the mouth to thereby locally reduce the flow rate through the mouth.
US-4524716 discloses an air knife in which movable obstructions are provided
inside the mouth so as to selectively modify the fluid flow through the mouth and
thereby provide different flow rates at different points across the sheet or web being
coated.
All of these prior proposed systems are mechanically relatively complex since
they require a multiplicity of controllable operating components provided along the
length of the mouth. This can make the total air knife assembly and control system
complex in construction and operation and susceptible to mechanical failure or
dysfunction, and difficult expensive or time consuming to install, calibrate or repair.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air knife
arrangement for use in coating thickness control which overcomes or ameliorates at least
one shortcoming of prior air knife arrangements, or at least provides a useful alternative
to prior air knife arrangements.
Although the terms "air knife", "air knife assembly", and "air knife arrangement"
are used throughout the specification and claims such terms are not to be construed as limiting the invention to a field of application in which pressurised air is used. Other
gases, or even liquids, may be used and are encompassed by the invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an air knife assembly including:
a body for mounting adjacent to a sheet material which in use is moved past the
body in a longitudinal direction;
a mouth facing the sheet material and extending laterally, the mouth being
defined by a pair of facing lips, the facing lips movable relative to the body;
means for distributing a fluid under pressure through the body to enter and
emerge from the mouth whereby pressurised fluid emerging from the mouth operates on
a coating applied to a surface of the sheet material passing the air knife to thereby
control the thickness of the coating; and
moving means operable to move the lips relative to the air knife body.
The present invention also provides an air knife mouth arrangement for use in an
air knife assembly having a laterally extending elongated mouth through which
pressurised fluid passes to operate on a coating applied to a surface of a sheet material
passing relative to the mouth in a longitudinal direction to control the thickness of the
coating, the air knife mouth arrangement including a pair of facing lips defining the
mouth, the facing lips adapted to be movable relative to the air knife body.
In one preferred form of the present invention there is provided an air knife
assembly including:
a body for mounting adjacent to a sheet material which in use is moved past the
body in a longitudinal direction; a mouth facing the sheet material and extending laterally, the mouth being
defined by a pair of facing lips, the facing lips configured and adapted to co-operate with
each other such that upon relative lateral displacement of the lips the separation between
the lips is varied along at least part of the length of the mouth;
means for distributing a fluid under pressure through the body to enter and
emerge from the mouth whereby pressurised fluid emerging from the mouth operates on
a coating applied to the surface of the sheet material passing the air knife to thereby
control the thickness of the coating; and
moving means for selectively laterally or sideways relative displacement of the
facing lips so as to thereby vary the separation of the lips and hence the widths of the
mouth at different points along at least part of the length of the mouth.
The present invention also preferably provides an air knife mouth arrangement
for use in an air knife having a laterally extending elongated mouth through which
pressurised fluid passes to operate on a coating applied to a surface of a sheet material
passing relative to the mouth in a longitudinal direction to control the thickness of the
coating, the air knife mouth arrangement including a mouth defined by a pair of facing
lips, said facing lips configured and adapted to co-operate with each other such that upon
relative lateral displacement of the lips the separation between the lips is varied along at
least part of the length of the mouth.
Advantageously, by providing a mouth with a pair of facing lips which are
configured and adapted to co-operate with each other, a variation in width of the mouth
opening, and hence a variation in fluid flow emerging from the mouth at different points
along the length of the mouth, can be achieved by a relative lateral displacement of the two lips. This enables, for example, a single linear lateral movement of one lip or
simultaneous oppositely directed line in lateral movements to the two lips to achieve a
change in profile of the mouth, and in particular predetermined changes in widths of the
mouth at different points along the length of the mouth.
It is further advantageous that the side shifting motion of the two lips forming the
mouth of the air knife can be employed to break free, and hence remove, small lumps of
coating material which have deposited upon the nozzle in the liquid state and
subsequently become fixed in place. Hence the relative lateral motion of the lips can
assist in maintaining the nozzle in a clean state, free of obstructions, thereby reducing the
need to resort to cleaning the nozzle by other means such as mechanical means which
may adversely affect the quality of the coating. The ability of the relative lateral
displacement of the lips to break frozen obstructions from the nozzle is further enhanced
by the use of a superfine surface finish on the inside surfaces of the nozzle.
Preferably each lip of the pair of facing lips has, in front elevation, a curved
shape along at least a part of its length, the curved shapes of the lips facing each other.
Preferably the curved shape of each lip is provided along substantially the entire
length of the mouth such that the relative lateral displacement of the lips produces a
mouth width variation over substantially the entire length of the mouth.
Preferably the shape of each lip is defined by a mathematical function which,
taking the origin as the mid-point along the length of the mouth as the origin of a co¬
ordinate system and taking the longitudinal and lateral directions as the axes, defines a
shape which is not symmetrical about either of the axes, but has anti-symmetry about the
two axes. Preferably the shape of each lip, in front elevation, is defined by an odd
polynomial function or by a trigonometric function.
Preferably each lip has an identical shape to the other lip, although for some
purposes or fields of application an initial non-uniform mouth width along its length may be required.
Preferably the moving means of the air knife assembly is operable to move both
of the lips simultaneously in opposing directions. In this way the mid-point along the
length of the mouth defined between the lips can remain substantially in the same
position relative to the width of the sheet material passing the air knife.
Preferably the moving means is operative in response to signals from control
means, the control means including sensing means located past the air knife and
operative to sense the coating thickness achieved on the surface of the sheet material.
In a further preferred form of the present invention there is provided an air knife
assembly wherein the moving means is operable to move the pair of facing lips fore and
aft relative to the air knife body so as to alter the mean distance between the mouth and
the surface of the sheet material.
Advantageously, this form of the present invention can be utilised to control the
mean thickness of the coating upon the surface of the sheet material.
In a further preferred form of the present invention there is provided an air knife
assembly wherein the moving means is operable to move the pair of facing lips forward
at one end and aft at the other end relative to the air knife body. Advantageously this aspect of the present invention can be utilised to compensate
for misalignment between the mouth of the air knife and the surface of the sheet
material.
In a further preferred form of the present invention there is provided an air knife
assembly wherein the moving means is operable to laterally move a wedge member
between one of the lips and the body of the air knife so as to adjust the position of the lip
relative to the other lip and thus the average distance between the air knife lips along the
length of the lips.
All of the mentioned modes of operation may be controlled by manual and/or
automatic closed loop control by employing a downstream coating feedback
measurement device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The preferred features of the present invention will now be described with
particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that
the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be
construed as being limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a typical hot dip galvanising line for coating
sheet metal in a continuous strip or web;
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional air knife;
Fig. 3a is a horizontal sectional view of a pair of air knives operating on a bowed
sheet material passing between the air knives;
Figs. 3b & 3c illustrate a typical profile of the coating thickness resulting from
the sheet material being bowed as it passes between a pair of air knives; Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of one preferred embodiment of an air
knife assembly according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 graphically depicts the mouth shape and mouth width variation of a
preferred embodiment of air knife according to the present invention, with the lips of the
mouth in a central or neutral position;
Fig. 6 graphically depicts the mouth shape and mouth width variation of a
preferred embodiment of air knife according to the present invention, with the lips of the
mouth in a laterally displaced first position;
Fig. 7 graphically depicts the mouth shape and mouth width variation of a
preferred embodiment of air knife according to the present invention, with the lips of the
mouth in an opposite, laterally displaced second position;
Figs. 8a to 8c schematically depict plan views of a further preferred embodiment
of air knife according to the present invention, illustrating the fore and aft movements of
the air knife mouth relative to the body of the air knife; and
Fig. 9 schematically depicts a further preferred embodiment of air knife
according to the present invention, illustrating a wedge arrangement for adjusting the
mean distance between the lips of the air knife mouth.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 have been referred to in the introductory part of this specification
and depict a known hot dip galvanising line, air knife configuration and arrangement,
and coating defects caused by bowing of the sheet metal (the crossbow defect).
Referring to Fig. 4, the present invention relates to an air knife mouth
arrangement 20 for use in an air knife assembly 15 having a laterally extending mouth 16 through which pressurised fluid passes to operate on a coating applied to a surface of
a sheet material 11 passing the mouth in a longitudinal direction to control the thickness
of the coating. In the preferred form of the invention shown the air knife mouth
arrangement 20 comprises a mouth 16 defined by a pair of facing lips 17, 18, each lip
having in front elevation a curved shape along its length. The curved shapes of the two
lips 17, 18 face each other. The lips 17, 18 of the air knife mouth arrangement are
selectively laterally displaceable relative to each other by a moving means 41 so as to
thereby vary the separation of the lips and hence the width of the mouth along the length
of the mouth 16. It is to be noted that the term "length" refers to the dimension of the
mouth in the lateral direction (indicated by the X axis), whilst the term "width" refers to
the dimension of the mouth in the longitudinal direction (indicated by the Y axis).
The present invention also provides an air knife assembly 15, the assembly
comprising a body 14 for mounting adjacent to the sheet material 11 which in use is
moved past the body 14 in a longitudinal direction. To the body 14 is mounted the
mouth arrangement 20 with the mouth 16 defined by the pair of facing lips 17, 18 of
curved shape. Means 12 are provided for distributing a fluid under pressure through the
body 14 to enter and emerge from the mouth 16 whereby pressurised fluid emerging
from the mouth operates on a coating applied to the surface of the sheet material 11
passing the air knife to thereby control the thickness of the coating. The moving means
41 selectively laterally or sideways displaces the facing lips 17, 18 so as to thereby vary
the separation of the lips and hence the width of the mouth at different points along the
length of the mouth. In the preferred embodiment for achieving a mouth width variation to counteract
or compensate for crossbow defect in coating profile, the shape of each lip 17, 18 is
preferably defined by a mathematical function which, taking the mid-point along the
length of the lip as the origin of the co-ordinate system and taking the lateral and
longitudinal directions as the X and Y axes respectively, defines a shape which is not
symmetrical about either of the axes, but has anti-symmetry about the two axes. In a
particularly preferred embodiment as illustrated, the shape of each lip in front elevation
is defined by an odd polynomial function or by a trigonometric function.
The mathematical function defining the shape or profile of the lips 17, 18 may be
an odd polynomial function or a trigonometric function such as:
y=Ax+Bx3+Cx5+Dx7,
or
y=Asin(Bπx)
where:
y = longitudinal (vertical) coordinate
x = lateral (transverse) coordinate, with origin as shown in Fig. 4
A,B,C,D = tuning constants chosen appropriately to achieve desired gap
variation and minimise total gap variation.
As shown in Fig. 5, (with the scales of the axes being chosen to exaggerate the
amplitude of the curvature of each lip), it is preferable that when the upper and lower lips
are in a central or neutral position they define a mouth having a constant width along its
entire length, as illustrated by the line 50 representing a constant width of 0.001m.
Although the shape of the mouth is not a straight line, and hence the shape of the emerging pressurised fluid does not lie in a flat plane, the wiping blade effect of the
emerging pressurised fluid nevertheless is substantially uniform across the entire width
of the mouth. If the surface of the sheet material passing the mouth is perfectly flat, the
wiping effect and hence the achieved thickness of coating will be substantially uniform
across the entire width of the sheet material.
However, if the sheet material is bowed as shown in Fig 3a, the thickness of the
coating applied to one surface will be concave in profile across the width of the sheet
and convex in profile across the width on the other surface of the sheet as previously
described with reference to Figs. 3b & 3c. By sensing variations in coating thickness
across the width of the sheet at a point beyond (downstream of ) the air knives, a control
system can be utilised to produce appropriate control signals to vary the shape of the
mouth of each air knife by lateral or sideways displacement of the respective facing lips.
Lateral or sideways displacement of the lips in the direction shown by the arrows B in
Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 will narrow the width of the mouth midway along the length of the
mouth and will likewise increase the width of the mouth at its ends. Thus over the
length of the mouth, the width of the mouth opening will vary as shown by the curve 60
in Fig. 6. This will reduce the pressurised fluid flow in the centre of the mouth and
increase the fluid flow at the opposite ends of the mouth thus enabling compensation for
crossbow defect producing a concavity in the coating thickness across the width of the
coating.
Conversely, as shown in Fig. 7, lateral or sideways displacement of the upper and
lower lips in the direction of arrows C produces a widening of the mouth at the mid
region along its length, and narrowing of the width of the mouth at the opposite ends, as shown by the curve 70. This produces increased pressurised fluid flow in the centre with
a greater wiping effect or wiping power in the central region, thus enabling
compensation for crossbow defect with a convex profile of the coating thickness across
the width of the sheet material.
The amplitude of the variation in width of the mouth will vary dependent on the
extent of lateral or sideways displacement of the lips. Careful selection of the particular
odd polynomial function or the trigonometric function and careful selection of the tuning
constants in the formula defining the shape or profile of each lip will allow the particular
form of the mouth width variation to closely match the typical sheet material strip or
web deflection. The typical strip deflection caused by bowing of the sheet material in
the vicinity of the air knives has been studied or can be studied empirically. And, as a
result, the selection of the particular mathematical function and tuning constants can be
estimated from such studies and/or effective lip profiles can be determined by empirical
methods of testing different lip profiles.
The moving means 41 for displacing the lips laterally can be any suitable means.
For example, a mechanical arrangement such as gears may be used. Alternatively a
hydraulic or pneumatic actuator may be employed. The moving means 41 illustrated in
Fig. 4 is operative to simultaneously move both lips in opposite lateral directions. In the
embodiment depicted, the moving means comprises racks 42, 43 connected to the
respective upper and lower lips 17, 18, the lips in turn being mounted to the body 14 of
the air knife for lateral sliding movement. Co-operating with the racks 42, 43 is a pinion
44 on a drive shaft 45. The arrangement is such that rotation of the drive shaft 45 in the
direction of arrow A produces lateral or sideways movement of the upper and lower lips in opposite directions as shown by the arrows B. The moving means 41 may be
operative in response to signals from control means 46, the control means including
sensing means 47 located past the air knife and operative to sense the coating thickness
achieved on the surface of the sheet material 11.
It will be seen this preferred embodiment of the air knife mouth arrangement and
air knife assembly, enable the selective control of the width of the mouth at different
points along the entire length of the mouth. This enables adjustment of the wiping effect
in a controlled manner. The mouth arrangement can be relatively simple in construction
and operation so that it can be reliable in operation. It is believed that the air knife
mouth arrangement may be capable of being retro fitted to existing air knives so that the
air knife mouth arrangement per se is a novel and valuable article of manufacture, as
well as the total assembly with the air knife mouth arrangement installed and in use in an
air knife.
Referring to Figs. 8a to 8c, a further preferred embodiment of the present
invention provides for the adjustment of the mean distance between the mouth of the air
knife and the sheet, and for adjustment of the alignment between the mouth of the air
knife and the plane of the sheet. The air knife 15 is schematically depicted in plan view.
At each end of the air knife mouth arrangement 20 there is provided a moving means 86
for moving the lips of the mouth in fore and aft directions with respect to the body 14 of
the air knife. Fig 8a depicts the air knife 15 with the lips of the air knife mouth 20 in a
retracted position with respect to the air knife body 14. In Fig 8b the lips of the air knife
mouth have been extended from the body 14. In this way the mean distance between the
mouth of the air knife and the surface of the coated sheet can be adjusted. In Fig. 8c the moving means 86 can by utilised to move one end of the mouth forward and the
opposing end aft. In a particularly preferred arrangement the opposing ends of the
mouth can be moved in equal but opposite directions so as to alter the alignment of the
air knife mouth with respect to the surface of the sheet. In this way it is possible to
compensate for skewing of the sheet as it passes the mouth of the air knife.
Referring to Fig. 9, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention
adjustment of the mean distance between the lips 17, 18 of the air knife mouth 16 can be
achieved by utilising a laterally displaceable wedge member 92. The wedge member 92
is located between and acts upon the upper lip 17 and the body of the air knife 14 such
that when the wedge is moved laterally in the directions shown by the arrow 94 the
upper lip is caused to move either towards or away from the lower lip 18. It should be
appreciated that a wedge member 92 may be located to act upon either or both of the lip
members 17, 18. In this way the average distance between the lips of the mouth can be
modified either independently or in conjunction with the other position options
mentioned.
Control over the mean distance between the mouth of the air knife and the
surface of the coated sheet, the average air knife gap, and the degree of misalignment
between surface of the coated sheet and air knife mouth, either individually or when
coupled with the lateral motion of the lips defining the mouth of the air knife, allow all
of the major coating defects to be corrected by fine adjustments of the air knife mouth.
With this capability the air knife supporting structure can be used to position the air
knife in a coarse fashion whilst the fine motion required to accurately control the coating
can then be achieved by movement of the air knife mouth alone. This is considered highly desirable when compared to the current practice of attempting to precisely
position the entire air knife supporting structure as the components being moved have a
far more direct relation to the strip surface being controlled.
It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may
be made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention as
herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An air knife assembly including:
a body for mounting adjacent to a sheet material which in use is moved past the
body in a longitudinal direction;
a mouth facing the sheet material and extending laterally, the mouth being
defined by a pair of facing lips, the facing lips movable relative to the body;
means for distributing a fluid under pressure through the body to enter and
emerge from the mouth whereby pressurised fluid emerging from the mouth operates on
a coating applied to a surface of the sheet material passing the air knife to thereby
control the thickness of the coating; and
moving means operable to move the lips relative to the air knife body.
2. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of facing lips are
laterally displaceable relative to each other;
the facing lips configured and adapted to co-operate with each other such that
upon relative lateral displacement of the lips the separation between the lips is varied
along at least part of the length of the mouth;
the moving means operable to laterally displace the lips relative to each other so
as to vary the separation of the lips and hence the width of the mouth at different points
along at least part of the length of the mouth.
3. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each lip of the pair of
facing lips has, in front elevation, a curved shape along at least a part of its length, the
curved shapes of the lips facing each other.
4. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the curved shape of each
lip is provided along substantially the entire length of the mouth, such that the relative
lateral displacement of the lips produces a mouth width variation over substantially the
entire length of the mouth.
5. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shape of each lip is
defined by a mathematical function which, taking the origin as the mid-point along the
length of the mouth as the origin of the co-ordinate system and taking the longitudinal
and lateral directions as the axes, defines a shape which is not symmetrical about either
of the axes, but has anti-symmetry about the two axes.
6. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the shape of each lip, in-
front elevation, is defined by an odd polynomial function or by a trigonometric function.
7. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the moving means is
operable to move both of the lips simultaneously in opposing directions.
8. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the moving means is
operable in response to signals from control means, the control means including sensing
means located past the air knife and operative to sense the coating thickness achieved on
the surface of the sheet material.
9. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving means is
operable to move the pair of facing lips fore and aft relative to the body so as to alter the
mean distance between the mouth and the surface of the sheet material.
10. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving means is
operable to move the pair of facing lips forward at one end and aft at the other end
relative to body.
1 1. The air knife assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the moving means is
operable to laterally move a wedge member between one of the lips and the body so as to
adjust the position of the lip relative to the other lip and thus the average distance
between the air knife lips along the length of the lips.
12. An air knife mouth arrangement for use in an air knife assembly having a
laterally extending elongated mouth through which pressurised fluid passes to operate on
a coating applied to a surface of a sheet material passing relative to the mouth in a
longitudinal direction to control the thickness of the coating, the air knife mouth
arrangement including a pair of facing lips defining the mouth, the facing lips adapted to
be movable relative to the air knife body.
13. The air knife mouth arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pair of
facing lips are laterally displaceable relative to each other;
the facing lips configured and adapted to co-operate with each other such that
upon relative lateral displacement of the lips the separation between the lips is varied
along at least part of the length of the mouth.
14. The air knife mouth arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein each lip of the
pair of facing lips has, in front elevation, a curved shape along at least a part of its
length, the curved shapes of the lips facing each other.
15. The air knife mouth arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the curved
shape of each lip is provided along substantially the entire length of the mouth, such that
the relative lateral displacement of the lips produces a mouth width variation over
substantially the entire length of the mouth.
16. The air knife mouth arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the shape of
each lip is defined by a mathematical function which, taking the origin as the mid-point
along the length of the mouth as the origin of the co-ordinate system and taking the
longitudinal and lateral directions as the axes, defines a shape which is not symmetrical
about either of the axes, but has anti-symmetry about the two axes.
17. The air knife mouth arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shape of
each lip. in-front elevation, is defined by an odd polynomial function or by a
trigonometric function.
PCT/AU1998/000030 1997-01-22 1998-01-22 Coating thickness control WO1998032890A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9916682A GB2336377B (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-22 Coating thickness control
JP53142198A JP4020217B2 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-22 Coating thickness control
US09/341,818 US6199301B1 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-22 Coating thickness control
DE19881989T DE19881989B4 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-22 An air knife orifice assembly for operation in an air knife assembly and air knife assembly
AU56476/98A AU721545B2 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-22 Coating thickness control

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPO4732A AUPO473297A0 (en) 1997-01-22 1997-01-22 Coating thickness control
AUPO4732 1997-01-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998032890A1 true WO1998032890A1 (en) 1998-07-30

Family

ID=3799036

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1998/000030 WO1998032890A1 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-22 Coating thickness control

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US6199301B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4020217B2 (en)
AU (1) AUPO473297A0 (en)
DE (1) DE19881989B4 (en)
GB (1) GB2336377B (en)
WO (1) WO1998032890A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2140944A1 (en) * 2008-07-03 2010-01-06 Linde AG Adjustable baffles for gas wiping

Families Citing this family (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6749391B2 (en) 1996-07-15 2004-06-15 Semitool, Inc. Microelectronic workpiece transfer devices and methods of using such devices in the processing of microelectronic workpieces
US6749390B2 (en) 1997-12-15 2004-06-15 Semitool, Inc. Integrated tools with transfer devices for handling microelectronic workpieces
US6752584B2 (en) * 1996-07-15 2004-06-22 Semitool, Inc. Transfer devices for handling microelectronic workpieces within an environment of a processing machine and methods of manufacturing and using such devices in the processing of microelectronic workpieces
US6921467B2 (en) * 1996-07-15 2005-07-26 Semitool, Inc. Processing tools, components of processing tools, and method of making and using same for electrochemical processing of microelectronic workpieces
TWI223678B (en) * 1998-03-20 2004-11-11 Semitool Inc Process for applying a metal structure to a workpiece, the treated workpiece and a solution for electroplating copper
US6565729B2 (en) 1998-03-20 2003-05-20 Semitool, Inc. Method for electrochemically depositing metal on a semiconductor workpiece
US6497801B1 (en) * 1998-07-10 2002-12-24 Semitool Inc Electroplating apparatus with segmented anode array
US20030038035A1 (en) * 2001-05-30 2003-02-27 Wilson Gregory J. Methods and systems for controlling current in electrochemical processing of microelectronic workpieces
EP1192298A4 (en) * 1999-04-13 2006-08-23 Semitool Inc System for electrochemically processing a workpiece
US7585398B2 (en) * 1999-04-13 2009-09-08 Semitool, Inc. Chambers, systems, and methods for electrochemically processing microfeature workpieces
US7189318B2 (en) * 1999-04-13 2007-03-13 Semitool, Inc. Tuning electrodes used in a reactor for electrochemically processing a microelectronic workpiece
US6368475B1 (en) * 2000-03-21 2002-04-09 Semitool, Inc. Apparatus for electrochemically processing a microelectronic workpiece
US6916412B2 (en) * 1999-04-13 2005-07-12 Semitool, Inc. Adaptable electrochemical processing chamber
US7160421B2 (en) * 1999-04-13 2007-01-09 Semitool, Inc. Turning electrodes used in a reactor for electrochemically processing a microelectronic workpiece
US7020537B2 (en) * 1999-04-13 2006-03-28 Semitool, Inc. Tuning electrodes used in a reactor for electrochemically processing a microelectronic workpiece
US6623609B2 (en) 1999-07-12 2003-09-23 Semitool, Inc. Lift and rotate assembly for use in a workpiece processing station and a method of attaching the same
WO2001090434A2 (en) * 2000-05-24 2001-11-29 Semitool, Inc. Tuning electrodes used in a reactor for electrochemically processing a microelectronic workpiece
AU2001282879A1 (en) * 2000-07-08 2002-01-21 Semitool, Inc. Methods and apparatus for processing microelectronic workpieces using metrology
KR20030018175A (en) * 2001-08-27 2003-03-06 주식회사 포스코 An apparatus for measuring a gap of air-knife nozzle with strip
US6630360B2 (en) 2002-01-10 2003-10-07 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Advanced process control (APC) of copper thickness for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) optimization
US20030159921A1 (en) * 2002-02-22 2003-08-28 Randy Harris Apparatus with processing stations for manually and automatically processing microelectronic workpieces
US6991710B2 (en) * 2002-02-22 2006-01-31 Semitool, Inc. Apparatus for manually and automatically processing microelectronic workpieces
US6893505B2 (en) * 2002-05-08 2005-05-17 Semitool, Inc. Apparatus and method for regulating fluid flows, such as flows of electrochemical processing fluids
US20040031167A1 (en) * 2002-06-13 2004-02-19 Stein Nathan D. Single wafer method and apparatus for drying semiconductor substrates using an inert gas air-knife
US7114903B2 (en) * 2002-07-16 2006-10-03 Semitool, Inc. Apparatuses and method for transferring and/or pre-processing microelectronic workpieces
KR20040048263A (en) * 2002-12-02 2004-06-07 주식회사 포스코 Air knife with a function of controling air ventilation mass in the direction of width
US20050092611A1 (en) * 2003-11-03 2005-05-05 Semitool, Inc. Bath and method for high rate copper deposition
KR100903180B1 (en) * 2006-05-22 2009-06-17 주식회사 엘지화학 Method of Controlling Coating-Quantity of Separator for Lithium-ion Polymer Battery
WO2007142396A1 (en) * 2006-06-05 2007-12-13 Posco Gas wiping apparatus
CN1928147B (en) * 2006-09-12 2012-09-19 攀钢集团攀枝花钢铁研究院 Air knife for controlling zinc coat thickness
DE102008058513B4 (en) * 2008-11-21 2011-03-10 Berger, Bernd, Dr.-Ing. Device for removing liquid from the surface of a moving belt and belt processing plant with such a device
JP5602371B2 (en) * 2009-03-06 2014-10-08 三菱日立製鉄機械株式会社 Gas wiping device
DE102010008989B4 (en) 2009-03-06 2018-07-26 Primetals Technologies Japan, Ltd. The gas wiping
KR101125649B1 (en) * 2010-05-24 2012-03-27 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 Active material coating apparatus and coating method using the same
JP5857577B2 (en) * 2011-09-22 2016-02-10 日本電気株式会社 Coating die head
CN103510032B (en) * 2012-06-20 2015-12-02 鞍钢股份有限公司 The deviate control method of cold rolling hot dip galvanizing plating uniformity
KR102362174B1 (en) 2018-10-01 2022-02-10 주식회사 엘지에너지솔루션 Slot die coater adjusting device for adjusting the distance between the upper discharge port and the lower discharge port of the slot die coater and Electrode active material coating system comprising the same

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2568492A (en) * 1949-04-16 1951-09-18 Gen Aniline & Film Corp Adjustable nozzle
US3272176A (en) * 1964-04-13 1966-09-13 Du Pont Air knife
US4106429A (en) * 1977-05-23 1978-08-15 Beloit Corporation Air knife with adjustable lip
GB2019916A (en) * 1978-04-26 1979-11-07 Albany Int Corp Air or other fluid knife
EP0249234A1 (en) * 1986-06-12 1987-12-16 DUMA Konstruktionsbüro Blow-off device for the continuous two-sided coating of strip metal
DE4024229C1 (en) * 1990-07-31 1991-07-18 Heinrich 4100 Duisburg De Pannenbecker
GB2254808A (en) * 1991-04-03 1992-10-21 Air Control Installations "air knife"
AU3700593A (en) * 1992-04-17 1993-10-21 Clecim Air knife device for regulating a metal deposit

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE758803A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-04-16 Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp METHOD FOR CHECKING THE COATING OF A SUBSTRATE
FR2090313B1 (en) * 1970-05-27 1974-04-26 Italsider Spa
US4041895A (en) * 1975-09-29 1977-08-16 Republic Steel Corporation Coating thickness and distribution control
DD152143A1 (en) * 1980-07-22 1981-11-18 Lothar Werk DEVICE FOR GENERATING THICKNESS METAL LAYERS ON A REINFORCED RIBBON STEEL
US4359964A (en) * 1981-05-20 1982-11-23 Beloit Corporation Air knife coater with pivoted lip
US4697542A (en) * 1985-05-13 1987-10-06 The Kohler Coating Machinery Corporation Adjustable nozzle for coating equipment
US5221345A (en) * 1990-10-12 1993-06-22 National Galvanizing Inc. Method and apparatus for coating a strip
ATE197822T1 (en) * 1994-07-14 2000-12-15 Fontaine Eng & Maschinen Gmbh DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE COATING WEIGHT OF A METAL COATING USING BLOW NOZZLES
FR2726288B1 (en) * 1994-10-27 1997-01-17 Clecim Sa AIR BLADE DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE THICKNESS OF A DEPOSIT

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2568492A (en) * 1949-04-16 1951-09-18 Gen Aniline & Film Corp Adjustable nozzle
US3272176A (en) * 1964-04-13 1966-09-13 Du Pont Air knife
US4106429A (en) * 1977-05-23 1978-08-15 Beloit Corporation Air knife with adjustable lip
GB2019916A (en) * 1978-04-26 1979-11-07 Albany Int Corp Air or other fluid knife
EP0249234A1 (en) * 1986-06-12 1987-12-16 DUMA Konstruktionsbüro Blow-off device for the continuous two-sided coating of strip metal
DE4024229C1 (en) * 1990-07-31 1991-07-18 Heinrich 4100 Duisburg De Pannenbecker
GB2254808A (en) * 1991-04-03 1992-10-21 Air Control Installations "air knife"
AU3700593A (en) * 1992-04-17 1993-10-21 Clecim Air knife device for regulating a metal deposit

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2140944A1 (en) * 2008-07-03 2010-01-06 Linde AG Adjustable baffles for gas wiping

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AUPO473297A0 (en) 1997-02-20
JP2001508358A (en) 2001-06-26
GB2336377A (en) 1999-10-20
US6199301B1 (en) 2001-03-13
GB2336377B (en) 2001-07-25
JP4020217B2 (en) 2007-12-12
DE19881989B4 (en) 2009-05-14
DE19881989T1 (en) 2000-02-10
GB9916682D0 (en) 1999-09-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6199301B1 (en) Coating thickness control
US3841557A (en) Coating thickness control and fluid handling
FI91025C (en) Method for adjusting the cross-sectional profile of the amount of paper or other web material and a coating station for carrying out the method
EP0865839B1 (en) Roller leveller for metal strip
KR101696072B1 (en) Air knife
US6174567B1 (en) Coating medium applicator with guide surface
CA2315575C (en) Gas wiping apparatus and method
US5518772A (en) Method for adjusting coating weight by gas wiping
DE3117303C2 (en)
AU721545B2 (en) Coating thickness control
US20110186141A1 (en) Device and method for positioning two baffles associated with wiping of a galvanizing product
EP0249234A1 (en) Blow-off device for the continuous two-sided coating of strip metal
US6444269B1 (en) Apparatus and method for coating sheet or strip articles
EP0692549B1 (en) Apparatus and method for control of metallic coating-weight by the use of gas knives
US5423913A (en) Apparatus and method for control of metallic coating-weight by the use of gas knives
JPH0971852A (en) Gas wiping nozzle
KR950014635B1 (en) Continuous melt-plating apparatus
KR20020050858A (en) Nozzle gap control apparatus of air knife and its method
JP3702213B2 (en) Variable gap type gas wiping nozzle
DE4300868C1 (en) Coating device
DE3710058C1 (en) Headbox for a paper machine or the like.
JPH1190298A (en) Die coater
JP2002275613A (en) Method and system for controlling deposition amount of plating
JP6947926B2 (en) Methods for cooling metallic materials and cooling beams
US20220267885A1 (en) System and method for coating of continuous sheets of metal

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH GM GW HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 56476/98

Country of ref document: AU

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 9916682

Country of ref document: GB

Kind code of ref document: A

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 1998 531421

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 09341818

Country of ref document: US

RET De translation (de og part 6b)

Ref document number: 19881989

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20000210

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 19881989

Country of ref document: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 56476/98

Country of ref document: AU

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8607