Decoupled transverse flow metering gap and lip gap

1. A slot die comprising a flow passageway that comprises a transverse flow-providing manifold, a flow metering section that comprises a transverse flow metering gap and that is in fluid communication with said transverse flow-providing manifold and with an exit channel that leads to an exit orifice that provides a final gap of the flow passageway; and comprising a first die body, a second die body having a metering face, a third die body having an opposing metering face, and a plurality of body assembly fasteners;

wherein in a fastened condition of said slot die wherein said plurality of body assembly fasteners fasten said first die body, said second die body and said third die body together, said second die body of said slot die is a load bearing member with respect to the force exerted by said plurality of body assembly fasteners, and the opposing metering faces of said second die body and said third die body are non-adjustable and form said transverse flow metering gap of said transverse flow metering section, and

wherein in an unfastened condition of said slot die, said second die body of said slot die is selectively positionable along the Z-axis of an X-Y-Z coordinate system for changing said transverse flow metering gap independent of change to the exit orifice by movement of the positionable second die body along said Z-axis.

2. The slot die of claim 1 , wherein said exit channel is formed by said first die body and said third die body being spaced apart by said second die body.

3. The slot die of claim 2 , further comprising a shim suitably disposed in contact with said second die body for selection of the exit orifice gap.

4. The slot die of claim 2 , further comprising in said unfastened condition, a body shim positionable in a Z-axis direction consistent with said Z-axis of movement of the positionable second die body.

5. The slot die of claim 3 , wherein said shim is a deckle shim that comprises a least one leg that extends to said exit orifice.

6. The slot die of claim 5 , wherein in said unfastened condition, said deckle shim is maintained stationary regardless of said Z-axis of movement of the positionable second die body.

7. The slot die of claim 1 , wherein said flow metering section comprises a primary metering stage, and a secondary metering stage that provides a relatively larger transverse flow metering gap than said primary metering stage.

8. The slot die of claim 1 , wherein said flow metering section is disposed at an angle α selected from a suitable acute angle, a right angle and a suitable obtuse angle, relative to said Z-axis.

9. The slot die of claim 8 , wherein said angle α is selected from the group consisting of a range of about 30° to 60°, and a range of about 150° to 120°, relative to said Z-axis.

10. The slot die of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of body assembly fasteners are in axial alignment with the Y-axis of said X-Y-Z coordinate system, and extend through said second die body.

11. The slot die of claim 2 , wherein said exit channel extends generally along said Z-axis.

12. The slot die of claim 1 , further comprising a backing structure, and at least one removable backing shim of a selected thickness and disposed between a functional face of said backing structure and a rear wall of said second die body.

13. The slot die of claim 1 , further comprising a backing structure wherein said backing structure comprises a functional face that extends forward in a Z-axis direction a selected extent for providing said transverse flow metering gap with a predetermined dimension.

14. The slot die of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of deckle shim fasteners that extend through said deckle shim and that secure said decide shim to said first die body, wherein said second die body is provided with a plurality of clearance apertures that prevent interference of said plurality of deckle shim fasteners with movement of said second die body in a Z-axis direction.

15. The slot die of claim 1 , wherein in said unfastened condition, said third die body of said slot die is positionable along said Z-axis for changing said transverse flow metering gap independent of change to the exit orifice.

16. The slot die of claim 2 , wherein said exit channel is bounded by opposing surfaces of said first die body and said third die body.

17. The slot die of claim 1 , wherein said first die body is spaced apart from said third die body.