Liquid coating die
A coating die that includes a removable manifold section with each side of the manifold section defining a manifold, a land, and an outlet or lip. The two manifolds, lands and outlets may be the same or different, respectively. The manifold section is removably connected to at least one die body and can be removed from the die body to switch between the two sides of the manifold section. The coating die is designed and configured for web or substrate coating, either on-roll (supported web) coating or off-roll (tension web) coating.
1. A coating die comprising:
a first die body;
a second die body; and
a manifold section having a first side and an opposite second side, said first and second sides of said manifold section being parallel to each other, said manifold section having first and second operable orientations, said first operable orientation having said first side of said manifold section removably connected to said first die body and said second side of said manifold section removably connected to said second die body, said second operable orientation having said first side of said manifold section removably connected to said second die body and said second side of said manifold section removably connected to said first die body, said first side of said manifold section having a first manifold configuration comprising a first inlet, first manifold, first land, and first outlet, said second side of said manifold section having a second manifold configuration comprising a second inlet, second manifold, second land, and second outlet.
2. The coating die of claim 1 wherein said first manifold configuration is same as said second manifold configuration.
3. The coating die of claim 1 wherein said first manifold configuration is different than said second manifold configuration.
4. The coating die of claim 1 wherein, when said manifold section is in said first operable orientation, said manifold section and said first die body together have a first fluid channel extending from said first inlet, through said first manifold and said first land, and out from said first outlet, and said manifold section and said second die body together have a second fluid channel extending from said second inlet, through said second manifold and said second land, and out from said second outlet.
5. The coating die of claim 4 wherein said first die body has a flat surface, and when said manifold section is in said first operable orientation said first fluid channel is formed against said flat surface of said first die body.
6. The coating die of claim 1 wherein said first manifold configuration further comprises a first preland in said first side, and wherein said first manifold, said first preland, and said first land are arranged substantially parallel to and substantially as wide as said first outlet.
7. The coating die of claim 1 wherein said first outlet has an adjustable height to produce coatings having different thicknesses.
8. The coating die of claim 1 wherein said first die body, said manifold section, and said second die body are each flat plates.
9. The coating die of claim 1 wherein said manifold section has a one-piece construction and said first and second outlets opening outwardly from said coating die are spaced apart from each other.
10. A coating die comprising:
a first die body;
a second die body; and
a manifold section having a first side and an opposite second side, said manifold section having first and second operable orientations, said first operable orientation having said first side of said manifold section removably connected to said first die body and said second side of said manifold section removably connected to said second die body, said second operable orientation having said first side of said manifold section removably connected to said second die body and said second side of said manifold section removably connected to said first die body, said first side of said manifold section having a first manifold configuration comprising a first inlet, first manifold, first land, and first outlet, said second side of said manifold section having a second manifold configuration comprising a second inlet, second manifold, second land, and second outlet, said first and second outlets opening outwardly from said coating die are spaced apart from each other, wherein said first die body, said manifold section, and said second die body are each flat plates.
11. The coating die of claim 10 wherein, when said manifold section is in said first operable orientation, said manifold section and said first die body together have a first fluid channel extending from said first inlet, through said first manifold and said first land, and out from said first outlet, and said manifold section and said second die body together have a second fluid channel extending from said second inlet, through said second manifold and said second land, and out from said second outlet.
12. The coating die of claim 11 wherein said first die body has a flat surface, and when said manifold section is in said first operable orientation said first fluid channel is formed against said flat surface of said first die body.
13. The coating die of claim 10 wherein said first manifold configuration further comprises a first preland in said first side of said manifold section, and wherein said first manifold, said first preland, and said first land are arranged substantially parallel to and substantially as wide as said first outlet.
14. The coating die of claim 10 wherein said manifold section has a face located between said first outlet and said second outlet, said face having a vacuum port.
15. The coating die of claim 10 wherein said first manifold configuration is the same as said second manifold configuration.
16. The coating die of claim 10 wherein said first manifold configuration is different than said second manifold configuration.
17. The coating die of claim 10 wherein said first outlet has an adjustable height to produce coatings having different thicknesses.
18. The coating die of claim 10 wherein said manifold section has a one-piece construction.