Coating apparatus – Projection or spray type – Plural projectors
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-30
2001-05-22
Edwards, Laura (Department: 1734)
Coating apparatus
Projection or spray type
Plural projectors
C118S316000, C118S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06235114
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to apparatus for directing a stream of etching fluid or other fluid against a substrate traveling through the apparatus.
More particularly, the invention concerns apparatus for contacting a thin, pliant circuit board sheet with pressurized streams of fluid to form a liquid coating over the surface of the substrate.
In a further respect, the invention concerns apparatus of the type described which tends to prevent fluid in one portion of the apparatus from traveling into and contaminating a second adjacent portion of the apparatus.
In another respect, the invention concerns apparatus of the type described which includes a non-contact barrier that functions to retain process fluids with a defined process chamber or space.
Involute apparatus for spraying rectilinear circuit board substrate material is well known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,590 to Pender. In Pender a conveyor system moves panels of circuit board sheet material past units which direct spray against the upper and lower planar surface of the panels. The conveyor system includes a series of parallel, spaced rotating axles each fixedly carrying a plurality of vertically disposed isodiametric spaced disks. The intercatenated disks of one syndetic axle are staggered in relation to the disks on immediately adjacent axles in the same manner that adjacent rows of seats in a movie theater are staggered. The spaced disks on one axle extend past an imaginary line tangential to the periphery of the disks on an adjacent syndetic axle and, therefore, extend into the interstices between the disks carried by the adjacent axle. In other words, the disks on one axle intermesh and are interdigitized with the disks on the adjacent axle.
One problem long associated with intedigitized disk assemblies is that it is not possible to insert a panel or baffle between the disks on one axle and the disks on another successive parallel axle in order to prevent fluid from traveling from one portion to another portion of the apparatus. The interdigitization of the disks on one axle with the disks on the other axle prevents the use of a baffle wall which extends between the axles. As a result, a pair of axles carrying disks has to be separated a distance sufficient both to prevent interdigitization of disks and to form a space which permits the insertion of a baffle between the disks on one axle and the disks on the other axle. Such separation of an axle pair is not desirable when a thin pliable substrate is passing through the apparatus because the leading edge of the substrate can curl and “dive” down into the space between the disks on one axle and the disks on the next successive adjacent axle.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide improved disk assemblies which would permit the interdigitation of disks and which would permit a baffle panel to be incorporated between a first axle carrying disks and a second axle which is parallel to the first axle and carries disks that are interdigitized with disks on the first axle.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for contacting a substrate with a fluid.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type described which includes a first axle carrying spaced apart disks and a second axle generally parallel to the first axle and carrying spaced apart disks which are interdigitized with the disks on the first axle.
Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the type described including a baffle extending between adjacent, successive, parallel pairs of axles each carrying disks interdigitzed with disks on the other of the axle pair.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4607590 (1986-08-01), Pender
Coates ASI, Inc.
Edwards Laura
Nissle P.C. Tod R.
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