Douglas S Finnicum

US Patent:

6511711, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Dec 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/746053

Inventors:

Robert R. Quiel - Penfield NY
Alain E. Gros - Rochester NY
Douglas S. Finnicum - Penfield NY
Felipe M. Joos - Pittsford NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 126

US Classification:

427458, 427470, 427540, 427402, 427420

Abstract:

A method of bead coating a liquid composition onto the surface of a moving web is taught which provides uniform coatings over a wider range of operating parameters including new coating windows. In addition, the bead coating method typically demonstrates a reduction in coating sensitivity to vacuum pressure noise below the coating bead. The method comprises the steps of forming a bottom layer on a slide surface of a slide bead coating apparatus with a pseudoplastic liquid composition having a viscosity between 8 and 200 centipoises at a shear rate of 100 sec and a viscosity below 10 centipoises at a shear rate of 100,000 sec ; forming at least one other liquid coating layer above the bottom layer on the slide surface of the slide bead coating apparatus; establishing a coating bead between a lip of the slide bead coating apparatus and the moving web supported on a back-up roller, generating an electrostatic field in an air gap between the coating bead and the moving web just prior to a dynamic wetting line by creating a potential difference across the air gap of between about 300 and about 2000 volts.

US Patent:

51907895, Mar 2, 1993

Filed:

Aug 29, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/751468

Inventors:

Douglas S. Finnicum - Webster NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 130
B05C 1100
B05C 500

US Classification:

427 8

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for coating a surface of a continuously moving substrate with a continuously flowing curtain of coating composition comprises transmitting a sound or light wave toward the curtain and detecting the sound or light wave after the transmitting of the sound or light wave. The presence of the curtain is confirmed by either a positive receiving of a reflected sound or light on the smae side of the curtain as the transmitting of the sound or light wave, or a negative receiving of the transmitted sound or light wave on the other side of the curtain. The position of a continuously flowing curtain of coating composition is determined by measuring a time lapse between the time a sound or light wave is transmitted and the time a sound or light wave after reflection from the curtain is received. If the time lapse is outside a predetermined range of a control time period, a signal is generated to indicate that the curtain is defective.

US Patent:

59766301, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Sep 29, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/939617

Inventors:

Solomon T. Korokeyi - Rochester NY
Kenneth J. Ruschak - Rochester NY
Kurt S. Hardenbrook - Hamlin NY
Douglas S. Finnicum - Webster NY
Robert J. Deprez - Avon NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 130
B05C 100

US Classification:

427420

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for preventing vortical air flow behind a free-falling curtain in a curtain coating apparatus. There is a critical region within the coating apparatus defined in part by a coating hopper, the free-falling curtain delivered from the coating hopper, a portion of the moving substrate supported on a roller to which the free-falling curtain is delivered, and an air shield located between the roller and the coating hopper. A first intake slot proximate to the moving substrate shield is used to remove boundary-layer air entrained on the moving substrate. A second intake slot positioned within the critical region is used to remove boundary-layer air entrained on the free-falling curtain. Each of the two intake slots is connected to vacuum source. One or two vacuum sources may be used.

US Patent:

51147599, May 19, 1992

Filed:

Jul 12, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/729115

Inventors:

Douglas S. Finnicum - Webster NY
Edward R. Schickler - Webster NY
William J. Soules - Rochester NY
Robert A. Wahlers - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 130

US Classification:

427420

Abstract:

Apparatus for curtain coating a web or article includes a coating hopper, a support roller, guide rollers for leading the web to and from the support roller and an enclosure. Air which has been conditioned in respect of temperature, humidity and cleanliness is introduced into an upper region of the enclosure. Air flow controlling means are provided below the region into which the conditioned air is introduced. The flow controlling means serve to control the flow of air downwards so that it is uniform across a horizontal plane within the enclosure and has a speed of about 10 feed per minute in the region of the coating liquids in the curtain, that being a speed which will not cause disturbing effects on the liquids in the curtain. The enclosure prevents random air currents of uncontrolled velocity, temperature and cleanliness impinging on the liquids in the curtain and on the slide, which might otherwise adversely affect the product coating. The change of air and the humidity selected for the incoming air keep the humidity within the enclosure at acceptable levels, the humidity tending to increase by virtue of evaporation of the solvent or vehicle in the coating liquid.

US Patent:

52060578, Apr 27, 1993

Filed:

Jan 10, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/819536

Inventors:

Douglas S. Finnicum - Webster NY
Kenneth J. Ruschak - Rochester NY
Steven J. Weinstein - Fairport NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 130

US Classification:

427420

Abstract:

In a curtain coating apparatus for the coating of photographic film and paper webs and the like, the line of impingement of the curtain on the moving web is controlled by providing a pressure controlled zone on one side of the flowing curtain. Small changes in the static air pressure in the zone cause the position of the curtain to move without disturbing the quality of the curtain. Wetted side walls of the pressure controlled zone can serve as edge guides for the curtain.

US Patent:

55331394, Jul 2, 1996

Filed:

Sep 12, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/304603

Inventors:

H. Galen Parker - Rochester NY
Douglas S. Finnicum - Webster NY
Richard D. Young - Fairport NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

382108

Abstract:

An image processor based system and method are provided for recognizing predefined-types of coating density imperfections in a web. Specific imperfection-types to be analyzed include continuous-type, as well as point-type, anomalies. Continuous-type imperfections are recognized in a moving continuous web through the accumulation and integration of density data on the web passing through a system imaging area. Depending upon the type of imperfection to be imaged, the light source provides either constant illumination or strobed illumination of the moving coated web. For most types of imperfections, transmissive illumination of the web is used, however, for point-type anomalies reflective illumination is possible, particularly if the web is static. A machine vision image processor contains predefined lookup tables which allow adaptive control of web illumination within the imaging area. An integrating sphere is used to provide for uniform web illumination.

US Patent:

56467370, Jul 8, 1997

Filed:

May 13, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/645466

Inventors:

Christophe Georges Claude Levarlet - Saint Germain du Plain, FR
Douglas Scott Finnicum - Webster NY
Robert Richard Quiel - Penfield NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G01N 2184

US Classification:

356429

Abstract:

The invention aims to optimize a given parameter of a process of coating a support with a liquid composition. The device comprises: a) means (9, 10) for varying the parameter according to a predetermined profile; b) first detection means (11) for producing a first density profile for the support (6) across the width of the support, as the parameter varies; c) second detection means (13) for producing a second density profile for the support (6) parallel to the longitudinal axis, as the parameter varies; and d) means (15, 10) for determining a range of values for the said parameter for which the first and second profiles are satisfactory.

US Patent:

56837500, Nov 4, 1997

Filed:

Jul 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/688470

Inventors:

Joseph W. Hoff - Fairport NY
Douglas S. Finnicum - Webster NY
Steven J. Weinstein - Fairport NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 130
B05D 500

US Classification:

427261

Abstract:

A method of coating moveable supports at high speeds comprises moving the support along a path through a coating zone, forming two or more layers of coating liquids including an actual top coat layer to form a liquid composition (with a slide hopper coating a plurality of outlets for coating liquids) and applying a starting top most layer of coating liquid, which layer has a lower viscosity than that of the actual top coat layer, to the liquid coating composition either through the first outlet of the hopper or through an x-hopper located between the first outlet and coating zone, applying the coating composition and starting top most layer, and terminating the application of the starting top most layer when the coating operation is at steady state. Apparatus for carrying out this method is also described.