An apparatus is disclosed for coating a surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the surface, so as to leave only a substantially single particle layer adhering to the surface on exiting the apparatus.

A roll transfer coating method for coating a coating material, which has been supplied from a coater head to a pattern surface of an intaglio roll, to a coating substrate. When the supply of the coating material is made, the supply is blocked off by a contact of the intaglio roll with the bottom surface of the coater head at a position facing the pattern surface of the intaglio roll, so that the coating material in a liquid state is supplied only into a recessed portion of the intaglio roll. Upon transferring the coating material onto the coating substrate which is being transported by a high-speed coating line, the temperature of the coating material on the pattern surface of the intaglio roll is maintained at or below a first form-changing temperature, so that the coating material in a gelled state is coated to the coating substrate.

In one example, an apparatus for selectively removing primer in a printing system is described, having a chamber for supply of a pressurised fluid, a plurality of valves fluidically coupled to the chamber and individually pivotable about a common elongate member that extends along a length of the apparatus, and a set of actuators to pivot the plurality of valves about the elongate member to selectively supply pressurised fluid from the chamber along the length of the apparatus.

A layered object manufacturing (LOM) system and method that provide controlled application of an adhesive onto multiple layers of a paper substrate to effect generation of a three dimensional object. The LOM system includes an adhesive reservoir, an adhesive dispenser, a paper feed mechanism, and a substrate grabber. The dispenser dispenses the adhesive from the reservoir onto the paper substrate at a build location. The paper feed mechanism feeds individual sheets of paper. The substrate grabber transports the sheets from the paper feed mechanism to a build object location to form layers of the paper substrate. The method successively binds individual paper sheets to one another using a water based adhesive applied to specific locations on each individual paper sheet. The method also includes separating scrap material from the three dimensional model and discarding the scrap material.

An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

A system for applying a product (3) by roller is disclosed. The system has an applicator roller (1) for applying a product (3) on a substrate (4) and a first dosing roller (2) for dosing said product (3) on the surface of the applicator roller (1), wherein the system comprises at least one second dosing roller (2) configured to fine-tune the dosing performed by the first dosing roller (2), thereby adjusting the amount of product (3) dosed on the surface of the applicator roller (1).

In a coating system, two rollers are arranged adjacent to one another. A donor foil with rheological material dispensed thereon is advanced through a gap between the two rollers. Such gap spreads the dispensed material over the donor foil, coating the donor foil with a layer of the material with a uniform thickness associated with the gap width. Each roller is supported on a holder. Adjustment of the gap width may be effected by keeping the position of one of the holders fixed, while horizontally translating the position of the other holder. The position of the translatable holder may be adjusted by pistons and linear actuators. The pistons may bias the moveable holder towards the stationary holder. The linear actuators mounted on the moveable holder may extend respective arms against the stationary holder, thereby countering the biasing of the pistons and pushing the moveable holder away from the stationary holder.

A layered object manufacturing system is described. The system is one arrangement provides for the use of water based adhesives to bind successive layers of paper in generation of a three dimensional model. The paper can be provided in conventional paper sizes and is moveable within the system from a storage stack to a build object location, individual pages at a time. The system typically effects the application of adhesive onto the paper using an adhesive applicator wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart recesses for receiving adhesive. The wheel is rotatable to convey adhesive filled in one or more recesses to a target substrate and to deposit controlled amounts of adhesive at discrete points thereon.

A metering rod holder assembly for supporting a metering rod in compressive engagement with a surface from which a fluid is to be metered. The rod holder assembly includes a base member having a channel opening to a first face thereof, and a rod bed insert at least partially received in the channel of the base member in spaced relation to a base wall of the channel. The rod bed insert includes a metering rod slot for receiving a metering rod, and a flank engaging surface engaged with at least one flank surface of the base member, the rod bed insert movable from a first position to a second position within the channel.

A metering rod holder assembly for supporting a metering rod in compressive engagement with a surface from which a fluid is to be metered. The rod holder assembly includes a base member having a channel opening to a first face thereof, and a rod bed insert at least partially received in the channel of the base member in spaced relation to a base wall of the channel. The rod bed insert includes a metering rod slot for receiving a metering rod, and a flank engaging surface engaged with at least one flank surface of the base member, the rod bed insert movable from a first position to a second position within the channel.