JPH10504240A - Method and apparatus for applying a coating material to a sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Summary Individual sheets, such as paper, are applied by being continuously fed through an application station (11) where a primer and a low viscosity backsize material are applied to both sides of the sheet. The sheets are then placed on a conveyor with each overlapped to form a web-like sheet.

Description

Description: A method and apparatus for applying a coating material to a sheet Technical field The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for applying a coating material to both opposing surfaces of a number of individual sheets, for example paper sheets. Background of the Invention Certain fields require the application of a coating material on paper, and it may be necessary to apply different coating materials on two opposite sides of the paper. For example, in the production of so-called repositionable notes (removable notes), a primer is applied to one side of the paper to be cut into reposable notes, and a low-viscosity coating is applied to the other side of the paper. It is known to apply a back size, ie, a release material (release material). The replaceable adhesive is applied over the paper primer. Conventionally, various coating materials have been applied to paper webs from rolls for the production of repositionable notes. The coating material is dispersed in a solvent and applied directly to the paper. After the web has dried between coats, it is rewound and the applied rolls are continuously cut into sheets used in the production of notebooks. When the paper web is coated with a material dispersed in an organic solvent, and when the coating material is applied under tension, the paper web's tendency to curl or wrinkle is substantially increased. Although it can be excluded, great care must be taken during application to balance the stretching of the paper sheet. WO-A-87 / 05315 describes a process for producing a repositionable notebook in which a release material and a primer are continuously applied to both sides of a paper web. In some cases, it is desirable to apply the coating material to the cut sheet rather than the paper web. For example, in the production of repositionable notebooks, it is desirable to use pre-printed laminated sheets as a source instead of a plain paper web to increase the flexibility of the production process. In addition, for environmental reasons, there is a demand to shift from the use of a material containing an organic solvent in the coating process to the use of an aqueous material. Furthermore, many inks are soluble in organic solvents but not in water. However, there is a significant increase in the risk of curling or wrinkling of the sheet, which poses a problem when applying a coating material (particularly a water-based coating material) to individual sheets. Curls and wrinkles not only ruin the appearance of the sheet, but also make it difficult to apply further coating material. No. 08 / 196,490, filed Feb. 15, 1994, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Applying Coating Material to Sheets", discloses an uncoated individual An apparatus and method for forming a repositionable note spelling from a stack of paper sheets is disclosed. The sheets are fed from the stacked stack to an application station. At the application station, a continuous layer of aqueous primer is applied to one surface of the web-overlapping sheet, while a continuous layer of aqueous low viscosity backsize (LAB) material is applied simultaneously to the other surface. The overlapped sheet is then dried and sent to a second application station, where the web-like sheet is coated with a strip of adhesive that can be applied to the primed surface at the first application station. Is done. The sheets are then glued together in a stack and trimmed to form a spelling of the repositionable notes. In this method, curling and wrinkling of the sheet can be avoided by simultaneously applying the primer and LAB to both sides of the sheet and then simultaneously drying both coating materials. However, the above-cited U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 196,490 includes a device for applying coating material to sheets, which, while useful in its own right, is not suitable for applying certain materials to certain sheet materials. Is not very effective or efficient. Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for applying a coating material to a sheet. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an apparatus for applying both sides of a multiplicity of sheets, the apparatus being arranged to continuously receive the sheets, and to coat both sides of each sheet as the sheets pass therethrough. An application station that allows the application of material; means by which the leading edge of the sheet is placed on the trailing edge of the preceding sheet by overlapping the sheets; and There is a means to change the way of stacking so that it is placed on top. The sheet may then be sent to a second application station where one side of the overlapped sheet may be coated with another coating material. The present invention also provides a method for applying both sides of a multiplicity of sheets, the method comprising applying a coating material to both sides of each sheet while the sheets are continuous; Overlapping the applied sheets to form a web-like sheet such that the portion is placed on the trailing edge of the preceding sheet, with the trailing edge of each sheet above the leading edge of the succeeding sheet And then applying another coating material to one side of the web-like sheet. When both sides of each sheet are being applied, one or more coating materials are preferably applied to both sides simultaneously. The coating material may be a primer and a low viscosity backsize material. Another coating material may be a replaceable adhesive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which identical structures are referred to by the same numerals in several figures. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of the present invention including an application station. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a coating station forming part of the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a portion of the application station in more detail. FIG. 5 shows the coating material supply system for the application station of FIGS. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a portion of an adhesive application station at the downstream end of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with an alternative application station. FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a variant of the device shown in FIG. 1 with an alternative guide. FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view of a part of FIG. Detailed description of the invention The apparatus shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used, for example, for producing repositionable notebooks from paper, films of polymeric material or sheets of any suitable textile material such as foil, metal foil, etc. , A base coat material, a low-viscosity backsize (LAB) material, and a replaceable adhesive are applied to the individual sheets for subsequent use so that the sheets become repositionable notes. In the following description, it is assumed that the sheet (which may be printed in advance) is made of paper. The paper is used to compose Postit® brand repositionable notes from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (“3M”) in St. Paul, Minnesota. Any suitable paper may be used. The apparatus has a paper path inlet 1 for continuously receiving paper sheets (not shown) from a suitable source, for example a stack. From the paper path entrance, the sheet moves in the direction indicated by arrow 2 through the application station 3, the sheet overlap station 4, the dryer 5, and the sheet guide section 6. The device is conveniently used with an adhesive application station 7. Application station 7 may be any suitable application station, but is most conveniently used in conjunction with the application station disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application filed on the same date as the present application. The co-pending application, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Applying Coating Material to Sheets," is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference. On the other hand, the product according to the invention may be stored, for example, in a stacked form or may be applied independently and successively in a separate application station. The control and synchronization of the driving of the various stations may be performed by a central electronic control unit, for example a Siemens PLC 135. The individual sheets successively reach the paper path entrance and are fed by a nip roller pair 10 to a duplex application station 3 (detailed in FIGS. 3 and 4). The non-overlapping feeding of the sheets to the application station is described, for example, in the above-mentioned co-pending U.S. patent, filed Feb. 15, 1994, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Applying Coating Material to Sheets". One of the advantages of the present invention when compared to other arrangements, as in application 08.196,490. This exposes all or a substantial portion of both sides of the sheet to LAB or primer application. In addition, the "web-like" sheet is of uniform thickness, making it more convenient to handle the sheet. Preferably, the sheets are all the same size, for example, A2, and have the same weight, for example, 70 grams per square meter (gsm). The paper may be of any convenient weight and is not limited to paper having a weight between 45 gsm and 90 gsm. The double-side coating station 3 includes an upper coating station 11 and a lower coating station 12 which are respectively located above and below the paper path. As the sheets pass through the duplex station, the upper station 11 applies the primer material to one side of each sheet, while the lower station 12 applies the LAB material to the other side of each sheet. In one embodiment of the present invention, a primer material and a LAB material are applied to both sides of the sheet. Generally, mechanical means are used to grasp and advance the sheet through the apparatus, preventing the primer and LAB from being applied to the entire surface of the sheet. Paper is generally formed by accumulating paper fibers on a wire mesh or screen, consisting of fibers accumulated between a screen layer and an opposing "felt layer" or fabric layer. This produces a paper having a "wire" side and a "felt side". The sheet S is provided in the apparatus of the present invention with a "wire" surface provided for the application of the release material and a "felt" surface provided for the application of the primer and finally for the application of the adhesive. Has been found to be convenient. The primer may be, for example, an aqueous solution of an organic binder and a tightly bound inorganic pigment. In particular, the primer is about 3 to 7% by weight of a binder MOWIOL® available from Hoechst, Inc., Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and a pigment AEROS IL®, available from Degussa, Inc. of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. ) About 3 to 8% by weight with about 90% by weight of water. LAB materials are not limited to lead acrylate copolymers, silicone materials, urethanes, and fluoropolymers, and may include any suitable materials. For example, LAB material is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is co-engaged US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 040,876, filed Mar. 31, 1994, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. An aqueous solution of the material described in the above item may be used. The solution generally contains about 5% to about 10% solids. Other LAB materials that can be used in the present invention include those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,202,190 and 5,032,460. The upper application station 11 includes a metering roller 13 and an application roller 14 above the path of the paper sheet through the duplex application station. The applicator roller 14 cooperates with the applicator drum 16 of the lower applicator station 12 which includes a metering roller 17 and a transfer roller 18 both below the paper path through the duplex application station. The applicator drum 16 has a rectangular cross section 9 (shown in more detail in FIG. 8). The cutting section 9 includes a conventional sheet gripper 9A (shown in FIG. 8) for gripping a sheet from the feed nip section 10. In addition, the drum is covered by a bracket 20 (not shown in FIG. 8) on approximately less than half of its circumference. Thereby, as described later, the application roller 14 and the application drum 16 form the application nip only when the bracket is in contact with the application roller 14. As will be described later, the upper application station 11 rolls the undercoat agent on the upper surface of the sheet almost entirely, and the lower application station 12 rolls the LAB material on the lower surface of the sheet almost entirely. In each case, it is not applied to the part that engages the gripper as described herein. In the upper application station, a valley 15 for the primer is provided near the nip between the metering roller 13 and the application roller 14 and above and above a groove (not shown) near the end of each roller. And is formed by the surface of each roller, with two opposing end walls (not shown) that engage. As the rollers 13 and 14 rotate, the primer forms a film on the application roller 14 and is transferred to a sheet passing under the roller. The thickness of the primer film on the applicator roller 14 and the amount of primer applied to the sheet are determined by the viscosity of the primer, the metering and the pressure between the applicator rollers 13 and 14, which connect the metering roller to the applicator roller. It can be adjusted by moving it in a direction toward or away from it and adjusting the pressure between the rollers. The valley 15 is supplied with a primer by a nozzle 60 (see also FIG. 5) that receives the primer from a tank 61 by a pump 62. The valley 15 also has an overflow outlet for returning excess primer to the tank. In the lower application station 12, a valley 19 for LAB material is similarly formed between the metering roller 17 and the transfer roller 18. As in the upper station, the coating material forms a film on the transfer roller, the thickness of which can be adjusted by moving the metering roller 17 toward or away from the transfer roller 18 so that the transfer roller To control the amount of LAB material that moves from one to the blanket covering 20 on the application drum 16 (not the rest of the drum where the transfer roller 18 is not in contact). In the same manner as the valleys 15 in the upper application station 11, the valleys 19 are supplied with LAB material by each nozzle 60A (see also FIG. 5) that receives LAB material from a respective tank 61A by a pump 62A. The valley 19 has an overflow outlet for returning excess LAB material to the tank 61A. As the blanket cover portion of the drum 16 moves near the application roller 14 of the upper station, the sheet coming from the duplex application station 3 is gripped by the gripper 9A in the drum, and the roller 14 and the blanket 20 on the drum 16 Between the application nips. Then, when the sheet passes through the nip portion, the LAB material is applied to one surface. A sheet stripper (not shown) is located downstream of the application roller and drum to ensure that the sheet is delivered to the overlap station 4 without wrapping around the application roller or drum. is there. When the blanket covering moves again near the roller 14, the next sheet from the feed roller nip 10 is gripped and conveyed between the application roller and the application drum. Since the blanket covering 20 on the application drum 16 is only in the vicinity of the application roller 14 (i.e., when the sheet is passing through the application nip), the application in the double-side application station 3 may be discontinuous. I understand. Generally, the applied weight of LAB material on the sheet is from about 0.5 gsm to about 12.0 gsm, and the primer coat weight should be adjusted to keep the applied sheet flat. The primer and LAB material are preferably selected to have appropriately selected properties such as viscosity, solids, coating weight, etc., thus eliminating the risk of curling or wrinkling of the sheet. The blanket covering 20 on the applicator drum 16 may be of any suitable type, for example, a Dupont "CYRELL" polyurethane blanket available from EI Dupont Demose, Wilmington, DE. At the exit side of the coating nips 14, 16 of the sheet overlap station 4, there are provided for taking out the sheets as they come out of the coating nip and placing them on a conveyor 30 (not shown in FIG. 4). A gripper unit 27 is provided. The conventional gripper unit 27 includes a sheet gripper 28 that is carried by an endless chain 29. Since the gripper 28 is arranged to receive each sheet coming out of the application nip, the endless chain 29 is moved. Is synchronized with the sheet feeding. A blower 31 located below the paper path on the outlet side of the application nip provides a cushion of air to support the sheet as it is being carried by the sheet gripper 28. The blower 31 has a heater (not shown) provided to dry the LAB application on the sheet to some extent so that the sheet does not stick to the conveyor. By moving the conveyor 30 at a lower speed than the gripper chain 29, each sheet is placed on the conveyor in a state where the leading end of the succeeding sheet is placed on the trailing end of the preceding sheet to form a web-like sheet. Is placed. Generally, the size of the overlap is from about 1 centimeter (cm) to about 2 cm. The sheets are positively held on the conveyor and the conveyor 30 is a vacuum conveyor connected to a low pressure source 32 so as to maintain an overlapping relationship between the sheets. At the output end of the conveyor 30, the sheet passes over an air knife 33 arranged to reverse the direction of sheet overlap. The air knife 33 is positioned to direct the airflow toward the sheet so that the trailing edge of each sheet exits below the leading edge of the succeeding sheet and is instead placed over the leading edge. Instead of the air knife 33 for changing the direction of sheet overlap, a uniform mechanical device can also be used, for example a device similar to that described in GB-A-2166717. The double-side application station 3 together with the sheet overlap station 4 can be based on "GUILA SPEED GS GS 8000" available from Birhefa Maschinenfabrik Geembäger, Nuremberg, Germany. Returning to FIG. 1, the web-like sheet exits the sheet overlap station 4 and travels to a dryer 5 for removing moisture from the primer and LAB coatings. The dryer 5 is preferably a high frequency dryer, for example, Model No. 1 manufactured by Proctor Strayfield of Berkshire, UK. Specially adapted version of SP 890 GF "C" -AG. The dryer 5 has a control unit (not shown) for adjusting the output of the dryer according to the line speed of the apparatus. The control unit may be, for example, a Siemens PLC 55 95U interconnected with a central electronic control unit of the entire device. The overlapped sheets move continuously through the dryer 5 on the endless belt 40 and dry to reduce the tendency of the sheets to curl, but they exit substantially dry. The use of a high frequency dryer is not essential; instead, the overlapped sheets may be dried by infrared heating or hot air. On the other hand, the endless belt 40 may be heated to dry the sheet. However, high frequency drying is preferred for its simplicity and low energy consumption. Downstream of the dryer 5, the overlapped sheets move through the guides 6, and each sheet has its sides on the guides 6 in preparation for proceeding to the next processing station, such as the glue application station 7. Aligned and aligned. The glue application station is a subject of a commonly-owned and co-pending US patent application entitled "Method and Apparatus for Applying Coating Material to Sheets" and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. It has been clarified in advance. As described in the co-pending application set forth above, the overlapped sheet passes through a transfer nip 50 (see also FIG. 6) where the adhesive is pre-coated in a number of stripes extending the length of the belt. The sheet comes into contact with the applied endless transfer belt 51. The adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive, preferably a repositionable microspherical pressure sensitive adhesive, such as Howard US Pat. No. 4,495,318, or Silver US Pat. No. 3,691,140. May be described. The adhesives used in the present invention also include film-like materials known in the art that include an organic solvent. In the transfer nip section 50, the adhesive is transferred in a continuous stripe shape to the surface of the undercoat applied on the overlapped web-like sheet in the double-side application station 3. Thereafter, the sheet on which the adhesive has been applied is separated from the transfer belt 51 by a vacuum roller 52 (shown in FIG. 6) whose inside is connected to a low-pressure source. Movement of the sheets from the transfer belt 51 is facilitated by the direction in which the sheets overlap (i.e., because the air knife 33 overlaps the leading edge of each sheet below the trailing edge of the preceding sheet). . Following movement from the transfer belt 51, the sheet is held on a vacuum belt 53 that passes around rollers 52 and carries the sheet from the adhesive application station 7 to the sheet exit 8 of the apparatus. The sheets may then be stacked and trimmed to make the spelling of the repositionable notebook available, for example, from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company ("3M"), St. Paul, Minnesota. Like the one with the registered trademark “Post-it”. In the above description, the sheet is referred to as paper, but as mentioned, the sheet may be formed from other materials, for example, a polymer film or metal foil. When the sheet is paper, the paper sheet aligned in the machine direction is preferably fed through the apparatus in the "machine direction", thereby further reducing the tendency of the sheet to curl or wrinkle. it can. Different weights and quality papers can be used if required. For example, while the above description refers to A2 sheet sizes, the described apparatus can be readily adapted to process A4 size sheets. Also, while the above description has referred to sheets having a weight of 70 gsm, the apparatus is capable of processing large weight sheets (eg, 90 gsm) and small weight sheets (eg, down to 70 gsm and small weights of 45 gsm). . If the sheet supplied to the double-sided coating station 3 has been printed beforehand, the above method will cause the LAB coating material to be applied on the printed matter on the sheet. The LAB application helps protect printed matter, especially when the sheet is last stacked and cut to form a spelling of repositionable notes, which is effective to be removed by the adhesive on the adjacent sheet It is. The application and protection of the LAB allows the use of strong adhesives on printed notes. Of course, the sheets may be printed after the duplex application station 3 using conventional printing operations, whether or not they have been pre-printed. As mentioned above, the primer and LAB are advantageously applied to the sheet simultaneously, but this is not essential. However, simultaneous application of them is preferred, especially when the coating material is water-based, since it is effective to keep the sheet flat. An apparatus in which the primer and LAB are not applied simultaneously is shown in FIG. In that apparatus, the primer application station 11 is in front of the LAB application station 12, so that the application roller 14 of the upper station 11 and the application drum of the lower station 12 require opposing pressure rollers 14A, 16A, respectively. It is. At each application station, the arrangement for supplying the coating material to the application roller / drum is also different from that shown in FIG. 1 and in each case a metering roller 13, 17 is provided by a respective tank 13A, 17A of the coating material. The coating material is applied to the respective transfer rollers, and each transfer roller applies the coating material to the application rollers / drums 14,16. The rest of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 (including the overlap station 4, the dryer 5, the guide section 6, and the adhesive transfer station 7) is as described above with reference to FIG. The invention has been described with reference to several embodiments thereof. Variations on the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited to the structures and steps described herein, but should be determined by the language of the claims and their equivalents.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Stiffter, Gregory F             United States 55133-3427 Minnesota             St. Paul, Post Office Bo             Box 33427 (No address displayed) (72) Inventor Pier, Bernard Earl             United States 55133-3427 Minnesota             St. Paul, Post Office Bo             Box 33427 (No address displayed) (72) Inventor Lerice, Frederick P.A.             United States 55133-3427 Minnesota             St. Paul, Post Office Bo             Box 33427 (No address displayed)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Water-based coating on both opposing surfaces of multiple sheet members consisting of the following steps How to apply the material:   (A) continuously conveying the sheet member along the sheet path;   (B) when the sheet member is being conveyed along the sheet path, Simultaneously applying a water-based coating material on each side of the material;   (C) The sheet applied in a state where the end portions overlap each other Continuing to transport the sheet members along the sheet path;   (D) drying the applied sheet member;   (E) When the sheet member is being conveyed along the sheet path, Coating material on at least one surface of the sheet member Step of applying to. 2. The step (c) includes   (F) continuously placing the sheet members on the conveying means, whereby each sheet portion Placing the leading edge of the material over the trailing edge of the preceding sheet member; and   (G) changing the relative position of the sheet member, thereby providing a further aqueous coating; Before the application of the printing material, the rear end of each sheet member is placed on the front end of the next sheet member. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of: 3. The step (b) includes applying a water-based primer to one surface of the sheet member, And applying an aqueous low-viscosity backsize material to the other surface of the sheet member. The method of claim 2. 4. In the step (e), a water-based material is provided on one surface of the overlapped sheet member. Claim 2 comprising continuously applying at least one stripe of adhesive The method described in. 5. The step (d) is arranged in a relationship where the sheet members overlap. Before, one surface of each sheet member was partially dried and then overlapped A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising simultaneously drying both surfaces of the sheet member. . 6. In the step (d), both sides of the overlapped sheet member are simultaneously dried. The method of claim 1 comprising causing the method to comprise: 7. The sheet member includes a felt surface and a wire surface, respectively, and the primer is The low-viscosity backsize material applied to the felt surface of the sheet member Step (a) is a step in which the sheet member is turned so as to be applied to the ear surface. The method of claim 3 comprising a step. 8. A coating in which a water-based coating material is applied to a lined area on the opposite surface of the sheet member. The method of claim 1. 9. The sheet member is paper, and the step (a) includes curling of the sheet member and In order to eliminate wrinkles, align the paper sheet member with the machine direction in the sheet path. The method of claim 1 comprising a step. 10. Water-based coating on both sides of multiple sheet members, including the following sequence of steps Method for applying the material:   (A) conveying a sheet member continuously along a sheet path;   (B) when the sheet member is being conveyed along the sheet path, Apply an aqueous primer to one surface of the material, and apply an aqueous low-viscosity coating to the other surface of each sheet member. Applying a conductive backsize material,   (C) The sheet member is continuously placed on the conveying means in the sheet path, and Each sheet member so as to form an overlapped web-like sheet member. The front end of the sheet member is placed on the rear end of the preceding sheet member,   (D) Overlapping system to continuously change the relative overlap position A stream of air is blown onto the sheet member so that the trailing end of each sheet member follows each subsequent sheet. Placing on the distal end of the sheet member; and   (E) sheets overlapped while being transported along the sheet path Drying the component. 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the following steps:   (F) sheets overlapped while being transported along the sheet path A water-based adhesive is applied to the member, and the adhesive is applied with a primer in step (b). A step of being applied to the surface of the laid sheet member. 12. At least some of the sheet members have a low viscosity backing in step (b). Claim 10 pre-printed on the surface to which the size material has been applied the method of. 13. The method of claim 10 wherein step (e) includes the following steps:   (I) Over the belt that does not respond to high frequency radiation along the sheet path Conveying the wrapped sheet member; and   (Ii) In order to reduce the water content of the water-based material to a desired level, Exposing the aqueous material to high frequency radiation. 14． After step (b) on the surface to be placed on the conveying means, the sheet member is removed. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of partially drying. 15. Claim 10 in which the sheet members overlap by about 1-2 cm The described method. 16. Aligning the sheet member before the adhesive is applied in step (f) The method of claim 11 comprising: 17．   (A) a conveyor that continuously conveys a sheet member along a sheet path;   (B) double-sided coating arranged to continuously receive sheet members from the conveyor A fabric station, where the two-sided application station is on both sides of the sheet path passing through it A first and a second coating station, each of which has a first and a second coating station. Each of the water-based coating material sources and both sides of each sheet member A predetermined location along the sheet path to apply coating material from a source of And each application member arranged to be in contact with the sheet member. A double-side application station,   (C) arranged to receive the sheet member from the duplex application station; The leading edge of each sheet member exiting the surface application station precedes on the conveyor A web-like sheet placed over the rear end of the sheet member and thereby overlapping An overlap conveyor movable at such a speed as to form a member,   (D) changing the relative position of the web-like sheet to the rear end of each sheet member; The overlapping sheet so that the part is over the leading edge of the succeeding sheet member. Air knives arranged to blow airflow to the seat member,   (E) Is the coating material applied to the sheet member at the double-side application station? Dryer in the sheet passage to remove moisture from the A device for applying a water-based coating material to both surfaces of a large number of sheet members provided with Place. 18. Source of water-based coating material and overlapped web-like sheet member Sheet to apply the coating material from each source to one side of the sheet Arranged to contact overlapping web-like sheet members at predetermined locations in the passage Claim 17 further comprising another applicator station with an applied applicator member. On-board equipment. 19. The coating member in the first and second coating stations of the double-side coating station is , A coating roller disposed opposite to both sides of the sheet passage so as to form a coating nip portion. A coating member on both sides of the sheet member passing through the coating nip. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the material is applied simultaneously. 20. A cover member that covers a part of the periphery of one of the application rollers, thereby The coating nip is formed only when that part of the roller is near the other coating roller. Apparatus according to claim 19 adapted to be made. 21. The above one application roller pulls each sheet member passing through the application nip. An apparatus according to claim 20, comprising the sheet gripper of (1). 22. Move each sheet member from the double-sided coating station to In order to place the sheet member on the Apparatus according to claim 21 comprising a gripper. 23. To support the sheet member when moving it from the duplex application station Claim 17 including a blower arranged to provide a cushion of air. apparatus. 24. The blower allows the sheet surface placed on the overlap conveyor to dry to some extent. 24. The apparatus according to claim 23, including a heater for causing the heating. 25. The dryer does not respond to high frequency radiation and runs along part of the sheet path A conveyor arranged to transport the overlapped sheet member, and a sheet A source of high frequency radiation directed at the aqueous coating material on the component. The device according to claim 17. 26. Align overlapping sheet members before entering another dispensing station Claim 18 further includes an alignment station disposed in the sheet path. On-board equipment. 27. The applicator from another applicator station overlaps at a predetermined location in the sheet path. A transfer belt having a transfer surface arranged to contact the sheet member Apparatus according to claim 18 obtained.