COATING VITREOUS SUBSTRATES

摘要

A process for forming a metal or metal compound coating on a face of a hot vitreous substrate in sheet or ribbon form by continuously advancing the substrate in a downstream direction along a path through a coating station which discharging droplets of liquid coating precursor material in the downstream direction so that such material contacts the substrate at the coating station and continuously withdrawing vapours thereafter from the coating station in the downstream direction and annealing the substrate, is characterized in that the hot coated substrate passes from the coating station to an annealing lehr via a reheating station at which sufficient radiant heat energy is supplied to the hot coated substrate to raise the temperature or the mean temperature of its coated surface at the re-heating station through a certain temperature range, at least the upper end of such range being not less than a temperature 100.degree.C below the temperature or the mean temperature of such surface immediately before its contact by coating precursor material. The apparatus for performing such a process is characterized in that at a position between the coating station and the annealing lehr there is a reheating compartment which is separated from the coating station by at least one boundary wall, which compartment is provided with radiant heating means for heating the substrate as it advances past such compartment.