Thin film coating device, for example for fuel cell electrode

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for depositing a layer of material onto a substrate, comprising a base having a contact surface oriented towards the substrate and a support surface oriented towards the substrate, and a blade mounted removably on the base having a scraper surface facing the substrate and configured to define a material deposition gap between the scraper surface and the substrate. The device includes a wedge between the blade and the support surface and clamping means adapted to cooperate with the wedge and the blade to hold the blade against the wedge and the wedge against the support surface, so as to maintain the scraper surface at a reference distance d from the support surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for coating a layer of material. It particularly concerns the deposition of thin layers. It finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of fuel cells, in particular proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The electrodes used in this type of cell are in fact coated with a thin layer of catalytic ink, for example platinum-based. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] There are several techniques for depositing a film on a substrate, including evaporative deposition, chemical deposition, and spray deposition. However, these techniques can be complex, time-consuming, and expensive.

[0003] Coating deposition techniques are a less expensive and easily industrializable alternative.

[0004] The principle of coating deposition is as follows: a device, commonly referred to as a knife, is moved over the substrate in order to draw and distribute a solution of interest over the substrate. The film thus formed then dries and forms a continuous deposit.

[0005] Several solutions based on this principle have been developed. A first solution is presented in document EP0311742 B1. This solution is based on the use of a scraper element made of magnetizable material held by magnetic force to a support containing a magnet. Document EP2705542 A1 presents a second solution in which a copper and indium-based ink dispensed from a distribution reservoir is spread onto a substrate using a doctor blade. This document provides for integrating means for controlling the temperature of the ink at the distribution reservoir, the doctor blade and the substrate in order to control the viscosity of the ink and therefore the coating on the substrate as well as the thickness of the deposited film.

[0006] When implementing these methods, it turns out that in practice there is always an adjustment period during which the quality of the deposit is unsatisfactory. Indeed, an acceptable quality of deposit is obtained only after traveling a few centimeters or even tens of centimeters above the substrate. It is therefore necessary to provide a deposition surface significantly larger than the useful surface in order to eliminate the areas where the quality of the deposit is not satisfactory, which results in a significant loss of materials and a significant additional cost.

[0007] A third solution is based on the use of a blade fixed to a base and whose height relative to the substrate is adjusted using micrometric screws. This adjustment possibility is thus supposed to make it possible to control the thickness of the layer deposited on the substrate.

[0008] In practice, however, these known methods do not allow the thickness of the deposited layer to be controlled with sufficient precision, particularly when this thickness is low (typically less than a few hundred micrometers).

[0009] An objective of the present invention is therefore to propose a solution making it possible to deposit a layer of material on a substrate while precisely controlling the thickness of the latter, in particular when this thickness is low. SUMMARY

[0010] To achieve this objective, a first aspect of the invention relates to a device for depositing by coating a layer of a coating material on a substrate, comprising a base having a contact surface intended to be oriented facing the substrate, and preferably to come into contact with the substrate, and having a support surface intended to be oriented facing the substrate, a blade removably mounted on the base and having a doctor surface intended to be oriented facing the substrate and configured to define a space for depositing the coating material between the doctor surface and the substrate. The device further advantageously comprises a shim configured to be removably mounted on the base between the blade and the support surface.It advantageously comprises clamping means capable of cooperating with the wedge and the blade to hold the blade against the wedge and the wedge against the bearing surface so as to hold the scraper surface at a reference distance d relative to the bearing surface, the reference distance d being measured in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface, called the vertical direction.

[0011] The reference distance d between the support surface and the scraper surface is thus a function of the height of the shim in the vertical direction. This height determines the thickness of the layer of material that can be deposited on the substrate using the device. By setting the appropriate shim height, the desired layer thickness is obtained. Furthermore, by changing the shim to vary the height of the shim used while keeping a blade and base of the same height, the thickness of the deposited layer can be modified.

[0012] The accuracy of the layer thickness is ensured by the accuracy of the height of the shim and by the ease of clamping the blade and the shim against the support surface. Indeed, current manufacturing techniques allow low manufacturing tolerances to produce shims with very precise dimensions: the error on this parameter is therefore very low. Furthermore, the user simply has to tighten the clamping means to the maximum, without worrying about any clamping precision. Here again, the error on this parameter is low. The overall error on the reference distance d and therefore on the thickness of the deposited layer is therefore very low.

[0013] Furthermore, once the blade is correctly pressed against the wedge and the wedge correctly pressed against the support surface, the assembly is very rigid and defines a very precise and little variable space with the substrate.

[0014] In the context of the development of the present invention, with a knife according to the third solution described in the introduction and using a micrometric screw to position the blade, a lack of homogeneity was discovered for small thicknesses leading to degraded and unpredictable performance. It was identified that this lack of homogeneity comes, to a surprisingly significant extent, from small vertical movements of the blade held by the micrometric screw. Thus, ultimately, this solution does not allow precise control of the thickness of the deposited layer or ensure good homogeneity of this thickness, in particular in a range of small thicknesses.

[0015] Unlike what was the case in the third solution described in the introduction and involving a micrometric screw to position the blade, with the deposition device according to the invention, the precision of the thickness of the deposited layer does not depend on the precision of the positioning by the user of the blade by means of clamping screws. Thanks to the rigidity of the assembly provided by the shim, the error in the thickness and the variations in the thickness due to the movements of the blade in the vertical direction under the effect of time and the viscosity of the deposited material are limited or even eliminated. In particular, the entirety of a reaction force exerted by the coating material on the blade - preferably vertically - is transmitted to the base by means of the shim.

[0016] Furthermore, the device according to the invention is compact and easy to clean. Its geometry is also stable over time, which allows good reproducibility of deposits.

[0017] It might have seemed feasible to place the shim at the height at which the layer is deposited, against the blade, and to use clamping means to press the blade against the shim. The height of the shim would then have corresponded to the thickness of the deposited layer. However, this solution would not have been satisfactory for thin layer deposits, typically with a thickness of a few tens of micrometers or less, because a shim of such low height would have deformed too easily. The thickness of the deposited layer could therefore not have been correctly controlled nor would it have been satisfactory homogeneity.

[0018] Thus, the present invention proposes a solution for depositing a layer of material while precisely controlling its thickness. This solution particularly makes it possible to precisely deposit thin layers. It also makes it possible to achieve layers with a very uniform thickness.

[0019] In the particular context of PEM fuel cells, the present invention makes it possible to produce fine and very homogeneous deposits of catalytic ink on a membrane, a gas diffusion layer or an intermediate substrate used in the composition of these cells, which results in a significant improvement in the performance of the cells. In particular, the reduction of the inhomogeneity of the thickness of the catalytic ink layer makes it possible to reduce the inhomogeneities of the electrical performances within the same cell. A more homogeneous operation of the cell is therefore enabled by the invention. The invention also makes it possible to authorize very fine deposits of catalytic ink, which makes it possible to reduce the electrical resistance of the electrodes or catalytic layers and therefore again to improve the performance of the cells.The reduction in deposit inhomogeneity and the possibility of producing thin deposits also make it possible to reduce the quantity of material consumed, which is particularly advantageous in this area, as catalytic inks are typically based on platinum, a rare and expensive material.

[0020] A second aspect of the invention relates to a system for depositing by coating a layer of a material on a substrate comprising a device according to the first aspect of the invention, a reservoir intended to contain the material and an actuating arm, the base of the device being mounted on the actuating arm, the system being configured to pour the coating material onto the substrate upstream of the blade in an intended direction of advance of the blade.

[0021] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of depositing by coating a layer of a material using the system according to the second aspect of the invention on an upper face of the substrate, comprising the following steps: a. Pouring the material from the reservoir onto the upper face of the substrate, b. Moving the actuator arm relative to the upper face of the substrate so as to translate the device parallel to the upper face of the substrate and so that the scraper surface spreads the material over the upper face of the substrate.

[0022] The advantages described with reference to the device according to the first aspect of the invention apply mutatis mutandis to the system according to the second aspect of the invention and the method according to the third aspect of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] The aims, objects, as well as the characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description of an embodiment thereof which is illustrated by the following accompanying drawings in which: There Figure 1A represents a general view of the device according to the invention. The Figure 1B is an exploded view of the device according to the invention. This view corresponds to a situation in which the wedge, the blade, the centering elements and the clamping means are not yet mounted on the base. The Figure 2A represents a top view of the device according to the invention. The Figure 2B is a sectional view of the device according to the invention along section AA marked on the Figure 2A . It illustrates the position of the centering elements and the clamping means when the device is mounted. Figure 2C is a sectional view of the device according to the invention along section BB marked on the Figure 2A. It illustrates the fixing of one side of the base to its central portion. The Figure 3A is a front view of the device according to the invention when it is mounted and placed on a substrate. The Figure 3B is a sectional view of the device according to the invention along the section CC marked on the Figure 3A . It illustrates the position of the clamping means when the device is mounted.

[0024] The drawings are given as examples and are not limiting of the invention. They constitute schematic representations of principle intended to facilitate the understanding of the invention and are not necessarily to the scale of practical applications. In particular, the dimensions are not representative of reality. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Before beginning a detailed review of embodiments of the invention, optional features which may possibly be used in combination or alternatively are set out below: According to one example, the clamping means comprise a screw having an external thread and the blade having a tapping, the external thread and the tapping being able to cooperate to hold the blade against the wedge, the wedge having a hole allowing the passage and free rotation of the screw.

[0026] According to one example, the blade has two main faces extending mainly along a transverse plane defined by a transverse direction and the vertical direction, the wedge having a width L 200 along the transverse direction and the blade having a width L 300 along the transverse direction, with L 200 ≥0.5*L 300, preferably L 200 ≥0.6*L 300, preferably L 200 ≥0.8*L 300, and preferably L 200 ≥0.9*L 300.

[0027] Preferably, L 200 and L 300 are substantially equal to the internal width of the base L 100 which will be defined further on, to within a tolerance allowing the insertion of the wedge and the blade between the sides of the base.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the device further comprises at least one, preferably two, centering element(s), also referred to as indexing element(s), configured to allow the blade to be positioned relative to the base and to allow, when the blade is mounted on the base, movement of the blade only in the main direction.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the centering element extends mainly in the vertical direction, in which the base, the wedge and the blade respectively have a first centering opening, a second centering opening and a third centering opening, the first centering opening and the second centering opening passing through in the vertical direction in the base and in the wedge respectively, the first centering opening, the second centering opening and the third centering opening being continuous with each other in the vertical direction when the wedge and the blade are mounted on the base, the centering element being intended to be inserted into the first centering opening, into the second centering opening and into the third centering opening when the wedge and the blade are mounted on the base.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the device comprises a secondary centering element extending mainly in the vertical direction, in which the base, the wedge and the blade respectively have a first secondary centering opening, a second secondary centering opening and a third secondary centering opening, the first secondary centering opening and the second secondary centering opening being through in the vertical direction in the base and in the wedge respectively, the first secondary centering opening, the second secondary centering opening and the third secondary centering opening being continuous with each other in the vertical direction when the wedge and the blade are mounted on the base, the secondary centering element being intended to be inserted into the first secondary centering opening,in the second secondary centering opening and in the third secondary centering opening when the wedge and blade are mounted on the base.,

[0031] According to one embodiment, the centering element and the secondary centering element are arranged on either side of the clamping means.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the base has two main sides each having a slide, each slide being capable of receiving and guiding the blade in translation in the vertical direction.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the shim has a height h 200 measured in the vertical direction when the shim is mounted on the base, with h 200 ≥ 3 mm, preferably h 200 ≥ 4 mm, preferably h 200 ≥ 5 mm.

[0034] According to one example, the scraper surface extends mainly in a plane not being perpendicular to the vertical direction and preferably having an inclination α relative to the vertical direction of between 30° and 70°.

[0035] In one example, the shim is made of stainless steel.

[0036] Preferably, the coating material is a catalytic ink. By catalytic ink is meant in particular an ink comprising at least one supported catalyst, an ionomer and a solvent. The supported catalyst may be a carbon compound, for example of the graphitic type, supporting platinum (Pt) nanoparticles; the ionomer is a perfluorosulfonic acid and the solvent may comprise an alcohol such as ethanol and optionally water.

[0037] Preferably, the substrate is chosen from a proton exchange membrane, for example made of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer such as Nafion (marketed by DuPont) or Aquivion ® (marketed by Solvay), and a gas diffusion layer, generally made of a carbon fiber support.

[0038] Preferably, the device does not include an additional element such as an elastic element, a spring or a continuous adjustment element, for example by rotation, in the force transmission chain between the blade and the wedge.

[0039] The terms "substantially", "approximately", "of the order of" mean, when they refer to a value, "within 10%" of that value or, when they refer to an angular orientation, "within 10°" of that orientation. Thus, a direction substantially normal to a plane means a direction presenting an angle of 90±10° with respect to the plane.

[0040] In the following detailed description, we will use a reference system whose longitudinal direction corresponds to the Y axis, whose transverse direction corresponds to the X axis and whose vertical direction corresponds to the Z axis.

[0041] The horizontal plane referred to in the figures corresponds to the plane defined by the X and Y axes. The plane formed by the X and Z axes is called the transverse plane. The plane formed by the Y and Z axes is called the longitudinal plane.

[0042] The device according to the invention will now be described with reference to: Figures 1A to 3B .

[0043] As can be seen on the Figures 2B , 3A And 3B, the device 1 is intended to be used on a substrate 10. This substrate 10 has an upper face 11 intended to be coated. This upper face 11 extends mainly along a horizontal plane XY defined by a first direction X, also designated transverse dimension X, and a second direction Y, also designated longitudinal direction Y. The vertical direction Z is also defined, perpendicular to the horizontal plane XY and therefore to the upper face 11 of the substrate 10. The direction Y corresponds, when using the device 1, to the direction of movement of the device 1 on the substrate 10.

[0044] The device 1 firstly comprises a base 100. The base 100 typically comprises two main flanks 110, 120 and a central portion 130. The main flanks 110, 120 both have main faces extending parallel to a longitudinal plane YZ defined by the longitudinal direction Y and the vertical direction Z. The central portion 130 connects the main flanks 110, 120. It has an upper face 132 and a lower face 131 opposite each other, the lower face 131 being intended to be placed opposite the substrate 10. These two faces 131, 132 extend parallel to the horizontal plane XY.

[0045] The base 100 has an internal width L100 measured in the transverse direction X between the two main flanks 110, 120 of the base. Typically, L100 is greater than 5 cm. L100 is preferably less than 30 cm.

[0046] The base 100 may be a single piece. Its two main sides 110, 120 and its central portion 130 are then all in one piece. The base 100 may also be made up of separate elements fixed to each other, in particular the sides 110, 120 and the central portion 130, as illustrated in the Figures 1B And 2C in particular. The Figure 2C depicts how attachment means may be arranged to hold the central portion 130 and a main flank 120 of the base 100 together.

[0047] The base 100 has a bearing surface 101 oriented opposite the substrate 10. The bearing surface 101 typically corresponds to the lower face 131 of the central portion 130.

[0048] The base 100 also has a contact surface 102 typically corresponding to the lower faces of the main flanks 110, 120 of the base 100. When using the device 1, the contact surface 102 can be placed in contact with the substrate 10 or simply be placed opposite it.

[0049] The device 1 further comprises a shim 200 intended to be mounted on the base 100. The shim 200 typically has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. It has an upper face 202 and a lower face 201 opposite each other and extending mainly, when the shim 200 is mounted on the base 100, parallel to the horizontal plane XY. The shim 200 has a height h 200 in the vertical direction Z, a width L200 in the transverse direction X and a thickness e200 in the longitudinal direction Y. These dimensions are in particular marked on the Figures 1B And 3A .

[0050] The shim 200 is preferably made of stainless steel. Generally, the shim 200 is preferably made of a material having high mechanical resistance. This material is preferably inert with respect to the material to be deposited.

[0051] When mounted on the base 100, the shim 200 extends between the main flanks 110, 120 of the latter. The shim 200 is intended to be held against the bearing surface 101 of the base 100. Its upper face 202 is then in contact with the bearing surface 101.

[0052] The device 1 further comprises a blade 300. It too is intended to be mounted on the base 100.

[0053] The blade 300 has an upper face 302 and a lower face 301 opposite each other. Its lower face 301 is also designated doctor surface 301. Its upper face 302 extends mainly, when the blade 300 is mounted on the base 100, parallel to the horizontal plane XY. Its doctor surface 301 preferably does not extend in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane XY. It preferably forms an angle α, also designated inclination, with the vertical direction Z, with α between 30° and 70°, for example approximately 45°. The blade 300 thus has a beveled shape facing the substrate 10.

[0054] The blade 300 has two main faces 310, 320 extending mainly parallel to a transverse plane XZ defined by the transverse direction X and by the vertical direction Z.

[0055] The blade 300 has a height h 300 in the vertical direction Z, a width L300 in the transverse direction X and a thickness e300 in the longitudinal direction Y. These dimensions are notably marked on the Figures 1B And 3A .

[0056] e300 is typically between 5 and 10 mm, for example approximately equal to 8 mm.

[0057] The 300 blade is preferably made of stainless steel.

[0058] When mounted on the base 100, the blade 300 extends between the main flanks 110, 120 of the latter. The blade 300 is intended to be held against the shim 200. Preferably, the blade 300 is in direct contact with the shim 200. Its upper face 302 is then in contact with the lower face 201 of the shim 200. Its scraper surface 301 is located opposite the upper face 11 of the substrate 10.

[0059] The device 1 further comprises clamping means 400 typically taking the form of at least one screw 400, preferably exactly one screw 400. The screw 400 has an external thread 410.

[0060] The clamping means 400 are configured to be able to cooperate with the base 100, the wedge 200 and the blade 300 so as to hold the wedge 200 against the bearing surface 101 of the base 100 and the blade 300 against the wedge 200.

[0061] For example, as illustrated in the Figure 1B, the base 100 and the wedge 200 may respectively have a first clamping hole 140 and a second clamping hole 240, both allowing the screw 400 to pass freely. These holes 140, 240 allow the screw 400 to rotate freely. Their diameter is therefore greater than the thread of the screw 400. These clamping holes 140, 240 thus pass through in the vertical direction Z in the base 100 and in the wedge 200, respectively. They preferably have a smooth internal flank. A third clamping hole 340 is provided in the blade 300. This hole 340 has an internal flank forming a thread complementary to the thread of the screw 400. This hole is blind, it does not pass through in the vertical direction Z. It therefore does not open onto the scraping surface 301. This makes it possible to prevent the scraping surface 301 from having one or more discontinuities and to prevent the deposition of the layer from being done in a non-uniform manner.

[0062] The screw 400 can thus be inserted into the first and second clamping holes 140, 240 and then be screwed into the blade 300 by cooperation of its external thread with the tapping of the third clamping hole 340. Figures 2B And 3B represent the screw 400 once inserted into the first clamping hole 140 and into the second clamping hole 240 and screwed into the third clamping hole 340.

[0063] The screw 400 has a distal end formed by the end of its threaded rod. It also has a head intended to be manipulated by a user, preferably manually, or with a tool. The screw 400 forms, for example at its head, a stop configured to come into contact with the base 100 when the screw 400 is inserted into the blade 300 so that the rotation of the screw 400 by the user causes the blade 300 to rise towards the wedge 200 and the base 100.

[0064] The height h 340 of the third clamping hole 340, the length of the screw 400 and the extent of the external thread on the screw 400 are configured to allow screwing until the blade 300 is pressed against the shim 200 and the shim 200 is pressed against the bearing surface 101.

[0065] The screw has a role of clamping screw to press the blade 300 against the wedge 200, and by means of the wedge 200, against the bearing surface 101 of the base 100. Unlike the screw present in the third solution described in the introductory part, this screw does not have a positioning role. The positioning of the scraper surface 301 is therefore possibly linked to a potential very small error on the tightening of the clamping means 400, but not to an error in the positioning of a micrometric screw as is the case in the third solution.

[0066] Once the clamping means 400 hold the wedge 200 and the blade 300 against the bearing surface 101 and the device 1 is positioned above the substrate 10, the doctor blade surface 301 is at a reference distance d with the bearing surface 101 and defines a deposition space for the coating material with the upper face 11 of the substrate 10. This deposition space is noted e. It is notably marked on the Figures 2B , 3A And 3B . The space e depends on the height h 101 at which the support surface 101 is located, the height h 200 of the wedge 200 and the height h 300 of the blade 300. It should be noted that ah 101 =d+e.

[0067] The height h 101 is kept constant, either because the contact surface 102 of the base 100 rests on the substrate 10, or because the base 100 is kept at a constant distance from the substrate 10 by other means, for example an actuating arm. It is also possible to place a mask between the substrate 10 and the contact surface 102 (the thickness em of the mask will then be taken into account in the value of h 101 and therefore in that of the space e: h 101 =d+e+em). By using the same blade 300 and changing the shim 200 from one use of the device 1 to another, it is possible to keep h 300 constant while modifying h 200. A set of shims 200 having different heights h 200 can thus make it possible to define different spaces e depending on the desired layer thickness.

[0068] The e-space is typically between 10 µm and 200 µm.

[0069] The height h 200 of a shim is typically between 3 mm and 10 mm. Preferably, h 200 is greater than or equal to 4 mm. The fact that the shim 200 has a height greater than or equal to 3 mm or even greater than this value makes it possible to give it good rigidity, which is very advantageous in the context of the invention since the precision over the space e is improved.

[0070] Preferably, a single shim is used to obtain the desired reference distance d and space e. Indeed, using a single shim 200 allows the error on the distance d, corresponding to the inevitable manufacturing tolerances, to correspond only to the sum of the manufacturing error on h 200 , the manufacturing error on h 300 and the error on the tightening. The simultaneous use of several shims induces other errors, those on the manufacturing of the additional shims. The overall error is therefore greater than when a single shim is used. It is therefore preferable to use a set of shims to adapt the thickness that one wishes to deposit, while using a single shim for each deposit.

[0071] It should be noted that the space e is defined between the upper face 11 of the substrate 10 and the plane of the blade 300 closest to the upper face 11 of the substrate 10. Thus, when the blade 300 is beveled as is typically the case, e is defined at only one edge of the doctor blade surface 301.

[0072] Advantageously, the device 1 further comprises at least one centering element 500, and preferably a second centering element referred to as a secondary centering element 500'. These centering elements 500, 500' have the function of correctly positioning the wedge 200, the blade 300 and the base 100 relative to each other. They also make it possible to prevent any rotation of the blade 300 and / or the wedge 200 around an axis parallel to the vertical direction Z. They prevent any movement of the wedge 200 and the blade 300 in a direction other than the vertical direction Z. In particular, when they are mounted on the base 100, the wedge 200 and the blade 300 cannot move in the X and Y directions. The centering elements 500, 500' thus make it possible both to guarantee the correct positioning of the wedge 200 and the blade 300 when they are mounted on the base 100 but also to ensure a good level of rigidity of the assembly.They also facilitate the assembly of device 1.

[0073] The following paragraphs aim to present an example of an embodiment of the centering elements.

[0074] The centering elements 500, 500' preferably each extend in the vertical direction Z. Openings are provided in the base 100, the wedge 200 and the blade 300 to cooperate with the centering elements 500, 500'. Preferably, for each centering element 500, 500', a first centering opening 150, 150', a second centering opening 250, 250' and a third centering opening 350, 350' are provided respectively in the base 100, the wedge 200 and the blade 300. The openings 150', 250', 350' associated with the secondary centering element 500' may also be described as secondary. To allow access of the centering elements 500, 500' to the third centering openings 350, 350', the first centering openings 150, 150' and the second centering openings 250, 250' are through-holes in the vertical direction Z.

[0075] Furthermore, the centering openings 150, 150', 250, 250', 350, 350' each preferably have a smooth internal flank. Their diameters, preferably all identical, and taking into account manufacturing tolerances, allow the centering elements 500, 500' to slide within them.

[0076] The third centering openings 350, 350' are preferably blind, they do not pass through in the vertical direction Z. They therefore do not open onto the scraping surface 301. This makes it possible to prevent the scraping surface 301 from having one or more discontinuities and the deposition of the layer from being done in a non-uniform manner. The third centering openings 350, 350' also preferably have a smooth internal flank. Figures 1A And 2B represent the centering elements 500, 500' once inserted into the centering openings 150, 150', 250, 250', 350, 350'.

[0077] Advantageously, the device 1 comprises at least two centering elements 500, 500', preferably exactly two. These two centering elements are preferably arranged on either side of the screw 400, as is illustrated in particular in the Figures 1B , 2A And 2B The centering elements 500, 500' and the screw 400 are advantageously aligned in the transverse direction X.

[0078] According to one embodiment, it is provided that the main flanks 110, 120 of the base 100 each have a slide in which the blade 300 and possibly also the wedge 200 can be inserted and slide. Such slides make it possible to guide the wedge 200 and the blade 300 in translation in the vertical direction Z and thus facilitate the assembly of the device 1. They can also make it possible to improve the maintenance of the wedge 200 and, more importantly, of the blade 300 by avoiding any movement of the latter in the longitudinal direction Y, in particular when moving the device 1 above the substrate 10 during its use. The slides can thus be used as a replacement for the centering elements 500, 500' or in combination with the latter.

[0079] The following paragraphs are intended to illustrate how the device 1 can be mounted and, once mounted, used.

[0080] Device 1 can be mounted as follows: a. Inserting the centering element(s) 500, 500' into the first centering opening(s) 150, 150', b. Fitting the shim 200 between the main flanks 110, 120 of the base 100, by inserting each centering element 500, 500' into a second centering opening 250, 250', c. Fitting the blade 300 between the main flanks 110, 120 of the base 100, by inserting each centering element 500, 500' into a third centering opening 350, 350', d. Inserting the clamping screw 400 into the first clamping hole 140, into the second clamping hole 240, and into the third clamping hole 340, e. Clamping the blade 300 against the wedge 200 and the wedge 200 against the support surface 101.

[0081] Alternatively or in parallel, the wedge 200 and the blade 300 are fitted together by guidance in the slides of the sides 110, 120 of the base 100.

[0082] When using the device 1, the latter is moved relative to the substrate 10 in the longitudinal direction Y, in a given direction of advance.

[0083] As will be described further with reference to the second aspect of the invention, the material may be poured onto the substrate from a reservoir containing said material. It is understood that the material may also be manually deposited onto the substrate 10. In both cases, the material is poured upstream of the blade 300 in the longitudinal direction Y and the direction of advance of the blade 300, and more generally of the device 1.

[0084] The doctor blade surface 301 is preferably oriented towards the side of the blade 300 where the material is poured. This allows good coating of the material on the upper face 11 of the substrate 10.

[0085] A second subject of the invention relates to a coating deposition system comprising the device according to the invention. The system further comprises a reservoir intended to contain the material to be deposited on the substrate 10.

[0086] The system may for example be configured to pour the material to be deposited so that it flows against the main face 320 of the blade 300 opposite which the material is poured before arriving on the upper face 11 of the substrate 10.

[0087] The system further comprises an actuating arm to which the device 1 is fixed or against which the device 1 comes into abutment during use of the system. This actuating arm can in particular make it possible to move the device 1 according to the direction and the direction of advance.

[0088] Advantageously, the actuating arm can be configured to move the device at several distinct speeds. The speed of movement of the device will then be chosen according to different parameters such as the nature of the material to be deposited, in particular its viscosity, and the nature of the substrate 10.

[0089] A third subject of the invention relates to a method of depositing by coating a layer of material on a substrate using the system described above.

[0090] A first step of this process consists of pouring the material to be deposited from the reservoir onto the upper face 11 of the substrate 10.

[0091] A second step of this method consists of moving the actuating arm relative to the upper face 11 of the substrate 10. This movement is done so that the space e remains constant. The relative translation of the device 1 relative to the substrate 10 is therefore done parallel to the upper face 11 of the substrate 10.

[0092] According to a first variant of the method, the substrate 10 remains stationary and the device 1 is moved by the actuating arm.

[0093] According to a second variant of the method, the device 1 remains stationary and the substrate 10 is moved.

[0094] When the device 1 moves, the doctor blade surface 301 comes into contact with the material to be coated, spreads it on the substrate 10 and forms a layer whose thickness corresponds to the space e.

[0095] It is understood that the two stages of the process can take place simultaneously. In particular, the pouring of the material can take place several times during the movement of the device 1, or even continuously.

[0096] The invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described and extends to all embodiments covered by the invention.

Claims

1. Device (1) for depositing by coating a layer of a coating material on a substrate (10), comprising a base (100) having a contact surface (102) intended to be oriented facing the substrate (10), and preferably to come into contact with the substrate (10), and having a support surface (101) intended to be oriented facing the substrate (10), a blade (300) removably mounted on the base (100) and having a doctor surface (301) intended to be oriented facing the substrate (10) and configured to define a space for depositing the coating material between the doctor surface (301) and the substrate (10) characterized in that it further comprises a shim (200) removably mounted on the base (100) between the blade (300) and the support surface (101) and in thatit comprises clamping means (400) cooperating with the wedge (200) and the blade (300) to hold the blade (300) against the wedge (200) and the wedge (200) against the bearing surface (101) so as to hold the scraper surface (301) at a reference distance d relative to the bearing surface (101), the reference distance d being measured in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface (101), called the vertical direction (Z).

2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim in which the clamping means (400) comprise a screw having an external thread (410) and the blade (300) having a thread, the external thread (410) and the thread being able to cooperate to hold the blade (300) against the wedge (200), the wedge (200) having a hole (240) allowing the passage and free rotation of the screw.

3. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the blade (300) has two main faces (310, 320) extending mainly along a transverse plane (XZ) defined by a transverse direction (X) and the vertical direction (Z), the wedge (200) having, along the transverse direction (X), a width L 200 and the blade (300) having, in the transverse direction (X), a width L 300 , with L 200 ≥0.5*L 300 , preferably L 200 ≥0.6*L 300 , preferably L 200 ≥0.8*L 300 , and preferably L 200 ≥0.9*L 300 .

4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising at least one, preferably two, centering element(s) (500), also referred to as indexing element(s), configured to allow the blade (300) to be positioned relative to the base (100) and to allow, when the blade (300) is mounted on the base (100), movement of the blade (300) only in the main direction (Z).

5. Device (1) according to the preceding claim wherein the centering element (500) extends mainly in the vertical direction (Z), wherein the base (100), the wedge (200) and the blade (300) respectively have a first centering opening (150), a second centering opening (250) and a third centering opening (350), the first centering opening (150) and the second centering opening (250) being through-opening in the vertical direction (Z) in the base (100) and in the wedge (200) respectively, the first centering opening (150), the second centering opening (250) and the third centering opening (350) being continuous with each other in the vertical direction (Z) when the wedge (200) and the blade (300) are mounted on the base (100), the centering element (500) being intended to be inserted into the first centering opening (150),in the second centering opening (250) and in the third centering opening (350) when the wedge (200) and the blade (300) are mounted on the base (100)., 6. Device (1) according to the preceding claim comprising at least one secondary centering element (500') extending mainly in the vertical direction (Z), in which the base (100), the wedge (200) and the blade (300) respectively have a first secondary centering opening (150'), a second secondary centering opening (250') and a third secondary centering opening (350'), the first secondary centering opening (150') and the second secondary centering opening (250') being through-opening in the vertical direction (Z) in the base (100) and in the wedge (200) respectively, the first secondary centering opening (150'), the second secondary centering opening (250') and the third secondary centering opening (350') being continuous with each other in the vertical direction (Z) when the wedge (200) and the blade (300) are mounted on the base (100),the secondary centering element (500') being intended to be inserted into the first secondary centering opening (150'), into the second secondary centering opening (250') and into the third secondary centering opening (350') when the wedge (200) and the blade (300) are mounted on the base (100)., 7. Device (1) according to the two preceding claims in combination in which the centering element (500) and the secondary centering element (500') are arranged on either side of the clamping means (400).

8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base has two main flanks (110, 120) each having a slide, each slide being capable of receiving and guiding the blade (300) in translation in the vertical direction (Z).

9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the wedge (200) has a height h 200measured in the vertical direction (Z) when the wedge (200) is mounted on the base (100), with h 200 ≥ 3 mm, preferably h 200 ≥ 4 mm.

10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the scraper surface (301) extends mainly in a plane not being perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z) and preferably having an inclination α relative to the vertical direction (Z) of between 30° and 70°.

11. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shim (200) is made of stainless steel.

12. System for depositing by coating a layer of a material on a substrate (10) comprising a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, a reservoir intended to contain the material and an actuating arm, the base (100) of the device (1) being mounted on the actuating arm, the system being configured to pour the coating material onto the substrate (10) upstream of the blade (300) in an intended direction of advance of the blade (300).

13. Method for depositing by coating a layer of a material using the system according to the preceding claim on an upper face (11) of the substrate (10), comprising the following steps: • Pouring the material from the reservoir onto the upper face (11) of the substrate (10), • Moving the actuating arm relative to the upper face (11) of the substrate (10) so as to put the device (1) in translation parallel to the upper face (11) of the substrate (10) and so that the scraper surface (301) spreads the material on the upper face (11) of the substrate (10).

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