TW201728242A - Liquid removal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a web processing apparatus 1 having two processing reservoirs 2, 3 each having a respective upper bearing fluid bearing 21, 31 and a lower bearing fluid bearing 22, 32. In use, the web 4 is passed around the bearings to be treated with the chemical solution 23 in the reservoir 2 and flushed with water 33 in the reservoir 3. The substantially identical air knives 5, 6 are disposed at the outlet from the storage tank 2/to the inlet of the storage tank 3 and from the outlet of the storage tank 3. The web 4 is conveyed around a plurality of other fluid bearings 10 that guide the web 4 into and out of the slots. Each gas knife system is composed of four members: an upstream member 71 and a downstream member 72 which are fixed together as the lower member 7, and similar members 81, 82 which are fixed together as the upper member 8. The upstream members 71, 81 have planar mating faces 73, 83; and the downstream members 72, 82 have cutting faces 74, 84 that provide air supply plenums 75, 85, air supply slots 76, 86, Internal plenums 77, 87 and air knife slits 78, 88. An unillustrated member for supplying air to the plenums 75, 85 is provided whereby the extended air jets exit the slits 78, 88 toward each other. An air jet is directed onto the web as it is between the air knife members. From the slits, air flows along the faces 41, 42 of the top and bottom of the web. The gas stream exits the air knife in the upstream and downstream directions and exits between the opposing faces 79, 89 of the blade members. In this case, the air blows off any droplets that tend to be drawn between the members. The groove 9 includes an upstream opposed semicircular groove 91 and a downstream opposed semicircular groove 92 of the opposing faces 79, 89. It is believed that the grooves operate as plenums that completely equalize the pressure and flow of air on the faces 41, 42 of the web 4 outside thereof. These grooves improve the uniformity of drying.

Description

Liquid removal

This invention relates to apparatus for removing liquid from a web, and in detail (but not exclusively), means for containing liquid within the processing station and for avoiding liquid being carried by the web from the processing station.

Analogous to isolation valves, this containment and avoidance of carry is called "isolation."

By removing the liquid, it is intended to remove a large amount of liquid and/or liquid droplets, that is, the surface is dry. It is generally undesirable to remove large amounts of liquid and liquid droplets resulting in complete drying. The material can remain moist or wet or carry microscopic liquids, albeit dry on the surface. Therefore, references to "isolation" include surface isolation and are not limited to the maximum possible isolation of a hospital isolation ward.

It is known to treat the web by chemical means in the solution via a reservoir. For example, it is known to plate copper onto a polymer web in an electrodeless manner for use in, for example, a touch screen. The web may need to be transferred from a reservoir having a solution of one chemical to another, in which case it is important that a chemical is not carried from its reservoir to the reservoir of the second chemical. In other words, a liquid with one chemical should be isolated from a liquid with another chemical. Further, in the case where the cleaning tank is disposed between the chemical tanks, the chemical liquid should be isolated from the cleaning liquid.

The entrainment of chemicals can be avoided by using a web dryer between the tanks. However, in view of the use of several overlapping air bearing type drying guides in British Patent Application No. GB 2,500,564, the transfer table can be bulky and in fact involves the risk of uneven drying. Uneven drying can cause uneven contact with, for example, a plating liquid, and thus cause uneven plating.

Air knives have been used in many applications from solder leveling to board drying. However, there is no confidence in using standard air knives for web drying.

By "air knife" is meant in the context of the present invention: a pair of opposing members having opposing surfaces, each of which has a linear array of air blown slits or apertures for use in the direction of passage The opposing surfaces of the plates, sheets or webs ("web" occasionally used alone to include any of these) passed between opposing members blow off the liquid.

Typically, the slit or aperture will be angled to direct the flow of gas opposite the direction of travel of the web, thereby blowing the liquid back toward the area where the web is treated with the liquid and the web travels from the area, carrying Residual liquid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for liquid removal.

According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid removal apparatus comprising: an air knife having at least one elongated groove or notch in at least one of opposing surfaces of a pair of opposing members, the groove or notch Upstream or downstream of the linear array of individual slits or apertures in terms of direction of passage.

Typically, the web will be longer than its lateral width in the passing direction. The air knife will have a length transverse to the direction of the web that is longer than the width of the web, but in the direction of its passage It is narrow in length.

As such, the or each elongated groove or slot will be at least substantially parallel to the linear array of the respective slits or apertures.

In the case of one or more grooves, the or each opposing surface extends beyond the groove, the groove being at least substantially flush with itself at the linear array of the respective slits or apertures.

The grooves are preferably provided in pairs, one groove in one opposing surface and the other groove in the other opposing surface. Preferably, the grooves are aligned opposite each other to collectively hold the web between the opposing surfaces between the opposing surfaces. However, the grooves may be staggered.

In general, it is desirable to provide a single pair of opposed grooves as compared to multiple pairs of opposed grooves. There may be a single pair upstream or a single pair downstream of the slits or pores. In an unusual configuration, it is contemplated to use an upstream groove and/or a downstream groove opposite a planar opposing member.

In the case of one or more slots, the or each slot extends away from the linear array of the respective slits or apertures outwardly to the edge of one of the opposed members of the slot. The slot can have a constant depth across its width or have a varying depth. The width of the notch may be greater than the extent of the opposing surface between the notch and the linear array of slits or apertures.

Typically, the presence of a groove or slot in one of the opposing surfaces of one of the opposing members will be similar in the opposing surface of the other opposing member by the groove or slot. The presence in the location is reflected whereby the web acts similarly on both sides in use.

Again, typically the opposing surfaces will be chamfered at their distal edges and/or ‧ at least substantially flat.

Furthermore, the separation of the opposing surfaces is outside the or each groove than inside the groove Large, whereby, when the gas flow is used between the groove and the slit or aperture line, the gas flow is slower toward the outside than the inner side of the groove.

That is, in an opposing member that is curved, preferably at least partially cylindrical, the opposing member can be planar without a notch and without a groove, particularly in the case of the curved member In the case where the curvature of the web passes over one of the bearing members. In this case, the other opposing member can be bent complementarily, but this need not be the case.

In a particular curved bearing member embodiment, the inner opposing member has a central slit or array of apertures for liquid isolation on either side of the air supply, with means for upstream and downstream of the air slit or array Do not use other pores of liquid.

As far as the opposing member is concerned, it is the case that the two members have been cut at the opposite surface to provide a slit and the members have been fixed together to provide a single member of the pair of opposing members.

It is envisaged to use the liquid removal device between the two liquids. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on the use of "isolation" as liquid isolation on the opposite side of the liquid removal air knife to refer to the presence of two liquids (one liquid on one side and the other liquid on the other side). Isolation of the liquid is maintained by removing the upstream liquid flowing into the air knife as it moves into the air knife and preventing downstream liquid from flowing back upstream from the downstream side of the air knife. In other words, liquid removal provides isolation of the two liquids from each other.

It should also be emphasized that a grooved air knife and a notched air knife, or indeed a grooved side of the air knife and a notched side of the air knife, will generally be used in different situations; that is, in liquid In the case of contact with one side of the air knife, the side will have a groove, and in the case where the liquid does not come into contact with the side, the side will have a notch.

When an air knife side moves up or down with a web and from above The flowing liquid contacts, or in contact with the underlying liquid again below a free surface level with the web moving up or down, or in fact a free surface level with the web moving horizontally Contact with liquid on either side or on both sides; then in any of these situations, and in particular in the case where the direction of web movement facilitates the carrying of liquid into the air knife, it is observed Although some of the liquid must pass between the opposing members against the flow of air outside the grooves, some of the liquid can still enter the grooves. However, the grooves are used to isolate the central region of the air knife from the liquid. The gas flow into the groove expels any liquid entering the groove and returns the liquid to where it came from.

The gas stream will generally be symmetrical on both sides of the web and on the upstream and downstream sides of the air knife. It is therefore preferred to support the web at its own center, wherein the central portion of the air knife acts as an air bearing. Outside the groove, the liquid helps to support the web at the center of the opposing members. The liquid tends to enter and exit again, and in the process participates in keeping the web spaced from the opposing members.

It has been found that in the case where the web is from a liquid-free zone or to a liquid-free zone, in either of these scenarios, there is no presence of two liquids that need to be isolated from each other, incorporating the groove into The opposing surface may allow the web to vibrate in contact with the opposing members. In such cases, it is preferred to use a notched air knife or a notched side of the air knife. The notched opposed members cause the web to vibrate at its edges with less chance of contact with the opposing members.

Preferably, in the case where air is supplied to the air knife via the slit, the air travels upstream and downstream of the web movement on both sides along the web. For a symmetric bearing support of the web, the gap between the opposing surfaces (less than the thickness of the web) is substantially equal to the width of the slit supplying the air. This travels to the web and then splits into two on each side of the web, and in this case Only one and a half of the cross-sectional flow area is required to maintain similar flow conditions. This is provided by one and a half of the same size gap available on the opposite side of the web.

Regardless of the tendency of the liquid to inhibit lateral movement of the web outside of the recess, the opposing surface area outside the recess is preferably larger than in the inner region.

In the case where a grooved configuration is provided upstream or downstream, respectively, and a notch configuration is provided downstream or upstream, the length from the slit to the groove and the region from the slit to the notch is preferably substantially the same, The bearing support of this web is similar in the upstream and downstream, and there is no tendency for the web to touch the opposing surfaces.

Compared to the previous use of air knives for solder leveling, the air slits are staggered to remove the solder from one direction and then from the other (in detail, through the through holes in the tin plate) In the case of a liquid-isolated air knife, the air slits are preferably placed opposite each other such that the air slits are used to center the web between the opposing surfaces.

Although alternatives to grooves and slots have been given above, in practice with regard to other features of the liquid removal device, the placement of slits or aperture lines may have an alternative. In particular, one or each opposing surface can have two or even more slits or aperture lines. Preferably, the planar surface portion is disposed between the slits or the aperture lines whereby the airflow from the respective slit/hole lines is directed outwardly to ensure uniform airflow upstream and downstream. The grooves/notches are placed outside the two slit/hole lines.

The opposing members may each be comprised of three members that are complementary cut and secured together at the joint to provide one of the opposing members, ‧ having a planar center member of the members and Two of the components have recessed or notched members that are cut at their joints to have a grooved or notched portion at the center member One of the slits is provided between one of the members, and another slit is provided between the central member and the other of the grooved or notched members, and the center member is at the same The seams are flush with the other components.

Alternatively, the opposing members may each be comprised of one or three members that are complementary cut and secured together at the joint to provide one of the opposing members, ‧ of which are in the aperture Between the strip and the two fluted or notched outer regions, having one of the planar core strips of the component or one of the components (in the case of three components), and the central strip It is flush with the outside area.

In order to assist the understanding of the present invention, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a web processing apparatus including an air knife according to the present invention; A similar view of a larger proportion of the flushing tank, with air knives upstream and downstream of the flushing tank; Figure 3 is again a similar view of a larger proportion of the downstream air knife; Figure 4 is one of the air knives themselves 5 is a partial view of the air knife of FIG. 4 according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the processing bath and the cleaning tank of the liquid removing device of the present invention. Figure 7 is a partial view of the liquid removal and isolation air knife included in the embodiment of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a similar view of the combined air knife and liquid bearing; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6 of the horizontal configuration of the washing station including the air knife of the present invention; Figure 10 is a similar view of another variation of the air knife 4 is a view; and FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of another variation of the air knife.

Referring to the drawings, the web processing apparatus 1 has two processing reservoirs 2, 3 each having a respective upper bearing fluid bearing 21, 31 and a lower bearing fluid bearing 22, 32. In use, the web 4 is passed around the bearings to be treated with the chemical solution 23 in the reservoir 2 and flushed with water 33 in the reservoir 3. The respective air knives 5, 6 are disposed at the outlet from the storage tank 2/to the inlet of the storage tank 3 and from the outlet of the storage tank 3. Although the orientations are different, the air knives are substantially identical and only one air knife will be described in detail. The web 4 is conveyed around a plurality of other fluid bearings 10 that guide the web 4 into and out of the slots.

Each gas knife is composed of four members: an upstream member 71 and a downstream member 72 which are fixed together as the lower member 7, and similar members 81, 82 which are fixed together as the upper member 8. The upstream members 71, 81 have planar mating faces 73, 83; and the downstream members 72, 82 have cutting faces 74, 84 that provide air supply plenums 75, 85, air supply slots 76, 86, Internal plenums 77, 87 and air knife slits 78, 88. An unillustrated member for supplying air to the plenums 75, 85 is provided whereby the extended air jets exit the slits 78, 88 toward each other. An air jet is directed onto the web as it is between the air knife members.

From the slits, the air flows along the faces 41, 42 of the top and bottom of the web. In the absence of the recess 9, as will be described in accordance with the present invention, the airflow exits the air knife in the upstream and downstream directions away from the opposing faces 79, 89 of the blade members. In this situation In this case, the air blows off any droplets that tend to be drawn between the components.

It was originally expected that the air knife would have sufficient drying effect on the web. However, the effect of uneven drying which appears to be caused by the absence of the groove 9 has been experienced.

The groove includes an upstream opposed semicircular groove 91 and a downstream opposed semicircular groove 92 of the opposing faces 79, 89. It is believed that the grooves operate as plenums that completely equalize the pressure and flow of air on the faces 41, 42 of the web 4 outside thereof.

Furthermore, the opposing faces are slightly unwound outside of the recess, wherein the separation 101 of the opposing faces is larger than the separation 102 therein. Therefore, the flow not only becomes uniform, but also slows down. Again, this is unexpected but effective.

Referring now to Figures 6-8, another web processing apparatus has a processing reservoir 202, wherein the inlet air bearing 210 has an array of air nozzles 211 above its surface that directs the web 204 across the air nozzle to process the reservoir. In the slot. The bearing is supplied with filtered air that is slightly above atmospheric pressure. The air can be processed to a standard called CDA Air (Clean, Dry Compressed Air; Clean, Dry, Compressed Air). Air is emitted from the nozzle that produces the air bearing layer so that the web can pass over the bearing without coming into contact therewith.

The reservoir has a respective upper liquid bearing bearing 221 and a lower liquid bearing bearing 222. For this purpose, the bearing is supplied with a liquid 223, and the web is treated with a liquid 223 via a similar nozzle (not shown) in the reservoir, the supplied liquid is under negative pressure and a bearing film is produced for the web to follow a serpentine shape around the bearing. The path passes without touching the bearing.

The web 204 is transferred to the liquid isolation air knife 206 as the processing reservoir exits vertically. Compared to the air knife 6 described above, the air knife arrangement above and below the air knife slit 2061 is different. Above the slit, the opposing member 2062 of the air knife has opposing grooves in its opposite faces 20641, 20642 2063. The grooves serve to stabilize the upward flow of CDA air such that the cleaning liquid 233 present above the air knife does not penetrate between the opposing members 2062 of the air knife. Below the slit, the opposing surface is unwound to form a notch 2065. The slots are opened downward so that any processing liquid drawn from the reservoir on the web is blown back by the air emanating from the slot, and if any liquid enters the slot, the liquid is in the air below the slot The narrow air gap between the untwisted strips 2066 of the facing 2064 is blown back by the air when it is emitted.

It has been found that the typical size for supplying air to the slit and 0.5 bar at a thickness of 0.1 mm is: the width of the slit 2061 is 0.1 mm.

Clearance at opposite face 20641 0.2mm to 0.3mm

Clearance at opposite face 20642 0.4mm

The diameter of the groove 2063 is 5 mm

Slot at face 20641 to groove 1.5mm

Groove at face 20642 to chamfer 5.5mm

Slot at face 2066 to notch 2.5mm

Insofar as these dimensions are effective, it is also expected that halving to multiples of individual sizes will also be effective.

Two cleaning liquid transfer bearings 2031 are disposed upstream of the cleaning reservoir 203 on one side of the air knife 206 and to one side. A cleaning liquid 233, typically deionized water, is drawn to the bearings to form a bearing film over the bearings. Some of the liquid flows down the web down to the air knife 206 where it flows around the edge of the web to begin flushing the other side of the web.

From the transfer bearing, the web is transferred to the first portion 2032 of the cleaning reservoir 203. Here, the web is conveyed around another bearing 2034 equipped with a cleaning liquid above the normal depth 2036 of the wash water in the reservoir. Therefore, the web is transferred upward to the composite bearing and air knife 207. This air knife has a bearing cylinder 2071 which is internally divided into two cleaning liquid passages 20721, 20722 with a central air passage 2073 therebetween. Each channel has a bearing nozzle 2074. An air knife opposing member 2075 having a center air knife slit 2076 and upstream and downstream slots 2077 is disposed above the cylinder 2071.

The airflow isolates the cleaning liquid of the respective portions 2032, 2033 of the cleaning reservoir 203 in the event that the web passes over the bearing cylinders and air is supplied to the slits 2076 and the center passage and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the passages 20721, 20722. Any cleaning liquid carried by the web up the top of the web on the cylinder 2071 is blown back at the upstream notch 2077. Equally, although the same liquid is drawn to the upstream passage 20721 and exits through its nozzle, the air from the central passage 2073 blows back the liquid, preventing it from passing through the slit 2074.

Although the same cleaning liquid can be pumped to the channel 20722, it can be maintained separately in the composite bearing and air knife 207 and indeed in the second portion 2033 of the cleaning reservoir, thereby improving flushing. In a similar manner, air from the central passage tends to blow back any liquid from the second passage 20722, which may tend to flow back through the central air nozzle 2074. Bearing fluid from passage 20722 and its nozzle 2074 is transferred into second reservoir portion 2033.

In this sump portion, the web is transferred around another wet bearing 2037 and up to the air knife 208. It should be noted that rinsing occurs at the bearing where, in contrast to the liquid immersed in the sump portions 2032, 2033, the cleaning liquid flows as a fluid dynamic bearing film relative to the web.

The air knife 208 has an upper portion and a lower slot 2081 similar to the slot 2065. Therefore, the web is transferred to the air bearing 209 and to the subsequent processing station or to the orbiting table (both are unpainted) Show).

Turning now to Figure 9, a fluid-isolated air knife can be used to travel the web or panel being processed horizontally and at various angles as described above. Figure 9 illustrates a pair of rinsing stations (301, 302), such as those shown in British Patent No. 2,459,055, each having an upper and lower, upstream and downstream flow path defining plates 3011, 3012, 3013, 3014; 3021, 3022, 3023, 3024 having double staggered cleaning liquid slits 3015, 3025. The web 304 passes between the plate and the spout. The air knives 305, 306, 307 are disposed between the upstream and downstream of the rinsing station.

The air knife 306 between the stages 301 and 302 has grooves 3061, 3062 in its opposing members, and chamfered upstream and downstream edges 3063. The arrangement is such that the edge of the wash platen approaches the air knife member such that the wash liquid flows onto the top of the top plate and remains free from free flow under the web, thereby exposing the web to the wash liquid for as long as possible. Therefore, the chamfer of the air knife causes the cleaning liquid to be between the chamfer and the web. Nonetheless, the grooves from the beginning of the chamfer effectively provide a uniform air flow between the opposing members, whereby the liquid does not flow into the air knife and flows through the chamfer.

The air knives 305, 307 have similar grooves at their sides facing the wash platen. At the outer side, the air knife has slots, such as slots 2065, 2077, 2081. The area between the notch and the central air knife slit is between the groove and the air knife slit, thereby dividing the air flow from the slit into upstream and downstream flows.

Two additional variations are illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 . The air knife 17 of Fig. 10 has a three-part configuration with respect to the two-part configuration shown in Fig. 4. In the description of this variant, the upper part and the lower part are not separately described, since these parts are actually identical to each other. The outer members 171, 172 having the recesses 192 are identical except that they are mirror images of each other, since each member has an air supply plenum 175, an air supply tank 176, and an inner plenum. 177 and the cutting face 174 of the air knife slit 178. These outer components abut against the planar innermost member 190. Therefore, two air knife slits are provided, which are supplied with the same air. The innermost and outer components are flush across the slit and the innermost component is planar at the web passage. With no air flowing inward from the slit, the flow is outward, and it is desirable to have a similar flow in both the upstream and downstream directions. The spacing between the slits must be significantly wider than the outer air bearing surface, and grooves (or notches) may be provided to prevent contact between the innermost member and the web.

Figure 11 illustrates a two slit configuration incorporated into a combined air knife and bearing, similar to the configuration of Figure 8. The center plate 501 performs the same function as the innermost member 190. However, the center plate has a grooved channel surface 502. This serves to prevent contact between the web and the center plate. The two mirrored outer members 503, 504 (preferably 3D printed) are formed with plenum chambers 505 that abut against the sides of the center plate, slot array 506, and outer groove 507. Air is supplied to the plenum space in use to separate the liquid supplied to the outer passages 508, 509 and provides a bearing action via the nozzle 510.

Claims (25)

A liquid removal device comprising an air knife having: a pair of opposing members having opposing surfaces, each of the opposing members having a linear array of at least one slit or aperture through which air can be blown for Placing a liquid through an opposite surface of a plate, sheet or web passing between the opposing members; providing: at least one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of opposing members At least one elongated groove or slot, the groove or slot being upstream or downstream of the linear array of the respective slits or apertures in the direction of passage. The liquid removing device of claim 1, wherein: the air knife has a length transverse to the passing direction, and is narrower than the length thereof in the passing direction, and the or each elongated groove or groove The mouth is at least substantially parallel to the linear array of the respective slits or apertures. The liquid removing device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one elongated recess is disposed, and the respective opposing surfaces extend beyond the recess, the recess being at least substantially in the narrow The linear array of slits or pores is flush with itself. The liquid removal device of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated recess is disposed as an upstream groove and/or a downstream groove opposite a planar opposing member. Such as the liquid removal device of claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the One less elongated groove is provided as one of the slits or ones of the slits or a pair of downstreams. The liquid removal device of claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the at least one elongated groove is disposed as a pair of oppositely elongated ones of the upstream and downstream of the slits or apertures Groove. The liquid removal device of claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the at least one elongated groove is disposed as a plurality of opposed concaves upstream and downstream of the slits or apertures groove. The liquid removal device of claim 6 or 7, wherein the opposing pairs are aligned opposite each other. The liquid removal device of claim 6 or 7, wherein the opposing pairs are staggered opposite each other. The liquid removing device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separation of the opposing surfaces is larger outside the or each groove than inside the groove or the like, whereby Airflow is used between the (etc.) groove and the slit or aperture line, the airflow being slower outside of the (etc.) groove than inside. The liquid removal device of any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the at least one elongated slot is disposed, and the or each slot extends outwardly away from the linear array of the respective slits or apertures To one of the edges of the slot opposing member. The liquid removal device of claim 11, wherein the or each notch has a constant depth or a varying depth across its width. The liquid removal device of claim 11, wherein the width of the notch is greater than The extent of the opposing surface between the notch and the linear array of slits or apertures. A liquid removal device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a groove or notch is present in one of the opposing surfaces of one of the opposing members by a groove or groove The presence of the mouth in a similar position in the opposing surface of the other opposing member, whereby the web acts similarly on both sides in use. A liquid removal device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the opposing surfaces are chamfered at their distal edges. A liquid removal device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the opposing members are at least substantially flat. The liquid removal device of any one of clauses 1 to 15, wherein the opposing member is curved, preferably at least partially cylindrical, and is planar without a notch There is no groove. The liquid removal device of any one of clauses 1 to 15, wherein the opposing member is curved, preferably at least partially cylindrical, and planar, in a narrow There is a groove on either side of the slit. A liquid removal device according to claim 17 or 18, comprising three channels, one channel for supplying air to the slit thereof, and two channels for supplying respective liquids to the slit Nozzles in the opposing members upstream and downstream. The liquid removal device of claim 17, wherein the curved member is one of the bearing members over a curvature of the web. The liquid removal device of any one of clauses 17 to 20, wherein the other opposing member is complementarily bent. A liquid removal device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opposing members are each composed of two members that are complementary cut at the joint to provide their slits and are secured together to provide One of the opposing members. A liquid removal device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or each of the opposing surfaces has at least two slits or aperture lines, preferably having a planar surface portion disposed between the slits or aperture lines, Wherein the (etc.) groove/notch is disposed outside the at least two slit/hole lines. The liquid removal device of claim 23, wherein the opposing members are each composed of three members that are complementary cut and fixed together at the joint to provide the opposing members. One of the components having a planar or grooved central member and two grooved or notched members that are cut at their joint to have a groove or have Providing one of the slots between one of the slot members and providing another slit between the center member and the other of the grooved or slotted members, and the center member is The slits are flush with the other components. The liquid removal device of claim 21, wherein the opposing members are each composed of one or three members that are complementary cut and secured together at the joint to provide the opposite One of the members, wherein between the two lines of the aperture and the two recessed or slotted outer regions, having the component or one of the components (in the case of providing three components) One of the planes or the grooved center strip, and the center strip is flush with the outer areas.