DE9302207U1 - Device for the spreading application of flowable substances - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (1) is disclosed for supplying a pourable, paste-like and/or gaseous substance (9) to an application site which extends in the longitudinal direction of the device and for applying the substance, in particular by means of a doctoring element (91, 92, 93), to an application surface (81) which extends over a large width along the application site. The flow of substance is supplied in three steps. In the first step (I), a connection duct (5) designed as a pipe, hose or the like gathers the substance, forms a centralised flow of substance and supplies it to the device. In a second step (II), the flow of substance is subdivided by a substance flow subdividing arrangement into a plurality of flowpaths uniformly distributed over the width of the application site. In a third step (III), a layer of substance having a homogeneous surface and a uniform thickness over the whole width of application is spread on the application surface.

Description

Johannes Zimmer, Ebentaler Straße 133, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria

Device for the wide application of flowable substances

The invention relates to a device for the wide-spread application of flowable substances to a treatment surface with a substance distribution bar extending across its width, which, starting from a connection for a supply line, is provided with a system of flow channels branching out in a distribution body via a central and further distribution passages, extending longitudinally with the bar and ending in a plurality of outlet openings formed over the length of the substance distribution bar.

When applying fluid substances such as coating materials, adhesives, paints and the like, it is crucial for the quality of the finished product that the material to be applied is evenly distributed over the entire width and length of the surface to be treated. For example, when printing and coloring webs of textile materials or when coating paper, geotextiles or the like that are treated in widths of up to ten meters or more, even small irregularities in the substance supply and distribution have a negative effect on the application result.

The distance between the outlet openings of a substance distribution device must not be too large, and the size of the outlet openings must not be too small, as this could lead to a pressure build-up in the distribution system and

As a result, particularly at low processing speeds, excessive, inappropriate substance consumption and possibly an undesirably thick substance application can occur. An interim reduction in pressure causes pressure surges or pressure peaks, which in turn lead to an uneven substance distribution. A displacement track, which is known to be located downstream of the outlet openings in an additional space to improve the substance distribution, is on the one hand complex and on the other hand increases the space required for the already limited assembly space above a treatment area or in an application/squeegee device. With the substance branching system of the generic device, a uniform exit of the substance at the outlet openings is achieved via the branching stages formed by continued division, whereby it is essential that the substance is fed to a first distribution passage located centrally, i.e. in the longitudinal center of the body of the strip. For this purpose, the known distribution strips are provided with separate substance inlet pipes that run over the actual distribution body and/or are placed on it, which are connected to the central distribution passage, which is open on the long side of the strip, by means of a pipe bend in the middle of the strip. Such pipes, which must be firmly connected to the strip or arranged on it during assembly/disassembly, are expensive to manufacture and result in a high device weight for the usual working widths of several meters. A particular disadvantage is the relatively large overall cross-section of the distribution device with the pipe connection line leading to the middle of the strip, whereby the distribution device is also connected to other machine parts such as a squeegee device and a support beam. The entire system is therefore very space-consuming and in many cases cannot be installed or can only be installed with considerable conversion and handling difficulties in the narrow assembly space, e.g. in a pressure screen cylinder, an application

/printing machine. In practice, therefore, due to the limited space, the relatively high weight and the difficulty of handling, the use of the distribution bar with continuously branched distribution stages, which is actually advantageous for substance distribution, must in many cases be dispensed with. This also entails a high consumption of substances, which is economically and ecologically disadvantageous.

The invention is based on the object of creating a device of the type mentioned at the beginning for applying flowable substances to a treatment surface, which, for surface widths of up to ten meters and more, meets the application requirements with regard to an evenly distributed, consumption-compliant application of the substance, requires a significantly reduced installation space or space requirement compared to the known devices and is easy to handle.

The object is achieved according to the invention in conjunction with the features of the device mentioned at the outset in that a supply channel forming a first distribution flow channel is formed in the distribution body, which is open at one end on one of the two end faces of the distribution body and can be connected there via the connection to the supply line and from whose other end, which opens into the central distribution passage, the branching into the further distribution flow channels emanates, and that the distribution passages and the further distribution flow channels are formed in a strip circumferential angle range of at least 270° around the supply channel forming the first flow channel in the distribution body. A particular advantage of the present invention lies in the small space requirement and the reduced weight of the substance distribution strip, so that handling of the substance distribution strip is significantly simplified, especially with regard to large widths of surfaces to be coated, and the effort for assembly is reduced.

or the conversion of an application machine is considerably reduced. According to the invention, this is achieved in particular in that the feed channel extending from the strip end face is incorporated and integrated into the body material between the passages and step channels in such a way that, relative to the body cross-section, largely narrow walls are formed between all the channels. This means that the strip, which can be connected to a supply/feed line on its end face with the passages and branching channels including the integrated feed channel, is largely hollow - which is also very advantageous - i.e. designed with optimal use of the body cross-section for the channel system, whereby a compact, small-sized strip is achieved which, according to the invention, is reduced to the smallest possible cross-section. Using the known branching system together with other machine parts such as a doctor blade and a support beam, this can be installed particularly easily in tight assembly spaces on application machines, e.g. in round stencils of rotary printing machines, and is considerably easier to handle than conventional strips. The previously required space-consuming and weight-intensive construction or arrangement of the feed line separate from the channel system up to the longitudinal center of the strip is no longer necessary.

In a preferred embodiment, the distribution body has a rectangular, preferably square cross-section. It is particularly advantageous to design the distribution body as a one-piece profile strip, into which all passages and channels, including the feed channel, are incorporated from the body surfaces and are covered by a pipe casing on the lengthwise side. The casing is preferably only partially provided with a U-shaped strip, whereby bore passages ending in outlet openings are formed under the casing-free longitudinal surface of the body. It can also be expedient to manufacture the distribution body according to the invention in a manner known per se from

Joining plate strips together in which the passages and channels are formed. According to the invention, it is always important to surround the first distribution and supply channel, which starts from the front surface, with the other channels in the smallest possible body space. A particularly space-efficient design of the distribution body consists in the supply channel having a channel section in the middle of the body, which starts from the front surface, preferably as a central circular hole, around which - seen in the cross section of the body - a subsequent channel section of the supply channel and the other branching channels are formed.

With regard to a particularly even width distribution of the substance to be applied, it is advantageous that the outlet openings open into an outlet distribution slot that is incorporated into the distribution body. This is advantageously designed to further improve the distribution effect on its slot base opposite the outlet gap with wave-shaped elevations at an even distance from the outlet openings. Due to the compact and relatively light design of the substance distribution bar, it is achieved that it can be designed, mounted and adjusted without difficulty so that the outlet gap of the distribution slot evenly touches the surface to be treated with its gap edge or is slightly and precisely spaced from the treatment surface. Also due to the compact design with reduced weight, it is particularly advantageous to provide the substance distribution bar as an integral part of a slot nozzle application device, with the outlet openings of the bar opening into the substance space of a slot nozzle doctor blade that is attached to the distribution bar. It has proven to be particularly advantageous to provide only a very low substance delivery pressure in the area of the outlet gap that touches the surface to be treated or is slightly spaced from it or in the area of the slot nozzle.

The width distribution is carried out with a substance delivery pressure at the gap or nozzle of preferably less than one bar to a maximum of slightly more than one bar. For this purpose, the delivery pressure at the gap or at the nozzle is controlled or regulated by means of a delivery pressure control. A control device is then connected between a delivery device such as a toothed roller pump and a device that measures the required quantity and/or the delivery pressure in the area of the application zone and/or sets the required quantity in order to control the substance delivery quantity and/or the substance pressure depending on predetermined operating parameters that must be observed.

As already stated, the width distribution device according to the invention achieves the fact that it can be used in combination with a wide variety of doctor blades and application devices. This is particularly advantageous because the branching distribution of the strip not only satisfies high quality requirements for uniform application, but the strip can also be operated with the lowest possible substance delivery pressure, so that it can be used in an economically and ecologically advantageous manner, adapted to consumption. It has been found that in combination with a slowly conveying and thus lowest possible pressure-building conveying device such as a toothed roller pump, in which only a relatively short substance supply line is provided between the pump and the distribution strip, if necessary with an adjustable delivery pressure control, a delivery pressure in the range of one bar and even less is sufficient. This avoids disruptive pressure build-up, pressure surges, pressure peaks and/or irregularities that affect the distribution of the substance. Consequently, it is advantageous that there are no special requirements for the pressure tightness of the channels of the distribution strip according to the invention, and no air pockets are created due to air suction at high pressure, which are detrimental to the application result.

to which printing and coating materials tend to be sensitive.

Advantageously, the distribution body consists of a high-polymer plastic, which ensures particularly good sliding of the substance in the channel system and is also particularly suitable for the production of the distribution device.

Still other embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and further advantages, embodiments or possibilities of the invention emerge from the following description of the embodiments shown in the schematic drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 a printing station with a substance distribution bar according to the invention in profile cross-section,

Fig. 2 a section along line A-B through the

Substance distribution bar according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 to 5 Views "X", "Y", and "Z" on the

Longitudinal sides of the distribution body with the flow channels formed therein

and passageways,

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section through a substance distribution bar according to the invention and

Fig. 7 to 11 Sections and views of the distribution bar according to Fig. 6 along cutting planes A-B and C-D or on the long sides.

j";

Fig. 1 shows a printing station of a rotary film printing machine with a substance distribution bar 1 for feeding and distributing a substance 2 such as ink onto the inside of a round stencil 3. A holding bar 4 is attached to the substance distribution bar 1, on which a roller doctor 5a of large diameter made of magnetizable material is supported. Below the roller doctor 5a there is a magnetic bar 8 so that the roller doctor 5a is pressed against the round stencil 3 and a web of material due to the magnetic force and the substance is applied through the openings of the round stencil 3 onto the web of material moved over the magnetic bar 8. Depending on the respective application requirements, a small roller doctor 5b, a knife doctor 5c or a doctor blade 5d can also be provided.

The elements of a printing station shown in Fig. 1 illustrate the size ratios and the limited space available for conversion work in connection with a round template. The substance distribution bar 1 is shown here approximately to scale with dimensions of 40 x 40 mm for a substance to be distributed over a width of two meters. With a length of a substance distribution bar according to the invention of approx. five meters, the cross-sectional dimensions are approx. 100 x 100 mm and are therefore far below those of conventional devices. It becomes clear how necessary measures to reduce the space requirement are, especially with wide webs of material or corresponding substance distribution bars.

The substance distribution bar 1 consists of a distribution body 6 with a channel system formed in it that branches out further along the body length (11 to 21) and a U-shaped casing 7. The distribution body 6 is square in cross-section and made of a high-polymer plastic with good sliding properties for the substance flowing in the channels. The U-shaped

The casing 7 covers the flow channels 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 formed on the outside of the distribution body 6 and forms the wall for a distribution slot 22 into which outflow holes 20 forming passages with outlet openings 21 arranged at the same distance over the length of the body open. The casing 7 has a first extension which forms a substance drainage edge 7a and a second extension which is provided as a fastening part 7b for the holding strip 4 for supporting the roller doctor 5a. Since the substance can be conveyed through the flow channels 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 with little pressure, no special requirements are then placed on the sealing between these or the distribution body 6 and the casing 7.

The arrangement of the flow channels 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 and the passages or openings 12, 14, 16 and 18 connecting them as well as the corresponding substance guidance and distribution is as follows:

A substance supply line 9 is connected to a bore channel section 11a via a connection receptacle 10. This is formed in the distribution body 6 in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the latter and is open at the front of the body with the connection receptacle 10. The bore section 11a passes into a channel section 11c via a channel section 11b that is inclined to the central longitudinal axis of the body. The latter is open on the longitudinal side of the body so that it is covered by the wall of the casing 7. It extends into the longitudinal center of the body, where the branching takes place via a passage 12 into the flow channel 13. The channel sections 11a to 11c form a distribution feed channel 11 integrated into the distribution body 6, which can be fed with substance from the front surface of the body and which leads the substance into the longitudinal center of the body via a cross-section that is large relative to the subsequent channels. Viewed in the profile cross-section, the channel sections are

sections 11 b, c, the channels 13, 15, 17 and 19 as well as the passages 20 are formed and arranged in a very small space around the entire circumference of the bore section 11a having a circular cross-section.
5

The flow channel 13 branches with two passages 14 into the flow channels 15. These branch via passages 16 into the flow channels 17, and these further via passages 18 into the flow channels 19. The outlet bores 20 extend from the flow channels 19, which are formed at the same distance over the entire length of the distributor body 6 on its upper left side in Fig. 1, and open at their opposite ends into the distribution slot 21 formed between the distributor body 6 and the casing 7.

The substance emerging from the outlet openings 21 of the outlet holes 20 at equal intervals and simultaneously in equal amounts is evenly distributed by the outlet gap of the distribution slot 22 over the entire length of the substance distribution bar 1 across the width of the treatment surface, i.e. the round template 3 or the material web 80, with the substance 2 flowing over the rounded substance drain edge 7a. The even distribution of the substance emerging from the outlet openings of the outlet holes 20 in the distribution slot 22 or the filling of the distribution slot 22 is promoted by wave-shaped, equal elevations at the distance from the outlet opening 21 on the slot bottom opposite the slot outlet gap. A filler body 23 having the wave structure is inserted or set into the slot bottom area. Of course, the wave structure can also be formed by elevations or depressions on the slot bottom.

Due to its space-saving and relatively light design, the substance distribution bar can be particularly advantageously attached directly to the area to be treated.

■ **

·

- 11 -

(template 3 or material web 80) can be arranged, with the slot outlet gap sealingly touching or almost touching the surface to be treated with a slit edge. Of course, elements 4, 5a - 5d as well as 7a and 7b are then omitted. This gives a particularly small slot nozzle doctor device that ensures optimal substance width distribution.

In an embodiment according to Figures 6 to 11, a substance distribution strip 1 according to the invention consists of a one-piece distribution body 6 with a rectangular cross section in the form of a strip body. Channels 11 to 55 and bores 12, 531, 541 and 551 are introduced into this from the outer surfaces or sides 61, 62, 63 and 64. In this way, a branching system with overlapping longitudinal channels and transverse bores is formed. In this embodiment, it is essential that the channel system branches from the lateral body side 62 through the body 6 in the area of a body center surface M into channels 54 on the other lateral body side 63. For this purpose, through holes 531 are formed which extend parallel to the center plane M and are located in the vicinity of it and connect sections of channels 53 on one longitudinal side 62 of the body with sections of channels 54 on the opposite longitudinal side 63 of the body (Fig. 8).

The overall structure of the distribution system formed by continued division with integrated supply channel 11 can be seen in detail from the sectional views A-B, C-D and the views X, Y and Z. The distribution body 6 is open on one of its front sides with the connection receptacle 10, from which the supply channel 11 incorporated in the body 6 extends with a channel section lib that is inclined to the body's central longitudinal axis. The section 11b merges into the section lic, which extends on the long side 61 to the body's longitudinal center, where the branching via the

y - ¹² -

Passage 12 merges into a channel 52 which, in longitudinal side view, is U-shaped and which, also in longitudinal side view, merges with its ends into foot ends of T-shaped channels 53, whereby the U/T channels are incorporated into the lateral body longitudinal side 62 (Fig. 9).

The T-shaped channels 53 in the longitudinal side view branch off at the T-head ends through the through holes 531 into further T-shaped channels 54, which are incorporated in the lateral longitudinal side 63 of the body (Fig. 10). The T-head ends of these channels 54 branch off through body holes 541 in web sections of U-shaped channels 55, which are incorporated in the lower longitudinal side 64 of the body (Fig. 11) in the longitudinal side view. Foot end sections of these U-channels 55 in turn branch off through body holes 551 into outlet openings 21 arranged at equal distances from one another on the lateral longitudinal side 62 of the body (Fig. 9).

To the outside, the channels on the body's long sides 61 to 64 are sealed by a tubular casing 7, with the exception of the outlet openings 21. The substance distribution strip 1 according to Fig. 6 to 11 is preferably provided with an outlet gap as in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 5. Due to the particularly compact design of the strip and the possibility of arranging it close to the surface to be treated, the outlet gap can be used as a distribution slot that touches the surface to be treated with its gap edge or is only slightly spaced from the treatment surface.

The distribution bar according to the invention can be operated particularly advantageously with low delivery pressure. The substance fed from the bar front side into the distribution body 6 with low delivery pressure, preferably in the range of 1.0 bar or less, spreads out in the flow channels with little friction, whereby preferably the diameter of the end

{bits. AusUißoffaun&khgr;&ogr;&eegr; 24 ,

the outlet openings 20* arranged along the flow path are so large that pressure build-up in the distribution body is avoided. This makes it possible to distribute substances in a wide viscosity range (10 to 100 poise) from a storage container evenly across the width of a web of material or a treatment device using a low-pressure conveying device such as a toothed roller pump. The even, low-pressure conveying flow also ensures that the substance is supplied in line with actual requirements. Conveying pauses resulting in pressure surges and the resulting uneven substance supply are avoided.

Claims (20)

- 14 -Protection claims: 1. Device for the wide application of flowable substances to a treatment surface with a substance distribution strip (1) extending across its width, which, starting from a connection (10) for a feed line (9), is provided with a system of flow channels (13, 15, 17, 19) branching out in a distribution body (6) via a central and further distribution passages (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) and extending longitudinally with the strip (1), which end in a plurality of outlet openings (21) formed over the length of the substance distribution strip (1), characterized in that/3 in the distribution body (6) a supply channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) is formed which forms a first distribution flow channel and which is open at one end to one of the two end faces of the distribution body (6) and can be connected there via the connection (10) to the supply line (9) and from whose other end, which opens into the central distribution passage (12), the branching into the further distribution flow channels (13, 15, 17, 19) emanates, and since/3 the distribution passages (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) and the further distribution flow channels (13, 15, 17, 19) are formed in a strip circumferential angle range of at least 270° around the supply channel (11) forming the first flow channel in the distribution body (6) are. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that characterized in that the distribution body (6) has a quadrangular, preferably an almost square, cross-section. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized in that the feed channel (11) in the area of the front side of the distribution body (6) has a channel section (Ha) formed centrally in the distribution body (6), which passes via a channel section (Hb) inclined to the longitudinal axis of the body into a channel section (lic) extending on the inner surface of the distribution strip peripheral wall and opening into the distribution passage (12). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outlet openings (21) open into a distribution slot (22). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the slot bottom opposite the outlet gap of the distribution slot (22) is wave-shaped. 6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the outlet gap of the distribution slot (22) is designed as a slot nozzle. 7. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the outlet gap of the distribution slot (22) touches the surface to be treated. 8. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the outlet gap of the distribution slot (22) is slightly spaced from the surface to be treated. 9. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a rounded substance drainage edge (7a) is formed in the region of the distribution slot (22). 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the substance distribution bar is connected to a slot nozzle application device, the outlet openings opening into the substance space of the application device which merges into the slot nozzle. 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the distribution body (6) consists of high-polymer plastic. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the flow channels (11, 13, 15, 17, 19) have a smaller cross-section from branching stage to branching stage. 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a casing is formed for sealingly covering the flow channels, which casing at least partially encloses the distribution body (6). 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the casing (7) is designed as a supporting body, at the ends of which support and/or holding parts for fastening the supporting body are preferably formed. 15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the casing (7) is designed with a fastening part (7b) as a carrier, holder or limiting strip for a doctor device (4, 5a to 5d). 16. Device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the flow Distribution channels (11, 13, 15, 17, 19) are formed on the circumference of a one-piece distribution body (6) and are covered by a preferably U-shaped casing (7) of the distribution body (6) which only partially surrounds the body (6). 17. Device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that a tubular casing (7) is formed which completely encloses the distribution body (6). 18. Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least two flow channel branching stages (53, 54) arranged on opposite longitudinal sides (62, 63) of the body are connected to one another by through-holes (531) which pass through the body (6) in the region of its center (M). 19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the body (6) is formed from a bar with a rectangular profile cross-section, in which in the area of the first longitudinal side of the body (61) the supply channel (11, 11b, 11c) forming the first distribution flow channel is formed, which leads through the central distribution passage (12) into a U-shaped channel (52) branches, which with its ends merges into the foot ends of T-shaped channels (53), whereby the U-/T-channels are incorporated into the second body longitudinal side (62) adjacent to the first body longitudinal side (61), since/3 these T-channels (53) branch off at the T-head ends through the through holes (531) into further T-channels (54) incorporated into the third body longitudinal side (63) opposite the second body longitudinal side (62), since/3 the T-head ends of these T-channels (54) are each connected by body holes (541) in web sections U-shaped, in the fourth body longitudinal side (64) of incorporated channels (55) branch
and that/3 the foot ends of these U-channels (55) branch through body bores (551) into outlet openings (21) arranged at equal distances from one another on the second longitudinal side (62) of the body. 20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the outlet bores (20) having outlet openings (21) extend over the cross-sectional length of a side wall of the distribution body (6), with the exception of the region of the flow channels (19) from which they originate.