EP0062637B1 - Method and apparatus for changing the temperature of a moving continuous web - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for changing the temperature of a moving continuous web Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0062637B1
EP0062637B1 EP19810901013 EP81901013A EP0062637B1 EP 0062637 B1 EP0062637 B1 EP 0062637B1 EP 19810901013 EP19810901013 EP 19810901013 EP 81901013 A EP81901013 A EP 81901013A EP 0062637 B1 EP0062637 B1 EP 0062637B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
web
rollers
fluid
housing
flow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19810901013
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0062637A4 (en
EP0062637A1 (en
Inventor
Eugene H. Barbee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of EP0062637A1 publication Critical patent/EP0062637A1/en
Publication of EP0062637A4 publication Critical patent/EP0062637A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0062637B1 publication Critical patent/EP0062637B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material
    • G03D15/02—Drying; Glazing
    • G03D15/022—Drying of filmstrips
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/74—Applying photosensitive compositions to the base; Drying processes therefor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/74—Applying photosensitive compositions to the base; Drying processes therefor
    • G03C2001/7422—Blowing means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/74—Applying photosensitive compositions to the base; Drying processes therefor
    • G03C2001/7451—Drying conditions

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for changing the temperature of a moving continuous web, and in particular to a method and apparatus for uniformly heating or cooling a moving continuous support coated with a photographic emulsion.
  • a gelatin emulsion is applied to the support and cooled until the emulsion gels.
  • the emulsion is free to flow for an appreciable time before it gels, and, during this free-flow period, movement of the support tends to cause the emulsion to gel non-uniformly. It is essential that as much uniformity as possible be maintained in the treatment of the emulsion coating on the support during the free-flow period.
  • U.S. Patent 3,738,018 discloses an example of such a suction device.
  • This disclosure describes guiding a moving support through a dryer by closely spaced pairs of guide rollers in engagement with one surface of the support.
  • An arcuately pointed suction device disposed closely adjacent and between peripheries of adjacent rollers maintains the support in a predetermined angle of contact of the support with the rollers.
  • the drying effect results from contact with the heated rollers and hot air in the dryer.
  • any portion of air flow passing parallel to the support must be drawn by the suction device around and under the edges of the moving support.
  • Such a device is not capable of solving the edge-to-center temperature gradient problem which is the problem to which our invention is directed.
  • U.S. Patent 3,065,098 teaches cooling a continuous moving support by conveying it on a supporting cushion of air flowing from perforations in a plurality of hollow stationary tubes. Air is drawn downwardly into the space between adjacent tubes by a suction device which establishes a different pressure on the two sides of the support, causing it to move in an undulated path.
  • the cooling effect is produced solely by transfer of heat from the support to the air cushionr and thus is somewhat limited in effectiveness.
  • this device is not capable of providing a uniform coating because unstable air flow is created between the tube and the moving support causing the support to vibrate, resulting in disruption of the emulsion coating.
  • the present invention has as its object to provide improvement in uniformity of heat transfer to or from a moving web, permitting more rapid and uniform setting of a coating on the web.
  • This object is achieved by causing a fluid, such as air, having a temperature different from that of the web to flow in contact with and substantially longitudinally of the web and along its entire width.
  • a fluid such as air
  • the advantage of such an arrangement is that it greatly reduces the temperature gradient across the web which occurred heretofore.
  • the invention reduces variations in the characteristics of a coating across the width of the web, and results in greatly improved uniformity particularly with respect to photographic coatings.
  • the invention provides an additional advantage when used in photographic coating. Since contact with the rollers is important for heat transfer, the length of support "chilled" during the period of the time the rollers require to reach an equilibrium temperature following machine startup must be discarded due to non-uniform heat transfer. This constitutes waste to the manufacturer.
  • the invention provides a method for changing the temperature of a moving, continuous web wherein the web is transported with one uncoated side of the web in contact with at least two spaced, parallel rollers and the opposite coated side of the web out of surface engagement with said rollers, and a pressure differential is established between both said sides of the web, thereby causing a section of web which extends between two successive rollers to deflect toward said rollers to provide a predetermined angle of contact of said uncoated side of the web with the rollers, said method being characterized in that between said at least two rollers a fluid which has a substantially constant temperature different from that of the web is caused to flow substantially longitudinally along and in contact with said uncoated side of said web section substantially across the entire width thereof.
  • a hollow housing is positioned between adjacent rollers with one surface adjacent to the web and extending the entire width of the web.
  • the housing has one or more fluid discharge openings in the surface adjacent to the web and at least one fluid inlet opening.
  • a fluid pressure condition is established on the side of the web contacting the rollers to cause fluid to be drawn into the housing through the fluid inlet opening(s).
  • This fluid pressure also causes fluid to be drawn from the housing through the fluid discharge opening(s) to establish a flow of fluid in a direction substantially longitudinally of the web, in the space between the web and housing surface, to cause uniform widthwise heat transfer.
  • a fan is used to provide fluid, such as air, to the inlet opening of the housing to enhance control of the flow of air in its space between the web and the housing surface.
  • fluid from the housing is also directed against adjacent rollers, thereby further heating or cooling the rollers.
  • the apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced support members such as parallel rollers 10 disposed in a horizontal plane for supporting the web 12.
  • the web 12 is conveyed lengthwise across rollers 10 by suitable means such as a drive roller 14 coupled to a drive mea,ns 16.
  • Fluid (such as air) flow means comprising an elongated housing 18 is positioned between adjacent rollers 10.
  • Each housing 18 has a rectangular cross-section and a length approximately the same as that of the rollers and sufficient to cover the entire width of the web.
  • the housing 18 further has one or more discharge openings 20 in an upper surface 22 adjacent to the web.
  • the discharge openings 20 are preferably arranged in a plurality of rows. These discharge openings are countersunk (not shown) on the inside of the housing to prevent whistling upon passage of air through the openings.
  • the discharge openings 20 may comprise one or more elongated openings extending along the length of the housing.
  • the housing 18 may have a cross-section other than rectangular, such as triangular, for example, provided the upper surface 22 faces the web along a length of the web.
  • the upper surface 22 of housing 18 also has an air inlet opening 24 located laterally outside the edges of the web. The inlet opening 24 may be located at any other suitable exposed area of the housing which is not covered by the web, such as the end of the housing.
  • housing 18 can also be pressurized by having air inlet opening 24 connected to fan 37 capable of supplying 1 to 1.025 atmospheres of air (absolute pressure) preferably 1.007 to 1.01 atmospheres of air (absolute pressure).
  • the rollers 10 and housings 18 are closely spaced with a small gap or space between each housing and its adjacent rollers.
  • the gap or space is illustrated in the drawing in exaggerated form, being enlarged in relation to the size of the rollers 10 and housing 18 for purposes of clarity.
  • the housing 18 and rollers 10 are mounted in the open upper portion of a chamber 26 (Figs. 1 and 2), rigidly mounted by any suitable means, not shown, within a room 34.
  • the upper surface 22 of each housing is spaced a predetermined amount below a horizontal plane extending through the tops of rollers 10 adjacent the housing.
  • the chamber 26 forms a part of the means for establishing a pressure differential at opposite sides of web 12.
  • the chamber 26 comprises two end walls 21, and two side walls 23, only a portion being shown in Figs. 1-3, and supports the ends of rollers 10 and housings 18. The support is accomplished by having stub shafts 13, 15 at the ends of the rollers 10 and housings 18, respectively, rest within complementary notches 17, 19, respectively, in the side walls 23.
  • Chamber 26 has a lower wall 25 and upper wall projections 27 defining the aforementioned open upper portion opposite lower wall 25.
  • the open portion of chamber 26 is effectively closed off by rollers 10 and housings 18 spanning side walls 23, and by web 12 as it is conveyed in contact with the rollers.
  • the web width is less than the distance between air inlet openings 24 so that the openings are uncovered and in fluid communication with room 34 to provide air at atmospheric pressure.
  • air inlet openings 24 can be connected to fan 37 in which case the web may extend beyond openings 24.
  • the chamber 26 is connected by a conduit 28 to a suction device 30, such as an exhaust fan, to reduce the fluid or air pressure in chamber 26 below the air pressure maintained within room 34. Since the pressure within room 34 is preferably atmospheric pressure, the reduced air pressure within chamber 26 is preferably subatmospheric. Naturally, if a fan is connected to air inlet opening 24, the pressure within chamber 26 need not be subatmospheric.
  • the reduced, preferably subatmospheric, air pressure produced in chamber 26 has several functions. Firstly, it causes the web sections extending between adjacent rollers 10 to be deflected by the higher preferably atmospheric pressure above the web to produce a predetermined angle of contact of the web with the rollers.
  • the exact angle of contact is influenced, for example, by parameters such as the fluid pressure differential above and below the web and by the tension of the web supplied by the drive means 14, 16.
  • parameters such as the fluid pressure differential above and below the web and by the tension of the web supplied by the drive means 14, 16.
  • the amount of deflection of the web sections is controlled so that the web sections do not rub or engage the upper surface 22 of housing 18.
  • the pressure differential between the air pressure in room 34 and the reduced air pressure established in chamber 26 also causes air to enter into a cavity 32 within housing 18 through air inlet openings 24 and to be drawn through air discharge openings 20 to produce a heating or cooling air flow (depending upon the temperature of the web and air).
  • the heating or cooling air flow from air discharge openings 20 passes through the space between the lowersurface of web 12 and the upper surface 22 of housing 18 substantially longitudinally of the web along and in proximity to the entire width of the side of the web section contacting the rollers.
  • the heating or cooling airflow reaches the center portion of the web, as well as the edges of the web, thus improving the widthwise temperature uniformity of the web.
  • the room 34 within which the apparatus of this invention is preferably enclosed is maintained at a predetermined temperature by any suitable means.
  • the preferably solid metallic rollers 10 attain the predetermined room temperature within a short period of time, and act as heat or cold sinks for heating or cooling the web.
  • the amount of heating or cooling of the web by the rollers 10 is dependent, for example, upon the temperature of the rollers, the nature of the web, and the angle of web wrap or contact with the rollers.
  • variables or parameters such as the area and configuration of the air discharge openings 20, the distance or gap between each roller 10 and its adjacent housings 18, the differential between pressures acting on opposite sides of the web, web tension, nature of the web, type of web coating, if any, etc., are selected and balanced to provide the desired web heating or cooling air flow for each web heating or cooling application.
  • FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention.
  • housing 18 has fluid discharge openings 36, such as slots, in its side surfaces adjacent to rollers 10. These fluid discharge openings 36 are in addition to air discharge openings 20 facing web 12. Fluid is withdrawn not only through openings 20, but also through fluid discharge openings 36 by the reduced pressure within chamber 26 and directed against adjacent rollers 10, for assisting in heating or cooling the rollers.
  • Figures 5 and 6 are plots of web temperature in degrees Celsius over the width of the web from each side of the web centerline for a web chilling application utilizing apparatus of the type illustrated in Figs. 1-3.
  • the web temperatures for both tests were monitored by the same temperature sensing means under the same operating conditions such as type and temperature of the emulsion coating, web tension, room temperature, pressures, etc.
  • Figure 5 illustrates test results wherein air discharge openings 20 were closed off so that no air flow came into contact with the moving web.
  • the air discharge openings 20 were open and a web cooling air flow according to our invention was produced.
  • Figure 5 illustrates the considerable temperature gradient which exists between the highest value at the web centerline and lowest value at the web edges when no air flow engages the web from air discharge openings 20.
  • Figure 5 also illustrates that the temperature rapidly falls from a high centerline value to lower readings at the edge, clearly illustrating a temperature gradient across the entire width of the web.
  • a temperature gradient produces non-uniformities in coating characteristics that are particularly troublesome when the web is coated with a photographic emulsion.
  • Figure 6 illustrates a substantial "smoothing out" of this widthwise temperature gradient due to the use of the cooling air flow provided by the elongated housings 18 between rollers 12 as described above.
  • a reduced temperature gradient decreases non-uniform drying and non-uniform photographic sensitometric effects across the width of the web.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
EP19810901013 1980-10-10 1980-10-10 Method and apparatus for changing the temperature of a moving continuous web Expired EP0062637B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1980/001350 WO1982001410A1 (en) 1980-10-10 1980-10-10 Method and apparatus for changing the temperature of a moving continuous web

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0062637A1 EP0062637A1 (en) 1982-10-20
EP0062637A4 EP0062637A4 (en) 1983-06-15
EP0062637B1 true EP0062637B1 (en) 1986-12-17

Family

ID=22154593

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19810901013 Expired EP0062637B1 (en) 1980-10-10 1980-10-10 Method and apparatus for changing the temperature of a moving continuous web

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0062637B1 (cs)
JP (1) JPS57501547A (cs)
AU (1) AU540435B2 (cs)
BR (1) BR8009116A (cs)
DE (1) DE3071866D1 (cs)
WO (1) WO1982001410A1 (cs)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4012176C2 (de) * 1990-04-14 2000-08-17 Pagendarm Technologie Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Behandeln einer beschichteten Substratbahn
WO2019171875A1 (ja) * 2018-03-06 2019-09-12 富士フイルム株式会社 温度調整装置及び方法
CN117553542B (zh) * 2024-01-12 2024-04-05 海阳科技股份有限公司 一种锦纶帘子布用对流式干燥装置

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2727317A (en) * 1953-04-16 1955-12-20 Offen Bernard Cooling mechanism for web supporting rollers of dryers
US3065098A (en) * 1960-03-21 1962-11-20 Eastman Kodak Co Method for coating webs
US3434225A (en) * 1967-09-05 1969-03-25 Logetronics Inc Drier for film processors
US3668788A (en) * 1970-08-20 1972-06-13 Tadashi Kobayashi Method and apparatus for drying wavily running strip with hot blasts
US3733711A (en) * 1971-09-07 1973-05-22 Scapa Dryers Ltd Apparatus for and method of treating a web
US3738018A (en) * 1972-04-05 1973-06-12 Agfa Gevaert Ag Drying arrangement on machines for coating supporting webs, more especially with photographic emulsions
US4231164A (en) * 1978-08-31 1980-11-04 Eastman Kodak Company Apparatus and method for uniformly heating or cooling a moving web

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR8009116A (pt) 1982-08-24
DE3071866D1 (en) 1987-01-29
JPS57501547A (cs) 1982-08-26
AU540435B2 (en) 1984-11-15
EP0062637A4 (en) 1983-06-15
WO1982001410A1 (en) 1982-04-29
EP0062637A1 (en) 1982-10-20
AU7078281A (en) 1982-05-11

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