EP1441192B1 - Apparatus for replacing the oxygen in a laminar air boundary layer by an inert gas, and use thereof - Google Patents

Apparatus for replacing the oxygen in a laminar air boundary layer by an inert gas, and use thereof Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1441192B1
EP1441192B1 EP03026135A EP03026135A EP1441192B1 EP 1441192 B1 EP1441192 B1 EP 1441192B1 EP 03026135 A EP03026135 A EP 03026135A EP 03026135 A EP03026135 A EP 03026135A EP 1441192 B1 EP1441192 B1 EP 1441192B1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
electrode
inert gas
substrate
corona electrode
transport direction
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EP03026135A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1441192A3 (en
EP1441192A2 (en
Inventor
Lukas Hahne
Franz Knopf
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Eltex Elektrostatik GmbH
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Eltex Elektrostatik GmbH
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
    • F26B3/32—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action
    • F26B3/34—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action by using electrical effects
    • F26B3/343—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action by using electrical effects in combination with convection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
    • F26B13/10—Arrangements for feeding, heating or supporting materials; Controlling movement, tension or position of materials
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
    • F26B21/14—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects using gases or vapours other than air or steam, e.g. inert gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
    • F26B3/28—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun
    • F26B3/283—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun in combination with convection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B7/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes using a combination of processes not covered by a single one of groups F26B3/00 and F26B5/00
    • F26B7/002—Drying solid materials or objects by processes using a combination of processes not covered by a single one of groups F26B3/00 and F26B5/00 using an electric field and heat

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device according to the preamble of the main claim.
  • Such a device is known for use in sheet-fed offset printing ( DE-100 50 517 A1 ), wherein, however, the first chamber has the means for supplying the inert gas.
  • UV dryers or plasma dryers are often formed as chambers and these are purged with the inert gas, for example nitrogen.
  • the inert gas for example nitrogen.
  • the inlet and outlet gaps for the substrate should be as small as possible in order to keep the nitrogen losses within limits.
  • Such chambers are known per se ( DE-198 57 984 A1 and DE-297 07 190 U1 ).
  • the known generic device ( DE-100 50 517 A1 ) according to the preamble of claim 1 is provided with such a chamber which is purged with inert gas.
  • the sealing of the chamber in the sheet-fed offset printing press is sealed off by the front corona electrode or further corona electrodes which are connected to a high direct voltage in the transport direction at the front and rear end edges.
  • the gaseous laminar air boundary layer which is carried by a moving substrate via a corona electrode which is connected to a positive or negative high voltage, with an associated counter electrode on the other To convert the side of the substrate into a turbulent flow ( DE-195 25 453 A1 ).
  • the invention has the object of developing a generic device according to the preamble of the main claim so as to suggest a use of the same, with which the amount of inert gas required and thus the operating costs can be considerably reduced.
  • the device according to the invention can be used in printing machines for gravure, flexographic, web offset or sheet-fed offset printing and in various coating processes, for example in the paper or textile industry, in which increasingly UV-curing inks or coatings -generally UV-curing systems called- are used. These contain a certain amount of so-called photoinitiators.
  • the curing or drying of such paints or varnishes takes place in a UV dryer.
  • narrow-band so-called UV excimer radiators or broadband UV radiators are used as radiation sources.
  • the photoinitiators absorb part of the UV radiation energy offered and trigger the polymarization or curing of the UV inks or lacquers.
  • the laminar air boundary layer entrained with the substrate moved in the transport direction reaches the area of the front corona field.
  • the existing at this existing electron or ion current hereinafter referred to briefly as electrons / ion current, generates an envelope from a laminar to a turbulent state on the surface of the moving substrate on one side, on which the front corona electrode is arranged.
  • the mostly turbulent air drag flow entrained above the laminar air boundary layer is deflected upwards in front of the front corona electrode and away from the moving substrate.
  • the turbulent air boundary layer forming behind the front corona electrode travels in the transport direction behind and at a distance from the further corona electrode, preferably parallel to the front corona electrode, to a laminar residual boundary layer moving further from the substrate perpendicular to the surface of the moving substrate within the first chamber deflected above as the main air flow and in the closed first chamber -in contrast to the transport direction- moved back and again in the region of the first corona electrode. Due to the gaps existing there between the individual electron / ion streams of the individual adjacent tips of the front corona electrode, this main air stream again moves outside the first chamber into the surrounding outer space and rises together with the air drag flow in front of the front corona electrode perpendicular to the substrate above.
  • the rear edge of the first -closed chamber in the transport direction forms a negative pressure area behind the further corona electrode arranged there.
  • the opening in the region of this negative pressure area means for supplying the inert gas so to speak sucked into the negative pressure area, so that builds on the moving substrate a -new laminar layer, but this time from inert gas as a laminar inert gas boundary layer with low turbulence.
  • the amount of inert gas required for sufficient inertization of the laminar inert gas layer is adjusted in dependence on the speed of the moving substrate so that a small inert gas leakage current moves in the opposite direction to the transport direction and ultimately escapes with respect to the deflected main air flow in the first chamber, then fills the original negative pressure area behind the other corona electrode completely with inert gas, so that there arises a slight overpressure, which prevents an air flow is sucked from the outer chamber surrounding the first chamber.
  • the consumption of inert gas for inerting the web-near inert gas boundary layer behind the other corona electrode compared to the prior art and up to 80% is reduced, which means a not inconsiderable saving on operating costs.
  • the required amount of expensive photoinitiators can be further reduced. At the same time this is associated with a decrease in the emanating from the photoinitiators disturbing odors. It is therefore future also produce products in which this odor was previously intolerable for reasons of hygiene.
  • the further chamber arranged between the further corona electrode and the device for supplying the inert gas preferably a chamber identical to the first chamber with the rear corona electrode and with its rear counterelectrode.
  • a dryer in the form of a UV radiation source is arranged directly behind the device for supplying the inert gas. Because of the low oxygen content in the layer close to the inert gas layer, the UV radiant power required for adequate curing of the UV inks and / or UV lacquers can be reduced by about 40%, based on the state of the art, with very low nitrogen consumption. In addition to the saving of electrical energy In addition, the infrared component of broadband UV lamps is also reduced, which is advantageous in the processing of heat-sensitive substrates such as PE film.
  • a final terminating corona electrode with associated counterelectrode is arranged on the other side of the substrate behind the UV radiation source and the entire arrangement is encapsulated in the manner of a chamber, then the essentially turbulent one, consisting essentially of inert gas, can be used Inertgasgrenz Anlagen located Schleppströmung in the chamber formed by the encapsulated formation - against the transport direction - are returned, so that a part of this inert gas is available again for the laminar inert gas boundary layer.
  • the reason for the return is the flow resistance of the terminal corona electrode created by the electron / ion current. Because of the associated low pressure increase in the encapsulated Chamber is an additional reduction of the inert gas consumption possible.
  • FIG. 1 is shown in schematic section a device according to the invention.
  • the moving in the transport direction 2 substrate 1 as a material web leads a laminar air boundary layer 3 with it.
  • the device is further comprising a chamber 41 which is open only to the substrate 1 and otherwise closed off from the surrounding outer space 40, which has a front corona electrode 5 for a high DC voltage and with a front corona electrode 5 at its leading end in the direction of transport 2 and extending transversely thereto front counterelectrode 7 on the other side 42 of the substrate 1 and in the transport direction 2 behind the front corona electrode (5) on the same side 40 of the substrate 1 as this in the region of the rear, also transverse to the transport direction 2 extending further end edge another corona electrode 6 for a high DC voltage having a further counter electrode 8 in the form of a resting single electrode on the other side 42 of the substrate.
  • the front counter electrode 7 is formed here, for example, as a guide roller, which is grounded.
  • the first chamber 41 is formed by the front corona electrode 5 and the further corona electrode 6 and by a single, upper electrode cover 19 which covers them and two lateral electrode covers 20 covering the two corona electrodes 5, 6 laterally.
  • the device for supplying the inert gas, preferably nitrogen, as inert gas nozzle 15 is arranged parallel to this, which is arranged close to the substrate 1 and aligned with this.
  • the device for supplying the inert gas has an inert gas distributor 14, on which the inert gas nozzle 15 is arranged.
  • Inertgasverteiler 14 is provided with a back in the transport direction 2, extending over the entire width of the substrate aperture 16 and two parallel to the transport direction to near the surface of one side of the substrate 1 extending side aperture 21, wherein the aperture 16 extending perpendicular to the substrate 1 is preferably aligned with the rear end of the inert gas distributor 14.
  • the front corona electrode 5 and the further corona electrode 6 each have single-tip electrodes, which lie in one plane and are equally spaced apart from each other in a pitch, as shown in FIG. 2 is shown, which are connected via current limiting resistors 29 to a high voltage generator 30, which in turn is connected to ground.
  • This schematic front view also shows in FIG. 1 shown schematic electron-ion current 9, which causes the envelope of the laminar flow 3 in the turbulent flow 10.
  • the individual tip electrodes of the further corona electrode 6 are offset by half the grid dimension 27 of the distance x / 2 with respect to the grid dimension 26 of the distance x of the single tip electrodes of the front corona electrode 5.
  • the laminar air boundary layer 3 entrained with the substrate 1 moved in the transport direction 2 passes into the region of the front corona elecrode 5.
  • the entrained, mostly turbulent air drag flow 4 is deflected upwards in front of the front corona electrode 5 and away from the moving substrate 1.
  • the behind the front corona electrode 5 forming turbulent Air boundary layer 10 is in the transport direction 2 behind and at a distance from the respect to the front corona electrode 5 preferably arranged in parallel further corona electrode 6 to a further from the substrate mitbewegten laminar residual boundary layer 23 (FIGS. FIG. 3 ) - deflected perpendicular to the surface of the moving substrate 1 within the first chamber 41 upwards as the main air flow 11 and in the closed first chamber 41 against the transport direction 2 back and moved back into the region of the first corona electrode 5.
  • a negative pressure area 12 is formed behind the further corona electrode 6 arranged there.
  • the inert gas nozzle 15 which opens in the area of this negative pressure area Inertgases sucks this in a sense in the negative pressure area 12, so that above the moving substrate 1 a -new laminar layer, but this time from inert gas as a laminar inert gas boundary layer 17 builds up with a low degree of turbulence.
  • the amount of inert gas required for sufficient inertization of the laminar inert gas boundary layer 17 is set in accordance with the velocity of the moving substrate so that a low inert gas leakage 18 moves counter to the transport direction 2 and finally passes together with the deflected main air flow 11 in the first chamber 41 with respect to this to the outside 40, then the original negative pressure area 12 fills behind the other corona electrode 6 completely with inert gas, so that there as a result low pressure arises, which prevents an air flow from the first chamber 41 surrounding outer space 40 is sucked.
  • the second embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from the first embodiment in that between the further corona electrode 6 and the Inertgasverteiler 14 and the inert gas 15, a rear corona electrode 22 and another chamber 43, formed by the electrode cover 19 and the two side electrode covers 20 is formed in the
  • the further corona electrode 6 is a turbulent residual boundary layer 24 builds up without the remaining after the front corona electrode 5 remaining laminar boundary layer 23 is present measurable.
  • the single tip electrodes of the other Electrode 6 offset by half the pitch 27 of the distance x / 2 with respect to the front corona electrode 5 and the rear corona electrode 22.
  • the third embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs from the second embodiment ( FIG. 3 ) in that directly behind the inert gas distributor 14 a dryer, in the form of a UV radiation source 34 with a final quartz glass plate 35 which extends substantially parallel to the substrate 1, so that the inert gas boundary layer 17 formed by the inert gas nozzle 17 without the disruptive oxygen can have a positive effect on the drying or curing process.
  • the entire assembly is provided with a lower cover 37 and two side covers 36 which extend below the substrate 1 and arranged in the transport direction 2 behind the UV radiation source 34 final corona electrode 31, so that the laminar inert gas boundary layer 17 in a turbulent inert gas boundary layer 33 turns over and the mostly turbulent drag flow of the Intertgases 32 is stowed back into the space 38 between the quartz glass plate 35 and the substrate 1.
  • the turbulent inert gas layer 33 leaves the device in the outer space 40th

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Abstract

The air hydrogen replacement device replaces the hydrogen with nitrogen from the air boundary layer (3) of the substrates (1) of material webs moving in the transporting direction (2). It has two corona electrodes (5, 6) and a counter-electrode (7). The device (15) supplying the inert gas to the region of the second corona electrode (6) comes out in the negative pressure zone (12).

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung gemäss dem Oberbegriff des Hauptanspruchs.The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of the main claim.

Eine solche Vorrichtung ist zum Einsatz beim Bogenoffsetdruck bekannt ( DE-100 50 517 A1 ), bei der allerdings die erste Kammer die Einrichtung zum Zuführen des Inertgases aufweist.Such a device is known for use in sheet-fed offset printing ( DE-100 50 517 A1 ), wherein, however, the first chamber has the means for supplying the inert gas.

Es ist beim Trocknen (Härten) von UV-Farben oder -Lacken allgemein bekannt, daß der unmittelbar an der Farb- bzw. Lackoberfläche befindliche Sauerstoff der Luft mit den Fotoinitiatoren sogenannte freie Radikale bildet, welche die eigentliche Funktion der Fotoinitiatoren behindert, was O2-Inhibierung genannt wird. Es muß daher bei Anwesenheit von Luftsauerstoff die Menge an teuren Fotoinitiatoren entsprechend erhöht werden, was den Druck verteuert und daher unerwünscht ist.It is generally known during the drying (curing) of UV inks or varnishes that the oxygen present directly on the paint or varnish surface forms so-called free radicals with the photoinitiators, which hampers the actual function of the photoinitiators, which is O 2 Inhibition is called. It must therefore be increased accordingly in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, the amount of expensive photoinitiators, which increases the cost of printing and therefore undesirable.

Aus demselben Grunde werden UV-Trockner oder Plasmatrockner häufig als Kammern ausgebildet und diese mit dem Inertgas, beispielsweise Stickstoff gespült. Die Ein- und Auslaufspalte für das Substrat sollen hierbei so klein als möglich sein, um die Stickstoffverluste in Grenzen zu halten. Solche Kammern sind an sich bekannt ( DE-198 57 984 A1 und DE-297 07 190 U1 ).For the same reason, UV dryers or plasma dryers are often formed as chambers and these are purged with the inert gas, for example nitrogen. The inlet and outlet gaps for the substrate should be as small as possible in order to keep the nitrogen losses within limits. Such chambers are known per se ( DE-198 57 984 A1 and DE-297 07 190 U1 ).

Die bekannte gattungsgemäße Vorrichtung ( DE-100 50 517 A1 ) gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 ist mit einer solchen Kammer versehen, die mit Inertgas gespült wird. Hierbei wird die Abdichtung der Kammer in der Bogenoffsetdruckmaschine über die in Transportrichtung an der vorderen sowie hinteren Abschlusskante angeordneten vorderen Koronaelektrode bzw. weiteren Koronaelektroden, die an eine hohe Gleichspannung angeschlossen sind, abgedichtet. Es wird dabei bei der bekannten gattungsgemäßen Vorrichtung von dem auch bekannten Prinzip Gebrauch gemacht, die gasförmige laminare Luftgrenzschicht, die von einem bewegten Substrat mitgeführt wird, über eine Koronaelektrode, welche an eine positive oder negative Hochspannung angeschlossen ist, mit einer zugeordneten Gegenelektrode auf der anderen Seite des Substrats in eine turbulente Strömung umzuwandeln ( DE-195 25 453 A1 ).The known generic device ( DE-100 50 517 A1 ) according to the preamble of claim 1 is provided with such a chamber which is purged with inert gas. In this case, the sealing of the chamber in the sheet-fed offset printing press is sealed off by the front corona electrode or further corona electrodes which are connected to a high direct voltage in the transport direction at the front and rear end edges. It is made in the known generic device of the well-known principle use, the gaseous laminar air boundary layer, which is carried by a moving substrate via a corona electrode which is connected to a positive or negative high voltage, with an associated counter electrode on the other To convert the side of the substrate into a turbulent flow ( DE-195 25 453 A1 ).

Die bekannte gattungsgemäße Vorrichtung hat sich nicht bewährt. Zum einen ist immer noch ein sehr großer Verbrauch an Stickstoff erforderlich, was die Kosten für den Betrieb der bekannten Einrichtung beträchtlich vergrößert. Zum anderen muß wegen des gleichwohl schlechten Wirkungsgrades noch erhebliche Energie für die Trockner in Form der UV-Strahlungsquellen eingesetzt werden. Hinzu kommt die immer noch beträchtliche Menge an erforderlichen teuren Fotoinitiatoren.The known generic device has not been proven. Firstly, a very large consumption of nitrogen is still required, which considerably increases the cost of operating the known device. On the other hand, considerable energy must still be used for the dryers in the form of the UV radiation sources because of the nevertheless poor efficiency. Added to this is the still considerable amount of expensive photoinitiators required.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine gattungsgemäße Vorrichtung gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Hauptanspruchs so weiterzubilden sowie eine Verwendung derselben vorzuschlagen, mit denen die Menge an erforderlichem Inertgas und damit die Betriebskosten beträchtlich reduziert werden können.The invention has the object of developing a generic device according to the preamble of the main claim so as to suggest a use of the same, with which the amount of inert gas required and thus the operating costs can be considerably reduced.

Diese Aufgabe wird bei einer gattungsgemäßen Vorrichtung gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Hauptanspruchs erfindungsgemäß durch dessen kennzeichnende Merkmale gelöst.This object is achieved according to the invention in a generic device according to the preamble of the main claim by its characterizing features.

Die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung kann in Druckmaschinen für Tiefdruck, Flexodruck, Rollenoffsetdruck oder Bogenoffsetdruck und bei diversen Beschichtungsverfahren, zum Beispiel in der Papier- oder Textilindustrie eingesetzt werden, bei denen zunehmend UV-härtende Farben oder Lacke -allgemein UV-härtende Systeme genannt- eingesetzt werden. Diese enthalten einen bestimmten Anteil an sogenannten Fotoinitiatoren. Die Härtung bzw. Trocknung solcher Farben oder Lacke erfolgt in einem UV-Trockner. Dort werden abhängig von den verwendeten UV-Farben oder Lacken schmalbandige sogenannte UV-Excimerstrahler oder breitbandige UV-Strahler als Strahlungsquellen eingesetzt. Die Fotoinitiatoren absorbieren dabei einen Teil der angebotenen UV-Strahlungsenergie und lösen die Polymarisation bzw. Härtung der UV-Farben oder Lacke aus. Man spricht auch von strahlenchemisch härtenden Systemen. Eng verwandt hiermit sind auch sogenannte Plasmatrockner, bei denen die Energie für die Härtung von einer Hochfrequenz-Koronaentladung erzeugt wird, sowie das Härten durch Elektronenstrahlen (ES) bei denen die Erfindung auch anwendbar ist.The device according to the invention can be used in printing machines for gravure, flexographic, web offset or sheet-fed offset printing and in various coating processes, for example in the paper or textile industry, in which increasingly UV-curing inks or coatings -generally UV-curing systems called- are used. These contain a certain amount of so-called photoinitiators. The curing or drying of such paints or varnishes takes place in a UV dryer. There, depending on the UV inks or varnishes used, narrow-band so-called UV excimer radiators or broadband UV radiators are used as radiation sources. The photoinitiators absorb part of the UV radiation energy offered and trigger the polymarization or curing of the UV inks or lacquers. One speaks also of radiation-chemically curing systems. Closely related to this are also so-called plasma dryers in which the energy for the curing of a high-frequency corona discharge is generated, and the curing by electron beams (ES) in which the invention is also applicable.

Bei der Erfindung gelangt die mit dem in Transportrichtung bewegten Substrat mitgeführte laminare Luftgrenzschicht in den Bereich der vorderen Koroanelekrode. Der an dieser vorhandene Elektronen- bzw. Ionenstrom, nachfolgend kurz Elektronen/Ionenstrom genannt, erzeugt einen Umschlag von einem laminaren in einen turbulenten Zustand an der Oberfläche des bewegten Substrates auf dessen einer Seite, an der auch die vordere Koronaelektrode angeordnet ist. Die über der laminaren Luftgrenzschicht mitgeschleppte, meist turbulente Luftschleppströmung wird vor der vorderen Koronaelektrode nach oben und von dem bewegten Substrat weg abgelenkt. Die sich hinter der vorderen Koronaelektrode bildende turbulente Luftgrenzschicht wird in Transportrichtung hinter und mit Abstand von der bezüglich der vorderen Koronaelektrode vorzugsweise parallel angeordneten weiteren Koronaelektrode -bis auf eine weiter von dem Substrat mitbewegten laminaren Restgrenzschicht- senkrecht zur Oberfläche des bewegten Substrates innerhalb der ersten Kammer nach oben als Hauptluftstrom abgelenkt und in der geschlossenen ersten Kammer -entgegen der Transportrichtung- zurück und wieder in dem Bereich der ersten Koronaelektrode bewegt. Durch die dort vorhandenen Lücken zwischen den einzelnen Elektronen/Ionenströmen der einzelnen benachbarten Spitzen der vorderen Koronaelektrode gelangt dieser Hauptluftstrom -entgegen der Transportrichtungwieder außerhalb der ersten Kammer in den diese umgebenden Außenraum ins Freie und steigt zusammen mit der Luftschleppströmung vor der vorderen Koronaelektrode senkrecht zum Substrat nach oben.In the invention, the laminar air boundary layer entrained with the substrate moved in the transport direction reaches the area of the front corona field. The existing at this existing electron or ion current, hereinafter referred to briefly as electrons / ion current, generates an envelope from a laminar to a turbulent state on the surface of the moving substrate on one side, on which the front corona electrode is arranged. The mostly turbulent air drag flow entrained above the laminar air boundary layer is deflected upwards in front of the front corona electrode and away from the moving substrate. The turbulent air boundary layer forming behind the front corona electrode travels in the transport direction behind and at a distance from the further corona electrode, preferably parallel to the front corona electrode, to a laminar residual boundary layer moving further from the substrate perpendicular to the surface of the moving substrate within the first chamber deflected above as the main air flow and in the closed first chamber -in contrast to the transport direction- moved back and again in the region of the first corona electrode. Due to the gaps existing there between the individual electron / ion streams of the individual adjacent tips of the front corona electrode, this main air stream again moves outside the first chamber into the surrounding outer space and rises together with the air drag flow in front of the front corona electrode perpendicular to the substrate above.

Wegen des sogenannten Abrakelns der turbulenten Luftgrenzschicht durch die weitere Koronaelektrode an der in Transportrichtung hinteren Kante der ersten -abgeschlossenen- Kammer entsteht hinter der dort angeordneten weiteren Koronaelektrode ein Unterdruckgebiet. Die im Bereich dieses Unterdruckgebiets mündende Einrichtung zum Zuführen des Inertgases saugt dieses gewissermaßen in das Unterdruckgebiet an, so daß sich über dem bewegten Substrat eine -neue- laminare Schicht, diesmal aber aus Inertgas als laminare Inertgasgrenzschicht mit geringem Turbulenzgrad aufbaut. Wenn die für eine ausreichende Inertisierung der laminaren Inertgasschicht erforderliche Inertgasmenge in Abhängigkeit von der Geschwindigkeit des bewegten Substrates so eingestellt wird, daß ein geringer Inertgasleckstrom sich entgegen der Transportrichtung bewegt und zusammen mit dem abgelenkten Hauptluftstrom in der ersten Kammer letztlich bezüglich dieser ins Freie gelangt, so füllt sich das ursprüngliche Unterdruckgebiet hinter der weiteren Koronaelektrode vollständig mit Inertgas, so daß infolgedessen dort ein geringer Überdruck entsteht, welcher verhindert, daß ein Luftstrom aus dem die erste Kammer umgebenden Außenraum angesaugt wird.Because of the so-called scraping of the turbulent air boundary layer through the further corona electrode the rear edge of the first -closed chamber in the transport direction forms a negative pressure area behind the further corona electrode arranged there. The opening in the region of this negative pressure area means for supplying the inert gas so to speak sucked into the negative pressure area, so that builds on the moving substrate a -new laminar layer, but this time from inert gas as a laminar inert gas boundary layer with low turbulence. If the amount of inert gas required for sufficient inertization of the laminar inert gas layer is adjusted in dependence on the speed of the moving substrate so that a small inert gas leakage current moves in the opposite direction to the transport direction and ultimately escapes with respect to the deflected main air flow in the first chamber, then fills the original negative pressure area behind the other corona electrode completely with inert gas, so that there arises a slight overpressure, which prevents an air flow is sucked from the outer chamber surrounding the first chamber.

Mit der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung wird der Verbrauch an Inertgas zur Inertisierung der bahnnahen Inertgasgrenzschicht hinter der weiteren Koronaelektrode im Vergleich zum Stand der Technik und bis zu 80 % reduziert, was eine nicht unbeträchtliche Einsparung an Betriebskosten bedeutet. Wegen des geringen Restsauerstoffgehaltes in der bahnnahen Grenzschicht kann außerdem die erforderliche Menge an teueren Fotoinitiatoren weiter reduziert werden. Zugleich ist dies mit einer Abnahme der von den Fotoinitiatoren ausgehenden störenden Geruchsbildung verbunden. Es sind deshalb künftig auch Produkte herstellbar, bei denen diese Geruchsbildung bisher aus hygienischen Gründen nicht tolerierbar war. Diese Wirkung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung wird weiter merkbar verbessert durch die zwischen der weiteren Koronaelektrode und der Einrichtung zum Zuführen des Inertgases angeordntete weitere Kammer, vorzugsweise eine zu der ersten Kammer identische Kammer mit der hinteren Koronalektrode und mit deren hinterer Gegenelektrode. Mit dieser kann dann auch zumeist die laminare Restgrenzschicht beseitigt werden, was vor allem bei höheren Geschwindigkeiten des bewegten Substrats von Bedeutung ist.With the device according to the invention, the consumption of inert gas for inerting the web-near inert gas boundary layer behind the other corona electrode compared to the prior art and up to 80% is reduced, which means a not inconsiderable saving on operating costs. In addition, because of the low residual oxygen content in the near-boundary layer, the required amount of expensive photoinitiators can be further reduced. At the same time this is associated with a decrease in the emanating from the photoinitiators disturbing odors. It is therefore future Also produce products in which this odor was previously intolerable for reasons of hygiene. This effect of the device according to the invention is further noticeably improved by the further chamber arranged between the further corona electrode and the device for supplying the inert gas, preferably a chamber identical to the first chamber with the rear corona electrode and with its rear counterelectrode. With this, then usually the laminar residual boundary layer can be eliminated, which is particularly important at higher speeds of the moving substrate of importance.

Es ist zwar eine Vorrichtung zur z.T. nur temporär wirkenden Korona-Vorbehandlung von Oberflächen zur Erhöhung deren Oberflächenenergie zwecks besserer Haftung von Druckfarben und Coatings bekannt ( US-A-4 563 316 und JP-A-58 225133 ), bei der ein Inertgas-strahl durch eine Düse im Bereich einer Korona-Elektrode auf die Oberfläche des Substrates gerichtet wird; diese bekannten Vorrichtungen arbeiten aber im Gegensatz zur Erfindung mit einer hochgespannten Wechselspannung hoher Frequenz von einigen Kilohertz.Although it is a device for some only temporary acting corona pretreatment of surfaces to increase their surface energy for the purpose of better adhesion of printing inks and coatings known ( US-A-4 563 316 and JP-A-58 225133 ), in which an inert gas jet is directed through a nozzle in the region of a corona electrode on the surface of the substrate; However, these known devices work in contrast to the invention with a high-voltage voltage high frequency of a few kilohertz.

Von Vorteil ist es ferner, wenn unmittelbar hinter der Einrichtung zum Zuführen des Inertgases ein Trockner in Form einer UV-Strahlungsquelle angeordnet wird. Wegen des geringen Sauerstoffgehaltes in der bahnnahen Inertgasschicht kann bei gleichzeitig sehr niedrigem Stickstoffverbrauch die für eine ausreichende Härtung der UV-Farben und/oder UV-Lacke erforderliche UV-Strahlungsleistung -bezogen auf den Stand der Technik- um etwa 40 % reduziert werden. Neben der Einsparung an elektrischer Energie wird darüberhinaus auch der Infrarotanteil breitbandiger UV-Strahler reduziert, was bei der Verarbeitung wärmeempfindlicher Substrate, wie PE-Folie von Vorteil ist.It is also advantageous if a dryer in the form of a UV radiation source is arranged directly behind the device for supplying the inert gas. Because of the low oxygen content in the layer close to the inert gas layer, the UV radiant power required for adequate curing of the UV inks and / or UV lacquers can be reduced by about 40%, based on the state of the art, with very low nitrogen consumption. In addition to the saving of electrical energy In addition, the infrared component of broadband UV lamps is also reduced, which is advantageous in the processing of heat-sensitive substrates such as PE film.

Wird in zweckmäßiger Ausgestaltung der Erfindung hinter der UV-Strahlungsquelle eine abschließende Abschluss-Koronaelektrode mit zugehöriger Gegenelektrode auf der anderen Seite des Substrates angeordnet und die ganze Anordnung nach Art einer Kammer gekapselt, so kann die im wesentlichen aus Inertgas bestehende, meist turbulente, über der Inertgasgrenzschicht befindliche Schleppströmung in die von der gekapselten Ausbildung gebildete Kammer -entgegen der Transportrichtung- zurückgeleitet werden, so daß ein Teil dieses Inertgases wieder für die laminare Inertgasgrenzschicht zur Verfügung steht. Der Grund für die Rückleitung ist der von dem Elektronen/Ionenstrom erzeugte Strömungswiderstand der Abschluss-Koronaelektrode. Wegen des damit verbunden geringen Druckanstiegs in der gekapselten Kammer ist eine zusätzliche Reduzierung des Inertgasverbrauchs möglich.If, in an expedient embodiment of the invention, a final terminating corona electrode with associated counterelectrode is arranged on the other side of the substrate behind the UV radiation source and the entire arrangement is encapsulated in the manner of a chamber, then the essentially turbulent one, consisting essentially of inert gas, can be used Inertgasgrenzschicht located Schleppströmung in the chamber formed by the encapsulated formation - against the transport direction - are returned, so that a part of this inert gas is available again for the laminar inert gas boundary layer. The reason for the return is the flow resistance of the terminal corona electrode created by the electron / ion current. Because of the associated low pressure increase in the encapsulated Chamber is an additional reduction of the inert gas consumption possible.

Weitere zweckmäßige Ausgestaltungen und Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen gekennzeichnet.Further expedient refinements and developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung wird nachfolgend unter Bezugnahme auf die Zeichnung erläutert. In dieser zeigt:

Figur 1
eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, in schematischer Seitenansicht;
Figur 2
die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1, in schematischer Frontansicht;
Figur 3
eine zweite Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und
Figur 4
eine dritte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.
An embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawing. In this shows:
FIG. 1
a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, in a schematic side view;
FIG. 2
the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in a schematic front view;
FIG. 3
a second embodiment of the device according to the invention and
FIG. 4
a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In Figur 1 ist in schematischem Schnitt eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung dargestellt. Das in Transportrichtung 2 bewegte Substrat 1 als Materialbahn führt eine laminare Luftgrenzschicht 3 mit sich. Die Vorrichtung ist ferner mit einer nur zu dem Substrat 1 hin offenen und an sonsten von dem umgebenden Außenraum 40 abgeschlossenen Kammer 41, die an ihrer in Transportrichtung 2 vorderen und sich quer zu dieser erstreckenden Abschlusskante eine vordere Koronaelektrode 5 für eine hohe Gleichspannung und mit einer vorderen Gegenelektrode 7 auf der anderen Seite 42 des Substratrs 1 und die in Transportrichtung 2 hinter der vorderen Koronaelektrode (5) auf derselben Seite 40 des Substrats 1 wie diese im Bereich der hinteren, sich ebenfalls quer zur Transportrichtung 2 erstreckenden weiteren Abschlusskante eine weitere Koronaelektrode 6 für eine hohe Gleichspannung mit einer weiteren Gegenelektrode 8 in Form einer ruhenden Einzelelektrode auf der anderen Seite 42 des Substrats aufweist. Die vordere Gegenelektrode 7 ist hier beispielsweise als Leitwalze ausgebildet, die geerdet ist.In FIG. 1 is shown in schematic section a device according to the invention. The moving in the transport direction 2 substrate 1 as a material web leads a laminar air boundary layer 3 with it. The device is further comprising a chamber 41 which is open only to the substrate 1 and otherwise closed off from the surrounding outer space 40, which has a front corona electrode 5 for a high DC voltage and with a front corona electrode 5 at its leading end in the direction of transport 2 and extending transversely thereto front counterelectrode 7 on the other side 42 of the substrate 1 and in the transport direction 2 behind the front corona electrode (5) on the same side 40 of the substrate 1 as this in the region of the rear, also transverse to the transport direction 2 extending further end edge another corona electrode 6 for a high DC voltage having a further counter electrode 8 in the form of a resting single electrode on the other side 42 of the substrate. The front counter electrode 7 is formed here, for example, as a guide roller, which is grounded.

Die erste Kammer 41 ist hierbei von der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 sowie der weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 und einer diese beiden abdeckenden, einzigen oberen Elektrodenabdeckung 19 sowie zwei die beiden Koronaelektroden 5, 6 seitlich abdeckenden seitlichen Elektrodenabdeckungen 20 gebildet. In Transportrichtung 2 hinter der weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 ist parallel zu dieser die Einrichtung zum Zuführen des Inertgases, vorzugsweise Stickstoff, als Inertgasdüse 15 angeordnet, die nahe bezüglich des Substrats 1 angeordnet und auf dieses ausgerichtet ist.In this case, the first chamber 41 is formed by the front corona electrode 5 and the further corona electrode 6 and by a single, upper electrode cover 19 which covers them and two lateral electrode covers 20 covering the two corona electrodes 5, 6 laterally. In the transport direction 2 behind the further corona electrode 6, the device for supplying the inert gas, preferably nitrogen, as inert gas nozzle 15 is arranged parallel to this, which is arranged close to the substrate 1 and aligned with this.

Die Einrichtung zum Zuführen des Inertgases weist einen Inertgasverteiler 14 auf, an welchem die Inertgasdüse 15 angeordnet ist.The device for supplying the inert gas has an inert gas distributor 14, on which the inert gas nozzle 15 is arranged.

Der Inertgasverteiler 14 ist mit einer in Transportrichtung 2 rückseitigen, sich über die gesamte Breite des Substrats erstreckenden Blende 16 und zwei parallel zur Transportrichtung sich bis nahe zu der Oberfläche der einen Seite des Substrats 1 erstreckenden seitlichen Blenden 21 versehen, wobei die senkrecht zu dem Substrat 1 verlaufende Blende 16 mit dem rückseitigen Ende des Inertgasverteilers 14 vorzugsweise fluchtet.Inertgasverteiler 14 is provided with a back in the transport direction 2, extending over the entire width of the substrate aperture 16 and two parallel to the transport direction to near the surface of one side of the substrate 1 extending side aperture 21, wherein the aperture 16 extending perpendicular to the substrate 1 is preferably aligned with the rear end of the inert gas distributor 14.

Die vordere Koronaelektrode 5 sowie die weitere Koronaelektrode 6 weisen jeweils in einer Ebene liegende, voneinander in einem Rastermaß gleich beabstandete Einzelspitzenelektroden auf, wie dies in Figur 2 gezeigt ist, die über Strombegrenzungswiderstände 29 an einen Hochspannungsgenerator 30 angeschlossen sind, der seinerseits mit Erde verbunden ist. Diese schematische Frontansicht zeigt den auch in Figur 1 dargestellten schematischen Elektronen-Ionenstromen 9, der den Umschlag der laminaren Strömung 3 in die turbulente Strömung 10 bewirkt. Die Einzelspitzenelektroden der weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 sind um das halbe Rastermaß 27 des Abstandes x/2 bezüglich des Rastermaßes 26 des Abstandes x der Einzelspitzenelektroden der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 versetzt.The front corona electrode 5 and the further corona electrode 6 each have single-tip electrodes, which lie in one plane and are equally spaced apart from each other in a pitch, as shown in FIG FIG. 2 is shown, which are connected via current limiting resistors 29 to a high voltage generator 30, which in turn is connected to ground. This schematic front view also shows in FIG. 1 shown schematic electron-ion current 9, which causes the envelope of the laminar flow 3 in the turbulent flow 10. The individual tip electrodes of the further corona electrode 6 are offset by half the grid dimension 27 of the distance x / 2 with respect to the grid dimension 26 of the distance x of the single tip electrodes of the front corona electrode 5.

Bei der Erfindung gelangt die mit dem in Transportrichtung 2 bewegten Substrat 1 mitgeführte laminare Luftgrenzschicht 3 in den Bereich der vorderen Koroanelekrode 5. Der an dieser vorhandene Elektronen/Ionenstrom 9 erzeugt einen Umschlag von einem laminaren in einen turbulenten Zustand als turbulente Luftgrenzschicht 10 an der Oberfläche des bewegten Substrates 1 auf dessen einer -in der Zeichnung oberen- Seite, an der auch die vordere Koronaelektrode 5 angeordnet ist. Die mitgeschleppte, meist turbulente Luftschleppströmung 4 wird vor der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 nach oben und von dem bewegten Substrat 1 weg abgelenkt. Die sich hinter der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 bildende turbulente Luftgrenzschicht 10 wird in Transportrichtung 2 hinter und mit Abstand von der bezüglich der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 vorzugsweise parallel angeordneten weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 -bis auf eine weiter von dem Substrat mitbewegten laminaren Restgrenzschicht 23 (Figur 3)- senkrecht zur Oberfläche des bewegten Substrates 1 innerhalb der ersten Kammer 41 nach oben als Hauptluftstrom 11 abgelenkt und in der geschlossenen ersten Kammer 41 entgegen der Transportrichtung 2 zurück und wieder in den Bereich der ersten Koronaelektrode 5 bewegt. Durch die dort vorhandenen Lücken 28 zwischen den einzelnen Elektroden/Ionenströmen 9 der einzelnen benachbarten Spitzen der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 gelangt dieser Hauptluftstrom 11 -entgegen der Transportrichtung 2-wieder außerhalb der ersten Kammer 41 in den diese umgebenden Außenraum 40 ins Freie und steigt zusammen mit der Luftschleppströmung 4 vor der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 senkrecht zum Substrat 1 nach oben.In the present invention, the laminar air boundary layer 3 entrained with the substrate 1 moved in the transport direction 2 passes into the region of the front corona elecrode 5. The electron / ion stream 9 present there generates an envelope from a laminar to a turbulent state as a turbulent air boundary layer 10 at the surface of the moving substrate 1 on the one -in the drawing top side on which the front corona electrode 5 is arranged. The entrained, mostly turbulent air drag flow 4 is deflected upwards in front of the front corona electrode 5 and away from the moving substrate 1. The behind the front corona electrode 5 forming turbulent Air boundary layer 10 is in the transport direction 2 behind and at a distance from the respect to the front corona electrode 5 preferably arranged in parallel further corona electrode 6 to a further from the substrate mitbewegten laminar residual boundary layer 23 (FIGS. FIG. 3 ) - deflected perpendicular to the surface of the moving substrate 1 within the first chamber 41 upwards as the main air flow 11 and in the closed first chamber 41 against the transport direction 2 back and moved back into the region of the first corona electrode 5. Due to the gaps 28 present between the individual electrodes / ion streams 9 of the individual adjacent tips of the front corona electrode 5, this main air flow 11 -in contrast to the transport direction 2-again outside the first chamber 41 into the surrounding outer space 40 to the outside and rises together with the Luftschleppströmung 4 in front of the front corona electrode 5 perpendicular to the substrate 1 upwards.

Wegen des sogenannten Abrakelns der turbulenten Luftgrenzschicht 10 durch die weitere Koronaelektrode 6 an der in Transportrichtung 2 hinteren Kante der ersten -abgeschlossenen- Kammer 41 entsteht hinter der dort angeordneten weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 ein Unterdruckgebiet 12. Die im Bereich dieses Unterdruckgebiets mündende Inertgasdüse 15 zum Zuführen des Inertgases saugt dieses gewissermaßen in das Unterdruckgebiet 12 an, so daß sich über dem bewegten Substrat 1 eine -neue- laminare Schicht, diesmal aber aus Inertgas als laminare Inertgasgrenzschicht 17 mit geringem Turbulenzgrad aufbaut. Wenn die für eine ausreichende Inertisierung der laminaren Inertgasgrenzschicht 17 erforderliche Inertgasmenge in Abhängigkeit von der Geschwindigkeit des bewegten Substrates so eingestellt wird, daß ein geringer Inertgasleckstrom 18 sich entgegen der Transportrichtung 2 bewegt und zusammen mit dem abgelenkten Hauptluftstrom 11 in der ersten Kammer 41 letztlich bezüglich dieser ins Freie 40 gelangt, so füllt sich das ursprüngliche Unterdruckgebiet 12 hinter der weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 vollständig mit Inertgas, so daß infolgedessen dort ein geringer Überdruck entsteht, welcher verhindert, daß ein Luftstrom aus dem die erste Kammer 41 umgebenden Außenraum 40 angesaugt wird.Because of the so-called scraping off of the turbulent air boundary layer 10 by the further corona electrode 6 at the rear edge of the first -closed-chamber 41 in the transport direction 2, a negative pressure area 12 is formed behind the further corona electrode 6 arranged there. The inert gas nozzle 15 which opens in the area of this negative pressure area Inertgases sucks this in a sense in the negative pressure area 12, so that above the moving substrate 1 a -new laminar layer, but this time from inert gas as a laminar inert gas boundary layer 17 builds up with a low degree of turbulence. When the amount of inert gas required for sufficient inertization of the laminar inert gas boundary layer 17 is set in accordance with the velocity of the moving substrate so that a low inert gas leakage 18 moves counter to the transport direction 2 and finally passes together with the deflected main air flow 11 in the first chamber 41 with respect to this to the outside 40, then the original negative pressure area 12 fills behind the other corona electrode 6 completely with inert gas, so that there as a result low pressure arises, which prevents an air flow from the first chamber 41 surrounding outer space 40 is sucked.

Die zweite Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 3 unterscheidet sich von der ersten Ausführungsform dadurch, daß zwischen der weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 und dem Inertgasverteiler 14 bzw. der Inertgasdüse 15 eine hintere Koronaelektrode 22 und eine weitere Kammer 43, abgeschlossen durch die Elektrodenabdeckung 19 und die beiden seitlichen Elektrodenabdeckungen 20 gebildet ist, in der nach der weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 sich eine turbulente Restgrenzschicht 24 aufbaut, ohne daß die nach der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 noch vorhandene laminare Restgrenzschicht 23 meßbar vorhanden ist.The second embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from the first embodiment in that between the further corona electrode 6 and the Inertgasverteiler 14 and the inert gas 15, a rear corona electrode 22 and another chamber 43, formed by the electrode cover 19 and the two side electrode covers 20 is formed in the The further corona electrode 6 is a turbulent residual boundary layer 24 builds up without the remaining after the front corona electrode 5 remaining laminar boundary layer 23 is present measurable.

Von dem Unterdruckgebiet 12 nach der hinteren Koronaelektrode 22 erstreckt sich ein Inertgasleckstrom 18, der zusammen mit dem nach oben abgelenkten Restluftstrom 25 -entgegen der Transportrichtung 2- in den Bereich der weiteren Koronaelektrode 6 und von dort zu dem abgelenkten Hauptluftstrom 11 in die erste Kammer 41 und von dort, wie zu Figur 1 beschrieben, in den Außenraum 40 gelangt.From the negative pressure region 12 to the rear corona electrode 22 extends an inert gas leakage 18, which together with the deflected upward residual air flow 25 - opposite to the transport direction 2- in the region of the other corona electrode 6 and from there to the deflected main air flow 11 into the first chamber 41st and from there, how to FIG. 1 described, enters the outer space 40.

Auch bei dieser Ausführungsform sind, wie in Figur 2 dargestellt, die Einzelspitzenelektroden der weiteren Elektrode 6 um das halbe Rastermaß 27 des Abstandes x/2 bezüglich der vorderen Koronaelektrode 5 sowie der hinteren Koronaelektrode 22 versetzt.Also in this embodiment, as in FIG. 2 shown, the single tip electrodes of the other Electrode 6 offset by half the pitch 27 of the distance x / 2 with respect to the front corona electrode 5 and the rear corona electrode 22.

Die dritte Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 4 unterscheidet sich von der zweiten Ausführungsform (Figur 3) dadurch, daß unmittelbar hinter dem Inertgasverteiler 14 ein Trockner, in Form einer UV-Strahlungsquelle 34 mit einer diese abschließenden Quarzglasscheibe 35 angrenzt, die sich im wesentlichen parallel zu dem Substrat 1 erstreckt, so daß die sich von der Inertgasdüse 15 gebildete laminare Inertgasgrenzschicht 17 ohne den störenden Sauerstoff sich positiv auf den Trockungs- bzw. Härtungsprozess auswirken kann. Hierbei wird die gesamte Anordnung mit einer unteren Abdeckung 37 sowie zwei Seiten-Abdeckungen 36 versehen, die bis unterhalb des Substrates 1 reichen und eine in Transportrichtung 2 hinter der UV-Strahlungsquelle 34 angeordneten Abschluss-Koronaelektrode 31, so daß die laminare Inertgasgrenzschicht 17 in eine turbulente Inertgasgrenzschicht 33 umschlägt und die meist turbulente Schleppströmung des Intertgases 32 in den Raum 38 zwischen der Quarzglasscheibe 35 und dem Substrat 1 zurückgestaut wird. Die turbulente Inertgasschicht 33 verläßt die Einrichtung in den Außenraum 40.The third embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs from the second embodiment ( FIG. 3 ) in that directly behind the inert gas distributor 14 a dryer, in the form of a UV radiation source 34 with a final quartz glass plate 35 which extends substantially parallel to the substrate 1, so that the inert gas boundary layer 17 formed by the inert gas nozzle 17 without the disruptive oxygen can have a positive effect on the drying or curing process. Here, the entire assembly is provided with a lower cover 37 and two side covers 36 which extend below the substrate 1 and arranged in the transport direction 2 behind the UV radiation source 34 final corona electrode 31, so that the laminar inert gas boundary layer 17 in a turbulent inert gas boundary layer 33 turns over and the mostly turbulent drag flow of the Intertgases 32 is stowed back into the space 38 between the quartz glass plate 35 and the substrate 1. The turbulent inert gas layer 33 leaves the device in the outer space 40th

Claims (17)

  1. Apparatus for replacement of air oxygen by an inert gas, for example nitrogen from the at least one laminar air boundary layer (3) of substrates (1) which are moving in a transport direction (2), for example high-speed material webs with a first chamber (41) which is open only towards the substrate and is otherwise closed off from the surrounding external area (40), which first chamber (41) has a front corona electrode (5), in the area of its closure edge at the front in the transport direction (2) and extended transversely with respect thereto, for a high DC voltage with a front opposing electrode (7) on the other side (42) of the substrate (1) and which has a further corona electrode (6) behind the front corona electrode (5) in the transport direction (2), on the same side of the substrate (1) as this further closure edge at the rear which likewise extends transversely with respect to the transport direction (2), for a high DC voltage with a further opposing electrode (8) on the other side (42) of the substrate (1), and having a device for supplying the inert gas (15), characterized in that the device for supplying the inert gas (15) opens in the area of the reduced-pressure region (12) which is formed immediately behind the electron/ion current (9) of the further corona electrode (6) in the transport direction (2).
  2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device for supplying the inert gas has an inert gas distributor (14) and is in the form of an inert gas nozzle (15) which is arranged close to the substrate (1), opens in the reduced-pressure region (12) and is directed at it.
  3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inert gas distributor (14) is provided with a panel (16) which is at the rear in the transport direction (2) and extends over the entire width of the substrate (1), and is provided with two side panels (21) which extend parallel to the transport direction to a point close to the surface of the substrate (1).
  4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the panel (16) is aligned with the rear closure of the inert gas distributor (14) in the transport direction.
  5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first chamber (41) is formed by the front (5) and the further corona electrode (6), a single upper electrode cover (19) which covers both of them, and by two side electrode covers (20) which cover both corona electrodes at the side.
  6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the front and/or the further opposing electrode (7, 8) are/is earthed and are/is in the form of a guide roller (7).
  7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the front and/or the further opposing electrode (7, 8) are/is earthed and/or is in the form of a stationary electrode (8).
  8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the front and/or the further corona electrode (5, 6) are/is at equal distances from one another on a grid (26) and have individual tip electrodes which lie on a plane and are directed at an upper face of the substrate (1).
  9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the individual tip electrodes of the front corona electrode (5) are arranged offset by half the grid spacing (27) with respect to that grid spacing (26) of the further corona electrode (6).
  10. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a rear corona electrode (22) with a rear opposing electrode (8) is arranged between the inert gas nozzle (15) and the further corona electrode (6), forming a further chamber (43).
  11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that, in the same way that the first chamber (41) is formed by a rear corona electrode (22), the further chamber (43) is formed by the further corona electrode (6), a single upper electrode cover (19) which covers both of them, and by two side electrode covers (20) which cover these two corona electrodes at the side.
  12. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a UV radiation source (34) is arranged immediately behind the inert gas nozzle (15) in the transport direction (2) and has a quartz glass disc (35) which closes it and extends parallel to the substrate (1).
  13. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a UV radiation source (34) with a closure corona electrode (31) is arranged behind the inert gas nozzle (15) in the transport direction (2), alongside a closure opposing electrode (7) on the other side of the substrate (1).
  14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, characterized in that the closure opposing electrode (7) is in the form of an earthed guide roller.
  15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the side electrode covers (20) are in the form of side covers (36) which are guided at the side alongside the substrate (1) and as far as its other side (42), and are designed to be closed on the other side (42) by a lower chamber cover (37).
  16. Apparatus according to one of Claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the closure corona electrode (31) together with the side covers (36) of the lower chamber cover (37) and the opposing electrodes (7) which are in the form of guide rollers form a chamber structure.
  17. Use of the apparatus in one of Claims 1 to 16 for printing machines for intaglio printing, flexographic printing, roll-offset printing or sheet-offset printing and for coating machines, for example in the paper or textile industry.
EP03026135A 2003-01-22 2003-11-13 Apparatus for replacing the oxygen in a laminar air boundary layer by an inert gas, and use thereof Expired - Lifetime EP1441192B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10302367A DE10302367A1 (en) 2003-01-22 2003-01-22 Device for replacing atmospheric oxygen with an inert gas from a laminar air boundary layer and using the same
DE10302367 2003-01-22

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1441192A2 EP1441192A2 (en) 2004-07-28
EP1441192A3 EP1441192A3 (en) 2006-05-17
EP1441192B1 true EP1441192B1 (en) 2008-07-02

Family

ID=32520064

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03026135A Expired - Lifetime EP1441192B1 (en) 2003-01-22 2003-11-13 Apparatus for replacing the oxygen in a laminar air boundary layer by an inert gas, and use thereof

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US7431897B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1441192B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4417735B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE399971T1 (en)
DE (2) DE10302367A1 (en)

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US9527307B2 (en) 2010-12-15 2016-12-27 Electronics For Imaging, Inc. Oxygen inhibition for print-head reliability
US9487010B2 (en) 2010-12-15 2016-11-08 Electronics For Imaging, Inc. InkJet printer with controlled oxygen levels
JP5726653B2 (en) * 2011-01-28 2015-06-03 富士フイルム株式会社 Active energy ray irradiation apparatus and method, coating apparatus, and image forming apparatus
WO2017170949A1 (en) * 2016-03-30 2017-10-05 京セラ株式会社 Light irradiating device and printing device
DE202018003637U1 (en) 2018-08-06 2018-09-13 Hermann Künzig Electrostatic discharge electrode in conjunction with an extraction system
DE102018124521A1 (en) * 2018-10-04 2020-04-09 Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Treatment plant for a flexible material web that can be passed through a treatment furnace, in particular plastic film
DE102018130280A1 (en) * 2018-11-29 2020-06-04 Koenig & Bauer Ag Drying unit for drying printed substrates

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1441192A3 (en) 2006-05-17
JP4417735B2 (en) 2010-02-17
DE50310062D1 (en) 2008-08-14
ATE399971T1 (en) 2008-07-15
US7431897B2 (en) 2008-10-07
EP1441192A2 (en) 2004-07-28
DE10302367A1 (en) 2004-08-05
JP2004243316A (en) 2004-09-02
US20040184973A1 (en) 2004-09-23

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