JP2003088791A - Method and apparatus for coating - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coating apparatus which can do liquid contact between a base material and a nozzle simply and promptly. SOLUTION: In the coating apparatus in which coating liquid is guided to the outlet 89 of a capillary clearance 88 formed in the nozzle 82 by a capillary phenomenon and applied to the traveling base material 28 from the outlet 89, a small amount of the coating liquid is interposed between the base material 28 and the outlet 89 by a spray nozzle 150 to be contacted with the base material 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate material such as a glass substrate used for a liquid crystal display device, or a film,
The present invention relates to a coating apparatus and a coating method for coating a coating liquid on a long web (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a base material) such as cloth and paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has previously proposed a coating method capable of thinly coating a coating liquid on the lower surface of a plate-shaped base material such as a glass substrate of a liquid crystal display device or the like (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-242242). 2001-6
2370).

This coating method comprises a liquid tank containing a coating liquid,
It has a nozzle that sinks in the coating liquid placed in the liquid tank and extends in the left-right direction with a capillary gap, and coats from the nozzle's capillary gap to the lower surface of the base material running in the front-back direction. It is a coating device for applying a liquid, and the coating liquid is applied to a base material based on the following steps.

In the first step, the liquid tank rises below the substrate with the nozzle sinking.

In the second step, only the nozzle projects from the liquid tank.

In the third step, the liquid tank rises with the nozzle protruding, and the coating liquid flowing out from the capillary gap of the nozzle is brought into contact with the coating start position on the lower surface of the base material.

In the fourth step, the liquid tank is lowered to the coating height position with the nozzle protruding and coming into contact with the lower surface of the base material.

In the fifth step, the base material is applied to the coating end position while applying the coating liquid on the lower surface of the base material.

In the sixth step, the nozzle and the liquid tank descend from the coating height position.

According to this coating method, it is possible to coat the lower surface of the base material with a predetermined coating thickness and in a flat state.

[0011]

In the above coating method, after the completion of the second step, the distance between the nozzle and the base material is 100 to 1000 μm, and the coating liquid from the nozzle adheres to the lower surface of the base material. It is difficult to get wet.

Therefore, in the third step, the liquid tank is raised together with the nozzle to bring the nozzle closer to the base material to bring the coating liquid into contact with the lower surface of the base material. Then, in this liquid-contacted state, the distance between the nozzle and the base material becomes too close, so it is necessary to perform the fourth step of lowering the liquid tank again to the height of the coating thickness.

Therefore, the work time of the third step and the fourth step is required to carry out the liquid contact, and the process time required by the manufacturers of recent liquid crystal display devices is shortened. There is a problem of being contrary.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a coating apparatus and a coating method capable of easily and quickly contacting a liquid between a base material and a nozzle.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a coating liquid is guided to an outlet of a capillary gap provided in a nozzle by a capillary phenomenon, and the coating liquid is applied to a substrate running from the outlet. In a coating apparatus for coating, a small amount of coating liquid is interposed between the base material and the outlet, and the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material. It is a coating device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the coating apparatus, the coating liquid is pressure-fed to an outlet of a slit provided in the die, and the coating liquid is applied to a base material traveling from the outlet. The coating apparatus is characterized in that a small amount of coating liquid is interposed between the material and the outlet, and the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a small amount of the coating liquid is sprayed toward the position to be interposed by a spraying nozzle to bring the coating liquid from the outlet into contact with the base material. The coating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a small amount of the coating liquid is preliminarily adhered to a coating start position on the traveling base material, and the adhering position moves to the position of the outflow port. 3. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coating liquid is interposed between the base material and the outlet, and the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material. is there.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a coating liquid is guided to an outlet of a capillary gap provided in a nozzle by a capillary phenomenon, and the coating liquid is applied to a substrate running from the outlet. In the apparatus, an interposing member that promotes surface tension is interposed between the base material and the outlet, and the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material. Is.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the coating apparatus, the coating liquid is pressure-fed to the outlet of the slit provided in the die, and the coating liquid is applied to the base material running from the outlet. The coating device is characterized in that an intervening member that promotes surface tension is interposed between the material and the outlet to bring the coating liquid from the outlet into contact with the base material.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the intervening member is a plate body, a needle body or a rod body that can be inserted between the base material and the outlet. The coating apparatus according to item 6.

The invention according to claim 8 is the coating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a small amount of the coating liquid is interposed at the coating start position on the base material.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coating apparatus according to any one of the first to third and fifth to seventh aspects, wherein a small amount of the coating liquid is interposed at a position on the base material which is being coated. is there.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid tank containing the coating liquid, and a nozzle which is submerged in the coating liquid contained in the liquid tank and which has a capillary gap and extends in the left-right direction. And a coating method of a coating device for applying a coating liquid from the capillary gap of the nozzle to the lower surface of the base material running in the front-back direction,
The coating liquid is applied to the base material based on the following steps.

In the step of raising the liquid tank to a position below the base material in a state where the nozzle is submerged.

In this step, only the nozzle is elevated from the liquid tank to the coating height.

In order to bring the coating liquid flowing out from the capillary gap of the nozzle into contact with the lower surface of the base material, the coating liquid is interposed between the nozzle and the lower surface of the base material. .

While applying the coating liquid on the lower surface of the base material,
In this step, the substrate is run to the coating end position.

The step of lowering the nozzle and the liquid tank from the coating height position.

The invention of claim 11 is characterized in that a small amount of the coating liquid is sprayed toward the position to be interposed by a spray nozzle so that the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material. The coating method according to claim 10.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the coating liquid is brought into contact with the base material by interposing an intervening member that promotes surface tension between the base material and the nozzle. 10
It is the coating method described.

[0032]

[Operation] The coating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
By interposing a small amount of coating liquid between the base material and the outlet, the coating liquid can be brought into contact with the base material without moving the nozzle or the die.

According to the coating apparatus of the third aspect, a small amount of the coating liquid is sprayed toward the position to be interposed by the spraying nozzle, so that the coating liquid from the outflow port can be easily applied to the substrate. Can contact with liquid quickly.

According to the coating apparatus of claim 4, the coating liquid is deposited in advance at the coating start position, the coating liquid is interposed between the base material and the outlet, and the coating from the outlet is performed. The liquid can be brought into contact with the base material easily and quickly.

According to the coating apparatus of the fifth to seventh aspects, the surface tension is promoted by interposing an intervening member made of a plate material, a needle body or a rod body for promoting the surface tension between the base material and the outlet. As a result, the coating liquid from the outlet can be brought into contact with the base material easily and quickly.

According to the coating apparatus of the eighth aspect, a small amount of the coating liquid or an intervening member is interposed at the coating start position so that the liquid contact at the coating start position can be performed easily and quickly. be able to.

According to the coating apparatus of claim 9, a small amount of the coating liquid or an intervening member is interposed during the coating on the base material, so that the liquid contact during the coating can be performed easily and Can be done quickly.

According to the coating apparatus of the tenth to twelfth aspects,
By interposing a small amount of coating liquid or intervening member,
The contact between the nozzle and the base material can be easily performed.

[0039]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment Hereinafter, a coating apparatus 10 showing a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The coating apparatus 10 is an apparatus for applying a thin coating liquid to a plate material (hereinafter referred to as a base material 28) such as a glass substrate of a liquid crystal display device or the like.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of the coating apparatus 10, and FIG. 2 is a front view.

1. Overall Structure of Coating Apparatus 10 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coating apparatus 10 is mounted on a base frame 12 installed on a horizontal floor or the like via a linear way 14, 14 in the front-back direction. The movable frames 16 and 16 which can be moved are mounted.

A suction table (hereinafter simply referred to as a table) 2 is provided between the pair of left and right moving frames 16, 16.
4 is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 26. The moving frames 16 and 16 are integrated on the left and right by a welded structure.

The base material 28 made of a glass plate is adsorbed on the adsorption surface 27 of the table 24 for coating.
The structure of the table 24 will be described later.

2. The structure of the coating system 30 Inside the base frame 12, a coating system 30 for coating a coating liquid is provided. The coating system 30 will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coating system 30, FIG. 4 is a front view, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

The coating system 30 includes the base frame 12
The base plate 32 is arranged on the left and right sides of the base plate 32.

A pair of left and right moving cotters 34 and 36 are provided on the upper surface of the base plate 32.

Of these, the moving cotter 36 located on the right side
Are movable along a linear way 38 arranged in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the base plate 32. The upper surface of the moving cotter 36 is a slope 40, and the left side is lower than the right side. A linear way 42 is also provided on the slope 40.

Similarly, the moving cotter 34 also has the base plate 3
2 can be moved in the left-right direction by a linear way 44, and a linear way 48 is provided on the slope 46.

A connecting shaft 50 is provided on the pair of left and right moving cotters 34, 36, and a servo motor 52 is arranged at the right end of the connecting shaft 50. Male screw portions are provided at the positions of the moving cotters 34 and 36 of the connecting shaft 50, and female screw portions are provided inside the moving cotters 34 and 36. By rotating the servo motor 52, the connecting shaft 50 is rotated and the moving cotters 34, 36 are rotated.
Moves in the left-right direction along the linear ways 38, 44.

A support plate 54 is provided above the pair of moving cotters 34, 36. This support plate 5
4 includes a support plate 56 extending in the left-right direction and a substrate 58 extending in the front-rear direction from the lower end of the support plate 56.

A pair of left and right support legs 60 and 62 are provided on the lower surface of the substrate 58. The lower surfaces of the support legs 60 and 62 are sloped surfaces, and are movable along the linear ways 42 and 48 formed on the sloped surfaces of the movable cotters 34 and 36 described above.

A guide shaft 64 for vertical movement projects from the base plate 32 to the central portion of the substrate 58 of the support plate 54. The support plate 54 can move up and down along the guide shaft 64, and its movement in the left-right direction is restricted.

A liquid tank 66 for storing the coating liquid is provided at the upper end of the support plate 54. The liquid tank 66 will be described later.

The support plate 56 of the support plate 54 is provided with a left and right moving plate 70 via a pair of left and right linear ways 68. The linear way 68 is movable in the left-right direction. The left / right moving plate 70 can be moved in the left / right direction by an air cylinder 71.

A vertical moving plate 74 is provided on the front surface of the horizontal moving plate 70 via a linear way 72. The linear way 72 is movable in an oblique direction. Further, the vertically movable plate 74 is vertically movable along a pair of left and right guide shafts 76 protruding from the base plate 58 of the support plate 54, and its horizontal movement is restricted.

A nozzle support shaft 78 projects from the vicinity of the left end portion and the right end portion of the vertically moving plate 74, and the nozzle 82 is attached to the pair of left and right nozzle support shafts 78 and 80.
Is supported. The nozzle 82 will be described later.

3. Structures of Liquid Tank 66 and Nozzle 82 Next, structures of the liquid tank 66 and the nozzle 82 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 11.

The liquid tank 66 supported on the upper portion of the support plate 56 of the support plate 54 extends in the left-right direction and has a trapezoidal side surface as shown in FIG. A slit 84 extending in the left-right direction is formed at the center of the upper end of the liquid tank 66 (top of the slope). This slit 8
4 can be closed by a lid 86 provided outside the liquid tank 66.

A nozzle 82 is built in the liquid tank 66. The nozzle 82 includes a front nozzle member 90 and a rear nozzle member 92, which are a pair of front and rear nozzles, with a capillary gap 88 extending in the left-right direction interposed therebetween. The front nozzle member 90 and the rear nozzle member 92 are symmetrical in the front-rear direction and have a sharp cross section like a beak toward the upper side, and a capillary gap 88 is provided therebetween. The outlet 89 at the upper end of the capillary gap 88 opens in the left-right direction, and the lower surface also opens in the left-right direction.

The above-mentioned pair of left and right nozzle support shafts 78 and 80 are fixed to the left and right ends of the nozzle 82. Then, a pair of left and right nozzle support shafts 78,
Reference numeral 80 designates a pair of left and right holes 94, 9 opened on the bottom surface of the liquid tank 66.
6 slides. In order to prevent the coating liquid from leaking out from the holes 94 and 96, bellows-shaped closing members 98 and 10 extending from the bottom surface of the nozzle 82 to the bottom surface of the liquid tank 66.
0 is provided. Thereby, the support shaft 78,
Even if 80 moves up and down, the bellows-shaped closing members 98 and 100 extend and contract in the up-down direction so that the coating liquid does not leak from the holes 94 and 96 (see FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 6, a spray nozzle 150 for spraying a small amount of coating liquid is rotatably supported by a nozzle support base 152 on the outer wall on the rear side of the liquid tank 66. The spraying direction of this spraying nozzle 150 is sprayed toward the tip of the nozzle 82 in the protruding state of the capillary gap 88. In order to adjust the spraying direction of the spray nozzle 150, the nozzle base 1
It is attached to 52 so as to be rotatable around a rotary shaft 154.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spray nozzle 150 has one nozzle at the central portion in the width direction of the liquid tank 66.
It is provided in some places.

As shown in FIG. 11, the coating liquid is pumped out from the tank 102 storing the coating liquid by the pump 104, and is supplied to the coating liquid supply port 108 opened on the left side surface of the liquid tank 66 through the filter 106. Supplied. Also, the liquid tank 66
A circulation port 110 is opened on the bottom surface of the circulation port 1.
The coating liquid circulates from 10 to the tank 102. Since the filter 106 circulates the coating liquid, it removes foreign matter.

Further, a hole 111 is opened at the upper part of the left side surface of the liquid tank 66, and an L-shaped height adjusting tube 112 projects from the hole 111. The upper end of this height adjustment tube 112 is open,
In addition, a detection sensor 114 that detects the height of the coating liquid is provided on the outer side surface of the adjustment pipe 112. That is, when the liquid tank 66 is filled with the coating liquid, the height adjusting tube 112 is filled with the coating liquid to the same height as the coating liquid.
The detection sensor 114 detects the coating liquid according to the filled amount and detects the height of the coating liquid. Then, the detected height data is sent to the control unit 115 including a microcomputer, and the control unit 115 drives the motor 105 of the pump 104 according to the height data to set the height to the set height. Supply coating liquid until

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the coating liquid is pumped from the tank 102 to the spray nozzle 150 by the pump 1.
Supplied by 56. That is, this pump 156
In response to a signal from the control unit 115, the pressure-feeding unit 150 pressure-feeds the coating liquid so that a small amount of coating liquid can be sprayed.

4. Moving Structure of Table 24 Next, a structure for moving the table 24 to the position of the nozzle 82 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the moving frames 16 and 16 are rotated linearly in the front-rear direction by rotating a screw rod 18 provided on the left side surface of the base frame 12 by a motor 20. , 14 can be moved.

That is, the pair of moving frames 16, 16
Of the moving frame 16 on the left side, a moving portion 22 having a female threaded portion to be screwed with the screw rod 18 projects, and the screw rod 18 rotates to move the moving portion 22 to the screw rod 18.
And a pair of left and right moving frames 16, 16
Move in the front-back direction.

5. Adsorption Structure of Table 24 Next, a structure for adsorbing the base material 28 on the table 24 will be described.

The table 24 provided between the pair of left and right moving frames 16 and 16 has a rotation shaft 26 of approximately 1 mm.
It can be rotated 80 degrees. And this table 2
A plurality of suction holes 116 are opened in the suction surface 27 of No. 4. The suction holes 116 are opened over the front surface of the table 24, and the internal structure thereof is as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. That is, the suction space 118 divided into a plurality of sections is provided inside the table 24.

Specifically, the first section is composed of four adsorption spaces 118 provided in the central portion of the upper portion of the table 24 in FIG. 13, and each adsorption space 118 is connected by a thin air passage 120. . Then, four suction holes 116 are opened in each of these four suction spaces 118. As shown in FIG. 12, the suction pipes 1 for sucking air are provided in the four suction spaces 118 in the first section.
22 is connected, and this suction pipe 122 is a manual valve 1
It is inserted into the rotary shaft 26 via 24. And
The suction pipe 122 inserted through the moving frame 16
, And is connected to the vacuum pump 126.

The second section of the table 24 is a state in which the above-mentioned first section is enclosed in a U-shape, and is composed of six adsorption spaces 118, which are also connected by the air passage 120. Has been done.

Hereinafter, the third section and the fourth section are similarly constructed.

Here, the case where the table 24 sucks the base material 28 will be described.

The base material 28 is placed on the center of the table 24. In this case, according to the size of the base material 28, the manual valve 124 is opened from the first compartment to the nth compartment, and the base material 28 is adsorbed from the adsorption holes 116 by the vacuum pump 126. That is, the first section in the center is always in the suction state, and the subsequent sections are in the suction state according to the size of the base material 28. In addition, the section that is not necessary for suction is the manual valve 12
Close 4 to prevent suction.

A motor 128 for rotating the rotary shaft 26 of the table 24 and a speed reducer are built in the moving frame 16.

It should be noted that four suction spaces 118 are provided without opening the first section in a rectangular shape, and each suction space 118 is connected to the air path 1.
The connection by 20 is made in consideration of the strength of the table 24.

6. Coating Step A case will be described in which the coating liquid is applied to the base material 28 using the coating apparatus 10 having the above configuration.

(First Step) In FIG. 1, the table 24 is positioned at the base material position A. In this case, the suction surface 27 faces upward. Then, the base material 28 is placed on the suction surface 27 with the surface to be coated facing upward. Then, by operating the vacuum pump 126, the base material 2 from the adsorption holes 116.
8 is sucked and the base material 28 is fixed to the table 24.

(Second step) The table 24 is rotated by about 180 °, and the suction surface 27, as shown at the substrate position B in FIG.
That is, the base material 28 is located below.

A motor 128 for rotating the rotary shaft 26 and a speed reducer are built in the moving frame 16.

(Third step) The inverted table 24 is moved by the motor 20 to move the moving frames 16, 16
Move to the coating start position by.

(Fourth step) The liquid tank 66 is filled with the coating liquid up to a predetermined height. In this case, the current height of the coating liquid is adjusted by the detection sensor 114 provided on the outer side surface of the height adjusting tube 112, and when the height of the coating liquid is raised to a predetermined height, the control unit 115 is used. Operates the pump 104 to supply the coating liquid.

The nozzle 82 is kept submerged inside the liquid tank 66 filled with the coating liquid. Then, the lid 86 of the slit 84 of the liquid tank 66 is opened in the state where the nozzle 82 is submerged in the coating liquid in this way, and the liquid tank 66 is lifted to below the base material 28. In this raising method, as shown in FIG. 4, the servo motor 52 is rotated to move the pair of left and right moving cotters 34, 36. Then, the support plate 54 whose movement in the left-right direction is restricted is moved to
Linear way 42 provided on slopes 40, 46 of 36,
Only move upwards along 48. When the support plate 54 moves upward, the liquid tank 66 and the nozzle 82 simultaneously move upward.

When the liquid tank 66 is raised below the base material 28, the rise is temporarily stopped.

(Fifth Step) The nozzle 82 is further raised from the liquid tank 66 to bring the base material 28 and the nozzle 82 close to each other up to the coating thickness. In this state, as shown in FIG.
The coating liquid is guided to the upper end of the capillary gap 88 of the nozzle 82 by the capillary phenomenon.

(Sixth Step) From the above state, as shown in FIG. 8, a small amount of coating liquid (for example, one drop of coating liquid) is applied between the nozzle 82 and the substrate 28 by the spray nozzle 150. Spray towards.

When a small amount of the coating liquid is present between the outlet 89 of the capillary gap 88 of the nozzle 82 and the lower surface of the base material 28 at the coating start position, the outlet 89 as shown in FIG. The coating liquid in (1) is brought into contact with the lower surface of the base material 28 via the interposing coating liquid. More specifically, when one drop of the coating liquid is interposed between the outflow port 89 and the base material 28 in the substantially central portion of the nozzle 82, the base material 28 is spread so that the coating liquid spreads from the central portion toward both sides. Contact with liquid.

Instead of the conventional step of moving the nozzle 82 up and down to bring it into contact with the liquid, only the coating liquid is sprayed by the spray nozzle 150, so that the working time can be shortened and the contact can be ensured. Can be liquefied.

(Seventh Step) After the liquid contact as described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the base material 28 is moved by the table 24 at a constant speed to the coating end position. Then. The coating liquid can be applied in a planar state by moving the base material 28 in the front-rear direction while the coating liquid is applied in the left-right direction by the nozzle 82. That is, it becomes possible to apply the coating liquid on the flat surface of the base material 28 with a predetermined coating thickness. In addition, in the case of this conveyance, both the front-back posture and the left-right posture of the base material 28 are maintained horizontally.

(Eighth Step) The base material 28 is temporarily stopped at the coating end position, the nozzle 82 and the liquid tank 66 are lowered from the coating height position, and separated from the base material 28.

(Ninth Step) After the nozzle 82 is separated from the lower surface of the base material 28, the table 24 is moved backward to the substrate position C as shown in FIG.

(Tenth Step) The table 24 which has been moved to the substrate position C is rotated again by 180 ° to be inverted to the substrate position D. This causes the substrate 28 to move to the table 2
Located on the upper surface of No. 4.

(Eleventh step) The suction force of the suction surface 27 is released, and the base material 28 is removed from the table 24. This completes a series of coating operations.

As described above, according to the coating apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, by performing the coating process as described above, the base material 28 made of the glass substrate has a predetermined coating thickness and a flat surface. Can be applied at once. Also, the moving cotter 3
Since the support plate 54 moves up and down on the slopes of 4, 36, the vertical positions of the liquid tank 66 and the nozzle 82 can be moved accurately and even in the middle.

Further, the nozzle 82 is the left / right moving plate 70.
Is moved by the air cylinder 71 to move the vertical movement plate 74 in the vertical direction, so that the vertical movement can be performed accurately and reliably.

Further, as explained in the fifth step and the sixth step, when the coating liquid is brought into contact with the base material 28, it can be brought into contact with the liquid easily by only spraying it with the spray nozzle 150. Also, the working time can be shortened.

Second embodiment FIG. 14 shows a coating apparatus 200 of the second embodiment.

This coating apparatus 200 does not apply the coating liquid to the plate-shaped base material 28 like the coating apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, but a long base material 202 (for example, , A film, a nonwoven fabric, or the like) is coated with the coating liquid.

As shown in FIG. 14, the coating system 30 having the spray nozzle 150 described in the first embodiment is arranged below the backup roll 204.

Then, the base material 202 is conveyed along the backup roll 204, and is coated by the nozzle 82 at the lowest point of the backup roll 204. This coating method is the same as above.

According to this method, not only the plate-shaped base material 28 but also the elongated base material 202 can be coated.

Further, even in the case of contacting the liquid, it is possible to easily contact the lower surface of the base material 202 with the coating liquid simply by spraying the coating liquid with the spray nozzle 150.
Moreover, the working time can be shortened.

Third Embodiment In the first and second embodiments, the portion for applying the coating liquid has a structure in which the nozzle 82 projects from the liquid tank 66. The embodiment is characterized in that it is a coating device using a die.

The coating apparatus 300 of the third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. Below the backup roll 304, a long base material 302 (for example, a web of film, woven cloth, paper, etc.) is run.

A die 306 is arranged below the backup roll 304 along the width direction of the elongated base material 302. A liquid reservoir 308 is provided inside the die 306.
A slit 310 is provided from the liquid reservoir 308 toward the upper end of the die 306. The liquid reservoir 308 and the slit 310 are also provided along the width direction. Inside the liquid reservoir 308, a pressure sensor 322 for measuring the internal pressure thereof is provided. And this die 306
A vertical movement device 326 is provided to elevate the height from the standby height to the coating start height. This vertical movement device 326
For example, it is composed of an air cylinder or a motor.

The coating liquid accumulated in the tank 312 is pressure-fed by the pump 314 toward the liquid reservoir 308 of the die 306. The pressure-fed coating liquid spreads in the liquid reservoir 308 in the width direction and rises in the slit 310 at a constant pressure, and the base material 30 is flown at the outlet 311 at the upper end of the slit 310.
2 is coated on the lower surface.

At this coating start position and height, in order to bring the coating liquid at the outlet 311 of the slit 310 into contact with the lower surface of the substrate 302 easily and quickly, spraying is performed as in the first embodiment. A nozzle 316 is provided. A small amount of coating liquid is pumped from the tank 312 to the spray nozzle 316 by the pump 318, and a small amount of coating liquid is sprayed between the slit 310 and the base material 302 at the coating start position and height. is there.

Further, a thickness detection sensor 320 for detecting the coating thickness of the base material 302 is provided.

Control unit 32 comprising a microcomputer
4, a pump 314, a pump 318, a thickness detection sensor 320, a pressure sensor 322, and a vertical movement device 326 are connected, and the transport speed V of the base material 302 is input.

Next, the operating state of the coating apparatus 300 will be described.

(First step) By the vertical movement device 326,
The die 306 is raised from the standby height to the coating start height.

(Second Step) At the start of coating, the base material 30
2 is carried at a carrying speed V, and a pressure is applied by a pump 314 to pump the coating liquid to the outlet 311 of the slit 310.

(Third Step) Then, in this state, a small amount of coating liquid is sprayed between the substrate 302 and the outlet 311 by the spray nozzle 316, and the coating liquid at the outlet 311 is coated by the intervening coating liquid. The liquid comes into contact with the lower surface of the substrate 302.

(Fourth Step) When the substrate 302 is conveyed at the conveying speed V, the coating liquid is applied with a predetermined coating thickness. In order to keep the coating thickness constant, the control unit 324 constantly measures the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir 308 with the pressure sensor 322 and keeps it constant.

Further, even when the coating thickness of the coating liquid becomes thin due to disturbance, the thinned portion is detected by the thickness detection sensor 320, and the pressure of the pump 314 is increased to increase the coating thickness.

With this coating apparatus 300, the spraying nozzle 316 can easily bring the liquid into contact, so that the working time at the coating start position can be shortened.

The order of the first step and the second step may be exchanged.

Modification (Modification 1) In the first embodiment, the spray nozzle 150 is used.
Although one is provided at the center of the liquid tank 66 in the width direction, a plurality of spray nozzles 150 may be provided when the width of the plate-shaped substrate 28 to be coated is wide.

For example, it may be provided at three places, the left end portion, the central portion, and the right end portion.

This modification is similar to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
Can also be applied to the embodiment.

(Modification 2) In the first embodiment, the coating liquid was sprayed by the spray nozzle 150 so as to be interposed between the outflow port 89 and the lower surface of the base material 28, but instead of this, You may spray so that it may adhere to the lower surface of the material 28. Even in this case, the liquid contact can be easily performed.

This modification is similar to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
Can also be applied to the embodiment.

(Modification 3) In the first embodiment, the spraying nozzle 150 has been described as performing the liquid contact at the coating start position. However, instead of this, the liquid contact is performed even during the coating. Alternatively, a small amount of the coating liquid may be sprayed by the spray nozzle 150.

For example, when the coating liquid is applied to the plate-shaped base material 28, the coating thickness is always detected by the thickness detecting sensor for detecting the coating thickness. When the coating thickness becomes thinner than the target coating thickness, a small amount of the coating liquid may be sprayed by the spraying nozzle 150 to bring the liquid into contact again, so that the target coating thickness is obtained.

This modification is similar to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
Can also be applied to the embodiment.

(Modification 4) In the first embodiment, a small amount of coating liquid was interposed between the nozzle 82 and the substrate 28 by the spray nozzle 150, but instead of this, the following method was used. A coating liquid may be interposed.

That is, a small amount of coating liquid is previously attached to the lower surface of the base material 28 at the coating start position, and the base material 28
When the adhered coating liquid moves to the position of the nozzle 82 with the conveyance of, the liquid contact can be easily performed by the adhered coating liquid.

This modification is similar to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
Can also be applied to the embodiment.

(Modification 5) In the first embodiment, a small amount of coating liquid is applied to the nozzle 82 and the substrate 2 by the spray nozzle 150.
8 is interposed between the nozzles 8 and 8, but an intervening member 158 that promotes the surface tension of the coating liquid at the outlet 89 of the nozzle 82 may be used even if a small amount of coating liquid intervenes. Good.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, the base material 2
8 and the nozzle 82, a plate-shaped intervening member 158 made of a film or the like is interposed, and the intervening member 158 promotes the surface tension of the coating liquid in the capillary gap 88 to easily reach the lower surface of the base material 28. Wetted can be performed.

The intervening member 158 is not limited to the plate shape as described above, but may be a needle shape or a rod shape.

This modification is similar to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
Can also be applied to the embodiment.

(Modification 6) Coating apparatus 20 of the second embodiment
As a coating method of the 0th and 3rd coating devices 300, the coating liquid was continuously coated on the lower surfaces of the base materials 202 and 302, but instead of this, a coated portion and an uncoated portion are applied. The present invention can be applied to the intermittent coating in which the portion and the portion are sequentially formed.

That is, by spraying the coating liquid with the spray nozzles 150 and 316 at the first portion of the coating portion in the intermittent coating, the coating portion can be formed surely and quickly, and the working time can be shortened. it can.

(Modification 7) In the blowing nozzle 150 of the first embodiment, the coating liquid is sprayed in the form of water droplets to intervene, but instead of this, the coating liquid is sprayed from the spraying nozzle 150 in the form of spray. And may be interposed between the base material 28 and the nozzle.

It should be noted that the amount of the coating liquid sprayed in the form of spray may be small.

This modification is similar to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
Can also be applied to the embodiment.

[0141]

As described above, according to the coating apparatus and the coating method of the present invention, the coating liquid can be brought into contact with the base material easily and quickly, so that the working time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a coating apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coating system.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the coating system.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a liquid tank and a nozzle, which is a state before coating.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a liquid tank and a nozzle, showing a state in which a coating liquid is guided to an outlet of a capillary gap.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a liquid tank and a nozzle, showing a state in which a small amount of coating liquid is sprayed by a spray nozzle.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a liquid tank and a nozzle in a state where a coating liquid is in contact with the lower surface of a base material.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a liquid tank and a nozzle, showing a state in which a lower surface of a base material is being coated.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the relationship between a liquid tank, a nozzle, a tank, a pump, and a filter.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a table.

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway horizontal sectional view of a table.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the coating apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the coating apparatus according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a nozzle and a liquid tank of a coating apparatus according to Modification 5.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Coating equipment 24 tables 28 Base material 30 coating system 34 Moving Cotta 36 moving cotter 52 Servo motor 54 Support plate 60 support legs 62 support legs 66 liquid tank 70 Left and right moving plate 71 Air cylinder 74 Vertical movement plate 78 Nozzle support shaft 80 nozzle support shaft 82 nozzles 84 slits 88 Capillary gap 89 Outlet 150 spray nozzles 152 nozzle base 154 rotation axis 156 pump 158 Intervening member

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 4D075 AC02 AC06 AC09 AC72 AC73                       AC80 AC82 AC84 AC88 AC93                       CA47 DA04 DA06 DB13 DB18                       DB20 DB31 DC24 EA07                 4F041 AA02 AA05 AA12 AB02 BA05                       BA10 BA12 BA22 BA31 BA34                       CA02 CA12 CA16 CA25                 4F042 AA02 AA10 AA22 BA08 CB02                       CB11 CB24

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A coating apparatus for guiding a coating liquid to an outlet of a capillary gap provided in a nozzle by a capillary phenomenon and applying the coating liquid to a base material running from the outlet, wherein A coating apparatus, wherein a small amount of coating liquid is interposed between a material and the outlet, and the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material. 2. A coating apparatus for pumping a coating liquid to an outlet of a slit provided in a die to apply the coating liquid to a base material running from the outlet, wherein the base material and the outlet. And a coating liquid from the outflow port is brought into contact with the base material with a small amount of coating liquid interposed therebetween. 3. A small amount of coating liquid is sprayed by a spray nozzle toward the desired position to be interposed,
The coating device according to claim 1, wherein the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material. 4. A small amount of coating liquid is previously attached to a coating start position on the running base material, and the attachment position is moved to the position of the outflow port, thereby allowing the base material and the flow base to flow. 3. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating liquid from the outlet is brought into contact with the base material by interposing the coating liquid between the coating liquid and the outlet. 5. A coating apparatus for guiding a coating liquid to an outlet of a capillary gap provided in a nozzle by a capillarity phenomenon to apply the coating liquid to a base material traveling from the outlet, A coating apparatus, wherein an intervening member that promotes surface tension is interposed between the material and the outflow port to bring the coating liquid from the outflow port into contact with the base material. 6. A coating apparatus for pumping a coating liquid to an outlet of a slit provided in a die to apply the coating liquid to a base material traveling from the outlet, wherein the base material and the outlet. And an interposing member that promotes surface tension between the base material and the base material to bring the coating liquid from the outlet into contact with the base material. 7. The coating according to claim 5, wherein the intervening member is a plate body, a needle body, or a rod body that can be inserted between the base material and the outflow port. apparatus. 8. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a small amount of coating liquid is interposed at a coating start position on the base material. 9. The coating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, wherein a small amount of coating liquid is interposed at a position on the base material during coating. 10. A liquid tank containing a coating liquid, and a nozzle which is submerged in the coating liquid contained in the liquid tank and which extends in the left-right direction and has a capillary gap. A coating method of a coating device for coating a coating liquid from a capillary gap of the nozzle on a lower surface of a substrate traveling in a direction, the coating liquid being coated on the substrate based on the following steps. .
A step of raising the liquid tank to a position below the base material in a state where the nozzle is sinking. The step of raising only the nozzle from the liquid tank to the coating height. A step of interposing a coating liquid between the nozzle and the lower surface of the base material in order to bring the coating liquid flowing out from the capillary gap of the nozzle into contact with the lower surface of the base material. While applying the coating liquid on the lower surface of the base material,
A step of running the base material to a coating finish position. The step of lowering the nozzle and the liquid tank from the coating height position. 11. The coating liquid from the outflow port is brought into contact with the base material by spraying a small amount of the coating liquid toward the position to be interposed by a spray nozzle. The coating method described. 12. The coating solution according to claim 10, wherein an intervening member that promotes surface tension is interposed between the base material and the nozzle to bring the coating liquid into contact with the base material. Method.