JP2006524739A5

JP2006524739A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2006524739A5
Application number: JP2006509182A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2004-03-08
Publication date: 2007-05-10

Claims

An apparatus for electrostatic processing of polymer blends,
An input stage operable to continuously eject electrostatically processed material comprising a polymer blend;
An integration stage spaced from the input stage;
A power supply operable to generate an electric field for depositing the electrostatic processing material ejected from the input stage on the integration stage;
A pick-up stage including a pick-up device arranged to continuously pick up the electrostatic processing material from the integration stage;
A device comprising:

The input stage is
A manifold including at least one nozzle through which the polymer blend is ejected;
A first polymer formulation, a first solvent, at least one optional first active ingredient, the first solvent, and the at least one in fluid communication with the manifold via a first flow path. A first source of a first substance selected from the group consisting of a mixture with one optional first active ingredient;
A first valve arranged along the first flow path and operable to control the flow of the first material from the first source to the manifold;
A first pump arranged along the first flow path for pumping the first substance from the first source to the manifold;
A second polymer formulation, a second solvent, at least one optional second active ingredient, the first solvent, and the at least one in fluid communication with the manifold via a second flow path. A second source of a second substance selected from the group consisting of a mixture with one optional second active ingredient;
A second valve arranged along the second flow path and operable to control the flow of the second material from the second source to the manifold;
A second pump arranged along the second flow path to pump the second substance from the second source to the manifold;
The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

The input device is
Brush and
A container containing the polymer blend;
A source of the polymer blend in fluid communication with the container;
With
The brush is rotatable relative to the container such that the brush contacts and is wetted by the polymer blend, thereby ejecting the polymer blend from the container. Item 2. The apparatus according to Item 1.

The integration stage comprises:
A funnel-shaped target including a conical portion having an inner surface on which the sprayed electromechanical material is deposited and a flow path extending through the target;
A gas release source arranged to release a gas to remove the electrostatic processing material from an inner surface of the conical portion;
A vacuum system arranged to draw the removed electrostatically processed material as a thread through the flow path;
The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

The integration stage comprises:
A target having an outer surface;
A container,
A source for supplying a liquid selected from the group consisting of a phase separation forming liquid, an activator, a binder, and mixtures thereof into the container;
A drive source that rotates the target relative to the container such that an outer surface of the target is wetted in contact with the liquid;
The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

(I) the integration stage is
At least one target on which the electromechanical material is deposited;
A first mechanism operably connected to the at least one target for rotating and / or translating the at least one target relative to the input stage;
Including
(Ii) The pickup stage is
At least one roll on which the removed electrostatic processing material is wound;
A second mechanism operably connected to the at least one roll for rotating and / or translating the at least one roll relative to the accumulation stage;
Including
(Iii) the device further comprises:
At least one thickness sensor operable to detect a thickness of the electromechanical material deposited on the at least one target;
At least one slack sensor operable to detect an amount of slack in the removed electrostatically processed material between the at least one target and the at least one roll; and the first mechanism, a second , At least one thickness sensor, and at least one slack sensor, receiving signals from the at least one thickness sensor and the at least one slack sensor, and based on the received signals, A controller operable to control operation of the first mechanism and the second mechanism;
The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

A method of electrostatically processing a polymer blend comprising:
Generating an electric field between the input stage of the device and the integration stage;
Supplying a polymer blend to the input stage;
Continuously ejecting electrostatic processing material from the charging stage;
Accumulating the electrostatic processing material at the accumulation stage;
Continuously removing the electrostatic processing material from the integration stage;
Including methods.

The input stage includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle, and the method includes:
Ejecting the electrostatic processing material from the first nozzle;
Supplying a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source into the second nozzle;
The method of claim 7 further comprising:

The accumulation stage comprises a funnel-shaped target including a conical portion having an inner surface on which the ejected electrostatically processed material is deposited and a flow path extending through the target, the method further comprising
Discharging the gas to take out the electrostatic processing material from the inner surface of the conical portion; evacuating the flow path; and using the extracted electrostatic processing material as a thread through the flow path Withdrawing stage,
The method of claim 7 comprising: