JP2007069125A - Apparatus and method for coating - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for coating in which a coating solution is not transferred in a portion that is not normally to be transferred on an object to be coated when supplying a coating solution on a printing material not in contact with it. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for coating comprises a rotatable printing cylinder on which a printing material having a formed concavoconvex pattern thereon is mounted, a coating solution supply portion disposed by facing the printing cylinder on which the printing material is mounted, and supplying the coating solution not in contact with the printing material, an impression cylinder disposed by facing the printing cylinder on which the printing material is mounted and further downstream than the coating solution supply portion in a rotational direction of the printing cylinder, and supporting a support body on which the coating solution supplied by the coating solution supply portion is to be transferred in a convex portion of the concavoconvex pattern of the printing material, and coating solution removing means disposed by facing the printing cylinder on which the printing material is mounted and further downstream than the impression cylinder in a rotational direction of the printing cylinder and removing the coating solution on a surface of the printing material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coating apparatus and a coating method for coating by a flexographic printing method. In particular, it can be suitably used for coating photosensitive films of photographic materials, photoresists, LCDs, organic ELs and the like.

  In conventional flexographic printing, the supply of coating liquid to a plate material such as a resin plate is performed by an anilox roll, and the amount of coating is generally controlled by bringing a doctor blade into contact with the anilox roll. It is.

  When the doctor blade is brought into contact with the anilox roll, wear and damage of the anilox roll surface is caused by the contact, the cell becomes shallow, the coating amount is reduced, and the coating quality is lowered.

For this reason, it is known to use an anilox roll made of ceramics with a small amount of wear even by contact (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-20123

  As in Patent Document 1, durability is improved by using a ceramic anilox roll. However, the volume of the cell is reduced by long-time use, and the coating quality is not lowered. On the contrary, the use of ceramics with high surface hardness promotes the wear of the doctor blade and causes a problem that foreign matter is mixed into the coating liquid. In addition, since the anilox roll rotates while always in contact with the plate material, the surface of the plate material is deteriorated, and the accuracy of the pattern is deteriorated and the transfer to the coated body is liable to occur.

  In order to avoid these problems, it is conceivable to supply the coating liquid to the plate material in a non-contact manner using an applicator or spray. The applicator supplies the coating liquid to the plate material by discharging the coating liquid from a slit formed uniformly over the width direction of the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted.

  However, when the application liquid is supplied to the plate material in a non-contact manner using these applicators and sprays, the application liquid is also supplied to the concave portion of the concave / convex pattern formed on the plate material. The applied coating liquid is accumulated without being transferred, and when the accumulation in the concave portion exceeds the limit, there arises a problem that the coating liquid is also transferred to a portion that should not be originally transferred on the coated body.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. In the case where the coating liquid is supplied to the plate material in a non-contact manner, the coating liquid is not accumulated in the concave portions of the uneven pattern formed on the plate material. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a coating apparatus and a coating method in which the coating liquid is not transferred to a portion that should not be transferred on the coated body.

(1) A rotatable plate cylinder on which a plate material on which a concavo-convex pattern is formed is mounted, and is provided facing the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted, and a coating liquid is supplied to the plate material in a non-contact manner. A coating liquid supply section, and a plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted. The coating liquid supply section is provided downstream of the coating liquid supply section in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder, and is provided on a convex portion of the concavo-convex pattern of the plate material. The impression cylinder carrying a support to which the coating liquid supplied by the coating liquid supply unit is transferred, and the rotation direction of the plate cylinder relative to the impression cylinder facing the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted And a coating solution removing unit that is provided downstream and removes the coating solution on the surface of the plate material.
(2) In the coating apparatus according to (1), the coating liquid removing means removes the coating liquid by discharging a liquid onto the surface of the plate material.
(3) In the coating apparatus according to (1), the coating liquid removing means removes the coating liquid by blowing a gas onto the surface of the plate material.
(4) A rotatable plate cylinder on which a plate material on which a concavo-convex pattern is formed is mounted, and is provided facing the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted, and the coating liquid is supplied to the plate material in a non-contact manner. A coating liquid supply section, and a plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted. The coating liquid supply section is provided downstream of the coating liquid supply section in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder, and is provided on a convex portion of the concavo-convex pattern of the plate material. An impression cylinder on which a support to which the coating liquid supplied by the coating liquid supply unit is transferred is supported, wherein the plate material is between the concave surface and the back surface of the plate material. The plate cylinder is made of a material through which a coating liquid can permeate, and the plate cylinder includes a hollow structure and a surface through which the coating liquid can permeate, and has suction means for sucking the inside of the plate cylinder. Coating device.
(5) In the coating apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), the coating liquid supply unit is an applicator having a uniform gap in the width direction.
(6) In the coating apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), the coating liquid supply unit is a spray.
(7) A step of supplying the coating liquid from the coating liquid supply unit to the plate material on which the concave / convex pattern mounted on the plate cylinder is formed in a non-contact manner, and a convex portion of the concave / convex pattern of the plate material by the coating liquid supply unit And a step of transferring the coating liquid supplied to the support supported on the impression cylinder and a step of removing the coating liquid on the surface of the plate material after the transfer by a coating liquid removing means. Application method.
(8) In the coating method according to (7), the coating liquid removing means removes the coating liquid by discharging a liquid onto the surface of the plate material.
(9) In the coating method of (7), the coating liquid removing means removes the coating liquid by blowing a gas onto the surface of the plate material.
(10) A step of supplying the coating liquid from the coating liquid supply unit in a non-contact manner to the plate material on which the concave / convex pattern mounted on the plate cylinder is formed, and a convex portion of the concave / convex pattern of the plate material by the coating liquid supply unit A step of transferring the coating liquid supplied to the support carried on the impression cylinder, a step of removing the coating liquid on the concave surface of the plate material through the plate material and the plate cylinder by suction means, and A coating method characterized by comprising:

  According to the present invention, when the coating liquid is supplied to the plate material in a non-contact manner, the coating liquid can be prevented from accumulating in the concave portions of the concavo-convex pattern formed on the plate material. The coating liquid is not transferred to a portion that should not be transferred.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a coating apparatus according to the first embodiment. The plate cylinder 1 has a cylindrical shape and is provided so as to be rotatable in the arrow direction. On the surface of the plate cylinder 1, a resin plate 2 which is a plate material is mounted. An uneven pattern corresponding to the printing pattern is formed on the surface of the resin plate 2. The resin plate 2 is made of a photosensitive resin material, and after performing exposure corresponding to the print pattern, a concavo-convex pattern is formed on the surface by performing chemical treatment. The resin plate 2 having a thickness of 1 to 2 mm and a hardness of 40 to 80 ° (Shore A hardness) can be suitably used in the present embodiment.

  An applicator 3 that discharges the coating liquid from the slits formed uniformly across the width direction of the resin plate 2 and supplies the coating liquid to the resin plate 2 is provided in a non-contact manner so as to face the resin plate 2. . As the applicator 3, in addition to the extrusion type, a reduced pressure extrusion type, a slide type, and a curtain type can also be used. It is also possible to use a spray that discharges liquid and air simultaneously and blows out in a mist form. A coating liquid having a viscosity of 0.001 to 0.3 Pa · s, preferably 0.002 to 0.1 Pa · s can be suitably used in the present embodiment. When the viscosity is lower than 0.001 Pa · s, the fluidity of the coating liquid on the resin plate is deteriorated, and when the viscosity is higher than 0.3 Pa · s, the uniformity at the time of transfer to the coated body is deteriorated.

  An impression cylinder 4 that is rotatable in the direction of the arrow is provided downstream of the applicator 3 in the rotational direction of the plate cylinder 1 so as to face the plate cylinder 1. The surface of the impression cylinder 4 carries a support 5 that is an object to be coated and moves in the direction of the arrow as the impression cylinder 4 rotates. As the support body 5, it is possible to use either a belt-like continuous conveyance body or a single sheet.

  A cleaning nozzle 6 and a cleaning nozzle 6 for removing the coating liquid adhering to the surface of the plate cylinder 1 by discharging the cleaning liquid, facing the plate cylinder 1 and downstream of the impression cylinder 4 in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder 1. A liquid receiving pan 7 is provided for collecting the coating liquid (including the cleaning liquid used for the removal) removed by the above. For cleaning, it is desirable that the cleaning liquid is ejected by a cleaning nozzle having a narrow slit. It is also possible to spray the cleaning liquid with a spray nozzle. The type of the cleaning liquid is not limited as long as the coating liquid can be washed away, but a solvent contained in the coating liquid in the highest ratio is preferable.

  The coating operation in the first embodiment will be described. A resin plate 2 having a concavo-convex pattern is mounted on the surface of the plate cylinder 1 and is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and a support 5 is supported on the surface of the impression cylinder 4 and is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure. ing.

  The applicator 3 supplies a predetermined amount of coating liquid uniformly to the resin plate 2 in the width direction. The coating solution supplied to the resin plate 2 adheres to the convex and concave portions of the resin plate 2. The coating liquid adhering to the resin plate 2 is conveyed to a portion facing the impression cylinder 4 carrying the support 5 by the rotation of the plate cylinder 1.

  When the resin plate 2 is pressure-bonded to the support 5 at the portion facing the impression cylinder 4, the coating liquid adhering to the convex portion of the resin plate 2 is transferred to the support 5. At this time, the coating liquid adhering to the recess of the resin plate 2 remains attached to the recess. The surface of the resin plate 2 after the coating liquid is transferred to the support 5 is conveyed to a portion facing the cleaning nozzle 6.

  The surface of the resin plate 2 is cleaned by discharging the cleaning liquid from the cleaning nozzle 6 at the portion facing the cleaning nozzle 6. At this time, the coating solution that remains attached to the recesses of the resin plate 2 is washed away. Further, the transfer residual coating solution on the convex portion is also washed away. The washed application liquid is collected in the liquid receiving pan 7. The surface of the resin plate 2 washed away by the cleaning liquid is again conveyed to the portion facing the applicator 3, and the same operation as described above is repeated.

  As described above, the coating liquid adhering to the concave portion of the resin plate 2 remains attached to the concave portion during the transfer, but the applicator is washed away by discharging the cleaning liquid from the cleaning nozzle 6 and washing away the coating liquid adhering to the concave portion. 3, even if the supply of the coating liquid is repeated, the coating liquid does not accumulate in the concave portion, and the coating liquid is transferred to a portion on the support 5 that should not be transferred because the accumulation of the coating liquid in the concave portion exceeds the limit. Is prevented.

  Further, there are the following effects as secondary effects. After transfer of the coating liquid to the support 5, the transfer residual coating liquid is slightly adhered to the convex portions of the resin plate 2. In the case where the cleaning nozzle 6 is not provided, the amount of the transfer residual coating solution adhering to the convex portion of the resin plate 2 is 0 at the start of coating, and gradually increases every time the plate cylinder 1 rotates, and then remains constant. Stable in quantity. For a while after the start of the coating, the amount of the transfer residual coating solution adhering to the resin plate 2 is increased even if the amount of the coating solution supplied to the resin plate 2 is constant. The amount of the coating liquid adhering to the convex portion of the resin plate 2 after having been supplied increases. For this reason, the transfer amount of the coating liquid from the resin plate 2 to the support 5 increases, and stable coating cannot be performed.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the resin plate 2 is washed away by the washing nozzle 6, the transfer residual coating solution adhering to the convex portions of the resin plate 2 is also washed away. For this reason, when the coating liquid is supplied to the resin plate 2, the transfer residual coating liquid adhering to the convex portions of the resin plate 2 is hardly adhered, so the resin plate 2 after the coating liquid is supplied. The amount of the coating liquid adhering to the convex portion is always constant. Therefore, it is possible to always apply a constant coating liquid to the convex portion of the resin plate 2 from the beginning of the coating, shorten the apparatus start-up time, and avoid unnecessary transfer to the support. .

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a coating apparatus according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment has the same configuration except that the cleaning nozzle 6 in the first embodiment is replaced with an air blow nozzle 8. The same code | symbol is used about the part which is common in 1st Embodiment. Only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  An air blow nozzle 8 and an air blow nozzle 8 remove the coating liquid adhering to the surface of the plate cylinder 1 by blowing air on the downstream side of the plate cylinder 1 in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder 1 facing the plate cylinder 1. A liquid receiving pan 7 for collecting the removed coating liquid is provided. The wind speed of the air to be blown varies depending on conditions such as the viscosity of the liquid to be removed, but is preferably 10 m / sec or more when reaching the resin plate 2.

  At the portion facing the air blow nozzle 8, air is sprayed from the air blow nozzle 8, so that the coating liquid that remains attached to the concave portion of the resin plate 2 is blown off. The coating liquid blown off is collected in the liquid receiving pan 7. The surface of the resin plate 2 from which the coating liquid has been removed is conveyed again to the portion facing the applicator 3, and the same operation as described above is repeated.

  As described above, the coating liquid adhering to the concave portion of the resin plate 2 remains adhering to the concave portion at the time of transfer, but the applicator is blown off by spraying air from the air blow nozzle 8. 3, even if the supply of the coating liquid is repeated, the coating liquid does not accumulate in the concave portion, and the coating liquid is transferred to a portion on the support 5 that should not be transferred because the accumulation of the coating liquid in the concave portion exceeds the limit. Is prevented.

  It goes without saying that the secondary effects described above in the first embodiment are also achieved in this embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a coating apparatus according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 6 in the first embodiment is not used, and the plate cylinder 1 and the resin plate 2 having different configurations are used instead. The same code | symbol is used about the part which is common in 1st Embodiment. Only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The resin plate 2 is composed of two layers of a surface layer similar to a normal resin plate that does not transmit the coating solution and a lower layer made of a porous material that can transmit the coating solution. When the concavo-convex pattern is formed, the surface of the convex portion is composed of the surface layer, and the surface of the concave portion is composed of the lower layer capable of transmitting the coating solution exposed by removing the surface layer.

  The plate cylinder 1 on which the resin plate 2 is mounted has a hollow structure in which a large number of holes through which a coating solution can pass are provided on the surface. The cushion tape 9 for bonding the resin plate 2 and the plate cylinder 1 is also provided with a large number of holes through which the coating liquid can pass. A suction pump 10 for sucking air inside the plate cylinder 1 is connected to the plate cylinder 1.

  When the inside of the plate cylinder 1 is sucked by the suction pump 10, the coating liquid adhering to the concave portion of the resin plate 2 passes through the cushion tape 9 provided with a large number of holes and the surface of the plate cylinder 1. Collected inside.

  Thus, since the coating liquid adhering to the recessed part of the resin plate 2 can be removed, even if supply of the coating liquid is repeated by the applicator 3, the coating liquid does not accumulate in the recessed part, and the recessed part This prevents the coating liquid from being transferred to a portion on the support 5 that should not be transferred due to the accumulation of the coating liquid exceeding the limit.

  In all Examples, the following coating solutions and supports were used. The coating solution was prepared by dissolving polyvinyl alcohol in pure water so that the solid content concentration was 1% by mass, and adding an activator to control wettability. As the support, polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 75 μm and a width of 600 mm was used.

Example 1
Using the coating apparatus shown in FIG. 1, coating was performed under the following conditions.

Application amount: 125ml / min
Transfer width: 500mm
Application speed: 50 m / min
Cleaning liquid: pure water, 350 ml / min
(Example 2)
Using the coating apparatus shown in FIG. 2, coating was performed under the following conditions.

Application amount: 125ml / min
Transfer width: 500mm
Application speed: 50 m / min
Air blowing: 20m / s
(Example 3)
Coating was performed under the following conditions using the coating apparatus shown in FIG.

Application amount: 125ml / min
Transfer width: 500mm
Application speed: 50 m / min
Coating solution suction: reduced pressure in plate cylinder 1 kPa
(Comparative Example 1)
Application was performed under the following conditions using the application apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the cleaning nozzle 6 and the liquid receiving pan removed.

Application amount: 125ml / min
Transfer width: 500mm
Application speed: 50 m / min
(Evaluation)
In each of Examples 1 to 3, the coating liquid was not transferred to a portion that should not be transferred after 480 hours of use. Moreover, there was almost no fluctuation in the coating amount on the support and there was no problem.

  In Comparative Example 1, the coating liquid was transferred to a portion that should not be transferred from the beginning of coating, and pattern formation could not be performed.

It is a block diagram of the coating device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the coating device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the coating device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Plate cylinder 2 Resin plate (plate material)
3 Applicator (application liquid supply part)
4 Impression cylinder 5 Support 6 Washing nozzle (Coating liquid removal means)
7 Liquid pan 8 Air blow nozzle (Coating liquid removal means)
9 Cushion tape 10 Suction pump (suction means)

Claims (10)

A rotatable plate cylinder to which a plate material on which an uneven pattern is formed is mounted;
An application liquid supply unit that is provided opposite to the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted, and supplies the application liquid to the plate material in a non-contact manner;
Opposite to the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted, it is provided downstream in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder from the coating liquid supply unit, and is supplied by the coating liquid supply unit to the convex portions of the concavo-convex pattern of the plate material An impression cylinder carrying a support to which the applied coating solution is transferred;
A coating liquid removing means that is provided downstream of the plate cylinder in the rotational direction of the plate cylinder facing the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted, and removes the coating liquid on the surface of the plate material,
A coating apparatus comprising: The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating liquid removing unit removes the coating liquid by discharging a liquid onto the surface of the plate material. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating liquid removing unit removes the coating liquid by spraying a gas onto the surface of the plate material. A rotatable plate cylinder to which a plate material on which an uneven pattern is formed is mounted;
An application liquid supply unit that is provided opposite to the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted, and supplies the application liquid to the plate material in a non-contact manner;
Opposite to the plate cylinder on which the plate material is mounted, it is provided downstream in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder from the coating liquid supply unit, and is supplied by the coating liquid supply unit to the convex portions of the concavo-convex pattern of the plate material An impression cylinder carrying a support to which the applied coating solution is transferred;
A coating device comprising:
The plate material is composed of a material that allows the coating liquid to pass between the concave surface and the back surface of the plate material,
The plate cylinder is composed of a hollow structure and a surface through which the coating liquid can pass,
A coating apparatus comprising suction means for sucking the inside of the plate cylinder. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating liquid supply unit is an applicator having a uniform gap in the width direction. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating liquid supply unit is a spray. Supplying the coating liquid in a non-contact manner from the coating liquid supply section to the plate material on which the uneven pattern mounted on the plate cylinder is formed;
Transferring the coating liquid supplied to the convex portions of the concavo-convex pattern of the plate material by the coating liquid supply unit to a support carried on an impression cylinder;
Removing the coating liquid on the surface of the plate material after transfer by a coating liquid removing means;
A coating method characterized by comprising: The coating method according to claim 7, wherein the coating liquid removing unit removes the coating liquid by discharging a liquid onto the surface of the plate material. The coating method according to claim 7, wherein the coating liquid removing unit removes the coating liquid by spraying a gas onto the surface of the plate material. Supplying the coating liquid in a non-contact manner from the coating liquid supply section to the plate material on which the uneven pattern mounted on the plate cylinder is formed;
Transferring the coating liquid supplied to the convex portions of the concavo-convex pattern of the plate material by the coating liquid supply unit to a support carried on an impression cylinder;
Removing the coating liquid on the concave surface of the plate material by passing through the plate material and the plate cylinder by suction means; and
A coating method characterized by comprising:

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