JP2016155050A - Intermittent coater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intermittent coater which generates no bump at a start end or no blur at a terminal end of an intermittent coat film, enables deposition of coat film of uniform thickness, and is capable of coping with an increase in substrate travel speed.SOLUTION: An intermittent coater comprises a supply part A that supplies a coating liquid, rotary valves 9a, 9b that switch channels, plunger pumps 8a, 8b that suck and discharge the same, a coating head device B that coats a substrate 14 with the same, and a backup roll 15 that makes the substrate 14 travel. The rotary valves 9a, 9b comprise a switch valve of channels that makes the supply part A communicate with the plunger pumps 8a, 8b and the coating head device B and leads from the plunger pumps 8a, 8b to the supply part A or the coating head device B. The plunger pumps 8a, 8b and the rotary valves 9a, 9b are connected in parallel between the supply part A and the coating head device B, and the plunger pumps 8a, 8b interlock with the rotary valves 9a, 9b to suck the coating liquid when connected to the supply part A, and to discharge and suck the coating liquid when connected to the coating head device B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for intermittently forming a coating film having a constant film thickness on a film.

   An intermittent coating apparatus is an apparatus used when forming the coating film used for the electrode of a lithium ion battery intermittently on a base material etc., for example. However, the conventional intermittent coating apparatus has a rise in pressure at the time of application and a liquid pool generated in the coating head, so that each intermittently formed coating swells at the start of application and ends at the end of application. Then drowning occurs. The electrode of the lithium ion battery formed in this way discharges from a non-uniform film thickness and tends to deteriorate, thus shortening the life. Therefore, an intermittent coating apparatus for making the film thickness constant is demanded, and Patent Document 1 or 2 is proposed as an example.

  According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, the coating liquid is sucked and discharged using a piston driven by a servo motor, and the film thickness is made uniform by adjusting the speed of the servo motor. is there.

  According to the invention described in Patent Document 2, the coating liquid is discharged by opening and closing the valve body, and in order to improve the rising of the coating liquid at the starting end, the above-mentioned rising is achieved by adjusting the opening and closing speed of the valve body 26. It has an inhibitory effect.

JP 2007-269585 A JP 2012-47245 A

  With the recent spread of mobile devices, EVs, HVs, etc., the appearance of high-quality and inexpensive electrodes for lithium-ion batteries is required. Therefore, when mass production is attempted to reduce the unit price of the lithium ion battery electrode, it is necessary to increase the film transport speed and to form an intermittent coating film with a constant film thickness at that speed. Required for construction equipment. However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the servo motor that operates the piston cannot cope with the speed, and when the piston is operated, the pressure in the pipe between the slot die and the cylinder also changes, and the film thickness changes. Is difficult to equalize.

  Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, since the conditions such as the viscosity of the coating liquid to be used and the coating speed are different, the amount and pressure of the coating liquid at the start or end of coating in discharging the coating liquid by opening and closing the valve body Is difficult to adjust, and the film thickness of the coating film is difficult to be uniform.

  Therefore, there has been a demand for an intermittent coating apparatus in which the film thickness of the coating film is made uniform, and in particular, the amount and pressure of the paint at the start or end of application can be easily adjusted.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention is an intermittent coating apparatus that intermittently discharges a coating liquid to form a coating film on a substrate, the supply section supplying the coating liquid, and the flow of the coating liquid A rotary valve that switches the path, a plunger pump that sucks and discharges the coating liquid, a coating head device that applies the coating liquid to the base material, and a backup roll that runs the base material, The rotary valve communicates with the supply unit, the plunger pump, and the coating head device, a flow path from the supply unit to the plunger pump, and from the plunger pump to the coating head device. The plunger pump, in conjunction with the switching valve, sucks the coating liquid when connected to the supply unit, and connects to the coating head device. Spit out the coating liquid when - is characterized in that aspiration.

  Further, in addition to the configuration of the intermittent coating apparatus, a combination of the plunger pump and the rotary valve is connected in parallel between at least two of the supply unit and the coating head apparatus. It is what.

  Further, in addition to the configuration of the intermittent coating apparatus, the plunger of the plunger pump is driven by a linear motor.

  In addition to the configuration of the intermittent coating apparatus, a flow meter, a pressure gauge, and a circulation channel for circulating the coating liquid to the tank are provided between the pump and the rotary valve in the supply unit. And providing a valve, a flow meter, and a pressure gauge in the circulation flow path.

  Further, in addition to the configuration of the intermittent coating apparatus described above, the coating head apparatus includes a slot die for applying a coating liquid to the base material running on the backup roll, a valve, a flow meter, and a pressure gauge. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the piping on the coating head side from the plunger pump is closed by the switching valve of the rotary valve, it is not affected by the pressure of the pump or the like of the supply unit, and the plunger The pressure applied to the coating liquid can be easily adjusted only by adjusting the speed, and the liquid pool remaining on the coating head device and the substrate side is pulled back into the pipe by pulling the plunger pump at the end of discharge. Therefore, the end of the coating film due to the liquid pool can be eliminated. Therefore, the rotary valve switching valve can reduce the influence of the pressure from the supply unit from the coating head unit, and can produce a uniform film thickness by adjusting the plunger speed.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, by connecting at least two of the plunger pump and the rotary valve in parallel between the supply unit and the coating head device, one plunger pump discharges the coating liquid. At the same time, the other plunger pump sucks the coating liquid and can alternately form a coating film on the substrate, making it easy to respond to the increase in the speed of the backup roll. Play.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the linear motor is a motor in which the coil reciprocates in a magnetic field generated by a magnet, and can quickly convert an electric signal into a mechanical motion. This linear motor has good electrical response and is suitable for momentarily adjusting the acceleration of the plunger, such as when applying intermittently.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, by installing a flow meter, a pressure gauge, and a valve, the coating liquid in the pipe on the supply unit side having various viscosities and the like is easily adjusted to a predetermined pressure or flow rate. It becomes possible.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, by installing a flow meter, a pressure gauge and a valve, it is possible to easily adjust a predetermined pressure or flow rate of the coating liquid in the piping on the side of the coating apparatus having various viscosities and the like. Can be done.

It is the structure schematic which shows an example of the intermittent coating apparatus by this invention. It is an operation conceptual diagram of the plunger pump and the switching valve of the rotary valve. (A) The state in which the coating liquid is sucked from the supply unit (or coating head device) is changed to (b) the coating head device. The state where the coating liquid is discharged is shown. It is a figure which shows the connection of a plunger, a rotary valve, and a drive system, (a) The connection of a rotary valve and a rotary actuator, (b) The connection of a plunger pump and a linear motor is shown.

  An example of the configuration of the intermittent coating apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the intermittent coating apparatus of this embodiment, the supply unit A and the coating head apparatus B are piped via rotary valves 9a and 9b connected to plunger pumps 8a and 8b, and the backup roll 15 and the base material 14 are connected. It is provided in the vicinity of the coating head device B.

  The supply unit A is composed of a tank 1, a pump 2, a pressure gauge 3, a flow meter 4, a pressure gauge 5, a valve 6 and a circulation flow path 7. From the tank 1 through the pump 2, to the rotary valves 9a and 9b. It is piped and the flow meter 4 and the pressure gauge 3 are installed in the middle. Further, a circulation channel 7 is piped between the pump 2 and the flow meter 4 so that the coating liquid circulates in the tank 1, and a pressure gauge 5 and a valve 6 are installed there.

  The coating head device B is composed of a flow meter 10, a pressure gauge 11, a valve 12, and a slot die 13, and pipes from the plunger pumps 8a and 8b connected to the rotary valves 9a and 9b to the slot die 13. In the meantime, a flow meter 10, a pressure gauge 11 and a valve 12 are provided. Then, the coating liquid is discharged from the slot die 13 and applied to the base material 14 running on the backup roll 15 to form an intermittent coating film.

  Two plunger pumps 8 a and 8 b connected to the rotary valves 9 a and 9 b are connected in parallel between the supply unit A and the coating head device B, and discharge the coating liquid 23. When the rotary valve 9a is switched to the connection between one plunger pump 8a and the supply part A, the connection between the plunger pump 8a and the coating head device B is cut off. At that time, the other plunger pump 8b is switched to the connection with the coating head device B by the rotary valve 9b, and the connection between the plunger pump 8b and the supply unit A is cut off. Thus, the coating liquid 23 can be alternately discharged from the plunger pumps 8a and 8b, and it is possible to cope with the increase in the speed of the backup roll 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the rotary valves 9a and 9b are located at the distal ends of the plungers 21 arranged in each, and a part of the switching valve 22 is cut off to form a flow path. To do. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the plunger 21 discharges the coating liquid 23, the switching valve 22 is swung and rotated so that the rotary valves 9a and 9b form a flow path on the coating head device B side. . In this state, the discharge of the coating liquid 23 by the piston movement of the plunger 21 and the swing rotation of the rotary valve switching valve 22 are linked. Here, the valve body of the switching valve 22 can take a shape such as a spherical shape or a cylindrical shape.

  When the operation of the switching valve 22 and the plunger 21 is interlocked, the flow path of the piping is on the supply unit A side (from the supply unit A to the rotary valves 9a and 9b) and the coating head device B side (rotary valves 9a and 9b). To the coating head device B), and the influence of the pressure applied to the coating liquid 23 from the pump or the like by the supply unit A side is not directly applied to the coating head device B. it can. Accordingly, the pressure applied to the coating liquid 23 at the time of application may be adjusted only on the coating head device B side.

  In the present embodiment, two rotary valves 9a and 9b are used, but even one rotary valve 9 can be used. However, it is preferable to use two or more rotary valves 9a and 9b in consideration of the switching speed of the rotary valve 9, the speed of the backup roll 15, the continuous discharge of the coating liquid, and the like.

  Also, by connecting a controller and a control unit (not shown), pressure and flow values are obtained from the pressure gauges 3, 5, 11 and flow meters 4, 10, and the rotary valves 9a, 9b are switched, plunger pumps Commands such as speed adjustment of 8a and 8b are transmitted.

  Next, the plunger pumps 8a and 8b connected to the rotary valves 9a and 9b and the driving thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The rotary actuator 31 is connected to the switching valve 22 of each rotary valve 9a, 9b, and as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the switching valve 22 is swung and rotated 90 degrees to switch the flow path. Is what you do.

  The linear motor 32 is a motor in which the coil reciprocates in the horizontal direction by the magnetic force generated by the magnet. The reciprocating motion in the horizontal direction causes the piston movement of the plunger 21, and the coating liquid in the plunger pumps 8, 8. Is sucked and discharged. The linear motor 32 has good electrical responsiveness and can easily adjust the acceleration of the plunger 21. Further, since it is easy to increase the stroke length, it is suitable for the piston movement of the plunger 21.

  However, this embodiment is merely an example, and a reciprocating motor, a moving magnet, or the like may be used instead as long as it generates a driving force equivalent to that of the rotary actuator 31 or the linear motor 32.

  Based on FIG. 1 thru | or 3, the coating method of the intermittent coating apparatus in this embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, the supply unit A of the intermittent coating apparatus is operated. That is, the coating liquid 23 to be applied to the tank 1 is charged and the pump 2 is operated to supply the coating liquid 23 to the flow path. The coating liquid 23 is also supplied to the circulation flow path 7 while being supplied to the rotary valves 9a and 9b. In order to adjust the pressure and flow rate according to the viscosity of the coating liquid 23, the substrate transport speed, etc., a part of the valve 6 is opened, and a part of the coating liquid 23 is returned to the tank 1 through the circulation channel 7. The coating liquid 23 can be sent at the set pressure. The valve 6 is initially opened about 1/3, and the valve 6 is manually opened and closed so that the set pressure is reached.

  At this time, one rotary valve 9a connected in parallel on the coating head device B side is used as a flow path on the supply unit A side to cut off the connection with the coating head device B, and the plunger 21 interlocked therewith is The rotary valve 9a is positioned on the switching valve 22 side. The other rotary valve 9b is a flow path on the coating head device B side to cut off the connection with the supply unit A, and the plunger 21 interlocked therewith is positioned on the switching valve 22 side of the other rotary valve 9b. As an operation on the coating head device B side, it is preferable that the piping and the slot die 13 on the coating head device B side are sufficiently filled with a coating solution in advance.

  Next, the coating head device B side is operated to start coating. The linear motor 32 of one plunger pump 8a is operated, the plunger 21 moves backward, and the coating liquid is sucked into the plunger pump 8a from the supply part A side by negative pressure (see FIG. 2A). The rotation of the backup roll 15 is started, the base material 14 is caused to travel, and a set speed is reached after a few seconds. The switching valve 22 of one rotary valve 9a is switched to the flow path to the coating head device B side by the rotary actuator 31, and the plunger 21 is advanced to the switching valve 22 side of the rotary valve 9a by the piston movement of the linear motor 32. Then, the coating liquid 23 is discharged and applied from the slot die 13 to the base material 14 (see FIG. 2B).

  Simultaneously with the discharge of the coating liquid 23 by the one plunger pump 8a and the rotary valve 9a, the flow path of the other plunger pump 8b and the rotary valve 9b is switched to the supply section A side by the rotary actuator 31 and the switching valve 22. The plunger 21 is retracted by the linear motor 32 and the coating liquid 23 is sucked into the cylinder of the plunger pump 8b from the supply part A by negative pressure. After a predetermined interval from the coating film formed by one plunger pump 8a, the switching valve 22 of the rotary valve 9b is switched to the flow path to the coating head device B side by the rotary actuator 31, and the linear motor 32 The plunger 21 is moved forward to the switching valve 22 side of the rotary valve 9b by the piston movement, and the coating liquid is discharged and applied from the slot die 13 to the substrate 14.

  In the above intermittent coating apparatus, an intermittent coating film is formed on the substrate 14 by alternately repeating the suction and discharge operations of the coating liquid 23 by the rotary valves 9a and 9b.

  In this intermittent coating apparatus, the pressure can be kept constant and the thickness of the film thickness can be reduced by adjusting the speed of the plunger 21 during the coating from the beginning of coating. At the end of coating, the plunger 21 is moved backward from the rotary valves 9a and 9b while the switching valve 22 is connected to the coating head device B, so that the liquid pool remaining at the tip of the slot die 13 is placed in the pipe. It is possible to eliminate the wrinkle at the end of painting.

  According to the present invention, a coating film having a uniform film thickness can be formed on a base material without the rising and termination of the intermittent coating film. Moreover, the intermittent coating apparatus which can respond easily also to the raise of the speed of the backup roll which drive | works a base material can be provided.

A: Supply section
B ... coating head device 1 ... tank 2 ... pumps 3, 5, 11 ... pressure gauge 4, 10 ... flow meter 7 ... circulation flow path 6, 12 ... valve 8a, 8b ... Plunger pumps 9a, 9b ... Rotary valve 13 ... Slot die 14 ... Base material 15 ... Backup roll 21 ... Plunger 22 ... Switching valve 23 ...・ Liquid 31 ... Rotary actuator 32 ... Linear motor

Claims (5)

An intermittent coating apparatus for intermittently discharging a coating liquid to form a coating film on a substrate, the supply section supplying the coating liquid, a rotary valve for switching the flow path of the coating liquid, and the coating A plunger pump for sucking and discharging liquid, a coating head device for applying the coating liquid to the base material, and a backup roll for running the base material,
The rotary valve communicates with the supply unit, the plunger pump, and the coating head device, a flow path from the supply unit to the plunger pump, and the plunger pump to the coating head device. A switching valve with a flow path of
The plunger pump, in conjunction with the switching valve, sucks the coating liquid when connected to the supply unit, and discharges and sucks the coating liquid when connected to the coating head device. To do,
An intermittent coating device characterized by   The intermittent coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the combination of the plunger pump and the rotary valve are connected in parallel between the supply unit and the coating head apparatus.   The intermittent coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plunger of the plunger pump is driven by a linear motor.   A flow meter, a pressure gauge, and a circulation channel for circulating the coating liquid to the tank are provided between the pump and the rotary valve in the supply unit, and a valve is provided in the circulation channel. The intermittent coating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a flow meter and a pressure gauge are provided.   The said coating head apparatus is equipped with the slot die which apply | coats a coating liquid to the said base material which drive | works with the said backup roll, a valve | bulb, a flowmeter, and a pressure gauge, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The intermittent coating apparatus according to item 1.

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