JP2017003066A - Orifice, liquid feeding device using the same, application device, and manufacturing method of optical film - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an orifice capable of accelerating deagglomeration and capable of suppressing accumulation of particles, a liquid feeding device using the orifice, an application device, and a manufacturing method of an optical film.SOLUTION: An orifice includes: an orifice body 12; an inflow opening 14 positioned on an inflow side of the orifice body; a reduced diameter part 20 that comprises a primary side inner wall 18 having a curved surface 22 continuing from the inflow opening and having a curvature radius of 1-10 mm, and a diameter reduction surface 24 continuing from the curved surface and reducing its diameter to a narrow opening 16 at an angle of 120-180°; and an enlarged diameter part 30 that comprises a secondary side inner wall 28 continuing from the narrow opening to an outflow opening 26, and enlarging its diameter at an angle of 2-10°. The ratio of the diameter of the narrow opening to the diameter of the inflow opening is 0.07-0.18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an orifice, a liquid feeding apparatus using the same, a coating apparatus, and a method for producing an optical film.

  Liquids containing particles are used in a wide range of fields. For example, a functional film such as an optical film is manufactured by applying a liquid containing particles (also referred to as a coating solution) to the surface of a belt-like web that is continuously conveyed to form a coating film having a desired thickness. Things have been done. In the process for producing a functional film, a liquid containing particles is fed to a coating head through a flow path, and the liquid containing particles is supplied from the coating head to the web.

  When a liquid containing particles is used, the particles may aggregate in the manufacturing process to form particle aggregates, and it is necessary to disperse the particle aggregates.

  In patent document 1, after pressurizing by forcibly sending liquid to a narrow channel, and sending to a wide channel, the aggregate of primary particles of organic crosslinked polymer particles is made into primary particles. It is described that a deagglomeration treatment is performed.

JP 2014-196468 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, there is a concern that the aggregates are not sufficiently deagglomerated and particles are retained on the inflow side of the flow path.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, an orifice capable of promoting deagglomeration of particle aggregates and suppressing particle retention, a liquid feeding device, a coating device using the same, and It aims at providing the manufacturing method of an optical film.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the orifice includes an orifice body, an inflow opening located on the inflow side of the orifice body, a curved surface having a radius of curvature of 1 to 10 mm continuous from the inflow opening, and a continuous surface from the curved surface of 120 to 180 °. A diameter-reduced portion composed of a primary-side inner wall having a reduced-diameter surface that is reduced in diameter to a stenosis opening at an angle, and a secondary side that is continuous from the stenosis opening to the outflow opening and expands at an angle of 2 to 10 ° And a ratio of the diameter of the narrowed opening to the diameter of the inflow opening is 0.07 to 0.18.

  Preferably, the angle of the reduced diameter surface of the primary side inner wall is 130 to 170 °.

  Preferably, the angle at which the diameter of the secondary inner wall expands is 5 to 8 °.

  Preferably, the ratio of the diameter of the constriction opening to the diameter of the inflow opening is 0.07 to 0.14.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a liquid delivery device includes a flow path through which a fluid containing particles passes, a part of the flow path, the orifice through which the fluid passes, the flow path and the orifice, A drive source for sending fluid.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a coating apparatus includes a flow path through which a coating liquid containing particles passes, the above-described orifice through which the coating liquid passes, provided in a part of the flow path, and a downstream side of the orifice. An application head.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for producing an optical film includes a step of supplying a coating liquid containing particles from the above-described coating apparatus to a continuously conveyed web, forming a coating film, and drying the coating film. And / or curing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the deaggregation of particle | grains can be accelerated | stimulated and the stay of particle | grains can be suppressed in the manufacturing process using the liquid containing particle | grains.

It is the side view and sectional drawing of an orifice. It is a schematic block diagram of the manufacturing line of an optical film. It is a schematic block diagram of a liquid feeding apparatus. It is a table | surface figure which shows the result of an Example.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is illustrated by the following preferred embodiments. Changes can be made by many techniques without departing from the scope of the present invention, and other embodiments than the present embodiment can be utilized. Accordingly, all modifications within the scope of the present invention are included in the claims.

  Here, in the drawing, portions indicated by the same symbols are similar elements having similar functions. In addition, in the present specification, when a numerical range is expressed using “˜”, upper and lower numerical values indicated by “˜” are also included in the numerical range.

  FIG. 1 (A) is a side view of the orifice of the present embodiment in the direction of the arrow BB line, and FIG. 1 (B) is a cross-sectional view of the orifice of the present embodiment. The orifice 10 of this embodiment is arrange | positioned between the piping 60 for flowing a fluid.

  The orifice 10 has a cylindrical orifice body 12. The orifice body 12 is made of, for example, a stainless steel material. However, these materials are not limited to stainless steel. The outer diameter OD of the orifice body 12 is, for example, 15 to 30 mm. However, the outer diameter OD is appropriately determined in consideration of a liquid feeding device, a coating device, or the like to which the orifice 10 is applied. The shape of the orifice body 12 is not limited to a cylindrical shape.

  The orifice body 12 includes an inflow opening 14 positioned on the inflow side with respect to the fluid flow direction indicated by the arrow A. The inflow opening 14 receives a fluid containing particles. It is preferable that the diameter ID1 of the inflow opening 14 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the pipe 60 connected to the inflow side because the resistance of the fluid is reduced. The diameter ID1 of the inflow opening 14 is, for example, 10 to 20 mm. However, the diameter ID1 is appropriately determined in consideration of a liquid feeding device, a coating device, or the like to which the orifice 10 is applied.

  The orifice body 12 includes a reduced diameter portion 20 including a primary side inner wall 18 continuous from the inflow opening 14 to the narrowed opening 16. The diameter ID2 of the constriction opening 16 is, for example, 1 to 5 mm. In the present embodiment, the ratio (ID2 / ID1) of the diameter ID2 of the constriction opening 16 to the diameter ID1 of the inflow opening 14 is in the range of 0.07 to 0.18, and in the range of 0.07 to 0.14. Preferably there is.

  The primary side inner wall 18 has a curved surface 22 having a radius of curvature r of 1 to 10 mm continuous from the inflow opening 14. The curved surface 22 is directed to the narrowed opening 16 having a smaller diameter than the inflow opening 14. Furthermore, the primary side inner wall 18 has a reduced diameter surface 24 that is continuous from the curved surface 22 and that reduces the diameter to the narrowed opening 16 at an angle α of 120 to 180 °. The diameter α of the diameter reduction surface 24 is preferably 130 to 170 °.

  The length of the reduced diameter portion 20 (the distance from the inflow opening 14 to the narrowed opening 16) is, for example, 10 to 100 mm. However, it is not limited to this length.

  The angle α of the diameter-reduced surface 24 means an angle formed by tangent lines that are in contact with the diameter-reduced surface 24 located across the narrowed opening 16 in a sectional view. Here, the term “reduced diameter” means that the diameter (inner diameter) of the primary side inner wall 18 decreases as viewed from the fluid flow direction.

  In the present embodiment, since the primary side inner wall 18 is reduced in diameter by an angle α of 120 to 180 °, the primary side inner wall 18 is relatively abruptly reduced from the diameter ID 1 of the inflow opening 14 to the diameter ID 2 of the constriction opening 16. It has a diameter.

  The orifice body 12 includes a diameter-enlarged portion 30 that includes a secondary inner wall 28 that is continuous from the constriction opening 16 to the outflow opening 26 and expands at an angle β of 2 to 10 °. In addition, it is preferable that the expansion angle β is 5 to 8 °.

  The outflow opening 26 basically has the same diameter ID3 as the diameter ID1 of the inflow opening 14, and the diameter ID3 of the outflow opening 26 is, for example, 10 to 20 mm. The diameter ID3 of the outflow opening 26 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the pipe 60 connected to the outflow side. However, the diameter ID3 is appropriately determined in consideration of a liquid feeding device, a coating device, and the like to which the orifice 10 is applied. Moreover, the length of the enlarged diameter part 30 is 80-200 mm, for example. However, it is not limited to this length.

  The secondary side inner wall 28 continues linearly from the narrowed opening 16 to the outflow opening 26 in a sectional view. The angle β of the secondary side inner wall 28 means an angle formed by an extension line of the secondary side inner wall 28 located across the narrowed opening 16 in a sectional view. Here, the term “expanded diameter” means that the diameter (inner diameter) of the secondary side inner wall 28 increases as viewed from the fluid flow direction.

  Since the secondary side inner wall 28 is continuous from the constriction opening 16 to the outflow opening 26 and is expanded in diameter by 2 to 10 °, the expansion angle β of the secondary side inner wall 28 in the expanded diameter portion 30 is The distance between the constriction opening 16 and the outflow opening 26 is basically constant in the range of 2 to 10 °. That is, the enlarged diameter portion 30 does not have a portion (also referred to as a narrow path) in which the secondary inner wall 28 located across the narrowed opening 16 is parallel in a cross-sectional view.

  The orifice 10 includes a primary flange 32 on the inflow side of the reduced diameter portion 20. The primary side flange 32 is provided with a groove 34 for accommodating a seal member (not shown) used when connecting the orifice 10 and the inflow side pipe 60.

  The orifice 10 includes a secondary flange 36 on the outflow side of the enlarged diameter portion 30. The secondary flange 36 is provided with a groove 38 for accommodating a seal member (not shown) used when connecting the orifice 10 and the outflow side pipe 60.

  In the orifice 10 of the present embodiment, a liquid containing particles flows from the inflow opening 14 into the reduced diameter portion 20 of the orifice body 12. In some cases, particles in the liquid aggregate to form an aggregate. Since the primary side inner wall 18 is suddenly reduced in diameter by the diameter-reduced surface 24 of 120 to 180 ° to the narrowed opening 16 having a small diameter, turbulent flow is generated when the liquid passes through the narrowed opening 16. This turbulent flow promotes deagglomeration of the particle aggregates. Moreover, since the primary side inner wall 18 has the curved surface 22 having a radius of curvature of 1 to 10 mm, it is possible to prevent particles from staying in the reduced diameter portion 20. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a failure due to particle retention. When the particles stay in the reduced diameter portion 20, the staying particles may pass through the orifice 10 without being deagglomerated. Failure (for example, streak failure, point defects, performance failure, etc.) may occur due to particles that are not deagglomerated.

  The fluid that has passed through the narrowed opening 16 moves to the enlarged diameter portion 30 and flows out from the outflow opening 26. Aggregates in the fluid that has moved to the enlarged diameter portion 30 are deagglomerated by turbulent flow. It is necessary that the deagglomerated particles are not re-agglomerated until the fluid flows from the constriction opening 16 to the outflow opening 26. The secondary inner wall 28 of the enlarged diameter portion 30 of the present embodiment is enlarged at a gentle angle β of 2 to 10 ° and does not have a narrow path. Since the diameter is increased, the particles in the fluid act so as not to contact each other, and reaggregation can be suppressed. Further, since the angle is a gentle angle β of 2 to 10 °, the particles are likely to contact the secondary side inner wall 28. When the particles come into contact with the secondary side inner wall 28, deaggregation is promoted by contact with the secondary side inner wall 28 even when the particles reaggregate.

  Here, deagglomeration means that the size of the aggregate of particles (long side length) is 20% or less after passing through the orifice, compared to before passing through the orifice.

  It is presumed that the above-described action works in the orifice of the present embodiment, so that the promotion of particle deagglomeration and the retention of particles can be suppressed. In addition, the specific effect of the orifice 10 demonstrated above is demonstrated in the Example mentioned later.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a production line in which a coating apparatus to which the orifice of the present embodiment is applied is provided on a production line for optical films.

  The optical film production line includes a step of continuously feeding a resin film wound in a roll shape (hereinafter referred to as “web W”) and a step of winding the web W into a roll shape. A necessary number of processes are prepared as appropriate, such as a process of forming a coating film, a process of drying the coating film, and / or a process of curing the coating film.

  The production line 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes a backup roller 102 around which the web W is wound at the coating position, and a slot die 104 that is a coating head disposed at a position facing the backup roller 102. The slot die 104 is supplied with a coating liquid 106 containing particles in order to manufacture an optical film via the pipe 60. Here, the pipe 60 becomes a flow path through which the coating liquid containing particles passes. The material, shape, and the like of the channel are not limited as long as the coating liquid 106 containing particles can pass through. In addition, as an optical film manufactured from the coating liquid 106 containing particle | grains, an anti-glare film, a scattering film, and a diffusion film can be mentioned, for example.

  In this embodiment, the slot die 104 is exemplified as the coating head. Here, the method of the application head is not limited as long as it can apply a fluid containing particles. For example, an extrusion method, an inkjet head method, a slide coating method, or the like can be used.

  The coating liquid 106 containing particles is stored in a storage tank 108. The storage tank 108 and the slot die 104 are in fluid communication via a pipe 60. Between the storage tank 108 and the slot die 104, there are a liquid feed pump 110, a pressure gauge 112, a vacuum degassing device 114, a filtration filter 116, a flow meter 118, and an orifice 10 from the upstream side to the downstream side. Provided in the section.

  “Upstream” and “downstream” are used with respect to the moving direction of the coating liquid (fluid). A case of being located on the moving direction side with respect to a certain reference is defined as “downstream”, and a case of being located on the opposite side of the moving direction is defined as “upstream”.

  In the present embodiment, the coating apparatus may include at least a flow path, an orifice, and a coating head on the downstream side of the orifice.

  Various known types of pumps can be used as the liquid feed pump 110, but a diaphragm pump is preferable in consideration of the coating liquid 106 containing particles.

  Various types of known pressure gauges can be used as the pressure gauge 112. As the filter 116 and the vacuum degassing device 114, those having appropriate specifications can be adopted according to the composition of the coating liquid 106 and the like. Various known types of flow meters can be used as the flow meter 118, but a Coriolis flow meter can be preferably used.

  An example of the manufacturing method of the optical film by the manufacturing line 100 is demonstrated.

  A coating apparatus having a slot die 104 as a coating head, an orifice 10 and a pipe 60 as a flow path is prepared, and a coating liquid 106 containing particles is prepared and stored in a storage tank 108.

  The web W is continuously sent out from the roll on which the web W is wound, and the static electricity charged on the web W is removed by an electrostatic static eliminator (not shown), and the foreign matter adhering to the web W continues. It is removed by a dust removing device (not shown).

  The back surface of the web W is wound around the backup roller 102 and the web W is continuously conveyed. A coating liquid 106 containing particles is supplied from a slot die 104 serving as a coating head to the surface of the web W that is continuously conveyed to form a coating film. Here, the coating film means a coating solution which is formed on the surface of the web W and is controlled to have a desired film thickness.

  The coating liquid 106 containing particles is pressure-fed from the storage tank 108 to the slot die 104 by a liquid feeding pump 110 that is a driving source for sending the coating liquid (fluid). The coating liquid 106 thus pumped is supplied to the slot die 104 via the pipe 60 via the pressure gauge 112, the vacuum degassing device 114, the filtration filter 116, and the orifice 10.

  By allowing the coating liquid 106 containing particles to pass through the orifice 10 of the present embodiment, the aggregate of particles in the coating liquid 106 can be deagglomerated. As a result, it is possible to avoid the phenomenon that the particles of the coating liquid 106 are clogged in the slot of the slot die 104. Further, the particles can be uniformly dispersed in the coating film formed on the web W. An optical film having desired optical characteristics can be produced. The retention of particles in the orifice 10 is suppressed, and failures due to the retention are suppressed.

  Orifice 10 is preferably located on the upstream side closest to slot die 104. For example, it is preferably provided at a distance within 1000 mm from the liquid supply port of the slot die 104. The coating liquid 106 can be supplied to the slot die 104 before the particles in the coating liquid reaggregate.

  The web W on which the coating film is formed is continuously conveyed to the processing zone 120. The processing zone 120 includes a step of drying and / or curing the coating film formed on the web W. For example, the process of drying a coating film means the process of removing water, a solvent, etc. from a coating film by various drying systems, such as the convection drying system by a hot air, and the radiation drying system by radiant heats, such as infrared rays. The process of curing the coating film involves irradiating the coating film with active rays such as ultraviolet rays, electromagnetic waves, and particle beams, thereby causing a crosslinking reaction, a polymerization reaction, etc. to the compound contained in the coating film, thereby increasing the hardness of the coating film. It means to increase.

  The web W having a dried and / or cured coating film is wound into a roll.

  Although a general optical film manufacturing method has been described, by changing the type of coating liquid supplied to the web W, it is possible to identify optical compensation films, antiglare films, antiglare antireflection films, etc. The film can be manufactured.

  The material used for the optical film will be described.

  The web means a flexible continuous belt-like member having a thin film thickness, and it is preferable to use a resin film. As the polymer constituting the resin film, cellulose acylate (eg, triacetylcellulose, diacetylcellulose, typically TAC-TD80U, TD80UF, etc. manufactured by Fuji Film Co., Ltd.), polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester (eg, polyethylene terephthalate) , Polyethylene naphthalate), polystyrene, polyolefin, norbornene resin (Arton: trade name, manufactured by JSR Corporation), amorphous polyolefin (ZEONEX: trade name, manufactured by ZEON Corporation), (meth) acrylic resin (Acrypet VRL20A: trade name, manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., ring structure-containing acrylic resin described in JP-A No. 2004-70296 and JP-A No. 2006-171464), and the like. Of these, triacetyl cellulose, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate are preferable, and triacetyl cellulose is particularly preferable.

  The coating solution contains at least a solvent and particles. In addition, a binder polymer may be included. The viscosity of the coating solution is, for example, 0.5 to 20 mPa · s. The viscosity of the coating solution can be measured at 25 ° C. using a vibration viscometer (manufactured by A & D Co., Ltd., model name: SV-1A).

  Examples of the solvent include organic solvents. As an organic solvent, for example, in an alcohol system, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, sec-butanol, tert-butanol, isoamyl alcohol, 1-pentanol, n-hexanol, methyl amyl alcohol, etc. In the ketone system, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, acetone, cyclohexanone, diacetone alcohol, etc. In the ester system, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, acetic acid Isoamyl, n-amyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, methyl butyrate, ethyl butyrate, methyl acetate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, ether, acetal, 1,4 dioxane, teto Hydrofuran, 2-methylfuran, tetrahydropyran, diethyl acetal, etc., hydrocarbon type, hexane, heptane, octane, isooctane, ligroin, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, divinylbenzene, etc., halogen hydrocarbon type In, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane In the case of polyhydric alcohols and derivatives thereof, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoacetate, diethylene glycol, propylene Glycolic acid, dipropylene glycol, butanediol, hexylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, glycerin monoacetate, glycerin ethers, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, etc. In fatty acid systems, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, In the case of nitrogen compounds such as entrained acid, isoentangled acid, isovaleric acid, and lactic acid, formamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, acetamide, acetonitrile, and the like, and in the case of sulfur compounds, dimethyl sulfoxide and the like can be mentioned.

  Among organic solvents, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, acetone, toluene, xylene, ethyl acetate, 1-pentanol and the like are particularly preferable. In addition, an alcohol or a polyhydric alcohol solvent may be appropriately mixed with the organic solvent for the purpose of controlling cohesion. These organic solvents may be used alone or in combination, and the coating composition preferably contains 20% by mass to 90% by mass, and preferably 30% by mass to 80% by mass, as the total amount of the organic solvent. More preferably, it is most preferable to contain 40 mass%-70 mass%. In order to stabilize the surface shape of the particle-containing layer, it is preferable to use a solvent having a boiling point of less than 100 ° C. and a solvent having a boiling point of 100 ° C. or more in combination. The solvent is not limited to an organic solvent.

  The particle | grains contained in a coating liquid point out the particle | grains which have a volume average particle diameter of 0.05-100 micrometers. As particles contained in the coating liquid, for example, crosslinked polymethyl methacrylate, crosslinked methyl methacrylate-styrene copolymer, crosslinked methyl methacrylate-methyl acrylate copolymer particles, crosslinked acrylate-styrene copolymer particles, crosslinked polystyrene particles, Preferred examples include resin particles such as crosslinked methyl methacrylate-crosslinked modified acrylate copolymer particles, melamine formaldehyde resin particles, and benzoguanamine formaldehyde resin particles. Of these, crosslinked polymethyl methacrylate, crosslinked methyl methacrylate-styrene copolymer and the like are preferable.

  Examples of the above-mentioned particles include commercially available resin particles. For example, Chemisnow, MX600, MX675, RX0855, MX800, SX713L, MX1500H, etc. manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd., or Sekisui Plastics Industries ( TECH Polymer, SSX108HXE, SSX108LXESSX-106TN, SSX-106FB, XX120S, etc. can be used.

  The following substances can be contained in the coating solution.

  Although it does not specifically limit as a binder polymer which forms a matrix, It is preferable that it is a translucent binder polymer which has a saturated hydrocarbon chain or a polyether chain as a principal chain after hardening by ionizing radiation etc. Moreover, it is preferable that the main binder polymer after hardening has a crosslinked structure. In addition, it is preferable that a binder polymer comprises 55-94 mass% in a glare-proof layer (solid content). More preferably, it is 75-90 mass%.

  As the binder polymer having a saturated hydrocarbon chain as a main chain after curing, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from compounds of the first group described below and a polymer thereof are preferable. Moreover, as a polymer which has a polyether chain as a principal chain, the epoxy-type monomer chosen from the compound of the 2nd group described below and the polymer by these ring-opening are preferable. Furthermore, a polymer of a mixture of these monomers is also preferable.

  It is preferable to use a polymerization initiator in the range of 0.1-15 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of said monomers by the polymerization initiator total amount, and the range of 1-10 mass parts is more preferable.

  Next, a liquid feeding device using the orifice of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those illustrated in FIG. 2 may be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof may be omitted. The fluid 202 containing particles is stored in the storage tank 108. The storage tank 108 and the second storage tank 130 are in fluid communication via a pipe 60 that is a flow path. The liquid feeding device 200 is provided between the storage tank 108 and the second storage tank 130 from the upstream side to the downstream side, from the liquid feeding pump 110, the pressure gauge 112, the vacuum degassing device 114, the filtration filter 116, and the flow meter 118. The orifice 10 is provided in a part of the pipe 60. In addition, the liquid feeding apparatus should just be provided with the flow path, the orifice, and the drive source at least.

  Here, the pipe 60 becomes a flow path through which the fluid 202 containing particles passes. The material, shape, and the like of the flow path are not limited as long as the fluid 202 containing particles can pass through.

  The fluid 202 containing particles is pressure-fed from the storage tank 108 to the second storage tank 130 by a liquid feed pump 110 that is a drive source for sending fluid. The fluid 202 that has been pumped is supplied to the second storage tank 130 via the pipe 60 via the pressure gauge 112, the vacuum degassing device 114, the filtration filter 116, and the orifice 10.

  By allowing the fluid 202 containing particles to pass through the orifice 10 of the present embodiment, the aggregates of the particles in the fluid 202 can be deagglomerated. As a result, a fluid 202 in which particles are dispersed can be obtained.

  Although the liquid feed pump 110 is illustrated as a drive source for sending fluid, the type of pump is not limited. In addition to the pump as a drive source, for example, the storage tank 108 can be arranged at a high place, and the potential energy can be used as a drive source for sending fluid. Here, “liquid feeding” refers to moving a fluid containing particles through a flow path.

  Examples of fluids containing particles include paints containing pigments, inks containing pigments, magnetic tape coatings containing magnetic fine particles, water repellents containing Teflon fine particles (Teflon is a registered trademark), foods containing emulsions, cosmetics containing emulsions, etc. Can be illustrated.

  By passing the exemplified fluid containing particles through the orifice of the present embodiment, the aggregate of particles can be deagglomerated. Further, the retention of particles can be suppressed.

  A fluid means a gas or a liquid. Moreover, a particle means the particle | grains which have a volume average particle diameter of 0.05-100 micrometers.

  The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples. The materials, production conditions, and the like shown in the following examples can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following specific examples.

[Test 1]
3 g of crosslinked acrylate-styrene copolymer particles having a volume average particle diameter of 2.8 μm was added to 1000 g of a mixed solvent of methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone (mixing ratio: 1: 1: 89) to prepare a fluid containing particles.

  The prepared fluid at a flow rate of 1 (kg / min), a 110 ° diameter reduction angle (angle α of the diameter reduction surface), a 0 mm narrow path length, and a 7 ° diameter expansion angle (expansion of the secondary inner wall). (Diameter angle β) was passed through an orifice having a shape with a radius of curvature r of 4 mm and a reduction ratio of 7% (diameter of constriction opening / diameter of inflow opening × 100).

[Tests 2 to 21]
The fluid used in Test 1 was passed through an orifice having the shape shown in the table of FIG. The conditions were the same as in Test 1 except that the shape of the orifice was changed.

<Evaluation>
Evaluation was performed based on the following deagglomeration effect, presence / absence of retention, and comprehensive evaluation, and the evaluation was described in each item of the table of FIG.

(Effect of deagglomeration)
The particle agglomerates were compared in size before and after passing the fluid through the orifice. The size of the aggregate was observed by observing the liquid dropped on the spectroscopic plate with an optical microscope. Specifically, the fluid was photographed with a microscope, and the long side of the aggregate was measured from the obtained photograph to obtain the size of the aggregate. The size of the aggregate before deagglomeration was determined as follows. Ten aggregates were randomly selected from the coating solution before passing through the orifice, and the long sides of each aggregate were measured. The average value of the long side was taken as the size of the aggregate before deagglomeration.

  Similarly, the size of the aggregate after deagglomeration was determined as follows. Ten aggregates were randomly selected from the fluid after passing through the orifice, and the long side of each aggregate was measured. The average value of the long side was taken as the size of the aggregate after deagglomeration.

The effect of deagglomeration was evaluated in the following three steps at a ratio of (aggregate size / aggregate size before deagglomeration) × 100 after deagglomeration.
A: The ratio of the size of the aggregate after deaggregation to the size of the aggregate before deaggregation is 5% or less.
B: The ratio of the size of the aggregate after deaggregation to the size of the aggregate before deaggregation is 20% or less.
C: The ratio of the size of the aggregate after deaggregation to the size of the aggregate before deaggregation is greater than 20%.

(Residence)
It was observed by flow velocity distribution by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) whether particles were retained in the reduced diameter portion of the orifice. STAR-LT (manufactured by C.A.Dapco Japan Co., Ltd.) was used as CFD simulation software, and a commercially available general-purpose personal computer was used as hardware. The presence or absence of residence was evaluated in the following three stages. Here, the failure means a streak failure or a point defect caused by particle aggregation. For streaks and point defects, the test was conducted by visual inspection, and the production machine was inspected by an inspection machine (automatic camera inspection machine).
A: No stagnation and no risk of failure.
B: Although it is easy to stay, it is a level which does not have a problem.
C: There is a stagnation and a failure may occur.

(Comprehensive evaluation)
Considering the effect of deagglomeration and the presence or absence of stagnation, a comprehensive evaluation was performed on the production suitability in the following three stages.
A: More preferable (the effect of deagglomeration and the presence or absence of retention are both A).
B: Adoption is possible (the effect of deagglomeration and the presence or absence of retention are both B or more, excluding A in the comprehensive evaluation).
C: Not applicable (C is the effect of deagglomeration and the presence or absence of retention).

(Evaluation results)
As shown in tests 2 to 5, 8 to 11, 14, 15, 18, and 19 in the table of FIG. 4, the diameter reduction angle α of 120 to 180 °, the narrow path length of 0 mm, and the expansion of 2 to 10 °. When a fluid containing particles was passed through an orifice having a diameter angle β, a curvature radius r of 1 to 10 mm, and a reduction rate of 7 to 18%, an evaluation of B or more was obtained.

  As seen in Tests 3 and 4 in Tests 2 to 5, when the narrow path length, the diameter expansion angle β, the curvature radius r, and the reduction ratio are constant, the diameter reduction angle α is 130 to 170 °. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of A was obtained.

  As seen in Tests 9 and 10 in Tests 8 to 11, when the diameter reduction angle α, the narrow path length, the radius of curvature r, and the reduction rate are constant, the diameter expansion angle β is 5 to 8 °. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of A was obtained.

  As seen in Tests 4 and 18 in Tests 4, 18 and 19, when the diameter reduction angle α, the narrow path length, the diameter expansion angle β and the radius of curvature r are constant, the reduction rate is 7 to 14%. A comprehensive evaluation of A was obtained.

  On the other hand, the evaluation of the deagglomeration effect was C when the diameter was outside the range of 120 to 180 ° as in Tests 1 and 6. The evaluation of the deagglomeration effect was C when the expansion angle β was outside the range of 2 to 10 ° as in Tests 7 and 12. When the curvature radius r was outside the range of 1 to 10 mm as in Tests 13 and 16, the evaluation of the deagglomeration effect was B, and the evaluation of the presence or absence of retention was C. The evaluation of the deagglomeration effect was C when out of the range of the reduction rate of 7 to 18% as in Tests 17 and 20. When narrow paths existed as in Test 21, the evaluation of the deaggregation effect was C. Presumed to re-aggregate when passing through a narrow path.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Orifice, 12 ... Orifice main body, 14 ... Inflow opening, 16 ... Constriction opening, 18 ... Primary side inner wall, 20 ... Reduced diameter part, 22 ... Curved surface, 24 ... Reduced diameter surface, 26 ... Outflow opening, 28 ... Secondary Side inner wall, 30 ... enlarged diameter portion, 32 ... primary side flange, 34 ... groove, 36 ... secondary side flange, 38 ... groove, 60 ... piping, 100 ... production line, 102 ... backup roller, 104 ... slot die, 106 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Coating liquid, 108 ... Storage tank, 110 ... Liquid feed pump, 112 ... Pressure gauge, 114 ... Depressurization deaerator, 116 ... Filtration filter, 118 ... Flow meter, 120 ... Processing zone, 130 ... Second storage tank, 200 ... Liquid feeding device, 202 ... Fluid

Claims (7)

An orifice body;
An inflow opening located on the inflow side of the orifice body;
A reduced diameter portion composed of a primary inner wall having a curved surface with a radius of curvature of 1 to 10 mm continuous from the inflow opening and a reduced diameter surface continuous from the curved surface and reduced in diameter to a constriction opening at an angle of 120 to 180 °. When,
A diameter-expanding portion that is continuous from the narrowing opening to the outflow opening and that is configured by a secondary inner wall that expands at an angle of 2 to 10 °, and
An orifice having a ratio of the diameter of the constriction opening to the diameter of the inflow opening of 0.07 to 0.18.   The orifice according to claim 1, wherein an angle of the reduced diameter surface of the primary side inner wall is 130 to 170 °.   The orifice according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an angle of diameter expansion of the secondary side inner wall is 5 to 8 °.   The orifice according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the constriction opening to the diameter of the inflow opening is 0.07 to 0.14. A flow path through which a fluid containing particles passes;
The orifice according to any one of claims 1 to 4, provided in a part of the flow path, through which the fluid passes;
A drive source for sending the fluid to the flow path and the orifice;
A liquid feeding device comprising: A flow path through which a coating liquid containing particles passes,
The orifice according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided in a part of the flow path and through which the coating liquid passes,
A coating head provided downstream of the orifice;
A coating apparatus comprising: A step of supplying a coating liquid containing particles to the continuously conveyed web from the coating apparatus according to claim 6 to form a coating film;
Drying and / or curing the coating film;
The manufacturing method of the optical film containing this.

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