JP6984812B2 - Liquid isolation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for removing a liquid from the web, in particular, but not limited to, to avoid confinement of the liquid in the processing station and transport of the liquid from the processing station by the web. Regarding the device.

Avoidance of such confinement and transport is referred to as "isolation" due to its similarity to separation valves.

The liquid remover is intended to remove bulk liquids and / or liquid droplets that are surface dry. The removal of bulk liquids and droplets is not usually expected to result in complete drying. Even though the substance is superficially dry, it may be damp, wet, or carry a fine liquid. Therefore, references to "isolation" include surface isolation and are not limited to isolation as much as possible, such as in hospital isolation wards.

It is known to process the web through a tank for treatment with chemicals in solution. For example, it is known that copper is electrodelessly plated on a polymer web for use in a touch screen or the like. The web may need to be routed from a tank with a solution of one chemical to a tank with a solution of another chemical, in which case one chemical is from that tank to the second tank of chemicals. It is important not to be carried to. That is, a liquid with one chemical should be isolated from a liquid with another chemical. In addition, if a cleaning tank is provided between the chemical tanks, the liquid chemicals should be isolated from the cleaning fluid.

Chemical carry-over can be prevented by using a web dryer between the tanks. However, although the inventor's UK patent application GB 2,500,564 used many superposed air bearing type drying guides, the relay station may be thick and may actually include the risk of uneven drying. The uneven drying may cause uneven contact with the plating solution, for example, and as a result, uneven plating may be caused.

Air knives have been used for many purposes, from solder leveling to board drying. However, I was not sure to use a common air knife for web drying.

In the context of the text, "air knife" means:
A set of facing members having facing surfaces, each having a slit or a linear array of openings through which air can be blown, which is a board, sheet that passes between the facing surfaces in the passing direction. Or to blow off the liquid in the web (the "web" is used alone in some situations to contain any of these).

Normally, the slits or openings are angled so that the flow of air is directed in the opposite direction of the web's direction of travel, which causes the web to be treated with liquid and, as a result, the web to carry the rest of the liquid. The liquid is blown back toward the area.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for liquid removal.

According to the present invention, there is at least one elongated groove or notch in at least one facing surface of a set of facing members, the groove or notch upstream or downstream of a linear array of each slit or opening in the passage direction. A liquid remover with an air knife located at is provided.

Normally, the web is longer in the transit direction than in the lateral width. The air knife has a lateral length with respect to a passage direction longer than the width of the web, but the passage direction is narrower than that length.

In this way, one or each of the grooves or cuts is at least substantially parallel to each of the linear arrangements of each slit or opening.

In the case of one or more grooves, one or each of the opposing surfaces extends beyond the groove at least substantially coplanar with itself in a linear arrangement of each slit or opening.

For convenience, the grooves are provided in pairs, one on one facing surface and another on the other. Preferably, such grooves are aligned facing each other in order to concentrate the webs between them between the facing surfaces. However, the grooves may be offset.

Usually, it is expected to provide one pair of opposed elongated grooves for a plurality of pairs of opposing grooves. It may be a single pair upstream or downstream of a slit or opening. In a different arrangement, envision the use of upstream or downstream grooves facing plane facing members.

For one or more cuts, one or each of the cuts extends outward from the linear arrangement of each slit or opening towards the end of the notched facing member. The notch may have a constant depth or may vary in depth along its width direction. The depth of cut can be greater than the extent of the opposing surface between the cut and the linear arrangement of slits or openings.

Usually, the presence of a groove or notch on the facing surface of one facing member is very similar to the presence of a groove or notch in a similar position on the facing surface of the other facing member, whereby the web is similarly on both sides. Be acted upon.

Normally, the facing surface is
-Chamfering distant edges and / or-at least substantially flat.

The distance between the facing surfaces is greater on the outside than on the inside of one or each groove, which allows air flow to flow between the groove and the slit or opening line when in use. The outside is slower than the inside.

So if one of the opposing members bends, preferably at least partly in an annular shape, it can be flat with no cuts or grooves, especially where the bending member bends over the curve of the web. It is an inner support member. In such cases, the other opposing member can be bent in a complementary manner, but it does not have to be.

In the form of a particular bend support member, the inner facing member has a central slit or opening array to allow air to be isolated from the liquid on either side, and further upstream and downstream of the air slit or array. It has an opening for each liquid.

The facing member includes a state in which two parts are machined on the facing surface to provide a slit and the parts are fixed together to provide a single member of a set of facing members.

It is assumed that a liquid remover is used between the two liquids. Therefore, the term "isolation" is used to separate the liquids on either side of the liquid removal air knife, with two liquids on one side and another on the other side, and the web moves to the air knife. It is emphasized that the isolation of the upstream liquids that flow into the air knives is maintained by removing the upstream liquids and preventing the downstream liquids from flowing back upstream from the downstream side of the air knives. That is, liquid removal separates them from each other.

Grooved air knives and notched air knives, or just the grooved side of the air knife and the notched side of the air knife, are usually used in different environments; that is, if the liquid is in contact with the sides of the air knife. It is also emphasized that the side has a groove, while having a notch if the liquid is not in contact with its side.

If the web moves up and down and the sides of the air knife come into contact with the liquid flowing from above, or if the web moves up and down and comes into contact with the lower liquid below the free surface level again, or the web moves horizontally. If you are moving and just in contact with the liquid on one or both sides below the free surface level; in any of these situations, especially if the direction of movement of the web is such that it carries the liquid to an air knife. It has been observed that some of the liquid passes through the groove, even though it must pass between the opposing members on the outside of the groove against the flow of air. However, the groove acts to isolate the center of the air knife from the liquid. The flow of air into the ditch drives out all the liquid that enters the ditch and returns it where it came.

Air flow is typically symmetrical on both sides of the web and upstream and downstream of the sides of the air knife. Therefore, it helps to make the center of the air knife act as an air bearing and support the web in the center by itself. Outside the groove, the liquid contributes to bearing the web in the center of the facing member. The liquid enters and is expelled again, helping to keep the web away from facing members in the process.

If the web comes from or passes through a liquid-free area, there are no two liquids that need to be isolated from each other in either situation, but by incorporating a groove in the facing surface, the web can It may shake and come into contact with the opposing member. In such situations, it is preferable to use a notched air knife or the notched side of the air knife. The notched facing members reduce the chances of the web swinging and contacting the facing members at their ends.

Preferably, when air is supplied to the web through a slit with an air knife, the air travels along the web on both sides upstream and downstream of the movement of the web. Due to the symmetrical bearing support of the web, the spacing between the facing surfaces is narrower than the thickness of the web, but substantially equal to the width of the slits that supply the air. The air travels to the web and splits into two on each side of the web, which is done because half the flow cross-sectional area is required to maintain similar flow conditions. It is provided by half the same size spacing available on the other side of the web.

Despite the flow of liquid outside the groove to dampen the lateral movement of the web, the facing surface of the outer lands of the groove is preferably larger than the facing surface of the inner lands.

The length of the land from the slit to the groove and the length of the land from the slit to the notch when the grooved device is installed upstream or downstream, and when the notched device is installed downstream or upstream respectively. Are preferably substantially the same, whereby the bearing supports of the web are also upstream and downstream without movement to touch the facing surfaces.

In the previously used solder leveling air knife, the air slits are arranged alternately to remove the solder from one direction and then from the other direction, especially from the holes in the tin-plated board. On the other hand, in the liquid isolation air knife of the present application, it is preferable to arrange the air slits directly opposite each other so that the air slits act so as to center the web between the facing surfaces.

While providing an alternative to the grooves and cuts, there may also be the option of providing slits or opening lines, just as another feature of the liquid remover. In particular, one or each facing surface can have more than one slit or opening line. For convenience, a planar surface portion is provided between the slits or opening lines, which directs the air flow from each slit / opening line outward, respectively, to ensure uniform air flow both upstream and downstream. To. Grooves / cuts are provided outside the two slits / opening lines.

Each facing member can be composed of three parts, which are complementarily machined at the mating surfaces and fixed together to provide one facing member.
It has one planar center part and two grooved or notched parts, which are machined at the joint to create one slit between the center part and one grooved or notched part. Provide another slit between the central part and another grooved or notched part.
-The central part is flush with the other parts between the slits.

Alternatively, the facing surfaces can each consist of one or three parts, which are complementarily machined at the mating surfaces and fixed together to provide one facing surface.
• One planar central elongate or, if three parts are provided, one central elongate, which are provided between the two opening lines and the two grooved or notched outer regions.
-The central elongated part is flush with the outer region.

To aid in understanding the invention, specific embodiments of the invention are described herein by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a web processing device including an air knife according to the present invention. It is a similar figure which enlarged the cleaning tank of the apparatus equipped with the air knife upstream and downstream. It is a similar figure which enlarged the still image of the downstream air knife. It is a perspective sectional view of one air knife itself. It is a cut-out view of the air knife of FIG. 4 which shows the groove according to this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows another embodiment of the processing bath and the washing tank which incorporated the liquid removal apparatus of this invention. It is a cut-out view of the liquid removal and isolation air knife included in the embodiment of FIG. It is a similar figure of an integrated air knife and fluid bearing. It is the same figure as FIG. 6 which shows the horizontal arrangement of the washing place containing the air knife of this invention. It is the same figure as FIG. 4 which shows another modification of the air knife. It is the same figure as FIG. 8 which shows the further modification example of an air knife.

Referring to the figure, the web processing device 1 has two processing tanks 2 and 3, each equipped with an upper fluid bearing 21, 22 and a lower fluid bearing 31, 32, respectively. When in use, the web 4 passes flexibly around these bearings for treatment with chemical solution 23 in tank 2 and for cleaning with water 33 in tank 3. Each of the air knives 5 and 6 is provided at the outlet of the tank 2 / the inlet of the tank 3 and the outlet of the tank 3, respectively. Although they are oriented in different directions, they are substantially identical and only one will be described in detail. The web 4 passes through a plurality of other fluid bearings 10 that guide the inside and outside of the tank.

Each air knife is composed of four parts: upstream and downstream parts 71 and 72, which are fixed together as a lower member 7, and upstream and downstream parts 81, 82, which are fixed together as an upper member 8. The upstream parts 71 and 81 have plane mating surfaces 73 and 83, while the downstream parts 72 and 82 have machined surfaces 74 and 84, with air supply plenum chambers 75 and 85, air supply slots 76 and 86, and inner plenum. Chambers 77, 87, and air knife slits 78, 88 are provided. As a means not shown, by supplying air to the plenum chambers 75 and 85, the expanded air jets exit from the slits 78 and 88 toward each other. They act on the web between the air knife members.

Air flows from the slits along the top and bottom surfaces 41 and 42 of the web. As will be described in accordance with the present invention, in the absence of the groove 9, air exits the air knife in the upstream and downstream directions and exits between the facing surfaces 79, 89 of the knife member. By doing so, the air blows off the droplets that are easily drawn between the members.

It was expected that the air knife would be sufficient to dry the web. However, in the absence of the groove 9, we experienced an effect that would be the result of uneven drying.

The groove is composed of upstream and downstream facing semicircular grooves 91 and 92 in the facing surfaces 79 and 89. These are believed to act as plenum chambers that perfectly equalize the pressure and flow rate of air above the outer web 4 surfaces 41, 42.

The facing surfaces are slightly open to the outside of the groove, and their distance spacing 101 is greater than the distance spacing 102, which is inside the groove. In this way, not only is the flow constant, but it is also slowed down. This is unexpected but effective.

Looking at FIGS. 6-8, another web processing device has a processing tank 202, and an inlet air bearing 210 with air nozzles 211 lined up on the surface passes over the processing tank 204 into the web 204. invite. The bearings are supplied with filtered air that is pressurized slightly above atmospheric pressure. The air can be processed to a standard known as CDA (Clean, Dry Compressed Air) air. Air comes out of a nozzle that creates an air bearing layer that allows the web to pass over it without touching the bearing.

The tank has upper and lower fluid bearings 221,222 respectively. These are supplied with a liquid 223 that processes the web in the tank using a nozzle or the like (not shown), the supplied liquid is under pressure and follows the meandering path around the bearing without touching it. Form a bearing film for the web to pass through.

Upon exiting the processing tank vertically, the web 204 passes through a liquid isolation air knife 206. Compared with the air knife 6 described above, the arrangements above and below the air knife slit 2061 are different. Above the slit, the facing member 2062 has a facing groove 2063 in its facing surfaces 20641, 20642. The groove acts to stabilize the flow of CDA air by preventing the cleaning liquid 233 above the air knife from entering between the opposing members 2062 of the air knife. Below the slit, the opposing surface is released to form a notch 2065. These are such that all the processing liquid on the web pulled up from the tank is blown back by the air coming out of the notch, and if some liquid gets into the notch, the unopened strip of facing 2064 below the slit. It exits through a narrow air gap between parts 2066 and opens downward to be blown back by the air.

Typical dimensions found to be satisfactory for supplying air to the slit at 0.5 bar for a 0.1 mm thick web are:
Slit 2061 width 0.1 mm
Gap 0.2-0.3 mm on facing surface 20641
Gap 0.4 mm on facing surface 20642
Groove 2063 diameter 5 mm
Distance from slit to groove on surface 20641 1.5 mm
Chamfering distance from groove on surface 20642 5.5 mm
Distance of notch from slit on surface 2066 2.5 mm
As long as these are realistic dimensions, it is expected that half to twice the above dimensions are also practical.

Two cleaning liquid transport bearings 2031 are provided upstream of the cleaning tank 203 and toward and above one side of the air knife 206. Cleaning liquid 233, which is typically deionized water, is pumped up by the bearings to form a bearing film on them. Some of the liquid flows back through the web to the air knife 206 and flows around the edges of the web to begin cleaning the other side of the web.

From the transport bearing, the web enters the first part of the cleaning tank 203. Here, the web passes around another bearing 2034 supplied with cleaning fluid above the standard depth of cleaning fluid 2036 in the tank. From there the web rises to the composite bearing air knife 207. It has a bearing cylinder 2071, the interior of which is divided into two cleaning fluid passages 20721, 20722, with a central air passage 2073 between them. They each have a bearing nozzle 2074. Above the cylinder 2071 is a central air knife slit 2076 and an air knife facing member 2075 with upstream and downstream cuts.

With the web passing through the way of the bearing cylinder, the air supplied to the slit 2076 and the central passage, and the cleaning liquid supplied to the passages 20721 and 20722, the air flow separates the cleaning liquid of the cleaning tank 203 into each part 2032 and 2033. do. All cleaning fluid carried by the web onto the top surface of the web on cylinder 2071 is blown back at the upstream notch 2077. At the same time, the same liquid is pumped into the upstream passage 20721 and exits its nozzle, while air from the central passage 2073 blows this liquid back and prevents it from passing through the slit 2074.

While the same cleaning liquid is pumped into passage 20722, it can also be left separated within the composite bearing air knife 207 and just within the second part 2033 of the cleaning tank, improving cleaning. In a similar manner, the air from the central aisle is more likely to blow back any liquid that attempts to flow back from the second aisle 20722 past the central air nozzle 2074. Bearing fluid from passage 20722 and its nozzle 2074 enters the second tank portion 2033.

In this tank portion, the web passes around another wet bearing 2037 and rises to the air knife 208. Here the cleaning is done on the bearings, where the cleaning fluid is flowing as a hydrodynamic bearing film to the web, in contrast to the liquid immersion in the tank portions 2032, 2033.

The air knife 208 has an upper and lower notch 2081 similar to the notch 2065. Therefore, the web passes through the air bearing 209 and moves to the subsequent treatment plant or polishing plant (neither shown).

As seen in FIG. 9, the fluid isolation air knife can be used where the web or board being processed travels horizontally as well as at the various angles described above. FIG. 9 shows a set of washrooms 301, 302, respectively, top and bottom, upstream and downstream flow path determination plates 3011, 3012, 3013, 3014, as shown in the inventor's UK Pat. No. 2,459,055. It has 3021, 3022, 3023, 3024 and is equipped with double alternating cleaning fluid slits 3015; 3025. Web 304 passes between the plate and the jet. Air knives 305; 306; 307 are installed between washrooms and upstream and downstream.

The air knife 306 between the washrooms 301 and 302 has grooves 3061 and 3062 in its facing members and further has chamfered upstream and downstream ends 3063. The arrangement ensures that the ends of the washroom plate are close to the air knife member so that the wash fluid can withstand a large amount of flow from the bottom of the web over the top of the top plate, which makes the web as long as possible. Exposed to cleaning fluid. In this way, the chamfered surfaces of the air knives have a cleaning solution between them and the web. Nevertheless, the grooves entering through the chamfered surface are effective in supplying a constant air flow between the facing members, which allows the liquid to flow past the chamfered surface into the air knife. No.

Air knives 305 and 307 have similar grooves on the side facing the washroom plate. On the outside of them, there are notches such as 2065, 2077, 2081. The land between them and the central air knife slit is similar to between the groove and the air knife slit, and the air flow from the slit is divided into upstream and downstream flows.

Two further modifications are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The air knife 17 of FIG. 10 has a structure of three parts as opposed to the structure of the two parts shown in FIG. Since they are substantially identical to each other, they will not be described separately in the description of this variant. The outer parts 171, 172 with grooves 192 are machined surfaces 174 provided with an air supply plenum chamber 175, an air supply slot 176, an inner plenum chamber 177 and an air knife slit 178, respectively, except that they are symmetrical images to each other. It is the same in that it has. However, these outer parts are in contact with the innermost part of the plane. In this way, two air knife slits to which the same air is supplied are provided. The innermost part and the outermost part are coplanar beyond the slit, and the innermost part is flat in the web passage. As long as no air flows inward from the slit, the flow is expected to be outward and very similar in both upstream and downstream directions. If the spacing between the slits must be significantly wider than the outer air bearing surface, the grooves (cuts) can be provided with caution to prevent contact between the innermost part and the web.

FIG. 11 shows an arrangement of two slits built into a coupled air knife and bearing similar to that of FIG. The central plate 501 performs the same function as the innermost part 190. However, it has a grooved passage surface 502. This is to be careful to prevent contact between the web and the central plate. The two symmetrical images of the outer parts 503, 504 are conveniently 3D printed and are formed with a plenum space 505 opposite to each side of the center plate, slit structure 506 and outer groove 507. .. The air is supplied to the plenum space when in use, dividing the supplied liquid into outer passages 508, 509 and providing bearing action through the nozzle 510.

Claims (14)

A set of facing members each consisting of an upper member and a lower member having facing surfaces, and each of the facing members passes between the facing members in a passing direction, and the upper surface of a board, sheet, or web and the upper surface of the web. A liquid isolation device with an air knife having at least one slit or a linear array of openings, which can blow air to blow liquid from the bottom.
A linear array of the slits or openings is arranged at right angles to the opposing surface so that the air flows upstream and downstream with respect to the passage direction from the linear array of the slits or openings.
-On each of the facing surfaces
Two facing surfaces facing each other with the other facing surface of the pair of facing members are formed, and one of the facing surfaces is located upstream of the linear arrangement of the slits or openings of the facing members. , The other of the facing surfaces is located downstream,
-Each of the two facing surfaces
It has at least one elongated groove or notch, and the elongated groove or notch is located upstream or downstream of the linear array of the slits or openings at the point of passage, respectively. Spacing from the linear arrangement of the slits or openings, the elongated grooves are composed of opposing semicircular grooves, and the notches are located upstream or downstream of the linear arrangement of the slits or openings. The facing surface is released and formed.
A liquid isolation device whose arrangement is such that the liquid is isolated on the side of the air knife when used. The elongated groove or notch is equally spaced upstream and downstream from the linear arrangement of the slit or opening.
· One or linear sequences of each of the slits or the opening of the opposing member, liquids quarantine system according to claim 1 which is directed to one another. -The air knife has a length in the lateral direction in the passing direction, and is narrower in the passing direction than the length.
• One or each of the elongated grooves or cuts is at least substantially parallel to the linear arrangement of each of the slits or openings.
At least one elongated groove is provided, the opposing surface extending beyond the elongated groove so as to be at least substantially coplanar with itself in a linear arrangement of the slits or openings.
The liquid isolation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the semicircular groove constituting at least one elongated groove is provided as an upstream and / or downstream groove facing the facing surface on the plane of the other facing member. .. The semi-circular groove constituting at least one elongated groove is provided as an upstream single pair or a downstream single pair of a linear array of the slits or openings, or
The semi-circular groove constituting at least one elongated groove is provided as one pair both upstream and downstream of the linear arrangement of the slit or the opening, or
The liquid isolation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one elongated groove is provided as a plurality of pairs both upstream and downstream of the linear arrangement of the slit or the opening. -The semicircular grooves of the plurality of pairs are arranged in a straight line facing each other, or
The liquid isolation device according to claim 4, wherein the semicircular grooves of the plurality of pairs are arranged alternately facing each other. The distance between the facing surfaces is larger on the outside than on the inside of one or each of the elongated grooves, which allows air flow to flow between the elongated groove and the slit or opening when used. It is slower on the outside than on the inside of the elongated groove with the linear arrangement of the parts.
At least one notch is provided, and one or each of the notches extends outward toward the end of the notched facing member away from the linear arrangement of each slit or opening. Or
The one according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one or each of the notches has a constant depth in the width direction or the depth changes in the width direction. Liquid isolation device. The liquid isolation device according to claim 6, wherein the width of the cut is larger than the range of the facing surface between the cut and the linear arrangement of each slit or each opening. The presence of the elongated groove or notch on the facing surface of one of the facing members is very similar to the presence of the elongated groove or notch at a similar position on the facing surface of the other facing member. The liquid isolation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the web is similarly operated on both sides when used. The liquid isolation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the facing surfaces are chamfered at distant ends. -The facing surface is at least substantially flat, or
-At least a part of the facing member is bent in a cylindrical shape in an annular shape and has a flat shape with no notch or groove, or
The liquid isolation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least a part of the facing member is bent in a cylindrical shape in an annular shape and has grooves on both sides of the slit. -Contains three passages, one for supplying air to the slit, two for supplying liquid to the nozzles of the opposing members upstream and downstream of the slit, and / or.
The bent facing member is a support member inside the curve of the web passing over it, preferably.
The liquid isolation device according to claim 10, wherein the other facing member is bent in a complementary manner. Each of the facing members is composed of two parts, which are complementarily machined at the mating surfaces to provide the slits thereof and are fixed together to provide one facing member. 11. The liquid isolation device according to any one of paragraphs 11. One or each said facing member has a linear array of at least two slits or openings and comprises a planar surface portion provided between the linear array of the at least two slits or openings, said at least. The liquid isolation device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the elongated groove or notch provided outside the linear array of two slits or openings. Each of the facing members is composed of three parts, which are complementarily machined at the mating surfaces and fixed together to provide one facing member.
It comprises one flat or grooved central part and two grooved or notched parts, which are machined at the joint and have the flat or grooved central part and one said grooved or notched part. One slit is provided between the part and another slit between the planar or grooved center part and another grooved or notched part.
The plane or grooved center part is flush with or flush with the two grooved or notched parts beyond the slit.
Each of the facing members is composed of one or three parts, which are complementarily machined at the mating surfaces and fixed together to provide one facing member.
If it is composed of one part, it has a flat or grooved central elongated part, or if it is composed of three parts, one of those parts is the central part, and the flat or grooved part is provided. The central elongate and said central component are provided between two slits and two grooved or notched outer regions.
13. The liquid isolation device of claim 13, wherein the central elongated portion and the central component are flush with the two grooved or notched outer regions.

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