JPH0523261Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field This invention relates to an electron beam irradiation device that irradiates an object with an electron beam in an inert gas atmosphere.

(b) Prior Art When electron beam irradiation is performed in an oxygen atmosphere to cure an object to be irradiated, such as a coating film, etc., the coating material combines with oxygen, making it impossible to obtain a satisfactory cured film. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the irradiation chamber with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas to lower the oxygen concentration and perform electron beam irradiation.

(c) Problems that the invention aims to solve However, since the irradiation chamber has an entrance for carrying in and out the irradiation object through which the irradiation object is continuously transported, inert gas inevitably flows out from that part and oxygen Therefore, a large amount of new inert gas must be successively supplied, resulting in a problem of increased manufacturing costs.

This invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and is intended to provide an electron beam irradiation device that can minimize the outflow of inert gas from the irradiation chamber.

(d) Means for solving the problem In this invention, the opening portion of the loading/unloading port for the irradiated object located below the irradiated object is closed with a sealing member. The detailed configuration consists of an irradiation chamber with entrances and exits for electron beam irradiation objects on both sides, an electron beam irradiator placed in the irradiation chamber, and an entrance and exit for film irradiation objects in the irradiation chamber. Conveyance rollers are arranged near the exit to form a conveyance path for the film-like irradiation object facing the electron beam irradiator, and the conveyance direction of the film-like irradiation object is almost parallel to the conveyance direction of the inert gas into the irradiation chamber. In addition, an inert gas supply mechanism is provided to supply the inert gas so that it flows in the opposite direction. An electron beam comprising a sealing member made of an elastic material to prevent leakage, and the sealing member is placed outside the irradiation chamber at the entrance side and inside the irradiation chamber at the exit side in the forward direction of the conveying roller. It is an irradiation device.

(E) Function Even when the rollers are being rotated and conveyed, the sealing material always closes the lower part of the rollers and the edges of the inlet and outlet to prevent inert gas from flowing out.

(f) Examples This invention will be described in detail below with reference to drawings of examples, but this invention is not limited to the following examples.

Fig. 1 shows the overall configuration, and numeral 1 is an irradiation chamber, on both sides of which are opened an inlet 3 and an outlet 4 through which objects to be irradiated with electron beams, for example, films 2, are continuously carried in and out. . Rollers 5 serving as conveying means are arranged near the inlet 3 and the outlet 4 so as to rotate in the directions of the arrows, and these rollers 5 form a conveying path for the film 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes an electron beam irradiator, which is provided at the upper part of the irradiation chamber 1 so that an electron beam irradiation window 7 faces the film 2.

Reference numerals 8 and 9 denote an inert gas blowing body (inert gas supply body) and a suction body which constitute an inert gas flow mechanism, and the blowing body 8 has a structure as shown in FIG. The blow-out body 8 is made up of a blow-off duct 11 to which an air supply pipe 10 is connected, a plurality of rectifying plates 12 attached to the front surface of the blow-off duct 11, and a plurality of cooling pipes 13 arranged to communicate with the rectifying plates 12. . A large number of nozzle holes 14 for blowing out inert gas are provided on the side of the blow-off duct 11 on which the current plate 12 is attached. In the suction body 9, the cooling pipe 13 is removed from the blowout body 8, and the air supply pipe 10 is replaced with the exhaust pipe 15.
It has a configuration that changes to .

Of course, the cooling pipe 13 may also be provided on the suction body 9 side, and the cooling pipe 13 may be attached to the blowout body 8 so as to meander on the surface of the current plate 12. Further, the cooling pipe 13 may be used not only for cooling the inert gas from the blowing body 8 but also for cooling the atmosphere inside the irradiation chamber 1.

Each of the blowing body 8 and the suction body 9 is disposed on the upper surface of the conveyance path, with the respective rectifying plates 12 facing each other so as to be located on both sides of the electron beam irradiator 6, and the blowing body 8 The suction body 9 is arranged so that the direction of flow of inert gas between the suction body 9 and the suction body 9 is opposite to the direction of conveyance of the conveyance path.

The construction of the discharge port 4 will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. A frame member 17 is integrally formed at the lower edge 16 of the discharge port 4.
The base 1 is fixed to the inner surface of the frame 17.
8 is secured by a screw 19, and a seal member 20 made of synthetic rubber is attached. The upper part of this seal member 20 elastically contacts the roller 5. The degree of elasticity is designed so as not to impede the rotation of the roller 5 for conveyance, and so as to continuously contact the roller 5 during rotation. A seal member 20 is attached to the carry-in entrance 3 side in a manner similar to that described above, and each seal member 2
By installing 0, the lower halves of both the loading entrance 3 and the loading exit 4 are closed.

As the sealing member 20, a brush-like material may be used so as not to damage the surface of the roller 5, and if the roller 5 is a mirror roller, a doctor blade-like material may be used. Strictly speaking, a spacing of several microns is maintained between the roller and the blade.

The operation of this device during electron beam irradiation will be explained below.

As each roller 5 is rotated, the film 2 advances in the direction of arrow A, and the electron beam irradiator 6
The electron beam is irradiated when passing under the irradiation window 7 of the electron beam. During the above operation, the nozzle hole 14 of the blowing body 8
An inert gas such as N ₂ gas is blown out at room temperature (approximately 10°C to 30°C), and this N ₂
The gas is rectified by a rectifier plate 12 and cooled by a cooling pipe 13 through which water is communicated. The blowing speed of _N2 gas at that time is, for example, 1 to 5 m/
Seconds. The N ₂ gas, which has a laminar flow configuration by being rectified, is sent while cooling the film 2 and is sucked into the suction body 9 .

As the film 2 moves, O ₂ gas tries to flow into the irradiation chamber 1 from the outside through the entrance 3, but the direction of the N ₂ gas is opposite to the direction of transport of the transport path. Therefore, the inflow of O ₂ gas is blocked by the N ₂ gas, and the amount of O ₂ gas inflow from the upper surface of the film 2 at the entrance 3 is reduced. In addition, since the direction of flow of the N ₂ gas is almost parallel to and opposite to the direction of conveyance of the film 2, the N ₂ gas is rarely blown onto the coating surface of the film 2, and therefore the coating surface can be prevented from vandalizing. Furthermore, since the object to be irradiated is in the form of a film,
_{The N 2 gas} flow direction and the transport direction of the film 2 are configured to be almost parallel, which prevents flapping and allows for smooth transport. It can be carried out.

On the other hand, the lower halves of each of the loading inlet 3 and the unloading outlet 4 are always closed by the sealing member 20 even when the roller 5 rotates, so O ₂ from these parts is kept closed.
Gas intrusion is prevented. The space above the film 2 in the irradiation chamber 1 is filled with high pressure by blowing out N ₂ gas, and as a result, the space below the film 2 becomes relatively negative pressure, making it easy for O ₂ gas to flow in. However, the seal member 20 prevents the inflow.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of this invention, in which the high temperature is sucked by the suction body 9.
The structure is such that N ₂ gas is used for cooling and circulation.

That is, in this device, a cooling pipe 21 is installed in a catcher 31 located below the part of the film 2 that is irradiated with the electron beam, and a part of the cooling pipe 21 and a heat exchanger 22 are used to remove waste from the suction body 9. The active gas pipe 23 undergoes heat exchange, and the cooled N ₂ gas is again filled into the irradiation chamber 1 from the blower 8. 24 is an oxygen absorption means to remove O ₂ gas before being refilled. 25 is a pump.

In this embodiment, the _N2 gas supply source 2
Flow control valve 27 in the middle of the air supply pipe 10 from 6,
A flow meter 28 is disposed, and an oxygen concentration meter 29 is disposed within the irradiation chamber 1, and when the oxygen concentration within the irradiation chamber 1 reaches a predetermined level or higher, the flow control valve 27 is opened by a command from the controller 30. The amount of _N2 gas supplied is increased. In other words, it is configured to include an automatic adjustment mechanism for N ₂ gas concentration.

In each of the above embodiments, the transport path for the film 2, which is the object to be irradiated, is formed linearly by the rollers 5 located at the entrance 3 and the exit 4, but of course there are many rollers. 5. The inert gas used to form a laminar flow effectively cools the irradiated object, resulting in a product of good quality and saving inert gas.

(g) Effect of the invention According to the invention of the present application, the inert gas is caused to flow in the opposite direction to the direction in which the object to be irradiated is transported, and the sealing member is transported outside the irradiation chamber at the entrance and into the irradiation chamber at the exit. By arranging the rollers in the forward direction, it is possible to prevent air from entering when the object to be irradiated is brought in, and also to prevent inert gas from leaking. It is also possible to prevent the inflow of O ₂ gas, thereby making electron beam irradiation of objects such as paint films more effective (satisfactory cured films can be obtained). Also
Since the flow direction of the N ₂ gas is almost parallel to and opposite to the film transport direction, the N ₂ gas is less likely to be blown onto the coating surface of the film.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the coating surface from becoming rough. Furthermore,
Since the object to be irradiated is in the form of a film, the parts that are likely to flutter due to the blowing of N ₂ gas are
Since the N ₂ gas flow direction and the film transport direction are configured to be substantially parallel, flapping can be prevented and transport can be carried out smoothly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the device of this invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the blowing body, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outlet portion of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of another embodiment of the device of this invention. 1... Irradiation chamber, 2... Film (irradiated object),
3... Carrying inlet, 4... Carrying out port, 5... Conveying roller, 6... Electron beam irradiator, 8... Blowing body (inert gas supply body), 9... Suction body, 12... rectifier,
16... lower edge (edge), 20... sealing member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An irradiation chamber 1 having an inlet 3 and an outlet 4 for an electron beam film-like irradiated object 2 on both sides, an electron beam irradiator 6 disposed in the irradiation chamber 1, and a film-like irradiated object 2 in the irradiation chamber 1. Conveyance rollers 5, 5 are arranged near the inlet 3 and outlet 4 of the irradiation chamber 1, respectively, to form a conveyance path for the film-like irradiation object 2 facing the electron beam irradiator 6, and inert gas is supplied to the irradiation chamber 1. It consists of inert gas supply mechanisms 8 and 9 that supply the film-like irradiation object 2 to the inside in a direction substantially parallel to and opposite to the direction of conveyance. Inlet 3 for film-like irradiated objects
Seal members 20, 20 made of an elastic body to prevent inert gas from flowing out between the edges of the outlet 4
and the sealing members 20, 20 are placed outside the irradiation chamber 1 on the loading port 3 side and outside the irradiating chamber 1 on the loading port 4 side.
The electron beam irradiation device is arranged in the forward direction of the transport rollers 5, 5, respectively.