JPH10504239A - Method and apparatus for applying coating material to sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] Individual sheets (for example, paper) are applied with a repositional adhesive by laminating the sheets to form a pseudo web of sheets, and are adhered in a continuous strip to one side of the pseudo web. The agent is applied. The sheets are then laminated and shaped to form the pads for the repositional notes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION                  Method and apparatus for applying coating material to sheet Technical field   The present invention relates to a method in which a coating material (eg, a pressure-sensitive adhesive) is applied to a plurality of individual sheets (eg, a plurality of sheets). Paper). Background of the Invention   In certain fields, it is necessary to apply a coating material to the paper. Conventionally, this coating The fabric material is applied to the paper web unwound from a roll rather than to individual sheets. Is clothed. For example, a so-called repositional note G), a primer material on one side of the paper web and low adhesion on the other side After applying the back size (or release) material of It is known to apply positional adhesives. The above web is painted and rewound The dried rolls are then used to make the above notes To be cut into sheets.   Repositional notes where the application material is continuously applied to the paper web The method of manufacture is described in WO-A-87 / 05315.   Sometimes it is desirable to apply the coating material to the cut sheet rather than the paper web is there. For example, when manufacturing repositional notebooks, the flexibility of the manufacturing process Pre-printed paper instead of using a plain paper web to increase Is desirably used as a source. However, individual repositioners Difficulties when applying the specified coating material to the Applying a special adhesive can be problematic. So, these To solve the problem, titled "Method and Apparatus for Applying Coating Material to Sheet" Pending U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 196,464, filed February 15, 1994. No. 90, the end of each individual sheet is overlapped with the end of the web to form a web (that is, E ), And the application material containing the repositional adhesive is superimposed on each It has been proposed to apply it to sheets. After the application material is applied, the above sheet is stacked Layered and cut to form repositional notes.   However, existing devices for applying the coating material to the sheet (see the above-mentioned US patent application) No. 08 / 196,490) are useful per se, but are not specific sheets. It is known to be ineffective and inefficient when applying materials on materials You. Therefore, a new method and apparatus for applying a coating material is desired. Summary of the Invention   The present invention provides a water-based coating on a plurality of sheet members having opposing ends and sides and surfaces. A method for applying a cloth material is provided. This method comprises: (a) a plurality of sheets The members are arranged such that the end portions are overlapped with each other, and (b) the overlapped sheet member is placed in a passage. (C) rolls that contact the superposed sheet members along the path. Providing an intermediate carrier having a shooting surface and not reacting to a high frequency; A water-based coating material is applied to the transfer surface of the intermediate carrier at a position away from the passage of the And (e) reducing the water content of the coating material to a desired level by the step (d). Exposing the aqueous coating material to high frequency radiation after (f) and before step (f); Through the contact portion between the intermediate carrier and the sheet member, each overlapped sheet is The intermediate carrier is advanced to gradually apply the coating material to one of the surfaces of the member. Including steps.   In one embodiment, the method further comprises, after step (f), (g) an intermediate cap. And a step of continuously separating the sheet member coated with the coating material from the rear.   In another embodiment of the present invention, step (g) comprises applying a sub-atmospheric pressure to the sheet portion. Separates the sheet member from the intermediate carrier by acting on the opposite side of the material from the intermediate carrier. Including the step of performing   In another embodiment, the sheet member is paper, and the step (a) includes the step (h). To reduce the curl and wrinkles of the sheet member, raise the paper sheet in the machine direction. And aligning with the passage.   The present invention also includes an apparatus for applying an aqueous coating material to a plurality of sheet members. One In an embodiment, the apparatus transports a plurality of sheet members along the path with end to end overlapped. Including the conveyor to be sent. The device also applies a predetermined amount of aqueous coating material at the desired rate. A dispenser for controllably dispensing, and an intermediate supported near the dispenser; Including carrier. The intermediate carrier has a transfer surface extending into a passage of the sheet member. And the transfer surface contacts the superposed sheet member along the path. I'm trying. Is the transfer surface a contact area in the transverse direction with the superimposed sheet member? The dispenser is provided to receive the coating material at a remote location. Above The inter-carrier transfers the coating material from the dispenser to the superimposed sheet member You can move forward. The carrier does not respond to high frequency radiation. High The frequency radiation source transfers the coating material from the intermediate carrier to the superimposed sheet member. In order to reduce the water content of the coating material before printing, use an aqueous coating on the transfer surface of the intermediate carrier. Oriented for fabric materials.   In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of sheet members are overlapped at the ends along the path. Conveyor to be transferred and die that can distribute a predetermined amount of water-based coating material in a desired ratio And The intermediate carrier has a transfer surface extending into the passage of the sheet member, and The imaging surface is adapted to contact the sheet members superimposed along the path. Transcription The surface is displaced away from the superimposed sheet member to receive the coating material. Provided to Pensa. The intermediate carrier is a stack superimposed from the dispenser. Forward to transfer the coating material to the sheet member. The device also has an intermediate carry Transfer of the intermediate carrier to reduce the moisture of the coating material on the Includes a dryer directed at the aqueous coating material on the surface.   In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus applies a plurality of sheet members of an aqueous coating material. Used in conjunction with other devices. This device allows a plurality of sheet members to be Conveyor with overlapping edges and a predetermined amount of water-based coating material can be controlled at desired ratio A dispenser for distributing the pressure and a carrier supported near the dispenser The carrier has a transfer surface extending into a passage of the sheet member, and the transfer surface is an upper surface. An intermediate carrier adapted to contact the superposed sheet members along the passage. A. Transfer surface away from transverse contact with superimposed sheet member Provided to the dispenser to receive the coating material at the location. The intermediate carrier is Advanceable to transfer coating material from spencer to superimposed sheet member is there. This embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method in which A separating roller adapted to contact the sheet member after application of the material. Separation row The sheet member is connected to a vacuum source and separates the sheet from the intermediate carrier. A vacuum is applied to BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES   An embodiment of the present invention will be described by a specific example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Where multiple In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.   FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an apparatus including an application section according to the present invention.   FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the device shown in FIG.   FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.   FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view seen from the direction of arrow 4 in FIG.   FIG. 4A is a side view of the applicator roller and flat strip of FIG.   FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.   FIG. 6 is a side view of an improved version of the apparatus shown in FIG.   FIG. 7 is a partial detailed view of the apparatus shown in FIG.   FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view similar to FIG. 4, as viewed from the direction of arrow 8 in FIG.   FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of some of the elements of the device shown in FIGS.   FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a repositioning device manually applied to the transfer belt of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a microscope picture of a conventional adhesive. Detailed description of the invention   The apparatus outlined in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used, in particular, on any suitable substrate [e.g. Film (including, but not limited to, polypropylene, polyester, Etc.), or repositional notes made from sheets of thin metal film It is used for the production of In particular, the device is a primer material, low adhesion Backsize (LAB) material and subsequent repositionable adhesive Used to apply repositionable notes That can be used to form. U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,112 and Similarly to the primers described in US Pat. Mers are useful in the methods and apparatus of the present invention. Used in the method and apparatus of the present invention. LAB was filed on March 31, 1994 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. It is described in pending US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 040,876. Explanation below , The sheet (which may be printed in advance) is paper.   The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a paper path inlet 1, which can be any suitable source (eg, For example, a paper sheet continuously fed from a stacking unit (not shown) is received. This paper is intended for any paper-Minnesota Mining Service, St. Paul, Minnesota. Sold by And Manufacturing Company (“3M”) Post-it® branded repositional notes Paper that can be used to remove paper. This paper sheet is not only , Any suitable size, including but not limited to A2, A4, and 8. 5 inches x 1 (Including standard sizes such as 1 inch), but paper is preferred Is 45 grams or 90 grams per square meter, most preferably 70 grams It is. Such sheets include leading, trailing, and longitudinal edges, as well as pairs. It has an opposite major plane.   From the paper passage entrance 1, the sheet is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 2 in a double-sided application station. 3, a sheet polymerization station 4, a dryer 5, and a sheet guide section 6. It is.   The double-sided coating station 3 together with the polymerization station 4 “ Method and Apparatus for Coating on the Same Day " In the subject matter of the patent application, the contents of that pending application are cited in this application. Above pending As described in the patent application, a plurality of individual sheets S are placed on a double-side application station. 3, a primer material is applied to one surface (the upper surface in FIG. 1), and the other LAB is applied to the surface of. Next, at the polymerization station 4, the sheets are connected end-to-end. (That is, one end of each sheet S is overlapped with the end of an adjacent sheet S) ) Polymerized in web form. The pseudo web composed of the polymerized sheet is transferred to the dryer 5. Where water is removed from the primer material and the LAB on the sheet. next, The dried sheet S is guided by a guide (or another guide 6 'shown in FIGS. 3 and 6'). Parts are resist adjusted, before they enter the adhesive application station 7 of the present invention. Aligned in a line.   Alternatively, the sheets may be separately coated with the appropriate LAB and primer (or other suitable coating). Fabric material) is applied by an appropriate method, stored, and then superimposed in a close relationship In a state of being provided to the device of the present invention.   The glue application station 7 moves along a passage 8b leading to a paper passage outlet 8c. And receives the superposed sheet S at the entrance 8a. The rear end of each sheet is the next Is superposed on the front end of the sheet. At each station The control and synchronization of the drive in the central electrical system such as the Siemens PLC 135 This is performed by a control unit (not shown). The paper path 8b has a conveyor (see FIG. 1). Is not shown) or the like for receiving a web-like sheet at the desired speed. Conveys the sheet from the entrance 8a to the exit 8c.   In the coating station 7, the primer is already coated with the polymerized sheet A coating material (preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive) is applied to each exposed portion of the surface to be coated. Up The adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive or a water-based adhesive, for example, US No. 4,495,318 or US Pat. No. 3,691,1 to Silver. Preferred is the repositionable microsphere pressure-sensitive adhesive described in No. 40. An example For example, the adhesive used in the present invention is available from Minnesota St. Paul, Minn. By the Mining and Manufacturing Company ("3M") Repositional nos of the Post-it® brand sold When used in the form of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, it is a spherical pressure-sensitive adhesive. The composition of this adhesive is a European patent No. 439,941, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,045,569 and 4,166,152. , 3,691,140, 3,857,731, and reissued patents 24,9. No. 06, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Used in the present invention The adhesive to be used also contains a conventionally known film-forming material containing an organic solvent. including.   The adhesive is brought into contact with the intermediate carrier 20 to which the adhesive is applied by contacting the sheet. Applied. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the intermediate carrier is the transfer belt 20 , Which is an endless belt wrapped around rollers 21, at least One is driven so that the belt advances in the direction of arrow 2. Instead of this, For example, a configuration like a cylindrical drum that contacts both the dispenser and the sheet member Is also good. In the following description, the intermediate carrier refers to a transfer belt, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not specified.   The transfer belt 20 moves (depending on the traveling speed of the conveyor 8b that conveys the sheet S, This is preferably the same as the coating mechanism 23, the dryer 24, and the transfer switch. Passing station 25. These are described in detail below. Adhesive transfer Before being transferred to the sheets overlapped in the station 25, at least a part thereof is Drying at 4 (ie lowering the water content to the desired level) is preferred. example For example, the water content of the water-based adhesive is approximately 50% to 80% before drying and 0% after drying. 50%. Desirably, substantially all of the water is removed in the drying step. Further details are provided below in comparison to the aforementioned co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 196,460. The adhesive is substantially completely dried, effectively removing paper from the transfer belt. One advantage of the present invention is that it is transferred to a sheet.   The coating mechanism 23 applies a small amount of pressure-sensitive adhesive to the transfer surface of the transfer belt in a belt shape in the longitudinal direction. And apply one. One embodiment of the application mechanism 23 is shown in detail in FIG. Bonding The agent is applied onto belt 20 by gravure roller 28 rotating in the opposite direction. The gravure roller extends beyond the width of the belt and Contact At least one gravure ring having cells or cavities 29 (see FIG. 4) are formed on the surface of the roller, and each ring is It extends around the roller at the desired location of the adhesive. FIG. 4 shows three gravure rings 2 Reference numeral 9 denotes three longitudinally extending strips of adhesive on the belt 20. (Strip) 36 is formed. But this is not essential. One An enlarged view of the cells 30 of the ring 29 of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. You can see that it has the shape of an inverted pyramid. In general, the unit centimeter of the ring 29 There are 24 cell columns 30A per Torr. Specific gravure pattern shown in FIG. Is not essential and alters the distribution of the adhesive in the strip 36 if necessary. May be changed in order to obtain   The adhesive applied to the belt 20 by the roller 28 is applied from the tank 32 by the pump 31. It is supplied to a trough (tank) 33 of the cloth mechanism 23. Measuring roller 34 adheres in trough The metering roller is rotating and takes up the adhesive. This adhesive Is then transferred to a reversal gravure roller 28 (especially the cell of the ring 29). One or more The upper doctor blade (such as 35 in FIG. 3) engages the roller 28, Removes excess adhesive and all rollers on the rollers are only contained within cell 30 So that when the roller contacts the belt 20, the strip 3 6 is transferred. The roller 28 is moved in the same direction as the moving direction of the belt 20. When is rotated, the adhesive application process is a direct gravure application process. Low When the roller 28 rotates in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the belt 20, the coating process is This is a rubia coating process. Either method can be used in the present invention, but Except where noted, the process shown and described here is an inversion gravure process. You. Except for the measuring roller 34, a roller that directly contacts the adhesive in the trough is used. Provision is also included in the scope of the present invention. In other respects, the method of the invention and The device operates as described below.   In one embodiment of the present invention, a reverse gravure coating is employed. Is the adhesive applied to the gravure ring 29 before transferring the adhesive to the transfer belt 20 It has been found to be advantageous for leveling the agent layer. The illustrated embodiment of the invention (Graph One of the via rings is shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A. ), The leveling strip 29a Slidably adheres to the adhesive on the gravure ring as the gravure ring rotates. It is provided to apply the agent. For certain coatings, the adhesive contains micro-spherical particles. Has been found to be effective. In other words, a uniform adhesive is applied to paper When applied to the sheet S, the exposed surface of the adhesive becomes more uniform and provides an adjustable and uniform contact. Shows the wearing strength. The strip 29a is a flexible polymer strip, which is more specific. Typically, the strip is about 0. Polyester strike having a thickness of 0011 inches Preferably a lip.   Alternatively, separate strips may be used depending on the intended use of the sheet to which the adhesive is to be applied. In addition to minutes, the adhesive can be transfer coated over the entire width of the belt. Generally, gravure The roller 28 rotates in the same direction as the belt 20 at substantially the same speed (that is, in FIG. (Measurement direction), the application mechanism functions similarly to the reversing roll coating apparatus. But this Is not essential.   A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the transfer belt 20 is shown in FIG. Illustrated embodiment Then, the transfer belt includes the base layer 20a. This basement is located in North Carolina Stephen, J.M. P. Fiberglass fiber bells, such as those sold by (Thickness 0. 004 inches) is commercially available. The belt base layer 20a The front surface 20b and the back surface 20c are provided with the silicone rubber dispersion G. E. FIG. From SE-100 Thickness 0. 003 inch layers 20d and 20e (the entire belt 20). The body thickness is about 0. 010 inches. ). G. FIG. E. FIG. SE-100 is used as a catalyst. 6% solids containing 78% benzoyl peroxide, Water, New York -Available from Ford General Electric's Silicone Manufacturing Division . These layers 20d, 20e are knife coated and 360 ° F, 60 ( (Hour / hour). The silicone layer allows the adhesive to seal from the belt. Promotes peeling of the substrate S. Outer surfaces 20g, 20h of silicon layers 20d, 20e Form a transfer surface for receiving the adhesive.   A smooth transfer surface may be used, but the transfer surface may have a tactile It is preferred that Most preferably, the transfer nip portion 25A feeds the paper from the belt. It has the shape of a dimple that gives a pattern corresponding to the band of adhesive transferred to the parsheet Is good.   The preferred shape of the dimple pattern is shown enlarged in FIG. Have. These recesses 20j are provided on the surfaces 20b and 20c of the layer 20a. It almost corresponds to 20 g. The pattern of the depression 20g in the base layer is protruded on the surface of the support layer. You may do it or you may attach it.   When the pressure-sensitive adhesive is a microsphere adhesive, a microsphere is included in the pattern shown in FIG. Are found to be distributed very uniformly, which improves the adhesion. So One or more microspheres enter each dent 20j from a gravure roller. Depression 20j is preferably 40 to 200 microns, most preferably about 100 microns wide. Ron, 50 to 100 microns deep. The above-mentioned depression 20j is about 10 to 30 mm. It is preferable to arrange them in a grid pattern with an interval of cron. Adhesive is silicone layer 20 d and 20e tend to wet on the surfaces 20h and 20i, and dent the microspheres. Hold at 0 g. Therefore, while maintaining the pattern shown in FIG. Transcribed.   By inverting the transfer belt 20 and using the surface 20c, the use of the belt can be expanded. For this purpose, the surface 20c has the same thickness as the inversion layers 20d and 20e, and the surfaces 20h and 20i have the same thickness. Is preferably provided with a depression 20j. Naturally, for reasons such as cost, A transfer belt 20 having a silicon layer and a depression only on one surface may be used.   To apply a band of adhesive to the belt as described above, as shown in FIGS. If a gravure roller is used, the pattern in the adhesive band is in the form of a gravure pattern. Gravure pattern is selected to promote uniform distribution of microspheres Should.   The above explanation is for the case where the sheet is paper, but as described above, other sheets It can also be formed of a material (for example, a polymer film or a metal film). Shi If the sheet is paper, the machine direction (i.e., the arrow along the paper path 8b) (In a direction substantially parallel to mark 2) and the “machine direction” of the paper. It is preferably supplied via equipment with what is known to those skilled in the art. Like that With such a method, the tendency of the sheet to curl or wrinkle can be reduced. necessary If so, papers having different weights and textures can be used. In general, A2 size paper weighing 70 gsm is used, but A4 size 70 gsm m can be easily adapted to handle sheets weighing 90 to 90 gsm and weigh 4 A sheet S such as 5 gsm can be handled.   Generally, paper accumulates paper fibers on a wire mesh or screen And the accumulated fibers are screened with a "felt" or cloth on the opposite side of the screen layer. Formed by compression between the layers. This allows the “wire” side and “felt” A paper having "sides" is produced. Conveying the sheet S, applying a release material to the “wire” side, and applying it to the “felt” side It proves convenient to apply the primer and finally the adhesive Have been.   The belt 20 with the adhesive band 36 then passes through the dryer 24, where the adhesive Is at least partially (ie, 0% to 50%) dried. This process is This is performed to promote the adhesiveness of the adhesive to the sheet. In one embodiment of the present invention Can be operated, for example, at about 27 Mhz or about 30 Mhz, Model number SPW12 manufactured by Proktor Strayfield, Inc. A -73 plate high frequency dryer is preferably employed. The dryer should move approximately 2. It has a length of 5 m. Also, it has an exhaust port 50 through which the inside of the dryer is Is ventilated by the fan 51. The dryer has a control device (not shown) This adjusts the power of the dryer according to the line speed of the coating device. As a control device For example, for example, a Siemens PLC 55-9 connected to an electric control device of the entire apparatus There is 5U.   In the high-frequency dryer, as in the transfer belt embodiment described above and shown in FIGS. The transfer belt 20 does not respond to high-frequency radiation (ie, Not transparent or otherwise adversely affect the operation of the method and apparatus of the present invention Not be affected by high frequency radiation). This device is a transfer This is advantageous in that the adhesive can be dried without significantly heating the belt. Setting the adhesive before it is applied to the belt 20; Further, thermal transfer to the adhesive is reduced. High frequency dryers are also relatively simple and energy efficient. This is advantageous in that it consumes less energy. Further, the transfer belt 20 is operated in a predetermined operation. There is no need to preheat to temperature for a long time and the adhesive is La It is easily peeled and transferred to a sheet.   However, other types of transfer belts (i.e., transparent and None or those inert to high frequencies) are also available. For example, The photo belt has a metal substrate with a silicone rubber coating on both sides. Is also good. Other types of dryers that can be used in the present invention include, for example, infrared heaters or Includes warm air dryer. However, the belt 20 and the coating mechanism 23 are heated by the dryer. In this case, it is necessary to cool the adhesive and the transfer belt to prevent the adhesive from solidifying.   At the transfer station 25 (also shown in FIG. 3), the belt 20 coated with the adhesive is Is a transfer nip 2 having a pressure or a nip roller 38 facing the transfer roller 37. Pass 5A. The guide 6 of the device (or the guide 6 'shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) The superposed sheets sent from the transfer nip 25A are sent through the transfer nip 25A, Roller 37 and a pressure roller 38 facing the belt 20, and the adhesive From the default to the sheet. Immediately downstream of the transfer nip 25A, the sheet It is separated from the belt 20 by something like a vacuum roller 39 and transferred on a vacuum conveyor. The paper is conveyed from the nip to the paper passage exit 8c. In the context of the present invention, the term "vacuum" Lower than atmospheric pressure, when added to the sheet member on the side opposite to the transfer belt Is sufficient to separate the sheet from the transfer belt. Of course However, if necessary, a mechanical gripper is used to separate the sheet from the transfer belt. Other means including the following may be adopted. Once separated, the sheets are stored and repositioned. Tailored to form the pads of the optional notebook.   The separation device may be of any suitable type. For example, the vacuum conveyor 40 is made of metal A belt can be used, which spins and turns to Honeycom Systems of Murhaus, France Single unit with vacuum roller 39, such as a thinning transfer device sold by Products. Instead, a vacuum roller for removing the sheet from the belt 20 39 is completely separated from the vacuum conveyor 40 as shown in FIGS. May be separated. As shown in the drawing, the vacuum conveyor 40 is moved from the transfer belt 20 to a certain position. It stretches with a fixed angle. When the conveyor is used with the vacuum roller 39, As shown in 3, 6, and 7, the angle is 3 or 4 degrees, and there is no vacuum roller 39. Employs a smaller angle (about 2 degrees).   An improved version 7 'of the device shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. Figure on the corresponding part of the device The same reference numerals as those in FIG. The double-sided coating station 3 as shown in FIG. Section station 12 is located immediately downstream of upper station 11 And the LAB material are not applied completely at the same time, Are different. Downstream of the duplex coating station, as shown in FIG. Is a polymerization station 4 (including an air knife 41 for switching the overlapping direction). ), Dryer 5 and guide station 6 to adhesive application station 7 '. Pass before reaching.   The adhesive application station 7 'shown in FIG. 6 and the detailed FIG. Instead, the application mechanism 23 uses at least one application die 42 to apply the pressure-sensitive adhesive. It is almost the same as that shown in FIG. 1 except that it is applied to the belt 20. each The application die has a die slot (not shown) facing the belt, from which the adhesive Band 44 is applied directly to the belt. The die separates from the belt at the desired location on the adhesive strip. I'm waiting. Each die 42 has a supply line 45, which has Any suitable type of pump 46 and filter 47 are provided, through which Agent is supplied to the die from a container 48. The adhesive application speed to the belt Driven by the control of the central electric control of the device based on the line speed of the pump It is easily adjusted by changing the speed of 46.   The die coating of the adhesive band allows the belt 20 to be The position of the adhesive band on the paper and the position of the adhesive band on the paper sheet can be easily adjusted. The flexibility of the coating process. However, instead of this, the width direction of the transfer roll A single die with divided slots to apply glue to the desired locations May be used.   As described above, after transferring the adhesive band 44 with the transfer nip 25A, the belt 2 In the apparatus shown in FIG. 40. However, as described above with reference to FIG. Together with a complete assembly. Consists of stacked sheets For applying the coating material to the simulated web, see, for example, co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 8 / 196,490, including the above-described apparatus, the vacuum conveyor 40 It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a vacuum roller 39 together with or independently of a vacuum conveyor. Included in God and scope.   The invention has been described with reference to several embodiments. For those skilled in the art, Many modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from God and scope. Obviously you can. Thus, the scope of the present invention includes the structures described herein and It should not be limited to the method, but only to the words in the claims and their equivalents. Should be.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Tsujimoto, Kim Kay             United States 55133-3427 Minnesota             St. Paul, Post Office Bo             Box 33427 (No address displayed) (72) Inventor Stiffter, Gregory F             United States 55133-3427 Minnesota             St. Paul, Post Office Bo             Box 33427 (No address displayed) (72) Inventor Pier, Bernard Earl             United States 55133-3427 Minnesota             St. Paul, Post Office Bo             Box 33427 (No address displayed) (72) Inventor Lerice, Frederick P.A.             United States 55133-3427 Minnesota             St. Paul, Post Office Bo             Box 33427 (No address displayed)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Water-based coating material for a plurality of sheet members having opposing ends, sides and surfaces A method of applying (A) arranging a plurality of sheet members with their ends overlapped; (B) conveying the superposed sheet members along a path, (C) having a transfer surface in contact with the superposed sheet members along the path; Provide an intermediate carrier that does not react to high frequency, (D) Water is transferred to the transfer surface of the intermediate carrier at a position away from the passage of the sheet member. Apply coating material (E) reducing the water content of the coating material to a desired level in step (d); Later and before step (f), the aqueous coating material is exposed to high frequency radiation, (F) superposed through a contact portion between the intermediate carrier and the sheet member; The intermediate carrier in order to gradually apply the coating material to one of the surfaces of each sheet member. A coating method including a step of moving forward. 2. After the step (f), (g) the application material is applied from the intermediate carrier. 2. The method of claim 1 including the step of continuously separating the sheet members. 3. In the step (g), the pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure is applied to the intermediate carrier of the sheet member. Acting on the opposite side to separate the sheet member from the intermediate carrier. Item 2. The method of Item 2. 4. The sheet member is paper, and the step (a) is performed by (h) the sheet member. In order to reduce the curl and wrinkles of paper, align the paper sheet 2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of: 5. An apparatus for applying an aqueous coating material to a plurality of sheet members, (A) A conveyor that conveys a plurality of sheet members along a path with their end portions overlapped. When, (B) A dispenser for controllably dispensing a predetermined amount of an aqueous coating material at a desired ratio. When, (C) a carrier supported near the dispenser, wherein the carrier is A transfer surface extending into a passage of the sheet member, wherein the transfer surface is along the passage, The transfer surface is in contact with the superposed sheet member, and To receive the coating material at a location away from the transverse contact with the sheet member Provided to the dispenser, wherein the carrier is superimposed from the dispenser. The carrier can move forward to transfer the coating material to the sheet member. An intermediate carrier that does not respond to radiation; (D) transferring the coating material from the intermediate carrier to the superposed sheet member Before using the water-based coating material on the transfer surface of the intermediate carrier to reduce the water content of the coating material A high-frequency radiation source directed to the coating apparatus. 6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the dispenser includes a die connected to a source of coating material. Place. 7. The dispenser is a rotatable gravure roll connected to a coating material source The apparatus of claim 5, comprising: 8. Before transferring to the intermediate carrier, a gravure filter is used to smooth the coating material. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising one or more compliant strips slidably contacting the strip. 9. The intermediate carrier is (I) a support layer that is insensitive to high frequency radiation and has a first surface; (Ii) applied to the first surface to facilitate release of the coating material, and transferred to the first surface; A silicon layer having an outermost surface covering a first surface of the support layer forming the surface, (Iii) The first surface of the silicon layer is formed by coating the transfer surface with a coating material from a dispenser. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is processed to receive. 10. The treated first surface of the silicon layer has a plurality of predetermined sizes and is Each of the recesses has a predetermined amount of coating material dispensed by a dispenser. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is adapted to receive 11. Separating the coated sheet member from the contact portion with the intermediate carrier. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, including means for facilitating. 12. The separating means is disposed in the vicinity of the passage of the sheet member, and after the coating of the coating material. And a separation roller that comes into contact with the sheet member, wherein the separation roller is a vacuum source. Vacuum on the sheet member to separate it from the intermediate carrier 12. The device of claim 11, adapted to operate. 13. A separation belt is provided near the separation roller, and the separation belt is To facilitate separation of the seat member from the rear, 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is inclined. 14． The separation belt is inclined at about 2 ° to 4 ° with respect to the sheet member path. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is adapted to be activated. 15. The coating material is disposed on the opposite side of the intermediate carrier on the passage, and the coating material is 6. The apparatus of claim 5, including a nip roller for supporting the sheet member when applied to the sheet. 16. The dispenser may have one or more longitudinal directions relative to the width of the intermediate carrier. Dispensing the coating material to align and transfer to the superposed sheet members as a band 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is adapted to: 17． An apparatus for applying an aqueous coating material to a plurality of sheet members, (A) A conveyor that conveys a plurality of sheet members along a path with their end portions overlapped. When, (B) a die capable of dispensing a predetermined amount of an aqueous coating material at a desired ratio; (C) a carrier having a transfer surface extending into a passage of the sheet member, The transfer surface is in contact with the sheet member superimposed along the path. The transfer surface receives the coating material at a location remote from the superposed sheet member. Provided to the dispenser, and the carrier is superimposed from the dispenser. An intermediate carrier that can be advanced to transfer the coating material to the passed sheet member; (D) To reduce the water content of the coating material on the intermediate carrier to a desired level A dryer directed to the aqueous coating material on the transfer surface of the intermediate carrier. Cloth equipment. 18. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said dryer is a source of infrared energy. 19. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said dryer is a source of heated air. 20. The intermediate carrier does not respond to high frequency radiation and the dryer 18. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising a source of high frequency radiation directed at the aqueous coating material on the transfer surface of the. 21. This device is used together with a device that applies a water-based coating material to multiple sheet members. In this apparatus, a plurality of sheet members are conveyed along a path such that the sheet members are overlapped at the ends. A dispenser for controllably dispensing a predetermined amount of water-based coating material at a desired rate. And a carrier supported near the dispenser, wherein the carrier is A transfer surface extending in a path of the printing member, wherein the transfer surface is overlapped along the path. The transfer surface is brought into contact with the sheet member thus superimposed. Dispensing to receive the coating material away from the transverse contact with the The carrier is provided to the superposed sheet member from the dispenser. An intermediate carrier that can be advanced to transfer the coating material,   It is arranged in the vicinity of the sheet passage and comes into contact with the sheet member after application of the application material. A separating roller, the separating roller being connected to a vacuum source and Applying a vacuum to the sheet member to separate the sheet from the intermediate carrier Equipment 22. A separation belt is provided near the separation roller, and the separation belt is provided with an intermediate key. To facilitate the separation of the sheet from the carrier 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the device is sloped downward. 23. The separation belt is inclined at about 2 ° to 4 ° with respect to the passage of the sheet member. 23. The device of claim 22, wherein the device is inclined.