JPS6236541Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention is a roll coater that can uniformly apply a coating liquid to the surface of a flat substrate.
The present invention relates to a transfer device for transferring a substrate in a predetermined direction, and is particularly useful for use in a roll coater that applies a coating liquid to the lower surface of a substrate.

[Prior Art] A three-roll roll coater shown in FIG. 6 is known as an apparatus for applying a thin film forming liquid to the surface of a substrate such as glass in order to form a thin film on the surface of the substrate. ing.

A conventional roll coater 1 includes a back up roller 3 that supports a substrate 2 from below, and a coating roller 5 that is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 2 and transfers a thin film forming liquid 4 onto the upper surface 2a of the substrate 2. The forming liquid 4 is poured onto a doctor roller 6, spread uniformly by the doctor roller 6, and supplied to the coating roller 5.

Then, the substrate 2 is placed at both the front and rear positions in the moving direction of the substrate 2 with the coating roller 5 in between.
A transfer device is provided. This transfer device is
The device transfers the substrate 2 by contacting the lower surface 2b of the substrate 2, and, for example, structures shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are known.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the roll-type transfer device 7, which includes a plurality of feed rolls 8 arranged in parallel so that their rotating shafts 8a are parallel to each other, and these feed rolls 8 rotate in the same direction. and feed the substrate supported on the outer peripheral surface 8b toward the three rolls,
Alternatively, it is configured to be carried out from three rolls.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the conveyor type transfer device 9, in which a transfer belt 11 is wound around the outer circumferential surfaces of a pair of pulleys 10, 10 arranged in parallel so that the rotating shafts 10a are parallel to each other. The substrate 2 is configured to be sent out toward the three rolls or unloaded from the three rolls with the lower surface 2b in contact with the transfer belt 11.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] The conventional roll coater 1 could not be applied when the thin film forming liquid, which is the coating liquid, was unstable.

For example, in the case of a thin film forming liquid in which an organometallic compound (alkoxy compound) containing indium, tin, titanium, etc. is dissolved in an organic solvent with a low boiling point and easily volatile, the liquid is distributed between the rollers and between the rollers and the substrate. The roller is pressurized twice in between, and the solvent component of the liquid continues to volatilize from the roller surface. Therefore, the thin film forming liquid transferred onto the substrate 2 becomes non-uniform.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention devised a roll coater with a new configuration. This roll coater is constructed so that the coating liquid is always attached to the outer circumferential surface of one rotating coating roller, and the substrate is sent onto the outer circumferential surface of the coating roller, and the coating liquid is applied to the lower surface of the substrate. It attaches.

Therefore, in this roll coater, the lower surface side of the substrate must always be kept clean before and after applying the liquid, and it is not preferable for it to come into contact with other members.

However, since the conventional transfer device is configured to contact the bottom surface of the substrate to support and transfer the substrate, there was a problem that it could not be applied to the new type of roll coater.

[Purpose of the invention] The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a transfer device for a roll coater that can be used in a roll coater that applies a coating liquid to the lower surface of a substrate. is intended to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the transfer device of the present invention includes a coating roller that applies the coating liquid attached to the outer peripheral surface to the lower surface of the substrate being transferred, and a coating roller that applies the coating liquid that has adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the substrate. A roll coater has a transfer device disposed before and after the substrate to transfer the substrate, and the transfer device includes a pair of roller portions that transfer the substrate by contacting only both side ends of the substrate, and a roller portion outside the roller portion. The present invention is characterized by comprising a guide roller configured by integrally providing a pair of guide portions for guiding the substrate in the transfer direction.

[Operation] In the first transfer device, the substrate is supported on the pair of roller portions with the lower surfaces of both end portions in contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of the pair of roller portions.

When the guide roller rotates, the substrate is transported while being guided by the guide portion at both ends thereof in the rotational direction of the guide roller, and is sent to the coating roller.

The substrate, whose lower surface is coated with the coating liquid by the coating roller, is transferred to the outside of the roll coater system by the second transfer device.

In the above case, only a very small area of the lower surface of the substrate at both ends is in contact with the rollers, and the majority of the lower surface area is not in contact with any other members at all. Therefore, the lower surface of the substrate is not soiled or damaged during transportation.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a transfer device of one embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are a plan view and a sectional view of a roll coater having the transfer device.

The roll coater 12 of this embodiment is a part of a thin film forming device that applies an unstable thin film forming liquid to a glass substrate 13 that becomes an anode substrate of a fluorescent display tube, and then bakes the liquid to form a thin film. It is incorporated into.

Although not shown, the thin film forming apparatus includes a substrate 13
a drying device for heating and drying the cleaned substrate 13, a cooling device for cooling the substrate 13 whose temperature has increased due to heating, and a roll coater for applying a thin film forming liquid to the substrate 13. 12 and
A heating device for firing the substrate 13 coated with the liquid is provided.

Now, in the figure, 14 is a first transfer device of the roll coater 12, which is disposed continuously next to the cooling device.

A plurality of drive shafts 16 are rotatably attached to the frame 15 of the transfer device 14 at equal intervals.
Sprockets 17 are provided at one end of the drive shaft 16 outside the frame 15, and an integral chain 18 is meshed with these sprockets 17. This chain 18 is interlocked and connected to a drive source (not shown), and each drive shaft 16
are configured to be rotated in synchronization with each other.

Each of the drive shafts 16 has a guide roller 1.
9 is installed. The guide roller 19 includes a pair of disk-shaped roller portions 20 that transport the substrate 13;
20, and a pair of guide portions 21, 21 provided outside the roller portion 20 and integrally with the roller portion 20. The width of the roller part 20 is several mm.
The smaller the width is, the more suitable it is, and the board 13 can be used more effectively. The guide portion 21 has a truncated conical shape, and a small diameter end surface 21 a is integrally fixed to the outer end surface of the roller portion 20 . The guide part 21 is
The substrate 1 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the side end 22 of the substrate 13.
In this embodiment, the diameter of the small-diameter end surface 21a is set to be larger than the diameter of the roller portion 20 to more reliably guide the substrate 13, but the small-diameter end surface 21a The diameter of the roller part 20
It may be made the same as the diameter of. In addition, in this example,
The shape of the guide part 21 is a truncated cone, and the guide part 2
The outer peripheral surface of 1 was made to be a tapered surface 23,
The guide portion 21 may be formed of a disk-shaped member having a larger diameter than the roller portion 20.

As shown by arrow A in FIG.
One of the roller parts 20 and the guide part 21 that make up the drive shaft 16 can be freely slid in the axial direction of the drive shaft 16 and fixed at any position.
The structure is such that substrates 13 of various sizes can be transferred.

Further, the frame 15 of the transfer device 14 is provided with a height adjustment mechanism (not shown), and the transfer device 14 as a whole is transferred in the vertical direction while keeping the transfer direction of the substrate 13 in a horizontal state. The configuration is such that the feeding position of the substrate 13 to the coating roller 25 can be set arbitrarily.

Next, in the adjacent portion of the transfer device 14 in the transfer direction,
A tray 24 and an application roller 25 are provided.

The saucer 24 has the shape of a cylinder divided in half in the axial direction, and is oriented such that the transfer direction of the substrate 13 and the axis (longitudinal direction) are orthogonal to each other, and the transfer device 14 transfers the substrate 13. It is located below the transport plane. Although not shown, saucer 2
A drive mechanism is attached to 4 so that it can be moved downward from the above-mentioned position during cleaning or the like.

Further, inside the saucer 24, a thin film forming liquid 26 (hereinafter abbreviated as liquid 26) is stored as a coating liquid. In this embodiment, there is no problem even if the liquid 26 is a liquid that contains a thin film-forming component in a volatile organic solvent and is easily deteriorated.

Although not shown, there is a liquid 26 at the bottom of the saucer 24.
An automatic supply device is connected via a supply pipe, and is configured to maintain the amount of liquid in the saucer 24 at a constant minimum required amount. In addition, the saucer 24
Flange-shaped covers 24a are provided on both side edges of the opening facing inward in order to suppress volatilization of the liquid.

A portion of the applicator roller 25 enters inward from the opening of the tray 24 and is disposed at a position slightly away from the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the tray 24, so that a portion of the applicator roller 25 is always inside the tray 24. It is designed to be immersed in a liquid 26 stored in the container. The topmost position of the outer peripheral surface of the application roller 25 is configured to be slightly above the lower surface of the substrate 13 transferred by the transfer device 14.

Further, the application roller 25 is connected to a drive source 27 and is configured to be freely driven according to the work order.

Further, the material of the application roller 25 is made of metal with a long life in this embodiment, but ceramics or the like may be used, or resin or the like may be used as long as the material is not eroded by the liquid 26.

Next, a press roller 28 is provided above the application roller 25. The presser roller 28 is
It can be moved downward by a driving means (not shown), and is configured to press the upper surface of the substrate 13 being transferred on the application roller 25 by its own weight, thereby preventing the substrate 13 from lifting up.

Next, a second transfer device 29 for transporting the substrate 13 from above the application roller 25 is provided adjacent to the application roller 25 in the rotational direction.

The second transfer device 29 is connected to the first transfer device 1.
4, with a thin film 3 of liquid 26 on the bottom surface.
The substrate 13 coated with
It is constructed so that it can be guided and transported while supporting only the robot. As described above, a heating device is continuously disposed adjacent to the second transfer device 29 in the transfer direction, and the substrate 1 whose lower surface is coated with the liquid 26
3 is configured to be fed into the heating device by a transfer device 29.

In this embodiment, a high-quality thin film can be formed even when the liquid 26 applied to the substrate 13 is unstable and prone to deterioration, and dust in the atmosphere is often an obstacle to the thin film forming process. , substrate 13
It is preferable that the liquid 26 and the liquid 26 are not directly exposed to the outside air. For example, if the parts of the roll coater 12, cleaning equipment, drying equipment, etc. where the substrate 13 is transferred are covered with a cover, etc., and the temperature, humidity, etc. inside the cover can be freely adjusted, dust in the outside air can be removed. By eliminating moisture from the process, consistent thin film formation can be performed under optimal environmental conditions.

Next, the operation of the configuration described above will be explained.

After the substrate 13 is cleaned by a cleaning device, it is heated by a drying device to remove moisture. The substrate 13 whose temperature has increased due to heating is transported while being cooled by a cooling device, and is transferred to the roll coater 1.
2 to the first transfer device 14.

The sent board 13 has both side ends 22, 22
is supported on the roller portions 20 with the lower surface side in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of roller portions 20, 20. When the driving force of the driving source is transmitted to each drive shaft 16 via the chain 18 and sprocket 17 and each guide roller 19 rotates, the substrate 13
Both side end portions 22 are provided on the small diameter end surface 21a of the guide portion 21.
22 are brought into contact with each other and guided and transferred in the direction of the application roller 25.

Both side ends 2 of the lower surface 13b of the substrate 13
Only a very narrow area on the lower surface side of the rollers 2 and 22 is in contact with the roller portion 20, and most of the area of the lower surface 13b is not in contact with any other member. Therefore, the surface of the substrate 13 that has been cleaned by the cleaning device will not be contaminated again.

Further, even if the substrate 13 comes off the roller section 20 for some reason during the transfer of the substrate 13, the side end portion 22 of the substrate 13 slides on the tapered surface 23 and easily returns to the outer peripheral surface of the roller section 20. can do.

Next, the substrate 13 is applied to the coating roller 25 from a position slightly lower than the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the coating roller 25.
is sent to. The substrate 13 contacts the outer circumferential surface 31 of the coating roller 25 at the lower edge of its tip, and is moved onto the coating roller 25 while maintaining contact with the coating roller 25 and tilting slightly due to the driving force of the transfer device 14. I'm going to climb up.

From the time the substrate 13 comes into contact with the coating roller 25, as shown in FIG. You will be able to do it. Therefore, even if the substrate 13 is distorted or the rotation axis of the coating roller 25 is not kept horizontal, the tip of the substrate 13 and the coating roller 25 will surely come into contact with each other. Furthermore, since the rear end of the substrate 13 is supported by only one guide roller 19, vibrations transmitted from the transfer device 14 to the substrate 13 (and the contact portion with the application roller 25) can be suppressed to a minimum. ing.

When the tip of the substrate 13 reaches the top of the coating roller 25, the operation of the transfer device 14 is temporarily stopped, but the coating roller 25 continues to rotate. The liquid 26 always adheres to the outer circumferential surface 31 of the application roller 25 that rises from the liquid 26 stored in the saucer 24, and this adhered liquid 26 is removed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. , is blocked forward in the rotational direction at the contact portion with the substrate 13. As the coating roller 25 rotates, liquid 2 is generated in the gap between the substrate 13 and the coating roller 25 in front of the contact portion (in the rotational direction of the coating roller 25) due to capillary action.
A pool 32 of 6 is generated.

In addition, if the substrate 13 is damaged by the application roller 2
If the substrate 13 is separated from the coating roller 25 and floats up, a gap will be created between the substrate 13 and the coating roller 25, and the pool 32 will not be able to maintain a constant shape and will become unstable. However, as described above, in this embodiment, the contact between the substrate 13 and the coating roller 25 is ensured, and the vibration transmitted to the contact portion between the substrate 13 and the coating roller 25 is small, so that the pool 32 will gradually increase in size as the coating roller 25 rotates.
The crystals grow smoothly and stably, and assume a regular shape with a constant width in the direction in which the substrate 13 is moved.

Now, when the amount of liquid in the reservoir 32 reaches a predetermined amount, the presser roller 28 moves downward to hold the substrate 1.
The substrate 13 is in contact with the upper surface 13a of the substrate 13, and prevents the substrate 13 from lifting up due to distortion or the like due to its own weight. Then, the transfer device 14 starts transferring the substrate 13 again. Board 1
The lower surface 13b of 3 touches the reservoir 32 of the liquid 26 and is coated with the liquid 26, but a part of the attached liquid 26 is in contact with the substrate 13 and the coating roller 25 in the rotational direction of the coating roller 25. Since it is pushed back in the opposite direction, the liquid 26 is uniformly applied to the lower surface of the substrate 13.

Next, the substrate 13 is sent forward by the second transfer device 29 and removed from the coating roller 25 . The second transfer device 29 contacts only the lower surfaces of both side ends 22 and 22 of the substrate 13, but this portion is used as a removal allowance when removing a large number of anode substrates for fluorescent display tubes from the substrate 13. This is a portion where there is no need to form the thin film 30 originally. Since the roller portion 20 is not in contact with the lower surface 13b other than this, there is no fear that the lower surface 13b of the substrate 13 to which the liquid 26 has just been applied will be soiled. Furthermore, since the liquid 26 of this embodiment contains volatile components, the liquid 26 applied to the substrate 13 will dry to some extent while being transported to the next step by the transfer device 29.

Next, the substrate 13 is fed into a heating device by a second transfer device 29. And board 1
The liquid 26 adhering to the lower surface 13b of 3 is heated and dried to form a uniform thin film.

In addition, in the above embodiments, a thin film forming liquid which is easily deteriorated was used as a coating liquid, but the roll coater equipped with the transfer device of the present invention can be used not only for stable thin film forming liquids but also for various other liquids. Needless to say, it can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, each guide roller 19 is attached to one drive shaft 16, but each roller portion 20
A drive shaft may be provided for each guide portion 21, and each roller portion 20 and guide portion 21 may be configured to be independently rotationally driven.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the transfer device for a roll coater according to the present invention is configured to support only both side ends of the substrate by guide rollers and guide and transfer the substrate. In a roll coater that applies a coating liquid to the lower surface of a substrate, there is an advantage that the substrate can be transferred without substantially contaminating the lower surface of the substrate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a transfer device that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a roll coater having the transfer device of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. , FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a roll-type transfer device, which is an example of a conventional transfer device, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conveyor-type transfer device, which is an example of a conventional transfer device, and a side view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional roll coater. 12...Roll coater, 13...Substrate, 13b
... Bottom surface of the substrate, 14 ... First transfer device, 19
... Guide roller, 20 ... Roller part, 21 ...
Guide part, 22... Side edge of the substrate, 25... Coating roller, 26... Thin film forming liquid (liquid) as coating liquid, 29... Second transfer device, 31... Outer peripheral surface of coating roller 25 .

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a roll coater, the roller coater includes a coating roller that coats the lower surface of the transferred substrate with the coating liquid attached to the outer peripheral surface, and a transfer device that is disposed before and after the coating roller and transfers the substrate. A pair of roller portions that transfer the substrate by contacting only both side ends of the roller portion, and a pair of guide portions that guide the substrate in the transfer direction are integrally provided on the outside of the roller portion. A roll coater transfer device characterized by: