WO2014192478A1

WO2014192478A1 - Infrared heating unit, infrared heating device and drying device

Info

Publication number: WO2014192478A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/061720
Authority: WO
Inventors: 雄樹藤田
Original assignee: 日本碍子株式会社
Priority date: 2013-05-30
Filing date: 2014-04-25
Publication date: 2014-12-04
Also published as: JP5775224B2; TW201517684A; TWI600343B; JPWO2014192478A1

Abstract

An infrared heating unit (30) is provided with a heating element (32) radiating an electromagnetic wave containing infrared when heated, rotatable around a rotation axis (R) and shaped in such a way that, when viewed from underneath in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis (R), the apparent radiation surface area of the electromagnetic wave varies according to the rotation. In addition, when the heating element (32) is viewed in a cross-section orthogonal to the rotation axis (R), the electromagnetic wave radiation surface is elliptically shaped. In addition, the infrared heating unit (30) is provided with infrared-absorbing plates (70,75) capable of absorbing, among the electromagnetic wave, at least a portion of the infrared radiated from the heating element (32) in a direction other than a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis (R) and downward. Further, the infrared-absorbing plates (70,75) are capable of absorbing, among the electromagnetic wave, at least a portion of the infrared radiated from the heating element (32) in an orthogonal direction (= front-back direction) to the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis (R) and downward.

Description

Infrared heating unit, infrared heating device and drying device

The present invention relates to an infrared heating unit, an infrared heating device, and a drying device.

Conventionally, an infrared heating unit that heats an object to be heated such as a coating film by emitting infrared rays is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rod-shaped heating element made of carbon or silicon carbide that emits infrared rays when heated, and a cylindrical protective tube made of translucent alumina ceramic in which the heating element is hermetically accommodated. Infrared heaters equipped are known. This protective tube has a total transmittance of electromagnetic waves having a wavelength of 0.4 to 6 μm of 80% or more.

JP 2006-294337 A

By the way, in such an infrared heating unit, the radiation wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated to the object to be heated and the object to be heated with the difference in the kind of the object to be heated and the time passage during the heating process of the object to be heated There was a desire to adjust the radiant energy to be input separately. For example, there are cases where it is desired to adjust the radiation wavelength while keeping the radiation energy to the object to be heated constant, or to adjust the radiation energy while keeping the radiation wavelength to the object to be heated constant. However, for example, if the temperature of the heating element is changed in order to adjust the radiation wavelength of the electromagnetic wave from the heating element, the radiation energy from the heating element also changes, and it is difficult to separately adjust the two.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and has as its main purpose to make it possible to separately adjust the radiation wavelength and radiation energy to the object to be heated.

The infrared heating unit of the present invention is
When heated, it emits electromagnetic waves including infrared rays and can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis, and the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic waves when viewed from a predetermined direction perpendicular to the rotation axis changes due to the rotation. Shape heating element,
It is equipped with.

In the infrared heating unit of the present invention, when the heating element rotates, the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element is viewed from a predetermined direction perpendicular to the rotation axis changes. That is, for example, the apparent radiation area of the heating element can be changed independently of the change in the radiation wavelength from the heating element due to the temperature change of the heating element. When the apparent radiation area changes, the radiant energy of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the heating element in a predetermined direction changes. Therefore, for example, while adjusting the radiation wavelength (for example, the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave or the wavelength region of the electromagnetic wave) while keeping the radiation energy to the object to be heated arranged in a predetermined direction constant, the radiation wavelength to the object to be heated is constant. The radiation wavelength and radiation energy to the object to be heated can be adjusted separately, for example, by adjusting the radiation energy. The infrared heating unit of the present invention may include a tubular member that transmits at least part of infrared rays and surrounds the heating element. Here, the “predetermined direction perpendicular to the rotation axis” may be referred to as a “first direction”.

In the infrared heating unit of the present invention, the heating element may have an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape in which a radiation surface of the electromagnetic wave has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis. In this way, the heating element can have a relatively simple shape and “a shape in which the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave changes by rotation when viewed from a predetermined direction perpendicular to the rotation axis”.

The infrared heating unit of the present invention may include an infrared absorber capable of absorbing at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and in a direction other than the predetermined direction. Good. In this way, infrared rays traveling in a direction other than the predetermined direction from the heating element are indirectly reflected on the object to be heated, for example, reflected from another object and reaching the object to be heated arranged in the predetermined direction from the heating element. Giving radiant energy to can be suppressed by the infrared absorber. In addition, when it is desired to reduce the radiant energy to the heated object by reducing the apparent radiant area of the heating element, if there is radiant energy given indirectly to the heated object, the reduction of the radiant energy is insufficient. There is a case. By providing the infrared absorber, such a situation can be suppressed, and the radiation energy can be adjusted more sufficiently by the rotation of the heating element. Here, “at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element perpendicular to the rotation axis and in a direction other than the predetermined direction can be absorbed” means that the heating element is perpendicular to the rotation axis and other than the predetermined direction in all directions. This includes not only the case where the infrared rays radiated to can be absorbed, but also the case where the infrared rays radiated from the heating element in a part of the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and other than the predetermined direction can be absorbed. In addition, “can absorb at least part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and in a direction other than the predetermined direction” is not limited to the case where all infrared rays can be absorbed. This includes the case where a part of the wavelength region can be absorbed, and the case where a part of infrared light having a certain wavelength is absorbed and partly transmitted.

In the infrared heating unit of the present invention including an infrared absorber, the infrared absorber includes at least infrared rays emitted from the heating element in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction. Some may be absorbable. When the apparent radiation area from the predetermined direction is reduced by the rotation of the heating element, the apparent radiation area from the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction tends to increase. Therefore, since the infrared absorber can absorb the infrared rays radiated in this direction, the effect of suppressing radiant energy from being indirectly applied to the object to be heated arranged in the predetermined direction is enhanced. Here, “a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction” may be referred to as a “second direction”.

In this case, the infrared absorber has an infrared absorption surface that absorbs at least part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction. When the direction is the downward direction and the direction opposite to the predetermined direction is the upward direction, the vertical range of the infrared absorption surface may include the vertical range of the heating element. If it carries out like this, the effect which suppresses giving a radiant energy indirectly to the to-be-heated material arrange | positioned in the predetermined direction further increases. Here, “the vertical range of the infrared absorption surface includes the vertical range of the heating element” means that the vertical range of the infrared absorption surface and the vertical direction of the heating element. This includes cases where the range is equal. Here, “upward direction” and “downward direction” are names for distinguishing directions. For example, “upward” is not limited to the vertically upward direction, and “downward” is not limited to the vertically downward direction.

In the infrared heating unit of the present invention having an infrared absorber, the infrared absorber is an infrared ray radiated from the heating element in one direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction. It is possible to absorb at least a part of the infrared rays and at least a part of the infrared rays emitted in the other direction. If it carries out like this, the effect which suppresses giving a radiant energy indirectly to the to-be-heated material arrange | positioned in the predetermined direction further increases. In this case, the infrared heating unit according to the present invention includes an infrared absorber disposed in one direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and a predetermined direction from the heating element, and a vertical direction from the heating element to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The infrared absorber disposed in the other direction may be provided as separate members, or may be provided as an integral member.

In the infrared heating unit of the present invention having an infrared absorber, the infrared absorber may have a fluid flow path through which a fluid can flow. If it carries out like this, an infrared rays absorber can be cooled by distribute | circulating a fluid to a fluid flow path. Thereby, it can suppress that infrared absorber itself becomes an infrared radiation source, for example. In addition, for example, the heat of the fluid is used for other purposes (for example, preheating of hot air used in a drying apparatus equipped with an infrared heating unit) to effectively use energy that is not used for heating from the heating element to the object to be heated. Can be used. In this case, the infrared heating unit may include fluid supply means for supplying a fluid having a temperature lower than that of the infrared absorber to the fluid flow path.

In the infrared heating unit of the present invention, an infrared reflector capable of reflecting at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the electromagnetic wave in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when viewed from the heating element. The sum of the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element is viewed from the predetermined direction and the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element is viewed from a direction opposite to the predetermined direction is It is good also as a shape which changes with rotation. In this way, the infrared reflector reflects the infrared rays, so that the object to be heated arranged in a predetermined direction as viewed from the heating element radiates in the opposite direction to the infrared ray emitted from the heating element in the predetermined direction. Together with the transmitted infrared light. Therefore, the radiant energy from the heating element can efficiently reach the object to be heated. In addition, since the sum of the apparent radiation area when viewed from the predetermined direction and the apparent radiation area when viewed from the direction opposite to the predetermined direction is changed by rotation, the heating element changes from the heat generation element to the predetermined direction. The sum of the radiant energy that directly reaches the object to be heated and the radiant energy that is reflected by the infrared reflector and changes also by rotation. Therefore, even if an infrared reflector exists, the radiation energy can be adjusted by the rotation of the heating element. When the heating element rotates about the rotation axis, an apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element is viewed from the predetermined direction, and the heating element is viewed from a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. In this case, the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave may change in the same tendency (the direction of increase / decrease of the radiation area accompanying the rotation is the same). Further, the heating element may have a shape in which the electromagnetic wave radiation surface is symmetrical twice with respect to the rotation axis. Alternatively, the heating element may have a plane-symmetric shape in which the plane of radiation of the electromagnetic wave is a plane that passes through the rotation axis.

The infrared heating unit of the present invention may include a plurality of the heating elements arranged such that their rotation axes are parallel to each other and are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction. Also in this aspect, by changing the sum of the apparent radiation areas of the electromagnetic waves when the plurality of heating elements are viewed from a predetermined direction by the rotation of the heating elements, the radiation wavelength and radiation energy to the object to be heated are separated. Can be adjusted. In addition, since the plurality of heating elements are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction, adjacent heating elements can heat each other with infrared rays from themselves. Thereby, for example, the energy required for heating the heating element can be reduced as compared with the case where two infrared heating units each having one heating element are separately arranged.

The infrared heating unit of the present invention may include a tubular member that absorbs infrared rays having a wavelength exceeding 3.5 μm and covers the heating element. If it carries out like this, the ratio of the infrared rays whose wavelength is 3.5 micrometers or less can be increased among the electromagnetic waves which arrive at a to-be-heated object, adjusting the radiation wavelength of the electromagnetic waves which a heat generating body radiates | emits. When the infrared heating unit includes an infrared absorber and an infrared reflector, the tubular member may cover not only the heating element but also at least one of the infrared absorber and the infrared reflector, or the infrared absorber and the infrared ray. The reflector may be disposed outside the tubular member (it may not be covered with the tubular member). Note that the tubular member may transmit infrared rays of 3.5 μm or less. The infrared heating unit of the present invention may include a plurality of tubular members arranged concentrically. For example, the tubular member may include an inner tubular member that covers the heating element, and an outer tubular member that covers the heating element and the inner tubular member.

The infrared heating device of the present invention is
The infrared heating unit of the present invention according to any one of the aspects described above;
Rotating means for rotating the heating element about the rotation axis;
Power supply means for supplying power to the heating element;
A value relating to the radiation wavelength of the heating element, a value relating to the rotational position of the heating element, and a value relating to the radiation energy from the heating element that reaches the object to be heated arranged in the predetermined direction when viewed from the heating element. Correspondence storage means for storing the correspondence,
Input means capable of inputting information on the radiation wavelength and information on the radiation energy;
Based on the information regarding the input radiation wavelength, the information regarding the input radiation energy, and the correspondence, a value regarding the rotational position of the heating element corresponding to the input radiation wavelength and radiation energy is obtained. Rotational position acquisition means for acquiring;
The rotating means and the power supply means are controlled to rotate the heating element by the rotating means so that the heating element is positioned at the rotation position represented by the acquired value, and the input radiation wavelength Control means for supplying power to the heating element by the power supply means so that the heating element radiates electromagnetic waves;
It is equipped with.

Since the infrared heating device of the present invention includes the infrared heating unit of the present invention according to any one of the above-described aspects, the effects of the infrared heating unit of the present invention, for example, the radiation wavelength and radiation energy to the object to be heated Can be adjusted separately. Further, the infrared heating device of the present invention includes a value relating to the radiation wavelength of the heating element, a value relating to the rotational position, and a value relating to the radiant energy from the heating element that reaches the object to be heated arranged in a predetermined direction as viewed from the heating element Is stored. And first, the value regarding the rotation position of a heat generating body is acquired based on this correspondence and the information regarding the input radiation wavelength and radiation energy. Subsequently, the heating element is positioned at the rotation position represented by the acquired value, and the electric power supplied to the heating element and the rotation of the heating element are controlled so that the heating element radiates electromagnetic waves of the input radiation wavelength. . Therefore, the supply power and rotational position for obtaining the desired radiation wavelength and radiant energy can be appropriately adjusted simply by inputting information on the desired radiation wavelength and radiant energy. Here, the “value relating to the radiation wavelength” may be a value of the radiation wavelength itself (for example, a value of a peak wavelength or a range of the wavelength region), and is not limited to this, and the temperature of the heating element, the power supplied to the heating element , It is good also as a value which can derive radiation wavelengths, such as an output (power consumption) of a heating element. The same applies to “information on radiation wavelength”. The “value related to the rotational position” is not limited to the rotational position value of the heating element itself (for example, the rotation angle), but the rotational position such as the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element is viewed from a predetermined direction can be derived. A good value may be used. The “value relating to the radiant energy” is not limited to the value of the radiant energy itself, and may be a value from which the radiant energy can be derived. The same applies to “information on radiant energy”. The “value relating to the radiation wavelength” and the “information relating to the radiation wavelength” may be the same or different. For example, the “value relating to the emission wavelength” may be the temperature of the heating element, and the “information relating to the emission wavelength” may be the power supplied to the heating element. The same applies to “value regarding radiant energy” and “information regarding radiant energy”. The input means may be capable of inputting information on the radiation wavelength and information on the radiation energy from a user.

The drying apparatus of the present invention includes any one of the above-described infrared heating unit of the present invention and the above-described infrared heating apparatus, and an object to be heated positioned in the predetermined direction as viewed from the heating element. It is what is dried.

Since the drying apparatus of the present invention includes the infrared heating unit of the present invention or the infrared heating apparatus of the present invention according to any one of the above-described aspects, these effects, for example, the radiation wavelength and radiation energy to the heated object Can be adjusted separately. In addition, the drying apparatus of this invention is good also as what is dried, conveying a to-be-heated material, and good also as what is dried in the state which stopped the to-be-heated material.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drying device 10. FIG. FIG. 2 is an AA cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the infrared heating unit 30 of FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a heating element 32. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship among a peak wavelength of an electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32, a rotation angle of the heating element 32, and a radiation energy to the coating film 82. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of correspondence data 93. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a heat generating body control routine. It is sectional drawing of the infrared heating unit 130 of a modification. It is a perspective view of the heat generating body 232 of a modification.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drying apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drying apparatus 10 performs drying of the coating film 82 as a drying target applied on the sheet 80 by using infrared rays, and the furnace body 12, the air supply device 20, the exhaust device 25, and the infrared heating unit. 30 and a controller 90. The drying device 10 includes a roll 17 provided in front of the furnace body 12 (left side in FIG. 1) and a roll 18 provided in the rear of the furnace body 12 (right side in FIG. 1). The drying apparatus 10 is configured as a roll-to-roll type drying furnace in which a sheet 80 having a coating film 82 formed on the upper surface is continuously conveyed by

rolls

17 and 18 and dried.

The furnace body 12 is for drying the coating film 82. The furnace body 12 is a heat insulating structure formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and is formed in the space 12a that is an internal space, and the front end face 13 and the rear end face 14 of the furnace body, and openings that serve as entrances to the space 12a from the outside. 15 and 16. The furnace body 12 has a length from the front end face 13 to the rear end face 14 of, for example, 2 to 10 m. The furnace body 12 includes a transfer passage 19 that is a passage from the opening 15 to the opening 16. The conveyance passage 19 penetrates the furnace body 12 in the horizontal direction. The sheet 80 on which the coating film 82 is applied on one side passes through the conveyance path 19.

The air supply device 20 is a device that supplies (blows) hot air to the surface side of the sheet 80 to dry the coating film 82 that passes through the furnace body 12. The air supply device 20 includes an air supply fan 21, a pipe structure 22, and an air supply port 23. The air supply fan 21 is attached to the pipe structure 22, and heats a fluid such as air to form hot air and supplies it to the inside of the pipe structure 22. In the present embodiment, the air supply fan 21 supplies a second fluid described later to the inside of the pipe structure 22. The supply fan 21 can adjust the flow rate and temperature of hot air. The temperature of the hot air can be adjusted within a range of 40 ° C. to 200 ° C., for example. The pipe structure 22 serves as a passage for hot air from the air supply fan 21. The pipe structure 22 forms a passage from the air supply fan 21 through the ceiling of the furnace body 12 to the inside of the furnace body 12. The air supply port 23 serves as a supply port of hot air from the air supply fan 21 to the furnace body 12. The air supply port 23 is provided at an end of the furnace body 12 on the opening 16 side that is the carry-out side of the sheet 80, and opens horizontally toward the opening 15 side that is the carry-in side. As a result, the air supply device 20 supplies hot air in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the sheet 80 (in the left direction in FIG. 1).

The exhaust device 25 is a device that discharges the atmospheric gas in the furnace body 12. The exhaust device 25 includes an exhaust fan 26, a pipe structure 27, and an exhaust port 28. The exhaust port 28 is provided at an end of the furnace body 12 on the opening 15 side that is the carry-in side of the sheet 80, and opens horizontally toward the opening 16 side that is the carry-out side. The exhaust port 28 is attached to the pipe structure 27, and sucks atmospheric gas in the furnace body 12 (mainly hot air from the air supply device 20 after flowing along the surface of the coating film 82) to form the pipe structure. Guide into the body 27. The pipe structure 27 serves as a flow path for the atmospheric gas from the exhaust port 28 to the exhaust fan 26. The pipe structure 27 forms a passage from the exhaust port 28 through the ceiling of the furnace body 12 to the exhaust fan 26. The exhaust fan 26 is attached to the pipe structure 27 and exhausts the atmospheric gas inside the pipe structure 27.

The infrared heating unit 30 is a device that irradiates infrared rays onto the coating film 82 passing through the furnace body 12, and a plurality of infrared heating units 30 are attached near the ceiling of the space 12 a in the furnace body 12. In the present embodiment, a plurality of infrared heating units 30 (six in this embodiment) are arranged substantially evenly from the front end face 13 side to the rear end face 14 side. The plurality of infrared heating units 30 have the same configuration, and are attached so that the longitudinal direction thereof is orthogonal to the transport direction of the coating film 82. Hereinafter, the configuration of one infrared heating unit 30 will be described.

FIG. 2 is an AA cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the infrared heating unit 30 of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the infrared heating unit 30 includes an infrared heater 31,

infrared absorption plates

70 and 75, and a reflection plate 60 (shown only in FIG. 1).

The infrared heater 31 includes a Ni—Cr alloy heating element 32, an inner tube 37 provided outside the heating element 32 so as to surround the heating element 32, and an inner tube 37 provided outside the inner tube 37. And an outer tube 38 formed so as to surround the cap, and caps 40 are attached to both ends thereof (FIG. 2). The infrared heater 31 includes a temperature sensor 49 that detects the surface temperature of the outer tube 38 (FIG. 2). The inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 are concentrically arranged, and the heating element 32 is located at the center of the circle.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the heating element 32. 3A is an explanatory view showing a state in which the heating element 32 is viewed from the rear (downward in FIG. 2), and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the vicinity of the left end of the heating element 32. FIG. It is. The heating element 32 emits electromagnetic waves including infrared rays when heated, and is formed by spirally winding a band-shaped Ni—Cr alloy plate as shown in FIG. The heating element 32 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation axis R by a driving force from the motor 56 (FIG. 2). The heating element 32 is formed so that the electromagnetic wave radiation surface (the surface of the heating element 32) has an elliptical shape when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis R (FIGS. 1 and 3). The rotation axis R is an axis parallel to the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2), and is located at the center of the ellipse of the cross section of the heating element 32. Therefore, the shape of the electromagnetic wave radiation surface of the heating element 32 is two-fold symmetric about the rotation axis R as the central axis. The shape of the electromagnetic wave radiation surface of the heating element 32 is a plane-symmetric shape with a plane passing through the rotation axis R (for example, a plane in the front-rear direction or a plane in the vertical direction) as a symmetry plane. By setting it as such a shape, the heat generating body 32 becomes a shape from which the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave changes by rotation when it sees from the predetermined direction (this embodiment downward direction) perpendicular | vertical to the rotating shaft R. Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, connecting terminals 33 are inserted at both ends of the heating element 32 in the rotation axis direction. Further, the connection terminals 33 at both ends are respectively connected to the cylindrical shaft body 34. The connection terminals 33 at both ends are made of a conductive material such as metal. The shaft bodies 34 at both ends are made of, for example, an insulating material and are supported by bearings 35, respectively. The bearings 35 are configured as ball bearings and are respectively supported by holders 45 disposed inside the cap 40 (FIG. 2), and rotatably support the shaft body 34. The bearing 35 is not limited to a ball bearing, and may be any bearing that can support the shaft body 34 rotatably. The connection terminals 33 at both ends are respectively connected to a power supply source 50 disposed outside the furnace body 12 via an electrical wiring 32a, and power is supplied from the power supply source 50 to the heating element 32 to generate the heating element. When 32 is heated, the heating element 32 emits electromagnetic waves including infrared rays. The shaft body 34 is connected to a motor 56 that is disposed inside the furnace body 12 and configured as a servo motor such as a stepping motor, via a drive shaft 57 that penetrates the cap 40 in the rotation axis direction. The motor 56 and the drive shaft 57, or the drive shaft 57 and the shaft body 34 may be connected by a cylindrical coupling (not shown). When a rotational driving force is output from the motor 56, the heat generating body 32, the connection terminal 33, and the shaft body 34 are integrally rotated about the rotation axis R. The electric wiring 32a is bendable and has a margin in the length of the wiring in the cap 40. Therefore, even when the connection terminal 33 rotates, the electric wiring 32a and the connection terminal 33 are electrically connected. It can be maintained. Therefore, it is possible to supply power from the power supply source 50 to the heating element 32 while rotating the heating element 32 with the driving force from the motor 56. The electrical wiring 32 a connected to the connection terminal 33 is drawn out to the outside airtightly via a wiring lead-out portion 47 provided in the cap 40, and is connected to the power supply source 50. As shown in FIG. 2, the cap 40 is formed by integrally molding a disc-shaped lid 44 and

cylindrical portions

42 and 43 erected on the lid 44. The left and right ends of the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 are fixed to

cylindrical portions

42 and 43, respectively.

The inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 are circular tubes having a circular cross section surrounding the heating element 32, and are formed of an infrared transmitting material that transmits at least infrared rays among electromagnetic waves radiated from the heating element 32. Examples of such infrared transmitting materials used for the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 include germanium, silicon, sapphire, calcium fluoride, barium fluoride, zinc selenide, zinc sulfide, chalcogenide glass, and transmissive alumina ceramics. Other examples include quartz glass that can transmit infrared rays. In the present embodiment, the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 are made of permeable alumina ceramics. The space between the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 is a fluid flow path 39 through which a first fluid that is a fluid such as air can be circulated. The inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 can be cooled to a predetermined upper limit (for example, 200 ° C.) or less by the first fluid flowing through the fluid flow path 39.

The fluid flow path 39 is a space between the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38, and the first fluid can flow through the fluid inlet / outlet 48 provided in the cap 40. The fluid inlet / outlet port 48 is connected to a first fluid supply source 52 disposed outside the furnace body 12. The first fluid supplied from the first fluid supply source 52 flows into the fluid channel 39 from one fluid inlet / outlet 48, flows through the fluid channel 39, and flows out from the other fluid inlet / outlet 48. The first fluid flowing through the fluid flow path 39 serves as a refrigerant that lowers the temperature of the outer tube 38 that is the outer surface of the infrared heater 31 and the temperature of the inner tube 37 or adjusts the temperature to an arbitrary temperature.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reflection plate 60 is a plate-like member disposed on the upper side when viewed from the heating element 32. The reflector 60 is formed so that the length in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) is longer than the outer diameter of the outer tube 38 and covers the region directly above the outer tube 38 in a cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. Has been. In other words, the existence range in the front-rear direction of the reflection plate 60 includes the existence range in the front-rear direction of the heating element 32 and the outer tube 38. Although not shown in the drawing, the existence range in the left-right direction of the reflection plate 60 (the front side and the back direction in FIG. 1 includes the existence range in the left-right direction of the heating element 32 and the outer tube 38. This reflection plate 60. Is formed of a material capable of reflecting at least a part of infrared rays of the electromagnetic waves radiated upward from the heating element 32. Examples of the material of the reflection plate 60 include metals such as SUS304 and aluminum. .

The infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 are substantially rectangular parallelepiped members disposed on the front side and the rear side of the infrared heater 31 so as to sandwich the infrared heater 31 from the front-rear direction. In the infrared absorbing plate 70, the rear (right side in FIG. 1) surface becomes an infrared absorbing surface, and absorbs at least a part of infrared rays of electromagnetic waves from the heating element 32. The infrared absorption surface has a length in the vertical direction longer than the outer diameter of the outer tube 38 and is formed so as to cover a region in front of the outer tube 38 in a sectional view as shown in FIG. In other words, the vertical range of the infrared absorption surface includes the vertical range of the heating element 32 and the outer tube 38. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the existence range in the left-right direction of the infrared absorbing plate 70 includes the existence range in the left-right direction of the heating element 32 and the outer tube 38. The infrared absorbing plate 70 is formed of an infrared absorbing material capable of absorbing at least a part of infrared rays among electromagnetic waves from the heating element 32. Examples of such an infrared absorbing material used for the infrared absorbing plate 70 include a Si—SiC composite material (silicon-impregnated SiC) obtained by impregnating a porous body containing SiC with molten Si. In the present embodiment, the infrared absorbing plate 70 is made of a material that absorbs most (for example, 80% or more) of electromagnetic waves in the infrared region (wavelength region of 0.7 μm to 8 μm). The infrared absorption plate 70 is hollow inside, and the space inside this is a fluid flow path 72. The fluid flow path 72 allows the second fluid to flow through the two fluid inlets / outlets 71 provided in the infrared absorption plate 70. The second fluid may be a gas such as air or a liquid such as water. In the present embodiment, the second fluid is air. The fluid inlet / outlet port 71 is connected to a second fluid supply source 54 disposed outside the furnace body 12. The second fluid supplied from the second fluid supply source 54 flows into the fluid channel 72 from one fluid inlet / outlet 71, flows through the fluid channel 72, and flows out from the other fluid inlet / outlet 71. The 2nd fluid which distribute | circulates the fluid flow path 72 plays the role of a refrigerant | coolant which lowers the temperature of the infrared rays absorption plate 70 which absorbs infrared rays and is heated. The infrared absorbing plate 70 can be cooled to, for example, 200 ° C. or less by the second fluid flowing in the fluid flow path 72. The other fluid inlet / outlet 71 is connected to the air supply fan 21. Therefore, the air supply fan 21 uses the second fluid heated through the fluid flow path 72 as it is or further heats it and supplies it as hot air into the furnace body 12.

The infrared absorbing plate 75 includes a fluid inlet / outlet 76 and a fluid channel 77 formed inside. The infrared absorption plate 75 is disposed on the opposite side of the infrared absorption plate 70 with the infrared heater 31 in between, and is symmetrical with the infrared absorption plate 70 with a virtual plane parallel to the vertical direction including the rotation axis R as a symmetry plane. It is configured. Since the other points are the same as the configuration of the infrared ray absorbing plate 70, detailed description thereof is omitted.

The sheet 80 is not particularly limited, but is a metal sheet such as aluminum or copper, for example. The sheet 80 is not particularly limited, but has a thickness of 10 to 100 μm and a width of 200 to 1000 mm, for example. The coating film 82 on the sheet 80 is used as an electrode for a battery after drying, for example, and is not particularly limited, but is a coating film that becomes an electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery, for example. Examples of the coating film 82 include an electrode material paste obtained by kneading an electrode material (positive electrode active material or negative electrode active material), a binder, a conductive material, and a solvent together on the sheet 80. The thickness of the coating film 82 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 20 to 1000 μm.

The controller 90 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 91, and communicates with a flash memory 92 that stores various processing programs and various data, a RAM 94 that temporarily stores data, an operation panel 98, and the like. Internal communication interface (I / F). The flash memory 92 stores correspondence data 93. As will be described in detail later, the correspondence data 93 includes a value relating to the radiation wavelength of the heating element 32, a value relating to the rotational position of the heating element 32, and a coating film that is an object to be heated as viewed from the heating element 32. This is data representing a correspondence relationship with a value related to radiant energy from the heating element 32 reaching 82.

The controller 90 outputs a control signal to the air supply fan 21 and the exhaust fan 26 to control the temperature and air volume of the hot air blown from the air supply port 23, or to exhaust the air from the exhaust port 28 in the atmosphere of the space 12a. Control the amount. In addition, the controller 90 inputs the temperature of the outer tube 38 detected by the temperature sensor 49 that is a thermocouple, or outputs a control signal to an on-off valve or a flow rate adjustment valve (not shown) of the first fluid supply source 52. The flow rate of the first fluid flowing through the fluid flow path 39 of the infrared heating unit 30 is controlled so that the outer tube 38 does not exceed a predetermined upper limit value. The controller 90 outputs a control signal to an on-off valve and a flow rate adjustment valve (not shown) of the second fluid supply source 54 to individually control the flow rate of the second fluid flowing through the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77 of the

infrared absorption plates

70 and 75. Control. Further, the controller 90 outputs a control signal for adjusting the magnitude of the power supplied from the power supply source 50 to the heating element 32 to the power supply source 50, and thereby the heating element temperature and output of the infrared heating unit 30. Control individually. The controller 90 outputs a control signal to the motor 56 to control the rotational position of the heating element 32. Further, the controller 90 adjusts the passing time of the sheet 80 and the coating film 82 in the furnace body 12 and the tension applied to the sheet 80 and the coating film 82 by controlling the rotation speed of the

rolls

17 and 18. The controller 90 inputs an operation signal generated in response to an operation on the operation panel 98 and outputs a display command to the operation panel 98.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the controller 90 includes a rotational position acquisition unit 95, a control unit 96, and the like as functional blocks. The rotational position acquisition unit 95 calculates the input radiation wavelength and radiation energy based on the information on the radiation wavelength and radiation energy of the heating element 32 input from the user via the operation panel 98 and the correspondence data 93. It has a function of acquiring a value related to the rotational position of the corresponding heating element 32. The control unit 96 controls the motor 56 and the power supply source 50 to rotate the heating element 32 by the motor 56 so that the heating element 32 is positioned at the rotation position represented by the value acquired by the rotation position acquisition unit 95. The power supply source 50 supplies power to the heating element 32 so that the heating element 32 radiates electromagnetic waves having a radiation wavelength input via the operation panel 98. The rotational position acquisition unit 95 and the control unit 96 may be configured as hardware, or may be configured as software that exhibits functions by the CPU 91 executing a program stored in the flash memory 92. .

The operation panel 28 includes a display unit and an operation unit configured to include the display unit. The display unit is configured as a touch panel type liquid crystal display, a selection / setting button for selecting menus and items, numeric buttons for inputting various numerical values such as the radiation wavelength and radiation energy of the heating element 32, and a drying process. A start button or the like to be started is displayed to accept a touch operation, and an operation signal based on the touch operation is transmitted to the controller 90. Further, when a display command is received from the controller 90, an image, a character, a numerical value, or the like based on the display command is displayed on the display unit.

Next, the operation of the drying apparatus 10 thus configured will be described. First, the operation of the infrared heating unit 30 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the radiation wavelength (peak wavelength) of the electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32, the rotational position (rotation angle) of the heating element 32, and the radiation energy to the coating film 82. 4A is an explanatory view showing a state when the rotation angle of the heating element 32 is 0 °, and FIG. 4B is an explanation showing a state when the rotation angle of the heating element 32 is 90 °. FIG. In the present embodiment, the position where the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the heat generating element 32 (the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis R) is horizontal (perpendicular to the vertical direction) is defined as the reference for the rotation angle (rotation angle = 0 °).

First, the relationship between the peak wavelength and the radiant energy when the rotation angle = 0 ° will be described. Since the output of the heating element 32 is changed by the electric power supplied from the power supply source 50 and the temperature of the heating element 32 itself is changed, the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the heating element 32 is changed accordingly. Specifically, the higher the output of the heating element 32, that is, the higher the temperature of the heating element 32, the smaller the peak wavelength of the emitted electromagnetic wave. In addition, as the output of the heating element 32 increases, the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 increases. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the output of the heating element 32 is 25% of the maximum, an electromagnetic wave having a peak wavelength of about 4 μm is radiated, and the output of the heating element 32 is maximum (100%). Sometimes, an electromagnetic wave having a peak wavelength of about 3 μm is emitted. When the output of the heating element 32 is 100%, the radiant energy from the heating element 32 to the coating film 82 is greater than when the output of the heating element 32 is 25%. As described above, when only the output is adjusted without adjusting the rotation angle of the heating element 32, if one of the peak wavelength and the radiant energy is changed, the other is also changed.

However, in the infrared heating unit 30 of the present embodiment, the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element 32 is viewed from below changes as the heating element 32 rotates. Thereby, the form factor (hereinafter referred to as the form factor F) of the surface of the coating film 82 (particularly, the surface of the coating film 82 in the furnace body 12) disposed below the heating element 32 with respect to the radiation surface of the heating element 32. Change). For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the rotation angle of the heating element 32 is 90 °, the apparent radiation area when the heating element 32 is viewed from the lower direction compared to when the rotation angle is 0 °. The shape factor F is also reduced. Therefore, even if the output of the heating element 32 is the same 100%, the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 is smaller than when the rotation angle is 0 ° (see the lower graph of FIG. 4B). (See solid line). As described above, in the infrared heating unit 30, by changing the apparent radiation area by changing the heating element 32 (changing the form factor F), for example, without changing the output of the heating element 32 (= temperature of the heating element 32). The radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 can be changed without changing the peak wavelength or the like. In addition, the apparent radiation area of the heating element 32 can be changed so as to suppress a change in radiant energy caused by changing the output of the heating element 32. For example, in the present embodiment, the electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32 when the output is 25% and the rotation angle is 0 ° (the broken line in the lower graph of FIG. 4B) and the heat generation when the output is 100% and the rotation angle is 90 °. The radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 is almost the same as the electromagnetic wave from the body 32 (solid line in the lower graph of FIG. 4B), and both shifted the peak wavelength and the wavelength region of the electromagnetic wave by 1 μm. It has become a relationship.

In addition, since the infrared heating unit 30 includes the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75, the value of the form factor F corresponding to the rotational position of the heating element 32 includes the arrangement and size of the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75, and the like. Also affects. Further, since the infrared heating unit 30 includes the inner tube 37, the outer tube 38, the reflection plate 60, and the

infrared absorption plates

70 and 75, the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 is arranged and sized in these. It is also affected by the reflected wavelength region and the absorbing wavelength region. For example, the radiant energy that reaches the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 due to the components absorbed by the inner tube 37, the outer tube 38, the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 and the components reflected by the reflecting plate 60 among the electromagnetic waves from the heating element 32. Will change. In this embodiment, in consideration of these influences, the value relating to the radiation wavelength of the heating element 32, the value relating to the rotational position of the heating element 32, and the object to be heated disposed downward from the heating element 32. Data representing the correspondence relationship between the value relating to the radiant energy from the heating element 32 reaching the coating film 82 is stored in the flash memory 92 in advance as correspondence relationship data 93. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of the correspondence data 93. As shown in the figure, in the correspondence data 93, the output of the heating element 32 is used as a value related to the radiation wavelength of the heating element 32, and the rotation angle of the heating element 32 is used as a value related to the rotational position of the heating element 32. A correspondence relationship with the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 is stored as a map. As can be seen from FIG. 5, when the rotation angle of the heating element 32 changes between −90 ° and 90 °, the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 becomes maximum when the rotation angle is 0 °, and the rotation angle is The minimum is at 90 ° and -90 °. In addition, even when the rotation angle is the same, the higher the output of the heating element 32 (= the higher the temperature of the heating element 32 and the shorter the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32), the more the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82. growing. FIG. 5 shows the correspondence when the output of the heating element 32 is 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, but the correspondence data 93 corresponds to the case where the output of the heating element 32 is other than this. Relationships are also included. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the correspondence data 93 stores the correspondence in increments of 1% over the range of 10 to 100% of the output of the heating element 32. Such correspondence data 93 may be obtained in advance by experiments, for example, or may be derived in advance by calculation using simulation or the like. In the present embodiment, since the cross-sectional shape of the radiation surface of the heating element 32 is elliptical and symmetrical twice, the rotation angle is changed between −90 ° and 90 °, but the rotation angle is − It may be changed between 180 ° and 180 °.

The radiant energy that reaches the coating film 82 (vertical axis in FIG. 5) reaches the coating film 82 via the radiation energy that directly reaches the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 and the reflection on the reflection plate 60. Radiant energy to be included. Here, in the present embodiment, the shape of the radiation surface of the electromagnetic wave of the heating element 32 is two-fold symmetric about the rotation axis R, the apparent radiation area when the heating element 32 is viewed from above, and the downward direction Is equal to the apparent radiation area when viewed from above, and changes in the same way as the rotation angle changes. Therefore, when the rotation angle is 0 °, the radiant energy that directly reaches the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 is maximized, and the radiant energy that directly reaches the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 is reflected on the reflection plate 60. The sum of the radiant energy that reaches and reaches the maximum is also maximized when the rotation angle is 0 °.

Next, how the coating film 82 is dried using the drying apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described. First, the user operates the operation panel 98 to input various setting values such as drying conditions, and presses the start button. The various setting values input from the user by the operation panel 98 include information on the radiation wavelength from the heating element 32 and the radiation energy to the coating film 82 for each of the five infrared heating units 30. The various set values include the temperature and amount of hot air from the air supply device 20, the exhaust amount of the atmosphere in the space 12a by the exhaust device 25, the upper limit value of the surface temperature of the outer pipe 38, and the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77. Values such as the flow rate of the second fluid and the passage time of the coating film 82 in the furnace body 12 are included. Then, the controller 90 inputs various setting values from the user in response to an operation signal from the operation panel 98, stores them in the RAM 94, and starts a drying process based on the stored various setting values. Specifically, first, the

rolls

17 and 18 are rotated at a speed based on the passing time input by the controller 90, and the conveyance of the sheet 80 is started. As a result, the sheet 80 is unwound from the roll 17 disposed at the left end of the drying apparatus 10. The sheet 80 is coated with a coating film 82 on the upper surface by a coater (not shown) immediately before being brought into the furnace body 12 from the opening 15. And the sheet | seat 80 with which the coating film 82 was apply | coated is conveyed in the furnace body 12. FIG. At this time, the controller 90 controls the air supply fan 21, the exhaust fan 26, the first fluid supply source 52, and the second fluid supply source 54 based on the input set values. In addition, the controller 90 controls the power supply source 50 and the motor 56 based on the input information on the radiation wavelength from the heating element 32 and the radiation energy to the coating film 82 to control the output and rotation position of the heating element 32. A heating element control routine (described later) to be controlled is executed. Thus, while the sheet 80 passes through the space 12 a of the furnace body 12, the coating film 82 formed on the upper surface of the sheet 80 is infrared rays from the heating element 32 (including infrared rays reflected by the reflecting plate 60). Is dried by irradiation. Part of the infrared rays from the heating element 32 is absorbed by the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 to heat the second fluid flowing through the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77. Further, the hot air from the air supply device 20 heats the coating film 82 and the sheet 80 or removes the solvent evaporated from the coating film 82. The hot air containing the solvent evaporated from the coating film 82 is discharged by the exhaust device 25. The coating film 82 is dried while passing through the furnace body 12 to become the electrode described above, and is carried out from the opening 16. And this electrode (coating film 82) is wound up with the sheet | seat 80 on the roll 18 installed in the right end of the furnace body 12. FIG.

Here, the heating element control routine will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the heating element control routine. In this routine, the controller 90 receives information on the radiation wavelength from the heating element 32 and the radiation energy to the coating film 82 via the operation panel 98 from the user, and an operation signal indicating that the start button has been pressed. Executed when entered. This routine is executed by the CPU 91 using the functions of the rotational position acquisition unit 95 and the control unit 96. The heating element control routine of FIG. 6 is executed for each of the five infrared heating units 30 of FIG. 1, but since the processing contents are the same, here, for one infrared heating unit 30. Processing will be described.

When this heating element control routine is executed, the CPU 91 first stores in the RAM 94 information regarding the input radiation wavelength from the heating element 32 and radiation energy to the coating film 82 (step S100). In the present embodiment, a value representing the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32 is input from the user via the operation panel 98 as information regarding the emission wavelength. Further, as the information on the radiant energy, the value of the radiant energy that reaches the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 itself is input. Subsequently, the CPU 91 derives the output of the heating element 32 based on the peak wavelength value stored in step S100 (step S110). In this processing, a table in which the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32 is associated with the output of the heating element 32 is stored in advance in the flash memory 92, and the output of the heating element 32 is derived based on this table. It was. Next, the CPU 91 acquires the rotation angle corresponding to the value of the radiant energy stored in step S100 and the output of the heating element 32 derived in step S110 based on the correspondence relationship data 93 (step S120). As shown in FIG. 5, the correspondence data 93 is data representing the correspondence of three parameters of the output of the heating element 32, the rotation angle of the heating element 32, and the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82. Therefore, based on two of these parameters (here, the output of the heating element 32 and the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82), the value of the other one parameter (here, the rotation angle of the heating element 32) is determined. Can be acquired. Then, the CPU 91 outputs a control signal to the power supply source 50 and the motor 56 to adjust the output and rotation angle of the heating element 32 (step S130), and ends this routine. In step S130, power is supplied from the power supply source 50 so that the output of the heating element 32 becomes the output derived in step S110. Further, the driving force is output from the motor 56 so that the rotation angle of the heating element 32 becomes the rotation angle derived in step S120. When the heating element 32 generates heat in the state of the rotation angle and output, the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave of the heating element 32 in the drying process of the coating film 82 and the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 are Becomes the input value, that is, the desired value.

In this embodiment, by performing this heating element control routine for each of the five infrared heating units 30, the peak wavelength of electromagnetic waves and the radiation energy reaching the coating film 82 from the heating element 32 can be individually adjusted. . For example, for the three infrared heating units 30 on the front side in FIG. 1, the output of the heating element 32 is 100% (peak wavelength is 3 μm), the rotation angle is 90 °, and the two on the rear side are By changing the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated to the coating film 82 between the front side and the rear side of the furnace body 12 by setting the output of the heating element 32 to 25% (peak wavelength is 4 μm) and the rotation angle to 0 °, The radiant energy from the five infrared heating units 30 to the coating film 82 can be made substantially equal. As a result, the radiant energy from the three front infrared heating units 30 with relatively high outputs is prevented from becoming too large while changing the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated to the coating film 82 in accordance with the drying state of the coating film 82. Thus, temperature unevenness or overheating of the coating film 82 in the furnace body 12 can be suppressed.

Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The infrared heating unit 30 of the present embodiment corresponds to the infrared heating unit of the present invention, and the heating element 32 corresponds to the heating element. The infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 correspond to an infrared absorber, the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77 correspond to a fluid flow path, and the reflector 60 corresponds to an infrared reflector. The motor 56 corresponds to the rotation means, the power supply source 50 corresponds to the power supply means, the flash memory 92 that stores the correspondence data 93 corresponds to the correspondence storage means, the operation panel 98 corresponds to the input means, The rotational position acquisition unit 95 corresponds to a rotational position acquisition unit, and the control unit 96 corresponds to a control unit. The infrared heating unit 30, the motor 56, the power supply source 50, the controller 90 including the flash memory 92, the rotational position acquisition unit 95 and the control unit 96, and the operation panel 98 correspond to the infrared heating device of the present invention. To do. The drying device 10 corresponds to the drying device of the present invention.

The infrared heating unit 30 of the present embodiment described above radiates electromagnetic waves including infrared rays when heated, can rotate around the rotation axis R, and is viewed from the lower direction perpendicular to the rotation axis R. The heating element 32 has a shape in which the apparent radiation area changes with rotation. Therefore, for example, the apparent radiation area of the heating element 32 can be changed independently of the change in the radiation wavelength from the heating element 32 due to the temperature change of the heating element 32. When the apparent radiation area changes, the radiation energy of the electromagnetic wave radiated downward from the heating element 32 changes. Therefore, for example, the radiation wavelength (for example, the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave or the wavelength region of the electromagnetic wave) is adjusted while the radiation energy to the coating film 82 arranged in the downward direction is constant, or the radiation wavelength to the coating film 82 is constant. The radiation wavelength and radiation energy to the coating film 82 can be adjusted separately, for example, by adjusting the radiation energy.

Further, when the heating element 32 is viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis R, the radiation surface of the electromagnetic wave has an elliptical shape. Therefore, it is possible to make the heating element 32 “a shape in which the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when viewed from below changes by rotation” with a relatively simple shape.

Further, the infrared heating unit 30 includes infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 capable of absorbing at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element 32 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis R and other than the lower direction among the electromagnetic waves. . For this reason, infrared rays traveling in a direction other than the downward direction from the heating element 32 are reflected on other objects such as the wall of the furnace body 12 and reach the coating film 82 indirectly. It can suppress giving energy. In addition, when it is desired to reduce the radiant energy to the coating film 82 by reducing the apparent radiation area of the heating element 32, if there is radiant energy given indirectly to the coating film 82, the reduction of the radiant energy is insufficient. It may become. By providing the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75, such a situation can be suppressed, and the adjustment of the radiation energy by the rotation of the heating element 32 can be made more sufficient.

Furthermore, the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 can absorb at least a part of the infrared rays radiated from the heating element 32 in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis R and perpendicular to the downward direction (= front-rear direction). . When the apparent radiation area from the lower direction is reduced by the rotation of the heating element 32, the apparent radiation area from the front-rear direction perpendicular to the rotation axis R and perpendicular to the lower direction is likely to increase. Therefore, the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 can absorb the infrared rays radiated in the front-rear direction, so that the effect of suppressing the application of radiant energy indirectly to the coating film 82 arranged in the downward direction is enhanced. In addition, the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 have an infrared absorbing surface that absorbs at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element 32 in the front-rear direction, and the existence range in the vertical direction of the infrared absorbing surface is the heating element 32. The range of the vertical direction is included. Therefore, the effect which suppresses giving a radiant energy indirectly to the coating film 82 further increases.

In addition, the infrared heating unit 30 includes an infrared absorbing plate 70 capable of absorbing at least a part of infrared rays radiated from the heating element 32 in the front-rear direction among the electromagnetic waves, and the rear direction in the front-rear direction. And an infrared ray absorbing plate 75 capable of absorbing at least a part of the infrared ray radiated to the surface. Therefore, the effect which suppresses giving a radiant energy indirectly to the coating film 82 further increases.

Further, the

infrared absorption plates

70 and 75 have

fluid flow paths

72 and 77 through which the second fluid can flow. Therefore, the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 can be cooled by allowing the second fluid to flow through the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77. Thereby, it can suppress that the infrared

rays absorption plates

70 and 75 itself become an infrared radiation source. Moreover, the heat which is not used for the heating from the heat generating body 32 to the coating film 82 can be effectively utilized by using the heat of the second fluid for preheating of hot air supplied by the air supply device 20.

In addition, the infrared heating unit 30 includes a reflector 60 capable of reflecting at least a part of infrared rays radiated upward as viewed from the heating element 32 among the electromagnetic waves. The sum of the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when viewed from the direction and the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when viewed from above is a shape that changes by rotation. Thereby, the reflecting plate 60 reflects the infrared rays, so that both the infrared rays emitted downward from the heating element 32 and the infrared rays emitted upward can reach the coating film 82. Therefore, the radiant energy from the heating element 32 can efficiently reach the coating film 82. In addition, since the sum of the apparent radiation area when viewed from below and the apparent radiation area when viewed from above is changed by rotation, the heating element 32 changes from the heating element 32 to the coating film 82. The sum of the radiant energy that reaches directly and the radiant energy that arrives after being reflected by the reflector 60 also changes by rotation. Therefore, even if the reflection plate 60 exists, the radiant energy can be adjusted by the rotation of the heating element 32.

In the drying apparatus 10, the flash memory 92 of the controller 90 includes a value relating to the radiation wavelength of the heating element 32, a value relating to the rotational position, and a value relating to the radiation energy from the heating element 32 reaching the coating film 82. Correspondence relation data 93 representing the correspondence relation is stored. First, a value related to the rotational position of the heating element 32 is acquired based on this correspondence and information on the radiation wavelength and radiation energy input to the operation panel 98. Subsequently, the power supplied from the power supply source 50 to the heating element 32 so that the heating element 32 is positioned at the rotation position represented by the acquired value and the heating element 32 radiates the electromagnetic wave having the input radiation wavelength. And the rotation of the heating element 32 by the motor 56 is controlled. Therefore, the supply power and rotational position for obtaining the desired radiation wavelength and radiant energy can be appropriately adjusted only by the user inputting information regarding the desired radiation wavelength and radiant energy.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the infrared heating unit 30 includes one heating element 32. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may include a plurality of heating elements 32. For example, you may have the some heat generating body 32 which mutually arranged the rotation axis in parallel and arranged in the direction perpendicular | vertical to the rotation axis, and perpendicular | vertical to a predetermined direction. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an infrared heating unit 130 of a modified example in this case. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to the infrared heating unit 30 among the infrared heating units 130, the description is abbreviate | omitted, and a difference with the infrared heating unit 30 is mainly demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 7, the infrared heating unit 130 further includes an infrared heater 131 in addition to the components of the infrared heating unit 30. The infrared heater 131 includes a heating element 132, an inner tube 137, an outer tube 138, and the like. The configuration of the infrared heater 131 is the same as that of the infrared heater 31. The infrared heater 131 has a rotation axis R2 parallel to the rotation axis R of the infrared heating unit 30, and the heating element 132 can rotate around the rotation axis R2. The heating element 32 and the heating element 132 are arranged so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the rotation axes R and R2 and perpendicular to the predetermined direction (downward direction). The infrared absorbing plate 75 is disposed behind the infrared heater 131, and the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 are positioned so as to sandwich the

infrared heaters

31 and 131 from the front and rear. One reflector 160 is provided as a common reflector for the infrared heater 31 and the infrared heater 131. The existence range in the front-rear direction of the reflecting plate 160 includes the existence range in the front-rear direction of the

heating elements

32 and 132 and the outer tubes 38 and 138. In addition, you may provide a reflecting plate in each of the infrared heater 31 and the infrared heater 131. Also in this infrared heating unit 130, for example, by making the heating element 32 and the heating element 132 have the same rotation angle after rotation, the apparent radiation area of electromagnetic waves when the

heating elements

32, 132 are viewed from below. Can be changed by the rotation of the

heating elements

32 and 132. Thereby, the form factor of the surface of the coating film 82 with respect to the radiation surface of the

heat generating elements

32 and 132 can be changed, and the radiation wavelength and radiation energy to the coating film 82 are adjusted separately similarly to the infrared heating unit 30. be able to. Moreover, since the plurality of

heating elements

32 and 132 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, the

adjacent heating elements

32 and 132 can heat each other with infrared rays from themselves. Thereby, for example, the energy required for heating the

heating elements

32 and 132 can be reduced as compared with the case where two infrared heating units 30 each having one heating element 32 are separately arranged. The infrared heating unit may have three or more heating elements. The infrared heating unit 130 may not include the inner tube 137 and the outer tube 138, and the heating element 32 and the heating element 132 may be arranged in the same inner tube 37 and outer tube 38. .

In the embodiment described above, the heating element 32 has an elliptical shape perpendicular to the rotation axis R. However, when the heating element 32 is viewed from a predetermined direction perpendicular to the rotation axis by rotating the heating element. The shape is not limited to this as long as the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave changes. For example, when the heating element 32 is viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis R, the electromagnetic wave radiation surface may have a polygonal shape having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. For example, the shape of the heating element 32 may be a flat plate shape, and the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis R may be a rectangle. In addition, although the heating element 32 has a shape of an electromagnetic wave radiation surface that is twice symmetrical about the rotation axis R as a central axis, the present invention is not limited thereto. Although the heating element 32 has a plane-symmetric shape in which the plane of the radiation surface of the electromagnetic wave passes through the rotation axis R is a plane of symmetry, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, in the structure provided with a several heat generating body like the infrared heating unit 130 shown in FIG. 7, the shape of a several heat generating body may be the same, and may differ. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a heating element 232 according to a modification. The heating element 232 is, for example, a carbon heating element (carbon filament), and is formed in a flat plate shape whose longitudinal direction is along the rotation axis R. Further, the heating element 232 is directed from one surface (upper surface in FIG. 8) to the other surface (lower surface in FIG. 8) surrounded by the longest side and the shortest side of the flat plate (cuboid). A plurality of first grooves 236 a formed in this way and second grooves 236 b formed from the other surface toward one surface are alternately formed along the longitudinal direction of the heating element 232. By forming the first groove 236a and the second groove 236b, the heating element 232 is formed in a zigzag shape. The reason why such a shape is used is to increase the resistance value of the heating element 232 to an appropriate value. Electrical wirings 32a are respectively connected to both ends of the zigzag path of the heating element 232 (the lower right end and the lower left end of the heating element 232 in FIG. 8). In addition, shafts 34 are connected to both ends of the heating element 232 in the longitudinal direction. The heating element 232 has a rectangular electromagnetic wave radiation surface (surface of the heating element 232) when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis R, and the rotation axis R is located at the center of the rectangle. In addition, the shape of the electromagnetic wave radiation surface of the heating element 232 is two-fold symmetric about the rotation axis R as a central axis. Similar to the heating element 32 of the present embodiment, this heating element 232 also has an apparent radiation area of electromagnetic waves when the heating element 232 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis R by rotating about the rotation axis R. Change.

In the embodiment described above, the rotation axis R is located at the center of the ellipse of the cross section of the heating element 32, but is not limited thereto. The rotation axis R may be located other than the center of the ellipse of the cross section of the heating element 32. That is, the rotation axis R may be eccentric.

In the above-described embodiment, the infrared heating unit 30 includes the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75, but is not limited thereto. For example, any one of the

infrared absorption plates

70 and 75 may be provided, or none may be provided. In addition to the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75, an infrared absorbing plate may be disposed at a position other than the downward direction when viewed from the heating element 32. For example, an infrared absorbing plate may be disposed above the heating element 32 instead of providing the reflecting plate 60. Alternatively, instead of including the infrared absorbing plate 70, the infrared absorbing plate 75, and the reflecting plate 60, the infrared absorbing plate may be disposed above the heating element 32. In addition, although the

infrared absorption plates

70 and 75 have the vertical range of the infrared absorption surface including the vertical range of the heating element 32, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, any one or more of the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 may have a vertical length that is less than the vertical length of the heating element 32.

In the above-described embodiment, the

infrared absorption plates

70 and 75 are provided with the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, any one or more of the infrared absorbing

plates

70 and 75 may not include a fluid flow path. In addition, the second fluid flowing through the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77 is air, but it may be another gas, for example, a liquid such as water.

In the above-described embodiment, the air supply fan 21 supplies the second fluid preheated through the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77 as hot air into the furnace body 12, but is not limited thereto. For example, heat exchange is performed between the second fluid preheated through the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77 and the other fluid, and the other fluid preheated thereby is supplied to the inside of the furnace body 12 by the supply fan 21 as hot air. It is good also as what supplies to. Or it is good also as what does not utilize the heat | fever of the 2nd fluid which flowed through the

fluid flow paths

72 and 77 for another use.

In the above-described embodiment, the correspondence relationship data 93 is data representing the correspondence relationship between the output of the heating element 32, the rotation angle of the heating element 32, and the radiant energy reaching the coating film 82. A value relating to the radiation wavelength, a value relating to the rotational position of the heating element 32, and a value relating to the radiation energy from the heating element 32 that reaches the coating film 82, which is an object to be heated as viewed from the heating element 32, It only needs to indicate a correspondence relationship. For example, the “value relating to the radiation wavelength” is not limited to the output of the heating element 32 but may be a peak wavelength or a range of a wavelength region. As a specific example of the range of the wavelength region, for example, the radiant energy in the wavelength range of 3 μm to 5 μm out of the total radiant energy of the electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32 may be 90% or more. Or it is good also as a value which can derive radiation wavelengths, such as the temperature of the heat generating body 32, and the electric power supplied to the heat generating body 32. FIG. Similarly, the “information regarding the radiation wavelength” input via the operation panel 98 may be not limited to the peak wavelength but may be in the range of the wavelength region, or may be a value from which the radiation wavelength can be derived. The “value relating to the rotational position” is not limited to the rotation angle of the heat generating element 32, and may be a value from which the rotational position can be derived, such as an apparent radiation area of electromagnetic waves when the heat generating element 32 is viewed from below. The “value relating to the radiant energy” is not limited to the value of the radiant energy, but may be any value that can derive the radiant energy. The same applies to “information on radiant energy” input via the operation panel 98. The “value relating to the radiation wavelength” used in the correspondence data 93 and the “information relating to the radiation wavelength” input via the operation panel 98 may be the same or different. The same applies to “value regarding radiant energy” and “information regarding radiant energy”.

In the above-described embodiment, the motor 56 adjusts the rotation angle of the heating element 32, but is not limited thereto. Any device or mechanism other than a motor may be used as long as the heating element 32 rotates about the rotation axis R. Alternatively, the controller 90 and the motor 56 of the present embodiment are not limited to the case where the heating element 32 is automatically rotated, and the user manually adjusts the rotation angle of the heating element 32 assuming that the motor 56 is not provided. Also good.

In the above-described embodiment, when the output of the heating element 32 changes between 25% and 100%, the peak wavelength changes between 4 μm and 3 μm. However, as the output (temperature) of the heating element 32 changes, As long as the peak wavelength changes, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the peak wavelength of the electromagnetic wave from the heating element 32 may be changed in the infrared region (wavelength of 0.7 μm to 8 μm) as the output of the heating element 32 changes.

In the above-described embodiment, the Ni—Cr alloy is exemplified as the material of the heating element 32, but it is not particularly limited as long as it emits infrared rays when heated. For example, any of W (tungsten), Mo, Ta, and Fe—Cr—Al alloy may be used. The heating element 32 may be a heating element made of carbon such as carbon fiber. In addition, since the heating element 32 is configured to be rotatable, a material that does not require airtightness is preferable, for example, it is not necessary to maintain the periphery of the heating element in a nitrogen atmosphere.

In the above-described embodiment, the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 transmit at least infrared rays among the electromagnetic waves radiated from the heating element 32. However, the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 only need to transmit at least part of infrared rays. For example, the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 may be formed of a material (for example, quartz glass) that absorbs infrared light having a wavelength exceeding 4 μm and transmits infrared light having a wavelength of 4 μm or less. By doing this, the ratio of the infrared rays having a wavelength of 4 μm or less among the electromagnetic waves reaching the coating film 82 can be increased while adjusting the output of the heat generator 32 to change the radiation wavelength of the electromagnetic waves from the heat generator 32. it can. The inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 may be formed of a material (for example, quartz glass) that absorbs infrared light having a wavelength exceeding 3.5 μm and transmits infrared light having a wavelength of 3.5 μm or less.

In the above-described embodiment, the heating element 32 is rotated without rotating the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 of the infrared heater 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least the heating element 32 can be rotated. Good. For example, the entire infrared heater 31 including the inner tube 37 and the outer tube 38 may be configured to be rotatable.

In the above-described embodiment, the coating film 82 that is an object to be heated is exemplified as a coating film serving as an electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery, but the heating target is not limited thereto. For example, the sheet 80 may be made of a PET film, and the coating film 82 may be used as a thin film for MLCC (multilayer ceramic capacitor) after drying. The coating film 82 in this case contains, for example, ceramic powder or metal powder, an organic binder, and an organic solvent. Alternatively, the coating film 82 may be used as a thin film for LTCC (low temperature fired ceramics) or other green sheets.

In the embodiment described above, the drying apparatus 10 is a roll-to-roll type drying furnace that continuously transports the coating film 82 and performs drying, but is not limited thereto. For example, the drying apparatus 10 may be configured as a continuous furnace other than the roll-to-roll method, or may be configured as a batch furnace that performs drying while the coating film 82 is stopped in the furnace body 12.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation panel 98 inputs information on the radiation wavelength from the heating element 32 and the radiation energy to the coating film 82, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, information on the radiation wavelength from the heating element 32 and the radiation energy to the coating film 82 may be stored in the flash memory 92 in advance, and the CPU 91 may input (read) this information from the flash memory 92. In this case, the CPU 91 corresponds to input means in the infrared heating unit of the present invention.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-114177 filed on May 30, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present invention can be used in industries that require heating and drying using infrared rays, such as the battery industry for producing electrode coatings for lithium ion secondary batteries, and the ceramics industry for producing MLCC or LTCC.

10 Drying device, 12 furnace body, 12a space, 13 front end face, 14 rear end face, 15, 16 opening, 17, 18 roll, 19 transport passage, 20 air supply device, 21 air supply fan, 22 pipe structure, 23 supply Vent, 25 exhaust device, 26 exhaust fan, 27 pipe structure, 28 exhaust port, 30, 130 infrared heating unit, 31, 131 infrared heater, 32, 132, 232 heating element, 32a electrical wiring, 33 connection terminal, 34 Shaft body, 35 bearing, 37, 137 inner pipe, 38, 138 outer pipe, 39 fluid flow path, 40 cap, 42-43 cylindrical part, 44 lid, 45 holder, 47 wiring outlet, 48 fluid inlet / outlet, 49 temperature sensor , 50 power supply source, 52 first fluid supply source, 54 second fluid supply source, 56 motor, 5 Drive shaft, 60, 160 reflector, 70, 75 infrared absorbing plate, 71, 76 fluid inlet / outlet, 72, 77 fluid flow path, 80 sheet, 82 coating film, 90 controller, 91 CPU, 92 flash memory, 93 correspondence data 94 RAM, 95 rotational position acquisition unit, 96 control unit, 98 operation panel, 236a first groove, 236b second groove, R, R2 rotation axis.

Claims

When heated, it emits electromagnetic waves including infrared rays and can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis, and the apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic waves when viewed from a predetermined direction perpendicular to the rotation axis changes due to the rotation. Shape heating element,
Infrared heating unit equipped with.
When the heat generating element is viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis, the electromagnetic wave radiation surface has an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction.
The infrared heating unit according to claim 1.
The infrared heating unit according to claim 1 or 2,
Among the electromagnetic waves, an infrared absorber capable of absorbing at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element in a direction other than the predetermined direction perpendicular to the rotation axis,
Infrared heating unit equipped with.
The infrared absorber is capable of absorbing at least a part of the infrared ray radiated from the heating element in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction.
The infrared heating unit according to claim 3.
The infrared absorber has an infrared absorbing surface that absorbs at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and the predetermined direction is downward. When the direction opposite to the predetermined direction is the upward direction, the vertical range of the infrared absorbing surface includes the vertical range of the heating element,
The infrared heating unit according to claim 4.
The infrared absorber includes at least a part of infrared rays emitted from the heating element in one direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and at least infrared rays emitted from the heating element in the other direction. A part can be absorbed,
The infrared heating unit according to claim 4 or 5.
The infrared absorber has a fluid flow path through which a fluid can flow.
The infrared heating unit according to any one of claims 3 to 6.
The infrared heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Among the electromagnetic waves, an infrared reflector capable of reflecting at least a part of infrared rays radiated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when viewed from the heating element,
With
The heating element includes an apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element is viewed from the predetermined direction, and an apparent radiation area of the electromagnetic wave when the heating element is viewed from a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. Is a shape that changes due to the rotation,
Infrared heating unit.
The infrared heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A plurality of the heating elements arranged such that their rotation axes are parallel to each other and aligned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and perpendicular to the predetermined direction;
Infrared heating unit.
The infrared heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A tubular member that absorbs infrared rays having a wavelength exceeding 3.5 μm and covers the heating element;
Infrared heating unit equipped with.
Infrared heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Rotating means for rotating the heating element about the rotation axis;
Power supply means for supplying power to the heating element;
A value relating to the radiation wavelength of the heating element, a value relating to the rotational position of the heating element, and a value relating to the radiation energy from the heating element that reaches the object to be heated arranged in the predetermined direction when viewed from the heating element. Correspondence storage means for storing the correspondence,
Input means capable of inputting information on the radiation wavelength and information on the radiation energy;
Based on the information regarding the input radiation wavelength, the information regarding the input radiation energy, and the correspondence, a value regarding the rotational position of the heating element corresponding to the input radiation wavelength and radiation energy is obtained. Rotational position acquisition means for acquiring;
The rotating means and the power supply means are controlled to rotate the heating element by the rotating means so that the heating element is positioned at the rotation position represented by the acquired value, and the input radiation wavelength Control means for supplying power to the heating element by the power supply means so that the heating element radiates electromagnetic waves;
Infrared heating device equipped with.
An infrared heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and an infrared heating device according to claim 11, comprising: an object to be heated positioned in the predetermined direction as viewed from the heating element; Drying equipment to dry.