Scraping device

Abstract

The invention provides a scraping device for scraping a material that may adhere to the tip of a nozzle. The scraping device according to the present invention is used in a coating system having a nozzle (L) formed such that an outer wall surface gradually becomes thinner toward the tip, and is provided with: a pair of scraping parts (40) having corner parts (E) for scraping a viscous material adhering to the outer wall surface; and a drive unit (20) that causes the pair of scraping units to approach or separate, in which the nozzle can move so as to be temporarily disposed between the pair of scraping units, the pair of scraping units move so as to approach each other when the nozzle is disposed between the pair of scraping units, and the nozzle moves so as to retreat from between the pair of scraping units. Therefore, the pair of scraping parts approach to abut against the corner parts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a scraping device. Background Art

[0002] In a system for applying a viscous material, there are various shapes and ejection types for the nozzle that ejects the viscous material. In the prior art related to the ejection nozzle, a technique of ejecting a material in a planar shape from the tip of the nozzle (which can be called a slit nozzle, a flat nozzle, etc.) is known.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-361151 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The inventors of the present invention focused on the fact that the ejected viscous material may adhere to the tip of the (ejection) nozzle as in Patent Document 1, and intensively studied a device for scraping the viscous material adhering to the nozzle.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a scraping device for scraping the viscous material that may adhere to the tip of the nozzle.

[0009] Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] A scraping device according to one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is used in a coating system having a nozzle formed such that its outer wall surface gradually tapers toward the tip. The scraping device has a scraping portion and a driving portion. The scraping portion has a contact portion for scraping the viscous material adhering to the outer wall surface and is configured as a pair. The driving portion moves the pair of scraping portions closer to or away from each other. The nozzle can move in such a way that it is temporarily disposed between the pair of scraping portions. When the nozzle is disposed between the pair of scraping portions, the pair of scraping portions move closer to each other, and the nozzle moves away from between the pair of scraping portions, whereby the pair of scraping portions approach until the contact portions abut.

[0011] Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the scraping device of the present invention, it is possible to scrape the material that may adhere to the tip of the nozzle. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Figure 1 It is a perspective view schematically showing a scraping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2It is a top view showing the scraping device.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle.

[0016] Figure 4 It is a front view showing the scraping part.

[0017] Figure 5 It is a view showing the situation where the scraping part scrapes off the viscous material attached to the front end part of the nozzle.

[0018] Figure 6 It is a view showing the situation where the scraping part scrapes off the viscous material attached to the front end part of the nozzle.

[0019] Figure 7 It is a view showing the situation where the scraping part scrapes off the viscous material attached to the front end part of the nozzle.

[0020] Figure 8 It is a view showing Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a scraping part different from that.

[0021] Symbol Explanation:

[0022] 100 Scraping device, 10 Track, 20 Driving part, 30 Moving part, 40, 40a Scraping part, 41 Horizontal plane, 41a Deformation member, 42 Vertical plane, 42a Clamping part, 43 First inclined part, 43a Clamping part, 44 Second inclined part, E Corner part (contact part), m Viscous material, P Rotation axis, S Outer wall surface, X Depth direction (thickness direction), Z Vertical direction. Detailed Embodiment

[0023] (First Embodiment)

[0024] Hereinafter, the embodiments for implementing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments shown here are the embodiments illustrated to embody the technical idea of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. In addition, within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, all other implementable ways, embodiments, and application techniques that can be conceived by those skilled in the art are included in the scope and gist of the present invention and are included in the invention described in the technical solution and its equivalents.

[0025] Moreover, for the sake of easy understanding and illustration, in the accompanying drawings of this specification, for the appropriate scale, aspect ratio of length and width, shape, etc., sometimes they are changed from the actual object and shown schematically, but this is only an example and does not limit the interpretation of the present invention.

[0026] In addition, in the following description, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are added for description, but as long as there is no special mention, they are used for convenience and do not stipulate a certain order.

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a scraping device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a top view showing the scraping device 100. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a nozzle L constituting the coating system 1. Figure 4 is a front view showing the scraping portion 40. Figures 5 to 7 is a view showing a situation where the scraping portion 40 scrapes off a viscous material attached to the front end portion of the nozzle L.

[0028] Here, the viscous material m scraped by the scraping device 100 exhibits thixotropy by adding a filler to the viscous body. The viscous material m exhibiting thixotropy not only adheres to the front end portion of the nozzle but sometimes wraps around the outer wall surface, and scraping of the front end and outer wall surface of the nozzle is required. Examples of the viscous body include oils, epoxy resins, silicone resins, polyurethane resins, (meth)acrylic resins, etc., but are not limited thereto. Examples of the filler include inorganic fillers, organic fillers, etc. Examples of the inorganic filler include glass powder, hollow glass powder, silica powder, amorphous silica powder, alumina powder, talc powder, mica powder, calcium carbonate powder, aluminum nitride powder, kaolin powder, dry clay mineral powder, dry diatomaceous earth powder, metal powder, etc., but are not limited thereto. Examples of the organic filler include silicone rubber powder, polymethacrylic acid powder, polystyrene powder, polyurethane powder, carbon powder, hollow plastic powder, etc., but are not limited thereto. Moreover, air bubbles dispersed in the viscous body can also be regarded as one of the fillers. The average particle size of the filler is preferably 0.001 to 100 μm, and examples of the method for measuring the average particle size include laser diffraction method, etc., but are not limited thereto. In addition, examples of the shape of the filler include spherical, globular, flaky, fibrous, irregular shapes, etc., but are not limited thereto. The surface of the filler can be subjected to hydrophilic treatment or hydrophobic treatment based on a silane coupling agent, etc. In addition, for the core of the particles serving as the filler, a core / shell powder having a shell formed thereon can be used. In particular, the viscous material m exhibiting thixotropy refers to a viscous material having a structure viscosity ratio greater than 1.0.

[0029] The scraping device 100 of the present embodiment is used when separating the viscous material m ejected from the coating system from the nozzle L. The coating system can be widely used in devices including a pressure transfer pump, a dispenser, etc. The nozzle L is formed such that the outer wall surface S gradually tapers as it approaches the front end with respect to the vertical direction. The nozzle L is formed such that Figure 3 the cross-section shown extends in the depth direction X by a fixed length. Hereinafter, the scraping device will be described using a coordinate system. X is the depth direction of the scraping device, and is set as the depth direction X. Y is the lateral direction of the scraping device, and is set as the lateral direction Y. Z is the vertical direction of the scraping device, and is set as the vertical direction Z.

[0030] Scraping device

[0031] The scraping device 100 is configured to scrape the viscous material m ejected from the nozzle L of the coating system from the nozzle L. The scraping device 100 includes a rail 10, a drive unit 20, a moving unit 30, and a scraping unit 40. Hereinafter, each structure will be described in detail.

[0032] The rail 10 is arranged to extend along the lateral direction Y orthogonal to the depth direction X in which the nozzle L extends. Mechanical elements including the moving unit 30 and the scraping unit 40 are movably arranged on the rail 10.

[0033] The drive unit 20 is configured as a drive source for moving the mechanical elements including the moving unit 30 and the scraping unit 40 along the rail 10 to approach or separate in the lateral direction Y. The drive unit 20 is configured to include a motor or an actuator.

[0034] The moving unit 30 is configured to move horizontally in the lateral direction Y by the drive unit 20. The moving unit 30 includes an engaging portion 31 that engages with the rail 10, a table portion 32 provided on the engaging portion 31, an upper table portion 33 disposed substantially at the center of the table portion 32, a top plate 34 provided on the upper portion of the upper table portion 33, and a mounting portion 35 for mounting the scraping unit 40. The mounting portion 35 mounts the scraping unit 40 at the upper part in a detachable manner. In the present embodiment, the mounting portion 35 is configured to provide a groove for mounting the scraping unit 40, but as long as the scraping unit 40 can be firmly fixed at a specified position, the specific form of the mounting portion 35 may not have a groove and may have bolts or the like.

[0035] The scraping units 40 are configured in pairs so as to scrape off the viscous material m adhering to the nozzle L of the coating system 1. In the present embodiment, the scraping units 40 are made of a thermoplastic resin such as POM (polyoxymethylene resin or polyacetal resin). The scraping units 40 are formed to extend along Figure 4 the depth direction X. As shown in Figure 2 , in a plan view, the scraping units 40 are configured to be able to rotate along the rotation axis P together with the mounting portion 35 so as to adjust the contact state with respect to the nozzle L in the depth direction X.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4 , the scraping unit 40 is configured to include a horizontal surface 41, a vertical surface 42, a first inclined portion 43, and a second inclined portion 44. The horizontal surface 41 is a portion that extends substantially in the horizontal direction (lateral direction Y), and a corner portion E is formed at the front end portion as a portion that contacts the nozzle L. If the area of the horizontal surface 41 is large, the liquid accumulates during scraping and reattaches to the side of the nozzle, so the area is configured to be minimized as much as possible.

[0037] The vertical surface 42 is a portion that extends substantially in the vertical direction Z and forms, together with the horizontal surface 41, a corner E (a contact portion for scraping the viscous material adhering to the outer wall surface) as a portion that contacts the nozzle L at the front end. The vertical surface 42 is configured to abut against each other when the scraping portions 40 approach each other. If the vertical surface 42 is large, the scraped liquid may flow out up and down, which may cause the liquid to reattach to the nozzle L. Therefore, the area is minimized as much as possible.

[0038] The first inclined portion 43 is connected to the horizontal surface 41 and is inclined so as to move outward relative to the nozzle L as it faces downward in a top view. The first inclined portion 43 is a surface on which the liquid adhering to the horizontal surface 41 flows during scraping. The closer it is to being vertical, the faster the flow velocity. During continuous cleaning, the liquid does not accumulate, and it is difficult for reattachment to the nozzle to occur. Therefore, the first inclined portion 43 is preferably close to being vertical.

[0039] The second inclined portion 44 is a surface connected to the vertical surface 42 and is inclined so as to move outward relative to the nozzle L as it faces downward in a top view. The second inclined portion 44 is the main place where the cleaned liquid flows. The closer it is to being horizontal, the larger the space can be ensured when it is fully closed, and more liquid can be temporarily stored. Therefore, it is advantageous during continuous operation. Therefore, it is preferred that the second inclined portion 44 be as close to horizontal as possible.

[0040] The control unit includes a CPU and the like, and is electrically connected to the drive unit 20 and the like to control the operations of the drive unit 20 and the like. The nozzle L can be set to move to a specified location, and a signal notifying the position of the nozzle L can be output from the nozzle L each time it moves. The control unit can control the drive unit 20 so that the pair of scraping portions 40 move based on the position-related signal received from the nozzle L. When the nozzle L is disposed between the pair of scraping portions 40, the pair of scraping portions 40 move closer to each other through the control unit, and the nozzle L moves away from between the pair of scraping portions 40, whereby the pair of scraping portions 40 approach until they abut.

[0041] In addition, as Figure 2 shown, the moving unit 30 and the scraping unit 40 are configured to be rotatable about the rotation axis P. By being configured in this way, the scraping unit 40 can be adjusted so that when the scraping unit 40 is pressed against the nozzle L, the scraping unit 40 is pressed against the nozzle L with a uniform pressure.

[0042] Next, a cleaning method for the nozzle L of the scraping device 100 using the present embodiment will be described. Here, the nozzle L of the coating system 1 is configured to be able to move into and out of the space between the location where the viscous material m is applied and the scraping portion 40. In other words, the nozzle L is configured to be able to move so as to be temporarily disposed between the pair of scraping portions 40.

[0043] First, the nozzle L ejects the viscous material m at a location (not shown) where the viscous material m is ejected, and then approaches between a pair of scraping portions 40. When a signal related to its own position is received from the nozzle L, the control unit controls the drive unit 20, and the drive unit 20 moves the moving unit 30, whereby the scraping portions 40 approach each other.

[0044] Thereby, since the nozzle L is located between the pair of scraping portions 40, the scraping portions 40 approach in a manner of sandwiching the front end of the nozzle L as Figure 5 shown. Here, when the nozzle L moves in a manner of retreating from between the scraping portions 40, the departure of the nozzle L and the approach of the scraping portions 40 are combined, and the scraping portions 40 move along the inclination of the front end portion of the nozzle L toward the front end portion. As a result, the scraping portions 40 abut against each other, and the abutting portion is located near the front end portion of the nozzle L as Figure 6 shown. As Figure 7 shown, the scraping portions 40 hold the viscous material m in a manner of separating the viscous material m ejected from the nozzle L from the nozzle L. Thereby, the viscous material m of the nozzle L is scraped off. Before the pair of scraping portions 40 abut against each other and the scraping of the viscous material m is completed, the nozzle L does not move to a prescribed position where the application of the viscous material m starts.

[0045] As described above, the scraping device 100 of the present embodiment is used in a coating system, the coating system has a nozzle L formed such that the outer wall surface S gradually tapers toward the front end, and the scraping device 100 includes a scraping portion 40 and a drive unit 20. The scraping portion 40 has a corner portion E for scraping the viscous material m adhering to the outer wall surface S, and is formed in a pair. The drive unit 20 is configured to move the pair of scraping portions 40 closer or farther apart. The nozzle L is configured to be movable in a manner of being temporarily disposed between the pair of scraping portions 40. When the nozzle L is disposed between the pair of scraping portions 40, the pair of scraping portions 40 move closer to each other, and the nozzle L moves in a manner of retreating from between the pair of scraping portions 40, whereby the pair of scraping portions 40 approach until the corner portions E abut against each other. By being configured in this way, it is possible to scrape off the viscous material m adhering to the front end portion of the nozzle L in cooperation with the operation of the nozzle L.

[0046] In addition, the scraping portion 40 forms a contact portion by a corner portion E where a horizontal plane 41 extending in the horizontal direction (lateral direction Y) and a vertical plane 42 extending in the vertical direction Z intersect. By being configured in this way, when the pair of scraping portions 40 approach and abut against each other substantially in the horizontal direction, it is possible to separate and scrape off the viscous material m from the nozzle L.

[0047] In addition, the scraping portion 40 includes a first inclined portion 43 and a second inclined portion 44. The first inclined portion 43 is connected to the horizontal plane 41 and is inclined so as to advance outward with respect to the nozzle L as it faces downward in a plan view. The second inclined portion 44 is connected to the vertical plane 42 and is inclined so as to advance outward with respect to the nozzle L as it faces downward in a plan view. With such a configuration, the viscous material m can flow on the first inclined portion 43 and the second inclined portion 44 to prevent or suppress the reattachment of the viscous material m to the nozzle L.

[0048] In addition, a pair of scraping portions 40 are formed to extend along the depth direction X intersecting the vertical direction Z. The pair of scraping portions 40 are attached to the attachment portion 35, and the attachment portion 35 is moved together with the pair of scraping portions 40 by the drive portion 20. The attachment portion 35 is configured to be rotatable so as to adjust the orientation of the scraping portion 40. With such a configuration, even if it is assumed that the pair of scraping portions 40 unevenly contact in the thickness direction (depth direction X), by adjusting the contact state with the nozzle L around the rotation axis P, the viscous material m can be smoothly scraped off from the nozzle L.

[0049] (Second Embodiment)

[0050] Figure 8 FIG. is a cross-sectional view showing the scraping portion 40a of the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, it was described that the scraping portion 40 is made of POM or the like and includes a horizontal plane 41, a vertical plane 42, a first inclined portion 43, and a second inclined portion 44. However, the scraping portion may be configured as follows. It should be noted that the structures of the scraping device other than the scraping portion in the present embodiment are the same as those of the scraping device 100 in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[0051] As Figure 8 shown, the scraping portion 40a includes a deformable member 41a, clamping portions 42a, 43a, and a fixing portion 44a. The deformable member 41a is made of a thermoplastic resin such as POM as in the first embodiment and is configured to be elastically deformable, and forms a contact portion that contacts the nozzle L. In a state where the deformable member 41a is elastically deformed (in Figure 8 such a manner that it becomes convex toward the left side), by bringing the front end portion (corner portion Ea) of the deformable member 41a into contact with the nozzle L, the viscous material m ejected from the nozzle L can be scraped off.

[0052] The clamping portions 42a, 43a are configured to clamp the deformable member 41a. The clamping portion 42a is disposed on the upper side as one side of the deformable member 41a in Figure 8 and the clamping portion 43a can be disposed on the lower side, which is the other side of the deformable member 41a. The clamping portions 42a, 43a are as shown in Figure 8It is configured as shown, to clamp the deformation member 41a in such a way that the deformation member 41a is located at a position inclined approximately 45°. The fixing part 44a includes bolts or the like, and adjusts the fastening force of the clamping parts 42a and 43a on the deformation member 41a by being installed on the clamping parts 42a and 43a. A plurality of fixing parts 44a can be provided at a prescribed interval in the thickness direction (depth direction X) of the deformation member 41a.

[0053] The scraping device configured in this way is the same as the first embodiment. When the sensor detects that the nozzle L is disposed between the pair of scraping parts 40a, the drive part 20 is controlled to make the scraping parts 40a approach each other, so that the deformation member 41a abuts against the nozzle L. The nozzle L retreats from between the scraping parts 40a, and the deformation member 41a moves until the two abut. Thus, the viscous material m attached to the front end of the nozzle L is scraped off by the scraping parts 40a.

[0054] As described above, the scraping part 40a includes: a deformation member 41a configured to be elastically deformable and forming a contact part that contacts the nozzle L; and clamping parts 42a and 43a that are paired to clamp the deformation member 41a. By being configured in this way, the deformation member 41a can move along the front end surface of the nozzle L to scrape off the viscous material m ejected from the nozzle L.

[0055] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made in the technical solution.

[0056] The present invention includes the following modes and forms.

[0057] 1. A scraping device used in a coating system, the coating system having a nozzle formed such that an outer wall surface gradually tapers toward the front end,

[0058] The scraping device includes:

[0059] A pair of scraping parts having a contact part for scraping the viscous material attached to the outer wall surface; and

[0060] A drive part that makes the pair of scraping parts approach or separate,

[0061] The nozzle can move in such a way as to be temporarily disposed between the pair of scraping parts,

[0062] When the nozzle is disposed between the pair of scraping parts, the pair of scraping parts move closer to each other, and the nozzle moves in such a way as to retreat from between the pair of scraping parts, whereby the pair of scraping parts approach until the contact parts abut.

[0063] 2. The scraping device according to 1 above, wherein

[0064] The scraping part forms the contact part that contacts the nozzle through the corner where a horizontal plane extending in the horizontal direction and a vertical plane extending in the vertical direction intersect.

[0065] 3. The scraping device according to the above 1 or 2, wherein

[0066] The scraping part includes:

[0067] A first inclined part that is connected to the horizontal plane and is inclined so as to advance outward with respect to the nozzle as it faces downward in a top view; and

[0068] A second inclined part that is connected to the vertical plane and is inclined so as to advance outward with respect to the nozzle as it faces downward in a top view.

[0069] 4. The scraping device according to any one of the above 1 to 3, wherein

[0070] The scraping part includes:

[0071] A deformable member that is configured to be elastically deformable and forms the contact part that contacts the nozzle; and

[0072] A clamping part that clamps the deformable member in pairs.

[0073] 5. The scraping device according to any one of the above 1 to 4, wherein

[0074] A pair of the scraping parts are formed to extend along the thickness direction intersecting the vertical direction,

[0075] A pair of the scraping parts are installed on an installation part, and the installation part moves together with the pair of the scraping parts through the driving part,

[0076] The installation part can rotate so as to adjust the orientation of the scraping part.

[0077] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-210866 filed on December 14, 2023, and its disclosure is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. A scraping device, wherein: The scraping device is used in a coating system having a nozzle whose outer wall surface is gradually tapered toward the front end. The scraping device comprises: a pair of scraping portions having contact portions for scraping off the sticky material attached to the outer wall surface; and a driving unit that moves the pair of scraping units closer to or away from each other, The nozzle is movable so as to be temporarily arranged between the pair of scraping parts. The pair of scraping parts move toward each other when the nozzle is disposed between the pair of scraping parts, and the nozzle moves away from between the pair of scraping parts, whereby the pair of scraping parts approach each other until the contact portion abuts against each other.

2. The scraping device according to claim 1, wherein: The scraping portion forms the contact portion with the nozzle at a corner where a horizontal surface extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical surface extending in a vertical direction intersect.

3. The scraping device according to claim 2, wherein: The scraping part comprises: a first inclined portion connected to the horizontal plane and inclined so as to advance outward relative to the nozzle as it goes downward in a plan view; and The second inclined portion is connected to the vertical surface and is inclined so as to advance outward relative to the nozzle as it goes downward in a plan view.

4. The scraping device according to claim 1, wherein: The scraping part comprises: a deformable member configured to be elastically deformable and to form the contact portion with the nozzle; and The clamping parts clamp the deformation member in pairs.

5. The scraping device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The pair of scraping parts are formed to extend along a thickness direction intersecting the vertical direction, The pair of scraping parts are mounted on a mounting part, and the mounting part moves together with the pair of scraping parts through the driving part. The mounting portion is rotatable so as to adjust the orientation of the scraping portion.

Images