Dryer apparatus

Abstract

To provide a dryer apparatus which can suppress occurence of wrinkle on a base member.SOLUTION: The present invention is directed to a dryer apparatus for drying a coated film formed on a conveyed substrate. The dryer apparatus has a heating nozzle for blowing hot blast to a lower surface of the substrate to make the substrate floating and for heating the coating film. The heating nozzle has a blowout part for blowing out the hot blast, and a pressure adjustment part for adjusting pressure applied to the lower surface of the substrate by the hot blast blown out from the blowout part. The pressure adjustment part is arranged such that pressure should be adjusted so as to make the pressure applied to the lower surface of the substrate larger as it is directed more closely to a center part of the substrate in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the substrate in an in-plane direction of the substrate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying device for drying a coating film formed on a substrate. [Background technology]

[0002] In lithium-ion batteries, a slurry of electrode material is applied to a sheet-like substrate such as aluminum foil or copper foil that is transported roll-to-roll to form a coating, and the coating is then dried to form the positive and negative electrodes.

[0003] A roll-to-roll type transport device has an unwinding roll that unwinds the substrate, a take-up roll that winds up the substrate, and multiple transport rolls through which the substrate unwound from the unwinding roll passes before being wound up on the take-up roll. The transport device transports the substrate while applying a predetermined tension to the substrate using each roll (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0004] Furthermore, a drying device for drying the coating film is provided on the transport path of the substrate carried by the transport device. This drying device has a housing through which the substrate passes and a plurality of heating nozzles arranged in a row along the transport path of the substrate within the housing. The drying device blows hot air from each heating nozzle onto the underside of the substrate during transport, thereby increasing the temperature within the housing and heating the coating film formed on the substrate, and simultaneously lifting the substrate by the wind pressure of the hot air (for example, Patent Document 2 listed below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-097917 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-173803 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the drying device described above sometimes caused wrinkles in the substrate. Specifically, due to the tension applied to the substrate by the conveying device or thermal shrinkage due to temperature changes in the substrate during drying of the coating film, the substrate may be compressed toward the center in the in-plane direction of the substrate in the width direction perpendicular to the substrate conveying direction, resulting in wrinkles in the substrate. Here, in the drying device described above, the substrate is levitated by the air pressure of hot air blown from the heating nozzle within the housing, making the substrate susceptible to the effects of the tension applied by the conveying device and thermal shrinkage due to temperature changes in the substrate during drying of the coating film, making the substrate more susceptible to wrinkles. As such, wrinkles in the substrate could cause problems such as poor winding of the substrate.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a drying device that can suppress the occurrence of wrinkles on a substrate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The drying device of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problem is a drying device that dries a coating film formed on a substrate being transported, and is equipped with a heating nozzle that blows hot air against the underside of the substrate to lift the substrate and heat the coating film, and the heating nozzle has a blowing section that blows out the hot air, and a pressure adjustment section that adjusts the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate by the hot air blown out from the blowing section, and is characterized in that the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate increases toward the center of the substrate in the width direction in the in-plane direction of the substrate, perpendicular to the transport direction of the substrate.

[0009] According to the drying device, the pressure adjustment unit adjusts the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate by the hot air blown out from the blowing unit so that it increases toward the center of the substrate in the width direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction), which is perpendicular to the substrate conveying direction in the in-plane direction of the substrate. This allows the substrate to be conveyed in an upwardly stretched state. This applies a width-expanding force to the substrate in the width direction, allowing the substrate to be stretched without wrinkling. Therefore, it is possible to prevent wrinkling of the substrate.

[0010] The blowing section may be configured to blow out the hot air having a velocity component in a direction toward the downstream side of the transport path of the base material.

[0011] With this configuration, the hot air blown out from the blowing unit can flow along the transport path of the substrate, so the distance the substrate is transported while being stretched upward can be longer than when the hot air is blown from the blowing unit perpendicularly to the underside of the substrate, which makes it easier to prevent wrinkles from forming on the substrate.

[0012] The pressure adjustment unit may also include the blowing section, which has a hot air outlet that opens toward the downstream side of the conveying path, and a guide surface that faces the underside of the substrate downstream of the conveying path from the outlet, and the guide surface may be configured to have an arch shape in which the distance between the guide surface and the substrate becomes smaller as it moves from each of the two ends in the width direction toward the center.

[0013] With this configuration, the hot air blown out from the air outlet flows downstream of the transport path of the substrate along the arch-shaped guide surface, the distance between the guide surface and the substrate decreasing from both ends toward the center in the width direction, so that the air pressure acting on the substrate changes depending on the distance between the guide section and the substrate. This allows the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate by the hot air blown out from the air outlet to increase toward the center of the substrate in the width direction, so that the substrate can be transported in an upwardly stretched state.

[0014] In addition, the configuration may include a guide section that is formed to extend from the blowing section toward the downstream side of the transport path and that guides the hot air blown out from the blowing section so that it flows toward the downstream side of the transport path.

[0015] According to this configuration, the guide section can increase the distance along the transport path of the substrate that the hot air blown out from the blowing section flows, so that the distance the substrate is transported while being stretched upward can be increased, which makes it easier to prevent wrinkles from forming on the substrate.

[0016] The pressure adjustment portion may include the guide portion, and the guide portion may have an arch shape in which the distance between the guide portion and the base material becomes smaller from each of the end portions in the width direction toward the center portion.

[0017] With this configuration, the hot air blown out from the blowing section flows downstream of the transport path of the substrate along the arch-shaped guide section, with the distance between the guide section and the substrate decreasing from both ends toward the center in the width direction, so that the air pressure on the substrate changes depending on the distance between the guide section and the substrate. This allows the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate by the hot air blown out from the blowing section to increase toward the center of the substrate in the width direction, so that the substrate can be transported in a state where it is stretched upward.

[0018] The pressure adjusting portion may include the guide portion, and the guide portion may have through holes formed near both ends of the guide portion in the width direction.

[0019] According to this configuration, the through holes formed near both ends of the guide part in the width direction allow hot air existing between the guide part and the substrate to be released, thereby reducing the pressure between the substrate and the vicinity of each of the both ends of the guide part in the width direction. This allows the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate to increase toward the center of the substrate in the width direction, so that the substrate can be transported in a state where it is stretched upward.

[0020] The pressure adjustment unit may also include an air volume adjustment unit that adjusts the volume of the hot air blown out from the blowing unit across the width direction, and the air volume adjustment unit may be configured to adjust the volume of the hot air blown out from the blowing unit so that the volume of the hot air increases from the end portion of the substrate toward the center portion in the width direction.

[0021] According to this configuration, the air volume adjustment unit adjusts the volume of the hot air blown out from the blowing unit so that it increases from the ends of the substrate toward the center in the width direction, so that the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate increases toward the center in the width direction of the substrate. This allows the substrate to be transported in an upwardly stretched state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the drying device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring on the substrate. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a coating apparatus equipped with a drying device of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a pressure adjusting section according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a pressure adjusting section according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a variation of a pressure adjusting section in one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] First Embodiment The drying device of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the three axes of a Cartesian coordinate system are designated as X, Y, and Z, the horizontal direction is referred to as the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the XY plane (i.e., the vertical direction) is referred to as the Z-axis direction.

[0025] Fig. 1 is a diagram that schematically shows a coating apparatus 100 that includes a drying device 4 of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drying device 4 in one embodiment of the present invention, showing an enlarged portion. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a pressure adjustment unit 51 in this embodiment, where (a) shows a cross-section along arrow A-A in Fig. 2 in a state before the substrate 1 is displaced, and (b) shows a cross-section along arrow A-A in Fig. 2 in a state in which the substrate 1 is stretched upward.

[0026] 1, the coating apparatus 100 includes a conveying device 2 that continuously conveys a substrate 1, a coating mechanism 3 that applies a coating liquid onto the substrate 1 to form a coating film 11 (see FIG. 3(a)), and a drying device 4 that heats and dries the coating film 11 formed on the substrate 1. The coating mechanism 3 applies the coating liquid, which is an electrode material, onto the surface of the substrate 1 being conveyed by the conveying device 2 to form the coating film 11, and the drying device 4 heats and dries the formed coating film 11, thereby forming a positive electrode or a negative electrode of a lithium-ion battery.

[0027] The substrate 1 is a metal foil that will become a battery electrode plate for a lithium-ion battery, and aluminum foil or the like is used to form the positive electrode, and copper foil or the like is used to form the negative electrode. The substrate 1 is a strip-shaped sheet that is long in one direction, and is transported by a transport device 2 so that it passes through each part that constitutes the coating device 100.

[0028] The coating liquid is, for example, a slurry obtained by mixing an active material, a binder, and a conductive additive in a solvent, and is used as a material for battery plates (so-called electrode material) for lithium-ion batteries. This coating liquid is applied to the surface of the substrate 1 by a coating mechanism 3, thereby forming a coating film 11. In this embodiment, the coating film 11 is formed in a striped pattern. Forming the coating film 11 in a striped pattern means forming the coating film 11 in a width direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction) perpendicular to the transport direction of the substrate 1 in the in-plane direction of the substrate 1, so that the substrate 1 has a plurality of coated portions 12 on which the coating film 11 is formed and uncoated portions 13 between the plurality of coated portions where the coating film 11 is not formed, as shown in FIG. 3(a).

[0029] The conveying device 2 is for continuously conveying the substrate 1 in its longitudinal direction. As shown in Fig. 1, the conveying device 2 has an unwinding roll 21, a winding roll 22, a plurality of conveying rolls 23, and an application roll 24. Each roll of the conveying device 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape and rotates around the central axis of the cylinder.

[0030] The unwinding roll 21 is for unwinding the substrate 1 downstream, and its rotation is controlled by a control unit (not shown), which unwinds the substrate 1 at a predetermined speed. The control unit is, for example, configured by a general-purpose computer device, and will be treated similarly in the following description. The winding roll 22 is for winding the substrate 1, and its rotation is controlled by the control unit, similar to the unwinding roll 21, which winds the substrate 1 while applying a predetermined tension to the substrate 1. Note that the tension referred to here refers to the tension in the transport direction of the substrate 1.

[0031] The transport roll 23 is provided so that the substrate 1 unwound from the unwind roll 21 passes through it before being wound up by the winding roll 22. A plurality of transport rolls 23 are provided and arranged so that the substrate 1 passes through each component of the coating device 100. Some or all of the plurality of transport rolls 23 are driven and controlled to rotate by a control unit, similar to the unwind roll 21 and winding roll 22, and transport the substrate 1 while applying a predetermined tension to the substrate 1.

[0032] The coating roll 24 is used to guide the substrate 1 to a position where the coating liquid is applied by the coating mechanism 3. The coating roll 24 is disposed opposite the die 31 that ejects the coating liquid, and supports the substrate 1 from the back side of the substrate 1 at a predetermined embrace angle. This allows the substrate 1 to be transported while maintaining a constant distance from the die 31.

[0033] With this configuration, the conveying device 2 continuously conveys the substrate 1 at a predetermined speed while applying a predetermined tension to the substrate 1.

[0034] The coating mechanism 3 is for applying a coating liquid to the surface of the substrate 1 to form a striped coating film 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the coating mechanism 3 has a die 31 that discharges the coating liquid, a tank 32 that stores the coating liquid, a supply path 33 that connects the die 31 and the tank 32, and a pump (not shown) that delivers the coating liquid. That is, the coating liquid stored in the tank 32 is supplied to the die 31 through the supply path 33 by the pump and is discharged from the die 31.

[0035] The die 31 is formed to be long in one direction and is provided so as to extend in the width direction of the substrate 1. The coating roll 24 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the die 31 so that the rotation axis direction of the coating roll 24 and the longitudinal direction of the die 31 are parallel. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the die 31 is referred to as the width direction.

[0036] 1, the die 31 is composed of a manifold 34 that is formed long in the width direction and is a space that stores the coating liquid, a slit 35 that is wide in the width direction and connected to the manifold 34, and a discharge port 36 that opens in the width direction with the same length as the slit 35 and discharges the coating liquid. A supply path 33 is connected to the manifold 31, and the coating liquid supplied to the manifold 34 through the supply path 33 is discharged from the discharge port 36 via the slit 35 and coated onto the surface of the substrate 1.

[0037] Furthermore, the discharge port 36 faces the coating roll 24 with the substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween. That is, the discharge port 36 faces the substrate 1 on the surface side of the substrate 1. This allows the coating liquid to be applied to the surface of the substrate 1 while maintaining a constant distance between the discharge port 36 and the substrate 1, and therefore allows the formation of a coating film 11 with a uniform thickness on the surface of the substrate 1.

[0038] The die 31 is provided with a shim (not shown) for forming the coating film 11 on the substrate 1 in a striped pattern. The shim has, for example, a roughly comb-like shape and is arranged to divide the slit 35 in the width direction. When the coating liquid is applied with the slit 35 divided in the width direction by this shim, the coating liquid is ejected from the portion where there is no shim plate and is not ejected from the portion where there is a shim plate. This allows the coating film 11 to be formed in a striped pattern.

[0039] The coating mechanism 3 having this configuration can form the coating film 11 in a striped pattern on the surface of the substrate 1.

[0040] The drying device 4 heats and dries the coating film 11 formed on the surface of the substrate 1 by the coating mechanism 3, and is provided downstream of the coating mechanism 3 on the transport path of the substrate 1, as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the drying device 4 has a housing 41 having a space therein through which the substrate 1 passes, and a heating nozzle 42 that blows hot air onto the underside of the substrate 1.

[0041] The housing 41 is a box-shaped body that is elongated in the conveying direction of the substrate 1, and has a space inside this box through which the substrate 1 passes, and an entrance and an exit for the substrate 1 to enter and exit this space. In other words, the substrate 1 conveyed by the conveying device 2 passes through the inside of the housing 41.

[0042] The heating nozzles 42 blow hot air onto the underside of the substrate 1 to lift the substrate 1 and heat the coating film 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating nozzles 42 are arranged side by side on the underside of the substrate 1 within the housing 41 along the transport path of the substrate 1. That is, by blowing hot air onto the underside of the substrate 1 using the multiple heating nozzles 42, the coating film 11 formed on the substrate 1 within the housing 41 is exposed to a high-temperature environment for a certain period of time and heated, and the pressure of the hot air lifts the substrate 1. This dries the coating film 11 formed on the surface of the substrate 1.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the heating nozzle 42 has a blowing section 43 that blows out hot air, and a pressure adjusting section 51 that adjusts the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate 1 by the hot air blown out from the blowing section 43.

[0044] The blowing section 43 is for blowing out hot air and is provided above the heating nozzle 42. In this embodiment, the blowing section 43 is configured to blow out hot air having a velocity component in a direction toward the downstream side of the transport path of the substrate 1. Specifically, the blowing section 43 is configured with a hot air outlet 43a that is formed long in the width direction and opens toward the downstream side of the transport path of the substrate 1, and guide surfaces 43b and 43c that are formed to extend from the outlet 43a toward the downstream side of the transport path of the substrate 1.

[0045] Guide surface 43b has an inclined surface that slopes toward the underside of substrate 1 as it moves from air outlet 43a toward the downstream side of the transport path of substrate 1, and guide surface 43c faces the underside of substrate 1. Hot air blown out from air outlet 43a flows along guide surfaces 43b and 44c, as indicated by arrow a in FIG. 2 . That is, air outlet 43a blows out hot air having a velocity component toward the downstream side of the transport path of substrate 1 and a velocity component toward the underside of substrate 1. This allows the hot air to be blown over a longer distance toward the underside of substrate 1 than when hot air is blown perpendicular to the underside of substrate 1. In this embodiment, the volume of hot air blown out from air outlet 43a is uniform across the width.

[0046] Also provided is a guide section 44 that guides the hot air blown out from the blowing section 43 so that it flows toward the downstream side of the transport path of the substrate 1. The guide section 44 is a plate formed to extend from the blowing section 43 toward the downstream side of the transport path of the substrate 1, and is provided so that the downstream end of the guide section 44 on the transport path of the substrate 1 is located downstream of the downstream end of the blowing section 43 on the transport path of the substrate 1. Because the hot air blown out from the blowing section 43 flows downstream of the transport path of the substrate 1 along this guide section 44, the distance over which the hot air is blown onto the underside of the substrate 1 can be increased.

[0047] Pressure adjustment unit 51 adjusts the pressure applied to the underside of substrate 1 by the hot air blown out from blower unit 43, and adjusts the pressure so that the pressure applied to the underside of substrate 1 increases in the width direction toward the center of substrate 1. This allows a width-expanding force to act on substrate 1 in the width direction, making it possible to prevent wrinkles from forming in substrate 1.

[0048] Specifically, the substrate 1 may be compressed toward the center in the width direction due to the tension applied to the substrate 1 by the conveying device 2 or thermal contraction caused by temperature changes of the substrate when the coating is dried, which may cause wrinkles in the substrate 1. Here, in the drying device 4, the substrate 1 is lifted by the air pressure of hot air blown from the heating nozzle 42 inside the housing 41. Therefore, the substrate 1 is susceptible to the effects of the tension applied by the conveying device and thermal contraction caused by temperature changes of the substrate when the coating is dried, which may cause wrinkles in the substrate 1. Furthermore, when the coating film 11 is formed in a striped pattern on the substrate 1 as in this embodiment, wrinkles occur in the uncoated portions 13 where the coating film 11 is not formed. To prevent wrinkles from occurring in the substrate 1, it is necessary to stretch the substrate 1 in the width direction.

[0049] In contrast, in this embodiment, as indicated by the length of arrow P in FIG. 3(a), the pressure adjustment unit 51 adjusts the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate 1 by the hot air blown out from the blowing unit 43 so that it increases toward the center of the substrate 1 in the width direction, so that the substrate 1 can be transported in a state where it is stretched upward (see FIG. 3(b)). This applies a width-expanding force to the substrate 1 in the width direction, and the substrate 1 can be stretched so that wrinkles do not occur in the substrate 1. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate 1 can be suppressed.

[0050] Here, in this embodiment, the guide portion 44 serves as the pressure adjustment portion 51. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the guide portion 44 has an arch shape in which the distance between the guide portion 44 and the substrate 1 decreases from both ends in the width direction toward the center. The hot air blown out from the blowing portion 43 flows downstream of the transport path of the substrate 1 along the arch-shaped guide portion 44. Therefore, even if the volume of the hot air blown out from the blowing portion 43 is uniform across the width direction, the air pressure acting on the substrate 1 changes depending on the distance between the guide portion 44 and the substrate 1, as indicated by the length of arrow P in FIG. 3(a). This allows the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate 1 from the blowing portion 43 to increase from the ends of the substrate 1 toward the center in the width direction.

[0051] As a result, as shown in Fig. 3(b), the substrate 1 can be transported in an upwardly stretched state, and a width-expanding force is applied to the substrate 1 in the width direction, allowing the substrate 1 to be stretched without wrinkling. This makes it possible to prevent wrinkling of the substrate 1. Note that, as shown in Fig. 3(b), when the curvature of the substrate 1 in an upwardly stretched state becomes the same as the curvature of the guide portion 44, the pressure applied to the substrate 1 becomes approximately uniform across the width direction.

[0052] As described above, according to the drying device 4 of the above embodiment, the pressure adjusting unit 51 adjusts the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate 1 by the hot air blown out from the blowing unit 43 so that it increases toward the center of the substrate 1 in the width direction, so that the substrate 1 can be transported in an upwardly stretched state. This applies a width-expanding force to the substrate 1 in the width direction, and the substrate 1 can be stretched so that wrinkles do not occur in the substrate 1. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate 1 can be suppressed.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the drying device 4 of the above embodiment, the blower 43 blows out hot air having a velocity component in a direction toward the downstream side of the transport path of the substrate 1, so that the distance over which the substrate 1 is transported can be made longer while the substrate 1 is stretched upward, compared to when the blower 43 blows hot air perpendicularly to the underside of the substrate 1. This makes it easier to prevent wrinkles from forming on the substrate 1.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the drying device 4 of the above embodiment, the guide unit 44 can increase the distance along which the hot air blown out from the blowing unit 43 flows along the transport path of the substrate 1, so that the distance over which the substrate 1 is transported in an upwardly stretched state can be increased. This makes it easier to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the substrate 1.

[0055] Second Embodiment Next, a drying device 4 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The drying device 4 according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the guide portion 44 does not have an arch shape, and through holes 45 are formed near both ends of the guide portion 44 in the width direction. In the following description, a detailed description of the same points as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the differences.

[0056] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the pressure adjusting portion 51 in this embodiment, showing a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG.

[0057] In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the guide portion 44 serves as the pressure adjusting portion 51. As shown in Fig. 4, the guide portion 44 in this embodiment has a through hole 45 formed therein, which penetrates from the surface facing the substrate 1 to the rear surface thereof, and the hot air existing between the guide portion 44 and the substrate 1 is released from the through hole 45.

[0058] Here, through-holes 45 are formed near both ends of guide portion 44 in the width direction, and hot air is released from these through-holes 45 as shown by arrow a in FIG. 4 . This reduces the pressure between substrate 1 and the vicinity of both ends of guide portion 44 in the width direction. Therefore, even if the volume of hot air blown out from blowing portion 43 is uniform across the width, the pressure applied to the underside of substrate 1 can be increased toward the center of substrate 1 in the width direction, as shown by the length of arrow P in FIG. 4 . This allows substrate 1 to be transported in an upwardly stretched state, and a width-expanding force is applied to substrate 1 to stretch substrate 1 without wrinkling. This prevents wrinkling of substrate 1.

[0059] Third Embodiment Next, a drying device 4 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The drying device 4 according to this embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that the pressure adjustment unit 51 does not include a guide unit 44. In the following description, specific explanations of the same points as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted, and the description will focus on the differences.

[0060] The pressure adjusting unit 51 in this embodiment includes an air volume adjusting unit (not shown) that adjusts the volume of hot air across the width of the hot air blown out from the blowing unit 43. This air volume adjusting unit adjusts the volume of hot air blown out from the blowing unit 43 so that the volume increases from the end portion of the substrate 1 toward the center portion in the width direction.

[0061] Specifically, in this embodiment, a plurality of air outlets 43a are arranged in the width direction, and hot air is blown out from each of the air outlets 43a. The fan that blows the hot air to supply the hot air to each of the air outlets 43a functions as an air volume adjustment unit. By adjusting the air volume of the hot air supplied to each of the air outlets 43a using this air volume adjustment unit, the air volume of the hot air blown out from the air outlet unit 43 increases from the ends of the substrate 1 toward the center in the width direction. This allows the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate 1 to increase toward the center in the width direction, so that the substrate 1 can be transported in an upwardly stretched state. A width-expanding force is applied to the substrate 1 in the width direction, and the substrate 1 can be stretched without wrinkling. This prevents the substrate 1 from wrinkling.

[0062] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the configurations and combinations thereof in each embodiment are merely examples, and additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications of the configurations are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, the guide portion 44 has an arched shape, but the guide surface 43c may also have an arched shape. In this case, even if the guide portion 44 does not have an arched shape, the pressure applied from the blowing portion 43 to the underside of the base material 1 can be increased from the end portion toward the center portion of the base material 1 in the width direction. Note that both the guide portion 44 and the guide surface 43c may have an arched shape.

[0063] In the second embodiment, a plurality of through holes 45 may be formed in the guide portion 44 so as to be aligned along the transport path of the substrate 1.

[0064] 5, the guide portion 44 may be formed so that both ends of the guide portion 44 in the width direction are positioned closer to the center of the substrate 1 in the width direction than both ends of the substrate 1 in the width direction. In this case, the hot air blown out from the air outlet 43a toward both ends of the substrate 1 in the width direction is released downward after passing through the guide surface 43c, thereby reducing the pressure applied near both ends of the substrate 1 in the width direction. As a result, even if the volume of hot air blown out from the air outlet 43 is uniform across the width direction, the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate 1 can be increased toward the center of the substrate 1 in the width direction, as shown by the length of the arrow P in FIG. 5.

[0065] In the third embodiment, hot air may be blown from the blowing section 43 perpendicularly to the lower surface of the substrate 1. In this case, the guide section 44 does not need to be provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 100 Coating device 1 Base material 11 Paint film 12 Application section 13 Uncoated area 2. Conveyor equipment 21 Unwinding roll 22 Winding roll 23 Transport roll 24 Coating roll 3. Application mechanism 31 Die 32 Tank 33 Supply route 34 Manifold 35 Slit 36 Discharge port 4 Drying equipment 41 Housing 42 Heated nozzle 43 Outlet 43a Air outlet 43b Guide surface 43c Guide surface 44 Guide section 45 through holes 51 Pressure adjustment section

Claims

1. A drying device that dries a coating film formed on a substrate being transported, The apparatus is provided with a heating nozzle that blows hot air onto the underside of the substrate to lift the substrate and heat the coating film, The heating nozzle has a blowing portion that blows out the hot air. a pressure adjusting unit that adjusts the pressure applied to the lower surface of the substrate by the hot air blown out from the blowing unit, The drying device is characterized in that the pressure adjustment unit adjusts the pressure applied to the underside of the substrate so that it increases toward the center of the substrate in a width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the substrate in the in-plane direction of the substrate.

2. The drying device according to claim 1 , wherein the blowing section blows out the hot air having a velocity component in a direction toward a downstream side of the transport path of the substrate.

3. The pressure adjusting unit includes the blowing unit, The blowing section has a hot air outlet that opens toward a downstream side of the conveying path; a guide surface facing the lower surface of the base material downstream of the air outlet in the conveying path, 3. The drying device according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface has an arch shape in which the distance between the guide surface and the substrate decreases from both end portions toward the center portion in the width direction.

4. The drying device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a guide section is provided which is formed to extend from the blowing section toward the downstream side of the transport path and which guides the hot air blown out from the blowing section so that it flows toward the downstream side of the transport path.

5. the pressure adjusting portion includes the guide portion, 5. The drying device according to claim 4, wherein the guide portion has an arch shape in which the distance between the guide portion and the substrate decreases from both end portions toward the center portion in the width direction.

6. the pressure adjusting portion includes the guide portion, The drying device according to claim 4, wherein the guide portion has through holes formed near both ends of the guide portion in the width direction.

7. The pressure adjusting unit includes an air volume adjusting unit that adjusts the air volume of the hot air blown out from the blowing unit in the width direction, The drying device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the air volume adjustment unit adjusts the air volume of the hot air blown out from the blowing unit so that the air volume of the hot air increases from the end portion of the substrate in the width direction toward the center portion.

Images