Support and non-contact conveyance device including the same

Abstract

To increase the efficiency of floating conveyance carried out by a support using an air film and a non-contact conveyance including the same.SOLUTION: This support comprises: an air-permeable porous body including a gas blowout surface from which a gas is blown out and a gas supply surface to which the gas is supplied; a sealing film filling the surface of the porous body excluding the gas blowout surface and the gas supply surface and making the surface non-air permeable; and an air supply port communicating with the air supply surface and connected to a gas supply device that supplies the gas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a support and a non-contact transport device including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] A known processing method involves a web continuously fed from an upstream roll, floating and transporting it along a predetermined path, and then winding it onto a downstream roll. In this processing method, the web is transported while changing direction along a path defined by many rolls, such as a feed roll, guide roll, and take-up roll, and undergoes processing such as printing, laminating, drying, and cutting during the transport process.

[0003] In a non-contact guide roll that uses an air film to change the conveying direction of a web on the conveying path, the web is conveyed in a floating manner, thereby preventing scratches, creases, stretching, etc. on the web due to the speed difference between the web and the roll, the tension acting on the web, the frictional force between the web and the roll, etc. In the guide roll of Patent Document 1, pressurized gas is introduced into the interior of a cylindrical roll body made of a porous material, and the pressurized gas is blown out uniformly from the entire outer surface of the roll body, supporting the web along the outer surface of the roll body in a non-contact manner and reversing the conveying path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6527981 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] One of the objects of the present disclosure is to improve the efficiency of floating transport by a support that uses an air film and a non-contact transport device that includes the support. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A support according to one embodiment includes a gas blowing surface from which gas is blown out and a gas supply surface to which the gas is supplied, and is equipped with a porous body having a plurality of pores, a sealing film that fills the pores on a surface of the porous body excluding the gas blowing surface and the gas supply surface, making the surface impermeable to air, and a gas supply port that communicates with the gas supply surface and is connected to a gas supply device that supplies the gas.

[0007] The sealing film may fill the pores of the porous body from the surface to a depth of 0.1 mm or more.

[0008] The sealing film may be made of a resin.

[0009] The porous body may be cylindrical, the gas blowing surface may be a part of the outer surface of the cylinder, and the sealing film may be disposed on the outer surface of the cylinder other than the gas blowing surface.

[0010] The porous body may be cylindrical, the gas blowing surface may be a part of the outer surface of the cylinder, the gas supply surface may be a part of the inner surface of the cylinder opposite the gas blowing surface, and the sealing film may be arranged on the inner surface of the cylinder other than the gas supply surface.

[0011] The sealing film may also be disposed on both end surfaces in the axial direction of the cylinder that connect the outer surface and the inner surface of the cylinder.

[0012] The gas blowing surface may be an outer surface of a cylinder.

[0013] A non-contact conveying device according to one embodiment includes a winding roll that continuously feeds out a web-like workpiece, a support that supports the workpiece with the gas, a gas supply device that is connected to the gas supply port and supplies the gas, and a winding roll that continuously winds up the workpiece. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present disclosure, there are provided a support body with improved floating transport efficiency and a non-contact transport device including the support body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view illustrating a structure of a non-contact transport device including a support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a roll body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating support of a workpiece by a support body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a graph illustrating air supply pressure and flow rate of a support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a roll body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a roll body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The support body and the non-contact transport device including the support body according to the present embodiment will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are designated by the same reference numeral or a reference numeral with an alphabetical suffix, and will be described only when necessary. The following embodiments exemplify devices and methods for embodying the technical concept of the embodiments. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments are within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0017] In order to clarify the description, the drawings may show the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part schematically compared to the actual embodiment, but these are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention. In this specification and each drawing, elements having the same functions as those explained with reference to the previous drawings may be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations may be omitted.

[0018] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, an expression such as "α includes A, B, or C" does not exclude the case where α includes multiple combinations of A to C. Furthermore, these expressions do not exclude the case where α includes other elements.

[0019] The following embodiments can be combined with each other unless a technical contradiction occurs.

[0020] First Embodiment [Structure of non-contact transport device] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating the structure of a non-contact transport device including a support according to this embodiment.

[0021] 1 shows X, Y, and Z directions that are perpendicular to each other. In this specification, the +Z direction is treated as the upward direction, and the -Z direction is treated as the downward direction. The -Z direction may or may not coincide with the direction of gravity.

[0022] The non-contact transport device 100 of this embodiment includes a main body 80, a winding roll 50, a support 10, a gas supply device 20, an adsorber 30, a gas suction device 40, and a take-up roll 60. The main body 80 detachably holds the winding roll 50, the support 10, the adsorber 30, and the take-up roll 60.

[0023] The feed roll 50 and the take-up roll 60 include a drive unit that can rotate them at the same speed. The feed roll 50 and the take-up roll 60 share a continuous web-like workpiece. The feed roll 50 continuously feeds out the workpiece as it rotates, and the take-up roll 60 continuously winds up the workpiece as it rotates.

[0024] A support 10 is disposed between the feed roll 50 and the take-up roll 60. The support 10 is connected to a gas supply device 20 via piping (not shown). The gas supply device 20 supplies gas to the support 10. The support 10 supports the workpiece between the feed roll 50 and the take-up roll 60 without contacting it by blowing out the gas supplied by the gas supply device 20 from the surface of the support 10. The workpiece between the feed roll 50 and the take-up roll 60 can be floated and transported while changing direction along a predetermined path by being supported by multiple supports 10. For this reason, the support 10 is also called a guide roll.

[0025] [Support structure] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the support according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the support according to this embodiment, which corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in Fig. 2.

[0026] The support 10 is a component for supporting the workpiece between the feed roll 50 and the take-up roll 60. The support 10 is used to support the workpiece without contact and change the direction of transport along the transport path for transporting a web-like workpiece such as a long film.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2, the support 10 of this embodiment includes multiple roll bodies 12 and a hollow shaft 4. The approximately cylindrical roll bodies 12 are arranged adjacent to each other in the cylindrical axial direction. The approximately cylindrical hollow shaft 4 is arranged concentrically around the center of the multiple roll bodies 12. The cylindrical axial direction of the multiple roll bodies 12 and the cylindrical axial direction of the hollow shaft 4 are approximately the same.

[0028] 2 shows seven roll bodies 12. However, the number of roll bodies 12 is not particularly limited. The roll bodies 12 each have the same shape, and the end faces of adjacent roll bodies 12 in the cylindrical axial direction are joined together by adhesive. The roll bodies 12 are joined to the hollow shaft 4 by adhesive.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3 , the hollow shaft 4 includes a hollow large-diameter section 6 located in the center in the axial direction of the cylinder, hollow small-diameter sections 8 and 9 located at both ends of the large-diameter section 6, and a gas supply port 7. Multiple roll bodies 12 are arranged on the outer surface of the large-diameter section 6 of the hollow shaft 4, and the outer diameter of the large-diameter section 6 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the multiple roll bodies 12. Two flanges 6a extending radially outward are provided at both ends in the axial direction of the cylinder, and the multiple roll bodies 12 are arranged between the two flanges 6a. The internal space of the large-diameter section 6 is connected to the internal spaces of the small-diameter sections 8 and 9, and the pressurized gas introduced through the gas supply port 7 flows into the internal space of the large-diameter section 6.

[0030] Each roll body 12 has an annular pressurized gas flow path 14 extending radially outward from the center of the cylindrical axial direction of the inner surface.

[0031] Meanwhile, an air supply passage 6b is formed in the large diameter portion 6 of the hollow shaft 4, which is located radially inside each pressurized gas flow path 14 of the roll body 12, and penetrates the peripheral wall of the large diameter portion 6 in the radial direction. As a result, the internal spaces of the large diameter portion 6 and the small diameter portions 8, 9 of the hollow shaft 4 communicate with each pressurized gas flow path 14 of the roll body 12 via the air supply passage 6b, and a radial flow path for supplying pressurized gas to the pressurized gas flow path 14 is formed.

[0032] The end face of the roll body 12 in the cylindrical axial direction may have, for example, an uneven structure that engages with an adjacent roll body 12. Furthermore, the end face of the roll body 12 in the cylindrical axial direction may be provided with a buffer groove for adhesive when adhering to an adjacent roll body 12. The cylindrical inner surface of the roll body 12 may be provided with a buffer groove for adhesive when adhering to the hollow shaft 4. The multiple roll bodies 12 may be connected to form a single cylinder with a continuous cylindrical outer surface.

[0033] [Structure of the roll body] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the roll body according to this embodiment, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line BB' in FIG.

[0034] The roll body 12 according to this embodiment includes a porous body 1 having a plurality of pores, and a sealing film 2. A portion of the sealing film 2 is arranged so as to fill the pores in a portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the approximately cylindrical porous body 1. A portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the porous body 1 includes a gas blowing surface C from which gas is blown out. The cylindrical inner surface of the porous body 1 includes a gas supply surface D to which gas is supplied. The sealing film 2 is arranged on the cylindrical outer surface of the porous body 1 other than the gas blowing surface C.

[0035] In Figure 4, the gas blowing surface C of the porous body 1 is the outer surface of a cylinder with a central angle of approximately 110° relative to the cylinder axis. However, this is not limited to this, and the gas blowing surface C can be adjusted appropriately depending on the workpiece transport route. For example, if the transport direction of the workpiece turns by x°, the gas blowing surface C is preferably the outer surface of a cylinder with a central angle of approximately x + 10° relative to the cylinder axis. The gas blowing surface C of the porous body 1 is preferably the outer surface of a cylinder with a central angle of, for example, 10° or more and 190° or less relative to the cylinder axis.

[0036] The porous body 1 has air permeability. The porous body 1 is made of porous carbon, but may be made of other porous materials having air permeability, such as porous ceramics or porous metal.

[0037] The sealing film 2 is impermeable. During the manufacturing process, a fluid membrane material penetrates the pores of the porous body 1, filling the pores on a portion of the surface of the porous body 1 from the surface down to 0.1 mm or more. The placement of the sealing film 2 clogs the cylindrical outer surface of the porous body 1, excluding the gas blowing surface C, making it impermeable. The sealing film 2 is made of epoxy resin, but may also be made of other impermeable materials such as phenolic resin, furan resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, melamine resin, unsaturated polyester resin, allyl resin, alkyd resin, urethane resin, and silicone resin. The sealing film 2 preferably has high corrosion resistance to solvents. By filling the pores of the porous body 1, the sealing film 2 according to this embodiment can prevent peeling even when pressurized gas is supplied to the gas supply surface D of the porous body 1.

[0038] [Roll body manufacturing method] In the roll body 12 according to this embodiment, a sealing film 2 is formed by applying a composition (for example, a two-component epoxy resin) to the cylindrical outer surface of the porous body 1 other than the gas blowing surface C. For example, the sealing film 2 may be formed by applying it with a spray, a brush, or by soaking it into a cloth. In order to allow the composition to penetrate into the pores of the porous body 1, the viscosity of the composition is preferably, for example, 170±50 mm·Pa·s. The composition is preferably a resin that cures at room temperature. The composition may also cure at room temperature. However, the composition is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a thermosetting or photocurable resin.

[0039] After the composition has hardened, it may be applied multiple times. The composition may be applied by spraying, by brushing, or by soaking in a cloth and then wiping with a cloth to smooth the surface evenly.

[0040] [Work Support] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating support of a workpiece by a support according to this embodiment.

[0041] In the support 10 according to this embodiment, when pressurized gas is introduced from the gas supply port 7 through the small diameter portions 8 and 9 of the hollow shaft 4 into the internal space of the large diameter portion 6, as shown by arrows A and B in Fig. 3, the pressurized gas flows into each pressurized gas flow path 14 of the roll body 12 via the gas supply passage 6b. The pressurized gas further passes through the interior of the breathable porous body 1 and is blown out from the gas blowing surface C of the porous body 1. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5, the gas blowing surfaces C of the multiple porous bodies 1 can support the workpiece W without contact and change the conveying direction.

[0042] In this embodiment, for example, the case where the transport direction of the workpiece is turned by 180° is shown. In this case, the gas blowing surface C is preferably the outer surface of a cylinder that forms a central angle of approximately 190° with respect to the cylinder axis.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the supply pressure and flow rate of the support body according to this embodiment. The supply pressure indicates the pressure of the gas supplied to the hollow shaft 4, and the flow rate indicates the amount of gas supplied to the hollow shaft 4. In the graph, the dotted line indicates the flow rate when the support body 10 according to this embodiment is used, and the solid line indicates the flow rate when a support body without the sealing film 2 is used. The support body 10 according to this embodiment has an impermeable sealing film 2 disposed thereon, which makes it possible to limit the area of ​​the gas blowing surface C. This makes it possible to prevent gas that does not act on the workpiece W from being blown out unnecessarily, thereby reducing the amount of gas consumed (flow rate).

[0044] Second Embodiment [Structure of the roll body] A non-contact transport device including a support according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the roll body according to this embodiment, and corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' in FIG. 3. The roll body according to this embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, except for the different arrangement of the sealing film. Explanations of the same things as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only differences from the first embodiment will be described here.

[0045] The roll body 12a according to this embodiment includes a porous body 1 having a plurality of pores and a sealing film 2a. A portion of the sealing film 2a is arranged so as to fill the pores in a portion of the cylindrical inner surface of the approximately cylindrical porous body 1. A portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the porous body 1 includes a gas blowing surface C from which gas is blown out. A portion of the cylindrical inner surface of the porous body 1 includes a gas supply surface Da to which gas is supplied. The sealing film 2a is arranged on the cylindrical inner surface of the porous body 1 other than the gas supply surface Da.

[0046] In Figure 7, the gas blowing surface C of the porous body 1 is the outer surface of a cylinder with a central angle of approximately 110° relative to the cylinder axis. However, this is not limited to this, and the gas blowing surface C can be adjusted appropriately depending on the workpiece transport route. For example, if the transport direction of the workpiece turns by x°, the gas blowing surface C is preferably the outer surface of a cylinder with a central angle of approximately x + 10° relative to the cylinder axis. The gas blowing surface C of the porous body 1 is preferably the outer surface of a cylinder with a central angle of, for example, 10° or more and 190° or less relative to the cylinder axis.

[0047] The sealing film 2a is air-impermeable, and during the manufacturing process, a fluid film material penetrates into the pores of the porous body 1, filling the pores on part of the surface of the porous body 1 from the surface down to 0.1 mm or more. The placement of the sealing film 2a causes clogging of the cylindrical inner surface other than the gas supply surface Da of the porous body 1, making it air-impermeable. The sealing film 2a according to this embodiment fills the pores of the porous body 1 and is placed on part of the cylindrical inner surface, thereby preventing peeling even when pressurized gas is supplied to the gas supply surface Da of the porous body 1.

[0048] Third Embodiment [Structure of the roll body] A non-contact transport device including a support according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a roll body according to this embodiment, corresponding to the cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in FIG. 2. The roll body according to this embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, except for the different arrangement of the sealing film. Explanations of the same aspects as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only differences from the first embodiment will be described here. In FIG. 8, the end surface of the roll body 12b in the cylindrical axial direction is shown flat. However, this is not limited to this, and the end surface of the roll body 12b in the cylindrical axial direction may have an uneven structure that engages with an adjacent roll body 12b, for example.

[0049] The roll body 12b according to this embodiment includes a porous body 1 having a plurality of pores and a sealing film 2b. Parts of the sealing film 2b are arranged so as to fill the pores on both end surfaces in the axial direction of the substantially cylindrical porous body 1. The sealing film 2b according to this embodiment is preferably combined with the first or second embodiment.

[0050] The sealing film 2b is air-impermeable, and during the manufacturing process, a fluid film material penetrates into the pores of the porous body 1, filling the pores on a portion of the surface of the porous body 1 from the surface down to 0.1 mm or more. The placement of the sealing film 2b causes clogging at both end surfaces of the porous body 1 in the cylindrical axial direction, making them air-impermeable. The sealing film 2b of this embodiment fills the pores of the porous body 1, thereby preventing peeling even when pressurized gas is supplied to the gas supply surface D of the porous body 1. The sealing film 2b of this embodiment, placed on both end surfaces of the porous body 1 in the cylindrical axial direction, prevents gas from leaking from the end surfaces of the porous body 1 in the cylindrical axial direction. As a result, gas leakage from the gaps (joined portions) between adjacent roll bodies 12b can be prevented. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 porous body, 2 sealing film, 4 hollow shaft, 6 large diameter portion, 6a flange, 6b gas supply passage, 8, 9 small diameter portion, 10 support, 12 roll body, 14 pressurized gas flow path, 20 gas supply device, 30 adsorbent, 40 gas suction device, 50 winding roll, 60 winding roll, 70 rubber roll, 80 body, 100 non-contact conveying device

Claims

1. a porous body including a gas blowing surface from which a gas is blown out and a gas supplying surface to which the gas is supplied, the porous body having a plurality of pores; a sealing film that fills the pores on a surface of the porous body excluding the gas blowing surface and the gas supplying surface, and makes the surface impermeable to air; a gas supply port that communicates with the gas supply surface and is connected to a gas supply device that supplies the gas.

2. The support according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing film fills the pores of the porous body from the surface to a depth of 0.1 mm or more.

3. The support according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing film is made of a resin.

4. The porous body is cylindrical, and the gas blowing surface is a part of the outer surface of the cylinder; The support according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing film is disposed on the outer surface of the cylinder other than the gas blowing surface.

5. the porous body is cylindrical, the gas blowing surface is a part of an outer surface of the cylinder, and the gas supply surface is a part of an inner surface of the cylinder opposite to the gas blowing surface; The support according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing film is disposed on the inner surface of the cylinder other than the gas supply surface.

6. The support according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing film is disposed on both end surfaces in the axial direction of the cylinder that connect the outer surface and the inner surface of the cylinder.

7. a winding roll that continuously feeds the web-like workpiece; The support according to any one of claims 4 to 6, which supports the workpiece by the gas; a gas supply device connected to the gas supply port and supplying the gas; a take-up roll that continuously takes up the workpiece.

Images