Drying device

Abstract

To provide an epoch-making drying device capable of correcting meandering with wrinkles in a state of always being eliminated, capable of straightening wrinkles in a state of always being centered by the meandering correction, and capable of excellently carrying out the meandering correction exhibiting an excellent wrinkle stretching effect.SOLUTION: The drying device comprising an interlock-controlled expander roll 5 and a meandering correction roll 6 disposed downstream relative to the expander roll in the conveying direction, is provided with a wrinkle-elimination / meandering-correction mechanism 7 having a function of concurrently carrying out wrinkle straightening and meandering correction at the outlet of a drying chamber 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying device that is provided in a coating device configured to transport a film-like object to be coated (substrate) toward a nozzle section that discharges a coating liquid from, for example, a slit-shaped tip discharge hole, thereby forming a thin film coating on the surface.The drying device transports the substrate through a drying chamber section that is configured to heat and dry the coated surface of the film-like substrate after coating has been completed, using hot air or a heater, thereby drying the coating film (coated surface) on the surface of the substrate. [Background technology]

[0002] The drying device provided in the coating device transports and passes through the film-like substrate, on whose surface the coating liquid is applied by the coating device and which is discharged from the coating device, and dries the coating film (coated surface) on the surface of the substrate, for example, by hot air or heater heating.

[0003] This type of drying device is configured with a drying chamber section consisting of multiple divided drying chamber sections (main sections with upper lids) arranged side by side, through which film-like substrates are transported and passed via transport inlets and outlets on the left and right sides, and multiple main sections are connected so that the opposing transport inlets and outlets are connected to each other, thereby increasing the drying chamber length (transport distance). Within each main section constituting the drying chamber, for example, on the upstream transport side, multiple support rolls are installed horizontally in each of the multiple connected main sections, and the film-like substrate is passed over these support rolls. While the film-like substrate is taken up and transported horizontally, the coated surface of the substrate is dried using hot air from a hot air outlet and heat from a heater in each main section. On the downstream transport side, hot air outlets are installed above and below the multiple connected main sections, and the coated surface (coating film) is dried using a floating drying method while the substrate is transported and passed through without contact.

[0004] When a substrate coated with such a coating liquid is dried, not only may the widthwise edges of the substrate curl upward (the edges curve upward) due to shrinkage of the coated surface (coating film), but also, if there are areas where the coating liquid is coated and areas where it is not, when the coated surface is heated and dried, curling due to shrinkage of the coated surface or flapping due to hot air drying may occur, resulting in wavy wrinkles in the widthwise direction of the substrate.

[0005] For example, electrode films for lithium-ion batteries are formed by applying an electrode film to the top surface of a substrate such as aluminum or copper foil and drying it. When this electrode film (coated film) is dried in a drying device consisting of the drying chamber, the wider and thinner the substrate, the more likely it is that the electrode film will curl due to contraction of the binder (the substance that adheres the electrode film to the substrate) in the electrode film or flapping due to the hot air drying, causing the above-mentioned curls and wrinkles to occur in the electrode film. When the electrode film is wound up on a roll in this state, there is a risk of problems such as folds in the substrate or cracks at the edges of the electrode film.

[0006] Therefore, measures have been taken to suppress such curling and wrinkling, such as making the coating film thinner to reduce shrinkage force, making the substrate thicker to increase rigidity, or slowing down the drying speed (conveying speed) to prevent sudden stress differences from occurring.However, it has also been proposed to install an expander roll at the exit of the drying chamber, which has a shape that is slightly convex upward in the center of the conveying direction and slopes slightly downward toward the left and right edges of the substrate in the width direction, i.e., a shape that is slightly curved in the vertical direction (a Bavana shape that is slightly curved up and down), and to support the film-like substrate that has finished drying on this expander roll at an embrace angle and convey it, thereby applying tension to the left and right edges of the substrate in the width direction, thereby eliminating wrinkles or curling of the substrate.

[0007] However, the substrate may meander during drying in a drying chamber that is transported over a long distance, and this meandering may become particularly severe when the floating-type drying is performed in the latter half of the drying process to shorten the transport distance and shorten the drying time. Therefore, when an expander roll is used to smooth out and eliminate wrinkles, the center of the substrate may shift due to the meandering, which may reduce the wrinkle-smoothing effect of the expander roll or even exacerbate the meandering, potentially causing problems with the coating film (coated surface) when the substrate is wound up.

[0008] On the other hand, in order to correct the tendency of the substrate to meander in this way, a meandering correction roll is provided which supports the substrate at an embrace angle and adjusts its axial direction so that it is slightly inclined relative to the width direction of the substrate, thereby correcting the meandering of the substrate.

[0009] However, if such a meandering correction roll is simply provided, if wavy wrinkles have occurred in the substrate as described above, the meandering correction roll has a large wrap angle and a large contact pressure (grip force) (generally the wrap angle is 90 degrees and the grip force is large), so there is a risk that the wrinkles will be exacerbated or folded and crushed, causing the wavy wrinkles to be folded and fixed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-118363 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides a wrinkle-eliminating and meandering correction mechanism in which an expander roll and a meandering correction roll are arranged side by side at the exit side of the drying chamber, and the expander roll is arranged upstream of the meandering correction roll in the conveying direction. Wrinkles and curls are eliminated by the expander roll, and then meandering is corrected by a meandering correction roll with an equal or larger wrap angle. By performing both wrinkle-smoothing and meandering correction, meandering correction can be performed in a state where wrinkles are always eliminated, and wrinkles can be smoothed out while always being centered by meandering correction. This is an object of the present invention to provide an innovative drying device that can achieve both good wrinkle-smoothing and meandering correction effects, thereby eliminating wrinkles while preventing wrinkles from folding and becoming fixed, while still providing a good meandering correction effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The gist of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] The present invention relates to a drying device in which a film-like substrate 2 coated with a coating liquid by a coating device 1 and delivered from the coating device 1 is conveyed and passed through a drying chamber 3, and a hot air delivery section 4 for delivering hot air for drying the coated surface of the substrate 2 coated with the coating liquid or a heater section for drying is provided within the drying chamber 3, and the drying device includes an expander roll 5 that supports the film-like substrate 2, the coated surface of which has been dried after being conveyed and passed through the drying chamber 3, at an embrace angle and eliminates wrinkles or curls in the substrate 2 by applying tension in the substrate width direction, and a meandering correction roll 6 that supports the substrate 2 at an embrace angle and corrects meandering of the substrate 2 by slightly tilting its axial direction relative to the substrate width direction. The wrinkle-eliminating / meandering correction mechanism 7 is provided on the outlet 8 side of the drying chamber 3, and the wrinkle-eliminating / meandering correction mechanism 7 is configured so that the expander roll 5 is arranged parallel to the conveying upstream side of the meandering correction roll 6, and is also configured to include a meandering correction roll tilting control mechanism 9 that controls the meandering correction roll 6 so that its axial direction tilts a predetermined amount relative to the width direction of the substrate based on a meandering detection unit that detects meandering of the film-like substrate 2 being conveyed, and an expander roll interlocking control mechanism 10 that interlocks with the tilting of the meandering correction roll 6 and controls the expander roll 5 to tilt a predetermined amount in the same direction.

[0014] The expander roll 5 and the meandering correction roll 6, which are arranged in parallel in the wrinkle elimination meandering correction mechanism 7, are provided on the upstream side of a winding and recovery section 11 that winds up the film-like substrate 2 that has been transported through the drying chamber section 3 and has its coated surface dried, and on the downstream side of the exit section 8 of the drying chamber section 3, and are arranged so that the wrap angle of the meandering correction roll 6 with respect to the substrate 2 is equal to or larger than the wrap angle of the expander roll 5 with respect to the substrate 2, and this wrap angle increases the contact pressure of the substrate 2.

[0015] The meandering correction roll tilt control mechanism 9 is configured to include a rotating unit base portion 12 that horizontally rotates the meandering correction roll 6 so that its axial direction tilts relative to the substrate width direction based on the meandering detection portion, and a rotation drive portion 13 that horizontally rotates the rotating unit base portion 12 a predetermined amount, and the meandering correction roll 6 is provided on the rotating unit base portion 12, and the expander roll interlocking control mechanism 10 is configured to include the expander roll 5 that is provided on the rotating unit base portion 12 or an interlocking unit base portion that rotates horizontally together with the rotating unit base portion 12. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] Since the present invention is configured as described above, a wrinkle elimination and meandering correction mechanism is provided at the exit side of the drying chamber, with an expander roll and a meandering correction roll arranged side by side, and the expander roll is arranged upstream of the meandering correction roll in the conveying direction, so that wrinkles and curls are eliminated by the expander roll and then meandering is corrected by the meandering correction roll, which has an equal or larger wrap angle. By performing both wrinkle removal and meandering correction, meandering correction can be performed while always eliminating wrinkles and always remaining centered by meandering correction, and both the wrinkle removal effect and meandering correction can be performed well, resulting in an innovative drying device that eliminates wrinkles while achieving good meandering correction effect and does not cause wrinkles to become folded and fixed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the schematic configuration of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory side view of a main part of the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory front view of the main part of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory plan view of the main part of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating one side of the main part of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described below, illustrating the operation of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0019] For example, a film-like substrate 2 that has been coated by a coating device 1 is conveyed through a drying chamber 3, whereby the coating film (coated surface) formed on the surface is dried.

[0020] That is, for example, when the substrate 2 with a coating on the upper surface is taken up and transported through the drying chamber 3, the coated upper surface is dried by the hot air blown out from the hot air blowing section 4 provided in the drying chamber 3 or by the heat of the heater section.

[0021] For example, when the substrate 2 coated with such a coating film is dried, wavy wrinkles may occur at the edges of the substrate 2 in the width direction, as described above.

[0022] Furthermore, when the substrate is transported over a long distance for drying, the substrate may meander as described above.

[0023] In this regard, the present invention is configured to provide a wrinkle-eliminating / meandering correction mechanism 7 at the exit 8 of the drying chamber 3. The wrinkle-eliminating / meandering correction mechanism 7 includes an expander roll 5 that supports the film-like substrate 2, which has been transported through the drying chamber 3 and whose coated surface has been dried using the coating liquid, at a wrap angle and applies tension in the substrate width direction to eliminate wrinkles or curls in the substrate 2, and a meandering correction roll 6 that supports the substrate 2 at a wrap angle and corrects meandering of the substrate 2 by tilting its axial direction slightly relative to the substrate width direction. The wrinkle-eliminating / meandering correction mechanism 7 of the present invention is configured such that the expander roll 5, which tilts in conjunction with the tilt-adjustable meandering correction roll 6, is disposed in parallel with the transport upstream side of the meandering correction roll 6. Therefore, in the present invention, both meandering correction and wrinkle smoothing of the substrate 2 are performed.

[0024] That is, the present invention is configured such that an expander roll 5 and a meandering correction roll 6 are arranged side by side at the exit of the drying chamber 3, a wrinkle elimination / meandering correction mechanism 7 is provided that performs both meandering correction and wrinkle smoothing, and the expander roll 5, which tilts in conjunction with the meandering correction roll 6, which corrects meandering by tilt adjustment, is disposed upstream of the meandering correction roll 6. Therefore, wrinkles and curls are eliminated by the expander roll 5, and then meandering correction is performed by the meandering correction roll 6, which has an equal or larger wrap angle. By performing this wrinkle smoothing and meandering correction, meandering correction can be performed in a state where wrinkles are always eliminated and wrinkles are always smoothed out while the web is always centered by the meandering correction, resulting in both excellent wrinkle smoothing and meandering correction. Therefore, wrinkles are eliminated while the meandering correction effect is excellent, and they do not become folded and fixed. [Example]

[0025] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a drying device in which a film-like substrate (substrate 2) is pulled out from a take-up roll 16 and transported through an opposing support roll 18 that faces the nozzle section 17 of the coating device 1, a coating liquid is ejected from the tip discharge hole of the nozzle section 17, and the coating liquid is applied to one side (top surface) of the film-like substrate 2 supported by the opposing support roll 18.The coated film-like substrate 2 is then transported horizontally through the drying chamber section 3 of the drying device to dry it, and is then wound up onto a winding and recovery section 11 (for example, the take-up roll 11).

[0027] That is, the drying device of this embodiment is provided downstream of the coating device 1 configured to eject coating liquid from the tip discharge hole of the nozzle portion 17 while transporting the film-like substrate 2 facing the nozzle portion 17 toward the nozzle portion 17, thereby coating the coating liquid in a film form on the upper surface of the substrate 2, and is configured to transport and dry the film-like substrate 2 that has been coated on its upper surface by the coating device 1.

[0028] Specifically, the drying chamber 3 is configured with a plurality of divided drying chambers (main body sections with lids) arranged side by side on the left and right sides, through which the film-like substrate 2 is transported and passed via the left and right transport entrances and exits, and within this drying chamber 3, a large number of support rolls 15 are arranged side by side at intervals to support the substrate 2, and hot air blowing sections 4 and heater sections are provided above and below the substrate 2 that is transported while supported by these support rolls 15, thereby drying the coated surface of the substrate 2.

[0029] In this embodiment, on the upstream side of the transport, a large number of support rolls 15 are installed horizontally inside the multiple connected main body parts, and the film-like substrate 2 is passed over these support rolls 15.This film-like substrate 2 is then taken up and transported horizontally, while the coated surface of the substrate 2 is dried using hot air from the hot air blowing section 4 inside each main body part and heat from the heater section.On the downstream side of the transport, hot air blowing sections 4 are provided above and below the multiple connected main body parts, and the coated surface (coating film) is dried using a floating drying method while the substrate is transported and passed through without contact.

[0030] In addition, in this embodiment, a hot air delivery section 4 is provided between each support roll 15 in the drying chamber section 3 on the upstream side of the conveyance. As in the drying device of the configuration shown in the prior patent document developed by the applicant, this hot air delivery section 4 is provided with a Coanda action, that is, a Coanda nozzle section 19 that blows hot air in a predetermined direction to generate a force that draws the substrate 2 downward, and presses the substrate 2 against the support roll 15.

[0031] Furthermore, when drying the coating film (coated surface) of the film-like substrate 2 in this manner, wavy wrinkles may occur at the widthwise ends of the substrate 2 as mentioned above, and when transporting the substrate 2 over such a long distance to dry, the substrate 2 may meander as mentioned above. In order to eliminate these wrinkles while correcting the meandering, this embodiment is configured so that a unit (wrinkle elimination / meandering correction mechanism 7) that has the function of both smoothing out wrinkles and correcting the meandering is provided at the exit 8 of the drying chamber 3.

[0032] That is, in this embodiment, a wrinkle elimination / meandering correction mechanism 7 is provided at the exit 8 of the drying chamber 3 (immediately downstream of the exit 8 in this embodiment), which supports the film-like substrate 2, which has been conveyed through the drying chamber 3 and whose coated surface has been dried, at a predetermined embrace angle and eliminates wrinkles or curls in the substrate 2 by applying tension in the substrate width direction, and which supports the substrate 2 at an equal or larger embrace angle and corrects the meandering of the substrate 2 by slightly tilting its axial direction relative to the substrate width direction. For example, the expander roll 5 has a shape that is slightly convex upward in the conveyance direction central portion and slightly tilts downward toward the left and right ends in the substrate width direction, i.e., a slightly curved shape in the vertical direction (a slightly curved Bavana shape). By supporting the substrate 2 at a predetermined embrace angle and conveying it, tension is applied in the substrate width direction, thereby eliminating wrinkles or curls in the substrate 2.

[0033] Furthermore, the wrinkle elimination and meandering correction mechanism 7 is configured such that the expander roll 5, which has a convex central portion and is slightly curved in the vertical direction, is arranged in parallel with the meandering correction roll 6, which corrects meandering by tilt adjustment, on the upstream side of the conveyance.

[0034] Furthermore, the wrinkle elimination / meandering correction mechanism 7 in this embodiment is a unit configured to include a meandering correction roll tilting control mechanism 9 that controls the meandering correction roll 6 so that its axial direction tilts a predetermined amount relative to the width direction of the substrate based on a meandering detection unit that detects meandering of the film-like substrate 2 being transported, and an expander roll interlocking control mechanism 10 that controls the expander roll 5 to tilt a predetermined amount in the same direction in conjunction with the tilting of the meandering correction roll 6.

[0035] To explain further, the expander roll 5 and meandering correction roll 6 of the wrinkle elimination and meandering correction mechanism 7 in this embodiment are configured to be provided on the downstream side of the exit section 8 of the drying chamber section 3 in the transport direction and on the upstream side of the winding and recovery section 11 that winds up the substrate 2, and are arranged so that the wrap angle of the meandering correction roll 6 with respect to the substrate 2 is equal to or slightly larger than the wrap angle of the expander roll 5 with respect to the substrate 2, thereby increasing the contact pressure of the substrate 2.

[0036] The meandering correction roll tilt control mechanism 9 of the wrinkle elimination and meandering correction mechanism 7 comprises a turning unit base section 12 that horizontally rotates the meandering correction roll 6 based on the meander detection section so that its axial direction is tilted relative to the width direction of the substrate, and a rotation drive section 13 that controls the horizontal rotation of the turning unit base section 12 by a predetermined amount, and is configured so that the meandering correction roll 6 is provided on the turning unit base section 12. Furthermore, the expander roll interlocking control mechanism 10 is configured so that the expander roll 5 is provided on the turning unit base section 12, and is configured so that not only is meandering corrected by tilting control of the meander correction roll 6, but also the expander roll 5 arranged alongside it is tilted and controlled in conjunction with this tilting control to maintain centering.

[0037] That is, when tilting control is performed on the meandering detection unit to tilt the meandering correction roll 6 in its axial direction relative to the width direction of the substrate to correct meandering, the expander roll 5 also tilts in conjunction with this, thereby correcting meandering while also preventing the center position of the expander roll 5 from shifting from the center position of the substrate 2, resulting in a unit configuration.

[0038] Specifically, the meandering correction roll tilt control mechanism 9 of this embodiment comprises the rotating unit base 12, which rotates the meandering correction roll 6 horizontally based on the meandering detection unit so that its axial direction tilts relative to the width direction of the substrate, and a rotation drive unit 13 (cylinder device) which rotates the rotating unit base 12 horizontally by a predetermined amount. The meandering correction roll 6 is attached to the rotating unit base 12 via an end mounting unit 14. When the rotation drive unit 13 is driven and controlled by a predetermined amount based on the meandering detection signal from the meandering detection unit and its rod extends or contracts by a predetermined amount, the rotating unit base 12, which is configured to rotate in conjunction with this via a link mechanism 20, rotates horizontally in conjunction with this by a predetermined amount around a fulcrum 21 on one side of the link mechanism 20, and the rotation of this rotating unit base 12 tilts the meandering correction roll 6 mounted on it by a predetermined amount. By providing such a structure on the left and right, the meandering correction roll 6 can be tilted so that its left and right ends move in opposite directions based on its center, and this tilting control allows for constant suppression and correction of meandering.

[0039] The expander roll interlocking control mechanism 10 of this embodiment is configured so that the expander roll 5 is also provided on the turning unit base 12 via an end mounting portion 14 in a state parallel to the meandering correction roll 6, and when the turning drive portion 13 is driven and controlled by a predetermined amount based on a meander detection signal from the meander detection portion and its rod extends or retracts by a predetermined amount, the turning unit base 12 rotates horizontally by a predetermined amount about a fulcrum 21 via a link mechanism 20, thereby tilting the meander correction roll 6 and the expander roll 5 by a predetermined amount. Furthermore, by providing such a structure on the left and right, both the meander correction roll 6 and the expander roll 5 can be tilted so that their left and right ends move in opposite directions with their centers as the reference, and this tilting control makes it possible to constantly suppress and correct meandering while preventing the center position of the expander roll 5 from shifting. Furthermore, the tilting of the expander roll 5 and the meandering correction roll 6, which move in conjunction with each other due to the position of the fulcrum 21 of the rotating unit base portion 12 and the design of the link configuration of the link mechanism 20, is configured so that even if both rolls are arranged side by side with a gap in the conveying direction, they always maintain this gap and tilt in conjunction while remaining parallel.

[0040] The meandering correction roll 6 may have an air-fed microgroove structure to prevent meandering during high-speed transport.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the specific configuration of each component can be designed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Coating device 2 Base material 3 Drying room 4 Hot air outlet section 5 Expander Roll 6. Meandering correction roll 7 Wrinkle-eliminating and meandering correction mechanism 8 Exit section 9. Meandering correction roll tilt control mechanism 10 Expander roll interlocking control mechanism 11 Winding and recovery section 12 Rotating unit base 13 Rotation drive unit 14 End mounting part 15 Bearing roll 16 Winding roll 17 Nozzle section 18 Opposing support roll 19 Coanda nozzle part 20 Link mechanism 21 Fulcrum

Claims

1. A drying device comprising: a drying chamber section through which a film-like substrate coated with a coating liquid by a coating device and discharged from the coating device is transported; a hot air delivery section that delivers hot air for drying the coated surface of the substrate coated with the coating liquid; or a heater section for drying; an expander roll that supports the film-like substrate, which has been conveyed through the drying chamber and whose coated surface has been dried, at a wrap angle to eliminate wrinkles or curls in the substrate by applying tension in the substrate width direction; and a meandering correction roll that supports the substrate at a wrap angle to slightly tilt its axial direction relative to the substrate width direction to correct meandering of the substrate, and a wrinkle-eliminating / meandering correction mechanism is provided on the outlet side of the drying chamber; The wrinkle elimination and meandering correction mechanism is configured such that the expander roll is provided in parallel with the meandering correction roll on the upstream side of the conveyance direction, and A drying device characterized by being configured to include a meandering correction roll tilting control mechanism that controls the meandering correction roll so that its axial direction tilts a predetermined amount relative to the width direction of the substrate based on a meandering detection unit that detects meandering of the film-like substrate being transported, and an expander roll interlocking control mechanism that controls the expander roll to tilt a predetermined amount in the same direction in conjunction with the tilting of the meander correction roll.

2. 2. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the expander roll and the meandering correction roll arranged in parallel in the wrinkle-eliminating meandering correction mechanism are provided on the upstream side of a winding and recovery section that winds up the film-like substrate that has been transported through the drying chamber and has its coated surface dried, and on the downstream side of the exit section of the drying chamber, and are arranged so that the wrap angle of the meandering correction roll with respect to the substrate is equal to or larger than the wrap angle of the expander roll with respect to the substrate, thereby increasing the contact pressure of the substrate.

3. the meandering correction roll tilt control mechanism includes a turning unit base portion that horizontally turns the meandering correction roll so that its axial direction is tilted with respect to the substrate width direction based on the meandering detection portion, and a turning drive portion that horizontally turns the turning unit base portion by a predetermined amount, and the meandering correction roll is provided on the turning unit base portion, The drying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the expander roll interlocking control mechanism is configured so that the expander roll is provided on the rotating unit base portion or on an interlocking unit base portion that rotates horizontally together with the rotating unit base portion.

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