Support member for supporting the sheet, dispenser assembly, and coating system

Abstract

The present invention provides a support member for supporting a sheet, a dispenser assembly, and a coating system. The support member (3) for supporting a sheet (1) comprises a base material (30), a first ridge (31) connected to the base material, and a second ridge (32) connected to the base material, wherein the widths of the first and second ridges correspond to the width of the portion of the sheet to be coated, and a gap exists between the first and second ridges, so that when the sheet moves on the support member relative to the first and second ridges, the portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges is movable up and down. The dispenser assembly comprises a dispenser and a support member, and the coating system comprises a plurality of dispenser assemblies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 202320291020.3, filed on February 22, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

[0002] This disclosure relates to a support member for supporting a sheet, a dispenser assembly, and a coating system.

Background Art

[0003] Known slit machines for manufacturing the positive and negative electrodes of a power battery of an electric vehicle have achieved high production line speeds (up to 100 m / min) or higher hot - melt adhesive application speeds in order to replace the conventional tape - bonding process. The equivalent adhesive film width is typically between 4 mm and 12 mm, and is 7 mm in aspect. Regarding the electrode laser cutting efficiency and inherent characteristics, the adhesive to be conveyed is required to have a typical thickness in the range of 10 to 20 μm.

[0004] Typically, it should not exceed the specified range. Regarding the quality of the adhesive pattern, the electrode substrate for electrode manufacturing should typically be uniformly and consistently adhered. Any defects such as lack of adhesive and lack of coating are not allowed. In accordance with the strict regulations for electrode manufacturing, exposing the metal to be coated with adhesive to the atmosphere is absolutely zero - tolerance.

[0005] Furthermore, for continuous coating performance, a start / stop function is essential. In this regard, hammer - head and failure of damaged coatings typically occur frequently.

[0006] Several methods and solutions are known for applying adhesive to substrates. Jets and sprays are the most common non-contact methods and can bond adhesive to any type of substrate. Unfortunately, neither jets nor sprays are effective in forming a uniform and continuous bonding pattern. In this case, the slot nozzle coating method is typically the only method that meets the requirements of this type of application. Slot nozzle coating typically operates to distribute adhesive onto electrodes in a specific contact manner. However, in order to obtain the desired adhesive film thickness, the pressure must be properly established to balance the internal tension from the electrodes. Furthermore, the main geometric dimensions and parameters of the adhesive film must be precisely defined to provide optimal coating performance over time. Currently, electrode substrates are transported by transport rollers during bonding, and because the electrode substrates are in a loose, slack state between adjacent transport rollers due to their relatively small thickness and relatively large length, achieving a uniform and consistent coating on the electrode substrates is difficult.

[0007] Therefore, there is room for improvement and / or a need for improvement in the coating method. [Overview of the project]

[0008] One aspect of this disclosure provides a support member for supporting a sheet, a dispenser assembly, and a coating system that solve the problems of sheet sagging and uneven, intermittent coating that exist in the prior art.

[0009] This disclosure provides a sheet support member for supporting a sheet, comprising a base material, a first protrusion connected to the base material, and a second protrusion connected to the base material, wherein the widths of the first and second protrusions correspond to the width of the coated portion of the sheet, a gap exists between the first and second protrusions, and the portion of the sheet between the first and second protrusions is vertically movable when the sheet moves on the support member against the first and second protrusions.

[0010] According to the sheet support member described above, when the sheet moves on the support member against the first and second ridges, the portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges is movable vertically. This allows the tension of the sheet to be adjusted and tensioned, enabling uniform and consistent coating of the sheet or other material to be coated. The sheet is, for example, an electrode substrate.

[0011] In one embodiment, the support member is a fixed support member in which the first and second protrusions are fixed to the base material. This allows the support member of the present disclosure to be realized with a simple structure.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first and second protrusions are integrally formed with respect to the base material. This allows the support member of the present disclosure to be realized with a simple structure.

[0013] In one embodiment, the support member is a nested support member in which at least one of the first and second protrusions is nested relative to the base material. This allows for more precise adjustment of the tension of the sheet.

[0014] In one embodiment, of the first and second protrusions, the nesting protrusion is in the form of a bar connected to the base material via a spring. This allows the support member of this disclosure to be realized with a simple structure.

[0015] In one embodiment, the nested bulge is the front bulge in the direction of sheet movement, among the first and second bulges. This makes it easier to adjust the tension of the sheet.

[0016] In one embodiment, the support member includes a stopper that is fixed to the base material to restrict the movement of the bar. This allows for more precise adjustment of the tension of the sheet.

[0017] In one embodiment, the nested protrusions among the first and second protrusions are equipped with rollers, which are connected to the base material via springs by roller fasteners. This allows for easy guidance of the movement of the sheet.

[0018] In one embodiment, the nested protrusion is the front protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet, among the first and second protrusions. This allows for more precise adjustment of the tension of the sheet.

[0019] In one embodiment, the support member includes a stopper that is fixed to the base material to restrict the movement of the roller.

[0020] In one embodiment, of the first and second ridges, the rear ridge in the direction of movement of the sheet is equipped with a roller, and the roller of the rear ridge is connected to the base material via another roller fixing device. This allows for easy guidance of the sheet's movement.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first and second bulges have the same height.

[0022] In one embodiment, the support member is a swingable support member, and at least one of the first and second protrusions is swingable relative to the base material. This allows the tension of the sheet to be adjusted to tension the sheet, and also allows the swinging of the protrusions to be easily controlled.

[0023] In one embodiment, the first and second bulges, the swingable bulge, are in the form of a bar that is swingably connected to the base material via an axis.

[0024] In one embodiment, the bottom of the bar is supported by a spring on the base material.

[0025] In one aspect, the swingable ridge is the front ridge in the moving direction of the sheet among the first ridge and the second ridge.

[0026] In one aspect, among the first ridge and the second ridge, the swingable one includes a roller swingably connected to the base material via a swing arm shaft by a swing arm that enables swinging.

[0027] In one aspect, the swing arm is supported by a spring on the base material between the roller and the shaft.

[0028] In one aspect, the swing arm has a first arm and a second arm connected to the first arm at a corner, the free end of the first arm is attached to the roller, the free end of the second arm is inserted into a recess of the base material, and the swing arm shaft passes through a through hole at the corner. Thereby, the swing arm is achieved with a simple configuration.

[0029] The present disclosure provides a dispenser assembly including a dispenser including a tank and a nozzle seat to which a nozzle in fluid communication with the tank is attached, and a support member that supports the sheet described above. When the sheet moves between the support member and the dispenser to coat the sheet with the dispenser, the nozzle seat descends to press the sheet, and a portion between the first ridge and the second ridge of the sheet descends.

[0030] According to the dispenser assembly described above, when the sheet moves on the support member to coat the sheet with the dispenser, the nozzle seat descends to press the sheet, and a portion between the first ridge and the second ridge of the sheet descends. Thereby, the tension in the sheet can be adjusted, and a coated object such as a sheet can be coated uniformly or constantly.

[0031] In one embodiment, the nozzle is a slot nozzle. This makes it possible to achieve a uniform coating with a relatively thin thickness.

[0032] In one embodiment, the nozzle is positioned midway between the first ridge and the second ridge in the direction of movement of the sheet.

[0033] This disclosure provides a coating system further comprising a plurality of dispenser assemblies, wherein the plurality of dispenser assemblies are configured to simultaneously coat different portions of a sheet. This improves coating efficiency.

[0034] As described above, specific aspects of this disclosure have been outlined fairly broadly so that the detailed description herein may be better understood and the contribution of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Of course, there are additional aspects of this disclosure which are described below and form the subject matter of the claims appended herein.

[0035] In this regard, before describing in detail at least one aspect of the Disclosure, it should be understood that the Disclosure is not limited to its application to the details of the configuration and arrangement of the components described or shown in the drawings below. The Disclosure can be implemented and performed in a variety of ways in addition to the aspects described. It should also be understood that the expressions and terminology used herein, as well as the abstract, are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting.

[0036] Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that the concepts on which this disclosure is based can be readily used as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems to carry out some of the purposes of this disclosure. It is therefore important that the claims are deemed to include such equivalent structures, as long as they do not deviate from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0037] These and other purposes and advantages of this disclosure will be more fully reflected in the following description in conjunction with the drawings, where the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to represent identical or similar components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] [Figure 1] A first embodiment of a support member for supporting a sheet according to the present disclosure, the support member being in the form of a fixed support member. [Figure 2] A second embodiment of a support member for supporting a sheet according to the present disclosure, the support member being in a nested configuration. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the support member and nozzle material. [Figure 4] A third embodiment of a support member for supporting a sheet according to the present disclosure, the support member being in a nested configuration. [Figure 5] Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the support member and nozzle seat. [Figure 6] A perspective view of the dispenser assembly and coating system including the support member of this disclosure is shown. [Figure 7] A fourth embodiment of a support member for supporting a sheet according to the present disclosure, the support member being of a swinging type. [Figure 8] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the support member and base material. [Figure 9] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX passing through the pivot arm axis. [Figure 10] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along line XX, which passes through the spring and guide bar. [Figure 11] Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view along the line XI-XI passing through the spring and guide bar. [Figure 12] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the dispenser assembly including the support member. [Figure 13] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the operating state of the dispenser assembly, including the support member.

[0039] [Detailed description of the invention] The embodiments relating to this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the descriptions of each drawing, the same or corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0040] In the following description, terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "back" that indicate direction are used only in the descriptions of the drawings and do not substantially limit the present invention.

[0041] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a support member for supporting a sheet according to the present disclosure, the support member being a fixed support member.

[0042] As shown in Figure 1, the support member 3 according to this disclosure that supports the sheet comprises a base material 30, a first ridge 31 connected to the base material 30, and a second ridge 32 connected to the base material 30. The first ridge 31 and the second ridge are spaced apart from each other. The sheet 1 has, for example, a long strip shape and is movable on the support member 3. The sheet 1 may be, for example, an electrode substrate for manufacturing electrodes for an electric vehicle battery. Specifically, when coating the sheet 1, the sheet 1 is movable on the support member 3 in a direction of movement D perpendicular to the width direction of the first and second ridges. The widths of the first and second ridges both correspond to the width of the portion of the sheet to be coated. Specifically, the widths of the first and second ridges are each greater than the width of the portion of the sheet to be coated, and may be at least the same as the width of the portion of the sheet to be coated. The portion of the sheet to be coated may be the entire width of the sheet or a part of the sheet in the width direction.

[0043] The first and second ridges may be of different heights. The first and second ridges may be of the same height.

[0044] A gap exists between the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32. When the sheet 1 moves on the support member 3 against the first ridge 31 and the second ridge, the portion of the sheet 1 between the first ridge 31 and the second ridge becomes movable vertically. Specifically, when the sheet 1 moves on the support member 3, the nozzle 22 attached to the nozzle seat 21 of the dispenser 2 or to the top of the nozzle seat 21 pushes down on the sheet 1, thereby allowing the portion of the sheet 1 between the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 to move vertically, and tension can be applied to the sheet 1.

[0045] The dispenser 2 has a tank 20 and a nozzle seat 21, and the nozzle 22 may be attached to a nozzle base or the nozzle seat 21. The tank 20 contains a coating fluid. The nozzle 22 is in fluid communication with the tank 20 and can discharge fluid from the tank 20 through the nozzle 22. The nozzle 22 may be a slotted nozzle.

[0046] The two ridges of the support member 3 shown in Figure 1 are in the form of bars, and the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 are fixed to the base material 30, so the support member 3 is also called a double-ridge fixed support bar. In particular, the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 are integrally formed with the base material 30. To apply a fluid such as adhesive of a specific thickness to the upper or surface of the sheet 1, the double-ridge, fixed support member 3 may be placed below the nozzle seat 21, so that the sheet 1 passes between the support member 3 and the nozzle seat 21. The nozzle 22 faces the surface of the sheet 1 in the vertical direction, and the two ridge surfaces of the first ridge 31 and / or the second ridge 32 extend linearly in the sheet width direction and face the back surface of the sheet 1 in the vertical direction. Between the support member 3 and the nozzle seat 21 or nozzle 22, the sheet 1 slides across the two ridge surfaces of the double-ridge fixed support bar and is coated.

[0047] The entire dispenser 2 may be mounted on a module that moves in the z-axis direction or vertically. The nozzle 22 may be driven, for example, by a motor and push down the sheet 1. Also, during the movement of the sheet 1, the sheet 1 may experience tension between the nozzle 22 and the support member 3 due to the downward pressing force of the nozzle 22. The top of the nozzle seat 21 or the nozzle 22 may be partially covered by the sheet 1. This allows controllable tension to be formed in the sheet 1 at the position where the nozzle 22 contacts the sheet 1. This tension allows a fluid such as adhesive from the nozzle 22 to be supplied uniformly and consistently to the sheet 1, for example, to the surface of the sheet 1. It is easily understood that by providing an additional dispenser on the back surface of the sheet 1, it is possible to coat both the front and back surfaces of the sheet 1 simultaneously.

[0048] The distance between the top or raised surface of the first protrusion 31 and the bottom of the nozzle 22 may be different from or the same as the distance between the top or raised surface of the second protrusion 32 and the bottom of the nozzle 22. The bottom of the nozzle 22 may be at any position between the top of the first protrusion 31 and the top of the second protrusion 32, or at an intermediate position between the top of the first protrusion 31 and the top of the second protrusion 32.

[0049] With the support member 3 described above, the sheet 1 can always be kept under tension between the nozzle 22 and the support member 3 during the coating process, so that a fluid such as an adhesive of a specific thickness can be applied to the surface of the sheet 1, and in particular, a continuous coating layer of a constant thickness of 10 to 20 μm can be formed.

[0050] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the support member for supporting the sheet of the present disclosure, the support member being a nesting (extendable) support member. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the support member and nozzle seat of Figure 2.

[0051] The support member 3 shown in Figure 2 may be a nesting, i.e., telescopic support member, and at least one of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 is expandable and contractible relative to the base material 30, specifically expandable and contractible in the vertical direction. In particular, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the nesting ridge may be the front ridge of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 in the sheet movement direction D of the sheet. The nesting ridge may also be in the form of a bar connected to the base material 30 via a spring 33.

[0052] As shown in Figure 3, the front bulge of the sheet 1 in the sheet movement direction D, i.e., the second bulge 32, may be a bar-shaped structure connected to the base material 30 via a spring 33. The function of this embodiment may be the same as that of the structure shown in Figure 1, but since the second bulge 32 can be moved up and down when the sheet 1 moves between the nozzle seat 21 and the double bulge support member 3, the tension of the sheet 1 can be appropriately adjusted.

[0053] The support member 3 may include a stopper member 34 fixed to the base material 30 by fasteners such as bolts to restrict the movement of the second protrusion 32, which is a nested second protrusion. Specifically, one end of the stopper member 34 may be fixed to the base material 30 and the other end may be in contact with the second protrusion 32. This allows the maximum height of the second protrusion 32 to be set. Alternatively, the maximum height of the second protrusion 32 may be equal to the height of the first protrusion 31. The shape of the stopper member is not particularly limited and may be, for example, straight or L-shaped.

[0054] As described above, the support member 3 allows tension to be constantly applied to the sheet 1 between the nozzle 22 and the support member 3 during the coating process, enabling the application of a fluid such as an adhesive of a specific thickness to the surface of the sheet 1. In particular, it allows for the stable formation of a continuous coating layer of a constant thickness of 10 to 20 μm.

[0055] Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the support member for supporting the sheet of the present disclosure, the support member being a nesting (extendable) support member. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the support member and nozzle seat of Figure 4.

[0056] The support member 3 shown in Figure 4 may be a second design, a nested, i.e., telescopic support member, and at least one of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 may be extendable and retractable relative to the base material 30. In particular, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the nested ridge may be the front ridge of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 in the sheet movement direction D. At least one of the nested ridges of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 may be equipped with a roller, which may be connected to the base material 30 via a spring 33.

[0057] As shown in Figure 5, the front bulge of the sheet 1 in the sheet movement direction D, i.e., the second bulge 32, is equipped with a roller 36. The roller 36 may be supported by a roller fixing device 38. The roller 36 may be connected to the base material 30 via a spring 33 by the roller fixing device 38. The function of this embodiment may be the same as that of the configuration shown in Figure 1, but as the sheet 1 moves between the nozzle seat 21 and the double bulge support member 3, the second bulge 32, specifically the roller 36 of the second bulge 32, is movable up and down, so that the tension of the sheet 1 can be appropriately adjusted.

[0058] Furthermore, the support member 3 shown in Figure 5 may include a stopper member, which is fixed to the base material 30 by bolts, for restricting the movement of the nested second protrusion. Specifically, one end of the stopper member may be fixed to the base material 30 and the other end may be in contact with the roller fixing device 38. This allows the maximum height of the second protrusion 32 to be set.

[0059] Alternatively, a roller 35 may be provided on the rear of the first and second ridges 32 in the direction of movement of the sheet 1, i.e., on the first ridge 31, and the roller 35 of the rear ridge may be connected to the base material 30 by a roller fixing device 37. The height of the roller on the first ridge 31 and the roller on the second ridge 32 may be the same. When the sheet 1 moves relative to the first and second ridges 31 and 32, the roller 35 on the first ridge 31 and the roller 36 on the second ridge 32 rotate together, facilitating the movement of the sheet 1. In addition, when the sheet 1 moves relative to the first and second ridges 31 and 32, the roller 36 can be moved up and down, allowing the tension of the sheet 1 to be appropriately adjusted.

[0060] The function of the structure in Figure 4 is the same as that of the structures shown in Figures 1 and 2, but the rollers rotate when the sheet 1 moves between the nozzle seat 21 and the two raised support rollers.

[0061] As described above, the support member 3 allows tension to be constantly applied to the sheet 1 between the nozzle 22 and the support member 3 during the coating process, enabling the application of a fluid such as an adhesive of a specific thickness to the surface of the sheet 1. In particular, it allows for the stable formation of a continuous coating layer of a constant thickness of 10 to 20 μm.

[0062] In conventional technology, when conveying a sheet such as an electrode substrate using transport rollers, the sheet may be conveyed in a slack state between adjacent transport rollers. However, as described above, with the support member 3 of this disclosure, the sheet 1 may be pressed down between the two raised support bars or the two raised surfaces of the two rollers. In addition, the pressure generated by the nozzle seat 21 may cause tension to be applied to the sheet 1 between the two raised support bars or the two rollers. In other words, tension can be applied to the slack sheet 1 before applying a fluid such as an adhesive to the sheet 1 such as aluminum foil, making it easier to apply a uniform coating to the sheet 1.

[0063] In this disclosure, a fluid such as adhesive can be precisely supplied and applied to a nozzle 22, which is a slot nozzle, using a high-precision metering pump. The slot nozzle has the characteristic of being able to form a continuous adhesive layer with a thickness of 10 to 20 μm on the electrode aluminum foil. Furthermore, with the double-relief support member 3 of this disclosure, specifically the two types of double-relief support members 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the double-relief support roller or support member 3 with an extendable support roller as shown in Figure 4, the sheet 1 can be strongly stretched before the adhesive is applied to the sheet 1. With the extendable support bar-shaped support member and the extendable support roller-shaped support member, the mechanism can move slightly up and down freely in order to apply appropriate tension to the sheet 1, as long as the tension of the electrodes acts alternately.

[0064] As the pressing force applied by the nozzle seat 21 increases and the tension of the sheet 1 increases, the contact-type, telescopic support roller or bar can immediately descend to compensate for this change in force. The roller or bar will not stop moving until a new balance of forces is re-established, and conversely, as the tension decreases, the contact-type, telescopic support roller or bar can rise in response to reflect this decrease.

[0065] In this disclosure, intended support members, such as double-relief support bars and double-relief support rollers, use a simple mechanical structure to apply tension to the sheet during the dispensing process. When the dispenser applies the coating to the sheet, the sheet wraps around the nozzle top, but the pressure can be easily and stably maintained. As long as the pressure is stable during operation, the slot nozzle can press the fluid across the entire top of the slot nozzle with a constant output pressure. Thus, the coating performance is very stable and consistent.

[0066] The dispenser assemblies and coating systems comprising a plurality of such dispenser assemblies described herein are described below.

[0067] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a dispenser assembly including a support member of the present disclosure and a coating system including the dispenser assembly. As shown in Figure 6 in combination with Figures 1 to 4, the dispenser assembly of the present disclosure includes a dispenser 2 and a support member 3 for supporting a sheet 1. The dispenser 2 includes a tank 20 and a nozzle seat 21 to which a nozzle 22 is attached. The nozzle 22 may be in fluid communication with the tank 20, and fluid from the tank 20 can be dispensed and applied to an object to be coated, such as a sheet 1, via the nozzle 22.

[0068] Specifically, the sheet 1 is movable under the action of the transport rollers of the transport roller assembly 5. As the sheet 1 moves on the support member 3 and is coated by the dispenser 2, the nozzle seat 21 descends and presses against the sheet 1, allowing the portion of the sheet 1 between the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 to move up and down. This applies tension to the portion of the sheet 1 between the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32, and while tension is applied, the fluid can be dispensed from the nozzle 22 on the nozzle seat 21 and applied to the surface of the sheet 1. This makes it possible to achieve a uniform coating of a certain thickness.

[0069] The nozzle shape is arbitrary. It may also be a slot nozzle. A slot nozzle can form a continuous adhesive layer with a thickness of 10 to 20 μm on a sheet such as aluminum foil. The nozzle may also be positioned midway between the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 in the direction of movement of the sheet 1.

[0070] The coating system according to this disclosure can be used when coating different parts of the same substrate. The coating system includes a plurality of dispenser assemblies for simultaneously coating different parts of a sheet. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the sheet 1 includes a first edge region 11 and a second edge region 12 connected by a central region. The sheet 1 can be transported by a transport roller assembly 5. The coating system may include two dispenser assemblies for simultaneously coating different parts of the sheet 1, namely the first edge region 11 and the second edge region 12, as the sheet 1 is transported by the transport roller assembly 5.

[0071] Furthermore, the coating system may also include four dispenser assemblies in multiple configurations: two on the front side of sheet 1 and two on the back side of sheet 1. The four dispenser assemblies of the coating system can simultaneously coat different portions of the front side of sheet 1, namely the first edge region 11 and the second edge region 12, and different portions of the back side, as sheet 1 is transported by the transport roller assembly 5.

[0072] Figure 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a support member for supporting the sheet of the present disclosure, and the support member may be a swing-type support member. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the support member and base material of Figure 7.

[0073] In the fourth embodiment, the support member may be a swingable support member, and at least one of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 may be swingable relative to the base material 30. In particular, as shown in Figure 7, the swingable ridge may be the front ridge in the sheet movement direction D of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32. In the fourth embodiment, at least one of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 may be bar-shaped or roller-shaped.

[0074] In particular, as shown in Figure 7, at least the front bulge of the sheet 1 in the sheet movement direction D, i.e., the second bulge 32, may be equipped with a roller 36. The roller 36 may be attached to one end of a swing arm 361 and rotatable at that end. The swing arm 361 may be attached to the base material 30 via a swing arm shaft 362. The swing arm shaft 362 may be fixedly attached to the base material 30, and the swing arm 361 may be swingable around the swing arm shaft 362. The swing arm 361 may also be supported on the base material 30 by a spring 33 having a guide bar 364. The guide bar 364 may be attached to the swing arm 361. The two bulges of the support member are arranged side by side on the base material 30, i.e., as one and the other behind it, in the sheet movement direction D of the sheet 1, as shown in Figure 8. The direction in which the bulges are provided or the main extension direction may be perpendicular to the sheet movement direction D.

[0075] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX passing through the swing arm axis in Figure 7. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along the line XX passing through the spring and guide bar in Figure 7. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view along the line XI-XI passing through the spring and guide bar in Figure 10. As shown in Figure 9, the swing arm axis 362 may be in the form of a fastener such as a bolt, which is inserted through a hole on one side of the base material 30 through a hole on the other side and secured by a nut in the hole on the other side. The swing arm axis 362 may be suspended from a portion of the base material 30 between the two holes. The form of the bolt is not limited and may be an external hex bolt or an internal hex bolt as shown in Figures 8 to 9.

[0076] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the swing arm 361 is approximately rectangular in plan view, and its cross-section in the sheet movement direction D may be hook-shaped. The length of the swing arm 361 in the sheet width direction corresponds to the length of the roller 36 in the sheet width direction. As shown in Figure 11, the hook-shaped swing arm 361 has a first arm 3611 and a second arm 3612 connected to the first arm at its corner. The free end of the first arm 3611 is attached to the roller 36, and the free end of the second arm 3612 may be inserted into a recess in the base material 30. Alternatively, a through hole may be provided in the corner of the swing arm 361, and the swing arm shaft 362 may pass through this through hole. When the swing arm 361 swings around the swing arm shaft 362, the second arm 3612 of the swing arm 361 is restricted to the recess in the base material 30, and the swing range of the swing arm 361 is restricted.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the first arm 3611 of the oscillating arm 361 may be supported at approximately its center by a spring 33 on the base material 30. The number of springs is not particularly limited and may be, for example, one, two, three or more. When the number of springs is odd, one spring supports the first arm of the oscillating arm 361 at its center in the sheet width direction, and the remaining springs are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the center in the sheet width direction to support the first arm of the oscillating arm 361. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, the first arm of the oscillating arm 361 may be supported by an even number of springs, for example, two springs 33, on both sides of the base material 30 in the sheet width direction. The even number, for example, two springs 33, may be symmetrical with respect to the center of the first arm in the sheet width direction.

[0078] As shown in detail in Figure 11, the spring 33 has a guide bar 364, and the spring can extend and contract along the guide bar. The guide bar 364 may be attached to the lower surface of the first arm of the oscillating arm 361, i.e., the arm to which the roller 36 is attached. The base material 30 may be provided with a recessed spring seat 365. One end of the spring 33 may be fixed to the spring seat 365, and the other end may be fixed to the lower surface of the first arm of the oscillating arm 361. The guide bar 364 may be located within the helical space of the spring 33. Note that the arrangement of the spring is not limited to the above configuration; the guide bar 364 may be attached to the base material 30, and the spring seat may be provided on the first arm. The function of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the configuration shown in Figure 1, but when the sheet 1 moves between the nozzle seat 21 and the double-ridged support member 3, the swing arm 361 becomes able to swing around the swing arm axis 362, which allows the second ridge 32, specifically the roller 36 of the second ridge 32, to move up and down, and the tension of the sheet 1 can be appropriately adjusted.

[0079] Instead of the roller 36, the second protrusion 32 could also be made a bar-shaped part of the first arm of the swinging arm 361, that is, the end of the first arm.

[0080] Furthermore, the first ridge 31 and the second ridge may be the same or different in form; that is, the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 may both be bar-shaped or roller-shaped, or they may be bar-shaped and roller-shaped respectively. If the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 are the same in form, they can be configured symmetrically in the sheet movement direction D of the sheet 1. In particular, the rear side of the first ridge 31 and the second ridge 32 in the sheet movement direction D, i.e., the first ridge 31, is equipped with a roller 35 and can be rotatably connected to the base material 30. Specifically, the roller 35 may be connected to the base material 30 by a roller fixing device as shown in Figure 11, or it may be connected to the base material 30 by a configuration and mounting method similar to that of the swing arm 361. The roller of the first ridge 31 and the roller of the second ridge 32 may have the same height in terms of surface area. When sheet 1 moves relative to the first and second ridges 31 and 32, the roller 35 on the first ridge 31 and the roller 36 on the second ridge 32 rotate together, facilitating the movement of sheet 1. Furthermore, when sheet 1 moves relative to the first and second ridges 31 and 32, at least the roller 36 can move up and down, allowing for appropriate adjustment of the tension of sheet 1.

[0081] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser assembly comprising the support member shown in Figure 7. Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the operating state of the dispenser assembly comprising the support member shown in Figure 7. As shown in Figure 12, the dispenser assembly comprises a dispenser 2 and a support member 3. When the seat 1 moves on the first protrusion 31 and the second protrusion 32 of the support member, i.e., the rollers 35 and 36, the nozzle 22 of the nozzle seat 21 can push down the seat 1 between the rollers 35 and 36.

[0082] As shown in Figure 13, when the dispenser assembly is in operation, the sheet 1 is pushed down by the nozzle 22 of the dispenser 2 as it moves on the support member 3, which can create a recess in the sheet width direction in the sheet 1 and apply tension to the portion of the sheet 1 between the rollers 35 and 36.

[0083] As described above, the support member 3 allows tension to be constantly applied to the sheet 1 between the nozzle 22 and the support member 3 during the coating process, making it possible to coat the surface of the sheet 1 with a fluid such as an adhesive of a specific thickness, and in particular, to form a continuous coating layer of a constant thickness.

[0084] Some non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are shown below.

[0085] In one embodiment, the support member includes a base material (30). The support member further includes a first ridge (31) connected to the base material. The support member further includes a second ridge (32) connected to the base material. The widths of the first and second ridges each correspond to the width of a portion of the sheet to be coated. The support member further includes locations where gaps exist between the first and second ridges, allowing a portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges to move up and down as the sheet moves on the support member relative to the first and second ridges.

[0086] The embodiments described above may further include any or a combination of the following embodiments. In the embodiments, the support member is characterized in that the support member is a fixed support member and the first ridge (31) and the second ridge (32) are fixed to the base material (30). In the embodiments, the support member is characterized in that the first ridge and the second ridge are integrally formed with the base material. In the embodiments described above, the support member is characterized in that the first ridge and the second ridge have the same height. The dispenser assembly is characterized by comprising a dispenser (2) including a tank (20) and a nozzle seat (21) to which a nozzle (22) is attached, wherein the nozzle is in fluid communication with the tank, and a support member (3) as described in any of the embodiments described above that supports a sheet, wherein when the sheet (1) moves between the support member and the dispenser to be coated by the dispenser, the nozzle seat descends and presses against the sheet, and a portion of the sheet between the first ridge and the second ridge descends. In the embodiment, the dispenser assembly described above is characterized in that the nozzle is a slot nozzle. In the embodiment, the dispenser assembly described above is characterized in that the nozzle is located midway between the first and second ridges in the direction of movement of the sheet (1). In the coating system of the embodiment described above, a plurality of dispenser assemblies are configured to coat different parts of the sheet simultaneously. The support member of the embodiment described above is characterized in that at least one of the first and second ridges is a nested support member that is nested (extendable) with respect to the base material. The support member of the embodiment described above is characterized in that the nested support member of the first and second ridges is bar-shaped and connected to the base material via a spring (33). The support member of the embodiment described above is characterized in that the nested support member is one of the front ridges of the first and second ridges in the direction of movement (D) of the sheet. The support member of the embodiment described above is characterized in that it includes a stop member (34) fixed to the base material to restrict the movement of the bar.The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the nested support member of the first and second ridges is equipped with a roller (36) and is connected to the base material via a spring (33) by a roller fixing device (38). The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the nested support member is one of the front ridges of the first and second ridges in the direction of sheet movement (D). The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that it is equipped with a stopper fixed to the base material to restrict the movement of the roller. The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that one of the rear ridges of the first and second ridges in the direction of sheet movement is equipped with a roller (35) and the roller is connected to the base material via a roller fixing device (37). The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that at least one of the first and second ridges is a swingable support member that can swing relative to the base material. The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that one of the first and second ridges, which is swingable, is bar-shaped and swingably connected to the base material (30) via a swing arm shaft (362). The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the bottom of the bar is supported by a spring (33) on the base material (30). The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the swingable ridge is one of the first and second ridges, which is in the direction of movement (D) of the sheet. The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the swingable ridge of the first and second ridges has a roller (36) that is swingably connected to the base material (30) via a swing arm shaft (362) through a swing arm (361) as a swinging mode. The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the swing arm (361) is supported by a spring (33) on the base material (30) between the roller (36) and the swing arm shaft (362). The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the swingable protrusion is one of the first and second protrusions in the direction of sheet movement (D), which is on the front side. The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that one of the first and second protrusions in the direction of sheet movement, which is on the rear side, has a roller (35).The support member of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the swing arm (361) has a first arm and a second arm connected to the first arm at a corner, the free end of the first arm is attached to a roller (36), the free end of the second arm is inserted into a recess in the base material (30), and the swing arm shaft (362) passes through a through hole in the corner.

[0087] In one embodiment, the support member includes a base material. The support member further includes a first ridge connected to the base material. The support member further includes a second ridge connected to the base material. The widths of the first and second ridges each correspond to the width of a portion of the sheet to be coated. The support member further includes locations where gaps exist between the first and second ridges, allowing a portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges to move up and down as the sheet moves relative to the first and second ridges on the support member.

[0088] The embodiments described above may further include any or a combination of the following embodiments: In the embodiments, the support member is a fixed support member, and the first and second ridges are fixed to the base material. In the embodiments, the support member is formed integrally with the base material, with the first and second ridges being formed together. The support member of the embodiments described above is a nesting support member in which at least one of the first and second ridges is nested (extendable) relative to the base material. In the embodiments described above, the nesting support member of the first and second ridges is bar-shaped and connected to the base material via a spring (33). In the embodiments described above, the nesting support member is one of the front ridges of the first and second ridges in the direction of sheet movement (D). The support member of the embodiments described above includes a stopper (34) fixed to the base material to restrict the movement of the bar. The support member in the above-described embodiment has a nested support member of the first and second ridges equipped with a roller (36) and connected to the base material via a spring (33) by a roller fixing device (38). The support member in the above-described embodiment is one of the front sides of the first and second ridges in the direction of sheet movement (D). The support member in the above-described embodiment includes one of the rear sides of the first and second ridges in the direction of sheet movement, and the roller is connected to the base material by another roller fixing device. The support member in the above-described embodiment is equipped with a stopper fixed to the base material to restrict the movement of the roller. The support member in the above-described embodiment has the first and second ridges at the same height. The support member in the above-described embodiment is a swing-type support member in which at least one of the first and second ridges is swingable relative to the base material. In the above-described embodiment, the support member has a first and second ridge, one of which is swingable and bar-shaped, and is swingably connected to the base material via a swing arm axis. In the above-described embodiment, the bottom of the bar is supported on the base material by a spring. In the above-described embodiment, the swingable ridge is the front one of the first and second ridges in the direction of sheet movement.In the above-described embodiment, the support member has a first and second ridge, and the swingable ridge has a roller that is swingably connected to the base material via a swing arm shaft. In the above-described embodiment, the swing arm is supported by a spring in the base material between the roller and the swing arm shaft. In the above-described embodiment, the swingable ridge is the front one of the first and second ridges in the direction of movement of the sheet. In the above-described embodiment, the support member has a first and second ridge, and the rear one in the direction of movement of the sheet has a roller. In the above-described embodiment, the swing arm has a first arm and a second arm connected to the first arm at a corner, the free end of the first arm is attached to the roller, the free end of the second arm is inserted into a recess in the base material, and the swing arm shaft passes through a through hole in the corner. The dispenser assembly of the above-described embodiment includes a support member for supporting a sheet, and further includes a dispenser including a tank and a nozzle seat to which a nozzle is attached, the nozzle being in fluid communication with the tank, and as the sheet moves between the support member and the dispenser for coating the sheet, the nozzle seat moves downward to press the sheet, causing a portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges to move downward. The dispenser assembly of the above-described embodiment has a slot nozzle. The dispenser assembly of the above-described embodiment has a nozzle positioned midway between the first and second ridges in the direction of sheet movement. The coating system of the above-described embodiment includes a plurality of dispenser assemblies configured to coat different portions of a sheet simultaneously.

[0089] The aspects of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. It is expected that various modifications and alterations may be made to this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.

[0090] Terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but it will be understood that these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one element from another. For example, the first element may be called the second element, and similarly, the second element may be called the third element without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Where used herein, the terms "and / or" include any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant list items.

[0091] When an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is described as "on top of" or "extending on" another element, it will be understood that it can be directly on top of or extend directly onto the other element, or that intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is described as "directly on top of" or "extending directly onto" another element, there are no intervening elements. Similarly, when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is described as "on top of" or "extending on" another element, it will be understood that it can be directly on top of or extend directly onto the other element, or that intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is described as "directly on top of" or "extending directly onto" another element, there are no intervening elements. When an element is described as "connected to" or "joined (linked)" another element, it will be understood that it can be directly connected to or joined (linked) to the other element, or that intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is described as being "directly connected" or "directly joined" to another element, there are no intervening elements.

[0092] Relative terms such as "downward" or "upward" or "up" or "down," and even "horizontal" or "vertical," may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element, layer, or region and another element, layer, or region, as shown in the figures. It will be understood that these terms and the terms described above are intended to encompass different orientations of the apparatus in addition to the orientation shown in the figures.

[0093] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing only specific aspects and are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural form unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “equip,” “consist of,” “include,” and / or “have” identify the presence of the described feature, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0094] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as they would be generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Terms used herein should be construed to have meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of this specification and related art, and it will be further understood that they should not be construed in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0095] Many of the features and advantages of this disclosure are evident from the detailed specification, and therefore the attached claims are intended to cover all such features and advantages of this disclosure that are in the true spirit and scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and variations readily arise for those skilled in the art, it is undesirable to limit this disclosure to the exact configuration and operation illustrated and described, and therefore all suitable modifications and equivalents can rely on those within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A support member that supports the sheet, Base material (30) and The first protrusion (31) connected to the substrate, The substrate comprises a second protrusion (32) connected to the substrate, The widths of the first and second ridges correspond to the width of the coated portion of the sheet. A support member wherein a gap exists between the first and second ridges, and the portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges is vertically movable when the sheet moves on the support member against the first and second ridges.

2. The aforementioned support member is a fixed support member, A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion (31) and the second protrusion (32) are fixed to the base material (30).

3. The support member for the sheet according to claim 2, wherein the first and second ridges are integrally formed with respect to the base material.

4. It is nested, A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second ridges is nested with respect to the base material.

5. The support member for the sheet according to claim 4, wherein, of the first and second protrusions, the nesting protrusion is in the form of a bar connected to the base material via a spring (33).

6. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 5, wherein the nested protrusions are the protrusions in front of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement (D) of the sheet.

7. A support member for a sheet according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a stop member (34) fixed to the base material for restricting the movement of the bar shape.

8. A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 4, wherein the nested protrusions among the first and second protrusions have rollers (36) connected to the base material via springs (33) by roller fixing devices (33).

9. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 8, wherein the nested protrusion is the front of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement (D) of the sheet.

10. A support member for a sheet according to claim 8 or 9, having a stopping member fixed to the base material for restricting the movement of the roller.

11. A support member for a sheet according to claim 9, wherein of the first and second protrusions, the rear protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet has a roller (35) connected to the base material by another roller fixing device (37).

12. A support member for supporting a sheet according to claims 1 to 6, 8 and 9, wherein the first and second ridges have the same height.

13. A swingable support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is swingable relative to the base material.

14. A support member for a sheet according to claim 13, wherein the swingable protrusion among the first and second protrusions is in the form of a bar connected to the base material (30) via a swing arm axis (362) in the swinging motion.

15. The support member for the sheet according to claim 14, wherein the bottom of the bar-shaped form is supported by a spring (33) in the base material (30).

16. A support member for a sheet according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the swingable protrusion is the front protrusion of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement (D) of the sheet.

17. A support member for a sheet according to claim 13, wherein the first and second bulges, the swingable bulge, has a roller (36) connected to the base material (30) via a swing arm axis (362) by a swing arm (361) in a swingable manner.

18. The support member for the sheet according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the oscillating arm (361) is supported by a spring (33) provided on the base material (30) between the roller (36) and the oscillating arm shaft (362).

19. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the swingable protrusion is the front of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement (D) of the sheet.

20. A support member for a sheet according to claim 19, wherein the rearward protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet, of the first and second protrusions, has a roller (35).

21. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the swing arm has a first arm and a second arm connected to the first arm at a corner, the free end of the first arm is attached to the roller (36), the free end of the second arm is inserted into a recess in the base material (30), and the swing arm shaft (362) passes through a through hole in the corner.

22. A dispenser including a tank and a nozzle seat to which a nozzle communicating with the tank is attached, A support member for supporting the sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 21, A dispenser assembly wherein, as the sheet (1) moves between the support member and the dispenser to be coated by the dispenser, the nozzle seat descends and presses against the sheet, causing the portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges to descend.

23. The dispenser assembly according to claim 22, wherein the nozzle is a slot nozzle.

24. The dispenser assembly according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the nozzle is located midway between the first ridge and the second ridge in the direction of movement of the sheet.

25. A dispenser assembly comprising the dispenser assembly according to any one of the multiple claims 22 to 24, A coating system in which the plurality of dispenser assemblies are configured to coat different parts of a sheet simultaneously.

26. A support member that supports the sheet, Substrate and A first protrusion connected to the substrate, A second protrusion connected to the substrate is provided, The widths of the first and second ridges correspond to the width of the coated portion of the sheet. A support member wherein a gap exists between the first and second ridges, and the portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges is vertically movable when the sheet moves on the support member against the first and second ridges.

27. The aforementioned support member is a fixed support member, A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 26, wherein the first and second protrusions are fixed to the base material.

28. The support member for supporting the sheet according to claim 27, wherein the first and second ridges are integrally formed with respect to the base material.

29. The aforementioned support member is a nesting support member, A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the first and second ridges is nested with respect to the base material.

30. A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 29, wherein, of the first and second protrusions, the nesting protrusion is in the form of a bar connected to the base material via a spring.

31. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 30, wherein the nested protrusions are the protrusions in front of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet.

32. A support member for a sheet according to claim 30, further comprising a stopping member fixed to the base material for restricting the movement of the bar shape.

33. A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 29, wherein the nesting protrusions among the first and second protrusions have rollers connected to the base material via springs by a roller fixing device.

34. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 33, wherein the nested protrusion is the front of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet.

35. A support member for a sheet according to claim 33, comprising a stopping member fixed to the base material for restricting the movement of the roller.

36. A support member for a sheet according to claim 34, wherein of the first and second protrusions, the rear protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet has a roller connected to the base material by another roller fixing device.

37. A support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 26, wherein the first and second ridges have the same height.

38. A swingable support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is swingable with respect to the base material.

39. A support member for a sheet according to claim 38, wherein the swingable protrusion among the first and second protrusions is in the form of a bar connected to the base material via a swing arm axis in the swinging motion.

40. The support member for the sheet according to claim 39, wherein the bottom of the bar-shaped form is supported by a spring in the base material.

41. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 38, wherein the swingable protrusion is the front of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet.

42. A support member for a sheet according to claim 38, wherein the first and second bulges, the swingable bulge, has a roller connected to the base material via a swing arm axis by a swing arm in a swingable manner.

43. The support member for the sheet according to claim 42, wherein the swinging arm is supported by a spring provided on the base material between the roller and the shaft of the swinging arm.

44. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 42, wherein the swingable protrusion is the front of the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the direction of movement of the sheet.

45. A support member for a sheet according to claim 44, wherein the rearward bulge in the direction of movement of the sheet, of the first and second bulges, has a roller.

46. The support member for supporting a sheet according to claim 42, wherein the swing arm has a first arm and a second arm connected to the first arm at a corner, the free end of the first arm is attached to the roller, the free end of the second arm is inserted into a recess in the base material, and the swing arm axis passes through a through hole in the corner.

47. A dispenser assembly comprising a support member for supporting the sheet according to claim 26, The dispenser includes a tank and a nozzle seat to which a nozzle is attached that communicates fluid with the tank, A dispenser assembly wherein, as the sheet moves between the support member and the dispenser to be coated by the dispenser, the nozzle seat descends and presses against the sheet, causing the portion of the sheet between the first and second ridges to descend.

48. The dispenser assembly according to claim 47, wherein the nozzle is a slot nozzle.

49. The dispenser assembly according to claim 47, wherein the nozzle is located midway between the first ridge and the second ridge in the direction of movement of the sheet.

50. A dispenser assembly comprising the dispenser assemblies according to multiple claims 47, A coating system in which the plurality of dispenser assemblies are configured to coat different parts of a sheet simultaneously.

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