Spinning head and spinning device

Abstract

To provide a spinning head capable of properly preventing persistence of air in a housing cavity even when a channel is tilted to a horizontal plane in a state that an ejection port is positioned in an upper side in its vertical direction to a connecting part to a housing cavity.SOLUTION: In this embodiment, a spinning head is assembled with a head body and a nozzle, and in an inside of the head body, a housing cavity capable of housing a raw material liquid is formed. The nozzle projects from an outer peripheral surface of the head body, and an ejection port capable of ejecting the raw material liquid is formed on a projection end of the nozzle. A channel connected to the housing cavity is extended to the ejection port through an inside of the nozzle. The ejection port is positioned on an upper side in its vertical direction to a connecting part to the housing cavity, and at least a part of the channel is tilted to the horizontal plane. The top edge of the connecting part of the channel to the housing cavity is positioned on the same height or on an upper side in its vertical direction to the top edge of the housing cavity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention relate to a spinning head and a spinning device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a spinning apparatus that deposits fibers or the like on the surface of a substrate or the like by electrospinning (sometimes referred to as electric charge induction spinning, etc.) or the like to form a fiber film. The spinning apparatus is provided with a spinning head, which includes a head body and a nozzle that protrudes from the outer periphery of the head body toward the outer periphery. A storage cavity capable of storing the raw material liquid is formed inside the head body, and an ejection port from which the raw material liquid can be ejected is formed at the end of the nozzle that protrudes from the head body. In addition, in the spinning head, a flow path for the raw material liquid connected to the storage cavity is formed through the inside of the nozzle to the ejection port.

[0003] As a spinning apparatus as described above, there is a type in which a raw material liquid is sprayed from a nozzle of a spinning head toward a region in a transport path where a substrate or the like is transported vertically as a transport target. Furthermore, as a spinning head used in such a spinning apparatus, there is a type in which the flow path is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, with the outlet located vertically above the connection to the storage cavity. In a spinning head in which the flow path is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, with the outlet (the protruding end of the nozzle) located vertically above the connection to the storage cavity, there is a need to appropriately prevent air from remaining in the storage cavity inside the head body. There is a need for a spinning head that can appropriately suppress the influence of residual air on the ejection of the raw material liquid by preventing air from remaining in the storage cavity of the head body, thereby enabling stable spinning. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-517991 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-147863 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2021-038493 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a spinning head that enables stable spinning, and a spinning device that includes the spinning head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to an embodiment, a spinning head is provided that sprays raw material liquid toward a region in a transport path where a transport object is transported along a vertical direction. The spinning head includes a head body and a nozzle, and a storage cavity capable of storing the raw material liquid is formed inside the head body. The nozzle protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the head body, and an ejection port capable of ejecting the raw material liquid is formed at the end of the nozzle protruding from the head body. A flow path connected to the storage cavity extends through the inside of the nozzle to the ejection port. The ejection port is located vertically above the connection portion to the storage cavity, and at least a portion of the flow path is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The upper end of the connection portion of the flow path to the storage cavity is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper end of the storage cavity. At the connecting portion, the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path is reduced relative to the cross-sectional area of ​​the storage cavity. The upper end of the connecting portion is located on a horizontal imaginary plane passing through the upper end of the storage cavity or vertically above the imaginary plane. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a spinning apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration in which a raw material liquid is ejected from one of a plurality of spinning heads in the spinning device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the spinning head of FIG. 2 in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing one nozzle and its vicinity in the cross section shown in FIG. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing one nozzle and its vicinity in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body in a spinning head according to a first modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a spinning head according to a second modified example, taken along a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a spinning head according to a third modified example, taken along a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an example of a spinning apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the spinning apparatus 1 includes a plurality of spinning heads 2, a conveying path 3, and a control unit 4. The spinning apparatus 1 and the conveying path 3 define a vertical direction (the direction indicated by arrows Z1 and Z2), a lateral direction (the direction indicated by arrows Y1 and Y2) that intersects (is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to) the vertical direction, and a depth direction (a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1) that intersects (is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to) both the vertical and lateral directions. Here, the vertical direction is a direction perpendicular to a horizontal plane. The lateral and depth directions are each parallel or substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. The conveying path 3 has regions E1 and E2 through which the object to be conveyed is conveyed along the vertical direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the object to be conveyed is conveyed along the vertical direction in each of the two regions E1 and E2. In addition, a substrate 8 is conveyed as the object to be conveyed along the conveying path 3.

[0010] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the multiple spinning heads 2 include multiple spinning heads 2A, multiple spinning heads 2B, multiple spinning heads 2C, and multiple spinning heads 2D. Each of the spinning heads 2A sprays raw material liquid from one lateral side toward a target being transported vertically in region E1, and each of the spinning heads 2B sprays raw material liquid from the lateral opposite side of the spinning head 2A toward a target being transported vertically in region E1. The multiple spinning heads 2A are arranged vertically next to each other, and the multiple spinning heads 2B are arranged vertically next to each other. Furthermore, each of the spinning heads 2C sprays raw material liquid from one lateral side toward a target being transported vertically in region E2, and each of the spinning heads 2D sprays raw material liquid from the lateral opposite side of the spinning head 2C toward a target being transported vertically in region E2. The plurality of spinning heads 2C are arranged side by side in the vertical direction relative to one another, and the plurality of spinning heads 2D are arranged side by side in the vertical direction relative to one another.

[0011] 2 shows an example of a configuration in which the raw material liquid is ejected from one of a plurality of spinning heads 2. Although FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which the raw material liquid is ejected from one of the spinning heads 2, the raw material liquid is also ejected from the other spinning heads 2 in the same manner as the spinning head 2 in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the spinning head 2 is shown as viewed from one side in the lateral direction, and the spinning head 2 is shown as viewed from the side from which the raw material liquid is ejected in the lateral direction. In addition, in FIG. 2, the directions indicated by arrows X1 and X2 are the depth direction of the spinning apparatus 1.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2 and other figures, the spinning apparatus 1 includes a raw material liquid supply unit 5 and a power source 6. The raw material liquid supply unit 5 constitutes a supply source of the raw material liquid and a supply path for the raw material liquid from the supply source to each of the spinning heads 2. In one example, the raw material liquid stored in a tank or the like is supplied to each of the spinning heads 2 by driving a driving member such as a pump in the supply unit 5. The supply unit 5 may also be provided with either a control valve capable of controlling the flow rate and pressure of the raw material liquid supplied to each of the spinning heads 2, or a switching valve capable of switching on and off the supply of the raw material liquid to each of the spinning heads 2.

[0013] The raw material liquid is a polymer material dissolved in a solvent. The polymer contained in the raw material liquid and the solvent for dissolving the polymer are appropriately determined depending on the type of fiber to be deposited on the surface of the substrate 8 to be transported. The polymer material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately changed depending on the material of the fiber to be formed. Examples of polymer materials that can be used include polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, nylon, aramid, polyamideimide, and polyimide. Any solvent can be used in the raw material liquid as long as it can dissolve the polymer substance. The solvent can be appropriately changed depending on the polymer substance to be dissolved. Examples of solvents that can be used include water, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, benzene, toluene, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and dimethylacetamide (DMAc).

[0014] Each of the spinning heads 2 includes a head body 11 and a plurality of nozzles 12. The head body 11 of each of the spinning heads 2 has a longitudinal axis C as its central axis, and the axial direction of the head body 11 is defined along the longitudinal axis C in each of the spinning heads 2. Each of the spinning heads 2 is disposed such that the axial direction of the head body 11 coincides or substantially coincides with the depth direction of the spinning apparatus 1. Therefore, the longitudinal axis C of each of the head body 11 of each of the spinning heads 2 coincides with the depth direction of the spinning apparatus 1. In each of the spinning heads 2, each of the nozzles 12 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11 toward the outer peripheral side. In one example such as FIG. 1 , in each of the spinning heads 2, each of the nozzles 12 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11 toward one lateral side of the spinning apparatus 1. In addition, in each of the spinning heads 2, the axial direction of the head body 11 intersects (is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to) the vertical direction and the protruding direction of each of the nozzles 12.

[0015] The power source 6 applies a voltage of a predetermined polarity to each of the spinning heads 2. At this time, voltages of the same polarity are applied to the multiple spinning heads 2. In each of the spinning heads 2, a voltage is applied by the power source 6 as described above, and the raw material liquid is supplied by the supply unit 5, so that the raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the applied voltage. The polarity of the voltage applied from the power source 6 to the spinning head 2 may be positive or negative. That is, in each of the spinning heads 2, the raw material liquid may be charged to a positive polarity or a negative polarity. In one example such as FIG. 2, in each of the spinning heads 2, the head body 11 and the multiple nozzles 12 are formed from a conductive material, and a voltage of a predetermined polarity is applied to the head body 11 and the nozzles 12. Then, in each of the spinning heads 2, the supplied raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the head body 11 and the nozzles 12. In one example such as FIG. 2, the power source 6 is a DC power source, and in each of the spinning heads 2, the raw material liquid is charged to a positive polarity.

[0016] In another example, in each of the spinning heads 2, only the nozzle 12 is made of a conductive material, and the head body 11 is made of a non-conductive material. Then, in each of the spinning heads 2, a voltage of a predetermined polarity is applied to the nozzle 12, and the supplied raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the nozzle 12. In another example, a power source 6 or the like forms a conductive part in either the supply source of the raw material liquid to each of the spinning heads 2 or the supply path of the raw material liquid between the supply source and each of the spinning heads 2, and a voltage of a predetermined polarity is applied to the conductive part. Then, the raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the conductive part to which the voltage is applied. In this case, the raw material liquid charged to the predetermined polarity is supplied to each of the spinning heads 2.

[0017] In one example such as FIG. 2, the substrate 8 transported in the transport path 3 is made of a conductive material. The substrate 8 transported in the transport path 3 is grounded. Alternatively, instead of grounding the substrate 8, a voltage of the opposite polarity to that of each of the spinning heads 2 may be applied to the substrate 8 by the power supply 6 or a power supply other than the power supply 6. In this embodiment, as described above, the raw material liquid supplied to each of the spinning heads 2 is charged to a predetermined polarity by the application of a voltage by the power supply 6. Therefore, a potential difference is generated between the raw material liquid supplied to each of the spinning heads 2 and the substrate 8, and the generated potential difference causes the raw material liquid to be sprayed from each nozzle 12 of the spinning head 2 toward the substrate 8.

[0018] 2 and the like, the feedstock solution is ejected from each of the spinning heads 2 toward the substrate 8 by electrospinning (also referred to as charge-induced spinning, etc.), and a fibrous film or the like is formed on the surface of the substrate 8. The magnitude of the voltage applied to the spinning heads 2 and the like by the power source 6 is appropriately set depending on the type of solvent and solute in the feedstock solution, the boiling point and vapor pressure curve of the solvent in the feedstock solution, the concentration and temperature of the feedstock solution, the shape of the nozzle 12, the distance between the substrate 8 and the nozzle 12, etc. The ejection speed of the feedstock solution from each nozzle 12 of the spinning head 2 corresponds to the concentration, viscosity, and temperature of the feedstock solution, the voltage applied to the spinning heads 2 and the like, the shape of the nozzle 12, etc.

[0019] In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 1 etc., the raw material liquid is sprayed onto both sides of the substrate 8. However, in another example, the raw material liquid may be sprayed onto only one side of the substrate 8 being transported. In this case, a fiber film or the like is formed on only one side of the substrate 8. In another example, a collector may be transported as the transport target in the transport path 3 instead of the substrate 8. In this case, the raw material liquid is sprayed from each of the spinning heads 2 toward the area where the collector is transported along the vertical direction in the transport path 3. Then, a fiber film or the like is formed on the collector. The raw material liquid may be sprayed from each of the spinning heads 2 by a method other than electrospinning. In one example, the raw material liquid is sprayed from each of the spinning heads 2 by the solution blowing method. In this case, each of the spinning heads 2 sprays the raw material liquid, in which a polymer material is dissolved in a solvent, toward the area where the transport target, such as the substrate 8, is transported along the extension direction.

[0020] The control unit (controller) 4 is, for example, a computer. The control unit 4 includes a processor or integrated circuit (control circuit) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a storage medium such as a memory. The control unit 4 may include only one integrated circuit or multiple integrated circuits. The control unit 4 performs processing by executing a program stored in a storage medium. The control unit 4 controls the supply of raw material liquid to each of the spinning heads 2, the transport of objects to be transported such as the substrate 8, and the application of voltage from the power source 6.

[0021] The following describes the configuration of each of the spinning heads 2. Figure 3 shows the spinning head 2 shown in Figure 2 in a cross section perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body 11 (depth direction of the spinning device 1). Note that the following description will focus on one of the spinning heads 2, but the other spinning heads 2 have the same configuration.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the spinning head 2 includes a head body 11 and a plurality of nozzles 12 as described above. In addition, in the spinning head 2 of the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, a plurality of nozzles 12A and a plurality of nozzles 12B are provided as the plurality of nozzles 12. The plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged at the same or approximately the same angular positions relative to each other around the longitudinal axis C of the head body 11 (the circumferential direction of the head body 11), and the plurality of nozzles 12B are arranged at the same or approximately the same angular positions relative to each other around the longitudinal axis C of the head body 11. Therefore, in the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, the plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged along the axial direction of the head body 11 to form a nozzle row. The plurality of nozzles 12B are arranged along the axial direction of the head body 11 to form a nozzle row separate from the nozzles 12A.

[0023] The multiple nozzles 12B are arranged offset from the nozzle 12A around the longitudinal axis C. However, in one example such as Figures 2 and 3, the offset of the nozzle 12B from the nozzle 12A around the longitudinal axis C is 120° or less. In the spinning head 2, the nozzles 12B protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the head body 11 toward the side from which the nozzle 12A protrudes in the lateral direction of the spinning device 1. In one example such as Figures 2 and 3, the nozzles 12A and 12B are arranged in a zigzag pattern on the outer circumferential surface of the head body 11. The nozzles 12A and 12B are arranged alternately in the axial direction of the head body 11. Therefore, between the nozzles 12A adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the head body 11 (the direction along the longitudinal axis C), one corresponding nozzle 12B is arranged.

[0024] In the spinning head 2, a storage cavity 13 capable of storing the raw material liquid is formed inside the head body 11. In the head body 11, the storage cavity 13 is formed along the axial direction, and a space portion surrounded by a cavity circumferential surface 15 is defined as the storage cavity 13. In one example such as FIG. 3, the central axis of the storage cavity 13 is coaxial or approximately coaxial with the longitudinal axis (central axis) C of the head body 11. Also, in one example such as FIG. 3, the cavity circumferential surface 15 of the storage cavity 13 is formed from the head body 11 over the entire circumferential circumference of the storage cavity 13. In the spinning head 2, the raw material liquid supplied from the supply unit 5 flows into the storage cavity 13.

[0025] Each of the nozzles 12 has an outlet 16 formed at the end protruding from the head body 11. In the spinning head 2, the same number of flow paths 17 as the nozzles 12 are formed, one for each nozzle 12. In the spinning head 2, each of the flow paths 17 is connected to the storage cavity 13. Each of the flow paths 17 extends from a connection portion 18 to the storage cavity 13 to a corresponding one of the outlets 16, passing through the interior of the corresponding one of the nozzles 12.

[0026] Hereinafter, elements related to nozzle 12A will be denoted by reference characters with an "A" added after the number, such as nozzle 16A and flow path 17A. Elements related to nozzle 12B will be denoted by reference characters with an "B" added after the number, such as nozzle 16B and flow path 17B. In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in each of flow paths 17B, nozzle 16B is located vertically below (on the side of arrow Z2) connection portion 18B to storage cavity 13. Each of flow paths 17B is inclined with respect to an imaginary horizontal plane H, for example, so that the closer it is to nozzle 16B, the more vertically downward it becomes. Therefore, in each of flow paths 17B, the closer it is to the corresponding protruding end of nozzle 12B in the lateral direction, the more vertically downward it is located.

[0027] Meanwhile, in each of the flow paths 17A, the ejection port 16A is located vertically above (on the side of the arrow Z1) the connection portion 18A to the storage cavity 13. At least a portion of each of the flow paths 17A is inclined with respect to an imaginary horizontal plane H, for example, so that the closer it is to the ejection port 16A, the more vertically upward it is. Therefore, in each of the flow paths 17A, the closer it is to the corresponding protruding end of the nozzle 12A in the lateral direction, the more vertically upward it is located. Note that FIG. 3 shows a cross section passing through one of the flow paths 17A. Also, FIG. 3 shows an example in which each of the flow paths 17A is entirely inclined with respect to the horizontal plane H, but as described above, each of the flow paths 17A is provided so that at least a portion thereof is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane H.

[0028] Here, a flow path axis PA is defined as the central axis of each flow path 17A, and a flow path axis PB is defined as the central axis of each flow path 17B. Each flow path axis PA of each flow path 17A is coaxial or approximately coaxial with the central axis of a corresponding one of the nozzles 12A, and each flow path axis PB of each flow path 17B is coaxial or approximately coaxial with the central axis of a corresponding one of the nozzles 12B. In one example, such as FIGS. 2 and 3, the acute angle θA formed by each flow path axis PA of each flow path 17A with respect to the horizontal plane H is 15° or more and 60° or less. Furthermore, the acute angle θB formed by each flow path axis PB of each flow path 17B with respect to the horizontal plane H is 15° or more and 60° or less. Therefore, in one example, such as FIGS. 2 and 3, the misalignment of nozzle 12B with respect to nozzle 12A around the longitudinal axis C is in the angular range of 30° or more and 120° or less.

[0029] In the spinning head 2, each of the channels 17A is defined as a space surrounded by a corresponding one of the channel circumferential surfaces 21. In one example such as FIG. 3, in each of the channels 17A, the channel circumferential surface 21 is formed from a corresponding one of the nozzles 12A over the entire or substantially entire area from the connection portion 18A to the storage cavity 13 to the nozzle 16A. However, in each of the channels 17A, a part of the channel circumferential surface 21 may be formed from the head main body 11. In this case, the channel circumferential surface 21 of each of the channels 17A is formed from the corresponding one of the nozzles 12A and the head main body 11.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of one nozzle 12A and its vicinity in the cross section shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cavity circumferential surface 15 of the storage cavity 13 includes a cavity top surface 22 adjacent to the storage cavity 13 from the vertically upper side. Each of the flow passage circumferential surfaces 21 includes a flow passage top surface 23 adjacent to a corresponding one of the flow passages 17A from the vertically upper side. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cavity top surface 22 is formed by the head body 11, and the flow passage top surface 23 is formed by a corresponding one of the nozzles 12A. In each of the flow passages 17A, the flow passage axis PA extends vertically below the flow passage top surface 23 from the connection portion 18A to the storage cavity 13 to the ejection port 16A.

[0031] In each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A to the storage cavity 13 is formed by the flow path upper surface 23. In each of the flow paths 17A, the lower end of the flow path upper surface 23 is defined as the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A. In addition, the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13 is defined by the cavity upper surface 22. In this embodiment, the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A of each of the flow paths 17A is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13. Therefore, when a virtual horizontal plane Tα passing through the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13 is defined, the upper end U1 of each of the connection portions 18A of each of the flow paths 17A is located on the horizontal plane Tα or vertically above the horizontal plane Tα. Therefore, within the head main body 11, there is no space formed by the storage cavity 13 in the area vertically above the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A of each of the flow paths 17A.

[0032] In one example, in the range where the connection portions 18A of the flow channels 17A are formed in the axial direction of the head body 11, the cross-sectional shape of the storage cavity 13 in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body 11 is uniform or approximately uniform. In this case, in the range where the connection portions 18A of the flow channels 17A are formed in the axial direction of the head body 11, the cross-sectional shape of the spinning head 2 in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body 11 is uniform or approximately uniform, for example, as shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the upper ends U1 of the connection portions 18A of the flow channels 17A have the positional relationship described above with respect to the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13, so that the flow channel upper surfaces 23 of the flow channels 17A are located vertically above any portion of the cavity upper surface 22.

[0033] 3 and 4, in each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path cross-sectional area in a cross section perpendicular to the flow path axis PA is uniform or uniform from the connecting portion 18A to the ejection port 16A. Therefore, in each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path cross-sectional area does not change or changes very little between the connecting portion 18A and the ejection port 16A.

[0034] 3 and 4, the entire flow path upper surface 23 of each flow path 17A between the connecting portion 18A and the ejection port 16A is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to become vertically upward as it approaches the ejection port 16A. That is, the flow path upper surface 23 of each flow path 17A is formed only from an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to become vertically upward as it approaches the ejection port 16A. Since the flow path upper surface 23 of each flow path 17A is formed as described above, the flow path upper surface 23 of each flow path 17A extends vertically upward as it approaches the ejection port 16A (the protruding end of the nozzle 12A). Furthermore, the flow path upper surface 23 of each flow path 17A does not have a portion that becomes vertically downward as it approaches the ejection port 16A.

[0035] In this embodiment, the raw material liquid is sprayed from each of the spinning heads 2 toward the region in the conveying path 3 where the substrate 8 or the like is conveyed in the vertical direction. Therefore, with a simple configuration, it is possible to form a fiber film or the like on both sides of the substrate 8 or the like. Furthermore, since the raw material liquid is sprayed toward the region in the conveying path 3 where the substrate 8 is conveyed in the vertical direction, even if the region in the conveying path 3 where the raw material liquid is sprayed from the spinning heads 2 is enlarged, the dimensions of the spinning device 1 in the horizontal direction, such as the lateral direction, do not increase.

[0036] In addition, in each of the spinning heads 2, in this embodiment, each of the flow paths 17A extends through a corresponding one of the nozzles 12A, and each of the flow paths 17A is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane (e.g., H) with the nozzle 16A positioned vertically above the connection portion 18A to the storage cavity 13. In each of the spinning heads 2, the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A of each of the flow paths 17A to the storage cavity 13 is positioned at the same height as or vertically above the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13. Therefore, in each of the spinning heads 2, there is no space formed by the storage cavity 13 in the region vertically above the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A of each of the flow paths 17A inside the head body 11. This appropriately prevents air that has flowed into the storage cavity 13 together with the raw material liquid, etc., from remaining in the storage cavity 13.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, in the spinning head 2 in which the flow path 17A is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the ejection port 16A (the protruding end of the nozzle 12A) is positioned vertically above the connection portion 18A to the storage cavity 13, air is appropriately prevented from remaining in the storage cavity 13 inside the head body 11. In each of the spinning heads 2, preventing air from remaining in the storage cavity 13 appropriately suppresses the influence of the remaining air on the ejection of the raw material liquid. For example, preventing air from remaining in the storage cavity 13 shortens the time from the start of ejection of the raw material liquid until the ejection pressure of the ejected raw material liquid stabilizes. Furthermore, preventing air from remaining in the storage cavity 13 effectively suppresses the generation of bubbles in the ejected raw material liquid.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path upper surface 23 is formed only from an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to slope vertically upward as it approaches the ejection port 16A. Therefore, in each of the flow path upper surfaces 23 of the flow paths 17A, there is no portion that slopes vertically downward as it approaches the ejection port 16A. Therefore, in this embodiment, air is appropriately prevented from remaining in the storage cavity 13, as well as in each of the flow paths 17A. By preventing air from remaining in each of the flow paths 17A, the raw material liquid is more stably ejected from each of the ejection ports 16A of the flow paths 17A.

[0039] In one example, the cross-sectional shape of the storage cavity 13 in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body 11 is uniform or approximately uniform in the range where each connection portion 18A of the flow passage 17A is formed in the axial direction of the head body 11. This makes it possible to easily realize a configuration in which the upper ends U1 of the connection portions 18A of the flow passages 17A are positioned at the same height as or vertically above the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13.

[0040] In this embodiment, the acute angle θA formed by the flow path axis PA of each flow path 17A with respect to the horizontal plane H and the acute angle θB formed by the flow path axis PB of each flow path 17B with respect to the horizontal plane H are each 15° or more. Therefore, in a configuration in which the raw material liquid is ejected from each of the ejection ports 16 by electrospinning, interference of the electric field between the nozzles 12A and 12B when a voltage is applied to each of the nozzles 12 is effectively prevented. This effectively prevents a decrease in the electric field strength at each of the ejection ports 16 (respective protruding ends of the nozzles 12) and their vicinity.

[0041] In this embodiment, each of the acute angles θA and θB is 60° or less. Therefore, in a configuration in which multiple spinning heads 2 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction as shown in Fig. 1 etc., interference between the raw material liquids sprayed from the spinning heads 2 adjacent in the vertical direction is prevented without increasing the interval between the spinning heads 2 adjacent in the vertical direction. Furthermore, since the interval between the spinning heads 2 adjacent in the vertical direction is not increased, in a spinning apparatus 1 in which multiple spinning heads 2 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction as shown in Fig. 1 etc., the dimension of the spinning apparatus 1 along the vertical direction is not increased.

[0042] (Variation) 5, in each of the flow paths 17A of the spinning head 2, the flow path cross-sectional area changes in any region from the connection portion 18A to the nozzle 16A. In this modification, flow path extension portions 25, 26 and a flow path cross-section changing portion 27 are formed in each of the flow paths 17A. Also, in this modification, in each of the flow paths 17A, a part of the flow path circumferential surface 21 is formed from the head main body 11, and a part of the flow path upper surface 23 is formed from the head main body 11.

[0043] In each of the flow paths 17A, a flow path extension portion (first flow path extension portion) 26 is connected to the storage cavity 13, and the flow path extension portion 26 forms a connection portion 18A with the storage cavity 13. In each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path extension portion (second flow path extension portion) 25 is provided at a position closer to the ejection outlet 16A than the flow path extension portion 26. In this modification, in each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path extension portion 25 extends to the ejection outlet 16A. In each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path cross-sectional area in a cross section perpendicular to the flow path axis PA (see FIG. 3) is uniform or uniform within the extension range of the flow path extension portion 25, and is uniform or approximately uniform within the extension range of the flow path extension portion 26. However, in each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path extension portion (second flow path extension portion) 25 is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path extension portion (first flow path extension portion) 26.

[0044] In each of the flow paths 17A, a flow path cross-section changing portion 27 is formed between the flow path extension portions 25 and 26. In each of the flow paths 17A, the end of the flow path extension portion 25 on the side where the storage cavity 13 is located is connected to the flow path cross-section changing portion 27, and the end of the flow path extension portion 26 on the side where the ejection port 16A is located is connected to the flow path cross-section changing portion 27. In each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path cross-section area decreases toward the flow path extension portion 25 in the flow path cross-section changing portion 27. Therefore, in this modification, in each of the flow paths 17A, the flow path cross-section changing portion 27 is formed as a region where the flow path cross-section area decreases toward the side where the ejection port 16A is located.

[0045] In this modified example, the upper ends U1 of the connection portions 18A of the flow paths 17A are located at the same height as or vertically above the upper ends U2 of the storage cavities 13. Therefore, in this modified example, as in the above-described embodiments, air is appropriately prevented from remaining in the storage cavities 13 in each of the spinning heads 2.

[0046] In this modification, each of the flow paths 17A has a horizontal portion 28 extending horizontally on the flow path upper surface 23. In one example such as FIG. 5 , the horizontal portion 28 is adjacent to the flow path cross-section change portion 27 from the vertically upper side in each of the flow paths 17A. In each of the flow paths 17A, the entire portion of the flow path upper surface 23 other than the horizontal portion 28 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be vertically upward as it approaches the ejection port 16A. Because the flow paths 17A are formed as described above, in this modification, the flow path upper surface 23 of each of the flow paths 17A is formed only with the inclined portion inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be vertically upward as it approaches the ejection port 16A, and the horizontal portion 28 extending horizontally. Therefore, in this modification, there is no portion of the flow path upper surface 23 of each of the flow paths 17A that is vertically downward as it approaches the ejection port 16A. Therefore, in this modification, in addition to air remaining in the storage cavity 13, air is also appropriately prevented from remaining in each of the flow paths 17A.

[0047] In this modification, in each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U3 of the connecting portion of the flow path extension portion 25 to the flow path cross-section change portion 27 is formed by the flow path upper surface 23. In each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U3 of the connecting portion of the flow path extension portion 25 to the flow path cross-section change portion 27 is located at the boundary between the flow path extension portion 25 and the flow path cross-section change portion 27 on the flow path upper surface 23. In each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U4 of the flow path cross-section change portion 27 and the upper end U5 of the flow path extension portion 26 are formed by the flow path upper surface 23. In one example, such as FIG. 5 , in each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U4 of the flow path cross-section change portion 27 is located at the horizontal portion 28 of the flow path upper surface 23. In each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U5 of the flow path extension portion 26 is located at the boundary between the flow path extension portion 26 and the flow path cross-section change portion 27 on the flow path upper surface 23.

[0048] In each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U3 of the connection portion of the flow path extension portion 25 to the flow path cross-section change portion 27 is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper end U4 of the flow path cross-section change portion 27 and the upper end U5 of the flow path extension portion 26. Therefore, if an imaginary horizontal plane Tβ passing through the upper end U3 is defined for each of the flow paths 17A, then in each of the flow paths 17A, the upper ends U4 and U5 are located on the horizontal plane Tβ or vertically below the horizontal plane Tβ. In one example such as FIG. 5 , in each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U3 of the connection portion of the flow path extension portion 25 to the flow path cross-section change portion 27 is located at the same height as the upper end U4 of the flow path cross-section change portion 27. In each of the flow paths 17A, the upper end U3 of the connection portion of the flow path extension portion 25 to the flow path cross-section change portion 27 is located vertically above the upper end U5 of the flow path extension portion 26.

[0049] As described above, flow path extension portions 25, 26 and flow path cross-section change portion 27 are formed, and therefore, even if flow path cross-section change portion 27 in which the flow path cross-section area decreases toward the side where ejection port 16A is located is formed in each flow path 17A, flow path upper surface 23 can be formed only from the above-mentioned horizontal portion 28 and inclined portion. In other words, even if flow path cross-section change portion 27 is formed in each flow path 17A, it is possible to appropriately realize a configuration in which there is no portion on flow path upper surface 23 that extends vertically downward as it approaches ejection port 16A.

[0050] In a second modified example shown in FIG. 6, a member 31 separate from the head body 11 is packed inside the head body 11 of the spinning head 2. Inside the head body 11, the head body 11 and the member 31 form the aforementioned storage cavity 13. In this modified example, a part of the cavity circumferential surface 15 is formed by the member 31. The member 31 is adjacent to the storage cavity 13 from the vertically upper side and forms the cavity upper surface 22. In this modified example, the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13 is also formed by the cavity upper surface 22. In this modified example, the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A of each flow path 17A to each storage cavity 13 is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13.

[0051] 7, in the spinning head 2, the central axis of the storage cavity 13 is positioned offset from the longitudinal axis (central axis) C of the head body 11. However, in this modification, the storage cavity 13 is also formed along the axial direction of the head body 11. Also in this modification, the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13 is also formed by the cavity upper surface 22. And, in this modification, the upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A of each flow path 17A to each storage cavity 13 is also positioned at the same height as or vertically above the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13.

[0052] In any of the above-described modified examples, the upper ends U1 of the connection portions 18A of the flow paths 17A to the respective storage cavities 13 are located at the same height as or vertically above the upper ends U2 of the storage cavities 13. This appropriately prevents air from remaining in the storage cavities 13 in the spinning head 2, as in the first embodiment, etc.

[0053] In a modified example, each of the spinning heads 2 may not be provided with a nozzle 12B, and the flow path 17B may not be formed. The number of nozzles 12A provided in each of the spinning heads 2 may be one or more, and each of the spinning heads 2 may be formed with one or more flow paths 17A. In either case, the flow path 17A is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, with the outlet 16A positioned vertically above the connection portion 18A to the storage cavity 13. The upper end U1 of the connection portion 18A of the flow path 17A to the storage cavity 13 is positioned at the same height as or vertically above the upper end U2 of the storage cavity 13. This appropriately prevents air from remaining in the storage cavity 13 in the spinning head 2, as in the above-described embodiment.

[0054] According to at least one of these embodiments or examples, in the spinning head, the outlet is located vertically above the connection portion to the storage cavity, and at least a portion of the flow path is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The upper end of the connection portion of the flow path to the storage cavity is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper end of the storage cavity. This makes it possible to provide a spinning head that allows stable spinning by appropriately preventing air from remaining in the storage cavity, and a spinning device that includes the spinning head.

[0055] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. The following are additional notes. [1] A spinning head that sprays a raw material liquid toward a region where an object to be conveyed is conveyed along a vertical direction in a conveying path, a head body having an internal cavity capable of storing the raw material liquid; a nozzle protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the head body, the nozzle having an ejection port capable of ejecting the raw material liquid formed at an end protruding from the head body, the nozzle having a flow path connected to the storage cavity extending through the nozzle to the ejection port; Equipped with the ejection port is located vertically above the connection portion to the storage cavity, and at least a portion of the flow path is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane; An upper end of the connection portion of the flow path to the storage cavity is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper end of the storage cavity. Spinning head. [2] The flow path peripheral surface of the flow path has a flow path upper surface adjacent to the flow path from the vertical upper side, the upper surface of the flow path is formed only from an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane in a state in which the upper surface approaches the ejection port vertically upward, or is formed only from the inclined portion and a horizontal portion that extends horizontally. [1] Spinning head. [3] The flow path includes: a first flow path extension portion; a second flow path extension portion that is provided at a position closer to the ejection port than the first flow path extension portion and has a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than that of the first flow path extension portion; and a flow path cross-section changing portion provided between the first flow path extension portion and the second flow path extension portion, in which the flow path cross-sectional area decreases from the first flow path extension portion toward the second flow path extension portion, an upper end of the connection portion of the second flow path extension portion to the flow path cross-section changing portion is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper ends of the flow path cross-section changing portion and the first flow path extension portion; [1] or [2] spinning head. [4] The axial direction of the head body intersects both the vertical direction and the protruding direction of the nozzle, a cross-sectional shape of the storage cavity in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body is uniform in a range in which the connection portion of the flow path to the storage cavity is formed in the axial direction of the head body; [1] to [3] any one of the spinning heads. [5] Any one of the spinning heads [1] to [4]; the conveying path along which the conveying object is conveyed along the vertical direction in a region where the raw material liquid is sprayed from the nozzle of the spinning head; A spinning apparatus comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1...spinning device, 2...spinning head, 3...conveying path, 11...head body, 12 (12A, 12B)...nozzle, 13...storage cavity, 16 (16A, 16B)...spout, 17 (17A, 17B)...flow path, 18 (18A, 18B)...connecting portion, 22...cavity upper surface, 23...flow path upper surface, 25, 26...flow path extension portion, 27...flow path cross-section change portion, U1 to U5...upper end

Claims

1. A spinning head that sprays a raw material liquid toward a region where an object to be conveyed is conveyed along a vertical direction in a conveying path, a head body having an internal cavity capable of storing the raw material liquid; a nozzle protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the head body, the nozzle having an ejection port capable of ejecting the raw material liquid formed at an end protruding from the head body, the nozzle having a flow path connected to the storage cavity extending through the nozzle to the ejection port; Equipped with the ejection port is located vertically above the connection portion to the storage cavity, and at least a portion of the flow path is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane; an upper end of the connection portion of the flow path to the storage cavity is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper end of the storage cavity; At the connection portion, a flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path is reduced relative to a cross-sectional area of ​​the storage cavity, the upper end of the connection portion is located on a horizontal imaginary plane passing through the upper end of the storage cavity or vertically above the imaginary plane; Spinning head.

2. a flow path circumferential surface of the flow path includes a flow path upper surface adjacent to the flow path from the vertical upper side, the upper surface of the flow path is formed only from an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane in a state in which the upper surface approaches the ejection port vertically upward, or is formed only from the inclined portion and a horizontal portion that extends horizontally.

2. The spinning head of claim 1.

3. The flow path includes: a first flow path extension portion; a second flow path extension portion that is provided at a position closer to the ejection port than the first flow path extension portion and has a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than that of the first flow path extension portion; and a flow path cross-section changing portion provided between the first flow path extension portion and the second flow path extension portion, in which the flow path cross-sectional area decreases from the first flow path extension portion toward the second flow path extension portion; is formed, an upper end of the connection portion of the second flow path extension portion to the flow path cross-section changing portion is located at the same height as or vertically above the upper ends of the flow path cross-section changing portion and the first flow path extension portion, 3. A spinning head according to claim 1 or 2.

4. an axial direction of the head body intersects with both the vertical direction and the protruding direction of the nozzle; a cross-sectional shape of the storage cavity in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the head body is uniform in a range in which the connection portion of the flow path to the storage cavity is formed in the axial direction of the head body; A spinning head according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A spinning head according to any one of claims 1 to 4; the conveying path along which the conveying object is conveyed along the vertical direction in a region where the raw material liquid is sprayed from the nozzle of the spinning head; A spinning apparatus comprising:

Images