Die head and slot die coater

Abstract

Even when the die head is used in a vertical position, the influence of gravity is eliminated, allowing the die block to be opened / closed, and disassembled / reassembled safely and easily. [Solution] A die head for discharging a coating liquid onto a substrate according to the present disclosure includes first die heads (100) arranged opposite each other, each including a head main body (10) composed of a first die block (1) and a second die block (2), and an opening / closing mechanism (20) that connects the first die block (1) and the second die block (2) so that their cutting edges (1S, 2S) move closer to or farther apart. The opening / closing mechanism (20) includes a stopper (32) that stops the opening of at least one of the first die block (1) and the second die block (2), which is the movable member, at a predetermined angle in the opening / closing direction, and a guide (32) that guides the relative opening and closing of the first die block (1) and the second die block (2).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a die head and a slot die coater including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a slot die coater that forms a slot between two die blocks and discharges a slurry. This slot die coater is used to apply an active material slurry to a current collector such as a battery electrode, and is equipped with a vertically placed (vertical type) die head that discharges the slurry in a vertical direction. Also known is a slot die coater equipped with a horizontally placed (horizontal type) die head that discharges the slurry in a horizontal direction, as described in Patent Document 2, for example. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7686881 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-65881 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the vertically mounted die head, the two die blocks are fastened together with multiple connecting bolts, making disassembly and reassembly difficult for cleaning and adjustment. On the other hand, the horizontally mounted die head uses a hinge mechanism to open and close the die blocks, minimizing the effects of gravity and reducing the labor required for disassembly and reassembly, improving workability. Therefore, it is conceivable to apply a similar hinge mechanism to a vertically mounted die head to improve workability. However, in that case, the die blocks open and close significantly in the vertical direction due to their own weight, making it difficult to align the die blocks during disassembly and reassembly, which would actually worsen workability. Therefore, it was extremely difficult to apply a horizontally mounted hinge mechanism directly to a vertically mounted die head.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and aims to provide a die head that eliminates the effects of gravity even when the die head is used in a vertically placed position, and that enables the opening and closing, and disassembly and reassembly of the die block to be performed safely and easily, and a slot die coater equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] [1] To solve the above problem, the present disclosure provides a die head for discharging a coating liquid onto a substrate. The die head includes a first die block and a second die block arranged opposite each other, and an opening / closing mechanism that connects the first die block and the second die block so that their cutting edges move closer or farther apart. The opening / closing mechanism includes a stopper that stops the opening of at least one of the first die block and the second die block, which serves as a movable member, at a predetermined angle in the opening / closing direction, and a guide that guides the relative opening and closing of the first die block and the second die block. Here, the term "guide" in the present disclosure refers to a component of the opening / closing mechanism that contacts at least one of the first die block and the second die block, which serves as a movable member, when the first die block and the second die block move closer or farther apart from each other during their relative opening and closing movements. Furthermore, "vertical placement" does not necessarily mean a position or state in which the coating liquid is discharged vertically, but also includes a position in which the direction of the discharge port is tilted approximately ±15° from the vertical.

[0007] In this configuration, by providing a stopper portion and a guide portion in the opening and closing mechanism, the relative opening and closing movement of the first and second die blocks can be performed stably and safely even when the die head is used in a vertically placed position.

[0008] [2] In the above configuration, the opening / closing mechanism may include a first component coupled to the base end of the first die block, a second component coupled to the base end of the second die block, and a third component pivotally supporting the first and second components when the coating liquid discharge port of the die head is positioned at the tip end. In this case, the first component may have a first insertion hole whose insertion axis extends along a third axis direction perpendicular to both the first axis direction (the direction in which the coating liquid is discharged) and the second axis direction (the direction in which the first and second die blocks face each other). The second component may have a second insertion hole whose insertion axis extends along the third axis direction. The first and second components may be connected by the third component inserted into the first and second insertion holes. This configuration allows for a stable fulcrum structure to facilitate opening and closing between the die blocks.

[0009] [3] In the above configuration, the first component may have a base and a convex portion that protrudes from the base toward the second die block and has a sloped portion formed at a corner facing the second die block, and the second component may have a recess into which the convex portion of the first component fits loosely. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the "sloped portion" may be linear or curved (curved), and if curved, it is desirable that the sloped portion be convex outward. With this configuration, the rotational movement of the die block when opening and closing can be smoothly and safely controlled with a simple mechanism.

[0010] [4] In the above configuration, the first insertion hole of the first component may have an oval shape that allows the third component to move freely in the second axial direction, and the second insertion hole of the second component may have a circular shape that prevents the third component from moving freely in the two axial directions. In this configuration, the relative opening and closing movement of the first and second die blocks by the opening and closing mechanism can be realized not only as a simple pivot point but also as a movement that involves sliding in the second axial direction.

[0011] [5] Furthermore, in the specific configuration of the hinge mechanism described above, each component functions as follows. That is, the end of the convex portion of the first component component functions as a stopper portion, and at least the inclined portion of the convex portion of the first component component functions as a guide portion. As a result, the end of the convex portion provided on the fixed component (first component component) functions as a stopper portion, and at least the inclined portion of the convex portion functions as a guide portion, so that the relative opening and closing movement of the first and second die blocks can be reliably controlled with a simple structure.

[0012] [6] Furthermore, at least one of the first die block and the second die block, which serves as the movable member, may have a recess into which the upper surface of the guide portion is recessed when the first die block and the second die block are positioned close to each other. By providing the movable member die block with a recess (recess) into which the upper surface of the guide portion is recessed, damage (chipping) due to contact between the cutting edges of the die blocks during reassembly can be effectively prevented.

[0013] [7] More specifically, the recess may be a groove formed in the bottom surface of at least one of the first and second die blocks, which is the movable member. In this case, the groove can more effectively prevent damage (chipping) to the cutting edges of the die blocks during reassembly.

[0014] [8] Additionally, the movable member of the opening / closing mechanism or the movable members of the first die block and the second die block may be configured to have a detachable opening / closing auxiliary member for assisting the opening and closing operation of the movable member. By using such an opening / closing auxiliary member, the load during opening and closing caused by the weight of the die block can be reduced.

[0015] [9] A slot die coater according to the present disclosure is an apparatus or system that includes a die head according to the present disclosure, that is arranged vertically, and that is configured to apply a coating liquid ejected from the die head onto a substrate. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a right side view illustrating an example of a die head according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a usage form of a die head (slot die coater) installed in a predetermined state. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an opening and closing mechanism attached to the die block. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an opening and closing mechanism attached to the die block. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an opening and closing mechanism attached to the die block. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an opening and closing mechanism attached to the die block. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is a right side view showing a state in which the die block is open to the front side and stopped. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4A. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4A. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4A. [Figure 5A] 4B is a schematic diagram showing the process of closing the die head in the open state shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 5B] 4B is a schematic diagram showing the process of closing the die head in the open state shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 5C] 4B is a schematic diagram showing the process of closing the die head in the open state shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 5D] 4B is a schematic diagram showing the process of closing the die head in the open state shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 6] 4B is a schematic diagram showing the process of closing the die head in the open state shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 7] 4B is a schematic diagram showing the process of closing the die head in the open state shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 8] 4B is a schematic diagram showing the process of closing the die head in the open state shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 9A] FIG. 1B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1A. [Figure 9B] FIG. 1B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1A. [Figure 9C] FIG. 1B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1A. [Figure 10A] 9B shows a state in which fixtures are fastened and fixed to the right side surface and bottom surface of the die head shown in FIG. 9A. [Figure 10B] This shows a state in which fixtures are fastened and fixed to the right side surface and bottom surface of the die head shown in FIG. 9B. [Figure 10C] This shows a state in which fixtures are fastened and fixed to the right side surface and bottom surface of the die head shown in FIG. 9C. [Figure 11A] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 9A. [Figure 11B] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 9A. [Figure 12] 5B is a right side view showing a state in which an opening / closing auxiliary member is attached to the opening / closing mechanism of the die head during the opening / closing operation shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a die block in which a recess is formed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in each drawing will be assigned the same reference numerals whenever possible, and redundant description will be omitted. Note that the following embodiments are examples for explaining the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to only these embodiments. Furthermore, the present disclosure can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art can adopt embodiments in which the elements described below are replaced with equivalents, and such embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0018] Here, the relative directional relationship will be explained below. In the present disclosure, for convenience, the position at which one of the die blocks 1 and 2 (in the embodiment, the movable member) constituting the die head 100 described later can be seen is defined as the front. The direction in which the coating liquid is discharged from the slot S of the die head 100 is defined as upward Z1 (the upward direction in the plane of the paper in FIG. 1A described later), and the opposite direction is defined as downward Z2 (the downward direction in the plane of the paper in FIG. 1A). These two directions are collectively referred to as the vertical direction Z. This vertical direction Z corresponds to an example of a "first axial direction" in the present disclosure and coincides with the vertical direction in FIG. 1B. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction Z and extending from die block 1 to die block 2 in the die head 100 is defined as forward Y1 (the leftward direction in the plane of the paper in FIG. 1A), and the opposite direction is defined as backward Y2 (the rightward direction in the plane of the paper in FIG. 1A). These two directions are collectively referred to as the front-rear direction Y. This front-rear direction Y corresponds to an example of a "second axial direction" in the present disclosure and coincides with the short-side direction of the die head 100. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction Z and the front-to-rear direction Y and toward the right side as viewed from the front Y1 is referred to as the right direction X1 (the front side of the paper in FIG. 1A), and the opposite direction is referred to as the left direction X2 (the back side of the paper in FIG. 1A), and both directions are collectively referred to as the left-to-right direction X. This left-to-right direction X corresponds to an example of a "third axis direction" in the present disclosure and coincides with the longitudinal direction of the die head 100. Thus, the XY plane coincides with the planar (bottom) direction of the die head 100 and the horizontal direction in FIG. 1B.

[0019] [Die head configuration example] FIG. 1A is a right side view of an example of a die head 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of how the die head 100 (slot die coater) is used when installed in a predetermined state. As shown in FIG. 1A, the die head 100 is composed of die blocks 1 and 2 arranged opposite each other. The die head 100 includes a head main body 10 defining a slot S (an example of an "exit" in the present disclosure) through which a coating solution is ejected, and an opening / closing mechanism 20 that connects the die blocks 1 and 2 so that their cutting edges 1S and 2S (die lips) can be moved closer and farther apart. These die blocks 1 and 2 are examples of the "first die block" and "second die block" in the present disclosure, respectively. FIGS. 1A and 1B show the die blocks 1 and 2 in a closed and adjacent state.

[0020] 1B, the die head 100 is disposed vertically (with the slot S facing vertically upward) below a substrate 200 such as a film conveyed by a blanket roller BR, and is used as a slot die coater that applies a coating liquid to the substrate 200. A coating liquid supply unit 300 is connected to the die head 100, and the die blocks 1 and 2 are fastened with a temporary fastening fixture K1 on the side and a positioning and final fastening fixture K2 on the bottom (reference surface side) by screws B3 and B4, respectively. The opening / closing mechanism 20 and the fastener K1 can be removed from the die head 100 as needed.

[0021] The die blocks 1 and 2 of the head main body 10 are elongated members having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, with inner surfaces 1N and 2N, outer surfaces 1G and 2G, right side surfaces 1SR and 2SR, left side surfaces 1SL and 2SL, top surfaces 1U and 2U, and bottom surfaces 1L and 2L. As an example, the die blocks 1 and 2 are configured to have a substantially mirror-symmetrical structure in appearance. However, the internal flow path structure of the coating liquid is, strictly speaking, asymmetrical. When there is only one slot S, the external appearance often becomes mirror-symmetrical without any special consideration, but the external appearance is not limited to a mirror-symmetrical structure. Furthermore, the mirror-symmetrical structure has the advantage of suppressing distortion due to temperature changes.

[0022] Furthermore, the upper surfaces 1U and 2U are inclined surfaces that slope upward Z1 from the outside toward the inside. They slightly protrude upward Z1 at their intersections with the inner surfaces 1N and 2N (the ends of the die head 100 at the upper Z1), forming cutting edges 1S and 2S together with the inner surfaces 1N and 2N. Furthermore, the bottom surfaces 1L and 2L of the die blocks 1 and 2 are formed with threaded holes 1w and 2w into which screws B1 and B2 are threaded, respectively. Manifolds 1M and 2M, which are cavities for retaining the coating liquid delivered from the coating liquid supply unit 300, are formed on the inner surfaces 1N and 2N sides. Furthermore, a recess 2Z (e.g., a rectangular cross-section) that connects the inner surface 2N and the outer surface 2G is formed in a portion of the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 in the left-right direction X (equivalent to an example of a "groove" in this disclosure) with a square groove shape (i.e., a rectangular cross-section). This recess 2Z connects the inner surface 2N and the outer surface 2G (see also the perspective view of the die block 2 shown in FIG. 13).

[0023] 2A to 3B are exploded perspective views of the opening / closing mechanism 20 attached to the die blocks 1 and 2, with Figs. 2A and 2B showing a state viewed from diagonally above the right, and Figs. 3A and 3B showing a state viewed from diagonally below the right. Also, in each of Figs. 2A and 2B, Fig. 3A shows a state in which some of the components are assembled, and Fig. 3B shows a state in which they are not assembled.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 3B , the opening / closing mechanism 20 is primarily composed of components 3 and 4 (each an example of a “first component” and a “second component” in the present disclosure) coupled to the base ends of the die blocks 1 and 2, and a shaft-shaped component 5 that pivotally supports the components 3 and 4 so that they can rotate relative to one another. The component 3 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped base 31 that includes an outer surface 3G, and a protrusion 32 that protrudes forward Y1 from the base 31 toward the die block 2 and has a sloped corner formed at the front end. The component 4, on the other hand, is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member and is pivotally coupled to the protrusion 32 of the component 3 via the shaft-shaped component 5. The component 4 may have a recess 42 defined by a side wall 41, into which the protrusion 32 fits loosely, as shown. However, this is merely an example and is not essential. Instead of the recess structure, the component 4 may be pivotally supported by a single member on one side, for example. Furthermore, the convex portion 32 of the component 3 is provided with a curved surface 32C (which corresponds to an example of the "inclined portion" in the present disclosure) at the corner portion facing the die block 2.

[0025] Furthermore, the protrusion 32 of the component 3 is provided with an insertion hole 3h whose insertion axis extends along the left-right direction X (third axis direction) to penetrate the body, and each side wall 41 of the component 4 is provided with an insertion hole 4h whose insertion axis extends along the left-right direction X (third axis direction) to penetrate the body. These insertion holes 3h, 4h correspond to examples of the "first insertion hole" and "second insertion hole" in the present disclosure. Furthermore, as shown in the figure, the insertion hole 3h has an elongated hole shape (oval shape) that allows the component 5, which is an axis member, to move freely in the front-rear direction Y (second axis direction), while the insertion hole 4h has a circular shape that prevents the component 5 from moving freely in the front-rear direction Y (second axis direction). When the convex portion 32 is loosely fitted into the concave portion 42, the insertion axis (extension axis) of the insertion hole 4h matches the range of the elongated hole-shaped insertion hole 3h, and when the shaft-shaped component part 5 is inserted into the insertion holes 3h, 4h in this state, the components 3, 4 are connected so that they can rotate relative to each other and move in the forward / backward direction Y.

[0026] Additionally, the base 31 of the component 3 and the side wall 41 of the component 4 are formed with threaded holes 3w, 4w, into which the aforementioned screws B1, B2 are threaded, penetrating in the vertical direction Z (first axial direction) from the top surfaces 3U, 4U to the bottom surfaces 3L, 4L. As shown in FIG. 1A , the component 3 is joined to the die block 1 by threading the screw B1 into the threaded holes 1w, 3w while the top surface 3U is abutted against the bottom surface 1L of the die block 1 so that the threaded hole 3w of the component 3 matches the position of the threaded hole 1w of the die block 1. Similarly, the component 4 is joined to the die block 2 by threading the screw B2 into the threaded holes 2w, 4w while the top surface 4U is abutted against the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 so that the threaded hole 4w of the component 4 matches the position of the threaded hole 2w of the die block 2. Then, the component part 5, which is a shaft member, is inserted into the insertion holes 3h, 4h beforehand or later and locked therein, whereby the die blocks 1, 2 are connected by the opening and closing mechanism 20 so as to be movable toward and away from each other.

[0027] [Die head opening and closing operation] FIG. 4A is a right side view showing the die block 2 of the die head 100 in a stopped state with the die block 2 open toward the front. FIGS. 4B to 4D are perspective views corresponding to FIG. 4A, with FIG. 4B showing a state viewed from diagonally above right, FIG. 4C showing a state viewed from diagonally below right, and FIG. 4D showing a state viewed from diagonally rear left. As shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D, the die head 100 is an elongated member extending along the left-right direction X, and is configured such that two (a set of) opening / closing mechanisms 20 are detachably (freely) installed at a certain distance on both sides of the left-right direction X. During disassembly and reassembly for cleaning or adjustment, the die block 1 and component 3 serve as fixed members, and the die block 2 and component 4 serve as movable members.

[0028] When the die block 2 starts to open from the state shown in FIG. 1A and is pulled forward Y1 to separate it from the die block 1, the component 5 moves forward Y1 within the elongated insertion hole 3h, and the die block 2 moves forward Y1 together with the component 4. At this time, the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 slides over the upper surface 32U of the protrusion 32 of the component 3 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B). Note that at this time, the upper surface 32U sinks into the recess 2Z formed in the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2, and the die block 2 is supported on the forward Y1 side of the component 5, so that it moves in a slightly tilted state toward the forward Y1 side (the same state as in FIG. 7, which will be described later). Then, when the component 5 abuts against the front inner wall of the insertion hole 3h (at the front fulcrum position) and stops, the die block 2 rotates in the direction of arrow T1 shown in FIG. 4A (diagonally downward Z2 toward the forward Y1 side). The die block 2 then rotates around the component 5 as a fulcrum. At this time, the die block 2 can be moved while the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 is in contact with the curved surface 32C of the protrusion 32 of the component 3, or with a small gap between them. In other words, a small gap (backlash) does not hinder rotation, and constant contact is not necessarily required.

[0029] 4A to 4D, when the die block 2 is opened approximately 90° from the vertical direction Z, the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 abuts against the end 32N of the protrusion 32, stops, and maintains this state. At this time, the end 32N is immersed in the recess 2Z of the die block 2, so the die block 2 is supported by the protrusion 32 in a state where it is opened slightly more than 90° (see FIG. 4A). In this way, the end 32N of the protrusion 32 of the component 3 functions as an example of a "stopper portion" in the present disclosure, and the curved surface 32C of the protrusion 32 functions as an example of a "guide portion" in the present disclosure.

[0030] 5A to 5D and 6 to 8 are schematic diagrams showing the process of closing the die head 100 in the open state shown in Fig. 4A to 4D. In each of Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B shows a view from diagonally above right, Fig. 5C shows a view from diagonally below right, and Fig. 5D shows a view from diagonally rear left.

[0031] The closing operation of the die block 2 from the state shown in FIG. 4A is initiated, and the die block 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow T2 shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A (diagonally upward Z1 toward the rear Y2) with the component 5 as a fulcrum. As a result, the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 moves while abutting against the curved surface 32C of the protrusion 32 of the component 3. The die block 2 then passes through the state shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D (a state in which the die block 2 is opened approximately 45° from the vertical direction Z) and assumes the state shown in FIG. 6, in which the component 5 is in an upright position while maintaining its position near the front inner wall of the insertion hole 3h (the front fulcrum position). From this state shown in FIG. 6, when the die block 2 is pushed backward Y2 so as to approach the die block 1, the component 5 moves backward Y2 within the elongated insertion hole 3h, and the die block 2 moves backward Y2 together with the component 4. At this time, the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 slides over the upper surface 32U of the protrusion 32 of the component 3. At this time, as shown in Figure 7, the upper surface 32U sinks into the recess 2Z formed in the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2, and the die block 2 is supported by the protrusion 32 at a location (dotted circular frame shown in Figure 7) on the forward Y1 side of the component 5, so as described above, it moves in a slightly tilted state toward the forward Y1 side.

[0032] Then, as shown in Fig. 8, when the component 5 comes into contact with the rear inner wall of the insertion hole 3h (at the rear fulcrum position) and stops, the portion (circular dotted line in Fig. 8) where the recess 2Z on the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 is supported by the protrusion 32 moves further toward the outer surface 2G and stops while maintaining a slight tilt toward the front Y1, although the opening becomes narrower than that shown in Fig. 7. From this state, the die block 2 is slightly lifted, and the component 5 is rotated around the fulcrum so that the cutting edge 2S approaches the cutting edge 1S of the die block 1, resulting in the state shown in Fig. 1A.

[0033] 9A to 9C are perspective views corresponding to FIG. 1A, with FIG. 9A showing a state viewed from diagonally above right, FIG. 9B showing a state viewed from diagonally below right, and FIG. 9C showing a state viewed from diagonally rear left. FIGS. 10A to 10C show the die blocks 1 and 2 shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C with fasteners K1 and K2 fastened and fixed to the right side surfaces 1SR and 2SR and bottom surfaces 1L and 2L, respectively. The fastener K1 is used only on the right side surfaces 1SR and 2SR for temporarily fixing the die blocks 1 and 2. The fasteners K2 are attached to both sides in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction X) to position and permanently fix the die blocks 1 and 2 with shims sandwiched in the slots S. As described above, the opening / closing mechanism 20 and the temporary fixing fastener K1 can be removed from the die head 100 as needed.

[0034] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the die head 100 configured as described above, the opening / closing mechanism 20 is provided with a stopper portion and a guide portion (the convex portion 32 of the component 3), so that the die blocks 1 and 2 can be opened and closed stably and safely relative to each other, even when the die head 100 is used in a vertically placed position. That is, when the die blocks 1 and 2 are opened as the fixed and movable members, the end 32N of the convex portion 32, which functions as a stopper portion, limits the opening angle within a predetermined range. This reliably prevents the die block 2 from opening excessively due to its own weight and falling, or from departing from its supported state.

[0035] Furthermore, during both the opening and closing operations, the inclined portion 2C and upper surface 32U of the convex portion 32 function as guides to guide the movable die block 2 in the correct position relative to the fixed die block 1. As mentioned above, although rotation is possible even with a slight gap (play) between the convex portion 32 and the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2, the use of the contact surface allows the weight of the die block 2 to be supported by the convex portion 32, eliminating the need for the operator to support the entire gravity force manually and facilitating vertical movement. Therefore, even in a vertically mounted configuration susceptible to the effects of gravity, the die blocks 1 and 2 can be aligned easily and with high precision, significantly reducing the burden of disassembly and reassembly. Furthermore, during the closing operation, the convex portion 32 functions as a guide to control the behavior of the die block 2, effectively reducing the risk of direct contact between the cutting edges 1S and 2S (die lips) of the die blocks 1 and 2 and preventing damage to the cutting edges 1S and 2S.

[0036] As described above, the opening / closing mechanism 20 according to this embodiment has a simple configuration in which the end 32N of the protrusion 32 serves as a stopper and the curved surface 32C and upper surface 32U of the protrusion 32 also serve as guides. This allows for reliable and stable control of the relative opening and closing of the die blocks 1 and 2 without the need for complex link mechanisms or additional components. This allows for smoother opening and closing operations and improved operability while maintaining a safe open state. Furthermore, the reduced number of parts contributes to lower manufacturing costs and improved durability and maintainability. Additionally, the opening / closing mechanism 20 is detachable from the die blocks 1 and 2, allowing for flexible operation, such as attaching it only for maintenance and removing it during normal operation.

[0037] Furthermore, by configuring the component 3 (first component) and the component 4 (second component) to be rotatably supported by the component 5 (third component), opening and closing operations between the die blocks 1 and 2 can be achieved with a stable fulcrum structure. That is, in the opening and closing mechanism 20, both the component 3 and the component 4 are provided with insertion holes 3h and 4h (first and second insertion holes) extending in the left-right direction X (third axis direction), and these are connected by the shaft-shaped component 5. By allowing the components 3 and 4 to rotate integrally via the shaft-shaped component 5, the fulcrum position during opening and closing is clearly defined, allowing opening and closing operations to always follow a consistent trajectory. As a result, even in a die head 100 used in a vertically installed state, the relative opening and closing operations of the die blocks 1 and 2 can be performed smoothly and reliably, effectively preventing misalignment or tilt during reassembly. This improves the reproducibility of the opening and closing operations, contributing to the positional accuracy of the slot S and the stabilization of coating performance. Furthermore, in this configuration, the rotational movement is realized by a simple pivot structure similar to that of a hinge mechanism, so auxiliary structures such as stoppers and guides can be easily added and adjusted. As a result, the opening and closing mechanism 20 can be flexibly applied to various die head specifications, and an opening and closing structure with high expandability and versatility can be realized.

[0038] Furthermore, by fitting the protrusion 32 of the component 3 with the recess 42 of the component 4 and providing the curved surface 32C on the protrusion 32, the relative opening and closing movement of the die blocks 1, 2 can be smoothly and safely controlled with a simple mechanism. That is, with this configuration, the fitting of the protrusion 32 with the recess 42 improves the positioning accuracy in the opening and closing direction, and reduces rattles and misalignments around the rotation axis of the die block 2. Furthermore, because the curved surface 32C functions as a guide surface for the rotation path, the bottom surface 2L (recess 2Z) of the die block 2 moves smoothly along the inclined surface, achieving stable movement while preventing the die block 2 from falling due to its own weight in the opening direction.

[0039] Furthermore, during the closing operation of the die block 2, the curved surface 32C acts as a guide surface, guiding the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2 while facilitating lifting, allowing for natural and accurate alignment of the die blocks 1 and 2. This allows for opening and closing operations to be performed in a stable rotational position without being affected by gravity, even when the die head 100 is placed vertically. In this way, by integrating the rotational movement guide function into the engagement structure of the protrusion 32 and the recess 42, it is possible to both control the position of the die block 2 and prevent damage (chipping) caused by contact between the cutting edges 1S and 2S of the die blocks 1 and 2, without using separate parts or complex guide mechanisms. As a result, the structure can be simplified while further improving operability and safety during assembly and reassembly.

[0040] Furthermore, by configuring the insertion hole 3h of the fixed component (component 3) as an oval shape that allows component 5 to move freely and the insertion hole 4h of the opening / closing component (component 4) as a circular shape that prevents component 5 from moving freely, the opening and closing of the die blocks 1 and 2 by the opening / closing mechanism can be realized not only as a simple pivot point but also as a sliding motion in the forward and backward directions (second axis direction). That is, because the die block 2 can move along the oval insertion hole 3h with the component 4, a large space can be secured between the die blocks 1 and 2 in the opening direction, facilitating tasks such as cleaning and shim replacement. Furthermore, in the closing direction, the guiding action of the oblong insertion hole 3h allows the die block 2 to smoothly approach the die block 1, enabling safer and faster alignment. Furthermore, because the insertion hole 3h functions like a rail that regulates the trajectory of the die block 2, the movement of the component 5 is controlled within the oblong shape, realizing a range of motion not possible with a simple hinge mechanism, which may further contribute to improved operability and maintainability.

[0041] Furthermore, the bottom surface 2L of the die block 2, which is the movable member, is provided with a recess 2Z (relief portion) into which the upper surface 32U of the protrusion 32, which serves as a guide, is recessed. This effectively prevents interference between the die blocks 1 and 2 during reassembly. When the die blocks 1 and 2 are brought close to each other, the upper surface 32U of the protrusion 32 is recessed into the recess 2Z, so that the movable die block 2 is held at a fulcrum (hereinafter referred to as a "second fulcrum" to distinguish it from the "pivot fulcrum") that is closer to the outside (forward Y1) of the component 5, which serves as the pivot point (see FIGS. 7 and 8). As a result, the cutting edge 2S of the die block 2 is tilted in a direction away from the cutting edge 1S of the die block 1, effectively preventing direct contact between the cutting edges 1S and 2S. Thus, the recess 2Z also functions as a mechanism (relief structure) that passively prevents contact between the cutting edges 1S and 2S due to the influence of gravity when the die head 100 is used in a vertically placed position. As a result, even if the die block 2 is pressed excessively, the forward inclination Y1 of the cutting edge portion 2S absorbs any movement or positional deviation of the cutting edge portions 1S, 2S toward each other, thereby further improving safety and alignment accuracy during reassembly.

[0042] Furthermore, by forming the recess 2Z into a groove, interference between the die blocks 1 and 2 during reassembly can be more effectively prevented. That is, when the die blocks 1 and 2 are brought close to each other, the upper surface 32U of the protrusion 32 sinks into the groove, which more stably tilts the die blocks 2 in the direction of separation (forward Y1), more reliably preventing direct contact between the cutting edges 1S and 2S. Furthermore, because the groove can be realized by simple shaping, no special mechanism or additional parts are required, and it can be easily applied to existing structures. Thus, despite the simple configuration, interference between the cutting edges 1S and 2S can be reliably prevented, further improving safety and operability during reassembly.

[0043] Furthermore, by forming the recess 2Z as a groove, the position of the second fulcrum can be adjusted and controlled simply by adjusting its depth, allowing the tilt angle θ of the die block 2 to be set to a desired value. Here, FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 9A (hatching omitted). FIG. 11A shows an example in which the groove height of the recess 2Z is ​​relatively small (shallow), while FIG. 11B shows an example in which the groove height of the recess 2Z is ​​relatively large (deep). As shown, in both cases, the die block 2 is tilted while being supported by the second fulcrum near the dotted circle frame on the outer surface 2G, 4G side of the component 5. However, in FIG. 11B, where the groove height is relatively large, the second fulcrum is slightly shifted closer to the curved surface 32C than in FIG. 11A, resulting in a larger tilt angle θ. This facilitates the setting of the gap distance between the cutting edges 1S and 2S, which is effective in preventing contact, and allows for flexible adjustment of the final slot width and clearance to suit different die sizes and coating conditions.

[0044] 12 is a right side view of the die head 100 showing a state in which an opening / closing auxiliary member 6 is attached to the opening / closing mechanism 20 in the die head 100 during the opening / closing operation shown in FIG. 5A. The opening / closing auxiliary member 6 is detachably installed on the outer surface 4G of the component 4, which is the movable member, and can have a shape that is easy for an operator to grasp or for a crane to hang on, such as a rod, handle, or arm.

[0045] The die head 100 used in the slot die coater according to the present disclosure may become large and heavy depending on the coating target, coating width, and coating fluid flow path structure, making manual disassembly and reassembly difficult. Therefore, by attaching an opening / closing auxiliary member 6 (as shown in FIG. 12 ) to the movable component 4, the operator (user) can safely and stably open and close the die block by utilizing the principle of leverage and auxiliary support. This reduces the operator's burden and improves maintainability while maintaining safety. Furthermore, because the opening / closing auxiliary member 6 is detachable, it can be flexibly installed and used only during maintenance and removed during normal operation. Therefore, the safety and operability of the opening and closing operation of the die head 100 can be significantly improved with a simple additional structure without adding any special mechanisms.

[0046] The present embodiment has been described above with reference to specific examples. However, this is for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. In other words, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific examples. Design modifications to these specific examples made by a person skilled in the art are also encompassed within the technical scope of the present disclosure as long as they comprise the features of the present disclosure. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the elements, arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, dimensions, sizes, scales, etc. of the above-described specific examples are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements of the above-described specific examples can be combined as appropriate as long as no technical contradictions arise.

[0047] That is, for example, only die block 1 or both die blocks 1 and 2 may be the movable member. Furthermore, as described above, the recess 42 in component 4 is not essential. Instead, the protrusion 32 of component 3 may be sandwiched between two plate-like members, or only one plate-like member may be provided on one side. Furthermore, the opening / closing auxiliary member 6 may be attached to the die block, which is the movable member. The opening and closing operation of the opening / closing mechanism 20 can be performed manually or automatically using a motor. Furthermore, the insertion hole 3h does not need to be oval and may be circular, similar to the insertion hole 4h. In this case, the die blocks 1 and 2 can be opened and closed by rotation alone. Furthermore, the means for fastening the opening / closing mechanism 20 to the die blocks 1 and 2 is not limited to screws; other fastening methods may be used. Furthermore, the dimensions and shape of the recess 2Z (groove) formed in the bottom surface of the die block 2 can be set arbitrarily. The inclination angle θ of the die block 2 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B can be adjusted preferably to several degrees to several tens of degrees, more preferably to approximately 5 degrees to 10 degrees. Furthermore, from the viewpoints described above, it can be said that the die head according to the present disclosure encompasses within its technical scope not only the die head 100 in a configuration (state) in which the opening and closing mechanism 20 is attached, but also the die main body portion 10 to which the opening and closing mechanism 20 can be attached. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1,2...Die block, 1G,2G...Outer surface, 1L,2L...Bottom surface, 1M,2M...Manifold, 1N,2N...Inner surface, 1S,2S...Blade tip, 1SL,2SL...Left side, 1SR,2SR...Right side, 1U,2U...Top surface, 1w,2w,3 w, 4w...screw hole, 2C...slanted part, 2Z...recess, 3,4,5...component (first component, second component, and third component), 3G,4G...outer surface, 3h,4h...insertion hole, 3L,4L...bottom surface, 3U,4U...top surface, 6...opening / closing auxiliary member , 10...head main body, 20...opening / closing mechanism, 31...base, 32...convex portion, 32C...curved surface (inclined portion), 32N...end, 32U...upper surface, 41...side wall portion, 42...recess, 100...die head, slot die coater, 200...substrate, 300...coating liquid supply unit, BR...blanket roller, K1, K2...fixing device, S...slot, X...left-right direction, X1...right, X2...left, Y...front-back direction, Y1...front, Y2...back, Z...vertical direction, Z1...upper, Z2...lower, θ...tilt angle

Claims

1. A die head for discharging a coating liquid onto a substrate, a first die block and a second die block disposed opposite each other; an opening and closing mechanism that connects the first die block and the second die block so that the cutting edges of the first die block and the second die block can be moved closer and farther apart; Equipped with the opening / closing mechanism includes a stopper portion that stops the opening operation of at least one of the first die block and the second die block, which is a movable member, at a predetermined angle in the opening / closing direction, and a guide portion that guides the relative opening and closing operation of the first die block and the second die block. Die head.

2. The opening and closing mechanism comprises: a first component that is coupled to a base end side of the first die block when the discharge port of the die head for the coating liquid is located at a tip end side; a second component coupled to a base end side of the second die block; a third component that pivotally supports the first component and the second component; It has the first component is provided with a first insertion hole, the insertion axis of which extends along a third axis direction perpendicular to both a first axis direction that is a direction in which the coating liquid is discharged and a second axis direction that is a direction in which the first die block and the second die block face each other; The second component is provided with a second insertion hole having an insertion axis extending along the third axial direction, The first component and the second component are connected by the third component inserted into the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole. The die head according to claim 1.

3. the first component has a base and a protruding portion that protrudes from the base toward the second die block and has an inclined portion formed at a corner that faces the second die block; the second component has a recess into which the protrusion of the first component is loosely fitted; The die head according to claim 2.

4. the first insertion hole of the first component has an oval shape that allows the third component to move freely in the second axial direction, The second insertion hole of the second component has a circular shape that prevents the third component from moving freely in the second axial direction. The die head according to claim 2.

5. an end of the protrusion of the first component functions as the stopper portion, At least the inclined portion of the convex portion of the first component functions as the guide portion. The die head according to claim 3.

6. 2. The die head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first die block and the second die block, which is the movable member, has a recess into which the upper surface of the guide portion is recessed when the first die block and the second die block are positioned close to each other.

7. 7. The die head according to claim 6, wherein the recess is a groove formed in a bottom surface of at least one of the first die block and the second die block, which is a movable member.

8. The die head according to claim 1, wherein the movable member in the opening and closing mechanism, or the movable side member in the first die block and the second die block, is configured so that an opening and closing auxiliary member for assisting the opening and closing operation of the movable side member can be attached and detached.

9. A die head according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is provided, The die head is arranged in a vertical position, and the coating liquid discharged from the die head is applied onto a substrate. Slot die coater.

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