A coating apparatus for applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece, and a coating method for applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece.

Abstract

To provide a coating device for applying a viscous coating material to a coated object and a coating method for applying a viscous coating material to a coated object that can suppress variations in a contact area between the viscous coating material and the coated object due to the temperature in the time of pressing especially when the viscous coating material is pressed with a constant force.SOLUTION: A viscous coating material applied by a coating device according to the present disclosure is deformed by being pressed by a pressing member after being applied to a coated object. The coating device according to the present disclosure includes a thermometer, a coating width calculation unit, a coating control unit, and a coating unit. In the coating device according to the present disclosure, the thermometer measures at least one of the temperatures of the surrounding environment, the viscous coating material, and the coated object. The coating width calculation unit determines the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the measured temperature and outputs the determined coating width to the coating control unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a coating device for coating a viscous coating material onto a coated body, and a coating method for coating a viscous coating material onto a coated body.

Background Art

[0002] When coating a coating material onto a coated body, it has been considered to make the coating amount of the coating material constant by executing control based on various parameters.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a coating unit that coats a coating liquid containing a solidifying component and forms a coating film by solidifying the coated coating liquid, a measuring unit that measures the mass flow rate of the coating liquid supplied to the coating unit, and a control unit that stores a reference value of the mass flow rate calculated from a predetermined mathematical formula and changes the mass flow rate of the coating liquid based on the reference value and the measurement result of the measuring unit.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a coating device that maintains a controlled quantity within a target range even when there are external factors such as the temperature of the working space.

[0005] Patent Document 3 discloses a method for controlling the coating amount of a viscous coating material, which measures the viscosity of the viscous coating material in the vicinity of a nozzle and controls the coating amount of the viscous coating material based on the measured viscosity when the viscous coating material is pumped by a pumping device and discharged from the tip of the nozzle to be coated on a coated material.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0007] Incidentally, when a viscous coating material is applied to a substrate and then deformed by pressing it with a constant force, variations in the contact area may occur depending on the temperature at the time of pressing.

[0008] Specifically, for example, a viscous thermal conductive material is sometimes used to cool a battery pack, placed between the battery pack and a cooler to transfer heat from the battery pack to the cooler. When assembling this viscous thermal conductive material between the battery pack and the cooler, a method is sometimes employed in which the viscous thermal conductive material is coated onto the cooler, and then the pressure load from the battery pack itself is applied to spread the viscous thermal conductive material, thereby creating close contact between the battery pack and the cooler via the viscous thermal conductive material. The thermal conductivity performance of the viscous thermal conductive material is affected by the thickness of the viscous thermal conductive material when a pressure load is applied, and the contact area between the viscous thermal conductive material and the battery pack and cooler. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress variations in this thickness and contact area when coating the viscous thermal conductive material. However, since the viscosity of the viscous thermal conductive material changes with temperature, when this viscous thermal conductive material is pressed with a constant force, there is a risk that variations in the contact area will occur depending on the temperature at the time of pressing.

[0009] This disclosure aims to provide a coating apparatus for applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece, and a coating method for applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece, and in particular, a coating apparatus and a coating method that can suppress variations in the contact area between the viscous coating material and the workpiece when the viscous coating material is pressed with a constant force, due to the temperature at the time of pressing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The Disclosing Party has found that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by the following means. <Aspect 1> A coating apparatus for applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece, The viscous coating material is applied to the object to be coated and then deformed by being pressed by a pressing member. The coating apparatus comprises a thermometer, a coating width calculation unit, a coating control unit, and a coating unit. The thermometer measures at least one of the following temperatures: the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the object to be coated. The coating width calculation unit determines the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the temperature, and outputs the determined coating width to the coating control unit. The coating control unit controls the coating unit so as to coat the viscous coating material with the coating width, and The coating unit applies the viscous coating material to the object to be coated based on the control of the coating control unit. Coating equipment. <Aspect 2> The coating width calculation unit calculates the viscosity of the viscous coating material when it is pressed and deformed by the pressing member, based on the temperature and an approximate formula showing the relationship between the shear rate and viscosity of the viscous coating material, and determines the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the viscosity, as described in Embodiment 1. <Aspect 3> The coating apparatus according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the pressing member presses and deforms the viscous coating material by its own weight. <Aspect 4> The coating apparatus according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the viscous coating material is a non-Newtonian fluid. <Aspect 5> The viscous coating material is a viscous thermal conductor, The object to be coated is a cooler, and The pressing member is a battery pack, and its own weight presses and deforms the viscous coating material. A coating apparatus according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4. <Pattern 6> A coating method for applying a viscous coating material to an object to be coated, The viscous coating material is applied to the object to be coated and then deformed by being pressed by a pressing member, and A coating method including the following steps: Measuring at least one temperature of the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the object to be coated; Determining the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the temperature, and Coating the viscous coating material on the object to be coated with the coating width. <Aspect 7> Coating the viscous coating material on the object to be coated by the method according to Aspect 6, and The pressing member presses and deformes the viscous coating material by its own weight. A method for coating and deforming a viscous coating material. [Effect of the Invention]

[0011] The present disclosure provides a coating apparatus for coating a viscous coating material on an object to be coated, and a coating method for coating a viscous coating material on an object to be coated. In particular, when the viscous coating material is pressed with a certain force, it is possible to suppress variations in the contact area between the viscous coating material and the object to be coated due to the temperature during pressing. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the coating apparatus of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the shear rate and viscosity when BETATECH 2029 is used as the viscous coating material at 20°C. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the coating width and the contact area of the viscous coating material at each temperature. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the disclosure.

[0014] Coating apparatus for applying viscous coating material to a workpiece. The coating apparatus of this disclosure is a coating apparatus for coating a viscous coating material onto a workpiece. The viscous coating material coated by the coating apparatus of this disclosure is deformed by being pressed by a pressing member after being applied to the workpiece. The coating apparatus of this disclosure also comprises a thermometer, a coating width calculation unit, a coating control unit, and a coating unit. Furthermore, in the coating apparatus of this disclosure, the thermometer measures at least one temperature of the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the workpiece; the coating width calculation unit determines the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the measured temperature and outputs the determined coating width to the coating control unit; the coating control unit controls the coating unit to coat the viscous coating material with the determined coating width; and the coating unit coats the viscous coating material onto the workpiece based on the control by the coating control unit.

[0015] The disclosing parties in this case believed that the viscosity of the viscous coating material changes depending on the ambient temperature, the temperature of the viscous coating material, and the temperature of the object to be coated, and that this changes the pressability of the viscous coating material, resulting in variations in the contact area between the viscous coating material and the object to be coated after pressing.

[0016] In response to this, the Disclosing Party has found that by measuring at least one temperature of the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the substrate that affects the viscosity of the viscous coating material, and determining the coating width of the viscous coating material according to that temperature, it is possible to suppress variations in the contact area between the viscous coating material and the substrate when the viscous coating material is pressed with a constant force, due to the temperature at the time of pressing.

[0017] The coating apparatus of this disclosure is a coating apparatus for coating a workpiece with a viscous coating material, wherein the viscous coating material is deformed by being pressed by a pressing member after being coated onto the workpiece.

[0018] The viscous coating material is not particularly limited as long as it is a viscous material, but it may also be a non-Newtonian fluid. Examples of non-Newtonian fluids include Bingham fluids, pseudoplastic fluids, and dilatant fluids, but Bingham fluids or pseudoplastic fluids are preferred.

[0019] The viscous coating material may be, for example, a viscous thermal conductive material. The viscous thermal conductive material may be a composition comprising a thermoplastic resin and a thermal conductive component. The types of thermoplastic resin and thermal conductive component are not particularly limited. The coated viscous thermal conductive material can be used to cool a battery pack.

[0020] The object to be coated is not particularly limited, but for example, when the coating apparatus of this disclosure is used to coat a viscous thermal conductive material used for cooling a battery pack, the object to be coated may be a cooler.

[0021] The pressing member is not particularly limited, but for example, when the coating apparatus of this disclosure is used to coat a viscous thermal conductive material used for cooling a battery pack, the pressing member may be the battery pack.

[0022] The pressing member may press the viscous coating material by its own weight. For example, when the coating apparatus of this disclosure is used to coat a viscous thermal conductive material used for cooling a battery pack, it is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing damage to the battery pack to press the viscous coating material by the weight of the battery pack, which is the pressing member, i.e., not to apply pressure to the battery pack.

[0023] A schematic diagram of the coating apparatus of the present disclosure is shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the coating apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a thermometer, a coating width calculation unit, a coating control unit, and a coating unit, and may optionally include a material extrusion pump.

[0024] <Thermometer> The thermometer in the coating apparatus of this disclosure measures at least one of the following temperatures: the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the workpiece. Specifically, examples of these temperatures include at least one of the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the workpiece when the viscous coating material is applied to the workpiece and then pressed by the pressing member. In Figure 1, the thermometer is shown as an example measuring the ambient temperature, i.e., the temperature of the ambient environment.

[0025] The thermometer is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of measuring the above temperature.

[0026] <Coating width calculation unit> The coating width calculation unit in the coating apparatus of this disclosure determines the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the temperature measured by a thermometer and outputs the determined coating width to the coating control unit.

[0027] The method for determining the coating width of a viscous coating material according to the temperature measured by a thermometer is not particularly limited, as long as it determines the coating width of the viscous coating material based on information input from the thermometer to a coating width calculation unit.

[0028] For example, the coating width calculation unit may calculate the viscosity of the viscous coating material when it is pressed and deformed by a pressing member, based on the temperature measured by a thermometer and an approximate formula showing the relationship between the shear rate and viscosity of the viscous coating material, and then determine the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the calculated viscosity.

[0029] If the viscous coating material is a non-Newtonian fluid, the above approximation can be derived using Carreau-Yasuda's equation (1) for non-Newtonian fluids.

[0030]

number

[0031] Here, since the viscosity of the viscous coating material depends on temperature, this approximation formula changes with temperature. Also, the relationship between shear rate and viscosity behaves differently depending on the type of viscous coating material. For example, Figure 2 is a graph showing the approximation formula when BETATECH 2029 is used as the viscous coating material at 20°C.

[0032] From the approximate formula obtained in this way, the viscosity of the viscous coating material at a predetermined temperature can be calculated. Here, the shear rate of the viscous coating material is determined by the pressing rate of the pressing member. Therefore, the shear rate is determined according to the pressing rate of the pressing member, and the viscosity of the viscous coating material at a predetermined temperature can be calculated from the above approximate formula.

[0033] The method for determining the coating width of the viscous coating material according to its viscosity is not particularly limited, but for example, the coating width can be determined from the following equation (2).

[0034]

number

[0035] In this formula, the viscosity of the viscous coating material can be a value calculated at a predetermined temperature, and the pressing stress and pressing speed by the pressing member, as well as the coating length and thickness of the viscous coating material after pressing, can be arbitrarily determined values. For example, when the coating apparatus of this disclosure is used to coat a viscous thermal conductive material for cooling a battery pack, the pressing stress and pressing speed are determined by the weight of the pressing member, i.e., the battery pack, and the coating length and thickness of the viscous coating material after pressing can be determined so that the contact area and thickness of the thermal conductive material exhibit the desired properties.

[0036] In Figure 1, the information input to the coating width calculation unit is exemplified by the thickness of the viscous coating material, the pressing speed by the pressing member, the pressing pressure by the pressing member, the viscosity of the viscous coating material, and the temperature. However, when determining the coating width based on the above formula (2), information regarding the coating length of the viscous coating material can also be input.

[0037] The coating width calculation unit outputs the determined coating width to the coating control unit.

[0038] <Coating control unit> The coating control unit of the coating apparatus of this disclosure controls the coating unit to coat the viscous coating material with a coating width determined by the coating width calculation unit.

[0039] The coating control unit may control the coating speed and coating pattern in addition to the coating width of the viscous coating material.

[0040] <Coating Unit> The coating unit of the coating apparatus of this disclosure applies a viscous coating material to a workpiece based on control by a coating control unit.

[0041] The coating unit may also be a nozzle, and in Figure 1, the coating unit is shown as a coating nozzle. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the coating unit may be equipped with a pump for extruding the viscous coating material.

[0042] 《Coating method for applying viscous coating material to a substrate》 In the method of applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece according to the present disclosure, the viscous coating material is deformed by pressing with a pressing member after being applied to the workpiece. The method of the present disclosure also includes measuring the temperature of at least one of the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the workpiece; determining the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the measured temperature; and applying the viscous coating material to the workpiece with the determined coating width.

[0043] <Temperature measurement process> The method of this disclosure includes measuring the temperature of the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the temperature of the object to be coated. A thermometer of this disclosure can be used to measure this temperature. For such a thermometer, refer to the above description relating to the thermometer of this disclosure.

[0044] <Process for determining coating width> The method of this disclosure includes determining the coating width of a viscous coating material according to the temperature measured in the temperature measurement step. To determine this coating width, the coating width calculation unit of this disclosure can be used. For details of this coating width calculation unit, refer to the above description relating to the coating width calculation unit of this disclosure.

[0045] <Coating Process> The method of this disclosure includes applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece with a coating width determined in a coating width determination step. The coating control unit and coating unit of this disclosure can be used to apply the viscous coating material to the workpiece with this coating width. Specifically, the coating control unit of this disclosure can control the coating unit to apply the viscous coating material to the workpiece with the determined coating width. For details of the coating control unit, refer to the above description of the coating control unit of this disclosure, and for details of the coating unit, refer to the above description of the coating unit of this disclosure.

[0046] Methods for coating and deforming viscous coating materials The present disclosure method for coating and deforming a viscous coating material involves coating a workpiece with the viscous coating material using the present disclosure method, and then a pressing member pressing and deforming the viscous coating material by its own weight. For example, when using the present disclosure method to coat a viscous thermal conductive material used for cooling a battery pack, it is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing damage to the battery pack to press the viscous coating material with the weight of the battery pack, which is the pressing member, i.e., not to apply pressure to the battery pack. [Examples]

[0047] BETATECH 2029, a viscous coating material, was applied to the substrate. The parameters used during coating were as follows: Ambient temperature: 20°C or 10°C Pressing speed by pressing member: 10 mm / min Pressing stress by the pressing member: 0.004 MPa Thickness of viscous coating material after pressing: 1 mm Application length of viscous coating material: 800 mm

[0048] The viscosity of the viscous coating material at each temperature was calculated based on the approximation formula shown in Figure 2, and a similar approximation formula when the temperature was set to 10°C.

[0049] Figure 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the coating width and contact area of ​​a viscous coating material at various temperatures. Since the viscosity of the viscous coating material is temperature-dependent, there were differences in the relationship between the coating width and contact area at each temperature, as shown in Figure 3. Specifically, for example, when the target contact area is 60% or more, it was found that the coating width needs to be more than 10 mm at an ambient temperature of 20°C, and more than 14 mm at an ambient temperature of 10°C.

Claims

1. A coating apparatus for applying a viscous coating material to a workpiece, The viscous coating material is applied to the object to be coated and then deformed by being pressed by a pressing member. The coating apparatus comprises a thermometer, a coating width calculation unit, a coating control unit, and a coating unit. The thermometer measures at least one of the following temperatures: the ambient environment, the viscous coating material, and the object to be coated. The coating width calculation unit calculates the viscosity of the viscous coating material when it is pressed and deformed by the pressing member, based on the temperature and an approximate formula showing the relationship between the shear rate and viscosity of the viscous coating material, determines the coating width of the viscous coating material according to the viscosity, and outputs the determined coating width to the coating control unit. The coating control unit controls the coating unit so as to coat the viscous coating material with the coating width, and The coating unit applies the viscous coating material to the object to be coated based on the control of the coating control unit. Coating equipment.

2. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member presses and deforms the viscous coating material by its own weight.

3. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the viscous coating material is a non-Newtonian fluid.

4. The viscous coating material is a viscous thermal conductor, The object to be coated is a cooler, and The pressing member is a battery pack, and its own weight presses and deforms the viscous coating material. The coating apparatus according to claim 1.

5. A coating method for applying a viscous coating material to an object to be coated, The viscous coating material is applied to the object to be coated and then deformed by being pressed by a pressing member, and The coating method includes the following steps: Measuring the temperature of the surrounding environment, the viscous coating material, and at least one of the temperatures of the object to be coated, Based on the aforementioned temperature and an approximate formula showing the relationship between the shear rate and viscosity of the viscous coating material, the viscosity of the viscous coating material when it is pressed and deformed by the pressing member is calculated, and the coating width of the viscous coating material is determined according to the viscosity, and Applying the viscous coating material to the object to be coated with the aforementioned coating width.

6. The viscous coating material is applied to the object to be coated by the method described in claim 5, and The pressing member presses and deforms the viscous coating material by its own weight. Method for coating and deforming viscous coating materials.

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