Coating device and method for producing object coated with coating material

Abstract

A coating device according to the present invention comprises a die head and a reciprocation device that includes a motor and a slider. The die head includes a fixed die head and a movable die head that can be moved with respect to the fixed die head. A discharge port from which a coating material is discharged is formed between the fixed die head and the movable die head. The opening area of the discharge port can be varied by movement of the movable die head. The movable die head is attached to the slider that is linearly reciprocated by the motor, and linearly reciprocated by operation of the reciprocation device. A method for producing an object coated with a coating material according to the present invention comprises placing a coating target on a reception base, coating the coating target with a coating material discharged from the coating device, and taking out, from the reception base, the coating target which has been coated with the coating material.

Description

Coating device and method for manufacturing object coated with coating substance

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a coating device and a method for manufacturing an object coated with a coating substance, and more particularly to a coating device capable of changing a coating width and a method for manufacturing an object coated with a coating substance.

[0002] For example, there is a coating device having a die head for applying a coating substance such as an adhesive to a substrate. While such coating devices generally apply the coating substance to form a rectangular coating film, some coating devices can change the coating width so that the coating substance can be applied to form a coating film with a curved portion such as a circle. As a coating device with a variable coating width, there is one in which a slit-shaped nozzle is formed on the joint surface between a fixed die plate and a movable die plate, and the slit length is changed by sliding the movable die plate using a sliding mechanism (see, for example, JP 2020-97000 A).

[0003] However, the coating device described in Patent Document 1 transmits the rotation of the motor to a screw shaft connected to the movable die plate via a gear train consisting of multiple gears, making it difficult to adjust the slit length to the intended length due to gear backlash, etc.

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure relates to providing a coating device capable of changing the coating width with high precision and a method for manufacturing an object coated with a coating substance.

[0005] A coating device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a die head having a fixed die head and a movable die head movable relative to the fixed die head, wherein an outlet through which a coating material is discharged is formed between the fixed die head and the movable die head, and the opening area of ​​the outlet can be changed by moving the movable die head; and a reciprocating device having a motor and a slider that moves linearly back and forth by operation of the motor, wherein the movable die head is attached to the slider, and the movable die head moves linearly back and forth by operation of the reciprocating device. The die head may have a shim provided between the fixed die head and the movable die head. The shim may include a fixed shim attached to the fixed die head and a movable shim attached to the movable die head. The fixed die head may have a cam follower bolt that attaches the fixed shim to the fixed die head. The movable die head may have a bolt groove for accommodating the outer ring of the cam follower bolt formed on a surface facing the fixed die head, the bolt groove extending in a direction in which the movable die head linearly reciprocates. The bolt groove may be formed to a width corresponding to a diameter of the outer ring of the cam follower bolt and configured to rotate the outer ring when the movable die head linearly reciprocates. The cam follower bolt and the bolt groove may form a fitting structure for fitting the fixed die head and the movable die head together.

[0006] In the coating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the reciprocating device may have a ball screw that rotates about an axis by operation of the motor, and the slider may be inserted into the ball screw and reciprocate linearly along the axis of the ball screw as the ball screw rotates.

[0007] Furthermore, as a coating device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the coating device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure may be provided with a pressing member that presses the movable die head toward the fixed die head.

[0008] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the fixed die head and the movable die head from unintentionally separating from each other.

[0009] Furthermore, as a coating device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the coating device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the pressing member may have a cover fixed to the fixed die head and a linear guide attached to the cover, and the rail of the linear guide may be fixed to the movable die head.

[0010] With this configuration, the movable die head can be moved along a predetermined trajectory relative to the pressing member.

[0011] Furthermore, as a coating device relating to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in a coating device relating to any one of the first to third aspects of the present disclosure, the fixed die head and the movable die head may have the fitting structure on mutually opposing surfaces.

[0012] With this configuration, the movable die head can be moved along a predetermined trajectory relative to the fixed die head.

[0013] Further, as a coating device according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the coating device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects of the present disclosure, the fixed die head and the movable die head have a temporary fixing mechanism that temporarily fixes the fixed die head and the movable die head, and the fixed die head and the pressing member have a permanent fixing mechanism that fixes the fixed die head and the pressing member, and the temporary fixing mechanism includes first temporary fixing holes formed on a surface of the fixed die head facing the movable die head, and into which bolts are screwed, and second temporary fixing holes that penetrate from the surface of the movable die head facing the fixed die head to its back surface, and are formed in multiple positions corresponding to the first temporary fixing holes with a size that allows the bolts to pass through, and the permanent fixing mechanism may include an elongated hole formed in the cover and a screw hole formed in the fixed die head, into which a bolt that has passed through the elongated hole is screwed.

[0014] By configuring it in this manner, the fixed die head and the pressing member can be permanently fixed while the fixed die head and the movable die head are temporarily fixed, and even if the temporary fixation is then released, the distance between the fixed die head and the movable die head can be appropriately maintained.

[0015] Furthermore, as an application device according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the application device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present disclosure, the shim may be a shim made of resin.

[0016] With this configuration, since the resin shim is provided, it is possible to reduce friction on the sliding surfaces between the fixed die head and the movable die head, and also to reduce leakage of the coating material.

[0017] Furthermore, as an application device according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the application device according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the shim may be formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of PEEK, polyacetal, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, PBT, and PPS.

[0018] With this configuration, it is possible to improve the abrasion resistance and further reduce leakage of the coating material.

[0019] The method for manufacturing a coated object according to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure is a method for manufacturing a coated object in which a coating substance ejected by an application device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present disclosure is applied to the coated object, and includes the steps of placing the coated object to be coated with the coating substance on a receiving table, applying the coating substance ejected from the application device to the coated object placed on the receiving table, and removing the coated object to which the coating substance has been applied from the receiving table.

[0020] With this configuration, it is possible to quickly manufacture a coating substance-coated object onto which the coating substance has been coated with high precision.

[0021] According to the present disclosure, the amount of movement of the slider is directly reflected in the amount of movement of the movable die head, so that the movable die head can be moved quickly and with high precision.

[0022] (A) is an exploded perspective view of a coating device according to one embodiment, and (B) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the coating device. (A) is a front view of a fixed die head provided in the coating device according to one embodiment, and (B) is a front view of a movable die head provided in the coating device according to one embodiment. It is a plan view illustrating an example of how a coating substance is applied to a coated object. It is a flowchart explaining a method for manufacturing a coating substance-coated object according to one embodiment.

[0023] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-097280, filed on June 13, 2023, in Japan, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description. Further scope of application of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, the detailed description and specific examples are preferred embodiments of the present invention and are described for illustrative purposes only. From this detailed description, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The applicant does not intend to dedicate any of the described embodiments to the public, and disclosed modifications and alternatives that may not literally fall within the scope of the claims are considered part of the invention under the doctrine of equivalents.

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or similar reference numerals are used to designate identical or corresponding components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0025] First, referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a coating device 1 according to one embodiment will be described. FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of the coating device 1, and FIG. 1B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the coating device 1. The coating device 1 is a device that applies a coating substance C and is capable of changing the coating width while applying the coating substance C. The coating substance C applied by the coating device 1 may be, for example, a resin such as an adhesive. Typically, the coating substance C has a predetermined viscosity that is fluid during application, and the viscosity increases over time after application, eventually losing fluidity and hardening. First, the configuration of the coating device 1 will be described below. The coating device 1 includes a die head 10, a moving device 30, and a presser member 50.

[0026] The die head 10 has a fixed die head 11, a movable die head 15, and a shim 21. The die head 10 has a slit-shaped discharge port 19 formed between the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15 by fitting the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15 together with the shim 21 sandwiched therebetween. The discharge port 19 is an opening through which the coating material C is discharged and is typically formed in the lower part of the die head 10. The die head 10 also has an inlet (not shown) through which the coating material C is supplied from the outside. The die head 10 can change the opening area (corresponding to the length of the slit) of the discharge port 19 by moving the movable die head 15 relative to the fixed die head 11 along the surface where they face each other. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1(A), the direction in which the movable die head 15 moves (i.e., the width direction of the discharge port 19) may be referred to as the X direction, the direction in which the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15 overlap may be referred to as the Y direction, and the height direction of the die head 10 may be referred to as the Z direction. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0027] The fixed die head 11 is typically made of metal and has a generally thick plate shape. The length of the fixed die head 11 in the X direction may be determined depending on the size of the workpiece (or object to be coated) to which the coating material C is to be applied. The surface of the fixed die head 11 facing the movable die head 15 (hereinafter referred to as the "first opposing surface 12") is generally flat, and multiple bolt holes 13 (see FIG. 1(B)) are formed therein. The bolt holes 13 are holes into which cam follower bolts 25 (see FIG. 1(B)) are attached. Note that, to avoid complicating the drawing, the bolt holes 13 and the cam follower bolts 25 are omitted from FIG. 1(A). The cam follower bolts 25 attach the fixed shim 22 of the shims 21 to the fixed die head 11. The cam follower bolts 25 rotate as the movable die head 15 moves, with their outer rings in contact with the movable die head 15.

[0028] As can be seen by also referring to the front view of the fixed die head 11 shown in FIG. 2(A), multiple cam follower bolts 25 are arranged at intervals in the X direction. In other words, the fixed die head 11 has multiple bolt holes 13 (see FIG. 1(B)) arranged at intervals in the X direction. Furthermore, multiple first temporary fixing holes 28 are formed in the first opposing surface 12. Each first temporary fixing hole 28 is formed between the bolt holes 13. Therefore, the bolt holes 13 and the first temporary fixing holes 28 are alternately formed at appropriate intervals on the first opposing surface 12 on a virtual line extending in the X direction. The use of the first temporary fixing holes 28 will be described later. The bolt holes 13 and the first temporary fixing holes 28 are typically formed above half the height (i.e., the distance in the Z direction) of the fixed die head 11, and in this embodiment, they are formed at a position approximately 1 / 3 below the top of the fixed die head 11. The fixed die head 11 is formed such that the thickness (i.e., the distance in the Y direction) of the thick plate is greater than the depth of the bolt holes 13 and the first temporary fixing holes 28 .

[0029] The movable die head 15 is typically made of metal and formed in a roughly thick plate shape. The side shape of the movable die head 15 (i.e., the shape in the Y-Z plane) is typically formed symmetrically with respect to the side shape of the fixed die head 11 (i.e., line symmetry with the first opposing surface 12 as the axis of symmetry). The length of the movable die head 15 in the X direction is typically greater than the length of the fixed die head 11 in the X direction. The surface of the movable die head 15 facing the fixed die head 11 (hereinafter referred to as the "second opposing surface 16") is formed flat overall, and bolt grooves 17 are formed therein. The bolt grooves 17 are grooves that accommodate multiple cam follower bolts 25 attached to the fixed die head 11.

[0030] As can be seen by also referring to the front view of the movable die head 15 shown in FIG. 2(B), the bolt grooves 17 are formed over the entire second opposing surface 16 in the X direction. The height of the bolt grooves 17 (i.e., the distance in the Z direction) is formed to a height equivalent to the diameter of the outer ring of the cam follower bolt 25. Furthermore, the bolt grooves 17 are formed at positions corresponding to the cam follower bolts 25 when the first opposing surface 12 and the second opposing surface 16 are combined to form the die head 10. A plurality of second temporary fixing holes 29 are formed within the bolt grooves 17 (more specifically, at the bottom of the grooves). The second temporary fixing holes 29 are typically formed at the same intervals as the first temporary fixing holes 28 (see FIG. 1(A)), but may also be formed at positions corresponding to the bolt holes 13. The second temporary fixing holes 29 penetrate all the way to the back surface of the second opposing surface 16 of the movable die head 15. The use of the second temporary fixing holes 29 will be described later.

[0031] The plurality of cam follower bolts 25 attached to the first opposing surface 12 and the bolt grooves 17 formed in the second opposing surface 16 correspond to an interlocking structure in which the cam follower bolts 25 fit into the bolt grooves 17. This interlocking structure contributes to guiding the direction in which the movable die head 15 moves relative to the fixed die head 11. In this embodiment, the interlocking structure is configured so that the movable die head 15 and the fixed die head 11 can move relatively in the direction in which the bolt grooves 17 extend, i.e., in the direction in which the cam follower bolts 25 are arranged.

[0032] The movable die head 15 has a rail groove 18 formed on the back surface of the second opposing surface 16. The rail groove 18 is a groove into which a rail 56 of a linear guide 55, which is a component of the presser member 50, is fitted. The rail groove 18 is used to determine the position of the rail 56 relative to the movable die head 15, and therefore, it is sufficient for the rail groove 18 to be deep enough to fit the rail 56 without moving it relative to the movable die head 15. The rail groove 18 is typically formed to extend parallel to the bolt grooves 17.

[0033] The shim 21 is typically a shim plate made of resin. In the present embodiment, the shim 21 includes a fixed shim 22 and a movable shim 23. The fixed shim 22 is attached to the first opposing surface 12 of the fixed die head 11. In the present embodiment, the fixed shim 22 has a rectangular shape roughly the same as the first opposing surface 12, with the middle portion of the side corresponding to the discharge port 19 cut out. The fixed shim 22 is attached to the first opposing surface 12 by a cam follower bolt 25. The movable shim 23 is attached to the second opposing surface 16 of the movable die head 15. The movable shim 23 is formed to a size that fills a portion of the cut-out portion of the fixed shim 22, and in the present embodiment, is formed in an elongated rectangular shape. The fixed shim 22 and the movable shim 23 are sandwiched between the first opposing surface 12 and the second opposing surface 16 so as not to overlap each other, and function as the shim 21.

[0034] The shim 21 serves to determine the size of the discharge port 19 of the die head 10. Typically, the thickness of the shim 21 corresponds to the thickness (or distance in the Y direction) of the slit-shaped discharge port 19. Furthermore, when the inside of the die head 10 is viewed from the discharge port 19, the distance between the fixed shim 22 and the movable shim 23 corresponds to the length (or distance in the X direction) of the slit-shaped discharge port 19. When the movable shim 23 moves in the X direction in conjunction with the movement of the movable die head 15, the distance between the fixed shim 22 and the movable shim 23 changes, and the opening area of ​​the discharge port 19 changes.

[0035] The shim 21 may be formed of an appropriate material in terms of abrasion resistance, dimensional accuracy (or processing accuracy), sealing performance (or hermetic sealability), chemical resistance, uniformity, and / or hardness. The shim 21 may be formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyacetal, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). Taking the above characteristics into consideration, PEEK is particularly suitable. The following materials for the shim 21 may be selected in the order of priority listed below. However, if sealing performance is more important than dimensional accuracy, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene may be prioritized over polyacetal. If dimensional accuracy and sealing performance are more important than abrasion resistance, PBT or PPS may be prioritized over polyacetal or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The shim 21 may also be formed of Unilate (registered trademark) depending on the usage situation. The shim 21 is formed from the above-mentioned type of resin, thereby preventing the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15, both of which are made of metal, from directly rubbing against each other.

[0036] The moving device 30 is a device that moves the movable die head 15 relative to the fixed die head 11. A single-axis robot is typically used as the moving device 30, but a linear motor or other device capable of linear movement may also be used. As shown in FIG. 1(A) (not shown in FIG. 1(B)), the moving device 30 includes a motor 31, a ball screw 32, and a slider 33. In the moving device 30, the ball screw 32 rotates around its axis upon activation of the motor 31, and the slider 33 inserted into the ball screw 32 moves along the axis of the ball screw 32 upon rotation of the ball screw 32. The moving device 30 corresponds to a reciprocating moving device, and can linearly reciprocate the slider via the ball screw 32 by rotating the shaft of the electrically operated motor 31 in the forward or reverse direction.

[0037] The moving device 30 is fixed to a position adjustment plate 88 to which the fixed die head 11 is fixed, and the motor 31 and ball screw 32 do not move relative to the position adjustment plate 88. In the moving device 30, the slider 33 is connected to the movable die head 15 via a mounting fixture 35. With this configuration, the movable die head 15 moves linearly back and forth in conjunction with the linear reciprocating movement of the slider 33. In this embodiment, a single-axis robot is used as the moving device 30, so that backlash that occurs when moving the slider 33 using a combination of gears as in the past can be suppressed when changing the direction of movement, and high-precision positioning can be achieved.

[0038] The presser member 50 is a member that presses the movable die head 15 toward the fixed die head 11. The presser member 50 is provided so as to enclose the movable die head 15 from the opposite side of the fixed die head 11 and is fixed to the fixed die head 11. When the presser member 50 presses the movable die head 15 toward the fixed die head 11, the presser member 50 presses the movable die head 15 so that the movable die head 15 can move relative to the fixed die head 11. The distance of the presser member 50 in the X direction is smaller than the distance of the fixed die head 11 in the X direction, so that portions through which the first temporary fixing holes 28 and the second temporary fixing holes 29 pass appear on the left and right outer sides of the presser member 50 in the X direction. The presser member 50 has a cover 51 and a linear guide 55. In FIG. 1(A), the cover 51 and the linear guide 55 are shown separately to facilitate understanding of the configuration, but in reality, the linear guide 55 is fixed to the cover 51.

[0039] In this embodiment, the cover 51 includes a vertical cover 52 and a horizontal cover 53. The vertical cover 52 is disposed opposite the surface of the movable die head 15 on which the rail groove 18 is formed. A linear guide 55 is attached to the vertical cover 52. The vertical cover 52 presses the movable die head 15 toward the fixed die head 11 (i.e., in the Y direction) via the linear guide 55. The horizontal cover 53 is disposed to cover the upper part of the die head 10. The horizontal cover 53 extends from the upper part of the vertical cover 52, over the upper part of the movable die head 15, to the upper part of the fixed die head 11. The horizontal cover 53 has a plurality of elongated holes 54 formed therein for passing bolts (not shown). Each elongated hole 54 is formed at a position corresponding to the upper part of the fixed die head 11 when the presser member 50 is attached. The horizontal cover 53 is fixed to the fixed die head 11 by bolts passing through the elongated holes 54. Therefore, screw holes for fastening bolts for fixing the pressing member 50 are formed on the upper surface of the fixed die head 11. In this embodiment, the vertical cover 52 and the horizontal cover 53 are formed separately and connected by bolts, but they may also be formed integrally.

[0040] The linear guide 55 is a member provided to smoothly move the movable die head 15 relative to the fixed die head 11 while pressing the movable die head 15 toward the fixed die head 11 with the cover 51. The linear guide 55 has a rail 56 and a carriage 57. The rail 56 is a member for guiding the movement of the carriage 57 and is formed in a straight line. The carriage 57 has a ball spline therein and can move on the rail 56 with a low load. In this embodiment, the rail 56 is fixed to the rail groove 18 of the movable die head 15, and the carriage 57 is fixed to the vertical cover 52. The movable die head 15 is supported by a plurality of cam follower bolts 25 on the second opposing surface 16 and is supported by the rail 56 on the opposite surface, thereby allowing stable and smooth movement relative to the fixed die head 11.

[0041] In this embodiment, the coating device 1 configured as described above includes a single-axis robot 81 separate from the moving device 30 so that the entire die head 10 can also move back and forth in a straight line. The slider of the single-axis robot 81 is connected to a position adjustment plate 88 to which the fixed die head 11 is fixed via a connecting member 85. The position adjustment plate 88 is connected to a base 83 to which the single-axis robot 81 is fixed by a linear guide having a configuration similar to that of the linear guide 55.

[0042] The coating device 1 should be properly constructed when assembled in order to apply the coating material C with high precision. The procedure for properly constructing the coating device will be described below. Prior to the description of the following construction procedure, the following steps are performed: A fixed shim 22 is attached to the first opposing surface 12 of the fixed die head 11 using a cam follower bolt 25. A movable shim 23 is attached to the second opposing surface 16 of the movable die head 15. The fixture 35 attached to the moving device 30 and the movable die head 15 are separated. For the sake of convenience, the moving device 30 is shown separated from the position adjustment plate 88 in FIG. 1A , but in reality, it is fixed to the position adjustment plate 88. The construction procedure will be described from this state.

[0043] From the above state, the movable die head 15 is aligned with the fixed die head 11, and the presser member 50 is positioned to cover the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15. After the presser member 50 is positioned, a bolt is passed through the elongated hole 54 of the horizontal cover 53 and the bolt is screwed into a threaded hole formed on the top surface of the fixed die head 11 to temporarily tighten the bolt. This temporary tightening means that the bolt is tightened while leaving room for the movable die head 15 to move relative to the fixed die head 11. At this time, the movable die head 15 will not fall off because it is supported by the cam follower bolt 25 attached to the fixed die head 11 and the rail 56 of the presser member 50.

[0044] After the presser member 50 is temporarily fixed to the fixed die head 11, a bolt is passed through the second temporary fixing hole 29 (see FIG. 2(B)) from the side of the surface on which the rail groove 18 of the movable die head 15 is formed, and then screwed into the first temporary fixing hole 28 (see FIG. 2(A)) formed in the fixed die head 11. The bolts screwed into the first temporary fixing holes 28 through the second temporary fixing holes 29 are screwed into the left and right outer sides of the presser member 50 and are intended to be removed later, so this can be considered temporary fixation. The temporary fixation here is performed by firmly fixing the first opposing surface 12 and the second opposing surface 16 so that they are in close contact with each other via the shim 21. This temporary fixation can prevent gaps from occurring between the first opposing surface 12 and / or the second opposing surface 16 and the shim 21, and can prevent unintentional leakage of the coating material C from the die head 10. In this embodiment, the first temporary fixing hole 28, the second temporary fixing hole 29, and the bolt that is screwed into the first temporary fixing hole 28 through the second temporary fixing hole 29 correspond to the temporary fixing mechanism.

[0045] After the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15 are temporarily fixed, the presser member 50 is pressed toward the movable die head 15 to bring them into close contact, and the bolts passing through the elongated holes 54 are further screwed into the threaded holes on the top surface of the fixed die head 11. In this manner, the presser member 50 is firmly fixed to the fixed die head 11. This fixation is maintained even when the coating device 1 is in operation and can be considered a permanent fixation. In this embodiment, the elongated holes 54, the threaded holes formed on the top surface of the fixed die head 11, and the bolts threaded through the elongated holes 54 and into the threaded holes formed on the top surface of the fixed die head 11 correspond to the permanent fixation mechanism. After the presser member 50 is permanently fixed to the fixed die head 11, the bolts threaded into the first temporary fixation holes 28 through the second temporary fixation holes 29 are removed. This allows the movable die head 15 to move in the X direction relative to the fixed die head 11 while maintaining the movable die head 15 in an appropriate position relative to the fixed die head 11.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3 , the coating device 1 (only the die head 10 is shown in FIG. 3 for convenience) is typically disposed above a receiving table 99 with the discharge port 19 (see FIG. 1B ) facing downward. The receiving table 99 is a platform on which a workpiece W, which is an object to be coated with the coating material C, is placed. The coating material C is then applied to the workpiece W by moving the receiving table 99 on which the workpiece W is placed in the Y direction (moving it from below to above the plane of FIG. 3 in this embodiment) while the coating material C is being discharged at an appropriate position from the discharge port 19. While the coating material C is being discharged toward the workpiece W, the width (i.e., length in the X direction) of the coating material C applied to the workpiece W can be changed by moving the movable die head 15 relative to the fixed die head 11 using the moving device 30. Furthermore, the position at which the coating material C is applied to the workpiece W can be changed by moving the entire die head 10 in the X direction using the single-axis robot 81.

[0047] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a method for manufacturing a coated-substance-coated object (hereinafter referred to as a "coated workpiece CW") in which a coating substance C is applied to a workpiece W will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the steps for manufacturing the coated workpiece CW. The coated workpiece CW described here is manufactured using the coating apparatus 1 described above. The following description of the method for manufacturing the coated workpiece CW also serves as a description of the operation of the coating apparatus 1. In the following description, when referring to the configuration of the coating apparatus 1, reference will be made to FIGS. 1(A) to 3 as appropriate. The operation of the coating apparatus 1 in the following description is typically performed by a control device (not shown).

[0048] When the production of the coated workpiece CW starts, the workpiece W to be coated with the coating substance C is placed on the receiving table 99 (S1). The workpiece W may be placed on the receiving table 99 by a robot hand (not shown) or by an operator. If the receiving table 99 is provided with a fixing means (not shown), after the workpiece W is placed on the receiving table 99, the fixing means (not shown) may be used to fix the workpiece W so that it does not move relative to the receiving table 99.

[0049] Once the workpiece W is placed on the receiving table 99, the receiving table 99 begins to move in the Y direction, and the coating material C is discharged from the discharge port 19 of the die head 10 at the appropriate time, coating the workpiece W with the coating material C discharged from the discharge port 19 (S2). As described above, by moving the movable die head 15 and / or the entire die head 10 back and forth in the X direction while the coating material C is being discharged toward the workpiece W, the width of the coating material C applied to the workpiece W and the application position relative to the workpiece W can be appropriately changed. This allows for the formation of films of coating material C in a variety of shapes on the workpiece W, such as circles, ellipses, triangles, quadrilaterals including rectangles and trapezoids, and polygons such as pentagons. At this time, the movable die head 15 is moved by the moving device 30 using a single-axis robot, and the entire die head 10 is moved by the single-axis robot 81, allowing for rapid movement with high precision. Therefore, the application width (i.e., the distance in the X direction) can be changed instantaneously over a short distance, and the application substance C can be applied in a shape with steps that are nearly perpendicular, such as the film of application substance C shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, because the shim 21 is formed of a resin such as PEEK, damage due to friction to the first opposing surface 12 and the second opposing surface 16 that slide against the shim 21 can be reduced, and leakage of the application substance C from the sliding surfaces can be reduced. When application of the application substance C to the workpiece W is completed, a coated workpiece CW is produced.

[0050] Once the coated workpiece CW has been produced, it is removed from the receiving table 99 (S3). Removal of the coated workpiece CW from the receiving table 99 may be performed by a robot hand (not shown) or by an operator. At this time, if the workpiece W is fixed to the receiving table 99 by a fixing means (not shown), the fixing means (not shown) is removed before the workpiece W is removed. This completes the production of one coated workpiece CW. Once the production of one coated workpiece CW is complete, it is determined whether there is another workpiece W to be coated with the coating substance C (S4). If there is a next workpiece W, the process returns to the step of placing the workpiece W on the receiving table 99 (S1), and the above-mentioned procedure is repeated. If there is no next workpiece W, the production of the coated workpiece CW is completed.

[0051] As described above, in the coating apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the moving device 30, which uses a single-axis robot, directly moves the movable die head 15, allowing the movable die head 15 to be moved quickly and with high precision. This allows coating materials C of various shapes to be applied to the workpiece W as intended, and enables fine width adjustment even for workpieces W with narrow frames, for example. Furthermore, because the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15 are held by the presser member 50 having the linear guide 55, the movable die head 15 can be moved along a predetermined trajectory while preventing unintentional separation from the fixed die head 11. Furthermore, because the fixed die head 11 and the movable die head 15 have an engagement structure in which the cam follower bolts 25 fit into the bolt grooves 17, the movable die head 15 can be moved stably and smoothly. Furthermore, the fixed shim 22 can be removed from the fixed die head 11 simply by removing the presser member 50 from the die head 10, separating the movable die head 15 from the fixed die head 11, and removing the cam follower bolt 25 from the fixed die head 11. This allows the fixed shim 22 to be easily cleaned or replaced. Furthermore, by assembling the coating device 1 using the first temporary fixing holes 28 formed in the fixed die head 11 and the second temporary fixing holes 29 formed in the movable die head 15, the movable die head 15 can be appropriately aligned parallel to the fixed die head 11. This allows the construction of a die head 10 capable of coating the coating material C with high precision.

[0052] In the above description, the die head 10 has the shim 21, but if omitting the shim 21 does not have any adverse effects, the shim 21 may be omitted. In this case, the discharge port 19 may be formed directly on the fixed die head 11 and / or the fixed die head 11. However, it is preferable to include the shim 21 because the shim 21 can improve wear resistance and reduce leakage of the coating material.

[0053] In the above description, the workpiece W is applied with the coating substance C by moving the receiving table 99 on which the workpiece W is placed in the Y direction relative to the coating device 1. However, the coating device 1 may be moved in the Y direction instead of the receiving table 99, or both the coating device 1 and the receiving table 99 may be moved.

[0054] In the above explanation, the coating device and the method for manufacturing an object coated with a coating substance according to an embodiment of the present invention have been described using Figures 1(A) to 4 as examples, but the configuration, structure, number, arrangement, shape, material, etc. of each part are not limited to the above specific examples, and anything that a person skilled in the art appropriately selects and adopts is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the gist of the present invention.

[0055] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference was individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth herein in its entirety.

[0056] The use of nouns and similar referents in connection with the description of the present invention (particularly in connection with the claims that follow) shall be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The words "comprises," "has," "includes," and "comprises" shall be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to"), unless otherwise noted. The recitation of numerical ranges herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method for referring individually to each value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Any examples or exemplary language used herein (e.g., "etc.") are intended merely to better describe the invention and do not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention, unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0057] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of these preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor contemplates that skilled persons will apply such variations as appropriate, and intends to practice the invention otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, this invention includes any combination of the above-described elements in all variations thereof unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A die head having a fixed die head, a movable die head movable relative to the fixed die head, and a shim provided between the fixed die head and the movable die head, wherein an outlet through which a coating material is discharged is formed between the fixed die head and the movable die head, and the opening area of ​​the outlet can be changed by moving the movable die head; and a reciprocating device having a motor and a slider which moves linearly back and forth by operation of the motor, wherein the movable die head is attached to the slider, and the movable die head moves linearly back and forth by operation of the reciprocating device, the shim includes a fixed shim attached to the fixed die head and a movable shim attached to the movable die head, the fixed die head has a cam follower bolt which attaches the fixed shim to the fixed die head, and the movable die head has a bolt groove which accommodates an outer ring of the cam follower bolt formed on the surface facing the fixed die head, the bolt groove extending in the direction in which the movable die head moves linearly back and forth, a bolt groove formed with a width equivalent to a diameter of the outer ring of the cam follower bolt and configured to rotate the outer ring when the movable die head moves back and forth linearly, and the cam follower bolt and the bolt groove form an engagement structure that engages the fixed die head and the movable die head.

2. The coating device according to claim 1, wherein the reciprocating device has a ball screw that rotates about its axis by operation of the motor, and the slider is inserted into the ball screw and moves reciprocally linearly along the axis of the ball screw as the ball screw rotates.

3. A coating device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a pressing member that presses the movable die head toward the fixed die head, the pressing member having a cover fixed to the fixed die head and a linear guide attached to the cover, and a rail of the linear guide being fixed to the movable die head.

4. The coating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixed die head and the movable die head have the fitting structure on mutually opposing surfaces.

5. The coating device described in claim 3, wherein the fixed die head and the movable die head have a temporary fixing mechanism that temporarily fixes the fixed die head and the movable die head, the fixed die head and the pressing member have a final fixing mechanism that fixes the fixed die head and the pressing member, the temporary fixing mechanism including: first temporary fixing holes, a plurality of which are formed on a surface of the fixed die head facing the movable die head, into which bolts are screwed, and second temporary fixing holes, a plurality of which penetrate from the surface of the movable die head facing the fixed die head to its back surface, the second temporary fixing holes being sized to pass the bolts through and formed at positions corresponding to the first temporary fixing holes, and the final fixing mechanism includes: an elongated hole formed in the cover, and a screw hole formed in the fixed die head, into which the bolt passing through the elongated hole is screwed.

6. The coating device according to claim 1, wherein the shim is made of resin.

7. The applicator according to claim 6, wherein the shim is made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of PEEK, polyacetal, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, PBT, and PPS.

8. A method for producing a coated object having a coating substance applied thereto, the coating substance being ejected by an application device described in any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the steps of: placing the object to be coated with the coating substance on a receiving table; applying the coating substance ejected from the application device to the object to be coated that has been placed on the receiving table; and removing the object to which the coating substance has been applied from the receiving table.

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