JP2007046068A - Etching apparatus and etching method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an etching apparatus which can uniformize a spray pressure at each nozzle for spraying an etching liquid onto the surface of a roll and an amount of the sprayed liquid and thereby uniformize a shape of a cell formed on the surface of the roll, and to provide an etching method therefor. <P>SOLUTION: The etching apparatus comprises: an etching liquid tank 10 which is arranged outside the roll 20 and separated from the roll 20, and a liquid supply port 11 for supplying the etching liquid into the etching liquid tank 10. The etching liquid tank 10 is provided with a pressing mechanism 12 for pressing the etching liquid stored in the etching liquid tank 10. The etching liquid tank 10 is also provided with a plurality of the nozzles 15 so that they face the surface of the roll 20. The respective nozzles 15 spray the etching liquid onto the surface of the roll 20, when the etching liquid in the etching liquid tank 10 is pressed by the pressing mechanism 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an etching apparatus and an etching method for spraying an etching solution onto the surface of a roll used for gravure printing.

Conventionally, in forming cells on a roll used for gravure printing, a method is known in which etching is performed by spraying an etching solution evenly on the surface while rotating the roll (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). ).
Specifically, for example, a resist is applied on the surface of a copper-plated gravure printing roll and dried, and then a large number of small holes are formed on the resist film. Then, an etching solution is further sprayed on the surface of the roll, and only a small hole portion (copper plating exposed portion) on the resist film is etched to form cells on the surface of the roll.

  Here, a conventional etching apparatus for spraying an etching solution on the surface of the roll will be described with reference to FIGS. Among these, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional etching apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows (a) spray distribution by a single nozzle and (b) spray by a plurality of nozzles in the etching apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the contrast with the distribution, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the spray distribution of the etching liquid on the surface of the roll by the etching apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional etching apparatus sprays an etching solution on the surface of a gravure printing roll 60 that rotates at a constant speed. As shown in FIG. 2, the etching apparatus includes a pair of left and right spray tubes 50 extending in the axial direction of the roll 60 and spaced apart from the roll 60 so as to sandwich the roll 60 from above, and the roll 60. Each spray tube 50 is provided with a plurality of spray nozzles 55 so as to face the surface. An etchant supply pipe 51 for supplying an etchant into the spray pipe 50 is connected to one end of each spray pipe 50, and each etchant supply pipe 51 is connected to an external etchant storage tank (not shown). Connected).

  Here, in order to make the shape of the cells formed on the surface of the roll 60 uniform, in the step of spraying the etchant with the above-described etching apparatus, the composition of the etchant (specific gravity, etc.), the liquid temperature, and the spray time are It is important that the etching pressure and the spray amount of the etching solution sprayed on the surface of the roll 60 are made uniform while adjusting appropriately.

  In the etching apparatus shown in FIG. 2, each spray nozzle 55 is attached to each spray tube 50 so as to be arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction of the roll 60. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, compared with the spray distribution of the etching liquid by the single spray nozzle 55 (see FIG. 3A), the spray distribution of the etching liquid by the plurality of spray nozzles 55 (FIG. 3 ( b)) is more uniform. For this reason, it is preferable that the interval between the spray nozzles 55 attached to each spray pipe 50 is set to a size such that the spray distribution of the etching solution is substantially uniform as shown in FIG.

  Further, in order to reduce the dispersion of the spray distribution due to the individual performance difference of the spray nozzle 55, a swing mechanism for swinging each spray tube 50 along the axial direction of the roll 60 is provided in the etching apparatus.

JP-A-8-156438 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-211621 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-267038

In the conventional etching apparatus as shown in FIG. 2, if the spray pressure of the etching solution in each spray nozzle 55 of each spray tube 50 is uniform, the spray amount sprayed on the surface of the roll 60 is also uniform. However, since the etchant supply pipe 51 that supplies the etchant to each spray pipe 50 is attached to one end of the spray pipe 50, as shown in FIG. 4, each spray nozzle 55 in the axial direction of the roll 60. The spray pressure of the etching solution is not uniform. That is, the spray pressure and the spray amount of the etchant are large in the vicinity of the connection portion with the etchant supply pipe 51, and the spray pressure and the spray amount of the etchant decrease as the distance from the connection portion increases.
As described above, in the conventional etching apparatus, the spray pressure and the spray amount at the spray nozzle 55 in each spray tube 50 are non-uniform, so that the cell shape formed on the surface of the roll 60 is also non-uniform. is there.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and the spray pressure and the spray amount of the etching solution sprayed from the respective nozzles onto the surface of the roll can be made uniform. An object of the present invention is to provide an etching apparatus and an etching method capable of making the shape of cells formed on the surface uniform.

  The present invention relates to an etching apparatus for spraying an etchant on the surface of a roll used for gravure printing, an etchant tank that is spaced apart from the roll and stores the etchant, and an interior of the etchant tank. An etching solution supply port for supplying the etching solution into the etching solution tank, a pressing mechanism provided in the etching solution tank for pressing the etching solution stored in the etching solution tank, and a surface of the roll. A plurality of the etching solution tanks are provided so as to face each other, and are arranged so as to be aligned along the axial direction of the roll. When the etching solution in the etching solution tank is pressed by the pressing mechanism, the etching solution is applied to the surface of the roll. An etching apparatus comprising: a nozzle for spraying.

  Further, the present invention provides an etching method in which an etching solution is sprayed on the surface of a roll used for gravure printing, a storing step for storing the etching solution in an etching solution tank from an etching solution supply port, and a storage in the etching solution tank. A spraying step of spraying the etching solution in the etching solution tank onto the surface of the roll by a plurality of nozzles provided in the etching solution tank so as to face the surface of the roll by pressing the etched solution. The etching method is as follows.

  According to such an etching apparatus and etching method, the etching solution tank is provided apart from the roll where the etching solution is to be sprayed on the surface, and the etching solution in the etching solution tank is pressed by the pressing mechanism. When this is done, the etching solution is sprayed onto the surface of the roll by a plurality of nozzles provided in the etching solution tank. For this reason, according to Pascal's principle that "when pressure is applied to a surface filled with liquid in the container, pressure is applied uniformly to all parts inside the container," the etching solution in the etching solution tank is transferred by the pressing mechanism. When pressed, the pressure of the etching solution is uniformly applied to all portions of the etching solution tank, and the pressure of the etching solution applied to each nozzle is substantially the same. For this reason, the spraying pressure and spraying amount of the etching liquid sprayed from the nozzles onto the surface of the roll can be made uniform.

In the etching apparatus of the present invention, each nozzle is provided with a solenoid valve, and the solenoid valve is in a closed state when the etchant is supplied into the etchant tank from the etchant supply port. It is preferable that the opening is formed when the etching solution in the etching solution tank is pressed by the pressing mechanism.
According to such an etching apparatus, it is possible to adjust whether or not the etching liquid is sprayed from each nozzle by controlling each electromagnetic valve, and the operation of storing the etching liquid in the etching liquid tank and this etching The spraying operation of the etching liquid from the liquid tank can be performed reliably.

In the etching apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the nozzles are arranged so as to be arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction of the roll.
According to such an etching apparatus, variation in the spray amount of the etching solution in the axial direction of the roll can be suppressed.

  According to the etching apparatus and the etching method of the present invention, the spray pressure and the spray amount of the etching solution sprayed from the respective nozzles onto the surface of the roll can be made uniform, whereby the cells formed on the surface of the roll Can be made uniform.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the etching apparatus of the present embodiment.

The etching apparatus of the present embodiment sprays an etching solution onto the surface of a gravure printing roll 20 that rotates at a constant speed. As shown in FIG. 1, the etching apparatus includes a pair of left and right etching liquid tanks 10 that are spaced apart from the roll 20 so as to sandwich the roll 20 from above, and each etching that faces the surface of the roll 20. A plurality of spray nozzles 15 are provided in the liquid tank 10. Each etchant tank 10 is provided with an etchant supply port 11 for supplying the etchant into the etchant tank 10. Further, each etching solution tank 10 is provided with a pressing mechanism 12 that presses the etching solution stored in a sealed state in the etching solution tank 10.
Hereinafter, details of each component of such an etching apparatus will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the etchant tank 10 has a substantially rectangular shape that is spaced apart from the roll 20 and extends parallel to the axial direction of the roll 20. The width of the etchant tank 10 in the axial direction of the roll 20 is approximately the same as or larger than the width of the largest roll 20 of various sizes used for gravure printing. Yes.

  The etchant supply port 11 is provided at one end in the width direction of the etchant tank 10, and sends the etchant sent from the outside into the etchant tank 10. The etching solution supply port 11 is provided with a lid portion 11a that can be freely opened and closed. The supply state of the etching solution into the etching solution tank 10 is adjusted by opening and closing the lid portion 11a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pressing mechanism 12 includes a pressing plate 12a disposed inside the etching solution tank 10, and a piston member 12b attached to the pressing plate 12a. In this pressing mechanism 12, the piston member 12b drives the pressing plate 12a downward (in the direction of the arrow) in FIG. 1, thereby pressing the etching solution stored in a sealed state in the etching solution tank 10. Yes. On the other hand, when the piston member 12b drives the pressing plate 12a upward (in the direction opposite to the arrow) in FIG. 1, the lid portion 11a of the etching solution supply port 11 automatically opens, and the etching solution is supplied from the etching solution supply port 11. It is supplied into the etching solution tank 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of spray nozzles 15 are attached to the etching solution tank 10 so as to be arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction of the roll 20. Each spray nozzle 15 sprays the etching solution on the surface of the roll 20 when the etching solution in the etching solution tank 10 is pressed by the pressing mechanism 12.

Each spray nozzle 15 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 16.
Each electromagnetic valve 16 is closed when the etching solution is supplied into the etching solution tank 10 from the etching solution supply port 11, and the etching solution in the etching solution tank 10 is pressed by the pressing mechanism 12. It is formed to be in an open state when

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
In spraying the etching liquid onto the surface of the roll 20 used for gravure printing, the roll 20 is first rotatably attached in the vicinity of the etching apparatus.

Next, the etching solution is supplied into the etching solution tank 10 from the etching solution supply port 11.
Specifically, each solenoid valve 16 attached to each spray nozzle 15 is closed, and the piston member 12b of the pressing mechanism 12 is driven upward in FIG. As a result, the pressing plate 12a of the pressing mechanism 12 also moves upward in FIG. 1, and the pressure in the region below the pressing plate 12a in the etching solution tank 10 decreases. For this reason, the lid portion 11a of the etching solution supply port 11 is opened, and the etching solution is automatically supplied into the etching solution tank 10 from the outside through the etching solution supply port 11.

When a predetermined amount of etching solution is stored in the etching solution tank 10, next, the etching solution in the etching solution tank 10 is sprayed from the spray nozzles 15 onto the surface of the roll 20 while rotating the roll 20. .
Specifically, among the electromagnetic valves 16 attached to the spray nozzles 15, a part or all of the electromagnetic valves 16 facing the roll 20 are opened, and the piston member 12 b of the pressing mechanism 12 is shown in FIG. Drive downward. Here, the pushing speed of the piston member 12b is determined based on the circumference of the roll 20 and the depth of the cell to be formed. By driving the piston member 12b downward in FIG. 1, the pressing plate 12a of the pressing mechanism 12 also moves downward in FIG. 1, and the pressure in the region below the pressing plate 12a in the etching solution tank 10 increases. At this time, since the lid portion 11 a of the etching solution supply port 11 is closed, the etching solution in the etching solution tank 10 does not flow backward from the etching solution supply port 11. As described above, the etching solution stored in the etching solution tank 10 is pressed by the pressing mechanism 12, so that the etching solution is sprayed on the surface of the roll 20 by the spray nozzles 15 provided in the etching solution tank 10. . This spraying time is set in advance, and when the predetermined spraying time elapses, the driving of the piston member 12b of the pressing mechanism 12 is stopped.

  Here, according to Pascal's principle that "when a pressure is applied to a surface filled with liquid in the container, pressure is applied uniformly to all parts in the interior", an etching solution tank is formed by the pressing plate 12a of the pressing mechanism 12. When pressure is applied to the etching solution in the etching solution 10, the pressure of the etching solution is uniformly applied to all portions of the etching solution tank 10, and the pressure of the etching solution applied to each spray nozzle 15 is substantially the same. For this reason, the spraying pressure and the spraying amount of the etching liquid sprayed on the surface of the roll 20 from each spray nozzle 15 can be made uniform.

  When the pressing of the etching solution by the pressing mechanism 12 is completed, and the spraying of the etching solution onto the surface of the roll 20 is completed, the electromagnetic valve 16 attached to the spray nozzle 15 is closed again, and the roll 20 rotates. Stop. Thereby, the roll 20 in which the etching solution is sprayed uniformly on the surface can be obtained. Finally, the roll 20 obtained in this way is released from the state in which it is rotatably mounted in the vicinity of the etching apparatus, and the next new roll 20 is arranged in the vicinity of the etching apparatus.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the electromagnetic valve 16 is attached to the spray nozzle 15 has been described. However, the electromagnetic valve 16 may be attached to the spray nozzle 15 to control the opening and closing of the spray nozzle 15. For example, a switching mechanism (not shown) using a slit may be used.

  As described above, according to the etching apparatus and the etching method of the present embodiment, the etching solution tank 10 is provided apart from the roll 20 on which the etching solution is to be sprayed on the surface. When the etching solution in the etching solution tank 10 is pressed, the etching solution is sprayed on the surface of the roll 20 by a plurality of spray nozzles 15 provided in the etching solution tank 10. For this reason, the etching in the etching solution tank 10 is performed by the pressing mechanism 12 according to Pascal's principle that “when pressure is applied to a surface filled with liquid in the container, pressure is applied evenly to all parts inside the container”. When the liquid is pressed, the pressure of the etching liquid is uniformly applied to all portions of the etching liquid tank 10, and the pressure of the etching liquid applied to each spray nozzle 15 is also substantially the same. For this reason, the spraying pressure and the spraying amount of the etching liquid sprayed on the surface of the roll 20 from each spray nozzle 15 can be made uniform.

  Each spray nozzle 15 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 16. The electromagnetic valve 16 is closed when the etching solution is supplied into the etching solution tank 10 from the etching solution supply port 11. In addition, the pressing mechanism 12 is formed to be in an open state when the etching solution in the etching solution tank 10 is pressed. Therefore, it is possible to adjust whether or not the etching liquid is sprayed from each spray nozzle 15 by controlling each electromagnetic valve 16, and the operation of storing the etching liquid in the etching liquid tank 10 and the etching liquid tank. The spraying operation of the etching solution from within 10 can be performed reliably.

  Further, since the spray nozzles 15 are arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction of the roll 20, variations in the spray amount of the etching liquid in the axial direction of the roll 20 can be suppressed.

  Although the embodiments of the etching apparatus and the etching method according to the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. It goes without saying that it is possible.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the etching apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the conventional etching apparatus. In the etching apparatus of FIG. 2, it is explanatory drawing which shows contrast with (a) spray distribution by a single nozzle, and (b) spray distribution by several nozzles. It is explanatory drawing which shows the spray distribution of the etching liquid with respect to the surface of the roll by the etching apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Etch solution tank 11 Etch solution supply port 11a Cover part 12 Press mechanism 12a Press plate 12b Piston member 15 Spray nozzle 16 Electromagnetic valve 20 Roll 50 Spray tube 51 Etch solution supply tube 55 Spray nozzle 60 Roll

Claims (4)

In an etching apparatus that sprays an etchant on the surface of a roll used for gravure printing,
An etchant tank that is provided outside the roll and stores the etchant;
An etchant supply port that communicates with the interior of the etchant tank and supplies the etchant into the etchant tank;
A pressing mechanism that is provided in the etching solution tank and presses the etching solution stored in the etching solution tank;
A plurality of the etching solution tanks are provided so as to face the surface of the roll, and each of the etching solution tanks is arranged along the axial direction of the roll, and when the etching solution in the etching solution tank is pressed by the pressing mechanism, A nozzle that sprays the surface of the roll;
An etching apparatus comprising: A solenoid valve is attached to each nozzle,
The electromagnetic valve is in a closed state when the etching solution is supplied from the etching solution supply port into the etching solution tank, and when the etching solution in the etching solution tank is pressed by the pressing mechanism. The etching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the etching apparatus is formed in an open state.   3. The etching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles are arranged so as to be arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction of the roll. In an etching method in which an etching solution is sprayed on the surface of a roll used for gravure printing,
A storage step of storing the etching solution in the etching solution tank from the etching solution supply port;
A spraying step of spraying the etching solution in the etching solution tank onto the surface of the roll by a plurality of nozzles provided in the etching solution tank so as to face the surface of the roll by pressing the etching solution stored in the etching solution tank; ,
An etching method comprising:

Images