JP4144818B2 - Continuous line pattern coating equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coating apparatus used for applying a liquid to the surface of a sheet-like base material, and more specifically, a coating liquid applied to the surface in a state of being in contact with the surface of a continuously running sheet-like base material. The present invention relates to a continuous line pattern coating apparatus for applying a film in a line pattern.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are various means for applying the coating liquid to the surface of the sheet-like substrate, but a contact type applicator is often used when the coating liquid has a relatively low fluidity.
[0003]
The basic structure of a conventional general coating device in the form of a contact applicator is schematically shown in FIGS. In the figure, the main body denoted by reference numeral 1 has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape in which an upper end and a lower end thereof are opened and accommodates the slurry 2 therein, and a support base 3 is disposed at the lower end opening. The sheet-like base material 4 to which the slurry 2 is to be applied passes continuously through the gap between the base plate 3 and the support 3.
[0004]
One of the side walls of the main body 1, that is, the lower end surface of the side wall located downstream in the moving direction of the sheet-like base material 4 forms a clearance C having a predetermined width with respect to the surface of the sheet-like base material 4. Furthermore, it is placed at a position slightly higher than the lower end surface of the other side wall, and this side wall forms a clearance setting wall 1a that regulates the thickness of the clearance C.
[0005]
The coating operation is performed by continuously moving the sheet-like substrate 4 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing while supplying the slurry 2 to the space in the main body 1. In the main body 1, the slurry 2 rides on the surface of the sheet-like base material 4 that moves along the bottom surface of the main body 1 and moves together with the sheet-like base material 4 as a coating layer, but contacts the inner surface of the clearance setting wall 1 a. Therefore, only the thickness of the clearance C formed at the lower end is allowed to exit the main body 1 together with the sheet-like base material 4, and as a result, the thickness of the clearance C is formed on the surface of the sheet-like base material 4. A coating layer 2a having a corresponding thickness is formed.
[0006]
If a coating apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used, it is possible to form a coating layer 2 a having a certain thickness on the surface of the sheet-like substrate 4. The coating layer 2a formed here covers the substantially entire surface of the sheet-like substrate 4 uniformly, and the parameter that can be set is only the thickness of the coating layer 2a by changing the thickness of the clearance C. .
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, in the sheet-like absorber provided with a layer of the particulate polymer absorber on the surface of the sheet-like substrate, when the particulate polymer absorber layer is provided with an equal thickness on the entire surface of the sheet-like substrate, It is known that the flexibility becomes poor, the liquid is easily blocked, and the diffusibility is also deteriorated. Absorbent products such as diapers that use such a sheet-like absorbent body with poor flexibility are difficult to match the complex curved surface of the human body, and cannot follow the movement of the human body, such as side leakage Causes serious defects. In the case of a sheet-like absorber that is liable to cause liquid blocking and poorly diffusive, when the liquid is repeatedly absorbed like diapers, there is no problem in the first time, but the liquid absorption capacity is still in the second and subsequent times due to the blocking phenomenon. There also arises a problem that the diffusion of the liquid to the portion that remains is obstructed.
[0008]
An effective means for solving the above problem is to allow a portion coated with the polymer absorber and a portion not coated to coexist. More generally, by performing intermittent coating so that the coated part is in a line, the uncoated part is connected in a line, making it a flexible and flexible part, and acting as a channel for the liquid to diffuse. Can do. From such a background, it is industrially important to produce a sheet-like absorber having a continuous line pattern.
[0009]
However, since it is not easy to stably coat a difficult-to-handle slurry in a continuous line pattern, an apparatus that can be manufactured on an industrial scale has not yet been provided.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An object of the present invention is to provide a coating apparatus capable of improving the flexibility of a sheet material provided with a coating layer on the surface and further improving the diffusivity without causing liquid blocking.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the slurry supply opening, the slurry discharge opening, and the thickness of the slurry coated on the surface of the sheet-like substrate for coating and forming the slurry while being in contact with the moving sheet-like substrate. A main body having a clearance setting wall for setting a clearance for regulating the thickness, and a partition member attached to the main body,
The partition member includes a plurality of divided portions having a length that reaches at least the vicinity of the clearance in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction in a state in which the discharge opening is in contact with the surface of the sheet-like base material, and each divided portion. A coupling portion to be coupled,
A line corresponding to the width of the slurry outlet and the thickness of the clearance when the slurry is applied to the surface of the sheet-like substrate through a plurality of slurry outlets formed in a portion where the divided portion does not exist. A continuous line pattern coating apparatus is provided that is configured to form a pattern.
[0012]
Dividing section, on the surface of the substrate sheet, may be configured to contact by the weight of the slurry fed to the weight of itself or constantly contacts a surface of the front end before Symbol sheet substrate The partition member may be detachably attached to the main body.
[0013]
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dividing portion is extended through the clearance. When a suction zone for separating the liquid component of the slurry is provided at the subsequent stage of the coating apparatus, the dividing portion is extended to reach the suction zone through the clearance.
[0014]
The dividing portion may have an engaging portion that engages with the tip of the clearance setting wall that sets the clearance, or may be fixed to the tip of the clearance setting wall.
[0015]
Although the connection part which mutually connects a some division | segmentation part may be located in the same height as a division | segmentation part with respect to the surface of a sheet-like base material, Preferably, with respect to the surface of a sheet-like base material , Placed higher than the dividing part.
[0016]
The coating apparatus of the present invention can be widely used to apply an arbitrary slurry to various forms of sheet-like substrates. One of the most suitable uses is the surface of a liquid-permeable sheet-like substrate. In addition, a slurry of a particulate polymer absorber or a slurry of a mixture of microfibrillar fine fibers and a particulate polymer absorber is applied.
[0017]
A sheet material provided with a coating layer coated with a plurality of continuous line patterns parallel to each other is a portion of only a sheet-like substrate existing between two adjacent line patterns, that is, a portion where no coating layer is present. This makes it easy to bend, thereby exhibiting good flexibility and at the same time a liquid channel for the second and subsequent absorptions to facilitate diffusion.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the continuous line pattern coating apparatus of the present invention with a part cut away, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. 3 and 4, the main body indicated by reference numeral 10 has a rectangular cylindrical shape having a slurry supply opening at the upper end and a slurry discharge opening at the lower end, and is placed on a support base 11 having a flat surface. The slurry discharge openings are arranged so as to face each other at a predetermined interval, and the sheet-like substrate 12 can move in the direction of the arrow through the gap between the main body 10 and the support base 11. In addition, the lower end surface of the side wall located on the downstream side of the main body 10 with respect to the moving direction of the sheet-like base material 12 has another side wall so as to form a clearance C having a predetermined width with respect to the surface of the sheet-like base material 12. placed slightly higher position than the lower end surface of the side wall forms a clearance setting wall 10a for regulating the thickness of the clearance C.
[0020]
Furthermore, a partition member 13 for partially closing the lower end slurry supply opening is attached to the main body 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the partition member 13 includes a plurality of divided portions 13 a having a substantially rectangular plate shape arranged in parallel with each other, and the divided portions 13 a are connected to each other at one end. And a connecting portion 13b. As shown in FIG. 4, the partition member 13 has each divided portion 13 a extending in parallel with the moving direction of the sheet-like base material 12 indicated by an arrow, and its tip approaches the inner surface of the clearance setting wall 10 a of the main body 10. Or the contact position is reached, whereby the slurry discharge opening is divided into a plurality (six in the illustrated example) of independent slurry outlets.
[0021]
If at least the tip of the divided portion is flexible, the contact of the divided portion with the surface of the sheet-like base material is performed depending on its own weight and the weight of the supplied slurry.
[0022]
In the continuous line pattern coating apparatus configured as described above, the slurry is supplied from the slurry supply opening at the upper end of the main body 10, and at the same time, the sheet-like substrate 12 is in contact with the slurry discharge opening at the lower end of the main body 10. It is moved continuously in the state. The slurry 14 stored in the main body 10 adheres to the surface of the sheet-like substrate 12 through a plurality of slurry outlets divided by the dividing portions 13a of the partition member 13, and is accompanied by the movement of the sheet-like substrate 12. In the process, it is scraped at the lower end of the clearance setting wall 10a. As a result, the slurry is coated on the surface of the sheet-like substrate 12 in a continuous line pattern having a width corresponding to the width of the slurry outlet partitioned by the dividing portion 13a and the thickness of the clearance C. This layer of slurry coated in a line and the layer of material that has lost some or most of the liquid after coating and solidified are referred to as a “line coating layer” and are designated by the reference numeral 100.
[0023]
As conditions desired for coating the slurry in such a continuous line pattern, the following matters can be mentioned.
[0024]
Condition 1) The entire lower surface of the divided portion 13 a of the partition member 13 is in uniform contact with the surface of the sheet-like substrate 12.
[0025]
Condition 2) There is no gap between the tip of the divided portion 13a and the inner surface of the clearance setting wall 10a.
[0026]
Condition 1) can be easily satisfied by properly determining the attachment position of the partition member 13 with respect to the main body 10, and even when the divided portion 13 a has a certain degree of flexibility, its own weight and its upper side Since the divided portion 13a is pressed against the surface of the sheet-like base material 12 due to the weight of the added slurry, it is usually unnecessary to provide a special fixing means.
[0027]
However, in order to more reliably satisfy the condition 2), when it is desired to engage or fix the tip of the dividing portion 13a to the clearance setting wall 10a, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c). A structure as shown can be employed. In FIG. 6A, the tip of the dividing portion 13a is extended to the position of the outer surface of the clearance setting wall 10a, and the thickness is made substantially equal to the clearance C at the portion located below the clearance setting wall 10a to eliminate the gap. FIG. 6B shows the case where the sealing performance is improved, and FIG. 6B shows the case where the thickness of the portion is made somewhat smaller than the clearance C. The relationship between the inner wall side of the clearance setting wall 10a and the dividing portion 13a is shown in FIG. As a result, the slurry does not leak. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the distal end of the dividing portion 13a is extended to the outside of the clearance setting wall 10a, and an engaging portion 131 that engages with the outer surface of the clearance setting wall 10a is provided at this extended portion. The gap can be eliminated.
[0028]
In the example shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the plurality of divided portions 13 a and the connecting portion 13 b that connects them are integrally formed at one end of each divided portion 13 a, that is, at the most upstream end with respect to the moving direction of the sheet-like substrate 12. It has the advantage that it is suitable for being formed from a single plate by means such as punching. However, the connecting portion 13b has an arbitrary shape, thickness, and mounting position as long as the slurry flowing down from the slurry outlet between the divided portions 13a onto the sheet-like substrate 12 does not interfere with the passage through the clearance C as it is. Can be selected.
[0029]
The partition member 13 shown in FIG. 7 has a connecting portion 13c as a separate member extending in a direction perpendicular to the central portion in the length direction of the plurality of divided portions 13a arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval. Are arranged on the respective divided portions 13a and are connected to each other at the intersections with the respective divided portions 13a. Further, FIG. 8 shows that an engaging groove 132 that engages with the tip of the clearance setting wall 10a is provided on the downstream upper surface of each divided portion 13a. The structure connected by 13c is shown. Or as shown in FIG. 9, both the connection part 13b which connects the division | segmentation part 13a, and the connection part 13c of FIG. 8 can also be provided.
[0030]
Since the partition member 13 is used in a state of being sandwiched between the main body 10 and the sheet-like base material 12, the partition member 13 does not move in a direction parallel to the surface of the sheet-like base material 12 with respect to the main body 10. It is sufficient to engage with each other, and fixing to the main body 10 is not necessarily required. However, when it is desirable to fix the main body 10, for example, fixing means as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 may be employed. .
[0031]
That is, in the example of FIG. 10, a connecting portion 13 d extending upward along the upstream inner wall surface of the main body 10 is provided at the upstream end of the dividing portion 13 a, and the connecting portion 13 d and the main body 10 are fixed by the bolt 15. ing. In the example of FIG. 11, a connecting portion 13e extending upward along the inner wall surface of the clearance setting wall 10a is provided at the downstream end of the dividing portion 13a, and the connecting portion 13 and the clearance setting wall 10a are fixed with bolts 15. ing. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the tip of the divided portion 13a extends through the clearance C to the downstream side, and in this extended portion, a connecting portion 13f extending upward along the outer wall surface of the clearance setting wall 10a is provided. You may fix the connection part 13 and the clearance setting wall 10a with the volt | bolt 15. FIG. Further, at least two of the fixing means shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 can be used in combination.
[0032]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the usage mode of the coating apparatus of the present invention, when a slurry having physical properties suitable for application to a sheet-like base material is used, each divided portion of the partition member is a clearance setting wall provided in the main body. There is no need to extend more downstream than the downstream surface. However, if the slurry to be used has a relatively high fluidity and may flow in the lateral direction after being applied in a line to the sheet-like substrate, the tip of the divided part is beyond the outer surface of the clearance setting wall. You may extend to an arbitrary position downstream.
[0033]
The partition member 13 shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 has an extended portion 133 that extends the divided portion 13a downstream through the clearance C formed at the lower end of the clearance setting wall 10a of the main body 10. The extension 133 functions to regulate the edge of the line-like slurry until the line-like slurry formed on the sheet-like substrate 12 loses fluidity by passing below the main body 10. Therefore, the length of the extension part 133 can be set to an optimum value in accordance with conditions such as the fluidity of the slurry to be used and its solidification rate.
[0034]
Further, in the example of FIG. 15, the connecting portion 13g disposed along the wall surface on the downstream side of the clearance setting wall 10a connects the extending portions 133 of the dividing portions 13a orthogonal to the connecting portions 13g. 133 is prevented from moving or vibrating in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the sheet-like substrate 12. The connecting portion 13g may be provided on the free end side of the extension portion 133.
[0035]
Furthermore, when the sheet-like base material to which the slurry is applied is guided to the suction device at the subsequent stage of the coating device for liquid removal, the extension portion of the partition member can be extended to above the suction device.
[0036]
Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the coating apparatus 10 is disposed above the continuously traveling sheet-like base material 12, and the sheet-like base material 12 is disposed downstream of the coating apparatus 10. The suction device 20 is arranged in FIG.
[0037]
The coating apparatus 10 has substantially the same configuration as that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, which includes a dividing portion 13 a that divides the discharge opening surface of the main body 10 having the clearance setting wall 10 a into a plurality of slurry outlets. Further, the suction device 20 includes a receiver 21 having a width substantially equal to the entire width of the sheet-like base material 12 and having an open upper surface. A port 22 formed on the bottom surface of the receiver 21 is connected to a suction device (not shown). It is connected. The upper end open surface of the receiver 21 is disposed at a position where it can come into contact with the lower surface of the moving sheet-like base material 12, and therefore, the sheet-like base material is located at the upper portion thereof due to the negative pressure inside the receiver. A suction zone 23 for sucking 12 is formed. The extension part 133 of the dividing part 13a reaches the position near the downstream end of the suction zone 23 or beyond the downstream end.
[0038]
When the sheet-like substrate 12 continuously moves and at the same time the slurry is supplied from the coating apparatus 10, the slurry is coated on the sheet-like substrate 12 in a continuous line pattern according to the above-described operation, and the line-like substrate 12 A coating layer 100 is formed. The line-shaped coating layer 100 moves downstream together with the sheet-like base material 12, and when it reaches the suction zone 23, air is sucked into the suction container 21 from above. The surface of 12 is covered with the extension 133 of the dividing portion 13a in the portion where the line-shaped coating layer 100 does not exist, and only the portion where the line-shaped coating layer 100 is provided is open. Therefore, external air is drawn into the suction device 20 only through the line-shaped coating layer 100 and the sheet-like base material 12 below the line-shaped coating layer 100, and the liquid contained in the line-shaped coating layer 100 is accompanied by this air flow. Minutes are aspirated and drained. If the extension 133 is not present, the outside air will only pass through the portion where the line-shaped coating layer 100 is not present, and thus the resistance is extremely low, and effective drainage is not performed.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the slurry can be easily and stably coated in a continuous line pattern on the surface of the sheet-like substrate. Moreover, if the structure is simple and a plurality of partition members having different sizes and numbers of division parts are prepared, the pattern of the slurry formed on the sheet-like base material can be changed simply by replacing the partition members. Is possible.
[0040]
Further, when the slurry is a slurry of a particulate polymer absorber or a slurry of a mixture of microfibrillar fine fibers and a particulate polymer absorber, the manufactured product is continuously lined on a sheet-like substrate. It becomes a sheet-like absorber provided with a superabsorbent layer in the shape pattern. This sheet-shaped absorbent body is highly flexible in the width direction that is likely to be stiff and diffusive because there is only a sheet-like base material where the high absorbent layer does not exist between the high absorbent layers. It can be advantageously used in various absorbent products including infant and adult diapers.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a perspective view schematically showing the basic structure of the coating device in the form of a conventional contact touch type applicator.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coating apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a continuous line pattern coating apparatus according to the present invention with a part cut away.
4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coating apparatus of FIG. 3;
5 is a plan view showing a partition member used in the coating apparatus of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are longitudinal sectional views showing other partition members, respectively.
7A and 7B show another partition member applied to the present invention, in which FIG. 7A is a plan view, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
8A and 8B show another partition member applied to the present invention, in which FIG. 8A is a plan view, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
9A and 9B show another partition member applied to the present invention, in which FIG. 9A is a plan view, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the partition member used in the coating apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the partition member used in the coating apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the partition member used in the coating apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a plan view showing another modification of the partition member used in the coating apparatus of the present invention.
14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a coating apparatus including the partition member of FIG.
FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a coating apparatus including a partition member according to still another modification.
FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a continuous line pattern coating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 10a Clearance setting wall 11 Support stand 12 Sheet-like base material 13 Partition member 13a Dividing part 13b-13g Connection part 132 Groove 133 Extension part 20 Suction device 21 Container 22 Port 23 Suction zone 100 Line-shaped coating layer

Claims (12)

A slurry supply opening, a slurry discharge opening, and a clearance that regulates the thickness of the slurry coated on the surface of the sheet-like substrate for coating the slurry while being in contact with the moving sheet-like substrate. A main body having a clearance setting wall to be set, and a partition member attached to the main body,
The partition member includes a plurality of divided portions you have a length at least reaching the clearance set near wall with respect to the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the discharge opening in contact with the surface of the base material sheet, A connecting portion for connecting the divided portions;
A line corresponding to the width of the slurry outlet and the thickness of the clearance when the slurry is applied to the surface of the sheet-like substrate through a plurality of slurry outlets formed in a portion where the divided portion does not exist. A continuous line pattern coating apparatus configured to form a pattern.   The at least tip part of the said division | segmentation part is flexible so that the contact to the surface of the said sheet-like base material of the said division | segmentation part may be performed by the weight of self and the weight of the slurry supplied. apparatus.   The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the divided portion is fixed at a position where the divided portion can always contact the surface of the sheet-like substrate.   The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is detachably attached to the main body.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dividing portion extends through the clearance.   The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the divided portion passes through the clearance and reaches a suction zone for sucking and removing the liquid component of the slurry applied to the sheet-like substrate and the surface thereof.   The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dividing portion includes an engaging portion that engages with a tip portion of a clearance setting wall that sets the clearance. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the divided portion is fixed to a tip end portion of a clearance setting wall for setting the clearance.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connecting portion is located at the same height as the divided portion with respect to the surface of the sheet-like base material.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connecting portion is positioned higher than the divided portion with respect to the surface of the sheet-like base material.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the slurry is a slurry of a particulate polymer absorber.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the slurry is a slurry of a mixture of microfibrillar fine fibers and a particulate polymer absorber.

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