Heating method for a band-shaped body and heating apparatus for a band-shaped body

• US 20050121436A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Kenji, Kamitani, Kiyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,176,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/535
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 13/002 Heat development apparatus, e.g. Kalvar

Abstract

A heating method for a band-shaped body transported in a constant conveying direction in a heating zone so as to heat it, comprises: detecting whether or not a portion of the band-shaped body is passing through the heating zone, at which portion at least one of width and thickness of the band-shaped body changes; before detecting the portion pass into the heating zone, setting a first supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the first band-shaped body on a downstream side of the portion in the conveying direction, and supplying heat with the first supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone; and after detecting that the portion has passed into the heating zone, setting a second supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the second band-shaped body on an upstream side of the portion relative to the conveying direction, and supplying heat with the second supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone, so as to adjust a temperature history of the band-shaped body so that the temperature history is approximately uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the portion.

Claims

1. A heating method for a band-shaped body transported in a constant conveying direction in a heating zone so as to heat it, comprising:

detecting whether or not a joint portion of the band-shaped body is passing through the heating zone, at which joint portion a first band-shaped body is joined to a second band-shaped body with at least one of different width or different thickness;

before detecting the joint portion pass into the heating zone, setting a first supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the first band-shaped body on a downstream side of the joint portion in the conveying direction, and supplying heat with the first supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone; and

after detecting that the joint portion has passed into the heating zone, setting a second supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the second band-shaped body on an upstream side of the joint portion relative to the conveying direction, and supplying heat with the second supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone, so as to adjust a temperature history of the band-shaped body so that the temperature history is approximately uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the joint portion.

2. The heating method for a band-shaped body of claim 1, further comprising:

dividing the heating zone into two or more blocks in the conveying direction of the band-shaped body; and

when the joint portion of the band-shaped body passes through the heating zone, changing the supplied heat quantity of the blocks successively starting from the block on the upstream side relative to the conveying direction of the band-shaped body.

3. The heating method for a band-shaped body of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a heated air stream to a path of the passing band-shaped body so as to heat a coating liquid in the heating zone; and

increasing or decreasing at least one of air flow rate or temperature of the heated air stream so as to change the quantity of heat fed to the band-shaped body.

4. The heating method for a band-shaped body of claim 1, wherein the passing of the joint portion of the band-shaped body is detected on the upstream side of the heating zone relative to the conveying direction, and the supplied heat quantity in the heating zone is changed based on the detected result.

5. The heating method for a band-shaped body of claim 1, further including:

in the heating zone, conveying in a constant direction the band-shaped body having a coating liquid provided to at least one surface thereof; and

simultaneously heating the band-shaped body so that the coating liquid is dried.

6. The heating method for a band-shaped body of claim 5, wherein the band-shaped body is a planographic printing plate.

7. A heating apparatus for a band-shaped body, comprising:

a heating zone, where a heated air stream is applied to at least one surface of a band-shaped body being conveyed in a constant direction so as to heat the band-shaped body;

a heated air stream generating unit, that generates a heated air stream; and

a heated air stream supply flow channel for introducing the heated air stream generated by the heated air stream generating unit into the heating zone,

wherein;

the heated air stream generating unit has;

an air stream generating unit that generates an air stream; and

a heating unit that heats the air stream generated by the air stream generating unit;

in the heated air stream generating unit, the air stream generating unit generates air stream with a constant air flow rate and the air stream thus generated is made to pass through the heating unit, so as to generate the heated air stream with a constant air flow rate and constant temperature; and

the heated air stream supply flow channel has a heated air flow rate adjusting unit that adjusts, when introducing the heated air stream generated by the heated air stream generating unit into the heating zone, the air flow rate of the air stream to be introduced.

8. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 7, capable of:

detecting a joint portion pass through the heating zone, at which joint portion a first band-shaped body is joined to a second band-shaped body with at least one of different width or different thickness;

before detecting the joint portion pass into the heating zone, setting a first supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the first band-shaped body on a downstream side of the joint portion relative to the conveying direction, and adjusting an air flow rate of the heated air stream to be fed into the heating zone by using a heated air stream air flow rate adjusting unit so that heat with the first supplied quantity is fed to the band-shaped body in the heating zone; and

after detecting that the joint portion has passed into the heating zone, setting a second supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the second band-shaped body on an upstream side of the joint portion relative to the conveying direction, and adjusting the air flow rate of the heated air stream to be supplied into the heating zone by the heated air flow rate adjusting unit so that heat with the second supplied quantity is fed to the band-shaped body in the heating zone, and thus a temperature history of the band-shaped body is capable of being adjusted so as to be approximately uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the joint portion.

9. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 7, further comprising:

a bypass flow channel that is branched from the heated air stream supply flow channel, and is used for bypassing at least part of the heated air stream generated by the heated air stream generating unit away from the heating zone; and

an air flow ratio changing unit, while the air flow ratio changing unit maintains a constant sum of introduced air stream flow rate and bypass air stream flow rate, the introduced air stream flow rate being the flow rate of the heated air stream supplied to the heating zone through the heated air stream supply flow channel, and the bypass air stream flow rate being the air flow rate of the heated air stream bypassed in the bypass flow channel, the air flow ratio changing unit changes the ratio of the introduced air stream flow rate to the bypass air stream flow rate.

10. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 9, further comprising a return flow channel for:

combining, on downstream of the heating zone, the heated air stream which was introduced into the heating zone and the heated air stream which was introduced into the bypass flow channel; and

returning at least part of the combined air stream to the heating unit.

11. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 7, further comprising:

a joint portion detecting unit provided on an upstream side of the heating zone, which unit can detect the passing of a joint portion of the band-shaped body through the heating zone, at which joint portion a first band-shaped body is joined to a second band-shaped body with at least one of different width or different thickness;

a production management information storage unit that stores production management information relating to the width and thickness of the band-shaped body passing through the heating zone; and

a control unit that, when the joint portion detecting unit detects the joint portion, reads the width and the thickness of the portion of the band-shaped body on the upstream side of the joint portion from the production management information storage unit, controls the heated air flow rate adjusting unit or the heated air stream introduction ratio adjusting unit and sets an introduced air flow rate or an introduction ratio of the heated air streams based on the read width and thickness, so that a temperature history of the band-shaped body becomes substantially uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the joint portion.

12. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 11, wherein the heating zone is divided into two or more blocks in the conveying direction of the band-shaped body, and when the joint portion detecting unit detects the joint portion, the supplied heat quantity is changed successively starting from the block on the upstream side of the heating zone.

13. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 7, wherein the band-shaped body is a support web comprising a base material of a planographic printing plate, and the heating apparatus for a band-shaped body heats and dries a coating liquid applied to at least one surface of the support web.

14. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 7, wherein

detection can be made whether or not a portion of the band-shaped body is passing through the heating zone, at which portion at least one of width and thickness of the band-shaped body changes;

before detection of the portion passing into the heating zone, a first supplied heat quantity is set based on dimensions of the band-shaped body on a downstream side of the portion relative to the conveying direction, and the flow rate of the heated air stream supplied to the heating zone is adjusted by the heated air flow rate adjusting unit such that heat with the first supplied quantity is supplied to the band-shaped body; and

after passing of the portion into the heating zone is detected, a second supplied heat quantity is set based on dimensions of the band-shaped body on an upstream side of the portion relative to the conveying direction, and the flow rate of the heated air stream supplied to the heating zone is adjusted by the heated air flow rate adjusting unit such that heat with the second supplied quantity is supplied to the band-shaped body, so as to adjust a temperature history of the band-shaped body so that it becomes approximately uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the portion in the conveying direction.

15. A heating apparatus for a band-shaped body, comprising:

a heating zone, where a heated air stream is applied to at least one surface of a band-shaped body being conveyed in a constant direction so as to heat the band-shaped body;

a plurality of heated air stream generating units that generate heated air streams with different temperatures;

a heated air stream supply flow channel for introducing the heated air stream generated by the heated air stream generating units into the heating zone; and

a heated air stream introduction ratio adjusting unit provided on the heated air stream supply flow channel that adjusts a ratio of the heated air streams to be introduced into the heating zone from the heated air stream generating units,

wherein, in the heated air stream generating units, air streams with constant air flow rates is made to pass through heating units so as to generate the heated air streams.

16. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 15, further comprising:

a joint portion detecting unit provided on an upstream side of the heating zone, which unit can detect the passing of a joint portion of the band-shaped body through the heating zone, at which joint portion a first band-shaped body is joined to a second band-shaped body with at least one of different width or different thickness;

a production management information storage unit that stores production management information relating to the width and thickness of the band-shaped body passing through the heating zone; and

a control unit that, when the joint portion detecting unit detects the joint portion, reads the width and the thickness of the portion of the band-shaped body on the upstream side of the joint portion from the production management information storage unit, controls the heated air flow rate adjusting unit or the heated air stream introduction ratio adjusting unit and sets an introduced air flow rate or an introduction ratio of the heated air streams based on the read width and thickness, so that a temperature history of the band-shaped body becomes substantially uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the joint portion.

17. A heating apparatus for a band-shaped body, comprising:

a heating zone, where a heated air stream is applied to at least one surface of a band-shaped body being conveyed in a constant direction so as to heat the band-shaped body;

a plurality of heated air stream generating units that generate heated air streams with different temperatures;

a heated air stream supply flow channel for introducing the heated air streams generated by the heated air stream generating units into the heating zone; and

a heated air stream supply flow channel switching unit provided on the heated air stream supply flow channel, for switching the heated air stream supply flow channel so that a heated air stream is introduced from at least one of the heated air stream generating units into the heating zone,

wherein, in the heated air stream generating units, air streams with constant air flow rates is made to pass through heating units so as to generate the heated air streams.

18. The heating apparatus for a band-shaped body of claim 17, further comprising:

a joint portion detecting unit provided on an upstream side of the heating zone, which unit can detect the passing of a joint portion of the band-shaped body through the heating zone, at which joint portion a first band-shaped body is joined to a second band-shaped body with at least one of different width or different thickness;

a production management information storage unit that stores production management information relating to the width and thickness of the band-shaped body passing through the heating zone; and

a control unit that, when the joint portion detecting unit detects the joint portion, reads the width and the thickness of the portion of the band-shaped body on the upstream side of the joint portion from the production management information storage unit, controls the heated air flow rate adjusting unit or the heated air stream introduction ratio adjusting unit and sets an introduced air flow rate or an introduction ratio of the heated air streams based on the read width and thickness, so that a temperature history of the band-shaped body becomes substantially uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the joint portion.

19. A heating method for a band-shaped body transported in a constant conveying direction in a heating zone so as to heat it, comprising:

detecting whether or not a portion of the band-shaped body is passing through the heating zone, at which portion at least one of width and thickness of the band-shaped body changes;

before detecting the portion pass into the heating zone, setting a first supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the first band-shaped body on a downstream side of the portion in the conveying direction, and supplying heat with the first supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone; and

after detecting that the portion has passed into the heating zone, setting a second supplied heat quantity based on dimensions of the second band-shaped body on an upstream side of the portion relative to the conveying direction, and supplying heat with the second supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone, so as to adjust a temperature history of the band-shaped body so that the temperature history is approximately uniform on both upstream and downstream sides of the portion.

20. The heating method for a band-shaped body of claim 19, further comprising:

applying a heated air stream to a path of the passing band-shaped body so as to heat a coating liquid in the heating zone; and

increasing or decreasing at least one of air flow rate or temperature of the heated air stream so as to change the quantity of heat fed to the band-shaped body.