APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR ROLL-TO-ROLL PROCESSING

• US 20080029640A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: CHENG, Chao-Kai, CHIU, Wan-Wen, WANG, Cheng-Yi, CHANG, Jie-Kai
• Granted Patent: US 7,926,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/615.21
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 23/0216 with an element utilising photoelectric effect
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 23/32 Arrangements for turning or reversing webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/531 particular coefficient of friction

Abstract

An apparatus for roll-to-roll processing includes a first roller for converting the transmission of a roll of flexible material from a first direction to a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a second roller spaced apart from the first roller and extending transversely with respect to the first roller for converting the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the second direction to a third direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and a third roller spaced apart from the second roller and extending perpendicularly with respect to the first roller for converting the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the third direction to a fourth direction, wherein the roll of flexible material includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first roller, the second roller and the third roller contact the same one of the first side and the second side of the roll of flexible material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for roll-to-roll processing comprising:

a first roller configured to convert the transmission of a roll of flexible material from a first direction to a second direction, the first direction and the second direction forming a first angle with respect to one another;

a second roller spaced apart from the first roller and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the second roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the second direction to a third direction, the second direction and the third direction forming a second angle with respect to one another; and

a third roller spaced apart from the second roller and extending transversely with respect to the second roller, the third roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the third direction to a fourth direction, the third direction and the fourth direction forming a third angle with respect to one another,

wherein the roll of flexible material includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first roller, the second roller and the third roller contact the same one of the first side and the second side of the roll of flexible material during the transmission of the roll of flexible material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fourth roller spaced apart from the third roller and configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the fourth direction to a fifth direction, the fifth direction being substantially in parallel with the third direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a fifth roller spaced apart from the fourth roller and configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the fifth direction to a sixth direction, the sixth direction being substantially in parallel with the second direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a sixth roller spaced apart from the fifth roller and configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the sixth direction to a seventh direction, the seventh direction being substantially in parallel with the first direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second or third roller is held in a container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second or third roller includes a surface having a greater friction coefficient value than the other of at least one of the first, second and third rollers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second or third roller includes a surface into which a plurality of holes are formed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the direction in which the second roller extends and the third direction form a fourth angle with respect to one another, and the direction in which the third roller extends and the third direction form a fifth angle with respect to one another, the fourth angle and the fifth angle being complementary to one another.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first angle, second angle or third angle is a right angle.

9. An apparatus for roll-to-roll processing;

comprising;

a first roller configured to convert the transmission of a roll of flexible material from a first direction to a second direction;

a second roller spaced apart from the first roller and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the second roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the second direction to a third direction;

a third roller spaced apart from the second roller and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the third roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the third direction to a fourth direction;

a fourth roller spaced apart from the third roller and extending in parallel with the third roller, the fourth roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the fourth direction to a fifth direction;

a fifth roller spaced apart from the fourth roller and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the fifth roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the fifth direction to a sixth direction; and

a sixth roller spaced apart from the fifth roller and extending in parallel with the first roller, the sixth roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the sixth direction to a direction in parallel with the first direction;

wherein the roll of flexible material includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first to sixth rollers contact the same one of the first side and the second side of the roll of flexible material during the transmission of the roll of flexible material.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first, second and third directions are orthogonal to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fourth direction is in parallel with the first direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fourth, fifth and sixth directions are orthogonal to each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the direction in which the second roller extends and the third direction form a first angle with respect to one another, and the direction in which the fifth roller extends and the fifth direction form a second angle with respect to one another, the first angle and the second angle being complementary to one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first to sixth rollers is held in a container.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first to sixth rollers includes a surface having a greater friction coefficient value than the other of at least one of the first to sixth rollers.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first to sixth rollers includes a surface into which a plurality of holes are formed.

17. An apparatus for roll-to-roll processing comprising:

a first roller configured to convert the transmission of a roll of flexible material in a transmission course from a first direction to a second direction;

a second roller disposed immediately after the first roller in the course of transmission and configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the second direction to a third direction, the direction in which the second roller extends and the third direction form a first angle with respect to one another; and

a third roller disposed immediately after the second roller in the course of transmission and configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the third direction to a fourth direction, the direction the fourth roller extends and the third direction form a second angle with respect to one another, the first angle and the second angle being complementary to one another,

wherein the roll of flexible material includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first roller, the second roller and the third roller contact the same one of the first side and the second side of the roll of flexible material during the transmission of the roll of flexible material.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first, second or third roller is held in a container.

18. (canceled)

20. A system for roll-to-roll processing;

comprising;

a plurality of stations configured to process a roll of flexible material, at least one of the plurality of stations including;

a container;

a first roller configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from a first direction to a second direction, the first direction and the second direction forming a first angle with respect to one another;

a second roller held in the container and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the second roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the second direction to a third direction, the second direction and the third direction forming a second angle with respect to one another

a third roller held in the container and configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the third direction to a fourth direction, the third direction and the fourth direction forming a third angle with respect to one another,

wherein the roll of flexible material includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first roller, the second roller and the third roller contact the same one of the first side and the second side of the roll of flexible material during the transmission of the roll of flexible material.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first, second or third roller includes a surface having a greater friction coefficient value than the other of the at least one of the first, second or third roller.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first, second and or third roller includes a surface into which a plurality of holes are formed.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein one of the plurality of stations includes a sensor for detecting alignment marks formed on the first side of the roll of flexible material.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein one of the plurality of stations includes a sensor for detecting a slide of the roll of flexible material in a direction across the direction in which the roll of flexible material transmits.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein one of the plurality of stations includes a sensor for detecting the distance between the first side and a printing head disposed above the first side.

26. The system of claim 23 further comprising a controller for receiving a signal from the sensor.

27. The system of claim 24 further comprising a controller for receiving a signal from the sensor.

28. The system of claim 25 further comprising a controller for receiving a signal from the sensor.

37. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first angle, second angle or third angle is a right angle.

38. The system of claim 20, wherein the third roller extends perpendicularly with respect to the first roller.

39. The system of claim 20, wherein the direction the second roller extends and the third direction form a fourth angle with respect to one another, and the direction the third roller extends and the third direction form a fifth angle with respect to one another, the fourth angle and the fifth angle being complementary to one another.

29. A system for roll-to-roll processing comprising:

a plurality of stations configured to process a roll of flexible material, at least one of the plurality of stations including;

a container;

a first roller configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from a first direction to a second direction;

a second roller held in the container and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the second roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the second direction to a third direction;

a third roller held in the container and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the third roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the third direction to a fourth direction;

a fourth roller held in the container and extending in parallel with the third roller, the fourth being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the fourth direction to a fifth direction;

a fifth roller held in the container and extending transversely with respect to the first roller, the fifth roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the fifth direction to a sixth direction; and

a sixth roller extending in parallel with the first roller, the sixth roller being configured to convert the transmission of the roll of flexible material from the sixth direction to first direction,

wherein the roll of flexible material includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first to sixth rollers contact the same one of the first side and the second side of the roll of flexible material during the transmission of the roll of flexible material.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first to sixth rollers includes a surface having a greater friction coefficient value than the other of the at least one of the first to sixth rollers.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first to sixth rollers includes a surface into which a plurality of holes are formed.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein one of the plurality of stations includes a sensor for detecting alignment marks formed on the first side of the roll of flexible material.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein one of the plurality of stations includes a sensor for detecting a slide of the roll of flexible material in a direction across the direction in which the roll of flexible material transmits.

34. The system of claim 32;

further comprising a controller for generating an offset signal in response to a signal from the sensor.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising a controller for generating an offset signal in response to a signal from the sensor.