NIP APPARATUS AND NIP METHOD

• US 20100206931A1
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Kazuhiro, Ozaki, Koji, Mizuno, Wataru
• Application Number:
  US12/680,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20100206931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 226/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/103 Reel-to-reel type web winding and unwinding mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 20/02 by friction roller
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 23/188 in connection with running-web
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/11 producing fluidised bed
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1719 Photosensitive, e.g. exposure, photographic or phosphor

Abstract

The present invention provides a nip apparatus and a nip method which reduce consumption of gas used without scratches which are produced when a material to be treated (such as a band-shaped film and the like) is pressed against a support (such as a roll and the like). The invention is characterized in that a gas storage chamber, which stores gas with a pressure higher than outside atmospheric pressure, is disposed at a position facing a film, and the film is conveyed while being pressed against a roll with a reduced consumption of gas.

Claims

1. A nip apparatus which presses a material to be treated provided on a supporting member against the supporting member by jetting gas onto the surface of the material, the nip apparatus comprising:

a gas jetting device with a jetting opening disposed in a position facing the supporting member, the material being provided between the jetting opening and the supporting member,

wherein the gas jetting device comprises a gas introduction pipe for introducing gas to the jetting opening and a gas storage chamber with a jetting opening, connecting the gas introduction pipe and having a sectional area greater than that of the gas introduction pipe.

2. The nip apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas storage chamber stores gas with a pressure higher than outside atmospheric pressure.

3. The nip apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gas discharge device which sucks gas and discharges the sucked gas in the vicinity of a gap between the supporting member and the jetting opening.

4. The nip apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is a rotatory roll and the material to be treated is a band-shaped film, the film being supported on the rotatory roll.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a gas discharge device which sucks gas and discharges the sucked gas in the vicinity of a gap between the supporting member and the jetting opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the supporting member is a rotatory roll and the material to be treated is a band-shaped film, the film being supported on the rotatory roll.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the supporting member is a rotatory roll and the material to be treated is a band-shaped film, the film being supported on the rotatory roll.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the supporting member is a rotatory roll and the material to be treated is a band-shaped film, the film being supported on the rotatory roll.

5. A nip method which presses a material to be treated provided on a supporting member against the support member by jetting gas onto the surface of the material, the nip method comprising the steps of:

introducing gas into a gas introduction pipe with a specific diameter; and

discharging gas from a gas storage chamber with a jetting opening, wherein the gas storage chamber connects the gas introduction pipe and has a sectional area greater than that of the gas introduction pipe.