Electromagnetic processing line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10005247-B2
Application number	US-201615134929-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2016
Priority date	Jul 14, 2009
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A film-processing apparatus for manufacturing a film in a continuous process includes a continuous carrier belt; a film-casting zone depositing a cast film on the carrier belt; a shearing zone; an electric-field zone; a magnetic-field zone; an ultraviolet-radiation zone; an annealing zone; and a solvent-evaporation zone, wherein the continuous carrier belt is operable to move a cast film deposited thereon from the film-casting zone through the shearing zone, the electric-field zone, the magnetic-field zone, the ultraviolet-radiation zone, the annealing zone, and the solvent-evaporation zone such that the cast film is selectively treated in one or more of the zones in a continuous process. A pick up roll receives the cast film after the continuous carrier belt moves the cast film through the zones and is selectively treated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A film-processing apparatus for manufacturing a cast film in a continuous process wherein the cast film passes through a combination of cast-film treatment zones in a single pass through the film-processing apparatus, the film-processing apparatus comprising:
a continuous carrier belt;
a film-casting zone adapted to deposit the cast film on the continuous carrier belt;
a shearing zone including a shearing belt adapted to selectively shear the cast film while the cast film is moving on the continuous carrier belt;
an electric-field zone adapted to selectively apply an electric field to the cast film while the cast film is moving on the continuous carrier belt;
a magnetic-field zone adapted to selectively apply a magnetic field to the cast film while the cast film is moving on the continuous carrier belt;
an ultraviolet-radiation zone adapted to selectively apply ultraviolet radiation to the cast film while the cast film is moving on the continuous carrier belt;
an annealing zone selectively applying temperature to the cast film;
a solvent-evaporation zone selectively evaporating a solvent from the cast film;
wherein the continuous carrier belt is operable to move the cast film deposited thereon from the film-casting zone through the shearing zone, the electric-field zone, the magnetic-field zone, the ultraviolet-radiation zone, the annealing zone, and the solvent-evaporation zone such that the cast film is selectively treated in one or more of the zones in the continuous process; and
a pick up roll receiving the cast film after the continuous carrier belt moves the cast film through the shearing zone, the electric-field zone, the magnetic-field zone, the ultraviolet-radiation zone, the annealing zone, and the solvent-evaporation zone and the cast film is selectively treated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the shearing belt and the continuous carrier belt is adjustable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shearing belt is adapted to advance with or against or oscillating with and against the direction of travel of the continuous carrier belt.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the shearing belt is adapted to oscillate with and against the direction of travel at a frequency ranging up to 60 reversals per minute.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electric field zone applies the electric field to the cast film while the cast film is in the shear zone.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electric field zone includes an electromagnet mounted to a linear stage, which is adapted to move the electromagnet in the direction of travel of the continuous carrier belt.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electric field zone includes an electromagnet, and wherein no electrical components are within 40 to 80 inches from a pole cap of the electromagnet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electric field zone includes an electromagnet, and the apparatus further comprises a lift off secondary magnet having less power than the electromagnet positioned at the end of the line in order to neutralize the remnant field.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the annealing zone provides an oscillating thermal gradient in the direction of travel of the continuous carrier belt.

Assignees

• Cakmak Mukerrem
• Univ Akron

Inventors

• Cakmak Mukerrem

Classifications

• B29K2827/18

  PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluoroethylene, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluoroethylene · CPC title

• B29L2007/008

  Wide strips, e.g. films, webs · CPC title

• B29C41/28

  by depositing flowable material on an endless belt · CPC title

• B29C2035/0822

  using IR radiation · CPC title

• B29K2905/12

  Iron · CPC title