JPH10218485A - Folding unit of sheet form article and folding device using that - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate the full process and improve the working efficiency, by combining carrier units and folding plates, and applying a transfer conveyer and a carring-out conveyer. SOLUTION: This device is provided with carrier units 11 and 11 moving horizontally between the loading position and the folding position, and folding plates 15 and 15 provided at both outer sides of the folding positions of the carrier units 11 and 11. The folding plates 15 and 15 can fold an article on the carrier unit 11 into three folds, by turning over the end of the article on the carrier unit 11 to the inner side in order, by rotating them from the lower side to the upper side toward the carrier unit 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet-like article folding unit capable of automatically folding a sheet-like article, and a folding device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a plurality of sheet-like articles such as rag kelp, semi-paper, seaweed and the like are folded in two in one direction, three-fold, and the like.

[0003] The procedure for folding a sheet-like article is, for example, as follows. That is, by laminating a plurality of articles until a predetermined weight is reached, and by folding back both ends of all the articles in order, the articles can be folded in one direction into three folds. The laminating step and the folding step are usually performed manually by a skilled worker.

[0004]

According to the prior art, since the laminating and folding steps are performed manually, the work efficiency is extremely poor, and it is difficult to efficiently process a large number of articles in a short time. There was a problem.

In view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, the object of the present invention is to improve the work efficiency by combining a carrier unit and a folding plate and adopting a transfer conveyor and a carry-out conveyor, thereby automating all the processes and improving the work efficiency. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-like article folding unit capable of efficiently folding a large number of articles in a short time, and a folding device using the same.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a comb-shaped carrier unit which moves horizontally between a loading position and a folding position, and a carrier unit comprising: A folding plate disposed outside the folding position and rotating upward from the bottom toward the carrier unit, wherein the folding plate has a gist that folds an end of an article on the carrier unit inward. .

A comb-shaped regulating unit is provided above the carrier unit, and the regulating unit can position articles on the carrier unit by moving the lower end portion into the carrier unit and moving forward. .

In addition, a holding plate is provided near each of the folding plates, and the holding plate extends above the folding plates.
Articles on the folding plate can be held.

Further, a pair of folding plates may be provided so that a vertical distance from the carrier unit and a vertical interval between them can be set in conjunction with each other, and one of the folding plates is used to hold an article transferred from the carrier unit. It may be transported vertically downward.

[0010] The carrier unit may be provided with two sets which operate alternately.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a folding unit for a sheet-shaped article according to the first aspect of the invention, a transfer conveyor for transferring and stacking the article on a carrier unit, and discharging the article folded by the folding plate. The main point is to provide an unloading conveyor.

[0012] A relay conveyor is provided at the rear of the transfer conveyor, and the relay conveyor can transfer articles continuously carried by the carry-in conveyor to the transfer conveyor at predetermined intervals.

In addition, a collection conveyor is provided in front of the transfer conveyor, and the collection conveyor advances above the carrier unit, and can collect defective articles from the transfer conveyor.

[0014]

According to the structure of the first aspect of the invention, the carrier unit can horizontally convey articles to be transferred at the loading position to the folding position, and the folding plate is directed from the outside of the carrier unit toward the carrier unit. By rotating from bottom to top, the end of the article on the carrier unit is turned inward, and the article can be folded in one direction.

The regulating unit disposed above the carrier unit can position the article on the carrier unit at a predetermined position by moving the lower end portion into the carrier unit and moving forward. When removing the unit, it is possible to prevent the articles from being carelessly moved together with the carrier unit.

The holding plate disposed in the vicinity of each folding plate advances above the folding plate and holds the article on the folding plate at a predetermined position, so that when the folding plate is extracted from the folded article, The present invention prevents the article from being carelessly moved together with the folding plate, and also prevents the article from being deformed.

The pair of folding plates can fold the article on the carrier unit in three directions in one direction, and can set the vertical distance from the carrier unit and the vertical distance in conjunction with each other. These parameters can be adjusted and set at once according to the thickness of the articles laminated on the carrier unit, and the setting operation can be simplified.

If the articles are vertically conveyed downward through one of the folding plates, the folded articles can be quickly discharged onto the lower carry-out conveyor without stopping the operation of the carrier unit.

The two sets of carrier units, which operate alternately, can transfer the article in the loading position and fold the article in the folding position when one is in the loading position. Can be performed simultaneously in parallel, and the operation efficiency can be further improved.

According to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, the folding unit can stack and fold the articles carried in through the transfer conveyor and discharge the articles to the unloading conveyor, so that the folding, stacking, folding and unloading can be performed. A series of steps can be fully automated.

A relay conveyor arranged at the rear of the transfer conveyor transfers articles continuously carried in by the carry-in conveyor to the transfer conveyor at predetermined intervals, and stacks the articles on the carrier unit via the transfer conveyor. In doing so, it is possible to prevent the front and rear of the articles from contacting each other and prevent the stacked articles from becoming irregular.

The collection conveyor disposed in front of the transfer conveyor advances above the carrier unit and collects the defective articles from the transfer conveyor, whereby the defective articles are transferred onto the carrier unit. And uniform the overall quality of the articles to be folded.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The folding units for sheet-like articles are composed of two sets of carrier units 11, 11 and a pair of folding plates 15, 15... Provided corresponding to the respective carrier units 11.
Are the main members (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, a transfer conveyor 21 is provided near the carrier units 11 and 11 so as to face one of the carrier units 11, and an unloading conveyor 31 is provided below the carrier units 11 and 11. Have been.

Each of the carrier units 11, 11 has a plurality of horizontal rods 11a, 11a,... Protruding from a fixed block 11a1 and is formed in a comb shape (FIGS. 1, 3). The fixed block 11a1 is composed of a support block 11b1 and a support 1 incorporating a weight sensor (not shown).
The support members 11b are fixed to the lower part of the columnar support member 11b via 1b2, and are attached vertically to the front surface of the common slide base 11c.

A screw member 11c1 and sliders 11c2, 11c2 are provided on the back side of the slide base 11c. A horizontal screw shaft 11d is screwed to the screw member 11c1, and a screw is attached to the sliders 11c2, 11c2. Axis 11
Guide rods 11e, 11e parallel to d penetrate slidably. The screw shaft 11d is rotatably attached to the front surface of the base plate 12 via a bearing (not shown), and one end of the screw shaft 11d is connected to a drive motor 11f. The screw shaft 11d, the guide rod 11
e, 11e and the drive motor 11f are housed in a frame-shaped case 11g mounted on the front surface of the base plate 12. Therefore, the carrier units 11, 11
By rotating the screw shaft 11d in the forward and reverse directions via f, horizontal movement is alternately performed between the center loading position (solid line in FIG. 1) and the folding positions on both sides (two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). (In the direction of arrow K1 in FIGS. 1 and 3).

The base plate 12 is mounted on the base frame 13 via a screw shaft 12a so as to be movable up and down.
The screw shaft 12a is screwed to a screw member 12b mounted on the back surface of the base plate 12 via a bracket 12b1.
On both sides of the screw shaft 12a, there are provided guide rods 12c2, 12c2 slidably inserted into sliders 12c1, 12c1 mounted on the base plate 12. A drive motor 12d is connected to the upper end of the screw shaft 12a. Therefore, the carrier units 11, 11 can adjust the height position up and down by rotating the screw shaft 12a in the normal and reverse directions via the drive motor 12d and moving the base plate 12 up and down (arrows in FIG. 2). K2 direction).

Above the carrier units 11, 11,
Each of the regulating units 14 is provided (FIGS. 2 and 3). Each of the regulating units 14 has a plurality of vertical rods 14a, 14a,. In addition, the regulation unit 1
4 and 14 are mounted on the base plate 12 via a vertically installed cylinder 14b and a horizontally installed cylinder 14c, respectively. Note that the cylinder 14b is
It is attached to the base plate 12 via b1. A small base plate 14 is attached to the downward rod of the cylinder 14b.
a guide rod 14b3 slidably penetrating the cylinder 14b on the upper surface of the base plate 14b2;
14b3 is erected.

The cylinder 14c is fixed to the lower surface of the base plate 14b2, and a fixed block 14a1 of the regulating member 14 is attached to a pair of inward rods of the cylinder 14c. Therefore, the regulation units 14, 14
Can be moved vertically by extending and contracting the cylinder 14b (directions of arrows K3a and K3a in FIG. 3), and can be moved horizontally by extending and contracting the cylinder 14c (directions of arrows K3b and K3b in FIG. 3). . That is, each regulating unit 14 takes the retracted position above the carrier unit 11 and close to the fixed block 11a1 by shortening the cylinder 14b to extend the cylinder 14c, thereby extending the cylinder 14b to shorten the cylinder 14c. The vertical rod 14
The lower ends of the a, 14a ... enter between the horizontal rods 11a, 11a ... of the carrier unit 11 and can advance to the tip side of the carrier unit 11 to take the operating position.

Each of the pair of folding plates 15, 15...
6, 16..., The lifting bases 17, 17..., Are disposed on both outer sides of the folding positions of the carrier units 11, 11 (FIGS. 1, 4).

The pair of movable bases 16, 16 are connected via shaft members 16a having screw shafts 16a1, 16a2 at both ends (FIGS. 2, 4). The screw shaft 16a
1, 16a2 form opposite threads. One screw shaft 16a1 is screwed to a screw member 16b1 attached to the lower surface of one moving base 16, and the other screw shaft 16a2 is screwed to a screw member 1 on the lower surface of the other moving base 16.
6b2.

Both ends of the shaft member 16a are connected to bearings 16 respectively.
The center part is rotatably supported by brackets 16c, 16c on the base frame 13 while being supported by an end plate 13a of the base frame 13 via e. In addition, a handle 16d is attached to one end of the shaft member 16a. Sliders 16f2, 16f2 are attached to the lower surface of each moving base 16, and
Guide rods 16f1, 16f1 parallel to the shaft member 16a penetrate slidably through f2, 16f2. Therefore, the distance between the movable bases 16 and 16 can be freely adjusted and set by rotating the shaft member 16a forward and reverse via the handle 16d (arrow K4 in FIG. 2).
, K4 direction).

A screw member 17a1 screwed to a screw shaft 17a, a guide rod 1
Sliders 17b1 through which the members 7b and 17b slidably penetrate;
17b1 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Screw shaft 17
In a and 17a, one lead is twice as large as the other. Each of the screw shafts 17a is rotatably provided on a movable base 16, and a pulley 17 is provided below the screw shaft 17a.
a3 is attached. Guide rods 17b, 17b
Is erected on the moving base 16 in parallel with the screw shaft 17a.

The screw shafts 17a, 17a are connected via a timing belt 17c. Timing belt 1
Reference numeral 7c denotes pulleys 17a3, 17a of the screw shafts 17a, 17a.
a3, it is wound around a pair of tension pulleys 17c1, 17c1 disposed between the movable bases 16, 16, and an appropriate tension is applied via the tension pulleys 17c1, 17c1. The tension pulleys 17c1, 1
7c1 are arranged to be freely openable and closable via slide blocks 17c3, 17c3 and guide rods 17c2, 17c2. However, the guide rod 17c2
, 17c2, a slide block 17c3
, 17c3 to the outside are mounted. Each slide block 17c3 is
It can be fixed to the guide rods 17c2, 17c2 via lock screws.

A drive motor 17d is connected to the upper end of one screw shaft 17a via a coupling 17d1. The screw shaft 17a vertically penetrates a base plate 17d2 for fixing the coupling 17d1.
7d is fixed to the upper surface of a support base 17d4 disposed on the base plate 17d2 via spacers 17d3, 17d3. The upper ends of the guide rods 17b, 17b are connected to a base plate 17d2.

The folding plates 15, 15 are mounted on a lifting base 17 via a rotating rod 15a, a bearing block 15b, and a cylinder 15c, respectively (FIGS. 4, 5). The folding plate 15 is fixed to a tip end of a rotating rod 15a rotatably penetrating the bearing block 15b, and the rotating rod 15a is connected to a rotary actuator 15d via a chain 15d1. The rotary actuator 15d is attached to the bearing block 15b via a bracket 15d2. The bearing block 15b is connected to the cylinder 15c via a base plate 15c1.
Are attached to the tips of a pair of rods of
c is attached to the front surface of the elevating base 17 via a bracket 15c2.

Therefore, the folding plates 15, 15 are respectively connected to the rotating rods 15 via the rotary actuators 15d.
By rotating a, it is possible to rotate from a vertical state to a horizontal state from bottom to top (arrows K5a, K5a in FIG. 2).
Direction), by rotating the rotating rod 15a in the opposite direction, it is possible to rotate from a horizontal state to a vertical state. In addition, the folding plates 15 and 15 respectively
By expanding and contracting 5c, it can be horizontally moved to the forward position and the backward position (in the directions of arrows K5b and K5b in FIG. 2). Further, the folding plates 15 and 15 are
By rotating the screw shafts 17a, 17a in the forward and reverse directions through d to raise and lower the lifting bases 17, 17,
It can be moved up and down with respect to the carrier unit 11 (in the directions of arrows K5c and K5c in FIG. 2).

The vertical movement distance of one of the lifting bases 17 is twice that of the other, and the carrier unit 11
The folding plates 15, 15 in a horizontal state can be arranged vertically below (FIG. 6). Screw shaft 17a, 17
This is because one lead is twice as large as the other and rotates in conjunction with each other via the timing belt 17c. Therefore, the folding plates 15 and 15 are
By setting the vertical distance d1 of the folding plate 15 located above from the carrier unit 11 below, the vertical distance d2 = d1 can be set in conjunction with each other. In addition, by setting the vertical distance d2 between the folding plates 15 and 15, the vertical distance d1 = d2 can also be set in conjunction. However, the screw shaft 17a,
17a replaces one lead with twice the other,
The pulley 17a is rotated so that one rotation speed is twice as high as the other rotation speed.
3, 17a3 may have different diameters.

A holding plate 18 is provided near each of the folding plates 15 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The holding plate 18 is mounted on a lifting base 17 via a cylinder 18a and a support plate 18b. I have. The holding plate 18 is fixed to a fixed block 18a1 attached to the tip of the rod of the cylinder 18a, and the cylinder 18a is attached to a support plate 18b via a bracket 18a2. The support plate 18b
Are attached to the lifting base 17 via spacer rods 18b1, 18b1,.... Therefore, the holding plate 18
Can be advanced to the operating position above the folding plate 15 by extending the cylinder 18a (in the direction of arrow K6 in FIG. 2), and can be retracted to the retracted position by shortening the cylinder 18a. Further, since the holding plate 18 is mounted on the elevating base 17 common to the folding plate 15, the holding plate 18 can be moved up and down together with the folding plate 15.

Such a sheet-like article folding unit can be combined with a transfer conveyor 21 and a carry-out conveyor 31 to constitute a sheet-like article folding apparatus (FIGS. 1 and 7). A relay conveyor 22 is provided at the rear of the transfer conveyor 21, and a carry-in conveyor 23 is provided at the rear of the relay conveyor 22. The transfer conveyor 21, the relay conveyor 22, and the carry-in conveyor 23 are linearly arranged in this order while partially overlapping each other.

The transfer conveyor 21 includes a pair of drive rollers 2.
1a1, 21a1, a plurality of guide rollers 21a2, 21
a2 ..., moving roller 21a3, moving rod 21a at the tip
4 is wound around a conveyor belt 21b. The drive rollers 21a1 and 21a1 are connected to a chain 21c.
The chain 21c is wound around the sprockets 21c1 and 21c1 at the shaft ends of the drive rollers 21a1, the sprockets 21c2 and 21c3 at the shaft ends of the drive motor 21d. Therefore, the transfer conveyor 21 operates the drive motor 21d to drive the drive roller 21d.
The conveyor belt 21b is connected via the a1 and 21a1 in FIG.
The vehicle can be rotated in the direction of arrow K7 in FIG.

The moving roller 21a3, the moving rod 21a4
Are mounted on a common slide base 21e. The moving roller 21a3 is rotatably attached to the lower surface of the slide base 21e via a bracket 21e1.
The moving rod 21a4 has left and right holding members 21e2, 21e.
It is rotatably attached to the tip of the slide base 21e via e2. A guide rail 21 parallel to the conveyor belt 21b is provided on the lower surface of the slide base 21e.
sliders 21e3, 2 slidably engaged with f, 21f.
1e3... Are attached.

The slide base 21e is connected to the connecting rod 21.
It is connected to the rotating arm 21g via g1. One end of the connecting rod 21g1 is connected to a bracket 21e4 on the slide base 21e side via a connecting pin 21e5, and the other end is connected to the tip of a rotary arm 21g via a connecting pin 21g2. The shaft 21g3 of the rotating arm 21g is connected to the drive motor 21 via a chain 21h1.
h.

Then, when the rotating arm 21g is rotated in one direction via the drive motor 21h and the shaft 21g3, the connecting pin 21g2 pivots according to the circle K8 in FIG. 7 and FIG. The moving roller 21a3, the moving rod 21 together with the slide base 21e.
a4 can be driven back and forth (solid line in FIG. 8,
Two-dot chain line, one-point solid line). At this time, the conveyor belt 21b includes a moving roller 21a3 and a moving rod 21a4.
Is constant, the total length thereof is constant. Therefore, the transfer conveyor 21 can expand and contract only the front end portion forward and backward while rotating the conveyor belt 21b. The transfer conveyor 21 advances above the carrier unit 11 at the loading position when extending the front end portion (two-dot chain line in FIG. 2), and fully retracts from above the carrier unit 11 when shortening the front end portion. (Solid line in the figure).

The relay conveyor 22 includes a driving roller 22a,
The conveyor belt 22d is wound around the tension roller 22b and the guide roller 22c (FIG. 7).
The drive roller 22a is connected to a variable speed drive motor (not shown). Therefore, the relay conveyor 22 switches the rotation speed of the drive motor between high speed and low speed,
The transport speed by the conveyor belt 22d can be switched. The carry-in conveyor 23 includes a drive roller (not shown) and a guide roller 23a.
b.

The relay conveyor 22 can separate the articles W, W,... Continuously carried in by the carry-in conveyor 23 at predetermined intervals and transfer them to the transfer conveyor 21 (FIG. 9). When the articles W are transferred from the carry-in conveyor 23, the relay conveyor 22 temporarily increases the conveyance speed sufficiently higher than that of the carry-in conveyor 23, so that the articles W on the conveyor belt 22d and the carry-on conveyor 23 Can be expanded to a predetermined interval with the leading article W. Also,
When the interval between the articles W, W is expanded to a predetermined interval, the relay conveyor 22 returns the transport speed to the same transport speed as the carry-in conveyor 23 and the transfer conveyor 21 to transfer the article W onto the transfer conveyor 21. It can be transferred smoothly.

The unloading conveyor 31 includes a driving roller 31a,
The conveyor belt 31c is wound around the guide roller 31b (FIGS. 1 and 2). The unloading conveyor 31 is disposed below the carrier units 11 and 11 in parallel with the carrier units 11 and 11.

One example of the operation sequence of the sheet-like article folding apparatus is shown in FIGS.

Prior to operating the entire system, the carrier units 11, 11 are driven by a drive motor 12d and a screw shaft 12a.
And set it to the vicinity of the transfer conveyor 21 (FIG. 2), and set one to the loading position in front of the transfer conveyor 21 and the other to the folding position via the drive motor 11f and the screw shaft 11d. (Solid line in FIG. 1). The regulating units 14 and 14 are respectively provided with cylinders 14b and 1
4c, it is made to stand by at the upper retreat position (FIG. 2), and the folding plates 15, 15,.
The vertical distance d1 and the vertical distance d2 are appropriately set via the screw shafts 17a and 17a (FIG. 6), and the vertical position is set to the retracted position via the rotary actuators 15d and 15d and the cylinders 15c and 15c (FIG. 6). 1 right side, FIG. 2 left side). Also, the holding plates 18, 18,... Are made to stand by at the retracted positions via the cylinders 18a (right side in FIG. 2, FIG. 4).

The transfer conveyor 21 is a conveyor belt 21
b, the article W can be carried in above the carrier unit 11 by extending the leading end thereof above the carrier unit 11 at the loading position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 10A). . Therefore, the transfer conveyor 21 transfers the article W to the carrier unit 11 by shortening the front end portion while transporting the article W so as to hang the article W on the horizontal rods 11a, 11a,. Is possible (Fig. (B)
Solid line, two-dot chain line). At this time, the transfer conveyor 2
It is assumed that the next article W has been transferred from the relay conveyor 22 to the rear of 1. That is, the transfer conveyor 21
Is repeated on the carrier unit 11 by repeatedly expanding and contracting the tip portion while conveying the article W.
W ... can be sequentially stacked.

When the articles W, W... (Hereinafter simply referred to as articles Wa) stacked on the carrier unit 11 reach a predetermined weight, the drive motor 11f is started via a weight sensor incorporated in the support 11b2. Therefore, the carrier units 11 and 11 are composed of a screw shaft 11d, a slide base 1
1c, the carrier unit 11 at the loading position moves to the folding position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3C, solid line in FIG. 3D), and the carrier unit 11 at the folding position moves to the loading position. Go to Then, the transfer conveyor 21 can stack the articles W, W... On the carrier unit 11 newly moved to the loading position thereafter (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3D).

Subsequently, the regulating unit 14 on the side of the carrier unit 11 in the folded position is extended by lowering the cylinder 14b (two-dot chain line in FIG. 10D, solid line in FIG. 11A). The part Wa enters the carrier unit 11 and the cylinder 14c is shortened and advanced to the operating position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 11A), whereby the article Wa on the carrier unit 11 is moved between the folding plates 15, 15. It can be positioned at a predetermined position.

After that, the folding plates 15, 15 are advanced by extending the cylinders 15c, 15c along both ends of the article Wa whose intermediate portion is supported by the carrier unit 11 (FIG. 11B). (The two-dot chain line), the holding plates 18, 18 also advance to the operating position above the folding plates 15, 15 via the cylinders 18a, 18a (same as above). Subsequently, the upper folding plate 15 is rotated from bottom to top from a vertical state to a horizontal state by operating a rotary actuator 15d (a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6B, a solid line in FIG. One end of the article Wa on the carrier unit 11 can be turned inward.
Then, the lower folding plate 15 is similarly rotated from bottom to top (solid line in FIG. 3D) to thereby obtain the article Wa.
Fold the other end inward. That is, the folding plate 1
The articles 5 and 15 can fold the article Wa into three folds by sequentially folding the ends of the article Wa inward.

However, the folding plates 15, 15 are provided with the articles Wa.
Is set in advance as d1 = d2 ≒ da. In addition, the holding plates 18, 18 lightly press the bent portion of the folded article Wa (hereinafter, referred to as the article Wb) from the outside (FIG. 11D), and can finish the folded shape of the article Wb neatly. it can.

Subsequently, the upper folding plate 15 is retracted backward (two-dot chain line in FIG. 11D). At this time, the holding plate 18 supports the article Wb from the side when the folding plate 15 is pulled out of the article Wb, and holds the folded state of the article Wb. The holding plate 18 is then retracted to the retracted position (two-dot chain line in the figure).

Next, the carrier unit 11 at the loading position
When the weight of the articles W, W,...
It can be horizontally moved to the loading position via 1c (two-dot chain line in FIG. 12A) and pulled out from the article Wb. At this time, the article Wb is transferred onto the lower folding plate 15 by being positioned by the regulating unit 14. Note that the regulating unit 14 is thereafter
By extending the cylinder 14c while shortening b, the cylinder 14c is moved away from the article Wb to the upper evacuation position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 7A).

On the other hand, articles Wa are transferred to the carrier unit 11 at the loading position by the transfer conveyor 21, and the carrier unit 11 is moved by moving the carrier unit 11 at the folding position to the loading position. Then, the article is moved from the loading position to the folding position, and thereafter, the folding process of the article Wa can be executed by the same procedure. Further, the article W from the transfer conveyor 21 continues to be provided to the carrier unit 11 that has newly moved to the loading position.
W ... can be laminated.

Subsequently, the folding plate 1 on which the article Wb is transferred.
5 moves down together with the holding plate 18 to vertically convey the article Wb onto the carry-out conveyor 31 (solid line in FIG. 12B). However, at this time, the other folding plate 15 and the holding plate 18 also
The screw shafts 17a, 17a are simultaneously lowered by interlocking. When the folding plate 15 descends on the carry-out conveyor 31, it retreats via the cylinder 15c and transfers the articles Wb onto the carry-out conveyor 31 (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3B).
At this time, the holding plate 18 prevents the article Wb from moving together with the folding plate 15.

Thereafter, the holding plate 18 is retracted rearward (two-dot chain line in FIG. 12B), and FIG. Therefore,
The unloading conveyor 31 can horizontally transfer the transferred article Wb and discharge it to the next step. In addition, folding plate 1
5, 15, the holding plates 18, 18 are then raised to their original positions.

By repeating the above operation, the two sets of carrier units 11, 11 alternately take the loading position and the folding position. At the loading position, a plurality of articles W, W... Laminated to a predetermined weight, and in the folded position, the folding plates 15, 15, the regulating unit 1
4. The article Wa can be folded through the holding plates 18 and 18 and carried out as the article Wb onto the carry-out conveyor 31.

[0061]

Another Embodiment A recovery conveyor 32 may be provided in front of the transfer conveyor 21 (FIG. 13). The collection conveyor 32 has a conveyor roller 32d wound around a driving roller 32b and a guide roller 32c mounted on both ends of a frame 32a, and guide rollers 32c of the conveyor belt 32d.
A shooter 32e is mounted on the side.

The frame 32a is connected to the connecting bracket 32a.
2 to the cylinder 32g. The cylinder 32g is incorporated in the support frame 32h, and the frame 32a is connected to the support frame 32g via guide rods 32f, 32f attached to the support frame 32h and sliders 32a1, 32a1 through which the guide rods 32f, 32f slidably penetrate. It is supported on 32h to be able to move back and forth. At one end of the support frame 32h, a notch 32h1 through which the connecting bracket 32a2 can pass is formed. Further, a camera unit 33 is disposed above the transfer conveyor 21.

When the camera unit 33 recognizes the article W conveyed by the transfer conveyor 21 as a defective product,
The recovery conveyor 32 shortens the cylinder 32g, advances the upper end of the shooter 32e above the carrier unit 11 (two-dot chain line in the figure), receives the defective article W from the transfer conveyor 21, and receives the conveyor belt 32d. Is rotated (in the direction of arrow K9 in FIG. 13) to discharge the article W to the outside. However, the defective article W refers to, for example, an article having an excessively large hole, a missing portion, a wrinkle, or the like. When the camera unit 33 recognizes the article W on the transfer conveyor 21 as a non-defective product, the collection conveyor 32 extends the cylinder 32g and retreats (solid line in the drawing), and the transfer conveyor 21 outputs the non-defective article W Can be transferred to the carrier unit 11.

In the above description, the folding plates 15 and 15 and the holding plate 1 provided on both outer sides of each carrier unit 11
The items 8 and 18 may be configured such that the article W is folded in two by operating only one side or deleting one side. Further, the present invention provides, as an article W,
The present invention can be suitably applied to the use of folding an arbitrary sheet-shaped article such as rag kelp, semi-paper, seaweed and the like.

[0065]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the carrier unit that moves horizontally between the loading position and the folding position, and the folding unit that is disposed outside the folding position of the carrier unit. By combining the plate with the plate, the folding plate can fold the article by folding the end of the article horizontally conveyed to the folding position by the carrier unit to the inside, so that the article folding process can be completed very efficiently. There is an excellent effect that it can be done.

According to the second aspect of the invention, by combining the folding unit, the transfer conveyor, and the unloading conveyor, a series of steps of loading, stacking, folding, and unloading articles are fully automated, and extremely high folding of articles is achieved. It is possible to achieve efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the entire configuration.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part (1).

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part (2).

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side explanatory view of a main part of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram (1).

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view (2).

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view (3).

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view (4).

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory view (5).

FIG. 13 is an explanatory side view showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 W, Wa, Wb ... goods d1 ... vertical distance d2 ... vertical spacing 11 ... carrier unit 14 ... regulating unit 15 ... folding plate 18 ... holding plate 21 ... transfer conveyor 22 ... relay conveyor 23 ... carry-in conveyor 31 ... carry-out conveyor 32 ... Collection conveyor

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A comb-shaped carrier unit that moves horizontally between a loading position and a folding position, and is disposed outside the folding position of the carrier unit, and rotates from bottom to top toward the carrier unit. A folding plate, wherein the folding plate folds an end of the article on the carrier unit inward. 2. A comb-shaped regulating unit is provided above the carrier unit, and the regulating unit moves forward by moving a lower end portion of the regulating unit into the carrier unit.
The folding unit for a sheet-like article according to claim 1, wherein the article on the carrier unit is positioned. 3. A holding plate is provided near each of the folding plates, and the holding plate extends above the folding plates to hold an article on the folding plates. The folding unit for a sheet-like article according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The folding plate according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the folding plates are provided, and a vertical distance from the carrier unit and a vertical distance between the folding units can be set in conjunction with each other. A folding unit for a sheet-like article according to the above. 5. The folding unit according to claim 4, wherein one of the folding plates vertically conveys the articles transferred from the carrier unit downward. 6. The folding unit according to claim 1, wherein two sets of the carrier units are provided to operate alternately. 7. A folding unit for folding a sheet-shaped article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a transfer conveyor for transferring and stacking the article on the carrier unit, and being folded by the folding plate. And an unloading conveyor for unloading articles. 8. A transfer conveyor provided at a rear portion of the transfer conveyor, wherein the transfer conveyor transfers articles continuously carried in by a carry-in conveyor to the transfer conveyor at predetermined intervals. Item 7. A sheet-like article folding device according to Item 7. 9. A collection conveyor disposed in front of the transfer conveyor, wherein the collection conveyor advances above the carrier unit and collects defective articles from the transfer conveyor. The folding device for a sheet-like article according to claim 7.