DE1810651A1 - Pneumatically controlled conveyor for recording media - Google Patents

Description

IBM Germany Internationale Büro-Matchinen Getelhchaft mbH

Boeblingen, Nov. 22, 1968 sa-se

Applicant in;

Official, file number:

Applicant's file number:

International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N, Y. 10504 New application
Docket EN 967 068

Pneumatically controlled conveying device for recording media

The invention relates to a pneumatically controlled conveyor for card-shaped recording media, with a rotating conveyor drum, the openings in the wall of the can be subjected to negative pressure to lock the recording medium to be conveyed on the circumference of the drum Has drum.

Rotating drums that work with negative pressure are often used for Transport of tape or sheet-shaped recording media used. The objects to be conveyed are thereby applied to the inside of the openings in the wall of the drum by a negative pressure Surface of the drum held. The detachment of the recording media

909827/1346

is usually done by mechanical peeling from the surface or by switching off the vacuum. In the latter method, which is preferred, controllable valves are required to interrupt the negative pressure, which valves can be arranged outside or inside the conveyor drum.

The control of the negative pressure has proven itself in rotating drums as proved particularly difficult, since very high operating speeds are required in the machines processing the recording media. Acquaintance Devices work with cam operated valves without selective control, with self-sealing valves to block free openings and with electromagnetically driven valve levers for the selective selection of the negative pressure to be applied, the disadvantage of these devices is that a A vacuum source with a large capacity must be available, and that the valves have a low switching speed or technically complicated and are very expensive. The required movement of relatively heavy masses also has a detrimental effect on the working speed and the energy expenditure. The arrangement of the valves can be simplified in that they are attached to the entrance to the interior of the drum will. However, this will reduce the operating speed of the facility decreased, since the evacuation of the relatively long lines up to the openings on the drum circumference or the entire drum interior is proportionate takes up a lot of time. In this case it is hardly possible

Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346

borrowed several rows of openings on the circumference of the drum independently to control from each other, as this is necessary for the simultaneous transport of several recording media.

The object of the invention is to provide a conveying device in which the control of the negative pressure on the surface of the drum with great
Speed takes place, and at which the control means are very easy to operate

forms are. There should also be several rows of openings independently of one another be controllable.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned above in that "the openings assigned to a circumferential position of the conveyor drum via two push-pull operating,
by pressure pulses generated outside of the conveyor drum, controllable valve arrangements can optionally be connected to a source of underpressure or overpressure.

Advantageously, to control the openings of the individual Circumferential positions of the drum associated valve pairs formed from controllable valves, logical circuits are provided.

The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous
designed that the valves associated with the openings as well as their

Docket EN 967 068 909 * 27/13 ^ 6

Control valves of the logical switching elements are formed ale controllable membrane valves and are arranged within the conveyor drum. These diaphragm-controlled valves allow such miniaturization its structure that the entire valves to control several groups of openings can be accommodated compactly inside the drum « Membrane-controlled valves also have very short response times and can be operated with small differences in pressure. This allows the Valves can be controlled without mechanical actuation. By working with overpressure and underpressure a self-unifying effect is finally achieved at the openings of the drum.

The device according to the invention is advantageously designed so that the logic circuit formed from the diaphragm valves contains a locking element, the ON input and OFF input of which can be acted upon with pressure pulses which are released one after the other via channels that become free with the rotation of the drum can be fed to the underside of the drum. Furthermore, the valve pairs assigned to the respective openings of a circumferential position are connected to one another via an inverting element.

A particular simplification in the structure of the facility in terms of time shifted effectiveness of the openings of successive reversals

the

Catch positions is achieved in that / the openings of successive circumference s positions s associated valve pairs are connected to each other by delay devices.
Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346

An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is like this designed that the negative pressure connections of the logic switching elements are connected to the underpressure interior of the drum, while the pressure connections of the logic switching elements and the control inputs are connected to a pressure source by individual lines.

It is also advantageous to generate control pulses for the logic circuit that can be influenced by input signals, with a synchronizing device cooperating control device provided. It is also advantageous that two interacting, synchronously driven, counter-rotating conveyor drums are provided. This makes it possible, for example, to first the front and then the back a recording medium to be scanned.

The invention is described on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated by drawings. Show it:

1 shows the conveyor device according to the invention in a diagrammatic view

Opinion,

2 shows the conveyor drum of the device in cross section,

Fig. 3-5 Diagrams of logic circuit elements using

COPY

Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346

of diaphragm-controlled valves with different Pressure levels are applied, and

Fig. 6 shows the circuit diagram of the logic valve circuit for the

Control of the pressure at the drum openings for the optional pick-up and release of recording media

In the device shown in Fig. 1, the recording medium by conventional means, for example the transport rollers 11, the conveyor drums 12 and 13 supplied. The drums are driven by the motor at the same speed, however, as indicated by the arrows in driven in opposite direction of rotation. The drums have openings 15, 16 in their cylindrical surface, in which a from the inside Vacuum can be generated. When the recording medium 10 comes into the vicinity of the surface of the drum 12, it is due to the negative pressure in the openings adjacent to its leading edge against the surface of the drum drawn. While the drum rotates, further parts of the recording medium are covered by further openings one after the other, to finally the entire recording medium is locked on the drum.

The recording medium conveyed through the drum becomes one or more Times passed the scanning station 17 and then onto the drum 13 transfer. The transmission takes place in that the negative pressure to the

Docke, EN 967 068 909827/1346 COP *

Openings 15 of the drum 12 is switched off and at the same time switched on at the openings 15 of the drum 13. The recording media transferred to the drum 13 are guided past the scanning station 18 for reading out the rear side of the recording media. Finally, the recording media conveyed by the drum 13 are fed via the transport rollers 19 for further processing or storage.

The two conveyor drums 12 and 13 are each connected to a negative pressure source 20 and to an overpressure source 21, for example compressed air compressed above the ambient pressure. The negative and positive pressure levels are fed through the rotating hollow shafts 22, 23 of the drums. Each barrel contains valve assemblies for selectively connecting positives or negative pressure with the openings in their surface.

The arranged inside the drum, pressure-sensitive control valves are actuated by clock ge controlled pressure pulses, which are arranged outside of the drum nozzles 24, 25 are supplied. The air flow emerging from the nozzles is directed towards control inlets arranged in the vicinity of the drum axis. The nozzles 24 and 25 are connected via the lines 26 and 27 to the control device 28, in which the control pulses are formed from input control signals and clock signals. The input sdruckimpulse occurring in the lines 29 and 30 at different time intervals can be generated by a readout or storage device

Docket EN 967 068 909827 / 13A6

to indicate that another recording medium is being processed target. The clock signals are generated by conventional means, for example the disk 33 having slits 34 is generated. The compressed air is continuous supplied from the compressed air source 21 of the nozzle 35, so that by the Effect of the slots 34 a periodically changing pressure is applied via the line 37 to the control device 28. Since the disc 33 in a given Gear ratio to the drums 12 and 13 rotates are through the Nozzle arrangements 24 and 25 emitted clock-correct control pulses.

The control device 28 is superfluous if the conveyor drums with work with a fixed cycle. In this case, the clock signals the disk 33 directly to the lines 26 and 27 for actuating the control nozzles fed.

The conveyor drums shown in Fig. 1 each have two rows 15 and 16 of vacuum openings which are used for the simultaneous reception of two recording media. For each row of openings there is a separate one Control necessary. However, a single, stationary nozzle arrangement is sufficient 24 or 25, in order to supply the necessary control pulses to the corresponding valve control inputs on the drum axis. To transfer of the recording medium from one drum to the other can be a serve common signal, through which the negative pressure at the series of openings 15 of the drum 12 is switched off and it is the turn of the openings 15. the drum 13 is turned on.

Docket EN 967 068 909 «TM346 _:. \

The supply of the positive pressure and the negative pressure to the rotating conveyor drums and the arrangement of the stationary nozzles and control openings is shown in FIG. 2. The drum 12 has to accommodate the recording medium the upright cylindrical portion 40, which is on the between the inner flange 42 and the outer flange 43 fixed plate 41 rests. The outer flange 43 has a threaded one Shank 44 and tapers down into a cone. This cone is from the correspondingly shaped sleeve 45 was added. Both parts will go through the threaded ring 46 held together in an airtight manner. The sleeve 45 is by means of the low-friction bearings 47, 48, which in turn are in the with the Upper base plate 50 connected flange housing 49 are attached, rotatable stored. The sleeve 45 also carries the pulley 51 driven by suitable means. The conduit is within the sleeve and concentric with it 52 arranged, which ends in a receptacle 53 of the flange 42 and above which is held at its lower end by the flange 54 below the pulley 51. Line 52 is in that held by block 56 Bearing 55 rotatably mounted below the pulley. The block 56 in turn is fastened to the lower base plate 57.

The vacuum is applied to the drum from the outside through the threaded opening 58 "in the opening formed by the housing 49 and the bearings 47 and 48 supplied. This is through a series of slots 60 in the sleeve 45 through the Line 52 limited interior space of the sleeve and the channel 61 connected to the interior space of the drum.

9098-27M346

Docket EN 967 068

■■■ -,. · ■ "■■■■ .. ■. ■". ■■■ -. IB 10651

The overpressure is "supplied" to the threaded opening 62 in the lower base plate 57, which opens directly into the line 52, via the line Wl-,. In receptacle 53 and channel 63 the pressure gets into the inside of the barrel »The positive and negative pressure levels are with. connected to the valve arrangements shown in FIG. 6 housed within the drum. ,

The compressed air control pulses are supplied by one of the stationary ones Nozzle arrangements 24 or 25, which contain the nozzle 65 in the block 66 fastened on the upper base plate 50 «The pressure pulse comes from the line» device 26 to the opening 67 and from there through the nozzle 65 to one of the slot-shaped Control holes of the external flange 43. The control holes are by a. Formed annular disc 69 having recesses, which on the Flange 43 rests. The pressure pulses are transmitted via line 70 to the im Transferring valves arranged inside the drum.

The valve arrangements within the drum form a logic circuit using diaphragm-controlled valves, some basic units such logic switching elements are shown in FIGS. These Elements contain membrane chambers, in which the flow through the chamber by closing a flexible membrane, which is a.n a stop creates, can be interrupted »

The basic element of the logic circuits shown in FIG. 3 has

Docket EN 967 068

§ G '§.% £ 77 ^ $ 4 B

the function of an amplifier. A flowing medium from the positive pressure source Ps flows through a line via the flow-limiting resistor 71 through the diaphragm chamber 72 between the stop 73 and the Diaphragm 74 and finally through the second flow resistance 76 to a sump designated as outlet pressure Pe. The membrane chamber 72 is connected to the control line 79, through which pressure pulses can be supplied, which push the membrane 74 against the stop 73 φ place and thereby interrupt the flow through the chamber. The resistances 71, 76 and the area ratios of the membrane in chamber 72 are chosen so that the membrane snaps into the closed position at the desired pressure of the control signal.

The output line 77 or 78 can be arranged in front of or behind the membrane chamber, depending on whether signal inversion is required. The resistors 71 and 76 are dimensioned so that the Λ pressure maintained between them when the chamber is open is about 60% of the pressure source. If an input signal is applied to the line 79 which is sufficient to place the diaphragm against the stop 73, the pressure prevailing below the resistor 71, since it acts on a smaller diaphragm area, is not sufficient to counteract the input signal. The diaphragm therefore remains closed and the pressure at outlet 77 rises to the supply pressure. The pressure at outlet 78, on the other hand, falls to the outlet level, since the pressure originally present above resistor 76 disappears.

Docket EN 967 068 9 0 9 8 2 7/1 3 4'6 'V ^: "-, _:;;

det. After the end of the control pulse, the membrane opens. As the flow through chamber 72 starts again, the pressure at outlet 77 drops to approximately 60% of the supply pressure, while the pressure at outlet 78, depending on the pressure drop in chamber 72, falls to approximately 60 %. the supply pressure increases. The signals "of the outputs 77 or 78 can be used to actuate further membrane-valve arrangements,

The logic circuit shown in Fig. 4 forms an inverter. The left channel of this arrangement corresponds to that shown in FIG. In the channel lying parallel thereto, the two membrane valves 80 and 81 are arranged. There are no resistances in this channel. When the pressure in line 79 is low, valve 72 is open so that the pressure in lines 77 and 78 is approximately 60 % of the supply pressure. The pressure in the channel containing the arrangements 80 and 81 drops through these valves and the lines connecting them from the supply pressure to the outlet pressure, since there are no resistances in this channel. As a result, and as a result of suitably selected membrane area ratios in valves 80 and 81, the pressure in channel 78 is sufficient to close the membrane in valve 81, but the pressure in line 77 is not sufficient to close valve 80. Since the valve 80 is open, the output line 82 carries the supply pressure. If a control signal is now applied to the line 79, the valve 72 is closed, eo the pressure in the line 77 rises almost to the supply pressure and closes the valve 80, Da here

Docket EN 967 068 909827/13

the pressure in the line 78 decreases to the outlet value, the valve 81 opened, the pressure in the output lines 82 falling to the outlet pressure. A low pressure in line 79 thus creates a high output pressure level in line 82 and vice versa, a high pressure in line 79 produces an output signal of a low pressure level in the line 82.

A locking arrangement with diaphragm valves is shown in FIG. The first channel contains a line from the supply Ps through the resistor 84, the valves 85, 86 and the resistor 87 to the outlet, which is on the pressure level Pe is located. The second parallel channel contains a line from the supply pressure Ps through the valve 88 and the resistor 89 to Outlet pressure. The line 90 connects the first channel to the control input of the valve 88. Output signals are taken from the lines 91. The membrane-valve arrangement 88 differs from those previously described in that its stop 92 is spaced a certain distance is arranged above the center. If the valve 95 is closed by a signal in the line 93, then with the valve 86 open, the line prevails 90 the outlet pressure before, so that the valve 88 is open and to the Output lines 91 a high pressure level is present. After termination of the control signal at valve 85, no change occurs at valve 88, since the Pressure in the upper half of the valve in which the stop is located, substantially corresponds to the supply pressure Ps and the pressure on

Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346

the control side of the diaphragm is approximately 60% of the supply pressure. If, however, a signal appears on line 94 which closes valve 86, the pressure in line 90 also assumes the supply value and closes valve 88 as a result of the pressure drop in valve 88 and resistor 89. As a result, the pressure in output lines 91 falls except for the outlet pressure Pe. The valve 88 remains closed even if the control signal at the valve 86 has ceased. The reason for this is that the pressure in line 90 returns to approximately 60% of the supply pressure and acts on the entire area of the control side of the diaphragm in valve 88, while the supply pressure Ps only acts on the smaller part of the opposite side of the diaphragm above the stop 92 works. A low pressure level now prevails in the output lines until valve 85 is closed again. The pressure in the line 90 corresponds to the outlet pressure Pe, with the result that the supply pressure Ps, which acts on the smaller area of the diaphragm in the valve 88, moves the diaphragm away from the stop 92. The pressure level in the output lines 91 rises to the high value. The interlock switch thus shows a hysteresis effect.

The arrangement of the various diaphragm valves is shown in FIG. 6. A positive pressure pulse triggered by the control unit 28 emerges from the nozzle 65 located in one of the nozzle arrangements. At entrance 68a there is therefore pressure when the recording medium is at the top of the drum.

Docket EN 967 068 9 0 9 8 2 7/1346

area should be held. The transmitted control signal is the in Series connected amplifiers 100, 101 and 102 are supplied. Since the pressure difference occurring at valve 100 is only a small value in the pressure range between the positive and negative supply pressures, multiple amplification is required to ensure reliable operation Signal for the remaining parts of the circuit. In addition to the reinforcement these stages also act as pulse shapers.

The booster 100 operates between the positive supply pressure within the drum and the external air pressure established by communication with the outside of the drum via an outlet. When putting on a pressure on the membrane of the valve 100 causes the positive supply pressure, that the diaphragm of the normally open valve 101 closes. The outlet of the valve 101 is connected to a pressure divider so that that the outlet pressure is between the supply and the outlet pressure. If the valve 101 as a result of an output signal from the previous one Stage closed, one of the parallel pressure channels is used to supply negative pressure Vs locked. This causes the inlet pressure of valve 102 to drop, so that its normally closed diaphragm opens. the Opening the valve 102 results in a pressure increase in the line to the valve 103 of the interlock circuit.

The locking circuit is formed from the input control valves 103, socket EN 967 068 909827/1346 COPY

- 16 -

104 and the output control valve 105. Assume that the valve 104 is open and the valve 105 is closed after being reset by a previous operation. When closing the valve 103 as a result of The pressure signal transmitted to the previous stage opens as a result of the through negative outlet pressure prevailing at open valve 104 closes the valve 105 so that the output of the arrangement is at a high pressure level. This state remains until the locking circuit at the end of the transport of the recording medium receives a reset signal on the diaphragm of valve 104.

The pressure value from the lock closes valve 106 of the inverter 107, This stage produces a low pressure output signal for the Valves 108, 109 and the delay assembly 110. The low pressure in the Valve 108 of the opening valves 130 causes its membrane to open, the underpressure is supplied to the openings 15 through the lines 111 and 112 will. The low pressure in the valve 109 causes it to open, so that the inverter 113 generates an output signal of high pressure that the The membrane of the valve 114 of the opening valves 130 closes. This will make the The supply of positive pressure Ps to the channels 111 and 112 ceases with the result that the applied negative pressure now has an effect and exerts an attractive force on the surface of the recording medium.

The low pressure signal from inverter 107 is sent to delay chamber 110,

Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346

the high pressure signal from the inverter 113 is supplied to the delay chamber 115. The delay arrangements in the signal transmission only exist from enlargements of the signal lines, which the desired delay cause. The successive parts of the control valve lines Delayed signals supplied are used to successively apply negative pressure to the openings that have reached the transfer position to put on. This reduces the required capacity of the vacuum pump and the sudden release of the entire recording medium after the Promotion avoided.

The low pressure signal permeating the delay arrangement 110 becomes fed to the input valve of the inverter 117. It generates an output signal high pressure that dem. Valve 118 is supplied. This valve 118 the signal supplied to the opening valves 131 causes its diaphragm to close and the supply of positive pressure to the via lines 119 and 120 connected openings 15 is terminated. The high pressure signal is meanwhile through the delay arrangement 115 to the input valve 121 of the inverter 122 arrives, so that a low pressure signal is applied to the valve 123, which opens the membrane and via the lines 119 and 120 negative pressure leads to the openings 15.

The vacuum supply to the openings 15 is achieved by changing the pressure level of the output signal from the latch circuit 105 terminated. if

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Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346

a recording medium can be released from the drum surface should, a time-controlled pressure pulse is given via the nozzle 65, which is received by the opening 68b. This pressure signal is the Amplifier stages 125, 126 and 127 fed to the amplifier stages in their effect 100, 101 and 102 correspond. The output signal from the valve 127 reaches the control valve 104 of the locking circuit and causes the closure of valve 104, thereby closing valve 105, so that a low pressure signal is passed to the inverter 107 from the latch circuit. This low pressure signal creates a reversal of that described Signals relating to the control of the vacuum openings, so that now the supply of the negative pressure is ended and the overpressure with the Drum openings is connected. By applying the overpressure above the external pressure, the recording media are quickly removed from the drum removed and an accelerated transfer is achieved.

In order to be able to arrange a large number of drum openings in a row, the number of opening valves of a control circuit is increased in a simple manner in that the inverter stages 107, 113, 117 and 122 multiple outputs can be removed. Correspondingly, delay chambers are arranged in order to enable the successive control of the one behind the other to allow arranged openings. However, each row of openings 15 or 16 (Fig. 1) requires its own control logic circuit, which are operated independently of one another by external input signals.

Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346

All connections to the positive supply pressure Ps are common Line summarized, which is connected to the channel 63 (Fig. 2). The inputs for the negative pressure Vs lead into the interior of the drum, which, like is described, evacuated through line 61. The suction openings are each isolated from the inside of the drum by the connecting lines of the valves. They are not open to the inside of the drum. The fluid logic used to control the valves is compactly inside housed the drum, since the membrane chambers and most of the connection lines between the chambers in a cost-saving manner as cast parts can be produced. -

In itself it would not be necessary, both under and over pressure openings 15 to be supplied. The device would work too, if only Ambient pressure and negative pressure would be used. The use of both positive and negative pressure has the advantage that the openings be kept free of pollution by the flushing effect of the reverse flow and that the operating speed during the transfer is increased.

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Docket EN 967 068 909 & 27/1346

Claims (9)

Claims 1. Pneumatically controlled conveyor device for card-shaped recording media, with a rotating conveyor drum, which is used to lock the recording medium to be conveyed on the circumference of the drum Has openings in the wall of the drum which can be acted upon by negative pressure, characterized in that each of the one circumferential positions of the conveyor drum (12, 13) associated openings (15, 16) via two in push-pull working valve arrangements (130, 131) which can be controlled by pressure pulses generated outside the conveyor drum, optionally with a vacuum or an overpressure source (Vs, Ps) can be connected. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that for control the openings (15, 16) of the individual circumferential positions of the drum associated valve pairs (108, 114 and 118, 123) of controllable valves formed, logic circuits (103 to 105, 107, 113, 117, 122) are provided. 3. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the valves assigned to the openings (15, 16) and those for their control serving valves of the logic switching elements designed as controllable membrane valves and located within the conveyor drum (12 or 13) are arranged. Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346 - 21 - 4 »Device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the logic circuit formed from the diaphragm valves is an interlocking one Element (103 to 105) contains whose ON input (103) and OFF input (104) can be acted upon with pressure pulses that are synchronous with channels (68, 70) on the underside (41) of the drum that are released one after the other can be fed to the drum rotation, 5. Device according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that those associated with the respective openings (15, 16) of a circumferential position Valve pairs (108, 114 or 118, 123) via an inverting element (113) are interconnected, 6. Device according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that valve pairs (108, 114 or 118, 123) assigned to the openings of successive circumferential positions, respectively, by delay devices (110, 115) are connected to each other. 7. Device according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the vacuum connections (Vs) of the logic switching elements with the The interior of the drum under vacuum are connected, while the pressure connections (Ps) of the logic switching elements and the control inputs (68a, 68b) are connected to a pressure source by individual lines (63, 70). Docket EN 967 068 909827/1346 8. Device according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that To generate control pulses for the logic circuit, one can be influenced by input signals and has a synchronizing device (33 to 35) cooperating control device (28) is provided » 9. Device according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that two interacting, synchronously driven, rotating in opposite directions Conveyor drums (12, 13) are provided. Docket EN 967 068 9 0 9 8 2 7/1346