EP1101719A1

EP1101719A1 - Lamination take-out device

Info

Publication number: EP1101719A1
Application number: EP00931595A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masahiko Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd. Otsuji
Original assignee: Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-27
Filing date: 2000-05-26
Publication date: 2001-05-23
Also published as: EP1101719A4; JP2001039568A; WO2000073183A1

Abstract

Press plates (4) and slip sheets (5) are alternately stacked in a storage part (30). A slip sheet pad unit is provided with a double sheet taking prevention mechanism comprising a suction cup (231) and a contact plate (264). When the slip sheet pad unit lowers, the contact plate comes into contact with the slip sheet in advance of the suction cup, and separates part of the slip sheet from the press plate while rotating. Then, the suction cup is pressed against this separated part. The suction cup sucks/fixes the slip sheet previously separated from the press plate and hence will not simultaneously suck the press plate under the same.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a slip sheet takeout apparatus taking out a slip sheet from a storage part where press plates and slip sheets are alternately stacked.

Background Technique

A slip sheet takeout apparatus is used in a press plate feeder automatically supplying press plates with respect to an image recorder.

Fig. 6 is a drawing showing the internal structure of a press plate feeder 2 supplying press plates with respect to an unillustrated image recorder. A plurality of press plates 4 and slip sheets 5 for preventing rubbing between these press plates 4 are alternately loaded in a cassette 30.

The press plate 4 is such that its forward end is grasped by a press plate adsorption pad 82 of a press plate pad unit 81 and taken out from the cassette 30, and carried to a pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154. The pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154 feed the press plate 4 toward the unillustrated image recorder.

On the other hand, the slip sheet 5 is such that its forward end is grasped by a slip sheet adsorption pad 231 of a slip sheet pad unit 191. The slip sheet 5 is lifted up until held between a nip roller 199 and a slip sheet discharge roller 206. The slip sheet 5 is discharged from a slip sheet discharge bole 53 to the exterior of the press plate feeder 2 by rotation of the nip roller 199 and the slip sheet discharge roller 206.

The detailed structure of this press plate feeder 2 is described in the Japanese patent application No. 11-50280 (1999) by the applicant and hence not described in detail here.

While the slip sheet 5 is adsorbed/fixed by the slip sheet adsorption pad 231, the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 may also adsorb/fix through the slip sheet 5 the press plate 4 under the same when the slip sheet 5 is that having air permeability. Also when the slip sheet 5 has no air permeability, the press plate 4 may adhere to the rear surface of the slip sheet 5 by static electricity.

Thus, when the press plate 4 adheres to the slip sheet 5 in the process of takeout, it follows that the slip sheet pad unit 191 carries not only the slip sheet 5 but also the press plate 4, and hence jamming takes place in a transportation path and the slip sheet 5 is not normally discharged. In this specification, this problem is referred to as a double sheet taking problem.

One of conventional methods aiming at solution of the aforementioned double sheet taking problem is now described.

As shown in Fig. 6, a bracket 212 of the slip sheet pad unit 191 is mounted on a first guide shalt 210 and a first vertical belt 225 rotating by a drive unit (not shown), and rendered vertically movable by these.

As shown in Fig. 7, two vertical shafts 236 are mounted on both ends of the lower surface of the bracket 212 in a Y direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 7). A pad holding plate 237 elongated in the Y direction is passed through these vertical shafts 236 to be vertically movable with respect to the bracket 212. This pad holding plate 237 is urged by a spring 241 around the vertical shaft 236 downward (-Z direction).

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in the vicinity of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 of the slip sheet pad unit 191.

In the pad holding plate 237, a rod 238 and the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 are mounted on its lower surface and a coupling plate 239 and a pressing bar 240 are mounted on its side surface. Illustration of a suction pipe communicating with the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 is omitted.

The respective lengths of the pressing bar 240, the rod 238 and the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 are so set that the forward end of the pressing bar 240 is substantially flush with an adsorption surface of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 in non-operation (in non-suction).

When an unillustrated suction pump thereafter operates, the slip sheet 5 is adsorbed by and fixed to the slip sheet adsorption pad 231. Fig. 8 shows this stage. The slip sheet adsorption pad 231 contracts, and the slip sheet adsorption surface rises in correspondence thereto. On the other band, the height of the forward end of the pressing bar 240 is not changed. Therefore, the slip sheet 5 is such that only the portion adsorbed by and fixed to the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 is lifted up, and bending of an angle r1 takes place in the slip sheet 5 on the forward end portion of the pressing bar 240.

While the slip sheet 5 is of low elasticity and hence thus bendable, the press plate 4 is of higher elasticity and hence the press plate 4 does not follow the aforementioned bending of the slip sheet 5. Therefore, a clearance is defined between the rear surface of the slip sheet 5 and the press plate 4.

Also when the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 thereafter rises, there is no such phenomenon that the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 adsorbs/fixes through the slip sheet 5 the press plate 4 under the same since there is the clearance between the slip sheet 5 and the press plate 4 under the same, and no double sheet problem of sheets arises.

Also when the press plate 4 adheres to the rear surface of the slip sheet 5 due to static electricity, the double sheet taking problem can be prevented since the aforementioned clearance enlarges due to the own weight of the press plate 4 following rising of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231.

However, the press plate is a thin plate of a metal in general, and weak against an impact. When pressed by the pressing bar 240 at the time of suction/fixation, therefore, it may receive damage such as depression and flaw. When the press plate 4 receives such damage, the quality of an image created by this press plate 4 is deteriorated.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the aforementioned subject, and aims at providing a slip sheet takeout apparatus capable of taking out slip sheets one by one from a storage part where press plates and the slip sheets are loaded without giving damage to the press plates.

The present invention is a slip sheet takeout apparatus, and comprises a storage part storing alternately loaded press plates and slip sheets, slip sheet grasping means grasping the slip sheet located uppermost in the said storage part, slip sheet grasping means moving means approximating the said slip sheet grasping means to the said slip sheet and separating the same from the said slip sheet, slip sheet separation means having a contact part coming into contact with the said slip sheet located uppermost so that the said contact part moves in contact with the said slip sheet surface thereby applying force in a direction substantially parallel to the said slip sheet surface with respect to the slip sheet for separating the slip sheet of a portion grasped by the said slip sheet grasping means from the press plate under the same, and control means releasing the said slip sheet from the said slip sheet grasping means when the said slip sheet grasping means is moved to a desired position by the said slip sheet grasping means moving means.

The contact part applies the force in the direction substantially parallel to the slip sheet surface, thereby separating the slip sheet from the press plate under the same. Further, the slip sheet grasping means grasps the said separated portion and takes out the overall slip sheet from the storage part. The contact part separates part of the slip sheet by applying the force in the direction substantially parallel to the slip sheet surface and hence will not damage the press plate under the same. In addition, taking out the slip sheet in a state rendering the press plate adhere can also be reliably prevented.

Further, the present invention provides the said slip sheet grasping means moving means with a pedestal holding the said slip sheet grasping means, and couples the contact part of the said slip sheet separation means to the said pedestal.

Motion of the contact part and motion of the slip sheet grasping means can be readily interlocked.

Further, the present invention rotatably couples the contact part with respect to the said pedestal, and renders the same apply the force in the direction substantially parallel to the said slip sheet surface with respect to the said slip sheet due to its rotation.

The force of the horizontal direction is applied by rotation of the contact part, whereby it is possible to form the slip sheet takeout apparatus by a simple structure.

Further, the present invention provides the said slip sheet grasping means with a suction cup sucking/fixing the said slip sheet, and renders the said contact part present on a position closer to the said slip sheet than a suction surface of the said suction cup before coming into contact with the said slip sheet.

Before the suction cup comes into contact with the uppermost slip sheet, the uppermost slip sheet is such that part thereof previously separates from the press plate by the contact part. Therefore, the suction part can suck/fix the separated part thus formed, whereby the suction cup can reliably suck/fix only the uppermost slip sheet.

Further, the present invention provides the said storage part with a guide part regulating movement of the whole of the said slip sheet in the direction substantially parallel to the slip sheet surface.

Separation of the slip sheet by the contact part can be more reliably performed.

Further, the present invention renders the material for the contact part of the said slip sheet separation means rubber.

Damage of the press plate can be more reliably prevented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a slip sheet pad unit according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the slip sheet pad unit according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a double sheet taking prevention mechanism according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the double sheet taking prevention mechanism according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the double sheet taking prevention mechanism according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a conventional press plate feeder.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional double sheet taking prevention mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the conventional double sheet taking prevention mechanism.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a slip sheet pad unit 191 according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the unit 191. This unit 191 is part of the press plate feeder 2 described employing Fig. 6, and the role in this feeder 2 is as described above.

A bracket 212 elongated in a Y direction is mounted on a first slider 219 and a second slider 220, and supplied with vertical drive force by a slip sheet pad unit drive motor 227, a rotary shaft 229,

belts

225 and 226 and the like.

A pad holding plate 237 is passed through

vertical shafts

236 and 236 immediately under the bracket 212, and rendered vertically movable with respect to the bracket 212.

The pad holding plate 237 is such a member elongated in the Y direction that a sectional shape cut along an X-Z plane is in the form of a U shape of which corners are modified to right angles. Nine slip sheet adsorption pads 231 are mounted on the bottom surface by mounting screws 253 respectively. On a side surface (see Fig. 2) on the -X direction side, two double sheet taking prevention members 246 are mounted between the third and fourth slip sheet adsorption pads 231 and between the sixth and seventh slip sheet adsorption pads 231 respectively.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view for showing the structure in the vicinity of the double sheet taking prevention mechanism 246. It also illustrates part of a cassette 30. In this figure, a stage where the bracket 212 lowers until part of the double sheet taking prevention mechanism 246 (forward end of a contact plate 264 described later) comes into contact with the surface of the slip sheet 5 is shown.

The double sheet taking prevention member 246 mainly consists of a frame body 251, a plate 260 and the contact plate 264.

The frame body 251 is prepared by bending a sheet metal provided with required notches on three portions, and has a right side section 247, a left side section 248 parallel thereto, a fixed section 249 and a base 250. The left side section 248 is not shown in Fig. 3.

The double sheet taking prevention member 246 is fixed with respect to the pad holding plate 237 by coupling its fixed section 249 and the pad holding plate 237 by a coupling bolt 252.

The plate 260 has a right-side mounting section 256 and a left-side mounting section 258 (not illustrated in Fig. 3). These mounting sections 256 and 258 are fixed with respect to the right side section 247 and the left side section 248 of the frame body 251 with mounting screws 254. The plate 260 is thus coupled with respect to the pad holding plate 237 through the frame body 247.

The plate 260 is a plate spring bent on the position of a fold 261, and its forward end has a rotation moment in the direction of arrow f about the fold 261.

Further, a regulating shaft 266 is set between the right and left

side sections

247 and 248 of the frame body 251. This member is a member for applying limitation to rotation of the plate 260.

The contact plate 264 is fixed to the forward end of the plate 260 with a bolt 262. This contact plate 264 is a member corning into contact with the slip sheet 5 in the cassette 30 and its material is rubber as described later.

As shown in Fig. 3, the dimensions etc. of the respective members are so set that the forward end of the contact plate 264 is downward beyond an adsorption surface 242 of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 in a non-suction stage in a state where no external force is applied to the plate 260. The X-coordinate of the position where the forward end of the contact plate 264 and the slip sheet 5 come into contact is assumed to be x1.

End surfaces of the press plate 4 and the slip sheet 5 stored in the cassette 30 in the X direction are regulated by a plate guide 52 mounted on the bottom plate of the cassette 30.

(Operation Explanation)

The bracket 212 is further lowered to bring the adsorption surface 242 of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 into contact with the slip sheet 5.

The forward end of the contact plate 264 comes into contact with the slip sheet 5 following the aforementioned lowering. At this time, the contact plate 264 rotates in the anticlockwise direction about the fold 261. Due to this rotation, the forward end of the contact plate 264 applies force in the X direction (horizontal direction. Direction substantially parallel to the surface of the slip sheet 5) with respect to the slip sheet 5.

The material for the contact plate 264 is rubber hard to slip, and hence the forward end of the contact plate 264 does not slip on the surface of the slip sheet 5 during the aforementioned rotation.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a stage where the adsorption surface 242 of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 lowers to come into contact with the uppermost slip sheet 5. As shown in this figure, the X-coordinate of the forward end position of the contact plate 264 has moved from x1 to x2 by a distance dx. The contact plate 264 does not slip on the slip sheet 5 as described above, and hence the slip sheet 5 also moves by the same distance.

However, the end portion of the slip sheet 5 is regulated in movement in the X direction by the plate guide 52 of the cassette 30 and hence the slip sheet 5 is such that part thereof is pressed up and a swelling part 268 extending from immediately under the double sheet taking prevention mechanism 246 to around its Y direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the figure) is formed every double sheet taking prevention mechanism 246.

While the swelling part 268 is shown on the adsorption surface 242 of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 in this figure, the positions of the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 and the double sheet taking prevention mechanism 246 in relation to the Y direction deviate in practice (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 5 shows a stage where the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 starts suction by an unillustrated suction pump. The slip sheet adsorption pad 231 contracts and its adsorption surface 242 rises. Even if the uppermost slip sheet 5 and the press plate 4 under the same have been in close contact with each other due to static electricity, these have escaped from the close contact state due to the swelling part 268 formed in the stage (stage before starting suction) of Fig. 4. Therefore, the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 does not adsorb/fix through the slip sheet 5 the press plate 4 under the same.

Also when the slip sheet 5 is of a material whose air permeability is high and there is a possibility that the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 adsorbs through the slip sheet 5 the press plate 4 under the same, a space between the slip sheet 5 opposed to the adsorption surface 242 and the press plate 4 under the same opens with respect to the swelling part 268 formed on its Y-direction before-and-behind position and air flows into the space from the swelling part 268 along with suction start, whereby the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 does not adsorb/fix through the slip sheet 5 the press plate 4 under the same.

Thereafter the bracket 212 rises to a height capable of holding an end of the slip sheet 5 between a slip sheet discharge roller 206 and a nip roller 199 (see Fig. 6). Then, when a first link 197 of the nip roller 199 rotates and the slip sheet 5 is held between the slip sheet discharge roller 206 and the nip roller 199, suction of the suction pump is stopped by control of an unillustrated control unit, and the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 releases the slip sheet. The slip sheet 5 is discharged to the exterior of the apparatus from a slip sheet discharge hole 53 due to rotation of the nip roller 199.

As hereinabove described, the contact plate 264 made of rubber applies force with respect to the slip sheet 5 in the direction substantially parallel to its surface through an adsorption step thereby forming the swelling part 268 and separates the slip sheet 5 from the press plate 4, whereby the double sheet taking prevention mechanism 246 does not damage the press plate 4.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the double sheet taking prevention mechanism 246 is coupled to the pad holding plate 237 along with the slip sheet adsorption pad 231 and vertically moves simultaneously with the slip sheet adsorption pad 231. However, the present invention is not restricted to this, but a mechanism for preventing double sheet taking may be mounted on another member such as the cassette 30, for example.

Claims

A slip sheet takeout apparatus comprising:

a storage part (30) storing alternately loaded press plates (4) and slip sheets (5);

slip sheet grasping means (231) grasping the slip sheet located uppermost in said storage part;

slip sheet grasping means moving means (212) approximating said slip sheet grasping means to said slip sheet and separating the same from said slip sheet;

slip sheet separation means (246) having a contact part (264) coming into contact with said slip sheet located uppermost so that said contact part moves in contact with said slip sheet surface thereby applying force in a direction substantially parallel to said slip sheet surface with respect to said slip sheet for separating the slip sheet of a portion grasped by said slip sheet grasping means from the press plate under the same; and

control means releasing said slip sheet from said slip sheet grasping means when said slip sheet grasping means is moved to a desired position by said slip sheet grasping means moving means.
The slip sheet takeout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slip sheet grasping means moving means has a pedestal (237) holding said slip sheet grasping means, and

the contact part of said slip sheet separation means is coupled to said pedestal.
The slip sheet takeout apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said contact part is rotatably coupled with respect to said pedestal for applying force in the direction substantially parallel to said slip sheet surface with respect to said slip sheet due to its rotation.
The slip sheet takeout apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said slip sheet grasping means has a suction cup sucking/fixing said slip sheet, and

said contact part is located on a position closer to said slip sheet than a suction surface (242) of said suction cup before coining into contact with said slip sheet.
The slip sheet takeout apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said storage part is provided with a guide part (52) regulating movement of the whole of said slip sheet in the direction substantially parallel to the slip sheet surface.
The slip sheet takeout apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the material for said contact part of said slip sheet separation means is rubber.