EP1362814A1 - Device for intermediate storage of weblike material - Google Patents

Abstract

The storage device has a shaft-form intermediate store (14) for a free length (54) of the film (12), which is divided into high-pressure (56) and low-pressure (58) sectors, the pressure difference between which is maintained by the free length of film. The spacing between the shaft walls (16, 18) can be adjusted.

Description

The invention relates to a device for intermediate storage in the form of a tape Materials, especially developed photographic films, according to the Preamble of claim 1.

The intermediate storage of tape material between two work stations in the form of loops is known. In the known devices band-shaped material with the help of tensioning devices, for example by Use of loop pullers, in the intermediate storage in a loop shape forced. However, once the band-shaped material is high or fast changing transport speeds promoted by the buffer is, these known devices are such due to the inertia Clamping devices can no longer be used.

From DE 40 30 462 C2 a device is known, as in the preamble of Claim 1 is defined. This known device is used in an automatic notching machine for the temporary storage of a developed, photographic film between a measuring device for recognizing the position of the webs between the single images and a device for notching the film. at In this known device, the film is processed during processing arranged between the measuring device and the device for notching shaft-shaped cache. Through on that as entry and at the same time provided as an exit for the film end of the buffer, adjustable guide devices, the film is stored in a buffer free loop shape forced, i.e. the film takes on because of its inherent tension through the guide devices to a loop shape without the loop itself is held mechanically. Around the loop shape with upward shaped Stabilizing loops is also proposed in this known device, an additional one in the buffer within the free loop To generate dynamic pressure, which should prevent the loop from collapsing.

In this known device, the formation of the loop shape is decisive caused by the control devices, the one generated in the buffer Back pressure to stabilize the loop shape of the film with large loop lengths is used. Due to its construction, this is from the DE 40 30 462 C2 known device, however, only for the temporary storage of Suitable for filming a given width format.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for intermediate storage in the form of a tape Specify material that can easily change to changing width formats of the band-shaped material can be adjusted at any time and one trouble-free transport between the workstations guaranteed.

This object is achieved by a device with the Features according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject of subclaims.

Due to the adjustable design of the shaft walls in the invention Device achieved various effects. On the one hand, the invention Device with very little effort to different Width formats of the band-shaped material to be stored in the buffer be adjusted. On the other hand, between each side edge of the material and the respective shaft wall of the buffer store a defined, optimal dimensioned gap can be set, which is an exact dosage of the Overpressure section allows the amount of air flowing into the vacuum section. This can cause the tensile stress caused by the pressure difference on the band-shaped material optimally adapted to the given transport conditions so that the material takes on the desired free loop shape, without twisting or curling of the band-shaped material.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention the device for generating the pressure difference has a blower with overpressure can be generated in the overpressure section. The usage A blower has the advantage that in a comparatively simple way by blowing of air in the overpressure section an air cushion in the buffer can be formed, the band-shaped material in its free loop shape supports.

In addition to the blower or as an alternative to this, it is also proposed that one with the vacuum section of the buffer in fluid communication to provide standing air extraction, which by extracting air the buffer in the negative pressure section can generate a negative pressure. In this way too, due to the air suction Difference in pressure between the negative pressure section and the positive pressure section creates an air cushion in the overpressure section, which the band-shaped Material supported. If the blower and air extraction are used together, there is also the possibility of adapting the funding to each other of the blower and the air extraction the band-shaped material in the buffer to keep it under a defined tension, which is the most common changing transport movements of the band-shaped material stabilized.

If the air extraction is used together with the blower, it is also from Advantage if the air extraction through an air recirculation with the fan in Flow connection can be brought. That way you can Blowers and air extraction support each other in their funding, so that the total power required to generate a sufficient high pressure difference is minimized.

In this embodiment, it is also advantageous if the air extraction first from a specified minimum loop length with the blower in flow connection is brought, since the performance of the blower with short loop lengths sufficient.

The distance between the shaft walls is set by appropriate Adjustment devices, such as set screws or the like.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention It is proposed that an actuating device be added to the device to provide, which is a very quick change in the distance between the shaft walls. The actuator can do this either manually adjusted or for automatic adjustment with an actuator, such as a pneumatic cylinder, a servomotor or the like his.

In order to achieve particularly precise and quick adjustment of the shaft walls, is proposed in a further development of this embodiment as Actuator on both sides of the intermediate container, near its two ends Arrange eccentric, which to adjust the distance between the Well walls interact with these. Here it is particularly from Advantage if the shaft walls are mechanically prestressed against each other and the Manhole walls can be adjusted against the preload by turning the eccentric are, which enables a very exact positioning of the shaft walls to each other is.

So that the material is defined during its transport through the buffer and does not tend to twist or curl are preferred Embodiment of the device according to the invention at the buffer store two parallel spaced guides are provided, along which the band-shaped material at least with one of its flat sides is performed in sections.

For this purpose, the two guides are preferably each made of two guide profiles formed, one of the guide profiles on one shaft wall and the other of the guide profiles on the other shaft wall of the buffer store is attached and the two guide profiles of each guide interlock. Due to the previously described formation of the guides from two guide profiles each it is guaranteed that even with a relative adjustment of the Shaft walls to each other the band-shaped material in any position of the Shaft walls is supported by the guide profiles. A passage of air by minimizing the guides from the buffer store, it is also proposed to design the two leadership profiles of each leadership so that they interlock to form a labyrinth seal. Alternatively, the Appropriate lip seals can be used.

This means that sufficient band-shaped material is always stored in the buffer is, but there is no overfilling of the buffer, is it is particularly advantageous if at least one sensor unit is on the buffer is provided, which is used to record those recorded in the buffer Loop length of the band-shaped material is used.

To the required performance of the device for generating the pressure difference To keep it as low as possible is in a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the intermediate store arranged so that the band-shaped material is under the action of gravity Formation of the loop shape in the buffer hangs.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following Description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying Drawings is taken.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Zwischenspeichern eines entwickelten Filmes als bandförmiges Material, bei der die vordere, verstellbare Schachtwand aus Gründen einer besseren Darstellbarkeit entfernt ist, und

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1

Show it:

Fig. 1

a side perspective view of a device according to the invention for temporarily storing a developed film as a band-shaped material, in which the front, adjustable shaft wall is removed for reasons of better representation, and

Fig. 2

2 shows a plan view of the device according to FIG. 1

A device 10 according to the invention is shown in perspective in FIG. 1 shown for the temporary storage of a developed, photographic film 12. The device 10 has a shaft-shaped intermediate storage 14, which in Direction of transport of the film 12 seen between two workstations, for example a prescanner and a main scanner. While the operation of the workstations, the film 12 becomes high, constantly changing Transport speeds through the intermediate storage 14, wherein the length of the portion of the film recorded in the buffer 14 12 constantly changes.

As FIG. 2 shows, in which a top view of the device 10 is shown, the Buffer 14 made of two parallel spaced apart Shaft walls 16 and 18 as well as two equally spaced, guides defining the side walls of the intermediate storage 14 20 and 22 formed.

The rear shaft wall 16 is fixed, while the front shaft wall 18 at a distance from the rear shaft wall 16 starting from one Starting position in which it is mechanically driven by a spring arrangement, not shown is biased against the biasing force of the spring assembly in parallel can be adjusted, as will be explained later.

The two guides 20 and 22 are each made of two guide profiles 24 and 26 are formed, the one guide profile 24 of each guide 20 and 22 is attached to the rear shaft wall 6, while the other guide profile 26 is held on the front, adjustable shaft wall 18. The two Guide profiles 24 and 26 are designed in cross section so that they form a labyrinth seal 28 interlock.

As FIG. 1 further shows, is near the upper open end of the buffer 14 an air injection opening 30 and near the lower end of the buffer 14 an air suction 32 is provided. The air suction 32 is stopped through an air return 34 with a fan 60 in flow communication. With With the help of a flap, not shown, the flow connection between the blower 60 and the air extraction 32 are interrupted, with the closed Flap the air extraction 32 is deactivated. Furthermore, the Device 10 an adjusting device 36 for adjusting the front shaft wall 18 of the buffer memory 14 is provided, the structure of which is described below 1 and 2 will be explained in more detail.

The actuating device 36 has at the two ends of the intermediate storage 14 each have two eccentrics 38 and 40 on either side of the shaft-shaped intermediate storage 14 are arranged. Each on one side of the cache 14 arranged pair of eccentrics 38 and 40 is on a common Axis A and B held in rotation, which parallel to the longitudinal direction of the two Well walls 16 and 18 run.

As shown in FIG. 2 in particular, the two axes A and B of the two pairs of eccentrics 38 and 40 are operatively connected to one another by a coupling rod 42. For this purpose, the coupling rod 42 has one end at one end of a on the axis B rotatably held coupling lever 44 articulated. The other The end of the coupling rod 42 is articulated to the end of an adjusting lever 46, which is rotatably connected to the axis A. At the lower end of the control lever 46 is a pneumatic cylinder 48 articulated with its piston rod 50.

If the piston rod 50 of the pneumatic cylinder 48 is now extended, the Adjusting lever 46 together with the pair of eccentrics 38 of axis A from the basic position adjusted, with the coupling rod 42 and the coupling lever 44 Actuating movement to the axis B of the other eccentric pair 40 is transmitted. By twisting the ones lying against the inside of the shaft walls 16 and 18 Eccentric pairs 38 and 40 can refer to the front shaft wall 18 the rear shaft wall 16 against the biasing force of the not shown Spring arrangement can be adjusted in parallel. If the eccentric pairs 38 and 40 returned to its starting position, the front shaft wall 18 moved back to their starting position by the force of the spring arrangement.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the buffer 14 is at different height positions each light barriers 52 attached, the purpose of which will be explained later becomes.

Now the device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for intermediate storage of the film 12 can be used for loop formation, for example guide devices are used, as disclosed in DE 40 30 462 C2.

Due to the effect of gravity and possibly existing guidance devices the film 12 has a free loop 54 which is accommodated in the intermediate storage 14, the film 12 with its flat side facing outwards on the guides 20 and 22 abuts in sections by gravity.

In order to adapt the buffer 14 to the width of the film 12, now the front shaft wall (see. Fig. 2) with the help of the actuator 30 in the previous described way adjusted so that only a small, defined dimensioned Gap between each side edge of the film 12 and the respective one Shaft wall 16 or 18 remains. The adjustment of the cache 14 on the width format of the film 12 has various effects. On the one hand the film 12 will work together with the shaft walls 16 and 18 and the guides 20 and 22 defined in the intermediate memory 14 guided. On the other hand, an overpressure section becomes in this way in the intermediate storage 14 56 above the loop 54 and a vacuum section 58 below the loop 54 is formed, with the defined sized gaps between the side edges of the film 12 and the shaft walls 16 and 18 one Connection between the two sections 56 and 58 for a defined Ensure pressure equalization.

With the help of the light barriers 52, the length of the in the intermediate storage 14 Recorded loop 54 can be detected. If the loop length exceeds one predetermined first length value, the blower 60 is first activated, which is in flow connection with the overpressure section 56. hereby there is an overpressure in the overpressure section 56, through which the film 12 in its Loop shape stabilized and lightly pressed against the guides 20 and 22 which prevents twisting or curling of the film. simultaneously an optimally adjusted air flow flows through the gaps between the side edges of the film 12 and the shaft walls 16 and 18.

If the loop length of the film 12 in the intermediate storage 14 continues to increase, additionally activated the air suction 32, which in the vacuum section 58 additionally generates a negative pressure, whereby the air extraction 32 from the intermediate store 14 extracted air is supplied to the blower 60.

By adapting the conveying capacities of the blower accordingly 60 and the air suction 32, via the flap, not shown, in the air return 34, a defined tensile stress can be applied to the film 12, by which the film 12 is held in its intermediate form 14 in its loop shape becomes.

If a film 12 with a different width format is stored in the intermediate memory 14 introduced, the shaft wall 18 is again in the manner described above adjusted. This makes it possible to differently glue films directly stuck together Processing width. For this purpose, one located in front of the buffer Film feeder stopped while a film feeder is behind the intermediate storage and thus pulls the loop out of the storage. Then the glue point is pulled over the opening of the buffer and the new width by adjusting the front shaft wall. Now the transport device is stopped behind the buffer and the film with the new width again forms a loop in the buffer into transports.

In the described embodiment, only the front shaft wall is 18 adjustable. Of course, however, embodiments are also conceivable in which both shaft walls are designed to be adjustable. Instead of the eccentric pairs, for example, is also used as an adjusting device a combination of actuating cylinders possible.

Claims (12)

Device for temporarily storing tape-like material, in particular of developed photographic films, between two workstations, with a shaft-like buffer (14) in which the tape-like material (12) can be received in the form of a free loop (54), the material (12) with its side edges to the shaft walls (16, 18) of the intermediate store (14) in such a way that the material (12) divides the intermediate store (14) into an overpressure section (56) and a underpressure section (58), and
a device (30, 32) for generating a pressure difference between the overpressure section (56) and the underpressure section (58) of the intermediate store (14), the pressure difference in the intermediate store (14) the material (12) in the form of the free loop (54) holds,
characterized in that the distance between the shaft walls (16, 18) of the intermediate store (14) can be adjusted to adapt the intermediate store (14) to the width of the band-shaped material (12). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for generating a pressure difference has a fan (60) which serves to generate an overpressure in the overpressure section (56). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device has an air suction (32) which is in flow connection with the vacuum section (58) of the intermediate store (14). Apparatus according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the air suction (32) can be brought into flow connection with the blower (60) generating the excess pressure in the excess pressure section (56) of the intermediate store (14) to form an air return (34). Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the air suction (32) is only in flow connection with the blower (60) at a predetermined minimum loop length of the band-shaped material (12) in the intermediate store (14). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an adjusting device (36) is provided for adjusting the distance between the shaft walls (16, 18). Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the adjusting device (36) has two eccentrics (38, 40) at the two ends of the shaft-shaped intermediate store (14), which are arranged on both sides of the intermediate store (14) and each one to the longitudinal direction of the Shaft walls (16, 18) parallel axis (A, B) can be rotated, and that the eccentrics (38, 40) cooperate with at least one of the shaft walls (16, 18) of the intermediate store (14) in such a way that they adjust the distance between the shaft walls (16, 18) can be adjusted parallel to the other shaft wall (18, 16) by simultaneously rotating the eccentrics (38, 40). Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the two shaft walls (16, 18) are mechanically prestressed against one another, and that at least one of the shaft walls (16, 18) is adjustable against the prestressing force by rotating the eccentrics (38, 40). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the band-shaped material (12) is guided, at least in sections, with one of its flat sides along two parallel guides (20, 22) running at a distance from one another in the intermediate store (14). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that each of the two guides (20, 22) is formed by two guide profiles (24, 26), one guide profile (24) on one shaft wall (16) and the other guide profile (26) is fastened to the other shaft wall (18) of the intermediate store (14) and that the two guide profiles (24, 26) interlock, preferably to form a labyrinth seal (28). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor unit, preferably at least one light barrier (52), is provided on the intermediate store (14) for detecting the loop length of the band-shaped material (12) received in the intermediate store (14). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the band-shaped material (12) hangs in the intermediate store (14) by the action of gravity to form the loop shape (54).

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