GB2207124A

GB2207124A - Pallet stack for film printer

Info

Publication number: GB2207124A
Application number: GB08716751A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Teruo Orikasa; Shigeo Sumi; Hiroshi Taguchi
Original assignee: Somar Corp
Current assignee: Somar Corp
Priority date: 1987-07-16
Filing date: 1987-07-16
Publication date: 1989-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-16
Also published as: GB8716751D0; GB2207124B; DE3723564A1

Description

-I- PALLET STOCKER APPARATUS FOR PRINTER 2 "-/-" 0 7 12 4

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pallet stocker apparatus and more particularly to an art effectively applicable to the art of pattern printing including printing photoengraving patterns, printed circuit board patterns and plate patterns.

Background of the In,ention

In a conventional pallet stocker apparatus for a printer,. a - combination of. printing pattern, films such as mask. character and sandwich plates prepared according to the layouts of images of finished prints is inverted and exposed against an unexposed film to compose a positive.

In order to increase the efficiency of printing operation, the aforesaid printing pattern films sorted according to the kinds of films are mounted on a pallet and a number of pallets with printing pattern film positioning means are contained in a vertically installed pallet stocker apparatus. Then a desired pallet in the pallet stocker apparatus is moved by mechanical means up to'desired height. A printed pattern film carrier, which is reciprocally movable and equipped with a plurality of suction cups, is used to take out each printing pattern 1 0 film from a pallet and to return the film to a predetermined pallet.

The pallet stocker apparatus for use in a multiplex printer is equipped with a frame -formed by removing the front and rear walls from a- case. Pairs of guide rails for mounting pallets are installed inside the lef t and right walls of the f rame. A number of pallets (generally made of aluminum about 90 cm (W) x 100 cm (D) x 3 cm (T)) are furnished with printing pattern film positioning means. -A group of small wheels arranged on the guide rails support the pallets so that the fairly heavy pallets may travelsmoothly and!longitudinally alongthe guide rails. Pallet stoppers prevent the pallets from falling off it they excessively protrude from the case in the longitudinal direction. Means for elevatingthe frame position the pallet loaded with the desired printing pattern films corresponding to the step of printing operation slightly lower than the top height of the printer. Vertically pallet driving means push forward the pallet positioned to the desired height so that the desired printing pattern film may be taken in and out. There -are finally provided means for elevating the frame and longitudinally pallet driving means.

However, the conventional pallet stocker apparatus has posed the following problems.

i i 1 0 Firsti since the pallet is drawn toward this side of the frame formed by removing the front and rear walls from the case to take the printing pattern films in and outt the pallet stocker apparatus requires a space in depth equivalent to the length of the pallet in addition to the depth of the case when it is installed.

Secondly, if used for hours, the group of small wheels for the guide rails used to mount the pallets and that of wheel shafts tend to be subjected to frictional damage and besides they are hardly repairable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present _invention As -intended to solve the aforesaid problems and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a reduction of the space for containing and operating pallets in a printing pallet stocker apparatus which contains a plurality of pallets for mounting printing media so that they can be taken in and out.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the improvement of the operability of a printing pallet stocker apparatus for containing a plurality of pallet.s for mounting printing media so that they can be taken in and out.

0 Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The disclosure of the present invention will briefly be summarized as follows:

The pallet stocker apparatus for a printer according to the present invention comprises a pallet support mechanism for supporting a plurality of pallets piled up with a shape like shelves. The pallet is used to store printing pattdrn f ilms in such a manner that the films can be taken in and out. The pallet stocker further includes a pallet carrier mechanism f or vertically moving each of the pallets.

The pallet' stocker apparatus for a printer according to the present invention includes pallet carrier control means for making the pallet carrier mechanism operate so that the plurality of pallets or a given number of pallets as a subgroup are vertically moved up to a predetermined position where the movement of the pallets is stopped once and where at least one pallet is moved up to a predetermined position.

The space for containing and operating the pallets can be reduced and the operability of the printing pallet stocker apparatus can also be improved by supporting the plurality of pallets with a shape like shelves, fitting a i i 1 1 1 i I 1 1 i 0 -5 printing medium to each pallet. and making the pallet carrier and control means operate so that the plurality of pallets or a given number of pallets as a subgroup are vertically moved up to a predetermined position where the movement of the pallets is stopped once and where at least one pallet is moved up to a predetermined position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, a description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention applied to an apparatus for manufacturing original negatives. In the drawingsi like reference characters designates like or corresponding parts and the description of them will be omitted.

Fig. 1 illustrates a total system configuration embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an external view of a printing pallet stacker apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the schematic construction of the printing pallet stocker apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the principal part of the subgroup pallet carrier mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a replica of the carrier mechanism for moving only each pallet shown in Fig. 4.

0 A 1 Fig. 6 is a perspective. view of the structure of part of the pallet engaging with the pawl f itted to the chain shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top view of a pallet. counting mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the schematic construction of the control mechanism of the printing pallet stocker apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a replica of showing the relation of the pallet carrier operaltion of the printing -pallet stocker apparatus embodying the present invention to each control sensor..

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of the control software for the printing pallet stobker apparatus embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in Fig. 1, the total system comprises a robot 1 for use in manufacturing original negatives, a controlling device 2 such as a computer, a printing pattern film printing device 3, and a pallet stocker apparatus 4.

As shown in Fig. 2. the pallet stocker apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cover 10 of i 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 i i 1 i i i i i 1 0 the apparatus having an entrance and exit 11 where a robot arm for use in taking printing pattern films in and out and observation windows 13. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 there are four vertical support frames 14, four'horizontal support frame 15A. 15Br 15C and 15Dr and a support stand 16 to which the vertical support frame 14 and the horizontal support frame 15A are fitted. The case of the printing pallet stocker apparatus is formed by combining the vertical support frame 14 and the horizontal support frames 15A - 15D into a rectangular body.

As shown in Fig. 4, three screw rods 17A, 17B and 17C are rotatably fitted into the support.stand 16 and one solid rod 17 is also provided. The f ront ends of the screw rods 17A, 17B and 17C are rotatably f itted to the horizontal support frame 15C. whereas the front end of the solid rod 17 is fixed to the horizontal support frame 15C. A gear 18 is attached to the upper end of the screw of the screw rod 17A, the gear 18 engaging with a gear 20 fastened to the rotary shaft 19A of a first motor 19 (Fig. 3). To the lower portions of the screw rods 17A through 17C are fastened gears 21A through 21C and an endless chain (or endless belt) 22 wound on the gear 21A through 21C is used to transmit the torque of the screw rod 17A to the other screw rods 17B and 17C.

G 9 Moreoverr a support plate 23 for vertically moving all the pallets is connected to the screw rods 17A, 17S and 17C and the solid rod 17 through support members 23A through 23D.

As shown in Fig. 3p a sensor 24 in the form of a microswitch detects the lowermost position of a pallet and is installed on the horizontal support frame 15A. The microswitch sensor 24 is used to detect the pallet in the start (initial) position.

Moreover. a Imotor support member 25 is fitted to the support stand 16 through support members 25A and 25B and the-aforesaid first motor-.-19islmounted.thereon.

As shown in Fig. 4, a pallet support frame 26 is so arranged as to slidably move up and down by means of support rods 27A and 27B for guiding the pallet support frame vertically the support rods 27A and 27B. are installed on the support stand 16.

As shown in Fig. 3 r a second motor 28 is employed to drive to drive a pallet division mechanism. The second motor 28 is supported by the horizontal support f rame 15D through a motor support member 28B. A gear 29 is f itted to the rotary shaf t 28A of the second motor 28. The gear 29 is made to engage with a gear 31 f itted to a rotary shaft 30,, which is rotatably fitted thereto through a support member 30A fitted to the horizontal support frame 1 1 0 -g- 1 15D. Both ends of. the rotary shaft 30 are equipped with gears 32 and 33, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 3, gears 34 and 35 are rotatably supported by support members 36 fitted to the horizontal support frames 15A and 15D. One of the support members 36 is simultaneously used as the support member 25B for supporting the motor support member 25. A chain 37 is wound on the aforesaid gears 32 and 34, whereas a corresponding chain 38 is wound on the gears 33 and 35 to transmit the torque -derived from the rotary shaft 30 to the gears 34 and 35. A gear 39 is f itted to the rotary shaft-of the gear---34j, whereas a corresponding gear 40 is" fitted to the rotary. shaft of the gear 35. A gear 41 engages with the gear 39r whereas a gear 42 engages with the gear 42. A gear 43 is fitted to the rotary shaft of the gear 4ly whereas a corresponding gear 44 is fitted to the rotary shaft of the gear 42. The gears 41 through 44 are rotatably fitted to the support member 36A. Moreoverr gears 45 and 46 and tension gears 47 and 48 (shown in Fig. 5 though not shown in Fig. 3) are also rotatably fitted to the support member 36A. A pallet separating chain.49 is wound in between the gears 43 and 45 and the tension gear 47, whereas a corresponding pallet separating chain 50 is streched over between the gears 44 and 46 and the tension gears 48. As shown in Fig. 5, pallet hooking 1 1 pawls 51 are fitted to the pallet separating chains 49 and 50. The pallet hooking pawls 51 allows a pawl 51A f itted to the pallet support f rame 26 shown in Fig. 5 and 6 to vertically move the pallet to move up and down.- As shown in Fig. 3. the pallet is located on the face of the horizontal support frame 15B where the robot hands operate. The horizontal support frame 15B is also equipped with a sensor 52 for detecting the pallets set in place to detect the number of pallets passing the home position. A photosensor 52A is employed, as shown in Fig. 7, for instancer as the sensor 52 for detecting the ----pallets set in place. A projection 52B-for,detecting the number of pallets screening the light emitted from the photosensor 52A is fitted to the pallet support frame 26.

A sensor 53 for detecting the uppermost pallet is, as shown in Fig. 3, at a f ixed place near the middle of the vertical support frame 14. The sensor 53 for detecting the uppermost pallet is used to detect the uppermost pallet which has been the lowermost one and a microswitch, for instance, is employed.

As shown in Fig. 3, a sensor 54 for detecting the closing point and a sensor 55 for detecting the opening point are also attached to the vertical support frame 14. The zensor 54 for detecting the closing point is used to detect that the pallets are consecutive (not separated :1 ii 1 0 1 from each other)r whereas the sensor 55 for detecting the opening point is employed to detect that the pallets are separated from each other.

As shown in Fig. 8, -the system conf iguration of the control mechanism of the printing pallet stocker apparatus according to this embodiment is such that the system includes a sensor 56 for reading sheet marks. The sensor 56 is fitted to the hands of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates as shown in Pig. 1. A central processor 57 contaihed in the controlling device 2 is formed with a microcomputer. Control means 58 control the robot 1 for manufacturing plates. - -The control means 58 being formed with a microcomputer. Pallet control means 59 control the pallet stocker apparatust the pallet control means 59 being formed with a microcomputer. Control means 60 control the printing pattern film printing device 3. The previously mentioned sensor 52 detects the fixed position of the pallet, the sensor being formed with a photosensor 52A.

Now. the pallet control operation will be described.

The pallet control operation is conducted according to software based on a flowchart shown in Fig. 10.

1 1 1 More specifically, the central processor judges whether the robot 1 for manufacturing plates can be operated when the start switch is turned on and, if the answer is YESt judgment is passed on whether the hands of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates is located at the printing pattern film printing device 3. If the result Is YES, commands 1 through 8 are sequentially sent by the central processor 57 to each component# so that operations as described later are conducted. If the answer, howevert is NO, judgment is passed on whether the. stop switch is held on or off. If NOr the operation returns to the start orr if YES# an interrupting process---is followed.

The contents of the aforesaid commands are as follows:

Command 1: to lift pallets; Command 2: to lower pallets; Command 3: to separate pallets and lift them; Command 4: to separate pallets and lower them; Command 5: to lift set of pallets; Command 6: to lower a set of pallets; Command 7: to lift one pallet; Command 8: to lower one pallet.

The sequences of operation resulting from these commands are now described.

(1) Operation of lifting pallets.

t f 1 0 a) Output of positioning completion is reset..

b) Pallets are raised from the fixed position at high speed.

c) Pallets are stopped at the point of time the uppermost moving pallet is detected by the sensor 53 for detecting the uppermost pallet (position sensor).

d) Pallets are raised up to a position where the vertically moving pawl 51A engages with the pallet hooking pawl 51.

e) Output of-positioning completion is turned on.

This operation of raising pallets is effected not during the operation of the- -arm of - the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only during that of the printing pattern film printing device 3. In addition, the operation of raising them is stopped when the uppermost limit switch or irregularity switch of the vertical moving pawl 51A is activated.

(2) Operating of lowering pallets.

a) output of positioning completion is reset.

b) Pallets are lowered from the fixed position.

c) Pallets are stopped when the lowermost pallet is detected by the sensor for detecting the lowermost pallet.

d) output of positioning completion is turned on.

i G A This operation of lowering pallets is effected not during the operation of the arm of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only during that of the printing pattern film printing device 3.

(3) Operation of separating and lifting pallets.

a) Output of positioning completion'is reset.

b) Upper pallets are lifted from the fixed position and, of the upper pallets thus fixed, the lowermost pallet is detected by the sensor for detecting the opening point, s5 that the operation of separating and lifting pallets is stopped.

c) output of positioning completion is turned on.

This operation of separating and lifting pallets is effected during not the operation of the arm of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only that of the printing pattern film printing device 3.

(4) Operation of separating and lowering pallets.

a) output of positioning completion is reset.

b) After the pallets are separated and lifted, the upper pallets located in the upper pallet fixing position (opening point) are lowered up to the original position and the operation of separating and lowering pallets is stopped when the sensor for detecting the closing point detects the pallets thus lowered.

c) output of positioning completion is reset.

i t.

1 0 The operation of separating and lowering pallets is effected not during the operation of the arm of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only during that of the printing pattern film printing device 3.

(5) Operating of lifting a set of pallets.

a) output of positioning completion is reset.

b) Pallets are lif ted to an extent of the number of fixed pulses (e.g., 4 pulses) corresponding to the size of the one set.

c) Output of-positioning completion is turned on.

This operation of lifting a set of pallets is effected not during the operation of the arm of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only during that of the printing pattern film printing device 3.

(6) Operation of lowering a set of pallets.

a) Output of positioning completion is reset.

b) Pallets are lowered to an extent of the number of fixed pulses (e.g., 4 pulses) corresponding to the size of the one set.

c) output of positioning completion is turned on.

This operation of lowering a set of pallets is effectjed not during the operation of the arm of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only during that of the printing pattern film printing device 3.

(7) Operation of lifting one pallet.

4 a) Output of positioning completion.is reset.

b) Pallet is lowered to an extent of the number of fixed pulses corresponding to one pallet.

1 c) Output of positioning completion is turned on.

This operation of lowering one pallet is effected not during the operation of the arm of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only during that of the printing pattern film printing device 3.

(8) Operation of lowering one pallet.

a) output of-positioning completion is reset b) Pallet is lowered to an extent of the number of 9 fixed pulses corresponding to one pallet.

c) output of positioning completion is turned on.

This operation of lowering one pallet is effected not during the operation of the arm of the robot 1 for manufacturing plates but only during that of the printing pattern film printing device 3..

A description has been given in specific terms in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention but the invention is not limited to the aforesaid embodiment and it is believed obvious that modification and variation of the invention is possible without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof.

The pallet stocker apparatus for a printer according to the present invention comprises a pallet S j support mechanism for supporting a plurality of pallets piled up with a shape like shelves, the pallet being used to store printing pattern films in such a manner that the films can be taken in and out, a pallet carrier mechanism for vertically moving each of said pallets, and pallet carrier control means for making the pallet carrier mechanism operate so that the plurality of pallets or a given number of pallets as a subgroup are vertically moved up to a predetermined position where the movement of said pallets is stopped 6nce and where at least one pallet is moved up to a predetermined position. In consequencer the space for containing and operating the pallets can be reduced and the operability of the printing pallet stocker apparatus can also be improved.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A pallet stocker and a printer, comprising:

1 - printer; pallet stocker for storing a plurality of pallets piled in a stackr said pallets being used to store printing film; and means for transferring said printing film from selected ones, of said pallets in said pallet stocker to said printer and - f t-om said printer to selected ones of said pallets in said pellet stocker, said transferring of said film to and from paid pallet being performed with a vertical motion of said transferred film separating from or coming into contactwith said pallets; said pallet stocker comprising a pallet support mechanism for supporting in said stack said plurality of palletst and a pallet carrier mechanism for vertically moving.a selected one of said plurality of palletsr thereby moving all of said pallets above said selected pallet in said stack.

-

2. A pallet stocker and printer as recited in Claim 1, wherein said pallet support mechanism supports said stack of said plurality of-pallets to a controllable height.

i 1 i 1 1 i 1 i i 1 i C 1

3. A pallet stocker and printer as recited in Claim 1,, further comprising pallet carrier control means for causing said pallet carrIer mechanism to simultaneously raise a selected subgroup of said plurality of pallets to a raised position wherein at least one pallet of said selected subgroup is raised to a predetermined position.

4. A pallet stocker and printer as recited in Claim 3, wherein said pallet support mechanism supports said stack of said plurality of pallets to a controllable height.

5. A pallet stocker and printer as recited in Claim 4. wherein said pallet support mechanism includes a vertical column on which said pallets are vertically movable and horizontally fixed.

6. A pallet stocker and printer as recited in Claim 5. wherein said pallets have first pawl members and said pallet carrier mechanism includes a chain having a second pawl member selectively engageable with one of said first pawl members and further comprising driving means for driving said chain in opposite vertical directions.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office- Staw House- 66 71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Firther copies may be obtained from The Patent c)mce, Wes Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD- Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1,87.