JP2001278481A - Sheet bundle separating and supply device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage and displacement of a lower side sheet material caused by pressurizing force from a sheet bundle of the uppermost portion, when the uppermost sheet bundle is moved along a surface direction from a sheet stacked body to be separated therefrom. SOLUTION: When an end of a leveler 102 abuts on a boundary portion between the uppermost sheet bundle 40 and a sheet bundle 40 under the upper most sheet bundle 40, the leveler 102 moves upstream of a carrying direction to be inserted between a pair of the sheet bundles 40. The leveler 102 is provided with an air supply passage (not shown), and when the leveler 102 is inserted to a predetermined position between the sheet bundles 40, the air supply passage blows a high pressure air from the end portion of the leveler 102 to a gap between a pair of the sheet bundles 40. One portion of a gas pressure of the high pressure air acts as a lift on the uppermost sheet bundle 40. As a result, a chuck member 152 clamps the uppermost sheet bundle 40, and even when the sheet bundle 40 is moved downstream of a carrying direction, PS plate constituting a lower side sheet bundle 40 is not damaged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for separating a sheet bundle from a sheet stack formed by stacking a plurality of sheet materials such as lithographic printing plates and stacking the sheet bundle. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating and feeding a sheet bundle to be detached from a body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a lithographic printing plate manufacturing line such as a photosensitive printing plate, on a support such as an aluminum plate or a steel plate,
For example, surface treatments such as graining, anodic oxidation, and chemical conversion treatment are performed alone or in an appropriate combination, and then a photosensitive composition (including a heat-sensitive composition in the photosensitive composition) is applied to the planographic printing plate. To manufacture a strip-shaped web which is a product material of the above.

A strip-shaped web, which is a product material of a lithographic printing plate, is cut along a longitudinal direction by a slitter after a slip sheet is adhered to an image forming surface by electrostatic adhesion, and is also cut in a transverse direction by a cutter. It is cut along and cut to a predetermined product size. The lithographic printing plates cut to this product size are stacked for each number of bundles determined by the shipping specifications of the lithographic printing plates, and protective sheets such as thick paper are arranged at the top and bottom respectively to form a sheet bundle. Is done. This sheet bundle is conveyed to a predetermined stacking position by a belt conveyor or the like. In a lithographic printing plate manufacturing line, for example, a pallet is placed at a stacking position, and sheet bundles of the lithographic printing plate are sequentially stacked on the pallet, and a sheet stack including a predetermined number of bundles is placed on the pallet. Constitute.

[0004] The pallet on which the sheet assembly is loaded is conveyed to a planographic printing plate packaging step by, for example, an automatic conveying device. In this packaging step, one sheet bundle is separated from the sheet stack stacked on the pallet by the sheet bundle separation and supply device, and the sheet bundle is supplied to the automatic packaging step.

An apparatus for separating and feeding a sheet bundle used in a lithographic printing plate production line as described above is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-217541. In the apparatus for separating and feeding a sheet bundle disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-217541, a leading end portion is provided between the uppermost sheet bundle and the sheet bundle thereunder in a sheet stack stacked on a pallet. After inserting the slope-shaped auxiliary lifting member, the plate-shaped sheet bundle lifting member is inserted deeply into the gap between the sheet bundles formed by the auxiliary lifting member with respect to the auxiliary lifting member, The leading end of the uppermost sheet bundle lifted by the sheet bundle lifting member is pinched by a finger, and the finger is moved vertically and horizontally to convey the sheet bundle to an automatic packaging device or the like.

[0006]

However, in the apparatus for separating and feeding a sheet bundle disclosed in JP-A-59-217541, the fingers of the sheet bundle holding means for holding the uppermost sheet bundle are moved in the horizontal direction. When moving
The uppermost sheet bundle moves while being pressed against the upper surface of the sheet bundle below. At this time, the sheet material constituting the sheet bundle is protected by the protective sheet disposed on the uppermost portion. If the lithographic printing plate is high, mechanical or chemical damage may occur to the lithographic printing plate subjected to the pressing force from the sheet bundle moving by the sheet bundle sandwiching means, or between the cardboard and the lithographic printing plate or a plurality of sheets. The lithographic printing plates may be misaligned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to move the uppermost sheet bundle from the sheet stack along the surface direction and separate it from the sheet stack to remove the uppermost sheet bundle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet bundle separation and supply device and a separation and supply method that can prevent damage and displacement of a lower sheet material due to a pressing force from the sheet bundle.

[0008]

A sheet bundle separating and feeding apparatus according to the present invention separates one sheet bundle from a sheet stack formed by stacking a predetermined number of sheet bundles of sheet materials. What is claimed is: 1. A sheet bundle separating and feeding device for separating a bundle from a sheet stack, comprising: a separation position inserted between an uppermost sheet bundle and another sheet bundle in the sheet stack; A separating member movably supported along the surface direction of the sheet stack to the position and
Air supply means for blowing high-pressure air along the surface direction between the sheet bundle from the end on the insertion side of the separation member inserted into the sheet stack into the separation position, and pinching along the thickness direction of the sheet bundle The width-adjustable chuck member is movably supported along the surface direction, and the leading end of the uppermost sheet bundle lifted up from another sheet bundle by the separating member inserted into the separating position. Holding means for holding by a chuck member, moving the chuck member along the surface direction, and detaching the uppermost sheet material from above the sheet stack.

According to the apparatus for separating and feeding a sheet bundle having the above-described structure, the chuck member of the nipping and conveying means clamps the end of the uppermost sheet bundle, and the chuck member transfers the sheet bundle along the surface direction of the sheet stack. When the sheet bundle is separated from the sheet stack by moving the sheet bundle, the air supply means moves between the uppermost sheet bundle and the sheet bundle below the uppermost sheet bundle from the insertion-side end of the separation member moved to the separation position. By blowing high-pressure air along the surface direction, a part of the air pressure of the high-pressure air blown between the sheet bundles from the insertion-side end of the separation member acts as a lift for the uppermost sheet bundle.
If the flow velocity and flow rate of the high-pressure air are appropriately adjusted, the frictional resistance between the uppermost sheet bundle and the upper surface of the sheet bundle below it and the uppermost The pressing force due to the weight of the sheet bundle can be reduced.

As a result, mechanical or chemical damage is caused to the sheet material which has been subjected to the pressing force and frictional resistance from the uppermost sheet bundle which is nipped and moved by the chuck member of the nipping and conveying means, or a plurality of sheets are damaged. Deviation between materials can be prevented.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a sheet bundle separating and feeding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Structure of Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a PS plate production line according to an embodiment of the present invention. An upstream side (upper right side in FIG. 1) of the production line 10 is provided with a feeder 14 for sequentially feeding out a web 12 which is a product material wound in a roll shape in advance. When the long web 12 sent from the feeder 14 is curled by the curl corrector 15 and reaches the feed roller 16, the interleaf paper 18 is adhered and adhered to the notch 20 by electrostatic adhesion.

The notcher 20 is provided with a punching portion on the web 12 so that the cutting roller 24 constituting the cutting unit 22 can move in the width direction of the web 12 at the punching position. This makes it possible to change the cutting width of the web 12 while continuously cutting the web 12 and the interleaf 18 together.

The cutting waste generated by the cutting by the cutting unit 22 is sent to a chopper (not shown) to be finely cut, and then collected in a collection box 28 by a collection conveyor 26.

In the production line 10 according to the present embodiment, two sets of cutting units 22 are prepared. As a result, setup operations such as blade replacement can be performed by the unused cutting unit 22 outside the line, and the line stop time of the production line 10 can be reduced.

In this manner, the web 12 cut to a predetermined cutting width has its feed length detected by the length measuring device 30 and is cut by the running cutter 32 at the designated timing. Thus, the PS plate 34 having the set size is manufactured.

Next, the PS plates 34 are sent to an intermediate stacking section 38 by a plurality of belt conveyors 36 constituting a transport path, where a predetermined number of PS plates 34 are stacked to form a sheet bundle 40. . In front of the intermediate stacking section 38, a protective sheet supply device 43 for supplying a protective sheet 42 made of cardboard or corrugated paper onto the belt conveyor 36.
Belt conveyor 44 is connected. By supplying between the PS plates 34 conveyed on the belt conveyor 36 at a predetermined timing by the protective sheet supply mechanism 43, one of the uppermost portion and the lowermost portion of the sheet bundle 40 constituted by the intermediate stacking portion 38 or The protection sheets 42 are arranged on both sides.

The sheet bundle 40 on the intermediate stacking section 38 is conveyed to a transfer position by a roller conveyor 46 and a belt conveyor 48, and is transferred from the belt conveyor 48 onto a pallet 52 by a transfer device 50 at the transfer position. ,
The sheet stack 54 is formed by stacking the sheet bundle 40 on the pallet 52. The pallet 52 loaded with the sheet stack 54 is conveyed onto the pallet carrier 58 by the automatic conveying device 56, and is conveyed by the pallet carrier 58 to the packaging process of the sheet bundle 40.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show a sheet bundle separating and feeding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The separation and supply device 60 separates the uppermost sheet bundle 40 from the sheet stack 54 stacked on the pallet 52 and conveys the sheet bundle 40 onto the roller conveyor 62 shown in FIG. The sheet bundle 40 on the roller conveyor 62 is conveyed to an automatic wrapping device (not shown) and is automatically wrapped in exterior paper.

A lifter 64 is disposed in the separation and supply device 60 as shown in FIG. On the upper side of the lifter 64, a substantially flat roller conveyor 66 is supported so as to be in a horizontal state. On the roller conveyor 66, the sheet is accumulated by an automatic conveying device 56 shown in FIG. The pallet 52 on which the body 54 is loaded is placed. The roller conveyor 66 supports the pallet 52 so that the pallet 52 can be moved in the transport direction (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2) with a small force.

At the lower side of the lifter 64, as shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a flat support 70 for supporting a roller conveyor 66 via a plurality of elevating cylinders 68.
The support base 70 is installed on a floor 88 via a plurality of rollers 72, and is movable in a road width direction (arrow W direction) substantially orthogonal to the transport direction. A linear actuator 74 is connected to the support 70 via a rod 76. Here, the linear actuator 74 is
Is expanded and contracted to move the lifter 64 in the road width direction.

A plurality of lifting cylinders 6 in the lifter 64
Reference numeral 8 denotes a controller for the rod 69 (not shown).
It expands and contracts according to the control from. At this time, the plurality of lifting / lowering cylinders 68 are driven so that the movement amounts are equal. Accordingly, by driving each of the plurality of lifting cylinders 68, it is possible to adjust the position of the roller conveyor 66 in the height direction (the direction of the arrow H in FIG. 2) while maintaining the horizontal state.

As shown in FIG. 3, a level detecting mechanism 78 is disposed above the roller conveyor 66 in the separation and supply device 60. The level detecting mechanism 78 includes an elevating rod 80 supported to be movable in the height direction, and a rotatable roller member 82 is connected to a lower end of the elevating rod 80. An optical sensor 84 is disposed at an intermediate portion of the lifting rod 80. here,
The optical sensor 84 is turned on when the roller member 82 is pressed against the upper surface of the sheet assembly 54 stacked on the pallet 52, and continuously outputs an upper surface detection signal to the controller. Turns off when away from the top.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the separation and supply device 60, a sheet pressing mechanism 90 is disposed above the roller conveyor 66 and upstream of the level detecting mechanism 78 in the transport direction. The sheet pressing mechanism 90 includes a pressing cylinder 92 that expands and contracts a pressing rod 94 along the height direction, and a pressing member 96 connected to a lower end of the pressing rod 94 of the pressing cylinder 92. The pressing member 96 includes a pressing rod 9.
4 is provided, and a thick cushion material 100 made of rubber or the like is fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 98 so as to face the upper surface of the sheet assembly 54. .

Here, the sheet pressing mechanism 90 extends the pressing rod 94 by the pressing cylinder 92 to insert the cushion member 100 of the pressing member 96 into the sheet when the leveler 102 described later is inserted from the retreat position to the separation position. The body 54 is brought into pressure contact with a predetermined pressing force in the vicinity of the upstream end (rear end) in the transport direction. Further, after the leveler 102 is inserted into the separation position, the sheet pressing mechanism 90 reduces the length of the pressing rod 94 by the pressing cylinder 92 before starting the conveyance of the uppermost sheet bundle 40 by the sandwiching and conveying mechanism 150 described below. The pressing member 96 is separated from the upper surface of the sheet stack 54.

As shown in FIG. 2, the separation and supply device 60 has a leveler 102 disposed upstream of the lifter 64 in the transport direction, and the leveler 102 is supported by the support mechanism 1 shown in FIG.
04 is supported on the floor 88. Leveler 10
2 has a flat plate shape in the height direction, as shown in FIG. 2, and is supported so that its plane direction is horizontal. A slide guide surface 105 having high flatness is provided on the upper surface of the leveler 102.
The sliding guide surface 105 is formed at its leading end with a slope portion 106 that smoothly slopes upward toward the rear end side (downstream side of transport) of the leveler 102, and this slope portion 106 is formed. Horizontal part 1 on the rear end side
07 continues smoothly. Here, the leveler 102
The horizontal portion 107 is supported such that the height of the horizontal portion 107 substantially matches the height of the upper surface of the roller conveyor 62 (see FIG. 2).

On the upper surface of the leveler 102, concave insertion / removal grooves 108 are formed at both ends in the road width direction. The insertion / removal groove 108 extends in the transport direction, and its upstream end along the longitudinal direction is open to the slope portion 106.

In the leveler 102, as shown in FIG. 6, an air supply path 110 penetrating in the transport direction is provided below the insertion / removal groove 108. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of air supply paths 110 (seven in this embodiment) are provided in the leveler 102, and these air supply paths 1 are provided.
10 are arranged so as to be parallel to each other along the road width direction. One end of an air pipe 112 is connected to the downstream end of the air supply path 110, and the other end of the air pipe 112 is an air supply comprising a compressor for pressurizing air, an accumulator for storing pressurized air, and the like. Source 114. In the middle of the air pipe 112, an electromagnetic on-off valve 116 whose opening and closing are controlled by an opening and closing signal from a controller is arranged.

Here, the opening at the tip of the air supply path 110 is performed.
The diameter is set to 3 mm. Air supply source 11
4 has a pressure of 2 to 5 kgf /
cm ^TwoIs adjusted by a pressure reducing valve (not shown)
You. The magnitude of this air pressure mainly depends on the sheet bundle 40.
Adjusted according to the weight of the sheet and the coefficient of friction between the protective sheets 42
It is. Handled by the separation and supply device 60 of the present embodiment.
The weight of the sheet bundle 40 is 10 to 50 kg / bundle.
Coefficient of friction (static friction coefficient) between the protective sheets 42
It is distributed in the range of 0.35 to 0.55. At this time,
The pressure of the high-pressure air depends on the weight of the sheet bundle 40 and the protective sheet.
It is necessary to increase as the coefficient of friction between 42 increases
However, if the air supply source 114 has enough capacity,
The maximum value of the adjustment range (= 5 kgf / cm^Two)
It may be left in order.

The support mechanism 104 of the leveler 102 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a round rod-shaped guide rod 118 extending in the transport direction is provided. Base blocks 120 are respectively connected to both ends of the guide rod 118, and the pair of base blocks 120 are respectively fixed on the floor 88. Thus, the guide rod 118 is connected to the floor 88 with sufficiently high strength.
A lower end portion of the carrier table 122 is slidably disposed on the outer peripheral side of the guide rod 118 via a slide bearing (not shown).

The swing shaft 1 is provided at the upper end of the carrier table 122.
Joint part 1 supported so as to be swingable about 26
24 are provided. Here, the swing shaft 126 is disposed so that its axis is parallel to the road width direction. The upper end of the joint 124 is fixed to the lower surface of the leveler 102. As a result, the leveler 102 is connected to the joint 1
It is supported so as to be swingable about 24 swing shafts 126.

The downstream base block 120 has the structure shown in FIG.
And three air cylinders 128, 130, and 13 for moving the leveler 102 in the transport direction as shown in FIG.
2 (however, only the air cylinder 128 is shown in FIG. 6) is fixed. These air cylinders 12
As shown in FIG. 7, 8, 130 and 132 are connected to an air supply path 110 and a common air supply source 114 through an air pipe 134, respectively. These air cylinders 128, 130, 132 are respectively connected to rods 129,
131 and 133 are supported so as to be able to expand and contract in the transport direction.
The distal ends of the rods 129, 131, 133 are arranged to push and pull the carrier table 122, respectively. The air cylinders 128 and 132 are disposed at both ends in the road width direction, and the air cylinder 130 is disposed between the pair of air cylinders 128 and 132.

Here, the air cylinders 128 and 132 extend the rods 129 and 133 when high-pressure air is supplied from the air supply source 114, and the air cylinder 130 expands the rods 1 and 2 when high-pressure air is supplied from the air supply source 114.
31 is shortened. In addition, these air cylinders 12
8, 130 and 132 reduce the length of the rods 129 and 133 while the high-pressure air is not supplied, and
31 is extended so that no binding force acts on the carrier table 122.

The air pipe 134 connecting the air cylinders 128, 130, 132 to the air supply source 114 is branched into three on the air cylinder 128, 130, 132 side as shown in FIG. Electromagnetic on-off valves 136, 138, 140 are arranged in the parts corresponding to the air cylinders 128, 130, 132, respectively.

Here, the solenoid on-off valves 136, 138, 140
The opening and closing of each are controlled by an opening and closing signal from a controller. When moving (leveling) the leveler 102 to the upstream side in the transport direction, the controller opens the electromagnetic on-off valves 136 and 140, respectively, and
38 is closed. Thereby, the air cylinder 128,1
32 extends the rods 129 and 133 to extend the carrier table 1
22 and the leveler 102 are advanced. When moving the leveler 102 to the downstream side along the transport direction (reverse), the controller opens the electromagnetic on-off valve 138,
In addition, the solenoid valves 136 and 140 are closed. As a result, the air cylinder 130 causes the rod 131 to contract and retract the lever 102 together with the carrier table 122.

A support stay 142 is fixed below the joint portion 124 of the carrier table 122 so as to extend to the downstream side in the transport direction as shown in FIG. An electromagnetic actuator 144 that expands and contracts the rod 145 along the height direction is fixed. The upper end of the rod 145 of the electromagnetic actuator 144 is connected to the leveler 102 via a ball joint 146.
Connected to Thereby, the electromagnetic actuator 1
When the 44 expands and contracts the rod 145, the leveler 102 swings about the swing shaft 126 in a direction corresponding to the moving direction of the rod 145.

Here, the electromagnetic actuator 144 locks the rod 145 at a position where the rod 145 becomes the shortest (normal position) when the drive voltage is not applied, and urges the rod 145 in the extending direction only when the drive voltage is applied. I do. Thereby, the leveler 102 is moved to the electromagnetic actuator 144.
When no drive voltage is applied to the electromagnetic actuator 144, the leveler 102 is kept horizontal, and when a drive voltage is applied to the electromagnetic actuator 144, the tip of the leveler 102 swings downward.

The leveler 102 is movable in the transport direction between a retreat position (see FIG. 3) and a separation position (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 3, the leveler 102 at the retreat position is located downstream of the sheet stack 54 on the pallet 52 in the transport direction, and the leading end thereof is positioned at the sheet stack 54.
Downstream end face (rear end face). The leveler 102 that has moved from the retreat position to the insertion position inserts the leading end side shown in FIG. 5 between the pair of sheet bundles 40 in the sheet stack 54. At this time, the rear end of the sheet bundle 40 running above the leveler 102 reaches the horizontal portion 107 of the sliding guide surface 105.

On one side end surface of the leveler 102,
As shown in FIG. 7, a cylindrical handle 148 is provided. In the separation and supply device 60 of the present embodiment, the operator grips the handle 148 and applies a force in the transport direction to the leveler 102, so that the leveler 102 comes into contact with the rear end face of the sheet stack 54 from the retreat position. It can be moved freely up to.

The separation and supply device 60 is provided with an operation switch (not shown) for selectively operating any of the air cylinders 128 and 132 and the air cylinder 130. The operation switch is operated by an operator. As a result, an operation signal is output from the operation switch to the controller, and the air cylinders 128 and 132 and the air cylinder 1 are received by the controller having received the operation signal.
30 so that any one of them operates.
The opening and closing of 8,140 is controlled.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holding and conveying mechanism 150 is provided with a pair of chuck members 152. The pair of chuck members 152 are arranged at positions corresponding to the pair of insertion / removal grooves 108 of the leveler 102 in the road width direction, respectively. Also, a pair of chuck members 152
Are supported by a chuck carrier (not shown) movable in the transport direction and the height direction, respectively.
The chuck member 152 includes an elongated plate-shaped fixed arm 154 and a movable arm 156 supported so as to be hung downward from the chuck carrier, and these arms 154 and 156 have a lower end in the transport direction, respectively. 155, 157 bent at a substantially right angle to the downstream side along
Are formed.

The fixed arm 154 and the movable arm 156 are supported such that the upper surface of the claw 155 and the lower surface of the claw 157 face each other and are parallel to each other. here,
The fixed arm 154 is fixed to the chuck carrier, and always moves in the transport direction and the height direction integrally with the chuck carrier. On the other hand, the movable arm 156 is supported by the chuck carrier so as to be relatively movable in the height direction. A drive mechanism (not shown) including a motor, a gear train, and the like is mounted on the chuck carrier, and the drive mechanism moves the movable arm 156 up and down in the height direction according to a signal from a controller. Thereby, the claw 15
The holding width, which is the distance between the upper surface of the fifth member 5 and the lower surface of the claw portion 157, can be adjusted.

The pair of chuck members 152 move in the height direction and the transport direction integrally with the chuck carrier. As a result, when the chuck carrier is moved in the height direction, the chuck member 152 is moved upward with respect to the leveler 102 (see FIG. 3) and the fixed arm 154.
The entire claw portion 155 can be moved between a lower limit position (see FIG. 5) where the claw portion 155 is inserted into the insertion / removal groove 108 of the leveler 102. If the chuck carrier is moved in the transport direction,
The chuck member 152 has claw portions 155 and 15 in the transport direction.
The forward end (see FIG. 5) of the front end of the sheet stack 54 protruding downstream with respect to the downstream end surface of the sheet stack 54 (see FIG. 5).
It becomes possible to move between the vehicle 2 and the reverse limit that is separated downstream.

(Operation of the Embodiment) The operation and operation of the separation and supply device 60 according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the pallet 52 on which the sheet assembly 54 is mounted is conveyed to the separation and supply device 60 by the automatic conveying device 56 shown in FIG.
Is transferred onto the roller conveyor 66 of the lifter 64. The operator moves the pallet 52 on the roller conveyor 66 in the transport direction so that the sheet stack 54 moves to a predetermined position in the transport direction, and after completing the alignment, moves the pallet 52 to the roller conveyor 66 with a stopper member ( (Not shown).

Next, the operator operates the linear actuator 74 to extend or contract the rod 76,
Thereby, the lifter 64 is moved along the road width direction,
As shown in FIG. 2, the center of the sheet stack 54 coincides with the center of the roller conveyor 62. When the positioning of the sheet stack 54 in the width direction is completed, the controller operates the elevating cylinder 68 of the lifter 64 until the upper surface of the sheet stack 54 contacts the roller member 82 of the level detection mechanism 78. The roller conveyor 66 is raised. At this time, the position of the roller member 82 has been adjusted to a detection position corresponding to the thickness of the sheet bundle 40 by the lifting rod 80 in the height direction, and the roller member 8 at this detection position has been adjusted.
The lower end of 2 is separated upward from the tip of the leveler 102 by a distance equal to the thickness T of the sheet bundle 40 as shown in FIG. The sheet pressing mechanism 90 holds the pressing member 96 at a non-pressing position separated above the sheet assembly 54 by a pressing cylinder 92.

When the upper surface of the sheet assembly 54 comes into contact with the roller member 82 and the optical sensor 84 of the level detecting mechanism 78 is turned on, the controller stops the operation of the elevating cylinder 68. Thereafter, the controller moves the roller member 82 from the detection position to the standby position by the lifting cylinder 68 (see FIG. 4).
The pressing member 92 is lowered by the pressing cylinder 92 from the non-pressing position to the pressing position (see FIG. 4) where the pressing member 96 is pressed against the upper surface of the sheet stack 54 with a predetermined pressing force.

When the pressing member 96 is lowered to the pressing position, the operator grips the handle 148 and exits (see FIG. 3).
Is moved to the upstream side in the transport direction, and the leading end of the leveler 102 is brought into contact with the boundary between the uppermost sheet bundle 40 and the sheet bundle 40 thereunder. At this time, the operator flips up the end of the protection sheet 42 arranged at the lowermost part of the upper sheet bundle 40 and
0 from the protection sheet 42 arranged at the top of
The tip of the leveler 102 is inserted between the pair of protection sheets 42. From this state, the operator moves the leveler 102
When an operation switch (not shown) for operating the controller is operated, the controller opens the electromagnetic on-off valves 136 and 140 to supply high-pressure air to the air cylinders 128 and 132. Accordingly, the leveler 102 moves to the upstream side in the transport direction while being kept in the horizontal state, and is inserted between the uppermost sheet bundle 40 and the sheet bundle 40 therebelow.

Here, immediately after the movement of the leveler 102 starts, the leading end of the uppermost sheet bundle 40 relatively slides on the slope 106 of the sliding guide surface 105 as shown in FIG. Thereby, it is lifted up along the slope part 106. When the leveler 102 moves further downstream and reaches the separation position, the leading end of the uppermost sheet bundle 40 reaches the horizontal portion 107 of the sliding guide surface 105 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the pressing member 96 is pressed against the vicinity of the rear end of the upper surface of the sheet stack 54, the frictional resistance between the sheet bundles 40 forming the sheet stack 54 and between the sheet members forming the sheet stack 40 is increased. Due to the increase in frictional resistance, displacement between the sheet bundles 40 and between sheet materials constituting the sheet bundle 40 when the leveler 102 is inserted between the sheet bundles 40 is prevented.

When the leveler 102 moves to the separation position, the controller applies a drive voltage to the electromagnetic actuator 144 to cause the rod 145 of the electromagnetic actuator 144 to move.
Is extended. As a result, the leveler 102 moves the swing shaft 12
6, the leading end side is slightly moved downward, and the lower end of the sheet bundle 40 is moved by the leading end of the leveler 102.
Is pressed from above.

When the leveler 102 moves to the separation position, the controller moves the pair of chuck members 152 from the backward limit to the forward limit in the transport direction, and at the same time, from the upper limit position to the lower limit position in the height direction. At this time, the controller keeps the space between the claws 155 and 157 wider than the thickness T of the sheet bundle 40. As a result, the claw 155 of the fixed arm 154 is inserted into the pair of insertion / removal grooves 108 of the leveler 102, and the claw 155 of the fixed arm 154 is inserted.
Between the claw portion 157 of the movable arm 156 and the sheet bundle 40
Is inserted. From this state, the controller lowers the movable arm 156 as shown in FIG. 5 so that the claw portions 155 and 157 clamp the leading end of the sheet bundle 40. To open the air supply path 11 of the leveler 102.
In addition to supplying high-pressure air to the pressure member 0, the pressing member 96 is raised to the non-pressing position by the pressing cylinder 92 as shown in FIG.

In the state where the leveler 102 is at the separation position,
Only the vicinity of the rear end of the uppermost sheet bundle 40 is pressed against the upper surface of the lower sheet bundle 40, and the width between the lower surface and the upper surface of these sheet bundles 40 decreases toward the upstream side in the transport direction. A wedge-shaped gap is formed. Accordingly, the high-pressure air discharged from the tip of the leveler 102 is blown into the wedge-shaped gap between the sheet bundles 40, and at this time, a part of the gas pressure by the high-pressure air acts as a lift on the uppermost sheet bundle 40. I do. The lift generated by the high-pressure air acts to reduce the pressing force due to its own weight from the uppermost sheet bundle 40 to the lower sheet bundle 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, the controller moves the pair of chuck members 152 to the downstream side in the transport direction when the leading end of the sheet bundle 40 is nipped by the pair of chuck members 152 as shown in FIG. As a result, the uppermost sheet bundle 40
Is located near the tip of the sliding guide surface 10 of the leveler 102.
5, the leveler 102 is moved from above the sheet stack 54 while sliding the vicinity of the rear end to the upper surface of the lower sheet bundle 40.
Is re-mounted on the sliding guide surface 105. At this time, the controller determines that the sheet bundle 40 is
When it is remounted, the electromagnetic on-off valve 116 is closed to stop the supply of high-pressure air to the air supply path 110 of the leveler 102. When the uppermost sheet bundle 40 moves to the downstream side together with the chuck member 152, the leveler 10
Since the lower sheet bundle 40 is pressed by the leading end of the sheet bundle 2, no deviation occurs between the lower sheet bundles 40, and no deviation occurs between the PS plate 34 and the protection sheet 42 constituting the sheet bundle 40. .

When the chuck member 152 moves to a position near the downstream end of the insertion / removal groove 108 of the leveler 102, the controller continues to move the chuck member 152 to the downstream side.
To separate only the leading end of the sheet bundle 40 from the sliding guide surface 105 upward. In this state, the controller moves the chuck member 152 to the downstream side to move the sheet bundle 40 from the sliding guide surface 105 to the roller conveyor 62.
Replaced on the top, and the chuck member 152 is
When the reverse limit on the downstream side of No. 2 is reached, the chuck member 152 is stopped. Thereafter, the controller operates the claw portions 155, 1
57, the sheet bundle 40 was released, the chuck member 152 was returned to the position shown in FIG. 3, and the application of the drive voltage to the electromagnetic actuator 144 was stopped to return the leveler 102 to the horizontal state. Thereafter, the solenoid on-off valve 138 is opened for a certain period of time, and the leveler 10 is opened by the air cylinder 130.
2 is returned to the exit position (see FIG. 3).

When the uppermost sheet bundle 40 is replaced on the roller conveyor 62, the controller lowers the roller member 82 of the level detecting mechanism 78 to the detecting position shown in FIG. Lifting cylinder 6
The roller conveyor 66 is raised by 8 until the upper surface of the sheet stack 54 contacts the roller member 82. Thereafter, the controller and the operator repeat the above-described separation and supply operation by the separation and supply device 60 until all the sheet bundles 40 on the pallet 52 are replaced on the roller conveyor 62.

The separation and supply device 6 of the present embodiment described above.
0, the chuck member 152 of the nipping and conveying mechanism 150
Hold the leading end of the uppermost sheet bundle 40 in the sheet stack 54, and the chuck member 152
When the sheet bundle 40 is moved to the downstream side in the transport direction to separate the sheet bundle 40 from above the sheet stack 54, the uppermost sheet bundle 40 and the sheet bundle 40 below it from the leading end of the leveler 102 moved to the separation position. Of the high-pressure air blown between the sheet bundle 40 from the leveler 102 by the high-pressure air
When the flow rate and the flow rate of the high-pressure air are appropriately adjusted, the uppermost sheet bundle 40 and the lower sheet bundle when the uppermost sheet bundle 40 is nipped and moved by the chuck member 152 are moved. The frictional resistance between the uppermost sheet bundle 40 and the pressing force due to the weight of the uppermost sheet bundle 40 can be reduced.

As a result, the PS plate 34 of the lower sheet bundle 40 receiving the pressing force and frictional resistance from the uppermost sheet bundle 40 which is nipped and moved by the chuck member 152 of the nipping and conveying mechanism 150 is mechanically or Chemical damage may occur, and the PS sheet 34 between the PS plates 34 and the PS sheet in the lower sheet bundle 40 may be damaged.
Deviation between the plate 34 and the protection sheet 42 along the transport direction can be prevented.

In the above description of the present embodiment,
The PS plate 34 and the protective sheet 42 are separated by the separating and feeding device 60.
Has been described only in the case where the sheet bundle 40 is separated one by one from the sheet stack 54 constituted by the above, and is conveyed to the roller conveyor 42.
According to the configuration similar to the above, the sheet bundle is separated one by one also from a sheet material other than the PS plate 34, for example, a sheet aggregate including paper, a metal plate, a resin sheet, and the like, and the sheet bundle is moved to a target position. Can be transported.

Further, in the separation and supply device 60 of this embodiment,
Although the sheet bundle 40 separated from the sheet stack 54 is temporarily placed on the leveler 102 and further placed on the roller conveyor 62 from the leveler 102, another transfer from the sheet stack 54 is performed without being placed on the leveler 102. Alternatively, the sheet bundle 40 may be transported to a target position together with the transport member.

[0059]

As described above, according to the apparatus and method for separating and feeding a sheet bundle according to the present invention, the uppermost sheet bundle is moved from the sheet stack in the plane direction to move the sheet stack on the sheet stack. When the sheet material is separated from the sheet member, damage and displacement of the lower sheet material due to the pressing force from the uppermost sheet bundle can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a PS plate manufacturing line to which a sheet material accumulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a sheet bundle separation and supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the sheet bundle separation and supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the leveler is at a retreat position.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the sheet bundle separation and supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state immediately before the leveler moves to a separation position.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a configuration of the sheet bundle separation and supply device according to the embodiment of the invention, and illustrates a state where the leveler has moved to a separation position.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a configuration of a leveler and a support mechanism thereof in the sheet bundle separation and supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a leveler and an air supply unit to the leveler in the sheet bundle separation and supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 34 PS plate (sheet material) 40 Sheet bundle 42 Protective sheet (sheet material) 54 Sheet assembly 60 Separation and supply device 64 Lifter (height adjusting means) 78 Level detecting mechanism (upper surface detecting means) 90 Sheet pressing mechanism (pressing means) 102 Leveler (separation member) 110 Air supply path (air supply means) 112 Air pipe (air supply means) 114 Air supply source (air supply means) 116 Electromagnetic open / close valve (air supply means) 150 Nipping / conveying mechanism (nipping / conveying means) 152 chuck member (holding / conveying means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet bundle separation and supply device for separating a sheet bundle from a sheet stack in which a predetermined number of sheet sheets are stacked, and separating the sheet bundle from the sheet stack. Wherein the sheet stack can be moved along the surface direction of the sheet stack to a separation position inserted between the uppermost sheet bundle and another sheet stack and a retreat position away from the sheet stack. A supported separation member, air supply means for blowing high-pressure air along the surface direction between the sheet bundle from the end of the separation member inserted into the separation position on the insertion side with respect to the sheet stack, and a sheet bundle. Supporting a chuck member whose holding width along the thickness direction is adjustable so as to be movable along the surface direction,
The leading end of the uppermost sheet bundle lifted from another sheet bundle by the separating member inserted into the separating position is held by the chuck member, and the chuck member is moved along the surface direction to move the uppermost sheet bundle to the uppermost sheet bundle. A sheet conveying device for separating and feeding a sheet bundle, comprising: a sheet conveying means for detaching the sheet material from the sheet stack. 2. A sheet pressing device, comprising: pressing means for pressing the sheet stack near the rear end of the separating member from above when the separating member moves from the retreat position to the separating position. An apparatus for separating and feeding a sheet bundle as described in the above. 3. An upper surface detecting means for detecting an upper surface position of the sheet assembly and outputting a detection signal corresponding to the upper surface position, based on the detection signal output by the upper surface detecting device.
Height adjusting means for adjusting the position of the sheet stack in the thickness direction such that the height of the separation member matches the height of the boundary between the uppermost sheet bundle and another sheet stack in the sheet stack; The sheet bundle separation and supply device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 4. A sheet bundle separation device according to claim 1, wherein one sheet bundle is separated from a sheet stack in which a predetermined number of sheet bundles are stacked. A method for separating and feeding the sheet bundle from the sheet stack, wherein the separating member is moved from the exit position to the separation position and is inserted into the separation position by the air supply unit. High-pressure air is blown between the sheet bundles along the surface direction of the sheet stack from the end of the separation member on the insertion side with respect to the sheet stack, and the sandwiching and conveying means is operated, so that the separation member is moved to another sheet stack. After the front end of the uppermost sheet bundle raised from the sheet is held by the chuck member, the chuck member is moved along the surface direction to collect the uppermost sheet bundle. The method of separating feed sheet stack, characterized in that disengaging from the body.