JP2005534126A - Spindle-type transfer device for transferring and cooling flat substrates - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a spindle type conveying device for conveying and cooling a flat substrate, in particular an optically readable recording medium, and includes four spindles (1, 1) arranged in parallel in a spindle holder. ', 2, 2') as well as those of the type provided with drive means for rotation of the spindle. In the spindle transport apparatus, a substrate having a non-circular outer contour or a substrate having a diameter different from a standard cannot be transported. In order to avoid this, according to the present invention, the spindle holder adjusts the spatial arrangement of the spindles (1, 1 ', 2, 2') so that substrates of various shapes can It is formed so as to be able to engage with the spindles (1, 1 ', 2, 2') simultaneously.

Description

  The present invention claims for the transport and cooling of flat substrates, in particular optically readable recording media such as CDs, CD-Rs, mini-CDs, DVDs, mini-DVDs and various forms of business cards. The present invention relates to a spindle type conveying apparatus of the type described in the superordinate concept of Item 1.

  When manufacturing an optically readable recording medium of the above type, the material is usually formed from polycarbonate plastic particles using an injection molding machine, and the material is processed in a subsequent process and completed in the final process of the manufacturing process. CD, CD-R, DVD, etc. The material is still hot after leaving the injection molding machine and must be cooled before subsequent processing. The temperature is typically around 100 ° C. upon removal from the injection molding machine and loading into a general purpose spindle transport device. During transport by a general-purpose spindle transport device (multi-format spindle transport device), the material is cooled by heat dissipation and, if necessary, by additional cooling means. For example, a blower is provided, and the blower generates a layered air flow on the surface of the material. The material is at a temperature of approximately 22 ° C. when taken out from the spindle type conveying device.

  A known spindle type conveying apparatus that conveys a material over a cooling section using a spindle has three spindles arranged in parallel and symmetrically to each other, each of the spindles having a predetermined thread groove width. Has a screw. Such a spindle transport device is known, for example, from European Patent Application No. 1100080A2. In this case, as a disadvantage, the spindle transport device is modified to accept materials of different thicknesses or different diameters when changing products from CD to DVD or from CD to mini CD, or with another transport device. Must be replaced.

  The spindle-type conveying device known from the German patent application DE 100 00 399 is designed to accept both CD and DVD materials without modification, and is arranged in four asymmetrical arrangements. By using the spindle, it can be used for transporting CD / material and DVD / material as well as for transporting mini-CD material and mini-CD material.

  Non-circular outer contour substrates, for example, DVD cards known from Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-170286A, standard diameter CDs and DVDs, or minidiscs with different diameters are transported by the above-mentioned spindle type transport device. Can not.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a general-purpose spindle type conveying apparatus that can be adapted to all recording media as much as possible.

  Maintaining the spindle transfer principle is advantageous for reasons of space savings because a large number of substrates can be stored in a small space by the spindle.

  The above-mentioned problem is solved by a general-purpose spindle type conveying apparatus having the configuration according to claim 1. Advantageous configurations and improvements are described in the dependent claims.

  A significant advantage of the present invention is that the spindle transport device can be flexibly adapted to almost any recording medium format. When switching to a product of another format or shape, it is no longer necessary to replace the spindle transport device. That is, the spindle type conveying apparatus according to the present invention can be used widely, that is, the general-purpose type or the universal type.

The spindle holding portion is formed as follows, that is, the relative spatial arrangement of the four spindles parallel to each other can be changed. Can be adapted to. This is particularly important for the production of asymmetrically shaped optically readable recording media, such as business cards. Frequently processed formats are, for example, 1.2 mm thick and 120 mm or 80 mm diameter CD, 0.6 mm thick and 120 mm or 80 mm DVD, and 1.2 mm and 85 × 58 mm ² , 85 × 60. .8 mm ² , 86 × 60 mm ² , 80 × 60 mm ² , optically readable business card having dimensions of 3.5 ″ × 2.5 ″, etc. In this case, the narrow side is formed in an arc shape. Sometimes. Other arbitrary shapes are also conceivable, for example equilateral triangles.

  In order to adjust the spindle transport device for different substrate shapes, at least one spindle is supported so that it can be adjusted and fixed relative to another spindle. Preferably, each of the two spindles is combined as one pair of spindles that are spaced apart from one another and are supported in such a way that they can be adjusted relative to one another. It is also possible to provide all the spindles so that they can be individually positioned.

  The device according to the invention is particularly preferably formed as follows: both spindle pairs are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical virtual symmetry plane of the spindle holder.

  The spindle holding part preferably includes at least one front plate and one back plate, and a spindle support, each bearing two spindles. The front plate and the back plate may be fixedly disposed on the base plate.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment, each spindle support is formed in two parts, i.e. it comprises a front part and a back part. Ball bearings are preferably provided for supporting the spindle.

  The spindle support is mounted so as to be pivotable about at least one longitudinal axis parallel to the spindle longitudinal axis, and preferably about two longitudinal axes parallel to the spindle longitudinal axis. For this purpose, a swivel arm is provided as a part of the spindle holding portion, and the spindle support is supported on the swivel arm so as to be pivotable about the first axis, and the swivel arm itself is centered on the second axis. It is possible to turn as. The swivel arm is also preferably formed in a two-part structure, in which case the front swivel arm is connected to the front part of the spindle holder and the back swivel arm is connected to the back of the spindle holder. It is connected to the side part.

  An axis is provided on the pivot axis of both spindle supports, which extends over at least the entire length of the spindle and parallel to the spindle. The shaft is supported by the spindle holding part at both ends. In this case, the axis defining the pivot axis of the spindle support relative to the pivot arm is coupled only to the pivot arm. The axis that is the center of the swivel movement of the swivel arm also serves to support the swivel arm on the front plate and the back plate of the spindle holder.

  Advantageously, means are provided for locking the spindle support in a position where the substrate being processed and all four spindles are engaged simultaneously. This allows the device to be adjusted and locked to the desired substrate shape.

  In order to lock the spindle support, for example, a clamping sleeve may be provided, which is arranged around an axis provided coaxially with the pivot axis. The shaft is fastened to the front plate and back plate or pivot arm of the spindle holding part by means of a fastening sleeve using suitable fastening means, for example screws. Marks are provided on the spindle holder, the spindle support and the swivel arm, the marks representing the relative position for a substrate of a predetermined shape to be processed frequently, and a spindle-type transfer with respect to the substrate of the shape Easy to adjust the device. This has the advantage that, for both opposing pairs of spindles, a mirror-symmetric adjustment position can be selected with respect to one vertical vertical plane of the spindle transport device. Asymmetric positions are possible as long as the substrate being processed and all the spindles can be engaged.

  A servomotor is preferably provided for rotating the spindle, which drives all the spindles synchronously. The motor is supported on a spindle holder. A toothed belt (timing belt) is preferably used for the movement transmission. The toothed belt is usually arranged on one side of the spindle holding part, preferably on the front side, whereas the spindle is exclusively rotatably supported on the back side of the holding body.

  In a preferred embodiment, each spindle support is provided with a first toothed belt pulley which drives a pair of spindles arranged in the spindle support via the toothed belt. ing. The first toothed belt pulley itself is driven by a second toothed belt, which is engaged with a second toothed belt pulley. The axis of rotation of both toothed belt pulleys is preferably defined coaxially with the spindle support and the pivot axis of the pivot arm. In one embodiment, the toothed belt pulley is supported directly on both shafts provided along the pivot axis. The second toothed belt may advantageously extend along a respective pivoting arm for the support of the spindle support and be housed inside the pivoting arm. A third toothed belt that can be driven by the shaft of the servo motor is adapted to drive both second toothed belt pulleys.

  When a circular substrate is transported using the spindle-type transport device according to the present invention, the substrate rotates about the inherent rotation axis of the substrate. The rotational movement is generated by friction received in contact with the bottom of the thread groove of the rotating spindle. The rotational motion in the case of a circular substrate can ensure uniform cooling and reduce edge loading.

  Conversely, for non-circular substrates, the rotational motion caused to the substrate by contact with the threading groove of the transport spindle is undesirable because it causes the substrate to float between the spindles and thus tilt. Because. This interrupts the transfer and may damage the substrate. Therefore, an anti-rotation mechanism is advantageously provided for transporting a substrate having a non-circular outline.

  The anti-rotation mechanism advantageously acts on the substrate from below to lightly lift the substrate so that the substrate engages all the transport spindles but no longer contacts the bottom of the spindle thread. Not. This minimizes friction between the substrate and the spindle and avoids forced rotational movement.

  The substrate can be lifted centrally or it is advantageous if two strips are provided, each strip extending over the length of the spindle along an axis lying on the pivot axis of the spindle support. . In an advantageous embodiment, the strip is configured to include a shaft. The strip is adjusted using a clamping member as follows: the strip slightly lifts the substrate from the bottom of the spindle thread while the substrate is engaged in the spindle thread It is kept in.

  It is sufficient to lift the substrate on one side, ie one side. For this purpose, only one strip is provided on one side.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a spindle with at least two threaded grooves of different widths is provided, so that at least two substrates of different thickness, for example CD and DVD, can be spindles according to the invention. It can be conveyed by a type conveying device.

Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiment. In the drawing
FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a spindle type conveying apparatus according to the present invention,
2 and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the spindle-type transport device shown in FIG. 1 together with different anti-rotation mechanisms in a state adjusted according to each shape of business card of optical reading type,
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing two different embodiments of the rotation preventing mechanism.

  FIG. 1 shows the front of an embodiment of a general-purpose spindle type conveying apparatus according to the present invention. On the base plate 30, an upper structure plate 40 for supporting action and a front plate 42 indicated by a one-dot chain line are assembled. A back plate facing the front plate 42 is not shown.

  Although the specification describes in detail only the right-hand part of the spindle-type transport device in the drawing, the same applies to the corresponding components on the left-hand side.

  The servo motor 20 is attached to the upper structure plate 40, and the turning arm 22 is supported so as to be turnable about the shaft 15 at the lower end. The shaft 15 couples the front plate 42 and the upper structure plate 40 and the back plate of the spindle type conveying apparatus. The swivel arm includes a front-side swivel arm 22 and a back-side swivel arm (not shown). The swivel arm on the back side is supported so as to be pivotable about the shaft 15 along the back plate, and It extends in parallel to the turning arm 22 on the front side. Both swivel arms are connected to each other by another shaft 11 at the other end, which supports the spindle support 4 in a pivotable manner. The swivel arm is guided in the long holes 44 and 46 of the front plate and the back plate via the pin 45 and the shaft 11, and the long hole extends along an arc centered on the shaft 15. Thereby, the turning motion around the shaft 15 is stabilized, and the turning angle of the turning arm is limited to a predetermined value.

  The spindle support 4 is formed in a two-part structure, similar to the pivot arm 22, and comprises a front side portion visible in FIG. 1 and a back side portion not visible in the drawing. Two screw spindles 1 and 2 that are parallel to each other are rotatably supported at a predetermined interval in the front and back portions of the spindle support 4. Ball bearings are provided in the spindle support 4 for the support of the screw spindle. The vertical axes of the spindles 1 and 2 do not coincide with the pivot axis of the spindle support 4, and the pivot axis of the spindle support coincides with the axis 15. The screw spindles 1, 2 are firmly connected to the toothed belt pulleys 5, 6 on the side facing the front plate 42. The toothed belt pulleys 5 and 6 are engaged with the first toothed belt pulley 10 via a toothed belt 8 guided inside the front side portion of the spindle support 4. The first toothed belt pulley 10 is rotatably supported on a shaft 11, and the spindle support 4 is also turned with respect to the turning arm 22 around the shaft 11. The first toothed belt pulley 10 is operatively coupled to a second toothed belt pulley 14 via another toothed belt 12. The second toothed belt pulley rotates on a shaft 15 that is also used as a turning shaft for the turning motion of the turning arm 4, and is connected to the servo motor 20 via another toothed belt 16. It is connected to a toothed belt pulley 18 which can be driven by a shaft. By means of the toothed belt 16, both spindle pairs 1, 2; 1 ', 2' provided in the spindle transport device according to the invention are driven synchronously.

  Clamping sleeves arranged around shafts 11 and 15 in order to keep the position of the spindle pairs 1, 2; 1 ', 2' locked during operation in accordance with the size of the substrate to be processed (Not shown) is provided. The clamping sleeve extends between the front side portion and the rear side portion of the pivot arm 22 over the entire length of the shafts 11 and 15, and is operatively connected to a fixing means (not shown) comprising, for example, a butterfly screw and a fitting plate. The fixing means is provided outside the front plate and the back plate or the turning arm. The swivel arm 22 pivotally supported on the shaft 15 may be locked with respect to the front plate 42, and the spindle support 4 pivotally supported on the shaft 11 is supported with respect to the swivel arm 22. It can be locked.

  The spindles 1, 2; 1 ', 2' are preferably formed as at least double threads, in which case screws with different groove widths are provided. One screw is adapted to receive a substrate having a thickness of, for example, 1.2 mm, and another screw is adapted to receive a substrate having a thickness of, for example, 0.6 mm.

  In FIG. 1, CDs or DVDs are indicated by chain lines, and the CDs or DVDs are engaged with the screws of all spindles 1, 2; 1 ', 2'. Corresponding swivel arms 22, 22 'and spindle supports 4, 4' are shown in a symmetrical adjustment position with respect to one vertical virtual vertical plane of the spindle transport device according to the invention. The circular substrate is in uniform contact with the thread bottom of all screws. Accordingly, the substrate is cooled very uniformly by being rotated around the rotation axis of the substrate itself based on the friction between the substrate edge and the bottom of the thread groove by the rotation of the spindle during operation.

  2 and 3 schematically show a cross section of a spindle-type transport device according to the present invention, in which different substrates of different formats are received in the screws of the spindles 1 and 2. Corresponding members are indicated by symbols with dashes. In order to adjust, or adapt, the spindle transport device to ensure that the substrate engages all the spindle screws, the swivel arm 22 is adjusted to be steeper than shown in FIG. And the spindle support body 4 is largely swung to the side.

  For non-circular substrates, the substrate is erected perpendicular to the direction of transport by a forced rotational movement based on friction between the substrate edge in the transport device and the bottom of the spindle thread, i.e. all spindles There is a risk of losing uniform engagement with the screw and damage. In order to prevent this, a rotation preventing means or a rotation preventing mechanism is provided. In FIG. 2, one strip 24 functions as a rotation preventing mechanism. The strip surrounds the shaft 11 for pivotable support of the spindle supports 4, 4 'and extends over the entire length of the spindles 1,2. The strip 24 is adjusted using a knurled screw 28 and fixed to the shaft 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving piece 24 has a protrusion 25. The strip 24 is placed on the projection 25 while the substrate is being transported along the spindles 1 and 2, and thus is slightly lifted from the bottom of the thread groove of the spindle 2 positioned on the lower side. So as to be engaged in the thread groove.

  In FIG. 3, another conventional format for an optically readable business card is engaged with the spindle of a spindle transport device according to the present invention, in this case another form of anti-rotation mechanism. Is used. The known strip 24 is provided with an additional rail 26 which extends over the entire length of the spindle and has a support surface for the substrate. As a result, it is possible to process a substantially square substrate having an arcuate shape on the narrow side. As shown here, it is sufficient to provide an anti-rotation mechanism on one side of the spindle transport device, ie only on one side. The side is chosen in relation to the direction of spindle rotation indicated by the arrows in FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows two possible embodiments of the strip 24 which functions as an anti-rotation mechanism and is attached by a clamping device. The advantage in the mounting by the clamping device lies in the quick assembly to the spindle transport device according to the present invention when switching operation from a circular substrate to a substantially rectangular substrate, for example a business card.

  In operation, a newly manufactured substrate is taken out from a die casting machine die using a known take-out device, for example, a swivel arm 48 with a gripper, and from above, a predetermined spindle of the spindle type transfer device according to the present invention It is inserted into a screw groove (in a screw groove provided corresponding to the thickness of the substrate). For this purpose, the spindle is previously positioned by means of the servomotor 20 using a positioning sensor, whereby a predetermined spindle thread for receiving the substrate is located relative to the insertion position. When the substrate is inserted into a predetermined spindle thread groove, the servo motor 20 drives the spindles 1, 1 ', 2, 2' synchronously via the toothed belts 16, 12, 12 ', 8, 8', As a result, the inserted substrate is transported along the transport path. When another substrate is inserted (conveyed), the spindle is again positioned in alignment with a predetermined spindle thread provided for the substrate. Servo motor 20 is stopped when the substrate reaches the end of the transport path, and the substrate is removed from the spindle transport device for subsequent processing using another known take-out device.

  In order to adjust the spindle transport device for various substrate dimensions (substrate formats), the fixing means of the shaft 15, 15 'or 11, 11' are loosened, and then the swivel arms 22, 22 'and the spindle support 4 , 4 'are pivoted to the desired new position and tightened again. The new position is advantageously defined by a mirror-symmetric adjustment, i.e. positioning, of both swivel arms 22, 22 'and spindle supports 4, 4'. Although the substrate is engaged with all spindles, for non-circular substrates, the anti-rotation mechanism is also adjusted so that the substrate is in contact with the bottom of the threaded grooves of the lower spindles 2, 2 '. Absent. In order to facilitate adjustment of the pivot arm position and spindle support position for conventional substrates, position marks may be provided on the spindle holder, spindle supports 4, 4 'and pivot arms 22, 22'. . At each adjusted position, the transport device is freely accessible from above for loading a substrate into the transport device.

  By using the spindle type conveying apparatus according to the present invention, flat substrates having different outer contours can be conveyed and cooled in the meantime. Adaptation to new substrates can be implemented without problems.

The front view of the Example of the spindle-type conveyance apparatus based on this invention 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the spindle type conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 together with one rotation prevention mechanism in a state adjusted according to one shape of business card of optical reading type. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the spindle type conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 together with another anti-rotation mechanism in a state adjusted according to another shape of an optical reading type business card. The figure which shows two mutually different Example of a rotation prevention mechanism

Explanation of symbols

  1, 2 Screw spindle, 4 Spindle support, 5, 6 Toothed belt pulley, 8 Toothed belt, 10 Toothed belt pulley, 11 Axis, 12 Toothed belt, 14 Toothed belt pulley, 15 Axis, 16 Toothed Belt, 18 toothed belt, 20 servo motor, 22 swivel arm, 24 strip, 26 strip, 30 base plate, 40 superstructure plate, 42 front plate, 45 pin, 48 swivel arm

Claims (26)

  Spindle-type transport device for transport and cooling for flat substrates, in particular spindle-type transport device for transport and cooling of optically readable recording media, arranged parallel to each other in a spindle holder In the type including the four spindles (1, 1 ', 2, 2') and the driving means for rotating the spindle, the spindle holder is the spindle (1, 1 ', 2, 2). The mutual spatial arrangement of ′) is adjusted as follows, i.e. so that variously shaped substrates can be simultaneously engaged with all four spindles (1, 1 ′, 2, 2 ′): A spindle-type transfer device for transfer and cooling for a flat substrate, characterized in that it is formed.   2. Spindle according to claim 1, wherein at least one spindle is removably received in the spindle holder and can be adjusted and fixed relative to another spindle (1, 1 ', 2, 2'). Type conveyor.   2. Each of the two spindles (1, 2) is arranged in pairs at invariable intervals and is supported in an adjustable manner with respect to another spindle (1 ', 2'). Or the spindle type conveying apparatus of 2.   The spindle type according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two spindle pairs (1, 2; 1 ', 2') are arranged symmetrically with respect to one vertical plane of the spindle holding portion. Conveying device.   The spindle type conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spindle holding portion has a front wall and a back wall.   A spindle support (4, 4 ') is provided, the spindle support forming part of the spindle holding part, each bearing two spindles (1, 2; 1', 2 ') Item 6. The spindle transfer device according to any one of Items 1 to 5.   7. Spindle-type transport according to claim 6, wherein the spindle support (4, 4 ') is formed in a two-part structure, each having a front side part (4) and a back side part (4'). apparatus.   8. A spindle-type conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the spindle support (4, 4 ') is supported so as to be rotatable about at least one longitudinal axis and parallel to the longitudinal axis.   9. A spindle type conveying device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spindle support (4, 4 ') is supported so as to be pivotable about two different longitudinal axes.   A swivel arm (22, 22 ') is provided, and a spindle support (4, 4') is supported on the swivel arm so as to be able to swivel about a first axis. The spindle-type conveyance device according to claim 9, wherein the spindle-type conveyance device is formed to be rotatable about an axis.   An axis (11, 15; 11 ', 15') is provided which defines a pivot axis for both spindle pairs (1, 2; 1 ', 2'), which axis is at least the spindle (1, 2; 11. The spindle type conveying apparatus according to claim 8, which extends over a length of 1 ', 2').   12. A spindle transport device according to claim 6, wherein means for locking the spindle support (4, 4 ') are provided.   A clamping sleeve is provided for locking the spindle support (4, 4 '), the clamping sleeve can be fixed to the shaft (11, 15; 11', 15 '), and the front plate and the rear surface of the spindle holder The spindle-type conveyance device according to claim 12, wherein the spindle-type conveyance device can be fastened to the plate.   14. A spindle type conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a servo motor (20) is provided for rotationally driving the spindle (1, 2; 1 ', 2').   15. A spindle-type conveying device according to claim 1, wherein a toothed belt for driving the spindle (1, 2; 1 ', 2') is provided.   A first toothed belt pulley (10, 10 ') is provided on each spindle support (4, 4'), and the toothed belt pulleys are respectively connected via a toothed belt (8, 8 '). 16. Spindle type conveying device according to claim 15, which is engaged with two spindles (1, 2; 1 ', 2').   A second toothed belt pulley (14, 14 ') is provided for each spindle support (4, 4') via the toothed belt (12, 12 ') by the toothed belt pulley. 17. A spindle conveyor according to claim 16, wherein said toothed belt pulley (10, 10 ') is driven.   18. A rotation axis of the first and second toothed belt pulleys (10, 10 '; 14, 14') is coaxial with one of the pivot axes of the spindle support (4, 4 '), respectively. The spindle type conveying apparatus as described.   A separate toothed belt (16) is provided, via which the servomotor (20) drives both second toothed belt pulleys (14, 14 '). Item 19. The spindle type transfer device according to any one of Items 16 to 18.   The spindle type conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing rotation of the non-circular substrate.   21. The spindle type conveying apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the rotation preventing mechanism acts on the non-circular substrate from substantially below.   The anti-rotation mechanism comprises at least one strip (24), which extends approximately the length of the spindle (1, 1 ', 2, 2') and comes into contact with the substrate. The spindle type conveying apparatus according to claim 20 or 21.   23. Spindle type conveying device according to claim 22, wherein at least one strip (24) is adapted to be adjusted via clamping means.   24. Spindle conveying device according to claim 22 or 23, wherein at least one strip (24) is attached to one of the shafts (11, 11 ') for supporting the spindle support (4, 4'). .   25. The spindle transport device according to claim 22, wherein only one strip (24) is provided on one side of the spindle holder.   26. Each of the spindles (1, 1 ', 2, 2') has at least two screws of different thread widths for receiving substrates of different thicknesses. The spindle type conveying apparatus as described.

Images