JP2010024038A - Resin sheet sticking device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a resin sheet sticking device for automatically sticking a resin sheet to a side member constituting an automobile body. <P>SOLUTION: A release paper P with the resin sheet 2 bonded thereto through an adhesive 8 is supported on and carried by a carrying belt 4, the resin sheet 2 is peeled from the release paper P by bending the release paper P, and the resin sheet 2 on a sheet support 26 is carried onto the side member and automatically stuck to the side member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a resin sheet adhering device for adhering a resin sheet to a sheet metal constituting an automobile body.

  The body of an automobile is composed of various types of sheet metal (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1). When the sheet metal is pushed by hand, if the sheet metal is elastically deformed into a recessed state, This may give the car a poor quality. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the rigidity of the entire body by increasing the thickness of the sheet metal to prevent the above-described problems. However, when the thickness of the sheet metal is increased as described above, the thickness of the sheet metal becomes larger than necessary, and the weight of the body increases not only naturally, but also the disadvantage that the manufacturing cost of the automobile increases. Even though the rigidity and strength of the body can be satisfied sufficiently, if the thickness of the sheet metal is made larger than that, the quality of the body will be excessive, and the weight and cost of the car will increase. .

  Therefore, conventionally, when manufacturing automobiles, when a sheet metal is pressed by hand without increasing the rigidity of the sheet metal by increasing the rigidity of the body by attaching a resin sheet to the sheet metal that constitutes the body. In addition, it is prevented from elastically deforming into a recessed state.

  Conventionally, at the time of manufacturing an automobile, a resin sheet is manually attached to a place where a sheet metal constituting the body is required. FIG. 1 shows a side member 1 that constitutes a side outer plate of a body of an automobile. Conventionally, before assembling a sheet metal made of the side member 1 and another sheet metal, The resin sheet 2 was affixed to the surface by manual work. By attaching another sheet metal to the side member 1 and welding them, the body is completed, and the body is coated to cover the resin sheet 2 so that it cannot be seen from the outside.

FIG. 1 of JP2007-55289A

  As described above, conventionally, since a resin sheet is manually attached to a sheet metal constituting a body of an automobile, an operator engaged in the work is necessary, which is an obstacle to labor saving at the time of automobile manufacture. It was.

  The objective of this invention is providing the resin sheet sticking apparatus which can affix a resin sheet automatically to the sheet metal which comprises the body of a motor vehicle, in order to further promote labor saving at the time of manufacture of a motor vehicle.

  The present invention provides an endless conveyance belt that conveys a release paper to which a resin sheet is bonded via an adhesive material, and pressurizes the leading edge when the leading edge of the release paper exits the conveyance belt. A release paper pressurizing device for bending the release paper, a sheet support for supporting the resin sheet with the adhesive peeled off from the release paper when the release paper is bent, and a resin on the sheet support Sheet release means for conveying the sheet onto the sheet metal constituting the body of the automobile, and a pressure member that presses the resin sheet placed on the sheet metal, the release paper to which the resin sheet is bonded, The release sheet is transported by the transport belt in contact with the surface of the transport belt, and the adhesive-attached resin sheet peeled from the release paper is in a state where the adhesive is in contact with the sheet support. To support the sheet support. And the sheet conveying means has a plurality of vacuum suction devices that adsorb the resin sheet by being in contact with the resin sheet and sucking air therein, and the sheet conveying means removes the resin sheet from the sheet metal. After transporting upward, the vacuum state of the vacuum suction devices is released one by one in order so that air is not confined between the resin sheets and the sheet metal, and the resin sheets are sequentially detached from the vacuum suction devices. Then, a resin sheet sticking apparatus is proposed, in which the pressure sheet pressurizes the resin sheet placed on the sheet metal and joins the resin sheet to the sheet metal surface via an adhesive. .

  At that time, when the resin sheet is placed on the sheet support, the surface of the sheet support is arranged such that a part of the adhesive integrally bonded to the resin sheet comes into contact with the sheet support. Is advantageously formed.

  In the resin sheet sticking apparatus, the release paper pressurizing device includes a pair of arms supported by a shaft positioned above the transport belt, and a pressure roller spanned between the arms. The pair of arms are, together with the pressure roller, a retracted position above the release paper conveyed by the conveyance belt, and a pressure position where the pressure roller presses the release paper and bends the release paper. It is advantageous if it is supported on the shaft so as to be pivotable between the two.

  Furthermore, the resin sheet sticking apparatus further includes a release paper supported and transported by the transport belt, and an endless pressure belt that pressurizes the resin sheet on the release paper, and the pressure belt is wound around the release paper. It is advantageous if the pair of arms are rotatably supported on a single roller shaft.

  In the resin sheet sticking apparatus, the sheet support includes a fixed support plate fixed to the machine frame and a movable support plate fixed to the pair of arms. It is advantageous that the movable support plate is fixed to the pair of arms so that the upper surface of the movable support plate fixed to the arm and the upper surface of the fixed support plate are substantially flush with each other when the pressure position is occupied. It is.

  According to the present invention, since a resin sheet can be automatically attached to a sheet metal constituting a body at the time of manufacturing an automobile, labor saving at the time of manufacturing the automobile can be further promoted.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  2 thru | or FIG. 5 is schematic which shows the resin sheet peeling apparatus 3 among the resin sheet sticking apparatuses based on this invention. The resin sheet peeling device 3 is a device for separating the resin sheet on the release paper P from the release paper. As shown in FIG. 2, the resin sheet peeling apparatus 3 includes an endless conveyance belt 4 that conveys the release paper P. The conveyor belt 4 is wound around a driving roller 5 and a driven roller 6, and a flat upper side 7 between the rollers 5 and 6 is positioned almost horizontally. On the release paper P, resin sheets 2, 2A, 2B, 2C made of polypropylene, for example, are bonded via an adhesive 8.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the release paper P is arranged adjacent to the conveyor belt 4 shown in FIG. 2 in a stacked manner, and the uppermost release paper P is adsorbed by a vacuum suction device (not shown). The release paper P is held and lifted upward, and then the release paper P is transported above the conveyor belt 4 shown in FIG. 2 and subsequently placed on the upper side 7 of the conveyor belt 4. At this time, the conveyor belt 4 remains stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 8, four resin sheets 2, 2 </ b> A, 2 </ b> B, and 2 </ b> C are joined to the release paper P of this example with a space therebetween, and the leading end 9 of the release paper P is made of resin. It is a blank portion where the sheet 2 is not attached.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an endless pressure belt 13 wound around a driving roller 10 and driven rollers 11 and 12 is disposed above the conveyor belt 4. As described above, when the release paper P is placed on the transport belt 4, the pressure belt 13 occupies the retracted position shown in FIG. 2, so that the release paper P is obstructed by the pressure belt 13. And can be placed on the conveyor belt 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the release paper P is placed on the transport belt 4, the pressure belt 13 rotates around the central axis of the driving roller 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2. Then, it stops at the pressure position shown in FIG. Thereby, the release paper P on the conveyance belt 4 and the resin sheet 2 on the release paper P are pressurized by the pressure belt 13.

  Next, the drive roller 5 around which the conveyor belt 4 is wound is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 by a motor (not shown), and the drive roller 10 around which the pressure belt 13 is wound is also not shown. The motor is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. Thereby, the conveyance belt 4 and the pressure belt 13 are driven to run in the directions of arrows B and C, respectively, and the release paper P and the resin sheet 2 on the conveyance belt 4 are pressed by the pressure belt 13 while the arrow D is pressed. Conveyed in the direction. At that time, the release paper P to which the resin sheets 2, 2 </ b> A, 2 </ b> B, and 2 </ b> C are bonded is conveyed by the conveyance belt 4 with the release paper P in contact with the surface of the conveyance belt 4.

  As described above, the resin sheet sticking apparatus of the present example includes the transport belt 4 that transports the release paper P to which the resin sheet 2 is bonded via the adhesive 8, and the transport belt 4 includes the transport belt 4. A release paper P that is supported and conveyed, and an endless pressure belt 13 that pressurizes the resin sheet 2 on the release paper P are provided. Thereby, the release paper P can be reliably transported while preventing the release paper P from floating on the transport belt 4.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the pressure belt 13 shown in FIG. 3 and components related thereto as viewed in the direction of the arrow IX in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the driving roller 10 and the two driven rollers 11 and 12 described above extend in parallel with each other, and each longitudinal end portion of the shaft 14 that fixedly supports the driving roller 10 is It is rotatably supported by a machine casing 15 of the apparatus via a bearing (not shown). Further, each end portion of the shaft 14 penetrates the support plates 16 and 17, and each end portion in the longitudinal direction of each shaft 18 and 19 which fixedly supports the driven rollers 11 and 12 is rotatable on each support plate 16 and 17. It is supported. The shaft 14 can freely rotate with respect to the support plates 16 and 17. Three pressure belts 13 are wound around the driving roller 10 and the two driven rollers 11 and 12. In the drawings other than FIG. 9, the support plates 16 and 17 are not shown.

  A driving device (not shown) is connected to the support plates 16 and 17 shown in FIG. 9, and by the operation of the driving device, the pressure belt 13 and the driven rollers 11 and 12 around which the belt 13 is wound, It is possible to rotate between the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 and the pressurizing position shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a release paper pressurizing device 20 is provided in the vicinity of the conveyor belt 4. As shown in FIG. 9, the release paper pressure device 20 includes a pair of arms 21 and 22 that are positioned apart from each other, and a pressure roller 23 that is stretched between the distal ends of the arms 21 and 22. The base end portions of these arms 21 and 22 are rotatably supported by a shaft positioned above the conveyor belt 4. In the illustrated example, the base end portions of the pair of arms 21 and 22 are rotatably supported on the shaft 14 of one roller 10 around which the pressure belt 13 is wound. The shaft 14 supports the drive roller 10 and the arms 21 and 22 together.

  A drive device (not shown) is also connected to the above-described arms 21 and 22, and the release device pressurizing device 20 including the arms 21 and 22 and the pressure roller 23 operates around the shaft 14 by operating the drive device. In addition, it is possible to rotate between the retracted position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the pressurizing position shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a guide member 24 is fixedly disposed adjacent to the front end portion of the conveyance belt 4 in the release paper conveyance direction, and a leading end portion 25 of the guide member 24 is sharpened at an acute angle.

  As described above, when the release paper P is placed on the transport belt 4 and then the transport belt 4 and the pressure belt 13 start to move in the directions indicated by arrows B and D in FIG. , 22 occupy the retreat position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 above the release paper P conveyed by the conveying belt 4 together with the pressure roller 23. When the leading end 9 of the release paper P conveyed by the conveying belt 4, that is, the leading end region where the resin sheet 2 does not exist, exits the conveying belt 4 and the leading end 25 of the guide member 24, as shown in FIG. The arms 21 and 22 rotate together with the pressure roller 23 in the direction of arrow E around the shaft 14 and stop at the pressure position shown in FIG. As a result, the release paper P is pressed by the pressure roller 23, bent as shown in FIG. 4, and sandwiched between the pressure roller 23 and the conveyance belt 4. At this time, the pressure roller 23 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by a motor (not shown). For this reason, the release paper P is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 4 while being sandwiched between the pressure roller 23 and the transport belt 4.

  As described above, as the release paper P is pulled, the front end portion of the resin sheet 2 on the release paper P reaches the front end portion 25 of the guide member 24. At this time, since the front end portion 25 of the guide member 24 is sharpened at an acute angle, the resin sheet 2 continues to move in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 4 while being peeled from the release paper P together with the adhesive 8. Transition to the support 26. When the resin sheet 2 is completely peeled from the release paper P, the resin sheet 2 is supported on the sheet support 26 and stopped as shown in FIG. At this time, the operation of the conveyor belt 4 and the pressure belt 13 is temporarily stopped. In this way, the resin sheet 2 is automatically peeled from the release paper P together with the adhesive 8. At that time, the adhesive-attached resin sheet 2 peeled from the release paper P is placed on the sheet support 26 with the adhesive 8 in contact with the sheet support 26.

  As described above, in the resin sheet sticking apparatus of this example, when the leading end 9 of the release paper P comes out of the conveying belt 4, the release paper presses the leading end 9 and bends the release paper P. It has a pressure device 20 and a sheet support 26 that supports the resin sheet 2 with the adhesive 8 peeled off from the release paper P when the release paper P is bent, and is shown as an example in the figure. The release paper pressure device 20 includes a pair of arms 21 and 22 supported by a shaft 14 located above the transport belt 4 and a pressure roller 23 spanned between the arms 21 and 22. The pair of arms 21 and 22, together with the pressure roller 23, are retracted above the release paper P conveyed by the conveyance belt 4, and the pressure roller 23 presses the release paper P to bend the release paper. The shaft 14 is supported so as to be rotatable between the pressurizing positions.

  On the other hand, a side member formed in the same manner as the side member 1 shown in FIG. 1 is conveyed on the production line with its inner surface facing upward, and stops at the resin sheet attaching position. On this side member, the resin sheet 2 on the sheet support 26 shown in FIG. 5 is conveyed by a sheet conveying means described below.

  As shown in FIG. 6 as viewed in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 5, the sheet conveying means includes first to third vacuum suction devices 27, 27 </ b> A, 27 </ b> B. These vacuum suction devices 27, 27 </ b> A, 27 </ b> B all have the same structure, and FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the first vacuum suction device 27. As shown in FIG. 7, the vacuum suction device 27 is made of rubber and is formed in a reverse cup shape with an opening at the bottom, and the upper portion of the vacuum suction device 27 is illustrated via a conduit 28. Not connected to the intake system.

  The first to third vacuum suction devices 27, 27A, 27B described above are attached to a gripping portion of a robot (not shown).

  As described above, when the resin sheet 2 peeled from the release paper P is placed on the sheet support 26 as shown in FIG. 5, the first to third vacuum suction devices 27, 27A, 27B are placed. However, the resin sheet 2 descends from above, and the lower portions of the first to third vacuum suction devices 27, 27A, 27B are pressed against the upper surface of the resin sheet 2 as shown in FIGS. Next, the air inside the first to third vacuum suction devices 27, 27 </ b> A, 27 </ b> B is sucked by the operation of the above-described intake device, so that the resin sheet 2 is moved to the first to third vacuum suction devices 27. , 27A, 27B. In this state, the resin sheet 2 is conveyed together with the vacuum suction devices 27, 27A and 27B by the robot (not shown) above the side member 1 stopped on the production line as shown in FIG. The

  Next, the vacuum state inside the first vacuum suction device 27 among the first to third vacuum suction devices 27, 27A, 27B is released. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10B, the portion of the resin sheet 2 that has been sucked and held by the first vacuum suction device 27 until that time is reduced by the weight of the resin sheet 2 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8. Fall on the top.

  Next, the vacuum state inside the second vacuum suction device 27A adjacent to the first vacuum suction device 27 is released. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10C, the portion of the resin sheet 2 that has been held by suction by the second vacuum suction device 27 </ b> A up to now can be reduced by the weight of the resin sheet 2 and the adhesive 8. Fall on Member 1.

  Subsequently, the vacuum state in the third vacuum suction device 27B is released, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 10D, the portion of the resin sheet 2 that has been held by suction by the third vacuum suction device 27B until then. However, the resin sheet 2 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8 fall on the side member 1 due to their own weight, and the entire resin sheet 2 is placed on the side member 1 together with the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8.

  As described above, since the vacuum state of the adjacent vacuum suction devices 27, 27A, 27B is sequentially released one by one, when the entire resin sheet 2 is placed on the side member, the resin sheet 2 and the side Air is not contained between the members 1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10E, a pressing roller 29, which is an example of a pressing member attached to a gripping portion of a robot (not shown), is formed on the resin sheet 2 placed on the side member 1. The upper surface is rolled to press the resin sheet 2 onto the side member 1 which is an example of a sheet metal. Thereby, the resin sheet 2 is stuck on the surface of the side member 1 via the adhesive 8.

  As described above, the resin sheet sticking apparatus of the present example includes a sheet conveying unit that conveys the resin sheet 2 on the sheet support 26 onto the side member 1 that is an example of a sheet metal that constitutes the body of an automobile, and its side. A pressure roller 29 that is an example of a pressure member that presses the resin sheet 2 placed on the member 1, and the sheet conveying means is in contact with the resin sheet 2 to suck the internal air. A plurality of vacuum suction devices 27, 27 </ b> A, 27 </ b> B for adsorbing the resin sheet, and after the resin sheet 2 is conveyed above the side member 1 by the sheet conveying means, between the resin sheet 2 and the side member 1. The vacuum state of the plurality of vacuum suction devices 27, 27A, 27B is sequentially released one by one so that the air is not contained in the vacuum suction devices 27, 27A, 27 The resin sheet 2 placed on the side member 1 is pressed by a pressing roller 29 as an example of the pressing member, and the resin sheet 2 is pressed through the adhesive 8 to the side member. It is comprised so that it may join to a surface.

  As described above, the first resin sheet 2 on the release paper P is peeled off from the release paper P, and the resin sheet 2 is attached to the side member 1. The sheets 2A, 2B, and 2C are also peeled off from the release paper P in the same manner, and the resin sheets 2A, 2B, and 2C are attached to the side members that are sequentially sent on the production line. When all the resin sheets 2, 2A, 2B, and 2C on the release paper P are peeled off, the release paper P falls downward. Further, the pressure belt 13 and the release paper pressure device 20 are rotated again to the retracted position shown in FIG. 2, and the next release paper is placed on the transport belt 4. In the same manner as described above, they are sequentially peeled off from the release paper and attached to the side members.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the resin sheet 2 on the sheet support 26 is adsorbed by the first to third vacuum adsorption devices 27, 27A, 27B, and the resin sheet 2 is lifted upward. When the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8 laminated on the resin sheet 2 is strongly bonded to the surface of the sheet support 26, the resin sheet 2 can be separated from the sheet support 26 and the sheet 2 can be lifted upward. There is a risk that it will not be possible. Thus, the upper surface of the sheet support 26 of the present example is coated with Teflon (registered trademark) excellent in releasability, and jagged irregularities are formed on the upper surface. For this reason, the area where the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8 contacts the sheet support 26 is reduced, and the bonding force between the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8 and the sheet support can be reduced, so the first to third vacuum suction devices 27 and 27A. , 27B is raised, the adhesive 8 is easily separated from the sheet support 26, and the resin sheet 2 can be reliably lifted upward together with the adhesive 8.

  Instead of forming irregularities on the upper surface of the sheet support 26, a number of slit-shaped holes may be formed in the sheet support. In short, when the resin sheet 2 is placed on the sheet support 26, only a part of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 8 integrally bonded to the resin sheet 2 is brought into contact with the sheet support 26. In addition, the surface of the sheet support 26 is formed.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheet support 26 is disposed adjacent to the guide member 24, and the release paper pressure device 20 rotates in the vicinity of the guide member 24. If the entire sheet support 26 is fixed to the machine frame of the apparatus, the pressure roller 23 of the release paper pressing device 20 may interfere with the sheet support 26.

  Therefore, in the resin sheet sticking apparatus of this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the sheet support 26 is fixedly fixed to the machine frame of the apparatus and the pair of arms described above. When the arms 21 and 22 occupy the pressurization positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the arms 21 and 22 are configured. The movable support plate 26B is fixed to the pair of arms 21 and 22 so that the upper surface of the movable support plate 26B fixed to the upper surface and the upper surface of the fixed support plate 26A are substantially flush with each other. Thereby, the release paper pressurizing device 20 does not interfere with the sheet support, and the sheet support 26 can perform its original function without any trouble.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a resin sheet sticking apparatus for sticking a resin sheet to a sheet metal other than the side member.

It is a figure which shows the resin sheet affixed on the side member. It is the schematic which shows a mode when the resin sheet is mounted on the conveyance belt of a resin sheet peeling apparatus. It is the schematic which shows a mode when a conveyance belt starts an action | operation. It is the schematic which shows a mode when a release paper pressurization apparatus rotates to the pressurization position. It is the schematic which shows a mode when the resin sheet is mounted on the sheet | seat support body. It is the enlarged view seen in the arrow VI direction of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of a vacuum adsorption device. It is a perspective view which shows the release paper before being conveyed on a conveyance belt. It is a schematic plan view of a pressure belt and a release paper pressure device. It is explanatory drawing which showed the mode at the time of pressurizing the operation | movement when separating a resin sheet from the 1st thru | or 3rd vacuum suction apparatus, and the resin sheet mounted on the side member with a press roller.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Resin sheet 4 Conveyance belt 8 Adhesive 9 Tip part 10 Roller 13 Pressure belt 14 Axis 20 Release paper pressurizing device 21, 22 Arm 23 Pressure roller 26 Sheet support 26A Fixed support plate 26B Movable support plates 27, 27A, 27B Vacuum suction device P Release paper

Claims (5)

An endless conveyance belt that conveys a release paper to which a resin sheet is bonded via an adhesive material, and when the leading edge of the release paper exits the conveyance belt, pressurizes the leading edge to release the separation paper. A release paper pressurizing device that bends the pattern paper, a sheet support that supports the adhesive-attached resin sheet that is peeled off from the release paper when the release paper is bent, and the resin sheet on the sheet support is used as an automobile. Sheet release means for conveying onto a sheet metal constituting the body, and a pressure member that presses the resin sheet placed on the sheet metal, and the release paper to which the resin sheet is bonded is The resin sheet with the adhesive that is conveyed by the conveyor belt in contact with the surface of the conveyor belt and is peeled off from the release paper is supported by the sheet in a state where the adhesive is in contact with the sheet support. Supported by the body, before The sheet conveying means has a plurality of vacuum suction devices that adsorb the resin sheet by being in contact with the resin sheet and sucking the internal air, and convey the resin sheet above the sheet metal by the sheet conveying means. After that, in order not to contain air between the resin sheet and the sheet metal, the vacuum state of the plurality of vacuum suction devices is sequentially released one by one and the resin sheets are sequentially detached from each vacuum suction device, and then A resin sheet sticking apparatus, wherein the pressure member pressurizes a resin sheet placed on a sheet metal and joins the resin sheet to a sheet metal surface via an adhesive. When the resin sheet is placed on the sheet support, the surface of the sheet support is formed such that a part of the adhesive integrally bonded to the resin sheet comes into contact with the sheet support. 2. The resin sheet sticking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The release paper pressure device includes a pair of arms supported by a shaft positioned above the conveyor belt, and a pressure roller that spans the arms. Along with the roller, the shaft is rotatable between a retracted position above the release paper conveyed by the conveyance belt and a pressure position where the pressure roller presses the release paper and bends the release paper. The resin sheet sticking apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 currently supported. A release paper supported and conveyed by the conveyance belt, and an endless pressure belt that pressurizes the resin sheet on the release paper, and the pair of rollers are attached to the shaft of one roller around which the pressure belt is wound. The resin sheet sticking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the arm is rotatably supported. The seat support has a fixed support plate fixedly fixed to the machine frame and a movable support plate fixed to the pair of arms, and when the arm occupies the pressurizing position, The resin sheet sticking according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the movable support plate is fixed to the pair of arms so that the upper surface of the fixed movable support plate and the upper surface of the fixed support plate are substantially flush with each other. apparatus.

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