JP2012101898A - Auto feeder system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an auto feeder system capable of consecutively feeding sheet-like materials from a stack of the sheet-like materials, and minimizing the size of the system.SOLUTION: The system for horizontally discharging a plurality of vertically-arranged sheet-like materials S includes a receiving conveyor 10 having an upper surface on which the sheet-like materials S are placed, a discharging conveyor 20 conveying the sheet-like materials S fed from the receiving conveyor 10, and a connecting conveyor which is arranged between the end of the discharging conveyor 20 and the discharge-side end of the receiving conveyor 10 and conveys the sheet-like materials S from the receiving conveyor 10 to the discharging conveyor 20. The upper surface of the end of the discharging conveyor 20 is arranged to be positioned above the upper surface of the receiving conveyor 10. The connecting conveyor is the conveyor whose upper surface is formed into an arc shape or a slope, and the upper surface of the end on the side of the discharging conveyor 20 is formed to be continued from the upper surface of the end of the discharging conveyor 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to an auto feeder device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an auto-feeder device that feeds a plate-like member such as a corrugated board carried in a stacked state and supplies it to the next process.

  Corrugated boards used as materials for corrugated cardboard boxes and paper containers used for transporting various products are subjected to various printing and shipped as products. Specifically, the corrugated board is manufactured by a corrugator and then loaded into a printing machine to be printed. The corrugated board manufactured by the corrugator is printed in a state in which a plurality of corrugated boards are stacked. It is carried into a paper feeder (auto feeder device) that supplies the corrugated board.

  For example, as a paper feeder having the above-described functions, a paper feeder provided with a reversing device that receives a plurality of stacked sheets and a transport conveyor that transports a sheet supplied from the reversing device toward a printing machine. Have been developed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In such a paper feeder, the reversing device is provided horizontally, a pedestal for holding a plurality of stacked sheets, and a rear conveyor disposed so as to extend vertically from one end of the pedestal; A transport conveyor disposed between the back conveyor of the reversing device and the printing press. And the inversion device is provided so that the front-end | tip of the back conveyor and the front-end | tip (end part by the side of a back conveyor) may adjoin, if the back conveyor is inclined to the transport conveyor side.

For this reason, when a sheet in which a plurality of sheets are stacked is placed on the pedestal of the reversing device and the reversing device is tilted toward the conveying conveyor from that state, the sheet in which the plurality of sheets are laminated is transferred from the back conveyor to the conveying conveyor. Falls down towards. That is, it becomes a state where a plurality of sheets are defeated by a shogi. At this time, since the sheet positioned above is placed on the transport conveyor so that it is positioned at the bottom and foremost, when the transport conveyor is driven, the sheets positioned at the bottom and foremost are sequentially transferred to the printing press. It can be conveyed toward.
Then, while driving the conveyor, if the back conveyor is also driven so that the sheet moves toward the conveyor, all the sheets placed on the table of the reversing device are moved to the conveyor and the conveyor Can be sequentially supplied to the printing press.

  However, in the sheet feeder as described above, the sheet is conveyed with the reversing device tilted, and the reversing device remains reversed until the conveyance of all the sheets is completed. For this reason, since the process of supplying sheets to the printing press is batch processing, even if the printing press can perform continuous printing processing, the printing work by the printing press becomes batch processing, improving work efficiency. I can't let you.

In addition, in the paper feeder as described above, the operation can be ideally automated, but in reality, it is difficult to automate. The reason is as follows.
When a certain sheet (preceding sheet) is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the conveying conveyor in a state of being conveyed by the conveying conveyor, the preceding sheet moves in the inclined direction. That is, the preceding sheet moves toward the side end of the conveyor. In this case, since the sheets overlap each other on the conveyor, the sheet conveyed following the preceding sheet also moves according to the preceding sheet, and the sheet cannot be discharged from a predetermined place (the discharge end of the conveyor). To do. For this reason, an operator who corrects the inclination of the sheet is required for the conveyor. Therefore, the operation of the paper feeder cannot be automated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-183611 Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-14019

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an auto-feeder apparatus that can sequentially supply sheet-like members from stacked sheet-like members and that can downsize the apparatus.

An auto-feeder device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a device for horizontally discharging a plurality of sheet-like members arranged upright, and having an upper surface on which the plurality of sheet-like members arranged upright are placed. One end is provided in the vicinity of the discharge-side end located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet-like member in the receiving conveyor, and a discharge conveyor that conveys the sheet-like member from the one end toward the other end. A connecting conveyor that is provided between one end of the discharge conveyor and a discharge side end of the receiving conveyor, and conveys the sheet-shaped member from the receiving conveyor toward the discharging conveyor, and the discharging The conveyor is arranged such that the upper surface of one end thereof is positioned above the upper surface of the receiving conveyor, and the upper surface of the connection conveyor is an isolated or inclined surface. A formed conveyor, ends the upper surface of the discharge conveyor side, characterized in that it is formed to be the outlet end portion upper surface and continuous surface of the conveyor.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the automatic feeder device further comprises monitoring means for monitoring a position on the upper surface of the receiving conveyor where the upper surface and a plane including one end of the connecting conveyor intersect. Comprises a plurality of receiving side row conveyors arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member, and the monitoring means is arranged on the upper surface of the receiving conveyor. And a monitoring unit that monitors a position where a plane including one end of the connection conveyor intersects, and a control unit that adjusts a conveyance speed of conveying the sheet-like member in each receiving side row conveyor based on information of the monitoring unit It is characterized by having.
The auto feeder apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the auto feeder apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the invention, wherein the control unit has both sides of an intermediate portion in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet-like member in the plurality of receiving side row conveyors. If the conveyor rows located at the left and right conveyor rows are the left and right conveyor rows, the difference in the conveyance speed for conveying the sheet-like members in both conveyor rows is adjusted based on the information of the monitoring unit. It is a characteristic.
In the automatic feeder device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the invention, the monitoring unit includes an intersection line between a plane including the upper surface of the receiving conveyor and a plane including one end of the connection conveyor, and the receiving conveyor. It is characterized in that the relative position of the sheet-like member in a state of being placed and in contact with the connecting conveyor with an edge located on the receiving conveyor side is monitored.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, third or fourth aspect of the invention, one end of the discharge conveyor is bent to form the connecting conveyor.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the discharge conveyor is provided on the receiving conveyor side so as to be movable along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member in the receiving conveyor. A conveyor and a rear discharge conveyor provided so as to be relatively movable along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member in the discharge conveyor with respect to the end on the counter-receiving conveyor side of the front discharge conveyor. It is characterized by being.
An automatic feeder device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes the reversing machine disposed in the vicinity of the receiving side end located on the opposite side of the receiving conveyor in the first to sixth aspects of the receiving conveyor. The machine comprises: a receiving section comprising a vertically arranged vertical conveyor; and a horizontal section having an upper surface substantially orthogonal to the vertical conveyor provided on the opposite side of the receiving conveyor with respect to the vertical conveyor; A tilting means capable of swinging the section between a receiving posture in which the vertical conveyor is in a vertical state and a tilting posture in which the vertical conveyor is tilted toward the receiving conveyor. The receiving conveyor includes a plurality of receiving side row conveyors arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member, and the vertical conveyor is configured to receive the receiving conveyor. And a plurality of vertical row conveyors arranged in a row at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member, and the vertical row conveyor is configured to receive the receiving side in the tilted posture. It arrange | positions so that it may be located between row conveyors, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the vertical conveyor is capable of extending and contracting in an axial direction thereof, and the horizontal portion is provided so as to be movable up and down along the axial direction of the vertical conveyor. It is characterized by being.

According to the first invention, since the upper surface of the connection conveyor is formed in an isolated or inclined surface, if a plurality of sheet-like members are leaned against the connection conveyor, the sheet-like member is placed on the upper surface of the receiving conveyor. Can be arranged in a standing state. In addition, since the upper surface of the end portion on the discharge conveyor side of the connection conveyor is continuous with the upper surface of the one end portion of the discharge conveyor, the sheet-like member is raised by moving from the receiving conveyor onto the discharge conveyor. The posture is changed from sleeping to sleeping. Moreover, on the discharge conveyor, since the end on the discharge conveyor side of the upper sheet-shaped member overlaps the end on the receiving conveyor side of the lower sheet-shaped member, sequentially from the other end of the discharge conveyor The sheet-like member can be dropped. Since the sheet-like members are arranged in an upright state on the upper surface of the receiving conveyor, the number of sheet-like members that can be supplied to the upper surface of the receiving conveyor can be increased. While maintaining, the length of the device can be shortened.
According to the second invention, even if the posture of the sheet-like member is inclined with respect to the transport direction, the inclined state can be detected by the monitoring unit of the monitoring means. If the conveyance speed of each receiving side row conveyor is adjusted according to the inclination, the posture of the sheet-like member can be corrected. Then, since the operator who corrects the attitude | position of a sheet-like member on a discharge conveyor becomes unnecessary, operation of an apparatus can be automated.
According to the third invention, even if the posture of the sheet-like member is tilted with respect to the transport direction, the tilted state can be detected by the monitoring unit, so that the control unit responds to the calculated inclination of the sheet-like member. If the difference in the conveyance speed between the left conveyor row and the right conveyor row is adjusted, the posture of the sheet-like member can be corrected. Then, since the operator who corrects the attitude | position of a sheet-like member on a discharge conveyor becomes unnecessary, operation of an apparatus can be automated.
According to the fourth invention, since the inclination of the sheet-like member with respect to the transport direction can be detected accurately, the posture adjustment of the sheet-like member can be accurately performed.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the sheet-like member can be smoothly moved from the connection conveyor to the discharge conveyor, it is possible to prevent a change in the posture of the sheet-like member at the connection portion, and the conveyance speed of the sheet-like member is increased. It can also be made faster.
According to the sixth invention, even if the front discharge conveyor advances and retreats along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member, if the rear end position of the rear discharge conveyor is always a constant position, the rear of the discharge conveyor The position where the sheet-like member is discharged at the end can be maintained at a fixed position. Then, even if the front discharge conveyor is movable, the sheet-like member can be always supplied from the discharge conveyor to a fixed position, so that the sheet-like member is stably supplied to the next process (such as a printing machine). be able to.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the sheet-like member is stacked on the upper surface of the horizontal part of the reversing machine in the receiving posture and the receiving part is tilted by the tilting means, Can be placed side by side on the top. If the receiving unit is tilted, the vertical row conveyor of the vertical conveyor is located between the receiving side row conveyors of the receiving conveyor, so the sheet-like member is stably moved from the receiving unit to the receiving side row conveyor. Can be made.
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the vertical portion is extended and the horizontal portion is raised so that the sheet-like member is disposed at the tip portion. Then, as a tilting posture, if the vertical conveyor is contracted after the sheet-like member is disposed on the receiving conveyor, the sheet-like member is not placed on the vertical conveyor. Then, before all the sheet-like members are moved to the discharge conveyor, the receiving unit can be returned to the receiving posture. Therefore, since the sheet-like member can be supplied before the sheet-like member disappears from the receiving conveyor, the sheet-like member can be continuously discharged.

It is a schematic side view of the auto feeder apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a schematic plan view of the auto feeder apparatus 1 of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a state in which a receiving unit 31 of the reversing machine 30 is tilted and a laminated body PS is supplied to the receiving conveyor 10. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the receiving conveyor 10, Comprising: (A) is a top view, (B) is a BB line principal part explanatory drawing of (A). It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the operation | movement of the receiving conveyor 10 and the discharge conveyor 20. FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the state which provided the monitoring means. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of posture adjustment of a sheet-like member S. FIG.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The auto feeder apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that discharges a sheet-like member horizontally. Specifically, it is an apparatus that can discharge a sheet-like member in a horizontal state after a laminated body in which a plurality of sheet-like members are stacked is once set up.

In addition, although the sheet-like member discharged | emitted by the auto feeder apparatus of this invention is a cardboard sheet, a paperboard, etc., for example, it is not specifically limited.
Further, the object to which the sheet-like member is supplied from the auto-feeder device of the present invention is, for example, a printing machine or a punching machine that prints on the surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet. Not.

(Schematic description of the auto feeder device 1 of the present embodiment)
First, the overall structure of the auto feeder device 1 of the present embodiment will be briefly described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the auto feeder device 1 of the present embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as auto feeder device 1) includes a receiving conveyor 10 whose upper surface is disposed substantially horizontally. When the sheet-like member S is placed on the upper surface of the receiving conveyor 10, the front end (receiving end, right end in FIGS. 1 and 2) to the base end (discharging end, FIGS. 1 and 2). Then, the sheet-like member S can be conveyed toward the left end).

A discharge conveyor 20 is provided on the base end side of the receiving conveyor 10. The discharge conveyor 20 is movable along the axial direction between a normal position described later (position indicated by I in FIG. 5) and a forward position (position indicated by II in FIG. 5). It is provided.
The discharge conveyor 20 is arranged such that the axial direction thereof is parallel to the axial direction of the receiving conveyor 10, and the upper surface of one end thereof is located above the upper surface of the base end portion of the receiving conveyor 10. When the sheet-like member S is placed on the upper surface of the discharge conveyor 20, the sheet-like member S can be conveyed from one end (receiving side end) to the other end (discharge side end). It is.
Moreover, the one end part (right end in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) of the discharge conveyor 20 is formed in the substantially isolated curved surface. Specifically, one end portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is formed in a curved surface such that an angle formed between the upper surface and a horizontal plane increases toward the base end portion of the receiving conveyor 10. Hereinafter, one end portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is referred to as a curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20.

  A reversing machine 30 is provided on the front end side of the receiving conveyor 10. This reversing machine 30 carries in the laminated body PS in which a plurality of sheet-like members S are horizontally stacked, and the sheet-like member S of the laminated body PS stands up (that is, the sheet-like member S is It has a structure that can be reversed and supplied to the receiving conveyor 10.

(Operation of the auto-feeder device 1 of the present embodiment)
Since it is the above structure, the auto feeder apparatus 1 of this embodiment can operate | move as follows and can level the sheet-like member S, and can supply it to the following process, ie, a printing machine.

  First, the stacked body PS in which a plurality of sheet-like members S are horizontally stacked is transported to the reversing machine 30 by transporting means such as a conveyor, and is placed on the reversing machine 30 (FIG. 3).

When the laminate PS is placed on the reversing machine 30, the reversing machine 30 tilts (rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1). Then, the laminated body PS composed of a plurality of sheet-like members S placed on the reversing machine 30 is placed on the upper surface of the receiving conveyor 10.
At this time, the plurality of sheet-like members S are arranged so that the sheet-like member S located at the uppermost portion leans against the upper surface of the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20. Then, the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is formed in a curved surface in which the angle between the upper surface and the horizontal plane increases toward the base end portion of the receiving conveyor 10, so that a plurality of sheets on the receiving conveyor 10 are formed. The shaped member S is in an upright state, that is, a state that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the receiving conveyor 10.

  In this state, the receiving conveyor 10 and the discharging conveyor 20 are driven. Then, the sheet-like member S on the receiving conveyor 10 moves toward the discharge conveyor 20 and also moves from the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 toward the other end (see FIG. 4B).

  At this time, since the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is curved, only the sheet-like member S leaning against the discharge conveyor 20 among the plurality of sheet-like members S is moved toward the other end. The This sheet-like member S moves along the curved surface of the curved portion to a portion of the discharge conveyor 20 above the receiving conveyor 10 (hereinafter referred to as a horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20). Moreover, since the sheet-like member S is sequentially sent to the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 by the receiving conveyor 10, the sent sheet-like member S is sequentially moved to the horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20.

Here, since the upper surface of the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is a surface continuous with the upper surface of the horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20, the sheet-like member S is moved from the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 to the horizontal portion. The posture is changed from the standing state to the sleeping state, and the adjacent sheet-like members S partially overlap each other. Specifically, the upstream portion of the next sheet member S is placed on the downstream portion (portion on the receiving conveyor 10) of the preceding sheet member S.
Then, in a state where the adjacent sheet-like members S partially overlap each other, the plurality of sheet-like members S are conveyed along the horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20. That is, the plurality of sheet-like members S are conveyed in a state where they are slightly shifted and overlapped in the direction of being conveyed by the discharge conveyor 20.

  When the sheet-like member S is moved to the other end portion of the discharge conveyor 20 in a state where the plurality of sheet-like members S are slightly deviated, the sheet-like member S (that is, the sheet-like member S positioned on the lower side) precedes. In addition, the sheet-like member S falls from the other end of the discharge conveyor 20. That is, the sheet-like member S is sequentially discharged from the other end portion of the discharge conveyor 20 in a substantially horizontal state.

  Therefore, if the part which receives the sheet-like member S in a printing machine etc. is arrange | positioned in the other end part of the discharge conveyor 20, the sheet-like member S of a substantially horizontal state will be printed sequentially from the auto feeder apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It can be supplied to machines.

  As described above, in the auto feeder device 1 of the present embodiment, the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 located between the base end side of the receiving conveyor 10 and the horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is formed in an arc shape. A plurality of sheet-like members S can be arranged in a standing state on the upper surface of the receiving conveyor 10. For this reason, since the number of sheet-like members S that can be supplied to the upper surface of the receiving conveyor 10 can be increased, the length of the apparatus can be shortened while maintaining the same processing capability (paper feeding capability) as that of the conventional paper feeder. it can.

  Further, the discharge conveyor 20 has an arcuate curved portion, and the upper surface of the curved portion and the upper surface of the horizontal portion are continuous surfaces. Therefore, the sheet-like member S is discharged from the receiving conveyor 10. By moving to the horizontal portion of the conveyor 20, the posture is changed from the standing state to the sleeping state. Moreover, since the plurality of sheet-like members S are transported in a state of being slightly shifted and overlapped on the horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20, the sheet-like members S are sequentially placed in a horizontal state from the other end of the discharge conveyor 20. Can be dropped. That is, even if the laminated body PS is carried in, the sheet-like member S can be supplied to the next process little by little (for example, one by one).

The curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 corresponds to the connection conveyor referred to in the claims.
In the above example, the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is functioned as a connecting conveyor. However, as the discharge conveyor 20, a conveyor having a top surface formed on a plane from one end to the other is used. In addition to the discharge conveyor 20, a connecting conveyor having an isolated upper surface may be provided. However, as described above, when the curved portion of the discharge conveyor 20 is bent to function as a connection conveyor, the sheet-like member S can be smoothly moved to the horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20. Then, the posture change of the sheet-like member S in the connecting portion between the horizontal portion of the discharge conveyor 20 and the connecting conveyor, which may occur when the connecting conveyor is provided separately, can be prevented. It is also possible to increase the conveyance speed.

  Furthermore, in the above example, the case where the receiving conveyor 10 and the discharge conveyor 20 continuously convey the sheet-like member S in the auto feeder apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has been described. However, the auto-feeder device 1 of the present embodiment does not necessarily have to continuously convey the sheet-like member S, and may operate intermittently to convey the sheet-like member S.

  In addition, the upper surface of the one end part of the discharge conveyor 20 does not necessarily need to be an arcuate shape, and the upper surface of the discharge conveyor 20 in the vicinity of the base end part of the receiving conveyor 10 has a certain angle ( For example, it may be inclined with respect to about 20 to 60 degrees. For example, as long as it inclines with respect to the upper surface of the base end part of the receiving conveyor 10, the upper surface of the one end part of the discharge conveyor 20 is good also as an inclined surface which consists of a flat surface.

(About the first batch)
When the printing machine or the punching machine is first operated, the printing machine or the like has no sheet-like member S at all. Therefore, a certain amount of the sheet-like member S is first supplied to the printing machine or the like. It is necessary to keep it. For this reason, the auto feeder apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is operated in a fast batch mode in which a certain amount is supplied to the printing machine or the like at the initial stage of operating the printing machine or the like.

Hereinafter, the operation in the first batch mode will be described.
In the first batch mode, since there is no sheet-like member S on the receiving conveyor 10, the discharge conveyor 20 is disposed at the forward position in order to receive the first stacked body PS supplied from the reversing machine 30 at one end thereof. This prevents the sheet-like member S supplied from the reversing machine 30 from lying down on the receiving conveyor 10, and the sheet-like member S that is first supplied from the receiving conveyor 10 to the discharge conveyor 20 is not unraveled. This is to prevent being conveyed by the discharge conveyor 20.

  When the sheet-like member S is supplied from the reversing machine 30 onto the receiving conveyor 10, the receiving conveyor 10 and the discharge conveyor 20 convey the sheet-like member S at a faster speed than during normal operation. Then, the sheet-like member S conveyed on the discharge conveyor 20 can be in a loosened state (in other words, a state in which the overlap between the sheet-like members S is reduced).

  And the sheet-like member S is conveyed to the rear end of the discharge conveyor 20, and the sheet-like member S is dropped in a horizontal state sequentially from the other end of the discharge conveyor 20. The dropped sheet-like member S is held by a temporary receiving portion provided at the rear end of the discharge conveyor 20 until a predetermined number of sheets (for example, about five for a corrugated board) is reached. When the predetermined number of sheets is reached, the sheet is delivered to a temporary receiving guide such as a printing press, and supplied from the temporary receiving guide to the receiving portion of the sheet-like member S in the printing press or the like. Further, when the temporary receiving portion transfers the sheet-like member S to the temporary receiving guide, the temporary receiving portion holds the next sheet-like member S and transfers the sheet-like member S to the temporary receiving guide when the predetermined number of sheets is reached. This operation is repeated a plurality of times, and when the number of sheet-like members S held in the receiving unit becomes a number suitable for the operation of the printing machine or the like, the operation in the first batch mode is terminated and the operation in the normal operation mode is completed. After that, it is operated in the normal operation mode.

  Note that switching from the first batch mode to the normal operation mode may be performed manually by a person confirming the receiving section of the printing machine, etc., but the operation is automatically switched by a signal from the printing machine. This is preferable because the operation of the auto-feeder device 1 can be automated.

  Next, each part of the auto feeder apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

(Description of receiving conveyor 10)
As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving conveyor 10 includes a plurality of receiving side row conveyors 11 arranged in parallel to each other. Each receiving side row conveyor 11 is disposed so that a gap is formed between adjacent receiving side row conveyors 11, and the upper surfaces thereof are disposed on the same plane.

In addition, each receiving side row conveyor 11 includes an independent drive mechanism (for example, a motor or the like), and the conveyance speed of each receiving side row conveyor 11 can be adjusted independently. Will be described later.
In addition, each receiving side line conveyor 11 does not need to provide an independent driving mechanism, and a plurality of receiving side line conveyors 11 may be provided with one driving mechanism. For example, the conveyor rows located on both sides of the intermediate portion in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member S by the receiving conveyor 10 are defined as a left conveyor row and a right conveyor row. Then, the left conveyor row is driven by one drive mechanism (left drive mechanism), and the right conveyor row is driven by one drive mechanism (right drive mechanism) different from the left drive mechanism. Good.
Needless to say, if it is not necessary to adjust the conveyance speed of each receiving side row conveyor 11, all the receiving side row conveyors 11 may be driven by one drive mechanism.

Further, the plurality of receiving-side row conveyors 11 are provided such that their distal ends can swing along the vertical direction with their base ends as fulcrums (see FIG. 5B).
With this configuration, when the conveyance of the sheet-like member S of a predetermined lot is completed, that is, when all the sheet-like members S are discharged once without supplying a new sheet-like member S, the receiving side row If the conveyor 11 is raised, it can be prevented that the sheet-like member S is conveyed at the curved portion at the end of the lot.
That is, at the end of the lot, since the number of the sheet-like members S on the receiving side conveyor 11 is small, the force for pressing the sheet-like member S against the curve portion becomes weak, and the frictional resistance between them decreases. For this reason, there is a possibility that the sheet-like member S cannot be smoothly moved from the receiving side line conveyor 11 to the horizontal part due to slippage between the both. However, if the front end portion of the receiving side row conveyor 11 is raised, the position of the upper surface of the horizontal portion is increased, and the distance between the upper surface of the horizontal portion and the upper surface of the receiving side row conveyor 11 can be shortened. Then, even at the end of the lot, the sheet-like member S can be smoothly moved from the receiving side conveyor 11 to the horizontal portion.

(Description of the discharge conveyor 20)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the discharge conveyor 20 also includes a plurality of discharge-side row conveyors 21 arranged in parallel to each other. Each discharge-side row conveyor 21 includes a curved portion formed in an arc shape or an inclined surface at one end, and the tip of the curved portion is a gap between the receiving-side row conveyors 11 in the receiving conveyor 10. Is arranged. For this reason, as described above, even if the leading end of the receiving side row conveyor 11 swings, the receiving side row conveyor 11 and the discharge side row conveyor 21 do not interfere with each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, all the discharge-side row conveyors 21 are configured to be able to advance and retract along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member S in synchronization. In other words, each discharge-side row conveyor 21 is provided so as to move along the gap between the receiving-side row conveyors 11 along the gap. Specifically, it is provided so that it can move between a normal position (position indicated by I in FIG. 5) and a forward position (position indicated by II in FIG. 5). The normal position means that when the laminated body PS is continuously supplied, the amount of the sheet-like member S on the receiving conveyor 10 is predetermined while the predetermined amount of the sheet-like member S is held on the receiving conveyor 10. This is the position at which a new laminate PS can be received when the amount becomes. Further, as described above, the forward position is a position that is arranged when the first laminated body PS is received from the reversing machine 30 in a state where the sheet-like member S does not exist on the receiving conveyor 10, and the laminated body PS This is the position where the uppermost sheet-like member S is disposed.

  With this structure, when the first laminated body PS is supplied from the reversing machine 30 to the receiving conveyor 10, if the curve portion is advanced to the advance position, the plurality of sheet-like members S are surely connected to the curve portion. It is possible to make it lean. And after receiving the first laminated body PS, if the discharge side row conveyor 21 is moved backward (moved in the direction away from the reversing machine 30) and placed in the normal position, the curve on the receiving side row conveyor 11 is changed. A sufficient space for placing the sheet-like member S between the section and the front end of the receiving side row conveyor 11 can be secured.

  Needless to say, the advance position varies depending on the amount of the laminated body PS supplied, and the curve portion stops between the normal position and the advance position according to the operation state, and the sheet-like member S It is also possible to carry.

  Moreover, you may provide the discharge side row | line conveyor 21 so that it may not move. Even in this case, when the first laminated body PS is supplied to the receiving conveyor 10, if the sheet-like member S can be carried in a state leaning against the curved portion, a plurality of the first laminated bodies PS are also provided. The sheet-like member S can be stably placed on the receiving-side conveyor 11 in a state where the sheet-like member S is upright.

(Regarding the rear discharge conveyor 25)
Further, when all the discharge side row conveyors 21 can advance and retreat along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member S, the discharge conveyor 20 is a rear discharge conveyor that appears and disappears from the rear end of the discharge side row conveyor 21. 25 is preferable.
Specifically, the rear discharge conveyor 25 is disposed between the discharge-side row conveyors 21, and the upper surface of the rear discharge conveyor 25 is disposed on the same plane as the upper surface of the discharge-side row conveyor 21. Moreover, it is provided so as to be relatively movable along the transport direction of the sheet-like member S with respect to the discharge-side row conveyor 21.

If such a rear discharge conveyor 25 is provided, the position at which the sheet-like member S is discharged at the rear end of the discharge conveyor 20 even if the discharge-side row conveyor 21 advances and retreats along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member S as described above. Can be kept in a certain position. That is, if the position of the rear end of the rear discharge conveyor 25 is always kept constant even if the discharge-side line conveyor 21 advances and retreats, the position of the rear end of the rear discharge conveyor 25 becomes the rear of the discharge conveyor 20. The position of the end (that is, the position at which the sheet-like member S is discharged to the next process) can be set.
Then, even if the discharge side conveyor 21 is movable, the sheet-like member S can be supplied from the discharge conveyor 20 to a fixed position at all times. ) Can be supplied.

  Further, if the rear discharge conveyor 25 is provided, the discharge position (in other words, the supply position of the sheet-like member S) is adjusted according to the sheet-like member S even if the size of the sheet-like member S to be conveyed changes. The advantage of being able to

  The above-mentioned discharge side line conveyor 21 corresponds to the front discharge conveyor referred to in the claims, and the rear discharge conveyor 25 corresponds to the front discharge conveyor referred to in the claims.

(Reversing machine 30)
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the reversing machine 30 is arrange | positioned in the front-end | tip of the receiving conveyor 10, ie, the receiving side edge part located in the opposite side with respect to the discharge conveyor 20 in the receiving conveyor 10. As shown in FIG.
The reversing machine 30 includes a receiving unit 31 having a vertical conveyor 32 arranged vertically and a horizontal unit 34 provided on the opposite side of the receiving conveyor 10 with respect to the vertical conveyor 32.

The vertical conveyor 32 includes a plurality of vertical row conveyors 33 (see FIG. 4). When the receiving section 31 is tilted by the tilting means 35 described later, the vertical row conveyor 33 has a front surface (a surface opposite to the receiving conveyor 10) as an upper surface, and the sheet-like member S on the upper surface is It can be conveyed toward its tip (upper end in the vertical state).
Moreover, each vertical row | line conveyor 33 can be formed so that the width | variety may become narrower than the clearance gap between the receiving side row | line | column conveyors 11 in the receiving conveyor 10. FIG. In addition, the vertical row conveyors 33 are arranged such that the intervals between the adjacent vertical row conveyors 33 are the same as the intervals at which the gaps between the receiving side row conveyors 11 are provided. That is, the distance between the central axes of the adjacent vertical row conveyors 33 is set to be the same length as the distance between the central axes of the gaps between the receiving side row conveyors 11.

  The horizontal portion 34 is a portion into which the stacked body PS is carried from the outside, and has an upper surface that is substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33. The horizontal portion 34 is formed by a conveyor, and the stacked body PS placed on the upper surface thereof can be moved toward the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33.

The reversing machine 30 holds the receiving unit 31 described above, and tilts the receiving unit 31 toward the receiving conveyor 110 and the receiving posture in which the vertical conveyor 31 is in a vertical state. A tilting means 35 that can swing between the tilted posture and the tilted posture is provided.
The tilting means 35 is provided with a rotating shaft parallel to the upper surface of the receiving side row conveyor 11 of the horizontal conveyor, and the receiving portion 31 is attached so as to be rotatable around the rotating shaft.

  Specifically, when the receiving unit 31 is in a tilted posture, each vertical row conveyor 33 in the vertical conveyor 32 of the receiving unit 31 is disposed in a gap between the receiving side row conveyors 11, and the vertical It is attached so that the axial direction of the row conveyor 33 and the axial direction of the receiving side row conveyor 11 coincide, and the front surface of each vertical row conveyor 33 and the upper surface of the receiving side row conveyor 11 are substantially the same height.

The tilting unit 35 includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the receiving unit 31 around the rotation axis. The rotating mechanism is not particularly limited as long as it can change the posture of the receiving portion 31 between the receiving posture and the tilting posture, and various mechanisms can be adopted.
For example, when the receiving portion 31 is fixed to the rotating shaft, a mechanism for rotating the rotating shaft can be adopted, and when the receiving portion 31 is rotatably attached to the rotating shaft, the cylinder It is also possible to employ a mechanism that swings the receiving portion 31 around the rotation axis by, for example.

(Description of supply operation of laminate PS by reversing machine 30)
Since the reversing machine 30 has the above-described configuration, the reversing machine 30 can receive the laminate PS and supply it to the receiving side conveyor 11 in the following operation.

When the stacked body PS is placed on the upper surface of the horizontal portion 34 of the receiving portion 31 held in the vertical posture, the stacked body PS is moved toward the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33 by the horizontal portion 34. Then, one end edge of the sheet-like member S constituting the stacked body PS comes into contact with the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33, so that the stacked body PS can be positioned by the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33.
When the stacked body PS comes into contact with the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33, the receiving unit 31 is tilted by the tilting means 35 (see FIG. 3). At this time, the laminated body PS tilts in a stable state because one surface is in contact with the upper surface of the horizontal portion 34 and one surface is in contact with the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33.
When the receiving unit 31 is tilted, the vertical row conveyors 33 are arranged in the gaps between the receiving side row conveyors 11 (see FIG. 4), and the front surfaces of the vertical row conveyors 33 and the receiving side rows are arranged. The upper surface of the conveyor 11 becomes substantially the same height. Then, the sheet-like member S of the stacked body PS can be placed on the front surface of each vertical row conveyor 33 and the upper surface of the receiving side row conveyor 11 in a standing state (see FIG. 3). That is, the sheet-like member S can be transferred to the receiving side row conveyor 11 in a standing state.
Thereafter, if the front surface of the vertical row conveyor 33 and the receiving side row conveyor 11 are operated and the sheet-like member S is moved toward the discharge conveyor 20, all the sheet-like members S will eventually reach the vertical row conveyor 33. It disappears from the top of the front. Then, the receiving part 31 is returned to the vertical posture by the tilting means 35, and the next laminated body PS can be received.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable to use a conveyor that can expand and contract along the axial direction as the vertical row conveyor 33, and that the horizontal portion 34 can be moved up and down along the vertical row conveyor 33.
With this configuration, the auto-feeder device 1 of the present embodiment can continuously discharge the sheet-like member S to the next process. Specifically, the above effects can be obtained by operating as follows.

  First, after the stacked body PS is carried into the horizontal portion 34 of the receiving unit 31, the vertical row conveyor 33 is extended before the receiving unit 31 is tilted. At the same time, the horizontal portion 34 is raised so that the sheet-like member S is disposed at the end portion of the extended vertical row conveyor 33 (see the dotted line in FIG. 1). Thereafter, the sheet-like member S is supplied to the receiving conveyor 10 with the receiving portion 31 in a tilted posture. Then, since the sheet-like member S is moved toward the discharge conveyor 20 by the receiving conveyor 10 and the vertical row conveyor 33, the sheet-like member S disappears from the vertical row conveyor 33 before long. At this timing, the vertical row conveyor 33 is contracted. Then, since the receiving part 31 can be returned to a receiving attitude | position, it will be in the state which can carry in the laminated body PS in the horizontal part 34. FIG. If the above operation is repeated, the sheet-like member S can be supplied to the receiving conveyor 10 before the receiving-like conveyor 10 runs out of the sheet-like member S. Therefore, in the auto-feeder device 1 of the present embodiment, the sheet-like member S is interrupted. It is possible to continuously discharge the sheet-like member S to the next process so as not to occur.

  In particular, if the vertical row conveyor 33 is driven so as to move the sheet-like member S toward the discharge conveyor 20 and simultaneously contracts, the time for returning the receiving portion 31 to the receiving posture can be shortened.

  Further, with the above structure, even if the height of the number of sheet-like members S constituting the laminated body PS (that is, the laminated body PS) changes, the uppermost sheet-like member S is placed on the receiving conveyor 10. The advantage that the supplied position can be made constant is also obtained.

  Further, the horizontal portion 34 may also include a suction portion that sucks and holds the sheet-like member S located in the lowermost layer of the stacked body PS, and a discharge mechanism that discharges the sheet-like member S to the outside. The sheet-like member S located in the lowermost layer of the stacked body PS may be damaged when the stacked body PS is transported. However, if the structure as described above is used, the sheet-like member S located in the lowermost layer can be prevented from being supplied to the receiving conveyor 10, so that defective products due to the supply of the sheet-like member S can be prevented. Can be prevented.

(Meander prevention function)
Moreover, in the auto feeder apparatus 1 of this embodiment as mentioned above, the several sheet-like member S is conveyed in the state overlapped with the discharge conveyor 20. FIG. For this reason, the sheet-like member S overlapping the preceding sheet-like member S is affected by the preceding sheet-like member S. Specifically, if the preceding sheet-like member S moves along the transport direction of the discharge conveyor 20, the subsequent sheet-like member S also moves along the transport direction.
However, if the preceding sheet-like member S is bent and moved from the conveyance direction, the subsequent sheet-like member S is also bent and moved according to the preceding sheet-like member S.
When such a phenomenon occurs, the sheet-like member S cannot be stably conveyed. Therefore, when the bending occurs, the operator must correct the bending. Then, in order to prevent bending, an operator must be placed in the apparatus, which makes it difficult to automate the apparatus.

The phenomenon that the sheet-like member S as described above bends from the transport direction occurs when the sheet-like member S moves from the receiving conveyor 10 to the discharging conveyor 20.
Specifically, when the sheet-like member S comes into contact with the curved portion of the discharge-side row conveyor 21, it occurs when the sheet-like member S does not evenly contact all the curved portions of the discharge-side row conveyor 21 ( FIG. 7 (A)). In other words, when the sheet-like member S comes into contact with the curved portion of the discharge-side row conveyor 21, the lower edge of the sheet-like member S (the edge contacting the receiving-side row conveyor 11) is the receiving-side row conveyor 11. If it is not parallel to the intersection line between the plane including the upper surface and the upper surface of the curved portion of the discharge side conveyor 21, the phenomenon that the sheet-like member S bends from the conveying direction occurs.

  The auto feeder apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a monitoring unit 40 and controls the operation of the receiving side conveyor 11 based on a signal from the monitoring unit 40 to prevent such a phenomenon.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the auto-feeder device 1 according to the present embodiment is a monitoring unit that monitors a position where the upper surface of the receiving-side row conveyor 11 and the plane including the upper surface of the curved portion of the discharge-side row conveyor 21 intersect. A monitoring means 40 having a certain monitoring camera 41 is provided.

  The surveillance camera 41 has an imaginary intersection line (hereinafter referred to as a connection intersection line) where a plane including the upper surface of the receiving side conveyor 11 and a plane including the upper surface of the curved portion of the discharge side conveyor 21 intersect with the sheet-like member S. It is arrange | positioned in the position which can monitor the relative position with the lower end edge of. Specifically, it is arranged so that a position where a connection intersection line can be imagined can be taken from the gap between the curved portions of the discharge-side conveyor 21.

The monitoring camera 41 is connected to the control unit 42 and configured to transmit captured image data to the control unit 42. The control unit 42 includes an analysis unit 42 a that calculates a relative inclination between the connecting intersection line and the lower edge of the sheet-like member S based on the image data transmitted from the monitoring camera 41. Moreover, the analysis unit 42a also has a function of calculating the operating speed of each receiving-side conveyor 11 based on the relative inclination between the calculated connecting intersection line and the lower edge of the sheet-like member S. Specifically, the operating speed of the receiving side conveyor 11 necessary for eliminating the relative inclination between the calculated connecting intersection line and the lower end edge of the sheet-like member S (that is, making both parallel) A function for calculating each of the receiving side row conveyors 11 is also provided.
The control unit 42 also includes an operation control unit 42b that controls the operation of each receiving side row conveyor 11 based on the operating speed of each receiving side row conveyor 11 calculated by the analysis unit 42a.

  Since the configuration is as described above, even when the posture of the sheet-like member S is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction, the inclined state of the sheet-like member S is detected based on the image taken by the monitoring camera 41 of the monitoring unit 40. be able to. Then, the posture of the sheet-like member S can be corrected by controlling the operating speed of each receiving side row conveyor 11 according to the inclination of the sheet-like member S calculated by the analyzing unit 42a. That is, even if the posture of the sheet-like member S is inclined with respect to the transport direction, the state of the sheet-like member S can be automatically returned to a state facing straight to the transport direction. An operator for correcting the posture of the conveyed sheet-like member S is not required, and the operation of the apparatus can be automated.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the sheet-like member S enters the state where the right side is conveyed toward the curved portion of the discharge-side row conveyor 21 later than the left side, the analysis is performed. The unit 42a calculates an operating speed that is faster than the operating speed of the receiving side line conveyor 11 positioned on the left side as the operating speed of the receiving side line conveyor 11 positioned on the right side. Then, based on the calculated operation speed, the operation control unit 42b controls each receiving side row conveyor 11 to move at the calculated operation speed. Then, the right side of the sheet-like member S moves at a speed faster than that of the left side, and when the sheet-like member S comes into contact with the curved portion of the discharge side conveyor 21, the connecting intersection line and the sheet-like member The lower edge of S is parallel. That is, the sheet-like member S can be in a state of facing straight with respect to the conveyance direction (FIG. 7B).

  The method of detecting the inclination of the posture of the sheet-like member S is not particularly limited. However, if the method as described above is adopted, the inclination of the sheet-like member S with respect to the conveyance direction can be accurately detected. The advantage that the posture adjustment of the shaped member can be accurately performed is obtained.

  In the above example, the case where the operation control unit 42b calculates the operation speed of each receiving-side row conveyor 11 has been described. However, the operation control unit 42b calculates the operation speed for each of the receiving-side row conveyors 11 respectively. It does not have to be. For example, one operating speed is calculated for a plurality of conveyor rows (left conveyor row) located on the left side, and one operating speed is calculated for a plurality of conveyor rows (right conveyor row) located on the right side. Also good. Even in this case, since the sheet-like member S has a difference in the moving speed between the right side and the left side, the inclination can be corrected. Here, the left conveyor line is a conveyor line located on the left side of the intermediate part in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member S in the plurality of receiving side line conveyors 11. A direction conveyor row | line | column is a conveyor row | line | column located on the right side on both sides of the intermediate part in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet-like member S. As shown in FIG.

  The present invention is suitable for an apparatus that supplies a corrugated board carried in a stacked state to a printing machine or a punching machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Auto-feeder apparatus 10 Reception conveyor 11 Reception side line conveyor 20 Discharge conveyor 21 Discharge side line conveyor 30 Reversing machine 40 Monitoring means 41 Monitoring part 42 Control part

Claims (8)

A device for horizontally discharging a plurality of sheet-like members arranged upright,
A receiving conveyor having an upper surface on which a plurality of the sheet-like members arranged upright are placed;
One end is provided in the vicinity of the discharge side end located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet-like member in the receiving conveyor, and the discharge conveyor conveys the sheet-like member from the one end toward the other end;
A connecting conveyor that is provided between one end of the discharge conveyor and a discharge side end of the receiving conveyor, and that conveys the sheet-like member from the receiving conveyor toward the discharging conveyor;
The discharge conveyor is
The upper surface of the one end portion is disposed so as to be located above the upper surface of the receiving conveyor,
The connecting conveyor is
It is a conveyor whose upper surface is formed in an isolated or inclined surface,
An auto feeder device, wherein the upper surface of the end portion on the discharge conveyor side is formed to be a surface continuous with the upper surface of the one end portion of the discharge conveyor. On the upper surface of the receiving conveyor, comprising monitoring means for monitoring a position where the upper surface intersects a plane including one end of the connection conveyor;
The receiving conveyor is
It is provided with a plurality of receiving side row conveyors arranged side by side in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member,
The monitoring means includes
On the upper surface of the receiving conveyor, a monitoring unit that monitors a position where the upper surface intersects a plane including one end of the connection conveyor;
2. The automatic feeder apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that adjusts a conveyance speed for conveying the sheet-like member in each receiving side row conveyor based on information of the monitoring unit. The controller is
In the plurality of receiving side row conveyors, when the conveyor rows located on both sides of the intermediate portion in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member are defined as a left conveyor row and a right conveyor row, 3. The automatic feeder device according to claim 1, wherein a difference in conveyance speed for conveying the sheet-like members in both conveyor rows is adjusted based on information. The monitoring unit
A line of intersection between a plane including the upper surface of the receiving conveyor and a plane including one end of the connection conveyor,
It is intended to monitor the relative position of the sheet-like member placed on the receiving conveyor and in contact with the connecting conveyor with the edge located on the receiving conveyor side. The auto feeder device according to claim 2 or 3. 5. The automatic feeder device according to claim 1, wherein one end of the discharge conveyor is bent to form the connection conveyor. The discharge conveyor is
A front discharge conveyor located on the receiving conveyor side, movably provided along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member in the receiving conveyor;
A rear discharge conveyor provided so as to be relatively movable along the conveying direction of the sheet-like member in the discharge conveyor with respect to the end on the counter-receiving conveyor side of the front discharge conveyor. 6. The automatic feeder device according to claim 5, wherein A reversing machine disposed near the receiving end located on the opposite side of the receiving conveyor with respect to the discharge conveyor;
The reversing machine
A receiving section comprising a vertically arranged vertical conveyor, and a horizontal portion having an upper surface substantially orthogonal to the vertical conveyor provided on the opposite side of the receiving conveyor with respect to the vertical conveyor;
Tilting means capable of swinging the receiving portion between a receiving posture in which the vertical conveyor is in a vertical state and a tilting posture in which the vertical conveyor is tilted toward the receiving conveyor; With
The receiving conveyor is
It is provided with a plurality of receiving side row conveyors arranged side by side in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member,
The vertical conveyor is
The receiving conveyor includes a plurality of vertical row conveyors arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like member,
The vertical row conveyor is
7. The auto feeder device according to claim 1, wherein the auto feeder device is disposed so as to be positioned between the receiving side conveyors in the tilting posture. The vertical conveyor is
It can expand and contract in its axial direction,
The horizontal portion is
8. The automatic feeder device according to claim 7, wherein the automatic feeder device is provided so as to be movable up and down along an axial direction of the vertical conveyor.

Images