JP3245448B2 - Separation sheet accumulator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for cutting a continuous body of a packaged sheet conveyed by a belt conveyor or a roller from a packaging machine for a granular drug into a predetermined size.
The present invention relates to an improvement in a packaging sheet stacking device for stacking a predetermined number of cut packaging sheets and packing the package in a box or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional packaged sheet stacking apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 shows, for example,
It is a sectional side view which shows the structure of the conventional packaged sheet accumulation apparatus similar to what was described in 15821 gazette. FIG.
In step (1), the packaging sheet 1 conveyed by the claws 5 on the belt conveyor 4 is vacuum-sucked by the nozzles 3, and the nozzles 3 that have absorbed the packaging sheets 1 are moved onto a predetermined stacking bucket 2. Thereafter, the packaging sheet 1 is dropped onto the stacking bucket 2 by opening the nozzle 3 to the atmosphere, and the packaging sheet 1 is stacked. FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of another conventional packaged sheet stacking apparatus. In FIG. 12, the separated sheet 1 conveyed by the pawl 5 on the belt conveyor 4 is lifted upward by a stacking pusher 6 provided in the gap of the belt conveyor 4, and the sheet receiving pawl 7 and the weight lift 8 Is temporarily accumulated in the accumulation hopper 9 and held. When a predetermined number of divided sheets 1 are accumulated in the accumulation hopper 9, the take-out pusher 10 is actuated rightward in the drawing, and the accumulated divided sheets 1 are transferred to the transport bucket 11 and sent to the next step. Can be

[0003]

As a method of processing into a separated sheet by a separating machine, a so-called "longitudinal continuous wrapping" connected in the sheet conveying direction and a method in which the sheet is connected in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. There is so-called "horizontal wrapping" that is wrapped. When using sheets of the same width, the number of rows in the packaging machine can be increased, and the number of rows in the transporting and stacking section of the packaging sheets can be reduced. Has been adopted. Each of the conventional examples shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is based on the premise of the above-mentioned horizontal continuous packaging. In the horizontal continuous wrapping method, since the sheet is cut in the transverse direction for each one-package with respect to the sheet conveying direction and taken out, taking into account the large number of cuts and the time required for taking out the cut wrapped sheet, etc. The conveying speed could not be so high, and the limit was about 100 packets / min per row. Therefore,
The packaging sheet stacking apparatus adopting the horizontal continuous packaging method has a problem that it is difficult to increase the packaging / stacking speed.

Further, in the conventional packaged sheet stacking apparatus shown in FIG. 11, it is necessary to vacuum-suck the packaged sheet 1 by the nozzle 3 and open the package to the atmosphere, so that one packaged sheet 1 is placed on the belt conveyor 4. However, there is a problem that the time required for the process of transferring from the packaging bucket 2 to the stacking bucket 2 is long, which hinders an increase in the packaging / stacking speed. Further, in the conventional packaged sheet stacking device shown in FIG. 12, since the packaged sheet 1 is held between the sheet receiving claw 7 and the weight lift 8, the structure is not suitable for the vertical continuous packaging method. Further, there is a problem that the package sheet 1 is easily clogged in the inside of the stacking hopper 9 or the gap between the transport bucket 11 and the like.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and employs a vertical wrapping method.
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a packaging sheet stacking device that can increase the packaging / stacking speed and has a structure in which clogging of the packaging sheet does not easily occur.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging sheet accumulating apparatus for transporting a continuous body of packaging sheets in a predetermined direction in a horizontal state.
Cutting means for cutting the continuous body of the divided sheets in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predetermined direction for each predetermined number of continuous packages; Second conveying means for further conveying in the conveying direction, upright guide means for substantially erecting the cut packaged sheet from the horizontal position, and guiding the conveying direction of the cut packaged sheet. Conveying guide means, stacking guide means for stacking the upright divided sheets in parallel in each unit space while keeping them substantially upright, and stacking sheets stacked in each unit space by the stacking guide means. When the number of parallel stacks reaches a predetermined number, a package sheet having third transport means for simultaneously transporting all the package sheets accumulated in each unit space to the next process.
An accumulating device, wherein the accumulating guide means includes:
An integrated guide member having a plurality of grooves parallel to each other;
The packaging sheet that is provided and transported before the stacking guide member
One of the grooves of the collecting guide member one by one.
And a sorting guide member for sequentially sorting the
The upright guide means gradually moves in the transport direction of the packaged sheet.
A slope having a large inclination angle, and the upright
Guide means, the transport guide means and the accumulation guide means
Are arranged in parallel respectively, and the second and third
Each of the conveying means of
Rod-shaped part that is provided in the direction perpendicular to
Material, and collectively stack multiple rows of packaging sheets.
It is configured. The packaged sheet accumulating apparatus according to the invention described in claim 2, further comprising the cut packaged sheet.
Is forced to fall into the recess of the upright guide means.
It has a sheet separating means for inserting.

[0007]

The cutting means cuts the package sheet into a so-called vertical continuous packing method. In the vertical continuous wrapping method, cutting is performed in a direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction for each predetermined number of continuous wrappers (for example, 3 to 4 continuous wrappers), so that the cutting is performed in a horizontal direction for each one-package. The number of cuts and the time required to remove the cut packaged sheets are smaller than in the case of the horizontal continuous packing method that must be performed. As a result, a high speed of about 300 packets / min per row is achieved. The cut packaging sheet is substantially erected by upright guide means, for example, a guide wall having a slope having a gradually increasing inclination angle. The upright packaging sheet is guided by transport guide means, for example, a guide groove or the like without falling down, and is provided in a second transporting means, for example, a bar-shaped member provided in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the packaging sheet. (Carrier bar) to the stacking guide means. The stacking guide means is provided in front of the stacking guide member having a plurality of grooves parallel to the conveyance direction, and is provided with any one of the grooves of the stacking guide member one by one for the conveyed divided sheets. And a sorting guide member for sequentially sorting the pieces. Therefore, the upright packaging sheets are stacked in parallel in the horizontal direction. When the number of divided sheets accumulated by the accumulation guide means has reached a predetermined number, all the divided sheets accumulated by the third conveying means are simultaneously conveyed to the next step, and box packing and the like are performed. The third conveying means shares at least one member with the second conveying means, for example, the carrier bar, and controls the operation of the common member by a cam or a guide groove to accumulate the separated sheets. Or discharge the stacked sachets. Cutting means,
A plurality of upright guide means, transport guide means, and stacking guide means are arranged in parallel, and the second and third transport means each include a bar-shaped member provided in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the packaged sheet. By doing so, a plurality of divided sheets are accumulated synchronously. The cut packaging sheet falls on the upright guide by the action of gravity,
Each of the cut pieces of the divided sheets may not be completely separated for some reason, which may cause the divided sheets to be clogged. Since the sheet separating means forcibly separates each of the cut pieces of the divided sheets and drops them on the upright guide, clogging due to incomplete separation of the divided sheets does not occur.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A packaging sheet accumulating apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 showing a preferred embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a packaged sheet accumulating apparatus according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are partially enlarged perspective views of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIGS. 5 and 6 are a plan view and a side sectional view, respectively, showing the configuration near the stacking guide portion, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are the third views during and after stacking of the packing sheets, respectively. 8 is a side view showing a state of a guide rail in the transport mechanism of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a front view showing a guide rail switching mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a packaging sheet accumulating apparatus according to the present invention is a vertical cutter for cutting a continuous body 200 of packaging sheets in the transport direction (vertical direction) for each package. A horizontal cutter 103 that cuts the continuous body 101 and the wrapping sheet 200 in a direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to a transport direction (the predetermined direction) for every predetermined number of continuous packets (for example, every three consecutive packets); And a first for horizontally transporting the continuous body 200 of the packaged sheets in a predetermined direction (right direction in the figure).
, And a transport roller 102 (two sets are illustrated in the figure). The vertical cutter 101 and the horizontal cutter 103 cut the continuous body 200 of the packaged sheets into a so-called vertical continuous packaging method. Here, defective products 210 such as empty packaging sheets are discharged out of the system by the operation of the damper 105 and the like.

Further, in the separating sheet accumulating apparatus according to the present invention, the notch roller 104 and the annular member constituting the second transferring mechanism for reliably transferring the cut separating sheet 201 (to be described in detail later). A plurality (eg, three) of carrier bars 111, 12 secured to a belt or chain
1 and 131, the packaging sheet 201 conveyed horizontally
The separation guide member 110 and the upright guide member 120 that constitute an upright guide mechanism for substantially erecting the upright, the transport guide member 130 that constitutes a transport guide mechanism for defining the transport direction of the upright packaging sheet 201, and An inter-pitch enlarging guide member 140, an accumulating guide member 160 having a plurality of grooves parallel to the transport direction, and constituting an accumulating guide mechanism for accumulating the upright packaging sheets, a stopper 161 and a front side of the accumulating guide member 160. , A distribution guide member 150 for sequentially distributing the conveyed divided sheets 201 one by one to each groove of the accumulation guide member 160, a servomotor 151, a cam plate 152, a link 153, and the like. A distribution guide member control mechanism for controlling the distribution guide member 150,
And a discharge guide member 170 for simultaneously transporting all the stacked packaging sheets 201 to the next step when the number of the packaging sheets 201 accumulated by the accumulation guide member 160 reaches a predetermined number. I have.

FIG. 4 shows details of the separation guide member 110, the upright guide member 120, the carrier bars 111 and 121, and the like. In FIG. 4, the separation guide member 110 is a block having a slope 110a and a groove 110b. The packaging sheet 201 sent rightward in the figure by the notch roller 104 in FIGS. 1 and 2 falls on the slope 110 a of the separation guide member 110 by gravity. Slope 11
Reference numeral 0a is for holding the package sheet 201 conveyed horizontally in an inclined state as an intermediate step for erecting the package sheet 201. The groove 110b is provided to prevent the pin 111a provided on the carrier bar 111 from contacting the slope 110a. Further, the upright guide member 120 is provided on the slope 110a of the separation guide member 110, and has a slope 120a configured to gradually increase the tilt angle. Carrier bar 121
The claw 121a is provided below the separation guide member 110 so as not to contact the upright guide member 120.
0b, and transports the package sheet 201 through the lower side.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show an enlarged guide member 1 between pitches.
40, the accumulation guide member 160 and the stopper 161, the distribution guide member 150, the link 153, and the discharge guide member 170 are shown in detail. In FIG. 5, one distribution guide member 150 is provided to face one guide groove 140a of the inter-pitch enlarging guide member 140. The guide groove of the distribution guide member 150 has a fan shape on the input side 150c in consideration of the rotation thereof, and the output side 150d
Are arranged in a straight line. Distribution guide member 150
6, is rotatable about a shaft 150a, and a pin 150b is engaged with a link 153, and is rotated around the shaft 150a by the movement of the link 153. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the plurality of distribution guide members 150 are synchronously rotated by the links 153. The stacking guide member 160 includes one distribution guide member 150.
Have a plurality of guide grooves 160a. The input side of each guide groove 160a is radially arranged so as to face each position of the output side 150d of the guide groove with the rotation of the distribution guide member 150. In addition, each guide groove 160
The part holding the packaging sheet 201 of a is the packaging sheet 20.
They are arranged in parallel in one transport direction. Stopper 16
Until a predetermined number of the packaging sheets 201 are accumulated, the number 1 is at the raised position shown in FIG. 6 so that the packaging sheets 201 do not enter the discharge guide member 170.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the carrier bar 1
Although only 31 is shown schematically, the mechanism for controlling the movement of the carrier bar 131 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 6, the carrier bars 131, 13
1 ′ are fixed to arm levers 232, 232 ′, respectively, and the arm levers 232, 232 ′ are
1, 231 'rotatably supported. Each base member 231, 231 ′ is attached to the belt or chain 230 at regular intervals, and the groove 25 of the rail 253 is formed.
3a is conveyed at a constant speed to the right in the figure. The arm levers 232, 232 ′ are provided with pins 232 a, 232 a ′. The pins 232 a, 232 a ′ are provided in the grooves 250 a,
50b, 251a, 251b or 252a. With the groove switching cam 250 as a boundary, the left rail 252 in the figure has only one groove 252a, but the right rail 251 in the figure has two upper and lower grooves 251a and 251a.
1b is provided. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7A and 6B, the groove switching cam 250 has an upper and lower S-shaped groove 250a and a linear groove 250b.
FIGS. 6 and 7A show a state where the groove 252a and the groove 251a are connected by the groove 250a. FIG. 7 (b)
Indicates a state in which the groove 252a and the groove 251b are connected by the groove 250b. FIG. 8 shows a mechanism for driving (moving up and down) the groove switching cam 250. Groove switching cam 250
Are engaged with the vertical guide rail 263, and the movement is restricted so that only vertical movement is possible. The groove switching cam 250
Power unit 2 via link 262 and cam 261
60.

In FIG. 6, the left arm lever 232
And the carrier bar 131 fixed thereto shows the state in which the packaging sheet 201 has been conveyed to the stacking guide member 160, and the right arm lever 232 'and the carrier bar 131' fixed to the same The state after opening on the accumulation guide member 160 is shown. Comparing the two arm levers 232 and 232 ′, the right arm lever 232 ′ rotates clockwise more than the left arm lever 232. That is, the pin 232a 'of the right arm lever 232' is
The upper groove 2 by passing through the S-shaped groove 250a of
51a while the base member 231 'is in the groove 253.
a, the arm lever 232 ′ is relatively rotated with respect to the base member 231 ′ because it is horizontally conveyed rightward.
Carrier bar 13 fixed to arm lever 232 '
1 'moves upward in the figure. As a result, the carrier bar 131 'is retracted above the packaging sheet 201, and the packaging sheet 201 is released from the carrier bar 131'. This operation is repeated until the number of sheets to be stacked (stacking sheets 201) is stacked by one less than the number (predetermined number) to be stacked.

When the packaging sheets 201 are stacked by one less than the predetermined number, the groove switching cam 250 is moved from the state shown in FIG. 7A to the state shown in FIG. b) Switch to the state shown in. That is,
The arm lever 232 to which the groove 252a and the groove 251b are connected via the groove 250b and to which the carrier bar 131 carrying the last one of the divided sheets 201 is fixed.
The pin 232a has a groove 252a, a groove 250b, and a groove 25b.
1b. Therefore, the last carrier bar 13
1 does not retreat upward, moves forward as it is, and together with the other packing sheets 201 already stacked on the stacking guide member 160, all the packing sheet 201 discharge guide materials 1
To 70. As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge guide member 1
The guide groove 170 a of the packaging sheet 201 is separately guided by each groove 160 a of the stacking guide member 160.
Are collectively brought into close contact, so that the width thereof is gradually reduced. By arranging a paper box or the like for packaging at the end of the discharge guide portion 170 and making the opening thereof face the groove 170a of the discharge guide member 170, a predetermined number of the packaged sheets 201 are automatically packaged. .

In the above embodiment, the cut packaging sheet 201 is configured to fall on the separation guide member 110 by the action of power. However, there may be a case where the respective packaging sheets 201 are not completely separated due to, for example, an adhesive of an adhesive tape used for connecting the packaging films adheres to the cut surface.
If we ignore this as it is, the carrier bar 111, 1
21 and the like are wrapped around the connected separation sheet, and clogging occurs there. In order to prevent such troubles, another embodiment in which a mechanism for forcibly separating the packaging sheet 201 is provided will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10 (a) and (b). FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a configuration near the separation guide member 110 and the upright guide member 120. FIGS. 10A and 10B respectively show FIGS.
It is a figure which shows the AA section and BB section in FIG.

In FIG. 9, a pulley 106 is provided coaxially with the notch roller 104, and a plurality of (for example, three) belts or chains provided between the pulley 106 and another pulley 107 are provided at regular intervals. The carrier bar 111 is fixed. Another notch roller 301 is provided below the notch roller 104. The notch 104a of the notch roller 104 is the carrier bar 1
This is for avoiding contact with 11. The cut package sheet 201 conveyed from the left side in the figure is sandwiched between the outer surface 104b of the notch roller 104, which is not cut, and the outer surface 301b of another roller 301, and these rollers 104, Due to the rotation of 301, the sheet is conveyed rightward in the figure. In front of the notch roller 104, a sheet separating plate 3 having a larger diameter than the notch roller 104.
02 is provided. A part 302a of the sheet separating plate 302 is also cut away. When the package sheet 201 is conveyed below the sheet separation plate 302 by the rotation of the notch roller 104, the notch 302a is initially located below in the figure and faces the separation guide member 110. If the notch 302a does not exist, the separation guide member 110, the sheet separation plate 302, and the notch roller 1
The space between the notch roller 104 and the sheet separation plate 302 may be clogged due to the space between the notch roller 104 and the sheet separation plate 302 being insufficient. Packaging sheet 20
1 starts to be conveyed downward to the sheet separating plate 302,
The sheet separation plate 302 also starts to rotate, and as shown in FIG.
1 and touch it down further. FIG.
In the AA cross section shown in (a), the packaging sheet 201-A
Indicates a state where the sheet has already fallen onto the separation guide member 110, and the packaging sheet 201-B has the notch roller 10
4 shows a state in which the sheet is conveyed horizontally while being sandwiched by another roller 301. In a state in which the packaging sheet 201-A is inclined, it is no longer possible to convey by a roller,
Thereafter, the packaging sheet 201-A is transported by the carrier bar 111 and the pins 111a provided thereon. In the BB section shown in FIG. 10B, the packaging sheet 201 -C is substantially upright by the upright guide member 120. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 (b), the upright guide member 120 is a slope 110a of the separation guide member 110.
Near the carrier,
The bar cannot be provided above the separation guide member 110. Accordingly, the carrier bar 121 is provided below the separation guide member 110, and transports the package sheet 201 by the pins 121a penetrating the separation guide member 110.

[0018]

As described above, as an effect of the present invention , the continuous body 200 of the divided sheets is cut by the so-called vertical continuous wrapping method. The time required for removing the cut packaged sheet can be reduced, and as a result, the number of times of processing of the packaged sheet can be reduced, which has the effect of increasing the speed of the apparatus as compared with the conventional example. Packing sheet 201 is disconnected is substantially upright by the upright guide members 120 or the like, after the upright is guided without falling by the guide groove 140a and the like, integrated by Kiyariya bars 111, 121, 131, etc. Guide It is conveyed to the member 160, and is accumulated in parallel in the horizontal direction by the groove 160a. Therefore, the possibility of clogging during the conveyance and accumulation of the separation sheet 201 is extremely low.
This has the effect that the probability of a decrease in the operation rate due to clogging of 201 is extremely low. Since the transport / stacking process of the packaged sheet 201 is performed by continuous operation of the carrier bars 111, 121, 131, etc., the configuration is simpler than that of the conventional example which requires a vacuum suction / atmosphere release process, and the operation is simple. Has the effect that the speed is high and the device can be operated at high speed. Each packing sheet 201 which has been sent transportable
Is distributed to each groove 160a of the collecting guide member 160 by using the distribution guide member 150, so that a plurality of packaging sheets 201 are not fed into one groove 160a, and clogging in the collecting guide member 160 is extremely generated. It has the effect of being difficult to do. Since straight standing guide member 120 has a gradual inclination angle increases the slope 120a, it is possible to smoothly erect the packing sheet 201, clogging of the packing sheet 201 in the vicinity of the straight guide member 120 This has the effect that it hardly occurs. Separation guide member 110, the upright guide members 120, arranges a plurality conveyance guide member 130, 140, and stacking guide member 160 in parallel, the second and third conveying means, the conveying direction of each packing sheet The provision of the bar-shaped members (carrier bars) 111, 121, and 131 provided in the direction orthogonal to each other has an effect that a plurality of rows of the packing sheets 201 can be accumulated synchronously. Further, the present invention
According to the cut packaging sheet 201, the sheet separation plate 302
The separation sheet 201 is forcibly separated and dropped on the separation guide member 110, so that there is an effect that clogging due to incomplete separation of the separation sheet 201 does not occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a packaged sheet accumulating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration near an upright guide portion.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a configuration near an accumulation guide portion.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a configuration near an accumulation guide portion;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are side views showing a state of a guide rail in a third transport mechanism during and after stacking of the package sheets, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a guide rail switching mechanism.

FIG. 9 shows a separation guide member 110 and an upright guide member 12;
Side sectional view showing the configuration near 0

10 (a) and (b) respectively show A in FIG.
The figure which shows -A cross section and BB cross section

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional packaged sheet stacking apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of another conventional packaged sheet stacking apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Vertical cutter 102 Transport roller 103 Horizontal cutter 104 Notch roller 110 Separation guide member 111 Carrier bar 120 Upright guide member 121 Carrier bar 130 Transport guide member 131 Carrier bar 140 Inter-pitch expansion guide member 150 Distribution guide member 160 Stacking guide Member 170 Discharge guide member 200 Continuum of divided sheets 201 Divided sheet 302 Sheet separation plate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65B 61/28 B65H 5/16 B65H 29/46 B65H 29/52 B65H 29/60 B65H 35/56

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first transport means for transporting a continuous body of divided sheets in a predetermined direction in a state of being placed horizontally, wherein the continuous body of divided sheets is moved in the predetermined direction every predetermined number of continuous packages. Cutting means for cutting in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second, second transport means for further transporting the cut packaged sheet in a predetermined transport direction in the horizontally placed state, Erecting guide means for substantially erecting from a horizontally placed state, conveying guide means for guiding the conveying direction of the cut packaged sheets, in parallel with the upright divided sheets substantially upright Stacking guide means for stacking and stacking in each unit space, when the number of parallel stacks of packaging sheets stacked in each unit space by the stacking guide means reaches a predetermined number,
A package comprising a third transporting means for simultaneously transporting all the packaging sheets accumulated in each of the unit spaces to the next step
A sheet stacking apparatus, wherein the stacking guide means includes a plurality of grooves parallel to the transport direction.
An accumulating guide member having: a front side of the accumulating guide member
Provided, and the conveyed divided sheets one by one
Sorting to any one of the grooves of the stacking guide member
An upright guide means, and the upright guide means gradually moves in the transport direction of the packaged sheet.
Each having a slope with a large inclination angle, and said upright
Guide means, transport guide means, and stacking guide hand
A plurality of stages are respectively arranged in parallel, and the second and
Each of the conveying means 3 is arranged in the conveying direction of the packaged sheet.
Rods that are provided in orthogonal directions and move in the transport direction
With multiple members, collectively stack multiple rows of packaging sheets
Package accumulating apparatus configured as described above. 2. One side of the cut packaging sheet is
A system for forcibly dropping and inserting into the recess of the upright guide means
The packaged sheet accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet separating means .