JP3608596B2 - Apparatus and method for conveying and feeding sheet material - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet supply material feeding and feeding apparatus suitable for separating sheet materials such as paper and film supplied in a stacked state one by one and transporting them to a predetermined position. It is about the method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, when separating sheets one by one from a stacked state of sheet-like paper or film and positioning them at a predetermined location, the sheet-like materials are vacuumed one by one at the supply position where the sheet-like materials are stacked. A method of sucking up with a chuck and preventing two sheets from being overlapped by static electricity with a brush or a baffle plate, then separating only one sheet and moving it to a predetermined place by a transfer mechanism is used.
In this method, the sheet-like material is positioned at the conveyance destination (the predetermined location), and therefore a positioning mechanism is required at the conveyance destination.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional sheet material supply method requires a positioning mechanism at the sheet material conveyance destination. For this reason, there has been a problem that the structure at the transport destination is complicated and the installation area is also required to be large.
Also, especially when handling thin sheet-like film, if it is simply sucked and transported by a vacuum chuck, the film will be bent or deformed during transport, making it difficult to transport, and will not be set even at the transfer destination. There was a problem.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport device for feeding a sheet material that can be easily set at a transport destination and can be handled even with a thin sheet material. It is in.
Further, other objects will be made clear in the contents described below.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses the following technical means ((1) to (4)) as a sheet material conveying and feeding apparatus using the reference numerals illustrated in the drawings. Features.
That is, (1) a supply unit 1 that supplies a plurality of sheet-like materials 100 each having a first positioning hole 101 and a second positioning hole 102 in a stacked state, and an uppermost part disposed in the supply unit 1 A first transfer unit 2 that adsorbs and conveys the sheet-like material 100 to a predetermined position; (2) a positioning base 32 on which the sheet-like material 100 conveyed by the first transfer unit 2 is set; A sheet-like material positioning pin 31 inserted into a position corresponding to the first positioning hole 101 of the sheet-like material 100 set on the positioning base 32, and the sheet-like material positioning pin 31 via the sheet-like material positioning pin 31 A positioning portion 3 having positioning means (slide base 33, rotating slide 34, driving cam 35) for positioning the material 100 on the positioning base 32; and (3) the first positioning hole 10 A setting pin 110 having a shaft portion 110A having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the sheet-like material 100 and having a length longer than the thickness of the sheet-like material 100; Setting pin insertion means (suction pad 43, suction chuck 44, etc.) for inserting into the first positioning hole 101 of the upper sheet-like material 100 and the sheet-like material 100 in which the setting pin 110 is inserted are set to the setting pin 110. And a second transfer portion 4 picked up and conveyed, and (5) a first setting hole 55 corresponding to the first positioning hole 101 and a second setting hole corresponding to the second positioning hole 102. 56, and the sheet-like material 100 conveyed by the second transfer unit 4 has the setting pin 110 as the first setting. The setting plate 51 is placed in the insertion hole 55 in a state of being inserted and engaged, and the setting plate positioning pin 54 is provided at a position corresponding to the second setting hole 102. The setting plate 5 includes a setting unit 5 provided with a backup base 53 on which the setting plate 51 is placed together with the sheet-like material 100 in a state of being inserted into the setting hole 56.
[0006]
Further, in order to achieve the above object, the following technical means is provided as a method for conveying and supplying a sheet material, using the reference numerals illustrated in the drawings.
That is, the sheet-like material 100 provided with the first positioning hole 101 and the second positioning hole 102 is separated one by one and conveyed to a predetermined position, and the sheet corresponding to the first positioning hole 101 While positioning the sheet-like material 100 on the positioning base 32 by inserting the positioning pin 31 for the material-like material into the first positioning hole 101,
The first positioning hole 101 of the sheet-like material 100 positioned on the positioning base 32 has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the first positioning hole 101 and a length larger than the thickness of the sheet-like material 100. Insert the shaft portion 110A of the setting pin 110 having the shaft portion 110A,
Thereafter, the sheet-like material 100 is picked up together with the setting pin 110 to have a first setting hole 55 corresponding to the first positioning hole 101 and a second setting hole 56 corresponding to the second positioning hole 102. The setting pin 110 is inserted into and engaged with the first setting hole 55 and the sheet-like material 100 is set on the setting plate 51.
In this set state, the sheet-like material 100 is supplied to a predetermined position.
[0007]
According to this, the sheet-like material is positioned on the setting plate with the setting pin, and the sheet-like material is transported to the transport destination while being placed on the setting plate, so that the setting at the transport destination can be easily performed.
In addition, by storing each setting plate in a magazine or the like, the sheet-like material can be transported and taken out in a certain unit, and handling is easy even for thin films.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description, it is not restricted to these forms.
[0009]
First, the schematic configuration of the sheet-like material conveyance and supply apparatus of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the transport and supply apparatus includes a supply unit 1, a first transfer unit 2, a positioning unit 3, a second transfer unit 4, and a setting unit 5.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheet-like material 100 handled here is an example of a rectangular (rectangular) sheet-like film, and the sheet-like material 100 is provided with first positioning holes 101 at four corners. In addition, a second positioning hole 102 is provided in the middle of the first positioning hole 101 on each short side. In addition, the dimensional accuracy of the hole diameter and pitch of these positioning holes 101 and 102 is processed with high accuracy. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, 200 to 300 sheets of the sheet-like material 100 are stored in the tray 6 whose upper surface is opened, and this is set in the supply unit 1.
[0010]
Further, the configuration of each part will be described in detail. FIG. 5 schematically shows the peripheral structure of the supply unit 1. A plate 11 is disposed in the supply unit 1, and the tray 6 is disposed on the plate 11. Further, a rod 12 is attached to the lower surface side of the plate 11, and this rod 12 is held by a slide guide 13 attached to the apparatus main body 7 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. Further, a compression spring 14 is attached to the rod 12 between the slide guide 13 and the plate 11, and the plate 11 is always pushed up to a predetermined position by the repulsive force of the compression spring 14. ing.
On the other hand, a baffle plate 15, an air blow 16, and a first transfer unit 2 are disposed above the tray 6 disposed on the plate 11. Among these, the baffle plate 15 is used to boil the sheet-like material 100 blown by the air blow 16 when the two sheet-like materials 100 held by the first transfer unit 2 are held in close contact with each other due to static electricity. Thus, the second sheet material 100 is separated, and only one sheet is picked up and held.
[0011]
The first transfer unit 2 picks up the sheet-like material 100 in the tray 6 set in the supply unit 1 and conveys it to the positioning unit 3. The plate 21 and the plate 21 are attached to the plate 21. A plurality of suction chucks 23 having suction pads 22 at their tips and a plurality of sleeves 24 are configured so that the plate 21 can be moved in the vertical direction by operation of an actuator (not shown). Note that air blow 39 disposed downward is provided at a plurality of locations on the side edge portion on the plate 21.
In the first transfer unit 2, when the plate 21 is lowered by the actuator and the suction pad 22 is brought into contact with the uppermost sheet material 100 in the tray 6, the sheet material 100 is sucked. Vacuum chucking is performed by the chuck 23 and the sleeve 24, and then the plate 21 is moved upward by the actuator. Subsequently, it is moved horizontally onto the positioning unit 3 and then lowered to a predetermined position to release the suction. Thereby, the sheet-like material 100 can be transferred onto the positioning part 3.
On the other hand, four sleeves 24 in the first transfer portion 2 are provided in correspondence with the first positioning holes 101 of the sheet-like material 100 so as to extend downward from the lower surface of the plate 21. Yes. Further, each sleeve 24 is formed in a hollow shape, and the hole 25 inside thereof is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the first positioning hole 101, and a sheet-like material positioning pin 31 in the positioning portion 3 described later is inserted lightly. It is ready for use.
[0012]
The positioning unit 3 positions the sheet-like material 100 conveyed by the first transfer unit 2 with the positioning base 32 and the sheet-like material positioning pins 31, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A slide base 33 attached to the rod 12a attached to the apparatus main body 7 in a vertically extended state so as to be movable in the vertical direction via a slide guide 38, and disposed on the slide base 33. The rotary slide 34 is provided, and a cam 35 or the like for driving the rotary slide 34. The rotary slide 34 and the rotary slide 34 correspond to the positioning means of claim 1.
[0013]
The positioning base 32 in the positioning unit 3 is disposed above the slide base 33, and the sheet-like material positioning pins 31 are vertically arranged at four positions corresponding to the first positioning holes 101 of the sheet-like material 100. A through hole 36 (see FIG. 6) is formed. The hole 36 is formed larger than the outer diameter of the sheet-like material positioning pin 31, and the hole 36 has the same hole diameter as the first positioning hole 101 of the sheet-like material 100. The positioning pin 31 for use can move in the horizontal direction. Further, a plurality of holes (not shown) connected to a vacuum source (not shown) through a vacuum means 37 are formed on the upper surface of the positioning base 32, and a sheet-like shape arranged on the positioning base 32. The structure is such that the material 100 can be adsorbed and positioned.
[0014]
The slide base 33 in the positioning unit 3 can be moved in the vertical direction by the operation of an actuator (not shown).
Further, the sheet material positioning pins 31 arranged on the slide base 33 are respectively mounted on the rotary slide 34 at four positions corresponding to the positioning base 32. Further, each sheet-like material positioning pin 31 is provided at a position that is eccentric from the rotation center O (see FIG. 10) of the rotary slide 34, and each sheet-like material positioning pin 31 is the first of the sheet-like material 100. When the cam 35 is rotated by means not shown in the state of being inserted into each of the positioning holes 101, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each sheet-like material positioning pin 31 moves outward, Within each first positioning hole 101, a radially outward force F (see FIG. 10) is applied to the sheet-like material 100, thereby positioning the sheet-like material 100.
Further, in the positioning unit 3, when the slide base 33 is moved downward by an actuator (not shown), the tip of the sheet-like material positioning pin 31 is retracted to the lower side of the positioning base 32 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when moved upward, the tip of the sheet-like material positioning pin 31 can protrude larger than the positioning base 32 as shown in FIG. In addition, the sheet-like material positioning pin 31 is raised, and the sheet-like material 100 is conveyed by the first transfer unit 2 in a state where the leading end protrudes from the positioning base 32, and this is lowered. Then, the sheet-like material positioning pin 31 is inserted into the hole 25 of the sleeve 24. At the time when the sheet-like material 100 is inserted, the sheet-like material 100 is moved to the positioning base 32 side by releasing the suction force that has chucked the sheet-like material 100 on the first transfer portion 2 side and air-blowing. When dropped, the sheet material 100 can be transferred onto the positioning base 32. Next, when the sheet-like material positioning pin 31 is rotated together with the rotary slide 34 via the cam 35, the sheet-like material 100 can be positioned on the positioning base 32, and at the same time the vacuum suction by the positioning base 32 is performed. The sheet-like material 100 can be pressed by air blow from the air blow 39 and the positioned sheet-like material 100 can be positioned and held on the positioning base 32.
[0015]
The second positioning unit 4 takes out the sheet-like material 100 positioned on the positioning base 32 by the positioning unit 3 by suction, and transfers it onto the setting plate 51 placed on the setting unit 5, As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the plate 41, a sheet-like material suction chuck 42 attached to the plate 41, a suction pad 43 having a flat suction surface, and a setting pin suction chuck 44 are configured. Yes.
Among these, the setting pin suction chuck 44 is provided at four positions corresponding to the first positioning holes 101 of the sheet-like material 100, and the setting pin 110 is sucked by the setting suction chuck 44. The setting pin 110 is held and can be set in the first positioning hole 101. As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the setting pin 110 here has a shaft portion 110A having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first positioning hole 101, and a first pin at one end of the shaft portion 110A. And a flat head 110B having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the positioning hole 101.
Further, as shown in the detailed structure in FIG. 8, the setting pin suction chuck 44 is capable of receiving and positioning the head portion 110B with the shaft portion 110A on the lower side, and suction that is connected to a vacuum source (not shown). A recess 46 connected to the system 44 a, a suction and discharge system 44 b that can blow air to the sheet material 100, and a plunger 48 that projects an eject pin 47 toward the sheet material 100. An O-ring 49 for sealing is disposed in the recess 46 so as to surround the outside of the opening of the adsorption system 44a.
The suction pad 43, the suction chuck 44, and the like correspond to insertion means for the setting pin 110 according to the first aspect.
[0016]
In the second positioning portion 4, the setting pin 110 is moved to the position on the positioning base 32 of the positioning portion 3 while being held by the setting pin suction chuck 44, and together with the slide base 33, the sheet-like material positioning pins are moved. In contrast to the rising of 31, the shaft is lowered, and the shaft portion 110 </ b> A of the setting pin 110 is inserted and engaged in the first positioning hole 101 of the sheet-like material 100 on the positioning base 32. Further, when the shaft portion 110A of the setting pin 110 is inserted and engaged in the first positioning hole 101, the suction on the positioning base 32 side is released, and conversely, the suction of the sheet-shaped material suction chuck 42 is started. Then, the sheet-like material 100 is held by the second positioning unit 2 and is conveyed to the setting unit 5.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the setting unit 5 is provided with a backup base 53 that can be moved vertically by a rod 52 and a setting plate 51 that is set on the backup base 53. Further, two setting plate positioning pins 54 are provided on the upper surface of the backup base 53 so as to protrude upward corresponding to the second positioning holes 102 of the sheet-like material 100. On the other hand, the setting plate 51 is formed in the same rectangular shape as the sheet-like material 100, and corresponds to the first positioning hole 101 of the sheet-like material 100, and the first setting hole 55 (see FIGS. 1 and 13). And a second setting hole 56 (see FIGS. 1 and 13) corresponding to the second positioning hole 102 (which also corresponds to the setting plate positioning pin 54). Is formed. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the setting plate 51 is set in advance on the backup base 53 with the setting plate positioning pins 54 inserted in the second setting holes 56.
[0018]
In the setting unit 5, when the sheet-like material 100 in which the setting pin 110 is set in the first positioning hole 101 is conveyed by the second positioning unit 4, the backup base on which the setting plate 51 is set. A setting plate positioning pin 54 protruding from the upper surface of the setting plate 51 is inserted into and engaged with the second positioning hole 102 on 53. 13 and 11 show a state in the middle of this. At the time of insertion engagement, the suction holding of the sheet-like material suction chuck 42 and the setting pin suction chuck 44 is released. At the same time, air is blown from the suction and blowing system 44b and the eject pin 47 is protruded, and the sheet-like material 100 and the setting pin 110 are sucked by the sheet-like material suction chuck 42 and the setting pin suction chuck 44. The chuck 42 and the setting pin suction chuck 44 are released. Then, due to the weight of the sheet-like material 100 and the setting pin 110, the sheet-like material 100 falls onto the setting plate 51, and the shaft portion 110A of the setting pin 110 that penetrates the sheet-like material 100 and protrudes from the lower surface is first. The sheet material 100 is set on the setting plate 51 by being inserted into the second setting hole 56.
The reason why the air blow and eject pin 47 protrudes when the sheet-like material 100 is opened is that the clearance between the second positioning hole 102 and the setting plate positioning pin 54 can be reduced by using this operation together. by.
[0019]
When the sheet-like material 100 and the setting plate 51 are set on the setting plate 51 in this way, the setting plate 51 is grasped by another robot claw 60 (see FIG. 12), and then the backup base 53 is attached to the rod 52. Lowered by control. Then, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the sheet-like material 100 is released from the backup base 53 while being set on the setting plate 51, and is then grasped by the robot claw 60 to be in a predetermined position (conveyance destination). ) And is set together with the setting plate 51.
[0020]
Therefore, in the structure of this embodiment, the positioning structure at the transport destination can be simplified, and the installation area can be reduced.
Moreover, since it can supply with the state set to the setting plate 51, even if it is a thin sheet-like film etc., it can convey reliably. Further, since each setting plate 51 can be stored in a magazine or the like, the sheet-like material can be transported and taken out in a certain unit, and workability can be improved.
[0021]
In addition, although the said Example demonstrated the case where a film material was used as a sheet-like material, even if it is other than a film, it can handle similarly. Moreover, although the case where the sheet material 100 is provided with four first positioning holes 101 and two second positioning holes 102 has been described, this number may be other than this. It is.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the positioning structure at the transport destination can be simplified, and the installation area can be reduced.
Moreover, since it can supply with the setting plate still being set, even if it is a thin sheet-like film etc., it can convey reliably.
Furthermore, since each setting plate can be stored in a magazine or the like, the sheet material can be transported and taken out in a certain unit, and an effect such as improvement in workability can be expected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a main configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a sheet-like material used in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tray shown in a state where a sheet-like material is stored.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view schematically showing the main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view schematically showing a main structure of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view schematically showing the main structure of the device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply part 2 1st transfer part 3 Positioning part 4 2nd transfer part 5 Setting part 31 Positioning pin for sheet-like material 32 Positioning base 51 Setting plate 53 Backup base 54 Setting plate positioning pin 55 For 1st setting Hole 55
56 Second setting hole 56
100 Sheet material 101 First positioning hole 102 Second positioning hole 110 Setting pin 110A Shaft

Claims (6)

A supply unit for supplying a plurality of sheet-like materials each having a first positioning hole and a second positioning hole;
A first transfer unit that adsorbs and transports the uppermost sheet-like material disposed in the supply unit to a predetermined position;
In a position corresponding to the positioning base on which the sheet-like material conveyed by the first transfer unit is set and the first positioning hole of the sheet-like material set on the positioning base A positioning part having a positioning pin for the sheet-like material to be inserted and positioning means for positioning the sheet-like material on the positioning base via the positioning pin for the sheet-like material;
A setting pin having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the first positioning hole and having a shaft portion having a length larger than the thickness of the sheet-like material;
Setting pin insertion means for inserting the shaft portion of the setting pin into the first positioning hole of the sheet-like material on the positioning base; and the setting of the sheet-like material into which the setting pin is inserted A second transfer unit that picks up and conveys the pins together;
The sheet having a first setting hole corresponding to the first positioning hole and a second setting hole corresponding to the second positioning hole, and being conveyed by the second transfer unit The shaped member has a setting plate on which the setting pin is inserted and engaged in the first setting hole, and a setting plate positioning pin at a position corresponding to the second setting hole. A setting portion provided with a backup base on which the setting plate is placed together with the sheet-like material in a state where the setting plate positioning pin is inserted into the second setting hole;
A sheet-like material conveying and supplying apparatus. 2. The sheet-like material transport and supply device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning base is provided with a releasable holding means for adsorbing and holding the sheet-like material that has been positioned on the positioning base. 2. The sheet-like material according to claim 1, wherein the first positioning holes are provided at four corners of the sheet-like material, and the positioning pins for the sheet-like material are provided at four positions corresponding to the first positioning holes. Conveyor supply device. 2. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit eccentrically rotates the positioning pin for the sheet-like material to the positioning unit, and applies a radially outward force to the sheet-like material on the positioning base. Sheet-like material transport and supply device. The sheet-like material conveyance and supply device according to claim 1, wherein a film material is used as the sheet-like material. A sheet-shaped material provided with a first positioning hole and a second positioning hole is separated sheet by sheet and conveyed to a predetermined position, and the sheet-shaped material positioning pin corresponding to the first positioning hole Is inserted into the first positioning hole to position the sheet-like material on the positioning base,
The first positioning hole of the sheet-like material positioned on the positioning base has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the first positioning hole and a length larger than the thickness of the sheet-like material. Insert the shaft part of the setting pin with the shaft part,
Thereafter, the sheet-shaped material is picked up together with the setting pin to have a first setting hole corresponding to the first positioning hole and a second setting hole corresponding to the second positioning hole. The sheet is conveyed onto the plate, the setting pin is inserted into and engaged with the first setting hole, and the sheet-like material is set on the setting plate.
In the set state, the sheet-like material is supplied to a predetermined position.

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