JP4185353B2

JP4185353B2 - Cloth spreading and conveying method and cloth spreading and conveying machine

Info

Publication number: JP4185353B2
Application number: JP2002330529A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 眞徳近藤; 智行谷井
Original assignee: Purex Corp
Current assignee: Purex Corp
Priority date: 2002-11-14
Filing date: 2002-11-14
Publication date: 2008-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-14
Also published as: JP2004162216A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
【０００２】
本願発明は、シーツのような大面積の布類を展張させた後、その展張布類を次工程側に搬送するための布類展張搬送方法及び布類展張搬送機に関するものである。
【従来の技術】
【０００３】
例えば、ランドリー工場においては、洗濯・乾燥後の布類をプレス機でプレスしたり、折畳み機で折畳む作業が行われるが、その次工程装置（以下、プレス機で説明する）に布類を供給する際には、予め布類をきれいに展張させておく必要がある。
【０００４】
ところで、シーツのような大面積の布類を展張させるための布類展張搬送機として、従来から図５及び図６に示すようなものがある（例えば、特許文献１の図１、図２）。
【０００５】
この図５及び図６に示す従来の布類展張搬送機は、大面積の布類Ｓの一辺の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを保持して所定高位置まで移送する投入装置１と、投入装置１によって高位置まで移送された布類Ｓ₁の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを受取って左右方向に展張させる左右展張装置２と、左右展張装置２のほぼ直下方に設置されていて左右展張装置２で展張された布類Ｓ₂の下方部を吸引して展張させる吸引装置３と、左右展張装置２及び吸引装置３で展張された布類Ｓ₄を受渡す受渡し装置４と、受渡し装置４から布類Ｓ₅を受取ってプレス機側に搬送する搬送装置６とを備えている。
【０００６】
この従来の布類展張搬送機では、図６に示すように投入装置１を左右に２基設置している。尚、この投入装置１は１基だけのもの、あるいは４基程度を左右方向に並設したものもある。この各投入装置１は、人の肩幅程度の間隔をもって左右一対のチャック１１，１１を有している。尚、この各チャック１１は、以下の説明において投入側チャックという。この各投入側チャック１１，１１は、布類Ｓの一辺の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａをそれぞれ保持する。そして、該各投入側チャック１１は、布類の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを保持した状態で、昇降装置（ロッドレスシリンダ）１２により上方に移動せしめられる。
【０００７】
左右展張装置２は、各投入側チャック１１，１１で保持されている布類両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを受取る左右一対のチャック２１，２１を有している。尚、この左右展張装置２側のチャック２１は、以下の説明において受取側チャックという。この各受取側チャック２１，２１は、布類の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを保持した状態で、それぞれ左右動装置（サーボモータ）２２，２２により相互に離間・近接方向に作動せしめられる。そして、各チャック２１，２１を図６に符号２１′，２１′で示す位置（布類Ｓ₂の上辺部Ｓｂが緊張する位置）まで離間させることにより、該布類上辺部Ｓｂを布類展張搬送機の中央部においてきれいに展張させ得るようになっている。
【０００８】
吸引装置３は、縦向きの吸引ボックス３１内の空気を吸引機（バキュームファン）３３で下方に吸引するようになっている。吸引ボックス３１の吸気口３２の近傍には、モータ３８，３８（図６）よって回転せしめられる送込みローラ３７，３７が設けられている。
【０００９】
搬送装置６は、左右展張装置２から受渡し装置４を介して展張状態の布類Ｓ₄を受取る前側コンベア（バキュームコンベア）６１と、それに連続する後側コンベア（排出コンベア）６２を有している。尚、後側コンベア６２は、プレス機側に連続している。
【００１０】
そして、図５及び図６の布類展張搬送機は、次のように機能する。まず、洗濯・乾燥済みの大面積布類Ｓから、その一辺の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを捜し出してそれぞれ投入装置１の各投入側チャック１１，１１に保持させる。そして、スタートボタンを押すと、各投入側チャック１１，１１が布類両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを保持したまま上動して、その布類両端角部を左右展張装置２の各受取側チャック２１，２１に受渡し（Ｓ₁の状態）、次に該各受取側チャック２１，２１が左右外側に移動して、布類Ｓ₁の上辺部Ｓｂを展張させる（Ｓ₂の状態）。続いて、送込みローラ３７が送込み方向に高速回転（右回転）するとともに、切換ダンパ３５が鎖線図示側に切換えられて吸引ボックス３１内の空気が吸引され、布類の下端側がＳ₃の状態を経てＳ₄のように吸引ボックス３１内に吸い込まれる。このとき、この布類Ｓ₄には、バキュームファン３３の吸引作用により下方へのテンション（図６の符号Ｆ）がかけられて、該布類が方形状に展張される（Ｓ₄の状態）。その後、切換ダンパ３５が実線図示側に切換えられ、各受取側チャック２１，２１で保持されていた布類Ｓ₄の上辺部Ｓｂが吸着ボックス４１の先端側上面に吸着・保持され、該吸着ボックス４１が鎖線図示するように後退し、そのとき布類上辺部Ｓｂが前側コンベア（バキュームコンベア）６１上に移乗され（符号Ｓ₅の状態）、布類が展張状態のままで前側コンベア６１及び後側コンベア６２を経てプレス機側に供給される。このように、図５及び図６の布類展張搬送機では、展張すべき布類の一辺の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを捜し出して、それを各投入側チャック１１，１１に保持させるだけで、後は自動で方形状に展張させることができる。
【００１１】
【特許文献】
特開２００１−１５９０６７号公報（図１、図２）
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
【００１２】
ところで、図５及び図６に示す従来の布類展張搬送機では、布類の展張時に、その一辺の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａをそれぞれ受取側チャック２１，２１で保持させた状態で吊上げ、且つ吸引装置３により下方にテンションをかける（吸引する）ことによって布類を展張させるようにしているが、このように、布類を両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａの２箇所だけで支持する場合は、吸引装置３によるテンション（図６の符号Ｆ）を２点（両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａ）で支持しなければならない。従って、布類展張時において、各受取側チャック２１，２１で保持している両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａ付近に集中して大きな荷重がかかり、その保持部分の生地が傷み易くなるという問題があった。特に、クリーニング回数が多くなって生地が脆くなっている布類では、両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａのみを保持する場合は該両端角部付近が破れることがあり、耐用期間が短くなる。
【００１３】
又、布類上辺部Ｓｂを左右に展張させた状態で吸引装置３により下方に吸引すると、各受取側チャック２１，２１で布類上辺部Ｓｂを緊張させているものの、吸引装置３による吸引（図６の符号Ｆ）によって布類上辺部Ｓｂの中央部分が符号Ｓｂ′（図６）で示すように下方に湾曲状に撓むようになる。そして、布類上辺部Ｓｂが湾曲状に撓む（符号Ｓｂ′）と、該布類上辺部Ｓｂが湾曲状に撓んだままで受渡し装置４の吸着ボックス４１上に受渡されてしまい、以降、布類上辺部（先行側端縁）Ｓｂが湾曲状のままで移送され、プレス工程を経て折畳み工程においてきれいに（正確に）折畳めなくなるという問題もあった。
【００１４】
本願発明は、上記した従来の事情に鑑み、展張作業時（特に吸引装置による吸引時）において、布類のチャック保持部分（両端角部）の荷重負担を軽減させ得るとともに、布類上辺部が撓むことなくきれいに（直線状に）伸展した状態で後工程側に移送させ得るようにした布類展張搬送方法及び布類展張搬送機を提供することを目的としている。
【課題を解決するための手段】
【００１５】
本願発明は、上記課題を解決するための手段として次の構成を有している。
【００１６】
［本願請求項１の発明］
本願請求項１の発明は、洗濯・乾燥後のシーツのような大面積布類をきれいに展張させた状態で次工程側に搬送するための布類展張搬送方法を対象にしている。
【００１７】
そして、この請求項１の布類展張搬送方法は、布類の一辺の両端角部を保持して所定高位置まで吊上げ、その吊上げ布類の各保持部分を左右に離間させて布類上辺部を左右に展張させ、その上辺部展張布類を下方に吸引してきれいに展張させ、さらにその展張布類を受渡し装置における前後に進退作動する吸着ボックスを介して搬送装置により次工程側に搬送するようにしたものである。
【００１８】
受渡し装置の吸着ボックスは、後述の実施形態に記載しているように、伸縮シリンダによって前進位置と奥側位置との間で進退せしめられる。そして、この受渡し装置は、吸着ボックスが前進位置にある状態で該吸着ボックス上面に布類上辺部を受取った後、吸着ボックスが後退するときに該布類上辺部を搬送装置の始端部上に移乗させる機能を有している。尚、この吸着ボックスは、図５の従来例にも記載されているように、この種の布類展張搬送機に基本構造として装備されているものである。
【００１９】
そして、この請求項１の布類展張搬送方法では、布類上辺部を左右に展張させた状態で、その上辺部展張布類の上辺部の中央付近を前進位置にある吸着ボックスと該前進位置にある吸着ボックスの前方同高さ位置において支持部材に取付けられていて該前進位置にある吸着ボックスの前面に対して接離方向に進退する押付部材とで挟持した後に、上辺部展張布類を下方に吸引するようにしている。
【００２０】
ところで、大面積布類の上辺部両端角部を保持して左右に展張させた状態で、その上辺部展張布類を下方に吸引すると、該布類全体にかなり大きな下向きのテンションがかかり、そのとき上辺部両端角部だけを保持（チャック保持）したものでは、上辺部の中央部分が下方に撓んでしまう。特に、布類上辺部の緊張度合いが弱いと該上辺部中央部分の下方撓み量が大きくなる。そして、このように布類上辺部の中央部分が下方に撓んだまま折畳み工程側に搬送されると、きれいに折畳めない。尚、逆に布類上辺部の緊張度合いが強すぎると、下方吸引時における布類上辺部中央部分の下方撓み量は小さくなるものの、強緊張により上辺部両端角部付近（チャック保持部分）の生地が傷み易くなる。
【００２１】
このような問題を解決するために、本願請求項１の布類展張搬送方法では、吊上げ状態で布類上辺部を左右に展張させ、その上辺部展張布類の上辺部の中央付近を受渡し装置における前進位置にある吸着ボックスの前面と押付部材とで挟持した後に、該上辺部展張布類を下方に吸引するようにしているので、吸引時に布類上辺部を３点で保持できるとともに、下方吸引によって布類上辺部の中央付近が下方に撓むことがない。
【００２２】
［本願請求項２の発明］
本願請求項２の発明は、シーツのような大面積の布類の一辺の両端角部を保持して所定高位置まで吊上げ、その吊上げ布類の両端角部をそれぞれチャックで保持して左右に離間・展張させ、その上辺部展張布類を吸引装置により下方に吸引してきれいに展張させ、さらにその展張布類を受渡し装置における前後に進退作動する吸着ボックスを介して搬送装置により次工程側に搬送し得るようにした布類展張搬送機を対象にしている。尚、この請求項２の布類展張搬送機における基本的構成は、図５及び図６の従来例のものを採用できる。又、吸着ボックスは、この種の布類展張搬送機に布類上辺部の受渡し用として汎用されているものである。
【００２３】
そして、この請求項２の布類展張搬送機では、上辺部展張布類の両端角部を保持する両チャックのほかに、該布類の上辺部の中央付近を保持する保持装置を備えている。この保持装置は、上辺部展張布類の上辺部を中央付近を表裏各側から挟持する挟持部材であって、吸着ボックスと前進位置にある吸着ボックスの前方同高さ位置において支持部材に取付けられていて該前進位置にある吸着ボックスの前面に対して接離方向に進退する押付部材とを有したものである。
【００２４】
この請求項２のように、布類上辺部の中央付近を保持する保持装置を備えると、上記請求項１の布類展張搬送方法を行えるとともに、保持装置として挟持部材を用いていることにより、該布類上辺部の中央付近を確実且つ強固に保持できる。
【発明の効果】
【００２５】
本願請求項１及び２の各発明では、次のような効果がある。
(１) 布類上辺部の両端角部を保持して左右に展張させた状態で、布類上辺部の中央付近を表裏各側から挟持した後に吸引装置により下方吸引することができるので、吸引時には布類上辺部を３点で保持でき、上辺部両端角部の荷重負担を軽減できる。
(２) 布類上辺部の中央付近を挟持した状態で吸引作用が行われるので、上辺部展張布類に対して下方吸引作用が働いても、布類上辺部が当初の直線状態を維持し（布類上辺部の中央部分が下方に撓まない）、布類を後工程側（折畳み工程側）にきれいに展張させた姿勢で供給できる。
(３) 保持装置として布類上辺部の中央付近を表裏各側から挟持する挟持部材（吸着ボックスと押付部材）を用いているので、該保持装置による保持を確実に達成できる。
【発明の実施の形態】
【００２６】
以下、図１〜図４を参照して本願実施形態の布類展張搬送方法及び布類展張搬送機を説明する。尚、この実施形態の布類展張搬送機は、シーツのような大面積の布類Ｓをきれいに展張させてプレス機や折畳み機のような次工程装置側に搬送するものである。
【００２７】
図１〜図４に示す実施形態の布類展張搬送機は、後述する保持装置５を除いて図５及び図６に示す従来例の布類展張搬送機とほぼ同構造のものが採用されている。即ち、この実施形態の布類展張搬送機にも、従来例の布類展張搬送機と同構造の、投入装置１と、左右展張装置２と、吸引装置３と、受渡し装置４を備えている。又、搬送装置６は、前側コンベア６１と後側コンベア６２とを有するのは上記の従来例と同じであるが、後側コンベア６２の一部６２ａを前部側に延出させて、例えば枕カバーやバスタオルのような小面積布類を後側コンベア６２の前部６２ａ上に直接載せ掛け得るようにしている。尚、その場合、投入装置１は図示しない揺動装置（伸縮シリンダ）で上方に跳ね上げておく。
【００２８】
又、本願実施形態の布類展張搬送機（図１〜図４）において、従来例のもの（図５及び図６）と同符号を付しているものは、相互に同機能をするものであり、これらの装置類の構造、機能等の説明は、従来技術の項の説明を援用する。尚、受渡し装置４の吸着ボックス４１は、図４に示すようにその前半部の上面に多数の小孔を有し、吸着ボックス４１内の空気が吸引機４２で吸引されることによって、吸着ボックス４１の前半部上面に布類上辺部Ｓｂを吸着させ得るようになっている。又、吸着ボックス４１は、左右一対の伸縮シリンダ４３，４３で図１の実線図示位置と鎖線図示位置との間で進退せしめられる。
【００２９】
そして、この実施形態の布類展張搬送機でも、大面積の布類Ｓの一辺の両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを捜して、その両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを一対の投入側チャック１１，１１でそれぞれ保持させた後、スタートボタンを押すと、各投入側チャック１１，１１が布類両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを保持したまま上動し→各両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを左右展張装置２の各受取側チャック２１，２１に受け渡し（図２のＳ₁の状態）→各受取側チャック２１，２１を展張機の幅方向中心から等距離ずつ離れた位置において左右に離間させて布類の上辺部Ｓｂを展張させ（上辺部展張布類Ｓ₂となる）→そこで後述するように保持装置５で布類上辺部Ｓｂの中央付近を表裏各側から挟持する（図３参照）。続いて、送込みローラ３７が送込み方向に高速回転（右回転）するとともに、切換ダンパ３５が鎖線図示側に切換えられて吸引ボックス３１内の空気が吸引されて、布類の下端側がＳ₃の状態を経てＳ₄のように吸引ボックス３１内に吸い込まれる。このとき、この布類Ｓ₄には、バキュームファン３３の吸引作用により、下方へのテンション（図２の符号Ｆ）がかけられて、該布類が方形状に展張される。その後、送込みローラ３７が停止し、切換ダンパ３５が実線図示側に切換えられ、各受取側チャック２１，２１及び保持装置５で保持されていた布類Ｓ₄の上辺部Ｓｂが吸着ボックス４１の先端側上面に吸着・保持され、該吸着ボックス４１が鎖線図示するように後退し、そのとき布類上辺部Ｓｂが前側コンベア（バキュームコンベア）６１上に移乗されて（符号Ｓ₅の状態）、展張状態のままで前側コンベア６１及び後側コンベア６２を経てプレス機側に供給される。
【００３０】
ところで、布類の展張時において、上辺部展張布類Ｓ₂の上辺部両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａのみを各受取側チャック２１，２１で保持させた状態で吸引装置３による吸引（図２の符号Ｆ）が行われると、各受取側チャック２１，２１で保持している両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａ付近に集中して大きな荷重がかかり、その保持部分の生地が傷み易くなるとともに、図６に示す従来例のように布類上辺部Ｓｂの中央部が下方に撓むようになるが、本願実施形態の布類展張搬送機には、上辺部展張布類Ｓ₂における上辺部Ｓｂの中央付近を保持する保持装置５を備えている。
【００３１】
この実施形態で使用されている保持装置５は、受渡し装置４の吸着ボックス４１と、伸縮シリンダ５１で進退せしめられる押付部材５２とで構成されている。尚、この実施形態では、吸着ボックス４１と押付部材５２とで本願請求項２の挟持部材を構成している。
【００３２】
保持装置５の伸縮シリンダ５１及び押付部材５２は、この布類展張搬送機の幅方向中央位置で、前進位置にある吸着ボックス４１の前方同高さ位置において支持部材に取付けている。尚、この実施形態では、伸縮シリンダ５１を、図２に示すように左右２基の投入装置１，１の各支持アーム１０，１０間に取付けている。
【００３３】
そして、この保持装置５は、吸着ボックス４１が前進位置（図１の実線図示位置）にある状態おいて、伸縮シリンダ５１が縮小状態では押付部材５２が吸着ボックス前面４１ａから離間（図１の状態）している一方、伸縮シリンダ５１が伸長すると押付部材５２が吸着ボックス前面４１ａに接触するまで前進するようになっている。従って、吸着ボックス４１が前進状態で、伸縮シリンダ５１が伸長すると、図３及び図４に示すように、吸着ボックス前面４１ａと押付部材５２間で上辺部展張布類Ｓ₂の上辺部中央位置を表裏各側から挟持し得るようになっている。
【００３４】
この保持装置５の作動時期は、左右展張装置２側の各チャック（受取側チャック）２１，２１で布類両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａを保持した状態で左右に展張させた直後に（図２の上辺部展張布類Ｓ₂の状態で）、吸着ボックス４１が前進（伸縮シリンダ４３，４３が縮小）するとともに、押付部材５２が前進（伸縮シリンダ５１が伸長）するようにしている。そして、保持装置５の作動状態では、図３及び図４に示すように、押付部材５２が上辺部展張布類Ｓ₂の上辺部中央付近を吸着ボックス４１の前面に押付けて、該布類上辺部Ｓｂを両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａ（左右の各受取側チャック２１，２１で保持されている）と中央部（保持装置５で保持されている）の３箇所で保持するようになる。
【００３５】
この実施形態の布類展張搬送機では、布類上辺部Ｓｂを左右に展張させ、吸引装置３による吸引前に、保持装置５を作動させて上辺部展張布類Ｓ₂の上辺部中央付近を保持することができる。従って、上辺部展張布類の上辺部中央付近を保持した状態で吸引装置３を吸引させても、その吸引力（符号Ｆ）が３点に分散されて支持され、両チャック２１，２１部分での負担が軽減される（両端角部Ｓａ，Ｓａが傷まない）とともに、布類上辺部Ｓｂが直線状のままで維持される（上辺部Ｓｂの中央が下方に撓むことがない）。そして、吸引装置３による吸引作用が停止すると、両チャック２１，２１を保持解除させるとともに保持装置５も保持解除して（押付部材５２を後退させて）、布類上辺部Ｓｂを吸着ボックス４１の上面部に吸着させ、続いて吸着ボックス４１を後退させて布類上辺部Ｓｂを前側コンベア６１上に移乗させ、布類を展張状態のままで前側コンベア６１及び後側コンベア６２を経て次工程側（プレス機を経て折畳み機）に搬送する。
【００３６】
このように、この実施形態の布類展張搬送機では、保持装置５により、吸引装置３の作動時に両チャック２１，２１による荷重負担を軽減でき、且つ布類をきれいに展張（方形状に展張）させた状態で後送できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本願実施形態の布類展張搬送機の縦断面図（図２の中央縦断面図）である。
【図２】図１の布類展張搬送機の左側面図である。
【図３】図１の一部を拡大した保持装置の作動状態図である。
【図４】図３のIV−IV矢視図である。
【図５】従来の布類展張搬送機の縦断面図（図６の中央縦断面図）である。
【図６】図５の左側面図である。
【符号の説明】
１は投入装置、２は左右展張装置、３は吸引装置、４は受渡し装置、５は保持装置、６は搬送装置、１１は投入側チャック、２１は受取側チャック、３１は吸引ボックス、４１は吸着ボックス（挟持部材）、５１は伸縮シリンダ、５２は押付部材（挟持部材）、Ｓは布類、Ｓａは布類角部、Ｓｂは布類上辺部である。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002]
The present invention relates to a cloth spreading and conveying method and a cloth spreading and conveying machine for conveying a cloth having a large area such as a sheet to the next process side after the cloth is spread.
[Prior art]
[0003]
For example, in a laundry factory, washing and drying cloths are pressed with a pressing machine or folded with a folding machine, and the cloth is placed in the next process device (hereinafter described with a pressing machine). When supplying, it is necessary to preliminarily spread the cloth.
[0004]
By the way, as a cloth spreading / conveying machine for spreading a cloth having a large area such as a sheet, there is a conventional one shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (for example, FIGS. 1 and 2 of Patent Document 1). .
[0005]
The conventional cloth spreading and conveying machine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a feeding device 1 that holds both end corners Sa and Sa of one side of a large-sized fabric S and transfers it to a predetermined height position, and a feeding device 1. The left and right stretching device 2 that receives and extends the left and right corners Sa and Sa of the fabric S ₁ transferred to a high position by the right and left directions, and the right and left stretching device 2 that is installed almost directly below the left and right stretching device 2. The suction device 3 that sucks and stretches the lower part of the stretched fabric S ₂ , the delivery device 4 that delivers the fabric S ₄ stretched by the right and left stretch device 2 and the suction device 3, and the fabric from the delivery device 4 And a transport device 6 that receives the class S ₅ and transports it to the press side.
[0006]
In this conventional cloth spreading and conveying machine, as shown in FIG. 6, two feeding devices 1 are installed on the left and right. In addition, this injection device 1 has only one unit, or there are about four units arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Each throwing device 1 has a pair of left and right chucks 11 and 11 with an interval about the shoulder width of a person. Each chuck 11 is referred to as a closing side chuck in the following description. Each of the input side chucks 11 and 11 holds both end corners Sa and Sa of one side of the cloth S. Each of the input side chucks 11 is moved upward by an elevating device (rodless cylinder) 12 while holding both end corners Sa and Sa of the cloth.
[0007]
The left / right extension device 2 includes a pair of left and right chucks 21, 21 that receive the cloth both-end corners Sa, Sa held by the input side chucks 11, 11. The chuck 21 on the left and right extension device 2 side is referred to as a receiving side chuck in the following description. Each of the receiving side chucks 21 and 21 is operated in the direction of separation and proximity by the left and right movement devices (servo motors) 22 and 22, respectively, while holding the both end corners Sa and Sa of the cloth. Then, reference numeral 21 each chuck 21, 21 in FIG. 6 ', 21' by spaced to the position indicated by (a position where the upper side portion Sb of cloth S ₂ is tense), cloth a cloth such upper portion Sb stretched It can be neatly spread at the center of the conveyor.
[0008]
The suction device 3 sucks the air in the vertical suction box 31 downward by a suction machine (vacuum fan) 33. In the vicinity of the suction port 32 of the suction box 31, feed rollers 37, 37 that are rotated by motors 38, 38 (FIG. 6) are provided.
[0009]
Conveying device 6 includes a front conveyor (Vacuum conveyor) 61 which receives the cloth S ₄ of stretched state through the transfer device 4 from the lateral stretched apparatus 2, a side conveyor (delivery conveyor) 62 after successive thereto . Note that the rear conveyor 62 is continuous to the press side.
[0010]
And the cloth extension conveyance machine of Drawing 5 and Drawing 6 functions as follows. First, the corners Sa and Sa on one side of the large-sized cloth S that has been washed and dried are searched for and held by the respective input side chucks 11 and 11 of the input device 1. Then, when the start button is pressed, the respective input side chucks 11 and 11 are moved upward while holding the cloth both end corners Sa and Sa, and the cloth both end corners are moved to the respective receiving side chucks 21 of the right and left spreading device 2. , 21 (in the state of S ₁ ), and then the receiving side chucks 21, 21 move to the left and right outer sides to expand the upper side Sb of the cloth S ₁ (in the state of S ₂ ). Subsequently, the high-speed rotation (clockwise) direction infeed is infeed roller 37, the switching damper 35 is switched to the chain line shown side in the suction box 31 the air is sucked, the lower end of the cloth is S ₃ It sucked into the suction box 31 as S ₄ via the state. In this case, this cloth S _4, and the tension of the downward (symbol F in FIG. 6) is multiplied by the suction action of the vacuum fan 33, the fabric such is deployed in a square shape (the state of S ₄₎ . Then, switching damper 35 is switched to the solid line shown side, the upper side portion Sb of cloth S ₄ which has been held in the receiving side chuck 21 is adsorbed and held on the front end side upper surface of the suction box 41, adsorption box 41 moves backward as shown in the chain line, and at that time, the cloth upper side Sb is transferred onto the front conveyor (vacuum conveyor) 61 (in the state of S ₅ ), and the cloth remains in the stretched state and the front conveyor 61 and the rear It is supplied to the press side through the side conveyor 62. As described above, in the cloth spreading and conveying machine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, only the corners Sa and Sa on one side of the cloth to be stretched are searched for and held in the respective input side chucks 11 and 11, After that, it can be automatically expanded into a square shape.
[0011]
[Patent Literature]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-159067 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0012]
By the way, in the conventional cloth spreading / conveying machine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the cloth is stretched, the both side corners Sa and Sa of the cloth are lifted while being held by the receiving chucks 21 and 21, respectively. Although the cloth is stretched by applying a tension (suction) downward by the suction device 3, in this way, when the cloth is supported only at the two corners Sa and Sa, suction is performed. The tension (reference F in FIG. 6) by the device 3 must be supported at two points (both corners Sa and Sa). Accordingly, there is a problem that a large load is applied in the vicinity of the corner portions Sa and Sa held by the receiving side chucks 21 and 21 when the fabrics are stretched, and the cloth of the holding portion is easily damaged. . In particular, in the case of fabrics in which the number of cleanings is increased and the fabric is fragile, when only the corners Sa and Sa are held, the vicinity of the corners may be broken and the service life is shortened.
[0013]
Further, when the cloth upper side Sb is stretched left and right and sucked downward by the suction device 3, the cloth upper side Sb is tensioned by the receiving side chucks 21 and 21, but the suction by the suction device 3 ( The center part of the cloth upper side portion Sb is bent downwardly in a curved shape as indicated by the symbol Sb ′ (FIG. 6) by the symbol F) of FIG. 6. Then, when the cloth upper side Sb bends in a curved shape (reference Sb ′), the cloth upper side Sb remains bent in a curved shape and is delivered to the suction box 41 of the delivery device 4. There was also a problem that the upper side edge (preceding side edge) Sb of the cloth was transferred in a curved shape and could not be folded neatly (exactly) in the folding process after the pressing process.
[0014]
In view of the above-described conventional circumstances, the present invention can reduce the load load on the chuck holding portion (both corners) of the cloth during the stretching operation (especially during suction by the suction device), and the upper side of the cloth is It is an object of the present invention to provide a cloth spreading and conveying method and a cloth spreading and conveying machine which can be transferred to a subsequent process side in a state of being neatly (linearly) extended without being bent.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0015]
The present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the above problems.
[0016]
[Invention of Claim 1 of the Present Application]
The invention of claim 1 of the present application is directed to a cloth extending and conveying method for conveying a large area cloth such as a sheet after washing and drying to the next process side in a neatly spread state.
[0017]
The cloth extending and conveying method according to the first aspect of the present invention holds the both corners of one side of the cloth and lifts it to a predetermined height position, and separates the holding parts of the lifted cloth from side to side to separate the upper side of the cloth. , And the upper side stretch fabric is sucked down and neatly spread, and the stretch fabric is conveyed to the next process side by the conveyance device via the suction box that moves forward and backward in the delivery device . It is what I did.
[0018]
The suction box of the delivery device is advanced and retracted between the forward position and the deep side position by the telescopic cylinder, as described in the following embodiments. The delivery device receives the upper cloth side on the upper surface of the suction box while the suction box is in the advanced position, and then places the upper cloth side on the start end of the transport device when the suction box moves backward. It has a function to transfer. As described in the conventional example of FIG. 5, this suction box is equipped as a basic structure in this kind of cloth spreading and conveying machine.
[0019]
In the cloth extending and conveying method according to claim 1, in the state where the upper side of the cloth is extended left and right , the suction box in the vicinity of the center of the upper side of the upper extended cloth and the advanced position in some be attached to the support member at the front the height position of the suction box after held between the pressing member to advance and retreat in and away direction with respect to the front face of the forward position near Ru adsorption box, upper portion stretched cloth Is sucked downward.
[0020]
By the way, when the upper side stretch fabric is sucked downward in the state where the upper side end corners of the large area fabric are held and stretched to the left and right, a considerably large downward tension is applied to the entire fabric. When holding only the corners on both ends of the upper side (chuck holding), the central portion of the upper side is bent downward. In particular, when the tension on the upper side of the cloth is weak, the downward deflection amount of the central part of the upper side becomes large. And if it conveys to the folding process side in this way, the center part of the cloth upper side part will bend downward, it will not fold neatly. On the other hand, if the tension on the upper side of the fabric is too strong, the amount of downward deflection of the central portion of the upper side of the fabric during lower suction will be reduced, but it will be near the corners of the upper side (chuck holding portion) due to strong tension. The fabric becomes easily damaged.
[0021]
In order to solve such a problem, in the cloth extending and conveying method according to claim 1 of the present application, the upper side of the cloth is extended left and right in a suspended state, and the vicinity of the center of the upper side of the upper extended cloth is delivered. Since the upper side stretchable fabric is sucked downward after being sandwiched between the front surface of the suction box and the pressing member at the forward movement position , the upper side portion of the fabric can be held at three points at the time of suction. The vicinity of the center of the upper side of the cloth does not bend downward due to the suction.
[0022]
[Invention of claim 2 of the present application]
The invention of claim 2 of the present application holds the corners of one side of a large-sized cloth such as a sheet and lifts it to a predetermined height position, and holds both corners of the lifted cloth with chucks to the left and right. Separated and stretched, the upper side stretch fabric is sucked downward by a suction device to be neatly stretched, and the stretch fabric is further moved forward and backward in the delivery device to the next process side by a transport box. It is intended for fabric spreading and transporting machines that can be transported. The basic configuration of the fabric spreading and conveying machine according to claim 2 can adopt the conventional configuration shown in FIGS. The suction box is widely used for delivery of the upper side of the cloth to this type of cloth spreading and conveying machine.
[0023]
In the cloth spreading / conveying machine according to the second aspect, in addition to both chucks for holding both end corners of the upper side extending cloth, a holding device for holding the vicinity of the center of the upper side of the cloth is provided. . This holding device is a clamping member that clamps the upper side of the upper side stretch fabric from the front and back sides near the center, and is attached to the support member at the same height in front of the suction box and the suction box in the forward position. And a pressing member that advances and retreats in the contact / separation direction with respect to the front surface of the suction box at the forward movement position .
[0024]
When equipped with a holding device that holds the vicinity of the center of the upper side of the cloth as in claim 2, the cloth extending and conveying method according to claim 1 can be performed, and a holding member is used as the holding device. The center vicinity of the upper side portion of the cloth can be securely and firmly held.
【The invention's effect】
[0025]
The inventions according to claims 1 and 2 of the present application have the following effects.
(1) With the corners of the upper side of the fabric held and stretched to the left and right, the center of the upper side of the fabric can be sucked down by the suction device after being pinched from the front and back sides. Sometimes the upper side of the cloth can be held at three points, and the load on the corners at both ends of the upper side can be reduced.
(2) Since the suction action is performed with the center of the upper side of the cloth being held, the upper side of the cloth maintains the original straight state even if the downward suction action is applied to the upper side stretch cloth. (The central portion of the upper side portion of the cloth does not bend downward), and the cloth can be supplied in a posture in which the cloth is neatly spread on the rear process side (folding process side).
(3) Since a holding member (suction box and pressing member) that holds the vicinity of the center of the upper side of the cloth from the front and back sides is used as the holding device, the holding by the holding device can be reliably achieved.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026]
Hereinafter, the cloth spreading and conveying method and the cloth spreading and conveying machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the cloth spreading and conveying machine of this embodiment is for spreading a large area of cloth S such as a sheet neatly and conveying it to the next process apparatus such as a press or a folding machine.
[0027]
The cloth extending and conveying machine of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has substantially the same structure as the cloth extending and conveying machine of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 except for the holding device 5 described later. Yes. That is, the cloth stretcher of this embodiment is also provided with a loading device 1, a left and right stretcher 2, a suction device 3, and a delivery device 4 having the same structure as the conventional fabric stretcher. . The transport device 6 has a front conveyor 61 and a rear conveyor 62 as in the above-described conventional example. However, a part 62a of the rear conveyor 62 is extended to the front side, for example, a pillow. A small area cloth such as a cover or bath towel can be directly placed on the front part 62 a of the rear conveyor 62. In this case, the input device 1 is flipped upward by a swing device (extension cylinder) (not shown).
[0028]
Also, in the cloth spreading and conveying machine (FIGS. 1 to 4) of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the conventional example (FIGS. 5 and 6) have the same functions. The description of the section of the prior art is used for the description of the structure, function, etc. of these devices. The suction box 41 of the delivery device 4 has a large number of small holes on the upper surface of the front half thereof as shown in FIG. 4, and the suction box 42 sucks the air in the suction box 41 by the suction machine 42. The upper side portion Sb of the cloth can be adsorbed on the upper surface of the front half portion 41. Further, the suction box 41 is moved back and forth between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by a chain line in FIG.
[0029]
In the cloth spreading and conveying machine of this embodiment, both end corners Sa and Sa of one side of the large-sized cloth S are searched, and the both end corners Sa and Sa are respectively detected by the pair of input side chucks 11 and 11. After holding, when the start button is pressed, the respective input side chucks 11 and 11 are moved upward while holding the cloth end corners Sa and Sa → the respective end corners Sa and Sa are received by the left and right extension devices 2 respectively. upper portion Sb of the transfer to the side chuck 21 (the state of S ₁ in FIG. 2) → by spaced lateral located away each receiving chucks 21, 21 from the widthwise center of the stretched machine by equidistant cloth It was stretched (the upper portion stretched cloth S ₂₎ → where the holding device 5 as described later to hold the vicinity of the center of the cloth upper portion Sb from the front and back each side (see FIG. 3). Subsequently, the feeding roller 37 rotates at a high speed (right rotation) in the feeding direction, and the switching damper 35 is switched to the chain line illustrated side so that the air in the suction box 31 is sucked, and the lower end side of the cloth is S _3. It sucked into the suction box 31 as S ₄ via the state. At this time, a downward tension (reference numeral F in FIG. 2) is applied to the cloth S ₄ by the suction action of the vacuum fan 33, and the cloth is stretched in a square shape. Thereafter, the feeding roller 37 is stopped, the switching damper 35 is switched to the side indicated by the solid line, and the upper side Sb of the cloth S ₄ held by the receiving side chucks 21, 21 and the holding device 5 is attached to the suction box 41. are adsorbed and held on the front end side upper surface, and retracted so as adsorption box 41 the chain line shown, then the cloth upper portion Sb is ERROR on the front conveyor (vacuum conveyor) 61 (state of the sign S _5), It is supplied to the press side through the front conveyor 61 and the rear conveyor 62 in the stretched state.
[0030]
By the way, when the fabric is stretched, suction by the suction device 3 with only the upper side corners Sa and Sa of the upper side stretch fabric S ₂ held by the receiving chucks 21 and 21 (reference numeral in FIG. 2). When F) is performed, a large load is applied in the vicinity of the corners Sa and Sa held by the receiving chucks 21 and 21 and a large load is applied. Although the central portion of the cloth upper part Sb as in the conventional example is so bent downward, the cloth stretched conveyor of the present embodiment, holding the central area of the upper side portion Sb of the upper side portion stretched cloth S ₂ A holding device 5 is provided.
[0031]
The holding device 5 used in this embodiment is composed of a suction box 41 of the delivery device 4 and a pressing member 52 that is advanced and retracted by an extendable cylinder 51. In this embodiment, the suction box 41 and the pressing member 52 constitute a clamping member according to claim 2 of the present application.
[0032]
Telescopic cylinder 51 and the pressing member 52 of the holding device 5, in this widthwise center position of the cloth stretched conveyors are attached to the support member at the front the height position of the suction box 41 in a forward position. In this embodiment, the telescopic cylinder 51 is attached between the support arms 10 and 10 of the two left and right input devices 1 and 1 as shown in FIG.
[0033]
In the holding device 5, the pressing member 52 is separated from the front surface 41 a of the suction box when the telescopic cylinder 51 is in the contracted state with the suction box 41 in the forward position (shown by the solid line in FIG. 1) (state of FIG. 1). On the other hand, when the telescopic cylinder 51 is extended, the pressing member 52 moves forward until it contacts the suction box front surface 41a. Thus, in the suction box 41 forward drive state, when the telescopic cylinder 51 extends, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper side center of the upper side portion stretched cloth S ₂ between the suction box front 41a and pressing member 52 It can be clamped from the front and back sides.
[0034]
The operation timing of the holding device 5 is immediately after the left and right stretcher 2 side chucks 21 and 21 are stretched to the left and right with the cloth corners Sa and Sa being held (FIG. 2). in the state of the upper side portion stretched cloth S _2), so that the suction box 41 with the forward (telescopic cylinder 43, 43 is reduced) to the pressing member 52 moves forward (telescopic cylinder 51 extension) to. In the operating state of the holding device 5, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pressing member 52 presses the vicinity of the center of the upper side of the upper side stretch fabric S ₂ against the front surface of the suction box 41, The part Sb is held at three positions, both corners Sa and Sa (held by the left and right receiving chucks 21 and 21) and the central part (held by the holding device 5).
[0035]
The cloth stretched conveyor of this embodiment, a cloth upper portion Sb is stretched to the right and left, before the suction by the suction device 3, by actuating the holding device 5 a upper portion near the center of the upper portion stretched cloth S ₂ Can be held. Therefore, even if the suction device 3 is sucked while holding the vicinity of the upper side center of the upper side stretch fabric, the suction force (symbol F) is distributed and supported at three points, and the chucks 21 and 21 are supported. (The corner portions Sa and Sa are not damaged) and the cloth upper side Sb is kept straight (the center of the upper side Sb is not bent downward). When the suction action by the suction device 3 is stopped, both the chucks 21 and 21 are released, and the holding device 5 is also released (retracting the pressing member 52), so that the cloth upper side Sb is held in the suction box 41. Next, the suction box 41 is moved backward on the upper surface portion, the cloth upper side Sb is transferred onto the front conveyor 61, and the next process side is passed through the front conveyor 61 and the rear conveyor 62 with the cloth left in a stretched state. (Folding machine through a press)
[0036]
As described above, in the cloth spreading / conveying machine according to this embodiment, the holding device 5 can reduce the load applied by the chucks 21 and 21 when the suction device 3 is operated, and the cloth can be neatly spread (stretched in a square shape). You can postpone in the state you let.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view (center longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2) of a fabric spreading and conveying machine according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 2 is a left side view of the fabric spreading and conveying machine of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an operation state diagram of the holding device in which a part of FIG. 1 is enlarged.
4 is a view taken along arrow IV-IV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view (center longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 6) of a conventional cloth spreading and conveying machine.
6 is a left side view of FIG. 5. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 is a loading device, 2 is a left-right extension device, 3 is a suction device, 4 is a delivery device, 5 is a holding device, 6 is a transport device, 11 is a loading side chuck, 21 is a receiving side chuck, 31 is a suction box, 41 is Suction box (clamping member), 51 is a telescopic cylinder, 52 is a pressing member (clamping member), S is a cloth, Sa is a cloth corner, and Sb is a cloth upper side.

Claims

Holding both end corners (Sa, Sa) of one side of the cloth (S) having a large area such as a sheet and lifting it up to a predetermined position, each holding part (Sa, Sa) of the lifting cloth (S ₁ ) The upper side part (Sb) of the cloth is stretched left and right by separating the left and right sides, the upper side stretched cloth (S ₂ ) is sucked downward and neatly stretched, and the stretched cloth (S ₄ ) is delivered. A cloth spreading and conveying method in which a conveying device (6) conveys to the next process side through a suction box (41) that moves forward and backward in the apparatus (4),
The support member at the front the height position of the suction box (41) in which the top side portion and the suction box in a central area of the (Sb) in the advanced position (41) is in the advanced position of the upper portion stretched cloths (S ₂₎ Are attached to the front surface (41a) of the suction box (41) in the forward movement position and are pressed from the front and back sides by the pressing member (52), and then the upper side stretch fabrics (S ₂ ) was sucked downward,
A method for carrying a cloth extending and extending.

Holding both end corners (Sa, Sa) of one side of cloth (S) having a large area such as a sheet and lifting it to a predetermined height position, both end corners (Sa, Sa) of the lifting cloth (S ₁ ) Are held apart by the chucks (21, 21), separated and stretched left and right, and the upper side stretch fabric (S ₂ ) is sucked downward by the suction device (3) to be neatly stretched, and the stretch fabrics A cloth spreading and conveying machine that can convey (S ₄ ) to the next process side by the conveying device (6) through the suction box (41) that moves forward and backward in the delivery device (4),
Said end corner (Sa, Sa) of the upper portion stretched cloths (S ₂₎ in addition to the chucks (21, 21) for holding, around the center of the upper side portion of the fabric such (S ₂₎ (Sb) A holding device (5) for holding
The holding device (5) is a clamping member that clamps the vicinity of the center of the upper side (Sb) of the upper side stretch fabric (S ₂ ) from the front and back sides, and is in the forward position with the suction box (41). A pressing member (52) attached to the support member at the same front height position of the suction box (41) and moving in and out of the front surface (41a) of the suction box (41) in the forward position. Have
This is a fabric stretcher.