JP6645822B2 - Transport path switching device and laser marker device provided with the transport path switching device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport path switching device that transports a plate-like transported object such as an IC card, a magnetic card, and a passport, and a laser marker device including the transport path switching device.

Conventionally, this type of invention includes a card supply unit that sends out a card and a pair of cards that carry the card sent out from the card supply unit, such as a printing device described in Patent Document 1, for example. A pinch roller and a pair of pinch rollers that are shifted upward with respect to the loading direction are provided, and the upper and lower pinch rollers are respectively rotated to change the transport direction. There is something.
In this conventional technique, a step of carrying the card into the lower pinch roller from the card supply unit, a step of rotating the lower pinch roller by 90 degrees to bring the front end of the card closer to the upper pinch roller, The step of carrying out the card from the pinch roller and carrying the card into the upper pinch roller, the step of rotating the upper pinch roller by 90 degrees, and the step of carrying out the card from the upper pinch roller allow the card to move in the horizontal direction. The position to be conveyed is shifted stepwise from the lower side to the upper side.

JP 2003-39717 A

By the way, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus and the like, there is a case where it is required to reduce the amount of the stepwise shift in order to restrict the internal space and to reduce the size of the external shape.
Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, it is conceivable to design the space between the lower pinch roller and the upper pinch roller to be narrower. However, in such a case, in a state where the front end of the card conveyed to the lower pinch roller slightly protrudes from the front end of the pinch roller, the lower pinch roller is turned so that the front end faces upward. When rotating, the front end of the card may interfere with the upper pinch roller.

The present invention has the following configuration in view of the above conventional circumstances.
A transport path switching device configured to carry out a plate-like conveyed object to be carried in from a position shifted in a direction intersecting the carrying-in direction, wherein the plate-like conveyed object is capable of being conveyed and its conveyance A first transport unit rotatable to change the direction, and a rotary unit capable of transporting the plate-shaped object at a position shifted in a cross direction with respect to the loading direction and rotating to change the transport direction. A second transport unit capable of controlling the transport and rotation of the first and second transport units, the control unit comprising: a plate-shaped object to be transported into the first transport unit; A first step of transporting the plate-shaped object to be transported by the first transport unit until it reaches a predetermined position biased to one side of the transport path with respect to the rotation center of the first transport unit; Of the first transport unit in a rotational direction that moves the end of the first transport unit away from the second transport unit. A second step of causing the other end of the plate-like transferred object to the one side to face a second transfer portion, and directing the plate-like transferred object from the first transfer portion to the other side. And a fourth step of rotating the second transport section by a predetermined amount, and a fifth step of transporting the plate-like article from the second transport section. Are sequentially executed , and the predetermined position is a position where the center of the plate-like transferred object in the front-rear direction is past the rotation center of the first transfer unit to the one side, and A conveying path switching device, wherein an end of the other side of the conveyed object with respect to the one side does not protrude from the first conveying unit .
Further, as another example according to the present invention, the following configuration is provided.
In a transport path switching device configured to carry out a plate-like conveyed object to be carried in from a position deviated in a direction intersecting with the carrying-in direction, the plate-like conveyed object can be conveyed, and the conveying direction is changed. A first transport unit rotatable so as to change, a plate-like object to be transported at a position shifted in a cross direction with respect to the loading direction, and rotatable to change the transport direction. A second transport unit, and a control unit that controls the transport and rotation of the first and second transport units, the control unit, the plate-like transported object to be loaded into the first transport unit, A first step of transporting by the first transport unit to a predetermined position biased to one side of a transport path with respect to a rotation center of the first transport unit, and an end of the one side of the plate-like transported object; Turn the first transport unit in the direction of rotation that moves the unit away from the second transport unit. A second step of causing the other end of the plate-like transferred object to the one side to face a second transfer portion, and directing the plate-like transferred object from the first transfer portion to the other side. And a fourth step of rotating the second transport section by a predetermined amount, and a fifth step of transporting the plate-like article from the second transport section. A transport path switching device that sequentially executes, the length of the first transport unit in the transport direction is set to be shorter than the length of the plate-like transported object in the front-rear direction, and by the first step, A transport path switching device , wherein the one end of the plate-like transported object protrudes from a first transport unit .

It is a perspective view showing an example of the conveyance way switching device concerning the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same transport path switching device as viewed from the right rear side with respect to FIG. 1. I have. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the transport path switching device as viewed from the rear left side with respect to FIG. 1. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of the same conveyance path switching apparatus to (a) and (b) sequentially. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of the same conveyance path switching apparatus to (c) and (d) sequentially. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in a laser marker device including a transport path switching device. It is a side view which shows typically the state where the laser marker apparatus provided with the same conveyance path switching device was juxtaposed with the color printer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate the same parts, and duplicate description will be appropriately omitted.

1 to 5 show an example of a transport path switching device according to the present invention.
The transport path switching device 1 includes a first transport unit 10 capable of transporting a plate-like transported object c from one end side to the other end side and rotatable so as to change the transport direction thereof, The plate-like transferred object c can be transferred from one end to the other end at a position shifted in a direction crossing the direction (vertical direction in the illustrated example) and rotatable so as to change the transfer direction. A second transport unit 20 and a control unit 50 for controlling the transport and rotation of the first and second transport units 10 and 20 are provided. It is carried out from a position shifted in the cross direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first transport unit 10 includes a pair of rollers 11 and 12 that transport the sheet-like object c therebetween, and rotates the rollers 11 and 12 on both sides in the axial direction. Both rotating frames 13a, 13b freely supported, both guide portions 14a, 14b fixed to both inner side surfaces of both rotating frames 13a, 13b to guide the plate-like article c in the transport direction, and both rotating frames 13a , 13b on both sides in the axial direction.

  The roller 11 on one side (the lower side in the illustrated example) of the pair of rollers 11 and 12 is a drive roller that rotates in both directions by the rotational force of a first drive source 30 described later. The roller 11 has a rotating shaft 11a fixed to the center thereof.

  The rotating shaft 11a is rotatably supported at both ends by bearings and the like on both rotating frames 13a and 13b described later. A gear 37a (see FIG. 2) is fixed to an end of the rotating shaft 21a protruding from the one rotating frame 13a.

  The roller 12 on the other side is a driven roller that sandwiches the plate-shaped object c between itself and the roller 11 and rotates with the conveyance of the plate-shaped object c. The roller 12 is rotatably supported via a bearing or the like on an outer peripheral portion of a fixed shaft 12a inserted into a center portion thereof. Both ends of the fixed shaft 12a are non-rotatably fixed to the rotating frames 13a and 13b.

The rotating frames 13a and 13b are plate-shaped members provided substantially parallel to both sides of the rollers 11 and 12 in the axial direction. These rotating frames 13a and 13b are integrated by a plurality of shaft-like members extending between them.
Guide portions 14a and 14b are fixed to the inner surfaces of the rotating frames 13a and 13b on both sides.
A rotating shaft 15a is fixed to the outer surface of the one rotating frame 13a at a portion near the center of the front-rear width. Similarly, the rotating shaft 15b is fixed to the outer surface of the other rotating frame 13b so as to be concentric with the rotating shaft 15a.

The guide portions 14a and 14b are respectively arranged on both sides of the transport path of the plate-like transported object c. Each of the guide portions 14a and 14b is a member having a substantially concave cross section surrounding a side end portion of the plate-like conveyed object c, and is continuous between front and rear ends of the rotary frames 13a and 13b. Is formed shorter than the length in the front-rear direction.
Near the center of each of the guide portions 14a and 14b in the transport direction, the plate-like transported object c has a width slightly larger than the thickness, and has a parallel surface close to or in contact with the front and back surfaces of the plate-like transported object c. . The front side of the parallel surface is formed in a substantially trumpet shape in which the width is gradually increased toward the front, and similarly, the rear end side is also formed in a substantially trumpet shape in which the width is gradually increased toward the rear. Formed (see FIG. 4).

Both ends of the rotating shafts 15a and 15b penetrate through the supporting members 16a and 16b, respectively, and are rotatably supported by the supporting members 16a and 16b via bearings or the like.
These rotating shafts 15a and 15b rotate in both directions by the rotating force transmitted from the second drive source 40.

  The support members 16a and 16b are two plate-like members that stand upright in substantially parallel on both sides of the first transport unit 10 and the second transport unit 20, and according to an example shown in FIG. Are connected.

  The second transport unit 20 has a structure substantially the same as that of the first transport unit 10 and includes a plurality of pairs of rollers 21 and 22 (three pairs in the illustrated example). 1 and 2, the upper roller 22 located near the center in the transport direction is omitted from the three sets of rollers 21 and 22.

  More specifically, the second transport unit 20 includes a plurality of pairs of rollers 21 and 22 that transport the sheet-like object c therebetween, and rotates the rollers 21 and 22 on both sides in the axial direction. Both rotating frames 23a and 23b freely supported, both guide portions 24a and 24b fixed to both inner side surfaces of both rotating frames 23a and 23b and guiding the plate-shaped object c in the transport direction, and both rotating frames 23a , 23b on both sides in the axial direction are provided with rotating shafts 25a (see FIG. 2) and 25b (see FIG. 1).

As for the upper and lower rollers 21 and 22, similarly to the rollers 11 and 12, the lower side is a driving roller and the upper side is a driven roller.
One of the rollers 21 (drive roller) has a rotating shaft 21a fixed to the center thereof. The rotating shaft 21a is rotatably supported on both ends of the rotating frames 23a and 23b via bearings and the like. A gear 37b (see FIG. 2) is fixed to an end of the rotating shaft 21a protruding from the one rotating frame 23a.
The other roller 22 (driven roller) is rotatably supported via a bearing or the like on an outer peripheral portion of a fixed shaft 22a inserted into a center portion thereof. Both ends of the fixed shaft 22a are non-rotatably fixed to the rotating frames 23a and 23b.

The rotating frames 23a and 23b are plate-like members provided substantially parallel to both axial sides of the rollers 21 and 22 in the same manner as the rotating frames 13a and 13b described above. It is integrated by a member.
Guide portions 24a and 24b having substantially the same shape as the guide portions 14a and 14b are fixed to the inner surfaces of the rotating frames 23a and 23b on both sides.
A rotating shaft 25a (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is fixed to a portion near the center of the outer surface of one rotating frame 23a. Similarly, a rotating shaft 25b (see FIG. 1) is fixed to the outer surface of the other rotating frame 23b so as to be concentric with the rotating shaft 25a.

Both ends of the rotating shafts 25a and 25b penetrate through the supporting members 16a and 16b, respectively, and are rotatably supported by the supporting members 16a and 16b via bearings or the like.
The rotating shafts 25a and 25b respectively fix pulleys 26a and 26b to the distal ends penetrating the support member 16a. An endless belt 45 (see FIG. 2) is wound around the outer periphery of the pulleys 26a and 26b.
These rotation shafts 25a and 25b rotate in both directions by the rotation force transmitted from the second drive source 40.

Each of the first and second driving sources 30 and 40 is a stepping motor, and the amount of rotation is controlled by a control unit 50 described later.
These first and second driving sources 30 and 40 are supported on the outer surface of the support member 16a, and penetrate the output shaft inside the support member 16a.

  The first drive source 30 sequentially meshes a gear 31 (see FIG. 1) fixed to the output shaft with another plurality of gears, and transmits the rotational force of the gear 31 to the roller 11 of the first transport unit 10. The light is transmitted to both rollers 21 of the second transport unit 20.

  More specifically, first, the gear 31 of the output shaft of the first drive source 30 transmits a rotational force to a gear 32 rotatably supported on the support member 16a via a bracket or the like (see FIG. 1). Next, the gear 32 simultaneously transmits the rotational force to the two gears 33a and 33b rotatably supported by the support member 16a.

  The one gear 33a transmits a rotational force to a gear 34a (see FIG. 1) rotatably supported by the support member 16a. The gear 34a transmits a rotational force to a gear 35a (see FIG. 1) rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 15a. The gear 35a transmits a rotational force to a gear 36a (see FIG. 2) rotatably supported by the rotating frame 13b. Further, the gear 36a transmits a rotational force to a gear 37a (see FIG. 2) fixed to the rotation shaft 11a of the roller 11. Therefore, the rotational force of the first drive source 30 is transmitted to the roller 11.

The other gear 33b includes a gear 34b rotatably supported by the support member 16a (see FIG. 1), a gear 35b rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 25b (see FIG. 1), and a rotatable frame 23a. The rotating force is sequentially transmitted to a gear 36b (see FIG. 2) supported by the gears and a gear 37b (see FIG. 2) fixed to the rotating shaft 21a of the lower central roller 21.
The gear 37b transmits the rotational force to the gear 37b fixed to the rotating shaft 21a of the roller 21 on both sides via the gear 38b (see FIG. 2) interposed on both sides.
Therefore, the rotational force of the first drive source 30 is transmitted to the plurality of rollers 21, and these rollers 21 rotate synchronously in the same rotational direction.

  Further, the second drive source 40 sequentially meshes a gear 41 (see FIG. 3) fixed to the output shaft with another plurality of gears, and reduces the rotational force of the gear 41 to the rotation of the second transport unit 20. The rotation is transmitted to the shaft 25a (see FIG. 2), and the rotational force of the rotation shaft 25a is transmitted to the rotation shaft 15a of the first transport unit 10 by the belt 45.

More specifically, the gear 41 (see FIG. 3) of the output shaft of the second drive source 40 is rotatably supported by the support member 16a via a bracket or the like, and is rotatably supported by the support member 16a. The rotating force is sequentially transmitted to the supported gear 43 and the gear 44 fixed to the rotating shaft 25 a of the second transport unit 20.
Then, the rotational force of the gear 44 and the rotating shaft 25a is transmitted to the rotating shaft 15a of the first transport unit 10 via the pulleys 26a and 26b and the belt 45 (see FIG. 2).

  Therefore, the rotational force of the second drive source 40 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 25a of the second transport unit 20 and the rotating shaft 15a of the first transport unit 10, and the first transport unit 10 and the second The transport unit 20 rotates synchronously in the same rotational direction.

  In addition, a two-stage gear in which a large gear and a small gear are coaxially connected is used as necessary for each of the above-described gears, and the first drive source 30 and the second drive source 40 Is appropriately adjusted and transmitted.

The control unit 50 may be a microcomputer or a programmable controller that causes the CPU to function according to a program stored in the storage device, other control circuits, or the like. The on / off control and the amount of rotation of the first and second drive sources 30 and 40 are controlled in accordance with such signals.
According to the present embodiment, the control unit 50 also uses a control circuit of another device (for example, a laser marker device A shown in FIG. 7) to which the transport path switching device 1 is attached. As another example, a mode in which an independent control circuit is provided integrally with the transport path switching device 1 may be adopted.

  Each of the sensing units 51, 52, 53, and 54 is an infrared sensor including a light emitting unit a that emits infrared light and a light receiving unit b that captures infrared light emitted from the light emitting unit a. Is sensed by the plate-like conveyed object c, and a detection signal is generated (see FIG. 4).

The sensing section 51 is provided on the loading side (right side in FIG. 4) of the first transport section 10 in which the guide sections 14a and 14b are substantially horizontal, and the plate-like transported object c is connected to the guide section 14a. , 14b.
The sensing unit 52 is provided on the unloading side (the left side in FIG. 4) of the first transport unit 10 in which the guide units 14a and 14b are substantially horizontal. A predetermined position is deviated to one side (downstream side in the illustrated example) of the transport path with respect to the rotation center of the transport unit 10, and the front end of the plate-like transported object c projects from the first transport unit 10. (See FIG. 4A).
The sensing unit 53 is provided on the unloading side of the second transport unit 20 in which the guide units 24a and 24b are made substantially horizontal, and unloads the plate-like transported object c located in the second transport unit 20. The side part (the left end side in FIG. 5D) is sensed.
The sensing unit 54 is provided on the opposite side to the unloading side with respect to the second transport unit 20 in which the guide units 24a and 24b are made substantially horizontal, and the plate-like transported unit located in the second transport unit 20 is provided. The non-carry-out side portion of the object c (the right end side in FIG. 5D) is detected.

  The sensing unit 55 (see FIG. 2) is a sensor that detects the amount of rotation of the rotating shaft 25a in the second transport unit 20 and emits an electric signal according to the amount of rotation. It consists of.

In addition, on the upstream side of the first transporting section 10 in which the guide sections 14a and 14b are made substantially horizontal, a loading guide section 17 for guiding the plate-like transported object c to be loaded between the guide sections 14a and 14b. Is provided.
The carry-in guide portions 17 are provided on both sides of the plate-like transferred object c so as to surround both ends in the width direction of the plate-shaped transferred object c in a substantially concave cross section, respectively. Each carry-in guide portion 17 has a parallel surface near or in contact with the front and back surfaces of the plate-like conveyed object c at the front end side in the carry-in direction, and moves a portion behind the parallel surface up and down toward the rear. It is formed in a substantially trumpet shape whose width is gradually increased.
In addition, illustration of the carrying-in guide part 17 is abbreviate | omitted in FIGS. 1-3.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the plate-like transferred object c conveyed by the conveying path switching device 1 having the above configuration has a protruding portion at a predetermined position where the front end side protrudes from the first conveying unit 10. May be a plate-like object having a rigidity that does not cause bending.
Preferable specific examples of the plate-like transferred object c include a card (including an IC card and a magnetic card), a passport, and the like. Further, as another example of the plate-like conveyed object c, a slip, a security paper, or other paper sheets may be used as long as the rigidity does not cause the bending.
Further, the material of the plate-like transferred object c can be, for example, synthetic resin, metal, cardboard, or the like.

  Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the transport path switching device 1 having the above configuration is provided in a laser marker device A, and transfers a plate-like transported object c loaded from a printer B provided side by side with the laser marker device A. At the position deviated in a direction (vertical direction in the illustrated example) intersecting the carrying-in direction, the material is carried out onto the third carrying portion 3 in the laser marker device A.

  The laser marker device A includes, in the housing 2, the transport path switching device 1 having the above-described configuration, and a third transport unit 3 that transports the plate-like transported object c unloaded from the transport path switching device 1 to the laser irradiation area E. And a laser device 4 for irradiating the plate-like transferred object c with laser light to perform printing.

  The third transport unit 3 includes, for example, a roller conveyor, a pinch roller or a belt conveyor, a motor, and the like. The third transport unit 3 is controlled by the control unit 50 to transport the plate-like transported object c unloaded from the transport path switching device 1 to a predetermined laser irradiation area E, In order to turn over c, it is returned to the transport path switching device 1.

  The laser device 4 has, for example, a resonator, amplifies excitation light from an excitation light source such as an LD (laser diode) or an LED (light emitting diode), and outputs a pulse laser light having a large intensity. Is irradiated one pixel at a time on a predetermined position of the plate-like transferred object c (exposure target object).

Further, as the printer B, a color printer or a monochrome printer of an appropriate system such as a sublimation thermal transfer system, a laser system, a dot impact system, and an ink jet system may be used according to the type and material of the plate-like conveyed object c.
The printer B is configured to supply the plate-like conveyed objects c stored in a supply device (not shown) one by one, perform predetermined printing, and send the same to the conveyance path switching device 1 in the laser marker device A. Is done.

  Next, an example of a control operation of the laser marker device A including the transport path switching device 1 will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, as a first step, the control unit 50 holds the first transport unit 10 and the second transport unit 20 at an initial position where their transport directions are substantially horizontally parallel, and The conveyed plate-shaped conveyed object c is conveyed by the first conveyance unit 10 until it reaches a predetermined position biased to the downstream side of the conveyance path with respect to the rotation center of the first conveyance unit (see FIG. 4A). ). In the illustrated example, the predetermined position is such that the center of the plate-like transferred object c in the front-rear direction passes downstream of the rotation center of the first transfer unit 10 (specifically, the center of the rotating shaft 15b). Position.

More specifically, when the plate-shaped conveyed object c sent from the printer B enters the carry-in guide 17, the front end portion of the carry-in guide 17 is sensed by the sensing unit 51. The control unit 50 rotates the first drive source 30 in one direction in accordance with the sensing signal of the sensing unit 51, and rotates the drive-side roller 11 in one direction (counterclockwise in the illustrated example). Then, the plate-like transferred object c sandwiched between the rollers 11 and 12 is transferred to the downstream side.
When the front end portion c1 of the plate-like transferred object c projects forward from the guide portions 14a and 14b of the first transfer portion 10 and is sensed by the sensing portion 52, the control portion 50 responds to the sensing signal. Then, the rotation of the first drive source 30 is stopped, and the conveyance of the plate-shaped object c by the rollers 11 and 12 is stopped.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4A, the plate-like transferred object c is held in a state where the front end portion c1 protrudes from the first transfer unit 10.

Next, in the second step, the second drive source 40 is rotated in one direction by a predetermined amount, so that the front end c1 of the plate-like transferred object c is moved away from the lower second transfer unit 20 in the rotation direction ( In the illustrated example, the first transport unit 10 is rotated by a predetermined amount of rotation in the clockwise direction), and the second transport unit 20 that is interlocked with the belt 45 is also rotated by the same amount in the same rotational direction. The rear end c2 of the object c is opposed to the guides 24a and 24b of the second transport unit 20 (see FIG. 4B).
In the second step, the amount of rotation of the second drive source 40 is set in advance, and according to the illustrated example, the rotation angles of the first transport unit 10 and the second transport unit 20 from the initial positions. Is 90 °.

Next, in a third step, by rotating the first drive source 30 in the reverse direction, the rollers 11 of the first transport unit 10 and the rollers 21 of the second transport unit 20 are also rotated in the reverse direction (as shown in the illustrated example). (For example, clockwise), the plate-like transferred object c is unloaded backward from the first transfer unit 10 and loaded into the second transfer unit 20 (see FIG. 4C).
The amount of rotation of the first drive source 30 at this time is set in advance so that the plate-like transferred object c is transported until it is accommodated in the guide portions 24a and 24b of the second transport unit 20. As another example, a sensing unit (for example, an infrared sensor (not shown)) that senses the plate-like transferred object c when it is accommodated in the guide units 24a and 24b is provided, and according to a sensing signal from the sensing unit. The rotation of the first drive source 30 may be stopped.

Next, in a fourth step, by rotating the second drive source 40 in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount, the rotation direction in which the front end portion c1 of the plate-like transferred object c approaches the laser marker device A (in the illustrated example, the rotation direction is opposite). The second transport unit 20 is rotated in the clockwise direction by a predetermined rotation amount, and the first transport unit 10 interlocked with the belt 45 is also rotated in the same rotational direction by the same amount (see FIG. 5D). The front end portion c1 of the transported object c is made to face the end portion on the loading side of the upper surface of the third transport portion 3.
In the fourth step, the amount of rotation of the second drive source 40 in the opposite direction is the same as the amount of rotation in the second step (rotation angle 90 °).
Then, according to the fourth step, the upper and lower first transport units 10 and the second transport unit 20 are returned to the above-mentioned initial positions that are substantially horizontally parallel.

Next, in a fifth step, the plate-like transferred object c is unloaded from the second transfer unit 20 and further transferred to the laser irradiation area E by the third transfer unit 3.
The transfer operation of the third transfer unit 3 may be stopped when the plate-like transferred object c is located in the laser irradiation area E by a sensor (not shown). Alternatively, the amount of rotation of the drive source of the third transport unit 3 may be set in advance and stopped when the plate-like transported object c is located in the laser irradiation area E.

  Next, in a sixth step, printing is performed by irradiating the plate-like transferred object c on the laser irradiation area E with laser light by the laser device 4.

  Thereafter, in a seventh step, the third transport section 3 and the second transport section 20 are transported in the opposite directions, and the plate-like transported object c is returned into the second transport section 20. When the control unit 50 determines that the plate-shaped object c has been returned into the second conveyance unit 20 by the sensing signals of the sensing units 53 and 54, the control unit 50 stops the conveyance operation in the reverse direction.

  Next, in an eighth step, the second drive unit 40 is controlled to rotate the second transfer unit 20 half a turn, so that the front and back of the plate-shaped transferred object c is reversed.

  Next, in the ninth step, the plate-like transferred object c is transferred again to the laser irradiation area E by the second transfer unit 20 and the third transfer unit 3.

  Next, in a tenth step, printing is performed by irradiating the laser device 4 with a laser beam on the opposite surface of the plate-like transferred object c on the laser irradiation area E.

  Thereafter, the plate-like transferred object c is further conveyed to the downstream side by the third conveying unit 3 of the laser marker device A, and is conveyed out of the housing 2.

  Therefore, according to the transport path switching device 1 and the laser marker device A having the above-described configuration, the plate-like transported object c is moved toward the forward side of the rotation center of the first transport unit 10 by the second transport unit. 20, the rotation radius including the plate-like transferred object c can be reduced on the rear side (upstream side) of the rotation center of the first transfer unit 10, and thus the first transfer unit 10 can be rotated. The interval between the unit 10 and the second transport unit 20 can be set to be relatively small (for example, shorter than the length of the plate-like transported object c in the front-rear direction). Between the position of the plate-like transferred object c at the time of the transfer and the position of the plate-shaped transferred object c at the time of being unloaded from the transfer path switching device 1 (in the illustrated example, the amount of shift in the vertical direction). , Can be smaller.

  Further, in a preferred example of the present embodiment, the length of the first transport unit 10 in the transport direction is set to be shorter than the length of the plate-like transported object c in the front-rear direction, and Since the front end protrudes from the first transport unit 10, the outer diameter of the first transport unit 10 can be further reduced, and the displacement can be further reduced.

  Further, the roller 11 on the side of the first transport unit 10 and the roller 21 on the side of the second transport unit 20 are rotated synchronously by a single first drive source 30. Since the second transport unit 20 is also rotated synchronously by the second drive source 40, the structure, control, and the like can be simplified, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

  Further, it is possible to easily reverse the front and back of the plate-like transferred object c using the second transfer unit 20.

According to the above-described embodiment, as a particularly preferable mode, the upper and lower driving rollers 11 and 21 are synchronized using the same first driving source 30 and the same second driving source 40 is used. Although the rotation of the upper and lower first transport units 10 and the second transport unit 20 is synchronized, as another example, a mode in which a drive source is provided for each rotating element and these drive sources are synchronously controlled may be used. It is possible.
As still another example, it is also possible to provide a driving source for each rotating element, and operate these driving sources individually without synchronizing them.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, as a particularly preferred embodiment, the plate-like transported object c is inverted by the second transport unit 20, but as another example, the above-described seventh to tenth steps are performed. May be omitted, and the plate-like transferred object c may not be turned over.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the plate-like conveyed object c, which is carried in from one side on the upper side, is carried out to the other side on the lower side. However, as another example, the first conveying unit 10 and the second It is also possible to adopt a mode in which the arrangement of the transfer section 20 is reversed, and the plate-like transferred object c carried in from one side on the lower side is carried out to the other side on the upper side.
Further, as another example, the first transport unit 10 and the second transport unit 20 are arranged side by side so that their rotation axes are directed up and down, and a plate-like transported material that is loaded from one side on the left (or right) side. It is also possible to adopt a mode in which the object c is carried out to the other side on the right side (or the left side).
Further, as another example, it is possible to set the rotation angle of the second transfer unit 20 after drawing the plate-shaped transferred object c to an angle other than 90 °. For example, when the angle is set to 180 ° For example, it is possible to carry out the plate-like conveyed object c which is carried into the first carrying unit 10 from one side by the second carrying unit 20 at a position shifted in a direction crossing the carrying direction. It is.

  In the transport path switching device 1 having the above structure, the rollers 11 on the first transport section 10 and the rollers 21 on the second transport section 20 are rotated synchronously. At the same time as carrying out the plate-like transferred object c, it is also possible to carry out the next plate-like transferred object c into the first transfer section 10 so that more efficient transfer and transfer direction switching can be performed. is there.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transport path switching device 1 is provided in the transport path of the plate-like transported object c in the plate-like transported object c. When the plate-like transferred object c is an IC card or a magnetic card in the transfer path of the sheet c or the path for transferring the plate-like transferred object c to the laminating apparatus, the apparatus is used to write data to the card. The transport path switching device 1 having the above configuration can be provided in the path for transporting the card and in the transport path for the other plate-like transported objects c.

In the above-described embodiment, in the first step, the plate-like transported object c is transported to a predetermined position biased to the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the rotation center of the first transport unit. As another example of one step, it is also possible to adopt a mode in which the plate-like transported object c is transported until it reaches a predetermined position biased upstream in the transport path with respect to the rotation center of the first transport unit.
In the case of this other example, in the second step, the first end of the plate-like transferred object c is moved away from the lower second transfer section 20 in the rotation direction (counterclockwise in the illustrated example). Is rotated by a predetermined amount of rotation, and the second conveyor 20 is also rotated by the same amount, so that the front end c1 of the plate-like object c is guided by the guides 24a, 24b of the second conveyor 20. To face. The rotation direction of the second transport unit 20 is counterclockwise, which is the same direction as the rotation direction of the first transport unit 10 according to the mechanism described above, but the first transport direction is performed using another mechanism. You may make it rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the part 10.
In the third step in the other example, the roller 11 of the first transport unit 10 and the roller 21 of the second transport unit 20 are driven to rotate, and the plate-like object c is transported from the first transport unit 10. It is carried out so that its front end c1 faces forward and carried into the second carrying section 20.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

1: transport path switching device 10: first transport section 11, 12, 21, 22: roller 14a, 14b: guide section 15b, 25b: rotating shaft 20: second transport section 24a, 24b: guide section 30: first 1 drive source 40: second drive source 50: control unit A: laser marker device B: printer E: laser irradiation area c: plate-like transferred object

Claims (7)

A transport path switching device configured to carry out a plate-shaped transported object to be carried in from a position shifted in a direction crossing the carrying direction,
A first transport unit capable of transporting the plate-like transported object and rotatable so as to change the transport direction thereof, and transporting the plate-like transported object at a position shifted in a direction crossing the loading direction; A second transport unit that is capable and rotatable to change its transport direction, and a control unit that controls transport and rotation of the first and second transport units;
The control unit is configured to move the plate-like conveyed object carried into the first conveyance unit to a predetermined position that is biased to one side of the conveyance path with respect to the rotation center of the first conveyance unit. A first step of transporting by the unit;
By rotating a first transport unit in a rotational direction that moves the one end of the plate-like transported object away from a second transport unit, the other end of the plate-like transported object with respect to the one side is rotated. A second step of facing the second transport unit;
A third step of unloading the plate-like transferred object from the first transfer section toward the other side and transferring it into the second transfer section;
A fourth step of rotating the second transport unit by a predetermined amount;
And a fifth step of unloading the plate-like transferred object from the second transfer unit is sequentially performed ,
The predetermined position is a position where the center of the plate-like transferred object in the front-rear direction is past the rotation center of the first transfer unit to the one side, and with respect to the one side of the plate-shaped transferred object. A transport path switching device, wherein the other end is a position that does not protrude from the first transport unit . In a transport path switching device configured to carry out a plate-shaped conveyed object to be carried in from a position shifted in a direction crossing the carrying direction,
A first transport unit capable of transporting the plate-like transported object and rotatable so as to change the transport direction thereof, and transporting the plate-like transported object at a position shifted in a direction crossing the loading direction; A second transport unit that is capable and rotatable to change its transport direction, and a control unit that controls transport and rotation of the first and second transport units;
The control unit moves the plate-shaped object to be carried into the first carrying unit until the plate-like carried object reaches a predetermined position on one side of the carrying path with respect to the rotation center of the first carrying unit. A first step of transporting by the unit;
By rotating a first transport unit in a rotational direction that moves the one end of the plate-like transported object away from a second transport unit, the other end of the plate-like transported object with respect to the one side is rotated. A second step of facing the second transport unit;
A third step of unloading the plate-like transferred object from the first transfer section toward the other side and transferring it into the second transfer section;
A fourth step of rotating the second transport unit by a predetermined amount;
And a fifth step of unloading the plate-like transported object from the second transport unit, the transport path switching device sequentially executes,
The length of the first transport unit in the transport direction is set to be shorter than the length of the plate-like transported object in the front-rear direction. According to the first step, the one end of the plate-like transported object is A transport path switching device, wherein the transport path switching device protrudes from the first transport unit . Each of the first transport unit and the second transport unit includes a pair of rollers for transporting the plate-like transported object therebetween.
3. The transport path switching according to claim 1, wherein the roller of the first transport unit and the roller of the second transport unit are synchronously rotated by the same first drive source. apparatus. In the first step, the first transport unit and the second transport unit are held at an initial position where their transport directions are substantially parallel,
In the second step, the first transport unit and the second transport unit are synchronously rotated so that the other end of the plate-like transported object faces the second transport unit,
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the fourth step, the first transport unit and the second transport unit are synchronously rotated to return the first transport unit and the second transport unit to the initial position. The transport path switching device according to claim 1.   The transport path switching device according to claim 4, wherein the first transport section and the second transport section are synchronously rotated by the same second drive source.   A laser marker device comprising the transport path switching device according to claim 1. A third transport unit provided at the destination of the second transport unit and capable of transporting the plate-shaped object in both directions; a laser irradiation area provided on the transport unit; A laser device that irradiates the laser with a laser marker device,
In the fifth step, the plate-like conveyed object carried out from the second conveyance unit is conveyed to the laser irradiation area by the third conveyance unit,
After this, the control unit is configured to irradiate a laser beam to the plate-like transferred object on the laser irradiation area by the laser device,
A seventh step of returning the plate-like transferred object into the second transport section by a transport operation in the reverse direction by the second transport section and the third transport section;
An eighth step of inverting the front and back of the plate-like transferred object by rotating the second transfer unit by half;
A ninth step of re-transporting the plate-like transported object to the laser irradiation area by a second transport unit and a third transport unit;
7. The laser marker device according to claim 6, wherein the laser device irradiates a laser beam to the opposite surface of the plate-like transferred object on the laser irradiation area by the laser device.

Images