JP6969049B2 - Biaxial stretching machine for sheet-like material - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stretching machine for stretching a sheet-like material such as a thermoplastic resin film, and more particularly to a biaxial stretching machine for simultaneously stretching a sheet-like material in the vertical and horizontal directions.

This type of biaxial stretching machine is provided with an endless link device in which a plurality of equal-length link devices formed in a folded shape are endlessly connected to each other, which is provided with a gripping device for gripping a side end portion of a sheet-like object. , On both sides of the sheet-like material, the outer peripheral side guides arranged along a closed path formed on a substantially horizontal plane that returns to the inlet side from the inlet side for introducing the sheet-like material through the outlet side for sending out the sheet-like material. By running a plurality of equal-length link devices along a closed route by guiding the rail and the guide rail on the inner peripheral side, the sheet-like object is conveyed from the inlet side to the exit side, and the sheet-like object is conveyed in the conveying direction. It is configured to be simultaneously stretched in the vertical direction (MD direction) along the line and in the horizontal direction (TD direction) along the width direction of the sheet-like object forming a right angle to the sheet-like object and then sent out from the outlet side (see Patent Document 1). ..

In a conventional biaxial stretching machine, an outer peripheral side guide rail and an inner peripheral side for guiding a plurality of equal length link devices in order to change the lateral stretching ratio (hereinafter referred to as "TD magnification") of a sheet-like object. Some have adopted a configuration in which the entire guide rail is translated in the horizontal direction.
However, in this case, if the TD magnification is changed, the width of the sheet-like material after the stretching process changes, so it is necessary to change the inlet width of the equipment on the downstream side of the simultaneous biaxial stretching machine, and the entrance as the downstream equipment. There is a problem that a device equipped with a variable width mechanism is required, which leads to an increase in equipment cost.
In addition, if the TD magnification is changed, the original width of the sheet-like material before stretching that is sent from the equipment on the upstream side of the simultaneous biaxial stretching machine changes. There is a problem that it becomes necessary and causes an increase in equipment cost.
TD magnification = exit width W2 / entrance width W1
Here, inlet width W1: variable or fixed, exit width W2: variable

On the other hand, in the conventional lateral stretching machine and some biaxial stretching machines with a variable TD magnification method, the inlet width of the sheet-like object is fixed.
However, in this case, when the TD magnification is increased, the width on the extension outlet side of the sheet-like material becomes wider than in the case where the inlet width of the sheet-like material is variable according to the width of the original fabric, and the region where the sheet-like material is stretched becomes wider. It is necessary to adopt a large-scale angle variable mechanism in which the variable angle of the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail to be arranged is large, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased.

On the other hand, a conventional biaxial stretching machine has been proposed in which the inlet width of the sheet-shaped object is variable and the TD magnification of the sheet-shaped object is variable (see Patent Document 2).

However, in the conventional biaxial stretching machine for a sheet-shaped material according to Patent Document 2, the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions of the sheet-shaped material can be arbitrarily set, but the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions is increased according to the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions. The width of the outlet of the material, that is, the width of the sheet-like material stretched in the vertical and horizontal directions fluctuates, which causes problems that the subsequent processes are hindered and the yield of the material is lowered.

Japanese Patent No. 4379306 Japanese Patent No. 4802919

In view of the problems of the conventional biaxial stretching machine for a sheet-like material, the present invention allows the sheet-like material to be arbitrarily set in the vertical and horizontal directions with a simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a biaxial stretching machine for a sheet-like material capable of fixing the outlet width of the above to a predetermined value.

In order to achieve the above object, the sheet-shaped biaxial stretching machine of the present invention is used.
It is provided with an endless link device in which a plurality of equal-length link devices formed in a folded shape are connected in an endless manner, and is provided with a gripping device for gripping the side end portion of the sheet-like object. A guide rail on the outer peripheral side and a guide rail on the inner peripheral side are arranged along a closed path formed on a substantially horizontal plane that returns to the inlet side from the inlet side for introducing the shaped object through the outlet side for sending out the sheet-shaped object. By guiding the plurality of equal length link devices along the closed path by the guidance of the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail, the sheet-like material is conveyed from the inlet side to the outlet side. At the same time, the biaxial structure of the sheet-like material is configured to be simultaneously stretched in the vertical direction along the transport direction of the sheet-like material and the horizontal direction along the width direction of the sheet-like material forming a right angle to the sheet-like material and then sent out from the outlet side. In the stretching machine
An inlet side region in which the outer peripheral side guide rails and the inner peripheral side guide rails facing each other on both sides of the sheet-like object are arranged in parallel, and the distance between the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail is arranged at the first distance interval. And the stretched region which is connected to the inlet side region and the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail are arranged in a divergent shape toward the transport direction of the sheet-like material, and the stretched region is connected to the sheet-like material. It has an outlet side region in which the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail facing each other on both sides are arranged in parallel, and the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail are arranged at a second distance interval.
A moving mechanism for moving the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the inlet side region in the lateral direction along the width direction of the sheet-like object is provided, and the distance between the opposite outer peripheral side guide rails (=). The entrance width) is variable, and the distance (= exit width) between the opposite outer peripheral side guide rails in the exit side region is fixed.
The outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region are composed of slit rails in which vertical slits are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails, and the slit rails are formed. It is characterized by providing a moving mechanism for moving the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region in the lateral direction along the width direction of the sheet-like object.

In this case, the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the extension region are laid on a rail base which is divided into a plurality of parts, and the adjacent rail bases are connected to each other on a horizontal plane by a rotary joint portion. A moving mechanism is provided so as to swingably connect the inside and move the rotary joint portion in the lateral direction along the width direction of the sheet-like object to make the distance between the opposing outer peripheral side guide rails variable. Can be done.

Further, for the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region, a bent rail having a curved shape in a horizontal plane can be used when no load is applied.

According to the sheet-shaped biaxial stretching machine of the present invention, the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region form vertical slits at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. It is composed of slit rails, and a moving mechanism for moving the slit rails in the lateral direction along the width direction of the sheet-like object is provided. The outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail, which are composed of the slit rails, are moved laterally by the moving mechanism and bent at the portion where the slit is formed to change the direction. The sheet-like material is stretched according to the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions.
Further, since the distance (= outlet width) between the opposite outer peripheral side guide rails in the outlet side region is fixed, the sheet-like material is sent out from the outlet side in a state of being fixed to a predetermined outlet width.
Therefore, the outlet width of the sheet-like material can be fixed to a predetermined value while the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions of the sheet-like material can be arbitrarily set with a simple configuration.

Further, the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the extension region are laid on a rail base which is divided into a plurality of parts, and the adjacent rail bases are connected to each other in a horizontal plane by a rotary joint portion. By providing a moving mechanism that swingably connects and moves the rotary joint portion in the lateral direction along the width direction of the sheet-like object, the distance between the opposing outer peripheral side guide rails is variable. It is possible to realize thinning with a simple configuration, and it is possible to reduce the installation space of the rotary joint portion.

Further, by using a bent rail having a curved shape in the horizontal plane when no load is applied to the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region, the outer peripheral side guide in the stretched region traced by the equal length link device is used. The shapes of the rail and the guide rail on the inner peripheral side can be brought close to the ideal curve in which the ideal stretching operation is performed for the sheet-like object.

It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of the biaxial stretching machine of the sheet-like material of this invention. It is a figure which shows the main part of the guide rail of the biaxial stretching machine schematically. It is sectional drawing of the equal length link device of the same biaxial stretching machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation of the radial bearing of the equal length link device of the biaxial stretching machine. It is explanatory drawing of the method of changing the MD magnification of the biaxial stretching machine. It is a plan view which shows the guide rail in the extension region of the biaxial stretching machine, (a) is the pre-bending state diagram of a guide rail, and (b) is a bending state diagram of a guide rail. It is a structural explanatory view of the rail joint part of the guide rail of the biaxial stretching machine. It is a perspective view which shows by partially disassembling the periphery of the rotary join part used in the biaxial stretching machine. A rotary joint portion used in the biaxial stretching machine is shown, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a sectional view taken along line AA of (a). It is a perspective view which shows the movement mechanism in the drawing region of the biaxial stretching machine. It is a top view which shows the example of the mode in which the guide rail in the drawing region of the biaxial stretching machine is configured by using the bending rail.

Next, an embodiment of the sheet-shaped biaxial stretching machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Outline explanation of stretching machine>
The biaxial stretching machine 1 for a sheet-like object shown in FIG. 1 extends in a front-rear direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 1) at a central portion in order to convey a sheet-like object 2 made of, for example, a thermoplastic resin, which is an object of stretching. The transport space 3 is provided so as to be provided, and a pair of endless link devices 4 (part of the link in FIG. 1 and one endless link are omitted) arranged on both sides of the transport space 3 so as to sandwich the transport space 3. There is.
In the biaxial stretching machine 1, the inlet side region (preheating region) 5, the stretching region 6 and the outlet side region (heat fixing region) 7 are partitioned so as to be sequentially connected in the transport direction of the sheet-like material 2.

The endless link device 4 is formed by connecting a plurality of equal-length link devices 11 formed in a folded shape having a gripping device 10 for gripping a side end portion of a sheet-like object 2 in an endless manner.
A plurality of equal-length link devices 11 connected in an endless manner are meshed with required sprockets 12 and 13 arranged at predetermined positions on the inlet side and the outlet side of the sheet-like object 2 in the transport space 3.
Further, the plurality of equal length link devices 11 are arranged along a closed path formed on a substantially horizontal plane that returns from the inlet side into which the sheet-shaped object 2 is introduced to the inlet side via the outlet side for sending out the sheet-shaped object 2. It is mounted on the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16.
In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16, they are collectively referred to as “guide rails 15 and 16”.

The endless link device 4 is driven by the sprocket 12 on the inlet side. Then, the gripping device 10 is opened and closed by an opening / closing means (not shown) such as an opening / closing guide provided on the inlet side to grip the sheet-like object 2 and heat it to the temperature required for stretching in the preheating region (inlet side region) 5. Will be done. Further, in the stretched region 6, the endless link device 4 is guided by the guide rails 15 and 16 arranged in a divergent manner in the traveling direction, and the gripping pitch gradually expands from P1 to P2, whereby the sheet-like object 2 is formed. The sheet-like material 2 is simultaneously stretched in the vertical direction (MD direction) along the transport direction and in the horizontal direction (TD direction) along the width direction of the sheet-like material 2 forming a right angle to the sheet-like material 2, and then the heat fixing region (outlet side). Area 7) is heat-fixed at a predetermined temperature, a cooling area (not shown) is provided as necessary for rapid cooling, and the gripping device 10 is held by an opening / closing means (not shown) such as an opening / closing guide provided on the outlet side. The sheet-like object 2 is opened and closed to remove the sheet-like object 2, and the removed sheet-like object 2 is allowed to proceed as it is. Further, the endless link device 4 is driven by the outlet side sprocket 13 and is configured to return to the inlet side sprocket 12.

As the link mechanism of the endless link device 4, the endless link device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-4896 can be referred to.

As shown in FIG. 3, both the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 are composed of beam-shaped members having a substantially rectangular cross section arranged so as to be convex.
A link shaft 18 for a joint to which a gripping device 10 for gripping the sheet-shaped object 2 is connected is arranged on the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 closer to the sheet-shaped object 2, and the gripping device 10 is arranged on the inner peripheral side guide rail 16. A link shaft 19 for a joint that does not exist is arranged.
The link shaft 18 and the link shaft 19 are connected by the link plates 20 and 21.
Bearing holders 22 and 23 having bearing rollers 22a and 23a which are first rolling bearings are connected to the lowermost ends of the link shafts 18 and 19, and both sides of the bearing holders 22 and 23, that is, the outer periphery of the bearing rollers 22a and 23a. A pair of second rolling bearings, flanged radial bearings 24 [24a, 24b] and 25 [25a, 25b], are attached to the portion.
The flanged radial bearings 24 and 25 roll on both side surfaces of the guide rails 15 and 16 that guide the movement of the equal length link device 11, and the upper surfaces of the guide rails 15 and 16 and the flanged radial bearings 24 and 25 are flanged. It is arranged so as to hold the own weight of the equal-length link device 11 by the contact of.
The chain link 26 that limits the maximum pitch of the equal length link device 11 is provided between the adjacent link shafts 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the equal-length link device 11, the crossing angle (θ) between the link plate 20 and the guide rail 16 is different from θ1 and θ2 depending on whether the link is closed or open.
Even at this time, the flanged radial bearings 24 [24a, 24b] and 25 [25a, 25b] supported by the bearing holders 22 and 23 are due to the action (rotation) of the bearing rollers 22a and 23a with respect to the link shafts 18 and 19. Always changes (rotates) so as to be substantially perpendicular to both sides of the guide rails 15 and 16, that is, orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the guide rails 15 and 16.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the crossing angles θ5, θ61, and θ62 between the link plates 20 and 21 and the guide rails 15 and 16 change according to the opening and closing of the folded link. However, the flanged radial bearings 24 [24a, 24b] and 25 [25a, 25b] are always positioned perpendicular to both side surfaces of the guide rails 15 and 16 due to the action (rotation) of the bearing rollers 22a and 23a. The equal-length link device 11 is guided by the guide rails 15 and 16 so that the equal-length link device 11 can travel at high speed.

Next, in the endless link device 4 configured as described above, the vertical stretching ratio (hereinafter referred to as “MD magnification”) of the sheet-like material 2 in the stretching region is variable according to FIGS. 5A and 5B. Method (Movement in which one side of the guide rails 15 and 16 is fixed (in this case, the guide rail 15 on the gripping device 10 side is fixed) and the other side is moved to change the opening angle of the equal length link device 11. Mechanism) will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the state of the stretched portion when the stretch ratio in the width direction (hereinafter referred to as “TD magnification”) of the sheet-like material in the stretched region is 1.0, and FIG. 5A shows the MD. The state where the magnification is 1.0, and (b) shows the state where the MD magnification is larger than 1.

Both sides of the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 for movement are sandwiched by a pair of rotating bodies (rotary motion cam mechanism) 27a, 27b and 28a, 28b whose radius changes in a spiral shape, and are shown in FIG. 5 (b), for example. As shown above, the rotating bodies 27a and 27b hold the initial state, and by rotating the rotating body 28a clockwise and the rotating body 28b counterclockwise by 180 degrees, the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 for movement is shown in the figure. The right side moves closer to the outer peripheral side guide rail 15, and the opening angle of the link of the equal length link device 11 becomes larger. As a result, the MD magnification of the sheet-like object 2 can be increased (the gripping device is omitted in the figure).

The MD magnification and TD magnification can be freely set by combining the above-mentioned stepless variable technology of MD magnification and the stepless variable technology of TD magnification (technology for arranging the guide rails 15 and 16 in a divergent shape) described in detail later. It is possible.

In this embodiment, an example in which a rotating body with a rotary motion cam mechanism is used as a mechanism for changing the width between the guide rails 15 and 16 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide rails 15 and 16 are female. The shaft may be machined and a shaft provided with a male screw is screwed in to rotate the shaft to move the guide rail.

<Explanation of guide rails, etc. arranged in the entrance side area>
As shown in FIG. 2, in the inlet side region 5, the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 facing each other on both sides of the sheet-like object 2 are parallel and are parallel to the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner circumference. It is arranged so that the distance from the side guide rail 16 is the first distance distance D1.
The inlet side region 5 is provided with a moving mechanism 30 for moving the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 arranged in the inlet side region 5 in the TD direction, and the moving mechanism 30 provides an opposed outer peripheral side. The distance between the guide rails 15 (= entrance width W1) can be changed.
Here, as the moving mechanism 30, although detailed description by illustration is omitted, for example, a screw linear motion mechanism may be mentioned, which is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the TD direction by the guidance of the linear motion guide, and the inlet side region 5 is provided. A rail base that supports the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 arranged in the above, and a screw shaft that is rotationally driven by a motor and extends in the TD direction below the rail base are provided. And the screw shaft are connected by a nut member screwed to the screw shaft, and the screw shaft is rotated forward or reverse by the operation of the motor, so that the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side arranged in the inlet side region 5 are rotated. A structure that reciprocates the guide rail 16 in the TD direction can be adopted.

<Explanation of guide rails and the like arranged in the stretched region>
The outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 arranged in the extending region 6 connected to the inlet side region 5 are both composed of slit rails.
The slit rail is formed by forming required bending portions (corresponding to the outer peripheral side rail joint portion 15b and the inner peripheral side rail joint portion 16b described later) at intervals in the rail longitudinal direction on a straight rail extending in a straight line. The bent portion is configured by forming a required slit extending in the vertical direction on the side surface of the rail, as will be described in detail later.

More specifically, with reference to FIG. 6A, the outer peripheral side guide rails 15 arranged in the stretched region 6 are a plurality of linear outer peripheral side guide rail portions intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction thereof. It is composed of 15a and an outer peripheral side rail joint portion 15b arranged so as to connect one adjacent outer peripheral side guide rail portion 15a and the other outer peripheral side guide rail portion 15a.
Similarly, the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 arranged in the stretched region 6 has a plurality of linear inner peripheral side guide rail portions 16a intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction thereof, and one of the adjacent inner peripheral side guide rails 16a. It is composed of an inner peripheral side rail joint portion 16b arranged so as to connect the guide rail portion 16a and the other inner peripheral side guide rail portion 16a.

As shown in FIG. 7, the outer peripheral side rail joint portion 15b and the inner peripheral side rail joint portion 16b are both provided on both side surfaces of the rail-shaped joint main body 31 in a plurality of vertical directions at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The slits 32 are provided in a staggered manner so that they can be curved and deformed in the TD direction and can be expanded and contracted and deformed in the traveling direction of the equal length link device 11.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the outer peripheral side guides adjacent to each other in the TD direction on one side of the reference with reference to the outer peripheral side rail joint portion 15b and the inner peripheral side rail joint portion 16b adjacent to each other in the TD direction. Both the rail portion 15a and the inner peripheral side guide rail portion 16a are laid on the rail base 33 on one side, and the outer peripheral side guide rail portion 15a and the inner peripheral side that are laterally adjacent to each other on the other side of the reference. Both of the guide rail portions 16a are laid on the rail base 33 on the other side.

The rail base 33 on one side and the rail base 33 on the other side adjacent to each other are swingably connected in a horizontal plane by a rotary joint portion 35, and the rotation is as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. A moving mechanism 36 for moving the formula joint portion 35 in the TD direction is provided in the stretched region 6 (see FIG. 2).

<Explanation of rotary joint>
As shown in FIG. 8, the rotary joint portion 35 is mainly composed of a joint base 41 provided with a pivot shaft 40 and a pair of rocking plates 42.
Here, the pivot shaft 40 has a vertical axis 43, and the vertical axis 43 is located between the rail base 33 on one side and the rail base 33 on the other side adjacent to each other, and is on the outer peripheral side. It is orthogonal to the inter-rail center line 44 passing through the intermediate position between the guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16.
Further, the rail bases 33 adjacent to each other are placed on the pair of rocking plates 42, and both are fastened by the required bolts 45.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the joint base 41 is a base that supports adjacent portions of the rail base 33 on one side and the rail base 33 on the other side that are adjacent to each other. It is composed of a rectangular plate-shaped member having plate surfaces at the top and bottom, and on the upper plate surface of the joint base 41, a circular bottom surface 46a and a circumferential wall surface 46b erected along the outer circumference of the circular bottom surface 46a. A bottomed circular hole 46 is formed, and a pivot shaft 40 is erected at the center position of the circular bottom surface 46a of the round hole 46.

The pair of rocking plates 42 are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the pivot shaft 40 in the round hole 46 in the joint base 41 with the plate surfaces facing in the vertical direction, and the lower plate surface of each rocking plate 42 is jointed. The round hole of the joint base 41 so that the upper plate surface of each rocking plate 42 is higher than the upper surface of the joint base 41 while being slidably contacted with the circular bottom surface 46a of the round hole 46 in the base 41. It protrudes from 46.

Each rocking plate 42 has an inner arcuate peripheral surface 42a and an outer arcuate peripheral surface 42b arranged at intervals in the radial direction with respect to the center of curvature (center of the pivot shaft 40) on the vertical axis 43. It is composed of a plate-shaped member having a substantially fan-shaped plan view (central angle is smaller than 180 °) surrounded by a pair of end faces 42c connecting both ends of these arcuate peripheral surfaces 42a and 42b.
The inner arcuate peripheral surface 42a has a center of curvature on the vertical axis 43 and is formed on the central angle side of each rocking plate 42 so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the pivot shaft 40 in a contact state.
The outer arcuate peripheral surface 42b includes a first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47 and a second outer arcuate peripheral surface 48.
The first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47 has a center of curvature on the vertical axis 43 and is projected from the round hole 46 of the joint base 41 with a first predetermined radius of curvature that is sufficiently larger than the radius of curvature of the inner arcuate peripheral surface 42a. It is formed on the arc side of each rocking plate 42 so as to be arranged at the height position.
The second outer arcuate peripheral surface 48 has a center of curvature on the vertical axis 43 and has a second predetermined radius of curvature larger than the first predetermined radius of curvature of the first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47, and is a round hole 46 in the joint base 41. It is formed on the arc side of each rocking plate 42 so as to face the circumferential wall surface 46b in a contact state. Thus, when each rocking plate 42 swings around the pivot shaft 40, each rocking plate 42 The inner arcuate peripheral surface 42a of 42 engages with the outer peripheral surface of the pivot shaft 40, and the second outer arcuate peripheral surface 48 of each rocking plate 42 is the circumferential wall surface of the round hole 46 in the joint base 41. Engage with 46b to guide the rocking motion of each rocking plate 42 so that the rail bases 33 adjacent to each other can smoothly rotate around the vertical axis 43 of the pivot shaft 40. It has become.

At the boundary position between the first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47 and the second outer arcuate peripheral surface 48, from the first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47 toward the second outer arcuate peripheral surface 48 with reference to the vertical axis 43. An arcuate step surface 49 is provided so as to be formed by connecting arcs whose radii increase continuously.
In each rocking plate 42, the flange portion 50 is formed by the lower plate surface of the rocking plate 42, the second outer arcuate peripheral surface 48, and the arcuate stepped surface 49.

A pair of holding plates 51 are attached to the joint base 41 in a facing arrangement with the pivot shaft 40 interposed therebetween so as to correspond to the pair of rocking plates 42.
Each holding plate 51 has a tip portion that overlaps with the flange portion 50 of each rocking plate 42 in a plan view, and a predetermined gap is provided at the tip portion with the first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47 of the rocking plate 42. An arcuate concave curved surface 51a facing each other in the opened state is formed.
In this way, when each rocking plate 42 tries to float without interfering with the rocking motion of each rocking plate 42, the tip end portion of each holding plate 51 is attached to the flange portion 50 of each rocking plate 42. It is possible to prevent each rocking plate 42 from floating in contact with the arcuate step surface 49.

In the pair of rocking plates 42, the vicinity of the corner of the pair of end faces 42c of the rocking plates 42 on one side at the intersection with the first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47 and the pair of end faces 42c of the rocking plates 42 on the other side. A stopper 52 is attached to the vicinity of the corner of the intersection with the first outer arcuate peripheral surface 47 so as to face each other in the direction around the vertical axis 43, and each rocking plate 42 is predetermined around the vertical axis 43. When an attempt is made to swing by an angle or more, the stoppers 52 facing each other in the direction around the vertical axis 43 are abutted against each other so that the swing plates 42 do not swing any further.
In this way, the rotation angle of the rail bases 33 adjacent to each other around the vertical axis 43 can be regulated within a predetermined range, and the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 can be prevented from being damaged due to excessive bending. Can be prevented.

<Explanation of the movement mechanism of the stretched region>
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the moving mechanism 36 for moving the rotary joint portion 35 in the TD direction is a TD direction slide base on which the joint base 41 in the rotary joint portion 35 is installed and reciprocally movable in the TD direction. A screw shaft 63 extending in the TD direction below the TD direction slide base 61 and having a key point supported by a bearing 62 is provided, and the TD direction slide base 61 and the screw shaft 63 are screwed onto the screw shaft 63. The rotary joint portion 35 can be reciprocated in the TD direction via the TD direction slide base 61 by connecting with the matching nut member 64 and rotating the screw shaft 63 in the forward or reverse direction by the operation of a motor (not shown). You can do it.

A guide member 65 extending in the MD direction is attached to the slide base 61 in the TD direction so as to be in sliding contact with one side of the joint base 41, and is engaged with a stepped portion formed on the other side of the joint base 41. A guide / pressing member 66 that guides the joint base 41 in the MD direction and presses the joint base 41 so as not to rise is attached.
The guide member 65 and the guide / pressing member 66 can hold the joint base 41 so as not to move relative to the TD direction slide base 61 in the TD direction.
Further, by guiding and pressing by the guide member 65 and the guide / pressing member 66, the joint base 41 can be held so as to be relatively movable in the MD direction without being lifted with respect to the TD direction slide base 61, and the rail base 33 can be held. It is possible to allow the rotary joint portion 35 to move in the MD direction due to the influence of the thermal expansion of the rail base 33 and the amount of deviation of the rotation angle of the rail base 33.

<Explanation of guide rails, etc. arranged in the exit side area>
As shown in FIG. 2, in the outlet side region 7, the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 facing each other on both sides of the sheet-like object 2 are parallel and are parallel to the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner circumference. The guides on the outer peripheral side facing each other on both sides of the sheet-like object 2 are arranged so that the distance from the side guide rail 16 is the second distance distance D2, for example, by being fixedly installed in the outlet side region 7. The distance between the rails 15 (= outlet width W2) is fixed.

In the biaxial stretching machine 1 described above, the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side composed of the slit rails arranged in the stretching region 6 are changed according to the change of the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions of the sheet-like material 2. The guide rail 16 is moved in the TD direction by the moving mechanism 36.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 are bent at the respective portions of the outer peripheral side rail joint portion 15b and the inner peripheral side rail joint portion 16b. The directions of the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 are changed, and the stretching operation of the sheet-like material 2 is performed according to the changed stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, since the distance (= outlet width W2) between the opposite outer peripheral side guide rails 15 of the outlet side region 7 is fixed, the sheet-like object 2 is fixed to the predetermined outlet width W2. It will be sent out from the exit side in the state of being sent.
Therefore, the outlet width W2 of the sheet-like material 2 can be fixed to a predetermined value while the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions of the sheet-like material 2 can be arbitrarily set with a simple configuration.
TD magnification = exit width W2 / entrance width W1
Here, the entrance width W1: variable, the exit width W2: fixed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 arranged in the stretched region 6 are laid on the rail base 33 divided into a plurality of parts, and the adjacent rail bases are laid. The pedestals 33 are oscillatedly connected to each other by a rotary joint portion 35 in a horizontal plane, and a moving mechanism 36 for moving the rotary joint portion 35 in the TD direction is provided, and between the opposite outer peripheral side guide rails 15. By making the interval variable, it is possible to realize a thinning with a simple configuration, and it is possible to reduce the installation space of the rotary joint portion 35.

Although the sheet-shaped biaxial stretching machine of the present invention has been described above based on one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment and does not deviate from the purpose thereof. The configuration can be changed as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, as the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 arranged in a divergent shape in the stretched region 6, a linear slit extending in a straight line is provided with a vertical slit at intervals in the rail longitudinal direction. Although an example using a slit rail in which the rail is formed is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 11, the bent rail having a curved shape in the horizontal plane under no load is spaced in the longitudinal direction of the rail. An outer peripheral side guide rail 15A and an inner peripheral side guide rail 16A made of a slit rail having a vertical slit formed therein may be used.
By doing so, the shapes of the outer peripheral side guide rail 15A and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16A in the stretching region 6 followed by the equal length link device 11 are brought closer to the ideal curve in which the ideal stretching operation is performed for the sheet-like object 2. be able to.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the outer peripheral side guide rail 15 and the inner peripheral side guide rail 16 arranged in the stretched region 6 are formed of slit rails in which vertical slits are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails. Although shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide rail may be composed of a slit rail in which diagonal slits forming a predetermined sharp angle with respect to the vertical direction are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail.
Further, in addition to the example in which the slits provided on the slit rail are alternately arranged in a staggered manner on both side surfaces of the rail, the slits in the same direction may be alternately arranged in a plurality of units as a method of staggered arrangement.

The biaxial stretching machine for a sheet-shaped material of the present invention fixes the outlet width of the sheet-shaped material to a predetermined value while allowing the stretching ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions of the sheet-shaped material to be arbitrarily set with a simple configuration. Since it has the property of being able to be used, it can be suitably used for applications in which a sheet-like material such as a thermoplastic resin film is simultaneously stretched in the vertical and horizontal directions, and has great industrial applicability.

1 Biaxial stretching machine 2 Sheet-like material 4 Endless link device 5 Inlet side area 6 Stretching area 7 Exit side area 10 Gripping device 11 Equal length link device 15 Outer peripheral side guide rail 15a Outer peripheral side guide rail part 15b Outer outer side rail joint part 16 Inner circumference side guide rail 16a Inner circumference side guide rail part 16b Inner circumference side rail joint part 30 Movement mechanism 33 Rail base 35 Rotary joint part 36 Movement mechanism 40 Pivot shaft 41 Joint base 42 Swing plate

Claims (3)

It is provided with an endless link device in which a plurality of equal-length link devices formed in a folded shape are connected in an endless manner, and is provided with a gripping device for gripping the side end portion of the sheet-like object. A guide rail on the outer peripheral side and a guide rail on the inner peripheral side are arranged along a closed path formed on a substantially horizontal plane that returns to the inlet side from the inlet side for introducing the shaped object through the outlet side for sending out the sheet-shaped object. By guiding the plurality of equal length link devices along the closed path by the guidance of the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail, the sheet-like material is conveyed from the inlet side to the outlet side. At the same time, the biaxial structure of the sheet-like material is configured to be simultaneously stretched in the vertical direction along the transport direction of the sheet-like material and the horizontal direction along the width direction of the sheet-like material forming a right angle to the sheet-like material and then sent out from the outlet side. In the stretching machine
An inlet side region in which the outer peripheral side guide rails and the inner peripheral side guide rails facing each other on both sides of the sheet-like object are arranged in parallel, and the distance between the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail is arranged at the first distance interval. And the stretched region which is connected to the inlet side region and the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail are arranged in a divergent shape toward the transport direction of the sheet-like material, and the stretched region is connected to the sheet-like material. It has an outlet side region in which the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail facing each other on both sides are arranged in parallel, and the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail are arranged at a second distance interval.
Wherein the inlet-side outer peripheral side guide rail disposed in a region provided with a moving mechanism for moving transversely along the width direction of the sheet, varying the inlet width defined by the distance between the opposing outer peripheral side guide rails year,
Wherein by the outer peripheral side guide rail disposed in the outlet side region fixedly installed, the outlet width defined by the distance between the opposing outer peripheral side guide rails fixed,
The outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region are composed of slit rails in which vertical slits are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails, and the slit rails are formed. A biaxial stretching machine for a sheet-shaped object, characterized in that a moving mechanism for moving the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region in the lateral direction along the width direction of the sheet-shaped object is provided. The outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the extension region are laid on a rail base configured by being divided into a plurality of parts, and adjacent rail bases are placed on a joint base provided with a pivot shaft. Also provided with an inner arcuate peripheral surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the pivot shaft in contact with the outer peripheral surface.
By placing and fastening rail bases adjacent to each rocking plate of the rotary joint portion in which a pair of rocking plates made of fan-shaped plate-shaped members are arranged, they can be swingably connected in a horizontal plane. The first aspect of the present invention is that a moving mechanism for moving the rotary joint portion in the lateral direction along the width direction of the sheet-like object is provided so that the distance between the opposite outer peripheral side guide rails can be made variable. The described sheet-like biaxial stretching machine. The first or second claim is characterized in that a slit rail is sandwiched between the outer peripheral side guide rail and the inner peripheral side guide rail arranged in the stretched region, and a bent rail having a curved shape in a horizontal plane is used when no load is applied. Biaxial stretching machine for sheet-shaped products.

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