JP7113515B2 - Elastic chain and chain mechanism provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an elastic chain and a chain mechanism having the same.

Conventionally, there have been proposed sheet-like material processing apparatuses that shrink (or stretch) a sheet-like material while transporting it. Such a sheet processing apparatus is provided with a pair of left and right chains having a number of clips. By rotating the chains while gripping both side edges of the sheet with the clips, the sheet is conveyed in a predetermined transport direction. be transferred to The chain is contractible, and by gradually contracting (or stretching) while transporting the sheet, the sheet is contracted (or stretched) in the transport direction.

For example, the clip chain disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured by connecting clips for gripping a sheet-like object with a roller link plate. When the swing arm is swung by the adjustment rail via the bearing, the roller link plate is swung from the vertical position to the inclined position. Sometimes it is configured to be minimal.

In addition, the endless chain disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured by connecting clip connecting portions for gripping a sheet-like object to each other by a connecting connecting portion, and the connecting connecting portion can turn freely to the adjacent clip connecting portion. It comprises a pair of connected chain links, an intermediate connection link rotatably connected to the pair of chain links, and a driven roller rotatably supported by the intermediate connection link at a position below the intermediate connection link. Then, when the driven rollers are pushed in a predetermined direction by the guide rail, the pair of chain links rotates with respect to the intermediate connection link, and the connection link contracts.

JP 2009-107317 A JP 2018-131275 A

In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the clip chain expands and contracts or bends a curve, there is a problem that an extra load is applied to the clip chain and the behavior of the clip chain becomes unstable.

In the endless chain disclosed in Patent Document 2, the turning amount of one chain link and the turning amount of the other chain link with respect to the intermediate connection link are not always the same, and the expansion and contraction of the connecting portion is unstable. . In addition, in order to suppress the inclination of the connecting portion caused by the driven roller being pushed by the guide rail, it was necessary to guide the clip connecting portion with the spiral guide groove of the screw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a stably extendable elastic chain and a chain mechanism including the same.

A telescopic chain and a chain mechanism according to the present invention comprise a plurality of interconnected chain units, each chain unit comprising a link and a pair of driven rollers rotatably supported by the link, The link has first to fourth link members and first to fourth pivot shafts arranged at vertices of a rhombus, and the first link member and the fourth link member are connected to the first pivot shaft. The second link member and the third link member are pivotably connected to each other via the second pivot shaft, and the first link member and the third link The members are rotatably connected to each other via the third pivot shaft, the second link member and the fourth link member are rotatably connected to each other via the fourth pivot shaft, and the pair of driven rollers coincide with the axes of the third and fourth pivot shafts, respectively.

According to the telescopic chain and the chain mechanism according to the present invention, the first to fourth link members are rotatably connected to each other via the first to fourth pivot shafts arranged at the vertexes of the rhombus, and the pair of Since the rotational axes of the driven rollers coincide with the axes of the third and fourth turning shafts, the length of the link can be stably changed by changing the distance between the pair of driven rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a sheet-like material processing apparatus equipped with a chain mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of a sheet conveying device included in the sheet processing apparatus of FIG. 1; 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIa-IIIa of FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 2C is a plan view of a chain unit included in the endless chain; FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVa-IVa of FIG. 2, FIG. ) is a plan view of a chain unit included in the endless chain.

A chain mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The chain mechanism according to this embodiment is used, for example, in the sheet processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

The sheet processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of sheet transfer devices (hereinafter simply referred to as "transfer devices") 2, 2 and heating means (not shown). Both side edges in the width direction D1 of the sheet S are clamped and transferred in a predetermined transfer direction D2. A first transfer region R1, a speed change region R2, and a second transfer region R3 are defined in order from the upstream side in the transfer direction D2 in the transfer route of the sheet S, and the sheet S is transferred to the first transfer region R1. is transferred at the first speed, decelerated from the first speed to the second speed in the shift range R2, and transferred in the second transfer range R3 at the second speed. Since the transfer devices 2, 2 have substantially the same configuration except that they are symmetrical, only one transfer device 2 will be described here, and the description of the other transfer device 2 will be omitted.

The transport device 2 includes an endless chain 3, a circulating means (transporting means) 4 for circling the endless chain 3, and a guide rail 5 for guiding the endless chain 3. The endless chain 3 and the circulating means are provided. 4 and the guide rail 5 constitute a chain mechanism. The circulating means 4 includes a pair of sprockets 41 and 42 (an upstream sprocket 41 and a downstream sprocket 42) arranged along the transfer direction D2, and electric motors M1 and M2 that rotate the sprockets 41 and 42. The endless chain 3 is engaged with the sprockets 41 and 42 and stretched between the sprockets 41 and 42. - 特許庁

The guide rail 5 has a first guide rail 51 and a pair of second guide rails 52 , 52 . The sprockets 41 and 42 are rotationally driven in a predetermined direction by the drive motors M1 and M2, so that the endless chain 3 moves (rotates) along the guide rail 5 in a predetermined winding direction D3.

2 and 3, the endless chain 3 is an elastic chain that can be selectively contracted in the length direction, and includes a plurality of clip portions (connected portions) 6 and a plurality of chains. A unit 7 and a plurality of intermediate members 8 are provided. Each chain unit 7 connects a pair of adjacent clip portions 6 and a pair of adjacent intermediate members 8 .

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, each clip portion 6 includes a support portion 61, and clip means 62 and driven rollers 63, 64, 65 supported by the support portion 61. As shown in FIG. The clip means 62 clamps the side edge of the sheet S, clamps the side edge of the sheet S at a predetermined clip position P1 (FIG. 2), and clamps the side edge of the sheet S at a predetermined clip out position P2 (FIG. 2). ), the sheet S is released. The driven rollers 63 to 65 abut against the first guide rail 51 , thereby causing the clip portion 6 to move along the first guide rail 51 .

Each chain unit 7 includes a link 71, a link 72 provided at intervals below the link 71, and four pivot shafts S1 to S4 arranged at the vertexes of a rhombus in plan view, and pivots. The shaft S1 and the turning shaft S2 are arranged to face each other in the winding direction D3, and the turning shaft S3 and the turning shaft S4 are arranged to face each other in the direction perpendicular to the winding direction D3.

The link 71 includes first to fourth link members 71a to 71d that are rotatably connected to each other by pivot shafts S1 to S4, and the link 72 is likewise rotatably connected to each other by pivot shafts S1 to S4. Also provided are first to fourth link members 72a to 72d.

More specifically, the first link member 71a and the second link member 71b are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other, and the third link member 71c and the fourth link member 71d are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other. . One ends of the first and fourth link members 71a and 71d are rotatable about a turning axis S1, and one ends of the second and third link members 71b and 71c are rotatable about a turning axis S2. there is Further, the other ends of the first and third link members 71a and 71c are rotatable about a turning axis S3, and the other ends of the second and fourth link members 71b and 71d are rotatable about a turning axis S4. It is considered free. As a result, the link 71 has a rhomboid shape in a plan view as a whole.

Similarly, the first link member 72a and the second link member 72b are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other, and the third link member 72c and the fourth link member 72d are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other. One ends of the first and fourth link members 72a and 72d are rotatable about a turning axis S1, and one ends of the second and third link members 72b and 72c are rotatable about a turning axis S2. there is Further, the other ends of the first and third link members 72a and 72c are rotatable around the pivot S3, and the other ends of the second and fourth link members 72b and 72d are rotatable around the pivot S4. It is considered free. As a result, the link 72 also has a diamond shape in a plan view as a whole.

In this configuration, the link members 71a to 71d and 72a to 72d of the chain unit 7 turn around the turning shafts S1 to S4, thereby forming the planar shape of the links 71 and 72 as shown in FIG. 3(c). Between the stretched state in which the long axis direction of the rhombus is the winding direction D3 and the contracted state in which the short axis direction of the rhombus forming the planar shape of the links 71 and 72 is the winding direction D3 as shown in FIG. 4(c). It can be stretched with

Each chain unit 7 is interposed between a pair of adjacent clip portions 6 to connect them, and is interposed between a pair of adjacent intermediate members 8 to connect them. More specifically, the pivot shaft S1 of each chain unit 7 is rotatably connected to the support portion 61 of one clip portion 6 and one intermediate member 8, and the pivot shaft S2 is connected to the support portion of the other clip portion 6. 61 and the other intermediate member 8 are rotatably connected.

Thus, by extending and contracting the chain unit 7 as described above, the interval between the clip portions 6 in the winding direction D3 can be changed. The amount of change in the gap between the clip portions 6 is arbitrarily set according to the shrinkage rate of the sheet S and the like.

Each chain unit 7 further includes a pair of driven rollers 73 and 74 that abut on the second guide rails 52 and 52 . The driven rollers 73 and 74 are positioned below the link 72 and are rotatably supported by the pivot shafts S3 and S4, respectively. Therefore, when the driven rollers 73, 74 are pushed away from each other by the second guide rails 52, 52, the chain unit 7 contracts from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG.

Note that the driven rollers 73 and 74 do not necessarily have to be rotatably supported by the turning shafts S3 and S4, and it is sufficient if the rotation axes of the driven rollers 73 and 74 coincide with the axes of the turning shafts S3 and S4. The driven rollers 73 and 74 may be rotatably supported on a rotating shaft different from the turning shafts S3 and S4.

1 and 2, the guide rail 5 includes a first guide rail 51 for guiding the clip portion 6 as described above, a pair of second guide rails 52 for guiding the chain unit 7, 52 and . The first guide rail 51 and the pair of second guide rails 52 , 52 are annular rails arranged along the winding path of the endless chain 3 . By abutting, it moves in the winding direction D3 while being guided by the first guide rail 51 .

The second guide rails 52, 52 are configured such that the gap G between them can be arbitrarily adjusted. In the example shown in FIGS. It extends in parallel with the guide rail 51, extends at an angle with respect to the first guide rail 51 so that the gap G gradually increases toward the downstream side in the rotation direction D3 in the speed change region R2, and the first transfer region in the second transfer region R3. It extends in parallel with the first guide rail 51 while maintaining a wider gap G than in the case of R1. After that, it extends obliquely with respect to the first guide rail 51 so that the interval G gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the circumferential direction D3, and extends parallel to the first guide rail 51 again.

As a result, the endless chain 3 passes through the first transfer region R1 in a stretched state, gradually contracts in the speed change region R2, is maintained in the contracted state in the second transfer region R3, and then returns to the stretched state. .

As described above, in this embodiment, the pair of guide rails 52, 52 are used to spread the chain unit 7 evenly on both sides for contraction. can be done systematically. In addition, since the clip portion 6 and the intermediate member 8 swing around the pivot shafts S1 and S2 connected to the chain unit 7, even when the chain unit 7 moves, for example, in a curve, the chain to be transported can be secured. An excessive load on the unit 7 can be suppressed, and the transfer of the endless chain 3 is stabilized.

Although the chain mechanism according to the embodiments of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. is.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the sheet S is shrunk in the longitudinal direction (transport direction D2) has been described as an example, but the chain mechanism according to the present invention is a processing device for stretching the sheet S in the longitudinal direction. It can also be used in a processing device for stretching or shrinking the sheet S in the width direction D1.

1 sheet processing device 2 sheet transfer device 3 endless chain (elastic chain)
5 Guide rail 6 Clip part (connected part)
7 Chain unit 8 Intermediate member 51 First guide rails 52, 52 Second guide rails 71, 72 Links 71a, 72a First link members 71b, 72b Second link members 71c, 72c Third link members 71d, 72d Fourth link member 73, 74 driven roller D1 width direction D2 transfer direction D3 rotation direction S1 rotation axis (first rotation axis)
S2 swivel axis (second swivel axis)
S3 swivel axis (third swivel axis)
S4 swivel axis (fourth swivel axis)
S sheet material

Claims (4)

a plurality of interconnected chain units ;
a plurality of intermediate members ;
Each chain unit includes a link and a pair of driven rollers rotatably supported by the link,
The link has first to fourth link members and first to fourth pivot shafts arranged at vertices of the rhombus,
the first link member and the fourth link member are pivotably connected to each other via the first pivot shaft;
the second link member and the third link member are pivotably connected to each other via the second pivot shaft;
the first link member and the third link member are pivotably connected to each other via the third pivot shaft;
the second link member and the fourth link member are pivotably connected to each other via the fourth pivot shaft;
the rotation axes of the pair of driven rollers are aligned with the axes of the third and fourth turning shafts, and
A telescopic chain , wherein each intermediate member is interposed between a pair of adjacent chain units and is rotatably connected to each of the pair of chain units . Each intermediate member is rotatably connected to the first pivot shaft of one chain unit of a pair of adjacent chain units and is rotatably connected to the second pivot shaft of the other chain unit. The elastic chain according to claim 1 , characterized by: a plurality of interconnected chain units ;
a plurality of clip portions ;
Each chain unit includes a link and a pair of driven rollers rotatably supported by the link,
The link has first to fourth link members and first to fourth pivot shafts arranged at vertices of the rhombus,
the first link member and the fourth link member are pivotably connected to each other via the first pivot shaft;
the second link member and the third link member are pivotably connected to each other via the second pivot shaft;
the first link member and the third link member are pivotably connected to each other via the third pivot shaft;
the second link member and the fourth link member are pivotably connected to each other via the fourth pivot shaft;
the rotation axes of the pair of driven rollers are aligned with the axes of the third and fourth turning shafts, and
A telescopic chain, wherein each clip portion is interposed between a pair of adjacent chain units and is rotatably connected to each of the pair of chain units. an elastic chain according to any one of claims 1 to 3;
a transfer means for transferring the telescopic chain in a predetermined direction;
A chain mechanism comprising a pair of guide rails with which the pair of driven rollers abut.

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