JPH08268606A - Web transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus transporting a web bi-directionally, selecting the transportation speed, and transporting without causing friction in the web by simplifying the constitution of respective processing parts and arranging them close to each other in the apparatus guiding and transporting the web of solid or laminated structure to a plurality of processing parts in the apparatus under operation. SOLUTION: This web transporting apparatus is provided with a carrier tape 22 forming a closed loop extending over processing parts 10, 12, 14, 16, a series of hole parts formed at regular intervals, at least, in the length direction of the carrier tape 22, a drum 24 stepwisely feeding the carrier tape 22 by engaging a sprocket with the hole parts, and a strip 32 holding the web 18 in the surface of the carrier tape 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for guiding and conveying a solid or laminated plastic web to a plurality of processing sections of the apparatus in operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the production of plastic cards such as credit cards, checks and telephone cards, the material web is, for example, a print processing section, a cutting processing section for forming a groove in a piece to be engaged, a hole processing section, or the like. It is conveyed so as to be guided to a plurality of processing units of the manufacturing apparatus. Conventionally, the web has a width more than necessary for use as a card, and a continuous hole is formed in the margin, and the hole spreads parallel to the web transport direction. They are formed with precise equidistant spacing. In each processing unit of the card manufacturing apparatus, a plurality of pins are inserted into the holes and the web between the pins is held in a taut state. Then, instead of inserting the fastener into the hole, the web is sandwiched so as to be conveyed stepwise from the processing section of the manufacturing apparatus to another processing section.

[0003]

However, such conventional devices have many drawbacks. First, holes must be continuously formed in the web, which consumes more material than necessary and increases production costs. This is particularly noticeable when an expensive material such as polycarbonate is used. The method of providing regular holes in the web allows the web to be accurately aligned to produce standardized cards, but only for cards of one size.
It is necessary to provide another means for making holes for cards of different sizes. Further, when a card is manufactured by the card manufacturing apparatus, many defective products are generated with a relatively high probability even when the web is conveyed in only one direction. This repetition causes an increase in production cost.

Further, in a system in which the web is tensioned in each processing section of the apparatus, the apparatus configuration becomes complicated and causes a problem. Furthermore, it is necessary to secure an unnecessarily large distance between the processing units. Furthermore, since each of the above-mentioned plastic cards must be manufactured under a clean environment, a suction device for permanently removing dust and the like generated in each of the above-mentioned processes from the web is required.

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for guiding and transporting a web of solid or laminated structure to a plurality of processing sections of an operating apparatus, and for each processing section An object of the present invention is to provide a device that simplifies the configuration and arranges the processing units in close proximity to each other so that the web can be bidirectionally conveyed, a conveyance speed can be selected, and the web can be conveyed without causing abrasion. And

[0006]

As a means for achieving the above object, the web conveying apparatus according to the present invention has the following features.

A first feature is that in a web transporting device for transporting a web through a plurality of processing sections of an operating apparatus, a transporting tape forming a closed loop extending over the processing sections, and at least a length of this transporting tape. A series of holes formed at regular intervals in the direction, means for gradually moving the tape with the holes, and means for holding the web on the surface of the tape. Being equipped.

The second feature is that the carrier tape is made of a material selected from materials including steel and plastic.

A third feature of the present invention is that at least one drum of the conveying means including the drum for feeding out the conveying tape is provided with a sprocket around the hole which is formed in the conveying tape. Is.

The fourth characteristic is that the tension of the carrier tape is 2
It was designed so that it would be driven by two drums.

The fifth feature is that the tension of the carrier tape can be adjusted.

A sixth feature is that the tension of the carrier tape can be adjusted according to the temperature change.

A seventh feature is that the web holding means is arranged so as to be in contact with the transport tape.

The eighth feature is that the carrier tape is provided with an adhesive coating.

A ninth feature is that the transport tape is provided with a member for holding the web and sending it out in the traveling direction of the transport tape.

A tenth feature is that the web holding means is
A vacuum source for sucking the web and adhering it to the carrier tape.

An eleventh feature is that the web holding means is
A strip having two main planes each provided with an adhesive material, located between the transport tape and the web upstream of the processing section and releasing the web from the transport tape downstream of the processing section Is to be able to do so.

A twelfth feature is that each of the web holding means is used alone or in plural.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
It is a device for guiding and transporting a web to a plurality of processing sections of the device in operation. In addition, a transport tape formed as a closed loop having no end point is used in this apparatus, and this tape is configured to guide the web to the processing section. The transport tape is provided with continuous holes at equal intervals along the length of the tape.
The means for transporting the transport tape moves stepwise integrally with the hole. However, it is not necessary to match the variation amount of such means with the interval between the plurality of formed hole portions. Furthermore,
The apparatus of the present invention is provided with means for holding the web on the carrier tape as the web passes through the processing section of the apparatus.

Since a hole is formed at the edge of the carrier tape, the width of the web, which is the material of the card, must be smaller than the width of the carrier tape. Further, since the transport tape is fed by one transport means through all the processing sections of the apparatus, it is not necessary to provide the tape transport means for each processing section. The carrier tape is preferably made of a material that can withstand the working environment. For this material, steel is preferred and more suitable than plastic (eg polyester). Before the tape is formed into a loop, the holes in the steel tape are, for example,
The plasma welding will result in precise formation on the edges of the tape.

The transporting means for the transport tape is composed of a drum around which a sprocket is provided to engage with the hole of the tape. The carrier tape is configured in a loop around the first driving drum and the second driven drum. Then, the tension of the tape is determined by the distance between the axes of the respective drums. Specifically, in order to adjust the tape tension by changing the distance between the shafts of the drums, the shaft of the first driving drum is fixed while the shaft of the second driven drum is moving. To be done. The tension of the transport tape is adjusted appropriately according to the change in the temperature of the environment. However, when the tape tension changes due to other reasons, it is preferable to adjust the tape tension by adjusting the distance between the holes formed at the edge of the tape.

Further, for carrying the carrying tape, it is preferable to rotate the first driving drum having the sprocket formed thereon by using a stepper electric motor. Since the sprocket and the holes provided in the carrying tape engage with each other, the carrying tape is fed out in stages by the rotation of the stepper motor.
In this case, the tape feeding direction can be arbitrarily determined in both forward and reverse directions.

Means for holding the monolayer or laminated web disposed on the transport tape are preferably provided on the tape itself. As a relatively simple means, it is possible to apply an adhesive coating on the tape surface. When using such holding means, one must carefully choose one that does not leave traces of coating on the web when it is released from the tape. or,
A cleaning device for removing the adhesive coating is provided downstream of the final processing unit of the apparatus, and further, an adhesive coating is provided downstream of the cleaning device for newly applying an adhesive coating to the tape guided to the first processing unit of the apparatus. It is preferable to provide a coating device. Further, it is preferable that the transport tape is provided with a member for holding the web and sending it out in the traveling direction of the tape.

Further, as the web holding means, a vacuum pump connected to a suction plenum may be arranged below the carrying tape. In this case, the web is sucked onto the surface of the carrying tape. Therefore, it is necessary to construct such a tape so that air can pass through it. Of course, the above web holding means may be used in combination, and the specific features will be described later.

Also, the "web" used in the apparatus of the present invention.
Consists of a single layer or a laminate of cards that are made by stamping out of a laminated material. Furthermore, the device of the present invention can be applied to webs made of plastic material as well as webs made of cardboard.

Hereinafter, the structure of the web conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a state in which a web conveying device according to the present invention is viewed from the side. 4 processing units 1
0, 12, 14, and 16 are for performing printing processing, and each is for performing printing of any one of red, blue, yellow, and black. The web 18 to be printed is guided by a guide drum 20 to a transport tape 22 stretched around a driving drum 24 and a driven drum 26. These drums 24, 26 are rotated stepwise in the direction indicated by an arrow 28 by an unillustrated stepper motor (arrow 2
It is also possible to rotate in the opposite direction to 8.) or,
The driven drum 26 can be moved in a direction indicated by an arrow 30 in order to adjust the tension of the transport tape 22 according to a change in ambient temperature. An adhesive or an adhesive coating is applied to both sides of the strip 32 made of a plastic material. The strip 32 is wound around a spool 34 and is supplied between the web 18 and the transport tape 22 so that the web 18 can be held on the transport tape 22. Downstream of the processing section 10, the strip 32 is released from the carrier tape 22 and the web 18 and discarded. The strip 32 is made of one wide member, but instead of this, many thin ribbons may be used.

FIG. 2 shows the holes 38 formed in the tape 22.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the driven drum 26 including a sprocket 36 that meshes with the driven drum 26. Web 18 is strip 3
Along with 2, it is also held by a small upright stamping 39, which is separated from the tape 22 and bent upwards.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another specific example of the web holding means. Here, the plenum chamber 40 connected to the vacuum pump 42 is arranged below the tape 22, and the tape 2 is operated by operating the vacuum pump 42.
The web 18 through the two openings 44 and the tape 22
Holding. Incidentally, such a holding means is the processing unit 1
It is preferably provided upstream or downstream of 0, 12, 14 and 16.

[0030]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a web transport device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the drum 26 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another specific example of the web holding means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 12, 14, 16 Processing part 18 Web 20 Guide drum 22 Conveying tape 24 Driving drum 26 Driven drum 28, 30 Arrow 32 Strip 34 Thread winding 36 Sprocket 38 Hole 39 Stamping 40 Plenum chamber 42 Vacuum pump 44 Opening

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A web transporting device for transporting a web through a plurality of processing sections of an operating apparatus, wherein the transporting tape forms a closed loop across the processing sections,
At least a series of holes formed at regular intervals in the length direction of the transport tape, means for gradually feeding the tape together with the holes, and holding a web on the surface of the tape And a means for producing the web conveying apparatus. 2. The web transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer tape is made of a material selected from materials including steel and plastic. 3. A sprocket that engages with a hole formed in the transport tape is provided around at least one of the transport means including a drum for delivering the transport tape. Claim 1
The web conveyance device according to. 4. The tension of the carrier tape is adapted to be driven by two drums.
The web conveyance device according to. 5. The web transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the tension of the transfer tape is adjustable. 6. The web conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tension of the conveying tape can be adjusted according to a temperature change. 7. The web conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the web holding means is arranged so as to be in contact with the conveying tape. 8. The web transfer device according to claim 7, wherein the transfer tape is provided with an adhesive coating. 9. The web transporting device according to claim 7, wherein the transport tape is provided with a member for holding the web and sending the web in a traveling direction of the transport tape. 10. The web conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web holding means includes a vacuum source for sucking the web and adhering it to the conveying tape. 11. The web holding means comprises a strip having two main planes, each of which is provided with an adhesive material, and is located between the transport tape and the web upstream of the processing section. The web transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the web can be released from the transfer tape downstream of the web. 12. The web conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the web holding means is used alone or in plural.