JPH11292362A - Soft sheet carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry a synthetic resin sheet wound in the form of a roll to a processing device while restricting generation of waste to the minimum. SOLUTION: When a synthetic resin sheet S supplied from a sheet roll R provided on a sheet supply means 1 is supplied to a sheet feed means 3 after centering by a sheet centering means 2, the sheet feed means 3 holds both of a right and a left side edges of the synthetic resin sheet S by a number of holding members provided on a pair of a right and left endless chains 23 to carry it forward. A sheet holding frame 41 in which a number of piercing needles 43 are planted on an upper surface is lifted in the arrow A direction to pierce the synthetic resin sheet S by the piercing needles 43, a pierced part is cut from the synthetic resin sheet S, and the sheet holding frame 41 holding a cut sheet member S' is moved forward in the arrow B direction, and then lowered in the arrow C direction, thereby the sheet member S' is transferred to a vacuum transfer device 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process in which a long soft sheet is rolled out from a sheet roll, the soft sheet is fed out, cut into a predetermined shape, and the cut sheet pieces are held in a planar shape and processed. The present invention relates to a device for conveying a flexible sheet to a position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The surfaces of interior parts such as instrument panels and door trims of automobiles are covered by transferring a synthetic resin sheet having a grain pattern. Conventionally,
The operation of supplying a synthetic resin sheet to a transfer device in which interior components are set in advance has been performed as follows. A method in which an operator manually sets a pre-cut synthetic resin sheet to the dimensions of the interior parts on the sheet frame or formwork of the transfer device. Continuously without cutting the roll-shaped synthetic resin sheet To supply to the transfer device

[0003]

However, in the above method, the material cost increases because the synthetic resin sheet cut in advance to a fixed size is more expensive than the synthetic resin sheet wound into a roll. There was a problem. In addition, the work of manually setting a soft synthetic resin sheet on a sheet frame or a mold frame of a transfer device requires skill and has a problem that workability is low.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned method, since a long synthetic resin sheet is continuously supplied to the transfer device without cutting, there is a problem that a large amount of surplus material is generated between each process and the material yield is low. there were. In particular, since an unused synthetic resin sheet is subjected to mechanical deformation and heat history near the transfer device, that portion cannot be reused and must be discarded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to enable a flexible sheet wound in a roll shape to be conveyed to a processing apparatus while minimizing the generation of surplus material. I do.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is to provide a flexible sheet by rolling out a long flexible sheet from a sheet roll in which the flexible sheet is wound into a roll shape. A soft sheet conveying device that cuts and holds a cut sheet piece in a planar shape and conveys the sheet piece to a processing device, wherein the sheet is gripped on both side edges of the soft sheet by a plurality of gripping members and fed out from a sheet roll. Feeding means, a sheet holding frame provided with a number of piercing needles on its outer peripheral portion for piercing the soft sheet gripped by the gripping member of the sheet feeding means and movable between the sheet feeding means and the processing device, and the sheet Cutting means for separating the sheet piece held by the holding frame from the soft sheet.

According to the above construction, the left and right side edges of the soft sheet are gripped by the plurality of gripping members of the sheet feeding means.
Not only can the soft sheet be unwound from the sheet roll without damaging it, but also the sheet piece is pierced and held by the puncture provided in the sheet holding frame, so that the sheet piece can be reliably held without slack. Further, since the sheet pieces held in the sheet holding frame are separated from the soft sheet fed from the sheet roll and conveyed to the processing device, it is possible to prevent the processing performed on the sheet pieces from affecting the unprocessed soft sheet. Thus, the yield of the soft sheet can be increased. In addition, since an inexpensive flexible sheet wound in a roll is used instead of an expensive flexible sheet cut in advance to a fixed size, the cost is also advantageous.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the sheet feeding means includes a pair of endless chains circulating along both side edges of the soft sheet. It is characterized by being provided.

According to the above configuration, since the endless chain circulating along both side edges of the flexible sheet is provided with the plurality of gripping members, the gripping members are continuously moved along a fixed path to smoothly move the flexible sheet. Can be transported.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, the gripping member is fixed to an endless chain and pivotally supported on the fixed claw so as to be freely opened and closed. A movable claw, a spring for urging the movable claw in the closing direction, and a guide member arranged along a traveling path of the endless chain, wherein the movable claw is engaged with the guide member and opened. It is driven in the direction.

According to the above construction, the movable pawl is urged in the closing direction by the spring toward the fixed pawl, and the movable pawl is engaged with the guide member disposed along the traveling path of the endless chain to open the movable pawl in the opening direction. Therefore, the gripping members can be opened and closed with a simple structure without providing a drive source for opening and closing the respective gripping members.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, when the soft sheet is pierced from one side to the other side by a puncture needle of the sheet holding frame, the soft sheet is positioned on the other side and is positioned on the other side. A sheet holding frame for holding a soft sheet is provided.

According to the above configuration, when the soft sheet is pierced with the piercing needle of the sheet holding frame, the piercing needle can be reliably pierced into the soft sheet by preventing the escape of the soft sheet with the sheet holding frame.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the soft sheet is made of a resin, and the cutting means is a heating element for melting and cutting the resin. And

According to the above construction, the soft sheet made of resin is blown off by the cutting means comprising the heating element, so that the soft sheet can be reliably and instantly cut with a simple structure.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, the soft sheet fed from the sheet roll is brought into contact with the soft sheet and positioned on the center line of the sheet feeding means. A centering roller is provided, the centering roller having spiral projections formed on both sides of the center line and twisted in opposite directions to each other.

According to the above construction, the centering rollers formed on both sides of the center line of the sheet feeding means and having the spiral projections twisted in opposite directions to each other are brought into contact with the soft sheet, whereby the soft sheet is moved to the center. Centering can be reliably performed on the line.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 9 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a soft sheet conveying device, FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along arrow 4 in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a top view and a side view of the sheet holding frame, FIG. 8 is a side view and a bottom view of the sheet holding frame, and FIG. 9 is a view showing a shape of a staple.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sheet conveying apparatus of this embodiment uses a sheet made of a soft synthetic resin such as TPO (thermoplastic olefin), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and the like for an automobile instrument. This is for transferring so as to cover the surface of the base material of the ment panel. The sheet conveying device includes sheet feeding means 1 for feeding out the synthetic resin sheet S from a sheet roll R in which the synthetic resin sheet S is wound in a roll shape, and a sheet for centering the synthetic resin sheet S fed from the sheet roll R in the left-right direction. Centering means 2, sheet feeding means 3 for gripping and transporting the left and right side edges of the centered synthetic resin sheet S, and sheet piece S of a predetermined length after receiving synthetic resin sheet S gripped by sheet feeding means 3 ′, And sheet transfer means 4 for transferring the sheet piece S ′ to the vacuum transfer device 5.

The sheet feeding means 1 includes a pair of left and right bases 11, 11 erected on the floor surface.
The center portions of the sheet roll support members 13 are supported on the upper end portions of the sheet roll support members 13 via support shafts 12. A pair of roll shafts 14, 14 are provided so as to connect both ends of the pair of sheet roll support members 13, 13, and sheet rolls R, R are mounted on the respective roll shafts 14, 14. When the synthetic resin sheet S is being fed from one of the two sheet rolls R, the other is on standby as a spare. When the one sheet roll R becomes empty, the sheet roll support members 13, 13 are connected to the support shaft 12, via a motor 15 provided on the base 11 and an endless chain 16 so as to be replaced with the other sheet roll R. 180 around 12
° It is driven to rotate.

The seat centering means 2 includes a pair of right and left columns 17, 17 erected on the floor, and both columns 17, 17.
Centering roller 1 rotatably mounted between upper ends
8 and a motor 20 for rotating the centering roller 18 via an endless chain 19. The centering roller 18 is provided at the center line L of the sheet feeding means 3.
Helical projections 18 _L , 18 _R twisted in opposite directions to each other on the left and right sides of the synthetic resin sheet S.
There when biased on one lateral from the center line L, the synthetic resin sheet S is centered by the difference between the axial thrust received from the right and left of the spiral projections 18 _L, 18 _R.

Next, the structure of the sheet feeding means 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The sheet feeding means 3 is disposed along the right and left sides of the conveying path of the synthetic resin sheet S, and each of the driving means includes a driving sprocket 21 and a driven sprocket 2.
A pair of left and right endless chains 2 wound around 2, 22
3 and 23 are provided.

The endless chain 23 has two pins 24, 2
A number of link members 26 that are flexibly connected to each other at 4.
, And a chain roller 27 supported at an intermediate portion of each pin 24 engages with the tooth groove of the driving sprocket 21 and the driven sprocket 22 and each pin 2
A guide roller 28 supported at the lower part of the guide 4 engages with a guide rail 29 having a channel-like cross section disposed along the conveyance path of the synthetic resin sheet S. Therefore, when the driving sprockets 21 and 21 are rotationally driven by a driving source (not shown),
The link members 26 of the endless chains 23 circulate along the guide rails 29.

Each link member 26 is integrally provided with a fixed claw 30 extending radially outward of the rotation surface of the endless chain 23. A movable claw 32 is opened and closed at the base end of the fixed claw 30 via a pin 31. It is pivoted freely. Movable claw 32
Is biased in the closing direction by a spring 33 supported on the outer periphery of the pin 31. The fixed claw 30 and the movable claw 32 constitute a gripping member 34 of the present invention. Guide member 35 bent along the side of the conveyance path of synthetic resin sheet S
Are arranged, and an L-shaped locked portion 36 provided on the upper surface of the movable claw 32 is engaged with the guide member 35. The guide member 35 includes an inlet end portion of the sheet centering means 2 side, to the outlet end of the vacuum transfer apparatus 5 side, with each with upwardly bent inlet side lift portion 35 ₁ and the outlet-side lift portion 35 ₂ , the inlet end and comprises a flat portion 35 ₃ between the outlet end. It is not provided on the return side of the endless chain 23 (the part returning from the vacuum transfer device 5 side to the sheet centering means 2 side), so that each gripping member 34 is closed by the elastic force of the spring 33 on the return side. Held in state.

As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 6 to 8, the sheet transfer means 4 has a sheet holding frame 41 formed in a U-shape in plan view and a rectangular shape in plan view. And a sheet holding frame 42. On the upper surface of the sheet holding frame 41, a large number of needles 43 for piercing the synthetic resin sheet S from below are implanted on the upper surface. It can ascend, advance, descend and retreat along the shape path. The diameter of the puncture needles 43 is appropriately 1 mm and the pitch is 20 mm to 50 mm, but the diameter and the pitch need not be constant in each part of the sheet holding frame 41, and may be adjusted according to the magnitude of the tension applied to the synthetic resin sheet S. Can be increased or decreased.

The sheet holding frame 42 has a shape that covers the sheet holding frame 41 in a plan view, and the synthetic resin foam 44 is provided on three sides (left and right sides and a rear side) facing the sheet holding frame 41. Is fixed. In addition, sheet holding frame 4
Heating wires 4 arranged in a U-shape on the three sides on the lower surface of
5, 46, 47 are provided. The sheet holding frame 42 is
It can be moved up and down in the EF direction in FIG. 1 by a drive source (not shown).

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Left and right endless chains 23, 2 of the sheet feeding means 3
3 circulates and the gripping members 34 provided on the endless chains 23 approach the entrance end of the sheet feeding means 3 (the end on the side of the sheet centering means 2). The locked portions 36 are pushed up by the lift portions 35 ₁ , 35 _1, and the movable claws 32 of the grip members 34.
Are separated upward from the fixed claws 30 (see the open section in FIG. 3). When the grasping members 34 ... reaches the closed interval of 3, since the locked portion 36 ... pushing up of the flat portion 35 _3, 35 ₃ of the guide members 35, 35 is released, the gripping members 34 ... movable claw of 32 approach downward with respect to the fixed claws 30 by the elastic force of the springs 33, and the left and right side edges of the synthetic resin sheet S are gripped between the fixed claws 30 and the movable claws 32. Since the movable claws 32 are opened and closed by the guide members 35 in this manner, there is no need to provide a drive source for opening and closing the individual gripping members 34 and the structure is simplified.

The left and right endless chains 23,
23 are provided with a plurality of gripping members 34.
Is gripped and transported, so that the synthetic resin sheet S is not damaged, and the gripping members 34 can be continuously moved along a fixed path to smoothly transport the synthetic resin sheet S. it can.

The synthetic resin sheet S whose left and right side edges are sequentially held by the plurality of holding members 34.
The sheet is conveyed forward with the circulation of 3, 23, and a new synthetic resin sheet S is fed from the sheet roll R of the sheet feeding means 1 accordingly. At this time, the synthetic resin sheet S fed from the sheet roll R is centered on the center line L by the sheet centering means 2.

When the front end of the synthetic resin sheet S reaches the front end of the sheet transferring means 4, the sheet feeding means 3 stops operating, and as shown in FIG. Ascending toward the synthetic resin sheet S,
The sheet holding frame 42 descends toward the synthetic resin sheet S. As a result, the synthetic resin sheet S is vertically held by the sheet holding frame 41 and the sheet holding frame 42,
A large number of needles 43 implanted on the upper surface of the sheet holding frame 41 penetrate the synthetic resin sheet S and pierce the synthetic resin foam 44 of the sheet holding frame 42, so that the synthetic resin sheet S does not escape upward. 43 is pierced to the base. At the same time, the synthetic resin sheet S in contact with the heating wires 45 to 47 provided in the sheet holding frame 42 is melted and the rectangular sheet piece S ′ held by the sheet holding frame 41 is separated from the synthetic resin sheet S. .

As described above, since the sheet piece S 'is pierced and held by the puncture needles 43 provided on the sheet holding frame 41, the sheet piece S' can be reliably held without slack. Moreover, since the synthetic resin sheet S is blown off by the heating wires 45 to 47, the sheet piece S 'can be reliably and instantly separated from the synthetic resin sheet S with a simple structure.

Subsequently, after the sheet holding frame 42 is retracted upward, the sheet holding frame 41 holding the sheet piece S 'moves upward, forward and downward along the path A → B → C in FIG.
When transferred onto the instrument panel base material 46 set in advance on the vacuum transfer device 5, the vacuum transfer device 5 sucks the sheet piece S ′ at a negative pressure and makes it adhere to the surface of the instrument panel base material 48. Transcribe. The sheet holding frame 41 on which the sheet piece S 'has been transferred to the vacuum transfer device 5 is indicated by an arrow D in FIG.
Sheet holding frame 4 which moves in the direction
The front opening 1 allows the sheet holding frame 41 to move in the direction of arrow D without interfering with the base 49 of the vacuum transfer device 5.

While the vacuum transfer is being performed, the sheet feeding means 3 starts operating again, and a new portion of the synthetic resin sheet S is fed out from the sheet roll R and conveyed to the position of the sheet transfer means 4. .

As described above, the sheet piece S 'is held by the sheet holding frame 41 and transferred to the vacuum transfer device 5, so that the TP
An extremely soft sheet piece S 'such as O, PE, PP, etc., can be reliably transferred while being held in a planar shape without loosening. As a result, thermal transfer can be performed using a mold having a heating device. Without performing, it is possible to perform vacuum transfer at room temperature with low equipment cost and operation cost. Since the synthetic resin sheet S pulled out from the sheet roll R has a grain pattern formed in advance, the grain pattern can be formed on the surface of the instrument panel only by performing the transfer by the vacuum transfer device 5.

The synthetic resin sheet S is slightly thicker P
When CV (vinyl chloride) is used, since vacuum transfer cannot be performed, it is necessary to perform thermal transfer using the mold 50 shown in FIG. In this case, a grain pattern can be formed by the mold 50 at the time of transfer.

Further, since a relatively inexpensive roll-shaped synthetic resin sheet S can be used without using a synthetic resin sheet previously cut into a predetermined shape, it is advantageous from the viewpoint of material cost reduction. In addition, since the surplus material (the right and left side edges of the synthetic resin sheet S) generated when the sheet piece S 'is cut off from the synthetic resin sheet S is not conveyed to the position of the processing device 5, mechanical deformation due to transfer and thermal history And can be reused as a coating for small parts.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various design changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, the shape of the needle 43 may be variously modified as shown in FIG. 9 according to the material of the synthetic resin sheet S. (A) is a taper needle, (B) is a taper single-sided cut needle, (C) is a taper double-sided cut needle, (D)
Is a piercing needle with a projection. If the puncture needle with a projection (D) is adopted, it is possible to prevent the sheet piece S 'from falling off from the sheet holding frame 41. Further, the shapes of the sheet holding frame 41 and the sheet holding frame 42 can be changed according to the size and shape of the product. If the size of the sheet holding frame 41 and the sheet holding frame 42 is reduced when the product is small, a large amount of surplus material can be generated and effective reuse can be achieved. Further, the soft sheet of the present invention is not limited to the synthetic resin sheet S, and the type of processing is not limited to transfer.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the left and right side edges of the flexible sheet are gripped by the plurality of gripping members of the sheet feeding means, so that the flexible sheet can be removed from the sheet roll without being damaged. Not only can the sheet be fed out, but also the sheet piece is pierced and held by the puncture provided in the sheet holding frame, so that the sheet piece can be reliably held without slack. Further, since the sheet pieces held in the sheet holding frame are separated from the soft sheet fed from the sheet roll and conveyed to the processing device, it is possible to prevent the processing performed on the sheet pieces from affecting the unprocessed soft sheet. Thus, the yield of the soft sheet can be increased. In addition, since an inexpensive flexible sheet wound in a roll is used instead of an expensive flexible sheet cut in advance to a fixed size, the cost is also advantageous.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
Since the endless chain that circulates along both sides of the flexible sheet is provided with the plurality of gripping members, the gripping members can be continuously moved along a fixed path to smoothly transport the flexible sheet.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
The movable claw is urged in the closing direction by a spring toward the fixed claw, and the movable claw is engaged with the guide member arranged along the traveling path of the endless chain and driven in the opening direction. The gripping member can be opened and closed with a simple structure without providing an opening and closing drive source.

According to the invention described in claim 4,
When the flexible sheet is pierced with the needle of the sheet holding frame, the flexible sheet can be reliably pierced into the flexible sheet by preventing escape of the flexible sheet with the sheet holding frame.

According to the invention described in claim 5,
Since the soft sheet made of resin is blown off by the cutting means composed of the heating element, the soft sheet can be cut reliably and instantly with a simple structure.

According to the invention described in claim 6,
By contacting the centering rollers formed on both sides of the center line of the sheet feeding means and having spiral projections twisted in opposite directions to the soft sheet, the soft sheet can be reliably centered on the center line. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a soft sheet conveying device.

FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrows in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top view and a side view of the sheet holding frame.

FIG. 8 is a side view and a bottom view of the sheet holding frame.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a shape of a needle;

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Sheet Feeding Unit 5 Vacuum Transfer Device (Processing Device) 18 Centering Roller 18 _L , 18 _R Spiral Projection 23 Endless Chain 30 Fixed Claw 32 Movable Claw 33 Spring 34 Holding Member 35 Guide Member 41 Sheet Holding Frame 42 Sheet Holding Frame 43 Needle Needle 45-47 Heating wire (cutting means) L Center line R Sheet roll S Synthetic resin sheet (soft sheet) S 'Sheet piece

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A soft sheet (S) is drawn out from a sheet roll (R) in which a long soft sheet (S) is wound into a roll and cut into a predetermined shape, and the cut sheet piece (S ')
A sheet roll (R) that holds both sides of the soft sheet (S) with a plurality of holding members (34), respectively, while holding the sheet in a planar shape and conveying the sheet to a processing device (5). ), And a plurality of needles (43) for piercing the soft sheet (S) gripped by the gripping member (34) of the sheet feeding means (3). (3) a sheet holding frame (41) movable between the processing device (5); and a sheet piece (S ′) held by the sheet holding frame (41) from the soft sheet (S). A conveying device for a soft sheet, comprising: cutting means (45 to 47) for separating. 2. The sheet feeding means (3) comprises a pair of endless chains (23) circulating along both side edges of a soft sheet (S) and provided with the plurality of gripping members (34). The soft sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The holding member (34) includes a fixed claw (30) fixed to the endless chain (23) and a fixed claw (3).
A movable claw (32) pivotally supported to open and close with respect to 0);
A spring (3) for urging the movable claw (32) in the closing direction
3) and a guide member (35) arranged along the traveling path of the endless chain (23), and the movable claw (32) engages with the guide member (35) to move in the opening direction. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is driven. 4. A puncture needle (4) of said sheet holding frame (41).
When the soft sheet (S) is pierced from one side to another side in 3), a sheet holding frame (42) is provided on the other side to hold the soft sheet (S). 2. The apparatus for conveying a flexible sheet according to 1. 5. The soft sheet (S) is made of a resin,
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting unit is a heating element that melts and cuts the resin. 3. 6. A centering roller which contacts the soft sheet (S) fed from the sheet roll (R) and positions the soft sheet (S) on the center line (L) of the sheet feeding means (3). (18), wherein the centering rollers (18) are formed on both sides of the center line (L), respectively, and are spiral projections (1) twisted in opposite directions to each other.
8 _L , 18 _R ), the soft sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein: