JPH1179437A - Sheet separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To take out one sheet from a sheet layer layered in a large number of the sheets cut into a prescribed size. SOLUTION: In the center of a separator device 1, a mounting part 2 loading a sheet S layered is horizontally arranged. In a position corresponding to four corners of the mounting part 2, an air cylinder 4 is respectively arranged, and in a support bracket 7 fixed to a piston rod 6a of an air cylinder 6 supported in an upward direction to a piston rod 4a thereof, a first/second sucker pad 8, 9 is supported. The second sucker pad 9 is supported able to turn to a support bracket 7 through a support lever 12, and a distance from the first sucker pad 8 can be changed by operating an air cylinder 15. In four corners of the mounting part 2, an air cylinder 19 is arranged able to be lifted, and a retaining plate 21 is supported to a piston rod 19a. The retaining plate 21 is inserted between the sheet S sucked to the sucker pad 8, 9 and the sheet S in a lower side thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet separating apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet separating apparatus for separating sheets one by one from a stock section in which a large number of thin and relatively large sheets such as plastic films are stacked. The present invention relates to a sheet separating device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when manufacturing a multilayer printed circuit board, there is a method in which a plurality of printed circuit boards are simultaneously laminated and pressed. At this time, a stainless plate for maintaining the smoothness of the multilayer printed board is disposed between a set of sheet members in which a predetermined number of sheet-shaped prepregs and circuit boards constituting each layer of the multilayer printed board are laminated. Further, a plastic film (for example, polypropylene) is used as a release sheet for preventing the stainless steel plate and the prepreg or the circuit board from adhering to each other.

In order to efficiently manufacture a multilayer printed board, necessary sets of material sheets to be used in one press are laminated while being positioned on a predetermined pallet. When laminating the material sheets, a large number of release films and material sheets are respectively laminated and taken out one by one from a stocked material supply unit and placed on the pallet. The material sheets and stainless steel plates other than the release film are thicker than the release film, and can be stacked one after another by adsorbing one by one by a robot having a suction pad. However, since the release film has a thickness of about several tens of μm, only one of the release film layers stored in a stacked state is sucked and taken out by a robot having a suction pad, and is placed at a predetermined position. Very difficult to place. Therefore, the arrangement of the release film has been performed manually.

[0004] As a method of making a thin sheet having a relatively large area of 100 µm or less into a state that can be suctioned one by one with a suction pad, a film wound on a roll is pulled out from the roll and cut into a predetermined length. There are ways to do that.

[0005]

However, when a film wound on a roll is pulled out from the roll and cut to a predetermined length, the film is in a curved state due to the effect of being wound in a roll shape. Therefore, it is difficult to dispose it at a predetermined position.

If one sheet is to be sucked and taken out from a sheet layer made of a plurality of laminated thin plastic films, there is a problem that the lower film comes together by the action of pressure bonding or static electricity. Then, when the work of removing the lower sheet is performed during the conveyance, the sheet must be repositioned and re-positioned at a predetermined position, which is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to cut (separate) one sheet from a multi-layered sheet layer cut into a predetermined size. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet separating device capable of performing the above-mentioned.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet separating apparatus for separating an uppermost sheet from a multi-layered sheet layer. Suction means for sucking and holding the upper surface of
Wrinkle forming means for moving the suction means in a horizontal direction or in an oblique direction above the horizontal direction to form wrinkles on a sheet; and elevating means for moving the suction means and the wrinkle forming means vertically in an integrated manner. With.

In the invention described in claim 2, the wrinkle forming means forms wrinkles by moving at least one of the two suction portions constituting the suction means. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the wrinkle forming unit is arranged in a state where the suction unit suctions an upper surface of the sheet and is arranged at a raised position by the lifting and lowering unit. Activated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a gas is blown toward a side of the sheet on which wrinkles are formed by the wrinkle forming means. It has a nozzle.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the uppermost sheet sucked by the suction means and the lowermost sheet are positioned below the sheet. There is provided a pressing plate movably provided at an operation position for pressing the lower sheet downward while being inserted between the sheet and a standby position retracted from above the sheet.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the suction means sucks and holds the uppermost sheet of the multi-layered sheet layer. Then, the suction means is moved in the horizontal direction or in an oblique direction above the horizontal direction by the operation of the wrinkle forming means, and wrinkles are formed on the sheet. Further, the suction means and the wrinkle forming means are integrally moved in the vertical direction by the operation of the elevating means. The formation of wrinkles in the sheet creates a gap between the top sheet and the sheet below it.
Then, the lower sheet is separated (separated) from the upper sheet by its own weight.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, wrinkles are formed by moving at least one of the two suction portions constituting the suction means. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the wrinkle forming unit is arranged in a state where the suction unit suctions an upper surface of the sheet and is arranged at a raised position by the lifting and lowering unit. Activated. Accordingly, wrinkles are likely to be formed on the sheet.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the gas ejected from the nozzle in a state in which wrinkles are formed is applied to the uppermost sheet. The lower sheet is easily separated from the upper sheet by invading the gap between the lower sheets.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the uppermost sheet adsorbed by the adsorbing means is located below the sheet. In a state where a gap is formed between the sheet and the sheet, the holding plate is inserted into the gap. Then, the holding plate is held at an operating position for holding down the second and lower sheets from the top of the stacked sheet layers. Therefore, when the uppermost sheet is conveyed while being sucked, the lower sheet is reliably held at the predetermined position.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a sheet separating device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a separating device) 1, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the sheet separating device 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a placing section 2 on which sheets S are stacked and placed is horizontally disposed at the center of the separating apparatus 1. The placement section 2 includes a positioning piece 2a for stacking and placing the rectangular sheets S in a positioned state.
Support frames 3 are disposed in parallel on both left and right sides of the mounting portion 2. Air cylinders 4 are respectively arranged at positions corresponding to the four corners of the mounting section 2. Each of the air cylinders 4 has a bracket 5a that is orthogonal to the support frame 3.
(Shown in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the air cylinder 4 having a guide rod 4b is used, and the piston rod 4a reciprocates without rotating. Each air cylinder 4
The piston rod 4a and the distal end of the guide rod 4b are connected by a connecting member 5b, and the air cylinder 6 is fixed to the connecting member 5b. The air cylinder 6 is a piston rod 6a
Are fixed so as to extend upward. The piston rod 6a has a detent shape such as a convex shape on itself.

As shown in FIG. 1, a support bracket 7 is fixed to the tip of the piston rod 6a. The support bracket 7 is formed to be bent in a crank shape, and supports two first and second suction pads 8 and 9 as suction portions constituting suction means. As shown in FIG. 3, the suction pads 8 and 9 include tube portions 8a and 9a connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) via a flexible tube (not shown), and pad portions 8b and 9b that contact the sheet S. It has.
The tips of the pad portions 8b and 9b are formed so as not to damage the sheet S, for example, in a state having elasticity.
Both suction pads 8 and 9 are arranged such that the lower ends thereof are at the same height.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
The suction pad 8 is fixed to a lower portion of a support rod 10 fixed so as to protrude downward near the front end of the support bracket 7 so that the pad portion 8b is located at a lower end. A support lever 12 is rotatably supported at an intermediate portion of the support bracket 7 via a support shaft 11, and a support rod 13 is fixed to one end of the support lever 12 so as to protrude downward. The second suction pad 9 is fixed to the lower end of the support rod 13.

An air cylinder 15 is fixed via a bracket 14 near the base end of the support bracket 7. A pin 16 is attached to a tip of a piston rod 15 a of the air cylinder 15 so as to engage with an engagement groove 12 a formed at the other end of the support lever 12. The support lever 12 is moved by the operation of the air cylinder 15.
And the distance between the two suction pads 8 and 9 expands and contracts. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the state where the piston rod 15a is located at the projecting position is the reference position, and the second suction pad 9 is located at a position approaching the first suction pad 8 by the immersion operation of the air cylinder 15. Is done.

In this embodiment, the suction pad 9 of the suction means is operated by the air cylinder 15 and the support lever 12.
Is formed in a direction along the upper surface of the sheet S to form wrinkles on the sheet S. Further, the air cylinder 6 and the support bracket 7 constitute elevating means for integrally moving the suction means and the wrinkle forming means in the vertical direction. The suction means and the wrinkle forming means are arranged at the operation positions where the suction pads 8, 9 face the sheet layer on the mounting portion 2 when the piston rod 4a is in a protruding state, and the piston rod 4a
In the immersion state, the suction pads 8 and 9 are arranged at the retreat positions where they do not face the sheet layer on the mounting portion 2.

Air cylinders 17 are provided at positions corresponding to the four corners of the mounting portion 2, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, each air cylinder 17 has a bracket 1 with respect to the support frame 3 with the piston rod 17a extending upward.
8a. Further, the piston rod 17a has a detent shape such as a convex shape on itself.
A bracket 18b is fixed to the tip of the piston rod 17a of each air cylinder 17, and an air cylinder 19 is fixed to the bracket 18b. Air cylinder 19
Is fixed so that the piston rod 19a extends in the horizontal direction (parallel to the piston rod 4a in this embodiment). In this embodiment, the air cylinder 19 having a guide rod 19b is used, and the piston rod 19a is configured to reciprocate without rotating.

The piston rod 19a and the guide rod 19
A holding plate 21 is fixed to a connecting member 20 that connects the first and second members b. The pressing plate 21 is bent in an L-shape, and the pressing portion is formed in a substantially square shape. The holding plate 21 is formed of a metal plate in this embodiment. The pressing plate 21 is disposed at a position where it can be inserted between the uppermost sheet S sucked by the suction pads 8 and 9 and the sheet S positioned below the sheet S when the piston rod 19a is in a protruding state, In the retracted state of the piston rod 19a, it is arranged at a retreat position which does not face the sheet S. Further, when the air cylinder 17 is retracted while the piston rod 19a is in the protruding state, the pressing plate 21 is arranged at an operating position for pressing the lower sheet S downward.

At the positions corresponding to the four corners of the mounting portion 2, gas (compressed air in this embodiment) is directed toward the side of the sheet S.
Nozzles 22 for spraying are provided. Each of the nozzles 22 is disposed at a position where compressed air is blown obliquely to the sheet S. A control valve (not shown) is provided in the middle of the pipe 23 to which the nozzle 22 is connected, and the injection timing and the injection pressure of the compressed air are adjusted by opening and closing the control valve. Appropriate air pressure and angle ejected from the nozzle 22 differ depending on the thickness and size of the sheet S, and appropriate conditions are determined in advance by a test. In addition, the nozzle 22 is omitted in FIG. 1 for convenience of illustration.

Each of the air cylinders 4, 6, 15, 17,
The operations of the nozzle 19 and the nozzle 22 are controlled by a control device (not shown). Above the separating device 1, a suction conveyance device 24 that suctions the sheets S one by one from the sheet layer on the mounting portion 2 and suctions and conveys the sheets S to a combination station arranged at a predetermined position can be on standby. Suction transfer device 24 is orthogonal 3-axis robot 25 (only part is shown)
And a support plate 2 movably supported by an orthogonal three-axis robot 25 in an X direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 2), a Y direction (a direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 2), and a Z direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2).
6 and a plurality of suction pads 2 provided on the support plate 26
7 is comprised.

Next, the operation of the above-configured device will be described. Prior to the suction of the sheet S by the suction conveyance device 24, first, the separation operation of the top sheet S by the separation device 1 from the stacked sheet layers is performed. In the stand-by state of the separating device 1, the injection of the compressed air from the nozzle 22 is stopped, the piston rods 4a, 19a are arranged in the immersion state, and the piston rods 6a, 15a, 17a are arranged in the protruding state.

From this standby state, first, the air cylinder 4 is actuated to project the piston rod 4a, and the suction pads 8, 9 are arranged above the sheet S layer as shown by the chain line in FIG. Next, the air cylinder 6 is operated, the piston rod 6a is retracted, and the suction pads 8, 9 are lightly pressed to the sheet S. At approximately the same time as the operation of the air cylinder 6, the suction pads 8, 9 are held in a state where a negative pressure is applied.

Next, the air cylinder 6 is actuated, the piston rod 6a projects, and the suction pads 8, 9 rise with the sheet S being sucked. From this time, the injection of the compressed air from the nozzle 22 is started, and the compressed air is blown toward the side of the sheet S. With the support bracket 7 disposed at the raised position, the air cylinder 15 is operated to retract the piston rod 15a. As a result, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 4, the support lever 12 is rotated about the support shaft 11, and the second suction pad 9 is moved so as to approach the first suction pad 8. And, as shown in FIG.
The distance between the two suction pads 8 and 9 is reduced, and wrinkles are formed on the sheet S.
And a gap is formed between the sheet and the sheet S attached to the lower side by static electricity or pressure bonding. When the adhesion force due to static electricity or pressure bonding is weak, the lower sheet S is separated from the uppermost sheet S by its own weight due to a gap. When the adhesive force is strong, the lower sheet S does not separate by its own weight alone, but since the compressed air jetted from the nozzle 22 is blown into the gap, the gap is further expanded, and the gap of the gap is increased. The area also increases. As a result, the lower sheet S is easily separated from the uppermost sheet S. The support lever 12 may be reciprocated multiple times by operating the air cylinder 15 multiple times. By operating the sheet S a plurality of times, wrinkles on the sheet S become easier.

Next, as shown in FIG.
9 is actuated, the piston rod 19a is protruded, and the holding plate 21 is placed at the operating position. The pressing plate 21 enters the gap between the uppermost sheet S sucked by the suction pads 8 and 9 and the sheet S thereunder. In this state, the air cylinder 17 is actuated, the holding plate 21 is lowered, and the other sheets S except for the top sheet S are lightly pressed on the mounting portion 2. As a result, the uppermost sheet S sucked by the suction pads 8 and 9 and the sheet S below it are completely separated. The injection of the compressed air from the nozzle 22 is stopped before the pressing plate 21 is disposed at the operation position.

Next, the action of the negative pressure on the suction pads 8, 9 is released, and the sheet S sucked by the suction pads 8, 9 is separated from the suction pads 8, 9 and placed on the holding plate 21. Is placed. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the air cylinder 4 is operated, and the suction pads 8, 9 and the air cylinder 15 are arranged at the retracted position. In this state, the support plate 26 of the suction conveyance device 24 is moved down, and after the top sheet S is sucked by the suction pad 27, the support plate 26 is moved up. When the support plate 26 rises with the suction pad 27 sucking the top sheet S,
Since the second and lower sheets S are pressed by the pressing plate 21, only the uppermost sheet S is reliably sucked and moved by the suction pad 27 as shown in FIG. Then, the sheet S sucked by the suction pad 27 is conveyed by the suction conveyance device 24 to a combination station arranged at a predetermined position. Further, the holding plate 21 is arranged at the retracted position, and one cycle of the separating device 1 is completed.

This embodiment has the following effects. (A) The suction pads 8, 9 (only 9 in the embodiment) are moved in the horizontal direction while the uppermost sheet S of the plurality of stacked sheets S is sucked by the suction pads 8, 9. Then, wrinkles are formed on the sheet S. Therefore, even if the sheets S placed in a stacked state adhere to each other due to static electricity or pressure bonding, a gap is formed between the uppermost sheet S and the sheet S therebelow. Can be separated (separated) from the sheet S below the sheet S.

(B) Since the suction pads 8, 9 suck the sheet S at the four corners and form wrinkles, the sheet S can be more reliably separated. (C) Since wrinkles are formed by moving one of the two suction pads 8 and 9 constituting the suction means, wrinkles are easily formed.

(D) The formation of wrinkles due to the operation of the suction pads 8 and 9 is performed in a state where the upper surface of the sheet S is suctioned by the suction pads 8 and 9 and arranged at the ascending position. It will be easier.

(E) The four corners of the sheet S are
While each second suction pad 9 is moved in the state of being sucked in 9 to form wrinkles, the second suction pad 9 moves the sheet S from the outside to the inside to form wrinkles.
Even if the second suction pads 9 are operated without synchronization, no excessive force is applied to the sheet S. Therefore, the operation control of the plurality of second suction pads 9 is simplified.

(F) When wrinkles are formed in the sheet S, the compressed air injected from the nozzles 22 enters the gap between the uppermost sheet S and the sheet S thereunder, so that the lower sheet S Is easily separated from the upper sheet S.

(G) The holding plate 21 is provided with the suction pads 8 and 9
Sheet S adsorbed on the sheet and the sheet S below it
, And is held at the operation position where the second and lower sheets S are pressed downward. Therefore, when the uppermost sheet S is conveyed while being sucked, the lower sheet S is reliably held at the predetermined position.

(H) Since the holding plate 21 is formed of a metal plate, the holding plate 21 is inserted between the uppermost sheet S and the second sheet S, and the surfaces of both sheets S are held. The static electricity charged to the sheet S is grounded, and the adhesive force between the two sheets S due to the static electricity can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, first and second suction pads 8 and 9 constituting a sheet separating device are provided.
The point that an air cylinder 15 as a wrinkle forming means is provided on the suction conveyance device 24 side is greatly different from the above-described embodiment. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

At the four corners of the support plate 26, first suction pads 8 are fixed at predetermined positions via support rods (not shown). A support lever 12 is rotatably supported in the vicinity of each first suction pad 8 via a support shaft 28, and a second suction pad 9 is provided at one end of the support lever 12 via a support rod (not shown). Is fixed. The support rod is loosely inserted into an elongated hole (not shown) formed in the support plate 26 and is movable with the rotation of the support lever 12. The air cylinder 15 is fixed to a support plate 26 via a bracket 29, and the other end of the support lever 12 is connected to a piston rod 15 a of the air cylinder 15.
Further, the number of the suction pads 27 is smaller than that of the apparatus of the above-described embodiment because the suction pads 8 and 9 are provided on the support plate 26. Each suction pad 8,
Reference numerals 9 and 27 are arranged such that their lower ends are located on the same plane.

In the apparatus according to this embodiment, when one sheet S is taken out from the sheet layers stacked on the mounting section 2 by suction, first, the first and second suction pads 8 and 9 are used. In the state where negative pressure acts on the
Is operated to place the support plate 26 in the lowered position,
The sheet S is sucked by the suction pads 8 and 9. Then orthogonal 3
When the axis robot 25 is operated, the suction pads 8 and 9 together with the support plate 26 move up to a predetermined position with the sheet S being sucked. That is, in this embodiment, the orthogonal three-axis robot 25 serves as the elevating means. Further, the predetermined position is a position corresponding to the ascending position of both suction pads 8, 9 in the above embodiment. From this time, the injection of the compressed air from the nozzle 22 is started, and the compressed air is blown toward the side of the sheet S.

Next, the air cylinder 15 is actuated to move the second suction pad 9 via the support lever 12 so as to approach the first suction pad 8, and the distance between the two suction pads 8, 9 is reduced to reduce the sheet. S wrinkles. Then, the compressed air jetted from the nozzle 22 is blown into the gap between the uppermost sheet S and the lower sheet S, and the gap expands.
Next, after the air cylinder 19 is operated and the holding plate 21 is arranged at the operation position, the air cylinder 17 is operated and the holding plate 21 is lowered, and the other sheets S except the top sheet S are removed. It is in a state of being lightly pressed on the mounting portion 2.

Next, after the air cylinder 15 is operated to return the second suction pad 9 to the original position, the suction pad 27
Is also in a state where a negative pressure acts. Then, the orthogonal three-axis robot 25 is operated, and the sheet S sucked by the suction pads 8, 9, 27 is conveyed by the suction conveyance device 24 to the combination station arranged at a predetermined position.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the orthogonal three-axis robot 25 functions as a lifting / lowering means for integrally moving the suction means and the wrinkle forming means in the vertical direction, the air provided in the first embodiment is provided. The cylinder 6 becomes unnecessary. In addition, since it is not necessary to avoid interference between the wrinkle forming means and the suction conveyance device 24, the air cylinder 4 is not required, and the structure is simplified. Further, since the air cylinder 4 is not provided, the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the nozzle 22 and the air cylinders 17 and 19 is increased.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be embodied as follows, for example. The places where the sheet S is sucked by the two suction pads 8 and 9 and the places where the holding plate 21 is inserted are not limited to the four corners, but may be a plurality of places including two diagonal corners or both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sheet S.

After the sheet S is sucked by the suction pads 8 and 9, before the air cylinder 15 is operated to perform the wrinkle forming operation, the air cylinder 6 is operated and the suction pad in the state where the sheet S is sucked is operated. 8, 9 may be moved up and down. By this operation, the sheets having the weaker adhesive force among the second and lower sheets S fall. This elevating operation may be performed once or plural times. In the second embodiment, a vertical three-axis robot moves up and down instead of the air cylinder 6.

After the wrinkle forming operation, or when the wrinkle forming operation (operation of the air cylinder 15) is performed a plurality of times, the above-described elevating operation may be performed during the wrinkle forming operation. In this case, the sheet S whose adhesion to the first sheet S has become weak due to the formation of wrinkles is more easily separated.

The wrinkle forming operation by the two suction pads 8 and 9 may be any operation in which wrinkles are formed on the sheet S sucked by the suction pads 8 and 9. The operation is not limited to the operation of turning around the pad 8. For example, the second suction pad 9 may be reciprocated linearly, or both suction pads 8 and 9 may be moved. Further, only the first suction pad 8 may be operated. Further, at least one of the suction pads 8 and 9 may be operated so that both have a vertical difference. That is, the suction means may be moved not only in the horizontal direction but also in an oblique direction above the horizontal direction.

The timing at which the wrinkle forming operation is performed is not limited to the state in which the suction pads 8 and 9 suck the sheet S and are arranged at the ascending position, and the timing at which the suction pads 8 and 9 are arranged at the descent position. It may be carried out in the state, or in both the raised position and the lowered position. Further, it may be carried out during ascent or descent. When the operation is performed at the lowered position, the fixed suction pad 8 and the movable suction pad 9 are not necessarily provided as the suction pad, and a single movable pad may be used.

The gas injected from the nozzle 22 is not limited to compressed air, but may be, for example, nitrogen or partially ionized compressed air. In the case of partially ionized air, it helps to eliminate static electricity. Further, the nozzle 22 is not always essential and may be omitted.

The number of the pressing plates 21 and the number of the wrinkle forming means may not be the same, and when the wrinkle forming means is arranged at the four corners, the number of the pressing plates 21 may be two. The pressing plate 21 does not always need to press the second or lower sheet S downward, and has a working position for engaging the sheet S to prevent the sheet S from rising and a retracting position for allowing the sheet S to rise. You may comprise so that reciprocation is possible. In this case, the lifting / lowering air cylinder 17 is not required, and the structure is simplified.

○ Air cylinders 4, 6, 15, 17, 1
Instead of 9, another actuator such as a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric cylinder may be used. Especially,
The use of a solenoid for the air cylinder 15 which does not require a relatively large operating force helps to make the device compact.

As a means for stacking and holding the sheet S in a positioned state, a pair of columns may be erected and holes formed in the sheet S to engage with the columns. The number of suction pads serving as wrinkle forming means is not limited to two but may be three or more. In that case, at least one of them is operated to form wrinkles.

The holding plate 21 is not limited to a square,
Other shapes may be used. For example, a triangular shape having a corner at the tip can be used. The mechanism for stopping the rotation of the rod of each cylinder is not limited to the mechanism provided with the guide rod, and the rod itself may have a detent shape such as a convex shape instead of the guide rod. Conversely, all the rods having a detented shape such as a convex shape may be replaced with guide rods.

○ The pressing plate may be made of a material other than metal. For example, those made of resin are mentioned. in this case,
As a countermeasure against static electricity, one having conductivity is preferable. The technical ideas (inventions) other than those described in the claims that can be understood from the above embodiments will be described below together with their effects.

(1) In the invention described in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the suction means is provided at positions corresponding to four corners of the sheet. In this case, since the suction unit suctions the sheet at the four corners and forms wrinkles, the sheet is more reliably separated.

(2) In the invention as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, and (1), the wrinkle forming means is a distance to an outer edge of the sheet among the two suction portions constituting the suction means. A wrinkle is formed by moving the suction part located on the smaller side of the slab. In this case, even if the plurality of suction units are operated without synchronization, no excessive force is applied to the sheet,
The operation control of the plurality of suction units is simplified.

(3) By adsorbing the uppermost sheet of a multiplicity of stacked sheet layers by at least two corners by the suction means, and moving the suction means in the suction state to form wrinkles on the sheet, A sheet separating method in which a gap is formed between an uppermost sheet and a sheet below the uppermost sheet, and a holding plate is inserted into the gap to separate the uppermost sheet from the lowermost sheet. With this method, the top sheet can be reliably separated from the stacked sheet layers.

(4) In the invention described in (3), before the pressing plate is inserted into the gap of the sheet, gas is injected toward the gap. In this case, the pressing plate is more reliably inserted into the gap, and the separation is reliably performed.

(5) A sheet suction and conveyance device equipped with the suction means and the wrinkle forming means according to any one of claims 1 to 3. In this case, the sheet suction and conveyance device can adsorb and convey only one top sheet from the stacked and stacked sheet layers and simplify the configuration of the sheet mounting portion side.

The "wrinkles" formed on the sheet in this specification are not limited to fine wrinkles, but include "curved" or "bent".

[0061]

As described in detail above, claims 1 to 5 are provided.
According to the invention described in (1), one sheet can be cut (separated) from a sheet layer that has been cut into a predetermined size and stacked in large numbers.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since wrinkles are formed by moving at least one of the two suction portions constituting the suction means, wrinkles are easily formed. According to the third aspect of the present invention, wrinkles are formed by the operation of the suction unit in a state in which the upper surface of the sheet is suctioned by the suction unit and arranged at the ascending position. In comparison, wrinkles are more likely to be formed on the sheet.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when wrinkles are formed in the sheet, the compressed gas injected from the nozzle enters the gap between the uppermost sheet and the sheet below the uppermost sheet. The sheet is easily separated from the upper sheet.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pressing plate is inserted between the uppermost sheet sucked by the suction means and the lower sheet, and presses the second and lower sheets downward. Since the uppermost sheet is conveyed while being sucked, the lower sheet can be surely held at a predetermined position because the uppermost sheet is conveyed in a sucked state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a sheet separating apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view similarly.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of wrinkle forming means.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing the operation.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the operation.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing the operation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view showing the operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of a sheet separating device according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Separating device, 6 ... Air cylinder which comprises a raising / lowering means, 7 ... Support bracket similarly, 8, 9 ... Suction pad as an adsorption | suction part which comprises adsorption means, 12 ... Support lever as a wrinkle formation means, 15 ... Similarly Air cylinder, 21 ...
Holding plate, 22 ... nozzle, S ... sheet.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Katsuya Yamamoto 2-1-1, Toyota-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Industries Corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sheet separating device for separating an uppermost sheet from a multi-layered sheet layer, comprising: an adsorbing unit for adsorbing and holding an upper surface of the sheet; A sheet separating apparatus comprising: a wrinkle forming unit that moves upward and diagonally to form wrinkles on a sheet; and an elevating unit that integrally moves the suction unit and the wrinkle forming unit in a vertical direction. 2. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wrinkle forming unit forms a wrinkle by moving at least one of two suction units constituting the suction unit. 3. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wrinkle forming means is operated in a state where the suction means suctions an upper surface of the sheet and is arranged at an ascending position by the elevating means. 4. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a nozzle for blowing gas toward a side of the sheet on which the wrinkles are formed by the wrinkle forming unit. 5. An operation position for pressing down a lower sheet while being inserted between an uppermost sheet sucked by the suction means and a sheet positioned below the sheet, The sheet separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a pressing plate movably provided at a standby position retracted from above the device.