A sheet separating device and a sheet separating method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sheet separating device and a sheet separating method. The sheet separating device includes a loading rack, on which there is a paper bin for placing papers, a suction cup device located above the papers in the paper bin, and a telescopic mechanism for driving the suction cup device to move vertically; the paper bin includes a bottom plate for supporting the papers, and side plates fixedly connected to the bottom plate and extending upward, on which a rotary brush is installed, and the outer rotating arc surface of the rotary brush extends into the paper bin; a blowing nozzle is also installed on the side plate of the paper bin and is arranged towards the inside of the paper bin on one side of the rotary brush. The present invention uses the rotation of the rotary brush, the blowing of compressed air by the blowing nozzle, and the peeling force generated by the different radii of the double conductive papers around the center due to the reciprocating circular rotation of the paper separating suction cups for sheet separation. The combination of the three peeling forces makes the success rate of sheet separation reach more than 99.9%; a moving trolley is used to receive the unseparated double conductive papers, avoiding movement interference and reducing the floor area of the equipment at the same time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automation equipment, especially to the field of paper sheet separation, and specifically refers to a sheet separation device and a sheet separation method. Background Art

[0002] Conductive paper is a kind of paper with good electrical conductivity and relatively high tensile and tear strength. During the production process, after the front-end coiled conductive paper is cut, a natural curling force will be formed, which will cause defects such as the offset of punching positions, the reduction of precision, and the bonding air gap during the subsequent processing and assembly processes. To solve the problem of the natural curling force, usually a pressure of more than one ton is applied to the conductive paper and maintained for 48 hours. This kind of pressure treatment effectively solves the natural curling, but causes the problem of mutual adhesion between conductive papers, and it is necessary to separate the conductive papers. Traditional separation of conductive papers is carried out by manual separation. Workers wear silicone finger cots and need to use relatively large force to rub the double or multiple conductive papers that are closely attached together. This not only has low operation efficiency, but also causes damage to the workers' fingers. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a sheet separation device and a sheet separation method, which use equipment to replace manual sheet separation, greatly improving the sheet separation operation efficiency and solving the problem of muscle strain of workers' fingers.

[0004] The present invention is realized through the following technical solutions. A sheet separation device is provided, which includes a loading rack. A paper bin for placing papers, a suction cup device located above the papers in the paper bin, and a telescopic mechanism for driving the suction cup device to move vertically are provided on the loading rack. The paper bin includes a bottom plate for supporting the papers and side plates fixedly connected to the bottom plate and extending upward. A rotary brush arranged horizontally and a motor for driving the rotary brush to rotate are installed on the side plates, and the outer rotating arc surface of the rotary brush extends into the paper bin. A nozzle facing the inside of the paper bin and located on one side of the rotary brush is also installed on the side plates of the paper bin, and the nozzle is connected to a gas supply device.

[0005] The outer rotating arc surface of the rotary brush in this solution refers to the arc surface formed by the end of the brush bristles far from the rotation axis when the rotary brush rotates. During use, the papers are stacked in the paper bin and closely attached to the side plates of the paper bin. The telescopic mechanism drives the suction cup device to move downward to the top of the stack of papers, and the topmost paper is sucked by the suction cups of the suction cup device. Then the telescopic device drives the suction cup device to move upward. When the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device moves up to the position of the rotary brush, the rotary brush rotates to rub the paper, creating a gap between adjacent papers. At the same time, compressed air is blown into the gap between the papers through the nozzle, making the gap larger, thus realizing the separation of the papers.

[0006] As an optimization, the side plates are two pieces and the two side plates are perpendicular to each other. This optimization is convenient for positioning when the paper is placed into the paper bin, and at the same time convenient for arranging the roller brush and the blowing nozzle from two directions, improving the sheet separation effect and the sheet separation efficiency.

[0007] As an optimization, it further includes a conveyor. A guide rail extending above the conveyor and a driving device for driving the suction cup device to move along the guide rail are installed on the loading rack. In this optimization, the driving device moves the suction cup device above the conveyor, and the conveyor timely conveys the separated single sheets of paper. The structure is simple and it avoids secondary adhesion of the paper.

[0008] As an optimization, it further includes a double-sheet detector located on the moving track of the suction cup device along the guide rail. When the suction cup device moves along the guide rail, the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes through the detection end of the double-sheet detector; a double-sheet temporary storage cart is also arranged below the moving track of the suction cup device along the guide rail. This optimization uses the double-sheet detector to detect whether the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device after sheet separation is a single sheet, and by setting the double-sheet temporary storage cart to temporarily store the double sheets or multiple sheets that are still adhered together after sheet separation, thus avoiding the mixing of double sheets, multiple sheets and single sheets.

[0009] As an optimization, the double-sheet detector is an ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor. When the suction cup device moves along the guide rail, the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes between the two opposed ends of the ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor. The double-sheet detector in this optimization uses an ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor, and the detection of the number of sheets of paper is more accurate.

[0010] As an optimization, the double-sheet temporary storage cart straddles above the conveying surface of the conveyor and moves along the frame of the conveyor. This optimization has a simple structure, is convenient for arranging the double-sheet temporary storage cart, at the same time avoids interference with the conveying of the conveyor, and is also convenient for the suction cup device to place the paper.

[0011] As an optimization, the loading racks are two pieces, and the guide rails on the two loading racks are perpendicular to each other. This optimization realizes double-station sheet separation by setting two loading racks, further improving the operation efficiency. The guide rails of the two loading racks are arranged perpendicular to each other, so that one loading rack is located on one side of the conveyor and the other loading rack is located at one end of the conveyor. The layout is more reasonable and suitable for sharing a conveyor and a double-sheet temporary storage cart.

[0012] As an optimization, a nodding separation device is installed on the suction cup device. The nodding separation device includes a separation bracket fixedly connected to the suction cup bracket of the suction cup device, and a separation cylinder installed on the separation bracket. The piston rod of the separation cylinder extends downward obliquely and is hinged with a connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod away from the piston rod is hinged with a rotating block. The rotating block is hinged to the separation bracket through a transverse shaft. A paper separating suction cup is installed on the rotating block and is arranged downward. The paper separating suction cup is located between the edge of the paper and the paper sucking suction cup of the suction cup device. The nodding separation device of this optimization scheme sucks the paper with the paper separating suction cup, and drives the paper to bend by the telescopic action of the separation cylinder. Since the paper has a thickness, when bending, the arc lengths generated by the bending of different layers of paper are different, causing relative movement between the papers, thereby realizing paper separation.

[0013] As an optimization, two paper fixing suction cups arranged downward are also fixedly installed on the separation bracket. The two paper fixing suction cups are located on the side of the paper separating suction cup close to the center of the paper. The paper separating suction cup and the two paper fixing suction cups are distributed in a triangle. This optimization scheme reduces the bending radius of the paper by setting paper fixing suction cups on the separation bracket, and further improves the paper separation effect.

[0014] This scheme also provides a paper separation method, including the following steps:

[0015] 1. Stack the papers in the paper bin and make the two side plates perpendicular to the paper bin close to the papers. The suction cup device moves downward, and uses multiple paper sucking suction cups of the suction cup device to suck the topmost paper of the paper stack at the same time;

[0016] 2. The piston rod of the separation cylinder extends, driving the rotating block to rotate around the transverse shaft, so that the paper separating suction cup sucks the topmost paper of the paper stack. Then the piston rod of the separation cylinder retracts, driving the paper to bend. Since the paper has a certain thickness, the arc lengths formed by the bending of adjacent papers are different, so that relative displacement occurs between adjacent papers, realizing one-time paper separation;

[0017] 3. After one-time paper separation is completed, the suction cup device moves upward with the adsorbed paper. When the paper moves upward to the position of the rotary brush, use the rotating rotary brush to rub the edge of the paper, so that there is a gap between adjacent papers. At the same time, blow compressed air to the paper through the air nozzle, and use the compressed air to expand the gap between adjacent papers, realizing secondary paper separation;

[0018] 4. After secondary paper separation is completed, drive the suction cup device to move towards the conveyor by the driving device. When the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes between the two opposite ends of the ultrasonic pair of double-sheet detection sensors, detect whether the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device is a single sheet through the ultrasonic pair of double-sheet detection sensors. If it is a single sheet, the suction cup device sends the paper to the conveying surface of the conveyor. If it is not a single sheet, the suction cup device sends the paper to the double-sheet temporary storage trolley.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The nodding separation device utilizes the principle that the relative movement of two adjacent conductive papers occurs due to different arc lengths to achieve single-sheet separation in one time; through the brushing of the conductive paper by the rotating brush and the blowing of the nozzle, secondary separation is achieved, greatly improving the separation success rate and separation operation efficiency, and reducing the labor cost; the conveyor timely sends out the single conductive paper, and the double-sheet temporary storage trolley temporarily stores the double or multiple adhered conductive papers to avoid secondary adhesion of the conductive papers; the separation process does not require manual intervention, and after separation, it is automatically placed on the conveyor belt at a preset angle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the separation device of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the paper bin of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the suction cup device of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the nodding separation device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the double-sheet detector of the present invention;

[0025] As shown in the figure:

[0026] 1. Feeding rack I, 2. Suction cup device I, 3. Telescopic mechanism I, 4. Feeding rack II, 5. Telescopic mechanism II, 6. Suction cup device II, 7. Conveyor belt, 8. Conductive paper, 9. Double-sheet temporary storage trolley, 10. Brush, 11. Nozzle, 12. Suction cup support, 13. Rotating block, 14. Paper separating suction cup, 15. Double-sheet detector, 16. Cantilever rack, 17. Bottom plate, 18. Side plate, 19. Separation support, 20. Separation cylinder, 21. Connecting rod, 22. Paper fixing suction cup, 23. Nodding separation device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In order to clearly illustrate the technical features of the present solution, the present solution will be described below through specific embodiments.

[0028] Such as Figure 1A sheet separating device is shown, which is used for separating target objects to be separated with various thickness specifications such as conductive paper, copper foil or aluminum foil with a thickness of 0.15 mm. In this embodiment, the separation of conductive paper is taken as an example for illustration. A sheet separating device includes a belt conveyor and two loading racks. The conveyor belt 7 of the belt conveyor conveys the separated single conductive paper 8 from the back to the front. One loading rack is located on the right side of the belt conveyor, and the other loading rack is located behind the belt conveyor. Guide rails extending above the belt conveyor are installed on each loading rack, and the guide rails on the two loading racks are perpendicular to each other. For the convenience of description, in this embodiment, the loading rack located behind the belt conveyor is loading rack I 1, and the loading rack located on the right side of the belt conveyor is loading rack II 4.

[0029] A paper bin for placing conductive paper, a suction cup device located above the conductive paper in the paper bin, and a telescopic mechanism for driving the suction cup device to move vertically are provided on the loading rack. In this embodiment, the suction cup device on loading rack I 1 is suction cup device I 2, and the telescopic mechanism on loading rack I 1 is telescopic mechanism I 3; the suction cup device on loading rack II 4 is suction cup device II 6, and the telescopic mechanism on loading rack II 4 is telescopic mechanism II 5. The telescopic mechanism adopts the prior art, and both telescopic mechanisms in this embodiment adopt the lead screw and nut structure. As Figure 3 shown, the suction cup device includes a suction cup bracket 12 installed at the lower end of the telescopic mechanism, and a plurality of paper suction cups installed on the suction cup bracket. The paper suction cups are arranged downward for adsorbing conductive paper.

[0030] The paper bin includes a bottom plate 17 for supporting the conductive paper, and side plates 18 fixedly connected to the bottom plate and extending upward. There are two side plates, and the two side plates are perpendicular to each other. A rotary brush 10 arranged horizontally and a motor for driving the rotary brush to rotate are installed on the side plate 18. The axis of the rotary brush is parallel to the side plate where it is located, and a notch adapted to the rotary brush is formed on the side plate. The outer rotating arc surface of the rotary brush extends into the paper bin. The outer rotating arc surface of the rotary brush refers to the arc surface formed by the end of the brush bristles far from the rotation axis when the rotary brush rotates. The paper bin is inclined, and the lower end of the connection between the two side plates is the low point, which avoids the separated conductive paper from sliding out of the paper bin, and at the same time solves the problem that the conductive paper is inserted into the joint area due to the bending and sagging of the conductive paper when passing through the joint area of the two conveyor belts. A blowing nozzle 11 located on one side of the rotary brush and facing the inside of the paper bin is also installed on the side plate of the paper bin. The blowing nozzle is connected to a gas supply device, and the installation height of the blowing nozzle is lower than the installation height of the rotary brush, so that when the rotary brush rubs the conductive paper downward, a gap is formed between the blowing nozzle and the conductive paper, and the compressed air ejected from the blowing nozzle is used to expand the gap between the conductive papers to achieve separation.

[0031] A driving device for driving the suction cup device to move along the guide rail is installed on the loading rack. A chute adapted to the guide rail is provided on the telescopic mechanism. The driving device drives the telescopic mechanism to move along the guide rail, thereby realizing the movement of the suction cup device along the guide rail. The driving device in this embodiment adopts a lead screw and nut structure in the prior art.

[0032] The conductive paper separating device in this embodiment further includes a double-sheet detector 15 located on the moving track of the suction cup device along the guide rail. When the suction cup device moves along the guide rail, the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes through the detection end of the double-sheet detector. The double-sheet detector in this embodiment is an ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor. The ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor is installed on the loading rack through a cantilever 16. When the suction cup device moves along the guide rail, the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes between the two opposed ends of the ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor.

[0033] In order not to cause interference in the temporary storage of double-sheet conductive paper and to reduce the floor area of the equipment, a double-sheet temporary storage trolley 9 is further provided below the moving track of the suction cup device along the guide rail. The double-sheet temporary storage trolley straddles above the conveying surface of the conveyor and moves along the frame of the conveyor. The double-sheet temporary storage trolley goes to the trajectory passing points of the double-station separating mechanism respectively to receive double-sheets or multiple conductive papers that cannot be separated. The wheels of the double-sheet temporary storage trolley are custom-made nylon wheels that move directly in the gaps of the aluminum alloy profiles, reducing the number of parts; the temporary storage cardboard of the trolley also uses nylon material, which is beneficial to reducing weight, inertia, and shortening the acceleration and deceleration time.

[0034] A nodding type separating device 23 is installed on the suction cup device. The nodding type separating device includes a separating bracket 19 fixedly connected to the suction cup bracket of the suction cup device, and a separating cylinder 20 installed on the separating bracket. The piston rod of the separating cylinder extends downward obliquely and is hinged with a connecting rod 21. One end of the connecting rod away from the piston rod is hinged with a rotating block 13. The rotating block is hinged to the separating bracket through a cross shaft. A paper separating suction cup 14 is installed on the rotating block and is arranged downward. The paper separating suction cup is located between the edge of the conductive paper and the paper suction cup of the suction cup device. The paper separating suction cup is located on the side of the cross shaft away from the separating cylinder, and the cross shaft is located below the connecting rod. Two paper fixing suction cups 22 are also fixedly installed downward on the separating bracket. The two paper fixing suction cups are located on the side of the paper separating suction cup close to the center of the conductive paper. The paper separating suction cup and the two paper fixing suction cups are distributed in a triangle. The structures of the paper suction cup, the paper separating suction cup, and the paper fixing suction cup in this embodiment all adopt vacuum suction cups in the prior art and are respectively connected to an air extraction device to realize the adsorption of the conductive paper by the suction cup using negative pressure.

[0035] The method for separating conductive paper using the conductive paper separating device in this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0036] 1. Stack about 100 conductive papers in the paper bin, and make the two side plates perpendicular to the paper bin closely attached to the conductive papers. The equipment automatically determines that the materials have arrived. Manually click the start button or set the automatic judgment to pause for 3 seconds, and the machine starts to run. The suction cup device moves downward, and uses multiple paper suction cups of the suction cup device to simultaneously suck the topmost conductive paper of the stack of conductive papers. The value of the vacuum pressure gauge is uploaded to the PLC, and the PLC judges and confirms that the conductive paper has been sucked.

[0037] 2. The piston rod of the separation cylinder extends, driving the rotating block to rotate around the horizontal axis, so that the paper separation suction cup sucks the topmost conductive paper of the stack of conductive papers. Then the piston rod of the separation cylinder retracts, driving the conductive paper to bend. The piston rod extends and retracts 3 - 5 times. Due to the certain thickness of the conductive paper, the arc lengths formed by the bending of adjacent conductive papers are different, so that relative displacement occurs between adjacent conductive papers, realizing one-time paper separation.

[0038] 3. After one-time paper separation is completed, the suction cup device moves upward with the adsorbed conductive paper. When the conductive paper moves upward to the position of the rotary brush, use the rotating rotary brush to rub the edge of the conductive paper, so that there is a gap between adjacent conductive papers. At the same time, blow compressed air to the conductive paper through the air nozzle, and use the compressed air to expand the gap between adjacent conductive papers, realizing secondary paper separation.

[0039] 4. After secondary paper separation is completed, drive the suction cup device to move towards the conveyor by the driving device. When the conductive paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes between the two opposite ends of the ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor, use the ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor to detect whether the conductive paper adsorbed by the suction cup device is a single sheet. If it is a single sheet, the suction cup device moves downward to a preset position and sends the conductive paper to the conveying surface of the conveyor. If it is not a single sheet, wait for the double-sheet temporary storage trolley to receive it. After the double-sheet temporary storage trolley arrives, the suction cup device moves downward and sends the conductive paper to the double-sheet temporary storage trolley.

[0040] The conductive paper separation method of the present invention uses the release force generated by the rotation of the rotary brush, the release force generated by blowing compressed air by the air nozzle, and the release force generated by the reciprocating circular rotation of the paper separation suction cup resulting in different radii of the double conductive papers around the center of the circle for paper separation. The combination of the three release forces makes the success rate of paper separation reach more than 99.9%, and one conductive paper can be separated every 2.4 seconds. Use a moving trolley to receive the unseparated double conductive papers, avoiding movement interference and reducing the floor area of the equipment at the same time; use a single set of ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection instruments installed in a cantilevered manner, reducing the overall cost of the equipment.

[0041] Certainly, the above description is not limited to the above examples. The technical features not described in the present invention can be realized by or adopted from the prior art, and will not be elaborated here. The above embodiments and the accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not a limitation to the present invention. The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that any changes, modifications, additions or substitutions made by those of ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the essence of the present invention do not depart from the purpose of the present invention and should also fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sheet separation method using a sheet separation device, characterized in that: The sheet separating device includes a loading rack, on which there is a paper bin for placing papers, a suction cup device located above the papers in the paper bin, and a telescopic mechanism for driving the suction cup device to move vertically; the paper bin includes a bottom plate for supporting the papers, and side plates fixedly connected to the bottom plate and extending upward, on which there are a horizontally arranged rotary brush and a motor for driving the rotary brush to rotate, and the outer rotating arc surface of the rotary brush extends into the paper bin; on the side plates of the paper bin, there is also a blow nozzle located on one side of the rotary brush and facing the inside of the paper bin, and the blow nozzle is connected to a gas supply device. A nodding type separating device is installed on the suction cup device, which includes a separating bracket fixedly connected to the suction cup bracket of the suction cup device, and a separating cylinder installed on the separating bracket. The piston rod of the separating cylinder extends downward obliquely and is hinged with a connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod away from the piston rod is hinged with a rotating block, the rotating block is hinged with the separating bracket through a horizontal shaft, and a paper separating suction cup is installed on the rotating block and faces downward, and the paper separating suction cup is located between the edge of the paper and the paper suction cup of the suction cup device. The sheet separating method includes the following steps: (1) Stack the papers in the paper bin and make the two side plates perpendicular to the paper bin close to the papers. The suction cup device moves downward, and the topmost paper of the stack of papers is simultaneously sucked by multiple paper suction cups of the suction cup device. (2) The piston rod of the separating cylinder extends, driving the rotating block to rotate around the horizontal shaft, so that the paper separating suction cup sucks the topmost paper of the stack of papers. Then the piston rod of the separating cylinder retracts, driving the paper to bend. Due to the certain thickness of the paper, the arc lengths formed by the bending of adjacent papers are different, so that relative displacement occurs between adjacent papers, realizing one-time sheet separation. (3) After one-time sheet separation is completed, the suction cup device moves upward with the adsorbed paper. When the paper moves upward to the position of the rotary brush, the edge of the paper is rubbed by the rotating rotary brush, so that a gap appears between adjacent papers. At the same time, compressed air is blown to the paper through the blow nozzle, and the gap between adjacent papers is enlarged by the compressed air, realizing secondary sheet separation. (4) After secondary sheet separation is completed, the suction cup device is driven by a driving device to move towards the conveyor. When the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes between the two opposite ends of the ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor, it is detected by the ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor whether the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device is a single sheet. If it is a single sheet, the suction cup device sends the paper to the conveying surface of the conveyor. If it is not a single sheet, the suction cup device sends the paper to the double-sheet temporary storage trolley.

2. The sheet separation method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side plates are two pieces, and the two side plates are perpendicular to each other.

3. The sheet separation method according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a conveyor, and on the loading rack, there is a guide rail extending above the conveyor and a driving device for driving the suction cup device to move along the guide rail.

4. The sheet separation method according to claim 3, wherein: It also includes a double-sheet detector located on the moving track of the suction cup device along the guide rail. When the suction cup device moves along the guide rail, the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes through the detection end of the double-sheet detector; below the moving track of the suction cup device along the guide rail, there is also a double-sheet temporary storage trolley.

5. The sheet separation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The double-sheet detector is an ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor. When the suction cup device moves along the guide rail, the paper adsorbed by the suction cup device passes between the two opposite ends of the ultrasonic opposed double-sheet detection sensor.

6. The sheet separation method according to claim 4, wherein: The double-sheet temporary storage trolley straddles above the conveying surface of the conveyor and moves along the frame of the conveyor.

7. The sheet separation method according to claim 6, characterized in that: There are two feeding racks, and the guide rails on the two feeding racks are perpendicular to each other.

8. The sheet separation method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two paper-fixing suction cups are also fixedly arranged on the separation bracket and face downward. The two paper-fixing suction cups are located on the side of the paper-separating suction cup close to the center of the paper, and the paper-separating suction cup and the two paper-fixing suction cups are distributed in a triangle.

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