Tape application device and tape application method

Abstract

To provide a tape application device and a tape application method capable of reducing wrinkles in an adhesive tape.SOLUTION: A tape application device that bends an adhesive tape into an U-shape in a width direction and applies the tape to a side end part of a plate-like workpiece has a tape application unit and a drive device that moves the tape application unit, the tape application unit includes: a first roller that applies a widthwise central part of the adhesive tape to a side surface of the workpiece; a pair of pressing members that bend both widthwise side parts of the adhesive tape toward the workpiece side, a pair of second rollers that apply both widthwise side parts of the adhesive tape to corner parts of the workpiece; and a pair of third rollers that apply both widthwise side parts of the adhesive tape to a workpiece plate surface, the first roller, the pair of pressing members, the pair of second rollers and the pair of third rollers are sequentially arranged in one direction on the bottom part of the tape application unit, and the tape application unit is moved along the workpiece side end part by the drive device to apply the adhesive tape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tape application device and a tape application method for applying an adhesive tape to a side edge of a workpiece. [Background technology]

[0002] Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a workpiece to which adhesive tape has been applied. As shown in Fig. 11, a tape application device has been devised that folds an adhesive tape Tp in a U-shape in the width direction and applies the tape along a side edge Ws of a plate-like workpiece W to three surfaces of the workpiece W, including a side surface WS and a pair of plate surfaces W1 and W2, and is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

[0003] The tape application device (adhesive tape application device, edge tape application device) described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is configured to pull out the adhesive tape Tp (adhesive tape, tape) from a tape reel, while applying a central portion TpC of the adhesive tape Tp in the width direction to a side surface WS of a plate-shaped workpiece W with a first roller (side surface application roller, first roll), and then fold the adhesive tape Tp in the width direction into a V shape with a second roller (hourglass-shaped roller, second roll), and apply both side portions Tp1, Tp2 of the adhesive tape Tp in the width direction to a pair of plate surfaces W1, W2 on the front and back of the workpiece W with a third roller (lateral push roller, third roll). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2552286 [Patent Document 2] Jpn. Jpn. Published No. 57-39404 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the tape application devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the first roller applies a central portion TpC in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp to a side surface WS of the workpiece W, both side portions Tp1 and Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp stand up from the workpiece W. In addition, the adhesive tape Tp is pulled toward the tape reel. For this reason, when the second roller and the third roller are successively used to apply both side portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the adhesive tape Tp to a pair of plate surfaces W1 and W2 of the workpiece W in this state, there is a problem that wrinkles are generated in both side portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the adhesive tape Tp.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape application device and a tape application method that can reduce wrinkles that occur in the adhesive tape Tp. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a tape application device of the present invention is a tape application device which folds an adhesive tape into a U-shape in the width direction and applies the tape to a side edge of a plate-shaped workpiece, and has a tape application unit and a drive device, and the tape application unit includes a tape reel on which the adhesive tape is stored in a wound state, a first roller configured to apply a central portion of the adhesive tape in the width direction to a side surface at the side edge of the workpiece, a pair of pressing members which fold both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape towards the workpiece, a pair of second rollers configured to apply both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape to a pair of corners at the side edge of the workpiece, and a pair of pressing members which press both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape towards the workpiece. and a pair of third rollers configured to apply the tape to a pair of plate surfaces, front and back, of a workpiece, the first roller, the pair of pressure members, the pair of second rollers and the pair of third rollers being arranged sequentially in one direction on the bottom of the tape application unit, the drive device being configured to move the tape application unit relative to the workpiece, and the drive device being configured to move the tape application unit in one direction along the side edge of the workpiece, so that the first roller, the pair of pressure members, the pair of second rollers and the pair of third rollers are caused to act sequentially on the adhesive tape pulled out from the tape reel to apply the adhesive tape.

[0008] According to this invention, there is provided a tape application device which folds an adhesive tape in a U-shape in the width direction and applies the U-shape to a side end of a plate-shaped workpiece, the tape application device having a tape application unit and a drive device, the tape application unit including a tape reel on which the adhesive tape is stored in a wound state, a first roller configured to apply a central portion of the adhesive tape in the width direction to a side surface at the side end of the workpiece, a pair of pressing members which fold both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape towards the workpiece, a pair of second rollers configured to apply both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape towards a pair of corners at the side end of the workpiece, and a pair of third rollers configured to apply both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape to a pair of plate surfaces on the front and back of the side end of the workpiece, the first roller and the pair of pressing members The pressure member, the pair of second rollers, and the pair of third rollers are arranged sequentially in one direction on the bottom of the tape application unit, and the drive device is configured to move the tape application unit relative to the work. By moving the tape application unit in one direction along the side edge of the work by the drive device, the first roller, the pair of pressure members, the pair of second rollers, and the pair of third rollers are acted on the adhesive tape pulled out from the tape reel in sequence to apply the adhesive tape. Since the pair of pressure members can be used to fold both side portions of the adhesive tape in the width direction toward the work, wrinkles in the adhesive tape can be reduced compared to when the pair of pressure members are not present.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that both of the pair of second rollers and the pair of third rollers are configured so as to be capable of being disposed at or retracted from the bottom of the tape application unit by a drive mechanism.

[0010] According to this invention, both the pair of second rollers and the pair of third rollers are configured to be positioned at or retracted from the bottom of the tape application unit by a drive mechanism, thereby making it possible to switch between temporarily applying the adhesive tape using only the first roller and the pair of pressure members, and actually applying the adhesive tape using all of the first roller, the pair of pressure members, the pair of second rollers, and the pair of third rollers.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the pair of pressing members protrude from the bottom of the tape application unit further than the first roller. According to this invention, since the pair of pressing members protrude from the bottom of the tape application unit further than the first roller, both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape can be folded further toward the workpiece side compared to a case in which the pair of pressing members do not protrude from the first roller.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the pair of pressing members have tapered tips on the side of the first roller. According to this invention, since the pair of pressing members have tapered tips on the side of the first roller, both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape can be folded more smoothly than when the tip portions of the pair of pressing members are not tapered.

[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that each of the pair of pressing members has a first inclined surface at the tip portion, and that the first inclined surface slopes diagonally downward from the tip of the tip portion toward the base end from the top to the bottom of the pair of pressing members.

[0014] According to this invention, the pair of pressing members each have a first inclined surface at the tip portion, and the first inclined surface slopes diagonally downward from the tip of the tip portion toward the base end from the top to the bottom of the pair of pressing members, thereby allowing both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape to be smoothly folded along the first inclined surface.

[0015] In the present invention, it is preferable that each of the pair of pressing members further has a second inclined surface at the tip portion, and that the second inclined surface is inclined obliquely from the outer side to the inner side of the pair of pressing members facing each other from the tip of the tip portion toward the base end side.

[0016] According to this invention, each of the pair of pressing members further has a second inclined surface at the tip portion, and the second inclined surface inclines obliquely from the opposing outer side to the inner side of the pair of pressing members from the tip of the tip portion toward the base end, so that the second inclined surface can smoothly guide the side end of the workpiece between the pair of pressing members.

[0017] In order to solve the above problems, the tape application method of the present invention is a tape application method in which an adhesive tape is folded in a U-shape in the width direction and applied to a side end of a plate-shaped workpiece, and is characterized by sequentially performing the following steps: a temporary application step in which a tape application unit is moved in one direction along the side end of the workpiece to apply a central portion of the adhesive tape in the width direction to only two locations, one end and the other end, of a side surface of the side end of the workpiece, and not to an intermediate portion therebetween; a cutting step in which the adhesive tape is cut to disconnect the temporarily applied adhesive tape from the tape reel; a return step in which the tape application unit is moved from the other end to the one end of the side surface of the side end of the workpiece; a final application step in which the tape application unit is moved in one direction along the side end of the workpiece to apply the central portion of the temporarily applied adhesive tape in the width direction over the entire surface of the side surface of the side end of the workpiece from the one end to the other end, including the intermediate portion; and a plate attachment step in which both side portions in the width direction of the finally applied adhesive tape are attached to a pair of plate surfaces, front and back, of the side end of the workpiece.

[0018] According to this invention, a tape application method for folding an adhesive tape widthwise into a U-shape and applying the tape to a side edge of a plate-shaped workpiece includes a temporary application step of moving a tape application unit in one direction along the side edge of the workpiece to apply a central portion of the adhesive tape in the width direction to only two locations, one end and the other end, of a side surface of the side edge of the workpiece, without applying the tape to an intermediate portion therebetween; a cutting step of cutting the adhesive tape to interrupt the connection of the temporarily applied adhesive tape to the tape reel; a return step of returning the tape application unit from the other end to the one end on the side surface of the side edge of the workpiece; and a reset step of moving the tape application unit to the side edge of the workpiece. By sequentially performing a final application process in which the tape reel is moved in one direction along the workpiece to apply the central portion of the temporarily applied adhesive tape in the width direction to the entire surface of the side of the side end of the workpiece from one end to the other end including the intermediate portion, and a plate-laying process in which both side portions in the width direction of the permanently applied adhesive tape are applied to a pair of plate surfaces, front and back, of the side end of the workpiece, the connection of the temporarily applied adhesive tape to the tape reel is cut off by the cutting process after the temporary application process, thereby preventing the adhesive tape from being pulled by the tape reel during the final application process and reducing wrinkles in the adhesive tape.

[0019] In the present invention, it is preferable that a first pressing step is carried out after the temporary application step and a second pressing step is carried out after the main application step, and that the first pressing step and the second pressing step are steps of folding both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape toward the work.

[0020] According to this invention, a first pressing step is provided after the temporary application step, and a second pressing step is provided after the final application step, and the first pressing step and the second pressing step are steps of folding both widthwise side portions of the adhesive tape toward the workpiece, so that both widthwise side portions of the adhesive tape standing up from the workpiece by the temporary application step and the final application step can be folded toward the workpiece each time by the first pressing step and the second pressing step, thereby reducing wrinkles in the adhesive tape compared to when the first pressing step and the second pressing step do not exist.

[0021] In the present invention, it is preferable that a corner pasting process is provided between the second pressing process and the plate laying process, and that the corner pasting process is a process of pasting both side portions in the width direction of the pasted adhesive tape to a pair of corner portions at the side end portion of the workpiece.

[0022] According to this invention, a corner pasting process is provided between the second pressing process and the plate laying process, and the corner pasting process is a process of pasting both side portions in the width direction of the pasted adhesive tape to a pair of corners at the side end of the workpiece. Therefore, after both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape are folded toward the workpiece by the second pressing process, they are pasted to a pair of corners at the side end of the workpiece by the corner pasting process, and then the adhesive tape is pasted to a pair of plate surfaces on the front and back of the side end of the workpiece by the plate laying process. Therefore, the adhesive tape is gradually pasted in the width direction from the center to both side portions, and wrinkles in the adhesive tape can be reduced compared to when the corner pasting process is not present. Effect of the Invention

[0023] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the excellent effect of reducing wrinkles in the adhesive tape attached to the side edge of the workpiece. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view partially illustrating a tape application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the tape application unit of the present embodiment as viewed from below. [Diagram 3] 3 is an enlarged view showing a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line i in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 1A is a schematic perspective view showing a pair of pressing members as viewed from the front, FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a side view showing a schematic arrangement of a first roller, a pair of presser members, a pair of second rollers, and a pair of third rollers. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state seen from line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state seen from line BB in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state seen from line CC in FIG. 5. [Figure 9] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state seen from the line DD in FIG. 5. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart showing a method for applying an adhesive tape to a workpiece. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a workpiece to which an adhesive tape is attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] (Tape application device) The tape application device of this embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 1 is a schematic side view partially showing the tape application device of this embodiment according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the tape application unit of this embodiment as seen from below. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tape application device 10 has a tape application unit 100 and a drive device 200. The tape application unit 100 has a base 110, a tape reel 120, a first roller 130, a pair of press members 141, 142, a pair of second rollers 151, 152, and a pair of third rollers 161, 162.

[0026] In addition, in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(c) to Fig. 9, the direction indicated by the arrow Up is the upper side (the upper side of the paper in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(c) to Fig. 9). The direction indicated by the arrow Dw is the lower side (the lower side of the paper in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(c) to Fig. 9). The direction indicated by the arrow Fr is the tip side (the left side of the paper in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4(b) to Fig. 5, the upper left side of the paper in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the lower left side of the paper in Fig. 4(a), and the opposite side of the paper in Fig. 6 to Fig. 9). The direction indicated by the arrow Bk is the base side (the right side of the paper in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4(b) to Fig. 5, the lower left side of the paper in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the upper right side of the paper in Fig. 4(a), and the back side of the paper in Fig. 6 to Fig. 9). The directions indicated by the arrows Up and Dw are the up-down directions. The directions indicated by the arrows Fr and Bk are the horizontal directions. The directions indicated by the arrows Rt and Lf are the width directions. These directions indicate relative positional relationships, and do not indicate absolute positional relationships with respect to the direction of gravity.

[0027] The base 110 of the tape application unit 100 is substantially plate-shaped, has a predetermined width in the width direction indicated by the arrows Lf and Rt, and extends in the vertical direction indicated by the arrows Up and Dw, and in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrows Fr and Bk. The tape reel 120 is cylindrical, and the adhesive tape Tp is stored in a wound state. The tape reel 120 is fixed to the upper part of the base 110. Specifically, the tape reel 120 is disposed on the tip side indicated by the arrow Fr on the upper side indicated by the arrow Up of the base 110. The adhesive tape Tp has a two-layer structure consisting of a support layer and an adhesive layer. The adhesive tape Tp has a central part TpC in the width direction and side parts Tp1 and Tp2 on both sides of the central part TpC, and is composed of three parts in the width direction (see FIG. 11). The adhesive tape Tp is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 1, and is omitted in FIG. 2.

[0028] The first roller 130 is cylindrical and fixed to the base 110 via a first drive mechanism D1. This first drive mechanism D1 is for moving the first roller 130 in a substantially vertical direction. Therefore, the first roller 130 is configured to be movable in a substantially vertical direction by the first drive mechanism D1. In addition, this first roller 130 is disposed below the base 110, and is disposed at the bottom of the tape application unit 100. This allows the first roller 130 to press the workpiece W disposed below the tape application unit 100.

[0029] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line i in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 are substantially rectangular parallelepipeds, extend in one direction, and are arranged with a gap in the width direction. The pair of pressing members 141, 142 are attached to the underside of the base 110 and disposed at the bottom of the tape application unit 100. In this state, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 extend horizontally, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the pair of pressing members 141, 142.

[0030] The pair of pressing members 141, 142 are configured to be movable in the arrangement direction (width direction), and can be moved toward or away from each other in the width direction. In other words, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 are configured to be openable and closable in the width direction. Specifically, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 have protrusions 141a, 142a and screw holes 141h, 142h formed on upper parts 141C, 142C of the pair of pressing members 141, 142 (see FIG. 4(a)). Returning to FIG. 3, a plate-like body 143 is fixed to the bottom of the base 110, and two long holes extending parallel to the width direction are formed in the plate-like body 143. With the protrusions 141a, 142a of the pair of pressing members 141, 142 inserted into one of the long holes of the plate-like body 143, a screw (not shown) is passed through the other long hole of the plate-like body 143 and screwed into the screw holes 141h, 142h of the pair of pressing members 141, 142. In this way, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 are attached to the base 110 via the plate-like body 143, and are configured to be slidable in the width direction along the long hole of the plate-like body 143 by loosening the screw.

[0031] Fig. 4(a) is a schematic perspective view showing a pair of pressing members as viewed from the front, Fig. 4(b) is a side view of the pair of pressing members, and Fig. 4(c) is a plan view of the pair of pressing members. As shown in Fig. 4(a), the pair of pressing members 141, 142 have one end portion on the tip side, i.e., the tip portion, formed in a tapered shape. This allows both side portions Tp1, Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp to be smoothly folded toward the workpiece W (downward).

[0032] The pair of pressing members 141, 142 are provided at their tip portions with first inclined surfaces 141A, 142A and second inclined surfaces 141B, 142B, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the first inclined surfaces 141A, 142A are inclined surfaces. The first inclined surfaces 141A, 142A are inclined downward from the tip portions toward the base ends indicated by the arrows Bk, from the tops 141C, 142C of the pair of pressing members 141, 142 to the bottoms 141D, 142D. This allows the side portions Tp1, Tp2 on both sides in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp to be smoothly folded along the first inclined surfaces 141A, 142A to the bottoms 141D, 142D of the pair of pressing members 141, 142. In order to more smoothly fold both side portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the adhesive tape Tp, it is preferable that the surfaces of the first inclined faces 141A and 141B are formed to be smooth.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4(c), the second inclined surfaces 141B, 142B are inclined surfaces similar to the first inclined surfaces 141A, 142A. The second inclined surfaces 141B, 142B are inclined from the tip of the tip portion toward the base end side from the outer side to the inner side of the pair of pressing members 141, 142 facing each other. This allows the second inclined surfaces 141B, 142B to smoothly guide the side end Ws of the workpiece W between the pair of pressing members 141, 142. In order to more smoothly guide the side end Ws of the workpiece W between the pair of pressing members 141, 142, it is preferable that the surfaces of the second inclined surfaces 141B, 142B are formed smoothly.

[0034] Returning to FIG. 3, the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are cylindrical and are arranged with a gap between them in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, both the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are arranged at the bottom of the tape application unit 100. Specifically, both the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are fixed to the bottom of the second drive mechanism D2, and this second drive mechanism D2 is attached to the base end side of the base 110. That is, the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are fixed to the base 110 via the second drive mechanism D2. This second drive mechanism D2 is for moving both the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 in the vertical direction and the width direction. Therefore, the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are configured to be movable in the vertical direction by a second drive mechanism D2 and are also configured to be openable and closable in the width direction. This second drive mechanism D2 corresponds to the drive mechanism described above.

[0035] Fig. 5 is a side view showing the arrangement of the first roller, the pair of pressing members, the pair of second rollers, and the pair of third rollers. As shown in Fig. 5, the first roller 130, the pair of pressing members 141, 142, the pair of second rollers 151, 152, and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are disposed at the bottom of the tape application unit 100 and are sequentially arranged in one direction. In other words, the first roller 130, the pair of pressing members 141, 142, the pair of second rollers 151, 152, and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction from the tip side to the base side of the tape application unit 100. Therefore, by moving the tape application unit 100 in one direction (horizontal direction) from the base end to the tip end, i.e., in the opposite direction to the arrangement direction of the first roller 130, the pair of pressing members 141, 142, the pair of second rollers 151, 152, and the pair of third rollers 161, 162, it is possible to sequentially act on the adhesive tape Tp with the first roller 130, the pair of pressing members 141, 142, the pair of second rollers 151, 152, and the pair of third rollers 161, 162.

[0036] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the first roller 130 extends in the width direction and is configured to be rotatable around an axis O1 extending in the width direction. This width direction is perpendicular to the horizontal direction, that is, perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first roller 130, the pair of pressing members 141, 142, the pair of second rollers 151, 152, and the pair of third rollers 161, 162. The first roller 130 is configured to be movable in a substantially vertical direction by the first driving mechanism D1. As a result, the outer periphery 130a of the first roller 130 can press the side surface WS at the side end Ws of the workpiece W, and the central portion TpC in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp can be attached to the side surface WS of the workpiece W.

[0037] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state cut along line BB in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 7, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 are set so that the distance d1 between them is larger than the distance d2 in the thickness direction at the side end Ws of the work W (d1>d2), so that the side end Ws of the work W can be placed between the pair of pressing members 141, 142. In addition, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 are placed on the side (lower side) of the work W by a distance d3 from the side surface WS of the work W (see Fig. 4(b) and Fig. 7). This allows the pair of pressing members 141, 142 to fold both side portions Tp1, Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp from the position of the side surface WS of the work W toward the side (lower side) of the work W.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state cut along line CC in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 8, the pair of second rollers 151, 152 extend in the vertical direction with an inclined attitude so that the upper parts approach each other in the width direction. The pair of second rollers 151, 152 are configured to be rotatable around axes O2a, O2b, and the axes O2a, O2b extend in the vertical direction with an inclined attitude so that the upper parts approach each other in the width direction. The pair of second rollers 151, 152 are configured to be able to approach and move away from each other in the width direction by the second driving mechanism D2, and are configured to be able to clamp the side end Ws of the workpiece W. As a result, the outer peripheries 151a, 152a of the pair of second rollers 151, 152 can press the pair of corners Wc1, Wc2 at the side end Ws of the workpiece W, and the side parts Tp1, Tp2 on both sides in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp can be attached to the pair of corners Wc1, Wc2 of the workpiece W.

[0039] Similarly, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state cut along line DD in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the pair of third rollers 161, 162 extend parallel to each other in the vertical direction and are configured to be rotatable around axes O3a, O3b. The axes O3a, O3b extend parallel to each other in the vertical direction. The pair of third rollers 161, 162 are configured to be able to approach or move away from each other in the width direction by the second driving mechanism D2 and are configured to be able to clamp the side end Ws of the workpiece W. As a result, the outer peripheries 161a, 162a of the pair of third rollers 161, 162 can clamp the pair of front and back plate surfaces W1, W2 at the side end Ws of the workpiece W, and the side portions Tp1, Tp2 on both sides in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp can be attached to the pair of plate surfaces W1, W2 of the workpiece W.

[0040] 1 and 2, both the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are configured to be movable in the vertical direction by the second drive mechanism D2, so that the second drive mechanism D2 can place the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 at the bottom of the tape application unit 100 or retract them from the bottom of the tape application unit 100. Therefore, when applying the adhesive tape Tp to the workpiece W using the tape application unit 100, it is possible to switch between using the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 and not using them. In other words, the tape application unit 100 is capable of switching between temporarily applying the adhesive tape Tp using the first roller 130 and a pair of pressing members 141, 142, and fully applying the adhesive tape Tp using the first roller 130, a pair of pressing members 141, 142, a pair of second rollers 151, 152, and a pair of third rollers 161, 162, by using the second driving mechanism D2.

[0041] In this tape application unit 100, the adhesive tape Tp is pulled out from a tape reel 120, hooked in turn on a plurality of rotating shafts R1, R2, R3 fixed to a base 110, and routed from the top to the bottom of the tape application unit 100. Also, at the bottom of the tape application unit 100, a first roller 130, a pair of presser members 141, 142, a pair of second rollers 151, 152, and a pair of third rollers 161, 162 are sequentially arranged in one direction from the tip end side to the base end side. This makes it possible to position the tape application unit 100 on the side end of the workpiece W, and then slide the tape application unit 100 horizontally from the base end to the tip end (in the opposite direction to the arrangement direction of the first roller 130, the pair of pressure members 141, 142, the pair of second rollers 151, 152, and the pair of third rollers 161, 162) to apply the adhesive tape Tp to the side end of the workpiece W.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tape application unit 100 further includes a tape holding section 170 and a tape cutting section 180. The tape holding section 170 is for holding the adhesive tape Tp, and includes a pair of rollers capable of clamping the adhesive tape Tp. The tape cutting section 180 is for cutting the adhesive tape Tp, and is configured such that a blade capable of cutting the adhesive tape Tp is movable in a substantially vertical direction. The tape holding section 170 and the tape cutting section 180 are fixed to the base 110, and are disposed at the bottom of the tape application unit 100. The tape holding section 170 and the tape cutting section 180 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other at the leading end side and the base end side in the horizontal direction, and are disposed at the leading end side of the first roller 130, i.e., on the upstream side of the adhesive tape Tp from the position of the first roller 130. As a result, the tape cutting section 180 is configured to be able to cut the adhesive tape Tp between the tape holding section 170 and the first roller 130, and the tape holding section 170 is configured to be able to hold the end of the adhesive tape Tp cut by the tape cutting section 180 upstream of the first roller 130 and supply it to the first roller 130.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, a connecting portion 190 is provided on the upper portion of the tape application unit 100. This connecting portion 190 is cylindrical and configured to be connectable to a driving device 200, which is diagrammatically illustrated by a dotted line. This connecting portion 190 is fixed to the upper portion of the base 110 and protrudes upward from the base 110. The driving device 200 is configured to be able to move the tape application unit 100 in three directions, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the width direction, by an electric motor. Therefore, the tape application unit 100 is configured to be able to move over and along the side end Ws of the workpiece W by the driving device 200. The workpiece W is arranged so that the side end Ws stands up. The driving force of this driving device 200 is not limited to an electric motor, and may be a fluid pressure such as air pressure or hydraulic pressure.

[0044] The tape application device 10 configured as described above moves the tape application unit 100 in one direction over and along the side end Ws of the workpiece W using the drive device 200, and temporarily applies the adhesive tape Tp to the side end Ws of the workpiece W using the first roller 130 and a pair of pressing members 141, 142 in sequence, or permanently applies the adhesive tape Tp to the side end Ws of the workpiece W using the first roller 130, a pair of pressing members 141, 142, a pair of second rollers 151, 152, and a pair of third rollers 161, 162 in sequence.

[0045] In this embodiment, a first roller 130, a pair of pressure members 141, 142, a pair of second rollers 151, 152, and a pair of third rollers 161, 162 are arranged in sequence in one direction at the bottom of the tape application unit 100, and the pair of pressure members 141, 142 are arranged downstream of the adhesive tape Tp relative to the first roller 130.Therefore, after the first roller 130 applies the central portion TpC of the adhesive tape Tp in the width direction to the side surface WS at the side end Ws of the workpiece W, the pair of pressure members 141, 142 can fold both side portions Tp1, Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp toward the workpiece W (downward), thereby reducing wrinkles in the adhesive tape Tp applied to the side end Ws of the workpiece W compared to when the pair of pressure members 141, 142 are not present.

[0046] In this embodiment, the pair of second rollers 151, 152 and the pair of third rollers 161, 162 are configured to be movable in the vertical direction by the second drive mechanism D2, and can be switched between being positioned at the bottom of the tape application unit 100 and being retracted from the bottom of the tape application unit 100, making it possible to easily switch between a case in which the adhesive tape Tp is temporarily applied using the first roller 130 and the pair of pressing members 141, 142, and a case in which the adhesive tape Tp is actually applied using all of the first roller 130, the pair of pressing members 141, 142, the pair of second rollers 151, 152, and the pair of third rollers 161, 162.

[0047] The tape application device of this embodiment is not limited to the illustrated example described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the pair of pressing members 141, 142 in the tape application unit 100 of this embodiment are fixed to the base 110 via the plate-like body 143, but may be attached to the base 110 via a third drive mechanism. This third drive mechanism is preferably configured to move the pair of pressing members 141, 142 in the vertical direction and open and close them in the width direction. This allows the bending amount of the side parts Tp1, Tp2 on both sides of the adhesive tape Tp to be adjusted, and the positions of the pair of pressing members 141, 142 to be adjusted so that the side end part Ws of the work W can be placed between the pair of pressing members 141, 142.

[0048] In addition, the pair of second rollers 151, 152 in this embodiment are cylindrical and have axes O2a, O2b that are inclined so that the upper sides approach each other in the vertical direction, but they may also be truncated cones whose upper outer diameter is larger than the lower outer diameter and have axes that extend parallel to the vertical direction. This makes it possible to easily install the pair of second rollers without adjusting the inclination angle of the pair of second rollers.

[0049] (How to apply the tape) Fig. 10 is a flow chart showing a method for applying adhesive tape to a workpiece. As shown in Fig. 10, the tape application method of the tape application device configured as described above consists of two steps, a first step P1 and a second step P2. This first step P1 has a temporary application step p11, a first pressing step p12, a cutting step p13, and a return step p14.

[0050] The temporary application step p11 of the first step P1 is a step in which the tape application unit 100 is placed on the side end Ws of the work W, and moved in one direction (horizontally from the base end side to the tip end side) along the side end Ws of the work W, and the central part TpC in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp is applied only to two places, the start end (base end) and the end end (tip end) of the side surface WS of the work W by the first roller 130, and the intermediate part therebetween is not applied. The first pressing step p12 is a step in which the side parts Tp1 and Tp2 on both sides in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp are folded toward the work W side (lower side) by the pair of pressing members 141 and 142. The cutting step p13 is a step in which the adhesive tape Tp is cut by the tape cutting part 180, and the connection between the temporarily applied adhesive tape Tp and the tape reel 120 is cut. The return step p14 is a step of returning the tape application unit 100 to the starting position of the temporary application step p11 by the driving device 200. This first step P1 makes it possible to temporarily apply the adhesive tape Tp to the side surface WS at the side end Ws of the workpiece W, and also makes it possible to disconnect the temporarily applied adhesive tape Tp from the tape reel 120.

[0051] Next, the second process P2 includes a main application process p21, a second pressing process p22, a corner application process p23, and a plate application process p24. In the main application process p21, the tape application unit 100 is moved in one direction (horizontally from the base end to the tip end) along the side end Ws of the work W while being placed on the side end Ws of the work W, and the central part TpC in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp is applied over the entire surface including the intermediate part from the start end (base end) to the end end (tip end) on the side surface WS of the work W by the first roller 130. The second pressing process p22 is a process of folding both side parts Tp1 and Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp toward the work W side (lower side) by a pair of pressing members 141 and 142, similar to the first pressing process p12. The corner pasting process p23 is a process of pasting both side portions Tp1, Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp to a pair of corner portions Wc1, Wc2 at the side end Ws of the work W by a pair of second rollers 151, 152. The plate pasting process p24 is a process of pasting both side portions Tp1, Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp to a pair of plate surfaces W1, W2 on the front and back sides of the side end Ws of the work W by a pair of third rollers 161, 162. This second process P2 allows the temporarily pasted adhesive tape Tp to be folded in a U-shape in the width direction and sequentially pasted to the side surface WS, the pair of corner portions Wc1, Wc2, and the pair of plate surfaces W1, W2 of the side end Ws of the work W. In other words, the temporarily pasted adhesive tape Tp is pasted in the second process P2 while gradually pressing in the width direction from the center portion Tpc in the width direction to both side portions Tp1, Tp2.

[0052] The tape application method configured as described above sequentially performs a temporary application step p11, a first pressing step p12, a cutting step p13, and a restoration step p14 in a first step P1, and then sequentially performs a main application step p21, a second pressing step p22, a corner application step p23, and a board installation step p24 in a second step P2.

[0053] In this embodiment, the tape application method includes a first step P1 in which the adhesive tape Tp is temporarily applied to the workpiece W, and a second step P2 in which the temporarily applied adhesive tape Tp is disconnected from the tape reel 120 and then the temporarily applied adhesive tape Tp is permanently applied to the workpiece W. This allows the temporarily applied adhesive tape Tp to be permanently applied without being pulled toward the tape reel 120, thereby reducing wrinkles that occur in the adhesive tape Tp compared to applying the adhesive tape Tp all at once without temporarily applying it. In particular, it is possible to reduce wrinkles that occur in both side portions Tp1 and Tp2 in the width direction of the adhesive tape Tp.

[0054] In this embodiment, a first pressing step p12 is performed after the temporary application step p11 in the first step P1, and a second pressing step p22 is performed after the final application step p21 in the second step P2. This makes it possible to fold both side portions Tp1, Tp2 of the adhesive tape Tp, which tend to stand up from the side surface WS at the side end portion Ws of the workpiece W each time the temporary application step p11 or the final application step p21 is performed, toward the side (lower side) of the workpiece W, thereby reducing wrinkles that occur in the adhesive tape Tp compared to when the first pressing step p12 and the second pressing step p22 are not present.

[0055] Furthermore, in the second process P2, by sequentially performing the corner pasting process p23 and the board pasting process p24 after the main pasting process p21, the adhesive tape Tp is gradually pressed in the width direction from the central portion TpC to both side portions Tp1, Tp2, thereby reducing wrinkles that occur in the adhesive tape Tp compared to when the corner pasting process p23 is not performed.

[0056] The tape application method of this embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned illustrated example, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the tape application method of this embodiment, the first step P1 and the second step P2 are provided with the first pressing step p12 and the second pressing step p22, respectively, but the first step P1 and the second step P2 do not have to have the first pressing step p12 and the second pressing step p22, respectively. In this case, the first step P1 is configured to sequentially perform the temporary application step p11, the cutting step p13, and the return step p14, and the second step P2 is configured to sequentially perform the main application step p21, the corner application step p23, and the board application step p24.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, the second process P2 includes a corner pasting process p23, but the corner pasting process p23 does not have to be provided. In this case, the second process P2 may be configured to sequentially perform the main pasting process p21, the second pressing process p22, and the boarding process p24, or may be configured to sequentially perform the main pasting process p21 and the boarding process p24. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10...tape application device, 100...tape application unit, 110...base, 120...tape reel, 130...first roller, 130a, 151a, 152a, 161a, 162a...outer periphery, 141, 142...pressing member, 141a, 142a...protruding portion, 141h, 142h...screw hole, 141A, 142A...first inclined surface, 141B, 142B...second inclined surface, 141C, 142C...upper portion, 141D, 142D...bottom portion, 143...plate-shaped body, 151, 152...second roller, 161, 162...third roller, 170...tape holding portion, 180...tape cutting portion, 190...connecting portion, 200...driving device, d 1, d2, d3...distance, D1...first drive mechanism, D2...second drive mechanism, Tp...adhesive tape, TpC...center, Tp1, Tp2...side, O1, O2a, O2b, O3a, O3b...axis, P1...first process, p11...temporary attachment process, p12...first pressing process, p13...cutting process, p14...return process, P2...second process, p21...full attachment process, p22...second pressing process, p23...corner attachment process, p24...boarding process, R1, R2, R3...rotation axis, Up, Dw, Fr, Bk, Rt, Lf...arrow, W...work, Ws...side end, WS...side surface, Wc1, Wc2...corner, W1, W2...board surface.

Claims

1. A tape application device that folds an adhesive tape into a U-shape in the width direction and applies the tape to a side edge of a plate-shaped workpiece, the tape application device having a tape application unit and a drive device, The tape application unit includes: a tape reel in which an adhesive tape is stored in a wound state; A first roller configured to attach a central portion of the adhesive tape in a width direction to a side surface at a side end portion of the workpiece; A pair of pressing members for folding both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape toward the work; A pair of second rollers configured to attach both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape to a pair of corner portions at the side end portions of the workpiece; A pair of third rollers configured to attach both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape to a pair of front and back plate surfaces at the side end portions of the workpiece; Equipped with the first roller, the pair of pressing members, the pair of second rollers, and the pair of third rollers are sequentially arranged in one direction on the bottom of the tape application unit, The driving device is configured to move the tape application unit relative to a workpiece, a tape application device configured to move the tape application unit in one direction along the side edge of the workpiece using the driving device, thereby applying the adhesive tape pulled out from the tape reel by sequentially acting on the first roller, the pair of pressure members, the pair of second rollers, and the pair of third rollers to apply the adhesive tape.

2. 2. The tape application device according to claim 1, wherein both of the pair of second rollers and the pair of third rollers are configured to be capable of being positioned at the bottom of the tape application unit and retracted from the bottom by a drive mechanism.

3. 3. The tape application device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of pressing members protrude beyond the first roller from a bottom portion of the tape application unit.

4. 3. The tape application device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of pressing members have a tip portion on the side of the first roller that is tapered.

5. 5. The tape application device according to claim 4, wherein each of the pair of pressure members has a first inclined surface at the tip end, the first inclined surface inclining diagonally downward from the tip of the tip portion toward the base end from the top to the bottom of the pair of pressure members.

6. 6. The tape application device according to claim 5, wherein each of the pair of pressure members further has a second inclined surface at the tip end, and the second inclined surface is inclined obliquely from the outer side to the inner side of the pair of pressure members facing each other from the tip end toward the base end.

7. A tape application method in which an adhesive tape is folded in a U-shape in the width direction and applied to a side edge of a plate-shaped workpiece, comprising: a temporary application step in which a tape application unit is moved in one direction along the side edge of the workpiece to apply a central portion of the adhesive tape in the width direction to only two locations, one end and the other end, on a side surface of the side edge of the workpiece, without applying the tape to an intermediate portion therebetween; a cutting step of cutting the adhesive tape to cut off a connection between the temporarily applied adhesive tape and the tape reel; a returning step of returning the tape application unit from the other end to the one end on the side surface of the side end of the workpiece; a main application process in which the tape application unit is moved in one direction along the side edge of the workpiece to apply the central portion of the temporarily applied adhesive tape over the entire surface of the side edge of the workpiece from one end to the other end; a plate attaching step in which both widthwise sides of the applied adhesive tape are attached to a pair of plate surfaces, front and back, at the side end of the workpiece.

8. 8. The tape application method according to claim 7, characterized in that a first pressing step is carried out after the temporary application step and a second pressing step is carried out after the actual application step, and the first pressing step and the second pressing step are steps of folding both side portions in the width direction of the adhesive tape toward the work.

9. 9. The tape application method according to claim 8, characterized in that a corner application process is provided between the second pressing process and the plate laying process, and the corner application process is a process of applying both side portions in the width direction of the applied adhesive tape to a pair of corner portions at the side end portion of the workpiece.

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