Conveying method

Abstract

To provide a conveying method capable of suppressing deterioration in quality of a long member.SOLUTION: A transport method for transporting a long member that is long in a transport direction includes a creation step of creating a series of long members by connecting a terminal end of a first long member and a starting end of a second long member using an adhesive tape, a transport step of transporting the series of long members using a movable clamp that moves in the transport direction while clamping the series of long members, and a detection step of detecting the adhesive tape using a detection sensor disposed upstream of the movable clamp in the transport direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transport method. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is a technique for connecting a plurality of long members to form a continuous member, and when this continuous member is used in manufacturing, removing the connecting portions (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-258464 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when long members are connected using an adhesive substance, if this connected portion is clamped with a clamping device, there is a risk that the adhesive substance will adhere to the clamping device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for conveying long elongated members in a conveying direction. The method includes a creating step of connecting the end of a first elongated member and the beginning of a second elongated member using adhesive tape to create a series of elongated members; a conveying step of conveying the series of elongated members using a movable clamp that moves in the conveying direction while clamping the series of elongated members; and a detecting step of detecting the adhesive tape using a detection sensor located upstream of the movable clamp in the conveying direction. The conveying step includes a first step of, when the detection sensor detects the adhesive tape, conveying the series of elongated members to a position where the adhesive tape does not overlap with a first clamp position of the movable clamp. According to this aspect, the first step conveys the adhesive tape to a position where it does not overlap with the first clamp position, thereby preventing the movable clamp from cranking the adhesive tape. This prevents deterioration in the quality of the elongated members. (2) In the above aspect, the first step may include a first conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape to a first position upstream of the first clamp position in the conveying direction, and a second conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape to a second position downstream of the first clamp position in the conveying direction after the first conveying step. According to this aspect, when the adhesive tape cannot be conveyed to the second position in one step due to limitations on the moving distance of the movable clamp, the adhesive tape can be conveyed to the second position by the first conveying step and the second conveying step. (3) In the above aspect, the method may further include a cutting step of cutting the series of long materials conveyed in the conveying step using a cutting blade located downstream of the movable clamp in the conveying direction, wherein the series of long materials is fixed by a fixed clamp located between the cutting blade and the movable clamp in the cutting step, and the conveying step may further include a second step of conveying the series of long materials to a position where the adhesive tape does not overlap with a second clamp position of the fixed clamp when the detection sensor detects the adhesive tape. According to this aspect, when a fixed clamp is provided, the second step conveys the adhesive tape to a position where it does not overlap with the second clamp position, thereby preventing the adhesive tape from being cranked by the fixed clamp. This prevents deterioration in the quality of the long materials. (4) In the above aspect, the second position may be a position between the first clamp position and the second clamp position, and the second step may include a third conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape after the second conveying step so that it moves to a third position upstream of the cutting blade in the conveying direction, and a fourth conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape after the third conveying step so that it moves to a fourth position downstream of the cutting blade in the conveying direction. According to this aspect, when the adhesive tape cannot be conveyed to the fourth position in one step due to a limit on the moving distance of the movable clamp, the adhesive tape can be conveyed to the fourth position by the third conveying step and the fourth conveying step. The present disclosure may be realized in various forms other than those described above, such as an apparatus for conveying a long member, an apparatus for cutting a long member, or a method for controlling an apparatus for conveying a long member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a device for transporting paper. [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a transport process. [Figure 3] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating each step of the transport process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A. Implementation: FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an apparatus 1 that conveys and cuts paper 10 as a long material. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 includes a color sensor 30 as a detection sensor, a movable clamp 40, a fixed clamp 50, a cutting blade 60, and a control device 70. In this embodiment, a roll of paper 10 is used as the long material. After being cut to a desired length by the cutting blade 60, the paper 10 is inserted into a product 14 having an internal space.

[0009] The control device 70 is configured as a computer equipped with a processor and memory. The control device 70 is communicably connected to each of the color sensor 30, the movable clamp 40, the fixed clamp 50, and the cutting blade 60. The control device 70 controls each of the components, including the movable clamp 40.

[0010] The color sensor 30, movable clamp 40, fixed clamp 50, and cutting blade 60 are arranged in this order along the transport path RU from upstream to downstream in the transport direction of the paper 10. The color sensor 30 detects the color emitted from the paper 10 transported along the transport path RU, and sends a detection signal to the control device 70.

[0011] The movable clamp 40 has a pair of clamping portions that sandwich and clamp the paper 10. The movable clamp 40 clamps the paper 10 at the reference position POs and moves to the target position POe while in the clamped state. As a result, the paper 10 is transported toward the cutting blade 60 by the target distance dp between the reference position POs and the target position POe. The position at which the movable clamp 40 clamps the paper 10 at the reference position POs on the transport path RU is called the first clamping position REm. Here, the first clamping position REm has a width in the transport direction. Specifically, the width of the first clamping position REm coincides with the width of the pair of clamping portions in the transport direction. In FIG. 1, the first clamping position REm is indicated by cross-hatching.

[0012] The fixed clamp 50 has a pair of clamping portions that clamp the paper 10. The fixed clamp 50 secures the paper 10 when the paper 10 is cut by the cutting blade 60. This allows the paper 10 to be cut stably. The cutting blade 60 cuts the paper 10. The cut paper 10 is inserted into the product 14 placed below the cutting blade 60. In the conveying path RU, the position at which the fixed clamp 50 clamps is called the second clamping position REf. Here, the second clamping position REf has a width in the conveying direction. Specifically, the width of the second clamping position REf coincides with the width of the pair of clamping portions in the conveying direction. In FIG. 1, the second clamping position REf is indicated by cross-hatching.

[0013] The device 1 repeatedly performs a process of conveying the paper 10 using the movable clamp 40 and a process of cutting using the cutting blade 60. As a result, the rolled paper 10 is cut into pieces of paper 10 each having the same length as the target distance dp. The target distance dp may be a constant distance or may vary for each cut. In other words, the lengths of the paper 10 inserted into the product 14 may be the same or different.

[0014] When the end of one roll of paper 10 appears during the repeated process of conveying and cutting, the currently conveyed roll of paper 10 and a new roll of paper 10 are joined together with an adhesive joint tape 12. The joint tape 12 is a tape coated with an adhesive substance. In FIG. 1, the currently conveyed roll of paper 10 is shown as a first roll of paper 10A, and the new roll of paper 10 is shown as a second roll of paper 10B. Also in FIG. 1, the portion connected by the joint tape 12 is shown with single hatching. When the end of the first roll of paper 10A appears during the repeated process of conveying and cutting, the end of the first roll of paper 10A and the beginning of the second roll of paper 10B are joined together with the joint tape 12 in the creation process, and a continuous series of paper 10 is created.

[0015] When the joint tape 12 is clamped by the movable clamp 40, the adhesive substance of the joint tape 12 may seep out and adhere to the movable clamp 40. If the adhesive substance adheres to the movable clamp 40, for example, when the movable clamp 40 with the adhesive substance adhered thereto clamps the paper 10, the adhesive substance may adhere to the clamped paper 10, which may result in a deterioration in the quality of the paper 10. Note that this adhesion of the adhesive substance can occur not only on the movable clamp 40 but also on the fixed clamp 50. Therefore, in the conveying process described below, measures are taken to prevent the adhesive substance from adhering to the movable clamp 40 and the fixed clamp 50.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the transfer process that realizes the transfer method. Fig. 3 is a diagram explaining each step of the transfer method. While the device 1 is operating, the control device 70 repeatedly executes the transfer process.

[0017] In step S10, the control device 70 determines whether or not the joint tape 12 is detected while the paper 10 is being transported the target distance dp by the movable clamp 40. The color of the paper 10 with the joint tape 12 attached is different from the color of the paper 10 without the joint tape 12 attached. Therefore, the joint tape 12 can be detected by the detection value of the color sensor 30. The control device 70 determines that the joint tape 12 has been detected if the detection value of the color sensor 30 corresponds to the color of the paper 10 with the joint tape 12 attached. On the other hand, the control device 70 determines that the joint tape 12 has not been detected if the detection value of the color sensor 30 corresponds to the color of the paper 10 without the joint tape 12 attached.

[0018] If it is determined in step S10 that the joint tape 12 has not been detected, then in step S12, the control device 70 causes the cutting blade 60 to cut the paper 10 after the paper 10 has been conveyed. As a result, a piece of paper 10 having the same length as the target distance dp is inserted into the product 14. After performing step S12, the control device 70 ends this processing routine.

[0019] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the joint tape 12 has been detected, the control device 70 transports the string of paper sheets 10 to a position where the first clamp position REm does not overlap with the joint tape 12. In this embodiment, the string of paper sheets 10 is transported to a position where the first clamp position REm does not overlap with the joint tape 12 by the two processing steps of step S14 and step S16.

[0020] In step S14, the control device 70 transports the string of paper sheets 10 a first distance d1, moving the joint tape 12 to the first position PO1. In detail, the control device 70 repeats transporting the string of paper sheets 10 the target distance dp and cutting with the cutting blade 60 na (na is a natural number) times, and then transports the string of paper sheets 10 a first distance d1 by transporting the string of paper sheets 10 a first adjustment distance and cutting with the cutting blade 60. Here, the first adjustment distance is a distance calculated by subtracting the total transport distance achieved by repeating the movement of the target distance dp na times from the first distance d1.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the first position PO1 is a position upstream of the first clamp position REm in the feed direction. Here, the first position PO1 has a width in the feed direction. Specifically, the width of the first position PO1 coincides with the width of the joint tape 12 in the feed direction. In Fig. 3, the downstream end of the first position PO1, which has a width, is indicated by an arrow. The same applies to the second position PO2 to the fourth position PO4, which will be described later.

[0022] The first distance d1 is set to the distance between the position of the downstream end of the joint tape 12 when it is determined that the joint tape 12 has been detected and the position of the downstream end of the first position PO1. The first distance d1 is determined in advance through experiments or the like. That is, in step S14, the joint tape 12 is conveyed so that it is positioned immediately before the first clamp position REm. This prevents the joint tape 12 from being clamped by the movable clamp 40.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, if it is determined in step S10 that the joint tape 12 has been detected, a paper discharge box 16 is placed below the cutting blade 60 in place of the product 14 so that at least paper 10 of the same length as the first adjustment distance is not inserted into the product 14.

[0024] 2, the control device 70 transports the continuous string of paper sheets 10 by a second distance d2. In detail, the control device 70 repeats transporting the continuous string of paper sheets 10 the target distance dp and cutting by the cutting blade 60 nb times (nb is a natural number), and then transports the continuous string of paper sheets 10 by a second adjustment distance and cutting by the cutting blade 60, thereby transporting the continuous string of paper sheets 10 by the second distance d2. Here, the second adjustment distance is a distance calculated by subtracting the total transport distance obtained by repeating the movement of the target distance dp nb times from the second distance d2.

[0025] The second position PO2 is a position downstream of the first clamp position REm in the conveying direction and is a position between the first clamp position REm and the second clamp position REf. As shown in FIG. 2, the second distance d2 is set to the distance between the first position PO1 and the second position PO2. The second distance d2 is determined in advance through experiments or the like. That is, in step S16, the joint tape 12 is conveyed so as to be positioned immediately before the fixed clamp 50. This prevents the joint tape 12 from being clamped by the fixed clamp 50.

[0026] In step S18 of Fig. 2, the string of paper sheets 10 is transported to a position where the second clamp position REf and the joint tape 12 do not overlap. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, in step S18, the control device 70 transports the string of paper sheets 10 a third distance d3 to move the joint tape 12 to the third position PO3. In more detail, the control device 70 repeats the transport of the string of paper sheets 10 the target distance dp and cutting with the cutting blade 60 nc times (nc is a natural number), and then transports the string of paper sheets 10 a third adjustment distance and cuts with the cutting blade 60, thereby transporting the string of paper sheets 10 the third distance d3. Here, the third adjustment distance is a distance calculated by subtracting the total transport distance obtained by repeating the movement of the target distance dp nc times from the third distance d3.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the third position PO3 is a position upstream of the cutting blade 60 in the conveying direction, and is a position between the second clamp position REf and the cutting blade 60. The third distance d3 is set to the distance between the second position PO2 and the third position PO3. The third distance d3 is determined in advance through experiments or the like. That is, in step S18, the joint tape 12 is conveyed so as to be positioned immediately before the cutting blade 60. This prevents the joint tape 12 from being clamped by the fixed clamp 50.

[0028] In step S20 of FIG. 2, the control device 70 transports the paper 10 a target distance dp to move the joint tape 12 to a fourth position PO4, and then causes the cutting blade 60 to cut the paper 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the fourth position PO4 is downstream of the cutting blade 60 in the transport direction. The target distance dp in step S20 is set to a distance longer than the width of the joint tape 12 in the transport direction. This causes the joint tape 12 to be placed in the paper discharge bin 16. Then, after the product 14 is placed under the cutting blade 60 instead of the paper discharge bin 16, this process ends.

[0029] In the above embodiment, in order to transport the joint tape 12 to a position where it does not overlap with the first clamp position REm, two steps are performed: transporting the joint tape 12 the first distance d1 in step S14 and transporting the joint tape 12 the second distance d2 in step S16. This is because, in the apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the sum of the first and second adjustment distances exceeds the upper limit of the travel distance of the movable clamp 40. Therefore, if the sum of the first and second adjustment distances does not exceed the upper limit of the travel distance of the movable clamp 40, the sum of the first and second adjustment distances may be transported in a single processing step. The same applies to the other processing steps. That is, for example, if the sum of the third adjustment distance and the target distance dp does not exceed the upper limit of the travel distance of the movable clamp 40, the sum of the third adjustment distance and the target distance dp may be transported in a single processing step.

[0030] The first paper 10A is also referred to as the first long member, the second paper 10B is also referred to as the second long member, and the series of papers 10 is also referred to as the series of long members. The process of detecting the joint tape 12 using the color sensor 30, which is performed in step S10, is also referred to as the detection process. Steps S14 and S16 are collectively referred to as the first process. Step S14 is referred to as the first conveying process, and step S16 is referred to as the second conveying process. Steps S18 and S20 are collectively referred to as the second process. Step S18 is referred to as the third conveying process, and step S20 is referred to as the fourth conveying process.

[0031] According to the embodiment described above, when the color sensor 30 detects the joint tape 12, the first process, steps S14 and S16, transports the continuous sheet of paper 10 to a position where the joint tape 12 does not overlap with the first clamp position REm. Specifically, in step S14, the joint tape 12 is transported to a first position PO1 upstream of the first clamp position REm, and then in step S16, the joint tape 12 is transported to a second position PO2 downstream of the first clamp position REm. This prevents the joint tape 12 from being clamped by the movable clamp 40, thereby suppressing deterioration in the quality of the sheet of paper 10.

[0032] Furthermore, if the color sensor 30 detects the joint tape 12, in steps S18 and S20 as the second process, the continuous sheet of paper 10 is transported to a position where the joint tape 12 does not overlap with the second clamp position REf. Specifically, in step S18, the joint tape 12 is transported to a third position PO3 upstream of the cutting blade 60, and in step S20, the joint tape 12 is transported to a fourth position PO4 downstream of the cutting blade 60. This prevents the joint tape 12 from being clamped by the fixed clamp 50, thereby suppressing deterioration in the quality of the sheet of paper 10.

[0033] B. Other Embodiments: (B1) In the above embodiment, the device 1 includes the fixed clamp 50. In another embodiment, the device 1 may not include the fixed clamp 50. In this case, the second position PO2, which is the target position of the joint tape 12 when conveyed in step S16, may be downstream of the first clamp position REm. Also, in the above embodiment, the paper sheet 10 is cut by the cutting blade 60 in each of steps S14, S16, and S18, but cutting of the paper sheet 10 does not have to be performed. Also, in the above embodiment, the paper discharge box 16 is provided in each of steps S16, S18, and S20, but the product 14 may be provided instead of the paper discharge box 16 so that the paper sheet 10 cut to the same length as the target distance dp is inserted into the product 14.

[0034] (B2) In the above embodiment, the conveying process is realized by the control of the control device 70. The conveying method is not limited to being realized by the control of the control device 70, and may be realized, for example, by the cooperation of the operation of each part, such as the movable clamp 40, and the work of an operator.

[0035] (B3) In the above embodiment, the long member is exemplified as paper 10. The material of the long member is not limited to paper, and may be, for example, metal, synthetic resin, wood, or the like.

[0036] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1...device, 10...paper, 10A...first paper, 10B...second paper, 12...joint tape, 14...product, 16...paper discharge box, 30...color sensor, 40...movable clamp, 50...fixed clamp, 60...cutting blade, 70...control device

Claims

1. A conveying method for conveying a long member that is long in a conveying direction, comprising: a creation step of connecting the end of the first elongated member and the start of the second elongated member using adhesive tape to create a series of elongated members; a conveying step of conveying the series of elongated members using a movable clamp that moves in the conveying direction while clamping the series of elongated members; a detection step of detecting the adhesive tape using a detection sensor arranged upstream of the movable clamp in the conveyance direction, The conveying method includes a first step of conveying the series of elongated members to a position where the adhesive tape does not overlap with the first clamp position of the movable clamp when the detection sensor detects the adhesive tape.

2. The conveying method according to claim 1, The first step comprises: a first conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape to a first position upstream of the first clamp position in the conveying direction; a second conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape so that the adhesive tape moves to a second position downstream of the first clamp position in the conveying direction after the first conveying step.

3. The conveying method according to claim 2, a cutting step of cutting the series of elongated members conveyed in the conveying step using a cutting blade disposed downstream of the movable clamp in the conveying direction, In the cutting step, the series of elongated members is fixed by a fixed clamp located between the cutting blade and the movable clamp; The conveying method includes a second step of conveying the series of elongated members to a position where the adhesive tape does not overlap with the second clamp position of the fixed clamp when the detection sensor detects the adhesive tape.

4. The conveying method according to claim 3, the second position is a position between the first clamp position and the second clamp position, The second step comprises: a third conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape so that the adhesive tape moves to a third position upstream of the cutting blade in the conveying direction after the second conveying step; a fourth conveying step of conveying the adhesive tape so that the adhesive tape moves to a fourth position downstream of the cutting blade in the conveying direction, after the third conveying step.

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