Strip-shaped object entanglement detection device

Abstract

The present invention provides a strip-shaped material entanglement detection device that can reliably detect entanglement of strip-shaped materials, such as chuck tape, during transport. [Solution] When detecting entanglement of a chuck tape 1 being transported in the longitudinal direction, the strip-shaped entanglement detection device comprises a restricting member 12 having an insertion portion 13 through which the chuck tape 1 in an unentangled state can be inserted in the longitudinal direction during transport, a slide guide 8 (support structure) that supports the restricting member 12 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the chuck tape 1 inserted through the insertion portion 13, and a limit switch 6 (detection unit) that detects when the restricting member 12 has moved in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the chuck tape 1.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a strip entanglement detection device, particularly a strip entanglement detection device suitable for detecting entanglement of a strip such as a chuck tape when the strip is conveyed in the longitudinal direction.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1 below, a chuck tape, which is a strip, is inserted between the ends of one side of two (eventually square-shaped) films. The male-side strip base member (hereinafter referred to as the male-side member) and the female-side strip base member (hereinafter referred to as the female-side member) of the chuck tape are fused to the inner surfaces of each film, and the remaining side portions of the square films are joined to form a bag. In this bag-making machine, the oppositely arranged thin plate-shaped receiving portions are inserted between the male-side member and the female-side member so as to sandwich the engaging portion of the chuck tape, and this receiving portion is inserted together with the chuck tape between the two films. In this state, heating and pressing are applied from the outside of the films by the heat fusion portions arranged on both outer sides of the two films to fuse the films and the chuck tape. The chuck tape is cut by a cutter arranged on the outside of the film (the front side in the insertion direction of the chuck tape) while being inserted between the two films.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described in Patent Document 1 above, strip-shaped materials such as zipper tape are often wound into a roll, and if the strip-shaped material is unwound from this roll, for example, with a constant tension or at a constant speed, the strip-shaped material is less likely to become tangled. However, sometimes strip-shaped materials such as zipper tape are not wound up, but instead stored, for example, by being packed into a cardboard box. When strip-shaped materials stored in this manner are pulled out and transported, the strip-shaped material may not untangle properly and may become tangled. For example, if zipper tape becomes tangled in the bag-making machine described in Patent Document 1 above, the zipper tape cannot be properly transported and fed, which will hinder bag making.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a strip-shaped material entanglement detection device that can reliably detect entanglement of strip-shaped materials such as chuck tape during transport. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the present invention is a strip-shaped entanglement detection device for detecting entanglement of a strip-shaped material being transported in the longitudinal direction, comprising: a restricting member having an insertion portion through which a strip-shaped material in an unentangled state can be inserted in the longitudinal direction during transport; a support structure that supports the restricting member so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the strip-shaped material inserted into the insertion portion; and a detection unit that detects when the restricting member has moved in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the strip-shaped material.

[0007] In this strip-shaped object entanglement detection device, if a strip-shaped object becomes entangled while being transported in the longitudinal direction, the entanglement catches on the object, preventing it from passing through the insertion section. A regulating member supported by the support structure is then pushed by the entanglement and moves in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the strip-shaped object. The detection unit detects this movement of the regulating member, thereby detecting that the strip-shaped object is entangled. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, entanglement of a strip-shaped material during transport can be reliably detected. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a three-view drawing showing one embodiment of the strip-shaped object entanglement detection device of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view of the regulating member. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the strip-shaped object entanglement detection device. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the strip-shaped object entanglement detection device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments of the strip-shaped entanglement detection device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below illustrate configurations and methods for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments in terms of the material, shape, structure, arrangement, etc. of the components. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic. Therefore, it should be noted that the relationship and ratio of thickness and planar dimensions may differ from those in reality, and there may be parts where the dimensional relationships and ratios differ between drawings.

[0011] The strip-shaped entanglement detection device shown in Figure 1 is installed in the middle of the transport path of a strip-shaped chuck tape 1 to detect entanglement of the chuck tape 1 during transport. The destination of the chuck tape 1 is a bag-making machine as described in Patent Document 1. In the three-view drawing of the strip-shaped entanglement detection device shown in Figure 1, the upper side of the figure corresponds to the front view and the lower side corresponds to the bottom view, but the device is positioned so that the upper side of the figure in the front view is upward and the lower side is downward. That is, the "transport direction" of the chuck tape 1 shown in the front view of Figure 1 is from bottom to top. When the chuck tape 1 is transported, the transport posture is defined so that the thickness direction of the chuck tape 1 is in the left-right direction in the front view of Figure 1, and the width direction is in the up-down direction in the bottom view of Figure 1. Note that downward does not necessarily have to be vertically downward, but may be diagonally downward, for example. For details on the chuck tape 1, please refer to Patent Document 1, for example.

[0012] This strip-shaped entanglement detection device is installed on one surface of a substrate material 2, which is arranged so that the width direction of a relatively long rectangular plate material is approximately vertical and the longitudinal direction of the plate material spans the left-right direction in Figure 1. This substrate material 2 is made of, for example, an aluminum plate member and forms one of the plate-shaped members that constitute the passage path 3 of the chuck tape 1, which will be described later. Two block-shaped members 4 are attached to one surface of this substrate material 2 with a predetermined gap between them. This gap is larger than the thickness of the chuck tape 1, and the chuck tape 1 passes through the gap between these two block-shaped members 4. That is, the gap between the two block-shaped members 4 constitutes the passage path 3 of the chuck tape 1, and the two block-shaped members 4 are attached to the substrate material 2, facing each other in the thickness direction of the transport posture of the chuck tape 1 as it passes through the passage path 3.

[0013] Each block-shaped member 4 is an L-shaped member in front view, formed by removing a large rectangular section from a resin rectangular parallelepiped (originally roughly square in front view) with a slightly thicker wall, and two block-shaped members 4 are positioned opposite each other so that this rectangular section is on the front side in the transport direction of the chuck tape 1 and faces outwards from each other. The thickness of each block-shaped member 4 (vertical dimension in the bottom view of Figure 1) is equal to the thickness of the limit switch 6 that constitutes the detection unit in this embodiment. On the sides of these two block-shaped members 4 opposite to the substrate material 2, a plate-shaped member 5, for example made of transparent acrylic, is attached to cover the gap between the two block-shaped members 4, and this plate-shaped member 5 and the substrate material 2 are positioned opposite each other in the width direction to restrict the transport posture of the chuck tape 1 as it passes through the passage path 3. Furthermore, the ends of the block-shaped member 4 on the forward side and the forward side in the direction of chuck tape transport are chamfered with R chamfers 7, so that the chuck tape 1 passing through the passage path 3 is less likely to be damaged when it enters the passage path 3 and when it is discharged from the passage path 3. Limit switches 6 are placed on each of the two rectangular removal sections of the block-shaped member 4 and attached to the substrate material 2. These limit switches 6 are arranged so that the lever portion 6a that constitutes the operating part is on the lower side of the device, and the detection rollers 6b provided at the tips of the lever portion 6a face each other. Therefore, these limit switches 6 are turned on when the lever portion 6a is pushed upwards on the device.

[0014] Furthermore, support portions 11 of the guide bars 9 of the slide guide 8, which constitute the support structure, are attached to the surfaces of the two block-shaped members 4 opposite to the substrate material 2, and the guide bars 9 with a circular cross-section protrude downward from these support portions 11. In addition, support portions (not shown) are attached to the other surface of the substrate material 2 (i.e., the surface opposite to the mounting surface of the block-shaped members 4), and the guide bars 9 protrude downward from these support portions. The support portions 11 are positioned opposite each other on either side of the substrate material 2, and therefore a total of four guide bars 9 protrude downward from the same location on both sides of the substrate material 2 in the thickness direction. Note that a stopper (not shown) is attached to the protruding tip of each guide bar 9 to prevent the slider 10, which will be described later, from falling off the guide bar 9.

[0015] A slider 10, which can slide along the outer surface of the guide bar 9, is attached to the four corners of a transparent acrylic rectangular plate member that constitutes the restricting member 12, with the guide bar 9 inserted through each of them. Since the extension direction (projection direction) of the guide bar 9 is downward, the slide guide 8 (support structure) composed of the slider 10 and the guide bar 9 supports the restricting member 12 so that it can move in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the chuck tape 1. Viewed from the side of the restricting member 12, the restricting member 12 can move in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the chuck tape 1. The guide bar 9 inserted through the slider 10 protrudes downward from the support part 11, and the restricting member 12, which is supported by the guide bar 9 to prevent it from falling out with a stopper, is supported so as to be suspended from the main body made up of a block-shaped member 4 and a substrate material 2.

[0016] The central part of the regulating member 12, which is made of a plate-like material, is provided with an insertion section 13 through which the chuck tape 1, being transported in the longitudinal direction, can be inserted without entanglement. Specifically, as clearly shown in Figure 2, this insertion section 13 is a rectangular hole formed through the regulating member 12. That is, this rectangular hole-like insertion section 13 is a through-hole of a size that allows the chuck tape 1, in an unentangled state, to pass only in a specified transport orientation, with the thickness direction oriented in the left-right direction in Figure 2 and the width direction oriented in the up-down direction in Figure 2. The insertion section 13 of the regulating member 12 and the passage path 3, which is surrounded by the block-shaped material 4, the substrate material 2, and the plate-shaped material 5, are aligned in a series in the transport direction of the chuck tape 1. Therefore, the passage path 3 also defines the transport orientation of the chuck tape 1 that is about to be inserted into the insertion section 13, ahead in the transport direction. Furthermore, the ends of the insertion section 13 on the forward side and the forward side in the direction of chuck tape transport are rounded off, so that the chuck tape 1 passing through the insertion section 13 is less likely to be damaged when it enters the insertion section 13 and when it is fed out from the insertion section 13.

[0017] The front view of Figure 1 shows a state in which the chuck tape 1 is not tangled, and as a result, the chuck tape 1 is being transported in the transport direction, i.e., longitudinally, through the passage path 3 enclosed by the insertion portion 13 of the restricting member 12, the block-shaped member 4, the substrate material 2, and the plate-shaped member 5. The device is positioned so that the restricting member 12 is at the bottom, so the restricting member 12 is located at the lower end of the guide bar 9 together with the slider 10 without the use of biasing members such as springs. From this state, as shown in Figure 3, when the tangled portion 1a of the chuck tape 1 reaches the position of the restricting member 12, the tangled portion 1a cannot pass through the insertion portion 13 and comes into contact with the restricting member 12. The chuck tape 1 is still being transported in the transport direction at that time, so the restricting member 12 is moved in a direction parallel to the transport direction along with the tangled portion 1a. Eventually, the restricting member 12 comes into contact with the detection roller 6b provided on the lever portion 6a of the limit switch 6, pushing the lever portion 6a in a direction parallel to the chuck tape transport direction, i.e., upward. This turns on the limit switch 6, detecting that the chuck tape 1 is tangled.

[0018] In this manner, when attempting to detect entanglement of the chuck tape 1, a passage path 3 is provided ahead of the insertion portion 13 (regulating member 12) in the chuck tape transport direction where the entanglement is likely to occur. This passage path 3 regulates the posture of the chuck tape 1 during transport. As a result, the chuck tape 1 in an unentangled state can pass through the insertion portion 13 in a defined posture during transport, preventing, for example, the chuck tape 1 from swaying in the thickness or width direction during transport and getting caught on the edge of the insertion portion 13. Furthermore, although the chuck tape 1 has a certain width, it is thin in the thickness direction, making it prone to bending in the thickness direction and consequently prone to swaying in that direction. In contrast, the block-shaped member 4 that regulates the thickness direction of the chuck tape 1 during transport has R-chamfers 7 on the far end and near end of the passage path 3 in the chuck tape transport direction. Therefore, even if the chuck tape 1 is sent out from the passage path 3 and sways in the thickness direction, it is less likely to be damaged.

[0019] The strip-shaped entanglement detection device according to the embodiment has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the movement of the restricting member 12 in a direction parallel to the chuck tape transport direction is detected by two limit switches 6, but as can be inferred from the above, only one of these limit switches 6 is needed. In addition, other types of switches, such as microswitches, can be used instead of the limit switches 6, or a light-shielding sensor that operates when it is in a light-shielding state when the restricting member 12 moves in a direction parallel to the chuck tape transport direction can be used.

[0020] Also, if there is an insertion part 13 through which the chuck tape 1 can be inserted during non-entangled conveyance, instead of the regulating member 12 composed of a plate member provided with a hole part through which only the chuck tape 1 conveyed in a predetermined posture can be inserted, it is also possible to use a regulating member 12 of another form (shape). However, in order to move easily and surely in a direction parallel to the chuck tape conveyance direction when the entangled part 1a of the chuck tape 1 during conveyance gets caught, it is necessary to be as light as possible and for the entangled part 1a to surely get caught. For this, a plate member is suitable. In order to easily and surely catch the entangled part 1a of the chuck tape 1 on this plate member, it is considered appropriate to provide a hole part through which only the chuck tape 1 conveyed in a predetermined posture can be inserted in the plate member.

[0021] Also, the passage path 3 for regulating the posture of the chuck tape 1 during conveyance passing through the insertion part 13 may have a configuration other than the above. However, in order to configure the main body part for suspending the regulating member 12 and the support structure (slide guide 8) on the base plate material 2, it is necessary to attach the block-shaped member 4 to the base plate material 2. It is appropriate to divide this block-shaped member 4 into two, provide a predetermined gap, attach it to the base plate material 2, and pass the chuck tape 1 through the gap. Therefore, it is considered appropriate to regulate the thickness direction of the conveyance posture of the chuck tape 1 with the two block-shaped members 4. Needless to say, the present invention can be similarly applied even if the belt-like body to be detected for entanglement is other than the chuck tape 1.

[0022] Thus, in this embodiment, when detecting the entanglement of the chuck tape 1 conveyed in the longitudinal direction, the belt entanglement detection device includes a regulating member 12 having an insertion portion 13 through which the chuck tape 1 in a non-entangled state can be inserted in the longitudinal direction, a slide guide 8 (support structure) that supports the regulating member 12 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the chuck tape 1 inserted through the insertion portion 13, and a limit switch 6 (detection portion) that detects that the regulating member 12 has moved in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the chuck tape 1. Therefore, when there is an entanglement in the chuck tape 1 being conveyed in the longitudinal direction, the entangled portion 1a is caught and the chuck tape 1 cannot pass through the insertion portion 13, and the regulating member 12 supported by the slide guide 8 is pushed by the entangled portion 1a and moves in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the chuck tape 1. By detecting the movement of this regulating member 12 with the limit switch 6, it is possible to surely detect the entanglement during the conveyance of the chuck tape 1.

[0023] Further, the support structure supports the regulating member 12 in a suspended state, and the chuck tape 1 is inserted through the insertion portion 13 from the lower side to the upper side of the regulating member 12. Thereby, without using a biasing member such as a spring, the regulating member 12 can be positioned on the lower end side of the slide guide 8 on the side opposite to the conveying direction of the chuck tape 1, and the entangled portion 1a of the chuck tape 1 can push up the regulating member 12 to turn on the limit switch 6.

[0024] Also, the regulating member 12 is constituted by a plate member provided with a hole portion that can be inserted in the longitudinal direction only in a predetermined posture during the conveyance of the chuck tape 1 as the insertion portion 13, and the detection portion is constituted by a limit switch 6 that operates when the regulating member 12 is moved in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the chuck tape 1. Thereby, with a simple configuration, it becomes possible to easily and surely detect the entanglement of the chuck tape 1.

[0025] Furthermore, the support structure is configured with a slide guide 8 having a guide bar 9 that is longitudinal in the direction parallel to the transport direction of the chuck tape 1, and a slider 10 that slides along the guide bar 9 as the restricting member 12 moves in the direction parallel to the transport direction of the chuck tape 1. This allows the restricting member 12 to be supported in a suspended state with a simple configuration, while ensuring smooth movement in the direction parallel to the transport direction of the chuck tape 1.

[0026] Furthermore, a passage path 3 is provided on the forward side of the chuck tape 1 in the transport direction from the regulating member 12, regulating the thickness and width directions of the chuck tape 1 in a predetermined position during transport. Two block-shaped members 4 constituting this passage path 3 are arranged facing each other in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped body, and R-chamfers 7 are provided on the forward and forward ends of the passage path 3 in the transport direction of these two block-shaped members 4. This stabilizes the transport position of the chuck tape 1 as it passes through the insertion portion 13 (hole portion) of the regulating member 12, and also suppresses damage to the chuck tape 1 even if it shakes in the thickness direction.

[0027] Furthermore, the substrate material 2 and plate-shaped member 5, which face each other in the width direction of the chuck tape 1, are attached to two block-shaped members 4 to form a passage path 3. This makes it possible to properly regulate the thickness and width direction of the chuck tape 1 during transport with a simple configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1. Zipper tape (strip-shaped material) 2. Substrate material (plate-shaped member) 3. Route 4 Block-shaped members 5 Plate-shaped member 6. Limit switch (detection unit) 7. R-chamfer 8. Slide guide (support structure) 9 Guide bars 10 Sliders 12 Regulating members 13 Insertion part

Claims

1. A strip-shaped object entanglement detection device for detecting entanglement of a strip-shaped object being transported in the longitudinal direction, A restricting member having an insertion portion through which the strip-shaped body can be inserted in the longitudinal direction during transport in an unentangled state, A support structure that supports the restricting member so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the strip-shaped body inserted into the insertion portion, A strip-shaped body entanglement detection device comprising: a detection unit that detects when the restricting member moves in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the strip-shaped body.

2. The strip-shaped body entanglement detection device according to claim 1, wherein the support structure supports the restricting member in a suspended state, and the strip-shaped body is inserted through the insertion portion from the lower side to the upper side of the restricting member.

3. The strip-shaped body entanglement detection device according to claim 2, wherein the restricting member is a plate member having a hole portion as the insertion portion through which the strip-shaped body can be inserted longitudinally only when it is in a predetermined position during transport, and the detection unit is a switch that operates when the restricting member is moved in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the strip-shaped body.

4. The strip-shaped body entanglement detection device according to claim 3, wherein the support structure is comprised of a slide guide having a guide bar longitudinally oriented in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the strip-shaped body, and a slider that slides along the guide bar as the restricting member moves in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the strip-shaped body.

5. The strip-shaped body entanglement detection device according to claim 1, wherein a passage path is provided on the forward side of the conveying direction of the strip-shaped body from the regulating member, which regulates the thickness direction and width direction of the strip-shaped body in a predetermined posture during conveying, two block-shaped members constituting the passage path are provided facing each other in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped body, and R-chamfers are provided on the forward end and forward end of the passage path of the two block-shaped members in the conveying direction.

6. The strip-shaped body entanglement detection device according to claim 5, wherein two plate-shaped members facing each other in the width direction of the strip-shaped body are attached to the two block-shaped members to form the passage path.

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