Cutting parts separation device

Abstract

The present invention provides a cutting parts separation device that makes it easier to separate the cut parts from the excess sheet, and allows the separated cutting parts to be collected while visually checking their shape and size, without having to take them out and spread them out. [Solution] The system is configured with a tilting conveying section 3 that grips the sheet 8 conveyed by the main conveying section 2 and conveys it diagonally upward, a lower conveying section 4d provided below the tilting conveying section 3, and an upper conveying section 4u provided in the direction when the tilting conveying section 3 is tilted upward. The conveyed sheet 8 is then conveyed to the upper conveying section 4u via the tilting conveying section 3, and pressed by the pressure roller 5 to convey it upward. Then, the tilting conveying section 3 is tilted downward, and with the sheet 8 curved, the cut parts 8a are separated from the ends and placed on the lower conveying section 4d for conveying.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting part separating device capable of separating a cutting part cut from a sheet such as cloth from a surplus sheet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when separating a cutting part cut from cloth from a surplus sheet, a device as shown in Patent Document 1 below is used.

[0003] This cutting part separating device includes a cutting device that cuts a sheet such as cloth fed out from a fabric into cutting parts, a conveying unit that conveys the sheet cut by this cutting device, and a cutting part dropping part provided on the downstream side of this conveying unit that drops the cutting parts into a lower recovery box in a state where the sheet is conveyed in a planar shape, and a surplus sheet recovery box that recovers the surplus sheet after dropping the cutting parts. According to such a configuration, since the cutting parts can be collected in the recovery box, there is an advantage that the trouble of extracting the cutting parts one by one from the sheet is eliminated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, with such a structure, the following problems occur.

[0006] In other words, in the device described above, the cut pieces are dropped from a sheet being transported in a flat state, so frictional force is applied uniformly to the cut portion, making it difficult for the cut pieces to fall. Therefore, when multiple sheets are stacked, when the sheets are thick, or when using fabrics that easily generate friction, a problem arises in that the cut pieces do not easily fall into the collection box.

[0007] Furthermore, with the aforementioned device, cut parts of different shapes and sizes are collected stacked in the collection box. Therefore, when retrieving a specific cut part, it is necessary to remove the cut part from the collection box, spread it out, and check its type, which is time-consuming and inconvenient.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a cutting parts separation device that makes it easier to separate the cutting parts from the excess sheet, and that allows the separated cutting parts to be collected while visually checking the shape and size of the cutting parts without having to take them out and spread them out. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In other words, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a main conveying unit that carries cut parts cut from a sheet together with excess sheet, a tilting conveying unit that grips the sheet carried by the main conveying unit and carries it diagonally upward, and a lower conveying unit provided below the tilting conveying unit, wherein the tilting conveying unit separates the excess sheet from the tip of the cut parts, and the separated cut parts are placed on the lower conveying unit and carried.

[0010] With this configuration, when the sheet is transported diagonally upward, the cutting parts can be curved and gradually separated from the front, making it easy to separate the cutting parts. Furthermore, since the separated cutting parts are transported to the lower transport section in their hollowed-out state, the cutting parts can be visually identified and collected by type.

[0011] Furthermore, in such an invention, the tilting conveying unit is configured so that its downstream side can tilt between an upper position and a lower position, and by tilting the downstream side of the tilting conveying unit to the lower position, the cut parts are dropped from the sheet and conveyed.

[0012] With this configuration, the cut parts and the surplus parts can be transported in different transport units, allowing the cut parts to be transported and collected in their cut state.

[0013] Furthermore, an upper conveying section is provided that is continuous with the tilting conveying section when it is tilted to an upward position. A control unit is provided that, when the tilting conveying section is tilted to an upward position, detects the leading edge of the sheet conveyed from the tilting conveying section with a sensor, lowers a pressure roller, and conveys the sheet by sandwiching it between the pressure roller and the upper conveying section.

[0014] With this configuration, even if there are differences in sheet thickness, the leading edge of the sheet can be reliably gripped by the pressure roller and transported to the upper conveying section.

[0015] Furthermore, a stopping wall is provided at the end of the upper transport section to block the transported sheets, and the lower end of the stopping wall is made rotatable.

[0016] With this configuration, the stopping wall can be rotated downwards to block and collect the excess sheet. Furthermore, by curving the stopping wall into a tray shape, the excess sheet can be collected in that tray-shaped portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, when the sheet is conveyed obliquely upward, the cutting part can be curved and gradually separated from the tip, so that the cutting part can be easily separated. Further, since the separated cutting part is conveyed to the lower conveying part in a state of being penetrated, the cutting parts can be visually recognized and collected for each type.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] Schematic side view of the cutting part separating device in an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 2] Schematic plan view of the cutting part separating device in the same embodiment [Figure 3] View showing a state in which the tilting conveying part is lowered to separate the cutting part in the same embodiment [Figure 4] View showing a state in which the cutting part is separated from the end in the same embodiment [Figure 5] Schematic view showing the operation of the stop wall in the same embodiment [Figure 6] View showing the state of the cutting part placed on the lower conveying part in the same embodiment [Figure 7] Flowchart showing the operation in the same embodiment

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] The cutting part separating device 1 in this embodiment is configured to separate the cut parts 8a (see FIG. 4) cut by a cutting device 7 as shown in FIG. 2 from the surplus sheet 8b. As shown in FIG. 2, it includes a main conveying part 2 for conveying the sheet 8, a tilting conveying part 3 for bending and conveying the sheet 8 conveyed by the main conveying part 2 obliquely upward, an upper conveying part 4u for sandwiching and conveying the sheet 8 conveyed by the tilting conveying part 3 with a pressing roller 5, and a lower conveying part 4d continuously provided in a direction in which the tilting conveying part 3 is inclined downward. Characteristically, after the sheet 8 conveyed obliquely upward from the tilting conveying part 3 is sandwiched by the pressing roller 5 and conveyed to the upper conveying part 4u (the state in FIG. 3), the tilting conveying part 3 is tilted downward (the state in FIG. 3) to bend the sheet 8 so as to facilitate separating the cut parts 8a from the end, and the separated cut parts 8a are placed on the lower conveying part 4d and conveyed (the state in FIG. 6).

[0021] Hereinafter, the cutting part separating device 1 in this embodiment and the cutting device 7 for cutting the sheet 8 will be described in detail.

[0022] First, as shown in FIG. 2, the cutting device 7 is provided on the upstream side of the cutting part separating device 1 and includes a mounting table 71 for placing the sheet 8 in a planar shape, a cutter device 72 for cutting the sheet 8 placed on the mounting table 71, etc.

[0023] Among these, the mounting table 71 is configured to be in close contact with the sheet such as cloth placed thereon, and is configured to raise a plurality of pins 71a and place the sheet 8 on its upper surface. Then, the blade of the cutter device 72 described later is made to penetrate below the pins 71a for cutting, and the sheet 8 is adsorbed on the pins 71a by a suction device (not shown) provided below. When the sheet is sucked by this suction device, the sheet 8 is sandwiched by nylon or the like, and the sheet 8 is sucked onto the surface of the mounting table 71 by the nylon.

[0024] The cutter device 72 cuts the sheet 8 by moving the blade in the XY direction along the horizontal plane, and is configured to cut out the cut parts 8a by moving the blade up and down with the blade penetrating below the pin 71a and moving along rails provided in the XY direction.

[0025] The cut parts 8a cut by such a cutting device 7 are separated from the excess sheet 8b by a cut parts separation device 1 located downstream of it.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, this cutting and separating parts device 1 is configured to include a main transport unit 2, a tilting transport unit 3, an upper transport unit 4u, a lower transport unit 4d, and the like.

[0027] The main transport unit 2 is configured to transport the sheet 8 cut by the cutting device 7 along a horizontal plane, by placing a belt 21 over rollers 2a and 2b provided at the front and rear, and transporting the sheet 8 toward the tilt transport unit 3.

[0028] The tilting conveying unit 3, which is continuously provided from the main conveying unit 2, is configured to tilt the rear roller 3b located downstream between an upper and lower position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. A belt 31 is stretched between the front roller 3a and the rear roller 3b. The front roller 3a is positioned at the same height as the roller 2b of the main conveying unit 2, and the rear roller 3b is configured to tilt between an upper and lower position by an actuator 32 such as an air cylinder. Initially, as shown in Figure 1, the tilting conveying unit 3 is tilted towards the upper conveying unit 4u. A pressure roller 5 and a sensor 5a are provided near the front roller 3a of the upper conveying unit 4u, and the sensor 5a controls the lowering of the pressure roller 5 when the leading edge of the sheet 8 is detected. Then, after the leading edge of the sheet 8 is gripped by the pressure roller 5, the actuator 32 of the tilting transport unit 3 is driven to lower the downstream rear roller 3b toward the lower transport unit 4d, as shown in Figure 3, thereby creating a drop space S between the main transport unit 2 and the upper transport unit 4u. The tilting transport unit 3 is kept tilted toward the lower transport unit 4d until a certain amount of time has elapsed after the sensor 5a, which will be described later, detects the end of the sheet 8.

[0029] The upper transport section 4u transports the excess sheets 8b that have been transported by the tilting transport section 3. It is configured to transport the excess sheets 8b diagonally upward from the tilting transport section 3, and then transport the excess sheets 8b horizontally onto the belt 42a. By transporting the excess sheets 8b horizontally, it is possible to check whether or not there are any remaining cut parts 8a. A stop wall 41 is provided at the end of the upper transport section 4u (see Figures 1 and 5). This stop wall 41 is designed to block and collect the excess sheets 8b. A pivot shaft 41a is provided at the lower end of the stop wall 41, and the stop wall 41 is rotated around this pivot shaft 41a (as shown by the dashed line in Figure 5) to allow the excess sheets 8b to be removed all at once. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by curving the stopping wall 41, when the unit is positioned to rotate around the pivot axis 41a, the excess sheet 8b can be received and collected by the curved portion 41b.

[0030] The pressure roller 5, located at the entrance of the upper transport section 4u, is designed to grip the leading edge of the sheet 8 that has been transported by the tilt transport section 3, and is configured to move vertically by an actuator 32 (see Figure 1). When the leading edge of the sheet 8 is detected by a sensor 5a located in front of the pressure roller 5, the control unit 6 lowers the pressure roller 5 so that it can grip the front end of the sheet 8 between itself and the upper transport section 4u.

[0031] On the other hand, the lower transport section 4d is provided in a continuous manner with respect to the tilting transport section 3 when it is tilted downward, and is configured to transport the cut parts 8a on the belt 42b in their cut state, as shown in Figure 6. The length of the lower transport section 4d is equal to or greater than the length of the main transport section 2, and its end portion is positioned behind the end position of the upper transport section 4u. In Figure 1, the hatched area indicates the lower transport section 4d. This allows the cut parts 8a to be transported in the state they have been cut by the cutting device 7, and by positioning its end portion behind the end position of the upper transport section 4u, the upper transport section 4u does not get in the way when removing the cut parts 8a, allowing the cut parts 8a to be removed while being visible. Furthermore, the lower transport section 4d may be configured to stop after the sensor 5a provided on the pressure roller 5 detects the end of the sheet 8, thereby preventing the cut parts 8a from overlapping at the end of the lower transport section 4d.

[0032] The control unit 6 (see Figure 1) controls the driving of the main transport unit 2, the tilting transport unit 3, the upper transport unit 4u, and the lower transport unit 4d. When a sheet 8 is transported from the tilting transport unit 3, which is angled upward, to the upper transport unit 4u, the control unit 5a detects the leading edge of the sheet 8 and controls the pressing roller 5 to lower and to grip and transport the sheet 8 between the upper transport unit 4u and the pressing roller 5. The tilting transport unit 3 is then tilted downward to transport the cut parts 8a to the lower transport unit 4d. When the end of the sheet 8 is detected by the sensor 5a, the drive of the lower transport unit 4d is stopped to prevent the cut parts 8a from overlapping at the end of the lower transport unit 4d, and the upper transport unit 4u is driven to collect excess sheet 8b at the stop wall 41.

[0033] Next, the operation of the cut parts separation device 1 configured in this way will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 7, specifically the operation when separating the cut parts 8a cut by the cutting device 7 from the excess sheet 8b.

[0034] First, the sheet 8 cut by the cutting device 7 is transported directly to the main transport unit 2 and placed on the transport unit.

[0035] In this state, turning on the power drives the motor of the main transport unit 2 (step S1), causing the sheet 8 to be transported. Then, its leading edge is moved towards the tilt transport unit 3 and it is transported diagonally upward.

[0036] Once the sheet 8 is transported to the tilting transport unit 3, and the leading edge of the sheet 8 is detected by the sensor 5a (step S2), the pressure roller 5 descends (step S3), gripping the sheet between itself and the upper transport unit 4u, and transporting it towards the upper transport unit 4u.

[0037] After the sheet 8 is clamped between the pressure rollers 5 in this manner, the tilting transport unit 3 is then tilted to the lowered position (step S4).

[0038] At this time, the leading edge of the sheet 8 is sandwiched between the pressing roller 5 and the upper transport section 4u, and a drop space S is formed in the area where the tilting transport section 3 was located. On the other hand, since nothing is gripping the downstream side of the sheet 8, the sheet 8 is transported in a curved state.

[0039] As the sheet 8 curves in this way, the cutting part 8a gradually separates from the tip of the curved portion, allowing the cutting part 8a to fall into the drop space S.

[0040] When the cutting part 8a is dropped in this manner, it lands on the tilting transport unit 3 located below and can then be transported to the lower transport unit 4d.

[0041] Then, the lower transport unit 4d transports the cut parts 8a, and when the end of the sheet 8 is detected by the sensor 5a (step S5), the transport by the lower transport unit 4d is stopped (step S6). As a result, the cut parts 8a are placed on the belt 42b of the lower transport unit 4d in their cut state (state shown in Figure 6).

[0042] On the other hand, the upper transport unit 4u continues to operate for a certain period of time after the end of the sheet 8 is detected by the sensor 5a, so that it can be confirmed whether any cut parts 8a remain on the flat surface, and the excess sheet 8b from which the cut parts 8a have been cut out is transported to the stop wall 41 and blocked off.

[0043] Then, to remove the excess sheet 8b that is blocked by the stop wall 41, the stop wall 41 is rotated downward, and the excess sheet 8b is placed on its curved, tray-like portion so that it can be collected.

[0044] As described above, according to this embodiment, the system includes a main transport unit 2 that carries the cut parts 8a cut from the sheet 8 together with the excess sheet 8b, a tilting transport unit 3 that grips the sheet 8 that has been transported by the main transport unit 2 and transports it diagonally upward, and a lower transport unit 4d provided below the tilting transport unit 3. The tilting transport unit 3 separates the cut parts 8a from the excess sheet 8b from the tip, and the separated cut parts 8a are placed on the lower transport unit 4d for transport. As the sheet 8 is transported diagonally upward, the cut parts 8a can be curved and gradually separated from the tip, making it easy to separate the cut parts 8a. Furthermore, since the separated cut parts 8a are transported to the lower transport unit 4d in their hollowed-out state, the cut parts 8a can be visually identified and collected by type.

[0045] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be implemented in various ways.

[0046] For example, although the above embodiment described the case of cutting cloth, a similar configuration can be used when cutting thin film, paper, etc.

[0047] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the sheet 8 is curved by tilting the tilting transport unit 3, making it easier to separate the cut parts 8a from the ends. However, a cylindrical upper transport unit may be provided in the main transport unit 2, and the leading edge of the sheet 8 may be branched off to this cylindrical upper transport unit via a movable claw or the like, and rotated and transported while being gripped and curved by a pressing roller or the like. Then, the cut parts 8a may be gradually separated from the front end by this curvature and transported to the main transport unit 2 in their cut state.

[0048] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cutting parts 8a are dropped from the front end contact in the tilting transport section 3, but a suction device may be provided in the tilting transport section 3 to ensure that the cutting parts 8a are reliably separated.

[0049] Furthermore, with respect to the sheet 8 in this embodiment, this embodiment can also be applied to multiple sheets 8 stacked on top of each other. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 1. Cutting and separating parts device 2. Main conveying section 2a, 2b... Rollers 21... belt 3. Tilting conveying section 3a... Front roller 3b... Rear roller 31... belt 32. Actuator 4u... Upper transport section 4d...Lower transport section 41...stop wall 41a...Rotating shaft 42a... belt 42b...belt 5. Pressure roller 5a...Sensor 6. Control Unit 7. Cutting device 71. Mounting platform 71a...pin 72. Cutter device 8 seats 8a... Cutting parts 8b... Surplus sheet S... Falling space

Claims

1. The main transport unit places the cut parts, which have been cut from the sheet, along with the excess sheet and transports them, A tilting conveying unit that grips the sheet conveyed by the main conveying unit and conveys it diagonally upward, It comprises a lower conveying section provided below the tilting conveying section, A cutting part separation device characterized in that the cutting part is separated from the excess sheet from the tip of the cutting part in the tilting transport section, and the separated cutting part is placed on the lower transport section and transported.

2. The tilting conveying unit is configured to be tiltable between an upper position and a lower position on its downstream side. The cutting parts separation device according to claim 1, wherein the downstream side of the tilting transport section is tilted downward to cause the cutting parts to fall from the sheet and be transported.

3. An upper conveying section is provided that is continuous with the tilting conveying section when it is tilted to an upward position. The cutting parts separation device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that, while the tilting transport unit is tilted to an upward position, detects with a sensor when the leading edge of the sheet has arrived, lowers the pressing roller, and transports the sheet by sandwiching it between the pressing roller and the upper transport unit.

4. The cutting parts separation device according to claim 3, wherein a stop wall is provided downstream of the upper transport section to block the transported sheet, and the lower end of the stop wall is rotatably provided.

Images