Tape cutter

Abstract

To provide a tape cutter capable of automatically making a cut in a protective tape stuck on one surface of a plate material.SOLUTION: A tape cutter 1 comprises a guide member 2 and cutters 3L, 3R. The guide member 2 is a member which guides a plate material BD carried in a held state from an upstream side to a downstream side in a carrying direction. The cutters 3L, 3R are tools for making a cut in a protective film PT stuck on one surface SU2 of the plate material BD. The guide member 2 has an entrance EN into which the plate material BD carried from the upstream side in the carrying direction can be inserted, a carrying passage which extends from the entrance EN to the downstream side in the carrying direction, and an exit EX which is provided at an end of the carrying passage and into which the plate material BD can be inserted. The cutters 3L, 3R are arranged at cutting positions where cutting edges 31L, 31R are directed to the carrying direction, and tips of the cutting edges 31L, 31R can be brought into contact with the one surface SU2 of the BD plate material exiting from the exit EX.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tape cutter, and more particularly to a tape cutter that cuts a protective tape attached to one side of a plate material. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a signboard (also called an internally illuminated signboard) that displays advertisements by arranging a display panel such as an acrylic plate on the front and providing a light source inside the housing frame (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The signboards mentioned above use a housing frame made of welded metal plates (such as stainless steel plates). Before welding, protective tape is applied to one side of the plate to protect the surface.

[0004] However, when welding metal plates, it is necessary to peel off the protective tape that is applied to the entire surface of the plate, which is the portion of the plate that corresponds to the weld allowance (weld margin) where welding will be performed.

[0005] Therefore, up until now, workers have had to manually make cuts in the protective tape that is attached to the area corresponding to the welding allowance in order to peel it off. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-25175 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, manually cutting slits in the protective tape attached to one side of the plate requires a lot of time and effort, and the quality of the work varies when the protective tape is cut manually.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cutter that can automatically cut a protective tape attached to one side of a plate material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a tape cutter comprising a guide member that guides a plate material being held and transported from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction, and a cutter that cuts a protective tape attached to one side of the plate material, wherein the guide member has an entrance through which the plate material transported from the upstream side in the transport direction can be inserted, a transport path extending from the entrance to the downstream side in the transport direction, and an exit provided at the end of the transport path through which the plate material can be inserted, and the cutter is positioned at a cutting position where the orientation of the blade coincides with the transport direction and the tip of the blade can be brought into contact with the one side of the plate material emerging from the exit.

[0010] Here, it is preferable that the cutter is provided with a biasing member that elastically biases the cutter to the cutting position.

[0011] It is also preferable that the guide member includes a stainless steel bottom plate, the plate material is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction so that the side on which the protective tape is affixed faces the upper surface of the bottom plate, and an abutment plate is provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate for abutting the blade of the cutter positioned at the cutting position.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cutter is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0013] It is also preferable that the conveying path is configured so that its vertical width gradually narrows from the entrance to the exit.

[0014] It is also preferable that the transport path is provided with an attachment for gradually narrowing the width in the left-right direction from the entrance to the exit. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, one side of the plate material that has passed through the guide member is configured to come into contact with the tip of the cutter blade, so that it is possible to automatically make a cut in the protective tape attached to one side of the plate material. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view of a tape cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the right side, and FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the tape cutter as viewed from the front. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram showing the state in which a plate material conveyed from a V-groove processing machine passes through a tape cutter. [Diagram 5] View from the V arrow in Figure 4. [Figure 6] 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an attachment that can be attached to a transport path of the guide member. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] <1. Embodiment> A tape cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In the following, a tape cutter 1 shown in Figure 1 will be illustrated as an example of the tape cutter according to the present invention.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), the tape cutter 1 includes a guide member 2 and two cutters 3L and 3R.

[0019] The guide member 2 is a member for passing a plate material BD (see Figs. 4 and 5) used for a housing frame of a signboard through the inside and guiding it to a desired position.

[0020] The plate material BD is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction toward the guide member 2 while being held by a machine performing a preceding process.

[0021] 4, in this embodiment, a known V-groove machining machine is exemplified as a machine for performing the pre-processing. The V-groove machining machine is a machine for forming a V-groove in the surface of a plate material BD for bending the plate material BD.

[0022] However, the machine that performs the pre-processing is not limited to the V-groove processing machine, and may be another machine as long as it is capable of conveying the plate material BD toward the guide member 2 while holding it.

[0023] A V groove is formed on one surface (SU1 side) of the plate material BD by the V groove processing machine described above. A protective tape PT is attached to the entire surface of the other surface (SU2 side) of the plate material BD.

[0024] The cutters 3L, 3R have blades 31L, 31R, and are tools for making linear cuts on both ends of the protective tape PT attached to one surface SU2 of the plate material BD.

[0025] 1(A) and (B), the guide member 2 is configured to include left and right side plates 21L, 21R, a top plate 23, and a bottom plate 25. The left and right side plates 21L, 21R, the top plate 23, and the bottom plate 25 are made of stainless steel plates.

[0026] The left and right side plates 21L, 21R are configured in a right-angled triangular shape in a side view, with the upper ends inclined from the rear (upstream side in the conveying direction) to the front (upstream side in the conveying direction). A top plate 23 is provided on the upper ends of the left and right side plates 21L, 21R.

[0027] The top plate 23 is placed on the upper ends of the left and right side plates 21L, 21R, and is inclined downward from the rear to the front.

[0028] The front end (the end on the upstream side in the conveying direction) of the top plate 23 is disposed at a position slightly separated from the upper surface of the bottom plate 25. This creates a gap between the front end of the top plate 23 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 25. The gap created between the front end of the top plate 23 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 25 functions as an exit EX of the conveying path 20, which will be described later.

[0029] The bottom plate 25 is provided at the lower ends of the left and right side plates 21L, 21R and extends substantially horizontally from the rear to the front.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the guide member 2 has a transport path 20 that is partitioned by left and right side plates 21L and 21R, a top plate 23, and a bottom plate 25.

[0031] An end (rear end) of the conveying path 20 on the upstream side in the conveying direction functions as an entrance EN (see FIG. 2). Meanwhile, an end (front end) of the conveying path 20 on the downstream side in the conveying direction functions as an exit EX (see FIG. 3). In other words, the conveying path 20 penetrates in the front-rear direction (conveying direction) from the entrance EN to the exit EX.

[0032] An entrance EN of the conveying path 20 has a size that allows the plate material BD to pass therethrough. The plate material BD conveyed by the V-groove machining machine enters the conveying path 20 through the entrance EN.

[0033] As described above, the exit EX of the conveying path 20 is defined by the gap formed between the front end of the top plate 23 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 25. The plate material BD that has passed through the conveying path 20 is sent out to the outside of the conveying path 20 through the exit EX.

[0034] The vertical width of the conveying path 20 gradually decreases from the entrance EN to the exit EX. Therefore, as is clear from a comparison of Figures 2 and 3, the vertical width of the entrance EN is wider than the vertical width of the exit EX.

[0035] 1(A) and (B), the side plates 21L and 21R are provided with spring fixing portions 41L and 41R for fixing one ends of the springs 4L and 4R, respectively. The springs 4L and 4R are an example of the biasing member according to the present invention.

[0036] One end of the springs 4L, 4R is fixed to the above-mentioned spring fixing portions 41L, 41R, respectively. Meanwhile, the other end of the springs 4L, 4R is fixed to both left and right ends of the cutter holding portion 5, respectively. The cutter holding portion 5 is a member that fixes (connects) and holds the bodies of the cutters 3L, 3R, and is a cylindrical shaft-shaped member that extends in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (left and right direction).

[0037] The tension (biasing force) of the springs 4L, 4R is applied to the cutter holding portion 5 in a direction to lift the cutter holding portion 5. Since the cutters 3L, 3R are held by the cutter holding portion 5, the tension (biasing force) of the springs 4L, 4R is applied to the cutters 3L, 3R via the cutter holding portion 5 in a direction to lift the cutters 3L, 3R.

[0038] 1(A) and (B), an acrylic plate 27 is provided on the surface of the bottom plate 25 facing downward. The acrylic plate 27 is a contact plate for preventing the blades 31L, 31R of the cutters 3L, 3R from directly contacting the bottom plate 25. By providing the acrylic plate 27, the blades 31L, 31R of the cutters 3L, 3R do not contact the bottom plate 25.

[0039] The guide member 2 is attached to a bracket 6. The bracket 6 is supported by cylindrical support shafts 61L and 61R. The support shafts 61L and 61R are fixed to a pair of magnet holder bases 63L and 63R.

[0040] Between the support shafts 61L and 61R, a rotation support shaft 7 for rotatably supporting the base ends of the cutters 3L and 3R extends in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (left-right direction).

[0041] The cutters 3L and 3R rotate upward about the rotation support shaft 7 due to the tension (biasing force) of the springs 4L and 4R.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), the cutters 3L and 3R are rotated upward and placed in the cutting position, so that the blades 31L and 31R of the cutters 3L and 3R come into contact with the acrylic plate 27.

[0043] The cutters 3L and 3R are arranged so that the orientation of the blades 31L and 31R coincides with the conveying direction of the plate material BD at the cutting position. Also, the cutters 3L and 3R are arranged at the cutting position so that the tips of the blades 31L and 31R come into contact with one side SU2 of the plate material BD emerging from the outlet EX.

[0044] The cutters 3L, 3R are configured to be movable in the left-right direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the plate material BD so that the position of the cutter's slit can be changed. Specifically, the cutters 3L, 3R are configured to be movable in the left-right direction by changing the fixing positions (connection points) of the cutters 3L, 3R relative to the cutter holding unit 5.

[0045] In addition, when one side SU2 of the plate material BD coming out of the outlet EX comes into contact with the tips of the blades 31L, 31R, a constant (uniform) pressure is applied to one side SU2 by the tension (spring force) of the above-mentioned springs 4L, 4R.

[0046] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, an operation of making a cut LN in the protective tape PT attached to one side SU2 of the plate material BD by the above-mentioned tape cutter 1 will be described.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 4, the plate material BD is conveyed toward the upstream side in the conveying direction while being held by the V-groove processing machine. At that time, the plate material BD is conveyed with one side SU1 on which the V-groove processing has been performed facing upward and one side SU2 on which the protective tape PT has been affixed facing downward.

[0048] The plate material BD conveyed from the V-groove machining machine enters the conveying path 20 through the entrance EN of the guide member 2, and advances inside the conveying path 20 toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0049] The vertical width of the conveying path 20 gradually narrows from the upstream side in the conveying direction to the downstream side in the conveying direction. Therefore, even if the plate material BD is slightly misaligned in the vertical direction when it enters the conveying path 20, the vertical position of the plate material BD is appropriately adjusted toward the exit EX by passing through the conveying path 20.

[0050] When the tip of the plate material BD reaches the exit EX and goes outside the exit EX, one side SU2 of the plate material BD comes into contact with the tips of the blades 31L, 31R of the cutters 3L, 3R. When one side SU2 of the plate material BD comes into contact with the tips of the blades 31L, 31R, a certain amount of pressure is applied to one side SU2 of the plate material BD by the tension of the springs 4L, 4R.

[0051] As shown in Figure 5, when the plate material BD is transported downstream in the transport direction while a constant pressure is applied to one side SU2 of the plate material BD, a cut LN is automatically formed on both the left and right ends of the protective tape TP attached to the one side SU2.

[0052] According to the embodiment described above, the plate material BD that has passed through the guide member 2 is configured to come into contact with the tips of the two cutters 3L and 3R. Therefore, it is possible to automatically make a cut LN (see FIG. 5) in the protective tape PT attached to one side SU2 of the plate material BD.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the springs 4L, 4R that elastically bias the cutters 3L, 3R toward the above-mentioned cutting positions are connected to the cutters 3L, 3R via the cutter holding portion 5. In other words, the biasing force of the springs 4L, 4R is constantly applied to the cutters 3L, 3R toward the cutting positions.

[0054] Therefore, when one side SU2 of the plate material BD comes into contact with the tips of the blades 31L, 31R of the cutters 3L, 3R, a certain pressure is applied to the one side SU2 of the plate material BD. As a result, it becomes possible to make a cut LN with a certain pressure in the protective tape PT attached to the one side SU2 of the plate material BD.

[0055] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the acrylic plate 27 is provided on the downward surface of the bottom plate 25. Therefore, the blades 31L, 31R of the cutters 3L, 3R do not come into contact with the bottom plate 25, and there is no risk of the stainless steel bottom plate 25 being damaged.

[0056] According to the embodiment described above, the cutters 3L and 3R are configured to be movable in the left-right direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the plate material BD so that the position of the slit LN can be changed according to the left-right width of the plate material BD. Therefore, the positions of the cutters 3L and 3R can be appropriately adjusted according to the left-right width of the plate material BD.

[0057] According to the embodiment described above, the vertical width of the conveying path 20 gradually narrows from the entrance EN to the exit EX. Therefore, even if the plate material BD is slightly misaligned in the vertical direction when it enters the conveying path 20, the vertical position of the plate material BD can be adjusted to the correct position by passing through the conveying path 20.

[0058] <2. Modifications> The tape cutter according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0059] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the conveying path 20 has a gradually narrower vertical width from the entrance EN toward the exit EX, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of left and right attachments 8L, 8R may be attached to the conveying path 20 so that the width of the conveying path 20 in the left-right direction gradually narrows (decreases from width WD1 to width WD2) as it moves from the entrance EN to the exit EX.

[0061] The attachments 8L, 8R have inclined surfaces 81L, 81R, respectively. Therefore, even if a relatively narrow plate material BD is inserted into the conveying path 20 in a state where it is slightly misaligned in the left-right direction, the leading end of the plate material BD can be abutted against the inclined surfaces 81L, 81R, so that the plate material can be adjusted to a desired position. [Industrial Applicability]

[0062] As described above, the tape cutter according to the present invention is suitable for making cuts in a protective tape attached to one side of a plate material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 tape cutter 2 Guide member 3L, 3R cutter 4L, 4R springs 5 Cutter holder 6 Bracket 7 Rotating shaft 8L, 8R attachment 20 Transport Route 21L, 21R Left and right side panels 23 Tabletop 25 Bottom plate 27 Acrylic board 31L,31R blade 41L, 41R Spring fixing part 61L,61R spindle 63L, 63R Magnet holder stand 81L,81R Slope BD plate material EN Entrance EX exit LN Break PT Protective Tape SU1 single side SU2 single side TP Protective Tape

Claims

1. a guide member that guides the plate material being held and transported from an upstream side to a downstream side in a transport direction; a cutter for cutting a protective tape attached to one surface of the plate material; Equipped with the guide member has an entrance through which the plate material conveyed from the upstream side in the conveying direction can be inserted, a conveying path extending from the entrance to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and an exit provided at an end of the conveying path through which the plate material can be inserted, the cutter is disposed at a cutting position where a blade direction coincides with the conveying direction and a tip of the blade can be brought into contact with the one surface of the plate material exiting from the outlet, The guide member includes a stainless steel bottom plate, the plate material is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction such that the surface to which the protective tape is attached faces an upper surface of the bottom plate; A tape cutter, characterized in that a contact plate is provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate for contacting the blade of the cutter when the cutter is positioned at the cutting position.

2. 2. The tape cutter according to claim 1, wherein the cutter is provided with a biasing member that elastically biases the cutter to the cutting position.

3. 3. The tape cutter according to claim 1, wherein the cutter is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

4. 4. The tape cutter according to claim 1, wherein the conveying path is configured so that a width in the vertical direction gradually narrows from the entrance to the exit.

5. 5. The tape cutter according to claim 1, wherein an attachment is attached to the transport path for gradually narrowing a width in the left-right direction from the entrance to the exit.

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