Method and device for turning over ring-bound books

Abstract

To provide a reversing device for a ring-bound book, capable of easily and reliably reversing the stacking direction of a plurality of sheets of paper on a mount of the ring-bound book. [Solution] The system is equipped with an entrance section, an articulated robot, an exit section and an engaging member, and the articulated robot moves a chuck 34 which holds the ring-stitched binding material 1, causing the multiple sheets of paper 4 on the chuck 34 side to engage with an engaging member 50 while causing the multiple sheets of paper 4 to hang down from the ring-shaped binding device 6 under their own weight, and then moves the chuck 34 in a direction away from the engaging member 50 and downward, thereby rotating the multiple sheets of paper 4 and reversing the stacking direction of the sheets of paper 4 relative to the backing paper 2, and placing the ring-stitched binding material 1 in the exit section with the sheets of paper 4 stacked on the other side 2b of the backing paper 2.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and device for turning over a ring-bound book. [Background technology]

[0002] In the manufacture of desk calendars, as shown in Fig. 1(a), a ring-shaped binder 6 is attached to the back surface 2a of a mount 2 formed by folding cardboard in half with multiple calendar papers 4 stacked thereon, and then the mount 2 and the calendar papers 4 are rotated in the direction of the arrow so that the adhesive portion 6a of the ring-shaped binder 6 is covered with the calendar papers 4, and the calendar papers 4 are stacked on the front surface 2b of the mount 2 as shown in Fig. 1(b). A device for reversing the stacking direction of the calendar papers 4 relative to the mount 2 is known, as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] This inversion device is equipped with a multi-joint robot that grips the edge of the backing paper of the ring-bound book that has been brought in opposite to the ring-shaped binding device with a chuck attached to the tip of an arm, and the multi-joint robot is configured to hold the ring-bound book upright and then accelerate the chuck horizontally in the direction opposite to the stacking direction of the papers on the backing paper, and then decelerate, causing the papers to rotate due to inertia, thereby reversing the stacking direction of the papers on the backing paper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6789575 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] While the above-mentioned inversion device can quickly invert the stacking direction of multiple sheets of paper relative to the backing paper, if the size or weight of the ring-bound book changes, the task of adjusting the chuck speed and acceleration accordingly can become complicated, and there is room for further improvement in this regard.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for reversing a ring-bound genuine product, which can easily and reliably reverse the stacking direction of a plurality of sheets of paper relative to the mount of the ring-bound genuine product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for reversing the stacking direction of the papers relative to the backing paper of a ring-bound product, which is made by stacking multiple papers on a backing paper and binding the papers with a ring-shaped binder, the method comprising: a loading step of loading the ring-bound product into an entry section with the papers stacked on one side of the backing paper; a gripping step of gripping the edge of the backing paper of the loaded ring-bound product opposite the ring-shaped binder with a chuck provided at the tip of an arm of an articulated robot; an engagement step of engaging the papers on the chuck side with an engagement member while causing the multiple papers to hang down from the ring-shaped binder under their own weight by moving the chuck; a reversing step of rotating the multiple papers by moving the chuck in a direction away from the engagement member and downward to reverse the stacking direction of the papers relative to the backing paper; and a discharge step of placing the ring-bound product in an exit section with the papers stacked on the other side of the backing paper.

[0008] In this method for turning over a ring-bound book, the turning over step preferably includes a step of pushing the chuck downwardly into the engaging member after turning over the stacking direction of the sheets of paper relative to the backing paper.

[0009] The conveying step preferably includes a step of injecting air onto the sheets stacked on the backing sheet.

[0010] The engaging member is preferably a roller supported for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation.

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for reversing a stacking direction of the sheets of paper with respect to a mount of a ring-bound book, the ring-bound book being formed by stacking the sheets of paper on a mount and binding the sheets with a ring-shaped binder, the apparatus including: an input section into which the ring-bound book is loaded with the sheets of paper stacked on one side of the mount; an articulated robot that holds an edge of the mount of the loaded ring-bound book opposite the ring-shaped binder with a chuck provided at the tip of an arm; an output section from which the ring-bound book is loaded with the sheets of paper stacked on the other side of the mount; and an engaging member that can engage the papers of the bound product, and the articulated robot moves the chuck that grips the ring-bound product, engaging the papers on the chuck side with the engaging member while the multiple papers are hanging down from the ring-shaped binding device under their own weight, and then moves the chuck in a direction away from the engaging member and downward, thereby rotating the multiple papers and reversing the stacking direction of the papers relative to the backing, and placing the ring-bound product on an output section with the papers stacked on the other side of the backing.This is achieved by a ring-bound product inversion device. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the method and device for reversing a ring-bound material of the present invention, the stacking direction of a plurality of sheets of paper relative to the mount of the ring-bound material can be easily and reliably reversed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of a ring-bound book. [Diagram 2] 1 is a plan view of a reversing device for a ring-bound book according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a reversing device for the ring-bound book shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic process diagram for explaining the operation of the reversing device for the ring-bound book shown in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a ring-bound book reversing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the ring-bound book reversing device 10 includes an input section 20 into which the ring-bound book 1 is input, an articulated robot 30 that performs the reversing operation of the ring-bound book 1, an output section 40 from which the ring-bound book 1 is output, and an engagement member 50 that is used to reverse the ring-bound book 1.

[0015] The carry-in section 20 includes a holding surface 22 formed of an inclined surface, and a locking member 24 provided so as to protrude upward from the holding surface 22. The locking member 24 is formed in an L-shape and includes a first plate-shaped member 24a extending along the inclined direction, which is the carry-in direction (direction A) of the holding surface 22, and a second plate-shaped member 24b perpendicular to the first plate-shaped member 24a. When the ring-bound book 1 is carried from the conveyor 26 to the holding surface 22, the edge portion bound by the ring-shaped binder 6 is guided by sliding against the first plate-shaped member 24a, and the edge portion at the tip side in the conveying direction is locked by the second plate-shaped member 24b. A plurality of air nozzles 28 are arranged above the conveyor 26.

[0016] The holding surface 22 is formed so as to be inclined along the second plate-like member 24b as well, and the ring-bound material 1 is engaged with both the first plate-like member 24a and the second plate-like member 24b, and is positioned and held on the holding surface 22. In this way, the holding surface 22 is inclined along two directions of the first plate-like member 24a and the second plate-like member 24b with respect to the horizontal plane, and even if there are factors such as the size, weight, and material of the ring-bound material 1 and friction with the holding surface 22, the corners of the ring-bound material 1 can be reliably set at the reference position, which is the joint between the first plate-like member 24a and the second plate-like member 24b.

[0017] The articulated robot 30 has a multi-axis (e.g., 4- to 7-axis) structure in which a plurality of arms 32 are rotatably connected via joints, and a chuck 34 consisting of a pair of claws is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm 32. The operation of the arm 32 and the chuck 34 is controlled by a controller (not shown).

[0018] The discharge section 40 is formed of, for example, a belt conveyor, and the ring-bound material 1 that has been turned over by the articulated robot 30 is sequentially placed on a conveying surface 42 so that they partially overlap, and is conveyed in the direction of the arrow B. The engagement member 50 is supported directly above the discharge section 40.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the discharge section 40 and the engaging member 50 shown in Fig. 2, as viewed in the direction of the arrow C. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the engaging member 50 is made of a cylindrical roller, and is disposed with a gap between it and the conveying surface 42 of the discharge section 40 so that the ring-bound material 1 can pass through. The rotating shaft 50a of the engaging member 50 extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the discharge section 40, and is rotatably supported by brackets 52, 54 standing on both sides of the width of the discharge section 40. The engaging member 50 is formed so that its axial length is longer than the width of the paper 4 of the ring-bound material 1 to be engaged.

[0020] Next, a method for inverting a ring-bound book 1 using the inverting device 10 for ring-bound books having the above-mentioned configuration will be described. First, a carrying-in process is performed in which the ring-bound book 1, in which the sheets 4 are stacked above the back surface 2a side of the mount 2 as shown in FIG. 1(a), are sequentially carried in a constant cycle into the carrying-in section 20 shown in FIG. 2. This carrying-in process preferably includes a process of temporarily stopping the ring-bound book 1 just before carrying it into the carrying-in section 20 and spraying air from a plurality of air nozzles 28 onto the sheets 4 stacked on the mount 2. The plurality of air nozzles 28 are arranged to spray air from different directions onto the sheets 4, and the entire sheets 4 are loosened by the air spray, allowing the engagement process and the inversion process to be described later to be performed smoothly.

[0021] 1(a), the edge of the backing paper 2 of the ring-bound material 1 opposite to the edge bound by the ring binder 6 protrudes from the paper 4 to form an exposed portion 2c. The articulated robot 30 performs a gripping process in which the exposed portion 2c of the ring-bound material 1 brought into the carry-in section 20 is gripped by a chuck 34.

[0022] The ring binder 6 of the ring-bound bookbinding product 1 is not limited to being made of paper, and may be made of metal or resin. The ring-bound bookbinding product 1 may be a product in which a plurality of papers 4 are stacked on a mount 2 and bound by rings, and examples of the ring-bound bookbinding product 1 include a desk calendar, a ring notebook, a daily calendar, and the like. When the mount 2 of the ring-bound bookbinding product 1 has an exposed portion 2c as in this embodiment, the mount 2 can be easily gripped by the chuck 34, but the mount 2 does not necessarily have to have the exposed portion 2c, and for example, the edge of the mount 2 on the surface 2b side can be gripped by suction or the like.

[0023] The articulated robot 30 grips the mount 2 of the ring-bound book 1, and then performs an engagement step and a turnover step. Fig. 4 is a schematic process diagram for explaining the operation of the engagement step and the turnover step of the turnover device for the ring-bound book shown in Fig. 2, and is a view of the main part viewed horizontally. The articulated robot 30 moves the chuck 34 gripping the mount 2 toward the engagement member 50 while rotating it 180 degrees around the axis, thereby holding the mount 2 horizontally with the back surface 2a facing downward as shown in Fig. 4(a), and performing an engagement step in which the paper 4 on the chuck 34 side is engaged with the engagement member 50 in a state in which the multiple paper sheets 4 hang down from the ring binder 6 under their own weight.

[0024] Next, the articulated robot 30 performs an inversion process in which the stacking direction of the papers 4 relative to the mount 2 is inverted by moving the chuck 34 in a direction away from the engaging member 50 and downward, thereby rotating the multiple papers 4 around the ring binder 6. That is, by moving the chuck 34 shown in FIG. 4(a) in the direction of arrow D, the multiple papers 4 receive a force in the direction of the arrow from the engaging member 50 with which they engage, and rotate as shown in FIG. 4(b). When the chuck 34 is further moved in the direction of arrow E from the state shown in FIG. 4(b), the multiple papers 4 continue to rotate in the direction of the arrow due to inertia even after they leave the engaging member 50, and the papers 4 move to the surface 2b side of the mount 2, as shown in FIG. 4(c). In this way, an inversion process in which the multiple papers 4 are stacked above the surface 2b side of the mount 2 is performed.

[0025] By using the engagement member 50 in the above-mentioned reversing step, the stacking direction of the paper 4 relative to the mount 2 of the ring-stitched bookbinding product 1 can be easily and reliably reversed. The engagement member 50 in this embodiment is a roller supported rotatably around a horizontal rotation axis, and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow while in contact with the paper 4 as shown in FIG. 4(b). As a result, the paper 4 receives not only a pressing force but also a rotational force from the engagement member 50 and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, so that the paper 4 can be more reliably reversed. However, the engagement member 50 is not necessarily limited to a roller, and may be, for example, a rod-shaped body fixed horizontally. Alternatively, the engagement member 50 may be a standing plate-shaped member, and the upper end of this plate-shaped member may be engaged with the paper 4.

[0026] In the above-mentioned reversing step, it is preferable to include a step of moving the chuck 34 in the direction of the arrow F and pushing it directly below the engaging member 50 after reversing the stacking direction of the sheets 4 relative to the mount 2 as shown in Fig. 4(c). This makes it possible to reliably maintain the state in which the stacking direction of the sheets 4 relative to the mount 2 is reversed as shown in Fig. 4(d).

[0027] After the inversion step is completed, the ring-bound material 1 is released from the chuck 34, and the ring-bound material 1 is dropped onto the conveying surface 42 shown in Figures 2 and 3 and placed in the discharge section 40, thereby completing the method for inverting the ring-bound material 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1 Ring-bound book 2. Mount 2a back side 2b surface 4. Paper 6 Ring binding 10. Ring-bound book reversal device 20 Loading section 22 Holding surface 30 Articulated Robot 32 Arm 34 Chuck 40 Unloading section 50 Engagement member

Claims

1. A method for reversing a stacking direction of a plurality of sheets of paper with respect to a mount of a ring-bound product in which the sheets of paper are stacked on a mount and bound by a ring-shaped binder, comprising: a carrying-in process of carrying the ring-bound book into an inlet section with the paper sheets stacked on one side of the mount; a gripping step of gripping an edge portion of the mount of the ring-bound product on the opposite side to the ring-shaped binder by a chuck provided at the tip of an arm of an articulated robot; an engagement step of engaging the paper sheets on the chuck side with an engagement member in a state in which the paper sheets hang down from the ring-shaped binder under their own weight by moving the chuck; a reversing step of rotating the plurality of sheets of paper by moving the chuck in a direction away from the engaging member and downward to reverse a stacking direction of the sheets of paper relative to the mount; and a conveying step of placing the ring-bound product on an unloading section with the paper sheets stacked on the other side of the backing paper.

2. 2. The method for inverting a ring-bound book according to claim 1, wherein the inverting step includes a step of pushing the chuck downward toward the engaging member after inverting a stacking direction of the sheets relative to the mount.

3. The method for inverting a ring-bound book according to claim 1 , wherein the conveying step includes a step of spraying air onto the sheets stacked on the backing sheet.

4. 2. The method for turning over a ring-bound book according to claim 1, wherein the engaging member is a roller supported rotatably about a horizontal axis of rotation.

5. A device for reversing a stacking direction of the sheets of paper relative to a mount of a ring-bound book in which a plurality of sheets of paper are stacked on a mount and bound by a ring-shaped binder, comprising: an input section into which the ring-bound product is input with the paper sheets stacked on one side of the mount; an articulated robot that grips an edge of the mount of the ring-bound product on the opposite side to the ring-shaped binder with a chuck provided at the tip of an arm; a discharge section from which the ring-bound product is discharged with the sheets stacked on the other side of the mount; an engagement member capable of engaging the paper of the ring-bound book gripped by the chuck; The articulated robot moves the chuck that grips the ring-bound book, engaging the papers on the chuck side with an engaging member while the multiple papers hang down from the ring-shaped binding device under their own weight, and then moves the chuck in a direction away from the engaging member and downward, rotating the multiple papers and reversing the stacking direction of the papers relative to the backing, thereby placing the ring-bound book on an output section with the papers stacked on the other side of the backing.

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