Sheet separation and supply device

Abstract

To provide a sheet separating and feeding device that can stably take out a sheet bundle from a laminate without dropping it by downsizing a mechanism for separating the sheet bundle from the laminate of plate-like sheets and transferring it to the next process.SOLUTION: A pair of gripping claws 22, 22 grip sides of a sheet bundle B. Engaging members 31 and 32 are engaged with a lower surface of a plate-like sheet S positioned at a bottom end of the sheet bundle B with the gripping claws 22 raised by an arm 13. The engaging members 31 and 32 move from an initial position separated from the sheet bundle B to an engaging position where they engage with a lower surface of the plate-like sheet S positioned at a bottom end of the sheet bundle B, to lift the plate-like sheet S at the bottom end that hangs down.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet separation and supply device that separates and takes out a predetermined number of sheet bundles from stacked plate-like cardboard sheets and supplies them to a wrap-around caser or the like.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known as such sheet separation and supply devices. For example, in the sheet separation and supply device described in Patent Document 1, a laminate formed by stacking a large number of plate-like sheets is placed on an elevating table, and with a separation needle inserted between predetermined sheets of the laminate, the elevating table descends, so that a predetermined number of sheet bundles to be separated are defined above the separation needle. In this state, a sheet separation bar and a roller enter and rise between the upper sheet bundle and the lower laminate, and the sheet bundle is pushed by a feeder and transferred onto a conveyor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In conventional sheet separation and supply devices, there has been a problem that a lifting table for lifting stacked sheets and a transfer mechanism such as rollers for transferring a sheet bundle to be separated to the next process are required, resulting in an increase in the overall size of the device.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet separation and supply device that miniaturizes a mechanism for separating a sheet bundle from a laminate of plate-like sheets and transferring it to the next process, and can stably take out the sheet bundle from the laminate without dropping it.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention is a sheet separation and supply device that separates a sheet bundle composed of a predetermined number of plate-like sheets from a laminate formed by stacking plate-like sheets and supplies the sheet bundle to the next process, and includes a pair of gripping means for gripping the side of the sheet bundle, lifting means for lifting and lowering the gripping means, an engaging member that can engage with the lower surface of the plate-like sheet located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle in a state where the sheet bundle is gripped by the gripping means and the gripping means is lifted by the lifting means, and moving means for moving the engaging member from an initial position separated from the sheet bundle to an engaging position where it engages with the lower surface of the plate-like sheet located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle. It includes a sensor for detecting the hanging state of the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end, and the moving means moves the engaging member from the side where the gripping means is in contact with the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end based on the detection signal output from the sensor. It is characterized by this.

[0007] The moving means is preferably configured to position the engaging member in the space between the plate-like sheet located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle and the uppermost plate-like sheet among the plate-like sheets stacked when one side of the plate-like sheet located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle is not gripped by the gripping means.

[0008] Preferably, The engaging member is provided so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction it can be Moreover, preferably, a plurality of engaging members are provided, and the moving means rotates the engaging member on the side where the gripping means is in contact based on a detection signal output from a sensor, and then rotates the other engaging member in the same direction.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sheet separation and supply device that miniaturizes a mechanism for separating a sheet bundle from a laminate of plate-like sheets and transferring it to the next process, and can stably take out the sheet bundle from the laminate without dropping it.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a sheet separation and supply device according to the first embodiment. In this device, a laminate A formed by stacking a large number of plate-like sheets is placed on a fixed base 10, and a sheet bundle B composed of a predetermined number of plate-like sheets at the upper part of the laminate A is separated from the laminate A and taken out and supplied to the next process. The fixed base 10 is provided on the floor surface, and the height position of the surface on which the laminate A is placed is constant and does not move up and down. Note that the fixed base may be an automated guided vehicle (AGV) in which the height position of the surface on which the laminate A is placed is constant.

[0012] On the side of the fixed table 10, a take-out mechanism 11 for taking out the sheet bundle B from the laminate A and transferring it to the next process is arranged. The take-out mechanism 11 has a main body 12 fixed to the floor surface and an arm 13 connected to the upper part of the main body 12. A support frame 14 is attached to the tip of the arm 13, and a pair of gripping mechanisms (gripping means) 20, 20 for gripping the side of the sheet bundle B are provided on the support frame 14. The arm 13 can freely rotate in the horizontal plane and the vertical plane. Therefore, the pair of gripping mechanisms 20, 20 can move up and down while gripping the sheet bundle B and rotate in the horizontal plane to be transferred to the next process. That is, the arm 13 constitutes a lifting means for lifting and lowering the gripping mechanisms 20, 20.

[0013] Each gripping mechanism 20 has an air cylinder 21 (see FIG. 2) fixed to the support frame 14 and gripping claws 22 provided on the piston of the air cylinder 21 and facing each other. The pair of gripping claws 22 can move forward and backward simultaneously in a direction of approaching and separating relatively, thereby gripping and releasing the sheet bundle B. A distance sensor 15 is attached to the lower surface of the support frame 14, and the distance sensor 15 detects the state of the sag of the plate-shaped sheet S located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle B, that is, whether one end of the lowermost plate-shaped sheet S hangs down from the sheet bundle B without engaging with the gripping claws 22.

[0014] Also, on the support frame 14, first and second engaging members 31, 32 that can engage with the lower surface of the plate-shaped sheet S located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle B are provided in a state where the gripping mechanism 20 is lifted by the arm 13. A motor (moving means) 33 for rotating the engaging members 31, 32 is attached to the upper surface of the support frame 14. The rotating shaft 34 of the motor 33 extends vertically downward, and its tip reaches approximately the same height position as the height position of the distance sensor 15, and the engaging members 31, 32 are fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 34.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet separation and supply device as viewed from above, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the sheet separation and supply device as viewed from below. In the state of FIG. 2, the first engaging member 31 is positioned below the sheet bundle B and engages with the lower surface of the sheet bundle B, and the second engaging member 32 is at a position separated from the sheet bundle B. In the state of FIG. 3, both the first and second engaging members 31, 32 are engaged with the lower surface of the sheet bundle B.

[0016] In the state of FIG. 2, the end faces of all the plate-shaped sheets of the sheet bundle B are engaged with the gripping claws 22 on the side of the first engaging member 31, while the end face of the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle B is not engaged with the gripping claws 22 on the side of the second engaging member 32. This state is detected by the distance sensor 15 as will be described later. In the state of FIG. 3, both the first and second engaging members 31, 32 are engaged with the lower surface of the sheet bundle B, and the sheet bundle B can be transferred to the next process.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1 again, the operation of the distance sensor 15 will be described. The distance sensor 15 irradiates laser light in the horizontal direction and measures the distance to an obstacle. In this embodiment, the distance to the plate-shaped sheet S located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle B is measured. In the example shown in FIG. 1, based on the detection signal output from the distance sensor 15 (the left side in the figure) on the side of the first engaging member 31 and the detection signal output from the distance sensor 15 (the right side in the figure) on the side of the second engaging member 32, it is detected that the lowermost plate-shaped sheet S is in a downward-right state in the figure and is disengaged from the gripping claws 22 on the right side.

[0018] The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Reference sign (a) indicates the initial state. The support frame 14 is in a fixed position, and each component such as the gripping claws 22, the first and second engaging members 31, 32, etc. is located above the laminated body A of the plate-like sheets. Also, the first and second engaging members 31, 32 are in a state (initial position) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the support frame 14 (the left-right direction in FIG. 4). Reference sign (b) indicates a state where the support frame 14 is descending as the arm 13 (FIG. 1) swings downward, and the gripping claws 22 and the first and second engaging members 31, 32 descend to positions facing the side surface of the laminated body A without interfering with the laminated body A.

[0019] Reference sign (c) indicates a state where the support frame 14 has descended to a predetermined position and stopped, and the pair of gripping claws 22 have advanced and contacted the side surface of the sheet bundle B located on the upper part of the laminated body A. At this time, the first and second engaging members 31, 32 are still in the initial position separated from the sheet bundle B. Next, in the state of reference sign (d), the support frame 14 rises to a predetermined height and once stops. In this stopped state, each distance sensor 15 operates to measure the distance to the plate-like sheet S located at the lowermost end in the sheet bundle B. In a control unit (not shown), based on the detection signals output from the two distance sensors 15, the sag state of the plate-like sheet S is detected.

[0020] Here, when only the gripping claw 22 on the side of the first engaging member 31 is in contact with the lowermost plate-like sheet S as in the state of reference sign (d), the motor 33 (FIG. 1) is driven, and as shown in reference sign (e), the first engaging member 31 moves from the initial position separated from the sheet bundle B to an engaging position where it engages with the lower surface of the lowermost plate-like sheet S and faces the width direction of the support frame 14. Then, the second engaging member 32 pivots in the same direction as the first engaging member 31 and is set in a position parallel to the first engaging member 31 and engages with the lower surface of the plate-like sheet S. Thereby, the plate-like sheet S is lifted and adheres to the plate-like sheet located above, and the sag state of the sheet bundle B is eliminated.

[0021] It should be noted that the elimination of the sag state is confirmed by measuring the distance to the lowermost plate-like sheet S with the pair of distance sensors 15.

[0022] When the sheet bundle B is held by the pair of gripping claws 22 and the first and second engaging members 31, 32, the arm 13 swings in the horizontal direction, and as shown by reference sign (g), the sheet bundle B is transferred to the next process.

[0023] Thus, in the present embodiment, when one side of the plate-like sheet S located at the lowermost end is not gripped by the gripping claws 22, the first and second engaging members 31, 32 are controlled to be positioned in the space between the plate-like sheet S located at the lowermost end and the uppermost plate-like sheet among the plate-like sheets stacked one above the other. In this operation, the engaging members 31, 32 pivot horizontally from the side where the gripping claws 22 are in contact with the plate-like sheet S located at the lowermost end, based on the detection signal output from the distance sensor 15. Therefore, the lowermost plate-like sheet S is surely incorporated as part of the sheet bundle B and smoothly transferred to the next process.

[0024] Also, in the present embodiment, the fixed table 10 on which the laminate A of plate-like sheets is placed is not configured to move up and down when the sheet bundle B is taken out by the gripping mechanism 20, and its height position is constant. Therefore, the configuration of the present embodiment is downsized compared to the conventional device, and the installation area is also reduced.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows the sheet separating and feeding device of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, no distance sensor is provided, and the engaging member 41 is always driven to contact the lower surface of the sheet bundle B in the operation of taking out the sheet bundle B from the laminate A. For this reason, the engaging member 41 is vertically movable with respect to the support frame 14, and is configured to linearly move horizontally from the initial position separated from the sheet bundle B to the engaging position where it engages with the lower surface of the plate-like sheet S located at the lowermost end. That is, the support frame 14 is provided with a drive mechanism 42 for moving the engaging member 41 up and down and horizontally, and the driving force of the drive mechanism 42 is transmitted by a connecting rod 43 extending in the vertical direction.

[0026] As the engaging member 41, various shapes can be adopted. For example, it may be a triangle with the connecting portion with the connecting rod 43 as the vertex, or it may be a fork shape extending from the connecting rod 43 side in the direction of the sheet bundle B.

[0027] Figs. 6 and 7 show the sheet separating and feeding device of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, the pair of gripping claws 22 are configured to grip the side surface near the center in the longitudinal direction of the sheet bundle B, that is, to expand and contract along the width direction of the sheet bundle B. Also, the first and second engaging members 51 and 52 are respectively provided on the front side and the rear side of the gripping claws 22 in the longitudinal direction of the sheet bundle B, and are rotatably attached to the upper surface of the support frame 14.

[0028] Also, in the third embodiment, a distance sensor (not shown) is provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment. When the sag of the plate-shaped sheet is detected by the distance sensor, the engaging member on the side where the lowermost plate-shaped sheet is engaged rotates first and engages with the lower surface of the sheet bundle B, and then the engaging member on the side where the lowermost plate-shaped sheet is not engaged rotates to lift the lowermost plate-shaped sheet. That is, the example in Fig. 7 shows a state where the first engaging member 51 rotates first and then the second engaging member 52 rotates. Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0029] Also by the second and third embodiments, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained. In the sheet separating and feeding device, the sheet bundle can be surely taken out from the laminate and conveyed to the next process, and the sheet separating and feeding device can be miniaturized.

[0030] The engaging member is not limited to the configurations such as those in the first to third embodiments, and various structures are possible. For example, the four corners of the lowermost plate-shaped sheet may be held. In this case, the engaging member is composed of a shorter member than those in the above embodiments. Also, the engaging member can adopt various configurations such as a configuration that pivots in the horizontal plane like in the first embodiment, a configuration that moves forward and backward in the horizontal plane like in the second embodiment, and a configuration that pivots in the vertical plane like in the third embodiment.

Explanation of Symbols

[0031] 13 Arm (lifting means) 20 Gripping mechanism (gripping means) 22 Gripping claw 31, 32, 41, 51, 52 Engagement members 33 Motor (moving means) A Laminate B Sheet bundle S Plate-shaped sheet

Claims

1. A sheet separation and supply device that separates a sheet bundle composed of a predetermined number of plate-shaped sheets from a laminate formed by stacking plate-shaped sheets and supplies the sheet bundle to the next process, a pair of gripping means for gripping the side of the sheet bundle; lifting means for lifting and lowering the gripping means; an engaging member that can engage with the lower surface of the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end of the sheet bundle in a state where the sheet bundle is gripped by the gripping means and the gripping means is lifted by the lifting means; moving means for moving the engaging member from an initial position separated from the sheet bundle to an engaging position where it engages with the lower surface of the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end; and a sensor for detecting the hanging state of the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end, wherein the moving means moves the engaging member from the side where the gripping means is in contact with the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end based on a detection signal output from the sensor. A sheet separation and supply device characterized by the above.

2. The sheet separation and supply device according to claim 1, wherein when one side of the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end is not gripped by the gripping means, the moving means positions the engaging member in a space between the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end and the uppermost plate-shaped sheet among the plate-shaped sheets stacked with the plate-shaped sheet located at the lowermost end.

3. The sheet separation and supply device according to claim 2, wherein the engaging member is provided so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction.

4. A plurality of the engaging members are provided, and the moving means rotates the engaging member on the side where the gripping means is in contact based on a detection signal output from the sensor, and then rotates the other engaging member in the same direction. The sheet separation and supply device according to claim 3.

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