Roll transfer mechanism and roll transfer method

Abstract

To simplify the configuration of a conveyor.SOLUTION: A roll conveyance mechanism is for conveying a cylindrical roll 1 along a straight path with its cylindrical axis along a path P2. The roll conveyance mechanism includes a conveyor 30 and a guide 50. The conveyor 30 is configured as follows. The conveyor 30 is moved by rotational power about a rotary shaft 2P and moves in only one direction where an area on which the roll 1 is placed intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle. The conveyor 30 conveys the roll 1 along the path P2 by a first partial force F1 along the conveyance direction of a force F applied to the roll 1 from the area of movement in one direction, while the conveyor 30 rotates the roll 1 about the cylindrical shaft of the roll 1 by a second partial force F2 of the force F applied along the transverse direction, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction in a top view. The rotary shaft 2P is set along only a direction perpendicular to the one direction in the top view. The guide 50 is arranged at least on the side in the direction in which the second partial force F2 acts on the roll 1 being conveyed in the path P2 and regulates deviation from the path while sliding in contact with the rotating roll 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a roll transport mechanism and a roll transport method for transporting a roll. [Background technology]

[0002] One known technique used to inspect the cylindrical surface of a cylindrical body is to rotate the cylindrical body around its axis. For example, a technology has been proposed that uses a belt conveyor with a folded path to transport a cylindrical object in a direction along the cylindrical axis while rotating it around the cylindrical axis. In this belt conveyor, a single belt is wound around two pairs of rollers and a pair of guides, the pair of guides are arranged along the transport direction, and the two pairs of rollers have rotation axes set in different directions. A recess is formed at the portion where the belt is wound around the pair of guides, and a belt is wound around one side and the other of the recess, and a cylindrical object is placed in the recess. The belt on one side of the recess, on which the cylindrical object is placed, moves diagonally downward, while the belt on the other side of the recess moves diagonally upward. The portions of the belt on one side and the other of the recess, which are set along this complex circular path, cooperate to transport the cylindrical object along the path while rotating it around the cylindrical axis (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2004-513046 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, in technologies in which the rotation axes of the two pairs of rollers around which the belt is wound are set in different directions, or in which the area on the belt where the cylindrical body is placed moves in two directions, there is a problem in that the conveyor configuration becomes complicated. Therefore, there is room for improvement in simplifying the configuration of the conveyor in the transfer mechanism that rotates the cylindrical body around its axis while transporting it.

[0005] The present invention was conceived in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and one of its objectives is to simplify the structure of a conveyor. However, other objectives of the present invention are to achieve functions and effects derived from the various configurations shown in the "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention" below, which are not obtainable with conventional technologies. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The roll transfer mechanism disclosed here is a mechanism that transports a cylindrical roll along a linear path with the cylindrical axis of the roll aligned along the path. The roll transfer mechanism includes a first conveyor that moves by rotational power about a rotation axis and has an area on which the roll is placed, the area moving only in one direction intersecting the conveying direction at an acute angle, and that conveys the roll along part of the path by a first component of force along the conveying direction that is applied to the roll from the area moving in one direction, and rotates the roll around the cylindrical axis of the roll by a second component of the applied force along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the conveying direction in a top view, the first conveyor having the rotation axis set only along the direction perpendicular to the one direction in a top view; a second conveyor that is arranged adjacent to the first conveyor on the upstream or downstream side of the conveying direction and that conveys the roll along other parts of the path excluding the part without rotating the roll; and a guide that is arranged at least on the side in the direction in which the second component acts on the roll that is conveyed along the part of the path, extends along the part of the path, and makes sliding contact with the rotating roll to restrict deviation from the path.

[0007] The roll transfer method disclosed herein is a method for transporting a cylindrical roll along a linear path with the cylindrical axis of the roll aligned along the path. This roll transport method includes a first transport step in which the roll is moved by rotational power about a rotation axis and the area on which the roll is placed moves only in one direction intersecting the transport direction at an acute angle, and the roll is transported along part of the path by a first component of the force applied to the roll from the area moving in one direction that is along the transport direction, and the roll is rotated around the cylindrical axis of the roll by a second component of the applied force that is along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the transport direction in a top view, so that the rotation axis is set only in a direction perpendicular to the one direction in a top view; a second transport step that is performed immediately before or after the first transport step and transports the roll along other parts of the path excluding the part without rotating it; and a guide step that makes sliding contact with the rotating roll on the side in the direction in which the second component acts, while restricting deviation from the path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this embodiment, the structure of the conveyor can be simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a top view of a roll transfer mechanism and a roll inspection device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main part of the roll transfer mechanism together with the roll. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an elevation view showing the main parts of the roll transfer mechanism and the roll inspection device as viewed in the conveying direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the roll transfer mechanism as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, as embodiments relating to roll inspection, a roll transport mechanism and a roll transport method, as well as a roll inspection device and a roll inspection method that use the roll transport mechanism and the roll transport method to inspect the cylindrical surface of a roll, will be described. The rolls that are the objects of transport by the roll transport mechanism and the roll transport method are the objects of inspection by the roll inspection device and the roll inspection method, and are also called "workpieces" or "cylinders."

[0011] In this embodiment, a roll in which a strip-shaped material is wound into a cylindrical shape is exemplified. Examples of such rolls include household sanitary paper such as toilet rolls and kitchen rolls. The directions used in the following embodiments are defined as follows: the direction in which gravity acts is defined as downward, and the direction opposite to downward is defined as upward. The conveying direction (denoted as "MD" in the drawings) and the lateral direction (denoted as "CD" in the drawings) are defined as directions that intersect upward and downward (vertical directions). The conveying direction is the direction in which the roll is conveyed. The lateral direction is the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction when viewed from above.

[0012] I. ONE EMBODIMENT In one embodiment, the configuration of the device system, such as the roll inspection device and roll transfer mechanism, is described in item [1], the configuration of the method system, such as the roll inspection method and roll transfer method, is described in item [2], and the actions and effects of the configurations of items [1] and [2] are described in item [3].

[0013] [1. Equipment system] In this section [1], we will first explain the roll configuration in subsection [1-1], then explain the roll transfer mechanism configuration in subsection [1-2], and then explain the roll inspection device configuration in subsection [1-3].

[0014] [1-1. Roll] As shown in FIG. 3, the roll 1 has a strip-shaped material 2 wound around a core material 3 . On this roll 1, a tail 4, which is the end of the winding of the material 2, is provided so as to extend downstream in the winding direction (indicated by "W" in the drawing) relative to the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1. The extended tail 4 forms a free end that can be freely attached to and detached from the cylindrical surface 5. In other words, the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 is a portion that corresponds to the outer peripheral surface of a rotating body centered on the cylindrical axis 1C (axial core) of the roll 1. When the tail 4 is separated from the cylindrical surface 5, it forms a portion that extends from the cylindrical surface 5, and when the tail 4 is entirely in contact with the cylindrical surface 5, it can also be said to be a portion that forms part of the cylindrical surface 5.

[0015] The roll 1 illustrated here has material 2 attached to a tail seal 6 provided on the downstream edge of the cylindrical surface 5 in the winding direction, and a tail 4 is provided as a portion that can extend downstream in the winding direction from the portion attached by the tail seal 6. The rolls 1 are manufactured by cutting a semi-finished product in the shape of a long cylinder, known as a log, at intervals in the axial direction. Therefore, rolls 1 are manufactured one after another, each with the material 2 wound in the same direction. These rolls 1 are transported in turn by a roll transfer mechanism, which will be explained next.

[0016] [1-2. Roller transfer mechanism] As shown in Fig. 1, the roll transfer mechanism 10 is a mechanism that transports (transfers) a roll 1 (not shown in Fig. 1) along a linear path P. The roll transfer mechanism 10 transports the roll 1 from the upstream side to the downstream side with the cylindrical shaft 1C in a position along the path P. In the roll transfer mechanism 10 illustrated here, a plurality of paths P (four in the example shown in FIG. 1) are provided side by side in the horizontal direction, and the rolls 1 are transported on each of the paths P.

[0017] This roll transfer mechanism 10 is provided with an upstream conveyor 20 (second conveyor), a midstream conveyor 30 (first conveyor), and a downstream conveyor 40 (second conveyor), which correspond to each of the three areas that transport the roll 1 on the path P, as listed below. Upstream conveyor 20: A conveyor that transports the upstream part P1 (other part of the path) of the path P. Midstream conveyor 30: A conveyor that transports the midstream section P2 (part of the route) of the route P Downstream conveyor 40: A conveyor that transports the downstream portion P3 (other portion of the path) of the path P.

[0018] The upstream conveyor 20 is disposed adjacent to the midstream conveyor 30 on the upstream side, and the downstream conveyor 40 is disposed adjacent to the midstream conveyor 30 on the downstream side. A roll 1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is placed on conveyors 20, 30, and 40 along a linear path P, and is transported by the upstream conveyor 20, then by the midstream conveyor 30, and then by the downstream conveyor 40. In this way, the roll 1 is transported sequentially along the linear path P from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction.

[0019] The upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40 are conveyors that convey the roll 1 without rotating it. The upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40 can be made of a known conveying mechanism such as a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. Furthermore, the upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40 are provided on each path P. However, the upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40 may be provided across a plurality of paths P.

[0020] In the roll transfer mechanism 10, one example of the purpose of installing the upstream conveyor 20 is to adjust the transfer speed of the roll 1 transferred to the midstream conveyor 30, and one example of the purpose of installing the downstream conveyor 40 is to adjust the transfer speed of the roll 1 transferred from the midstream conveyor 30. The transfer speed of the upstream conveyor 20 can be said to be the entry speed of the roll 1 into the midstream conveyor 30, and the transfer speed of the downstream conveyor 40 can be said to be the exit speed of the roll 1 from the midstream conveyor 30.

[0021] The roll 1 being transported by the midstream conveyor 30 is scanned and judged for quality, as will be described in detail below. Therefore, the transport speed of the midstream conveyor 30 is set to a speed suitable for scanning the cylindrical surface 5 and judging its quality. Furthermore, the transport speed of the upstream conveyor 20 is controlled so that the entry speed of the roll 1 into the midstream conveyor 30 is matched to a speed suitable for scanning the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 being transported by the midstream conveyor 30 and judging its quality. Furthermore, the transport speed of the downstream conveyor 40 is controlled so that the exit speed of the roll 1 from the midstream conveyor 30 is matched to a speed suitable for scanning the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 being transported by the midstream conveyor 30 and judging its quality.

[0022] On the other hand, the midstream conveyor 30 is a conveyor that not only transports the roll 1 along the path P but also rotates the roll 1 around a cylindrical axis 1C (see FIGS. 2 and 3) during transportation. 1 is provided across a plurality of paths P arranged side by side. In other words, the roll 1 is transported in the midstream portion P2 of each of the plurality of paths P by one midstream conveyor 30.

[0023] In this embodiment, a belt conveyor is used as the midstream conveyor 30. In this midstream conveyor 30, an endless belt 3B extending along a circular path is wound around a pair of pulleys 31 and 32. Pulleys 31 and 32 are cylindrical components of a rotary drive system that uses rotational power to move belt 3B along the orbit, and rotate around rotation axes 1P and 2P, respectively. One of the pair of pulleys 31 and 32 is a drive pulley 31 that transmits the driving force to belt 3B to move along the orbit, and the other is a driven pulley 32.

[0024] The rotation axis 1P of the drive pulley 31 and the rotation axis 2P of the driven pulley 32 extend along a plane (e.g., a horizontal plane) along both the conveyance direction and the lateral direction, are set parallel to each other, and extend in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction in a top view. In a top view, the belt 3B is driven to move in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axes 1P and 2P of the pulleys 31 and 32. In other words, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the extension direction of the rotation axes 1P and 2P and the movement direction of the belt 3B.

[0025] The belt 3B provided in an inclined position with respect to the conveying direction as described above is roughly divided into an upper half portion 3U and a lower half portion 3B as described below, as shown in FIGS. Upper half 3U: The outward part of the orbit faces upward. Lower 3D: The outward part of the orbit that faces downward. The direction of movement of upper half portion 3U (indicated by the solid arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3) and the direction of movement of lower half portion 3B (indicated by the hollow arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3) are opposite to each other.

[0026] The roll 1 is placed on the upper half 3U. The movement direction of the upper half 3U, including the region 3R (see FIG. 3) where the roll 1 is placed, is set to one direction that intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle. That is, the region 3R in the upper half 3U where the roll 1 is placed moves only in one direction that intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle, and this one direction extends along a plane (for example, a horizontal plane) that is aligned with both the conveying direction and the lateral direction. The "one direction" here refers to a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the rotation axes 1P and 2P extend when viewed from above. In other words, the rotation axes 1P and 2P are set only along a direction perpendicular to the "one direction" when viewed from above.

[0027] Because the upper half 3U has an area 3R where the roll 1 is placed, a force F in a direction that moves the upper half 3U in one direction from the area 3R is applied from the placement location on the roll 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the force F applied in this manner can be decomposed into a component force F1 along the conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as the "first component force") and a component force F2 along the lateral direction (hereinafter referred to as the "second component force"), and can also be expressed as a resultant force of these component forces F1 and F2.

[0028] The first component force F1 transports the roll 1 along the transport direction. On the other hand, if the second component force F2 does not restrict the lateral movement of the roll 1, the roll 1 will deviate from the path P. Therefore, the midstream conveyor 30 is provided with a guide 50 as a structure for preventing the roll 1 from deviating laterally on the path P.

[0029] The guide 50 is disposed at least on the side (one of the sides) where the second component force F2 acts on the roll 1 being transported in the midstream portion P2 of the path P, and extends along the midstream portion P2 of the path P. Specifically, the guide 50 extending linearly along the path P is fixed to a conveyor frame (not shown). FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of a flat guide 50 that is erected with its vertical surface facing the roll 1. Note that the guide 50 shown here extends not only to the side of the midstream portion P2 but also to the side of the upstream portion P1.

[0030] By providing such a guide 50, when a second component force F2 is applied from the lower part of the roll 1 that is placed on the belt 3B, the lateral deviation of the roll 1 is structurally restricted by hitting the guide 50, and the lower part of the roll 1 that is placed on the belt 3B moves, causing the roll 1 to rotate around the cylindrical axis 1C. Furthermore, the direction in which the roll 1 is rotated around the cylindrical axis 1C by the roll transfer mechanism 10 of this embodiment is set to a direction in which the tail 4 is pressed against the cylindrical surface 5 (hereinafter referred to as the "trail direction"). The trail direction is the direction opposite to the winding direction of the material 2 on the roll 1.

[0031] Since rolls 1 with the same winding direction of the material 2 are sequentially placed on the belt 3B, the trail direction as described above can be set by setting the "one direction" which is the movement direction of the upper half 3U to a direction corresponding to the direction opposite to the winding direction of each roll 1 placed. In addition, the midstream conveyor 30 and guide 50 of the roll transfer mechanism 10 have various specifications, such as the orientation of the rotation axes 1P, 2P and the movement speed of the belt 3B, set so that the roll 1 makes at least one revolution (one rotation) around the cylindrical axis 1C in the midstream section P2 of the path P.

[0032] To summarize the roll transfer mechanism 10, the guide 50 is structured to slide against the roll 1 rotating around the cylindrical axis 1C while restricting deviation from the path P. The midstream conveyor 30 to which the guide 50 is attached is set only along the direction in which the rotation axes 1P, 2P are perpendicular to each other in a top view, and is a mechanism that transports the roll 1 along the midstream portion P2 of the path P with a first component force F1 while rotating the roll 1 around the cylindrical axis 1C with a second component force F2. The roll transfer mechanism 10 equipped with these guides 50 and midstream conveyor 30 is used in a roll inspection device, which will be described next.

[0033] [1-3. Roll inspection equipment] As shown in FIG. 1, the roll inspection device 60 is provided with, in addition to the roll transfer mechanism 10 described above, a line sensor 70 that acquires information for inspection, and a judgment unit 80 that judges the inspection results based on the information acquired by the line sensor 70. The roll transport mechanism 10 in the roll inspection device 60 is used as a mechanism for rotating the roll 1 in the production line for the roll 1 so that the entire cylindrical surface 5 can be scanned by the line sensor 70 while continuing to transport the roll 1. Therefore, the roll inspection device 60 only needs to be provided with the transport mechanisms of at least the midstream conveyor 30 and the guide 50 of the roll transport mechanism 10.

[0034] The line sensor 70, also referred to as a line camera or a line scan sensor, is a device that optically sequentially scans a predetermined linear region R. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the line sensor 70 irradiates scanning light onto the predetermined region R (the region indicated by the two-dot chain line in Figure 2), and performs image conversion processing based on the reflection of the irradiated light. In order to ensure the accuracy of scanning by the line sensor 70, an irradiation unit (not shown) that irradiates the predetermined region R with light is attached to the line sensor 70.

[0035] The line sensor 70 is fixed to a fixed structure such as a conveyor frame, similar to the guide 50, and captures an image of a predetermined region R from above the roll 1. The "predetermined region R" here refers to a region that includes a part of the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 that is being transported and rotated by the roll transport mechanism 10, and is a region that is along the cylindrical axis 1C. This predetermined region R is set in the midstream portion P2 of the path P to be a region that overlaps the entire area in the transport direction with the trajectory of the roll 1 that has rotated at least once around the cylindrical axis 1C.

[0036] The line sensor 70 in this embodiment uses two (multiple line sensors): an upstream line sensor 71 (first line sensor) that sequentially scans the upstream specified area R1, and a downstream line sensor 72 (second line sensor) that sequentially scans the downstream specified area R2. The upstream predetermined region R1 sequentially scanned by the upstream line sensor 71 is a part of the predetermined region R on the upstream side in the conveying direction. The downstream predetermined region R2 sequentially scanned by the downstream line sensor 72 is a region that includes an area downstream of the upstream predetermined region R1 in the conveying direction, and includes all of the predetermined region R excluding the upstream predetermined region R1.

[0037] That is, the combined area of the upstream predetermined area R1 and the downstream predetermined area R2 includes the predetermined area R. Note that the upstream predetermined area R1 and the downstream predetermined area R2 may partially overlap as shown in FIG. 2, or may not overlap each other. The information sequentially scanned by the line sensors 71 and 72 is input to a determination unit 80, which will be described next.

[0038] The determination unit 80 determines whether the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 is good or bad based on the information sequentially scanned by the line sensors 71 and 72. The determination result by the determination unit 80 is appropriately outputted by being displayed or notified to an operator involved in the production line of the roll 1. In addition, a branching mechanism (not shown) switches the conveyance route of the roll 1 depending on the determination result by the determination unit 80. For example, if the determination unit 80 determines that the roll 1 is a non-conforming product ("fail" out of the pass / fail options), the branching mechanism branches the conveyance route for discharging the roll 1 from the production line, and the roll 1 is discharged to what is called offline.

[0039] An example of a method for determining whether the product is good or bad by the determining unit 80 is to integrate images sequentially scanned by the line sensors 71 and 72 to convert them into an unfolded image of the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1, and then treat any portion of this image that corresponds to the cylindrical surface 5 as having a predetermined color difference or a brightness below a predetermined gradation as being soiled or damaged, and determine the product to be non-conforming. However, the method for determining whether the cylindrical surface 5 is good or bad by the determining unit 80 is not limited to the method exemplified here, and various image-based methods can be used.

[0040] 2 and 3, the roll inspection device 60 is also provided with a member (hereinafter referred to as the "pressing member") 90 that presses the tail 4 just upstream in the rotation direction of the roll 1 relative to the predetermined region R. Simply put, the pressing member 90 is a structure that uses the rotation of the roll 1 to smooth the tail 4 against the cylindrical surface 5. The pressing member 90 is disposed in a range that does not block the scanning light that is incident and reflected between the line sensors 71, 72 and the predetermined areas R1, R2.

[0041] The pressing member 90, which is arranged in this manner so as not to interfere with the imaging field of view of the line sensors 71 and 72, is extended in the same conveying direction area as the guide 50, is in a position covering the roll 1 from above, and is a member having a lower surface that follows both the tangential direction of the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 and the conveying direction. 3 illustrates a pressing member 90 in the shape of a shed roof, with a lower edge 9D located upstream in the rotational direction of the roll 1 and an upper edge 9U located downstream in the rotational direction of the roll 1. Specifically, the position of the pressing member 90 illustrated here is such that the upper edge 9U (the portion corresponding to the upper edge of the shed roof) is located slightly upstream in the rotational direction of the predetermined region R. With this positioning, the tail 4 is pressed down just before the upstream side of the predetermined region R in the rotational direction of the roll 1.

[0042] The pressing member 90 is provided at a position where it comes into contact with the tail 4 when it is spaced apart from the cylindrical surface 5. The pressing member 90 may be provided at a position where it comes into slight contact with the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 as shown in FIG. 3, or may be provided at a position where it has a small gap from the cylindrical surface 5. In addition, the pressing member 90 is supported by a mechanism that allows its vertical position and orientation to be freely adjusted in order to change its position according to the size of the roll 1 and to adjust the degree of pressing on the tail 4.

[0043] [2. Methodology] In this section [2], we will first explain the configuration of the roll transfer method in subsection [2-1], and then explain the configuration of the roll inspection method in subsection [2-2].

[0044] [2-1. Roll transfer method] The roll transport method is a method of transporting the roll 1 by the roll transport mechanism described above. In this roll transfer method, as shown in Table 1 below, an upstream transfer step (second transfer step) is carried out, followed by a midstream transfer step (first transfer step). In parallel with this midstream transfer step, a guide step is carried out. After these midstream transfer step and guide step, a downstream transfer step (second transfer step) is carried out.

[0045] [Table 1]

[0046] The upstream transfer step and the downstream transfer step are steps in which the roll 1 is transferred by the upstream conveyor 20 and the downstream conveyor 40 without being rotated. The upstream transport step is a step of transporting the roll 1 by the upstream conveyor 20, and is a step carried out immediately before the midstream transport step. The downstream transport step is a step of transporting the roll 1 by the downstream conveyor 40, and is a step carried out immediately after the midstream transport step. The upstream transfer step adjusts the speed of entry into the midstream transfer step to a speed corresponding to the time required for the scanning step or the determination step, which will be described later. The downstream transfer step adjusts the speed of submission from the midstream transfer step to a speed corresponding to the time required for the scanning step or the determination step.

[0047] The midstream transport step is a step in which the midstream conveyor 30 transports the roll 1 while rotating it around the cylindrical axis 1C. The guiding step is a step of restricting deviation of the roll 1 from the path P by a guide 50 that is in sliding contact with the rotating roll 1.

[0048] [2-2. Roll inspection method] The roll inspection method is a method for inspecting the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 using the above-mentioned roll inspection device. In this roll inspection method, the scanning step is carried out while the transporting step is being carried out continuously, and then the evaluation step is carried out, as shown in Table 1. In the scanning step, the first scanning step is carried out, and then the second scanning step is carried out.

[0049] The transporting step that is continuously performed in the roll inspection method is a step of performing at least the midstream transporting step and the guide step of the roll transporting method described above. That is, the transporting step is a step of rotating the roll 1 in the trailing direction of the rotation direction around the cylindrical axis 1C while transporting the roll 1 in the direction along the cylindrical axis 1C. The scanning step is a step in which the predetermined region R is optically scanned sequentially by the line sensor 70.

[0050] The first scanning step, which is performed in the first half of the scanning step, is a step of optically sequentially scanning a first predetermined region R1 using the first line sensor 71. The second scanning step, which is performed in the second half of the scanning step, is a step of optically sequentially scanning a second predetermined region R2 using the second line sensor 72. If the first predetermined region R1 and the second predetermined region R2 overlap, the second scanning step starts overlapping with the first scanning step. If the first predetermined region R1 and the second predetermined region R2 do not overlap, the second scanning step starts simultaneously with the end of the first scanning step.

[0051] The judging process is a process in which the judging unit 80 judges whether the cylindrical surface 5 of the roll 1 is good or bad. That is, the judging process is a process in which the quality of the cylindrical surface 5 is judged based on the information sequentially scanned in the scanning process, and can be performed at any time after the scanning process is performed.

[0052] [3. Actions and Effects] Since this embodiment has the above-described configuration, it is possible to obtain the following actions and effects. In this section [3], the functions and effects of the roll transport mechanism 10 and the roll transport method are described in subsection [3-1], and then the functions and effects of the roll inspection device 60 and the roll transport method are described in subsection [3-2].

[0053] [3-1. Roll Transfer Mechanism and Roll Transfer Method] Conventionally, conveyors that rotate cylindrical objects around their axes by setting rotation axes in different directions on two pairs of rollers around which a belt is wound, or by moving the area of the belt on which cylindrical objects are placed in two directions, have had the problem of being complicated in configuration.Furthermore, such conveyors have had the problem of difficulty in ensuring layout flexibility because a large amount of space is required to install the rotation mechanism that moves the belt. Therefore, there is room for improvement in simplifying the structure of the conveyor in the transfer mechanism that rotates the cylindrical body around its axis while transporting it.

[0054] (1) In contrast, according to the roll transfer mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the rotation axes 1P, 2P of the pulleys 31, 32 that move the belt 3B of the midstream conveyor 30 are set along only one direction that intersects the conveying direction at an acute angle when viewed from above and a direction perpendicular to the direction, and the area 3R on the midstream conveyor 30 where the roll 1 is placed moves in only one direction. Therefore, compared to conventional conveyors in which the rotation axes of the rollers around which the belt is wound are set in different directions or the area where the cylindrical objects are placed moves in two or more directions, the configuration of the midstream conveyor 30, including the belt 3B and rotation axes 1P and 2P, can be simplified. Furthermore, the space required to install the rotation mechanism that moves the belt is reduced, ensuring flexibility in the layout of the production line.

[0055] The midstream conveyor 30 of this roll transfer mechanism 10 is provided with a guide 50 that slides against the roll 1 to prevent the roll 1 from deviating laterally along the path P, thereby enabling the roll 1 to be transported more stably than in conventional transfer mechanisms that do not have such a guide 50. Furthermore, when the second component force F2 is applied by the midstream conveyor 30 from the lower part of the roll 1 that is placed on the belt 3B, not only is the lateral deviation of the roll 1 structurally restricted by hitting the guide 50, but the lower part of the roll 1 that is placed on the belt 3B moves, allowing the roll 1 to rotate around the cylindrical axis 1C.

[0056] In addition, because the upstream conveyor 20, downstream conveyor 40, and midstream conveyor 30 are each responsible for transporting the roll 1 along the linear path P, the roll 1 can be transported without rotating in the upstream section P1 and downstream section P3 of the linear path P, and can be transported while rotating in the midstream section P2 of the linear path P. In this way, it is possible to freely set the area on the linear path P where the roll 1 is transported while rotating and the area where the roll 1 is transported without rotating.

[0057] (2) Because a belt conveyor is used as the midstream conveyor 30, the midstream conveyor 30 can be provided simply by installing a general-purpose belt conveyor at an angle to the conveying direction. This prevents the cost of introducing the midstream conveyor 30 from increasing. (3) Since the midstream conveyor 30 is provided across multiple paths P arranged side by side, the configuration can be simplified compared to a configuration in which a midstream conveyor is provided for each path P, and an increase in equipment costs can be suppressed. (4) Note that the same functions and effects as those of the roll transfer mechanism 10 can be obtained by using a roll transfer method.

[0058] [3-2. Roll inspection device and roll inspection method] Conventional technology for inspecting the cylindrical surface of a cylindrical body did not take into account the effect of the roll tail on inspection accuracy, which could result in a decrease in inspection accuracy due to the shadow of the tail. For example, even when inspecting a roll that is a conforming product (good) with no dirt or damage on the cylindrical surface, the shadow of the tail reflected on the cylindrical surface could be confused with dirt or damage on the cylindrical surface, and the roll could be deemed a non-conforming product in optical inspection. Therefore, there is room for improvement in preventing a decrease in inspection accuracy.

[0059] (1) In contrast, according to the roll inspection device 60 of this embodiment, the midstream conveyor 30 of the roll transfer mechanism 10 rotates the roll 1 in the trail direction, so that the tail 4 is pressed against the cylindrical surface 5 in a smooth manner. This prevents the shadow of the tail 4 from being cast on the cylindrical surface 5 that is sequentially scanned by the line sensor 70, and the judgment unit 80 can accurately judge whether the cylindrical surface 5 is good or bad. Therefore, the inspection accuracy of the roll inspection device 60 can be prevented from decreasing.

[0060] (2) Furthermore, the pressing member 90 of the present roll inspection device 60 reliably presses the tail 4 just upstream of the predetermined region R in the rotation direction of the roll 1, thereby reliably preventing the shadow of the tail 4 from being cast on the predetermined region R. This further prevents the inspection accuracy of the roll inspection device 60 from decreasing. (3) However, depending on various parameters such as the transport speed of the midstream conveyor 30, the circumference of the roll 1, and the imaging field of view of the line sensor, there is a risk that the entire cylindrical surface of the roll cannot be scanned by sequentially scanning a specified area with a single line sensor.

[0061] In contrast, the line sensor 70 of the roll inspection device 60 uses two sensors: an upstream line sensor 71 that sequentially scans the upstream predetermined area R1, and a downstream line sensor 72 that sequentially scans the downstream predetermined area R2, making it possible to scan the entire cylindrical surface 5, which cannot be scanned by a single line sensor. In this way, the scanning range of the line sensor 70 can be expanded. (4) The roll inspection method can also provide the same functions and effects as the roll inspection device 60.

[0062] [II. Modifications] The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and is not intended to exclude various modifications and application of techniques not explicitly stated in this embodiment. Each configuration of this embodiment can be modified and implemented in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, it is possible to select and combine as needed.

[0063] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the midstream conveyor 30' of the roll transfer mechanism 10' is not limited to the belt conveyor described above, but may be a roller conveyor. In the midstream conveyor 30', a roller conveyor is used, and a number of rollers 3R' that are driven to rotate around their respective rotation axes 3C' are arranged side by side in the conveying direction, and rolls 1 (not shown in FIG. 4) are placed on these rollers 3R'. The rotation axes 3C' of the rollers 3R' extend along a plane (for example, a horizontal plane) that is along both the conveying direction and the lateral direction, are set parallel to each other, and extend in a direction that intersects with the conveying direction in a top view.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows an example in which a roller conveyor provided across two (plural) paths P is used as the midstream conveyor 30'. In this way, the direction in which the roller 3R' including the area where the roll 1 is placed rotates around the rotation axis 3C' is arranged in a direction that intersects at an acute angle with the conveyance direction when viewed from above. Specifically, the extension direction of the rotation axis 3C' and the rotation direction of each roller 3R' are set so that the area of the roller 3R' where the roll 1 is placed moves in one direction that intersects at an acute angle with the conveyance direction.

[0065] As described above, since a roller conveyor is used for the midstream conveyor 30', the midstream conveyor 30' can be installed simply by installing the rollers 3R' of a general-purpose roller conveyor at an angle to the conveying direction, thereby suppressing an increase in the cost of introducing the midstream conveyor 30'. Alternatively, the roll transport mechanism may be provided with one midstream conveyor for each path. Note that the roll transport mechanism can rotate the roll being transported along the path as long as it is provided with at least the midstream conveyor and the guide. Alternatively, the roll inspection device may be provided with only one line sensor, or the pressing member may be omitted from the roll inspection device, thereby simplifying the configuration.

[0066] [III. Supplementary Note] Regarding the above embodiment, a note regarding roll inspection is disclosed in item [1], and a note regarding roll transportation is disclosed in item [2].

[0067] [1. Roll inspection] [Appendix 1A] A roll inspection method for inspecting a cylindrical surface of a roll in which a strip-shaped material is wound cylindrically, comprising: The roll has a tail, which is a winding end of the material, extending downstream in the winding direction relative to the cylindrical surface of the roll and forming a free end that can be freely attached to and detached from the cylindrical surface, a transfer step of rotating the roll in a trailing direction, which is a direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface, among rotation directions around the cylindrical axis while transporting the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll; a scanning step of optically scanning a predetermined area, which is a linear area including a part of the cylindrical surface of the roll that is being conveyed and rotated in the conveying step, and which is fixed along the cylindrical axis; a determining step of determining whether the cylindrical surface is good or bad based on the information sequentially scanned in the scanning step. A roll inspection method characterized by: [Appendix 2A] a pressing step of pressing the tail of the roll rotated around the cylindrical axis in the transport step onto the cylindrical surface just before the upstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the predetermined region; Attachment 1A, characterized in that: [Appendix 3A] The scanning step includes a first scanning step of sequentially scanning a first predetermined area that is a part of the predetermined area on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the roll, and a second scanning step of sequentially scanning a second predetermined area that includes an area downstream of the first predetermined area in the conveying direction and includes other parts of the predetermined area excluding the part. 2A. A roll inspection method according to claim 1A or 2A.

[0068] [Appendix 4A] A roll inspection device that inspects the cylindrical surface of a roll in which a strip-shaped material is wound into a cylindrical shape, The roll has a tail, which is a winding end of the material, extending downstream in the winding direction relative to the cylindrical surface of the roll and forming a free end that can be freely attached to and detached from the cylindrical surface, a transfer mechanism that rotates the roll in a trailing direction, which is a direction in which the tail is pressed against the cylindrical surface, among rotation directions around the cylindrical axis while transporting the roll along the cylindrical axis of the roll; a line sensor that optically sequentially scans a predetermined area that is a linear area that includes a portion of the cylindrical surface of the roll that is being transported and rotated by the transport mechanism, the linear area being fixed along the cylindrical axis; and a determining unit that determines whether the cylindrical surface is good or bad based on information sequentially scanned by the line sensor. A roll inspection device characterized by: [Appendix 5A] a pressing part that presses the tail of the roll, which is rotated around the cylindrical axis by the transfer mechanism, onto the cylindrical surface just before the upstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the predetermined region; 4B. A roll inspection apparatus according to claim 4A. [Appendix 6A] The line sensor includes a first line sensor that sequentially scans a first predetermined area that is a part of the predetermined area on the upstream side in the transport direction of the roll, and a second line sensor that sequentially scans a second predetermined area that includes an area downstream of the first predetermined area in the transport direction and includes the other part of the predetermined area excluding the part. 4A or 5A, characterized in that the roll inspection device.

[0069] [2. Transfer of rolls] [Appendix 1B] A roll transfer mechanism that transports a cylindrical roll along a linear path with a cylindrical axis of the roll aligned along the path, a first conveyor that moves by rotational power about a rotation axis and has an area on which the roll is placed, the area moving only in one direction intersecting the conveyance direction at an acute angle, and conveys the roll along part of the path by a first component of force along the conveyance direction that is applied to the roll from the area moving in one direction, and rotates the roll around the cylindrical axis of the roll by a second component of the applied force that is along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the conveyance direction in a top view, the first conveyor having the rotation axis set along only the direction perpendicular to the one direction in a top view; a second conveyor disposed adjacent to the first conveyor on the upstream or downstream side of the conveyance direction, and configured to convey the roll along the remaining portion of the path excluding the portion without rotating the roll; a guide that is disposed at least on the side of the roll conveyed along the portion of the path in a direction in which the second component force acts, extends along the portion of the path, and restricts deviation of the rotating roll from the path while making sliding contact with the rotating roll. A roll transfer mechanism characterized by: [Appendix 2B] The first conveyor is a belt conveyor in which a belt having the region moves along a circular path. 1C. The roll transport mechanism of claim 1B. [Appendix 3B] The first conveyor is a roller conveyor in which rollers having the region are driven to rotate. 1C. The roll transport mechanism of claim 1B. [Appendix 4B] A roll transport mechanism in which a plurality of the paths are arranged side by side in the lateral direction and the roll is transported in each of the paths, The first conveyor is provided across the paths that are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. 3. The roll transfer mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the roll transfer mechanism comprises:

[0070] [Appendix 5B] A roll transfer method for transporting a cylindrical roll along a linear path with a cylindrical axis of the roll aligned along the path, comprising: a first transport step in which the roll is moved by rotational power about a rotation axis, and an area where the roll is placed moves only in one direction intersecting the conveying direction at an acute angle, and the roll is conveyed along part of the path by a first component of the force applied to the roll from the area moving in the one direction along the conveying direction, and the roll is rotated around the cylindrical axis of the roll by a second component of the applied force along a lateral direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in a top view, and the rotation axis is set only along a direction perpendicular to the one direction in a top view; a second transfer step that is carried out immediately before or after the first transfer step and that transfers the roll along the remaining part of the path excluding the part without rotating the roll; a guiding step of regulating deviation from the path while making sliding contact with the rotating roll on the side in the direction in which the second component force acts on the roll transported along the part of the path. A roll transfer method characterized by: [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1 roll 10 Roll transfer mechanism 1C cylinder shaft 1P, 2P rotating shaft 2. Materials 20 Upstream conveyor (second conveyor) 3 Core material 30 Midstream conveyor (first conveyor) 31,32 Pulley 3B belt 4. Tail 40 Downstream conveyor (second conveyor) 5 Cylindrical surface 50 Guide 6 Tail seal 60 Roll inspection equipment 70 Line sensor (scanning device) 71 Upstream line sensor (first line sensor) 72 Downstream line sensor (second line sensor) 80 Judgment section 90 Retaining member 9U top edge 9D bottom edge CD horizontal MD conveying direction P pathway P1 upstream part P2 midstream P3 downstream R Predetermined area R1 Upstream predetermined area (first predetermined area) R2 Downstream predetermined area (second predetermined area) W Winding direction

Claims

1. A roll transfer mechanism that transports a cylindrical roll along a linear path with a cylindrical axis of the roll aligned along the path, a first conveyor that moves by rotational power about a rotation axis and has an area on which the roll is placed, the area moving only in one direction intersecting the conveyance direction at an acute angle, and conveys the roll along part of the path by a first component of force along the conveyance direction that is applied to the roll from the area moving in one direction, and rotates the roll around the cylindrical axis of the roll by a second component of the applied force that is along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the conveyance direction in a top view, the first conveyor having the rotation axis set along only the direction perpendicular to the one direction in a top view; a second conveyor disposed adjacent to the first conveyor on the upstream or downstream side of the conveyance direction, and configured to convey the roll along the remaining portion of the path excluding the portion without rotating the roll; a guide that is disposed at least on the side of the roll conveyed along the portion of the path in a direction in which the second component force acts, extends along the portion of the path, and restricts deviation of the rotating roll from the path while making sliding contact with the rotating roll. A roll transfer mechanism characterized by:

2. The first conveyor is a belt conveyor in which a belt having the region moves along a circular path.

2. The roll transport mechanism of claim 1.

3. The first conveyor is a roller conveyor in which rollers having the region are driven to rotate.

2. The roll transport mechanism of claim 1.

4. A roll transport mechanism in which a plurality of the paths are arranged side by side in the lateral direction and the roll is transported in each of the paths, The first conveyor is provided across the paths that are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. The roll transport mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A roll transfer method for transporting a cylindrical roll along a linear path with a cylindrical axis of the roll aligned along the path, comprising: a first transport step in which the roll is moved by rotational power about a rotation axis, and an area where the roll is placed moves only in one direction intersecting the conveying direction at an acute angle, and the roll is conveyed along part of the path by a first component of the force applied to the roll from the area moving in the one direction along the conveying direction, and the roll is rotated around the cylindrical axis of the roll by a second component of the applied force along a lateral direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in a top view, and the rotation axis is set only along a direction perpendicular to the one direction in a top view; a second transfer step that is carried out immediately before or after the first transfer step and that transfers the roll along the remaining part of the path excluding the part without rotating the roll; a guiding step of regulating deviation from the path while making sliding contact with the rotating roll on the side in the direction in which the second component force acts on the roll transported along the part of the path. A roll transfer method characterized by:

Images