Workpiece transport device and workpiece transport method

Abstract

To provide a new workpiece conveyance device and workpiece conveyance method which can convey workpiece from a workpiece group in which a plurality of film-like or sheet-like workpieces are stacked at a predetermined conveyance interval.SOLUTION: A workpiece conveyance device arranges a first suction device 41 for sucking a first suction range (r1) close to the upstream in a conveyance direction of a suction conveyor 3 of the workpiece conveyance device 1, and a second suction device 42 for sucking a second suction range (r2) on the downstream of the first suction range (r1) in the suction conveyor 3 of the workpiece conveyance device 1, and determines a conveyance interval of workpiece (W) by stopping or re-starting suction by the first suction device 41 while continuing suction by the second suction device 42 during conveyance of the workpiece (W) by the suction conveyor 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a workpiece transport device and a workpiece transport method for sequentially transporting workpieces from a workpiece group in which a plurality of film-like or sheet-like workpieces are stacked. [Background technology]

[0002] Printed matter (workpieces) printed on surfaces such as plastic film or paper are subjected to inspection to determine the quality of the print. This inspection is often carried out by image diagnosis using a print inspection device equipped with an imaging means such as a CCD camera, and currently, such inspections have been automated by using a conveying device to sequentially transport the printed matter to the imaging means.

[0003] This type of conveying device is generally designed to sequentially convey the topmost work from a group of workpieces, which are generally made up of multiple stacked film- or sheet-like workpieces.In addition to a system that uses a pickup roller to remove the topmost workpiece, a system that uses a suction conveyor to suck up the topmost workpiece has also been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-152561 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conveying device (paper feeding device) disclosed in Patent Document 1, the conveying interval of the workpieces is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the suction force of the suction conveyor.

[0006] However, there is a limit to adjusting the transport interval by increasing or decreasing the suction force of the suction conveyor, and if the suction force of the suction conveyor is reduced to increase the transport interval, the workpieces may no longer be able to be adsorbed or may fall during transport.

[0007] The present invention was completed in consideration of the above-mentioned technical problems, and aims to provide a novel work transport device and work transport method that can transport work from a group of workpieces consisting of multiple stacked film-like or sheet-like workpieces at a predetermined transport interval. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The work transport device of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned technical problems, is a work transport device for transporting a work from a group of workpieces in which multiple film-like or sheet-like workpieces are stacked, and is equipped with a lift that supports the group of workpieces and rises as the workpieces are transported, a suction conveyor that sequentially transports the topmost work of the group of workpieces via an endless perforated belt, and a suction device that applies suction force to the suction conveyor through suction holes provided in the perforated belt, and the suction device is composed of a first suction device that applies suction force to a first suction range upstream in the transport direction of the suction conveyor, and a second suction device that applies suction force to a second suction range downstream of the first suction range, and is further characterized by having a control device that commands the first suction device to stop or resume suction while the work is being transported (hereinafter referred to as the ``transport device of the present invention'').

[0009] In the conveying device of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is one in which the control device is equipped with a monitoring means for confirming that a workpiece has reached a predetermined position on the suction conveyor, and commands the first suction device to stop suction when the monitoring means confirms that the workpiece has reached the predetermined position.

[0010] In the transport device of the present invention, it is preferable that the monitoring means confirms that the workpiece has reached the boundary between the first suction range and the second suction range.

[0011] In the transport device of the present invention, it is preferable that the monitoring means confirms that the workpiece has reached a predetermined position within the second suction range.

[0012] The work transport method of the present invention, which solves the above technical means, is a method of transporting work in a work transport device comprising a lift that supports a group of workpieces consisting of multiple stacked film-like or sheet-like workpieces and rises as the workpieces are transported, and a suction conveyor that sequentially transports the topmost work of the group of workpieces via an endless perforated belt, wherein the suction conveyor is provided with a first suction device that sucks a first suction range upstream in the transport direction of the suction conveyor, and a second suction device that sucks a second suction range downstream of the first suction range, and is characterized in that while the workpieces are being transported by the suction conveyor, the transport interval of the workpieces is determined by stopping and resuming suction by the first suction device while continuing suction by the second suction device (hereinafter referred to as the ``transport method of the present invention''). [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, workpieces can be transported at predetermined transport intervals from a workpiece group in which a plurality of workpieces are stacked. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view and FIG. 1(b) is a side view showing an outline of a conveyance device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control device for the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure performed by the control device. [Figure 4] 4(a) to 4(d) are side views showing how a workpiece is transported by the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing an outline of a transport device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control device for the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure performed by the control device. [Figure 8] 8(a) to 8(d) are side views showing how a workpiece is transported by the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side view showing another embodiment of the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the transport device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0016] [Embodiment 1] <Conveying device 1 of the present invention> 1 and 2 show an outline of the conveying device 1 of the present invention according to embodiment 1. The conveying device 1 of the present invention is a device for conveying a work (W) from a group of workpieces (Ws) in which a plurality of film-like or sheet-like workpieces (W) are stacked, and is equipped with a "lift 2," a "suction conveyor 3," and a "suction device 4," and further equipped with a "control device 5."

[0017] - Lift 2 - The lift 2 supports the work group (Ws) from below and rises in accordance with the transport of the work (W). That is, the lift 2 is a platform that can be raised and lowered on which the work group (Ws) to be transported is placed, and is designed to rise in accordance with the remaining amount of the work group (Ws) that decreases as the work (W) is transported.

[0018] -Suction conveyor 3- The suction conveyor 3 serves to sequentially suck and transport the topmost workpiece (W) of a group of workpieces (Ws) via an endless perforated belt 30. The suction conveyor 3 is a type of belt conveyor that operates by driving a pair of pulleys 31. The perforated belt 30 has a plurality of suction holes 32 arranged in two rows.

[0019] -Suction device 4- The suction device 4 serves to apply suction force to the suction conveyor 3 through suction holes 32 formed in the perforated belt 30. As shown in Fig. 1(b), in the conveying device 1 of the present invention, the suction device 4 is composed of a first suction device 41 that applies suction force to a first suction range (r1) upstream in the conveying direction of the suction conveyor 3, and a second suction device 42 that applies suction force to a second suction range (r2) downstream of the first suction range (r1).

[0020] -Control device 5- The control device 5 is responsible for commanding the first suction device 41 to stop or resume suction while the suction conveyor 3 is transporting the workpieces (W). As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the control device 5 includes a "storage means 51," an "arithmetic means 52," and a "control means 53." In this control device 5, the storage means 51 stores initial information such as the planned transport interval of the workpieces (W), the dimensions of the workpieces (W), and the transport speed of the suction conveyor 3. Based on the initial information stored in the storage means 51, the arithmetic means 52 determines processing information such as the timing to stop suction by the first suction device 41 and the timing to resume suction so that the transport interval of the workpieces (W) becomes the planned transport interval. The control means 53 commands the first suction device 41 to stop or resume suction based on the processing information determined by the arithmetic means 52.

[0021] <Transportation method of the present invention> The transport device 1 of the present invention having the above configuration is constructed to execute the transport method of the present invention, which determines the transport interval of the workpieces (W) by stopping and restarting suction by the first suction device 41 while continuing suction by the second suction device 42 while the workpieces (W) are being transported by the suction conveyor 3. The execution of the transport method of the present invention by the transport device 1 of the present invention will be described below. For the sake of convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the lift 2 automatically rises as the remaining amount of workpieces (Ws) decreases.

[0022] -Control procedure- In this embodiment, the conveying method of the present invention is carried out according to the control procedure shown in the flowchart of Fig. 3. In the control procedure shown in this flowchart, first, when an operation start command is given to the conveying device 1 of the present invention (S1), the second suction device 42 starts suction (S2), and the suction conveyor 3 is driven (S3). Next, when suction by the first suction device 41 is started (S4), the uppermost workpiece (W) of the group of workpieces (Ws) supported by the lift 2 is sucked toward the suction conveyor 3, as shown in Fig. 4(a).

[0023] Thereafter, when a predetermined time has elapsed (when the workpiece (W) has been transported a predetermined distance), that is, at the timing for stopping suction determined by the calculation means 52 (S5), the control means 53 commands the first suction device 41 to stop suction (S6). As the first suction device 41 stops suction, new workpieces (W) are no longer sucked from the workpiece group (Ws) toward the suction conveyor 3. Meanwhile, as shown in Figures 4(b) and (c), the workpieces (W) sucked into the suction conveyor 3 head toward their destination.

[0024] After suction by the first suction device 41 has stopped, when a predetermined time has elapsed (when the workpiece (W) has been transported a predetermined distance), that is, at the timing for resuming suction determined by the calculation means 52 (S7), the control means 53 commands the first suction device 41 to resume suction (S8). As shown in Figure 4(d), as the first suction device 41 resumes suction, a new workpiece (W) is sucked from the workpiece group (Ws) toward the suction conveyor 3.

[0025] Thereafter, steps (S5), (S6), (S7), and (S8) are repeated in order until the operation of the conveying device 1 of the present invention is stopped. As a result, the workpieces (W) can be conveyed sequentially at the scheduled conveying intervals stored in the storage means 51.

[0026] That is, according to the present invention, the workpieces (W) can be transported at a predetermined transport interval from a workpiece group (Ws) in which multiple film-like or sheet-like workpieces (W) are stacked. This makes it possible to prevent double feeding of the workpieces (W), and also makes it possible to set the transport interval of the workpieces (W) to the distance between the workpieces required in the subsequent process (for example, an inspection process, etc.).

[0027] In the present invention, the "workpiece (W)" may be a wide variety of films or sheets, such as paper, plastic film, cardboard, metal plates, and cards such as credit cards, prepaid cards, membership cards, commuter passes, and driver's licenses. The shape of the workpiece (W) is not limited to rectangular, but may be circular, triangular, or any other shape.

[0028] In addition, in this embodiment, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the lift 2, the suction conveyor 3, and the suction device 4 are considered to be the components of the conveying device 1 of the present invention, but the present invention does not deny the addition of other elements as desired. For example, an air handling device that blows air onto the workpiece group (Ws) to handle them, various sensors, various guides, etc. may be added to the conveying device 1 of the present invention.

[0029] [Embodiment 2] <Conveying device 1 of the present invention> 5 and 6 show an outline of the conveying device 1 of the present invention according to embodiment 2. The conveying device 1 of the present invention comprises a lift 2, a suction conveyor 3, and a suction device 4, which are similar to those of the conveying device 1 of the present invention according to embodiment 1, and further comprises a "control device 5" equipped with monitoring means 54.

[0030] -Control device 5- As in the first embodiment, the control device 5 according to this embodiment also serves to command the first suction device 41 to stop or restart suction while the workpiece (W) is being transported by the suction conveyor 3. As shown in Fig. 6, in this embodiment, the control device 5 is provided with a monitoring means 54. The monitoring means 54 is a CCD camera, and serves to confirm that the workpiece (W) has arrived at the boundary between the first suction range (r1) and the second suction range (r2) on the suction conveyor 3.

[0031] <Transportation method of the present invention> As in the first embodiment, the conveying device 1 of the present invention according to this embodiment is constructed to execute the conveying method of the present invention, which determines the conveying interval of the workpieces (W) by stopping and restarting suction by the first suction device 41 while continuing suction by the second suction device 42 while the workpieces (W) are being conveyed by the suction conveyor 3. Hereinafter, the execution of the conveying method of the present invention by the conveying device 1 of the present invention will be described.

[0032] -Control procedure- In this embodiment, the conveying method of the present invention is carried out according to the control procedure shown in the flowchart of Fig. 7. In the control procedure shown in this flowchart, first, when an operation start command is given to the conveying device 1 of the present invention (S1), the second suction device 42 starts suction (S2), and the suction conveyor 3 is driven (S3). Next, when suction by the first suction device 41 is started (S4), the topmost workpiece (W) of the group of workpieces (Ws) supported by the lift 2 is sucked toward the suction conveyor 3, as shown in Fig. 8(a).

[0033] Thereafter, when the monitoring means 54 confirms the arrival of the workpiece (W) conveyed by the suction conveyor 3 (S9), the control means 53 commands the first suction device 41 to stop suction (S6). With the first suction device 41 stopping suction, new workpieces (W) are no longer sucked from the group of works (Ws) toward the suction conveyor 3. Meanwhile, as shown in Figures 8(b) and (c), the workpieces (W) sucked into the suction conveyor 3 head toward their destination.

[0034] After the suction by the suction conveyor 3 has stopped, when a predetermined time has elapsed (when the workpiece (W) has been transported a predetermined distance), that is, at the timing for resuming suction determined by the calculation means 52 (S7), the control means 53 commands the first suction device 41 to resume suction (S8). As shown in Figure 8(d), as the first suction device 41 resumes suction, a new workpiece (W) is sucked from the workpiece group (Ws) toward the suction conveyor 3.

[0035] Thereafter, steps (S9), (S6), (S7), and (S8) are repeated in order until the operation of the conveying device 1 of the present invention is stopped. This allows the workpieces (W) to be conveyed sequentially at the scheduled conveying intervals stored in the storage means 51.

[0036] That is, as in this embodiment, if the trigger for stopping the first suction device 41 is the confirmation of the arrival of the workpieces (W) by the monitoring means 54, the conveying interval of the workpieces (W) becomes more accurate.

[0037] In this embodiment, the position at which the monitoring means 54 confirms that the workpiece (W) has arrived is set at the boundary between the first suction range (r1) and the second suction range (r2) on the suction conveyor 3, but this arrival confirmation position may be set within the first suction range (r1) as shown in Figure 9, or within the second suction range (r2) as shown in Figure 10.

[0038] However, if the position where the monitoring means 54 confirms that the workpiece W has arrived is set within the first suction range (r1), then after the arrival of the workpiece W is confirmed, a stop command cannot be given to the first suction device 41 until the workpiece W reaches the second suction range (r2). In other words, one more control procedure, namely, a time wait, is added.

[0039] On the other hand, if the position where the monitoring means 54 confirms that the workpiece (W) has arrived is set within the second suction range (r2), after the arrival of the workpiece (W) is confirmed, a stop command can be quickly given to the first suction device 41. However, if the dimensions of the workpiece (W) to be transported are extremely short, the transport interval may become too large.

[0040] Therefore, it is preferable that the position where the monitoring means 54 confirms that the workpiece (W) has reached is set near the boundary between the first suction range (r1) and the second suction range (r2).

[0041] The rest is the same as in the first embodiment, and the explanation will be omitted here to avoid repetition.

[0042] The present invention can be embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or essential features. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not limited to the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and variations within the equivalent range of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] The present invention is suitably used as a means for transporting a film-like or sheet-like workpiece. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1. The conveying device of the present invention (work conveying device) 2 lifts 3. Suction conveyor 30-hole belt 31 Pulley 32 Suction hole 4 Suction device 41 First suction device 42 Second suction device 5. Control device 51 Memory means 52 Calculation means 53 Control Means 54 Monitoring means double work Ws Work Group r1 First suction range r2 Second suction range

Claims

1. A work transport device for transporting a work from a work group in which a plurality of film-like or sheet-like workpieces are stacked, a lift that supports the work group and rises in response to the transport of the work; a suction conveyor that sequentially transports the topmost workpiece of the workpiece group via an endless perforated belt; a suction device that applies suction force to the suction conveyor through suction holes formed in the perforated belt; Equipped with The suction device a first suction device that applies suction force to a first suction range located upstream in the conveying direction of the suction conveyor; a second suction device that applies suction force to a second suction range downstream of the first suction range; It is composed of Further, a control device is provided that commands the first suction device to stop or resume suction during transport of the workpiece, A work transport device characterized in that the control device is provided with a monitoring means for confirming that a work has reached a predetermined position on the suction conveyor, and commands the first suction device to stop suction in response to confirmation by the monitoring means that a work has reached the position.

2. In the workpiece transport device according to claim 1, A workpiece transport device in which the monitoring means confirms that the workpiece has reached a predetermined position within the first suction range.

3. The workpiece transport device according to claim 1, A workpiece transport device in which the monitoring means confirms the arrival of the workpiece at the boundary between the first suction range and the second suction range.

4. The workpiece transport device according to claim 1, A workpiece transport device in which the monitoring means confirms that the workpiece has reached a predetermined position in the second suction range.

5. A method for transporting workpieces in a workpiece transport device including a lift supporting a group of workpieces in which a plurality of film-like or sheet-like workpieces are stacked and rising in accordance with the transport of the workpieces, and a suction conveyor that sequentially transports the topmost workpiece of the group of workpieces via an endless perforated belt, comprising: The suction conveyor a first suction device that sucks a first suction range located upstream in the conveying direction of the suction conveyor; a second suction device that suctions a second suction range downstream of the first suction range; and A method for transporting workpieces, characterized in that the transport interval of the workpieces is determined by stopping and resuming suction by the first suction device while continuing suction by the second suction device while the workpieces are being transported by the suction conveyor.

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