Processing unit

Abstract

To provide a processing device that improves at least one of the problems of conventional technology. [Solution] A processing apparatus that conveys a flat plate-shaped workpiece with magnetic attraction properties while supporting it from one side on the conveying surface of a magnetic conveyor belt, and sequentially sprays a medium onto the other side, the processing apparatus comprising a drive-side pulley and a guide pulley positioned opposite each other with the magnetic conveyor belt in between, and rotating in contact with the magnetic conveyor belt.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a processing device.

Background Art

[0002] A tape peeling method is known in which pressure water is sprayed onto the tape of an adherend to which a tape is adhered using a tape peeling device to peel the tape from the adherend.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to the tape peeling method described in Patent Document 1, the tape adhered to the adherend could be peeled off surely and neatly. However, the adherend after tape peeling may be scratched finely, and there is room for improvement in terms of reusing the adherend. The present disclosure improves at least one of the problems of the above prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The first processing apparatus of the present disclosure is a processing apparatus for spraying a medium onto a flat plate-shaped workpiece that is attracted to a magnet, while transporting the workpiece or while transporting the workpiece is temporarily suspended, and comprises: a magnetic conveyor belt that incorporates magnetism and circulates while the workpiece is attracted to and held on the transport surface by magnetic force; at least two pulley groups configured to wind up the end of the magnetic conveyor belt and hold the magnetic conveyor belt stretched in a loop; a drive source that rotates at least one of the pulley groups; and a spraying means for spraying the medium toward the workpiece being transported on the transport surface, wherein of the at least two pulley groups, the drive source The rotationally driven drive-side pulley group includes at least three drive-side pulleys arranged in a line in the width direction of the magnetic conveyor belt, and of the drive-side pulleys, the first drive-side pulley located in the center in the width direction has a crown-shaped outer surface, and the apparatus further includes a guide pulley that is positioned opposite the first drive-side pulley and the magnetic conveyor belt in the region where the magnetic conveyor belt is wrapped around the drive-side pulley group or in the vicinity continuous with the region, and rotates in contact with the magnetic conveyor belt, and the guide pulley is configured to cooperate with the first drive-side pulley to suppress meandering of the magnetic conveyor belt in the width direction, wherein the apparatus is a processing device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this disclosure, at least one of the problems of the prior art described above can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This diagram illustrates each module of a processing system incorporating the processing device of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the workpiece being transported. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the supply device and the processing device. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the supply device and the processing device. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the processing unit. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 7] This is a magnified view of a portion of the drive pulley. [Figure 8] This is a view from the direction of arrow X in Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is a magnified side view of the belt tension adjustment mechanism. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of a conveyor belt. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the chamber unit. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram showing a pressurized water jet gun. [Figure 13] This is a magnified view of the nozzle head. [Figure 14] This is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for transporting and cleaning workpieces using a processing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The first processing apparatus of the present disclosure is a processing apparatus for spraying a medium onto a flat plate-shaped workpiece that is attracted to a magnet, while transporting the workpiece or while transporting the workpiece is temporarily suspended, and comprises: a magnetic conveyor belt that incorporates magnetism and circulates while the workpiece is attracted to and held on the transport surface by magnetic force; at least two pulley groups configured to wind up the end of the magnetic conveyor belt and hold the magnetic conveyor belt stretched in a loop; a drive source that rotates at least one of the pulley groups; and a spraying means for spraying the medium toward the workpiece being transported on the transport surface, wherein of the at least two pulley groups, the drive source The rotationally driven drive-side pulley group includes at least three drive-side pulleys arranged in a line in the width direction of the magnetic conveyor belt, and of the drive-side pulleys, the first drive-side pulley located in the center in the width direction has a crown-shaped outer surface, and the apparatus further includes a guide pulley that is positioned opposite the first drive-side pulley and the magnetic conveyor belt in the region where the magnetic conveyor belt is wrapped around the drive-side pulley group or in the vicinity continuous with the region, and rotates in contact with the magnetic conveyor belt, and the guide pulley is configured to cooperate with the first drive-side pulley to suppress meandering of the magnetic conveyor belt in the width direction, wherein the apparatus is a processing device.

[0009] According to the first processing device, the crown-shaped first drive-side pulley and the guide pulley positioned opposite it with the magnetic conveyor belt in between work together to suppress meandering in the width direction of the magnetic conveyor belt, thereby improving running stability.

[0010] The second processing apparatus of the present disclosure is a processing apparatus in which, in the first processing apparatus, the drive-side pulley group is arranged upstream of the area where the medium is sprayed by the spraying means, along the direction of transport of the workpiece.

[0011] According to the second processing apparatus, the drive-side pulley group is positioned upstream in the conveying direction from the spraying area by the spraying means, which makes it easier to separate the drive system from areas susceptible to the effects of dripping water and mist in the spraying area, thereby suppressing fluctuations in running conditions caused by wetting and dirt accumulation on the drive-side pulley group. As a result, the running stability of the magnetic conveyor belt is further improved. Furthermore, if the magnetic conveyor belt is made up of thin metal sheets that do not easily stretch or contract, the conveyor belt itself has little absorption of fluctuations in the conveying path and tension conditions (it is susceptible to the effects of tension conditions), so the effect of the above configuration on impairing running stability is very limited, and the above effect is more likely to become apparent.

[0012] The third processing apparatus of this disclosure is a processing apparatus that, in addition to the second processing apparatus, further comprises a tension adjustment mechanism that supports a driven pulley group, which is a group of pulleys on a different side from the drive pulley group, so as to be movable along the workpiece transport direction, and adjusts the tension of the magnetic conveyor belt by moving the driven pulley group, wherein the tension of the magnetic conveyor belt is relaxed by the tension adjustment mechanism and the magnetic conveyor belt is configured to be removable from the processing apparatus.

[0013] According to the third processing device, the tension adjustment mechanism that supports the driven pulley group so as to be movable along the conveyance direction can relax the tension of the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force and make the belt removable. As a result, even for a belt that is difficult to stretch and contract, it is possible to simplify the disassembly work and improve the maintainability such as replacement and cleaning. Further, when the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force contains thin plate metal and is difficult to stretch and contract, it is difficult to relax the tension due to the elongation of the belt itself. Therefore, the effect of relaxing the tension by moving the driven pulley group by the tension adjustment mechanism is particularly remarkable, and the detachability and replaceability of the belt can be further improved. Further, when the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force has a configuration in which strip magnets are attached to one surface of the thin plate metal, peeling and damage of the strip magnets may occur due to unreasonable bending deformation. By relaxing the tension by the tension adjustment mechanism and making the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force removable, it is possible to avoid excessive deformation and suppress the peeling and damage of the strip magnets. Further, in an environment where moisture and dirt may adhere due to spraying of the medium, the removability of the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force affects the maintainability. By making the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force easily removable by the tension adjustment mechanism, it is possible to facilitate the removal of deposits and cleaning work and improve the operation rate of the device. Further, since the tension adjustment mechanism can adjust the tension of the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force to a desired range, even in a case where it is easily affected by tension conditions like a thin plate metal belt, it contributes to the stabilization of running and the stabilization of snake movement suppression.

[0014] The fourth processing device of the present disclosure is a processing device that further includes a cleaning brush that abuts on the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force and cleans the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force in any one of the first to third processing devices, and the cleaning brush and the guide pulley are arranged in a region where the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force is wound around the drive-side pulley group or in the vicinity continuous with the region, and the cleaning brush is arranged upstream along the driving direction of the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force in the region or the vicinity with respect to the guide pulley and is arranged so as to abut on the conveyor belt with built-in magnetic force.

[0015] According to the fourth processing device, by cleaning with the cleaning brush contacting the magnetic conveyor belt on the upstream side along the driving direction from the guide pulley, foreign matters and moisture adhering to the magnetic conveyor belt are easily removed before reaching the guide pulley. As a result, jamming and uneven contact at the contact portion between the guide pulley and the magnetic conveyor belt are suppressed, the snake suppression effect by cooperation with the first driving-side pulley is stabilized, and the running stability can be further improved. Further, wear and damage of the outer peripheral surface of the guide pulley and the surface of the magnetic conveyor belt can be suppressed, and the cleaning frequency and the component replacement frequency can be reduced.

[0016] The fifth processing device of the present disclosure is a processing device in any one of the first to third processing devices, wherein the guide pulley contacts the magnetic conveyor belt at a position corresponding to the maximum diameter portion on the crown-shaped outer peripheral surface of the first driving-side pulley.

[0017] According to the fifth processing device, the magnetic conveyor belt is supported by the guide pulley in a state where the self-aligning (centering) action by the crown-shaped outer peripheral surface is likely to occur because the guide pulley contacts the magnetic conveyor belt at a position corresponding to the maximum diameter portion on the crown-shaped outer peripheral surface of the first driving-side pulley. As a result, the snake suppression effect of the magnetic conveyor belt by cooperation between the first driving-side pulley and the guide pulley is further stabilized, and the running stability can be improved.

[0018] The sixth processing device of the present disclosure is a processing device in the fourth processing device, wherein the cleaning brush is arranged on both sides in the width direction of the magnetic conveyor belt, and the guide pulley is arranged at the center in the width direction between the cleaning brushes.

[0019] According to the sixth processing apparatus, cleaning brushes are arranged on both sides of the magnetic conveyor belt in the width direction, and a guide pulley is positioned in the width direction center between the cleaning brushes. This allows the cleaning brushes to remove foreign matter and moisture that tends to adhere to the areas on both sides of the magnetic conveyor belt in the width direction, while the guide pulley supports the magnetic conveyor belt in the width direction center. As a result, interference between the cleaning function and the meandering suppression function is suppressed, and the running stability of the magnetic conveyor belt is further improved.

[0020] The seventh processing apparatus of the present disclosure is a processing apparatus in which, in the fourth processing apparatus, the guide pulley and the cleaning brush are positioned in a position that does not overlap in the vertical direction with the area where the medium is sprayed by the spraying means when viewed from the side.

[0021] According to the seventh processing apparatus, the guide pulley and cleaning brush are positioned so as not to overlap vertically with the spraying area of ​​the medium by the spraying means in a side view. As a result, dripping water and mist from the spraying area are less likely to directly reach the guide pulley and cleaning brush. Consequently, the adhesion of moisture and the accumulation of dirt to the guide pulley and cleaning brush are suppressed, and fluctuations in friction conditions at the contact points and the entrapment of foreign matter are reduced. This ensures that the meandering suppression effect due to the cooperation of the first drive-side pulley and the guide pulley remains stable over a long period, further improving running stability and maintainability.

[0022] The eighth processing device is a processing device in which, in any of the first to third processing devices, the width of the contact surface of the guide pulley is smaller than the width of the first drive-side pulley.

[0023] According to the eighth processing device, by making the width of the contact surface of the guide pulley smaller than the width of the first drive-side pulley, local interference at the widthwise end of the magnetic conveyor belt and damage to the edges become less likely, thereby suppressing wear and damage to the magnetic conveyor belt. As a result, the support state by the guide pulley is stabilized, the meandering suppression effect through cooperation with the first drive-side pulley is maintained, and running stability and durability can be further improved.

[0024] Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The following examples illustrate apparatuses and methods for realizing the technical concept of the disclosure, and the technical concept of this disclosure is not limited to those described below. The technical concept of this disclosure can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims. In particular, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and may differ from actual ones.

[0025] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of each module of a processing system incorporating the processing apparatus 14 of this disclosure. The processing system 10 is a tape peeling system for peeling tape attached to the surface of a plate-shaped workpiece that has magnetic attraction properties by spraying a medium (pressurized water) onto the workpiece. The processing system 10 comprises a supply device 12, a processing apparatus 14, an inspection device 16, a washing device 18, a drying device 20, and a storage device 22. It also includes a transport line 24 that sequentially transports the workpiece W (see Figure 2) from the supply device 12 to the storage device 22. Each of these parts is controlled by a controller (not shown).

[0026] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the transported workpiece W. Workpiece W is a transport frame configured to be transported as a single unit with electronic components mounted on it. Workpiece W is a thin sheet of ferromagnetic metal (for example, ferritic stainless steel or martensitic stainless steel) and has an opening H in the center for mounting electronic components. Tape T is attached around the opening H to secure and protect the mounted electronic components. Workpiece W is the frame portion after the mounted electronic components have been removed. This frame portion is reused after the tape T is removed, it is cleaned and dried. The processing system is a group of devices that automatically perform the above-mentioned reuse processing.

[0027] The supply device 12 supplies the workpiece W to the processing device 14. The processing device 14 sprays pressurized water onto the workpiece W received from the supply device 12 to peel the tape T from the workpiece W. The inspection device 16 is equipped with an imaging means (such as a CCD camera) to image the surface of the workpiece W and checks whether the tape T has been peeled off from the workpiece W by analyzing the imaging results. Workpiece W with incomplete tape peeling is then removed from the transport line 24. The washing device 18 has a pressurized water washing device for washing the back surface of the workpiece W, and washes the back surface of the workpiece W after tape peeling. The drying device 20 dries the workpiece W after the back surface has been washed. The storage device 22 receives the dried workpiece W one by one and loads and stores them in racks (not shown). The transport line 24 only needs to be able to continuously transport the workpiece W. The transport method of each device does not need to be the same. The medium that the processing device 14 sprays onto the workpiece is not limited to pressurized water M. Other examples of mediums include compressed air, cleaning fluid, paint, and cooling mediums (gas / liquid). Furthermore, the purpose of the processing device may include not only tape removal, but also drying, cleaning, painting, and cooling.

[0028] Furthermore, the supply device 12, inspection device 16, washing device 18, drying device 20, and storage device 22 in the processing system 10 can be the same as those described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-88094. A detailed explanation of these will be omitted. Below, we will describe the structure and usage of the processing device 14, which is a characteristic part of the processing system 10.

[0029] Figures 3 and 4 are side views of the supply device 12 and the processing device 14. Figure 3 shows the state in which pressurized water M is sprayed from the nozzle head 63 onto a workpiece W that has been transported and stopped at a predetermined position to perform a cleaning process. Figure 4 shows the state in which the cleaning process is completed and the workpiece W is being transported by the conveyor belt 43. Figure 5 is a plan view of the processing device 14. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along line AA. Figure 7 is a magnified view of the area around the drive pulley, which will be described later, and Figure 8 is a view from the direction of arrow X in Figure 7.

[0030] Workpieces W are supplied one by one from the supply device 12 to the processing device 14. The supply device 12 is equipped with a robot arm 12A for supplying workpieces W. The robot arm 12A is equipped with a plurality of suction parts 12B at its tip. The supply device 12 brings the robot arm 12A close to the workpieces W stacked on the main body 12C and makes contact with the suction parts 12B. Next, the robot arm 12A is moved to place the workpieces W onto the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 43 of the processing device 14.

[0031] The processing device 14 transports the workpiece W placed on the conveyor belt 43 in the Y-axis direction, and at intermediate positions (while continuously transporting or after temporarily stopping), sprays pressurized water M from the nozzle head 63 to clean the surface of the workpiece W. In this specification, the positive direction of the Y-axis is defined as the "transport direction," and the direction of travel (running direction) of the conveyor belt 43 is defined as the "drive direction" to distinguish it from this. The conveyor belt 43 is an endless belt and circulates. Therefore, the drive direction changes in the positive and negative Y direction and the positive and negative Z direction based on a reference position. On the other hand, the transport direction is always the positive direction of the Y-axis.

[0032] The processing apparatus 14 is composed of three main parts. First, there is the housing section 14A, which is formed from columns, beams, and a table. The housing section 14A is the framework of the processing apparatus 14, and various parts are fixed to the housing section 14A directly or indirectly. Next is the transport section 14B, which is responsible for transporting the workpiece W by a belt conveyor including a conveyor belt 43. The transport section 14B is located almost in the center of the housing section 14A. Finally, there is the cleaning section 14C, which includes a chamber unit 14D and a cleaning unit 14E, and is responsible for cleaning the workpiece W. The chamber unit 14D is located on the transport section 14B, and the cleaning unit 14E is located at the top of the housing section 14A.

[0033] Next, we will explain the details of each part. First, we will explain the structure of the housing part 14A. Each part of the processing apparatus 14 is arranged on the base 32. Six short support columns (base support columns 33) extend from the base 32 in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction), and the pool 34 is supported on top of them. The pool 34 has a flat bottom and a rimmed structure. The pool 34 functions as a drain for pressurized water M sprayed from the nozzle head 63 and as a receptacle for temporarily collecting tape T peeled off from the workpiece W.

[0034] Within the pool 34, two first lower beams 35A and 35B are spaced apart from each other across the entire width in the X direction (horizontal direction). Similarly, two second lower beams 36A and 36B are spaced apart from each other across the entire width in the Y direction (vertical direction) (see Figure 3). The first lower beams 35A and 35B and the second lower beams 36A and 36B intersect each other to form a grid-like (well-frame-like) lower beam structure. The edges of the pool 34 and the ends of the lower beams are welded together. Furthermore, support members 39A, 39B, 40A, and 40B that support the conveying section extend from the second lower beams 36A and 36B in the Z-axis direction to a height of approximately half the height of the processing device 14.

[0035] Meanwhile, four long vertical support columns (37A, 37B, 37C, 37D) are provided around the edge of the pool 34. Columns 37A and 37B are located at the two front corners of Figure 3 and extend in the Z-axis direction. A first upper beam 38 spans their upper ends. Columns 37C and 37D extend in the Z-axis direction from the middle and corners of the rear edge, with a second upper beam 46A spanning their upper ends. Both the first upper beam 38 and the second upper beam 46A are structured to extend parallel to the Y-direction. The washing unit 14E is placed on top of these upper beams. The housing 14A, thus configured, is a frame with a roughly rectangular exterior, comprising a lower beam and an upper beam. The transport unit 14B is then placed and fixed on top of the lower beam.

[0036] Next, the conveying section 14B will be described. The conveying section 14B consists of a conveyor belt 43 stretched in a loop between two pulley groups, and a drive-side pulley group and a driven-side pulley group that wind up and hold both ends of the conveyor belt 43, respectively. The drive-side pulley group is connected to a drive source (motor 70, etc.) described later and consists of three drive-side pulleys arranged in the width direction of the conveyor belt 43: a second drive-side pulley 51, a first drive-side pulley 52, and a second drive-side pulley 51. On the other hand, the driven-side pulley group consists of three driven-side pulleys 53, 54, and 53 arranged in the width direction of the conveyor belt 43. These are supported by a frame structure that fixes and holds the pulley groups at both ends.

[0037] The frame structure consists of a first frame member 41A, a second frame member 41B, and a table 45. Both the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B are plate-shaped and identical in form. These frame members are supported vertically in the Z-axis direction by support members 39A, 39B, and 40A, 40B, respectively, and are arranged parallel to each other along the YZ plane. Furthermore, a table 45 is placed on top of the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B. The entire frame structure has a U-shape in the XZ plane, with its cross-section opening downwards.

[0038] At one end of the frame structure (the upstream side in the conveying direction), a group of drive-side pulleys connected to a motor 70 (drive source) via a reduction gear 71 is arranged. The group of drive-side pulleys consists of three pulleys arranged in the width direction of the conveyor belt 43, namely two second drive-side pulleys 51, 51 and one first drive-side pulley 52 positioned between them. Each of these drive-side pulleys is fixed to a rotating shaft 72 and rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating shaft 72. The rotating shaft 72 is connected to the motor 70 via a reduction gear 71. The rotating shaft 72 is inserted through two opposing bare cases 59. The bare cases 59 are fixed to mounting plates 58 fixed to the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B, respectively. With this configuration, the group of drive-side pulleys is rotatably supported between the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B.

[0039] The second drive-side pulleys 51, 51 on both sides in the width direction are flat type (flat pulleys), and the first drive-side pulley 52 located in the center in the width direction is crown type (crown pulley). The outer circumferential surface of the first drive-side pulley 52 is formed in a convex shape with the largest diameter at the center in the width direction. Furthermore, the processing apparatus 14 of this embodiment is equipped with a guide pulley 90 that works in cooperation with the first drive-side pulley 52 to suppress meandering of the conveyor belt 43 (see Figures 7 and 8). The guide pulley 90 is positioned below the first drive-side pulley (drive-side pulley 52) in the region where the conveyor belt 43 is wrapped around the drive-side pulley group. The guide pulley 90 is fixed to the processing apparatus 14 in the width direction (X-axis direction) by a bracket 92 fixed on a beam member 94, and is rotatable with the X-axis as its axis of rotation, similar to the drive-side pulleys. The guide pulley 90 is positioned opposite the first drive-side pulley (drive-side pulley 52) so as to sandwich the conveyor belt 43 between them, and rotates in a driven manner while in contact with the outer surface of the conveyor belt 43.

[0040] As shown in Figure 8, the guide pulley 90 is positioned to contact the center of the conveyor belt 43 in the width direction, corresponding to the maximum diameter portion (top) of the crown shape of the first drive-side pulley 52. ​​Furthermore, the width of the contact surface of the guide pulley 90 is smaller than the width of the first drive-side pulley 52. ​​With this configuration, the conveyor belt 43 is supported from the back side by the centering action of the crown shape of the first drive-side pulley 52, while its top is pressed down from the front side (outside) by the guide pulley 90. This effectively restricts the movement (meandering) of the conveyor belt 43 in the width direction, enabling stable straight-line conveyance.

[0041] On the other hand, driven pulleys 53, 54, 53 are fixed to the other end of the frame structure via a belt tension adjustment mechanism 60 provided at the ends of the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B. Similar to the drive side, the pulleys are arranged in a triple configuration, with a crown-shaped driven pulley 54 in the center and driven pulleys 53, 53 on either side. The purpose of this configuration is the same as that of the drive side. A guide pulley may be provided on the drive side, but an additional guide pulley may be provided on the driven side.

[0042] Figure 9 is a magnified side view of the belt tension adjustment mechanism 60. A fixed shaft 60B is inserted through the centers of the driven pulleys 53, 54, and 53. The fixed shaft 60B is inserted into a slit 60C provided in the center of the mounting plate 60A, which is fixed to the first frame member 41A. Ball bearings 74 (Figure 6) are fitted in the centers of the driven pulleys 53, 54, and 53 to support the fixed shaft 60B. The fixed shaft 60B is held in place by being sandwiched between the slits 60C of the mounting plate 60A and does not rotate, but the driven pulleys 53, 54, and 53 rotate smoothly relative to the fixed shaft 60B due to the action of the ball bearings 74.

[0043] A female thread 60H is formed in the center of the fixed shaft 60B, and an adjustment screw 60G with a head 60J that has a male thread along its entire length is screwed into this female thread. The adjustment screw 60G extends in the Y-axis direction. A stopper 60D is also positioned at the open end of the slit 60C of the mounting plate 60A. The stopper 60D has a through hole 60F (without threads) optimized for the diameter of the adjustment screw 60G, and the adjustment screw 60G is inserted through this through hole, with the head 60J positioned at its end. An adjustment nut 60E is screwed between the head 60J and the stopper 60D.

[0044] The belt tension adjustment mechanism 60 is provided on both sides of the driven pulleys 53, 54, 53 and is fixed to the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B. As a result, the driven pulleys 53, 54, 53 are supported between the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B and rotate around the fixed shaft 60B. With the belt tension adjustment mechanism 60, by rotating the adjustment nut 60E while keeping the head 60J of the adjustment screw 60G fixed, the center position 60K of the fixed shaft 60B can be slid in the Y-axis direction. The driven pulleys 53, 54, 53 follow this movement, so the tension of the conveyor belt 43 can be easily adjusted.

[0045] Next, the structure of the conveyor belt 43 will be described. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the conveyor belt 43. The body of the conveyor belt 43 (conveyor belt body) is formed by joining thin sheets of non-magnetic metal in the longitudinal direction to create a loop shape. The material is not particularly limited, but examples include aluminum, non-magnetic stainless steel, copper, copper alloy, titanium, magnesium alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, zinc, and zinc alloy.

[0046] The joint 43C is positioned diagonally with respect to the driving direction of the conveyor belt 43 (the Y-axis direction in Figure 10). When thin metal plates are welded together to form a loop, the finished product is prone to twisting. By positioning this joint 43C diagonally with respect to the driving direction, the effect of twisting due to welding can be minimized. On the other hand, the closer the diagonal direction is to the driving direction, the longer the joint 43C becomes. From the viewpoint of minimizing twisting and improving manufacturing efficiency, the angle between the joint 43C and the driving direction of the conveyor belt 43 is preferably greater than 0° and less than 90° (assuming 0° is parallel and 90° is orthogonal), more preferably greater than 20° and less than 70°, and even more preferably greater than 30° and less than 60°. With such a joint structure, twisting of the conveyor belt 43 is less likely to occur, contributing to smoother conveyance.

[0047] The conveying surface 43A of the conveyor belt 43 is a flat surface. On the other hand, on the back surface, two loop-shaped magnetic belts 43B, which are narrower than the conveyor belt 43, are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined distance apart. The magnetic belts 43B circulate in the same way as the conveyor belt 43. The magnetic belts 43B generate a magnetic attraction force, which attracts and fixes the workpiece W to the conveying surface 43A. With this structure, the workpiece W does not slide during transport, and damage is suppressed. The conveyor belt 43 is made magnetic by the magnetic belts 43B. The arrangement of the magnets is not limited to the above and can be appropriately selected according to the shape of the workpiece, etc. For example, the magnets may be arranged on the entire back surface or the entire conveying surface of the conveyor belt 43. In this case, the attraction force on the workpiece W by the magnets is exerted uniformly over the entire surface, so there is no unevenness in the attraction force and the workpiece W can be held stably. On the other hand, the number of magnets increases, so the magnetic belts 43B are more advantageous in terms of cost.

[0048] Alternatively, magnets can be arranged at regular intervals on the underside of the conveyor belt 43. In this case, the magnetic force is exerted only partially, allowing for weight reduction and cost savings. Furthermore, since the magnetic force is used only where needed, it can be implemented with the minimum necessary materials. This is particularly effective when the workpiece W is small and only specific points of attraction need to be held.

[0049] Furthermore, a configuration in which the magnetic belt 43B is arranged perpendicular or oblique to the driving direction can also be adopted. In this case, the attractive force can be exerted uniformly in a certain direction, and a wider range can be covered than in the embodiment. This is preferable because it can be more flexibly adapted to different sizes and shapes of the workpiece W.

[0050] Alternatively, a configuration in which magnets are arranged in a checkerboard pattern on the underside of the conveyor belt 43 can also be adopted. In this case, the magnetic force can be distributed over a wide area while reducing the amount of material used. Since the attractive force tends to be uniform, this is advantageous when multiple workpieces are transported simultaneously or when holding workpieces with irregular shapes.

[0051] Since the conveyor belt 43 is configured as a magnetic conveyor belt equipped with a magnetic belt 43B, it suppresses the formation of scratches on the workpiece W. On the other hand, since the magnetic belt 43B exerts a magnetic attraction force on the workpiece W from the back surface of the conveyor belt 43, depending on the operating environment, dirt may adhere to the conveying surface 43A, reducing the attraction force. Furthermore, dirt adhering to the conveying surface 43A may cause scratches on the surface of the workpiece W.

[0052] The processing apparatus 14 of this disclosure solves the above problems by employing a brush unit. The brush unit and its surrounding structure will now be described. In this specification, the brush unit refers to a unit including a cleaning brush 85 and its support structure (e.g., a height adjuster).

[0053] Returning to Figures 7 and 8, a cleaning brush 85 for cleaning the conveying surface 43A of the conveyor belt 43 is positioned in the space between the conveyor belt 43 and the pool 34 (the return travel path of the conveyor belt 43).

[0054] The cleaning brush 85 is positioned upstream of the guide pulley 90, along the driving direction of the conveyor belt 43 (the return-side travel direction, the negative direction of the Y-axis). That is, the conveying surface 43A of the conveyor belt 43 is first cleaned by the cleaning brush 85 to remove foreign matter and moisture, and then comes into contact with the guide pulley 90. This prevents foreign matter from getting caught between the guide pulley 90 and the conveyor belt 43, and allows the meandering suppression function to be stably performed. Furthermore, these cleaning brush 85 and guide pulley 90 are positioned near the area where the conveyor belt 43 is wrapped around the drive-side pulley group, i.e., at the end of the device, and in a side view, they do not overlap vertically with the area (Pos) where the medium is sprayed by the nozzle head 63. This prevents dirty water during cleaning from directly coming into contact with these mechanisms.

[0055] As shown in Figure 10, two cleaning brushes 85 are provided, positioned on both sides of the conveyor belt 43 in the width direction. Meanwhile, the guide pulley 90 is positioned in the space between these two cleaning brushes 85, i.e., in the center in the width direction. This arrangement allows the cleaning brushes 85 to efficiently remove dirt adhering to the areas on both sides of the conveyor belt 43 in the width direction (areas that easily correspond to the back side of the magnetic belt 43B), while the cleaned central area is supported by the guide pulley 90. The cleaning brushes 85 are supported via height adjusters 85A and brush fixing plates 85B, and the contact pressure with the conveyor belt 43 can be adjusted.

[0056] Returning to Figures 3-6, an auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F is provided at the center of the frame structure of the transport section 14B to reinforce the fixing of the workpiece W to the transport surface 43A. The auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F consists of two magnets 55, cylinders 56 that move the magnets 55 up and down in the Z-axis direction, and cylinder mounting plates 57 that fix the cylinders 56 to the first frame member 41A and the second frame member 41B.

[0057] The auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F corresponds to the area (spraying area Pos) partitioned by the chamber 44, which will be described later, and is positioned on the back side of the conveyor belt 43. When the cylinder 56 is fully extended, the magnet is closest to the back side of the conveyor belt 43 and is configured to exert magnetic attraction force toward the conveying surface 43A. On the other hand, when the cylinder 56 is retracted, the magnet 55 moves away from the conveyor belt 43, and the magnetic attraction force has almost no effect toward the conveying surface 43A.

[0058] The auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F attracts the workpiece W, which has been transported to the spraying area, from its underside, assisting in its fixation to the transport surface 43A. In the spraying area Pos, pressurized water M is sprayed onto the workpiece W from the nozzle head 63. At this time, a stronger pressure is applied to the workpiece W compared to during transport. At this time, the auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F reinforces the fixation, preventing the workpiece W from shifting on the transport surface 43A. In the spraying area Pos, the transport of the workpiece W is temporarily stopped and cleaning is performed. With the workpiece W fixed from the underside of the conveyor belt 43 by the magnet 55, the circulation of the conveyor belt 43 is also stopped, thus preventing friction between the workpiece W and the conveyor belt 43 and preventing damage to the workpiece W. After cleaning is completed, the cylinder 56 retracts. As a result, the fixation by the auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F is released, and the workpiece W is attracted only to the conveyor belt 43, and is transported in the Y-axis direction by the conveyor belt 43, which has resumed operation.

[0059] Next, the structure of the cleaning section 14C will be described. The cleaning section 14C consists of a cleaning unit 14E positioned on the upper beam and a chamber unit 14D positioned on the table 45 of the conveying section 14B. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the chamber unit 14D. The chamber unit 14D includes a chamber 44 and a chamber tilting mechanism 50 that can tilt and open / close the chamber 44.

[0060] The cleaning unit 14E includes a spray gun 61 (spraying means) with a nozzle head 63, an X-stage 48 for moving the spray gun 61 in the X direction, and a Y-stage 47 for moving it in the Y direction. The X-stage 48 is positioned on a second upper beam 46A. An X-guide 49 is further positioned on a first upper beam 38. A Y-stage base 46B is placed between these two parallel upper beams. The Y-stage base 46B can be freely moved in the X direction by the X-stage 48. A Y-stage 47 is positioned on the Y-stage base 46B. The spray gun 61 is fixed to the Y-stage 47. With this configuration, the spray gun 61 can be moved independently in the X and Y directions. Pressurized water M can be sprayed over the entire workpiece W in the spraying area Pos while moving the spray gun 61.

[0061] On the other hand, the chamber 44 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and is positioned to surround the workpiece W on all four sides in the spraying area Pos where pressurized water M is sprayed onto the workpiece W. In other words, the chamber 44 is configured to be large enough to completely enclose one of the workpieces W inside. The chamber 44 does not move in the direction of the drive of the conveyor belt 43, and is fixed in a predetermined position relative to the drive direction. That is, the area surrounded by the chamber 44 is the spraying area Pos, and the workpiece W that has moved to this position becomes the workpiece W to be processed.

[0062] Multiple sub-nozzles 83 are arranged on the inner wall 44A of the chamber. All of the sub-nozzles 83 are facing the workpiece W that has moved to the spraying area Pos. Various media can be sprayed from the sub-nozzles 83. In addition, pressurized water M is sprayed onto the workpiece W from the nozzle head 63 of the cleaning unit described later, and the tape T attached to the workpiece W is removed. The media sprayed from the sub-nozzles 83 may be the same as or different from the media (pressurized water M) sprayed from the nozzle head 63.

[0063] Table 45 is configured in a cross shape in plan view. In other words, its width in the X direction is widened in a certain area. This widened area of ​​table 45 in the X direction corresponds to the pressurized water M spraying area Pos. Chamber 44 is configured to be wider than the conveyor belt 43 in the spraying area Pos. The portion of table 45 enclosed by the chamber 44 that extends beyond the conveyor belt 43 is provided with a waste port 45B for discharging wastewater and peeled tape T generated in the chamber 44 into pool 34. The waste port 45B is formed as a through-hole in table 45 located within the area enclosed by the chamber 44 and outside the area of ​​the conveyor belt 43. Wastewater and the like that that falls into pool 34 from the waste port 45B can be recovered from a drain port 34B provided at the bottom 34A of pool 34.

[0064] The outer wall 44B of the chamber 44 is provided with two shutters 81 that open and close vertically by a drive cylinder 80. The shutters 81 are positioned opposite each other on the outer wall 44B perpendicular to the driving direction of the conveyor belt 43. The shutters 81 are formed to open and close openings (gaps) of roughly the same size provided in the outer wall 44B. When the workpiece W is transported to the spraying area Pos, the shutters 81 are opened. When pressurized water M is sprayed in the spraying area Pos, the shutters 81 are closed. Then, when the cleaning is completed, the shutters 81 are opened again and the workpiece W is discharged.

[0065] Next, the chamber tilting mechanism 50 will be described. The chamber tilting mechanism 50 comprises a tilting shaft 50C fixed to the chamber 44 and a cylinder 50G for rotating the tilting shaft 50C. The tilting shaft 50C is inserted through and fixed to a shaft holder 50A provided on a bracket 44C extending to the rear of the chamber 44. The shaft holder 50A is mounted from two brackets 44C in a direction facing each other, with two bare cases 50B positioned in between.

[0066] The tilting shaft 50C is inserted through the shaft holder 50A and the bare case 50B, and is rotatable relative to the bare case 50B. The bare case 50B is fixed to the table 45, and in this configuration, when the tilting shaft 50C rotates, the chamber 44 tilts and opens relative to the table 45, with the bracket 44C as the pivot point.

[0067] Furthermore, a T-shaped bracket 50J for fixing the cylinder 50G is positioned on a support member 40B provided on the second frame member 41B. The cylinder 50G is fixed to the T-shaped bracket 50J using a pin 50H so that it can rotate in the Z-axis direction. The other end of the cylinder 50G is connected to the inclined shaft 50C via a fork 50E and a handle 50D.

[0068] The handle 50D is fixed to the tilt axis 50C and secured by a pin 50F so that it can rotate in the Z-axis direction while being held between the forks 50E. In this configuration, the reciprocating motion of the cylinder 50G is converted into rotational motion of the tilt axis 50C, causing the chamber 44 to tilt and open relative to the table 45.

[0069] In addition to the chamber tilting mechanism 50 and the belt tension adjustment mechanism 60, the processing device 14 employs a conveyor belt 43 with a built-in magnetic force, which makes it even easier to remove the conveyor belt 43.

[0070] The conveyor belt 43 has a magnetic belt 43B built into its underside that generates magnetic force, and this magnetic force securely attracts the workpiece W to the conveying surface 43A. As a result, the workpiece W does not shift during conveyance, and there is no need to provide guides on the edge of the conveyor belt 43. This configuration allows the conveyor belt 43 to be easily removed from the side.

[0071] Furthermore, by using the chamber tilting mechanism 50, the chamber 44 can be tilted relative to the table 45, thereby avoiding interference with the chamber 44 on the conveyor belt 43. In addition, the tension of the conveyor belt 43 can be relaxed by operating the adjustment screw 60G using the belt tension adjustment mechanism 60.

[0072] With the above configuration, the use of a conveyor belt 43 with built-in magnetism, and the combination of the chamber tilting mechanism 50 and the belt tension adjustment mechanism 60, allows the conveyor belt 43 to be easily removed from the side (X direction, i.e., the side where the chamber 44 is lifted), thereby improving the efficiency of maintenance work and reducing working time.

[0073] Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the spray gun 61. Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the nozzle head 63. The spray gun 61 mainly comprises the following components: a nozzle head 63 for spraying pressurized water, and an oscillating rotation mechanism 61P for oscillating rotation of the nozzle head 63. Here, "oscillating rotation" refers to a complex rotational motion that combines the motion of the nozzle head 63 rotating around its axis (rotation) and the motion of the nozzle head 63's axis moving in a circular orbit (revolution).

[0074] As shown in Figure 12, the nozzle head 63 is held by a holder 61A. The holder 61A is box-shaped, and a rocking rotation mechanism 61P and a motor 61B that drives the rocking rotation mechanism 61P are arranged inside it. In addition, an upper opening and a lower opening are provided on one of the upper and lower surfaces of the holder 61A, respectively.

[0075] The oscillating rotation mechanism 61P is centered around a bearing member 61F located at the top opening inside the holder 61A. A hollow spindle 61G is supported on the bearing member 61F so as to be able to rotate vertically. A pressurized water pipe 61L is connected to the upper end of the spindle 61G via a rotary joint, and a pressurized water hose 62 is further connected to it. With this configuration, even when the spindle 61G rotates, the pressurized water pipe 61L and pressurized water hose 62 remain fixed.

[0076] The pressurized water hose 62 is connected to a pressurized water supply means such as an ultra-high pressure plunger pump, and supplies high-pressure pressurized water to the nozzle head 63. The appropriate water pressure for the pressurized water is preferably 30 to 100 MPa, and particularly optimal at 30 to 50 MPa. The water flow rate is preferably 15 to 25 liters / minute, and the distance between the nozzle head 63's discharge surface and the workpiece W is preferably 20 to 30 mm.

[0077] A disc-shaped eccentric plate 61J, having the same rotation axis 61M, is fixed to the lower end of the spindle 61G. The upper surface of this eccentric plate 61J is hollow and communicates with the spindle 61G to form a flow path for pressurized water. The sides of the eccentric plate 61J serve as balance weights to maintain rotational balance.

[0078] On the underside of the eccentric plate 61J, a nozzle pipe 61K is connected at a position on the eccentric axis 61N, which is offset from the rotation axis 61M of the spindle 61G. This nozzle pipe 61K is connected to the nozzle head 63 and plays a role in causing the nozzle head 63 to oscillate and rotate in an eccentric state.

[0079] A pulley 61D is attached to the lower end of the spindle 61G. A motor 61B is provided inside the holder 61A, and a timing belt 61E is stretched between a pulley 61C attached to the motor 61B and a pulley 61D on the spindle 61G. With this configuration, driving the motor 61B rotates the spindle 61G, causing the nozzle head 63 to oscillate and rotate via the eccentric plate 61J.

[0080] The nozzle head 63 is cylindrical, and multiple ejection nozzles 63A are formed on the ejection surface. In this embodiment, nine ejection nozzles 63A are arranged in a grid pattern.

[0081] In this configuration, the nozzle head 63 performs a complex oscillating rotation that combines rotational motion (on its axis) and circumferential motion (on its axis). This causes the trajectories of the pressurized water to overlap, increasing the collision density. Furthermore, by providing multiple ejection nozzles 63A, the collision density can be further increased, thereby improving the force that peels the tape T from the workpiece W.

[0082] Next, the method of using the processing device 14 will be described. Figure 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure for transporting and cleaning workpieces W using the processing device 14. The processing device 14 operates under the control of a controller (not shown). First, in step S10, the workpieces W are placed on the transport surface 43A of the conveyor belt 43. The workpieces W are placed one by one on the transport surface 43A by the supply device 12. At this time, the transport section 14B (belt conveyor) may be running or stopped. From the viewpoint of further suppressing damage to the workpieces W, it is preferable that the belt conveyor is stopped.

[0083] Next, in step S11, the workpiece W is transported to the spraying area Pos by the transport unit 14B (belt conveyor). The workpiece W is fixed in a predetermined position on the transport surface 43A by the magnetic force of the magnetic belt 43B. Therefore, it remains relatively stationary with respect to the conveyor belt 43 even during transport, suppressing the generation of scratches.

[0084] Next, in step S12, the operation of the belt conveyor is temporarily stopped. At this time, a sequence may be taken in which a new workpiece W is placed on the conveying surface 43A.

[0085] Next, in step S13, the gap between the chamber 44 and the conveyor belt 43 is closed by the shutter 81. Subsequently, in step S14, the fixing of the workpiece W is reinforced by the auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F. Specifically, the cylinder 56 extends and the magnet 55 approaches the back surface of the workpiece W, reinforcing the attraction force of the magnet belt 43B. Steps S12, S13, and S14 are performed when the workpiece W arrives in the spraying area. In this example, steps S12, S13, and S14 are performed in that order, but they do not have to be performed in this order; they may be performed in a different order or simultaneously. These can be performed as a cleaning preparation process, in an interrelated sequence.

[0086] Next, in step S15, pressurized water M (medium) is sprayed onto the workpiece W from the nozzle head 63 in the spraying area Pos. At this time, the X stage and Y stage may be operated to move the position of the nozzle head 63 while spraying.

[0087] Next, in step S16, the workpiece W is released from being fixed by the auxiliary fixing mechanism 14F. Specifically, the cylinder 56 retracts, the magnet 55 moves away from the conveyor belt 43, and the magnetic attraction is released. On the other hand, the magnetic belt 43B exerts an attractive force on the workpiece W, so the workpiece W remains stationary relative to the conveyor belt 43.

[0088] Next, in step S17, the shutter 81 opens, and the gap between the chamber 44 and the conveyor belt 43 is opened. Then, in step S18, the belt conveyor resumes operation, and the workpiece W is discharged from the spraying area.

[0089] Steps S16, S17, and S18 are performed when the workpiece W arrives in the spraying area. In this example, steps S16, S17, and S18 are performed in that order, but they do not have to be performed in this order; they may be performed in a different order or simultaneously. These may be performed as a related sequence of post-cleaning treatments.

[0090] This flow chart represents the processing flow for one workpiece W. In practice, this flow chart is executed for each workpiece W as it is transported sequentially. After the cleaning is complete, the workpiece W is transported to the drying device 20 and subjected to the next processing step. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 10 Processing system, 14 Processing device, 14A Housing, 14B Conveying unit, 14C Washing unit, 14D Chamber unit, 14E Washing unit, 14F Auxiliary fixing mechanism, 43 Conveyor belt, 43A Conveying surface, 43B Magnetic belt, 43C Joint, 44 Chamber, 60 Belt tension adjustment mechanism, 61 Spray gun, 63 Nozzle head, 85 Cleaning brush (brush unit)

Claims

1. A processing apparatus for spraying a medium onto a flat plate-shaped workpiece that is attracted to a magnet, while transporting the workpiece or while transporting the workpiece is temporarily suspended, A magnetic conveyor belt with built-in magnetism that circulates the workpiece while holding it in place on the conveying surface by magnetic force, At least two pulley groups are configured to wind up the end of the magnetic conveyor belt and hold the magnetic conveyor belt stretched in a loop, A drive source that rotates at least one of the pulley group, A spraying means for spraying the medium toward the workpiece being transported on the transport surface, Equipped with, Of the at least two pulley groups, the drive-side pulley group rotated by the drive source includes at least three drive-side pulleys arranged in the width direction of the magnetic conveyor belt, and of the drive-side pulleys, the first drive-side pulley located in the center in the width direction has a crown-shaped outer surface. In the region where the magnetic conveyor belt is wrapped around the drive-side pulley group or in the vicinity continuous with the region, a guide pulley is further provided, which is positioned opposite the first drive-side pulley and the magnetic conveyor belt, and rotates in contact with the magnetic conveyor belt. The processing apparatus is configured such that the guide pulley cooperates with the first drive-side pulley to suppress meandering in the width direction of the magnetic conveyor belt.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive-side pulley group is arranged upstream of the area where the medium is sprayed by the spraying means, along the direction of transport of the workpiece.

3. The system further includes a tension adjustment mechanism that supports a group of driven pulleys, which are on a different side from the group of driven pulleys, so as to be movable along the conveying direction, and adjusts the tension of the magnetic conveyor belt by moving the group of driven pulleys. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tension of the magnetic conveyor belt is relaxed by the tension adjustment mechanism, and the magnetic conveyor belt is configured to be removable from the apparatus.

4. The system further includes a cleaning brush that contacts the magnetic conveyor belt to clean it. The cleaning brush and the guide pulley are arranged in the region where the magnetic conveyor belt is wrapped around the drive-side pulley group, or in a vicinity continuous with the region. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning brush is positioned upstream of the guide pulley in the region or its vicinity along the driving direction of the magnetic conveyor belt, and is positioned to contact the magnetic conveyor belt.

5. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide pulley contacts the magnetic conveyor belt at a position corresponding to the maximum diameter portion on the crown-shaped outer surface of the first drive-side pulley.

6. The cleaning brushes are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the magnetic conveyor belt. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide pulley is positioned in the widthwise center between the cleaning brushes.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide pulley and the cleaning brush are positioned in a position that does not overlap in the vertical direction with the area where the medium is sprayed by the spraying means when viewed from the side.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the width of the contact surface of the guide pulley is smaller than the width of the first drive-side pulley.

Images