Sheet conveyance device, stacking machine, and printing machine

Abstract

A sheet conveyance device (21) for conveying a sheet (11), the sheet conveyance device (21) comprising: a first rotating portion (22) that feeds out the sheet (11); a second rotating portion (23) that winds up the sheet (11); and a sheet floating portion (31) that is disposed between the first rotating portion (22) and the second rotating portion (23) in the conveyance path of the sheet (11) and that causes the sheet (11) to float, wherein the sheet floating portion (31) has a first ejection portion (33) that is a portion of the sheet floating portion (31) which faces the sheet (11) and that ejects a gas toward the sheet (11), and the width of the first ejection portion (33) is greater than the width of the sheet (11).

Description

Sheet conveying device, laminating machine, and printing machine

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sheet transport device, a laminator, and a printing machine.

[0002] The roller device described in Patent Document 1, for example, when transporting a tape for a semiconductor device, ejects air from the inside to the outside of the rotating roller, thereby floating the tape for a semiconductor device.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-201380

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the sheet is lifted from the roller by the ejection of air, so when a sheet such as a tape for semiconductor device is conveyed, the sheet may shift sideways or meander.

[0005] (1) A sheet conveying device that solves the above problem is a sheet conveying device that conveys a sheet, and includes a first rotating unit that pays out the sheet, a second rotating unit that winds up the sheet, and a sheet floating unit that is arranged between the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit in the sheet conveying path and floats the sheet, wherein the sheet floating unit is a part that faces the sheet and has a first ejection unit that ejects gas toward the sheet, and the width of the first ejection unit is larger than the width of the sheet.

[0006] With this configuration, since the width of the first ejection portion is larger than the width of the sheet, a wall of air is generated in the width direction of the sheet by the ejection of gas from the first ejection portion, and therefore the sheet conveying device can prevent the sheet from shifting sideways or meandering during conveyance of the sheet.

[0007] (2) In the sheet conveying device of (1) above, the sheet has a first sheet surface, a second sheet surface opposite the first sheet surface, a first layer including the first sheet surface and including a conductive layer, and a second layer including the second sheet surface and releasably provided on the first layer, and the sheet floating portion is provided on the conveying path so that the first ejection portion faces the first sheet surface.

[0008] With this configuration, the sheet floating portion can float the first sheet surface, which makes it difficult for the conductive layer to be damaged by external contact with the first layer.

[0009] (3) In the sheet conveying device of (1) or (2) above, the sheet floating section includes a gas storage section that forms a storage space for temporarily storing gas supplied from a gas supply section, and the first ejection section is configured as a part of a storage wall that forms the gas storage section, and the first ejection section has a plurality of through holes that penetrate the storage wall, and the through holes have a first hole that extends from the inner surface of the storage wall and a second hole that extends while widening from the first hole to the outer surface of the storage wall.

[0010] According to this configuration, the sheet floating portion can preferably float the sheet by the first hole and the second hole.

[0011] (4) In the sheet conveying device of (3) above, the sheet floating section has an internal pressure adjusting section that reduces the difference between the internal pressure near the gas supply port in the gas accommodating section and the internal pressure far from the gas supply port.

[0012] According to this configuration, the sheet floating section can reduce the variation in the amount of air ejected from each through-hole of the first ejection section by using the internal pressure adjusting section.

[0013] (5) In the sheet conveying device of (4) above, the internal pressure adjustment unit includes an adjustment plate, and the adjustment plate is configured to separate the storage space in the gas storage unit into a first space and a second space, the first space includes the first ejection unit, and the second space does not include the first ejection unit and includes the gas supply port, and the adjustment plate has a plurality of communication holes that connect the first space and the second space.

[0014] According to this configuration, the sheet floating section can reduce the variation in the amount of air ejected from each through-hole of the first ejection section by using the adjustment plate.

[0015] (6) In the sheet conveying device of (3) above, the first ejection portion of the sheet floating portion has a central region and a peripheral region located around the central region, and the number of the plurality of through holes provided in the central region is greater than the number of the plurality of through holes provided in the peripheral region.

[0016] According to this configuration, the sheet floating section can preferably float the sheet.

[0017] (7) In any of the sheet conveying devices (1) to (6) above, the sheet conveying device further includes a sheet detachment unit that is arranged between the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit in the conveying path of the sheet and that detaches the sheet, the sheet detachment unit being a part that faces the sheet and having an adsorption unit that adsorbs the sheet, and the width of the adsorption unit being smaller than the width of the sheet.

[0018] According to this configuration, the width of the suction portion is smaller than the width of the sheet, so that the sheet attaching / detaching portion can adsorb the sheet appropriately.

[0019] (8) In the sheet transport device of (7) above, the sheet detaching section is a section facing the sheet and includes a second ejection section that ejects gas toward the sheet.

[0020] According to this configuration, the sheet attaching / detaching section can preferably float the sheet by the second ejection section.

[0021] (9) A laminator that solves the above problem includes the sheet conveying device according to any one of (1) to (8) above, and a press device.

[0022] According to this configuration, the stacker can prevent the sheet from shifting sideways or meandering when the sheet is conveyed by the sheet conveying device, thereby allowing the stacker to stack the workpieces in an appropriate manner.

[0023] (10) A printing machine that solves the above problem includes the sheet conveying device according to any one of (1) to (8) above, and a printing device.

[0024] According to this configuration, the printing press can prevent the sheet from shifting sideways or meandering when the sheet is conveyed by the sheet conveying device, thereby allowing the printing press to print on the sheet in an appropriate manner.

[0025] The sheet conveying device, laminating machine, and printing machine of the present disclosure can prevent the sheet from shifting sideways or meandering when conveying the sheet.

[0026] 1 is a schematic diagram of a laminator including a sheet conveying device and a press device of a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the sheet conveying device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the sheet floating unit and a gas supply unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the sheet floating unit showing a cross section along line D4-D4 of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a development view showing a first ejection unit of the sheet floating unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a plurality of first through holes of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a plurality of second through holes of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the sheet detachable unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the sheet detachable unit showing a cross section along line D9-D9 of FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the sheet detachable unit of a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the sheet detachable unit showing a cross section along line D11-D11 of FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the sheet, detachable unit, and second ejection unit of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a sheet conveying device of a third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a printing machine including a sheet conveying device and a printing device of a fourth embodiment.

[0027] The sheet conveying device 21, the laminating machine 1, and the printing machine 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0028] 1, a stacker 1 stacks workpieces. The stacker 1 is a multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) stacker, a low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) stacker, a lithium ion stacker, a stacker for manufacturing a multilayer inductor, or a stacker for manufacturing a multilayer resistor.

[0029] The laminating machine 1 includes a sheet conveying device 21 and a press device 2. The press device 2 is a device for pressing the workpieces. The press device 2 presses the workpieces to bond them together. The press device 2 repeatedly presses the workpieces together each time a workpiece is conveyed into the press device 2, thereby forming a stack of the workpieces.

[0030] <Sheet> As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the sheet 11 includes a workpiece. The sheet 11 is, for example, a ceramic green sheet. The sheet 11 may be a metal film or a resin film. In the following description, the sheet 11 will be described as a ceramic green sheet.

[0031] The sheet 11 has a first sheet surface 12, a second sheet surface 13 opposite the first sheet surface 12, a first layer 14, and a second layer 15. The first layer 14 includes the first sheet surface 12 and a conductive layer 14A. The second layer 15 includes the second sheet surface 13 and is releasably provided on the first layer 14. The second layer 15 is, for example, a carrier film.

[0032] The sheet 11 is placed in the sheet conveying device 21 in a rolled state with either the first sheet surface 12 or the second sheet surface 13 facing outward. The sheet 11 is placed in the sheet conveying device 21 in a rolled state with the first sheet surface 12 facing outward, for example.

[0033] <Sheet Conveying Device> The sheet conveying device 21 is a device for conveying the sheet 11. The sheet conveying device 21 is used, for example, in the manufacture of various electronic components.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the sheet conveying device 21 includes a first rotating unit 22 that pays out the sheet 11, a second rotating unit 23 that winds up the sheet 11, and a sheet floating unit 31 that is arranged between the first rotating unit 22 and the second rotating unit 23 in the conveying path 21A of the sheet 11 and floats the sheet 11.

[0035] At least one sheet lifting part 31 is provided in the sheet conveying device 21. For example, two sheet lifting parts 31 are provided in the sheet conveying device 21. The first sheet surface 12 of the sheet 11 faces the sheet lifting part 31. Only one sheet lifting part 31 may be provided. When only one sheet lifting part 31 is provided, for example, a member different from the sheet lifting part 31 having a configuration for lifting the sheet 11 is arranged in the portion where the other sheet lifting part 31 is provided.

[0036] The sheet conveying device 21 includes a gas supply unit 27. The gas supply unit 27 supplies gas to the sheet lifting unit 31. An example of the gas is air. When multiple sheet lifting units 31 are provided in the sheet conveying device 21, a gas supply unit 27 may be provided for each sheet lifting unit 31, or one gas supply unit 27 may be configured to supply gas to each sheet lifting unit 31. When one gas supply unit 27 supplies gas to each sheet lifting unit 31, the gas supply unit 27 has multiple ports.

[0037] The first rotating unit 22 is rotated by a first actuator. The first actuator includes, for example, an electric motor. The electric motor of the first actuator is controlled, for example, by an inverter. The sheet 11 is provided on the first rotating unit 22 in a rolled state with the first sheet surface 12 facing outward. The first rotating unit 22 unwinds the sheet 11 by the rotational force of the first actuator.

[0038] The second rotating unit 23 is rotated by a second actuator different from the first actuator. The second actuator includes, for example, an electric motor. The electric motor of the second actuator is controlled by, for example, an inverter. The second rotating unit 23 uses the rotational force of the second actuator to wind up the remaining sheet portion 16 of the sheet 11 peeled off by the sheet attaching / detaching unit 41.

[0039] The sheet conveying device 21 further includes a sheet detaching / attaching unit 41. The sheet detaching / attaching unit 41 is disposed on the conveying path 21A between the first rotating unit 22 and the second rotating unit 23, and detaches the sheet 11. The sheet detaching / attaching unit 41 is, for example, a peeling table. The second sheet surface 13 of the sheet 11 faces the sheet detaching / attaching unit 41.

[0040] The sheet detaching unit 41 adsorbs or floats the sheet 11. The stacker 1 includes, for example, an adsorption and holding head 1A having a cutter. The sheet detaching unit 41 works in cooperation with the adsorption and holding head 1A to peel off the portion of the sheet 11 other than the workpiece. In this embodiment, the portion of the sheet 11 other than the workpiece is referred to as a remaining sheet portion 16.

[0041] The suction holding head 1A uses a cutter to cut a portion of the first layer 14 of the sheet 11 as a workpiece, and then holds the workpiece by suction. Next, the sheet removing unit 41 moves horizontally relative to the suction holding head 1A while holding the second sheet surface 13 of the sheet 11 by suction. As a result, the remaining sheet portion 16 is peeled off from the sheet 11 while the workpiece is held by the suction holding head 1A. The suction holding head 1A then transports the workpiece to the press device 2 and places the workpiece on the stack in the press device 2. The sheet removing unit 41 returns to a position below the suction holding head 1A from the position where it moved relative to the suction holding head 1A, while floating the sheet 11.

[0042] The sheet conveying device 21 includes a sheet desorption section gas supply unit 28. The sheet desorption section gas supply unit 28 supplies gas to the sheet desorption section 41. An example of the gas is air. The sheet conveying device 21 includes a gas suction unit 29. The gas suction unit 29 sucks gas from the sheet desorption section 41. The sheet desorption section gas supply unit 28 and the gas suction unit 29 may be provided in a single device, or may be provided in separate devices.

[0043] The sheet conveying device 21 is further provided with a plurality of guide rolls 24 that are disposed on the conveying path 21A between the first rotating unit 22 and the second rotating unit 23 and that guide the sheet 11. The guide rolls 24 are provided, for example, at predetermined positions on the conveying path 21A. The sheet conveying device 21 includes, for example, seven guide rolls 24. The second sheet surface 13 of the sheet 11 faces each of the plurality of guide rolls 24.

[0044] The sheet conveying device 21 further includes a plurality of dancer rolls 25. The dancer rolls 25 move in accordance with the feeding and movement of the sheet 11. The dancer rolls 25 are disposed on the conveying path 21A between the first rotating unit 22 and the second rotating unit 23, and suppress slack in the sheet 11 caused by the difference in rotational speed between the first rotating unit 22 and the second rotating unit 23. The plurality of dancer rolls 25 are configured, for example, such that their support shafts can move up and down or left and right. The sheet conveying device 21 includes, for example, two dancer rolls 25. The second sheet surface 13 of the sheet 11 faces the plurality of dancer rolls 25.

[0045] The sheet conveying device 21 further includes at least one tension roll 26. The at least one tension roll 26 is disposed on the conveying path 21A between the first rotating unit 22 and the second rotating unit 23, and adjusts the tension applied to the sheet 11. The sheet conveying device 21 includes, for example, two tension rolls 26. For example, the second sheet surface 13 of the sheet 11 faces the at least one tension roll 26. The at least one tension roll 26 is provided at a predetermined position on the conveying path 21A, for example. The at least one tension roll 26 may be configured to adjust the tension applied to the sheet 11 by moving a support shaft left and right.

[0046] The conveying path 21A will be described. The sheet 11 fed from the first rotating unit 22 is conveyed to the sheet lifting unit 31 while being guided by the two guide rolls 24. A first dancer roll 25 is disposed between the two sheet lifting units 31. The sheet 11 is conveyed from the first sheet lifting unit 31 to the first dancer roll 25, and then to the second sheet lifting unit 31. The sheet 11 is conveyed from the second sheet lifting unit 31 to the first tension roll 26. After being conveyed to the first tension roll 26, the sheet 11 is conveyed to the sheet removal unit 41 while being guided by the guide rolls 24.

[0047] When the sheet 11 is transported to the sheet removal unit 41, it is held by the suction holding head 1A. A portion of the sheet 11 is then cut off as a workpiece by the suction holding head 1A. The workpiece is transported to the press device 2 by the suction holding head 1A and then stacked on top of the stack inside the press device 2. The sheet remnant 16 peeled off from the sheet 11 is transported to the second tension roll 26 while being guided by the guide roll 24. After being transported to the second tension roll 26, the sheet remnant 16 is transported to the second dancer roll 25. The sheet remnant 16 of the sheet 11 is transported from the second dancer roll 25 to the two guide rolls 24. The sheet remnant 16 is then taken up by the second rotating unit 23.

[0048] <Sheet Lifting Unit> The sheet lifting unit 31 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 7. When the sheet conveying device 21 includes a plurality of sheet lifting units 31, the plurality of sheet lifting units 31 each have the same configuration.

[0049] The sheet lifting part 31 has a sheet lifting part main body 32. At least a portion of the sheet lifting part main body 32 faces the sheet 11. At least a portion of the sheet lifting part main body 32 is formed in a U-shape. The portion of the sheet lifting part main body 32 where the first ejection part 33 is provided has a curved part 32A that curves along the conveying path 21A and a flat part 32B.

[0050] The sheet lifting unit 31 has a first ejection unit 33. The first ejection unit 33 is a portion facing the sheet 11 and is configured to eject gas toward the sheet 11. The first ejection unit 33 is provided on the sheet lifting unit main body 32. The sheet lifting unit 31 is disposed on the conveying path 21A so that the first ejection unit 33 faces the first sheet surface 12 of the sheet 11.

[0051] The gas supply unit 27 has a first port 27A and a second port 27B. The sheet lifting unit 31 has a gas supply opening 31A. The first port 27A and the second port 27B are connected to the gas supply opening 31A of each sheet lifting unit 31. The gas supply unit 27 supplies gas to the first sheet lifting unit 31 via the first port 27A. The gas supply unit 27 supplies gas to the second sheet lifting unit 31 via the second port 27B. When the sheet conveying device 21 has one sheet lifting unit 31, either the first port 27A or the second port 27B may be omitted.

[0052] The sheet floating section 31 includes a gas storage section 34 that forms a storage space 35 that temporarily stores the gas supplied from the gas supply section 27. The gas storage section 34 is formed by a storage wall 34A. The storage wall 34A has an inner surface 34B that faces the storage space 35 and an outer surface 34C that faces the sheet 11.

[0053] The first ejection section 33 is configured as a part of the storage wall 34A that configures the gas storage section 34. The first ejection section 33 has a plurality of through holes 36 that penetrate the storage wall 34A. The plurality of through holes 36 are holes for ejecting the gas supplied from the gas supply section 27 onto the sheet 11.

[0054] The through-hole 36 has a first hole 36A extending from an inner surface 34B of the storage wall 34A and a second hole 36B extending while widening from the first hole 36A to an outer surface 34C of the storage wall 34A. The gas supplied from the gas supply unit 27 is ejected by the first hole 36A at a predetermined pressure, and is also ejected over a wide area by the second hole 36B.

[0055] 4, the sheet floating unit 31 has an internal pressure adjusting unit 37 that reduces the difference between the internal pressure near the gas supply port 31A and the internal pressure far from the gas supply port 31A in the gas accommodating unit 34. Hereinafter, the internal pressure near the gas supply port 31A in the gas accommodating unit 34 will be referred to as the near internal pressure, and the internal pressure far from the gas supply port 31A in the gas accommodating unit 34 will be referred to as the far internal pressure.

[0056] The internal pressure adjusting section 37 includes an adjusting plate 38. The adjusting plate 38 is, for example, a metal plate. The adjusting plate 38 may also be a resin plate. The adjusting plate 38 is, for example, curved along the curved portion 32A of the seat floating section main body 32. The adjusting plate 38 is configured to separate the storage space 35 in the gas accommodating section 34 into a first space 35A and a second space 35B. The first space 35A includes a first ejection section 33. The second space 35B does not include the first ejection section 33 but includes a gas supply port 31A.

[0057] The adjustment plate 38 has a plurality of communication holes 38A that communicate between the first space 35A and the second space 35B. The gas supplied from the gas supply unit 27 is supplied to the second space 35B, and then moves from the second space 35B to the first space 35A via the plurality of communication holes 38A.

[0058] When the gas supply rate is large, the nearby internal pressure becomes lower than the distant internal pressure due to the supply of gas from the gas supply unit 27. Near the far end of the gas supply port 31A in the gas accommodating unit 34, the gas is compressed, so the distant internal pressure is higher than the nearby internal pressure. In contrast, when the gas supply rate is small, the nearby internal pressure becomes higher than the distant internal pressure due to the supply of gas from the gas supply unit 27. Because the area far from the gas supply port 31A in the gas accommodating unit 34 is far from the gas supply port 31A, the distant internal pressure is lower than the nearby internal pressure. When the adjustment plate 38 is provided in the sheet floating unit 31, the gas supplied from the gas supply unit 27 stagnates in the second space 35B and then moves to the first space 35A through the multiple communication holes 38A of the adjustment plate 38. Therefore, the difference between the nearby internal pressure and the distant internal pressure in the first space 35A can be reduced.

[0059] 5, the sheet lifting portion main body 32 has a width W11. The first ejection portion 33 has a width W12. The sheet 11 has a width SW. The widths W11, W12, and SW are widths perpendicular to the transport path 21A. The width W11 of the sheet lifting portion main body 32 is larger than the width W12 of the first ejection portion 33. The width W12 of the first ejection portion 33 is larger than the width SW of the sheet 11.

[0060] 4 schematically shows the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 33. Because the width W12 of the first ejection portion 33 is larger than the width SW of the sheet 11, gas walls are formed on the left and right sides of the sheet 11 by the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 33. This prevents the sheet 11 from shifting laterally and meandering.

[0061] The first ejection portion 33 of the sheet lifting portion 31 has a central region 33A and a peripheral region 33B located around the central region 33A. The number of through holes 36 provided in the central region 33A is greater than the number of through holes 36 provided in the peripheral region 33B. In other words, the density of the through holes 36 in the central region 33A is greater than the density of the through holes 36 in the peripheral region 33B. The central region 33A is located between the curved portion 32A and part of the flat portion 32B of the sheet lifting portion main body 32. The peripheral region 33B is located on the flat portion 32B of the sheet lifting portion main body 32.

[0062] The flow rate of gas for floating the sheet 11 differs between the curved portion 32A and the flat portion 32B. Because the tension of the sheet 11 is greater in the curved portion 32A than in the flat portion 32B, the flow rate of gas for floating the sheet 11 is greater in the curved portion 32A than in the flat portion 32B. The central region 33A is provided from near the start of the curve to near the end of the curve, so the sheet floating portion 31 can favorably float the sheet 11.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the plurality of through holes 36 includes a plurality of first through holes 36C and a plurality of second through holes 36D. A diameter R1 of the first hole 36A of the first through hole 36C is smaller than a diameter R2 of the first hole 36A of the second through hole 36D. A maximum diameter MR1 of the second hole 36B of the first through hole 36C is substantially equal to a maximum diameter MR2 of the second through hole 36D. The maximum diameter MR1 may be different from the maximum diameter MR2. An angle AN1 formed by the second hole 36B of the first through hole 36C is substantially equal to an angle AN2 formed by the second hole 36B of the second through hole 36D. The angle AN1 may be different from the angle AN2.

[0064] The plurality of first through holes 36C are provided in both the central region 33A and the peripheral region 33B. The plurality of second through holes 36D are provided in the central region 33A. Because the diameter R2 of the first hole 36A of the second through holes 36D is larger than the diameter R1 of the first hole 36A of the first through holes 36C, the second through holes 36D can eject a larger flow rate of gas than the first through holes 36C. Therefore, the plurality of second through holes 36D are selectively provided, for example, in portions of the central region 33A that require a flow rate of gas to float the sheet 11.

[0065] <Sheet Detaching Unit> The sheet detaching unit 41 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1, 8, and 9. The sheet detaching unit 41 has a sheet detaching unit main body 42. The sheet detaching unit main body 42 is provided on the sheet conveying device 21 parallel to the press device 2. The sheet detaching unit 41 has a gas supply / suction port 41A for supplying gas or for sucking gas.

[0066] The sheet detaching / attaching unit 41 is a portion facing the sheet 11 and has an adsorption portion 43 that adsorbs the sheet 11. The adsorption portion 43 is provided in a portion of the sheet detaching / attaching unit main body 42 that faces the sheet 11. The sheet detaching / attaching unit 41 is disposed on the conveying path 21A so that the adsorption portion 43 faces the second sheet surface 13 of the sheet 11.

[0067] The sheet detaching / attaching unit 41 has a second ejection unit 44 that faces the sheet 11 and ejects gas toward the sheet 11. The second ejection unit 44 is provided in a portion of the sheet detaching / attaching unit main body 42 that faces the sheet 11. The sheet detaching / attaching unit 41 is arranged on the conveying path 21A so that the second ejection unit 44 faces the second sheet surface 13 of the sheet 11. In the sheet detaching / attaching unit main body 42, the suction unit 43 is provided in the same portion as the second ejection unit 44.

[0068] The sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28 has a third port 28A. The third port 28A is connected to the gas supply suction port 41A of the sheet detachable portion 41. The sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28 supplies gas to the sheet detachable portion 41 via the third port 28A.

[0069] The gas suction unit 29 has a fourth port 29A. The fourth port 29A is connected to a gas supply / suction port 41A of the sheet detachment unit 41. The gas suction unit 29 sucks gas from the sheet detachment unit 41 via the fourth port 29A.

[0070] The seat detachable portion gas supply unit 28 has a first switching valve 28B. The gas suction unit 29 has a second switching valve 29B. The third port 28A and the fourth port 29A are connected to each other's gas supply and suction ports 41A of the seat detachable portion 41. The seat detachable portion 41 switches between supplying and suctioning gas to the seat detachable portion 41 by switching the opening and closing of the first switching valve 28B and the second switching valve 29B. When the seat detachable portion gas supply unit 28 supplies gas to the seat detachable portion 41, the first switching valve 28B is opened and the second switching valve 29B is closed. When the gas suction unit 29 suctions gas from the seat detachable portion 41, the first switching valve 28B is closed and the second switching valve 29B is opened.

[0071] The seat attachment / detachment section 41 includes a first gas storage section 45 that forms a first storage space 46 that temporarily stores the gas supplied from the seat attachment / detachment section gas supply section 28. The first gas storage section 45 is formed by a first storage wall 45A.

[0072] The suction unit 43 and the second ejection unit 44 are configured as part of a first storage wall 45A that constitutes the first gas storage unit 45. The suction unit 43 and the second ejection unit 44 have a plurality of sheet detachment unit through-holes 47 that penetrate the first storage wall 45A. The plurality of sheet detachment unit through-holes 47 are holes for ejecting gas supplied from the sheet detachment unit gas supply unit 28 onto the sheet 11 or for sucking gas by the gas suction unit 29. The plurality of sheet detachment unit through-holes 47 include, for example, a third hole 47A extending from the first inner surface 45B of the first storage wall 45A and a fourth hole 47B extending and widening from the third hole 47A to the first outer surface 45C of the first storage wall 45A.

[0073] As shown in Figure 9, the seat detachment section 41 has a first internal pressure adjustment section 48 that reduces the difference between the internal pressure near the gas supply suction port 41A in the first gas storage section 45 and the internal pressure far from the gas supply suction port 41A when gas is supplied by the seat detachment section gas supply section 28.

[0074] The first internal pressure adjustment unit 48 includes a seat attachment / detachment unit adjustment plate 48A. The seat attachment / detachment unit adjustment plate 48A is, for example, a metal plate. The seat attachment / detachment unit adjustment plate 48A may also be a resin plate. The seat attachment / detachment unit adjustment plate 48A is configured to separate the first storage space 46 within the first gas storage unit 45 into a third space 46A and a fourth space 46B. The third space 46A includes an adsorption unit 43 and a second ejection unit 44. The fourth space 46B does not include the adsorption unit 43 or the second ejection unit 44, but does include a gas supply suction port 41A. The seat attachment / detachment unit adjustment plate 48A has a plurality of holes 48B that communicate between the third space 46A and the fourth space 46B.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 9 , the sheet attaching / detaching unit main body 42 has a width W21. The suction unit 43 has a width W22. The second ejection unit 44 has a width W23. The widths W21, W22, and W23 are widths perpendicular to the conveying path 21A. The width W21 of the sheet attaching / detaching unit main body 42 is greater than the width W22 of the suction unit 43. The width W21 of the sheet attaching / detaching unit main body 42 is greater than the width W23 of the second ejection unit 44. The width W22 of the suction unit 43 is smaller than the width SW of the sheet 11. The width W23 of the second ejection unit 44 is smaller than the width SW of the sheet 11.

[0076] (Effects of First Embodiment) The effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0077] (1-1) The sheet conveying device 21 is a sheet conveying device 21 that conveys a sheet 11, and is equipped with a first rotating section 22 that pays out the sheet 11, a second rotating section 23 that winds up the sheet 11, and a sheet floating section 31 that is arranged between the first rotating section 22 and the second rotating section 23 in the conveying path 21A of the sheet 11 and floats the sheet 11, the sheet floating section 31 is a section that faces the sheet 11 and has a first ejection section 33 that ejects gas toward the sheet 11, and the width W12 of the first ejection section 33 is larger than the width SW of the sheet 11.

[0078] According to this configuration, since the width W12 of the first ejection portion 33 is larger than the width SW of the sheet 11, a wall of air is generated in the width direction of the sheet 11 by the ejection of gas from the first ejection portion 33. Therefore, the sheet conveying device 21 can prevent the sheet 11 from shifting sideways or meandering during conveyance of the sheet 11.

[0079] (1-2) The sheet 11 has a first sheet surface 12, a second sheet surface 13 opposite the first sheet surface 12, a first layer 14 including the first sheet surface 12 and including a conductive layer 14A, and a second layer 15 including the second sheet surface 13 and releasably provided on the first layer 14, and the sheet floating portion 31 is provided on the conveying path 21A so that the first ejection portion 33 faces the first sheet surface 12.

[0080] According to this configuration, the first sheet surface 12 can be raised by the sheet lifting portion 31. Therefore, the conductive layer 14A is less likely to be damaged by external contact with the first layer 14.

[0081] (1-3) The sheet floating portion 31 includes a gas storage portion 34 that forms a storage space 35 that temporarily stores gas supplied from the gas supply portion 27, and the first ejection portion 33 is configured as a part of a storage wall 34A that forms the gas storage portion 34. The first ejection portion 33 has a plurality of through holes 36 that penetrate the storage wall 34A, and the through holes 36 have a first hole 36A that extends from an inner surface 34B of the storage wall 34A and a second hole 36B that extends and widens from the first hole 36A to an outer surface 34C of the storage wall 34A.

[0082] According to this configuration, the sheet floating section 31 can preferably float the sheet 11 by the first hole 36A and the second hole 36B.

[0083] (1-4) The sheet floating unit 31 has an internal pressure adjusting unit 37 that reduces the difference between the internal pressure in the gas accommodating unit 34 near the gas supply port 31A and the internal pressure in the gas accommodating unit 34 far from the gas supply port 31A.

[0084] According to this configuration, the sheet floating section 31 can reduce the variation in the amount of air ejected from each through-hole 36 of the first ejection section 33 by the internal pressure adjusting section 37 .

[0085] (1-5) The internal pressure adjustment section 37 includes an adjustment plate 38, which is configured to separate the storage space 35 within the gas storage section 34 into a first space 35A and a second space 35B, the first space 35A includes a first ejection section 33, and the second space 35B does not include the first ejection section 33 and includes a gas supply port 31A, and the adjustment plate 38 has a plurality of communication holes 38A that connect the first space 35A and the second space 35B.

[0086] According to this configuration, the sheet floating section 31 can reduce the variation in the amount of air ejected from each through-hole 36 of the first ejection section 33 by using the adjustment plate 38 .

[0087] (1-6) The first ejection portion 33 of the sheet floating portion 31 has a central region 33A and a peripheral region 33B located around the central region 33A, and the number of the plurality of through holes 36 provided in the central region 33A is greater than the number of the plurality of through holes 36 provided in the peripheral region 33B.

[0088] According to this configuration, the sheet lifting section 31 can lift the sheet 11 suitably.

[0089] (1-7) The conveying path 21A for the sheet 11 is further provided with a sheet detachment section 41 that is arranged between the first rotating section 22 and the second rotating section 23 and that detaches the sheet 11, the sheet detachment section 41 being a portion that faces the sheet 11 and having an adsorption section 43 that adsorbs the sheet 11, and the width W22 of the adsorption section 43 being smaller than the width SW of the sheet 11.

[0090] According to this configuration, the width W22 of the suction portion 43 is smaller than the width SW of the sheet 11, so that the sheet attaching / detaching portion 41 can adsorb the sheet 11 suitably.

[0091] (1-8) The sheet detachment section 41 is a section facing the sheet 11 and includes a second ejection section 44 that ejects gas toward the sheet 11.

[0092] According to this configuration, the sheet attaching / detaching section 41 can preferably float the sheet 11 by the second ejection section 44 .

[0093] (1-9) The laminating machine 1 includes a sheet conveying device 21 and a press device 2.

[0094] According to this configuration, the stacker 1 can prevent the sheet 11 from shifting sideways or meandering when the sheet 11 is conveyed by the sheet conveying device 21. Therefore, the stacker 1 can stack the workpieces in an appropriate manner.

[0095] Second Embodiment A sheet conveying device 21 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Components similar to those in the first embodiment will be given the same names and will not be described again.

[0096] <Seat Removal Section> The seat removal section 41 of the second embodiment further has a first seat removal section gas supply port 41B and a second seat removal section gas supply port 41C for supplying gas. The seat removal section gas supply section 28 has a fifth port 28C and a sixth port 28D. The fifth port 28C is connected to the first seat removal section gas supply port 41B of the seat removal section 41. The seat removal section gas supply section 28 supplies gas to the seat removal section 41 via the fifth port 28C. The sixth port 28D is connected to the second seat removal section gas supply port 41C of the seat removal section 41. The seat removal section gas supply section 28 supplies gas to the seat removal section 41 via the sixth port 28D.

[0097] The fifth port 28C may be provided on a gas supply source different from that of the sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28. When the fifth port 28C is provided on a gas supply source different from that of the sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28, the sheet detachable portion 41 is supplied with gas from the gas supply source different from that of the sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28 via the fifth port 28C. The sixth port 28D may be provided on a gas supply source different from that of the sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28. When the sixth port 28D is provided on a gas supply source different from that of the sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28, the sheet detachable portion 41 is supplied with gas from the gas supply source different from that of the sheet detachable portion gas supply unit 28 via the sixth port 28D.

[0098] The suction portion 43 is provided in a part of the second ejection portion 44 in the sheet attachment / detachment main body 42. Another part of the second ejection portion 44 is provided on the sheet attachment / detachment main body 42 outside the suction portion 43 in the width direction.

[0099] The sheet detachable section 41 further has partition walls 52 for dividing the first gas storage section 45 into a second gas storage section 49, a third gas storage section 50, and a fourth gas storage section 51. The partition walls 52 include a first partition wall 52A that divides the first gas storage section 45 into the second gas storage section 49 and the third gas storage section 50. The partition walls 52 include a second partition wall 52B that divides the first gas storage section 45 into the third gas storage section 50 and the fourth gas storage section 51.

[0100] The first storage space 46 is divided by a first partition 52A into a second storage space 53 and a third storage space 54. The first storage space 46 is divided by a second partition 52B into a third storage space 54 and a fourth storage space 55. The second gas storage section 49 constitutes the second storage space 53. The third gas storage section 50 constitutes the third storage space 54. The fourth gas storage section 51 constitutes the fourth storage space 55. The portion of the second ejection section 44 corresponding to the third gas storage section 50 constitutes the suction section 43. When the sheet 11 is adsorbed, the gas in the third gas storage section 50 is sucked in. The second ejection section 44 is used to float the sheet 11. Specifically, when floating the sheet 11 , gas is supplied to the second gas chamber 49 , the third gas chamber 50 , and the fourth gas chamber 51 .

[0101] The second gas storage unit 49 is supplied with gas from the sheet attachment / detachment unit gas supply unit 28 via the fifth port 28C. The third gas storage unit 50 is supplied with gas from the sheet attachment / detachment unit gas supply unit 28 via the third port 28A. The third gas storage unit 50 has gas sucked therein by the gas suction unit 29 via the fourth port 29A. The fourth gas storage unit 51 is supplied with gas from the sheet attachment / detachment unit gas supply unit 28 via the sixth port 28D.

[0102] The seat detachment unit 41 has a second internal pressure adjustment unit 56 that reduces the difference in internal pressure between the vicinity of the first seat detachment unit gas supply port 41B and the distant vicinity of the first seat detachment unit gas supply port 41B within the second gas storage unit 49 when gas is supplied by the seat detachment unit gas supply unit 28. The second internal pressure adjustment unit 56 has a configuration similar to that of the first internal pressure adjustment unit 48. The second internal pressure adjustment unit 56 is, for example, a plate that divides the second storage space 53 into two spaces.

[0103] The seat detachment unit 41 has a third internal pressure adjustment unit 57 that reduces the difference between the internal pressure near the gas supply suction port 41A and the internal pressure far from the gas supply suction port 41A within the third gas storage unit 50 when gas is supplied by the seat detachment unit gas supply unit 28. The third internal pressure adjustment unit 57 has a configuration similar to that of the first internal pressure adjustment unit 48. The third internal pressure adjustment unit 57 is, for example, a plate that divides the third storage space 54 into two spaces.

[0104] The seat detachment unit 41 has a fourth internal pressure adjustment unit 58 that reduces the difference in internal pressure between the vicinity of the second seat detachment unit gas supply port 41C and the distant vicinity of the second seat detachment unit gas supply port 41C within the fourth gas storage unit 51 when gas is supplied by the seat detachment unit gas supply unit 28. The fourth internal pressure adjustment unit 58 has a configuration similar to that of the first internal pressure adjustment unit 48. The fourth internal pressure adjustment unit 58 is, for example, a plate that divides the fourth storage space 55 into two spaces.

[0105] 12 , the width W21 of the sheet attachment / detachment unit main body 42 is larger than the width W22 of the suction unit 43 and the width W23 of the second ejection unit 44. The width W22 of the suction unit 43 is smaller than the width SW of the sheet 11. The width W23 of the second ejection unit 44 is larger than the width SW of the sheet 11.

[0106] (Effects of the Second Embodiment) The effects of the second embodiment will be described. (2-1) Fig. 11 schematically shows the gas ejected from the second ejection portion 44. Because the width W23 of the second ejection portion 44 is larger than the width SW of the sheet 11, gas walls are formed on the left and right sides of the sheet 11 by the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 33. This suppresses lateral shifting and meandering of the sheet 11.

[0107] Third Embodiment A sheet conveying device 21 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13. In the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Components similar to those in the first embodiment will be given the same names and will not be described again.

[0108] The sheet conveying device 21 of the third embodiment includes a first rotating unit 22, a second rotating unit 23, a plurality of guide rolls 24, a tension roll 26, a sheet lifting unit 31, and a sheet attaching / detaching unit 41. The plurality of guide rolls 24 includes, for example, three guide rolls 24. In the third embodiment, the tension roll 26 is configured to adjust the tension applied to the sheet 11 by moving a support shaft left and right.

[0109] The conveying path 21A of the third embodiment will be described. The sheet 11 unwound from the first rotating unit 22 is conveyed to the sheet floating unit 31 while being guided by the first guide roll 24. The sheet 11 conveyed to the sheet floating unit 31 is conveyed to the tension roll 26. After being conveyed to the tension roll 26, the sheet 11 is conveyed to the sheet removing / attaching unit 41 while being guided by the guide rolls 24. In the sheet removing / attaching unit 41, the workpieces cut from the first layer 14 of the sheet 11 sent to the press device 2 are stacked by the press device 2. The remaining sheet portion 16 peeled from the first layer 14 of the sheet 11 is guided by the two guide rolls 24 and taken up by the second rotating unit 23.

[0110] (Effects of the Third Embodiment) The effects of the third embodiment will be described. (3-1) The sheet conveying device 21 of the third embodiment includes a first rotating unit 22, a second rotating unit 23, a plurality of guide rolls 24, a tension roll 26, a sheet floating unit 31, and a sheet attaching / detaching unit 41. Therefore, the sheet conveying device 21 can convey the sheet 11 with a minimum configuration, thereby reducing the number of parts.

[0111] (Fourth embodiment) A sheet conveying device 21 and a printing machine 3 according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14. In the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Components similar to those in the first embodiment will be given the same names and will not be described again.

[0112] 14 , the printing machine 3 includes a sheet conveying device 21 and a printing device 4. The printing device 4 is configured to print internal electrodes on the sheet 11. The printing device 4 is configured to perform, for example, silk screen printing or inkjet printing. The sheet conveying device 21 of the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the sheet conveying device 21 of the first embodiment, except that it does not have the sheet detaching unit 41.

[0113] The conveying path 21A of the fourth embodiment will be described. The sheet 11 fed from the first rotating unit 22 is conveyed to the sheet floating unit 31 while being guided by the two guide rolls 24. A first dancer roll 25 is disposed between the two sheet floating units 31. The sheet 11 is conveyed from the first sheet floating unit 31 to the first dancer roll 25, and then to the second sheet floating unit 31. The sheet 11 is conveyed from the second sheet floating unit 31 to the tension roll 26. After being conveyed to the tension roll 26, the sheet 11 is conveyed to the printing device 4 while being guided by the guide rolls 24.

[0114] The sheet 11 printed by the printing device 4 is transported to the sheet floating unit 31 while being guided by the guide rolls 24. A second dancer roll 25 is disposed between the two sheet floating units 31. The sheet 11 is transported from the first sheet floating unit 31 to the first dancer roll 25, and then transported to the second sheet floating unit 31. The sheet 11 is transported from the second sheet floating unit 31 to the two guide rolls 24. The sheet 11 is guided by the two guide rolls 24 and taken up by the second rotating unit 23.

[0115] (Effects of Fourth Embodiment) The effects of the fourth embodiment will be described below. (4-1) The printing machine 3 includes the sheet conveying device 21 and the printing device 4.

[0116] According to this configuration, the printing press 3 can prevent the sheet 11 from shifting sideways or meandering when the sheet 11 is conveyed by the sheet conveying device 21. Therefore, the printing press 3 can print on the sheet 11 suitably.

[0117] <Modifications> The sheet conveying device, laminating machine, and printing machine of the present disclosure may be configured in the following modification examples other than the above-described embodiments, or in a form that combines at least two modification examples that are not mutually contradictory.

[0118] The sheet lifting section 31 of the second embodiment does not need to have a configuration in which the width W12 of the first ejection section 33 is larger than the width SW of the sheet 11, as long as it has a configuration for lifting the sheet 11.

[0119] The seat detachable portion 41 of the third embodiment may have the same configuration as the seat detachable portion 41 of the second embodiment.

[0120] The descriptions of the respective embodiments are merely examples of possible forms of the sheet transport device, laminator, and printer according to the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the forms thereof. The sheet transport device, laminator, and printer according to the present disclosure may take other forms different from those illustrated in the respective embodiments.

[0121] As used herein, ordinal numbers such as "first, second, and third" are used merely to distinguish between multiple elements having the same name and do not have any special meaning.

[0122] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...Laminator, 2...Pressing device, 3...Printing machine, 4...Printing device, 11...Sheet, 12...First sheet surface, 13...Second sheet surface, 14...First layer, 14A...Conductive layer, 15...Second layer, 21...Sheet conveying device, 21A...Conveying path, 22...First rotating section, 23...Second rotating section, 27...Gas supply section, 31...Sheet floating section, 31A...Gas supply port, 33...First jet portion, 33A...central region, 33B...peripheral region, 34...gas storage portion, 34A...storage wall, 34B...inner surface, 34C...outer surface, 35...storage space, 35A...first space, 35B...second space, 36...through hole, 36A...first hole, 36B...second hole, 37...internal pressure adjustment portion, 38...adjustment plate, 38A...communicating hole, 41...sheet detachment portion, 43...suction portion, 44...second ejection portion.

Claims

1. A sheet transport device for transporting a sheet, comprising: a first rotating section that pays out the sheet; a second rotating section that winds up the sheet; and a sheet floating section that is arranged between the first rotating section and the second rotating section on a transport path for the sheet and floats the sheet, wherein the sheet floating section is a section that faces the sheet and has a first ejection section that ejects gas toward the sheet, and the width of the first ejection section is greater than the width of the sheet.

2. The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet has a first sheet surface, a second sheet surface opposite the first sheet surface, a first layer including the first sheet surface and including a conductive layer, and a second layer including the second sheet surface and releasably provided on the first layer, and the sheet floating portion is provided on the transport path so that the first ejection portion faces the first sheet surface.

3. A sheet conveying device as described in claim 1, wherein the sheet floating portion includes a gas storage portion that forms a storage space for temporarily storing gas supplied from a gas supply portion, the first ejection portion is configured as a part of a storage wall that forms the gas storage portion, the first ejection portion has a plurality of through holes that penetrate the storage wall, and the through holes have a first hole extending from an inner surface of the storage wall and a second hole extending and widening from the first hole to an outer surface of the storage wall.

4. The sheet transport device according to claim 3, wherein the sheet floating section has an internal pressure adjusting section that reduces the difference between the internal pressure in the vicinity of the gas supply port in the gas storage section and the internal pressure in the vicinity of the gas supply port.

5. A sheet conveying device as described in claim 4, wherein the internal pressure adjustment section includes an adjustment plate, the adjustment plate is configured to separate the storage space in the gas storage section into a first space and a second space, the first space includes the first ejection section, the second space does not include the first ejection section and includes the gas supply port, and the adjustment plate has a plurality of communication holes that connect the first space and the second space.

6. A sheet conveying device as described in claim 3, wherein the first ejection portion of the sheet floating portion has a central region and a peripheral region located around the central region, and the number of the plurality of through holes provided in the central region is greater than the number of the plurality of through holes provided in the peripheral region.

7. The sheet transport device of claim 1, further comprising a sheet attachment / detachment section disposed between the first rotating section and the second rotating section in the transport path of the sheet and configured to attach and detach the sheet, the sheet attachment / detachment section being a section facing the sheet and having an adsorption section that adsorbs the sheet, the width of the adsorption section being smaller than the width of the sheet.

8. The sheet transport device according to claim 7, wherein the sheet attaching / detaching section is a section facing the sheet and includes a second ejection section that ejects gas toward the sheet.

9. A laminator comprising: a sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a press device.

10. A printing machine comprising: a sheet transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a printing device.

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