JP5058026B2 - Sheet connection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet connecting apparatus configured to connect a first sheet and a second sheet on a sheet conveyance path by a butt joint method.

  Conventional methods for joining two sheets include a lap joint method and a butt joint method. The lap splicing method is a method of connecting a terminal portion of an old sheet and a tip portion of a new sheet while overlapping each other by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, the butt joint method is a method in which the first sheet and the second sheet are connected without overlapping.

In recent years, in response to an increasing demand for joining not only single-layer sheets but also multiple-layer sheets, the butt-joining method has been widely used (for example, see Patent Document 1). When a sheet is composed of a plurality of layers and a process of peeling them after connection occurs, the connection method is complicated by the lap joint method, but the multilayered sheet can be joined relatively easily by the butt joint method. .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-305950

  When joining sheets, the conveyance of the sheet is temporarily stopped in the vicinity of the sheet connection position, but it is preferable to shorten the stop time at this time as much as possible. The reason is that when the stop time becomes long, it is necessary to increase the accumulator for continuously operating the subsequent process, and thus the increase in the floor area of the entire sheet processing system cannot be avoided.

  For example, in the web splicing device according to Patent Document 1 described above, when attaching the connection tape to both sides, it is necessary to largely move the unit inside the device, and until the attachment of both sides is completed, Since the configuration for stopping the conveyance is adopted, it can be said that it is inevitable that the sheet conveyance stop time becomes long.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet connecting apparatus capable of shortening a sheet conveyance stop time when connecting sheets by a butt joint method.

  The sheet connecting apparatus according to the present invention is configured to connect an old sheet and a new sheet by a butt joint method on a sheet conveyance path. The sheet connecting apparatus includes a sheet cutting unit, a first clamping unit, a second clamping unit, and a third clamping unit.

  The sheet cutting unit is configured to be capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the sheet conveyance path, and configured to cut the old sheet and the new sheet in a stacked state. An example of the sheet cutting unit is a cutter configured to cut the sheet while moving in the width direction of the sheet.

  The first clamping unit is disposed upstream of the sheet cutting position in the sheet conveyance path, and is configured to selectively clamp an old sheet and a new sheet to be cut by the sheet cutting unit.

  The second clamping unit is disposed downstream of the sheet cutting position in the sheet conveyance path, and is configured to selectively clamp an old sheet and a new sheet to be cut by the sheet cutting unit.

  Either the first clamping unit or the second clamping unit is configured to include at least a first adsorption unit configured to adsorb only the old sheet or the new sheet to be connected. On the other hand, the other of the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit is configured to include at least a guide member and a first tape sticking roller. The guide member is arranged alongside the first suction unit along the sheet conveyance path. The first tape adhering roller is configured to be capable of adsorbing the first connecting tape on its peripheral surface. Examples of the configuration for adsorbing the first connecting tape include air suction, electrostatic adsorption, and magnetic adsorption. The first tape adhering roller affixes the first connecting tape to the old sheet and the new sheet by rotating along the guide surface of the guide member while pressing the old sheet and the new sheet against the guide member. Configured to be attached.

  The third clamping unit is disposed downstream of the second clamping unit in the sheet conveyance path, and is configured to send the connected old sheet and new sheet downstream while selectively clamping them. The mechanism in which the first to third clamping units selectively clamp the old sheet and the new sheet is realized by, for example, a cylinder mechanism and a control unit that controls the cylinder mechanism. The third clamping unit is configured to include at least a second tape sticking roller. The 2nd tape sticking roller is constituted so that the 2nd connecting tape can be adsorbed to the peripheral surface. As in the case of the first tape sticking roller described above, examples of the configuration for adsorbing the second connecting tape include air suction, electrostatic adsorption, and magnetic adsorption. The second tape adhering roller is configured to adhere the second connecting tape to the opposite side of the first connecting tape adhering position while conveying the connected old sheet and new sheet.

  In this configuration, when the old sheet and the new sheet are connected, there is no need to largely move the first clamping unit, the second clamping unit, and the third clamping unit. For this reason, the mechanism required for connecting the old sheet and the new sheet is made compact, and the time required for connecting the old sheet and the new sheet is shortened.

  Furthermore, since the first connection tape is held on the peripheral surface of the roller, the connection tape can be attached to the sheet while sandwiching the sheet, and the mechanism for holding the sheet can be simplified. In addition, since the second connection tape is held on the circumferential surface of the roller, the second connection tape can be attached to the sheet while the sheet having the connection tape attached to one side is conveyed. As a result, the time for stopping sheet conveyance is shortened, and the accumulator at the subsequent stage can be made compact.

  In the above-described configuration, it is preferable to provide the guide member with a second suction portion configured to suck the leading end portion of the cut new sheet. The reason is that the leading end of the new sheet to be discharged can be stably held, and the new sheet to be discharged can be prevented from dropping to an unintended location.

  In consideration of space saving, it is preferable that the sheet conveyance path is formed in the vertical direction.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the first tape adhering roller, the second tape adhering roller, the first adsorbing unit, and the second adsorbing unit adsorb the tape or the sheet by air suction. This is because air suction makes it easy to perform on / off switching control of the action of the suction force.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the sheet conveyance stop time when the sheets are connected by the butt joint method.

  A film connecting apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The film connection device 10 is disposed downstream of the film delivery device 50 having the first film delivery unit 52 and the second film delivery unit 54. The film connecting device 10 is configured to connect the leading end of the film sent from the second film sending unit 54 to the end of the film sent from the first film sending unit 52 by the splicing method. In addition, since the arrangement positions of the first film delivery section 52 and the second film delivery section 54 can be switched with each other, the arrangement positions of the first film delivery section 52 and the second film delivery section 54 are appropriately switched. The film can be connected any number of times. In this embodiment, a double-layer film such as a TAC film with a protective film is used as the sheet 38, but the sheet 38 is not necessarily a multi-layer film, and the present invention can be applied to a single-layer film. Is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the film connecting apparatus 10 includes a frame 32 that houses each component. A film conveyance path for conveying the sheet 38 is formed in the frame 32. In this embodiment, the film transport path is formed in the vertical direction, but the present invention can be used also in a film transport path formed along the horizontal direction or an obliquely tilted film transport path. A plurality of guide rollers (28, 26, 24), a plurality of pressing rollers (22, 20), a tape adhering roller (18, 16), and a suction holder (14, 12) are provided along the film conveyance path. .

  The plurality of guide rollers (28, 26, 24) are pivotally supported at predetermined locations of the frame 32. The pressing roller 22 is pivotally supported by a roller support portion 222 having a cylinder mechanism and is configured to be able to contact and separate from the sheet 38. The pressing roller 20 is pivotally supported by a roller support portion 202 having a cylinder mechanism, and is configured to be able to contact and separate from the sheet 38. The roller support part 222 and the roller support part 202 are supported by a shaft part 70 provided on the frame 32.

  The tape adhering roller 18 includes an adsorbing portion configured to adsorb the first connection tape 36 on a part of the circumferential surface in the circumferential direction. The tape sticking roller 18 is provided so as to face the suction holder 12. The tape adhering roller 18 is pivotally supported by a roller support portion 182 having a cylinder mechanism. The roller support unit 182 supports the tape adhering roller 18 so as to be able to contact and separate from the sheet conveyance path. Further, the roller support portion 182 is supported by the shaft portion 70 so as to be movable up and down.

  The tape sticking roller 16 is disposed so as to face the pressing roller 20. The tape adhering roller 16 includes an adsorbing portion that adsorbs the second connection tape 34 to a part of the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface. The tape adhering roller 16 is pivotally supported at a predetermined location on the frame 32. In this embodiment, the tape adhering roller 18 and the tape adhering roller 16 adsorb the first connecting tape 36 and the second connecting tape 34 by air suction, respectively. However, the suction method of the first connection tape 36 and the second connection tape 34 by the tape sticking roller 18 and the tape sticking roller 16 is not limited to this, and electrostatic suction or magnetic suction is used. It is also possible.

  The suction holder 14 is disposed so as to face the pressing roller 22 and is configured to suck a new sheet to be connected. The suction holder 12 is disposed so as to face the tape sticking roller 18 and is configured to suck the leading end of a new sheet to be discharged. In this embodiment, the suction holders 14 and 12 suck new sheets by air suction, but the configuration of the suction holders 14 and 12 is not limited to this. Moreover, it is an arbitrary matter to give the adsorption holder 12 an adsorption function, and the present invention can be implemented even if the adsorption holder 12 does not have an adsorption function.

  Furthermore, a cutter 30 corresponding to the sheet cutting unit of the present invention is provided between the suction holder 12 and the suction holder 14.

  In the present embodiment, the suction holder 14 and the pressing roller 22 correspond to the first clamping part, and the suction holder 12 and the tape sticking roller 18 correspond to the second clamping part, and the tape sticking roller 16 and the pressing roller. The roller 20 corresponds to the third clamping unit. However, the suction holder 14 and the pressing roller 22 can be arranged downstream of the sheet cutting position, and the suction holder 12 and the tape adhering roller 18 can be arranged upstream of the sheet cutting position. In this case, the suction holder 14 and the pressing roller 22 correspond to the second holding part, and the suction holder 12 and the tape sticking roller 18 correspond to the first holding part.

  An accumulator 60 as shown in FIG. 2 is provided downstream of the film connecting apparatus 10. The accumulator 60 functions as a buffer for continuously operating the subsequent process when the conveyance of the sheet is stopped when the sheet is connected.

  Then, the operation | movement order of the film connection apparatus 10 is demonstrated using FIGS. Here, a method of connecting the current sheet 38 and the new sheet 40 will be described. For convenience, the sheet 38 and the new sheet 40 to be connected after cutting are defined as a sheet 38A and a new sheet 40A, respectively, and the sheet 38 and the new sheet 40 to be discharged after cutting are defined as a sheet 38B and a new sheet 40B, respectively. I will do it.

  With reference to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D, steps until the sheet 38 and the new sheet 40 are cut in a stacked state will be described. FIG. 3A shows a state where sheets are continuously conveyed. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3B, the new sheet 40 is cut from the lower side of the sheet 38 in the same traveling direction as the sheet 38 without stopping the advancement of the sheet 38 that has been continuously operated in advance. To introduce. The operation of introducing the new sheet 40 into the cutting position may be performed manually, or may be performed automatically by forming a separate sub-transport path. Here, the new sheet 40 is disposed so that the tip thereof reaches a little downstream of the suction holder 12.

  Subsequently, the suction holder 12 and the suction holder 14 start the suction operation and hold the new sheet 40 by suction. Further, the non-adhesive surfaces of the second connecting tape 34 and the first connecting tape 36 having a predetermined width are manually set at predetermined positions with respect to the tape adhering roller 16 and the tape adhering roller 18. The adhering operation of the tape adhering rollers 16 and 18 is started, and the first and second connecting tapes 36 and 34 are adsorbed and held. In this embodiment, the setting operation of the first connecting tape 36 with respect to the tape adhering roller 18 and the setting operation of the second connecting tape 34 with respect to the tape adhering roller 16 are manually performed. It is also possible to perform this automatically.

  FIG. 3C illustrates an operation after the operation of FIG. The advancement of the sheet 38 which has been continuously operated in advance is stopped, the suction holders 12 and 14 with the new sheet 40 being sucked and held are operated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the first connecting tape 36 is sucked and held. The sheet 38 and the new sheet 40 are stacked by the suction holders 12 and 14, the tape adhering roller 18 and the pressing roller 22 by operating the tape adhering roller 18 and the pressing roller 22 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Press and hold.

  FIG. 3D shows an operation after the operation of FIG. The cutting device 30 is advanced into the sheet conveying path, and then travels in the width direction of the sheet 38 and the new sheet 40, whereby the sheet cutting position (scheduled connection position) of the stacked sheet 38 and the new sheet 40 is held. In FIG. Thereafter, the cutter 30 moves in the direction of retracting from the sheet conveyance path and returns to the initial position.

  FIG. 4 shows an operation after the operation of FIG. The sheet 38 cut by the cutter 30 is divided into a sheet 38A to be connected and a sheet 38B to be discharged. Similarly, the new sheet 40 cut by the cutter 30 is divided into a new sheet 40A to be connected and a new sheet 40B to be discharged. First, after the operation of FIG. 3D is completed, the pressing roller 22 is moved in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, so that the sheet 38B to be discharged, which has been stacked and sandwiched by the suction holder 14 and the pressing roller 22, is discharged. Freed without being held. Here, the new sheet 40A to be connected is released from the lamination pressure nipping, but since the suction operation of the suction holder 14 is continuously performed, it is held by the suction holder 14. Thereafter, the sheet 38B to be discharged is discharged in the direction of the arrow in the figure opposite to the original traveling direction by manual or automatic operation.

  FIG. 5A shows an operation after the operation of FIG. After the sheet 38B to be discharged is discharged, the tape adhering roller 18 with the first connection tape 36 adsorbed and held, stacks and presses the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40B to be discharged. It moves while rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure while being held. Subsequently, the tape adhering roller 18 stops the adhesive surface of the first connecting tape 36 in contact with the center of the planned connection position, which is the end of the new sheet 40A to be connected with the end of the sheet 38A to be connected. To do. As a result, the first connection tape 36 is attached to the center of the planned connection position. At the same time that the adhesive surface of the first connection tape 36 is brought into contact with the planned connection position or the planned connection position, and after the movement operation of the tape adhering roller 18 is completed, the suction operation of the tape adhering roller 18 is completed. As a result, the object to be held of the first connection tape 36 is transferred from the tape adhering roller 18 to the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected.

  FIG. 5B shows an operation after the operation of FIG. After the object to be held of the first connecting tape 36 is transferred from the tape adhering roller 18 to the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected, the tape adhering roller 18 is moved in the direction of the arrow in the figure. , The tape adhering roller returns to a predetermined position, and the stacked pressure clamping of the new sheet 38A to be connected to the new sheet 40B to be discharged is released. Accordingly, the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected are connected and held by the first connecting tape 36, and the new sheet 40B to be discharged remains sucked and held by the suction operation of the suction holder 12. is there. Here, after the suction operation of the suction holder 12 is finished, the suction holder 12 is discharged manually or automatically in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Thereafter, the new sheet 40A to be connected is brought into contact with the guide rollers 26 and 28 by applying a tension in a direction opposite to the original traveling direction. This is one of the important things to advance the sheet without causing meandering and wrinkling after the connection operation is completed.

  FIG. 6A shows an operation after the operation of FIG. After the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected are connected to only one side by the first connection tape 36, the tape adhering roller 16 that sucks and holds the second connection tape 34, and the pressing roller 20 Each move in the direction of the arrow in the figure, thereby pressing and clamping the sheet 38A to be connected. Thereafter, the continuous operation of the sheet is started in a state in which the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected are connected to only one side by the first connecting tape 36. As a result, the guide rollers 24, 26, 28, the tape adhering roller 16, and the pressing roller 20 start rotating.

  FIG. 6B shows an operation after the operation of FIG. The tape sticking roller 16 in which the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected start continuous operation via the first connecting tape 36 and the second connecting tape 34 is sucked and held, and the pressing roller 20 is rotated while being held under pressure, the position of the second connection tape 34 is rotated, and the end of the sheet 38A to be connected and the center of the planned connection position that is the tip of the new sheet 40A to be connected, That is, the adhesive surface of the second connection tape 34 is brought into contact with the same position on the opposite surface of the first connection tape 36 attached in the above-described process, and is attached. When the adhesive surface of the second connection tape 34 is brought into contact with the planned connection position and at the same time the suction operation of the tape adhering roller 16 is terminated, the object to be held by the second connecting tape 34 is the tape adhering roller. 16, the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected are transferred.

  FIG. 6C illustrates an operation after the operation of FIG. After the sheet 38A to be connected and the new sheet 40A to be connected start continuous operation via the first connection tape 36 and the second connection tape 34, the tape adhering roller 16 and the pressing roller 20 are shown in FIG. By operating in the direction of the middle arrow and returning to the predetermined position, the operation of the film connecting apparatus 10 is completed.

  In the case of a single-layer sheet, the connection of a new sheet using a connection tape is usually only required to be attached on one side. However, in the present invention, the first connection tape 36 and the second connection tape 34 are provided at the connection planned position. In the case of a single layer, the effect of strengthening the connection portion can be expected. On the other hand, in the case of a plurality of layers, the peeling process can be performed after the operation of the film connecting apparatus 10 is completed. In addition, since all operations can be automated, it is possible to execute film connection in a short time without causing positional displacement and wrinkles.

  As the materials of each device in the apparatus, the suction holders 12 and 14, the tape adhering rollers 16 and 18 are stainless steel or aluminum, the pressing rollers 20 and 22, the guide rollers 24, 26 and 28 are rubber, and the cutter 30 is ceramic. The frame 32 may be iron or stainless steel, but is not limited thereto. Further, the operation order of the above-described film connecting apparatus 10 is not necessarily performed as described in the above-described embodiment.

  If the frame 32 of the sheet connecting apparatus 10 can stably support the suction holders (12, 14), the tape adhering rollers (16, 18), and the pressing rollers (20, 22,), its shape and structure The size and the like are not particularly limited.

  According to the above embodiment, a sheet composed of a single layer or a plurality of layers is connected in a shorter time than before by a butting method, and a connecting portion of the sheet composed of a plurality of layers is processed again in a subsequent process. It becomes possible to peel without any problem. In addition, it is possible to connect a single layer or a plurality of laminated sheets by abutting and connecting them without causing positional shift and wrinkle.

  The above description of the embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

It is a figure which shows the outline of a sheet | seat connection apparatus and a sheet feeding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the accumulator arrange | positioned downstream of a sheet | seat connection apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a sheet | seat connection apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a sheet | seat connection apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a sheet | seat connection apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a sheet | seat connection apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10- Sheet | seat connection apparatus 12, 14- Adsorption | suction holder 16, 18- Tape sticking roller 20, 22, 2-Pressing roller 24, 26, 28- Guide roller 30- Cutting device 32- Frame 34, 36- Connection tape 38 (38A , 38B)-sheet 40 (40A, 40B)-new sheet

Claims (4)

A sheet connecting device configured to connect an old sheet and a new sheet on a sheet conveyance path by a butt joint method,
A sheet cutting unit configured to be capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the sheet conveying path, and configured to cut an old sheet and a new sheet in a stacked state;
A first clamping unit that is arranged upstream of a sheet cutting position in the sheet conveyance path and configured to selectively clamp an old sheet and a new sheet to be cut by the sheet cutting unit;
A second clamping unit that is arranged downstream of a sheet cutting position in the sheet conveyance path and configured to selectively clamp an old sheet and a new sheet to be cut by the sheet cutting unit;
A third clamping unit that is arranged downstream of the second clamping unit in the sheet conveyance path and configured to selectively feed the connected old sheet and new sheet and send them downstream.
With
Either one of the first clamping unit or the second clamping unit includes at least a first suction unit configured to suck an old sheet or a new sheet to be connected,
The other of the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit includes a guide member arranged alongside the first suction unit along the sheet conveyance path, and a first connection tape on the circumferential surface. And the old sheet and the new sheet are rotated toward the sheet cutting position along the guide surface of the guide member while pressing the old sheet and the new sheet against the guide member. A first tape sticking roller configured to stick one connection tape, and at least
The third clamping unit is configured to be capable of attracting the second connection tape to the peripheral surface and conveys the connected old sheet and new sheet to the opposite side of the first connection tape attachment position. A sheet connecting device comprising at least a second tape adhering roller configured to affix the two connecting tapes.   The sheet connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is provided with a second suction portion configured to suck the leading end portion of the cut new sheet.   The sheet connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveyance path is formed in a vertical direction.   The first tape adhering roller, the second tape adhering roller, the first adsorbing unit, and the second adsorbing unit are configured to adsorb a tape or a sheet by air suction. Item 4. The sheet connecting device according to Item 2 or 3.

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