JP5898574B2 - Separation apparatus and separation method for sheet-like member - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet-like member separation apparatus and separation method, and more particularly to a sheet-like member separation apparatus and separation method suitable for use in separating the uppermost sheet from a stacked sheet-like member.

  The operation of separating the uppermost sheet from a plurality of stacked sheet-like members (hereinafter also simply referred to as “separation operation”) is carried in, for example, from the previous process in a state where the sheet-like members are stacked, and is performed in the subsequent process. In the manufacturing process in which punching and printing are performed one by one, it is necessary when only the uppermost sheet is separated from a plurality of stacked sheet-like members and supplied to the subsequent process. Separation work is desired to be automated by a machine for production efficiency.

As the sheet-like member, there are a resin sheet, a cloth sheet (including a woven fabric and a non-woven fabric), and the characteristics are different depending on each material. Therefore, a separation method according to each characteristic is applied.
For example, since a sheet made of a hard resin material has no air permeability and relatively high rigidity, air suction using a suction pad can be applied as a separation method.

On the other hand, since many sheets and cloth sheets made of soft resin materials have low rigidity (no stiffness), separation by air suction using a suction pad is not easy, and in particular, woven and non-woven fabrics such as woven fabrics. However, since it also has air permeability, separation work is difficult only by the air suction method.
For this reason, various separation devices that can be applied to separation work of cloth sheets and the like have been proposed, and a related example is disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a sheet-like member holding device.
The apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 causes the adsorption tube to protrude downward from the substrate, adsorbs the sheet-like member at the protruding position, and then retracts the adsorption tube into the substrate while adsorbing the sheet-like member. Thus, a part of the sheet-like member is lifted, and the lifted portion is configured to be held in front of the adsorption tube by the holding member.
With this configuration, it is said that “a sheet-like member such as cloth, which has air permeability and is heavy, can be reliably held one by one (0006)”.

Japanese Patent No. 3330162

In the sheet-like member holding device described in Patent Document 1, when the suction tube is retracted (in the normal usage mode) with the uppermost sheet-like member being sucked, the gripping member does not interfere with the gripping member. Must also be retreated upwards.
For this reason, the uppermost sheet-like member moves while the other part slides on the second sheet-like member by the distance moved upward of the adsorbed part.

For example, when the sheet-like member is a woven fabric with a long and large pile woven from the surface, the friction between the sheet-like members increases, and a large resistance to sliding movement occurs. There is a high possibility that the suction pipe will fall without being able to follow the suction pipe while it rises.
In addition, the larger the density of the sheet-like member and the fabric weight, the higher the mass that is lifted. Therefore, as the distance to be lifted is larger (higher), it is more difficult to maintain the adsorption of the sheet-like member, and there is a high possibility that the sheet-like member will fall and fall out of gripping.
Further, in the ascending process of the adsorption tube, the sheet-like member adsorbed by the adsorption tube may come into contact with the holding member when passing between the pair of holding members. In particular, when the sheet-like member is made of a material having a certain rigidity (having some waist), the possibility of contact with the gripping member is extremely high.
For this reason, there is a possibility that the frictional force accompanying the contact may not follow the adsorption pipe and fall while rising. In particular, when the sheet-like member is a woven fabric having a long and large pile, the possibility is high.

  As described above, the sheet-like member holding device described in Patent Document 1 cannot perform the separation work because the sheet-like member cannot follow the rise of the adsorption tube depending on the material and surface state of the sheet-like member. There is no possibility. Therefore, there is a demand for an apparatus that can satisfactorily separate various sheet-like members.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a separation apparatus and a separation method for a sheet-like member that can satisfactorily separate various sheet-like members.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration and procedure.
1) A sheet-like member separation device for separating an uppermost sheet-like member from a sheet stack in which a plurality of sheet-like members are stacked,
An accommodating portion for accommodating the sheet stack;
A sheet gripper that moves so as to be in contact with and separated from the stack of sheets stored in the storage unit;
A pair of abutting portions that are provided in the sheet gripping portion and are separated from each other so as to be in an open state and a closed state in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the sheet gripping portion;
It is integrally supported by the sheet gripping part, and opens toward the sheet stacking body at a position far from the sheet stacking body side by a predetermined distance with respect to the end surface on the sheet stacking body side of the pair of contact portions. A pipe with an end, and
With
Away against movement range of the seat gripper at its outermost contact proximal position, said end face of said pair of contact portions are set so as to push the uppermost sheet-like member,
In the uppermost sheet-like member, an intermediate portion relatively lifted by pushing the pair of contact portions in the open state is adsorbed by the pipe, and then the sheet gripping portion is raised and the pair of contact portions Is configured to hold the intermediate portion in a closed state ,
Separation of a sheet-like member, wherein the housing part has an elastic repulsion member that urges the sheet-like member toward the pair of contact parts against the pushing of the pair of contact parts. Device.
2) The sheet-shaped member separation device according to 1), wherein a space sandwiched between the pair of contact portions is formed in the closed state, and the pipe is located in the space. is there.
3) wherein the predetermined distance is in the uppermost abutment proximal location of the sheet gripper, when subjected to the air suction from said end of said pipe, said intermediate portion raised by pushing the pair of contact portions The separation apparatus for sheet-like members according to 1) or 2), wherein the distance is an adsorbable distance.
4 ) The position at which the pair of contact portions grips the uppermost sheet-like member is a position that is biased toward one direction from the center of the sheet-like member, any one of 1) to 3 ) It is a separation apparatus of the sheet-like member as described in one.
5 ) The sheet-like member separation device according to 4 ), further comprising a linearly moving portion that reciprocates the sheet gripping portion on a straight line between the one direction and the opposite direction.
6 ) While moving the sheet gripping part gripping the sheet-like member by the linear motion part in the opposite direction, the sheet-like member is brought into contact with the surface on the moving direction side of the sheet-like member. 5. The sheet-like member separation device according to 5 ), further comprising a contact member that changes a posture so that a surface opposite to the moving direction faces the sheet gripping portion.
7 ) Any one of 1) to 6 ) above, wherein a mat portion formed of a material softer than the other is provided on a surface facing one of the pair of contact portions. It is a separation apparatus of the sheet-like member as described in one.
8 ) A sheet-like member separation method for separating the uppermost sheet-like member from a sheet stack in which a plurality of sheet-like members are stacked,
A pressing step of pressing a predetermined position of the uppermost sheet-like member with a pair of open contact portions spaced apart from each other and urging the sheet-like member toward the pair of contact portions by an elastic repulsion member ;
In the uppermost sheet-like member, an intermediate portion between the pair of contact portions lifted relatively in the pushing step is opened at a position farther from the sheet-like member than the distal ends of the pair of contact portions. An adsorption step for adsorbing the pipe by air suction;
The pair of abutting portions and the pipe are raised with their relative positions unchanged while the intermediate portion is attracted to the pipe, and the pair of abutting portions are closed and the intermediate portion is gripped. A gripping step;
It is the separation method of the sheet-like member characterized by including.
9 ) In the method for separating a sheet-like member according to 8 ), the pushing step pushes a position biased toward one direction from the center of the uppermost sheet-like member at the pair of contact portions. is there.
10 ) The pair of contact portions are moved in the direction opposite to the one direction while the uppermost sheet-like member is gripped, and the contact members are placed on the surface of the uppermost sheet-like member on the moving direction side. 9. The sheet-like member separation method according to 9 ), further comprising a posture changing step of bringing the surface opposite to the moving direction of the sheet-like member into contact with the pair of contact portions. It is.

  According to the present invention, an effect that separation work can be performed satisfactorily is obtained.

It is a whole perspective view for demonstrating the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member in embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the S1-S1 position in FIG. It is sectional drawing in the S2 position in FIG. It is a 1st figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the sheet stacking body raising / lowering unit in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is the 2nd figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the sheet stacking body raising / lowering unit in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is a 3rd figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the sheet stacking body raising / lowering unit in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the sheet | seat holding part in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is a two-view figure for demonstrating the open state of the sheet holding part in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is a two-view figure for demonstrating the closed state of the sheet holding part in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the open state and closed state of the sheet | seat holding part in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is a block diagram in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the sheet | seat holding part in the Example of the separation apparatus of the sheet-like member of this invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sheet-like member separation device 51 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the separation device 51) of the embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by a combination of metal frames. The lower main body 1 and the upper main body 2 made of a combination of frames assembled above the lower main body 1 are also provided. It is composed of That is, the sheet stacking unit U1 provided in the lower main body 1 and the sheet gripping unit U2 and the sheet conveying unit U3 mainly provided in the upper main body 2.
First, the sheet stack lifting unit U1 will be described.
The separating device 51 is used by being installed on the floor surface FL, and in the following description, the respective directions of the separating device 51 in the vertical and horizontal directions are defined by the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. Accordingly, the conveying direction of the sheet-like member is the upstream side on the left side and the downstream side on the right side.

<About the sheet stack lifting unit U1>
The lower main body 1 is provided with a column 1a and a shaft 1b in parallel so as to extend in the vertical direction. A rack 1a1 is formed on the column 1a.
An elevating base 3 having a motor M1 and a gear box MG is attached to the column 1a. The elevating base unit 3 includes an arm 3a extending leftward with respect to the column 1a, and a pusher 3b connected to the distal end side of the arm 3a and extending upward and exhibiting a T-shape when viewed leftward. Have.
The gear box MG transmits the rotation of the motor M1 at a reduced speed, and a final output stage pinion (not shown) is engaged with the rack 1a1.
Therefore, as the motor M1 rotates, the elevating base 3 moves in the vertical direction according to the rotation direction.

A pair of position detection sensors SS1, SS2 are attached to the shaft 1b so as to be spaced apart in the vertical direction. The attached positions correspond to the upper limit and lower limit positions in the vertical movement of the lift base 3.
Each position detection sensor SS1, SS2 detects the presence / absence of the elevating base unit 3, the lower limit position of the elevating base unit 3 is the output signal SN1 (see FIG. 11) from the detection sensor SS1, and the upper limit position is The output signal SN2 from the detection sensor SS2 can be grasped.
Based on the output signals SN1 and SN2, the control unit SG (see FIG. 11) controls the rotation of the motor M1.
A general computer device can be used as the control unit SG, and is installed outside the separation device 51 or in the separation device 51 itself.

On the left side of the lower body 1, a cassette guard 4 having a U-shape with front and rear and left side walls is provided.
The cassette guard 4 is provided with a regulating plate 4a that protrudes inward and extends in the left-right direction at the lower end portion of the inner surface of the side wall facing in the front-rear direction.
Further, inside the cassette guard 4, a cassette unit KT serving as a storage unit that stores the sheet stack ST formed by stacking a plurality of sheet-like members is stored so as to be able to enter and exit from above. .

A cassette push-up portion 5 that is inserted into and removed from the cassette guard 4 from below is attached to the pusher 3 b of the lift base portion 3 as the lift base portion 3 moves up and down.
As mainly shown in FIG. 2, the cassette push-up portion 5 includes a flat plate portion 5a1 formed in a rectangular shape and a substrate portion 5a having a bent portion 5a2 bent from the right edge and extending obliquely upward to the right, Above the substrate portion 5a, there is a mounting portion 5b that is elastically supported so as to be detachable from the substrate portion 5a.
Specifically, the mounting portion 5b includes a pair of front and rear coil springs 5c disposed on the left side, a pair of front and rear coil springs 5d disposed on the right side, and the substrate portion 5a. Bolts 5e inserted through the coil springs 5c and 5d, nuts 5f screwed to the respective bolts 5e, and a connecting plate 5b1 that is constantly urged upward by these and connected so as to be restricted in movement at the maximum separation position. ,have.

This maximum separation position is determined by setting the spring length of the coil springs 5c, 5d and the screwing position of the nut 5f with respect to the bolt 5e, etc., and the connecting plate 5b1 is the maximum separation position when the substrate portion 5a is leveled. , The right side is inclined low.
A spacer 5b1a is attached to the left side of the upper surface of the connecting plate 5b1, and the right end of the connecting plate 5b1 is bent to form a stepped portion 5b1b.

  The cassette part KT includes a rectangular frame K1 whose upper and lower sides are open, and a regulating part K2 that is formed to protrude inward at the lower end of the inner surface of the frame facing the front-rear direction in the frame K1. And an intermediate plate K3 that is fitted inside the frame-like body K1 and is movable in the vertical direction in a substantially horizontal posture. The intermediate plate K3 is a plate-like member for placing the sheet stack ST.

The frame-like body K1 can move up and down inside the cassette guard 4, and the width in the front-rear direction is set so as not to pass through the regulation plates 4a and 4a. Therefore, when the frame-like body 1 is inserted into the cassette guard 4 from the upper side, the movement in the downward direction is restricted by contacting the restriction plates 4a and 4a.
The middle plate K3 can be moved up and down inside the frame-like body K1, and the width in the front-rear direction is set so as not to pass the restricting portions K2 and K2. Accordingly, when the intermediate plate K3 is inserted into the frame body K1 from above, the downward movement is restricted by contacting the restricting portions K2 and K2.

When the elevating base part 3 is raised in a state where the cassette part KT is accommodated inside the cassette guard 4, the cassette part pushing-up part 5 is also raised together with the pusher 3b. Accordingly, the spacer 5b1a and the stepped portion 5b1b of the cassette unit push-up unit 5 push up the lower surface of the intermediate plate K3, so that the intermediate plate K3 rises in synchronization with the elevating base unit 3.
When the elevating base portion 3 is lowered from the raised position, the spacer 5b1a and the stepped portion 5b1b are lowered while supporting the mass of the intermediate plate K3 and the stacked sheet stack ST, so that the intermediate plate K3 is moved up and down. Descends in sync with

The upper main body 2 is provided with an optical sensor SS3 made up of a set of a light emitting part and a light receiving part.
Specifically, in a state where the cassette part KT is accommodated inside the cassette guard 4, the detection light LT output from the light emitting part to the light receiving part is the sheet stack ST and the sheet stack ST placed on the intermediate plate K3. It is arranged at a predetermined vertical position that can be blocked by the intermediate plate K3 when not on the vehicle. Thereby, the upper limit position in the upward movement of the intermediate plate K3 is defined.

Based on the output signal SN3 (see FIG. 11) from the optical sensor SS3, the control unit SG blocks the detection light LT and detects its presence (when the sheet stack ST is lifted to a predetermined height) ( 4), the rotation of the motor M1 that raises the elevating base 3 is stopped.
Further, when the separation work proceeds and the sheet stack ST on the intermediate plate K3 disappears, the intermediate plate K3 blocks the detection light LT (the state shown in FIG. 5). 3 stops the rotation of the motor M1 that raises 3.
Alternatively, the rotation of the motor M1 may be stopped by detecting the lift base 3 by the position detection sensor SS2 when the number of the remaining woven fabrics W of the sheet stack ST decreases. In any case, it is preferable that the control unit SG outputs an output (sound, image display, etc.) indicating that the woven fabric W needs to be replenished to prompt the operator to replenish.

The position of the position detection sensor SS1 is set so that the lowering is regulated by the middle plate K3 abutting against the regulating portions K2 and K2 before the lowered base portion 3 is detected by the position detection sensor SS1. (See FIG. 6).
That is, after the lowering of the middle plate K3 is restricted, the cassette push-up unit 5 moves away from the middle plate K3.

<About the sheet gripping unit U2>
Next, the sheet gripping unit U2 provided on the upper side of the upper main body 2 will be described in detail with reference mainly to FIGS. 2, 3, and 7 to 10. FIG.

A linear actuator 6 is disposed along the left-right direction at the top of the upper main body 2. In addition, a pair of guide shafts 7 extending in the left-right direction are provided below the linear actuator 6 and spaced in parallel in the front-rear direction.
In the linear actuator 6, a plate 6 a that moves linearly in the left-right direction is connected to a lower side through a stud 9 with a plate 8 having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. Shaft receivers 8a and 8a are provided at both front and rear ends of the plate 8, and the guide shafts 7 and 7 are inserted through the shaft receivers 8a and 8a.
An air cylinder 11 is attached to the center of the plate 8. The air cylinder 11 performs an operation of expanding and contracting the rod 11a in the vertical direction. The operation of the air cylinder 11 is controlled by the control unit SG.
A support plate 10 having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction is attached to the lower end of the rod 11a.
A pair of sheet gripping portions 13 and 13 are attached to the support plate 10 via brackets 12 on the front side and the rear side, respectively, across the center.

In this configuration, the sheet gripping portion 13 moves in the left-right direction by the operation of the linear actuator 6 (the direction of the arrow DR1 in FIG. 2), and the sheet gripping portion 13 moves in the up-down direction by the operation of the air cylinder 11. (Direction of arrow DR2 in FIG. 2).
The left and right movement limit positions of the sheet gripping part 13 are detected by the block 6a by the optical sensor SS4L provided on the left side of the upper main body part 2 and the optical sensor SS4R provided on the right side. It is regulated by that. That is, the control unit SG controls the operation of the linear actuator 6 based on the output signals SN4L and SN4R (see FIG. 11) indicating whether or not the block 6a is detected output from the optical sensors SS4L and SS4R.
The air cylinder 11 is selected from its specifications so that the moving stroke in the vertical direction of the sheet gripping portion 13 becomes a desired stroke. Further, the vertical position of the entire moving stroke is adjusted by, for example, the position at which the sheet gripping portion 13 is fixed to the bracket 12.

Here, the sheet gripping portion 13 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet gripping portion 13 includes a main body portion 13a, an air cylinder 13b generally accommodated in the main body portion 13a, and an operation direction converting portion 13c disposed below the air cylinder 13b. The clamper 13d and the clamper 13e are connected to the lower side of the operation direction changing portion 13c, and the pipe 13f is integrally held by the holding portion 13a1 protruding from the main body portion 13a.

As with the air cylinder 11, the air cylinder 13b moves the rod 13b1 up and down under the control of the control unit SG using high-pressure air from an external air supply source (not shown) as a drive source.
The movement direction conversion unit 13c moves the rod 13b1 up and down (see arrow DR3) in the direction (for example, orthogonal) in which the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e intersect the direction of up and down movement (see, for example, orthogonal DR4). ).
For example, when the rod 13b1 descends, the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e are separated from each other, and approach when the rod 13b1 rises. As this mechanism, a known motion direction changing mechanism using a cam, a lever, a pin, a groove, or the like can be used.
In the separation device 51, the direction of the contact / separation operation between the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e is the left-right direction. FIG. 7 shows an open state in which the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e are opened.

  One end of the pipe 13f is connected to the negative pressure generator FH, the other end is opened downward in the space between the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e, and the other end is bent into a crank shape from the holding portion 13a1. It is arranged. The operation of the negative pressure generator FH is controlled by the control unit SG (see FIG. 11).

FIG. 8 shows a two-sided view of the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e in the most opened state, and FIG. 9 shows a two-sided view of the closed state in which they are in closest contact. 8A and 9A are views seen from the front side, and FIGS. 8B and 9B are views seen from the lower side.
FIG. 10A shows a perspective view in the open state, and FIG. 10B shows a perspective view in the closed state. In each figure, the tip of the pipe 13f is also drawn.

The clamper 13d has a connecting portion 13d1 connected to the operation direction changing portion 13c, and a contact portion 13d2 that approaches the crank shape from the connecting portion 13d1 toward the clamper 13e and extends downward.
Further, the clamper 13e includes a connecting portion 13e1 connected to the operation direction changing portion 13c, and a contact portion 13e2 that approaches a crank shape from the connecting portion 13e1 toward the clamper 13d and extends downward. Yes.
As shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the mat portion 13d3 may be attached to the abutting portion 13d2 on the side facing the abutting portion 13e2.

When attaching the mat portion 13d3, forming the mat portion 13d3 with a material having a large coefficient of friction with respect to the sheet-like member to be gripped makes it difficult for the sheet-like member to slip at the time of gripping, and the member on the sheet can be gripped satisfactorily. preferable.
Further, forming the mat portion 13d3 with a material softer than the contact portion 13e2 makes it easier for the sheet-like member to bite into the mat portion 13d3 due to the pressing force of the contact portion 13e2 when gripping the sheet-like member. It is preferable because it can be gripped better.
For example, the contact portions 13d2 and 13e2 are formed of a metal material (aluminum, iron, or the like), and the mat portion 13d3 is formed of a rubber material or an elastomer material. Both the contact portion 13e2 and the mat portion 13d3 may be formed of a soft material such as a rubber material.

The mat portion 13d3 and the contact portion 13e2 are close to each other in a closed state when there is no object between them, and have a slight gap between which the mat portion 13d3 and the contact portion 13e2 can contact or hold the sheet member.
Further, the mat portion 13d3 and the abutting portion 13e2 are provided with a cylindrical concave portion 13d4 in the mat portion 13d3, and the abutting portion 13e2 so that a substantially cylindrical space V is formed in the closed state. A cylindrical surface-shaped recess 13e3 is formed.

  As shown in this example, a fillet portion TR may be formed as a convex R at the lower end of the mat portion 13d3. In that case, a protruding portion HR protruding in the recess R is formed at the lower end of the contact portion 13e2 in a shape corresponding to the protrusion R of the fillet portion TR.

In the closed state, the pipe 13f is separated from the recess 13d4 and the recess 13e3 and is positioned between them. In other words, in the closed state, the pipe 13f exists in the space V in a non-contact manner with respect to the mat portion 13d3 and the contact portion 13e2.
The tip surface below the contact portion 13d2, the tip surface below the mat portion 13d3, and the tip surface below the contact portion 13e2 are all at the same position H1 in the height direction. That is, they are included in the same plane.
On the other hand, the open end 13f1 of the pipe 13f is at a position H2 that is higher than the position H1 by a difference ΔH. That is, it is at a position farther from the sheet stack ST side by ΔH than the position H1. Since the pipe 13f is fixed to the holding portion 13a1, the difference ΔH is not changed in the separation operation. The difference ΔH is set to 3 mm, for example, but is not limited to 3 mm.

<About the sheet conveying unit U3>
The sheet gripping unit U2 is a unit including a conveyor BC provided on the lower right side of the upper main body 2 and will be described in detail below mainly with reference to FIGS.

The conveyor BC is disposed on the lower right side of the upper main body 2, and a pair of rollers 14, 14 is provided with the rotation axis line in the front-rear direction and horizontally spaced in the left-right direction.
The pair of rollers 14, 14 are configured to rotate in synchronization with a plurality of endless belts 15.
Further, a motor M2 is disposed below the belt 15 that is stretched, and a power transmission wheel 16 such as a chain is stretched between the rotation shaft of the motor M2 and the right roller 14. Thus, when the motor M2 rotates, the belt 15 moves in the direction of the arrow DR5 and functions as a conveyor. The rotation of the motor M2 is controlled by the control unit SG.

A guide roller 17 is disposed on the left side of the left roller 14 and has a smaller diameter than the roller 14 and the direction of the rotation axis is the front-rear direction. The guide roller 17 may be a non-rotating shaft member and may not be smaller in diameter than the roller 14.
The height direction position of the upper end of the guide roller 17 is at a position H3 that substantially coincides with the height direction position of the upper surface of the belt 15.
The position H3 is set to be on the lower side (floor surface FL side) than the position H1a that is the lower end surface position of the contact portion 13d3 in the most elevated state of the sheet gripping portion 13.

<About operation>
Next, the separation operation by the separation device 51 will be described in detail.
First, in the separation operation, a plurality of sheet-like members W are stacked on the middle plate K3 of the cassette unit KT removed from the separation device 51 by an operator or a machine. This stack is the sheet stack ST. In FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 12, the sheet stack ST is depicted as a stack of about six woven fabrics W.
In the following description, the sheet-like member is assumed to be a rectangular woven cloth W having no waist and air permeability.

First, the operator accommodates the cassette portion KT on which the sheet stack ST is placed on the intermediate plate K3 inside the cassette guard 4 from above.
The first vertical position when the cassette part KT is accommodated is the lowest position where the frame K1 is in contact with the regulating plates 4a, 4a. Here, the cassette push-up portion 5 of the lift base portion 3 is retracted below the intermediate plate K3 (see FIG. 6).

The operator presses a start button (not shown) of the separation device 51 after accommodating the cassette unit 5.
In response to the start button being pressed, the control unit SG rotates the motor M1. As a result, the elevating base portion 3 is raised, and the spacer 5b1a and the step portion 5b1b in the cassette push-up portion 5 push up the intermediate plate K3 upward. As a result, the intermediate plate K3 rises together with the sheet stack ST.

In this ascending process, when the upper end of the sheet stack ST is blocked by the detection light LT and detected by the optical sensor SS3, the control unit SG stops the motor M1 based on the output signal SN3 including the detection information (FIG. 4).
Next, the control unit SG drives the linear actuator 6 to move the sheet gripping unit 13 to the leftmost position (position A in FIG. 2). The leftmost position is grasped based on the output signal SN4L from the optical sensor SS4L.
In this leftmost position, the sheet gripping portion 13 is positioned above the left side, which is one side with respect to the center in the left-right direction of the sheet stack ST, and the contact portion 13d2 of the clamper 13d is in the left-right direction. It does not exceed the left end of the sheet stack ST.

The control unit SG drives the air cylinder 11 to extend the rod 11a downward from the most contracted state which is the reference state.
In the state in which the rod 11a is most extended, the position of the lower front end surface of the contact portions 13d2 and 13e2 in the sheet gripping portion 13 is that of the uppermost sheet stack ST (woven fabric Wt) set by the optical sensor SS3. It is set below the position.
Therefore, the pair of sheet gripping portions 13 and 13 push the sheet stack ST from above to reach the lowest position. Here, the clampers 13d and 13e are in the open state and are farthest from each other. This state is shown in FIG.
The urging force applied to the sheet stack ST by being pushed by the sheet gripping portion 13 is transmitted to the connecting plate 5b1 via the intermediate plate K3, the spacer 5b1a, and the like.
Since the connecting plate 5b1 is elastically supported by the coil springs 5c and 5d, it moves downward by the urging force.

In the state shown in FIG. 12A, the intermediate plate K3 is urged upward by a force F1 which is an elastic repulsive force of the coil springs 5c and 5d. That is, the woven fabric Wt is pushed in with the force F1 by the contact portion 13d2, the mat portion 13d3, and the contact portion 13e2.
Then, in the woven fabric Wt, the intermediate portion Wtp which is a portion between the clampers 13d and 13e pushed downward is relatively lifted.
Between the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e, a pipe 13f that opens upward by a difference ΔH from the tip position of the contact portion 13d2, the mat portion 13d3, and the contact portion 13e2 is installed. When the control unit SG drives the negative pressure generator FH to generate negative pressure at the lifted timing, the intermediate portion Wtp is adsorbed to the tip opening of the pipe 13f (see also FIG. 3).
The difference ΔH is set to a position that is equal to or less than the lifting height of the intermediate portion Wtp, or slightly above the lifting height, and the tip of the pipe 13f contacts or closes to the intermediate portion Wtp by the lifting. It is sucked up by suction and comes into contact.

After operating the negative pressure generator FH, the control unit SG drives the air cylinder 11 so as to contract the rod 11a and raises the sheet gripping unit 13 (see FIGS. 12B and 3). At approximately the same time, the air cylinder 13b is driven to close the clamper 13d and the clamper 13e [see FIG. 12 (c)].
As the sheet gripping portion 13 is raised, the woven fabric Wt is lifted by separating a limited range in the vicinity of the adsorbed intermediate portion Wtp from the second woven fabric W2, and the clampers 13d and 13e are closed. Wtp is sandwiched and gripped.

  As described above, the fillet portion TR is formed at the lower end portion of the mat portion 13d3 in the clamper 13d, and the protruding portion HR is formed at the lower end portion of the contact portion 13e2 in a shape corresponding to the shape of the fillet portion TR. The intermediate portion Wtp is sandwiched between not only the vertical surface but also the surface intersecting the vertical surface, so that the woven fabric Wt is caught by the contact portion 13e2 and contacted. Since the tip of the portion 13e2 bites into the woven fabric Wt, the woven fabric Wt can be gripped better.

The control unit causes the pair of sheet gripping units 13 and 13 to execute a series of gripping operations of the woven fabric Wt in synchronization.
Then, with the clampers 13d and 13e sandwiching the intermediate portion Wtp of the woven fabric Wt, the sheet gripping portion 13 rises to the uppermost position (see FIG. 12D).

After raising the sheet gripping portion 13 to the uppermost position, the control unit SG drives the linear actuator 6 to move the sheet gripping portion 13 to the rightmost position (<C position> via the <B> position in FIG. 2). What). In this state, the belt 15 of the conveyor BC is still stopped.
As the sheet gripping portion 13 moves to the right, the woven fabric Wt is rolled up from the left side portion to the right side portion and gradually separated from the second woven fabric W2.

When the position of the sheet gripping portion 13 goes to the right side beyond the guide roller 17, the surface of the gripped woven fabric Wt that is on the upper side of the sheet stack ST comes into contact with the guide roller 17.
Further, when the guide roller 17 further moves to the right, the lower surface is turned upside down to be placed on the belt 15 in that posture.
That is, the guide roller 17 functions as an abutting member that abuts on the woven cloth Wt and changes the posture of the woven cloth Wt.

When a part of the woven fabric W is placed on the belt 15, or immediately before or after that point, the control unit SG operates the air cylinder 13b to open the clampers 13d and 13e and control the negative pressure generator FH. Then, air suction by the pipe 13f is stopped.
This timing may be measured by the control unit SG based on the output signal SN4R of the optical sensor SS4R.
By the opening operation of the clampers 13d and 13e and the stop of air suction, the intermediate portion Wtp is released from the gripping and falls onto the belt 15. Then, the control unit SG drives the motor M2, and starts the circular movement of the belt 15 in the direction of the arrow DR5. When the circular movement starts, the woven fabric Wt on the belt 15 is conveyed rightward.

In this way, the uppermost single woven fabric Wt is separated from the sheet stack ST and conveyed by the conveyor BC.
The sheet stack ST is moved up by one sheet by the drive of the motor M1 because the uppermost woven cloth Wt is separated and moved, and the second woven cloth W2 until then is the uppermost woven cloth Wt. It becomes.

When the sheet-like member Wt is a woven cloth such as a towel cloth, when the intermediate part Wtp is released and dropped onto the belt 15, the folded portion of the picked part is also eliminated and the entire part is flattened. Become.
When the degree of waist strength of the sheet-like member is weak or when the position gripped by the sheet gripping portion 13 is set closer to the center, the folding is completely eliminated when the intermediate portion Wtp falls on the belt 15. Instead, the leading portion in the conveying direction of the sheet-like member being conveyed is folded upward with the portion adsorbed by the pipes 13f and 13f of the pair of sheet gripping portions 13 and 13 as folds along the front-rear direction. In some cases, two sheets may be folded.
Even in this case, the folded-up portion of the two-layered sheet hangs downward from the right end of the belt 15 on the leading side in the transport direction of the woven fabric Wt, so that the folded-back portion is folded downward by its own weight, as indicated by an arrow DR6. Because it extends to, it is resolved naturally.
Therefore, from the separation work to the next process, for example, if the sheet-like member that has been folded and removed from the belt 15 by the conveyor BC2 disposed below the belt 15 is received, Regardless of the type, it can be carried out as a completely flat woven fabric without folding.

The separation device 51 fixes the pipe 13f to the main body 13a of the sheet gripping portion 13, and does not move the pipe 13f relative to the main body 13a in the separation operation.
Therefore, the sheet gripping portion 13 is extremely simple in structure, easy to assemble, and can be configured at low cost.

According to the configuration described above, in the separation operation, the sheet gripping portion 13 itself moves up, but the pipe 13f does not move up further with respect to the main body portion 13a. The distance that slides on the sheet-like member W2 of the eye is small.
Therefore, even if the sheet-like member W is, for example, a long and large pile woven from the surface, or the sheet-like member W has a high material density or basis weight. The adsorption by the pipe 13f is maintained, and the separation operation is performed well.
In other words, the pipe 13f is not moved relative to the clampers 13d and 13e with respect to the main body portion 13a. Therefore, when the sheet gripping portion 13 is raised in the suction state with the pipe 13f, the sheet-like member is moved. Wt does not touch the clampers 13d and 13e so as to rub. Therefore, since the frictional force accompanying the contact is not applied to the sheet-like member Wt, the sheet-like member Wt does not become unable to follow the pipe 13f, which is an adsorption pipe, on the way up regardless of the material or surface state. .
Further, in the separating apparatus 51, the sheet stacks ST are stacked with the sheet-like members stacked such that the left edge in the left-right direction of the separating apparatus 51, that is, the edge held by the sheet gripping portion 13 is aligned. As long as the position of the right edge is not uniform, it can be separated satisfactorily.
This is because even if the sheet-like members forming the sheet stack ST are not of the same shape and size but of different shapes or different sizes, as long as the left edge of the separation device 51 is aligned. It means that separation work can be performed.
As described above, according to the separation device 51, it is possible to satisfactorily perform separation work on various sheet-like members regardless of the material, surface state, shape, and size of the sheet-like member.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the configuration and procedure described above, and it goes without saying that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The separation device 51 is not limited to the one provided with a pair of sheet gripping portions 13 in the front-rear direction. A plurality of three or more may be provided. In addition, when the sheet-like member is a belt-like shape, a separation device having one sheet gripping portion 13 may be used.
Only an arbitrary sheet gripping portion 13 among the plurality of sheet gripping portions 13 may be operated.

  The difference ΔH between the height position H2 of the opening end of the pipe 13f and the height position H1 of the front end surface of the contact portion 13d2 or the like is not limited to 3 mm and can be set as appropriate. Moreover, you may provide the adjustment structure which can adjust difference (DELTA) H.

The kind of sheet-like member is not limited. What is necessary is just a thing with low rigidity and a low waist, and it is not limited to what has air permeability. Examples of the material of the sheet-like member include soft resin, rubber, cloth (including woven fabric and non-woven fabric), film-like metal, and paper.
As the woven fabric, for example, there is a drawing fabric.
The air permeability is not limited to that imparted by weaving fibers or the like. Breathability may be imparted by a small hole or the like provided for a non-breathable sheet.

The protruding portion HR may be provided not on the contact portion 13e2 on the leading side in the transport direction but on the contact portion 13d2 on the tail side. In that case, the fillet part TR is provided on the leading side.
The clamper 13d and the clamper 13e are not limited to those provided separately in the left-right direction as the transport direction. For example, they may be provided apart in the front-rear direction or the direction intersecting the transport direction.
However, as described above, the configuration in which the gripping positions in the plurality of sheet gripping portions 13 are aligned in the same position in the left-right direction is determined in a direction perpendicular to the transporting direction because the fold line in the gripping state is determined in a single direction. Is a preferred form.

  The above-described clamper 13d and clamper 13e form an I-shaped gap that is bulged and rounded at the center when viewed from below in the open state. The intermediate portion Wtp is lifted up including the portion drawn from the gap and is favorably adsorbed by the pipe 13f. Therefore, this gap is not limited to an I-shape, and may be a gap formed by a combination of linear gaps gathered at the center, such as a + shape, an X shape, and a * shape.

  The vertical direction in the above description may not coincide with the vertical direction in the installation state of the separation device 51, and may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction within a range that does not hinder the separation operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower main body part 1a Support | pillar, 1a1 rack, 1b Shaft 2 Upper main body part 3 Lifting base part, 3a Arm, 3b Pusher 4 Cassette guard, 4a Restriction plate 5 Cassette push-up part 5a Substrate part, 5a1 Flat plate part, 5a2 Bending part, 5b Mounting portion 5b1 Connecting plate, 5b1a Spacer, 5b1b Stepped portion 5c, 5d Coil spring, 5e Bolt, 5f Nut 6 Linear actuator, 6a Block 7 Guide shaft 8 Plate, 8a Shaft support 9 Stud 10 Support plate 11 Air cylinder, 11a Rod 12 Bracket 13 Sheet gripping part 13a Main body part, 13a1 holding part, 13b Air cylinder 13b1 Rod, 13c Operation direction changing part 13d, 13e Clamper, 13d1, 13e1 Connecting part 13d2, 13e2 Abutting part, 13d3 Mat part 13 d4, 13e3 recess, 13f pipe 14 roller 15 belt, 16 power transmission wheel 17 guide roller (contact member)
51 Separation device for sheet-like members (separation device)
BC, BC2 conveyor DR1-DR6 direction FH negative pressure generator, FL floor surface H1-H3, H1a (height direction) position, ΔH difference KT cassette part, K1 frame, K2 regulating part, K3 middle plate LT detection Light M1, M2 Motor, MG Gearbox TR Fillet part, HR Protrusion part SG Control part SS1, SS2 Position detection sensor SS3, SS4L, SS4R Optical sensor SN1-SN3, SN4L, SN4R Output signal ST Sheet stack U1 Sheet stack lift Unit, U2 Sheet gripping unit U3 Sheet conveying unit V Space W Sheet-like member (woven fabric)
Wt (topmost) woven fabric, Wta folded portion, Wtp intermediate portion W2 (second sheet) woven fabric

Claims (10)

A sheet-like member separation device for separating the uppermost sheet-like member from a sheet stack in which a plurality of sheet-like members are stacked,
An accommodating portion for accommodating the sheet stack;
A sheet gripper that moves so as to be in contact with and separated from the stack of sheets stored in the storage unit;
A pair of abutting portions that are provided in the sheet gripping portion and are separated from each other so as to be in an open state and a closed state in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the sheet gripping portion;
It is integrally supported by the sheet gripping part, and opens toward the sheet stacking body at a position far from the sheet stacking body side by a predetermined distance with respect to the end surface on the sheet stacking body side of the pair of contact portions. A pipe with an end, and
With
Away against movement range of the seat gripper at its outermost contact proximal position, said end face of said pair of contact portions are set so as to push the uppermost sheet-like member,
In the uppermost sheet-like member, an intermediate portion relatively lifted by pushing the pair of contact portions in the open state is adsorbed by the pipe, and then the sheet gripping portion is raised and the pair of contact portions Is configured to hold the intermediate portion in a closed state ,
Separation of a sheet-like member, wherein the housing part has an elastic repulsion member that urges the sheet-like member toward the pair of contact parts against the pushing of the pair of contact parts. apparatus.   2. The sheet-like member separation device according to claim 1, wherein a space sandwiched between the pair of contact portions is formed in the closed state, and the pipe is positioned in the space. Wherein the predetermined distance is in the uppermost abutment proximal location of the sheet gripper, when subjected to the air suction from the end portion of the pipe, it can adsorb the intermediate portion raised by pushing the pair of contact portions The sheet-like member separation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance is set to a short distance. Position, any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that from the center of the sheet-like member is a position biased in one direction side of the pair of abutting portions are gripping the uppermost sheet-like member The sheet-like member separation device according to 1. 5. The sheet-like member separating apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a linearly moving portion that reciprocally moves the sheet gripping portion on a straight line between the one direction and the opposite direction. While moving the sheet gripping part gripping the sheet-like member by the linear motion part in the opposite direction, the movement of the sheet-like member is brought into contact with the surface on the moving direction side of the sheet-like member. 6. The sheet-like member separation device according to claim 5 , further comprising a contact member that changes a posture so that a surface opposite to the direction faces the sheet gripping portion. Surface facing the other on one of the pair of abutting portions, any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a mat made of a material softer than the other The sheet-like member separation device according to 1. A sheet-like member separation method for separating the uppermost sheet-like member from a sheet stack in which a plurality of sheet-like members are stacked,
A pressing step of pressing a predetermined position of the uppermost sheet-like member with a pair of open contact portions spaced apart from each other and urging the sheet-like member toward the pair of contact portions by an elastic repulsion member ;
In the uppermost sheet-like member, an intermediate portion between the pair of contact portions lifted relatively in the pushing step is opened at a position farther from the sheet-like member than the distal ends of the pair of contact portions. An adsorption step for adsorbing the pipe by air suction;
The pair of abutting portions and the pipe are raised with their relative positions unchanged while the intermediate portion is attracted to the pipe, and the pair of abutting portions are closed and the intermediate portion is gripped. A gripping step;
A method for separating a sheet-like member, comprising: The method of separating a sheet-like member according to claim 8 , wherein the pushing step pushes a position biased toward one direction from the center of the uppermost sheet-like member at the pair of contact portions. The pair of contact portions are moved in a direction opposite to the one direction while holding the uppermost sheet-like member, and the contact member is brought into contact with a surface of the uppermost sheet-like member on the moving direction side. The method for separating a sheet-like member according to claim 9 , further comprising a posture changing step of directing a surface opposite to the moving direction of the sheet-like member toward the pair of contact portions .

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