JP6672829B2 - Supply device, image forming system, transported object inspection system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a supply device, an image forming system, and a conveyed object inspection system.

  In a supply device that supplies a conveyed object to an image forming system such as a copying machine or a printer, or an inspection device, the uppermost conveyed object among the plurality of conveyed objects is suctioned by an air suction type suction unit. What is conveyed by a conveying means in a feeding direction is known. For example, a separation wind is blown from the front end side to the rear end side of the transported object, and the transported object is suctioned by a plurality of air suction type suction means disposed on the front end side and the rear end side of the transported object. A device that sucks and conveys has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

In the configuration of Patent Literature 1, the suction means of the air suction system is also arranged on the rear end side of the conveyed object, so that it is possible to suction the conveyed object in a wide range. In some cases, there is a concern that the transported object may flap during transport in the feeding direction, so there is room for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new supply device capable of reducing fluttering of a transferred object during transfer.

A supply device according to the present invention is provided above a transported object loaded on a mounting portion, and a first suction unit that suctions the transported object by generating a negative pressure by air suction , Is disposed above the transported object loaded in the section and upstream of the first suction means in the feeding direction of the transported object, and generates the negative pressure due to the vortex of air to transport the transported object. A suction unit having a first suction unit and a second suction unit in the feeding direction, the first suction unit and the second suction unit in the feeding direction. Between the second suction means and the uppermost conveyed object among the conveyed objects loaded on the mounting portion, and the conveyed object contacted by the conveyed object sucked by the suction portion. It is characterized by comprising a guide member.

According to the present invention, between the first suction unit and the second suction unit in the feeding direction, the uppermost transported object among the transported objects loaded on the second suction unit and the mounting unit . Since the conveyance guide member is disposed between the first and second conveyance members, the object to be conveyed sucked by the second suction means is conveyed along the conveyance guide member. An apparatus can be provided.

The figure which shows typically the structure of the supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mounting unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a first suction unit and a transport unit that constitute a suction unit. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of the first suction unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one mode of a separating unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a second suction unit that forms the suction unit. (A) is a schematic diagram explaining the air flow by the operation of the first suction means, and (b) is a flow velocity diagram showing the analysis result of the air flow by the operation of the first suction means. (A) is a schematic diagram for explaining a vortex which is an air flow by the operation of the second suction means, and (b) is a flow velocity diagram showing an analysis result of the air flow by the operation of the second suction means. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the first embodiment. 4 is an operation timing chart of each unit in the supply device according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one mode of control of the supply device according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic diagrams illustrating operations and steps from separation to transport of a first transported object by a supply device according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic diagrams illustrating operations and steps from separation to suction of a second transported object by the supply device according to the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining one Embodiment of the conveyance guide member which consists of a several rotating body, (a) is a figure which shows the state before operation of a conveyance means and a 2nd suction means, (b) is a conveyance means and a 2nd suction. The figure which shows the state after operation | movement of a means. FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining the behavior of the transported object when the transport guide member is provided, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the behavior of the transported object when the transport guide member is not provided. It is a figure explaining the conveyance guide member bent in the feed direction concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a figure showing the state before operation of conveyance means and the 2nd suction means, and (b) is a figure. The figure which shows the state after operation of a conveyance means and a 2nd suction means. It is a figure explaining arrangement and composition of a conveyance means and a plate-like conveyance guide member, (a) is the figure seen from the adsorption side, (b) shows the composition of the rear end side of the conveyed object in the feeding direction. The figure seen from the side. It is a figure explaining arrangement of a conveyance guide member and a conveyance means of an arch shape, (a) is a figure seen from the attraction side, and (b) shows the composition of the rear end side of a conveyed object from the feeding direction side. The figure I saw. It is a figure explaining arrangement of a conveyance guide member and conveyance means of an inverted arch shape, (a) is a figure seen from the adsorption side, (b) is the composition of the rear end side of the conveyed object in the feeding direction. The figure seen from. The figure explaining another subject in the case where it does not have a conveyance guide member. The figure explaining the plate-shaped conveyance guide member which can be moved in the approaching / separating direction which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a moving unit that moves a conveyance guide member, and FIG. 3B is a diagram of the configuration of the moving unit viewed from a feeding direction. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to a third embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing one form of control for controlling the operation of the moving means. (A) is a figure which shows the form which applied the moving means to the arch-shaped conveyance guide member, (b) is a figure which shows the form which applied the movement means to the reverse arch-shaped conveyance guide member. The figure explaining another form of the moving means. It is a figure explaining the support form of the conveyance guide member which does not bend in the feed direction, and the structure of a moving means which concern on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is located in the direction separated from a mounting part. (B) shows a state in which it is located in a direction approaching the mounting portion. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating one embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention. The figure which shows typically one form of the conveyed thing inspection system which concerns on this invention. FIGS. 4A to 4D are schematic diagrams showing operations and steps from separation to conveyance of a supply device having one suction unit. FIGS. 4A to 4D are schematic diagrams showing operations and steps from separation to conveyance of a supply device having a plurality of first suction means.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments, those having the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be appropriately omitted. The drawings may be partially omitted in order to facilitate understanding of a part of the configuration.
In the conventional supply device, when a plurality of air suction type suction means sucks and conveys an object to be conveyed, waits for a separation wind blown from the separation means to escape to the rear end side of the object to be conveyed, Conveying had begun. This is because if the transported object is transported before the separation of the transported object is completed, the transport of the transported objects that have not been completely separated occurs due to friction between the transported objects. However, waiting for conveyance until the separated air passes through the rear end of the conveyed object leads to a delay in supply, which may hinder improvement in efficiency. Further, when the balance of the suction force of the suction unit with respect to the transported object in the transport direction is disturbed, the transported object may be fluttered during the transport in the transport direction.
Therefore, the supply device according to the present embodiment is arranged above the transported object loaded on the mounting portion, and supplies a suction unit that sucks the transported object, and a transported object that is sucked by the suction unit. A transport unit that transports in the transport direction and a transport guide member that contacts the transported object sucked by the suction unit are provided.
As described above, when the transport guide member is disposed between the suction unit that sucks the transported object and the transported object loaded on the mounting unit, the transported object sucked by the suction unit is suctioned to the transport guide member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce fluttering of the transferred object during the transfer.

(First embodiment)
The configuration of the supply device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the supply device 100 includes a placement unit 110 on which a sheet-shaped object 101 is loaded, a suction unit 10, a conveyance unit 130, a blowing unit 150 as a separation unit, and a conveyance guide. A member 50 and a control unit 200 shown in FIG. 9 are provided in the housing. The suction unit 10 includes a first suction unit 120 and a second suction unit 140.
The first suction means 120 constituting the suction unit 10 generates a negative pressure in the suction chamber 121 to suck the uppermost conveyed object 101A. The second suction means 140 constituting the suction unit 10 suctions the transported object 101 by vortex. The transport unit 130 transports the transported object 101A sucked by the suction unit 10 in a feeding direction indicated by an arrow A, and transports the transported object 101A to another system located in the feeding direction A. That is, in the supply device 100 according to the present embodiment, the suction unit 10 includes two different types of suction units. The first suction means 120 is arranged on the downstream side in the feeding direction, and the second suction means 140 is arranged on the upstream side of the first suction means 120 in the feeding direction. The second suction unit 140 is disposed above (in a direction away from the mounting unit 110) the suction surface 131A of the transport unit 130 disposed on the first suction unit 120 side.
The mounting section 110 is for loading a plurality of objects to be transported 101. As shown in FIG. 2, the loading section 110 includes an elevating tray 111 that is moved up and down by an elevating mechanism in accordance with the number of sheets (remaining amount), and the uppermost transported object 101A is maintained at a constant height. It is configured to be. The mounting portion 110 projects a pair of side fences 112, 112 in which the interval in the width direction W is variable according to the size of the transferred object 101 indicated by the arrow W in the width direction, and the end of the transferred object 101. An abutting member 113 for adjusting the abutting and leading end positions is provided. The arrow W is a direction crossing the feeding direction A.

1 and 3, the first suction means 120 includes a suction chamber 121, a suction duct 122, a suction wing 123, and a first driving means 124. The first suction unit 120 is disposed above the transported object 101 loaded on the mounting unit 110. The first suction unit 120 is an air suction system (hereinafter, referred to as a “chamber system”) that generates a negative pressure in the suction chamber 121 by driving the first driving unit 124 to rotate the suction blades 123. is there. The first suction unit 120 suctions the uppermost transported object 101A of the loaded transported objects 101 by the generated negative pressure.
The suction chamber 121 is installed inside the transfer means 130 so that an opening 121b formed in the bottom 121a thereof communicates with a lower space through a number of small-diameter holes 131a formed in the transfer means 130. Is formed. In the suction chamber 121, a hole 121 c formed on one side in the width direction W is connected to a suction wing 123 and a first driving unit 124 via a suction duct 122.

In the first suction unit 120, the suction blade 123 is rotated by the first drive unit 124, so that air is sucked from below the transport unit 130, and the sucked air is sucked into the suction chamber 121, the suction duct 122, and the suction blade 123. The first drive means 124 discharges the first suction means 120 to the outside. In the drawing, the symbol aw indicates an air flow (sucked air) generated by the operation of the first suction unit 120.
The first suction means 120 is provided with an electric shutter mechanism 126 for opening and closing the suction duct 122 or the suction chamber 121. The shutter mechanism 126 is opened and closed by a shutter drive unit 171. When the shutter driving unit 171 is operated while the first driving unit 124 is in the operating state (driving state), the first suction unit 120 generates a suction force by the air flow aw (on the leading end 101Aa side of the transported object 101A). Act on. Of course, without providing the shutter mechanism 126 and the shutter driving unit 171, the suction force may be applied to the transported object 101 </ b> A by turning on / off the first driving unit 124. There is a time lag until a suction force (negative pressure) for suctioning the transferred object 101A is generated. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the timing at which the suction force acts by turning on / off the shutter mechanism 126 by the shutter driving unit 171 while the first driving unit 124 is driven, in order to cope with high speed.

  The first suction means 120 is not limited to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and may have another form. For example, the first suction means 120A shown in FIG. 4 is different from the first suction means 120 shown in FIG. In the case of the first suction means 120A, the suction wing 123 is rotated by the first driving means 124 to suck air from below the suction wing 123 in FIG. A negative pressure is generated in the inside and the conveyed object 101A can be sucked.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 130 includes a transport belt 131 that attracts and transports the transported object 101 </ b> A by a suction force, which is a negative pressure generated by the first suction unit 120, and a belt that rotates the transport belt 131. A belt drive motor 132 is provided as a drive source. The transport belt 131 has a large number of small-diameter holes 131 a formed therein so that the air flow aw generated by the first suction unit 120 can pass therethrough. The transport belt 131 is stretched and supported by at least two rollers 133 and 134, and one of the rollers is rotationally driven by a belt drive motor 132, so that the transport belt 131 rotates clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 3. . In the present embodiment, the roller 133 is driven to rotate by the belt drive motor 132.
The transport unit 130 sucks the uppermost transported object 101A sucked upward by the first suction unit 120 on the suction surface 131A of the transport belt 131 facing the transported object 101A, and the belt drive motor 132 is driven ( Actuation), the transported object 101A adsorbed on the adsorption surface 131A is conveyed in the feeding direction A while being adsorbed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the blower unit 150 adjusts the timing at which the uppermost conveyed object 101 </ b> A on the mounting unit 110 is sucked by the first suction unit 120, and the uppermost conveyed object at the end side of the conveyed object. An air flow fw serving as a separation wind is blown toward the leading end (hereinafter, referred to as “leading end”) 101Aa of the transported object 101A in the feeding direction. The blower unit 150 blows the airflow fw toward the tip 101Aa of the uppermost transported object 101A, thereby causing the airflow fw to flow between the transported object 101A and the transported object 101 located therebelow. It is introduced and floated toward the conveying means 130. Reference numeral 101Ab indicates an upstream end (hereinafter, referred to as a “rear end”) side of the transported object 101A in the feeding direction.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the blower unit 150 includes a blower fan 151 that is rotationally driven by a fan drive motor 155 as a drive unit, a blower duct 152 having one end 152 a communicating with the blower fan 151, and a blower duct 152. An air blower nozzle 153 and the like communicated with the other end 152b are provided. When the blower fan 151 is rotationally driven, the blower unit 150 takes in outside air from the opening 151A of the blower fan 151 and blows out the airflow fw from the blower nozzle 153 through the blower duct 152. Then, the air flow fw is blown toward the tip end portion 101Aa of the uppermost transported object 101A (and the transported object 101 overlapping therebelow), so that the uppermost transported object is generated by the positive pressure of the airflow fw. 101A is separated from the transported object 101 below and floats upward. The first suction unit 120 is disposed above the tip 101Aa side of the transported object 101A, and the uppermost transported object 101A is transported by the transport unit 130 by the suction performed by the first suction unit 120. Adsorption is promoted toward the adsorption surface 131A of the belt 131.

As shown in FIG. 1, the blower unit 150 is provided with an electric shutter mechanism 156 that opens and closes the blower duct 152 or the blower nozzle 153. The shutter mechanism 156 is opened and closed by a fan shutter drive unit 172. The blower unit 150 is configured such that when the fan drive motor 155 is in an operating state (driving state), the fan shutter drive unit 172 is turned on / off so that the airflow fw is blown out from the blower nozzle 153. . Of course, without providing the shutter mechanism 156 and the fan shutter drive unit 172, the air flow fw may be blown toward the front end portion 101Aa of the transported object 101A by turning on / off the fan drive motor 155. There is a time lag between the start of rotation and the generation of the air flow required to separate the transferred object 101A. For this reason, it is preferable to adjust the timing of blowing out the airflow fw by opening and closing the shutter mechanism 156 by the fan shutter drive unit 172.
That is, the air blowing unit 150 is disposed in the first suction unit 120 side, also be blown airflow fw is a separation air towards the end of the object to be conveyed 101,101A before aspiration (tip 101ab) It is.

The second suction unit 140 includes a rotary wing 143, a second driving unit 141 as a driving unit for driving the rotary wing 143 to rotate, and a housing 142 that covers the outer periphery of the rotary wing 143. As shown in FIG. 6, the housing 142 has an opening 142A formed on one side. The rotary wing 143 is formed by arranging a plurality of rib-shaped wings 1432 as a plurality of wall portions on one surface 1431a of the substrate 1431 in a radial pattern.
The second suction means 140 is arranged with the opening 142A of the rotary wing 143 facing the transported object 101 which is the suction target as shown in FIG. In the present form condition, opening 142A is disposed so as to face from above uppermost transported object 101A of the transferred object 101 disposed on the mounting portion 110. The second suction means 140 is arranged such that the lower part 142a of the housing 142 is located above the suction surface 131A of the transport means 130.
When the rotary blade 143 is rotated by the driving of the second drive unit 141, the second suction unit 140 generates a vortex bw that is a vortex of air, and generates a vortex wind bw due to a negative pressure generated near the central portion 143a of the rotary blade 143. This is a vortex suction method (hereinafter, referred to as a “tornado method”) suction means for suctioning the transferred object 101A located in the direction of the suction target. In the present embodiment, the second suction means 140 includes the housing 142, but the swirl bw is generated even in a configuration in which the housing 142 provided on the outer periphery of the rotary wing 143 is not provided. The second suction means 140 may have a configuration without the housing 142.
Further, the second suction means 140 is provided with a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the opening 142A of the housing 142, a second shutter driving unit for driving the opening and closing of the opening 142A, and the like, so that the shutter mechanism is opened and closed while the rotary wing 143 is rotated. a manner, may be adjusted to the timing of the action of the vortex air bw for the transported object 101A.

The flow of air by the first suction unit 120 and the second suction unit 140 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the first suction unit 120 generates a negative pressure in the suction chamber 121 by rotating the suction blade 123 to drive the air below the conveyance unit 130 to a large number of the conveyance belt 131. An air flow (suction air) aw is generated by suction from the small-diameter hole 131a, and a suction force is applied to the transferred object 101A. However, since the first suction unit 120 sucks air from the small-diameter hole 131a of the conveyor belt 131 of the conveyance unit 130, the air around the small-diameter hole 131a is sucked from the entire space. The suction force exerted on the object 101 becomes weak.
That is, in the configuration of the chamber-type suction unit that generates a negative pressure in the suction chamber 121 by discharging the suctioned air in multiple directions, the force for suctioning the suction target at a distant position is weak. For this reason, when the uppermost transported object 101A, which is the suction target, is lifted by the airflow fw blown out of the blower 150 to separate the transported object 101, the first suction unit 120 moves the transported object. Since the distance to 101A is shortened, suction becomes easier. That is, the first suction unit 120 can suction the suction target object located at a relatively far distance by assisting the airflow fw from the blower unit 150. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a flow velocity line of the air flow aw when a model of the first suction unit 120 is created by computer software and the created model is analyzed by analysis simulation software. As shown in this flow chart, it can be seen that in the first suction means 120, which is a chamber-type suction means, the flow velocity line is wide and is sucked into the suction chamber 121 from the entire space.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8A, the second suction means 140 rotates the rotating wings 143 having the radially arranged wings 1432, so that a spiral air flow is formed below the rotating wings 143. A vortex wind bw is generated. Therefore, a negative pressure is generated at the central portion 1433 of the rotary wing 143 corresponding to the central portion of the vortex bw, and the uppermost transported object 101A is sucked. Since the vortex bw is mainly generated directly below the wings 1432, it is possible to apply a suction force to the suction target (the transported object 101 </ b> A) relatively far from the rotary wings 143. It is possible to suck a suction target object (conveyed object 101A) that is too far away without receiving the assistance of the airflow fw from the blower unit 150. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a flow velocity line of a vortex bw (air flow) when a model of the second suction means 140 is created by computer software and the created model is analyzed by analysis simulation software. . As shown in this flow velocity diagram, in the second suction means 140 which is a tornado type suction means, the flow velocity line has a high density in the space below the rotary wing 143, and a vortex bw is formed to be sucked. You can see that it is.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a side air nozzle 180 that blows out side air is provided on one of the side fences 112 (the far side in the figure). The side air is blown out from one side in the width direction W of the transported object 101 via the side air nozzle 180 in order to reduce the state in which the loaded transported objects 101 are in close contact with each other one by one. The side air nozzle 180 is an air blower for mackerel. The side air nozzle 180 is connected to a side blower device 190 (see FIG. 9) for generating an air flow, and the air flow generated by the side blower device 190 is supplied through a duct or the like.

Next, the configuration of a control system by the control unit 200 according to the first embodiment and the operation timing of each unit will be described.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the control unit 200 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 is an operation timing chart of the configuration of the supply device 100. In FIG. 9, the control unit 200 is configured by a computer including a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, and a timer 204.
On the input side of the control unit 200, a conveyance detection sensor 158 for detecting the conveyance state of the article 101 and a supply start switch 159 for inputting a supply start signal are connected via signal lines. The transport detection sensor 158 is disposed downstream of the first suction unit, and is configured by a sensor that optically detects the transported object 101A.
On the output side of the control unit 200, the first drive unit 124, the belt drive motor 132, the second drive unit 141, the fan drive motor 155, the shutter drive unit 171 and the fan shutter drive unit 172, and the side blower device 190 connect signal lines. Connected through. The operations of the first driving unit 124, the belt driving motor 132, the second driving unit 141, the fan driving motor 155, the shutter driving unit 171 and the fan shutter driving unit 172, and the side blower device 190 are stored in the ROM of the control unit 20. ON / OFF control is performed according to the operation timing.
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the suction conveyance control by the control unit 200 of the supply device 100 according to the first embodiment, and FIGS. 12 (a) to (c) and FIGS. 13 (a) to (c) show the present embodiment. 4 shows operations and steps from separation to transport by the supply device 10 according to the embodiment. FIGS. 13A to 13C show operations performed after the operation of FIG. 12C.

When the supply start switch 159 is operated and a supply start signal is input in step ST1 of FIG. 11, the control unit 200 operates the first drive unit 124 and the fan drive motor 155 in step ST2, and proceeds to step ST3. .
The control unit 200 operates the side blower device 190, the shutter driving unit 171 and the fan shutter driving unit 172 and the second driving unit 141 in step ST3. Then, as shown in FIG. 12A, the air flow fw is blown from the blowing nozzle 153 of the blowing unit 150 to the tip end side of the transferred object 101, and the side air nozzle 180 outputs the side end of the transferred object 101. The side air is blown to. In addition, the first suction means 120 generates an air flow aw, and the second suction means 140 generates a vortex wind bw, and a suction force is generated by the negative pressure.
In the present embodiment, the operation timings of the shutter driving unit 171 of the first driving unit 124 and the second driving unit 141 are operated at the same time as shown in FIG. The second driving means 141 may be operated to rotate the rotary wings 143 to suck the rear end portion 101Ab of the transferred object 101A.

  When the second driving means 141 operates, a stronger suction force is generated in the second suction means 140 than in the first suction means 120. Further, the second suction means 140 is arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction from the first suction means 120. For this reason, the suction force of the second suction means 140 acts on the rear end portion 101Ab side of the uppermost transported object 101A in the mounting section 110, and as shown in FIG. The rear end portion 101Ab floats. 12C, the suction force of the first suction means 120, the air flow fw blown from the blower 150 toward the tip 101Aa, and the side An air flow is blown from the air nozzle 180. As a result, the leading end portion 101Ab and the side portion of the transported object 101 float and are attracted to the suction surface 131A of the transport belt 131, so that the uppermost transported object 101A and the transported object 101 located below are separated. You. At this time, since the rear end 101Ab side of the conveyed object 101A is sucked by the second suction means 140, the air flow path R through which the air flow fw blown from the blower unit 150 passes is the uppermost object. It is formed between the conveyed object 101A and the conveyed object 101 located below. Therefore, there is no need to wait until the rear end 101Ab is reached, and the separation time can be reduced. Note that the first transported object (the first transported object 101A) can stand by in a sucked state and does not significantly contribute to productivity. The suction may be performed by the one suction unit 120 first.

After the suction of the transported object 101 is started, the control unit 200 operates the belt drive motor 132 in step ST4. This timing is the start of feeding of the uppermost transported object 101A (first sheet). When the belt drive motor 132 is operated, as shown in FIGS. 12C and 13A, the transport belt 131 rotates clockwise to move the transported object 101A adsorbed on the adsorption surface 131A. The sheet is fed in the feeding direction A, and the leading end portion 101Aa is delivered to the pair of conveying rollers 102 disposed downstream of the first suction unit 120 in the feeding direction. At this time, the second suction means 140 is always in operation without stopping the suction, and as shown in FIG. 13B, the rear end portion 101Ab of the first conveyed object 101A causes the second suction means 140 to operate. Immediately after the passage (the predetermined time has passed since the conveyance detection sensor 158 was turned on), the rear end portion 101Ab side of the second uppermost conveyed object 101A is sucked.
That is, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the transport detection sensor 158 is on in step ST5. Here, if the switch is on, it is determined that the first conveyed object 101A has been normally fed after a certain period of time, and the process proceeds to steps ST6 and ST7.
The control unit 200 stops the operation of the shutter drive unit 171 of the first suction unit 120 in step ST6, stops the operation of the belt drive motor 132 in step ST7, and turns off the conveyance detection sensor 158 in step ST8. It is determined whether or not. If the transport detection sensor 158 is off in step ST8, the control unit 200 proceeds to step ST9. That is, during the period from step ST5 to step ST8, the position of the rear end portion 101Ab of the first conveyed object 101A is detected, and before the rear end portion 101Ab passes through the suction chamber 121 (the conveyance detection sensor 158 is turned on). After a lapse of time after the operation, the operation of the shutter driving unit 171 of the first suction unit 120 is stopped, the shutter mechanism 126 is closed, and suction is stopped. This is to prevent the second transported object 101A from being sucked and transported at the same time.

Further, the control unit 200 determines in step ST8 whether the rear end portion 101Ab of the first conveyed object 101A has passed the conveyance means 130, and when the conveyance detection sensor 158 is off, 1 It is determined that the rear end portion 101Ab of the first transported object 101A has passed the transporting means 130, and the process proceeds to step ST9.
The control unit 200 operates the shutter driving unit 171 of the first suction unit 120 in step ST9. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13C, the suction of the leading end portion 101Aa of the transferred object 101A by the first suction means 120 is restarted.

By repeating such an operation, the productivity can be improved as compared with the conventional configuration without causing the dragging.
The resumption of suction by the first suction means 120 does not start the operation of the first drive means 124 but drives the shutter drive unit 171 to open the shutter mechanism 126 to apply suction force to the transferred object 101A. I have. This is because if all of the start and stop of the suction are controlled by the presence or absence of the operation of the first driving means 124, it takes time until the suction wings 123 rotate and a predetermined negative pressure is generated. For this reason, when suctioning the first conveyed object 101A after the input of the supply start signal, the first driving means 124 is operated to apply a suction force. It is preferable to stop and restart the suction force by opening and closing the mechanism 126.

FIG. 30 includes a first suction unit 120, a conveyance unit 130, and a blowing unit 150 in the present embodiment. The first suction unit 120 and the conveyance unit 130 are arranged above the front end portion 101 </ b> Aa of the transferred object 101. This is one of the conventional configurations including a suction unit configured to perform separation from the transferred object 101. In the case of this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B, the airflow fw for separation is blown from the blower unit 150, and the conveyed object is suctioned by the airflow aw generated by the first suction unit 120. The tip 101Aa side of 101A is sucked. Therefore, if the transport unit 130 is operated before the air flow fw reaches the rear end portion 101Ab of the transported object 101A and the separation is completely completed, the lower transported object 101 is transported by the transport unit 130. The transported object 101A moves with the movement of the transferred object 101A. For this reason, in order to prevent entrainment, the conveying means 130 is operated until the air flow fw reaches the rear end 101Ab of the transferred object 101A as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 30D, the object 101A could not be fed, and there was room for improvement in productivity.
When such a configuration is compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, in the first embodiment, the rear end portion 101Ab side of the transferred object 101A is suctioned by the second suction unit 140 having a strong suction force in advance. Therefore, the air flow path R is formed, and the separation on the side of the rear end 101Ab is completed before the airflow fw from the blower 150 reaches the rear end 101Ab. For this reason, the transporting means 130 can be operated quickly, the separation time can be shortened while the suction performance is improved, and the productivity can be increased.

As shown in FIGS. 31 (a) to 31 (d), even in Patent Document 1, suction means are arranged above the leading end side and the rear end side of the transported object so as to suck the transported object 101A. ing. However, since these suction means are chamber-type suction means (corresponding to the first suction means 120) in the present embodiment, it is difficult to suck the transported object 101A from a distant position. It is difficult to float the end 101Ab side before the tip side 101Aa side.
On the other hand, in the supply device 100 according to the first embodiment, of the plurality of suction units, the second suction unit 140 arranged near the rear end 101 side Ab of the transported object 101 is provided with tornado type suction. Since the means is used, the rear end portion 101Ab of the transferred object 101A can be sucked from a distant position, the time required for separation can be shortened while the suction performance is improved, and dragging due to insufficient separation can be prevented. Thus, productivity can be improved.

Next, the conveyance guide member will be described.
The transport guide member 50 according to the first embodiment is loaded on the second suction unit 140 and the placement unit 110 constituting the suction unit 10 as shown in FIGS. 1, 14A and 14B. It is arranged between the uppermost transported object 101A. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the transport guide member 50 is disposed between the lower portion 142a of the housing 142, which is the lower portion of the second suction unit 140, and the rear end portion 101Ab of the transported object 101A, from the transport unit 130. Have been. In the present embodiment, the transport guide member 50 is configured by a plurality of rotating bodies 51 (three in FIG. 14). The rotating body 51 includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers (rollers) rotatably supported by the support shaft 52. Both ends of the support shaft 52 are supported by a frame attached to the second suction means 140. The support shaft 52 may be mounted on the housing of the supply device 100 or the like, and the rotating body 51 may be disposed between the second suction unit 140 and the rear end 101Ab of the uppermost transported object 101A.

The plurality of rotating bodies 51 are arranged such that their positions gradually decrease as they advance in the feeding direction A. The plurality of rotating bodies 51 are arranged such that a gap D1 that is a distance between a surface 51a that is a contacting part and a transporting part and a lower part 142a of the housing 142 becomes larger as the traveling direction A progresses. I have. In the present embodiment, of the plurality of rotating bodies 51, the surface 51a of the rotating body 51 located at the most downstream side in the feeding direction A is arranged so as to be at the same height as the suction surface 131A of the transport means 130. . This is to reduce the height difference between the second suction means 140 and the suction surface 131A. That is, as the conveyance guide member 50 including the plurality of rotating bodies 51 moves in a direction away from the range affected by the suction force of the second suction unit 140, its contact portion is in contact with the suction portion of the second suction unit 140. The lower part 142a. In other words, the transport guide member 50 composed of the plurality of rotating bodies 51 is a surface of the rotating body 51 that is a contact portion with the transported object 101A and a transport portion, rather than the lower portion 142a of the second suction means 140. The lowermost position X of 51a is arranged so as to be located closer to the receiver 110 as it proceeds downstream in the feeding direction.
In the present embodiment, the gap between the lower part 142a, which is the lower part of the second suction means 140 and serves as the suction part, and the uppermost transported object 101A on the mounting part 110 is D, and the surface 51a of the rotating body 51 is Assuming that a gap between the uppermost conveyed object 101A and D1 is D2, the gap D2 is arranged so as to become narrower as the sheet moves in the feeding direction A.

As described above, when the transport guide member 50 (the plurality of rotating bodies 51) is disposed between the lower portion 142a of the housing 142 of the second suction means 140 and the rear end portion 101Ab of the transported object 101A, FIG. as shown in), when the air flow b w and the second suction means 140 is operated (vortex air) performs separation occurred, the floating trailing end 101Ab side of the conveyed object 101A is to the bottom 142a of the Housing Therefore, good separability can be obtained. In addition, the rear end 101Ab that has floated moves in the feeding direction A by the operation of the transport unit 130. At this time, since the rear end portion 101Ab side is in contact with the surface 51a of the rotating body 51 and is partially sucked and conveyed, it is necessary to reduce fluttering on the rear end portion 101Ab side of the transferred object 101A during the conveyance. Can be. That is, since the transported object 101A sucked by the second suction means 140 constituting the suction unit 10 is transported along the transport guide member 50, a new supply that can reduce fluttering of the transported object 101A during transport is provided. An apparatus can be provided.
In the present embodiment, the second suction means 140 is used by the second suction means 140 in order to allow the transferred object 101A to be separated at a high speed and to increase the lift-up amount on the rear end portion 101Ab side of the transferred object 101A. Is sucked to the vicinity of the second suction means 140 at the rear end 101Ab side of the conveyed object 101A immediately below the second object. Then, the sheet is conveyed by the conveying means 130 in the feeding direction A, but if the conveying guide member 50 is not provided, the area where the rear end 101Ab side passes below the second suction means 140 and the suction force acts. 15B, the suction force to the rear end portion 101Ab of the transferred object 101A suddenly stops, and the rear end portion 101Ab drops by its own weight, as shown in FIG. 15B. Further, the suction force by the second suction means 140 does not reach, but the air flow reaches the rear end portion 101A side of the transported object 101A, so that the air flow is affected. In other words, since the rear end 101Ab is sucked to a higher level than the suction surface 131A of the transporting means 130 using the second suction means 140, the amount of drop on the rear end 101Ab is large, and the behavior of the transferred object 101A is stable. Instead, fluttering and the like occurred, and as a result, there was concern that the conveyed object 101A would be stably supplied.

However, as in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 15A, the transport guide member 50 (the plurality of rotating bodies 51) is connected to the lower portion 142a of the housing 142 of the second suction means 140 and the rear end portion 101Ab of the transported object 101A. In this case, the transported object 101A can be transported along the transport guide member 50, so that the behavior of the transported object 101A during transport is stabilized. That is, in a range in which the suction force is to be applied to the rear end portion 101Ab side, good separation property is secured by bringing the rear end portion 101Ab side close to the second suction means 140, and at the time of conveyance after separation. Since the rear end portion 101Ab and the second suction means 140 can be separated from each other, fluttering can be reduced.
For example, when separating the transferred object 101A, a large gap D is provided between the rear end portion 101Ab of the transferred object 101A and the second suction means 140 as a vortex suction means as shown in FIG. When the rear end portion 101Ab of the transferred object 101A passes from the second suction means 140, the distance (gap amount) between them is adjusted to an arbitrary amount (D1) by the transfer guide member 50. Thus, an appropriate gap D1 can be provided in accordance with the physical property value of the transferred object 101A, so that fluttering and jamming can be prevented. Here, the appropriate gap D1 generally means that the smaller the gap D1, the less the fluttering. However, if the gap D1 is too small, a friction (frictional force) is generated between the transport guide member 50 and the transported object 101A, which causes a non-feed or a jam. Therefore, in general, it refers to a gap with the least flutter and the least amount of jam based on the result of performing evaluation and simulation under each condition.

That is, as shown in FIG. 15B, a gap between the rear end portion 101Ab of the transferred object 101A on the mounting portion 110 and the lower portion (a portion serving as an adsorption surface) 142a of the second suction means 140 is defined as D. And When the conveyance guide member 50 is disposed in the gap D as in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 15A, the gap D is defined by a gap D1 between the rear end portion 101Ab and the conveyance guide member 50, and a conveyance guide. A gap D2 from the member 50 to the lower portion 141a of the second suction means 140 is provided. Then, when the transport guide member 50 is arranged, the position of the rear end portion 101Ab sucked and floated by the second suction means 140 becomes lower than the gap D by D-D1. For this reason, at the start of suction, while the suction force of the second suction means 140 is maintained, fluttering on the rear end portion 101Ab side can be reduced during conveyance after suction.
Further, in the present embodiment, the suction surface 131A and the lowermost position of the rotating body 51 located at the most downstream in the feeding direction have the same height. For this reason, even after the rear end portion 101Ab has passed through the conveyance guide member 50 (the rotator 51), there is no height difference from the suction surface 131A, so that flutter can be further reduced.

In the present embodiment, among the rotating bodies 51 adjacent to each other, the rotating body 51 located at the most upstream in the feeding direction is arranged so as to slightly overlap the second suction unit 140 in the feeding direction A. Therefore, hardly be intercepted by the second suction means 140 of the air flow b w (vortex air) is rotating body 51, a minimum reduction of the suction force acting on the rear end portion 101Ab side by the second suction means 140 Can be For this reason, the rear end portion 101Ab side of the transferred object 101A can be stably floated, and separation from the transferred object 101 below can be reliably performed.

  In the present embodiment, the transport guide member 50 is composed of a plurality of rotating bodies 51 rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers on a support shaft 52, so that the transferred object 101 </ b> A is in contact with the rotating body 51. When the sheet is conveyed in the feeding direction A by the conveying means 130, the rotation is driven. For this reason, the conveyance resistance can be further suppressed. In particular, since the second suction unit 140 has a stronger suction force than the first suction unit 120, even when the second suction unit 140 strongly sucks the transferred object 101A, the friction when the transferred object 101A is transferred is increased. Suppressing the resistance is preferable because it leads to a reduction in the transport load and can prevent non-feeding and an increase in the required transport force.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the conveyance guide member 50 including the plurality of rotating bodies 51 is illustrated. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the feeding device 100 </ b> A according to the present embodiment includes the conveyance guide member 50. A plate-shaped guide plate 53 is provided as a member. Since the configuration other than the guide plate 53 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the configuration of the guide plate 53 and its operation will be mainly described here.
The plate-like guide plate 53 extends in the width direction W intersecting with the feeding direction A, and moves from the downstream end 53a in the feeding direction to the upstream end 53b in the conveyance direction. The second suction means 140 is disposed between the second suction means 140 and the rear end portion 101Ab of the uppermost conveyed object 101A of the mounting portion 110 to the conveyance means 130. The guide plate 53 has an end 53a bent toward the mounting portion 110, and an opposing portion 53c serving as a contact portion with the rear end 101Ab of the transferred object 101A is lower than the other end 53b. Have been. That is, the guide plate 53 is formed such that the gap D1 on the end 53a side is larger than the gap D1 on the end 53b side. In other words, the guide plate 53 is formed such that the gap D2 on the end 53a side is smaller than the gap D2 on the end 53b side. The end 53a of the guide plate 53 is located at the lowermost position X and has the same height as the suction surface 131A. The guide plate 53, as shown in FIG. 17 (a), (b) , a large number of openings 54 have been formed, the air flow b w generated by the operation of the second suction means 140 is can pass through I have.

According to such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 16B, the rear end portion 101Ab sucked and floated by the second suction means 140 comes into contact with the facing portion 53c of the guide plate 53 facing the rear end portion 101Ab. Then, the conveyance means 130 is operated to be conveyed in the feeding direction A. At this time, if the rear end portion 101Ab and the opposing portion 53c are in surface contact, the frictional resistance becomes large and becomes the transport resistance. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the rib 55 is formed on the opposing portion 53c on the side of the guide plate 53 opposing the mounting portion 110, serving as a projection projecting from the opposing portion 53c toward the mounting portion 110 side. doing. The rib 55 may be a single rib, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, between the openings 54 adjacent to each other in the width direction W, in the feeding direction. A plurality of ribs 55 are arranged in a straight line.
For this reason, the rear end portion 101Ab sucked and floated by the second suction means 140 has a reduced contact area with the opposing portion 53c due to the plurality of ribs 55 of the opposing portion 53c, which reduces the frictional resistance. As a result, the transport resistance is reduced. Thus, in the present embodiment, the transported object 101A can be transported more smoothly, and jams can be suppressed.
Further, in the present embodiment, the guide plate 53 is arranged up to a range where the suction force of the second suction means 140 acts, but the guide plate 53 has a large number of openings 54 formed therein. For this reason, since the air flow bW (vortex) of the second suction means 140 can pass through the opening 54, it is possible to minimize the reduction of the suction force acting on the rear end portion 101Ab side by the second suction means 140. . For this reason, the rear end portion 101Ab side of the transferred object 101A can be stably floated, and separation from the transferred object 101 below can be reliably performed.

18 and 19 show a modification of the plate-like conveyance guide member. The guide plate 53A, which is a plate-like conveyance guide member shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, extends from the downstream end 53Aa in the feeding direction to the upstream end 53Ab in the conveyance direction. It is arranged from between the two suction means 140 and the rear end 101Ab side of the uppermost transported object 101A of the mounting section 110 to the transport means 130. The guide plate 53A also extends in the width direction W intersecting with the feeding direction A, and is formed in a curved arch shape such that the central portion 53Af is located above both ends 53Ad and 53Ae in the width direction W. And constitutes an arch-shaped conveyance guide member.
The guide plate 53 </ b> A has a large number of openings 54, and protrudes from the opposing portion 53 </ b> Ac toward the mounting portion 110 toward the opposing portion 53 </ b> Ac on the side of the guide plate 53 facing the mounting portion 110. A rib 55 is formed to be a projection part. The rib 55 may be a single rib, but in this embodiment, a plurality of ribs 55 are linearly arranged in the feeding direction between the openings 54 adjacent to each other in the width direction W. . In the present embodiment, the gap D1 between the guide plate 53A and the second suction means 140 indicates the distance between the lower part 142a of the housing 142 and the central part 53Af of the facing part 53Ac.

A guide plate 53B, which is a plate-like conveyance guide member shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, extends from an end 53Ba on the downstream side in the feeding direction to an end 53Bb on the upstream side in the conveyance direction. The transfer unit 130 is disposed between the two suction units 140 and the rear end 101Ab of the uppermost transported object 101A of the mounting unit 110. The guide plate 53B also extends in the width direction W intersecting with the feeding direction A, and is formed in an inverted arch shape in which a central portion 53Af is curved below both end portions 53Ad and 53Ae in the width direction W. And constitutes an inverted arch-shaped conveyance guide member.
The guide plate 53 </ b> B has a large number of openings 54, and projects from the facing portion 53 </ b> Bc toward the placement portion 110 toward the facing portion 53 </ b> Bc which is a part of the guide plate 53 facing the placement portion 110. A rib 55 is formed to be a projection part. The rib 55 may be a single rib, but in this embodiment, a plurality of ribs 55 are linearly arranged in the feeding direction between the openings 54 adjacent to each other in the width direction W. . The guide plates 53A and 53B have their ends 53Aa and 53Ba located in the feeding direction A partially bent toward the mounting portion 110, respectively. The ends 53Aa, 53Ba of the guide plates 53A, 53B are located at the lowermost position X and have the same height as the suction surface 131A. In the present embodiment, the gap D1 between the guide plate 53B and the second suction means 140 indicates the distance between the lower part 142a of the housing 142 and the central part 53Bf of the facing part 53Bc.

When the conveyance guide member is constituted by the curved guide plates 53A and 53B, the rear end portion 101Ab sucked and floated by the second suction means 140 comes into contact with the plurality of ribs 55 of the opposed portions 53Ac and 53Bc. By doing so, the contact area with the facing portions 53Ac and 53Bc is reduced. For this reason, the frictional resistance is reduced and the transport resistance is reduced, so that the transported object 101A can be transported smoothly, and the jam can be suppressed.
Also, the rear end portion 101Ab of the transferred object 101A that is in contact with the facing portions 53Ac and 53Bc is curved in the width direction W along the shape of the guide plates 53A and 53B, so that it is appropriate in the width direction W of the transferred object 101A. You can give a good stiffness. For this reason, an influence of an external force such as an air flow of the second suction means 140 on the transferred object 101A is less likely to occur, and the behavior of the transferred object 101A (the rear end portion 101Ab) can be stabilized.
Since the guide plates 53, 53A and 53B as transport guide means according to the second embodiment are arranged in the whole area in the feeding direction A below the second suction means 140, they float up as shown in FIG. The rear end 101Ab side of the transported object 101A does not contact the lower part 142 of the housing 142 (the lower part of the second suction means 140). Accordingly, even when the transported object 130 transports the transported object 101A in the feeding direction A, the transporting member 130 does not slide on the lower portion 142a. For this reason, the conveyance resistance can be reduced by suppressing the frictional resistance, and the transported object 101A can also be prevented from being damaged or damaged due to being caught in. When the transport resistance is suppressed, it is possible to prevent non-feeding of the transported object 101A and an increase in required transport force.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the supply device 100B according to the present embodiment is configured such that the transport guide member is moved toward and away from the transported object 101A mounted on the mounting portion 110 as indicated by an arrow C. It can be moved. That is, the gap D1, which is the distance between the facing portion 53c on the end 53b side and the lower portion 142a of the second suction means 140 and the facing portion 53c on the end portion 53A and the lower portion 142a of the second suction means 140, can be increased or decreased. It is configured as follows. FIGS. 21 and 22 show an example in which the guide plate 53, which is a plate-shaped conveyance guide member, is moved in the direction C to approach and separate.

  As shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, four portions of the guide plate 53 located in the width direction W and the feeding direction A are respectively penetrated by, for example, axial linear pin guides 165. And is supported so as to be able to translate in the direction C of approaching and separating. Hereinafter, the linear pin guide 165 may be omitted in the drawings. In the present embodiment, there is provided an electric moving means 160 for moving the guide plate 53 in the direction C for moving toward and away from the guide plate 53. By operating the moving means 160, the guide plate 53 moves up and down in a direction away from the second suction means 140 indicated by an arrow C1 and in a direction approaching the second suction means 140 indicated by an arrow C2. It is possible to move. In other words, the arrow C1 indicates the approach direction in which the opposing portion 53c and the transferred object 101A of the placement unit 110 approach each other, and the arrow C2 indicates that the opposing portion 53c and the transferred object 101A of the placement unit 110 approach each other. It is the direction of separation away. That is, when the guide plate 53 is moved by the moving means 160 in the direction of arrow C1, the gap D1 is narrowed, and when the guide plate 53 is moved by the moving means 160 in the direction of arrow C2, the gap D1 is widened.

  The moving means 160 includes eccentric cams 161 and 161 that contact the opposing portion 53c of the guide plate 53 in the width direction W, and a guide elevating motor 163 as a driving source that rotationally drives the eccentric cams 161 and 161. The eccentric cams 161 and 161 arranged in the width direction W are fixed to both ends of a shaft 162 rotatably supported by support members 164 and 164, respectively. The shaft 162 is configured to be rotationally driven by the operation of the guide elevating motor 163. Therefore, the guide elevating motor 163 operates, the eccentric cams 161 and 161 rotate, and the guide plate 53 is moved in the C1 direction, so that the opposing portion 53c of the guide plate 53 and the lower portion 142a of the second suction means 140 are moved. Is widened. Further, the guide lifting motor 163 operates to rotate the eccentric cams 161 and 161, and the guide plate 53 is moved in the direction C <b> 2, so that the opposing portion 53 c of the guide plate 53 and the lower portion 142 a of the second suction means 140 are moved. The gap D1 between them is narrowed. By providing the moving means 160 in this manner, the distance of the gap D1 (the distance of the gap D2) can be adjusted.

Next, the configuration of a control system for controlling the operation of the moving means 160 will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 200A shown in FIG. 23 is provided in the supply device 100B, and is configured by a computer including a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, and a timer 204. The input side of the control unit 200A is connected to a transport detection sensor 158, a supply start switch 159, a size detection unit 205, a type detection unit 206, and a movement amount setting unit 207 via signal lines.
The size detection unit 205 detects, for example, the size of the transported object 101 loaded on the mounting unit 110 and outputs size information (L). The type detection unit 206 detects the type of the transported object 101 and outputs type information (E). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the thickness is detected as the type of the transferred object 101. Needless to say, the type information (E) may be a serial number or a brand name of the transported object 101 correlated with the thickness instead of the thickness. The moving amount setting unit 207 arbitrarily sets the moving amount (T) of the transfer guide member (here, the guide plate 53) in the direction C in which the conveying guide member approaches and separates from the moving unit 160. The moving amount setting unit 207 is provided, for example, on an operation panel or the like, and inputs a moving amount (T) by being operated by an operator (apparatus user).

On the output side of the control unit 200A, the first drive unit 124, the belt drive motor 132, the second drive unit 141, the fan drive motor 155, the shutter drive unit 171 and the fan shutter drive unit 172, the side guide unit 190, The motor 163 is connected via a signal line. The operations of the first driving unit 124, the belt driving motor 132, the second driving unit 141, the fan driving motor 155, the shutter driving unit 171 and the fan shutter driving unit 172, the side blower device 190, and the guide elevating motor 163 are controlled by the control unit 200A. ON / OFF control is performed according to the operation timing stored in the ROM 203.
The control unit 200A has a function of controlling the operation of the guide elevating motor 163 based on the movement amount (T) set by the movement amount setting unit 207, the size information (L) detected by the size detection unit 205, and the type detection. It has a function of controlling the operation of the guide elevating motor 163 according to the type information (E) detected by the unit 206. In this embodiment, the ROM 203 of the control unit 200A stores data in which the movement amount T of the conveyance guide member and the movement direction (C1, C2) are set in association with each other according to the size information (L) and the type information (E). A table is stored.

The control unit 200A having such a configuration acquires the size information (L) and the type information (E) of the transported object 101 in step ST11 of FIG. Then, the moving amount T and the moving direction (C1 or C2) of the conveyance guide member (here, the guide plate 53) in the direction C of approaching and separating are determined. In step ST3, the control unit 200A operates the guide elevating motor 163 so that the transport guide member (guide plate 53) moves in the determined movement amount T and the movement direction (C1 or C2).
For this reason, according to the present embodiment, by changing the position of the conveyance guide member (guide plate 53) according to the size and type of the object 101, an appropriate position suitable for the size and type of the object 101 can be obtained. The transport guide member (guide plate 53) can be positioned at the position. That is, since the gap D1 can be adjusted according to the size and type of the object 101, an appropriate conveyance guide according to the size and type of the object 101 is provided by the conveyance guide member (guide plate 53). And the behavior of the transferred object 101A (the rear end portion 101Ab) can be stabilized.
When the movement amount setting unit 207 is operated by the operator (apparatus user) and an arbitrary movement amount (T) is input, the control unit 200A operates the guide elevating motor 163 so that the movement amount becomes equal to the movement amount. The position of the conveyance guide member (guide plate 53) can be arbitrarily adjusted while visually checking the fluttering and the conveyance state of the rear end portion 101Ab, so that the usability is improved.

  In FIG. 22, the transport guide member moved by the moving means 160 is described as the guide plate 53, but the transport guide member moved by the movable means 160 is not limited to this. For example, the guide plate 53A having an arch shape as shown in FIG. 25A or the guide plate 53B having an inverted arch shape as shown in FIG. Even so, the guide plates 53A and 53B can be located at appropriate positions according to the size and type of the transferred object 101. That is, since the gap D1 can be adjusted according to the size and type of the object 101, an appropriate conveyance guide according to the size and type of the object 101 can be provided by the conveyance guide member (the guide plate 53A, 53B), and the behavior of the transferred object 101A (rear end portion 101Ab) can be stabilized.

The structure of the moving means is not limited to the structure of the moving means 160 shown in FIGS. 22 and 25, but may be another form.
For example, a moving unit 160A shown in FIG. 26 is configured to be able to move the conveyance guide member in a direction C to approach and separate in synchronization with the operation of the conveyance unit 130. The gear 166 is fixed to one end of the shaft 162 instead of rotating the shaft 162 to which the moving means 160A and the eccentric cams 161 and 161 are fixed by the guide elevating motor 163. A gear 167 rotatably supported meshes with the gear 166. The gear 167 is pin-connected to the other end of the link arm 168 whose one end is pin-connected to the roller 134 provided in the transport means 130.
Therefore, when the conveying means 130 operates and the roller 134 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the shaft 162 via the link arm 168 and the gears 167, 166, so that the eccentric cams 161 and 161 operate with the operation of the conveying means 130. Rotate synchronously. For this reason, the eccentric cams 161 and 161 can be operated to position the conveyance guide member (guide plate 53) in the direction C in which the conveyance guide member approaches and separates without newly providing the guide elevating motor 163. That is, since the gap D1 is adjusted in synchronization with the operation timing of the transport unit 130, the behavior of the transported object 101A (the rear end portion 101Ab) can be stabilized while reducing costs.
Further, in the configuration of the moving means 160A, the gear 167 fixed to the shaft 162 to which the eccentric cams 161 and 161 are fixed is meshed with the gear 167 having a smaller diameter and a smaller number of teeth than the gear 166, and the gear 167 is linked. The arm 168 is configured to rotate. For this reason, by changing the number of teeth of the gear 167, the rotation angles of the eccentric cams 161 and 161 can be adjusted with a simple configuration, and, for example, the adjustment at the time of synchronizing with the operation of the conveying means 130 can be easily performed. become.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the supply device 100B according to the third embodiment, the eccentric cams 161 and 161 of the moving means 160 and 160A are used to move the guide plates 53, 53A and 53B as the conveyance guide members in parallel in the approaching / separating direction C. However, in the supply device 100C according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 27 (a) and 27 (b), the transport guide member is provided so as to be swingable so as to be movable in the direction C to approach and separate.

As the transport guide member, any of the guide plate 53 bent in the feeding direction A and the guide plates 53A and 53B having an arch shape or an inverted art shape in the width direction W may be used. A straight guide plate 53C that is not bent in the feeding direction A is used. The guide plate 53C has the same configuration as that of the guide plate 53 except that it has no bent portion, and includes a large number of openings 54 and ribs 55. 27A and 27B, the description of the configuration of the rib 55 is omitted. In the guide plate 53C, an end 53Cb on the upstream side in the feeding direction is swingably supported by a shaft 169 extending in the width direction W in a direction C in which the end 53Ca on the downstream side in the feeding direction approaches and separates.
The moving means for swinging the guide plate 53C may be either the moving means 160 using the guide elevating motor 163 or 160A using the link arm 168. In FIG. 27, a moving unit 160A is used.

According to such a configuration, when the conveying means 130 operates and the roller 134 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the shaft 162 via the link arm 168 and the gears 167 and 166, and the eccentric cams 161 and 161 are conveyed. It rotates in synchronization with the operation of 130. For this reason, the eccentric cams 161 and 161 can be operated to position the conveyance guide member (guide plate 53C) in the direction C of approaching / separating without newly providing the guide elevating motor 163. That is, since the gap D1 between the ends 53Ca is adjusted in synchronization with the operation timing of the conveying means 130, it is possible to stabilize the behavior of the object 101A (the rear end 101Ab) while reducing costs. it can.
In the present embodiment, the position of the end 53Ca of the guide plate 53C can be changed according to the size and type of the transferred object 101A, and the position of the rear end 101Ab with respect to the transfer means 130 (the suction surface 131A) can be changed. The trajectory (transport angle) can also be adjusted, a more detailed adjustment operation can be performed, and fluttering of the rear end portion 101Ab can be further reduced.

In the moving means 160 and 160A described above, the eccentric cams 161 and 161 are rotated or rocked to move the conveyance guide members (guide plates 53, 53A, 53B and 53C) in the direction C to approach and separate. Instead of 161 and 161, a combination of the guide elevating motor 163 and a ball screw may be used. In this case, the ball screw is arranged so that the axial direction is located in the direction C of approaching / separating, mounted on a part of the conveyance guide members (guide plates 53, 53A, 53B, 53C), and rotated by the guide elevating motor 163. Drive.
Even with such a configuration, the transport guide members (guide plates 53, 53A, 53B, 53C) can be moved in the direction of approaching and separating, so that the gap D1 (D2) can be adjusted, and the transported object 101A can be adjusted. The fluttering of the (rear end portion 101Ab) can be reduced.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28, any of the supply devices 100 to 100C described in the first to fourth embodiments is applied to an image forming system. The image forming system 400 includes an image forming unit 401 that forms an image on a sheet P, for example, as a conveyed object, and a feeding device that feeds the sheet P to the image forming unit, for example, the feeding device 100 It has. As the image forming unit 401, a plurality of process cartridge units 412 each having a drum-shaped image carrier 411 form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 411, and apply a toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent image. The toner image is adhered and developed as a toner image, the developed toner image is transferred to a sheet P by a transfer unit 413, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet P by a fixing unit 414 and is stacked on a discharge tray 415. An image forming unit. The image forming unit 401 may be an inkjet image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting ink from an ink head onto a sheet of paper P as a conveyed object, instead of an electrophotographic system.
Regardless of the type of image forming unit, the first suction unit 120 and the second suction unit 140 from the supply device 100 suck and transport the uppermost one of the sheets P stacked on the placement unit 110. Thus, the separation property of the paper P can be ensured, paper jam and double feeding due to entrainment can be prevented, and the separation time can be shortened. Since the separation time can be shortened, the printing time can be shortened, and high-speed paper feeding can be supported, and the image forming system 400 that can handle a large format and has high productivity can be constructed.

(Sixth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 29, any one of the supply devices 100 to 100C described in the first to fourth embodiments is applied to a conveyed object inspection system. The transported object inspection system 500 includes an inspection device 501 as an inspection unit that inspects, for example, a prepreg sheet PS as an object to be transported, a supply device that feeds the prepreg sheet PS to the inspection device 501, and a control unit 505. As the device, for example, a supply device 100 is provided.
The transported object inspection system 500 includes a sheet transport unit 502 that transports the prepreg sheet PS below the inspection device 501. The prepreg sheet PS separated and fed by the feeding device 100 is moved below the inspection device 501 by the sheet conveying means 502 as shown in FIG. The inspection device 501 detects the scratches and the size of the surface of the prepreg sheet PS by line scanning and image information, and detects the surface state while conveying the prepreg sheet PS by the sheet conveying means 502. .
The transported object inspection system 500 includes a suction device 503 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the inspection device 501 and above the sheet transport means 502. The suction device 503 suctions the prepreg sheet PS1 for which a surface defect has been detected by the inspection device 501, as shown in FIGS. 29B and 29C. The transported object inspection system 500 includes a stacking device 504 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the sheet transport unit 502. The stacking device 504 discharges and stacks the prepreg sheets PS having no surface defect, that is, the prepreg sheets PS not conveyed by the suction device 503, among the prepreg sheets PS conveyed by the sheet conveying means 502.

As shown in FIG. 29A, an inspection device 501, a drive motor 506 as a drive source of the sheet conveying means 502, and a suction drive source 507 of the suction device 503 are connected to the control unit 505 via a signal line. Have been. The control unit 505 has a function of determining a non-defective product or a defective product based on image information transmitted from the inspection device 501. When the prepreg sheet PS detected by the inspection device 501 is defective (PS1), the control unit 505 operates the suction drive source 507 of the suction device 503 to apply a suction force to the sheet conveying unit 502. Therefore, the prepreg sheet PS <b> 1 determined to be defective is removed from the sheet conveying means 502 by the suction device 503.
As described above, the uppermost one of the prepreg sheets PS stacked by the first suction unit 120 and the second suction unit 140 from the supply device 100 is sucked and conveyed, thereby ensuring the separation of the prepreg sheets PS. It is possible to prevent jamming and double feeding of the prepreg sheet PS due to entrainment, and to shorten the separation time, thereby shortening the inspection time of the prepreg sheet PS and supporting high-speed conveyance. The transported object inspection system 500 with high productivity can be constructed.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and unless otherwise specified in the above description, the present invention described in the claims may be used. Various modifications and changes are possible within the spirit of the invention.
For example, the conveyed object 101 according to the present embodiment is not limited to a sheet P as a sheet or a resin sheet material such as a prepreg sheet PS, but may be a recording sheet, a recording sheet, a film, a cloth, or the like. Of course, it doesn't matter. Also in the present embodiment, the transported object 101 includes a sheet, a recording medium, an OHP, a prepreg, a copper foil, and other general transportable objects in a sheet shape.

  The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention merely enumerate the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

Reference Signs List 10 Suction unit 50, 53, 53C Transport guide member 53A Arch-shaped transport guide member 53Ad, 53Ae Both ends of arch-shaped transport guide member 53Af Central portion of arch-shaped transport guide member 53B Reverse arch-shaped transport guide member 53Bf Arch Central portion 53Bd, 53Be of shape-shaped conveyance guide member Both ends 53c, 53Ac, 53Bc, 53Cc of arch-shaped conveyance guide member A portion facing the mounting portion 55 Projection portion 100, 100A, 100B, 100C Supply device 101 Cover Conveyed object 101A Uppermost conveyed object 101Aa End (tip) of conveyed object
101Ab End of transported object (rear end)
Reference Signs List 120 First suction means 121 Suction chamber part 123 Suction wing 124 First driving means 130 Transport means 140 Second suction means, Suction means 141 Second driving means, Driving means 142 Housing 142A Opening 142a Lower part of housing 143 Rotating wing 1431 Plane Substrate 1431a Surface on which wall portion stands 1432 Plural walls 150 Separation unit 160, 160A Moving unit 200, 200A Control unit 207 Moving amount setting unit 400 Image forming system 401 Image forming unit 500 Conveyed object inspection system 501 Inspection unit A Feeding direction
aw air flow fw air flow, separation wind
b w airflow vortex air P conveyed object (paper)
PS Conveyed object (prepreg)
T Movement amount W Width direction

JP 2014-152023 A

Claims (10)

A first suction unit that is arranged above the transported object loaded on the mounting unit and suctions the transported object by generating a negative pressure by air suction; A second suction unit disposed above the object and upstream of the first suction unit in the feeding direction of the object, and suctioning the object by generating a negative pressure due to a vortex of air; And a suction unit having :
Conveying means for conveying a conveying object sucked by the suction unit to the feeding direction,
A between the first suction means and the second suction means in the feeding direction, said second suction means, the uppermost object to be conveyed out of the objects to be conveyed loaded on the mounting portion And a conveyance guide member , which is disposed between the suction member and the object to be conveyed sucked by the suction unit. The conveyance guide member extends in a width direction intersecting the feeding direction, and has a curved arch shape such that a center portion of the conveyance guide member is located above both end portions, or the center portion is The supply device according to claim 1, wherein the supply device has an inverted arch shape curved so as to be located below both ends.   3. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein the transport guide member is provided to be swingable in a direction in which the transport guide member approaches and separates from the transported object mounted on the mounting unit. 4. The transport guide member is movable in a direction in which the transport guide member approaches and separates from the transported object mounted on the mounting portion,
4. The supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit configured to move the conveyance guide member in the direction in which the conveyance guide member approaches and separates from the supply guide member. 5. A moving amount setting unit that arbitrarily sets a moving amount of the transport guide member by the moving unit;
The supply device according to claim 4, further comprising a control unit configured to control an operation of the moving unit until the movement amount is set by the movement amount setting unit. Supply device according to claim 4 or 5 comprising a control unit for controlling the operation of said moving means based on at least one of size information or type information of the transported object.   The supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the transport guide member has a protrusion protruding toward the placement unit at a position facing the placement unit. The first suction means, possess a suction chamber section, a suction blade for discharging air from said suction chamber section, and a first drive means for rotating driven the suction blades,
The second suction means comprises a rotating vane having a plurality of wall portions rising from the substrate and the substrate, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, perforated and a second driving means for rotating the rotating vane Feeder. An image forming unit that forms an image on a conveyed object,
Comprising a feed device for feeding objects to be conveyed to the image forming section,
An image forming system, wherein the supply device is the supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. An inspection unit for inspecting the transferred object;
Comprising a feed device for feeding objects to be conveyed to the inspection unit,
A transported object inspection system, wherein the supply device is the supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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