The present invention relates to a multilayer-type sheet processing apparatus comprising a plurality of processing units, which are stacked on one another and are each configured to perform, for example, cutting on a sheet such as cardboard.
There has hitherto been performed work of creasing and cutting sheets of paper such as cardboard, a corrugated board, and a paper board, sheets of leather, or sheets of plastic and assembling the processed sheets to obtain a packing box or a display for use. The creasing and cutting on a sheet are generally performed through use of a punching die or a cutting plotter.
For example, in Patent Literature 1, there is described a cutting plotter configured to cut a sheet into a desired shape through drive of a sheet in a first direction and drive of a blade in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Further, in Patent Literature 2, there is described a method of cutting a sheet by moving a cutter in an X-direction and a Y-direction.
Patent Literature 1: JP 2005-230917 A
Patent Literature 2: JP 7-24785 A
Not only the apparatus of Patent Literatures 1 and 2 but also all related-art sheet processing apparatus are each configured to process (perform creasing and cutting on) one sheet in a two-dimensional plane defined in the X-direction and Y-direction. Therefore, there is a limit to increase in speed of the apparatus, and hence improvement in productivity has been required.
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer-type sheet processing apparatus capable of remarkably improving productivity while an installation area is the same as that of the related-art sheet processing apparatus.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a multilayer-type sheet processing apparatus, comprising a processing unit comprising: a first guide member extending in an X-direction; a first moving body arranged so as to be movable along the first guide member; a second guide member, which is supported to the first moving body and extends in a Y-direction orthogonal to the X-direction; a second moving body arranged so as to be movable along the second guide member; a Y-drive mechanism configured to drive the second moving body along the second guide member; a work area arranged in a plane including the X-direction and the Y-direction; and a tool, which is arranged in the second moving body so as to be able to move close to and separate away from the work area, and is configured to form a processing line on a sheet arranged on the work area, wherein the processing unit comprises a plurality of the processing units being each stacked so that the work areas overlap with each other in a direction perpendicular to the X-direction and the Y-direction, wherein the first moving body of at least one processing unit of the plurality of processing units is driven along the first guide member by an X-drive mechanism, and wherein the first moving body that is moved by the X-drive mechanism and the first moving body of another processing unit comprising no X-drive mechanism are coupled to each other.
According to the one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of processing units are stacked. Moreover, the first moving body of at least one unit is driven along the first guide member by the X-drive mechanism, and the first moving body that is moved by the X-drive mechanism and the first moving body of another unit are coupled to each other. Therefore, the productivity can be remarkably improved while an installation area is the same as that of the related-art sheet processing apparatus.
Now, a multilayer-type sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. As illustrated in
The machine frames 11a to 13a of the processing units 11 to 13 have a rectangular shape each in plan view, and rollers R are arranged on sides, which are anteroposteriorly opposed to each other, of each of the rectangular machine frames 11a to 13a. The rollers R are provided in parallel to each other, and conveying belts 31 to 33 are stretched between the rollers R. The conveying belts 31 to 33 each have an air suction structure formed of, for example, a punched steel belt. The conveying belts 31 to 33 are configured to suck and attract sheets S set on the conveying belts 31 to 33, and can retain the sheets S reliably at predetermined positions without positional displacement.
When one of the rollers R of each of the machine frames 11a to 13a is driven, the conveying belts 31 to 33 are moved in an X-direction in synchronization therewith from a near side to a far side in
Sheet feeding devices (not shown) are arranged on the near side of the conveying belts 31 to 33 in
As illustrated in
The first moving bodies 41 to 43 are coupled to each other in the up-and-down direction (Z-direction) so as to be integrated. The integrated first moving bodies 41 to 43 are arranged so as to be movable along first guide members 11b to 13b fixed to side surfaces of the machine frames 11a to 13a.
That is, pairs of upper and lower first guide members 11b to 13b are arranged on inner surfaces of the machine frames 11a to 13a in parallel to each other. The longitudinal direction of the first guide members 11b to 13b is parallel to the conveying direction of the conveying belts 31 to 33 (X-direction). As illustrated in
The first moving body 42 at the intermediate position comprises a sliding motor (X-motor) 80, a pinion 81, and a rack 82, which serve as an X-drive mechanism configured to move the entirety of the three first moving bodies 41 to 43 in the X-direction. The sliding motor 80 is fixed on a horizontal arm portion 42a of the first moving body 42 so that an axial line thereof extends vertically.
A rotation shaft of the sliding motor 80 penetrates through the arm portion 42a to project above the machine frame 12a, and the pinion 81 is fixed to the projecting end of the rotation shaft. The pinion 81 meshes with the rack 82, which is fixed to an upper surface of the machine frame 12a and extends in the X-direction. Therefore, through drive of the sliding motor 80, the entirety of the three first moving bodies 41 to 43 is movable in a reciprocating manner along the first guide members 11b to 13b.
The first moving bodies 42 to 43 on both the sides of the machine frames 11a to 13a, which are opposed to each other, are coupled to each other by second guide members 51 to 53 in the horizontal direction (Y-direction). The second guide members 51 to 53 are arranged so as to extend in the Y-direction across spaces above the work areas on the conveying belts 31 to 33.
Second moving bodies 61 to 63 are arranged on the second guide members 51 to 53 so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction thereof the second guide members 51 to 53, that is, along the Y-direction. The second moving bodies 61 to 63 comprise tools configured to form processing lines (creasing lines or cutting lines) on the sheets S carried in to the work areas on the conveying belts 31 to 33.
The tools each comprise a creasing member 210 and a cutter blade 310. The creasing members 210 are retained by creasing mechanisms 61a to 63a in
The creasing mechanisms 61a to 63a in
The creasing member 210 is formed of a circular plate. The circular plate has a shape in which a thickness of an outer edge portion is gradually reduced so that a peripheral edge is sharpened. A center shaft 211 of the creasing member 210 is retained to the roller-retaining member 223 so as to be freely rotatable, and the creasing member 210 is rotatable in an direction.
The up-and-down motion motor 220 is fixed to the frame 201 through intermediation of the bracket 202. The roller-retaining member 223 is retained to a shaft 224 of the up-and-down motion motor 220 through intermediation of the guide member 221 so as to be turnable about a rotation shaft 225 that is coaxial with the shaft 224.
With this, in accordance with a force received by the creasing member 210, the orientation of the creasing member 210 is freely changed. The up-and-down motion motor 220 has a ball screw mechanism. Through rotation of the ball screw mechanism, the shaft 224 projects and retracts in the Z-direction (up-and-down direction).
The guide member 221 is fixed to the shaft 224, and extends upward along a side surface of the up-and-down motion motor 220. The sliding portion 222 is fixed to an upper end portion of the guide member 221. The sliding portion 222 is mounted to a rail 220a so as to be slidable. The rail 220a is mounted to the side surface of the up-and-down motion motor 220 so as to extend in the Z-direction. The sliding portion 222 is moved in the Z-direction along the rail 220a, and along therewith, the creasing member 210 is also moved in the Z-direction (up-and-down direction) through intermediation of the guide member 221.
The frame 201 comprises an arm portion 201a extending in the X-direction above corresponding one of the second guide members 51 to 53, and the sliding motor 230 is fixed on the arm portion 201a so that an axial line thereof extends vertically. A rotation shaft of the sliding motor 230 penetrates through the arm portion 201a to project above corresponding one of the second guide members 51 to 53, and the pinion 231 is fixed to the projecting end of the rotation shaft. The pinion 231 meshes with the rack 232, which is fixed to an upper surface of corresponding one of the second guide members 51 to 53 and extends in the Y-direction.
A pair of upper and lower sliders 240a are mounted to a side surface of a lower end portion of the frame 201. Meanwhile, a pair of upper and lower rails 240b extending in the Y-direction are fixed to a side surface of corresponding one of the second guide members 51 to 53. The pair of upper and lower sliders 240a are mounted to the pair of upper and lower rails 240b so as to be slidable relative to the pair of upper and lower rails 240b. With this configuration, through rotation of the sliding motor 230, the frame 201 and the creasing member 210 supported to the frame 201 slide in the Y-direction.
Before creasing is started, a controller (not shown) drives the sliding motor 230 to rotate the pinion 231. With this, the frame 201 is moved in a ±Y-direction to arrange the creasing member 210 at a position at which the creasing on the sheet S is performed. Further, when the creasing is to be started, the controller drives the up-and-down motion motor 220 to cause the shaft 224 to project from a main body of the motor 220 so that the creasing member 210 is pressed against a start position of the creasing on the sheet S. An amount (depth) of pressing the creasing member 210 against the sheet S is finely adjusted in accordance with a thickness or a material of the sheet S through control of the drive of the up-and-down motion motor 220.
As illustrated in
The cutter blade 310 is removably mounted to the cutter holder 311. The cutter holder 311 is fixed to the cutter shaft 312. The cutter shaft 312 is retained in the sleeve 313 so as to be movable in a center axis direction of a predetermined stroke (Z-direction)
The sleeve 313 is retained in the housing 317 so as to be rotatable about the center axis of the cutter shaft 312. The pulley 314 is coaxially fixed to the sleeve 313. The pulley 314 is coupled by the timing belt 323 to the pulley 322 coaxially fixed to a rotation shaft of the angle adjustment motor 321. The detection plate 315 is fixed to the pulley 314, and the sensor 316 detects the detection plate 315.
Through rotation of the angle adjustment motor 321, the pulley 322 is rotated, and, through the rotation of the pulley 322, the pulley 314 and the sleeve 313 fixed to the pulley 314 are rotated through intermediation of the timing belt 323. When the sleeve 313 is rotated, the cutter shaft 312 is also rotated in the sleeve 313, and the cutter blade 310 retained to the cutter holder 311 is rotated about a Z-axis. A rotation amount of the cutter blade 310 can be measured through detection of the detection plate 315 by the sensor 316.
The vibration motor 320 is fixed to an upper portion of the housing 317. The eccentric cam 318 is fixed to a rotation shaft of the vibration motor 320. The eccentric cam 318 is arranged on an upper portion of the cutter shaft 312. The cutter shaft 312 is urged upward by the compression spring 319 so that an upper end portion thereof is held in abutment against the eccentric cam 318.
When the vibration motor 320 is rotated, the eccentric cam 318 is also rotated, and the cutter shaft 312 held in abutment against the eccentric cam 318 is moved in an axial direction of the cutter shaft 312. With this, the cutter blade 310 vibrates in the axial direction of the cutter shaft 312.
The housing 317 is fixed to a base 175. A slider 150a is fixed to the base 175. The slider 150a is retained to a rail 150b so as to be slidable. The rail 150b is fixed to the frame 201 and extends in the Z-direction.
A rack 180 extending in the Z-direction is fixed to the base 175. A pinion 170 meshes with the rack 180. The pinion 170 is driven by an up-and-down motion motor 130 fixed to the frame 201.
When the up-and-down motion motor 130 is rotated, the pinion 170 is rotated to move the rack 180 in the Z-direction. Along with the movement of the rack 180, the base 175 is also moved in the Z-direction, and the cutter blade 310 retained to the base 175 is moved in the Z-direction.
Before cutting is performed, the controller drives the sliding motor 230 in
Next, the vibration motor 320 is driven to apply vibration in the Z-direction to the cutter blade 310. When the cutting is to be started, the up-and-down motion motor 130 is driven. With this, the cutter blade 310 is moved to the position of cutting the sheet S. After that, under a state in which the position of the cutter blade 310 is fixed, the sheet S is moved in the X-direction to form the cutting line on the sheet S.
Alternatively, as necessary, the cutter blade 310 is moved in the X-direction while the sheet S is being fixed. Also in this manner, a cutting line can be formed on the sheet S. The sheet S is cut while the cutter blade 310 is vibrated, thereby forming the cutting line extending in the X-direction.
The Y-drive mechanism described above is arranged for each of the processing units, and is capable of being independentlY-driven. However, it is not always required that the Y-drive mechanism be arranged for each of the processing units
The circulating belt 90 is stretched along the second guide members 51 to 53 of the processing units 11 to 13 by a plurality of pulleys P1 to P9. Through forward and reverse drive of the driving pulley P9 by the motor 91, the circulating belt 90 can be driven in the direction of the solid-line arrows or the direction of the dashed line arrows.
The second moving bodies 61 to 63 configured to support the creasing mechanisms 61a to 63a and the cutting mechanisms 61b to 63b, which are described above, are coupled to the circulating belt 90, and, through drive of the motor 91, the creasing mechanisms 61a to 63a and the cutting mechanisms 61b to 63b of the processing units 11 to 13 are driven to the same positions. In the modification embodiment, the Y-drive mechanism can be simplified, thereby being capable of further reducing cost.
Processing on the sheet S by the sheet processing apparatus 1 is performed, for example, as illustrated in
The embodiment of the present invention is described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications may be made thereto based on technical idea described in the scope of claims. For example, in the embodiment, the processing units 11 to 13 are formed so as to have a three-layer structure. However, the processing units may be formed so as to have a freely selected multilayer structure such as a two-layer structure, a four-layer structure, or a five-layer structure. Further, it is not always required that processing units be stacked in a vertical direction in the multilayer structure. A multilayer structure in which processing units are stacked in an inclined state may be employed.
Further, in the embodiment, in the case of the three-layer structure, as in illustrated
Further, in the embodiment, the X-drive mechanism is arranged in the processing unit 12. However, the X-drive mechanism may comprise an X-driving belt stretched along the first guide member and coupled to the first moving body, and an X-motor on the machine frame side, which is configured to drive the X-driving belt. When the X-drive mechanism is arranged on the fixing side as described above, the weights of the processing units 11 to 13 are reduced, thereby being capable of reducing a load on the X-drive mechanism and increasing the speed of the first moving bodies 41 to 43.
Similarly, the Y-drive mechanism may comprise a Y-driving belt stretched along the second guide member and coupled to the second moving body, and a Y-motor on the second guide member side, which is configured to drive the Y-driving belt. With this, a load on the Y-drive mechanism can be reduced, and the speed of the second moving bodies 61 to 63 can be increased.
Further, in the embodiment, the creasing mechanisms 61a to 63a and the cutting mechanisms 61b to 63b are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the second moving bodies 61 to 63. However, in the processing units 11 to 13, two second moving bodies 61 to 63 may be arranged along the second guide members 51 to 53, and the creasing mechanisms 61a to 63a and the cutting mechanisms 61b to 63b may be arranged in different second moving bodies.
Further, in the embodiment, the creasing mechanisms 61a to 63a and the cutting mechanisms 61b to 63b are arranged in the second moving bodies 61 to 63. However, freely selected tools and mechanisms each configured to form a desired processing line on a sheet may be arranged in place of those creasing and cutting mechanisms. For example, in a sheet processing apparatus configured to cut a sheet such as a cloth with laser light, a cutting head configured to radiate laser light onto a sheet may be arranged in each of the second moving bodies 61 to 63.
Further, in the embodiment, the work areas for processing the sheet S are formed on the conveying belts 31 to 33. However, in place of the conveying belts 31 to 33, the work areas may be formed on work tables fixed to the machine frames 11a to 13a. An attraction unit having an air suction structure or other sheet fixing units may be arranged in the work table as necessary.
11 to 13: processing unit, 11a to 13a: machine frame, 11b to 13b: first guide member, 21 to 24: support column, 31 to 33: conveying belt, 41 to 43: first moving body, 41b to 43b: sliding portion, 42a: arm portion, 51 to 53: second guide member, 61 to 63: second moving body, 61a to 63a: creasing mechanism, 61b to 63b: cutting mechanism, 80: sliding motor, 81: pinion, 82: rack, 90: circulating belt, 91: motor, 100: multilayer-type sheet processing apparatus, 130: up-and-down motion motor, 150a: slider, 150b: rail, 170: pinion, 175: base, 180: rack, 201: frame, 201a: arm portion, 202: bracket, 210: creasing member, 211: center shaft, 220: up-and-down motion motor, 220a: rail, 221: guide member, 222: sliding portion, 223: roller retaining member, 224: shaft, 225: rotation shaft, 230: sliding motor, 231: pinion, 232: rack, 240a: sliding portion, 240b guide portion, 310: cutter blade, 311: cutter holder, 312: cutter shaft, 313: sleeve, 314: pulley, 315: detection plate, 316: sensor, 317: housing, 318: eccentric cam, 319: compression spring, 320: vibration motor, 321: angle adjustment motor, 322: pulley, 323: timing belt, P1 to P9: pulley, R: roller, S: sheet, S1: developed sheet
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017-132638 | Jul 2017 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2017/047043 | 12/27/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2019/008795 | 1/10/2019 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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Decision to Grant a Patent dated Oct. 31, 2017 in corresponding Japanese Application No. 2017-132638, with English translation. |
Notification of Reason for Refusal dated Oct. 10, 2017 in corresponding Japanese Application No. 2017-132638, with English translation. |
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority dated Feb. 13, 2019 in International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/JP2017/047043. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20190381753 A1 | Dec 2019 | US |