JP4757869B2

JP4757869B2 - Sheet material conveying apparatus and bookbinding apparatus

Info

Publication number: JP4757869B2
Application number: JP2007514488A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 俊之森脇; 健司三嶋; 晴裕大塚; 仁司桂川
Original assignee: Gunze Ltd
Current assignee: Gunze Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-28
Filing date: 2006-03-09
Publication date: 2011-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-09
Also published as: JPWO2006117930A1; WO2006117930A1

Description

【技術分野】
【０００１】
本発明は、刷本等のシート材を重ね合わせが搬送方向の下流側にずれた状態で搬送して集積する刷本集積装置に関するものである。
【背景技術】
【０００２】
輪転機で印刷された刷本（製本等の加工がされていない印刷物）を、向きを揃えかつ四隅を揃えて立てた状態で直方体状に集積し、集積した刷本の束を結束バンドで結束する作業を機械的に行う刷本集積装置が開示されている（特許文献１）。
刷本集積装置においては、重ね合わせた刷本が搬送方向の上流側にずれた状態、つまり各刷本の搬送方向下流側が下流側の刷本の上流側の上に重なり合った状態（図７参照）で、刷本を搬送する搬送装置が用いられるのが一般的であった。
【０００３】
搬送装置では、一般に、搬送中の刷本の中から印刷不良の刷本または破損した刷本を抜き取り、もしくは印刷状態等を確認するためにサンプル（標本）を抜き取ることが行われる。そして、印刷不良等の生じた刷本が連続して搬送され刷本が連続して抜き取られる場合には、搬送される刷本の連なりに途切れた部分（搬送方向における隙間）が生じる。途切れた部分の前後の刷本は重なり合いがないために、搬送後に重なり合いを条件として行われる刷本の規則的な集積を困難にする。したがって、刷本を集積するまえに刷本の重なり合いが途切れた部分を解消し、搬送過程で適度なずれを有する重なり合った状態に刷本を戻す必要がある。
【０００４】
図７は従来の搬送装置に設けられた途切れ解消部１００の図である。
途切れ解消部１００では、上流側のコンベア１０１と下流側のコンベア１０２との接続部分において、上流側のコンベア１０１の搬出端は下流側のコンベア１０２の搬入端より高い位置に設けられている。刷本Ｗは、上流側のコンベア１０１の搬出端から下流側のコンベア１０２上の刷本Ｗの上に、重なり状態を維持しながら移される。
【０００５】
下流側のコンベア１０２は、上流側のコンベア１０１において刷本Ｗが途切れた部分（隙間）が検出されると運転が停止され、上流側のコンベア１０１によって搬送される刷本Ｗが下流側のコンベア１０２上の刷本Ｗの後端に達すると運転が開始される。つまり、途切れ解消部１００は、下流側のコンベア１０２の最上流側にある刷本Ｗに重ねるための刷本Ｗが上流側のコンベア１０１により搬送されてくるまで下流側のコンベア１０２の運転を停止して待つことにより、刷本Ｗが途切れた部分を解消する。
【特許文献１】
特開２０００−１１８５１１号公報
【発明の開示】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
【０００６】
図７に示される途切れ解消部１００では、刷本Ｗが上流側のコンベア１０１から下流側のコンベア１０２に自然落下により移送されて下流側の刷本Ｗに重ね合わされる。そのため、自然落下する刷本Ｗは、下流側のコンベア１０２上で待つ刷本Ｗとの間にある空気層の抵抗、および落下時の慣性により下流側のコンベア１０２上で待つ刷本Ｗの表面を滑る等により、刷本Ｗ同士の重ね代が過大になり易い。また、移送される刷本Ｗと重ね合わされる刷本Ｗとの間の摩擦が大きく刷本Ｗの滑りが殆ど生じない場合には、重ね代が過小になり易い。
重なり程度にバラツキがある刷本Ｗが搬送装置から搬送されると、集積工程では四隅を揃えて集積することが容易でなく、集積された刷本Ｗの束は外観が不揃いになりやすい。
【０００７】
また、図７に示される途切れ解消部１００は、上に重なる刷本Ｗが搬送する方向とは逆側にずれた状態で刷本Ｗを搬送する搬送装置において刷本Ｗが途切れた部分を解消するように構成されている。しかし刷本集積装置の中には、上に重なる刷本Ｗが搬送される方向にずれた状態で刷本Ｗを集積するように設計されたものがあり、このような刷本集積装置に使用される搬送装置では、途切れ解消部１００を用いても途切れた部分を解消することはできない。
【０００８】
本発明は、上記事情に鑑みてなされたものであって、刷本等のシート材が搬送される方向にずれた状態で重なり合って搬送される場合に、連続して搬送される刷本等のシート材に生じた途切れた部分を適切に解消するシート材搬送装置およびシート材搬送装置を備えた刷本集積装置を提供することを目的とする。
【課題を解決するための手段】
【０００９】
前記目的を達成するために、本発明は次の技術的手段を講じた。
すなわち、本発明に係るシート材搬送装置は、シート材を重ね合わせが搬送方向の下流側にずれた状態で搬送するシート材搬送装置であって、前記シート材を水平方向に搬送可能な搬送コンベアと、押上装置と、を有し、前記押上装置は、前記搬送コンベアの搬送路の途中に配置された押上部を有し、前記押上部は、前記搬送コンベアの搬送面の下方または前記搬送面を含む面と前記搬送面の上方との間を一部または全部が移動可能であって前記搬送面の上方に移動するときに前記搬送面上の前記シート材の下面に当接して前記シート材の搬送方向上流側を持ち上げ可能に構成されてなる。
【００１０】
本発明に係る他のシート材搬送装置は、シート材を重ね合わせが搬送方向の下流側にずれた状態で搬送するシート材搬送装置であって、前記シート材を水平方向に搬送可能な搬送コンベアと、押上装置と、押さえ装置と、を有し、前記押上装置は、前記搬送コンベアの搬送路の途中に配置された押上部を有し、前記押上部は、前記搬送コンベアの搬送面の下方または前記搬送面を含む面と前記搬送面の上方との間を一部または全部が移動可能であって前記搬送面の上方に移動するときに前記搬送面上の前記シート材の下面に当接して少なくとも前記シート材の搬送方向上流側を持ち上げ可能に構成され、前記押さえ装置は、前記搬送路における前記押上部よりも下流側に配置され前記搬送面上の前記シート材の上面に当接して前記シート材の下流側を下方に押しつける押しつけ部を有する。
【００１１】
ここで「少なくとも前記シート材の搬送方向上流側を持ち上げ可能に構成され」とは、シート材の搬送方向上流側のみが持ち上げられる場合、およびシート材の搬送方向上流側とともに搬送方向下流側が持ち上げられる場合のいずれも含む意である。
【００１２】
いずれのシート材搬送装置も、前記シート材を重ね合わせが搬送方向の下流側にずれた状態で連続的に前記搬送コンベアに移送する上流コンベアと、前記上流コンベアが搬送する前記シート材の連続が途切れた部分の存在を検出するセンサと、を有する。
【００１３】
いずれのシート材搬送装置も、前記センサが前記シート材の連続が途切れた部分の始まりを検出したときから所定時間後に前記搬送コンベアを停止させて前記押上部を前記搬送面の上方に移動させ、その後に前記センサが前記シート材が途切れた部分の終わりを検出したときから所定時間後に前記押上部を前記搬送面または前記搬送面の下方に移動させるように制御する制御部を有する。
【００１４】
好ましくは、前記押上装置は、前記搬送面の下方に回動軸を有し、前記回動軸は、水平にかつ前記搬送路に直交させて設けられ、前記押上部は、一端側が前記回動軸に固定され他端側が前記回動軸に略直角に前記搬送路の下流側に延びており、前記押上装置が前記回動軸を中心として揺動することにより前記押上部が前記シート材の搬送方向上流側を持ち上げ可能に構成されてなる。
【００１５】
本発明に係る刷本集積装置は、いずれかの前記シート材搬送装置と、前記シート材搬送装置が連続して搬送する前記シート材を集積する集積装置と、を有する。
【発明の効果】
【００１６】
本発明に係るシート材搬送装置およびシート材搬送装置を備えた刷本集積装置は、刷本等のシート材が搬送される方向にずれた状態で重なり合って搬送される場合に、連続して搬送される刷本等のシート材に生じた途切れた部分を適切に解消することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【００１７】
【図１】図１は本発明に係る刷本集積装置の側面図である。
【図２】図２は刷本集積装置に備えられたシート材搬送装置の側面図である。
【図３】図３はシート材搬送装置の平面図である。
【図４】図４はシート材搬送装置の動作を説明するための側面図である。
【図５】図５はシート材搬送装置の動作を説明するための側面図である。
【図６】図６はシート材搬送装置の動作を説明するための側面図である。
【図７】図７は従来の搬送装置に設けられた途切れ解消部の図である。
【符号の説明】
【００１８】
１刷本集積装置
２シート材搬送装置
３集積装置（集積部）
４制御部
５上流コンベア
６搬送コンベア（下流コンベア）
７押上装置
８押さえ装置
９センサ
１６押上部
１８回動軸
２６押しつけ部（押下部材）
Ｗシート材（刷本）
【発明を実施するための最良の形態】
【００１９】
図１は本発明に係る刷本集積装置１の側面図、図２は刷本集積装置１に備えられたシート材搬送装置２の側面図、図３はシート材搬送装置２の平面図、図４ないし図６はシート材搬送装置２の動作を説明するための側面図である。
図１において、刷本集積装置１は、シート材搬送装置２、集積部３、および制御部４からなる。
シート材搬送装置２は、上流コンベア５、下流コンベア６、押上装置７、押さえ装置８、およびセンサ９からなる。
【００２０】
上流コンベア５は、１本のベルト１０を有するベルトコンベアである。上流コンベア５は、刷本Ｗが搬送方向の下流側にずれた状態、つまり各刷本Ｗの下流側の上に下流側の刷本Ｗの上流側が重なり合った状態で連続的に刷本Ｗを下流コンベア６に供給する。
なお、以下の説明において「搬送方向」とは、搬送される刷本Ｗの流れの上流と下流とを結ぶ方向をいう。また、搬送方向の上流側および下流側をそれぞれ「上流側」および「下流側」ということがある。
【００２１】
下流コンベア６は、等間隔に配置された３本のベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃを有するベルトコンベアである。下流コンベア６は、上流コンベア５に対して刷本Ｗの搬送方向の下流側に配置される。また、下流コンベア６は、その搬送面が、上流コンベア５の搬送面に対して段差を有することなく上流コンベア５の搬送面の延長線上になるように配置される。下流コンベア６の搬送速度は、上流コンベア５の搬送速度と同じに設定される。
【００２２】
図２および図３に示されるように、上流コンベア５の搬出端１２と下流コンベア６の搬入端１３との間には、その距離がシート材Ｗの搬送に影響の生じないよう配慮された受け渡しのための間隙Ｄが設けられている。
上流コンベア５および下流コンベア６は、それぞれが別個に駆動される。上流コンベア５は、ベルト１０を駆動させず、その上流側に配置された刷本Ｗの供給装置の搬送力を受けてベルトが従動するものでもよい。下流コンベア６はドラム型搬送装置１５と連動して駆動される。下流コンベア６の駆動については、後にドラム型搬送装置１５の説明と併せて説明する。
【００２３】
押上装置７は、押上部１６と空気圧シリンダ１７とを有し、下流コンベア６の搬送路の途中に配置されている。
押上部１６は、回動軸１８、レバー部１９、および回動軸１８に等間隔に固定された３つの押上部本体２０，２０，２０からなる。回動軸１８は、下流コンベア６の搬送面の下方に水平に搬送路と直交して設けられる。回動軸１８は、下流コンベア６のフレームに回動自在に支持されている。
レバー部１９は、一端が回動軸１８に固定され、回動軸１８に直角かつ略水平に搬送方向の下流側に延びて、他端側が略垂直方向に伸縮動作する空気圧シリンダ１７のロッド２３の先端側に回動可能に連結されている。
【００２４】
押上部本体２０は、セットカラーおよびスペーサで形成される作用板支持部２１と作用板２２とからなる。作用板支持部２１は、回動軸１８に直交し側面視においてレバー部１９と鈍角を形成して略上方に延び、延びた先の端部で作用板２２を支持する。作用板２２は、ベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃ間を上下に通過可能な大きさの略長方形の板材で形成されている。作用板２２は、空気圧シリンダ１７が収縮端にあるときに刷本Ｗの搬送を妨げることがないように配慮されて、その上面がベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃの上面（搬送面）を含む面に含まれるように、またはベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃの上面よりやや低い位置において搬送面と略平行になるようにして、かつ長手方向が搬送方向になるように配置される。また、作用板２２は、上流側の端が、作用板２２の他の部分と鈍角をなすように下方に折り曲げられている。
【００２５】
空気圧シリンダ１７は、複動型シリンダであり、ロッドカバーを上にして略垂直方向に伸縮動作するように配置され、ヘッドカバー側が下流コンベア６のフレームに揺動可能に支持されている。空気圧シリンダ１７は、上に説明したように、ロッド２３の先端側がレバー部１９の端部と回動可能に連結されている。
【００２６】
押さえ装置８は、ブラケット２４、アーム２５、および押下部材２６からなる。
ブラケット２４は、一端が下流コンベア６のフレームに固定されており、下流コンベア６の搬入端１３近辺から上方に延びたのちほぼ直角に下流側に曲がって、他端においてアーム２５の一端を揺動自在に支持する。アーム２５は、ブラケット２４の他端から下流側に延び、延びた端部において押下部材２６を回転自在に支持する。押下部材２６は、形状が円板状であって搬送方向に直交しかつ水平な回転中心を有し、ベルト１１ｂの上方に配置される。押下部材２６は、下流コンベア６が搬送する刷本Ｗの上面に自重による付勢力によって接しており、弱い力で刷本Ｗをベルト１１ｂに向けて押しつける。
押下部材２６を、形状が円筒状であって刷本Ｗをベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃのすべてに向けて押しつけるように構成してもよい。
【００２７】
センサ９は、重なり合って搬送される刷本Ｗの連なりに生じる、印刷不良の刷本Ｗの抜き取り等による重なり合いの途切れた部分を検出するために使用される。センサ９は、投光部２７と受光部２８とを有する透過型フォトセンサである。投光部２７および受光部２８は、受け渡しのための間隙Ｄを挟んで上下に対向して配置される。投光部２７は、間隙Ｄの上方に受光部２８に向けて投光可能にブラケット２４に取り付けられている。受光部２８は、間隙Ｄの下方において投光部２７からの光が受光可能な位置に取り付けられている。刷本Ｗの重なり合いの途切れた部分の有無の判断は、受光部２８における投光部２７からの光の検出の有無により行われる。
【００２８】
集積部３は、ドラム型搬送装置１５、整列コンベア２９、および倒れ防止用のホルダ３０からなる。
ドラム型搬送装置１５は、ドラム３１、ドラム３１を回転させるためのモータ３２、内側ベルト３３、外側ベルト３４、および張力調整用アクチュエータ３５などからなる。
ドラム３１は、搬送方向に直交し水平な回転軸３６を有し、ベルト３７により連結されたモータ３２によって一方向に回転する。ドラム３１は、３本のベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃにより下流コンベア６の搬入端のローラ１４に接続されており、回転に伴って３本のベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃをドラム３１と搬入端のローラ１４との間で循環させて下流コンベア６を駆動する。したがって、ドラム３１が回転する周速度は、下流コンベア６の搬送速度に略等しい。
【００２９】
モータ３２には、その回転角度（回転量）を計測して制御部４に出力するためのロータリーエンコーダ３８がベルト３９によって接続されている。
【００３０】
内側ベルト３３は、ドラム３１の最上部を起点に巻掛け角（angle of contact）が９０度になるようにドラム３１の外周の１／４に接している（図１のＢ領域）。また、内側ベルト３３は、ドラム３１の外周において３本のベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃのそれぞれの間に、複数のローラに支持されてドラム３１を囲むようにドラム３１の外方を循環可能に配置される。また、内側ベルト３３は、その循環経路に、ドラム３１に接する前に設けられた横送り領域（図１のＡ領域）およびドラム３１から離れた後に下方に向かう縦送り領域（図１のＣ領域）を有する。
【００３１】
外側ベルト３４は、Ｂ領域において内側ベルト３３の上に重なっており、張力調整用アクチュエータ３５および複数のローラ４０ａ，…，４０ｇに支持されて、ドラム３１の上部外方を循環可能に配置される。外側ベルト３４は、縦送り領域（Ｃ領域）における上部で内側ベルト３３から離れる。外側ベルト３４は、下流コンベア６が移送した刷本ＷをＢ領域において内側ベルト３３との間に挟み、移送方向を変更して下方に設けられた整列コンベア２９に送り出す働きをする。
【００３２】
張力調整用アクチュエータ３５は、空気圧シリンダ４１と空気圧シリンダ４１のロッドの端に取り付けられたテンションローラ４２とからなる。張力調整用アクチュエータ３５は、テンションローラ４２が外側ベルト３４に接するように配置される。張力調整用アクチュエータ３５は、ロッドの伸縮動作によりテンションローラ４２が外側ベルト３４の張力を増減させ、Ｂ領域における外側ベルト３４および内側ベルト３３が刷本Ｗを挟む力を調整する。
【００３３】
整列コンベア２９は、ベントコンベアで形成され、整列面４３つまりベルトの上面が縦送り領域（Ｃ領域）の下方を通過するように配置される。整列コンベア２９は、ドラム型搬送装置１５により横向き移動から下向きの移動に変更されて搬送される刷本Ｗを受け止めて、刷本Ｗを立てた状態のまま集めて貯える（集積する）。整列コンベア２９は、刷本Ｗが集積された束が大きくなるに伴い集積場所を確保するために整列面４３をドラム３１から離れる方向に移動させる。
倒れ防止用のホルダ３０は、内側ベルト３３の外方に、整列コンベア２９の整列面４３から上方に垂直に設けられている。倒れ防止用のホルダ３０は、刷本Ｗの集積の程度に応じて整列コンベア２９の整列面４３の移動方向と同一方向に適度に移動し、集積された刷本Ｗを立てた状態に維持する働きをする。
【００３４】
制御部４は、信号処理部４４およびソレノイドバルブ４５を有する。ソレノイドバルブ４５は押上装置７の空気圧シリンダ１７に伸張動作用および収縮動作用の圧縮空気を供給する。制御部４については、後に刷本集積装置１の動作の説明とともに説明する。
【００３５】
次に、刷本集積装置１の動作について説明する。
刷本集積装置１には、上流コンベア５の上流側に配置された供給装置から、刷本Ｗがその下流側の上に下流側の刷本Ｗの上流側が重ね合わされた状態で連続的に供給される。
【００３６】
刷本Ｗは、連続的に上流コンベア５のベルト１０によって下流側に搬送され、受け渡しのための間隙Ｄを通過して下流コンベア６のベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃ上に受け渡される。受け渡しのための間隙Ｄは、刷本Ｗの搬送方向長さおよび刷本Ｗの重なりの程度を考慮して、刷本Ｗが落下しない適度な大きさに設定されている。刷本Ｗは、ベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃ上に載せられて作用板２２，２２，２２の上方を通過し、ドラム型搬送装置１５に搬送される。
押さえ装置８は、押下部材２６がその自重による下方への付勢力によって刷本Ｗの上面を押さえ、刷本Ｗが搬送方向に対して横方向に移動するのを防止する。
【００３７】
刷本Ｗは、ドラム型搬送装置１５に搬送されＢ領域に達すると、内側ベルト３３と外側ベルト３４とに挟まれてＢ領域においてドラム３１の回転とともに移動し、移動方向が横向きから下向きに変更される。刷本Ｗは、Ｂ領域を過ぎＣ領域をしばらく下方に移動する。その後外側ベルト３４が上方に折り返されて内側ベルト３３から離れることにより、刷本Ｗは、立てられた状態で整列コンベア２９の整列面４３の内側ベルト３３に近い位置に連続的に集積される。
【００３８】
整列コンベア２９の整列面４３に刷本Ｗが集積されるのに応じて、倒れ防止用のホルダ３０は内側ベルト３３との距離が大きくなる方向に移動する。整列コンベア２９は、倒れ防止用のホルダ３０の動きに対応させて、整列面４３を倒れ防止用のホルダ３０の移動方向と同一の方向に移動させる。
このような倒れ防止用のホルダ３０および整列コンベア２９の動作により、刷本集積装置１は、刷本Ｗを立てた状態に維持したまま必要量の刷本Ｗを集積することができる。
上に説明した上流コンベア５、下流コンベア６、内側ベルト３３、外側ベルト３４、整列コンベア２９、および倒れ防止用のホルダ３０等の動作は、制御部４によって制御される。
【００３９】
続いて、供給装置または上流コンベア５において搬送中の刷本Ｗの中から印刷不良等の刷本Ｗが抜き取られ、連続して搬送される刷本Ｗに途切れが生じたときの刷本集積装置１の動作について説明する。
なお、刷本集積装置１は、刷本Ｗが抜き取られても抜き取り量が少なく、搬送される刷本Ｗに途切れが生じないときには、上に説明した集積動作が支障なく行われる。
【００４０】
刷本Ｗの途切れは、刷本Ｗの抜き取り等により生じた途切れ部分が受け渡しのための間隙Ｄに達したときに、通常は刷本Ｗにより遮断される投光部２７からの光を受光部２８が検出することにより検知される。受光部２８は、刷本Ｗの途切れ部分の始まり、つまり途切れる前の連続する刷本Ｗの最後部を検出する。
【００４１】
制御部４の信号処理部４４は、刷本Ｗの途切れ検知の信号を受けると、下流コンベア６を停止するまでの待ち時間を算出する。待ち時間は、下流コンベア６の搬送速度とセンサ９の検出位置（搬送方向における連続する刷本Ｗの最後部を検出する位置）から予め設定された位置までの距離Ｌとに基づいて算出される。
【００４２】
ここで、下流コンベア６の搬送速度は、下流コンベア６を駆動するモータ３２に接続されたロータリエンコーダ３８が発信する回転角度に基づいて信号処理部４４により算出される。また、距離Ｌの基準となる予め設定された位置は、上流コンベア５が、途切れ部分の後に搬送する刷本Ｗを下流コンベア６上の刷本Ｗに適度に重なり合わせて下流コンベア６に送り込める範囲内で決定される。
【００４３】
待ち時間が経過すると、信号処理部４４は、下流コンベア６の搬送動作を停止し、ソレノイドバルブ４５を制御して空気圧シリンダ１７を伸張動作させる。レバー部１９は端部が持ち上げられて回動軸１８を回動させ、回動する回動軸１８は押上部本体２０，２０，２０を回動させて作用板２２，２２，２２の下流側端部を上昇させる。このとき、連続して通過した最後の刷本Ｗは作用板２２，２２，２２のちょうど上方にあり（図４参照）、作用板２２，２２，２２の下流側端部が上昇すると作用板２２，２２，２２により最後の刷本Ｗの上流側が持ち上げられて下流コンベア６の搬送面との間に隙間が形成される（図５参照）。
【００４４】
刷本Ｗにおける作用板２２，２２，２２の下流側端部が当接する位置は、刷本Ｗの重心位置よりも搬送方向の上流側が好ましい。刷本Ｗの重ね合わせの程度が小さい場合でも、確実に刷本Ｗの上流側が持ち上げられるからである。
【００４５】
押さえ装置８は、刷本Ｗの上面に接する押下部材２６が、その自重による下方への付勢力によって、作用板２２，２２，２２が刷本Ｗを持ち上げるときに生じやすい持ち上げられた刷本Ｗのずれ（移動）を防止する。また、押さえ装置８は、抜き取りなどにより刷本Ｗの重なり合いが少なく、作用板２２，２２，２２の下流側の端が刷本Ｗの下流側を持ち上げたときに刷本Ｗの重なり合いを崩すおそれがある場合にも、下流側の刷本Ｗを抑えつけてその上昇を防ぐことにより刷本Ｗの重なり合いを維持させる働きをする。
【００４６】
上流コンベア５は、下流コンベア６が搬送動作を停止している間も、刷本Ｗの搬送動作を継続する。再び刷本Ｗが上流コンベア５によって搬送されて受け渡しのための間隙Ｄに達すると、それまで受光部２８で受光していた投光部２７からの光は遮断され、センサ９は、刷本Ｗの検知の信号、つまり刷本Ｗの途切れ部分の終了を知らせる情報を信号処理部４４に送信する。
信号処理部４４は、刷本Ｗの下流側端が間隙Ｄに達したときを記憶し、上流コンベア５の搬送速度およびセンサ９の検出位置に基づいて、受け渡しのための間隙Ｄに達した刷本Ｗの下流側端が、作用板２２，２２，２２に持ち上げられた刷本Ｗの下に到着し適度な重なり合い状態となるまでの待ち時間を算出する。
【００４７】
待ち時間が経過すると、信号処理部４４は、ソレノイドバルブ４５を制御して空気圧シリンダ１７を収縮動作させ、回動軸１８を回転させて作用板２２，２２，２２の下流側端部を下降させる。作用板２２，２２，２２は、下流コンベア６の搬送面と同一の高さまたは搬送面よりも下方に下降し、作用板２２，２２，２２に持ち上げられた刷本Ｗは、上流コンベア５が搬送した刷本Ｗの下流側の上に重ね合わされる。作用板２２，２２，２２の下流側端部の下降と同時に、信号処理部４４は、下流コンベア６の搬送動作を開始させる。この後、下流コンベア６は、停止以前と同様に、重なり合う刷本Ｗを連続的にドラム型搬送装置１５に搬送する。
【００４８】
作用板２２，２２，２２は、刷本Ｗを持ち上げたとき上流側の端が搬送面より低い位置にかつ下流側に向けて徐々に高くなっているので（図５）、上流コンベア５は、新たに搬送する刷本Ｗを円滑に作用板２２，２２，２２上に運ぶことができる（図６）。
【００４９】
押上装置７において途切れた部分が解消された刷本Ｗは、下流コンベア６によりドラム型搬送装置１５に搬送される。この後、刷本Ｗは、先に説明した刷本Ｗの途切れがない場合と同様に、ドラム型搬送装置１５により横向き移動から下向きの移動に変更され、整列コンベア２９の整列面４３に立てられた状態で連続的に集積される。
このように、刷本集積装置１は、搬送される方向にずれた状態で重ね合わされた刷本Ｗに重ね合わせの途切れた部分が生じても、刷本Ｗが途切れた部分を解消して重ね合わされた状態に戻すことができ、その後の整列コンベア２９における刷本Ｗの集積を支障なく行うことができる。
【００５０】
上述の実施形態において、下流コンベア６のベルト１１ａ，１１ｂ，１１ｃとドラム型搬送装置１５の内側ベルト３３とを同一のベルトで兼用させることができる。内側ベルト３３を、ドラム３１の外周においてベルト１１ａ，１１ｃのそれぞれ外側に各１本配置するように設けてもよい。
下流コンベア６の搬送速度の測定をロータリエンコーダ３８で行うのではなく、他の検出装置、例えばドップラー振動計を用いて測定してもよい。
押さえ装置８における押下部材２６の下方への付勢力を、バネにより加わるようにしてもよい。また、押下部材２６の自重が大きすぎる場合には、押下部材２６の自重による付勢力を軽減する方向に付勢するばねを用いてもよい。押下部材２６の刷本Ｗに接する外周部は、ゴム、軟質樹脂、またはスポンジ等の緩衝材で形成するのが好ましい。
【００５１】
押上装置７を、空気圧シリンダ１７および空気圧シリンダ１７のロッド２３の先端側に回転自在に取り付けられた車輪により形成することができる。
また、押上装置７を、作用板が下流コンベアの搬送面と平行にまたは下流側が低くなるように傾斜させて空気圧シリンダ１７のロッド２３に固定されたものとしてもよい。その場合、ロッド２３が収縮しているときには作用板全体が搬送面より下方に位置するように、かつ作用板の上流側の端は、途切れ部分の後に上流コンベア５により下流コンベア６に移送された刷本Ｗの下流側端より下流側に位置するように構成する。そうすれば、作用板は、刷本Ｗが重なり合って搬送されるときに搬送の妨げとならず、途切れた部分を解消するために持ち上げた刷本Ｗを下降させるときに上流コンベア５から移送された刷本Ｗに当たって傷つけることもない。
【００５２】
上流コンベア５および下流コンベア６を、ローラコロコンベア等の他の形式のコンベアとすることができる。その場合、下流コンベア６の搬送速度は、ローラエンコーダ３８により測定される。
刷本集積装置１の外観、形状、材質などは、上記実施形態に限られない。
その他、刷本集積装置１、シート材搬送装置２、集積部３、および制御部４の個別の構成または全体の構造、形状、寸法、個数、材質などは、本発明の趣旨に沿って適宜変更することができる。
【産業上の利用可能性】
【００５３】
本発明は、刷本等のシート材を重ね合わせが搬送方向の下流側にずれた状態で搬送して集積する刷本集積装置に利用することができる。【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus that transports and stacks sheet materials such as a printing book in a state where the overlapping is shifted to the downstream side in the transporting direction.
[Background]
[0002]
A booklet printed on a rotary press (printed material that has not been bound or otherwise processed) is stacked in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with its orientation aligned and the four corners aligned, and the bundle of stacked booklets is bundled with a binding band. A bookbinding apparatus that mechanically performs the work is disclosed (Patent Document 1).
In the bookbinding apparatus, the stacked booklets are shifted to the upstream side in the transport direction, that is, the downstream side in the transport direction of each booklet overlaps the upstream side of the downstream booklet (see FIG. 7). In general, a transport device for transporting a printing book is used.
[0003]
In the transport apparatus, generally, a defective print book or a damaged print book is extracted from the transported book, or a sample (specimen) is extracted in order to check the printing state or the like. When a printing book having a printing defect or the like is continuously conveyed and the printing book is continuously extracted, a discontinuous portion (gap in the conveying direction) is generated in a series of conveyed printing books. Since there are no overlaps between the front and back of the interrupted portion, it is difficult to regularly collect the booklets that are performed on the condition of overlap after transport. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the portion where the overlap of the booklet is interrupted before collecting the booklet, and to return the booklet to the overlapped state having an appropriate shift in the conveying process.
[0004]
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the break-off eliminating unit 100 provided in the conventional transport device.
In the disconnection elimination unit 100, the unloading end of the upstream conveyor 101 is provided at a position higher than the loading end of the downstream conveyor 102 in the connection portion between the upstream conveyor 101 and the downstream conveyor 102. The printed book W is transferred from the carry-out end of the upstream conveyor 101 onto the printed book W on the downstream conveyor 102 while maintaining an overlapping state.
[0005]
The downstream conveyor 102 is stopped when a portion (gap) where the printing book W is interrupted is detected in the upstream conveyor 101, and the printing book W conveyed by the upstream conveyor 101 is transferred to the downstream conveyor 101. When the rear end of the printing book W on 102 is reached, the operation is started. That is, the discontinuity canceling unit 100 stops the operation of the downstream conveyor 102 until the upstream booklet W to be stacked on the upstreammost booklet W of the downstream conveyor 102 is conveyed by the upstream conveyor 101. Then, the portion where the printing book W is interrupted is eliminated.
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-118511 A
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0006]
7, the printing book W is transferred from the upstream conveyor 101 to the downstream conveyor 102 by a natural drop and is superimposed on the downstream printing book W. Therefore, the surface of the printing book W that waits on the downstream conveyor 102 due to the resistance of the air layer between the printing book W waiting on the downstream conveyor 102 and the inertia at the time of dropping is the surface of the printing book W that naturally falls. The overlapping margin between the printing books W tends to be excessive due to slipping. Further, when the friction between the transferred booklet W and the overlapped booklet W is large, and the slide of the booklet W hardly occurs, the overlap margin tends to be too small.
When the printing book W having variations in the overlapping degree is conveyed from the conveying device, it is not easy to align the four corners in the collecting process, and the bundle of the collected printing books W tends to be uneven in appearance.
[0007]
Further, the discontinuity canceling unit 100 shown in FIG. 7 eliminates the portion where the booklet W is interrupted in the transport device that transports the booklet W in a state shifted to the opposite side to the direction in which the overlapping booklet W is transported. Is configured to do. However, some printing book stacking devices are designed to stack the printing book W in a state shifted in the direction in which the overlapping printing book W is conveyed, and are used in such a printing book stacking device. In the transport apparatus to be used, even if the discontinuity eliminating unit 100 is used, the discontinuous portion cannot be eliminated.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when a sheet material such as a printing book is conveyed in an overlapping manner in a state shifted in a conveying direction, such as a printing book that is conveyed continuously. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet material conveying apparatus and a bookbinding apparatus including the sheet material conveying apparatus that appropriately eliminates the discontinuous portion generated in the sheet material.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0009]
In order to achieve the object, the present invention takes the following technical means.
That is, the sheet material conveying apparatus according to the present invention is a sheet material conveying apparatus that conveys the sheet material in a state in which the stack is shifted to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and is a conveying conveyor capable of conveying the sheet material in the horizontal direction. And the push-up device, the push-up device has a push-up portion disposed in the middle of the transfer path of the transfer conveyor, and the push-up portion is below the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor or the transfer surface The sheet material can be partly or wholly movable between the surface including the sheet and the upper side of the conveying surface, and abuts against the lower surface of the sheet material on the conveying surface when moving above the conveying surface. It is configured to be able to lift the upstream side in the conveyance direction.
[0010]
Another sheet material conveying apparatus according to the present invention is a sheet material conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet material in a state in which the stacking is shifted to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and a conveying conveyor capable of conveying the sheet material in a horizontal direction. And a push-up device, and a push-up device, wherein the push-up device has a push-up portion disposed in the middle of the transfer path of the transfer conveyor, and the push-up portion is below the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor Alternatively, a part or all of the movement is possible between a surface including the conveyance surface and the upper side of the conveyance surface, and contacts the lower surface of the sheet material on the conveyance surface when moving above the conveyance surface. At least the upstream side of the sheet material in the conveying direction is configured to be lifted, and the pressing device is disposed on the downstream side of the pressing portion in the conveying path and is in contact with the upper surface of the sheet material on the conveying surface. Of the sheet material Having a pressing portion for pressing the flow side downward.
[0011]
Here, “at least the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet material can be lifted” means that only the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet material is lifted, and the downstream side in the conveyance direction is lifted together with the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet material. It is meant to include any case.
[0012]
In any of the sheet material conveying apparatuses, there is an upstream conveyor that continuously transfers the sheet material to the conveying conveyor in a state where the overlap is shifted to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the continuation of the sheet material that is conveyed by the upstream conveyor. And a sensor for detecting the presence of the interrupted portion.
[0013]
In any sheet material conveying device, the sensor stops the conveying conveyor after a predetermined time from when the sensor detects the start of the continuous portion of the sheet material, and moves the push-up portion above the conveying surface. And a controller that controls the push-up unit to move to the transport surface or the lower surface of the transport surface after a predetermined time from when the sensor detects the end of the portion where the sheet material is interrupted.
[0014]
Preferably, the push-up device has a pivot shaft below the transport surface, the pivot shaft is provided horizontally and orthogonal to the transport path, and the push-up portion is pivoted at one end side. The other end side is fixed to the shaft and extends to the downstream side of the conveyance path at a substantially right angle to the rotation shaft, and the push-up device swings around the rotation shaft so that the push-up portion is made of the sheet material. It is configured to be able to lift the upstream side in the transport direction.
[0015]
The bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the sheet material conveying apparatuses and an accumulating apparatus that accumulates the sheet materials continuously conveyed by the sheet material conveying apparatus.
【The invention's effect】
[0016]
A sheet material conveying apparatus according to the present invention and a printing book stacking apparatus including the sheet material conveying apparatus are continuously conveyed when the sheet materials such as a printing book are conveyed in an overlapping manner in a state shifted in a conveying direction. The discontinuous part which arose in sheet materials, such as a printed book, can be eliminated appropriately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a sheet material conveying apparatus provided in the bookbinding apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sheet material conveying apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the operation of the sheet conveying apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a side view for explaining the operation of the sheet conveying apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining the operation of the sheet conveying apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of a break-off eliminating unit provided in a conventional transport device.
[Explanation of symbols]
[0018]
1 Bookbinding device
2 Sheet material transport device
3 Integration device (integration unit)
4 Control unit
5 Upstream conveyor
6 Conveyor (downstream conveyor)
7 Push-up device
8 Pressing device
9 Sensor
16 Pusher
18 Rotating shaft
26 Pressing part (pressing member)
W Sheet material (print book)
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0019]
1 is a side view of a bookbinding apparatus 1 according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of a sheet material conveying apparatus 2 provided in the bookbinding apparatus 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sheet material conveying apparatus 2. 4 to 6 are side views for explaining the operation of the sheet material conveying apparatus 2.
In FIG. 1, the bookbinding apparatus 1 includes a sheet material conveying device 2, a stacking unit 3, and a control unit 4.
The sheet material conveying device 2 includes an upstream conveyor 5, a downstream conveyor 6, a lifting device 7, a pressing device 8, and a sensor 9.
[0020]
The upstream conveyor 5 is a belt conveyor having one belt 10. The upstream conveyor 5 continuously prints the book W in a state in which the book W is shifted to the downstream side in the conveying direction, that is, in a state where the upstream side of the downstream book W is overlapped on the downstream side of each book W. Supply to the downstream conveyor 6.
In the following description, the “conveying direction” refers to a direction connecting the upstream and downstream of the flow of the conveyed booklet W. Further, the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction may be referred to as “upstream side” and “downstream side”, respectively.
[0021]
The downstream conveyor 6 is a belt conveyor having three belts 11a, 11b, and 11c arranged at equal intervals. The downstream conveyor 6 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the printing book W with respect to the upstream conveyor 5. Further, the downstream conveyor 6 is arranged such that its conveyance surface is on an extension line of the conveyance surface of the upstream conveyor 5 without having a step with respect to the conveyance surface of the upstream conveyor 5. The conveyance speed of the downstream conveyor 6 is set to be the same as the conveyance speed of the upstream conveyor 5.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, delivery is performed between the carry-out end 12 of the upstream conveyor 5 and the carry-in end 13 of the downstream conveyor 6 so that the distance does not affect the conveyance of the sheet material W. A gap D is provided.
The upstream conveyor 5 and the downstream conveyor 6 are driven separately. The upstream conveyor 5 may be one in which the belt 10 is driven by the conveying force of the supply device for the printing book W arranged on the upstream side without driving the belt 10. The downstream conveyor 6 is driven in conjunction with the drum type conveying device 15. The driving of the downstream conveyor 6 will be described later together with the description of the drum type conveying device 15.
[0023]
The push-up device 7 has a push-up portion 16 and a pneumatic cylinder 17 and is disposed in the middle of the conveyance path of the downstream conveyor 6.
The push-up portion 16 is composed of a rotary shaft 18, a lever portion 19, and three push-up body 20, 20, 20 fixed to the rotary shaft 18 at equal intervals. The rotation shaft 18 is provided horizontally below the conveyance surface of the downstream conveyor 6 and perpendicular to the conveyance path. The rotation shaft 18 is rotatably supported on the frame of the downstream conveyor 6.
One end of the lever portion 19 is fixed to the rotating shaft 18, extends to the downstream side in the conveying direction at a right angle and substantially horizontally to the rotating shaft 18, and the rod 23 of the pneumatic cylinder 17 extends and contracts in the substantially vertical direction at the other end side. It is connected to the front end side of the pivotable.
[0024]
The push-up body 20 includes an action plate support portion 21 and an action plate 22 formed of a set collar and a spacer. The action plate support portion 21 is orthogonal to the rotation shaft 18, forms an obtuse angle with the lever portion 19 in a side view, extends substantially upward, and supports the action plate 22 with the extended end portion. The action plate 22 is formed of a substantially rectangular plate material having a size capable of passing vertically between the belts 11a, 11b, and 11c. The action plate 22 is designed so that the conveyance of the printing book W is not hindered when the pneumatic cylinder 17 is at the contracted end, and the upper surface thereof is a surface including the upper surfaces (conveying surfaces) of the belts 11a, 11b, 11c. It is arranged so as to be included or at a position slightly lower than the upper surfaces of the belts 11a, 11b, 11c so as to be substantially parallel to the transport surface and the longitudinal direction to be the transport direction. Moreover, the action plate 22 is bent downward so that the upstream end forms an obtuse angle with the other part of the action plate 22.
[0025]
The pneumatic cylinder 17 is a double-acting cylinder, and is arranged so as to extend and contract in a substantially vertical direction with the rod cover facing up, and the head cover side is supported by the frame of the downstream conveyor 6 so as to be swingable. As described above, in the pneumatic cylinder 17, the distal end side of the rod 23 is rotatably connected to the end portion of the lever portion 19.
[0026]
The pressing device 8 includes a bracket 24, an arm 25, and a pressing member 26.
One end of the bracket 24 is fixed to the frame of the downstream conveyor 6. The bracket 24 extends upward from the vicinity of the carry-in end 13 of the downstream conveyor 6 and then bends at a substantially right angle to the downstream side, and swings one end of the arm 25 at the other end. Support freely. The arm 25 extends downstream from the other end of the bracket 24 and rotatably supports the pressing member 26 at the extended end. The pressing member 26 has a disc shape, has a horizontal rotation center orthogonal to the transport direction, and is disposed above the belt 11b. The pressing member 26 is in contact with the upper surface of the printing book W conveyed by the downstream conveyor 6 by an urging force due to its own weight, and presses the printing book W toward the belt 11b with a weak force.
The pressing member 26 may be configured to have a cylindrical shape and press the printing book W toward all of the belts 11a, 11b, and 11c.
[0027]
The sensor 9 is used to detect a portion where the overlap of the printing books W that are transported in an overlapping manner is generated, such as when the printing books W with defective printing are removed. The sensor 9 is a transmissive photosensor having a light projecting unit 27 and a light receiving unit 28. The light projecting unit 27 and the light receiving unit 28 are arranged to face each other up and down across a gap D for delivery. The light projecting unit 27 is attached to the bracket 24 so as to project light toward the light receiving unit 28 above the gap D. The light receiving unit 28 is attached to a position below the gap D where light from the light projecting unit 27 can be received. The presence / absence of the portion where the overlap of the printing book W is interrupted is determined based on whether or not the light from the light projecting unit 27 is detected in the light receiving unit 28.
[0028]
The stacking unit 3 includes a drum-type transport device 15, an alignment conveyor 29, and a holder 30 for preventing falling.
The drum type conveyance device 15 includes a drum 31, a motor 32 for rotating the drum 31, an inner belt 33, an outer belt 34, and a tension adjusting actuator 35.
The drum 31 has a horizontal rotation shaft 36 that is orthogonal to the conveyance direction and is rotated in one direction by a motor 32 connected by a belt 37. The drum 31 is connected to the roller 14 at the carry-in end of the downstream conveyor 6 by three belts 11a, 11b, and 11c. The three belts 11a, 11b, and 11c are connected to the drum 31 and the roller at the carry-in end as it rotates. 14 and the downstream conveyor 6 is driven. Therefore, the peripheral speed at which the drum 31 rotates is substantially equal to the conveyance speed of the downstream conveyor 6.
[0029]
A rotary encoder 38 for measuring the rotation angle (rotation amount) and outputting it to the control unit 4 is connected to the motor 32 by a belt 39.
[0030]
The inner belt 33 is in contact with a quarter of the outer periphery of the drum 31 so as to have an angle of contact of 90 degrees starting from the uppermost portion of the drum 31 (region B in FIG. 1). The inner belt 33 is disposed between the three belts 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c on the outer periphery of the drum 31 so as to be circulated around the drum 31 so as to be supported by a plurality of rollers and surround the drum 31. Is done. Further, the inner belt 33 has a transverse feed area (A area in FIG. 1) provided before contacting the drum 31 and a vertical feed area (C area in FIG. 1) heading downward after leaving the drum 31 in the circulation path. ).
[0031]
The outer belt 34 overlaps the inner belt 33 in the region B, is supported by the tension adjusting actuator 35 and the plurality of rollers 40a,... . The outer belt 34 is separated from the inner belt 33 at the upper part in the longitudinal feed region (C region). The outer belt 34 functions to sandwich the printing book W transferred by the downstream conveyor 6 between the inner belt 33 in the region B and send it to the alignment conveyor 29 provided below by changing the transfer direction.
[0032]
The tension adjusting actuator 35 includes a pneumatic cylinder 41 and a tension roller 42 attached to the rod end of the pneumatic cylinder 41. The tension adjusting actuator 35 is disposed so that the tension roller 42 contacts the outer belt 34. The tension adjusting actuator 35 adjusts the force with which the outer belt 34 and the inner belt 33 sandwich the book W in the region B by the tension roller 42 increasing / decreasing the tension of the outer belt 34 by the expansion / contraction operation of the rod.
[0033]
The alignment conveyor 29 is formed of a vent conveyor, and is arranged such that the alignment surface 43, that is, the upper surface of the belt, passes below the longitudinal feed region (C region). The alignment conveyor 29 receives the printing book W that is changed from the lateral movement to the downward movement by the drum-type conveying device 15 and collects and stores (accumulates) the printing book W in an upright state. The aligning conveyor 29 moves the aligning surface 43 in a direction away from the drum 31 in order to secure a stacking location as the bundle in which the printing books W are stacked increases.
The holder 30 for falling prevention is provided vertically upward from the alignment surface 43 of the alignment conveyor 29 outside the inner belt 33. The fall-preventing holder 30 is appropriately moved in the same direction as the movement direction of the alignment surface 43 of the alignment conveyor 29 according to the degree of stacking of the printing books W, and maintains the stacked printing books W in an upright state. Work.
[0034]
The control unit 4 includes a signal processing unit 44 and a solenoid valve 45. The solenoid valve 45 supplies compressed air for expansion operation and contraction operation to the pneumatic cylinder 17 of the push-up device 7. The control unit 4 will be described later together with an explanation of the operation of the bookbinding apparatus 1.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the bookbinding apparatus 1 will be described.
The printing book stacking apparatus 1 is continuously supplied from a supply device arranged on the upstream side of the upstream conveyor 5 in a state where the upstream side of the downstream printing book W is superimposed on the downstream side thereof. Is done.
[0036]
The printed book W is continuously conveyed downstream by the belt 10 of the upstream conveyor 5, passes through the gap D for delivery, and is delivered onto the belts 11 a, 11 b, 11 c of the downstream conveyor 6. The gap D for delivery is set to an appropriate size so that the printing book W does not fall in consideration of the length in the conveyance direction of the printing book W and the degree of overlap of the printing book W. The printing book W is placed on the belts 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, passes over the working plates 22, 22, 22, and is conveyed to the drum type conveying device 15.
The pressing device 8 presses the upper surface of the printing book W by the downward pressing force of the pressing member 26 due to its own weight, and prevents the printing book W from moving laterally with respect to the conveyance direction.
[0037]
When the booklet W is transported to the drum-type transport device 15 and reaches the B region, it is sandwiched between the inner belt 33 and the outer belt 34 and moves with the rotation of the drum 31 in the B region, and the moving direction is changed from lateral to downward. Is done. The printed book W passes the B area and moves downward in the C area for a while. Thereafter, the outer belt 34 is folded upward and separated from the inner belt 33, whereby the printing book W is continuously accumulated at a position near the inner belt 33 on the alignment surface 43 of the alignment conveyor 29 in a standing state.
[0038]
As the printing book W is accumulated on the alignment surface 43 of the alignment conveyor 29, the fall prevention holder 30 moves in a direction in which the distance from the inner belt 33 increases. The alignment conveyor 29 moves the alignment surface 43 in the same direction as the movement direction of the fall prevention holder 30 in accordance with the movement of the fall prevention holder 30.
By such operations of the holder 30 and the alignment conveyor 29 for preventing the falling, the bookbinding apparatus 1 can stack a necessary amount of the booklet W while keeping the booklet W in a standing state.
The operations of the upstream conveyor 5, the downstream conveyor 6, the inner belt 33, the outer belt 34, the alignment conveyor 29, and the fall prevention holder 30 described above are controlled by the control unit 4.
[0039]
Subsequently, the bookbinding apparatus when the printing book W having a printing defect or the like is extracted from the printing book W being conveyed by the supply device or the upstream conveyor 5 and the printing book W continuously conveyed is interrupted. The operation of No. 1 will be described.
Note that the printing book stacking apparatus 1 performs the stacking operation described above without any trouble when the printing book W is pulled out so that the amount of drawing is small and no interruption occurs in the transported printing book W.
[0040]
The interruption of the printing book W is a light receiving part that receives light from the light projecting unit 27 that is normally blocked by the printing book W when the interruption part caused by the removal of the printing book W reaches the gap D for delivery. Detected by 28. The light receiving unit 28 detects the beginning of the interrupted portion of the booklet W, that is, the last part of the continuous booklet W before being interrupted.
[0041]
When the signal processing unit 44 of the control unit 4 receives the signal for detecting the interruption of the printing book W, the signal processing unit 44 calculates a waiting time until the downstream conveyor 6 is stopped. The waiting time is calculated based on the conveyance speed of the downstream conveyor 6 and the distance L from the detection position of the sensor 9 (the position at which the last part of the continuous printing book W in the conveyance direction is detected) to a preset position. .
[0042]
Here, the conveyance speed of the downstream conveyor 6 is calculated by the signal processing unit 44 based on the rotation angle transmitted by the rotary encoder 38 connected to the motor 32 that drives the downstream conveyor 6. In addition, the position set in advance as a reference for the distance L is that the upstream conveyor 5 can send the booklet W transported after the interrupted portion to the downstream conveyor 6 by appropriately overlapping the booklet W on the downstream conveyor 6. Determined within range.
[0043]
When the waiting time elapses, the signal processing unit 44 stops the conveying operation of the downstream conveyor 6 and controls the solenoid valve 45 to extend the pneumatic cylinder 17. The end of the lever portion 19 is lifted to rotate the rotating shaft 18, and the rotating shaft 18 that rotates rotates the push-up body 20, 20, 20 to the downstream side of the action plates 22, 22, 22. Raise the edge. At this time, the last printing book W that has passed continuously is just above the action plates 22, 22, and 22 (see FIG. 4), and when the downstream end of the action plates 22, 22, and 22 rises, the action plate 22 , 22, 22 lifts the upstream side of the last printing book W and forms a gap with the conveying surface of the downstream conveyor 6 (see FIG. 5).
[0044]
The position where the downstream side end portions of the action plates 22, 22, 22 in the printing book W are in contact with each other is preferably upstream of the printing book W in the transport direction. This is because the upstream side of the booklet W is reliably lifted even when the degree of overlap of the booklet W is small.
[0045]
The presser device 8 is a lifted book W that is likely to be generated when the pressing plate 26 that is in contact with the upper surface of the book W lifts the book W by the action plates 22, 22, 22 due to the downward biasing force of its own weight. Prevents deviation (movement). Further, the pressing device 8 has little overlap of the booklet W due to extraction or the like, and there is a possibility that the overlap of the booklet W may be destroyed when the downstream ends of the action plates 22, 22, 22 lift the downstream side of the booklet W. Even in the case where there is, there is a function of maintaining the overlap of the printing books W by suppressing the downstream printing books W and preventing their rise.
[0046]
The upstream conveyor 5 continues the transport operation of the printing book W while the downstream conveyor 6 stops the transport operation. When the printing book W is again conveyed by the upstream conveyor 5 and reaches the gap D for delivery, the light from the light projecting unit 27 that has been received by the light receiving unit 28 is blocked, and the sensor 9 , That is, information notifying the end of the interrupted portion of the booklet W is transmitted to the signal processing unit 44.
The signal processing unit 44 stores the time when the downstream end of the printing book W reaches the gap D, and the printing that has reached the gap D for delivery based on the transport speed of the upstream conveyor 5 and the detection position of the sensor 9. The waiting time until the downstream end of the book W arrives under the printing book W lifted by the action plates 22, 22, 22 and reaches an appropriate overlapping state is calculated.
[0047]
When the waiting time elapses, the signal processing unit 44 controls the solenoid valve 45 to cause the pneumatic cylinder 17 to contract and rotate the rotating shaft 18 to lower the downstream end of the action plates 22, 22, 22. . The action plates 22, 22, and 22 are lowered to the same height as the conveyance surface of the downstream conveyor 6 or below the conveyance surface, and the upstream book 5 is lifted by the upstream conveyor 5. It is superimposed on the downstream side of the conveyed printing book W. Simultaneously with the lowering of the downstream ends of the action plates 22, 22, 22, the signal processing unit 44 starts the conveying operation of the downstream conveyor 6. Thereafter, the downstream conveyor 6 continuously conveys the overlapping booklet W to the drum type conveyance device 15 as before the stop.
[0048]
Since the upstream side end of the action plates 22, 22, and 22 is gradually higher toward the downstream side than the conveyance surface when the printing book W is lifted (FIG. 5), the upstream conveyor 5 The newly transported printing book W can be smoothly transported onto the action plates 22, 22, and 22 (FIG. 6).
[0049]
The printing book W from which the interrupted portion has been eliminated in the push-up device 7 is transported to the drum-type transport device 15 by the downstream conveyor 6. Thereafter, the printing book W is changed from the lateral movement to the downward movement by the drum type conveying device 15 and is set on the alignment surface 43 of the alignment conveyor 29 in the same manner as the case where the printing book W is not interrupted. It is continuously accumulated in the state.
As described above, the bookbinding apparatus 1 eliminates the overlapped portion of the booklet W even when the overlapped portion of the booklet W is overlapped in a state of being shifted in the transport direction. Thus, it is possible to collect the booklets W on the alignment conveyor 29 without any trouble.
[0050]
In the above-described embodiment, the belts 11a, 11b, and 11c of the downstream conveyor 6 and the inner belt 33 of the drum-type transport device 15 can be used together. One inner belt 33 may be provided on the outer periphery of the drum 31 so as to be arranged on the outer sides of the belts 11a and 11c.
The conveyance speed of the downstream conveyor 6 may not be measured by the rotary encoder 38 but may be measured by using another detection device such as a Doppler vibrometer.
The downward biasing force of the pressing member 26 in the pressing device 8 may be applied by a spring. Further, when the weight of the pressing member 26 is too large, a spring that urges the pressing member 26 in a direction that reduces the urging force due to the weight of the pressing member 26 may be used. The outer peripheral portion of the pressing member 26 in contact with the printing book W is preferably formed of a cushioning material such as rubber, soft resin, or sponge.
[0051]
The lifting device 7 can be formed of a pneumatic cylinder 17 and a wheel rotatably attached to the distal end side of the rod 23 of the pneumatic cylinder 17.
Further, the push-up device 7 may be fixed to the rod 23 of the pneumatic cylinder 17 so that the action plate is inclined parallel to the transport surface of the downstream conveyor or so that the downstream side is lowered. In that case, when the rod 23 is contracted, the entire working plate is positioned below the conveying surface, and the upstream end of the working plate is transferred to the downstream conveyor 6 by the upstream conveyor 5 after the interrupted portion. The printing book W is configured to be located on the downstream side of the downstream side end. Then, the working plate is not hindered when the printing book W is conveyed in an overlapping manner, and is transferred from the upstream conveyor 5 when the raised printing book W is lowered to eliminate the interrupted portion. The printed book W will not be damaged.
[0052]
The upstream conveyor 5 and the downstream conveyor 6 can be other types of conveyors such as a roller roller conveyor. In that case, the conveyance speed of the downstream conveyor 6 is measured by the roller encoder 38.
The appearance, shape, material, and the like of the bookbinding apparatus 1 are not limited to the above embodiment.
In addition, the individual configuration or overall structure, shape, dimensions, number, material, etc. of the bookbinding device 1, the sheet material conveying device 2, the stacking unit 3, and the control unit 4 are appropriately changed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. can do.
[Industrial applicability]
[0053]
The present invention can be used in a bookbinding apparatus that transports and stacks sheet materials such as a printing book in a state where the overlap is shifted to the downstream side in the transporting direction.

Claims

An upstream conveyor that continuously conveys the sheet material in a state where the stack is shifted to the downstream side in the conveyance direction ;
A downstream conveyor that transports at the at a transfer gap of the sheet material is placed without a step on the downstream side of the upstream conveyor, the same speed in the horizontal direction receives the sheet material conveyed from the upstream conveyor,
The transfer surface is disposed partway along the transfer path of the downstream conveyor , and a part or all of the transfer surface is movable below or below the transfer surface of the downstream conveyor and between the transfer surface and the transfer surface. A push-up device having a push-up portion configured to be able to lift at least the upstream side of the sheet material in the conveyance direction by contacting the lower surface of the sheet material on the conveyance surface when moving upward
A sensor that is installed in a transfer gap between the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor, and detects the presence of a portion where the continuity of the sheet material conveyed by the upstream conveyor is interrupted;
The downstream conveyor is stopped after a predetermined time from when the sensor detects the start of the portion where the continuity of the sheet material is interrupted, and the push-up unit is moved above the conveying surface, and then the sensor is moved to the sheet material. And a control unit that controls to move the push-up portion to the transport surface or the lower surface of the transport surface after a predetermined time from when the end of the interrupted portion is detected .

Provided with a pressing device that is disposed on the downstream side of the push-up portion in the conveyance path of the downstream conveyor and has a pressing portion that contacts the upper surface of the sheet material on the conveyance surface and presses the downstream side of the sheet material downward. The sheet material conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material conveying apparatus is a sheet material conveying apparatus.

The push-up device has a rotation shaft below the transport surface,
The pivot shaft is provided horizontally and perpendicular to the transport path,
The push-up portion has one end side fixed to the rotating shaft and the other end side extending to the downstream side of the conveying path substantially perpendicular to the rotating shaft,
3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the push-up unit is configured to be able to lift the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet material by swinging the push-up device about the rotation shaft. of the sheet material conveying apparatus.

The sheet material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A printing book stacking apparatus comprising: a stacking apparatus that stacks the sheet material that is continuously transported by the sheet material transporting apparatus.