PLATE MATERIAL SUPPLYING APPARATUS

Abstract

Provided is a plate material supplying apparatus that can supply a plate material to a plate material feeding device that intermittently conveys a plate material. The plate material supplying apparatus includes: an upper part that conveys a plate material substantially in a direction of a plate material feeding device; a central part that receives the plate material conveyed from the upper part and conveys the plate material in an obliquely vertical downward direction; and a lower part that receives the plate material conveyed from the central part and conveys the plate material substantially in the direction of the plate material feeding device.

Claims

1. A plate material supplying apparatus for supplying a plate material to a plate material feeding apparatus intermittently transporting the plate material, the plate material supplying apparatus comprising: an upper portion conveying the plate material substantially in a plate material feeding apparatus direction; a central portion receiving the plate material conveyed from the upper portion to convey the plate material in a diagonally vertical downward direction; and a lower portion receiving the plate material conveyed from the central portion to convey the plate material substantially in the plate material feeding apparatus direction.

2. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate material supplying apparatus is provided with a space in which the plate material is capable of being retained in response to intermittent transportation of the plate material feeding apparatus.

3. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the space is provided between the central portion and the lower portion.

4. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the central portion is capable of conveying the plate material from the upper portion to the central portion at a constant speed.

5. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a size of the space is capable of being adjusted by adjusting a position of the central portion in the plate material supplying apparatus.

6. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a position of the central portion of the plate material supplying apparatus is capable of being adjusted according to at least one of a thickness of the plate material, a feed length of the plate material, and a transport speed of the plate material.

7. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the central portion is capable of moving in the vertical direction in order to adjust the size of the space.

8. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the central portion is capable of rotating about an axis which is parallel in the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the diagonally vertical downward direction in order to adjust the size of the space.

9. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises a guide for guiding the plate material to the central portion.

10. The plate material supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion comprises a guide for guiding the plate material to the plate material feeding apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of a press working line including a plate material supplying apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the press working line including the plate material supplying apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the plate material supplying apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of the plate material supplying apparatus in the case where a central portion is rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to the plate material supplying apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a side view of the plate material supplying apparatus in the case where the central portion is moved in the vertical downward direction with respect to the plate material supplying apparatus of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to those embodiments.

[0027] A plate material supplying apparatus 101 as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a press working line, a plate material 105 such as a coil material is conveyed from an uncoiler 104 to the plate material supplying apparatus 101, and the plate material supplying apparatus 101 supplies the plate material 105 to a plate material feeding apparatus 102 which intermittently transports the plate material 105 to a working apparatus such as a press apparatus 103 which performs processing such as press working. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the plate material supplying apparatus 101 includes an upper portion 201 conveying the plate material 105 in a direction 301 towards the plate material feeding apparatus 102, a central portion 202 receiving the plate material 105 conveyed from the upper portion 201 to convey the plate material 105 in a diagonally vertical downward direction 302, and a lower portion 203 receiving the plate material 105 conveyed from the central portion 202 to convey the plate material 105 in the direction 301 towards the plate material feeding apparatus 102. Although the direction 301 towards the plate material feeding apparatus 102 is the horizontal direction in FIGS. 3 to 5, it may be substantially a direction towards the plate material feeding apparatus 102, and may be slightly inclined from the horizontal direction. For example, it may be inclined from the horizontal direction to the vertical downward direction. In the central portion 202, the plate material 105 may be substantially conveyed in the vertical downward direction. Further, in the central portion 202, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the plate material 105 may be conveyed in the diagonally vertical downward direction 302 opposed to the direction 301 towards the plate material feeding apparatus 102, whereby the plate material 105 may be conveyed in the plate material supplying apparatus 101 so as to be folded back in a Z shape, and as a result, a line length of the press working line can be shortened. Further, although the plate material 105 is hung down and deformed in the direction of gravity due to its weight, in the plate material supplying apparatus 101, the plate material 105 is conveyed without being deformed by utilizing a weight of the plate material 105 itself so as not to oppose gravity. Therefore, it is possible to mitigate the influence in the direction of gravity to suppress the occurrence of fluttering, and it is also possible to speed up press working.

[0028] The plate material supplying apparatus 101 is provided with a space 204 in which the plate material 105 is capable of being retained in response to intermittent transportation of the plate material feeding apparatus 102 to the press apparatus 103. The space 204 serves as a play space for the plate material 105. The transportation operation of the plate material 105 by the plate material feeding apparatus 102 is performed intermittently so as to repeatedly move and stop the plate material 105 in accordance with press working in the press apparatus 103. Therefore, when the plate material feeding apparatus 102 moves the plate material 105 to the press apparatus 103, the plate material 105 is conveyed from the central portion 202 towards the lower portion 203 in the space 204 so as to draw a loop on the right side shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. When the plate material feeding apparatus 102 stops the movement of the plate material 105 to the press apparatus 103, the plate material 105 is retained in the space 204 and the loop drawn by the plate material 105 gradually moves to the left side towards the loop on the left side shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 according to the stop time since the plate material 105 continues to be conveyed from the central portion 202 towards the lower portion 203. The loop drawn by the plate material 105 immediately before the plate material feeding apparatus 102 starts moving the plate material 105 to the press apparatus 103 is the loop on the left side shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. When the plate material feeding apparatus 102 starts moving the plate material 105 to the press apparatus 103, the loop drawn by the plate material 105 gradually moves to the right side towards the loop on the right side shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. By providing the space 204, it is possible to mitigate the influence of an inertia force generated by moving and stopping the plate material 105 by the plate material feeding apparatus 102 to suppress the vibration of the plate material 105 and suppress the occurrence of fluttering, and it is also possible to speed up press working.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the space 204 is preferably provided between the central portion 202 and the lower portion 203. However, the space 204 is not limited to this, and depending on the configuration of the plate material supplying apparatus, it may be provided between the upper portion 201 and the central portion 202.

[0030] The central portion 202 may be capable of conveying the plate material 105 from the upper portion 201 to the central portion 202 at a constant speed. The central portion 202 may include a pair of rolls which grip and convey the plate material 105, a servomotor which rotationally drives at least one of the pair of rolls, a driver which drives the servomotor, and a control device which controls the servomotor via the driver to control the amount of conveying of the plate material 105 by the pair of rolls, and the pair of rolls may be coupled by a coupling device such as a timing belt or a gear. In order to convey the plate material 105 at a constant speed, the control device outputs a signal to the driver, the driver rotates an output shaft of the servomotor based on the signal, and the pair of rolls which grip the plate material 105 rotate at a constant speed accompanied by the rotation of the output shaft of the servomotor to convey the plate material 105 from the upper portion 201 to the central portion 202 at a constant speed. A distance between the pair of rolls is adjusted according to a thickness of the plate material 105. However, the central portion 202 is not limited to this, as long as it can convey the plate material 105 at a constant speed. Further, the upper portion 201 may be capable of conveying the plate material 105 from the upper portion 201 at a constant speed.

[0031] A size of the space 204 for retaining the plate material 105 may be capable of being adjusted by adjusting a position of the central portion 202 in the plate material supplying apparatus 101. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, when the plate material 105 is conveyed from the central portion 202 towards the lower portion 203, the loop by the plate material 105 is formed in the space 204 from the central portion 202 towards the lower portion 203. However, in general, the loop radius limit of the plate material 105 when the plate material 105 forms the loop is usually up to 500 times the thickness of the plate material 105. If the loop by the plate material 105 has a loop radius equal to or less than this loop radius limit, the plate material 105 is not bent or deformed. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the loop radius of the loop by the plate material 105 can be changed by changing the position of the central portion 202 in the plate material supplying apparatus 101. For example, since by changing the position of the central portion 202 in the plate material supplying apparatus 101, the loop radius of the loop by the plate material 105 can be reduced, it is possible to limit the degree of freedom of the plate material 105 to suppress the occurrence of fluttering.

[0032] A position of the central portion 202 may be capable of being adjusted according to at least one of a thickness of the plate material 105, a feed length of the plate material 105, and a transport speed of the plate material 105. For example, when the plate material 105 is thinner, the position of the central portion 202 is adjusted such that the loop radius is smaller, and when the plate material 105 is thicker, the position of the central portion 202 is adjusted such that the loop radius is larger. Further, when the feed length of the plate material 105 is shorter, the position of the central portion 202 is adjusted such that the loop radius is smaller, and when the feed length of the plate material 105 is longer, the position of the central portion 202 is adjusted such that the loop radius is larger. Further, when the transport speed of the plate material 105 is higher, the position of the central portion 202 is adjusted such that the loop radius is smaller, and when the transport speed of the plate material 105 is slower, the position of the central portion 202 is adjusted such that the loop radius is larger.

[0033] The central portion 202 may be capable of moving in the vertical direction in order to adjust the size of the space 204. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, by moving the central portion 202 in the vertically upward direction, the space 204 in which the plate material 105 can be retained is increased such that the loop radius can be increased, and by moving the central portion 202 in the vertically downward direction, the space 204 in which the plate material 105 can be retained is reduced such that the loop radius can be reduced. The plate material supplying apparatus 101 may include a linear motion mechanism capable of linearly moving the central portion 202 in the vertical direction. The linear motion mechanism may include, for example, an air cylinder, an electric cylinder, and the like. By linearly moving the cylinder in the vertical direction pneumatically or electrically, the central portion 202 connected to the cylinder can be linearly moved accordingly. Further, the linear motion mechanism may include a motor, a screw shaft, and a nut, and by converting a rotation of the screw shaft connected to the output shaft of the motor into a linear motion in the vertical direction by the nut, the central portion 202 connected to the nut can be linearly moved. However, the linear motion mechanism is not limited to this, as long as the central portion 202 can be moved in the vertical direction. For example, the central portion 202 may be movable in the vertical direction by manual adjustment.

[0034] The central portion 202 may be capable of rotating about an axis which is parallel in the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the diagonally vertical downward direction 302 which is a direction in which the plate material 105 is conveyed in the central portion 202 in order to adjust the size of the space 204. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by rotating the central portion 202 in a clockwise direction to increase an angle in a direction in which the plate material 105 is sent out from the central portion 202 with respect to the vertically downward direction, the space 204 in which the plate material 105 can be retained is increased such that the loop radius can be increased. Further, by rotating the central portion 202 in a counterclockwise direction to reduce an angle in a direction in which the plate material 105 is sent out from the central portion 202 with respect to the vertically downward direction, the space 204 in which the plate material 105 can be retained is reduced such that the loop radius can be reduced. The plate material supplying apparatus 101 may include a rotary motion mechanism capable of rotating the central portion 202. The rotary motion mechanism may, for example, include a motor or the like, and by rotating an output shaft of the motor around an axis which is parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the diagonally vertical downward direction 302, the central portion 202 connected to the output shaft can be rotated accordingly. Further, the rotary motion mechanism may include a speed reducer. However, the rotary motion mechanism is not limited to this, as long as the central portion 202 can be rotated. For example, the central portion 202 may be rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the diagonally vertical downward direction 302 by manual adjustment.

[0035] The upper portion 201 may include a guide 205 at least in part in order to guide the plate material 105 to the central portion 202. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of fluttering by the guide 205. Although in FIGS. 3 to 5, there are places where the guides 205 are provided on both sides of the plate material 105, the guide 205 may be provided on only one side of the plate material 105, if necessary.

[0036] The central portion 202 may include a guide 206 at least in part in order to guide the plate material 105 into the inside of the central portion 202. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of fluttering by the guide 206. Although in FIGS. 3 to 5, the guides 206 are provided on both sides of the plate material 105, the guide 206 may be provided on only one side of the plate material 105, if necessary. Further, the guides 206 may be gradually widened towards the upper portion 201 such that the plate material 105 conveyed from the upper portion 201 can be received. By widening the guides 206, the plate material 105 can be received even when the central portion 202 is rotated as described above. Further, the guide 206 may be capable of adjusting an angle of protrusion from the central portion 202 according to the angle at which the central portion 202 is rotated.

[0037] The lower portion 203 may include a guide 207 at least in part in order to guide the plate material 105 to the plate material feeding apparatus 102. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of fluttering by the guide 207. Although in FIGS. 3 to 5, the guide 207 is provided only on the lower surface of the plate material 105, the guides 207 may be provided on both sides of the plate material 105, if necessary.

[0038] By using the plate material supplying apparatus 101 of the present invention as described above, it is possible to mitigate the influence in the direction of gravity and the influence of the inertial force generated by moving and stopping the plate material 105 by the plate material feeding apparatus 102 and supply the plate material 105 to the plate material feeding apparatus 102 which intermittently transports the plate material 105 to the working apparatus such as the press apparatus 103 so as suppress the occurrence of fluttering, suppress the vibration of the plate material 105, and speed up processing such as press working. Then, the working apparatus such as the press apparatus 103 can perform processing such as press working to the plate material 105 intermittently transported at a high degree of accuracy from the plate material feeding apparatus 102 to manufacture structures such as small parts used for an information-related device such as a mobile phone or a personal computer, or other components such as automobiles, industrial motor parts, or home appliances.

[0039] It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that although the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principle of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0040] 101 plate material supplying apparatus [0041] 102 plate material feeding apparatus [0042] 103 press apparatus [0043] 104 uncoiler [0044] 105 plate material [0045] 201 upper portion [0046] 202 central portion [0047] 203 lower portion [0048] 204 space [0049] 205 guide [0050] 206 guide [0051] 207 guide [0052] 301 plate material feeding apparatus direction [0053] 302 diagonally vertical downward direction