VACUUM SYSTEM FOR SECURING SUBSTRATES

Abstract

A vacuum system for securing substrates is provided, having a suction line, the conveyor belt configured to receive and transport at least one substrate, wherein the conveyor belt is provided with a plurality of perforations, wherein the vacuum system is configured to produce fluid suction through the perforations towards the interior of the suction line, generating a securing force of the at least one substrate to the conveyor belt. The invention is characterized in that each perforation is equipped with a valve which allows the opening and closing of the perforation, allowing and impeding, respectively, the passage of a fluid flow through the perforation.

Claims

1. A vacuum system for securing substrates, comprising a suction line, a conveyor belt configured to receive and transport at least one substrate, wherein the conveyor belt comprises a plurality of perforations, wherein the vacuum system is configured to produce fluid suction through the perforations towards an interior of the suction line, generating a securing force of the at least one substrate to the conveyor belt, wherein each perforation is equipped with a valve which allows the opening and closing of said perforation, allowing and impeding, respectively, the passage of a fluid flow through said perforation.

2. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 1, further comprising at least one support partition to guide and support the conveyor belt in its displacement, the support partition arranged forming at least one suction chamber which connects the suction of the fluid between the conveyor belt and the suction line.

3. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 1, further comprising a perforated plate arranged for the passage of the suction fluid therethrough between the conveyor belt and the suction line and, where appropriate, arranged between the suction chambers and the suction line.

4. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 1, further comprising a valve opening device along at least one area of the suction line, wherein the opening device is configured to force an open position of the valves.

5. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 4, wherein the opening device is a cam configured to produce a pushing force on projections of the valves, forcing the open position of the valves.

6. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 1, wherein the valves comprise an auto-close mechanism configured to allow closing of the valve when there is no substrate situated over the corresponding perforation.

7. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 6, wherein the configuration of the auto-close mechanism configured to allows the closing of the valve comprises a guide which allows the free movement of the valve, such that when there is no substrate arranged over the corresponding perforation, the valve is moved by the guide and is closed by the suction itself of the vacuum system.

8. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 6, wherein the configuration of the auto-close mechanism which allows the closing of the valve comprises at least one spring which forces an open and/or closed position of the valve.

9. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 1, wherein the valves comprise at least one commanded close mechanism configured to close the valve when there is no substrate situated over the corresponding perforation.

10. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 9, further comprising a detection subsystem of the position of the at least one substrate on the conveyor belt, wherein said detection subsystem is configured to send instructions indicative of the positioning of the at least one substrate to the commanded close mechanism to close valves in a plurality of perforations on which no substrate is arranged.

11. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 10, wherein the commanded close mechanism is arranged covering the entire width of the conveyor belt along at least one specific longitudinal section of the conveyor belt, such that the commanded close mechanism is configured to close all the valves in said at least one specific longitudinal section of the conveyor belt and over the entire width of the conveyor belt, before receiving instructions from the detection subsystem.

12. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 10, wherein the perforations are arranged according to longitudinal alignments in a direction of travel of the conveyor belt, wherein said longitudinal alignments are distributed along a width of the conveyor belt, wherein there is an independent commanded close mechanism in correspondence with each longitudinal alignment of perforations and wherein each commanded close mechanism houses at least one longitudinal section of its corresponding longitudinal alignment of perforations.

13. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 9, wherein each commanded close mechanism is configured to close valves for a predetermined time interval.

14. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 9, wherein the configuration of the commanded close mechanism which allows the closing of each valve comprises at least one spring which forces an open and/or closed position of the valve.

15. The vacuum system for securing substrates according to claim 1, further comprising a suction width regulating subsystem which in turns comprises at least one displaceable lateral plate which laterally limits the suction line, wherein said suction width regulating subsystem is configured to adjust the width of the suction line by means of the displacement of the at least one displaceable lateral plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] As part of the explanation of at least one embodiment of the invention, the following figures have been included.

[0054] FIG. 1: Shows a transversal sectional view of a vacuum transport system by means of conveyor belt according to the state of the art, with the width of the suction channel being adjustable.

[0055] FIG. 2a: Shows an exemplary supply or delivery of a single substrate. FIG. 2b: Shows an exemplary supply or delivery of a double paired substrate. FIG. 2c: Shows an exemplary supply or delivery of a double unpaired substrate.

[0056] FIG. 3: Shows a transversal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the vacuum system for securing substrates on a conveyor belt, according to the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 4: Shows a schematic lateral view of the route of the conveyor belt, with the opening device existing in an initial area of the suction chambers being discernible.

[0058] FIG. 5: Shows a detail of the passage of the conveyor belt through an initial area of one of the suction chambers, with the perforations of the conveyor belt not being occluded by any substrate.

[0059] FIG. 6: Shows a detail of the passage of the conveyor belt through the initial area of one of the suction chambers, with the perforations of the conveyor belt being occluded by one or several substrates.

[0060] FIG. 7: Shows a transversal section of the vacuum system for securing substrates on a conveyor belt, with a width-adjustable suction channel being combined with an opening/closing mechanism for all the valves of the perforations of the entire width of the conveyor belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] The present invention relates, as previously mentioned, to a vacuum system for securing substrates (1) on a conveyor belt (2).

[0062] In said FIG. 1, the transport system is shown formed by the conveyor belt (2) with its perforations (5), the upper sheet or perforated grill (6) of the suction line (4) with its perforations (7), the suction line (4) itself, with the air flow through the perforations (5, 7) and the displaceable lateral plates (3) being represented by means of arrows.

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a transversal section of said conventional transport system. Therefore, the direction of displacement of the substrates (1) (not represented) is perpendicular to the section shown in FIG. 1.

[0064] According to a possible embodiment of the invention, the vacuum system for securing substrates (1) on a conveyor belt (2) object of the present invention can also incorporate this conventional system of displaceable lateral plates (3) constituting the sides of the suction channel or line (4), as occurs in the transport system of the state of the art shown in FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 2c in turn show the different forms of supply described in the previous section, according to which the substrates (1) are supplied or delivered to the conveyor belt (2).

[0066] According to the present invention, each perforation (5) of the conveyor belt (2) comprises an insert or valve (8) which allows a perforation (5) to be disabled (closed) when there is no substrate (1) arranged over said perforation (5). In this way, when there is no substrate (1) to be transported arranged over a perforation (5) of the conveyor belt (2), said valve (8) is closed, consequently no suction force is exerted through said perforation (5).

[0067] Therefore, the valves (8) have the task of opening or closing the passage of suction air therethrough. Said valves (8) or inserts in this embodiment comprise projections (9) which are projected outside of the conveyor belt (2), below it, such that they occupy a space below the conveyor belt (2), as is shown in FIG. 3.

[0068] The suction line (4) preferably connects to a series of suction chambers (10) situated immediately below the conveyor belt (2).

[0069] The suction chambers (10) have a longitudinally “open” design (in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt (2)) such that they allow the passage of the lower projections (9) of the valves (8) of the perforations (5) of the conveyor belt (2).

[0070] Similarly, the rollers (11) involved in the movement of the conveyor belt (2) comprise housings (holes, hollows or grooves) which allow the movement of the conveyor belt (2) without there being interference of the lower projections (9) of the valves (8) with said rollers (11).

[0071] Additionally, the suction chambers (10) preferably have a design incorporating at least one opening device (12) (see FIG. 4) which forces an open position of the valves (8) and which keeps them open in an initial area (13), in correspondence with the area where the supply of the substrates (1) to the conveyor belt (2) is produced; this area (13) of the suction chambers (10), in which the opening device (12) is situated, is extended for a sufficient length to ensure that the substrates (1) are fixed to the conveyor belt (2), maintaining the valves (8) in an open position such that it is ensured that the suction air flow circulates through the valves (8) in said area (13). Said at least one opening device (12) can be one or several longitudinal cams.

[0072] That is to say, when the conveyor belt (2) passes through this area (13), all the valves (8) remain in the open position (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6); in this situation, the perforations (5) of the conveyor belt (2) are only closed (see FIG. 6) by the substrates (1) themselves (the perforations (5) which coincide below the substrates (1)).

[0073] Passing this initial area (13), the control of the valves (8) is preferably carried out according to two possible configurations or mechanisms of the valves (8): [0074] Valve (8) with “auto-close” due to the vacuum itself (“non-forced closing”), and; [0075] Valve (8) with commanded closing (“forced closing”).

[0076] In the case of the valves (8) with auto-close mechanism, once the initial area (13) of the suction chambers (10) is passed, the valves (8) of each perforation (5) of the conveyor belt are mechanically released and then the valves (8) situated on the perforations (5) where there is no substrate (1) are closed by the effect of the suction itself to keep them like this for the rest of the journey of the conveyor belt (2) until the return of the conveyor belt (2) through the part below the suction line (return journey of the conveyor belt (2) to the initial area (13) of the suction chambers (10)).

[0077] When the valves (8) cross the redirection rollers (11) (tensor roller of the conveyor belt (2)), the cycle begin again.

[0078] In this way, after the area (13) in which the strong securing of the substrates (1) to the conveyor belt (2) is produced, an empty space is achieved without flow circulating through the perforations (5) of conveyor belt (2) where there is no substrate (1).

[0079] That is to say, in the perforations (5) on which no substrate (1) is situated, when the conveyor belt (2) leaves the area (13), the valve (8) is closed by the effect of the suction itself.

[0080] On the contrary, in the perforations (5) of the conveyor belt (2) on which a substrate (1) is situated, the valve (8) is still not closed when the conveyor belt (2) leaves the area (13), even though the opening device (12) situated in said area (13) of each suction chamber (10) has finished. In the perforations (5) of the conveyor belt (2) on which the substrate (1) is situated, the suction force itself fixes the substrate (1) to the conveyor belt (2).

[0081] In the case of providing valves (8) with a commanded close mechanism (“forced closing”), it is necessary for the vacuum system of the invention to incorporate a detection subsystem (not represented in the figures) which allows the position of the substrates (1) on the conveyor belt (2) to be detected. This detection subsystem is configured to send instructions to each close mechanism of the valves (8), to select their opening or closing depending respectively on whether or not there is a substrate (1) situated over each perforation (5) of the conveyor belt (2).

[0082] In turn, within this embodiment in which the valves (8) are provided with a commanded close mechanism, there are at least two possible variants: [0083] According to a first variant, there is a single opening/closing mechanism for all the valves (8) of the perforations (5) which pass along the passage of the conveyor belt (2) and over the entire width of the conveyor belt (2) for the period of the commanded order. According to this variant, the instructions of the detection system would determine the length of each longitudinal section of the conveyor belt (2) in which the opening/closing of the valves (8) of the perforations (5) is commanded over the entire width of the conveyor belt (2); [0084] According to a second variant, along the width are arranged both opening/closing mechanisms and longitudinal lines of perforations (5) of the conveyor belt (2) (in the direction of longitudinal travel of the conveyor belt (2)); the opening/closing mechanisms are distributed along the width dimension of the conveyor belt (2) and each mechanism houses the entire longitudinal dimension of at least one section of the journey of the conveyor belt (2), such that the opening/closing order of each one of the opening/closing mechanisms must be given and they open/close the valves (8) of all the perforations (5) arranged in each longitudinal line of perforations (5) of the conveyor belt (2) to which each specific mechanism corresponds, for the period of the commanded order.

[0085] In the case of opting for an embodiment of valves (8) with commanded opening/closing mechanism according to the second variant described above, the opening/closing of all the valves (8) of all the perforations (5) can be controlled, such that in any configuration for supplying the substrates (1) to the conveyor belt (2), completely closed suction can be maintained (always from where the area (13) ends)).

[0086] In the case of opting for an embodiment of valves (8) with commanded opening/closing mechanism according to the first variant described above, the opening/closing of “longitudinal slots” of perforations (5) can be carried out. That is to say, over the entire width of the conveyor belt (2) and for a specific length of said conveyor belt (2), all the valves (8) of the perforations (5) contained in said longitudinal slot are kept open or closed and can be kept like this until their return again to the area (13).

[0087] This execution according to the first variant can be complemented (see FIG. 7) with width regulating suction (with displaceable lateral plates (3)) according to the state of the art such that, with a supply of substrates (1) according to the one or double paired piece configuration, the suction in the perforations (5) between substrates (1) remains closed.

[0088] The vacuum system for securing substrates (1) on a conveyor belt (2) object of the present invention produces a series of advantages among which the following can be mentioned: [0089] Allows continuity of the vacuum in each perforation (5) of the conveyor belt (2); consequently, uniformity of the securing force is achieved in each substrate (1) for its displacement on the conveyor belt (2); [0090] Allows less friction of the conveyor belt (2) in its displacement since the conveyor belt (2) is not continuously “suctioned” against a perforated sheet like in conventional vacuum systems, ultimately achieving less energy consumption; [0091] Allows “cuts” of the suction air flow continually produced in each perforation of the conveyor belt (2) to be avoided.