Feeder apparatus for metal strip

A feeder apparatus includes: a reciprocating block moved reciprocally when a metal strip with collar-equipped through-holes is fed; a moving block disposed above the reciprocating block and connected to a connecting member so as to move in a movement direction of the reciprocating block; a pin block that moves together with the moving block and on which feed pins inserted into the through-holes are provided; an up-down cam unit that moves the pin block up and down; and a cam that is rotated by converting reciprocal movement of the reciprocating block to rotation about the width direction of the metal strip and includes a channel of a predetermined shape, wherein a cam follower inserted into the channel of the cam is provided on the moving block.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-164939, filed on Jul. 28, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a feeder apparatus that feeds a metal strip, in which a plurality of through-holes are formed at predetermined intervals in a conveying direction, in a predetermined direction.

BACKGROUND

A heat exchanger, such as an air conditioner, is constructed by stacking a plurality of heat exchanger fins, in which a plurality of through-holes have been formed to enable heat exchanger tubes to be inserted. Such heat exchanger fins are manufactured by a manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins depicted inFIG. 15. The manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins is equipped with an uncoiler12where a thin metal plate (or “metal strip”)10made of aluminum or the like has been wound into a coil. The metal strip10pulled out from the uncoiler12via pinch rollers14is inserted into an oil applying apparatus16where machining oil is applied onto the surface of the metal strip10, and is then supplied to a mold apparatus20provided inside a press apparatus18.

The mold apparatus20internally includes an upper mold die set22that is capable of up-down movement and a lower mold die set24that is static. In the metal strip10that has passed through the mold apparatus20, a plurality of collar-equipped through-holes11(also referred to simply as “through-holes” in the present specification), where collars of a predetermined height are formed around through-holes, are formed at predetermined intervals in a predetermined direction. After being conveyed a predetermined distance in the predetermined direction, the metal strip10is cut into predetermined lengths by a cutter26and then stored in a stacker28.

The press apparatus18is provided with a feeder apparatus that intermittently conveys the metal strip10, in which a plurality of through-holes11have been formed at predetermined intervals in a predetermined direction, toward the cutter26.FIGS. 16 and 17are diagrams useful in explaining the conveyance of the metal strip10by the operation of the feeder apparatus. The feeder apparatus causes feed pins68to advance from below into through-holes11formed in the metal strip10and conveys the metal strip10in the conveying direction by moving the feed pins68in a conveying direction. The metal strip10is placed on a reference plate64. A slit66formed in a range in which the feed pins68move is formed in the reference plate64. The feed pins68protrude upward from the slit66.

The feed pins68are provided so as to protrude upward on a pin block56that is capable of moving in a horizontal direction and an up-down direction. When conveying the metal strip10in the conveying direction, the pin block56is raised and the feed pins68advance into the through-holes11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64. The pin block56then moves in the conveying direction. After the metal strip10has been moved to a predetermined position, the pin block56is lowered and the feed pins68are withdrawn downward from the through-holes11. After this, the pin block56then moves in the opposite direction to the conveying direction (i.e., in a return direction) while remaining in a state where the feed pins68do not contact the metal strip10to return to an initial position.

Next, the specific construction of an existing feeder apparatus and the operation thereof will be described with reference toFIGS. 18 to 20. The feeder apparatus includes a reciprocating block50that moves reciprocally in the conveying direction and a moving block54that is provided above the reciprocating block50. The moving block54is fixed to a shaft60, which spans between two fixed members82a,82bthat are fixed facing one another near both ends of the reciprocating block50, so as to be capable of moving in the same direction as the direction of movement of the reciprocating block50. For this reason, the moving block54is capable of moving together with the shaft60in the direction of movement of the reciprocating block50.

The pin block56that supports the feed pins68is provided above the moving block54and has two plates56a,56bdisposed in that order in the up-down direction. A plurality of the feed pins68are attached to the pin block56so as to be sandwiched between the plates56a,56b. The pin block56is energized downwardly (i.e., toward the moving block54) by an energizing means such as a spring, not depicted). The pin block56is therefore capable of moving together with the moving block54and when a force that acts upwardly against the energizing force of the energizing means acts upon the pin block56, the pin block is raised toward the reference plate64.

An up-down cam portion80is provided between the moving block54and the pin block56. The up-down cam portion80is composed of an upper cam portion76fixed to the pin block56and a lower cam portion78provided on the moving block54. Concave and convex portions are formed on the facing surfaces of the upper cam portion76and the lower cam portion78. The lower cam portion78is formed on an upper surface of a wide member78athat is placed on the moving block54positioned between the fixed members82a,82band is wider than the moving block54. The wide member78ais formed with a suitable size so as to protrude beyond the moving block54and the pin block56toward both ends in the conveying direction.

The concave and convex portions of the upper cam portion76are formed on a surface that faces the lower cam portion78of the wide member78a. The wide member78ais capable of sliding on the moving block54, with such movement being restricted by the fixed members82a,82b. That is, when the wide member78aslides in the conveying direction of the metal strip10, the conveying direction-side end of the wide member78awill hit the inner wall surface of the fixed member82band when the wide member78aslides in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, the opposite direction-side end of the wide member78awill hit the inner wall surface of the fixed member82a.

As depicted inFIG. 20, when the conveying direction-side end of the wide member78ahits the fixed member82b, the convex portions formed on the upper cam portion76and the lower cam portion78contact one another. For this reason, the pin block56is pressed upward against the energizing force of the energizing means and front end portions of the feed pins68,68, . . . provided on the pin block56advance inside the through-holes11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64.

On the other hand, as depicted inFIG. 18andFIG. 19, when the wide member78aslides in the conveying direction (i.e., toward the fixed member82b) and the other end of the wide member78ahits the fixed member82b, the concave portions and the convex portions formed on the upper cam portion76and the lower cam portion78fit together. For this reason, the pin block56is pressed against the moving block54by the energizing force of the energizing means and the front end portions of the feed pins68,68, . . . of the pin block56are withdrawn downward from the through-holes11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64.

In such a feeder apparatus for the metal strip10, the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64is conveyed in the direction of a fixed block52b, with a positioning pin84for positioning the metal strip10at such position after conveyance also being provided. Such positioning pin84is provided so as to be capable of retractably protruding upward from the fixed block52b. The positioning pin84is moved up and down by a positioning cam unit86provided on the fixed block52b.

The positioning cam unit86is constructed of an upper cam unit86aand a lower cam unit86bwhere concave and convex portions are formed on facing surfaces, with the lower cam unit86bbeing formed on a wide member87formed so as to be slidable and wider than the fixed block52b. When the lower cam unit86bslides in the direction where the convex portions contact one another, the front end portion of the positioning pin84protrudes above the reference plate64and is inserted into a through-hole11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64to position the metal strip10.

On the other hand, when the lower cam unit86bslides in the direction where the convex portions and the concave portions of both sides fit together, the front end portion of the positioning pin84becomes positioned below the reference surface of the reference plate64and is withdrawn from the collar-equipped through-hole11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64to release the positioning of the metal strip10.

The wide member87of the lower cam unit86bis linked by a shaft90to a slide member88that is slidably inserted into the fixed block52athat faces the fixed block52b. The shaft90is disposed so as to span between the two fixed blocks52a,52bdisposed facing one another along the conveying direction. The shaft90is disposed so as to pass through the reciprocating block50and is provided so as to not obstruct movement of the reciprocating block50.

When the reciprocating block50has moved in the conveying direction, the conveying direction-side end of the reciprocating block50will press an end portion of the wide member87of the lower cam unit86band thereby cause the lower cam unit86bto slide in a direction where the convex portions contact the convex portions of the upper cam unit86a. Conversely, when the reciprocating block50has moved in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, the end portion on the opposite side of the reciprocating block50to the conveying direction will press an end portion of the slide portion88provided at the opposite side of the shaft90to the wide member87and thereby cause the lower cam unit86bto slide in a direction where the concave portions and convex portions of the upper cam unit86aand the lower cam unit86bfit together.

Next, a movement operation of the moving block will be described with reference toFIGS. 21 and 22. The moving block54is held in the center of the reciprocating block50by springs, not depicted. A holding means92that holds the moving block54reliably at a predetermined position on the reciprocating block50is provided on the reciprocating block50so as to protrude from the reciprocating block50. The holding means92includes a pin member98whose front end portion protrudes from the reciprocating block50toward the moving block54and engages the moving block54. The pin member98is constructed so as to be capable of holding and releasing the moving block54in accordance with movement of the reciprocating block50. A wheel97that rotates along the conveying direction is provided at the lower end portion of the pin member98and is constantly energized downward by an energizing means95.

A cam member96with a trapezoidal portion that projects upward is disposed below the reciprocating block50. A lower end portion of the pin member98where the wheel97is provided contacts the surface of the cam member96due to the energizing force of the energizing means95.

When the wheel97is positioned on the trapezoidal portion of the cam member96, the front end portion of the pin member98is raised and becomes inserted in a concave portion of the moving block54, thereby engaging the moving block54. The holding means92is thereafter capable of reliably holding the moving block54at a predetermined position on the reciprocating block50. On the other hand, when the moving block54has moved and approached the final end, the wheel97is located at a lower position than the trapezoidal portion of the cam member96, the front end portion of the pin member98becomes withdrawn from the concave portion of the moving block54, and the engagement of the pin member98and the moving block54is released.

Patent Document 1

SUMMARY

In a feeder apparatus with the construction described above, the pin member moves up and down due to the bottom end thereof riding up the trapezoidal portion of the cam member, and by connecting the pin member to the moving block in this way, the moving block becomes able to move in accordance with movement of the reciprocating block. That is, the reciprocating block will already be moving before the moving block starts to move, and due to the moving block that was stationary suddenly starting to move at the same speed as the movement speed of the reciprocating block, sudden acceleration occurs when the moving block starts to move. During stopping on the other hand, since the moving block stops suddenly due to the side surface of the moving block contacting a stopper, sudden deceleration also occurs during stopping.

In this way, in an existing feeder apparatus, the metal strip is conveyed by causing sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration of the moving block that moves the feed pins. However, there is a problem in that in this existing feeder apparatus where the metal strip that has the feed pins inserted into the through-holes is conveyed by way of sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration, an extremely large load is applied to the metal strip that is used for products. In recent years in particular, metal strips have been made extremely thin, resulting in the risk of deformation and the like of products due to the application of a large load. With a conveyance method that involves sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration, there is also the problem of poor feeding precision for the metal strip.

The present invention was conceived to solve the problem described above and aims to provide a feeder apparatus that is capable of conveying a metal strip without causing sudden acceleration or sudden deceleration.

A feeder apparatus for a metal strip according to the present invention feeds a metal strip in which a plurality of through-holes have been formed in a predetermined direction and includes: a reference plate having an upper surface on which the metal strip is placed and having slits that extend in a conveying direction of the metal strip and pass through the reference plate so as to connect the upper surface and a lower surface of the reference plate; a reciprocating block that is provided below the reference plate and is moved reciprocally in a conveying direction of the metal strip and an opposite direction to the conveying direction in parallel to the reference plate by a driving means; a moving block that is disposed above the reciprocating block and is connected to a connecting member so as to be movable in a moving direction of the reciprocating block between a pair of fixed members composed of fixed members that are fixed facing one another near both ends perpendicular to a direction of reciprocal movement of the reciprocating block; a pin block provided so as to be capable of moving together with the moving block and of moving up and down toward the reference plate, and on which feed pins, whose front end portions are inserted into the through-holes of the metal strip placed on the reference plate, are provided; an upper-lower cam portion composed of an upper cam portion fixed to the pin block and a lower cam portion provided on the moving block opposite the upper cam portion, wherein the upper-lower cam portion is operable when the reciprocating block moves in the conveying direction of the metal strip, to raise the pin block toward the reference plate so that the front end portions of the feed pins advance into the slits of the reference plate and are inserted into the through-holes of the metal strip placed on the upper surface, and is operable when the reciprocating block moves in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the metal strip, to lower the pin block toward the reciprocating block so that the front end portions of the feed pins are withdrawn from the through-holes of the metal strip placed on the upper surface of the reference plate; a movement converting means that converts reciprocal movement of the reciprocating block to a rotational operation that has a width direction of the metal strip that is perpendicular to the conveying direction as an axis; and a cam that is rotated by the movement converting means with the width direction of the metal strip that is perpendicular to the conveying direction as an axis and has a channel formed in a predetermined shape along a surface of the cam, wherein a cam follower which is inserted into the channel of the cam and is capable of moving along the channel in the conveying direction according to the rotation of the cam is provided on the moving block, and the channel of the cam is formed in a shape so that the movement of the cam follower in the conveying direction causes the speed of the moving block immediately after the start of movement toward the conveying direction from the initial position to become gradually faster and the speed of the moving block before reaching the end position at the front end in the conveying direction to become gradually slower.

By using the above construction, the cam follower inserted into the channel of the cam is restrained in the channel of the cam and moves in the conveying direction along the shape of the channel. The shape of the channel is formed so that the movement of the cam follower in the conveying direction causes the speed of the moving block immediately after the start of movement from the initial position toward the conveying direction to become gradually faster and the speed of the moving block before reaching the end position at the front end in the conveying direction to become gradually slower. It is therefore possible to eliminate sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration due to the moving block being pulled by the reciprocating block as in the past, and to also reduce the load on the metal strip. Also, even when returning from the end position from the initial position, the moving block also moves along the shape of the channel of the cam by being restrained by the cam.

An inner wall surface on the conveying direction side of the channel and an outer circumferential wall of the cam may form a frame portion formed in a predetermined shape, and a second cam follower that is disposed so as to contact the outer circumferential wall of the cam, sandwiches the frame portion in combination with the cam follower, and is capable of moving in the conveying direction along the shape of the frame portion may be provided on the moving block.

With this construction, it is possible to sandwich the frame portion between the two cam followers and, when the moving block moves along the shape of the frame portion, to have the speed of the moving block immediately after the start of movement become gradually faster and the speed of the moving block before reaching the end position at the front end in the movement direction become gradually slower.

According to the present invention, it is possible to convey a metal strip without sudden acceleration or sudden deceleration. This means it is possible to raise the feeding precision without an excessive load being applied to the metal strip that is being conveyed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Preferred embodiments of a feeder apparatus for a metal strip according to the present invention will now be described.FIG. 1is a plan view of a feeder apparatus.FIG. 2is a side view of a feeder apparatus looking from the A-A direction inFIG. 1,FIG. 3is a side view of the feeder apparatus looking from the B-B direction inFIG. 1, andFIG. 4is a front view of the feeder apparatus looking from the C-C direction inFIG. 1. A manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins in which this feeder apparatus is provided was described with reference toFIG. 14in the “BACKGROUND” section, and is therefore not illustrated here. Also, some component elements that are the same as the component elements described in the “BACKGROUND” section have been assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

The overall operation of the feeder apparatus will be described first. The feeder apparatus is an apparatus that inserts a plurality of feed pins68into the through-holes11formed in the metal strip10and moves the feed pins68to pull the metal strip10via the feed pins68and convey the metal strip10to a predetermined position. After pulling the metal strip10to a predetermined position, the feed pins68are lowered to withdraw the feed pins68from the through-holes11of the metal strip10, and the feed pins68then return to an initial position.

The feeder apparatus includes a reciprocating block100and a moving block102provided above the reciprocating block100. An upper end portion of a lever40that constructs a driving means is connected to a protruding portion100athat protrudes from one end of the reciprocating block100.

FIG. 5depicts the driving means for driving the reciprocating block100of the feeder apparatus. In this driving means, a connecting rod32is linked to an eccentric pin of a crank30that rotates in synchronization with the press apparatus18, and a first link36that swings about a pin34and a second link42that is connected to a lever40that rotates about a fulcrum shaft38are connected to a pin44at the lower end of the connecting rod32. A cylinder apparatus37is provided on the first link36to adjust the swing angle thereof. In this way, by rotating the crank30in synchronization with the press apparatus18, the connecting rod32causes the lever40to move reciprocally via the first link36and the second link42.

Reciprocating Block

A rack gear106on which a gear is formed along the direction of reciprocal movement is provided on the reciprocating block100. The rack gear106meshes with a pinion gear107. Accordingly, due to the reciprocating block100reciprocally moving, the pinion gear107that meshes with the rack gear106rotates. The rack gear106and the pinion gear107correspond to a “movement converting means” mentioned in the range of the patent claims. A cam110is attached to a rotational shaft108of the pinion gear107. The rotational shaft108extends in the width direction of the metal strip that is perpendicular to the conveying direction and the cam110is rotated by a rotational operation of the rotational shaft108.

As described above, rotation of the cam110is carried out by rotating the pinion gear107. Since a rotational operation of the pinion gear107is carried out due to the reciprocal movement of the rack gear106, the rotational operation of the cam110is composed of repeated rotation in a predetermined range based on reciprocal movement of the lever40.

As depicted inFIG. 2, the rack gear106is disposed on an upper surface of a rack bearing115fixed to the reciprocating block100. Rollers114for ensuring that the rack bearing115moves smoothly are provided on a lower part of the rack bearing115.

Moving Block

The construction and operation of the moving block102will now be described. The moving block102is disposed above the reciprocating block100but is not directly attached to the reciprocating block100and as described above moves reciprocally in the conveying direction of the metal strip10by converting linear reciprocal movement in the conveying direction of the reciprocating block100to rotational movement using the rack gear106and the pinion gear107. The moving block102is provided so that shafts60pass through the moving block102, the shafts60being suspended between two fixing members82a,82bprovided so as to protrude upward at both end portions in the conveying direction of the reciprocating block100. That is, the moving block102moves so as to be guided by the shaft60that is disposed along the conveying direction.

FIG. 6depicts the cam in plan view andFIG. 7is a graph depicting the relationship between the distance moved by the moving block and the rotational angle of the cam. The cam110is a plate-like member and a channel116for restraining a cam follower111provided on an upstream end portion (in the conveying direction) of the moving block102is formed in the cam110. By rotating the cam110, the cam follower111housed inside the channel116moves along the shape of the channel116and the moving block102on which the cam follower111is provided also moves reciprocally in the conveying direction in keeping with the shape of the channel116. The external form of the cam110may be any shape, but since a movement operation of the moving block102is controlled by the shape of the channel116, the shape of the channel116is as described below.

The channel116formed in the cam110is formed in the overall shape of a smooth curve. A first stationary zone A1where the moving block102is stopped is formed near one end of the channel116. The first stationary zone A1is formed in an arc with a suitable radius of curvature so that the cam follower111is not pressed even when the cam110rotates. Following the first stationary zone A1, a moving zone A2is formed in the channel116so that the moving block102starts to move gradually with no sudden acceleration immediately after the start of movement from the initial position and so that the moving block102gradually accelerates thereafter. Near the final end of the moving zone A2, the channel116is formed in a shape so that the moving block102stops gradually toward the final end position without stopping suddenly. In addition, following the moving zone A2, a second stationary zone A3where the moving block102is stopped is formed near the other end portion of the channel116. The second stationary zone A3is formed in an arc with a suitable radius of curvature so that the cam follower111is not pressed even when the cam110rotates. The first stationary zone A1, the moving zone A2, and the second stationary zone A3of the channel116of the cam110described above are formed in a range (around 150°) through which the cam110rotates.

Note that when the cam follower111is positioned in the first stationary zone A1of the channel116, the reciprocating block100will already be moving but the moving block102will not have started moving and will still be stationary. While the moving block102is stationary at this position, the feed pins68are raised and the positioning pins84are lowered. When the cam follower111is positioned in the second stationary zone A3of the channel116, the reciprocating block100will still be moving but the moving block102will have already stopped. While the moving block102is stationary at this position, the feed pins68are lowered and the positioning pins84are raised. In this way, by providing the first stationary zone A1and the second stationary zone A3, switching periods for the up-down positions of the respective pins are provided within the periods during which the moving block102is stationary.

As depicted inFIG. 7, the moving block102that moves in accordance with rotation of the cam110operates so that following a state where the moving block102is stopped, the position of the moving block102traces a sine curve relative to rotation of the cam110, before stopping once again. That is, if the conveying direction is set as the plus (+) direction and the opposite direction to the conveying direction is set as the minus (−) direction, the moving block102moves off with gradually positive acceleration from the initial position until the moving block102starts to move and then gradually accelerates further before a maximum speed is reached at an intermediate position. After this, the moving block102decelerates from the intermediate position with a gradually increasing deceleration and as the moving block102approaches the final end position, the deceleration becomes more gradual as the moving block102stops. In this way, by forming the shape of the channel116of the cam110that moves the moving block102so that no sudden acceleration or sudden deceleration is produced in the movement of the moving block102, it is possible to reduce the load upon the metal strip10into which the feed pins68provided on the moving block102have been inserted, and to also increase the feeding precision.

By restraining the cam follower111inside the channel116to move the moving block102, it is possible to cause both the movement of the moving block102from the initial position to the end position (outward movement) and the movement from the end position to the initial position (return movement) to follow the rotation of the cam. That is, if a construction were used where no channel is formed in the cam110and the cam follower111is pressed by a peripheral end surface of the cam110that rotates, to return the moving block102that has moved to the end position to the initial position, it would be necessary to provide a spring or like on the moving block102or at the end position of the moving block102and to return the moving block102to the initial position using the energizing force of the spring. However, by inserting the cam follower111that is fixed to the moving block102into the channel116as in the embodiment described above, it is possible to move the moving block102using only rotation of the cam110even when the moving block102returns from the end position to the initial position, which means that there is no need to provide a spring or the like and contributes to a reduction in the number of components.

Operation of Feed Pins

The raising and lowering of the feed pins68in keeping with movement of the moving block102is the same as described in the “BACKGROUND” section, but will now be described again with reference toFIGS. 8 to 10. The pin block56is provided above the moving block102. The pin block56has two plates56a,56bprovided above and below one another. The pin block56is attached so that the plurality of feed pins68are sandwiched between the plates56a,56b. The pin block56is energized downward (toward the moving block102) by energizing means such as a spring, not depicted. The pin block56is capable of moving together with the moving block102and when an upward force acts upon the pin block56against the energizing force of the energizing means, the pin block56is raised toward the reference plate64.

An upper-lower cam portion80is provided between the moving block102and the pin block56. The upper-lower cam portion80is composed of an upper cam portion76that is fixed to the pin block56and a lower cam portion78provided on the moving block54. Concave and convex portions are formed on respective opposing surfaces of the upper cam portion76and the lower cam portion78. The upper cam portion76is provided with convexes and concaves that protrude downward on the lower portion of the pin block56. The lower cam portion78is formed on an upper surface of a wide member78athat is wider (i.e., longer in the conveying direction) than the moving block102and is formed so as to protrude out from both ends in the conveying direction beyond the moving block102and the pin block56. That is, the concaves and convexes of the upper cam portion76and the concaves and convexes of the lower cam portion78are formed in opposing surfaces.

The wide member78ais capable of sliding above the moving block102with such movement being restricted by the fixed members82a,82b. That is, when the wide member78aslides in the conveying direction, the conveying direction-side end portion of the wide member78acontacts an inner wall surface of the fixed member82band when the wide member78aslides in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, the end portion of the wide member78aat the opposite end to the conveying direction contacts an inner wall surface of the fixed member82a.

As depicted inFIG. 10, when the moving block102has returned to its initial position first and the reciprocating block100has subsequently returned to its initial position, the fixed member82bcontacts the conveying direction-side end portion of the wide member78a. At this time, the convexes formed in the upper cam portion76and the lower cam portion78contact one another. This means that the pin block56is pressed upward against the energizing force of the energizing means and front end portions of the feed pins68,68, . . . provided on the pin block56are inserted into the collar-equipped through-holes11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64.

On the other hand, as depicted inFIG. 8, when the wide member78aof the moving block102has slid in the conveying direction (the direction of the fixed member82b) and reached the final end position, the reciprocating block100subsequently reaches the final end position. At this time, the fixed member82bcontacts the other end of the wide member78aof the reciprocating block100. When this happens, the concaves and the convexes formed in the upper cam portion76and the lower cam portion78fit together. This means that the pin block56is pressed onto the moving block102by the energizing force of the energizing means and the front end portions of the feed pins68,68, . . . of the pin block56are withdrawn from below from the collar-equipped through-holes11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64.

That is, when the moving block102has returned from the final end position in the conveying direction to the initial position, the pin block56is pressed upward so that the feed pins68protrude upward and are inserted into the through-holes11of the metal strip10from below so that it becomes possible to convey the metal strip10using the feed pins68. When the moving block102has moved to the final end position in the conveying direction, the pin block56is lowered, the feed pins68are withdrawn downward from the through-holes11of the metal strip10, and the conveyance of the metal strip10ends.

Operation of Positioning Pins

The up-down movement of the positioning pins84in keeping with movement of the reciprocating block100is the same as described in the “BACKGROUND” section, but will now be described again with reference toFIGS. 8 to 10. As described earlier, the metal strip10conveyed by the feed pins68needs to be positioned at the conveyed-to position. For this reason, the positioning pins84are provided so as to be inserted into the through-holes11of the metal strip10after conveyance has ended. The positioning pins84are provided so as to protrude in the up/down direction from the fixed block52b. The positioning pins84are raised and lowered by the positioning cam portion86provided on the fixed block52b.

The positioning cam portion86is constructed of the upper cam portion86aand the lower cam portion86bthat have concaves and convexes formed on respective opposing surfaces thereof that oppose one another, and the lower cam portion86bis formed on the upper surface of the wide member87that is formed wider than the fixed block52band is capable of sliding. When the lower cam portion86bslides in the direction where the convexes of both cam portions become joined, the front end portions of the positioning pins84protrude above the reference plate64and are inserted inside collar-equipped through-holes11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64, thereby positioning the metal strip10.

On the other hand, when the lower cam portion86bslides in a direction where the convexes and concaves of the cam portions fit together, the front end portions of the positioning pins84become positioned below the reference surface of the reference plate64and are withdrawn from the collar-equipped through-holes11of the metal strip10placed on the reference plate64, thereby releasing the positioning of the metal strip10.

The wide member87of the lower cam portion86bis coupled by shafts90to a slide member88that is slidably inserted into the fixed block52athat is opposite the fixed block52b. The shafts90are disposed so as to extend between the two fixed blocks52a,52bdisposed opposite one another along the conveying direction. The shafts90are disposed so as to pass through the reciprocating block100and are provided so as to not obstruct movement of the reciprocating block100.

When the reciprocating block100has moved in the conveying direction and reached the final end position, since the movement direction-side end portion of the reciprocating block100presses an end portion of the wide member87of the lower cam portion86b, the lower cam portion86bslides in a direction so that convexes of the cam portions86aand86bbecome joined. When the reciprocating block100has moved in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, since the end of the reciprocating block100on the opposite side to the conveying direction presses the end portion of the slide member88on the opposite side to the side where the wide member87of the shafts90is provided, the lower cam portion86bslides in a direction so that the concaves and convexes of the cam portions86aand86bfit together.

In this way, due to the reciprocal movement of the reciprocating block100, when the reciprocating block100has reached the final end position in the conveying direction, the positioning pins84are inserted into the through-holes11of the metal strip10to position the metal strip10and when the reciprocating block100has returned to the initial position, the positioning pins84are withdrawn from the through-holes11of the metal strip10to release the positioning.

Overall Operation

FIGS. 11A to 11Edepict a time series for movement of the reciprocating block100in the conveying direction. As depicted inFIGS. 11A to 11E, by moving the lever40in the conveying direction, the reciprocating block100moves from the initial position to the final end position. The rack gear106moves in the horizontal direction in keeping with movement of the reciprocating block100. The pinion gear107that meshes with the rack gear106rotates about the rotation shaft108in keeping with the movement of the rack gear106.

On the other hand, due to rotation of the pinion gear107, the cam110provided on the same shaft as the pinion gear107also rotates. Although the reciprocating block100is directly operated by the lever40, the moving block102is operated not by the operation of the lever40but by the cam110.

FIGS. 12A to 12EandFIGS. 13A to 13Edepict up-down movement operations of the feed pins and the positioning pins based on movement operations of the reciprocating block and the moving block in a time series.FIG. 12AandFIG. 13Adepict a state where the moving block102is at a position (initial position) where the feed pins68are raised. At this time, the reciprocating block100starts to move in the conveying direction due to the operation of the lever40. Even when the reciprocating block100starts to move and the cam110starts to rotate, the channel116of the cam110has a part which is not shaped so as to push the cam follower111. Accordingly, at this time, the moving block102does not start to move and remains stationary.

Note that at this point, the end portion on the conveying direction-side of the wide member78acontacts the inner wall surface of the fixed member82b, the pin block56is raised, and the feed pins68are inserted into the through-holes11. Also at this point, the end portion of the reciprocating block100on the opposite side to the movement direction presses the end portion of the slide member88of the shafts90so that the positioning pins84are lowered.

FIG. 12BandFIG. 13Bdepict a state where the moving block102starts moving due to rotation of the cams110.FIG. 12CandFIG. 13Cdepict an intermediate position during the movement stroke of the moving block102.FIG. 12DandFIG. 13Ddepict a state where the moving block102has reached the final end position and has stopped.FIG. 12EandFIG. 13Edepict a state where, after the moving block102has stopped, the reciprocating block100has moved further and then stopped. At this point, the end portion of the wide member78aat the opposite end to the conveying direction contacts the inner wall surface of the fixed member82a, the pin block56is lowered, and the feed pins68are withdrawn downward from the through-holes11. Also, at this point, the conveying direction-side end portion of the reciprocating block100presses the end portion of the wide member87of the shafts90to raise the positioning pins84and carry out positioning.

Note that when returning from the state depicted inFIG. 12EandFIG. 13Eto the state depicted inFIGS. 12A and 13E, the reciprocating block100moves due to a reciprocating operation of the lever40and the moving block102moves along the channel116of the cam110.

Second Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, a construction is used where the cam follower of the moving block is inserted in the channel of a cam and the moving block moves due to the cam follower moving along the channel. However, the present invention is not limited to a construction where a cam follower is inserted into a channel and may have the construction depicted inFIG. 14.

With the construction depicted inFIG. 14, an inner wall surface116aon the conveying direction side of the channel116and the outer circumferential wall (peripheral end surface)110aof the cam110form a frame portion118that is formed into a predetermined shape. The cam follower111is inserted into the channel116and contacts the inner wall surface116aof the channel116. A second cam follower120which is disposed so as to contact the outer circumferential wall110aof the cam110and sandwiches the frame portion118in combination with the cam follower111is also provided. The cam follower111and the second cam follower120are both attached to a bracket provided on the moving block102. The cam follower111and the second cam follower120sandwich the frame portion118from the inside and the outside and cause the moving block102to move along the shape of the frame portion118.

The overall shape of the frame portion118is formed in a smooth curve. In the same way as in the first embodiment, a first stationary zone A1where the moving block102is stopped is formed near one end of the frame portion118. Following the first stationary zone A1, a moving zone A2is formed so that the moving block102starts to move gradually with no sudden acceleration immediately after the start of movement from the initial position and so that the moving block102gradually accelerates thereafter, and then a second stationary zone A3where the moving block102is stopped is formed.

In this way, by forming the shape of the frame portion118of the cam110that moves the moving block102so that no sudden acceleration or sudden deceleration is produced in the movement of the moving block102, it is possible to reduce the load upon the metal strip10into which the feed pins68provided on the moving block102have been inserted, and to also increase the feeding precision.

By restraining the cam follower111and the second cam follower120on the cam110to move the moving block102, it is possible to cause both the movement of the moving block102from the initial position to the end position (outward movement) and the movement from the end position to the initial position (return movement) to follow the rotation of the cam. That is, if a construction were used where the cam followers111,120are not restrained on the cam110and the cam follower111is pressed by a peripheral end surface of the cam110, to return the moving block102that has moved to the end position to the initial position, it would be necessary to provide a spring or the like on the moving block102or at the end position of the moving block102and to return the moving block102to the initial position using the energizing force of the spring. However, by restraining the cam follower111and the second cam follower120that are fixed to the moving block102on the cam110as in the embodiment described above, it is possible to move the moving block102using only rotation of the cam110even when the moving block102returns from the end position to the initial position, which means that there is no need to provide a spring or the like and contributes to a reduction in the number of components.

Other Embodiments

Although an example where the moving block102moves so that a position thereof with respect to the rotation of the cam110traces a sine curve has been described in the above embodiment, provided that sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration do not occur, the moving block102does not need to move so as to trace a sine curve.

Although the present invention has been described above by way of the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and it should be obvious that various modifications may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.