Patent EP-2248750-A1 (EP)
Inventor: KAMEDA NORITOMO
IPC: B65H20/04
Filed: 2009-02-04
Abstract: In a processing apparatus (10) that intermittently halts and performs processing (Pn) on a continuous belt-like work (1) while causing the work (1) to travel along a predetermined travel path (PL), a variation in tension of the work (1) that may arise in association with the intermittent halting of the work (1) is effectively suppressed. 
     A processing apparatus (10) includes: a work carrying section (30) that carries a continuous belt-like work (1) by wrapping the work (1) around a plurality of carry rolls (31, 32) and forming a travel path (PL) for the work (1); and a processing section (20) that is provided within the travel path (PL) and that performs processing while the work (1) is being intermittently halted. The work carrying section (30) includes an entering-side buffer mechanism (34b) that is provided within the travel path (PL) on an upstream side of the processing section (20) and that can accumulate the work (1) carried from upstream by wrapping the work around a first moving element (34a) that is guided to be able to perform a reciprocating movement, an exit-side buffer mechanism (34b) that is provided within the travel path (PL) on a downstream side of the processing section (20) and that can accumulate the work (1) having been processed and to be carried downstream by wrapping the work having been processed around a second moving element (34b) that is guided to be able to perform a reciprocating movement, an interlocking section (34) that moves the first moving element (34a) and the second moving element (34b) in an interlocked manner in such a manner that a motion of the entering-side buffer mechanism (34a) for increasing or decreasing an accumulation amount of the work (1) accumulated thereby and a motion of the exit-side buffer mechanism (34b) for increasing or decreasing an accumulation amount of the work (1) accumulated thereby are opposite from one another and in such a manner that an amount of change in the accumulation amount of the work (1) of the entering-side buffer mechanism (34a) and an amount of change in the accumulation amount of the work (1) of the exit-side buffer mechanism (34b) are equal, an intermittent sending section (31b) that comes into contact with the work (1) which has passed through the entering-side buffer mechanism (34a) and that repeats a halt motion for intermittently halting the work (1) and a sending motion for sending out the work to the processing section (20), an endless annular element (37a) that is wrapped around the carry rolls (31, 32), the first moving element (34a), and the second moving element (34b) in such a manner that the endless annular element lies along the work (1) within the travel path (PL), and a first drive roll (37e) that, by circulatingly driving the endless annular element (37a), applies a rotational force to the carry rolls (31, 32) and also applies a moving force to the first moving element (34a) and the second moving element (34b) for achieving the reciprocating movement thereof. The first drive roll (37e) continuously drives the endless annular element (37a) circulatingly at a predetermined speed while the intermittent sending section (31b) intermittently halts the endless annular element (37a) in synchronization with the halt motion of the work (1) in such a manner that the endless annular element (37a) is subjected to the same travel motion and accumulation motion as those of the work (1) within a range where the endless annular element (37a) lies along the travel path (PL).