Abstract:
The present invention provides a work sheet processing system that enables the effective utilization, without adverse effects on the operation of a work sheet processing machine or other peripheral devices, of a redundant work sheet corresponding to a material work sheet from which product work sheets have been cut, a part of the redundant work sheet being still capable of being processed into other product work sheets. The work sheet processing system includes a work sheet processing machine  1  that performs a processing operation of cutting a product word sheet from a material work sheet W, a redundant work sheet stocker  3  that stores a redundant work sheet W 1  that is a remaining part of the material work sheet from which the product work sheet has been cut by the work sheet processing machine  1 , and carry-in and carry-out means  35  for carrying out the redundant work sheet W 1  stored in the redundant work sheet stocker  3  into the original work sheet processing machine  1  or another work sheet processing machine.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a work sheet processing system that enables the effective utilization of redundant work sheets resulting from a processing operation of a work sheet processing machine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Work sheet processing machines such as punch presses perform not only processing operations such as hole making and shape formation but also a processing operation of cutting product work sheets from a material work sheet by punching or the like. With importance attached to the processing efficiency of the work sheet processing machine, material work sheets of the same size are often used in spite of the different sizes or shapes of product work sheets that are to be cut from the material work sheet. Thus, depending on the type of the product work sheets, after the product work sheets are cut from the material work sheet, a redundant work sheet may remain which can still be processed into product work sheets. Such a sheet is conventionally disposed of as a waste material instead of being effectively utilized. 
         [0003]    On the other hand, product work sheets are carried out from the work sheet processing machine by a work sheet conveying device (for example, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai) No. 2000-117374). The product work sheets are then stored in a work sheet cabinet (for example, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai-Hei) No. 5-306003) or loaded on a vehicle and transported to the next step. The redundant work sheet is not conveyed by the work sheet conveying device or stored in the work sheet cabinet. 
         [0004]    As described above, in the prior art, the redundant work sheet is disposed of instead of being effectively utilized, resulting in the wasteful use of the material. Although the waste can be eliminated by cutting plural types of product work sheets from one material work sheet, this is difficult for the following reason. That is, in order to avoid increasing an intermediate stock and complicating a sorting operation, a processing schedule for the work sheet processing machine is basically specified such that the product work sheets are processed in the order in which the product work sheets need to be used during the subsequent steps. Thus, product work sheets of the same type or product work sheets to be used during the same step are necessarily processed consecutively, unavoidably generating redundant work sheets. 
         [0005]    It is thus possible to temporarily store a redundant work sheet generated by the work sheet processing machine, in a different place and to bring the redundant work sheet back to the work sheet processing machine for use where the redundant work sheet can be utilized for the process. To achieve this, it is necessary to provide a device transporting the redundant work sheet and a facility in which the redundant work sheet is stored. However, the conventional technique does not provide such a device or a facility. It is convenient to utilize the work sheet conveying device and work sheet cabinet for product work sheets to convey and store redundant work sheets. However, this may affect the conveyance and storage of the product work sheets or result in confusion owing to the mixture of the product work sheets and redundant work sheets. 
         [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a work sheet processing system that enable the effective utilization, without adverse effects on the operation of a work sheet processing machine or other peripheral devices, of a redundant work sheet corresponding to a material work sheet from which product work sheets have been cut, a part of the redundant work sheet being still capable of being processed into other product work sheets. Another object of the present invention is to allow the redundant work sheet to be efficiently carried out from and into the work sheet processing machine. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means for carrying in and out the redundant work sheet, the means having a simple configuration and allowing redundant work sheet to be reliably carried in and out. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A work sheet processing system according to the present invention comprises a work sheet processing machine that performs a processing operation of cutting a product word sheet from a material work sheet, a redundant work sheet stocker that stores a redundant work sheet that is a remaining part of the material work sheet from which the product work sheet has been cut by the work sheet processing machine, and a carry-in and carry-out means for carrying out the redundant work sheet from the work sheet processing machine to the redundant work sheet stocker and carrying the redundant work sheet stored in the redundant work sheet stocker into the original work sheet processing machine or another work sheet processing machine. 
         [0008]    This configuration allows the redundant work sheet generated by the work sheet processing machine to be carried out by the carry-in and carry-out means, and stored in the redundant work sheet stocker. Furthermore, the redundant work sheet stored in the redundant work sheet stocker can be carried into the original work sheet processing machine or a different work sheet processing machine by the carry-in and carry-out means as required. The redundant work sheet can thus be effectively utilized. The redundant work sheet stocker and the carry-in and carry-out means are used exclusively for redundant sheets and do not affect the operation of the work sheet processing machine or other peripheral devices. 
         [0009]    A carry-in destination into which the carry-in and carry-out means carries the redundant work sheet may be the original work sheet processing machine. In this case, the carry-in and carry-out means may comprise a work sheet holder that holds the redundant work sheet, and the work sheet holder may carry in and out the redundant work sheet by moving while holding the redundant work sheet. 
         [0010]    Where the carry-in destination into which the redundant work sheet is carried is the original work sheet processing machine, a carry-out path for redundant work sheets can also be used as a carry-in path for redundant work sheets, or vice versa. In this case, where the carry-in and carry-out means is configured to carry in and out the redundant work sheet by moving while holding the redundant work sheet, a carry-in operation and a carry-out operation can be smoothly switched. The redundant work sheet can thus be efficiently carried out from and into the work sheet processing machine. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, the redundant work sheet stocker may be located on a side of and adjacent to the work sheet processing machine. The redundant work sheet stocker can freely move the redundant work sheet in a predetermined carry-in and carry-out direction corresponding to a direction in which the work sheet processing machine and the redundant work sheet stocker are arranged. The work sheet processing machine may have a work sheet positioning mechanism that moves a work sheet to a processing head of the work sheet processing machine which performs the processing operation. The work sheet positioning mechanism can move the work sheet in the carry-in and carry-out direction. 
         [0012]    In this configuration, the redundant work sheet stocker may be located on the side of and adjacent to the work sheet processing machine. The carry-in and carry-out means can thus be compactly configured. Since the redundant work sheet stocker can freely move the redundant work sheet in the predetermined carry-in and carry-out direction corresponding to the direction in which the work sheet processing machine and the redundant work sheet stocker are arranged, the redundant work sheet can be reliably carried out from and into the work sheet processing machine. Furthermore, the work sheet positioning mechanism of the work sheet processing machine can move the work sheet in the carry-in and carry-out direction and can thus assist the carry-in and carry-out means. The carry-in and carry-out means can thus be more compactly configured. 
         [0013]    The work sheet processing system according to the present invention comprises the work sheet processing machine that performs the processing operation of cutting the product word sheet from the material work sheet, the redundant work sheet stocker that stores the redundant work sheet that is the remaining part of the material work sheet from which the product work sheet has been cut by the work sheet processing machine, and the carry-in and carry-out means for carrying out the redundant work sheet from the work sheet processing machine to the redundant work sheet stocker and carrying the redundant work sheet stored in the redundant work sheet stocker into the original work sheet processing machine or another work sheet processing machine. This allows the effective utilization, without adverse effects on the operation of the work sheet processing machine or other peripheral devices, of the redundant work sheet corresponding to the material work sheet from which the product work sheet has been cut, a part of the redundant work sheet being still capable of being processed into other product work sheets. 
         [0014]    Where the carry-in destination into which the carry-in and carry-out means carries the redundant work sheet is the original work sheet processing machine, and the carry-in and carry-out means comprises the work sheet holder which holds the redundant work sheet and which carries in and out the redundant work sheet by moving while holding the redundant work sheet, the redundant work sheet can be efficiently carried out from and into the work sheet processing machine. 
         [0015]    Where the redundant work sheet stocker is located on the side of and adjacent to the work sheet processing machine and can freely move the redundant work sheet in the predetermined carry-in and carry-out direction corresponding to the direction in which the work sheet processing machine and the redundant work sheet stocker are arranged, and the work sheet processing machine has the work sheet positioning mechanism which moves the work sheet to the processing head of the work sheet processing machine which performs the processing operation, and the work sheet positioning mechanism can move the work sheet in the carry-in and carry-out direction, then the means for carrying in and out the redundant work sheet has a simple configuration and can reliably carry in and out the redundant work sheet. 
         [0016]    Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a work sheet processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a work sheet processing machine and a redundant work sheet stocker in the work sheet processing system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the redundant work sheet stocker. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the redundant work sheet stocker. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the conceptual configuration of a control system for the operation of the work sheet processing machine and redundant work sheet stocker in the work sheet processing system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an operation of carrying out a redundant work sheet. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an operation of carrying in the redundant work sheet. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a work sheet processing machine and a redundant work sheet stocker in a work sheet processing system according to a different embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a work sheet processing system according to the present invention comprises a work sheet processing machine  1 , a work sheet conveying device  2  provided on one lateral side of the work sheet processing machine  1  (in an X direction), and a redundant work sheet stocker  3  provided opposite the work sheet conveying device  2  across the work sheet processing machine  1  and adjacent to the work sheet processing machine  1 . 
         [0026]    The work sheet processing machine  1  comprises a function of cutting product work sheets W 2  ( FIG. 1 ) from a material work sheet W ( FIG. 2 ) on a table  5  by means of punching or the like. In this example, the work sheet processing machine  1  is a punch press comprising a processing head  7  that elevates and lowers a punch tool (not shown in the drawings) with respect to a die tool (not shown in the drawings), and a work sheet positioning mechanism  8  that moves the material work sheet W on the table  5  forward and backward (Y direction), and rightward and leftward (X direction) with respect to the processing head  7  for positioning. 
         [0027]    The work sheet positioning mechanism  8  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the table  5  is composed of a fixed table  5   a  and a movable table  5   b . The movable table  5   b  moves forward and backward on a rail  12  together with a carriage  11 . A cross slide  13  is installed on the carriage  12  so as to be movable rightward and leftward. A plurality of work holders  14  are attached to the cross slide  13 . The work holders  14  hold the work sheet W by sandwiching a front edge of the work sheet W between the work holders  14 . The carriage  11  and the cross slide  13  are driven by servo motors  15 ,  16  for respective shafts via motion converting mechanisms such as ball screws. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the work sheet conveying device  2  carries the material work sheet W into the work sheet processing machine  1 , carries out the material work sheet W processed by the work sheet processing machine  1 , or performs both the carry-in and carry-out operations. The work sheet carry-out device  2  comprises two tracks  22  installed parallel to each other between the work sheet processing machine  1  and a carry-in and carry-out position P, and facing in a lateral direction, and traveling members  23  that are independently travelable along the tracks  12 . Each of the traveling members  23  has a work sheet sucker  24 . 
         [0029]    The carry-in and carry-out position P includes a position where the work sheet stocker  20  is installed and a position where a work sheet transporting vehicle  21  is stopped. 
         [0030]    The traveling members  13  are provided on the tracks  22  so as to be travelable along the tracks  22  via guide members (not shown in the drawings). The traveling members  23  are self-propelled by traveling driving sources such as servo motors. The guide members are, for example, linear roll bearings or guide rollers. 
         [0031]    The work sheet sucker  24  uses, for example, suction pads  24   a  to suck and hold the work sheet. In the present embodiment, the plurality of suction pads  24   a  are attached to each of two pad support frames  24   b  extending in a front-back direction. The work sheet sucker  24  is attached to a moving up-down member  25  fitted into the traveling member  23  so as to be movable in a vertical direction. The moving up-down member  25  is moved up and down by an elevating and lowering driving source (not shown in the drawings) to elevate and lower the work sheet holder  24 . 
         [0032]    The two tracks  12  are integrally coupled together at the opposite ends thereof and supported by a lateral pair of forward-backward moving frames  26 . Each of the laterally paired forward-backward moving frames  26  is movable along a forward-backward moving rail  27  and can be moved forward and backward by a forward-backward moving driving source (not shown in the drawings). The forward-backward moving driving source is composed of, for example, a servo motor and a converting mechanism such as a ball screw which converts rotation of the servo motor into linear motion. 
         [0033]    The work sheet stocker  20  is a device in which the product work sheets W 2  are placed on palettes  28  in a stack for storage. The work sheet stocker  20  has a shelf  20   a  with multiple stages on which the plates  28  are placed. The work sheet stocker  20  is configured such that the palette  28  on any stage of the shelf  20   a  can be advanced and retracted between a front storage position and a loading and unloading position located behind the storage position. The work sheet transporting vehicle  21  is a vehicle on which the product work sheets W 2  are loaded in a stack and transported to the next step. 
         [0034]    The redundant work sheet stocker  3  is a device in which redundant work sheets W 1  ( FIG. 1 ) generated by the work sheet processing machine  1  are stored. The term “redundant work sheet” W 1  as used herein refers to a work sheet corresponding to the material work sheet W from which the product work sheets W 2  have been cut, a part Wa of the redundant work sheet being still capable of being processed into other product work sheets. As shown in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , the redundant work sheet stocker  3  has a housing portion  30  with a plurality of stages on which the redundant work sheets W 1  are housed. The housing portion  30  is composed of a front-back pair of work sheet supports  30   a . The redundant work sheet W 1  is supported from below by both work sheet supports  30   a.    
         [0035]    Each of the work sheet supports  30   a  in the housing portion  30  is fixed to an elevating and lowering member  31  at one end thereof. The elevating and lowering member  31  can be elevated and lowered along an elevating and lowering guide  32 . An elevating and lowering mechanism  33  is provided under the housing portion  30  to elevate and lower each stage of the housing portion  30 . In the present embodiment, the elevating and lowering mechanism  33  is based on a pantograph, and integrally elevates and lowers each stage of the housing portion  30  by using an elevating and lowering driving source (not shown in the drawings) to expand and contract the pantograph. The range of the elevation and lowering is between a lower limit position H 1  where the uppermost stage of the housing portion  30  is located at the same height as that of the table  5  surface of the work sheet processing machine  1  and an upper limit position H 2  where the lowermost stage of the housing portion  30  is located at the same height as that of the table  5  surface of the work sheet processing machine  1 . 
         [0036]    Furthermore, the redundant work sheet stocker  3  has carry-in and carry-out means  35  for the redundant work sheet W 1 . The carry-in and carry-out means  35  has guide rails  36  installed in front of the housing portion  30  and extending in the lateral direction. A work sheet holder  37  is movable along the guide rail  36 . The work sheet holder  37  has work holders  38  that hold the redundant work sheet W 1  positioned in the housing portion  30  at the same height as that of the table  5  surface of the work sheet processing machine  1 , by sandwiching the front edge of the redundant work sheet W 1  between the work holders  38 . As moving means  39  for moving the work sheet holder  37  along the guide rail  36 , for example, a configuration can be adopted which transmits the driving force of a servo motor  39   a  via a motion converting mechanism such as a ball screw. The work sheet holder  37  of the carry-in and carry-out means  35  grips the redundant member W 1  positioned in the at the same height as that of the table  5  surface and moves toward the work sheet processing machine  1 . The work sheet holder  37  draws out the redundant work sheet W 1  from the housing portion  30  and carries the redundant work sheet W 1  into the work sheet processing machine  1 . The work sheet holder  37  further grips the redundant work sheet W 1  on the work sheet processing machine  1  and moves toward the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . The work sheet holder  37  thus carries out the redundant work sheet W 1  to the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . The direction in which the redundant work sheet W 1  is carried in and out is the same as the direction in which the work sheet processing machine  1  and the redundant work sheet stocker  3  are arranged. 
         [0037]    The work sheet positioning mechanism  8  of the work sheet processing machine  1  can move the work sheet W on the table  5  forward and backward (Y direction), and rightward and leftward (X direction) as described above. This rightward and leftward movement is utilized to assist in carrying out the redundant work sheet W 1  located on the work sheet processing machine  1 , to the redundant work sheet stocker  3  and in carrying the redundant work sheet W 1  stored in the redundant work sheet stocker  3 , into the work sheet processing machine  1 . 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , a description will be given of a control system for the operation of the work sheet processing machine  1  and the redundant work sheet stocker  3  in the work sheet processing system. The control system is composed of a processing machine control device  40  that controls each driving portion of the work sheet processing machine  1  and a stocker control device  50  that controls each driving portion of the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . The processing machine control device  40  and the stocker control device  50  exchange information with each other. Each of the control devices  40 ,  50  is composed of a computerized numerical control device and a programmable controller. 
         [0039]    The processing machine control device  40  comprises a processing program  41  and an arithmetic control section  42  that executes the processing program  41 . The processing program  41  is composed of a carry-in program section  41   a , a processing program section  41   b , and a carry-out program section  41   c . The carry-in program section  41   a  is a program that drives the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to carry in the redundant work sheet W 1  from the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . The processing program section  41   b  is a program that drives the driving portion of the processing head  7  and the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  so as to perform a predetermined processing operation on the work sheet W on the table  5 . The carry-out program section  41   c  is a program that drives the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to carry the redundant work sheet W 1  to the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . The arithmetic control section  42  includes a central processing unit, a memory, and the like, as well as a programmable controller. The processing program section  41   b  and the arithmetic control section  42  constitute a processing control means  43  for allowing the work sheet processing machine  1  to cut the product work sheet W 2  from the material work sheet W. The carry-in program section  41   a  and the arithmetic control section  42  constitute a carry-in assistance control means  44  for allowing the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to assist in carrying the redundant work sheet W 1  into the work sheet processing machine  1 . Furthermore, the carry-out program section  41   c  and the arithmetic control section  42  constitute a carry-out assistance control means  45  for allowing the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to assist in carrying out the redundant work sheet W 1  from the work sheet processing machine  1 . 
         [0040]    The stocker control device  50  comprises a stocker control program  51  and an arithmetic control section  52  that executes the stocker control program  51 . The stocker control program  51  is composed of a carry-in program section  51   a  and a carry-out program section  51   b . The carry-in program section  51   a  is a program that allows the elevating and lowering mechanism  33  and the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to be driven in carrying the redundant work sheet W 1  stored in the redundant work sheet stocker  3 , into the work sheet processing machine  1 . The carry-out program section  51   b  is a program that allows the elevating and lowering mechanism  33  and the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to be driven in carrying out the redundant work sheet W 1  from the work sheet processing machine  1  to the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . The arithmetic control section  52  includes a central processing unit, a memory, and the like, as well as a programmable controller. The carry-in program section  51   a  and the arithmetic control section  52  constitute a carry-in control means  53  for allowing the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to carry the redundant work sheet W 1  stored in the redundant work sheet stocker  3 , into the work sheet processing machine  1 . Furthermore, the carry-out program section  51   b  and the arithmetic control section  52  constitute a carry-out control means  54  for allowing the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to carry out the redundant work sheet W 1  located on the work sheet processing machine  1 , to the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . 
         [0041]    Now, the control performed by the control system will be specifically described. Under the control of the processing control means  43 , a processing operation of cutting the product work sheet W 2  from the material work sheet W is performed. The processing control means  43  determines whether or not the processed work sheet corresponds to a usable redundant work sheet. Where the processed work sheet does not correspond to a usable redundant work sheet, the processing control means  43  allows the work sheet to be disposed of as a waste material. Where the processed work sheet corresponds to a usable redundant work sheet ( FIG. 1 ), then under the control of the carry-out control means  54  and the carry-out assistance control means  45 , the work sheet is carried out to the redundant work sheet stocker  3  as a redundant work sheet W 1 . Whether or not the processed work sheet corresponds to a usable redundant work sheet may be determined automatically by the program used for the processing or may be determined by an operator. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows an operation of carrying out the redundant work sheet W 1 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6A  shows that the processing operation has been completed. The redundant work sheet W 1  is held at a processing position on the work sheet processing machine  1  by the work holder  14  of the cross slide  13 . In this condition, the processing machine control device  40  gives an output instruction to the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to cause the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to move the cross slide  13  leftward (X direction) to insert a left end of the redundant work sheet W 1  into the housing portion  30  of the redundant work sheet stocker  3  as shown in  FIG. 6B . Then, the stocker control device  50  gives an output instruction to the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to cause the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to use the work holder  38  of the work sheet holder  37  to hold the inserted part of the redundant work sheet W 1  and to move the work sheet holder  37  holding the redundant work sheet W 1  leftward to draw the redundant work sheet W 1  toward the interior of the housing portion  30  as shown in  FIG. 6C . Thus, the carry-out of the redundant work sheet W 1  is completed. Since the direction in which the redundant material W 1  is carried out by the carry-in and carry-out means  35  is the same as the direction in which the work sheet processing machine  1  and the redundant work sheet stocker  3  are arranged, the carry-out operation can be smoothly performed. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, where the processing operation of cutting the product work sheet W 2  is performed, if the redundant work sheet W 1  stored in the redundant work sheet stocker  3  is usable, then under the control of the carry-in control means  53  and the carry-in assistance control means  44 , the redundant work sheet W 1  is carried from the redundant work sheet stocker  3  into the work sheet processing machine  1 . Whether or not the redundant work sheet W 1  is usable may be determined automatically on the basis of information on the redundant work sheet W 1  and program information used for the processing or may be determined by the operator. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows an operation of carrying in the redundant work sheet W 1 .  FIG. 7A  shows how the redundant work sheet W 1  is stored in the housing portion  30  of the redundant work sheet stocker  3 . In this condition, the stocker control device  50  gives an output instruction to the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to cause the carry-in and carry-out means  35  to use the work holder  38  of the work sheet holder  37  to hold the redundant work sheet W 1  and to move the work sheet holder  37  holding the redundant work sheet W 1  rightward to carry the redundant work sheet W 1  into the work sheet processing machine  1  as shown in  FIG. 7B . Thus, most of the redundant work sheet W 1  is positioned on the table  5  in the work sheet processing machine  1 . Then, the processing control device  40  gives an output instruction to the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to cause the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  to use the work holder  14  of the cross slide  13  to hold the redundant work sheet W 1  and to move the cross slide  13  holding the redundant work sheet W 1  rightward to convey the redundant work sheet W 1  to the processing position on the work sheet processing machine  1  as shown in  FIG. 7C . Thus, the carry-in of the redundant work sheet W 1  is completed. As is the case with the carry-out operation, since the direction in which the redundant material W 1  is carried in by the carry-in and carry-out means  35  is the same as the direction in which the work sheet processing machine  1  and the redundant work sheet stocker  3  are arranged, the carry-in operation can be smoothly performed. 
         [0046]    For the operations of carrying in and out the redundant work sheet W 1 , the stocker control device  50  issues an output instruction to the elevating and lowering mechanism  33  to control the height of the housing portion  30  so that for the carry-out operation, an empty stage of the housing portion  30  is positioned at the height of the table  5  in the work sheet processing machine  1  and so that for the carry-in operation, the stage of the housing portion  30  on which the redundant work sheet W 1  to be carried in is stored is located at the height of the table  5 . 
         [0047]    This work sheet processing system can store the redundant work sheet W 1  generated by the work sheet processing machine  1 , in the redundant work sheet stocker  3  and carry the stored redundant work sheet  1  into the work sheet processing machine  1  as required. The redundant work sheet W 1  can thus be effectively utilized. Since the redundant work sheet stocker  3  and the carry-in and carry-out means  35  are exclusively used for the redundant work sheets W 1 , the operation of the work sheet processing machine  1  and other peripheral devices, for example, the work sheet conveying device  2 , is prevented from being affected. The work sheet processing system operates efficiently because the work sheet processing machine  1  is control led by the processing control means  43 , the carry-in assistance control means  44 , and the carry-out assistance control means  45 , and the carry-in and carry-out means  35  is controlled by the carry-in control means  53 , and the carry-out control means  54 . 
         [0048]    The redundant work sheet stacker  3  is located on the side of and adjacent to the work sheet processing machine  1 . The carry-in and carry-out means  35  can thus be compactly configured. The carry-in and carry-out means  35  carries in and out the redundant work sheet W 1  in the direction in which the work sheet processing machine  1  and the redundant work sheet stocker  3  are arranged. The redundant work sheet W 1  can thus be reliably carried into and out from the work sheet processing machine  1 . Furthermore, the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  of the work sheet processing machine  1  can move work sheets in the direction in which the carry-in and carry-out means  35  moves the redundant work sheet W 1  in the carry-in and carry-out direction. Consequently, the work sheet positioning mechanism  8  can assist the carry-in and carry-out means  35 . The carry-in and carry-out means  35  can thus be more compactly configured. 
         [0049]    The carry-in and carry-out means  35  according to the present embodiment is configured to use the work sheet holder  37  to grip only one side of the redundant work sheet W 1  in a direction crossing the carry-in and carry-out direction to move the redundant work sheet W 1  in the carry-in and carry-out direction. However, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the posture of the redundant work sheet  1  can be stabilized during the carry-in and carry-out operations by providing paired work sheet holders  37  on the opposite sides in the direction crossing the carry-in and carry-out direction so that the work sheet holders  37  grip the opposite sides of the redundant work sheet W 1  to move the redundant sheet W 1  in the carry-in and carry-out direction. 
         [0050]    In the present embodiment, the redundant work sheet stocker  3  is located on the side of and adjacent to the work sheet processing machine  1 . However, the redundant work sheet stocker  3  may be located away from the work sheet processing machine  1 . Furthermore, the redundant work sheet stocker  3  according to the present embodiment carries out the redundant work sheet W 1  carried out from the work sheet processing machine  1 , to the original work sheet processing machine  1 . 
         [0051]    However, the work sheet processing machine  1  from which the redundant work sheet W 1  is carried out may be different from the work sheet processing machine  1  into which that redundant work sheet W 1  is carried. 
         [0052]    While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the present invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.