Patent Description:
When a plate material feeding apparatus transports a plate material such as a coil material to a press apparatus or the like, the transportation operation by the plate material feeding apparatus is performed intermittently so as to repeatedly move and stop the plate material according to press working in the press apparatus. An inertial force generated by moving and stopping the plate material acts on the plate material, causing the plate material to vibrate and a waving phenomenon called fluttering to occur. When such fluttering occurs, not only the plate material feeding apparatus is excessively burdened, but also the plate material is bent or scratched. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a buffer section called a looper. As a method of mitigating the fluttering of the coil material, there is a coil material supplying apparatus provided with the looper such as a U-shape or an S-shape as the buffer section. There is a problem that although the fluttering when the looper such as the U-shape or the S-shape is provided is less than that when it is not provided, the fluttering occurs when the coil material is transported at a high speed, and thus the coil material cannot be transported at a further high speed, and a pressing ability cannot be fully exerted whereas high speed is required for press working.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses that a coil material supplying apparatus includes a pair of sending rolls, which are arranged in the vicinity of a plate material feeding apparatus of a press apparatus and include a servomotor for sending a coil material while forming a loop, a positional sensor which detects the amount of loop of the coil material, and a control device which controls the servomotor by a signal from the positional sensor to control the amount of sending of the coil material by the sending rolls. Patent Document <NUM> discloses that a coil material supplying apparatus, for supplying a coil material to a plate material feeding apparatus of a press apparatus, includes a coil material supplying unit, a positional sensor which detects the amount of loop of the coil material provided on the downstream side of the coil material supplying unit, a control device which controls a servomotor by a signal from the positional sensor to control the amount of sending of the coil material by sending rolls, and a stand which holds the coil material supplying unit in a state where a mounting angle thereof is adjustable such that a supplying angle of the material can be changed according to conditions. Patent Document <NUM> discloses that a coil material supplying apparatus has a leveler unit which corrects and sends out a coil material and a guide unit which forms a loop of the coil material after being sent out from the leveler unit, and has another guide unit which sets a bulge of the formed loop to a desired value and forms a loop of the coil material before entering the leveler unit, wherein the leveler unit is arranged in an intermediate portion where the loop shape is inflected. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a stock supply system for supplying a strip stock from a supply thereof to a feed device pertaining to a machine, wherein the supply system includes a straightening roller stand driven by a variable speed drive and an arrangement is provided for maintaining a loop in the stock being supplied between the straightening roller stand and the feed device. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a vertical uncoiling apparatus having a frame assembly for supporting a coil of strip material and an accumulator assembly for selectively removing and delivering the strip material to downstream processing equipment. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a loop control apparatus for regulating and controlling the size of a loop between a straightening and feeding machine and feed rolls to a press.

In the coil material supplying apparatuses according to Patent Documents <NUM> to <NUM>, since the plate material is substantially conveyed from the vertically lower side to the vertically upper side so as to oppose gravity, there is a problem that the plate material is hung down by gravity at any place where the plate material is conveyed, causing fluttering to be likely to occur. Further, when the plate material feeding apparatus intermittently transports the plate material at a high speed, there is a problem that an inertial force is generated by moving and stopping the plate material, causing the plate material to vibrate, and fluttering to be likely to occur.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a plate material supplying apparatus capable of supplying a plate material so as to mitigate the influence in the direction of gravity by conveying the plate material so as not to oppose gravity and so as to mitigate the influence of the inertia force generated by moving and stopping the plate material by the plate material feeding apparatus, in order to solve above-mentioned problems.

According to the present invention, the influence in the direction of gravity can be mitigated to suppress the occurrence of fluttering, and the plate material can be supplied to a working apparatus at a high speed.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

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

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

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

As shown in <FIG>, the space <NUM> is provided between the central portion <NUM> and the lower portion <NUM>.

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

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

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

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

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

The upper portion <NUM> may include a guide <NUM> at least in part in order to guide the plate material <NUM> to the central portion <NUM>. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of fluttering by the guide <NUM>. Although in <FIG>, there are places where the guides <NUM> are provided on both sides of the plate material <NUM>, the guide <NUM> may be provided on only one side of the plate material <NUM>, if necessary.

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

The lower portion <NUM> may include a guide <NUM> at least in part in order to guide the plate material <NUM> to the plate material feeding apparatus <NUM>. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of fluttering by the guide <NUM>. Although in <FIG>, the guide <NUM> is provided only on the lower surface of the plate material <NUM>, the guides <NUM> may be provided on both sides of the plate material <NUM>, if necessary.

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

Claim 1:
A plate material supplying apparatus (<NUM>) for supplying a plate material (<NUM>) to a plate material feeding apparatus (<NUM>) intermittently transporting the plate material (<NUM>), the plate material supplying apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper portion (<NUM>) conveying the plate material (<NUM>) substantially in a plate material feeding apparatus direction (<NUM>);
a central portion (<NUM>) receiving the plate material (<NUM>) conveyed from the upper portion (<NUM>) to convey the plate material (<NUM>) in a diagonally vertical downward direction (<NUM>) substantially opposite to the plate material feeding apparatus direction (<NUM>); and
a lower portion (<NUM>) receiving the plate material (<NUM>) conveyed from the central portion (<NUM>) to convey the plate material (<NUM>) substantially in the plate material feeding apparatus direction (<NUM>); characterized in that
the plate material supplying apparatus (<NUM>) is provided with a space (<NUM>) in which the plate material (<NUM>) is capable of being retained in response to intermittent transportation of the plate material feeding apparatus (<NUM>), the space (<NUM>) being provided between the central portion (<NUM>) and the lower portion (<NUM>),
the central portion (<NUM>) is capable of conveying the plate material (<NUM>) from the upper portion (<NUM>) to the central portion (<NUM>) at a constant speed, and
the plate material (<NUM>) is conveyed in the horizontal direction or a direction downwardly inclined from the horizontal direction in the upper portion (<NUM>), and the plate material (<NUM>) is conveyed in the horizontal direction or a direction downwardly inclined from the horizontal direction in the lower portion (<NUM>).