JP6611175B2 - Automatic continuous image engraving apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic continuous image engraving apparatus and method for engraving a sheet-like engraving medium.

  Conventionally, an apparatus for engraving an image on a magnetic card or synthetic paper has been proposed as Patent Documents 1-3. All of these devices have only a single function of engraving and could not perform continuous automatic image engraving.

  On the other hand, the applicant has proposed an automatic continuous image engraving apparatus of Patent Document 4.

  This automatic continuous image engraving device engraves images on cards such as credit cards, card magazines, card dispensers, read / write units, card positioning units, card mounting tables, and card transport. Section, an image engraving section, a card storage magazine, and a card transport robot.

  The card magazine can store a plurality of rectangular cards capable of reading and writing data, and the card dispenser sequentially feeds the cards stored in the card magazine in the card length direction.

  The read / write unit accepts the card fed out from the card dispenser in the feeding direction, reads or writes data, and carries out the card in the longitudinal direction.

  The card positioning unit receives the card unloaded from the read / write unit in this unloading direction and performs positioning.

  The card mounting table is mounted by moving the card positioned in the card positioning section in the short direction of the card, and the card transport section is the card length between the mounting position and the image engraving position. Transport in the direction of the scale.

  The image engraving unit performs image engraving with the engraving needle on the card conveyed to the image engraving position by the card conveying unit according to the image signal from the control unit.

  The card storage magazine receives and stores the engraved card that has been transported back to the mounting position after the image engraving by the image engraving unit by moving in the short card direction.

  The card transport robot transfers the card linearly in the card short direction from the card positioning unit to the card mounting table and from the card mounting table to the card storage magazine.

  Therefore, image engraving on the card can be automatically performed continuously.

  However, in such a conventional automatic continuous image engraving apparatus, no consideration has been given to the case of automatically engraving an image continuously on a sheet-like engraving medium such as synthetic paper.

  In particular, when images are automatically engraved continuously on diplomas made of synthetic paper, plastic sheets, etc., the uppermost sheet-like engraving medium is adsorbed from the sheet-like engraving medium that contains multiple sheets. It is necessary to maintain the correct posture with respect to the engraving needle when the sheet-shaped engraving medium is conveyed to the image engraving unit. Accurate image engraving could not be performed automatically continuously.

  In addition, the sheet-shaped engraving medium tends to be longer in length than the card, and there is a risk that the entire apparatus becomes large.

JP-A-1-115676 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-24394 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-201762 Japanese Patent No. 4516669

  The problem to be solved is that it is impossible to apply the conventional automatic continuous image engraving apparatus as it is when the image is automatically engraved continuously on the sheet-shaped engraving medium.

  The present invention automatically and continuously engraves an image on a sheet-shaped engraving medium and allows the apparatus to be miniaturized, so that the top of the stacked sheet-shaped engraving medium is sent out in the surface direction. A medium carry-out unit, a take-up conveyance unit that conveys the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carry-out unit to the image engraving unit in a plane direction while taking over the conveyance surface, and takes over the sheet-like engraving medium An image engraving unit for engraving an image by returning conveyance from the reference position detected later to the takeover conveyance unit side, and a sheet-shaped engraving medium transported from the image engraving unit are discharged and stored below the image engraving unit. A feature of the automatic continuous image engraving apparatus is that it includes a medium discharge unit.

  The present invention provides a medium carrying-out process for sending the uppermost sheet-shaped engraving medium in the surface direction, and taking the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent from the medium carrying-out process onto the carrying surface while adjusting the carrying posture. A take-over conveyance process for conveying the engraving section in a surface direction, an image engraving process for engraving an image by returning the conveyance from the reference position detected after taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the take-up conveyance process side, and the image engraving A feature of the automatic continuous image engraving method is that it includes a medium discharge step for discharging and storing the sheet-shaped engraving medium carried out from the step to the lower side of the image engraving step.

  Since the automatic continuous image engraving apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the uppermost layer of the stacked sheet-shaped engraving media is sent out in the surface direction by the medium carry-out unit, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium is conveyed on the conveying surface of the takeover conveying unit. It can be taken over and the conveying posture can be adjusted and conveyed to the image engraving unit. The image engraving unit can engrave the image by returning the conveyance from the detected reference position to the take-up conveyance unit side after taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium with a well-conveyed posture, and performing accurate image engraving. .

  For this reason, an image can be automatically engraved continuously and reasonably on a sheet-like engraving medium.

  Moreover, in the image engraving unit, the image can be engraved by returning the conveyance from the reference position detected after taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the take-up conveyance unit side, and the medium discharge unit is carried out from the image engraving unit Since the sheet-shaped engraving medium is discharged and stored below the image engraving unit, the overall length of the apparatus can be shortened and the apparatus can be made compact.

  Since the automatic continuous image engraving method of the present invention has the above-described configuration, an image can be automatically engraved continuously and reasonably on a sheet-like engraving medium.

1 is an overall schematic perspective view of an automatic continuous image engraving apparatus. Example 1 FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a medium carry-out section together with a take-up conveyance section and the like, and is partially seen through when viewed from the front. Example 1 FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a medium carry-out section together with a take-up conveyance section and the like, and a part of the medium carry-out section is seen through from a plane direction. Example 1 FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the medium carry-out section together with the takeover conveyance section and the like, with the upper part cut away when viewed from the front direction. Example 1 FIG. 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the medium carry-out section together with the takeover conveyance section and the like, viewed from the back side. Example 1 It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between a medium carrying-out part and a blower fan. Example 1 It is sectional drawing in the XZ direction of a medium carrying-out part. Example 1 FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the take-up conveyance unit together with a medium carry-out unit, an image engraving unit, and the like, and a partial perspective view. Example 1 FIG. 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the take-over conveyance unit together with the medium carry-out unit and the image engraving unit as seen from the front direction. Example 1 FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view different from FIG. 9 showing the takeover conveyance unit together with the medium carry-out unit and the image engraving unit as seen from the front direction. Example 1 FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the image engraving unit as seen from the front side between the takeover conveyance unit and the medium discharge unit. Example 1 It is a perspective view which shows a part seeing through seeing an image engraving part from the back side. Example 1 It is a suction circuit conceptual diagram of an adsorption fixing structure. Example 1 FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the medium discharge unit together with the image engraving unit as viewed from the image engraving unit side. Example 1 FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the medium discharge unit together with the image engraving unit as seen from the side opposite to the image engraving unit. Example 1 FIG. 4 is a partially omitted enlarged perspective view of a medium discharge unit viewed from a side surface direction. Example 1 FIG. 6 is a partially omitted enlarged rear view of the medium discharge unit as viewed from the back side. Example 1 FIG. 4 is a partially omitted enlarged perspective view of a medium discharge unit as viewed from the back side. Example 1

  Media unloading for the purpose of automatically engraving images onto sheet-shaped engraving media automatically and with the objective of enabling downsizing of the device with the top of the stacked sheet-shaped engraving media facing in the plane direction The sheet-like engraving medium sent out from the medium carrying-out section to the conveying surface and taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium in the plane direction to the image engraving section while adjusting the conveying posture, and detected after taking over the sheet-like engraving medium An image engraving unit for engraving an image by returning the conveyance from the reference position to the takeover conveying unit side, and a medium discharge for discharging and storing the sheet-shaped engraving medium transported from the image engraving unit to the lower side of the image engraving unit It was realized by having a department.

  The medium carry-out unit may be lowered from above the sheet-shaped engraving medium accommodated in a stacked manner, adsorbing the uppermost position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium, and rising to a specified position to perform the feeding.

  The take-up conveyance unit takes over the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carry-out unit onto the conveyance surface, and gradually moves the sheet-shaped engraving medium obliquely forward in the conveyance direction to slide the side portion of the sheet-shaped engraving medium in a conveying posture. You may provide the alignment guide which prepares and conveys to the said image engraving part.

  The takeover conveyance unit includes a reverse guide unit disposed on the upper side of the conveyance surface, and the reverse guide unit conveys the sheet engraving medium back in the image engraving unit, and the reverse guide unit conveys the conveyance surface of the takeover conveyance unit. The transfer conveyance unit may allow the next sheet-shaped engraving medium to stand by on the conveyance surface below the reverse guide unit.

  For the above purpose, an image is conveyed while adjusting the conveying posture by taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carrying-out process to the conveying surface, and feeding the sheet-shaped engraving medium directed to the surface direction with the top of the stacked sheet-shaped engraving media facing the surface direction. A take-over conveyance process for conveying the engraving section in a surface direction, an image engraving process for engraving an image by returning the conveyance from the reference position detected after taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the take-up conveyance process side, and the image engraving This is realized by including a medium discharging process for discharging and storing the sheet-shaped engraving medium carried out from the process to the lower side of the image engraving process.

  In the medium carrying-out step, the feeding may be performed by descending from above the sheet-shaped engraving medium accommodated in a stacked manner, adsorbing the uppermost position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium, and ascending to a specified position.

  The take-up conveying step takes over the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carrying-out step on the conveying surface and gradually moves it obliquely forward in the conveying direction to bring the side portion of the sheet-shaped engraving medium into sliding contact with the conveying posture. You may provide the alignment guide which arranges and conveys to the said image engraving process.

  The takeover conveyance step includes a reverse guide portion disposed on the upper side of the conveyance surface, and the reverse guide portion conveys back the conveyance of the sheet-shaped engraving medium in the image engraving step. In the takeover and transport step, the succeeded sheet-shaped engraving medium may wait on the transport surface below the reverse guide portion.

[Automatic continuous image engraving device]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic perspective view of an automatic continuous image engraving apparatus. In the following description, the X-axis direction is the depth direction when the apparatus is viewed from the front and is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, and the Y-axis direction is the lateral direction when the apparatus is viewed from the front and the direction of the sheet. The conveyance direction and the Z-axis direction are the vertical direction of the apparatus installed in a horizontal state and mean the vibration direction of the engraving needle 23a. Front and rear means front and rear in the transport direction in the Y axis direction, and left and right mean left and right when the apparatus is viewed from the front in the transport direction in the X axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic continuous image engraving apparatus 1 realizes an automatic continuous image engraving method, and enables automatic and continuous engraving of images on a sheet-shaped engraving medium. The apparatus includes a medium carry-out unit 3 that performs a medium carry-out process, a take-up conveyance unit 5 that performs a take-over conveyance process, an image engraving unit 7 that performs an image engraving process, and a medium discharge unit 9 that performs a medium discharge process.

  The sheet-shaped engraving medium is a sheet formed in a plane rectangular shape such as A4 size or letter size using plastic, synthetic paper, special synthetic paper, etc., and has an engraving layer on the surface, and an image such as a watermark engraving display by engraving. Can be formed. An example of the sheet-like engraving medium is a diploma. The sheet-shaped engraving medium can also be applied to various sheet-shaped media as long as there is a necessity and possibility of image engraving.

  The medium carry-out unit 3 feeds the sheet-shaped engraving medium in the surface direction while adsorbing to the lower surface of the belt guide 11. A tray 13 is attached to the medium carry-out unit 3, and a large number of sheet-like engraving media are stacked and accommodated in the tray 13.

  The medium carry-out unit 3 descends into the tray 13 and sucks the sheet-shaped engraving medium. Suction is performed by suction of a suction blower fan 17 mounted on the suction base 15. The adsorbed sheet-shaped engraving medium is sent out in the surface direction on the lower surface of the belt guide 11 by belt driving at a predetermined ascending position of the medium carrying-out portion 3. The sheet-shaped engraving medium is sent out in the long direction such as A4 size. However, depending on the setting, it can be in the short direction such as A4 size.

  The takeover conveyance unit 5 is disposed between the medium carry-out unit 3 and the image engraving unit 7. A reverse guide unit 21 is provided on the upper side of the takeover conveyance unit 5, that is, on the upper side of the conveyance surface 19 a of the traveling plate 19.

  The take-up conveying unit 5 takes over the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carrying-out unit 3 on the conveying surface 19a while being sent out in the longitudinal direction, and gradually moves the sheet-shaped engraving medium obliquely forward in the conveying direction. The sheet-shaped engraving medium is conveyed to the image engraving unit 7 while adjusting the conveying posture by sliding the side portion on the alignment guide 99.

  In the image engraving unit 7, a vibration generating unit 23 is supported by a not-shown engraving head, and an engraving needle 23 a is attached to the vibration generating unit 23. A suction part 25 is provided below the engraving needle 23a, and suction part guides 27 and 29 are provided before and after the suction part 25 in the transport direction. An inlet drive unit 31 is provided in front of the suction unit guide 27, and a discharge drive unit 33 is provided in the suction unit guide 29.

  The sheet engraving medium is transferred from the reference position detected after being handed over the suction portion guide 27 by the entrance driving unit 31 to the takeover transport portion 5 side, and image engraving is performed while being sucked and positioned by the suction portion 25. . At the time of image engraving, the engraving head that supports the vibration generating unit 23 is moved and adjusted in the XYZ directions, and the engraving on the sheet-shaped engraving medium is performed by the vibration of the engraving needle 23a of the vibration generating unit 23.

  When the sheet-shaped engraving medium is positioned on the suction unit 25, the rear part of the sheet-shaped engraving medium is guided to rise up the reverse guide part 21 by switching a flag to be described later of the reverse guide part 21 and is allowed to return backward. The For this reason, the rear part of the sheet-shaped engraving medium does not return to the conveying surface 19a, and the next sheet-shaped engraving medium waits on the conveying surface 19a. By this standby, the next sheet-shaped engraving medium can be promptly conveyed to the image engraving unit 7, and the rear side of the sheet-shaped engraving medium on the image engraving unit 7 is moved to the upper side of the waiting sheet-shaped engraving medium. And the overall length of the device can be shortened.

  The medium discharge unit 9 includes a discharge guide 35 following the suction unit guide 29, and includes an OK tray 37 and a stacker slide 39 below the discharge guide 35.

  The medium discharge unit 9 discharges and stores the sheet-shaped engraving medium transported from the image engraving unit 7 to the lower side of the image engraving unit 7, and the image is driven by cooperative driving of the inlet drive unit 31 and the discharge drive unit 33. The engraved sheet-like engraving medium is ejected from the engraving unit 7 after image engraving or un-engraved NG article, and the engraved sheet-like engraving medium is ejected to the OK tray 31 by the drive guide by the ejection guide 35, and the NG article Is discharged to the stacker slide 33. The OK tray 31 and the stacker slide 33 are arranged vertically on the lower side of the image engraving unit 7.

  Therefore, the medium carrying-out unit 3 is lowered with respect to a large number of sheet-shaped engraving media accommodated in the tray 13, and the uppermost sheet-shaped engraving medium is attracted to the lower surface of the belt guide 11 by air suction, and is taken over. The sheet engraving medium can be transferred to the image engraving unit 7 while adjusting the conveying posture of the sheet-shaped engraving medium via the conveying unit 5, and can be engraved by the image engraving unit 7 and discharged to the OK tray 37.

[Media unloading section]
2 to 7 mainly show the medium carry-out section, FIG. 2 shows the medium carry-out section together with the takeover conveyance section, etc., and is a perspective view partially seen from the front direction, and FIG. 3 shows the medium carry-out section. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the medium carrying-out part together with the take-up conveyance part and the like, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the medium carry-out section and the blower fan, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the XZ direction of the medium carry-out section. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the medium carry-out section 3 descends from above the sheet-shaped engraving medium accommodated in a stacked manner, adsorbs the uppermost position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium, and raises it to a specified position for delivery. It is. That is, the medium carry-out unit 3 is configured to be driven up and down with respect to the tray 13 by the up-and-down drive unit 43 disposed in the box-shaped front base 41.

  The medium carry-out unit 3 includes a suction base 15. The suction base 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and a coupling piece portion 15 a is provided on the front base 41 side so as to be coupled and supported by the elevating drive unit 43.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, belt covers 45 and 47 having L-shaped cross sections are attached to both sides in the Y-axis direction of the suction base 15 so as to face each other, and a belt guide 49 is disposed between the belt covers 45 and 47. ing. The edge of the belt guide 49 is supported on each edge of the belt covers 45 and 47. Both edge portions of the belt guide 49 are curved or inclined so as to ride on the belt covers 45 and 47, and are disposed on the edge portions of the belt covers 45 and 47.

  In the belt covers 45 and 47, slits 45a and 47a for passing the belt are formed so as to cross the front edge at each inward edge portion in the transport direction. A plurality of these slits 45 a and 47 a are provided in parallel at the front edge portions of the belt covers 45 and 47. In the embodiment, four slits 45a and 47a are provided according to the four belts.

  A plurality of through holes 49a are formed in the belt guide 49 so as to cross between the slits 45a and 47a along the belt traveling direction. The through holes 49a are arranged corresponding to the respective belts, arranged on the belt guides 49 on both sides of the belt in the width direction, and penetrate in the plate thickness direction.

  Accordingly, a plurality of holes (through holes 49a) penetrating the belt guide 49 vertically are provided along the belt traveling direction. The through-hole 49a can be replaced with a long and continuous slit.

  A belt guide side plate (not shown) is attached to one belt guide 49 on both the left and right sides. The belt guide side plate is closed by reaching the belt cover 45 on the left and right sides between the suction base 15 and the belt guide 49. On one belt cover 45 side, a drive shaft 51 is rotatably supported by a plurality of bearings, and on the other belt cover 47 side, a driven shaft 53 is rotatably supported by a plurality of bearings. Timing gears 55 and 57 are attached to the drive shaft 51 and the driven shaft 53, respectively.

  Timing belts 59 and 61 are wound around the timing gears 55 and 57 of the drive shaft 51 and the driven shaft 53 as carry-out belts. The timing belt 61 is for driving and is wound around a timing gear 67 for driving the stepping motor 65 via a tension pulley 63 as shown in FIG. The stepping motor 65 is fixed on the suction base 15.

  The timing belts 59 and 61 are passed from the slits 45a and 47a to the lower surface of the belt guide 49, and can travel along the lower surface of the belt guide 49 between the through holes 49a.

  That is, when the stepping motor 65 is driven, the drive shaft 51 is rotationally driven via the timing belt 61, and each timing belt 59 is driven to travel.

  Therefore, the medium carry-out unit 3 includes a carry-out belt (timing belts 59 and 61) that runs along the lower surface of the belt guide 49 and feeds the sheet-shaped engraving medium.

  The suction blower fan 17 on the suction base 15 communicates between the suction base 15 and the belt guide 49 through the hole of the suction base 15, sucks between the suction base 15 and the belt guide 49, and lowers the belt guide 49 from each through hole 49 a. It is configured to inhale air on the side.

  Accordingly, the suction blower fan 17 is driven, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium is sucked to the lower surface side of the belt guide 49 by suction of air through each through hole 49a. , 61) can be sent out to the takeover conveyance section 5 by traveling. In this case, the lower surface side of the belt guide 49 is composed of the surfaces of the timing belts 59 and 61, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium is mainly adsorbed to the timing belts 59 and 61 by the suction of air through the through holes 49a. It becomes.

  The raising / lowering drive part 43 drives the medium carrying-out part 3 relatively so that the highest level of a sheet-like engraving medium may be joined. As described above, the relative drive of the present embodiment is a lift drive with respect to the tray 13 of the medium carry-out unit 3. However, fixing the vertical position of the medium carry-out unit 3 and driving the tray 13 side up and down with respect to the medium carry-out unit 3 is also an example of relative driving.

  The elevating drive unit 43 of this embodiment includes an elevating base 67 that is supported in the front base 41 so as to be movable up and down. The elevating base 67 is guided along the elevating shafts 69 and 71, and a slide bush 73 supported by the elevating base 67 is fitted to the elevating shafts 69 and 71. A rolling nut 75 is further attached to the elevating base 67, and a ball screw 77 is screwed to the nut 75.

  The ball screw 77 is rotatably supported by the front base 41. A timing gear 79 is attached to the ball screw 77, and a timing belt 85 is wound around the timing gear 79 and the timing gear 83 of the stepping motor 81. The stepping motor 81 is fixed to the outer wall of the front base 41.

  A coupling piece 15 a of the suction base 15 is coupled and fixed to a lifting base 67 by a support block 87. The support block 87 protrudes from the lifting base 67 to the suction base 15 side through the long hole of the front base 41.

  Therefore, when the stepping motor 81 is driven, the ball screw 77 is rotationally driven through the timing gear 83, the timing belt 85, and the timing gear 79, and the rolling nut 75 is moved up and down along the ball screw 77, so that the lifting base 67 is in front. It moves up and down in the base 41.

  When the elevating base 67 moves up and down, the suction base 15 coupled to the support block 87 moves up and down, and the medium carry-out unit 3 moves up and down with respect to the tray 13.

  The tray 13 is formed with a notch 13a so that the coupling piece 15a does not interfere when the medium carry-out portion 3 moves up and down.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, 6, and 7, a separation blower fan 89 is attached to the outer surface of the front base 41. A duct 91 is attached to the discharge port of the separation blower fan 89, and a duct 93 that moves up and down together with the suction base 15 is opposed to and communicates with the duct 91 at a specified ascending position. The discharge port of the duct 93 on the suction base 15 side faces the edge of the belt guide 49.

  Accordingly, when the medium carry-out unit 3 is raised to a predetermined ascending position so that the medium carry-out unit 3 can take over the engraving medium to the traveling plate 19 of the take-up conveyance unit 5, the duct 91 on the suction base 15 side is connected to the duct 91 of the separation blower fan 89. 93 communicates with each other so that air can be discharged from the separation blower fan 89 toward the edge of the belt guide 49.

  The travel plate 19 of the take-up transport unit 5 has a claw portion 95 protruding from the trailing edge of the Y-axis direction with respect to the medium unloading unit 3 and faces the medium unloading unit 3 and the tray 13 side. The nail | claw part 95 is arrange | positioned in the center part in the left-right direction of the rear edge of the travel plate 19, and protrusion amount is slight. At the bottom of the claw portion 95, a whirling guide 96 is formed.

  The rear edge portion of the traveling plate 19 faces the front edge portion of the tray 13, and the claw portion 95 and the rolling guide 96 slightly face the inside of the tray 13 on the front edge portion of the tray 13.

  With the discharge of air from the separation blower fan 89 toward the belt guide 49 and the claw portion 95, the medium carry-out section 3 can carry out the sheet-shaped engraving medium one by one.

  That is, the medium carry-out section 3 is moved down into the tray 13 and the suction blower fan 17 is driven to suck the sheet-shaped engraving medium onto the lower surface of the belt guide 49 by sucking air through the through holes 49a. Raise part 3.

  The edge of the sheet-shaped engraving medium adsorbed on the lower surface of the belt guide 49 immediately before the medium carry-out section 3 rises to the specified ascending position is scratched by the claw 95, and the belt is separated from the separation blower fan 89 at the specified ascending position. Air discharge toward the guide 49 is received.

  Therefore, even when a plurality of sheet-shaped engraving media are adsorbed on the lower surface of the belt guide 49, only the uppermost sheet-shaped engraving medium remains due to blowing by the claw portion 95 and blowing of air toward the belt guide 49. The sheet-like engraving medium is dropped into the tray 13.

[Transfer transfer section]
8 to 10 mainly show the takeover conveyance unit, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the takeover conveyance unit together with the medium carry-out unit, the image engraving unit, and the like, and FIG. 9 shows the takeover conveyance unit as the medium. FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view seen from the front direction shown with the carry-out portion and the image engraving portion, etc. FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view different from FIG. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the traveling plate 19 of the takeover conveyance unit 5 includes the claw portion 95 at the rear edge in the Y-axis direction as described above, and the front edge in the Y-axis direction of the traveling plate 19 is an image engraving. The inclined surface 19b is inclined downward toward the portion 7.

  A plurality of slits 97 are formed in the traveling plate 19 in parallel along the belt traveling direction, and three slits 97 in this embodiment. The slit 97 penetrates in the plate thickness direction of the traveling plate 19 and is formed to be inclined with respect to the Y-axis direction that is the takeover conveyance direction, and reaches the inclined surface 19b.

  The alignment guide 99 is formed on one side edge portion of the travel plate 19 along the Y-axis direction. The alignment guide 99 only needs to be able to guide the side side portion of the sheet-shaped engraving medium by sliding smoothly, and various materials such as plastic and metal can be selected. A coating that reduces the frictional force may be applied to the surface of the alignment guide 99.

  The slit 97 is configured to gradually approach the alignment guide 99 toward the image engraving unit 7 by the oblique arrangement.

  Therefore, the takeover conveyance part 5 is equipped with the slit 97 which penetrates the conveyance surface 19a up and down along the conveyance direction diagonally.

  A traveling base 101 is attached to the lower surface of the traveling plate 19, and the suction chamber 103 is partitioned and formed between the traveling plate 19 and the traveling plate 19. A DC fan 105 is attached to the lower part of the traveling base 101, and the inside of the suction chamber 103 can be sucked.

  An aligner drive shaft 107 and a driven shaft 109 are rotatably supported by bearings at the front and rear portions in the Y-axis direction of the traveling plate 19, and a timing belt 115 is attached to the aligner drive shaft 107 and the driven shaft 109 via timing gears 111 and 113. It is hung around. The timing belt 115 is disposed in each slit 97 and faces the conveyance surface 19a. The front end of the timing belt 115 in the Y-axis direction is positioned side by side with the inclined surface 19b.

  Accordingly, a take-up belt (timing belt 115) that is disposed in the slit 97 and travels along the conveying surface 19a and conveys the sheet-shaped engraving medium is provided.

  A timing gear 117 for transmitting driving force is attached to an end of the aligner driving shaft 107, and a timing belt 123 is wound around the timing gear 121 of the stepping motor 119. The stepping motor 119 is fixed inside the front base 41 outside the traveling base 101.

  Therefore, air is sucked through the slit 97 by sucking the inside of the suction chamber 103 by driving the DC fan 105, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium can be brought into contact with the takeover belt (timing belt 115). The sheet-shaped engraving medium is conveyed to the image engraving unit 7 by running the takeover belt (timing belt 115) while making this contact.

  At this time, since the timing belt 115 gradually approaches the alignment guide 99 along the slit 97, one edge of the sheet-shaped engraving medium is slidably guided by the alignment guide 99. For this reason, even if the sheet-like engraving medium sent out in the longitudinal direction such as A4 from the medium carry-out section 3 is taken over in the conveyance direction of the take-up conveyance section 5, the oblique sheet-form engraving medium conveyance posture is corrected. Then, conveyance to the image engraving unit 7 is performed.

  In the present embodiment, the sheet-shaped engraving medium is not immediately conveyed from the takeover conveying unit 5 to the image engraving unit 7 immediately, but is put in a temporary standby state. That is, while the previous sheet-shaped engraving medium is image-engraved by the image engraving unit 7, the subsequent sheet-shaped engraving medium waits on the traveling plate 19.

  For this reason, a photo sensor 125 is arranged on the lower surface of the traveling plate 19 on the front side in the Y-axis direction, detects the sheet-shaped engraving medium on the traveling plate 19 from the hole of the traveling plate 19, and sends it to the control unit of the apparatus. Send. When the photo sensor 125 detects the sheet-shaped engraving medium, the control unit stops the driving of the stepping motor 119 and causes the sheet-shaped engraving medium to stand by on the traveling plate 19 below the reverse guide unit 21.

  A photo sensor 127 is also arranged on the lower surface of the traveling plate 19 at the rear part in the Y-axis direction, and the passage of the sheet-shaped engraving medium on the traveling plate 19 is detected from the hole of the traveling plate 19 as a control timing signal.

  The reverse guide portion 21 includes a reverse box 129 having a triangular cross section. The reverse box 129 is provided with a reverse running surface 131, and a plurality of, in the present embodiment, four flags 133 are rotatably supported by a flag shaft 135 at the lower end of the reverse running surface 131. An arm 137 is attached to the outer end of the flag shaft 135 within the front base 41, and the arm 137 is coupled to a solenoid 139.

  Accordingly, the flag shaft 135 is driven via the arm 137 by the ON / OFF control of the solenoid 139, and the flag 133 is arranged so as to close the front end of the traveling plate 19 along the inclined surface 19b of the traveling plate 19, or the inclined surface. Switching control can be performed so that the front plate 19 can be lifted from 19b and the front end of the traveling plate 19 can be opened.

  When the flag 133 is controlled to be closed so as to close the front end of the traveling plate 19, the sheet-shaped engraving medium that moves backward for positioning from the image engraving unit 7 is guided through the flag 133 to rise on the reverse traveling surface 131. .

  In other words, when the image engraving unit 7 positions the sheet-shaped engraving medium and engraves the image, the reference position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium conveyed from the takeover conveying unit 5 is detected, and the conveyance of the sheet-shaped engraving medium from the position is a specified amount. The engraving part is correctly positioned with respect to the suction part 25. At this time, the reverse guide unit 21 allows the sheet-like engraving medium to be returned backward in the conveyance direction by switching the guide to the upper side of the takeover conveyance unit 5. The engraving medium can be waited on the conveying surface 19 a of the traveling plate 19 below the reverse guide portion 21.

  With such a switching guide by the reverse guide portion 21, the overall length of the apparatus in the transport direction can be shortened.

  In the reverse box 129, a color sensor 141 and a sonic sensor 143a are supported. Since the color sensor 141 and the sonic sensor 143a support the space in the reverse box 129 effectively, the space is not wasted.

  Another sonic sensor 143 b that is paired with the sonic sensor 143 a is supported on the traveling base 101 below the traveling plate 19.

  The color sensor 141 detects the front and back of the sheet-shaped engraving medium on the traveling plate 19 and uses the detection of the back side as an error signal in the control unit. The sonic sensors 143a and 143b detect the overlap of the sheet-like engraving medium on the traveling plate 19, and use it as an error signal in the control unit when two sheets are conveyed in a superimposed manner.

  Behind the reverse box 129, the scanner 145 is supported by the scanner shaft 149 via the slider 147, and the scanner shaft 149 is supported by the front base 41.

  The scanner 145 reads the two-dimensional barcode attached to the sheet-like engraving medium on the traveling plate 19 and recognizes the personal information recorded on the two-dimensional barcode by the control unit.

  Accordingly, the sheet engraving medium can be engraved with an image that is accurately adapted to the personal information recorded in the two-dimensional bar code under the control of the control unit. When personal information cannot be recognized, an error signal is issued.

  When the above various error signals are issued, the sheet-shaped engraving medium corresponding to the error signal is not engraved on the image and is discharged to the stacker slide 39 as an NG product as will be described later.

[Image Engraving Department]
11 and 12 mainly show the image engraving unit, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a part of the image engraving unit as seen from the front side between the takeover conveyance unit and the medium discharge unit, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a part of the image engraving portion seen from the rear side, and FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of the suction circuit of the suction fixing structure.

  An engraving head (not shown) on which the vibration generating unit 23 of the image engraving unit 7 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is supported is coupled to the X-axis drive mechanism, the Y-axis drive mechanism, and the Z-axis drive mechanism. Reciprocating drive control is performed in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction.

  The vibration generating portion 23 of the engraving head is floatingly supported by a spring on the electromagnet side with respect to the permanent magnet side, and the electromagnet side is slightly oscillated and rotated by the action between the permanent magnet side and the electromagnet side and the action of the spring.

  By switching the energization to the coil based on the engraving signal by such minute vibration, the engraving needle 23a is vibrated based on the signal obtained by converting the image data into the electric signal, and the X axis direction, the X axis The engraving head is moved in the direction and the Z-axis direction, and the engraving needle 23a is vibrated by the vibration generating unit 23 to finely engrave the surface of the sheet-shaped engraving medium.

  At the time of the fine engraving, it is necessary to set the sheet-shaped engraving medium on the suction portion 25 with high adhesion. Therefore, the sheet-shaped engraving medium is set by a suction circuit described later, and the precision of fine engraving is improved by the set having high adhesion.

  An X-axis front plate 151 and an X-axis back plate 153 are attached to the machine base of the image engraving unit 7, and the suction unit 25 and suction unit guides 27 and 29 are supported between the X-axis front plate 151 and the X-axis back plate 153. Has been. The suction portion guide 29 is provided with a slit 29a. The inlet drive unit 31 is disposed on the take-over conveyance unit 5 side in the Y-axis direction, and the discharge drive unit 33 is disposed on the suction unit guide 29.

  The inlet drive unit 31 includes an inlet drive shaft 155 and an inlet arm shaft 157, and the discharge drive unit 33 includes a discharge drive shaft 159 and a discharge arm shaft 161. The inlet drive shaft 155 and the inlet arm shaft 157, the discharge drive shaft 159 and the discharge arm shaft 161 are rotatably supported by the X-axis front plate 151 and the X-axis back plate 153.

  An inlet feed roller 163 is attached to the inlet drive shaft 155, and a discharge feed roller 165 is attached to the discharge drive shaft 159. Resin bearings 167 and 169 are attached to the inlet arm shaft 157 and the discharge arm shaft 161. The discharge feed roller 165 and the resin bearing 169 are vertically opposed to each other in the slit 29 a of the suction portion guide 29.

  Timing gears 171 and 173 are attached to ends of the inlet drive shaft 155 and the discharge drive shaft 159, and a timing belt 181 is wound around the timing gear 177 of the stepping motor 175 via a tension pulley 179. Yes. The stepping motor 175 is fixed to the X-axis back plate 153.

  A solenoid arm 183 is fixed to the entrance arm shaft 157 outside the X-axis front plate 151 side, and a solenoid 185 is coupled to the solenoid arm 183 in an interlocking manner. The solenoid 185 is fixed to the X-axis front plate 151. A tension spring 187 is interposed between the solenoid arm 183 and the X-axis front plate 151.

  The inlet arm shaft 157 and the discharge arm shaft 161 are provided with interlocking arms 189 and 191 on the outside of the X-axis back plate 153, and each end of the interlocking plate 193 is coupled to the interlocking arms 189 and 191 so as to rotate freely. Has been.

  Therefore, when the solenoid 185 is OFF, one end of the solenoid arm 183 is pulled down by the tension spring 187, and the inlet arm shaft 157 is in a rotational position where the resin bearing 167 is separated above the inlet feed roller 163. The discharge arm shaft 161 is interlocked with the rotation of the inlet arm shaft 157 via the interlocking arm 189, the interlocking plate 193, and the interlocking arm 191, and similarly, the rotational position where the resin bearing 169 is separated above the discharge feed roller 165. It becomes.

  When the solenoid 185 is turned on, the other end of the solenoid arm 183 is pulled down against the urging force of the tension spring 187, the resin bearing 167 comes into contact with the inlet feed roller 163, and the resin bearing 169 is discharged by the interlock. 165 is contacted.

  Accordingly, when the stepping motor 175 is driven, the inlet drive shaft 155 and the discharge drive shaft 159 rotate as the timing belt 181 travels. By this rotation, the inlet drive unit 31 conveys the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the suction unit 25 by the inlet feed roller 163 and the resin bearing 167, and the discharge drive unit 33 has the medium discharge unit 9 by the discharge feed roller 165 and the resin bearing 169. To the side.

  Photosensors 195a, 195b, 197a, 197b, 199a, and 199b are arranged on the left and right sides with respect to the entrance driving unit 31 side. The combination of the photosensors 195a, 195b, 197a, and 197b detects, for example, A4 size, and the combination of the photosensors 195a, 195b, 199a, and 199b detects, for example, letter size.

  Photosensors 201a, 201b, 203a, and 203b are arranged on the left and right sides with respect to the discharge drive unit 33 side. The photo sensor 201a, 201b, 203a, 203b performs a reference position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium conveyed to the suction unit 25 of the image engraving unit 7. The stepping motor 175 is driven in reverse by this reference so that the sheet-shaped engraving medium is accurately placed on the suction portion 25.

  That is, the image engraving unit 7 detects the reference position in the conveyance direction of the succeeding sheet-shaped engraving medium and then adsorbs the conveyance to the adsorption unit 25 and positions it.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the suction unit 25 is connected to the suction circuit 205. The suction circuit 205 is disposed between the X-axis front plate 151 and the X-axis back plate 153.

  The suction unit 25 includes a porous flat member 207, and a suction circuit 205 is connected to a chamber provided below the porous flat member 207.

  The perforated flat member 207 is formed by densely opening fine holes on a flat surface in order to enable fine engraving while adsorbing and fixing a sheet-like engraving medium.

  The suction circuit 205 is a mechanism for performing suction from the fine holes of the porous planar member 207, and a vacuum pump 209 is connected to the porous planar member 207 side via the electromagnetic valve 211. A pressure switch 213 is directly connected to the suction port 209a of the vacuum pump 209 as a pressure detection unit for detecting the intake pressure of the suction circuit 205, and an air filter 215 can be selectively connected via an electromagnetic valve 211. Yes.

  Therefore, when the electromagnetic valve 211 is set to the suction position 211a in the state of FIG. 13, the suction port 209a communicates with the porous planar member 207 side, and the discharge port 209b side is opened to the atmosphere.

  Accordingly, the vacuum pump 209 is operated to cause suction from the fine holes of the porous planar member 207, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium is adsorbed and fixed to the porous planar member 207 with good adhesion.

  At this time, by setting the pressure state of the pressure switch 213 to enable engraving, for example, 50 KPa or more, the sheet-like engraving medium is detected without any swelling or displacement, and the engraving can be performed at an accurate position. You can know the close contact state. By this pressure detection, the engraving head or the like can be automatically operated. The pressure state of 50 KPa or more was experimentally determined as being capable of detecting the absence of swelling or displacement of the sheet-like engraving medium.

  When the solenoid valve 211 is switched from the state of FIG. 13 to the discharge position 211b, the discharge port 209b communicates with the porous planar member 207 side, and the air filter 215 is connected to the suction port 209a side.

  Therefore, the suction circuit 205 performs suction from the porous flat surface portion 207 a of the porous flat member 207, and air can be blown out from the porous flat surface portion 207 a by switching the electromagnetic valve 211. That is, when the electromagnetic valve 211 is switched, the vacuum pump 209 is operated to discharge air from the fine holes of the porous planar member 207, and the suction of the adsorbed sheet-shaped engraving medium can be released. Further, by discharging air, the engraving debris remaining on the porous flat member 207 is blown off, and the next engraving is performed in a clean state, thereby enabling accurate engraving. The blown air is sucked through the air filter 215 from the suction port 209a. By passing the air filter 215, the electromagnetic valve 211 can be protected, dust and the like can be prevented from adhering to the back surface of the porous flat member 207, and reliable adsorption by the fine holes of the porous flat member 207 can be maintained for a long time.

  The electromagnetic valve 211 is switched by detecting the photosensors 201a, 201b, 203a, and 203b so that the reference position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium is set, the stepping motor 175 is driven in reverse, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium is moved to the suction unit 25. This can be done by an automated signal when is placed correctly.

  After image engraving on the sheet-shaped engraving medium, it is discharged to the medium discharge unit 9 side.

[Media ejecting section]
14 to 18 mainly show the medium discharge unit, FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the medium discharge unit together with the image engraving unit as seen from the image engraving unit side, and FIG. 15 shows the medium discharge unit as an anti-image engraving unit. FIG. 16 is a partially omitted enlarged perspective view of the medium discharge unit viewed from the front side, and FIG. 17 is a partially omitted enlarged back view of the medium discharge unit viewed from the rear side. FIG. 18 and FIG. 18 are partially omitted enlarged perspective views of the medium discharge portion as seen from the back side.

  The discharge guide 35 is supported by a stacker holder (not shown). The stacker holder is formed so as to cover the entire side and back of the discharge guide 35, and the stacker holder is attached to the apparatus frame side. The entire back portion of the discharge guide 35 is the anti-image engraving portion 7 side.

  The discharge guide 35 includes a main guide 217, an inlet guide 219, an intermediate guide 221, a first OK discharge guide 223a, and second OK discharge guides 223b and c formed of a panel.

  The main guide 217 extends all over the top and bottom. Although not shown, a side plate different from the body frame is disposed and fixed to the side portion of the main guide 217, or the main guide 217 is fixed to a body frame side member constituting the side plate. This side plate or member supports and fixes a feed shaft and other members described later as the main guide 217 side.

  The inlet guide 219 is formed to have substantially the same width as the main guide 217 and is disposed so as to face the upper portion of the main guide 217.

  The intermediate guide 221 is provided separately on both sides of the main guide 217 in the width direction, and is disposed along the intermediate portion of the main guide 217. The first OK discharge guide 223 a and the second OK discharge guides 223 b and 223 c are formed and arranged so as to branch from the lower side of the intermediate guide 221 toward the lower side of the image engraving unit 7.

  The first OK discharge guide 223a is provided separately on both sides in the width direction of the main guide 217, the lower outer portion is fixed to the main guide 217 side, the lower portion faces the main guide 217 in parallel, and the upper portion is separated from the main guide 217. It is set to incline upward. The second OK discharge guide 223b is disposed above the first OK discharge guide 223a so as to cooperate with the first OK discharge guide 223a, and the second OK discharge guide 223c (FIG. 1) is disposed below the first OK discharge guide 223a. Then, it is bent or curved so as to go toward the upper opening of the OK tray 37. The side portions of the second OK discharge guides 223b and c are fixed to the main guide 217 side.

  A flag 225 is disposed between the first OK discharge guide 223a, the second OK discharge guides 223b, c, and the intermediate guide 221. The flag 225 is attached to the flag shaft 227, and a tension spring 231 is interposed between the separator arm 229 attached to the flag shaft 227 and the main guide 217. The lower end of the intermediate guide 221 overlaps the flag 225 when viewed from the side.

  The flag 225 passes the sheet-shaped engraving medium in one direction, only in the downward direction in the embodiment, and disables the return to the intermediate guide 221 side. The flag 225 has a wedge-shaped cross section, a base having a large cross section is attached to the flag shaft 227, and is rotatably supported. The pointed end of the flag 225 is directed downward in the conveying direction of the sheet-shaped engraving medium and faces the opening 217a of the main guide 217. The inclined lower surface of the flag 225 faces the inclination of the first OK discharge guide 223a.

  Between the main guide 217 and the inlet guide 219, a set of a feed roller 233 and a tok bearing 235 is arranged, and between the main guide 217 and the intermediate guide 221, a set of a feed roller 237 and a tok bearing 239 is arranged. In the lower part of the main guide 217, a set of a feed roller 241 and a tok bearing 243 is arranged, and in the OK discharge guide 223, a set of a feed roller 245 and a tok bearing 247 is arranged.

  The feed roller 233, the top bearing 235 and the like constitute a discharge guide 35 together with the main guide 217 and the like, and the discharge guide 35 has functions of a discharge drive and a guide.

  The pair of the feed roller 233 and the toque bearing 235 are opposed to each other so as to pass through the openings of the main guide 217 and the inlet guide 219, and the pair of the feed roller 237 and the tok bearing 239 are main on the inner side in the width direction of the intermediate guide 221. The pair of the feed roller 241 and the toc bearing 243 under the main guide 217 are opposed to each other so as to pass through the opening of the guide 217 and the notch of the intermediate guide 221, and the set of the main guide 217 is below the first OK discharge guide 223a. The pair of feed roller 245 and tok bearing 247 of the OK discharge guide 223 is disposed between the first OK discharge guide 223a and the second OK discharge guides 223b and c, and is in contact with each other. doing.

  The contact portions of the feed roller 245 and the toc bearing 247 are arranged on the extension of the inclined lower surface of the flag 225 or slightly downwardly, and the leading end of the sheet-shaped engraving medium guided by the inclination of the flag 225 is moved to the feed roller 245 and The contact portion of the toc bearing 247 is taken over.

  The feed rollers 233, 237, 241, and 245 are supported on the main guide 217 side by feed shafts 249, 251, 253, and 255. Timing gears 257, 259, 261, and 263 are attached to the end portions of the feed shafts 249, 251, 253, and 255, and timing is provided between the timing gears 257, 259, 261, and 263 via an idle pulley 267. A belt 269 is wound around. One of the idle pulleys 267 is attached to the flag shaft 227.

  A drive input timing gear 268 is attached to the lowermost feed shaft 253, and a timing belt 270 is wound around the timing gear 268 and the timing gear of the stepping motor 265.

  Accordingly, when the stepping motor 265 is driven, the feed rollers 233, 231, 235, and 239 can be rotationally driven by the travel of the timing belts 270 and 269.

  The tok bearings 235, 239, 243, 247 are supported by driven shafts 271, 273, 275, 277, and the driven shafts 271, 273, 275, 277 are supported by roller arms 279, 281, 283, 285. The roller arms 279, 281, 283, and 285 have intermediate portions rotatably supported on the main guide 217 side. Between the roller arms 279, 281, 283, and 285 and the main guide 217 side, tension springs 287, 289, 291 and 293 are provided.

  Therefore, the toc bearings 235, 239, 243, and 247 are configured to elastically contact the feed rollers 233, 237, 241, and 245 by the urging forces of the tension springs 287, 289, 291, and 293.

  Photosensors 295, 297, and 299 are attached to the main guide 217, the photosensor 301 is disposed above the second OK discharge guide 223b, and the photosensor 301 is supported on the main guide 217 side. Photosensors 295, 297, and 299 detect passage of the sheet-shaped engraving medium from the opening of the main guide 217. The photo sensor 301 detects the passage of the sheet-shaped engraving medium passing through the second OK discharge guide 223b from the opening of the second OK discharge guide 223b.

  Photosensors 295, 297, and 299 detect passage of OK and NG sheet-like engraving media. The photo sensor 301 detects the passage of the engraved OK sheet-like engraving medium.

  Therefore, when the engraved OK sheet engraving medium discharged from the image engraving unit 7 is received between the main guide 217 and the entrance guide 219, the feed rollers 233, 237, 241, 245 are driven by the driving of the stepping motor 265. Rotates forward to discharge and move the sheet-shaped engraving medium downward in cooperation with the toc bearings 235, 239, and 243. The moving sheet-like engraving medium is detected by the photo sensors 295 and 297, passes between the flag 225 and the main guide 217, and when detected by the photo sensor 299, the stepping motor 265 drives the feed rollers 233, 237, 241, and 245. It stops, and the sheet engraving medium discharge movement is temporarily stopped immediately below the flag 225.

  Next, the stepping motor 265 is driven in reverse by the control of the control unit, and the engraved sheet-shaped engraving medium is returned upward by the cooperation of the feed roller 241 and the tok bearing 243 by the reverse rotation of the feed roller 241. By returning the sheet-shaped engraving medium, the upper end portion of the sheet-shaped engraving medium is guided by the inclined lower surface of the flag 225, passes through the flag 225 and the second OK discharge guide 223b, and is taken over by the feed roller 245 and the top bearing 247.

  The feed roller 245 and the toc bearing 247 are reversed in the same manner as the feed roller 241 and the toc bearing 243, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium is discharged and moved between the second OK discharge guides 223b and 223c as it is. The sheet-shaped engraving medium that has left the position is guided by the inclination of the second OK discharge guide 223 c and discharged to the OK tray 39.

  When the non-engraved sheet-like engraving medium ejected from the image engraving unit 7 is received between the main guide 217 and the inlet guide 219, the feed rollers 233, 237, and 241 are rotated forward by the driving of the stepping motor 265. Then, the sheet-shaped engraving medium is discharged and moved downward by the cooperation of the feed rollers 233, 237, and 241 and the tok bearings 235, 239, and 243, and is discharged to the stacker slide 39 as it is.

[Effect of Example]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the medium carrying-out unit 3 that feeds the top of the stacked sheet-shaped engraving media in the surface direction, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium fed from the medium-unloading unit 3 is transferred to the carrying surface 19a and conveyed. The image transfer engraving unit 5 that conveys the image to the image engraving unit 7 in the surface direction while adjusting the image, and engraving the image by returning the conveyance from the reference position detected after taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the image transfer engraving unit 5 side. 7 and a medium discharge unit 9 that discharges and stores the sheet-shaped engraving medium transported from the image engraving unit 7 below the image engraving unit 7.

  For this reason, the top of the stacked sheet-shaped engraving media is sent out in the surface direction by the medium carry-out section 3, and this sheet-shaped engraving medium is transferred onto the conveying surface 19a of the take-over conveying section 5 to adjust the conveying posture and image engraving. It can be conveyed to the section 7. In the image engraving unit 7, after the sheet-shaped engraving medium with a well-conveyed posture is handed over, the transport is returned from the reference position detected by the photosensors 201 a, b, 203 a, b to the takeover transport unit 5, and the suction unit 25 performs suction. Images can be engraved by positioning, and accurate image engraving can be performed.

  For this reason, an image can be automatically engraved continuously and reasonably on a sheet-like engraving medium.

  Moreover, the image engraving unit 7 returns the conveyance from the reference position detected by the photosensors 201a, b, 203a, b to the takeover conveyance unit side after taking over the sheet-like engraving medium, and positions the image by adsorption by the adsorption unit 25. The medium discharge unit 9 can engrave and discharge the sheet-shaped engraving medium transported from the image engraving unit 7 to the lower side of the image engraving unit 7, thereby shortening the overall length of the apparatus and making it compact. be able to.

  The medium carry-out unit 3 descends from above the sheet-shaped engraving medium accommodated in a stacked manner, adsorbs the uppermost position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium and raises it to a specified position to perform the feeding.

  For this reason, the total length of the apparatus can be shortened.

  The take-up conveying unit 5 takes over the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carrying-out unit 3 onto the conveying surface 19a and gradually moves it obliquely forward in the conveying direction so as to slide the side portion of the sheet-shaped engraving medium in sliding contact. An alignment guide 99 that adjusts the posture and conveys the image to the image engraving unit 7 is provided.

For this reason, the sheet-shaped engraving medium is conveyed so as to gradually approach the alignment guide 99 as it moves on the conveying surface 19a. For this reason, even if the conveying posture of the sheet-shaped engraving medium is oblique with respect to the conveying direction, one edge of the sheet-shaped engraving medium is slidably guided by the alignment guide 99 and is corrected to the correct conveying posture even in the oblique conveying posture. Then, it is sent to the image engraving unit 7.
Since the image engraving unit 7 takes over the sheet-shaped engraving medium whose transport posture is corrected, the image can be automatically engraved continuously and reasonably on the sheet-shaped engraving medium.

  The takeover conveyance unit 5 includes a reverse guide unit 21 disposed on the upper side of the conveyance surface 19 a, and the reverse guide unit 21 conveys the sheet engraving medium at the image engraving unit 7 and returns to the takeover conveyance unit 5. The takeover conveying unit 5 allows the sheet-like engraving medium, which has been taken over next, to be conveyed below the reverse guide unit 21 by switching the guide so that the reverse traveling surface 131 on the upper side of the surface 19a is inclined. It is made to wait on 19a.

  For this reason, it is not necessary to set the length of the image engraving unit 7 in accordance with the length of the sheet-shaped engraving medium, and the image engraving unit 7 can be easily engraved by using the space on the take-up conveying unit 5 side. The overall length of the device can be shortened.

  Since the next sheet-shaped engraving medium waits on the conveyance surface 19a below the reverse guide portion 21 during image engraving, continuous image engraving can be performed in a short time.

  The takeover conveyance unit 5 passes through the conveyance surface 19a vertically and has a slit 97 obliquely along the conveyance direction, and is disposed in the slit 97 and travels along the conveyance surface 19a obliquely to convey the sheet-shaped engraving medium. A timing belt 115, and conveying the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the image engraving unit 7 by running of the timing belt 115 while the sheet-shaped engraving medium is brought into contact with the timing belt 115 by suction of air through the slit 97. It is.

  For this reason, the sheet-like engraving medium can be automatically moved to the alignment guide 99 to be guided, and the oblique conveying posture can be easily corrected.

  The medium carry-out section 3 passes through the belt guide 49 that forms the lower surface, timing belts 59 and 61 that run along the lower surface of the belt guide 49 and feed the sheet-shaped engraving medium, and the belt guide 49 vertically. A plurality of through-holes 49a along the belt running direction, and the sheet-like engraving medium is attracted to the lower surface of the belt guide 49 by suction of air through the through-holes 49a and sent out by running of the timing belts 59 and 61 It is the structure which performs.

  For this reason, the uppermost sheet-shaped engraving medium is easily taken out from the sheet-shaped engraving medium in which a large number of sheets are accommodated, and the sheet-shaped engraving medium can be easily carried out in the surface direction to shorten continuous image engraving. Allows to be done in time.

[Others]
The take-up conveying unit 5 is not limited to the configuration of the timing belt 115 and the slit 97 for performing air suction as the configuration for moving the sheet-shaped engraving medium obliquely, but the timing belt may be formed of a viscous material and replaced with air suction. it can.

  The medium carry-out unit 3 is limited to the configuration of the timing belts 59 and 61, the air suction through hole 49 a, the belt guide 49, and the like as long as the sheet-like engraving medium can be fed in the surface direction while adsorbing to the lower surface is not.

  For example, the belt guided by the belt guide may be formed wide so that the belt guide and a hole penetrating the belt are provided.

  The automatic continuous image engraving method can be realized by another automatic continuous image engraving device as long as it is a device including a medium carry-out process, a take-over conveyance process, an image engraving process, and a medium discharge process. The medium carry-out process, the takeover conveyance process, the image engraving process, and the medium discharge process can be realized by separate devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic continuous image engraving apparatus 3 Medium carry-out part 5 Takeover conveyance part 7 Image engraving part 9 Medium discharge part 19a Conveyance surface 21 Reverse guide part 25 Adsorption part 99 Alignment guide

Claims (8)

A medium carry-out section for sending out the uppermost sheet-shaped engraving medium in the surface direction;
A take-up conveying unit that conveys the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carry-out unit to the image engraving unit in a plane direction while taking over the conveying surface and adjusting the conveying posture;
An image engraving unit for engraving an image by returning the conveyance from the reference position detected after taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the takeover conveyance unit side; and
A medium discharge unit for discharging and storing the sheet-shaped engraving medium carried out from the image engraving unit on the lower side of the image engraving unit;
An automatic continuous image engraving apparatus comprising: The automatic continuous image engraving apparatus according to claim 1,
The medium carry-out unit descends from above the sheet-shaped engraving medium accommodated in a stacked manner, adsorbs the uppermost position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium, rises to a specified position, and performs the delivery.
An automatic continuous image engraving device. The automatic continuous image engraving device according to claim 1 or 2,
The take-up conveying unit takes over the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carrying-out unit on the conveying surface and gradually moves it obliquely forward in the conveying direction to bring the side portion of the sheet-shaped engraving medium into sliding contact with the conveying posture. An alignment guide that prepares and conveys to the image engraving unit,
An automatic continuous image engraving device. The automatic continuous image engraving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The takeover transport unit includes a reverse guide unit disposed on the upper side of the transport surface,
The reverse guide unit allows the reverse guide unit to switch back to the upper side of the transfer surface of the takeover transfer unit, and allow the return of the sheet-shaped engraving medium transfer in the image engraving unit,
The takeover conveyance unit waits the next engraved sheet-shaped engraving medium on the conveyance surface below the reverse guide unit,
An automatic continuous image engraving device. A medium unloading step of sending the uppermost sheet-shaped engraving medium in the surface direction;
A take-over conveyance step of conveying the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carry-out step to the image engraving unit in a plane direction while taking over the conveyance surface and adjusting the conveyance posture;
An image engraving step of engraving an image by returning the conveyance from the reference position detected after taking over the sheet-shaped engraving medium to the takeover conveyance step;
A medium discharging process for discharging and storing the sheet-shaped engraving medium carried out from the image engraving process on the lower side of the image engraving process;
An automatic continuous image engraving method comprising: The automatic continuous image engraving method according to claim 5,
The medium carrying-out step descends from above the sheet-shaped engraving medium accommodated in a stacked manner, adsorbs the uppermost position of the sheet-shaped engraving medium and raises it to a specified position, and performs the delivery.
An automatic continuous image engraving method characterized by the above. The automatic continuous image engraving method according to claim 5 or 6,
The take-up conveying step takes over the sheet-shaped engraving medium sent out from the medium carrying-out step on the conveying surface and gradually moves it obliquely forward in the conveying direction so as to slide the side portion of the sheet-shaped engraving medium in a conveying posture. With an alignment guide to prepare and convey to the image engraving process,
An automatic continuous image engraving method characterized by the above. An automatic continuous image engraving method according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The takeover conveying step includes a reverse guide portion disposed on the upper side of the conveying surface,
Allowing the reverse guide part to switch back to the upper side of the transfer surface of the takeover transfer emperor by allowing the reverse transfer of the sheet-shaped engraving medium in the image engraving process to be permitted,
In the takeover conveyance step, the next engraved sheet-shaped engraving medium is waited on the conveyance surface below the reverse guide portion,
An automatic continuous image engraving method characterized by the above.

Images