U.S. patent application number 12/283193 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for sheet guide apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Komori Corporation. Invention is credited to Tetsuya Takeuchi.
Application Number | 20090072473 12/283193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40129109 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090072473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takeuchi; Tetsuya |
March 19, 2009 |
Sheet guide apparatus
Abstract
In a sheet guide apparatus, a rotary guide body is supported to
be rotatable and movable in directions to separate from and come
close to the upper surface of a sheet. The outer surface of the
rotary guide body comes into contact with the upper surface of the
sheet to guide the sheet. A rotary guide body adjusting unit
adjusts a position of the rotary guide body in directions to
separate from and come close to the upper surface of the sheet. A
plate-like guide body extends in the convey direction and lateral
direction of the sheet, includes a guide surface which comes into
contact with the upper surface of the sheet to guide the sheet, and
is supported to be movable in the directions to separate from and
come close to the upper surface of the sheet. A plate-like guide
body adjusting unit adjusts a position of the plate-like guide body
in the directions to separate from and come close to the upper
surface of the sheet. The sheet contact portion on the outer
surface of the rotary guide body is set below the guide surface of
the plate-like guide body through at least one space portion which
is formed in a downstream end of the plate-like guide body in the
sheet convey direction to correspond to the rotary guide body.
Inventors: |
Takeuchi; Tetsuya; (Ibaraki,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE
CA
94085-4040
US
|
Assignee: |
Komori Corporation
|
Family ID: |
40129109 |
Appl. No.: |
12/283193 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/253 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2404/153 20130101;
B65H 2404/6942 20130101; B65H 2220/09 20130101; B65H 11/007
20130101; B65H 9/08 20130101; B65H 5/38 20130101; B65H 2404/153
20130101; B65H 2220/09 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/253 |
International
Class: |
B65H 9/00 20060101
B65H009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2007 |
JP |
237824/2007 |
Claims
1.-8. (canceled)
9. A sheet guide apparatus comprising: a front lay which abuts
against a downstream end of a sheet in a convey direction and
regulates movement of the sheet in the convey direction; one or
more rotary guide bodies, each of which is supported to be
rotatable and movable in directions to separate from and come close
to an upper surface of a sheet and an outer surface of which comes
into contact with the upper surface of the sheet to guide the
sheet; a rotary guide body adjusting unit which adjusts a position
of said rotary guide body in directions to separate from and come
close to the upper surface of the sheet; a plate-like guide body
extending in the convey direction and a lateral direction of the
sheet, including a guide surface which comes into contact with the
upper surface of the sheet to guide the sheet, and supported to be
movable in the directions to separate from and come close to the
upper surface of the sheet; and a plate-like guide body adjusting
unit which adjusts a position of said plate-like guide body in the
directions to separate from and come close to the upper surface of
the sheet, wherein a sheet contact portion on the outer surface of
said rotary guide body is set below said guide surface of said
plate-like guide body through one or more space portions, each of
which is formed in a downstream end of said plate-like guide body
in the sheet convey direction to correspond to said rotary guide
body.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said rotary guide
bodies line up in a direction perpendicular to the sheet convey
direction, and said space portions are formed to correspond to said
plurality of rotary guide bodies.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said rotary guide
body adjusting unit comprises a first rotary guide body adjusting
unit which adjusts all positions of said plurality of rotary guide
bodies simultaneously, and a plurality of second rotary guide body
adjusting units which are provided to correspond to said plurality
of rotary guide bodies and adjust positions of said plurality of
rotary guide bodies individually.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a stay
which is rotatably supported between a pair of frames and on which
said plurality of rotary guide bodies and said plurality of second
rotary guide adjusting units are supported, wherein said plurality
of rotary guide bodies move simultaneously when said first rotary
guide body adjusting unit rotates said stay.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plate-like
guide body and said plate-like guide body adjusting unit are
supported by said stay.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second rotary
guide body adjusting units comprise a support member which is
swingably supported and rotatably supports said rotary guide body,
a first adjusting member which regulates a swing position of said
support member and performs position adjustment to adjust a
position of said support member, and a biasing member which biases
said first support member to abut against said adjusting
member.
15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said plate-like
guide body adjusting unit comprises a support body which is
attached to said stay to be movable in directions to separate from
and come close to the upper surface of the sheet and supports said
plate-like guide bodies, and a second adjusting member which moves
said support body in the directions to separate from and come close
to the upper surface of the sheet.
16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said space portion
comprises a notch of said plate-like guide body which opens
downstream in the sheet convey direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet guide apparatus
which guides a conveyed sheet to a front lay.
[0002] Generally, in a sheet guide apparatus used in a feed device
or the like for a sheet-fed rotary printing press, the sheet is not
always flat. For example, sometimes the front edge of the sheet may
deform by, e.g., waving, warping, or curling. If the sheet deforms
in this manner, it does not abut against a front lay but may ride
over it. In order to prevent this, a sheet guide apparatus of this
type is provided with a sheet pressing device, downstream of a
feedboard in a sheet convey direction, which straightens a
deforming sheet fed onto the feedboard. Hence, the sheet can be
abutted against the front lay reliably, positioned by the front
lay, and corrected from traveling skew, so that the sheet can be
transferred to a sheet transfer device reliably.
[0003] As a sheet pressing device of this type, a sheet pressing
plate made of an elastic material and a roller which comes into
contact with the upper surface of a conveyed sheet are proposed, as
described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-225228.
[0004] Assume that the sheet pressing device is a sheet pressing
plate. The sheet pressing device guides a sheet within a wide range
in a convey direction and a direction perpendicular to the convey
direction. Hence, if the sheet is thin, deformation occurring in
the thin sheet can be corrected. If the sheet is thick, when thick
sheets are conveyed to overlap like scales, a preceding sheet may
raise the sheet pressing plate, so that the next sheet that follows
cannot be appropriately guided to the front lay. As the sheet and
sheet pressing plate rub against each other, the sheet surface can
be damaged easily. Particularly, when the sheet is a film or the
like that can readily be damaged, this sheet pressing plate cannot
be employed.
[0005] Assume that the guide member is a roller. In this case, even
when thick sheets are conveyed to overlap like scales, as the
roller presses a preceding sheet through point contact, the next
sheet that follows can be reliably guided to the front lay.
However, an impact generated upon abutment of the thin sheet
against the front lay can form wrinkles in the sheet, and
deformation occurring in the sheet cannot be corrected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet
guide apparatus which guides various types of sheets to be able to
reliably abut against a front lay.
[0007] In order to achieve the above object, according to the
present invention, there is provided a sheet guide apparatus
comprising a front lay which abuts against a downstream end of a
sheet in a convey direction and regulates movement of the sheet in
the convey direction, one or more rotary guide bodies each of which
is supported to be rotatable and movable in directions to separate
from and come close to an upper surface of a sheet and an outer
surface of which comes into contact with the upper surface of the
sheet to guide the sheet, a rotary guide body adjusting unit which
adjusts a position of the rotary guide body in directions to
separate from and come close to the upper surface of the sheet, a
plate-like guide body extending in the convey direction and a
lateral direction of the sheet, including a guide surface which
comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet to guide the
sheet, and supported to be movable in the directions to separate
from and come close to the upper surface of the sheet, and a
plate-like guide body adjusting unit which adjusts a position of
the plate-like guide body in the directions to separate from and
come close to the upper surface of the sheet, wherein a sheet
contact portion on the outer surface of the rotary guide body is
set below the guide surface of the plate-like guide body through
one more space portions each of which is formed in a downstream end
of the plate-like guide body in the sheet convey direction to
correspond to the rotary guide body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGS. 1A and 1B are plan views of a sheet guide apparatus
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part of a plate-like guide
body shown in FIG. 1A;
[0010] FIG. 3A is a view seen from the arrow III(A) in FIG. 3B;
[0011] FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line
III(B)-III(B) in FIG. 1B;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in
FIG. 3B;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG.
1A;
[0014] FIG. 6A is a view seen from the arrow VI(B) in FIG. 6B;
[0015] FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along the line VI(B) in
FIG. 1B;
[0016] FIG. 7A is a sectional view taken along the line VII(A) in
FIG. 1A; and
[0017] FIG. 7B is a view seen from the VII(B) in FIG. 7A.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] A sheet guide apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to
7B.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a sheet guide apparatus 1
according to this embodiment comprises a feedboard 2 (sheet guide
member) serving as a sheet guide member to which a sheet is
conveyed from a feeder board (not shown), front lays 3 which are
provided at the downstream (direction of an arrow A) end of the
feedboard 2 in the sheet convey direction and abut against the
downstream edge of the sheet in the convey direction to regulate
the movement of the sheet in the convey direction, and a guide
device 4 which guides the sheet to the front lays 3. Each front lay
3 comprises a pair of lays 3a against which the leading edge
(downstream edge in the sheet convey direction) of the sheet abuts,
a lay hook 3b which is arranged above the sheet and guides the
sheet to the lays 3a, and a lever device 3c (FIG. 3B) which
supports the lays 3a and lay hook 3b. Of the front lays 3, in one
front lay 3 arranged at the center in the sheet widthwise direction
(a direction perpendicular to the sheet convey direction), the pair
of lays 3a are disposed adjacent to each other. In each of the
front lays 3 arranged at the two sides, the lay hook 3b is disposed
between the pair of lays 3a.
[0020] The guide device 4 comprises five plate-like guide bodies 5A
to 5E spreading along the upper surface of the sheet and extending
in a direction perpendicular to the sheet convey direction, and a
plurality of rotary guide bodies 6 which are supported to be
rotatable and movable in directions to separate from and come close
to the upper surface of the sheet and the outer surfaces of which
are in contact with the upper surface of the sheet. The plate-like
guide bodies 5A to 5E are supported to be movable in directions to
separate from and come close to the upper surface of the sheet.
Each rotary guide body 6 comprises a wheel made of a plastic
material. The center of the outer surface of the rotary guide body
6 swells, as shown in FIG. 6A.
[0021] A prismatic stay 7 extends between a pair of sheet feed
frames 8A and 8B. Support blocks 9A and 9B fixed to the sheet feed
frames 8A and 8B rotatably support columnar two ends 7a and 7b of
the stay 7.
[Support Structure for Plate-Like Guide Body]
[0022] A support structure for the plate-like guide body will be
described. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the stay 7 is provided with
support devices 10A and 10B (plate-like guide body adjusting
devices) at its two ends. The support devices 10A and 10B support
the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E to be movable and adjustable
in the vertical direction (directions to separate from and come
close to the upper surface of the sheet). The support devices 10A
and 10B have the same structure. Hence, the support device 10B will
be described hereinafter, and the support device 10A will be
described where necessary.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 3B, the support device 10B comprises a
first adjusting bolt 11 (support body adjusting member) which moves
the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E vertically, a moving body 12
which moves vertically upon rotation of the adjusting bolt 11, a
support body 14 which supports the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E
through a support plate 13 and moves integrally with the moving
body 12, and a fixing bolt 16 (support body fixing member) which
fixes the support body 14 to the stay 7 through a first fixing
block 15.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, in the adjusting bolt 11, a
large-diameter portion 11b, threaded portion 11d, and
small-diameter portion 11c are sequentially formed integrally with
a knob 11a (manipulating portion) at the upper end. The threaded
portion 11d threadably engages with a threaded hole 7a of the stay
7. The moving body 12 with a U-shaped section has a pair of
opposing portions 12b which have insertion holes 12a where the
adjusting bolt 11 is to be inserted and which oppose each other.
The moving body 12 is supported by the stay 7 through the adjusting
bolt 11 such that the stay 7 is located between the pair of
opposing portions 12b.
[0025] A stopper 17 fixed to the small-diameter portion 11c of the
adjusting bolt 11 and the large-diameter portion 11b loosely
sandwich the pair of opposing portions 12b of the moving body 12.
When rotating the adjusting bolt 11 clockwise/counterclockwise, the
moving body 12 moves together with the adjusting bolt 11 vertically
with respect to the stay 7.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3B, bolts 18a and 18b attach the support
body 14 to the pair of opposing portions 12b of the moving body 12.
The support body 14 has a vertically long elongated hole 14a in
which the fixing bolt 16 is to be inserted. The structure
comprising the moving body 12 and support body 14 is attached to
sandwich the stay 7. When manipulating the adjusting bolt 11, this
structure moves vertically as it is guided by the side surface of
the stay 7.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, bolts 19 attach the fixing
block 15 to the stay 7. The fixing block 15 has a threaded hole 15a
which threadably engages with the fixing bolt 16. The support body
14 is located between a knob 16a of the fixing bolt 16 and the
fixing block 15. In this arrangement, first, the knob 16a of the
fixing bolt 16 is pivoted to loosen the fixing bolt 16, thus
disengaging the support body 14. After that, the adjusting bolt 11
is rotated clockwise/counterclockwise to move the moving body 12 in
the vertical direction. At this time, the support body 14 moves in
the vertical direction to follow the moving body 12. After moving
the support body 14 in the vertical direction, the fixing bolt 16
is fastened, so that a large-diameter portion 16b of the fixing
bolt 16 and the fixing block 15 fix the support body 14. The
elongated hole 14a of the support body 14 is formed so that the
support body 14 can be fixed by the fixing bolt 16 even when the
adjusting bolt 11 adjusts the position of the support body 14.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the elongated support plate 13
extends between the support devices 10A and 10B. As shown in FIG.
5, bolts 20 attach the two ends of the support plate 13 to the
support bodies 14 of the support devices 10A and 10B. As shown in
FIG. 5, each of the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E has a proximal
end 5a extending perpendicularly to the upper surface of the sheet,
and a guide portion 5b extending in the horizontal direction, thus
forming an L shape with a curved section. The guide portion 5b
comes into contact with a sheet P to guide it to the front lays
3.
[0029] Bolts 21 attach the proximal ends 5a of the respective
plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E to the support plate 13 such that
the guide portions 5b are in contact with the upper surface of the
sheet P. As shown in FIG. 2, that end of each guide portion 5b
which is downstream in the sheet convey direction (the direction of
the arrow A) has notches 5c which form space portions opposing the
plurality of rotary guide bodies 6, and guide surfaces 5d
corresponding to the portions among the notches 5c.
[0030] According to this embodiment, by manipulating the adjusting
bolt 11, the position of the support body 14 is adjusted, and the
gap amount is adjusted between the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E
and the feedboard 2. More specifically, the support body 14 is
movable in the vertical direction, and the guide surfaces 5d of the
plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E are movable in the direction
perpendicular to the upper surface of the sheet P. Hence, even when
moving the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E, the parallel degree
between the guide surfaces 5d and the upper surface of the sheet P
is maintained. As a result, the entire surfaces of the guide
surfaces 5d come into contact with a sheet of any thickness evenly,
so that the guide surfaces 5d can guide the sheet P reliably.
Wrinkles are prevented from being formed in the sheet P by an
impact applied when the sheet P abuts against the front lays 3.
Also, deformation of the sheet P such as wrinkles or waves existing
in the sheet P before the sheet P abuts against the front lays 3
can be corrected reliably.
[0031] The adjusting bolt 11, moving body 12, and support body 14
constitute a plate-like guide adjusting device. The fixing block 15
and fixing bolt 16 constitute a plate-like guide fixing device.
[0032] Side lay devices 23 are known side lay devices serving as
widthwise direction alignment devices, and align the sheet in a
direction perpendicular to the sheet convey direction when the
downstream end of the sheet in the sheet convey direction abuts
against the front lays 3.
[Support Structure for Rotary Guide Body]
[0033] A support structure for each rotary guide body 6 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. As shown in FIG. 6B, a
bolt 26 fixes a second fixing block 25 to the stay 7. The fixing
block 25 has a horizontal portion 27 with a threaded hole 27a and a
vertical portion 28 with a threaded hole 28a, thus forming an L
shape. A pair of opposing axial supports 28b extend downward from
the lower end of the vertical portion 28.
[0034] The pair of axial supports 28b of the vertical portion 28
swingably support a shaft portion 30a projecting at the center of a
lever 30 (support member). The rotary guide body 6 is rotatably
supported at one end of the lever 30 through a shaft 31. A spring
shoe recess 30b is formed between the end and center of the lever
30. A second adjusting bolt 32 (support member adjusting member)
threadably engages with the threaded hole 27a of the fixing block
25. The distal end of the adjusting bolt 32 abuts against the other
end of the lever 30 to regulate the pivot motion of the lever 30. A
knob 32a is integrally fixed to the upper end of the adjusting bolt
32. A lock nut 32b threadably engages with the adjusting bolt 32.
When pivoting the lock nut 32b to come into tight contact with the
surface of the horizontal portion 27 of the fixing block 25, the
loosening of the adjusting bolt 32 is regulated, thus locking the
adjusting bolt 32.
[0035] A spring pressure adjusting bolt 33 (biasing force adjusting
member) threadably engaging with the threaded hole 28a of the
fixing block 25 thredably engages with a nut 34. A compression coil
spring 35 (biasing member) is elastically mounted between the
distal end of the bolt 33 and the recess 30b of the lever 30. The
spring force of the compression coil spring 35 biases the lever 30
about the shaft portion 30a as the pivot center in a direction to
urge the rotary guide body 6 against the sheet P (a direction to
urge the other end of the lever 30 against the distal end of the
adjusting bolt 32).
[0036] In this arrangement, when loosening the lock nut 32b and
pivoting the adjusting bolt 32 such that the distal end moves
downward, the lever 30 pivots clockwise in FIG. 6B against the
spring force of the compression coil spring 35. This separates the
rotary guide body 6 from the upper surface of the sheet P. When
pivoting the adjusting bolt 32 such that its distal end moves
upward, the spring force of the compression coil spring 35 pivots
the lever 30 counterclockwise in FIG. 6B. Thus, the rotary guide
body 6 comes close to the upper surface of the sheet P. In this
manner, by manipulating the adjusting bolt 32, the position of the
lever 30 is adjusted, and the gap amount between the rotary guide
body 6 and feedboard 2 is adjusted.
[0037] The rotary guide body 6 is made of a plastic material with a
low coefficient of friction, and the center of the outer surface of
the rotary guide body 6 forms an arc. Hence, the outer surface of
the rotary guide body 6 and the sheet are in point contact with
each other to reduce the frictional force generated between the
rotary guide body 6 and the sheet. Consequently, when the side lay
devices 23 move the sheet in the direction perpendicular to the
convey direction, the rotary guide body 6 will not damage the sheet
by rubbing. The lever 30, fixing block 25, compression coil spring
35, and adjusting bolt 32 constitute an individual rotary body
adjusting device.
[Support Structure for Stay]
[0038] A structure which pivots the stay 7 will be described with
reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. As shown in FIG. 7A, bolts 36a fix a
fixing block 36 to one sheet feed frame 8A. A bolt 38 fixes the
support block 9A to the fixing block 36. A-bolt 40 fixes a bracket
39, having an inverted-L shape when seen from the side, to the rear
end face of the support block 9A. A support body 41 is pivotally
mounted on the bracket 39 through a shaft 41a.
[0039] A rotary member 42, which is regulated from moving in the
axial direction and rotatably supported by the support body 41, has
a spring shoe 42a at one end. A shaft 43 is axially mounted on the
spring shoe 42a, and a threaded portion 43a is formed on the distal
end of the shaft 43. A rotation-preventive large-diameter portion
42b with serrations on its outer surface is integrally formed on
the other end of the rotary member 42. A manipulating portion 42c
with a hexagonal socket integrally projects on the large-diameter
portion 42b. The distal end of a leaf spring 44 attached to the
support body 41 engages with the outer surface of the
large-diameter portion 42b. The leaf spring 44 and the serrations
constitute a rotation-preventive mechanism which prevents pivot
motion caused by vibration or the like when the rotary member 42 is
in operation.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 1A, a bolt 46 fixes a swing element 45 to
one end of the stay 7 by split clamp. The upper portion of the
swing element 45 forms a Y shape that rotatably supports a small
cylindrical pivot element 45a. A threaded hole 45b which is to
threadably engage with the threaded portion 43a of the rotary
member 42 is formed in the pivot element 45a to extend in the
radial direction. A compression coil spring 47 is elastically
mounted between the swing element 45 and the spring shoe 42a of the
rotary member 42.
[0041] In this arrangement, when rotating the manipulating portion
42c of the rotary member 42 with a spanner or the like to rotate
the shaft 43 in one direction, the swing element 45 pivots
counterclockwise in FIG. 7A about the end 7a of the stay 7 as the
pivot center. When the stay 7 pivots, the plate-like guide bodies
5A to 5E pivot counterclockwise through the support body 14 (FIG.
4) integral with the stay 7. As a result, all the rotary guide
bodies 6 supported by the stay 7 pivot clockwise (FIG. 6B) about
the axial supports 28b as the center to separate from the upper
surface of the sheet P simultaneously, thereby adjusting the gap
amount between all the rotary guide bodies 6 and the feedboard 2 at
once simultaneously.
[0042] When rotating the manipulating portion 42c of the rotary
member 42 with the spanner or the like to rotate the shaft 43 in
the other direction, the swing element 45 pivots clockwise in FIG.
7A about the end 7a of the stay 7 as the pivot center. When the
stay 7 pivots, the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E pivot clockwise
through the support body 14 (FIG. 5) integral with the stay 7. As a
result, all the rotary guide bodies 6 supported by the stay 7 pivot
counterclockwise (FIG. 6B) about the axial supports 28b as the
center to come close to the upper surface of the sheet P
simultaneously, thereby adjusting the gap amount between all the
rotary guide bodies 6 and the feedboard 2 at once simultaneously.
The rotary member 42, shaft 43, swing element 45, and compression
coil spring 47 constitute an entire rotary guide body adjusting
device. Furthermore, individual rotary guide body adjusting devices
and/or entire rotary guide body adjusting device constitutes a
rotary guide body adjusting device.
[0043] A method of adjusting the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E
and rotary guide bodies 6, in the sheet guide apparatus having the
above arrangement, in accordance with the thickness and type of the
sheet will be described. First, a method that does not perform
adjustment with the stay 7 will be described.
[When Sheet Is Thin]
[0044] When guiding a thin sheet, the plate-like guide bodies 5A to
5E and rotary guide bodies 6 guide the sheet. More specifically,
adjustment of setting the gap between the guide surfaces 5d of the
plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E and the upper surface of the sheet
P in accordance with the sheet thickness, and adjustment of
adjusting the plurality of rotary guide bodies 6 separately by the
individual rotary body adjusting devices to set the gap between the
outer surfaces of the rotary guide bodies 6 and the feedboard 2 in
accordance with the sheet thickness, are performed.
[0045] This will be described in detail. The knobs 16a of the
fixing bolts 16 of the support devices 10A and 10B are rotated to
loosen the fixing bolts 16. After that, the adjusting bolts 11
(FIG. 3B) are rotated clockwise/counterclockwise. Hence, the moving
bodies 12 move in the vertical direction, and the support bodies 14
also move in the vertical direction to follow the moving bodies 12.
The plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E also move in the vertical
direction, and the gap between the guide surfaces 5d and the upper
surface of the sheet P is set in accordance with the sheet
thickness. After that, the knobs 16a are pivoted to fasten the
fixing bolts 16, thus fixing the support bodies 14 to the fixing
blocks 15, so that the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E are
adjusted at positions that match the sheet thickness. At this time,
as the guide surfaces 5d of the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E
move perpendicularly to the upper surface of the sheet P, the
parallel degree between the guide surfaces 5d and the upper surface
of the sheet P is maintained. Therefore, a sheet of any thickness
can be reliably guided to the front lays 3.
[0046] Subsequently, the fastened lock nut 32b (FIG. 6B) is
loosened. After rotating the knob 32a of the adjusting bolt 32
clockwise/counterclockwise, the adjusting bolt 32 is moved
forward/backward from the horizontal portion 27 of the fixing
blocks 25. This adjusts the position of the distal end of the
adjusting bolt 32. Accordingly, the lever 30 swings
clockwise/counterclockwise to set the gap between the outer surface
of the rotary guide body 6 and the upper surface of the sheet P in
accordance with the sheet thickness. The lock nut 32b is then
fastened to adjust the gap between the outer surface of the rotary
guide body 6 and the upper surface of the sheet P to the sheet
thickness, and then the lock nut 32b is fixed. This adjustment is
performed for each rotary guide body 6 using each adjusting bolt
32. Hence, the plate-like guide bodies 5A and 5E and the rotary
guide bodies 6 guide the sheet P in the vicinities of the front
lays 3. Thus, no wrinkles are formed in the sheet P by an impact
occurring when the sheet P abuts against the front lays 3, and the
sheet P is reliably guided to the front lays 3. When adjusting the
rotary guide bodies 6 and/or plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E, the
plate-like guide bodies 5A and 5E do not interfere with the rotary
guide bodies 6 because of the presence of the notches 5c of the
plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E.
[To Guide Easy-to-be-Damaged Sheet or Thick Sheet]
[0047] When guiding a sheet such as a film the surface of which can
be damaged easily, or when stiff sheets such as thick sheets are to
be conveyed to overlap like scales, the sheets are guided by only
the rotary guide bodies 6 and not by the plate-like guide bodies 5A
to 5E. More specifically, after loosening the knobs 16a of the
fixing bolts 16 of the support devices 10A and 10B by rotating, the
adjusting bolts 11 are rotated to move the moving bodies 12 upward,
as shown in FIG. 3B. The support bodies 14 also move upward to
follow the moving bodies 12, and the plate-like guide bodies 5A to
5E also move upward. Hence, the guide surfaces 5d separate from the
feedboard 2 so as not to come into contact with the sheet.
[0048] Because of the presence of the notches 5c of the plate-like
guide bodies 5A to 5E, the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E can be
moved upward without interfering with the respective rotary guide
bodies 6. By this adjustment, the sheet is guided by only the
rotary guide bodies 6 and accordingly is not damaged. Even when
sheets are conveyed to overlap like scales, the rotary guide bodies
6 can press a preceding sheet by point contact. Thus, the next
sheet can be reliably guided to the front lays 3.
[Initial Adjustment]
[0049] First, the gap between all the outer surfaces of the
respective rotary guide bodies 6 and the feedboard 2 is adjusted to
be constant by the adjusting bolts 32.
[Adjusting Method by Pivoting Stay 7 After End of Initial
Adjustment]
[0050] When changing thin sheets (thin paper) to thick sheets
(thick paper), the stay 7 is pivoted to adjust all the rotary guide
bodies 6 simultaneously. More specifically, referring to FIG. 7A,
the manipulating portion 42c of the rotary member 42 is rotated
using the spanner or the like to rotate the shaft 43 in one
direction, so that the swing element 45 is pivoted clockwise in
FIG. 7A about the distal end 7a of the stay 7 as the pivot center.
Upon pivot motion of the stay 7, the rotary guide bodies 6 move
through the support bodies 14 (FIG. 6B) integral with the stay 7,
to set the gap between the outer surfaces of the rotary guide
bodies 6 and the feedboard 2 in accordance with the sheet
thickness. When adjusting the rotary guide bodies 6, the plate-like
guide bodies 5A to 5E are also adjusted simultaneously through the
support bodies 14 integral with the stay 7.
[0051] At this time, if the sheet to be guided is an easily damaged
sheet, if thick sheets are to be conveyed to overlap like scales,
or if guide by the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E is not
necessary, further adjustment is performed so the plate-like guide
bodies 5A to 5E will not come into contact with the sheet. More
specifically, after loosening the knobs 16a of the fixing bolts 16
of the support devices 10A and 10B by rotation, the adjusting bolts
11 are rotated to move the moving bodies 12 upward, as shown in
FIG. 3B. The support bodies 14 are also moved upward to follow the
movement of the moving bodies 12, so as to move the plate-like
guide bodies 5A to 5E upward, thus largely separating the guide
surfaces 5d so as not to come into contact with the sheet. In this
manner, all the rotary guide bodies 6 can be adjusted
simultaneously by pivoting the stay 7. As a result, the adjustment
time can be shortened, and the work efficiency can be improved.
[0052] When the sheet is thin, the stay 7 is pivoted to adjust all
the rotary guide bodies 6 at once simultaneously.
[0053] At this time, if the gap between the plate-like guide bodies
5A to 5E and the feedboard 2 is not set in accordance with the
sheet thickness, the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E are adjusted
to match the sheet thickness. More specifically, after loosening
the knobs 16a of the fixing bolts 16 of the support devices 10A and
10B by rotation, the adjusting bolts 11 are rotated to move the
moving bodies 12 in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 3B.
The support bodies 14 are also moved in the vertical direction to
follow the movement of the moving bodies 12, so the plate-like
guide bodies 5A to 5E are also moved in the vertical direction.
Thus, the gap between the guide surfaces 5d and feedboard 2 is
adjusted to match the sheet thickness.
[0054] When guiding the thin sheet with only the plate-like guide
bodies 5A to 5E, first, the stay 7 is pivoted in accordance with
the method described above to adjust all the rotary guide bodies 6
at once simultaneously so as not come into contact with the sheet.
Subsequently, the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E are adjusted to
match the sheet thickness. More specifically, after loosening the
knobs 16a of the fixing bolts 16 of the support devices 10A and 10B
by rotation, the adjusting bolts 11 are rotated to move the moving
bodies 12 downward, as shown in FIG. 3B. The support bodies 14 are
also moved downward to follow the moving bodies 12, so as to move
the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E downward. Thus, the gap
between the guide surfaces 5d and feedboard 2 is adjusted to match
the sheet thickness.
[0055] According to this embodiment, wrinkles formed in the sheet P
by the guide surfaces 5d of the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E
can be corrected. Even if the sheets P are conveyed to overlap like
scales, a preceding sheet can be pressed by the rotary guide bodies
6 by point contact, so that the next sheet can be reliably guided
to the front lays 3. Since the guide surfaces 5d of the plate-like
guide bodies 5A to 5E are separated from the upper surface of the
sheet P and the sheet is guided by only the rotary guide bodies 6,
the sheet P will not be damaged.
[0056] In this manner, since the sheet P can be guided by the
rotary guide bodies 6 and/or plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E in
the vicinities of the front lays 3, the sheet P can be reliably
guided to the front lays 3. When adjusting the rotary guide bodies
6 and/or plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E, because of the presence
of the notches 5c of the plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E, the
plate-like guide bodies 5A to 5E will not interfere with the rotary
guide bodies 6.
[0057] According to this embodiment, the notches 5c form space
portions. Alternatively, holes may form space portions. Although
the plate guide member is divided into five pieces, the plate guide
member may comprise one piece or a plurality of pieces other than
five pieces. Although the present invention has been described by
applying a sheet guide apparatus to a printing press, the sheet
guide apparatus can be applied to a coating machine, a testing
machine which tests a sheet-type object, a laminate machine, an
embossing machine, a punching machine, or the like.
[0058] As has been described above, according to the present
invention, if an appropriate guide body is selected in accordance
with the type of the sheet-type object, the sheet can be reliably
guided to the front lays without being damaged.
* * * * *