Processing apparatus

Abstract

A processing apparatus includes: a processing section that is provided at the processing position Pn and that performs the processing on the work while the work is being halted; an entering-side buffer mechanism that is provided on an upstream side of the processing section in the predetermined direction and that can accumulate the work carried from upstream; an exit-side buffer mechanism that is provided on a downstream side of the processing section in the predetermined direction and that can accumulate the work having been processed and to be carried downstream; and a sending section that is provided between the entering-side buffer mechanism and the processing section and that sends out the work accumulated by the entering-side buffer mechanism to the processing section.

1 . A processing apparatus for intermittently halting and processing, at a processing position, a belt-like work that is continuously carried along a predetermined direction, the processing apparatus comprising:
 a processing section that is provided at the processing position and that performs the processing on the work while the work is being halted;   an entering-side buffer mechanism that is provided upstream in the predetermined direction from the processing section and that can accumulate the work carried from upstream;   an exit-side buffer mechanism that is provided downstream in the predetermined direction from the processing section and that can accumulate the work having been processed and to be carried downstream; and   a sending section that is provided between the entering-side buffer mechanism and the processing section and that sends out the work accumulated by the entering-side buffer mechanism to the processing section;
 the sending section,
 by restricting the work, halting the work at the processing position, and 
 performing simultaneously decrease of an accumulation amount of work accumulated by the exit-side buffer mechanism and increase of an accumulation amount of work accumulated by the entering-side buffer mechanism in such a manner as the decrease in the accumulation amount of the exit-side buffer mechanism and the increase in the accumulation amount of the entering-side buffer mechanism equal to one another; 
 
 the sending section,
 by canceling the restriction on the work, releasing the halt of the work, and 
 performing simultaneously increase of the accumulation amount of the exit-side buffer mechanism and decrease of the accumulation amount of the entering-side buffer mechanism in such a manner as the increase in the accumulation amount of the exit-side buffer mechanism and the decrease in the accumulation amount of the entering-side buffer mechanism equal to one another. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sending section is a roll; and   the roll is a drive roll that carries the work to the processing section by being driven to rotate while winding the work from the entering-side buffer mechanism around an outer circumferential surface of the roll.   
     
     
         3 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sending section includes
 a roll that is in contact with the work and 
 a pressing roll that is pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the above-mentioned roll; and 
   the work is carried sandwiched between the roll and the pressing roll.   
     
     
         4 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the entering-side buffer mechanism accumulates the work carried from upstream by forming a loop consisting of the work in an intersecting direction that intersects with the predetermined direction; and   the exit-side buffer mechanism accumulates the work having been processed and to be carried downstream by forming, in the intersecting direction, a loop consisting of the work having been processed.   
     
     
         5 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the intersecting direction is a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction.   
     
     
         6 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the entering-side buffer mechanism includes an entering-side roll that is reciprocatably guided in the intersecting direction, and the loop is formed by winding the work around the entering-side roll;   the exit-side buffer mechanism includes an exit-side roll that is reciprocatably guided in the intersecting direction, and the loop is formed by winding the work having been processed around the exit-side roll; and   the entering-side roll and the exit-side roll move in the intersecting direction interlocked with one another, and move in opposite directions from one another at the same speed when moving in the intersecting direction.   
     
     
         7 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a seesaw member that oscillates about a predetermined axis,   wherein both the entering-side roll and the exit-side roll are mounted on the seesaw member, and   wherein the axis is located at a midpoint between a position where the entering-side roll is mounted and a position where the exit-side roll is mounted.   
     
     
         8 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the entering-side buffer mechanism includes a plurality of the entering-side rolls for forming the loop of the work by winding the work around the entering-side rolls in a zigzag form; and   the exit-side buffer mechanism includes a plurality of the exit-side rolls for forming the loop of the work having been processed by winding the processed work around the exit-side rolls in a zigzag form.   
     
     
         9 . A processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a motion for increasing the accumulation amount of the exit-side buffer mechanism and a motion for decreasing the accumulation amount of the entering-side buffer mechanism performed upon releasing the halt of the work are achieved by making a carry speed at which the work is carried between the entering-side buffer mechanism and the exit-side buffer mechanism faster than both
 a carry speed at which the work is carried on a side upstream from the entering-side buffer mechanism and 
 a carry speed at which the work having been processed is carried on a side downstream from the exit-side buffer mechanism.