BE1031115B1 - Transport device for substrates with movable hold-down clamps - Google Patents

Abstract

A transport device (1) for transporting substrates (2; 2'; 2") along at least one guide (100A, 100B) comprises: a frame (10) and at least one hold-down device (16A, 16B) which can be moved relative to the frame (10) from a depositing position in which a passage area (B) is released so that a substrate (2; 2'; 2") can be deposited along a depositing direction (R) through the passage area (B) on the at least one guide (100A, 100B), into a hold-down position in which the at least one hold-down device (16A, 16B) is arranged in the passage area (B) so that a movement of the substrate (2; 2'; 2") deposited on the at least one guide (100A, 100B) against the depositing direction (R) is blocked.

Description

Transport device for substrates with movable lower holders

The invention relates to a transport device for transporting substrates, a

Printing system with such a transport device and method for

Transporting a substrate,

Substrates to be processed, in particular in the form of printing media to be printed by a printer, are typically transported to the printer one after the other. Various possibilities are known for this; for example, WO 2020/174017 At describes the transport of substrates in the form of marker cards to a printer using round belts.

However, such round belts typically have a relatively high level of elasticity.

In addition, the round belt can become rusty compared to drive rollers and also the

Substrates can slip relative to the round belt. This makes it possible to

Transport devices make it difficult to ensure accurate positioning of the substrates in the printer, so that the print quality can be limited. Variations in the dimensions of the substrates due to manufacturing tolerances can

Problematics are further exacerbated.

DE 10 2007 011 179 A1 describes a central guide in the middle of a substrate, whereby a transport pin attached to a support arm is inserted into a transport hole in the substrate in order to transport the substrate. The transport pin must be aligned with the transport hole with a relatively high degree of precision, which requires a complex structure and is more susceptible to errors.

The object of the present invention is to facilitate the transport of subsidiaries in a simple

way to improve

This object is solved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, a transport device for transporting substrates along at least one guide comprises a frame and at least one hold-down device which is movable relative to the frame from a deposit position to a hold-down position. in the

A passage area is released in the deposit position of the at least one retainer so that a substrate can be passed through the

Passage area on which at least one guide can be placed In the

In the Nisderhalieposition, the at least one Nisderhalier is arranged in the passage area, so that a movement of the deposited on the at least one guide

Substrate is blocked against the deposition direction by the hold-down device.

This is based on the knowledge that substrates are not only available in their exact dimensions

are subject to manufacturing tolerances, but can also be bent or twisted. For example, printable labeling materials are used as

Substrates are used which were produced by injection molding, for example, then these 19 labeling plates can be bent concavely, for example. The retainers of the proposed transport device can now prevent a section of a labeling plate to be transported from falling off the

This allows a particularly simple drive to be used. This makes it possible to design the transport device in a simple, robust and reliable way and at the same time reduce the susceptibility to errors.

The at least one hold-down device can be arranged in a lateral direction perpendicular to the

Storage direction movable, especially translalorically and/or rotationally, for example displaceably mounted on the frame. This allows a particularly simple and robust guidance,

The at least one guide can define a transport direction which is e.g. aligned perpendicular to the lateral direction and/or perpendicular to the depositing direction. This enables a particularly simple construction because the depositing, holding down and

Transport occurs in three independent directions.

Optionally, the transport device comprises two movable hold-down devices, in particular two hold-down devices that can be moved relative to each other in opposite directions. In this way, a deposited substrate can be held on two opposite sides (in particular

side edges), and thus particularly reliably secured against lifting.

The at least one hold-down device (or the two hold-down devices) can be elongated and extend parallel to the at least one guide. This enables particularly secure blocking of the substrate from being lifted off the guide.

Furthermore, the transport device can comprise a positioning device arranged next to the at least one hold-down device (e.g. directly adjacent to or at a distance from it) when viewed in the direction of the at least one guide. The

Positioning device can be used to position a bearing on the guides

Substrais serve, in particular with at least one hold-down element attached to the at least one guide. The hold-down devices of the transport device can achieve a particularly reliable transfer of a substrais to the positioning device. 19 The at least one hold-down element attached to the guide of the

The positioning device can have an insertion bevel. This allows even curved or twisted substrates to be transported safely without jamming.

The hold-down devices of the transport device can prevent a concave substrate that dips below the insertion bevel from lifting so far at the back that it becomes disengaged from a drive element (e.g. an arm of a conveyor).

The transport device can comprise a drive. The drive has, for example, a

Motor for driving a substrate deposited on the at least one guide along the at least one guide.

For example, the drive comprises a slider. The slider can be designed to push a substrate mounted on the guide(s), e.g. on a rear end face thereof. This enables a particularly reliable transport movement with a particularly simple structure. By means of the at least one

By holding down the transport device, even with more curved substrates, the substrate can be prevented from lifting off the slider.

Optionally, the transport device includes a storage device for storing a

Substrais by means of at least one movable storage element through the released

Passage area on which at least one guide can be used to automate the depositing and optionally also the separation from a stack of substrates.

The movement of at least one storage sieve can be coupled to a movement of at least one hold-down device. In this way, both functions can be implemented with only one common mechanism. This allows for particularly simple and at the same time well-synchronized transport.

At least one storage element can be mounted so that it can rotate. This allows continuous transport while at the same time maintaining a simple structure.

Optionally, at least one storage element is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner relative to a handle, e.g. on a common shaft. The handle can be used to act on a

Actuating surface of the hold-down device, for example in order to move the at least one hold-down device from the storage position into the hold-down position (and/or vice versa).

At least one substrate in the form of a sign board, e.g. with several break-out identification plates, can be placed on the guides.

The substrate may be flat. Furthermore, the substrate may be rigid.

According to one aspect, a printing system is provided. The

The printing system comprises a printer for printing the substrates. The printing system also comprises the transport device according to any embodiment described herein for transporting substrates to the printer (and optionally away from the printer). Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the above information on

Transport device is referred to.

According to one aspect, a method for transporting a substrate with a

Transport device according to any embodiment described herein is provided. The method comprises the following steps: moving the at least one

Niedernaiters in the deposit position; depositing a substral by the

Passage area through the at least one guide; moving the at least one hold-down device into the hold-down position; and moving the substrate along the at least one guide. With regard to the advantages, reference is again made to the above

Information on the transport device is referred to.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained below with reference to the

The embodiments shown in the figures are explained in more detail. They show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a printing system for

Printing on substrates in the form of print media;

Fig. 2 is a view of a printing medium in the form of a sign mat with several break-out marking holders:

Fig. 3 to 6 different views of parts of a transport device of the printing system according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 7A shows a concavely curved substrate;

Fig. 7B the concavely curved subsirate according to Fig. 7A during insertion through an insertion bevel;

Fig. 8 to 10 different views of movable retainers and a

Storage device of the printing system according to Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of one of the hold-down devices of the printing system according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a printing system 3 for printing on several individually printable substrates in the form of printing media 2. For this purpose, the

Printing system 3 sine transport device 1 with a storage device 17, e.g. in

Form of a separating device, in which automatically or manually a

Print media or a stack of print media 2 can be entered, The

Transport device 1 transports individual, from the depositing device 17 issued

Print media 2 to a printer 32 of the printing system 3.

The printer 32 prints the individual print media 2 one after the other. The printer 32 transports the print media 2 to a

The stacking device 31 stacks the individual printed 2 print media into a stack, which can then be removed manually or automatically from the stacking device 31. Alternatively, individual print media 2 can be transported to a separate

Issue 33 will be issued,

The transport device 1 comprises a frame 10, which has at least one guide 2100A, 1008, as will be explained in more detail below. The transport device 1 further comprises at least one hold-down device 16A, 16B, which can be moved relative to the frame 190 from a deposit position in which a passage area B is released, so that a print medium 2 can be moved along a deposit direction B through the

Passage area B on which at least one guide 100A, 1008 can be deposited, in sine

holding position in which the at least one holding device 16A, 165 in the

Passage area B is arranged so that a movement of the substrate 2 deposited on the at least one guide 100A, 1005 against the depositing direction R is blocked. As will be explained in more detail below, a particularly simple and at the same time reliable transport of the substrates 2 is possible in this way.

Fig. 2 shows an example of such a printing medium 2. The printing medium 2 comprises a plurality of identification plates 20. The identification plates 20 are each formed on (at least) one of several webs 21. The webs 21 are arranged parallel to each other and with the identification plates 20 between two pairs of runners 22 serving as guides. The webs 21 are each formed on the

Skids 22 are fixed. The pressure medium 2 is formed in one piece. For example, it is a Soritz cast part. In particular, the pressure medium 2 can be made of a

Plastic or contain a plastic, The individual

Identification labels 20 can be broken off from the webs 21. This allows a

Printer 32 printed identification label 20 2.8. attached to an electrical or electronic component to identify it, The

For this purpose, identification plates 20 each have locking elements for locking with a respective component.

The printing medium 2 can also be referred to as a mat or card (in English as “card”). It is plate-shaped and rigid. Due to the weight of the printing medium 2, the printing medium 2 does not bend or only bends insignificantly, for example if it is only held on one side or corner.

The printing medium 2 has a length, a width and a height. The height is smaller than the length and the width, The width is smaller than the length, The guides 22 extend along the length, The end faces of the printing medium 2 extend across its width,

Depending on the required shape and size of the identification plates 20, the

Print medium 2 a larger or smaller number of identification labels 20 and

webs 21 for holding the identification plates 20.

Fig. 3 to 6 show parts of the transport device 1 and their functioning,

The transport device 1 comprises a drive 11 and a positioning device 12, which are mounted on the frame 10.

The frame 10 is formed in one piece, in this case as an extruded profile,

For example, the frame is made of aluminum or includes aluminum, the

Frame 10 is elongated and has a long side. At various (optionally all) points along the long side, frame 10 has the same cross-sectional shape.

Extruded profiles can be made particularly stable and robust,

The transport device 1 has two guides 100A, 1008 which are longitudinally extended along a transport direction T and spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction S perpendicular to the transport direction T. In general, the guides 100A, 1008 can be attached or formed on the frame 10. In the example shown, the

Guides 100A, 100B formed on the frame 10, in this case represent part of the

Frame 10.

The frame 10 comprises a base from which two side surfaces extend, The

Side surfaces are arranged parallel to each other. At the respective open end of the

One of the guides 100A, 1005 is formed on each of the side surfaces. The frame 10 therefore has a generally U-shaped cross section. The frame 10 forms a trough.

Skids 22 of the pressure medium 2‘ are attached to the guides 100A, 1008 along the

Transport direction T.

The positioning device 12 has two holding-down elements 120, 122, each in the form of a holding-down plate. The holding-down elements 120, 122 are

Frame 10 is fixed. A hold-down element 120 runs obliquely to the guides 1004, 1098. As a result, the hold-down element 120 rests on the printing medium 2 when the latter is located on the positioning device 12. The hold-down element 120 touches the printing medium 2 at a curve of an edge of the printing medium 2, whereby a linear contact is present. This allows a clamping slide along, does not hinder the printing process and allows precise positioning. Here, a force is introduced obliquely, with a component along the height direction H downwards and a component along the lateral direction against the printing medium 2°.

The positioning device 12 thus serves to position the substrate 2' mounted on the guides 100A, 100B in the lateral direction S and in the direction perpendicular thereto.

Altitude direction H.

An insertion bevel 121 of the Nisderhalleslemenis 120 allows a safe insertion even of curved print media 2’.

The hold-down element 120 is mounted directly on the frame 10, in this case screwed to it, on an inclined mounting surface of the frame 10,

The positioning device 12 further comprises a holding-down element 122 arranged on the other guide 1008 and aligned parallel to the lateral direction S. This

Low-maintenance sieve 122 is therefore in a direction defined by the transport direction T and the lateral

It extends parallel to the plane spanned in the direction S.

Guide surface of guide 1008,

This retaining element 122 also has an insertion bevel 123 for the

Print medium 2°.

The positioning device 12 is arranged in a printing area D, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 4. In the printing area D, the printer 32 is arranged in the assembled state. The printing area D is arranged between an input area E and an output area À. In the input area E, printing media = can be placed on the guides 100A, 100B of the transport device 1 for printing. In the output area A, the printed printing media 2° can be moved away from the

Guides 100A, 1008 of the transport device 1 can be removed. This is done in the assembled state by means of the storage device 17 and the stacking device 31.

The low-maintenance elements 120, 122 enable the printing of the runners 22 as well as a continuous, well-positioned guide over the entire printing area

D, which allows particularly good printing results,

By means of the drive 11, the pressure medium 2" mounted on the guides 100A, 1008 can be moved along the guides 100A, 1008 and thus in the transport direction T,

The drive comprises a slider 110, which is displaceable relative to the frame 10. For this purpose, the frame 10 has several drive guides 104, 105. Two

Drive guides 104 are formed on the opposite side surfaces of the frame 10. Furthermore, a drive guide 105 is formed on the base of the frame 10. Sliders 115 of the slider 110 are guided on the drive guides 104, 105 along the transport direction T. Instead of (rotatably mounted) sliders 115, for example, rotating rollers can also be used as a center for a translatory

motion control,

The drive 11 comprises a motor 112. The motor 112 is here attached to a longitudinal end of the frame 10, specifically to an end plate 15 attached to the end of the frame 19 10. The motor 112 drives a belt 113 extending along the transport direction T. The belt 113 is guided around a roller 114 which is rotatably mounted on an end plate 14. This end plate 14 is attached to the frame 10 at the end of the frame 19 opposite the motor 112. The slider 110 is attached to the belt 113, for example, and can be moved back and forth along the transport direction T by activating the drive 11, thus in this case by activating the motor 112.

The slide 110 is designed to support the guides 100A, 1008

To push the printing medium 2' along the transport direction T. For this purpose, the slider 110 has at least one, here two arms 111, which press against the printing medium 2' when the motor 112 is activated (see e.g. Fig. 6). The arms 111 touch the

Pressure medium 2° at each corner. As a result, the slider 110 acts on the lateral skids 22, so that bending of the pressure medium 2' as a result of the drive can be prevented.

Rigid printing media can sometimes have large deviations from an ideal shape. For example, some or even all printing media may be concavely curved due to the respective manufacturing process.

Fig. 7A shows such a concavely curved printing medium 2" in the form of a simplified identification label. The printing medium 2" has

Transport direction T has front and rear end edges 23. These end edges 23 are arranged on the front and rear end faces of the printing medium 2". The end edges 23 are bent upwards, as can be seen from Fig. 7A. If the printing medium 2" rests on the guides 100A, 1008 with the side to be printed facing upwards, then the end edges 23 are bent upwards.

Fig. 7B illustrates what happens when the pressure medium 2° bent in this way is pushed under the retaining elements 120, 122 by means of the insertion bevels 121, 123. As a result of the curvature of the pressure medium 2", this consequently lifts

In the transport direction T, the rear end edge 23 deviates even more from the guides 100A, 1008. This can result in the engagement with the arms 111 of the slider 110 being lost.

This could hinder transport and lead to traffic jams.

In order to prevent this, the transport device 1 comprises the movable lowering devices 16A, 16B already mentioned at the beginning, the function of which will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 8 to 11.

The hold-down devices 16A, 16B are each elongated and aligned parallel to the transport direction T, the hold-down devices 18A, 16B are each as long as the passage area

B, but could alternatively be longer or shorter. The hold-down devices 16A, 168 have at least a large part of the length of the print media 2" that can be transported with the transport device 1. They are mounted displaceably relative to the frame 10, specifically displaceably mounted on a housing 175 of the storage device 17, which is attached to the frame 10. The two hold-down devices 18A, 168 can be moved in opposite directions to one another. Furthermore, the two

Hold-down devices 16A, 165 can be moved synchronously, i.e. towards each other at the same time or away from each other at the same time.

The storage device 17 further comprises a guide 174, which in the example shown is formed by a part of the housing 175. A stack of

Print media 2; 2'; 2" can be inserted. In general, at least one storage element 170, here four storage elements 170, serves/serve to separate a print element 2; 2°; 2" from the stack and to place it on the guides 100A, 1008. For this purpose, the

Storage elements 170 each have a recess. The storage elements 170 are fixed to shafts 171. In the present case, two storage elements 170 are fixed to a common shaft 171. The shafts 171 extend along the lateral

Direction S. Between the shafts 171 and the hold-down devices 16A, 168 is the

Passage area B. The storage elements 170 are in the present case disc-shaped.

A drive 173 causes the two shafts 171 to rotate in opposite directions. As a result, the storage elements 170 grip the printing medium 2; 2'; 2" immediately above them with the recesses and transport it vertically downwards in the storage direction À. The hold-down devices 16A, 168 are brought into the storage position, i.e. into a position further apart from each other compared to the hold-down position. This can be done, for example, by means of a spring-loaded preload or simply by

Effect of the downwardly conveyed pressure medium 2; 2’; 2”. For this purpose, the

Lower holders 16A, 165 have upper slopes 182 (see in particular Fig. 11). The print media 2; 2; 2" actively conveyed downwards by means of the storage elements 170 slide along the upper slopes 162 and thus press the lower holders 16A, 168 outwards. The storage direction R is parallel to the height direction H.

As soon as the currently conveyed print medium 2; 2 2“ has been moved along the depositing direction R past the hold-down devices 16A, 168, these are moved into the

Lower hall position, i.e. towards each other, see in particular the view obliquely from below according to Fig. 3. This can be done by spring-elastic pre-tensioning or, as in the example shown, by means of pushers 172. The pushers 172 are fixed to the shafts 171 and rotate together with them. In the present case, a pusher 172 for each of the hold-down devices 16A, 168 is mounted on each shaft 171. In total, four pushers 172 are provided. The pushers 172 slide on an actuating surface 163 of the

Niederhalter 16A, 165. The actuating surfaces 163 each have a slope. Thus, when rotating, the pushers 172 together with the shafts 171 press the

Hold-down device 18A, 16B in the holding position, as illustrated in Fig. 9, By the

Fixing of the pushers 172 and the storage elements 170 on the shafts 171 is carried out in coordination with the storage movement. As soon as the storage on the guides 100A, 1008 has taken place, the hold-down devices 16A, 165 are moved into the hold-down position. The

Hold-down devices 16A, 165 each have guides for the housing 175 attached

Bolt on.

Fig. 10 shows the pressure medium 2“ with the retainers 16A, 165 in the

Nisderhalteposition (the rear two storage sieves 170 are not shown in order to

The view of the parts behind it is not obscured.) You can also see the

Introductory axes 121, 123 of the low-halation elements 120, 122 fixed to the frame 10. Since the movable low-halation elements 16A, 16B hold the pressure medium 2" close to the guides 1004, 100B over its entire length, the medium loses contact with the arms 111 of the slide 110 even when it is immersed under the low-halation elements 120, 122 fixed to the frame 10.

Fig. 11 shows how the hold-down device 18A holds the printing medium 2“ against the guide 100A. A holding surface 160 of the hold-down device 16A is exposed to the printing medium à”

(more precisely: the upper side facing away from the guide 100A at one edge of the

printing medium 2°}, the edge of the printing medium 2“ is thus between the

Hold-down device 16A and guide 100A are arranged,

An optional cover 13 covers the belt 113 and parts of the slider 110 and thus protects them. The arms 111 of the slider 110 extend through side slots past the cover 13.

A method for transporting a substrate 2; 2'; 2" with the transport device 1 comprises the following steps: moving the at least one hold-down device 16A, 165 into the deposit position; depositing a substrate 2; 2° 2" through the passage area B on the at least one guide 100A, 100B; moving the at least one

Lower holder 154, 168 into the hold-down position; and moving the substrate 2; 2° 2" along the at least one guide 100A, 1008.

The described transport device 1 enables a compensation of the

Manufacturing tolerances of the print media 2; 2’, starting with the placement on the

Guides 100A, 1008 of the transport device 1.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different way,

Reference symbols 1 transport device 10 frame 1004, 1008 guide 104, 105 drive guide 11 drive 110 slider 111 arm 112 motor 113 belt 114 sleeve 115 slider 12 positioning device 120 hold-down element 121 insertion bevel 122 hold-down element 123 insertion bevel 13 cover 14,15 end plate 16A, 188 hold-down 160 holding surface 162 bevel 163 actuating surface 17 storage device 170 storage element 171 shaft 172 pusher 173 drive 174 guide 175 housing 2:25; 2° Printing medium (substrate) 20 Label 21 Web 22 Edge 23 End edge 3 Printing system

31 Stacking device 32 Printer 33 Output

A Output area

B Passage area

D Print overview

È Input area

H elevation direction 4 storage direction {0 8 lateral direction

T Transport direction

Claims (1)

Patent claims 1. Transport device (1) for transporting substrates (2; 2; 2°) along at least one guide (100A, 1008), comprising: - a frame (10) and - at least one hold-down device (16A, 16B) which can be moved relative to the frame (10) from a depositing position in which a passage area (5) is exposed so that a substrate (2; 25 2°) can be deposited along a depositing direction (B) through the passage area (B) on the at least one guide (100A, 1008), into a hold-down position in which the at least one hold-down device (18A, 18B) is arranged in the passage area (5) so that movement of the substrate (2; 2"; 2") deposited on the at least one guide (100A, 1008) against the depositing direction {B} is blocked. 2. Transport device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one support (16AÀ, 16S) is mounted displaceably relative to the frame (10) in a lateral direction (5) perpendicular to the depositing direction {5}. 3. Transport device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one guide (100A, 100S) defines a transport direction (M) which is oriented perpendicular to the lateral direction (S) and perpendicular to the depositing direction (M). 4. Transport device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by two hold-down devices (16A, 16B5) movable relative to one another in opposite directions. 5. Transport device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one hold-down device (16A, 168) extends parallel to the at least one guide (100A, 1008). 6. Transport device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a positioning device (12) arranged along the at least one guide (100A, 1008) next to the at least one lowering device (16A, 168) for positioning a mounted substrate (2; 2) with at least one hold-down element (120, 122) fastened to the at least one guide (100A, 100B). 7. Transport device {1} according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one holding element (120, 122} of the positioning device (12) has an insertion groove (121, 123), 8. Transport device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a drive (11) with a motor (112) for driving a substrate (2; 2; 2") deposited on the at least one guide (100A, 1008) along the at least one guide (100A, 1008). 9. Transport device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive (11) comprises a slider (110) which is designed to push a substrate (2; 2) deposited on the guides (100A, 100B), 10. Transport device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a depositing device (17) for depositing a substrate {2; 2; 2° by means of at least one movable depositing element (170) through the released passage area (8) on the at least one guide (100A, 1008). 11. Transport device {1} according to claim 10, characterized in that a movement of the at least one storage element (170) is coupled to a movement of the at least one storage holder (15A, 168). 12. Transport device {1} according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the at least one storage element (170) is rotatably mounted. 213, Transport device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one storage element (170) is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner relative to a pusher (172) which is arranged to act on an actuating surface (163) of the hold-down device (16A, 168B) in order to move the at least one hold-down device (16A, 168B) from the storage position into the hold-down position, 14. Transport device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one substrate (2; 25 2°) in the form of a label material with several break-out identification labels (20) is deposited on the at least one guide (100A, 1008). 15. Printing system (3) comprising: - a printer (32) and - the transport device {1} according to one of the preceding claims for transporting substrates (2; 2% to the printer (32). 16. Method for transporting a substrate (2; 2'; 2°) with the transport device {1} according to one of claims 1 to 14, comprising the following steps: - moving the at least one hold-down device (16A, 16B) into the depositing position; - depositing a substrate (2; 2'; 2°) through the passage area (8) on the at least one guide (100A, 1008); - moving the at least one lower holder (16A, 16B) into the lower holding position; and - displacing the substrate (2; 2; 2°) along the at least one guide (100A, 1008).