Article transfer apparatus

• US 20020112939A1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
• Inventors: Ichiura, Yuzo, Sumi, Isamu, Mae, Hiromi
• Granted Patent: US 6,604,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/377.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15764 Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/843 the article-engaging elements being suction or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/848 the article-engaging elements being suction or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/33216 about an axis perpendicular to the direction of displacement and to the surface of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/3454 performing oscillating movement during rotation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1773 For flexible sheets

Abstract

With an article transfer apparatus 1 of the present invention, when a negative pressure is applied on an air outlet 20 in a non-attracting state, the amount of air that is sucked through suction holes 6 in a front attracting section 2f is greater than the amount of air that is sucked through suction holes 7 in a rear attracting section 2b. Therefore, the suction amount through the front attracting section 2f is increased while reducing the suction loss of the attracting pad 2, thereby improving the reliability of the attraction operation.

Claims

1. An article transfer apparatus, comprising:

an attracting pad including a front attracting section and a rear attracting section for attracting an article; and

a moving section for moving the attracting pad, which is for attracting the article, from a pickup position to a hand-over position, wherein;

the front attracting section includes at least one suction hole for attracting the article, the suction hole of the front attracting section being communicated to an opening of the attracting pad;

the rear attracting section includes at least one suction hole for attracting the article, the suction hole of the rear attracting section being communicated to the opening; and

when a negative pressure is applied on the opening in a non-attracting state, an air suction amount through the suction hole of the front attracting section is greater than an air suction amount through the suction hole of the rear attracting section.

2. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of suction holes of the front attracting section is greater than the number of suction holes of the rear attracting section.

3. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area per unit area of the suction hole in the front attracting section is greater than a cross-sectional area per unit area of the suction hole in the rear attracting section.

4. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the article transfer apparatus comprises a plurality of attracting pads; and

the moving section moves the attracting pads while changing an interval between the attracting pads.

5. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an orientation changing section for changing an orientation of the attracting pad while the attracting pad is moved.

6. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction hole of the rear attracting section is tapered so as to expand in the vicinity of an opening thereof.

7. A method for manufacturing a disposable worn article, comprising the step of changing an interval between semi-finished products of the disposable worn article by using a transfer apparatus according to claim 1.

8. An article transfer apparatus , comprising:

an attracting pad including a front attracting section and a rear attracting section for attracting an article; and

a moving section for moving the attracting pad, which is for attracting the article, from a pickup position to a hand-over position, wherein;

the front attracting section includes at least one suction hole for attracting the article, the suction hole of the front attracting section being communicated to an opening of the attracting pad;

the rear attracting section includes at least one suction hole for attracting the article, the suction hole of the rear attracting section being communicated to the opening; and

when a negative pressure is applied on the opening in a non-attracting state, an air suction resistance through the front attracting section is smaller than an air suction resistance through the rear attracting section.

9. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the number of suction holes of the front attracting section is greater than the number of suction holes of the rear attracting section.

10. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a cross-sectional area per unit area of the suction hole in the front attracting section is greater than a cross-sectional area per unit area of the suction hole in the rear attracting section.

11. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the article transfer apparatus comprises a plurality of attracting pads; and

the moving section moves the attracting pads while changing an interval between the attracting pads.

12. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an orientation changing section for changing an orientation of the attracting pad while the attracting pad is moved.

13. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the suction hole of the rear attracting section is tapered so as to expand in the vicinity of an opening thereof.

14. A method for manufacturing a disposable worn article, comprising the step of changing an interval between semi-finished products of the disposable worn article by using a transfer apparatus according to claim 8.

16. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the number of suction holes of the front attracting section is greater than the number of suction holes of the rear attracting section.

17. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a cross-sectional area per unit area of the suction hole in the front attracting section is greater than a cross-sectional area per unit area of the suction hole in the rear attracting section.

18. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

the article transfer apparatus comprises a plurality of attracting pads; and

the moving section moves the attracting pads while changing an interval between the attracting pads.

19. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising an orientation changing section for changing an orientation of the attracting pad while the attracting pad is moved.

20. An article transfer apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the suction hole of the rear attracting section is tapered so as to expand in the vicinity of an opening thereof.

15. An article transfer apparatus, comprising:

an attracting pad including a front attracting section and a rear attracting section for attracting an article; and

a moving section for moving the attracting pad, which is for attracting the article, from a pickup position to a hand-over position, wherein;

the front attracting section includes at least one suction hole for attracting the article;

the rear attracting section includes at least one suction hole for attracting the article; and

a total cross-sectional area of the suction hole of the front attracting section is greater than a total cross-sectional area of the suction hole of the rear attracting section.

21. A method for manufacturing a disposable worn article, comprising the step of changing an interval between semi-finished products of the disposable worn article by using a transfer apparatus according to claim 15.