Sheet stacking apparatus and sheet stacking method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11180328-B2
Application number	US-202016784326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2020
Priority date	Mar 19, 2019
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

A sheet stacking apparatus according to an embodiment stacks first and second sheets. The first sheet includes first stacked and non-stacked parts. The second sheet includes second stacked and non-stacked parts. The first and second stacked parts are stacked to overlap in a Z-direction. The apparatus includes a first holding part holding the first sheet and a second holding part holding the second sheet. The first and second holding parts each include a frame part and a supporter. The frame part extends in an X-direction. The supporter supports the sheet in the Z-direction and provided at the frame part. The first and second holding parts are respectively configured to hold the sheets in a state in which movement of the sheets in the X-direction is regulated. The supporter is provided to be able to drop the object by releasing the supporting of the object in the Z-direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet stacking apparatus stacking a first sheet and a second sheet, the first sheet including a first stacked part and a first non-stacked part, the second sheet including a second stacked part and a second non-stacked part, the stacking causing the first stacked part and the second stacked part to align in a Z-direction aligned with the direction of gravity, the apparatus comprising:
a first holding part holding only one first sheet as an object; and
a second holding part holding only one second sheet as an object,
the first holding part and the second holding part each including
a frame part extending in an X-direction crossing the Z-direction, and
a supporter supporting the object in the Z-direction and being provided at the frame part,

the first holding part and the second holding part being respectively configured to hold the objects in a state in which movement of the objects in the X-direction is regulated,
the supporter being provided to be able to drop the object by releasing the supporting of the object in the Z-direction.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the apparatus comprises a plurality of the first holding parts and a plurality of the second holding parts, and
the apparatus is configured to have a first state in which the plurality of first holding parts and the plurality of second holding parts are separated from each other, and a second state in which the plurality of first holding parts and the plurality of second holding parts are combined to be disposed alternately in the Z-direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first holding part and the second holding part are respectively configured to hold the objects in a state in which movement of the objects in a Y-direction is regulated, the Y-direction crossing the Z-direction and the X-direction.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the supporter has a vertical surface spreading in the X-direction and the Z-direction, and
the vertical surface regulates the movement of the object in the Y-direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the supporter has a plurality of the vertical surfaces oriented in different directions.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the first holding part and the second holding part each further include a through-part passing through the object in the Z-direction, and
the through-part regulates the movement of the object in the X-direction and the Y-direction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the supporters is provided at positions aligned in the X-direction, and is moved, in order of proximity to the through-part, to positions not overlapping the object in the Z-direction.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the supporter is inserted into a hole part provided in the frame part, and is configured to be rotatable with a center of the hole part as a central axis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the supporter includes a first supporter and a second supporter,
the first supporter is movable in a first direction crossing the Z-direction, and
the second supporter is movable in a second direction different from the first direction.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a stage part where the first sheet and the second sheet are stacked.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an intake/exhaust part configured to intake or exhaust a gas.

12. A sheet stacking method, comprising:
disposing a first sheet at a first supporter of a first holding part, the first sheet including a first stacked part and a first non-stacked part;
disposing a second sheet at a second supporter of a second holding part, the second sheet including a second stacked part and a second non-stacked part;
alternately disposing the first holding part and the second holding part in a Z-direction aligned with the direction of gravity; and
stacking the first stacked part of the first sheet and the second stacked part of the second sheet to align in the Z-direction by dropping the first sheet and the second sheet by respectively releasing support by the first supporter and the second supporter of the first sheet and the second sheet.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Tanaka Masayuki
• Terada Takahiro
• Nitta Wataru

Classifications

• B65G57/10 Primary

  by devices, e.g. reciprocating, acting directly on articles for horizontal transport to the top of stack · CPC title

• B65G57/005

  by using insertions or spacers between the stacked layers · CPC title