IP Library Granted Patent US 9,502,704
Granted Patent B2
US 9,502,704 · App. 14/009,269 · Granted Nov 22, 2016

Separator conveying device and separator conveying method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,502,704
App. No.
14/009,269
Granted
Nov 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A separator conveying device includes a columnar rotor that holds a continuously supplied separator material on an outer circumferential surface thereof; a cutting unit that cuts the separator material while the separator material is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor into a separator with a predetermined shape; and a control unit configured to control a suction force in a slip region. The separator cut out by the cutting unit is conveyed by rotating the columnar rotor while maintaining a state where the separator is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor. The outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor is formed into a suction region where the separator material or the separator is sucked and the slip region where the suction force is switched between sucking and fixing the separator material, and slipping the separator material while sucking the separator material.

Claims (50)

1. A separator conveying device comprising:

a columnar rotor that holds a separator material on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the separator material being continuously supplied thereto;

a cutting unit that cuts the separator material in a state where the separator material is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor, and cuts out a separator with a predetermined shape; and

a control unit configured to control a suction force in a slip region, wherein

the separator cut out by the cutting unit is conveyed by rotating the columnar rotor while maintaining a state where the separator is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor,

the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor is formed into a suction region where the separator material or the separator is sucked, and into the slip region where the suction force in the slip region is configured to be switched between a case of sucking and fixing the separator material and a case of slipping the separator material while sucking the separator material, the slip region being located more on a supply position side at which the separator material is supplied onto the outer circumferential surface than the suction region,

the outer circumferential surface rotates relatively to the suction region and the slip region,

the separator material is cut by the cutting unit between the suction region and the supply position,

the cut out separator is sucked and conveyed on the suction region on the outer circumferential surface,

the control unit controls the suction force in the slip region to be lower than a suction force in the suction region when the cut out separator is conveyed, thereby the cut separator material is slipped on the slip region with respect to the outer circumferential surface, and the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor is stopped, and

the control unit controls the suction force in the slip region to be equivalent to the suction force of the suction region when a rotation angle of the columnar rotor is a predetermined angle, thereby the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor is started.

2. The separator conveying device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the cutting unit comprises a cutting blade that comes close to and is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor, and

the columnar rotor comprises a receiving portion that receives the cutting blade.

3. The separator conveying device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cut piece suction unit that sucks a surplus cut piece of the separator material cut by the cutting unit.

4. The separator conveying device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a synchronization device that stops the rotation of the columnar rotor in synchronization with the cutting by the cutting unit.

5. The separator conveying device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a locking mechanism that stops the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor in synchronization with the stop of the rotation of the columnar rotor.

6. The separator conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the suction force in the slip region, in order to switch between a state of sucking and fixing the separator or the separator material to the outer circumferential surface and a state of slipping the separator or the separator material while sucking the separator or the separator material.

7. The separator conveying device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a locking mechanism that stops the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor, and slips the separator material on the slip region, by restricting the separator material.

8. A separator conveying method comprising:

holding a separator material on an outer circumferential surface of a columnar rotor, the separator material being continuously supplied thereto;

cutting out a separator with a predetermined shape by cutting the separator material in a state where the separator material is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor; and

conveying the cut out separator by rotating the columnar rotor while maintaining a state where the separator is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor, wherein

the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor is formed into a suction region where the separator material or the separator is sucked, and into a slip region where a suction force in the slip region is switched between a case of sucking and fixing the separator material and a case of slipping the separator material while sucking the separator material, a slip region being located more on a supply position side at which the separator material is supplied onto the outer circumferential surface than the suction region,

the outer circumferential surface rotates relatively to the suction region and the slip region,

the separator material is cut between the suction region and the supply position in the cutting the separator material, and

the separator conveying method further comprises:

controlling a suction force in the slip region to be lower than a suction force in the suction region when the cut out separator is conveyed, thereby the cut separator material is slipped on the slip region with respect to the outer circumferential surface, and the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor is stopped, and

controlling the suction force in the slip region to be equivalent to the suction force of the suction region when a rotation angle of the columnar rotor is a predetermined angle, thereby the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor is started.

9. The separator conveying method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

sucking and collecting a surplus cut piece of the cut separator material.

10. The separator conveying method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

stopping the rotation of the columnar rotor in synchronization with the cutting of the separator material.

11. The separator conveying method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

stopping the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor in synchronization with the stop of the rotation of the columnar rotor.

12. A separator conveying device comprising:

a columnar rotor that holds a separator material on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the separator material being continuously supplied thereto;

cutting means for cutting the separator material in a state where the separator material is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor, and cuts out a separator with a predetermined shape; and

control means configured to control a suction force in a slip region, wherein

the separator cut out by the cutting means is conveyed by rotating the columnar rotor while maintaining a state where the separator is held on the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor,

the outer circumferential surface of the columnar rotor is formed into a suction region where the separator material or the separator is sucked, and into the slip region where the suction force in the slip region is configured to be switched between a case of sucking and fixing the separator material and a case of slipping the separator material while sucking the separator material, the slip region being located more on a supply position side at which the separator material is supplied onto the outer circumferential surface than the suction region,

the outer circumferential surface rotates relatively to the suction region and the slip region,

the separator material is cut by the cutting means between the suction region and the supply position,

the cut out separator is sucked and conveyed on the suction region on the outer circumferential surface,

the control means controls the suction force in the slip region to be lower than a suction force in the suction region when the cut out separator is conveyed, thereby the cut separator material is slipped on the slip region with respect to the outer circumferential surface, and the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor is stopped, and

the control means controls the suction force in the slip region to be equivalent to the suction force of the suction region when a rotation angle of the columnar rotor is a predetermined angle, thereby the supply of the separator material to the columnar rotor is started.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2019
From: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
To: ENVISION AESC JAPAN LTD.
Reel/Frame 049888/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2013
From: YUHARA, HIROSHI; YANAGI, TAKAHIRO; YAMASHITA, MANABU
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 031336/0783 →