Strip-pack manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

A strip-pack manufacturing apparatus is arranged to receive an article having a projecting portion at a prescribed receiving position and to affix the article to a tape at a prescribed affixing position, and includes a transporting mechanism, a grasping section, a transfer mechanism, an affixing mechanism, and a wrinkle smoothing mechanism. The transporting mechanism is arranged to transport the article to the receiving position with the projecting portion of the article being oriented in front. The transfer mechanism is arranged to transfer the article from the receiving position to the affixing position in a state wherein the article is grasped at the project portion by the grasping section. The affixing mechanism is arranged to affix the article to the tape at the affixing position. The wrinkle smoothing mechanism is disposed at the receiving position and arranged to smooth wrinkles of the projecting portion.

1 . A strip-pack manufacturing apparatus configured and arranged to receive an article having a projecting portion on at least one end thereof at a prescribed receiving position and to affix the article to a striped-shaped tape at a prescribed affixing position, the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus comprising:
 a transporting mechanism configured and arranged to transport the article to the prescribed receiving position with the projecting portion of the article being oriented in front with respect to a direction of travel;   a grasping section configured and arranged to grasp the projecting portion of the article that is transported by the transporting mechanism at the prescribed receiving position;   a transfer mechanism configured and arranged to transfer the article from the prescribed receiving position to the prescribed affixing position in a state wherein the article is grasped by the grasping section;   an affixing mechanism configured and arranged to affix the article to the stripped-shaped tape at the prescribed affixing position; and   a wrinkle smoothing mechanism disposed at the prescribed receiving position and configured and arranged to smooth wrinkles of the projecting portion of the article.   
   
   
       2 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes
 a stopper member configured and arranged to restrain the projecting portion of the article at a prescribed position, and 
 a pair of rotary brushes having rotary shafts disposed substantially parallel to each other, the rotary brushes being configured and arranged to sandwich the projecting portion therebetween and to rotate in a direction from a base part of the projecting portion toward a tip end of the projecting portion. 
   
   
   
       3 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the transporting mechanism includes an end part disposed adjacent to the prescribed receiving position, the end part being configured and arranged to selectively switch between a holding state wherein the article is supported horizontally at the prescribed receiving position and a dropping state wherein the article is dropped downward from the prescribed receiving position, and   the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to retract at least one of the rotary brushes disposed at a lower position than the projecting portion of the article away from the projecting portion when the article is dropped downward when the end part of the transporting mechanism is in the dropping state.   
   
   
       4 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured and arranged to selectively adjust a vertical position of the rotary brushes with respect to the transporting mechanism.   
   
   
       5 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured and arranged to selectively adjust a vertical position of the rotary brushes with respect to the transporting mechanism.   
   
   
       6 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes according to diameters of the rotary brushes.   
   
   
       7 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes according to diameters of the rotary brushes.   
   
   
       8 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein
 the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes according to diameters of the rotary brushes.   
   
   
       9 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and   the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.   
   
   
       10 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and   the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.   
   
   
       11 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein
 each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and   the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.   
   
   
       12 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein
 each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and   the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.   
   
   
       13 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising
 a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.   
   
   
       14 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising
 a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.   
   
   
       15 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising
 a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.   
   
   
       16 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising
 a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.   
   
   
       17 . The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising
 a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.