JP2000128136A - Case unpacking and sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a case unpacking and sorting device which is capable of easily automating and accelerating the unpacking work of a case in a container and the sorting work of the case from the container, simple in constitution, and low in manufacturing cost. SOLUTION: A case unpacking and sorting device in which a case 15 in a container is unpacked, the container is taken out of the case in the container and an empty case 16 is sorted from a container 17, comprises a case conveyor 5 to carry the case 15 in the container, a cutting means 4 to cut the other part leaving a part in the direction opposite to the feeding direction at an end of a bottom plate of the case 15 in the container, a sorting means 6 to sort the empty case 16 from the container 17, a container conveyor 9 to feed the container 18 sorted by the sorting means to the next process, and an empty case conveyor 8 to feed the empty case 16 sorted by the sorting means to the next process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for unpacking and separating cases, and more particularly to a device for unpacking and separating containers into and out of containers. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the types and sales amounts of beverages in containers have been small, and therefore, the returns of unsold products whose expiration date has expired have also been reduced. For this reason, the unpacking work of these returned goods and the work of taking out the actual container from the cardboard case have been sufficiently time-consuming even if relying on manual labor. On the other hand, since the types and sales volumes of beverages in containers have become enormous in recent years, the number of unsold products whose expiration date has expired has been considerably increased. Because of this, if you dispose of these large quantities of returned goods,
The method of manually unpacking the case containing the product is no longer sufficient to cope with it, and the demand for automated equipment has increased.

[0003]

As a conventional case unpacking apparatus, even after the contents are taken out from a cardboard case containing contents such as raw materials, materials, or containers, the cardboard case is kept as it is, There is a box that can be recycled as a returnable box (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 53-719).
No. 95). This device required equipment to carefully handle the cardboard case for recycling.

As another case unpacking device, only the upper half of a cardboard case containing a full container (product) is removed, and the product can be displayed with the product remaining in the lower half. There is something (actually 7-16
No. 578). This apparatus cannot do anything other than removing only the upper half of the cardboard case, and could not be used as equipment for collecting the full container from the cardboard case.

Further, conventionally, there is a facility for cutting and removing the cardboard case in order to take out the contents from the cardboard case (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-20944 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-61623). These facilities cut out the sides of the cardboard case and send out the contents in a uniform manner.The contents must be carefully taken out, and the emphasis is on automating the work of taking out the contents. It is. For this reason, the cardboard case
They are not recycled and are discarded as they are.

[0006] Further, when a product in a cardboard case is distributed to many markets, the cardboard case is considerably damaged, so that the cardboard case cannot be used as it is for packing new products. On the other hand, beverage containers in a cardboard case are usually one-way containers which are mostly used up, so that the collected containers are crushed, separated by material, and recycled as raw materials. Similarly, the cardboard case is also crushed and recycled as a raw material for the recycled paper cardboard case. However, as a pre-stage facility for recycling such a container and a corrugated cardboard case, a dedicated facility for separating the container and the corrugated cardboard case is required.

According to the present invention, a case in which the unpacking operation of a container-containing case and the operation of separating a case from a container can be easily automated and accelerated, and can be manufactured with a simple configuration and at low cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an unpacking sorting device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a case unpacking separation apparatus for unpacking a container-containing case, taking out the container from the case, and separating the empty case and the container, A case conveyor for transporting the container-containing case, a cutting means for cutting the bottom plate edge of the container-containing case except for one part, and a separating means for separating the empty case and the container from each other; It is configured by a container conveyor that sends the containers to the next step and an empty case conveyor that sends the empty case to the next step.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention. The case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment unpacks a substantially cubic or rectangular parallelepiped cardboard case containing a container (a can or a PET bottle or the like containing a beverage or the like) containing a beverage and an empty cardboard case and a container. , And these are placed on dedicated conveyors and sent to the next process.

That is, the case unpacking / separating apparatus of the present embodiment leaves the case conveyor 5 for transporting the container-containing cardboard case 15 and one side of the bottom plate edge of the container-containing cardboard case 15 opposite to the feed direction. Cutting means 4 for cutting the other three sides, separating means 6 for separating the empty cardboard case 16 and the container 17, container conveyor 9 for feeding the container 17 separated by the separating means to the next step, and the separating means And an empty case conveyor 8 for sending the empty cardboard case 16 separated to the next step.

Here, the configuration of the case unpacking / separating apparatus of this embodiment will be clarified while describing the unpacking / sorting line of the container-containing cardboard case 15 in the case unpacking / separating apparatus of this embodiment. As the corrugated cardboard case 15 used in the present embodiment, a substantially cubic or rectangular parallelepiped case is optimal. Container-containing cardboard case 15, container 17, and empty cardboard case 16
The flow is as shown by the thick arrow in FIG. The container-filled cardboard case 15 containing the beverage container 17 collected after the expiration date or the like is carried from the warehouse in the state of the palletized cargo 1. When the palletized cargo 1 is placed at the unloading place, the transfer robot 2 places the containerized cardboard cases 15 from the palletized cargo 1 on the case conveyor 5 in order so that the direction of the cardboard cases becomes a fixed direction. Place in part 3. 1 and 2
As shown in the figure, the container-equipped cardboard case 15 is placed on the cardboard case case mounting portion 3 such that its longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the running direction of the case conveyor 5. The container-containing cardboard case 15 placed on the case conveyor 5 is sent to the cutting means 4 at an appropriate timing.

By the cutting means 4, the container-containing cardboard case 15 is cut to the bottom plate edge except for one side opposite to the feed direction, and is sent to the next sorting means 6. In the separating means 6, the container-containing cardboard case 15 is unpacked and separated into an empty cardboard case 16 and a container 17. Thereafter, the container 17 is sent to the liquid removing device 10 via the container conveyor 9 and further sent from the liquid removing device 10 to the volume reducing device 11 via the container conveyor 12, where the container 17 is crushed to reduce the volume. It is sent to a recovery facility not shown. In addition, empty cardboard case (hereinafter,
It is called an empty cardboard case. ) 16 are sent to the cardboard case compression and stacking device 7 by the empty case conveyor 8, where they are crushed and stacked, and sent together to a cardboard case collection facility (not shown). In this embodiment, the empty case conveyor 8 is laid out in a direction perpendicular to the flow of the case conveyor 5 as shown in FIG. 1, but as in other embodiments described later, the empty case conveyor 8 is They may be laid out in the same direction.

Here, the configuration of the cutting means 4 will be described in detail (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The cutting means 4 comprises frames 21, 21 on both sides of the case conveyor 5.
A pair of upstream side belt conveyors 2 installed in
And a pair of downstream side belt conveyors 33 and 23 installed on frames 21 and 21 on both sides of the case conveyor 5 in a so-called tandem at a predetermined distance from the pair of upstream side belt conveyors, and a container. A pair of horizontal rotating cutters 31 for cutting one side of the bottom edge of the entering cardboard case 15 opposite to the feeding direction, a fixing pin (case rotating mechanism) 30 for rotating the container-containing case 90 degrees horizontally, It is composed of two sets of second horizontal rotary cutters 31, 31 that cut two sides of the bottom edge of the container-containing cardboard case 15 on both sides in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction.

The upstream and downstream side belt conveyors 22, 23 and 33, 23 hold the container-side cardboard case 15 flowing on the case conveyor 5 on both sides to restrain the lateral position thereof. The horizontal rotary cutter 31 that cuts one side of the container-containing cardboard case 15 is disposed so that the rotary blade protrudes from the cardboard case sandwiching surface 22a (see FIG. 3) of the one side belt conveyor 22 on the upstream side. The fixing pin 30 is provided between the upstream side belt conveyor 23 and the downstream side belt conveyor 23.
And is provided between them. Cardboard case 15 in a container
Sets of horizontal rotary cutters 31, 31 for cutting two sides of
Are arranged so that the rotary blades protrude from both cardboard case holding surfaces 33a, 23a of the pair of downstream side belt conveyors 33, 23.

The cardboard case 15 containing the container is fed into the cutting means 4 at an appropriate timing by the action of a stopper 19 provided on the case conveyor 5. The case conveyor 5 uses a plate top chain (not shown) so that the stopper 19 can be protruded from under the case conveyor 5 so that the container-containing cardboard case 15 can be easily rotated (slid) on the conveying surface of the conveyor. In addition, a plurality of plate top chains are arranged at an interval from each other. This plate top chain is a chain in which plates are continuously arranged at regular intervals on the chain, and is configured endlessly.

The cardboard case holding surface 2 of the upstream side belt conveyor 22 sandwiching the container-containing cardboard case 15
2a has its position fixed. On the other hand, the cardboard case holding surface 23a of the upstream side belt conveyor 23 that faces the upstream side belt conveyor 22 and that holds the container-containing cardboard case 15 is movable in parallel. That is, the belt pulleys on both sides of the upstream side belt conveyor 23 are supported by levers 25 and 26 having the same lever ratio and lever angle. These levers 25 and 26 are swingable about the pin 24 and are pin-joined to the link lever 28. Therefore, when the air cylinder 27 is operated, the cardboard case of the upstream side belt conveyor 23 is operated. The holding surface 23a moves in parallel. By adjusting the operating air pressure of the air cylinder 27, the cardboard case holding surface 23a of the upstream side belt conveyor 23 is adjusted.
Can be adjusted arbitrarily. 24 is a lever 25, 2
Reference numeral 29 denotes a stopper pin for restricting the movement of the lever 25 so that the upstream side belt conveyor 23 does not move too much inside the case conveyor 5.

When the full container 17 is fully loaded in the container case 15, the weight of the container case 15 becomes considerably large. For this reason, in this case, the frictional force with the case conveyor 5 becomes considerably large.
Therefore, the upstream side belt conveyors 22, 23
Is rotated even if it has no driving force itself. The container-equipped cardboard case 15 is sandwiched between the side belt conveyors 22 and 23 on the upstream side, and is controlled by the cutting means 4 in a state where the position of the case conveyor 5 in the lateral direction (the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction) is restricted. Sent. The cutting means 4 is, as shown in FIG. 6, provided by a cutter 31 having a rotary blade fixed to the conveyor frame 2.
Bottom plate 15c of container case 15 (see FIG. 6)
Is cut along the cutting line 15a above the small dimension. The thick arrow in FIG. 6 indicates the moving direction of the container-equipped cardboard case 15. The mounting position of the cutter 31 is adjusted such that the rotary blade cuts only the side plate of the container-containing cardboard case 15 and has a cutter cutting amount that does not contact the internal container.

The container-containing cardboard case 15 having one side cut as described above is continuously fed by the case conveyor 5 and reaches the fixing pin 30 which is a case rotating mechanism. The fixing pins 30 are fixed to the frame 21 on one side of the case conveyor 5. Cardboard case 15 in a container
When the side surface thereof comes into contact with the fixing pin 30, a rotational moment acts on the cardboard case containing the container, and the container is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGS. On the other hand, when the downstream side belt conveyor 33 is driven by the drive motor 34 provided on the frame 21 of the case conveyor 5, the belt in the obliquely overhanging area of the side belt conveyor becomes the corner of the container-containing cardboard case 15. Is captured, and the rotation of the container-containing cardboard case is complemented to rotate the container-containing cardboard case by 90 degrees. Accordingly, the longitudinal direction of the container-equipped cardboard case 15 is the traveling direction.

The downstream side belt conveyor 23 is disposed at a position facing the side belt conveyor 33 with the case conveyor 5 interposed therebetween. The cardboard case holding surface 23a for holding the cardboard case 15 of the downstream side belt conveyor 23 is configured to be movable in parallel, similarly to the case of the upstream side belt conveyor 23.
The container-containing cardboard case 15 is sandwiched between the side belt conveyor 23 and the side belt conveyor 33, and the position in the lateral direction (the direction perpendicular to the transport direction) on the case conveyor 5 is restrained. As shown in FIG. 7, the container-equipped cardboard case 15 sent in this state is cut by a cutter 31 having a pair of rotary blades from the bottom plate 15c (see FIG. 7) to a cutting line 15b slightly smaller than the bottom plate 15c (see FIG. 7). , 15b. As a result, the container-containing cardboard case 15 is in a state where the cutting of the other three sides is completed except for one side on the rear side of the bottom plate 15c. Thick arrows in FIG. 7 indicate the moving direction of the container-equipped cardboard case 15. As described above, in the cutting means 4, while the container-containing cardboard case 15 is running, a cutting operation on one side of the rear end of the container-containing cardboard case-a directional rotation operation of the container-containing cardboard case 15-a container-containing cardboard case Fifteen
Since the cutting operation on the two sides on both sides can be performed continuously, automation and speeding-up are easy.

Next, the sorting means 6 will be described in detail. The separating means 6 includes a container conveyor 9 installed at the same height as an extension of the case conveyor 5 of the container-containing cardboard case 15, and an upper surface plate 15d of the container-containing cardboard case 15.
A cardboard case elevating / lowering means 40 provided with a suction head (transfer means) 42 for sucking, an empty case conveyor 8 for receiving the empty cardboard case 16 carried by the suction head 42, and a cardboard case position detection sensor (not shown). Have been. Cardboard case lifting / lowering means 4
Reference numeral 0 denotes a suction head 42, an air cylinder 41 for vertically moving the suction head 42, a moving frame 43 on which the air cylinder 41 and the linear bearing 47 are mounted, and a traveling rail 48 that engages with the linear bearing 47 of the moving frame 43. A moving frame 43 comprising a suction head frame 44 provided with a pair of chain sprockets 45 and chains 46 attached to the suction head frame 44;
And a control device for controlling the vertical movement and horizontal movement of the suction head 42 (not shown). Suction head frame 44 of the cardboard case lifting / lowering moving means 40
Are fixed to each of the frame 21 and the frame of the container conveyor 9. One chain sprocket 45
Is driven by a motor (not shown).

When a cardboard case position detection sensor (not shown) detects the cardboard case 15 at the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the air cylinder 41 at the position shown by the two-dot chain line is operated by the command of the controller (not shown). To lower the upper surface plate 15d of the container-containing cardboard case 15.
Is adsorbed. Next, the suction head 42 moves at the same speed as the case conveyor 5 with the container-containing cardboard case 15 being suctioned, and moves the container-containing cardboard case 15 with the three sides of the bottom plate 15 c cut toward the container conveyor 9. To raise. Then, the cardboard case 15 with the container
The bottom plate 15c of the container starts to open obliquely, and the container (eg, PET bottle) 17 in the container-containing cardboard case spills onto the container conveyor 9, and the cardboard case becomes empty.

The suction head 42 further moves the empty cardboard case 16 horizontally to the position shown by the dashed line, carries it onto the empty case conveyor 8, and releases the empty cardboard case 16.
Thus, the container 17 and the empty cardboard case 16 are separated. After the separation of the empty cardboard case 16 and the container 17, the suction head 42 quickly returns to the initial position and prepares for the next operation. In the separation means 6 of the present embodiment, similar to the operation of the cutting means 4 in the preceding step, the separation operation can be performed while the container-containing cardboard case 15 is fed in the same direction and at the same speed as the case conveyor 5. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with automation of sorting work and enhancement of capacity. In addition, since the structure of the separation device is simple, it can be manufactured at low cost.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention. For convenience of description, in FIG. 8, components having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The case unpacking and sorting apparatus of the present embodiment is different from the unpacking and sorting line described in the first embodiment only in the configuration of the separating means 6 for separating the container-containing cardboard case 15 and the container (PET bottle or the like) 17. Since the configuration of the other devices is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment,
The description of the configuration of the other parts is omitted. The separating means 6 is provided between the case conveyor 5 and a cardboard case lifting / lowering moving means 50 provided with a suction head 42 for sucking the upper surface plate 15 d of the container-containing cardboard case 15. An empty case conveyor 8 installed on an extension of the case conveyor with a gap substantially the same length as that of the container conveyor, a container conveyor 9 installed below the gap, and a cardboard case position detection sensor (not shown). I have.

The cardboard case lifting / lowering means 50 includes a suction head 42, an air cylinder 51 for moving the suction head 42 up and down a small distance, a moving frame 43 on which the air cylinder 51 and the linear bearing 47 are mounted, and a linear movement of the moving frame 43. Running rail 48 which engages with bearing 47
And a pair of chain sprockets 4 attached to the suction head frame 44.
5 and a chain 46, and a control device for controlling the vertical movement and horizontal movement of the suction head 42 (not shown). The suction head frame 44 of the cardboard case lifting / lowering moving means 50 is
It is fixed to each of the frame 21 and the frame of the empty case conveyor 8. One chain sprocket 45
The shaft 49 is driven by a motor (not shown).

The movement trajectory when the suction head 42 handles the container-containing cardboard case 15 is as shown in the upper part of FIG. The solid line of the movement trajectory shown in FIG. 6 indicates the trajectory when the suction head 42 sucks and carries the container-containing cardboard case 15, and the broken line indicates the next container-containing cardboard case 1.
5 shows a trajectory that quickly returns to the original position in order to get back to 5. When a cardboard case position detecting sensor (not shown) detects the container-containing cardboard case 15 at the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the air cylinder 51 at the position shown by the two-dot chain line lowers the suction head 42 according to a command from a control device (not shown). Then, the upper surface plate 15d of the container-containing cardboard case 15 is sucked.

Next, the upper surface plate 15d of the cardboard case 15 containing the container is sucked by the suction head 42, and the cardboard case containing the container is lifted a short distance to bring the case conveyor 5 into place.
Move horizontally in the same direction and at the same speed. At this time, since the three sides of the bottom plate 15c of the container-containing cardboard case 15 are cut off, the bottom plate 15c starts to open diagonally in the gap between the conveyors 5 and 8, and the container 17 is dropped onto the container conveyor 9, and Thereby, the container 17 and the empty cardboard case 16 are separated. Empty cardboard case 16
Further travels in the same direction, is carried onto the empty case conveyor 8, and is separated from the suction head.

After the empty cardboard case 16 is released, the suction head 42 quickly returns to its original position to prepare for the next operation. In the sorting means 6 of the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the container-containing cardboard case 15 is moved in the same direction and at the same speed as the case conveyor 5 in the same manner as in the operation of the cutting means 4 in the previous step. Since the sorting operation can be performed while feeding, it is possible to easily cope with the automation of the sorting operation and the enhancement of the capacity. In addition, since the separating means 6 of the present embodiment has a simple structure, it can be manufactured at low cost. Further, the separation means 6 of the present embodiment is particularly provided with an air cylinder 5 for raising the suction head 42.
Since the stroke of one is short and the return process of the horizontal movement of the suction head 42 is quickly returned, the capacity of the sorting line can be greatly increased.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 9, components having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The case unpacking and sorting apparatus of the present embodiment is different from the unpacking and sorting line described in the first embodiment only in the configuration of the separating means 6 for separating the container-containing cardboard case 15 and the container (PET bottle or the like) 17. Since the configuration of the other devices is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment,
The description of the configuration of the other parts is omitted.

The separating means 6 of the present embodiment comprises a container conveyor 9 installed at substantially the same height as an extension of the case conveyor 5 of the container-containing cardboard case 15 and a nip roll 66 by lifting the front side of the container-containing cardboard case. , 67, and crushes the cardboard case and sends it to the next process.
7, an empty case conveyor 8 for receiving a crushed cardboard case 16 ', and a container-containing cardboard case 1
5, a control device (not shown) for controlling the operation of the nip roll device 60 for crushing the corrugated cardboard case, and a position sensor for corrugated cardboard case (not shown).

Next, the configuration and operation of the cardboard case crushing nip roll device 60 will be described in detail. The cardboard case crushing nip roll device 60 is provided with a suction head 61 for sucking the top plate 15 d of the container-containing cardboard case 15.
A head lever 64 for rotatably supporting the suction head 61 via a shaft 62, an air cylinder 65 for driving the head lever 64 to rotate about a position fixing shaft 63, and a cardboard which is obliquely lifted by the suction head 61. Case 1
The movable nip roll 67 and the fixed nip roll 66 are configured so as to be able to open and close and rotate so as to capture the upper corner of the nip roll 6.

The moving nip roll 67 is supported by a nip roll lever 68 so as to be rotatable about an external fixed shaft 69. The nip roll lever 68 is rotatably driven by a pneumatic (or hydraulic) actuator 71, whereby a clamping force is applied between the fixed nip roll 66 and the moving nip roll 67. The fixed nip roll 66 is rotatably supported by the external fixed member 70 and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The operation timing of the suction head 42 and the opening / closing timing of the moving nip roll 67 are controlled by a control device (not shown).

When a cardboard case position detection sensor (not shown) detects the cardboard case 15 at the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the air silicer 65 pushes down the suction head lever 64 in response to a command from a control device (not shown). Thereby, the suction head 61 suctions the upper surface plate of the container-equipped cardboard case 15. Next, if the air cylinder 65 lifts the container-containing cardboard case 15 while rotating the suction head 61 via the suction head lever 64, the container-containing cardboard case is removed while the container 17 remains on its bottom plate 15c. The upper part from the cutting lines 15a and 15b is opened diagonally.

Empty cardboard case 1 by suction head 61
When the roller 6 is lifted obliquely, the nip rolls 66 and 67 which have been waiting at an interval are closed with the upper corner of the empty cardboard case 16 interposed therebetween, thereby crushing the empty cardboard case. On the other hand, the container 17 is a cardboard case 1 containing a container.
5 spills from the inside onto the container conveyor 9 and is separated from the empty cardboard case 16. The empty cardboard case 16 'sent while being crushed is placed on the empty case conveyor 8 and carried to the next recovery step.

In the separation means 6 of this embodiment, the first
As in the case of the second embodiment, the sorting operation is performed while the container-containing cardboard case 15 is fed in the same direction and at the same speed as the case conveyor 5 in the same manner as in the operation of the cutting means 4 in the previous step. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with automation of sorting work and high capacity. In addition, since the separating means 6 of the present embodiment has a simple structure, it can be manufactured at low cost. further,
In the separating means 6 of the present embodiment, the empty cardboard case 16 '
Is fed to the empty case conveyor 8 in a crushed state, so that the crushing operation in the next step can be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the cutting means 4 is configured to cut the other three sides of the bottom edge of the bottom of the container-containing cardboard case 15 except one side opposite to the feeding direction. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured such that the other portion of the bottom edge of the container-containing cardboard case is cut away while leaving a portion opposite to the feed direction.
That is, the cutting means 4 may be cut so as to leave a portion shorter than one side of the container-containing cardboard case or a portion longer than the one side and extending to both sides of the case. In short, the top plate 15 of the cardboard case 15 containing the container
When d is lifted, it may be cut so that the bottom plate 15c opens downward. In this specification, the bottom plate edge is
Means the bottom plate edge and its vicinity.

In the above embodiment, the shape of the container-containing cardboard case is substantially cubic, and the cutting means 4 cuts one side of the bottom plate edge of the container-containing cardboard case 15 opposite to the feed direction. The present invention is configured by one set of the horizontal rotary cutter 31 and two sets of the horizontal rotary cutters 31 that cut two sides on both sides in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction at the edge of the bottom plate of the container-containing cardboard case 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or two or four or more cutters may be used. The number of cutters is not particularly limited. Therefore, the shape of the container-containing cardboard case is not particularly limited.

Further, the container described in the present invention is a representation of the contents stored in the case, and may be any contents other than the containers. In this case, the present invention unpacks the content-containing case and separates the content from the empty case. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the suction heads 42 and 61 are employed as the transfer means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the point is that the upper surface plate of the case is pulled up in the same moving direction and the same speed as the case conveyor. The transfer means may have any configuration as long as the empty case can be moved to a predetermined place.

[0038]

As described above, according to the case unpacking / separating apparatus of the present invention, the case containing the container is unpacked, the container is taken out of the case containing the container, and the container is separated into the empty case and the container. In the packing and sorting apparatus, a case conveyor for transporting the container-containing case, cutting means for cutting another portion of the bottom edge of the container-containing case except for a part opposite to a feeding direction, and the empty case And a separating means for separating the containers, a container conveyor for sending the containers separated by the separating means to the next step, and an empty case conveyor for sending the empty cases separated by the separating means to the next step. The following effects can be obtained.

That is, according to the present invention, the cutting operation can be continuously performed while feeding the case with the container in the same direction and at the same speed as the case conveyor, and the case with the container can be moved in the same direction as the case conveyor. Since the sorting operation can be continuously performed while feeding at a high speed, it is possible to easily cope with automation and speeding up of the unpacking operation and the sorting operation. Further, since the cutting means and the sorting means of the present invention have a simple structure, they can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, in the present invention, the separating means comprises a transferring means for lifting the container-containing case cut by the cutting means by a small distance and transferring it to a predetermined position;
An empty case that is installed at approximately the same height on the extension of the case conveyor with a gap approximately the same length as the length of the container-containing case from the end in the conveyance direction of the case conveyor, and receives an empty case from the transfer means. A conveyor and a container conveyor that is installed below the gap and receives a container separated from the container-containing case, and in the middle of transferring the container-containing case by the transfer means, When the container is dropped on the container conveyor and the container and the empty case are separated from each other, the rising movement stroke of the container-containing case by the transfer means may be short, and the transfer means is quickly returned to the original position. Therefore, the processing capacity of the sorting line can be further increased.

Further, in the present invention, the separating means is adsorbed to a container conveyor installed at substantially the same height as an extension of the case conveyor and to an upper plate of a container-containing case cut by the cutting means. A suction head that obliquely lifts a portion above the cutting line of the container-containing case while leaving the container on the bottom plate of the container-containing case,
A nip roll for taking in the upper corner of the empty case lifted by the suction head, and an empty case conveyor for receiving the crushed empty case sandwiched between the nip rolls. In addition, when the container is dropped from the container-containing case onto the container conveyor and the container is separated into the empty case and the container, in addition to being able to cope with the automation and high performance of the separating operation, the empty case can be accommodated. Can be sent to the empty case conveyor in a crushed state,
The operation of crushing the case in the next step can be omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a case unpacking / separating apparatus according to the present invention, in which a container-containing cardboard case is unpacked and separated from a palletized state, and containers and empty cardboard cases are separately reduced. It is a figure which shows schematically the unpacking and sorting line which carries and accumulates.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the first embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the first embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing a main part of the first embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which one side of the bottom plate of the container-containing cardboard case is cut in the first embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing cutting of two sides of the bottom plate of the container-containing cardboard case in the first embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view showing a main part of a second embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view showing a main part of a third embodiment of the case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 pallet loading 2 transfer robot 3 stage boss case placement section 4 cutting means 5 case conveyor 6 sorting means 7 cardboard case compression and stacking device 8 empty case conveyor 9 container conveyor 10 liquid draining device 11 volume reduction device 12 container conveyor 15 container Entering cardboard case 15a, 15b Cutting line 15c Bottom plate 15d Top plate 16 Empty cardboard case 16a Bottom plate 17 Container 19 Stopper 21 Frame 22, 23, 33 Side belt conveyor 22a, 23a Cardboard case sandwiching surface 25, 26 Lever 27 Air cylinder 28 Link lever 29 Stopper Pin 30 Fixing Pin (Case Rotating Mechanism) 31 Horizontal Cutter 40 Cardboard Case Elevating / Moving Means 41 Air Cylinder 42 Suction Head 43 Moving Frame 44 Suction Head Frame 45 E over emissions sprocket 46 chain 47 linear bearings 48 traveling rail 50 cardboard case vertical moving means 51 the air cylinder 60 cardboard case crushing nip roll 61 suction head 66 nip 68 nip roll lever 69 external fixation shaft 70 outside the fixed member

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A case unpacking separation apparatus for unpacking a container-containing case, taking out the container from the case, and separating the container into an empty case and a container, comprising: a case conveyor for transporting the container-containing case; Cutting means for cutting the edge of the bottom plate except for one part and cutting other parts, separating means for separating the empty case and the container, a container conveyor for feeding the separated container to the next step, and A case unpacking and sorting device comprising an empty case conveyor for sending to a case. 2. The container-containing case has a substantially cubic shape, and the cutting means cuts the other three sides of the bottom edge of the container-containing case except for one side opposite to the feeding direction. The case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The case conveyor includes a pair of upstream side belt conveyors disposed on both sides of the case conveyor, and a predetermined interval downstream of the pair of upstream side belt conveyors. A pair of downstream side belt conveyors arranged on both sides, and the rotating blade protrudes from the case clamping surface of the one side belt conveyor on the upstream side, and is opposite to the feeding direction side of the bottom plate edge of the container-containing case. A case that is provided between a pair of horizontal rotating cutters that cut one side and the upstream side belt conveyor and the downstream side belt conveyor, and rotates the container-containing case horizontally by 90 degrees. The rotating blades protrude from the case holding surfaces of both the rotating mechanism and the pair of downstream side belt conveyors, and the bottom of the container-containing case is 3. The case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to claim 2, comprising two sets of horizontal rotary cutters that cut two sides on both sides of the plate edge in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. 4. 4. A container conveyor which is installed at substantially the same height on an extension of the case conveyor and receives the containers separated from the container case, and a container case cut by the cutting means. And an empty case conveyor that is disposed at a predetermined height from the container conveyor and receives an empty case carried by the transfer means, and thus the container-containing case is The case unpacking separation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the container is separated into a container and an empty case when lifted upward. 5. A transfer means for lifting the container-containing case cut by the cutting means for a short distance and transferring the container-containing case to a predetermined position; An empty case conveyor that is installed at approximately the same height on the extension of the case conveyor with a gap approximately the same length as the extension of the case conveyor and receives an empty case from the transfer means, and is installed below the gap, from the container-containing case. A container conveyor for receiving the separated containers; therefore, during the transfer of the container-containing case by the transfer means, the container is dropped on the container conveyor in the gap to separate the container and the empty case. Claim 2 or Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The case unpacking and sorting device described in 1. 6. The transfer means, wherein the container-containing case cut by the cutting means is lifted by sucking its upper plate and moved in the same moving direction and at the same speed as the case conveyor, and the empty case is separated. The case unpacking and sorting apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the suction head returns to the original position after the operation. 7. The container-containing case, wherein the separation means is attached to a container conveyor installed at substantially the same height as an extension of the case conveyor and an upper plate of the container-containing case cut by the cutting means. A suction head that obliquely lifts a portion above the cutting line of the container-containing case while leaving the container on the bottom plate, a nip roll that takes in the upper corner of the empty case lifted by the suction head, and is sandwiched between the nip rolls. And an empty case conveyor for receiving the crushed empty case, so that when the empty case is taken into the nip roll, the container is dropped from the container-containing case onto the container conveyor, and the empty case and the container The case unpacking separation device according to claim 1, wherein the separation is performed.