JP2000289722A - Device for inserting partition member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate forming and inserting processes for a partition member to be arranged in a cardboard box. SOLUTION: Forming and insertion of a partition member 5 are carried out by a supplying process (1) for repeatedly feeding out and supplying a partition member 5 under its developed state, a forming process (2) for deforming the partition member under its developed state into a folded state having two slant surfaces, a transferring process (3) for restricting the formed partition member 5 from its both sides to transfer it while keeping its folded state, and an inserting process (4) for pressing the transferred partition member 5 and inserting it into a cardboard box 6 while a size L' of the partition member between both side edges being kept at a value less than a corresponding inner size S of the cardboard box 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for inserting a partition member for forming a paper-made middle partition into an inverted V-shape in a paper box. The paper box or the paper middle partition (partition member) referred to here is formed of, for example, cardboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When fruits and vegetables (for example, watermelon) are stored in a cardboard box, an inverted V-shaped partition member 5 may be arranged in the box as shown in FIG. In this case, FIG.
(A) As shown in (b), the objects 7 are put on both sides of the partition member 5 and the weight of the partition member 5 is deformed into a substantially T-shape, so that the inside of the cardboard box 6 is substantially in the center. A partition 5 'having a space 8 is formed.

[0003]

In order to form the middle partition 5 ', it is necessary to fold the partition member in a developed state into a V-shape, and to push it into a cardboard box. Conventionally, since all of these series of processes are performed manually, improvement of work efficiency by automation is desired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to automate the steps of forming and inserting such a partition member.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a partition member insertion device according to the present invention is provided for forming a middle partition by inserting a paper partition member into a paper box in an inverted V shape. A supply mechanism for sequentially feeding and supplying an unfolded partition member, a forming mechanism for forming the partition member supplied from the supply mechanism into a center-fold shape having two slopes, and a formed partition. A transfer mechanism for transferring the member while maintaining its folded state, and a paper box while pressing the partition member transferred by the transfer mechanism to maintain a dimension between both side edges of the partition member equal to or less than a corresponding internal size of the paper box. And an insertion mechanism for inserting the insertion mechanism.

The forming mechanism comprises a pair of forming portions separated by a distance smaller than a dimension between both side edges of the partition member in the expanded state, and pushing means for pushing the partition member in the expanded state between the two forming portions. be able to.

The transfer mechanism includes a pair of holding guides separated by a distance smaller than a dimension between both side edges of the partition member in the unfolded state, and provided with support portions for supporting the side edges of the partition member on respective opposing surfaces. And a transfer means for sliding the partition member supported by the holding guide. The above-mentioned pair of molded portions may be formed integrally with the holding guide, thereby simplifying the mechanism.

The insertion mechanism has an inner pressing member that presses the middle bent portion of the partition member, and a pair of outer pressing members that presses both slopes, and a dimension between each side edge of the partition member with each of the pressing members. Can be constituted by a holding means for holding the holding means at or below the corresponding inner size of the paper box, and an inserting means for sliding the holding means.

The side edge of the partition member can be smoothly separated from the supporting portion of the holding guide when pressed by the insertion mechanism.
As the detaching means, it is desirable to form a tapered surface (including a cross-sectional linear shape and a cross-sectional curved shape) for supporting both side edges of the partition member that has reached the insertion mechanism.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the steps of forming and inserting a partition by the partition inserting apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in the figure, this step is a supply step of feeding and feeding the partition members 5 (formed of, for example, cardboard) in an unfolded state one by one, and forming the partition members 5 into an inverted V-shaped middle-fold shape in cross section. It comprises a process, a transfer step of transferring the formed partition member 5, and an insertion step of inserting the partition member 5 into a paper box such as a cardboard box 6.

The partition member 5 is formed symmetrically with respect to a central portion 5a which becomes a horizontal plane after molding. have. This wide part 5b is composed of three parts defined by two valley broken lines A1 indicated by broken lines, and the ear parts 5b1 formed on both sides of the three parts are inserted into the cardboard box 6 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, it is pressed against the side wall 6a of the box 6 in an inclined state (a state in which the valley broken line A1 side is raised from the side wall). In order to prevent interference between the ear 5b1 and the side wall 6a when the partition member 5 is inserted into the cardboard box 6, the lower corner 5b2 of the ear 5b1 is obliquely cut. At the tip end of the wide portion 5b, a box 6 is accommodated when the object 7 shown in FIG.
The tongue piece 5c pressed against the bottom 6c is formed through the valley fold line A2. After the molding in the molding step, the slope portion 5e is formed by the tongue piece portion 5c and the wide portion 5b. The width of the central portion 5a and the tongue piece 5c is not more than the widthwise inner dimension W of the cardboard box 6.

The above supply step is performed by the supply mechanism 1 shown in FIGS. The supply mechanism 1 includes a plurality of (three in the drawing) sheet loading members 11 driven up and down by a cylinder 10 and a carry-in conveyor 12 arranged in parallel between the sheet loading members 11. 5
Are loaded on the sheet loading member 11 in a state where many sheets are stacked. The upper surface of the sheet loading member 11 is higher than the transport level of the loading conveyor 12 during loading, but when loading is completed, the loading conveyor 12
To below the transport level. When the sheet loading member 11 descends, the partition members 5 in a stacked state are transferred onto the carry-in conveyor 12 and sent to the magazine unit 13. The stacked partitioning members 5 sent to the magazine 13 are positioned and held by the width guides 14 and the back pressing guides 15 and further pressed down by the pressing force of the sheet press member 17 driven up and down by the cylinder 16. In this state, the loading conveyor
When the intermittent drive 12 is performed, the partitioning members 5 are fed out one by one from the bottom of the stack, and the feeding roller 18 and the auxiliary roller 19 are fed out.
, And sequentially fed into the molding process.

The molding process is performed by the molding mechanism 2 shown in FIGS. The forming mechanism 2 includes a pair of forming portions 20 separated by a distance smaller than a distance L (see FIG. 1) between both side edges 5d of the partition member 5 in the developed state, and the partition member 5 in the expanded state.
And a pushing means 21 for pushing between the molding portions 20. The pushing means 21 of the present embodiment is a
22 and a protruding member 23 driven up and down by the protruding cylinder 22. The protruding member 23 is provided at a position for pressing the central portion 5a of the partition member 5 in the deployed state. In the present embodiment, the forming section 20 is provided at each lower edge of the pair of holding guides 24 arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction and facing each other (the lower edge just above the pushing means 21). Although the case where the molding unit 20 and the holding guide 24 are integrated is illustrated as an example, the molding unit 20 and the holding guide 24 may be configured separately. The two holding guides 24 are spaced apart from each other by a distance smaller than the distance L between the both side edges, for example, the wide portion 5b of the partition member 5 pushed by the pushing means 21.
Are fixed to the frame 9 via a support member (not shown).

The unfolded partition member 5 supplied from the supply mechanism 1 to the forming mechanism 2 is placed on a table 25 and is positioned and held by a sheet guide 26, a sheet stopper 27 and a seat back stopper 28. Next, the protruding cylinder 22 is activated to raise the protruding member 23 and push up the partition member 5 to push it into the space between the holding guides 24. Thereby, the partition member 5 in the deployed state receives the pressing force from the forming portion 20 and is bent in the middle, so that the partition member 5 is formed into an inverted V-shape. At this time, the partition member 5 is bent at two bending lines between the central portion 5a and the wide portions 5b. The protruding cylinder 22 includes the partition member 5.
5d pass through the forming part 20, and furthermore, the holding guide 24
When it engages with a support portion 24a (described later) provided on each of the opposed surfaces, the ascent is stopped, and thereafter, it returns to the initial position. A stopper 29 fixed to the frame 9 is provided slightly above the upper limit position of the protruding member 23, and the partition member 5 receiving a rising force from the protruding member 23 by the stopper 29.
Is prevented from jumping out.

The above transfer step is performed by the transfer mechanism 3 shown in FIGS. The transfer mechanism 3 is a mechanism that transfers the partition member 5 formed in the forming step to the start position of the insertion step while restraining the partition member 5 from both sides thereof and maintaining the folded state.

The partition member 5 is restrained from both sides by the pair of holding guides 24. On each of the opposing surfaces of the holding guide 24, a supporting portion 24a is formed so as to protrude over its entire length. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the support portion 24a engages with both side edges 5d of the partition member 5 formed in a bent shape to support the partition member 5, and causes the partition member 5 to drop during transfer. To prevent
As shown in FIG. 7A, the partition member 5 of the support portion 24a is formed.
24a1 (upper surface of support 24a) in contact with both side edges
Is a substantially horizontal plane, but the support surface 24a1 that comes into contact with both side edges 5d of the partition member 5 reaching the start position of the insertion step is formed in a tapered surface shape as shown in FIG. Support
24a may be formed as a separate member from the holding guide 24 as shown, or may be formed integrally with the holding guide 24.

The partition member 5 is horizontally conveyed by the conveying means 31 while being constrained from both sides by the holding guide 24 and supported. The transfer means 31 is composed of a transfer cylinder 32 and a transfer member 33. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of plate-like members separated as a transfer member 33 at a distance smaller than the separation distance of the holding guide 24. Are exemplified. The transfer member 33 is on standby at a position behind the partition member 5 (on the side of the supply mechanism 1) during the formation of the partition member 5, but when the molding is completed, both side edges of the partition member 5 are formed.
When 5d rides on the support portion 24a and engages with the support surface 24a1, the rear end of the partition member 5 (in this embodiment, the rear end of the wide portion 5b) is pressed by the contraction of the transfer cylinder 32, and this is pressed. Let go forward. During the movement of the partition member 5, the side edges thereof
5d slides on the support surface 24a1 of the support portion 24a. At this time, since the elastic expansion of the partition member 5 is regulated by the holding guide 24, the partition member 5 is transferred to the insertion step while maintaining the shape immediately after molding.

FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIG.
Is performed by the insertion mechanism 4 shown in FIG. This insertion mechanism 4
Presses the partition member 5 transferred by the transfer mechanism 3 from its mountain side (the surface side forming a mountain), and sets the dimension L 'between the side edges 5d of the formed partition member 5 to the corresponding internal dimension S of the paper box or less. The partition member 5 is inserted into the paper box 6 while holding the
And an insertion means 41 (for example, an insertion cylinder) for driving the holding means 40 up and down.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the holding means 40 presses the middle bent portion (the portion which becomes the top of the V-shape, the center portion 5a in the present embodiment) of the middle bent partition member 5. The partition member 5 includes an inner pressing member 42 and a pair of outer pressing members 43 that press both slope portions 5e of the partition member 5. In this embodiment, as the inner pressing member 42, an inverted V-shaped member fixed to two front and rear portions of the lifting platform 44 is exemplified. As the outer pressing member 43, the front and rear arms 45 are disposed along the front and rear direction. A rod-like member horizontally supported by the elevating table 44 via a is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 6, the inner angle α of the inner pressing member 42
Is slightly larger than the bending angle β of the partition member 5 during the transfer step and the insertion step. The holding means 40
Can pass between the holding guides 24 and the cardboard box 6
It is configured with dimensions that allow it to be inserted inside.

During the transfer of the partition member 5 by the transfer mechanism 3,
The holding means 40 is on standby above the partition member 5. The partition member 5 transferred to the forming mechanism 4 has a wide portion.
By contacting the stopper 5b fixed to the frame 9 with the 5b, it is positioned immediately below the holding means 40, that is, at the start position of the insertion step. Simultaneously with the completion of the positioning of the partition member 5, the insertion cylinder 41 extends, and the holding means 40 is lowered. By the lowering of the holding means 40, the inner pressing member 42 and the outer pressing member 43 respectively come into contact with the partition member 5, and the partition member 5 is pushed down and is placed in the cardboard box 6 waiting on the carry-out conveyor 47 as shown in FIG. Pushed. At this time, the pushing speed of the holding means 40 is set higher than the free falling speed (strictly, the maximum value) of the partition member so that the inner pressing member 42 and the outer pressing member 43 can surely contact the partition member 5 respectively. . In this case, since the partition member 5 comes into three-point contact with the holding means 40, the shape of the partition member 5 being lowered is held against its elastic expanding force. Therefore, if the mutual positional relationship between the pressing members 42 and 43 is appropriately set in advance, the dimension L ′ between both side edges of the partitioning member 5 that is being lowered is kept to be equal to or less than the corresponding internal dimension S of the cardboard box 6. Thus, the partition member 5 can be smoothly inserted into the cardboard box 6. In the case where the wide portion 5b is provided in the partition member 5 as in the present embodiment, the wide portion 5b of the partition member 5 receives a large resistance from the side wall 6a of the cardboard box 6 with the pushing, but as described above. If the member 5 is forcibly pushed into the cardboard box 6 by the holding means 40, insertion failure of the partition member 5 can be avoided.

In order to lower the partition member 5 supported by the holding guide 24, it is necessary to smoothly remove both side edges 5d of the partition member 5 from the support portion 24a of the holding guide 24. In this embodiment, as the detaching means, the support surface 24a1 of the support portion 24a is formed as a tapered surface as described above (FIG. 5).
(See (b)), the engagement between the side edge portions 5d and the support portions 24a can be smoothly released. As other detaching means, a configuration in which the protrusion width of the support portion 24a at the start position of the insertion step is reduced can be adopted.

The structure of the holding means 40 is not limited to the above-described structure, as long as the holding means 40 can hold the dimension L 'between the side edges of the partition member 5 after molding within the corresponding internal dimension S of the paper box. For example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, guide plates 48 spaced apart by the distance equal to or less than the internal dimension S are attached to both side surfaces of the holding guide 24, and the lower end of the guide plate 48 may be made to approach the upper end opening of the cardboard box 6. Good. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner press member 42 and the outer press member 43 also serve as the guide plate 48, and only one of them may be used.

Hereinafter, the same procedure is repeated, and the partition members 5 are sequentially inserted into the cardboard boxes 6 which are continuously supplied. The cardboard box 6 into which the partition member 5 is inserted is carried out by the unloading conveyor.
At 47, the paper is sequentially discharged from the machine, and as in FIG.

[0025]

According to the present invention, since the molding of the middle partition member and the operation of inserting the middle partition member into the paper box are automated, the efficiency and the labor saving of the manufacturing process of the paper box having the middle partition can be improved. In particular, in the apparatus of the present invention, since the partition member is forcibly pushed into the paper box by the holding means, it is suitable for forming and inserting a partition member having a wider portion larger than the inner size of the paper box.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a molding / inserting step of a partition member according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a molding mechanism, a transfer mechanism, and an insertion mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a holding guide.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an insertion step by the device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a paper box into which a partition member has been inserted.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process of storing an object to be stored in a paper box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply mechanism 2 Forming mechanism 3 Transfer mechanism 4 Insertion mechanism 5 Partition member 5 'Middle partition 5a Central part 5b Wide part 5d Side edge part 5e Slope part 6 Paper box (cardboard box) 20 Molding part 21 Pushing means 24 Holding guide 24a Supporting part 24a1 Support surface 31 Transfer means 40 Holding means 41 Insertion means 42 Inner holding member 43 Outer holding member Dimension between L and L 'side edges

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 7, 2000 (2000.2.7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The transfer mechanism is separated by a distance smaller than a dimension between both side edges of the partition member in the unfolded state, and a support portion for supporting the partition member by engaging with the side edge of the partition member on each of the opposing surfaces. And a transfer means for sliding a partition member supported by the holding guide. The above-mentioned pair of molded portions may be formed integrally with the holding guide, thereby simplifying the mechanism. In this case, the partition member supplied from the supply mechanism is pushed between the two molding parts by the pushing means of the molding mechanism until both side edges of the partition member ride on the support part of the transfer mechanism and engage with the support part. Preferably, the partition member is transferred by a transfer means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] An apparatus for forming a middle partition by inserting a paper partition member into an inverted V-shape into a paper box, comprising: a supply mechanism for sequentially feeding and supplying an expanded partition member; and a supply mechanism. Mechanism for forming the partition member supplied from the above into a bent shape having two slopes, a transfer mechanism for transferring the formed partition member while maintaining the bent state, and a transfer mechanism for transferring the formed partition member. An insertion mechanism for pressing the partition member and inserting the partition member into the paper box while maintaining the dimension between both side edges of the partition member equal to or smaller than the corresponding internal dimension of the paper box. 2. A pair of forming parts, wherein a forming mechanism is separated by a distance smaller than a dimension between both side edges of the partitioning member in a developed state, and pushing means for pushing the partitioning member in a developed state between the two forming parts. The device for inserting a partition member according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured. 3. A pair of transfer mechanisms in which the transfer mechanism is separated by a distance smaller than a dimension between both side edges of the partition member in the unfolded state, and a support portion for supporting the side edge of the partition member is provided on each of the opposing surfaces. 2. The partition member inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the partition member inserting device includes a holding guide and a transfer unit that slides the partition member supported by the holding guide. 4. An insertion mechanism comprising: an inner pressing member for pressing a middle bent portion of a partition member; and a pair of outer pressing members for pressing both slopes, wherein each pressing member is provided between both side edges of the partition member. 2. The partition member inserting device according to claim 1, wherein said partitioning member comprises a holding means for holding said dimension equal to or smaller than a corresponding inner dimension of said paper box, and an inserting means for sliding said holding means.