JP2000313409A - Article boxing apparatus, and blank assembly unit, box feed conveyor, article aligning conveyor and article charging unit to be used for the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fully automate work of boxing articles in a box. SOLUTION: This apparatus is constituted of a combination of an assembly unit 10, a feed conveyor 20, an aligning conveyor 30 and a charging unit 40. The assembly unit 10 assembles a blank supplied from a stocker to form a box Wa of a folded type and delivers the box Wa to the feed conveyor 20. The charging unit 40 can charge at a time articles Wb, Wb... for one box, which are aligned on the aligning conveyor 30, into the box Wa on the feed conveyor 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article boxing apparatus capable of automatically packing articles such as liquid food in bag packaging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Articles such as liquid food and drinking water packaged in flexible bags are packed in a predetermined number and shipped.

[0003] That is, articles conveyed by a conveyor are divided into boxes, and a predetermined number of the boxes are packed in folding boxes assembled from blanks. Note that a series of boxing operations for such articles is usually performed manually by an operator.

[0004]

However, according to the prior art, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the working efficiency because the box packing operation is performed manually.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article box capable of fully automating an article boxing operation by combining an assembling unit, a transport conveyor, an alignment conveyor, and a charging unit in view of the problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a filling device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembling unit for removing a blank from a stocker and assembling the blank into a box of a folding type, and transporting the box from the assembling unit. The main object of the present invention is to provide a transport conveyor for carrying out the process and an input unit for feeding one box of articles on the alignment conveyor into the boxes on the transport conveyor.

[0007] The structure of the second invention is a stocker for accommodating a large number of blanks, a swing arm for individually taking out blanks from the stocker via a suction cup, and a drive for deforming the blank held by the swing arm and assembling it into a box. The gist is to have a lever.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support table for slidably supporting a box, a pair of chains disposed along the support table, and first and second chains attached to the chains at predetermined intervals. A pusher plate;
The gist of the invention is that the second pusher plate protrudes alternately on the support table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chain, a plurality of transport plates attached to the chain, and each of the transport plates is attached to the chain.
The gist of the present invention is to provide a partition blade for erecting an article.

The gist of the fifth invention is to provide a guide table having a plurality of partition plates, and a pusher for moving an article on the guide table forward along the partition plates.

At the front end of the guide table, a shutter with a hook piece for holding the side surface of the box can be provided so as to be able to protrude and retract.

In addition, a guide plate connected to the partition plate can be provided in front of the guide table so as to be able to move up and down.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the assembling unit can assemble the blank from the stocker into a box, and the transport conveyor can transport the box from the assembling unit. In addition, the input unit can input one box of articles on the alignment conveyor into the boxes on the transport conveyor at once. In addition, the alignment conveyor can raise the articles carried in by the carry-in conveyor in an upright state, and correctly align the articles in the longitudinal direction of the box.

According to the structure of the second invention, the swing arm is
The blanks can be individually taken out of the stocker via the suction cups and held, and the drive lever can push the blanks held by the swing arm in the longitudinal direction into the box. In addition, the swing arm can release the box on the transport conveyor and transfer the box to the transport conveyor.

According to the configuration of the third aspect, the first and second
The pusher plate is separately attached to a pair of chains arranged along the support table, so the pair of chains can be moved relatively back and forth to adjust the distance between them and easily accommodate boxes of different sizes Can be done. The first and second pusher plates are located before and after the box on the support table, and can be transported by sliding the box on the support table.

According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, the partition blades are provided on a number of transport plates connected to the chain. Therefore, by moving each transport plate to one end side of the chain via the chain, the partition blades are set obliquely upward, and articles from the carry-in conveyor are transferred onto the partition blades, and the partition blades are erected. Thereby, the articles on the partition blades can be erected on the transport plate and aligned at a predetermined pitch. It is assumed that the chain has more transport plates in the horizontal traveling portion than the number of articles for one box. Further, the partition blades may be formed integrally with each transport plate, or may be separately attached to each transport plate.

According to the configuration of the fifth aspect, the pusher can move the articles on the guide table forward along the partition plate, and can throw one box of articles into the box at once. In addition, the pusher after loading the articles retracts upward and retreats, and transfers the next one box of articles onto the guide table.

When a shutter is provided at the front end of the guide table, the shutter protrudes higher than the guide table so that articles moving on the guide table can be properly aligned by the pusher. In addition, the shutter is stored below the guide table to hold the side surface of the box via the hook pieces, thereby preventing the box from being accidentally deformed when articles are put into the box.

The ascending and descending guide plate is continuous with the partition plate at the ascending position, maintains the alignment of the articles put into the box above the box, and enters the box at the descending position to enter the box. Can be kept in a predetermined alignment state.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The boxing device for articles includes an assembling unit 10,
The transport conveyor 20, the alignment conveyor 30, and the charging unit 40 are the main members (FIG. 1). Note that the transport conveyor 20 and the alignment conveyor 30 are disposed in parallel with each other, and the input unit 40 is disposed so as to connect the alignment conveyor 30 and the transport conveyor 20 to each other. Also, behind the alignment conveyor 30, articles Wb, W
b... are provided.

The assembling unit 10 is formed by combining a stocker 11, a swing arm 12, and a drive lever 13 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The stocker 11 has left and right fan-shaped partition plates 11c, 11c with respect to a center support rod 11b.
Is formed. The support rod 11b is partially supported by the support column 15 together with the upper guide rod 11a. The support 15 has a support rod 11b.
Is provided with a reinforcing plate 15a.

The partition plates 11c, 11c are formed by spacers 11b5, 11b together with the disc-shaped guide plates 11d, 11d.
5 are attached to the support rod 11b so that the distance can be adjusted. The spacers 11b5, 11b5...
Is prevented from falling off via an end plate 11b6 and a set screw 11b7. Guide rods 11e, 11e curved in an arc shape along the outer circumference of the partition plates 11c, 11c are provided below the partition plates 11c, 11c, and each of the guide rods 11e is provided with a threaded stopper 11e1, It is fixed on upper and lower fixed rods 11f, 11f via a space 11e1 so as to be adjustable in distance. The upper and lower fixed rods 11f,
11f is a bracket 15 attached to the column 15 respectively.
b is partially supported.

The stocker 11 has partitions 11c, 11c
The presser plate 11k which turns up and down between them is incorporated. The holding plate 11k is connected to an arm 11g via a square rod-shaped rod 11h having an operation handle 11h1 at the tip, and the arm 11g is rotated to the support column 15 side of the support rod 11b via a boss 11g1 having a built-in bearing. They are freely connected.

Then, the stocker 11 can radially store a large number of blanks W, W... Folded in a plate shape around the guide plates 11d, 11d between the partition plates 11c, 11c. The guide plates 11d, 11d are formed with different outer diameters in order to support the deformed blanks W, W ... in parallel with the support rod 11b. The holding plate 11k is pivoted downward via the arm 11g (in the direction of the arrow K1 in FIG. 2) to thereby guide the guide rod 11k.
can be pressed down on the blanks e, 11e.

The blanks W, W,... In the stocker 11 are guided by the guide plates 11d, 11d, and the guide rods 11e, 11e so as to rotate around the support rod 11b, and sequentially from the lower portions of the partition plates 11c, 11c. It can be taken out (in the direction of arrow K2 in FIG. 2). However, the blanks W, W... Do not accidentally fall off the stocker 11 by engaging with the left and right stoppers 11c1, 11c1... Provided on the end faces of the partition plates 11c, 11c (FIG. 3). Further, the stocker 11 includes spacers 11b5, 1
1b5... By changing the distance between the partition plates 11c, 11c and the diameter of the guide plates 11d, 11d.
It can be adapted to blanks W, W ... of different sizes and shapes.

The swing arm 12 is connected to a drive shaft 12b through a fixed member 12a having a slot (FIG. 2,
(Fig. 4). The fixing member 12a is fixed to the drive shaft 12b by tightening a bolt 12a1. The drive shaft 12b is rotatably supported via a collar 12b1 by a slotted support member 15c provided on the upper portion of the support post 15. I have. The support member 15c clamps the collar 12b1 by tightening the bolt 15c1, and the collar 12b1 is prevented from coming off via the stopper ring 12b2.

The cam follower 1 is connected to one end of the drive shaft 12b.
An arm 12c having a tip 2c1 is screwed, and the cam follower 12c1 is provided with a collar 1 of the drive shaft 12b.
Cam 12d via a torsion spring 12b3 mounted on
Is being urged towards. The cam 12d is mounted on the shaft end of the deceleration motor 12e.
Is mounted on the upper end of the column 15 via the bracket plate 15d (FIGS. 2 and 3). Under the swing arm 12, suction cups 12g, 12g connected to a common negative pressure source via a height-adjustable mounting base 12f are mounted facing forward. In addition, the suction cup 12 is attached to one end of the mounting base 12f.
A regulating plate 12f1 for defining the lowering limit of g and 12g is additionally provided.

The swing arm 12 drives the deceleration motor 12e to rotate the cam 12d, so that the suction cups 12g and 12g come into close contact with the blank W in the stocker 11 via the cam follower 12c1, the arm 12c and the drive shaft 12b. The take-out position (solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 5), the suction cup 12g,
12g can be swung back and forth between a retracted position (a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) and a retracted position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) where the 12g retracts to the outside of the conveyor 20 below the stocker 11. Note that the swing arm 12 is located between the unloading position and the retracted position, and is located at an assembly position (FIG. 2, FIG.
The suction cups 12g and 12g can be stopped at the delivery position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 5) and the delivery position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 5).

The drive lever 13 is disposed between the stocker 11 and the conveyor 20 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The drive lever 13 is connected to the side frame 21 of the conveyor 20.
The supporting member 13b on the bracket 13a fixed to the bracket b is supported swingably back and forth through a stepped pin 13c. An intermediate portion of the drive lever 13 is connected to a cylinder 13d mounted rearward on the mounting member 13b. That is, the drive lever 13 is connected to the cylinder 13d
, It is possible to swing back and forth between a rear standby position (solid line in FIG. 5) and a front operating position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 5).

The transport conveyor 20 includes left and right support tables 21, 21; a pair of chains 22a, 22b disposed along the support tables 21, 21;
First pusher plate 23 erected at a predetermined pitch on 2a
, and second pusher plates 23b, 23b,... erected at predetermined intervals on the other chain 22b (FIGS. 1, 6). Note that the chains 22a, 22
b is wound around the front and rear sprockets 24a, 24a, sprockets 24b, 24b, respectively, and guide grooves 21a, 21a formed in the support tables 21, 21 respectively.
It is housed movably.

The support tables 21, 21 are supported by left and right side frames 21b, 21b so as to face each other. Above the support tables 21, 21, guide members 21c, 21d for guiding a folding type box Wa formed from the blank W are arranged in the longitudinal direction. The guide member 21c includes a plurality of brackets 21c1,
The guide member 21d is installed above the side frame 21b on the side of the chain 22a via 21c1..., And a plurality of adjustment rods 21d2 screwed into the plate nut 21d1,
21d2, and holding blocks 21d3, 21d3,... With fixing screws 21d4 for fixing the adjusting rod 21d2, are arranged so as to be adjustable in parallel to the guide member 21c. However, each holding block 21d3 is erected on a bracket 21b1 attached to the side frame 21b. In FIG. 6, the brackets 21c1, 21c1 are shown.
, And only one of the holding blocks 21d3, 21d3,... And the related members are shown.

The upper part of each second pusher plate 23b is bent obliquely forward, and is attached to the chain 22b at a predetermined pitch via a column 23b1, and the upper part of each first pusher plate 23a is rearward. The chain 22 is obliquely bent at predetermined pitches via a support 23a1 (not shown).
a. The first and second pusher plates 2
3a, 23a..., 23b, 23b.
Projections 1 and 21 alternately. The rear sprockets 24a, 24b are rotatably mounted on a common shaft 25, and the front sprockets 24a, 24b are connected to a motor 26 via the common shaft 25. Therefore,
The transport conveyor 20 operates the motor 26 to intermittently rotate the chains 22a, 22b synchronously and to move the first and second pusher plates 23a, 23a, 23b, 23b,. 1, second pusher plate 23
a, 23b so that the support table 2
Can be conveyed by sliding the boxes Wa, Wa... On the first and the first 21 (in the direction of arrow K4 in FIGS. 1 and 6).

The front sprocket 24b can be rotated relative to the front sprocket 24a via the shaft 25 (FIG. 7). The shaft 25 has bearings 27, 2
The bearings 27 are fixed to the side frames 21b 21b via spacers 27a, respectively. The sprocket 24a is mounted on the shaft 25 via a key 25a.
Is mounted on the shaft 25 via the auxiliary member 24c.
An oblique spline that meshes with the oblique spline 25b on the shaft 25 is formed on the inner surface of the auxiliary member 24c, and the auxiliary member 24c moves around the shaft 25 by moving the shaft 25 in the axial direction. Can be rotated in reverse.

The bearing 27 between the sprockets 24a and 24b and the bearing 27 between the sprockets 24a
Spacers 25d, 2d are provided between the auxiliary members 24c, respectively.
5e and 25e are interposed. The shaft 25 slidably passes through a hollow output shaft 26b1 of the speed reducer 26b via a key 25c, and the output shaft 26b1 is connected to the motor 26 via an appropriate gear train. Also, axis 2
In No. 5, nut members 25g and 25g are mounted on the male screw portions at both ends. Therefore, in FIG. 7, one of the left and right nut members 25g, 25g is loosened and the other is tightened, and the shaft 2
5 in the axial direction (upper and lower halves in the figure), the sprocket 24b is rotated relative to the sprocket 24a in the forward and reverse directions via the auxiliary member 24c to move the chains 22a and 22b relative to each other. The distance d from the first pusher plate 23a to the front second pusher plate 23b can be adjusted according to the size of the box Wa (FIG. 1).

A carry-in conveyor 50 is provided on the upstream side of the aligning conveyor 30 so as to be unevenly high (FIGS. 1 and 8). The carry-in conveyor 50 is formed by wrapping a conveyor belt 52 around front and rear rollers 51, 51, and a slant downward slope 54 is installed at the downstream end via brackets 53, 53. Therefore, the loading conveyor 5
No. 0 can horizontally convey articles Wb, Wb... (In the direction of arrow K5 in FIGS. 1 and 8) and discharge them along the slope 54 (in the direction of arrow K5a in FIG. 8).

The alignment conveyor 30 includes a chain 33 wound around the front and rear drive sprockets 31 and guide sprockets 32, and a plurality of transport plates 34 connected to the chain 33.
34... (FIGS. 8 and 9). The drive sprocket 31 and the guide sprocket 32
A side frame 35 connected in a ladder shape through 5a ...
35 at both ends. However, the shaft member 37 for the driving sprocket 31 is connected to a motor 36 via a coupling 37b, and the motor 36 is attached to one side frame 35 via a spacer 36a. A shaft member 32a for the guide sprocket 32 is provided between the side frames 35, 35 via bolts 32b, 32b, and the guide sprocket 32 is rotatably mounted on the shaft member 32a via a bearing 32c. Have been.

A driving sprocket 31 is mounted on a large diameter portion of the shaft member 37 via a retaining ring 31b so as to be relatively rotatable (FIGS. 9 and 10).
For example, steel balls 31a, 31a... Slightly larger in diameter than the thickness of the driving sprocket 31 are buried movably in the axial direction of the shaft member 37 every 60 °. Are formed in the largest diameter portion of the shaft member 37 that is continuous with the large diameter portion. The recesses 37a, 37a, ... that engage with the steel balls 31a, 31a ... are formed. Is prevented from coming off via a pressing member 37c fitted to the small diameter portion of the second member. However, the pressing member 37c is urged toward the drive sprocket 31 via a spring 37d, and the spring 37d is prevented from coming off via lock nuts 37e, 37e. A dog 37g is attached to a shaft end of the shaft member 37 via nuts 37f, 37f.

On one side frame 35, a sensor 38a for detecting the movement of the pressing member 37c is mounted inside, and a sensor 38b for detecting one rotation of the shaft member 37 and the driving sprocket 31 via a dog 37g. It is mounted outside through a bracket 38b1. The steel balls 31a, 31a,..., The pressing member 37c, and the spring 37d form a torque limiter between the shaft member 37 and the driving sprocket 31. That is, the driving sprocket 3
When the load torque of No. 1 becomes excessive, the steel balls 31a, 31a ...
Are disengaged from the recesses 37a, 37a,..., And the shaft member 37 idles.
The pressing member 37c moves against d and can be detected by the sensor 38a.

Each of the transport plates 34 has downwardly engaging portions 34a, 34a formed on the left and right short sides, respectively, and partition blades 34b are provided upright on one long side (FIGS. 9 and 11).
The guide pieces 34b1, 34b1,..., Which are slanted forward and backward, are formed alternately on both side edges of the partitioning blade 34b. Each transport plate 34 is screwed to a bracket of the chain 33, and has left and right engaging portions 34a, 34a,.
The side frames 35 via the cover members 35c, 35c,
35 is slidably engaged with the upper edge. At both ends of one side frame 35, a disc-shaped cover member 35d with which the engaging portions 34a of the transport plates 34 are engaged,
35d is screwed coaxially with the shaft members 37 and 32a (FIGS. 8 and 9).

The aligning conveyor 30 can move the transport plates 34, 34... One pitch at a time via a motor 36 and a chain 33 (in the direction of arrow K6 in FIG. 8). Further, when each partitioning blade 34b is inclined in the extension direction of the slope 54 at one end of the chain 33, it guides the article Wb from the carry-in conveyor 50 toward the transport plate 34 (arrow K in FIG.
5a), as the transport plate 34 rotates upward, the article W
are raised (arrow K6a in the figure), and the articles Wb, Wb... can be raised on the transport plates 34, 34 and aligned in a line.

The input unit 40 includes the alignment conveyor 30,
Placed between the conveyors 20 (FIGS. 12 and 13),
, A pair of pushers 42, 42,... Disposed above the guide table 41, shutters 43, 43,. Guide plates 44, 44,...

The guide table 41 includes a bracket 41b.
Through one of the side frames 35 of the conveyor 30
And the upper transport plates 34, 3 of the alignment conveyor 30.
It is installed at the same height as 4. Guide table 41
On the upper side, the upper partitioning blades 34b, 3b, 3
Partition plates 41a, 41a... Are erected in parallel at the same arrangement pitch as 4b. The partition plates 41a, 41a on both sides of the guide table 41 protrude from the guide table 41 toward the conveyor 20 (FIGS. 13 and 1).
4) A diagonally downwardly directed guide member 41a1 is provided inside the lower part of the protruding portion. Intermediate partition plates 41a, 41a
Are fork-shaped guide grooves 41a2 for guiding the guide plate 44 up and down, respectively, at the front end on the side of the conveyor 20.
Are formed.

The sets of pushers 42, 42,... Are connected to the chains 42b, 42b in a horizontal line via a common bracket 42a (FIGS. 12, 15). The pushers 42, 42,... Are each formed in a vertically long shape by bending both side edges slightly inward, and the partition blades 3 of the alignment conveyor 30 are formed.
4b, 34b..., Partition plate 41 on guide table 41
are arranged corresponding to the intervals a, 41a,. The chains 42b, 42b are respectively provided with front and rear shafts 42c, 42c.
And a shaft 42c is connected to a motor (not shown).

Therefore, each set of pushers 42, 42.
By intermittently rotating the chains 42b, 42b, a standby position outside the alignment conveyor 30 (FIG. 12,
, The partitioning blades 34b, 34b,... And partitioning plates 41a, 41a,... From the respective solid lines in FIG. 13) to the loading position (each two-dot chain line in FIG. (In the direction of arrow K7), and then retract upward (in the direction of arrow K7a in FIG. 12) to retreat to the standby position. Also, the pushers 42, 42,... Can be temporarily stopped at a preparation position (each dashed line in FIG. 3) on the guide table 41 on the alignment conveyor 30 side.
The two sets of pushers 42, 42.
b and 42b are attached at positions that divide the total length of the b and 42b into two equal parts, and can move with a phase difference of 180 ° from each other.

Each of the shutters 43, 43,... Has a hook piece 43a which is folded back from the upper end toward the conveyor 20 (FIGS. 12 and 14), and the lower portions are connected in common. The shutters 43, 43...
.. corresponds to the interval a and is connected to a cylinder 43b with a guide rod via a bracket 43c.
However, the cylinder 43b is connected via a spacer 43b4.
It is fixed upward to the guide member 21c of the transport conveyor 20. Therefore, the shutters 43, 43.
3b, it can be projected above the guide table 41 (solid line in FIG. 12) and can be stored below the guide table 41 (two-dot chain line in FIG. 12). Also, the shutter 43,
43 are hook pieces 43a, 43
a can be held by sandwiching one side of the box Wa on the conveyor 20 from above.

The guide plates 44 are suspended from a common lifting base 44a (FIGS. 12 and 14). Each of the guide plates 44, 44,... Has a lower portion on the guide table 41 side diagonally cut away, and intermediate partition plates 41a, 4
1a... Are arranged. The elevating base 44a is formed with a long hole 44a1 into which the flap Wa1 of the box Wa on the conveyor 20 can enter. On both sides of the long hole 44a1, guide members 44a2, 44a2 are provided obliquely downward. . The elevating base 44a is connected to a cylinder 44b with a guide rod via a bracket 44e, and the cylinder 44b is swingable to the side frame 21b of the conveyor 20 via a shaft 44c1, bearings 44c2, 44c2. Mounting base plate 44c
It is fixed upward. The base plate 44c is
A catch 44 such as a magnet attached to the side frame 21b
It is held upright through c3. A stopper 44d with a cushion 44d1 is provided outside the conveyor 20 so as to correspond to the cylinder 44b.

Therefore, the guide plates 44, 44,... Engage with the guide grooves 41a2, 41a2,.
2 (solid line) and the lowering position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) which enters the box Wa on the conveyor 20. The guide plates 44, 44.
When the upright state of the base plate 44c by 4c3 is released, the base plate 44c can be retracted obliquely from above the conveyor 20 via the shaft 44c1 (the dashed line in the figure).

The boxing device for articles operates in the following manner.

The blanks W, W... Are stored in the stocker 11, and the assembly unit 10, the transport conveyor 20, the alignment conveyor 30, and the input unit 40 are operated in cooperation with each other. The blank W is for a folding type box Wa of an automatic lock bottom type (FIG. 16), and the box Wa is a flap Wa1, Wa2, Wa2 for a lid, an automatically locking type flap Wa3, Wa3 for a bottom, Wa4 and Wa4.

First, the assembling unit 10 includes the swing arm 1
2 is advanced to the unloading position (solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 5), and the suction arms 12g, 12g are operated via a negative pressure source (not shown) to retract the swing arm 12 to the assembling position (one point in the drawing). Chain line), the blank W is moved from the stocker 11 to the drive lever 13
Take out in front of. At this time, the blank W is
One end is slightly raised by contacting the drive lever 13 while being held by g and 12g. Then, when the drive lever 13 is swung from the standby position to the operating position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 5), the blank W is raised by 90 ° or more, and the swing arm 12 is retracted to the transfer position on the transport conveyor 20 ( The blank W is a flap W for the bottom.
a3, Wa3, Wa4, Wa4 are automatically locked and transformed into a box Wa for assembly.

Subsequently, when the negative pressure source is stopped, the box Wa can be transferred between the first pusher plate 23a and the second pusher plate 23b of the transport conveyor 20, and then the drive lever 13 is moved. The transfer conveyor 20 is moved to the standby position, the swing arm 12 is retracted to the retracted position, and the transport conveyor 20 is moved to the standby position.
Move forward by the pitch. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated to sequentially take out the blanks W, W... From the stocker 11, assemble them into boxes Wa, Wa..., And convey them to the front of the loading unit 40 via the conveyance conveyor 20.

On the other hand, when one box of articles Wb, Wb,... Is aligned on the alignment conveyor 30, the input unit 40 causes the shutters 43, 43 to project upward, and raises the guide plates 44, 44,. 12), one set of pushers 42, 42,... Is advanced from the standby position to the preparation position (indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 12 and 13), and the alignment conveyor 30 is moved.
Are carried on the guide table 41. Then, the shutters 43 are moved down to advance the pushers 42, 42 to the loading position (two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 12 and 13), and the articles Wb, Wb on the guide table 41 are moved.
Can be moved to the front and loaded into the box Wa on the conveyor 20 at once (two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). At this time, the partition plates 41a, 41a,.
Can guide the articles Wb, Wb ... correctly.

At the same time, the guide plates 44, 44,... Are lowered to enter the box Wa (two-dot chain line in FIG. 12).
.. Are arranged. Then,
The pushers 42, 42.
Are raised, and the shutters 43 are projected upward. When one set of the pushers 42, 42,... Is retracted upward, the other set moves to the standby position (the solid line in the figure). The transport conveyor 20 includes a guide plate 44,
When 44 ... rises, box W containing articles Wb, Wb ...
a, and a new empty box Wa is carried in front of the guide table 41. Therefore, the alignment conveyor 30, the input unit 40, and the transport conveyor 20 repeat the above-described series of operations, so that the boxes Wa, Wa.
Can be packed in a box. Thus, the boxes Wa, Wa ... packed with the articles Wb, Wb ...
At the front of the transport conveyor 20, the paper is discharged to the outside via a discharge mechanism (not shown).

Therefore, the assembling unit 10, the transporting conveyor 20, the aligning conveyor 30, and the input unit 40 are provided with the box Wa.
, Wa..., The aligning operation and the loading operation of the articles Wb, Wb.
, Wb... Can be smoothly packed into boxes Wa, Wa. In addition, the alignment conveyor 30 is provided with articles Wb, Wb
... when the alignment operation of the steel balls 31a, 31a,.
Is activated, and the sensor 38
The whole is stopped via a. Also, the input unit 4
0, the operation timing of the conveyor 20 is disturbed or the articles Wb, W
If b... are not properly charged into the box Wa on the conveyor 20, the catch 44 c 3 comes off and the guide plate 4
.., The cylinder 44b retreats obliquely to the outside of the conveyor 20. Therefore, also at this time, the entire system can be stopped via a sensor (not shown).

The guide plates 44 may be a simple flat plate parallel to the flap Wa1 of the box Wa on the conveyor 20 and may be vertically moved outside the flap Wa1 via the cylinder 44b. At this time, the cylinder 44b may be able to retreat obliquely outside the conveyor 20 or may not be able to retreat.

[0057]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a boxing operation of a series of articles can be fully automated by combining an assembling unit, a conveyor, an alignment conveyor, and a charging unit. Because you can
There is an excellent effect that the efficiency of box packing of articles can be greatly improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing the stocker, the swing arm, and the drive lever, the swing arm takes out the blank from the stocker via the suction cup, holds the blank, and deforms the blank by the drive lever. Since it can be assembled into a box, the blank taking-out step and the assembling step can be automated.

According to the third aspect, by providing the support table, the pair of chains, and the first and second pusher plates attached to each chain at a predetermined pitch, the chains are relatively moved with each other. Since the distance between the first and second pusher plates can be adjusted, it can be easily adapted to the size of the box to be transported.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by providing the partitioning blades on each of the transporting plates, the transporting plates can automatically raise and align the articles via the partitioning blades.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by combining the guide table and the pusher, the pusher can throw one box of articles on the guide table into the boxes at once.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of the entire configuration.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the assembly unit.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part (1).

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory perspective view of a main part of a transport conveyor.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to the line ZZ in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory side view of an alignment conveyor.

9 is an enlarged plan view corresponding to the arrow A in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part (1).

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part (2).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view of a charging unit.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan explanatory view corresponding to the arrow B in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part (2).

FIG. 15 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a main part (3).

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view of assembling a box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 W ... blank Wa ... box Wb ... article 10 ... assembly unit 11 ... stocker 12 ... swing arm 12 g ... sucker 13 ... drive lever 20 ... transport conveyor 21 ... support tables 22a, 22b ... chain 23a ... first pusher plate 23b ... Second pusher plate 30 ... Aligning conveyor 33 ... Chain 34 ... Transport plate 34b ... Partition blade 40 ... Input unit 41 ... Guide table 41a ... Partition plate 42 ... Pusher 43 ... Shutter 43a ... Hook piece 44 ... Guide plate

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] May 6, 1999 (1999.5.6)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a boxing apparatus for articles capable of automatically boxing articles such as liquid food in bag packaging, a blank assembling unit and a box conveyor. , An article alignment conveyor, and an article input unit.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article box capable of fully automating an article boxing operation by combining an assembling unit, a transport conveyor, an alignment conveyor, and a charging unit in view of the problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a filling device, a blank assembling unit, a box transporting conveyor, an article aligning conveyor, and an article inputting unit used therein.

Continued on front page F term (reference) 3E003 AA01 AB05 BA03 BB02 BC04 BD05 3E030 AA02 BA01 BC03 DA06 DA08 EA02 EB01 3E054 AA12 AA13 CA08 DA03 DB03 DB04 DB08 DD01 DD16 DE01 EA02 FA04 HA08 JA02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An assembling unit for taking out a blank from a stocker and assembling it into a box of a folding type, a transporting conveyor for transporting the boxes from the assembling unit, and a box on the transporting conveyor for one box of articles on the alignment conveyor. A boxing device for articles, comprising: 2. A stocker for storing a number of blanks,
A blank assembling unit comprising: a swing arm for individually taking out blanks from the stocker via a suction cup; and a drive lever for deforming the blank held by the swing arm and assembling the blank into a box. 3. A support table for slidably supporting a box, a pair of chains disposed along the support table, and first and second pusher plates attached to the chains at a predetermined pitch, respectively. And the first and second
Wherein the pusher plates are alternately protruded above the support table. 4. An article alignment conveyor comprising a chain, a number of transport plates attached to the chain, and partitioning blades respectively attached to the transport plates and erecting the articles. 5. An article input unit comprising: a guide table having a plurality of partition plates; and a pusher for moving an article on the guide table forward along the partition plates. 6. The article input unit according to claim 5, wherein a shutter with a hook for holding a side surface of the box is provided at a front end of the guide table so as to be able to protrude and retract. 7. The article input unit according to claim 5, wherein a guide plate connected to the partition plate is provided in front of the guide table so as to be able to move up and down.