JP2002104658A - Container feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To feed a container stack, packed in a conventional corrugated fiberboard box, to a magazine for feeding a container automatically and efficiently without a man power and to cope with the increase in a speed and saving of a labor. SOLUTION: A container stack group G is taken out on a feed conveyor 33 from a conveyance box U. At the terminal of the conveyance route of the feed conveyor 33, the container stack group G is separated at each of container stack rows R in a longitudinal one row by a separating device 34. The separated container stack row R in a longitudinal row is lifted by an elevator 35. At the upper end of the elevation route of the elevator 35, the container stack row R in a longitudinal one row is separated at each of the container stacks S by a separation pusher 36. The separated container stack S is received and aligned by an aligning conveyor 37. The aligned container stack S is loaded to a container feed magazine 22 from the aligning conveyor 37 by a loading conveyor 43.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container supplying device for supplying a cup-shaped container to a filling machine in a packaging machine for filling, for example, yogurt, dessert and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-100129, this type of container supply device includes a plurality of parallel container transport paths and a plurality of container transport paths provided in each container transport path. In a packaging machine having a container supply magazine, the container stack is disposed diagonally below the container supply magazine and accommodates the container stacks so as to form a container stack row corresponding to the number of container supply magazines. There is known a stocker that includes a stocker, a lifter that lifts the container stacks from the stocker by a number corresponding to the number of container supply magazines, and a carrier that transports the container stacks lifted by the lifters to the container supply magazine. ing.

[0003]

The container stack is manufactured by a material supplier, packed in a cardboard box or the like, and delivered to a food manufacturer. The food manufacturer transports the container stack as it is to the filling room containing the packaging machine,
The operator manually unpacks the cardboard boxes and the like in the filling room, takes out the container stacks one by one from the cardboard boxes and the like, and puts them in a stocker. When the filling operation is continued in the packaging machine and the number of container stacks in the stocker decreases, each time the container stack must be put into the stocker, it is not efficient.

[0004] One of the reasons that the operation of putting the container stack into the stocker cannot be automated is that the container stack is sealed in a plastic bag and packed in a cardboard box or the like in order to maintain the sanitary condition of the container. Can be

In recent years, speeding up and labor saving of packaging machines have been called for, and in order to cope with such demands, robots and automatic machines have been introduced. When introducing a robot, automatic machine, etc., the above-mentioned packing method could not cope with it, and it was necessary to use special packing or a special case.
It was necessary for the material supplier to provide new equipment, which was difficult to adopt easily.

In the case of introducing a robot, an automatic machine, or the like, these facilities are often arranged in close proximity to a container supply magazine, and there is a problem in workability and safety, including securing a passage for an operator. Was.

[0007] Furthermore, in order to further enhance sanitation, it is necessary to bring in only a container stack without carrying packing materials into the filling chamber. The equipment was difficult. Needless to say, it is preferable that the container stack be touched as little as possible by humans for hygiene reasons.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and can automatically and efficiently supply a container stack packed in a conventional cardboard box or the like to a container supply magazine without manual operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container supply device capable of coping with high speed and labor saving.

[0009]

A container supply device according to the present invention is a packaging machine having a plurality of parallel container transport paths and a plurality of container supply magazines provided in each container transport path. In a transport box, a plurality of rod-shaped container stacks that are housed sideways in a lengthwise manner so as to form a lump container stack group, wherein the plurality of container stacks are arranged vertically or horizontally in a row. A stack row is formed, a plurality of vessel stack rows are arranged in a vertical or horizontal row to form a vessel stack group, and a plurality of vessel stacks each composed of a plurality of superposed cup-shaped vessels are supplied to the vessel supply magazine. A container supply device for simultaneously supplying the container stacks one by one to a supply station for taking out a group of container stacks from a transport box and a container supply magazine for loading the container stacks into a container supply magazine. Out station is contacted by the stack transport path, the developing of the stack transport path, one bulk container stack group placed on a stack transport path,
A row-by-row separating means for separating each of the vertical or horizontal container stack rows, and a stack-by-stack separating means for separating the vertical or horizontal container stack rows separated by the row-by-row separating means for each container stack are sequentially arranged. Is what is being done.

[0010] In the container supply device according to the present invention, at the supply station, the bulk container stack group is placed on the stack transport path in a state where it is accommodated in the transport box. During the transfer from the container to the discharge station, the bulk container stack group is first separated into the container stack rows, and then separated into the container stacks. Therefore, container stacks packed in conventional cardboard boxes, etc.
It can be automatically and efficiently supplied to the container supply magazine without manual operation.

When a partition is provided between the supply station and the discharge station, a communication window is provided in the partition, and when the stack transport path extends through the communication window, packing materials and the like are brought near the container supply magazine. It is not sanitary and sanitary.

Further, if a reversing means is provided at the beginning of the stack transport path for reversing the transport box upside down with the container stack group accommodated therein, if the transport box is inverted by the reversing means, the stack transport is performed. The bulk container stack group can be simply and easily placed on the path.

Further, a supply conveyor is arranged at the supply station, and the supply conveyor is provided with a group of one-piece container stacks that extend along the stack transport path and are placed with the length direction of the container stack orthogonal to the stack transport path. When a pair of guides for guiding both side surfaces is provided, the bulk container stack group is transported on the supply conveyor without breaking its form.

The separating means for each row may be arranged so that the lengthwise direction of the container stacks is perpendicular to the stack transporting path, and the vertical stacking rows of the container stacks placed thereon are sequentially arranged in the stack transporting path width direction from the top one. The lower end of the elevator path is connected to the end of the transport path of the supply conveyor, and the elevator has a receiving member that receives the lower end of the vertical container stack row. When a vertical row of container stacks is transferred between the supply conveyor and the receiving member by the chuck member between the end of the conveyor conveyance path and the lower end of the elevator path, the transfer from the supply conveyor to the elevator is performed. Then, the container stacks are separated into container stack rows, and the separated container stack rows are It will be conveyed on.

Instead of the above-mentioned supply conveyor, the supply conveyor has an inclined conveyance path inclined so that one edge is lower than the other edge, and extends along one edge of the inclined conveyance path. The container stack may have a guide that guides a downward side surface of the group of container stacks placed on the inclined conveyance path with the length direction of the container stack parallel to the inclined conveyance path.

When the container stack is easy to roll and a container stack group is formed by such a container stack,
When the container stack group is placed on a horizontal plane, the container stack group may not be able to maintain a lump shape and may collapse.However, if the supply conveyor is configured as described above, the container stack may be disposed on the inclined conveyance path. Since the stacks can lean on the guide, there is no risk of the container stacks collapsing.

In the case of using the above-mentioned supply conveyor, the row-by-row separation means makes the length direction of the container stack parallel to the inclined transport path, and divides one vertical stack row of the container stack group placed on the inclined transport path. It is preferable to have a chuck member capable of chucking sequentially from the longitudinal direction of the inclined conveyance path in the direction closer to the other edge of the inclined conveyance path.

Further, the stack-by-stack separating means has a pusher which pushes the container stacks of the vertically arranged container stacks received by the receiving member so as to be pushed out from the receiving member in order from the highest one. When the alignment conveyor is arranged so that the container conveyor extruded from the receiving member can be received at the beginning of the transport path, the container stack row is separated into the container stacks while being transferred from the elevator to the alignment conveyor. The separated container stacks are conveyed in an aligned state on an alignment conveyor.

Further, an alignment conveyor is formed by an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor, and a stopper is arranged at the end of the conveying path of the upstream conveyor, and a sensor is provided so as to detect the presence or absence of a container stack stopped by the stopper. The container stack on the end of the transport path of the upstream conveyor is transferred by the transfer device onto the start end of the transfer path of the downstream conveyor based on the detection of the presence of the container stack by the sensor, and the downstream conveyor is a single container. When intermittently driven at a pitch corresponding to the stack, the container stacks transferred from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor are arranged at a constant pitch on the downstream conveyor.

Further, when a loading conveyor is arranged at the discharge station, and the loading conveyor communicates the downstream conveyor with the container supply magazine and has a number of parallel transfer paths corresponding to the number of the container supply magazines, Can be reliably supplied to all the container supply magazines without causing a so-called toothless phenomenon in which the container stacks arranged at the pitch of (i) are not supplied to any of the plurality of container supply magazines.

[0021]

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

In the following description, the front and rear refer to the left and right sides as front and the rear side with reference to FIGS. 1 and 17, and the left and right refer to the left and right sides as viewed from the rear. (Left and right in FIGS. 2 and 18).

<First Embodiment> FIGS. 1 to 16 show a first embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a transport box U and a large number of container stacks S enclosed in a plastic bag P.
Are shown. Each container stack S is formed by stacking a large number of rectangular cup-shaped containers C.

The transport box U comprises a box body M and four flaps L connected to an opening edge of the box body M. In the transport box U, with the container stacks S lying down, the container stack rows R formed by vertically arranging the five container stacks S form five rows in the horizontal direction, and the five container stack rows R form one block. A group of container stacks G is formed.

The container C is integrally formed of plastic, and comprises a container body W having a tapered body wall with a tapered cross section and a flange F extending along an opening edge of the container body W. . The flange F is rounded at four corners, but is formed in a substantially rectangular ring shape.

Since the container C has a rectangular annular flange F, each container C forming one container stack S
Of the flange F is included in the outer peripheral surface of the square bar, and the container stack S has the appearance of a square bar. Therefore, the container stack S in the shape of a square bar is unlikely to roll, and the two container stacks S can be vertically overlapped. When the container stack group G is taken out from the transport box U and placed on a flat place, the container stack group G does not collapse and can maintain a lump shape as it is stored in the transport box U. It has become.

FIG. 1 shows the rear part of the packaging machine and its surroundings. The packaging machine comprises a machine body 11 and a container supply device 12 for supplying a container C thereto.

A material chamber 14 is formed behind a filling chamber 13 containing the machine body 11 by a vertical partition 15 extending in the left-right direction. The partition 15 has a communication window so that it is located at almost the same level as the upper end of the machine body 11.
16 are formed. The container supply device 12 is arranged so as to span the filling chamber 13 and the material chamber 14 through the communication window 16.

The machine main body 11 has a forwardly extending parallel left and right six-row parallel container transport path 21, and while the container C is being transported along the transport path 21, the container C is filled with contents and the contents are filled. This is to seal the filling container.

A container supply magazine 22 is disposed above the rear end of the container transfer path 21. Container supply magazine 22 contains 6
It has six magazine units 23 equal to the number of conveyor paths 21 in a row. Each magazine unit 23 is composed of two fixed magazines 24 and one movable magazine 25 arranged at intervals in the container transport direction. The upper end of the fixed magazine 24 is substantially at the same level as the communication window 16. Movable magazine
Numeral 25 is movable above and below the two fixed magazines 24 along a horizontal guide rail 26 in the front-rear direction, and is supported at its lower end by a horizontal pin 27 in the horizontal direction so as to be able to move up and down.

The movable magazine 25 is in a prone position facing backward,
After receiving the container stack S from the container supply device 12 and standing up, the received container stack S is divided into two fixed magazines 24.
Actuated to selectively pass to the

A supply station D1 is provided on the material chamber 14 side with the partition wall 15 therebetween, and a discharge station D2 is provided on the filling chamber 13 side. The supply station D1 is at a low level near the floor H, while the discharge station D2 is at a high level, the same level as the communication window 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, the container supply device 12 includes a box table 31, a reversing device 32, and a supply conveyor 33 arranged in a line from right to left along the partition wall 15 at the supply station D1. The supply conveyor 33 has a transport path extending leftward and includes a separation device 34 at the left end of the transport path.
Elevator upward from the left end of the transport path of the supply conveyor 33
35 are located. At the upper end of the elevator 35, a stack separation pusher 36 is arranged. From the upper end of the elevator 35, an alignment conveyor 37 extends rightward. The alignment conveyor 37 includes an upstream conveyor 38 and a downstream conveyor 39. From the right end of the conveyance path of the upstream conveyor 38 to the downstream conveyor
A transfer device 41 is arranged to the left end of the transport path 39. Downstream conveyor 39 traverses just behind communication window 16. The downstream conveyor 39 is provided with a discharge pusher 42. The loading conveyor 43 is disposed so as to extend substantially horizontally forward from the front side of the downstream conveyor 39, through the communication window 16, and into the filling chamber 13 via the discharge station D2. The front end of the loading conveyor 43 reaches the front end of the movable magazine 25 in the prone state.

The top surface of the box table 31 is provided with a horizontal mounting surface 51 large enough to mount one transport box U. Near the right edge of the mounting surface 51, a vertical guide plate 52 is provided upright.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 5, the reversing device 32 has a rectangular frame shape having a horizontal rotation center extending in the front-rear direction at an intermediate level of the height of the transport box U placed on the box table 31. A reversing frame 61, a bottom plate 62 and a top plate fixed to a pair of horizontal frame members of the reversing frame 61 on both sides of the rotation center of the reversing frame 61 and facing each other with a space slightly larger than the height of the transport box U. 63, and a gantry 64 provided adjacent to the left side of the box table 31 and supporting the reversing frame 61.

A pair of front and rear horizontal rotation shafts 65 are provided in the middle of the length of the vertical frame member of the reversing frame 61, and are supported by the gantry 64. A rotating handle 66 is attached to the rear rotating shaft 65. An L-shaped front contact piece 67 is provided at the front end of one horizontal frame member of the reversing frame 61, and an L-shaped rear contact piece 68 is provided at the rear end of the other horizontal frame member. I have.

An upright wall 71 is provided at three edges of the bottom plate 62 except for the right edge. Notch 72 in left rear corner of bottom plate 62
Are formed. The top plate 63 is provided with a hanging wall 73 at three edges except for a right edge thereof, corresponding to the rising wall 71 of the bottom plate 62.

A right front stopper 74 is provided in the middle of the height of the front end of the gantry 64, and a left stopper 75 is provided in the middle of the height of the rear end.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reversing frame 61 is in an upright posture and its clockwise rotation is regulated in a state where the front contact piece 67 is in contact with the front stopper 74. Bottom plate
Both the top plate 63 and the top plate 63 are horizontal, and the bottom surface of the bottom plate 62 has an upward horizontal posture, and is flush with the mounting surface 51 of the box table 31. From this state, turn the inverted frame 61 counterclockwise by 18 degrees.
When the frame is rotated by 0 °, the reversing frame 61 is in the upright posture, and the rear contact piece 68 is brought into contact with the rear stopper 75 this time. Then, the counterclockwise rotation of the reversing frame 61 is restricted. The bottom plate 62 and the top plate 63 are upside down,
Both are horizontal.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show details of the supply conveyor 33. FIG.

The supply conveyor 33 is provided with a horizontal endless belt 82 extending in the left-right direction and having a length capable of carrying three transport boxes U arranged on the right and left of the conveyor frame 81.
And a pair of vertically opposed guide plates 83 extending in the left-right direction from the right end of the belt 82 by about 2/3 of the length thereof along both front and rear edges of the belt 82.

The upper moving path of the belt 82 is flush with the upper surface of the top plate 63 when the hand is standing upright.

The two guide plates 83 are supported by the piston rods of a pair of front and rear fluid pressure cylinders 84 so that the distance between them is variable. Both fluid pressure cylinders 84 are mounted so as to face the conveyor frame 81.

A vertical plate-shaped head stopper 85 is provided on the left side of the belt 82 so as to be in contact therewith. Top stopper
Numeral 85 has a height substantially equal to the height of the bulk container stack group G and is attached to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 86.

By the operation of the fluid pressure cylinder 86, the leading stopper 85 protrudes and retracts above the belt upper moving path,
It can be turned ON / OFF.

Referring to FIG. 8 in addition to FIG. 7, the separating device 34 includes a gate-shaped chucking arm 91 disposed across the left end of the supply conveyor 33 and the front and rear of the chucking arm 91. A drive mechanism 92 for performing three operations of tilting, lifting and lowering, and right and left movement around a horizontal axis extending in the direction.
And

The drive mechanism 92 includes a front-rear horizontal bar-shaped elevating body 102 that supports a front-rear horizontal rotation shaft 101 to which the upper end base of the chucking arm 91 is fixed, and a hanging and elevating body 102 A front-rear horizontal bar-shaped left-right moving body 103 extending in parallel with the body 102; a pair of front-rear horizontal supporting rods 105 slidably supporting the left-right moving body 103 and extending in parallel in the left-right direction at intervals from each other; And a support bracket 104 that supports the rod 105.

The base of the operating arm 111 is fixed to the rotating shaft 101. The distal end of the operating arm 111 is connected to a piston rod of a tilting hydraulic cylinder 113 mounted vertically downward on the elevating body 102 via a vertical plate-shaped bracket 112. A pair of vertical guide rods 1
14 is provided upright. Both guide rods 114
The right and left moving body 103 is slidably penetrated. At the center in the length direction of the left and right moving body 103, a lifting / lowering fluid pressure cylinder 115 is provided vertically downward. Lifting hydraulic cylinder 115
Piston rod penetrates the moving body 103
It is connected to. A rodless fluid pressure cylinder 116 for left and right movement is fixed to the support bracket 104 in parallel with the support rod 105. The slider 117 of the rodless fluid pressure cylinder 116 is connected to the left and right moving body 103.

The chucking arm 91 includes a horizontal bar-shaped upper arm 121 and a pair of front and rear lower arms 122 suspended from both ends of the upper arm 121 in parallel with each other.

A pair of front and rear main chucking hydraulic cylinders 123 are mounted so as to face each other in the middle of the lengths of both lower arms 122. Further, a sub-chucking hydraulic cylinder 124 is mounted near the tip of the front lower arm 122.

A vertical plate-like front opening / closing member 125 is attached to the piston rod of the front main chucking hydraulic cylinder 123, and a vertical plate-like rear opening / closing member 126 is attached to the piston rod of the rear main chucking hydraulic cylinder 123. Have been.
The front opening / closing member 125 has four horizontal cylinders 127, and the rear opening / closing member 12
6, five horizontal cylinders 127 are attached in a line. Each of the cylinders 127 is penetrated by a longitudinally forward / backward pressing rod 128. Each pressing rod 128 is a cylindrical body
It is urged by compression coil springs 129 housed in 127 so that they are close to each other at the same height in the front and rear.
At the rear ends of the four pressing rods 128 attached to the front lower arm 122, a front chuck member 131 is provided.
The rear chuck members 132 are attached to the front ends of the five pressing rods 128 attached to 2, respectively.

Front and rear main chucking hydraulic cylinders 12
3, the front and rear opening and closing members 125 and 126 are opened and closed, whereby the front and rear chuck members 13 at the same height are opened and closed.
1, 132 can be opened and closed.

The four front chuck members 131 are vertical plate-like members having a shape capable of holding down the container flange F, and are arranged so as to be almost in contact with the vertically adjacent members. Each front chuck member 131 is provided with an upwardly protruding portion 133 at the upper edge thereof and a downwardly concave portion 134 at its lower edge portion (FIG. 7). The lower front chuck member 13 is inserted into the concave portion 134 of the upper front chuck member 131.
One convex portion 133 enters, and thereby two vertically adjacent front chuck members 131 partially overlap in the vertical direction.

The five rear chuck members 132 are vertically plate-shaped like the front chuck member 131, but are smaller than the front chuck member 131 in order to hold down the container bottom. There is a gap between the upper and lower rear chuck members 132.

Further, a hydraulic cylinder for auxiliary chucking
A strong chuck member 135 is attached to the piston rod 124. Also, among the five rear chuck members 132,
An elastic pad 136 is attached to the lowermost rear chuck member 132. Another elastic pad 137 is a strong chuck member 135
It is also attached to.

The separating device 34 has a horizontal pressing plate 141 disposed slightly behind the left end of the belt 82. The pressing plate 141 is arranged at a level substantially equal to the height of the container stack group G from the upper surface of the belt 82, and is raised and lowered by lifting means (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the elevator 35 has a pair of front and rear endless chains 151 extending in parallel with each other. The right moving path of the chain 151 is the upward carrier side. The carrier side includes a lower inclined portion 152 and an upper vertical portion 153. FIG. 7 shows the vicinity of the lower end of the inclined portion 152.
The vicinity of the upper end of the vertical portion 153 is shown in detail in FIG.

A horizontal band plate-shaped receiving member 154 is interposed between the two chains 151 at a predetermined interval. The interval between adjacent receiving members 154 is slightly larger than the height of the container stack row R. A sliding plate 155 is stretched on the left side along the movement path of the receiving member 154. A cover 156 covers the right side of the movement path of the receiving member 154 from the upper portion of the inclined portion 152 to the entire vertical portion 153.

Referring to FIG. 9, the container stack separating pusher 36 is provided rightward to the left between the carrier sides of both chains 151 and has a separating fluid pressure cylinder 161 having a piston rod passed between both chains 151. And a vertical strip-shaped pushing member 162 extending in the front-rear direction attached to the tip of the piston rod.

As shown in detail in FIG. 9, the upstream conveyor 38 has an upper moving path extending rightward from the upper end of the conveying path of the elevator 35, and has a length capable of placing approximately seven container stacks S side by side in a side-by-side manner. Endless belt 171 having

As shown in detail in FIG. 10, the downstream conveyor 39 is composed of a pair of front and rear endless chains 181 arranged to be continued to the right of the belt 171 of the upstream conveyor 38 at a slight interval, and both chains. An upstream holder split piece 182 and a downstream holder split piece 183 are provided alternately and continuously following the 181.

The upstream holder split piece 182 and the downstream holder split piece 183 are both integrally formed of plastic so as to have a uniform L-shaped or inverted L-shaped cross section. One U-shaped holder
Form 184. The upward circumferential surface of one holder 184 conforms to the shape of the lower part of one container stack S.

The eight holders 184 can be stopped on the chain upper movement path. These eight holders
Of the 184, the two holders 184 at both left and right ends are stopped at the non-loading station N, and the remaining six holders 18
4 is stopped at the loading station Y. Holder 1
84 is stopped at the non-loading station N on the left side, the upstream holder split piece 182 is in a position immediately before reaching the chain upper movement path, and is inclined slightly to the left from the horizontal posture. is there. Therefore, the L-shaped ends of the upstream holder divided piece 182 and the downstream holder divided piece 183 forming the holder 184 are open.

FIGS. 9 and 11 show the transfer device 41 in detail.

The transfer device 41 is provided with a stopper 191 provided at the right end of the upstream conveyor 38, and a press plate provided so as to cross the upper part of the transfer path by the width of one container stack from the stopper 191. A guide rodless cylinder 195 supported by a support member 193 so as to extend rightward from above the stopper 191;
The lifting hydraulic cylinder 197 mounted vertically downward on the slider 196 of the 95, the horizontal lifting bar 198 extending in the front-rear direction mounted on the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 197, and the front and rear ends of the lifting bar 198 A pair of front and rear chucking fluid pressure cylinders installed facing each other
199, and a pair of transfer chuck members 201 respectively attached to the piston rods of both fluid pressure cylinders 199.

A sensor 202 for detecting that the container stack S has been brought into contact with the stopper 191 is arranged near the stopper 191.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the discharge pusher 42 is provided with a guideless rodless cylinder 213 passed over the support member 211 so as to cross the middle part of the length of the downstream conveyor 39 in the front-rear direction. An elevating hydraulic cylinder 215 mounted vertically downward on the slider 214 of the rodless cylinder 213, and an L-shaped pushing piece 216 extending to the left and right attached to the piston rod of the elevating hydraulic cylinder 215.
And the pushing piece 2 is fixed to the pushing piece 216 in a cantilever shape projecting forward.
L having vertical side plates suspended in front of 16 vertical plates at a distance slightly larger than the length of one container stack
It consists of a character-shaped guide piece 217.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show the loading conveyor 43 in detail.

The loading conveyor 43 extends in the front-rear direction below the six left and right parallel slide rails 221 extending horizontally forward from the holders 184 stopped at the six loading stations Y and the slide rails 221 at both ends. A pair of left and right endless chains 22 arranged parallel to each other
2 and a plurality of push bars 223 which are held and stopped on the chain 222 at intervals slightly larger than the length of one container stack.

The pitch between adjacent slide rails 221 is
It is equal to the pitch of the container supply magazine 22. Therefore, conversely, the pitch of the loading station Y is also changed to the container supply magazine 22.
Equal to the pitch of

Each slide rail 221 is composed of a pair of L-shaped rods 232 that are combined in opposite directions at intervals in the left-right direction so as to form a slit 231 therebetween. Each push bar 223 is provided with six dogs 233 at intervals equal to the interval between the slide rails 221. When moving along the upper chain movement path, each dog 233 is made to protrude upward through the slit 231 of the corresponding slide rail 221.

At the front end of each slide rail 221, a leading end stopper 241 is arranged. Tip regulation stopper 241
Is attached to the piston rod of a vertical downward hydraulic cylinder 242.

Next, the container stack supply operation will be described.

The transport box U containing the container stack S is placed on the mounting surface 51 of the box table 31 by the operator O. At this time, the container opening of the container stack S is directed forward. The flap L of the transport box U is opened, and the flap L is bent outward until the flap L is located on the outer surface of the transport box U. Open the mouth of the plastic bag P wrapping the container stack S, pull out the upper part of the plastic bag P from the transport box U, cover it over the flap L, and place the folded flap L
The flap L is fixed so as not to return.

When it is confirmed that the reversing frame 61 of the reversing device 32 is in the upright posture, the transport box U on the box table 31 is pushed onto the bottom plate 62 of the reversing frame 61. The reversing frame 61 is rotated by 180 ° by the handle 66 to bring the reversing frame 61 into the upright posture. The transport box U is turned upside down with the container stack S inserted. The upside down transport box U and the container stack S are received by the top plate 63.

Near the start of the transport path of the supply conveyor 33, 1
When there is enough space to carry two transport boxes U,
The transport box U is pushed out of the reversing frame 61 together with the container stack S onto the supply conveyor 33. At this time, if the bottom plate 62 of the reversing frame 61 faces upward and the transport box U is pushed through the notch 72, the work is easy.

When pushing out the transport box U onto the supply conveyor 33, the two guide plates 83 of the supply conveyor 33 are opened at a larger interval than the transport box U (solid line in FIG. 6). Supply conveyor 33
The transport box U extruded upward is gradually transported leftward. At an appropriate time during the transportation of the transport box U, the transport box U is pulled upward together with the plastic bag P and removed from the supply conveyor 33. Then, the mass container stack group G wrapped in the transport box U appears on the supply conveyor 33.

The appearing container stack group G is composed of five container stack rows R arranged in a horizontal line in the horizontal direction, and each container stack row R is composed of five container stacks S arranged in a vertical line.

When the container stack group G appears on the supply conveyor 33, the two guide plates 83 are closed, and the lump container stack group G is sandwiched between the two guide plates 83 from the front and rear. Thereby, the shape of the lump-shaped container stack group G is adjusted and aligned at the center of the transport path.

When the container stack group G is transported to the end of the transport path of the supply conveyor 33, the five container stack rows R forming the container stack group G are sequentially shifted from the leftmost row by one. One by one by the separation device 34,
Transferred to elevator 35.

When the supply conveyor 33 is driven in a state in which the leading stopper 85 is protruded above the supply conveyor transport path, and the leftmost container stack row R of the container stack group G is brought into contact with the leading stopper 85, the supply is stopped. The driving of the conveyor 33 is stopped.

The chucking arm 91 is made to stand by at the lower limit of the vertical stroke and at the right limit of the left-right movement stroke in the vertical posture of the tilting operation. Front and rear opening / closing members 125, 126
Is open.

When the driving of the supply conveyor 33 is stopped, both the opening and closing members 125 and 126 are closed, and the front and rear chuck members 131 and 132 are closed. Apart from these chuck members 131 and 132, the strong chuck member 135 is also closed. Then, 5 of the vertical rows of the container stack row R abutted against the leading stopper 85
Each of the container stacks S is sandwiched by chuck members 131, 132, 135 at the same height. At this time, even if there is a variation in the length of the five container stacks S, the variation is absorbed by the pressing rod 128.

When the chuck members 131, 132, and 135 chuck the first row of container stacks R from the left, the supply conveyor 33 is now reversed only slightly. Then, the first container stack row R from the left does not move, but the second and subsequent container stack rows R are moved rightward. Accordingly, when the container flanges F of the first and second container stack rows R overlap one another, the overlap is eliminated. Then, the pressing plate 141 is lowered to 2
The container stack rows R in the second and subsequent rows are pressed by the pressing plate 141 to prevent collapse of the load.

The receiving member 154 of the elevator 35 is connected to the supply conveyor 3
When moving to the same level as the transport surface of No. 3, the movement of the receiving member 154 is stopped.

When the receiving member 154 is stopped, the head stopper 85 is lowered to stop the operation. The chucking arm 91 is raised and moved to the left. The operation is temporarily stopped halfway, and the chucking arm 91 is tilted to lift the elevator 35.
The inclination is the same as that of the inclined portion 152. When the chucking arm 91 is in the inclined posture, the chucking arm 91 is again moved.
To the left. When the chucking arm 91 reaches the left movement limit, the container stack row R chucked by the chuck member is carried in above the receiving member 154. Therefore, when the chucking members 131, 132, 135 are opened, the chucking members 131, 132, 1
35 releases the chucking of the container stack row R, and the container stack row R is placed on the receiving member 154. At this time, since the receiving member 154 is located on the inclined portion 152 on the carrier side, the container stack row R to be placed is held on the slide plate 155 along the inclined portion 152, and the container stack row R is kept in a stable posture.

Thereafter, the chucking arm 91 moves to the right,
After being returned to the vertical position on the way, it is lowered and returned to the standby position. Raise the top stopper 85 and press the
After raising 141, the supply conveyor 33 is driven. When the container stack row R, which was the second row, is brought into contact with the leading stopper 85, the supply conveyor 33 is stopped again. In this way, each time the supply conveyor 33 is driven by one pitch, one container stack row R is moved from the supply conveyor 33 to the elevator 35 one by one.

The container stack row R placed on the receiving member 154
Can be raised to near the upper end of the lift path of the elevator 35. When the container stack row R passes through the container separating pusher 36, the receiving member 154 is intermittently driven at a pitch equal to the vertical thickness of the container stack S in the lying posture. Each time the receiving member 154 is driven by one pitch, the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 161 is moved forward and backward. Accordingly, the pushing member 162 is operated so as to push the container stacks S placed on the receiving member 154 one by one sequentially from the uppermost one to the right from above the receiving member 154.

The container stack S extruded from the receiving member 154 is sequentially received at the start of the conveying path of the upstream conveyor 38. The upstream conveyor 38 is stopped only when the transfer device 41 is operating, but otherwise continuously driven.
The container stack S transported to the end of the transport path of the upstream conveyor 38 contacts the stopper 191 and is stopped there.

When the container stack S is brought into contact with the stopper 191, this is detected by the sensor 202, and the transfer device 41 is operated based on the detection signal of the sensor 202.

The pair of transfer chuck members 201 are kept on standby at the upper limit of the up-and-down stroke at the leftmost limit of the left-right movement stroke. When the sensor 202 detects the container stack S, the two chuck members 201 are lowered and closed to chuck the container stack S. Then, both chuck members 201 are raised, but only at this time, the upstream conveyor 38 is stopped. continue,
Both chuck members 201 are moved to the right. Again, the upstream conveyor 38 is driven. When both the chuck members 201 reach the rightmost limit, the two chuck members 201 descend and release the chucking at the lower limit. Then, the container stack S is held in the holder 184 that has been waiting at the non-loading station N at the left end of the transport path of the downstream conveyor 39. At this time, since the L-shaped ends of the upstream holder divided piece 182 and the downstream holder divided piece 183 of the holder 184 are open, the container stack S is smoothly held by the holder 184. When the container stack S is held by the holder 184, the holder 184 becomes the holder 1
It is driven intermittently by the pitch. By continuously repeating the above operation, the container stack S is reliably held in all of the six loading stations Y.

The holder 184 holding the container stack S is 6
While being sequentially loaded into the two loading stations Y, the discharge pusher 42 is kept on standby with the pushing piece 216 and the guide piece 217 at the lower limit of the up-and-down stroke and at the retreat limit of the front-rear stroke. Therefore, the container stack S held by the holder 184 carried into the loading station Y is guided by the pushing piece 216 and the guide piece 217 from the front-back direction.

When the container stacks S are aligned in all the six loading stations Y, both the pushing piece 216 and the guide piece 217 are advanced. Then, the six container stacks S are simultaneously extruded from the six holders 184 onto the slide rail 221. Thereafter, the pushing piece 216 and the guide piece 217
Is raised, retracted, lowered,
It is made to wait again.

The container stack S extruded onto the slide rail 221 is slid forward on the slide rail 221 by the engagement dog 233 being engaged from the rear side to be advanced. On the slide rail 221, six container stacks S extruded with two strokes of the discharge pusher 42 can be stocked at intervals in the front and rear. This means that the loading conveyor 43 also has the function of a stocker.

When the movable magazine 25 of the container supply magazine 22 is emptied and is in the prone position facing backward, the dog 233 is driven. Then, 6 container stacks S each before and after
Are simultaneously advanced and the front six container stacks S
Is pushed out from above the slide rail 221. Thus, the extruded container stack S is loaded on the movable magazine 25.

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 17 to 27 show a second embodiment.

The second embodiment includes many parts corresponding to the first embodiment. For the sake of convenience, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding portions, and the description thereof will be simplified, and mainly the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 27 shows the container C. Although the container C is considerably larger than the container C of the first embodiment, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, a container body W having a tapered body wall with a tapered lower cross section having a rectangular cross section and a container body W Although it is composed of a flange F extending along the opening edge, unlike the case of the first embodiment, it is integrally formed of paper. The flange F is formed by winding a packaging material, and has a substantially circular cross section. Due to the elasticity of the packaging material, the body wall of the container body W tends to bulge outward as it goes upward, so that the flange F has a nearly elliptical shape.

A plurality of containers C are stacked to form one container stack S. This container stack S
Has a flange F having the above-described shape, and thus has an appearance closer to a round bar than a square bar in the case of the first embodiment. Therefore, the container stack S is easily rolled. It is very difficult to stack two container stacks S up and down.

As in the case of the first embodiment, five container stacks S are arranged in a vertical line to form one container stack row R, and the five container stack rows R are arranged in a horizontal line to form a lump. The container stack group G is formed, and in this state, the lump-shaped container stack group G is accommodated in the transport box U.

FIG. 17 shows the rear part of the packaging machine and its surroundings. The packaging machine includes a machine body 11 and a container supply device 12.

On the left side of the machine main body 11, a vertical partition wall 15 extending in the front-rear direction is provided. The filling chamber 13 is on the right side of the partition wall 15, and the material chamber 14 is on the left side thereof. The partition 15 has a communication window 16 formed therein. The container supply device 12 is arranged so as to span the filling chamber 13 and the material chamber 14 through the communication window 16.

The machine body 11 has a forwardly extending parallel container transport path 21 of six rows on the left and right sides. While the container C is being transported along the transport path 21, the container C is filled with contents and the contents are This is to seal the filling container.

A container supply magazine 22 is disposed above the rear end of the container transfer path 21. Container supply magazine 22 contains 6
It has six magazine units 23 equal to the number of conveyor paths 21 in a row. Each magazine unit 23 includes a fixed magazine 24 and a movable magazine 25. The number of the fixed magazines 24 and the number of the movable magazines 25 are one each. The movable magazine 25 is not moved back and forth,
It is only supported at the lower end by a horizontal horizontal pin 27 so as to be able to move up and down.

The movable magazine 25 receives the container stack S from the container supply device 12 in a state where the movable magazine 25 is prone in the rearward direction, and is activated so as to pass the received container stack S to the fixed magazine 24 after standing up.

A supply station D1 is provided on the material chamber 14 side with the partition wall 15 therebetween, and a discharge station D2 is provided on the filling chamber 13 side. The supply station D1 is at a low level near the floor H, while the discharge station D2 is at a high level, the same level as the communication window 16.

The container supply device 12 includes a box mounting table 31, which is arranged in a line from the front to the rear along the partition wall 15 at the supply station D1,
A reversing device 32 and a supply conveyor 33 are provided. The supply conveyor 33 has a transport path extending backward and includes a separation device 34 at the distal end of the transport path.

As shown in FIG. 18, an elevator 35 is arranged upward from the leading end of the transport path of the supply conveyor 33. At the upper end of the elevator 35, a stack separation pusher 36 is arranged. From the upper end of the elevator 35, an alignment conveyor 37 extends rightward. The alignment conveyor 37 includes an upstream conveyor 38 and a downstream conveyor 39. A transfer device 41 is arranged from the right end of the conveyance path of the upstream conveyor 38 to the left end of the conveyance path of the downstream conveyor 39. Downstream conveyor
39 is passed through the communication window 16 near the left end of the transfer path, and the transfer path on the right side enters the filling chamber 13. The right end of the downstream conveyor 39 reaches the discharge station D2. In the discharge station D2, the loading conveyor 43 is arranged so as to extend forward substantially horizontally from the front side of the downstream conveyor 39 and reach the movable magazine 25 in a prone state.

A mounting surface 51 is provided on the top surface of the box mounting table 31, and the mounting surface 51 is inclined rightward and downward as shown in FIG. Guide plate near the right edge of the mounting surface 51
52 are provided. The mounting surface 51 and the guide plate 52 are orthogonal to each other.

Referring to FIG. 19, the reversing device 32 has substantially the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and
61, a bottom plate 62, a top plate 63, a gantry 64, and the like, all of which are inclined downward to the right so as to correspond to the mounting surface 51.

Referring again to FIG. 17, the supply conveyor 33
Consists of three short conveyors 33 connected sequentially from front to back
A, and one long conveyor 33B connected to the rearmost short conveyor 33A.

Short conveyor 33A and long conveyor 33B
Are belt conveyors. Short conveyor 33A
Has a length on which one transport box U can be placed. The long conveyor 33B has such a length that a work space can be created on both front and rear sides of the transport box U on which it is placed.

FIG. 20 shows a cross section of the rearmost short conveyor 33A, and FIG. 21 shows a cross section of the long conveyor 33B.

The belt upper moving paths of the three short conveyors 33A and the long conveyor 33B form a flush conveying path. The formed transport path is inclined to the lower right so as to be flush with the mounting surface 51. A guide 83 is provided along the right edge of the transport path of the three short conveyors 33A and the long conveyor 33B. The guide 83 is composed of a plurality of columns 83a that are orthogonal to the inclined transport path along the right edge thereof, and five horizontal round bar-shaped guide rails 83b that are vertically arranged on the left side surface of the column 83a. And The five guide rails 83b extend at a level corresponding to the height of each of the five container stacks S forming one vertical container stack row R.

A pressing plate 83c is provided at the left edge of the transport path of the rearmost short conveyor 33A, and a vertical fall prevention plate 83d is provided at the left edge of the transport path of the other two short conveyors 33A. ing. The pressing plate 83c is inclined with respect to a vertical line so as to be parallel to the support column 83a, and is attached to the piston rod of the rightward hydraulic cylinder 84.

Referring to FIG. 22, a leading stopper 85 is disposed at the rear end of the long conveyor 33B. The head stopper 85 is fixed to the left-right horizontal shaft 85a at the lower end. A piston rod of a vertically upward hydraulic cylinder 86 is connected to the horizontal shaft 85a via an arm 85b. By operating the fluid pressure cylinder 86, the head stopper 85 is swung between a horizontal posture indicated by a solid line and a vertical posture indicated by a chain line.

21 and 22, the separating device 34 is clearly shown. FIG. 22 is the reverse of FIG.
Is seen from the left.

The separating device 34 has a gate-shaped chucking arm 91 disposed above and parallel to the transport path of the long conveyor 33B, and the chucking arm 91 is centered on a horizontal axis extending in the front-rear direction. And a drive mechanism 92 for performing three operations of tilting, lifting and lowering, and right and left movement.

The drive mechanism 92 includes a front-rear horizontal bar-shaped elevating body 102 that supports a front-rear horizontal rotating shaft 101 to which the upper end base of the chucking arm 91 is fixed, and a mechanism that hangs and lifts the elevating body 102. A horizontal bar-like moving body 103 extending in the front-rear direction and extending in parallel with the body 102 is provided.

The base of the operating arm 111 is fixed to the rotating shaft 101. A piston rod of a tilting hydraulic cylinder 113 mounted vertically downward on the elevating body 102 via a vertical plate-shaped bracket 112 is connected to the distal end of the operating arm 111. A pair of vertical guide rods 1
14 is provided upright. Both guide rods 114
The right and left moving body 103 is slidably penetrated. At the center in the length direction of the left and right moving body 103, a lifting / lowering fluid pressure cylinder 115 is provided vertically downward. Lifting hydraulic cylinder 115
Piston rod penetrates the left and right moving body 103
It is connected to.

The left and right moving bodies 103 are supported by a pair of front and rear support rods 105 extending in the left and right direction, being inclined at the same angle in parallel with the supply conveyor conveyance path. Both support rods 105 are fixed to a pair of left and right support brackets 104. The left and right moving body 103 is provided with a female screw member 118. A screw rod 119 is screwed into the female screw member 118. The screw rod 119 is passed to both support brackets 104 in parallel with the support rod 105. The output shaft of the motor 120 is connected to the right end of the screw rod 119.

The motor 120 is a pulse motor. By rotating the output shaft of the motor 120 forward / reverse with a variable rotation amount, the left / right moving body 103 is moved left / right with a variable stroke amount.

The chucking arm 91 includes a horizontal bar-shaped upper arm 121 and a pair of front and rear lower arms extending parallel to each other at both ends of the upper arm 121 and extending parallel to each other and downward.
Consists of 122.

A pair of front and rear chucking hydraulic cylinders 123 are mounted so as to face each other in the middle of the length of both lower arms 122. The front and rear opening / closing members 12 each having a vertical plate shape are attached to the piston rods of the front and rear chucking hydraulic cylinders 123.
5, 126 are attached respectively. Both open / close members 125, 126
, Five horizontal cylinders 127 are mounted in a row. Each of the cylinders 127 is penetrated by a longitudinally forward / backward pressing rod 128. Each pressing rod 128
A compression coil spring 129 housed in the cylindrical body 127 urges the one having the same height in the front and rear to approach each other. A front chuck member 131 is attached to the rear ends of the five pressing rods 128 attached to the front lower arm 122, and a rear chuck member 132 is attached to the front ends of the five pressing rods 128 attached to the rear lower arm 122. I have.

The front and rear chucking fluid pressure cylinders 123
When the is operated, the front and rear opening and closing members 125 and 126 are opened and closed, whereby the front and rear chuck members 13 at the same height are opened and closed.
1, 132 are opened and closed.

The five front chuck members 131 are L-shaped and have a shape capable of engaging with the upper end of the container opening edge of the container stack S. The five rear chuck members 132 are vertical plate-like members that can hold down the bottom surface of the container. Rear chuck member
An elastic pad 136 is attached to 132.

The elevator 35, the pusher 36 for separating the container stack, and the upstream conveyor 38 have the same structure as in the first embodiment.

As shown in detail in FIG. 23, the downstream conveyor 39 is a chain conveyor and includes a pair of endless chains 181 and a plurality of holders 184 which are passed between the two chains 181 at a predetermined interval. .

Each holder 184 has a plurality of round bar-shaped guide rails 184a extending in the front-rear direction parallel to each other. The plurality of guide rails 184a are adapted to support the lower portion of the container stack S at appropriate locations.

The downstream conveyor 39 has a length capable of holding substantially the same number of container stacks S as can be supported by the loading conveyor 43 of the first embodiment. As shown in detail in FIG. 25, the loading station Y is the holder stopping position up to the sixth from the holder 184 stopped near the right end of the transport path of the downstream conveyor 39, and the other holder stopping positions are the non-loading stations N It has become. The number of the non-loading stations N is larger than that of the loading station Y, which indicates that the downstream conveyor 39 functions as a stocker as in the loading conveyor of the first embodiment.

The transfer device 41 has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 24, only the front chuck member 201 for chucking the container opening edge of the container stack S is used. The shape is different from that of the first embodiment.
The front chuck member 201 is L-shaped, like the front chuck member 131 of the separation device.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show the loading conveyor 43 in detail.

The loading conveyor 43 is provided with six right and left parallel slide rails 221 extending horizontally forward from the holders 184 stopped at the six loading stations Y, the container stack S from the loading station Y, and the container supply magazine 22. And a loading pusher 224 that pushes out to the point.

The pitch between adjacent slide rails 221 is
It is equal to the pitch of the loading station Y, and also equal to the pitch of the container supply magazine 22.

Each of the slide rails 221 has substantially the same structure as that of the container supply magazine 22, and is composed of a plurality of round rod-shaped guide rods 221a extending in the front-rear direction at a plurality of locations around the container stack S to be transported.

The loading pusher 224 has substantially the same structure as the discharge pusher 42 of the first embodiment, and includes a support member 211, a rodless cylinder 213, a lifting / lowering cylinder 215, and a pushing piece 216.
And the like, but those corresponding to the guide pieces 217 are missing. Further, the rodless cylinder 213 extends from above the loading station Y to a position where it crosses over the slide rail 221.

Next, the container stack supply operation will be described.

The transport box U is placed on the mounting surface 51 of the box table 31 along the inclination thereof. The container opening of the container stack S is directed backward. The transport box U is manually opened and inverted by the inverting device 32. Here, although the container opening of the container stack S is directed forward, it is the same as the procedure of the first embodiment so far.

The shortest conveyor 33 at the forefront of the supply conveyor 33
When the space above A is empty, the transport box U is transferred from the reversing device 32 onto the short conveyor 33A. After this, three short conveyors 33A
The transport box U is transported backward while moving on the long conveyor 33B. While the transport box U is placed on the foremost short conveyor 33A or the next short conveyor 33A among the three short conveyors 33A, the transport box U is extracted from the container stack group G and separated. When the transport box U is separated, a gap is formed between the guide 83 and the container stack group G by the interposition of the transport box U, and the entire container stack group G is inclined rightward in the direction of the gap. Try to fall. Since the upper end of the container stack group G leans against the guide 83, the container stack group G is prevented from falling down, but a gap extending downward still remains between the guide 83 and the container stack group G (FIG. 20). reference).

The container stack group G is the rearmost short conveyor.
When the user moves onto 33A, the push plate 83c is moved to the right and pressed against the left side surface of the container stack group G to apply pressure. Then, the bottom of the container stack group G slides on the conveyor transport path and moves to the right, and the entire right side surface of the container stack group G is diverted by the guide 83, so that there is no gap for downward expansion. Thereby, the shape of the lump-shaped container stack group G is adjusted and aligned along the guide 83.

When the container stack group G is transported onto the long conveyor 33B, the five container stack rows R arranged in the left-right direction that form the container stack group G start from the leftmost row. Sequentially, they are separated one by one by a separation device 34 and transferred to an elevator 35.

When the long conveyor 33B is driven with the leading stopper 85 standing up, the rear end of the container stack group G, that is, the container bottom side end of the container stack S is brought into contact with the leading stopper 85. The driving of the long conveyor 33B is stopped. Then, the top stopper 85 is turned down.

When the container stack group G is carried onto the long conveyor 33B, the chucking arm 91 is moved to the retracted position (FIG. 21) in order to avoid interference with the container stack group G to be carried.
At E). At the retreat position E,
The chucking arm 91 has a basic posture orthogonal to the transport path of the long conveyor 33B and slightly inclined with respect to a vertical line, and is at the upper limit of the vertical stroke and halfway between the left and right movement strokes. The front and rear opening and closing members 125 and 126 are open.

From the retreat position E, the chucking arm 91
Is moved to the right so that the front and rear chuck members 131 and 132 can sandwich the leftmost container stack row from both the front and rear sides. At that position, the chucking arm 91 is lowered to close both opening / closing members 125, 126. Then, the front and rear chuck members 131 and 132 are closed to chuck the container stack row, but the front chuck member 131 does not press the container flange F as in the case of the first embodiment,
A part of the horizontal portion of the L-shaped piece of the front chuck member 131 is inserted into the container mouth, and the middle of the horizontal portion is engaged with the upper end of the container mouth. In this form, the front end of the container stack S is chucked. Is done. Thereafter, the chucking arm 91 is raised, and thereafter, as in the first embodiment, by operating the chucking arm 91 and both the opening / closing members 125 and 126, the container stack row R is moved to the elevator 35. Receiving member154
Placed on Also in this case, the container stack row R on the receiving member 154 is held in the stable posture held by the slide plate 155.

When the chucking arm 91 is raised to lift the container stack row R, the container flanges F of the container stack rows R adjacent to each other on the left and right do not overlap each other as in the first embodiment. There is no need for a conveyor reverse operation performed in the first embodiment.

Then, the chucking arm 91 moves rightward,
After being returned to the basic position on the way, it is returned to the retreat position E. Next, the container stack row R on the right side of the container stack row R on the left end is transferred to the elevator 35, but the long conveyor 33B remains stopped.

The chucking arm 91 is again moved from the retracted position E.
To the right. When the chucking arm 91 is moved rightward to a position where the chuck members 131 and 132 can chuck the container stack row R on the right side, the rightward movement is stopped.
Then, the chucking arm 91 is lowered, and the front and rear chuck members 131 and 132 are closed. In the same manner, the same container stack row R is loaded on the elevator.

By repeating the above operation, the long conveyor 33B
When the upper five container stack rows R are all loaded on the elevator 35, the next container stack group G is moved to the long conveyor 33B.
Sent up.

The following operations performed are the same as those in the first embodiment. The container stack S is extruded from the upper end of the elevating path of the elevator 35, the extruded container stack S is received at the start end of the conveying path of the upstream conveyor 38, and the container stack S is transferred from the upstream conveyor 38 to the downstream conveyor 39. However, the front chuck member 201 of the transfer device 41
As with the front chuck member 131 of the separation device 34, is engaged with the container rim.

By the above operation, the container stack S is sequentially held in the holder 184 of the downstream conveyor 39. 6
Assuming that the container stacks S are aligned in all of the two loading stations Y, when the movable magazine 25 of the container supply magazine 22 is empty and is in a prone position backward,
The pushing piece 216 is advanced. Then, the six container stacks S are simultaneously extruded from the six holders 184 onto the slide rail 221. Extruded container stack S
Is slid forward on the slide rails 221 and passes through the slide rails 221 as it is.
To be loaded.

In the two embodiments described above,
If the supply and discharge stations are at the same level, no elevator is required. Further, a partition may not be provided in some cases.

Many advantages are provided by the container supply device according to the two embodiments described above. The advantages are summarized as follows.

The most common cardboard boxes in circulation can be continuously used as they are, and no special conditions such as special packaging and special cases are required when introducing equipment. Therefore, since no new dedicated equipment is required at the container maker, the equipment can be easily and independently introduced only by the filling maker without the cooperation of the container maker.

The flaps are opened manually, but the flaps are fixed as they are using an internal plastic bag, the cardboard box is turned upside down, and then the packing of the inner container stack group is maintained on the supply conveyor. By extracting only cardboard boxes and plastic bags, which are materials, upward from the container stack group, the container stack is not touched by human hands.

Since the container stack can be supplied to the supply conveyor in units of cardboard boxes, the capacity is high. Workability is greatly improved compared to removing container stacks one by one from a cardboard box. In addition, equipment can be installed in a small space because of unit handling in the container stack group.

Since the unpacking of the cardboard box is performed in the material room, no material such as a cardboard box is brought into the filling chamber, so that a drastic improvement in hygiene can be achieved. The workability and safety around the packaging machine main body are extremely good as compared with the case where a dedicated machine, a robot or the like is installed close to the packaging machine main body.

[0158]

According to the present invention, a container stack packed in a conventional cardboard box or the like can be automatically and efficiently supplied to a container supply magazine without manual operation, thereby increasing the speed. It can respond to labor saving.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a container supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the container supply device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a reversing device of the container supply device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the reversing device.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along a line VV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a supply conveyor of the container supply device.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the supply conveyor near the end of a transport path.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the vicinity of the upper end of a lift path of the elevator of the container supply device.

FIG. 10 is a front view of an alignment conveyor of the container supply device.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 9;

12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the vicinity of the end of the transport path of the loading device of the container supply device.

14 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV of FIG.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a container stack used in the container supply device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a container forming the container stack.

FIG. 17 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the container supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the container supply device.

19 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 3 of the reversing device of the container supply device taken along line XIX-XIX in FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the supply conveyor of the container supply device taken along line XX-XX of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI of FIG. 17 near the end of the transport path of the supply conveyor of the container supply device.

22 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line XXII-XXII of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a front view of an alignment conveyor of the container supply device.

FIG. 24 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the conveyor lined up along line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 23, corresponding to FIG. 11;

FIG. 25 is a front view of the vicinity of the end of the transport path of the alignment conveyor of the container supply device.

FIG. 26 is a side view of a loading conveyor of the container supply device.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a container used in the container supply device according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Container transport path 22 Magazine 33 Supply conveyor 34 Separation device 36 Separation pusher S Container stack R Container stack row G Container stack group D1 Supply station D2 Discharge station

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65G 65/23 B65G 65/23 (72) Inventor Tetsuya Inuchi Taro Kitajima-cho, Itano-gun, Tokushima Pref. No. 1 in Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd. (72) Michio Ueda Inventor Michio Ueda No. 10 Taro Yasushi Nishikawa, Kitajima-cho, Itano-gun, Tokushima Prefecture F-term in No. 1 Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd. BB05 GA05 3F017 AA02 BA12 BA18 BA19 3F030 AA01 BA01 BA02 BB00 BC01 3F044 AA02 BA02 CD03 CF02

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A packaging machine having a plurality of parallel container transport paths and a plurality of container supply magazines provided in each container transport path, wherein a group of one-piece container stacks is formed in a transport box. A plurality of rod-shaped container stacks housed sideways so that their length directions are aligned so that a plurality of container stacks are arranged vertically or horizontally to form a container stack row, and the plurality of container stack rows are A container supply device that supplies a plurality of container stacks composed of a plurality of cup-shaped containers stacked one on another to the same container supply magazine one by one in a vertical or horizontal line to form a container stack group. The supply station for taking out the container stack group from the transport box and the discharge station for loading the container stack in the container supply magazine are linked by the stack transport path. On the way of the stack transport path, the lump container stack group placed on the stack transport path is separated by a row-by-row separating means for separating every vertical or horizontal row of container stacks and a row-by-row separating means. A container stacking device for sequentially separating one vertical or horizontal container stack row for each container stack. 2. The container supply device according to claim 1, wherein a partition is provided between the supply station and the discharge station, a communication window is provided in the partition, and a stack transfer path extends through the communication window. 3. The container supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a reversing means for reversing the transport box up and down while holding the container stack group therein at the start end of the stack transport path. 4. A supply conveyor is arranged at a supply station, and the supply conveyor is provided with a group of one-piece container stacks that extend along the stack transport path and are placed with the length direction of the container stack orthogonal to the stack transport path. The container supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a pair of guides for guiding both side surfaces. 5. A column-by-row separating means for sequentially stacking one vertical stack row of a group of container stacks placed with the length direction of the container stack perpendicular to the stack transport path, starting from the first one in the stack transport path width direction. The lower end of the elevator path is connected to the end of the transport path of the supply conveyor, and the elevator has a receiving member that receives the lower end of the vertical container stack row. The container supply device according to claim 4, wherein a vertical row of container stacks is transferred between the supply conveyor and the receiving member by the chuck member between the end of the transport path of the conveyor and the lower end of the elevator path. . 6. A supply conveyor is disposed at a supply station, wherein the supply conveyor is inclined so that one edge is lower than the other edge, and one edge of the inclined conveyance path. A guide that extends along the container stack and guides a downward side surface of a group of container stacks placed on the inclined conveyance path while making the length direction of the container stack parallel to the inclined conveyance path. 4. The container supply device according to any one of items 1 to 3, 7. A column-by-row separating means, wherein the length direction of the container stack is made parallel to the inclined transport path, and one vertical stack row of the container stack group placed on the inclined transport path is placed on the other side of the inclined transport path. A chuck member capable of sequentially chucking from the length direction of the inclined conveying path in the direction closer to the edge of the elevator, the lower end of the elevator path is connected to the end of the conveying path of the supply conveyor, and the elevators are vertically aligned containers. A receiving member for receiving the lower end of the stack row, between the end of the transport path of the supply conveyor and the lower end of the elevating path of the elevator, a vertical row of container stack rows is transferred between the supply conveyor and the receiving member by the chuck member; The container supply device according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The stack-by-stack separating means has a pusher that pushes the container stacks of a single vertical stack row received by the receiving member so as to be pushed out from the receiving member in order from the highest one. The container supply device according to claim 5, wherein the container conveyor that is extruded from the receiving member is arranged so that the alignment conveyor can receive the container stack at the start end of the transport path. 9. An alignment conveyor is formed by an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor, a stopper is arranged at the end of the conveying path of the upstream conveyor, and a sensor is provided so as to detect the presence or absence of a container stack stopped by the stopper. The container stack on the end of the transport path of the upstream conveyor is transferred by the transfer device onto the start end of the transfer path of the downstream conveyor based on the detection of the presence of the container stack by the sensor, and the downstream conveyor is a single container. The container supply device according to claim 8, wherein the container supply device is intermittently driven at a pitch corresponding to the stack. 10. The loading conveyor is arranged at the discharge station, and the loading conveyor communicates the downstream conveyor with the container supply magazine and has a number of parallel transport paths corresponding to the number of the container supply magazines. 10. The container supply device according to 9.