JP2005170465A - Pushing-in method, pushing-in device, and automatic box packing apparatus using the pushing-in device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pushing-in method and a pushing-in device for simultaneously pushing in a plurality of articles into two exterior boxes, and an automatic box packing apparatus using them. <P>SOLUTION: This pushing-in device places the articles W having a pair of first side surfaces Wd and second side surfaces We which are confronted with each other in the exterior box C. The pushing-in device is equipped with article arranging in parallel means 8, 13, 17 and 18 which form an article row in such a manner that the first side surfaces Wd come into contact with each other, and arrange the articles in such a manner that a pair of the article rows may be formed with the second side surfaces We of the article W being in contact with each other, an exterior box arranging in parallel means 15 which arranges a pair of the package boxes C, a pinching means 8 which pinches and holds a pair of the arranged articles rows, and a pushing-out means 14 which pushes out a pair of the pinched article rows toward a pair of the package boxes C. This automatic box packing device is constituted in such a manner that a pair of the article rows may turn while sliding on the pinching surface of the pinching means 8 by the pushing out by the pushing-out means 14, and at least the ends being closer to the package boxes C of a pair of the article rows may be separated, and a pair of the article rows may respectively be pushed into a pair of the exterior boxes C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressing method, a pressing device, and an automatic boxing device using the pressing device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pushing method for pushing a plurality of articles into an outer box, a pushing device, and an automatic boxing device using the pushing device.

As a pressing method for pushing a plurality of aligned articles into the exterior box, the aligned plurality of articles are pressed until just before they are pushed into the exterior box to maintain the aligned state, and are pushed down from the top to be positioned below. A method of pushing into the opening on the upper surface of the box is common, and this pushing method is practically used as a pushing device included in an automatic boxing device (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-19707 A

  However, in such a conventional push-in method, a plurality of clamped articles are collectively pushed down, so that there is only one exterior box located below. This is because when there are a plurality of outer boxes, the pushed-in article comes into contact with the peripheral wall of the outer box, and reliable pushing into the outer box cannot be achieved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a pushing method, a pushing device, and an automatic boxing device using the pushing method for pushing a plurality of articles into two exterior boxes at a time. The purpose is that.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a pressing method and a pressing device according to the present invention include a pair of first side surfaces facing each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the facing direction of the pair of first side surfaces and the pair of first side surfaces. A pressing method and a pressing device for putting an article having a second side into an outer box, wherein one or more of the articles are arranged so that the first side faces each other to form an article row and each article The articles are arranged by article juxtaposing means so that the article rows are arranged in a first direction so that the second side surfaces of the articles constituting the row are in contact with each other to form a pair of article rows. The pair of outer boxes are arranged in a second direction substantially parallel to the first side surface of the article and in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction so that the openings respectively face the pair of article rows. Arranged by juxtaposition means, Holding the pair of article rows by clamping the first side surfaces of the articles located at both ends of the pair of article rows by the pair of clamping surfaces by a clamping means having a pair of clamping surfaces facing each other, The pair of clamped article rows are pushed out by the pushing means toward the pair of outer packaging boxes in the second direction, and the pair of article rows slide on the pinching surface of the clamping means by the pushing by the pushing means. By rotating while moving, at least the ends close to the outer box of the pair of article rows are separated from each other, thereby being pushed into the pair of outer boxes (Claims 1 and 9). With such a configuration, a plurality of articles can be pushed into two outer boxes at a time.

  It is preferable that the pair of exterior boxes do not have a flap at a portion adjacent to each other among the upper ends of the peripheral walls forming the respective openings (claims 2 and 10). With such a configuration, contact between the flap and the article can be avoided, so that it is easier to push a plurality of articles into the two exterior boxes at a time.

  The extruding means has an extruding member, and the extruding member comes into contact with the second side surface portions of the pair of article rows that are in contact with each other at the end far from the outer packaging box. When the ends close to the outer box of the pair of article rows are spaced apart by a predetermined width, the second row at the other end of the pair of article rows far from the outer box is rotated. The pair of article rows may be pushed out toward the pair of outer packaging boxes so as to be in contact with the side surface portion of the pair (claims 3 and 11). With such a configuration, it is possible to limit the separation of the article rows to a predetermined width with a simple structure.

  The predetermined width for separating the article rows may be 5 mm to 10 mm (claims 4 and 12). With this configuration, a plurality of articles can be pushed into the outer box more accurately.

  The first direction may be a substantially horizontal direction, and the second direction may be a substantially vertical downward direction (Claims 5 and 13). With such a configuration, the fall of the article due to gravity can be used, so that it is easier to push a plurality of articles into the outer box.

  The article juxtaposing means has an advancing / retracting member, and the advancing / retreating member is advanced on an extrusion path of the pair of article rows to form the pair of article rows on the advancing / retreating member. The pair of article rows formed on the advancing / retracting member is clamped and held by the clamping surface, and then the article juxtaposing means retracts the advancing / retreating member from the extrusion path of the pair of articles, and then the extrusion The means may push out the pair of article rows held by the holding pressure (Claims 6 and 14).

  The article may be a small box carton having a tab whose upper end has an arc shape on the upper surface of a rectangular parallelepiped body (claims 7 and 15).

  The article row is composed of one article, and the article juxtaposing unit arranges the pair of articles as the pair of article rows in a first direction so that the second side surfaces of the article row are in contact with each other. The outer box juxtaposing means arranges the pair of outer boxes in the second direction so that the openings are opposed to the pair of articles, respectively, and the clamping means is a first of the pair of articles. Side surfaces are clamped and held by the pair of clamping surfaces, and the push-out means pushes the pair of articles held and clamped toward the pair of exterior boxes in the second direction, and the pair of articles is , While sliding on the clamping surface of the clamping means by extrusion by the pushing means, at least the ends close to the exterior box of the pair of articles are separated from each other, thereby being respectively pushed into the pair of exterior boxes Configured to An optionally (claims 8,16). Even with such a configuration, a plurality of articles can be pushed into two outer boxes at a time.

  Moreover, the automatic boxing apparatus concerning this invention is the pushing apparatus of Claim 9, the article supply apparatus which supplies the said article processed by the said pushing apparatus sequentially, The said exterior used by the said pushing apparatus An outer box supply device for sequentially supplying boxes, and an outer box unloading device for sequentially unloading the outer boxes, wherein the article juxtaposing means of the pushing device sequentially arranges the articles supplied from the article feeding device, and The exterior box juxtaposing means of the apparatus sequentially arranges the exterior boxes sequentially supplied from the exterior box supply device, and sequentially transports the exterior boxes containing the articles (Claim 17). With such a configuration, since a plurality of articles and an exterior box are automatically juxtaposed, it is possible to save labor for boxing the articles.

  The article juxtaposing means aligns the articles supplied from the supply apparatus so as to sequentially form the pair of article rows, and the pair of rows aligned by the alignment device is a pair of the clamping means. It may have a transfer device which transfers to the position pinched by the pinching surface (claim 18). With such a configuration, since a plurality of articles are automatically aligned and arranged, it is possible to save labor for boxing the articles.

  As described above, the present invention can push a plurality of articles into two exterior boxes at a time, and has an effect of improving work efficiency.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the pushing device according to the present embodiment and the structure of the outer box, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the pushing device 9 according to the present embodiment. is there.

  In FIG. 1, the pushing device 9 includes a positioning plate 17, a pair of pressing plates 8, a shutter 13, a guide member 22, an extrusion plate 14, and a lifter 15.

  The extrusion plate 14 is configured to push down the pair of article rows Wa from above and push it into the outer box C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the extrusion plate 14 is an extrusion in which the standby height position H slightly above the pair of article rows Wa and the pair of article rows Wa are accommodated in the frame of the outer box C. It is configured to move up and down between the height position L. The standby height position H is set according to the height position of the pair of article rows Wa, and the extrusion height position L is set according to the height position of the upper end of the peripheral wall of the exterior box C.

  The article row Wa is configured according to the amount accommodated in the exterior box C. Generally, it is composed of a plurality of articles W, but only a single article W may be used. The article W constituting the article row Wa includes a pair of first side faces Wd facing each other and a pair of second side faces We facing each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the facing direction of the pair of first side faces Wd. It is an article having. In the present embodiment, it is a small carton having a tab Wc having an arcuate upper end on the upper surface of a rectangular parallelepiped main body Wb. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pair of article rows Wa are arranged such that the articles W are in contact with each other on the first side surface Wd to form the article row and each article W constituting each article row. The article rows are arranged in the article juxtaposition region S so that the article rows are aligned in the first direction X so that the second side surfaces We are in contact with each other.

  The extrusion surface 14a of the extrusion plate 14 is formed to have a predetermined shape in accordance with the pair of article rows Wa. The extrusion surface 14a is a surface that contacts the pair of article rows Wa. In the present embodiment, the extrusion surface 14a includes contact surfaces 14b and 14c having substantially the same shape as an envelope surface (hereinafter referred to as a top surface) formed by connecting the upper ends of the tabs Wc of the article W in the arrangement direction. The two rows are arranged in parallel while being inclined so that the inner side of each article row wa is low and the outer side of each article row Wa is higher. That is, the contact surfaces 14b and 14c having substantially the same shape as the top surfaces formed by the pair of article rows Wa are downward (toward the outer box C in the second direction Y) with the boundary between the pair of article rows WA as the symmetry axis. Two are formed with an angle slightly outward from the direction. Here, when the upper ends of the pair of article rows wa are fitted to the extrusion surface 14a, the lower ends of the pair of article rows Wa are separated from each other, but this separation width is empirically 5 mm to 10 mm. preferable.

  The pair of clamping plates 8 are disposed below the extrusion plate 14 and opposed to each other across the article juxtaposing region S on the extension of the pair of article rows Wa in the first direction X. . The pair of sandwiching plates 8 are advanced and retracted so as to sandwich the first side face Wd of the article W located at both ends of the pair of article rows Wa so as to sandwich and hold the pair of article rows Wa. It is configured.

  Here, in the article juxtaposition region S, a pair of article rows Wa that are set at a height position where the pair of article rows Wa can be placed between the extrusion plate 14 and immediately below the extrusion plate 14 can be arranged. It is a rectangular parallelepiped space. The area of the pinching plate 8 is large enough to pinch the pair of article rows Wa. The shape or material of the surface of the pinching plate 8 is adjusted so as to provide an appropriate frictional resistance based on the relationship between the surface of the article W and the pinching pressure. As will be described later, this is because the pair of article rows Wa can be suitably rotated by the couple generated by the above-described frictional resistance while being pushed by the extrusion plate 14. This is to prevent scratches on the surface. The pair of pinching plates 8 is configured to advance to a position where the pair of article rows Wa can be pinched and to be retracted therefrom. This is because the pair of article rows Wa is received in the article juxtaposition region S during retraction.

  In addition, the shutter 13, the positioning plate 17, and the pressing plate 18 are disposed so as to surround the article juxtaposition region S together with the pair of pressing plates 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the positioning plate 17 is disposed so as to define a side surface of the article juxtaposing region S parallel to the advancing / retreating direction of the pair of pinching plates 8. The support structure (not shown) for the positioning plate 17 can be moved backward from the article juxtaposition region S by a spring or the like. This is to prevent rotation of the pair of article rows Wa from being disturbed even when the pair of article rows Wa is rotated and contacted when the pair of article rows Wa is pushed out.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (not shown in FIG. 1), the pressing plate 18 is disposed so as to contact the upper half of the side surface of the article juxtaposing region S that faces the side surface defined by the positioning plate 17. . The holding plate 18 is configured to swing around a fulcrum (not shown) located above it, and to advance to a position in contact with the side surface of the article juxtaposing region S and to be retracted therefrom. Yes.

  The shutter 13 is disposed so as to define the lower surface of the article juxtaposing region S. Here, the shutter 13 includes a pair of movable plates 13a that open and close in the horizontal direction. When the shutter 13 is closed, the pair of movable plates 13a advance to form a horizontal plane that supports the lower surfaces of the pair of article rows Wa. When the shutter 13 is opened, the pair of movable plates 13a is retracted to open the lower surface of the article juxtaposing region S, and the pair of article rows Wa and the pusher plate 14 can be moved below the article juxtaposing region S. Yes.

  The guide member 22 is disposed as necessary, such as when there is an obstacle to boxing. Articles Wa is prevented from contacting the flap F of the outer box C or the upper end of the peripheral wall forming the opening of the outer box C, and the pair of article rows Wa is pushed into the outer box C. It is disposed below the juxtaposed region S. Specifically, it is disposed so as to be located near the lower surface of the movable plate 13a when the shutter 13 is closed. The shape of the guide member 22 is determined according to the shape of the opening of the pair of exterior boxes C. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the plate member is bent so that the whole has an inverted quadrangular frustum shape, the upper surface is opened, and the bottom surface is formed to form a rectangular opening 22a. The opening 22a is arranged in a horizontal state so as to be positioned directly below the article juxtaposing region S. The opening 22a has substantially the same size as a total opening (hereinafter referred to as a total opening) obtained by combining the openings of the pair of exterior boxes C. The edge of the opening 22a is inclined downward and inward. In other words, the guide member 22 is formed so as to be narrowed downward. And the dimension (size) of the open | released rectangular upper surface of the guide member 22 is larger both vertically and horizontally than the dimension of the total opening of a pair of exterior box C, and the dimension of the opening part 22a is the total opening of a pair of exterior box C. It is formed to be smaller in both length and width than the dimensions. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flap F of the outer box C is guided so as to be positioned outside the guide member 22, and the pair of article rows Wa and the flap F or the opening of the outer box C is opened. Is prevented from contacting the upper end of the peripheral wall, and a reliable boxing operation is realized.

  Here, the exterior box C is formed of a main body B composed of a bottom wall and four side walls, and a flap F formed on the upper end of the three side walls. The flap F is a plate-like member that extends outward from the upper end of each of the four side walls (peripheral walls) that form the opening of a general exterior box C such as a cardboard case. belongs to. These flaps F are bent inwardly at the upper end of the peripheral wall to form a lid of the outer box C.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer box C is paired in a second direction Y that is substantially parallel to the first side surface Wd of the articles W in the pair of article rows Wa and substantially perpendicular to the first direction X. The article row Wa and the pair of outer boxes C are placed on the lifter 15 so that two of them are arranged to face each other. In the present embodiment, the second direction Y is set in a substantially vertical direction, and the pair of exterior boxes C is such that each exterior box C projects the flap F upward from the opening with the opening facing upward. In addition, the two outer boxes C are arranged so that the peripheral walls Ca not having the flaps F are in contact with each other. The lifter 15 is disposed below the article juxtaposed region S. It has a horizontal board surface that is wide enough to place two exterior boxes C side by side, and is configured so that the board surface can be raised and lowered. As shown in FIG. 2, the lift range of the lifter 15 is a height range between a carry-in / out height position M of the outer box C and an accommodation height position N in which the outer box C accommodates a pair of article rows Wa. is there. The carry-in / out height position M is a height position where the height difference from the article juxtaposing region S located above is equal to or higher than the height of the outer packaging box C including the height of the flap F. This is for preventing the outer box C from being carried in and out. The accommodation height position N is a height position at which the upper end of the exterior box C is close to the lower surface of the shutter 13. When the exterior box C has the flap F, it is a height position at which the flap F is positioned outside the guide plate 22. This is to prevent contact between the pair of article rows Wa and the flap F. Further, the lifter 15 may be provided with a fixture 15a of the outer box C. This is to prevent the outer case C from being moved from a predetermined position by an external force such as when the lifter 15 is moved up and down or when the pair of article rows Wa are pushed. The fixture 15a may be a general instrument such as a clamp or suction. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the pair of outer boxes C may be fixed at predetermined positions by lightly pressing the pair of outer boxes C with a pair of L-shaped steel materials.

  Next, the schematic operation of the pushing device 9 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the extrusion plate 14 is located at the standby height position H.

  The movable plate 13a is located at the advanced position, and a pair of article rows Wa is arranged in the article juxtaposition region S on the upper surface of the movable plate 13a.

  The lifter 15 is positioned at the carry-in / out height position M, and a pair of exterior boxes C are placed on the board surface.

  Then, the lifter 15 rises to the accommodation height position N.

  Here, since the lower end of the opening 22a of the guide plate 22 is narrower than the total opening of the pair of exterior boxes C, the flap F contacts the outer surface of the guide plate 22 and guides along the outer surface. It comes to be located outside the plate 22.

  Then, the pair of article rows Wa is clamped by the pair of clamping plates 8, and the extrusion plate 14 is lowered from the standby height position H.

  The movable plate 13a is retracted at the time when the extrusion plate 14 contacts the pair of article rows Wa or immediately before the contact. This is to prevent the pair of article rows Wa from falling freely without contacting the extrusion plate 14.

  The retracting time of the movable plate 13a may be any time as long as it is no longer necessary to support the pair of article rows Wa. Therefore, when the pair of article rows Wa is held by the pinching plate 8, the article row Wa may be retracted regardless of the arrangement state of the extrusion plate 14 and the outer box C.

  In addition, when the pair of article rows Wa and the extrusion plate 14 are in contact with each other, it is preferable to adjust the descending speed and acceleration of the extrusion plate 14 so that a large force is not applied to the pair of article rows Wa. This is to prevent the article W from being damaged by the contact with the extrusion plate 14. For example, the extrusion plate 14 may be temporarily stopped at a height position in contact with the pair of article rows Wa, and then the movable plate 13a may be retracted and the extrusion plate 14 may be lowered again.

  In addition, after the extrusion plate 14 comes into contact with the pair of article rows Wa, the clamping pressure of the clamping plate 8 is adjusted so that a slight couple is generated between the pair of article rows Wa and the extrusion plate 14. ing. While preventing the pair of article rows Wa from free-falling away from the extrusion plate 14, the pair of article rows Wa is rotated while receiving a frictional resistance with the pinching plate 8, and the pair of article rows Wa This is because the lower end of Wa is spaced apart by a predetermined width, and without being damaged on the surface or outer edge of the article W, the lower end of Wa can be moved downward to be able to be separated downward between the clamping plates 8.

  Then, the extrusion plate 14 is lowered to the extrusion height position L, and the pair of article rows Wa are pushed into the pair of exterior boxes C, respectively. The descending speed and acceleration of the extrusion plate 14 are adjusted according to the weight of the pair of article rows Wa and the frictional force between the pair of clamping plates 8 and the pair of article rows Wa.

  Then, the extrusion plate 14 is raised to the standby height position H, and the lifter 15 is lowered to the carry-in / out height position M.

  Next, the operation of the pushing device 9 of the present embodiment will be described in more detail with a focus on the separating operation of the pair of article rows Wa, which is a feature of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the pushing device 9 when a pair of article rows Wa is arranged, and FIG. 4 is a side view thereof.

  The pair of article rows Wa is arranged in the article juxtaposition region S so as to be arranged in the first direction X, supported by the positioning plate 17 and the pressing plate 18 on the movable plate 13a.

  The extrusion plate 14 stands by at the standby height position H so that the extending direction of the pair of contact surfaces 14b and 14c of the extrusion surface 14a coincides with the extending direction of the top surfaces of the pair of article rows Wa.

  The lifter 15 is elevated to the accommodation height position N with a pair of outer boxes C placed thereon. The pair of exterior boxes C are placed so that the opening portions thereof face the respective article rows of the pair of article rows Wa. The lifter 15 only needs to be raised to the accommodation height position N when the article row Wa is accommodated in the outer box C, and is not necessarily raised to the accommodation height position N when the article row Wa is arranged. Absent. FIG. 5 is a front view of the pushing device 9 when the pair of article rows Wa are clamped, and FIG. 6 is a side view thereof.

  After the pair of article rows Wa are arranged in the article juxtaposition region S, the pair of clamping plates 8 advance to clamp and hold the pair of article rows Wa. Then, the movable plate 13a is retracted from the article juxtaposition region S. Further, the extruding plate 14 is lowered from the standby height position H, and the extruding surface 14a is a portion on the second side surface We side where the upper ends of each of the pair of article rows Wa are in contact with each other (here, the inner end). Contact with. At this time, as described above, the speed of the lifting and lowering operation of the extrusion plate 14 may be reduced or temporarily stopped. This is to alleviate the impact at the time of contact between the article row Wa and the extrusion surface 14a.

  FIG. 7 is a front view of the pushing device 9 when the pair of article rows Wa is pushed into the pair of exterior boxes C, and FIG. 8 is a side view thereof.

  After the movable plate 13a is retracted from the article juxtaposed region S, the extrusion surface 14a further descends and descends to the extrusion height position L. As described above, the pair of article rows Wa is pushed toward the outer box C on the second side surface We side in contact with each other, and receives frictional resistance between the pressing plate 8 during that time, so that its frictional resistance force Each article row Wa is rotated by a couple of force due to the pressing force of the pressing surface 14a. Eventually, when the ends of the pair of article rows Wa close to the outer box C are separated by a predetermined width, the other second side surface We side of the upper ends of the pair of article rows Wa, that is, the edges of the pair of article rows Wa The side portion (here, the outer end) comes into contact with the extrusion surface 14a, and the rotation of the pair of article rows Wa stops. Then, the pair of article rows Wa is pushed toward the pair of exterior boxes C in a state where a predetermined separation width is generated between the article rows. Since the peripheral walls Ca of the openings of each of the pair of outer boxes C are located below the article rows separated in this way, contact between the pair of article rows Wa and the peripheral walls Ca of the outer box C is avoided. The pair of article rows Wa can be divided into individual article rows Wa and pushed into the two outer boxes C, respectively. Here, even if the pair of article rows Wa and the positioning plate 17 come into contact with each other by the rotation of each article row Wa, the positioning plate 17 is elastically retracted by the support structure. The rotation of Wa is not hindered.

  In the present embodiment, the extrusion plate 14 is raised and lowered. However, the pushing method and the like according to the present invention can also be performed by raising and lowering the pair of pressed article rows Wa with the extrusion plate 14 fixed. Can be realized.

  Instead of the shutter 13, a general advance / retreat means having a movable plate 13a such as a turret may be used.

[Modification 1]
This modification is a modification according to the configuration of the extrusion plate 14 of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing a contact relationship between the extrusion plate 14 and the pair of article rows Wa according to this modification when the article row Wa is pushed out.

  In FIG. 9, a pair of pressing rods 14 c and 14 d for pressing each article row Wa are disposed on the extrusion surface 14 a of the extrusion plate 14. The pair of pressing bars 14c and 14d are disposed so as to extend in parallel with the arrangement direction of the articles in each article row Wa, and the inner pressing bar 14c is disposed below the outer pressing bar 14d. Yes. As a result, in the pair of article rows Wa, the inner end of the upper end of each article row Wa comes into contact with the pressing rod 14c of the extrusion surface 14a, and each article row Wa rotates. By this rotation, the lower ends of the pair of article rows Wa are separated from each other, and the outer end portion of the upper ends of the article rows Wa comes into contact with the pressing rod 14d when the separation width reaches a predetermined value. Then, the pair of article rows Wa is pushed out as it is and pushed into the pair of exterior boxes C.

  Even with such a configuration, the same effect as the configuration of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

(Embodiment 2)
10A and 10B are diagrams showing the configuration of the main part of the automatic boxing device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, in which FIG. 10A is a front view and FIG. 10B is a plan view. FIG. 11 is a front view schematically showing the overall configuration of the automatic boxing device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, the automatic boxing device includes an introduction conveyor 3 (article supply device), an alignment conveyor 6 (alignment device), a transfer plate 7 (transfer device), a pushing device 9 according to the first embodiment, and an outer box carrying-in. It has a conveyor 4 (exterior box supply device) and an external box carry-out conveyor 5.

  The introduction conveyor 3 is arranged to supply the articles W to be boxed to the alignment conveyor 6. For example, a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor is used. Further, the discharge end 3 a is disposed to face the receiving position R of the endless track 16.

  The alignment conveyor 6 is configured to receive and align a plurality of articles W supplied from the introduction conveyor 3. Specifically, it has an endless track 16 having a plurality of belt groups and a plurality of fins 10 attached to the transport surface of the endless track 16.

  The plurality of fins 10 are attached in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval in the transport direction, that is, with a predetermined gap portion 11 to form a fin group 10a. As shown in FIG. 10B, the fin 10 has a size that the article W accepts in parallel. The gap portion 11 is adjusted to an interval at which one article W can be accommodated according to the article W. In addition, the number of fins 10 forming the fin group 10 a is adjusted so that the article W has the capacity of the outer box C.

  The endless track 16 can form a plurality of fin groups 10a and increase the conveyance capacity of the article row Wa when a plurality of belt groups are circulated and driven independently from each other by different driving devices (not shown). Can do. For example, in FIG. 10, the endless track 16 has a first belt group 16a and a second belt group 16b each composed of two belts. The fins 10 attached to the first belt group 16a and the second belt group 16b constitute a fin group 10a. Accordingly, even when the fin group 10a of the first belt group 16a is stopped and the article W is being transferred to the pushing device 9, the second belt group 16b is independently circulated and the receiving position R The article W can be received.

  The transfer plate 7 is configured to transfer the pair of article rows Wa aligned by the alignment conveyor 6 from the alignment conveyor 6 to the article juxtaposition region S of the pushing device 9.

  The pushing device 9 is as described in the first embodiment. The pushing device 9 is disposed so that the positioning plate 17 faces the transfer plate 7. Specifically, it is arranged to receive the side surfaces of the pair of article rows Wa moved by the transfer plate 7 at the same height position.

  The outer box carry-in conveyor 4 (outer box supply device) is arranged to carry a pair of outer boxes C onto the lifter 15. For example, a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor is used. Further, the pair of exterior boxes C are supplied with their openings disposed in directions facing the article rows of the pair of article rows Wa. This is to ensure proper placement on the lifter 15.

  The outer box unloading conveyor 5 (outer box unloading device) is configured to unload the pair of outer boxes C from the lifter 15. For example, a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor is used.

  Next, the operation of the automatic boxing apparatus configured as described above will be described.

  10A and 10B, the articles W are supplied from the introduction conveyor 3 to the alignment conveyor 6 in a state where two articles W are arranged in a horizontal row. This is because two articles W are sequentially put into the gap portion 11 one by one and aligned in two rows.

  Two articles W fall from the discharge end 3a of the introduction conveyor 3, and the alignment conveyor 6 receives two articles W in each gap portion 11 while moving by one gap. In the endless track 16, the endless track 16 has an arcuate shape in the portion of the sprocket 6 a that extends from the lower return path to the upper outbound path, and the gap portion 11 extends radially. For this reason, this part of the alignment conveyor 6 becomes the receiving position R for receiving the articles W from the introduction conveyor 3.

  When the articles W enter all the gap portions 11, the alignment conveyor 6 moves to the transfer position T at a stretch.

  Here, the transfer position T is located in the forward path where the endless track 6 is in a horizontal state and the fins 10 are upright, and the transfer plate 7 moves the articles W of the gap portions 11 together from the endless track 16. Is the position.

  At the transfer position T, the transfer plate 7 moves horizontally so as to cross the alignment conveyor 6 to move all articles W (that is, a pair of article rows Wa) positioned at the transfer position T from the gap portion 11. The transfer plate 7 is formed with slits 12 through which the fins 10 can pass. The article W is transferred to the pushing device 9 by the transfer plate 7 in an aligned state. The article W pushed out from the side by the transfer plate 7 is received by the positioning plate 17 disposed so as to face the transfer plate 7, thereby placing a pair of article rows Wa in a predetermined alignment direction. be able to.

  The outer box C is supplied to the lifter 15 from the outer box carry-in conveyor 4 as a pair, and is arranged on the lifter 15 as described in the first embodiment.

  The pushing device 9 divides the pair of article rows Wa and packs them in the pair of exterior boxes C by the operation described in the first embodiment.

  In the pair of outer boxes C in which the pair of article rows Wa are packed, the lifter 15 descends to the carry-in / out height position M and is carried out from the outer box carry-out conveyor 5.

  These operations can be realized by controlling the drive device by the control device 30 as shown in FIG. The operation of the pushing device 9 easily controls the position of the advancing / retreating drive device 8b of the clamping plate 8, the opening / closing drive device 13b of the shutter 13, the lifting drive device 14b of the extrusion plate 14, and the lifting drive device 15b of the lifter 15. It can be controlled by the control device 30 using a drive device that can. As such a driving device, for example, a servo motor can be used.

  In addition, the introduction conveyor 3, the alignment conveyor 6 and the transfer plate 7, the outer box carrying-in conveyor 4, and the outer box carrying-out conveyor 5 are also controlled according to the operation of the pushing device 9 using their respective general driving devices. It can be realized by the device 30.

  The pushing method of the present invention is useful as a pushing method used for a boxing method of pushing a plurality of articles into two outer boxes at a time.

  The pushing device of the present invention is useful as a pushing device used for a boxing device that pushes a plurality of articles into two exterior boxes at a time.

  The automatic boxing apparatus of the present invention is useful as an automatic boxing apparatus that pushes a plurality of articles into two outer boxes at a time.

It is a perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the pushing apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention, and a perspective view which shows roughly the arrangement | positioning relationship between a guide member and an exterior box. It is a side view which shows roughly the pushing-in apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of a pushing device when a pair of goods row | line | column is arrange | positioned at the pushing apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view of a pushing apparatus when a pair of goods row | line | column is arrange | positioned at the pushing apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view when the pushing device concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention pinches a pair of article rows. It is a side view when the pushing device concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention pinches a pair of article rows. It is a front view when the pushing device concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention pushes out a pair of goods row in a pair of exterior boxes. It is a side view when the pushing device concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention pushes out a pair of goods row in a pair of exterior boxes. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the contact relationship of the extrusion plate 14 concerning the modification 1 of this invention and a pair of article row Wa at the time of extrusion of an article row. It is the front view (a) and top view (b) which show roughly the structure of the automatic boxing apparatus using the pushing-in apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a front view which shows roughly the automatic boxing apparatus using the pushing-in apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Introduction conveyor 3a Unloading end 4 Outer box carrying-in conveyor 5 Outer box carrying-out conveyor 6 Alignment conveyor 6a Sprocket 7 Transfer plate 8 Nipping plate 8b Advance / retreat drive device 9 Pushing device 10 Fin 10a Fin group 11 Gap part 12 Slit 13 Shutter 13a Movable plate 13b Opening / closing drive device 14 Extrusion plate 14a Extrusion surface 14b Lifting drive device 14c Pressing rod 14d Pressing rod 15 Lifter 15b Lifting drive device 16 Endless track 16a, 16b Belt group 17 Positioning plate 18 Holding plate 22 Guide plate 22a Opening portion 30 Control device 104 Extrusion plate B Main body C Exterior box Ca Peripheral wall F Flap H Standby height position L Extrusion height position M Unloading / incoming height position N Accommodating height position R Receiving position S Article juxtaposition area T Transfer position W Article Wa Article line b body Wc tab Wd first side We second side X first direction Y second direction

Claims (18)

A pressing method for placing an article having a pair of first side surfaces facing each other and a pair of second side surfaces facing each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the facing direction of the pair of first side surfaces into an exterior box. ,
The one or more articles are arranged so that the first side faces each other to form an article row, and the article rows are first such that the second side surfaces of the articles constituting each article row are in contact with each other. An article juxtaposition step of arranging the articles by the article juxtaposition means so as to form a pair of article rows arranged in the direction of
A pair of outer boxes such that openings are opposed to the pair of article rows in a second direction substantially parallel to the first side surface of the arranged articles and substantially perpendicular to the first direction, respectively. And an outer box juxtaposition process for arranging the outer box juxtaposition means,
A sandwiching means for holding the pair of article rows by sandwiching the first side surfaces of the articles located at both ends of the pair of article rows by the sandwiching means having a pair of clamping surfaces facing each other. Pressure process,
An extruding step of extruding the sandwiched pair of article rows toward the pair of exterior boxes in the second direction by an extruding means,
The pair of article rows are rotated while sliding on the clamping surface of the clamping means by extrusion by the pushing means, and at least the ends of the pair of article rows near the outer box are separated, thereby The pushing method of being pushed into the pair of exterior boxes.   2. The pressing method according to claim 1, wherein the pair of exterior boxes does not have a flap at a portion adjacent to each other among the upper ends of the peripheral walls forming each of the openings.   The extruding means has an extruding member, and the extruding member comes into contact with the second side surface portions of the pair of article rows that are in contact with each other at the end far from the outer packaging box. When the ends close to the outer box of the pair of article rows are spaced apart by a predetermined width, the second row at the other end of the pair of article rows far from the outer box is rotated. The pushing-in method according to claim 2, wherein the pair of article rows are pushed out toward the pair of exterior boxes so as to be in contact with a side portion of the pair.   The pushing method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined width in which the article rows are separated is 5 mm to 10 mm.   The pushing method according to claim 3, wherein the first direction is a substantially horizontal direction and the second direction is a substantially vertically downward direction. The article juxtaposing means has an advance / retreat member, and advances the advance / retreat member on an extrusion path of the pair of article rows to form the pair of article rows on the advance / retreat member,
The pushing means holds and holds a pair of article rows formed on the advance / retreat member by the holding surface,
Thereafter, the article juxtaposing means retracts the advance / retreat member from the extrusion path of the pair of articles,
Then, the pushing-out method according to claim 5, wherein the pushing-out means pushes out the pair of article rows held and held.   The pushing method according to claim 1, wherein the article is a small box carton having a tab whose upper end is an arc shape on the upper surface of a rectangular parallelepiped main body. The article row is composed of one article.
In the article juxtaposing step, the article juxtaposing means arranges the pair of articles as the pair of article rows in a first direction so that the respective second side surfaces are in contact with each other.
In the outer box juxtaposition step, the outer box juxtaposing means arranges the pair of outer boxes in the second direction so that the openings face the pair of articles, respectively.
In the clamping step, the clamping means holds and holds the first side surfaces of the pair of articles by the pair of clamping surfaces,
In the extrusion step, the extruding means pushes the pair of articles held and held toward the pair of outer boxes in the second direction,
The pair of articles are rotated while sliding on the clamping surface of the clamping means by extrusion by the extruding means, and at least the ends close to the outer box of the pair of articles are separated, thereby the pair of articles The pushing method according to claim 1, wherein the pushing method is pushed into each of the outer boxes. A pushing device for placing an article having a pair of first side surfaces facing each other and a pair of second side surfaces facing each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the facing direction of the pair of first side surfaces into an exterior box, ,
The one or more articles are arranged so that the first side faces each other to form an article row, and the article rows are first such that the second side surfaces of the articles constituting each article row are in contact with each other. Article juxtaposing means for arranging the articles so as to form a pair of article rows arranged in the direction of
A pair of outer boxes such that openings are opposed to the pair of article rows in a second direction substantially parallel to the first side surface of the arranged articles and substantially perpendicular to the first direction, respectively. Means for juxtaposing the outer box,
A clamping unit having a pair of clamping surfaces facing each other, and holding the pair of article rows by clamping the first side surfaces of the articles located at both ends of the pair of article rows by the pair of clamping surfaces; ,
An extruding means for extruding the sandwiched pair of article rows toward the pair of exterior boxes in the second direction,
The pair of article rows rotate while sliding on the clamping surface of the clamping means by extrusion by the pushing means, and at least the ends of the pair of article rows close to the outer box are separated, thereby A pushing device configured to be pushed into each of the pair of exterior boxes.   10. The pushing device according to claim 9, wherein the pair of exterior boxes does not have a flap at a portion adjacent to each other among the upper ends of the peripheral walls forming each of the openings.   The extruding means has an extruding member, and the extruding member comes into contact with the second side surface portions of the pair of article rows that are in contact with each other at the end far from the outer packaging box. When the ends close to the outer box of the pair of article rows are spaced apart by a predetermined width, the second row at the other end of the pair of article rows far from the outer box is rotated. The pushing device according to claim 10, wherein the pair of article rows are pushed out toward the pair of exterior boxes so as to be in contact with a side portion of the pair.   The pushing device according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined width for separating the article rows is 5 mm to 10 mm.   The pushing device according to claim 11, wherein the first direction is a substantially horizontal direction, and the second direction is a substantially vertical downward direction. The article juxtaposing means has an advance / retreat member, and advances the advance / retreat member on an extrusion path of the pair of article rows to form the pair of article rows on the advance / retreat member,
The pushing means holds and holds a pair of article rows formed on the advance / retreat member by the holding surface,
Thereafter, the article juxtaposing means retracts the advance / retreat member from the extrusion path of the pair of articles,
14. The pushing device according to claim 13, wherein the pushing means pushes out the pair of article rows held by the clamping pressure.   The pushing device according to claim 9, wherein the article is a small box carton having a tab having an arcuate upper end on an upper surface of a rectangular parallelepiped main body. The article row is composed of one article.
The article juxtaposing means, as the pair of article rows, arranges a pair of articles in a first direction such that the second side surfaces of the articles are in contact with each other,
The outer box juxtaposition means arranges the pair of outer boxes in the second direction so that the openings face the pair of articles,
The clamping means holds and holds the first side surface of the pair of articles by the pair of clamping surfaces,
The push-out means pushes the pair of articles held and held against the pair of outer boxes in the second direction,
The pair of articles are rotated while sliding on the clamping surface of the clamping means by extrusion by the pushing means, and at least the ends close to the outer box of the pair of articles are separated from each other. The pushing device according to claim 9, wherein the pushing device is configured to be pushed into each of the outer boxes. The pushing device according to claim 9, an article supply device that sequentially supplies the articles to be processed by the pushing device, an outer box supply device that sequentially supplies the outer box used in the pushing device, An outer box unloading device for sequentially unloading the outer box,
The article juxtaposing means of the push-in apparatus sequentially arranges articles supplied sequentially from the article supply apparatus, the exterior box juxtaposing means of the push-in apparatus sequentially arranges exterior boxes sequentially supplied from the exterior box supply apparatus, and the article Automatic boxing device that sequentially carries out the outer box with the box.   The article juxtaposing means aligns the articles supplied from the supply apparatus so as to sequentially form the pair of article rows, and the pair of rows aligned by the alignment device is a pair of the clamping means. The automatic boxing device according to claim 17, further comprising a transfer device that transfers to a position pinched by the pinching surface.

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