JP2005313920A - Inserting apparatus, inserting method, and automatic boxing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inserting apparatus capable of surely bringing the inner face of a flap of an exterior box into contact with an interference preventing member, an inserting method, and an automatic boxing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The exterior box C under an opening state where the flap Fa is extended, is equipped with a placing member 15 opened toward a specified direction and placed, an interference preventing member 22 arranged in the specified direction to the placing member 15, a moving means 15b making the interference preventing member 22 and the placing member 15 approach and move away from the placing position M and the inserting position N in the specified direction, an inserting means 104, and a blowing device 23. The placing member 15 on which the exterior box C is placed is made to approach to the inserting position N by the moving means 15b, and a gas flow is sent out from the blowing device 23 during approaching process, and the flap Fa of the exterior box C is swung to its outer face side. In addition, the interference preventing member 22 is brought into contact with the inner face of the flap Fa, and the flap Fa is inclined to the outside of the opening part viewed from the specified direction, and the placing member 15 is positioned at the inserting position N. Thereafter, a group Wa of articles is inserted into the exterior box C by the inserting means 104, and the placing member 15 is positioned at the placing position M by the moving means 15b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an insertion device, an insertion method of the insertion device, and an automatic boxing device using the insertion device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an insertion method of an insertion device for inserting an article into an opened outer box and an automatic boxing device using the insertion device.

  2. Description of the Related Art As an insertion device for pushing an article into an outer box, an insertion device that opens an outer box and pushes the article into the opening and an automatic boxing device using the insertion device are known.

On the other hand, in a general exterior box having a peripheral wall of four sides, such as a cardboard case, the peripheral wall tip forms an opening. Further, a flap, which is a plate-like member, is extended from all or a part of the peripheral wall tip of the four sides. This flap is bent inward at the front end of the peripheral wall to form a lid of the outer box. For this reason, the insertion device includes a plurality of plate-like bodies corresponding to the respective peripheral wall tips, and the plate-like body tilts the flap to the outside of the plate-like body, and the inner surface of the flap places the article in the opening of the outer box. And a guide member (interference prevention member) configured to guide the head. Specifically, the arrangement relationship between the outer box and the interference prevention member is configured such that the inner surface of the flap is in contact with the plate-like body. This is because the article to be inserted and the opening end or flap of the outer box are not caught and the article is reliably inserted into the outer box (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-19707

  However, in the conventional insertion device, it is assumed that the outer box is supplied in a state where the flap extends in the extending direction of the outer wall of the outer box. On the other hand, in an exterior box having a large flap, such as a B-style style cosmetic box, the flap has fallen to the opening side of the exterior box rather than the extending direction of the outer wall of the exterior box due to the influence of its own weight or the curvature of the material. It may be in a state. In such a case, the conventional insertion device has a problem in the arrangement of the outer box and the interference preventing member, which sometimes hinders the operation of the insertion device. That is, when placing an exterior box that is in a state where the flap is collapsed to the opening side, the outer surface of the flap comes into contact with the interference preventing member, and the flap is tilted so that it falls to the opening side of the exterior box. As a result, the article or group of articles to be inserted interferes with the flap, and the insertion of the article or group of articles is prevented.

  The present invention was made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an insertion device, an insertion method, and an automatic boxing device that can reliably contact the inner surface of the flap of the outer box with the interference preventing member. It is an object.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an insertion device and a pressing method for a pressing device according to the present invention are characterized in that an outer packaging box in an open state in which a flap is extended to a distal end of a peripheral wall forming an opening portion, A placement member placed toward the placement member, an interference prevention member disposed in the predetermined direction with respect to the placement member, a placement position spaced from the interference prevention member in the predetermined direction, and A moving means for relatively approaching and separating the interference prevention member and the placement member so that the placement member is positioned at an insertion position approaching the interference prevention member, an insertion means, and a blower device The mounting member on which the outer box is placed is moved closer to the insertion position by the moving means, and a gas flow is sent out from the blower device in the approaching process so that the flap of the outer box is on the outer surface side. Rocked or The interference preventing member comes into contact with the inner surface of the flap of the outer box and the flap is tilted to the outside of the opening as seen from the predetermined direction, and the placing member is positioned at the insertion position, and then The article or group of articles is inserted into the outer box by the insertion means, and the placement member is relatively spaced from the interference prevention member by the moving means and is positioned at the placement position (Claim 1, 9). With such a configuration, the interference preventing member and the mounting member approach while the flap is swung to the outer surface side, so that the inner surface of the flap can be reliably brought into contact with the interference preventing member.

  The moving means moves the placing member so as to approach the interference preventing member (claims 2 and 10).

  The air blower is configured so that the gas flows between the time when the approach starts and the time when the tip of the flap reaches the same position as the portion of the interference preventing member that contacts the inner surface of the flap when viewed from the side in the predetermined direction. A flow is sent out (Claims 3 and 11).

  In the insertion device according to the present invention, the outer box is a B-style, and the pair of outer boxes are juxtaposed to the mounting member such that side walls not having flaps are in contact with each other. Is disposed on the diagonal of the total opening including the openings of the pair of exterior boxes as viewed from the predetermined direction so as to be positioned outside the total opening, and the pair of blowers is The gas flow is arranged so as to collide with the central part of the inner surface of the flap on the side wall facing the side wall not having the flap of the outer packaging box close to the other blower (claim 4). With such a configuration, it is possible to avoid the flaps on the near side with respect to the pair of outer packaging boxes and cause the gas flow to collide with the respective flaps, so that the flaps of the respective outer packaging boxes can be swung. it can.

  The outer box is of the A style, and a pair of the blower devices are disposed on the diagonal of the opening of the outer box as viewed from the predetermined direction so as to be located outside the opening. Are arranged such that the gas flow collides with the central part of the inner surface of the flap on the side wall close to the other blower. With such a configuration, even when an A-style exterior box is placed, it is possible to avoid the flap on the near side and cause the gas flow to collide with the flap located on the other side of the opening. .

  The interference preventing member has a plate-like body, and is arranged so that the plate-like body is substantially parallel to a side wall of the exterior box located at the insertion position, and an inner surface of the plate-like body is the article or The article group is guided so as to be inserted into the outer box, and the inner surface of the flap of the outer box located at the insertion position is in contact with the outer surface of the plate-like body, and is viewed from the predetermined direction. It is tilted to the outside of the opening (claim 6). If comprised in this way, while being able to prevent interference with a flap and articles | goods or an article group, an interference prevention member can guide an article or an article group to an exterior box.

  The interference preventing member is formed in a hollow quadrangular pyramid shape having an open top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface is disposed facing the mounting member, and the article or group of articles is opened by the insertion means. The inner surface of the flap of the outer box, which is inserted into the outer box from the bottom surface through the top surface and located at the insertion position, comes into contact with the outer surface of the quadrangular pyramid shape and is viewed from the predetermined direction. It is tilted to the outside of the opening (claim 7). If comprised in this way, while being able to prevent interference with a flap and articles | goods or an article group, an interference prevention member can guide an article or an article group to an exterior box.

  An automatic boxing device according to the present invention, the insertion device according to claim 1, an article supply device that sequentially supplies the article or group of articles to a first position, and sequentially receives the article at the first position, Article alignment apparatus for sequentially aligning the articles at a second position, an article row transfer device for supplying an article row aligned at the second position to insertion means of the insertion device, and a mounting member for the insertion device An outer box supply device for mounting the outer box, an outer box unloading device for unloading the outer box containing the article row from the mounting member of the insertion device, the article supply device, and the part article alignment A control device that controls operations of the apparatus, the article row transfer device, the insertion device, the outer box carrying-in device, and the outer box carrying-out device (claim 8). With such a configuration, it is possible to automatically carry in and out the article or group of articles and the outer box.

  As described above, the insertion device, the insertion method, and the automatic boxing device according to the present invention have the effect that the inner surface of the flap can be reliably brought into contact with the interference preventing member even when an exterior box having a large flap is used. Play.

  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 schematically showing a configuration of an insertion device and an article according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and an arrangement relationship between an interference prevention member and an exterior box, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the implementation of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the schematic structure of the insertion apparatus which concerns on form 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of an exterior box.

  The outer box C is a B-style box generally called by those skilled in the art. That is, it has a rectangular bottom wall Ca and side walls (peripheral walls) extending upward from four sides of the bottom wall Ca. The side walls include a pair of side walls Cb1 corresponding to the long sides of the bottom wall Ca and a pair of side walls Cb2 corresponding to the short sides of the bottom wall Ca. The side wall tips (upper ends) Cc of the side walls Cb1 and Cb2 form the opening Cd. Each of the pair of side walls Cb1 and the pair of side walls Cb2 has flaps Fa, Fb, and Fb extending from the tips thereof. When the pair of flaps Fb are bent to form a lid, the surfaces forming the inner surface of the exterior box C (hereinafter referred to as inner surfaces) are opposed to each other. The side wall Cb1 facing the side wall Cb1 having the flap Fa has no flap, and the flap Fa has a large area so as to reach the side wall tip Cc of the facing side wall Cb1 and cover the entire opening Cd. For this reason, the flap Fa may be inclined to the opening Cd side from the extending direction of the side wall Cb1 as shown in FIG. 3 due to some influence such as its own weight or the curvature of the flap Fa itself. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exterior box C is arranged on the lift 15 so that two side walls Cb1 that do not have the flap Fa are in contact with each other. The pair of exterior boxes C are paired in a second direction Y (front-rear direction) that is substantially parallel to the first side face Wd of the articles W of the pair of article rows Wa described later and substantially perpendicular to the first direction X. Arranged so as to be aligned with the article row Wa and the opening Cd facing the pair of article rows Wa.

  Here, since the second direction Y is set in a substantially vertical direction, each of the pair of exterior boxes C is arranged such that each exterior box C faces the opening Cd upward. Hereinafter, the second direction Y will be described as the vertical direction, but the present invention can be realized even if the second direction Y is set to other than the vertical direction.

  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. Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a small box carton having a tab Wc having an arcuate upper end on the upper surface of a rectangular parallelepiped main body Wb. In addition, the pair of article rows Wa are arranged such that the articles W are in contact with each other on the first side face Wd to form an article row, and the second side faces We of the articles W constituting each article row are in contact with each other. The article rows are arranged in the article juxtaposition region S so as to form a pair of article rows in the first direction X.

  In FIG. 1, the insertion device 9 includes a positioning plate 17, a pair of clamping plates 8, a shutter 13, an interference prevention member 22, an extrusion plate (insertion means) 14, a lift 15 (placement member), And a pair of blowers 23.

  The extrusion plate 14 is configured to extrude a pair of article rows Wa from above and insert them inside the opening Cd of the exterior box C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the extrusion plate 14 has a standby position H slightly above the pair of article rows Wa and the pair of article rows Wa inserted inside the opening Cd of the outer box C. It is comprised so that it may raise / lower between the extrusion positions L. The standby position H is set according to the position of the pair of article rows Wa, and the extrusion position L is set according to the position of the opening Cd of the outer box C. Here, the extrusion plate 14 is supported by a shaft body from above, and the shaft body is configured to be advanced and retracted by a drive device (not shown) such as an actuator or a servo motor.

  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. Here, 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 articles W in the arrangement direction. It is formed so as to be arranged in parallel in two rows while being inclined so that the inner surface side of wa is low and the outer surface side of each article row Wa is high. 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 have an angle directed slightly outward from below with the boundary between the rows of the pair of article rows Wa as the symmetry axis. Thus, two are formed. 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 and 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. ing. The pair of sandwiching plates 8 and 8 are advanced and retracted to sandwich the first side face Wd of the article W located at both ends of the pair of article rows Wa, thereby sandwiching and holding the pair of article rows Wa. It is configured as follows. Here, the pair of clamping plates 8 and 8 are supported by a shaft body from the retracted direction, and the shaft body is configured to advance and retract by a driving device (not shown) such as an actuator or a servo motor to clamp the shaft. Has been. Here, the pair of clamping plates 8 and 8 are configured to clamp the article row Wa at the surface portions of the plates. As a result, a pinching pressure can be applied over a wide area during pinching, so that the surface of the article W can be prevented from being damaged by concentrated stress. Further, here, a part of the pressing plates 8 and 8 is cut so as to recede obliquely. As a result, even if the pushing member 14 contacts the pinching plate 8 when the pushing member 14 passes between the pinching plates 8 and 8 while pushing the head of the article row Wa, the pinching plate 8 is Since the stress in the withdrawal direction is received, it is possible to prevent the contact between the pinching plate 8 and the pushing member 14 from being stuck.

  Here, the article juxtaposition region S is directly below the extrusion plate 14 and is set at a position where the pair of article rows Wa can be arranged between the extrusion plate 14 and the space where the pair of article rows Wa can be arranged. This is a horizontal 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 clamping plates 8 and 8 are configured to advance to a position where the pair of article rows Wa can be clamped 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 retracted 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 holding plate 18 is provided to assist the arrangement of the articles W. Therefore, when the articles W are arranged, a pair of article rows Wa is formed by only the positioning plate 17 and the pair of clamping plates 8, and the pair of article rows Wa is clamped and held by the clamping plate 8. If possible, the holding plate 18 is not necessary.

  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 pair of movable plates 13a and 13a can be opened and closed by driving a known drive mechanism such as a wire, a return spring, and an actuator by a drive device such as a servo motor (not shown).

  The interference prevention member 22 is disposed between the article juxtaposition region S in which the pair of article rows Wa is arranged and the pair of exterior boxes C. Here, in the vicinity of the lower surface of the movable plate 13a when the shutter 13 is closed, it is disposed directly below the article juxtaposing region S. The interference prevention member 22 is composed of a plurality of members corresponding to the peripheral wall tip Cc, and a pair of the members at the time of insertion into the outer box C is brought into contact with the inner surface of the flap Fa of the outer box C. Interference between the article row Wa and the flap Fa is prevented. Here, it is comprised by a pair of plate-shaped bodies 22b and 22c, respectively. Then, a pair of plate-like bodies 22b are disposed so as to correspond to the side wall tips Cc of the pair of side walls Cb1 located opposite to each other, and a pair of plate-like bodies 22c are provided so as to correspond to the side wall tips Cc of the side wall Cb2. Is arranged.

  Further, each plate-like body 22b, 22c bridges the outer peripheral position of the pair of article rows Wa pushed out by the extrusion plate 14 and the position inside the opening Cd of the corresponding side wall peripheral wall tip Cc in plan view. It is arranged. Thus, the inner surfaces of the plate-like bodies 22b and 22c can guide the pair of article rows Wa to the inside of the opening Cd of the outer box C. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the plate-like bodies 22b and 22c are arranged in pairs so as to form a quadrangular frustoconical inclined surface, and rectangular openings are formed vertically. The upper and lower rectangular openings are the inlet side opening 22a that is on the pair of article row Wa side, and the lower side is the outlet side opening 22e that is on the exterior box C side. The entrance-side opening 22a is larger than the outer circumference of the pair of article rows Wa both vertically and horizontally, and the exit-side opening 22e is a total opening (hereinafter referred to as a total opening) that combines the openings Cd of the pair of exterior boxes C. It is formed to be smaller in both length and width than the dimensions. Thereby, as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, since the exit side opening part 22e is located inside the total opening of a pair of exterior boxes C, the total opening of a pair of article row Wa and a pair of exterior boxes C is used. Contact with the peripheral wall tip Cc to be formed can be prevented. Further, the flaps Fa and Fb are respectively guided to the outer surface side of the corresponding plate-like bodies 22b and 22c and are positioned outside the interference preventing member 22.

  The blower 23 is a known device that can eject a gas such as air locally in a specific direction at a predetermined timing. For example, this can be realized by using a compressed air piping port as a blower port, disposing an electromagnetic valve in the piping, and opening and closing the electromagnetic valve. The blower 23 is disposed in a predetermined position and a predetermined blowing direction so that the blower hits the inner surface of the flap Fa (predetermined flap) while the lift 15 is rising. The predetermined position is in the vicinity of the interference preventing member 22, does not contact the pair of article rows Wa and the outer box C, and can geometrically cause the gas flow to collide with the center of the inner surface of the flap Fa. It is a position, and the predetermined direction is the center of the inner surface of the flap Fa at the position (air blowing position) P of the lift 15 where the upper end of the flap Fa is located immediately below the lower end of the plate-like body 22b corresponding to the flap Fa. It is a direction where the gas flow of the blower 23 hits.

  FIG. 4 is a top view showing a blowing relationship of the blower and an arrangement relationship of the outer box. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the lift and the air blower located at the air blowing position of the insertion device of FIG. 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, two blower devices 23 are provided here. This is because there are a pair of outer boxes C and there are a pair of flaps Fa to be swung.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the blowing direction of the blower 23 is obliquely downward, and is adjusted so that the gas flow from obliquely upward collides with the inner surface central portion of the flap Fa at the blowing position P of the lift 15. . Since the outer box C approaches from the lower side to the upper side, the flap Fa can be swung before the interference preventing member 22 and the flap Fa come into contact with each other by blowing the gas flow downward.

  Moreover, here, it arrange | positions so that the ventilation of the air blower 23 may not mutually cross. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of air blowers 23 are disposed in the vicinity of each of the pair of corners located on the diagonal line among the corners formed by the total opening of the pair of exterior boxes C. . By arranging the pair of air blowers 23 on a substantially diagonal line, the gas flow of the air blower 23 collides with the flap Fa different from the target flap Fa, that is, the outer surface of the flap Fa on the side close to the air blower 23. Fear can be avoided. Further, it is impossible for the gas flows to the inner surface of the target flap Fa to intersect and collide with each other. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, an attachment portion 22d obtained by extending a plate-like body 22b in the longitudinal direction is provided, and a blower 23 is attached to the attachment portion 22d. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the air blower 23 is disposed at a position where it does not come into contact with the flaps Fa and Fb of the outer box C in a plan view, so that contact between the air blower 23 and the outer box C can be avoided. Further, with this configuration, even when an A-style box generally called by those skilled in the art is placed (not shown), the opening portion Cd is avoided by avoiding the flap Fa on the near side. The gas flow can collide with the inner surface of the flap Fa located on the other side. A-style refers to a box with flaps on all four side walls.

  Furthermore, the blowing strength of the blower 23 is adjusted to the strength with which the flap Fa swings. This is because it is difficult to swing depending on the material of the flap Fa. Here, the required swing means swing until the tip of the flap Fa reaches the outside in the plan view from the tip of the plate-like body 22b. The flap Fa does not necessarily have to be swung outward in the plan view of the opening Cd.

  The lift 15 has a horizontal board surface that is wide enough to arrange two exterior boxes C side by side, and includes a lifting drive device 15b (moving means) that moves the board surface in the vertical direction. Here, a shaft body is disposed on the lower surface of the board surface, and the shaft body is driven up and down by an actuator, a servo motor or the like, so that the board surface can be driven up and down. The lift 15 is disposed below the article juxtaposition region S. As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting / lowering range of the lift 15 is a range between the placement position M of the outer box C and the insertion position N in which the outer box C accommodates a pair of article rows Wa. The placement position M is a position where the outer box C can be moved in the horizontal direction. This is for preventing the outer box C from being carried in and out. The insertion position N is a position where the flaps Fa and Fb are positioned on the outer surface side of the plate-like bodies 22b and 22c. This is to prevent contact between the pair of article rows Wa and the flaps Fa and Fb. Further, the lift 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 when the lift 15 is moved up and down or a pair of article rows Wa is inserted. The fixture 15a may be a general instrument such as a clamp or suction.

  Next, the schematic operation of the insertion device 9 according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the lift 15 is located at the placement position M, and the pair of exterior boxes C are arranged on the board surface.

  Then, the lift 15 rises to the insertion position N.

  Here, operation | movement of the insertion apparatus 9 of Embodiment 1 is demonstrated in detail focusing on the raising process of the exterior box C which is the characteristics of this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lift 15 rises from the placement position M, and a gas flow is jetted from the blower device 23 toward the inner surface of the flap Fa at the blower position P. The flap Fa receives the gas flow of the blower 23 and swings to the outer surface side of the flap Fa. When the air blower 23 starts air blowing, it is not always necessary for the lift 15 to start air blowing at the air blowing position P, as long as the lift 15 has reached the air blowing position P. This is because the flap Fa may be swung before the upper end of the flap Fa contacts the plate-like body 22b.

  While the flap Fa swings outward, the lift 15 rises to the insertion position N, and the inner surface of the flap Fa contacts the plate-like body 22b.

  The blower device 23 stops blowing when the outer box C reaches the insertion position N. It should be noted that when the air blowing of the blower 23 is stopped, it is sufficient to stop when the front end of the flap Fa reaches the front end of the plate-like body 22b in a side view. This is because the flap Fa is located outside the plate-like body 22b, so that the inner surface of the flap Fa is surely in contact with the plate-like body 22b.

  Further, the flap Fb comes into contact with the outer surface side of the plate-like body 22c and is positioned outside the plate-like body 22c. This is because the flap Fb does not have a large area and does not fall into the inside.

  FIG. 6 is a front view of the insertion device 9 when a pair of article rows Wa is arranged, and FIG. 7 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 waits at the standby 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 lift 15 is placed on the pair of exterior boxes C and is raised to the insertion position N. The lift 15 only needs to rise to the insertion position N when the article row Wa is accommodated in the outer box C, and does not necessarily have to rise to the insertion position N when the article row Wa is arranged.

  FIG. 8 is a front view of the insertion device 9 when a pair of article rows Wa are clamped, and FIG. 9 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 extrusion plate 14 descends from the standby position H, and the extrusion surface 14a comes into contact with the second side surface We side portion (herein, the inner end) of each of the upper ends of the pair of article rows Wa. To do. At this time, the lifting / lowering speed 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. In addition, the movable plate 13a is retracted from the article juxtaposition region S at the time when the push 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 collapsing before coming into contact with the extrusion plate 14. 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. The pair of article rows Wa is prevented from collapsing, and the pair of article rows Wa is rotated while receiving a frictional resistance with the pinching plate 8 so that the lower ends of the pair of article rows Wa are separated by a predetermined width. This is because the surface of the article W and the outer edge thereof are not damaged, and the article W moves downward so that the space between the pressing plates 8 can be separated downward.

  FIG. 10 is a front view of the insertion device 9 when the pair of article rows Wa is pushed into the pair of exterior boxes C, and FIG. 11 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 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.

  Then, the extrusion plate 14 is raised to the standby position H, and the lift 15 is lowered to the placement position M.

  The shutter 13 may use a general advance / retreat means such as a turret.

  Here, the outer box C is configured to move by the lift 15, but the interference prevention member 22 and the blower 23 are moved downward, and the extrusion plate 14 is configured to descend to the outer box C. May be. Even if it comprises in this way, the air blower 23 is arrange | positioned so that the inner surface of flap Fa may contact the interference prevention member 22 by performing ventilation as mentioned above in the approach to the exterior box C. Is possible.

[Modification 1]
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the insertion device according to this modification and the structure of the outer box, and FIG. 13 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the insertion device 9 according to this modification. In the present modification, the outer box C is used as one unit and an article is pushed in, and the blower device 23 may be one. This is because there is one flap Fa to be swung. Further, the arrangement position of the blower 23 may be a position where the blower hits the flap Fa at the blower position P of the lift 15. For example, it can be provided below the outer surface side of the plate-like body 22b corresponding to the side wall Cb1 having no flap. This is because the side wall Cb1 does not have the flap Fa, so that it is not necessary to dispose the side wall Cb1. The sending direction can be a horizontal direction. This is because there is no possibility that the gas flow comes into contact with the outer surface of the flap other than the target flap Fa. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as the configuration of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

(Embodiment 2)
14A and 14B are diagrams showing the configuration of the main part of the automatic boxing device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, where FIG. 14A is a front view and FIG. 14B is a plan view. FIG. 15 is a front view schematically showing the overall configuration of the automatic boxing device according to the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 14, the automatic boxing device includes an introduction conveyor 3 (article supply device), an alignment conveyor 6 (article alignment device), a transfer plate 7 (article row transfer device), and the insertion device 9 according to the first embodiment. An outer box carrying-in conveyor 4 (outer box feeding device), an outer box carrying-out conveyor 5 (outer box carrying-out device), and a control device 30 are provided.

  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 (first position) 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. 14B, 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. That is, the articles W are accommodated in all the gap portions 11 and are aligned by the fin group 10 a on the endless track 16, thereby forming a pair of article rows Wa.

  The endless track 16 is disposed in a horizontal direction so that the forward path surface is adjacent to the article juxtaposing region S of the insertion device 9 in the horizontal direction. The endless track 16 is configured such that the fin 10 stands upright at the transfer position T (second position) adjacent to the article juxtaposed region S. Further, when the plurality of belt groups are circulated and driven independently from each other by different driving devices (not shown), the plurality of fin groups 10a can be formed, and the conveyance capacity of the article row Wa can be increased. For example, in FIG. 14, 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. As a result, even when the fin group 10a of the first belt group 16a is stopped and the article W is being transferred to the insertion device 9, the second belt group 16b is independently circulated to receive position R. The article W can be received.

  The transfer plate 7 is configured so that the articles W in all the gap portions of the fin group 10a can be transferred to the article juxtaposition region S at the transfer position T at the same time. In the second embodiment, the endless track 16 is disposed on the side opposite to the article juxtaposition region S so as to be parallel to the endless track 16 with the transfer position T therebetween. Further, it is configured to be able to advance and retreat toward the article juxtaposed region S so as to cross the forward surface of the endless track 6. The transfer plate 7 is formed with slits 12 through which the fins 10 can pass.

  The insertion device 9 is as described in the first embodiment. The insertion device 9 is disposed so that the positioning plate 17 faces the transfer plate 7. In the second embodiment, the pair of horizontally moved article rows Wa are arranged to receive the other side surface such that one side surface is pushed out by the forward and backward movement of the transfer plate 7.

  The outer box carrying-in conveyor 4 is disposed so as to carry a pair of outer boxes C onto the lift 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 lift 15.

  The outer box carry-out conveyor 5 is configured to carry the pair of outer boxes C from the lift 15. For example, a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor is used.

  The control device 30 controls the operation of the insertion device 9. Here, along with the start / stop of the blower 23 (open / close of the solenoid valve), the advance / retreat drive 8b of the clamping plate 8, the opening / closing drive 13b of the shutter 13, the lift drive 14b of the extrusion plate 14, and the lift 15 The lift drive device 15b is controlled. For these driving devices, a driving device capable of easily performing position control, for example, a servo motor is used.

  In addition, the introduction conveyor 3, the alignment conveyor 6, the transfer plate 7, the outer box carry-in conveyor 4 and the outer box carry-out conveyor 5 are driven using respective known drive devices. The control device 30 controls these driving devices. Thus, in conjunction with the operation of the insertion device 9, it is possible to control the introduction conveyor 3, the alignment conveyor 6, the transfer plate 7, the outer box carry-in conveyor 4 and the outer box carry-out conveyor 5.

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

  As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, 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. As a result, two articles W can be sequentially put into the gap portion 11 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. This part of the aligning conveyor 6 becomes the receiving position R for receiving the articles W from the introducing 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.

  At the transfer position T, the transfer plate 7 moves horizontally across 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 article W is transferred to the article juxtaposition region S by the transfer plate 7 in an aligned state. The article W whose side surface has been pushed out by the transfer plate 7 is received by the positioning plate 17 disposed so as to face the transfer plate 7. Thus, the pair of article rows Wa is arranged in the predetermined alignment direction in the article juxtaposition region S.

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

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

  The pair of outer boxes C in which the pair of article rows Wa are packed are lowered to the placement position M by the lift 15 and are carried out from the outer box carrying conveyor 5.

  Here, the operation of the insertion device 9 when the lift 15 is raised will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 16 is an operation time chart of the insertion device when the lift is raised in the automatic boxing device.

  When the lift 15 starts to rise from the mounting position M, the blower device 23 is activated (starts blowing air), starts (blows) for a predetermined time, and then stops. The predetermined activation time (air blowing time) t1 depends on the rising speed of the lift 15, but here the activation time t1 is set between 200 msec and 500 msec. During the activation time t1, the lift 15 passes through the blowing position P.

  The lift 15 stops after reaching the insertion position N. While the lift 15 is stopped at the insertion position N, the extrusion plate 14 descends from the standby position H, and temporarily stops at a height position immediately before contacting the pair of article rows Wa.

  At substantially the same time as the extrusion plate 14 starts to descend from the standby position H, the pair of clamping plates 8 advance to hold and hold the pair of article rows Wa.

  After the pair of article rows Wa is pinched and held by the pinching plate 8, the movable plate 13 a is retracted and the shutter 13 is opened.

  After the shutter 13 is opened, the extruding plate 14 starts to descend again at a slower speed, descends to the extruding position L while pushing out the pair of article rows Wa, and puts the pair of article rows Wa into the pair of outer boxes C. Accommodate.

  The pair of sandwiching plates 8 gradually retreats after the lowering of the extrusion plate 14 is resumed, so that the sandwiching pressure of the pair of article rows Wa is relieved. Retreat to the position.

  At substantially the same time as the extrusion plate 14 reaches the extrusion position L, the lift 15 starts to descend from the insertion position N and descends to the placement position M. The extrusion plate 14 also stops at the extrusion position L for a while and then rises to the standby position H.

  After the extrusion plate 14 rises to the standby position H, the movable plate 13a is advanced and the shutter 13 is closed.

  The automatic boxing apparatus of the present embodiment performs the above operation cycle 12 times per minute, and one cycle is about 5 seconds.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as an insertion device, an insertion method, and an automatic boxing device that can reliably bring the inner surface of the flap of the outer box into contact with the interference preventing member.

It is a perspective view which shows roughly the arrangement | positioning relationship between the structure of the insertion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, an article | item, and an interference prevention member, and an exterior box. It is a side view which shows schematically the insertion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of an example of an exterior box. It is a top view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of the ventilation direction of an air blower, and an exterior box. It is a side view which shows the lift and air blower which are located in the ventilation position of the insertion apparatus of FIG. It is a front view of an insertion device when a pair of articles | goods row | line | column is arrange | positioned at the insertion device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view of an insertion apparatus when a pair of goods row | line | column is arrange | positioned at the insertion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view when the insertion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention clamps a pair of goods row | line | column. It is a side view when the insertion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention clamps a pair of goods row | line | column. It is a front view when the insertion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention pushes out a pair of goods row | line | column in a pair of exterior boxes. It is a side view when the insertion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention pushes out a pair of goods row | line | column in a pair of exterior boxes. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the insertion apparatus which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 1, and the perspective view which shows roughly the arrangement | positioning relationship between an interference prevention member and an exterior box. FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing an insertion device according to a modification of the first embodiment. It is the front view (a) and the top view (b) which show schematically the structure of the automatic boxing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a front view which shows roughly the automatic boxing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is an operation | movement time chart of the insertion apparatus at the time of the lift raise in the automatic boxing apparatus which concerns on a present Example.

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 Clamping plate 8b Advance / retreat drive device 9 Insertion device 10 Fin 10a Fin group 11 Gap part 12 Slit 13 Shutter 13a Movable plate 13b Open / close drive device 14 Extrusion plate (insertion means)
14a Extrusion surface 14b Elevating drive device 14c Press bar 14d Press bar 15 Lift (moving means)
15b Lifting drive device 16 Endless track 16a, 16b Belt group 17 Positioning plate 18 Holding plate 22 Interference prevention member 22a Inlet side opening 22b, 22c Plate body 22d Mounting portion 22e Outlet side opening 23 Blower device 30 Control device 104 Extrusion plate C exterior box Ca bottom wall Cb1, Cb2 side wall (peripheral wall)
Cc Side wall tip Cd Opening portion Fa flap Fb flap H Standby position L Extrusion position M Placement position N Insertion position P Blowing position R Reception position S Article juxtaposition area T Transfer position W Article Wa Article row Wb Main body Wc Tab Wd First side face We second side X first direction Y second direction

Claims (11)

An outer packaging box in an open state in which a flap is extended to the distal end of the peripheral wall forming the opening, and a mounting member on which the opening is mounted in a predetermined direction;
An interference preventing member disposed in the predetermined direction with respect to the mounting member;
The interference preventing member and the mounting member are relative to each other so that the mounting member is positioned at a mounting position separated from the interference preventing member and an insertion position approaching the interference preventing member in the predetermined direction. Moving means to approach and leave
Insertion means;
A blower,
The mounting member on which the outer box is placed is brought close to the insertion position by the moving means, and in the approaching process, a gas flow is sent from the blower and the flap of the outer box swings to the outer surface side. And the interference preventing member comes into contact with the inner surface of the flap of the outer box, and the flap is tilted to the outside of the opening as seen from the predetermined direction, so that the mounting member is positioned at the insertion position. And
Thereafter, an article or group of articles is inserted into the exterior box by the insertion means, and the placement member is positioned at the placement position by being relatively separated from the interference preventing member by the moving means. .   The insertion device according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the placement member so as to approach the interference prevention member.   The air blower is configured so that the gas flows between the time when the approach starts and the time when the tip of the flap reaches the same position as the portion of the interference preventing member that contacts the inner surface of the flap when viewed from the side in the predetermined direction. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the flow is delivered. The outer box is a B-style, and the pair of outer boxes are juxtaposed to the mounting member so that the side walls not having flaps are in contact with each other,
A pair of the blower devices are disposed so as to be located outside the total opening on the diagonal line of the total opening including the openings of the pair of exterior boxes when viewed from the predetermined direction,
The pair of air blowers are arranged such that the gas flow collides with an inner surface central portion of a side wall flap facing a side wall not having a flap of the outer box close to the other air blower. Item 2. The insertion device according to Item 1. The outer box is A-style,
A pair of the blower devices are disposed so as to be located outside the opening on the diagonal of the opening of the outer box as viewed from the predetermined direction,
2. The insertion device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of blowers are arranged such that the gas flow collides with an inner surface central portion of a flap on a side wall close to the other blower.   The interference preventing member has a plate-like body and is arranged so that the plate-like body is substantially parallel to a side wall of the outer box located at the insertion position, and an inner surface of the plate-like body is the article or The article group is guided so as to be inserted into the outer box, and the inner surface of the flap of the outer box located at the insertion position is in contact with the outer surface of the plate-like body and viewed from the predetermined direction. The insertion device according to claim 1, wherein the insertion device is tilted to the outside of the opening.   The interference preventing member is formed in a hollow quadrangular pyramid shape having an open top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface is disposed facing the mounting member, and the article or group of articles is opened by the insertion means. The inner surface of the flap of the outer box, which is inserted into the outer box from the bottom surface through the top surface and located at the insertion position, comes into contact with the outer surface of the quadrangular pyramid shape and is viewed from the predetermined direction. The insertion device according to claim 1, wherein the insertion device is tilted to the outside of the opening. An insertion device according to claim 1;
An article supply device for sequentially supplying the article or group of articles to a first position;
An article alignment device for sequentially receiving the articles at the first position and sequentially aligning the articles to a second position;
An article row transfer device for supplying an article row aligned with the second position to an insertion means of the insertion device;
An outer box supply device for mounting the outer box on the mounting member of the insertion device;
An outer box unloading device for unloading the outer box containing the article row from the placement member of the insertion device;
An automatic boxing apparatus comprising: the article supply apparatus, the partial article alignment apparatus, the article row transfer apparatus, the insertion apparatus, the outer box carry-in apparatus, and a control device that controls operations of the outer box carry-out apparatus. An outer packaging box in an open state in which a flap is extended to the distal end of the peripheral wall forming the opening, and a mounting member on which the opening is mounted in a predetermined direction;
An interference preventing member disposed in the predetermined direction with respect to the mounting member;
The interference preventing member and the mounting member are relative to each other so that the mounting member is positioned at a mounting position separated from the interference preventing member and an insertion position approaching the interference preventing member in the predetermined direction. Moving means to approach and leave
Insertion means;
A blower,
The mounting member on which the outer box is placed is moved closer to the insertion position by the moving means, and in the approaching process, a gas flow is sent from the blower to swing the flap of the outer box to the outer surface side. And the interference preventing member is brought into contact with the inner surface of the flap of the outer box, the flap is tilted to the outside of the opening as seen from the predetermined direction, and the mounting member is positioned at the insertion position,
Thereafter, the insertion means inserts an article or group of articles into the outer box, and the moving means places the placement member relative to the interference prevention member to be positioned at the placement position. Insertion method.   The insertion method of the insertion device according to claim 9, wherein the moving unit moves the placement member so as to approach the interference preventing member. The foreground air blower is between the start of the approach and the time when the front end of the flap reaches the same position as the portion of the interference preventing member that contacts the inner surface of the flap when viewed from the side in the predetermined direction. The insertion method of the insertion device according to claim 9, wherein a gas flow is delivered.

Images