JP2006182414A - Assembly method and assembly apparatus for foldable container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized foldable container assembly apparatus showing a fast assembly processing speed and superior practicality. <P>SOLUTION: This assembly apparatus comprises: a container separating device 100 for clamping a group of containers except the lowest stage container C1 by a clamp mechanism 120 in a stacked-up group of containers C lifted up by a lifter 110 by a method for hanging the lowest stage container C1 separated from a group of the stacked-up containers C on a transferring path A above a transferring-out path, pushing up the side plate 4 of the container from above to open, assembling it into a box-shape and transferring it onto the transferring-out path below it; a container transferring device for clamping an upper frame 2 of the container C1 by a slide clamping mechanism 210 for clamping it and sliding and moving from the transferring path A to a position above the transferring-out path at a position substantially lower height of the box-shaped container; and a side plate opening device for pushing up the side plate 4 of the container hang and supported above the transferring-out path by the slide clamping mechanism 210 from above and opening it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding container assembling method and an assembling apparatus for assembling a folding container from a folded state into a box shape and supplying the folded container to a container transport line.

  At distribution centers, etc., various products are packed and delivered in containers, which are box-type containers, for each product type or delivery destination. When collecting and storing containers, the container is not compact. Therefore, the plastic folding container 1 that can be easily folded and assembled is used as shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b). ing.

  This is because the pair of front and rear side plates 4 and 4 and the upper side frame 2 and the bottom plate 5 which are pivotally attached to the rectangular upper frame 2 and turn on the inner side of the container to constitute the container side surface are connected to each other in a telescopic manner. It is comprised as a foldable container comprised from the right-and-left side plates 3 and 3 which comprise the container side. Specifically, the upper side of the upper side frame 2 arranged horizontally is provided such that the first side plates 3 and 3 facing left and right and the upper sides of the second side plates 4 and 4 facing front and rear are respectively rotatable. The lower sides of the first side plates 3 and 3 are provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the bottom plate 5, and the horizontally extending cuts 6 and 6 are provided inside the first side plates 3 and 3, respectively. As shown to (a), it can fold by making the 1st side board 3 bend | curve in a horizontal V shape in the notch 6 position. That is, the side plates 3 and 3 are folded while the second side plates 4 and 4 are flipped upward. On the other hand, when assembling, after the side plates 3 and 3 are extended, the side plates 4 and 4 are expanded so that the side plates 4 and 4 are swung, and the concave and convex lance engaging portions 4a and 5a between the side plate 4 tip and the bottom plate 5 are engaged. If combined, it is held in a box shape.

  As conventional techniques for assembling the folding container and the apparatus, there are the following Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the container assembly apparatus shown in Patent Document 1 is provided with a separation table 10 that can swing around a fulcrum 11 in a container carry-in path A, and a belt-type lower feed mechanism 12 that sandwiches the separation table 10. A container carry-out path B extending forward is provided below the separation table 10, and first and second container support tables 14 and 15 are provided directly below and in front of the separation table 10 in the container carry-out path B. The first expansion mechanism 13 is provided in front of the separation table 10, and the second expansion mechanism 16 is provided above the second container support base 15.

  The stacked container group C carried into the separation table 10 is clamped in the width direction by the belt type lower feed mechanism 12. When the separation table 10 swings downward, the side plates 3 and 3 of the lowermost container C1 opened at the lower side extend by its own weight, so that the first expansion mechanism 13 pushes the side plates 3 and 3 outward in the width direction. The container C1 is made into a general box shape. The belt-type lower feed mechanism 12 feeds the entire container group C downward by a predetermined amount (for example, the vertical width of the upper frame 2), whereby the lowermost container C1 is separated from the stacked container group C and is supported by the first container. Placed on the table 14. The container support 14 is lowered, and the container C1 is sent forward by the container unloading path B. While the second container support 15 lifts the container C1, the upper second expansion mechanism 16 descends to expand the side plates 4 and 4 of the container C1, and between the front end portion of the side plate 4 and the bottom plate 5. The concave and convex lance engaging portions 4a and 5a are engaged.

  However, Patent Document 1 described above has the following problems.

  First, since the belt-type lower feed mechanism 12 capable of releasing the clamp is configured to lower the container group C downward by an amount corresponding to the height of the lowermost container C1 while clamping the container group C, the clamping force and driving assuming the maximum inertia weight It is necessary to design the belt-type lower feed mechanism 12 having a force, and the cost increases accordingly.

  Second, as the assembly of the container proceeds, the height of the container group C gradually decreases, and the inertia weight of the container group C acting on the belt type lower feed mechanism 12 always changes. Only difficult to descend accurately.

  Thirdly, it is necessary to provide two expansion mechanisms having different structures, and the apparatus structure is complicated accordingly.

  In order to solve the above problems, the following Patent Documents 2 and 3 have been proposed.

  In Patent Documents 2 and 3, the side plate 3 is lifted by its own weight when it is lifted from when the uppermost one of the stacked containers carried into a predetermined position of the container transport line is lifted from above and transferred to the carry-out line. 3 and the bottom plate 5 are expanded and expanded to some extent, and the side plates 4 and 4 are pushed once from the upper inner side and expanded to be assembled into a box shape.

That is, since the uppermost one of the stacked containers is lifted and transferred from above, the first and second problems do not occur, and the side plate is only once from above by the expansion mechanism for the lifted container. If 4 and 4 are pushed, the third problem does not occur.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-2227 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 9) JP-A-7-315338 (Figs. 1, 3, 5, 8, 11) JP-A-8-58736 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 8)

  However, the following new problems have been pointed out in the above-described prior art.

  First, a predetermined inner portion of a folded and stacked container is hooked and hung with a hook or a claw, but it is difficult to successfully engage the hook or the claw with a predetermined portion, and it has not been put into practical use.

  Secondly, since the moving distance until the container is lifted and transferred to the carry-out line is long, time is taken and the assembly processing speed of the container is slow.

  Thirdly, since the uppermost container is lifted and transferred from above, the vertical height of the apparatus frame increases and the apparatus becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and a first object thereof is to provide a method for assembling a foldable container that has a high assembly processing speed and is highly practical. A second object is to provide an assembly device for a small foldable container that has a high assembly processing speed and is highly practical.

In order to achieve the first object, in the folding container assembling method according to claim 1, the container side surface is configured by being pivotally attached to the rectangular upper frame and rotating inside the container. Folding container assembly method for assembling a collapsible container composed of a pair of front and rear side plates and upper and lower frames and left and right side plates constituting other container side surfaces in a telescopic manner from a folded state to a box shape In
The lowermost container is separated from the group of stacked containers loaded into the container loading path in a folded and stacked state, and the container is supported by the upper frame of the separated lowermost container, and the container is moved to the front container loading path. It is a method of hanging upward, pushing the side plate of the container from above and expanding it, assembling the container into a box shape and transferring it to the lower container carry-out path,
The loaded stacked container group is lifted up by a predetermined amount by a lifter that can move up and down, and at least the upper frame of the container adjacent to the lowermost container is clamped by a clamp mechanism that can expand and contract in the width direction of the container loading / unloading path. A container separation step of separating the bottom container of the stacked container group by holding the stacked container group excluding the bottom container in the lift-up position,
The upper frame of the separated lowermost container is clamped by a slide clamp mechanism capable of a longitudinal slide operation and a width direction clamp operation, and is provided at a position lower than the container carry-in path by an approximate height of the box-type container. A container transfer step of moving the lowermost container to a position above the container carry-out path;
A side plate expanding step in which a side plate pushing mechanism pushes and spreads the side plate of the container from above with respect to the lowermost container suspended and held above the container carry-out path by the slide clamp mechanism;
It comprised so that it might be equipped with.

In order to achieve the second object, in the folding container assembling apparatus according to claim 2, the container side surface is configured by being pivotally attached to the rectangular upper frame and rotating inside the container. Folding container assembly device for assembling a foldable container composed of a pair of front and rear side plates and upper and lower frames and left and right side plates constituting other container side surfaces in a telescopic manner. In
The lowermost container is separated from the group of stacked containers loaded into the container loading path in a folded and stacked state, and the container is supported by the upper frame of the separated lowermost container, and the container is moved to the front container loading path. It is a device that hangs upward, pushes the side plate of the container from above and expands it, assembles the container into a box shape and transfers it to the lower container carry-out path,
The loaded stacked container group is lifted up by a predetermined amount by a lifter that can move up and down, and at least the upper frame of the container adjacent to the lowermost container is clamped by a clamp mechanism that can expand and contract in the width direction of the container loading / unloading path. Container separating means for separating the bottom container of the stacked container group by holding the stacked container group excluding the bottom container in the lift-up position,
The upper frame of the separated lowermost container is clamped by a slide clamp mechanism capable of a longitudinal slide operation and a width direction clamp operation, and is provided at a position lower than the container carry-in path by an approximate height of the box-type container. Container transfer means for moving the lowermost container to a position above the container carry-out path;
A side plate expanding means that a side plate pushing mechanism pushes and spreads the side plate of the container from above with respect to the lowermost container suspended and held above the container carry-out path by the slide clamp mechanism;
It comprised so that it might be equipped with.
(Operation) The container separation process (container separation means) clamps the upper frame of at least the container adjacent to the lowermost container of the stacked container group lifted up by a lifter capable of moving up and down. Only the lower container is reliably separated. Then, the lowermost container thus separated is subjected to a container transfer step (container transfer means) in which the upper frame is clamped in the width direction by the slide clamp mechanism and moved to the front container unloading path, so that the approximate height of the box-type container is increased. The side plate and the bottom plate of the container are expanded to some extent by their own weights. The container is formed into a box shape in which the front and rear side plates and the left and right side plates stand up with respect to the bottom plate by a side plate expanding step (side plate expanding means) that pushes and expands the side plate of the container from above by the side plate pushing mechanism. After being assembled, the upper frame clamped by the slide clamp mechanism is released and placed on the container carry-out path.

  In addition, on the container carry-in path when the container transfer process (clamping / transfer of the lowermost container by the slide clamp mechanism) is completed by releasing the clamp of the upper frame of the container in the container carry-out path, The next lowermost container separation process has already been completed. In other words, the lifter and the clamp mechanism are operated while the lowermost container transfer process and the side plate expanding process are performed, and the next lowermost container is separated from the stacked container group (next Container separation process), the slide clamp mechanism that has returned to the container carry-in path clamps the next lowermost container (the upper frame) and transfers it to the front container carry-out path. You can move immediately.

  The container separation process (container separation means) in which the lifter and the clamp mechanism operate allows the lowermost container to be reliably separated from the stacked container group, and the container transfer process (container transfer means) in which the slide clamp mechanism operates. Since the separated lowermost container can be clamped and moved up to the upper container carry-out path, compared to conventional methods and devices (Patent Documents 1 and 2) in which the container is transferred by hooking with a hook or claw The transfer of the container to the container carry-out path is reliable and smooth.

  In addition, there is no operation for swinging the separation table or operation for sending the entire stacked container group downward (Patent Document 1), there is no operation for lifting and lowering the container (Patent Documents 2 and 3), It is only necessary to clamp the lowermost container and move it forward by the container transfer process (container transfer means) in which the slide clamp mechanism performs the slide operation and the clamp operation, and the movement distance (container movement distance) is short. Compared to Documents 1, 2, and 3, the time required to transfer the container to the container carry-out path is significantly reduced.

  In addition, as in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the uppermost container of the stacked container group is not lifted upward, but the lowermost container of the stacked container group is extracted and moved forward, so that the apparatus frame is raised to a large height. There is no need to configure.

  In addition, since the clamping mechanism in the container separation process (container separation means) only has a function of clamping and holding the stacked container group, it is necessary to consider the inertia weight as in the belt-type lower feed mechanism 12 in Patent Document 1. Therefore, the structure of the clamp mechanism is simplified accordingly.

4. The folding container assembling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the slide clamp mechanism in the container transfer means is an upper slide clamp portion that clamps an upper region of an upper side outer surface of the lowermost container. And a lower slide clamp portion for clamping the lower region, the upper and lower slide clamp portions are parallel in the upper and lower directions that run in the opposite direction of the belt conveyor or chain conveyor disposed from the container carry-in path to the container carry-out path. Each of the upper slide clamp part and the lower slide clamp part clamps the upper frame of the lowermost container on the container carry-in path and travels to the front container carry-out path. Sometimes the other is assembled on the container delivery path. Configured so as to run to the rear of the container carrying path by releasing the clamping of the upper frame of the container.
(Operation) The upper and lower slide clamps are connected to the upper and lower sides of the belt (chain) by reciprocating the upper and lower parallel belts (chains) by the forward / reverse drive of the belt conveyor (chain conveyor). , The lower slide clamp part runs in the opposite direction without interfering with each other. When either the upper slide clamp part or the lower slide clamp part clamps the upper frame of the lowermost container on the container carry-in path and travels to the front container carry-out path, the other is the upper side of the assembled container on the container carry-out path The frame clamp is released and the vehicle travels (returns) to the rear container carry-in path, and since the next bottom container separation process has already been completed in the container carry-in path, the upper slide clamp section and the lower slide clamp section The container transfer speed is doubled as compared with the case where the container is transferred using only one of the above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the folding container assembling apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the lifter and the clamp mechanism of the container separating means are arranged in parallel on a single drive shaft that drives the motor. Further, each eccentric cam is configured to be linked.
(Operation) The lifter and clamp mechanism of the container separating means are linked by the eccentric cams arranged in parallel on a single drive shaft, so only one motor for driving the container separating means is required. As long as the sliding contact portion does not wear out, the lifter and the clamp mechanism are linked accurately.

  For example, the lifter moves up and down via a link mechanism that slidably contacts an eccentric cam for driving the lifter, and the clamp mechanism expands and contracts (clamp / unclamp) via a link mechanism that slidably contacts an eccentric cam for driving the clamp mechanism. ) The clamp mechanism is configured to be operable and clamps the stacked container group above the lifter. At the same time, the lifter rises to a predetermined position approaching the clamp position of the clamp mechanism. After being released, the stacked container group is supported by the lifter. When the lifter is lowered by the approximate height of the lowermost container, the clamp mechanism clamps the stacked container group, and the stacked container group excluding the lowermost container is held at the clamp position by the clamp mechanism. . Further, when the lifter is lowered to the original position, the lowermost container placed on the container carry-in path is surely separated from the upper stacked container group. Then, the shape of the eccentric cam driven by the motor and the link mechanism are configured so that the lifter and the clamp mechanism repeat the above-described operation.

  Note that it is desirable to load the stacked container group into the container loading path after the clamp mechanism is separately unclamped only when loading the stacked container group into the container loading path.

  According to the folding container assembling method according to claim 1 and the folding container assembling apparatus according to claim 2, the container group is folded and stacked one by one in a reliable and speedy sequential box shape. Can be assembled and delivered to the container carry-out path, so that a folding container assembling method and apparatus optimal for practical use are provided.

  Further, according to the folding container assembling apparatus of the second aspect, since it is not necessary to configure the apparatus frame to have a large height, a compact folding container assembling apparatus that does not take up space is provided. .

  According to claim 3, when one of the upper slide clamp part and the lower slide clamp part is in the container carry-in path, the other is in the container carry-out path, and the upper slide clamp part and the lower slide clamp part are Since the lowermost container is clamped alternately and transferred to the container carry-out path, the container can be assembled at high speed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, only one container separating means driving motor is required, and the structure of the container separating means is simplified, so that the long-term accurate linkage operation between the lifter and the clamping mechanism of the container separating means is guaranteed. A highly inexpensive and low cost folding container assembly apparatus is provided.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.

  1 to 12 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view of the entire folding container assembly apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire apparatus. 3 is a left side view of the entire apparatus, FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus showing the container separation mechanism, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus showing the container separation mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus showing the container separation mechanism. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view (sectional view taken along line VII-VII shown in FIGS. 5 and 8) of the apparatus showing the container separation mechanism. 8 is a plan view of a clamp unit that is a main part of the clamp mechanism constituting the container separating mechanism, FIG. 9 is a front view of the apparatus showing the slide clamp mechanism, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of the apparatus showing the slide clamp mechanism. FIG. 11 is a right side view of the apparatus showing a slide clamp mechanism. 12 are views for explaining the operation of the same slide clamp mechanism, FIG. 13 is a front view of the side plate spreader mechanism of the apparatus.

  In these drawings, the folding container assembled by the folding container assembly apparatus (hereinafter referred to as this apparatus) in this embodiment is a conventional folding container 1 shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b). The duplicated explanation is omitted.

This apparatus lifts the stacked container group C carried into the container loading path A by a predetermined amount from below by the lifter 110 capable of moving up and down, and clamps the stacked container group excluding the lowermost container C1 to expand and contract. A container separating apparatus 100 (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 6) for separating the lowermost container C1 of the stacked container group C by clamping in the width direction by the mechanism 120 and holding it in the lift-up position;
The upper frame 2 of the separated lowermost container C1 is clamped from the outside in the width direction by the slide clamp mechanism 210 that can perform the width direction clamp operation and the front and rear direction slide operation, and the approximate height of the box-type container with respect to the container carry-in path A A container transfer device 200 (see FIGS. 1 and 9 to 12) for moving the lowermost container C1 to an upper position of the front container carry-out path B provided at a considerably lower position;
The side plate expansion is performed such that the upper side plate pushing mechanism 310 pushes the side plates 4 and 4 of the container C1 from above to expand the lowermost container C1 suspended and held above the container carry-out path B by the slide clamp mechanism 210. And an apparatus 300 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 9, 10, and 13).

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a gantry frame of the present apparatus, and a container carry-in path A is constituted by a carry-in belt conveyor 22 supported by the gantry frame 20 and extending in the front-rear direction (left and right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2). 22 carries the folded container group (for example, 20-stage stacked container group) C to a predetermined position on the container carry-in path A (position where the container separating device 100 is disposed). Reference numeral M <b> 1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is a motor for driving the carry-in belt conveyor 22. The container loading path A is provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not all the container groups C have been processed and paid out, and is loaded when all containers in the container loading path A are exhausted. The belt conveyor 22 is driven, and the next container group C waiting in front is carried to a predetermined position on the container carry-in path A (position where the container separating device 100 is disposed).

  A lifter 110 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that lifts up the entire stacked container group C from below is disposed in the container loading path A, and at the left and right positions sandwiching the lifter 110, the loading path A is located. On the other hand, a clamp mechanism 120 (see FIG. 7) configured by a pair of link type clamp arms 122 and 123 swinging in the width direction is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the lifter 110 includes a top plate portion 111 that supports the container group C from below. The top plate portion 111 is supported by a guide portion 112a (see FIG. 4) supported by the frame 20 so that a pair of guide rods 112 provided at both ends thereof is movable in the vertical direction, and at the center portion in the longitudinal direction. The other end portion of the link 114 pin-connected to the gantry frame 20 is pin-connected to the lower end portion of the integrated vertical base plate 113. The link 114 is disposed so as to be in sliding contact with an eccentric cam 116 attached to a drive shaft 115 extending in the front-rear direction of the container carry-in path, and the link 114 swings by the rotation of the eccentric cam 116. Thus, the lifter 110 moves up and down. Reference numeral M <b> 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) is a motor that drives the drive shaft 115. Reference numeral 114a in FIG. 6 is a tension coil spring interposed between the link 114 and the gantry frame 20 side, and the sliding contact operation between the link 114 and the eccentric cam 116 is secured by the spring biasing force of the spring 114a.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, eccentric cams 126 and 127 that are similarly attached to the drive shaft 115 are provided on the outer side in the left-right direction of the eccentric cam 116. As shown in FIG. The first links 122a and 123a of the clamp arms 122 and 123 are disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the eccentric cams 126 and 127, respectively. Reference numerals 122a to 122c; 123a to 123c are links constituting clamp arms 122 and 123 for expanding and contracting the clamp units 130 and 130, and the clamp unit 130 is a bracket provided on the gantry frame 20 as shown in FIG. 21 is slidably supported in the width direction. The clamp units 130 and 130 are respectively provided with long rectangular vertical clamping plates 128 and 128 extending in the front-rear direction along the loading path A, and the opposing surfaces of the clamping plates 128 and 128 are arranged on the side surfaces of the stacked containers (each A rubber pad 128a for sandwiching the upper frame 2) of the container is integrally formed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, two parallel rods 132 are suspended from both end sides of the sandwiching plates 128, 128, and the parallel rods 132 are supported by a ball bush 133 fixed to the bracket 21. It is also supported by a ball bush 135 of a vertical plate 134 that engages a link 122c (123c) of the clamp arm 122 (123) via a roller 122d (123d). An air cylinder 136 is fixed to the front surface of the vertical plate 134. A cylinder rod 136a of the air cylinder 136 is pin-connected to the clamping plate 128, and a compression coil spring 137 is interposed between the clamping plate 128 and the bracket 21. Has been.

  In FIG. 7, reference numerals 124 a to 124 d; 125 a to 125 d are pin fulcrums, and the pin fulcrums 124 a and 124 d; 125 a and 125 d are provided on the gantry frame 20. The links 122a and 123a are respectively urged toward the drive shaft 115 by tension coil springs 122f and 123f (see FIGS. 5 and 7) interposed between the gantry frame 20 and the links 122a and 123a, respectively. And the eccentric cams 126 and 127 are secured. Reference numeral 129 is a nut for adjusting the link length provided in the rod-shaped links 122b and 123b, and can finely adjust the interval between the opposing sandwiching plates 128 and 128.

  The links 122a and 123a (the pair of link type clamp arms 122 and 123) are swung by the rotation of the eccentric cams 126 and 127, and the clamp units 130 and 130 (the clamping plates 128 and 128) are expanded and contracted. In the form in which the distance between the plates 128 and 128 is narrowed, the stacked container group C is in a clamped state.

  Further, the clamping plate 128 expands and contracts together with the clamp units 130 and 130 by the rotation of the eccentric cams 126 and 127, but also expands and contracts by driving an air cylinder 136 provided in the clamp unit 130. A stacking container group that is configured to be able to wait and is waiting in front when all the processing of the container group C in the container loading path A is completed when the loading container group C is loaded into the container loading path A When C is newly carried into the container carry-in path A, the stacked containers 128 are smoothly carried into the container carry-in path A by forcibly increasing the interval between the clamping plates 128 and 128 by driving the air cylinder 136. be able to. That is, in the container separation process, the clamp units 130 and 130 are expanded and contracted by the rotation of the eccentric cams 126 and 127, but only when the stacked container group C is loaded into the container loading path A. In other words, the clamp plates 130 and 130 in the closed state forcibly widen the holding plates 128 and 128 by driving the air cylinder 136 so that the loading of the stacked container group C is not hindered.

  The lifting / lowering operation of the lifter 110 and the expansion / contraction operation of the clamp units 130 and 130 (the swinging operation of the clamp arms 122 and 123) are set so as to operate in association with the outer peripheral shape of the cams 116, 126, and 127. As long as the sliding contact surfaces of these cams 116, 126, and 127 do not wear out, accurate operation over a long period is guaranteed.

  Specifically, with respect to the clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130 and 130) that clamps the stacked container group C above the lifter 110, the lifter 110 is positioned at the clamp position of the clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130 and 130). At the same time, the clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130, 130) is released from the clamp, and the stacked container group C is supported by the lifter 110. When the lifter 110 is lowered by the approximate height of the lowermost container C1, the upper frame 2 of the upper and lower three-stage containers including the container C2 adjacent to the C lowermost container C1 is clamped by the clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130, 130). Are stacked in the width direction, and the stacked container group excluding the lowermost container C1 is held at the clamp position by the clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130, 130). When the lifter 110 is lowered to the original position, the stacked container group clamped by the clamp mechanism 120 is held at the lift-up position, whereas the lowermost container C1 that is not clamped by the clamp mechanism 120 is the lifter 110. 6 is lowered and placed on the carry-in conveyor 22 and reliably separated from the stacked container group. Then, when the lowermost container C1 slides forward by the slide clamp mechanism 210 described later, the above-described operations by the lifter 110 and the clamp mechanism 120 are repeated again, and the next lowermost container in the stacked container group is separated. The

  That is, the lifter 110 and the clamp mechanism 120 constitute a container separating apparatus 100 that separates the lowermost container C1 from the stacked container group C.

  In front of the container loading path A, a container unloading path B configured by a roller conveyor 400 and extending forward is provided. The container unloading path B is approximately the height H of the box-type container with respect to the container loading path A ( 1) A container transfer device provided with a slide clamp mechanism 210 provided at a considerably low position and capable of sliding in the front-rear direction and clamping in the width direction on both sides in the width direction from the container loading path A to the container unloading path B. 200 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the slide clamp mechanism 210 is provided in the width direction to clamp the upper region 2a (see FIG. 12) in the side surface of the upper frame 2 of the lowermost container C1 in the width direction. An upper clamp part 210A and a lower clamp part 210B arranged in the width direction for clamping the lower region 2b (see FIG. 12) in the width direction are provided from the container carry-in path A to the container carry-out path B. The belt conveyor 240 is connected to upper and lower parallel belts 242 and 242 that run in opposite directions, and one of the upper and lower clamp portions 210A and 210B is the lowermost container C1 on the container loading path A. When the upper frame 2 is clamped and the vehicle travels to the front container unloading path B, the other is the upper side of the assembled box container on the container unloading path B. To release the second clamp travels to the rear of the container carrying-path A (back) are configured to.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the container transfer belt conveyor 240 provided facing the area between the container carry-in path A and the container carry-out path B is a belt conveyor constituting the container carry-in path A ( 22) is arranged above the container C1 (upper frame 2) by an approximate height, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 12, the upper belt 242 has an upper slide clamp portion 210A on the lower side. The lower slide clamp portion 210B is connected to the belt 242. 9 and 11, reference numeral M <b> 3 is a motor for driving the belt conveyor 240 (a motor for traveling forward and backward of the slide clamp mechanism 210), and both ends of the transmission shaft 246 disposed above the belts 244 a and 245 and the container carry-out path B. The rotation is transmitted to the pulley 241 of the belt conveyor 240 via the pulley 246a (see FIGS. 9 and 11).

  One side in the width direction of the upper and lower slide clamp portions 210A and 210B is shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 12, but both are slid in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 12) and are sandwiched with a rubber layer 212a formed on the front side. Plates 212A and 212B are provided. The sandwiching plates 212A and 212B have a narrow vertical width, and a pair of front and rear rods 214 (see FIG. 12) extending vertically rearward from the sandwiching plates 212A and 212B are provided on a slide plate 216 extending parallel to the sandwiching plates 212A and 212B. Supported by the ball bush 217, the rod 214 (clamping plates 212 </ b> A and 212 </ b> B) can project and retract with respect to the slide plate 216.

  The slide plates 216 (ball bushes 217) corresponding to the upper and lower slide clamp portions 210A and 210B are respectively connected to the traveling belts 242 vertically parallel to the belt conveyor 240, and extend in parallel to the belts 242. Thus, the slide clamp portions 210A and 210B slide and travel together with the travel belt 242 of the belt conveyor 240 in the front-rear direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 12). The upper slide clamp portion 210A is connected to the lower side of the upper belt 242, and the lower slide clamp portion 210B is connected to the upper end of the lower belt 242, and is connected to the circumferentially equal position of the endless belt 242.

  A compression coil spring 217 is interposed between the slide plate 216 and the roller follower support frame 215a, and a roller follower 215b provided at the tip of the rod 214 is provided in a pair of upper and lower portions provided in parallel with the LM guide 215. The rail plates 218A and 218B that are long in the front-rear direction are biased and held.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pair of upper and lower rail plates 218A and 218B includes an LM guide 251 (see FIG. 11) interposed between the rail bracket 250 fixed to the gantry frame 20 and the rail plates 218A and 218B. ) To be able to slide in the width direction of the container loading / unloading paths A and B. Racks 218a and 218b extending in the width direction that engage with each other via pinions 218c provided therebetween are provided on the opposing surfaces in the vertical direction of the rail plates 218A and 218B so as to face each other, and a pair of upper and lower rail plates 218A and 218A, 218B slides in the opposite direction of the width direction. Reference numeral 218d in FIG. 9 indicates a pinion shaft. Further, the roller follower 219 provided on the lower rail plate 218B is engaged with the eccentric groove 236a of the groove cam 236 (see FIG. 12) rotated by the motor M4 (see FIG. 9), and the groove cam 236 is engaged. The pair of upper and lower rail plates 218A and 218B slides in the opposite direction in the width direction in conjunction with the rotation of. Reference numeral M4 in FIG. 9 is a drive motor that rotates the groove cam 236 and slides the rail plates 218A and 218B in the opposite directions in the width direction, thereby expanding and contracting the pair of left and right slide clamp portions 210A (210B). Is transmitted to the groove cam 236 via the belt 222, the reduction gear 223, and the belt 224.

  The groove 236a shape of the groove cam 236 is such that, among the slide clamp portions 210A and 210B, the slide clamp portion on the container carry-out path B side retreats (clamp releasing operation), and the slide clamp portion on the container carry-in path A side advances. (Clamping operation) is set.

  The rack and pinion mechanisms 218a, 218b, 218c and the eccentric groove cam mechanisms 236a, 219 allow the pair of left and right slide clamp portions 210A (210B) to be container C1 (the upper frame 2 thereof) in the container loading path A. In the container loading path B, the container C1 (upper frame 2) is moved in the direction of releasing the clamp, and while the container C1 slides from the container loading path A to the container loading path B, the container C1 is moved. The operation mode in which the container C1 (the upper frame 2) is unclamped (clamp is released) while being slid from the container carry-out path B to the container carry-in path A. Retained.

  The clamping operation of the slide clamp part 210A (210B) in the container carry-in path A and the unclamping operation of the slide clamp part 210B (210A) in the container carry-out path B are performed at the end of the container separation process in the container carry-in path A and the container carry-out path. At the end of the side plate expansion process in B, in FIGS. 10 and 12, the upper slide clamp portion 210A (indicated by the phantom line) located in the container loading path A clamps the upper frame 2 of the next lowermost container C1. The state where the clamp of upper frame 2 of the lowermost container where the lower slide clamp part 210B (shown by a solid line) located in container carrying-in way B was assembled is released is shown.

  Further, the upper and lower clamping plates 212A and 212B respectively connected to the belt 242 of the belt conveyor 240 and arranged close to each other in the vertical direction have the size of the upper and lower widths of the upper frame 2 as shown in FIG. Any holding plate 212A (212B) of the upper and lower slide clamp portions 210A (210B) can be transferred to the front container carry-out path B by clamping the upper frame 2 of the container. There is no interference with the other sandwiching plate 212B (212A) traveling in the direction.

  Further, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 13, an expansion device 300 including a side plate pushing mechanism 310 is disposed above the container carry-out path B. The side plate pushing mechanism 310 includes a vertical slider 312 supported by the gantry frame 20 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and a side plate pushing head 330 provided on the vertical slider 312.

  A pair of parallel guide rods 314, 314 extends upward on the upper and lower sliders 312, and the guide rods 314, 314 are slidably supported by ball bushings 318, 318 of a bracket 316 fixed to the gantry frame 20. Has been. Above the upper and lower sliders 312, a turning arm 324 that vertically turns around a turning fulcrum 320 provided on the frame 20 is provided, and the arm 324 and the upper and lower sliders 312 are connected via a drive rod 326. The arm 324 is turned by the motor M5, and the vertical slider 312 is moved up and down in conjunction with the turning operation of the arm 324.

  The side plate pushing head 330 is provided with a T-shaped swinging member 334 which can swing around a fulcrum 332 and is provided with a roller 336 on the swinging tip side, facing the front-rear direction and the width direction. The T-shaped rocking member 334 includes two links 334a and 334b that are pin-connected, and a tension coil spring 328 is interposed between the links 334a and 334a adjacent in the front-rear direction.

  For this reason, on the container carrying-in path B, for example, the side plate pushing head 330 lowered integrally with the upper and lower sliders 312 with respect to the container C1 suspended and supported by the slide clamp portion 210A causes the front and rear side plates 4 and 4 of the container C1 to move. At this time, the T-shaped oscillating member 334 (the link 334a) descends while oscillating to expand the side plates 4 and 4, and the container C1 has an uneven lance engaging portion 4a between the side plate 4 and the bottom plate 5. , 5a are engaged to form a box shape that is prevented from coming off. When the clamp of the container C1 (the upper frame 2) thereof by the slide clamp part 210A is released, the molded container C1 is placed on the roller conveyor 400 constituting the lower container carry-out path B, and the roller conveyor 400 It is carried out by.

  Next, a process for assembling the container will be described.

  Specifically, first, the stacked container group C is first carried into the container carry-in path A by the belt conveyor 22. Since the clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130, 130) is in a clamped state (closed state) except during the lifting / lowering operation of the lifter 110, the air cylinder 136 of the clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130, 130) is driven to hold the clamping plate 128. , 128 is forcibly expanded, and the stacked container group C is carried into the container carry-in path A by the belt conveyor 22. Only the separation process of the lowermost container C1 immediately after the loading of the stacked container group C is started while the air cylinder 136 is driven and the sandwiching plates 128 and 128 are forcibly expanded. The

  That is, the lifter 110 once rises from the lower side of the container carry-in path A to a predetermined position approaching the clamping position, and then lowers by the approximate height of the lowermost container C1, but the forcibly expanding between the sandwiching plates 128 and 128 is performed. Since it is in the state, the stacked container group C is once lifted by the lifter 110 and then lowered, and the containers in the second to fourth stages excluding the lowest container are clamped by the sandwiching plates 128 and 128. Note that once the lifter 110 is lifted, the clamping mechanism 120 (clamp units 130 and 130) linked to the eccentric cams 126 and 127 performs the clamping release operation, but the clamping plate is forcibly expanded by the air cylinder 136. As the space between the 128 and 128 further expands, the lifting and lowering operation of the lifter 110 on which the stacked container group is placed is not hindered. When the lifter 110 is lowered by the approximate height of the lowermost container C1, the forcibly expanded state between the sandwiching plates 128 and 128 by driving the air cylinder 136 is released, and the eccentric cams 126 and 127 are released. The clamp mechanism 120 (clamp units 130 and 130) linked to the upper side of the stacked container group C clamps and supports the second- to fourth-stage containers (the upper frame 2 thereof). Then, the lifter 110 is lowered to the original position, and the lowermost container C1 separated from the stacked container group C is placed on the carry-in conveyor 22 (container separation step by the container separation device 100).

  Next, the slide clamp mechanism 210 (for example, the upper slide clamp portion 210A thereof) clamps the upper frame 2 of the lowermost container C1 on the carry-in conveyor 22 and slides to the front container carry-out path B by driving the belt conveyor 240. Thus, the lowermost container C1 is suspended and held above the carry-out conveyor B by the slide clamp mechanism 210 (the upper slide clamp portion 210A thereof) (container transfer process). Since the container carry-out path B is lower than the container carry-in path A by the approximate height H of the box-type container, the front and rear side plates 3 and 3 and the bottom plate 5 of the container are expanded to some extent by their own weight.

  Next, the side plate pushing mechanism 310 of the side plate expanding device 300 arranged at the upper side pushes the front and rear side plates 4 and 4 of the container C1 from the upper side to expand them, and the front and rear side plates 4 and 4 and the left and right sides of the bottom plate 5 are expanded. The side plates 3 and 3 are assembled in an upright box shape (side plate expanding step).

  Next, the clamp of the box container (the upper frame 2 thereof) by the slide clamp mechanism 210 (the upper slide clamp portion 210A thereof) is released, and the box container is placed on the container carry-out path B (the roller conveyor 400), It is carried out by the roller conveyor 400. The slide clamp mechanism 210 (upper slide clamp portion 210A thereof) that has released the clamp of the upper frame 2 of the container C1 in the container carry-out path B returns to the original container carry-in path A position by the reverse drive of the belt conveyor 240.

  In addition, while the container transfer process is performed by the slide clamp mechanism 210 (the upper slide clamp part 210A thereof) and the container side plate expanding process is performed in the container carry-out path B, the slide positioned in the container carry-out path B is performed. The clamp mechanism 210 (lower slide clamp portion 210B) returns to the container carry-in path A, and in the container carry-in path A, the lifter 110 rises by a predetermined amount, and the clamp mechanism 120 releases the clamps of the stacked container group, and the lifter 110 is lowered by a predetermined amount, and after the clamp mechanism 120 clamps the container (upper frame 2) of the second to fourth stages from the bottom of the stacked container group C, the lifter 110 is lowered and only the lowermost container C1 is carried in. The next container separation process is performed by the container separation device 100 to be placed on the conveyor 22. To have. Clamping of the lowermost container C1 by the slide clamp mechanism 210 (upper clamp part 210A thereof) on the container carry-in path A and sliding forward, and the slide clamp mechanism 210 (lower clamp part 210B) in the container carry-out path B The clamp release of the box-type container and the backward sliding movement are performed at the same time.

  That is, in the container carry-in path A when the previous container transfer process, the side plate expanding process and the molded container carry-out path B are placed by the slide clamp mechanism 210 (the upper clamp part 210A thereof). The next lowermost container is separated by the lifter 110 and the clamp mechanism 120, and the next lowermost container is clamped by the slide clamp mechanism 210 (lower clamp portion 210B) returned from the container carry-out path B to the container carry-in path A. Has been done.

  As described above, on the container carry-in path A, the lifter 110 is raised and the clamp mechanism 120 clamps at the same time when the container transfer process (for example, clamping and transfer of the lowermost container by the upper slide clamp part 210A) is completed. The container separation process for separating the next lowermost container from the stacked container group is performed by supporting the stacked container group that has been released, and by lowering the lifter 110 by a predetermined amount and re-clamping the clamping mechanism 120. The lower slide clamp part 210B returning from the container carry-out path B immediately moves to the container transfer process (clamping / transfer of the lowermost container by the lower slide clamp part 210B).

  For this reason, in the container transfer process, the lowermost container clamp / transfer by the upper slide clamp part 210A and the lowermost container clamp / transfer by the lower slide clamp part 210B are alternately and continuously performed. The assembly processing speed of the method and apparatus container of the present embodiment was able to achieve a high-speed processing that was approximately twice the processing speed of the conventional method and apparatus.

  In the above-described embodiment, the slide plate 216 (slide clamp mechanism 210) is moved forward and backward by the belt conveyor 240. However, as a means for sliding the slide clamp mechanism 210, the belt conveyor 240 is used. It may replace with a chain conveyor.

It is a front view of the whole assembly apparatus of the folding container which is the 1st Example of this invention. It is a top view of the whole apparatus. It is a left view of the whole apparatus. It is a front view of the same apparatus which shows a container separation mechanism. It is a top view of the apparatus which shows a container separation mechanism. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view which follows the line VI-VI shown in FIG.5, 8) of the apparatus which shows a container separation mechanism. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view which follows the line VII-VII shown to FIG.5, 8) of the apparatus which shows a container separation mechanism. It is a top view of the clamp unit which is the principal part of the clamp mechanism which comprises a container separation mechanism. It is a front view of the same apparatus which shows a slide clamp mechanism. It is a top view of the apparatus which shows a slide clamp mechanism. It is a right view of the same apparatus which shows a slide clamp mechanism. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the slide clamp mechanism. It is a front view of the side plate expansion mechanism in the same apparatus. (A), (b) It is a perspective view of a foldable container. It is a principal part front view of the conventional folding container assembly apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Folding type container 2 Rectangular upper frame 2a Upper region 2b of upper frame outer surface Lower region 3 of upper frame outer surface Left right side plate 4 Front and rear side plates 5 Bottom plate 20 Mounting frame frame 22 Loading belt conveyor C Stacking container group C1 Bottom container C2 Container A adjacent to the lowermost container A Container loading path B Container unloading path 100 Container separating device 110 Lifter 116 Eccentric cam 120 for driving the lifter Clamp mechanism 122, 123 Clamp arm 126, 127 Eccentric cam 128 for driving the clamp unit Plate 130 Clamp unit 136 Air cylinder 200 for expanding the clamping plate Container transfer device 210 Slide clamp mechanism 210A Upper slide clamp part 210B Lower slide clamp parts 212A, 212B Belt-like clamping plate 218A Upper tray Plate 218B Lower rail plate 240 Container transfer belt conveyor 242 Travel belt 300 Side plate expansion device 310 Side plate pushing mechanism 400 Roller conveyor for container delivery M1 Belt conveyor drive motor for container delivery M2 Clamp mechanism and lifter drive Motor M3 Slide clamp mechanism travel drive motor M4 Slide clamp mechanism clamp operation motor M5 Side plate push mechanism drive motor

Claims (4)

From a pair of front and rear side plates that pivot on a rectangular upper frame and rotate inside the container to form a container side surface, and from left and right side plates that form another container side surface by connecting the upper frame and the bottom plate in a telescopic manner In the assembling method of the folding container in which the configured folding container is assembled from the folded state into a box shape,
The lowermost container is separated from the group of stacked containers loaded into the container loading path in a folded and stacked state, and the container is supported by the upper frame of the separated lowermost container, and the container is moved to the front container loading path. It is a method of hanging upward, pushing the side plate of the container from above and expanding it, assembling the container into a box shape and transferring it to the lower container carry-out path,
The loaded stacked container group is lifted up by a predetermined amount by a lifter that can move up and down, and at least the upper frame of the container adjacent to the lowermost container is clamped by a clamp mechanism that can expand and contract in the width direction of the container loading / unloading path. A container separation step of separating the bottom container of the stacked container group by holding the stacked container group excluding the bottom container in the lift-up position,
The upper frame of the separated lowermost container is clamped by a slide clamp mechanism capable of a longitudinal slide operation and a width direction clamp operation, and is provided at a position lower than the container carry-in path by an approximate height of the box-type container. A container transfer step of moving the lowermost container to a position above the container carry-out path;
A side plate expanding step in which a side plate pushing mechanism pushes and spreads the side plate of the container from above with respect to the lowermost container suspended and held above the container carry-out path by the slide clamp mechanism;
A method for assembling a foldable container, comprising: From a pair of front and rear side plates that pivot on a rectangular upper frame and rotate inside the container to form a container side surface, and from left and right side plates that form another container side surface by connecting the upper frame and the bottom plate in a telescopic manner In the folding container assembly apparatus that assembles the configured folding container into a box shape from the folded state,
The lowermost container is separated from the group of stacked containers loaded into the container loading path in a folded and stacked state, and the container is supported by the upper frame of the separated lowermost container, and the container is moved to the front container loading path. It is a device that hangs upward, pushes the side plate of the container from above and expands it, assembles the container into a box shape and transfers it to the lower container carry-out path,
The loaded stacked container group is lifted up by a predetermined amount by a lifter that can move up and down, and at least the upper frame of the container adjacent to the lowermost container is clamped by a clamp mechanism that can expand and contract in the width direction of the container loading / unloading path. Container separating means for separating the bottom container of the stacked container group by holding the stacked container group excluding the bottom container in the lift-up position,
The upper frame of the separated lowermost container is clamped by a slide clamp mechanism capable of a longitudinal slide operation and a width direction clamp operation, and is provided at a position lower than the container carry-in path by an approximate height of the box-type container. Container transfer means for moving the lowermost container to a position above the container carry-out path;
A side plate expanding means that a side plate pushing mechanism pushes and spreads the side plate of the container from above with respect to the lowermost container suspended and held above the container carry-out path by the slide clamp mechanism;
A folding container assembling apparatus characterized by comprising:   The slide clamp mechanism in the container transfer means includes an upper slide clamp portion that clamps an upper region of the outer surface of the upper frame of the lowermost container and a lower slide clamp portion that clamps a lower region, and the upper and lower slide clamp portions. Are respectively connected at equal intervals to upper and lower parallel belts or chains that run in the opposite direction of the belt conveyor or chain conveyor disposed from the container carry-in path to the container carry-out path, and the upper slide clamp part and the lower slide When one of the clamps clamps the upper frame of the lowermost container on the container carry-in path and travels to the front container carry-out path, the other releases the clamp on the upper frame of the container assembled on the container carry-out path. Drive to the rear container carry-in route. Assembly device foldable container according to claim 2, characterized in that it is.   The lifter and the clamp mechanism of the container separating means are configured to be linked by respective eccentric cams arranged in parallel on a single drive shaft driven by a motor. The folding container assembling apparatus according to any one of the above.

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