JP2008280082A - Article automatically stacking/packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve high-speed automatic stacking/packaging by optimizing the operation of each of processes, taking into account of time required for each process, such as the process of packaging an article. <P>SOLUTION: In the article automatically stacking/packaging device, article stacking conveyance paths C and D are disposed parallel to each other with an interval Y between them, the interval Y being greater than the width W of a line of articles to be packaged. The article stacking conveyance paths C and D are provided with article stacking devices, and slide tables G and H are disposed at the leading ends thereof for alternately sliding stacks of articles S to a central place inside the article stacking conveyance paths C and D. Disposed ahead of them is a conveyance path J for a packaging material P. Disposed behind them is an article packaging device K for packaging articles, supported on the slide tables G and H, into the packaging material P. Preferably, the width W of the line of articles G to be packaged is equal to that of two cases of packaging materials P. The article stacking conveyance paths C and D are each provided with an article alternating/inverting device L. The packaging material P is a corrugated board sheet in the process of formation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic product stacking apparatus for products, and more specifically, proper operation of each process such as product accumulation, product (alternate inverted) stacking, supply of packaging materials, and subsequent filling of products into packaging materials. The feature is that the speed of automatic stacking of products is increased.

  The applicant of the present application is an automatic stacking packaging device in which the product is a cup-shaped product, and the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion of the cup-shaped product are alternately arranged next to each other to eliminate useless space. Has proposed a device for stacking two horizontal rows of cup-shaped products conveyed in a row (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

The apparatus adsorbs the first-stage (upper-stage) product conveyed earlier by suction cups and raises it, and the next-stage (lower-stage) product is then sent onto the first-stage (upper-stage) product. The product is placed in a lowered position, the suction by the suction cup is released to perform a two-stage product, and the product stacked in the second stage is further sent to a boxing device for automatic boxing.
JP-A-11-157508 JP 2001-2023 A

  The present invention further takes into account the time required for each process such as a product accumulation process, a product (alternate inverted) stacking process, a supply of packaging material, and a subsequent filling process of the product into the packaging material. The purpose is to optimize the operation of each process and to speed up the automatic stacking of products.

  In order to achieve the above object, the product automatic stacking packaging apparatus of the present invention is provided with a product stacking conveyance path having the product filling row number width in parallel with an interval equal to or greater than the product filling row number width, Each of the product accumulation transport paths is provided with a product stacking device and a slide table that supports the stacked products at the front end portion and is slid alternately to the center position inside the product accumulation transport path, A conveyance path for packaging material is provided in front of the slide table, and a product supported on the slide table is placed in the packaging material behind the slide table that is slid to the inner central position of the commodity accumulation conveyance path. A product filling device for filling the product is provided (claim 1).

  In the present invention, the product of the number of filling rows is supplied by an appropriate method to each of the product stacking and conveying paths provided in parallel with an interval equal to or larger than the width of the number of product filling rows.

  Then, an appropriate number of upper-stage products are stacked on each of the product stacking conveyance paths. Subsequently, the products for the respective upper stages are conveyed forward and raised by a suction cup or a comb-like lift forming a stacking device at a predetermined position.

  Next, in the same manner as described above, in each of the product stacking conveyance paths, a lower number of products corresponding to the appropriate number of rows are stacked, and the upper number of products corresponding to the upper number of the appropriate number of rows that have been raised by one step are below. Respectively. Thereafter, the products corresponding to the upper row of the appropriate number of rows are lowered and placed on the upper surface portions of the products corresponding to the lower row of the appropriate number of rows, and the products are stacked. If necessary, an alternating product inversion device is provided in the product stacking conveyance path at a position in front of the stacking device.

  As described above, the products that have been stacked in the respective product accumulation transport paths are transferred onto a slide table provided at the front end of each product accumulation transport path.

  The slide table is alternately slid to the inner center position of the product stacking conveyance path while supporting the stacked and stacked products. In other words, in the present invention, the respective product stacking conveyance paths are spaced apart by a width equal to or greater than the number of the packed rows of the products, and the respective slide tables are arranged at the respective inner centers of the product stacking transport paths. It is controlled to be slid alternately into position.

  Further, a transport path for packaging material is provided in front of the slide table, and the slide table is slid to the inner center position of the product accumulation transport path at the rear of the slide table. A product filling device is provided for filling the packaging material supplied to the packaging material conveyance path with the stacked and stacked products, and the product filling device stacks and stacks the products on the slide table. Goods are filled into the packaging material.

  In the present invention configured as described above, taking into account the time required for each process, such as a product accumulation process, a product (alternate inverted) stacking process, a supply of packaging material, and a subsequent product filling process to the packaging material, By optimizing the operation of each process, it is possible to speed up the automatic stacking of products.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the number of filled rows of products is two cases of the packaging material (claim 2). That is, each of the product accumulation transport paths is formed to have a width of the number of products to be filled in two cases of packaging materials, and similarly, the slide table and the product filling device are used to support and fill the products to be filled in the two cases. Formed. Moreover, the said product inversion device provided as needed is formed similarly. According to this embodiment, the speeding up of the automatic stacking of products is doubled.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that an alternating product inversion device is provided in each of the product stacking and conveying paths (Claim 3). This product alternating inversion device is already known in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-2023, and by providing such a product alternating inversion device, in particular, the accumulation space of cup-shaped products can be reduced, therefore The packaging material can be saved, and the space efficiency at the time of storage and transportation is improved, so that an economical effect can be obtained. In the case of a product that does not require the product alternate inversion device, the product alternate inversion device may be retracted above the product accumulation conveyance path.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the packaging material is a corrugated cardboard sheet in the middle of forming (claim 4). According to this embodiment, the stacked product can be automatically supplied to the cardboard case easily and accurately in synchronization with the molding process of the cardboard case. That is, the automatic supply of a stacked product into a cardboard case that has been molded in advance and in which only the lid flap is opened is difficult because the opening space is limited.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the conveyance path of the packaging material is intermittently driven (claim 5). According to this embodiment, it is possible to easily synchronize the supply of the packaging material to a fixed position and the filling timing of the product with respect to the packaging material.

  According to the apparatus of the present invention, taking into account the time required for each process of the automatic product stacking apparatus for products, the operation of each process is optimized, and the speed of automatic product stacking of products is increased. be able to.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 13A to 13E show an example of a packaging process for stacked products in the product automatic packaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  That is, the first corrugated sheet 1 and the second corrugated sheet 2 are sequentially drawn out from a magazine portion of the corrugated cardboard sheet not shown in the drawing onto a corrugated cardboard sheet conveyance path (not shown). And are held side by side between attachments provided on the transport body forming the transport path. Note that the first corrugated cardboard sheet 1 and the second corrugated cardboard sheet 2 are the same, and therefore are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description.

  That is, the side flaps 4a and 4b that are pulled out from the magazine portion to the conveyance path and are continued on both sides of the bottom flap 3 are raised and formed into a U-shape. The side flap 4a is provided with an adhesive flap 5, and the side flap 4b is provided with a lid flap 6. In addition, end flaps 7 are connected to both ends of the bottom flap 3, end flaps 8 are connected to both ends of the side flap 4a, and end flaps 9 are connected to both ends of the side flap 4b. The end flaps 10 are connected to both ends of the lid flap 6 (FIGS. 13A and 13B).

  The cup-shaped product G (hereinafter simply referred to as “product G”) filled in the first cardboard sheet 1 and the second cardboard sheet 2 is previously stacked in two stages (12 × 2) by alternating inversion. Are supplied to the open ends of the first corrugated cardboard sheet 1 and the second corrugated cardboard sheet 2, respectively, and are simultaneously filled in the first corrugated cardboard sheet 1 and the second corrugated cardboard sheet 2, respectively (same as above). (B).

  Thereafter, the end flap 8 and the end flap 9 of the side flap 4a and the side flap 4b and the adhesive flap 5 are folded, and after the quick-drying adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the adhesive flap 5, The lid flap 6 is folded (FIGS. (C) and (d)).

  Furthermore, a quick-drying adhesive is applied to the outer side surfaces of the end flap 8 and the end flap 9 of the folded side flap 4a and the side flap 4b so that the end flap 7 of the bottom flap 3 The end flap 10 of the lid flap 6 is folded downward to complete the packaging (FIGS. (D) and (e)).

  Next, the apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention. First, according to the manufacturing site of the product G, for example, the product transport paths A and B of the product S are provided in parallel.

  When carrying out the present invention, the front end portion of the outer product conveyance path A is extended with an interval Y equal to or greater than the front end portion of the inner product conveyance path B, which is approximately equal to or more than the width W of the product S. The Note that the number (width) of the filling row in one embodiment of the drawings is four (width) of products for two cases of the packaging material P.

  Next, product accumulation transport paths C and D having a packed row number width W of products S constituting the present invention are provided at right angles to the insides of the front ends of the product transport paths A and B, respectively. In addition, on the opposite side of the front end of each of the product transport paths A and B from the product accumulation transport paths C and D, the product G having four filling rows supplied to the front ends of the product transport paths A and B is provided. Are supplied to the product stacking and conveying paths C and D.

  Further, slides that support the stacked and stacked products S and are alternately slid to the inner central positions of the product stacking and conveying paths C and D at the front ends of the product stacking and transporting paths C and D, respectively. Tables G and H are provided, a conveyance path J for the packaging material P is provided in front of the slide tables G and H, and the slide is provided behind the slide table G or H that is slid to the inner center position. A product filling device K for filling the product S supported by the table G or H into the packaging material P supplied to the transport path J of the packaging material P is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 1, and an alternate inversion device L for the product S is further shown in FIG. 2. One embodiment of the drawing is an example in which six products are stacked in two per case, and two cases are packaged at the same time, and the product stacking conveyance paths C and D are the number of filling rows (four). ) Each of which is configured.

  The product transport paths A and B are each provided with an appropriate device for separating the product S in the number of packed rows at the front end (4) from the product S that is continuously transported from the product S that is temporarily followed. It is done.

  For example, stopper members 11 and 12 are provided in the product conveyance paths A and B, respectively. Then, the stopper members 11 and 12 are controlled so that the product S in the number of filled rows is supplied to the leading ends of the product conveyance paths A and B without being interfered by the subsequent product G. However, in the control of the number of products S in the number of rows to be fed to the front ends of the product conveyance paths A and B, the product conveyance paths A and B are configured by a plurality of belt conveyors, and the speed of each belt conveyor is advanced first. It is also possible to separate them by speeding up in accordance with the above.

  Next, the diverting supply units E and F provided on the opposite sides of the product stacking conveyance paths C and D at the front ends of the product conveyance paths A and B will be described. In the following description, the configuration and operation of the direction change supply unit F are the same as those of the direction change supply unit E, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the deflection supply unit E is formed in advance at the upper end of the swing rod 14 whose lower end is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 13 so as to have a length corresponding to the number of filling rows of the product S. A transfer rod 15 is provided, one end of a reciprocating rod 16 is connected to a substantially intermediate portion of the swing rod 14 by a pin 17, and the other end of the reciprocating rod 16 is connected to a rotor 19 by a pin 18.

  In the above configuration, when the rotor 19 is driven, the transfer rod 15 is reciprocated via the reciprocating rod 16 and the swing rod 14, and the number of filling rows supplied to the tip of the product transfer path A (Four) products S are supplied to the product stacking conveyance path C.

  In one embodiment of the drawing, the product accumulation and conveyance paths C and D are configured such that the accumulation and conveyance path C1 (D1) is a belt conveyor, and C2 (D2) and C3 (D3) are roller conveyors. But the said accumulation conveyance paths C2 and C3 (D2 and D3) are good also as a belt conveyor. The said structure is for performing alternating inversion, accumulation | storage, and stacking | stacking of goods smoothly and reliably.

  In the following description, the configuration and operation of the product stacking transport path D (stacking transport paths D1, D2, and D3) are the same as those of the product stacking transport path C (stacking transport paths C1, C2, and C3). Description is omitted.

  2 is composed of a belt conveyor that is not slippery, and a conventional alternating product upside-down device L shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is provided above and below it so as to be movable up and down. . That is, when it is necessary to invert the product S transferred in the upright state, the alternating inversion device L for the product is lowered to a predetermined position, and the upper end in the transfer direction of the product S is the alternating inversion of the product. It is made to contact | abut to the rocking | swiveling member 20 which consists of rubber | gum etc. which comprise the apparatus L, and was suspended in parallel (FIG. 4).

  After that, when the transfer of the product S is continued, the surface of the accumulation transport path C1 (D1) of the product S is constituted by a belt conveyor that is difficult to slip, so that the product S is moved forward by the belt conveyor without being slipped. It is transferred to.

  Further, when the transfer of the product S is continued, the front end of the product S in the transfer direction is gradually lifted upward while the swinging member 20 is swung upward in the transfer direction of the product S (FIG. 5). ). At the same time, the rocking member 20 is raised by the air cylinder 21, and the commodity s is finally inverted and inverted (FIG. 6). In the figure, 22 is a weight. Normally, it is not necessary to invert and invert the product S that is sent next to the same place. Therefore, the accumulation conveyance path C1 is used by the cylinder 21 so that the swinging member 20 does not contact the subsequent product S. Is retreated above.

  The product S, which is alternately inverted as described above and accumulated in the accumulation conveyance path C2, is further released from the accumulation conveyance path C2 by the release of the stopper 23 provided at the tip of the accumulation conveyance path C2. To the stopper 24 provided at the tip of the stacking conveyance path C3.

  At the same time, a stopper 23 provided between the accumulation conveyance paths C2 and C3 protrudes between the accumulation conveyance paths C2 and C3 to prevent the subsequent commodity S from entering the accumulation conveyance path C3. The products S are stacked on the accumulation conveyance path C3.

  The stacking of the products S in an example of the drawing is performed by sucking and lifting the 12 products G on the stacking conveyance path C3 together with the suction cup 25 and then lifting and releasing the suction.

  That is, providing the suction cups 25 for each of the twelve products S requires preparation of many suction cups and intake pipes connected to the suction cups, which complicates the apparatus and is uneconomical. Further, in a general suction cup, there is a possibility that the thin plastic film that packages the product G is broken and further sucked. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the product S has an integrally formed structure for each row, and the intake holes 26 are formed into small holes and a plurality of holes.

  The suction cup 25 is lowered by an air cylinder 27 on the upper surface portion of the product S located on the accumulation conveyance path C3, and further, the product S is adsorbed by intake air and is raised to a predetermined position by the air cylinder 27. Be made.

  Next, the stopper 23 protruded between the accumulation conveyance path C2 and the accumulation conveyance path C3 is lowered and released, and the product S on the accumulation conveyance path C2 is supplied onto the accumulation conveyance path C3. Is done.

  And if supply of the goods S on the said accumulation conveyance path C3 is detected, the goods S attracted | sucked to the said suction cup 25 and this suction cup 25 will be lowered | hung by the said air cylinder 27, and the suction cup 25 of By releasing the intake air, the two-stage stacking of the products S adsorbed on the suction cup 25 is performed.

  As described above, the product S stacked in two stages is conveyed to the slide tables G and H by the pusher 29 that is lowered and slid forward by the air cylinder 28.

  The slide tables G and H are individually driven, and bosses 32 and 33 provided on the bottom surfaces of the slide tables G and H are fitted to guide rods 30 and 31 provided in parallel to the machine body side. Each of the stacked and stacked products S is supported and slidably supported, and can be alternately slid to the inner center position of the product stacking conveyance paths C and D, respectively.

  In the embodiment of the drawings, the slides of the slide tables G and H to the inner center of the product accumulation and conveyance paths C and D are placed on the bottom surfaces of the slide tables G and H on the screw rods 34 and 35 provided on the machine body side. The provided ball nuts 36 and 37 are screwed together. In the figure, 38 and 39 are drive motors for the screw rods 34 and 35.

  Further, centering cylinders 40 and 41 and the like are provided on the upper surfaces of the slide tables G and H, respectively, for keeping the product S supplied to the upper surfaces in the correct positions. In the drawing, 42 and 43 are stopper guides provided on the machine body side.

  Next, in front of the slide tables G and H, a conveyance path J for the packaging material P is provided, and the slide table G and the slide table G that are slid to the inner center position of the product accumulation conveyance paths C and D, Behind H, there is provided a product filling device K that fills the packaging material P supplied to the conveyance path J of the packaging material P with the product S supported on the slide tables G and H. As the product filling device K, a pusher that moves straight and returns is adopted.

  9, 10, 11, and 12, a first corrugated sheet 1 and a second corrugated sheet 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “corrugated cardboard sheet 1”) from the magazine portion M are transported in a packaging material transport path J. An apparatus for feeding and forming a U-shape is shown.

  The conveyance path J includes a parallel rail 44 provided in a width for supporting the corrugated cardboard sheet 1, an endless chain 45 disposed along the parallel rail 44 and intermittently driven, and a predetermined interval between the endless chain 45. And a transport body 47 having an attachment 46 provided with a gap. That is, the corrugated board sheet 1 is pressed on the parallel rail 44 by the attachment 46 of the transport body 47 and is intermittently transported by a predetermined distance.

  As a method for supplying the corrugated cardboard sheet 1 accommodated in the magazine part M onto the conveyance path J, a swinging rod 49 having a suction cup 48 is employed. That is, the suction cup 48 is attracted to the bottom flap 3 of the lowermost corrugated cardboard sheet 1 accommodated in the magazine portion M, and the tip end direction of the swinging rod 49 is swung downward to move the top of the transport path J. The bottom flap 3 is placed on the suction cup 48 and the suction of the suction cup 48 is released.

  As a result, one side flap 4a is erected by an arcuate guide plate 50 (see FIG. 12) provided in advance on the machine body side. The other side flap 4b is bent from the magazine portion M by an adjustment guide 51 (see FIG. 9) provided in the process of pulling out the cardboard sheets 1 and 2, and further, the bottom flap is placed on the transport body J. When 3 is placed, the upright state is maintained by the set guide 53 (see FIG. 12) advanced by the air cylinder 52 to the appropriate position of the conveyance J, and is formed into a U-shape.

  As described above, when it is detected that the corrugated cardboard sheet 1 is formed in a U shape, as shown in FIG. 9, the corrugated cardboard sheet 1 is pressed behind the corrugated cardboard sheet 1 by the extension of the air cylinder 54. The collar 55 is raised, and the set guide 53 is further retracted by the air cylinder 52. At the same time, the pressing collar 55 is swung forward by the contraction of the air cylinder 56.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressing rod 55 is swung forward, and the U-shaped corrugated cardboard sheet 1 is moved to the attachment 46 of the transport body J that is intermittently stopped forward. In this state, the U-shaped corrugated cardboard sheet 1 is held in a U-shape by the attachment 46 of the transport body J and the pressing rod 55.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the cardboard sheet 2 is supplied to the starting end portion of the conveyance path J behind the U-shaped cardboard sheet 1 in the same manner as the cardboard sheet 1 and is formed into a U-shape. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 11, the pressing rod 55 is lowered by contraction of the air cylinder 54, and is returned to the original position by extension of the air cylinder 56.

  As the pressing rod 55 descends, the transport body J is driven, and the attachment 56a at the rear position provided on the transport body J is raised at the start end of the transport body J in time, The corrugated cardboard sheets 1 and 2 are held between the attachments 56 and 56a provided at a predetermined interval on the transport body J.

  Further, by the intermittent driving of the transport path J, the product S is supplied to the front position of the filling position of the product S, that is, the slide table G or H slid to the inner center of the product stacking paths C and D. Then, the product G is filled into the corrugated cardboard sheet 1 formed in the U-shape by the product filling device K provided behind the slide table G or H.

  When the product S is filled into the U-shaped corrugated sheets 1 and 2, the corrugated sheets 1 and 2 are transported on the parallel rail 44 by the transport body J, as shown in FIG. Each flap is folded in the order shown, and the flaps are appropriately bonded to complete the packaging.

1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view taken along line XX in FIG. 1. It is a side view of the direction change supply part of goods. It is a perspective view of the alternating product inversion apparatus of goods. It is a side view of the alternating product inversion apparatus of goods. It is a side view of the alternating product inversion apparatus of goods. It is a top view of a suction cup part. It is a top view of a slide table part. It is a front view which shows the formation process of a corrugated cardboard sheet. It is a front view which shows the formation process of a corrugated cardboard sheet. It is a front view which shows the formation process of a corrugated cardboard sheet. It is a perspective view which shows the formation process of a corrugated cardboard sheet. It is a perspective view which shows the packaging process of stacked goods.

Explanation of symbols

C, D Product accumulation transport path H, I Slad table J Packaging material transport path P Packaging material S Product W Product filling row width Y Product filling row width

Claims (5)

A product stacking and conveying path having a width of the number of packed rows of products is provided in parallel with an interval equal to or larger than the width of the number of packed rows of products. Is provided with a slide table that supports the stacked products and is alternately slid to the inner central position of the product accumulation transport path, and a transport path for packaging material is provided in front of the slide table, A product filling device is provided behind the slide table that is slid to the inner central position of the stacking conveyance path to fill the packaging material supplied to the packaging material conveyance path with the product supported on the slide table. An automatic stacking device for products characterized by being made. The automatic stacking and packaging apparatus for products according to claim 1, wherein the number of packed rows of the products is equivalent to two cases of packaging materials. 3. The automatic product stacking apparatus for commodities according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an alternating product inversion device is provided in each of the product accumulation transport paths. 4. The automatic stacking packaging apparatus for products according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the packaging material is a corrugated cardboard sheet in the middle of molding. The automatic stacking and packaging apparatus for commodities according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the conveyance path of the packaging material is intermittently driven.

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