JP2012091854A - Tape applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape applicator capable of handling a larger number of types of containers than conventional devices.SOLUTION: An application arm 68 for applying an adhesive tape 16 on a container 10 positioned at a bridge portion between an introduction conveyor 12 and a transporting conveyor 14 is disposed on each of both right and left sides of the bridge portion. The introduction conveyor 12 is disposed so that a moving frame 22 including a terminal end moving pulley at the transportation terminal end can be horizontally moved in the transporting direction relative to a fixed frame 20. A space for securing the moving space of the application arms 68 on the container bottom surface side is defined between the transportation terminal end of the introduction conveyor 12 and the transportation start end of the transportation conveyor 14 by horizontally moving the moving frame 22 to the upstream side. Namely, the terminal end portion of the adhesive tape can be applied to the bottom surface of the container by moving the application arms 68 having applied with the start end part of the adhesive tape 16 on the upper surface of the container 10 positioned at the bridge portion through the moving space on the container bottom surface side after moving along the side surface of the container.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape sticking device for fastening a lid and a container body in a container with a lid with an adhesive tape.

  Convenience stores, supermarkets, and the like sell lunch boxes and prepared dishes as container-packed foods in which food is stored in a container body and the container body and lid are fastened with an adhesive tape. As a device capable of automating the manual operation by the worker so far, for example, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 has been proposed for the operation of pasting the adhesive tape of the container-packed product.

  The techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 both hold a container with a lid placed on a conveyor from above, move a pair of arms provided on the left and right of the conveyor to the upper position of the container, Stick the start end of the adsorbed adhesive tape on the upper surface of the left and right sides of the container, move the arm horizontally and downward along the side of the container, pull out the adhesive tape from the supply source by the required length and cut it, The cut end is pushed against the side or bottom of the container by an arm.

Japanese Patent No. 4063393 JP 2009-107690 A

In the case of a variety of containers in which the shape of the container is various and it is necessary to position the end portion of the adhesive tape on the bottom surface, the tape sticking device according to Patent Document 1 secures the adhesive tape covering the bottom surface of the container. Is not something you can do. Moreover, in the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on patent document 2, depending on the relationship between the bottom face width of the container placed on the belt belt in the conveyor and the lateral width of the conveyor, the space for pushing the terminal end of the adhesive tape to the bottom face of the container with an arm In such a variety of containers, it was still necessary to rely on manual work for tape application.
That is, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional tape applicator, and has been proposed to suitably solve this problem. The tape applicator can deal with more types of containers than conventional devices. An object is to provide an apparatus.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, a tape applicator according to the invention of claim 1 comprises:
An introduction conveyor in a conveyance path for placing and conveying containers with lids;
A transport conveyor connected to the downstream side of the introduction conveyor;
An adhesive arm is attached to the container located at the transfer section from the introduction conveyor to the conveyor to attach the lid and the container body by attaching the adhesive tape drawn from the tape roll so as to intersect the conveyance direction in the vertical direction. Tape application means,
Holding means for holding the containers placed on the conveyor at the crossing section;
When the terminal portion of the adhesive tape is attached to the bottom surface of the container held by the holding means by the application arm, the container bottom surface is supported by the conveyor at the connection portion so as to secure a moving space on the container bottom surface side of the application arm at the connection portion. And a support releasing mechanism for partially releasing the.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the support release mechanism is configured to define a gap between the conveyance end of the introduction conveyor and the conveyance start end of the conveyance conveyor to secure the moving space. .

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the support release mechanism is configured to horizontally move a conveyor end facing the crossing portion along a conveying direction to define the gap.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the holding means includes a pressing body that pushes the container from above onto the placement surface of the conveyor before releasing partial support of the container bottom surface by the conveyor.

  In the invention according to claim 5, the holding means can support the container bottom surface pressed by the pressing body in the gap formed in the crossing portion after releasing the partial support of the container bottom surface by the conveyor. It is a summary to provide.

  In the invention according to claim 6, when the container reaches a predetermined position in the crossing section, the travel of the introduction conveyor and the transfer conveyor is stopped, the support release mechanism is operated in a state where the container is stopped, and the sticking is performed. The gist is that the end of the adhesive tape is attached to the bottom of the container with an arm.

  The gist of the invention according to claim 7 is that the presence or absence of the operation of the support release mechanism can be switched according to the type of the container.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the end portion of the adhesive tape can be reliably affixed to the bottom surface of the container without depending on the width of the bottom surface of the container, which is required for various types of containers having different shapes and sizes. Various tape application modes can be handled. In particular, since the support of the container bottom surface by the conveyor is partially released to secure the space for moving the application arm, the tape can be applied well without disturbing the conveying posture of the container.
According to the second and third aspects of the invention, for example, the support surface of the container bottom surface is partially released by operating the placement surface at the conveyance end of the introduction conveyor or the conveyance start end of the conveyance conveyor to be separated from the container bottom surface. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to apply the tape in a state in which the sticking end of the adhesive tape reaches a predetermined position on the bottom surface of the container on the path on which the container is placed on the conveyor and conveyed downstream.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the tape application operation is performed in a state where the container is pressed against the placement surface of the conveyor by the pressing body before the support of the container bottom surface by the conveyor is partially released. Even with a simple container, it is possible to prevent the positional deviation of the container and to apply a stable tape.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the container top surface and the bottom surface can be sandwiched between the pressing body and the receiving tool at the gap portion in the transition portion between the conveyors, so that more stable tape application can be achieved.
According to the invention of claim 6, since the tape applying means can be installed at a fixed position in the transport path of the container, the structure can be simplified and the tape can be fixed by applying the tape while the container is stopped. Can be obtained.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, only about the kind which sticks an adhesive tape to the bottom face of a container, the processing operation cycle of the container which does not need to stick an adhesive tape to the container bottom face by switching so that a support release mechanism may be operated. Can be shortened to improve work efficiency.

It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on an Example from the upstream. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on an Example from the downstream. It is a schematic plan view which shows the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is a schematic side view which shows the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view which shows the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on an Example in the state which adjoined the edge part of an introduction conveyor and a conveyance conveyor. It is a schematic longitudinal side view which shows the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on an Example in the state which spaced apart the edge part of the introduction conveyor and the conveyance conveyor, and ensured the movement space. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the sticking arm which concerns on an Example, and a container, Comprising: (a) shows the state before sticking the start end part of an adhesive tape on a container upper surface, (b) shows the terminal part of an adhesive tape. The state of being attached to the bottom of the container is shown. It is a main control block diagram of the tape sticking apparatus which concerns on an Example.

  Next, the tape applicator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving a preferred embodiment.

  1 to 4 show a schematic configuration of a tape applicator according to an embodiment. The tape applicator has an introduction conveyor (conveyor) 12 for placing and transporting a container 10 with a lid, A transport conveyor (conveyor) 14 connected to the downstream side of the introduction conveyor 12 for placing and transporting the containers 10 delivered from the introduction conveyor 12 and a connecting portion between the conveyors 12 and 14 are arranged. The tape 10 is basically composed of a tape applying means 18 for attaching the adhesive tape 16 to the container 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the introduction conveyor 12 is fixed to a fixed frame 20 composed of a pair of side plates that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the left-right direction intersecting the conveying direction. A moving frame 22 that is formed in a U-shape that is open to the horizontal direction is disposed so as to be horizontally movable with respect to the fixed frame 20 along the conveying direction. A fixed pulley 24 composed of a plurality of driven pulleys 24a and drive pulleys 24b is rotatably supported on the fixed frame 20, and a plurality of movable pulleys 26a and 26b are rotatably supported on the moving frame 22, and these fixed pulleys are fixed. An endless belt 28 is wound around the pulley 24 and the moving pulleys 26a and 26b (see FIG. 5). A first driving motor 30 with a clutch brake disposed on the fixed frame 20 is connected to the driving pulley 24b, and the endless belt 28 travels by receiving the driving force of the driving pulley 24b rotated by the motor 30.

  The fixed frame 20 is provided with an operating mechanism 32 connected to the moving frame 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the operating mechanism 32 includes an operating shaft 34 rotatably disposed on the fixed frame 20, and a link that connects each shaft end of the operating shaft 34 and each side plate of the moving frame 22. An operating cylinder 38 is provided as an operating means for rotating the mechanisms 36 and 36 and the operating shaft 34 within a predetermined angle range, and the moving frame 22 is moved relative to the fixed frame 20 by urging the operating cylinder 38 in the forward and reverse directions. Is configured to reciprocate horizontally. In the embodiment, by urging the working cylinder 38 to one side, the terminal moving pulley 26a that is the transfer terminal of the introduction conveyor 12 disposed at the downstream end of the moving frame 22 approaches the transfer start end of the transfer conveyor 14 (see FIG. 5), by energizing the operating cylinder 38 to the other side, the moving frame 22 causes the end moving pulley 26a to move away from the transfer start end of the transfer conveyor 14 (see FIG. 6), and a sticking arm to be described later in the tape sticking means 18 A gap portion serving as a moving space S that allows movement of 68 to the container bottom side is defined in the crossing portion. In the embodiment, the moving frame 22 and the operation mechanism 32 constitute a support release mechanism.

  The introduction conveyor 12 is provided with a guide interval adjusting mechanism 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of guides 40a and 40a positioned on both the left and right sides of the endless belt 28 are moved by rotating the operation handles 40b and 40b. It is comprised so that the space | interval of both guides 40a and 40a can be changed. In this example, the container 10 that is placed on the endless belt 28 and transported is a lunch box made of a rectangular plastic molded product in a plan view in which a container body 10a containing various foods is covered with a lid 10b. The distance between the two guides 40a, 40a is adjusted according to the width of 10 (the width in the left-right direction).

  On the downstream side of the introduction conveyor 12, an article sensor 42 composed of a photoelectric sensor or the like capable of detecting the container 10 is disposed in both guides 40a and 40a as shown in FIG. The introduction conveyor 12 is provided with a detecting means 44 (see FIG. 7) comprising an encoder for detecting the travel amount of the endless belt 28, and the position where the container 10 is conveyed after being detected by the article sensor 42 is detected. This can be known from the number of pulses of the means 44.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of driven pulleys 48a and 48b and a driving pulley 48c are rotatably supported between a fixed frame 46 made up of a pair of side plates that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. An endless belt 50 is wound around the pulleys 48a and 48b and the driving pulley 48c so as to be able to travel. A second driving motor 52 with a clutch brake disposed on the fixed frame 46 is connected to the driving pulley 48c, and the endless belt 50 travels by receiving the driving force of the driving pulley 48c rotated by the motor 52. The endless belt 50 is wound around the start end driven pulley 48a supported by the fixed frame 46 at the transport start end of the transport conveyor 14, and the endless belt 28 supported at the transport end of the introduction conveyor 12 is wound around the endless belt 50. The container 10 is transferred between the turning portions of the endless belts 28 and 50 wound around the pulleys 26a and 48a so as to face the terminal moving pulley 26a.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a holding means 58 including a pressing body 54 and a receiving tool 56 that hold the container 10 located at the transfer portion corresponding to the transfer portion from the introduction conveyor 12 to the transfer conveyor 14. Arranged. The pressing body 54 is disposed so as to be movable up and down on a support member 60 disposed above the crossing portion. The pressing body 54 is supported on both conveyors by a first holding cylinder 62 serving as an operating means disposed on the support member 60. 12 and 14 is configured to be held at an upper retreat position that does not interfere with the container 10 conveyed. When the piston rod of the first holding cylinder 62 is lowered to release the holding, the upper surface of the container 10 positioned at the transition portion is pressed by the weight of the pressing body 54. Further, the receiver 56 is configured to move up and down by the operation of the second holding cylinder 64 as an operating means disposed below the crossover portion. As shown in FIGS. 12 and the transfer position between the retreat position spaced below the article placement surface of the conveyor 14 and the support position for supporting the bottom surface of the container 10 placed between the conveyors 12 and 14 at the crossover. It is configured (see FIG. 6). The pressing body 54 and the receiver 56 are formed in a shape that does not interfere with the application arm 68 when the application arm 68 of the tape application means 18 operates to apply the adhesive tape 16 to the container 10. That is, the pressing body 54 is formed in an H shape in which two square members positioned in the front and rear of the conveying direction sandwiching the sticking arm 68 are connected in the middle. It is formed in a flat plate shape that can be partially supported.

  The tape affixing means 18 includes affixing mechanisms 66a and 66b on both the left and right sides of the conveyance path corresponding to the crossing portion. Since the configurations of both the pasting mechanisms 66a and 66b are symmetrical, the configuration of the right right pasting mechanism 66a in FIG. 1 will be described, and the left left pasting mechanism 66b will be described in detail by assigning the same reference numerals to the same members. Is omitted.

  The right sticking mechanism 66a includes a traverse mechanism 70 that reciprocates in the left-right direction and a lift mechanism 72 that moves up and down the sticking arm 68 that sticks the adhesive tape 16 to the container 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the traversing mechanism 70 is configured such that a traversing frame 76 disposed on the right side of the transport path with respect to a fixed base 74 laid horizontally below the transport conveyor 14 can be moved horizontally by a first ball screw 78. The first ball screw 78 is rotated by a transverse drive motor 80 made of a servo motor, and the transverse frame 76 is moved horizontally in the left-right direction to approach or separate from the conveyance path in the conveyance conveyor 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the elevating mechanism 72 has an attachment member 82 disposed on a transverse frame 76 so as to be movable up and down by a second ball screw 84, and the second ball screw 84 is moved up and down by a servo motor. To rotate the attachment member 82 up and down.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a tape roll 88 around which the adhesive tape 16 is wound is supported by the attachment member 82, and an adhering arm 68 is adjacent to the tape roll 88 and is directed upward of the transition portion. It is attached to protrude horizontally. A first suction portion 91 and a second suction portion 92 each including a suction hole connected to the negative pressure generating means 90 are formed on the lower surface and the vertical surface of the distal end portion of the sticking arm 68 (FIG. 7). reference). The adhesive tape 16 drawn out from the tape roll 88 is guided to the lower surface of the sticking arm 68 via a plurality of rollers 93a and tension rollers 93b, and the start end portion 16a of the adhesive tape 16 is formed as shown in FIG. It is adsorbed and held by the first adsorbing portion 91 from the side opposite to the adhesive surface.

  The cutting device 94 disposed on the attachment member 82 has a cutter 95 in which a blade portion is disposed so as to intersect the drawing direction of the adhesive tape 16 at a position close to the outside of the first suction portion 91 of the sticking arm 68. Is supported by the lower surface of the sticking arm 68 so as to be able to move in and out, and is actuated by a cutting drive means comprising an air cylinder 96 disposed on the attachment member 82, thereby being sucked by the first suction portion 91 on the lower face of the sticking arm 68. The adhesive tape 16 is cut with a cutter 95 (see FIG. 7B). Further, the second suction part 92 sucks and holds the terminal part 16b located outside the front end vertical surface of the sticking arm 68 in the tape piece (the adhesive tape 16 cut at a predetermined length) after being cut by the cutter 95. It is configured as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first drive motor 30, the article sensor 42 and the detection means 44 of the introduction conveyor 12, the second drive motor 52 of the transport conveyor 14, the operation cylinder 38 of the operation mechanism 32, The first holding cylinder 62 and the second holding cylinder 64 of the holding means 58, the transverse drive motors 80 and 80 and the lift drive motors 86 and 86 of the both pasting mechanisms 66a and 66b, and the cutter drive of the cutting device 94 An air cylinder 96 and the negative pressure generating means 90 are connected to the controller 97, respectively.

  With the touch panel 98 as display / input means connected to the controller 97, the operation setting values and the like of each operation mechanism are set in advance corresponding to each product type such as product type or product number. When these types are specified, the controller 97 specifies the left and right traverse drive motors 80, 80 of the traversing mechanisms 70, 70 in both the pasting mechanisms 66a, 66b that specify the movement trajectory of the pasting arm 68 stored for each type. The left and right elevating drive motors 86, 86 of the elevating mechanisms 72, 72 are driven and controlled with a rotation amount and a rotation speed corresponding to the cross-sectional shape and size of the container 10 corresponding to the product type. The movement trajectory of the sticking arm 68 causes the sticking arm 68 to move along the outer shape of the container 10 as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-107690, according to the cross-sectional shape and size of the container 10. By performing teaching, settings are registered in the controller 97 for each product type. In addition, the manner in which the adhesive tape 16 is applied to the container 10, for example, the number and position of the adhesive tape 16 to be applied for each of the left and right side surfaces of the container 10, The size is determined by the conditions such as the properties of the contents, the contents of the food in the container, the storage state of the food in the container, the storage amount, etc. The number of times, the operation of the left and right sticking arms 68 and the necessity of the operation are also set and registered in the controller 97 for each type.

  Next, the operation of the tape applicator configured as described above will be described in the case of an aspect in which the terminal portions 16b of the adhesive tape 16 are applied to the bottom surface of the container 10 on both the left and right sides of the container 10.

  When the container 10 placed and conveyed by the endless belt 28 of the introduction conveyor 12 is detected by the article sensor 42, the controller 97 generates a detection signal from the article sensor 42 and the number of pulses of the detection means 44 of the introduction conveyor 12. On the basis of the first and second of the conveyors 12 and 14 at the timing when the container 10 arrives at the crossing part of the belt 28 and 50 at the transfer end of the introduction conveyor 12 and the transfer start end of the transfer conveyor 14 at the crossover part. The clutch brakes attached to the two drive motors 30 and 35 operate to stop the travel of the endless belts 28 and 50 of the conveyors 12 and 14, respectively. Further, when the conveyors 12 and 14 are stopped, the first holding cylinder 62 is operated to release the holding of the pressing body 54 at the retracted position, so that the pressing body 54 descends and is located at the transition portion. 10 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the conveyor 10 by its own weight and pressed against the placement surface of the conveyors 12 and 14 (see FIG. 5). Further, the operation cylinder 38 of the operation mechanism 32 is operated to horizontally move the moving frame 22 of the introduction conveyor 12 to the upstream side, and as shown in FIG. 6, the conveyance end of the introduction conveyor 12 and the conveyance start end of the conveyance conveyor 14 are moved. A gap is defined between them, and the support by the conveyors 12 and 14 on the bottom surface of the container is partially released, and the movement space S on the bottom surface side of the container in the sticking arm 68 is secured. Further, depending on conditions such as the shape of the container 10, the second holding cylinder 64 is operated to raise the receiving device 56 in the retracted position to the support position, so that it faces the gap and spans between the conveyors 12 and 14. The bottom surface of the placed container 10 is supported by the support 56 from below, and the container 10 is sandwiched from above and below by the pressing body 54. When the moving frame 22 moves horizontally, the moving pulley 26b including the terminal moving pulley 26a disposed at the downstream end of the introducing conveyor 12 moves upstream, and the container 10 in the introducing conveyor 12 does not loosen the endless belt 28. The endless belt 28 does not slide with respect to the bottom surface of the container, and the container 10 is not pulled upstream or downstream by the movement of the moving frame 22.

  In the left and right sticking mechanisms 66a and 66b, the sticking arm 68 of each attachment member 82 operates based on a predetermined operation pattern set in accordance with the cross-sectional shape and size of the container 10 for a preset product type. Be controlled. That is, the left and right sticking arms 68, 68 are lowered and pressed against the left and right sides of the upper surface of the lid 10b of the container 10, and the start end portion 16a of the adhesive tape 16 that is sucked and held by the first suction portion 91 is the upper surface of the lid 10b. It is squeezed on both sides and fixed. Next, each sticking arm 68 traverses outward by the traversing mechanism 70 and the lifting mechanism 72 and then descends while approaching along the side surface of the container 10. In addition, since the adhesive force of the adhesive tape 16 affixed with respect to the lid | cover 10b is superior to the adsorption | suction force by the said 1st adsorption | suction part 91 as for the start end part 16a of the adhesive tape 16 adsorbed-held by the 1st adsorption | suction part 91. The adhesive tape 16 is removed from the tape roll 88 in response to the tensile force associated with the movement of the adhesive arm 68 when the adhesive arm 68 is traversed and lowered while the start end 16a of the adhesive tape 16 pressed by the adhesive arm 68 is adhered to the lid 10b. Pulled out. When the affixing arm 68 moves along the bottom surface from the side surface of the container body 10a and the adhesive tape 16 is pulled out by a length that reaches the bottom surface position of the container 10, the cutter driving air cylinder 96 is activated and the adhesive tape 16 is moved. The adhesive tape 16 that is cut by the cutter 95 of the cutting device 94 in a state of being stretched by the tension force of the sticking arm 68 and stuck to the container 10 is separated as a tape piece. In addition, when the sticking arm 68 moves from the side surface of the container main body 10a toward the bottom face, the movement space S on the container bottom face side of the sticking arm 68 is secured by defining the gap portion. Further, the terminal portion 16b of the separated tape piece is held without being slackened by the suction force of the second suction portion 92. The start end portion 16a of the adhesive tape 16 separated from the tape piece and supported by the sticking arm 68 is held by the first suction portion 91, and the start end portion 16a becomes the start end portion 16a of the tape piece in the next process. Thereafter, each pasting arm 68 slightly traverses along the bottom surface of the container 10 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 7B), so that the terminal portion 16b of the tape piece has a holding force by the second suction portion 92. Since it is released from the tip of the arm while receiving, the terminal end 16b of the tape piece is well pushed and fastened without bumping to the bottom surface of the container body 10a.

  Next, the sticking arm 68 traverses away from the container 10 and rises to return to the sticking start position. Further, the first and second holding cylinders 62 and 64 of the holding means 58 are operated, and the pressing body 54 and the receiving tool 56 are moved to the retracted position. Further, the operating cylinder 38 of the operating mechanism 32 is operated to move the moving frame 22 of the introducing conveyor 12 forward in the conveying direction to close the gap (moving space S), and the introducing conveyor 12 and the conveying conveyor 14. The clutch brakes of the first and second drive motors 30 and 52 are controlled and the endless belts 28 and 50 are restarted, and the adhesive tape 16 is applied to seal the container body 10a and the lid 10b. The container 10 is transported toward the carry-out side by the transport conveyor 14.

  When a different packaging type is selected and set by the touch panel 98, the stop timing of the conveyors 12 and 14 and the post-conveyor stoppage are set based on the setting values relating to the pasting operation set in relation to the newly specified product type container 10. The timing related to the pasting operation, the necessity of operating the support release mechanism, the necessity of operation of the support 56 of the holding means 58, and the like are changed. For example, in the product type in which the container main body 10a and the lid 10b are connected on one side, only one of the left and right sticking arms 68 is set to operate. In addition, in the types in which the number of sticking tapes 16 and the sticking positions on the left and right sides of the container 10 are different, the detection signal from the article sensor 42 and the number of pulses of the detecting means 44 according to the sticking position and the number of sticking different on the left and right. On the basis of the above, the travel stop and restart of the conveyors 12 and 14 are switched, and the traversing mechanism 70 and the ascending / descending operation are performed so that either the left or right sticking arm 68 is selectively operated according to the left and right sticking positions of the container 10. The mechanism 72 is set to be controlled individually. For example, two adhesive tapes 16 are affixed to the right side of the container 10 with the center in the front-rear direction being spaced apart, whereas one adhesive tape 16 is affixed to the left side in the center in the front-rear direction. In the type of embodiment, the respective pasting positions of the adhesive tape 16 on the containers 10 conveyed by the conveyors 12 and 14 arrive at the predetermined positions of the crossover portion based on the detection signal from the article sensor 42 and the number of pulses of the detection means 44. Each time the conveyors 12 and 14 are stopped, the adhesive tape 16 can be applied to the respective application scheduled positions by operating the application arms 68 on the corresponding side.

  Furthermore, in the product type in which the terminal portion 16b of the adhesive tape 16 is stuck to the side surface of the container, the lifting / lowering operation of the support 56 in the support release mechanism and holding means 58 is set to be inoperative. That is, the support 56 of the support release mechanism and the holding means 58 is switched and set so as to operate only for the product type in which the terminal portion 16b of the adhesive tape 16 is stuck to the bottom surface of the container 10.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a gap is defined between the introduction conveyor 12 and the transfer conveyor 14 so as to secure a movement space S that allows the sticking arm 68 to move toward the bottom surface of the container 10. It is possible to correspond to the container 10 in an aspect in which the adhesive tape 16 is applied to the bottom surface of the container 10 without depending on the width of the container bottom surface with respect to the position. Various tape application modes required for the container 10 can be handled. Further, the gap for securing the movement space S of the sticking arm 68 is defined by horizontally moving the conveyance end of the introduction conveyor 12 upstream, so that the containers 10 are placed on the conveyors 12 and 14 and conveyed downstream. The adhesive tape 16 can be attached in a state where the terminal portion 16b of the adhesive tape 16 reaches a predetermined position on the bottom surface of the container. Moreover, the terminal portion of the adhesive tape 16 is formed on the bottom surface of the container without causing a factor that disturbs the posture of the container 10 due to a change in the support height of the container 10 placed on the transport path of the conveyors 12, 14. 16b can be satisfactorily affixed, and there is no need to change the height of the affixing arm 68 moving to the container bottom side for each product type. Further, the front and rear of the bottom surface of the container 10 located at the crossing portion are supported by the introduction conveyor 12 and the transport conveyor 14 and also supported by the pressing body 54 and the receiving device 56 from above and below. However, the positional deviation can be prevented and stable tape application can be achieved. In addition, since the pressing body 54 is pressed from above the container 10 before moving the conveyance end of the introduction conveyor 12 so as to secure the movement space S, the container 10 is reliably prevented from being displaced during the movement of the conveyance end. be able to.

  Further, as in the embodiment, the adhesive tape 16 is applied to the connecting portion between the introduction conveyor 12 and the transfer conveyor 14 while the container 10 is stopped, so that the tape applying means 18 is brought into a fixed position in the transfer path. It is possible to cope with the installation, and a fixed application state can be obtained with a simplified structure, such as omitting a mechanism for reciprocating the tape application means 18 in the conveying direction of the conveyors 12 and 14. . Furthermore, since the support release mechanism is operated only for the product that attaches the adhesive tape 16 to the bottom surface of the container 10, an operation cycle is performed when processing the container 10 that does not need to apply the adhesive tape 16 to the bottom surface of the container 10. It can be shortened and work efficiency can be improved.

  The tape sticking means 18 of the embodiment can independently control the lateral action, the raising and lowering movements of the left and right sticking arms 68, 68, and the non-operation and the activation of these actions. It is possible to cope with an aspect in which the adhesive tape 16 is attached only to the side, and an aspect in which the number of adhesive tapes 16 and the attachment positions on the left and right sides are different, and can correspond to various types of containers 10. That is, it is possible to automate the tape affixing operation even for the types of containers 10 that could conventionally only be done manually. Moreover, in the aspect which sticks the adhesive tape 16 only to the right and left one side of the container 10, the unnecessary operation | movement of the tape sticking means 18 is suppressed by making operation | movement of the sticking arm 68 of an other side non-operational. can do. Furthermore, since the left and right sticking arms 68 and 68 can be independently operated with different movements depending on the type of the container 10, the tape sticking can be satisfactorily applied to the containers 10 having different shapes on the left and right. Can be done.

(Example of change)
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment, and can be modified as follows, for example, within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.
(1) In the embodiment, the container 10 is temporarily stopped at the transition portion from the introduction conveyor 12 to the transport conveyor 14, and the movement toward the downstream side of the container 10 is paused at the stop position, and the container body is used by the tape applying means 18. 10a and lid 10b are fixed to each other with adhesive tape 16, but instead of the intermittent operation method according to this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which a sticking operation is performed while moving the container toward the downstream side. You may make it do.
That is, according to the timing when the container 10 reaches the predetermined position of the transfer part from the introduction conveyor 12 to the transfer conveyor 14, the gap is defined in the transfer part as described above, and the container 10 has both conveyors 12 of the transfer part. , 14 is stopped and the travel of the endless belts 28, 50 is stopped, and the pulleys 26a, 48a facing the connection ends of the conveyors 12, 14 are moved downstream in the conveying direction. By comprising in this way, the movement to the downstream of the container 10 mounted ranging over both the conveyors 12 and 14 of a transfer part is continued. Further, as the position of the crossover portion moves downstream, the sticking arm 68 moves up and down with lateral movement while moving at the same speed to the downstream side corresponding to the position of the gap of the crossover portion, thereby In this way, the adhesive tape 16 is applied. Then, the endless belts 28 and 50 are started to run in accordance with the end timing of the sticking operation by the sticking arm 68, and the pulleys 26a and 48a facing the connecting ends of the conveyors 12 and 14 are set to the upstream initial positions. The distance between the pulleys 26a and 48a may be reduced so that the gap between the crossing portions is closed and the clearance between the pulleys 26a and 48a is closed.
(2) In the embodiment, the conveyance end of the introduction conveyor 12 is configured to be expanded and contracted, and the gap is defined by shortening the conveyance end, but the conveyance start end of the conveyance conveyor 14 is expanded or contracted. A configuration in which the ends of the conveyors 12 and 14 are mutually expanded and contracted, a configuration in which one or both pulleys 26a and 48a serving as connection end portions of the conveyors 12 and 14 in the crossing portion are rotated downward, Various other configurations such as a configuration in which the transport conveyor 14 is configured by a short conveyor positioned on the crossing portion side and a conveyor connected downstream or upstream thereof and the short conveyor itself is moved up and down can be employed.
(3) In the embodiment, the left and right sticking arms 68 are individually moved and moved up and down individually. However, as in the embodiment described in Patent Document 1 or 2, the left and right sticking arms 68, The left and right movements and the up and down movements of 68 may be integrally performed by a motor with a pair of left and right sticking arms.
(4) In the embodiment, the operation mechanism 32 of the support release mechanism is constituted by the link mechanism 36 and the operation cylinder 38. However, various mechanisms that can move the moving frame 22 forward and backward, such as a ball screw mechanism, can be adopted. .
(5) Although the endless belts 28 and 50 are individually wound around the introduction conveyor 12 and the transport conveyor 14 in the embodiment, a configuration in which one endless belt is wound around both the conveyors 12 and 14 can be adopted. For example, when the gap between the pulleys facing each other at the crossing portions of the conveyors 12 and 14 is defined, the endless belt is wound so that the endless belt between the pulleys is concave and the moving space S can be secured. Should be adopted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container with lid, 10a Container main body, 10b Cover, 12 Introduction conveyor 14 Conveyor, 16 Adhesive tape, 16b Terminal part, 18 Tape sticking means 22 Moving frame (support release mechanism), 32 Actuation mechanism (support release mechanism), 54 Pressing body 56 Receiving tool, 58 Holding means, 68 Adhering arm, 88 Tape roll, S Moving space

Claims (7)

An introduction conveyor (12) in a conveyance path for placing and conveying containers (10) with a lid;
A transport conveyor (14) connected downstream of the introduction conveyor (12);
Adhesive tape (16) pulled out from the tape roll (88) so as to intersect the transport direction is stuck in the vertical direction on the container (10) located at the transition part from the introduction conveyor (12) to the transport conveyor (14). A tape applying means (18) provided with an application arm (68) for fastening the lid (10b) and the container body (10a);
Holding means (58) for holding the containers (10) placed on the conveyors (12, 14) in the crossing section;
When affixing the terminal portion (16b) of the adhesive tape (16) with the affixing arm (68) to the bottom surface of the container (10) held by the holding means (58), the container of the affixing arm (68) at the transition portion A tape having a support release mechanism (22, 32) for partially releasing support by the conveyor (12, 14) on the bottom surface of the container in the transition part so as to secure a moving space (S) on the bottom side Pasting device.   The support release mechanism (22, 32) is configured to define a gap between a transfer end of the introduction conveyor (12) and a transfer start end of the transfer conveyor (14) to secure the moving space (S). The tape applicator according to claim 1.   The tape sticking device according to claim 2, wherein the support release mechanism (22, 32) is configured to horizontally move a conveyor end facing the crossing portion along a transport direction to define the gap.   The holding means (58) is a pressing body that pushes the container (10) from above onto the placing surface of the conveyor (12, 14) before releasing partial support of the container bottom by the conveyor (12, 14). 54) The tape sticking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:   The holding means (58) can support the bottom surface of the container pressed by the pressing body (54) in the gap formed in the crossing portion after releasing the partial support of the bottom surface of the container by the conveyor (12, 14). The tape applicator according to claim 4, further comprising a flexible receptacle (56).   When the container (10) reaches a predetermined position in the transition section, the travel of the introduction conveyor (12) and the transfer conveyor (14) is stopped, and the support release mechanism (22 , 32) is actuated, and the end portion (16a) of the adhesive tape (16) is affixed to the bottom of the container by the affixing arm (68). .   The tape applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support release mechanism (22, 32) can be configured to switch whether or not the support release mechanism (22, 32) operates according to the type of the container (10).

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