JP2015000756A - Box packing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a box packing device that does not stop the operation of the whole system even when a device in the downstream side suspends the operation periodically at a prescribed time.SOLUTION: A box packing device includes: an empty box conveyance supply device 11 for sequentially conveying an integrated body 45 composed of piled empty boxes 12, in which each body box 15 is covered with a lid box 16 and supplying boxes one by one; a body-lid separation device 13 for receiving the supplied boxes and separating the body box and the lid box; a body-box pool conveyor 18 for transporting the separated body boxes; a lid-box pool conveyor 19 for transporting the separated lid-boxes; a product transfer device 20 for supplying a product 28 into the body box transported by the body-box pool conveyor; a lid covering device 33 for forming a stuffed box 35 by covering the body box supplied with the product with the lid box; and a stacking buffer device 36 for temporarily accumulating the stuffed boxes according to a situation of devices in the downstream side of the box packing device and for carrying out the stuffed boxes being accumulated to the devices in the downstream side in a suppliable manner.

Description

  The present invention relates to a boxing device that can pack a product in an empty box and automatically cover the lid.

  As a boxing device for supplying a predetermined number of products to a container (body box) having an open top, covering the body box with a lid box, and carrying it out to the next process, for example, an automatic collection box disclosed in Patent Document 1 There is a stuffing device. In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a magazine storing a plurality of stacked boxes with a cover box on an empty body box is set on the upstream side of the conveyor, and the lowest layer stored in the magazine One box is pushed out by a pusher one by one and sent out to a conveyor. The boxes transferred onto the conveyor are transported side by side, one by one, and the lid box is removed in the middle, and only the body box is transported on the conveyor.

  On the other hand, a product conveyance path for conveying products in a plurality of rows is arranged in parallel with the conveyor. A product transfer device is arranged on the exit side of the product conveyance path. This product transfer device includes a plurality of suction suspension means that move along a predetermined route, and each suction suspension means holds the product on the product conveyance path and supplies it to the body box. Further, the lid box removed on the conveyor moves along another transport path, covers the body box to which a predetermined number of products are supplied, completes the boxing of the products, and then is carried out.

JP 58-41016 A

  The product is a package manufactured by surrounding food such as confectionery with a packaging film. For this reason, for example, a packaging machine for manufacturing the product is arranged upstream of the boxing device (product conveyance path), and products continuously carried out from the packaging machine are sequentially supplied to the product conveyance path. It is possible to configure a system that continuously performs a series of processes from product manufacture to boxing. Further, a box packed with a lid box on a body box containing the product is wrapped in a predetermined wrapping paper or film to become a final product. Therefore, for example, by arranging an apparatus (for example, an overwrapping machine) for packaging the box with wrapping paper or film on the downstream side of the boxing apparatus as described above, a series of processes from the boxing process to the production of the final product are further performed. A system that performs processing continuously can be configured. Moreover, the apparatus arrange | positioned in the downstream of a boxing apparatus is not restricted to what is wrapped with the wrapping paper etc. mentioned above, It becomes possible to use various apparatuses.

  As described above, when the system is increased in size by combining a plurality of devices, it is necessary to match the processing capability of each device. In addition, for example, when a certain device among a plurality of devices temporarily suspends its operation at regular intervals, each device located on the upstream side of the temporary suspension also temporarily performs processing in accordance with the suspension. If it must be stopped, the control becomes complicated.

  Furthermore, the production / processing capacity per unit time in a system configured by combining a plurality of apparatuses is defined by the apparatus having the lowest production capacity among the plurality of apparatuses. Therefore, there is a problem that an apparatus having a high processing capability cannot make full use of its performance.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides (1) a boxing device that packs a product in a box configured by covering a body box opened upward with the lid box, and the lid box is placed on the body box. Empty box transport means for sequentially transporting the empty boxes covered with the cover, body lid separating means arranged on the downstream side of the empty box transport means for separating the body box and the lid box, and the lid separation A body box transporting means for transporting the separated body box disposed downstream of the means; a lid box transporting means for transporting the separated lid box disposed downstream of the body lid separating means; The product transfer means for supplying the product into the body box transported by the body box transport means, and the lid disposed on the downstream side of the product transfer means, to which the product is supplied, the lid Covering means for covering the lid box transported by the box transporting means to form an entrance box; and Arranged on the downstream side of the covering means, temporarily stores the treasure box in accordance with the status of the downstream device of the boxing device, and supplies the stored treasure box toward the downstream device And buffer means for carrying out as possible. The body box conveying means corresponds to the body box pool conveyor 18 in the embodiment. Moreover, a cover box conveyance means respond | corresponds to the cover box pool conveyor 19 in embodiment.

  In the present invention, the box can be temporarily stored in the boxing device according to the situation of the downstream device. Therefore, for example, when there is a situation where the downstream apparatus cannot accept the entry box, the entry box is temporarily stored by the buffer means and the entry box is prevented from being carried out from the boxing apparatus. Can do. Further, since the buffer means is arranged on the downstream side in the boxing device, each means on the upstream side can operate continuously as it is. Therefore, for example, when products to be boxed are sequentially supplied from the upstream side to the boxing device of the present invention, the supply of such products can be accepted as they are without stopping.

  In addition, for example, when a system in which predetermined devices are arranged on the upstream side or downstream side of the boxing device of the present invention is constructed, and even when the production / processing capacity per unit time of each device varies, Depending on the degree of variation, for example, the variation of each device can be absorbed by the buffer means, and each device can perform an appropriate operation.

  (2) It is preferable that the downstream apparatus is in a state in which it is not possible to accept the entry box on a regular basis. For example, the operation of the boxing device can be continued by the buffer means even in the case where the downstream device stops operating at regular time intervals and a state in which the box cannot be accepted occurs. Then, it is preferable to disclose acceptance in the downstream apparatus, for example, since the stored storage box can be carried out at an appropriate timing, and the storage box does not overflow, and this is preferable.

  (3) The buffer means transports the entrance box as it is and transports it downstream, and a second branch for branching from the first transport path and temporarily storing the entrance box. It is good to have a means which guides the carrying box carried out from the lid covering means to either the 1st conveyance path or the 2nd conveyance path according to the situation of the conveyance path and the apparatus of the downstream side. The first transport path corresponds to the transport conveyor 85 in the embodiment. The second transport path corresponds to the buffer conveyor 94 or the like in the embodiment. In the embodiment, the guiding means corresponds to, for example, the stopper piece 86, the push-up plate 88, the movable piece 90, the pusher plate 92, means for driving them, and the like.

  (4) It is good to have a means which goes to the 2nd conveyance course according to the situation of the downstream apparatus, and returns the storage box temporarily stored to the 1st conveyance path. In the embodiment, the returning means corresponds to the receipt box stocker device 100 or the like. The temporarily stored storage box is returned to the first transport path, so that the output of the buffer means is unified. Therefore, the supply path to subsequent devices may be simplified. Further, by returning the stored storage box to the first transport path while observing the transport state of the first transport path, the storage box can be carried out from the buffer means at a predetermined timing.

  (5) The number of bins that are carried out via the first transport path per unit time may be smaller than the number of bins processed per unit time in the downstream apparatus. . This is preferable because the stored box can be carried out as appropriate, and the buffer box can be prevented from being excessively accumulated in the buffer means.

  (6) The buffer means may be stored in a state where a plurality of the boxes are stacked. This is preferable because a large number of boxes can be temporarily stored while shortening the transport path length in the buffer means.

  (7) The empty box transfer means may transfer the plurality of boxes stacked side by side in a stacked state, and carry out the box located at the lowermost end of the top stack. For example, a plurality of empty boxes may be stocked in a stacked state. In such a case, by setting the stacked bodies as they are, the boxes can be transported and supplied, so that workability is improved.

  According to the present invention, a box can be temporarily stored in a boxing device according to the situation of the downstream device. Therefore, for example, the operation of the boxing device can be continued even in a state where the downstream box stops and cannot accept the input box. For example, when there is a system in which there is also an apparatus on the upstream side of the boxing device, the influence of the stop of the downstream apparatus can be suppressed as much as possible by continuously operating the upstream apparatus.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the system premise including the boxing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a front view which shows the empty box conveyance supply apparatus of this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the empty box conveyance supply apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the empty box conveyance supply apparatus of this embodiment. It is a front view which shows the stocker apparatus 50 and the lid separation apparatus 13 of this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the stocker apparatus 50 and the body lid separation apparatus 13 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the body lid separation apparatus 13 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the body lid separation apparatus 13 of this embodiment. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the principal part structure part of the product transfer apparatus 20 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the boxing robot 73 of this embodiment. (A) is a front view which shows the lid covering apparatus 33 of this embodiment, (b) is the side view. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the lid covering apparatus 33 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the lid covering apparatus 33 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the lid covering apparatus 33 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the lid covering apparatus 33 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the lid covering apparatus 33 of this embodiment. (A) is a front view which shows the stacking buffer apparatus 36 of this embodiment, (b) is the side view. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the stacking buffer apparatus 36 of this embodiment. (A) is a side view which shows the packing box stocker apparatus 100 in the stacking buffer apparatus 36 of this embodiment, (b) is the front view. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the receipt box stocker apparatus 100 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the receipt box stocker apparatus 100 of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the receipt box stocker apparatus 100 of this embodiment.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a preferred embodiment of a system in which a boxing device 10 according to the present invention is incorporated. As shown in FIG. 1, the boxing device 10 sequentially transports empty boxes 12 in the stacked state to the upstream side thereof, and supplies the stacked boxes 12 one by one to the next-stage lid separating device 13. A box conveyance supply device 11 is provided. A box 12 to be transported in the empty box transport and supply apparatus 11 includes a body box 15 that is open at the top formed by appropriately folding cardboard, cardboard, and the like, and a lid box 16 that covers the body box 15. . The body box 15 is provided with a partition portion 15a, and the partition portion 15a forms two product storage portions on the left and right. In addition, the specific structure of this empty box conveyance supply apparatus 11 is mentioned later.

  In the body lid separating device 13, the individual boxes 12 are separated into the body box 15 and the lid box 16 one by one and transferred to the body box pool conveyor 18 and the lid box pool conveyor 19, respectively. The body box pool conveyor 18 has a basic configuration of a linear belt conveyor device. In FIG. 1, a specific illustration is omitted, and only an endless belt is drawn. However, on the upper surface side of the endless belt, the lateral movement is restricted by contacting the left and right sides of the body box 15 in the traveling direction. A guide plate is disposed, and a stopper member is disposed at the downstream end of the endless belt. By opening and closing the stopper member, the lid box 16 on the endless belt is unloaded and supplied one by one onto the transport device 21 of the next product transfer device 20, or temporarily stopped on the endless belt. Or The specific configuration of the product transfer device 20 will be described later.

  The lid box pool conveyor 19 is close to the first transport device 22 disposed in the upper space of the body box pool conveyor 18 and the unloading end of the first transport device 22, and the transport direction is the first transport device 22. And a second transport device 23 disposed so as to be orthogonal to the transport direction. The first transport device 22 has a belt conveyor device as a basic configuration, and in FIG. 1, a specific illustration is omitted, and only an endless belt is drawn, but on the upper surface side of the endless belt, a lid box 16 is provided. A guide plate that restricts lateral movement by contacting both the left and right sides of the traveling direction is disposed, and a stopper device is disposed at the downstream end of the endless belt. The stopper device is, for example, a stopper member that contacts the front surface of the lid box 16 at the front end position of the first transport device 22 in the advancing direction and prevents further forward movement, and the second lid box 16 from the front end position. A gripping member that grips both the left and right sides of the traveling direction and prevents forward movement. Thus, the second lid box 16 is separated from the second and subsequent lid boxes 16 by holding the second lid box 16 from the top by the gripping member and temporarily stopping, and the second and subsequent lid boxes 16. If the lid sequentially contacts the front lid box 16, further advancement is suppressed and pooled on the first transport device 22.

  On the other hand, although the specific illustration is omitted, the second transport device 23 includes, for example, a transport path having a transport surface made of a smooth stainless steel plate or the like, and a predetermined trajectory above the transport path. A push pusher that reciprocates along the transport direction is provided. For example, two push pushers are prepared, and the two push pushers are arranged at the front and back at a pitch longer than the entire length of the lid box 16. The predetermined trajectory is such that when the forward movement is made, the pusher pushes the lid box 16 to move the lid box 16 forward, and when the backward movement is made, the pusher moves upward and moves in a space that is not in contact with the lid box 16. To. As a result, the front side of the push pusher on the rear side comes into contact with the side surface of the lid box 16 located at the front end of the first transport device 22 and urges along with the forward movement, and on the transport path of the second transport device 23. Transfer. At this time, the front surface of the push pusher on the front side contacts the side surface of the lid box 16 that has been transferred onto the transport of the second transport device 23 in the previous step, and further moves forward on the transport path to move the second transport device. It moves to 23 carry-out exits.

  Below the front end side of the second transport device 23, a body box transport device 24 for transporting the body box 15 supplied with the product 28 is disposed. In other words, the upstream end of the body box conveying device 24 is arranged close to the carry-out side of the product transfer device 20, receives the box 15 sequentially carried out from the product transfer device 20, and carries the body box 15. To do. The body box conveying device 24 includes a pair of belt conveyors 25 provided on the left and right. By this pair of belt conveyors 25, the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the body box 15 are supported and conveyed. Further, a stopper member is provided on the upper outer side of the belt conveyor 25 at the installation position of various devices arranged around the body box conveying device 24. Thereby, the body box 15 on the body box transport device 24 moves forward in response to the transport force from the belt conveyor 25, but temporarily stops at an appropriate position on the stopper member.

  As various devices arranged on the transport line of the body box transport device 24, the leaflet supply device 29 for supplying the leaflet 29a and the postcard 30a are sequentially supplied from the upstream side to the body box 15 to which the product 28 is supplied. A postcard supply device 30 and a leaflet / postcard presence inspection device 31 for inspecting the presence or absence of the leaflet 29a or postcard 30a supplied in the preceding stage are provided. Then, on the downstream side of the leaflet / postcard presence / absence inspection device 31, the vicinity of the carry-out side of the second conveyance device 23 is arranged. When the leaflet / postcard presence / absence inspection apparatus 31 detects the body box 15 without the leaflet 29a or the postcard 30a, the body box 15 and a discharge device 32 for discharging the lid box 16 to be mounted on the body box 15 are provided.

  In addition, a lid covering device 33 for placing the lid box 16 that has moved to the carry-out port on the body box 15 containing the product is disposed near the tip of the second transport device 23 of the lid box pool conveyor 19. As a result, a container box 35, which is an intermediate product in which the lid box 16 is covered with the body box 15 in which the predetermined number of products 28, the leaflets 29 a and the postcards 30 a are stored, is formed. The specific configuration of the lid covering device 33 will be described later.

  Further, a stacking buffer device 36 is disposed on the downstream side of the covering device 33. This stacking buffer device 36 is a device for buffering a predetermined number of boxes 35 according to the situation of the downstream device. In addition to the function of continuously carrying out the loading boxes 35 to the downstream apparatus, the stacking buffer device 36 has a function of temporarily stopping the loading and buffering and storing a predetermined number of the loading boxes 35. Prepare. The temporarily stored collection box 35 is carried out toward the downstream device after carrying out is resumed. A specific configuration of the stacking buffer device 36 will be described later.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a foreign substance inspection device 37 and a reversing device 38 are disposed on the downstream side of the stacking buffer device 36. Then, another device such as an overwrapping machine is disposed on the downstream side of the reversing device 38, and the contents box 35 is unloaded from the reversing device 38 one by one toward the other device at a predetermined timing. In addition, for example, the overwrapping machine needs to stop the apparatus for a predetermined time for cleaning or the like every predetermined time (for example, one hour). In this embodiment, by providing the stacking buffer device 36 on the carry-out side of the boxing device 10 as described above, the packing box 35 is stored in the stacking buffer device 36 while the operation of the upper packaging machine is stopped. Can do. That is, even if the downstream apparatus (for example, the overwrapping machine) temporarily stops, it is not necessary to stop the operation of the boxing apparatus 10 and the operation can be continued. Then, with the restart of the operation of the overwrapping machine, the carrying-out of the contents box 35 from the stacking buffer device 36 is resumed.

  In addition, since it can be stored in the stacking buffer device 36 in this way, for example, even when there is an abnormality or the like in the device arranged on the downstream side, the boxing device 10 is manufactured every moment, The carry-in boxes 35 that are carried out can be pooled by the stacking buffer device 36, and the boxing process can be continued regardless of whether there is an abnormality in the downstream device.

[Empty box transport and supply device 11]
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the empty box transport and supply device 11. A first belt conveyor 40 that conveys a plurality of (for example, 18) empty boxes 12 in a stacked state is provided. A guide wall 41 is erected on the back side of the first belt conveyor 40 along the conveyance path of the first belt conveyor 40. The height of the guide wall 41 is set higher than the height of the plurality of boxes 12 in which a predetermined number is stacked. One side of the box 12 set in a stacked state on the first belt conveyor 40 can come into contact with the guide wall 41. Further, a side wall 42 is disposed on the front side on the transport surface of the first belt conveyor 40. The side wall 42 has a height corresponding to, for example, the height of one box 12, and the interval between the opposing surfaces of the side wall 42 and the guide wall 41 is set to be substantially equal to or slightly wider than the lateral width of the box 12. It is said. Thereby, when the stack 45 in a state where a plurality of boxes 12 are stacked is supplied onto the first belt conveyor 40 between the guide wall 41 and the side wall 42, the box 12 positioned at the bottom of the stack 45 is The left and right sides in the conveying direction are guided between the guide wall 41 and the side wall 42 to restrict the movement in the lateral direction, and are conveyed without being laterally displaced with the operation of the first belt conveyor 40. Furthermore, by providing the guide wall 41, the plurality of boxes 12 constituting the stack 45 are prevented from collapsing to the back side of the first belt conveyor 40, and are transported while maintaining a stacked state.

  A second belt conveyor 46 is disposed on the downstream side of the first belt conveyor 40. The conveyance surfaces of the first belt conveyor 40 and the second belt conveyor 46 are on the same plane. Thereby, the accumulation body 45 moves smoothly from the first belt conveyor 40 to the second belt conveyor 46. Furthermore, a pair of guide plates 47 are arranged on both the left and right sides on the carry-in side above the conveying surface of the second belt conveyor 46. The inner surface of the guide plate 47 is an inclined surface 47a on the carry-in side so that the distance between the pair of inner surfaces gradually decreases, and the carry-out side is a parallel surface 47b. The carry-in end of the inclined surface 47 a is positioned outside the guide wall 41 and the side wall 42, and the distance between the parallel surfaces 47 b of the pair of guide plates 47 is substantially equal to the lateral width of the box 12.

  On the downstream side of the pair of guide plates 47, first stopper columns 48 are formed upright. Each first stopper column 48 is composed of an L-shaped plate, and its height is substantially equal to the height of the guide wall 41. The pair of first stopper columns 48 are linked to predetermined driving means such as a cylinder, for example, and move in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the box 12 (hereinafter also referred to as “left-right direction”). The pair of first stopper columns 48 are moved toward and away from each other synchronously. In a standby state where the pair of first stopper columns 48 are farthest from each other, the distance between the pair of first stopper columns 48 is the width of the box 12 as shown in FIG. It is almost equal to. Thereby, when it exists in a stand-by position, the accumulation body 45 which moves on the 2nd belt conveyor 46 passes between a pair of 1st stopper pillars 48, and moves forward. And when passing between a pair of 1st stopper pillars 48, it supports by the 1st stopper pillar 48 and it is suppressed that the box 12 which comprises the integrated body 45 collapse | crumbles. On the other hand, when the first stopper columns 48 in the standby state move forward so as to approach each other, the first stopper columns 48 protrude forward in the traveling direction of the stack 45 (box 12), and the stack 45 It reaches a position that blocks forward movement. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the first stopper column 48 contacts the front surface of each box 12 constituting the stack 45, and the movement of the stack 45 is temporarily stopped even when the second belt conveyor 46 is rotating. To do. As a result, when a plurality of stacked bodies 45 are moving forward and backward on the second belt conveyor 46, for example, the first stacked bodies 45 move the first stopper columns 48 closer to each other after passing through the first stopper columns 48. Thus, the leading stack 45 can be separated from the subsequent stack 45.

  A first pusher device 49 is disposed on the carry-out side of the second belt conveyor 46. The first pusher device 49 includes a first bar 49a and a second bar 49b that extend in a vertical direction, a connection plate 49c that connects these bars in a predetermined relative positional relationship, and a connection plate 49c that is not illustrated, but is connected to the connection plate 49c. Drive device. The connection plate 49c is substantially L-shaped in plan, and connects the first bar 49a and the second bar 49b to both ends of the connection plate 49c. The connecting plate 49c is movable in a horizontal plane in cooperation with a driving device (not shown). The first bar 49a and the second bar 49b integrated with the connecting plate 49c by receiving the driving force of the driving device are perpendicular to the conveying direction of the box 12 (hereinafter also referred to as “left-right direction”). It moves in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the box 12 (hereinafter also referred to as “front-rear direction”). The drive device may be constituted by a cylinder, for example.

  The operation of the first pusher device 49 is as follows. First, the first pusher device 49 moves back and forth in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, and the pair of left and right first pusher devices 49 (first bar 49a, second bar 49b) are separated from each other, and the distance between them is the longest. At the same time, the state located on the rear side in the traveling direction is the standby state (see FIG. 4A). In this standby state, as shown in FIG. 4A, the interval between the left and right first bars 49a is set to be wider than the lateral width of the box 12, and the accumulated body 45 moving on the second belt conveyor 46 is Then, it passes between the first pusher devices 49 and further moves forward.

  After the rear surface of the accumulation body 45 in the traveling direction passes through the position of the first bar 49a of the first pusher device 49, the pair of first pusher devices 49 are moved closer to each other by the driving device. Accordingly, the first bar 49a faces the rear surface of the integrated body 45. Further, the second bar 49 b contacts the side surface of the accumulation body 45. Further, the first pusher device 49 is moved forward in the transport direction of the stack 45 by the driving device. Accordingly, both corners on the rear side in the traveling direction of the accumulation body 45 are suppressed by the pair of first pusher devices 49, and the accumulation body 45 is urged forward as the first pusher device 49 moves forward.

  As shown in enlarged views in FIGS. 5 and 6, a stocker device 50 is disposed in front of the carry-out end side of the second belt conveyor 46. Further, on the carry-out end side of the second belt conveyor 46, a third belt conveyor 51 whose conveying surface is one step lower on the same straight line is arranged. The stocker device 50 is located above the third belt conveyor 51. And this stocker apparatus 50 is an apparatus for receiving the accumulation body 45 and carrying out the boxes 12 onto the third belt conveyor 51 one by one from the lower side.

  As apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6, the stocker device 50 is located outside the transport surface of the second belt conveyor 46, and the transport surface of the third belt conveyor 51 is the transport surface of the second belt conveyor 46. Is one step lower. Therefore, the accumulated body 45 that moves on the second belt conveyor 46 and is about to be carried out is detached from the transport surface of the second belt conveyor 46 on the front side in the traveling direction, and the removed part is in a suspended state in the air. It does not receive the conveying force from the second belt conveyor 46 and the third belt conveyor 51 (see FIGS. 4A-1 and 4A-2). Therefore, the conveyance force received by the stacked body 45 from the second belt conveyor 46 decreases as the number of parts that are removed as the stacked body 45 moves forward is increased. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the first pusher device 49 moves forward and urges the accumulation body 45 forward, so that the accumulation body 45 receives the urging force from the first pusher device 49. Move as if pushed forward. Accordingly, (FIG. 4 (a-1), FIG. 4 (a-2)) → (FIG. 4 (b-1), FIG. 4 (b-2)) → (FIG. 4 (c-1), FIG. (C-2)), the integrated body 45 moves into the stocker device 50.

  The stocker device 50 is opened on the carry-in side to allow the assembly 45 to enter, and the guide rods 52 and 54 are arranged upright on the remaining three surfaces, and the side surface of the assembly 45 that has entered the stocker device 50 is arranged. To guide. Specifically, a plurality of round bar-shaped first guide bars 52 are erected on the inner side of the accumulation body 45 in the forward direction, and the first guide bars 52 are linked by a connecting plate 53. . The front surface of the integrated body 45 pushed into the stocker device 50 by the first pusher device 49 comes into contact with the first guide rod 52 and is positioned. In addition, a plurality of round bar-shaped second guide bars 54 are arranged upright on both the left and right sides in the traveling direction of the integrated body 45, and the second guide bars 54 are linked by connecting plates 55 at both upper and lower ends. . The distance between the second guide bars 54 arranged on the left and right is substantially equal to the lateral width of the box 12. Preferably, the second guide bar 54 is supported by a bearing so as to be rotatable with respect to the connecting plate 55. If it does in this way, the second guide rod 54 which contacted the side surface of the box 12 at the time of the entrance of the accumulation body 45 may rotate and guide a smooth approach.

  In addition, two first cylinders 56 are arranged on the outside of the second guide rod 54 so as to make the reciprocation of the cylinder rod horizontal. A support plate 57 is connected to the tip of the cylinder rod 56 a of the first cylinder 56, and a number of holders 58 are attached to the surface of the support plate 57. As the cylinder rod 56 a reciprocates, the support plate 57 moves toward and away from the second guide rod 54 outside the second guide rod 54. At the standby position where the support plate 57 is separated from the second guide rod 54, the holder 58 is attached to the second guide rod 54 as shown in FIG. 4 (a-1), FIG. Located outside. Therefore, the holder 58 is not in contact with the accumulation body 45 and the box 12. On the other hand, in the operating position where the support plate 57 approaches the outside of the second guide rod 54 with the operation of the first cylinder 56, the holder 58 passes through the space between the adjacent second guide rods 54 and passes through the second guide rod 54. 54 protrudes from the inside. Therefore, the holding tool 58 contacts the accumulation body 45 and thus the side surface of the box 12, and holds the accumulation body 45 by sandwiching the accumulation body 45 from the left and right sides by the pressure of the first cylinder 56. Further, the holder 58 is entirely in contact with the stack 45 in the height direction, but is not in contact with the lowermost box 12 of the stack 45, and at least the second box 12 from the bottom is in contact with the stack. To do.

  In this held state, even if the lower portion of the stocker device 50 is open, the box 12 positioned above the second from the bottom is held by the holding tool 58 and does not fall. The holder 58 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicon. Moreover, you may provide adsorption | suction means, such as a suction cup.

  Furthermore, the bottom plate 60 which opens and closes is arrange | positioned in the right-and-left side edge of the bottom face of the stocker apparatus 50, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom plate 60 receives a driving force from a driving device such as the second cylinder 61 that reciprocates the cylinder rod in the horizontal direction, and reciprocates in the horizontal direction. Open and close. And as shown to FIG. 4 (a-2), (b-2), the upper surface of the baseplate 60 is set to be located on the same plane as the conveyance surface of the 2nd belt conveyor 46. FIG. Thereby, the accumulated body 45 carried out from the second belt conveyor 46 smoothly enters the inside through the opening and is positioned on the bottom plate 60.

  In a state where the two bottom plates 60 are closed close to each other, the bottom plate 60 blocks a part of the bottom surface of the stocker device 50 as shown in FIGS. 4 (a-1) and 4 (b-1). The left and right side portions of the bottom surface of the box 12 located at the lowest end of the box 12 are supported to prevent the box 12 from falling. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4A-1 and 4A-2, the left and right side portions of the bottom surface of the stacked body 45 carried out from the second belt conveyor 46 are smoothly placed on the bottom plate 60. It is transferred and stocked in the stocker device 50.

  On the other hand, in the standby position where both the bottom plates 60 are separated from each other, the bottom plate 60 is located outside the stocker device 50 and the bottom surface is opened as shown in FIGS. As a result, the lowermost box 12 of the stack 45 not held by the holder 58 is not supported from the bottom plate 60 and is dropped and supplied onto the third belt conveyor 51.

  A receiving plate member 63 that receives the falling box 12 is disposed below the stocker device 50. The receiving plate member 63 moves up and down by driving a third cylinder 62 disposed below the receiving plate member 63. Although illustration is omitted, when the bottom plate 60 is opened, the receiving plate member 63 is moved upward, and is placed near the bottom surface of the stocker device 50 and stands by. As a result, when the bottom plate 60 is opened and the lowermost box 12 is dropped, the receiving plate member 63 waiting immediately below is received. Thereafter, the receiving plate member 63 is moved downward by driving the third cylinder 62, and the box 12 is lowered together with the receiving plate member 63. 4B-2, when the backing plate member 63 is positioned below the transport surface of the third belt conveyor 51, the box 12 on the backing plate member 63 is placed on the third belt conveyor 51. It is transferred. As a result, the conveying force from the third belt conveyor 51 is received, and the forward movement of the third belt conveyor 51 from the state of FIG. 4C-2 is performed as shown in FIG. Thus, in this embodiment, by arranging the receiving plate member 63 that moves up and down, the falling distance of the box 12 dropped from the stocker device 50 is shortened, and the impact applied to the box 12 at the time of dropping is small. The third belt conveyor 51 can be smoothly transferred to a desired position without being damaged. In addition, the elevation of the receiving plate member 63 can be realized with a simple configuration such as the third cylinder 62.

  Further, when the stocker device 50 drops the lowermost box 12 as described above, the bottom plate 60 moves closer to each other by driving the second cylinder 61 and closes the bottom surface of the stocker device 50. Next, the first cylinder 56 is driven to move the support plate 57 and the holder 58 backward, and the holder 58 is separated from the stack 45. As a result, the holding of the stack 45 is released, and the stack 45 in the stocker device 50 moves downward within the stocker device 50, and when the lowermost box 12 comes into contact with the bottom plate 60, the downward movement stops. Thereafter, the first cylinder 56 is driven, and the holder 58 is in contact with and held by the stack 45. Thereafter, by repeating the above-described processing, the boxes 12 are discharged one by one from the bottom side of the stocker device 50 and supplied onto the third belt conveyor 51.

[Cut separation device 13]
The body lid separating device 13 is installed in the middle of the conveyance of the third belt conveyor 51. As shown in enlarged views in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lid separating device 13 includes a lid adsorbing device 66 disposed at a predetermined position above the third belt conveyor 51, and a body box disposed oppositely below the lid adsorbing device 66. A holding device 67 and a lid transfer device 68 that transfers the lid box 16 adsorbed by the lid adsorption device 66 to the first transport device 22 are provided.

  The lid adsorbing device 66 has a rectangular plate base plate 66b attached to the cylinder rod of the fourth cylinder 66a that makes the reciprocating operation of the cylinder rod up and down, and includes a plurality of suction cups 66c on the lower surface of the base plate 66b. The suction cup 66c is linked to a suction pump via a suction nozzle (not shown). Further, the fourth cylinder 66a is linked to the slide rail 66d via the support arm 66e. The slide rail 66d is disposed in parallel with the transport direction of the third belt conveyor 51. In response to a driving force from a driving source (not shown), the support arm 66e and thus the fourth cylinder 66a moves forward and backward along the slide rail 66d. Thereby, the suction cup 66c moves up and down with the reciprocating motion of the cylinder rod of the fourth cylinder 66a, and moves forward and backward together with the fourth cylinder 66a. The lid box 16 can be sucked and held by performing suction with a suction pump while the suction cup 66 c is in contact with the upper surface of the lid box 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the state where the fourth cylinder 66 a is in the retracted position and the suction cup 66 c is in the raised position is the standby state of the lid suction device 66.

  The body box holding device 67 has a rectangular plate base plate 67b attached to the cylinder rod of the fifth cylinder 67a that makes the cylinder rod reciprocating up and down, and includes a plurality of suction cups 67c on the upper surface of the base plate 67b. The suction cup 67c is linked to a suction pump via a suction nozzle (not shown). The suction cup 67c moves up and down as the cylinder rod of the fifth cylinder 67a reciprocates. Thereby, the chest 15 can be sucked and held by performing suction with the suction pump in a state where the suction cup 67 c is in contact with the bottom surface of the chest 15. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the suction cup 67 c is in the lowered position in the standby state of the body box holding device 67.

  The lid transfer device 68 includes a receiving plate 68a that can be moved up and down. The receiving plate 68a is located in an upper space across the third belt conveyor 51 and the personal box pool conveyor 18, and is linked to a slide rail 68c arranged upright via a support plate 68b. In response to a driving force from a driving source (not shown), the support plate 68b and the receiving plate 68a are moved up and down along the slide rail 68c.

  By operating the lid adsorbing device 66 and the body box holding device 67 in synchronization, the body box 15 and the lid box 16 constituting the empty box 12 are separated. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the box 12 reaches between the lid adsorbing device 66 and the body holding device 67 in the standby state, stopper members (not shown) are disengaged from the left and right side edges of the third belt conveyor 51. It protrudes on the conveyance surface, and the conveyance of the box 12 is temporarily stopped. Then, the sucker 67c is lifted by the drive of the fifth cylinder 67a so that the chest holding device 67 contacts the bottom surface of the chest 15 and holds the chest 15 by suction. Further, the suction cup 66c is lowered by the drive of the fourth cylinder 66a so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the lid box 16 and suck and hold the lid box 16 (FIGS. 7A-1 and 7). (See (a-2)).

  Next, the cylinder rod of the fourth cylinder 66a of the lid adsorbing device 66 moves backward, and the suction cup 66c moves up together with the base plate 66b. Along with this upward movement, the cover box 16 sucked and held by the suction cup 66c is urged upward. At this time, since the paired body box 15 is sucked and held by the body box holding device 67, only the lid box 16 moves upward, and the body box 15 and the lid box 16 are separated.

  The separated body box 15 and lid box 16 are transferred to the next-stage body box pool conveyor 18 and lid box pool conveyor 19, respectively. This transfer is performed as follows. That is, the fourth cylinder 66a moves forward along the slide rail 66d. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 7 (b-1) and 7 (b-2), the separated cover box 16 remains on the receiving plate 68a of the cover transfer device 68 while being held by the suction cup 66c. Located in. When the suction of the suction cup 66c is released in this state, the lid box 16 is placed on the receiving plate 68a and supported by the receiving plate 68a. Thereafter, the receiving plate 68a receives a driving force from a driving source (not shown) and moves upward along the slide rail 68c, and the lid adsorbing device 66 returns to the standby position (FIG. 7 (c-1), FIG. 7). (See (c-2)).

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the receiving plate 68 a reaches the upper end position, it is located in the vicinity of the carry-in entrance of the lid box pool conveyor 19. At this upper end position, holding plates 68e reciprocally moved by the sixth cylinder 68d are arranged on both sides of the receiving plate 68a. When the pair of left and right holding plates 68e are open, the distance between them is wider than the lateral width of the lid box 16 (see FIG. 8 (a-1)), and the lid box 16 that has moved up together with the receiving plate 68a Between the holding plates 68e. In this state, when the pair of holding plates 68e move in response to the driving of the sixth cylinder 68d, the left and right sides of the lid box 16 are supported and held from below (see FIG. 8B-1). As a result, the support of the lid box 16 is transferred from the receiving plate 68a to the holding plate 68e, and the receiving plate 68a moves downward to wait for the next lid box 16 (see FIG. 8B-2).

  Next, the pusher plate 68g linked to the slide rail 68f moves forward along the transport direction of the lid box pool conveyor 19 from the standby position shown in FIGS. The lid box 16 held by 68e is urged forward, and the lid box 16 is transferred onto the lid box pool conveyor 19 (see FIGS. 8C-1 and 8C-2).

  On the other hand, the body box 15 cancels the suction by the suction cup 67c and retracts the stopper member that has stopped transporting, and moves forward by receiving the transport force of the third belt conveyor 51, and the next-stage body box pool conveyor 18 (See FIGS. 7C-1 and 7C-2).

[Product Transfer Device 20]
As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the product transfer device 20 includes a transport conveyor 70 that transports the products 28 that are unloaded from the upstream packaging machine (not shown) at predetermined intervals, in a vertical line, and the transport conveyor 70. Servo loop conveyor 71 arranged on the downstream side, product receiving device 72 arranged along a linear conveying path of servo loop conveyor 71, and product 28 placed in product receiving device 72 and held and conveyed A boxing robot 73 for supplying the product 28 into the body box 15 on the apparatus 21 is provided. The conveyance conveyor 70 is divided into two stages in the front and rear, and a carry-out conveyor device 74 is arranged at a connecting portion between the first and second stages. For example, when a product such as a temporary stop occurs in the downstream device of the product transfer device 20 and the supply amount of the product 28 from the upstream packaging machine overflows, the product 28 on the transport conveyor 70 is moved to the unloading conveyor device 74 side. To prevent the product 28 from clogging. In the present embodiment, the product 28 is configured by a pillow package that stores food such as confectionery. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, sealed ear portions 28a are formed at the front and rear ends of the product 28 in the traveling direction.

  FIG. 9 shows an enlarged plan view of the main components of the product transfer device 20. As shown in the figure, the servo loop conveyor 71 includes a plurality of buckets 71a, and the buckets 71a move along a predetermined endless locus. The predetermined trajectory includes two straight sections 71b arranged in parallel and a semicircular arc section 71c connecting the straight sections 71b. The bucket 71a receives one product 28 and conveys it along a predetermined path. The bucket 71a moving in the straight section 71b is in a state where the adjacent buckets 71a are in contact with each other and close to each other. One straight section 71 b is located at the carry-out end of the conveyor 70 and serves as a product supply unit to the servo loop conveyor 71. The other straight section 71 b is a product carry-out portion from the servo loop conveyor 71. The product receiving device 72 and the boxing robot 73 are arranged outside the other straight section 71b, and the conveyance path of the conveyance device 21 is arranged outside the straight section 71b in parallel with the straight section 71b.

  The servo loop conveyor 71 is intermittently driven. During the temporary stop, control is performed so that the predetermined bucket 71a faces the carry-out end of the transfer conveyor 70. And the product 28 carried out from the conveyance conveyor 70 for every fixed timing is supplied in the predetermined bucket 71a which concerns. Next, the servo loop conveyor 71 is driven by the arrangement pitch of the buckets 71a, and the next empty bucket 71a is positioned at the carry-out end of the transfer conveyor 70 in accordance with the carry-out timing. Thereafter, the products 28 are sequentially supplied to the bucket 71a by repeating intermittent driving.

  The product receiving device 72 includes a plurality of product receiving plates 72a. The product receiving plate 72a is substantially V-shaped with an open top, the side surface on the servo loop conveyor 71 side is open, and the side surface on the transport device 21 side has a wall portion 72b. The bucket 71a located in the other straight section 71b during the temporary stop faces the product receiving plate 72a. A pusher 75 is disposed in the internal space of the servo loop conveyor 71. The pusher 75 is disposed at a location facing the product receiving device 72 across the other straight section 71b. The pusher 75 is formed so as to be able to contact the product 28 in the bucket 71a that is temporarily stopped. The pusher 75 receives a drive from a drive source such as a cylinder and reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the bucket 71a in the straight section 71b. Therefore, when the pusher 75 moves forward toward the product receiving device 72 while the servo loop conveyor 71 is temporarily stopped, the product 28 in the bucket 71a contacting the pusher 75 is pushed out and moved into the product receiving plate 72a. Since the product 28 pushed into the product receiving plate 72a comes into contact with the wall portion 72b of the product receiving plate 72a and further movement is suppressed, the transfer is completed without jumping out from the product receiving plate 72a. The pusher 75 moves backward to prepare for the next product extrusion.

  The boxing robot 73 includes a robot arm 73a that moves in a three-dimensional space along a predetermined locus, a suction device 73b that is linked to the tip of the robot arm 73a, and a pair of opening / closing restraining plates 73c that are disposed outside the suction device 73b. Is provided. The plurality of adsorption devices 73b have at least the number of product receiving plates 72a, and the individual adsorption devices 73b adsorb and hold the products 28 in each product receiving plate 72a and transfer them into the body box 15.

  By the operation of the robot arm 73a, the suction surface at the lower end of each suction device 73b is brought into contact with the product 28 in the product receiving plate 72a and suctioned to hold the product 28 on the suction device 73b. In this state, the suction device 73b is moved up by the operation of the robot arm 73a. Thereby, as shown to Fig.10 (a), the product 28 raises with the adsorption | suction apparatus 73b, and is taken out from the product receiving plate 72a. The suction device 73b can change the position of the suction surface in relation to the open / close restraining plate 73c, and when the product 28 is taken out from the product receiving plate 72a, the suction device 73b moves upward by a predetermined distance. Next, the pair of opening / closing restraining plates 73c are closed by driving the seventh cylinder 73d, and the ear portions 28a of the product 28 are folded by the opening / closing restraining plates 73c (see FIG. 10B). Next, the suction device 73b is positioned above the body box 15 by the operation of the robot arm 73a, and then the product 28 is positioned in the body box 15 by moving downward (see FIG. 10C). By feeding the suction device 73b forward while being stored in the body box 15, and since the ear part 28a is folded, the ear part 28a does not hit the side wall or the partition 15a of the body box 15. It can be smoothly arranged at a predetermined position of the body box 15. Thereafter, the suction of the suction device 73b is released, and the suction device 73b is raised by driving the robot arm 73a, whereby the product 28 is separated from the suction device 73b, and the product 28 remains in the body box 15. In the present embodiment, since the body box 15 is provided with the partition 15a and the storage space for the product 28 is in two rows, the boxing robot 73 repeats the above processing twice, thereby allowing the product 28 to be stored. The boxing process into the body box 15 is completed.

  Moreover, the conveying apparatus 21 conveys the body box 15 with the pushing finger 21a. The conveying device 21 temporarily stops when the empty body box 15 reaches the side of the product receiving device 72. And the conveying apparatus 21 will resume conveyance, when the boxing process of the product 28 in the body box 15 by the boxing robot 73 is completed.

[Cover device 33]
The body box 15 supplied with the product 28 and other predetermined accessories reaches the lid covering device 33 through a predetermined transport path. Then, the lid box 16 is put on the body box 15 by the lid covering device 33. As shown in FIG. 11, the lid covering device 33 is arranged in a space below the carry-out end of the second transfer device 23 of the lid box pool conveyor 19, and the cover box 16 sequentially carried out from the second transfer device 23. The lid box conveying device 80 that receives and moves downward, the lid box extruding device 81 that supplies the lid box 16 dropped from the lid box conveying device 80 to the work space, and the body box conveying device 24 are conveyed. A body box extruding device 82 for supplying the body box 15 containing the product 28 and the like to the work space, and a cover device main body 83 for actually covering the body box 15 with the cover box 16 in the work space are provided.

  The lid box transport device 80 is provided with an opening in front of the carry-out end of the second transport device 23 along the path of the lid box 16, and a bottom plate 80 a that opens and closes on both the left and right sides of the opening. As shown in FIG. 11, the bottom plate 80a is formed of an L-shaped plate, supports the lower ends of the left and right side walls of the lid box 16, and prevents the falling from the opening. In addition, a stopper plate 80b is disposed at the upper part on the front end side of the opening. The front end surface in the advancing direction of the lid box 16 that has been unloaded from the second transport device 23 and moved on the bottom plate 80a contacts the stopper plate 80b, thereby preventing further forward movement. Thereby, the lid box 16 carried out from the second transport device 23 moves onto the pair of bottom plates 80a and is supported in the opening. The bottom plate 80a is provided at the front end of the second transport device 23 by receiving a driving force from a driving device such as a cylinder that makes a reciprocating operation of a cylinder rod (not shown) horizontal, and reciprocating in the horizontal direction. Open and close the opening.

  Therefore, when both the bottom plates 80a approach each other by driving the cylinder and the opening is closed, the cylinder is held on the opening as shown in FIGS. 12 (a-1) and 12 (a-2), for example. . When the cylinders are driven from the closed state, the bottom plates 80a are separated from each other, and when the separation distance becomes wider than the lateral width of the lid box 16, the lid box 16 falls (FIGS. 12B-1 and 12B-2). Etc.).

  In the lower space of the bottom plate 80a, a plurality of pairs of movable receiving plates 80c are vertically arranged. The pair of movable receiving plates 80c move toward and away from each other by receiving a driving force from the eighth cylinder 80d that makes the reciprocating motion of the cylinder rod horizontal, and reciprocating in the horizontal direction. When the pair of movable receiving plates 80c are close to each other, the distance between the movable receiving plates 80c is narrower than the lateral width of the lid box 16, and supports the lower end of the side wall of the lid box 16 that has fallen from above. Further drop is prevented (see FIGS. 12B-1 and 12B-2). On the other hand, when the eighth cylinder 80d is driven from the closed state, the bottom plates 80a are separated from each other, and when the separation distance becomes wider than the lateral width of the lid box 16, the lid box 16 falls. The dropped lid box 16 is received by a pair of movable receiving plates 80c (at this time, in a closed state) positioned one step below.

  Thereafter, the eighth cylinder 80d is driven at an appropriate timing, and the pair of movable receiving plates 80c are opened and closed at an appropriate timing, whereby the lid box 16 moves down each pair of the movable receiving plates 80c one step at a time. To the pair of movable receiving plates 80c (see FIGS. 13A-1 and 13A-2).

  A fixed receiving plate 80e is arranged in a space below the pair of movable receiving plates 80c arranged above and below. The fixed receiving plate 80e is composed of two parallel strips arranged at a predetermined interval. The arrangement interval between the two fixed receiving plates 80e is narrower than the lateral width of the lid box 16.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIGS. 13 (a-1) and 13 (a-2), the pair of lowermost movable receiving plates 80c is opened in the state where the cover box 16 exists on the lowermost movable receiving plate 80c. Then, the lid box 16 held there falls and is located on the lower fixed receiving plate 80e and held there (see FIG. 13 (b-1), FIG. 13 (b-2), etc.). The lid box 16 on the fixed receiving plate 80e is pushed out by a lid box pusher 81.

  The lid box extruding device 81 includes a pusher member 81a that contacts one side surface of the lid box 16 located on the fixed receiving plate 80e and biases and pushes it toward the work space in the lid covering device main body 83. The pusher member 81a receives a driving force from a driving source (not shown) and reciprocates linearly along the slide rail 81b. The tip of the pusher member 81a protrudes above the upper surface of the fixed receiving plate 80e, and reciprocates along the fixed receiving plate 80e in a space formed between the pair of fixed receiving plates 80e.

  Therefore, when the pusher member 81a in the standby position shown in FIG. 12 moves forward toward the work space in the lid covering device main body 83, as shown in FIGS. 14 (b-1) and 14 (b-2), The lid box 16 on the fixed receiving plate 80e moves toward the work space. When the pusher member 81a reaches the foremost end position, the lid box 16 is set in the work space. Thereafter, the pusher member 81a moves backward to prepare for the next extrusion of the lid box 16. When the pusher member 81a returns to the standby position, the pair of lowermost movable receiving plates 80c is opened, and the lid 16 held there is dropped onto the lower fixed receiving plate 80e (FIG. 15 ( a-1), FIG. 15a-2), etc.).

  The body box extruding apparatus 82 disposed below the lid box extruding apparatus 81 directs the body box 15 that has been transported on the body box transporting apparatus 24 into the work space in the lid covering apparatus main body 83. And a pusher member 82a for urging and pushing out. The body box conveying device 24 includes two belt conveyors arranged on the left and right sides, and the pusher member 82a is arranged in a space between the two belt conveyors. The pusher member 82a is linked to the slide rail 82c via the ninth cylinder 82b. As the ninth cylinder 82b reciprocates, the pusher member 82a moves up and down. The upper part of the pusher member 82a in the raised position protrudes upward from the transport surface of the body box transport device 24, and can be biased by contacting the body box 15. The upper part of the pusher member 82 a in the lowered position is located below the transport surface of the body box transport device 24 and does not contact the body box 15 on the body box transport device 24. Therefore, the pusher member 82a moves forward in the raised position by the reciprocating motion of the ninth cylinder 82b and the forward / backward movement of the ninth cylinder 82b along the slide rail 82c accompanying the drive of a drive source (not shown). 15 is urged forward (see FIG. 13, FIG. 14, etc.) and moved backward in the lowered position (see FIG. 15 (a-1), etc.). Thereby, the head box 15 is set on the rail member 83a of the lid covering device main body 83 by the forward movement of the pusher member 82a. The pusher member 82a moves backward without coming into contact with the subsequent body box 15 and returns to the standby position.

  The lid covering device main body 83 includes two rail members 83 a that support the body box 15. For example, as shown in FIGS. 15, 16, etc., the two rail members 83 a are formed of elongated bars and are arranged so as to support the vicinity of the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the body box 15. In the space between the two rail members 83a, two first guide pieces 83b are arranged in front and rear along the moving direction of the body box 15. That is, the first guide pieces 83b are arranged on the left and right of the moving direction of the body box 15 on the front side in the moving direction of the body box 15 (left side in the drawing in FIG. 11 and the like), respectively. The first guide pieces 83b are arranged on the right and left in the traveling direction of the body box 15, respectively. The upper end actuating portion 83b 'of the first guide piece 83b has an inclined surface that is bent toward the center and an upstanding surface that faces upward from the tip. The standing surface is set along a vertical plane orthogonal to the conveyance surface of the body box 15.

  The first guide piece 83b moves up and down under the drive of the tenth cylinder 83c. In addition, the tenth cylinder 83c receives a driving force from a predetermined driving source and can reciprocate in the front-rear direction parallel to the conveying direction of the body box 15. As a result, the first guide piece 83b moves up and down by driving the tenth cylinder 83c, and the first guide pieces 83b facing forward and backward approach and separate from each other as the tenth cylinder 83c moves forward and backward.

  As shown in FIG. 14 (b-2), FIG. 15, FIG. 16 and the like, two second guide pieces 83f are arranged on the outside of each rail member 83a, that is, on both the left and right sides in the traveling direction of the body box 15, respectively. To do. An upper end portion 83f ′ of the second guide piece 83f is bifurcated, and the lower end of the side wall of the lid box 16 is supported by the upper end portion 83f ′. Further, the second guide piece 83f moves up and down under the drive of the eleventh cylinder 83g.

  In addition, a pressing plate 83d and a twelfth cylinder 83e for raising and lowering the pressing plate 83d are disposed above the work space. The holding plate 83d contacts a predetermined portion of the top surface of the lid box 16 located in the work space, and biases the lid box 16 downward. Predetermined parts to be contacted are the left and right sides of the traveling direction of the lid box 16 that has been pushed out by the lid box extrusion device 81. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, a pressing plate 83d is disposed above each rail member 83a. When the twelfth cylinder 83e is driven from the standby position of the pressing plate 83d shown in FIG. 11 and the pressing plate 83d moves downward, the pair of left and right pressing plates 83d come into contact with the left and right sides of the top surface of the lid box 16, respectively. And urge downward.

  The lid covering device main body 83 having the above-described configuration is controlled to operate as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 13 (b-1), from the standby position where both the front and rear first guide pieces 83b are in the lowered position, as shown in FIG. The first guide piece 83b positioned at the position moves upward as the tenth cylinder 83c is driven. At this time, the body box 15 is pushed on the pusher member 82a of the body box extrusion device 82, and the body box 15 moves on the rail member 83a. While the body box 15 is moving, the first guide piece 83b located in front of the body box 15 in the transport direction maintains the standby position at the lowered position.

  When the pusher member 82a moves to the foremost position, the body box 15 moves onto the rail member 83a and is positioned in the space between the front and rear first guide pieces 83b (FIGS. 14B-1 and 14B-2). )). Further, even if the urging force by the pusher member 82a is large, even if the body box 15 moves forward on the rail member 83a vigorously, it contacts the first guide piece 83b located in front of it and further forward movement is suppressed. Is done. As described above, in the present embodiment, the first guide piece 83b positioned forward in the conveyance direction of the body box 15 also has a stopper function / positioning function for stopping the advancement of the body box 15 entering the work space.

  Next, the first guide piece 83b positioned in front of the body box 15 in the transport direction is moved upward by the driving of the tenth cylinder 83c. Thereby, the front and rear of the body box 15 are sandwiched between the first guide pieces 83b, and the movement of the body box 15 in the front-rear direction is suppressed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14 (b-1), when the pusher member 81a of the lid box extruding device 81 moves forward, the lid box 16 on the fixed receiving plate 80e moves forward. When the lid box 16 is positioned in the work space, the second guide piece 83f is moved upward by driving the eleventh cylinder 83g. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 14B-2, the upper end portion 83f ′ of the second guide piece 83f is positioned immediately below the side wall of the lid box 16 to be pushed out. Therefore, when the lid box 16 is pushed out to a certain extent and is not supported on the fixed receiving plate 80e and is about to fall, the side wall of the lid box 16 is received by the upper end portion 83f ′ of the second guide piece 83f branched into a bifurcated shape. It is done.

  When the pusher member 81a moves to the foremost position, the lid box 16 is completely pushed out and falls, and the left and right side walls in the moving direction of the lid box 16 are supported by the second guide pieces 83f located immediately below. The At this time, the upper end actuating portion 83b 'of the first guide piece 83b enters inside the respective side walls before and after the movement direction of the lid box 16 (FIGS. 15A-1 and 15B-2). )).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the tenth cylinder 83 c is linked to the guide rail 83 h, is driven by a drive source (not shown), and reciprocates along the moving direction of the body box 15 and the lid box 16. Moving. With the reciprocation of the tenth cylinder 83c here, the first guide pieces 83b arranged in the front-rear direction move closer to and away from each other. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 15A-1 and 15B-2, in the state where the upper end actuating portion 83b ′ of the first guide piece 83b is inside the lid box 16, When the first guide pieces 83b adjacent to the opposing side walls of the lid box 16 move away from each other, the side walls in contact with each other by the upper end actuating portion 83b 'of the first guide piece 83b are pushed outward.

  Therefore, in the state where the first guide piece 83b is separated from the first guide piece 83b, the first guide piece 83b and the second guide piece 83f are moved downward by driving the tenth cylinder 83c and the eleventh cylinder 83g. Then, as shown in FIGS. 15A-1 and 15A-2, the lid box 16 moves downward while being supported by the second guide piece 83f. Finally, as shown in FIGS. 15 (b-1) and 15 (b-2), the lid box 16 covers the body box 15. As described above, since the side wall of the lid box 16 is spread outward by the first guide piece 83b, the lid box 16 is smoothly fitted into the body box 15. Moreover, since the upper end actuating portion 83b ′ of the first guide piece 83b has an inclined surface, the inclined surface comes to push the side wall of the body box 15 inward when the first guide piece 83b is moved downward. In addition, the lid box 16 is smoothly mounted on the body box 15 without interference between the lower end of the side wall of the lid box 16 and the upper end of the side wall of the body box 15.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 16 (a-1) and 16 (a-2), the first guide piece 83b and the second guide piece 83f return to the standby position at the lowermost end below the rail member 83a. , Separated from the lid box 16. Then, the pressing plate 83d moves downward by driving the twelfth cylinder 83e, pushes the lid box 16 downward, completely covers the lid box 16, and the lid covering process is completed. The lowering of the pressing plate 83d may follow the first guide piece 83b and the second guide piece 83f.

  Next, the pressing plate 83d moves upward by driving the twelfth cylinder 83e, and the pressing plate 83d moves away from the lid box 16. Then, the packing box 35 in which the products 28 and the like that have been covered with the lid box 16 are stored is carried out downstream (FIGS. 16B-1 and 16B-2). This unloading to the downstream side may be performed, for example, by urging the container box 35 with a pusher device (not shown) or the like, for example, a container box that has been moved onto the rail member 83a by the container box extruding device 82. 15 may push out the contents box 35 for which the covering process has been completed. Then, when the entrance box 35 is pushed out to some extent, the entrance box 35 moves forward in response to the transport force from the transport conveyor 85 at the next stage.

[Stacking buffer device 36]
As shown in FIG. 17, the stacking buffer device 36 includes a transport conveyor 85 that transports the packing box 35. The transport conveyor 85 has two belt conveyors arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. The transport conveyor 85 reaches from the upstream end on the carry-in side of the stacking buffer device 36 to the downstream end on the carry-out side, and receives and transports the entry box 35 carried out from the lid covering device 33. In the normal state, the packing box 35 moves on the transport conveyor 85 as it is without being buffered by the stacking buffer device 36 and is supplied to the next foreign substance inspection device 37.

  A stopper piece 86 is installed at a predetermined position near the carry-in side of the conveyor 85. The stopper piece 86 is disposed in a space between the left and right belt conveyors constituting the transport conveyor 85. Further, the stopper piece 86 moves up and down under the drive of the thirteenth cylinder 87. The stopper piece 86 in the lowered standby position is positioned below the transport surface of the transport conveyor 85. The upper end of the stopper piece 86 in the raised position protrudes above the transport surface of the transport conveyor 85. Therefore, when the stopper piece 86 is in the standby position, the packing box 35 moves on the conveyor 85 as it is, and when the stopper piece 86 is in the raised position, the packing box 35 comes into contact with the stopper piece 86 and temporarily moves. Stop.

  A push-up plate 88 is disposed below the temporary stop position. The push-up plate 88 moves up and down under the drive of the fourteenth cylinder 89. The push-up plate 88 in the lowered standby position is located on the lower side of the conveyance surface of the conveyance conveyor 85. A pair of movable pieces 90 are arranged on the left and right sides of the push-up plate 88 in the raised position. The movable piece 90 receives the drive of the fifteenth cylinder 91, reciprocates in the horizontal direction, and approaches and separates from each other. As shown in FIG. 17, at the standby position where the pair of movable pieces 90 are separated from each other, the distance between the two becomes wider than the lateral width of the contents box 35. In addition, when the pair of movable pieces 90 are close to each other, the distance between the two becomes narrower than the lateral width of the carrying box 35. Therefore, the carrying box 35 can be supported on the upper surfaces of the pair of movable pieces 90. Further, as described later, the lifting plate 88 is moved up and down and the pair of movable pieces 90 are opened and closed at an appropriate timing, so that a plurality of boxes 35 are stacked on the movable piece 90. It is supposed to be.

  Specific controls and operations for temporarily stopping the transfer box 35 transferred on the transfer conveyor 85 and transferring it to the movable piece 90 are as follows. That is, for example, when the device downstream of the stacking buffer device 36 temporarily stops to temporarily stop the carrying-out of the contents box 35, a predetermined position on the transport conveyor 85 by the stopper piece 86 as shown in FIG. Pause at. Next, the push-up plate 88 is moved up to the upper position by driving the fourteenth cylinder 89 (FIGS. 18A-1 and 18A-2). At this time, the movable piece 90 is in the standby position, and the bottom surface of the contents box 35 lifted by the push-up plate 88 is positioned at the same height as the upper surface of the movable piece 90. Further, the stopper piece 86 is once lowered and returned to the standby position. Thereby, for example, when the downstream stop is released after the entrance box 35 is pushed up, the subsequent entrance box 35 moves on the conveyor 85 as it is.

  On the other hand, the entrance box 35 lifted by the push-up plate 88 moves the pair of movable pieces 90 closer to each other by the drive of the fifteenth cylinder 91, and supports the bottom surface of the entrance box 35 on the upper surface of the movable piece 90. . Next, the push-up plate 88 moves downward (FIGS. 18B-1 and 18B-2). As a result, the support for the entry box 35 is transferred from the push-up plate 88 to the movable piece 90. Further, when the push-up plate 88 returns to the standby position, it prepares for the buffer of the next entry box 35, and when the stopper piece 86 rises, the entry box 35 temporarily stops on the push-up plate 88.

  Next, the push-up plate 88 moves upward and lifts the contents box 35. At this time, since the movable piece 90 is closed, the upper surface of the container box 35 on the push-up plate 88 is placed on the lower surface of the movable piece 90 as shown in FIGS. 18 (c-1) and 18 (c-2). The pair of movable pieces 90 are moved away at the timing of contact or proximity. Then, as shown in FIGS. 18 (d-1) and 18 (d-2), a predetermined number of boxes 35 (here, one) supported by the movable piece 90 are supported by the movable piece 90. It drops and falls and is placed on the grabbing box 35 on the push-up plate 88 located immediately below (FIG. 18 (d-1), FIG. 18 (d-2)). Since the drop distance is as short as the thickness of the movable piece 90, the impact at the time of dropping is small, and the drop distance is held on the push-up plate 88. Thereafter, when the push-up plate 88 further moves upward and reaches the uppermost position, the bottom surface of the bottommost storage box 35 lifted by the push-up plate 88 is positioned at the same height as the upper surface of the movable piece 90 (FIG. 18). (E-1), FIG. 18 (e-2)).

  On the other hand, the entrance box 35 lifted by the push-up plate 88 moves the pair of movable pieces 90 closer to each other by the drive of the fifteenth cylinder 91, and supports the bottom surface of the entrance box 35 on the upper surface of the movable piece 90. (FIG. 18 (f-1), FIG. 18 (f-2)). As a result, the support for the stacked boxes 35 is transferred from the push-up plate 88 to the movable piece 90. Thereafter, by repeating the above process, a predetermined number of boxes 35 are stacked on the movable piece 90 (FIGS. 18 (g-1) and 18 (g-2)).

  On the other hand, a buffer conveyor 94 is disposed above the transfer conveyor 85 at a predetermined distance. The height position where the buffer conveyor 94 is installed, the upper surface of the push-up plate 88 in the raised position, and the upper surface of the movable piece 90 are positioned in substantially the same plane. Then, the carry-in side end of the buffer conveyor 94 and the movable piece 90 are arranged close to each other. Further, a pusher plate 92 extending upward is disposed in the vicinity of the side edge of the movable piece 90 opposite to the buffer conveyor 94. The pusher plate 92 reciprocates in the horizontal direction under the drive of the sixteenth cylinder 93. Specifically, in the standby position shown in FIG. 17, the movable piece 90 is positioned at a predetermined distance outside. When the cylinder rod is extended by the forward movement of the sixteenth cylinder 93 from this standby position, the pusher plate 92 approaches the movable piece 90 and further advances through the movable piece 90 to the vicinity of the carry-in end side of the buffer conveyor 94. It moves (FIG. 18 (h-1), FIG. 18 (h-2)). Further, the lower end of the pusher plate 92 is located below the upper surface of the movable piece 90. In addition, the upper end of the pusher plate 92 is set to be positioned above the upper surface of the input box 35 positioned at the uppermost end of the plurality of input boxes 35 stacked on the movable piece 90. Thereby, it is possible to reliably apply an urging force to the entrance box 35 supported by being in contact with the movable piece 90, and to reliably push out the entrance boxes 35 placed on the moveable piece 90. it can.

  A transfer conveyor 95 is arranged on the carry-out side of the buffer conveyor 94. On the left and right sides of the transfer conveyor 95, second stopper columns 97 are formed upright. Each second stopper column 97 is composed of an L-shaped plate, and its height is higher by a predetermined length than the height of the plurality of stacked bins 35 that move on the buffer conveyor 94 and the transfer conveyor 95. It is set to be. The pair of second stopper columns 97 are linked to predetermined driving means such as a cylinder, for example, and move in a direction (hereinafter also referred to as “left-right direction”) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the contents box 35. The pair of second stopper columns 97 are moved toward and away from each other synchronously, and in the standby state where the two are separated most, the distance between the pair of second stopper columns 97 is approximately equal to or wider than the lateral width of the contents box 35. doing. Thereby, when in the standby position, the packing box 35 moving on the transfer conveyor 95 passes between the pair of second stopper columns 97 and moves forward. On the other hand, when the second stopper columns 97 in the standby state move forward so as to approach each other, each second stopper column 97 protrudes forward in the moving direction of the packing box 35, and the packing box 35 moves forward. It reaches a position to block. Then, the second stopper column 97 comes into contact with the front surface of the stacked boxes 35, and the movement of the boxes 35 is temporarily stopped even when the transfer conveyor 95 is rotating. As a result, for example, when a plurality of stacked bins 35 are moved back and forth on the buffer conveyor 94, the leading bin 35 can be separated from the following.

  A second pusher device 96 is disposed on the carry-out side of the transfer conveyor 95. The second pusher device 96 includes a round bar-like third bar 96a and a fourth bar 96b extending in the vertical direction, a connection plate 96c for connecting them in a predetermined relative positional relationship, and a connection plate 96c (not shown). Drive device. The connection plate 96c is substantially L-shaped in plan, and connects the third bar 96a and the fourth bar 96b to both ends of the connection plate 96c. The connecting plate 96c is movable in a horizontal plane in cooperation with a driving device (not shown). The third bar 96a and the fourth bar 96b integrated with the connecting plate 96c by receiving the driving force of the driving device are perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packing box 35 (hereinafter also referred to as “left-right direction”). Then, it moves in a direction (hereinafter also referred to as “front-rear direction”) parallel to the conveying direction of the carrying box 35. The drive device may be constituted by a cylinder, for example.

  The operation of the second pusher device 96 is as follows. First, the second pusher device 96 moves backward in both the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, and the pair of left and right second pusher devices 96 (third bar 96a, fourth bar 96b) are separated from each other, and the distance between them is the longest. At the same time, the state located on the rear side in the traveling direction is the standby state. In this standby state, the interval between the left and right third bars 96 a is set to be wider than the width of the entry box 35, and the entry box 35 moving on the transfer conveyor 95 passes between the second pusher devices 96. And move further forward.

  After the rear surface of the carrying box 35 in the traveling direction passes through the position of the third bar 96a of the second pusher device 96, the pair of second pusher devices 96 move toward each other by the driving device. Thereby, the third bar 96a faces the rear surface of the contents box 35. In addition, the fourth bar 96 b contacts the side surface of the contents box 35. Further, the second pusher device 96 is moved forward in the conveyance direction of the packing box 35 by the driving device. As a result, both corners on the rear side in the traveling direction of the packing box 35 are suppressed by the pair of second pusher devices 96, and the packing box 35 is urged forward as the second pusher device 96 moves forward.

  In front of the transfer conveyor 95 on the carry-out end side, a storage box stocker device 100 is arranged. Further, since the carry-out end of the transfer conveyor 85 is located on the downstream side of the carry-out end of the buffer conveyor 94, the packing box stocker device 100 is located above the transfer conveyer 85. And this receipt box stocker apparatus 100 receives the receipt boxes 35 piled up by the 2nd pusher apparatus 96, and carries out the receipt boxes 35 one by one on the conveyance conveyor 85 from the lower side.

  As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 19, the storage box stocker device 100 is opened on the carry-in side, allows the stacked storage boxes 35 to enter, and guide rods 102 and 104 are erected on the remaining three sides. Then, the side of the stacked bin 35 that has entered the bin box stocker device 100 is guided. Specifically, a plurality of round bar-shaped third guide bars 102 are erected on the back side in front of the travel box 35 in the traveling direction, and the third guide bars 102 are linked by a connecting plate 103. The The front surface of the input box 35 pushed into the input box stocker device 100 by the second pusher device 96 comes into contact with the third guide rod 102 and is positioned. Further, a plurality of round bar-shaped fourth guide bars 104 are erected on both the left and right sides of the travel box 35 in the traveling direction, and the fourth guide bars 104 are linked by connecting plates 105 at both upper and lower ends. The The interval between the fourth guide rods 104 arranged on the left and right is substantially equal to the lateral width of the contents box 35. Preferably, the fourth guide rod 104 is supported by a bearing so as to be capable of rotating with respect to the connecting plate 105. If it does in this way, the fourth guide rod 104 which contacted the side surface of the receipt box 35 will rotate in the case of the entrance of the piled receipt box 35, and it may guide smooth entry.

  Further, two seventeenth cylinders 106 are arranged on the outside of the fourth guide rod 104 so as to make the reciprocating motion of the cylinder rod horizontal. A support plate 107 is connected to the tip of the cylinder rod 106 a of the seventeenth cylinder 106, and a number of holders 108 are attached to the surface of the support plate 107. As the cylinder rod 106 a reciprocates, the support plate 107 moves toward and away from the fourth guide rod 104 outside the fourth guide rod 104. In the standby position where the support plate 107 is separated from the fourth guide bar 104, the holder 108 is positioned outside the fourth guide bar 104. Therefore, the holder 108 is not in contact with the contents box 35 and allows the supply of the contents box 35 into the contents box stocker device 100 by the second pusher device 96 described above.

  On the other hand, at the operating position where the support plate 107 approaches the outside of the fourth guide rod 104 as the seventeenth cylinder 106 moves, the holder 108 passes through the space between the adjacent fourth guide rods 104 and passes through the fourth guide rod 104. It protrudes from the inside of the bar 104. Therefore, the holder 108 comes into contact with the side surface of the packing box 35 and holds the packing box 35 stacked by the pressure of the seventeenth cylinder 106 from both left and right sides. Furthermore, the holder 108 is in contact with the stacked entrance boxes 35 in the height direction, but is not in contact with the bottom entrance box 35, and at least the second entrance box 35 from the bottom is in contact. And hold.

  In this held state, even if the lower portion of the storage box stocker device 100 is open, the storage box 35 located above the second from the bottom is held by the holder 108 and does not fall. The holder 108 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicon. Moreover, you may provide adsorption | suction means, such as a suction cup.

  Furthermore, the bottom plate 110 which opens and closes is arrange | positioned at the right-and-left side edge of the bottom face of the storage box stocker apparatus 100, respectively. The bottom plate 110 opens and closes the bottom surface of the packing box stocker device 100 by reciprocating in the horizontal direction by receiving a driving force from a driving device such as an eighteenth cylinder 111 that makes the reciprocating motion of the cylinder rod horizontal. . The upper surface of the bottom plate 110 is set to be on the same plane as the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor 95. As a result, the stacked entrance boxes 35 carried out from the transfer conveyor 95 smoothly enter the interior of the entrance box stocker 100 as they are, and are positioned on the bottom plate 110.

  In a state in which both bottom plates 110 are close to each other and closed, the bottom plate 110 blocks a part of the bottom surface of the storage box stocker device 100 and supports left and right side portions of the bottom surface of the storage box 35 located at the lowermost end. The fall of the box 35 is suppressed. As a result, the left and right side portions of the bottom surface of the entry box 35 carried out from the transfer conveyor 95 are smoothly transferred onto the bottom plate 110 and stocked in the entry box stocker device 100.

  On the other hand, in the standby position where the bottom plates 110 are separated from each other, the bottom plate 110 is positioned outside the storage box stocker device 100 and the bottom surface is opened. As a result, the bottommost entry box 35 that is not held by the holding tool 108 is not supported from the bottom plate 110 and is dropped and supplied to the transport conveyor 85.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 19 etc., the receiving plate member 113 which receives the falling box 35 is arranged below the packing box stocker device 100. As shown in FIG. 19A, the receiving plate member 113 is disposed between two belt conveyors constituting the transport conveyor 85. The backing plate member 113 moves up and down by driving a nineteenth cylinder 112 disposed below the receiving plate member 113.

  The stacked bins 35 supplied into the bin box stocker device 100 by the second pusher device 96 are returned to the conveyor 85 in order from the bottom bin 35 as follows. That is, first, as shown in FIGS. 20 (a-1) and 20 (a-2), the bottom plates 110 approach each other to close the bottom of the storage box stocker device 100, and the left and right holders 108 are separated. In the state where the second pusher device 96 is placed in the standby position, the supply box 35 is supplied.

  Next, by driving the seventeenth cylinder 106, the support plate 107 and the holder 108 are moved closer to each other, and the stacked contents box 35 is sandwiched and held from both the left and right sides. At this time, the holding box 108 is not in contact with the bottommost entry box 35 (FIGS. 20B-1 and 20B-2). Further, for example, if the holding box 35 is held by the holder 108, the receiving plate member 113 is moved upward by driving the nineteenth cylinder 112, and the upper surface of the receiving plate member 113 is moved to the uppermost position in the holding box stocker device 100. It is brought into contact with or in close proximity to the bottom surface of the bottom entry box 35.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 20 (c-1) and 20 (c-2), the eighteenth cylinder 111 is driven, and the bottom plate 110 moves away to open the bottom of the entry box stocker device 100. As a result, the support from the bottom plate 110 to the bottommost entry box 35 is released, and the receiving plate member 113 waiting immediately below receives the bottommost entry box 35.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 21A-1 and 21A-2, the receiving plate member 113 is moved downward by driving of the nineteenth cylinder 112, and the contents box 35 is lowered together with the receiving plate member 113. To do. When the receiving plate member 113 is positioned below the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor 85, the contents box 35 on the receiving plate member 113 is transferred onto the transfer conveyor 85. As a result, it moves forward on the conveyor 85 and reaches the foreign substance inspection device 37. Thus, in this embodiment, by arranging the receiving plate member 113 that moves up and down, the drop distance of the drop box 35 dropped from the drop box storage device 100 is shortened and added to the drop box 35 when dropped. The impact can be reduced and the transfer box 85 can be smoothly transferred to a desired position without damaging the contents box 35. Moreover, the raising and lowering of the receiving plate member 113 can be realized with a simple configuration such as the nineteenth cylinder 112.

  Even if the bottom plate 110 is separated and the bottom of the container box stocker device 100 is opened, the container box 35 in the container box stocker device 100 is held by the holder 108, so that it does not fall. It remains in the box stocker device 100.

  Next, when the nineteenth cylinder 112 is driven, the receiving plate member 113 moves upward, and the upper surface of the receiving plate member 113 is in contact with or close to the bottom surface of the bottommost holding box 35 held by the holder 108 (see FIG. 21 (b-1), FIG. 21 (b-2)). Then, the seventeenth cylinder 106 is driven to move the support plate 107 and the holder 108 backward, and the holder 108 is separated from the contents box 35. Thereby, the holding of the entrance box 35 is released, and the entrance box 35 in the entrance box stocker device 100 is supported by the receiving plate member 113 (FIGS. 21C-1 and 21C-2). )).

  Next, by driving the nineteenth cylinder 112, the receiving plate member 113 is moved downward by the height of the contents box 35. Then, the collection box 35 supported by the receiving plate member 113 moves downward as a whole (FIGS. 22A-1 and 22A-2). Then, by driving the seventeenth cylinder 106, the holding tool 108 is moved closer to hold the stacked contents box 35 from both left and right sides. At this time, the holder 108 is not in contact with the bottommost entry box 35 (FIGS. 22B-1 and 22B-2).

  Then, when the backing plate member 113 is further moved downward by driving the nineteenth cylinder 112, only the bottommost packing box 35 is moved downward together with the backing plate member 113. When the receiving plate member 113 is positioned below the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor 85, the contents box 35 on the receiving plate member 113 is transferred onto the transfer conveyor 85. As a result, it moves forward on the conveyor 85 and reaches the foreign substance inspection device 37.

  Thereafter, for example, by repeatedly performing the processing from FIG. 21 (b-1) to FIG. 22 (c-1), the input boxes 35 in the input box stocker device 100 are returned one by one to the transport conveyor 85 one by one. Can do. Therefore, depending on the situation on the downstream side, the entrance box 35 that has moved the conveyor 85 as it is and the entrance box 35 returned from the inside of the entrance box stocker device 100 are appropriately supplied to the downstream device.

[Modification]
The above-described carrying-out process of the carrying box 35 from the carrying-in box stocker apparatus 100 may be applied to the carrying-out process of the box 12 from the stocker apparatus 50. In addition, in the present embodiment, a plurality of storage boxes are temporarily stored in a stacked state by the stacking buffer device 36. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the storage boxes are placed flat one by one. It may be stored.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Box-packing apparatus 11 Empty box conveyance supply apparatus 12 Box 13 Body lid separation apparatus 15 Body box 16 Cover box 18 Body box pool conveyor 19 Cover box pool conveyor 20 Product transfer apparatus 21 Transport apparatus 24 Body box transport apparatus 28 Product 28a Ear part 33 Cover device 35 Carrying box 36 Stack buffer device

Claims (7)

A boxing device that packs a product in a box configured by covering a body box opened upward with a lid box,
Empty box transport means for sequentially transporting empty boxes with the lid box covering the body box;
A body lid separating means that is disposed downstream of the empty box transporting means and separates the body box and the lid box;
A body box transporting means disposed downstream of the body lid separating means and transporting the separated body box;
A lid box transporting means for transporting the separated lid box disposed downstream of the body lid separating means;
Product transfer means for supplying the product into the body box transported by the body box transport means;
Lid covering means that is arranged on the downstream side of the product transfer means and covers the body box supplied with the product with the lid box that is transported by the lid box transporting means;
Arranged on the downstream side of the lid covering means, temporarily stores the input box in accordance with the status of the downstream apparatus of the boxing device, and directs the stored input box to the downstream apparatus. Buffer means for carrying out supply in a
A boxing device characterized by comprising:   2. The boxing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downstream apparatus is in a state in which it is not possible to accept the entry box periodically. The buffer means transports the entry box as it is and carries it out downstream, a second transfer path for branching from the first transfer path and temporarily storing the entry box, ,
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that guides the container box transported from the lid covering unit to one of the first transport path and the second transport path in accordance with a situation of the downstream apparatus. The boxing apparatus according to 1 or 2.   4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a unit that returns to the first conveyance path to return the temporarily stored storage box to the second conveyance path in accordance with the state of the downstream apparatus. Boxing equipment.   The number of bins carried out via the first transport path per unit time is less than the number of bins processed per unit time in the downstream apparatus. The boxing device according to claim 3 or 4.   The boxing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the buffer means stores a plurality of the storage boxes in a stacked state.   The said empty box conveyance means arranges and conveys the said box in the state of the accumulation | stacking which stacked | stacked the plurality of boxes, and carries out the box located in the lowest end in the head accumulation | aggregation | set. The boxing apparatus in any one.

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