JP2017105475A - Boxing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a boxing device capable of changing the size of an opening of a guide device without an artificial error when the type of an article to be boxed is changed.SOLUTION: A boxing device comprises: a device for opening and closing a floor plate 11; a device for holding and pressing an article group on the floor plate 11; a device for raising a pedestal and disposing an exterior box 110 at a boxing position P; a device for pushing the article group into the exterior box 110; a guide device 40 for guiding the pushed article group into the exterior box 110; an operation device in which an operation for setting the type of an article to be boxed is performed; and a control device. The guide device 40 comprises: first and second frame members 41, 42 to which guide members 43, 44 are attached respectively, and which are provided movably in a direction to approach or separate from each other; and a moving mechanism 4A for moving the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 in the direction to approach or separate from each other. The control device is configured to control the moving mechanism 4A so that the interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 becomes a predetermined interval corresponding to the type set by the operation device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a boxing device that packs an article in which a food product such as potato chips, beans, candy or the like is packed or boxed in an outer box such as a cardboard case or a dozen box.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a boxing device, a device has been devised so that articles to be boxed are properly stored in an exterior box (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In Patent Document 1, in a boxing device configured to push an article aligned on a floor board (shutter) into an exterior box disposed below the floor board by opening the floor board, a guide member is provided below the floor board. The first frame member and the second frame member, which are provided so as to be movable in the direction of approaching or separating from each other and define the size of the opening through which the article passes, and one end of the first frame member and the second frame member The structure of the guide apparatus provided with the space | interval adjustment mechanism which adjusts the space | interval of each other, and the follow-up mechanism which makes the movement of the other edge part of a 1st frame member and a 2nd frame member track the movement of one edge part is disclosed. .

JP 2012-224368 A

  In the configuration of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when the size of the outer box is changed by changing the type of the boxed product to be produced, the operator operates the interval adjustment mechanism, etc. Although the size of the opening through which the article passes can be changed by adjusting the interval with the second frame member, an artificial change error may occur.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. When the type of the boxed product is changed, the boxing device that can change the size of the opening of the guide device without human error. It is intended to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a boxing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a floor opening and closing device that has a floor board and drives the floor board to open and close, and an article group formed by aligning articles on the floor board. A clamping device for clamping between a pair of clamping plates from a direction, and a base configured to be able to move up and down while supporting an outer box in a state where four flaps for forming the upper surface of the box are standing, The outer box is placed in a boxing position below the floor board by raising the pedestal from a predetermined lowered position to the raised position, and the outer box is packed in the box by lowering the pedestal from the raised position to the lowered position. An outer box disposing device that retreats to the lower side of the position, and presses the upper surface of the clamped article group in a state where the floor board is opened to cause the article group to escape downward from between the clamp plates, A pushing device that pushes the article group into an outer box disposed at a boxing position, and an opening that is provided below the floor board and through which the article group pushed by the pushing device passes, and the article group to the outer box A guide device for guiding, an operation device for performing an operation for setting a product type of the boxed product, and a control device, wherein each of the guide devices includes a guide member for guiding the group of articles to the outer box. A first frame member and a second frame member that are attached and are movable in the direction of approaching or separating from each other, and that define the size of the opening, and the first frame member and the second frame member are close to each other or A moving mechanism for moving in a separating direction, and the control device includes the first frame member and the second frame member when the article group is pushed into the outer box by the pushing device. Are configured to spacing controls the moving mechanism so as to have a predetermined interval set in advance corresponding to varieties set by the operation unit.

  According to this configuration, when there is a change in the type of boxed product to be produced, the outer box is arranged at the boxing position and the group of articles is placed in the outer box simply by operating the operation unit and setting the type. When pushed in, the interval between the first frame member and the second frame member that defines the size of the opening through which the article group of the guide device passes can be automatically set to a predetermined interval corresponding to the product type. Therefore, when the type of the boxed product is changed, the size of the opening of the guide device can be changed without human error.

  In the control device, an interval between the first frame member and the second frame member is narrower than the predetermined interval when the pedestal is raised from the lowered position to the raised position, and the pedestal is raised. The moving mechanism may be controlled so as to be at the predetermined interval immediately after rising to the position.

  According to this configuration, the space between the first frame member and the second frame member is kept narrow until the empty outer box rises to the boxing position, so that the outer box does not get caught by the guide member and is packed in the box. Can be raised to position. And after an exterior box raises to a boxing position, by making the space | interval of a 1st frame member and a 2nd frame member into a predetermined space | interval, an article group is smoothly guided to an exterior box by a guide member, Can be accurately packed into the outer box.

  When the pedestal is lowered from the raised position to the lowered position, the control device is configured such that the interval between the first frame member and the second frame member is immediately before the pedestal is lowered from the raised position. The moving mechanism may be configured to be controlled so as to have an interval narrower than a predetermined interval.

  According to this configuration, the interval between the first frame member and the second frame member is set to a narrow interval immediately before the outer box in which the article group is stored is lowered from the boxing position. Thereby, when the exterior box in which the article group is stored is light, for example, it is possible to prevent the exterior box from being caught by the guide member and becoming difficult to descend.

  The moving mechanism is provided at one end of the first frame member and the second frame member in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction, and the one end of the first frame member and the second frame A main mechanism for moving the one end of the member in a direction toward or away from each other, and the other end of the first frame member and the second frame member in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction. And a follow-up mechanism that causes each movement of the other end portion to follow each movement of the one end portion.

  According to this configuration, if the distance between the one end portions is changed by moving the one end portions of the first frame member and the second frame member by the main mechanism, the first frame member and the second frame are changed by the tracking mechanism. Since the other end portion of the member can follow the movement of the one end portion and also change the distance between the other end portions, a driving device for moving the other end portions of the first frame member and the second frame member is provided. It is unnecessary.

  The present invention can provide a boxing device having the above-described configuration and capable of changing the size of the opening of the guide device without human error when the type of the boxed product is changed. There is an effect.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an example of a boxing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a plan view of the guide device as viewed from above, FIG. 2B is a front view of the guide device, and FIG. 2C is AA in FIG. 2A. It is sectional drawing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a linear motion mechanism. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a control system of the boxing device. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the boxing device.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout all the drawings, and redundant description thereof is omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

(Embodiment)
[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an example of a boxing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The boxing device 100 of the present embodiment is a device that packs a plurality of articles W packed in a packaging material such as a pillow bag in the outer box 110 in an aligned state. In the boxing device 100 and the exterior box 110, for convenience, the front, rear, left, and right are determined as shown in FIG. Note that the top and bottom shown in FIG. 1 are true.

  The boxing device 100 includes an alignment conveyor (article alignment device) 6 that aligns a plurality (a predetermined number) of articles W sequentially supplied from the supply conveyor 200 and conveys the articles W to a predetermined alignment position T, and an alignment position T of the alignment conveyor 6. A plurality of articles W in an aligned state to an article placement position A on the floor board 11; a stop member 17 that contacts an article group consisting of the plurality of articles W pushed to the article placement position A; A holding device 18 that positions the article group together with the stopper member 17 by pressing the article group pushed out to the article placement position A from the extrusion direction (to adjust the posture), and a plurality of articles W pushed out to the article placement position A. A clamping device 8 that clamps an article group consisting of a horizontal direction orthogonal to the extrusion direction, a floor opening and closing device 10 that opens and closes a floor (a pair of floorboards 11) on which the article group is placed, and an article A pushing device 9 that pushes the outer box 110 into the outer box 110, a guide device 40 (FIG. 2) that guides a group of articles pushed into the outer box 110 to the outer box 110, and an outer box that places the outer box 110 below the floor opening and closing device 10. The arrangement device 20 includes a control device 30 that controls the operation of the boxing device 100, an operation indicator 50, and a frame 1 that supports each component of the boxing device 100 at a predetermined position.

[Configuration of supply conveyor]
The supply conveyor 200 is configured by, for example, a belt conveyor. When a plurality of articles W are sequentially supplied from a preceding apparatus (not shown) such as a vertical pillow packaging machine, the supply conveyor 200 conveys these articles W and aligns the conveyor 6. To supply.

[Configuration of alignment conveyor]
The aligning conveyor 6 aligns a plurality of articles W in a line in an upright state, and includes an endless track 60 that conveys the plurality of articles W in one direction (the direction from left to right in FIG. 1), and endless It has a plurality of fins (partition plates) 61 provided on the transport surface 60a of the track at intervals in the transport direction. A plurality of accommodating portions 62 capable of accommodating the article W are formed on the endless track 60 between the fins 61 by a plurality of fins 61.

  The endless track 60 has four annular belts supported by a pair of sprockets 63. The four annular belts are divided into two to constitute a first belt group 64 and a second belt group 65. Each of the first belt group 64 and the second belt group 65 is provided with a plurality of fins 61. The first belt group 64 is configured to be rotationally driven by one sprocket 63, and the second belt group 65 is configured to be rotationally driven by the other sprocket 63. Each of the pair of sprockets 63 is driven by a separate motor. As a result, the first belt group 64 and the second belt group 65 can be circulated and driven independently of each other, and the operation of receiving the article W in the accommodating portion 62 at the article take-in position S while one belt group repeatedly stops for a while. And the operation | movement which hold | maintains the state which the other belt group stopped the article W of the accommodating part 62 in the alignment position T can be performed simultaneously.

  In addition, an article take-in detection device 69 is provided on the upstream side of the alignment conveyor 6. The article take-in detection device 69 includes a pair of light projectors and light receivers, the optical path of which is arranged so as to cross the article take-in position S, and detects the presence of the article W transferred to the article take-in position S. it can.

  As described above, the alignment conveyor 6 sequentially receives the articles W transferred from the supply conveyor 200 at the article take-in position S, changes the posture of the articles W from the sleeping posture to the upright posture, and aligns them in a line. Then, it is conveyed to the alignment position T.

[Configuration of extrusion equipment]
The extrusion apparatus 7 includes a flat plate-like extrusion member 70 in which a plurality of slits 71 are formed. The pushing member 70 is guided by a rail member (not shown) by a driving force of a driving device (not shown), and a retraction position positioned along one side of the alignment conveyor 6 and the alignment conveyor 6 It is configured to advance and retract in the horizontal direction between a predetermined advance position on the other side. The plurality of slits 71 are arranged from the lower end of the pushing member 70 to the intermediate portion so that the pushing member 70 does not come into contact with the plurality of fins 61 located at the alignment position T when the pushing member 70 moves and retracts between the retracted position and the advanced position. Is formed so as to extend in the vertical direction.

  When the push-out member 70 advances from the retracted position (the position shown in the figure) to the advanced position (moves in the x direction), the plurality of articles W aligned on the alignment conveyor 6 are moved onto the passage portion 73. And is pushed out to the article placement position A. The passage portion 73 is provided with a pair of guide plates 74 in order to prevent the plurality of articles W pushed out by the pushing member 70 from being scattered.

  Accordingly, the plurality of articles W accommodated in the series of accommodating portions 62 located at the alignment position T are pushed out by the extrusion member 70 to become an article group aligned in the conveying direction of the alignment conveyor 6, and are placed on the closed floor plate 11. It is placed at the set article placement position A.

[Structure of stopper member]
The stop member 17 is a plate-like body extending in the same direction as the extending direction of the alignment conveyor 6, and is fixed to the frame body 1 so as to face the extrusion member 70 located at the advanced position. Therefore, the article W pushed out to the article placement position A by the pushing member 70 is configured to come into contact with the stopper member 17 and stop on the closed floor board 11.

[Configuration of holding device]
The pressing device 18 includes a pressing member 19 and a drive device (not shown) that swings the pressing member 19. As the driving device, for example, a servo motor can be used. The pressing member 19 has a pressing position, which is a position indicated by a solid line, and a retracted position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line) in which the pressing member 19 is rotated from the pressing position toward the alignment conveyor 6. It is configured to swing between.

  By positioning the pressing member 19 at the retracted position indicated by the two-dot chain line, it is possible to avoid contact with the pushing member 70 when the pushing member 70 moves back and forth. On the other hand, after the push-out member 70 is retracted, the upper side surface of the article group pushed out by the push-out member 70 is pushed by positioning the presser member 19 in the press-down position, and is located at the article placement position A together with the stop member 17. The position of each article W in the article group is adjusted in the width direction.

[Configuration of the clamping device]
The pressing device 8 includes a pair of flat pressing plates 80. The pair of pressing plates 80 are disposed on the extension line of the pair of guide plates 74 above the pair of floor plates 11. That is, the pair of pressing plates 80 are provided so as to face each other in the horizontal direction orthogonal (crossing) to the moving direction of the pushing member 70. The pair of pressing plates 80 extends to the vicinity of the stopper member 17. And on the floor board 11, the area | region divided by the stop member 17, the pressing member 19 located in a pressing position, and a pair of clamping board 80 is formed. This region constitutes the article placement position A. Then, the article group is placed by the push-out device 7 in a state where the pair of pressing plates 80 are aligned in the facing direction on the article placement position A.

  A shaft 81 extending in the horizontal direction is provided on the back surface of each pinching plate 80. Each shaft body 81 is configured to move forward and backward in a direction in which the pair of pressing plates 80 approach each other and in a direction away from each other by a driving force of a driving device (not shown) together with the pressing plates 80. When the pair of pressing plates 80 advance in a direction approaching each other, the article group located at the article placement position A is sandwiched between the pair of pressing plates 80 from the alignment direction Y, so the article placement position A The articles W located in the position can be brought into close contact with each other.

[Configuration of floor opening and closing device]
The floor opening / closing device 10 includes a pair of floor plates 11 that are disposed on the side of the alignment conveyor 6 and extend in the horizontal direction. The pair of floor boards 11 are supported by a plurality of rollers disposed on the frame body 1 at their edges, and are configured to be able to advance and retreat with their end faces facing each other contacting and separating. And a pair of floor board 11 is comprised so that it may be opened and closed by the drive force of a drive device (not shown). A known actuator such as a servo motor can be used for this driving device. When the pair of floor boards 11 are driven backward, an opening is formed immediately below the article placement position A (the floor board 11 is opened).

[Configuration of pushing device]
The pushing device 9 includes a shaft body 90 extending in the vertical direction, and a pushing member 91 having a lower end of the shaft body 90 joined to the upper surface thereof. The shaft body 90 is supported by the frame body 1 so as to be movable up and down. The shaft body 90 is configured to move up and down in the vertical direction together with the pushing member 91 by a driving force of a driving device (not shown). A known actuator such as a servo motor can be used for this driving device. The pushing device 9 lowers the pushing member 91 to push the upper surface of the article group at the article placement position A downward so that the article group escapes downward from between the pair of pressing plates 80 and is opened. Can be pushed into the outer packaging box 110 located at the boxing position P through the opening between the floor plates 11 and the opening W1 (FIG. 2) of the guide device 40 described later.

  In this example, a suction port for sucking the upper surface of the article group is provided on the lower surface of the pushing member 91, and suction ports such as a vacuum pump and a suction blower are communicated with the suction port. Yes. That is, the pushing member 91 functions as an adsorbing tool that adsorbs the upper surface of the article group, and can push the article group into the outer box 110 by descending to a predetermined position while adsorbing and holding the upper surface of the article group. it can.

[Configuration of exterior box placement device]
The exterior box placement device 20 includes an exterior box transport conveyor 22 that horizontally transports the exterior box 110 and an exterior box lifting device 21 that lifts the exterior box 110 stopped on the exterior box transport conveyor 22.

  The outer box transport conveyor 22 is a so-called drive roller conveyor, and includes a large number of drive rollers 22a that are spaced apart from each other in parallel. Each driving roller 22a is driven by a driving force of a driving device (not shown), and thereby the outer box 110 is conveyed in the y direction.

  The outer box lifting / lowering device 21 includes a pedestal 24 on which the outer box 110 is placed. The pedestal 24 includes a plurality of bar members 24a that are spaced apart from each other in parallel on the same horizontal plane, and a connecting member 24b that connects one or both ends of each bar member 24a. The bar 24a is configured to be buried in the gap between the drive rollers 22a at the box stop position U. The pedestal 24 is supported by a known lifting device (not shown). And the base 24 is comprised so that raising / lowering operation | movement can be carried out with the drive force of the drive device of a raising / lowering apparatus. That is, the pedestal 24 moves up and down between a predetermined lowered position where the bar 24a is buried in the gap between the drive rollers 22a and a predetermined raised position. When the pedestal 24 is in a predetermined raised position, the outer box 110 on the pedestal 24 is configured to be in the boxing position P.

  The restraining device 23 is a device that is attached to the pedestal 24 and moves the bar 23a extending in the horizontal direction so as to be orthogonal to the transporting direction (y direction) of the outer box transporting conveyor 22, and is composed of, for example, an air cylinder. Can do. The restraining device 23 can stop the outer box 110 at the box stop position U below the article placement position A by moving the bar body 23a to the transport path of the outer box transport conveyor 22, and the bar body 23a can be stopped. By retracting from the transport path of the exterior box transport conveyor 22, the exterior box 110 can be transported from the box stop position U to the downstream side.

  A box detection device 25 is provided on the connecting member 24b. Therefore, the box detection device 25 moves up and down together with the pedestal 24. The box detection device 25 includes a photoelectric sensor, and can detect the presence of the outer box 110 located at the box stop position U (or the boxing position P).

  Thus, the exterior box placement device 20 can transport the exterior box 110 carried into the boxing device 100 by the exterior box transport conveyor 22 and can be positioned at the box stop position U by the rod body 23 a of the restraining device 23. And the exterior box arrangement | positioning apparatus 20 raises the base 24 to the predetermined | prescribed raise position from the descending position of the state in which the bar 24a is buried in the clearance gap between the drive rollers 22a, and the lower surface ( The outer box 110 can be lifted and placed in the boxing position P with the bottom surface supported by the bar 24a. After the articles are stored in the outer box 110, the outer box placement device 20 lowers the pedestal 24 to the lowered position, thereby returning the outer box 110 to the box stop position U. By retracting the rod 23a, the outer box 110 can be carried out of the boxing device 100 by the outer box transport conveyor 22.

[Configuration of guide device]
2A is a plan view of the guide device 40 as viewed from above, FIG. 2B is a front view of the guide device 40, and FIG. 2C is A in FIG. It is -A sectional drawing.

  The guide device 40 is provided directly below the floor board 11 as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, the exterior box 110 indicated by a two-dot chain line indicates a state where it is located at the boxing position P.

  The outer box 110 is, for example, a cardboard box that has a cubic or rectangular parallelepiped shape when the four flaps (lid plates) F1 to F4 are closed. The outer box 110 is attached to the boxing device 100 in a state where the four flaps F1 to F4 for forming the upper surface (upper lid) are standing (a state extending upward), that is, the upper surface of the outer box 110 is opened. It is carried in and carried out from the boxing device 100 in the same state.

  The guide device 40 constitutes an opening W1 through which an article group pushed by the pushing device 9 passes, and guides the article group passing through the opening W1 to the exterior box 110, and is arranged in parallel to each other. , Second frame members 41, 42, first and second guide members 43, 44 attached to the first and second frame members 41, 42, and the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42. And a moving mechanism 4 </ b> A for moving in the direction of approaching or separating.

  The 1st frame member 41 and the 2nd frame member 42 are the members which prescribe | regulate the size of the opening W1 while comprising the front part and rear part in the inner peripheral part of the opening W1, and are formed in the rod shape. Each of the first and second frame members 41 and 42 extends in the same direction as the opening / closing direction of the floor board 11 (= the alignment direction Y of the article group), and is provided so as to be movable in a direction close to or away from each other. Yes. A first guide member 43 and a second guide member 44 are attached to inner surfaces of the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 facing each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (C), the upper portions of the first and second guide members 43 and 44 are inclined outward as they go upward so as to guide the article. Each of the first and second guide members 43 and 44 has hanging portions 43a and 44a that extend downward so that the mutually facing flaps F1 and F3 of the outer box 110 do not fall inward.

  The moving mechanism 4A includes a main mechanism 4B and a follow-up mechanism 4C. First, the main mechanism 4B will be described.

  The main mechanism 4B includes a guide rail 45, two moving blocks 46a and 46b attached to the guide rail 45 along the longitudinal direction thereof, a linear motion mechanism 47, first and second main driving arms 48, 49.

  The guide rail 45 and the two moving blocks 46a and 46b can be constituted by so-called linear guides. One end of the first and second frame members 41 and 42 is fixed to each of the moving blocks 46a and 46b. The guide rail 45 is fixed to the guide rail mounting member 101, and both ends of the guide rail mounting member 101 are supported by the frame body 1.

  The linear motion mechanism 47 is fixed on a mounting member 102 extending leftward from the guide rail mounting member 101. One end of the mounting member 102 is fixed to the substantially center lower portion of the guide rail mounting member 101, and the other end is supported by the frame body 1.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the linear motion mechanism 47. As shown in FIG. 3, the linear motion mechanism 47 includes, for example, a slide table 47a, a guide rail 47b having a substantially U-shaped cross section, a ball screw 47c, a motor 47d connected to the ball screw 47c, and having an encoder. Configured. The slide table 47a is disposed inside the guide rail 47b, and has a function of a nut portion into which the ball screw 47c is screwed and a moving block that is movably attached to the guide rail 47b along the longitudinal direction thereof. ing. A servo motor can be used as the motor 47d. In this linear motion mechanism 47, when the motor 47d rotates forward and backward, the ball screw 47c rotates forward and backward, and the slide table 47a moves in the left-right direction. Such a linear motion mechanism 47 can use a commercially available thing, and is not restricted to what is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, one moving block 46a and the slide table 47a are connected by the first main driving arm 48, and the other moving block 46b and the slide table 47a are connected by the second main driving arm 49. . Here, the first main driving arm 48 is rotatably attached to an axis a2 fixed at one end of the moving block 46a, and is rotatable at an axis a1 fixed at the other end of the slide table 47a. Is attached. Similarly, the second main driving arm 49 is rotatably attached to an axis a3 whose one end is fixed on the other moving block 46b and whose other end is freely rotatable on an axis a1 fixed on the slide table 47a. Is attached.

  Next, the follow-up mechanism 4C includes a guide rail 51 arranged in parallel with the guide rail 45 of the main mechanism 4B, and two moving blocks 52a and 52b attached to the guide rail 51 so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction thereof. The guide rail 53 and the moving block 54 and the first and second driven arms 55 and 56 are provided.

  The guide rail 51 and the two moving blocks 52a and 52b can be configured by so-called linear guides. The other ends of the first and second frame members 41 and 42 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the moving blocks 52a and 52b, respectively. The guide rail 51 is fixed to the guide rail mounting member 103, and both ends of the guide rail mounting member 103 are supported by the frame body 1.

  A guide rail 53 is fixed on an attachment member 104 extending leftward from the guide rail attachment member 103. A moving block 54 is attached to the guide rail 53 so as to be movable along its longitudinal direction. The guide rail 53 and the moving block 54 can be configured by so-called linear guides. One end of the mounting member 104 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the lower surface of the guide rail mounting member 103, and the other end is supported by the frame body 1.

  One moving block 52 a and the moving block 54 are connected by the first driven arm 55, and the other moving block 52 b and the moving block 54 are connected by the second driven arm 56. Here, one end of the first driven arm 55 is rotatably attached to a shaft a5 fixed on one moving block 52a, and the other end thereof is freely rotatable on a shaft a4 fixed on the moving block 54. Is attached. Similarly, one end of the second driven arm 56 is rotatably attached to a shaft a6 fixed on the other moving block 52b, and the other end thereof is freely rotatable on a shaft a4 fixed on the moving block 54. Is attached.

  With the above configuration, when the motor 47d of the linear motion mechanism 47 rotates forward and backward, the ball screw 47c rotates forward and backward, and the slide table 47a moves in the left-right direction. For example, when the slide table 47a moves to the left, the moving blocks 46a and 46b move in a direction in which they approach each other, and accordingly, the first and second frame members 41 and 42 move in a direction in which they approach each other. As the moving blocks 52a and 52b approach each other, the moving block 54 moves to the right. On the other hand, when the slide table 47a moves to the right, the moving blocks 46a and 46b move away from each other, and accordingly, the first and second frame members 41 and 42 move away from each other, and the other end moves. The blocks 52a and 52b are separated from each other, and the moving block 54 moves to the left. In this manner, the distance between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 (the distance between the first guide member 43 and the second guide member 44) can be adjusted or changed.

[Configuration of control system]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a control system of the boxing device 100.

  The control device 30 provided in the boxing device 100 includes, for example, a control unit 31 having a computing unit such as a CPU and a storage unit 32 having a memory such as a ROM and a RAM. The article detection signal output from the article take-in detection device 69 and the box detection signal output from the box detection device 25 are input to the control unit 31. Predetermined control programs are stored in the storage unit 32, and the control unit 31 reads and executes these control programs, whereby the control device 30 causes the alignment conveyor 6, the extrusion device 7, the pressing device 8, and the push-in device. The operation of each of the device 9, the floor opening / closing device 10, the pressing device 18, the outer box placement device 20, the guide device 40 and the operation indicator 50 is controlled. That is, the operation of the entire boxing device 100 is controlled by the control device 30. The control device 30 may be configured by a single control device that performs centralized control, or may be configured by a plurality of control devices that perform distributed control in cooperation with each other.

  The operation indicator 50 is configured using, for example, a touch panel display and the like. The operation indicator 50 is used to perform operations such as operation start / stop of the boxing device and setting of operation parameters thereof, and setting information of the boxing device is displayed on a screen ( Display device).

  In addition, the control device 30 inputs a signal from the operation display 50 and outputs a signal such as data to be displayed on the operation display 50.

  The operator can set the type of boxed product to be produced by operating the operation display 50. The product type set here is stored in the storage unit 32 in the control device 30. In addition, in the storage unit 32, an interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 that prescribes the size in the front-rear direction of the opening W1 according to the size of the exterior box used for each of a plurality of types is stored. Information on the rotation angle of the motor 47d for setting (hereinafter referred to as “interval setting information”) is stored.

  First, before starting the operation of the boxing device 100, the operator operates the operation display 50 to set the type of boxed product to be produced. This setting can be performed, for example, by displaying a plurality of product types that can be produced on the screen of the operation display 50 by operating the operation display 50 and selecting one of them.

  The control device 30 controls the motor 47d of the guide device 40 based on the interval setting information corresponding to the product type set by operating the operation indicator 50, and the interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42. Can be set to a predetermined interval (L1). Further, in this example, the control device 30 sets the interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 to an interval L2 (L2 = L1-m, where m is a predetermined interval) that is narrower than a predetermined interval L1 according to the product type. Value), the motor 47d can be controlled.

[Operation of boxing device]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the boxing device 100. This operation is realized by processing of the control device 30.

  As described above, before the operation is started, the operator operates the operation display 50 to set the type of boxed product to be produced. Thereby, the control apparatus 30 controls the guide apparatus 40 (motor 47d), and the space | interval of the 1st frame member 41 and the 2nd frame member 42 is narrower than the predetermined space | interval L1 according to the set kind. The interval is set to L2.

  When the operation is started, in step S1, the control device 30 controls the alignment conveyor 6 to align the predetermined number of articles W sequentially supplied from the supply conveyor 200 at the alignment position T.

  Next, in step S <b> 2, the control device 30 controls the pushing device 7 to move the pushing member 70 from the retracted position to the advanced position, thereby pushing the articles W aligned at the aligning position T onto the floor plate 11. . Then, the control device 30 returns the pushing member 70 from the advanced position to the retracted position. As a result, the article group is placed in the article placement position A in an aligned state.

  Next, in step S3, the control device 30 controls the pressing device 18, swings the pressing member 19 downward to the pressing position, and presses the upper side surface of the extruded group of articles. Thereby, each article W is in a state where both ends in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the alignment direction Y are aligned by the pressing member 19 and the stopper member 17. Subsequently, the control device 30 controls the pinching device 8 to advance the pinching plates 80 in directions in which the pair of pinching plates 80 approach each other. As a result, the article group can be clamped from the alignment direction Y to bring the articles W into close contact with each other.

  Next, in step S4, the control device 30 controls the pushing device 9 to lower the pushing member 91 having a suction function so as to come into contact with the top surface of the clamped article group, so that the top surface of the article group is lowered. Adsorb. As a result, the article group is held by the pushing member 91.

  Next, in step S5, the control device 30 controls the floor opening / closing device 10 to drive the pair of floor plates 11 backward. As a result, an opening is formed immediately below the article group located at the article placement position A.

  On the other hand, the control device 30 performs an exterior box arrangement process (step S6) and a guide device control process (step S7) in parallel with the processes of steps S1 to S5.

  In step S <b> 6, the control device 30 has previously placed the rod body 23 a of the restraining device 23 at the advanced position, and stops the outer box 110 carried by the outer box transport conveyor 22 at the box stop position U. . When the control device 30 receives a box detection signal from the box detection device 25, the control device 30 stops the transfer operation of the outer box transfer conveyor 22, raises the base 24, and moves the outer box 110 at the box stop position U to the boxing position P. To be located.

  Next, in step S7, the control device 30 controls the guide device 40 to change the interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 from a narrow interval L2 to a predetermined interval L1 according to the set product type. spread.

  Next, in step S <b> 8, the control device 30 controls the pushing device 9 to push the article group into the outer box 110 by lowering the pushing member 91 adsorbing the article group. At this time, the article group slides through the pair of pinching plates 80, passes through the opening of the pair of floor plates 11 and the opening W1 of the guide device 40, and is guided into the exterior box 110.

  Next, in step S9, the control device 30 returns the pushing device 9, the guide device 40, the floor opening / closing device 10 and the like to the original state. For example, the pushing device 9 stops the suction function of the pushing member 91 and then raises the pushing member 91 to above the formation position of the article group. After the pushing member 91 is raised, the guide device 40 is controlled so that the distance between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 is changed from a predetermined distance L1 to a narrow distance L2, and the floor plate 11 is closed. Further, the pressing member 19 is returned to the retracted position, and the pressing plate 80 is retracted to return to the original position.

  And the control apparatus 30 performs the process of step S10 in parallel with step S9. In step S10, after the pedestal 24 is lowered and the outer box 110 containing the group of articles is positioned at the box stop position U, the rod body 23a of the restraining device 23 is retracted from the transport path, and the outer box transport conveyor 22 is transported. The operation is resumed and the outer box 110 is unloaded from the boxing device 100.

  In this example, after the interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 of the guide device 40 is set to the narrow interval L2 (immediately after) in step S9, the pedestal 24 in step S10 is lowered. I have to.

  Then, the same boxing operation as described above is newly repeated.

  In this boxing device 100, when there is a change in the type of boxed product to be produced (there is a change in the longitudinal dimension of the exterior box 110 in FIG. 1), the type is set by operating the operation indicator 50. When the outer box 110 is placed at the boxing position P and the group of articles is pushed into the outer box 110, the interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 is automatically set according to the product type. The predetermined interval L1 can be set. Therefore, when the type of the boxed product is changed, the size of the opening W1 of the guide device 40 can be changed without human error. In addition, the setup change work of the guide device 40 is not required, and the setup change work time associated with the type change can be shortened.

  In this example, until the empty outer box 110 rises to the boxing position P, the distance between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 is set to a narrow distance L2, so that the outer box 110 is a guide member. It can be raised to the boxing position P without being caught by the hanging parts 43a, 44a at the lower ends of 43,44. Then, after the outer box 110 is moved up to the boxing position P, the distance between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 is set to a predetermined distance L1, so that the hanging portions 43a, 44a of the guide members 43, 44 are Since the flaps F1 and F3 are in contact with the inside of the flaps F1 and F3 of the outer box 110 and the flaps F1 and F3 are normally opened, the articles to be pushed in can be smoothly guided to the outer box 110, and the articles can be accurately guided to the outer box 110. Can be stuffed into.

  Further, as in this example, before the outer box 110 in which the group of articles is stored is lowered from the packing position P, the interval between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 is set to a narrow interval L2. Yes. This can prevent the exterior box 110 from being caught by the hanging parts 43a and 44a extending downward from the guide members 43 and 44 and becoming difficult to descend when the exterior box 110 in which the article group is stored is light, for example.

  In the above embodiment, the group of articles stored in the outer box 110 is a plurality of articles pushed by one pushing operation by the pushing device 9, but n times (n is a predetermined integer of 2 or more) ) May be configured to be a plurality of articles (that is, articles stacked in n stages). Further, in this case, immediately after the n-th or earlier pushing operation (for example, the first pushing operation) is performed, the distance between the first frame member 41 and the second frame member 42 of the guide device 40 is a predetermined distance. From L1, it is repeatedly changed between a narrow interval L3 (L3 is smaller than L1 and may be L2) and a wide interval L4 (L4 may be L1 or may be slightly larger than L1). The guide device 40 may be operated so as to return to the interval L1. That is, the flaps F1 and F3 may be hit a predetermined number of times by the hanging portions 43a and 44a of the guide members 43 and 44. Accordingly, there is an effect that the outer box 110 is shaken and the pushed-in articles are neatly accommodated.

  The guide members 43 and 44 are not limited to those shown in FIG. For example, the shape and the like of the hanging parts 43a and 44a can be changed as appropriate.

  From the foregoing description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention are obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and / or function may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a boxing device or the like that can change the size of the opening of the guide device without human error when the type of the boxed product is changed.

6 Alignment conveyor 7 Extruding device 8 Clamping device 9 Pushing device 10 Floor opening / closing device 11 Floor plate 20 Exterior box placement device 24 Base 30 Control device 40 Guide device 41 First frame member 42 Second frame members 43 and 44 Guide member 4A Moving mechanism 4B Main mechanism 4C Follow-up mechanism 50 Operation indicator 80 Clamping plate 110 Outer box P Packing position F1 to F4 Flap W1 Opening

Claims (4)

A floor opening and closing device having a floor plate and driving the floor plate to open and close;
A clamping device that clamps a group of articles formed by aligning articles on the floor board between a pair of clamping plates from the alignment direction;
The pedestal has a pedestal configured to support the exterior box in a state where four flaps for forming the upper surface of the box are standing and can be raised and lowered, and by raising the pedestal from a predetermined lowered position to a raised position, An outer box is disposed at a boxing position below the floorboard, and an outer box placing device for retracting the outer box below the boxing position by lowering the pedestal from the raised position to the lowered position;
In the state where the floor board is opened, the upper surface of the pressed article group is pushed downward to cause the article group to escape downward from between the pressing plates, and the article group is placed on the outer box disposed at the packing position. A pushing device for pushing in,
A guide device which is provided below the floor plate and forms an opening through which the group of articles pushed by the pushing device passes, and guides the group of articles to the exterior box;
An operation device that performs operations for setting the type of boxed product,
A control device,
The guide device includes:
A first frame member and a second frame member, each of which is provided with a guide member for guiding the group of articles to the outer box, is provided so as to be movable in a direction close to or away from each other, and defines a size of the opening;
A moving mechanism for moving the first frame member and the second frame member in directions close to or away from each other;
The controller is
The interval between the first frame member and the second frame member when the article group is pushed into the exterior box by the pushing device is a predetermined interval that is predetermined according to the type set by the operating device. Configured to control the moving mechanism to be
Boxing equipment. The controller is
The interval between the first frame member and the second frame member is smaller than the predetermined interval when the pedestal is raised from the lowered position to the raised position, and immediately after the pedestal is raised to the raised position. Configured to control the moving mechanism to be at the predetermined interval.
The boxing device according to claim 1. The controller is
When the pedestal is lowered from the raised position to the lowered position, immediately before the pedestal is lowered from the raised position, an interval between the first frame member and the second frame member is larger than the predetermined interval. Configured to control the moving mechanism so as to be a narrow interval;
The boxing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The moving mechanism is
The one end of the first frame member and the one end of the second frame member are provided at one end of the first frame member and the second frame member in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction thereof. A main mechanism for moving the parts in directions toward or away from each other;
It is provided at the other end of the first frame member and the second frame member in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction, and each movement of the other end follows the movement of the one end. Having a follow-up mechanism,
The boxing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-3.

Images