JP2022089116A - Shipping box automatic sealing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To contribute to easier and labor-saving loading work on delivery trucks and to improve the loading space efficiency, by detecting the height of a shipping box when an inner flap is folded in a shipping box automatic sealing system.SOLUTION: An inner flap folding mechanism 30 of a shipping box automatic sealing system 100 according to the present invention is configured to: lower a first lifting frame 34 raised and lowered by a second servomotor 33 at a predetermined timing; and fold an inner flap 3 for the front side upper lid of a shipping box 1 to be conveyed on a conveyor 10 by a front side inner flap folding lever 31 held on the first lifting frame 34. A control unit 60 calculates a height dimension up to an upper surface of the inner flap 3 of the shipping box 1 when the inner flap 3 is folded, and outputs a value obtained by adding the thickness of outer flaps 5 and 6 to this height dimension as the height dimension of the shipping box 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic shipping box sealing system.

A distribution management system (WMS) based on a huge amount of receipt / shipment and inventory information aggregated using a computer has been introduced in a product sorting work line in a distribution center or a warehouse of a mail order business. In the sorting work line, first, the product ordered by the customer is picked from the warehouse or shelf, and the shipping box such as the cardboard box with the inner flap and the outer flap opened, which is selected according to the size of the product together with the delivery note. Store in. Then, shipping boxes of various sizes containing goods and invoices are poured into the shipping box automatic sealing system by a conveyor line, the pair of inner flaps are folded, then the pair of outer flaps are folded, and the outer flaps are put together. A packing tape (adhesive tape) is attached to the abutting part of the box, and the invoice is issued using an invoice issuing / pasting machine (labeler) and affixed to the shipping box automatically.

Japanese Patent No. 6682737 Japanese Patent No. 4948525

However, in the past, the automatic shipping box sealing system did not measure the length, width, and height of the shipping box, and the shipping box that had been automatically sealed was sealed. A special machine such as a major boy that measures three sides, which is retrofitted to the machine, sorts the size of the shipping box by calculating the total of the length dimension, width dimension, and height dimension, and the invoices of various sizes are different. The shipping box with the is attached is loaded on the delivery truck for delivery.

When shipping boxes with invoices of various sizes are loaded on a delivery truck and delivered, the vertical, horizontal and height dimensions of each shipping box are set in order to increase the volume efficiency of the loading platform. Measuring, describing each size on the invoice, and loading with the same dimensions will lead to easier and labor-saving loading work of the cargo on the delivery truck and improvement of loading space efficiency.

The present invention has been devised in view of the problems of the prior art, and the boxing machine does not need to be equipped with a special machine such as a major boy for measuring three sides to be retrofitted to the boxing machine. The purpose is to provide an automatic shipping box sealing system that can contribute to facilitating and labor-saving loading work of cargo on delivery trucks and improving the efficiency of loading space by detecting the height of the shipping box. It is supposed to be.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the shipping box automatic sealing system according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a shipping box in the form of a box in which four flaps for the upper lid are raised and in which products are stored. A centering mechanism that aligns the width center of the shipping box being conveyed by the conveyor with the line center of the conveyor, and an inner flap for the front and rear top lids provided above the conveyor corresponding to the centering mechanism. The inner flap folding mechanism to be folded and the inner flap for the upper lid which is provided above the conveyor side by side on the downstream side in the conveyor transport direction of the inner flap folding mechanism and the outer flaps for the pair of upper lids are folded first. Further, the outer flap folding / sealing tape attachment mechanism is used to seal the outer flap so that the outer flap is not opened by attaching the sealing tape so as to close the gap between the closed edges of the pair of outer flaps. And a control unit that controls each of the above components.
A box height measuring means is attached to the inner flap folding mechanism.
The box height measuring means is
The inner flap folding mechanism has a lever for folding a front inner flap that lowers at a predetermined timing and folds the inner flap for the upper lid on the front side of the shipping box, and the lowering when the control unit folds the inner flap. The stroke is calculated as the height to the folded upper surface of the inner flap of the shipping box, and the value obtained by adding the thickness of the outer flap is calculated and output as the height of the shipping box.

In the shipping box automatic sealing system according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the inner flap folding mechanism is provided above the upstream portion of the conveyor so as to be able to move up and down. It is configured to have a first elevating frame that holds the flap folding lever swingably, and a second servomotor that is a drive source for elevating and lowering the first elevating frame.
The second servomotor lowers the first elevating frame at the timing when the inner flap for the upper lid on the front side of the shipping box, which is conveyed by the conveyor, is located below the lever for folding the inner flap on the front side, and lowers the front side. When the inner flap folding lever is in the horizontal state, the first elevating frame is lowered and stopped, and further, after passing through the shipping box, the first elevating frame is configured to return to the rising position.
The box height measuring means is
The first sensor for detecting the time when the front portion of the shipping box in the transport direction for detecting the timing of the lowering start of the first elevating frame passes the required position, and the timing of the lowering stop of the first elevating frame. It has a second sensor that detects when the front inner flap folding lever for detection is in a horizontal state, and the control unit inputs detection signals of the first sensor and the second sensor. Then, the descending stroke is calculated based on the rotation speed of the second servomotor from the descending start to the descending stop of the first elevating frame, and further, the first ascending / descending stroke is calculated from the transport surface of the conveyor. The value obtained by subtracting the descending stroke from the height to the upper standby position of the frame is calculated as the height to the upper surface of the folded inner flap of the shipping box.

In the shipping box automatic sealing system according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the centering mechanism is provided so as to be accessible to each other from both upstream side positions of the upper surface of the conveyor. When the pair of guide bars that are long in the transport direction and the shipping box are transported, the pair of guide bars move close to each other and come into contact with the side surfaces on both sides of the shipping box. It has a guide bar moving means for aligning the box with the transport line and guiding the shipping box in the transport direction, and the centering mechanism is provided with a box width measuring means for detecting the width dimension of the shipping box.
The box width measuring means is
The control unit has a mileage sensor that outputs a pulse corresponding to the movement distance of the pair of guide bars when the pair of guide bars are approaching and moves, and the control unit inputs a pulse output by the mileage sensor to input the pair of guide bars. The pulse output by the mileage sensor starts counting from the time when the guide bars start moving closer to each other from the standby positions on both sides of the conveyor or when the guide bars pass the origin positions on both sides, and the pair of guide bars are on both sides of the shipping box. The count is stopped when it comes into contact with the side surface portion, the approaching movement distance of the pair of guide bars is calculated based on the counted number of pulses, and the specified distance between the standby positions of the pair of guide bars or the origin position is used. The configuration is such that the calculated value is output as the width dimension of the shipping box by subtracting the approaching movement distance.

In the shipping box automatic sealing system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to third aspects, the guide bar moving means is elongated in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyor. A roller chain winding mechanism, an air cylinder device that reciprocates the roller chain winding mechanism by a certain distance, and a mileage sensor that outputs a pulse each time the connecting pin of the roller chain winding mechanism passes through The pair of guide bars are distributed and connected to the upper traveling portion and the lower traveling portion of the roller chain winding mechanism, so that the pair of guide bars approach and separate from each other. The air cylinder device is configured to stop the stroke when the pair of guide bars abut on both side surfaces of the shipping box.

In the shipping box automatic sealing system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect, the mileage sensor has a fixed portion at one end and a light emitting element and a light receiving element at the other end. The fixing portion is supported at a required position by either the upper traveling portion or the lower traveling portion of the roller chain of the roller chain winding mechanism, and the light emitting element and the light receiving light are received. The element counts the number of passages of the connecting pin of either the upper traveling portion or the lower traveling portion of the roller chain of the roller chain winding mechanism and outputs the pulse number.
The control unit is configured to calculate the approaching movement distance of the pair of guide bars based on the counted number of pulses.

In the shipping box automatic sealing system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the conveyor mounts both sides of the bottom surface of the shipping box. It has a pair of endless winding traveling bodies that are separated from each other and travel integrally, and a plurality of pairs of pressing claws that are provided at the same phase position of each of the endless winding traveling bodies and that support the rear surface portion of the shipping box. Configured,
A box length measuring means is attached to the conveyor, and the conveyor is provided with a box length measuring means.
The box length measuring means is
The rear surface portion is placed on the conveyor and the rear surface portion is pushed by the pressing claw at a required front position in the transport direction, and between the pair of endless winding traveling bodies and below the conveyor transport surface. A third sensor (photoelectric sensor, illuminance sensor, etc.) that detects the time when the front side surface portion of the shipping box passes directly above and outputs a signal, and a position required in the transport direction from the third sensor. The control unit is provided with an origin sensor that detects the time point at which the pressing claw passes and outputs a signal, and a device (varicam or the like) that outputs a pulse in proportion to the rotation speed of one pulley of the conveyor. However, from the time when the signal output by the origin sensor is input to the time when the signal output by the third sensor is input, a device that outputs a pulse in proportion to the rotation speed of one pulley of the conveyor (varicam or the like). ) Is input, the distance E for the pressing claw to move is calculated based on the count number, and the predetermined distance from the third sensor to the pressing claw at the time when the origin sensor outputs a signal is the above. The length dimension of the shipping box is output by subtracting the distance that the pressing claw moves.

According to the present invention, in the automatic shipping box sealing system, the height of the shipping box is detected in the sealing machine without introducing a dedicated machine such as a major boy that measures three sides of the boxing machine to be retrofitted. By doing so, it is possible to provide an automatic shipping box sealing system that can contribute to facilitating and labor-saving loading work of cargo on delivery trucks and improving loading space efficiency.

It is an overall front view of the shipping box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the shipping box which concerns on the object of the shipping box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the shipping box which concerns on the object of the shipping box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the shipping box which concerns on the object of the shipping box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the shipping box which concerns on the object of the shipping box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the shipping box which concerns on the object of the shipping box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flow diagram of the shipping box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the state which concerns on the inner flap folding mechanism of the automatic sealing system of the embodiment of this invention, and has folded the front side inner flap by the front side inner flap folding lever. It is a front view which shows the state which concerns on the inner flap folding mechanism of the automatic sealing system of embodiment, and has folded the rear inner flap by the swing lever for folding the rear inner flap. It is a figure which concerns on the inner flap folding mechanism of the automatic sealing system of embodiment of this invention, and shows the height to the upper surface of the folded inner flap of a shipping box. FIG. 5A is a plan view relating to the box width measuring means and the box width measuring means incorporated in the automatic packing box sealing system of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5B relates to the box width measuring means and the box width measuring means incorporated in the automatic packing box sealing system of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is an elevation view seen from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the conveyor. It is an operation process diagram which shows the box length measuring means incorporated in the packing box automatic sealing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the automatic shipping box sealing system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Basic configuration]
Here, the basic configuration refers to a configuration other than the characteristic configuration described later, that is, a configuration other than the measuring means, the box width measuring means, and the box height measuring means for measuring the length, width, and height of the shipping box 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shipping box automatic sealing system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a shipping box automatic sealing section 100a and a delivery conveyor 100b arranged on the upstream side of the shipping box automatic sealing section 100a. It also has an invoice issuing / pasting unit 100c arranged on the downstream side of the shipping box automatic sealing unit 100a.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-C, the article to be handled by the automatic shipping box sealing system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention hangs down from the square tube portion 2 with respect to the square tube portion 2 composed of four side surface portions. As shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E, the shipping box 1 has a box shape (a box shape in a rectangular parallelepiped space) in which the four flaps are closed, and the height, width, and length of the box are different. It is a shipping box in which four flaps (a pair of inner flaps 3 and 4 and a pair of outer flaps 5 and 6) are raised from the square tube portion 2 and the product G and the delivery note J are stored.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the shipping box automatic sealing system 100 has the height, width, and length from the delivery conveyor 100b, in which the product G and the delivery note J are stored, as shown in FIGS. 2A, D, and E. Ships different shipping boxes 1 one after another, and in the shipping box automatic sealing unit 100a, as shown in FIG. 2B, the pair of inner flaps 3 of the shipping box 1 is folded inward, and then as shown in FIG. 2C. A pair of outer flaps 5 and 6 are folded inward, and as shown in FIG. 2D, a packing tape (adhesive tape) T is applied so as to fill the gap g between the closed edges of the outer flaps 5 and 6. It is configured to be pasted and sealed, and further, the invoice I is automatically pasted on the shipping box 1.

[About the delivery conveyor 100b]
A roller conveyor can be applied to the feed conveyor 100b, for example, and a shipping box in which a product G and a delivery note J having different heights, widths, and lengths of boxes are stored in the upstream half of the conveyor transport surface. 1 is placed. When the shipping box 1 is transported to the downstream half of the conveyor transport surface, the product ID of the delivery note J scanned by the first scanner 73 is transmitted to and stored in the control unit 60. The delivery conveyor 100b is a shipping box 1 having various box heights, widths, and lengths at the upstream end, and four flaps 3-6 are raised, and a shipping box containing goods G and delivery note J is stored. When 1 is placed, it is sent to the shipping box automatic sealing unit 100a.

[About the shipping box automatic sealing part 100a]
The shipping box automatic sealing unit 100a includes a conveyor 10 for transporting the shipping box 1 and a first delivery belt conveyor 71 for transporting the shipping box 1 by connecting between the conveyor 10 and the delivery conveyor 100b on the upstream side thereof. A second delivery belt conveyor 72 that connects the conveyor 10 and the delivery conveyor 51 on the downstream side to convey the shipping box 1, and a centering mechanism 20 that aligns the center of the width of the shipping box 1 with the center of the conveyor 10. The inner flap folding mechanism 30 and the inner flap folding mechanism 30 which are provided above the conveyor 10 corresponding to the centering mechanism 20 and horizontally fold the inner flap 3 for the upper lid on the front side and the inner flap 3 for the upper lid on the rear side horizontally inward. A pair of outer flaps 5 and 6 for the upper lid are horizontally folded so as to overlap the inner flap 3 for the upper lid, which are provided above the conveyor 10 side by side in the downstream side of the conveyor transport direction, and the outer flaps 5 and 6 are closed together. It is equipped with an outer flap folding / sealing tape attaching mechanism 40 for attaching a sealing tape T so as to fill the gap g between the edges and sealing the outer flaps 5 and 6 so as not to open. .. The control unit 60 controls each of the above components.

[About Conveyor 10]
As shown in FIG. 5A, the conveyor 10 is provided so as to travel in pairs and integrally so as to be separated by a required distance K in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and both sides of the bottom surface of the shipping box 1 are placed on the shipping box 1. A pair of endless winding traveling bodies 11 and 11 for carrying the above, a pair of pressing claws 12 provided at the same phase position of each endless winding traveling body 11 and supporting the rear surface portion of the shipping box 1, and a pair of endless. It is configured to have a first servomotor 10b for driving the wound traveling bodies 11 and 11.

[About the centering mechanism 20]
4A is a schematic plan view of the centering mechanism 20, and FIG. 4B is an elevation view of the centering mechanism 20 as viewed from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the conveyor 10. The centering mechanism 20 is incorporated so as to intersect the conveyor 10 in three dimensions.

The shipping box 1 is not placed on the conveyor 10 so that the center of the width of the shipping box 1 coincides with the center between the pair of endless winding traveling bodies 11 and 11 of the conveyor 10. If the left and right side surfaces of the shipping box 1 are not pressed when folding the inner flaps 3 and 4 before and after the shipping box 1, the orientation of the shipping box 1 changes, and sometimes the inner flap folding mechanism 30 causes the inner flaps 3 and 4 to change. The centering mechanism 20 that operates earlier than the inner flap folding mechanism 30 is provided from the two viewpoints that the inner flap folding mechanism 30 cannot be folded.

The centering mechanism 20 has a pair of guide bars 21a and 21b, a guide bar guiding means 22, and a guide bar moving means 23.

The pair of guide bars 21a and 21b are slightly above the transport surface of the conveyor 10 and are elongated in the transport direction provided corresponding to the upstream portion of the transport surface.

The guide bar guiding means 22 is a pair of horizontal guides 22a and 22b that are long in the orthogonal direction at the lower position and are supported at both ends with respect to the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b, and a pair of horizontal guides 22a and 22b, respectively. Has a pair of sliders 22c, 22d engaged with, and the pair of guide bars 21a, 21b are supported by the pair of sliders 22c, 22c or 22d, 22d so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the conveyor 10. There is.

The guide bar moving means 23 includes a roller chain winding mechanism 24 provided in a long horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyor 10, and an air cylinder device 25 that reciprocates the roller chain winding mechanism 24 by a fixed distance. The center of the distance between the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b is aligned with the center between the pair of endless winding traveling bodies 11 and 11, and the conveyor 10 is approached and separated from each other from both side positions.

The roller chain winding mechanism 24 includes, for example, a pair of sprockets 24a and 24b that are horizontally separated from each other and an endless roller chain 24c that is wound around the sprockets 24a and 24b.

The lower end of the connecting bracket 27a is connected to the connecting pin 24f of the lower traveling portion 24e of the endless roller chain 24c, and the upper end is connected to the central portion of the length of the guide bar 21a. The lower end of the connecting bracket 27b is connected to the connecting pin 24f of the portion 24d, and the upper end is connected to the central portion of the length of the guide bar 21b. Therefore, since the traveling directions of the lower traveling portion 24e and the upper traveling portion 24d of the endless roller chain 24c are opposite to each other, the endless roller chain 24c is moved closer to and separated from each other.

The connecting head 25a provided at the tip of the piston head of the air cylinder device 25 is pin-connected to the required position of the lower traveling portion 24e of the endless roller chain 24c, and the cylinder cylinder base is pin-connected to the frame. When the piston of the air cylinder device 25 extends, the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b approach each other, and when the piston of the air cylinder device 25 contracts, the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b separate from each other.

In the centering mechanism 20, when the shipping box 1 is conveyed on the upstream portion of the conveyor 10 and is located between the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b, the piston of the air cylinder device 25 expands and operates to extend the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b. They are designed to move closer to each other. The timing at which the piston of the air cylinder device 25 expands and operates is, for example, a position adjustable below the transport surface of the conveyor 10 shown in FIG. 1 and provided at a position upstream of the first sensor 35 in the transport direction. It is based on the detection signal of a sensor (not shown) that detects the front portion of 1.

For example, the air cylinder device 25 can freely switch between the air inlet / outlet port at the base of the cylinder and the air inlet / outlet port at the base of the head via an electromagnetic four-way valve 25b for compressed air of an air compressor (not shown). There is. Then, the timing at which the piston of the air cylinder device 25 expands and the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b strongly press the both side surfaces of the shipping box 1 is set, for example, by a pressure sensor (or a pressure sensor) attached to the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b. Touch sensor) Detects by 29a, 29b, neutralizes the open state of the electromagnetic four-way valve 25b, stops further approaching movement of the pair of guide bars 21a, 21b, and if necessary, the pair of guide bars 21a. , 21b are switched and controlled to switch the open state of the electromagnetic four-way valve 25b so as to be separated from each other by 2 to 3 mm.

Further, the piston of the air cylinder device 25 is reduced and operated at the timing of passing between the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b of the shipping box 1, and therefore the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b are moved apart from each other. ..

The control of the centering mechanism 20 is performed by the control unit 60.

[About the inner flap folding mechanism 30]
The inner flap folding mechanism 30 supports the front inner flap folding lever 31, the rear inner flap folding swing lever 32, the front inner flap folding lever 31, and the rear inner flap folding swing bar 32, and the second servo. It has a first elevating frame 34 that is elevated and lowered by a motor 33.

The inner flap folding mechanism 30 corresponds to the centering mechanism 20 and stands by above the conveyor 10 and descends at a predetermined timing, so that the inner flap 3 for the front upper lid is horizontally folded by the lever 31 for folding the inner flap on the front side. The swing lever 32 for folding the inner flap on the rear side swings down to fold the inner flap 4 for the upper lid on the rear side horizontally.

The lowering timing of the first elevating frame 34 is, for example, adjustable in position below the transport surface of the conveyor 10 shown in FIG. 1 and is based on the detection signal of the first sensor 35.

The front inner flap folding lever 31 supported by the first elevating frame 34 is lowered from the upper position when the inner flap 3 for the upper lid on the front side of the shipping box 1 conveyed by the conveyor 10 comes to the required position, and the inner flap is lowered. While abutting on the front portion in the transport direction of 3 and folding the inner flap 3 in a horizontal state, the inner flap 3 for the upper lid on the front side of the shipping box 1 is rotated until it becomes horizontal by the reaction force received from the inner flap 3. It is designed to fold inward horizontally.

The middle part of the front inner flap folding lever 31 is supported by the first elevating frame 34 via the magnet cylinder 31a. When the piston is in the fully extended state, the magnet cylinder 31a is folded in the front inner flap so that the magnet is in the non-power supply state and the lower end of the lever hangs down so as to be located slightly in front of the vertical line passing through the center of rotation in the transport direction. The lever 31 is supported, and the lever 31 for folding the inner flap on the front side is smoothly lifted. When the lever 31 for folding the inner flap on the front side becomes horizontal, the magnet is in the power supply state and the front side is supplied. The inner flap folding lever 31 is held horizontally.

The swivel arm 31b extends to the front inner flap folding lever 31 integrally with the front inner flap folding lever 31 and on the opposite side, and has a cam 31c at the upper end of the swivel arm 31b. When the cam 31c is rotated so that the front inner flap folding lever 31 is lifted, the tip of the cam 31c in the rotation direction is brought by the second sensor 36 just before the front inner flap folding lever 31 is lifted horizontally. When the lever 31 for folding the inner flap on the front side is further lifted horizontally, the rear end of the cam 31c in the rotation direction is detected by the second sensor 36. The rotation mode is set in which the second servomotor 33 gradually decelerates based on the sensor signal that detects the tip of the cam 31c in the rotation direction, and the second servo is based on the sensor signal that detects the rear end of the cam 31c in the rotation direction. The motor 33 is driven to stop rotating.

The swing lever 32 for folding the inner flap on the rear side has a rod-shaped portion 32a extending horizontally in a cantilever manner further to the upstream side in the transport direction than the end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction of the first elevating frame 34, and the rod-shaped portion The boss portion 32b at one end of the 32a is pivotally supported by the first elevating frame 34, and the striker panel 32c is provided at the other end of the rod-shaped portion 32a. The boss portion 32b is rotated by an air cylinder device 32d.

Then, in the swing lever 32 for folding the rear inner flap, the air cylinder device 32d is extended and rotated in the direction of descending from the horizontal state immediately before the front inner flap folding lever 31 is lifted horizontally, and the air cylinder device 32d is extended. When the striker panel 32c is used, the inner flap 4 for the upper lid on the rear side is horizontally folded, and when the air cylinder device 32d is contracted, the rotation returns to the original horizontal state.

The inner flap folding mechanism 30 has an inner flap retainer 38 extending downstream from the lower end of the hanging portion 34a of the first elevating frame 34 in the transport direction. The inner flap retainer 38 enters between the pair of outer flap folding guides 41, which will be described later, and serves to take over the folded state of the inner flaps 3 and 4 to the pair of outer flap folding guides 41.

The inner flap folding mechanism 30 is controlled by the control unit 60.

[About the outer flap folding / sealing tape attachment mechanism 40]
The outer flap folding / sealing tape attaching mechanism 40 supports a pair of outer flap folding guides 41, a sealing tape attaching mechanism 42, a pair of outer flap folding guides 41, and a sealing tape attaching mechanism 42. It has a second elevating frame 44 that is elevated and lowered by the servomotor 43.

Pair of outer flap folding guides 41
The outer flap folding / sealing tape attaching mechanism 40 stands by above the conveyor 10 adjacent to the downstream side of the inner flap folding mechanism 30 in the transport direction, and moves up and down second at a predetermined timing substantially at the same time as the inner flap folding mechanism 30. The frame 44 is lowered, sandwiched between the overhanging side portions (upstream side portion in the conveyor transport direction) of the pair of outer flap folding guides 41, and guided downward while narrowing the sandwiching interval, and the pair of outer flaps 5 for the upper lid. , 6 are horizontally folded so as to overlap the pair of inner flaps 3 for the top lid that were folded earlier, and the shipping box 1 in which the pair of outer flaps 5 and 6 for the top lid are folded passes through the lower side. At this time, the reel-shaped sealing tape T is fed out to the lower side of the sealing tape attaching mechanism 42 including the roll 42a, the close contact guide 42b, and the tape holding roll 42c, and the sealing is performed as shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E. The tape T is attached so as to fill the gap g between the closed end edges of the pair of outer flaps 5 and 6 for the upper lid.

As shown in FIG. 2D, the outer flap folding / sealing tape attaching mechanism 40 attaches both ends of the packing tape T to, for example, the front surface portion and the rear surface portion of the 30-50 mm shipping box 1, and is shown in FIG. 2E. As described above, the case where both ends of the packing tape T are attached to the front surface portion and the rear surface portion of the shipping box 1 and further, for example, 20 to 30 mm is attached to the lower surface portion of the shipping box 1.

The outer flap folding / sealing tape attaching mechanism 40 returns upward after the sealing tape T has been attached.

The control unit 60 controls the outer flap folding / sealing tape attaching mechanism 40.

[About the invoice issuance / pasting section 100c]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2D, and 3, the invoice issuing / pasting unit 100c has an invoice 51 to which, for example, a roller conveyor can be applied, and issues an invoice in the middle of the conveyor transport surface to the shipping box. It is equipped with an invoice issuing / pasting machine (labeler) 50 that automatically attaches to 1, and when the shipping box 1 that has been automatically sealed is transported to the middle of the conveyor transport surface, the invoice is issued by the labeler 50. Then, when the invoice is attached to the upper surface of the shipping box 1 and then the shipping box 1 is conveyed to the downstream portion of the conveyor transport surface, the invoice is scanned by the first scanner 73, and the scanned invoice ID is used as the control unit. It is transmitted to 60, stored, and collated with the product ID.

The control unit 60 controls the invoice issuing / pasting unit 100c.

[Characteristic configuration]
The shipping box automatic boxing system 100 is characterized by being attached to the box width measuring means attached to the centering mechanism 20, the box height measuring means attached to the inner flap folding mechanism 30, and the conveyor 10 in the order of operation. It is equipped with a box length measuring means.

[About the box width measuring means; Fig. 5]
As described above, in the centering mechanism 20, the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b are supported by the upper traveling portion 24d and the lower traveling portion 24e of the roller chain winding mechanism 24 constituting the guide bar moving means 23. As a result, they approach each other from both sides of the conveyor 10 and stop in contact with the shipping box 1, so that the center of the width of the shipping box 1 is aligned with the center of the width of the conveyor 10 to guide the conveyor.

The centering mechanism 20 has a mileage sensor 26 that outputs a pulse each time the connecting pin 24f of the roller chain winding mechanism 24 passes in order to detect the box width.

In the mileage sensor 26, the lower end of the sensor support bracket 27c is supported at a required position of the lower traveling portion 24e of the endless roller chain 24c of the roller chain winding mechanism 24, and the bifurcated facing surface portion of the upper end of the sensor support bracket 27c is supported. The endless roller chain 24c is vertically arranged so as to sandwich the upper traveling portion 24d, and has the light emitting element 28a and the light receiving element 28b facing each other on the bifurcated facing surface portion.

The mileage sensor 26 cooperates with the light emitting element 28a and the light receiving element 28b to count the number of passes through the connecting pin 24f of the upper traveling portion 24d of the endless roller chain 24c of the roller chain winding mechanism 24 and count the number of pulses. It is designed to output.

Therefore, when the endless roller chain 24c moves by, for example, 5 times the pitch dimension of the connecting pin 24f, the mileage sensor 26 attached to the lower traveling portion 24e moves in the same direction as the endless roller chain 24c by the same distance. Since the number of passages of the connecting pin 24f of the upper traveling portion 24d moving in the opposite direction is counted, 10 connecting pins 24f are counted, and if the pitch dimension of the connecting pin 24f is 6 mm, a pair of connecting pins 24f is counted. A pulse is output every time the guide bars 21a and 21b move by 3 mm. Therefore, the measurement error is less than 3 mm.

The lower end of the sensor support bracket 27c is supported by the upper traveling portion 24d, and the light emitting element 28a and the light receiving element 28b count the number of passages of the connecting pin 24f of the lower traveling portion 24e and output the number of pulses. May be.

The control unit 60 inputs the pulse output by the mileage sensor 26, and the time when the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b start approaching each other from the positions separated from each other (standby position) or the origin positions on both sides. The pulse output by the mileage sensor starts counting from the time when the mileage sensor passes through, and stops counting when the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b abut on the side surfaces on both sides of the shipping box 1, based on the counted number of pulses. The approaching movement distance of the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b is calculated, and the calculated value is calculated by subtracting the approaching movement distance from the specified distance between the standby positions or the origin positions of the pair of guide bars 21a and 21b. It is designed to be output as the dimension W.

[About the box height measuring means; FIGS. 1, 4A, B, C]
As described above, the inner flap folding mechanism 30 has a first unit that detects when the front portion of the shipping box 1 for detecting the timing of the start of lowering of the first elevating frame 34 has passed the required position. It has a sensor 35 and a second sensor 36 that detects when the front inner flap folding lever 31 for detecting the timing of lowering stop of the first elevating frame 34 is in a horizontal state, and has a second servomotor. The 33 is provided with a rotary encoder 37 that outputs a pulse proportional to the number of rotations.

The control unit 60 inputs the detection signals of the first sensor 35 and the second sensor 36, and the first ascending / descending based on the rotation speed of the second servomotor 33 from the descent start to the descent stop of the first elevating frame 34. The descending stroke of the frame 34 is calculated, and further, the descending stroke is calculated from the height from the transport surface of the conveyor 10 to the upper standby position of the first elevating frame 34 (or the origin position that serves as a reference for starting machining). The subtracted value is calculated as the height H1 to the upper surface of the folded inner flap 3 of the shipping box 1, and further, the value obtained by adding the thickness t of the outer flaps 5 and 6 is calculated to calculate the height of the shipping box 1. It is configured to output as dimension H.

[About the box length measuring means; FIGS. 6 (A)-(D)]
The box length measuring means is placed at a required front position in the transport direction from the shipping box 1 which is placed on the conveyor 10 and whose rear surface is boosted by the pressing claws 12, and between the pair of endless winding traveling bodies 11. It is provided below the conveyor 10 transport surface. The box length measuring means is more than a third sensor (for example, a photoelectric sensor, an illuminance sensor, etc.) 13 that detects a time point when the front portion of the shipping box 1 passes directly above and outputs a signal, and a third sensor 13. It is provided with an origin sensor 14 provided at a required front position in the transport direction to detect the time point at which the pressing claw 12 passes and output a signal, and a varicam 15 that outputs a pulse in proportion to the rotation speed of one pulley 10a of the conveyor 10. ing. The four distance dimensions A, B, C, and D shown in FIG. 6C are default dimensions, and the distance dimensions A, B, C, and D are in a proportional relationship with the pulse generated from the varicam 15.

In FIG. 6A, the shipping box 1 boosted by the pressing claw 12 is located between the third sensor 13 and the origin sensor 14. In FIG. 6B, since the shipping box 1 shown in FIG. 6A is not on the conveyor 10, the next shipping box 1 is transferred to the upstream position of the conveyor 10 at this timing, but the pressing claw 12 is used. Not boosting shipping box 1. FIG. 6C shows the time when the distance between the pressing claw 12 that pushes the shipping box 1 and the origin sensor 14 reaches the specified distance B, and the distance between the pressing claw 12 and the third sensor 13 is reached. Indicates the time when the specified distance D is reached. FIG. 6D shows the time when the shipping box 1 boosted by the pressing claw 12 is detected by the third sensor 13, and the pressing claw 12 is only a distance E from the position shown in FIG. 6C. It shows the time when it moved. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 (C) and 6 (D), the length L of the shipping box 1 is a value obtained by subtracting the distance E from the shipping box 1 to the third sensor 13 from the specified distance D. Therefore, for the pulse output from the varicam 15, if the count start is performed at the time point shown in FIG. 6 (C) and the count end is performed at the time point shown in FIG. 6 (D), the count number becomes the distance E. Since the corresponding numerical values are obtained, the length L of the shipping box 1 can be calculated by calculating the distance E and subtracting it from the predetermined distance D.

Therefore, the control unit 60 inputs the pulse output by the varicam 15 from the time when the signal output by the origin sensor 14 is input to the time when the signal output by the third sensor 13 is input, and is based on the count number. The distance E to move the pressing claw 12 is calculated, and the calculated pressing claw 12 moves from the predetermined distance D from the third sensor 13 to the pressing claw 12 at the time when the origin sensor 14 outputs a signal. It is configured to output the distance E to be subtracted as the length dimension L of the shipping box 1.

As described above, according to the shipping box automatic sealing system 100 having the above configuration, since the box height measuring means is provided, the same box height is used when loading shipping boxes of various sizes on the delivery truck. By aligning the shipping boxes and laying them on the same height level, the height of the shipping boxes can be detected when the inner flaps are folded, making it easier and labor-saving to load the cargo onto the delivery truck. It can contribute to increasing the efficiency of loading space. Further, according to the shipping box automatic sealing system 100 having the above configuration, in addition to the box height measuring means, the box width measuring means and / or the box length measuring means are provided, so that the loading space efficiency can be further improved. Can contribute to.

100 ... Automatic shipping box sealing system,
100a ... Shipping box automatic sealing part,
100b ... Sending conveyor,
100c ... Invoice issuance / pasting section,
1 ... Shipping box,
2 ... Square tube,
3 ... Inner flap,
4 ... Inner flap,
3,4 ... Inner flap,
5, 6 ... Outer flap,
10 ... Conveyor,
10a ... pulley,
10b ... 1st servo motor,
11 ... Endless winding vehicle,
12 ... Pressing claws,
13 ... Third sensor (for example, photoelectric sensor),
14 ... Origin sensor,
15 ... Balicam,
20 ... Centering mechanism,
21a, 21b ... Guide bar,
22 ... Guide bar Guidance means,
22a, 22b ... Horizontal guide,
22c, 22d ... Slider,
23 ... Guide bar mode of transportation,
24 ... Roller chain winding mechanism,
24a, 24b ... Sprocket,
24c ... Endless roller chain,
24d ... Upper running part,
24e ... Lower running part,
24f ... Connecting pin,
25 ... Air cylinder device,
25a ... Connecting head,
25b ... Electromagnetic four-way valve,
26 ... Mileage sensor,
27a, 27b ... Connecting bracket,
27c ... Sensor support bracket,
28a ... Light emitting element,
28b ... Light receiving element,
29a, 29b ... Pressure sensor (or touch sensor),
30 ... Inner flap folding mechanism,
31 ... Lever for folding the flap inside the front side,
31a ... Magnet cylinder,
31b ... Swivel arm,
31c ... cam,
32 ... Swing lever for folding the flap inside the rear side,
32a ... Rod-shaped part,
32b ... Boss part,
32c ... Striker panel,
32d ... Air cylinder device,
33 ... 2nd servo motor,
34 ... 1st elevating frame,
34a ... hanging,
35 ... First sensor,
36 ... Second sensor,
37 ... Rotary encoder,
38 ... Inner flap retainer,
40 ... Outer flap folding / sealing tape attachment mechanism,
41 ... Outer flap folding guide,
42 ... Sealing tape attachment mechanism,
42a ... Roll,
42b ... Adhesion guide,
42c ... Tape presser roll,
43 ... Third servo motor,
44 ... 2nd elevating frame,
50 ... Invoice issuing / pasting machine (labeler),
51 ... Sending conveyor,
60 ... Control unit,
71 ... First delivery belt conveyor,
72 ... Second delivery belt conveyor,
73 ... First scanner,
74 ... Second scanner,
A ... Distance between nails,
BF, K ... Distance,
G ... Product,
J ... Delivery note,
g ... Gap,
H ... height dimension,
L ... Length dimension,
W ... width dimension,
I ... Invoice,
T ... Sealing tape

[Basic configuration]
Here, the basic configuration is a configuration other than the characteristic configuration described later, that is, a box length measuring means, a box width measuring means, and a box height measuring means for measuring the length, width, and height of the shipping box 1, respectively. A configuration other than.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the shipping box automatic sealing system 100 has the height, width, and length from the delivery conveyor 100b, in which the product G and the delivery note J are stored, as shown in FIGS. 2A, D, and E. Ships different shipping boxes 1 one after another, and in the shipping box automatic sealing section 100a, as shown in FIG. 2B, the pair of inner flaps 3 and 4 of the shipping box 1 are folded inward, and then in FIG. 2C. As shown, the pair of outer flaps 5 and 6 are folded inward, and as shown in FIG. 2D, the packing tape (adhesive tape) is used so as to fill the gap g between the closed edges of the outer flaps 5 and 6. It is configured to automatically attach the T to the box and then attach the invoice I to the shipping box 1.

[About the centering mechanism 20]
5A is a schematic plan view of the centering mechanism 20, and FIG. 5B is an elevation view of the centering mechanism 20 as viewed from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the conveyor 10. The centering mechanism 20 is incorporated so as to intersect the conveyor 10 in three dimensions.

The shipping box 1 is not placed on the conveyor 10 so that the center of the width of the shipping box 1 coincides with the center between the pair of endless winding traveling bodies 11 and 11 of the conveyor 10. If the left and right side surfaces of the shipping box 1 are not pressed when folding the inner flaps 3 and 4 before and after the shipping box 1, the orientation of the shipping box 1 changes, and sometimes the inner flap folding mechanism 30 causes the inner flaps 3 and 4 to change. The centering mechanism 20 that operates before the inner flap folding mechanism 30 is provided from the two viewpoints that the folding mechanism cannot be folded.

[About the box length measuring means; FIGS. 6 (A)-(D)]
The box length measuring means is placed at a required front position in the transport direction from the shipping box 1 which is placed on the conveyor 10 and whose rear surface is boosted by the pressing claws 12, and between the pair of endless winding traveling bodies 11. It is provided below the conveyor 10 transport surface. The box length measuring means is more than a third sensor (for example, a photoelectric sensor, an illuminance sensor, etc.) 13 that detects a time point when the front portion of the shipping box 1 passes directly above and outputs a signal, and a third sensor 13. It is provided with an origin sensor 14 provided at a required front position in the transport direction to detect the time point at which the pressing claw 12 passes and output a signal, and a varicam 15 that outputs a pulse in proportion to the rotation speed of one pulley 10a of the conveyor 10. ing. The four distance dimensions A, B, C, and D shown in FIG. 6C are default dimensions, and the distance dimensions A, B, C, and D are in a proportional relationship with the pulse output from the varicam 15.

Claims (6)

Centering that aligns the center of the width of the shipping box being conveyed by the conveyor with the center of the line of the conveyor and the conveyor that conveys the shipping box in the form of a box with four flaps for the top lid rising and containing the products. A mechanism, an inner flap folding mechanism that is provided above the conveyor corresponding to the centering mechanism and folds the inner flaps for the front and rear upper lids, and an inner flap folding mechanism that is arranged on the downstream side in the conveyor transport direction of the inner flap folding mechanism and above the conveyor. The pair of outer flaps for the upper lid is folded onto the previously folded inner flap for the upper lid, and the sealing tape is applied so as to close the gap between the closed edges of the pair of outer flaps. It is equipped with an outer flap folding / sealing tape attachment mechanism that attaches and seals the outer flap so that it does not open, and a control unit that controls each of the above components.
A box height measuring means is attached to the inner flap folding mechanism.
The box height measuring means is
The inner flap folding mechanism has a lever for folding a front inner flap that lowers at a predetermined timing and folds the inner flap for the upper lid on the front side of the shipping box, and the lowering when the control unit folds the inner flap. The stroke is calculated as the height to the folded upper surface of the inner flap of the shipping box, and the value obtained by adding the thickness of the outer flap is calculated and output as the height of the shipping box. A featured automatic shipping box sealing system. The inner flap folding mechanism is provided above the upstream portion of the conveyor so as to be able to move up and down, and has a first raising and lowering frame that swingably holds the front inner flap folding lever and a drive source for raising and lowering the first raising and lowering frame. It is configured with a second servomotor that is
The second servomotor lowers the first elevating frame at the timing when the inner flap for the upper lid on the front side of the shipping box, which is conveyed by the conveyor, is located below the lever for folding the inner flap on the front side, and lowers the front side. When the inner flap folding lever is in the horizontal state, the first elevating frame is lowered and stopped, and further, after passing through the shipping box, the first elevating frame is configured to return to the rising position.
The box height measuring means includes a first sensor for detecting a time point at which the front portion of the shipping box in the transport direction for detecting the timing of starting descent of the first elevating frame has passed a required position, and the first sensor. It has a second sensor that detects the time when the lever for folding the flap inside the front side for detecting the timing of the lowering stop of the elevating frame becomes horizontal.
The control unit inputs the detection signals of the first sensor and the second sensor, and the descending stroke is based on the rotation speed of the second servomotor from the descending start to the descending stop of the first elevating frame. Further, the value obtained by subtracting the descending stroke from the height from the transport surface of the conveyor to the upper standby position of the first elevating frame is the value obtained by subtracting the descending stroke from the folded inner flap of the shipping box. The shipping box automatic sealing system according to claim 1, wherein the height is calculated as a height to the upper surface. The centering mechanism includes a pair of guide bars that are long in the transport direction and are provided so as to be accessible to each other from both sides of the upstream portion of the upper surface of the conveyor, and the pair of guide bars at the timing when the shipping box is transported. The shipping box has a guide bar moving means for aligning the shipping box with the transport line and guiding the shipping box in the transport direction by moving close to each other and abutting on the side surface portions on both sides of the shipping box.
The centering mechanism is provided with a box width measuring means for detecting the width dimension of the shipping box.
The box width measuring means is
The control unit has a mileage sensor that outputs a pulse corresponding to the movement distance of the pair of guide bars when the pair of guide bars are approaching and moves, and the control unit inputs a pulse output by the mileage sensor to input the pair of guide bars. The pulse output by the mileage sensor starts counting from the time when the guide bars start moving closer to each other from the standby positions on both sides of the conveyor or when the guide bars pass the origin positions on both sides, and the pair of guide bars are on both sides of the shipping box. The count is stopped when it comes into contact with the side surface portion, the approaching movement distance of the pair of guide bars is calculated based on the counted number of pulses, and the specified distance between the standby positions of the pair of guide bars or the origin position is used. The shipping box automatic sealing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calculated value is output as the width dimension of the shipping box by subtracting the approaching movement distance. The guide bar moving means includes a roller chain winding mechanism provided in a long horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyor, an air cylinder device that reciprocates the roller chain winding mechanism by a certain distance, and the roller chain winding. It has a mileage sensor that outputs a pulse each time the connecting pin of the hooking mechanism passes, and the pair of guide bars are distributed and connected to the upper traveling portion and the lower traveling portion of the roller chain winding mechanism. As a result, the pair of guide bars approach and separate from each other.
The one according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air cylinder device is adapted to stop the stroke when the pair of guide bars abut on both side surfaces of the shipping box. Shipping box automatic sealing system. The mileage sensor has a fixed portion at one end and a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing each other at the other end, and the fixed portion is a traveling portion on the upper side of the roller chain of the roller chain winding mechanism. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are supported at a required position by either one of the lower traveling portions, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are connected to either the upper traveling portion or the lower traveling portion of the roller chain of the roller chain winding mechanism. The number of passes through the pin is counted and the number of pulses is output.
The shipping box automatic sealing system according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate the approaching movement distance of the pair of guide bars based on the counted number of pulses. The conveyor is provided at the same phase position of a pair of endless winding traveling bodies and each of the endless winding traveling bodies, which are separated and integrally travel so as to place both side portions of the bottom surface portion of the shipping box. Consists of having multiple pairs of pressing claws to boost the back of the box,
A box length measuring means is attached to the conveyor, and the conveyor is provided with a box length measuring means.
The box length measuring means is
The rear surface portion is placed on the conveyor and the rear surface portion is pushed by the pressing claw at a required front position in the transport direction, and between the pair of endless winding traveling bodies and below the conveyor transport surface. A third sensor (photoelectric sensor) that detects the time point when the front side surface portion of the shipping box passes directly above and outputs a signal,
An origin sensor provided at a required front position in the transport direction from the third sensor, detecting a time point at which the pressing claw passes, and outputting a signal.
It is equipped with a device that outputs a pulse in proportion to the rotation speed of one pulley of the conveyor.
The control unit
From the time when the signal output by the origin sensor is input to the time when the signal output by the third sensor is input, the pulse output by the device that outputs the pulse in proportion to the rotation speed of one pulley of the conveyor is output. The distance E for the pressing claw to move is calculated based on the input and the count number, and the calculated pressing claw is calculated from the predetermined distance from the third sensor to the pressing claw at the time when the origin sensor outputs a signal. The automatic shipping box sealing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the length dimension of the shipping box is output after deducting the distance traveled.

Images