JP3003652U - Automatic container folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The whole process of container folding can be performed in one station, the space required for container folding can be reduced, the cycle time required for folding can be shortened, and the device can be made compact. Also try to reduce costs. In an automatic folding device for a foldable container having a double-opening lid, the container 1 is transported and stopped at a predetermined position with both lids open and in contact with both long side plates.
At the same station, lid lifting means, bottom plate pressing means 20, 22, short side plate lock releasing means 52, 53, 59,
60, the short side plate folding means 26 and 27, the long side plate unlocking means, the container main body folding means 17 and 19, and the lid folding means are sequentially operated to form the container automatic folding device 11.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a device for automatically folding a foldable container, and more particularly, to an automatic folding device for a foldable container with a lid that opens at both sides.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In recent years, foldable containers made of synthetic resin are often used to transport various products. This is because the foldable container can reduce the required volume when the container is transported and stored in an empty box by folding the container to make it small, and can significantly improve the transportation efficiency and the storage efficiency. Furthermore, for hygiene management, there are some products such as food and drink and medical products that must be transported or stored with the upper opening covered with a lid after they are stored in a container. As shown in FIG. 1, a container with a lid is used.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 13, there is an automatic container folding device 110 for a foldable container equipped with a double-opening lid, and when folding a container conveyed by a roller conveyor 111, A pre-processing unit 112 that performs processing for lifting the lid upward so that the lid does not interfere, a folding unit 113 that folds the container whose lid is lifted upward in the pre-processing unit 112, and the folding unit A post-processing unit 114 for further folding the lid is provided on the container in which the front, rear, left and right side plates are folded at 113.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, in the automatic container folding apparatus as described above, the pre-processing unit 112, the folding unit 113, and the post-processing unit 114 continuously fold the container. However, there is a problem that a lot of processing space is required, the cost of the equipment becomes high, and the container moves, so that the cycle time required for processing is long.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic container folding device which is configured so that all steps of folding a container can be performed in one station and thus solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an automatic folding device for a foldable container having a lid that opens at both sides, both lids are opened and are conveyed in contact with both long side plates. Lid lifting means for rotating both lids of the container to lift them outward, bottom plate pushing means for pushing down the bottom plate of the container stopped at a predetermined position, and lower portions of both short side plates of the container toward the inside of the container. The short side plate unlocking means for pressing the lock to release the lock, the short side plate folding means for folding both short side plates unlocked by the short side plate lock releasing means into the inside of the container, and the both long side plates for the long side plates. The long side plate lock releasing means for releasing the bending lock inside the container with the hinge provided at the center as the fulcrum, and the bending lock inward was released by the long side plate unlocking means. The container main body folding means for pressing the long side plate downward to fold it and the lid folding means for folding the lower lid of the both lids first and the upper lid later are provided. A container that is transported in a state of being in contact with and stopped at a predetermined position, at the same station, the lid lifting means, the bottom plate pressing means, the short side plate lock releasing means, the short side plate folding means, the long side plate unlocking means, The container main body folding means and the lid folding means are sequentially operated to be folded.

Further, the lid lifting means is bent toward the outside of the container from the upstream side to the downstream side in the container conveying direction, and is provided in a substantially horizontal state along both sides of the conveyor for conveying the container. It may consist of a round bar guide. Further, the short side plate unlocking means, the short side plate folding means, the long side plate unlocking means, the container main body folding means, and the lid folding means may be constituted by an air cylinder.

[0008]

[Action]

 Based on the above-mentioned configuration, after rotating both lids of the container that is conveyed with both lids open and in contact with both long side plates with the round bar guides and lifting, while stopping the container at the predetermined position, The bottom plate pressing means is operated to press the bottom plate of the container downward, and the short side plate lock releasing means is operated to press the lower parts of both short side plates of the container toward the inside of the container to release the lock, and the short side plate is folded. The short side plates are folded inside the container by activating the means, and the long side plate unlocking mechanism is operated to bend both long side plates to the inside of the container by using the hinge provided at the center of the long side plate as the fulcrum to release the lock. Then, fold the container body by activating the container body folding means and pressing both long side plates downward to fold the container body, and then activating the lid folding means to fold the lower lid among the two lids first and then the upper lid. After Folding is completed all steps of the folding of the container at the same station. Further, since the bottom plate pressing means, the short side plate unlocking means, the short side plate folding means, the long side plate unlocking means, the container main body folding means, and the lid folding means are constituted by air cylinders, the container can be swiftly and reliably constructed. Can be folded.

[0009]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an automatic container folding device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an example of a container that is folded using the automatic container folding apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a target container in an assembled state. As shown in FIG. 1, the container 1 is made of a synthetic resin plate material, and includes a rectangular bottom plate 2 and a bottom plate 2. An upper frame 3 having the same shape as the above, and a bottom plate 2 and the left and right sides of the upper frame 3 are interposed, the lower end is rotatably connected to the bottom plate 2, and the upper end is rotatably connected to the upper frame 3. In addition, foldable long side plates 5 and 5 formed by connecting hinges 5a at substantially the center, and short side plates interposed between the front and rear sides of the bottom plate 2 and the upper frame 3 and rotatably connected to the upper frame 3 only at the upper ends. 6, 6 and two lids 8 (upper lid 8a, lower lid 8b), which are connected to the upper portions of both sides of the upper frame 3 so as to be able to open both sides and have different lengths from the rotation shaft 7, respectively. In addition, an overlapping portion is formed at the tip of the lid 8 (8a, 8b), and the upper and lower portions of the overlapping portion are maintained in order to prevent dust and the like from entering the inside of the container.

Next, FIG. 2 is a side view of the automatic container folding device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic container folding device 11 for folding the container conveyed from the roller conveyor 10 includes a folding part 12 And a stacker unit 13, and has a gate-shaped frame 15. A plate 16 is horizontally provided on the upper part of the gate-shaped frame 15 in the front and rear directions of the container transfer direction. It is fixed. Cylinder rods 18, 18 are inserted into the table lifting air cylinder 17 so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction (see FIG. 3), and the cylinder rods 18, 18, 18, 18 of the table lifting air cylinder 17, 17 are inserted. A cylinder mounting base 19 is fixed to the tip of the.

Further, a bottom plate pressing air cylinder 20 is mounted substantially in the center of the cylinder mounting base 19, and cylinder rods 21 and 21 are fitted into the bottom plate pressing air cylinder 20 so as to be able to move forward and backward. A pressing plate 22 is fixed to the lower ends of the cylinder rods 21 and 21.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a predetermined interval is provided on the lower surface of the cylinder rod 18 mounting portion on the upstream side of the cylinder mounting base 19 in the container carrying direction, in a direction orthogonal to the container carrying direction. Brackets 24, 24 are vertically provided, and both ends of a shaft 25 are pivotally supported by the brackets 24, 24. A pair of side plate hold arms 26, 26 are fixedly provided on the shaft 25 at a predetermined interval, and the end portions 26a, 26a of the side plate hold arms 26, 26 are bent at a substantially right angle and in the downstream direction in the container conveying direction. There is. Further, side plate hold arms 27, 27 having the same structure are also arranged on the lower surface of the cylinder rod 18 mounting portion downstream of the cylinder mounting base 19 in the container conveying direction. The tip portions 27a, 27a are bent substantially at right angles and in the upstream direction of the container carrying direction.

Further, brackets 28, 28 are fixedly provided on the lower surface of the cylinder mounting base 19 near the side plate holding arms 26, 27 at a predetermined interval in a direction orthogonal to the container carrying direction. , 28, the base ends of side plate air cylinders 30, 30 are rotatably supported via pins 29, 29. Cylinder rods 31 and 31 are respectively inserted into the side plate air cylinders 30 and 30 so as to be able to move forward and backward in the container transport direction, and the tip ends of the cylinder rods 31 and 31 are joints 32 and 32 and pins 33 and 33, respectively. It is rotatably connected to the base ends of the side plate hold arms 26, 27 via. Then, when the side plate air cylinders 30, 30 are actuated and the cylinder rods 31, 31 advance, the side plate hold arms 26, 26, 27, 27 rotate downward together with the shafts 25, 25, and the side plate hold arms. The tip portions 26a, 26a, 27a, 27a of the reference numerals 26, 26, 27, 27 that are bent at a substantially right angle rotate the short side plates 6, 6 of the container 1 upward and fold them in a substantially horizontal state.

Brackets 34, 34 are fixed to both sides of the substantially central portion of the gate frame 15, and supports 35, 35 are erected on the brackets 34, 34, respectively, and upper ends of the supports 35, 35. Round bar guides 36, 36 are fixedly mounted on the respective rods. As shown in FIG. 5, the round bar guides 36 and 36 are bent inward at the upstream end in the container transport direction so that the lids 8a and 8b of the transported container 1 can be smoothly rotated upward and lifted. It has become. Stays 37, 37 are fixed to the supports 35, 35, respectively, and knock air cylinders 38, 38 are fixed in a substantially horizontal state on the stays 37, 37, respectively. Cylinder rods 39 and 39 are respectively inserted into the knock air cylinders 38 and 38 so as to be capable of advancing and retracting in a direction perpendicular to the container conveying direction, and the tips of the cylinder rods 39 and 39 are provided with knock plates 40 and 40, respectively. The end portion is fixed, the knock plate 40 extends upward, and the front end portion 40a is bent substantially at right angles to the long side plates 5 and 5 of the container 1.

Further, a box body 41 having an open top is fixed on the frame body 15a at the upstream end of the container transport direction of the gate-shaped frame 15 and the frame body 15b at the downstream end of the container transport direction. A shaft 42 having fixed driven sprockets 43, 43 is rotatably supported on both sides of the upstream end of the container transporting direction, and a shaft 44 having driving sprockets 45, 45 fixed on both sides of the downstream end is rotatable. It is movably supported, and endless chain conveyors 47, 47 are wound around the sprockets 43, 43, 45, 45, respectively.

Further, chain guides 48, 48 whose upper sides are opened are fixedly provided on both edges of the upper surface of the box body 41, and the chain conveyors 47, 47 move in the chain guides 48, 48 to move the chain guides 47, 47. The upper ends of the conveyors 47, 47 project upward from the upper ends of the chain guides 48, 48 so that the container 1 placed on the chain conveyors 47, 47 can be conveyed. Further, the lower parts of the guide plates 49, 49 are fixed to both side plates of the box body 41, the upper parts of the guide plates 49, 49 project upward, and the upper part of the guide plates 49, 49 causes the bottom plate 2 of the container 1 to guide. It is supposed to be done.

Further, a shaft 50 is inserted and fixed on both sides of the lower part of the side plate hold arms 26, 26 of the box 41, and a link 51 is rotatably attached to substantially the center of the shaft 50. Unlock arms 52 and 53 are fixed to both ends of 51. The unlock arms 52 and 53 extend upward, the tip portions 52a and 53a are bent at a substantially right angle and in the downstream direction in the container conveying direction, and a plate 55 is fixed to the tip of the tip portions 52a and 53a. There is. Then, the base end portion 53b of the rearward unlock arm 53 in the direction orthogonal to the container transport direction bulges downward and obliquely forward.

Shafts 57 are inserted and fixed on both sides of the lower part of the side plate hold arms 27, 27 of the box body 41, and a link 58 is rotatably attached to the shaft 57 at substantially the center thereof. Unlock arms 59 and 60 are fixed to both ends of 58. The unlock arms 59, 60 extend upward, the tip portions 59a, 60a are bent substantially at right angles and in the upstream direction of the container carrying direction, and the plate 62 is fixed to the tips of the tip portions 59a, 60a. There is. The base end 59b of the front unlock arm 59 in the direction orthogonal to the container transport direction bulges downward and obliquely forward.

A base end of an unlock arm air cylinder 66 is provided via a bracket 64 and a pin 65 on the front side of the box body 41 below the pressing plate 22 in the direction orthogonal to the container transport direction. It is rotatably supported and its tip is directed downstream in the container transport direction. A cylinder rod 67 is inserted into the air cylinder 66 so as to be able to move forward and backward in the container conveying direction, and the tip end of the cylinder rod 67 is connected via a joint 69 and a pin 70 to the base end portion 59b of the unlock arm 59. Is linked to.

In addition, the base end of the unlock arm air cylinder 75 is provided via the bracket 72 and the pin 73 on the rear side of the box body 41 below the pressing plate 22 in the direction orthogonal to the container transport direction. It is rotatably supported and its tip is directed toward the container transport direction flow side. A cylinder rod 76 is inserted into the air cylinder 75 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the container transport direction, and the tip end of the cylinder rod 76 is connected to the base end portion 53b of the unlock arm 53 via a joint 78 and a pin 79. Is linked to.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the stacker unit 13. As shown in FIG. 4, holders 86 are provided on both sides of the frame 15 on the downstream side in the container transport direction via brackets 81, 82, 83, 84, respectively. , 87, 88, 89 are erected. Hooks 96, 97, 98, 99 are supported in the upper grooves of the holders 86, 87, 88, 89 through pins 91, 92, 93, 94, respectively, so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The grooves of the holders 86, 87, 88, 89 prevent the upward rotation of a predetermined angle or more and the downward rotation of the holders 86, 87, 88 from a substantially horizontal state.

An air cylinder 101 for pushing up is pierced at a substantially central portion of a portion surrounded by the holders 86, 87, 88, 89 of the box 41, and the air cylinder 101 for pushing up has a cylinder rod. 102 is inserted so as to be able to move back and forth in the vertical direction, and a disc 103 is fixed to the tip of the cylinder rod 102. A motor 106 is connected to the shaft 44, on which the drive sprockets 45, 45 are fixed, through a gear group 105.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, when the motor 106 is driven, the shaft 44 and the drive sprockets 45, 45 rotate via the gear group 105, and the chain conveyor 47, 47 drives. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the container 1 conveyed from the roller conveyor 10 and having the lids 8a, 8b opened is transferred onto the chain conveyors 47, 47 of the automatic container folding device 11 and moved to a predetermined position. Moved and stopped. At this time, the lids 8a, 8b are rotated upward by the round bar guides 36, 36 and lifted.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the bottom plate pressing air cylinder 20 is operated to move the cylinder rods 21 and 21 downward, the pressing plate 22 also moves downward, and the bottom plate of the container 1 is moved. Hold down 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the unlock arm air cylinders 66, 75 are operated and the cylinder rods 67, 76 are advanced, the unlock arms 52, 53, 59, 60 are rotated to move the plate. The lower parts of the short side plates 6 and 6 are hit by 55 and 62 to rotate inward and upward to unlock. Then, the bottom plate retainer air cylinder 20 is operated to retract the cylinder rods 21 and 21 upward, and the retainer plate 22 is also raised to move to a position retracted from the container 1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the table lifting air cylinders 17, 17 are actuated to move the cylinder rods 18, 18, 18, 18 downward, and the cylinder mounting base 19 is moved to a predetermined position. Down to. Then, in this state, when the side plate air cylinders 30, 30 are operated and the cylinder rods 31, 31 are advanced, the side plate holding arms 26, 26, 27, 27 rotate downward and the tip portions 26a, 26a. , 27a and 27a, the short side plates 6 and 6 are held and rotated inward and upward and folded into a substantially horizontal state. When the unlock arm air cylinders 66, 75 are operated to retract the cylinder rods 67, 67, the unlock arms 52, 53, 59, 60 rotate outward and downward to retract from the container 1. Move to the position you did.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when the knock air cylinders 38, 38 are operated to advance the cylinder rods 39, 39, the knock plates 40, 40 also advance to the container side, and the tip end 40a presses the vicinity of the hinge 5a of the long side plates 5 and 5 of the container 1 inward, and bends the long side plates 5 and 5 inward with the hinge 5a as a fulcrum. Then, the table lifting air cylinders 17, 17 are operated to lower the cylinder mounting base 19 to a predetermined position, the long side plates 5, 5 are folded, and the side plate air cylinders 30, 30 are operated to operate the cylinder rod. When 31 and 31 are retracted, the side plate hold arms 26, 26, 27 and 27 pivot outward and upward to be in a substantially horizontal state, and move to a position retracted from the container 1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, with the upper lid 8a and the lower lid 8b supported by the round bar guides 36, 36, the knock air cylinder 38 on the lower lid 8b side is actuated to move the cylinder. When the da-rod 39 is advanced, the tip 40a of the knock plate 40 comes into contact with the lower lid 8b and pivots downward to fold it on the upper frame 3, and then the knock air cylinder 38 on the upper lid 8a side is operated. The tip 40a of the knock plate 40 contacts the upper lid 8a and is rotated downward to fold it on the upper frame 3, and the overlapping portion of the upper lid 8a is superposed on the overlapping portion of the lower lid 8b. As shown, the folding is completed.

Therefore, the container 1 can be folded at one station by the folding portion 12, the space required for folding can be reduced, the time required for folding can be shortened, and the cost of the device can be reduced. Further, since the air cylinder is used, the folding time is shortened and the structure is simple, so that it is possible to reduce the cost and prevent the occurrence of failure.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, when the chain conveyors 47, 47 are driven, the folded container 1 moves to the stacker unit 13 and is stopped at a predetermined position. Then, when the pushing-up air cylinder 101 is operated and the cylinder rod 102 is advanced upward, the disc 103 is raised, the folded container 1 is raised, and the hooks 96, 97, 98, 99 are lifted. The container 1 is lifted to a predetermined position by pressing and rotating upward. When the push-up air cylinder 101 is operated to retract the cylinder rod 102 downward, the disk 103 descends, and the container 1 descends accordingly, pushing down the hooks 96, 97, 98, 99, but the holder The downward rotation is prevented by the grooves 86, 87, 88, 89, and the container 1 is held on the hooks 96, 97, 98, 99. In this way, the containers folded and conveyed to the stacker unit 13 are stacked one by one on the holders 86, 87, 88, 89 by the pushing-up air cylinder 101.

Therefore, the container folded by the folding unit 12 can be immediately loaded by the adjacent stacker unit 13, and the entire folding device can be further space-saving. Although the chain conveyor is used in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is not limited to this and other conveyors such as a belt conveyor may of course be used.

[0031]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, a container that is transported with the both lids open and in contact with both long side plates and stopped at a predetermined position is used to lift the lid at the same station, the bottom plate pressing means, and the short side plate. The lock release means, the short side plate folding means, the long side plate lock releasing means, the container main body folding means, and the lid folding means are sequentially operated to fold, so the space required for folding the container can be reduced, and it is necessary for folding. The cycle time can be shortened, and the device is compact, so the cost can be reduced. Also, since air cylinders are used for the bottom plate pressing means, the short side plate unlocking means, the short side plate folding means, the long side plate unlocking means, the container body folding means, and the lid folding means, they operate quickly and reliably and can be folded. Since the time can be shortened and the structure is simple, there are few failures and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a container to be folded is assembled using the automatic container folding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an automatic container folding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a stacker unit of the automatic container folding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the lid of the container is rotated upward by the round bar guide and lifted.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state where the bottom plate of the container is pressed by the pressing plate.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state where the short side plate is unlocked by the unlock arm.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state where a short side plate is held by a side plate hold arm.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state where the long side plate is bent inward by a knock plate.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which the lid is sequentially folded by a knock plate.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state where folding of the container is completed.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a state in which folding completed containers are stacked by the pushing-up air cylinder of the stacker unit.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a conventional automatic container folding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Container 2 Bottom Plate 3 Upper Frame 5,5 Long Side Plate 5a Hinges 6,6 Short Side Plate 7,7 Rotating Shaft 8 Lid 8a Upper Lid 8b Lower Lid 10 Roller Conveyor 11 Container Automatic Folding Device 12 Folding Part 13 Stacker Part 15 Gate Frame 16 Plates 17,17 Air cylinders for lifting tables 19 Cylinder mounting bases 20 Air cylinders for holding bottom plates 22 Presser plates 26,26,27,27 Side plate hold arms 30,30 Air cylinders for side plates 36,36 Round bar guides 38,38 For knocks Air cylinder 40,40 Knock plate 41 Box body 43,43 Driven sprocket 45,45 Drive sprocket 47,47 Chain conveyor 52,53,59,60 Unlock arm 66,75 Unlock arm air cylinder 86,87, 88,89 Holder 9 6,97,98,99 Hook 101 Air cylinder for pushing up

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An automatic folding device for a foldable container having a double-sided lid, wherein both lids of a container to be transported in a state where the both lids are opened and are in contact with both long side plates are rotated outward and lifted. Lid lifting means, bottom plate pressing means for pressing downward the bottom plate of the container stopped at a predetermined position, short side plate unlocking for pressing the lower parts of both short side plates of the container inward of the container to unlock Means, short side plate folding means for folding both short side plates unlocked by the short side plate unlocking means into the inside of the container, and both of the long side plates inside the container with a hinge provided at the center of the long side plate as a fulcrum. The long side plate unlocking means for releasing the fold lock, and the two long side plates unlocked inward by the long side plate unlocking means are pressed downward to fold. An antenna main body folding means and a lid folding means for folding the lower lid of the both lids first and the upper lid later of the lid, and the lids are opened and conveyed at a predetermined position in contact with both long side plates. The stopped container, at the same station, the lid lifting means, the bottom plate pressing means, the short side plate lock releasing means, the short side plate folding means, the long side plate unlocking means, the container body folding means, the lid folding means. An automatic container folding device characterized by being folded by being operated in sequence. 2. The pair of round bars, wherein the lid lifting means is bent in the outer direction of the container from the upstream side to the downstream side in the container transport direction and is provided in a substantially horizontal state along both sides of a conveyor for transporting the container. The automatic container folding device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic folding device comprises a guide. 3. The bottom plate pressing means, the short side plate lock releasing means, the short side plate folding means, the long side plate unlocking means, the container body folding means, and the lid folding means are air cylinders. The automatic container folding device according to claim 1 or 2.