JP3117655B2 - Carton opening device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an opening device for opening a flap of a carton containing canned beer and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a carton for accommodating contents such as canned beer, the one shown in FIG. 9 is conventionally known. This carton A has an upper plate a, a lower plate b and a pair of side plates c forming a cylindrical body, and inner flaps d ₁ and d ₂ provided at both ends of each side plate c are bent inward. The outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ provided at both ends of the upper plate a and the lower plate b are bent inward to close the openings at both ends, and the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ are bonded to the inner flaps d ₁ and d ₂ . Each flap d ₁ ,
d ₂ , e ₁ , and e ₂ are held in a bent state.

A carton opener in which the above-mentioned carton is mechanically opened to take out the contents is described in JP-A-3-148434.

[0004] The carton opener is provided with a suction cup and a pair of insertion blades on both sides of the transfer path of the carton to be transferred in one direction, and the suction cup serves as a pair of outer flaps e ₁ , e of the carton shown in FIG. ₂ , the central portion of the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ is bent outward by the outward movement, and the insertion is performed through a gap formed between the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ and the contents. The blades are inserted, and the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ and the inner flaps d ₁ and d ₂ are rotated by the rotation of the insertion blade.
The adhesive part is cut off.

In addition, a piercing blade is used in place of the suction cup, and the piercing blade is pierced near the base of the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ , and is inclined to deform the outer flap outwardly. Another example is a method in which an insertion blade is inserted into a gap formed between the outer flap and the outer flap by rotating the insertion blade in the same manner as described above.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned carton opener, the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ to be opened are relatively firmly adhered to the inner flaps d ₁ and d ₂ . The outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ are adsorbed by the suction cup and moved outward to move the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ .
for bending the e ₂ outwardly, the outer flap e ₁ by the suction cups, it is necessary to very strongly adsorbs e _2, the outer flaps e ₁ suction cup when weak suction force due to wear of the suction cups , there is a problem that out of the e _2, the outer flaps e _1, e ₂ unreliable operation of deforming outwardly, there is a point to be improved in the outer flap e _1, e ₂ after surely be opened.

On the other hand, in the case where the outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ are deformed outward by piercing the carton with a piercing blade and inclining the carton, if the carton is distorted during transportation, the piercing blade is pierced. It is necessary to position the carton with very high precision, since the blades may stick into the contents and damage the contents. For this reason, a high-precision carton transfer device is required, the cost of the opening device is increased, and there are still points to be improved in reducing the cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carton opening device having a simple structure capable of mechanically opening a pair of outer flaps.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pair of outer flaps facing a pair of inner flaps provided at an opening end of a cylindrical body. An engaging claw that presses one outer flap of the carton, which is closed at the open end, and then sneaks inside the other outer flap to deform the other outer flap outward, Moves outward by penetrating inside the tip of the other outer flap deformed outward by the claw
The outer flap and the flap open claws to open the drawer outward, the flap by moving outwardly outwardly from entering the inside of the front end portion of one of the outer flap by
And a flap opening claw that is pulled out and opened .

Further, in the second invention, the carton in which the openings at both ends of the cylindrical body are closed by a pair of opposing outer flaps and a pair of inner flaps is placed in a state in which the pair of outer flaps are positioned vertically. , A carton transfer device for transferring from the first station to the second station, a first outer flap opening unit provided at the first station, and a second outer flap provided at both sides of the second station The first outer flap opening unit presses one of the pair of outer flaps to advance inward and deforms inward while moving forward, and the first outer flap opening unit faces the other outer flap.
And movably and lifting movably engaging pawl before and after deforming the other outer flap outwards by moving Te, forward stop
After stopping, move toward the other outer flap and
Penetrates into the inside of the
It can be moved back and forth and can be raised and lowered by pulling it outward and opening it.
A plurality of free flap release claws, and the second outer flap release unit turns to one outer flap after the forward stop.
And move into the inner side of the outer flap and retreat
Occasionally pull out one of the outer flaps outward and release
It has a configuration having a plurality of flap opening claws which can be moved back and forth and vertically.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment shows an opening device for a carton containing canned beer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a carton A containing canned beer is supplied on a pair of parallel rails 1, and is conveyed intermittently by a predetermined stroke in one direction by a carton conveying device 2.

The carton transfer device 2 has two endless chains 3 provided inside each rail 1 in parallel, and a plurality of carton pressing members 4 are spaced between the chains 3 at regular intervals larger than the length of the carton A. It is attached to.

Here, a torque limiter TL is mounted between the sprocket 5 on which the chain 3 is mounted and the drive shaft 6, so that when a large load is applied to the chain 3, the drive shaft 6 idles. (See FIG. 1).

The carton A pushed by the carton pressing member 4 and transferred in one direction has outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ located on both sides and a pair of outer flaps e ₁ and e ₂ located up and down. It is transported in a state where it does.

In the transfer path of the carton A, a first station S _{1 to a} third station S ₃ are sequentially provided in the carton transfer direction. A pair of right and left stoppers 7 are disposed at the front of each station S ₁ to S _3.

As shown in FIG. 2, three stoppers 7 arranged in the front-rear direction on both sides of the carton transfer path are fixed to bars 8 provided in the front-rear direction on the outside of each rail 1 in the front-rear direction.

The front and rear ends of the bar 8 are supported by parallel links 9a and 9b. A cylinder 10 for raising and lowering the bar is connected to the lower end of the front link 9a. The operation of the cylinder 10 causes the stopper 7 to move up and down simultaneously. . Stopper 7
Protrudes above the transfer path of carton A when ascending, and
The stopping at each station S ₁ to S _3.

The pair of side guides on both sides of the first station S ₁ for guiding the movement of the sides of the carton A (not shown) is provided. Also, the first station S ₁
A top guide 12 for preventing the carton A from moving upward is provided at the upper part of.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, on both sides of the first station S ₁ and the flap opening unit U ₁ on opening the upper outer flap e ₁ carton A outwardly, it is open outwards a flap folding device 13 which causes the upper outer flap e ₁ upward.

On the other hand, on both sides of the second station S ₂ ,
It guides the movement of both sides of the carton A, and the upper flap e ₁ raised by the flap bending device 13.
The flap guides 14 to maintain the upright state, the lower flap opening unit U ₂ to open the lower outer flap e ₂ of the carton A in an outer direction.

Each of the upper flap opening unit U ₁ and the lower flap opening unit U ₂ is
5a, the 15b, is reciprocated with respect to the carton A to stop at each station S _1, S _2.

Here, each of the front and rear cylinders 15a and 15b is attached to both sides of the elevating member 16. The elevating member 16 is supported by a guide rod 18 whose upper and lower ends are supported by a support frame 17 so as to be able to move up and down, and is moved up and down by an elevating cylinder 19 connected to its lower end. The lifting cylinder 19 adjusts the height of each of the flap opening units U ₁ and U _{2 according} to the size of the carton A, and can be omitted when the size of the carton A is constant.

The upper flap opening units U ₁ is attached an open claw lifting cylinders 21 to the support frame 20 which is reciprocated by the front and rear cylinder 15a, both ends of the lifting body 22 which is moved up and down by its open claw lifting cylinders 21 A plurality of L-shaped flap opening claws 23 are attached to the portion with the tip 23a at the tip facing upward.

The lower end of the rod support member 24 is mounted on the front upper portion of the support frame 20, and the inner flap holding rod 25 is mounted on the lower end of the rod support member 24.

Further, on the front surface of the support frame 20, an engagement claw elevating cylinder 26 is mounted.
An engaging claw 28 for pushing the outer flap is attached to the front surface of the plate body 27 which is moved up and down by 6.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (I) and (II), the engaging claw 28 has an inclined pressing surface 29 at the front center, and concave concave surfaces 30 on both sides of the pressing surface 29. Formed, back 3
Numeral 1 is inclined with respect to the pressing surface 29 and has a small thickness toward the upper end.

[0028] When the engaging claw 28 has been advanced dynamic upper flap opening units U ₁ by the operation of the front and rear cylinder 15a, as shown in FIG. 6 (II), the first station S
Pressing surface 29 in the central portion of the lower outer flap e ₂ of the carton A which stops at ₁ abuts to deform the lower outer flap e ₂ inside, on both sides of the curved surface 30 of the pressing surface 29 is the carton A It has a shape that faces the outer periphery of the can body w accommodated therein and does not deform the can body w. This engaging claw 2
8 is moved up and down by the engagement claw elevating cylinder 26.

In a state where the engaging claw 28 presses and deforms the lower outer flap e ₂ , the flap opening claw 23 faces both sides of the can body w accommodated in the carton A, and the tip claw 23 a at the tip is formed. as opposed to the lower upper outer flap e _1, the mounting position is restricted.

The lower flap opening unit U ₂ is substantially the same configuration as the upper flap opening unit U _1, the upper flap opening unit U _1, Sakitsume 23 of the flap opening pawl 23
a is directed downward, and the engaging claw 28 is directed downward. Therefore, for the lower flap opening units U _2, the description thereof is omitted above the flap opening unit U ₁ the same component and the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper flap folding device 13, the cylinder 33 is moved up and down the two rods 34, pushes up the upper outer flap e ₁ which is open at elevated its rod 34 standing I try to make it.

[0032] On one side of the third station S ₃ as shown in FIG. 3, extrusion apparatus 35 for extruding a can body w is provided from the carton A to stop at that third station S _3.

The pusher 37 moves the pusher 37 back and forth by the cylinder 36, and pushes the pusher 37 into the carton A when the pusher 37 advances to push out the can body w.

The opening device shown in the embodiment has the above structure, and its operation will be described below.

The carton A supplied on the rail 1 is transferred to the first station S ₁ on the rail 1 by the pressing of the carton pressing member 4 attached to the chain 3.

[0036] When the carton A is conveyed to the first station S _1, the carton A is stopped in contact with the stopper 7 to protrude carton transport path. Further, the chain 3 is stopped by the action of the torque limiter TL incorporated between the sprocket 5 and the drive shaft 6.

[0037] When the first station S ₁ to the carton A is stopped being transferred by the operation of the unit front and rear cylinder 15a, the upper flap opening unit U ₁ is advanced.

[0038] By advancing movement of the upper flap opening units U _1, the engaging claw 28 presses the central portion of the lower outer flap e ₂ of the carton A, as shown in FIG. 6 (I), (II) , deforming inwardly the lower outer flap e _2.

At this time, the engaging claw 28 has a concave curved surface 30 formed on both sides of the front surface, and the curved surface 30 faces the outer periphery of the can w in the carton A, so that the can w cannot be deformed. Absent.

[0040] The deformation of the lower outer flap e _2, a gap is formed between the lower outer flap e ₂ that the upper outer flap e _1, facing the tip of the engaging pawl 28 in the gap. Also,
Flap opening pawl 23, the toe 23a is opposed to the lower upper outer flap e _1.

When the engagement claw 28 deforms the lower outer flap e ₂ , the engagement claw 28 is moved upward by the operation of the engagement claw elevating cylinder 26. At this time, the inner flap presser rod 25 distal the outer flap e _1, e both ends notch inner flaps d ₁ invade the provided of _2, d ₂ in contact with, the inner flaps d _1, d ₂ When the engaging claw 28 is moved upward, the upper outer flap e ₁ is pushed outward by a wedge action as shown in FIG. The adhesive portion between the inner flaps d ₁ and d ₂ is slightly peeled off, and a gap is formed between the upper outer flap e ₁ and the inner flaps d ₁ and d ₂ and the can body w. Although the inner flap holding rod 25 is not always necessary, it is effective to increase the reliability of opening the flap when the material of the carton is weak.

When the engaging claw 28 is lifted and stopped, the flap opening claw 23 is moved upward by the operation of the opening claw lifting / lowering cylinder 21, and the toe 23a enters the inside through the gap.

[0043] When the flap opening pawl 23 is stopped for a certain amount rises and the upper flap opening unit U ₁ is retraction into operation of the unit front and rear cylinder 15a.

At this time, the toe 23 of the flap opening claw 23
a is engaged with the inner surface of the upper outer flap e ₁ ,
The retraction of the upper flap opening units U _1, the upper outer flap e ₁ is pulled outward, the inner flaps d _1, d ₂
Adhesive portion is completely peeled off for, as shown in FIG. 7 (III), an upper outer flap e ₁ is opened.

[0045] When the upper flap opening unit U ₁ is stopped and retracted, each of the engaging claws 28 and the flap opening pawl 23 is lowered.

The flap bending device 13 shown in FIG.
The actuation of the cylinder 33, the rod 34 is raised by the increase of the rod 34, the opened upper outer flap e ₁ is bent upward.

[0047] As shown by the chain line in FIG. 7 (III), the upper outer flap e ₁ is awakened upward, the stopper 7 is lowered, the chain 3 is the torque limiter TL are engaged as shown in FIG. 1 move, the carton a in which the upper outer flap e ₁ is opened is conveyed to the second station S ₂ is pushed by the carton pushing member 4.

When the carton A moves, the upper outer flap e ₁
Is held open by being guided by the flap guide 14.

[0049] When the carton A is carried into the second station S _2, the rod 34 of the flap folding device 13 is lowered. Further, the stopper 7 is raised, and the carton A is brought into contact with the second station S ₂ by the contact with the stopper 7.
Stopped and held.

When the carton A is positioned by contact with the stopper 7, the unit front-rear cylinder 15b
By the operation, the lower flap opening unit U ₂ moves forward. Tip of the engaging pawl 28 by its advancement, while entering from the opening of the upper outer flap e ₁ as shown in FIG. 8 in the carton A, the flap opening pawl 23 tip on the lower outer flap e ₂ opposite.

When the lower flap opening unit U ₂ stops, the engagement claw 28 is operated by the operation of the engagement claw elevating cylinder 26.
Descends.

[0052] At this time, the inner flap presser rod 25 is the tip on the inner flaps d _1, d ₂ abuts, thereby preventing deformation of the outer direction of the inner flap d _1, d _2, the engaging claw 28 the lowering of the, deforms outward the central portion of the lower outer flap e ₂ is pushed, by peeling the adhesive portion of the inner flap d _1, d ₂ occurs, the inner flaps d _1, d ₂ and cans A gap is formed between the body w.

When the engaging claw 28 stops descending, the flap opening claw 23 is lowered by the operation of the opening claw lifting / lowering cylinder 21, and the leading end enters through the gap to engage the inner surface of the lower outer flap e _2. Combine.

[0054] Flap the opening pawl 23 is stopped, the unit is lower flap opening unit U ₂ retracted by operation of the front and rear cylinder 15b, the inner flap d is lower outer flap e ₂ is pulled by the flap opening pawl 23 by its retracted _1, d ₂ is stripped by the stop lower flap opening units U _2, lower outer flap e ₂ is opened.

[0055] When the lower flap opening unit U ₂ is stopped, the engaging claws 28 and flap opening pawl 23 rises.
A stopper 7 is lowered. When the stopper 7 is retracted from the carton A transport path, the carton A by pressing the carton pushing member 4 moves together with the chain 3, is conveyed toward the third station S _3.

[0056] When the carton A is transported to the third station S _3, the stopper 7 is increased. When the carton A is positioned by contact with the stopper 7, the pusher 37 of the pushing device 35 advances, and the can w inside the carton A is pushed out by the pusher 37.

In the embodiment, a pair of chains 3
The carton A is transported by the carton pressing member 4 passed therebetween, and the carton A is stopped at the first to third stations S _{1 to} S ₃ by contact with the stopper 7. It is not limited to.

[0058] Further, in the embodiment, is provided with the lower flap opening units U ₂ also engaging pawl 28, the downward movement of the forward stop position of the flap open claws 23,
Since each flap opening pawl 23 can penetrate to the inner surface side of the lower outer flap e _2, it may be omitted lower flap opening units U ₂ in the engagement claws 28.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, after one of the pair of outer flaps is deformed inward by the forward movement of the engaging claw, the engaging claw is directed toward the other outer flap. The other outer flap can be reliably deformed outward by the wedge action of the engaging claw.

For this reason, the flap opening claw can be reliably inserted into the inner surface side of the other outer flap from the gap formed between the other outer flap and one of the outer flaps, and the outer flap is mechanically and reliably secured. Can be opened.

Even if the carton is slightly deformed, the engaging claw is once pressed from the outside via one outer flap, so that the engaging claw can be slid into the inner surface of the other outer flap. There is no harm to the products being made.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an opening device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the above.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper flap opening unit.

FIG. 6 (I) is a sectional view showing an initial state of opening the upper outer flap, and FIG. 6 (II) is a cross-sectional plan view.

FIGS. 7 (I) to (III) are operation diagrams showing stepwise the opened state of the upper outer flap.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the initial state of opening the lower outer flap of the carton.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a carton.

[Explanation of symbols]

S ₁ first station S ₂ the second station 2 carton conveying device U ₁ above flap opening unit U ₂ lower flap opening unit 23 the flap open claws 28 engaging claws

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideyuki Sueoka 1-7-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Rengo Co., Ltd. Tokyo Head Office (56) References JP-A-56-113523 (JP, A) JP-A-3-289430 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65B 69/00 103

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A carton having a pair of outer flaps opposed to a pair of inner flaps provided at an open end of a cylindrical body and having an open end closed. After pressing, an engaging claw that sneaks into the inside of the other outer flap and deforms the other outer flap outward,
A flap release claw that penetrates into the inside of the tip of the other outer flap deformed outward by the engaging claw and moves outward to pull out the outer flap outward and open it; Penetrates the inside of the tip and goes outward
And a flap opening claw for pulling the flap outward and opening it by movement of the carton. 2. A carton in which openings at both ends of a cylindrical body are closed by a pair of opposing outer flaps and a pair of inner flaps, and a second carton from the first station with the pair of outer flaps positioned vertically. A carton transport device for transporting to the station, a first outer flap opening unit provided on both sides of the first station, and a second outer flap opening unit provided on both sides of the second station. The first outer flap opening unit presses one of the pair of outer flaps to advance inward when moving forward and deforms the other outer flap outward by moving toward the other outer flap. Moveable back and forth
And the engaging claw that can move up and down, and the other outer
Move towards the wrap and penetrate inside the other outer flap
And pull out the other outer flap outward when retreating.
A plurality of flap opening claws that can be moved back and forth and lifted up and down freely, and the second outer flap opening unit moves toward one of the outer flaps after stopping the advance,
Penetrates into the inner side of the outer flap ,
The front flap can be moved back and forth to pull it out and open it.
And a carton opening device having a plurality of flap opening claws movable up and down .