JP3508297B2 - Box flap folding device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flap folding device for a box, and more particularly, to a cover provided on one wall surface of the box, and a cover for the flap. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flap folding device for a box body, wherein the insertion flap is inserted into a wall surface opposite to the box body while bending an insertion flap provided continuously at a free end. 2. Description of the Related Art Side flaps are respectively provided on the upper portions of both side walls, a closing flap (lid) which is provided on one of front and rear walls to close an opening, and is continuously connected to a tip of the closing flap. With an insertion flap provided as
Conventionally, a box body in which an opening is closed by the closing flap after an article is accommodated in the inside from an upper opening is conventionally used. In such a box, after the article is inserted into the inside from the opening, first, both side flaps are bent inward, and then the closing flap is folded on the side flaps, and the closing flap is folded. The insertion flap continuously provided at the distal end is bent with respect to the closing flap and inserted into the wall surface opposite to the wall surface provided with the closing flap so as to close the opening. . [0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-22169 discloses an example of a conventional apparatus for closing a box having the above-mentioned shape. The paper box 11 described in this publication has a front wall 1
3, a rear wall 14, a pair of side walls 12, side flaps 15 integrally formed on the side walls 12, and a folding flap 16 integrally formed on the rear wall 14. Further, the folding flap 16 is provided with an end panel 17.
And a folding panel 18. The “apparatus for closing the paper box” is configured such that the folding panel 18 is attached to the vertical end panel 1 above the paper box conveyor 25 for transporting the paper box 11.
Notch 26 to bend the panel 7 and the panel 1
8 is provided with a flap closing plunger 27 that starts the closing operation by folding the front end 8 forward, and an endless belt 28 provided at the final flap folding position. In the above-mentioned "apparatus for closing a paper box", the paper box 11 conveyed by the paper box conveyor 25 in a state where the side flaps 15 on both sides are folded in advance, the folding panel 18 is folded by the cutting gap 26, Subsequently, the end panel 17 is closed by the flap closing plow 27 and the folding panel 18 is started to be inserted into the main body of the paper box 11. While in this state, the carton 11 is engaged with the belt 28 and is pushed down by the force of the belt 28 applied to the folding flap 16 so as to be completely closed. [0005] In the conventional box flap folding apparatus as described above, the members for performing the respective steps are sequentially arranged along the conveyor, and in the process of continuously transporting the box by the conveyor, the flap folding steps are sequentially performed. Because the number of components is large, the structure is complicated and the cost is high.Moreover, since each step is performed while the conveyor travels a long section, a large space is required. There was a problem that it was necessary. [0006] A flap folding device for a box body in which the flap is bent and the insertion piece is inserted into the box body in a state where the box body is stopped at one place has already been proposed (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. H07-19764). -15329 publication). The apparatus described in this publication includes a pair of box holders 1 erected on a base 2 in a direction facing each other, and a plate-like flap rotatably provided below the box holder 1. The box body 18 includes a folded body 5 and a flap guide 12 formed in an arc shape in the rotation direction of the flap folded body 5. By holding the holder 1 and then moving the flap folded body 5 along the flap guide 14, the flap 19 of the box 18 is bent toward the opening and the flap 19 is bent. The insertion piece 20 continuously provided on the tip side of the 19 is bent with respect to the flap 19,
By inserting the insertion piece into the opening 20, the opening is closed. [0007] In the box flap folding apparatus according to the above construction, the flap 19 and the insertion piece 20 provided at the tip of the flap 19 are simultaneously bent and the insertion piece 20 is inserted into the opening. However, there is a possibility that the tip of the insertion piece 20 hits the end face of the side wall of the box, and the plug 20 is not smoothly inserted into the box. Further, since the box holder 1 and the flap bent body 5 and the flap guide 14 are independent from each other,
When used for different sized boxes, individual parts had to be replaced or adjusted. The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks. The insertion flap provided on the lid can be smoothly inserted into the inside of the box, and each component can be integrated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flap folding device for a box, which is configured so that the whole can be replaced at a time and can be easily used for boxes of different sizes. A flap folding device for a box body according to the present invention has a pair of support members disposed on both sides thereof, and is sandwiched between the two support members. A comb-shaped guide member having a substantially arc-shaped guide surface formed as a center, and a pair of side flap folding means whose upper ends are rotatably supported by the support members on both sides,
First rotating means for rotating both side flap folding means, and one end portion is rotatably supported between the lower portions of the two support members, and the other end portion rotates along the arc of the guide surface. Closing flap folding means in which a comb tooth is formed at a tip portion of the guide member so as to mesh with the comb of the guide member;
A bent portion integrally formed at a tip of the closing flap folding means, and a second part for rotating the closing flap folding means.
And a small step portion that can be locked to the upper end of the wall surface of the box body is formed below the guide surface. In the flap folding device for a box according to the present invention,
The supporting member, the guide member, the side flap folding means, the rotating means, the closing flap folding means, the rotating means and the like are integrally moved above the box body, and the supporting means suppresses the four corners of the box body for positioning. Next, the side flap folding means on both sides are rotated by the first rotating means, and both side flaps are bent toward the inside of the box. Thereafter, the closing flap folding means is rotated by the second rotating means. When the closing flap folding means is rotated,
The closing flap is bent, and the insertion flap provided at the tip of the closing flap is bent with respect to the closing flap while moving along the arc-shaped guide surface, and a small step provided at the lower end of the guide surface. And guided into the inside of the wall opposite the box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a box flap folding apparatus (indicated by reference numeral 2) according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIGS. It is a figure explaining operation | movement sequentially. In FIGS. 3 to 8, some parts are omitted for clarifying the main parts in each step. As shown in FIG. 9, the box flap folding device 2 is attached to and operated by a hand 8 of a robot body 6 disposed on the side of the box transport conveyor 4, and is operated in a pre-process. The box body conveyed by the conveyance conveyor 4 in a state where the articles are filled in the inside and the upper flaps are opened, the respective flaps are sequentially folded while being stopped at the front of the robot 6. After being sealed, it is carried out again by running the conveyor 4. The box flap folding device 2 includes attachments 2A, 2B, 2C,.
It is configured according to the shape of the box,
It is used by being attached to the robot hand 8. The box 1 in which the flap is folded and sealed by the flap folding device 2 according to the present embodiment.
0 is a front wall surface 10a, a rear wall surface 10
b (In this specification, the upper left of FIGS.
The lower right will be referred to as the back) and the side walls 10 on both sides
c, 10d; side flaps 10e, 10f provided continuously on both side walls 10c, 10d;
b, a closing flap (lid) 1 provided integrally at the upper end
0g and an insertion flap 10h continuously provided at the tip of the closing flap 10g. In the flap folding device 2 according to the present embodiment, first, both side walls 10
c, side flaps 10e, 10f on 10d
After the inner flap is bent horizontally, the closing flap 10g is overlaid on the side flaps 10e and 10f and folded, and the insertion flap 10h at the tip thereof is bent with respect to the closing flap 10g to form a box. The box 10 is sealed by being inserted into a wall surface (front wall surface) 10a opposite to the body 10. Next, the configuration of the box flap folding device 2 will be described in detail. A pair of support members 12 and 13 are arranged at an interval substantially equal to the width L ₁ (see FIG. 3) of the front and rear wall surfaces 10a and 10b of the box body 10, and the entire comb-shaped support member 12 and 13 has a comb shape. Guide member 1
4 are sandwiched and integrated. These support members 1
2, 13 and the guide member 14 are mounted on a horizontal mounting plate 18 via vertical supports 16 (see FIG. 2) fixed to the upper surface. The support members 12 and 13 on both sides are connected to the central portion 12.
c, 13c are cut out from the lower side, and leg portions 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b are formed in front and rear, respectively (see FIGS. 5 and 8). These front and rear legs 12a,
The distance between the inner surfaces near the lower ends of 12b, 13a, and 13b is equal to the lateral width of the side walls 10c and 10d of the box body 10 (that is, the distance between the front wall surface 10a and the rear wall surface 10b) L ₂ (FIG. 3). See). The front legs 12a, 13a of the notches 12c, 13c are substantially arc-shaped guide surfaces centered on the vicinity of the lower ends of the rear legs 12b, 13b. On the other hand, the guide member 14 sandwiched between the support members 12 and 13 on both sides has a portion 14a having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the support members 12 and 13,
Spaces 14b having substantially the same width and located between 4a are alternately formed, and have a comb shape as a whole. Further, the notches 12c, 13 of the both side support members 12, 13 are provided.
Similarly to c, a substantially arc-shaped guide surface 14c is formed around the lower end of the box 10 on the side of the rear wall 10b. The guide surface 14c has a lower end portion and both support members 12,
The distance L ₃ (see FIG. 8) from a line (see FIG. 8) connecting the lower end portions of the rear leg portions 12b, 13b of the thirteen to the rear leg portions 12b, 13b is the upper leg portion and the rear leg portions 12b, 13b.
It is smaller than the distance L ₄ between the line connecting the lower end of. In addition, the guide member 14 includes the support member 12,
There is no leg on the rear side as in 13 and the space is open. In addition, the front leg portions 1 of both support members 12 and 13 are provided.
Small steps 12d, 13d, 14d are formed on the inner surfaces of the lower ends of the guide members 2a, 13a and the guide member 14, and these steps 12d, 13d, 14d are formed on the front wall surface 10a of the box body 10. It comes into contact with the end face (see FIGS. 2, 7, and 8). The upper ends of the side flap folding plates 22 and 23 are rotatably supported at the upper ends of the support members 12 and 13 via pins 20 and 21, respectively.
These two side flap folding plates 22 and 23 are simultaneously rotated in the opposite directions, and are brought into close contact with the outer positions of the support members 12 and 13 (see FIG. 3) and the outer surfaces of the support members 12 and 13. It can be opened and closed with respect to a vertical position (see the solid line in FIG. 4). At the lower ends of the side flap folding plates 22 and 23, holding portions 22a and 23a bent at right angles toward the inside are provided.
Are formed respectively. Each of the side flap folding plates 22 and 23 has a smaller width than the supporting members 12 and 13, and when rotated toward the supporting members 12 and 13, the holding portions 22 a and 23 a are notched 12 c of the supporting members 12 and 13. , 13c and substantially horizontally bent side flaps 10c, 10c, as will be described later.
10d can be suppressed. On the guide member 14, a cylinder (first
Of the cylinder 24, two long and short links 26, 2 are provided on both sides of the rod 24a of the cylinder 24, respectively.
The upper ends of the side flap folding plates 22 and 23 are connected via 7, 28 and 29. Accordingly, when the cylinder 24 is operated to move the upper ends of the upper long links 26, 28 up and down, the lower short links 27, 2 are moved downward.
By swinging 9, the side flap folding plates 22 and 23 on both sides rotate in opposite directions to open and close. Rear legs 12 of both support members 12, 13
b, 13b, a horizontal pin 30 (FIG. 2)
And FIG. 6 and FIG. 7), one end of the closed flap folding plate 32 is rotatably supported. The closed flap folding plate 32 is provided with a flat plate portion 3.
2a and at its distal end, has a bent portion 32b which is cheeks perpendicularly bent form, the plate portion 32a, rather than the length of the closure flap 10g of the box body 10 L ₅ (see FIG. 3) It has a slightly larger length. Moreover, the length of the plate portion 32a is slightly longer than the distance L ₃ between the lower side and the pin 30 of the formed on the inner surface of the guide member 14 guide surfaces 14c, also, the upper side of the guide surface 14c It is slightly shorter than the distance L ₄ between the pin 30. The distal end portion of the closing flap folding plate 32 and the bent portion 32b on the front side thereof have a comb-like shape that meshes with the comb shape of the guide member 14, and when the closing flap folding plate 32 rotates downward, The guide members 14 are gradually engaged with each other without interference (see FIG. 2). A second cylinder (second rotating means) 34 for rotating the closed flap folding plate 32 is connected to the upper end of one support member 12 (left side in FIG. 1). The second cylinder 34 is attached to the upper end of the support member 12 downward and has an operating rod 34a extending downward.
The fulcrum side (pin 30 side) of the closing flap folding plate 32 is connected to the tip end of the flap through a link 36. Accordingly, the operation of the second cylinder 34 causes the closing flap folding plate 32 to be in a substantially upright position (FIG. 2).
32A) and an almost horizontal position (see 32B in FIG. 2)
It can reciprocate between and. The operation of the box flap folding device 2 according to the above configuration will be described. Upper mounting plate 1
8, supporting members 12 fixed to the lower surface of
13 and a guide member 14, and both side flap folding plates 22, which are supported by the support members 12, 13,
23 and the closing flap folding plate 32 and the respective cylinders 24 and 34 for rotating the plates 22, 23 and 32 are integrally attached to the robot hand 8. The box transport conveyor 4 (see FIG. 9) running on the front surface of the robot body 6 runs intermittently, and the box 10 has two side flaps 10e, 10e as shown in FIG.
10f and a closing flap (lid) 10g are bent so as to be slightly opened outward from the upright position, and after being filled with articles at an article insertion station (not shown) on the upstream side, they are conveyed by this conveyor 4, Pause at the front of the robot 6. At this position, the robot hand 8 moves the box flap folding device 2 and lowers it on the stopped box 10. Then, both side support members 1
Legs 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b before and after 2, 13
The inner surface of the lower end of the box 10 comes into contact with the four corners of the box 10 from outside, and holds and positions the box 10. The support member 1
Small step portions 12d, 13d, are formed on the inner surfaces of the lower legs of the front leg portions 12a, 13a and the guide member 14, respectively.
14d are formed, and these steps 12d, 13d,
14d is engaged with the upper end surface of the front side wall surface 10a of the box 10. In this state, the cylinder 24 for rotating the flap folding plate fixed on the guide member 14 is operated, and the operating rod 24 is lowered. Then, the upper ends of the upper long links 26, 28 are lowered from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the lower ends are pushed outward, and the upper ends of the lower short links 27, 29 are rotated outward, so that the side flaps are turned. The folding plates 22 and 23 are rotated. The side flap folding plates 22 and 23 rotate in a direction where their lower ends approach each other, come to an upright state, and stop (moving from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 to the position indicated by the solid line). The side flap folding plates 22 and 23 on both sides have L-shaped restraining portions 22a and 23a formed at the lower ends. When the restraining portions 22a and 23a rotate, the side flaps 10e and 10f are respectively rotated. Box 1
Fold it in toward 0. When the two side flap folding plates 22 and 23 are almost upright and stopped, the side flaps 10e and 10f on both sides are bent in a horizontal state. The horizontal side flaps 10e and 10f are the L-shaped restraining portions 22a of the stopped side flap folding plates 22 and 23, respectively.
It is held down by the lower surface of 23a and kept in a horizontal state (see FIG. 5). Next, the second cylinder 34 for rotating the closing flap folding plate 32 is operated to rotate the closing flap folding plate 32. Before the operation of the second cylinder 34, the closed flap folding plate 32 is in a state where the plate portion 32a is substantially upright (see 32A in FIG. 2), and the operation of the second cylinder 34 gradually turns the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. Rotate in the direction. The insertion flap 10h provided continuously at the tip of the closing flap 10g is:
The front end is pushed from behind by a bent portion 32a at the front end of the closed flap folding plate 32, and this plate 32
2 and rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The guide surface 14 of the guide member 14 is configured such that the distance between the center of rotation of the closing flap 10g (the connection portion between the closing flap 10g and the rear wall surface 10b) gradually decreases from the upper part to the lower part. Therefore, as the closing flap folding plate 32 rotates from the upright state to the horizontal state (see 32B in FIG. 2), the closing flap 10g is bent and gradually becomes horizontal, and the insertion flap 10h is moved to the horizontal state. Closure flap 10
It is gradually bent with respect to g. The tip of the plate portion 32a of the closed flap folding plate 32 and the bent portion 3
2b is comb-shaped (see FIGS. 6 and 7),
With the rotation in the horizontal direction, the comb teeth 1
4a and 14b gradually mesh deeply. Near the lower end of the guide surface 14c formed on the guide member 14, a small step 14c is formed, and this step 14c is formed on the front side wall surface 10a of the box 10.
Since it is locked upward, the tip of the insertion flap 10h, which is pushed from behind by the rotating closing flap folding plate 32 and is gradually bent, moves downward along the inner surface of the guide surface 14c. When it comes, it does not interfere with the upper end of the front wall surface 10a of the box 10, and
0 is inserted inside. The closing flap 10g and the insertion flap 10h are each bent, and immediately before the insertion flap 10h is inserted into the box 10, the rotation cylinder 24 of the side flap folding plates 22 and 23 is operated. The two side flap folding plates 22 and 23 are rotated outward. Thereby, the holding portion 22 formed at the tip of the side flap folding plates 22 and 23 is formed.
The a and 23a retract without being caught under the closing plate 10g (see FIG. 7). Thereafter, when the plate portion 32a of the closing flap folding guide 32 is completely horizontal, the insertion plate 10h is moved to the closing plate 1
The flap is inserted into the box 10 up to the portion where the flap is connected to 0G. As described above, the apparatus 2 of the present embodiment includes the support member 1
2, 13, the guide member 14, the side flap folding plates 22, 23 and the rotation cylinder 24, the closing flap folding plate 32, the rotation cylinder 34, and the like are integrally formed, so that boxes of different sizes are formed. When the flap folding operation is performed, these can be exchanged integrally, and can be easily used for various boxes. Further, the support members 12 and 13 and the guide member 14
Small steps 12d, 13 at the lower end of the guide surface 14c
d, 14d are formed, and the steps 12d, 13d, 14
d is locked to the upper end of the front side wall surface 10a of the box 10, the insertion flap 10h moves along the guide surface 14a of the guide member 14, and
a and is smoothly introduced into the box 10. It is needless to say that the shape of each part is not limited to those shown in the drawings, and can be appropriately changed according to a predetermined purpose. As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of support members arranged on both sides, and a substantially circular shape centered on the end side of the lower surface, sandwiched between the two support members. A comb-shaped guide member having an arcuate guide surface, a pair of side flap folding means whose upper ends are rotatably supported by the support members on both sides, and a first means for rotating both side flap folding means. One end portion is rotatably supported between the rotating means and the lower portions of the support members, and the other end portion rotates along the arc of the guide surface and engages with the tip of the comb portion of the guide member. A closing flap folding means having teeth formed thereon, a bent portion integrally formed at a tip of the closing flap folding means, and a second rotating means for rotating the closing flap folding means; At the lower part of the guide surface, a small step portion that can be locked at the upper end of the wall surface of the box is formed, and while supporting the four corners of the box by the support members on both sides, both side flaps are bent by side flap folding means, Further, the closing flap is bent by the closing flap folding means, and the insertion flap integrally provided at the tip of the closing flap is bent by the bent portion, and the insertion flap is inserted into the box along the guide surface. With this configuration, the insertion flap can be smoothly inserted into the box without interfering with the upper end of the wall surface of the box. Also, when applied to boxes of different sizes and shapes, each part can be replaced as a single unit, and the versatility is extremely excellent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a box flap folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the flap folding device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the flap folding device, and shows a first stage of the folding process. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the flap folding device, and shows the next step of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the flap folding device, and shows the next step of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the flap folding device, and shows the next step of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the flap folding device, and shows the next step of FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the flap folding device, and shows the next step of FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an entire box packing device using the flap folding device. [Description of Signs] 10a Wall surface (front wall surface) of the box body where the small step portion of the guide member is locked 10e Side flap 10f Side flap 10g Closing flap 10h Insert flap 12 Support member 13 Support member 14 Guide member 14c Guide surface 14d Guide member Small step portion 22 side flap folding means 23 side flap folding means 24 first rotating means (cylinder) 32 closing flap folding means 34 second rotating means (cylinder)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 5-610 (JP, U) JP-A 7-31342 (JP, U) JP-A 7-15329 (JP, U) 27159 (JP, B1) Jiko 3-117605 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B31B 1/00-17/74 B65B 7/22 B65B 51/00- 51/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims 1] A pair of support members disposed on both sides and a substantially arc-shaped guide surface sandwiched between these support members and centered on the end side of the lower surface. A comb-shaped guide member formed, a pair of side flap folding means whose upper ends are rotatably supported by the support members on both sides, a first rotating means for rotating both side flap folding means, One end is rotatably supported between the lower portions of both support members, and the other end is rotated along the arc of the guide surface, and at its tip end, a comb tooth is formed to mesh with the comb of the guide member. Closing flap folding means, a bent portion integrally formed at the tip of the closing flap folding means, and second rotating means for rotating the closing flap folding means. , Box A small step portion that can be locked at the upper end of the wall surface is formed, and while supporting the four corners of the box by the supporting members on both sides, the side flaps are folded by the side flap folding means, and the closing flap is folded by the closing flap folding means. A flap folding device for a box, wherein the insertion flap integrally provided at the tip of the closing flap is bent by the bending portion and inserted into the box along the guide surface.