JP3851211B2

JP3851211B2 - Folding container assembly device

Info

Publication number: JP3851211B2
Application number: JP2002118021A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 充晃原田
Original assignee: 株式会社マキ製作所
Priority date: 2002-04-19
Filing date: 2002-04-19
Publication date: 2006-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-19
Also published as: JP2003312614A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、例えばみかん、柿、リンゴ等の農産物、あるいはパン、菓子等の食品またはその他の工業製品、部品、原料等を収容するために用いられる折畳み、組立可能な容器を組み立てる折畳み容器の組立装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
一般的に、例えば農産物を集・出荷する選果場において、原料としての農産物は、生産者によって箱状のコンテナや木箱等に入れられて選果場に搬入され、選別後の製品としての農産物は、段ボール箱に入れられて各地の市場、消費者に出荷されている。この農産物搬入用に用いられるコンテナや木箱は箱状であることから、空のコンテナや空の木箱の置き場所が広く必要になったり、嵩張るという欠点を有している。
【０００３】
一方、選果場において出荷用に使用される段ボール箱は、耐久性の点あるいは衛生上の点で通常使い捨てとなり、出荷先の市場では用済み後、焼却等の処分作業あるいは資源回収のための作業が行われている。しかし、段ボール箱を焼却する場合は、資源の無駄使いとなり易く、また、段ボール箱では、出荷する製品に対する予冷作業において時間がかかるという欠点を有している。
【０００４】
そこで、これらの欠点を解消するものとして、例えば図１７〜図２１に示す折畳みコンテナＡが使用される場合がある。この折畳みコンテナＡは、図１７に示すように、未使用時に底板Ｂ上に前後（短辺側）の一対の第１側板Ｃと左右（長辺側）の一対の第２側板Ｄをそれぞれ折り畳むことで薄型に形成されると共に、折畳みコンテナＡの容積確保のために左右の側板Ｄ（及び前後の側板Ｃ）の高さを高く設定し、かつ一方の第２側板Ｄの端部に段差Ｇを設けることで、一対の第２側板Ｄの端部がラップして重ねられるように形成されている。
【０００５】
そして、この折畳みコンテナＡは、使用する際に、先ず図１８に示すように左右の第２側板Ｄを起立させた後に、図１９に示すように前後の第１側板Ｃを起立させ、その後、図２０に示すようにこれらの両側板Ｃ、Ｄを係止突起Ｅと係止孔Ｆからなる係止手段でそれぞれ係止させることにより、図２１に示すように一体の箱状に形成されるようになっている。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところが、このような折畳みコンテナＡの場合、その使用時に組み立てる作業が一般に人手によって行われていることから、非能率であるという不都合を有している。特に、一日数万ケースの出荷があるような農産物の選果場においては、コスト的な面等から折畳みコンテナＡの組み立て用に専用の人手を確保することが難しく、折畳みコンテナＡを自動的に組み立てる組立装置の設置が強く望まれ、一部で採用されている。
【０００７】
この組立装置は、第１ステーションから第３ステーションの３つのステーションを有し、先ず第１ステーションにおいて、第２側板Ｄを起立させた後に一方の第１側板Ｃを引き起こし、第２ステーションにおいて、この引き起こした一方の第１側板Ｃを第２側板Ｄの一方の端部に押圧して両側板Ｃ、Ｄを係止させると共に、まだ引き起こしていない他方の第１側板Ｃを引き起こす。そして、第３ステーションにおいて、この引き起こした他方の第１側板Ｃを第２側板Ｄの他方の端部に押圧して両側板Ｃ、Ｄを係止させて組み立てるようにしたものである。
【０００８】
しかしながら、この組立装置にあっては、折畳みコンテナＡの組み立てを３つのステーションで行い、一対の第１側板Ｃの引き起こしが時間差を持って行われること等から、コンテナＡの組立作業に時間がかかり、特に前述したような出荷量が多い選果場で使用した場合に処理能力が不足するという問題点が発生し易い。また、第１側板Ｃの引き起こし装置と、この第１側板Ｃを第２側板Ｄに押圧して係止させる装置とを、一方の第１側板Ｃと他方の第１側板Ｃにそれぞれ対応して設けているため、装置の構成が複雑化して設備コストがかかるという問題点も有している。さらに、第１側板Ｃの引き起こし装置とこの第１側板Ｃを第２側板Ｄに押圧する装置とが別々の位置に設けられているため、組立装置の機長が長くなる等、装置が大型化して選果場への設置の面で不利になり易いという問題点も有している。
【０００９】
本発明は、このような事情に鑑みてなされたもので、その目的は、十分な処理能力が得られると共に各種形態の容器に適用できて汎用性の向上が図れ、かつ設置の省スペース化や設備コストの低減化が同時に図れる折畳み容器の組立装置を提供することにある。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
かかる目的を達成すべく、本発明のうち請求項１に記載の発明は、底板上に一対の第１側板が伏せられ該第１側板上に一対の第２側板が伏せられると共に、第１側板と第２側板とが着脱可能に係止される折畳み容器の組立装置であって、前記一対の第１側板のそれぞれが前後に位置し且つ前記一対の第２側板のそれぞれが左右に位置する状態で搬送方向に沿って供給される折畳み容器の該左右一対の第２側板を起立させると共に該起立された第２側板の起立姿勢を所定時間維持する第２側板起立手段と、該第２側板起立手段で第２側板が起立維持された容器の前後一対の第１側板を起立させると共に、該第１側板の起立完了と略同時に第１側板と第２側板を係止させる第１側板起立手段と、を備え、前記第１側板起立手段が一対の爪を有し、該一対の爪は、その一方の爪が搬送方向に関して固定の支持部に設けられ、他方の爪が移動可能に設けられると共に折畳まれた前側の第１側板の上縁部と係合可能な係止片を有し、他方の爪の搬送方向への移動で該係止片が前記上縁部と係合して折畳み容器を搬送方向に移動させることにより、前記一方の爪で後側の第１側板を傾斜状に起立させて前後の第１側板間の間隙を広くした後に、他方の爪を前側の第１側板と底板との隙間に入り込ませて搬送方向に移動させることで容器を同方向に移動させることにより、該一対の爪で前後一対の第１側板を起立させることを特徴とする。
【００１１】
このように構成することにより、前後一対の第１側板上に左右一対の第２側板が折畳まれた状態で搬送方向に沿って供給される折畳み容器は、先ず第２側板起立手段で、左右一対の第２側板が略同時に起立させられると共にその起立姿勢が維持され、次に第１側板起立手段で、前後一対の第１側板が略同時に起立させられると共に起立の完了と略同時に各側板が係止される。これにより、左右一対の第２側板と前後一対の第１側板が、各手段によって共に略同時に起立させられることから、組立時間が短縮化されて処理能力が向上すると共に、連続した２つの手段の配置で対応できて組立装置の機長が短くなる等、構成の簡略化が図れたり設置スペースが省スペースとなり設備コストが低減される。また、第 1 側板起立手段が一対の爪を有し、その一方の爪が搬送方向に関して固定の支持部に設けられ、他方の爪が移動可能に設けられると共に折畳まれた前側の第１側板の上縁部と係合可能な係止片を有しており、他方の爪の搬送方向への移動で該係止片が前記上縁部と係合して折畳み容器を搬送方向に移動させることにより、前記一方の爪で後側の第１側板を傾斜状に起立させて前後の第１側板間の間隙を広くした後に、他方の爪が前側の第１側板と底板との隙間に入り込んで搬送方向に移動することで容器も同方向に移動して、該一対の爪で前後一対の第１側板を起立させるので、一対の爪を第１側板間に順次入り込ませることができて、折畳まれている第１側板間の間隙の寸法が小さい折畳み容器であっても、各側板を確実に起立させることができ、各種形態の容器に適用できて汎用性の向上が図れる。
【００１３】
また、前記一方の爪は、請求項２に記載の発明のように、その先端部の寸法が、前記一対の第１側板間の寸法より小さく設定されていることが好ましい。このように構成することにより、一方の爪の先端部寸法が一対の第１側板間の間隙寸法より小さく設定されることから、間隙寸法を小さくできて、各側板の高さが高い折畳み容器（深型の折畳み容器）であっても、第１側板の起立動作が一層確実かつスムーズに行える。
【００１６】
また、前記一対の爪は、請求項３に記載の発明のように、回動可能に構成され、その回動動作によって第１側板を起立させると共に第１側板を第２側板に係止させることが好ましい。このように構成することにより、一対の爪の回動動作で一対の第１側板が起立させられることから、折畳み状態の第１側板をより一層スムーズに起立させて第２側板に確実に係止させることができる。
【００１７】
また、請求項４に記載の発明は、前記第２側板起立手段が一対の係合片を有し、該一対の係合片が折畳まれたそれぞれの第２側板の前後端部のうちの少なくとも一端部において第２側板と底板との間に形成される隙間に搬送方向から入り込んで係合することにより左右一対の第２側板を搬送方向の両側に起立させることを特徴とする。
【００１８】
このように構成することにより、第２側板の起立動作時に、一対の係合片が折畳まれたそれぞれの第２側板の前後端部のうちの少なくとも一端部において第２側板と底板との間に形成される隙間に搬送方向から入り込んで係合することから、折畳まれている第２側板の上縁部がラップした状態の折畳み容器であっても、その前後端部のうちの一端部を利用して起立させることができて、第２側板の起立動作が確実かつスムーズに行える。
【００２０】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて詳細に説明する。
図１〜図１６は、本発明に係わる折畳み容器の組立装置の一実施形態を示し、図１がその全体を示す側面図、図２及び図３が段くずし装置を示す図、図４〜図９が第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置を示す図、図１０〜図１６が第１側板起立・押圧係止装置を示す図である。
【００２１】
図１において、組立装置１は、内部に段積み収容された前記折畳みコンテナＡ（以下単にコンテナＡという）を一個づつ分離して下流側に排出する段くずし装置２と、この段くずし装置２から供給されるコンテナＡの左右の第２側板Ｄを起立させ該起立状態を維持する第２側板起立手段としての第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３と、コンテナＡの前後の第１側板Ｃを起立させて第２側板Ｄに押圧させて係止させる第１側板起立手段としての第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４等を有している。
【００２２】
そして、この段くずし装置２、第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３及び第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４が、鋼材によって枠組み形成された機枠５内に、搬送方向イに沿って順に配置されることにより、３つのステーションＳ１〜Ｓ３が形成されている。すなわち、機枠５の最上流側に段くずし装置２による段くずし用のステーションＳ１が形成され、このステーションＳ１の下流側に第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３による第２側板Ｄの起立と姿勢維持を行うステーションＳ２が形成され、さらにこのステーションＳ２の下流側に第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４による第１側板Ｃの起立と両側板Ｃ、Ｄの押圧係止を行うステーションＳ３が形成されている。
【００２３】
前記段くずし装置２は、図２及び図３に示すように、垂直状態の昇降シリンダ７のピストンロッドに連結された昇降部材６を有し、この昇降部材６の前記搬送方向イに沿った両側にはガイド８がそれぞれ設けられ、このガイド８はフレーム９に固定されたガイドレール１０にそれぞれ係合している。また、フレーム９の上端にはコンテナＡの底板Ｂ下面が載置されるコンテナ載置面１１がそれぞれ形成され、このコンテナ載置面１１の外側には、段積みされるコンテナＡの外側方向への傾動を規制する複数本のガイド棒１２が立設されている。
【００２４】
また、フレーム９にはＬ型フレーム１３がそれぞれ固定され、このＬ型フレーム１３の上部にはシリンダが１４が配設され、このシリンダ１４のピストンロッドがストッパ１４ａとして機能している。さらに、昇降部材６の上面で搬送方向イに沿った両側には、コンテナＡの底板Ｂ下面に設けられた凹部１５に係合すると共に搬送レールを兼ねる棒状レール１６が配設されている。
【００２５】
そして、前記昇降シリンダ７を作動させて昇降部材６を上昇させ、棒状レール１６上端で段積みされた複数のコンテナＡを支持した状態で、前記シリンダ１４を作動させてストッパ１４ａを後退させると共にシリンダ７を作動させて昇降部材６を一段下降させ、かつこの位置でシリンダ１４を再び作動させてストッパ１４ａを再度進出させることで、ストッパ１４ａで下から二段目のコンテナＡが支持される。これにより、段積みされた最下段のコンテナＡが上部（二段目）のコンテナＡから分離され、この分離されたコンテナＡの両端部下面が前記フレーム９のコンテナ載置面１１上にそれぞれ載置されるように構成されている。
【００２６】
また、段くずし装置２は、機枠５のフレーム１７に水平状態で配置されたスライドシリンダ１８を有している。このスライドシリンダ１８には、移動可能な移動台１９が設けられ、この移動台１９はコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄの後端面側に当接するように設定されている。そして、スライドシリンダ１８が作動することで移動台１９が搬送方向イに移動し、移動台１９に当接しているコンテナＡが、その凹部１５を前記棒状レール１６に係合しつつ前方である第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３方向に押し出されるように構成されている。なお、この段くずし装置２は、この例に限らず、段積みされたコンテナＡのうち最下段（もしくは最上段）のコンテナＡを一個づつ分離して排出し得る他の適宜構成の装置を使用することができる。
【００２７】
前記第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３は、図１及び図４に示すように、段くずし装置２から供給されるコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄを起立させる第２側板起立装置２１と、この第２側板起立装置２１で起立させられた第２側板Ｄの起立姿勢を所定時間維持する第２側板姿勢維持装置２２を有している。第２側板起立装置２１は、図４〜図８に示すように、シリンダ２３の作動で回動する左右及び前後一対の回動部材２４を有している。
【００２８】
この回動部材２４には、回動案内用と回動範囲規制用の円弧状のガイド溝２４ａ（図６及び図７参照）がそれぞれ形成され、このガイド溝２４ａに固定板２５に設けたガイドローラ２６がそれぞれ摺接可能に係合している。また、回動部材２４の側壁には前記シリンダ２３のピストロンロッドがそれぞれ連結されており、このシリンダ２３のピストンロッドの連結位置や前記ガイド溝２４ａの形状によって、回動部材２４は、図６及び図７に示すコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄのヒンジ部Ｏを中心として、図の矢印ロの如く回動するように設定されている。
【００２９】
さらに、左右一対の各回動部材２４のうち、その搬送方向イの上流側の回動部材２４の側壁には、シリンダ固定板を介してそのピストンロッドが搬送方向イに沿って進退するシリンダ２７がそれぞれ配設されている。この各シリンダ２７のピストンロッドには、コンテナＡの側板Ｄの長辺側の一端部Ｄａ（図８及び図２１参照）に係合し得る係合片２８がそれぞれ連結されている。
【００３０】
この各係合片２８は、前記側板Ｄの一端部Ｄａにおいて、折畳まれた一対の第２側板Ｄと底板Ｂ間に形成される各隙間２０（図６参照）に係合するＬ字形状のフック部２８ａをそれぞれ有している。そして、各シリンダ２７が作動してそのピストンロッドが、初期位置から係合位置まで後退することで、コンテナＡの折り畳まれている第２側板Ｄの一端部Ｄａの隙間２０に係合して、後述する如く少なくとも第２側板Ｄが起立するまでの間その状態を維持し得るように設定されている。なお、第２側板起立装置２１の終端部には、コンテナＡを第２側板起立位置であるステーションＳ２に停止させる昇降ストッパ２９が設けられており、この昇降ストッパ２９の上昇動作によりコンテナＡが停止させられた状態で、後述する如くコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄが起立させられる。
【００３１】
前記第２側板姿勢維持装置２２は、図４及び図９に示すように、上下動可能な略板状の規制板３０を有し、この規制板３０は、垂直状態に配設された昇降シリンダ３１のピストロッドに連結されている。この昇降シリンダ３１は、機枠５のフレーム３２に移動可能に配設された移動板３３に固定されており、この移動板３３のガイド３４がフレーム３２に固定されたガイドレール３５に係合している。そして、移動板３３に連結されたスライドシリンダ３６が作動することにより、移動板３３が昇降シリンダ３１及び規制板３０と共に搬送方向イに所定距離移動するように構成されている。
【００３２】
なお、規制板３０は、上部に幅狭部３０ａが形成され、下部にコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄ間の幅と略同等の嵌合部３０ｂが形成されると共に、嵌合部３０ｂの後端部にはその両側に所定寸法突出した係合部３０ｃがそれぞれ形成されている。そして、この係合部３０ｃ間の幅は、起立させたコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄ間の寸法より大きくかつ第２側板Ｄ間の寸法より突出しないように設定されている。この係合部３０ｃがコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄの後端面（一端部Ｄａ）に当接することによって、後述する如く規制板３０でコンテナＡが搬送方向イに移動させられることになる。
【００３３】
また、第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３内にも、前記段くずし装置２の棒状レール１６と対応した一対の棒状レール１６が一体もしくは別体で設けられると共に、この棒状レール１６の外側にはコンテナＡの搬送幅方向への移動を規制するガイドレール３７が配設されている。この棒状レール１６とガイドレール３７は、図示はしないが、後述する第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４にも配設されている。
【００３４】
前記第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４は、図１０及び図１１に示すように、２個の昇降シリンダ４０、４１によって昇降可能な昇降台４２を有し、この昇降台４２の下面側にはそれぞれ一対の固定側爪４３と移動側爪４４とが設けられている。固定側爪４３は、昇降台４２の上流側で幅方向両端部に下方に突出する状態でそれぞれ設けられた支持部４５に枢支されており、初期状態において後方側に所定角度で傾斜しかつ軸４６を中心に回動し得るように構成されている。また、一対の固定側爪４３の三角形状の先端部４３ａ下面は、コンテナＡの底板Ｂ内面に当接し得るようにそれぞれ水平に設定されると共に、連結棒４７を介して連結されている。
【００３５】
一方、前記移動側爪４４は、固定側爪４３と同様に昇降台４２の幅方向両端部にそれぞれ設けられ、昇降台４２の中心位置に設けられたスライドシリンダ４８に移動フレーム４９を介して連結されると共に、その先端部４４ａが初期状態において前方に所定角度で傾斜している。また、一対の移動側爪４４は、その三角形状の先端部４４ａ下面がコンテナＡの底板Ｂ内面に当接し得るようにそれぞれ水平に設定されると共に、先端部４４ａを連結する連結板５１の長手方向中央位置には、下方に所定寸法突出した状態で係止片５２が設けられている。なお、この移動側爪４４は移動フレーム４９に軸５０で連結されて、該軸５０を中心に回動可能に設けられると共に、スライドシリンダ４８の作動により、後述する如く搬送方向イに沿って往復動作（もしくは搬送方向イに沿って揺動動作）し得るように構成されている。
【００３６】
そして、この移動側爪４４と前記固定側爪４３は、初期状態においてその先端部４４ａ、４３ａを交差させ、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａを固定側爪４３の先端部４３ａよりも搬送方向イの下流側に位置して設けることにより、移動側爪４４の下流側への移動時に固定側爪４３が干渉しないように設定されている。また、図１１に示すように、移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３のコンテナＡの底板Ｂに当接する部分の長さＬ１（先端部４４ａ、４３ａ下面の幅）は、折畳まれたコンテナＡの前後一対の第１側板Ｃ間の間隙５３の寸法Ｌ２より所定寸法小さく（Ｌ１＜Ｌ２）設定されており、これにより後述する如く固定側爪４３の間隙５３への確実な入り込みを可能にしている。
【００３７】
このように構成された移動側爪４４の、第１側板Ｃの起立方向である搬送方向イに沿った往復動作と、固定側爪４３と移動側爪４４の相対的位置関係の変化、及び固定側爪４３と移動側爪４４の軸４６、５０を中心にした垂直位置への回動動作等によって、後述する如くコンテナＡの第１側板Ｃが起立させられる。
【００３８】
次に、この組立装置１によるコンテナＡの組立方法の一例を各図を参照して説明する。先ず、段くずし装置２内に例えば人手によってセットされた段積み状態のコンテナＡは、前述したように、昇降シリンダ７やシリンダ１４の作動で最下段のコンテナＡが上部のコンテナＡから分離されて、フレーム９のコンテナ載置面１１上に載置されると共に、このコンテナＡの後端面後方に移動台１９が位置した状態となる。
【００３９】
この状態で、スライドシリンダ１８を作動させると、移動台１９が搬送方向イに移動して、コンテナＡの後端面に当接しつつ該コンテナＡを前方に押し出し、所定距離移動した時点で、組立作業の第１のステーションＳ２である第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３の棒状レール１６上に一対の第１側板Ｃが前後に位置する状態で供給される。この第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３に供給されたコンテナＡは、上昇位置にある昇降ストッパ２９によってステーションＳ２に停止させられ、この停止状態で第２側板起立装置２１の一対のシリンダ２７が作動して、その各係合片２８を初期位置から搬送方向イに沿って所定距離移動させることにより、図６に示すように、そのフック部２８ａが折畳まれている第２側板Ｄの一端部Ｄａと底板Ｂ間に形成される隙間２０に入り込んで、係合片２８と第２側板Ｄがそれぞれ係合する。
【００４０】
そして、この状態でシリンダ２３を作動させると、係合片２８が固定されている回動部材２４が図６の矢印ロの如く徐々に回動する。この回動部材２４の回動時に、係合片２８のＬ字状のフック部２８ａがコンテナＡの隙間２０に係合していることから、係合片２８と第２側板Ｄの係合状態が安定維持されつつ、左右一対の第２側板Ｄが係合片２８と共に回動して垂直状態に略同時に起立させられ図７に示す状態となる。なお、この一対の第２側板Ｄの「略同時」の起立動作とは、各部品や組立時のバラツキによる時間差であり極めて短い時間内の起立動作を意味している。
【００４１】
第２側板起立装置２１で左右一対の第２側板Ｄが起立させられると、次に第２側板姿勢維持装置２２の昇降シリンダ３１が作動して、規制板３０が図９の実線位置から二点鎖線の位置まで下降し、該規制板３０の嵌合部３０ｂが起立している一対の第２側板Ｄの後端部間に嵌め込まれると共に、係合部３０ｃが各第２側板Ｄの後端面後方に位置した状態となる。この状態で、第２側板姿勢維持装置２２のスライドシリンダ３６を作動させると共に前記昇降ストッパ２９を下降動作させる。
【００４２】
スライドシリンダ３６が作動すると、規制板３０の係合部３０ｃがコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄの後端面である前記一端部Ｄａに当接し、規制板３０がさらに搬送方向イにスライド移動することで、昇降ストッパ２９による移動規制が解除されているコンテナＡが、棒状レール１６とガイドレール３７で案内されつつ、図４の実線位置から二点鎖線の位置まで移動させられて、組立作業の第２のステーションＳ３である第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４に供給される。
【００４３】
この第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４にコンテナＡが供給されると、昇降シリンダ４０、４１の作動で、該装置４の初期位置としての上昇位置にある昇降台４２が下降し、その固定側爪４３と移動側爪４４をコンテナＡ内に位置させる。この時、図１１に示すように、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａ下面は折畳まれているコンテナＡの一方（前方側）の第１側板Ｃ上面に当接すると共にその係止片５２が間隙５３内に位置し、固定側爪４３の先端部４３ａ下面はコンテナＡの前後の第１側板Ｃ間の間隙５３上に位置した状態となる。
【００４４】
この状態で、スライドシリンダ４８を作動させると、移動フレーム４９が搬送方向イに移動し、この移動フレーム４９の移動で移動側爪４４も同方向に移動し、間隙５３内に位置する係止片５２も同方向に移動する。この係止片５２の移動により、図１２に示すように、該係止片５２が前方側の第１側板Ｃの上縁部に当接係合すると共に、固定側爪４３の先端部４３ａ下面が間隙５３内に入り込んだ状態となり、この状態で、移動側爪４４のさらなる移動によって、該移動側爪４４に係止片５２を介して当接係合しているコンテナＡが搬送方向イに移動させられる。
【００４５】
このコンテナＡの搬送方向イへの移動により、固定側爪４３の先端部４３ａが後方側の第１側板Ｃの上縁部に当接係合すると共に、先端部４３ａが後方側の第１側板Ｃと底板Ｂ間の隙間（図示せず）に入り込む状態となり、固定側爪４３が軸４６を中心に回動して後方側の第１側板Ｃが起立させられる。すなわち、前方側の第１側板Ｃへの移動側爪４４の係止片５２の当接係合でコンテナＡが移動することにより、後方側の第１側板Ｃが固定側爪４３の先端部４３ａに当接係合すると共に先端部４３ａが前記隙間に入り込み、移動フレーム４９をさらに移動させることで、図１３に示すように、固定側爪４３で後方側の第１側板Ｃが所定位置まで起立させられる。
【００４６】
そして、後方側の第１側板Ｃが所定位置まで起立した状態で図１４に示すように、移動側爪４４を矢印ニの如く後方側に所定距離戻し、移動フレーム４９の背面に所定位置まで起立している後方側の第１側板Ｃを当接させ、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａを間隙５３内に位置させて先端部４４ａ下面をコンテナＡの底板Ｂに当接させる。この状態で、移動側爪４４を再び搬送方向イ（反矢印ニ方向）に移動させると、図１５に示すように、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａが前方側の第１側板Ｃの上縁部に係合すると共に、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａが前方側の第１側板Ｃと底板Ｂ間の隙間（図示せず）に入り込み、この状態での移動側爪４４の移動により該第１側板Ｃを徐々に起立させると共に、コンテナＡの移動によって固定側爪４３で後方側の第１側板Ｃも除々に起立させられる。
【００４７】
なお、第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４の位置まで移動した前記規制板３０は、移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３で第１側板Ｃが所定角度まで起立された時点で、昇降シリンダ３１が作動して上昇し、その後スライドシリンダ３６が作動して移動板３３が後退することにより、元の位置に復帰させられる。
【００４８】
移動フレーム４９が前進及び後退し再び前進、すなわち往復動作しかつ移動フレーム４９が搬送方向イに所定距離移動すると、図１６に示すように、固定側爪４３と移動側爪４４が軸４６、５０を中心に略垂直位置まで回動し、固定側爪４３と移動側爪４４の端面で前後一対の第１側板Ｃがそれぞれ垂直状態に略同時に起立させられる。なお、この第１側板Ｃの「略同時」の起立動作とは、移動側爪４４の往復動作時間等を含めた時間内での起立動作を意味している。そしてこの第１側板Ｃの起立完了と同時に、固定側爪４３と移動側爪４４の押圧力によって、隣接する第１側板Ｃと第２側板Ｄに設けられている係止突起Ｅと係止孔Ｆとが互いに係止される。
【００４９】
これにより、図２１に示すように組み立てられたコンテナＡが得られ、この組み立てられたコンテナＡは、後方から次のコンテナＡで押し出されることにより、棒状レール１６とガイドレール３７で案内されつつ、組立装置１から例えば図示しないコンテナ搬送コンベア等に排出されて、該コンベアで選別装置等に投入される。
【００５０】
なお、移動側爪４４は、第１側板Ｃと第２側板Ｄの係止後に、スライドシリンダ４８の作動で後退すると共に、この後退と略同時にシリンダ４０、４１の作動で上昇して、図１１の二点鎖線ａで示す初期位置まで復帰させられる。また、移動フレーム４９の移動に追従した移動側爪４４や固定側爪４３の回動動作に応じて、昇降台４２の高さ位置は、２連式の昇降シリンダ４０、４１の作動で、前記初期位置ａと二点鎖線の起立位置ｂ、及び実線の容器内嵌入位置ｃとの間で上下動することになる。
【００５１】
つまり、この組立装置１の場合、ステーションＳ２（第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３）で折畳まれたコンテナＡの左右一対の第２側板Ｄが略同時に起立されると共に、ステーションＳ３（第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４）で前後一対の第１側板Ｃが略同時に起立されて既に起立されている第２側板Ｄに係止される。そして、ステーションＳ２からステーションＳ３との間においては、第２側板姿勢維持装置２１で第２側板Ｄの起立状態が安定維持されると共に、第１側板Ｃの起立は、移動側爪４４の移動に追従したコンテナＡと固定側爪４３の移動で略同時に行われる。
【００５２】
この第１側板Ｃの起立時に、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａに設けた係止片５２の前進、後退及び前進動作（往復動作）により、第１側板Ｃ間の間隙５３が広くなり、初期の間隙５３が狭いコンテナＡであっても、間隙５３内に移動側爪４４や固定側爪４３の先端部４４ａ、４３ａを確実に入り込ませることができて、各爪４３、４４の先端部４３ａ、４４ａの第１側板Ｃと底板Ｂ間の隙間への入り込みと併せ、第１側板Ｃの起立動作が確実かつスムーズに行えることになる。また、第２側板Ｄの起立時に、折畳まれている第２側板Ｄと底板Ｂ間に形成される隙間２０に係合片２８を係合させて第２側板Ｄを起立させることから、第２側板Ｄの上縁部がラップした状態の折畳み容器であっても、第２側板Ｄの長手方向の一端部Ｄａの形状を利用して確実な起立動作が行えることになる。
【００５３】
なお、以上の説明においては、移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３の特に先端部４４ａ、４３ａの形状を三角状としたが、三角状に限らず、例えば棒状に形成する等、間隙５３や第１側板Ｃと底板Ｂ間の隙間に入り込み易い適宜の形状を採用できる。
【００５４】
このように、上記実施形態の組立装置１にあっては、段くずし装置２から供給される折畳まれたコンテナＡを、ステーションＳ２としての第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３で一対の第２側板Ｄを同時に起立させ、ステーションＳ３としての第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４で一対の第１側板Ｃを略同時に起立させて各側板Ｃ、Ｄを係止させるため、折畳まれたコンテナＡを２つのステーションＳ２、Ｓ３で自動的に組み立てることができる。その結果、従来の組立装置のように３つのステーションで組み立てる場合に比較して、組立時間の短縮化を図ることができる。
【００５５】
特に、コンテナＡの一対の第１側板Ｃと一対の第２側板Ｄがそれぞれ専用のステーションＳ２、Ｓ３で略同時に起立させられることから、従来のように一対の第１側板を別々に起立させる場合に対して、第１側板Ｃの起立時間を略半分とすることができる。また、段積みされたコンテナＡを第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３に供給する段くずし装置２が、第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３や第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４の機枠５内に一体的に組み込まれているため、コンテナＡの供給から排出までを最短距離で行うことができ、これらのことから、組立作業のより一層の時間短縮が図れ、結果として処理能力の向上を図ることが可能になる。
【００５６】
また、段くずし装置２や第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３及び第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４が同一機枠５内に効率的に配置されているため、機枠５の長さ（機長）を従来の組立装置に比較して短くすることができ、組立装置１の大型化を防いで、選果場への設置スペースの省スペース化が図れ、例えば該組立装置１の選果場への設置を容易かつ安価に行うことが可能になる。
【００５７】
さらに、コンテナＡの左右の第２側板Ｄの起立時に、各第２側板Ｄの一端部Ｄａが係合片２８のフック部２８ａに係合した状態で起立させられるため、折畳まれた第２側板Ｄを確実に起立させることができると共に、第２側板Ｄの起立時に、回動部材２４に設けたガイド溝２４ａに固定板２５に設けたガイドローラ２６が摺接しつつ行われるため、回動部材２４の回動動作、すなわち第２側板Ｄの起立動作を安定かつスムーズに行うことができる。特に、係合片２８のフック部２８ａが折畳まれたコンテナＡの第２側板Ｄの一端部Ｄａの隙間２０に係合することから、第２側板Ｄの上端部がラップされた状態で折畳まれるコンテナＡであっても、第２側板Ｄを確実に起立させることができる。
【００５８】
また、前後の第１側板Ｃの起立が、例えば共に回動可能な移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３の相対的位置関係の変化等で行われるため、移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３の三角形状の先端部４４ａ、４３ａを第１側板Ｃに確実に係止させることができて、第１側板Ｃを安定して起立させることができる。特に、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａに係止片５２が設けられていることから、移動側爪４４（係止片５２）を搬送方向イに沿って前進させることで固定側爪４３で後方側の第１側板Ｃを所定位置まで起立させ、この状態で移動側爪４４を後退させて再び前進させることで折畳み状態のコンテナＡの第１側板Ｃ間の間隙５３の寸法Ｌ２を大きく設定することができる。その結果、折畳み状態の間隙５３の寸法が小さいコンテナＡであっても、移動側爪４４の先端部４４ａの間隙５３内や各第１側板Ｃと底板Ｂ間の隙間への入り込みを確実に行うことができて、移動側爪４４や固定側爪４３に所定の剛性を確保しつつ、第１側板Ｃの起立動作を確実に行うことができる。
【００５９】
この第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３の係合片２８及び第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４の係止片５２を有する移動側爪４４や固定側爪４３の構成により、内部容積を確保するために第１側板Ｃや第２側板Ｄの高さを高くした深底型のコンテナＡであっても、あるいは第１側板Ｃや第２側板Ｄの高さが低く第２側板Ｄがラップしないような浅底型のコンテナＡであっても、各装置３、４によって第１側板Ｃや第２側板Ｄを確実かつスムーズに起立させることができて各種形態のコンテナＡに適用できる等、汎用性に優れた組立装置１を得ることが可能になる。
【００６０】
またさらに、第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４の移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３の起立動作が、コンテナＡを移動させつつ両爪４４、４３の先端部４４ａ、４３ａを前後の第１側板Ｃに係止させることにより行われるため、コンテナＡの搬送力を利用した起立作業となって、第１側板Ｃをより一層スムーズに起立させることができる。また、第２側板姿勢維持装置２２の規制板３０に、第２側板Ｄの起立姿勢を維持する機能と、この第２側板Ｄが起立状態のコンテナＡを第１側板起立・押圧係止装置４まで移動させる機能の両機能を持たせることができるため、例えばコンテナＡを移動させるための専用の部材が不要になる。
【００６１】
また、第１側板Ｃの起立用の移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３の押圧力によって起立された隣合う側板Ｃ、Ｄを係止させることができるため、移動側爪４４と固定側爪４３に第１側板Ｃを起立させる機能と、その押圧力で起立した第１側板Ｃを第２側板Ｄに係止させる機能の両機能を持たせることができ、従来の組立装置のような係止用の専用部材が不要となる。これらのことから組立装置１の構成を簡略化して安価な装置１を提供することが可能になる。
【００６２】
またさらに、コンテナＡ移動用のレールとして、コンテナＡの凹部１５に係合する棒状レール１６を使用すると共に、コンテナＡを移動される駆動限としてのスライドシリンダ３６、４８が、移動機能の他に第２側板Ｄの起立維持機能や第１側板Ｃの起立機能を有するため、従来の組立装置のようなスプロケット、チェーンやモータ等を有する搬送装置を必要とせず、コンテナＡの搬送手段の構成を極めて簡単かつコスト安価に形成することができる。これらのことと、前記設置スペースの省スペース化等と併せ、組立装置１を一層安価な設備コストで設置することが可能になる。
【００６３】
なお、上記実施形態においては、段くずし装置２を機枠５内に第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置３等と一体的に配置したが、本発明はこれに何等限定されず、段くずし装置２を別の機枠で形成し、これを機枠５に連結する構成としても良い。また、上記実施形態においては、コンテナＡが長辺側の第２側板Ｄと短辺側の第１側板Ｃを有する長方形状の場合について説明したが、本発明で使用されるコンテナＡとしては、例えば方形状のコンテナであっても良い。さらに、上記実施形態における、第２側板Ｄや第１側板Ｃを起立させる機構、この起立させた第２側板Ｄを維持する機構、さらにこれを下流側に搬送する機構、あるいは昇降台４２を上下動させるシリンダ機構等も一例であって、本発明の各発明に係わる要旨を逸脱しない範囲において適宜に変更することができる。
【００６４】
【発明の効果】
以上詳述したように、請求項１に記載の発明によれば、第２側板起立手段で左右一対の第２側板が略同時に起立させられると共にその起立姿勢が所定時間維持され、第１側板起立手段で前後一対の第１側板が略同時に起立させられると共に起立の完了と略同時に各側板が係止されるため、左右一対の第２側板と前後一対の第１側板が各手段によって共に略同時に起立させられ、容器の組立時間が短縮化されて処理能力が向上すると共に、連続した２つの手段の配置で対応できて組立装置の機長が短くなる等、構成の簡略化が図れ、設置スペースを省スペースとしたり設備コストを低減させることができる。また、前記第１側板起立手段は、一対の爪を有し、その一方の爪が搬送方向に関して固定の支持部に設けられ、他方の爪が移動可能に設けられると共に折畳まれた前側の第１側板の上縁部と係合可能な係止片を有し、他方の爪の搬送方向への移動で該係止片が前記上縁部と係合して折畳み容器を搬送方向に移動させることにより、前記一方の爪で後側の第１側板を傾斜状に起立させて前後の第１側板間の間隙を広くした後に、他方の爪を前側の第１側板と底板との隙間に入り込ませて搬送方向に移動させることで容器を同方向に移動させることにより、該一対の爪で前後一対の第１側板を起立させるものであるから、一対の爪を第１側板間に順次入り込ませることができて、折畳まれている第１側板間の間隙の寸法が小さい折畳み容器であっても、各側板を確実に起立させることができて各種形態の容器に適用でき、組立装置の汎用性の向上を図ることができる。更に、他方の爪に設けた係止片で折畳み容器を搬送方向に移動させることができることから、折畳み容器の搬送力を利用して第１側板の起立動作が行えて、第１側板のより一層確実かつスムーズな起立動作が得られる。また、第１側板の起立用の他方の爪と一方の爪の押圧力によって、起立された隣り合う第１側板、第２側板を係止させることができるので、他方の爪と一方の爪に第１側板を起立させる機能と、その押圧力で起立した第１側板を第２側板に係止させる機能の両機能を持たせることができ、従来の組立装置のような係止用の専用部材が不要となることから、組立装置の構成を一層簡略化してより安価な組立装置を提供することが可能になる。
【００６６】
また、請求項２に記載の発明によれば、請求項１に記載の発明の効果に加え、一方の爪の先端部の寸法が折畳まれた一対の第１側板間の寸法より小さく設定されているため、第１側板間の間隙寸法を小さくできて、各側板の高さが高い折畳み容器（深底型の折畳み容器）であっても、第１側板の起立動作をより一層確実かつスムーズに行うことができる。
【００６９】
また、請求項３に記載の発明によれば、請求項１又は２に記載の発明の効果に加え、一対の爪の回動動作によって一対の第１側板を起立・係止させることができるため、折畳み状態の第１側板の起立動作をより一層確実かつスムーズに行えると共に、第１側板と第２側板とを確実に係止させることができる。
【００７０】
また、請求項４に記載の発明によれば、請求項１に記載の発明の効果に加え、第２側板の起立動作時に、一対の係合片が折畳まれたそれぞれの第２側板の前後端部のうちの少なくとも一端部において第２側板と底板との間に形成される隙間に搬送方向から入り込んで係合するため、折畳まれている第２側板の上縁部がラップした状態の折畳み容器であっても、第２側板をその前後端部のうちの一端部を利用して確実かつスムーズに起立させることができて各種形態の容器に適用でき、組立装置の汎用性の向上を図ることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係わる折畳み容器の組立装置の一実施形態を示す側面図
【図２】同段くずし装置の側面図
【図３】同その背面図
【図４】同第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置の側面図
【図５】同その要部の平面図
【図６】同その要部の正面図
【図７】同図６の動作状態を示す正面図
【図８】同第２側板の起立状態を示す平面図
【図９】同規制板部分を示す正面図
【図１０】同第１側板起立・押圧係止装置の背面図
【図１１】同その側面図
【図１２】同その動作状態の側面図
【図１３】同他の動作状態の側面図
【図１４】同さらに他の動作状態の側面図
【図１５】同さらに他の動作状態の側面図
【図１６】同さらに他の動作状態の側面図
【図１７】折畳みコンテナの折畳み状態を示す斜視図
【図１８】同その第２側板の起立状態を示す斜視図
【図１９】同その第１側板の起立状態を示す斜視図
【図２０】同その係止手段の係止状態を示す説明図
【図２１】同その組み立てられたコンテナの斜視図
【符号の説明】
１・・・・・・・・組立装置
２・・・・・・・・段くずし装置
３・・・・・・・・第２側板起立・姿勢維持装置
４・・・・・・・・第１側板起立・押圧係止装置
５・・・・・・・・機枠
６・・・・・・・・昇降部材
１１・・・・・・・コンテナ載置面
１５・・・・・・・凹部
１６・・・・・・・棒状レール
２０・・・・・・・隙間
２１・・・・・・・第２側板起立装置
２２・・・・・・・第２側板姿勢維持装置
２４・・・・・・・回動部材
２４ａ・・・・・・ガイド溝
２５・・・・・・・固定板
２６・・・・・・・ガイドローラ
２８・・・・・・・係合片
２８ａ・・・・・・フック部
２９・・・・・・・昇降ストッパ
３０・・・・・・・規制板
３０ｂ・・・・・・嵌合部
３０ｃ・・・・・・係合部
４２・・・・・・・昇降台
４３・・・・・・・固定側爪
４３ａ・・・・・・先端部
４４・・・・・・・移動側爪
４４ａ・・・・・・先端部
４９・・・・・・・移動フレーム
５２・・・・・・・係止片
５３・・・・・・・間隙
Ａ・・・・・・・・コンテナ
Ｂ・・・・・・・・底板
Ｃ・・・・・・・・第１側板
Ｄ・・・・・・・・第２側板
Ｄａ・・・・・・・一端部
Ｅ・・・・・・・・係止突起
Ｆ・・・・・・・・係止孔
Ｇ・・・・・・・・段差[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an assembly of a folding container for assembling a folding or assembling container used to accommodate agricultural products such as oranges, strawberries and apples, or food such as bread and confectionery or other industrial products, parts and raw materials. Relates to the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, for example, in a fruit collection area where agricultural products are collected and shipped, agricultural products as raw materials are put into box containers, wooden boxes, etc. by producers and carried into the fruit selection area. Agricultural products are shipped to various markets and consumers in cardboard boxes. Since containers and wooden boxes used for carrying agricultural products are box-shaped, there is a disadvantage that an empty container or an empty wooden box is widely required or bulky.
[0003]
On the other hand, corrugated cardboard boxes used for shipping at the fruit selection are usually disposable in terms of durability or hygiene, and are used in the shipping destination market for disposal work such as incineration or resource recovery after use. Work is being done. However, when the cardboard box is incinerated, it tends to be a waste of resources, and the cardboard box has a drawback that it takes time for pre-cooling work for a product to be shipped.
[0004]
Therefore, as a solution to these drawbacks, for example, a folding container A shown in FIGS. 17 to 21 may be used. As shown in FIG. 17, the folding container A folds a pair of front and rear (short side) first side plates C and a pair of left and right (long side) second side plates D on the bottom plate B when not in use. In order to secure the volume of the folding container A, the height of the left and right side plates D (and the front and rear side plates C) is set high, and a step G is formed at the end of one of the second side plates D. Is provided so that the ends of the pair of second side plates D are overlapped and overlapped.
[0005]
And when using this folding container A, after first standing the left and right second side plates D as shown in FIG. 18, the front and rear first side plates C are raised as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 20, these both side plates C and D are respectively locked by locking means comprising locking protrusions E and locking holes F, thereby forming an integral box shape as shown in FIG. It is like that.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a folding container A has a disadvantage that it is inefficient because the assembly operation is generally performed manually. In particular, in the produce selection site where tens of thousands of cases are shipped per day, it is difficult to secure a dedicated person for assembling the folding container A because of cost, etc. It is strongly desired to install an assembling apparatus that is used in some cases, and some of them are used.
[0007]
This assembling apparatus has three stations from a first station to a third station. First, in the first station, after raising the second side plate D, one of the first side plates C is raised, and in the second station, the first side plate C is raised. One of the raised first side plates C is pressed against one end of the second side plate D to lock the side plates C and D, and the other first side plate C that has not been raised is caused. Then, in the third station, the other first side plate C thus caused is pressed against the other end portion of the second side plate D, and the both side plates C and D are locked to be assembled.
[0008]
However, in this assembling apparatus, the assembly of the container A takes time because the folding container A is assembled at three stations and the pair of first side plates C is caused with a time difference. In particular, the problem of insufficient processing capability is likely to occur when used in a selection area with a large shipment amount as described above. Further, the raising device for the first side plate C and the device for pressing and locking the first side plate C against the second side plate D correspond to one first side plate C and the other first side plate C, respectively. Therefore, there is a problem in that the configuration of the apparatus is complicated and the equipment cost is increased. Furthermore, since the device for raising the first side plate C and the device for pressing the first side plate C against the second side plate D are provided at different positions, the length of the assembly device becomes longer, and the size of the device increases. There is also a problem that it tends to be disadvantageous in terms of installation in the selection hall.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the purpose thereof is to obtain sufficient processing capacity and to be applied to various types of containers, so that versatility can be improved, and installation space can be saved. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for assembling a folding container that can simultaneously reduce the equipment cost.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that a pair of first side plates are turned down on the bottom plate, a pair of second side plates are turned down on the first side plate, and the first side plate And the second side plate are detachably locked to the folding container assembly apparatus,The left and right sides of the folding container supplied along the transport direction in a state where each of the pair of first side plates is located at the front and rear and each of the pair of second side plates is located at the left and rightA second side plate standing means for raising a pair of second side plates and maintaining the standing posture of the raised second side plate for a predetermined time; and a container in which the second side plate is raised and maintained by the second side plate standing means.A pair of front and rearA first side plate erecting means for erecting the first side plate and locking the first side plate and the second side plate substantially simultaneously with the completion of the elevating of the first side plate, wherein the first side plate elevating means has a pair of claws. Having the pair of nailsOne of the claws is provided on a fixed support portion with respect to the transport direction, and the other claw is provided movably and a locking piece that can be engaged with the upper edge portion of the folded first side plate on the front side. And the engagement piece engages with the upper edge by moving the other claw in the conveyance direction, and moves the folding container in the conveyance direction, so that the first claw on the rear side is moved by the one claw. The container is moved in the same direction by making the other nail enter the gap between the front side first side plate and the bottom plate after moving up in the inclined direction to widen the gap between the front and rear first side plates. By making the pair of nails,The first side plate is erected.
[0011]
  By configuring in this way,A pair of front and rearOn the first side plateA pair of left and rightSecond side plate foldedSupplied along the transport directionFirst of all, the folding container is the second side plate standing means,Left and rightThe pair of second side plates are raised at the same time and the standing posture is maintained, and then with the first side plate standing means,Before and afterThe pair of first side plates are raised substantially simultaneously, and the side plates are locked substantially simultaneously with completion of the raising..ThisLeft and rightA pair of second side plates;A pair of front and rearSince the first side plate is erected almost simultaneously by each means, the assembling time is shortened and the processing capacity is improved, and it is possible to cope with the arrangement of two consecutive means and the length of the assembling apparatus is shortened. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified and the installation space can be saved, thereby reducing the equipment cost. Also,First 1 The side plate standing means has a pair of claws, one of the claws is provided on a fixed support portion in the transport direction, the other claw is movably provided and the upper edge portion of the front side first side plate folded The engaging piece engages with the upper edge by moving the other claw in the conveying direction and moves the folding container in the conveying direction. After the first side plate on the rear side is tilted up with one claw to widen the gap between the front and back first side plates, the other claw enters the gap between the first side plate on the front side and the bottom plate and moves in the transport direction. By moving, the container also moves in the same direction, and the pair of claws erects the pair of front and rear first side plates,Pair of nailsTheIt can be inserted sequentially between the first side plates,Small gap size between folded first side platesEven if it is a folding container, each side plate can be stood up reliably, can be applied to the container of various forms, and can improve versatility.
[0013]
  The one nail is a claim.2It is preferable that the dimension of the front-end | tip part is set smaller than the dimension between said pair of 1st side plates like invention of description. By configuring in this manner, the tip dimension of one of the claws is set smaller than the gap dimension between the pair of first side plates, so that the gap size can be reduced and the folding container with a high height of each side plate ( Even in a deep folding container, the first side plate can be raised more reliably and smoothly.
[0016]
  Further, the pair of claws are claimed in claim3It is preferable that the first side plate is erected by the rotation operation and the first side plate is locked to the second side plate. By configuring in this way, the pair of first side plates can be erected by the rotational movement of the pair of claws, so that the folded first side plate can be erected more smoothly and securely locked to the second side plate. Can be made.
[0017]
  Claims4The invention described in,The second side plate upstanding means has a pair of engagement pieces, and each of the second side plates is folded by the pair of engagement pieces.Out of the front and rear endsAt least one end ofIn the gap formed between the second side plate and the bottom plateBy engagingA pair of left and rightThe second side plateOn both sides in the transport directionIt is characterized by standing.
[0018]
  By configuring in this way,A pair of engaging pieces were folded during the standing operation of the second side plate.eachOf the second side plateOut of the front and rear endsAt least one end ofIn the gap formed between the second side plate and the bottom plateSecond side plate folded from engagingFolding container with the top edge wrappedEven thatOut of the front and rear endsThus, the second side plate can be reliably and smoothly raised.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 16 show an embodiment of a folding container assembling apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view showing the whole, FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing a stapling device, and FIGS. 9 is a view showing the second side plate standing / posture maintaining device, and FIGS. 10 to 16 are views showing the first side plate standing / pressing locking device.
[0021]
  In FIG. 1, an assembling apparatus 1 includes a stapling device 2 that separates the folded containers A (hereinafter simply referred to as containers A) accommodated in a stack and discharges them one by one to the downstream side. Second side plate erecting means for erecting the left and right second side plates D of the supplied container A and maintaining the standing stateWhenThe second side plate upright / posture maintaining device 3 and the first side plate upright as first side plate upright means for holding the first side plate C before and after the container A upright and pressing and locking the second side plate D. It has a press locking device 4 and the like.
[0022]
Then, the corrugating device 2, the second side plate standing / posture maintaining device 3, and the first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4 are sequentially arranged in the machine frame 5 formed by the steel material along the conveying direction A. As a result, three stations S1 to S3 are formed. That is, a stapling station S1 by the stapling device 2 is formed on the uppermost stream side of the machine casing 5, and the second side plate D is raised and postured by the second side plate standing / posture maintaining device 3 on the downstream side of the station S1. A station S2 for performing maintenance is formed, and a station S3 for standing the first side plate C by the first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4 and pressing and locking the side plates C and D is formed downstream of the station S2. Has been.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the step scraper 2 has an elevating member 6 connected to a piston rod of an elevating cylinder 7 in a vertical state, and both sides of the elevating member 6 along the conveying direction a. Each of the guides 8 is provided with a guide rail 10 fixed to the frame 9. In addition, a container placement surface 11 on which the bottom surface of the bottom plate B of the container A is placed is formed at the upper end of the frame 9, and the container placement surface 11 has an outer side toward the outside of the stacked containers A. A plurality of guide rods 12 are provided to restrict the tilting.
[0024]
An L-shaped frame 13 is fixed to the frame 9, and a cylinder 14 is disposed above the L-shaped frame 13, and a piston rod of the cylinder 14 functions as a stopper 14 a. Further, on both sides of the upper surface of the elevating member 6 along the conveying direction A, rod-shaped rails 16 that are engaged with the concave portions 15 provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate B of the container A and also serve as the conveying rails are disposed.
[0025]
Then, the lift cylinder 7 is operated to raise the lift member 6, and in a state where a plurality of containers A stacked at the upper end of the rod-shaped rail 16 are supported, the cylinder 14 is operated to retract the stopper 14a and the cylinder 7 is operated to lower the elevating member 6 by one step, and the cylinder 14 is again operated at this position to advance the stopper 14a again, whereby the second-stage container A is supported by the stopper 14a. As a result, the lowest stacked container A is separated from the upper (second stage) container A, and the lower surfaces of both ends of the separated container A are placed on the container placement surface 11 of the frame 9. It is comprised so that it may be placed.
[0026]
Further, the corrugating apparatus 2 has a slide cylinder 18 arranged in a horizontal state on the frame 17 of the machine casing 5. The slide cylinder 18 is provided with a movable table 19 that can move. The movable table 19 is set so as to contact the rear end surface of the second side plate D of the container A. When the slide cylinder 18 is actuated, the movable table 19 moves in the conveying direction A, and the container A that is in contact with the movable table 19 is in front of the concave rail 15 while engaging the rod-shaped rail 16. The two-side plate upright / posture maintaining device 3 is configured to be pushed in the direction. The stacking device 2 is not limited to this example, and uses any other appropriately configured device that can separate and discharge the lowermost (or uppermost) container A of the stacked containers A one by one. can do.
[0027]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the second side plate upright / posture maintaining device 3 includes a second side plate upright device 21 that erects the second side plate D of the container A supplied from the stapling device 2, and the second side plate upright device 21. It has the 2nd side board attitude | position maintenance apparatus 22 which maintains the standing attitude of the 2nd side board D raised by the 2 side board upright apparatus 21 for the predetermined time. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the second side plate upright device 21 has a pair of left and right and front and rear rotating members 24 that are rotated by the operation of the cylinder 23.
[0028]
The rotating member 24 is formed with arc-shaped guide grooves 24a (see FIGS. 6 and 7) for rotating guidance and for limiting the rotation range, and guides provided on the fixed plate 25 in the guide grooves 24a. The rollers 26 are engaged with each other so as to be slidable. A piston rod of the cylinder 23 is connected to the side wall of the rotating member 24. Depending on the connecting position of the piston rod of the cylinder 23 and the shape of the guide groove 24a, the rotating member 24 is shown in FIG. And it sets so that it may rotate like the arrow B of a figure centering | focusing on the hinge part O of the 2nd side plate D of the container A shown in FIG.
[0029]
Further, among the pair of left and right rotating members 24, a cylinder 27 in which the piston rod advances and retreats along the conveying direction A via a cylinder fixing plate is provided on the side wall of the rotating member 24 upstream in the conveying direction A. Each is arranged. Engagement pieces 28 that can engage with one end portion Da (see FIGS. 8 and 21) on the long side of the side plate D of the container A are connected to the piston rod of each cylinder 27.
[0030]
Each engagement piece 28 is an L-shape that engages with each gap 20 (see FIG. 6) formed between the pair of folded second side plates D and bottom plate B at one end portion Da of the side plate D. Each of the hook portions 28a. Then, each cylinder 27 is activated and its piston rod is retracted from the initial position to the engagement position, so that it engages with the gap 20 of the one end portion Da of the second side plate D of the container A folded, As will be described later, it is set so that the state can be maintained at least until the second side plate D stands up. An elevator stopper 29 for stopping the container A at the station S2, which is the second side plate standing position, is provided at the end portion of the second side plate raising device 21, and the container A is stopped by the raising operation of the elevator stopper 29. In this state, the second side plate D of the container A is raised as will be described later.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the second side plate posture maintaining device 22 has a substantially plate-like restriction plate 30 that can move up and down, and the restriction plate 30 is a lifting cylinder arranged in a vertical state. It is connected to 31 piston rods. The elevating cylinder 31 is fixed to a moving plate 33 movably disposed on a frame 32 of the machine frame 5, and a guide 34 of the moving plate 33 engages with a guide rail 35 fixed to the frame 32. ing. When the slide cylinder 36 connected to the moving plate 33 is operated, the moving plate 33 is configured to move together with the elevating cylinder 31 and the regulating plate 30 in the transport direction a by a predetermined distance.
[0032]
The regulation plate 30 has a narrow portion 30a formed at the upper portion, a fitting portion 30b substantially equal to the width between the second side plates D of the container A formed at the lower portion, and the rear end of the fitting portion 30b. The part is formed with engaging parts 30c projecting by a predetermined dimension on both sides thereof. The width between the engaging portions 30c is set so as to be larger than the dimension between the second side plates D of the container A that is erected and not protruded from the dimension between the second side plates D. When the engaging portion 30c comes into contact with the rear end surface (one end portion Da) of the second side plate D of the container A, the container A is moved in the transport direction A by the regulating plate 30 as described later.
[0033]
In addition, a pair of rod-like rails 16 corresponding to the rod-like rails 16 of the corrugating apparatus 2 are provided integrally or separately in the second side plate standing / posture maintaining device 3, and on the outside of the rod-like rails 16, A guide rail 37 that restricts movement of the container A in the conveyance width direction is provided. Although not shown, the rod-shaped rail 16 and the guide rail 37 are also disposed in a first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4 to be described later.
[0034]
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4 has a lifting platform 42 that can be lifted and lowered by two lifting cylinders 40, 41. Each is provided with a pair of fixed claw 43 and moving claw 44. The fixed claw 43 is pivotally supported by support portions 45 provided in a state of projecting downward at both ends in the width direction on the upstream side of the lifting platform 42, and inclines at a predetermined angle to the rear side in the initial state. The shaft 46 is configured so as to be rotatable. Further, the lower surfaces of the triangular tip portions 43 a of the pair of fixed side claws 43 are set horizontally so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the bottom plate B of the container A, and are connected via a connecting rod 47.
[0035]
On the other hand, the moving claw 44 is provided at both ends in the width direction of the lifting platform 42 similarly to the fixed claw 43, and is connected via a moving frame 49 to a slide cylinder 48 provided at the center position of the lifting platform 42. At the same time, the tip 44a is inclined forward at a predetermined angle in the initial state. The pair of moving side claws 44 are set horizontally such that the lower surface of the triangular tip 44a can come into contact with the inner surface of the bottom plate B of the container A, and the length of the connecting plate 51 that connects the tips 44a. At the center position in the direction, a locking piece 52 is provided with a predetermined dimension protruding downward. The moving claw 44 is connected to a moving frame 49 by a shaft 50 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 50, and reciprocates along the conveying direction a as will be described later by the operation of the slide cylinder 48. It is configured to be able to operate (or swing in the conveying direction (a)).
[0036]
  Then, the moving claw 44 and the fixed claw 43 cross their tip portions 44a, 43a in the initial state, so that the moving claw 44Tip 44a ofThe fixed side nail 43Than the tip 43aBy being provided at the downstream side in the conveying direction (a), the fixed side claw 43 is set so as not to interfere with the movement of the movement side claw 44 to the downstream side. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the length L1 (the width of the bottom surface of the tip portions 44a and 43a) of the moving side claw 44 and the fixed side claw 43 contacting the bottom plate B of the container A is the folded container A. A pair of front and rear1Side plateCA predetermined dimension from the dimension L2 of the gap 53 between themsmall(L1<L2) is set, which enables the fixed claw 43 to enter the gap 53 as will be described later.
[0037]
The reciprocating motion of the moving claw 44 configured in this way along the conveying direction (i), which is the rising direction of the first side plate C, the change in the relative positional relationship between the fixed claw 43 and the moving claw 44, and the fixing As will be described later, the first side plate C of the container A is erected by, for example, a pivoting operation to the vertical position around the shafts 46 and 50 of the side claw 43 and the moving claw 44.
[0038]
Next, an example of a method for assembling the container A by the assembling apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. First, for example, the container A in a stacked state set by hand in the scrapping device 2 is separated from the upper container A by the operation of the lift cylinder 7 and the cylinder 14 as described above. In addition to being placed on the container placement surface 11 of the frame 9, the movable table 19 is positioned behind the rear end surface of the container A.
[0039]
  When the slide cylinder 18 is actuated in this state, the movable table 19 moves in the conveying direction A, pushes the container A forward while abutting against the rear end surface of the container A, and moves to a predetermined distance. The first side plate C is supplied in a state where the pair of first side plates C are positioned on the front and rear of the rod-like rail 16 of the second side plate standing and posture maintaining apparatus 3 which is the first station S2. The container A supplied to the second side plate upright / posture maintaining device 3 is stopped at the station S2 by the raising / lowering stopper 29 in the raised position, and the pair of cylinders 27 of the second side plate upright device 21 are operated in this stopped state. Then, by moving the respective engagement pieces 28 from the initial position by a predetermined distance along the transport direction A, as shown in FIG. 6, one end portion of the second side plate D in which the hook portion 28a is folded. DaAnd between the bottom plate BEntering the gap 20, the engagement piece 28 and the second side plate D are engaged with each other.
[0040]
When the cylinder 23 is operated in this state, the turning member 24 to which the engaging piece 28 is fixed gradually turns as shown by the arrow B in FIG. Since the L-shaped hook portion 28a of the engagement piece 28 is engaged with the gap 20 of the container A when the rotation member 24 is rotated, the engagement state of the engagement piece 28 and the second side plate D is 7 is maintained stably, and the pair of left and right second side plates D are rotated together with the engagement piece 28 and are raised upright substantially at the same time as shown in FIG. Note that the “substantially simultaneous” standing operation of the pair of second side plates D is a time difference due to variations in each component and assembly, and means a standing operation within an extremely short time.
[0041]
When the pair of left and right second side plates D are raised by the second side plate standing device 21, the lifting cylinder 31 of the second side plate posture maintaining device 22 is operated next, and the regulating plate 30 is moved from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. It is lowered to the position of the chain line, and the engagement portion 30c is fitted between the rear end portions of the pair of second side plates D where the fitting portion 30b of the regulation plate 30 stands, and the engagement portions 30c are rear end surfaces of the second side plates D. It will be in the state located behind. In this state, the slide cylinder 36 of the second side plate posture maintaining device 22 is operated and the elevation stopper 29 is lowered.
[0042]
When the slide cylinder 36 is actuated, the engaging portion 30c of the restricting plate 30 comes into contact with the one end portion Da that is the rear end face of the second side plate D of the container A, and the restricting plate 30 is further slid in the conveying direction A. The container A whose movement restriction by the lift stopper 29 is released is moved from the solid line position of FIG. 4 to the position of the two-dot chain line while being guided by the bar-shaped rail 16 and the guide rail 37, so that the second assembly operation is performed. Is supplied to the first side plate erecting / pressing locking device 4 which is the station S3.
[0043]
When the container A is supplied to the first side plate erecting / pressing locking device 4, the lifting cylinders 40, 41 are actuated to lower the lifting platform 42 at the rising position as the initial position of the device 4 and fix it. The side claw 43 and the moving claw 44 are positioned in the container A. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower surface of the distal end portion 44a of the moving claw 44 comes into contact with the upper surface of the first side plate C of one (front side) of the folded container A and the locking piece 52 is a gap. 53, the lower surface of the distal end portion 43a of the fixed claw 43 is positioned on the gap 53 between the first side plates C before and after the container A.
[0044]
  When the slide cylinder 48 is actuated in this state, the moving frame 49 moves in the conveying direction A, and the moving claw 44 moves in the same direction by the movement of the moving frame 49, and the locking piece located in the gap 53. 52 also moves in the same direction. By the movement of the locking piece 52, as shown in FIG. 12, the locking piece 52 comes into contact with and engages with the upper edge portion of the first side plate C on the front side,FixedThe lower surface of the distal end portion 43a of the side claw 43 enters the gap 53, and in this state, the movement side claw 44 is brought into contact with and engaged with the movement side claw 44 via the locking piece 52. Container A is moved in the transport direction (a).
[0045]
  By the movement of the container A in the conveying direction (a), the distal end portion 43a of the fixed claw 43 comes into contact with and engages with the upper edge portion of the rear first side plate C, and the distal end portion 43a is the rear first side plate. The gap between the C and the bottom plate B (not shown) is entered, and the fixed claw 43 rotates about the shaft 46 so that the first side plate C on the rear side is raised. That is, the moving claw to the first side plate C on the front side44When the container A is moved by the abutting engagement of the locking piece 52, the first side plate C on the rear side is moved to the distal end portion 43 a of the fixed claw 43.InAs shown in FIG. 13, the first side plate C on the rear side is erected up to a predetermined position by the fixed claw 43 as shown in FIG. It is done.
[0046]
  Then, as shown in FIG. 14, with the first side plate C on the rear side standing up to a predetermined position, the moving claw 44 is returned to the rear side by a predetermined distance as indicated by an arrow D, and the rear side of the moving frame 49 is raised to the predetermined position. The rear side first side plate C is brought into contact, the tip end portion 44a of the moving claw 44 is positioned in the gap 53, and the lower surface of the tip end portion 44a is placed on the bottom of the container A.BoardContact B. In this state, when the moving claw 44 is moved again in the transport direction (a direction opposite to the arrow D), as shown in FIG.ButThe front edge 44a of the moving claw 44 engages with the upper edge of the first side plate C on the front side, and enters the gap (not shown) between the first side plate C and the bottom plate B on the front side. The first side plate C is gradually raised by the movement of the moving side claw 44 and the first side plate C on the rear side is gradually raised by the fixed side claw 43 by the movement of the container A.
[0047]
The restriction plate 30 that has moved to the position of the first side plate erecting / pressing locking device 4 moves up and down the cylinder 31 when the first side plate C is raised to a predetermined angle by the moving side claw 44 and the fixed side claw 43. Is operated and then lifted, and then the slide cylinder 36 is operated and the moving plate 33 is retracted to return to the original position.
[0048]
  When the moving frame 49 moves forward and backward and moves forward again, i.e., reciprocates, and the moving frame 49 moves a predetermined distance in the transport direction (a), as shown in FIG. Up to approximately vertical positionTimesThe pair of front and rear first side plates C are erected substantially simultaneously at the end surfaces of the fixed claw 43 and the moving claw 44 at substantially the same time. Note that the “substantially simultaneous” standing operation of the first side plate C means a standing operation within a time period including the reciprocating time of the moving claw 44 and the like. Simultaneously with the completion of the standing of the first side plate C, the locking projections E and the locking holes provided on the adjacent first side plate C and second side plate D by the pressing force of the fixed side claw 43 and the moving side claw 44 are provided. F are locked together.
[0049]
As a result, an assembled container A is obtained as shown in FIG. 21, and the assembled container A is pushed by the next container A from the rear, and is guided by the bar-shaped rail 16 and the guide rail 37. For example, it is discharged from the assembling apparatus 1 to, for example, a container transfer conveyor (not shown), and is input to the sorting apparatus or the like by the conveyor.
[0050]
The moving claw 44 is retracted by the operation of the slide cylinder 48 after the first side plate C and the second side plate D are locked, and is lifted by the operation of the cylinders 40 and 41 substantially simultaneously with the retraction, as shown in FIG. To the initial position indicated by the two-dot chain line a. Further, the height position of the lifting platform 42 is adjusted by the operation of the double lifting cylinders 40 and 41 according to the rotational movement of the moving claw 44 and the fixed claw 43 following the movement of the moving frame 49. It moves up and down between the initial position a, the standing position b of the two-dot chain line, and the container insertion position c of the solid line.
[0051]
In other words, in the case of the assembling apparatus 1, the pair of left and right second side plates D of the container A folded at the station S2 (second side plate standing / posture maintaining device 3) are erected almost simultaneously and the station S3 (first side The pair of front and rear first side plates C are raised substantially simultaneously by the side plate standing / pressing locking device 4) and locked to the already-raised second side plate D. Between the station S2 and the station S3, the standing state of the second side plate D is stably maintained by the second side plate posture maintaining device 21 and the standing of the first side plate C is caused by the movement of the moving claw 44. It is performed substantially simultaneously by the movement of the container A and the fixed side claw 43 that have followed.
[0052]
  When the first side plate C stands up, the gap 53 between the first side plates C is widened by the forward, backward, and forward movement (reciprocating movement) of the locking piece 52 provided at the distal end portion 44a of the moving side pawl 44. Even if the gap 53 is a narrow container A, the leading end portions 44a and 43a of the moving claw 44 and the fixed claw 43 can be surely inserted into the gap 53, and the leading end portion 43a of each claw 43 and 44 can be made. 44a, the first side plate C can be erected in a reliable and smooth manner together with entering the gap between the first side plate C and the bottom plate B. Further, when the second side plate D stands, the engagement piece is inserted into the gap 20 formed between the folded second side plate D and the bottom plate B.28Since the second side plate D is erected by engaging the second side plate D, the shape of the end portion Da in the longitudinal direction of the second side plate D is utilized even in a folded container in which the upper edge of the second side plate D is wrapped. Thus, a reliable standing operation can be performed.
[0053]
  In the above explanation,,The shape of the moving side claw 44 and the fixed side claw 43, particularly the tips 44a, 43aIs triangular,The gap 53 and the first side plate C and the bottom are not limited to the triangular shape, for example, formed in a rod shape.BoardAn appropriate shape that can easily enter the gap between B can be adopted..
[0054]
As described above, in the assembling apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, the folded container A supplied from the corrugating apparatus 2 is used as the second side plate standing / posture maintaining apparatus 3 serving as the station S2 as a pair of second Folded container to stand the side plates D at the same time, and to stand the pair of first side plates C almost simultaneously by the first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4 as the station S3 to lock the side plates C and D A can be automatically assembled at the two stations S2, S3. As a result, the assembly time can be shortened as compared with the case of assembling at three stations as in the conventional assembling apparatus.
[0055]
In particular, since the pair of first side plates C and the pair of second side plates D of the container A are erected almost simultaneously at the dedicated stations S2 and S3, respectively, the pair of first side plates are erected separately as in the prior art. On the other hand, the standing time of the first side plate C can be substantially halved. Further, the stacking device 2 for supplying the stacked containers A to the second side plate standing / posture maintaining device 3 is a machine frame of the second side plate standing / posture maintaining device 3 and the first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4. Since it is integrated in the unit 5, the supply and discharge of the container A can be carried out in the shortest distance. As a result, the assembly work can be further shortened, resulting in an improvement in processing capacity. Can be achieved.
[0056]
Further, since the corrugating device 2, the second side plate standing / posture maintaining device 3, and the first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4 are efficiently arranged in the same machine frame 5, the length of the machine frame 5 ( Captain) can be shortened compared with the conventional assembly apparatus, the assembly apparatus 1 can be prevented from being enlarged, and the installation space in the fruit selection area can be saved. Can be easily and inexpensively installed.
[0057]
Furthermore, when the left and right second side plates D of the container A are erected, the second side plates D are folded while the one end portions Da of the second side plates D are engaged with the hook portions 28a of the engagement pieces 28, so that the folded second The side plate D can be reliably erected and the guide roller 26 provided on the fixed plate 25 is in sliding contact with the guide groove 24a provided on the rotation member 24 when the second side plate D is erected. The rotating operation of the member 24, that is, the standing operation of the second side plate D can be performed stably and smoothly. In particular, the hook portion 28a of the engagement piece 28 is engaged with the gap 20 of the one end portion Da of the second side plate D of the folded container A, so that the upper end portion of the second side plate D is folded in a wrapped state. Even in the container A to be folded, the second side plate D can be reliably erected.
[0058]
Further, since the front and rear first side plates C are raised by, for example, a change in the relative positional relationship between the movable claw 44 and the fixed claw 43 that can rotate together, the movement claw 44 and the fixed claw 43 The triangular tip portions 44a and 43a can be reliably locked to the first side plate C, and the first side plate C can be stably raised. In particular, since the locking piece 52 is provided at the distal end portion 44a of the moving claw 44, the moving claw 44 (locking piece 52) is moved forward along the conveying direction A to move backward on the fixed claw 43. The first side plate C on the side is raised to a predetermined position, and in this state, the moving claw 44 is retracted and moved forward again to increase the dimension L2 of the gap 53 between the first side plates C of the folded container A. be able to. As a result, even if the dimension of the folded gap 53 is small, the container A can be surely inserted into the gap 53 of the distal end portion 44a of the moving claw 44 and the gap between each first side plate C and the bottom plate B. Thus, the first side plate C can be reliably raised while the predetermined rigidity is secured to the moving claw 44 and the fixed claw 43.
[0059]
  thisSecond side plate upright / posture maintenance device 3Engagement pieces 28 andFirst side plate standing / pressing locking device 4This is a deep-bottom type container A in which the height of the first side plate C and the second side plate D is increased in order to secure the internal volume by the configuration of the moving side claw 44 and the fixed side claw 43 having the locking piece 52. Even in the shallow container A where the height of the first side plate C and the second side plate D is low and the second side plate D does not wrap,3, 4As a result, the first side plate C and the second side plate D can be reliably and smoothly erected, and can be applied to various types of containers A. Thus, it is possible to obtain an assembling apparatus 1 having excellent versatility.
[0060]
  Furthermore,First side plate standing / pressing locking device 4The moving side claws 44 and the fixed side claws 43 are raised by engaging the front end portions 44a and 43a of the claws 44 and 43 with the front and rear first side plates C while moving the container A. The first side plate C can be erected more smoothly by the erection operation using the conveying force of A. Further, the function of maintaining the standing posture of the second side plate D on the regulating plate 30 of the second side plate posture maintaining device 22 and the container A in the standing state of the second side plate D are connected to the first side plate standing / pressing locking device 4. For example, a dedicated member for moving the container A becomes unnecessary.
[0061]
Further, since the adjacent side plates C and D raised by the pressing force of the moving side claw 44 for raising the first side plate C and the fixed side claw 43 can be locked, the moving side claw 44 and the fixed side claw 43 can be locked. Both the function of raising the first side plate C and the function of locking the first side plate C raised by the pressing force to the second side plate D can be provided. No special member is required. From these things, it becomes possible to simplify the structure of the assembly apparatus 1 and to provide an inexpensive apparatus 1.
[0062]
Furthermore, as the rail for moving the container A, the rod-shaped rail 16 that engages with the concave portion 15 of the container A is used, and the slide cylinders 36 and 48 as the drive limit for moving the container A are provided in addition to the moving function. Since it has the function of maintaining the standing of the second side plate D and the function of raising the first side plate C, it does not require a transport device having a sprocket, a chain, a motor or the like as in the conventional assembly device, and the configuration of the transport means of the container A It can be formed very simply and at low cost. Together with these and the space-saving of the installation space, the assembly apparatus 1 can be installed at a lower cost of equipment.
[0063]
In the above embodiment, the corrugating apparatus 2 is integrally disposed with the second side plate upright / posture maintaining apparatus 3 and the like in the machine frame 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the corrugating apparatus 2 is not limited thereto. It is good also as a structure which forms by another machine frame and connects this to the machine frame 5. FIG. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the container A demonstrated the rectangular shape which has the 2nd side board D of the long side, and the 1st side board C of the short side, as a container A used by this invention, For example, a rectangular container may be used. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the mechanism for raising the second side plate D and the first side plate C, the mechanism for maintaining the raised second side plate D, the mechanism for transporting the second side plate D to the downstream side, or the lifting platform 42 is moved up and down. The cylinder mechanism to be moved is also an example, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
  As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second side plate standing means is used.Left and rightA pair of second side platesAlmost simultaneouslyThe standing posture is maintained for a predetermined time and the first side plate standing meansBefore and afterA pair of first side platesAlmost simultaneouslySince each side plate is locked at the same time as the standing is completed,Left and rightA pair of second side plates;A pair of front and rearThe first side plate is erected almost simultaneously by each means, the assembly time of the container is shortened and the processing capacity is improved, and the length of the assembling apparatus can be shortened by being able to cope with the arrangement of two continuous means, etc. The configuration can be simplified, the installation space can be saved, and the equipment cost can be reduced. Also,The first side plate erecting means has a pair of claws, one of the claws is provided on a fixed support portion in the transport direction, the other claw is movably provided and the front side first side plate is folded. A locking piece that can be engaged with the upper edge of the other claw, and by moving the other claw in the conveying direction, the locking piece engages with the upper edge to move the folding container in the conveying direction. Then, the rear first side plate is tilted up with the one claw to widen the gap between the front and back first side plates, and the other claw is inserted into the gap between the front first side plate and the bottom plate. Since the container is moved in the same direction by moving in the transport direction, the pair of front and rear first side plates are raised by the pair of claws.Pair of nailsTheEnter between the first side plates sequentially.The size of the gap between the folded first side plates is smallEven if it is a folding container, each side plate can be erected reliably.FormIn the containerApplicableThe versatility of the assembly apparatus can be improved.Furthermore, since the folding container can be moved in the transport direction by the locking piece provided on the other claw, the first side plate can be raised by using the transport force of the folding container, and the first side plate can be moved further. A reliable and smooth standing operation can be obtained. Further, the adjacent first side plate and the second side plate can be locked by the pressing force of the other claw for raising the first side plate and the one claw, so that the other claw and the one claw can be engaged with each other. A dedicated member for locking, such as a conventional assembly device, can have both the function of raising the first side plate and the function of locking the first side plate raised by the pressing force to the second side plate. Therefore, the construction of the assembling apparatus can be further simplified and a cheaper assembling apparatus can be provided.
[0066]
  Claims2According to the invention described in claim1In addition to the effects of the invention described in the above, since the dimension of the tip of one nail is set smaller than the dimension between the pair of folded first side plates, the gap dimension between the first side plates can be reduced, Even in a folding container (a deep-bottom folding container) in which the height of each side plate is high, the first side plate can be raised more reliably and smoothly.
[0069]
  Claims3According to the invention described in claim 1,Or 2In addition to the effects of the invention described above, since the pair of first side plates can be raised and locked by the pivoting operation of the pair of claws, the folded first side plate can be more reliably and smoothly raised. At the same time, the first side plate and the second side plate can be reliably locked.
[0070]
  Claims4According to the invention described in,Invention of Claim 1In addition to the effect ofWhen the second side plate stands up, the pair of engaging piecesEach foldedOf the second side plateOut of the front and rear endsAt least one end ofIn the gap formed between the second side plate and the bottom plateSecond side plate folded to engageFolding container with the top edge wrappedEven the second side plateOut of the front and rear endsCan be securely and smoothly raised using one end of theApplicableThe versatility of the assembly apparatus can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a folding container assembling apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the same-stage waste device.
FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the second side plate upright / posture maintaining apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main part of the same.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the main part of the same.
7 is a front view showing the operation state of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an upright state of the second side plate.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing the restricting plate portion.
FIG. 10 is a rear view of the first side plate standing / pressing locking device;
FIG. 11 is a side view thereof.
FIG. 12 is a side view of the operation state thereof.
FIG. 13 is a side view of another operating state.
FIG. 14 is a side view of still another operating state.
FIG. 15 is a side view of still another operating state.
FIG. 16 is a side view of still another operating state.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a folded state of the folding container.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a standing state of the second side plate of the same.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an upright state of the first side plate.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a locking state of the locking means.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the assembled container.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Assembly equipment
2 ... Stick device
3 ... 2nd side plate upright / posture maintenance device
4 ..... 1st side plate upright and press locking device
5 ・・・・・・・・ Frame
6 ... Elevating member
11 ... Container placement surface
15..Recess
16 .... Rod rail
20. ・・・・・・ Gap
21 ........ Second side plate upright device
22 ・・・・・・・・・・・ Second side plate posture maintenance device
24 ・・・・・・・ Rotating member
24a ... ・ Guide groove
25 ..... Fixed plate
26 ..... Guide roller
28 ・・・・・・・ Engagement piece
28a ... hook part
29 .... Elevating stopper
30 ・・・・・・・ Regulation board
30b ・・・・・・ Fitting part
30c .... Engagement part
42 ・・・・・・・ Elevator
43 ..... Fixed side claw
43a ・・・・・・ Tip
44 ・・・・・・・ Moving claw
44a .. ・ Tip
49 ・・・・・・・ Moving frame
52... Locking piece
53 ..... Gap
A ... Container
B ・・・・・・・・ Bottom plate
C ・・・・・・・・ First side plate
D ... 2nd side plate
Da ... one end
E ... Locking protrusion
F ......... Locking hole
G ... Step

Claims

A folding container assembling apparatus in which a pair of first side plates are turned down on a bottom plate and a pair of second side plates are turned down on the first side plate, and the first side plate and the second side plate are detachably locked. And
Standing up the pair of left and right second side plates of the folding container supplied along the transport direction in a state where each of the pair of first side plates is positioned forward and backward and each of the pair of second side plates is positioned left and right And a second side plate standing means for maintaining the standing posture of the raised second side plate for a predetermined time, and a pair of front and rear first side plates of the container in which the second side plate is raised and maintained by the second side plate standing means. A first side plate standing means for locking the first side plate and the second side plate substantially simultaneously with the completion of the first side plate standing up,
The first side plate erecting means has a pair of claws, and the pair of claws is provided with one of the claws provided on a fixed support portion with respect to the transport direction, and the other claw is movably provided and folded. There is a locking piece that can be engaged with the upper edge of the first side plate on the front side, and the movement of the other claw in the conveying direction causes the locking piece to engage with the upper edge to convey the folding container. By moving the first claw to the rear, the rear first side plate is inclined upright with the one claw to widen the gap between the front and rear first side plates, and then the other claw is moved between the front first side plate and the bottom plate. An apparatus for assembling a folding container , wherein a pair of front and rear first side plates are erected by the pair of claws by moving the container in the same direction by entering the gap and moving in the transport direction .

It said one pawl, the dimensions of the tip, the assembly device of the folding container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is set smaller than the dimension between the pair of first side plates.

3. The folding according to claim 1, wherein the pair of claws are configured to be rotatable, and the first side plate is raised by the rotation operation and the first side plate is locked to the second side plate. Container assembly equipment.

Before Stories second side plate standing means has a pair of engaging pieces, the second side plate Oite to at least one end portion of the front and rear end portions of the respective second side plates to which the pair of engaging pieces are folded The folding container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pair of left and right second side plates are erected on both sides in the transport direction by entering and engaging in a gap formed between the base plate and the bottom plate from the transport direction. apparatus.