JP4758321B2 - Packaging apparatus and packaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a packaging apparatus which prevents the positional shift of a band and band separation from an article, and also to provide a packaging method used for the same. <P>SOLUTION: The packaging apparatus is equipped with: a carrying part 11 for carrying the article; a charging part 12 for charging the article G by applying an electric field to the article G carried by the carrying part 11; and a band attaching station 2 for attaching the band N to the article G which is carried by the carrying part 11 and is charged by the charging part 12. The carrying part 11 is equipped with: at least a pair of rotation-driving drive pulleys 113; and a drive belt 115 which is made of a non-charged substance and is arranged along the outer periphery of the drive pulleys 113. The charging part 12 is equipped with: a first electrode 121b which is formed on the upper surface of the drive belt 115 and to which a voltage is applied; and a second electrode 122 which is formed at a position opposite to the first electrode 121b through the drive belt 115 and is grounded. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus for packaging an article, and a packaging method thereof, in particular, a packaging apparatus suitable for mass production, and a packaging method thereof.

  Conventionally, for example, when an article such as a DVD is packaged, the article to be packaged such as a DVD is transferred by a belt conveyor or the like, and is wrapped after various processes. Various techniques are disclosed in this lapping process, and the process is simple and highly accurate.

For example, in Patent Document 1, even in a packaging material such as a thin plastic film, it can be reliably transferred for subsequent processing without causing a positional shift or bending of the sheet edge part during sheet transfer, In addition, a packaging machine that can easily cope with a size change of a packaging sheet and can save space is disclosed.
JP 2002-321709 A

  However, a step of attaching a band to the surface of the article may be performed before lapping. The band attached to an article is, for example, a limited-time advertisement that stimulates the sales intention of the article. In the step of attaching a band to such an article, the band is placed on the surface of the article. Therefore, for example, when the attached band is insufficiently glued, there is a problem that the attached band is misaligned or the band is detached from the article.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging apparatus and a packaging method capable of preventing the positional deviation of the band and the separation of the band from the article.

  A packaging apparatus according to the present invention is a packaging apparatus for packaging an article, a transfer unit that transfers the article, a charging unit that charges the article by applying an electric field to the article transferred by the transfer unit, A belt attachment portion for attaching the belt to the article transferred by the transfer portion and charged by the charging portion.

  The transfer unit includes at least a pair of drive pulleys that can be driven to rotate, and a drive belt made of a non-charged material disposed along an outer periphery of the drive pulley, and the charging unit includes an upper surface of the drive belt. It is good also as a structure provided with the 1st electrode to which the voltage was applied, and the 2nd electrode provided in the position which opposes the said 1st electrode through the said drive belt, and was earth | grounded.

  The packaging method according to the present invention is a packaging method for packaging an article, a transfer step for transferring the article, and a charging step for charging the article by applying an electric field to the article transferred by the transfer step; A band attaching step for attaching a band to the article transferred in the transfer step and charged in the charging step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging apparatus and a packaging method capable of preventing the positional deviation of the band and the separation of the band from the article.

  Hereinafter, a packaging apparatus and a packaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The structure of the packaging apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a packaging apparatus according to an embodiment mainly includes a charging station 1 that charges an article G, a band attachment station 2 that attaches a band N to the article G, and a wrapping station that applies wrapping to the article G. 3 and a take-out station 4 for taking out the article G. The packaging apparatus conveys the article G in the order of the charging station 1, the band attachment station 2, the wrapping station 3, and the take-out station 4. Here, the article G is, for example, a DVD box containing a DVD as shown in FIG. 8, and the material thereof is made of a charged substance such as polypropylene. For example, the belt N is overlapped in a folded state in a U-shape on one side of the DVD box and packaged together with the DVD box. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the transfer direction of the article G is the X-axis direction, and the directions parallel to the surface on which the article G is placed and perpendicular to the X-axis are the Y-axis direction, the X-axis, and the Y-axis. The direction orthogonal to the Z axis direction. Further, the direction in which the article G is transferred (left side in FIG. 1) is the base end, and the direction in which the article G is transferred (right side in FIG. 1) is the front end.

  2 is an enlarged side view of the charging station 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A 'of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the charging station 1 includes a transfer unit 11 and a charging unit 12.

  The transfer unit 11 is for transferring an article G to be loaded from an article loading rack 5 which is a casing into which the article G is loaded, for example, to the belt attachment station 2. The transfer unit 11 includes four leg portions 111a, 111a, 111b, and 111b and frames 112a and 112b that are connected to the upper portions of the leg portions 111a and 111a and the leg portions 111b and 111b. Two drive pulleys 113 are provided at both ends of the frames 112a and 112b in the X-axis direction so as to be rotatable with respect to the frames 112a and 112b. The drive pulley 113 is rotationally driven by a drive unit (not shown) such as a motor. Further, four support pulleys 114 that are rotatably supported are provided between the frames 112a and 112b. The support pulley 114 is rotatably attached to the frames 112a and 112b between the two drive pulleys 113, and is arranged parallel to the X-axis direction. A drive belt 115 is provided on the outer periphery of the two drive pulleys 113 and the four support pulleys 114 so as to contact them. The drive belt 115 is preferably made of a material that is not charged. For example, the drive belt 115 may have a configuration in which a felt of an uncharged material is attached to the surface thereof.

  The charging unit 12 applies an electric field to the article G to charge the article G. The charging unit 12 is mainly composed of a charger 121 disposed on the upper surface in the Z-axis direction of the drive belt 115 and an electrode (second electrode) 122 disposed on the bottom surface of the drive belt 115 and grounded. It is configured. The charging unit 12 has a case 123 that surrounds the charger 121 described above on the driving belt 115. The case 123 has openings 123a and 123a on the side surfaces orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the transfer direction of the article G so that the article G can be transferred. Further, the charger 121 is connected to the case 123 via a connection portion 123b.

  The charger 121 is mainly composed of a cylindrical cylindrical portion 121a having an opening below, and a plurality of projections (first electrodes) 121b surrounded by the cylindrical portion 121a and protruding downward. A voltage is applied to the plurality of protrusions 121b, and the applied voltage is, for example, 10 kV to 20 kV. The applied voltage can be changed according to the distance between the protrusion 121b and the electrode 122, the configuration of the article G, and the like.

  By applying a high voltage to the plurality of protrusions 121 b of the charger 121 configured as described above, discharge is generated between the plurality of protrusions 121 b and the electrode 122. The article G can be transferred between the plurality of protrusions 121b where the discharge has occurred and the electrode 122 to charge the article G. Due to this charging, the belt N does not come off even if the pasting or the like is not performed at the belt attachment station 2 in the next stage.

  Next, the band attachment station 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is an enlarged side view of the band attachment station 2 of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ of FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line -C ′, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD ′ of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the band attaching station 2 mainly includes a stopping part 21 for stopping the article G transferred from the charging station 1 until a predetermined timing, and a band attaching part 22 for attaching the band N to the article G. And a delivery unit 23 for delivering the article G to the wrapping station 3.

  The stopping unit 21 includes a transfer unit 211 that transfers the article G, a stopper 212 that stops the article G, and a first arm 213 that sends the article G to the band attachment unit 22 at the next stage.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transfer unit 211 includes four legs 211 aa, 211 aa, 211 ab, 211 ab and a frame that is connected to the upper parts of the legs 211 aa, 211 aa and the legs 211 ab, 211 ab. 211ba, 211bb. Six drive rollers 211c supported in parallel are provided between the frames 211ba and 211bb. The six drive rollers 211 are driven by a drive unit such as a motor (not shown), for example.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the stopper 212 is provided on the side of the frame 211ba and on the tip end side in the X-axis direction. The stopper 212 includes a cylinder 212 a and a contact portion 212 b that can contact the article G. The cylinder 212a is provided on the distal end side of the frame 211ba so as to be movable up and down in the Z-axis direction. The contact portion 212b is provided at the upper end in the Z-axis direction of the cylinder 212a, and is formed to extend toward the drive roller 211c in the Y-axis direction. The stopper 212 is provided with a photodetector (not shown) on the upper surface of the driving roller 211 and at the same height as the article G to be transferred. The contact part 212b can move from the upper surface of the drive roller 211c to the Z-axis direction (the retracted position indicated by the phantom line) that is at least the thickness of the article G by the cylinder 212a moving up and down. Similarly, the contact portion 212b can be moved to a position where it contacts the drive roller 211c (an operating position indicated by a solid line) when the cylinder 212a moves up and down.

  The first arm 213 is provided on the side of the frame 211bb and near the base end in the X-axis direction (charging station 1 side). The first arm 213 includes a first cylinder 213a, a second cylinder 213b, and a contact portion 213c that can contact the article G. The first cylinder 213a is provided in the vicinity of the base end in the X-axis direction on the side of the frame 212bb and is configured to be movable in the Z-axis direction. The second cylinder 213b is provided at the upper end in the Z-axis direction of the first cylinder 213a and is configured to be movable in the X-axis direction. The contact portion 213c is provided at the tip of the second cylinder 213b, and is formed so that the tip of the contact portion 213c reaches the drive roller 211c. As the first cylinder 213a moves, the contact portion 213 can move from the X-axis direction proximal end side (retracted position) of the retaining portion 21 to the X-axis direction distal end side (operating position) of the retaining portion 21. Yes. Further, the contact portion 213 moves from the position in the Z-axis direction (retreat position) at least greater than the thickness of the article G from the drive roller 211c by moving the second cylinder 213b (operation position). Position).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the band attachment unit 22 includes a mounting table 221 on which the article G can be placed, a positioning unit 222 that determines the position of the article G for attaching the band N, and a band supply unit that supplies the band. 223.

  The mounting table 221 includes four leg portions 221a and a mounting plate 221b on which an article G provided to be connected to the upper portion of the four leg portions 221a is placed. The mounting plate 221b has a recess 221ba formed with a recessed side extending in the X-axis direction.

  The positioning part 222 is provided on one side extending in the X-axis direction of the mounting plate 221b. The positioning part 222 is mainly composed of a cylinder 222a, a beam 222b, and a contact plate 222c. The cylinder 222a is provided on one side extending on the Y axis of the mounting plate 221b, and is configured to be movable in the Z axis direction. The beam 222b extends from the tip of the cylinder 222a to the vicinity of the center of the mounting plate 221b in the Y-axis direction. The contact plate 222c is provided at the tip of the beam 222b, is formed in an L shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction, and has a shape that can contact the article G on two sides. The position of the contact plate 222c that contacts the mounting plate 221b by the cylinder 222a from the position in the Z-axis direction (the retracted position indicated by the phantom line) at least the thickness of the article G from the mounting plate 221b (the operating position indicated by the solid line). ).

  The band supply unit 223 is provided at a position facing the positioning unit 222 with the mounting table 221b interposed therebetween. The band supply unit 223 includes a first cylinder 223a, a mounting member 223b, a second cylinder 223c, a third cylinder 223d, a beam 223e, a holding unit 223f, and a band storage unit 223g.

  The first cylinder 223a is one side extending in the X-axis direction of the mounting plate 221b, is provided at a position facing the positioning portion 222 via the mounting plate 221b, and is configured to be movable back and forth in the Y-axis direction. Yes. The attachment member 223b is formed in a U-shape with a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the article G at the tip of the first cylinder 223a so as to face the mounting plate 221a, and further protrudes to a lower position thereof to hold the belt N The protruding portion 223ba is provided. The attachment member 223b mounts the band N on the protrusion 223ba, and fits the band N to the article G by fitting the article G with its U-shaped shape. The second cylinder 223c is provided in the vicinity of the first cylinder 223a and is configured to be movable in the Z-axis direction. The third cylinder 223d is provided above the second cylinder 223c and is configured to be movable in the Y-axis direction. The beam 223e is provided at the tip of the second cylinder 223c and extends downward. The holding portion 223f is provided at the lower end of the beam 223e, and can be in either a state where the band N is held or a state where it is not held. For example, the holding portion 223f performs suction by changing the pressure of the pump by opening and closing the pump. The band storage unit 223g is a housing that stores a plurality of bands N, and is provided below the third cylinder 223d.

  The attachment member 223b is moved from the position separated from the placement plate 221b in the Y-axis direction (position indicated by a solid line) to the position (position indicated by an imaginary line) that contacts the recess 221ba of the placement plate 221b by the first cylinder 223a. It has been made movable. Further, the suction portion 223f is positioned at the same height in the Z-axis direction as that of the band storage portion 223g (the position indicated by the phantom line) from the position separated by the second cylinder 222c from the band storage portion 223g above the Z axis (the position indicated by the solid line). It is possible to move to the position indicated by. Further, the suction part 223f is moved by the third cylinder 223c from the position separated from the band storage part 223g in the Y-axis direction to the same position in the Y-axis direction as the end of the band N stored in the band storage part 223g. It is possible.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the delivery unit 23 includes a transfer unit 231 that transfers the article G, a second arm 232, and a pressing unit 233 that presses the band N.

  The transfer part 231 includes four leg parts 231aa, 231aa, 231ab, 231ab, and legs 231aa, 231aa and frames 231ba, 231bb connected to the upper parts of the leg parts 231ab, 231ab. Two drive pulleys 231c and 231c are rotatably provided on the frames 231ba and 231bb at both ends in the X-axis direction of the frames 231ba and 231bb. A drive belt 231d is provided on the outer periphery of these two drive pulleys 231c so as to contact the outer periphery. The drive pulley 231c is driven by a drive unit (not shown) such as a motor.

  The second arm 232 is provided on the base end side in the X-axis direction of the frame 231ba. The second arm 232 includes a first cylinder 232a, a second cylinder 232b, and a contact portion 232c that comes into contact with the article G. The first cylinder 232a is provided on the frame 231ba and is configured to be movable up and down in the Z-axis direction. The second cylinder 232b is attached to the upper part of the first cylinder 232a, and is configured to be movable back and forth in the X-axis direction. The contact portion 232c is provided at the base end in the X-axis direction of the second cylinder 232b, and is formed so that the tip of the contact portion 232c reaches the drive belt 231d. When the first cylinder 232a moves, the contact portion 232c comes into contact with the placement plate 221b from the position in the Z-axis direction (retraction position) that is at least the thickness of the article G from the placement plate 221b (operation position). It is possible to move to. Further, the contact portion 232c can be moved from the X-axis direction front end (retracted position) of the mounting plate 221b to the X-axis direction base end (operating position) of the mounting plate 221b by moving the second cylinder 232b. Has been.

  The pressing part 233 is provided on the side part of the frame 231bb. The pressing part 233 includes a first support part 233a, a second support part 233b, and a roller 233c. The first support part 233a is provided so as to extend from the side part of the frame 231bb to the upper part thereof. The second support part 233b is formed so as to straddle the drive belt 231d from the upper part of the first support part 233a in the Y-axis direction. The roller 233c is provided so as to be rotatable about the second support portion 233b. The outer diameter of the roller 233c is formed so as to be able to contact the upper surface of the article G on the drive belt 231d.

  The operation of the band attachment station 2 configured as described above will be described. First, the article G charged in the charging station 1 is transferred from the front end side of the band attachment station 2. Next, a photodetector (not shown) detects that the article G has reached a predetermined position. Based on the detection of the article G by the photodetector, the cylinder 212a of the stopper 212 moves from the lower position (operating position) to the upper position (retreat position). By the movement of the cylinder 212a, the contact portion 212b is arranged at a position separated from the drive roller 212c, and the article G can be transferred.

  Subsequently, the cylinder 222a of the positioning unit 222 moves from the upper position (the retracted position) to the lower position (the operating position). Due to the movement of the cylinder 222 a, the contact plate 222 b is disposed at a position in contact with the upper surface of the mounting table 221.

  Next, the first cylinder 213a of the first arm 213 moves from the upper position (standby position) to the lower position (operation position). Then, the second cylinder 213b of the first arm 213a moves from the base end position (retraction position) to the front end position (operation position). By these operations, the article G can be brought into contact with the contact substrate 222b of the positioning unit 222, and the article G can be arranged at a predetermined position on the mounting table 211.

  Subsequently, the band supply unit 223 causes the holding unit 223f to come into contact with the band N stored in the band storage unit 223g by the second cylinder 233c and the third cylinder 223d, and causes the holding unit 223f to hold the band N. Then, the band supply unit 223 moves the holding unit 223f by the second cylinder 233c and the third cylinder 223d, and disposes the band N on the protrusion 223ba at a position below the attachment member 223b.

  Next, the band supply unit 223 moves the attachment member 223b by the first cylinder 223a so as to fit the article G arranged at a predetermined position. By fitting the attachment member 223b to the article G, the band N is bent and attached to the article G.

  Subsequently, the second arm 232 moves the article G from the placement plate 221b onto the drive belt 231d of the transfer unit 2321 by the first cylinder 232a and the second cylinder 232b.

  As described above, the belt N is attached to the article G at the belt attachment station 2. Since the article G is in a charged state at the charging station 1, the belt N can be easily attached by the static electricity. Further, the band N is not likely to be displaced from the article G or detached from the article G.

  Finally, the pressing roller 233 presses the band N and the article G, and securely fixes the band N to the article G.

  Next, the wrapping station 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 again. The wrapping station 3 is provided on the drive belt 231d of the transfer unit 231 described above. The wrapping station 3 includes a guide 31 provided on both sides so as to extend in the X-axis direction on the drive belt 231d, and a film attachment portion 32. The film attachment portion 32 is arranged in parallel with the Z-axis direction so that the thin film F is straddled on the drive belt 231. The transferred article G passes through the thin film F while being wound, is subjected to heat treatment, and shrinks the thin film F to be wrapped.

  Next, the take-out station 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The take-out station 4 includes a first table 41, a second table 42, and an articulated drive device 43. The first table 41 is a table on which the article G reaches the transfer unit 231 described above. The multi-joint drive device 43 is configured to move with multiple joints so as to be able to hold the article G, and moves the articles G, for example, by five pieces from the first base 41 to the second base 42. It has a function.

  When a plurality of articles G are loaded at the take-out station 4 as described above, since the articles G are charged, the articles G stick to each other due to the static electricity. Therefore, when the articles G are loaded, the articles G are not slipped and the articles G can be easily loaded.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of the packaging apparatus which concerns on this invention was described, it is not restricted to the said embodiment. For example, the configuration of the take-out station 4 may be a configuration in which a device other than the articulated drive device 42 is provided. For example, a sorter type in which a predetermined number of articles G are delivered in a stacked state may be used.

It is a top surface schematic diagram of the packaging device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged side view of the charging station of the packaging device according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is A-A 'sectional drawing of FIG. It is an expanded side view of the band attachment station of the packaging apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a B-B ′ cross-sectional view of FIG. 4. It is C-C 'sectional drawing of FIG. It is D-D 'sectional drawing of FIG. It is a figure which shows the belt | band | zone N attached to a DVD box and a DVD box.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Charging station, 2 ... Band attachment station, 3 ... Wrapping station, 4 ... Extraction station, 11 ... Transfer part, 12 ... Charging part, 21 ... Stop part, 22 ... Band attachment part, 23 ... Sending part

Claims (3)

A packaging device for packaging an article,
A transfer unit for transferring the article;
A charging unit for charging the article by applying an electric field to the article transferred by the transfer unit;
A wrapping apparatus comprising: a band attaching part for attaching a band to an article transferred by the transfer part and charged by the charging part. The transfer unit is
At least a pair of drive pulleys capable of rotational drive; and
A drive belt made of an uncharged substance disposed along the outer periphery of the drive pulley,
The charging unit is
A first electrode provided on an upper surface of the drive belt and applied with a voltage;
The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second electrode that is provided at a position facing the first electrode through the drive belt and is grounded. A packaging method for packaging an article,
A transfer step of transferring the article;
A charging step of charging the article by applying an electric field to the article transferred by the transfer step;
A band attaching step for attaching a band to the article transferred in the transfer step and charged in the charging step.

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