JP5802932B1 - Container filling method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to safely and easily fill an assembly container with articles. A container filling method holds a plurality of packaging containers aligned at a holding position on a support member from above, and fills the assembled containers arranged below the holding position with the held packaging containers. To do. The container filling method includes a first step of arranging the packaging container in the holding position in a predetermined alignment relationship, and holding the packaging container arranged in the holding position from above after the first step. After the second step, after the second step, a third step for retracting the support member from below the packaging container, and after the third step, the held packaging container is lowered directly below. A fourth step of filling the assembly container, and a predetermined number of the packaging containers are filled by repeating the first to fourth steps a plurality of times. [Selection] Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to a container filling method and a container filling apparatus for filling an assembly container with an article, and more particularly, a container filling method for safely and easily filling an assembly container using a packaging container such as an egg pack as an article, and The present invention relates to a container filling apparatus.

  Articles distributed in the market, not limited to agricultural and livestock products, industrial products, etc., are packed and assembled in a collection container such as a cardboard box or plastic case in order to facilitate transportation and management. For the filling into the accumulation container, there are some in which the orientation and arrangement of the articles are predetermined according to the characteristics of the articles. For example, agricultural and livestock products such as eggs are accommodated in a packaging container such as an egg pack, and the packaging container is defined in the vertical direction, so that an unnecessary space is not formed in the accumulation container. Filled in place.

  The filling of such articles is generally mechanized and performed automatically by a filling device. For example, there is a filling device described in Patent Document 1 as an egg pack filling device (packing device). In this filling device, the gripping device horizontally moves to the position immediately above the collecting container while gripping (holding) the egg pack, and then descends toward the collecting container to fill the egg pack into the collecting container.

Special table 2007-532426

  However, in the filling apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the egg pack is lowered after moving horizontally in a state of being gripped by the gripping apparatus, so that the filling operation is performed in an unstable state. That is, in the filling device described in Patent Document 1, the risk of the egg pack falling is reduced by improving the gripping device, but the danger during movement by moving the egg pack horizontally is completely eliminated. Could not be removed.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to fill the assembly container safely and easily into the assembly container.

In the container filling method according to the present invention, a plurality of packaging containers arranged in a holding position on a support member are held from above, and are arranged in a lower side of the holding position and held in an assembly container opened upward. Fill the packaging container. The container filling method includes: a first step of placing the packaging container at the holding position in a predetermined alignment relationship; and a holding that holds the packaging container from above and moves in a vertical direction after the first step. A second step of holding the packaging container disposed at the holding position from above by means; and a third step of retracting the support member from below the packaging container after the second step; After the third step, the holding means includes a fourth step of lowering the held packaging container directly below and filling the assembly container, and the first to fourth steps are repeated a plurality of times. Assuming that a predetermined number of the packaging containers are filled. In the container filling method according to the present invention, the first step is aligned at the alignment position with a fifth step of aligning the packaging container at an alignment position different from the holding position in a predetermined alignment relationship. A sixth step of moving the packaging container to the holding position, wherein the fifth step overlaps at least one of the second to fourth steps and the sixth step. The sixth step includes moving the packaging container aligned in the fifth step to the holding position while maintaining the aligned state, and the second step is moved to the holding position. Including maintaining the packaging container in an aligned state.

According to this container filling method, the packaging container does not need to move in the horizontal direction to the position immediately above the assembly container when filling the assembly container opened upward, and is lowered while being held by the holding means. Thereby, the packaging container does not fall out of the assembly container at the time of filling.

  Therefore, according to the container filling method of the present invention, the packaging container can be filled into the assembly container safely and easily.

Further, according to the container filling device of the present invention, the alignment transport means for aligning a plurality of packaging containers as a set of packaging containers at a predetermined alignment position, and the holding position for the set of packaging containers aligned with the alignment position. The holding position moving means for moving to the position, the holding position adjacent to the alignment conveying means is defined, the support member for supporting the packaging container, and the holding position moving means disposed above the holding position and moved to the holding position. Holding means for holding the packaging container from above and moving it vertically while holding it, assembly container transport means for arranging the collecting container below the holding position, and retracting means for retracting the support member .

  According to this container filling device, the packaging container does not need to move in the horizontal direction to the position immediately above the assembly container when filling the assembly container, and descends while being held by the holding means. Thereby, the packaging container does not fall out of the assembly container at the time of filling.

  Therefore, according to the container filling apparatus according to the present invention, the packaging container does not move horizontally while being held, so that the assembly container can be filled safely and easily.

  The present invention safely and easily fills a collection container with articles.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the egg pack as a packaging container. It is a side view which shows the assembly container with which the egg pack was filled. It is a top view which shows the egg pack arranged in the predetermined alignment relationship. It is a perspective view which shows the general appearance of the container filling apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the container filling apparatus shown in FIG. It is a front view which shows the container filling apparatus shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the container filling apparatus shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the state in which the egg pack is rotated in the conveyance part of the container filling apparatus shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the state by which the egg pack is hold | maintained in the holding | maintenance part of the container filling apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the container filling method concerning embodiment of this invention.

  A container filling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the left side of FIG. 5 (plan view) is the “left side” of the container filling apparatus 100, the right side is the “right side” of the container filling apparatus 100, and the upper side is the “back side” of the container filling apparatus 100. The side is referred to as the “front side” of the container filling device 100. Further, the upper side of FIG. 6 (front view) is referred to as “upper side” of the container filling apparatus 100 and the lower side is referred to as “lower side” of the container filling apparatus 100. Therefore, for example, the left side of FIG. 7 (side view) is the “front side” of the container filling apparatus 100, the right side is the “back side” of the container filling apparatus 100, the upper side is the “upper side” of the container filling apparatus 100, and the lower side is the container. This is the “lower side” of the filling device 100.

  As is well known in the art, the container filling apparatus 100 fills a collection container Q such as a cardboard box with a packaging container P such as an egg pack. A plurality of eggs are accommodated and packaged in the egg pack, the plurality of egg packs are filled in a cardboard box, and the cardboard is sealed and distributed after filling. In the following description, the packaging container P will be described using an egg pack as an example. However, the packaging container P may be other packaging containers such as a box shape and a bag shape in which agricultural products and confectionery are packaged.

[Packaging container]

  In the present embodiment, the packaging container P is, for example, an egg pack in which each row has five egg seats 2 and two rows of five egg seats 2 are arranged as shown in FIG. As is well known in the art, the egg pack is composed of a main body 5 and a lid 6, and after the eggs are accommodated, the lid 6 is closed by the main body 5 and sealed by tape or heat fusion. The packaging container P is provided with ten egg seats 2 and, when sealed, forms a planar rectangular shape composed of two parallel long sides 3 and two parallel short sides 4.

  The main body 5 of the egg pack is formed with a concave portion from above as the egg seat 2, which becomes a convex portion from below. The bottom of each egg seat 2 is formed on a flat surface. The lid 6 of the egg pack is formed in a box shape and has a flat top surface. However, in the egg pack, the outer shape of the egg is formed in cooperation with the egg seat 2 of the main body 5 by forming a lid in a concave portion from the lower side (a convex portion from the upper side) corresponding to the egg seat 2 of the main body. Some of them hold a similar egg to hold an egg. In such an egg pack, the upper part of each accommodating part is formed on a flat surface.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the packaging container P is filled in one assembly container Q by being stacked in four stages in the vertical direction. A plate-like threshold 7 is provided between the steps. However, the packaging containers P may be stacked without using the threshold 7. In the following description, the number of levels of the packaging container P is counted from below, and the lowest level is the first level.

  In the first and third stages, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), two long sides 3 of the packaging container P are arranged in a horizontal posture along the back direction (X direction) from the front. The packaging containers P1 (P11) and P2 (P12) are on the left side, and the three packaging containers P3 (P13) to P5 (P15) arranged in a vertical posture with the long side 3 along the left-right direction (Y direction) are on the right side. Aligned in the relationship placed in

  In the second and fourth stages, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), three packaging containers P6 (in which the long sides 3 are arranged vertically along the left-right direction (Y direction)) ( Two packaging containers P9 (P19) and P10 (P20) are arranged in a horizontal posture with P16) to P8 (P18) on the left side and the long side 3 of the packaging container P along the front and back direction (X direction). Aligned with the relationship placed on the right side. However, the alignment relationship of the packaging containers P varies depending on the size of the accumulation container, the number of packaging containers P to be filled, and the like.

[Construction of container filling device]

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the container filling apparatus 100 includes an alignment transport unit 110 that aligns a plurality of packaging containers P at an alignment position t in a predetermined alignment relationship, and a plurality of packaging containers P aligned at the alignment position t. Holding position moving means 120 for moving to the holding position u, holding means 130 for holding the packaging container P arranged at the holding position u, and holding by retracting the packaging container P arranged at the holding position u A support member 140 that expands below the position u, a retracting means 150 that retracts the support member 140, and an assembly container transporting means 160 that transports the assembly container Q below the holding position u are provided.

  The alignment transport unit 110 includes a single-row transport unit 111, a sorting unit 112, and a wide transport unit 113 from the upstream side (right side) that transports the packaging container P. In the single-row transport unit 111, the packaging containers P are loaded one by one from the upstream side with the long sides 3 along the transport direction, and transport the packaging containers P in a single row. The sorting unit 112 is connected to the single-row transport unit 111, receives the packaging container P from the single-row transport unit 111, and has three front, center, and back sides corresponding to the transport path of the wide transport unit 113. The packaging container P is distributed to the position.

  The wide conveyance portion 113 has a conveyance width in which the long side 3 of the packaging container P can convey substantially three packaging containers P along the conveyance direction, and an alignment position t for aligning the packaging containers P is near the end thereof. It is prescribed. The wide conveyance unit 113 is connected to the sorting unit 112, receives the packaging containers P sorted by the sorting unit 112, and moves them toward the alignment position t.

  The wide conveyance unit 113 further includes a rotation mechanism 114 that changes the direction of the packaging container P that is conveyed on the front side of the wide conveyance unit 113. The rotating mechanism 114 includes a rotating shaft member 115 that abuts a part of the packaging container P, and rotates the packaging container P by 90 ° about the rotating shaft member 115 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the packaging container P conveyed along a long axis in a conveyance direction is rotated in the state which made the long side 3 along the conveyance width direction. The rotated packaging container P is conveyed toward the alignment position t in the same manner as the packaging container P that is not rotated, in the approximate center of the wide conveyance unit 113. The rotating shaft member 115 is appropriately adapted according to the conveyance of the packaging container P to be rotated.

  Thereby, the wide conveyance part 113 makes the long side 3 of the packaging container P along the conveyance width direction in addition to conveying the packaging container P in the vertical posture with the long side 3 of the packaging container P along the conveyance direction. The packaging container P can be conveyed in the horizontal posture. The posture of the packaging container P is appropriately selected according to the alignment relationship of the packaging containers P.

  In the aligning / conveying unit 110, for example, the first packaging container P1 and the second packaging container P2 are sorted to the front side by the sorting unit 112 in order to form the first-stage alignment relationship. It is rotated by the rotation mechanism 114 in the transport unit 113 and transported in a horizontal posture. Further, the third packaging container P3 is sorted on the front side, the fourth packaging container P4 is in the center, and the fifth packaging container P5 is sorted in the order of the back side, and is conveyed in a vertical posture.

  A stopper 116 for stopping the conveyance of the packaging container P is provided at the end of the wide conveyance unit 113 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The stopper 116 is a rod-like member extending in the conveyance width direction, and the long side 3 or the short side 4 of the packaging container P comes into contact with the stopper 116 and the packaging container P stops. By making the position of the stopper 116 in the left-right direction variable, the alignment position t of the packaging container P is adjusted in the left-right direction.

  The first packaging container P <b> 1 is stopped with the long side 3 coming into contact with the stopper 116 in the horizontal posture. The second packaging container P2 is held in a horizontal posture with the long side 3 in front of itself in contact with the first packaging container P1. As a result, the two packaging containers P are stopped on the left side of the alignment position t.

  Next, the third and fifth packaging containers P3 to P5 are distributed to the distribution unit 112, conveyed in the vertical posture through the wide conveyance unit 113, and the first short packaging container P2 has a short front of each. Stop by bringing side 4 into contact. Accordingly, the three packaging containers P are arranged in parallel in the vertical position on the right side of the alignment position. Thus, the five packaging containers P are aligned at the alignment position t in the alignment relationship shown in FIG.

  The holding position moving means 120 moves and arranges the packaging containers P aligned at the alignment position t to the holding position u. The holding position moving unit 120 includes first and second pressing portions 121 and 122 that press the packaging container P in the transport width direction (front and back direction) of the alignment transport unit 110. The first and second pressing portions 121 and 122 are arranged in the conveying direction of the alignment conveying means 110, and the first pressing portion 121 is provided on the left side and the second pressing portion 122 is provided on the right side.

  The 1st press part 121 presses the packaging container P arrange | positioned at the left side among the five packaging containers P arranged in the alignment position t. When two packaging containers P in a horizontal posture are arranged on the left side as in the first step or the third step, the first pressing portion 121 is in a vertical posture as in the second step or the fourth step. In any case where the three packaging containers P are arranged on the left side, the packaging containers P arranged on the left side can be pressed.

  The 2nd press part 122 presses the packaging container P arrange | positioned on the right side among the five packaging containers P aligned in the alignment position t. When the three packaging containers P placed in the vertical posture are arranged on the right side like the first stage or the third stage, the second pressing portion 122 is arranged like the second stage or the fourth stage. In any case where two packaging containers P placed in the horizontal position are arranged, the packaging containers P aligned on the right side can be pressed.

  The 1st press part 121 and the 2nd press part 122 can be expanded-contracted in the near back direction, and press the packaging container P to the back side. Each press part 121,122 can adjust the stroke which expands / contracts suitably. At the alignment position t, when three packaging containers P with the long side 3 along the left-right direction are arranged, and when two packaging containers P with the long side 3 along the front-back direction are arranged. The positions of the end portions on the near side of the packaging container P with respect to the pressing portions 121 and 122 are different.

  However, the pressing means complements the different positional relationship of the end portions, and the stroke is applied to each step so that the three packaging containers P and the two packaging containers P can move the same amount while maintaining the alignment relationship. Adjusted. Accordingly, the five packaging containers P are moved to the holding position u while maintaining a predetermined alignment relationship aligned with the alignment position t.

  The support member 140 is made of a flat plate that can move in the front and back direction, and is disposed so as to be connected to the back side of the holding position moving means 120. The support member 140 moves between the receiving state and the unfolded state by moving in the front and back direction. The support member 140 is in a deployed state in which the flat plate is placed on the near side and the packaging container P is received, and the support member 140 is deployed in a state where the flat plate is placed on the back side and below the holding position u. In the receiving state, the support member 140 has a holding position u in which the packaging container P moved by the holding position moving unit 120 is disposed.

  The holding means 130 includes a holding unit 131 that holds the packaging container P, and an elevating unit 132 that raises and lowers the holding unit 131. The holding part 131 includes a base B attached to the lower end of the elevating part 132 and a plurality of suction cups V attached to the base B. The lifting / lowering unit 132 includes a well-known single-axis robot and can move the holding unit in the vertical direction. The holding means 130 may include a horizontal movement mechanism that can move about one egg or half of the egg in the horizontal direction.

  Each suction cup V is connected to a vacuum mechanism (not shown) so as to be capable of being vacuum-sucked, and is evacuated to suck the packaging container P. Each suction cup V is independently connected to the vacuum mechanism, and it is possible to appropriately select which suction cup V is to be evacuated. Each holding part 131 attracts the holding part 131 to the packaging container P from above by the vacuum mechanism.

  The suction cup V is attached to the base B in correspondence with the alignment relationship of the packaging containers P, and is positioned so as to hold the packaging containers P accurately. The suction cup V adheres to the upper flat surface of the packaging container P and adsorbs the packaging container P. Therefore, since the packaging container P is held from above by the suction cup V, it is not easily shaken in the horizontal direction. Even if the lid of the packaging container P is formed in a concave portion from below corresponding to the egg seat 2 of the main body, even if the lid shape is a concave and convex shape that holds the egg together with the egg seat 2 of the main body, the suction cup If V is positioned, each convex part of the lid can be adsorbed.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the suction cup V is positioned so as to hold one side of the long side 3 of the packaging container P. As a result, the suction cup V is held by the holding means 130 in a state where the packaging container P is inclined. Since the suction cup V has elasticity, the packaging container P can be reliably held even when the packaging container P is tilted.

  The holding unit 131 holds the packaging container P moved to the holding position u from above, and after the support member 140 is retracted as will be described later, the holding unit 131 lowers the packaging container P while holding the packaging container P. The container P is filled into the assembly container Q. In the container filling device 100, since the holding part 131 does not move horizontally immediately above the assembly container Q, the held packaging container P does not shake in the horizontal direction.

  After holding the packaging container P, the holding means 130 raises the packaging container P so as to be separated from the support member 140. However, the holding means 130 is positioned so that the bottom surface of the packaging container P can be rubbed against the support member 140 without raising the packaging container P if the alignment relationship of the packaging container P can be maintained when the support member 140 is retracted. May be retained.

  The support member retracting means 150 retracts the support member 140 from below the packaging container P in a state where the holding unit 131 retains the packaging container P. That is, the flat plate of the support member 140 is transitioned to the unfolded state. The support member retracting means 150 causes the support member 140 to transition to the receiving state after the holding means 130 fills the assembly container Q with the packaging container P and the holding part 131 rises again. The support member retracting means 150 sandwiches the support member 140 from the left and right ends, and causes the support member 140 to transition by a conventionally well-known slide mechanism. The support member retracting means may be another mechanism as long as the support member 140 can transition between the receiving state and the retracted state.

  The assembly container transport means 160 transports the assembly container Q to the lower side of the packaging container P held by the holding means 130 so that the packaging container P is filled from above by the holding means 130. The collection container transport means 160 includes a container carry-in section 161 into which the collection container Q is carried in on the upstream side and a collection container carry-out section 162 into which the collection container Q is carried out (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Between the container carrying-in part 161 and the container carrying-out part 162, the filling position w where the packaging container P is filled is defined. The filling position w is located immediately below the holding position u.

  The assembly container Q is carried in from the container carry-in part 161 with the top lid opened and opened upward, and is conveyed to the container carry-out part 162 via the filling position w where the packaging container P is filled. The assembly container Q placed in the filling position w is filled with a predetermined number of packaging containers P, and the assembly container Q conveyed to the container carry-out section 162 is distributed to the market with the upper lid closed.

  Each configuration of the container filling device 100 such as the alignment transport unit 110, the holding position moving unit 120, the holding unit 130, the support member retracting unit 150, and the container transport unit 160 is configured so that the packaging container P is sequentially filled in the assembly container Q. Operate mechanically or electrically.

  In the present embodiment, the packaging container P aligned by the aligning and conveying means 110 is arranged at the holding position u by the holding position moving means 120, but the packaging container P is aligned at the holding position u in a predetermined alignment relationship. Thus, it may be arranged directly at the holding position u. The direct arrangement at the holding position may be performed by an operator or a transfer device.

[Method of aligning packaging containers]

  Next, a method for aligning the packaging containers P in the container filling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first five packaging containers P are two packaging containers arranged in a horizontal posture with the long side 3 of the packaging container P along the front-rear direction (X direction). Three packaging containers P arranged in a vertical posture with P on the left side and the long side 3 along the left-right direction (Y direction) are arranged on the right side.

  The packaging containers P to be aligned are input in a single row from the upstream side of the alignment conveying means 110. The loaded packaging container P is transported through the single-row transport unit 111 in a state where the long side 3 is along the transport direction, sorted by the sorting unit 112, and further transported through the wide transport unit 113. Are sequentially arranged.

  The first packaging container P1 in the first stage is distributed to the front side in the transport width direction by the sorting unit 112, transported by the wide transport unit 113, and transports the long side 3 by the rotating mechanism 114 on the way. It is rotated by 90 ° along the width direction, and the long side 3 is brought into contact with the stopper 116 at the end point of the wide conveying portion 113 and is stopped in a lateral posture at a position corresponding to the first pressing portion 121.

  The second packaging container P2 is distributed to the front side in the conveyance width direction by the distribution unit 112, is conveyed through the wide conveyance unit 113, and the long side 3 is along the conveyance width direction by the rotation mechanism 114 in the middle. The long side 3 of the first packaging container P1 is brought into contact with the first packaging container P1 and corresponds to the first pressing portion 121 on the right side of the alignment position t of the first packaging container P1. It is aligned in parallel with the first packaging container P1 at the position and is stopped in a horizontal posture.

  The third packaging container P3 is sorted to the near side by the sorting unit 112, and is transported through the wide transport unit 113 while keeping the long side 3 along the transport direction. , It stops in a vertical posture with its short side 4 abutting.

  The fourth packaging container P4 is distributed to the center by the sorting unit 112, and is transported through the wide transport unit 113 with the long side 3 being along the transport direction, and is transferred to the second packaging container P2 by itself. Are arranged in parallel with the third packaging container P3 on the back side of the third packaging container P, and are stopped in a vertical posture at a position corresponding to the second pressing portion 122. .

  The fifth packaging container P is distributed to the back side by the sorting unit 112 and is transported through the wide transport unit 113 with the long side 3 being along the transport direction. The short side 4 is brought into contact with the back side of the fourth packaging container P, aligned in parallel with the fourth packaging container P, and stopped at a position corresponding to the second pressing portion 122 in a vertical posture. The The third to fifth packaging containers P <b> 3 to P <b> 5 are arranged in parallel in a vertical posture in the front back direction at positions corresponding to the second pressing portions 122.

  As a result, the five packaging containers P are aligned at a predetermined alignment position t in a predetermined alignment relationship. The five packaging containers P11 to P15 in the third stage are aligned in the same manner as the five packaging containers P1 to P5 in the first stage.

  Next, the alignment of the second stage packaging containers P6 to P10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, the five packaging containers P in the second stage have three packaging containers P arranged in a vertical posture with the long side 3 along the left-right direction (Y direction) on the left side. The two packaging containers P, which are arranged in a horizontal posture with the long side 3 of the packaging container P along the front-rear direction (X direction), are aligned in a relationship arranged on the right side.

  The first packaging container P6 in the second stage is sorted to the near side by the sorting unit 112, is transported through the wide transport unit 113 while keeping the long side 3 along the transport direction, and the stopper 116 has a short side. 4 is brought into contact and stopped. The first packaging container P6 is stopped in a vertical posture at a position corresponding to the first pressing portion 121.

  The second packaging container P7 is distributed to the center by the distribution unit 112, is conveyed by the wide conveyance unit 113 with the long side 3 being along the conveyance direction, and the short side 4 is brought into contact with the stopper 116. Stopped. The second packaging container P7 is arranged in parallel with the first packaging container P6 on the back side of the first packaging container P6, and is stopped in a vertical posture at a position corresponding to the first pressing portion 121.

  The third packaging container P8 is distributed to the back side in the transport width direction by the sorting unit 112, transported through the wide transport unit 113 while keeping the long side 3 along the transport direction, and is moved forward by the stopper 116. The side 4 is brought into contact and is stopped. The third packaging container P8 is arranged in parallel with the first and second packaging containers P6 and P7 and is held in a vertical posture at a position corresponding to the first pressing portion 121.

  The fourth packaging container P9 is distributed to the front side in the transport width direction by the sorting unit 112, transported through the wide transport unit 113, and along the transport side in the long side 3 by the rotating mechanism 114 during transport. It is rotated by 90 ° so that the long side 3 of the three packaging containers P6 to P8 comes into contact with the rear ends of the three packaging containers P6 to P8. The fourth packaging container P9 is stopped in a horizontal posture at a position corresponding to the second pressing portion 122.

  The fifth packaging container P10 is distributed to the front side in the transport width direction by the sorting unit 112, transported through the wide transport unit 113, and along the transport side in the long side 3 by the rotating mechanism 114 during transport. The long side 3 is brought into contact with the rear end of the fourth packaging container P9 and stopped. The fifth packaging container P <b> 10 is stopped in a lateral posture at a position corresponding to the second pressing portion 122.

  Thereby, the five packaging containers P6 to P10 are aligned at a predetermined alignment position t in a predetermined alignment relationship. The four packaging containers P16 to P20 in the fourth stage are aligned in the same manner as the five packaging containers P6 to P10 in the second stage.

[Method of filling packaging container P]

  Next, the filling method of the packaging container P is demonstrated using FIG. In the present embodiment, the packaging container P is stacked in four stages and filled into the assembly container Q in a state where five packaging containers P (a set of packaging containers) are aligned in each stage. Therefore, first, the filling of the first-stage packaging container P will be described below.

  The assembly container Q filled with the packaging container P is carried in from the container carry-in section 161 of the collection container transport means 160 with the upper part opened, and the container carry-out section 162 through the filling position w in which the packaging container P is filled. It is conveyed to. The assembly container Q is in a state of waiting at the filling position w, is filled with the packaging container P from above, is filled with a predetermined number of packaging containers P, and is then transported to the container carry-out section 162.

  In the filling of the packaging containers P, first, in the first-stage filling, the five packaging containers P1 to P5 are sequentially put in a single row from the upstream side of the aligning and conveying means 110. The five packaging containers P1 to P5 that have been fed are transported through the single-row transport unit 111, distributed to the sorting unit 112, further transported through the wide transport unit 113, and sequentially aligned in a predetermined alignment relationship at the alignment position t. (See FIG. 10A).

  Next, the five packaging containers P aligned at the alignment position t are pressed by the holding position moving means 120 and arranged at the holding position u (see FIG. 10B). At this time, the first pressing portion 121 on the left side of the holding position moving means 120 presses the first and second packaging containers P1, P2 placed in the horizontal posture and moves them to the holding position u. .

Further, the second pressing portion 122 on the right side of the holding position moving means 120 presses the third packaging container P3 stopped on the front side, and the third packaging container P is pressed, so that three The fourth and fifth packaging containers P aligned on the back side of the eye packaging container P are also pressed, and the third to fifth packaging containers P3 to P5 are defined in the support member 140 in the receiving state. Moved to the holding position u. In this embodiment, the first and second pressing portions 121 and 122 is moved by pressing the packaging container P simultaneously, the holding position moving means 12 0 may operate alternately.

  The three packaging containers P having the long side 3 along the conveying direction and the two packaging containers P having the long side 3 along the conveying width direction have different positions of the end portions on the near side. By adjusting the strokes of the pressing portion 121 and the second pressing portion 122, the three packaging containers P and the two packaging containers P are moved by the same amount, and the aligned relationship is maintained. One packaging container P is moved from the alignment position t to the holding position u.

  The five packaging containers P1 to P5 moved to the holding position u are vacuum-sucked to the suction cup V of the holding means 130 in a state where they are aligned at the holding position u on the support member 140 while maintaining the alignment relationship (FIG. 10). (See (C)). The holding part 131 of the holding means 130 is lowered from the initial position, and the suction cup V is brought into close contact with the packaging container P. The suction cup V is selected according to the alignment relationship and position of the packaging container P, and the suction cup V is selected from the vacuum suction and the non-adsorption.

  The five packaging containers P adsorbed by the suction cups V of the holding means 130 are held from above by the holding means 130 while maintaining the aligned relationship (FIG. 10D). The holding means 130 sucks the packaging container P from above, and moves the holding part 131 upward by the elevating part 132 to separate the packaging container P from the support member 140. However, the holding means 130 may hold the packaging container P to the extent that the bottom surface of the packaging container P is in contact with the support member 140.

  In a state where the five packaging containers P are held by the holding means 130, the support member 140 retracts from the lower side of the held packaging container P to the back side (X direction) of the apparatus (see FIG. 10E). Thereby, the lower part of the holding position u is developed. The assembly container Q is waiting in the developed lower side.

  The holding means 130 descends through the lower deployed holding position u, introduces a set of packaging containers P into the assembly container Q, and fills the assembly container Q with the set of packaging containers Q (FIG. 10). (F)). Thereby, the first five packaging containers P are filled. In the present embodiment, a set of packaging containers is filled by one operation of the holding means, but may be divided into a plurality of operations. For example, two holding means corresponding to the right and left sides of the holding position are provided, and the right holding means and the left holding means each operate once, and a set of packaging containers is filled by a total of two operations. You may do it.

  After filling the packaging container P, the holding unit 131 releases the suction and is raised to the initial position by the elevating unit 132 (FIG. 10G).

  After the holding part 131 returns to the initial position, the support member 140 also returns to the receiving state for receiving the packaging container P (FIG. 10H). Thereby, the support member 140 can receive the next-stage packaging container P at the holding position u.

  In the present embodiment, when the packaging container P is introduced into the assembly container Q (FIG. 10F), the packaging container P in the next stage is aligned at the alignment position t. However, the packaging container P may be aligned at any timing as long as it is from when the previous packaging container P is moved to the holding position u to when the assembly container Q is filled.

Next, the second to fourth packaging containers P are filled in the assembly container Q in order. Each stage is filled with five packaging containers P, and the first stage and the third stage are filled with the same alignment relation, and the second stage and the fourth stage are filled with the same alignment relation. A sill 7 is arranged between the packaging containers P of each stage. Insole stay 7 may be sandwiched to each stage in the method manual or machine, which is conventionally well known. For example, the threshold 7 may be disposed in the assembly container using the holding means 130.

  Regarding the filling of the packaging containers P at each stage, the height positions of the packaging containers P to be filled are different, but the moving amount of the elevating unit 132 is appropriately adjusted according to the height of the packaging containers P at each stage. The amount of movement can be adjusted by controlling a single-axis robot.

  The assembly container Q in which a set of packaging containers P is stacked and filled in four stages is conveyed toward the container unloading section 162. Along with this, the next assembly container Q is transported from the container carry-in section 161. The above steps are repeated for the next assembly container Q, and the packaging container P is similarly filled.

  In the present embodiment, the packaging container P aligned at the alignment position in the predetermined alignment relationship is moved to the holding position u and is arranged. However, the packaging container P is aligned at the holding position in the predetermined alignment relationship. , May be arranged directly at the holding position u. Such direct placement at the holding position may be performed by an operator or a transfer device.

  Since the container filling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention does not move in the horizontal direction directly above the assembly container while holding the packaging container, the retained packaging container is not greatly shaken. Filled. Therefore, the container filling apparatus does not include a moving mechanism for performing horizontal movement toward the assembly container, and the apparatus configuration is simplified.

  In the container filling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the packaging container is held and does not move in the horizontal direction directly above the assembly container, the assembly container is filled without shaking the held packaging container. it can. Therefore, the step of horizontal movement becomes unnecessary, and filling of the packaging container can be facilitated.

  Further, in the container filling apparatus and filling method according to the present embodiment, the packaging container is held by vacuum suction from directly above the suction cup, and the collecting container is waiting immediately below the suction cup. Even when the vacuum suction is released, the assembly container is filled with the packaging container.

  The container filling apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an aligning and transporting unit, and fills the assembly container with the packaging container while maintaining the alignment relationship aligned by the aligning and transporting unit. The alignment transport unit aligns a plurality of packaging containers in various alignment relationships. Therefore, the container filling device can fill the assembly container with the packaging container in various alignment relationships. Further, the container filling device is not limited to four stages, and fills at least one stage of packaging container.

  In the container filling apparatus and the container filling method according to the present embodiment, the step of aligning a set of packaging containers overlaps with the step of filling another set of packaging containers by holding, lowering, introducing, releasing, etc. Done. Thereby, filling of a packaging container can be performed smoothly. This is coupled with the fact that the container filling method according to the present embodiment does not include the step of moving the container in the horizontal direction while holding the packaging container, thereby providing a quick container filling method.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention can be used to fill a packaging container with a packaging container.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Container filling apparatus 110 Alignment conveyance means 120 Holding position movement means 130 Holding means 140 Support member 150 Retraction means 160 Collection container conveyance means P Packaging container Q Assembly container t Alignment position u Holding position w Filling position

Claims (3)

A container filling method in which a plurality of packaging containers aligned at a holding position on a support member are held from above, and the held packaging containers are filled into a collection container disposed below the holding position and opened upward. There,
A first step of placing the packaging container in the holding position in a predetermined alignment relationship;
After the first step, the second step of holding the packaging container placed in the holding position from above by holding means that holds the packaging container from above and moves in the vertical direction;
After the second step, a third step of retracting the support member from below the packaging container;
After the third step, the holding means comprises a fourth step of lowering the held packaging container directly below and filling the assembly container,
By repeating the first to fourth steps a plurality of times, a predetermined number of the packaging containers are filled ,
The first step includes a fifth step of aligning the packaging container in a predetermined alignment relationship at an alignment position different from the holding position;
A sixth step of moving the packaging container aligned at the alignment position to the holding position;
The fifth step is performed overlapping with at least one of the second to fourth steps and the sixth step,
The sixth step includes moving the packaging container aligned in the fifth step to the holding position while maintaining the aligned state;
The container filling method, wherein the second step includes holding the packaging container moved to the holding position in an aligned state . The packaging container is stacked and filled in one assembly container in multiple stages,
Aligned relationship odd number and even-numbered stages are different, container filling method according to claim 1. The holding means is held in an inclined state of said packaging container, a container filling method according to any one of claims 1 or 2.

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