JP7121384B2 - cartoning equipment - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a boxing apparatus for packing flexible bags containing noodles or the like into containers.

Conventionally, noodles such as Chinese noodles and buckwheat noodles produced in a noodle factory are packaged in a bag formed of a resin film or the like, then boxed in a container and shipped. Since the work of packing each bag into a container is complicated, in recent years, it is common to pack each bag into a container using a packing machine.

For example, the boxing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an upper conveyor that conveys each bag and sequentially drops from the downstream end in the conveying direction, and is arranged side by side below the upper conveyor, and the bag is dropped from the upper conveyor. A lower conveyor is provided for conveying each bag to the side opposite to the conveying direction of the upper conveyor. A pair of the lower conveyors are provided in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and both of the lower conveyors can be moved toward and away from each other in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. Each time a bag is dropped from the upper conveyor, both lower conveyors carry out a carrying operation by a predetermined amount so that each bag is displaced from the dropping position in the carrying direction. are conveyed to create a group of linear bags in which a predetermined number of bags are connected on both lower conveyors, and then the lower conveyors separate from each other to align the group of bags in a storage box. I'm trying to drop it and put it in a box.

JP 2015-218023 A

By the way, in the boxing apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to arrange two conveyors vertically side by side in order to arrange the bags in a straight line. Therefore, there is a problem that the equipment occupies a wide space vertically.

Further, in the apparatus as described above, when the aligned bag bodies are dropped from the lower conveyors to the receiving box, the approaching and separating operations are performed on the lower conveyors while the bags are falling from the upper conveyor to the lower conveyor. It must be completed. However, in Patent Document 1, each bag falls from the upper conveyor to both lower conveyors at fixed short intervals. It is necessary to increase the speed of the approaching and separating operations of the lower conveyor, which not only increases the equipment cost, but also makes it easier for the bags to be packed in a disordered state due to the intense approaching and separating operations by both lower conveyors. There was also a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a low-cost, vertically compact packaging apparatus capable of packaging a group of bags in a neatly aligned state. It is in.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of bags being conveyed by a conveyor are dammed every predetermined number of times to form a group of bags.

More specifically, the present inventors have taken the following solutions for a packaging apparatus configured to drop a plurality of bags into a storage box that opens upwards and package the bags.

That is, in the first invention, a first conveyor sequentially conveys the plurality of bags by a circular movement operation of a first endless belt, and a predetermined number X of the plurality of bags being conveyed by the first conveyor. a damming means for sequentially conveying the group of bags on the first conveyor while repeatedly creating a group of linear bags in which a predetermined number X of the bag bodies are connected in the conveying direction by damming each passage; A conveyor provided on the downstream side of the first conveyor in the conveying direction and above the storage box, wherein the bag body is conveyed by the first conveyor by the circular movement operation of the second endless belt. A second conveyor that receives the group of the predetermined number X of the bags in an aligned state, and a bag that drops the group of bags into the storage box by moving the second conveyor in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. and body dropping means.

In a second invention, in the first invention, a number detecting means capable of detecting whether or not the number of bags constituting the group of bags conveyed by the second conveyor is the predetermined number X. is connected to the number detection means and the bag drop means, and when the number detected by the number detection means is X, the second conveyor moves the bags in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. While controlling the dropping means, when the number detected by the number detection means is not X, the second endless belt is further rotated without moving the second conveyor in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. and a control means configured to discharge the bag group to the outside of the second conveyor .

In a third invention, in the first or second invention, a pair of the second conveyors are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction intersecting the conveying direction, and both the second conveyors transfer the bag group to the both second conveyors. and the bag dropping means is configured to move the second conveyors toward and away from each other in a horizontal direction intersecting the conveying direction.

In a fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, a It is characterized by having a box moving means.

In a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the storage box is arranged in parallel with the second conveyor downstream in the conveying direction of the second conveyor, and the storage box or a plurality of storage boxes are stacked vertically. a box conveying means capable of conveying a group of containing boxes along a conveying path extending in a horizontal direction; a box holding means capable of holding the containing box or the containing box group; and a box holding means arranged below the box holding means and capable of moving up and down the containing box or the containing box group to accommodate the transport passage. a first box elevating means configured so as to be able to lift a box and superimpose it on the containing box or the containing box group held by the box holding means from below; a second box elevating means capable of lifting and lowering the group of containers and capable of holding the group of containers at an upper position that does not block passage of the group of containers in the transport path; It is characterized by

In the first invention, in the mechanism for dropping the bag and storing it in the storage box, it is not necessary to install two conveyors vertically above the storage box as in Patent Document 1, so that the packaging can be vertically compact. can be a device. Further, when the bag body dropping means performs the bag body dropping operation, the distance between the bag body groups created by the damming means is greater than the distance between the bag bodies before becoming the bag body group to be conveyed on the first conveyor. Since the interval is wider, the time from dropping a group of bags from the second conveyor to dropping the next group of bags is longer than when each bag is conveyed at a predetermined interval and dropped. become longer. Therefore, since it is not necessary to speed up the operation of the bag dropping means more than necessary, the arranged bag groups are less likely to be disturbed when dropped into the storage box, and the equipment can be simplified and the cost can be kept low. be able to.

In the second invention, since the group of bags conveyed by the second conveyor is dropped only when a predetermined number of the group of bags are connected, the correct number of bags can be reliably placed in the storage box. can accommodate. On the other hand, if the number of bag bodies conveyed by the second conveyor is not the predetermined number, the bag group passes above the storage box in the downstream side of the conveying direction of the second conveyor as it is. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently sort and remove a group of bags in which the number of bags other than the predetermined number is continuous without lowering the operation speed of the facility as much as possible.

In the third invention, the stroke for moving the second conveyor by the bag dropping means can be shortened compared to the case where the group of bags is dropped by one second conveyor. Therefore, the operation cycle time of the bag drop means can be shortened compared to the case where there is only one second conveyor.

In the fourth invention, since the box moving means can reciprocate the container in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the second conveyor, the dropping position of the bag body group with respect to the container is determined by the second conveyor. It can be changed in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Therefore, the bags can be accommodated in the storage box so that the bags are arranged in a grid without gaps when the storage box is viewed from above.

In the fifth invention, when stacking a plurality of containers by the box holding means and the first box lifting means, two groups of containers can be stacked by the second box lifting means adjacent to the box holding means. Storage boxes can be efficiently piled high in two areas.

1 is a plan view of a cartoning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a II arrow directional view of FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part III of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in the middle of creating a bag group in the bag group creating unit after FIG. 4 ; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the bag group created by the bag group creating unit is being transported to a post-process after FIG. 5 ; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 2; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state immediately before the bag group is dropped by the bag dropping unit after FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a schematic view taken along the IX arrow in FIG. 8; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in the middle of dropping the bag body group downward after FIG. 8 ; FIG. 11 is a schematic view taken along the XI arrow in FIG. 10; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state immediately before the bag group is dropped to a different position in the storage box after FIG. 10; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state immediately before the bag group is dropped to a different position in the storage box after FIG. 12; FIG. 8 is a view equivalent to FIG. 7 showing a state in which the bag body dropping unit allows the group of bags to pass through the upper part of the storage box without dropping them into the storage box. FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of arrow XV of FIG. 2; FIG. 16 is a view after FIG. 15 and showing a state immediately after holding the storage box in the first box stacking structure; FIG. 17 is a view after FIG. 16 and showing a state immediately before stacking two containers in the first box stacking structure; FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a state immediately after holding two stacked storage boxes in the first box stacking structure after FIG. 17 ; FIG. 19 is a view after FIG. 18 and showing a state immediately before conveying the container group to the next process in the first box stacking structure; XX arrow line view of FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 21 is a view after FIG. 20 , showing a state immediately after holding a container box group created by stacking five container boxes in the second box stacking structure; FIG. 22 is a view after FIG. 21 and showing a state immediately before stacking two container groups in the second box stacking structure; FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a state immediately after creating a group of storage boxes made by stacking 10 storage boxes in the second box stacking structure after FIG. 22 ; FIG. 24 is a view after FIG. 23 showing a state immediately after holding a container box group created by stacking ten container boxes in the second box stacking structure. FIG. 25 is a view after FIG. 24 and showing a state immediately before conveying the container group from the second box stacking structure to the next process;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature.

1 and 2 show a cartoning device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The boxing apparatus 1 packs a flexible bag body 10 containing noodles such as Chinese noodles and buckwheat noodles into a resin storage box 11. A plurality of boxes are sequentially carried in from the upper left side of the page of FIG. The bags 10 are accommodated in the storage box 11, and after stacking a plurality of storage boxes 11 in which the plurality of bags 10 are stored to form a storage box group 12, the storage box group 12 is sequentially carried out from the lower left side of the page of FIG. .

The cartoning apparatus 1 includes a bag group forming unit 2 capable of forming a group of bags 10A in which a plurality of bags 10 are arranged in a row in the conveying direction to form a linear row, and a bag group forming unit 2 downstream of the bag group forming unit 2 in the conveying direction. A bag dropping unit 3 arranged on the side of the bag dropping unit 3 for dropping the bag group 10A into the container box 11, and a box moving unit arranged below the bag dropping unit 3 for reciprocating the containing box 11 in the horizontal direction. 4, and a box stacking unit 5 arranged downstream of the box moving unit 4 in the transport direction and capable of stacking the containing boxes 11 or the containing box group 12.例文帳に追加

The storage box 11 is a rectangular container with a shallow bottom that opens upwards when viewed from the top. A pair of engaging holes 11a are formed in each longitudinal side wall at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction. (See Figure 2).

In the storage box 11, a total of 24 bags 10 can be stored in a state in which the bags 10 are aligned vertically and horizontally without gaps in a plan view and stacked in two stages (see FIG. 13).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bag group producing unit 2 includes a first conveyor 21 extending horizontally in a strip shape, and a base 22 for supporting the first conveyor 21. The first conveyor 21 is: It is arranged so as to cross the position near the upper end of the mount 22 .

The first conveyor 21 has a plurality of first guide rollers 21a oriented in a horizontal direction in which the center of rotation intersects the conveying direction, and a first endless rubber belt 21b is wound around each of the first guide rollers 21a. is hung. Between the two first guide rollers 21a shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of first guide rollers 21a are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the transport direction (not shown).

The first endless belt 21b is rotated by the rotation of the first guide rollers 21a driven by a drive motor (not shown) to horizontally convey the bags 10 successively placed on the outer peripheral surface.

The pedestal 22 has a substantially U-shape opening downward, and includes a pair of side frames 24 facing each other, and a jack pad 29 is attached to the lower end of each side frame 24 .

Above each side frame 24, an upper horizontal frame 24a and a lower horizontal frame 24b extending horizontally with a predetermined distance from each other are provided. It is a position corresponding to the part.

A first damming mechanism 28 (damping means) having a sliding member 28a that can slide downward is attached between the side frames 24 on the downstream side of the upper horizontal frame 24a in the conveying direction.

When the slide member 28a is slid downward, the first damming mechanism 28 dams each bag body 10 being conveyed by the first conveyor 21, and slides the slide member 28a upward, as shown in FIG. When it is slid, as shown in FIG. 6, the damming state of each bag body 10 by the first conveyor 21 is released.

Between the upper horizontal frame 24a and the lower horizontal frame 24b on one side, four sensor mounting frames 24c bridging the upper horizontal frame 24a and the lower horizontal frame 24b are provided at equal intervals in the horizontal direction. ing.

The sensor mounting frame 24c located on the most downstream side in the conveying direction is positioned close to the first damming mechanism 28, and corresponds to the bag body 10 located at the top of the dammed by the first damming mechanism 28. It is positioned to Further, the remaining sensor mounting frames 24c are located at positions corresponding to the second to fourth bags 10 when the four bags 10 are connected in the conveying direction.

Attached to each sensor mounting frame 24c is a first bag confirmation sensor 25 capable of confirming whether or not the bag 10 is positioned at a position corresponding to each sensor mounting frame 24c on the first endless belt 21b. there is

Between the upper horizontal frames 24a of the side frames 24, a pair of guide plate suspension frames 24d bridging the both upper horizontal frames 24a are provided at a predetermined interval in the transport direction.

An upper guide plate 26 extending in a belt shape in the transport direction is suspended from the guide plate suspension frame 24d below the both guide plate suspension frame 24d, and the upper guide plate 26 is transported by the first conveyor 21. The bags 10 arranged in a row in the conveying direction are guided to the downstream side in the conveying direction while preventing them from being vertically overlapped.

Between the first endless belt 21b and the upper guide plate 26 of the first conveyor 21, a side guide plate 27 extending in a belt shape along the conveying direction is provided at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. A pair of side guide plates 27 are provided with a space therebetween, and guide the bags 10 conveyed by the first conveyor 21 toward the center of the first conveyor 21 while guiding them toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

In this embodiment, the first damming mechanism 28 dams every four bags 10 that are being conveyed by the first conveyor 21, so that the four bags 10 are connected in the conveying direction. The bag group 10A is sequentially conveyed by the first conveyor 21 while repeating the linear bag group 10A.

More specifically, the first damming mechanism 28 dams one of the bag bodies 10 being conveyed on the first conveyor 21 by the sliding member 28a in the downwardly slid state, and when the first damming mechanism 28 The presence of the dammed bag 10 is confirmed in order from the first bag confirmation sensor 25 arranged on the most downstream side in the conveying direction among the bag confirmation sensors 25, and the first bag 10 located on the most upstream side in the conveying direction is detected. When the first bag confirmation sensor 25 confirms the existence of the bag 10 and the other three first bag confirmation sensors 25 confirm the existence of the bag 10, the slide member 28a slides upward. Then, the damming state of the bag group 10A by the slide member 28a is released, and the bag group 10A is conveyed downstream by the first conveyor 21. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bag group 10A conveyed downstream from the first conveyor 21 is conveyed to the bag dropping unit 3 by the L-shaped conveyor 9, which is substantially L-shaped in plan view. ing.

As shown in FIG. 7, the bag dropping unit 3 includes a body frame 31 having a rectangular frame shape in a plan view. A pair of support plates 32 extending in parallel along the .

A pair of guide cylinders 34 are attached to the upper half of the outer surface of each support plate 32 at a predetermined interval in the conveying direction. It is adapted to guide the plate 32 .

Between the lower half portions of both support plates 32, a pair of second conveyors 33 extending linearly along both support plates 32 are arranged side by side with a predetermined spacing in the horizontal direction intersecting the conveying direction. there is

Each of the second conveyors 33 has a plurality of second guide rollers 33a whose rotation axes are oriented in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and each of the second guide rollers 33a is rotatably supported by the corresponding support plate 32. there is Between the two second guide rollers 33a of the second conveyor 33 shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of second guide rollers 33a are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction (not shown).

A second endless belt 33b made of rubber is wound around each of the second guide rollers 33a. It has become.

Both the second conveyors 33 are configured to convey the bag group 10A at a position straddling both the second conveyors by the revolving motion of the both second endless belts 33b.

A pair of guide plates 35 extending parallel to each other along the support plates 32 are disposed inside the upper half portions of the support plates 32 .

The dimension between the two guide plates 35 corresponds to the width dimension of the bag body 10 , and the two guide plates 35 are positioned so that when the bag body group 10A is conveyed by both the second conveyors 33 , the bag body group 10A is conveyed. are guided to the downstream side while maintaining the aligned state.

A second damming mechanism 39 capable of damming the bag group 10A conveyed by both the second conveyors 33 is provided between the upper portions of the guide plates 35 on the downstream side in the conveying direction.

The second damming mechanism 39 includes a damming plate 39a rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a horizontal direction intersecting the conveying direction, and the damming plate 39a is rotated by a drive motor (not shown). Thus, it is possible to switch between a position where the bag group 10A is dammed and a position where the damming of the bag group 10A is released.

A pair of sensor holding frames 35a bridging the guide plates 35 are provided between the upper portions of the guide plates 35 with a predetermined gap in the transport direction.

The sensor holding frame 35a located on the downstream side in the conveying direction is arranged close to the second damming mechanism 39 and corresponds to the first bag body 10 in a state where the second damming mechanism 39 dams the bag group 10A. position. On the other hand, the sensor holding frame 35a located on the upstream side in the conveying direction is at a position corresponding to the trailing bag body 10 in a state where the second damming mechanism 39 dams the bag body group 10A.

Each sensor holding frame 35a has a second bag confirmation sensor 35b (number detection means) capable of confirming whether or not the bags 10 are positioned at a position corresponding to each sensor holding frame 35a on the second endless belt 33b. ) is installed.

When the second bag confirmation sensor 35b located on the downstream side in the conveying direction confirms the bag 10 and the second bag confirmation sensor 35b located on the upstream side in the conveying direction confirms the bag 10, the second conveyor 33 It can be seen that the number of bags 10 in each bag group 10A to be conveyed is four.

Above the middle portion of both guide plates 35, a mounting plate 36 having a rectangular shape in a plan view is arranged so as to intersect with both guide plates 35. As shown in FIG.

A pair of fluid pressure cylinders 37 are mounted on the mounting plate 36 side by side in the transport direction, and the rod portions 37a of the respective fluid pressure cylinders 37 extend and contract in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction and in opposite directions. It is designed to

The tip of each rod portion 37a is connected to the outer surface of each support plate 32 via a link mechanism 38, as shown in FIGS.

The fluid pressure cylinder 37, the link mechanism 38, and the support plate 32 constitute the bag drop means 7 of the present invention. By the approaching/separating operation of 32, both the second conveyors 33 are made to approach/separate from each other in the horizontal direction crossing the conveying direction.

A control unit 8 (control means) is connected to the drive motor 30 , the second bag confirmation sensor 35 b , the fluid pressure cylinder 37 and the second damming mechanism 39 .

The controller 8 determines that when each second bag confirmation sensor 35b detects a bag 10, that is, the number of bags 10 in the bag group 10A conveyed by the second conveyor 33 is four. 10 and 11, the second damming mechanism 39 is controlled so that the bag group 10A is dammed, the drive motor 30 is stopped, and both second The fluid pressure cylinders 37 are controlled so that the conveyors 33 are separated from each other, and the bag group 10A straddling both the second conveyors 33 is dropped into the storage box 11 arranged below the bag dropping unit 3. .

On the other hand, when the second bag confirmation sensor 35b located on the upstream side in the conveying direction does not detect the bag 10, the control unit 8 detects the bags of the bag group 10A conveyed by the second conveyor 33. 10 is detected to be not four, as shown in FIG. The bag group 10A is conveyed to the downstream end of both the second conveyors 33, and is conveyed to the downstream end of the second conveyors 33 via the discharge slope 31a provided continuously to the downstream ends of the two second conveyors 33. It is designed to be discharged to the outside of the bag dropping unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the box moving unit 4 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 41 arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the second conveyor 33 .

Each conveying roller 41 has a rotation axis extending along the conveying direction of the second conveyor 33, and can be rotated forward and backward by a drive motor (not shown).

The storage box 11 can be placed on each transport roller 41 , and each transport roller 41 passes the storage box 11 set upstream of the box moving unit 4 under the bag dropping unit 3 . can be moved to the downstream side of the box moving unit 4.

12 and 13, each conveying roller 41 is rotated forward and backward at a position below the bag dropping unit 3, so that the container 11 crosses the conveying direction of the second conveyor 33 as shown in FIGS. It can be reciprocated in the horizontal direction, so that the dropping position of the bag group 10A dropped from the bag drop unit 3 to the receiving box 11 can be changed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the box stacking unit 5 is arranged side by side with the second conveyor 33 on the downstream side of the second conveyor 33 in the conveying direction.

The box stacking unit 5 includes a first box stacking mechanism 5A provided downstream of the box moving unit 4 and a second box stacking mechanism 5B provided downstream of the first box stacking mechanism 5A. Between the first box stacking mechanism 5A and the second box stacking mechanism 5B, a horizontally extending transport path R1 for transporting the container group 12A is set.

As shown in FIG. 15, the first box stacking mechanism 5A includes a pair of box conveying units 51 (box conveying means) arranged on both sides of the conveying roller 41 in the direction along the axis of rotation of the conveying roller 41. I have.

The box conveying unit 51 includes a guide rail 51a extending horizontally perpendicular to the rotation axis of the conveying roller 41, and a slider 51b slidably fitted to the guide rail 51a. An elevating member 51c that can be elevated by a mechanism is attached.

The box conveying unit 51 raises the elevating members 51c to lift the container group 12A from below and slide the sliders 51b along the guide rails 51a to move the container group 12A to the first box stacking mechanism. It can be conveyed from 5A to the second box stacking mechanism 5B along the conveying path R1.

The first box stacking mechanism 5A also includes a pair of box holding mechanisms 52 (box holding means) fixed to the outer upper side of the both-box transport unit 51 .

The box holding mechanism 52 is positioned on the upstream side of the transport path R1, and is fixed to a rotating shaft 52a extending along the transport path R1 with a predetermined gap in the extending direction of the rotating shaft 52a. The spacing between the two engaging claws 52b corresponds to the spacing between the pair of engaging holes 11a in each side wall of the storage box 11. As shown in FIG.

Then, the box holding mechanism 52 rotates both the engaging claws 52b via the rotating shaft 52a by a drive motor (not shown), so that the two engaging claws 52b are positioned upward as shown in FIGS. and a horizontally extending posture.

A first box lifting mechanism 53 (first box lifting means) is provided between the two box transport units 51 .

The first box elevating mechanism 53 has a substantially T-shape in a side view that can support the transport rollers 41 or the storage box 11 or the storage box group 12A placed on the double-box transport unit 51 from below. A pair of support members 53 a are provided, and each support member 53 a is positioned outside the transport roller 41 in the direction along the rotational axis of the transport roller 41 .

The lower ends of both support members 53a are connected by a connecting member 53b, and the tip of a cylinder rod 53d of a lifting cylinder 53c is attached to the central portion of the connecting member 53b.

In the first box elevating mechanism 53, when the cylinder rods 53d of the elevating cylinders 53c are extended, both supporting members 53a rise to support and lift the container 11 or the container group 12A from below. ing.

Both the box holding mechanisms 52 engage both sides when the container 11 or the container 11 positioned at the bottom of the container group 12A lifted by the first box lifting mechanism 53 is positioned between the two box holding mechanisms 52. When the claws 52b are switched to the horizontally extending posture, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the engaging claws 52b engage with the engaging holes 11a of the storage box 11 to hold the storage box 11 or the storage box group 12A. It is designed to hold.

Further, the first box lifting mechanism 53 supports the storage box 11 or the storage box group 12A held by the two-box holding mechanism 52 from below and lifts the storage box 11 that has been raised. can be superimposed on the storage box 11 or storage box group 12A held by the box holding mechanism 52 from below.

On the other hand, in the first box lifting mechanism 53, when the cylinder rod 53d of the lifting cylinder 53c is contracted, as shown in FIG. The box group 12A can be delivered to the transport rollers 41 or the both-box transport unit 51. As shown in FIG.

The second box stacking mechanism 5B, as shown in FIG. The slider 51b and the lifting member 51c of the box conveying unit 51, which slides toward the second box stacking mechanism 5B, can enter between them.

The second box stacking mechanism 5B also includes a pair of second box lifting mechanisms 58 (second box lifting means) corresponding to each side frame 55 .

The second box elevating mechanism 58 includes vertically elongated guide poles 56 having a circular cross-section. The guide poles 56 are fixed to the inner surface of each side frame 55 at a predetermined interval in the conveying direction. there is

The second box lifting mechanism 58 also has a substantially rectangular mounting plate 59 corresponding to both guide poles 56 .

The mounting plate 59 is fixed to a slide cylinder 57 fitted to each guide pole 56 so as to be vertically slidable, and is slid vertically by a driving mechanism (not shown).

A pair of windows 59a are formed through the lower portion of the mounting plate 59 at a predetermined interval in the transport direction.

On the outer surface side of the mounting plate 59, there are provided a rotating shaft 59b extending along the conveying path R1 and a pair of engaging claws 59c fixed to the rotating shaft 59b with a predetermined interval in the extending direction thereof. The interval between the two engaging claws 59c corresponds to the interval between the pair of engaging holes 11a in each side wall of the storage box 11. As shown in FIG.

The second box lifting mechanism 58 rotates both the engaging claws 59c via the rotating shaft 59b by a drive motor (not shown), thereby moving the engaging claws 59c as shown in FIGS. It can be switched between an upward posture and a horizontally extending posture, and each engaging claw 59c protrudes to the inner surface side of the mounting plate 59 through each window portion 59a when it is in the horizontally extending posture.

When the second box lifting mechanism 58 switches to a posture in which both the engaging claws 59c extend horizontally in a state where the lifting member 51c that has entered between the side frames 55 supports the container group 12A, the engaging claws 59c engages with each engagement hole 11a of the storage box 11 to hold the storage box group 12A.

22, the second box elevating mechanism 58 slides the slide cylinders 57 upward to hold the boxes up to an upper position that does not block passage of the box group 12A in the transport path R1. Group 12A can be raised.

Further, while the second box lifting mechanism 58 holds the container box group 12A above the transport path R1, the lifting member 51c that supports the container box group 12B is inserted between the side frames 55, and each slide cylinder 57 is moved. 23, the receiving box group 12A is stacked on the receiving box group 12B from above to obtain the receiving box group 12. As shown in FIG.

In addition, the second box elevating mechanism 58 switches the engaging claws 59c to extend upward while the elevating member 51c supports the container group 12, and slides the slide cylinders 57 downward to By moving the engaging claw 59c to a position corresponding to the containing box 11 located on the bottom side of the containing box group 12, and switching the two engaging claws 59c to a posture extending horizontally, as shown in FIG. The matching claws 59c are engaged with the respective engagement holes 11a of the storage boxes 11 positioned at the bottom of the storage box group 12 to hold the storage box group 12. As shown in FIG.

Between the lower ends of both side frames 55, a carry-out guide portion 50 is provided that extends linearly toward the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the lifting member 51c is moved from between both side frames 55 to the first box stacking mechanism. While retreating to the 5A side, each slide tube 57 is slid further downward while each engaging claw 59c holds the container group 12, thereby moving the container group 12 to the unloading guide portion as shown in FIG. 50 and carried out to the downstream side in the carrying direction.

Next, the packing operation of each bag body 10 by the packing device 1 will be described in detail.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the bags 10 are sequentially carried in at predetermined intervals from a bag carrying-in device (not shown) upstream of the first conveyor 21 in the bag group producing unit 2 .

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bag body 10 transported to the upstream side of the first conveyor 21 is transported downstream in the transport direction by the circularly moving first endless belt 21b. At this time, the slide member 28a of the first damming mechanism 28 is slid downward, and the bag 10 conveyed by the first endless belt 21b comes into contact with the slide member 28a and moves further downstream. stop moving.

After that, the bag bodies 10 successively conveyed by the first endless belt 21b come into contact with the bag bodies 10 blocked by the slide member 28a in sequence and stop moving downstream, and as shown in FIG. The bags 10 form a bag group 10A in which the bags 10 are arranged linearly in the conveying direction.

When each first bag confirmation sensor 25 confirms that the bag group 10A made up of the four bags 10 has been produced, the slide member 28a slides upward and the bag group 10A is blocked by the slide member 28a. As shown in FIG. 6, the bag group 10A is conveyed downstream by the revolving motion of the first endless belt 21b.

As shown in FIG. 7, the bag group 10A produced in order by the bag group production unit 2 is arranged upstream of both the second conveyors 33 of the bag drop unit 3 at a predetermined distance via the L-shaped conveyor 9. are carried in sequentially with a gap between them.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bag group 10A carried in on the upstream side of both the second conveyors 33 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the circularly moving both second endless belts 33b. At this time, the damming plate 39a of the second damming mechanism 39 is positioned to dam the bag group 10A, and the empty storage box 11 is positioned directly below both the second conveyors 33 by the box moving unit 4. there is

When it is confirmed by the second bag confirmation sensors 35b that the bag group 10A consisting of the four bags 10 is being conveyed by both the second conveyors 33, the damming is performed as shown in FIGS. While the plate 39a is still in the position to dam the bag group 10A, the circular movement of the second endless belt 33b is stopped, and the bag drop means 7 separates the second conveyors 33 from each other so that the bag group 10A is lifted. It falls to the central part of the storage box 11 .

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the second endless belt 33b starts moving around again, the second conveyors 33 approach each other by the bag dropping means 7, and the box moving unit 4 picks up the box. The box 11 is moved by the width dimension of the bag 10 from the position just below the bag dropping unit 3 to the position retreated. Then, when the bag group 10A conveyed by both of the second conveyors 33 is confirmed by each of the second bag confirmation sensors 35b, the second conveyors 33 are separated from each other by the bag dropping means 7 and the bags are dropped. The group 10A drops to one end side portion of the container box 11. - 特許庁

Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the second conveyors 33 are brought closer to each other by the bag dropping means 7, and the container 11 is moved by the width of the bag 10 directly below the bag dropping unit 3 by the box moving unit 4, as shown in FIG. Move from the position to the advanced position. Then, when the bag group 10A conveyed by both of the second conveyors 33 is confirmed by each of the second bag confirmation sensors 35b, the second conveyors 33 are separated from each other by the bag dropping means 7 and the bags are dropped. The group 10A drops to the other end side portion of the container box 11. - 特許庁

Then, while the container box 11 is reciprocally moved by the box moving unit 4, the bag group 10A is dropped from the bag drop unit 3 to three locations of the container box 11, ie, the central portion, the one end portion, and the other end portion, in order. is repeated once more, and a total of 24 bags 10 are housed in the storage box 11 in a state in which the bags 10 are aligned vertically and horizontally without gaps in a plan view and stacked in two stages.

If the bag group 10A made up of the four bags 10 is not conveyed to both the second conveyors 33 of the bag dropping unit 3, the bags made up of the four bags 10 are detected by the second bag confirmation sensors 35b. It is confirmed that the group 10A is not being conveyed by both the second conveyors 33, and as shown in FIG. 33 convey the bag group 10A to the downstream side in the conveying direction as it is without separating from each other, and discharge it to the outside of the bag body dropping unit 3 via the discharge slope 31a.

When the bags 10 are laid in the storage box 11, the storage box 11 is moved by the box moving unit 4 to the area of the first box stacking mechanism 5A of the box stacking unit 5, as shown in FIG.

When the containing box 11 moves to the area of the first box stacking mechanism 5A of the box stacking unit 5, as shown in FIGS. It is raised to a position between both box holding mechanisms 52 . Then, the engagement claws 52b of each box holding mechanism 52 are switched to a posture extending horizontally and engaged with each engagement hole 11a of the container 11 to hold the container 11 by the both box holding mechanisms 52, and then both sides are supported. Member 53a descends.

17 and 18, when the next container 11 moves to the region of the first box stacking mechanism 5A of the box stacking unit 5, both support members 53a are raised to move the container 11 downward. The storage box 11 is supported from the bottom and is superimposed on the storage box 11 held by the box holding mechanism 52 from below. At this time, both the support members 53a are moved until the engaging claws 52b are switched to an upward posture and the lower storage box 11 of the two stacked storage boxes 11 is positioned between the first box stacking mechanisms 5A. The two storage boxes 11 are further raised. Then, the engagement claws 52b of each box holding mechanism 52 are switched to a horizontally extending posture and engage with each engagement hole 11a of the lower storage box 11 to hold the two storage boxes 11 by both the box holding mechanisms 52. After that, both supporting members 53a descend.

As described above, when a plurality of containers 11 are stacked by the first container stacking mechanism 5A to obtain a container group 12A composed of a plurality of containers 11, both support members 53a are lifted as shown in FIG. After that, the holding state of the container group 12A by the both-box holding mechanism 52 is released by switching to a position in which the engaging claws 52b face upward. After that, both supporting members 53a descend to transfer the storage box group 12A to both lifting members 51c. Then, each slider 51b slides along each guide rail 51a, and the container group 12A moves to the region of the second box stacking mechanism 5B of the box stacking unit 5. As shown in FIG.

When the container group 12A moves to the area of the second box stacking mechanism 5B of the box stacking unit 5, as shown in FIG. , along each guide pole 56 to a lateral position.

When both mounting plates 59 move to the side of the container box group 12A, as shown in FIG. 21, each of the engaging claws 59c is switched to a horizontally extending posture to engage each of the container boxes 11 on the bottom side of the container box group 12A. Both of the second box elevating mechanisms 58 engage with the holes 11a to hold the container group 12A.

Next, as shown in FIG. 22, both mounting plates 59 are slid upward to raise the containing box group 12A to an upper position where passage of the containing box group 12A in the transport path R1 is not obstructed, and each slider 51b is moved upward. slides along the guide rails 51a, and the container group 12B produced next by the first container stacking mechanism 5A enters between the two side frames 55. As shown in FIG.

Thereafter, both mounting plates 59 are slid downward. Then, as shown in FIG. 23, the receiving box group 12A is obtained by stacking the receiving box group 12B from above.

Next, while both the elevating members 51c are supporting the container group 12, both engaging claws 59c extend upward, and both mounting plates 59 slide downward, so that the engaging claws 59c move toward the container group 12. It moves to a position corresponding to the storage box 11 located on the bottom side. After that, as shown in FIG. 24, each engaging claw 59c switches to a horizontally extending posture, each engaging claw 59c engages with each engaging hole 11a of the storage box 11, and both second box lifting mechanisms 58 are lifted. holds the container group 12 .

Then, each slider 51b slides along each guide rail 51a to move both lifting members 51c to the area of the first box stacking mechanism 5A, and both mounting plates 59 slide downward, as shown in FIG. As shown, the storage box group 12 is placed on the unloading guide section 50 . After that, the worker carries out the storage box group 12 along the carry-out guide portion 50 to the downstream side in the transport direction, and the packing operation is completed.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in the mechanism for dropping the bag 10 and storing it in the storage box 11, it is not necessary to arrange two conveyors vertically above the storage box as in Patent Document 1. , the boxing device 1 can be made compact vertically.

Further, when the bag dropping unit 3 performs the dropping operation of the bags 10, the first damming mechanism 28 reduces the distance between the bags 10 before forming the bag group 10A conveyed on the first conveyor 21. Since the intervals between the created bag groups 10A are wider, the time from when the bag group 10A is dropped from both of the second conveyors 33 to when the next bag group 10A is dropped is is transported at predetermined intervals and dropped. Therefore, there is no need to speed up the operation of the bag drop unit 3 more than necessary, so that the aligned bag groups 10A are less likely to be disturbed when they drop into the storage box 11, and the equipment can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. can be kept low.

Moreover, since the bag group 10A is dropped only when the bag group 10A conveyed by the second conveyor 33 is connected in a predetermined number, the correct number of the bag bodies 10 can be reliably delivered to the storage box 11. can be accommodated in On the other hand, when the bag group 10A conveyed by the second conveyor 33 is not the predetermined number of bags 10, the bag group 10A is accommodated on the downstream side of the second conveyor 33 in the conveying direction as it is. Since it passes over the box 11, it is possible to efficiently sort and remove the bag group 10A in which the number of bags 10 other than the predetermined number is continuous without lowering the operating speed of the facility as much as possible.

A pair of second conveyors 33 are provided in the bag dropping unit 3, and the bag group 10A is dropped by moving the second conveyors 33 closer to each other. , the stroke for moving each second conveyor 33 can be shortened compared to the case where one second conveyor 33 drops the bag group 10A. Therefore, the operation cycle time of the bag dropping unit 3 can be shortened as compared with the case where the second conveyor 33 is one.

In addition, since the box moving unit 4 can reciprocate the containing box 11 in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the second conveyor 33, the drop position of the bag group 10A with respect to the containing box 11 is determined by the second conveyor. It can be changed to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of 33 . Therefore, each bag body 10 can be accommodated in the container box 11 so that each bag body 10 is arranged in a grid without gaps when the container box 11 is viewed from above.

When stacking a plurality of containers 11 by the box holding mechanism 52 and the first box lifting mechanism 53, the second box lifting mechanism 58 adjacent to the box holding mechanism 52 stacks the two container box groups 12A and 12B. Therefore, the container boxes 11 can be efficiently piled high in the two regions.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the bag group producing unit 2 produces the bag group 10A consisting of four bags 10. The body group 10A may be created, or the bag body group 10A consisting of five or more bags 10 may be created.

In the embodiment of the present invention, four first bag confirmation sensors 25 are attached to the bag group producing unit 2 to detect whether or not the four bag groups 10A are connected. For example, when the bags 10 are arranged in a straight line, a sensor or the like configured to detect only the two bags 10 on the rear side can be used to form a desired number of the bags 10A. It may be configured to detect whether or not they are connected.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the bag group 10A is dropped by the bag drop unit 3, the second damming mechanism 39 dams the bag group 10A and the second endless conveyors 33 are moved to the second endless state. Although the revolving motion of the belt 33b is stopped, either the damming operation by the second damming mechanism 39 or the stopping operation of the second endless belt 33b may be performed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is suitable for a boxing apparatus that packs flexible bags containing noodles or the like into containers.

1 box packing device 4 box moving unit (box moving means)
7 bag dropping means 8 control section (control means)
10 bag 10A bag group 11 storage box 12 storage box group 12A storage box group 12B storage box group 21 first conveyor 21b first endless belt 28 first damming mechanism (damping means)
33 Second conveyor 33b Second endless belt 35b Second bag confirmation sensor (quantity detection means)
51 box transport unit (box transport means)
52 box holding mechanism (box holding means)
53 First box lifting mechanism (first box lifting means)
58 Second box lifting mechanism (second box lifting means)
R1 transport passage

Claims (5)

A boxing device configured to pack a plurality of bags by dropping them into a container box that opens upward,
a first conveyor that sequentially conveys the bags by a circular motion of a first endless belt;
By damming the bag bodies being conveyed by the first conveyor every time a predetermined number X of the bags pass, a group of linear bags in which the predetermined number X of the plurality of bags are continuously formed in the conveying direction is repeatedly formed. A damming means for sequentially conveying the bag group on the first conveyor;
A conveyor provided on the downstream side of the first conveyor in the conveying direction and above the storage box, wherein the bag is conveyed by the first conveyor by the circular movement operation of the second endless belt. a second conveyor that receives the group of bodies in an aligned state in which the predetermined number X of the bodies is continuous ;
a bag dropping means for dropping the group of bags into the receiving box by moving the second conveyor in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. In the cartoning apparatus according to claim 1,
a number detection means capable of detecting whether or not the number of bags constituting the group of bags received by the second conveyor is the predetermined number X;
It is connected to the number detecting means and the bag dropping means, and when the number detected by the number detecting means is X, the second conveyor moves in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. When the number detected by the number detecting means is not X, the second endless belt is further rotated without moving in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. and control means configured to discharge the group of bags to the outside of the second conveyor . In the cartoning device according to claim 1 or 2,
A pair of the second conveyors are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction intersecting the conveying direction, and both the second conveyors are configured to convey the bag group at a position straddling both the second conveyors,
The boxing apparatus, wherein the bag dropping means is configured to bring the two second conveyors toward and away from each other in a horizontal direction intersecting the conveying direction. In the cartoning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A box packing apparatus, comprising box moving means disposed below the second conveyor for reciprocating the containing box in a horizontal direction intersecting the conveying direction of the second conveyor. In the cartoning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A box arranged side by side on the second conveyor downstream in the conveying direction of the second conveyor, and capable of conveying the container box or a group of containers in which a plurality of the container boxes are stacked vertically along a conveying path extending in the horizontal direction. a means of transport;
a box holding means arranged on the upstream side of the conveying path and capable of holding the containing box or the containing box group at an upper position that does not block passage of the containing boxes in the conveying path;
The storage box is arranged below the box holding means and configured to be able to move up and down the storage box or the storage box group, and the storage box in the transport path is raised to be held by the box holding means. a first box elevating means configured to be superimposed on the box or the group of storage boxes from below;
It is arranged on the downstream side of the conveying path, can move the containing box group up and down, and can hold the containing box group at an upper position that does not block passage of the containing box group in the conveying path. and a second box lifting means.

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