JPH07257517A - Folding container-assembling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically assemble a folding container with a cover body and securely inlay both end plates of the container. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a cover-opening unit 14 opening a pair of cover bodies 6 of a folded container 1 transferred by a convayor 11 and an assembling unit 15 lifting up the upper frame 2 of the folded container 1 with the opened cover body and erecting both side plates 4 and end plates 5. The cover-opening unit 14 is provided with a rotary arm mechanism 56 supporting a suction body 57 sucking the cover body 6 of the container 1 and a transfer mechanism 55 supporting the rotary arm mechanism 56. The cover body 6 is sucked by the suction body 57 at the surface thereof and the suction body is rotated to the side of container 1 around the rotary shaft by the rotary arm mechanism 56 and the cover body 6 is opened to the side of container around the rotary support of the cover body 6. In the assembling unit 15, the upper frame 2 of container is lifted up and both side plates 4 and end plates 5 are erected to assemble the container.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foldable container assembling apparatus for assembling a foldable container having a lid on its upper surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a foldable container in which a box-shaped container is used for transporting luggage or goods, and can be thinly folded when not in use such as during storage.

This foldable container is a rectangular frame-shaped upper frame as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-55055, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-20646, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-287826. Also, there is a rectangular plate-shaped bottom plate, and both sides of the upper frame and both sides of the bottom plate are foldably connected by a pair of side plates, and a pair of end plates can be turned inwardly so that both ends of the upper frame face each other. It is provided in. Then, when the container is not used, both end plates are turned inward relative to each other, and the upper frame is pushed down toward the bottom plate while folding both side plates, so that the container is thinly folded.

Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-55055 discloses an assembling apparatus for assembling a container in a folded state. This assembling apparatus has a conveyor for transporting the containers, and a separating unit for stacking a plurality of folded containers on the conveyor and sending the containers one by one is arranged, and the separating unit is provided downstream of the separating unit. An assembly unit is provided for assembling a folded container that is conveyed by a conveyor.

In the assembly unit, the upper frame of the folded container is pulled up with respect to the bottom plate to raise both side plates, and a pair of arms are inserted into the inside of the container through the inner openings of the upper frame, so that both end plates are inserted from inside. The container is assembled into a box by rotating it outwardly and starting it up.

[0006]

By the way, in recent years, the upper surface of the upper frame can be closed on both upper sides of the upper frame of the container for the purpose of protecting articles contained in the container, keeping confidentiality, and preventing theft. A container in which a pair of lids is rotatably provided is in circulation. Then, in the folded state of this container, the lid body closes the upper surface of the upper frame.

However, in the conventional assembling apparatus, in the case of a container having a lid, if the upper surface of the upper frame is closed by the lid, the pair of arms cannot be inserted into the inside of the container, and thus the assembling is difficult. Can not.

Further, since both end plates of the container have a fitting structure so as to be locked in a standing state, when the end plate is started up, the lower end side of the end plate is not vigorously moved outward, for example, by tapping. I can not fit it. However, in the conventional assembly unit, the arm is driven by the pressing force of the air cylinder, etc., and the arm simply rotates the end plate from the inside to the outside and presses it into the fitted state. Is not certain.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a folding container assembling apparatus capable of automatically assembling a folding container having a lid and securely fitting both end plates of the container. The purpose is to do.

[0010]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A rectangular frame-shaped upper frame, a rectangular plate-shaped bottom plate, a pair of side plates that foldably connect both sides of the upper frame and both sides of the bottom plate,
A pair of end plates rotatably provided inwardly opposite to both ends of the upper frame, and a pair of lids rotatably provided on both upper sides of the upper frame so as to close the upper surface of the upper frame. A foldable container assembling apparatus for assembling a foldable container consisting of a conveyor that conveys the container, and a lid opening unit that opens a pair of lids of the foldable container that is conveyed by the conveyor, An assembly unit that pulls up the upper frame of the container in a folded state in which the lid conveyed by the conveyor is opened and raises both side plates and both end plates, and the lid opening unit adsorbs the surface of the lid of the container. Adsorbent, a rotating arm mechanism that supports the adsorbent and rotates in the rotating direction of the lid of the container about a rotation axis, and a container transport region that supports the rotating arm mechanism. From In which the pivot shaft and a standby position to avoid has a moving mechanism for moving the operating position where the coaxial rotation fulcrum of the lid of the container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a rectangular frame-shaped upper frame, a rectangular plate-shaped bottom plate, a pair of side plates that foldably connect both sides of the upper frame and both sides of the bottom plate, and the upper frame. A pair of end plates rotatably provided inwardly facing both ends of the upper frame, and a pair of lids rotatably provided on both upper sides of the upper frame to close the upper surface of the upper frame. A folding container assembling apparatus for assembling a folding container, comprising: a conveyor for transporting the container; a lid opening unit for opening a pair of lids of the container in the folded state transported by the conveyor; and the conveyor. It has a pulling mechanism that pulls up the upper frame of the container in the folded state with the lid conveyed and is opened to raise both side plates, and an opening and closing arm mechanism that raises both end plates of the container and lifting and lowering this opening and closing arm mechanism. The opening / closing arm mechanism includes a pair of slide bodies slidably provided in an opening / closing direction corresponding to both end plates of the container, and the pair of slide bodies are opened / closed relative to each other. The driving means for driving the slide body and the tip of each slide body projecting downward are provided so as to be swingable in the opening / closing direction of the slide body, and enter the inside of the upper frame of the container to move the both end plates from the inside to the outside. It is provided with a pair of arms that rotate and a swinging unit that swings the tip of the arm outward before the both end plates of the container are raised by the pair of arms.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the lifting mechanism supports the opening / closing arm mechanism slidably in the opening / closing direction and urges the opening / closing arm mechanism toward the center in the opening / closing direction. Means are provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the second aspect, the lifting mechanism has a rotating plate and crank means having a link connecting the rotating plate and the opening / closing arm mechanism side, and rotation of the crank means. A motor for rotating a plate to raise and lower the side of the opening / closing arm mechanism and a cylinder for assisting the raising of the side of the opening / closing arm mechanism are provided.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the invention, in the lid opening unit, the moving mechanism moves the rotating shaft of the rotating arm mechanism to a position coaxial with the rotating fulcrum of the lid of the container, and the rotating arm mechanism rotates the rotating shaft. The adsorbent is rotated around the axis onto the lid of the container, and the adsorbent is adsorbed to the surface of the lid. Further, the pivot arm mechanism moves the adsorbent to the side of the container about the pivot axis. By rotating the lid, the lid is opened to the side of the container about the pivot of the lid. Then, in the assembly unit, the upper frame of the folded container with the lid opened is pulled up to raise both side plates and both end plates to assemble the container.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the assembly unit, the upper frame of the container in the folded state in which the lid is opened by the pulling mechanism is pulled up to raise both side plates, and the opening / closing mechanism is lowered by the elevating mechanism. The pair of arms are moved inside the upper frame of the container, and the pair of arms of the opening / closing arm mechanism are moved in the opening direction to raise the both end plates of the container. At this time, before the both end plates of the container are raised by the pair of arms, the tip end of each arm is rocked outward by the rocking means, and each end plate is urged by pushing outwardly so that both end plates are pushed. Insert securely.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the operation of the invention of claim 2, since the opening / closing arm mechanism is slidable in the opening / closing direction with respect to the elevating mechanism, the positional deviation between the opening / closing arm mechanism and the container. It is possible to correspond to.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the operation of the invention of claim 2, the rotating plate of the crank means is rotated by the motor, and the opening / closing arm mechanism side is connected via the link connected to this rotating plate. Raise and lower. At this time, since the cylinder assists the lifting of the opening / closing arm mechanism side, the rotation of the rotating plate of the crank means is stabilized, the lifting / lowering of the opening / closing arm mechanism side can be performed smoothly, and the load on the motor is small and the size is low The motor can be used.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of one embodiment of the folding container assembling apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a foldable container 1. This container 1 comprises a rectangular frame-shaped upper frame 2 and a rectangular plate-shaped bottom plate 3, and both side parts of the upper frame 2 and both side parts of the bottom plate 3 are provided. The pair of end plates 5 are connected to each other by a pair of side plates 4 that can be folded at an intermediate portion, and a pair of end plates 5 are connected to opposite ends of the upper frame 2 so as to be rotatable inwardly. A pair of lids 6, which can close the upper surface of the, are rotatably connected.

Recesses 2a are formed near the ends of both side surfaces of the upper frame 2, and recesses 3a are formed near both ends of both bottom surfaces of the bottom plate 3. The pair of lids 6 are rotatable with respect to the upper frame 2 via the hinges 6a, and the concavo-convex fitting portions 6b that are engaged with each other and can be firmly fitted are formed at the opposite end edges. Both edge portions are formed to have a size slightly protruding from the end surface of the upper frame 2.

When the container 1 is not used, the both end plates 5 are rotated inward relative to each other, and the upper frame 2 is pushed down in the direction of the bottom plate 3 while folding the both side plates 4 so that the pair of lids 6 is moved upward. By covering the upper surface of the frame 2 and fitting the concavo-convex fitting portions 6b to each other, it can be folded into a thin shape.

When assembling the container 1,
As shown in order of (a), (b), (c), and (d) of FIG. 2, the fitting of the concave-convex fitting portions 6b of the pair of lids 6 is released, and the pair of lids 6 is placed on the container 1 side. The upper frame 2 is pulled up relative to the bottom plate 3, the side plates 4 on both sides in the folded state are raised, and the pair of end plates 5 that have been swung inward are swung outward. Then, the end plate 5 is fitted in the upright state, and by fitting the end plate 5, the assembled state of the container 1 is maintained.

FIG. 1 shows the entire foldable container assembling apparatus, which is equipped with a conveyor 11 and a conveying direction F of the conveyor 11.
Has a container loading standby section 12 upstream thereof, and downstream of the container loading standby section 12 along the transport direction F of the conveyor 11, a separation unit 13, a lid opening unit 14, and an assembly unit.
15 are arranged in order.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the conveyor 11 is composed of a chain conveyor, and a pair of frames 21 are arranged on both sides thereof. A pair of plastics having a small friction coefficient is provided along each frame 21. The chain 22 is disposed on the frame 21 so as to be rotatable and movable at a constant height, and the pair of chains 22 are rotationally driven by the motor 23. On each frame 21, guide rails 24 for guiding both side surfaces of the bottom plate 3 of the container 1 are attached.

On the upstream side of the conveyor 11, a carry-in conveyor (not shown) for carrying in a plurality of folded containers 1 in a stacked state is continuously provided, and on the downstream side, the assembled containers 1 are separated one by one. A carry-out conveyor (not shown) for carrying out the product is continuously provided.

Next, the conveyor standby unit 12, as shown in FIG. 1, is a container 1 in a stacked state in which it is carried in from a carry-in conveyor until the separation unit 13 can be received.
Is stopped on the conveyor 11.

A stopper for stopping the container 1
26 is placed on the conveyor 11 so that it can appear and disappear, and this stopper
An air cylinder 27 for retracting and retracting 26 is arranged below the conveyor 11.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the separation unit 13 receives a plurality of stacked containers 1 conveyed by a conveyor 11, and then, from the lower containers 1 to 1. It is one that is separated in stages and placed on the conveyor 11.

A stopper 31 for stopping the container 1 conveyed by the conveyor 11 at a predetermined separation position is provided on the conveyor 11 so as to be retractable, and an air cylinder 32 for retracting the stopper 31 is arranged below the conveyor 11. It is set up.

The frame is stretched over both sides of the conveyor 11.
33 is erected, and a supporting member 34 that supports the end surface of the container 1 in the second or more stages from the bottom in the transport direction F is attached to the frame 33 in the vertical direction above the separation position. Supporting members 35 for supporting both side surfaces of the container 1 at the third or higher stage from the bottom are attached along the vertical direction.

Below the separating position, an elevating mechanism 36 for elevating the container 1 is arranged. This lifting mechanism 36
An elevating plate 37 is provided between the pair of chains 22 of the conveyor 11 so as to be able to move up and down.
38 are connected, and each guide shaft 38 is attached to a slide bush 39 attached to the frame 33 so as to be vertically slidable.

An air cylinder 40 is connected between the center of the lower surface of the lift plate 37 and the frame 33. This air cylinder 40 is formed by connecting two upper and lower air cylinders 40a and 40b. When either one of the air cylinders 40a and 40a is operated, the container 1 is raised by approximately one stage, and both air cylinders 40a and 40a are moved. The container 1 is raised by about 2 steps by the operation of.

The bottommost container 1 is provided on both sides of the separating position.
A support mechanism 41 for supporting the container 1 at the second or higher stage from the bottom is provided at a position separated from above by the above. The support mechanism 41 includes a pair of holding plates 42 for holding both side surfaces of the container 1.
Each of the holding plates 42 is supported by an air cylinder 43 that moves in the horizontal direction facing the side surface of the container 1. The air cylinder 43 is provided with a pair of guide shafts 44 that guide the horizontal movement of the sandwiching plate 42, and is attached to the upper ends of the columns 45 that are erected on the frame 33 on both sides of the conveyor 11, and The container 1 is moved to a standby position where it is retracted laterally from the transport area and a holding position where it is pressed against the side surface of the container 1.

Engaging members 46 that engage with the recesses 2a of the container 1 are attached to the upper ends on the inner surface side of the sandwiching plates 42, and the recesses 3a of the container 1 engage with the lower ends of the ends. A support plate 47 is attached. This support plate 47
Is supported by a guide body 48 attached to the lower portion of the holding plate 42 so as to be movable back and forth from the inner surface side of the holding plate 42.
A spring 49 stretched between 48 and is urged in the advancing direction.

A guide plate 50 for guiding both side surfaces of the container 1 to be lifted and lowered by the lifting mechanism 36 is disposed between the guide rails 24 below the holding plates 42.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 to 10, the lid opening unit 14 includes a pair of lids on the upper surface of the container 1 which are separated one by one by the separation unit 13 and are conveyed by the conveyor 11. The body 6 is released by releasing the fitted state.

A stopper 51 for stopping the container 1 conveyed by the conveyor 11 at a predetermined lid opening position is provided on the conveyor 11 so as to be retractable. An air cylinder 52 for retracting the stopper 51 is provided on the frame 21 of the conveyor 11. It is installed. Front side of stopper 51 (surface facing transport direction F)
A groove 51a is formed along the vertical direction on the
The release plate 53 is attached to the so that it can slide vertically.
Air cylinder that slides this release plate 53 up and down
54 is attached to the bottom of the stopper 51.

The lid opening unit 14 has a moving mechanism 55.
And a rotating arm mechanism 56 supported by the moving mechanism 55,
The suction arm 57 supported by the rotating arm mechanism 56 is provided.

The moving mechanism 55 is provided with a pair of holding plates 58 for holding both side surfaces of the container 1, and the holding plates 58 hold the container 1.
Air cylinder 59 that moves horizontally opposite the side of
Supported by. The air cylinder 59 is provided with a pair of guide shafts 60 for guiding the horizontal movement of the holding plate 58, and is in pressure contact with the side surface of the container 1 and a standby position for retracting the holding plate 58 laterally from the transport area of the container 1. Move to the clamping position.

An elevating body 61 is arranged below the conveyor 11, and a horizontal plate 62 is arranged orthogonally to the conveyor 11, and the elevating body 61 is arranged at both ends of the horizontal plate 62 on both sides of the conveyor 11. A pair of vertical plates 63 facing each other is erected, and an air cylinder 59 is attached to each vertical plate 63. The lower portion of the lifting body 61 is supported by an air cylinder 64, and the air cylinder 64 includes a pair of guide shafts 65 that guide the vertical movement of the lifting body 61.
It is supported by a support frame 66 attached to the lower part of the frame 21 of the conveyor 11, and moves the holding plate 58 between a standby position where the holding plate 58 is retracted downward from the transport area of the container 1 and a holding position where it is pressed against the side surface of the container 1. Let

The moving mechanism 55 includes an air cylinder 59,
When the container 1 is carried in and out of the conveyor 11 by the 64, it is moved to a standby position, and when the lid is opened, a rotary shaft 68a of a rotary actuator 68 described later is moved to an operating position where it is substantially coaxial with the hinge portion 6a of the container 1. .

The rotary arm mechanism 56 is provided with rotary actuators 68 attached to both ends of each holding plate 58 via brackets 67 with the rotary shafts 68a facing inward, respectively. A first arm 69 is attached to the rotation shaft 68a of the second arm 70, and a second arm 70 is attached to the tip of the first arm 69.
The second arm 70 is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section from a rising portion 70a attached to the tip of the first arm 69 at a substantially right angle and a horizontal portion 70b parallel to the rotating shaft 68a. An adsorption body 57 is attached to the tip end in parallel with the rising portion 70a. The rotary actuator 68 has a standby position in which the first arm 69 pivots substantially horizontally outward, and a first arm 69 pivots inward to cause the suction body 57 to move the suction body 57 to the lid 6 of the container 1.
Move to the adsorption position to adsorb to.

The adsorbent 57 has a cylindrical portion 71 attached to the second arm 70 and through which a negative pressure is introduced, and a suction pad 72 is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion 71. The lid 6 of the container 1 can be sucked.

Further, guide rails 73 for supporting and guiding the opened lid body 6 of the container 1 are provided on both sides of the lid opening unit 14 and the assembly unit 15.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 12 to 16, the assembly unit 15 opens the upper frame 2 of the container 1 whose lid 6 is opened by the lid opening unit 14 and is conveyed by the conveyor 11. The container 1 is assembled by pulling up and raising both side plates 4 and both end plates 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front stopper 81 for stopping the opened container 1 having the lid 6 conveyed by the conveyor 11 at a predetermined assembly position is provided on the conveyor 11 so as to be retractable. An air cylinder 82 for retracting the stopper 81 is attached to the frame 21 of the conveyor 11. Further, there is a rear stopper 83 that presses the rear portion of the bottom plate 3 of the container 1 stopped by the front stopper 81 between the front stopper 81 and the rear stopper 83, and the rear stopper 83 uses the support shaft 84 as a fulcrum on the frame 21 of the conveyor 11. It is rotatably supported and can be retracted from the rear of the container 1 on the conveyor 11. After this, an air cylinder 85 for retracting the stopper 83 is attached to the frame 21 of the conveyor 11.

Frame on both sides of the conveyor 11
86 is erected, and on this frame 86, the upper frame 2 of the container 1
A pulling mechanism 87 for pulling up the container, an opening / closing arm mechanism 88 for raising the end plate 5 of the container 1, and the opening / closing arm mechanism 88.
A lifting mechanism 89 for lifting and lowering is attached.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the pulling mechanism 87 is provided with a pair of holding plates 90 for holding both side surfaces of the upper frame 2 of the container 1, and the holding plates 90 are opposed to the side surface of the container 1. It is supported by an air cylinder 91 that moves in the horizontal direction. The air cylinder 91 is provided with a pair of guide shafts 92 for guiding the horizontal movement of the holding plate 90. The air cylinder 91 has a standby position for retracting the holding plate 90 laterally from the transport area of the container 1 and a top frame 2 of the container 1. Move it to the clamping position where it comes into pressure contact with the side surface. At both ends of the inner surface of each holding plate 90, each recess 2a of the container 1 is provided.
An engaging member 93 that engages with each air cylinder is attached.
A push-up member 94 that pushes up the lid 6 is attached to the upper surface of 91.

An elevating body 95 is arranged below the conveyor 11, and a horizontal frame 96 is arranged orthogonal to the conveyor 11 in the elevating body 95, and vertical plates 97 are provided on the upper surfaces of both ends of the horizontal frame 96. The air cylinder 91 is installed upright and is attached to the upper end of the vertical plate 97. A pair of slide bushes are provided on the upper surface of the horizontal frame 96.
98 are attached, and each of the slide bushes 98 is attached to the pair of columns 99 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. Each of the columns 99 is attached to a bottom frame 100 whose lower portion is attached to the frame 86, and is attached to the frame 21 of the conveyor 11 via a supporting member 101 at its upper portion.

At both ends of the horizontal frame 96 of the lifting body 95, the support frames 102 are provided.
Are attached, and rods 103a of air cylinders 103 standing upright at both ends of the bottom frame 100 are connected to the support frame 102. The air cylinder 103 has a standby position (the position indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 12) in which the elevating body 95 is lowered below the transport area of the container 1 and a pulling position in which the upper frame 2 is raised (a solid line in FIG. 12). Position) and move to.

Racks 104 are attached to the support frames 102 on both sides in the vertical direction, and the interlocking shaft 10 is attached to each rack 104.
The respective pinion gears 106 attached to both ends of 5 are meshed with each other, and the vertical movements of both sides of the lifting body 95 are synchronized.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 includes a base 10 supported by a lifting mechanism 89.
7, a pair of guide rails 108 on both sides are attached to the lower surface of the base 107 along the opening / closing direction corresponding to the direction of the end plates 5 of the container 1, and the pair of slide bodies 109 are slidable on the guide rails 108. It is installed.

Each slide body 109 includes the upper frame 2 of the container 1.
It is made of a substantially vertical plate material having a horizontal width that allows it to enter the inside of the, and a notch 110 is formed at the center of the upper part thereof, and a substantially L-shaped bent part 109a is formed on both sides of the upper part. A rail receiver 111, which is slidably fitted to each guide rail 108, is attached to the.

Guide shafts 113 are installed at both ends between both guide rails 108 in parallel with the guide rails 108 by means of support fittings 112 having a substantially L-shaped cross section.
The moving frame 115 is supported by a supporting member 114 that is fitted in the shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The moving frame 115 is provided so as to be inserted into the cutout portions 110 of the pair of slide bodies 109, and is movable within a range in which the support member 114 can slide with respect to the guide shaft 113. axis
A spring 116 as a biasing means mounted on 113 is biased to a biasing neutral position corresponding to the center of the assembly position.

A pair of air cylinders 117 as driving means are attached to the upper part of the moving frame 115 so as to face the outer ends of the rods 117a opposite to each other, and the rods 117a of the respective air cylinders 117 are attached to the edges of the notches 110. It is connected to the slide body 109 by a pair of left and right connecting fittings 118 having a substantially L-shaped cross section. The pair of air cylinders 117 are moved to the closed position (see FIG.
3) and the open position (the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 13) in which the pair of slide bodies 109 are moved away from each other.

A support shaft 120 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 119 below the inner surfaces of the slide bodies 109 facing each other, and arms 121 are attached via the support shafts 120, respectively. Each arm 121 includes a pair of arm parts 12
2 is formed into a frame structure in which the upper and lower portions are connected by a horizontal joint portion 123, the middle portion of the arm portion 122 is attached to the support shaft 120, and is supported rotatably in the opening / closing direction of the slide body 109. There is. At the lower end of both arms 122, the roller shaft 12
A plurality of rollers 125 are rotatably attached to the roller shaft 124.

At the center of the horizontal joint 123 on the upper part of the arm 121, a roller support member 127 rotatably supporting a roller 126 that rolls in contact with the lower surface of the moving frame 115 is attached. A spring 128 for urging the lower end of the arm 121 to rotate inward is stretched between the roller support member 127 and the slide body 109, and the roller support member 127 contacts the slide body 109. A stopper 129 for restricting the turning position by the bias of the spring 128 is attached.

Stoppers 130 as rocking means are attached to the lower surfaces of both ends of the moving frame 115, and when the slide body 109 is moved to the open position by the stoppers 130, the rollers 130 are moved.
126 abuts and resists the bias of spring 128 to arm 1
Swing the tip of 21 to rotate toward the outer edge. The stopper 130 is a metal fitting having a substantially L-shaped cross section,
The position can be adjusted by the bolts 132 attached to the end plate 131 on the end face of 5.

Further, the elevating mechanism 89 is shown in FIGS. 1, 15 and 16 (rear view seen from the rear side with respect to the transport direction F).
As shown in, the frame is located above the loading area of the container 1.
It is equipped with a flat plate-shaped base 133 attached to the 86, and the guide rails 13 are provided on both sides of the back of the base 133 along the vertical direction.
4 is attached, and an elevating plate 136 is attached via a rail receiver 135 slidably fitted to the guide rail 134. The elevating plate 136 is attached to the base 10 of the opening / closing arm mechanism 88.
Support arm 137 and base 10 supporting the top center of 7
A pair of support arms 138 for supporting both lower surfaces of 7 are attached.

At the lower part of the elevating plate 136, a mounting portion 139 is inserted in the center of the base 133 to enter an opening 133a opened along the up-down direction, and the mounting portion 139 is mounted on the upper rear surface of the base 133. A rod 140a of an air cylinder 140 as a cylinder is attached. The air cylinder 140 is operated only when the lift plate 136 moves upward.

A horizontal frame 141 is arranged on the frame 86 so as to face the front side of the base 133, and a gear box is provided on the horizontal frame 141.
142 is installed and the output shaft 14 of this gearbox 142
Between the 2a and the mounting portion 139 of the lifting plate 136, the crank means 143
Are connected. This crank means 143 has an output shaft 14
2a is equipped with a rotary plate 144,
The upper end of the link 145 is rotatably connected to the peripheral edge of the link 145, and the lower end of the link 145 is rotatably connected to the mounting portion 139.

A motor is mounted on the horizontal frame 141 via a transmission 146.
147 is installed and the rotational driving force of the motor 147 is applied to the transmission.
It is transmitted to the rotary plate 144 via the gear box 146 and the gear box 142. The standby position is when the linking portion of the link 145 is located above the rotary plate 144, which is one container 1
The rotating plate 144 is rotated once by the motor 147 for each assembly.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, a container carry-in standby section on the conveyor 11
In 12, when the containers 1 stacked in a plurality of stages are carried in and the separation unit 13 does not have the containers 1,
As it is, it is conveyed to the separation unit 13 by the conveyor 11. When the container 1 is present, the air cylinder 27 is operated to cause the stopper 26 to project onto the conveyor 11, and the stopper 26 temporarily stops the container 1. Then, after the container 1 is lost in the separation unit 13, the air cylinder
27 is operated to lower the stopper 26, and the container 1 is conveyed to the separation unit 13 by the conveyor 11.

Subsequently, in the separating unit 13, the air cylinder 32 is operated to cause the stopper 31 to project onto the conveyor 11, and the stopper 31 stops the container 1 conveyed by the conveyor 11 at a predetermined separating position. . One of the air cylinders 40a and 40b of the lifting mechanism 36 is operated to push up the container 1 with the lifting plate 37, and the container 1 at the second stage from the bottom is positioned at a height facing the pair of holding plates 42 of the support mechanism 41.
Is raised by about one step. The pair of air cylinders 43 of the support mechanism 41 are operated, and the pair of clamping plates 42 clamp both side surfaces of the container 1 in the second stage from the bottom. At this time, the engaging member 46 of the holding plate 42 engages with the recess 2a of the container 1, and the support plate 47 engages with the recess 3a of the container 1.

When the height of the container 1 varies and the tip of the support plate 47 contacts the side surface of the lowermost container 1, the support plate 47 resists the spring 49 and holds it.
After the container 1 at the lowermost stage is moved downwards by being pulled from the holding surface of 42, it is possible to engage with the concave portion 3a of the container 1 at the second stage from the bottom by protruding from the holding surface by the biasing force of the spring 49. 1 can be reliably supported.

Then, one of the air cylinders 40a, 40b is operated to lower the elevating plate 37, separate the container 1 at the lowest stage and transfer it onto the conveyor 11, and the container 1 is opened by the conveyor 11 to open the lid. Transport to 14. In addition, when the separated container 1 is transferred onto the conveyor 11, a stopper is used.
31 has been lowered.

Further, when the container 1 is continuously separated, both the air cylinders 40a and 40b of the elevating mechanism 36 are operated and the container 1 supported by the supporting mechanism 41 by the elevating plate 37.
Is slightly pushed up to separate the pair of holding plates 42 from the lowermost container 1 mounted on the elevating plate 37. Air cylinders 40a, 40
By operating one of b, the container 1 at the second stage from the bottom is lowered by approximately one stage to a height facing the pair of sandwich plates 42, and the pair of sandwich plates 42 makes the container at the second stage from the bottom. Hold both sides of 1. Then, the elevating plate 37 is lowered to separate the lowermost container 1 and transfer it onto the conveyor 11.

Then, in the lid opening unit 14, the air cylinder 52 is operated to cause the stopper 51 to project onto the conveyor 11, and the container 51 conveyed by the conveyor 11 is moved to a predetermined lid opening position by the stopper 51. Stop. Moving mechanism 55
After the air cylinder 64 is operated to raise the elevating body 61, the air cylinder 59 is operated to clamp both side surfaces of the container 1 by the pair of clamping plates 58. At this time, the rotating arm mechanism
A rotating shaft 68a of 56 is arranged substantially coaxially with the hinge portion 6a of the lid 6 of the container 1.

The air cylinder 54 is actuated to cause the release plate 53 to project above the stopper 51, and the release plate 53 pushes up the end edges of the pair of lids 6 of the container 1. This allows
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the front end sides where the pair of lids 6 are fitted are lifted and opened, and the tight fitting of the pair of lids 6 is released.

The rotary actuator 68 of the rotating arm mechanism 56 is operated to rotate the suction member 57 toward the upper surface of the lid 6 of the container 1, and the suction pad 72 of the suction member 57 is moved to the lid 6.
The negative pressure is supplied to the adsorbent 57 so that the lid 6 is adsorbed. After that, the rotary actuator 68 is operated to rotate the lid body 6 together with the suction body 57 to the side to open the pair of lid bodies 6. At this time, since the rotating shaft 68a of the rotating arm mechanism 56 is arranged substantially coaxially with the hinge portion 6a of the lid 6 of the container 1, the lid 6 can be smoothly and reliably rotated. Then, the lid 6 is placed on the guide rail 73 during the opening rotation, and the supply of the negative pressure to the suction body 57 is stopped.

Then, the air cylinder 68 is operated to separate the pair of holding plates 58 from the container 1, and the air cylinder 64 is operated to lower the elevating body 61, and then the air cylinders 52 and 54 are operated. Stopper 51 and release plate 53
Down, and the container 1 is assembled on the conveyor 11 by the assembly unit 15
Transport to.

Subsequently, in the assembly unit 15, the air cylinder 82 is operated to cause the front stopper 81 to project onto the conveyor 11, and the container 1 conveyed by the conveyor 11 is moved to a predetermined assembly position by the front stopper 81. Then, the air cylinder 85 is operated to cause the rear stopper 83 to project onto the conveyor 11, and the bottom plate 3 of the container 1 is sandwiched between the front stopper 81 and the rear stopper 83.

The air cylinder 91 of the pulling mechanism 87 is operated to hold both side surfaces of the upper frame 2 of the container 1 by the pair of holding plates 90, and the air cylinder 103 is operated to hold the holding plate 90 via the lifting body 95. At the same time, the upper frame 2 is pulled upward. As a result, the side plates 4 on both sides in the folded state are vertically raised.

The motor 147 of the lifting mechanism 89 is driven to rotate the rotating plate 144 from the standby position, the lifting plate 136 is lowered through the link 145, the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 is lowered, and the pair of opening / closing arm mechanisms 88 is moved. Arm 121 and slide body 10
Insert 9 inside the upper frame 2 of container 1. When the pair of arms 121 enter the inside of the upper frame 2 of the container 1, the rollers 125 at the ends of the pair of arms 121 come into contact with the pair of end plates 5 which have been rotated inward of the container 1. Then, the end plate 5 is rotated downward.

Further, as the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 descends, the pair of air cylinders 117 of the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 are actuated to expand and move the pair of slide bodies 109, and the pair of arms 121 forms the pair of end plates 5. Rotate outward.

Immediately before the end plate 5 of the container 1 stands up, the roller 126 of the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 contacts the stopper 130, and the arm 121 rotates about the support shaft 120 as a fulcrum.
Therefore, the tip of the arm 121 can be urged outwardly so that the lower end side of the end plate 5 is struck, and the end plate 5 can be securely fitted in a standing state.

When the rollers 126 of the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 abut the stoppers 130 and push the lower ends of the pair of end plates 5 outward by the tips of the pair of arms 121, they are aligned with the center of the container 1 in the both end directions. Even if the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 is misaligned with the center of the opening / closing direction, the movable frame 115 can move in the opening / closing direction with respect to the base 107. Can be securely fitted into.

At the time when the pair of end plates 5 are raised by the pair of arms 121, the connecting portion of the link 145 reaches the lower part of the rotating plate 144 of the elevating mechanism 89, and the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 is at the most lowered position. Reach Then, after the pair of end plates 5 are raised by the pair of arms 121, the pair of air cylinders 117 are operated to close and move the pair of slide bodies 109.

The link 14 is attached to the lower part of the rotary plate 144 of the lifting mechanism 89.
After the connecting portion of 5 reaches, the connecting portion moves to the upper side of the rotating plate 144 and raises the opening / closing arm mechanism 88.
At this time, the air cylinder 140 is operated to assist in raising the opening / closing arm mechanism 88. Therefore, the opening / closing arm mechanism 88 can be smoothly moved up and down, the load on the motor 147 is small, and an inexpensive small motor can be used.

The link 14 is attached to the upper part of the rotary plate 144 of the lifting mechanism 89.
When the connecting part of 5 reaches and returns to the standby position, the motor 14
Stop driving 7 and stop the operation of air cylinder 140.

Then, the air cylinders 85 and 82 are operated to lower the stoppers 83 and 81, and the assembled container 1
Are carried out by the conveyor 11.

As described above, the containers 1 in the folded state, which are stacked in a plurality of stages by the separation unit 13, are separated one by one,
The lid opening unit 14 opens the pair of lids 6 of the container 1, and the assembly unit 15 pulls up the upper frame 2 of the container 1 in which the lid 6 is opened, and the side plates 4 and both end plates 5 are raised. One can be assembled.

[0084]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the pair of lids of the container in the folded state can be opened by the lid opening unit, so that the foldable container having the lid can be automatically assembled. Moreover, since the lid opening unit performs the opening operation by arranging the pivot shaft of the pivot arm mechanism supporting the adsorption body for adsorbing the lid body coaxially with the pivot fulcrum of the lid body, the lid body is smoothly and securely opened. It can be opened to

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the pair of arms is moved in the opening direction by the opening / closing arm mechanism of the assembly unit to raise the both end plates of the container, the both end plates of the container are raised by the pair of arms. Since the tip end of each arm is swung outward by the swinging means and each end plate is pushed vigorously outwardly by tapping, both end plates of the container can be securely fitted.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, since the opening / closing arm mechanism is slidable in the opening / closing direction with respect to the elevating mechanism, the opening / closing arm mechanism and the container are connected. It can cope with positional deviation.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2, the rotating plate of the crank means is rotated by the motor, and the opening / closing arm mechanism is connected via the link connected to this rotating plate. When raising and lowering the side, the cylinder assists the raising of the opening and closing arm mechanism side, so the rotation of the rotating plate of the crank means is stable, the opening and closing arm mechanism side can be raised and lowered smoothly, and the load on the motor is small, An inexpensive small motor can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a folding container assembling apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a foldable container which is a target of the foldable container assembling apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment, (a) is a perspective view in a folded state, (b) is a perspective view in a state in which a lid is opened, (c) ) Is a perspective view during assembly, and (d) is a perspective view in an assembled state.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the separation unit of the above-described embodiment (as viewed from the side opposite to the container transport direction).

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the separation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the separation unit according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the lid opening unit of the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a lid opening unit of the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the lid opening unit of the above embodiment in a standby state.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the lid opening unit of the above embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a part of the lid opening unit of the above embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the lifting mechanism of the assembly unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the pulling mechanism of the assembly unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the arm mechanism of the assembly unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the arm mechanism of the assembly unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the lifting mechanism of the assembly unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the lifting mechanism of the assembly unit according to the above embodiment (as viewed from the side opposite to the container carrying direction).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Container 2 Upper Frame 3 Bottom Plate 4 Side Plate 5 End Plate 6 Lid 11 Conveyor 14 Lid Opening Unit 15 Assembly Unit 55 Moving Mechanism 56 Rotating Arm Mechanism 57 Adsorbent 68a Rotating Axis 87 Pulling Mechanism 88 Opening / Closing Arm Mechanism 89 Lifting Mechanism 109 Slide body 116 Spring as biasing means 117 Air cylinder as driving means 121 Arm 130 Stopper as swinging means 140 Air cylinder as cylinder 143 Cranking means 144 Rotating plate 145 Link 147 Motor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rectangular frame-shaped upper frame, a rectangular plate-shaped bottom plate,
A pair of side plates that foldably connect both sides of the upper frame and both sides of the bottom plate, a pair of end plates rotatably provided inwardly facing both ends of the upper frame, and both sides of the upper frame. A foldable container assembling apparatus for assembling a foldable container comprising a pair of lids rotatably provided on an upper portion and capable of closing an upper surface of an upper frame, the conveyor for transporting the container, and the conveyor. The lid opening unit that opens the pair of lids of the container in the folded state conveyed by the above, and the upper frame of the container in the folded state in which the lid conveyed by the conveyor is opened, pull up both side plates and both end plates. The lid opening unit includes an adsorbent that adsorbs the surface of the lid of the container, and an adsorbent that supports the adsorbent and has a pivot axis in the pivot direction of the lid of the container. Rotate A rotating arm mechanism, a standby position for supporting the rotating arm mechanism and retracting it from the transport area of the container, and a moving mechanism for moving the rotating shaft to an operating position coaxial with the rotation fulcrum of the lid of the container. A foldable container assembling apparatus, characterized by comprising: 2. A rectangular frame-shaped upper frame, a rectangular plate-shaped bottom plate,
A pair of side plates that foldably connect both sides of the upper frame and both sides of the bottom plate, a pair of end plates rotatably inward facing both ends of the upper frame, and both sides of the upper frame A foldable container assembling apparatus for assembling a foldable container comprising a pair of lids rotatably provided on an upper portion and capable of closing an upper surface of an upper frame, the conveyor for transporting the container, and the conveyor. And a lid opening unit for opening a pair of lids of the container in the folded state conveyed by, and a pull-up of the upper frame of the folded container in which the lid conveyed by the conveyor is opened to raise both side plates. An opening and closing arm mechanism for raising both end plates of the container and an assembly unit having an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the opening and closing arm mechanism, wherein the opening and closing arm mechanism is the container A pair of slide bodies slidably provided in an opening / closing direction corresponding to both end plate directions, driving means for moving the pair of slide bodies relative to each other to open / close, and tips of the slide bodies protruding below the slide bodies. A pair of arms that are swingably provided in the opening and closing direction of the body and that enter the inside of the upper frame of the container to rotate the both end plates from the inside to the outside, and the end plates of the container with the pair of arms. A foldable container assembling apparatus, comprising: swinging means for swinging the tip of the arm outward before the stand is raised. 3. The elevating mechanism is provided with urging means for slidably supporting the open / close arm mechanism in the open / close direction and for urging the open / close arm mechanism toward the center side in the open / close direction. Foldable container assembly device. 4. An elevating mechanism, a crank means having a rotating plate and a link connecting the rotating plate and the opening / closing arm mechanism side, and a motor for rotating the rotating plate of the crank means to raise / lower the opening / closing arm mechanism side. The folding container assembling apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a cylinder for assisting up and down movement of the opening / closing arm mechanism side.