JPH08133291A - Container and handling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To put a cover on a container or remove it therefrom by use of a small and simple device and stack the containers or dismount them. CONSTITUTION: In a container provided with upper and lower flanges 15, 16 at the upper and lower outer peripheries of a container body 11 and provided with a cover flange 32 at the outer periphery of the cover body 31 and in which the cover flange 32 of the cover 30 is mounted on the upper flange 15 of the container 10 to put the cover 30 on the container 10, notches 23 for handling are provided in the upper flange 15 of the container 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container and its handling method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a container for storing articles such as cassette tapes, a container is covered with a lid or upper and lower containers are stacked. Therefore, when storing and removing articles in the container, it is necessary to attach and remove the lids to and from the containers, and stack and disassemble the upper and lower containers.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, a dedicated device for depositing and removing the lid and a dedicated device for stacking and unstacking the containers are required, which makes the device complicated and large. Is invited.

An object of the present invention is to deposit and remove a lid from a container and stack and unstack upper and lower containers by using a small and simple device.

[0005]

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, upper and lower flanges are provided on the upper and lower outer peripheral portions of the container body, and a lid flange is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lid body, and the lid flange of the lid is provided. In a container which is placed on the upper flange of the container and a lid can be attached to the container, the upper flange of the container is provided with a notch for handling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container handling method for removing a lid attached to the container according to the first aspect, wherein a handling arm is provided on a side of a handling work position and the lid is covered. Position the mounted container at the handling work position, match the level between the upper and lower flanges of the container with the level of the handling arm, and move the handling arm from the side between the upper and lower flanges to the upper and lower flanges and the notch for handling the upper flange. And lowering the container and the lid relative to the handling arm, the container is moved below the handling arm by the handling notch on its upper flange passing around the handling arm and the lid The lid flange is carried by the handling arm and the It is those that were to be removed from.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the container handling method for covering the container according to the first aspect with a lid, a handling arm is provided at a side of a handling work position, and the lid is covered by the handling arm. The flange is carried, the container is positioned below the lid, the container is raised relative to the handling arm, and the container handles the upper flange by passing the notch for handling the upper flange around the handling arm. Moved over the arm, the lid is such that its lid flange is lifted onto the container's top flange to attach to it.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, upper and lower flanges are provided on the upper and lower outer peripheral portions of the container body, and the lower flange of the upper container is placed on the upper flange of the lower container. In the container that can be stacked, the notches for handling are provided on the upper flange of the container.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the container handling method for unfolding the container according to the fourth aspect, a handling arm is provided on the side of the handling work position, and a plurality of stacked container groups are provided. To the handling position, match the level between the upper and lower flanges of the lower container to the level of the handling arm, and place the handling arm between the upper and lower flanges of the lower container from the side between the upper and lower flanges and the notch for handling the upper flange. The lower container relative to the handling arm, and the lower container is moved below the handling arm by the handling notch on its upper flange passing around the handling arm, Has its lower flange on the handling arm. It is, as a result, is obtained so as to give away stage the lower container from the container group.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the container handling method of stacking the containers according to the fourth aspect, a handling arm is provided on the side of the handling work position, and the lower flange of the upper container is provided by the handling arm. The lower container is positioned below the upper container, the lower container is raised relative to the handling arm, and the lower container has a notch for handling of its upper flange passing around the handling arm. The upper flange is moved above the handling arm by the upper container, and the lower container is lifted and stacked on the lower container.

[0011]

By providing the notch for handling on the upper flange of the container, the small and simple handling arm can be used to attach and detach the lid to the container, and stack and disassemble the upper and lower containers. .

[0012]

1 is a perspective view showing a container, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lid, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a lid is attached to a container, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a stacked state of containers. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lid is attached to the stacking container, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the container, FIG. 7 is a side view showing the container, and FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. Figure, Figure 9 is Figure 6
10 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 6, FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a lid, and FIG.
Side view, FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of FIG. 11, FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing the dustproof structure of the container, and FIG.
Is a schematic diagram showing a dustproof structure of a lid, FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a product type discrimination structure of a container, FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a stacking procedure, and FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a stacking procedure.

The dustproof container 10 shown in FIG. 5 is used, for example, in a cassette tape assembly line, and an article 1 such as a cassette tape can be stored in a storage space 12 of a container body 11. At this time, the container 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of ridges 13 are arranged in parallel inside the container body 11, and protrusions 14 are provided at a plurality of positions along each ridge 13 at regular intervals. Each of the articles 1 can be stored vertically in the article storage portion 12A defined by the protrusion 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 to 10, the container 10 is provided with upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 on the upper and lower outer peripheral portions of the container body 11, and a reinforcing rib 17 is formed on the lower surface of the bottom of the container body 11. The lower flange 16 of the upper container 10 is placed on the upper flange 15 of the lower container 10 so that the upper and lower containers 10 and 10 can be stacked (FIG. 4).

The lid 30 is used as an accessory to the container 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11 to 13, the lid 30 is provided with a lid flange 32 on the outer peripheral portion of the lid body 31, and the lid is reinforced on the lower surface of the lid body 31. A rib 33 is provided, and the lid flange 32 is placed on the upper flange 15 of the container 10 so that the lid 30 can be attached to the container 10 (FIG. 3). In addition, FIG.
It shows a state in which a lid 30 is attached to the uppermost container 10 of the stacked container group 10A.

Hereinafter, (A) the dustproof structure of the container 10 and the lid 30, (B) the product type discrimination structure of the container 10, (C) the container 1
A stacking / unstacking method of 0 and a method of attaching / removing the lid 30 will be described.

(A) Dustproof Structure of Container 10 and Lid 30 (A-1) Dustproof Structure of Container 10 As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the container 10 has a mounting surface level of the lower flange 16 of a reinforcing rib 17. It projects below the bottom level. That is, when the container 10 is placed on the floor, the conveyor, etc., only the lower flange 16 of the outer peripheral portion of the container body 11 contacts the floor, the conveyor, etc.
7 does not come into contact with the floor, conveyor, etc. and does not become dirty (FIG. 14 (B)).

The container 10 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 to 1.
As shown in 0, the upper flange 15
Positioning ribs 21 that can be engaged with the inner peripheral portion of the lower flange 16 of the upper container 10 placed on the above are provided in an endless circular shape. When the upper and lower containers 10 and 10 are stacked, the positioning ribs 21 are engaged with the inner peripheral portion of the lower flange 16 of the upper container 10 to perform a positioning function for stacking, and at the same time, lower the lower flange 16 of the upper container 10 downward. It serves as a partition that shuts off the storage space 12 of the side container 10. This partitioning function prevents dirt adhering to the lower flange 16 coming into contact with the floor, the conveyor, etc. from entering the storage space 12 of the lower container 10 (FIG. 14 (B)).

The container 10 is, as shown in FIG.
Positioning notches 22 with which the positioning ribs 21 provided on the upper flange 15 of the lower container 10 stacked below the lower flange 16 are engaged are provided at a plurality of positions on the inner circumference of the lower flange 16. The positioning notch 22 is set so as to be locked by coming into contact with the rising surface of the positioning rib 21 close to the upper flange 15 (on the side opposite to the storage space 12) (FIG. 14 (C)). Positioning rib 21
Even if abrasion powder is generated by rubbing of the positioning notch 22, the abrasion powder is partitioned by the positioning rib 21 with respect to the storage space 12 of the lower container 10 to prevent the abrasion powder from entering the storage space 12.

(A-2) Dust-proof structure of the lid 30 The lid 30 has a lid flange 32 as shown in FIGS.
The mounting surface level of the is protruding below the lower surface level of the lid reinforcing rib 33. That is, when the lid 30 is placed on the floor, the conveyor, etc., only the lid flange 32 on the outer peripheral portion of the lid body 31 contacts the floor, the conveyor, etc., and the lid reinforcing rib 33 does not contact the floor, the conveyor, etc. No dirt (Fig. 15)
(B)).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the lid 30 is constructed so that the inner peripheral portion of the lid flange 32 can be engaged with the above-mentioned positioning rib 21 provided on the upper flange 15 of the container 10. Has been done. The positioning rib 21 has a lid 3
When 0 is attached to the container 10, it is locked to the inner peripheral portion of the lid flange 32 of the lid 30 to perform the positioning function of the lid 30, and at the same time, the lid flange 32 of the lid 30 with respect to the storage space 12 of the container 10. It becomes a partition to shut off. This partitioning function prevents dirt adhering to the lid flange 32 coming into contact with the floor, the conveyor, etc. from entering the storage space 12 of the container 10 (FIG. 15 (B)).

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the lid 30 has an upper flange 15 of the container 10 to which the lid flange 32 is attached at each of a plurality of positions on the inner peripheral portion of the lid flange 32.
A positioning notch 34 with which the positioning rib 21 provided in the above is locked. The positioning notch 34 is set so as to engage with the rising surface of the positioning rib 21 near the upper flange 15 (opposite to the storage space 12) (FIG. 15).
(C)). Even if abrasion powder is generated due to the rubbing of the positioning rib 21 and the positioning notch 34, the abrasion powder is partitioned by the positioning rib 21 with respect to the storage space 12 of the container 10 to prevent the abrasion powder from entering the storage space 12. .

The lid 30 has a positioning rib 30A along the outer periphery of the upper surface. The positioning rib 30A is fitted with another lid 30 which is placed on the lid 30 or the lid 30 is placed on the lid 30. It is used for fitting with the container 10 placed on the substrate 10 and prevents them from being displaced when they are stacked (FIG. 12).

Therefore, the dustproof structure of the container 10 and the lid 30 has the following effects. The mounting surface level of the lower flange 16 of the container 10 projects below the lower surface level of the reinforcing ribs 17. Therefore, when the container 10 is placed on the floor, conveyor, etc.,
Only the lower flange 16 of the outer peripheral portion of the container body 11 contacts the floor, the conveyor, etc., and the reinforcing ribs 17 do not contact the floor, the conveyor, etc. and are not contaminated. Therefore, when the upper and lower containers 10 are stacked, the bottom portion of the upper container 10 located above the storage space 12 of the lower container 10 does not have any dirt, and the storage space 1 of the lower container 10
Does not invite dirt to fall on 2.

FIG. 16 shows the stacked container group 10A.
As shown in (4), when it is conveyed by the roller conveyor 50 or the like, the wide lower flange 16 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lower container 10 slides on the roller conveyor 50, and the conveyability can be improved.

When the upper and lower containers 10 are stacked,
Lower container 1 for positioning upper and lower containers 10
The positioning rib 21 provided on the upper flange 15 of the No. 0 engages with the inner peripheral portion of the lower flange 16 of the upper container 10. Therefore, the lower flange 16 of the upper container 10 is partitioned by the positioning rib 21 with respect to the storage space 12 of the lower container 10, and the dirt attached to the lower flange 16 that comes into contact with the floor, the conveyor, etc. 10 storage spaces 1
Make sure to prevent invasion of 2.

When the upper and lower containers 10 are stacked,
The positioning notch 22 provided on the inner peripheral portion of the lower flange 16 of the upper container 10 engages with the rising surface of the positioning rib 21 near the upper flange 15 (on the side opposite to the storage space). Therefore, even if abrasion powder is generated by the rubbing of the positioning rib 21 and the positioning notch 22, the abrasion powder is partitioned by the positioning rib 21 into the storage space 12 of the lower container 10 and may enter the storage space 12. Absent.

Since the upper and lower containers 10 are provided with the positioning ribs 21 and the positioning notches 22 as described above, they can be stacked easily and are less likely to collapse after stacking, so that their handling properties can be improved.

Further, the packing form of the stacked container groups on the conveyor or the like is surely and easily aligned due to the presence of the positioning ribs 21 and the positioning notches 22 of the upper and lower containers 10. Therefore, it is not necessary that the packing alignment flap reaches the container position at the top of the stack (if the lower container is aligned, the upper container is also copied).

The mounting surface level of the lid flange 32 of the lid 30 projects below the lower surface level of the lid reinforcing rib 33. Therefore, when the lid 30 is placed on the floor, the conveyor, etc., only the lid flange 32 on the outer peripheral portion of the lid body 31 contacts the floor, the conveyor, etc., and the lid reinforcing rib 33 makes contact with the floor, the conveyor, etc. It does not get dirty. Therefore, lid 3
When 0 is attached to the container 10, the lower surface of the lid 30 located above the storage space 12 of the container 10 does not have any dirt attached, and the dirt of the storage space 12 of the container 10 does not drop.

When the lid 30 is attached to the container 10,
Upper flange 1 of container 10 for positioning lid 30
5, the positioning rib 21 provided on the lid 5 is provided on the lid flange 3 of the lid 30.
2 Lock on the inner circumference. Therefore, the lid flange 3 of the lid 30
2 is a positioning rib 2 for the storage space 12 of the container 10.
It is partitioned by 1 and reliably prevents dirt adhering to the lid flange 32 coming into contact with the floor, the conveyor, etc. from entering the storage space 12 of the container 10.

When the lid 30 is attached to the container 10,
Positioning notch 3 provided on the inner peripheral portion of the lid flange 32 of the lid 30
4 engages with the rising surface of the positioning rib 21 near the upper flange 15 (on the side opposite to the storage space). Therefore, even if abrasion powder is generated by the rubbing of the positioning rib 21 and the positioning notch 34, the abrasion powder is partitioned by the positioning rib 21 with respect to the storage space 12 of the container 10 and does not enter the storage space 12. .

(B) Type determination structure of the container 10 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the container 10 serves as a type determination means of the stored article 1 at a specific position on the outer peripheral portion of the container body 11 corresponding to the type. A light penetrating portion is provided. Specifically, any of the hole- or groove-shaped first to fifth light penetrating portions 41A to 41E is located at a single position selected from the first to fifth positions defined on the upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 of the container 10. One of them is notched (FIG. 16 (B)). That is, if the article 1 stored in the container 10 is of the first type, the first light penetrating portion 41A is provided at the first position, and if the article 1 is contained in the container 10, the second light penetrating portion 41B is provided at the second position. It's like ...

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16, a product type discrimination position is defined on the container transport conveyor 50 such as a cassette assembly line. At this product type determination position, a stopper 51, front and rear four packing pattern aligning flaps 52, left and right are provided. Two packaging alignment flaps 53 are provided. Then, the stacked container groups 10A are stopped by a stopper 51 protruding from the lower side of the conveyor 50, sandwiched in the front and back by a packing shape alignment flap 52 to correct the packing shape in the front-rear direction, and a packing shape alignment flap 53. The left and right are sandwiched by the left and right sides, and the packing form in the left and right direction is corrected. The stopper 51 and the packing shape alignment flap 53 linearly move between the standby position and the working position by the cylinder,
The packing alignment flap 52 is moved between the standby position and the working position by the rotary actuator.

Further, on the side of the product type discrimination position on the conveyor 50, the container group 10 positioned at the product type discrimination position is located.
Optical penetration detection devices 54 are provided on both upper and lower sides of the outer peripheral portion of A in the stacking direction. The light penetration detector 54 is
Specifically, the first to fifth five projectors 54A to 54E are arranged above one side of the upper flange 15 of the uppermost container 10 that constitutes the container group 10A, and the lower flange of the lowermost container 10 is arranged. The first to fifth five light receivers 55A to 55E corresponding to the light projectors 54A to 54E are arranged below one side of 16 (below the conveyor 50). The first light projector 54A and the light receiver 55A correspond to the first positions (where the first light penetrating portion 41A is provided) defined on the upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 of the container 10, and the second light
The light projector 54B and the light receiver 55B correspond to the second positions (where the second light penetrating portion 41B is provided) defined on the upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 of the container 10.

Therefore, at the product type discrimination position on the conveyor 50, the light penetrating portion (first position) of the specific position (any one of the first position to the fifth position) of each container 10 forming the container group 10A. Any one of the light penetration portion 41A to the fifth light penetration portion 41E of the light penetration portion 54A to 54E and each light receiver 55 of the light penetration detection device 54.
Detected by A to 55E. Then, any one of the light projectors 54A to 54E and the light receiver 55 of the light penetration detection device 54.
On the condition that A to 55E detect the penetration of light, each container 10 has the corresponding light penetration portion (first light penetration portion 41A to fifth light penetration portion).
(Any one of the first to fifth positions) of any one of the light penetrating portions 41E of (1) to (5). judge.

The presence or absence of light penetration described above can be detected by the light penetration detecting device 54 even if the lid 30 is attached to the containers 10 forming the container group 10A.
The lid flange 32 of the lid 30 is provided with a translucent notch 35. The lid 30 includes the first to fifth light penetrating portions 41A to 4A on the upper flange 15 of the container 10 to which the lid 30 is attached.
The light-transmitting notch 3 has a wide area corresponding to the notch forming area 1E.
5 is formed so that it can be used for all types of containers 10 (FIGS. 3 and 5).

Further, in the container 10, holes or grooves are provided at all of the first to fifth positions defined on the flanges 15 and 16, and shutters etc. for opening and closing these five holes or grooves are provided. That is, using the single container 10, the above-described first to fifth light penetrating portions 41A to 41A are provided.
Any of E can be formed. That is, the same container 10 can be used for all types without preparing a dedicated container 10 for each of the first type to the fifth type.

Therefore, according to the product type discriminating structure of the container 10 described above, there are the following actions. Container group 10
A is positioned at the product type discriminating position, and the light penetrating portions 41A to 41 at specific positions of the respective containers 10 constituting the container group 10A.
By detecting the presence or absence of light penetration in E by the light penetration detection device 54, when the light penetration detection device 54 detects the above-mentioned light penetration, the containers 10 constituting the container group 10A are of the same type, and The light penetration portion 41
It can be determined that the product type corresponds to the positions A to 41E.

Therefore, when determining the type of the container 10,
It is possible to improve the reliability of the system while reducing human work and simplifying the system.

At this time, if the container group 10A is a mixture of a plurality of different types of containers 10, the light penetration detecting device 54 does not detect light penetration, and therefore does not identify the kind of each container 10. Further, if the approach direction of the container group 10A with respect to the product type determination position on the conveyor 50 or the stacking direction of each container 10 within the container group 10A is not a predetermined standard direction, the container group 10A will only include containers 10 of the same product type. Even if it consists of
The light penetration detector 54 does not detect the penetration of light, and therefore does not identify the type of each container 10. Therefore, container group 1
It is possible to simultaneously determine whether or not the types of products are mixed in 0A, the transport direction of the container group 10A, and the stacking direction of each container 10 in the container group 10A.

Then, it is possible to know that the upper and lower containers 10 and 10 are stacked in the same correct stacking direction by the light penetration detecting device 54 before the stacking step. If the stacking direction of the stacking containers 10, 10 is abnormal, the stacking can be stopped.
As a result, it is possible to know in advance whether disassembly is possible or prevent occurrence of collapse during disassembly.

Further, it is possible to confirm that the upper and lower containers 10, 10 are stacked in the same correct stacking direction by the optical penetration detecting device 54, because the upper and lower containers 10, 10 are stacked without gaps. Also, it is possible to check whether or not the dust prevention is achieved.

The container 10 has upper and lower flanges 15,
16 with upper and lower flanges 15, 1
It is preferable to provide the light penetrating portions 41A to 41E on both sides of the upper and lower flanges 1.
5 and 16 provided on only one side and the other flanges 15 and 16
May be provided with a light-transmitting notch (similar to the light-transmitting notch 35 of the lid 30) over a wide range including the notch forming range of the light penetrating portions 41A to 41E.

Further, a height discriminating means for the container group 10A may be provided beside the type discriminating position on the conveyor 50. By previously storing the relationship between the height of the container group 10A and the number of stacked containers, the number of stacked containers of the container group 10A can be recognized at the same time.

This method of discriminating the type of the container 10 contributes to simplification of the system and improvement of reliability in the automated warehouse or the like handling standardized articles by simplifying the loading procedure and the discharging procedure.

The light penetration detecting means is not limited to the transmission type photoelectric sensor, but may be a reflection type photoelectric sensor.

(C) Stacking / disassembling method of the container 10 and attaching / removing method of the lid 30 As shown in FIG. 1, the container 10 has notches for handling on each side of the upper flange 15 of the container body 11. Two
There are two 3s each.

Further, a conveyor 5 for a cassette assembly line or the like
A lifter 61 is installed below the handling work position (stacking / disassembling position of the container 10 and attachment / detachment position of the lid 30) defined above 0, and a pair of both sides of the handling work position. Handling arms 62, 62
Is installed. The lifter 61 is the first cylinder 61A,
The second cylinder 61B moves up and down between the lower position of the conveyor 50 and the two-stage rising position of middle and high positions. The handling arm 62 is moved by the cylinder 62A between the lateral position of the container group 10A and the lower position of the flanges 15, 16 and 32 of the container 10 and the lid 30.

The procedures for stacking / disassembling the containers 10 and the procedure for attaching / removing the lid 30 will be described below. (C-1) Procedure for attaching the lid 30 The lid 30 is carried into the handling work position.

The lifter 61 is connected to the first cylinder 61A and the second cylinder 61A.
Cylinder 61B raises it to a higher position and lifts lid flange 32 of lid 30 above the handling arm level (level of handling arm 62).

The handling arm 62 is moved forward. Then, the lifter 61 is moved downward by the first cylinder 61A and the second cylinder 61B. As a result, the lid flange 32 of the lid 30 is carried by the handling arm 62.

The container 10 is carried into the handling work position, and the container 10 is positioned below the lid 30.

The lifter 61 is raised to the middle by the first cylinder 61A, and the container 10 is lifted. At this time,
In the container 10, the handling notch 23 of the upper flange 15 passes around the handling arm 62, so that the upper flange 15 of the container 10 is handled.
Of the lid 30, the lid flange 32 of the lid 30 is lifted to the upper flange 15 of the container 10 to be attached to the container 10.

The handling arm 62 is retracted. Then, the lifter 61 is raised to the higher position by the second cylinder 61B.

The handling arm 62 is moved forward. Subsequently, the lifter 61 is attached to the first cylinder 61A and the second cylinder 6
1B lowers to lower. As a result, the lower flange 16 of the container 10 to which the lid 30 is attached is carried by the handling arm 62.

(C-2) Stacking procedure of the container 10 (FIG. 17) The upper container 1 to which the lid 30 is attached by the above (C-1)
The lower flange 16 of 0 is carried by the handling arm 62.

The lower container 10 is carried into the handling work position, and the lower container 10 is positioned below the upper container 10 (FIG. 17 (A)).

The lifter 61 is raised to the middle position by the first cylinder 61A, and the lower container 10 is lifted. At this time, the lower container 10 is moved to the upper flange 15 above the handling arm 62 by the handling notch 23 of the upper flange 15 passing around the handling arm 62, and the upper container 10 is moved to the lower flange 16 thereof. Is the upper flange 15 of the lower container 10
And they are stacked and stacked (FIG. 17 (B)).

The handling arm 62 is retracted (FIG. 17C). Subsequently, the lifter 61 is attached to the second cylinder 61B.
Rises to a higher level (Fig. 17 (D)).

The handling arm 62 is advanced (FIG. 17 (E)). Subsequently, the lifter 61 is attached to the first cylinder 61
A, the second cylinder 61B moves downward. As a result, the container group 10A stacked as described above is carried by the handling arm 62 (FIG. 17 (F)).

The container group 10A has a predetermined number of containers 1
The above steps 1 to 3 are repeated until 0 is stacked. And
After stacking a predetermined number of stages, lifter 61 is moved to first cylinder 6
1A, the second cylinder 61B raises it to a higher position to carry the container group 10A, then the handling arm 62 is retracted, and then the lifter 61 is moved to the first cylinder 61A, the second cylinder 61A.
The container group 10A is transferred to the conveyor 50 by being lowered to the lower side by the cylinder 61B.

(C-3) Disassembling Procedure of Container 10 The container group 10A to which the lid 30 is attached is positioned at the handling work position (FIG. 18 (A)).

The lifter 61 is raised to the middle position by the first cylinder 61A, and the level between the upper and lower flanges of the lower container 10 is changed to the handling arm level (the handling arm 6).
2 level) (FIG. 18 (B)).

By moving the handling arm 62 forward, the handling arm 62 is moved laterally between the upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 of the lower container 10, between the upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 and in the notch 23 for handling of the upper flange 15. Insert it downward (FIG. 18 (C)).

The lifter 61 is lowered by the first cylinder 61A, and the container group 10A is lowered with respect to the handling arm 62. This allows the lower container 1
0 is moved below the handling arm 62 by the handling notch 23 of the upper flange 15 passing around the handling arm 62, and the upper container 1
In the case of 0, the lower flange 16 is carried by the handling arm 62, and as a result, the lower container 10 is disassembled from the container group 10A (FIG. 18D).

The separated lower container 10 is transferred to the conveyor 50 and discharged (FIG. 18 (E)).

(C-4) Procedure for Removing Lid 30 After the above steps (C-3) have been completed to disassemble the container group 10A, the lid 61 is set to the middle position by the first cylinder 61A. The level between the upper and lower flanges of the container 10 to which 30 is attached is matched with the level of the handling arm (level of the handling arm 62).

The handling arm 62 is moved forward to move the handling arm 62 to the upper and lower flanges 1 of the container 10.
From the side between 5 and 16, it is inserted between the upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 and below the handling notch 23 of the upper flange 15.

The lifter 61 is lowered by the first cylinder 61A, and the container 10 and the lid 30 are lowered with respect to the handling arm 62. As a result, the container 10 is moved below the handling arm 62 by the handling notch 23 of the upper flange 15 passing around the handling arm 62, and the lid 30 has its lid flange 32 carried by the handling arm 62.
Removed from container 10.

The container 10 from which the lid 30 has been removed is transferred to the conveyor 50 and discharged. After that, lifter 6
1 is raised to a higher position by the first cylinder 61A and the second cylinder 61B to carry the lid 30, and then the handling arm 62 is retracted, and then the lifter 61 is moved to the first cylinder 61A.
The lid 30 is transferred to the conveyor 50 by descending to the lower position by the A and the second cylinder 61B.

In the above (C-1) to (C-4), the lifter 61 and the handling arm 62 are the container 10 and the lid 30 provided around the handling work position on the conveyor 50.
Based on the discrimination result by the discriminating means, the automatic operation is performed in the above procedure.

Therefore, the handling method of the container 10 and the lid 30 described above has the following effects.

By providing the notch 23 for handling on the upper flange 15 of the container 10, the small and simple handling arm 62 is used to cover the container 30 with the lid 30.
Can be attached and detached, and the upper and lower containers 10 can be stacked and disassembled.

The containers 10 being stacked / unstacked are lifted and lowered by a predetermined stroke (approximately the same height as one step of the containers 10) by the lifter 61, and then carried by the handling arm 62. Therefore, it is possible to realize stacking / disassembling in multiple stages by using the lifter 61 having a constant small stroke. Further, the same mechanical device including the lifter 61 and the handling arm 62 can perform both stacking and disassembling operations of the containers 10.

This method of handling the container 10 and the lid 30 effectively contributes to the automatic transportation of the container 10 and labor saving thereof.

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, the lid can be attached to and removed from the containers, and the upper and lower containers can be stacked and disassembled by using a small and simple device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lid.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a lid is attached to the container.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a stacked state of containers.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lid is attached to the stacking container.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a container.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a container.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 6;

10 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a lid.

FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. 11.

13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a dustproof structure of a container.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a dustproof structure of a lid.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a product type determination structure of a container.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a stacking procedure.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a step-out procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Container 11 Container Main Body 15 Upper Flange 16 Lower Flange 23 Notch for Handling 30 Lid 31 Lid Main Body 32 Lid Flange 61 Lifter 62 Handling Arm

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A container body is provided with upper and lower flanges on upper and lower outer peripheral portions, and a lid flange is provided on an outer peripheral portion of a lid body, and the lid flange of the lid is placed on the upper flange of the container to attach the lid. A container that can be attached to a container, characterized in that a notch for handling is provided on the upper flange of the container. 2. A container handling method for removing a lid attached to a container according to claim 1, wherein a handling arm is provided on a side of a handling work position, and the container with the lid attached is handled. Position it so that the level between the upper and lower flanges of the container matches the level of the handling arm, and insert the handling arm from the side between the upper and lower flanges between the upper and lower flanges and below the notch for handling of the upper flange. The lid is lowered relative to the handling arm and the container is moved below the handling arm by the handling notch on its upper flange passing around the handling arm, and the lid has its lid flange carried on the handling arm. Be removed from the container Method of handling a container to be butterflies. 3. A container handling method for covering a container with a lid according to claim 1, wherein a handling arm is provided on a side of a handling work position, and the lid flange of the lid is carried by the handling arm, Positioned below the lid, the container is raised relative to the handling arm, and the container is moved above the handling arm by its upper flange's handling notch passing around the handling arm, Is a method of handling a container, wherein the lid flange is lifted to the upper flange of the container and attached to the container. 4. A container in which upper and lower outer peripheral portions of a container body are provided with upper and lower flanges, and a lower flange of an upper container is placed on an upper flange of a lower container so that the upper and lower containers can be stacked. , A container characterized in that a notch for handling is provided on the upper flange of the container. 5. The container handling method according to claim 4, wherein a handling arm is provided on a side of the handling work position, and a plurality of stacked container groups are positioned at the handling work position. Match the level between the upper and lower flanges of the side container to the level of the handling arm, insert the handling arm from the side between the upper and lower flanges of the lower container between the upper and lower flanges, and below the notch for handling of the upper flange, Relative to the handling arm, the lower container is moved below the handling arm by the handling notch on its upper flange passing around the handling arm, and the upper container has its lower flange on the handling arm. Carried, and as a result, Method of handling a container, which comprises disassembling stage the lower container from container group. 6. The container handling method according to claim 4, wherein a handling arm is provided at a side of a handling work position, the handling arm carries a lower flange of the upper container, and the lower container is Positioned below the upper container, the lower container is raised relative to the handling arm, and the lower container has its upper flange whose handling notch for handling passes around the handling arm. A container handling method, wherein the container is moved upward and the lower flange of the upper container is lifted and stacked on the upper flange of the lower container.