JPH08310504A - Automatic lidding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an automatic lidding device which has a large capacity per unit time and by which a box can be lidded securely. CONSTITUTION: Above a conveyor 1 which runs horizontally and continuously at a constant rate there is provided a chute 3 inclined with the direction of the conveyance downward. On this chute 3 a plurality of lids 4 are laid with the openings down and with the rear end of a preceding lid 4 in contact with the front end of the following one. When the lower end of the front flap of the foremost lid 4 on the chute 3 comes to a position under the upper end of the front wall of a box 2 on the conveyor 1, a stopper claw 5 stops the lid 4 from falling. And when the front wall of a box 2 brought forward by the conveyor 1 touches the inner side of the lower end of the front flap of the foremost lid 4, the stopper claw 5 withdraws out of the way and permits only the formost lid to be drawn out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic lid-covering device for automatically putting a lid on a box such as a cosmetic box in which gifts such as confectionery, canned food, bottles, etc. are arranged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional automatic lid-covering device, a belt conveyor for carrying a lid is provided in addition to a belt conveyor for carrying a box, and both belt conveyors are synchronously and intermittently driven. Since the box is covered with the belt conveyor stopped, there is a problem that the capacity per unit time is low (40 to 60 pieces / minute).

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic lid covering device having a large capacity per unit time. Another object is to provide an automatic lid-covering device that can securely cover the box.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is that a plurality of boxes are respectively opened upward and are placed in a row at a predetermined interval, and are continuously arranged at a constant speed in a horizontal direction. And a conveyor running on the conveyor, which is inclined above the conveyor so as to descend toward the traveling direction, a plurality of lids for covering the box are respectively opened downward, and With the chute placed so that the front end of the lid following the rear end abuts, and the lower end of the front flap of the first lid on this chute is positioned below the upper end of the front wall of the box on the conveyor. When the lid is stopped from falling, and the front wall of the box conveyed by the conveyor comes into contact with the lower end of the front flap of the frontmost lid, the stop is released and only the frontmost lid is pulled out. Automatic equipped with a permissible stopper Covered in the apparatus.

Another feature is that the stopper comprises a pair of stopper claws arranged at the front end of the chute so as to face each other on both sides of the chute and sandwich the chute. The base end is pivotally supported about an axis perpendicular to the chute and is biased by a spring so that its tip is positioned at a predetermined height above the chute toward the center of the chute. Especially.

Still another feature is that the stopper is disposed close to and behind the stopper, penetrates into the frontmost lid through its lower opening, and abuts against the inner surface of the lateral flap of the lid. A lateral flap opening mechanism is provided for retracting the lid from the inside after expanding it outward.

Still another feature is that the lower end of the front flap is disposed on both sides of the box on the conveyor until the rear flap of the lid pulled out from the chute falls to the rear side of the box. A lid fall prevention guide is provided to prevent the box from dropping below a predetermined height.

[0008] Still another feature is that a lateral side for abutting the outer surfaces of both side walls of the box on the conveyor to align the box in the same posture at the center of the conveyor and at the same time to correct the bulging of the both side walls. It is to have a holding mechanism.

Still another feature is that the lateral pressing mechanism includes a pair of belts that are in contact with the outer surfaces of both side walls of the box and move in the same direction as the conveyor at the same speed.

[0010]

In the present invention, the plurality of lids on the chute descends the chute and the first lid is stopped by the stopper.
The front end of the succeeding lid comes into contact with the rear end of the preceding lid and stands still. When the front wall of the box conveyed by the conveyor comes into contact with the lower end of the front flap of the frontmost lid, the stopper is released, and only the frontmost lid is pulled out from the chute to cover this box. Cover the opening.

In the stopper claw according to claim 2, the tip of the stopper claw is located at a predetermined height above the chute toward the center of the chute, and abuts against the front surface of the flap of the earliest lid to prevent the descent of the earliest lid. . In the process of pulling out the frontmost lid from the chute, it rotates around the shaft against the spring and its tip escapes to the side to allow the frontmost lid to be pulled out.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the lateral flap opening mechanism is inserted into the frontmost lid through the lower opening thereof, abuts against the inner surface of the lateral flap, is expanded outward, and then is withdrawn from the inside of the lid.

The lid drop prevention guide according to claim 4 prevents the lower end of the front flap of the lid pulled out from the chute from falling below a predetermined height above the box until it falls to the rear side of the box. To do.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the lateral pressing mechanism abuts the outer surfaces of both side walls of the box on the conveyor so that the box is aligned in the same posture at the center of the conveyor and at the same time the bulging of both side walls is corrected.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the pair of belts are in contact with the outer surfaces of both side walls of the box and are moved in the same direction and at the same speed as the conveyor so that the boxes are aligned in the same posture at the center of the conveyor and at the same time, the both side walls are aligned. Correct the bulge.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor, which is continuously run horizontally at a constant speed. On the conveyor 1, articles are stored and arranged, and boxes 2 with an open top are placed in a row along the traveling direction of the conveyor 1 at a predetermined interval. A chute 3 is arranged above the conveyor 1 and is inclined so as to gradually descend in the traveling direction of the conveyor 1 and forms an angle of about 25 ° with respect to the horizontal. Further, the front end thereof is located slightly above the height of the box 2 on the conveyor 1.

A large number of lids 4 are provided on the chute 3 to cover the upper opening of the box 2 by covering the upper part of the box 2.
Are placed in one row in a downward posture (a state in which the lower side is open). These many lids 4 shoot 3 due to their own weight.
By sliding down, the front end of the succeeding lid 4 is in contact with the rear end of the preceding lid 4.

A pair of stopper claws 5 are arranged at the front end of the chute 3 so as to face each other on both sides of the chute 3 with the chute 3 interposed therebetween, as shown in FIG. The base end of the stopper 5 is rotatably supported about a shaft 6 extending in a direction perpendicular to the inclination of the chute 3, and is biased by a coil spring 7 wound around the shaft 6 to stop the stopper 5. Is stationary at a predetermined height position on the chute 1 toward the center of the chute 3.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a pair of horizontal flap opening mechanisms which are arranged close to the stopper claws 5 and behind the stopper claws 5 below the chute 3 so as to be parallel to each other at a predetermined interval.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lateral flap opening mechanism 8 includes a rotary cylinder 8A capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions, a shaft 8B rotated by the rotary cylinder 8A, and a pawl 8D pivotally supported by a pin 8C orthogonal to the shaft 8B at its tip. And the nail that is stretched between the nail 8D and the shaft 8B.
It consists of a spring 8E which holds 8D by pulling it so that it is orthogonal to the axis 8B.

A pair of lid drop prevention guides 9 are arranged below the front end of the chute 3, are parallel to each other at a predetermined height above the conveyor 1 and are spaced apart from each other on both sides of the box 2 on the conveyor 1. It extends horizontally to be positioned.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a pair of lateral pressing mechanisms, which are arranged below the front end of the chute 3 and face each other at a predetermined height above the conveyor 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the lateral holding mechanism 10 includes a geared motor 11, a drive pulley 12 driven by the geared motor 11, driven pulleys 13 and 14, a tension pulley.
15 、 Belt hung on these pulleys 12, 13, 14, 15
It consists of 16 mag.

Thus, the conveyor 1 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) to continuously run at a constant speed toward the left in the figure, and the belt 16 of the lateral holding mechanism 10 is driven by the gear motor 11. It runs in the direction of the arrow in synchronization with the conveyor 1 at the same speed.

Then, the box 2 is successively conveyed to the conveyor 1 at a predetermined interval, and when it comes to the lateral pressing mechanism 10, the outer surface of each side wall 2B of the box 2 is an inclined part of the belt 16, that is, ,
By abutting the portion between the drive pulley 12 and the driven pulley 13, it is aligned with the center of the conveyor 1 and its posture is corrected so as to face the traveling direction of the conveyor 1.
Then, the bulging outward of the side wall 2B of the box 2 is corrected by being sandwiched between the driven pulleys 13 and 14.

On the other hand, the lid 4 placed on the chute 3 slides down the chute 3 and the frontmost lid 4 is stopped by the front surface of its front flap 4A abutting against the tip of the stopper claw 5, and The lid 4 is stationary with its front end abutting the rear end of the leading lid 4. When the frontmost lid 4 is stopped by the stopper claw 5, the lower end of the front flap 4 is located below the upper end of the front wall 2A of the box 2 on the conveyor 1.

When the frontmost lid 4 comes into contact with the stopper 5 and is stopped, the rotary cylinder 8A of the lateral flap opening mechanism 8 rotates forward in the direction of the arrow in response to a signal from a photoelectric tube (not shown) that detects this, and the shaft 8B is rotated. The claws 8D at the tip end contact the inner surfaces of both lateral flaps 4B of the lid 4 and push the lateral flaps 4B outward.

After a lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 0.8 seconds), the rotary cylinder 8A is rotated in the reverse direction, whereby the pawl 8D is returned to the horizontal stationary position shown by the chain line. If the claw 8D contacts the front flap 4A or the rear flap 4C of the lid 4 due to malfunction, etc., the claw 8D rotates around the pin 8C against the elastic force of the spring 8E and becomes parallel to the shaft 8B. , Prevents damage to the front flap 4A or the rear flap 4C.

When the box 2 advances and the front surface of its front wall 2A comes into contact with the inner lower end of the front flap 4A of the frontmost lid 4, this lid 4
Is pulled out from the chute 3 and, accordingly, the stopper 5
Rotates outwardly around the shaft 6 against the elastic force of the spring 7, and the tip of the stopper 5 allows the passage of the lid 4 while slidingly contacting the outer surface of the lateral flap 4B of the lid 4.

When the lid 4 passes, as shown in FIG. 5, the tip of the stopper claw 5 is inserted into a triangular space 20 formed between the rear surface of the rear flap 4C and the front surface of the front flap 4A of the succeeding lid 4. Enters into contact with the front surface of the front flap 4A of the following lid 4 to prevent the lids 4 on the chute 3 from slipping off.

When the lid 4 is pulled out, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of its front flap 4A rides on the lid drop prevention die 9 and slides on it as the box 2 advances. When the lid 4 is completely pulled out from the chute 3, the rear flap of the lid 4
4C falls behind the rear wall 2C of the box 2 and rides on the lid drop prevention die 9, and when the box 2 moves further forward and the front flap 4A and the rear flap 4C of the lid 4 fall from the guide 9, the lid 4 moves to the box. The upper part of 2 is covered and the upper opening is covered.

If the angle of inclination of the chute 3 exceeds 30 °, the angle between the box 2 and the lid 4 becomes too large, and the inner lower end of the front flap 4A of the lid 4 may be damaged when it comes into contact with the box 2. The inclination angle of the chute 3 is preferably 20 to 40 °.

The lid drop prevention die 9 prevents the rear flap 4C from falling on the upper end of the rear part of the box 2 due to the front flap 4A of the lid 4 falling downward while being inclined. It is desirable to install it at a height of 2 or more.

In order to deal with the change in the width of the box 2 and the lid 4,
It is desirable that the intervals between the stopper claw 5, the lateral flap opening mechanism 8, the lid fall prevention device 9 and the lateral pressing mechanism 10 can be arbitrarily adjusted.

Further, the elastic force of the coil spring 7 for urging the stopper 5 is due to the plurality of lids 4 mounted on the chute 3.
Is set so that the lid 4 can be pulled out when the front flap 4A of the lid 4 contacts the box 2. It should be noted that instead of the stopper claws 5 shown in the figure, stoppers that project vertically from below the lid 4 can be used.
The stopper can be reciprocated by an actuator that operates by detecting the position of the box 2.

[0034]

According to the present invention, a plurality of lids on the chute descends on the chute, the frontmost lid is stopped by the stopper, and the front wall of the box conveyed by the conveyor is in front of the frontmost lid. When it comes into contact with the bottom edge of the flap, the top lid is pulled out of the chute and automatically covers this box.
It is possible to automatically cover the box while continuously moving the box at a constant speed without intermittently stopping the conveyor as in the conventional case. Therefore, the capacity per unit time can be greatly improved (about twice) as compared with the conventional one.

If the stopper claw according to the second aspect is provided, it is possible to prevent the lowering of the lid and at the same time allow the lid to be pulled out by utilizing the elastic force of the spring without using any power. And
When the frontmost lid is pulled out from the chute, the tip of the stopper pawl can enter the gap formed between the flap and the front flap of the subsequent lid to prevent the lowering of a large number of subsequent lids.

By expanding the lateral flap of the lid by the lateral flap opening mechanism according to the third aspect, it is possible to surely cover the lid on the box.

If the lid drop prevention guide according to the fourth aspect is provided, it is possible to prevent the lower end of the rear flap of the lid from resting on the upper end of the rear portion of the box, so that the lid can be reliably put on the box.

If the lateral pressing mechanism according to the fifth aspect is provided, the boxes can be aligned in the same posture with respect to the center of the conveyor and bulging of both side walls of the box can be corrected, so that the box can be securely covered with the lid. be able to.

If the belt according to the sixth aspect is provided, the bulging of both side walls of the box can be surely corrected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lateral flap opening mechanism of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow C in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view for explaining the operation of the stopper claw and the lid fall prevention guide of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveyor 2 Box 3 Chute 5 Stopper claw 8 Side flap opening mechanism 9 Lid drop prevention guide 10 Side holding mechanism

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor in which a plurality of boxes are respectively opened upward, are placed in a line at a predetermined interval, and continuously run in a horizontal direction at a constant speed, and the conveyor is advanced above the conveyor. A plurality of lids for covering the box are opened downward, and the rear end of the preceding lid comes into contact with the front end of the succeeding lid. With the placed chute and the lower end of the front flap of the frontmost lid on this chute positioned below the upper end of the front wall of the box on the conveyor, the lid is prevented from descending and is conveyed by the conveyor. When the front wall of the box that comes in contact with the lower end of the front flap of the earliest lid, the automatic lid is provided with a stopper that releases the stop and allows only the foremost lid to be pulled out. Covering device. 2. The stopper is provided with a pair of stopper claws arranged on both sides of the front end of the chute so as to face each other with the chute interposed therebetween, and the base ends of the stopper claws are attached to the chute. A rotatably pivotable shaft about a right angle with respect to the chute, and by being urged by a spring, its tip is positioned at a predetermined height above the chute toward the center of the chute. Item 1. The automatic lid covering device according to item 1. 3. The stopper is provided in the vicinity of the stopper and at the rear of the stopper, penetrates into the frontmost lid through its lower opening, abuts against the inner surface of the lateral flap of the lid, and expands it outward. The automatic lid-covering device according to claim 1, further comprising a lateral flap opening mechanism that retreats from the inside of the lid. 4. Arranged on both sides of the box on the conveyor,
A lid drop prevention guide for preventing the lower end of the front flap of the lid pulled out from the chute from falling below a predetermined height above the box until the rear flap of the lid falls to the rear side of the box. The automatic lid covering device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that: 5. A lateral holding mechanism for contacting the outer surfaces of both side walls of the box on the conveyor so as to align the box in the same posture at the center of the conveyor and at the same time correct the bulging of the both side walls. The automatic lid covering device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that: 6. The automatic lid-covering device according to claim 5, wherein the lateral holding mechanism comprises a pair of belts that come into contact with the outer surfaces of both side walls of the box and move in the same direction as the conveyor at the same speed. .