JPH09207918A - Building-up method for folding type container and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the upper frame from interfering with the side plate in the upper frame by warping inward, when a folding type container under a folded state is hoisted. SOLUTION: When this folding type container 1 under a folded state, is hoisted by gripping the upper frame 6, and the folding of right and left side plates 4, 5 is extended by a gravity action such as the self weight of a bottom plate 7, and at the same time, the leading ends of front and rear side plates are opened downward, the gripping of the upper frame 6 is performed in such a manner that a pair of right and left pressing arms 49, 50 are pressed to the internal surfaces of the right and let frame plates 4, 5 so that the pair of the pressing arms 49, 50 may be braced between the right and left frame plates 4, 5 of the upper frame 6, to prevent the upper frame 6 from warping inward.

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 method and device for assembling a foldable container stored in a foldable state into a box shape from the foldable state and supplying the foldable container to a container transport line or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In distribution centers and the like, it has become an important issue to improve the efficiency of sorting operations for packing various kinds of products into containers, which are box-shaped containers, for each product type or for each delivery destination. By the way, as a container used for sorting products and the like, a container having a foldable structure is widely used so that the container can be stored compactly when not in use.

FIG. 5 shows an example of such a foldable container. As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional foldable container 1 includes front, rear, left and right frame plate portions 2, 3,
An upper frame 6 having a rectangular frame structure by 4, 5 and a rectangular bottom plate 7, and an upper end thereof is pin-connected to the front frame plate portion 2 of the upper frame 6, and the pin connecting portion is used as a rotation center. A front side plate 11 that is a first side plate that can be folded into the upper frame 6 by rotation, and an upper end thereof is pin-connected to the rear frame plate part 3 of the upper frame 6 so that the pin connection part serves as a rotation center. A rear side plate 12 that is a second side plate that can be folded into the upper frame 6 by rotation.
A left side plate 8 which is a third side plate whose upper end is rotatably connected to the left frame plate part 4 of the upper frame 6 and whose lower end is rotatably connected to the left side edge of the bottom plate 7, and The right frame 9 is a fourth side plate that is rotatably connected to the right frame plate part 5 of the upper frame 6 and has a lower end rotatably connected to the right edge of the bottom plate 7. Each of the side plates 8 and 9 is configured to be foldable below the front and rear side plates 11 and 12 which are folded in first with the middle portion thereof folded in the middle.

In this foldable container 1, the front and rear and left and right side plates 11, 12, 8, 9 are folded so that the left and right side plates 8, 9 overlap under the front and rear side plates 11, 12 which have been previously folded. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5A, the folded state is flat and vertically small and bulky.

In order to assemble the folding container 1 in the folded state into a box shape, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the front and rear frame plate portions 2 and 3 are grasped and pulled up. Then, the folded left side plates 8 and 9 are stretched due to the weight of the bottom plate 7 and the like, and are brought into an upright state. Then, FIG.
As shown in (c) of FIG. 5, the front and rear side plates 11 and 12 that have been in the folded state are rotated so as to be pushed down and the front and rear side plates 11 and 12 are erected. Is completed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, in order to hold it at the time of assembly or the like, notches 14 for inserting fingers are formed in the front and rear frame plate portions 2 and 3 of the upper frame 6 and the front and rear side plates 11 and 12. The opening 15 is equipped. Also,
Engagement recesses 17 are formed on the outer surfaces of the left and right frame plate portions 4, 5 of the upper frame 6 for use in transporting the foldable container 1, automatic assembly, and the like.

The foldable container 1 described above can be manually assembled into a box shape as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, but the products are sorted at a distribution center or the like. When used for other purposes, the assembly of the foldable container 1 is usually automated in order to improve workability and save labor.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show a conventional apparatus for assembling the folding container 1 from the folded state into a box shape. The assembling apparatus 20 shown here is a fair fair 5-
As disclosed in 20646, a transport line 21 that transports the foldable container 1, a container gripping mechanism 23 that is mounted at a fixed position on the transport line 21 and that grips the upper frame 6 of the container 1, A lifting mechanism 24 that lifts the container 1 by moving the container gripping mechanism 23 up and down.
And the front and rear side plates 11 with respect to the container 1 suspended by the container gripping mechanism 23 and the lifting mechanism 24,
12 is pushed open and the front, rear, left and right side plates 8, 9,
The push mechanism 25 is provided to bring 11 and 12 into a completely assembled and completely assembled state.

A roller conveyor or the like is used for the transfer line 21, for example. Then, the container 1 is transported on the transport line 21 with the front end of the box facing forward in the transport direction. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the container gripping mechanism 23 inserts the hook 26 into the engaging recesses 17 formed in the left and right frame plate portions 4 and 5 of the upper frame 6 of the container 1,
Lock. Each hook 26 is provided so as to be rotatable in the width direction of the transfer line 21 on a frame 27 that is vertically moved by the vertically moving mechanism 24.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the push mechanism 25 is provided with a pair of push bars 28, 28 which are pressed against the front and rear side plates 11, 12 of the container 1 held by the hooks 26. is there. The pair of push bars 28, 28 are supported by the support column 29 in a state in which the tips of the push bars 28, 28 are open. The support column 29 is vertically installed from a ceiling portion of a device frame 30 that supports the container gripping mechanism 23 so as to be able to move up and down.

In the above assembling apparatus 20, when the container 1 is conveyed to the fixed position on the conveying line 21, the container grasping mechanism 23 is caused to grasp the container 1, and then the container 1 is grasped.
The container 1 is lifted by raising the container gripping mechanism 23 by the elevating mechanism 24. The push mechanism 25 is provided above the container 1 that is lifted by the cooperation of the container gripping mechanism 23 and the lifting mechanism 24. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, when the container 1 is lifted, the push bars 28 of the push mechanism 25 are correspondingly moved to the front and rear side plates 1 of the container 1.
The front and rear side plates 11, which are in contact with 1 and 12, are folded.
Push 12 so that it is in a standing state.

When the pair of push bars 28, 28 bring the front and rear side plates 11, 12 completely upright, the assembly is completed, the container gripping mechanism 23 is lowered, and the bottom plate 7 of the container 1 is placed on the transfer line 21. Then, the hooks 26 of the container gripping mechanism 23 are removed from the container 1 and the next container 1 is waited for.

[0012]

However, as described above, in the method of hooking the hook 26 on the outer surface of the container 1, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. The left and right frame plate portions 4 and 5 are bent inward, and the bent left and right frame plate portions 4 and 5 interfere with the front and rear side plates 11 and 12 which are folded inside thereof, so that the front and rear side plates 1
The process of opening 1 and 12 may not be performed smoothly.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and when the upper frame of the folding container in the folded state is gripped and lifted, the upper frame bends inward and the inner side of the upper frame. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for assembling a foldable container that can quickly and reliably push open the front, rear, left, and right side plates without interfering with the front and rear side plates folded in the direction.

[0014]

The above object of the present invention is to provide opposed first and second side plates (front and rear side plates) which are pivotally supported by the upper frame and whose other end is a free end, and adjacent to the side plates. A method of assembling a foldable container having third and fourth side plates (left and right side plates) supported by a mating upper frame and a bottom plate and foldable at an intermediate portion, the upper part of the container being in a folded state. The frame is pushed open from the inside by a pair of arms, grasped and lifted up, and the folding of the third and fourth side plates (left and right side plates) is extended by the weight of the bottom plate and the side plates, and the first and second side plates (front and rear). The free end of the side plate is opened downward, and the pair of left and right push bars
And the second side plates (front and rear side plates) are pressed against the inner surfaces of the free ends to open to complete the supporting state of the first and second side plates (front and rear side plates) between the upper frame and the bottom plate. This is achieved by the method of assembling the collapsible container.

Here, in the above-mentioned method of the present invention, at the first position on the transfer line, the pair of arms pushes and opens from the inside against the upper frame of the container in the folded state, and holds and lifts the bottom plate and the side plate. After extending the folds of the third and fourth side plates (left and right side plates) by their own weight and opening the free ends of the first and second side plates (front and rear side plates) downward, after assembling them into a substantially box shape, At the second position on the transfer line after the pre-assembly process in which the grip of the upper frame is released and the state where the upper frame can be transferred by the transfer line is restored, and the pair of push bars that have entered into the container are used. It is also achieved by a method of assembling a foldable container, which comprises a final assembling step in which the front and rear side plates are pushed apart so that the front, rear, left and right side plates are completely erected.

Further, the above object of the present invention and a method for achieving the same are the first and second side plates (front and rear side plates) opposed to each other, which are pivotally supported by the upper frame and whose other end is a free end. An assembling device of a foldable container having third and fourth side plates (left and right side plates) which are adjacent to each other and supported by an upper frame and a bottom plate and can be bent at an intermediate portion, the container being provided with a predetermined path. For the transport line for transporting with, and for the container transported in the folded state to the pre-assembly unit on the transport line, a pair of arms that push open the upper frame from the inside and hold it, and move the entire arm upward. A container gripping mechanism that lifts the upper frame to open the container into a substantially box shape, and then moves the arm from the inside of the container to release the grip of the upper frame and enable the container to be transported. The container is transferred to the final assembly part on the transfer line through the pre-assembly part and enters the substantially box-shaped container to spread the inner surfaces of the free ends of the first and second side plates (front and rear side plates). And a pair of push bars that bring the side plates to a completely upright assembled state, and a foldable container assembling apparatus. Further, in the case of the pre-assembled portion 34 of this one embodiment, in order to assist the grasping by the pair of pressing arms 49, 50, the pre-assembled portion 34 is brought into contact with the outer surfaces of the left and right frame plate portions 4, 5 at a position facing the plate member 74. A grip assist cylinder 76 is provided on the left and right.

According to the above-described configuration of the method and apparatus of the present invention, when the upper frame of the container in the folded state is held by the arms of the container gripping mechanism so as to be pushed open from the inside and the container is lifted, the container gripping mechanism causes the upper part to rise. The pressing force that acts to widen the frame is a force that causes the upper frame to bend outward, and therefore the inconvenience that the upper frame interferes with the front and rear side plates folded inside thereof does not occur.

As described above, in the assembling process of the foldable container, a pre-assembling process in which the upper frame of the foldable container is lifted by gripping from inside to assemble it into a substantially box shape, and a container which has undergone this pre-assembling process is assembled. On the other hand, the final assembly process is performed by pushing the inner surfaces of the front and rear side plates with a push bar to bring the assembly up to a completely assembled state. The preliminary assembling step and the final assembling step can be performed at the same time, or they can be separately performed at different positions. In this case, these two steps can be carried out at the same time on one transfer line of the container, and when processing a plurality of containers, the processing time can be the time for carrying out one step. Since it is possible and one step itself is a simple step, it can be carried out in a short time.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a folding container assembling apparatus for carrying out a folding container assembling method according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a folding container assembling apparatus 30 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1, and FIG.

The assembling apparatus 30 of this embodiment is for assembling the foldable container 1 described above with reference to FIG.
The description of the container 1 is omitted. This assembling device 3
0 is a transport line 3 that transports the container 1 through a predetermined route.
2, a pre-assembly unit 34 installed at a predetermined position on the transfer line 32, and the pre-assembly unit 34 on the transfer line 32.
The final assembling unit 36 is provided on the downstream side (the front side in the carrying direction) by a certain distance from.

The carrying line 32 is a roller conveyor in the case of this embodiment, and carries the front end of the container 1 in the carrying direction (direction shown by arrow (a) in FIG. 1). Stopping, re-starting, and the like of conveyance are controlled by a controller (not shown) so as to interlock with the operations of the pre-assembling unit 34 and the final assembling unit 36.

The preliminary assembling section 34 holds the upper frame 6 of the container 1 so as to open it from the inside with respect to the container 1 which has been conveyed to the first reference position on the conveying line 32 in the folded state. And the left and right side plates 8, 9 and 11, 12 by the own weight of the bottom plate 7 and the side plates 8, 9, 11, 12 of the container 1.
After extending the fold of 9 and opening the front and rear side plates 11 and 12 downwards to assemble them into a substantially box shape, the upper frame 6 is released from the grip and returned to a state in which it can be transported by the transport line 32. . During the operation of the pre-assembly unit 34, the transportation by the transportation line 32 is temporarily stopped.

Whether or not the container 1 has reached the first reference position is detected by the positioning means 40 provided on the support frame 38 for the pre-assembly section 34, and is notified to a controller (not shown). . Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pre-assembly unit 34 is equipped with a container gripping mechanism 41 on a frame 44 that is vertically moved by a first cylinder 42. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 44 includes a pair of pillar portions 45 and 46 which stand on both sides of the container 1 conveyed on the conveyor line 32 while being spaced apart from each other, and upper portions of these pillar portions 45 and 46. It is a gate shape composed of a connecting beam 47, is vertically movably assembled to the support frame 38, and has a central portion of the beam 47 at the first cylinder 42.
And is moved up and down by the first cylinder 42 as shown by the arrow (b) in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The container gripping mechanism 41 has a pair of left and right pressing arms 49, which are rotatably mounted on the support columns 45 and 46 so as to be stretched from the inside between the left and right frame plate portions 4 and 5 of the upper frame 6. The upper frame 6 of the container 1 is gripped by pressing the pressing part 51 at the tip of the container 50 against the inner surfaces of the left and right frame plate parts 4, 5 of the container 1. The position where the pressing portion 51 is pressed is the middle of the left and right frame plate portions 4 and 5 in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. 4 described later. A pair of pressing arms 4
9, 50 are the support columns 45, 46 by the shafts 52, 53.
Is rotatably supported by these pressing arms 4
The rods 55 and 56 connected to the base ends of the rods 9 and 50 are pivotally operated by the reciprocating motion, and at the time of standby, the rod 55 and 56 are moved to the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. evacuate.

The upper ends of the rods 55 and 56 are pin-coupled to arm members 60 and 61 fixed to both ends of a connecting shaft 58 which is inserted through the beam 47, and the rods 55 and 56 are rotated by the rotation of the connecting shaft 58. Move back and forth together. As shown in FIG. 3, the left arm member 60 includes the left support column 45.
The rod of the second cylinder 63 mounted on the upper part of the second cylinder 63 is connected to the left arm member 60.
The connection shaft 58 is rotated by rotating the.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressing portion 51 provided at the tip of the pressing arms 49 and 50 prevents the left and right frame plate portions 4 and 5 from being excessively pressed when being gripped. A plate member 74 that comes into contact with the inner surfaces of the left and right frame plate portions 4 and 5 is elastically supported by a spring member 75. Further, in the case of the pre-assembled portion 34 of this one embodiment, in order to assist the grasping by the pair of pressing arms 49, 50, the pre-assembled portion 34 is brought into contact with the outer surfaces of the left and right frame plate portions 4, 5 at a position facing the plate member 74. A grip assist cylinder 76 is provided on the left and right.

As shown in FIG. 1, the final assembling section 36 enters the container 1 which has been conveyed to the second reference position on the conveying line 32 through the preliminary assembling section 34. The front and rear side plates 11 and 12 are pushed apart by the pair of push bars 65 and 66, and the front and rear side plates 8 and 9,
11 and 12 are brought into a completely upright assembled state.
The pair of push bars 65 and 66 are supported by a support member 68 in a state where the tips of the push bars 65 and 66 are open at each other, and as shown by an arrow (C), the support member 68 is
Third cylinder 71 attached to support frame 70 for 6
Can be moved up and down.

In this final assembly section 36, the container 1
Whether or not has reached the second reference position is detected by the positioning means 73 mounted on the support frame 70, and is notified to a control device (not shown). The control device (not shown) controls the transport line 32 based on the notification from the positioning means 40 and 73.
Of the cylinders 42,
The operation of 63, 71 is controlled.

In the assembling apparatus 30 described above, when the container 1 in the folded state is transported to the first reference position on the transport line 32, the transport on the transport line 32 is temporarily stopped,
The pre-assembling unit 34 holds the upper frame 6 and lifts it with respect to the container 1 located at the first reference position, and the bottom plate 7 and the side plates 8, 9, 11, 12 are attached to the left and right side plates 8, The folding of 9 is extended and the front and rear side plates 11, 12
After assembling it into a box shape by opening the tip of
A pre-assembly process is performed in which the upper frame 6 is released from the grip and returned to a state in which the upper frame 6 can be transported by the transport line 32. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the container 1 indicated by the chain double-dashed line is
The height of lifting by the first cylinder 42 is shown.

When the pre-assembling process by the pre-assembling unit 34 is completed, the transportation by the transportation line 32 is started again. Then, when the container 1 that has undergone the preliminary assembly process is transported to the second reference position on the transport line 32, the transport on the transport line 32 is temporarily stopped, and the final assembly section 36 is positioned at the second reference position. Container 1
On the other hand, the front and rear side plates 11, 12 are pushed open by a pair of push bars 65, 66 which have entered the container 1, and the front, rear, left and right side plates 8, 9, 11, 12 are completely assembled in an assembled state. A final assembly process is performed.

The preliminary assembling process by the preliminary assembling unit 34 and the final assembling process by the final assembling unit 36 are actually carried out at the same timing and at the same time. Then, when the final assembling process by the final assembling unit 36 is completed, the assembled container 1 is carried out to a predetermined shipping unit by the carrying line 32.

As is clear from the above description, in the assembly by the assembling apparatus 30 according to the embodiment, when the container holding mechanism 41 holds the upper frame 6 of the container 1 in the folded state and the container 1 is lifted, The pressing force F acting on the upper frame 6 from the gripping mechanism 41 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the force acts to bend the upper frame 6 outward, so that the front and rear side plates 1 in which the upper frame 6 is folded inside thereof
The inconvenience of interfering with 1 and 12 does not occur, and the front, rear, left and right side plates 8, 9, 11, 12 can be pushed open quickly and surely.

Further, the assembling process of the container 1 is divided into a pre-assembling process by the pre-assembling unit 34 and a final assembling process by the final assembling unit 36. These two processes are carried by one container 1. It can be carried out at the same time on the line 32, and the processing time is the time for carrying out one process, and reliable assembly can be realized.
It is also possible to improve the assembly workability.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pre-assembly section 34 and the final assembly section 36 are arranged so as to be displaced from each other.
As in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 6, it may be possible to provide the final assembly section above the container gripping mechanism.

[0035]

According to the method and apparatus for assembling the foldable container of the present invention, the upper frame of the foldable container in the folded state is held by the container holding mechanism, and when the container is lifted, the upper frame is pulled from the container holding mechanism. Since the pressing force that acts on the inside from the inside is a force that bends the upper frame outward, the inconvenience of the upper frame interfering with the front and rear side plates folded inside does not occur, and the front, rear, left, and right side plates can be quickly moved. It can be pushed open securely. Also,
In the process of assembling the foldable container, hold the upper frame of the foldable container and lift it up to extend the folds of the left and right side plates by the action of gravity and open the front and rear side plates to the bottom to prepare a nearly box-shaped assembly. Assembling process and for the container that has gone through this pre-assembling process, the front and rear side plates are spread by a pair of push bars that have entered into the container, and the front and rear, and left and right side plates are completely erected, and final assembly is performed. The process is divided into
These two steps can be carried out at the same time on one transfer line of the container, and the processing time is the time for carrying out one step, so that reliable assembly can be realized. It is also possible to improve the sex.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view on arrow C in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a foldable container.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional folding container assembling apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a container holding mechanism in a conventional folding container assembling apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a push mechanism in a conventional folding container assembling apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a problem that occurs when assembled by a conventional folding container assembling apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 container 4,5 left and right frame plate part 6 upper frame 8,9 left and right side plates (third and fourth side plates) 11,12 front and rear side plates (first and second side plates) 30 assembly device 32 transfer line 34 spare Assembly part 36 Final assembly part 38 Support frame 40 Positioning means 41 Container gripping mechanism 42 First cylinder 44 Frame 49, 50 Pressing arm 51 Pressing part 63 Second cylinder 65, 66 Pair of push bars 68 Supporting member 70 Supporting frame 71 Third cylinder

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. First and second side plates (11, 12) opposed to each other, which are pivotally supported by the upper frame (6) and whose other end is a free end, and an upper frame adjacent to the side plates (11, 12). A method of assembling a foldable container (1) having third and fourth side plates (8, 9) which are supported by (6) and a bottom plate (7) and can be bent at an intermediate portion, in a folded state. The upper frame (6) of the container (1) in (1) is pushed open from inside by a pair of arms (49, 50), grasped and lifted, and the bottom plate (7) and side plates (8, 9, 11,
12) The folding of the third and fourth side plates (8, 9) is extended by the weight of the first and second side plates (11, 12).
12) open the free ends downward, and push the pair of left and right push bars (65, 66) against the inner surfaces of the free ends of the first and second side plates (11, 12) to open the upper frame (6). ) And the bottom plate (7), the supporting state of the first and second side plates (11, 12) is completed, and the assembling method of the folding container. 2. First and second side plates (11, 12) opposed to each other and axially supported by the upper frame (6) and having the other end being a free end, and an upper frame adjacent to the side plates (11, 12). An assembling device of a foldable container (1) having third and fourth side plates (8, 9) supported by (6) and a bottom plate (7) and foldable at an intermediate portion, the container comprising: For the container (1) that has been conveyed in a folded state to the conveyor line (32) that conveys (1) along a predetermined path and the pre-assembly section (34) on the conveyor line (32), an upper frame ( 6) The pair of arms (4
9 and 50) and the entire arm (49, 50) is moved upward to lift the upper frame (6) to open the container (1) into a substantially box shape, and then the arm (49, 50) is opened. A container holding mechanism (41) that moves the container (1) from the inside to release the upper frame (6) at the same time when the container (1) can be transferred, and a transfer line via the preliminary assembly section (34). The first and second side plates (1) that have been transferred to the final assembly section (36) above the (32) enter the container (1) opened in a substantially box shape.
1, 12) spreads the inner surface of the free end of the side plate (11, 1)
An apparatus for assembling a collapsible container, comprising: a pair of push bars (65, 66) for completely assembling the item 2).