JPH10278964A - Cup-shaped container packaging body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To package cup-shaped containers into a state which can be easily fed to a filling machine using those containers. SOLUTION: A plurality of cup-shaped container stacks 12 are pinched from the top and the bottom by upper and lower stack holding plates 13, 14. Under a state wherein the stacks 12 are arranged in a manner to form lines in the longitudinal and lateral directions respectively, fitting parts 43 for the positioning of the stack upper ends, which are fitted on the upper ends of the stacks 12, are provided on the upper stack holding plate 13, and fitting parts 44 for the positioning of the stack lower ends, which are fitted on the lower ends of the stacks 12, are provided on the lower stack holding plate 14 respectively. Then, the cup-shaped container stacks 12, and the upper and lower stack holding plates 13, 14 are collected into one solid body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for transporting a stack of a plurality of cup-shaped containers for filling dessert foods such as pudding, jelly and yogurt from a container molding maker to a dessert food maker. The present invention relates to a container and a package used for a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a container package of this type, a package box is known in which a plurality of cup-shaped container stacks are accommodated in a packaging box, and each stack is placed in a pollution prevention film bag.

[0003]

When dessert food manufacturers use containers, they open the packaging box by hand, take out stacks one by one from bags, and supply them to a filling machine. This was inefficient. In particular, when the filling machine is operated at a high speed, there is a possibility that the supply may not be performed in time by manual operation, and the supply operation may be difficult.

[0004] If the stack removal operation is automated, large labor savings can be achieved, but at present it is difficult to achieve automation. The following are conceivable factors that hinder automation. First, the arrangement of the stacks contained in the packaging boxes is irregular, making the stacks difficult to handle mechanically. Second, since the plurality of containers constituting one stack are merely superposed, the state of the removed stack is unstable, such as the stack being easily warped.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cup-shaped container package in which a cup-shaped container is packaged in a form easily supplied to a filling machine using the same.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cup-shaped container package comprising two stack holding plates serving as a top plate and a bottom plate, and a plurality of cup-shaped container stacks sandwiched between the holding plates. And a package in which three or more stack holding plates and a plurality of cup-shaped container stacks sandwiched between each of the holding plates are integrally fixed, That is, between the stack holding plate serving as the top plate and the stack holding plate serving as the bottom plate, a plurality of cup-shaped container stacks are held in multiple stages via the stack holding plate, and the package body in which they are integrally fixed is placed. Can be mentioned.

In the cup-shaped container package according to the third aspect, the fitting portion for positioning the upper end of the stack and the fitting portion for positioning the lower end of the stack in the stack holding plate are formed in a concave portion or a convex portion so as to correspond to the carrier guide plate. It is preferable that these positioning fitting portions are provided in a grid pattern so as to correspond to a plurality of rows, particularly a carrier guide plate, according to the specification of the cup filling machine,
That is, it is preferable to provide concave portions or convex portions in a grid pattern so that the carrier guide plate can be inserted between the cup-shaped container stacks.

In the cup-shaped container package according to the fourth aspect, as a method of integrally fixing the stack holding plate and a plurality of cup-shaped container stacks sandwiched between the stack holding plates, a band such as a polypropylene A method of binding with a synthetic resin band or a synthetic resin film, for example, a method of clamping using a plurality of U-shaped fixtures made of synthetic resin having a certain degree of rigidity, a method of packaging with a stretch film, a shrink film, A method of shrink-wrapping, a method of folding and packaging a film or wrapping paper, a method of storing in a packaging box, or a method combining these methods, for example,
For example, a method of folding a film tied by a band and wrapping the film, or a method of storing a shrink wrapped product in a packaging box can be exemplified.

[0009] The bulk package according to claim 5 is a package in which a plurality of the cup-shaped container packages are packaged together, and the package may be in any form. In order to facilitate transportation of the cup-shaped container package to a user, such as a food manufacturing factory, a plurality of cup-shaped container packages are arranged in a square,
It is preferable that the same number of cup-shaped container packages are sequentially stacked in several stages on top of each other, and then wrapped together by binding with a synthetic resin stretch film or the like.

In this case, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a partition plate may be provided between the steps.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic form of a cup-shaped container package W0.

The package W0 of the basic form is composed of 36 stacks 12 arranged in six rows in front and rear and left and right, an upper stack holding plate 13 sandwiching these stacks 12 from above and below, and a lower stack holding plate 13. The stack holding plate 14 is provided.

The stack 12 is formed by stacking a large number of cup-shaped containers 31 in upper and lower stages. The number of the containers 31 constituting one stack 12 is, for example, 40. The number of stacks 12 to be arranged is appropriately changed according to the capacity of a filling machine that supplies the stacks 12 and the like.

Referring to FIG. 2, the container 31 is made of paper or plastic and has a lower tapered body wall 32 and a bottom wall 33 connected to the lower end thereof. A flange 34 is provided at the upper edge of the opening of the body wall 32. A skirt 35 is provided to extend the lower end of the trunk wall 32.

Similarly, FIG. 2 shows the upper stack holding plate 13 and the lower stack holding plate 14 in detail.

The upper stack holding plate 13 is made of a thin plastic molded product. A skirt 41 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the stack holding plate 13. 3 inside the skirt 41
Thirty-six vertical cross-section substantially U-shaped lower bulging portions which are arranged in a row in the front-rear and left-right directions corresponding to the six stacks 12
42 are formed. The pitch P between the front and rear and left and right rows of the bulging portion 42 is the same and is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the container flange 34. Therefore, a gap C is formed between the rows of the adjacent stacks 12. The downward bulging part 42 is
The stack 12 is fitted into the upper end opening of the uppermost container 31 to form the fitting projection 43. Note that the pitch P of the rows of the bulging portions 42 may be changed mutually in the front-back and left-right rows. Further, for example, in six rows in the left-right direction, the pitch between the third and fourth rows from the left may be larger than the pitch of the other rows. In addition, the number of columns in the front-rear and left-right directions may not be the same, and can be changed as appropriate.

The lower stack holding plate 14 is an upper stack holding plate.
13 has the same shape as that of the upper stack holding plate 13. The bulging portion 42 of the lower stack holding plate 14 is fitted over the bottom of the lowermost container 31 of the stack 12 to form a fitting concave portion 44.

The upper ends of all the 36 stacks 12 are fitted with the fitting projections 43 to position the upper ends of the stacks 12, and the lower ends of the stacks 12 are fitted with the fitting recesses 44. The lower end of the stack 12 is positioned.

The package W0 in the basic form described above is fixed so as to be grouped together by various fixing means described below, so that various final forms of the package are obtained. FIG. 3 shows the first package W1 in the final form. In this embodiment, a package W0 in a basic form is fixed by a binding band 21 made of polypropylene. Band 21
Is wound vertically at two positions in the front-rear direction and at one position in the left-right direction of the package W0 in the basic form so as to pass over the upper stack holding plate 13 and the lower stack holding plate 14, and The stack 12 is clamped from above and below by the 13 and the lower stack holding plate 14.

FIG. 4 shows the second package W2 in the final form. In the second package W2, a plastic film 22 is used instead of the band 21.

FIG. 5 shows the third package W3 in the final form. In the third package W3, the stretch film 23
Is used. The stretch film 23 is wound in a lateral direction so as to cover the entire peripheral surface of the package W0 in the basic form, and a part of the stretch film 23 is also hung on the upper stack holding plate 13 and the lower stack holding plate 14.

In the final package W4 shown in FIG. 6, a pair of fixtures 24 are used. The fixture 24 is made of a plastic molded product formed in a U-shaped vertical section. At both front and rear ends, both fixing devices 24 are stopped by the upper stack holding plate 13 and the lower stack holding plate 14.

In FIG. 7, the fifth package W5 in the final form is shown.
Is entirely covered with a shrink film 25.

In FIG. 8, instead of the shrink film 25,
A sixth package W6 in a final form using a plastic or paper film 26 folded so as to cover the entire peripheral surface of the package W0 in the basic form is shown.

FIG. 9 shows a seventh package W7 in the final form. The basic package W0 is placed in a plastic bag 27.

In FIG. 10, the package W0 of the basic form is shown.
Is stored in the packaging box 28, so that the eighth
A package W8 is formed. The packaging box 28 is made of a cubic cardboard box, and has a size that accommodates the stack 12 and the upper and lower stack holding plates 13 and 14 without creating a dead space. The material of the packaging box 28 may be plastic or paper. Opposing side walls of the packaging box 28 are each opened. Lids 28a are respectively provided on the four sides of the opening edge. Package W8
For example, when transporting, the lid 28a is closed.

When the basic package W0 is stored in the storage box 28, the package W0 may be covered with the shrink film 25 in advance like the fifth package W5. Then, the ninth package W in the final form shown in FIG.
9

The package W0 of the above-described basic form is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. The package W0 'in the basic form according to this modified example includes an upper stack holding plate 13
A plurality of stacks 12 are vertically stacked in two stages between the lower stack holding plate 14 and the lower stack holding plate 14. A partition plate 29 having the same shape as the stack holding plates 13 and 14 is interposed between the upper stack 12 and the lower stack 12. The package W0 'in the basic form according to this modified example is one of the above-mentioned fixing means,
Or fixed by a combination. FIG.
Shows a bulk package W11 in which any of the packages W in the final form described above is packaged together. Stand 11
A plurality of packages W are stacked in a plurality of stages on 1. A top plate 112 is placed on the uppermost package W. A partition plate 113 is provided between adjacent stages of the package W.
Is interposed. The package W, the stand 111, the top plate 112, and the partition plate 113 are packaged by a stretch film 114 so as to be united. In addition, the package W,
Before packing the table 111, the top plate 112, and the partition plate 113 with a stretch film, they may be bundled with a binding band and then packed with a stretch film.

Next, the procedure for supplying the container to the filling machine is as follows.
The case where the eighth package W8 and the fifth package W5 in the final form are used will be described as an example.

Referring to FIG. 14, the filling machine 61 comprises a container transport conveyor 62 having six forwardly extending transport paths.
And a container supply magazine 63 disposed above the transport path thereof, and a supply device 64 for supplying the stack 12 thereto.

The magazine 63 has a vertical fixed guide 71 for guiding the stack 12 downward so that the stack 12 is restricted from moving in the radial direction, but is free to move in the axial direction. The stacks 12 in the fixed guides 71 are sequentially taken out one by one from the lowermost container 31 by a picker (not shown) and supplied to the conveyor 62.

The supply device 64 includes a stocker 72 that accommodates the stacks 12 arranged in six rows in an inclined position slightly inclined forward.
And a lifter 73 that lifts the stack 12 in the stocker 72 to above the stocker 72, and a stack lifted by the lifter 73
And a movable guide 74 for accommodating 12 and transporting it above the fixed guide 71.

The stocker 72 has vertical plate-shaped fixed guide plates 75 provided in parallel with each other at intervals slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stack 12.

The movable guide 74 is provided with a horizontal guide rail 76 provided from above the fixed guide 71 to above the stocker 72.
It can move freely and swing up and down. Movable guide
The lower end of 74 has a stopper 77 that is removably engaged with the lower end of the stack 12 housed therein.

Behind the filling machine 61, a package conveying conveyor 81 is provided.
Is arranged. The packing material transport conveyor 81 includes a filling machine 61.
Is located immediately after the discharge station S, and has a transport path extending in the left-right direction through the discharge station S. A pusher 82 is disposed at the discharge station S. The pusher 82 is horizontally movable between the discharge station S and its rear position. A vertical rotation shaft 83 is provided between the filling machine 61 and the discharge station S. At the upper end of the rotating shaft 83, a horizontal turntable 84 is provided. On the upper surface of the turntable 84, a horizontal guide rail 85 is provided. A slide block 86 is supported on the guide rail 85. A carrier 88 is attached to the slide block 86 by a horizontal pin 87 orthogonal to the guide rail 85 so as to be vertically swingable.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 15 and 16, the carriers 88 are arranged in parallel at a distance slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stack 12, and extend in the same direction as the length of the guide rail 85. The movable guide plate 91 includes a movable guide plate 91 and a stopper plate 92 that extends orthogonally to these base ends. The movable guide plate 91 has a thickness that is loosely inserted into the gap C between the rows of the stack 12. At the lower end of the guide plate 91, a horizontal flange-shaped engaging portion 93 is provided. The width of the engaging portion 93 is larger than the gap C.

An eighth package W is provided on the package conveyor 81.
8 on top. The lids 28a on both sides of the package W8 are already open, and the openings are directed in the front-back direction.

The pusher 82 is on standby at the retreat limit. Guide rail 85 directs its length in the front-back direction,
In this state, the slide block 86 is positioned at the forward limit. The carrier 88 is held in a horizontal position.

When the package W8 is carried into the discharge station S, the pusher 82 is advanced. The advancing pusher 82 is inserted into the packaging box 28, whereby the stack 12 is pushed out of the packaging box 28 onto the turntable 84 while being sandwiched between the upper and lower stack holding plates 13, 14. . This allows the carrier to be inserted into the gap C
88 movable guide plates 91 are inserted except for those at both ends.

In this state, the carrier 88 is inclined so that the tip of the movable guide plate 91 becomes higher. Then, the engaging portion 93 of the movable guide plate 91 is engaged with the adjacent flange 34 of the lowermost container 31 of the stack,
The entire stack 12 is lifted and the stack 12 is held on the carrier 88 (FIG. 17).

The lower end of the stack 12 comes out of the fitting recess 44 of the lower stack holding plate 14, and the upper stack holding plate
After the fitting projection 43 of 13 is pulled out from the mouth of the container 31 at the uppermost stage of the stack 12, the lower stack holding plate 14 together with the upper stack holding plate 13 is collected by appropriate means.

Next, the turntable 84 is rotated by 180 degrees, and the slide block 86 is moved toward the opposite end of the guide rail 85. Then, the carrier 88 is tilted so that the tip of the movable guide plate 91 is lowered (FIG. 18). Then, the stack 12 held by the carrier 88 slides all at once, and the stack falls.
12 is held in the stocker 72.

In order to supply the stack 12 held by the stocker 72 to the conveyor 62, the movable guide 74 is kept above the stocker 72 in the same inclined position as the stack 12 in the stocker 72 and is kept on standby. By operating the lifter 73, the stack 12 in the stocker 72 is lifted and housed in the movable guide 74. The movable guide 74 is moved above the fixed guide 71 by operating the stopper 77 so that the stack 12 does not fall from the inside of the movable guide 74. If the movable guide 74 is in the same vertical position as the fixed guide 71 and the stopper 77 is released, the movable guide
The stack 12 falls in 74 and is transferred to the fixed guide 71.

Next, a procedure for supplying the fifth package W5 using the shrink film 25 to the filling machine 61 will be described with reference to FIG.

A film peeling table 101 is provided between the package conveyor 81 and the turntable 84 described above. A holding plate 102 is arranged above the film stripping table 101 so as to be able to move up and down. A fifth package W5 is placed on the package transport conveyor 81.

When the fifth package W5 is carried into the discharge station S, the fifth package W5 is operated by the operation of the pusher 82.
Is extruded from above the conveyor 81 to above the film stripping table 101. The presser plate 102 is lowered to press the fifth package W5 from above the stack holding plate 13. Then, the film 25 is cut and removed by appropriate means. When the film 25 is removed, the holding plate 102 is raised. Then, the movable guide plate 91 of the carrier 88 is inserted into the gap C of the stack 12 by moving the carrier 88 backward. As in the above case, when the carrier 88 is inclined, the stack 12 is held by the carrier 88, and the stack holding plates 13 and 14 can be collected. The carrier 88 is moved to the forward limit. Thereafter, the procedure for transferring the stack 12 to the stocker 72 is the same as the case where the shrink film is not used.

[0048]

According to the present invention, a cup-shaped container can be packed in a form that can be easily supplied to a filling machine using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a basic form of a package according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view of the package.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a final package of the first package according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second package.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the third package.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fourth package.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fifth package.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sixth package.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the seventh package.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the eighth package.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the ninth package.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the package of the basic mode.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a bulk package using a final package.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a filling machine for supplying the package and an apparatus for carrying the package into the filling machine.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a carrier used in the carrying-in device.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a stack supply operation by the carry-in device.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of the loading operation following FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a supply operation of a package according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Stack 13 Stack holding plate 14 Stack holding plate 43 Fitting projection 44 Fitting recess W Packaging

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A stack holding plate and a plurality of cup-shaped container stacks sandwiched between the stack holding plates are integrally fixed, and fitted on one surface of the stack holding plate with an upper end of the cup-shaped container stack. And a stack lower end positioning fitting portion capable of fitting to the lower end of the cup-shaped container stack is provided on the other surface of the stack holding plate. Cup-shaped container package. 2. The cup-shaped container package according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cup-shaped container stacks are sandwiched between three or more stack holding plates. 3. The stack-top positioning fitting section and the stack bottom-position positioning fitting section each include a concave or convex portion formed in a grid pattern so as to correspond to the carrier guide plate. Cup-shaped container package. 4. One or two or more fixing methods selected from banding or banding, clamping with a U-shaped fixing device, stretch film packaging, folding packaging, or storage in a packaging box. The cup-shaped container package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is fixed. 5. A bulk package in which a plurality of the cup-shaped container packages according to claim 1 are packaged together.