JPH1053220A - Device for taking out and lowering semi-rigid carton - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for taking out and lowering a semi-rigid carton in which a carton can be put into a pocket on a conveyor, while the carton keeps its proper shape. SOLUTION: The device for taking out and lowering a semi-rigid carton 1 includes a storage part 4 for accommodating a plurality of cartons 2 in a substantially flattened state, a carton delivery station 6 disposed below the storage part 4, and a takeout device 11 which is located between the part 4 and the station 6 and rotates about a horizontal shaft 9. The device 11 includes a plurality of grip members 22 which are disposed around the shaft 9 to continuously take out the flattened cartons 2 from the part 4, and a plurality of pneumatic bending devices 58 which give a paralelepipedic shape to the cartons 2 in cooperation with a pneumatic grip head 23 of each grip member 22. The grip head 23, in cooperation with the devices 58, grips the flattened cartons 2 and feeds them continuously from the part 4, and opened cartons 2 are put into one of the pockets 8 of the conveyor 7 at the station 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a semi-rigid carton unloading / unloading device.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to pack products inside a semi-rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped rectangular bottom carton with a tubular body substantially defined by a parallelepiped. The carton is closed by an end tab at the free edge of the tubular body. Such cartons are generally formed from a substantially rectangular blank of cardboard or similar material. The blank has a plurality of folds provided in advance to define a plurality of panels. In order to save space, the finished carton is stored in a substantially flat folded state, so that the rectangular bottom has a substantially flat oblong shape. Then, before the carton can be filled with product, the tubular body must be restored to its parallelepiped shape. In the present specification, such a restoration operation is simply referred to as “opening a carton”.

[0003] To do this, a plurality of flat cartons are removed from the stack by a plurality of pneumatically actuated gripping heads, and each instrument (hereinafter referred to as a "bend") opens the cartons along an arc. Devices are known which feed open cartons by gravity into respective pockets on endless conveyors. The opened cartons are sent to a work station by an endless conveyor to be filled with a given product.

[0004]

Each carton tends to return to its original flat shape as it falls into each pocket on the conveyor. Even if the desired shape is maintained, each carton may move, and may lose its proper shape or deviate from the optimal position to receive the product before reaching the work station.

An object of the present invention is to provide a semi-rigid carton unloading / unloading device configured to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for removing and lowering a plurality of semi-rigid cartons, each having a substantially parallelepiped tubular body. The carton, comprising: a storage section for accommodating the plurality of cartons in a substantially flat state in each of the tubular bodies; and a first conveyor disposed below the storage section and having a plurality of equally spaced pockets. And a dispensing device arranged beside the reservoir and rotating about a first horizontal axis, the dispensing device being arranged around the first axis. A plurality of pneumatic gripping members for continuously removing the flat carton, and a plurality of pneumatic folding tools each of which cooperates with each of the gripping members to impart a parallelepiped shape to the tubular body; plural The gripping member and the plurality of folding tools cooperate with each other to grip the plurality of flat cartons from the storage portion and continuously feed each of the cartons onto an adjustable chute, Lowering the carton into one of the pockets at the discharge station.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the unloading / unloading apparatus according to the first aspect, a second conveyor is arranged parallel to the first conveyor, and the second conveyor is mounted on a corresponding one of the pockets. A series of substantially parallel oppositely holding products, each of the boxes having an open top facing the unloading / unloading device and a corresponding open side facing the pocket. U-shaped, wherein each of the cartons comprises a tubular body, with opposite ends of the tubular body being connected to transverse tabs at each short edge of two openings of the tubular body and having two opposite sides of the tubular body. A first long edge of one of the openings and a second long edge of the other one of the openings are connected to the two middle tabs, and the gripping member moves the one middle tab of the carton above the box. And the cart is substantially positioned. An unloading / unloading device configured to lower each of the cartons into each of the pockets at the discharge station, with the lateral tabs positioned outside the box opposite the box. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the unloading / unloading device according to the first or second aspect, a shaft concentric with the first axis supporting the unloading device is provided,
The unloading device comprises an annular body concentric with the shaft that is axially fixedly mounted to the shaft, the annular body going from the reservoir to the discharge station on the opposite side of the first conveyor with respect to the shaft. The shaft, which continuously rotates in the rotation direction and has a predetermined number of internally toothed portions equally spaced around the shaft, has a concentric cylindrical inner edge on the shaft, and the take-out device has the predetermined number of internal teeth. An equal number of radial arms, each of which is rotatably connected to the shaft and includes a pneumatic gripping member for gripping the carton, each of the gripping members being a respective sliding guide. Attached radially to the arms via means, each of the arms having a respective second axis parallel to the shaft and in front of the first axis. A first sector gear rotatably supported between the gripping member and the first sector gear meshes with each of the toothed portions to rotate the arm, and the first sector gear for each of the toothed portions is rotated. First cam means for selectively controlling the swing of the first sector gear to swing each of the arms around the first axis is provided, and the gripping member is positioned at a maximum distance from the first axis. And a second cam means for moving from the position, wherein the first cam means and the second cam means cooperate with each other so that each of the arms swings about the first axis. An unloading / unloading device configured to move the gripping member to the position of the maximum distance and to move from the position when the gripping member moves.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the unloading / unloading device according to the third aspect, wherein the position of the maximum distance selectively removes the carton from the storage section, A discharge position for discharging at the discharge station, wherein the sliding guide means supports at least one radially extending rod attached to each of the arms and the gripping member, and is provided by a circulating ball sleeve. An unloading / unloading device comprising a movable assembly slidably mounted on a rod and an additional rod for maintaining the movable assembly rotationally fixed with respect to the rod.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the unloading / unloading apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, the first cam means are parallel to each other and one is disposed inside the other.
A first annular body attached to the shaft with a first annular groove defined by the two edges parallel to the first axis;
For each of the arms, a first pin which is integral with each of the first sector gears and is parallel to the first axis, and is in constant contact with a first edge of the two edges, A first pin having a first tappet roller at one end that positively engages the annular groove; and a play between the first tappet roller and the first edge is removed to keep the first tappet roller in the first position. (1) A take-out / drop-off device comprising: a first play removing means for holding a contact with an annular groove.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the unloading / unloading device according to the fifth aspect, the first annular groove is provided with:
A first portion disposed below the reservoir to maintain the first sector gear stationary relative to the corresponding toothed portion;
Disposed downstream of the first portion in the direction of rotation and moving the first sector gear relative to each of the toothed portions reduces the speed of each of the arms relative to the annulus and each of the arms. An active second part for moving the gripping members to the respective unloading position, and by being arranged downstream of said second part in said rotational direction, accelerating said first sector gear relative to each said toothed part; An active third for continuously advancing a plurality of said arms with respect to said annular body;
And a portion disposed downstream of the third portion in the rotational direction, the plurality of arms being decelerated so that the arms are continuously stationary with respect to the pocket so that each of the gripping members is at a respective release position. Active 4th move to
An unloading / unloading device comprising a portion and an active fifth portion disposed between the fourth portion and the first portion for accelerating a plurality of the arms so that the arms rest against the annulus. Provide equipment.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the unloading / unloading device according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the first play removing means includes a first cam and a second cam which are both parallel to the first annular groove. And two cams attached to the first pin in parallel with the first tappet roller, and positively engaged with the second cam to constantly engage one of the two edges of the first annular groove. An unloading / unloading device comprising a contacting second tappet roller.

The present invention described in claim 8 provides the invention according to claims 3 to 7.
The unloading / unloading device according to any one of the above,
The second cam means is provided for each of the first sector gears.
A second surface formed on a surface of the annular body facing the arm;
A face groove, and a second pin for each of the arms, the second pin being integral with each of the arms and being parallel to the first axis, and being positively engaged with the second groove concentrically with the second pin. An unloading / unloading device comprising a three tappet roller at a free end and a second pin.

[0014] The present invention described in claim 9 provides the invention according to claims 3 to 8.
The unloading / unloading device according to any one of the above,
The unloading device comprises a wheel concentric with the first axis having a number of cavities equal to the predetermined number, wherein the wheel is rotatably mounted on the shaft and non-rotatably connected to the annular body; The wheel rotatably supports each of the folds about a respective fourth axis parallel to the first axis, the fourth axis extending along a circumference concentric with the first axis. The fourth axis is disposed equidistantly around a first axis and above each of the arms, the fourth axis is disposed forward of the toothed portion in the rotational direction, and And a third cam means for controlling swinging around the fourth axis.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the unloading / unloading device according to the ninth aspect, each of the folding tools protrudes from the wheel to a side facing the arm, A second end protruding from the wheel opposite the first end, the second end being provided with a pinion adjacent to the wheel, wherein the wheel is provided on a side facing the second end; A number of third pins that are parallel to the first axis and equal to the predetermined number are rotatably supported, each of the third pins includes a second sector gear that meshes with the pinion, and is opposite to the arm. And an unloading / unloading device extending to

The present invention according to claim 11 is the extracting / unloading device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein
A cam means includes: a fixed third flange having a fourth annular groove facing the arm;
A fourth tappet roller positively engaged with the fourth annular groove, wherein the fourth annular groove and the fourth tappet roller cooperate to rotate each of the second sector gears in the rotational direction. And a second play removing means integral with the first play removing means and holding the fourth tappet roller and the fourth annular groove in permanent contact with each other. / Provide a drop-off device.

The present invention described in claim 12 is the first invention.
12. The dispensing / unloading device according to claim 11, wherein the gripping member and the folding tool include at least one suction cup that engages each of the adjacent side surfaces of the tubular body by suction. Provide an unloading device. According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the unloading / unloading device according to the first or second aspect, the chute is constituted by a pair of molded panels, each of which corresponds to the size of the tubular body. An unloading / unloading device is provided that includes a threaded pin that engages a respective slot in a support to adjust the position of the chute.

The present invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to claims 9 to
13. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 12, wherein each of the cavities is parallel to and perpendicular to a bottom wall substantially contiguous with a circumferential surface concentric with the first axis. A dispensing / dismounting device defined by two side walls, wherein a pair of filtering members protrude from each of the bottom walls, each of the filtering members comprising a removable pellet filter.

The present invention described in claim 15 provides the invention according to claims 1 to
15. The unloading / unloading device according to any one of claims 14 to 14, further comprising a mechanical folding device fixedly mounted to the unloading device substantially outside of the unloading device, wherein the mechanical folding device comprises: And an unloading / unloading device arranged in a region immediately downstream of the region where the operation of the pneumatic folding device ends.

The present invention according to claim 16 provides the present invention according to claim 15.
3. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical folding device comprises at least one folding member having a pressure surface, which presses the carton and is held by the pneumatic gripping member. Also provided is an unloading / unloading device configured to impart to said carton a substantially flat shape opposite to the substantially flat shape exhibited in said reservoir.

The present invention according to claim 17 provides the present invention according to claim 16.
3. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 1, wherein the bending member is constituted by a fan-shaped cylindrical main body. The present invention described in claim 18 is based on claim 1.
7. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 7, wherein the bending member is attached to a shaft that rotates during use at an angular velocity that is a multiple of the angular velocity synchronized with the angular velocity of the unloading device.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show an apparatus 1 for unloading and lowering a number of semi-rigid cartons 2. The semi-rigid cartons 2 each comprise a substantially parallelepiped tubular body 3 (only two shown in FIG. 1) and are formed from cardboard or other similar material. More specifically, each face constituting the tubular body 3 is defined by two preformed folds, each fold forming a hinge between two adjacent faces to form a relative portion of the two faces. Enable rotation. The tubular body 3 has the option of a flat, rectangular cross section with substantially no height to reduce the occupied space as much as possible, or a rectangular cross section for receiving the product in a known manner. Can be presented.

As shown in FIG. 4, both ends of the tubular body 3 of the carton 2 are connected to a horizontal tab 103 and a middle tab 104. More specifically, four transverse tabs are provided and are connected to each short edge of the two openings of the tubular body 3. Also middle tab 1
04 are two and are connected to the first long edge of one opening and the second long edge of the other opening. Here, the first long edge and the second long edge respectively belong to two opposing surfaces of the tubular body 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 comprises a first-in first-out (FIFO) type in which a stack of a plurality of cartons 2 is accommodated with the tubular body 3 folded flat and oriented in a substantially horizontal longitudinal direction 5 (FIG. 2). A storage unit 4 and disposed below the storage unit 4,
A discharge station 6 for discharging the carton 2;
Shaft 9 having a horizontal longitudinal axis 10 parallel to the direction 5 and disposed between the shaft 9 and the discharge station 6;
And a take-out device 11 attached to the device. Carton 2
Is removed from the lower end of the reservoir 4 and discharged
Comprises an endless conveyor 7 having a plurality of equally spaced pockets 8. The unloading device 11 unloads the plurality of cartons 2 from the lower end of the storage unit 4, gives the cartons 2 a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and feeds each of the cartons 2 to the chute 12 of the discharge station 6. It acts to discharge into each pocket 8 of the conveyor 7.
More specifically, the chute 12 comprises two molded panels 1
2a, at the base of each of these molded panels 12a is mounted a screw pin which engages a slot 12c of a support 12b so as to adjust the position of the chute 12 according to the dimensions of the tubular body 3. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 4, a known product conveyor 1 is shown.
01 is arranged parallel to the conveyor 7 with a series of boxes 102. Each box 102 is defined by an upward U-shaped portion with the open end facing the conveyor 7 and each pocket 8
And move so as to be substantially in parallel with each other. In actual use, at a station upstream of the semi-rigid carton unloading / unloading device, a known product loading device (not shown) loads the product 105 into each box 102, and later the product 105 is loaded in a known manner. It is inserted into each open carton 2 in each pocket 8.

The take-out device 11 has a predetermined number (five in the illustrated embodiment) of radial arms 13, each of which is rotatably and axially fixed to the shaft 9 by a respective fork 14 (FIG. 2). Be linked. Each fork 1
4 is formed to allow rotation of the other arm 13 with respect to the shaft 9. Each arm 13 has a long C-shaped support portion 15. The support portion 15 includes a base 16 integrated with the fork 14, and a substantially radial flat plate 17 extends radially from the base 16. On the side facing each fork 14, a flat plate 17
Terminates in a flat plate 18 perpendicular to it. Both flat plates 17, 1
8 are connected to each other and to the base 16 by another flat plate 19 orthogonal to them at the rear ends of the flat plates 17,18.
The support portion 15 accommodates the gripping member 22 with two radial rods 20 and two linear circulating ball bearings 21 interposed between the base portion 16 and the flat plate 18. The gripping member 22 is slid in the apparatus radial direction and fixed in rotation by the two rods 20, and is integrally provided with an elongated rod-shaped pneumatic gripping head 23. The gripping head 23 includes a pair of suction cups 24 arranged parallel to the axis 10 and aligned.

As shown in FIG. 2, the take-out device 11 further comprises an annular body 25 which is concentrically and axially fixedly mounted on the shaft 9 as will be described later. The annular body 25 is continuously rotating (in FIGS. 1 and 3) in a counterclockwise direction and comprises a concentric cylindrical inner edge on the shaft 9, which is equally spaced around the axis 10. A predetermined number of toothed portions 26 are provided. Each arm 13 has a pin 27 parallel to the axis 10 just above the respective base 16. Each pin 27 has an end 28 that extends opposite the plate 18 with respect to the plate 19. Each end 28 is non-rotatably mounted on a sector gear 29 meshing with each toothed section 26 such that each swing of the sector gear 29 on the toothed section 26 causes each arm 13
Correspond to substantially the same swing.

[0028] Still referring to FIG.
Comprises an actuator 30. The actuating device 30 includes the annular body 25.
A flange 31 attached to the shaft 9 at the rear of the shaft. The flange 31 has on the arm 13 side an annular flat groove 32 defined by an inner edge 33 and an outer edge 34 parallel to the axis 10 and facing each other. The flat groove 32 has a step,
Thus, the adjacent cams 3 separated by this step
5 and the cam 36 are formed. For each sector gear 29,
Actuator 30 comprises a pin 37 parallel to pin 27. The pin 37 has one free end housed in a hole provided in the main body of the sector gear 29, and has cams 35 and 36 at the other free end.
Are mounted on each other. More specifically, roller 38 contacts cam 35 at outer edge 34 and roller 39 contacts cam 36 at inner edge 33. Therefore, the entirety of the cams 35 and 36 and the rollers 38 and 39 holds the roller 39 in contact with the inner edge 33 and the roller 39 holds the roller 38 in contact with the outer edge 34, An idler device 40 is provided which acts to reject any vibrations of the pin 37 during operation. The flat groove 32 is
It comprises a series of continuously arranged active parts, which determine the swinging of each sector gear 29 for each play position, and, as will be described later, the rotation of the arm 13 about the axis 10 relative to the annular body 25. Selectively delay or advance. As used herein, the term "active portion" of a cam or annular groove refers to each tappet roller connected to the cam or groove as a longitudinal axis (the axis of rotation of the tappet roller and cam or the extension center of the groove). In the take-out device 11, the axis 1
0) means a portion of the cam or groove that moves to change the distance between the cam and the groove. Conversely, the term "inactive portion" means a substantially circular portion of a cam or groove that maintains a corresponding tappet roller in a fixed position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unloading device 11 further includes a second operating device 41. The second actuator 41 has a pin 42 parallel to the pin 27 for each gripping member 22. The pin 42 has one free end housed in a hole provided in the body of the gripping member 22 below the suction cup 24, and the other free end facing the annular body 25 has one of a plurality of grooves 45.
And a tappet roller 44 that engages with the Those grooves 4
Each of the 5 is formed on a surface on the arm 13 side of a radial portion 46 of the annular body 25 extending along the same arc portion as one toothed portion 26. Each groove 45 has a shape that moves the gripping member 22 between a position at a minimum distance and a position at a maximum distance from the axis 10 as described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unloading device 11 further includes a wheel 47 concentric with the axis 10 having an outer diameter larger than that of the annular body 25. The wheel 47 is rotatably attached to the shaft 9, and supports the annular body 25 with the intervention of the sleeve 48. The sleeve 48 has the flange 31
Having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the shaft 31 and extending around the portion of the shaft 9 to which the flange 31 is attached, thus surrounding the flange 31. Wheel 47 is rotated (in FIG. 3) counterclockwise by electric motor 49 (shown schematically in FIG. 2). The wheel 47 is non-rotatably connected to the electric motor 49 by a sleeve 50 concentrically and rotatably connected to the shaft 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the wheel 47 has a plurality of cavities 51. Each cavity 51 has a bottom wall 5
3 comprises two parallel side walls 52 extending vertically. The bottom wall 53 is arranged tangentially with respect to a cylindrical surface concentric with the axis 10 having a radius equal to the distance between the bottom wall 53 and the axis 10. The plurality of cavities 51 are the same as the number of the toothed portions 26, and are arranged at equal intervals around the axis 10 and delayed from the toothed portions 26 in the rotation direction of the annular body 25.
A pair of filter members 54 (FIG. 1) of a known air circuit (not shown) extend from each bottom wall 53, and each filter member 54 accommodates a known pellet filter (not shown). The pellet filter is easy to approach and can be easily replaced by turning off the upper cylindrical cover.

The wheel 47 further comprises a plurality of cylindrical longitudinal seats 55 equally spaced around the axis 10.
Is provided. The sheets 55 have respective central axes 55
a is provided on a circumference centered on the axis 10 having a radius substantially equal to the distance between the flat plate 18 and the axis 10 and having a radius not less than the distance. The sheets 55 are arranged ahead of the toothed portion 26 in the counterclockwise rotation direction in FIG. Each seat 55 accommodates a pin 56 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) via a rotary bearing. The pin 56 is terminated on the arm 13 side by a rod 57 parallel to the axis 10 to constitute a bending tool 58 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) having a pair of suction cups 59. The suction cups 59 are substantially the same as the suction cups 24, and the carton 2
Cooperates with one of the downward faces. The pin 56 further has an end 60 projecting from the seat 55 on the opposite side of the rod 57, and a pinion 61 is provided integrally with the end 60. The wheel 47 further has a pinion 61 for each pinion 61.
And a rotatable pin 62 arranged with a delay. The pin 62 protrudes from the rear of the wheel 47 and integrally includes a sector gear 63 meshing with the pinion 61 for a purpose to be described later.

The unloading device 11 further comprises a third operating device 6
4 is provided. The actuator 64 has a flange 65 rotatably connected to the sleeve 50 and fixed to rotate with respect to the shaft 9 by a known method (not shown).
The flange 65 has an annular groove 66 facing the wheel 47. Each sector gear 63 has a pin 67 parallel to the axis 10 on the opposite side of the tooth, and the pin 67 engages an annular groove 66. The annular groove 66 is provided with a series of active parts as will be described below, so that the sector gear 63 (in FIG. 3) is turned counterclockwise, the pinion 61 is turned clockwise, and most importantly, the folding tool 58 is turned clockwise. To rotate.

Like groove 32, groove 66 is defined by an inner edge 68 and an outer edge 69 which are parallel to axis 10 and oppose each other. The groove 66 has a step, thereby forming the adjacent cam 70 and cam 71 separated by the step. Actuator 64 comprises at the other free end of each pin 67 a pair of eccentric tappet rollers 73 and 74 that engage cams 70 and 71, respectively. More specifically, the roller 73 contacts the cam 70 at the outer edge 69 and the roller 7
Reference numeral 4 denotes an inner edge 68 which contacts the cam 71. Therefore, the cam 7
0 and 71 and rollers 73 and 74 as a whole, the rollers 73 hold the rollers 74 in contact with the inner edge 68 and the rollers 74
To form a play eliminating device 75 which acts to eliminate any in-service vibration of the pin 67 while keeping it in contact. Grooves 66 include a group of active portions disposed consecutively with respect to each other, which oscillate each sector gear 63 for each play position and, as described below, bends 58 around each axis 55a. Selectively delay or advance the rotation of.

It should be emphasized here that each arm 13 is associated with a gripping head 23 and a folding tool 58, so that they rotate together about the axis 10 at a constant angular velocity. Each arm 13 is moved by the actuator 30 at the storage 4 and the discharge station 6 to and from a respective play position in which the arm 13 rests against the annulus 25. Also, each gripping head 23 is moved between the maximum distance and the minimum distance from the axis 10 by the actuator 41 at the storage unit 4 and the discharge station 6. Then, each folding tool 58 swings in the storage section 4 and the discharge station 6 with respect to the respective play positions.

The operation of the device 1 will be described with reference to a steady state. In this steady state, the wheel 47 rotates counterclockwise (FIG. 3) at a predetermined speed to rotate the annular body 25 and the arms 13. The chute 12 is adjusted to contact the carton 2 upstream of the discharge station 6. When the arm 13 is located upstream of the reservoir 4, the eccentric rollers 38, 39 respectively engage in the inactive portions 76 of the grooves 32, whereby the pin 37 causes the corresponding sector gear 29 to engage the toothed portion 26. Hold stationary. Further, the roller 44 of each gripping member 22 is provided with an inactive portion 77 of the groove 45 (FIG. 3).
And thereby gripping member 22 and gripping head 23
Are maintained at respective minimum distances from the axis 10. Furthermore, the pin 67 of the corresponding sector gear 59 engages the inactive portion 78 of the groove 66 (FIG. 3), thereby causing the folding
8 stagnate in their respective play positions.

When the arm 13 is rotated to the storage section 4 by the wheel 47, the unloading device 11 prepares the gripping head 23 and the folding tool 58 to grip the carton 2 from the lower end of the storage section 4. Thereby, the wheel 47
The stationary pin 37 is decelerated by the rollers 38, 39 which engage the groove 32 at the active portion 79 (FIG. 3) downstream from the inactive portion 76 in the direction of rotation of the annular body 25. The pin 37 then causes the arm 13 to rotate clockwise relative to the wheel 47 by increasing the distance between the pin 37 and the axis 10, thereby causing the arm 1 to rotate.
3 is finally decelerated and stopped below the storage 4.
On the other hand, the rollers 44 are connected to the active portions 80 of the respective grooves 45.
3 (FIG. 3), thereby increasing the distance between the roller 44 and the axis 10 until the gripping heads 23 are at their respective maximum distance positions during the deactivation of the arm 13. At this maximum distance position, each suction cup 24
Contact and integrally engage with one of the two downward surfaces of the carton body 3 by the suction action. On the other hand, the eccentric roller 7
3, 74 move along the active part 81 of the groove 66 (FIG. 3), so that the pin 67 causes the suction cup 59 of the folding tool 58 to contact and unite with the other downward surface of the carton body 3 by suction action. Engaging.

When the carton 2 is removed from the storage 4,
The pin 37 continues to move along the active portion 79, placing each sector gear 29 stationary with respect to the respective toothed portion 26. Thereby, up to the discharge station 6, the arm 13 rotates around the axis 10 stationary with respect to the wheel 47. On the other hand, the roller 44 leaves the active part 80,
Each gripping head 23 is returned to the minimum distance position, and the pin 67 is moved by the sector gear 63 and the groove 66 (FIG. 3).
) Begins to rotate counterclockwise to bend the tubular body 3 of the carton 2 near the discharge station 6 to give a rectangular cross section. From this position, the active portion 82 of the groove 66 (FIG. 3) near the discharge station 6 engages the pin 67 with the fold 58
Is returned to its original position, so that even when the suction cup 59 of the folding tool 58 is no longer needed and the corresponding surface of the carton 2 is released, the tubular body 3 has its parallelepiped shape without external forces. To maintain.

When the arm 13 is arranged opposite the discharge station 6, the outer surface of the carton 2 facing the surface of the tubular body held by the suction cup 24 is
2 and substantially in contact with the edges of both panels 12a, and is maintained in this position until the carton 2 is lowered into each pocket 8 of the conveyor 7. Before unloading the carton, the unloading device 11 prepares the gripping head 23 to release the carton 2 by performing a series of operations similar to the carton gripping operation described above. That is, the rollers 38, 3
9 moves along the active part 83 (FIG. 3) of the groove 32 arranged downstream from the active part 79 in the counterclockwise rotation direction. The active portion 83 rotates the arm 13 counterclockwise with respect to the wheel 47 by reducing the distance between the pin 37 and the axis 10 until the arm 13 finally leads the wheel 47. At the end of the active part 83, the gripping head 23 is arranged opposite the pocket 8 and the pin 37 reaches a part 84 of the groove 32 (FIG. 3) substantially equivalent to the active part 79. As a result, the arm 13 is decelerated, and finally moves to a state in which the arm 13 is substantially stationary above the pocket 8.

In this position, the relative rotation between the arm 13 and the annular body 25 caused by the deceleration of the arm 13 moves the gripping head 23 to the maximum distance position where the suction cup 24 discharges the carton 2 into the pocket 8. . From this position until the arm 13 approaches the reservoir 4, the arm 13 is accelerated by a further part 85 (FIG. 3). Part 8
5 precedes the inactive portion 76 and accelerates the arm 13 until it comes to rest against the wheel 47. As shown in FIG. 1, the carton 2 is lowered through the upper end opening of the pocket 8 by the suction cup 24, falls by gravity, and the bottom surface rests on the bottom of the pocket 8. Such a releasing operation is performed by the gripping member 22 that cannot move downward into the pocket 8.
To lower the carton 2 to the bottom of the pocket, but without any drawbacks. That is, in this case the carton 2 is at a low speed for a short distance (the carton is made of cardboard or the like, is empty and falls only by gravity) and follows the ideal trajectory defined by the two walls of the pocket 8 And fall.

As described above, each pocket 8 on the conveyor is associated with a corresponding box 102 on the product conveyor 101. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the carton 2 is in the final position in the pocket 8 and the middle tab 104 of the carton 2 is
02 and the product 105 in the box, and both lateral tabs 103 of the carton 2 facing the box 102 are lowered so as to be positioned outside the box. By lowering the carton in this way, the product 1 is put into the carton 2.
05 can be inserted without any trouble. This insertion operation is generally performed by a known loading device (not shown) that pushes the product 105 from the box 102 into the tubular body 3 of the carton 2.

Upstream from the discharge station 6, an additional folding device 110 (shown schematically in FIG. 1 for clarity)
Can be arranged. FIG. 5 is a front view of the folding device 110,
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI. Bending device 1
10 comprises a pair of bent members 111 integral with a shaft 112 having an axis 113 substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the device 1. The shaft 112 is supported by a bearing 114 supported by a structure 115 and a first gear meshed with a second gear 117.
The gear 116 is integrally provided. The second gear 117 is supported by a bearing 118 supported by the structure 115,
Driven by 0. The pulley 120 is driven by a belt 119 driven by a known driving device (not shown). The folding member 111 comprises a pressure surface 121 substantially consisting of a sector cylinder and thus substantially constituted by a cylindrical side part.

Since the angle and diameter of the pressure surface 121 depend on the dimensions and physical characteristics of the carton 2 to be worked, the bending member 111 is mounted on the shaft 112 so that it can be easily replaced according to the type of the carton 2. . In fact, it is clear that the effectiveness of the folding member 111 increases in proportion to its angle and diameter. First, at a given rotation speed, the effect of the bending member 111 can be exerted on the longer carton 2 as the angle increases. Second, when the distance between the carton 2 and the rotation axis 113 is a predetermined distance, a larger deformation is given by the bending member 111 as the diameter increases.

In actual use, the shaft 112 is attached to the device 1
It rotates at various angular velocities synchronized with the angular velocity of. More specifically, the angular velocity of the shaft 112 is
Equal to the angular velocity of the device 1 which has been doubled by a given number of three (five in the illustrated embodiment), whereby the folding device 11
The folding cycle can be repeated for each carton 2 passing through zero.

As shown in FIG. 7, the angular velocity of the shaft 112 is such that when the carton 2 moves through the operating area of the folding device 110, Are set to interact with each other. This operating area corresponds to an area where the operation of the folding tool 58 is stopped and the suction cup 59 releases the carton 2, and the carton 2 attempts to return to its original shape at that position. In fact, the folding device 110 is particularly useful because the carton additionally bends at the very moment the carton attempts to return to its original closed configuration. Many tests have shown that the second folding operation will definitely maintain the desired shape of the carton 2.

Since the folding member 111 rotates in the opposite direction to the device 1, the surface speed of the carton 2 is directly equal to the surface speed of the folding member 111, and the carton 2 is gently bent without risk of damage. You. The device 1 therefore prepares the plurality of cartons 2 in a product receiving state and divides the plurality of cartons 2 into respective pockets 8 in such a manner that each tubular body 3 can receive the product from the machine downstream of the device 1. Can be used with very advantageous advantages.

It goes without saying that the device 1 described and illustrated can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an unloading / unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the unloading / unloading device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged front view of the unloading / unloading device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 (a) is a schematic plan view of a conveyor operating with the unloading / unloading device of FIG. 1, and (b) a line bb in (a).
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged plan view of details of the unloading / unloading device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic reduced sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing successive working stages of the details shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Carton 3 ... Tubular main body 4 ... Storage part 6 ... Discharge station 7 ... Endless conveyor 8 ... Pocket 9 ... Shaft 10 ... Longitudinal axis 11 ... Take-out device 12 ... Chute 13 ... Arm 22 ... Gripping member 23 ... Pneumatic gripping head 25 ... annular body 26 ... toothed portion 29, 63 ... sector gear 30, 41, 64 ... actuator 32, 66 ... annular groove 45 ... groove 47 ... wheel 58 ... bending tool 65 ... flange 110 ... bending apparatus

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for unloading and lowering a plurality of semi-rigid cartons, each having a substantially parallelepiped tubular body, a reservoir for accommodating said plurality of cartons, each of said tubular bodies being substantially flat. A discharge station for discharging the carton, comprising: a first conveyor having a plurality of equally spaced pockets disposed below the reservoir; and a horizontal first axis disposed laterally of the reservoir. A plurality of pneumatic gripping members, wherein the plurality of pneumatic gripping members are disposed around the first axis and continuously take out the flat carton, each of the gripping members. A plurality of pneumatic folding tools that cooperate with each other to impart a parallelepiped shape to the tubular body, wherein a plurality of the gripping members and a plurality of the folding tools cooperate with each other to form the storage. From the department Gripping a number of said flat cartons, continuously feeding each of said cartons onto an adjustable chute, and lowering said cartons into one of said pockets at said discharge station. Carton unloading / unloading device. 2. A second conveyor arranged parallel to said first conveyor, said second conveyor comprising a series of boxes for holding products substantially parallel to and facing said corresponding pockets, respectively. Each being substantially U-shaped with an open top facing the unloading / unloading device and a corresponding open side facing the pocket, each of the cartons comprising a tubular body, and both ends of the tubular body Are connected to the transverse tabs at each short edge of the two openings of the tubular body, and the first long edge of one of the openings and the second length of the other of the openings respectively belong to two opposing surfaces of the tubular body. An edge and connected to the two middle tabs, wherein the gripping member substantially positions one of the middle tabs of the carton above the box and places the side tabs of the carton opposite the box. Position it outside the box, 2. The unloading / unloading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the unloading station is configured to unload each of the cartons into each of the pockets. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a shaft concentric with the first axis supporting the take-out device, wherein the take-out device comprises a concentric annular body attached to the shaft fixed to the shaft in an axial direction. A body continuously rotating in a rotational direction from the reservoir toward the discharge station on the opposite side of the first conveyor with respect to the shaft, and a predetermined number of internally toothed portions equally spaced around the shaft; The shaft having a concentric cylindrical inner edge, the take-out device comprising a number of radial arms equal to the predetermined number, each of the arms being rotatably connected to the shaft, A pneumatic gripping member for gripping a carton, wherein each of the gripping members is radially freely attached to the arm via respective sliding guide means, Each of the arms has a respective second axis parallel to the shaft and rotatably supports a first sector gear disposed between the first axis and the gripping member; Meshes with each of the toothed portions to rotate the arms, and selectively controls the swinging of the first sector gear with respect to each of the toothed portions to move each of the arms about the first axis. First cam means for swinging is provided, and second cam means for moving the gripping member to a position at a maximum distance with respect to the first axis and moving from the position are provided. And two cam means cooperating with each other to move the gripping member to and from the maximum distance position when each of the arms swings about the first axis. Take-out / descent according to claim 1 or 2 And equipment. 4. The position of the maximum distance is selectively a take-out position for taking out the carton from the storage part and a discharge position for discharging the carton at the discharge station, wherein the sliding guide means comprises: At least one radially extending rod attached to each of the arms, a movable assembly supporting the gripping member and slidably attached to the rod by a circulating ball sleeve; and 4. An unloading / unloading device according to claim 3, further comprising an additional rod which remains rotationally fixed with respect to. 5. The first cam means includes a first annular groove defined parallel to the first axis by two edges parallel to each other and one disposed inside the other, and attached to the shaft. A first annular body, for each of the arms, a first pin parallel to the first axis, integral with each of the first sector gears, and fixed to a first edge of the two edges. A first pin provided at one end with a first tappet roller that positively engages with the first annular groove while contacting with the first annular groove; and removing the play between the first tappet roller and the first edge by removing the first pin. 5. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 3, further comprising: a first play removing unit that keeps one tappet roller in contact with the first annular groove at all times. 6. a first portion disposed below the storage portion for maintaining the first sector gear stationary with respect to the corresponding toothed portion; Disposed downstream of the first portion, the first sector gear is moved relative to each of the toothed portions, thereby decelerating each of the arms relative to the annular body and displacing each of the gripping members with a respective one. An active second portion to be moved to a take-out position; and a plurality of said arms arranged downstream of said second portion in said rotational direction and accelerating said first sector gear relative to each said toothed portion. An active third portion for advancing continuously with respect to the annulus; a third portion disposed downstream of the third portion in the direction of rotation, and decelerating a plurality of the arms to connect the arms to the pocket. Quietly An active fourth portion for moving each of the gripping members to a respective release position; and a fourth portion disposed between the fourth portion and the first portion, wherein the arms are accelerated by accelerating a plurality of the arms. An unloading / unloading device according to claim 5, comprising: an active fifth portion stationary with respect to the annulus. 7. The first play removing means is attached to the first pin and a first cam and a second cam, both of which are parallel to the first annular groove, and which are attached to the first pin in parallel to the first tappet roller. A second tappet roller that positively engages two cams and constantly contacts one of the two edges of the first annular groove. apparatus. 8. A second face groove formed on a surface of the annular body facing the arm, for each of the first sector gears, and a second face groove for each of the arms. A second pin integral with each of the arms and having at its free end a third tappet roller concentric with the second pin and positively engaging the second groove; The unloading / unloading device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, comprising: 9. The unloading device includes a wheel concentric with the first axis having a number of cavities equal to the predetermined number, wherein the wheel is rotatably mounted on the shaft and rotates on the annular body. Wherein the wheels rotatably support each of the folds about a respective fourth axis parallel to the first axis, the fourth axis being concentric with the first axis. Are arranged equidistantly around the first axis along the circumference and are disposed above the respective arms, and the fourth axis is disposed forward of the toothed portion in the rotational direction; 9. The unloading / unloading device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a third cam means is provided for controlling the swing of each of the folding tools about the fourth axis. 10. Each of the folding tools has a first end protruding from the wheel on a side facing the arm, and a second end protruding from the wheel on a side opposite to the first end.
The second end is provided with a pinion adjacent to the wheel, and the wheel is provided with a first pinion on a side facing the second end.
Rotatably supporting a number of third pins parallel to the axis and equal to the predetermined number, each of the third pins including a second sector gear meshing with the pinion, and extending to an opposite side of the arm; An unloading / unloading device according to claim 9. 11. The fixed third type wherein the third cam means has a fourth annular groove facing the arm.
A fourth tappet roller that positively engages with the fourth annular groove for each of the flange and the third pin, wherein the fourth annular groove and the fourth tappet roller cooperate with each other, A fourth tappet roller for rotating each of the second sector gears in the rotation direction, and a state in which the fourth tappet roller and the fourth annular groove are in permanent contact with each other integrally with the first play removing means. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising a second play removing means for holding. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member and the bending tool include at least one suction cup which engages with each of adjacent side surfaces of the tubular body by suction. Removal / unloading device. 13. A screw wherein the chute is constituted by a pair of molded panels, each of which engages a respective slot of a support to adjust the position of the chute in accordance with the dimensions of the tubular body. 3. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 1, further comprising a pin. 14. Each of said cavities is defined by a bottom wall substantially contiguous with a circumferential surface concentric with said first axis and two side walls parallel to and orthogonal to said bottom wall. Filter members protruding from each of the bottom walls, each of the filter members comprising a removable pellet filter,
An unloading / unloading device according to any one of claims 9 to 12. 15. A mechanical folding device which is fixedly installed with respect to the take-out device substantially outside the take-out device, wherein the mechanical bending device is operated by the pneumatic bending device. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is disposed in a region immediately downstream of the region to end.
5. The unloading / unloading device according to any one of 4 above. 16. The mechanical bending device comprises at least one bending member having a pressure surface, which presses the carton to the carton held by the pneumatic gripping member. 16. The unloading / unloading device of claim 15, wherein the unloading / unloading device is configured to impart a substantially flat shape opposite to the substantially flat shape exhibited in the reservoir. 17. The unloading and unloading device according to claim 16, wherein the folding member is constituted by a sector-shaped cylindrical main body. 18. The unloading / unloading device according to claim 17, wherein the bending member is attached to a shaft that rotates in use at an angular speed that is a multiple of the angular speed synchronized with the angular speed of the unloading device.