JP4133672B2 - Folding box transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that transports a folded box (a so-called “carton”) opened from a flat folded state, and more particularly to a state in which an article such as a product can be stored (boxed). The present invention relates to a transport device that transports a tatami box.

Conventionally, as a conveying device that conveys a folding box that is an outer box for storing confectionery, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, miscellaneous goods, etc., the folded folding box is conveyed between a pair of upper and lower belt conveying means (see : FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1) and those in which an opened folding box is placed on a belt transport means and transported (refer to FIG. 1 of Patent Document 2) are known. The applicant of the present application has applied for Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-151310 regarding the former.
JP-A-8-143126 JP 7-315337 A

  By the way, when storing an article in the folding box, an article having a size approximate to the internal shape of the folding box or an article having a cross-sectional shape that approximates or substantially matches the rectangular opening shape of the folding box. If there is, it is desirable to widen the opening of the folding box, for example, by pushing up the upper surface of the folding box from the inside.

  However, since the upper and lower surfaces of the folding box are in contact with the belt surface, the conveyance device described in Patent Document 1 cannot expand the opening of the folding box. Even if it is possible to expand the opening of the folding box, there is a possibility that the folding box will float up and cause a poor insertion.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by allowing the opening of the folding box to be expanded while maintaining the folding box in an appropriate position, it is possible to smoothly and reliably accommodate articles. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer device that can be used.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a conveying device that includes a pair of upper and lower belt conveying means and is configured to convey an opened folding box between them, each of the pair of upper and lower belt conveying means. Is provided with a pair of locking projections for locking the front and rear corners of the folding box, and at least one of the locking projections of the upper belt conveying means or the lower belt conveying means is such that the folding box is the belt surface The corners of the folding box are locked so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and the folding box moves along the upper and lower belt conveying means, and is folded on the side away from the belt surface in a region parallel to the upper and lower belt conveying means. An expansion means for expanding the opening of the folding box by pressing the surface of the tatami box outward from the inside is provided, and the opening of the folding box is expanded by the expansion means.

  According to the transport apparatus having the above-described configuration, at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the folding box is spaced apart from the belt surface of the belt transport means at a predetermined interval, so that a gap is formed. If it pushes toward the direction, the deformation | transformation to the outward of a surface will be accept | permitted and it will be in the state by which the opening of the folding box was expanded. Moreover, since the surface is restrained by the locking projection at the corner, the folding box does not shift in position with the pressing.

Their to, spreading means, that moves along the upper and lower conveyor belt means, for pressing outward in a region parallel to the upper and lower belt conveying means a surface of the folding box side away from the belt surface from the inside To expand the opening of the folding box . At least one of the locking protrusion of the upper belt conveying means and the locking protrusion of the lower belt conveying means has a stepped portion, and the corner portion of the folding box is locked to the step surface of the stepped portion so that the folding box is A configuration in which the belt surface is separated from the belt surface at a predetermined interval can be employed.

  The present invention also includes an upper and lower guide body for guiding the folding box between the upper and lower belt conveying means, and at least one guide body is in a state in which the folding box is separated from the belt surface at a predetermined interval. It is possible to adopt a configuration for maintaining and guiding. According to such a configuration, the height positions of the locking projections for locking the corners of the folding box and the corners are preferably matched so that the folding box is spaced from the belt surface at a predetermined interval. Can be reliably engaged.

As described above, the conveying device according to the present invention preferably maintains the unfolded state of the folding box by the locking projections of the upper and lower belt conveying means locking the four corners of the folding box, Not only can the folding box be transported, but also at least one of the locking projections of the upper belt transporting means and the locking projections of the lower belt transporting means so that the folding box is separated from the belt surface at a predetermined interval. By locking the corners of the folding box, the opening of the folding box can be expanded by the expanding means while restricting the displacement of the folding box , and smooth and reliable accommodation of articles is possible. Is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transport device according to the present embodiment is taken out one by one by a take-out device from a magazine containing a plurality of folded folding boxes and opened in the middle of the movement. The folding boxes B are sequentially received, and the folding boxes B are conveyed at regular intervals, and articles are accommodated in the folding boxes B during the conveyance process. The magazine, the take-out device, the folding box opening means, etc. are those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, or those described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-151310 filed earlier by the applicant of the present application. Any other known ones can be adopted, and the basic aspects thereof are widely known, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In the transport device according to this embodiment, a belt transport unit 1 including a pair of upper and lower belt transport units 2 and 16 is arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the left and right (the front-rear direction of the device, that is, the lateral direction of the transport direction) Upper and lower guide bodies 48 and 49 for guiding the folding box B fed from the take-out device between the upper and lower belt conveying means 2 and 16 are arranged at the upstream ends of the upper and lower belt conveying means 2 and 16. The expansion means 53 for expanding the opening of the folding box B is disposed at a midway position between the upper and lower belt conveying means 2 and 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower belt conveying means 2 includes a lower first belt 3 and a lower second belt 9. The downstream portion 3a of the lower first belt 3 is wound around pulleys 5 and 5 fixed to the lower base shaft 4, and the upstream portion 3b is located in the vicinity of the take-out device so that the pulleys 6 and 6 are located. It is wound around each. The lower first belt 3 is provided with a plurality of lower first locking projections 7 that are engaged with the lower part of the rear surface (vertical surface on the upstream side in the transport direction) of the folding box B at a predetermined interval. .

  The lower second belt 9 is provided inside the lower first belt 3, and its downstream portion 9 a is wound around pulleys 12, 12 fixed to a lower cylindrical body 11 fitted on the lower differential shaft 10. It is hung. The upstream portion 9b of the lower second belt 9 is positioned on the downstream side of the upstream portion 4b of the lower first belt 4, and is wound around the pulleys 13 and 13, respectively. Further, the lower second belt 9 is provided with lower second locking projections 14 that are engaged with the lower part of the front surface (vertical surface on the downstream side in the transport direction) of the folding box B at a predetermined interval.

  Here, the lower cylindrical body 11 has a lower differential shaft 10 so that the distance between the lower first locking protrusion 7 of the lower first belt 3 and the lower second locking protrusion 14 of the lower second belt 9 can be adjusted. It can be fixed at an arbitrary rotational angle position by relative rotation with respect to.

  The upper belt conveying means 16 includes an upper first belt 17 and an upper second belt 24. The downstream portion 17 a of the upper first belt 17 is wound around pulleys 20, 20 fixed to an upper cylindrical body 19 that is externally fitted to the upper differential shaft 18. The upstream portion 17 b of the upper first belt 17 is wound around the pulleys 21 and 21 and extends to the same position as the upstream portion 3 b of the lower first belt 3. Further, the upper first belt 17 is provided with a plurality of upper first locking protrusions 22 that engage with the upper part of the front surface of the folding box B at a predetermined interval.

  The upper second belt 24 is provided inside the upper first belt 17, and the downstream portion 24 a is wound around pulleys 26, 26 fixed to the upper base shaft 25. The upstream portion 24b of the upper second belt 24 is set at the same position as the upstream portion 9b of the lower second belt 9, and is wound around pulleys 27 and 27, respectively. Further, the upper second belt 24 is provided with an upper second locking projection 28 that engages with the upper part of the rear surface of the folding box B at a predetermined interval.

  Here, the upper tubular body 19 has an upper differential shaft 18 so that the distance between the upper first locking protrusion 22 of the upper first belt 17 and the upper second locking protrusion 28 of the upper second belt 24 can be adjusted. It can be fixed at an arbitrary rotational angle position by relative rotation with respect to.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper and lower belt conveying means 2, 16 are rotated in conjunction with the driving means 30.

  Specifically, an idle gear 33 is interposed between the gears 31 and 32 fixed to the lower base shaft 4 that rotates the lower first belt 3 and the lower differential shaft 10 that rotates the lower second belt 9. The lower first belt 3 and the lower second belt 9 rotate in conjunction with each other, and the upper differential shaft 18 that rotates the upper first belt 17 and the upper base shaft 25 that rotates the upper second belt 24, respectively. Between the fixed gears 34 and 35, an idle gear 36 fixed to an intermediate cylindrical body 38 fitted on the intermediate shaft 37 is interposed, and the upper first belt 17 and the upper second belt 24 are interlocked. Further, a belt 43 is wound around each of a pulley 40 fixed to one of the pulley 40 and the intermediate shaft 41 fixed to the lower base shaft 4, and a pulley 44 and an intermediate fixed to the other of the intermediate shaft 41 Fixed to shaft 37 Each belt 46 is wound around the Ri 45, so that the lower first belt 3, below the second belt 9, on the first belt 17 and the upper second belt 24 is rotated in conjunction with each other.

  Here, the relative positions of the lower first and second locking projections 7 and 14 of the lower belt conveying means 2 and the upper first and second locking projections 22 and 28 of the upper belt conveying means 16 can be adjusted. The intermediate cylindrical body 38 can be fixed at an arbitrary rotational angle position by rotating relative to the intermediate shaft 37.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the lower first and second locking projections 7, 14 of the lower belt conveying means 2 are members having substantially the same cross-sectional shape from the base end side to the distal end side. The 1st and 2nd latching protrusions 22 and 28 are members which have a step part in the tip side and the mutually opposing side. The step portion has a shape cut out in a substantially L shape, and the front and rear corners above the folding box B are locked to the step portion. Accordingly, the folding box B fed between the upper and lower belt conveying means 2 and 16 is in a state where the upper surface is separated from the belt surfaces of the upper first and second belts 17 and 24 by a predetermined distance (the lower surface is the lower first). And in contact with the second belts 3 and 9).

  The lower guide body 48 is a member that has a guide surface that can slide in contact with the lower surface of the folding box B and guides the lower surface of the folding box B to the lower belt conveying means 2. The upper guide body 49 is a member that has a guide surface that can slide in contact with the upper surface of the folding box B and guides the upper surface of the folding box B to the upper belt conveying means 16.

  However, the upper guide body 49 includes an upper first guide body 50 disposed on the upstream side of the upstream portion 17b of the upper first belt 17, and an upstream portion 24b of the upper second belt 24 from the upper first guide body 50. And the upper and lower corners of the upper side of the folding box B are not in contact with the upper first and second belts 17 and 24 of the upper belt conveying means 16. The guide surfaces of the upper first and second guide bodies 50 and 51 are formed on the upper first and second belts 17 and 24 so as to be smoothly locked to the step portions of the first and second locking protrusions 22 and 28. It protrudes to the lower belt conveying means 2 side from the belt surface, and is set at a position substantially the same as or slightly lower than the step surfaces of the step portions of the upper first and second locking projections 22, 28.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the spreading means 53 includes a belt 54 that is provided alongside the belt conveying means 1 and rotates in synchronization with the belt conveying means 1. The downstream portion 54 a of the belt 54 is wound around the pulley 55. The upstream portion 54 b of the belt 54 is wound around the pulley 56 and is set on the downstream side of the upstream portions 9 b and 24 b of the upper and lower second belts 9 and 24. Further, the belt 54 is provided with a plurality of a pair of lateral guide bodies 57 and 58 facing each other corresponding to the width of the folding box B at a predetermined interval.

  One (downstream side) lateral guide body 57 is opposed to the lower first locking projection 7 and the upper first locking projection 22 in the region where the belt 54 is parallel to the belt conveying means 1 and the other (upstream side). The lateral guide body 58 is opposed to the lower second locking protrusion 14 and the upper second locking protrusion 28 in a region where the belt 54 is parallel to the belt conveying means 1.

  In addition, the lateral guide bodies 57 and 58 are configured such that the distal end side of one lateral guide body 57 extends outwardly from the front surface of the folding box B, and the distal end side of the other lateral guide body 58 is folded in the folding box B. The flaps extending from the rear surface of the folding box B are expanded outward and the inner guides are spaced so that the lateral guide bodies 57 and 58 and the left and right flaps of the folding box B do not enter the opening area of the folding box B. It is set to be the same as or slightly longer than the opening width.

  In addition, as for the front end side of the horizontal guide bodies 57 and 58, the outer surface which contacts an outer flap is an inclined surface so that the right and left flaps of the folding box B may be expanded at an appropriate angle. , 58 (the end side in the direction away from the belt conveying means 1) has an inner surface so that articles supplied from an article supply device 62, which will be described later, are smoothly guided between the lateral guide bodies 57, 58. It is an inclined surface.

  In addition, one of the lateral guide bodies 57 and 58 (in the present embodiment, the downstream lateral guide body 57) includes an upper guide body 59. The upper guide body 59 has a projecting piece 59a protruding at the tip, and the projecting piece 59a can come into contact with the inner surface of the flap extending from the upper surface of the folding box B. Moreover, the height of the projecting piece 59a is higher than the upper surface of the folding box B when the opening shape is rectangular (however, the position is lower than the belt surfaces of the upper first and second belts 17, 24). As the belt 54 rotates, the direction of the projecting piece 59a is changed by the pulley 56, and when it moves horizontally, the projecting piece 59a moves the flap on the folding box B upward from the inside. Push up.

  In this case, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the folding box B and the upper first and second belts 17, 24 by the upper first and second locking projections 22, 28. The upper surface of B is allowed to be deformed by pushing up the protruding piece 59a. However, the opening of the folding box B is expanded and expanded in a state where the upper surface is curved in an arcuate shape.

  The article supply device 62 includes a belt 63 that is provided along with the expanding means 53 and rotates in synchronization with the belt conveying means 1 and the expanding means 53. The belt 63 is provided with a plurality of a pair of partitions 64 and 65 facing each other corresponding to the width of the article C at a predetermined interval.

  One (downstream) partition 64 faces one lateral guide 57 in the region where the belt 63 is parallel to the belt 54 of the spreading means 53, and the other (upstream) partition 65 is the belt 63. Is opposed to the other lateral guide body 58 in a region parallel to the belt 54.

  Therefore, in the region where the belts 3, 9, 17, 24 of the belt conveying means 1, the belt 54 of the expanding means 53, and the belt 63 of the article supply device 62 are parallel, the front side of the folding box B, one lateral guide body 57. And the one partition 64 is arranged in the horizontal direction in the conveying direction, and the rear surface of the folding box B, the other horizontal guide body 58 and the other divider 65 are also arranged in the horizontal direction in the conveying direction. .

  The article C accommodated in the folding box B is placed between the pair of partitions 64 and 65 by a known means. Therefore, if a pressing means (not shown) such as a pusher provided in the article supply device 62 is operated to push the article C to the belt conveying means 1 side, the article C is transferred to the belt 54 of the spreading means 53, It passes between the horizontal guide bodies 57 and 58 and the upper guide body 59 and is accommodated in the folding box B from the opened opening. In this regard, the spreading means 53 is interposed between the belt conveying means 1 and the article supply device 62 and serves as a relay means constituting a passage for delivering the article C on the article supply device 62 to the belt conveying means 1. Also works.

  In this way, the opening of the folding box B is expanded from the original rectangular shape by widening the upper surface by the action of the upper guide body 59, so that the frontage is widened. Even if the article has an approximate size or an article having a cross-sectional shape that approximates or substantially coincides with the rectangular opening shape of the folding box B, the article C hits the opening edge of the folding box B and is prevented from being accommodated. There is no such thing.

  Moreover, when the opening of the folding box B is expanded, an upward force is applied to the folding box B by the action of the upper guide body 59, but the front and rear corners above the folding box B are Since the upper and lower first and second locking projections 22 and 28 are in contact with each other, the lifting of the folding box B is restricted, and the folding box B will not be displaced. Therefore, the article C is displaced. The accommodation is not hindered by hitting the opening edge of the folding box B.

  The left and right flaps of the folding box B are expanded by the left and right lateral guide bodies 57 and 58, the upper flap is lifted by the upper guide body 59, and the lower flap is located upstream of the belt conveying means 1. Folding box B, which is folded outward by a flap folding guide (not shown, but is arranged along the lower first belt 3 and twisted at about 90 degrees). Since the flap does not enter the opening area of the article C, the article C does not come into contact with the flap and the accommodation is not hindered.

  Next, the mode at the time of conveying the opened folding box B with a conveying apparatus is demonstrated, referring FIG.

  The folding box B is fed between the lower guide body 48 of the lower belt conveyance means 2 and the upper guide body 49 (upper first guide body 50) of the upper belt conveyance means 16. The folding box B slides on the lower guide body 48 and is fed between the lower first belt 3 and the upper first belt 17. At this time, the lower surface of the folding box B is in contact with the lower first belt 3, but the upper surface is separated from the belt surface of the upper first belt 3 by the upper guide body 49 (upper second guide body 51). Maintained.

  After that, the upper first locking protrusion 22 of the upper first belt 17 engages with the front corner above the folding box B, and the folding box B then moves between the upper and lower first belts 3 and 17. As the travel proceeds, the lower first locking projection 7 of the lower first belt 3 engages with the rear corner of the folding box B. Therefore, the folding box B is reliably conveyed by the lower first locking protrusion 7 of the lower first belt 3 and is flattened downstream by the upper first locking protrusion 22 of the upper first belt 17. Is prevented.

  Further, when the folding box B is conveyed, the lower second locking projection 14 of the lower second belt 9 engages with the front corner below the folding box B, and then the upper second belt 24. The upper second locking projection 28 engages with the corner on the rear side above the folding box B. Therefore, the upper and lower four corners of the folding box B are locked to the respective locking protrusions 7, 14, 22, and 28, and the opening of the folding box B is maintained in a rectangular shape.

  In this state, when the folding box B is transported and passes through the pulley 56 on the upstream side of the expanding means 53, a pair of lateral guide bodies 57 and 58 gradually approach the folding box B from below, and the lateral guide After the bodies 57 and 58 are moved horizontally, the left and right flaps of the folding box B are spread by the horizontal guide bodies 57 and 58 and the flaps on the folding box B are moved to the upper guide body 59 as described above. As a result, the appropriate state C is automatically accommodated in the folding box B while the folding box B is being conveyed.

  In this way, the upper and lower belt conveying means 2 and 16 adopt a configuration in which the four corners of the folding box B are locked by the protrusions 7, 14, 22, and 28, so that the adjustment of the molding state of the box is easy. In addition, while maintaining the shape of the folding box B during transportation, the front and rear corners above the folding box B are separated from the belt surface and locked by the protrusions 22 and 28, respectively. The opening of the folding box B inside can be expanded, and the article C can be smoothly and reliably accommodated.

  Further, when the folding box B passes through the pulley 55 on the downstream side of the expansion means 53 after the article C is accommodated, the pair of lateral guide bodies 57 and 58 gradually move downward, so that the folding box The lateral guide bodies 57 and 58 are separated from B. At this time, since the upper guide body 59 is also separated from the folding box B, the urging of the folding box B is released and returns to the original rectangular shape. And further downstream, the process of folding each flap and sealing both openings of the folding box B is performed (not shown).

  By the way, in adjusting the interval between the locking projections 7, 14, 22, and 28 according to the size of the folding box B (length in the conveying direction), the lower first locking projection 7 of the lower first belt 3 and When adjusting the distance between the lower second belt 9 and the lower second locking protrusion 14, the lower cylindrical body 11 is rotated with respect to the lower differential shaft 10, so that the lower first belt 3 is moved. The distance between the lower second locking projections 14 can be changed with respect to the lower first locking projections 7 by relatively moving the lower second belt 9.

  Further, when adjusting the distance between the upper first locking protrusion 22 of the upper first belt 17 and the upper second locking protrusion 28 of the upper second belt 24, an upper cylindrical shape is formed with respect to the upper differential shaft 18. By rotating the body 19, the upper first belt 17 is moved relative to the upper second belt 24 to change the distance between the upper first locking protrusions 22 relative to the upper second locking protrusions 28. can do.

  Further, when adjusting the relative positions of the lower first and second locking projections 7 and 14 and the upper first and second locking projections 22 and 28, the intermediate cylindrical body 38 is attached to the intermediate shaft 37. By rotating, the upper first and second belts 17, 24 are moved relative to the lower first and second belts 3, 9, and the lower first and second locking projections 7, 14 are moved. On the other hand, the positions of the upper first and second locking projections 22 and 28 can be changed.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the opening is expanded by expanding the upper surface of the folding box B outward, but the lower surface of the folding box B is expanded to expand the opening. It may be.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it is trying to open an opening by pressing the flap extended from the upper surface of the folding box B outward from the inside, the upper surface or the lower surface is pressed directly, The opening may be expanded. In the case of a folding box not provided with a flap, the upper surface or the lower surface is naturally pressed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the opening means 53 is rotated in synchronization with the belt conveying means 1 to widen the opening. However, the belt conveying means 1 itself is provided with the expanding means. May be. In short, a configuration in which one of the upper and lower surfaces of the folding box B is pressed outward from the inside in a state where the four corners of the folding box B are locked by the locking projections 7, 14, 22, and 28. If it becomes, the concrete structure of an expansion means will not be ask | required.

The front view of the conveying apparatus of this embodiment is shown. The schematic perspective view of the belt conveyance means in the conveying apparatus of the embodiment is shown. The cross-sectional top view which expand | deployed the drive mechanism in the conveying apparatus of the embodiment is shown. The schematic front view of the drive mechanism in the conveying apparatus of the embodiment is shown. The partial top view of the conveying apparatus and article supply apparatus of the embodiment is shown. The partial perspective view of the conveying apparatus and article supply apparatus of the embodiment is shown.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Belt conveying means, 2 ... Lower belt conveying means, 3 ... Lower first belt, 7 ... Lower first locking protrusion, 9 ... Lower second belt, 14 ... Lower second locking protrusion, 16 ... Upper belt conveying Means, 17 ... upper first belt, 22 ... upper first locking projection, 24 ... upper second belt, 28 ... upper second locking projection, 30 ... driving means, 48 ... lower guide body, 49 ... upper guide body 50 ... Upper first guide body, 51 ... Upper second guide body, 53 ... Expanding means, 59 ... Upper guide body, 59a ... Projection piece, 62 ... Article supply device, B ... Folding box, C ... Article

Claims (3)

A folding box transport device comprising a pair of upper and lower belt transport means and configured to transport an opened folding box between them, each of the pair of upper and lower belt transport means A pair of locking projections for locking the corners of the upper belt conveying means, and at least one of the locking projections of the upper belt conveying means or the lower belt conveying means is separated from the belt surface at a predetermined interval. The corner of the folding box is locked so as to move along the upper and lower belt conveying means, and the surface of the folding box on the side separated from the belt surface in the region parallel to the upper and lower belt conveying means from the inside. A folding box transporting device comprising: an expanding means for expanding an opening of a folding box by pressing outwardly, and the opening of the folding box is expanded by the expanding means . At least one of the locking protrusion of the upper belt conveying means and the locking protrusion of the lower belt conveying means has a stepped portion, and the corner portion of the folding box is locked to the step surface of the stepped portion so that the folding box is 2. The folding box transport device according to claim 1, wherein the folding box is separated from the belt surface at a predetermined interval . An upper and lower guide body for guiding the folding box between the upper and lower belt conveying means is provided, and at least one guide body guides the folding box while maintaining the folding box at a predetermined distance from the belt surface. Item 2. A folding box transport device according to Item 1 .