JP7381858B2 - container folding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container folding device, and more particularly to a container folding device that folds a collapsible container while transporting it.

Conventionally, a collapsible container has a bottom plate provided at the bottom, a frame provided at the top and formed with an opening, and first and second side plates each having one end rotatably attached to the frame. 2. Description of the Related Art Containers are known that include bendable third and fourth side plates that are provided adjacent to first and second side plates.
In order to change such a container from an assembled state to a folded state, the bottom plate is turned upward, and in that state, the first and second side plates are rotated and housed inside the frame, and then the third and fourth side plates are rotated. By bending the side plates and storing them inside the frame, the bottom plate can be folded close to the frame.
A container folding device for folding such a collapsible container includes a conveying means for conveying the assembled container with the first and second side plates facing laterally with respect to the conveying direction, and a conveying means on both sides of the conveying means. A device is known that is provided with a pressing means for pressing the first and second side plates inward of the container, respectively (Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 6168289

Here, the container is configured such that the first and second side plates are connected to the bottom plate and the third and fourth side plates to maintain the assembled state, so that the container can be changed from the assembled state to the folded state. In order to do this, it is necessary to release the connection between the first and second side plates.
However, although the pressing means of Patent Document 1 presses the first and second side plates inward of the container, simply pressing the first and second side plates inward of the container does not result in a connected state. There were cases where the folding was not released, causing folding defects.
In view of these problems, the present invention provides a container folding device that can reliably release the connection between the first and second side plates and fold the first and second side plates.

In other words, the invention according to claim 1 includes a bottom plate provided at a lower part, a frame provided at an upper part and having an opening formed therein, and first and second side plates each having one end rotatably provided on the frame. A container folding device for folding a container, comprising: and bendable third and fourth side plates provided adjacent to the first and second side plates,
a conveyance means for conveying the assembled container with the bottom plate facing upward, with the first and second side plates facing laterally with respect to the conveyance direction; 1. A container folding device comprising a set of pressing means for pressing each second side plate inward of the container,
In the container, the first and second side plates are connected to the bottom plate and the third and fourth side plates by a connecting means in the assembled state, and when the container is in the folded state, the first and second side plates are connected by the pressing means. is pressed inward of the container to release the connection state by the connection means,
The pressing means has a drive means having a rotation shaft, and first and second contact parts arranged at a predetermined angle around the rotation shaft of the drive means,
The driving means rotates the rotating shaft in synchronization with the position of the container being transported by the transporting means, and the first contact portion moves downstream portions of the first and second side plates in the transporting direction toward the inside of the container. and the second contact portion presses the upstream portions of the first and second side plates in the conveying direction inward of the container, thereby releasing the connected state by the connecting means. .

According to the above configuration, the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the pressing means press the downstream and upstream portions of the first and second side plates in the conveyance direction, respectively, inward of the container. , it is possible to reliably release the connection between the first and second side plates, and in turn, it is possible to reliably fold the first and second side plates.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a container folding device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible container in an assembled state. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the container of FIG. 2 in a folded state. A side view of a disconnected section. A front view of a disconnected section. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the pressing means. FIG. 7 is a front view of the third and fourth side plate folding sections.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a container folding device 1 for folding a collapsible bottomed box-shaped container C, and converts the assembled container C shown in FIG. 2 into the folded state shown in FIG. 3. It is foldable.
FIG. 2 shows the assembled state of the container C, which includes a substantially rectangular bottom plate 2 provided at the bottom, a frame body 3 provided at the top having a substantially rectangular opening, and first to and fourth side plates 4 to 7. Further, the bottom plate 2, the frame body 3, and the first to fourth side plates 4 to 7 are each made of resin that is allowed to be slightly elastically deformed.
The first side plate 4 and the second side plate 5 are provided so as to face each other, and between the first side plate 4 and the second side plate 5, a third side plate 6 and a fourth side plate 7 are provided so as to face each other. It is set in.
FIG. 3 shows the folded state of the container C. In this state, the frame 3 is in close contact with the bottom plate 2, and the first to fourth side plates 4 to 7 are connected to the bottom plate 2 and the frame. 3, more specifically, inside the opening of the frame 3.

The first and second side plates 4 and 5 are plate-shaped members, and their upper sides are rotatably provided with hinges H relative to the frame 3, and in the folded state, the first and second side plates 4, 5 are housed inside the frame 3 in an overlapping state.
As will be described later, when the container C is folded, the container C is supplied with the frame 3 facing downward, so that the lower ends of the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are A hinge H is located at the frame 3 so as to lie down inside the frame 3.
The third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 each have a structure in which two rectangular plates 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b are rotatably connected by a hinge H, and the upper plates 6a and 7a are It is rotatably connected to the frame 3 by a hinge H, and the lower plates 6b, 7b are rotatably connected to the bottom plate 2 by a hinge H.
In the assembled state, the upper plates 6a, 7a and the lower plates 6b, 7b are opened into a single plate, and when folded, the upper plates 6a, 7a and the lower plates 6b, 7b are opened. It is designed to be bent inward of the container C and accommodated therein.

With this configuration, when the container C is assembled, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 come into contact with the inner surfaces of the upper plates 6a and 7a and the lower plates 6b and 7b in the open state. This prevents the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 from bending.
When folded, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are first folded inside the frame 3, and then the upper plates 6a and 7a and the lower plates 6b and 7b are folded inside the frame 3. The third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 can be accommodated inside the frame 3 by bending them toward the side.

In this way, the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 of the container C are formed such that the upper plates 6a and 7a and the lower plates 6b and 7b are bent inward of the frame 3, but when the container C is assembled, During the transition from the folded state to the folded state, it is not completely housed inside the frame 3 and takes the form of the "rear Z state" or the "front Z state" shown in FIG.
First, the rear Z state refers to the lower plate 6b of the third side plate 6 located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction being housed in the frame body 3 lying down on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the upper plate 6a standing upright. The current state has been maintained.
On the other hand, in the fourth side plate 7 located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction, the lower plate material 7b maintains an upright state, and the upper plate material 7a lies down downstream in the conveyance direction and is in close contact with the bottom plate 2. It has become.
Regarding the container C which has reached the rear Z state in this way, the third side plate 6 and the fourth side plate 7 can be moved to the frame by tilting the upper plate 6a of the third side plate 6 and the lower plate 7b of the fourth side plate 7 forward. It can be in a folded state housed in the body 3.
Next, the front Z state is a state in which the lower plate material 6b of the third side plate 6 is maintained in an upright state, whereas the upper plate material 6a is bent toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction and is in close contact with the bottom plate 2. It is in a state. On the other hand, in the fourth side plate 7, the lower plate material 7b is housed in the frame 3 by lying down on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the upper plate material 7a is maintained in an upright state.
The container C, which is in the front Z state in this way, can be brought into the folded state by folding down the lower plate 6b of the third side plate 6 and the upper plate 7a of the fourth side plate 7 backward.

Next, in the container C of this embodiment, there is a space between the bottom and side sides excluding the upper sides of the first and second side plates 4 and 5, and the bottom plate 2 and the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7. , connection means 8 are provided for maintaining the assembled state.
As such a connecting means 8, a conventionally known structure can be used, but for example, a flexible plate-like member on the first and second side plates 4, 5 and a hook provided at the tip of the plate-like member are used. A conceivable configuration is to provide an engaging portion consisting of the above-mentioned engaging portion, and provide engaged portions consisting of hooks on the bottom plate 2 and the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 to engage with the hooks of the aforementioned engaging portion.
In order to connect the first and second side plates 4 and 5 to the bottom plate 2, engaging portions are provided near both ends of the bottom sides of the first and second side plates 4 and 5, and the connection means 8 is provided at the bottom plate 2. 2 is provided with the above-mentioned engaged portion at a corresponding position.
On the other hand, in order to connect the first and second side plates 4 and 5 to the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7, upper plate members 6a and 7a and lower plate members 6b and 7b constituting the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 are connected to each other. An engaged portion is provided for each, and the engaging portions are provided at corresponding positions on the sides of the first and second side plates 4 and 5.
In the connecting means 8, when the container C is assembled, the engaging part and the engaged part are engaged to maintain the first and second side plates 4 and 5 from falling off. When converting the container C from the assembled state to the folded state, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are pressed from the outside inward of the container C with a predetermined force to forcibly close the engaging portion. can be disengaged from the engaged portion to release the connected state.

Hereinafter, the container folding device 1 for folding the container C having the above configuration will be explained. The container folding device 1 releases the conveying means 11 for conveying the assembled container C and the connecting means 8 for the container C. A pressing means 12, first and second side plate folding means 13 for folding the first and second side plates 4 and 5, and third and fourth side plate folding means 14 for folding the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7. We are prepared.
The conveying means 11 is composed of a plurality of chain conveyors arranged in parallel, including a supply conveyor 11A for supplying the container C from the washing device, and a supply conveyor 11A provided downstream thereof for folding the first and second side plates 13. and a conveyor 11B that conveys the container C to the third and fourth side plate folding means 14, a discharge conveyor 11C that discharges the folded container C to a stacker (not shown), and a conveyor 11B that conveys the container C from the supply conveyor 11A to the conveyor 11B. It is composed of a relay conveyor 11D that transfers the container C.
As shown in FIG. 4, the supply conveyor 11A is provided with attachments 15 and stoppers 16 at equal intervals, and the attachments 15 are inserted into the opening of the frame 3 of the container C that is turned upside down. The frame body 3 is conveyed while pressing its opening.
Further, the stopper 16 is provided at a position separated by a predetermined distance on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the container C being pressed by the attachment 15, and after the attachment 15 is separated from the container C, the stopper 16 is placed at the rear of the container C. It is possible to press the container C by coming into contact with it.

In the supply conveyor 11A, when the attachment 15 is inserted into the frame 3, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 cannot lie down inside the container C. 12, it is necessary to separate the attachment 15 from the container C.
Therefore, a space is provided between the supply conveyor 11A and the transport conveyor 11B through which the attachment 15 can pass, and when the attachment 15 is located at the starting position of the pressing means 12, it moves to the lower surface of the supply conveyor 11A and the container C is more likely to leave.
On the other hand, the conveyor that has moved to the downstream end of the supply conveyor 11A transfers to the relay conveyor 11D provided between the supply conveyor 11A and the transfer conveyor 11B. It is pressed from the rear by a stopper 16 provided at.

4 to 6 are views for explaining the pressing means 12, which is provided on both sides of the conveying means 11 and presses the first and second side plates 4, 5 inward of the container C. , the connecting means 8 is released.
Further, while the pressing means 12 presses the first and second side plates 4 and 5, an upper side guide is placed at the height of the bottom plate 2 and frame body 3 of the container C conveyed by the conveying means 11 at a position close to them. 17 and a lower side guide 18 are provided.

The pressing means 12 includes a substantially fan-shaped bracket 22 that is rotatable by a servo motor 21 as a driving means, and first and second contact portions provided at both ends of an arcuate portion 22a of the bracket 22. 23 and 24. In the following description, the mechanism of the portion that presses the first side plate 4 located on the lower side in FIG. 6 will be used.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the servo motor 21 is fixed above the conveying means 11, and the rotating shaft 21a of the servo motor 21 is positioned at a position where it does not come into contact with the container C conveyed by the conveying means 11. It is provided.
Further, the height of the bracket 22 and the first and second abutting parts 23 and 24 is set slightly below the bottom of the first side plate 4, so that the bracket 22 and the first and second abutting parts 23 and 24 can be rotated in the horizontal direction at this position. It has become.
The rotation of the servo motor 21 is controlled by a control means (not shown), and the control means recognizes the passage of the container C by a sensor 25 provided near the downstream end of the supply conveyor 11A. By recognizing the transport speed of the container C using an encoder (not shown), it is possible to synchronize the position of the container C and the rotation of the bracket 22.

The bracket 22 is a substantially fan-shaped member fixed to the rotating shaft 21a of the servo motor 21, and the first and second contact portions 23 and 24 are at both ends of the arcuate portion 22a of the bracket 22. It is provided in an open state at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the rotation shaft 21a.
When the bracket 22 is rotated by the servo motor 21, the first and second contact parts 23 and 24 protrude further inward of the container C than the first side plate 4, as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 6(d). As a result, the first side plate 4 can be pressed inward of the container C by the first and second contact parts 23 and 24.
Further, the first and second abutting parts 23 and 24 are replaceably provided on the bracket 22, and can be replaced depending on the type of container C to be folded.
The arcuate portion 22a of the bracket 22 constitutes a third contact portion for pressing the first side plate 4 inward of the container C, similar to the first and second contact portions 23 and 24. ing.

Hereinafter, the operation of the pressing means 12 will be explained using each diagram in FIG. 6.
First, FIG. 6(a) shows a state in which a container C with the bottom plate 2 facing upward is supplied by the supply conveyor 11A of the conveying means 11 to the pressing means 12 in a standby state.
At this time, in the conveying means 11, the attachment 15 of the supply conveyor 11A is inserted into the frame 3 located below the container C, as shown in FIG. 4, and the container C is conveyed while being pressed by the attachment 15. ing.
Thereafter, when the container C passes the sensor 25 provided on the supply conveyor 11A, the control means recognizes the position of the container C based on the encoder of the supply conveyor 11A, and the container C reaches the position shown in FIG. 6(a). .

The position of the container C in FIG. 6(a) is the same as the position of the container C shown in FIG. It separates from Container C while moving towards the side.
Thereby, even if the pressing means 12 presses the first and second side plates 4 and 5 inward of the container C, the attachment 15 does not obstruct the movement of the first and second side plates 4 and 5. ing.
As shown in FIG. 6(a), the pressing means 12 is on standby with the first contact portion 23 provided on the bracket 22 facing upstream in the conveyance direction.

Next, FIG. 6(b) shows a state in which the first contact portion 23 of the pressing means 12 presses the first and second side plates 4, 5 inward of the container C.
Specifically, when the servo motor 21 rotates the bracket 22 (the pressing means 12 on the lower side of the drawing rotates counterclockwise, and the pressing means 12 on the upper side of the drawing rotates clockwise), the first contact portion 23 rotates between the first and second portions. Contact is started with the ends of the side plates 4 and 5 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction.
After that, when the servo motor 21 further rotates the bracket 22, the first contact part 23 gradually protrudes inward of the container C, thereby causing the upper ends (bottom parts) of the first and second side plates 4 and 5 to will be pressed inward of the container C.
When the bracket 22 shown in FIG. 6(b) is rotated by 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG. You will be under pressure.

In this way, when the first contact portion 23 presses the first and second side plates 4 and 5 inward of the container C, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are pressed against the bottom plate 2 and the third and fourth side plates. The connecting means 8 connected to the side plates 6 and 7 will be released.
In the state shown in FIG. 6(b), the first contact portion 23 presses a portion of the first side plate 4 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. The connection state between the upper plate material 6a and the lower plate material 6b, and the connection state on the downstream side of the bottom plate 2 in the transport direction are released.
At this time, by pressing the container C with the pressing means 12, the container C tries to move in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, but the upper side guide 17 and the lower side guide 18 cause the bottom plate 2 and the frame body to This prevents displacement of the coupling means 8, and the coupling means 8 can be reliably released.
Here, by pressing the container C from both sides by the pressing means 12, the container C may slip with respect to the supply conveyor 11A and the relay conveyor 11D, but in this case, the stopper 16 provided on the relay conveyor 11D It comes into contact with the container C from the rear and allows the container C to continue being transported.

Next, FIG. 6(c) shows a state in which the first and second side plates 4, 5 are pressed inward of the container C by the arcuate portion 22a of the bracket 22 of the pressing means 12.
Specifically, in the state shown in FIG. 6(b), the supply conveyor 11A transports the container C at a predetermined speed by the stopper 16, and the servo motor 21 of the pressing means 12 further rotates the bracket 22 by 45 degrees. It is in a state.
When the bracket 22 rotates, the first abutting part 23 separates from the first side plate 4, but the arcuate part 22a of the bracket 22 adjacent to the first abutting part 23 acts as a third abutting part. The state in which the substantially central portions of the second side plates 4 and 5 are pressed inward of the container C is maintained.
Here, since the arcuate portion 22a is formed closer to the rotating shaft 21a than the first contact portion 23, the first side plate 4 pressed by the first contact portion 23 reaches the position of the arcuate portion 22a. It will return to the outside of container C.

Next, FIG. 6(d) shows a state in which the first and second side plates 4, 5 are pressed inward of the container C by the second contact portion 24 of the pressing means 12.
More specifically, with respect to the state shown in FIG. 6(c), the supply conveyor 11A transports the container C at a predetermined speed by the stopper 16, and the servo motor 21 further rotates the bracket 22 by 45 degrees. There is.
As a result, the second contact portion 24 contacts the vicinity of the upstream ends of the first and second side plates 4 and 5 in the conveyance direction and presses them inside the container C, thereby causing the first and second side plates 4 to , 5, the connection means 8 with the fourth side plate 7 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction is released.
At this time, with respect to the arcuate portion 22a of the bracket 22 that had been in contact with the first side plate 4, the second contact portion 24 is located on the outer side of the rotating shaft 21a than the arcuate portion 22a. , the second contact portion 24 can press the first side plate 4 further inward of the container C than in the state shown in FIG. 5(c).
As a result, the first side plate 4 is pushed to the outside of the container C by the arcuate portion 22a in FIG. 6(c), whereas the first contact portion 23 initially presses the first side plate 4 in FIG. However, the second contact portion 24 presses the first side plate 4 into the container C again as shown in FIG. 6(d).
This causes the first side plate 4 to reciprocate inward and outward of the container C, making it possible to more reliably release the connected state of the connecting means 8.

Next, FIG. 6(e) shows a state in which the operation of the pressing means 12 has been completed.
More specifically, with respect to the state shown in FIG. 6(d), the supply conveyor 11A transports the container C at a predetermined speed by the stopper 16, and the servo motor 21 further rotates the bracket 22 by 90 degrees. There is.
As a result, the second contact portion 24 that had been in contact with each other is separated from the first and second side plates 4 and 5, and the pressing means 12 no longer interferes with the container C being transported by the transporting means 11.
Thereafter, before a new container C is supplied to the pressing means 12, the servo motor 21 further rotates the bracket 22 to return the first contact portion 23 to the standby position shown in FIG. 6(a). .

Next, the first and second side plate folding means 13 are constituted by first and second injection nozzles 13a and 13b provided on the sides of the conveyance means 11, as shown in FIG. is adapted to inject water to the first side plate 4, and the second injection nozzle 13b injects water to the second side plate 5.
Further, the first injection nozzle 13a is provided on the downstream side of the second injection nozzle 13b, and when the container C conveyed on the supply conveyor 11A approaches the first and second side plate folding means 13, the first injection nozzle 13a is first The second side plate 5 is caused to lie down inside the container C by the water sprayed by the second spray nozzle 13b.
Thereafter, when the container C approaches the first injection nozzle 13a, the first side plate 4 is brought down inside the container C by the water sprayed by the first injection nozzle 13a.
In this way, by differentiating the timing of water injection by the first and second injection nozzles 13a and 13b, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are sequentially lowered, and the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are separated. It is possible to reliably fold the first and second side plates 4 and 5 without interfering with each other during the lodging process.
Note that the first and second injection nozzles 13a and 13b may always inject water, but the sensor recognizes the position of the container C and the first and second injection nozzles 13a and 13b spray water. Water may be sprayed only while passing.

Next, the third and fourth side plate folding means 14 will be explained using FIG. 7. When the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are folded by the first and second side plate folding means 13, the third and fourth side plates The upper plate member 6a and the lower plate member 6b that constitute the fourth side plates 6 and 7 are made swingable by the hinge H.
As a result, while the container C is conveyed by the conveyor 11B, the upper plate materials 6a, 7a and the lower plate materials 6b, 7b of the third and fourth side plates 6, 7 are bent, resulting in the front Z state as described above. Alternatively, it is in the rear Z state and is transported to the third and fourth side plate folding means 14.

The third and fourth side plate folding means 14 include a sensor 31 provided on the conveyance means 11 to detect passage of the container C, a pusher 32 for folding the container C in the rear Z state, and a pusher 32 for folding the container C in the rear Z state. and an abutment wall 33 that brings the container C into a folded state.
The pusher 32 includes an arm 32a provided at a height near the upper part of the lower plate 6b of the fourth side plate 7 located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the container C in the post-Z state, and a servo that rotates the arm 32a. and a motor 32b.
The arm 32a is located at a standby position where it does not come into contact with the container C until the container C is transported, and when the sensor 31 detects the container C, the control means synchronizes the arm 32a with the position of the container C. It is designed to rotate.
Specifically, the position of the lower plate material 6b of the fourth side plate 7 when the container C in the rear Z state passes is stored in advance, and the control means moves the lower plate material 6b of the fourth side plate 7 upstream in the conveyance direction. The arm 32a is rotated by a servo motor 32b so as to press from the side toward the downstream side.
On the other hand, the abutment wall 33 is a plate-shaped member provided at the downstream end of the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 folding sections, and there is a space between the abutment wall 33 and the conveyor 11B. A gap is formed that allows the container C in a folded state to pass through.
In other words, the gap is set at a height that does not allow the container C in the rear Z state or the front Z state to pass through. Therefore, when the container C in the front Z state is transported by the transport means 11, the container C in the front Z state is transported. The bottom plate 2 of the container C collides with the abutting wall 33.

With such a configuration, when the container C in the rear Z state is supplied to the third and fourth side plate folding means 14, the sensor 31 first detects the container C, and the control means detects the container C in the rear Z state. The arm 32a of the pusher 32 is rotated in accordance with the position of the upper plate 6a of the fourth side plate 7 of C.
Then, the arm 32a presses the lower plate 6b of the fourth side plate 7 from behind, and as a result, the lower plate 6b collapses forward, and in conjunction with this, the upper plate 6a of the third side plate 6 also collapses forward. That will happen.
As a result, the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 are accommodated in the frame 3, and the bottom plate 2 located at the top is superimposed on the frame 3, so that the container C is in a folded state. Thereafter, the container C passes through the gap below the abutment wall 33 and is discharged by the discharge conveyor 11C.

On the other hand, when the container C in the front Z state is supplied to the third and fourth side plate folding means 14, the sensor 31 detects the container C as described above, and the pusher 32 rotates the arm 32a.
However, since the arm 32a rotates in accordance with the position of the upper plate 6a of the fourth side plate 7 of the container C which is in the rear Z state, the arm 32a swings in vain.
Therefore, the container C is transported by the transport conveyor 11B while maintaining the front Z state, but when the container C moves to the abutment wall 33, the bottom plate 2 collides with the abutment wall 33.
As a result, the bottom plate 2 is pressed toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction, and the lower plate material 6b of the third side plate 6 falls backward, and in conjunction with this, the upper plate material 6a of the fourth side plate 7 also falls backward. becomes.
As a result, the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 are accommodated in the frame 3, and the bottom plate 2 located at the top is stacked on the frame 3, so that the container C is in a folded state. Thereafter, the container C passes through the gap below the abutment wall 33 and is discharged by the discharge conveyor 11C.

According to the above embodiment, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are connected to the bottom plate 2 and the third and fourth side plates 6 and 7 by the first and second contact portions 23 and 24 of the pressing means 12. Since the first and second side plates 4 and 5 can be released, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 can be reliably folded thereafter.
Further, by providing the third contact portion consisting of the arcuate portion 22a of the fan-shaped bracket 22 between the first and second contact portions 23 and 24, the arcuate portion 22a also 1. The second side plates 4 and 5 can be pressed, making it possible to release the connected state more reliably.

In the above embodiment, in the pressing means 12, the first and second contact parts 23 and 24 are fixed to the bracket 22, and the arcuate part 22a of the bracket 22 is used as the third contact part. The first and second contact parts 23 and 24 may be fixed to the tip of the rod-like member, and the third contact part between the first and second contact parts 23 and 24 may be omitted.
Even in this case, after the first contact portion 23 presses the first and second side plates 4 and 5, when the first contact portion 23 passes, the first and second side plates 4 and 5 move outward. Therefore, when the first and second side plates 4 and 5 are subsequently pressed by the second contact portion 24, the engagement state of the first and second side plates 4 and 5 can be released.
Furthermore, the heights at which the first and second abutting parts 23 and 24 are provided can be adjusted by providing a lifting means on the servo motor 21, and the heights can be adjusted to provide the optimum height for releasing the connecting means 8 of the container C to be processed. It is also possible to position it at a height.

Further, in the above embodiment, two injection nozzles 13a and 13b are provided as the first and second side plate folding means 13, but it is of course possible to increase or decrease the number of injection nozzles as necessary. Water may be sprayed at multiple locations above and below 4 and 5. Furthermore, what the injection nozzles 13a and 13b eject is not limited to water, but may also eject air.

1 Container folding device 2 Bottom plate 4 to 7 First to fourth side plates 8 Connection means 12 Pressing means 21 Servo motor 22 Bracket 22a Arc-shaped part (third contact part)
23 First contact part 24 Second contact part C Container

Claims (3)

a bottom plate provided at the bottom; a frame provided at the top and formed with an opening; first and second side plates having one end rotatably attached to the frame; and the first and second side plates. A container folding device for folding a container, comprising foldable third and fourth side plates provided adjacent to each other,
a conveyance means for conveying the assembled container with the bottom plate facing upward, with the first and second side plates facing laterally with respect to the conveyance direction; 1. A container folding device comprising a set of pressing means for pressing each second side plate inward of the container,
In the container, the first and second side plates are connected to the bottom plate and the third and fourth side plates by a connecting means in the assembled state, and when the container is in the folded state, the first and second side plates are connected by the pressing means. is pressed inward of the container to release the connection state by the connection means,
The pressing means has a drive means having a rotation shaft, and first and second contact parts arranged at a predetermined angle around the rotation shaft of the drive means,
The driving means rotates the rotating shaft in synchronization with the position of the container being transported by the transporting means, and the first contact portion moves downstream portions of the first and second side plates in the transporting direction toward the inside of the container. The container folding device is characterized in that the second contact portion presses the upstream portions of the first and second side plates in the conveying direction inward of the container to release the connected state by the connecting means. . The first and second abutting portions are fixed to the rotating shaft by a fan- shaped bracket,
The arcuate portion of the bracket constitutes a third contact portion that presses the first and second side plates inward of the container as the rotating shaft rotates;
The container according to claim 1, further characterized in that the third contact portion is located closer to the rotation axis than the contact portions of the first and second contact portions with the first and second side plates. Folding device. 3. The container folding device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance means is provided with a stopper that comes into contact with and presses the container from an upstream side in the conveyance direction.

Images