JP7514768B2 - Packing device and method for manufacturing storage boxes - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a packing device and a method for manufacturing storage boxes.

Various devices are known that create a box filled with multiple bags (i.e., a storage box) by storing multiple bags in the box.

Patent document 1 discloses a device for storing standing pouches in a box.

JP 2000-229603 A

The device in Patent Document 1 uses a box-packing board to push a pouch on a table toward a packaging box, placing the pouch into the box. The pouch in Patent Document 1 is a standing pouch, and is therefore inherently thick, making it possible to stably push the pouch out using the board.

On the other hand, in the case of a bag bundle containing multiple thin bags, it is not necessarily easy to stably push out all of the bags in the bag bundle using a plate. For example, when multiple bags are stacked vertically, the lowest bag may unintentionally get between the plate pushing out the bag bundle and the support surface on which the bag bundle is placed. It is also possible to push out the lowest bag using the plate by sliding the plate along the support surface without leaving any gaps. However, in order to prevent such gaps from forming when the plate slides over the support surface, the plate and the support surface are required to have a special structure.

Another possible method is to have an opening/closing device such as a robot hand pinch and hold the bundle of bags while placing it in the box. With this method, the bundle of bags is placed in the box in the desired position and posture, so the opening/closing device opens and releases the bundle of bags while the opening/closing device is positioned inside the box together with the bundle of bags. When this method is adopted, it is necessary to secure space inside the box for the release operation of the opening/closing device in addition to the space for storing the bundle of bags. In this case, when the opening/closing device releases the bundle of bags and retreats from inside the box, the space for the release operation of the opening/closing device becomes an empty space. As a result, there is a concern that the bundle of bags will fall into this empty space and lose its posture inside the box.

This disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an apparatus and method that can stably store multiple bundles of bags in a box in a desired position.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a boxing device that includes a container, a transfer and storage device that transfers multiple bag bundles from a supply area and stores them in the container that is positioned at a transfer position, a storage and transport section that transports the container from the transfer position to a rotation position, and a rotation section that rotates the container that is positioned at the rotation position, and that, when the container that is positioned at the rotation position is covered by the bottom of a box body, rotates the container by the rotation section to store the multiple bag bundles that were stored in the container in the box body while positioning them above the bottom.

The rotating section may receive the container transported to the rotation position from the storage and transport section, and rotate the container while holding it.

The container has a movable side guide and a reference side guide that divide a storage space capable of storing two or more stacked bag bundles, and the movable side guide is arranged so as to be positionable at a regular position that is a first distance away from the reference side guide and a space expansion position that is a second distance away from the reference side guide that is greater than the first distance, and the transfer storage device may have a holding and transfer section that holds the bag bundle while transferring it from the supply area and stores the bag bundle in the storage space of the container that is positioned at the transfer position, and a guide positioning section that positions the movable side guide of the container that is positioned at the transfer position at the space expansion position at least while the holding and transfer section transfers the bag bundle from the supply area to the storage space.

The box may be placed over the container at the transfer position, between the transfer position and the rotation position, or at the rotation position.

The boxing device includes a box receiving section, and the box is rotated together with the container by the rotating section and placed on the box receiving section with at least a portion of the container positioned at the rotating position positioned inside the box, and with the box placed on the box receiving section, at least one of the rotating section and the box receiving section is moved to move the rotating section and the box receiving section away from each other, so that the entire container is positioned outside the box and multiple bag bundles are placed in the box.

The boxing device may include a box receiver moving section that moves the box receiver section, and when the box body is placed on the box receiver section, the box receiver moving section may lower the box receiver section, so that the entire container is positioned outside the box body and multiple bag bundles are stored in the box body.

A plurality of storage and conveying sections are provided, the plurality of storage and conveying sections including a first storage and conveying section that conveys the container from the first transfer position to the first rotation position and a second storage and conveying section that conveys the container from the second transfer position to the second rotation position; a plurality of rotating sections are provided, the plurality of rotating sections including a first rotating section that holds the container positioned at the first rotation position and a second rotating section that holds the container positioned at the second rotation position; the box receiving section is assigned in common to both the first rotating section and the second rotating section, and a box body rotated together with the container by the first rotating section and a box body rotated together with the container by the second rotating section may be placed on the box receiving section.

The container has a back guide that extends in a direction inclined with respect to both the horizontal and vertical directions while the container moves from the transfer position to the rotation position, and may be supported by the multiple bag bundles contained in the container.

The packing device may include a return transport device that transports the container from the collection position to the preparation position, and the collection position may be closer to the rotation position than the transfer position, and the preparation position may be closer to the transfer position than the rotation position.

The storage and transport unit may transport the rotating unit together with the storage body from the transfer position to the rotation position.

The storage and transport section may transport the storage body and the rotating section along an endless transport track that passes through the transfer position and the rotation position.

The storage and conveying unit has a rotating table that rotates around a rotation axis, and the storage body and the rotating unit are attached to the rotating table and may move between a transfer position and a rotation position in response to the rotation of the rotating table.

The container has a bottom surface, which supports the multiple bag bundles from below before the container is rotated by the rotating unit in the rotating position, and the container takes an inclined position in the transfer position, and the container may take a gentler position in the rotating position in which the angle that the container bottom surface makes with the horizontal direction is smaller than the angle that the container bottom surface makes with the horizontal direction when in the inclined position.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a storage box, including the steps of: transferring a plurality of bag bundles from a supply area and storing them in a storage body that is located at a transfer position; transporting the storage body from the transfer position to a rotation position by a storage and transport unit; and, with the storage body located at the rotation position covered by the bottom of a box body, rotating the storage body by a rotation unit to store the plurality of bag bundles stored in the storage body in the box body while positioning them above the bottom.

According to this disclosure, it is possible to stably store multiple bundles of bags in a box in a desired position.

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an example of a packing device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the packing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the packing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a container. FIG. 6 is a front view of a portion of the housing shown in FIG. 5 (particularly one housing space). FIG. 7 is a front view of a portion of the housing shown in FIG. 5 (particularly one housing space). FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a rotation device. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a container covered with a box and placed on a rotating device. FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example of a container covered with a box and placed on a rotating device. FIG. 11 is a side view showing an example of the box, the container, and the rotating device immediately after being placed on the box receiving portion. FIG. 12 is a side view showing an example of a state in which the container and the box are separated from each other. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration of the packing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a side view showing an example of a packing device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a side view showing an example of the behavior of each conveying and rotating unit shown in FIG. 14, in which some elements of the packing device shown in FIG. 14 (for example, the container and the rotating device) are omitted. FIG. 16 is a side view showing an example of the behavior of each conveying and rotating unit shown in FIG. 14, in which some elements of the packing device shown in FIG. 14 (for example, the container and the rotating device) are omitted. FIG. 17 is an enlarged side view showing an example of a rotation device. FIG. 18 is a side view showing an example of the arrangement of the cassette support portion and the first rotating body. FIG. 19 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of the cassette support portion and the first rotating body. FIG. 20 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of the cassette support portion and the first rotating body. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration of the packing device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 22 is a side view showing an example of a state of the container positioned at the transfer position, with the movement restricting portion positioned at the retracted position. 23 is a plan view of the container shown in FIG. 22. FIG. 24 is a front view of the container shown in FIG. 22. FIG. FIG. 25 is a side view showing an example of a state of the container positioned at the transfer position, with the movement limiting portion positioned at the movement limiting position. FIG. 26 is a side view showing an example of a state of the container positioned at the rotated position, with the container covered with a box.

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the vertical direction is the direction in which gravity acts, and the horizontal direction is the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are based on the direction in which the bundle moves. The terms "above" and "below" are based on the height direction.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a top view showing an example of a packing device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packing device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view of the packing device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side view of the packing device 10 shown in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the bag bundle supply device 11 is omitted. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a container 13. FIGS. 6 and 7 are front views of a part of the container 13 shown in FIG. 5 (particularly one storage space S). FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a rotation device 15. In FIG. 8, a box body C is shown in a see-through state, and the inside of the box body C is depicted.

The boxing device 10 includes a transfer storage device 12 that stores multiple bag bundles B in each storage body 13, a storage conveying device (first storage conveying device 14a and second storage conveying device 14b) that conveys the storage body 13 that contains multiple bag bundles B, a rotation device (first rotation device 15a and second rotation device 15b) that rotates the storage body 13 that contains multiple bag bundles B together with the box body C, and a box receiving section 18 that receives the box body C.

The transfer and storage device 12 transfers multiple bag bundles B from the supply area P1 and stores them in a storage body 13 located at the transfer positions (first transfer position P2-1 and second transfer position P2-2).

The bag bundle supplying device 11 places the bag bundles B one after another in the supply area P1. The specific configuration and use of the bag bundle supplying device 11 are not limited. The bag bundle supplying device 11 may be a bag making device that produces the bag bundles B, or may be a conveying device that relays and conveys the bag bundles B sent from upstream.

In this embodiment, each bag included in the bag bundle B is an empty bag with nothing inside, one of the opposing ends forming the mouth and the other forming the bottom, with the bottom being thicker than the mouth. All the bags included in each bag bundle B have a common posture and a common orientation, and each bag bundle B is formed with the mouths of the bags overlapping each other and the bottoms of the bags overlapping each other. Therefore, in each bag bundle B, the bottom end has a greater thickness than the mouth end. The configuration of the bags and bag bundle B is not limited to the above example. The mouth of each bag may be thicker than the bottom, or the mouth and bottom may be the same thickness, a solid, liquid, and/or gas may be placed inside, or a spout or other device may be attached.

The storage body 13 stores multiple bag bundles B by the transfer storage device 12. The storage body 13 shown in FIG. 5 has a first side guide 31, a second side guide 32, a third side guide 33, a bottom guide 34, and a back guide 35, and includes two storage spaces S. One storage space S is partitioned by the first side guide 31, the second side guide 32, the bottom guide 34, and the back guide 35. The other storage space S is partitioned by the second side guide 32, the third side guide 33, the bottom guide 34, and the back guide 35. Each storage space S can store two or more stacked bag bundles B.

The first side guide 31 and the third side guide 33 are movable side guides that are movably provided. The second side guide 32 is a reference side guide that is fixedly provided with respect to the bottom guide 34 and the back guide 35. The first side guide 31 and the third side guide 33 are provided so that they can be positioned at a regular position P11 (see FIG. 7) that is a first distance away from the second side guide 32, and a space expansion position P12 (see FIG. 6) that is a second distance away from the second side guide 32 that is greater than the first distance.

In this embodiment, each of the first side guide 31 and the third side guide 33 is attached with a guide position adjustment spring 41 (see Figures 6 and 7). The guide position adjustment spring 41, which is arranged in a compressed state between the first side guide 31 and the support portion 42, applies an elastic force acting toward the second side guide 32 to the first side guide 31. Similarly, the guide position adjustment spring 41, which is arranged in a compressed state between the third side guide 33 and the support portion 42, applies an elastic force acting toward the second side guide 32 to the third side guide 33. The first side guide 31, the second side guide 32, the third side guide 33, the bottom guide 34, the back guide 35, the guide position adjustment spring 41, and the support portion 42 are provided integrally. For example, the first side guide 31, the third side guide 33, and the support portion 42 may be movably supported by the back guide 35, and the second side guide 32 and the bottom guide 34 may be fixedly supported by the back guide 35.

The transfer and storage device 12 has a holding and transfer section 27 (see Figures 1 to 4) and a guide positioning section 28 (see Figures 6 and 7).

The holding and transferring section 27 holds the bag bundle B and transfers it from the supply area P1, and stores the bag bundle B in the storage space S of the storage body 13 arranged at the first transfer position P2-1 and the second transfer position P2-2. The holding and transferring section 27 of this embodiment stores multiple bag bundles B in a stacked state in each storage space S, and in particular, multiple bag bundles B are stacked so that the orientations of the mouth side end and bottom side end of the bag bundle B alternate.

The guide positioning unit 28 positions the first side guide 31 and/or the third side guide 33 of the container 13, which are arranged at the transfer position, at the space enlargement position P12 (see FIG. 6), at least while the holding and transferring unit 27 transfers the bag bundle B from the supply area P1 to the storage space S of the container 13. In this embodiment, when no force is applied from the guide positioning unit 28 to the first side guide 31 and the third side guide 33, the first side guide 31 and the third side guide 33 are arranged at the regular position P11 by receiving an elastic force from the guide position adjustment spring 41 (see FIG. 7). When the first side guide 31 is arranged at the regular position P11, the positions of the multiple bag bundles B stored in the corresponding storage space S may be restricted while contacting the first side guide 31 and/or the second side guide 32, or may be restricted without contacting the first side guide 31 and/or the second side guide 32. Similarly, when the third side guide 33 is positioned at the regular position P11, the positions of the multiple bag bundles B stored in the corresponding storage space S may be restricted while contacting the third side guide 33 and/or the second side guide 32, or may be restricted without contacting the third side guide 33 and/or the second side guide 32.

In the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, the holding and transferring unit 27 is configured by an articulated robot fixedly attached to the top plate 20a of the pedestal 20, but may have other configurations. In the example shown in Figures 6 and 7, the guide positioning unit 28 is configured by an opening and closing member that can grasp and release the movable side guides (first side guide 31 and third side guide 33), and is movably attached to the pedestal 20 so that it can be positioned at the regular position P11 and the space expansion position P12 together with the movable side guides. The guide positioning unit 28 may have other configurations.

In this embodiment, multiple storage and transport devices are provided to transport the container 13 from the transfer position to the rotation position. That is, a first storage and transport device 14a is provided to transport the container 13 from the first transfer position P2-1 to the first rotation position P3-1, and a second storage and transport device 14b is provided to transport the container 13 from the second transfer position P2-2 to the second rotation position P3-2.

The first storage and conveying device 14a and the second storage and conveying device 14b in this embodiment have basically the same configuration and are arranged in a symmetrical orientation. Each of the first storage and conveying device 14a and the second storage and conveying device 14b shown in Figures 1 to 4 is provided as a roller conveyor having a plurality of rollers arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and a sliding surface portion installed below the plurality of rollers. By axially rotating two or more rollers (all or a portion of the rollers included in each of the first storage and conveying device 14a and the second storage and conveying device 14b) in the same direction, each storage body 13 slides on the sliding surface portion while receiving a conveying force from the rollers, and moves from the transfer position toward the rotation position.

In each of the first storage and conveying device 14a and the second storage and conveying device 14b shown in Figures 1 to 4, the conveying surface provided by the multiple rollers (i.e., the track surface along which each storage body 13 (particularly the back guide 35) passes) extends in a direction inclined with respect to both the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, each storage body 13 is placed on the slide surface portion while leaning against the multiple rollers. While each storage body 13 moves from the transfer position to the rotation position, the back guide 35 of each storage body 13 extends in a direction inclined with respect to both the horizontal and vertical directions and is leaned against by the multiple bag bundles B stored in each storage body 13.

In this embodiment, a plurality of rotation devices are provided to hold the container 13 positioned at the rotation position. That is, a first rotation device 15a is provided to hold the container 13 positioned at the first rotation position P3-1, and a second rotation device 15b is provided to hold the container 13 positioned at the second rotation position P3-2. The specific method by which the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b hold the container 13 is not limited. For example, the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b may be provided with a support member (not shown) that holds the container 13. Alternatively, the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b may include an electromagnet or a magnet, each container 13 may include a ferromagnetic material or a magnet, and the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b may use a magnetic force to hold the container 13.

In this embodiment, the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b have basically the same configuration and are arranged in a symmetrical orientation. The first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b are collectively referred to as "rotation device 15", and a specific configuration example is shown in Figure 8.

The rotating device 15 shown in Fig. 8 has a swivel bottom plate 15c, a swivel back plate 15d, and a swivel shaft 15e that are integrally provided. The swivel shaft 15e extends in the same direction as the transport direction of each storage body 13 by the storage and transport device (first storage and transport device 14a and second storage and transport device 14b), and the swivel bottom plate 15c and the swivel back plate 15d swing around the swivel shaft 15e. The storage body 13 transferred from the storage and transport device to the rotating device 15 is placed on the swivel bottom plate 15c and the swivel back plate 15d, and is supported from the bottom guide 34 side by the swivel bottom plate 15c, and the back guide 35 is supported by the swivel back plate 15d. In the container 13 shown in FIG. 8, the back guide 35 protrudes downward beyond the bottom guide 34, so when the container 13 is placed on the swivel bottom plate 15c, the bottom guide 34 does not come into contact with the swivel bottom plate 15c, and the lower end surface of the back guide 35 comes into contact with the swivel bottom plate 15c.

Then, with the container 13 positioned in the rotation position covered by the bottom Cb of the box body C, the container 13 is rotated by the rotation device 15, so that the multiple bag bundles B contained in the container 13 are stored in the box body C while being positioned above the bottom Cb of the box body C.

The box body C has an opening Ca and a bottom Cb that are positioned opposite each other. When the container 13 enters the inside of the box body C through the opening Ca, the box body C is placed over the container 13, and the container 13 is covered by the bottom Cb of the box body C.

The box body C is rotated together with the container 13 by the rotation device 15 with at least a portion of the container 13 positioned in the rotation position positioned inside the box body C, and as a result, is placed on the box receiving section 18. In this embodiment, the box receiving section 18 is assigned in common to both the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b. That is, the box body C rotated together with the container 13 by the first rotation device 15a and the box body C rotated together with the container 13 by the second rotation device 15b are placed on the common box receiving section 18.

In this embodiment, the first rotation device 15a alternates between placing the box body C on the box receiving section 18 and the second rotation device 15b alternates between placing the box body C on the box receiving section 18, and only one box body C is placed on the box receiving section 18 at a time. However, the timing of the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b placing the box body C on the box receiving section 18 is not limited. For example, if the box receiving section 18 is sufficiently large, the first rotation device 15a and the second rotation device 15b may simultaneously place the box body C on the box receiving section 18.

With the box body C placed on the box receiving section 18, at least one of the rotating device 15 and the box receiving section 18 is moved to separate the rotating device 15 and the box receiving section 18 from each other, so that the entire container 13 is positioned outside the box body C and multiple bag bundles B are contained in the box body C. In this embodiment, the box receiving section 18 is provided so as to be movable (particularly movable up and down) by the box receiving moving section (see FIG. 13). With the box body C placed on the box receiving section 18, the rotating device 15 holds the container 13 while the box receiving moving section lowers the box receiving section 18, so that the entire container 13 is positioned outside the box body C and multiple bag bundles B are contained in C.

After the multiple bag bundles B contained in each container 13 are transferred to the box body C, the container 13 is transported from the collection position to the preparation position by the return transport device. In this embodiment, multiple return transport devices are provided. That is, a first return transport device 16a that transports the empty container 13 from the first collection position P4-1 to the first preparation position P5-1, and a second return transport device 16b that transports the empty container 13 from the second collection position P4-2 to the second preparation position P5-2 are provided. The first collection position P4-1 is closer to the first rotation position P3-1 than the first transfer position P2-1, and the first preparation position P5-1 is closer to the first transfer position P2-1 than the first rotation position P3-1. The second collection position P4-2 is closer to the second rotation position P3-2 than the second transfer position P2-2, and the second preparation position P5-2 is closer to the second transfer position P2-2 than the second rotation position P3-2.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the first return conveying device 16a is provided adjacent to the first storage conveying device 14a above, and the second return conveying device 16b is provided adjacent to the second return conveying device 16b above. In particular, the first preparation position P5-1 is located adjacent to the first transfer position P2-1 above, and the second preparation position P5-2 is located adjacent to the second transfer position P2-2 above. Therefore, it is possible to quickly supply the empty container 13 from the first preparation position P5-1 to the first transfer position P2-1. Similarly, it is possible to quickly supply the empty container 13 from the second preparation position P5-2 to the second transfer position P2-2. The supply of the container 13 to the transfer positions (first transfer position P2-1 and second transfer position P2-2) may be performed mechanically by a container device not shown, or may be performed manually by an operator W.

In the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, a mounting body (not shown) on which the container 13 can be placed is provided above each of the first rotational position P3-1 and the second rotational position P3-2 (particularly at the positions adjacent to each of the first recovery position P4-1 and the second recovery position P4-2). A recovery device (not shown) or an operator W can recover empty containers 13 from the first rotational position P3-1 and the second rotational position P3-2 and place them on the mounting body. The recovery device (not shown) or an operator W can then transport the containers 13 placed on the mounting body to the first recovery position P4-1 and the second recovery position P4-2 and hand them over to the first return transport device 16a and the second return transport device 16b.

Next, we will explain the method for manufacturing storage boxes using the above-mentioned boxing device 10.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a container 13 covered with a box body C and placed on a rotating device 15. Figure 10 is a side view showing an example of a container 13 covered with a box body C and placed on a rotating device 15. Figure 11 is a side view showing an example of a box body C, container 13, and rotating device 15 immediately after being placed on a box receiving portion 18. Figure 12 is a side view showing an example of a state in which the container 13 and box body C have been separated from each other. In Figures 9 to 12, the box body C is shown in a see-through state, and the inside of the box body C is depicted.

The rotating device 15 illustrated in Figures 10 to 12 has a swivel lever 15f, which is not shown in the other figures. The swivel lever 15f is attached directly or indirectly to the swivel shaft 15e, and by swinging the swivel lever 15f, the entire rotating device 15 is rotated around the swivel shaft 15e. The swivel lever 15f is shown in Figures 10 to 12 only as an example of a means for rotating the rotating device 15. Therefore, the rotating device 15 does not have to have the swivel lever 15f, and may be rotated mechanically or manually via other rotating means.

The bag bundle supplying device 11 shown in FIG. 1 continuously places bag bundles B in the supply area P1. Only one bag bundle B may be placed in the supply area P1 at the same time, or two or more bag bundles B may be placed at the same time. When two or more bag bundles B are placed in the supply area P1, the two or more bag bundles B may be stacked or placed on the same plane.

The holding and transferring section 27 transfers multiple bag bundles B from the supply area P1 and stores them in the container 13 located at the transfer positions (first transfer position P2-1 and second transfer position P2-2). The holding and transferring section 27 is equipped with a holding section such as a suction cup or gripper that can pick up the bag bundles B, picks up the bag bundles B one by one from the supply area P1, and releases the bag bundles B in the container 13 to be stored.

The holding and transferring section 27 of this embodiment alternately stores the bag bundles B in the container 13 arranged at the first transfer position P2-1 and stores the bag bundles B in the container 13 arranged at the second transfer position P2-2. In other words, after the holding and transferring section 27 has completed storing multiple bag bundles B in the container 13 arranged at one of the first transfer position P2-1 and the second transfer position P2-2, it starts storing multiple bag bundles B in the container 13 arranged at the other transfer position.

While the holding and transferring section 27 is storing the bag bundle B in the container 13 arranged at the first transfer position P2-1, the guide positioning section 28 positions the first side guide 31 and/or the third side guide 33 at the space enlargement position P12. This allows the holding and transferring section 27 to store the bag bundle B in the enlarged storage space S, and the bag bundle B can be stored smoothly and appropriately in the storage space S. After the desired number of bag bundles B are stored in the storage space S, the guide positioning section 28 releases the holding of the first side guide 31 and/or the third side guide 33, and positions the first side guide 31 and/or the third side guide 33 at the regular position P11. This allows the size and shape of the storage space S to be placed in a state suitable for the multiple bag bundles B stored in the storage space S, and prevents the multiple bag bundles B in the storage space S from collapsing.

While the holding and transferring unit 27 is performing the operation of storing the bag bundle B in the container 13 located at the first transfer position P2-1, an empty container 13 is set at the second transfer position P2-2. Similarly, while the holding and transferring unit 27 is performing the operation of storing the bag bundle B in the container 13 located at the second transfer position P2-2, an empty container 13 is set at the first transfer position P2-1. Then, as soon as the holding and transferring unit 27 has completed the operation of storing the bag bundle B in the container 13 located at one of the first transfer position P2-1 and the second transfer position P2-2, it starts the operation of storing the bag bundle B in the container 13 located at the other position. In this way, the holding and transferring unit 27 can continuously perform the operation of storing the bag bundle B in each container 13 without interruption.

The container 13 that has completed storing the desired number of bag bundles B is transported from the transfer position to the rotation position by the storage and transport device (first storage and transport device 14a and second storage and transport device 14b). Completion of storing the desired number of bag bundles B in the container 13 can be detected by any method. For example, the control device (see FIG. 13) can count the number of times the holding and transporting unit 27 moves from the supply area P1 to the transfer position (first transfer position P2-1/second transfer position P2-2), or a sensor (see FIG. 13) can detect the top position of the bag bundles B stacked in the storage space S of the container 13, thereby obtaining information regarding completion of storing the desired number of bag bundles B in the container 13.

A container 13 containing a desired number of bag bundles B is covered with a box C by a device (not shown) or manually. The box C is mechanically or manually covered over the container 13 at the transfer position (first transfer position P2-1 and second transfer position P2-2), between the transfer position and the rotation position, or at the rotation position (first rotation position P3-1 and second rotation position P3-2). That is, the box C may be mechanically covered over the container 13 by a box device (not shown), or the box C may be manually covered over the container 13 by an operator W.

Then, with the container 13 covered with the box body C placed on the rotating device 15 and held by the rotating device 15 (see FIG. 10), the pivot lever 15f is swung by a swinging device (not shown) or by the worker W (see FIG. 11). In other words, with the container 13 positioned in the rotation position covered by the bottom Cb of the box body C, the container 13 is held by the rotating device 15 and rotated together with the box body C, so that the multiple bag bundles B contained in the container 13 are stored in the box body C while being positioned above the bottom Cb.

Then, the rotation device 15 and the box receiving section 18 are moved relative to each other so that the container 13 and the box body C move away from each other. In this embodiment, the rotation device 15 stops and the box receiving section 18 descends, so that the container 13 stops and the box body C descends, and the container 13 and the box body C move away from each other. As a result, the entire container 13 is positioned outside the box body C, and multiple bag bundles B are stored in an organized state inside the box body C (see FIG. 12).

The box body C, which contains multiple bag bundles B after the above-mentioned series of processes, is placed on the box conveying device 25 by a storage box moving device (not shown) or by a worker W. The specific method and device configuration for moving the box body C from the box receiving section 18 to the box conveying device 25 are not limited. For example, the box receiving section 18 may be configured with multiple piece members (not shown) that can be separated from each other. In this case, the box body C is placed on the box receiving section 18 with the multiple piece members close enough to each other that the box body C can be placed on it. On the other hand, when transferring the box body C from the box receiving section 18 to the box conveying device 25, the multiple piece members may be moved away from each other by the storage box moving device, so that the box body C is dropped from the box receiving section 18 to the box conveying device 25.

The box C is then transported to the next stage by the box transport device 25 (see Figures 1 to 4).

Figure 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the control configuration of the packing device 10 according to the first embodiment.

The control device 50 provided in the boxing device 10 is connected to a sensor 51, a bag bundle supply device 11, a transfer storage device 12 (holding transfer section 27 and guide positioning section 28), a storage conveying device 14, a rotation device 15, a box receiver moving section 55, a return conveying device 16, and a box conveying device 25. The storage conveying device 14 represents the first storage conveying device 14a and the second storage conveying device 14b described above, and the return conveying device 16 represents the first return conveying device 16a and the second return conveying device 16b described above. The sensor 51 represents one or more arbitrary sensors.

The control device 50 may be connected to devices not shown in FIG. 13 and may control those devices.

The control device 50 can control the connected devices based on the detection results sent from the sensor 51, the control information of the connected devices, and various information sent from the connected devices.

For example, the sensor 51 may include a sensor capable of detecting the bag bundle B in the supply area P1. In this case, the control device 50 may control the transfer storage device 12 (the holding transfer unit 27 and the guide positioning unit 28) based on the detection result of the sensor (e.g., information indicating the presence or absence of the bag bundle B in the supply area P1 and information indicating the position of the bag bundle B).

The sensor 51 may also include a sensor that detects the number of bag bundles B stored in the container 13 located at the transfer positions (first transfer position P2-1 and second transfer position P2-2). In this case, the control device 50 may control the storage and conveying device 14 (first storage and conveying device 14a and second storage and conveying device 14b) based on the detection result of the sensor (i.e., information indicating the number of bag bundles B stored in the container 13).

The sensor 51 may also include a sensor that detects whether the container 13 containing multiple bag bundles B is located at a rotation position (first rotation position P3-1 and second rotation position P3-2). In this case, the control device 50 may control the rotation device 15 (first rotation device 15a and second rotation device 15b) based on the detection result of the sensor (i.e., information indicating the presence or absence of the container 13 at the rotation position).

The sensor 51 may also include a sensor that detects whether or not a box body C containing multiple bag bundles B is placed on the box receiving section 18. In this case, the control device 50 may control the box receiving movement section 55 based on the detection result of the sensor (i.e., information indicating the presence or absence of a box body C on the box receiving section 18) and transfer the box body C from the box receiving section 18 to the box conveying device 25.

The sensor 51 may also include a sensor that detects that a box body C has been transferred from the box receiving section 18 to the box conveying device 25. In this case, the control device 50 may control the box conveying device 25 based on the detection result of the sensor (i.e., information indicating whether or not a box body C has been supplied to the box conveying device 25) and convey the box body C to a downstream stage of the box conveying device 25.

The sensor 51 may also include a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an empty container 13 at the preparation positions (first preparation position P5-1 and second preparation position P5-2). In this case, the control device 50 may control the return conveying device 16 (first return conveying device 16a and second return conveying device 16b) based on the detection result of the sensor (i.e., information indicating the presence or absence of a container 13 at the preparation position) to newly place an empty container 13 at the preparation position.

As described above, according to the packing device 10 and the storage box manufacturing method of this embodiment, the storage body 13 is rotated by the rotation device 15 while being covered by the bottom Cb of the box body C. This allows multiple bag bundles B to be transferred from the storage body 13 to the box body C while preventing the bag bundles B from losing their posture. Therefore, multiple bag bundles B can be stably stored in the box body C in the desired posture.

Furthermore, the work of storing multiple bag bundles B in each storage body 13 is performed at the transfer positions (first transfer position P2-1 and second transfer position P2-2), and the work of storing multiple bag bundles B in the box body C is performed at the rotation positions (first rotation position P3-1 and second rotation position P3-2). By separating the place where the work of storing multiple bag bundles B in the storage body 13 is performed from the place where the work of storing multiple bag bundles B in the box body C is performed, the effects of delays, etc. caused by one operation are less likely to affect the other operation. In this way, according to this embodiment, it is possible to stabilize the operation of the boxing device 10 and the flow of the storage box manufacturing method as a whole.

In addition, multiple bag bundles B can be stored in the box body C in the same positional relationship and posture as in the storage body 13. Therefore, by storing multiple bag bundles B in the storage body 13 so that no large gaps are created, it is possible to pack multiple bag bundles B in the box body C with small gaps between the bag bundles B and with small gaps between the box body C and the bag bundles B. By packing multiple bag bundles B inside the box body C without any gaps, the posture of the bag bundles B inside the box body C is less likely to be distorted even if an external force such as vibration is applied to the box body C during transportation, etc. In addition, the size of the box body C can be prevented from increasing, and a large number of bag bundles B can be stored compactly in a box body C of a limited size.

In addition, by making at least one of the two side guides that divide each storage space S movable, the storage space S can be adaptively adjusted to a size suitable for storing the bag bundles B and for storing and holding the bag bundles B.

In addition, when positioning the container 13 from the inside to the outside of the box body C, the box receiving portion 18 is lowered linearly, allowing the container 13 to smoothly escape from the inside of the box body C. This makes it possible to prevent the bag bundle B contained in the box body C from losing its posture.

In addition, by providing multiple storage and conveying devices (first storage and conveying device 14a and second storage and conveying device 14b), the number of boxes C filled with multiple bag bundles B can be increased. In general, the process of storing multiple bag bundles B in each storage body 13 tends to take more time than the process of putting multiple bag bundles B from the storage body 13 into the box C (in this embodiment, the process of rotating the storage body 13). By providing multiple storage and conveying devices, while one storage and conveying device is performing a process, the other storage and conveying devices can also perform processes simultaneously, thereby reducing the impact of imbalances in the required time between processes on the entire device.

In addition, by allocating the box receiving portion 18 in common to multiple rotation devices (first rotation device 15a and second rotation device 15b), it is possible to promote space saving for the device.

In addition, while the container 13 moves from the transfer position (first transfer position P2-1 and second transfer position P2-2) to the rotation position (first rotation position P3-1 and second rotation position P3-2), the back guide 35 of the container 13 is tilted, and the multiple bag bundles B stored in the container 13 lean against the back guide 35. This allows the multiple bag bundles B to be accurately positioned along the back guide 35, while stably transporting the multiple bag bundles B.

In addition, by providing a return transport device (first return transport device 16a and second return transport device 16b) in addition to the storage transport device (first storage transport device 14a and second storage transport device 14b), each storage body 13 can be easily sent from the collection position (first collection position P4-1 and second collection position P4-2) to the preparation position (first preparation position P5-1 and second preparation position P5-2). Furthermore, the installation of the return transport device reduces the intervention of the worker W, improving convenience and safety. Furthermore, the return transport device can send empty storage bodies 13 from the collection position to the preparation position without affecting the processing in the storage transport device.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, only one of the side guides that partition the storage space S (the first side guide 31 and the third side guide 33) is arranged to be movable, but both (the first side guide 31, the second side guide 32, and the third side guide 33) may be arranged to be movable.

In the above embodiment, when the container 13 is moved from the inside to the outside of the box body C, the box receiving section 18 is moved downward, but the container 13 may be moved upward. For example, when the box body C is placed on the box receiving section 18, the rotation device 15 holding the container 13 may be moved upward by a lifting device (not shown), so that the entire container 13 is positioned outside the box body C and multiple bag bundles B are contained in the box body C. Such a lifting device is not limited, and may be, for example, a device that rotates the rotation device 15 around the pivot shaft 15e, or a device that linearly lifts and lowers the rotation device 15.

The device and method for transferring the box body C from the box receiving section 18 to the box conveying device 25 are not limited. For example, the box receiving section 18 may include one or more lifting members (not shown), and the box conveying device 25 may have one or more spaces through which the lifting members can freely move up and down. In this case, the box body C (bottom Cb) rotated by the rotation device 15 may be placed on the placement surface of one or more lifting members that are positioned higher than the conveying surface of the box conveying device 25. Then, one or more lifting members are lowered with the box body C placed on them, and in the process of the placement surface of the lifting members moving from a position higher than the conveying surface of the box conveying device 25 to a position lower than the conveying surface of the box conveying device 25, the box body C may be handed over from the placement surface of the lifting members to the conveying section (conveying surface) of the box conveying device 25. The box body C may then be sent to a subsequent stage by the conveying section of the box conveying device 25.

[Second embodiment]
In this embodiment, elements that are the same as or correspond to those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Figure 14 is a side view showing an example of a packing device 10 according to the second embodiment.

The packing device 10 shown in FIG. 14 includes a storage and conveying device 14 that is fixedly supported by a support table 60, and a rotating table 63 that is attached to the rotating table driving unit 61 via a rotating shaft 62.

The specific configuration of the rotary table driving unit 61 is not limited, but typically the rotary table driving unit 61 is configured by a motor. The rotary shaft 62 is rotated intermittently by the rotary table driving unit 61. The rotary table 63 rotates intermittently together with the rotary shaft 62 about the rotation axis Ax.

A plurality of conveying and rotating units 65 (a first conveying and rotating unit 65a and a second conveying and rotating unit 65b in the example shown in FIG. 14) are fixedly provided on the rotating table 63. Each conveying and rotating unit 65 moves on a circular orbit (endless conveying orbit) in response to the intermittent rotation of the rotating table 63.

When the rotating table 63 stops intermittently, one conveying and rotating unit 65 is positioned at the transfer position P2 while the other conveying and rotating unit 65 is positioned at the rotation position P3. When two conveying and rotating units 65 are provided as shown in FIG. 14, one conveying and rotating unit 65 is positioned at the transfer position P2 while the other conveying and rotating unit 65 is positioned at the rotation position P3. In this case, each conveying and rotating unit 65 is alternately and repeatedly positioned at the transfer position P2 and the rotation position P3.

Each conveying rotation unit 65 has a support base 66 fixed to the rotating table 63, a first swing lever 67 attached to the support base 66 via a first pivot shaft 69, and a second swing lever 68 attached to the support base 66 via a second pivot shaft 70.

One end of the first rocking lever 67 is fixed to the first pivot shaft 69, and the first rocking lever 67 rocks around the first pivot shaft 69 in response to the rotation of the first pivot shaft 69. The other end of the first rocking lever 67 is rotatably attached to the cassette support part 73 via the first support shaft 71.

One end of the second rocking lever 68 is fixed to the second pivot shaft 70, and the second rocking lever 68 rocks around the second pivot shaft 70 in response to the rotation of the second pivot shaft 70. The other end of the second rocking lever 68 is rotatably attached to the cassette support part 73 via the second support shaft 72.

The position and posture of the cassette support part 73 change depending on the swing state of the first swing lever 67 around the first swing shaft 69 and the swing state of the second swing lever 68 around the second swing shaft 70.

The container 13 and the rotation device 15 are attached to the cassette support section 73. The rotation device 15 is a device that rotates the container 13 to turn it upside down. While the corresponding conveying and rotating unit 65 is positioned at the rotation position P3, the rotation device 15 in this embodiment rotates the container 13 from a state in which the opening of the container 13 faces upward and the box body is placed over the container 13 so as to cover the opening from above, to a state in which the opening faces downward and the box body covers the opening from below. As a result, the multiple bag bundles transition from a state in which they are supported by the container 13 to a state in which they are supported by the box body.

A lifter 90 is provided below the container 13 of the conveying and rotating unit 65 positioned at rotation position P3. The lifter 90 has a mounting surface exposed upward, which is provided so that it can be raised and lowered. After the container 13 is turned upside down by the rotating device 15, the mounting surface of the lifter 90 receives and supports from below the box (particularly the bottom) that contains multiple bag bundles inside.

Figures 15 and 16 are side views showing examples of the behavior of each conveying and rotating unit 65 shown in Figure 14, and some elements of the packing device 10 shown in Figure 14 (e.g., the container 13 and the rotating device 15) are omitted from the illustration.

The height and horizontal positions of the cassette support portion 73 (and thus the storage body 13 and the rotation device 15) can change depending on the swing state of the first swing lever 67 and the second swing lever 68.

In the conveying and rotating unit 65 positioned at the transfer position P2, the first swing lever 67 and the second swing lever 68 are placed in an upright position under the drive of the first pivot shaft 69 and the second pivot shaft 70, respectively. This causes the cassette support part 73 to assume a steeply inclined position at the first height position.

The transfer and storage device 12 (see FIG. 1), which is not shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, stores multiple bag bundles in the storage body 13, which is in a steeply inclined position at the first height position together with the cassette support part 73 at the transfer position P2.

While each transport rotation unit 65 moves from the transfer position P2 to the rotation position P3, the corresponding cassette support portion 73 and container 13 maintain a steeply inclined posture at the first height position.

In the transport rotation unit 65 positioned at rotation position P3, the first swing lever 67 and the second swing lever 68 are placed in a gentle state under the drive of the first pivot shaft 69 and the second pivot shaft 70, respectively (see FIG. 16). As a result, the cassette support portion 73 and the storage body 13 take a gentle posture at a second height position that is lower than the first height position.

The angle that the bottom surface of the container 13 that is in a gently sloping position makes with the horizontal direction is smaller than the angle that the bottom surface of the container 13 that is in a steeply inclined position at the transfer position P2 makes with the horizontal direction. The bottom surface of the container 13 that is in a gently sloping position may extend parallel to the horizontal direction.

Then, at rotation position P3, with the container 13 in a gently sloping position covered with the box, the container 13 is rotated by the rotation device 15, the container 13 and the box are turned upside down, and multiple bundles of bags are transferred from the container 13 to the box. The container 13 is then rotated by the rotation device 15, turned upside down, and returned to a gently sloping position at the second height position. Then, while the corresponding conveying rotation unit 65 is positioned at rotation position P3, the first swing lever 67 and the second swing lever 68 are again placed in an upright position under the drive of the first pivot shaft 69 and the second pivot shaft 70, and the container 13 again assumes a steeply sloping position at the first height position.

While each transport rotation unit 65 moves from the rotation position P3 to the transfer position P2, the corresponding cassette support portion 73 maintains a steeply inclined posture at the first height position.

Next, an example of the rotation device 15 will be described.

Figure 17 is an enlarged side view showing an example of the rotation device 15. Figure 18 is a side view showing an example of the arrangement of the cassette support part 73 and the first rotating body 81. Figure 19 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of the cassette support part 73 and the first rotating body 81. Figure 20 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of the cassette support part 73 and the first rotating body 81.

The rotation device 15 in this example includes a rotation drive unit 74, an end support unit 76, a rack gear unit 77, a drive gear unit 78, a first pivot shaft unit 79, a first rotating body 81, and two rod support units 83.

The rotation drive unit 74 shown in FIG. 17 is supported by the cassette support unit 73 via the connecting support unit 75, and drives the first telescopic rod 74a and the second telescopic rod 74b to change the amount of extension. The first telescopic rod 74a and the second telescopic rod 74b protrude in opposite directions from the main body of the rotation drive unit 74. The sum of the amount of extension of the first telescopic rod 74a and the amount of extension of the second telescopic rod 74b is constant.

The first and second telescopic rods 74a and 74b are attached to both ends of the rack gear section 77 via end support sections 76. The position of the rack gear section 77 relative to the cassette support section 73 changes depending on the amount of extension of the first and second telescopic rods 74a and 74b.

The gear of the rack gear portion 77 meshes with and engages with the gear of the drive gear portion 78. The drive gear portion 78 is supported by the cassette support portion 73 via the first pivot shaft portion 79. When the amount of extension of the first telescopic rod 74a and the second telescopic rod 74b changes, the position of the rack gear portion 77 relative to the cassette support portion 73 changes, and the drive gear portion 78 receives force from the rack gear portion 77 via the gear engagement and rotates.

The main body of the rotation drive unit 74, which is fixed to the cassette support unit 73 via the connecting support unit 75, does not move due to the extension and contraction of the first and second telescopic rods 74a and 74b. In other words, the extension and contraction of the first and second telescopic rods 74a and 74b moves the end support unit 76 and the rack gear unit 77, but does not move the rotation drive unit 74, the connecting support unit 75, or the cassette support unit 73.

The drive gear unit 78 is fixedly attached to the outer periphery of the first rotating shaft unit 79 and rotates coaxially with the first rotating shaft unit 79 in synchronization with the first rotating shaft unit 79. The rotation angle of the drive gear unit 78 and the rotation angle of the first rotating shaft unit 79 are the same.

One end of the first rotating shaft 79 is rotatably supported by the cassette support 73, and the other end of the first rotating shaft 79 is fixedly supported by the first rotating body 81. Therefore, when the first rotating shaft 79 rotates in response to the rotation of the drive gear 78, the cassette support 73 maintains its position without receiving a rotational force from the first rotating shaft 79, but the first rotating body 81 rotates coaxially in sync with the first rotating shaft 79. In other words, the first rotating body 81 rotates around the first rotating shaft 79, and the rotation angle of the first rotating body 81 matches the rotation angle of the first rotating shaft 79.

Two rod support parts 83 are fixed to the first rotating body 81. Each rod support part 83 extends in the same direction as the central axis of the first rotating shaft part 79. One end of each rod support part 83 is fixedly supported by the first rotating body 81, and the other end of each rod support part 83 is fixedly supported by the second rotating body 82.

The second rotating body 82 is supported by the cassette support part 73 via the second rotating shaft part 80. One end of the second rotating shaft part 80 is rotatably supported by the cassette support part 73, and the other end of the second rotating shaft part 80 is fixedly supported by the second rotating body 82. Therefore, when the second rotating body 82 is rotated by the power transmitted through each rod support part 83, the second rotating body 82 rotates coaxially in synchronization with the second rotating shaft part 80 and rotates together with the second rotating shaft part 80 around the second rotating shaft part 80. Note that even if the second rotating body 82 and the second rotating shaft part 80 rotate, the cassette support part 73 does not rotate, but supports the second rotating body 82 via the second rotating shaft part 80.

The central axis of the second rotating shaft 80 coincides with the central axis of the first rotating shaft 79. When the first rotating body 81 rotates around the first rotating shaft 79, a rotational force is transmitted to the second rotating body 82 via the two rod support parts 83, and the second rotating body 82 also rotates around the second rotating shaft 80. Therefore, the drive gear part 78, the first rotating shaft 79, the first rotating body 81, the rod support parts 83, the second rotating body 82, and the second rotating shaft 80 rotate around the same axis.

Each rod support part 83 is rotatably supported between both ends (i.e., between the first rotating body 81 and the second rotating body 82) by a first intermediate support part 91, a second intermediate support part 92, and a third intermediate support part 93. The first intermediate support part 91 is fixed to the first base 84, the second intermediate support part 92 is fixed to the second base 85, and the third intermediate support part 93 is fixed to the third base 86.

The first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86 form the storage bottom surface of the storage body 13. The storage bottom surface supports the multiple bag bundles B stored in the storage body 13 from below. The first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86 tilt so as to have the same tilt angle as each other in response to the movement of the two rod support parts 83 in the rotational direction centered on the central axis of the first pivot shaft part 79.

The first intermediate support portion 91, the second intermediate support portion 92, and the third intermediate support portion 93 are each restricted in movement along each rod support portion 83 by a restricting member (not shown). The restricting member may have any shape. For example, a plurality of protrusions fixedly attached to each rod support portion 83 may be provided as the restricting member so as to sandwich each of the first intermediate support portion 91, the second intermediate support portion 92, and the third intermediate support portion 93. The installation positions of the restricting members relative to each of the first intermediate support portion 91, the second intermediate support portion 92, and the third intermediate support portion 93 may be changeable. By adjusting the installation positions of the restricting members, each of the first intermediate support portion 91, the second intermediate support portion 92, and the third intermediate support portion 93 (and thus the first base 84, the second base 85, and the third base 86) may be disposed at an appropriate position according to the size of the bag bundle B.

An end guide 88 protruding from each of the first pedestal 84, second pedestal 85 and third pedestal 86 (particularly the surface on which the bag bundle B is placed) is attached to one end side of each of the first pedestal 84, second pedestal 85 and third pedestal 86. Also, a side guide 87 protruding from each of the first pedestal 84 and second pedestal 85 (particularly the surface on which the bag bundle B is placed) is attached to each of the first pedestal 84 and second pedestal 85. Each side guide 87 extends in the longitudinal extension direction (left and right direction in FIG. 19 ) of each of the first pedestal 84 and second pedestal 85 that is perpendicular to the central axis of the first pivot shaft portion 79.
extends to.

A movement limiting guide 97 is fixed to the surface (particularly the surface on which the bag bundle B is placed) on the other end side of each of the first base 84 and the second base 85. Each movement limiting guide 97 extends in the longitudinal extension direction of each of the first base 84 and the second base 85. A movement limiting slider 96 is slidably engaged with each movement limiting guide 97, and a movement limiting portion 95 is attached to the movement limiting slider 96. Each movement limiting portion 95 moves together with the movement limiting slider 96 in the longitudinal extension direction of each of the first base 84 and the second base 85, and can be positioned at a movement limiting position relatively close to the end guide 88 and a retracted position relatively far from the end guide 88.

The container 13 of this embodiment includes a first base 84, a second base 85, a third base 86, a side guide 87, an end guide 88, and a movement limiting section 95. The bag bundle B supplied to the container 13 is stored in a space surrounded by the first base 84, the second base 85, the third base 86, the side guide 87, the end guide 88, and the movement limiting section 95.

Figure 21 is a block diagram showing an example of the control configuration of the packing device 10 according to the second embodiment.

The bag bundle supply device 11, the transport storage device 12, the rotary table drive unit 61, the first pivot shaft drive unit 101, the second pivot shaft drive unit 102, the rotation drive unit 74, the slider drive unit 103 and the lifter drive unit 104 are connected to the control device 50 and are driven under the control of the control device 50.

The first pivot shaft drive unit 101 drives the first pivot shaft 69 to pivot the first rocking lever 67. The second pivot shaft drive unit 102 drives the second pivot shaft 70 to pivot the second rocking lever 68.

The slider driver 103 drives each movement limit slider 96 to move each movement limiter 95. The lifter driver 104 drives the lifter 90 to raise and lower the placement surface of the lifter 90.

The control device 50 may also control components included in the packing device 10 that are not shown in FIG. 21.

Next, an example of a method for packing a bag bundle B using the packing device 10 of this embodiment will be described. Each step of the method for packing a bag bundle B described below is executed by appropriately driving each component of the packing device 10 under the control of the control device 50.

Figure 22 is a side view showing an example of the state of the container 13 positioned at the transfer position P2, with the movement restriction unit 95 positioned at the retracted position. Figure 23 is a plan view of the container 13 shown in Figure 22. Figure 24 is a front view of the container 13 shown in Figure 22.

Figure 25 is a side view showing an example of the state of the container 13 positioned at the transfer position P2, with the movement limiting section 95 positioned at the movement limiting position. Figure 26 is a side view showing an example of the state of the container 13 positioned at the rotation position P3, with the container 13 covered with the box body C.

The multiple bag bundles B transferred from the supply area by the transfer storage device 12 (see Figure 1) are stored in the storage body 13 (specifically, on the first base 84, second base 85, and third base 86) of the conveying and rotating unit 65 positioned at the transfer position P2 (see Figures 22 to 24).

While the target conveying and rotating unit 65 is positioned at the transfer position P2, the transfer storage device 12 places the desired number of bag bundles B in a line on the first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86. In the example shown in Figures 22 to 24, multiple bag bundles B, each in an upright position, are lined up on the first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86, and the multiple bag bundles B are stacked on top of each other in the longitudinal extension direction of these pedestals (the left-right direction in Figure 23). While the transfer storage device 12 is storing the bag bundles B in the storage body 13, the slider drive unit 103 positions each movement restriction unit 95 in a retracted position.

After all of the desired number of bag bundles B have been accommodated in the storage body 13, each movement limiting section 95 moves from the retracted position to its movement limiting position (see FIG. 25). Together with each movement limiting section 95 thus positioned in its movement limiting position, each end guide 88 and each side guide 87 suppress the movement and loss of posture of the multiple bag bundles B on the first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86.

In this example, each movement limiting portion 95, each end guide 88, and each side guide 87 positioned at the movement limiting position passively limits the movement and deformation of the multiple bag bundles B on the first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86 without actively pinching these bag bundles B. The multiple bag bundles B on the first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86 may be spaced apart from or in contact with each movement limiting portion 95, each end guide 88, and each side guide 87 positioned at the movement limiting position.

After the desired number of bag bundles B are stored in the container 13 of the conveying and rotating unit 65 positioned at the transfer position P2, and after all of the bag bundles B have been transferred from the container 13 of the conveying and rotating unit 65 positioned at the rotation position P3 to the box body C, the rotating table driving unit 61 intermittently rotates the rotating table 63 by 180 degrees. As a result, the conveying and rotating unit 65 having the container 13 in which the desired number of bag bundles B are stored moves from the transfer position P2 to the rotation position P3, and the conveying and rotating unit 65 having the empty container 13 moves from the rotation position P3 to the conveying position P2.

The container 13 containing the desired number of bag bundles B is changed from a steeply inclined position to a gentler position together with the cassette support part 73 at rotational position P3, and the box body C is placed over the container 13 in the gentler position (see FIG. 26). This box body C is placed over the container 13 by hand or a machine such as a robot.

Then, with the container 13 positioned at the rotation position P3 covered by the bottom Cb of the box body C, the container 13 is rotated by the rotation device 15 to turn the container 13 and the box body C upside down. As a result, the multiple bag bundles B stored in the container 13 are stored in the box body C while being positioned above the bottom Cb of the box body C.

In this way, the multiple bag bundles B are supported from below by the bottom surface of the container 13 before the container 13 is rotated by the rotation device 15 at the rotation position P3, and are supported from below by the box body C (particularly the bottom Cb) after the container 13 is rotated by the rotation device 15 at the rotation position P3.

The rotation device 15 may rotate the container 13 and the box body C while holding the box body C so as to prevent the relative position of the box body C with respect to the container 13 from shifting. The method by which the rotation device 15 holds the box body C is not limited. For example, the rotation device 15 may be equipped with a box support part (not shown) that supports from the outside one or more points (e.g., four corners) of the bottom Cb of the box body C in a state in which it is placed over the container 13. The rotation device 15 continues to hold the box body C from before the container 13 and the box body C are rotated to after the container 13 and the box body C are rotated, and then releases its hold on the box body C.

After the multiple bag bundles B have been transferred from the storage body 13 to the box body C, or simultaneously with the multiple bag bundles B being transferred from the storage body 13 to the box body C, the box body C is placed on the placement surface of the lifter 90 (see FIG. 14). The placement surface of the lifter 90 then descends, causing the box body C on the placement surface to leave the storage body 13 together with the multiple bag bundles B it contains. The box body C containing the multiple bag bundles B is then lowered from the lifter 90 by hand or a machine such as a robot, and carried to the subsequent stage. Meanwhile, the storage body 13 is rotated again by the rotation device 15 at rotation position P3, turned upside down, and changed from a gently sloping posture to a steeply inclined posture.

Meanwhile, the container 13 of the conveying and rotating unit 65, which has moved from the rotation position P3 to the transfer position P2, receives new bundles of bags B by repeating the above-mentioned series of processing steps.

After the desired number of bag bundles B are stored in the container 13 of the conveying and rotating unit 65 positioned at the transfer position P2, and after all bag bundles B are transferred from the container 13 of the conveying and rotating unit 65 positioned at the rotation position P3 to the box body C, the rotating table driving unit 61 intermittently rotates the rotating table 63 by 180 degrees.

As described above, in the packing device 10 of this embodiment, the rotating table driving unit 61, the rotating shaft 62, and the rotating table 63, which function as a storage and transport unit, transport the rotating device 15 together with the storage body 13 from the transfer position P2 to the rotation position P3.

This allows each container 13 to be assigned a unique rotation device 15, and the container 13 and the rotation device 15 to be unitized. Therefore, when the container 13 is transported from the transfer position P2 and positioned at the rotation position P3, the process of transferring the container 13 to the rotation device 15 is not required, and the container 13 can be rotated at the rotation position P3 quickly and reliably.

The rotating table 63 (storage and transport section) also transports the storage body 13 and the rotation device 15 along an endless transport track that passes through the transfer position P2 and the rotation position P3.

This allows the movement of the container 13 from the transfer position P2 to the rotation position P3 and the movement of the container 13 from the rotation position P3 to the transfer position P2 to be performed simultaneously. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate device for moving the container 13 from the transfer position P2 to the rotation position P3 and a separate device for moving the container 13 from the rotation position P3 to the transfer position P2, simplifying the device configuration and control flow.

In particular, the storage and conveying section in the above example has a rotating table 63 that rotates around the rotation axis Ax, and the storage body 13 and the rotating device 15 are attached to the rotating table 63 and move between the transfer position P2 and the rotation position P3 in response to the rotation of the rotating table 63.

With this extremely simple device configuration, the container 13 and the rotation device 15 can be moved smoothly along a circular orbit between the transfer position P2 and the rotation position P3.

The container 13 has a steeply inclined posture at the transfer position P2, but a gently sloping posture at the rotation position P3. The angle that the container bottom surface (in this example, the surfaces of the first pedestal 84, the second pedestal 85, and the third pedestal 86) of the container 13 that has a gently sloping posture makes with the horizontal direction is smaller than the angle that the container bottom surface of the container 13 that has a steeply inclined posture makes with the horizontal direction at the transfer position P2.

As a result, at the transfer position P2, multiple bag bundles B can be smoothly supplied to the storage body 13, which is in a steeply inclined position, and at the rotation position P3, gravity can be used to help organize the multiple bag bundles B stored in the storage body 13.

For example, when multiple bag bundles B are supplied to the container 13 at the transfer position P2 or when the container 13 is moved from the transfer position P2 to the rotation position P3, one or more bag bundles B may be in a state of slightly protruding from the other bag bundles B in the container 13. In this case, if the container 13 (especially the container bottom surface) is inclined significantly, the direction in which the bag bundle B faces the container bottom surface deviates relatively significantly from the direction of gravity, so gravity may not be used very effectively to eliminate the protruding state of the bag bundle B. On the other hand, by adjusting the container 13 to a gentle posture and bringing the extension direction of the container bottom surface closer to the horizontal direction (preferably by making the extension direction of the container bottom surface horizontal), the direction in which each bag bundle B contained in the container 13 faces the container bottom surface approaches the direction of gravity. In this case, gravity can be effectively used to eliminate the protruding state of the bag bundle B, and even when such a protruding state of the bag bundle B is eliminated manually, it becomes easy to move the bag bundle B to an appropriate position.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications. For example, various modifications may be made to each element of the above-described embodiments and modifications. Furthermore, the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined in whole or in part.

10 Box packing device, 11 Bag bundle supply device, 12 Transport storage device, 13 Storage body, 14 Storage transport device, 14a First storage transport device, 14b Second storage transport device, 15 Rotation device, 15a First rotation device, 15b Second rotation device, 15c Swivel bottom plate, 15d Swivel back plate, 15e Swivel shaft, 15f Swivel lever, 16 Return transport device, 16a First return transport device, 16b Second return transport device, 18 Box receiving section, 20 Stand, 20a Top plate, 25 Box transport device, 27 Holding transport section, 28 Guide positioning section, 31 First side guide, 32 Second side guide, 33 Third side guide, 34 Bottom guide, 35 Back guide, 41 Guide position adjustment spring, 42 Support section, 50 Control device, 51 Sensor, 55 Box receiver moving section, 60 Support table, 61 Rotary table driving section, 62 Rotary shaft, 63 Rotary table, 65 Conveying and rotating unit, 65a First conveying and rotating unit, 65b Second conveying and rotating unit, 66 Support base, 67 First rocking lever, 68 Second rocking lever, 69 First rotating shaft, 70 Second rotating shaft, 71 First support shaft, 72 Second support shaft, 73 Cassette support section, 74 Rotation drive section, 74a First telescopic rod, 74b Second telescopic rod, 75 Connection support section, 76 End support section, 77 Rack gear section, 78 Drive gear section, 79 First rotating shaft section, 80 Second rotating shaft section, 81 First rotating body, 82 Second rotating body, 83 Rod support section, 84 First base, 85 Second base, 86 Third base, 87 Side guide, 88 End guide, 90 Lifting lifter, 91 first intermediate support part, 92 second intermediate support part, 93 third intermediate support part, 95 movement limiting part, 96 movement limiting slider, 97 movement limiting guide, 101 first rotating shaft driving part, 102 second rotating shaft driving part, 103 slider driving part, 104 lifter driving part, B bag bundle, C box body, Ca opening, Cb bottom, P1 supply area, P2-1 first transfer position, P2-2 second transfer position, P3-1 first rotation position, P3-2 second rotation position, P4-1 first collection position, P4-2 second collection position, P5-1 first preparation position, P5-2 second preparation position, P11 regular position, P12 space expansion position, S storage space, W worker

Claims (14)

A container;
A transfer and storage device that transfers a plurality of bag bundles from a supply area and stores them in the storage body that is disposed at a transfer position;
a storage and transport unit that transports the storage body from the delivery position to a rotation position;
a rotation unit that rotates the container positioned at the rotation position,
A box packing device that, while the container positioned at the rotation position is covered by the bottom of a box body, rotates the container using the rotating part, thereby storing the multiple bag bundles stored in the container into the box body while positioning them above the bottom. The rotating part is
receiving the container transported to the rotation position from the container transport unit;
The packing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotating mechanism for rotating the container received from the container conveying section while holding the container. The container has a movable side guide and a reference side guide that define a storage space capable of storing two or more stacked bag bundles,
The movable side guide is provided so as to be positionable at a regular position at a first distance from the reference side guide and at a space enlarged position at a second distance from the reference side guide that is greater than the first distance,
The transport and storage device includes:
a holding and transferring section that holds the bag bundle and transfers it from the supply area and stores the bag bundle in the storage space of the storage body that is disposed at the transfer position;
3. The packing device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide positioning section which positions the movable side guide of the container arranged at the transfer position at the space enlarging position at least while the holding and transferring section transfers the bag bundle from the supply area to the storage space. The packing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the box is placed over the container at the transfer position, between the transfer position and the rotation position, or at the rotation position. Equipped with a box receiving section,
the box body is rotated together with the container by the rotating unit and placed on the box receiving part in a state in which at least a portion of the container positioned at the rotation position is located inside the box body,
A packing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the box body is placed on the box receiving section, at least one of the rotating section and the box receiving section is moved to move the rotating section and the box receiving section away from each other, thereby positioning the entire container outside the box body and containing the bundles of multiple bags in the box body. A box receiver moving unit that moves the box receiver,
The packing device according to claim 5, wherein when the box body is placed on the box receiving section, the box receiving section is lowered by the box receiving moving section, so that the entire container is positioned outside the box body and the bundles of bags are contained in the box body. a plurality of the storage and conveying sections are provided, and the plurality of storage and conveying sections include a first storage and conveying section that conveys the container from a first transfer position to a first rotation position, and a second storage and conveying section that conveys the container from a second transfer position to a second rotation position;
a plurality of the rotating units are provided, and the plurality of rotating units include a first rotating unit that holds the container positioned at the first rotation position and a second rotating unit that holds the container positioned at the second rotation position;
The box packing device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the box receiving section is assigned in common to both the first rotating section and the second rotating section, and the box body rotated together with the container by the first rotating section and the box body rotated together with the container by the second rotating section are placed on the box receiving section. The container has a back guide,
The packing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the back guide extends in a direction inclined with respect to both the horizontal and vertical directions while the container moves from the transfer position to the rotation position, and is leaned against by the plurality of bag bundles contained in the container. a return transport device that transports the container from a recovery position to a preparation position;
the collection position is closer to the rotation position than the transfer position;
The packing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the preparation position is closer to the transfer position than the rotation position. The packing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage and transport unit transports the rotating unit together with the container from the transfer position to the rotation position. The packing device according to claim 10, wherein the storage and conveying unit conveys the container and the rotating unit along an endless conveying track that passes through the transfer position and the rotating position. The storage and conveying section has a rotary table that rotates about a rotation axis,
The packing device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the container and the rotating section are attached to the rotary table and move between the transfer position and the rotating position in response to rotation of the rotary table. The container has a bottom surface,
The container bottom surface supports the plurality of bag bundles from below before the container is rotated by the rotating unit at the rotation position,
The container is inclined at the transfer position,
The packing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein in the rotated position, the container takes a gentler posture in which the angle that the container bottom surface makes with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller than the angle that the container bottom surface makes with respect to the horizontal direction when the container takes the inclined posture. A step of transporting a plurality of bag bundles from a supply area and storing them in a storage body disposed at a transfer position;
transporting the container from the transfer position to a rotation position by a container transport unit;
and rotating the container positioned at the rotation position with a rotating part while the container is covered with a bottom of a box body, thereby storing the multiple bag bundles stored in the container in the box body while positioning them above the bottom.