JP7526982B2 - Packing device and packing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packing device and a packing method.

Items that are extremely flat, long, lightweight, or flexible in external shape require delicate (delicate) handling. For this reason, it is generally difficult to automate boxing, but there is a high demand for reducing manpower, and so far, machines have been developed that automatically pack flat items (e.g., folded carton containers) tightly into cardboard cases (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Special Publication No. 54-21798

However, the task of packing a given number of lightweight, fragile, and long items (packages) into boxes is still done manually.

As an example, in so-called blister packs, in which catheters or the like are packaged between a backing and a resin film, thin and weak materials are often used for both the backing and the resin film. With such packages, for example, differences in the shrinkage rates of the paper and the resin film can cause the outer shape to warp after the package is completed, and irregular deformations can easily occur, such as unintentional creases being formed in the lower layer of the package due to accumulation in upstream processes. In these cases, the package itself is also lightweight, weak, long, and almost flat.

Deformation of the packages, particularly in the process of collecting a certain number of packages, aligning the individual packages and packing them into boxes, can easily lead to the individual packages becoming misaligned when being held or packed into boxes, making automation difficult and preventing progress in reducing manpower or improving work efficiency.

In addition, when multiple lightweight and weak packages (such as 50 packages) are held together, the device's holding means must directly hold (contact) only some of the packages. In that case, there is also the problem that the packages are not held securely inside the bundle (parts not contacted by the holding means).

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a packing device and a packing method that can reliably and efficiently pack a certain number of special packages that are lightweight, weak, and long (or even nearly flat).

The present invention is a boxing device that packs a plurality of long items together into a box, and includes a support means that supports a plurality of items transported from upstream as an item group, a compression means that compresses the item group supported by the support means from the outside toward the center, and a pushing means that supports one end side of the longitudinal direction of the item group while maintaining the compressed state of the item group and pushes it toward the inside of the box , and the compression means releases the compression of the item group while it is being pushed by the pushing means.
The present invention relates to a packing device.

The present invention also relates to a packing method for storing a plurality of long items together in a box body, the packing method comprising the steps of supporting a plurality of items transported from upstream as a group of items using a supporting means, compressing the group of items supported by the supporting means from the outside toward the center using a compression means, supporting one end of the longitudinal direction of the group of items while maintaining the compressed state of the group of items using a pushing means and pushing the group of items toward the inside of the box body, and releasing the compression of the group of items by the compression means while being pushed by the pushing means.

The present invention provides a packing device and a packing method that can reliably and efficiently pack a certain number of special packages, such as lightweight, weak, and long (or even nearly flat) packages.

1A is a schematic diagram showing a collection and packing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a plan view of a package, and FIG. 1C is a side view of the package. FIG. 1 shows an overview of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a front view seen from the upstream side in the pushing direction, (B) is a front view seen from the upstream side in the pushing direction, (C) is a front view seen from the upstream side in the pushing direction, (D) is a side view seen from the downstream side in the width direction W, (E) is a front view seen from the length direction, (F) is a front view seen from the length direction, (G) is a front view seen from the length direction, and (H) is a front view seen from the length direction. 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a side view showing an overview of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1A is a side view, FIG. 1B is a top view, and FIG. 1C is a front view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1A and 1B are a side view and a top view showing an outline of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a front view showing an overview of a packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Collection and Packing System/Overall Configuration>
Hereinafter, a packing device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The packing device 300 is included in a stacking and packing system 10 that stacks a predetermined number of articles (packages in this case) XA1 to form an article group XA3 and stores each article group XA3 in a box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the stacking and packing system 10, in which (A) is a side view showing an example of the overall configuration, (B) is a plan view showing an example of an article XA1 to be conveyed, and (C) is a side view showing an example of an article XA1. In this figure and each of the following figures, some of the configuration is omitted as appropriate to simplify the drawings. In this figure and each of the following figures, the size, shape, thickness, etc. of the members are appropriately exaggerated.

Referring to FIG. 1(A), the stacking/packing system 10 includes a first stacking means 100 that stacks a predetermined first number (e.g., 5) of items XA1 that are individually transported from an upstream process to form a first item group XA2, a second stacking means 200 that further stacks a predetermined number of sets (e.g., 10 sets) of the first item groups XA2 stacked by the first stacking means 100 to form a second item group XA3, and a packing device 300 that collectively stores each of the second item groups XA3 in a box (not shown here).

Referring to Figures 1(B) and 1(C), the article (package) XA1 is, for example, a blister pack in which a single contained article (here, a catheter) 20 is sandwiched between a backing 21 and a resin film 22. The outer shape of the article XA1 is rectangular in plan view with a long side LL significantly longer than a short side SL (for example, the long side LL is five or more times the short side SL). In addition, the backing 21 and the resin film 22 are both made of flexible, thin materials, and the maximum height of the article XA1 is, for example, approximately the same as the height of the contained article 20 (the diameter of the catheter (for example, 0.3 mm to 20 mm, etc.)), making it an approximately flat package.

Referring again to FIG. 1(A), after each item XA1 is individually subjected to a visual inspection, etc., it is transported by a first transport means (e.g., a belt conveyor) 101.

The first accumulation means 100 has, for example, a second conveying means 102 arranged at the downstream end of the first conveying means 101. The second conveying means 102 is, for example, a bucket conveyor that intermittently moves a bucket 103. The first accumulation means 100 stops the bucket 103 at the receiving position, receives a number of items (for example, five items) of items XA1 that, for example, fall naturally from the first conveying means 101, and then conveys them downstream.

The second stacking means 200 is disposed downstream of the first stacking means 100 and has a transfer means 201 and a storage means 250 for the item XA1. The transfer means 201 has, for example, a robot arm (not shown) and a hand 202 attached to the tip of the arm, and is configured to be freely movable within a three-dimensional space. The transfer means 201 holds a plurality of items XA1 (first item group XA2) in the bucket 103 of the first stacking means 100 together and transfers them to the storage means 250. The storage means 250 receives the first item group XA2 in a plurality of buckets 103 (multiple sets, for example, 10 sets), and transfers them together as a second item group XA3 to a downstream process. Specifically, the storage means 250 is configured to be able to discharge a plurality of stored items XA1 (second item group XA3) at a predetermined timing and position. In this example, the storage means 250 is configured to be able to move in the vertical direction, and its bottom 251 is configured to be able to be opened and closed. When the number of items XA1 reaches a predetermined number (e.g., 50), the storage means 250 moves downward to open its bottom 251, and transfers the multiple items XA1 (second group of items XA3) to a third transport means 260 (e.g., a bucket conveyor) disposed below the storage means 250. The third transport means 260 is, for example, a bucket conveyor that intermittently moves multiple buckets 261.

The packing device 300 of this embodiment is disposed downstream of the third conveying means 260, and receives multiple items (second group of items XA3) in the bucket 261 together and stores them all together in a box (not shown here).

Each part of the stacking and packing system 10 (first stacking means 100, second stacking means 200, and packing device 300) is centrally controlled by a control unit (not shown). That is, each part of the stacking and packing system 10 operates under the control of the control unit, and the operating status is managed by the control unit. The control unit is composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and performs various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and executes various programs to realize various functions. The RAM is used as a working area for the CPU. The ROM stores the basic OS and programs executed by the CPU.

<Packing device>
<Overall composition>
2 is a diagram showing an outline of the packing device 300 according to the present embodiment. Here, the packing device 300 of the present embodiment pushes the long item XA1 in its long direction and stores it in a box body, and in the following description of the packing device 300 (drawings after FIG. 2), for convenience, the first direction (long direction of the item XA1) in which the long item XA1 is stored in the box body is called the pushing direction T, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction (pushing direction T) is called the height direction H, and the third direction perpendicular to both the first direction (pushing direction T) and the second direction (height direction H) is called the width direction W. In this example, the pushing direction T and the width direction W are horizontal to the floor surface, and the height direction H is vertical.

Furthermore, the packing device 300 only handles the second item group XA3 (e.g., 50 items XA1), so in the following explanation, this will simply be referred to as item group XA3.

Figures 2 (A) to (C) are front views of the packing device 300 shown in Figure 1 as seen from one side (upstream) in the pushing direction T. Figure 2 (D) is a side view as seen from one side (downstream) in the width direction W. Figures 2 (E) to (H) are front views of the packing device 300 as seen from the length L direction as seen from one side (upstream) in the pushing direction T.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the packing device 300 of this embodiment stores a group of items XA3, which is a collection of multiple long items XA1, in a box body (not shown), and has a support means 301, compression means 302, 306, and a pushing means 303.

The support means 301 is, for example, a lift that can be moved (raised and lowered) in the height direction H by a driving means (e.g., an air cylinder, etc.) not shown, and supports the group of articles XA3 conveyed by the upstream third conveying means 260 (hereinafter simply referred to as "conveying means 260") and receives them into the packing device 300. The support means 301 has, for example, a roughly U-shape with an open upper part in the height direction H.

Specifically, the support means 301 of the packing device 300 is configured to be movable up and down (in the height direction H) between the lowered position shown in FIG. 1A (for example, the height position of the upper end of the support means 301 is below the bucket 261 of the conveying means 260) and the raised position shown in FIG. 1C. As shown in FIG. 1A, the conveying means 260 conveys the group of items XA3 stored in the bucket 261, for example, from the left (upstream) to the right (downstream) in FIG. 1A. The support means 301 waits in the lowered position, and when the bucket 261 is located above it, it rises to support the group of items XA3 in the bucket 261 from below and scoop it up (FIG. 1B). The support means 301 then rises and moves the group of items XA3 to the initial position (the raised position of the support means 301) on the pushing path of the packing device 300 (FIG. 1C).

The group of items XA3 is supported by the pushing means 303 at the initial position and pushed downstream in the pushing direction T. The packing device 300 of this embodiment does not have a member, such as a conveying surface, on which the group of items XA3 is placed and moved so as to slide over it, and the group of items XA3 is pushed while one end side and/or part of the outer periphery is supported. The pushing path refers to the movement path in space of the group of items XA3 supported by the pushing means 303 until it is contained in the box body YA1.

Figure (D) is a side view from the upstream direction of the conveying means 260, showing the state in which the support means 301 scoops up the group of items XA3.

As will be described later, multiple support means 301 are provided (divided) to sandwich the bucket 261 of the conveying means 260 in the pushing direction T. As an example, two support means 301 are provided, one upstream (upstream, left side in the figure) and one downstream (downstream, right side in the figure) of the pushing direction T. In addition, the bucket 261 is set to a length such that both ends of the pushing direction T of item XA1 (item group XA3) protrude from both ends in the pushing direction T.

Then, when the bucket 261 moves above it, the support means 301 (301A, 301B) rises from its lowered position, supports from below the group of items XA3 protruding from both ends of the bucket 261 in the pushing direction T, and continues to rise. In this way, the group of items XA3 is transferred from the bucket 261 to the support means 301.

As will be described later, in FIG. 3D, the pushing means 303 is disposed, for example, further upstream (to the left) of the support means 301, which is disposed upstream (to the left). In the raised position shown in FIG. 3C, the support means 301 is disposed downstream (to the rear of the page) of the pushing direction T of the pushing means 303, and therefore the pushing means 303 is shown by a dashed line.

Figures (E) to (H) are schematic diagrams showing the compression process, with the support means 301 and compression means 302 and 306 extracted.

The compression means 302 and 306 compress the group of items XA3 supported by the support means 301 from the outside toward the center (toward the center position in the height direction, or (approximately) the central axis direction when considered as a columnar body (rectangular parallelepiped)).

In this example, the compression means 302 includes a first pressing section 302 and a second pressing section 306. The first pressing section 302 is an upper section that is disposed opposite at least a portion of the support means 301 and presses the group of articles XA3 in one direction (e.g., from above to below in the height direction H). In other words, the first pressing section 302 is also disposed on the upstream side and downstream side corresponding to the support means 301. In addition, the second pressing section 306 presses the group of articles XA3 in another direction (e.g., the width direction W) different from the first pressing section (upper) 302.

More specifically, FIG. 1(E) shows the state in which the support means 301 has moved to the raised position while supporting the group of articles XA3. In this state, the group of articles XA3 is supported by the support means 301 at two locations, one upstream and one downstream in the pushing direction T (see FIG. 1(D)). The first pressing unit 302 is located above the support means 301 so as to face it. The first pressing unit 302 is configured to be movable (raised and lowered) in the height direction H between the retracted position shown in FIG. 1(E) and a compressed position below that (see FIG. 1(F)).

Figure (F) shows the state where the first pressing section 302 has descended to the compression position and is compressing the group of articles XA3 supported by the support means 301 from above downward. At this time, the movement of the support means 301 is restricted, and the group of articles XA3 is compressed by the first pressing section 302 and the support means 301 at least in the height direction H (the vertical direction in the figure) from the state before pressing. The movements of the first pressing sections 302 at two locations (upstream and downstream) are synchronized, and the movements of the two support means 301 (upstream support means 301A and downstream support means 301B) are synchronized.

The second pressing units 306 (306A, 306B) are, for example, a pair of L-shaped guides arranged opposite each other in the width direction W, sandwiching the group of articles XA3 on the pushing path, and the second pressing units 306A, 306B in the width direction W (left and right) are configured to move toward and away from each other. Specifically, the second pressing units (L-shaped guides) 306A, 306B are configured to be movable between a retracted position shown in FIG. 1(F) and a compressed position shown in FIG. 1(G). As shown in FIG. 1(F), the second pressing unit 306 in the retracted position starts moving to the compressed position in accordance with the descent (pressing) of the first pressing unit 302.

Figure (G) shows the state in which the second pressing section 306 (306A, 306B) has moved to the compression position. In the compression position, the side of the second pressing section 306 is configured to be inward at least in the width direction W from the side of the support means 301 (shown by the dashed line). As a result, the group of articles XA3 is compressed by the opposing second pressing section 306 at least in the width direction W (left-right direction in the figure) from the state in which it is supported by the support means 301 (state before pressing). In this example, the first pressing section 302 presses the group of articles XA3 together with the support means 301 when descending, so the support means 301 can also be said to be part of the compression means. The state (compressed state) compressed by the compression means 302, 306 shown in Figure (G) is the state in which the group of articles XA3 is most compressed toward its center. In the compressed state, the compression means 302, 306 and the support means 301 perform sufficient compression so that the multiple items XA1 are in close contact with each other so that the bundled inner item XA1 does not move (fall off) during pushing.

And in the compressed state of the group of items XA3, the pushing means 303 supports the group of items XA3. The pushing means 303 is arranged upstream of the second pressing section (L-shaped guide) 306 in the pushing direction T, supports one end (upstream) of the group of items XA3 in the longitudinal direction in the compressed state, and pushes it toward the inside of a box (not shown here) arranged downstream. The pushing means 303 has a pushing shaft 304 extending in the pushing direction T and a pushing support section 305 fixed to one end of the pushing shaft 304. The pushing support section 305 has, for example, a plate (wing)-shaped section that surrounds the outer periphery of one end side of the group of items XA3 in an approximately rectangular (approximately square) or approximately circular shape. The plate-shaped section is close to the outer periphery of one end side of the group of items XA3 and guides the group of items XA3 so that it does not come off when being pushed. The plate-shaped portion may be configured to be movable so as to expand or contract (expand or contract) an area of a substantially rectangular (substantially square) or substantially circular shape centered on the pushing axis 304. By contracting the plate-shaped portion, the pushing support portion 305 can be brought closer to (or into close contact with) the outer periphery of one end of the group of articles XA3, ensuring reliable guiding during pushing. In this example, the pushing support portion 305 is expanded when the pushing means 303 is in the initial position, and is contracted to guide when pushing begins, but the pushing support portion 305 may be configured to guide the group of articles XA3 without expanding or contracting in diameter.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the packing device 300, where (A) is a side view seen from one side in the width direction W, and (B) is a plan view (top view) seen from above in the height direction H. In (A), the left side is the upstream side of the pushing direction T, and the right side is the downstream side of the pushing direction T.

In addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the packing device 300 of this embodiment is equipped with a guide member 307 that guides the pushing of the group of items XA3 by the pushing support section 305, and a storage guide member 308 that guides the storage of the item XA3 into the box body YA1.

The guide member 307 is configured to be able to move forward and backward along the pushing path of the item group XA3 (the path along which the item group XA3 supported by the pushing means 303 moves into the box body YA1, the path extending horizontally from the initial position along the pushing direction T, shown by the large dashed line in the figure), and advances as the item group XA3 is pushed to guide the item group XA3.

The guide members 307 (307A, 307B) are arranged on either side of the group of items XA3 on the conveying path, and are, for example, a pair of C-shaped guides with opposing sides open, with the left and right guide members 307A, 307B configured to move toward and away from each other. Specifically, the guide members 307 (C-shaped guides) 307A, 307B are configured to be movable between a retracted position (shown by dashed lines in Figure 1B) in which they are spaced apart, and a guide position (shown by solid lines in Figure 1B) in which they are close to each other and cover the outer periphery of the group of items XA3. When in the guide position, they guide the pushing of the group of items XA3.

Furthermore, like the first pressing portion 302 (supporting means 301), the guide members 307 are provided in multiple (divided) portions so as to alternate with the two first pressing portions 302 in the pushing direction T. Here, as an example, the guide members 307 have guide members 307A and 307B upstream (left side in the figure) of the pushing direction T, and guide members 307C and 307D downstream (right side in the figure). The operation and configuration of the downstream guide members 307C and 307D are the same as those of the upstream guide members 307A and 307B.

The storage guide member 308 is, for example, a cylindrical body in the shape of a truncated quadrangular pyramid having open ends O1 and O2 of different sizes at both ends in the pushing direction T. The larger open end O1 is located upstream in the pushing direction T, and the smaller open end O2 is located downstream, and the open end O2 is inserted into the opening OP of the box body YA1. This allows the storage guide member 308 to function as a funnel, guiding the long group of items XA3 to be securely stored within the box body YA1.

As an example, the packing device 300 is arranged in this order from the upstream side (left in the figure), including the pushing means 303, the second pressing section 306 (306A, 306B), the upstream first pressing section 302A and the support means 301A, the upstream guide members 307 (307A, 307B), the downstream first pressing section 302B and the support means 301B, the downstream guide members 307 (306C, 306D), and the storage guide member 308.

The pushing means 303 reciprocates along the pushing direction T (left and right in the figure) on the pushing path shown by the large dashed line. The second pressing parts 306A and 306B reciprocate along the width direction W to a compression position (shown by a solid line) close to each other and a retracted position (shown by a dashed line) spaced apart as shown in FIG. 1B. The first pressing part 302A and the support means 301A on the upstream side reciprocate along the height direction H to a compression position (shown by a solid line) close to each other and a retracted position (shown by a dashed line) spaced apart as shown in FIG. 1A. The guide members 307A and 307B on the upstream side reciprocate along the width direction W to a guide position (shown by a solid line) close to each other and a retracted position (shown by a dashed line) spaced apart as shown in FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 1A, the first pressing portion 302B and the support means 301B on the downstream side reciprocate along the height direction H between a compression position (shown by solid lines) where they are close to each other and a retracted position (shown by dashed lines) where they are spaced apart. As shown in FIG. 1B, the guide members 307C and 307D on the downstream side reciprocate along the width direction W between a guide position (shown by solid lines) where they are close to each other and a retracted position (shown by dashed lines) where they are spaced apart.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the storage guide member 308 reciprocates along the height direction H between a guide position (shown by a solid line) on the pushing path and a retracted position (shown by a dashed line) away from the pushing path. As shown in FIG. 1B, the storage guide member 308 may be configured to reciprocate along the pushing direction T (to move closer to and away from the box body YA1) while moving onto the pushing path.

As described above, the support means 301 and compression means 302, 306 (301) are configured to be able to move forward and backward relative to the pushing path of the group of items XA3. As the pushing means 303 pushes the group of items XA3, the support means 301 and compression means 302, 306 move to retracted positions. None of these retracted positions are positions that do not interfere with the group of items XA3 and the pushing means 303.

<Operation of the Packing Device (Packing Method)>
Next, the operation (packing method) of the packing device 300 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 13. Note that, for the sake of convenience, in Figures 4 and onwards, only the main components are extracted and described, and some components may be omitted.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the group of articles XA3 is received by the support means 301 from the upstream conveying means 260, where (A) is a side view of the packing device 300 corresponding to Figure 3(A), and (B) is a plan view (top view) corresponding to Figure 3(B).

As shown in FIG. 1A, the support means 301 receives and supports a plurality of items XA1 transported from upstream as a group of items XA3. In detail, the group of items XA3 is supported by the support means 301A on the upstream side and the support means 301B on the downstream side. In this state, the first pressing section 302 (302A, 302B) has moved to a retracted position. In addition, for example, the storage guide member 308 has also retracted above the pushing path (retracted position).

Although not shown in FIG. 1A, the second pressing portions 306A and 306B are in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 1B, and the guide members 307 on both the upstream and downstream sides are also in the retracted position.

Figure 5 is a side view showing a state following Figure 4. When the support means 301 (301A, 301B) moves to the raised position, the group of articles XA3 is placed in the initial position on the pushing path. In Figure 5 (A), the first pressing portion 302 (302A, 302B) is still in the retracted position. Although not shown, the storage guide member 308, the second pressing portion 306 (306A, 306B), and the guide member 307 (307A-307D) are all in the retracted position (see Figure 4). The pushing means 303 is also located on the pushing path (on an extension of the pushing direction T of the group of articles XA3), but at this time it is separated from the group of articles XA3 and is in an unsupported state. This position of the pushing means 303 is called the initial position (return position).

Then, the group of articles XA3 supported by the support means 301 is compressed from the outside toward the center by the compression means. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first pressing section 302 (302A, 302B) descends and moves to the compression position. As a result, the group of articles XA3 is compressed at least in the height direction H by the first pressing section 302 (302A, 302B) and the support means 301 (301A, 301B) (see FIG. 2F). The configuration not shown is the same as that in FIG. 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the state following Figure 5, where (A) is a side view and (B) is a top view. With the group of articles XA3 being pressed by the support means 301 (301A, 301B) and the first pressing section 302 (302A, 302B), the second pressing section 306 (306A, 306B) moves to the compression position (Figure 6(B)), and the group of articles XA3 is compressed in the width direction W as well as in the height direction H. The compression position of the second pressing section 306 is a position where the side of the L-shaped second pressing section 306 is inside the side of the support means 301 (see Figure 2(G)). This state is the state in which the group of articles XA3 is most compressed, and the length of its outer periphery (the outer periphery of the approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape and the approximately columnar shape) is the smallest. Then, the pushing means 303 advances to a position where one end of the group of articles XA3 can be accommodated.

At this time, guide members 307 (307A to 307D) also advance toward the pushing path and move to the guide position. The ends of guide members 307 are provided with recesses and protrusions that fit together and overlap. As the U-shaped guide member 307 moves to the guide position, a roughly tunnel-shaped (cylindrical) guide is formed on the pushing path. Note that storage guide member 308 (not shown) is in the retracted position.

The compression by the second pressing portion 306 may occur at approximately the same time as the pressing by the first pressing portion 302 (FIG. 5B), or may occur earlier than that.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the state following Figure 6, where (A) is a side view and (B) is a top view. When the group of articles XA3 is most compressed by the support means 301 (301A, 301B), the first pressing section 302 (302A, 302B), and the second pressing section 306 (306A, 306B) and its outer circumferential length is at its minimum, the pressing means 303 contracts the expanding pushing support section 305 and moves it closer to the upstream end of the group of articles XA3. After that, when the pushing support section 305 supports the group of articles XA3, the second pressing section 306 (306A, 306B) moves to the retracted position.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the state following Figure 7, where (A) is a side view and (B) is a top view.

When the group of items XA3 is supported (guided) by the pushing support section 305, the support means 301 (301A, 301B) moves to the lowered position, and the first pressing section 302 (302A, 302B) moves to the retracted position. In other words, in this state, the group of items XA3 is released from support (pressure) by the support means 301, the first pressing section 302, and the second pressing section 306. Thereafter, the support means 301 waits in the lowered position until it receives the next group of items XA3, and the compression means 302, 306 wait in the retracted positions.

In other words, at this timing, the support (holding, pressing) of the group of articles XA3 by the compression means (support means 301, first pressing section 302, and second pressing section 306) is released, and one end of the group of articles XA3 is supported in a cantilevered state by the pushing means 303 (in the air where no conveying surface or the like is provided). Since the individual articles XA1 are lightweight and weak packages, they tend to lose their consistency and spread out as they move away from the pushing means 303 downstream in the pushing direction T (they bend downward in the height direction H due to gravity, and tend to spread out).

In this embodiment, the guide member 307 advances to the guide position as the group of items XA3 is pushed. In other words, instead of the support means 301 and compression means 302, 306 moving to the retracted position, the outer periphery of the group of items XA3 is surrounded by the guide member 307, which prevents the long group of items XA3 from bending (sagging) downward in the height direction H and prevents each item XA1 from spreading apart at the other end of the group of items XA3. This prevents (at least a part of) the group of items XA3 from escaping significantly from the pushing path, and ultimately allows it to be securely contained within the box body YA1.

In addition, the guide member 307 is configured to move to the guide position while the group of articles XA3 is being held by the support means 301 and the compression means 302, 306 (there is a time when the group of articles XA3 is being held by the support means 301 and the compression means 302, 306 and is being guided by the guide member 307), so that the transfer of the group of articles XA3 from the support means 301 and the compression means 302, 306 to the guide member 307 can be performed reliably.

Furthermore, in order to ensure reliable guidance of the group of articles XA3, as shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable that the position of the upstream guide member 307 in the pushing direction T is set to an extent that allows the other end (downstream) of the group of articles XA3 supported by the pushing means 303 to be guided when pushing starts (to an extent that the other end or a part of the upstream side can be accommodated in the guide member 307). For example, the distance from the rear end t1 of the pushing support section 305 in the pre-pushing state (same figure) to the upstream end t2 of the downstream guide member 307 is shorter than the length of the group of articles XA3.

The storage guide member 308 moves to the guide position at this timing, for example. However, the storage guide member 308 may also move to the guide position at the timing (or immediately after) when the downstream end of the item group XA3 protrudes from the downstream guide member 307, for example.

Figure 9 is a continuation of Figure 8 and shows the state in which the pushing means 303 is pushing the group of articles XA3, where (A) is a side view and (B) is a top view. Also, (C) is a front view of (B) as seen from the upstream side in the pushing direction T.

As shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the group of articles XA3 is pushed while its outer periphery is supported by the upstream and downstream guide members 307. The pushing means 303 passes through the inside of the guide members 307 while supporting the group of articles XA3.

As shown in FIG. 3C, guide members 307 (e.g., guide members 307A, 307B) are generally C-shaped when viewed from the front with the opposing sides open, and are configured to become hollow tunnel (cylinder) when moved to the guide position. The size of the hollow space is set to allow at least the group of articles XA3 and the pushing means 303 that grips it to pass through the inside of guide member 307 without interfering with it. The same is true for the downstream guide member 307.

In addition, the group of items XA3 is guided by a funnel-shaped storage guide member 308 inserted into the opening OP of the box body YA1, and is securely stored in the box body YA1 without leakage even when the other end side is not held (not bundled).

Figure 10 shows the state following Figure 9, with Figure 10 (A) being a side view and (B) being a top view. The pushing means 303 advances until the entire group of items XA3 is contained within the box body YA1. Once the entire group of items XA3 is contained within the box body YA1, the pushing means 303 retreats to the initial position (with the pushing support part 305 remaining contracted).

<Modification 1>
Hereinafter, a modified example of the packing device 300 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

Figure 11 shows a state following Figure 10, with Figure 11(A) being a side view and Figure 11(B) being a top view. When the pushing means 303 reduces the diameter of the pushing support part 305 at the start of pushing to bring it closer to the group of articles XA3, the pushing means 303 may expand (widen) the pushing support part 305 when retreating more than when pushing. The degree of expansion of the pushing support part 305 is such that it can pass through the opening OP of the box body YA1 without interference. In other words, as shown in Figure 11, the pushing means 303 moves in the opposite direction (from downstream to upstream) along the pushing path with the pushing support part 305 expanded.

Figure 12 shows a state following Figure 11, where (A) is a side view and (B) is a top view. In this embodiment, as an example, the guide members 307 (307A-307D) are in the guide position even during the period when the pushing means 303 moves to the initial position (see Figure 5). In other words, the pushing means 303 passes through the guide members 307 and moves to the initial position, although the pushing support section 305 is in an expanded state. In other words, the degree of expansion of the pushing support section 305 within the box body YA1 is set to a degree that allows it to pass through without interfering with either the opening OP of the box body YA1 or the guide members 307.

Figure 13 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of the pushing support part 305 of the pushing means 303, and is a front view seen from the upstream side in the pushing direction (see Figure 1). Figure 13 (A) shows the shape of the pushing support part 305 in the initial position (return position), Figure 13 (B) shows the shape of the pushing support part 305 in a state in which it is pushing the group of items XA3, and Figure 13 (C) shows the shape of the pushing support part 305 in a state in which it moves to the initial position after storing the group of items XA3 in the box body YA1.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the pushing support unit 305 in the initial position is not supporting the group of items XA3, and the pushing support unit 305 is, for example, fully extended.

As shown in FIG. 1B, when supporting the compressed group of items XA3, the pushing support section 305 is contracted to support (guide) the outer periphery of the group of items XA3. In this state, the group of items XA3 passes through the inside of the guide member 307 that has advanced to the guide position.

The pushing support section 305 is expanded again within the box YA1 to release the group of items XA3, and in that state (while maintaining the expansion of the pushing support section 305), it moves to the initial position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1C, the pushing support section 305 is expanded further than the support state shown in FIG. 1B, but is contracted from the maximum expansion shown in FIG. 1A to an extent that it can pass through the inside of the guide member 307 that has advanced to the guide position.

In this way, the pushing means 303 of this embodiment can change the state of the pushing support section 305 between a (maximum) expanded state (Figure 1 (A)), a first contracted state capable of supporting the group of items XA3 (Figure 1 (B)), and a second contracted state (Figure 1 (C)) (between Figure 1 (A) and Figure 1 (B)) in which the group of items XA3 can be released but can pass through the inside of the guide member 307.

When the pushing means 303 moves to the initial position, the guide member 307 may be retracted to the retracted position.

The degree of expansion of the pushing support part 305 may be expanded to the extent that it interferes with the guide member 307. In that case, before the pushing support part 305 passes through the guide member 307, the pushing support part 305 may be contracted to the extent that it does not interfere with the guide member 307.

The packing device 300 of this embodiment can pack a certain number of special packages, such as lightweight, weak, and long (or even nearly flat), in a box, and can prevent the group of items from escaping from the pushing path or spreading out unintentionally, even when there is no member, such as a conveying surface, on which the entire group of items can be placed, and can pack the items reliably and efficiently.

In addition, since the outer periphery of one end is supported (guided) by the pushing support means 305 while the package is sufficiently compressed by the compression means 302, 306 (and the support means 301), even when multiple lightweight and weak packages (a large number such as 50 packages) are pushed together, the inner packaged item XA1 is prevented from falling off, and the group of items XA3 can be reliably supported and pushed.

<Modification 2>
Hereinafter, another modified example of the packing device 300 of this embodiment will be described.

In the above example, the support means 301 does not change shape, but this is not limiting. The support means 301 may be configured to be movable in the width direction W, for example, by arranging substantially L-shaped support means opposite each other, similar to the second pressing portion 306. In this case, the second pressing portion 306 may be omitted. In this case, the bottom of the support means 301 is provided with a step or uneven portions that fit together in a plan view, so that they overlap.

Although the guide member 307 is configured to cover the outer circumference (almost the entire circumference) of the group of articles XA3 when it advances to the guide position, it may be configured to cover only a portion of it. For example, the guide member 307 may be a pair of plate-like bodies arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the top and bottom of the group of articles XA3 in the height direction H or the left and right in the width direction W. In this case, for example, the upstream guide member 307 (307A, 307B) may be a pair of plate-like bodies arranged to sandwich the top and bottom of the group of articles XA3 in the height direction H, and the downstream guide member 307 (307C, 307D) may be a pair of plate-like bodies arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the left and right of the group of articles XA3 in the width direction W, or vice versa.

In addition, one guide member 307 (upstream or downstream) is not limited to a configuration in which opposing members are advanced and retreated relative to the pushing path, but may be a configuration in which a single member is advanced and retreated. For example, one arc-shaped (or plate-shaped) guide member 307 may be advanced and retreated relative to the pushing path on each of the upstream and downstream sides, in which case it is preferable to configure it so that the lower height of the group of articles XA3 can be guided. This is because when the group of articles XA3 is pushed in a cantilevered state by the pushing means 303, bending and spreading of the individual articles XA1 are likely to occur on the lower side.

The timing of the advance and retreat of the upstream and downstream guide members 307 may be synchronized between the upstream and downstream sides, or the advance and retreat timing may be different in response to the pushing of the group of items XA3 so that the group of items XA3 can be reliably pushed. For example, the upstream guide member 307 may be moved from the retracted position to the guide position when the group of items XA3 passes through the upstream guide member 307 (the timing from just before passing through to the timing during passing), and the downstream guide member 307 may be moved from the retracted position to the guide position when the group of items XA3 passes through the downstream guide member 307 (the timing from just before passing through to the timing during passing) (lagging behind the upstream side).

In addition, the guide member 307 may be provided only on either the upstream side or the downstream side.

In addition, after the pushing means 303 releases the group of items XA3 inside the box body YA1 (when the pushing means 303 returns to the initial position), the guide member 307 may also be configured to move to the retracted position.

The downstream guide member 307 may also be configured to have a pair of L-shaped pressing parts on the upstream and downstream sides of the support means 301, and a common first pressing part 302 covering the upper parts of the two pairs of L-shaped pressing parts. With this configuration, even if the articles are very soft, it is possible to prevent the group of articles XA3 between the guide members 307 from bulging upward while the pushing means 303 is pushing the group of articles XA3.

In addition, the pushing support section 305 is not limited to being expanded and contracted by a plate-shaped section, but may be configured to support and release the group of items XA3 by expanding and contracting a rod-shaped member (ring-shaped member), for example. Also, the pushing support section 305 may be configured to hold and release the group of items XA3 by a holding claw or the like.

In addition, although the example shows that the pushing direction T of the packing device 300 is horizontal, it may be vertical.

In addition, the configuration has been exemplified in which the support means 301 and the first pressing unit 302 are provided in multiple pairs and arranged opposite each other to compress the group of articles XA3, but, for example, a configuration in which one (single) first pressing unit 302 is provided for each of multiple support members 301 may also be used. In other words, the upstream first pressing unit 302A and the downstream second pressing unit 302B in the above example may be configured as a continuous, integrated unit, and the upstream support means 301A and the downstream support means 301B may be arranged opposite each other.

In addition, in this embodiment, the object XA1 is long and has a generally flat shape, but the shape of the object XA1 is not limited to this and may be, for example, rod-shaped.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and technical concept of the present invention.

In other words, in the above embodiment, the position, size, length, shape, material, orientation, etc. of each component can be changed as appropriate.

Reference Signs List 21 Backing paper 22 Resin film 100 First stacking means 101 First conveying means 102 Second conveying means 103 Bucket 200 Second stacking means 201 Transfer means 202 Hand 250 Storage means 251 Bottom 260 Third conveying means 261 Bucket 300 Boxing device 301 Support means 302, 306 Compression means 302 First pressing section 303 Pushing means 304 Pushing shaft 305 Pushing support section 306 Second pressing section 307 Guide member 308 Storage guide member

Claims (15)

A box packing device that packs a plurality of long objects into a box,
A support means for supporting a plurality of articles conveyed from upstream as an article group;
a compression means for compressing the group of articles supported by the support means from the outside toward the center;
A pushing means for supporting one end side of the compressed article group in the longitudinal direction and pushing the article group toward the inside of the box body,
The compression means releases the compression of the group of articles while the group of articles is being pushed by the pushing means.
A packing device characterized by the above. While the pushing means is pushing the group of articles, the supporting means moves to a receiving position of the group of articles.
2. The packing machine according to claim 1. The pushing means has a pushing support part that can support the outer periphery of the group of articles and expands and contracts.
3. The packing device according to claim 1 or 2. The compression means includes a pressing portion disposed opposite at least a portion of the support means and pressing the group of articles in one direction.
4. A packing device according to claim 1, wherein the packing device is a box-packing device. The compression means includes another pressing portion that presses the article group in another direction.
5. The packing device according to claim 4. The group of articles is compressed in the vertical and horizontal directions by the compression means.
6. A packing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The support means and the compression means are configured to be capable of moving forward and backward with respect to the pushing path of the group of articles, and are retracted to a position where they do not interfere with the group of articles and the pushing means as the group of articles is pushed.
7. A packing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A method for packing long objects into a box, comprising the steps of:
supporting a plurality of articles conveyed from upstream as an article group by a supporting means;
compressing the group of articles supported by the support means from the outside toward the center by a compression means;
A step of supporting one end side of the group of articles in a compressed state by a pushing means and pushing the group of articles toward the inside of the box body;
Releasing the compression of the group of articles by the compression means while the group of articles is being pushed by the pushing means;
having
A packaging method characterized by the above. moving the support means to a receiving position for the group of articles while the article is being pushed by the pushing means;
9. The method of claim 8. The compression means is moved to a retracted position while the pushing means is pushing the compression means.
The method for packing into a box according to claim 8 or 9 . The step of guiding the group of articles by advancing a guide member along a path of the group of articles,
The method for packing a box according to any one of claims 8 to 10. After supporting the one end side of the group of articles, the outer periphery of the group of articles is supported by the guide member, and compression by the compression means is released.
12. The method of claim 11. a timing is provided at which the holding by the compression means and the support by the guide member overlap;
13. The method of claim 12. Pressing the group of articles in one direction by a pressing portion of the compression means;
The method for packing a box according to any one of claims 8 to 13. pressing the group of articles in another direction by another pressing portion of the compression means;
15. The method of claim 14.

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