JP7609105B2 - Container folding device - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, paragraph 2 of the Patent Act will be applied. Held online on November 8, 2021 https://jipm-event. com/karakuri/exh At the 26th Karakuri Improvement Exhibition 2021

This disclosure relates to a container folding device.

Conventionally, foldable containers and folding devices for folding such containers are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The folding device of Patent Document 1 folds the container by pushing the first wall (left and right walls) and the second wall (front and rear walls) of the container toward the space surrounded by the first wall and the second wall.

Publication No. 3030297

In recent years, various methods have been developed for such foldable containers. In some foldable containers, the first or second wall is folded while a locking mechanism that locks the first and second walls is pressed. When folding a container using such a device, it is necessary to fold the first or second wall while keeping the locking mechanism pressed.

The objective of this disclosure is to provide a container folding device that can fold a container while pressing the locking mechanism.

The container folding device according to the present disclosure includes a pair of first walls, a pair of second walls perpendicular to the pair of first walls, and a locking mechanism provided on the upper portion of the first walls to lock the first walls and the second walls, and presses the locking mechanism to release the locking mechanism and fold the first wall toward a space surrounded by the first and second walls. The container folding device includes a first pressing portion that presses the locking mechanism, a second pressing portion that is located on the opposite side of the space and the first wall and lower than the first pressing portion and presses the first wall toward the space, a first arm on which the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are formed, and a second arm that moves the first arm up and down. The second arm has a support shaft that rotatably supports the first arm.

With this container folding device, while the first pressing part supported by the first arm that has moved downward presses the locking mechanism, the first arm rotates about the support shaft, and the second pressing part presses the first wall. This causes the first wall to be pressed toward the space with the locking mechanism unlocked. As a result, the first wall is folded.

The present disclosure provides a container folding device that can fold a container while pressing a locking mechanism.

1 is an overall view of a container folding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 1 is a diagram of a container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a folding mechanism and a first transport device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a folding mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 13A-13C illustrate the operation of a first arm according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a third pressing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a drop mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a first moving mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a second transport device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the operation of a second transport device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the container folding device 1 includes a folding mechanism 2, a first conveying device 4, and a second conveying device 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the container folding device 1 of this embodiment is a device for folding a container C having a pair of first walls C1, a pair of second walls C2 perpendicular to the pair of first walls C1, and a locking mechanism C3 provided on the upper part of the first walls C1 for locking the first walls C1 and the second walls C2. As shown enlarged in FIG. 2, the container C can be folded by pressing the locking mechanism C3 to put the locking mechanism C3 in an unlocked state and folding the first wall C1 toward the space S surrounded by the first wall C1 and the second wall C2. Such containers have various locking mechanisms C3; for example, in Type A, the locking mechanism C3 faces upward, and in Type B, it is attached horizontally.

As shown in FIG. 3, the folding mechanism 2 includes a pair of first pressing units 21, a pair of second pressing units 22, a pair of first arms 23, a second arm 24, a rotation device 25, and a pair of third pressing units 26. A feeder 8 is provided upstream of the folding mechanism 2 in the discharge direction. The feeder 8 includes a roller 8a facing the folding mechanism 2 and a locking mechanism 8b. When an operator steps on a pedal 9, the lock is released and an unfolded container C is fed into the folding mechanism 2.

As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the first pressing portion 21 presses the locking mechanism C3 of the container C. The second pressing portion 22 presses the first wall C1 of the container C toward the space S. When the container C is placed in the folded position V, the second pressing portion 22 is located on the opposite side of the first wall C1 from the space S of the container C and below the first pressing portion 21.

The pair of first arms 23 are formed with a first pressing portion 21 and a second pressing portion 22. The first arm 23 is made of metal and is a member that is divided into a Y-shape at the bottom and bent into an L-shape at the top. The first pressing portion 21 and the second pressing portion 22 are formed at the tip. In this embodiment, the first roller 21a is rotatably attached to the first pressing portion 21. The second roller 22a is rotatably attached to the second pressing portion 22.

The second arm 24 moves the first arm 23 up and down. The second arm 24 is a plate-shaped member made of metal. In this embodiment, the first arm 23 is rotatably connected to both ends of the second arm 24. The second arm 24 is provided with an electric or pneumatic actuator 24a that moves the second arm 24 up and down.

As shown in FIG. 4(c), the second arm 24 has a support shaft 27 that rotatably supports the first arm 23. The rotation device 25 rotates the first arm 23 around the support shaft 27. In this embodiment, the rotation device 25 has a wire 25a and an actuator 25b that pulls the wire 25a. The wire 25a is fixed to the tip of the L-shaped bent portion of the pair of first arms 23. When the actuator 25b pulls the wire 25a, the first arm 23 rotates around the support shaft 27.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the first arm 23 is moved downward by the second arm 24, the first roller 21a of the first pressing part 21 presses the locking mechanism C3 of the container C. As shown in FIG. 5(b), when the first pressing part 21 presses the locking mechanism C3 of the container C, the first arm 23 rotates, and the second roller 22a of the second pressing part 22 presses the first wall C1 toward the space S. At this time, the first roller 21a and the second roller 22a rotate, so that the first arm 23 rotates smoothly. Furthermore, since the first roller 21a can push in the locking mechanism C3, it can also press the locking mechanism C3, such as the B type of FIG. 2. In this way, the first wall C1 of the container C is folded toward the space S.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of third pressing parts 26 rotate in a direction intersecting the rotation direction of the first arm 23, and push the second wall C2 toward the space S. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the third pressing part 26 has a base 26a, a third arm 26b, a wire 26c, and an actuator 26d. The wire 26c is fixed to the third arm 26b. The actuator 26d pulls the wire 26c. The third arm 26b is rotatably supported on the base 26a. The third arm 26b is also supported on the base 26a via a spring that biases it upward. Therefore, when the third arm 26b is pulled by the wire 26c, the third arm 26b rotates downward. On the other hand, when the wire 26c is loosened, the third arm 26b returns upward due to the biasing force. The pair of third pressing parts 26 are arranged such that the third arms 26b face each other. When rotated downward, the third arm 26b protrudes further than the base 26a toward the folding position V where the container C is folded.

As shown in FIG. 6(b), when the actuator 26d pulls the wire 26c, the third arm 26b falls down and pushes the second wall C2 of the container C toward the space S. In this way, the second wall C2 is folded.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the first conveying device 4 has a drop mechanism 41, an elevator mechanism (an example of a first moving mechanism) 42, and an elevator support (an example of a first support) 43.

As shown in FIG. 7(a), the drop mechanism 41 is a mechanism that drops the container C from the folding position V onto an elevator support 43 that is located below the folding position V. The elevator support 43 is a support that transports the folded container C downward. The drop mechanism 41 has a retractable conveyor 41a that supports the container at the folding position V, a wire 41b fixed to the retractable conveyor 41a, and an actuator 41c that pulls the wire 41b.

As shown in FIG. 7(b), the retractable conveyor 41a is supported by the frame 41d so that it can rotate downward. The wire 41b is fixed to the retractable conveyor 41a, and when the wire 41b is pulled, the retractable conveyor 41a is maintained in the folded position V, and when the wire 41b is loosened, the retractable conveyor 41a rotates downward.

8(a), the elevator mechanism 42 moves the elevator support (an example of a first support) 43 up and down. The elevator mechanism 42 includes a balancer mechanism 44 and a discharge mechanism having a stopper (an example of a swinging member) 45 and a swinging shaft 46. The elevator support 43 is arranged to be movable up and down via a rail 43a. The elevator support 43 is suspended from the balancer mechanism 44 via a wire 44a. The elevator support 43 supports a roller conveyor 46a that transports a container C via a swinging shaft 46. A stopper 45 is provided at a position on the rail 43a where the elevator support 43 is stopped. The stopper 45 has a protrusion 45a that protrudes upward. The swinging shaft 46 is arranged offset from the center of gravity of the roller conveyor 46a (the center of the length L in this embodiment) toward the discharge direction F.

When a predetermined number of containers C are stacked, the balancer mechanism 44 moves the elevator support 43 downwards due to the weight of the containers C. In this embodiment, the balancer mechanism 44 is set to start moving with the weight of three containers. Specifically, the balancer mechanism 44 has a built-in coil spring, and the pulling force of the spring is balanced with the elevator support 43 and the weight of three containers.

As shown in FIG. 8(b), when the elevator support 43 descends to the lowest position, the end of the roller conveyor 46a opposite the discharge direction F abuts against the stopper 45. The end of the roller conveyor 46a opposite the discharge direction F is pushed up by the protrusion 45a of the stopper 45, and the end on the discharge direction F side is lowered around the swing shaft 46. This transports the container C to the stock chute 61, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 8(c), when the container C is removed from the elevator support 43, the elevator support 43 becomes lighter. As a result, the balancer mechanism 44 winds up the wire 44a by traction force, and moves the elevator support 43 upward. At this time, the end of the roller conveyor 46a opposite to the removal direction F lowers around the swing shaft 46.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second conveying device 6 has a stock chute (an example of a third support) 61, a stock stopper (an example of a stopper mechanism) 62, a lifter support (an example of a second support) 63, a lifting lifter mechanism (an example of a second moving mechanism) 64, a limit switch (an example of a switch) 65, and a removal chute 66. The second conveying device 6 conveys the container C upward toward the removal chute 66. The stock chute 61, the lifter support 63, and the removal chute 66 are provided with rollers inclined toward the removal direction F.

The stock chute 61 is a support that supports and blocks the container C being carried into the lifter support 63. The stock stopper 62 includes a stopper arm 62a and a spring 62b. The stopper arm 62a is rotatably supported at the bottom of the stock chute 61. The stopper arm 62a is provided such that an end 62c in the carrying-out direction F can come into contact with the lifter support 63, and an upper end 62d protrudes from the upper surface of the stock chute 61. The stopper arm 62a is biased (upward) toward the stock chute 61 by the spring 62b, and the upper end 62d is brought into a state in which it protrudes from the upper surface (stopped state). When the lifter support 63 is lowered, the stopper arm 62a is pushed downward by the lifter support 63, and is displaced to a state in which the upper end 62d is lowered downward (released state).

The lifter support 63 is a support that moves the container C upward. The lifter mechanism 64 moves the lifter support 63 up and down. The limit switch 65 is a switch that is pressed by the container C when the container C is loaded onto the lifter support 63. The lifter support 63 is arranged on the rail 63a so that it can move up and down.

The lifting lift mechanism 64 includes a first wire 64a, a second wire 64b, a two-stage pulley 64c around which the first wire 64a and the second wire 64b are wound, and an actuator 64d that pulls the second wire 64b. The first wire 64a is fixed to the lifter support 63, and when the first wire 64a is wound around the two-stage pulley 64c, it raises the lifter support 63. On the other hand, when the first wire 64a is loosened, it lowers the lifter support 63. The second wire 64b is fixed to the actuator 64d, and when the actuator 64d pulls the second wire 64b, it winds up the two-stage pulley 64c. The two-stage pulley 64c winds up the first wire 64a by twice the distance when the second wire 64b winds up the two-stage pulley 64c one turn. This corresponds to the lifting distance of the lifter support 63. The limit switch 65 activates the actuator 64d when it is turned on by the container C.

As shown in FIG. 10(a), when the lifter support 63 is at the lowered end, the stock stopper 62 is released and the container C moves toward the lifter support 63. At this time, the actuator 64d is in an extended state.

As shown in FIG. 10(b), when a container C is loaded onto the lifter support 63, the limit switch 65 is pressed and the actuator 64d is activated. As shown in FIG. 10(c), this causes the first wire 64a and the second wire 64b to be wound and the lifter support 63 to rise. When the lifter support 63 reaches the upper end, the container C moves to the removal chute 66. The folded container C in the removal chute 66 is removed by an operator. As shown in FIG. 10(d), when the container C is removed to the removal chute 66, the lifter support 63 descends to the lower end and the next container C is loaded onto the lifter support 63.

As described above, the present disclosure provides a container C folding device 1 that can fold a container C while pressing the locking mechanism C3. Moreover, the folding device 1 of this embodiment automatically transports the folded container C to a position (height) that does not burden the worker. This significantly reduces the burden on the worker.

<Other embodiments>
Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. In particular, the multiple modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

For example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the first roller 21a and the second roller 22a are attached to the first pressing portion 21 and the second pressing portion 22, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The first roller 21a and the second roller 22a may be omitted.

1: folding device, 2: folding mechanism, 4: first conveying device, 6: second conveying device 8a: roller, 8b: locking mechanism 21: first pressing portion, 21a: first roller 22: second pressing portion, 22a: second roller 23: first arm, 24: second arm, 25: rotating device 26: third pressing portion, 27: support shaft, 41: drop mechanism 42: elevator mechanism, 43: elevator support, 44: balancer mechanism 45: stopper, 46: swing shaft 61: stock chute, 62: stock stopper 62c: end, 63: lifter support, 64: lifting lifter mechanism, 65: limit switch C: container, C1: first wall, C2: second wall, C3: locking mechanism F: carrying-out direction S: space V: folding position

Claims (9)

A folding device for a container comprising a pair of first walls, a pair of second walls perpendicular to the pair of first walls, and a locking mechanism provided on an upper portion of the first walls for locking the first walls and the second walls, the device pressing the locking mechanism to put the locking mechanism into an unlocked state and folding the first walls toward a space surrounded by the first walls and the second walls,
A first pressing portion that presses the locking mechanism;
a second pressing portion located on an opposite side of the space and the first wall and below the first pressing portion, the second pressing portion pressing the first wall toward the space;
a first arm on which the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are formed;
A second arm that moves the first arm up and down;
Equipped with
The second arm has a support shaft that rotatably supports the first arm.
Container folding device. A first roller attached to the first pressing portion;
A second roller attached to the second pressing portion;
having
2. The container folding device according to claim 1. Further comprising a rotation device that rotates the first arm about the support shaft.
3. A container folding device according to claim 1 or 2. Further comprising a third pressing portion that presses the second wall toward the space.
4. A container folding device according to claim 1. The folding container further includes a first conveying device that conveys the folded container downward,
the first conveying device has a first support that supports the folded container, and a first moving mechanism that moves the first support up and down;
the first moving mechanism includes a balancer mechanism that moves the first support base downward by weight of the containers when a predetermined number of the containers are stacked, and moves the first support base upward when the containers are removed from the first support base.
5. A container folding device according to claim 1. the first conveying device has a dropping mechanism that drops the container from a folding position where the container is folded onto the first support positioned below the folding position,
6. A container folding device according to claim 5. the first conveying device has a discharge mechanism that discharges the container when the first support is lowered to a lowest position,
the first support table is disposed offset from a center of gravity of the first support table toward the unloading direction side and includes a swing shaft that swings the first support table up and down;
the unloading mechanism includes a swinging member that swings an end of the first support on an opposite side to the unloading direction upward about the swinging shaft.
7. A container folding device according to claim 5 or 6. A second conveying device that conveys the container upward,
The second conveying device has a second support that moves the container upward;
A second moving mechanism that moves the second support up and down;
having
the second support includes a switch that is pressed by the container when the container is carried onto the second support, and the second movement mechanism is activated when the switch is pressed.
A container folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. the second transport device has a third support supporting the container to be carried into the second support;
the third support includes a stopper mechanism that is displaced between a stopped state in which the container is blocked and a released state in which the container can be carried into the second support,
The stopper mechanism is lowered downward by the second support, and the stopper is displaced from the stopped state to the released state.
9. A container folding device according to claim 8.