JPS6366738B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus equipped with a flap opening mechanism for opening the flap of a box.

``Prior Art'' Conventionally, as a container processing device for storing containers in a box or taking containers out of a box, a box transport mechanism that transports a plurality of boxes having flaps, and a box transport mechanism that transports a plurality of boxes by this box transport mechanism have been used. A device is known that is equipped with a front and rear flap opening mechanism that opens the front and rear flaps in the transport direction, and a container transport mechanism that stores or discharges containers in each box when the front and rear flap opening mechanisms open the flaps.

The flap opening mechanism in conventional container processing equipment of this kind generally opens all the flaps provided on the four sides of the opening of the box from an approximately horizontal closed state to a further horizontal state beyond the vertical direction. Therefore, the box transport mechanism transports the boxes at such intervals that the boxes do not overlap each other, particularly when the front and rear flaps located at the front and back in the transport direction are opened.

``Problem to be Solved by the Invention'' As a result, the distance between the frontmost box and the last box of multiple boxes to be processed simultaneously increases, and as the distance increases, containers within each box become larger. The container transport mechanism for supplying or discharging must also be made larger, resulting in an increase in the size of the container processing device.

"Means for Solving Problems" In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a first box located on the front side in the conveyance direction and a second box following it, in a position behind the first box. A box transport mechanism that intermittently transports the flap and the front flap of the second box in a state in which the flaps are closer to or in contact with each other than the total length in the transport direction of both flaps when opened to a horizontal state; a front and rear flap opening mechanism that opens the closed rear flaps and front flaps of the first box and the second box, respectively, at a stop position of the box that is intermittently transported by the transport mechanism; a container transport mechanism for storing or ejecting containers in each box when the flaps are open; a second opening member that engages with a front flap of the second box to open the front flap;
The opening member opens the rear flap and the front flap to a vertically upper position or beyond this to a position where they contact each other, and holds each at that position, and in the holding position, each first opening member and The second opening member is located at a position where it does not interfere with the operation of storing or discharging containers into each box by the container transport mechanism.

"Operation" According to such a configuration, if the front and rear flaps are opened by the first opening member and the second opening member of the front and rear flap opening mechanism, containers can be stored in each box by the container transport mechanism. Alternatively, the discharge operation can be performed immediately, and since the plurality of boxes are in close proximity to or in contact with each other, the distance between the frontmost box and the rearmost box can be compared with the conventional method. Therefore, the container processing apparatus can be downsized.

Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a box transport mechanism that transports three boxes 2 that are in contact with each other as one group, and this box transport mechanism 1 is not shown. It is equipped with a plurality of feed bars 1a extending between a pair of left and right endless chains at a predetermined interval, and the feed bar 1a is brought into contact with the rear end surface of the rearmost box of the three boxes. By intermittently moving in the direction of the arrow, Part 3
Two boxes 2 can be transported intermittently.

A side flap opening mechanism 3 is provided above the box conveying mechanism 1, and the side flap opening mechanism 3 allows the side flaps 2b located on both sides of each box 2 in the conveying direction to be opened. The side flap opening mechanism 3 is composed of a pair of flap guides 3a which are arranged and fixed on both sides above the box transport mechanism 1. It is designed so that it can be inserted into the gap between the side flap 2b and the box body 2a of each box 2 in a substantially closed state from the front side thereof.

The front side of each flap guide 3a from the above-mentioned end portion is gradually expanded outward, and the box main body 2a
Once expanded to the outside position, the flaps are bent so as to be parallel to the direction of transport of the box, and as the box 2 moves, the side flaps 2b are gradually opened, and moreover, the side flaps 2b are brought to a generally horizontal position outward. Once opened, it remains in that state.

The box 2 whose side flaps 2b have been opened by the side flap opening mechanism 3 is conveyed to the downstream side while being maintained in that state, and is carried into the front and rear flap opening mechanisms 4 and stopped. The front and rear flap opening mechanism 4 includes a first opening mechanism 5 that opens the front and rear flaps 2c closed in a substantially horizontal state to a required angle, for example, approximately 45 degrees, and a front and rear flap 2c opened by the first opening mechanism 5. It further includes a second opening mechanism 6 that opens the opening to a vertically upward position and maintains the opening in that state.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the first opening mechanism 5 includes a support frame 7 disposed parallel to the box transport direction, and a pair of swinging arms 8 connected to the support frame 7 in the vertical direction. It is equipped with a swing frame 9 that is swingably attached to the swing frame 9, and a pair of levers 11 that are respectively rotated by drive motors 10 provided at three locations on the swing frame 9. 9 is adapted to be swung up and down by an air cylinder 12 provided on the support frame 7.

The pair of levers 11 are composed of a dogleg-shaped member and an inverted dogleg-shaped member (see FIG. 4), and each lever 11 is a drive device arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the swing frame 9. They are fixed to shafts 13 and 14, respectively. One drive shaft 13 is directly interlocked with the drive motor 10, and the other drive shaft 14 is connected to a gear 15 and the drive shaft 13 provided on this drive shaft 14.
By interlocking with the drive motor 10 through a gear 16 provided at and meshed with the gear 15, the levers 11 are rotated in opposite directions when the drive shafts 13 and 14 are rotated. I'm trying to do that.

Further, the pair of levers 11 are set so that when their tips are close to each other and in the closed state, the distance between the tips is smaller than the distance between the front and rear flaps 2c in the closed state. When the swing frame 9 is lowered, the tip of the lever 11 in the closed state can be inserted between the front and rear flaps 2c.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support frame 7 is provided on the machine frame 17 so as to be able to rise and fall freely, and can be moved up and down by the rotation of the screw shaft 18.
Each drive motor 10 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the swing frame 9, so that the position of the lever 11 relative to each box 2 can be adjusted by adjusting the vertical position and transport direction position of the drive motor 10 as necessary. We are making it possible to do so.

On the other hand, the second opening mechanism 6 opens each front and rear flap 2.
Each lever 20 contacts the inner surface of the front and rear flaps 2c opened by the first opening mechanism 5 and rotates in a horizontal plane. The flap 2c can be opened vertically upward.

Among the levers 20, the levers 20 located at the front and rear in the box conveyance direction are each driven by a drive motor 2.
1 drive shaft 22, and the sixth drive shaft 22.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 7, one of the pair of levers 20 located at the intermediate portion is directly connected to the drive shaft 22 of the drive motor 21, and the other is connected to the drive shaft 23, this drive shaft 23. A gear 24 provided on the drive shaft 22 and a gear 24 provided on the drive shaft 22
The drive motor 2 is connected to the drive motor 2 via a gear 25 meshed with
It is linked to 1.

Note that each drive motor 2 in the second opening mechanism 6
1 is also adjustable in position in the transport direction of box 2,
This allows the position of the lever 20 in the transport direction to be adjusted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a container 26 is stored in each box 2 on the side of the front and rear flap opening mechanism 4 when all the flaps 2b and 2c are opened by the side flap opening mechanism 3 and the front and rear flap opening mechanism 4. A container transport mechanism 27 is provided to transport or discharge the container.

In the above configuration, in the non-operating state, the lever 20 of the second opening mechanism 6 is located in the open retracted position shown by the imaginary line in FIGS.
The swing frame 9 of the opening mechanism 5 is located at the rising end position,
Moreover, the tip of the lever 11 is closed.

In this state, when three consecutive boxes 3 are carried into the front and rear flap opening mechanism 4 and stopped,
The swing frame 9 is lowered by the air cylinder 12 of the first opening mechanism 5, and the tips of the closed levers 11 are inserted into the gap between the front and rear flaps 2c, and then the drive motor 10 moves the pair of levers 11 toward each other. It is rotated in the opposite direction to open its tip and open the front and rear flaps 2c to about 45 degrees. When this condition occurs,
Subsequently, the lever 20 is rotated by the drive motor 21 of the second opening mechanism 6 from the position shown by the imaginary line in FIGS. The front and rear flaps 2c, which have been opened up to that point, are opened vertically upward and maintained in that state.

When the front and rear flaps 2c are directed vertically upward by the lever 20, the lever 11 of the first opening mechanism 5 is closed, and at the same time, the air cylinder 12
As the swing frame 9 is raised and returned to its original state, the first opening mechanism 5 is removed from the position above the opening of each box 2.

When the first opening mechanism 5 is removed from the position above the opening of each box 2, a predetermined number of containers 26 are stored in each box 2 by the container transport mechanism 27, or the containers 26 are ejected from each box 2. Then, the lever 20 of the second opening mechanism 6 is returned to its original position,
As a result, each box 2 is transported downstream by the box transport mechanism 1.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12. In this embodiment, a cam mechanism is used as the first opening mechanism 30 constituting the front and rear flap opening mechanism, and other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

The first opening mechanism 30 in this embodiment is the machine frame 1
A moving frame 32 is provided on a guide member 31 attached to the box 7 so as to be movable forward and backward, and an air cylinder 33 is provided to move the moving frame 32 forward and backward.

A first support shaft 34 arranged parallel to the box transport direction is rotatably supported on the moving frame 32, and a second support shaft 36 is connected to the first support shaft 34 via a connecting member 35. connected in parallel. And this second
Cam followers 37 are attached to both ends of the support shaft 36, and each cam follower 37 is engaged with a cam 38 fixed to the machine frame 17, and the first support shafts 3 are parallel to each other.
4 and the second support shaft 36, six brackets 39, the same number as the front and rear flaps 2c, are respectively attached to be movable forward and backward in the axial direction.

Therefore, the second support shaft 36 can swing vertically about the axis of the first support shaft 34, and as the second support shaft 36 swings up and down, the bracket 39 also swings. It's getting old. and,
When the movable frame 32 is in the retracted position, the cam follower 37 provided on the second support shaft 36 is positioned in the raised position by the cam 38, and the movable frame 32 is moved forward by the air cylinder 33. When the cam 38 is moved, it is positioned at a lowered position on the same horizontal plane as the first support shaft 34 due to its own weight according to the shape of the cam 38.

Each of the brackets 39 is rotatably attached to a shaft 46 to which a lever 45 for opening the front and rear flaps 2c to a required angle is fixed, and of the six brackets 39, the flap 2c on the front side in the transport direction is opened. The three brackets for opening the flaps 2c on the rear side in the conveyance direction are interlocked with a link member 47 provided on the moving frame 32 so as to be movable back and forth in parallel with the box conveyance direction. , is interlocked with a link member 48 which is provided in parallel with the link member 47 and is movable forward and backward. At this time, each bracket 39 is interlocked with each link member 47, 48 so as to allow the bracket 39 to swing in the vertical direction.

Both ends of each link member 47, 48 are
They are interlocked with each other via a chain 50 that extends over a sprocket 49 provided on the moving frame 32, and one link member 4 provided on the moving frame 32
7, the link member 47 is connected to the three brackets 39.
When moved in one direction, the other link member 48 and the remaining three brackets 39 can be moved by the same amount in the opposite direction via the chain 50.

Further, an arm 52 is attached to each end of a shaft 46 to which the lever 45 is fixed and rotatably supported on a bracket 39.
A cam follower 53 is provided at the tip of the moving frame 32, and a cam 54 with which the cam follower 53 engages is provided on the moving frame 32. The above cam follower 53
When the movable frame 32 is moved forward and the bracket 39 is located at the lowered position, it becomes a position where it can engage with the cam 54, and as the bracket 39 moves, the cam 5
4 to rotate the shaft 46 and lever 45.

In the above configuration, in the non-operating state, the moving frame 32 is placed in the retracted position by the air cylinder 33, so that the bracket 39 and the lever 45 are placed in the retracted position facing diagonally upward as shown in FIG. are doing. Also, cam follower 5
Since the lever 3 and the cam 54 are separated from each other, the tip of the lever 45 is closed.

In this state, when the box 2 with the side flaps 2c opened is carried into the front and rear flap opening mechanism 4 by the box transport mechanism 1 and stopped, the air cylinder 33 moves the moving frame 32 forward. Then, the cam follower 37 provided on the second support shaft 36 rolls on the cam 38 and descends along the cam shape.
The lever 45 is moved forward as the movable frame 32 moves forward, and at the same time is lowered via the cam follower 37, the second support shaft 36, the bracket 39 and the shaft 46, so that the lever 45 moves between the front and rear flaps 2c. It is inserted into the box 2 through the gap. In this state, the cam follower 53 interlocked with the lever 45 can engage with the cam 54 provided on the moving frame 32.

In this state, the air cylinder 51 is operated to move the link members 47, 48 in opposite directions, thereby moving the three brackets 39 in opposite directions. As a result, the cam follower 37 linked to the lever 45 rolls on the cam 38 and the shaft 35 rotates, so that the lever 45 moves from the center to the end of each box 2, as shown by imaginary lines in FIG. It rotates while moving to the side to open the front and rear flaps 2c to a required angle.

In this state, similar to the embodiment described above,
The lever 20 of the second opening mechanism 6 opens the front and rear flaps 2c.
When the first opening mechanism 30 of this embodiment returns to its original state, the containers 26 are stored in or discharged from each box 2 by the container transport mechanism 27.

In each of the above embodiments, the front and rear flap opening mechanism 4 is composed of the first opening mechanism 5, 30 and the second opening mechanism 6. It is also possible to configure the front and rear flap opening mechanism 4 using only this mechanism.

Further, in the above embodiment, the three boxes 2 are transported in a state in which they are in contact with each other, but if necessary, the individual boxes 2 may be transported by the feed bar 1a, and the intervals between the boxes 2 may be changed by adjusting the front and rear flaps. 2c may overlap with each other, that is, the rear flap of the preceding box and the front flap of the succeeding box may be closer to each other than the total length in the conveying direction of both flaps when they are opened to a horizontal state.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the present invention, if the front and rear flaps are opened by the front and rear flap opening mechanism,
The container transport mechanism can immediately store or discharge containers into each box, and since the plurality of boxes are in close proximity to or in contact with each other, the frontmost box and the rearmost box are The space between the container and the container can be made smaller than in the past, and the container processing apparatus can therefore be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall plan view, FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the main part, and FIG. 3 is shown along the - line in FIG. 2. 4 is a front view of the main part of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the - line of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of other main parts of Fig. 2. Figure 7 is the − of Figure 6.
It is a sectional view along a line. 8 to 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 8 is a plan view, FIG. 9 is a side view thereof, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 8, and FIG. This figure is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state different from that shown in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of another part in the state shown in FIG. 11. 1...Box conveyance mechanism, 2...Box, 2c...Front and rear flaps, 4...Front and rear flap opening mechanism, 5,30
...first opening mechanism, 6...second opening mechanism, 11,
20, 45... Lever (opening member), 26... Container, 27... Container transport mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first box located on the front side in the transport direction and a second box following it, with the rear flap of the first box and the front flap of the second box in a horizontal state. A box transport mechanism that intermittently transports boxes in a state closer to or in contact with each other than the total length of both flaps in the transport direction when opened, and a stop position for boxes that are intermittently transported by this box transport mechanism. , a front and rear flap opening mechanism opens the closed rear flap and front flap of the first box and the second box, respectively, and a container is stored in each box when the flap is opened by the front and rear flap opening mechanism. or a container transport mechanism for discharging the container, and the front and rear flap opening mechanism includes a first opening member that engages with the rear flap of the first box to open the rear flap, and a front flap of the second box. a second opening member that engages with the front flap to open the front flap;
The opening member opens the rear flap and the front flap to a vertically upper position or beyond this to a position where they contact each other, and holds each at that position, and in the holding position, each first opening member and A container processing apparatus equipped with a flap opening mechanism, characterized in that the second opening member is located at a position that does not obstruct the operation of storing or discharging containers into each box by the container transport mechanism.