JPS641372B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating a large number of stacked flanged packaging containers made of synthetic resin thin plates one by one.

[Conventional technology]

Packaging containers made of thin synthetic resin sheets are
Since a large number of containers are stacked one on top of the other and traded with their storage portions fitted into each other, it is necessary to separate the stacked containers one by one when packaging the product. For this reason, automatic product packaging lines use vacuum separation equipment that uses a vacuum suction tool to separate containers one by one, but this creates a vacuum between the containers. ,
Because they were attracted to each other by static electricity, there were problems in which they could not be separated, or two or more pieces overlapped and were separated.

Therefore, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-33758 as a prior art focuses on the fact that objects that overlap each other have the property of being difficult to pull apart in the direction of overlapping, but easy to slide along the overlapping surface. The vacuum suction tool is used to suction the inner bottom of the first container, and while the inner bottom of that container is being suctioned, the vacuum suction tool is rotated downward so that the containers in the front row face downward relative to the following containers. We have proposed a device that allows containers to be reliably separated one by one by shifting the containers.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, this prior art can only be applied to containers with a shallow bottom and an upwardly expanding storage area, there is a risk that the inside of the container may be contaminated by the vacuum suction device, and the separation efficiency is low. There was a problem.

In other words, in the prior art, the entire stacking surface of the container in the front row must shift relative to the following containers, but containers with deep bottoms, etc.
In the case of a container with a bulge-shaped storage part such as an egg pack, or a container with a side wall of the storage part standing upright from the bottom, the side walls may touch each other if you try to shift the bottom plate. Since they were in close contact with each other and the entire overlapping surface could not be shifted, it was impossible to separate them one by one.

In addition, since the vacuum suction device is used to suction the inner bottom surface of the container, the inside surface of the container becomes dirty due to the vacuum suction device.Furthermore, the vacuum suction device has complicated movements and operates at high speed. The separation efficiency was low.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a separator of this type that is capable of reliably separating containers at high speed without causing contamination, regardless of the size and shape of the container.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides an inclined container support for slidingly moving a large number of flanged packaging containers made of synthetic resin thin plates stacked horizontally with their outer bottom surfaces first; In a packaging container separation device equipped with a vacuum suction device disposed at the front in the transport direction of the containers, a container located at the beginning of the containers on the container support is placed above the front end of the container support. A pair of left and right stoppers are provided downwardly protruding so as to come into contact with both left and right ends of the upper flange, and the vacuum suction tool is
The reciprocating mechanism and the vacuum suction tool are attached to a reciprocating mechanism so as to be able to protrude and retract freely toward a portion of the outer bottom surface of the container located at the top near the upper end and between the left and right stoppers. , the vacuum suction tool is appropriately moved back and then the suction is released, and air is ejected downward toward the vicinity of the right and left midway portions of the upper end surface of the container located at the top, near the stopper. An air nozzle configured as shown in FIG. It is arranged at an angle.

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
This egg packaging container is made of a synthetic resin thin plate and is integrally connected via a hinge part 6, and the container body 4 and the lid body 5 are respectively formed with bulging storage parts 2 and 2', Flanges 3 and 3' are integrally connected to the outer peripheral edges of the container body 4 and the lid 5.
A large number of these containers 1 are stacked one on top of the other with the lids 5 open.

Reference numeral 7 denotes the main body of the separation device according to the present invention, and between the left and right side frames 9 and 10, a front and rear longitudinal container support 11 is provided in a forward-inclined state. A large number of stacked containers 1 are arranged so that their outer bottom surfaces face forward and flanges 3, 3'
It is placed with the part perpendicular to the hinge part 6 facing down. The container support stand 11 has its front end aligned with an axis 1.
While being rotatably supported on the side frames 9 and 10 at 2,
The rear end is inserted into the left and right side frames 9, 10 through an arcuate vertical hole 13.
By tightening the bolt 14 through the bolt 14, the inclination angle θ can be adjusted freely (for example, the rear end is raised by about 10 cm relative to the front-to-back length of the container support 11 of 70 cm).

Container support stand 1 between the left and right side frames 9 and 10
A gate-shaped frame 15 is erected at a position above the front end of the container 1 so as to straddle the rows of containers 1 . A pair of left and right stoppers 17, 17' are provided in a downwardly protruding manner so as to come into contact with the left and right end portions of the upper flange of the container 1a located at the top, and the right and left side frames 9, 10 are provided with stoppers 17, 17' located at the top. left and right flanges 3 of the container 1a,
Sub-stoppers 18, 18' are provided to protrude inward and come into contact with 3'.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, guide plates 19 and 19 made of spring steel are provided at positions slightly above the container support stand 11 on the inner surfaces of the left and right frames 9 and 10, and extend in the transport direction of the container 1. ' is fixed with 20 screws. At the tip between these guide plates 19, 19',
The screws 21 screwed into the side frames 9 and 10 are brought into contact with each other,
By tightening the screw 21, the distance between the guide plates 19 and 19' can be adjusted according to the horizontal width l of the container 1.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a vacuum suction device provided in front of the container support 11, and the vacuum suction device 22 is attached to an air cylinder 24 as an example of a reciprocating mechanism and to the tip of a piston rod 25 of the air cylinder 24. The air cylinder 24 is attached to the front frame 23 fixed between the front ends of the side frames 9 and 10, and the vacuum suction tool 29 is connected to a vacuum pump ( With the protruding movement of the piston rod 25, the vacuum suction tool 29 protrudes toward the container 1 of the container support 11, attracts the outer bottom surface of the container 1a located at the top, and pulls it apart. It is configured to move back appropriately and then release the adsorption.

In this case, the vacuum suction tool 29
1 on the outer bottom surface of the first 1a placed on the top 1a, and on both the left and right stoppers 17, 17'.
The protruding direction is set so as to attract the outer surfaces of the accommodating parts 3 and 3' between them. Note that a guide bar 26 fitted into the front frame body 23 is fixed to the bracket 27. Further, the front frame body 23 is provided with the container 1 while the vacuum suction tool 29 is retracting.
A contact piece 30 is provided in a protruding manner so that the container can be forcibly removed from the vacuum suction tool 29.

Reference numeral 31 denotes an air nozzle attached to the left and right midpoints of the horizontal rod 16 in the gate-shaped frame 15, that is, the parts between the left and right stoppers 17 and 17'. It is attached so that the spray is applied to the upper end surface of the top container 1a near the left and right midpoints, that is, the area between the left and right stoppers 17 and 17'.

Further, below the vacuum suction tool 29, an arcuate guide body 35 for horizontally changing the posture of the container 1 that has been released from the vacuum suction tool 29 is tilted so as to look up at the container support stand 11. In addition, below the container support stand 11, there is an intermediate shooter 34 for transporting the container 1 whose posture has been changed by the arcuate guide body 35 to the packaging process, and an arrow B
A transport device 32 with a belt 33 moving in the direction is provided.

In this case, the gate-shaped frame 15 is provided with an air nozzle 36 for promoting fall, which blows air toward the bow-shaped guide body 35 from diagonally above.
In addition to promoting the separation of the container from the vacuum suction tool 29, an intermediate shooter 3 is provided below the front frame 23.
A pushing air nozzle 37 for blowing air along the upper surface of the container 1 is provided to push the container 1 after changing its posture onto the transfer device 32.

Further, a guide body 38 is provided above the relay shooter 34 and the transfer device 32 in order to prevent the container 1 from falling over or being turned over due to air being blown out by the extrusion air nozzle 37.

In the above configuration, when the piston rod 25 is moved to protrude, the vacuum suction tool 29 attracts the housing part 2 of the container 1a located at the top, and when the piston rod 25 is retreated, the top that is sucked by the vacuum suction tool 29 is sucked. The container 1 is deflected and deformed so that its upper and side flanges 3, 3' are fitted with stoppers 17, 17' and sub-stoppers 18, 1.
When the first container 1a is pulled out and the vacuum suction tool 29 retreats by a certain distance, the vacuum suction is released and the container 1 falls onto the guide body 35.

Then, the containers 1 on the container support 11 slide toward the tip of the container support 11 (direction A) by the thickness of the container due to their own weight, so by repeating the above operation, the containers 1 are moved one by one. Be separated.

During this separation, the containers 1 may be stuck to each other due to a vacuum state being created between the containers 1 or static electricity being generated.

However, in the present invention, since the vacuum suction tool 29 suctions the top of the container 1a located at the top and between the left and right stoppers 17, 17', as shown in FIG. The upper flanges 3, 3' of the container 1a are bent and deformed as a result of being pulled by the vacuum suction tool 29, and the upper flanges 3, 3' of the container 1a located at the front and the following container 1 are
A gap is forcibly formed between the upper flanges 3 and 3', and the air nozzle 31 is inserted into this gap.
Since air is blown in from the container 1a and the subsequent container 1, an air layer is formed between the leading container 1a and the succeeding container 1, so that the close contact between the leading container 1a and the succeeding container 1 is completely released. Only one container 1a at the front is reliably separated.

Furthermore, since the vacuum suction tool 29 is for suctioning the outer bottom surface of the container 1, the inner surface of the storage section is not contaminated by the vacuum suction tool 29, and moreover, there is no dirt or dust inside the container 1. However, these will be blown away by the air ejected from the air nozzle 31.

Then, the separated container 1a is released from the vacuum suction tool 29, and then the guide body 35
The container 1 is dropped, changed horizontally, and transferred to the transfer device 32, but the vacuum suction tool 29 is adsorbing the outer bottom surface of the container 1, and the guide body 35 is arranged to look up at the container support 11. Because it is sloped,
The container 1 is transported from below the container support stand 11 to the packaging process with its opening facing upward.

Note that the containers that can be separated by the device of the present invention are not limited to containers for packaging chicken eggs as in the examples.
If the container has a flange connected to the opening edge, such as a box-shaped container body and a plate-shaped lid connected by a hinge, a box-shaped container body only, or a cup-shaped container, Any shape is acceptable.

[Action/effect of the invention]

As described above, the gist of the present invention is the structure described in the claims, in which a vacuum suction device is protruded toward a row of containers placed on a container support stand, and the first container is By adsorbing the outer bottom surface of the container and moving backward, the container located at the frontmost part is flexed and deformed so as to be narrowed, and its flange is pulled away from the stopper, thereby separating only one container at the frontmost part.

In that case, both left and right ends of the upper flange of the container located at the front are locked by a pair of left and right stoppers, and the vacuum suction tool is made to suction at the top of the container and between the left and right stoppers. As the container is pulled by the vacuum suction device, the top flange of the first container is deflected and deformed, and a force is created between the top flange of the first container and the top flange of the following container. A gap is formed between the two containers, and air is blown into this gap from the air nozzle, forming an air layer between the first container and the following container, thereby improving the close contact between the first container and the following container. is completely released, and only the first container is reliably separated.

Then, the separated container is changed in posture horizontally by the guide body, and is moved toward the bottom of the container support with the container opened upward.

Therefore, the present invention has the following effects.

A gap is forcibly formed between the overlapping surfaces of the containers, and air is forcibly blown into this gap from above to break the close contact between the containers, so the container is suitable for egg packaging. Even if the container is bulged into a complicated shape, such as a container with a side wall upright from the bottom plate, it is possible to reliably separate the containers one by one. Defects can be significantly reduced.

Since the outer bottom surface of the container is adsorbed using a vacuum suction tool, it is possible to reliably prevent the inner surface of the container from getting dirty during the separation process, and in addition, the air nozzle blows away dirt and dust inside the container. From there, the container can be transferred to the packaging process in a clean state.

By using the vacuum suction device to suction the outer bottom of the container and by tilting the guide provided below the vacuum suction device so as to look up at the container support, the separated container can be opened upward. Since the containers can be fed downwards in the same posture as the containers, the conveying device for transferring the containers to the packaging process and the container support can be placed above and below each other, allowing the containers to be transferred to the packaging process without contaminating them. Although it can be transported, space can be used effectively.

The vacuum suction device only moves back and forth, and the container can be changed to an upwardly open position by simply releasing the suction of the vacuum suction device and dropping it, so it is possible to reliably separate each container one by one. However, it is possible to increase the separation speed and improve the separation efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a stacked state of containers, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken from the side of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken from the negative side of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken from the negative side of FIG. 1... Container, 3, 3'... Flange, 4... Container body, 5... Lid, 7... Main body of separation device,
9, 10...Side frame, 11...Container support stand, 17,
17'... Stopper, 18, 18'... Sub stopper, 22... Vacuum suction device, 24... Air cylinder, 25... Piston rod, 29... Vacuum suction tool, 31... Air nozzle.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A slanted container support base that allows flanged packaging containers made of synthetic resin thin plates stacked horizontally to be slid with their outer bottom surfaces first, and a container support that is disposed in front of the container in the transport direction. In a packaging container separation device equipped with a vacuum suction device,
A pair of left and right stoppers are provided above the front end of the container support stand to project downward and come into contact with both left and right ends of the upper flange of the container located at the head of the containers on the container support stand; A vacuum suction device is attached to the reciprocating mechanism so as to be able to protrude and retract freely toward the upper end of the outer bottom surface of the container located at the top and between the left and right stoppers, and A vacuum suction tool is connected to the vacuum suction tool so that the suction is released after the vacuum suction tool retreats appropriately, and further, a vacuum suction tool is connected to the vacuum suction tool so that the suction is released after the vacuum suction tool is appropriately retreated, and further, a vacuum suction tool is connected to the vacuum suction tool so as to be released from the suction after the vacuum suction tool retreats appropriately, and further, a suction tool is placed near the stopper and directed toward the vicinity of the right and left midway portions of the upper end surface of the container located at the top. An air nozzle configured to eject air downward is disposed, and a guide body is provided below the vacuum suction tool to horizontally change the posture of the container that has been released from the vacuum suction tool.
1. A separation device for packaging containers made of thin synthetic resin plates, characterized in that the container support is tilted upward.