JPH0369762B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a packaging machine that automatically stores toothpicks in a storage box.

[Prior Art and its Problems] Toothpicks are packaged by storing a predetermined amount of toothpicks in a storage box and covering the storage box with a lid.

Conventionally, such packaging work has been carried out manually, but it is time-consuming and extremely inefficient, so there has recently been a strong demand for mechanization to automatically carry out the above-mentioned work. However, at present, the only mechanized packaging work that has been put into practical use is a storage machine that fills storage boxes with toothpicks, and complete automation of packaging work, including label insertion, has not been achieved. It is.

For example, according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-22807,
A plurality of horizontal grooves are provided on the circumferential surface of the rotating groove wheel, a toothpick hopper is connected to the upper horizontal groove, a bundle shaping tool is provided in the opposite horizontal groove so that it can enter, and the bundle is tied using the horizontal grooves and the bundle shaping tool. A packaging machine has been proposed in which the toothpicks are pushed out through a guide tube into a storage box.

However, with the above structure, although it is possible to mechanically store a predetermined amount of toothpicks in the cylindrical storage box, there is no function to insert the label into the storage box at the same time as the toothpicks, and the label is manually inserted into the storage box. need to be inserted into. For this reason, it is necessary to assemble the packaging work in combination with manual work, and there is a problem in that it is not possible to expect a significant improvement in work efficiency, and the amount of work per hour is not constant.

In addition, toothpicks are not only available in cylindrical storage boxes.
The size of boxes stored in rectangular or polygonal boxes, or even cylindrical boxes, changes in many types. When the shape and size of the storage box changes in this way, the packaging machine proposed above can It is necessary to replace groove wheels, binding tools, guide tubes, extrusion plates, etc., and furthermore, after replacing them, it is necessary to accurately align the binding tools, extrusion plates, etc. with the horizontal grooves, so setup changes are required. There is a problem that requires considerable effort.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and can automatically store a predetermined amount of toothpicks in a storage box, including inserting a label, and furthermore,
To provide a packaging machine that can cope with changes in the shape and size of storage boxes with simple setup work.

[Means to achieve the purpose]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a plurality of transport pedestals removably attached to a circulating transport path at predetermined intervals in the direction of rotation, and on which both sides and the top surface are open. a weighing box having a weighing section having the same cross-sectional shape as a storage box for storing a predetermined amount of toothpicks, and storage box gripping means for gripping the storage box so that its opening faces the side opening of the weighing section of the weighing box. and a movable block that supports the upper portion of the cap which is divided into upper and lower parts and fits inside the opening of the storage box so as to be movable in the direction toward the storage box with respect to the transport base. and a label locking plate that elastically clamps the label along the upper surface of the nozzle, and a hopper that fills toothpicks into the weighing section of the weighing square passing along the conveyance path from the opening at the top; a storage box pushing means for pushing out the storage box toward the mouthpiece of the storage box gripping means; a label feeding means for inserting a label between the mouthpiece and the label locking plate; Located at the rear of the transport path,
The measuring device is configured to include pushing means for pushing the toothpicks housed in the weighing square into the opening of the storage box and for separating the storage box from the storage box gripping means.

[Effect]

In the packaging machine configured as described above, while the conveyance base moves on the conveyance path, toothpicks are fed from the hopper into the weighing space of the conveyance base, and the label is inserted between the nozzle and the locking plate by the label supply means. Ru.

Next, when the storage box is pushed out toward the cap by the pushing means with the upper half of the cap lying down, the opening of the storage box fits into the cap and enters between the top surface of the cap and the label locking plate. A label is inserted inside the storage box.

After that, during the conveyance path, when the toothpick inside the weighing box is pushed out of the storage box by the operation of the pushing means,
The toothpick and the label are stored inside the storage box at the same time.

In the above configuration, if you prepare a transport base with a weighing mass or a different shape of the mouthpiece in advance according to the shape and size of the storage box, you can easily store the storage box by simply replacing the transport base and the piston of the pushing means. Can respond to changes in the box.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The packaging machine of this embodiment automatically performs the entire packaging operation of storing toothpicks in a storage box and covering them with a lid, and as shown in Figs. A second conveyance path 2 that rotates intermittently in the same direction as the first conveyance path 1 is connected in series to the rear end of the first conveyance path 1, and a toothpick is inserted on the first conveyance path 1. The work of storing the toothpicks in the storage box is carried out on the second conveyance path 2 by covering the storage box in which the toothpicks are stored with a lid.

First, the general structure of the packaging machine will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the first conveyance path 1 includes a plurality of conveyance pedestals 3 along the rotation direction.
is attached, and on the transport base 3, there are provided a weighing square 4 for storing a predetermined amount of toothpicks A, and storage box gripping means 5 for gripping the storage box B so that its opening faces toward the weighing square 4 side. There is. A toothpick loading hopper 6 for loading toothpicks into the weighing space 4 is arranged at the upper part of the first conveyance path 1, and in the middle of the conveyance path, the storage box B is supplied to the storage box gripping means 5 on the conveyance base 3. A storage box supply conveyor 7 is connected. Further, at the tip of the first conveyance path 1, a label insertion means 8 for feeding a label D displaying the product name etc. into the storage box A is provided.
A piston 9 for pushing out the storage box B to the storage box gripping means 5 and a pushing means 10 for pushing the toothpick inside the weighing mass 4 into the storage box B are provided behind the hopper 6 in the middle of the conveyance path. There is.

The second conveyance path 2 includes an inclined plate 11 that receives a storage box B' containing toothpicks from the first conveyance path 1, a box conveyor 12 that conveys the storage box B', and a structure parallel to the box conveyor 12. The box conveyor 12 and the lid conveyor 13 are connected by a drive machine so as to rotate synchronously.

Further, both conveyors 12 and 13 are provided with conveyance means 14 for conveying the storage box B' and the lid C at a predetermined interval, respectively.
2 and 13, there is a cylindrical lid gripping member 15 that grips the lid C with its opening facing toward the opening side of the storage box B' on the box transport conveyor 12; A push-out means 16 is provided for pushing the storage box into the lid C by passing it through the inside of the lid gripping member 15.

Next, the detailed structure of each of the above components will be explained.

The first conveyance path 1 includes a pair of endless chains 17
are arranged parallel to each other, and both ends of the chain 17 are suspended by drive pulleys 18 for circular rotation.The conveyor pedestal 3 can be attached and detached by any fixing means for each link 17a of the endless chain 17. It can be installed freely. As will be described later, this transport pedestal 3 is prepared in a plurality of types with different cap shapes, and when the storage box shape changes, the transport pedestal 3 has a cap shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the storage box B. exchange to.

Weighing box 4 provided on the top surface of the transport base 3
As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of symmetrical blocks 19 are arranged facing each other, and both blocks 19,
Between 19 and 19, a toothpick measuring section 20 having the same cross-sectional shape as the storage box is formed, and this measuring section 2
Openings 21 are provided on both sides of the block 19, and an input opening 22 for inputting toothpicks into the measuring section 20 is provided on the top surface of the block 19. The block 19 is formed with a slit 24 through which the inclined guide plate 23 attached to the lower part of the hopper 6 is inserted. A passageway 26 is formed.

The storage box gripping means 5 includes a base 27, a base 28 attached to the end face of the base 27, and a pedestal 29 that supports the storage box B at the same height as the base 28. The base 27 has a lower block 30 provided adjacent to the weighing square 4;
It consists of a movable block 32 which is swingably connected to the upper part of the lower block 30 via a locking fitting 31, and is inserted between the two blocks 30, 32 in correspondence with the side opening 21 of the weighing mass 4. guide hole 33
is formed. Like the side opening 21 of the weighing mass 4, the guide hole 33 is formed to have the same cross-sectional shape as the storage box B, and is approximately equally spaced vertically around the boundary between the two blocks 30, 32.

The cap 28 is formed of a plurality of elastic plates attached to the end surface of the cap holder 27 on the pedestal 29 side along the periphery of the guide hole 33, and the planar shape of the cap 28 tapers toward the tip. 5, the movable block 32 moves to the lower block 3.
It is formed to be slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape of the storage box B in a state where it does not swing with respect to 0. Further, a guide piece 34 is attached to the tip of the base 28 for smoothly inserting the storage box B.

The toothpick loading hopper 6 has a width that is almost the same as the length of the toothpick, and is tapered so that the length gradually decreases from the top toward the bottom. An inlet 3 that communicates with the input opening 22 on the top surface of the moving weighing box 4
5 is formed.

A plurality of bending plates 36 are attached to the inside of the hopper 6, and an inclined guide plate 23 is attached to the lower side surface of the hopper 6, which extends into the weighing mass 4 through the slit 24 of the block 19. Toothpicks inserted through the upper opening of each board 36
The inclined guide plate 2 moves downward through the gap between the
3 into the interior of the weighing mass 4. In this case, the weight of the toothpicks stacked at the top inside the hopper 6 is supported by the jamb board 36, and the hopper 6
The toothpicks at the bottom are prevented from coming into close contact with each other and being pressed together, allowing the toothpicks to flow in smoothly. In addition, a vibration plate 25 that vibrates in the width direction is attached to both sides of the bottom surface of the hopper 6, and a toothpick or measuring mass 4
When flowing into the measuring cell 4, the toothpicks are vibrated in the width direction to eliminate gaps between the toothpicks, and the toothpicks are made to flow into the measuring square 4 in a closely aligned state.

Note that 43 is a measuring plate that protrudes from the upper surface of the measuring square 4 and regulates the amount of toothpicks that can be accommodated in the measuring section 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the label inserting means 8 includes a label pillow 37 for holding labels D continuously supplied from the outside in a column, and a label inserting means 8 for inserting the labels D of the label pillow 37 into the base 28 of the storage box gripping means 5. It consists of a pair of rubber rollers 38, 38 that are sent out toward The labels D are pulled out one by one. Further, a label locking plate 39 made of a spring plate is attached to the upper part of the cap 28, and the label D pulled out by the rubber rollers 38, 38 is inserted between the locking plate 39 and the cap 28, and the label It is held by the spring force of the locking plate 39.

The pushing means 10 is composed of three pistons 40 that are arranged in parallel along the transport path direction at the mounting pitch of the transport base 3. It is formed in the same shape as the measuring mass 4 and the base 2.
It has an extension stroke sufficient to push the toothpick inside the measuring square 4 into the storage box B by inserting it through the guide hole 33 of No. 7. Note that silicone rubber is attached to the push-in side end surface of each piston 40 to prevent friction of the piston 40 and to prevent the piston 40 from sliding.
This is designed to prevent toothpick fragments and wood powder from entering the gap between the sliding portion and the guide hole 33.

The box transport conveyor 12 and the lid transport conveyor 13 of the second transport path 2 are driven by the same drive shaft and circulate in synchronization, and the front end of the lid transport conveyor 13 is provided with a lid C with its opening connected to the box. A lid supply conveyor 41 that continuously supplies the lid toward the conveyor 12 side is connected.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the lid gripping member 15 disposed at the rear of the second conveyance path 2 is constructed by assembling an elastic plate 45 having a longitudinal slit 44 into the cross-sectional shape of a storage box, and storing the elastic plate 45 in the cross-sectional shape of a storage box. It is formed into a cylindrical shape so that a box can be inserted through it, and the lid conveyor 1
A lid locking portion 46 into which the opening of the lid C fits is provided at the opening end on the third side. This lid gripping member 15
are provided in parallel in the conveying direction between the lid conveyor 13 and the box conveyor 12, and as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the lid C is conveyed to a predetermined position by the lid conveyor 13. At this point, the triple piston 4 installed on the side of the lid conveyor 13
2 presses the rear part of the lid C to open the opening with the lid gripping member 1.
5. Push-fit into the locking part 46 of the guide tube 43.

The storage box pushing means 16 provided facing the lid gripping member 15 consists of a triple piston 47 whose center axis coincides with the axis of the piston 42, and includes a storage box B containing toothpicks on the box conveyor 12. ' is inserted into the lid gripping member 15 and has a stroke sufficient to push it out to the carry-out plate 48 provided on the side of the lid conveyor 13.

The embodiment of the present invention has the structure described above, and its operation will be explained next.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first conveyance path 1
When the transfer base 3 moves due to the rotation of the hopper 6
The toothpicks continuously flow into the weighing box 4 to fill the weighing section 20, and the storage box B is supplied onto the pedestal 29 of the conveyance base 3 from the storage box supply conveyor 7. Further, at the forefront of the first conveyance path 1, as shown in FIG.
As a result, the label D is fed between the base 28 of the conveyance base 3 and the label locking plate 39, and the state shown in FIG. 6 is reached immediately after the conveyance path of the hopper 6. In this state, the movable block 32 swings and tilts toward the storage box, and then the piston 9 moves the storage box B toward the base 2.
7, as shown in FIG. 7, the opening of the storage box B fits into the base 28 and grips the storage box B, and the movable block 32 restores its inclination and the label D is stored. It is inserted along the interior side wall of box B.

When the three transport bases 3 holding the storage boxes B with the bases 28 are lined up in front of the pushing means 10, the movement of the first transport path 1 is stopped, and as shown in FIG. The piston 40 extends and passes the toothpick inside the measuring square 4 through the guide hole 33 into the storage box B.
Push the storage box B inside, and then push the storage box B onto the receiving table 29. In this case, the side plate of storage box B is
By being inserted between the label D and the locking plate 39, the label D is unlocked and stored in the storage box B together with the toothpick.

Storage box B′ containing toothpicks as described above is
The boxes are sent out from the rear end of the first conveyance path 1 onto the inclined plate 11 of the second conveyance path 2, and conveyed by the conveyance means 14 on the box conveyor 12 at predetermined intervals.
On the other hand, the lid C is conveyed on the lid conveyor 13,
When the three lids C are lined up in front of the lid gripping member 15, the lid transport conveyor 13 stops, and as shown in FIG. 9, the triple piston 42 extends and pushes out the lids C. The opening of the locking part 46 of the lid gripping member 15
to fit. When the lid C is attached to each locking part 46 in this way, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the storage of toothpicks waiting at a predetermined position on the box transport conveyor 12 in a stopped state is completed. box B′,
The piston 47 of the push-out means 16 pushes from the rear, passes through the inside of the lid gripping member 15, and presses it into the lid C from the opening side of the storage box B. In this case, when the storage box B passes through the inside of the lid gripping member 15, the elastic plate 45 expands outward and expands the opening of the lid C, so the lid C is held with even stronger force. It is securely fitted into the storage box B' pushed out from inside the lid gripping member 15. The storage box B' covered with the lid C is dropped by the piston 47 onto the delivery plate 48 on the side of the lid conveyor 13,
Transported outside.

As mentioned above, in the packaging machine of this embodiment,
The packaging work of storing toothpicks in a storage box and covering the storage box with a lid can be performed continuously and automatically, and the toothpicks can be accurately filled into the storage box from the upper hopper 6 in the weighing square 4. This eliminates the need for post-work inspection work. Furthermore, filling the toothpick storage box and putting the lid on the box can be done simultaneously on multiple conveyor bases 3 at the same time using triple pistons 40, 42, and 47, making it possible to perform extremely efficient packaging operations. Ru. Furthermore, by dividing the cap 28 into a lower block 30 and a swingable movable block 32, the label D can be placed in the storage box B together with the toothpick A.
Since it can be housed inside, the packaging work can be done completely automatically.

In addition to the rectangular shape with a chamfered cross section as shown in the figure, the shape of the storage box B includes octagonal, quadrangular, circular, etc., and when the storage box B changes, the shape of the storage box B changes. Shaped measuring square 4 and cap 28
The packaging work is carried out by attaching the conveying base 3 having a holder to the first conveying path 1, and replacing each extruding piston with one having a shape corresponding to the shape of the storage box B.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the packaging machine of the present invention, a predetermined amount of toothpicks are continuously weighed on the conveyance path, and the toothpicks and labels are simultaneously stored in a storage box, and the packaging work is consistently and automatically performed. Therefore, manual work can be omitted in the work, and packaging work with excellent economical productivity can be realized.

In addition, since a weighing box and a cap are provided on the transport base, if you prepare a transport base according to the type of storage box in advance, you can respond to changes in the storage box by simply changing the transport base and the piston of the pushing means. can do. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, there is no need to convert the entire packaging machine or to align the pushing means and the binding tool with respect to the weighing mass, which has the effect of simplifying the setup work.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall structure of a packaging machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially longitudinal front view of the same as the above, and FIG.
The figure is a vertical sectional front view showing the main part of the first conveyance path, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the conveyance base, FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view showing the conveyance base and label insertion means, and
The figures show the action of storing toothpicks in the storage box, and FIGS. 9 to 11 show the action of attaching the storage box to the lid. 1...First conveyance path, 2...Second conveyance path, 3...
Transfer base, 4... Weighing box, 5... Storage box gripping means, 6... Hopper, 10... Pushing means, 15
...Lid gripping member, 16... Pushing means, 20...
... Measuring section, 21 ... Side opening, 22 ... Input opening, 28 ... Base.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of transport pedestals are removably attached to a circulating transport path at predetermined intervals in the direction of rotation, and a storage box with openings on both sides and the top and containing a predetermined amount of toothpicks is placed on the transport pedestal. A weighing mass having a measuring section having the same cross-sectional shape and a containing box gripping means for grasping the containing box such that its opening faces the measuring section side opening of the weighing mass are provided, and the containing box grasping means is provided with:
A cap that is divided into upper and lower parts and fits inside the opening of the storage box; a movable block that supports the upper part of the cap so that it can rise and fall freely in the direction toward the storage box with respect to the transport base; It consists of a label locking plate that clamps the label by elastic force, and a hopper that fills toothpicks into the weighing section of the weighing box passing through from an opening at the top along the conveyance path, and a hopper that faces the mouth of the storage box gripping means. A storage box pushing means for pushing out the storage box, a label supplying means for inserting the label between the nozzle and the label locking plate, and a weighing mass located behind the transport path of the hopper, the storage box gripping means, and the label supplying means. An automatic packaging machine for toothpicks, comprising pushing means for pushing the toothpicks housed in the storage box into the opening of the storage box and for separating the storage box from the storage box gripping means.