JPH09124017A - Flap opening device for box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To certainly open flaps of a box even in the case where articles inside the box are protruding beyond the opening of the box by turning round the flap with an opening member inserted into a space between the surface of the box and the flap that is drawn away by suction pads. SOLUTION: With negative pressure applied to lower suction pads 317, a lower flap F2 is opened to a position backing away from an opening plate 341. Then, the opening plate 341 is lowered from a position above a corrugated board box B and inserted into a space between the opened flap F2 and the front face of the corrugated board box B. The suction pads 317 are retreated, letting the opening plate 341 descend further, and the flap F2 is turned round at an angle of 180 deg. for a complete opening. As the flap is opened by inserting the opening plate 341 with the flap drawn away with the suction pads 317 from the corrugated board box B, a large gap is formed between the opening plate 341 and the corrugated board box B. Therefore, cartons, even though protruding beyond the opening of the corrugated board box B, are not damaged by interference with the opening plate 341.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for automatically opening a box flap. More specifically, the present invention comprises an opening member that moves along the surface of the box on which the flap is formed, with which opening member the flap is
It is opened by reversing by 80 ° and prevents interference between the projecting article and the opening member even when the article accommodated inside the box projects from the surface of the box. It relates to a box flap opening device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a distribution system of goods such as goods, there is a so-called automatic picking apparatus for selecting and accumulating a plurality of kinds of ordered goods corresponding to the order of each store, for example. It is used.

Such an automatic picking device is provided with, for example, a plurality of main conveyors that run continuously, and a plurality of storage / cutout devices for commodities are provided along these main conveyors. Each of these storage and cutting devices stores various products,
A merchandise supply mechanism, that is, a merchandise cutout mechanism is provided, and the merchandise stored in correspondence with the merchandise cutout signal is supplied or cut out on the main conveyor.

Further, such an automatic picking device is provided with a control device such as a computer, and sends a cut-out signal to each of the above-mentioned cut-out mechanisms in response to an input product order slip, etc., to place an order. Cut out the specified products on the main conveyor. The products cut out on the main conveyor are conveyed by the traveling of the main conveyor. These main conveyors are merged on the downstream side thereof, and the above-mentioned products are merged and accumulated on the downstream side of the main conveyor and put into a container such as a returnable box corresponding to a store, that is, a container. In this way, the ordered number of products of the ordered type are loaded into the container corresponding to the store, and the container is transported to the designated store.

In such an automatic picking device, the work of unpacking a cardboard box and taking out the stored products, sorting these products by type, and supplying them to the above storage / cutting device is also automatically performed. Done. Therefore, such an automatic picking device requires a device for automatically unpacking the cardboard box and taking out the products inside.

By the way, for example, when the above-mentioned product is a cigarette carton, this carton has a plurality of rows and a plurality of rows, for example, 5 rows and 5 rows in a corrugated cardboard box. The cartons are stored in a stack. To take out a large number of cartons in this way and automatically feed them to the above storage and slicing device, take out these cartons from the cardboard box in the stacked state, and then disassemble them while maintaining this aligned state. It is necessary to perform the process such as.

In such a case, it is naturally necessary to take out the cartons housed inside the corrugated cardboard box in a stacked state so as not to disturb the aligned state. For this purpose, the flap of the cardboard box becomes an obstacle, so it is necessary to fully open the flap before taking out the carton from the cardboard box.

As a device for opening the flap in this way,
There is one in which an elongated opening plate is moved along the surface of the cardboard box on which the flap is formed. When the flap is cut and released, the tip edge of the flap rises slightly from the surface of the cardboard box due to elasticity, so move the flap by inserting it into the space between the flap and the surface of the cardboard box. Then, the flap is fully opened in a state of being inverted by about 180 °.

By the way, the flap is pressed by the opening plate and inverted, but when the opening plate moves close to the surface of the cardboard box, the opening plate comes into contact with the root of the flap. . Therefore, when the opening plate has a large pressing force when reversing the flap, and when the resistance of the flap reversing is large, an excessive pressing force is generated and the root portion of the flap is broken. There was something to do. Further, when the flap is opened, the carton contained in the cardboard box may slightly project from the opening surface of the box. Then, in such a case, there is a problem that the opening plate collides with the protruding carton and damages the carton.

In order to prevent these problems, it is desirable that the moving path of the opening plate be separated from the opening surface of the cardboard box as much as possible. However, the amount of lifting of the flap is small, and the amount of lifting of the flap varies depending on the type of box and other conditions.
Therefore, the distance between the opening plate and the opening surface of the box must be set according to the minimum lifting amount of the flap, and the distance between the opening plate and the opening surface of the box must be large. Therefore, it was difficult to prevent the contact with the protruding carton or the like as described above.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and in the case of opening the flap by reversing the flap by an opening plate that moves along the surface of the box, the box is opened. Provided is a box flap opening device which can prevent contact between the opening plate and the article and can surely open the flap even when the article inside the box protrudes from the opening surface of the box. It is a thing.

[0012]

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, a suction pad provided so as to come in contact with and separate from a surface of the box on which the flap is formed, and the suction pad is attached to the surface of the box. A suction pad drive mechanism for moving the suction pad toward and away from the box, and an elongated opening member that moves along the surface on which the flap is formed, and the opening member along the surface of the box. A drive mechanism for an opening member that moves the flap is sucked by the suction pad to separate the flap from the surface of the box, and the opening member is separated between the separated flap and the surface of the box. Invade and flip the flaps above. Therefore, the opening plate can surely enter between the separated flap and the surface of the box, so that the distance between the opening plate and the opening surface of the box can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the root portion of the flap from being broken by this opening plate, and even if the article inside this box projects from the opening surface of this box, this opening plate interferes with this article and Will not be damaged. Further, since the flap is reliably pulled from the surface of the box by a predetermined amount by the suction pad, the opening plate surely enters between the flap and the surface of the box, and its reliability is high.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the drive mechanism for the suction pad, the flap is separated by the suction pad, and the opening member enters between the flap and the surface of the box. The suction of the flap is released and the suction pad is retracted. Therefore, the suction pad does not get in the way when the opening plate comes into contact with the flap to open it.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. According to this embodiment, an article, for example, a plurality of types of cigarette cartons are picked by the ordered number of a plurality of types of cartons ordered in response to an order from each store, and a container corresponding to the store. It is an automatic picking device that is placed inside.

As shown in FIG. 2, the carton C of the above-mentioned cigarette has the carton C inside the corrugated cardboard box B in the lateral direction.
Rows, 5 steps in the height direction and 2 groups in the longitudinal direction are arranged, and a total of 50 cartons are stored. In the automatic picking device of this embodiment, the above-mentioned cardboard box B is unpacked, and the carton C inside is taken out.
Picking one by one and putting it in a foldable returnable container corresponding to the store. First, FIG.
The schematic configuration and operation of the automatic picking device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the whole of the picking device. Reference numeral 101 in the drawing is a carry-in conveyor, and a corrugated cardboard box B containing a cigarette carton is carried in by the carry-in conveyor 101. As shown in FIG. 4, this cardboard box B has its flaps overlapped and closed, and the edges of the upper flap F1 and the lower flap F2 are abutted against each other and sealed by the adhesive tape T. There is.

A series of roller conveyors 102 are provided on the downstream side of the carry-in conveyor 101, and an unpacking device 200, flap opening devices 301 and 302, and an pushing device 303 are provided along the path of the roller conveyor 102. ing.

In the unpacking apparatus 200, as shown in FIG. 5, the tape T of the corrugated cardboard box B is cut along the central portion thereof, that is, along the abutting portion of the upper flap F1 and the lower flap F2. In addition, L of FIG. 5 is a cutting line. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of cutter members 201 is provided inside the upper flap F1 from the cutting line L of the tape T, for example.
And then move these cutter members 201 in directions away from each other as shown in FIG.
Cut the adhesive tapes T on both side ends of No. 1 to obtain the upper flap F1.
To release. Next, by the same operation, as shown in FIG. 8, the adhesive tapes on both side ends of the lower flap F2 are cut, and the lower flap F2 is also released.

Next, the corrugated cardboard box B in which the upper flap F1 and the lower flap F2 are released as described above is sent to the upper flap opening device 301 and the lower flap opening device 302 by the roller conveyor 102, as shown in FIG. The upper flap F1 and the lower flap are opened and held to a position where they are substantially vertical.

Then, the corrugated board box B is further sent to the extruding device 303, and an extruding member 304 is inserted from the rear end into the corrugated board box B with the flap open, as shown in FIG. Cartons C in the corrugated cardboard box B are extruded by the extruding member 304 in a state where they are stacked in groups of 5 rows and 5 stages.

Next, the carton C thus extruded.
The two groups are separated, and the two groups are laterally aligned and aligned in 10 rows and 5 stages and sent to the stage separating device 401. In this stage disassembling device 401, as shown in FIG. 10, the carton C of 10 rows and 5 stages is placed on the lifting platform 405, and a shoulder is provided at the upper edge on the side of the lifting platform 405. The side wall portion 406 is formed. And
The elevating table 405 intermittently rises by the height of one carton C, and raises the carton C in 10 rows and 5 stages from the shoulder portion of the side wall portion 406 by one stage. In addition, this step-disassembling device is provided with a step-separating member 407, and when the elevating table 405 rises and the uppermost 10 rows of cigarettes C are pushed up onto the shoulders of the side wall portion 406. The stepping member 407 moves in the lateral direction, pushes the top ten rows of cartons C onto the shoulder portion, and moves them in the aligned state on the belt conveyor 408 continuous to the shoulder portion.

The cartons C thus arranged in 10 rows are sent to the storage / cutting device 403 by the inclined moving conveyor 402. As shown in FIG. 13, this storage / cutout device is provided with a large number of slant racks 410, and these slant racks 410 are composed of long slanted roller conveyors, and the above-mentioned staggered 1
The 0-th row carton C is transferred into these inclined racks 410 in the aligned state, and a large number of cartons are stored in a close contact state in which they are urged downward by gravity. Also,
These inclined racks 410 are arranged in, for example, 5 stages as shown in FIG. 3 in order to reduce the installation area, and a large number of these 5 inclined racks 410 are arranged in parallel with each other.

Further, the above-mentioned inclined moving conveyor 402 is
It is provided movably along the back side of the above storage / cutout device 403, that is, along the upper end side of the inclined rack 410, and is provided with a movable carriage, and an inclined belt conveyor provided on this carriage and whose inclination angle is adjustable. , Any stage of any of the multiple tilted racks 410 described above, any level of tilted racks 410
It is configured to correspond to. Then, the disassembled carton C on the belt conveyor 408 is transferred onto the tilt belt conveyor of the tilt moving conveyor 402, and the tilt moving conveyor 402 corresponds to the kind of the transferred carton C. It moves to the position of the slant rack 410 that accommodates the carton, and the slant angle is changed according to the level or height of the slant rack 410, and the height of this slant belt conveyor corresponds to the upper end of the slant rack 410. Matched with height, the carton on this slanted belt conveyor remains aligned and its slanted rack 4
It is transferred into 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a cutting mechanism 411 is provided at the lower end of each of the inclined racks 410 described above. These cutting-out mechanisms 411 hold the lowermost cartons C of the plurality of cartons C housed in the inclined rack 410, prevent these cartons C from falling by gravity, and cut-out signal 411. Corresponding to, the holding of the carton C at the bottom end is released, and only one carton at the bottom end is dropped, that is, cut out.

Also, the tilted racks 410 aligned with each other.
A main conveyor 501 is provided along the lower end of the. These main conveyors 501 are arranged in five stages in the height direction corresponding to each stage of the inclined rack 410. These main conveyors 501 are long belt conveyors. Then, when the carton C at the lowermost end is dropped or cut out by the cutting-out mechanism 411 at the lower end of the inclined rack 410, the carton C cut out is cut off by the main conveyor 5
01 is slid down and is conveyed by this main conveyor 501.

The end portions of these main conveyors 501 are connected to a curve conveyor 502a and a descending inclined conveyor 502b, respectively. The descending inclined conveyors 502b are inclined downward, and the end portions of the descending inclined conveyors 502b are joined in a state in which they are aligned parallel to each other on the same horizontal plane. A merging conveyor 601 is connected to the ends of these descending inclined conveyors 502b.

Although the main conveyor 501 is a continuous belt conveyor, the running amount of this belt is detected by a rotary encoder or the like and is controlled by a controller such as a computer. Further, the belt of the main conveyor is virtually divided at regular intervals, and the virtually divided sections, that is, virtual buckets are formed, and the moving position of each of these virtual buckets is always the above-mentioned control device. Tracking is controlled by, and tracking is controlled. Then, a cutting-out signal is sent to the cutting-out mechanism 411 of each of the inclined racks 401 in synchronization with the movement of the virtual buckets, and the carton C thus cut-out is placed in the central portion of these virtual buckets. . Further, the relationship between the type of the carton C cut out and the virtual bucket is managed by the control device in accordance with the order from the store, and the virtual buckets of each of the main conveyors are connected to the merging conveyor. At the start end portion of 601, it is configured to join in a state of being aligned in the lateral direction. Therefore, the virtual buckets on which the cartons of a predetermined brand are placed merge into this merging conveyor 601, and the five cartons of the predetermined brand placed on these virtual buckets are shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, they are merged and collected in a state of being lined up in the horizontal direction.

The end portion of the merging conveyor 601 is connected to the feeding conveyor 604.
A container transfer device 602 is provided at the end of 4. The container transfer device 602 includes a conveyor 603.
The foldable returnable container V corresponding to each store is sequentially conveyed via the. This container transfer device 602
Is to move the transported container V downward as shown in FIG. 12 with its opening being substantially vertical.
The upper surface openings of these containers V face slightly upward and are held substantially vertically and face the end of the above-mentioned loading conveyor 604. Therefore, the carton C that has been aligned and sent as shown in FIG.
From this, 5 containers are put in each container V. The container V has a volume capable of accommodating the carton in 5 rows at a maximum of 6 levels, and the height of the carton loaded in the container is increased every time the carton is loaded from the loading conveyor 604 one level at a time. This container V descends according to the minutes
The cartons thrown inside are orderly stacked in 5 rows and 6 stages.

In this way, the ordered number of cartons C of the ordered brand are put into the container V corresponding to this store, and this container is transported to the corresponding store. It should be noted that when a large number of items are ordered from the store, it is a matter of course that a plurality of containers are designated for one store and a predetermined carton C is placed in these containers.

Next, in the unpacking device 200, a tape cutting device for cutting the tape T of the cardboard box B as shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15.
As described above, this tape cutting device uses the cardboard box B
The adhesive tape T made of paper or synthetic resin that seals the abutting portions of the upper flap F1 and the lower flap F2 is cut along the abutting surfaces of these flaps. The tape cutting device is provided on the most upstream side of the unpacking device 200.

Reference numeral 102 in the figure denotes the above-mentioned roller conveyor, and the corrugated cardboard box B is conveyed on the roller conveyor 102 with its tape-sealed surface facing left and right. A frame 202 is provided so as to straddle the roller conveyor 102, and a pair of left and right moving bases 203 are provided on the frame 202 so as to be movable left and right. Further, from these movable bases 203, guide pillar portions 204 are vertically projected downward, and a cutter mechanism base 205 and a detector base 206 are respectively movable vertically in these guide pillar portions 204. You are being guided. The cutter mechanism base 205 is provided with a cutter mechanism 212, respectively, and the detector 206
2 pairs of left and right detectors 213 are provided in each.

A rack 207 is connected to each of the above-mentioned moving bases 203, and these racks 207 mesh with each other above and below one pinion 208.
Is driven to rotate in both forward and reverse directions by a motor 209.
Therefore, when the pinion 208 rotates, the moving bases 203 are moved in the opposite directions by the same distance, and move toward or away from each other. Then, when the cardboard box B is conveyed and stopped at a predetermined position, the moving bases 203 approach each other, and the cutter mechanism 212 makes contact with and presses both left and right sides of the cardboard box B to press the cardboard box B. Box B is centered on the device.

A first screw rod 201 and a second screw rod 211 are rotatably supported along the guide column portion 204, and they are connected in series. The detector base 206 is screwed onto the first screw rod 210, and the cutter mechanism base 205 is attached to the second screw rod 21.
It is screwed into 1. And, the pitch of the second screw rod 211 is the same as the first screw rod 2 described above.
It is set to exactly half of the pitch of 10. Therefore, these first and second screw rods 21
When 0 and 211 rotate integrally, the above-mentioned detector base 20
6 and the cutter mechanism base 205 respectively move up and down, the amount of movement of the cutter mechanism base 205 is exactly half the amount of movement of the detector base 206. Further, the left and right screw rods 210 and 211 are configured to be rotationally driven in both forward and reverse directions by a motor 215 via a spline shaft 214 and gearboxes 216 and 217.

The above-mentioned two pairs of detectors 213 are transmission type ones which are composed of a pair of light sources and photodetectors which are arranged facing each other on the left and right sides.
3 are placed slightly above and below. Therefore, when light is transmitted through the upper detector and light is blocked by the lower detector, it is detected that the upper surface of the cardboard box B is located between these upper and lower detectors, In this way, the position of the upper surface of the cardboard box B is detected. Then, when the detector 213 detects the upper surface of the cardboard box B, the rotation of the motor 215 is stopped. In this case, the above-mentioned cutter mechanism base 205
Since the amount of vertical movement of the detector is half that of the detector base 206, the cutter mechanism base 205 is the center of the corrugated box B in the height direction, that is, the abutment of the upper and lower flaps sealed with the adhesive tape T. The tape T is accurately positioned on the surface, and the tape T is cut horizontally along this position.

Next, a cutter mechanism 2 for cutting this tape
12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.
The cutter mechanism 212 includes a feed conveyor 22
0 is provided, and a belt 221 that comes into contact with the side surface of the corrugated cardboard box B is provided so as to run freely. The belt 221 is, as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The corrugated board box B is run in the feeding direction. Therefore, the corrugated cardboard box B is pinched by these belts 221, and the corrugated cardboard box B is moved on the roller conveyor 102 by running the belt 221.

A cutter blade 225 is provided above the feed conveyor 220 along the horizontal direction. The cutter blade 225 has a disk shape, and a blade tip is formed on the peripheral edge thereof. Also, this cutter blade 225
Is attached to a vertical rotary shaft 227, and this rotary shaft 227 is connected to a motor 229 via a gear box 228.
It is connected to the. Therefore, the cutter blade 225 is rotationally driven at high speed by this motor. Further, a guide cover 226 is provided so as to surround the cutter blade 225, and a peripheral edge portion of the cutter blade 225 projects from a slit formed in the guide cover 226 by a distance smaller than the thickness of the thinnest cardboard box of the above cardboard boxes. ing.

Next, the operation of this tape cutting device will be described. First, when the corrugated board box B is conveyed to a predetermined position, the above-mentioned moving bases 203 come close to each other, and the cutter mechanism 2
Twelve belts 221 pinch both sides of the cardboard box B to position the cardboard box B at the center. Next, after the holding is once released, the detector base 206 and the cutter mechanism base 205 move up and down, and as described above, the cutter blade 225 of the cutter mechanism 212 moves the center of the cardboard box B in the height direction. That is, it matches the abutting positions of the upper and lower flaps.

Then, the belt 221 is run,
As a result, the corrugated board box B is moved at a predetermined speed, and the cutter blade 225 rotating with this movement cuts the adhesive tape T along the abutting line of the flap.
Since the peripheral edge of the cutter blade 225 projects from the guide cover 226 by the thickness of the corrugated board, the carton inside the corrugated board box B is not damaged.

In the corrugated cardboard box B from which the adhesive tape is cut in this manner, the adhesive tape on both sides of these flaps is cut as described above, these flaps are opened, and the flap opening device 302 and the pushing device are opened. Sent to 303. In this case, for example, the adhesive tape T
Is an adhesive tape made of a synthetic resin film, the adhesive tape T can be formed by the cutter member 201 as shown in FIG.
It may be difficult to pierce the tape and insert it into the inside of the flap, but since the tape T is previously cut by the tape cutting device, the cutter member 20
1 is securely inserted inside the flap.

Next, the configurations of the flap opening device 302 and the pushing device 303 described above will be described. First, FIG.
The general arrangement of these parts will be described with reference to FIG.
Reference numeral 301 in the figure is a rotating device, which rotates the corrugated board box B conveyed on the roller conveyor 102 with the flaps opened 90 ° in the horizontal direction,
It is to be transferred to the top. The corrugated cardboard box B is conveyed on the roller conveyor 102 in a posture in which the surfaces of the flaps are located on the left and right sides, and the corrugated cardboard box B is rotated by 90 ° by the rotating device, and the flaps of the corrugated cardboard box B are rotated. The posture is changed so that the surface faces the front and rear in the conveying direction, and the sheet is conveyed on the curve conveyor 102.

A flap opening device 302 is provided at the end of the curve conveyor 102 so that the upper and lower wraps on the front side in the conveying direction are fully opened vertically by 180 °.
Then, the corrugated cardboard box B is laterally moved in that posture, transferred onto the conveyor 103, laterally moved, and sent to the extrusion device 303. In this pushing device, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper and lower flaps F1 and F2 on the rear side of the corrugated cardboard box B are also fully opened by 180 °, and the inner carton C is pushed out by the ram member 304.

Next, the structure and operation of the flap opening device 302 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 25. A frame 310 is provided at the end of the curve conveyor 102 so as to straddle it. The frame 310 is provided with a pressing plate 311 and a cylinder mechanism 312 for moving the pressing plate 311 up and down, and presses and holds the upper surface of the conveyed corrugated cardboard box B.

A pressing plate 315 is provided so as to face the front surface of the cardboard box B, and the pressing plate 315 is moved back and forth by the cylinder mechanism 320. Further, the upper flap F1 and the lower flap F2 on the front surface of the cardboard box B are
Corresponding to the two suction pads 316, respectively.
317 are provided, and these are cylinder mechanisms 321 and 32.
It is moved back and forth by 2 respectively. Further, a negative pressure is applied to each of the suction pads 316 and 317 so that the flaps are sucked.
The holding plate 315 has a cutout 325 as shown in FIG. 19, and the suction pads 316 and 317 are provided.
Are respectively located in the cutouts 325, and the suction pads 316 and 317 and the holding plate 315 are configured to be independently movable. A lower flap retainer 318 is provided below these, and the lower flap retainer 318 is configured to be moved back and forth by the cylinder mechanism 323.

Further, on the side portion of the frame 310,
A flap opening mechanism 340 is provided. This mechanism is provided with a cylinder mechanism 342 provided on a side portion of the frame 310, and a horizontal opening plate 3 extending in a direction traversing the front surface of the corrugated board box B from the cylinder mechanism 342.
41 is projected. And this opening plate 341 is
The cylinder mechanism 342 is configured to be moved up and down. Further, the position of each part of the opening plate 341 is set so that a relatively large gap is formed between the opening plate 341 and the front surface of the corrugated board box B.

In the lower part of the frame 310, a transfer mechanism 34 composed of a mechanism such as a belt conveyor which can be raised and lowered.
5 is provided, and the corrugated cardboard box B placed on the end portion of the curve conveyor 102 is moved in the lateral direction without changing its posture and is directly transferred onto the conveyor 103.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 20 to 25, the operation of the front flap opening device 302 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 20, the holding plate 315 and the suction pads 316 and 317 are in a standby state in a forward state, and the front surface of the corrugated cardboard box B conveyed to the end of the curve conveyor 102 is the holding plate. It abuts 315 and stops at a predetermined position. Then, the above-mentioned pressing plate 311
Moves down and presses the corrugated cardboard box B and holds it in this position.

Next, as shown in FIG. 21, the holding plate 31
5. The upper pressing pad 316 retreats, a negative pressure acts on the lower suction pad 317, sucks the lower flap F2 and retracts, and the lower flap F2 is pulled from the opening plate 341. Open to the retracted position. Then, the opening plate 341 descends from above the corrugated board box B, and enters between the opened lower flap F2 and the front surface of the corrugated board box B. Next, this lower suction pad 317
, The open plate 341 further descends, and as shown in FIG. 22, the lower flap F2 is inverted by 180 ° to be fully opened. And the lower flap presser 3
18 moves forward and holds the opened lower flap F2 in the opened state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the upper suction pad 316 moves forward and sucks and retracts the upper flap F1. The upper flap F1 is pulled away from the front surface of the corrugated board box B and the opening plate is opened. 341 rises and enters between the upper flap F1 and the front surface of the cardboard box B.

Next, as shown in FIG. 24, the upper suction pad 316 is retracted and the opening plate 341 is opened.
Further rises, and the upper flap F1 is inverted by 180 ° and held in the fully opened state. Therefore, in this state, the upper and lower flaps F1 and F2 are held in a fully opened state by the opening plate 341 and the lower flap retainer 318.

Then, in this state, the corrugated board box B is laterally moved as it is by the transfer mechanism 345 and transferred to the conveyor 103. In this case, holding rail members 346 are provided on the upper and lower sides of the conveyor 103, and the upper and lower flaps F1 and F2 are held in an open state by abutting these holding rail members 346. Extruding mechanism 30 as it is
Sent to 3.

The flap opening device as described above uses the suction pads 316 and 317 to attach the flap to the cardboard box B.
Since the opening plate 341 is inserted between the flap and the front surface of the corrugated cardboard box B in a state of being separated from the front surface of the corrugated cardboard box B, a large gap is set between the opening plate 341 and the front surface of the corrugated cardboard box B. It is possible. Therefore, even if a carton is projected from the front surface of the cardboard box B, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the opening plate 341 interferes with the protruding carton and is damaged.

Next, the structure and operation of the pushing mechanism 303 will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 to 42. As described above, the pushing-out mechanism 303 conveys the cardboard box with the front flap opened, fully opens the rear flap of the cardboard box, and pushes out the stacked cartons inside without breaking it. is there.

That is, the frame 350 is provided so as to straddle the end portion of the conveyor 103, and the frame 350 is provided with a positioning and holding mechanism 351, a rear flap opening mechanism 357, and an extruding ram mechanism 358. There is.

The above-mentioned positioning and holding mechanism 351 comprises a pair of positioning members 352 and a driving mechanism 354 for moving them up and down and moving them toward and away from each other.
And a holding member 353 and a cylinder mechanism 355 for moving them up and down. Then, when the cardboard box B is conveyed on the conveyor 103, the positioning members 352 move down and come close to each other, sandwiching both side surfaces of the cardboard box B between them, and the cardboard box B is Position it in place. Along with this, the holding member 353 descends and presses the upper surface of the corrugated board box B. Therefore, the cardboard box B is pressed and held at a predetermined position from both sides and from above.

Also, the rear flap opening mechanism 357 described above is used.
As shown in FIG. 28, the lifting / lowering member 360 and a cylinder mechanism 361 for lifting / lowering the lifting / lowering member 360 are provided.
60, an opening plate 363 is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and the opening plate 363 is reciprocated by the cylinder mechanism 362 in the horizontal direction with respect to the elevating member 360, that is, in the direction in which the opening plate 363 comes in contact with and separates from the rear surface of the corrugated board box B. Be moved. The opening plate 363 extends horizontally in a direction crossing the rear surface of the corrugated board box B. Also, this frame 35
A lower flap presser 364 is provided below 0, and the lower flap presser 364 is moved up and down by a drive mechanism 359. The elevating member 360, the opening plate 363, and the like are controlled by a controller or the like so as to operate at a predetermined timing described later.

The extruding ram mechanism 365 is a ram 304 having a size slightly smaller than the cross section of the corrugated cardboard box B.
And a ram rod 368, and the ram rod 365 is reciprocally moved back and forth by a drive mechanism 366, and
4, the carton inside the cardboard box B is pressed from the rear end portion and pushed out from the front surface of the cardboard box B.

Next, the operation of the opening mechanism for the rear flap will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the opening plate 363 moves forward and descends along the rear surface of the cardboard box B in a state of being close to the rear surface. In this case, although the upper flap F1 is slightly floated due to its elasticity, it is returned along the rear surface by the opening plate 363, and the opening plate 363 descends while slidingly contacting the upper flap F1. Therefore, even if the carton inside the cardboard box B slightly projects from the rear surface, the upper flap F1
It is pushed back by and does not interfere with the opening plate 363. Then, the opening plate 363 enters between the lower flap F2 in a floating state and the rear surface.

Next, as shown in FIG. 32, this opening plate 3
63 moves backward, separates from the rear surface of the cardboard box B, and also separates this plate flap from this rear surface. And
Further descending from this state, as shown in FIG. 33, the lower flap F2 is inverted by 180 ° and fully opened. In this case, since the opening plate 363 is sufficiently separated from the rear surface of the corrugated cardboard box B, even if the carton slightly protrudes from the rear surface, it does not interfere with and damage the carton. The lower flap F2 thus opened is held by the lower flap presser 364.

Next, as shown in FIG. 34, this opening plate 3
63 rises, and as shown in FIG. 35, comes close to the rear surface at the substantially central portion of the corrugated board box B. Then, after that, as shown in FIG. 36, it rises, enters between the upper flap F1 and the rear surface of the corrugated cardboard box B, separates from this rear surface again, and rises again, and as shown in FIG. 1 flap F1
Invert by 80 ° and keep it fully open. Then, in this state, the ram 304 moves forward to push out the carton inside the cardboard box B. In this case, the left and right flaps are pushed by the ram 304 and folded into the inside of the corrugated cardboard box B, but the carton that is pushed out does not collapse.

According to the above configuration, the corrugated cardboard box B
The opening plate 363 intrudes between the flap and the surface of the cardboard box in the state of being close to the surface of
Since 3 is separated from the surface of the cardboard box and pulls this flap apart, the operation is reliable. In addition, this opening plate 263,
Since the flap is opened by reversing the flap by abutting on a position away from the root of the flap, the pressing force between the flap 363 and the flap is excessive even when the rotation resistance when opening the flap is large. There is no chance that the root of this flap will break.

Further, even if the carton inside the corrugated cardboard box B is a little protruding from the rear surface, the opening plate 363 moves up and down apart from the rear surface, so that the protruding carton is not damaged. Further, in this apparatus, the opening of the rear flap and the extrusion by the ram are both used, and a large ram 304 is provided behind the cardboard box B.
And the drive mechanism 358 thereof is provided, but in the above, only the opening plate 363 is arranged on the rear side of the corrugated cardboard box B in a direction traversing the corrugated cardboard box B, and a mechanism for separating the flaps or the like is required. Therefore, the space for installing the drive mechanism of this ram is sufficiently secured.

The opening plate 363 may be moved up and down at the same time when the opening plate 363 is brought into and out of contact with the surface of the corrugated cardboard box. Becomes

Further, in the above-mentioned extrusion device 303, the cartons C extruded in the stacked state from the corrugated cardboard boxes B as described above are transferred to the conveyer 105 without being broken and conveyed to the above-mentioned disassembling device 401. A transfer device 370 is provided. Hereinafter, FIG. 29 and FIG.
0, and the stacked carton transfer device 370 will be described with reference to FIGS. 38 to 42.

The above conveyor 105 and the above conveyor 1
03 and a short transfer conveyor 3 orthogonal to these
71 is provided, and the carton C extruded from the front surface of the corrugated cardboard box B is moved by the transfer conveyor 371 in a stacked state of 5 steps, and the conveyor 105
Transported up.

A pair of side guide plates 37 are provided on both sides of the transfer conveyor 371 and on the conveyor 105.
3 are provided, and these side guide plates 373 are configured to be moved in a direction toward and away from each other by the rack 374 and the pinion 375, and to be moved up and down. When the extruded carton is transferred onto the conveyor 105, the side guide plates 37
As 3 descends and approaches each other, it guides both sides of the moving stacked cartons to prevent the stacked cartons from collapsing.

On the side of the conveyor 105,
A buffer alignment mechanism 380 is provided facing the end of the transfer conveyor 371. This buffer alignment mechanism 380
Is provided with a rotation receiving wall 381 arranged so as to face the above-mentioned transfer conveyor 371. The rotation receiving wall 381 is rotatably hindered by the arm 383 about the rotation shaft 382. As shown, the upper part is the conveyor 10.
It rotates so as to separate from 5.

A buffer drive cylinder 384 is connected to the tip of the arm 383. The buffer drive cylinder 384 is, for example, a backward movement type air cylinder, and the supply air pressure thereof is controlled as described later.

Next, the operation of the buffer alignment mechanism 380 will be described with reference to FIGS. 38 to 42. First, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
4 is pushed onto the transfer conveyor 371. Therefore, the pushed out five-stage cartons C are transferred onto the conveyor 105 by the transfer conveyor 371 in the stacked state as shown in FIG.

At this time, the lower cartons of the stacked cartons C are subject to the frictional resistance of the conveyor 105, and the upper cartons C tend to relatively move forward. In this case, the buffer drive cylinder 3 described above is used.
The air pressure supplied to 84 is adjusted, and as shown in FIG. 40, the rotation receiving wall 381 is rotated by an amount and speed that match the above tendency to collapse forward. Therefore, the stacked cartons C can be easily attached to the rotation receiving wall 381.
It is received while being buffered by and stopped. In this case, the rotation amount and speed of the rotation receiving wall 381 correspond to the tendency when the stacked cartons C are stopped, and the friction between the cartons in each of the stages is caused by the mutual displacement. The kinetic energy is absorbed by. Therefore, when the stacked cartons C are received and stopped, the cartons C hardly bounce and the stacked state is not broken.

When the carton C is stopped, the air pressure supplied to the buffer drive cylinder 384 is controlled, the buffer drive cylinder 384 slowly expands, and the rotation receiving wall 381 slowly moves as shown in FIG. Return to vertical position. Therefore, the carton C returns to the state of being stacked straight again. Therefore, the stacked cartons C are transferred onto the conveyor 105 with almost no collapse.

Then, when the above operation is stopped, the conveyor 105 is driven and the cartons C stacked in five stages are sent to the above-mentioned destacking device 401. And
After the carton C of the front side group is sent, the ram 304 moves forward again to push the carton C of the rear side group onto the transfer conveyor 371 as shown in FIG. 42, and thereafter, the same operation as described above is performed. repeat.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, is not limited to the one that opens the flap of the cardboard box containing the cigarette carton, and can be applied to the general apparatus for opening the flaps of other boxes. Is.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, the flap of the box can be surely opened without being damaged, and even if the article is slightly protruding from the inside of the box, the opening plate interferes with the article and Will not be damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an entire automatic picking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state of a cardboard box and a carton housed inside.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the outer shape of a cardboard box.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an unpacked state of the cardboard box.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an unpacked state of a cardboard box.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an unpacked state of the cardboard box.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an unpacked state of the cardboard box.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where a carton is pushed out from a cardboard box.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carton in a disassembled state.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a joined carton.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a loading conveyor and a container transport device.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the tape cutting device.

14 is a view of the cutter mechanism taken along the line 14-14 in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15-15 in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the flap opening device and the extrusion device.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the flap opening device.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the flap opening device.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a holding plate and a suction pad.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a flap opening operation.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a flap opening operation.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating a flap opening operation.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a flap opening operation.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating a flap opening operation.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a flap opening operation.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of an extrusion device and a transfer device.

27 is a view on arrow 27-27 in FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the rear flap opening mechanism.

FIG. 29 is a front view of the buffer alignment mechanism.

FIG. 30 is a sectional view taken along lines 30-30 in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a side view illustrating the opening operation of the rear flap.

FIG. 32 is a side view for explaining the opening operation of the rear flap.

FIG. 33 is a side view for explaining the opening operation of the rear flap.

FIG. 34 is a side view for explaining the opening operation of the rear flap.

FIG. 35 is a side view for explaining the opening operation of the rear flap.

FIG. 36 is a side view for explaining the opening operation of the rear flap.

FIG. 37 is a side view for explaining the opening operation of the rear flap.

FIG. 38 is a side view for explaining the operation of pushing and transferring the carton.

FIG. 39 is a side view for explaining the push-out transfer operation of the carton.

FIG. 40 is a side view for explaining the push-out transfer operation of the carton.

FIG. 41 is a side view for explaining the pushing-out transfer operation of the carton.

FIG. 42 is a side view for explaining the pushing-out transfer operation of the carton.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200 ... Unpacking device 315 ... Pressing plate 316, 317 ... Suction pad 341 ... Opening plate 303 ... Carton pushing device 401 ... Step separating device 403 ... Storage cutting device 501 ... Main conveyor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Futoshi Goto Inventor, Futa Goto-cho, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka 3-3-1 East, Seibu Electric Co., Ltd. 1 Seibu Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuo Hayashi 2-2-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan Tobacco Inc. (72) Inventor Masanori Sasaki 2-2-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. Japan Tobacco Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for reversing and opening a flap of a box, the suction pad being provided so as to come into contact with and away from the surface of the box on which the flap is formed, and the suction pad of the box. A drive mechanism for the suction pad that moves toward and away from the surface, an elongated opening member that moves along the surface on which the flap is formed, and this opening member that moves along the surface of the box. A drive mechanism for the opening member is provided, and the flap is sucked by the suction pad to separate the flap from the surface of the box, and the opening member enters between the separated flap and the surface of the box. A flap opening device for a box, which is characterized by reversing the above flap. 2. The suction pad drive mechanism releases the suction of the flap after the flap is separated by the suction pad and an opening member enters between the flap and the surface of the box. The flap opening device for a box according to claim 1, wherein the flap opening device retreats.