Boxing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a boxing device. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a boxing device capable of suppressing bag breakage of articles. The boxing device comprises a conveying part, an arranging part, a gathering part, a contact part, a gate and a control part. The transport unit transports a plurality of articles from the outside. The arrangement unit arranges the conveyed articles in such a manner that adjacent articles partially overlap each other to form an article group. The gathering unit transfers the arranged article groups and gathers the plurality of article groups in parallel on a transport path for boxing. The contact part is in contact with an article on the starting end side of a conveying path for boxing in the gathered article group. The gate is located at a terminal end of a transport path for packing and supports a plurality of article groups. The control unit controls the drive unit so that the contact unit moves toward a terminal of the boxing conveyance path. As a result, the control unit collectively moves the plurality of article groups gathered in the gathering unit onto the gate. The control unit drives the gate and the pusher so that the plurality of article groups are collectively packed in a box located below the gate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a boxing device. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-3806) discloses a boxing device (automatic snack packaging device) that drops articles (packaged snacks) successively supplied by a supply conveyor into a box located directly below the terminal portion of the supply conveyor.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-3806 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In the boxing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a technical problem that the articles loaded on the bottom side of the box may have their bags broken.

[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a boxing device capable of suppressing bag breakage of articles.

[0009] Means for Solving the Technical Problem

[0010] The boxing device according to the first aspect includes a conveying unit, an arranging unit, an aggregating unit, a contact unit, a driving unit, a gate, a pusher, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys a plurality of articles from the outside. The arranging unit arranges the conveyed articles so that the articles are partially overlapped between adjacent articles to form an article group. The aggregating unit transfers the arranged article groups and aggregates a plurality of article groups side by side on a conveying path for boxing. The contact unit contacts the article at the start-end side of the conveying path for boxing among the aggregated article groups. The driving unit drives the contact unit. The gate is located at the terminal of the conveying path for boxing and supports a plurality of article groups. The pusher contacts the plurality of article groups on the gate from above and pushes them downward. The control unit controls the driving unit to move the contact unit toward the terminal of the conveying path for boxing. Thus, the control unit causes a plurality of article groups aggregated in the aggregating unit to move centrally onto the gate. The control unit drives the gate and the pusher to centrally box a plurality of article groups into a box located below the gate.

[0011] In this boxing device, bag breakage of articles is suppressed.

[0012] The boxing device according to the second aspect is based on the boxing device according to the first aspect, and the aggregating unit laterally moves the article groups in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction while maintaining the arranged state.

[0013] Based on the packing device of the first or second aspect, the packing device of the third aspect has multiple arranging parts and conveying parts respectively arranged.

[0014] Based on the packing device of any one of the first to third aspects, the packing device of the fourth aspect has an aggregating part with a bottom and two inclined surfaces. When observed from the front view, the two inclined surfaces rise from the bottom while being inclined in a manner that they separate from each other as they move away from the bottom on both sides of the bottom.

[0015] Based on the packing device of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the packing device of the fifth aspect has the length of the aggregating part in the width direction longer than the length of the contact part in the width direction.

[0016] Based on the packing device of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the packing device of the sixth aspect has the distance between the aggregating part and the contact part shorter than the thickness of the article.

[0017] Based on the packing device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, for all natural numbers k from 1 to n, the arranging part of the packing device of the seventh aspect makes the compression ratio of the (k + 1)-th column of article groups lower than the compression ratio of the k-th column of article groups.

[0018] Based on the packing device described in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the packing device of the eighth aspect further includes a first supporting part. During the movement of the contact part, the first supporting part supports the articles on the starting end side of the conveying path for packing in the next aggregated article group.

[0019] Based on the packing device described in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the packing device of the ninth aspect further has a second supporting part. The second supporting part supports the articles on the terminal side of the gate. Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a packaging and packing production line including a packing device 300 of one embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the packing device 300.

[0022] Figure 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the packing device 300.

[0023] Figure 4 is a top view of the packing device 300.

[0024] Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining the compression ratio in the arranging part 20.

[0025] Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining the compression ratio in the arranging part 20.

[0026] Figure 7 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the gathering part 30 when viewed from the front.

[0027] Figure 8 It is a schematic cross-sectional view at the left-right center position of the boxing device 300.

[0028] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the function of the second support part 91.

[0029] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the function of the second support part 91.

[0030] Figure 11 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the function of the second support part 91.

[0031] Figure 12 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the pusher 70 when viewed from the front.

[0032] Figure 13A It is a block diagram of the control part 80.

[0033] Figure 13B It is a control flow chart of the boxing operation.

[0034] Figure 14 It is a schematic diagram of the box C and the bag B after being boxed by the boxing device 300.

[0035] Figure 15 It is a diagram for explaining the compression ratio in the arranging part 20.

[0036] Figure 16 It is a diagram for explaining the compression ratio in the arranging part 20.

[0037] Figure 17 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a modified example of the gathering part 30 when viewed from the front.

[0038] Explanation of reference numerals

[0039] 10, conveying part; 20, arranging part; 21, first arranging area; 22, second arranging area; 23, third arranging area; 30, gathering part; 30d, third conveying direction; 31, bottom; 32, inclined surface; 33, side pusher; 40, contact part; 50, driving part; 60, gate; 70, pusher; 80, control part; 90, first support part; 91, second support part; B, bag (article); B2, article group; B3, gathered article group; C, box; R3, third conveying path. Detailed implementation manners

[0040] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. In the following description, for convenience, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions with respect to the packing device 300 are used. In some of the figures, orthogonal axes indicating these directions are shown. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction are both horizontally extending directions. The up-down direction is the same as the vertical direction. In addition, expressions such as "same", "horizontal", and "parallel" are sometimes used, but they include not only the cases of being exactly the same, horizontal, and parallel, but also the cases of being substantially the same, horizontal, and parallel.

[0041] (1) Overall Structure

[0042] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a packaging and packing production line 1 including a packing device 300 of one embodiment. The packaging and packing production line 1 has a packaging machine 100, an inspection device 200, and a packing device 300. In addition, Figure 1 shows the packing device 300 covered by a hood.

[0043] The packaging machine 100 packs the product A manufactured by a manufacturing device (not shown) in a prescribed amount into a packaging material. Hereinafter, the article formed by packing the product A in the packaging material is called a bag B. The packaging machine 100 has a combination weigher 101 and a bag-making and packaging machine 102. The combination weigher 101 is arranged above the bag-making and packaging machine 102. The combination weigher 101 measures the amount of the product A to be stored in one bag B and causes it to fall onto the bag-making and packaging machine 102. The bag-making and packaging machine 102 is a vertical pillow-type bag-making and packaging machine, packs the product A measured by the combination weigher 101 into a bag B (vertical pillow bag), and supplies it to the inspection device 200. Although not limited, the product A is, for example, snack foods or the like.

[0044] The inspection device 200 inspects the bag B supplied from the packaging machine 100 for the presence or absence of weight, pinholes, and / or foreign substances, etc., and supplies it to the packing device 300.

[0045] The packing device 300 performs a packing operation of packing a prescribed accommodation quantity N of the bag B supplied from the inspection device 200 into the box C. As Figure 2 , Figure 8 and shown in FIG. 13, the packing device 300 includes a conveying unit 10, an aligning unit 20, an aggregating unit 30, a contacting unit 40, a driving unit 50, a gate 60, a pusher 70, a control unit 80, a first supporting unit 90, a second supporting unit 91, and a box conveying unit 93.

[0046] (2) Detailed Structure

[0047] (2-1) Conveying Unit

[0048] As Figure 2As shown, the conveying unit 10 is a belt conveyor arranged in the front-rear direction along the first conveying direction 10d.

[0049] The conveying unit 10 constitutes the first conveying path R1. The rear side of the conveying unit 10 is the upstream of the first conveying path R1, and the front side of the conveying unit 10 is the downstream of the first conveying path R1.

[0050] A plurality of conveying units 10 are arranged. In the present embodiment, two conveying units 10 are arranged. The two conveying units 10 are arranged side by side in the first conveying direction 10d. The two conveying units 10 are arranged symmetrically left and right with the aggregation unit 30 and the gate 60 in between when viewed from above. The two conveying units 10 have the same structure except for being symmetrically arranged left and right.

[0051] The conveying unit 10 is controlled by the control unit 80.

[0052] The conveying unit 10 places the bag B on the upper surface and conveys it along the first conveying direction 10d. On the upper surface of the conveying unit 10, a plurality of bags B are conveyed at intervals. The direction of the bag B is not particularly limited. For example, the bag B is conveyed with the length direction of the bag B along the first conveying direction 10d.

[0053] The conveying unit 10 transfers the bag B to the arranging unit 20 at a specified time. Specifically, the conveying unit 10 transfers the bag B near the downstream end of the first conveying path R1 of the conveying unit 10 to the arranging unit 20 arranged below the conveying unit 10. The bag B is conveyed in such a manner that a series of a plurality of bags B are aligned in the up-down direction or left-right direction and face the first conveying direction 10d.

[0054] The conveying unit 10 may also include a plurality of belt conveyors. In the present embodiment, the conveying unit 10 includes a loading belt conveyor 11, a belt conveyor 12, and a discharging belt conveyor 13. The loading belt conveyor 11 is arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The loading belt conveyor 11 loads the bag B supplied from the inspection device 200 into the packing device 300. The belt conveyor 12 forms a horizontal plane. The belt conveyor 12 receives the bag B from the loading belt conveyor 11 and conveys it to the discharging belt conveyor 13. The discharging belt conveyor 13 is arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The discharging belt conveyor 13 moves the bag B toward the arranging unit 20.

[0055] (2-2) Arranging unit

[0056] The arranging unit 20 is a belt conveyor arranged in the front-rear direction along the second conveying direction 20d. The second conveying direction 20d is opposite to the first conveying direction 10d. The arranging unit 20 constitutes the second conveying path R2. The front side of the arranging unit 20 is the upstream of the second conveying path R2, and the rear side of the arranging unit 20 is the downstream of the second conveying path R2.

[0057] The arranging unit 20 is disposed below the conveying unit 10. A plurality of arranging units 20 are provided. In the present embodiment, two arranging units 20 are provided. The two arranging units 20 are arranged side by side in the second conveying direction 20d. The two arranging units 20 are arranged symmetrically about the aggregating unit 30 and the gate 60 in a top view. The two arranging units 20 have the same structure except for being symmetric about the left and right.

[0058] As Figure 3 shown, the arranging unit 20 arranges the conveyed bags B in a so-called sashimi shape with partial overlap between adjacent bags B to form an article group B2. Specifically, at the downstream end of the first conveying path R1 of the conveying unit 10, the first bag B is moved to the arranging unit 20. The moving method is not particularly limited. For example, the bag B is conveyed by the belt conveyor of the conveying unit 10 and thus naturally falls from the downstream end of the first conveying path R1 of the conveying unit 10 to the arranging unit 20 located below the conveying unit 10. The up-down direction or left-right direction of the bag B with respect to the first conveying direction 10d does not change before and after the natural fall. In the present embodiment, the length direction of the bag B is along the second conveying direction 20d. The first bag B moved to the arranging unit 20 is conveyed along the second conveying direction 20d on the second conveying path R2 by the belt conveyor of the arranging unit 20.

[0059] The next bag B is moved from the conveying unit 10 to the arranging unit 20 in a manner of partially overlapping with the first conveyed bag B. By repeating this series of movements, an article group B2 arranged with partial overlap between adjacent bags B is formed. In the article group B2, a plurality of bags B are inclined in the same direction.

[0060] The arranging unit 20 is controlled by the control unit 80 to control the conveyance so as to arrange a predetermined number of bags B. In the present embodiment, the article group B2 includes six bags B.

[0061] As Figure 4 shown, the arranging unit 20 has a first arranging area 21, a second arranging area 22, a third arranging area 23, and a posture changing member 24.

[0062] The first arrangement area 21, the second arrangement area 22, and the third arrangement area 23 are belt conveyors. The first arrangement area 21 is arranged obliquely with respect to the horizontal plane. The first arrangement area 21 receives the bags B that have moved from the conveying unit 10. During the period before receiving a prescribed number of bags B, the first arrangement area 21 stops or operates at a low speed. Thereby, the first arrangement area 21 arranges the conveyed bags B so that the bags B adjacent to each other partially overlap, and forms an article group B2. The second arrangement area 22 is arranged more gently inclined than the first arrangement area 21. The second arrangement area 22 is arranged on the terminal side of the first arrangement area 21. The second arrangement area 22 receives the article group B2 conveyed from the first arrangement area 21. The second arrangement area 22 operates in cooperation with the operation of the first arrangement area 21. The third arrangement area 23 is arranged on the terminal side of the second arrangement area 22. The third arrangement area 23 forms a horizontal plane. The third arrangement area 23 receives the article group B2 conveyed from the second arrangement area 22.

[0063] When the arranging unit 20 conveys the article group B2 to the third arrangement area 23, the arranging unit 20 can change the compression ratio of the article group B2. The compression ratio refers to the ratio of the length in the arranging direction of the article group B2 in a plan view of each arranged state to the shortest length in the arranging direction of the article group B2 in a plan view when the adjacent bags B are arranged without overlapping each other. The higher the compression ratio, the shorter the length in the arranging direction of the arranged article group B2 in a plan view. That is, in the article group B2, the adjacent bags B are arranged closely to each other. The lower the compression ratio, the longer the length in the arranging direction of the arranged article group B2 in a plan view. That is to say, in the article group B2, the adjacent bags B are arranged more loosely to each other. The method of changing the compression ratio of the article group B2 is not particularly limited. For example, the arranging unit 20 makes the compression ratio of the article group B2 lower by extending the operation time of the first arrangement area 21.

[0064] Specifically, as Figure 5 shown, when the arranging unit 20 conveys the article group B2 in the first column to the third arrangement area 23, the arranging unit 20 makes the compression ratio of the article group B2 higher than that of the subsequent article groups B2. Thereby, the article group B2 in the first column is formed to be shorter in the front-rear direction than the subsequent article groups B2. As Figure 6 shown, when the arranging unit 20 conveys the article group B2 in the second column to the third arrangement area 23, the arranging unit 20 makes the compression ratio of the article group B2 lower than that of the article group B2 in the first column. Thereby, the article group B2 in the second column is formed to be longer in the front-rear direction than the article group B2 in the first column. As a result, it is possible to prevent the article group B2 in the first column from spreading fanwise when the article group B2 is moved by the side pusher 33 in the next process.

[0065] As Figure 3As shown, the posture changing member 24 is disposed at the downstream end of the second conveying direction 20d of the arranging unit 20. The posture changing member 24 is a plate-like member extending in the width direction of the arranging unit 20.

[0066] The posture changing member 24 can change the angle with respect to the horizontal plane. When the article group B2 is conveyed downstream in the second conveying direction 20d, the posture changing member 24 contacts the bag B on the most downstream side in the second conveying direction 20d in the article group B2. The posture changing member 24 increases the angle of the contact surface with respect to the horizontal plane, raising the angle of the article group B2 with respect to the horizontal plane to the same as the angle of the contact portion 40 with respect to the horizontal plane, or becoming greater than the angle of the contact portion 40 with respect to the horizontal plane. In addition, since the plurality of bags B are arranged in the article group B2, the angle of the article group B2 with respect to the horizontal plane is the same as the angle of each bag B with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0067] (2-3) Aggregation unit

[0068] The aggregation unit 30 is disposed between the two arranging units 20. The aggregation unit 30 is disposed such that the left and right ends of the aggregation unit 30 are at the same height as the third arranging area 23 of the arranging unit 20.

[0069] The aggregation unit 30 transfers the arranged article groups B2 and aggregates a plurality of article groups B2 side by side on the conveying path for packing (hereinafter referred to as the third conveying path R3). The third conveying path R3 includes the aggregation unit 30 and the gate 60. The rear side of the aggregation unit 30 is the upstream of the third conveying path R3, and the front side of the gate 60 is the downstream of the third conveying path R3.

[0070] As Figure 3 and Figure 7 shown, the aggregation unit 30 includes a bottom 31, two inclined surfaces 32, and a side pusher 33.

[0071] The inclined surfaces 32 are disposed on both sides of the bottom 31, that is, the left and right of the bottom 31, when viewed from the front. The inclined surfaces 32 stand up from the bottom 31 while being inclined so as to separate from each other as they move away from the bottom 31. That is, the aggregation unit 30 is in a valley shape.

[0072] The angle of the inclined surface 32 with respect to the horizontal plane is not particularly limited. For example, it is 5 degrees to 10 degrees. If the angle of the inclined surface 32 with respect to the horizontal plane is 5 degrees to 10 degrees, it is possible to prevent the columns from deforming when the article groups B2 are aggregated.

[0073] The side pusher 33 is arranged one on each of the left and right end portions outside the third arrangement area 23 of the arrangement portion 20. The side pusher 33 is a plate-shaped member that extends parallel to the second conveying direction 20d and is arranged perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The length of the side pusher 33 in the front-rear direction is the same as the length of the third arrangement area 23 of the arrangement portion 20 in the front-rear direction, or shorter than the length of the third arrangement area 23 in the front-rear direction. The side pusher 33 can move the article group B2 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction for packing (hereinafter, referred to as the third conveying direction 30d). In addition, the third conveying direction 30d faces the same direction as the first conveying direction 10d. The third conveying direction 30d faces the direction opposite to the second conveying direction 20d.

[0074] The side pusher 33 laterally moves the article group B2 in a direction perpendicular to the third conveying direction 30d while maintaining the arrangement state of the article group B2. Specifically, in a state of remaining parallel to the arrangement portion 20, the arranged article group B2 is moved from the left and right toward the central portion of the gathering portion 30. The side pusher 33 is controlled by the controller 80.

[0075] After the side pusher 33 laterally moves the first article group B2, it returns to its original position, that is, the outside of the third arrangement area 23 of the arrangement portion 20 and the left and right end portions. When the side pusher 33 returns to its original position, the next article group B2 is delivered to the third arrangement area 23. The side pusher 33 moves the next article group B2 toward the central portion of the gathering portion 30 in the same manner. By repeatedly performing this series of movements multiple times, the gathering portion 30 gathers a plurality of article groups B2 side by side on the third conveying path. Hereinafter, the plurality of article groups B2 gathered at the gathering portion 30 are referred to as the gathered article group B3. Immediately after being laterally moved by the side pusher 33, the gathered article group B3 is gathered in a state inclined 70 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0076] In the present embodiment, each side pusher 33 repeats the lateral movement of the article group B2 twice. As a result, the article groups B2 are arranged in four columns side by side on the gathering portion 30 to form the gathered article group B3.

[0077] (2-4) Contact portion

[0078] As Figure 3 shown, the contact portion 40 is arranged at the upstream end portion of the gathering portion 30 in the third conveying direction 30d. The contact portion 40 is a plate-shaped member that extends in the left-right direction of the gathering portion 30. The contact portion 40 is arranged to be inclined at a specified angle with respect to the horizontal plane. Although not particularly limited, for example, the contact portion 40 is arranged to be inclined 60 degrees to 70 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The contact portion 40 can change the angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0079] As Figure 7As shown, the length of the gathering part 30 in the width direction (left - right direction) is longer than the length of the contact part 40 in the width direction (left - right direction). Although not particularly limited, when viewed from the front, the shape of the lower end of the contact part 40 follows the shape of the upper surface of the gathering part 30. Specifically, when viewed from the front, the lower end of the contact part 40 is in a mountain - shaped form along the upper surfaces of the bottom 31 and the inclined surface 32 of the gathering part 30.

[0080] As Figure 7 and Figure 14 shown, the distance H between the gathering part 30 and the contact part 40 is shorter than the thickness T of the bag B. Specifically, the distance H between the bottom 31 of the gathering part 30 and the contact part 40 is shorter than the thickness T of the bag B.

[0081] The contact part 40 is controlled by the control part 80.

[0082] Figure 8 is a schematic cross - sectional view of the packing device 300 when the contact part 40 moves to the terminal side of the gathering part 30. As Figure 8 shown, the contact part 40 can move along the third conveying direction 30d. The contact part 40 is driven by the driving part 50 to move along the third conveying direction 30d. The contact part 40 can move in the up - down direction. The contact part 40 is driven by the cylinder 41 to move up and down. The method of moving the contact part 40 in the up - down direction is not particularly limited, for example, it is a cylinder.

[0083] The contact part 40 can move in a box - like shape. That is, the contact part 40 starts from the upstream end of the gathering part 30 in the third conveying direction 30d and is driven by the driving part 50 to move to the downstream end of the gathering part 30 in the third conveying direction 30d. Thereby, the gathered article group B3 is conveyed to the gate 60. When the conveying is completed, the contact part 40 is driven by the cylinder 41 to rise. The rising height of the contact part 40 is higher than the height of the bag B. In the risen state, the contact part 40 is driven by the driving part 50 to move to the upstream side of the gathering part 30 in the third conveying direction 30d. The contact part 40 is driven by the cylinder 41 to descend and return to the starting position.

[0084] The contact part 40 contacts the bag B on the most upstream side (the starting end side of the third conveying path) of the third conveying path in the gathered article group B3. That is, the contact part 40 supports the bag B that is first conveyed to the arranging part 20 in each article group B2. When multiple rows of the article group B2 are gathered, the contact part 40 conveys the gathered article group B3 concentratedly in the third conveying direction 30d and makes it move to the gate 60.

[0085] (2 - 5) The first supporting part

[0086] The first supporting part 90 is arranged on the upstream side of the third conveying path of the gathering part 30. The first supporting part 90 extends along the left - right direction of the gathering part 30.

[0087] The first support portion 90 is capable of moving in the vertical direction. The method of moving the first support portion 90 in the vertical direction is not particularly limited, for example, it is a cylinder. The first support portion 90 does not move along the third conveying direction 30d.

[0088] The first support portion 90 is inclined and arranged at the same angle as the contact portion 40 with respect to the horizontal plane on the upstream side in the third conveying direction 30d. Although not particularly limited, for example, the first support portion 90 is arranged to be inclined at an angle of 60 degrees to 70 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0089] The first support portion 90 is controlled by the control portion 80.

[0090] During the period when the contact portion 40 moves the initially aggregated article group B3, the first support portion 90 supports the bag B on the most upstream side of the third conveying path in the next aggregated article group B3. If the contact portion 40 returns to the most upstream side of the third conveying path, the first support portion 90 descends in such a manner that the upper end of the first support portion 90 is located below the upper surface of the aggregation portion 30, without obstructing the movement of the contact portion 40 in the third conveying direction 30d.

[0091] (2-6) Driving portion

[0092] The driving portion 50 drives the contact portion 40. The driving portion 50 is controlled by the control portion 80.

[0093] The driving portion 50 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the driving portion 50 is a belt.

[0094] During packing, the driving portion 50 moves the contact portion 40 from the upstream side in the third conveying direction of the aggregation portion 30 to the downstream side in the third conveying direction. When the aggregated article group B3 is conveyed to the gate 60, the driving portion 50 raises the contact portion 40 and moves it from the downstream side in the third conveying direction of the aggregation portion 30 to the upstream side in the third conveying direction. When the contact portion 40 reaches the upstream side end portion of the aggregation portion 30 in the third conveying direction, the driving portion 50 lowers the contact portion 40 to the back side of the first support portion 90, that is, the side opposite to the aggregated article group B3.

[0095] (2-7) Second support portion

[0096] The second support portion 91 is arranged on the downstream side in the third conveying direction of the gate 60. The second support portion 91 is a plate-shaped member extending in the left-right direction of the gate 60. The second support portion 91 is arranged at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The second support portion 91 is capable of changing the angle with respect to the horizontal plane. The second support portion 91 is controlled by the control portion 80.

[0097] The second support portion 91 contacts the bag B on the most downstream side of the third conveying path.

[0098] AsFigure 9 As shown, during the period when the grouped articles B3 move to the gate 60 through the contact portion 40, in the case where the packing device 300 suddenly stops, the bags B on the downstream side of the third conveying path in the grouped articles B3 may sometimes fall due to inertia. In this case, the second support portion 91 waits for the grouped articles B3 that are inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. When, as Figure 10 shown, the grouped articles B3 move to the gate 60 and the bags B on the downstream side of the third conveying path come into contact with the second support portion 91, as Figure 11 shown, the second support portion 91 stands up 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and supports the bag B on the downstream side of the third conveying path of the gate 60. Thereby, the fallen bag B on the downstream side of the third conveying path is stood up so that the angle with respect to the horizontal plane is the same as the angle of the other bags B with respect to the horizontal plane, and packing can be performed without destroying the arrangement state of the grouped articles B3.

[0099] (2-8) Gate

[0100] The gate 60 is arranged on the downstream side of the third conveying path of the gathering portion 30. The gate 60 is located above the packing position of the box conveying portion 93.

[0101] The gate 60 is located at the terminal of the third conveying path and supports the grouped articles B3.

[0102] The gate 60 is controlled by the control portion 80. The gate 60 throws the grouped articles B3 transferred from the gathering portion 30 into the box C. Immediately before throwing, the bags B of the grouped articles B3 on the gate 60 stand up vertically with respect to the horizontal plane respectively.

[0103] The gate 60 is opened all at once from the central portion in the left - right direction and throws the grouped articles B3 into the box C intensively. The operation of throwing the grouped articles B3 into the box C can also be performed multiple times for one box C.

[0104] (2-9) Pusher

[0105] The pusher 70 is arranged above the gate 60. The pusher 70 can move in the up - down direction.

[0106] The pusher 70 is a plate - shaped member having a horizontal plane. The pusher 70 comes into contact with the upper surface of the grouped articles B3.

[0107] As Figure 12 shown, the pusher 70 has a folding portion 71. The folding portion 71 is arranged at both ends in the left - right direction of the surface that comes into contact with the bag B. The folding portion 71 folds back toward the bag B.

[0108] The pusher 70 is controlled by the control unit 80. The pusher 70 contacts the grouped articles B3 on the gate 60 from above and pushes them downward. The pusher 70 pushes the grouped articles B3 downward at a speed faster than the gravitational acceleration applied to the grouped articles B3. The pusher 70 packs the article group B3 into the box together.

[0109] (2-10) Box conveyor

[0110] The box conveyor 93 conveys the box C before loading the bag B into the packing position and conveys out the box C loaded with the bag B. The packing position is provided below the gate 60 so as to be able to receive the bag B input from the gate 60. The box conveyor 93 is controlled by the control unit 80.

[0111] (2-11) Control unit

[0112] The control unit 80 controls each part of the packing device 300 to realize the packing operation. The detailed content of the packing operation will be described later. Figure 13A is a block diagram of the control unit 80. The control unit 80 is electrically connected to the conveyor 10, the aligning unit 20, the aggregating unit 30, the contact unit 40, the driving unit 50, the gate 60, the pusher 70, the first support unit 90, the second support unit 91, and the box conveyor 93 in such a manner that control signals and detection signals can be transmitted and received.

[0113] The control unit 80 is implemented by a computer. The control unit 80 includes a control arithmetic device and a storage device. The control arithmetic device can use a processor such as a CPU or a GPU. The control arithmetic device reads the program stored in the storage device and performs a prescribed arithmetic process according to the program. Further, the control arithmetic device can write the arithmetic result into the storage device according to the program, or read the information stored in the storage device.

[0114] (3) Packing operation

[0115] The packing operation is an operation of repeatedly packing the bags B with a prescribed accommodation number N into the box C. As Figure 13B shown, the packing operation starts, for example, when the packaging and packing production line (not shown) is started.

[0116] The control unit 80 performs a box loading process. The box loading process is a process of loading the box C into the packing position. The box loading process is a process in which the box conveyor 93 conveys the box C before loading the bag B into the packing position.

[0117] The control unit 80 causes the conveyor 10 to convey the bag B supplied from the inspection device 200. When the bag B is conveyed to the vicinity of the downstream end of the first conveying direction 10d, the bag B is conveyed by the belt conveyor of the conveyor 10 and thus naturally falls from the downstream end of the conveyor 10 to the aligning unit 20 located below the conveyor 10.

[0118] The control unit 80 causes the bags B conveyed by the conveying unit 10 to be arranged in the arranging unit 20. Specifically, in the first arranging area 21 of the arranging unit 20, the next bag B is moved to the arranging unit 20 in a manner that partially overlaps with the first conveyed bag B. When the control unit 80 conveys the article group B2 in the first row to the third arranging area 23, the control unit 80 controls the arranging unit 20 so that the compression ratio of the article group B2 is higher than that of the subsequent article groups B2.

[0119] When the article group B2 is conveyed downstream in the second conveying direction 20d, the control unit 80 controls the posture changing member 24 so that the posture changing member 24 contacts the bag B on the most downstream side in the second conveying direction 20d in the article group B2. The control unit 80 controls the posture changing member 24 to increase the angle of the posture changing member 24 with respect to the horizontal plane, so that the angle of the article group B2 with respect to the horizontal plane rises to the same angle as that of the contact portion 40 with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0120] The control unit 80 causes the side pusher 33 to laterally move the article group B2 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction for packing (hereinafter referred to as the third conveying direction 30d) while maintaining the arranged state of the article group B2. As a result, the article groups B2 gather at the gathering unit 30.

[0121] The control unit 80 controls the driving unit 50 to move the contact portion 40 toward the downstream side of the third conveying path R3 (the terminal side of the third conveying path). As a result, the contact portion 40 causes the article group B3 gathered at the gathering unit 30 to be centrally moved onto the gate 60. When the movement of the contact portion 40 toward the downstream side of the third conveying path R3 starts, the control unit 80 causes the side pusher 33 to return to its original position outside the arranging unit 20.

[0122] While the control unit 80 moves the first gathered article group B3 by the contact portion 40, the control unit 80 controls the first support portion 90 to raise it to support the second article group B3.

[0123] When the contact portion 40 finishes moving the first gathered article group B3, the control unit 80 controls the driving unit 50 to raise the contact portion 40 and move it toward the upstream side of the third conveying path R3. The contact portion 40 moves above the second gathered article group B3 and moves toward the upstream side of the third conveying path R3. The control unit 80 causes the contact portion 40 to descend and makes the contact portion 40 standby on the upstream side of the third conveying path R3 of the first support portion 90.

[0124] The control unit 80 causes the first support portion 90 to descend. As a result, the contact portion 40 supports the second gathered article group B3.

[0125] The control unit 80 drives the gate 60 and the pusher 70 to centrally pack the gathered article group B3 into the box C located below the gate 60.

[0126] The control unit 80 repeatedly performs the above series of boxing operations and determines whether the number Nn1 of the bags B put into the box C has reached the specified number Nf1.

[0127] As Figure 14 shown, in this embodiment, the aggregated item group B3 composed of 24 bags B is boxed twice, so a total of 48 bags B are boxed.

[0128] The control unit 80 starts the box conveyance process. The box conveyance process is a process of carrying out the box C loaded with the bags B.

[0129] (4)Features

[0130] (4-1)

[0131] The boxing device 300 of this embodiment includes a conveyance unit 10, an alignment unit 20, an aggregation unit 30, a contact unit 40, a drive unit 50, a gate 60, a pusher 70, and a control unit 80. The conveyance unit 10 conveys a plurality of bags B from the outside. The alignment unit 20 aligns the conveyed bags B in such a way that the adjacent bags B partially overlap each other to form an item group B2. The aggregation unit 30 transfers the aligned item group B2 and aggregates a plurality of item groups B2 side by side on the third conveyance path R3. The contact unit 40 contacts the bag B on the start-end side of the conveyance path for boxing among the aggregated item groups B3. The drive unit 50 drives the contact unit 40. The gate 60 is located at the terminal of the conveyance path for boxing and supports the aggregated item group B2. The pusher 70 contacts the aggregated item group B3 on the gate 60 from above and pushes it downward. The control unit 80 controls the drive unit 50 to move the contact unit 40 toward the terminal of the conveyance path for boxing. Thus, the control unit 80 causes the item group B3 aggregated in the aggregation unit 30 to move centrally onto the gate. The control unit 80 drives the gate 60 and the pusher 70 to centrally box the aggregated item group B3 into the box C located below the gate 60.

[0132] In this boxing device 300, boxing can be performed centrally after the bags B are aligned. As a result, it is possible to suppress the breaking of the bags B at the bottom of the box C.

[0133] (4-2)

[0134] In the boxing device 300 of this embodiment, the aggregation unit 30 laterally moves the item group B2 in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction while maintaining the alignment state.

[0135] In this boxing device 300, the aligned item group B2 can be moved together to the aggregation unit 30.

[0136] (4-3)

[0137] In the packing device 300 of the present embodiment, multiple arranging units 20 and multiple conveying units 10 are respectively arranged.

[0138] In the present packing device 300, the article groups B2 can be gathered simultaneously from both sides of the gathering unit 30, so the time taken for the packing operation can be shortened.

[0139] (4-4)

[0140] In the packing device 300 of the present embodiment, the gathering unit 30 has a bottom 31 and two inclined surfaces 32. The two inclined surfaces 32 are inclined so as to separate from each other as they move away from the bottom 31 on both sides of the bottom 31 when viewed from the front, and stand up from the bottom 31.

[0141] In the present packing device 300, even if a guide for restricting the width direction of the article group B2 is not installed, the bag B can be restricted from expanding in the width direction.

[0142] (4-5)

[0143] In the packing device 300 of the present embodiment, the length of the gathering unit 30 in the width direction is longer than the length of the contact unit 40 in the width direction.

[0144] In the present packing device 300, the dropping of the article group B2 from the gathering unit 30 can be suppressed.

[0145] (4-6)

[0146] In the packing device 300 of the present embodiment, the distance H between the gathering unit 30 and the contact unit 40 is shorter than the thickness T of the bag B.

[0147] In the present packing device 300, even when the bag B is toppled, since the gathering unit 30 and the contact unit 40 are sufficiently separated, the contact unit 40 will not be caught in the bag B. As a result, the bag B can be prevented from being crushed.

[0148] (4-7)

[0149] In the packing device 300 of the present embodiment, for all natural numbers k from 1 to n, the arranging unit 20 makes the compression ratio of the article group B2 in the (k + 1)-th column lower than the compression ratio of the article group B2 in the k-th column.

[0150] In the present packing device 300, in the gathered article group B3, the fan-shaped expansion of the bag B can be suppressed.

[0151] (4-8)

[0152] The packing device 300 of the present embodiment further includes a first support portion 90. The first support portion 90 supports the bag B on the start-end side of the third conveying path in the next gathered article group B3 during the movement of the contact unit 40.

[0153] In this packing device 300, it is possible to gather the next group of articles B3 while moving the gathered group of articles B3. As a result, the packing operation can be shortened.

[0154] (4-9)

[0155] The packing device 300 of the present embodiment further includes a second support portion 91. The second support portion 91 supports the articles on the terminal side of the gate 60.

[0156] In this packing device 300, even if the bag B on the terminal side of the gate 60 topples over during an emergency stop, it can be made to stand up again.

[0157] (5)Modification

[0158] (5-1)Modification A

[0159] In the above-described embodiment, the packing device 300 includes a plurality of conveying portions 10 and a plurality of arranging portions 20, but it is not particularly limited thereto. The packing device 300 may also include only one conveying portion 10. Similarly, the packing device 300 may also include only one arranging portion 20.

[0160] When the packing device 300 includes only one arranging portion 20, four columns of the group of articles B2 are moved from one arranging portion 20 to the gathering portion 30. That is, the packing device 300 repeats the movement of the group of articles B2 from the arranging portion 20 to the gathering portion 30 four times. At this time, the surface of the group of articles B2 on the side of the side pusher 33 is restrained from expanding in the front-back, left-right directions by the side pusher 33. However, there is no member that restrains the expansion in the front-back, left-right directions on the surface of the group of articles B2 on the side opposite to the side pusher 33, so it is likely to expand in the front-back, left-right directions. Therefore, the group of articles B2 in the column that moves from the arranging portion 20 to the gathering portion 30 more quickly is more likely to expand in the front-back, left-right directions. In addition, since there is a contact portion 40 on the upstream side of the third conveying path, the expansion of the bag B in the front-back direction is restrained, but there is no member that restrains the expansion on the downstream side of the third conveying path. Therefore, in particular, the bag B on the downstream side of the third conveying path of the group of articles B2 in the first column is likely to expand in a fan shape.

[0161] Therefore, as described above, when conveying the group of articles B2 to the third arranging area 23, the arranging portion 20 makes the compression ratio of the group of articles B2 in the second column lower than the compression ratio of the group of articles B2 in the first column. As Figure 15 shown, the arranging portion 20 also makes the compression ratio of the group of articles B2 in the third column lower than the compression ratio of the group of articles B2 in the second column. The arranging portion 20 also makes the compression ratio of the group of articles B2 in the fourth column lower than the compression ratio of the group of articles B2 in the third column. In this way, when moving the group of articles B2 by the side pusher 33, as Figure 16As shown, it is possible to prevent the group of articles B2 in the first column from spreading fanwise.

[0162] (5-2) Modification Example B

[0163] In the above-described embodiment, the gathering portion 30 has a bottom portion 31 and two inclined surfaces 32, but is not particularly limited thereto. The gathering portion 30 may also be V-shaped when viewed from the front.

[0164] (5-3) Modification Example C

[0165] In the above-described embodiment, the gathering portion 30 gathers multiple columns of the group of articles B2, but is not particularly limited thereto. The gathering portion 30 may also gather only one column of the group of articles B2.

[0166] (5-4) Modification Example D

[0167] As Figure 17 shown, the gathering portion 30 may also have a restricting portion 34. The restricting portion 34 is a plate-like member extending along the third conveying direction 30d. One restricting portion 34 is disposed on each of the left and right sides of the gathering portion 30 when viewed from the front. Specifically, the restricting portion 34 is disposed at the outer edge portion of the inclined surface 32. The restricting portion 34 is disposed at a position higher than the bottom surface of each bag B of the gathered group of articles B3. The restricting portion 34 is disposed at the same height as the third arranging region 23 of the arranging portion 20. The restricting portion 34 restricts the bags B of the gathered group of articles B3 from expanding in the left-right direction. When the group of articles B2 is laterally moved by the side pusher 33, the group of articles B2 can gather at the gathering portion 30 over the restricting portion 34. On the other hand, since the left and right sides of the gathered group of articles B3 are restricted by the restricting portion 34, they do not return to the arranging portion 20.

Claims

1. A packing device, comprising: A conveying unit (10) for conveying a plurality of objects (B) from the outside; an arranging unit (20) for arranging the conveyed articles in a manner that the adjacent articles partially overlap to form an article group (B2); A gathering section (30) for transferring the arranged article groups so that a plurality of the article groups are gathered in parallel on a conveying path for packing; A contact portion (40) contacts the articles on the starting end side of the conveying path for boxing in the group of collected articles; A driving portion (50) driving the contact portion; A gate (60) is located at the end of the conveying path for packing and supports a plurality of the groups of articles; A pushing member (70) contacts the plurality of groups of objects on the gate from above and pushes them downward; as well as The control unit (80) controls the driving unit to move the contact portion toward the terminal end of the conveying path for packing, so that the multiple groups of articles gathered in the gathering unit are moved collectively to the gate, and the control unit drives the gate and the pushing member to pack the multiple groups of articles collectively in a box located below the gate.

2. The box packing device according to claim 1, wherein: The collecting unit moves the article group laterally in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction while maintaining the article group in an aligned state.

3. The box packing device according to claim 1, wherein: The arranging unit and the conveying unit are respectively arranged in plural units.

4. The box packing device according to claim 1, wherein: The gathering portion has: bottom; and Two inclined surfaces are erected from the bottom portion while being inclined on both sides of the bottom portion so as to be separated from each other in a direction away from the bottom portion when viewed from the front.

5. The box packing device according to claim 1, wherein: The length of the gathering portion in the width direction is longer than the length of the contact portion in the width direction.

6. The box packing device according to claim 1, wherein: The distance between the gathering portion and the contact portion is shorter than the thickness of the article.

7. The box packing device according to claim 1, wherein: For all natural numbers k that are greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n, the arranging unit makes the compression rate of the article group in the k+1th column lower than the compression rate of the article group in the kth column.

8. The box packing device according to claim 1, wherein: The boxing device further includes a first support portion configured to support the articles on the starting end side of the boxing conveyance path in the group of articles to be collected next during the movement of the contact portion.

9. The box packing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The boxing device further includes a second support portion that supports the article on the terminal side of the gate.

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