Cross-shaped unfolding device and cross-shaped unfolding method

By designing a cross-deploy device, the stress concentration component is contacted with the corner of the empty box by using the power transmission part, solving the problem of low expansion efficiency of corrugated cartons, realizing rapid automatic deployment, and improving production efficiency.

CN120364236APending Publication Date: 2025-07-25TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202411327715.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-01-24
Filing Date
2024-09-23
Publication Date
2025-07-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the prior art, the cross-deployment operation of corrugated cartons usually relies on manual or large crushers, resulting in low production efficiency and cannot be efficiently automated on the mass production line.

Method used

A cross-development device is designed, including a loading frame, a stress concentration member, a movable part and a power transmission part. Through the power transmission part, the stress concentration member is brought into contact with the corner of the empty box, and the rapid deployment is achieved.

Benefits of technology

It realizes efficient and automated deployment of empty boxes into cross shapes in a short time, improves production efficiency and reduces manual intervention and processing time.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a cross-shaped unfolding device, comprising: a frame providing a space in which an empty box is placed; a plurality of stress concentration members for expanding each of a plurality of corners of the empty box; a plurality of movable parts; and a power transmission unit that transmits, via the movable unit, power that moves the stress concentration member. The stress concentration member is brought into contact with the interior of the empty case from the open side of the empty case, thereby placing the empty case. The power transmission portion transmits power for moving the stress concentration member to the stress concentration member such that the stress concentration member is in contact with the corner portion. And the power transmission part transmits power to the stress concentration part, so that the stress concentration part expands the corner part to unfold the corner part.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cross-unfolding device and a cross-unfolding method. Background Art

[0002] For example, in the case where an operator performs an operation of cross-planarly unfolding and laying flat a rectangular box, manual tools such as scissors or knives are used to cut and stack the edges constituting the three-dimensional body, so it is very laborious. In addition, in the case where such an operation is performed by an automatic machine, a large crusher premised on crushing the entire box is usually used.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-075731 discloses a corrugated cardboard box unpacking system for automatically unpacking a corrugated cardboard box and loading it onto a pallet. In the corrugated cardboard box unpacking system of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-075731, cross-unfolding cannot be achieved in one operation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Generally, in a mass production line, general turnover boxes are used for logistics to prevent waste such as corrugated paper from being generated. However, when packaging batteries, for various reasons such as the size of the battery as a product and maritime transportation rules, it is sent to the factory in a state of being packaged with corrugated paper. Packaging components such as corrugated paper are usually "soft bodies without accuracy guarantee", and as described above, unpacking and waste treatment are sometimes premised on manual work. Therefore, the operation of cross-planarly unfolding corrugated paper is an operation in the middle of logistics and the mass production line, and there has been no research on improving productivity by an automatic machine (robot). Therefore, it takes a long time to unfold an empty box in a cross shape.

[0005] The present disclosure has been completed to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cross-unfolding device and a cross-unfolding method capable of unfolding an empty box in a short time.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cross-unfolding device for an empty box, comprising: a mounting frame that provides a mounting space for mounting the empty box with an opening before unfolding; a plurality of stress concentration members that respectively unfold a plurality of corner portions where the inner sides of the empty box intersect; a plurality of movable parts respectively mounted on the plurality of stress concentration members; and a power transmission part that transmits power for moving the stress concentration members via the movable parts. When the empty box is mounted, the stress concentration members are located in the mounting space and contact the inner side of the empty box from the opening side of the empty box. The power transmission unit transmits the power that moves the stress concentration component to the stress concentration component, so that the stress concentration component contacts the corner portion. Furthermore, the power transmission unit transmits the power that moves the stress concentration component to the stress concentration component, so that the stress concentration component expands the corner portion to unfold the corner portion.

[0007] In the above cross-unfolding device, it may also be that the power transmission unit transmits the power that moves the stress concentration component to the stress concentration component, so that a plurality of the stress concentration components respectively expand a plurality of the corner portions from the inside to the outside of the empty box. It may also be that a plurality of the stress concentration components unfold a plurality of the corner portions simultaneously while centering the empty box floating relative to the placement frame with respect to the placement space.

[0008] In the above cross-unfolding device, it may also be that there is further provided a side pressing member that contacts the side surface on the outside of the empty box. The side pressing member is disposed near the front where the stress concentration component moves while expanding the corner portion, and is fixed or movable.

[0009] In the above cross-unfolding device, it may also be that an anti-slip process of the empty box is performed on the surface of the side pressing member that contacts the empty box.

[0010] A cross-unfolding method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a cross-unfolding method of an empty box using a cross-unfolding device. The cross-unfolding device includes: a placement frame that provides a placement space for placing the empty box with an opening before unfolding; a plurality of stress concentration components that respectively unfold a plurality of corner portions formed by the intersection of the inner side surfaces of the empty box; a plurality of movable parts that are respectively mounted on the plurality of stress concentration components; and a power transmission unit that transmits the power that moves the stress concentration component via the movable part. The cross-unfolding method includes: A step of placing the empty box by bringing the stress concentration component located in the placement space into contact with the inside of the empty box from the opening side of the empty box; and A step of transmitting the power that moves the stress concentration component to the stress concentration component. In the step of transmitting the power that moves the stress concentration member to the stress concentration member, the power that moves the stress concentration member is transmitted to the stress concentration member so that the stress concentration member contacts the corner portion. Further, the power that moves the stress concentration member is transmitted to the stress concentration member so that the stress concentration member expands the corner portion to unfold the corner portion.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a cross-unfolding device and a cross-unfolding method capable of unfolding an empty box in a short time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Hereinafter, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mounting table in the cross-unfolding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of the cross-unfolding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the configuration of the cross-unfolding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the configuration of the cross-unfolding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; and Figure 5 is a flowchart of a cross-unfolding method using the cross-unfolding device according to the first exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Hereinafter, the specific configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description shows a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiment. In addition, not all of the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential as technical means for solving the problems. For the sake of clarity, the following description and drawings are appropriately omitted and simplified. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and repeated descriptions are omitted as needed. First Exemplary Embodiment

[0014] The cross-unfolding device according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mounting table 10 in the cross-unfolding device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment. Figure 2 and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the configuration of the cross-unfolding device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic view of the configuration of the cross-unfolding device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment. In Figures 1 to 4Some of the reference numerals are omitted in the figures to avoid overcomplicating the drawings. In Figure 1 the stress concentration members 20, the movable parts 30, the power transmission part 40, and the side pressing members 60 are omitted. In Figures 2 to 4 only one side pressing member 60 is shown.

[0015] As Figures 1 to 4 shown, the cross expansion device 1 includes a mounting table 10, a plurality of stress concentration members 20, a plurality of movable parts 30, a power transmission part 40, an operating rod 50, and a plurality of side pressing members 60. The cross expansion device 1 expands the empty box 70 in a cross plane and stacks the expanded empty boxes 70. Here, in order to facilitate the description of the cross expansion device 1, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is introduced. The Z-axis direction is set as the vertical direction, and the XY plane is set as the horizontal plane. Empty box

[0016] The empty box 70 includes, for example, the lid of corrugated paper for transporting large lithium batteries. Specifically, the empty box 70 includes a rectangular parallelepiped lid that contains waste corrugated paper packaging the batteries supplied from overseas. In addition, as long as the empty box 70 can be expanded by the stress concentration members 20, it may also be an empty box of ordinary corrugated paper or the like. The empty box 70 has an opening 71 before expansion. The inner surface of the empty box 70 opposite to the opening 71 is referred to as the bottom surface 72. The inner surface connected to the bottom surface 72 is referred to as the side surface 73. For example, the empty box 70 has one opening 71, one bottom surface 72, and four side surfaces 73. The part of the inner side of the empty box 70 that includes the lines formed by the intersection of the side surfaces 73 is referred to as the corner part 74. The empty box 70 includes a plurality of corner parts 74. For example, the empty box 70 includes four corner parts 74. Mounting table

[0017] The mounting table 10 has a frame 11 that matches the shape of the empty box 70 as viewed from above. For example, it has a frame 11 assembled in a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a cube shape. A space 12 is formed between the rectangular frames 11 as viewed from above the mounting table 10. The stress concentration members 20 and the movable parts 30 are arranged at the corners of the upper rectangular frame 11.

[0018] The empty box 70 with an opening before expansion is placed in the space 12. When the empty box 70 is placed in the space 12, the stress concentration members 20 are located in the space 12 to support the empty box 70. In addition, when the empty box 70 is placed in the space 12, the empty box 70 is placed from the opening 71 side. Specifically, the empty box 70 is placed with the opening 71 facing the -Z axis direction and the outer bottom surface of the empty box 70 facing the +Z axis direction. Therefore, the stress concentration members 20 located in the space 12 support the empty box 70 by contacting the inner side of the empty box 70 from the opening 71 side of the empty box 70. In this way, the frame 11 of the mounting table 10 provides the space 12 for supporting the empty box 70 with an opening before expansion.

[0019] Sometimes, the frame 11 is referred to as a placement frame, and the space 12 is referred to as a placement space. The empty box 70 with the corner 74 unfolded falls in the space 12. Between the frames 11 at the lower part of the placement table 10, a receiving table 13 for the unfolded empty box 70 is arranged. Stress concentration member

[0020] A plurality of stress concentration members 20 are respectively arranged at the four corners of the upper frame 11 arranged around the space 12. The stress concentration member 20 can move along the direction extending along the angle bisector of the corner of the upper frame 11. As Figure 4 shown, the direction in which the stress concentration member 20 moves along the extended angle bisector is called the moving direction R. The direction toward the inside of the frame 11 in the moving direction R is called the inner direction. On the other hand, the direction toward the outside of the frame 11 in the moving direction R is called the outer direction. Sometimes, the outer direction is also called the +R axis direction, and the inner direction is also called the -R axis direction. In Figure 4 it, the stress concentration member 20 at one corner is shown, but the stress concentration members 20 at other corners also have their respective moving directions R.

[0021] The stress concentration member 20 guides the unfolding of the empty box 70. Specifically, for example, the stress concentration member 20 forms a cut at the corner 74 of the empty box 70. The plurality of stress concentration members 20 respectively unfold the plurality of corners 74 formed by intersecting the inner side surfaces 73 of the empty box 70. The stress concentration member 20 may also include a blade portion 21, and the blade portion 21 has a portion extending in a plane including the moving direction R and the Z-axis direction in which the corner 74 extends. For example, the blade portion 21 has a blade (also called a blade tip) 22, a peak 23, and a front end 24.

[0022] The peak 23 extends along the moving direction R. The peak 23 may also have a portion parallel to the XY plane orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. Thus, the peak 23 can serve as a seating surface for placing the bottom surface 72 of the empty box 70. The end portion of the peak 23 in the outer direction becomes the front end 24. The front end 24 connects the peak 23 and the blade 22.

[0023] The blade 22 has a downward component. The blade 22 is inclined at an inverse slope. Specifically, the blade 22 may be inclined from the front end 24 toward the inner direction. The blade 22 has an inverse slope that protrudes more toward the outer direction as it goes higher. When the empty box 70 is placed on the stress concentration member 20 in the space 12, the blade 22 protrudes more toward the corner 74 side as it goes closer to the bottom surface 72 side of the empty box 70. And the blade 22 may also be such that the distance between the blade 22 and the corner 74 becomes shorter as it goes closer to the bottom surface 72 side of the empty box 70. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the situation where the empty box 70 floats during the cutting process using the stress concentration member 20, and thus suppress the situation where the stress concentration member 20 cannot cut into the corner 74.

[0024] Assume that the blade 22 has a conical shape that protrudes more outward as it goes downward. In the case where the stress concentration member 20 moves outward and performs the unfolding process, the empty box 70 may float upward. Even if the stiffness of the empty box 70 is high, it will deform due to the load of the unfolding process. As a result, the empty box 70 may escape upward during the processing. In the present embodiment, due to the blade 22 having an inverse slope, the front end 24 can be inserted into the corner 74, and the processing load can be used to press the empty box 70.

[0025] The stress concentration member 20 slides along the moving direction R through the movable portion 30. When the empty box 70 before unfolding is placed in the space 12, the stress concentration member 20 is located in the space 12. Thus, the stress concentration member 20 places the empty box 70 before unfolding. The empty box 70 can also be supported at four points by the stress concentration member 20. The empty box 70 can be in a floating state relative to the frame 11 of the mounting table 10.

[0026] As another method of unfolding the empty box 70, it can be considered to press and fix the vicinity of the center of the empty box 70 from above and below. However, in a method of pressing and fixing from above and below like this, the upper pressing may be a structural interference when setting the empty box 70. The lower pressing will hinder the direct fall of the empty box 70 after the unfolding process. In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the empty box 70 is in a floating state, there is no interference during setting, and the empty box 70 can fall between the empty boxes 70 onto the receiving table 13 after the unfolding process.

[0027] The stress concentration member 20 moves in a direction that pushes the floating empty box 70 from the inside to the outside. Thus, the plurality of stress concentration members 20 can center the floating empty box 70 while simultaneously unfolding the plurality of corners 74. Generally, the empty box 70 is light in weight, high in strength, and high in stiffness. Therefore, compared with the resistance of the stress concentration member 20 to unfold the corner 74, the resistance of the stress concentration member 20 to slide to the corner 74 with the empty box 70 in a floating state is smaller. Therefore, all the stress concentration members 20 move outwardly in balance. After all the stress concentration members 20 move to the corner 74 together, the unfolding of the corner 74 starts. In this way, the plurality of stress concentration members 20 can center the empty box 70 floating relative to the frame 11 in the space 12 while simultaneously unfolding the plurality of corners 74.

[0028] After all the stress concentration members 20 reach the corner 74, each stress concentration member 20 moves outward. Thus, the stress concentration member 20 unfolds (cuts) the corner 74 of the empty box 70. In this way, the plurality of stress concentration members 20 unfold the corner 74 of the empty box 70 from the inside to the outside. Movable portion

[0029] A plurality of movable parts 30 are respectively installed on a plurality of stress concentration components 20. The movable parts 30 and the stress concentration components 20 are respectively arranged at the four corners of the upper frame 11 arranged around the space 12. The movable parts 30 transmit the power transmitted through the power transmission part 40 to the stress concentration components 20. Power transmission part

[0030] The power transmission part 40 transmits the power for moving the stress concentration component 20 to the stress concentration component 20 via the movable part 30. Specifically, the power transmission part 40 transmits the power for moving the stress concentration component 20 to the stress concentration component 20 so that the stress concentration component 20 contacts the corner 74. Further, the power transmission part 40 transmits the power for moving the stress concentration component 20 to the stress concentration component 20 so that the stress concentration component 20 expands the corner 74 to unfold the corner 74. The power transmission part 40 transmits the power for moving the stress concentration component 20 to the stress concentration component 20 so that the plurality of stress concentration components 20 respectively expand the plurality of corners 74 from the inside to the outside of the empty box 70.

[0031] The power transmission part 40 includes, for example, a gear 41, a shaft 42, and a hammer 43. The power transmission part 40 may also include other components in addition. The gear 41 is installed on the shaft 42. The gear 41 transmits the power input through the operating rod 50 to the shaft 42 and the movable part 30. The gear 41 transmits the power for expanding the corner 74 by the stress concentration component 20 to the stress concentration component 20 via the movable part 30 by rotating in one direction. In this way, the power transmission part 40 can realize a series of action processes with a single action by connecting the unfolding of the empty box 70 by using the power transmission structure of the same system.

[0032] The shaft 42 may also be, for example, rod-shaped extending along the frame 11, and a plurality of gears 41 are installed. The shaft 42 transmits the power input to a specified gear 41 to other gears 41.

[0033] The hammer 43 is installed on the gear 41 via the gear 41 or the shaft 42. The hammer 43, for example, rises by the rotation of the gear 41 in one direction when the power is input through the operating rod 50 of the robot 80. After the empty box 70 is unfolded, when the power input to the operating rod 50 disappears, the hammer 43 rotates in the opposite direction to one direction by descending. Thereby, the hammer 43 returns the stress concentration component 20 to the position of the space 12.

[0034] Specifically, for example, the robot 80 causes the hammer 43 that has risen by the power transmitted through the operating lever 50 to descend by releasing the operating lever 50. Due to the descent of the hammer 43, the stress concentration member 20 moves in the inward direction and is disposed in the space 12. Thus, the stress concentration member 20 is disposed at the position where the next empty box 70 is to be placed. The side pressing member 60 is disposed at the position that becomes the input guiding member for the next empty box 70. In this way, by the descent of the hammer 43, each component of the cross-expanding device 1 can be restored to its original position. Operating lever

[0035] The operating lever 50 is an operating part for inputting the power to cross-expand the empty box 70. For example, after the robot 80 places the empty box 70 in the space 12, it operates the operating lever 50 to input power. Thereby, the cross-expanding device 1 starts the cross-expansion of the empty box 70.

[0036] In the design of a general device, devices that operate independently according to each function can reduce trouble, but the processing time requires a long time. The cross-expanding device 1 of the present embodiment can perform the expansion action of the corner 74 of the empty box 70 in one action by having the power transmission part 40. That is, the cross-expanding device 1 operates by the robot 80 operating the operating lever 50, expands the empty box 70, and causes the expanded empty box 70 to fall. Therefore, the cross-expanding device 1 makes flexible use of the operation of the operating lever 50 and the self-weight (mechanism) of the hammer 43, and does not require a power source. Thereby, the expansion processing can be performed in a short time, and on this basis, the trouble can be reduced. Side pressing member

[0037] The side pressing member 60 can also be installed on the frame 11. When the empty box 70 before expansion is placed in the space 12, the side pressing member 60 has a shape that opens more outwardly as it goes higher. The side pressing member 60 can also be in contact with the outer side surface of the empty box 70 when the empty box 70 before expansion is placed in the space 12. Thereby, it can function as a guiding member for the empty box 70 provided in the space 12.

[0038] Anti-slip processing of the empty box 70 can also be performed on the surface of the side pressing member 60 that contacts the empty box 70. The anti-slip processing includes, for example, spike processing and roulette processing. The side pressing member 60 is preferably disposed near the front where the stress concentration member 20 moves while expanding the corner 74 of the empty box 70.

[0039] In the case where there is no side pressing member 60 and the resistance of the unfolding process of the plurality of corners 74 of the empty box 70 fluctuates extremely, the unfolding process of the plurality of corners 74 may not be completed simultaneously. For example, sometimes, when the unfolding of the corner 74 with a higher resistance to the unfolding process has not ended, the unfolding of other corners 74 has ended. In this way, the pressing load of the stress concentration member 20 against the corner 74 where the unfolding has not ended will decrease, and the corner 74 that has not ended may remain in an unprocessed state. In this case, the stress concentration member 20 cannot unfold the corner 74 that has not ended and can only drag the empty box 70.

[0040] In the present embodiment, since there is a side pressing member 60, even when the resistance of the unfolding process of the plurality of corners 74 fluctuates extremely, the stress concentration member 20 of the corner 74 where the unfolding process has ended can break into the ended corner 74 and move in the outward direction. The stress concentration member 20 of the corner 74 where the unfolding process has not ended presses the corner 74 against the side pressing member 60 to limit the moving area of the empty box 70. Therefore, the stress concentration member 20 continues to unfold the corner 74, so that the unfolding process can be completed.

[0041] In this way, since the cross unfolding device 1 has the side pressing member 60, it is possible to absorb the fluctuation of the processing resistance of the empty box 70 and suppress the remaining of the unprocessed due to the loss of load at all corners 74. In this case, it is desirable that the contact surface of the side pressing member 60 also functions as an anti-slip member to prevent the empty box 70 from escaping. In addition, the closer the side pressing member 60 is to the stress concentration member 20, the more the above effect can be improved.

[0042] The side pressing member 60 may also be a movable type with the frame 11 as the rotation axis. For example, the side pressing member 60 may be a rotatable movable type that causes the unfolded empty box 70 to fall onto the receiving table 13 of the empty box disposed below.

[0043] The posture and trajectory of the unfolded empty box 70 may sometimes fluctuate due to accidental snagging or the like. The three-dimensional stiffness of the unfolded empty box 70 is significantly reduced. Therefore, the side pressing member 60 having the function of a guiding member when the empty box 70 is inserted is connected to the gear 41 and rotated synchronously with the unfolding process. Thus, by applying surface pressure to the unfolded empty box 70 from above, the empty box 70 is made to fall onto the receiving table 13. In this way, the cross unfolding device 1 of the present embodiment can not only make the side pressing member 60 function as a guiding member when the empty box 70 is inserted, but also make it function as a pressing member for the empty box 70 during unfolding and an auxiliary member for the unfolded empty box 70 to the receiving table 13. Safety cover

[0044] The stress concentration member 20 may also include a safety cover 25 in addition to the blade portion 21 having the blade 22. The safety cover 25 houses the blade 22. The upper portion of the safety cover 25 extends along the moving direction R. The upper portion of the safety cover 25 may also have a portion parallel to the XY plane orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. Thus, the upper portion of the safety cover 25 can serve as a seating surface for the bottom surface 72 of the empty box 70 to be placed thereon. That is, the empty box 70 is placed on the upper portion of the safety cover 25. The safety cover 25 moves the empty box 70 floating relative to the frame 11 while centering it relative to the space 12.

[0045] The safety cover 25 in the stress concentration member 20 is mounted on the movable portion 30 via a spring 26. The blade portion 21 having the blade 22 in the stress concentration member 20 is directly mounted on the movable portion 30. Therefore, the power transmission portion 40 transmits the power for moving the safety cover 25 to the safety cover 25 via the spring 26 and the movable portion 30. The power transmission portion 40 transmits the power for moving the blade 22 to the blade 22 via the movable portion 30.

[0046] The power transmission portion 40 transmits the power for moving the safety cover 25 to the safety cover 25 so that the safety cover 25 housing the blade 22 comes into contact with the corner portion 74. Further, the power transmission portion 40 transmits the power for moving the blade 22 to the blade 22. By the power transmitted to the blade 22, the blade 22 protrudes from the safety cover 25 in contact with the corner portion 74, and the blade 22 spreads the corner portion 74 to expand the corner portion 74. Cross expansion method

[0047] Next, a cross expansion method using the cross expansion device 1 will be described. Figure 5 is a flowchart exemplifying a cross expansion method using the cross expansion device 1 according to the first embodiment. As Figure 5 shown in S10 of, the robot 80 sets the empty box 70. Specifically, the robot 80 sets the empty box 70 so that the stress concentration member 20 located in the space 12 contacts the inside of the empty box 70 from the opening 71 side of the empty box 70, thereby placing the empty box 70.

[0048] Next, as shown in S20, the robot 80 operates the operating lever 50 and transmits the power for moving the stress concentration member 20 to the stress concentration member 20 via the power transmission portion 40. In S20, the power for moving the stress concentration member 20 is transmitted to the stress concentration member 20 so that the stress concentration member 20 contacts the corner portion 74. Further, the power for moving the stress concentration member 20 is transmitted to the stress concentration member 20 so that the stress concentration member 20 spreads the corner portion 74 to expand the corner portion 74.

[0049] Specifically, S20 includes the operation of the joystick (S21), the movement of the stress concentration member 20 (S22), the pressing and centering of the empty box 70 (S23), the expansion process of the four corners 74 (S24), the falling assistance action (S25), and the falling of the expanded empty box (S26).

[0050] Next, as shown in S30, the robot 80 returns the cross expansion device 1 to its original position by releasing the joystick 50. For example, by releasing the joystick 50, the hammer 43 that has risen by the power transmitted through the joystick 50 descends. Due to the descent of the hammer 43, the stress concentration member 20 moves in the inner direction and is arranged at a position to support the next empty box 70. The side pressing member 60 is arranged at a position to become the input guide of the next empty box 70.

[0051] Specifically, S30 includes releasing the joystick 50 (S31) and returning to the original position by the descent of the hammer 43 (S32).

[0052] Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described. The cross expansion device 1 of the present embodiment moves the stress concentration member 20 by using the power transmitted via the power transmission unit 40. As a result, the plurality of stress concentration members 20 expand the corners 74 of the empty box 70 in the outer direction (+R axis direction) from the inside of the empty box 70. Therefore, the empty box 70 can be cross-expanded in a short time.

[0053] In addition, the cross expansion device 1 of the present embodiment operates by the input of power from the joystick 50. For example, by the robot 80 setting the empty box 70 such as a three-dimensional lid lifted during the unpacking operation on this device and performing a simple action of only the joystick 50, the cross expansion device 1 can make the empty box 70 fall in a cross-expanded shape. Therefore, it can be stably processed by the robot 80 in a short time.

[0054] The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, but the present disclosure includes appropriate modifications that do not impair its purpose and advantages, and is not limited to the above embodiments. In addition, the components in the first and second embodiments can be appropriately combined. In addition, the matters described in the claims also fall within the scope of the technical idea of the present embodiment.

Claims

1. A cross expansion device, which is a cross expansion device for an empty box, comprising: A placement frame that provides a placement space for placing the empty box with an opening before expansion; A plurality of stress concentration components that respectively expand a plurality of corner portions formed by the intersection of the inner side surfaces of the empty box; A plurality of movable parts that are respectively installed on the plurality of stress concentration components; and A power transmission part that transmits the power for moving the stress concentration components through the movable parts, When placing the empty box, the stress concentration components are located in the placement space and contact the inner side of the empty box from the opening side of the empty box, The power transmission part transmits the power for moving the stress concentration components to the stress concentration components so that the stress concentration components contact the corner portions. Furthermore, the power transmission part transmits the power for moving the stress concentration components to the stress concentration components so that the stress concentration components expand the corner portions to expand the corner portions.

2. The cross expansion device according to claim 1, wherein The power transmission part transmits the power for moving the stress concentration components to the stress concentration components so that the plurality of stress concentration components respectively expand the plurality of corner portions from the inner side to the outer side of the empty box, The plurality of stress concentration components expand the plurality of corner portions simultaneously while centering the empty box floating relative to the placement frame with respect to the placement space.

3. The cross-expanding device according to claim 1, wherein It further comprises a side pressing member that contacts the outer side surface of the empty box, The side pressing member is arranged near the front where the stress concentration components expand the corner portions while moving, and is fixed or movable.

4. The cross-expanding device according to claim 3, wherein The surface of the side pressing member that contacts the empty box is subjected to anti-slip processing of the empty box.

5. A cross expansion method, which is a cross expansion method for an empty box using a cross expansion device, The cross expansion device includes: A placement frame that provides a placement space for placing the empty box with an opening before expansion; A plurality of stress concentration components that respectively expand a plurality of corner portions formed by the intersection of the inner side surfaces of the empty box; A plurality of movable parts that are respectively installed on the plurality of stress concentration components; and A power transmission part that transmits the power for moving the stress concentration components through the movable parts, The cross expansion method comprises: A step of placing the empty box by making the stress concentration components located in the placement space contact the inner side of the empty box from the opening side of the empty box; And A step of transmitting the power for moving the stress concentration components to the stress concentration components, In the step of transmitting the power for moving the stress concentration components to the stress concentration components, The power for moving the stress concentration components is transmitted to the stress concentration components so that the stress concentration components contact the corner portions. Furthermore, the power for moving the stress concentration components is transmitted to the stress concentration components so that the stress concentration components expand the corner portions to expand the corner portions.

Citation Information

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