Container assembly device

Abstract

To provide a container assembly device capable of assembling one or a plurality of containers more easily and quickly.SOLUTION: A container assembly device 100 comprises: a device body 101 which demarcates an arrangement space 103 for arranging a container 10 inside thereof; a lifting device 130 which comprises engaging pieces 134 engaging with respective engaged parts 17 of a facing side of a top frame 12 with respect to the container 10 in a folded form introduced into the arrangement space 103, and is constituted so as to lift the top frame 12 upward in a height direction in a state where the engaging piece 134 and the engaged part 17 are engaged to deform the container 10 from the folded form to an intermediate form; and a pressing device 150 which operates to press a pair of second side walls 14 from inside to outside so that the second side wall 14 is fitted to a first side wall 13 and / or a bottom wall 11 with respect to the container 10 in the intermediate form whose top frame 12 is lifted by the lifting device 130.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container assembling device for assembling a foldable container that is mutually transformable into a folded configuration and a box configuration. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, foldable containers (see Figs. 25 to 27) that transform from a folded state in which the walls of the housing are folded up like plates into a housing-like box state have been used to store and transport goods. These foldable containers can be folded and stacked when not in use to save space, and can be easily assembled and folded without using screws or the like, so they are used for various purposes such as factory lines. Various trial and error efforts have been made to assemble foldable containers quickly and easily.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic assembly machine for folding containers. In the following paragraphs, the reference numbers of Patent Document 1 are shown in parentheses. In the automatic assembly machine, both sides of the folded and stacked container (1) are carried in to the left in the figure by a carry-in device (9), and then the lower feed device (29) holds and sends them downward, and the container at the bottom end is roughly extended by the weight of the side plates, etc. Then, the push device (54) pushes the first side plate (3) from the inside to fully extend it. In this state, the container (1) is transported by the conveyor belt (57), and then the expansion device (67) is inserted to push the second side plate (4) and expand it. In this way, the container (1) is assembled. In this expansion device (67), a pair of rotating arms (73) are provided at the tip of the rod (71) of the cylinder (69) provided in the upward direction, and a roller (75) is attached to the tip of each rotating arm (73). The pair of rotating arms (73) are provided with a stopper to prevent the angle between them from becoming smaller than a predetermined angle, and are normally closed at this predetermined angle by the weight of the roller (75) and the rotating arm (73). When the roller (75) comes into contact with the bottom plate (5) of the container (1), the rotating arm (73) is adapted to freely rotate in a direction that increases the angle. The roller (75) and the rotating arm (73) are arranged in a position where they can enter the container by the cylinder (69). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-2227 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a conventional automatic assembly machine (container assembly machine) such as that in Patent Document 1, one of the folded and stacked containers is held and sent downward by a lower feed device, the first side plate is pushed from the inside by a push device to extend it, and the container is then transported by a conveyor belt, and the second side plate is pushed and expanded by an expansion device, thereby assembling the container. That is, a problem with conventional automatic assembly machines is that they operate to assemble containers one by one, and since many steps are required to assemble one container, they are unable to assemble one or more containers quickly. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make the assembly process more efficient than before and to make it possible to assemble one or more containers simply and quickly.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container assembling device that enables one or more containers to be assembled more simply and quickly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A container assembling device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a container assembling device for assembling a foldable container that is mutually transformable between a folded form and a box form, the device comprising: the container comprises a bottom wall, a top frame having an opening on the inside and placed on the bottom wall in the folded configuration; a pair of first side walls whose upper and lower edges are pivotally connected to horizontal sides of the bottom wall and the top frame, respectively, and having hinge portions that allow the first side walls to bend freely only inward between the upper and lower edges; a pair of second side walls whose upper edges are pivotally connected to vertical sides of the top frame and have free ends at their lower edges, and which are folded so that their inner surfaces face upward through the opening of the top frame in the folded configuration; and engaged portions provided on opposing sides of the top frame, and which are configured such that when the container transforms from the folded configuration to the box configuration, the first side walls pass through an intermediate configuration in which they extend linearly, and the second side walls are pressed outward and fitted to the first side walls and / or the bottom wall, The container assembling device includes: an apparatus body defining an arrangement space therein for arranging the container; a lifting device that is provided with engaging pieces that engage with the engaged portions of the opposing sides of the top frame for the container in the folded configuration introduced into the arrangement space, and that is configured to lift the top frame upward in a height direction with the engaging pieces and the engaged portions engaged, thereby transforming the container from the folded configuration to the intermediate configuration; The container is characterized in that it is equipped with a pressing device that operates to press the pair of second side walls from the inside to the outside of the container in the intermediate form in which the top frame is lifted by the lifting device, so that the second side walls are fitted into the first side wall and / or the bottom wall.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the container assembling device of the present invention, the top frame of the container in the folded form introduced into the arrangement space is lifted upward in the height direction by the lifting device, so that the container is transformed from the folded form to the intermediate form by its own weight, and then the second side wall is pressed from the inside to the outside by the pressing device, so that the container is transformed from the intermediate form to the box form. Thus, the container assembling device makes the assembly process more efficient than before, and makes it possible to assemble one or more containers more easily and quickly.

[0009] A further aspect of the container assembling device of the present invention is characterized in that the engaging piece is configured to be displaced between a retracted position where the engaging piece does not interfere with the container and an engageable position where the engaging piece protrudes from the retracted position and can engage with the engaged portion.

[0010] A further aspect of the present invention is a container assembling device characterized in that the arrangement space allows a plurality of containers to be arranged in a stacked manner in a plurality of stages.

[0011] A further aspect of the container assembling device of the present invention is characterized in that the lifting device comprises a plurality of the engaging pieces for engaging with each of the engaged portions of the plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of tiers in the height direction in the arrangement space, a flexible string-like body directly or indirectly connecting the plurality of engaging pieces in the height direction, and a pulling means for pulling the string-like body upward in the height direction, wherein adjacent engaging pieces among the plurality of engaging pieces are arranged so that they are spaced apart by a first distance when the string-like body is in a slack state where it is not pulled, and are spaced apart by a second distance when the string-like body is in a tensioned state where it is pulled, the second distance being greater than the first distance, each of the plurality of engaging pieces is arranged to face each of the engaged portions of the plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of tiers in a folded form in the slack state of the string-like body and is displaceable from the retracted position to the engageable position, and the plurality of containers are transformed into the intermediate form by the string-like body being pulled in a tensioned state with the plurality of engaging pieces being respectively engaged with the engaged portions of the plurality of containers. That is, according to the container assembling device of this embodiment, a plurality of containers in a folded form can be stacked in a plurality of stages in the arrangement space, and the plurality of containers can be lifted together by a lifting device to transform them into an intermediate form.

[0012] A further embodiment of the container assembling device of the present invention is characterized in that each of the engaging pieces is disposed on a guideway that slopes obliquely upward toward the opposing engaged part, and is lifted upward in the height direction by the string-like body while simultaneously sliding obliquely upward from the retracted position to the engageable position. In other words, the force with which each of the engaging pieces is lifted by the string-like body causes each of the engaging pieces to slide obliquely upward along the guideway, thereby displacing the engaging pieces from the retracted position to the engageable position. This simplifies the structure of the lifting device.

[0013] A container assembling device according to a further embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises a guide piece for guiding the string-like body in the slack state so as to hang down in a direction away from the opposing container. In other words, by guiding the string-like body so as to hang down in a direction away from the container, the string-like body is prevented from being entangled in the stacked containers.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the container assembling device of the present invention, the pressing devices are arranged in a plurality of stages in the height direction of the arrangement space, and the pressing devices operate independently of each other. That is, the pressing devices operate independently of each other on a plurality of containers in an intermediate form that are simultaneously lifted by a lifting device, thereby effectively assembling the containers into a box form.

[0015] The container assembling device according to a further aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises a dolly for carrying a plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of tiers and introduced into the arrangement space. In other words, the plurality of containers can be easily introduced into the arrangement space by the dolly, and the plurality of assembled containers can be easily removed from the container assembling device.

[0016] A further embodiment of the container assembling device of the present invention is characterized in that the engaged parts are provided in pairs at two locations on each of the opposing sides of the top frame, the lifting device further comprises a plurality of lifting bodies, each of which holds two of the engaging pieces at positions corresponding to the pair of engaged parts and moves up and down in the height direction, and the device main body is provided with a lifting rail for guiding the lifting and lowering movement in the height direction of the plurality of lifting bodies. In other words, by engaging a pair of engaged parts formed on each of the opposing vertical or horizontal sides of the top frame with a pair of engaging pieces held by the lifting bodies and supporting the opposing sides of the top frame, it is possible to lift a container in a stable posture both vertically and horizontally.

[0017] A further aspect of the present invention provides a container assembling device further comprising a folding device having a first pressing means for pressing a pair of second side walls of the box-shaped container arranged in the arrangement space from the outside to the inside, and a second pressing means for pressing hinge portions of the pair of first side walls from the outside to the inside, the folding device being controlled so that the second pressing means presses the hinge portions immediately after the first pressing means releases the engagement of the second side walls. In other words, the folding device can also speed up the folding operation of one or more containers. Effect of the Invention

[0018] The container assembling device of the present invention makes it possible to easily and quickly assemble one or more containers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container assembling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the container assembling device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the container assembling device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container assembling device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the container assembling device of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the container assembling device of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the container assembling device of FIG. 3. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the container assembling device of FIG. 7 . [Figure 9] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC line of the container assembling device of FIG. 3. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the container assembling device of FIG. 9 . [Figure 11] 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a schematic view of the lifting device of the container assembling apparatus of FIG. 1 after the lifting operation. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the lifting device of FIG. 11 . [Figure 13] 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a schematic operation of a pressing device of the container assembling apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 14] 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views each showing a schematic operation of the pressing device in FIG. 11, in which (a) shows a state in which the sliding body has advanced toward the arrangement space, and (b) shows a state in which the rotating body has rotated downward. [Figure 15] 14(b) is a plan view showing a schematic operation of the pressing device of FIG. 11, showing a state in which the pressing portion further protrudes from the pressing body after the state has been changed to that of FIG. 14(b). [Figure 16] 1 is a front view showing a first configuration in which containers in a folded form are stacked in a plurality of stages and arranged in an arrangement space in a container assembling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic relationship between a container and a lifting device in the first mode of the container assembling device of FIG. 16. [Figure 18] 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic operation of an engagement piece being engaged with an engaged portion of the container-assembling device in the configuration of the container-assembling device shown in FIG. 16. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a second configuration in which a plurality of containers in a folded state are lifted and transformed into an intermediate configuration in the container assembling device of one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic relationship between a container and a lifting device in the second mode of the container assembling device of FIG. 19. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a third configuration in which the pressing devices of each stage are driven with respect to the suspended container in the intermediate configuration in the container assembling apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a fourth configuration in which the second side wall of the container is pressed by the pressing portion of the pressing device, and the container is transformed into a box shape, in the container assembling device of one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 23] 23 is a cross-sectional view showing, from the fourth mode of the container assembling device in FIG. 22, a schematic view of the operation of feeding the string-like body of the lifting device downward to stack the box-shaped containers and disengage the engaging piece from the engaged portion. FIG. [Figure 24]FIG. 13 is a front view showing a fifth mode in which the lifting devices and the pushing devices have been returned to their initial positions and the box-shaped containers have been stacked in the arrangement space in the container assembling device of the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a box form of a foldable container as illustrated in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 25 in the middle of being deformed. [Figure 27] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 25 in a folded configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the shapes of the figures referred to in the following description are conceptual or schematic diagrams for explaining preferred shapes, and the dimensional ratios do not necessarily match the actual dimensional ratios. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the dimensional ratios in the drawings. In addition, the up, down, left, and right directions may be interpreted as being mutually interchangeable.

[0021] The container assembling device 100 of this embodiment is used for assembling a foldable container that can be transformed into a folded form and a box form. The container assembling device 100 of this embodiment is automatically driven by power supplied from a power source (not shown), and allows a user to assemble multiple containers simultaneously by operating a control panel (not shown) or the like. Here, the foldable container is one that is generally used for transportation, etc., but is exemplified as the container 10 in Figs. 25 to 27 without the purpose of limitation. The foldable container that is the subject of the present invention is not limited to the form of the container 10.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 25, the box-shaped container 10 includes a rectangular plate-shaped bottom wall 11, a top frame 12 disposed opposite the bottom wall 11 and having an opening on the inside, a pair of first side walls 13 facing each other between the horizontal side of the bottom wall 11 and the horizontal side of the top frame 12, and a pair of second side walls 14 facing each other between the vertical side of the bottom wall 11 and the vertical side of the top frame 12. Two recessed engaged portions 17 forming handles are formed on each of the opposing horizontal sides (or vertical sides) of the top frame 12. The container 10 is mutually transformable from a box-like shape with an upward opening as shown in Fig. 25, through a shape in the middle of transformation as shown in Fig. 26, to a folded shape in which the container 10 is folded over like a plate as shown in Fig. 27. As shown in FIG. 26, the pair of first side walls 13 have their upper and lower edges pivotally connected to the horizontal side of the bottom wall 11 and the horizontal side of the top frame 12, respectively, and have hinge portions 13a that allow them to bend freely only inward between their upper and lower edges. Also, as shown in FIG. 26, the pair of second side walls 14 have their upper edges pivotally connected to the vertical side of the top frame 12, and have free ends at their lower edges. Also, fitting portions 15 that fit into the side edges of the pair of first side walls 13 and the vertical side of the bottom wall 11 are provided on both side edges and the lower edge of the second side walls 14, respectively. Note that in FIG. 26, when the first side walls 13 are partially bent, the second side walls 14 abut against the upper edges of the first side walls 13, and therefore the second side walls 14 do not pivot toward the bottom wall 11.

[0023] In the box-shaped container 10 in Fig. 25, the pair of second side walls 14 are fixed to at least one of the straight first side wall 13 and the bottom wall 11, thereby maintaining the container 10 in a box shape. In the folded container 10 in Fig. 27, the top frame 12 is placed on the bottom wall 11. Inside the opening of the top frame 12, the pair of first side walls 13 are folded inwardly in a dogleg shape via the hinge portions 13a, and above the folded first side walls 13, the pair of second side walls 14 are folded in such a way that their inner surfaces face upward from the opening of the top frame 12. Then, as shown in Figures 25 to 27, when the container 10 is transformed from the folded form to the box form, the first side wall 13 passes through an intermediate form in which it is bent and extends straight, and the second side wall 14 is pressed outward and fitted to the first side wall 13 and / or the bottom wall 11 via the fitting portion 15.

[0024] The configuration of a container assembling apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 10. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the container assembling apparatus 100. Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the container assembling apparatus 100. Fig. 3 is a front view of the container assembling apparatus 100. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the container assembling apparatus 100. Fig. 5 is a left side view of the container assembling apparatus 100. Fig. 6 is a right side view of the container assembling apparatus 100. Figs. 7 to 10 are AA, BB, CC, and DD cross-sectional views of the container assembling apparatus 100. Figs. 1 to 10 show the initial form of the container assembling apparatus 100.

[0025] 1 to 6, the container assembling apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 101 that defines an arrangement space 103 in which a container 10 is arranged, a lifting device 130 provided for the arrangement space 103, and a pressing device 150 provided adjacent to the arrangement space 103. Although not shown, the container assembling apparatus 100 may also include a power supply unit that receives power from a power source, a control unit (processor) that controls the operation of each component of the container assembling apparatus 100, and a control panel for inputting instructions from a user.

[0026] The device main body 101 is composed of a rectangular frame 102 extending in the length, width and height directions. An arrangement space 103 for arranging the container 10 is formed inside the frame 102. At the four corners of the arrangement space 103, four lifting rails 105 extend in the height direction as part of the frame 102. The arrangement space 103 has an area in which one container 10 can be arranged in a plan view, and has a height in which five (multiple) box-shaped (or intermediate-shaped) containers 10 can be arranged in a front view. The frame 102 is provided with a support frame 107 extending in the width direction so as to support five pressing devices 150, respectively, at a height corresponding to the five lifted containers 10. That is, the frame 102 supports a plurality of stages (five stages in this case) of pressing devices 150 together with the lifting device 130.

[0027] The lifting device 130 is configured to hold (hang) the top frame 12 of the container 10 in the arrangement space 103 and lift one or more containers 10 upward in the height direction. The lifting device 130 includes a plurality of lifting bodies 131 held by the lifting rails 105 and moving up and down in the height direction along the lifting rails 105, a plurality of engagement pieces 134 that are held by each of the lifting bodies 131 and engage with the respective engaged parts 17 on the opposing sides of the top frame 12 for the container 10 in the folded form introduced into the arrangement space 103, a flexible string-like body 135 that directly or indirectly connects the plurality of engagement pieces 134 in the height direction, and a winch 138 as a towing means that operates to wind up the string-like body 135 and tow the plurality of engagement pieces 134 vertically upward. That is, the lifting device 130 is configured to lift the top frame 12 upward in the height direction while the engaging pieces 134 and the engaged portions 17 are engaged, thereby transforming the container 10 from the folded form to the intermediate form.

[0028] Each lifting body 131 is plate-shaped, spans a pair of lifting rails 105 at the front and rear as viewed from the front, and is supported slidably along the pair of lifting rails 105. In particular, both ends of the lifting body 131 are slidably held on the lifting rails 105. In addition, in this embodiment, a pair of lifting bodies 131 is arranged at the same height so as to sandwich the arrangement space 103 from the left and right as viewed from the front. Then, pairs of lifting bodies 131 are provided in multiple stages (five stages in this embodiment) in the height direction so as to correspond to the number of containers 10 that can be assembled at the same time. In other words, a pair of lifting bodies 131 is arranged opposite each other across the arrangement space 103, and a total of ten lifting bodies 131 are used. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the initial form, a plurality of lifting bodies 131 are stacked in the height direction at the bottom of the arrangement space 103. A string-like body 135 wound around a winch 138 extends continuously in the height direction and hangs down vertically, and at its lower end, connects the sets of the lifting bodies 131 stacked in the height direction in a daisy chain. The string-like body 135 functions to pull the sets of the lifting bodies 131 in the height direction by being wound around the winch 138. In this embodiment, two string-like bodies 135 are used for one set of the lifting bodies 131 so that the container 10 can be lifted in a stable position. In other words, four string-like bodies 135 extending near the four corners of the arrangement space 103 are used to stably lift the stacked containers 10.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, each lifting body 131 holds a pair of engagement pieces 134 at positions (positions that match the front-rear direction when viewed from the front) corresponding to a pair of engaged parts 17 provided as a pair at two positions on each of the opposing horizontal sides of the top frame 12 of the container 10. A plurality of sets of engagement pieces 134 arranged in the height direction are connected in a daisy chain manner by a single string-like body 135. While the upper end portion of the string-like body 135 on the winch 138 side is always in a tensioned state, each connection portion 135a of the lower end portion of the string-like body 135 can be deformed between a tensioned state and a slack state. Note that the single string-like body 135 is not necessarily a single continuous long body, but is a concept that includes a plurality of connection portions 135a that are separated from each other.

[0030] In the initial state of the container assembling apparatus 100, the multiple lifting bodies 131 come into contact with the bottom of the arrangement space 103 in the height direction, so that the multiple engagement pieces 134 are positioned in the height direction. As a result, the multiple engagement pieces 134 are arranged so as to face the engaged parts 17 of the multiple containers 10 stacked in the folded state. At this time, the engagement pieces 134 adjacent in the height direction are connected by the respective connection parts 135a of the string-like body 135. Since the string-like body 135 is not pulled, the respective connection parts 135a are in a slack state and hang down outside the arrangement space 103. Preferably, a guide piece (not shown) made of an elastic film of a synthetic resin material is attached to the connection parts 135a of the string-like body 135 to guide the slack direction of the connection hole 134a in a direction away from the container 10, and the string-like body 135 can be prevented from being wound into the arrangement space 103.

[0031] As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the engagement pieces 134 are claw-shaped plates that can be hooked from below onto the concave engaged parts 17 and locked. Each engagement piece 134 is held in a state of being prevented from coming off by a holding part 132 formed on the lifting body 131. The engagement pieces 134 are configured to be displaced between a retracted position where the engagement pieces 134 do not interfere with the container 10 (in the arrangement space 103) and an engageable position where the engagement pieces 134 protrude from the retracted position into the arrangement space 103 and can engage with the engaged parts 17. In other words, the position where the engagement pieces 134 are accommodated in the holding part 132 constitutes the retracted position, and the position where a part of the engagement pieces 134 protrudes so as to enter the arrangement space 103 constitutes the engageable position. As shown in Fig. 8, the engagement pieces 134 are locked in the engageable position by engaging with the retaining part 132a of the holding part 132. Also, the holding part 132 is formed with a guide path 133 that is inclined obliquely upward toward the opposing engaged part 17. The engagement piece 134 is disposed on the guide path 133 , and the sliding direction of the engagement piece 134 is guided by the guide path 133 .

[0032] Next, the lifting operation of the lifting device 130 will be described with reference to Figs. 11 and 12. Fig. 11 is a partially enlarged perspective view that typically shows the lifting device 130 after the lifting operation. When the four string-like bodies 135 are simultaneously wound at the same speed from the initial form of the container assembling device 100, the engaging pieces 134 are lifted vertically upward by the tensioned parts of the string-like bodies 135. Then, the engaging pieces 134 are lifted upward in the height direction by the string-like bodies 135, and at the same time, slide obliquely upward and protrude into the arrangement space 103. That is, the force of lifting each engaging piece 134 by the string-like bodies 135 causes each engaging piece 134 to slide obliquely upward along the guide path 133, displacing the engaging piece 134 from the retracted position to the engaging position. At this time, the connecting parts 135a of the string-like bodies 135 are deformed from the slack state to the tension state in order, starting from the connecting parts 135a located vertically above the string-like bodies 135. 12, each of the engagement pieces 134 suspended by the string-like body 135 is locked to the retaining portion 132a of the lifting body 131. Finally, as shown in FIG 11, all of the lifting bodies 131 are suspended vertically upward by the tensioned string-like body 135 (connecting portion 135a) and stopped at a predetermined height position.

[0033] That is, among the multiple engagement pieces 134, adjacent ones are arranged so that they are spaced apart by a first distance when the string-like body 135 is in a slack state where it is not pulled, and are spaced apart by a second distance greater than the first distance when the string-like body 135 is in a tensioned state where it is pulled. Also, in the slack state of the string-like body 135, each of the multiple engagement pieces 134 is arranged to face each of the engaged parts 17 of the multiple containers 10 stacked in multiple stages in the folded form, and is displaceable from the retracted position to the engageable position. As will be described later, when the multiple engagement pieces 134 are hooked onto the engaged parts 17 of the multiple containers 10, respectively, the string-like body 135 is pulled in a tensioned state, and the multiple containers 10 are transformed into the intermediate form together.

[0034] On the other hand, when the string-like body 135 is sent downward by the winch 138, the lifting bodies 131 are piled up at the bottom of the arrangement space 103 by gravity, and each of the engagement pieces 134 slides from the engageable position to the retracted position along the guide path 133. As a result, the container assembling device 100 returns to its initial form.

[0035] The pressing devices 150 operate to press the pair of second side walls 14 from the inside to the outside of the container 10 in an intermediate state in which the top frame 12 is lifted by the lifting device 130, so that the second side walls 14 are fitted to the first side wall 13 and / or the bottom wall 11. In this embodiment, in order to enable simultaneous assembly of a plurality of (five) containers 10, a plurality of (five) pressing devices 150 are supported by the support frame 107 of the device main body 101 across a plurality of stages in the height direction. The height of each pressing device 150 is determined so as to correspond to each container 10 lifted by the lifting device 130.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, each pressing device 150 includes a sliding body 151 that slides horizontally in a direction toward and away from the arrangement space 103 (left and right direction when viewed from the front), a rotating body 152 that is disposed on the sliding body 151 and rotates vertically downward via its rotating shaft 152a, and a pressing body 153 that is mounted on the tip side of the rotating shaft 152a of the rotating body 152 and operates to press the second side wall 14 of the container 10. The rotating body 152 is formed in a flat plate shape and has the rotating shaft 152a at approximately the center in the direction toward and away from the arrangement space 103. The base end portion and the tip portion are connected by the rotating shaft 152a so that they can be bent at approximately right angles to each other. Furthermore, the pressing device 150 is provided with a first driving device 156 for sliding the sliding body 151 and a second driving device 157 for sliding the rotating body 152. The first drive device 156 and the second drive device 157 are configured to simultaneously drive the pressing device 150 at multiple stages. Specifically, the first drive device 156 includes a plurality of first gears 156a that mesh with or are in frictional contact with the upper surface of each slide body 151, a first drive shaft 156b that axially supports the plurality of first gears 156a in the height direction, and a first drive motor 156c that rotatably drives the first drive shaft 156b in both directions. The second drive device 157 includes a plurality of second gears 157a that mesh with or are in frictional contact with the upper surface of each rotating body 152, a second drive shaft 157b that axially supports the plurality of second gears 157a in the height direction, and a second drive motor 157c that rotatably drives the second drive shaft 157b in both directions. The first drive device 156 and the second drive device 157 are separately controlled by a control unit. The pressing body 153 has a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction when viewed from the front, and includes a pressing part 154 that protrudes and retreats in the front-rear direction from the tip of the cylindrical body in the axial direction. The pressing part 154 is a part that directly presses the inner surface of the second side wall 14 of the container 10. The pressing part 154 can be driven or controlled by a known mechanism such as a solenoid or a cylinder.

[0037] Next, the operation of the pressing device 150 will be described with reference to Fig. 13 to Fig. 15. Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing the pressing device 150 during pressing operation. In the initial form of the container assembling apparatus 100, each component of the pressing device 150 is retracted to a position where it does not interfere with the arrangement space 103. When the pressing device 150 starts operating, first, the first driving device 156 is actuated, the first driving shaft 156b and the first gear 156a rotate in the forward direction, and the sliding body 151 advances toward the arrangement space 103 as shown in Fig. 14(a). After the entire rotating body 152 on the tip side of the sliding body 151 enters the arrangement space 103 and stops, the second driving device 157 is operated, the second driving shaft 157b and the second gear 157a rotate in the forward direction, and only the rotating body 152 advances further on the sliding body 151, and the rotating shaft 152a advances until it passes the tip of the sliding body 151 and stops. Then, as shown in FIG. 14(b), the tip part of the rotating body 152 rotates so as to be bent at a substantially right angle by gravity via the rotating shaft 152a. The rotation of the rotating body 152 may be driven and controlled by a motor or the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 15, the pressing parts 154 protrude from both ends of the pressing body 153. This completes a series of pressing operations of the pressing device 150. The series of pressing operations of the pressing device 150 may be controlled by a control unit based on a sensor arbitrarily installed in the device main body 101. In this embodiment, the control unit controls the multiple pressing devices 150 to perform the same operation simultaneously.

[0038] After the series of pressing operations are completed, the pressing device 150 performs the opposite operation to the above operation to return to the initial form. In particular, after the pressing operations are completed, the protruding pressing portion 154 retreats, and then the second driving device 157 is operated and the second driving shaft 157b and the second gear 157a rotate in the opposite direction, so that the rotating body 152 retreats in a direction away from the arrangement space 103, while the tip portion of the rotating body 152 abuts against the tip edge of the sliding body 151, so that the tip portion of the rotating body 152 rotates so as to rise up in the horizontal direction around the rotation shaft 152a. Next, after the rotating body 152 moves to its original position on the sliding body 151 and stops, the first driving device 156 is operated and the first driving shaft 156b and the first gear 156a rotate in the opposite direction, so that the sliding body 151 retreats to its original position, and the pressing device 150 returns to its initial position.

[0039] Next, a method for assembling a plurality of (five) containers 10 in a folded form together using the container assembling device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 16 to Fig. 24. Note that for the sake of convenience in the description, the depiction of the container 10 is simplified in each drawing.

[0040] 16 and 17 are schematic diagrams showing the container assembling apparatus 100 in the first embodiment in which the containers 10 in the folded form are stacked in a plurality of stages and arranged in the arrangement space 103. First, as shown in FIG. 16, a plurality of containers 10 in the folded form are stacked and arranged in the arrangement space 103. The container assembling apparatus 100 may be configured so that the plurality of containers 10 are automatically arranged by a conveying mechanism (not shown) connected to the arrangement space 103. Alternatively, the container assembling apparatus 100 may be configured so that the plurality of containers 10 can be arranged in the arrangement space 103 while being placed on a dolly (not shown). In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the engaged portions 17 of the plurality of containers 10 in the folded form are arranged in the arrangement space 103 so as to face the respective engaging pieces 134. The respective engaging pieces 134 are in retracted positions retreated from the arrangement space 103 and do not interfere with the containers 10. The connecting portion 135a of the string-like body 135 is in a slack state, and the multiple engagement pieces 134 in the height direction are spaced apart at equal intervals by a first distance.

[0041] When the container assembling device 100 is operated by a user or the like, the winch 138 is operated and starts winding up the string-like body 135. The uppermost engagement piece 134 and the lifting body 131 are supported by the tensioned string-like body 135 and are pulled upward first. At the same time as being pulled upward, the engagement piece 134 slides obliquely upward toward the opposing engaged part 17 and protrudes from the holding part 132. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the engagement piece 134 slips under the top frame 12 of the container 10 and hooks onto the engaged part 17. When the engagement piece 134 is further pulled upward by the string-like body 135 while remaining in this engaged state, the lifting body 131 rises and the top frame 12 of the uppermost container 10 is lifted. When the top-level lifting body 131 rises, the connecting portion 135a connecting the top-level engaging piece 134 and the second-level engaging piece 134 is deformed from a slack state to a tensioned state, and the connecting portion 135a is separated by a second distance. After being deformed to a tensioned state, the second-level engaging piece 134 and the lifting body 131 are further elevated, and the top frame 12 of the second-level container 10 is lifted in the same manner. The winch 138 continues to operate, and all the containers 10 are lifted in the same manner. When the bottom wall 11 of each container 10 is lifted up until it is lifted up, each container 10 is deformed by its own weight into an intermediate form in which the first side wall 13 is extended. In particular, by adjusting the winding speed of the winch 138, the container 10 can be more reliably deformed from the folded form to the intermediate form by the reaction generated during lifting. When each container 10 moves to a predetermined height, the winch 138 stops. In addition, the height position of each container 10 may be detected by a sensor, and the operation of the winch 138 may be controlled by the control unit.

[0042] 19 and 20 are schematic diagrams showing the container assembling device 100 in the second configuration in which multiple containers 10 in the folded configuration are lifted and transformed into the intermediate configuration. As shown in Fig. 19 and 20, all the containers 10 are suspended in the arrangement space 103, and are in the intermediate configuration in which the first side walls 13 are extended. The multiple engagement pieces 134 in the height direction are equally spaced apart by a second distance, and as a result, each container 10 is held at a position corresponding to the pressing device 150 of each stage.

[0043] Next, each pressing device 150 is operated by the control unit. Although it is preferable that the multiple pressing devices 150 are driven simultaneously, they may be driven in sequence. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of the container assembling apparatus 100 in the third form in which the pressing devices 150 of each stage are driven for the container 10 in the intermediate form that is lifted up. As shown in FIG. 21, the slide body 151 and the rotating body 152 of each pressing device 150 are located above the top frame 12 of the container 10. Then, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 21, the rotating body 152 further advances on the slide body 151, and the tip part of the rotating body 152 rotates downward, so that the pressing body 153 moves inside the container 10. Then, the pressing part 154 protrudes from the pressing body 153, so that the pair of second side walls 14 of each container 10 are pressed from the inside to the outside at the same time, and the pair of second side walls 14 are fitted to the first side wall 13 and / or the bottom wall 11 via the fitting part 15. As a result, the container 10 is erected into a box configuration.

[0044] 22 is a schematic diagram showing the container assembling apparatus 100 in the fourth embodiment in which a plurality of containers 10 are transformed into a box shape. After assembling the containers 10 into a box shape, each pressing device 150 is controlled to perform an operation reverse to that at the time of pressing, to leave the arrangement space 103, and return to its original position. By controlling the plurality of pressing devices 150 to operate simultaneously, all the containers 10 can be assembled almost simultaneously, and the assembling speed of the containers 10 can be further increased.

[0045] Thereafter, the winch 138 operates in a direction to send out the string-like body 135 downward, and vertically lowers the multiple containers 10 together with the multiple lifting bodies 131. The bottommost container 10 comes into contact with the ground, and the connecting portion 135a connecting the bottommost container 10 and the second container 10 from the bottom is deformed to a slack state, while the second container 10 from the bottom is stacked on top of the bottommost container 10. In the same manner, all the containers 10 are stacked in order from the bottom. In conjunction with this, the string-like body 135 is sent out, and as shown in FIG. 23, each of the engagement pieces 134 slides obliquely downward along the guide path 133 in a direction away from the arrangement space 103, and thus disengages from each of the engaged parts 17 and moves to a retracted position in the holding part 132. The winch 138 continues to operate, and when all the lifting bodies 131 move to the bottom of the arrangement space 103 so as to be stacked, the winch 138 stops sending out the string-like body 135. Through the above process, it is possible to provide a plurality of box-shaped containers 10 in a stacked state in the arrangement space 103.

[0046] 24 diagrammatically shows the container assembling apparatus 100 in the fifth configuration in which the lifting device 130 and the pressing device 150 have been returned to their initial positions and the box-shaped containers 10 have been stacked in the arrangement space 103. Finally, the stacked box-shaped containers 10 are removed from the arrangement space 103, completing a series of steps and causing the container assembling apparatus 100 to return to its initial configuration. When continuing to assemble additional containers 10, the user can again insert one or more containers 10 into the arrangement space 103, thereby repeatedly assembling the containers 10.

[0047] The container assembling apparatus 100 may additionally include a folding device (not shown) for transforming the box-shaped containers 10 stacked in a plurality of tiers in the arrangement space 103 into a folded shape, as in the fifth embodiment. The folding device includes a first pressing means for pressing the pair of second side walls 14 of each container 10 from the outside to the inside, and a second pressing means for pressing the hinge portion 13a of the pair of first side walls 13 from the outside to the inside. The folding device is controlled so that the second pressing means presses the hinge portion 13a immediately after the first pressing means releases the engagement of the second side walls 14. Each container 10 is transformed into a folded shape by its own weight due to the pressing of the hinge portion 13a. The folding device may be provided in a plurality of tiers corresponding to the number of containers 10 that can be assembled at one time, similar to the pressing device 150. The folding operation of the container 10 can also be speeded up by having multiple folding devices operate simultaneously.

[0048] The following describes the effects of the container assembling apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] According to the container assembling apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the top frame 12 of the container 10 in the folded form introduced into the arrangement space 103 is lifted upward in the height direction by the lifting device 130, thereby transforming the container 10 from the folded form to the intermediate form by its own weight, and then the second side wall 14 is pressed from the inside to the outside by the pressing device 150, thereby transforming the container 10 from the intermediate form to a box form. Thus, the container assembling apparatus 100 makes the assembly process more efficient than before, and makes it possible to assemble one or more containers 10 more easily and quickly.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various embodiments and modifications may be made within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0051] (1) The container assembling device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the engaging piece of the lifting device is configured to engage with the engaged part on the horizontal side of the top frame of the container, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be configured to engage with the engaged part formed on the vertical side of the top frame of the container. Also, the engaged parts are formed at two places on the side of the top frame of the container, and two engaging pieces are formed for each lifting body corresponding to these, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the engaged part may be provided at one place on the side of the top frame of the container, or may be provided at three or more places. Also, the entire side of the top frame may be the engaged part, and one or more engaging pieces may be provided to engage with any place of the engaged part.

[0052] (2) The container assembling device of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the container assembling device is configured to be capable of assembling a plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of tiers at approximately the same time, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the container assembling device may be configured to be capable of assembling only one container. In this case, the lifting device is provided with only one engaging piece in the height direction. Also, there may be only one pressing device, which presses the containers in the height direction in sequence.

[0053] (3) The container assembling device of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the container assembling device is configured to lift the container by sliding the lifting body on the lifting rail and raising the engaging piece by being pulled by the string-like body, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the string-like body and the lifting rail may be omitted from the container assembling device. In this case, the engaging piece may be driven, for example, by a motor or the like, so as to move in the height direction. Also, the engaging piece may be driven, for example, by a motor or the like, so as to move from the retracted position to the engageable position.

[0054] (4) The container assembling device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the engaging piece is configured as a plate-shaped hook to be hooked onto the engaged part, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the engaged part may be a hole or a recess, and the engaging piece may be a pin or a protrusion. Also, the engaging piece may be configured to clamp and grip the top frame.

[0055] (5) The container assembling device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the container assembling device is configured to be automatically driven, but it may be configured to be manually operated by a user by adding an operating lever and a handle.

[0056] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications, and may be embodied in various forms within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 Container 11 Bottom wall 12 Top Frame 13 First side wall 13a Hinge part 14 Second side wall 15 Fitting part 17 Engaged part 100 Container assembly equipment 101 Device body 102 Frames 103 Placement space 105 Lifting rail 107 Support Frame 130 Lifting equipment 131 Lifting body 132 Holding part 132a Stopper 133 Guideway 134 Engagement piece 135 Cord 135a Connection site 138 Winch (towing means) 150 Pressing device 151 Slide body 152 Rotating Body 152a Rotating shaft 153 Pressing body 154 Pressing part 156 First Drive Unit 156a 1st Gear 156b First drive shaft 156c First drive motor 157 Second Drive Unit 157a 2nd Gear 157b Second drive shaft 157c Second drive motor

Claims

1. A container assembling device for assembling a foldable container that is mutually transformable into a folded form and a box form, comprising: the container comprises a bottom wall, a top frame having an opening on the inside and placed on the bottom wall in the folded configuration; a pair of first side walls whose upper and lower edges are pivotally connected to horizontal sides of the bottom wall and the top frame, respectively, and having hinge portions that allow the first side walls to bend freely only inward between the upper and lower edges; a pair of second side walls whose upper edges are pivotally connected to vertical sides of the top frame and have free ends at their lower edges, and which are folded so that their inner surfaces face upward through the opening of the top frame in the folded configuration; and engaged portions provided on opposing sides of the top frame, and when the container is transformed from the folded configuration to the box configuration, the first side walls pass through an intermediate configuration in which they extend linearly, and the second side walls are pressed outward and fitted to the first side walls and / or the bottom wall, The container assembling device includes: an apparatus body defining an arrangement space therein for arranging the container; a lifting device that is provided with engaging pieces that engage with the engaged portions of the opposing sides of the top frame for the container in the folded configuration introduced into the arrangement space, and that is configured to lift the top frame upward in a height direction with the engaging pieces and the engaged portions engaged, thereby transforming the container from the folded configuration to the intermediate configuration; a pressing device that operates to press the pair of second side walls from the inside to the outside of the container in the intermediate state in which the top frame is lifted by the lifting device, so that the second side walls are fitted to the first side wall and / or the bottom wall, The engaging piece is configured to be displaceable between a retracted position where the engaging piece does not interfere with the container and an engageable position where the engaging piece protrudes from the retracted position and can engage with the engaged portion, The arrangement space can accommodate a plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of stages, The lifting device is a plurality of the engaging pieces for engaging with each of the engaged portions of the plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of stages in a height direction in the arrangement space; A flexible string-like body that directly or indirectly connects the multiple engagement pieces in a height direction; and a pulling means for pulling the string-like body upward in the height direction, Among the plurality of engagement pieces, adjacent engagement pieces are arranged such that they are spaced apart by a first distance when the string-like body is in a slack state in which it is not pulled, and are spaced apart by a second distance when the string-like body is in a tensioned state in which it is pulled, the second distance being greater than the first distance; each of the plurality of engagement pieces is disposed to face a corresponding one of the engaged portions of the plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of tiers in a folded state when the string-like body is in the slackened state, and is displaceable from the retracted position to the engageable position; a container assembling device, characterized in that the multiple containers are transformed into the intermediate form by pulling the string-like body under tension with the multiple engaging pieces hooked onto the engaged portions of the multiple containers, respectively.

2. 2. The container assembling device according to claim 1, wherein each of the engaging pieces is disposed in a guide path that slopes obliquely upward toward the opposing engaged portion, and is lifted upward in the height direction by the string-like body while simultaneously sliding obliquely upward from the retracted position to the engageable position.

3. 3. The container assembling device according to claim 2, further comprising a guide piece for guiding the string-like body in the slack state so as to hang down in a direction away from the opposing container.

4. 2. The container assembling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing devices are arranged in a plurality of stages in the height direction of the arrangement space, and the pressing devices operate independently of one another.

5. 2. The container assembling device according to claim 1, further comprising a dolly for carrying a plurality of containers stacked in a plurality of stages and introduced into the arrangement space.

6. The engaged portions are provided in pairs at two locations on each of the opposing sides of the top frame, The lifting device further includes a plurality of lifting bodies each holding two of the engaging pieces at positions corresponding to the pair of engaged portions and moving up and down in a height direction; 6. The container assembling device according to claim 1, wherein the device body is provided with lifting rails for guiding the lifting and lowering movement of the plurality of lifting bodies in the height direction.

7. 6. The container assembling device according to claim 1, further comprising a folding device including a first pressing means for pressing a pair of second side walls of the box-shaped container arranged in the arrangement space from the outside to the inside, and a second pressing means for pressing hinge portions of the pair of first side walls from the outside to the inside, wherein the folding device is controlled so that the second pressing means presses the hinge portions immediately after the first pressing means releases the engagement of the second side walls.

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