Compression device

Abstract

To provide a compression device which can easily determine an operation state of the device.SOLUTION: A compression device includes: a conveyor part having a first conveyor and a second conveyor which transport an object placed thereon, are arranged facing each other so as to narrow a space therebetween toward the downstream in a transport direction, and are used to compress the object; a plurality of girder materials which span the first conveyor and the second conveyor in a width direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the first conveyor and the second conveyor; a first projection groups formed by arranging first projections protruding to the object side relative to the girder material on the girder materials arranged along the transport direction of the conveyor part; and second projections which protrude to the object side relative to the one or more girder materials located between the first projection groups in a state that the first projection groups are arranged at intervals in the transport direction of the conveyor part. A first color coloring the first projections is different from a second color coloring the second projections.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a compression device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus for efficiently dismantling objects such as cardboard boxes. This apparatus is equipped with two transport conveyors arranged so that the incoming side is wide and the outgoing side is narrow, and a pair of compression and outgoing rollers installed downstream of the outgoing end of the transport conveyors. In addition, a guide plate is installed between the transport conveyor and the compression and outgoing rollers, and the uncompressed material transported by the transport conveyor is supplied to the compression and outgoing rollers after passing through the guide plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 161931 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When compressing with the transport conveyor described in Patent Document 1, a worker inserts the object between the transport conveyors arranged above and below. In other words, the worker needs to be positioned upstream of the transport conveyor to perform the inserting work. When the worker is positioned upstream of the transport conveyor, there is a problem that it is difficult to tell by visually checking only the transport conveyor whether the transport conveyor is in a driven state.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a compression device that can easily determine the operating state of the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a compression device comprising: a conveyor section having a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged opposite each other so that the gap between them narrows toward the downstream side in the conveying direction for compressing the object; a plurality of beams spanning the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first and second conveyors; a first projection group formed by arranging first protrusions protruding from the beams toward the object on a plurality of beams arranged along the conveying direction of the conveyor section; and a plurality of first protrusion groups arranged at intervals in the conveying direction of the conveyor section and second protrusions protruding toward the object on one or more beams located between each of the first protrusion groups, wherein a first coloring applied to the first protrusions is different from a second coloring applied to the second protrusions. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a compression device that allows the operating state of the device to be easily determined. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a compression device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a cross-sectional view of a conveyor section and a compression section. [Diagram 2] 1 is a front view of a compression device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is an enlarged view of a main portion of a compression device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a power transmission system on the right hand side in the conveying direction. [Figure 4] 1 is an enlarged view of a main portion of a compression device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a power transmission system on the left side in the conveying direction. [Diagram 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing the first compression step of the compression device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the front end of the girder of the first conveyor reaches the rear end of the conveying surface, and the preceding girder located downstream in the conveying direction is lowered from the conveying surface. [Figure 6]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a compression step 2 of the compression device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the state in which the front end of the girder approaches the rear end of the conveyor and starts to descend from the conveyor surface. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a compression step 3 of the compression device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the state in which the rear end and protrusion of the girder have reached the rear end of the conveyor and have begun to descend. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a compression step 4 of the compression device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the rear end and protrusion of the beam start to descend from the conveying surface. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram showing compression process 5 of the compression device of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the rear end and protrusion of the girder are lowered from the conveying surface, and the front end of the girder behind the first conveyor, which is located upstream of the girder in the conveying direction, has reached the rear end of the conveying surface. [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a compression process 6 of the compression device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the entire process. [Figure 11] 1 is an enlarged view of a main portion of a compression device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a terminal end portion in a conveying direction of a conveyor portion. [Figure 12] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main portion of a compression device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a terminal end portion in the conveying direction of a conveyor portion. [Figure 13] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a protrusion of a compression device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A first embodiment of a compression device A according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11. It is assumed that an object W to be compressed by the compression device A is a cardboard box, which is a box-shaped object. The compression device A has a conveyor unit B.

[0010] Conveyor section B carries and transports object W, and has a first conveyor 11 and a second conveyor 21 as shown in Fig. 1 and subsequent drawings. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are disposed opposite each other so that the distance between them narrows toward the downstream side in the transport direction, compressing the object W. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are disposed so that the distance between them gradually narrows toward the rear in the transport direction. The object W sandwiched between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 is gradually compressed toward the rear, which is downstream in the transport direction.

[0011] The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 each have a chain 14 wound around a starting end rotating shaft 12 and a rear end rotating shaft 13 that are parallel to each other, and a chain 24 wound around a starting end rotating shaft 22 and a rear end rotating shaft 23 that are parallel to each other, disposed at both ends of the width direction of the rotating shaft relative to the conveying direction. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are constituted by continuously attaching beams 15 and 25 called slats to the chains 14 and 24 in the conveying direction. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 each have a plurality of beams 15 and 25 stretched across in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0012] The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are sometimes called slat conveyors. As shown in Figures 1, 10, etc., the first conveyor 11 has a starting end side (starting end portion) 11A positioned downward and a rear end side (rear end portion) 11B, which is on the downstream side in the conveying direction, positioned above the starting end side 11A, thereby conveying an object W placed on the starting end side 11A of the placement surface, which is the conveying surface 17 on the top surface of the first conveyor 11, facing the second conveyor 21, upward and to the rear end side.

[0013] The second conveyor 21 is positioned above the first conveyor 11, with the rear end side (rear end) 21B in the conveying direction positioned lower than the starting end side (starting end) 21A. The surface of the second conveyor 21 facing the first conveyor 11 functions as a pressing surface 27, and moves rearward in the same manner as the placement surface of the first conveyor 11.

[0014] Primary compression is performed by pressing the object W moving upward on the placement surface of the first conveyor 11 with the pressing surface 27 of the second conveyor 21. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 rotate at the same speed, crushing the object W in a substantially vertical direction against the placement surface. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 do not cause a tearing action on the object W, so the object W is compressed without unnecessary tearing, suppressing the generation of waste such as paper powder and paper pieces.

[0015] The compression unit C will be described. As shown in Fig. 1 and subsequent drawings, the compression unit C is located downstream in the conveying direction of the conveyor unit B, and has a first roller 31 and a second roller 41 that are disposed opposite each other. The first roller 31 and the second roller 41 compress the object W conveyed by the conveyor unit B.

[0016] The object W compressed primarily in the conveyor section B is compressed secondarily in the compression section C located downstream in the conveying direction. The compression section C has a cylindrical first roller 31 arranged at the same height or slightly higher than the rear end rotating shaft 13 of the first conveyor 11, and a cylindrical second roller 41 arranged above the first roller 31 and at the same height or slightly lower than the rear end rotating shaft 23 of the second conveyor 21. The rotating shaft 33 of the first roller 31 is parallel to the rotating shaft 43 of the second roller 41, and the rotating shaft 33 and the rotating shaft 43 are arranged parallel to the starting end rotating shaft 12, the starting end rotating shaft 22, the rear end rotating shaft 13, and the rear end rotating shaft 23, respectively. In the description, the rotating shaft 33 and the rotating shaft 34 may also be referred to as the rotating shaft core 33 and the rotating shaft core 34.

[0017] The secondary compression is performed by arranging the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 so that the distance between them is narrower than the distance between the rear ends of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21. More specifically, the distance between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 is narrower than the minimum distance formed between the beam 15 of the first conveyor 11 and the beam 25 of the second conveyor 21, thereby performing secondary compression at a higher compression rate than the primary compression. The first roller 31 is positioned close to the rear end of the first conveyor 11, and the second roller 41 is positioned close to the rear end of the second conveyor 21, so that the object W after the primary compression in the conveyor section B can be smoothly supplied toward the compression section C.

[0018] The convex portions 32 and 42 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of each of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. The convex portions 32 and 42 are arranged so that the rotation radii of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 including the convex portions 32 and 42 overlap with each other. In addition, the convex portions 32 and 42 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 are arranged with their positions shifted in the circumferential direction of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 so as not to interfere with each other.

[0019] Reference numeral 34 denotes a rotational diameter of the first roller 31, and 44 denotes a rotational diameter of the second roller 41. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the rotational diameter 34 and the rotational diameter 44 overlap each other. That is, the object W passing through the compression section C is pressed alternately from above and below by the convex portions 32 and 42. The secondary compression by the convex portions 32 and 42 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 alternates between a state in which the object W is pressed from above by the convex portions 42 and a state in which the object W is pressed from below by the convex portions 32 in the conveying direction, thereby compressing the object W into a rectangular wave shape in the conveying direction. By compressing the object W in this way, friction occurs in the surface direction between the surfaces compressed in the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the object W tries to return to its original shape, so that the upper and lower parts of the object W are effectively brought into close contact with each other, suppressing springback, in which the compressed object W tries to return to its original shape.

[0020] 1 and subsequent drawings, the first roller 31 is disposed at a position higher than the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11, and the conveying direction of the first conveyor 11 is tilted upward toward the downstream of the conveying direction, thereby providing a space below the conveyor section B and the compression section C. A slope 51 is provided in the space, which slopes downward from the first roller 31 toward the starting end side 11A of the first conveyor 11.

[0021] The protrusions 16 and 26 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 9 and Fig. 11, for the girder 15 provided on the first conveyor 11, the protrusion 16 protrudes from the rear end of the girder 15 toward the object W side and toward the rear in the conveying direction, and is arranged so as to cover the front end of the girder 15 located at an angle relative to the girder 15, which is located at the rear in the conveying direction. For the girder 25 provided on the second conveyor 21, the protrusion 26 protrudes from the rear end of the girder 25 toward the object W side and toward the rear in the conveying direction, and is arranged so as to cover the front end of the girder 25 located at an angle relative to the girder 25, which is located at the rear in the conveying direction.

[0022] The protrusions 16, 26 are arranged on the beams 15, 25 at intervals in the conveying direction. For example, in the first conveyor 11 constituting the conveyor section B, a normal line 161 of an inclined surface shown in FIG. 6 of a leading protrusion 16 located forward on the conveying side faces a middle portion between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, compared to a trailing protrusion 16 that has reached a conveying end portion 11B of the conveying surface 17. When the trailing protrusion of the protrusions 16 and 26 in the conveying direction starts to move away from the conveying surface 17, the leading protrusion 16 and protrusion 26 in the conveying direction are positioned between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41.

[0023] In the first embodiment, the protrusions 16 and 26 are provided with a width approximately equal to the width of the beams 15 and 25 in the conveying direction, and the protrusions 16 in the case of the first conveyor 11 protrude above the conveying surface 17 toward the rear in the conveying direction, while the protrusions 26 in the case of the second conveyor 21 protrude below the pressing surface 27 toward the rear in the conveying direction. In other words, the protrusions 16 and 26 are positioned to form an obtuse angle with the beams 15 and 25 to be installed.

[0024] The protrusions 16 and 26 are installed at intervals on the beams 15 and 25 of the conveyor section B. In the first embodiment, the protrusions 16 and 26 are arranged at equal intervals on the beams 15 and 25 arranged in a line in the conveying direction. In addition, as an example, the protrusions 16 and 26 may be arranged at equal intervals on two or more beams 15 and 25, arranged on all beams 15 and 25, or arranged on multiple beams 15 and 25 in succession and then arranged with a space for one beam 15 and 25, and there is no limitation on the arrangement order. The arrangement of the protrusions 16 and 26 can be freely adjusted and changed depending on the condition of the object W to be compressed, the compression environment, etc.

[0025] During the primary compression process, the protrusions 16 and 26 have the effect of crushing the object W by forming wedge-shaped recesses in parts of the object W, and of sending the object W to the compression section C. In detail, even if the object W to be crushed is made of hard material such as cardboard, or is thick and difficult to crush, the protrusions 16 and 26 can be caused to bite into the object W to effectively perform the primary compression. Also, even if the object W is relatively small, about the front-to-back width of the beams 15 and 25, the protrusions 16 and 26 can be hooked on the object W and released into the compression section C, thereby sending the object W to the compression section C.

[0026] For this reason, when the protrusions 16 and 26 are provided on all the beams 15 and 25, the primary compression can be effectively performed when used when there are many hard-to-crush objects W. Also, when used when there are many small objects W, the objects W can be effectively sent to the compression section C without dropping from the terminal end 11B of the conveyor section B. Also, in the case of the above-mentioned hard-to-crush objects W, scraps such as pieces of paper and paper powder are likely to be generated during compression. For this reason, by providing the protrusions 16 and 26 on all the beams, the front ends of the beams 15 and 25 can be covered, preventing the scraps from entering the side of the chains 14 and 24.

[0027] In contrast, if the object W is large and made of a soft material, it is easy to crush and send it to the compression section C, so there is no need to provide protrusions 16 and 26 on all of the beams 15 and 25, and primary compression can be achieved by arranging two or more beams 25 at intervals. Also, there are many cases where the amount of debris generated from the object W is small, so even if protrusions 16 and 26 are not provided on all of the beams, it is possible to prevent debris from entering the chains 14 and 24. In other words, by reducing the number of protrusions 16 and 26, the configuration of the conveyor section B can be simplified.

[0028] When the beams 15 and 25 are arranged spaced apart from each other as in the illustrated first embodiment, this is suitable for use when the characteristics of the object W are intermediate, that is, when the object W has relatively intermediate hardness or size compared to the above-mentioned examples of the object W. In other words, the first embodiment has a standard configuration, and is suitable for use when there are many intermediate objects W. Furthermore, if the characteristics of the object W to be compressed are irregular and not fixed, multiple beams 15 and 25 can be arranged in succession and then one beam 15 and 25 can be arranged with a gap between them, thereby simplifying the configuration and improving the efficiency of the primary compression and feeding to the compression section C. As described above, the protrusions 16 and 26 arranged on the beams 15 and 25 can be freely changed and adjusted according to the characteristics of the target object W, the operating environment of the compression device, and the configuration desired by the operator.

[0029] The protrusion 16 covers the upper part of the front end of the beams 15 and 25 located immediately behind in the conveying direction on the first conveyor 11. Also, on the second conveyor 21, it covers the lower part of the front end of the beams 15 and 25 located immediately behind in the conveying direction. This makes it possible to prevent scraps generated from the object W during the primary compression in the conveyor section B from falling through the gaps between the beams 15 and 25 installed on the first conveyor 11, and to prevent scraps blown upward from the object W from entering upward through the gaps between the beams 15 and 25 installed on the second conveyor 21. Therefore, since debris can be prevented from falling or entering the inner circumference of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21, the frequency with which the operation of the compression device A needs to be stopped for maintenance of the conveyor section B can be reduced, contributing to efficient compression.

[0030] Furthermore, since the protrusions are inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the beams 15 and 25, particularly in the case of the first conveyor 11, when the beams 15 and 25 and the protrusions 16 and 26 reach the conveying end 11B and turn around and head toward the starting end 11A, debris that falls onto the protrusions 16 and 26 and the beams 15 and 25 can fall without getting caught on the protrusions. In the first embodiment, the inclination is set to an obtuse angle of 135 degrees, which is 45 degrees backward from the right angle, but any obtuse angle between 120 and 150 degrees will suffice.

[0031] The protrusion height of the protrusions 16 and 26 relative to the beams 15 and 25 is preferably 1 / 2 or less of the length of the beams 15 and 25 in the conveying direction. Alternatively, it is preferably 1 / 3 or less of the closest distance between the beams 15 and 25. In this way, the strength of the protrusions 16 and 26 against the first compression is ensured, and the object W can be compressed in a manner that presses it locally in the first compression while avoiding interference with each other. In addition, since the protrusions 16 and 26 are inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the beams 15 and 25, they press against the object W in a wedge or mountain shape. Therefore, compared to the case where the protrusions 16 and 26 are formed at a right angle of, for example, 90 degrees, the protrusions 16 and 26 pierce the object W in a very small range, causing the object W to tear, and the generation of paper powder and paper scraps can be suppressed. The positions of the protrusions 16 and the protrusions 26 arranged on the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 do not necessarily have to be line-symmetrical with each other, and the above-mentioned effect will not change.

[0032] Furthermore, because the protrusions 16 and 26 are inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the beams 15 and 25, even when they reach the conveying direction terminal end 11B, the tips of the protrusions 16 and 26 can be positioned closer to the conveying surface 17 than the beams 15 and 25 on which they are placed. In other words, the tips of the protrusions 16 and 26 that have reached the terminal end 11B can support the object W after the primary compression, preventing it from being caught along the terminal end 11B of the conveyor section B and allowing it to be supplied to the compression section C. Supply from the primary compression to the secondary compression can be efficiently carried out.

[0033] The drive system will now be described. The conveyor section B and compression section C are driven to rotate by transmitting rotational power generated by a motor 81. In the first embodiment, the motor 81 is located below the compression section C. As shown in FIG. 3, a sprocket 82 is provided on the right end of the first roller 31 of compression section C and the motor 81 facing downstream in the conveying direction, and a chain 83 is wound around them. Furthermore, a sprocket 82 is provided on the right end of the first roller 31 and the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor 11 facing downstream in the conveying direction, and a chain 83 is wound around them.

[0034] As a result, the motor 81, the first roller 31, and the first conveyor 11 are driven in conjunction with each other. Also, gears 84 of the same diameter are arranged at the left end of each of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 in the conveying direction and are meshed with each other, so that they rotate in the same direction. A sprocket 82 is arranged at the left end of the second roller 41 and the terminal end 21B of the second conveyor 21 in the conveying direction, and a chain 83 is wound around it. The conveyor section B and the compression section C are all driven in conjunction with each other by the single motor 81.

[0035] The conveying speed is set to be equal for the moving speed of conveying surface 17 of conveyor section B and the rotating peripheral speed including convex sections 32 and 42 of compression section C. Regarding the moving speed of protrusions 16 and 26 of conveyor section B, since conveying surface 17 moves in a straight line, it moves at the same speed as beams 15 and 25, but since the radius of the tips of protrusions 16 and 26 at the turn-back portions of end section 11B and start section 11A is larger than the turn-back radius of beams 15 and 25, the moving speed of the tips of protrusions 16 and 26 is faster than that of beams 15 and 25.

[0036] The conveying path, conveying surface 17, etc. will be described. Here, the object W placed on the conveying surface 17 of the first conveyor 11 moves upward as it heads downstream in the conveying direction, and follows a conveying path in which it changes direction and moves almost horizontally toward the compression section C when it reaches the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor 11. Note that the conveying surface 17 in the conveyor section B refers to the straight portion that is the upper surface of the conveying section of the first conveyor 11, the terminal end 11B refers to the portion where this straight portion ends and the conveying direction is reversed, and the starting end 11A refers to the portion where the conveyor turns back from the terminal end 11B and turns back again to the straight portion of the conveying surface 17.

[0037] The debris collection section D will now be described. As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, a space is provided below the conveyor section B and the compression section C, and the debris collection section D is provided in this space. The debris collection section D has a slope 51 and a collection box 53. By arranging the first conveyor 11 at an incline, a large space can be secured between the rear end of the first conveyor 11 and below the first roller 31. The slope 51 is an inclined plate, and its upper end is positioned rearward of the rear end side of the first roller 31 in the conveying direction, and is provided at approximately the same height as the lower end position of the first roller 31.

[0038] The slope 51 does not impede the secondarily compressed object W from being discharged horizontally from the compression section C, and can catch any debris that falls from the secondarily compressed object W passing through the compression section C. The slope 51 is inclined downward as it approaches the start end side 11A of the first conveyor 11. Therefore, debris that falls between the conveyor section B and the compression section C can be caught in the middle section of the slope 51. In the first embodiment, the lower end of the slope 51 is located below the middle section of the first conveyor 11. The slope 51 catches debris such as pieces of paper and paper powder generated during compression in the conveyor section B and the compression section C, and allows it to slide downward.

[0039] A collection box 53 is disposed below the lower end of the slope 51. The collection box 53 is a container formed in the shape of a drawer, and the debris that slides down the slope 51 is collected in the collection box 53 and can be collected by pulling it out from the compression device. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, an auxiliary slope 52 is provided. The upper end side of the auxiliary slope 52 is disposed at the starting end side 11A of the first conveyor 11, and the lower end is located below the middle part of the first conveyor 11. The auxiliary slope 52 receives the debris that is generated and falls from the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11 and allows it to slide down.

[0040] The space allows the slope 51 to have a large inclination angle from the horizontal plane, which is set to 40° or more in the first embodiment. This allows the debris received by the slope 51 to slide down more easily and be efficiently collected in the collection box 53. In addition, the slope 51 can be disposed in the space below the conveyor section B and the compression section C, so there is no need to install the slope 51 outside the compression device A, and the entire compression device A can be configured compactly.

[0041] A roller conveyor 71 is disposed on the tip side of the first conveyor 11. The roller conveyor 71 is a conveyor in which a plurality of small-diameter cylindrical rollers are disposed in parallel at intervals, and has no driving force. That is, the object W disposed on the roller conveyor 71 can move in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical rollers. In the first embodiment, the cylindrical rollers are disposed so as to gradually lower toward the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11, so that when the object W is placed on the starting end side 11A, which is the upper side of the roller conveyor 71, the object W moves on the roller conveyor 71 by its own weight and can reach the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11. Then, the first conveyor 11 conveys the object W downstream in the conveying direction, and after the first compression in the conveyor section B, it reaches the compression section C and is secondarily compressed. In this way, when the object W is placed on the compression device, the object W can be placed on the conveyor section B without approaching the conveyor section B driven by an operator.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1 and 10, an opening 61 is provided on the downstream side of the compression section C in the conveying direction. The compressed object W passes through the opening 61 and is discharged. A discharge chute 63 is provided at the opening 61, and the compressed object W is stored in a storage box 64 arranged at the tip side of the discharge chute 63. A rotatable flap 62 is provided at the opening 61, and when the object W passes through, the flap 62 is rotated so that the object W pushes aside the flap 62, thereby opening the opening 61. When the object W is not passing through, the flap 62 rotates downwards due to its own weight, closing the opening 61.

[0043] Regarding the compression process, the primary compression and secondary compression processes will be described in the order of conveyance.

[0044] (1) An operator or the like places an object W on the starting end of the roller conveyor 71.

[0045] (2) The object W moves on the roller conveyor 71 due to its own weight and reaches the end of the roller conveyor 71.

[0046] (3) The lower front end of the object W reaches the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11 and gets caught on the beam 15 and protrusion 16 of the first conveyor 11, and the object W is placed on the conveying surface 17 as the first conveyor 11 rotates.

[0047] (4) As the first conveyor 11 rotates, the object W moves downstream in the conveying direction of the first conveyor 11.

[0048] (5) As the object W moves downstream of the first conveyor 11, it is gradually pressed from the front end side by the pressing surface 27 of the second conveyor 21 located above and the conveying surface 17 of the first conveyor 11, starting the primary compression. Since the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 rotate at the same speed, the object W is compressed as if it were being pushed from above. The primary compression is performed by the beams 15, 25 and the protrusions 16, 26, and the portions of the object W in contact with the protrusions 16, 26 are pushed in a locally piercing manner, forming wedge-shaped recesses spaced apart in the conveying direction.

[0049] (6) When the object W reaches the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor 11 and the terminal end 21B of the second conveyor 21, the primary compression is completed. After the primary compression is completed, the object W is pushed out by the conveyor section B and supplied to the compression section C.

[0050] (7) A detailed description will be given of how the object W is supplied from the terminal end 11B and terminal end 21B of the conveyor section B to the compression section C. In the description, unless otherwise specified, attention will be focused on the first conveyor 11. In addition, in order to clarify the positional relationship before and after conveyance, the preceding protrusion 16 will be referred to as T1, and the protrusion 16 located immediately behind the protrusion 16 will be referred to as T2. Compression step 1 is a state in which the leading protrusion T1 has reached the terminal end 11B of the conveyor section B and is about to turn back away from the conveying surface 17, and the primary compression of the front end side of the object W has been completed by the protrusion T1. The following protrusion T2 is still positioned on the conveying surface 17 and is in the process of compressing the object W. As shown in Fig. 5, which is an explanatory diagram showing the compression step 1 of the compression device, the front end of the girder 15 to which the protrusion T2 at the rear of the first conveyor 11 is attached has reached the rear end of the conveying surface 17. The preceding girder 15 located just before the protrusion T2 descends from the conveying surface 17. At this time, the inclined surface of the preceding protrusion T1 faces the middle part of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, and a normal line (virtual line) 161 based on the inclined surface of the preceding protrusion T1 in the side view shown in Fig. 5 passes between the rotation axes 33, 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, and the tip of the protrusion T1 is located near the conveying surface 17.

[0051] (8) In the compression step 2, as shown in Fig. 6, the front ends of the beams 15 and 25 to which the trailing protrusion T2 is attached reach the terminal ends 11B and 21B, respectively, and the trailing protrusion T2 is positioned on the conveying surface 17, and the primary compression at the protrusion T2 continues. The leading protrusion T1 is moving back at the first conveyor terminal end 11B, and is descending so as to move further away from the conveying surface 17. At this time, the inclined surface of the preceding protrusion T1 still faces the middle part between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. In other words, a normal line (virtual line) 161 based on the inclined surface of the preceding protrusion T2 shown in FIG. 6 passes between the rotation axes 33, 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. Therefore, by the tip of the protrusion T1 standing on the second conveyor 21 side, which is the upper side, the tip of the protrusion T1 located at the end portion 11B can be located near the conveying surface 17, and supports the front end of the object W in the conveying direction, which hangs down due to its own weight, so as to lift it upward. Even if there is a beam 15 located behind the conveying surface 17 and away from the conveying surface 17, the tip of the protrusion T1 attached to this beam 15 can be located near the conveying surface 17. In other words, the object W is supported by the tip of the protrusion T1 located at the terminal end 11B, preventing the front end of the object W in the conveying direction from moving along the circular motion of the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor 11.

[0052] (9) In the compression process 3, as shown in FIG. 7, the trailing protrusion T2 reaches the terminal end 11B and the primary compression at the protrusion T2 is completed. The leading protrusion T1 continues to move back and descends so as to move further away from the conveying surface 17. At this point, the leading protrusion T1 further descends and starts to move away from the tip of the object W. However, since the tip of the leading protrusion T1 is located above the rotation axis 33 of the first roller, if the tip of the object W sags, it can still be supported by the protrusion T1. Whether the object W moves away from the tip of the protrusion T1 or is supported by the tip of the protrusion T1 in this process depends on the softness of the object W, but at least it is possible to prevent the front end of the object W in the conveying direction from following the circular motion of the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor 11.

[0053] (10) In the compression process 4, as shown in Fig. 8, the trailing protrusion T2 reaches the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor 11 and starts the reverse motion. At this time, the protrusion T2 switches from linear motion to circular motion at the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor 11, so the moving speed of the tip of the protrusion T2 becomes faster than the moving speed of the beam 15. Therefore, the protrusion T2 acts on the object W that is still behind the protrusion T2 as if it is throwing it between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 while pulling the object W.

[0054] By doing this, the front end of the object W reaches the first roller 31. Since the front end of the object W is prevented from facing downward in the compression steps 2 and 3, it can be pushed by the trailing protrusion T2 and the beams 15 and 25 to be positioned above the rotation axis 33 of the first roller 31, that is, between the rotation axes 33, 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. In this example, the front end of the object W reaches the rotation diameter 34, which is the outer periphery above the rotation axis 33 of the first roller 31.

[0055] (11) In compression step 5, as shown in Fig. 9, the front end of the object W reaches a portion of the outer periphery of the first roller 31 that rotates toward the rear side in the conveying direction, as a result of compression step 4, and the first roller 31 starts to pull the object W between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. The trailing beam 15 of the first conveyor and the trailing protrusion T2 attached to the beam 15 are lowered from the conveying surface 17. Since the front end of the object W can be positioned between the rotational axis cores 33, 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, the friction caused by the rotation of the first roller 31 can pull the front end of the object W into between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. Furthermore, since the first roller 31 has the convex portion 32, it is easy to catch the front end of the object W, and the object W can be pulled into between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 more smoothly.

[0056] 9, the normal 161 to the inclined surface of the trailing protrusion T2 faces between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, so that it acts to throw the object W toward the compression section C. Therefore, the object W can be more efficiently supplied from the terminal end 11B or 21B of the conveyor section B to the compression section C. Also, due to this effect, even if the object W is small (for example, large enough to reach the compression section C from the terminal end 11B of the first conveyor), it can be easily supplied to the compression section C from the terminal end 11B or 21B of the conveyor section B.

[0057] (12) When the front end of the object W reaches between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, secondary compression begins (compression step 6), as shown in Fig. 10. In the secondary compression, the object W that has been primarily compressed is further compressed by the outer peripheries of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, and is pressed alternately from above and below by the convex portions 32 and 42 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, respectively. The compression by the convex portions 32 and 42 forms the object W into a rectangular wave shape, making it possible to suppress springback.

[0058] (13) Paper scraps, paper powder, and other debris generated during the primary and secondary compression fall down the slope as conveyor section B and compression section C rotate and are collected in collection box 53.

[0059] (14) The object W secondarily compressed in the compression section C is collected in the storage box 64 via the discharge chute 63. Since the object W in the storage box 64 is formed in a rectangular wave shape, springback is suppressed and an increase in bulk within the storage box 64 is prevented. Therefore, the compressed object W can be efficiently stored in the storage box 64.

[0060] A second embodiment will be described. In Fig. 12 for explaining the second embodiment, similar or different symbols to those in the first embodiment will be used when the configuration is similar or different from that in the first embodiment, and the same symbols will be used when the configuration is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0061] In the second embodiment, the positions of the protrusions 16a, 26a relative to the beam members 15, 25 are different from those in the first embodiment. The protrusions 16, 26 in the first embodiment have been described as covering the surface of the front end of the beam members 15, 25 on the side of the object W, which is located immediately behind the beam members 15, 25 on which the protrusions 16, 26 are arranged in the conveying direction, as typified by Figs. 5 to 9 and 11. However, the protrusions 16a, 26a in the second embodiment are configured not to cover the surface of the front end of the beam members 15, 25 on the side of the object W, which is located immediately behind the beam members 15, 25 on which the protrusions 16a, 26a are arranged in the conveying direction. In detail, the beam members 15, 25 and the protrusions 16a, 26a are arranged so as to secure a buffer space Sa between the protrusions 16a, 26a and the surface Fa of the beam members 15, 25 on the side of the object W on the downstream side of the conveying direction on which the protrusions are arranged. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment, and the following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. Furthermore, the conveyor section B to which the second embodiment is applied will be described with a focus on the terminal end as shown in Fig. 12. The conveyor section B on the starting end side is similar in configuration to the terminal end, and so detailed description and illustration will be omitted.

[0062] When a worker places an object W, such as a cardboard box, into the starting end of the conveyor section B and compresses it by pinching it between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21, there may be foreign matter inside the object W that is not suitable for compression. The protrusions 16a, 26a in the second embodiment have the effect of forming wedge-shaped recesses partially in the object W during the primary compression process, as in the first embodiment, and crushing it. However, if there is a foreign matter between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21, it will be excessively pressed against the chains 14, 24.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 12, the protrusions 16a, 26a are inclined toward the downstream side in the conveying direction, so that they can deform so as to fall toward the buffer space Sa provided on the side of the beams 15, 25. The degree of deformation of the protrusions 16a, 26a depends on the size of the foreign matter. Note that the protrusions 16a, 26a described below are made of a metal material, and deformation refers to plastic deformation. The protrusions 16a, 26a may deform over the entire width in the conveying direction, or only a portion of the width may deform. If only a portion of the protrusions deforms, this may be at any position in the width direction, or there may be multiple deformation locations.

[0064] The rear ends of the protrusions 16a, 26a are configured so as not to cover the surface of the object W side of the front end of the beams 15, 25 located immediately behind them in the conveying direction, so the maximum deformation of the protrusions 16a, 26a is possible until the inclined surfaces of the beams 15, 25 come into contact with the beams 15, 25. In other words, the deformed protrusions 16a, 26a cannot be positioned closer to the chains 14, 24 than the surface Fa of the beams 15, 25 on the conveying surface side.

[0065] In this respect, the description will be made in comparison with the first embodiment. In particular, the description will be made assuming that the protrusions are deformed at the start end 11A or the turn-back portion of the end end 11B in the conveying direction. The protrusions 16, 26 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 11 can be said to secure a buffer space S between the girder 15, 25 located immediately downstream of the girder 15, 25 to which they are attached in the conveying direction. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11, when the protrusions 16, 26 of the first embodiment are deformed toward the buffer space S at the turn-back portion of the start end 11A or the end end 11B of the conveyor section B, the deformed protrusions 16, 26 can be positioned on the chain 14, 24 side from the surface F facing the conveying surface side of the girder 15, 25 to which they are attached. For this reason, when the conveyor section B changes its conveying direction at the turnaround section and the beams 15, 25 are positioned in the straight section of the conveyor section B, the rear ends of the protrusions 16, 26 press the beams 15, 25 located immediately behind them. As a result, the chains 14, 24 are pressed, and the links that make up the chains 14, 24 move in a twisted state, which tends to generate loads.

[0066] In contrast, in the second embodiment shown in Figure 12, the deformed protrusions 16a, 26a cannot be positioned on the chain 14, 24 side of the face Fa of the beam, so even if the beam 15, 25 is positioned in a straight section after the conveying direction of the conveyor section B changes direction at the turnaround section, the rear ends of the protrusions 16a, 26a do not press against the beam 15, 25 located immediately behind, and no load is applied to the chain 14, 24.

[0067] As described above, even if the protrusions 16a, 26a of the second embodiment are deformed by a foreign object, they do not put a burden on the chains 14, 24. Even if the conveyor section B is excessively pressed, the protrusions 16a, 26a deform toward the buffer space Sa between the beams 15, 25 to which the protrusions 16a, 26a are attached, protecting the chains 14, 24 from excessive pressure. The deformed protrusions 16a, 26a themselves pass through the buffer space Sa and are allowed to deform until they come into contact with the beams 15, 25 to which they are attached, so they do not press against the following beams 15, 25. Even if the protrusions 16a, 26a continue to rotate in the conveying direction after being deformed to the maximum, they do not put a burden on the chains 14, 24, so the frequency of replacement of the chains 14, 24 can be reduced. As for the entire device, the frequency of maintenance of the drive parts such as the chains 14, 24, which is difficult to perform, can be reduced. As a result, the occurrence of downtime of the compression device A can be suppressed.

[0068] In the second embodiment, the protrusions 16a, 26a can be easily replaced by removing the deformed protrusions 16a, 26a from the beams 15, 25. The replacement of the protrusions 16a, 26a can also be achieved by replacing the beams 15, 25 to which the protrusions 16a, 26a are attached.

[0069] The effect achieved by the normal line of the inclined surface of the protrusions 16a, 26a facing the downstream side in the conveying direction and the positional relationship of the compression unit C with the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 shown in the second embodiment is equivalent to that shown in the first embodiment. Therefore, the object W compressed by the protrusions 16a, 26a can be easily delivered to the compression unit C.

[0070] A third embodiment will now be described. In Fig. 13 for explaining the third embodiment, similar or different symbols to those in the first embodiment will be used when the configuration is similar or different from that in the first embodiment, and the same symbols will be used when the configuration is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0071] In the third embodiment, the protrusions 16, 26 are composed of the first protrusions 16b, 26b and the second protrusions 16c, 26c. The installation positions of the first protrusions 16b, 26b and the second protrusions 16c, 26c in the conveying direction relative to the beams 15, 25 may be the positional relationship described in the first embodiment or the embodiment described in the second embodiment.

[0072] The first protrusions 16b, 26b are protrusions arranged on the beams 15, 25, and are arranged in a series so as to be adjacent to each other in the upstream or downstream direction of the conveying direction. The first protrusions 16b, 26b are arranged at intervals along the conveying direction on the beams 15, 25 to form the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g. In the embodiment, the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g are formed by arranging five first protrusions 16b, 26b adjacent to each other at intervals in the conveying direction on the beams 15, 25 arranged side by side in the conveying direction. In the first conveyor 11, the first protrusion group 16g is formed by grouping together a plurality of first protrusions 16b, and in the second conveyor 21, the first protrusion group 26g is formed by grouping together a plurality of first protrusions 26b.

[0073] The first protrusions 16b, 26b in the illustrated third embodiment are arranged on the next girders 15, 25, skipping one girder, among the girders 15, 25 arranged continuously in the conveying direction. Five first protrusions 16b, 26b adjacent to each other form one first protrusion group 16g, 26g. However, this example is not exhausted, and the number of first protrusions 16b, 26b forming the first protrusion group 16g, 26g is not limited as long as there are more than one. In addition, the number and intervals of the first protrusions 16b, 26b forming the first protrusion group 16g, 26g can be freely changed depending on the use and form of the compression device.

[0074] In addition, as mentioned above, the first protrusions 16b, 26b can be arranged at equal intervals on two or more spaced beams 15, 25, or can be arranged on all beams 15, 25, so there is no relationship between the number of first protrusions 16b, 26b arranged and the number of beams 15, 25.

[0075] The second protrusions 16c, 26c are arranged on the beams 15, 25 arranged upstream or downstream of the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g in the conveying direction. The beams 15, 25 on which the second protrusions 16c, 26c are arranged may be the beams 15, 25 adjacent to the upstream or downstream of the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g, or may be arranged on the beams 15, 25 arranged with one or more beams 15, 25 in between. In the third embodiment, the second protrusions 16c, 26c are arranged so that there is only one of them between the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g, but there may be more than one.

[0076] With the above arrangement, the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g and the second protrusions 16c, 26c are arranged alternately and adjacently in the conveying direction of the conveyor B. That is, the number of the first protrusions 16b, 26b constituting the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g is greater than the number of the second protrusions 16c, 26c. It is desirable that the number of the second protrusions 16c, 26c arranged on the first conveyor 11 or the second conveyor 21 is about 1 / 3 to 1 / 6 of the number of the first protrusions 16b, 26b. In the third embodiment, the number of the second protrusions 16c, 26c is set to be 1 / 5 of the number of the first protrusions 16b, 26b.

[0077] The first protrusions 16b, 26b in the first protrusion group 16g, 26g are colored with a first color, and the second protrusions 16c, 26c are colored with a second color. The first color applied to the first protrusions 16b, 26b is colored differently from the second color applied to the second protrusions 16c, 26c. Furthermore, the first color and the second color are colored with different colors. The number of the second protrusions 16c, 26c colored with the second color is small compared to the number of the first protrusions 16b, 26b colored with the first color. Therefore, when the conveyor section is visually recognized, the second protrusions 16c, 26c moving toward the downstream of the conveying direction are clearly noticeable compared to the first protrusion group 16g, 26g consisting of the multiple first protrusions 16b, 26b colored with the first color.

[0078] The number of second protrusions 16c, 26c colored in the second coloring is clearly less than the number of first protrusions 16b, 26b colored in the first coloring. The second protrusions 16c, 26c moving in the conveying direction on the conveyor section B can make the second protrusions 16c, 26c appear prominent.

[0079] Furthermore, when a worker is positioned on the side of the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11, which is an inlet on the upstream side in the conveying direction, and visually checks the conveyor section, the worker can visually check a plurality of second protrusions 16c, 26c arranged on the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21. This improves the opportunity to visually check the second protrusions 16c, 26c moving toward the downstream in the conveying direction on the conveyor section B.

[0080] In the third embodiment, the number of second protrusions 16c, 26c visible to the worker positioned at the input port is set to three. That is, three second protrusions 16c are visible on the first conveyor 11, and three second protrusions 26c are visible on the second conveyor 21. Moreover, even when the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are moving in the conveying direction, the worker can always see three second protrusions 16c, 26c on each of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21. Of course, this number is an example, and can be freely changed depending on the specifications and form of the compression device A, and the number of the first protrusions 16b, 26b and the number of the second protrusions 16c, 26c that constitute the first protrusion groups 16g, 26g.

[0081] An example of coloring is shown. First, the first coloring and the second coloring can be made to have different saturation and brightness. In this case, it is desirable that the contrast between the saturation and brightness is as large as possible. For example, one of the first coloring and the second coloring can be a bright color with high saturation, vivid, clear color, and high brightness, and the other can be a dark color with low saturation, dull color, and low brightness. Explained using specific colors, the first coloring can be made of a slightly whitish bright blue, and the second coloring can be made of black or a blue that is as close to black as possible. Also, one of the colors can be made of a dark color with high saturation, vivid, clear color, and low brightness, and the other can be a dark color with low saturation, dull color, and high brightness. Explained using specific colors, the first coloring can be made of a slightly blackish bright blue, and the second coloring can be made of white or a blue that is as close to white as possible. The color schemes of the first coloring and the second coloring shown in the example may be reversed. It should be noted that the colors used in the description are merely examples and are not limited to the illustrated colors.

[0082] The first coloring and the second coloring may differ only in saturation. In this case, it is desirable that the contrast of saturation is as large as possible. For example, one of the first coloring and the second coloring may be a bright and clear color with high saturation, and the other may be a dull color with low saturation. To explain using specific colors, the first coloring may be composed of a bright blue color, and the second coloring may be black, white, or a blue color close to these. Note that the color scheme of the first coloring and the second coloring shown in the example may be reversed. Note that the colors used in the explanation are merely examples, and are not limited to the illustrated colors.

[0083] The first coloring and the second coloring may be different in brightness. In this case, it is desirable that the contrast in brightness is as large as possible. For example, one of the first coloring and the second coloring may be a bright color with high brightness, and the other may be a dark color with low brightness. To explain using specific colors, the first coloring may be white or a blue color close to white, and the second coloring may be black or a blue color close to black. Note that the color scheme of the first coloring and the second coloring shown in the example may be reversed, and is not limited to the exemplified colors.

[0084] The first coloring and the second coloring have different saturations, and one of them can be a chromatic color and the other can be an achromatic color. For example, one of the first coloring and the second coloring can be a color with even a slight color, and the other can be a color with no color, such as white, gray, or black. To explain using specific colors, the first coloring can be a blue color that has even a slight color and can be any light or dark, and the second coloring can be white, gray, or black. The color scheme of the first coloring and the second coloring shown in the example may be reversed. The colors used in the explanation are merely examples, and are not limited to the illustrated colors.

[0085] The first coloring and the second coloring may be different in hue. In this case, it is preferable that the contrast between the hues is such that they are complementary to each other in the contrast on the color wheel. For example, to explain using specific colors, the first coloring may be colored with a blue hue or a hue similar to that, and the second coloring may be colored with an orange hue or a color similar to that. Note that the color scheme of the first coloring and the second coloring shown in the example may be reversed, and there is no limitation on the colors to be used as long as they are complementary.

[0086] The first coloring and the second coloring can be different from each other in terms of color tone. In this case, it is desirable that the color tones are significantly different from each other in terms of brightness or saturation. For example, the first coloring can be colored with a hue that is close to a pure color, and the second coloring can be colored with a low saturation to have a color tone close to black or white. Similarly, the first coloring can be colored with a hue with a lower brightness, and the second coloring can be colored with a high brightness. In this case, the color scheme of the first coloring and the second coloring does not have to be similar colors on the color wheel.

[0087] As illustrated, by configuring the first coloring and the second coloring to be significantly different, the first coloring and the second coloring can be made conspicuous when compared with each other. The first projection group 16g, 26g consisting of the first projections 16b, 26b arranged on the conveyor section B and the second projections 16c, 26c are colored in different colors. Since the number of the second projections 16c, 26c to be colored in the second color is small compared to the number of the first projections 16b, 26b constituting the first projection group 16g, 26g to be colored in the first color, the coloring of the second projections 16c, 26c can be made conspicuous. Therefore, the state of the second projections 16c, 26c moving in the conveying direction can be clearly seen even by an operator positioned on the inlet side of the object W upstream in the conveying direction. Therefore, an operator can easily recognize the operating state of the compression device A by only visually checking the conveyor section B.

[0088] The first and second colorings allow the operating status to be determined by visually checking only the conveyor section B, without checking the operation section (not shown), display section (not shown), or notification section (not shown) of the compression device A. Therefore, even if a human error occurs in which the operator does not check the operation section, display section, notification section, or the like, the operating status of the conveyor section B can be easily determined. In addition, since the first and second colorings are applied so as to be significantly different, even if the operator has poor physical abilities such as poor eyesight or hearing, and a human error occurs in the above-mentioned checking operation, the operating status of the compression device A can be easily determined by visually checking only the conveyor section B.

[0089] Although not shown in the drawings, as a modified example, the second protrusion group 16h, 26h can be composed of a plurality of adjacent second protrusions 16c, 26c. In this case, by making the number of second protrusions 16c, 26c in the second protrusion group 16h, 26h less than the number of first protrusions 16b, 26b in the first protrusion group 16g, 26g, the second protrusion group 16h, 26h can be made to stand out relative to the first protrusion group 16g, 26g.

[0090] In addition, when the second projection group 16h, 26h is provided, the number of the second projections 16c, 26c in the second projection group 16h, 26h can be the same as the number of the first projections 16b, 26b in the first projection group 16g, 26g. In this case, the number of the first projections 16b, 26b in the first projection group 16g, 26g and the number of the second projections 16c, 26c in the second projection group 16h, 26h are relatively large, preferably at least 5 or more. In this way, the first coloring and the second coloring that the worker sees do not move alternately and frequently due to the conveying drive of the conveyor B. Therefore, the worker is not dazzled by the first coloring and the second coloring. It is desirable that the number of either one of the projection groups is apparently larger than the number of the other projection group when the straight part of the conveyor section B is visually recognized. In other words, the first coloring and the second coloring do not move alternately and frequently, so that the worker is prevented from being disoriented. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 11 First conveyor 12 Second conveyor 15 Girder material 16 Protrusion 16a Protrusion 16b 1st protrusion 16c 2nd protrusion 16g 1st projection group 25 Girder material 26 Protrusion 26a Protrusion 26b 2nd protrusion 26c 2nd protrusion 26g 1st projection group 31 First roller 31 41 Second roller 41 A Compression Device B Conveyor section C Compression section W Object (box, cardboard)

Claims

1. a conveyor section including a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged opposite to each other so that the distance therebetween narrows toward the downstream in the conveying direction and for compressing the object; A plurality of beam members extending in a width direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the first conveyor and the second conveyor; a first projection group formed by arranging a first protrusion portion protruding from the beam toward the object side on the plurality of beams arranged along the conveying direction of the conveyor; The first projection groups are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction of the conveyor section, and a second projection portion is provided that projects toward the object side with respect to one or more of the beam members located between each of the first projection groups, A first coloring applied to the first protrusion portion is different from a second coloring applied to the second protrusion portion. A compression device comprising:

2. The first coloring and the second coloring have different saturations, and the first coloring and the second coloring have different lightnesses.

2. The compression device according to claim 1.

3. The first coloring and the second coloring have different saturations.

2. The compression device according to claim 1.

4. The first coloring and the second coloring are provided so as to have different brightnesses.

2. The compression device according to claim 1.

5. The first coloring and the second coloring are provided such that one of them is a chromatic color and the other is an achromatic color.

2. The compression device according to claim 1.

6. The hues of the first coloring and the second coloring are set to have a complementary color relationship.

2. The compression device according to claim 1.

7. The first coloring and the second coloring have different colors.

2. The compression device according to claim 1.

8. a compression unit located downstream in a conveying direction of the conveyor unit and having a first roller and a second roller for compressing the object conveyed by the conveyor unit; 8. Compression device according to claim 2 to 7, characterized in that it comprises

9. The protrusions are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction, a normal line of an inclined surface of a leading protrusion located forward of a trailing protrusion that has reached the transport end of the transport surface 17 of the conveyor section faces a middle portion between the first roller and the second roller; Compression device according to any one of claims 2 to 7.

Images