Cross expansion device and cross expansion method

Abstract

To provide a cross expansion device and a cross expansion method which can expand an empty box in a short time.SOLUTION: A cross expansion device 1 described in the present disclosure is provided with: frames 11 that provide a space 12 on which an empty box 70 not yet expanded is placed; a plurality of stress concentration members 20 that expand a plurality of corner parts 74 of the empty box 70; a plurality of movable parts 30 respectively attached to the plurality of stress concentration members 20; and a power transmission part 40 that transmits power for moving the stress concentration members 20 through the movable parts 30. The stress concentration members 20 positioned on the space 12 contact the inside of the empty box 70, from an opening side of the empty box 70 to place the empty box 70 thereon. The power transmission part 40 transmits, to the stress concentration members 20, power for moving the stress concentration members 20 so that the stress concentration members 20 contact the corner parts 74. Further, the power transmission part 40 transmits, to the stress concentration members 20, power for moving the stress concentration members 20 so that the corner parts 74 are expanded when the stress concentration members 20 tear away the corner parts 74.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cross deployment device and a cross deployment method. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, if a worker were to lay out rectangular boxes in a cross shape and stack them flat, it would be time-consuming because the worker would have to cut the edges that make up the solid shape with hand tools such as scissors or a cutter before stacking them.Also, if an automated machine were to perform this type of work, it would generally feed the boxes into a large crusher that is designed to crush them as they are.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a cardboard box unpacking system for automatically unpacking cardboard boxes and placing them on a tray. The cardboard box unpacking system in Patent Document 1 cannot unfold the box in a cross shape in one operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-075731 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Typically, mass production lines use general-purpose returnable boxes for logistics to prevent cardboard and other waste materials from being generated. However, when packing batteries, they arrive at factories in cardboard boxes due to various reasons, such as the size of the batteries as products and maritime transport regulations. Packaging materials, including cardboard, are generally "soft" with no precision guarantee, and as mentioned above, unpacking and waste disposal often require manual labor. For this reason, the task of flattening cardboard boxes into a cross shape is somewhere between logistics and mass production, and productivity improvements using automated machines (robots) have not been considered. Therefore, flattening empty boxes into a cross shape takes time.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a cross-unfolding device and a cross-unfolding method that can unfold an empty box in a short time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A cross-shaped unfolding device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a cross-shaped unfolding device for an empty box, and includes a loading frame that provides a loading space on which the open empty box is placed before being unfolded, a plurality of stress concentrating members that unfold each of a plurality of corners where the side surfaces on the inside of the empty box intersect, a plurality of movable parts that are respectively attached to a plurality of the stress concentrating members, and a power transmission unit that transmits power to move the stress concentrating members via the movable parts, wherein the stress concentrating members located in the loading space place the empty box by contacting the inside of the empty box from the open side of the empty box, and the power transmission unit transmits the power to the stress concentrating members to move the stress concentrating members so as to bring them into contact with the corners, and further, the power transmission unit transmits the power to the stress concentrating members to move the stress concentrating members so that the stress concentrating members tear and open the corners, thereby unfolding the corners.

[0008] In the above-mentioned cross-shaped deployment device, the power transmission unit transmits to the stress concentrating members the power that moves the stress concentrating members so that each of the stress concentrating members tears and spreads the multiple corners from the inside to the outside of the empty box, and the multiple stress concentrating members may simultaneously deploy the multiple corners while centering the empty box, which is floating with respect to the mounting frame, in the mounting space.

[0009] The above-mentioned cross-shaped unfolding device further includes a side retainer that comes into contact with the outer side of the empty box, and the side retainer is disposed near the destination to which the stress concentrating member moves while unfolding the corner portion, and may be fixed or movable.

[0010] In the above-mentioned cross-shaped unfolding device, the side presser may have a surface that comes into contact with the empty box that is treated to prevent the empty box from slipping.

[0011] A cross-unfolding method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an empty box cross-unfolding device, which includes a mounting frame that provides a mounting space on which the open empty box is placed before being unfolded, a plurality of stress concentrating members that unfold a plurality of corners where the side surfaces intersect on the inside of the empty box, a plurality of movable parts that are respectively attached to the plurality of stress concentrating members, and a power transmission part that transmits power to move the stress concentrating members via the movable parts, and brings the stress concentrating members located in the mounting space into contact with the inside of the empty box from the open side of the empty box. Thus, the method includes the steps of placing the empty box and transmitting the power for moving the stress concentrating member to the stress concentrating member, and in the step of transmitting the power for moving the stress concentrating member to the stress concentrating member, the power for moving the stress concentrating member so as to bring the stress concentrating member into contact with the corner is transmitted to the stress concentrating member, and further, the power for moving the stress concentrating member so as to unfold the corner by the stress concentrating member tearing and widening the corner is transmitted to the stress concentrating member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide a cross-folding device and a cross-folding method that can unfold an empty box in a short period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a mounting table in the cross-shaped deployment device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a cross deployment device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a cross deployment device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a cross-type deployment device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a cross deployment method using the cross deployment device according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Specific configurations of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following description illustrates preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the present embodiment are necessarily essential means for solving the problems. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary.

[0015] <Embodiment 1> A cross-shaped deployment device according to embodiment 1 will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting table 10 in the cross-shaped deployment device 1 according to embodiment 1. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating the configuration of the cross-shaped deployment device 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the cross-shaped deployment device 1 according to embodiment 1. In Figs. 1 to 4, some reference numerals have been omitted to avoid complication of the drawings. In Fig. 1, the stress concentration member 20, movable unit 30, power transmission unit 40, and side presser 60 have been omitted. In Figs. 2 to 4, only one side presser 60 is shown.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 comprises a mounting table 10, multiple stress concentrating members 20, multiple movable parts 30, a power transmission part 40, an operating lever 50, and multiple side pressers 60. The cross-shaped unfolding device 1 unfolds empty boxes 70 in a cross shape and stacks the unfolded empty boxes 70. Here, to facilitate explanation of the cross-shaped unfolding device 1, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system will be introduced. The Z-axis direction is the vertical direction, and the XY plane is the horizontal plane.

[0017] <empty box> The empty box 70 includes, for example, the lid of a cardboard box used to transport large lithium batteries. Specifically, the empty box 70 includes a rectangular lid that includes scrap cardboard boxes in which batteries procured from overseas are packed. Note that the empty box 70 may be an empty box such as a general cardboard box, as long as it can be unfolded using the stress concentration member 20. The empty box 70 has an opening 71 before being unfolded. The inner surface of the empty box 70 facing the opening 71 is called the bottom surface 72. The inner surfaces connected to the bottom surface 72 are called the side surfaces 73. For example, the empty box 70 has one opening 71, one bottom surface 72, and four side surfaces 73. The portions of the inside of the empty box 70 that include the lines where the side surfaces 73 intersect are called corners 74. The empty box 70 includes multiple corners 74. The empty box 70 includes, for example, four corners 74.

[0018] <Placement table> The mounting table 10 has a frame 11 that matches the shape of the empty box 70 when viewed from above. For example, the frame 11 is assembled in a rectangular parallelepiped or cubic shape. Spaces 12 are formed between the rectangular frame 11 when viewed from above the mounting table 10. Stress concentrating members 20 and movable parts 30 are arranged at the corners of the upper rectangular frame 11.

[0019] An open empty box 70 before unfolding is placed in the space 12. When the empty box 70 is placed in the space 12, the stress concentrating member 20 is positioned in the space 12 to place the empty box 70 thereon. Furthermore, when the empty box 70 is placed in the space 12, the empty box 70 is placed from the opening 71 side. Specifically, the empty box 70 is placed with the opening 71 facing the -Z axis direction and the outer bottom surface of the empty box 70 facing the +Z axis direction. Therefore, the stress concentrating member 20 positioned in the space 12 places the empty box 70 by contacting the inside of the empty box 70 from the opening 71 side of the empty box 70. In this way, the frame 11 of the placing table 10 provides the space 12 in which the open empty box 70 before unfolding is placed.

[0020] The frame 11 may be referred to as a loading frame, and the space 12 may be referred to as a loading space. The empty box 70 with the corner 74 unfolded falls into the space 12. A receiving stand 13 for the unfolded empty box 70 is arranged between the frames 11 at the bottom of the loading platform 10.

[0021] <Stress concentration member> A plurality of stress concentrating members 20 are arranged at four corners of the upper frame 11 arranged around the space 12. The stress concentrating members 20 can move in the direction of the bisector of the corner of the upper frame 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the direction of the bisector along which the stress concentrating members 20 move is called the movement direction R. The direction toward the inside of the frame 11 in the movement direction R is called the inward direction. On the other hand, the direction toward the outside of the frame 11 in the movement direction R is called the outward direction. The outward direction may also be called the +R axis direction, and the inward direction may also be called the -R axis direction. Although FIG. 4 shows the stress concentrating members 20 at one corner, the stress concentrating members 20 at the other corners also have their own movement directions R.

[0022] The stress concentrating members 20 guide the unfolding of the empty box 70. Specifically, for example, the stress concentrating members 20 form cuts in the corners 74 of the empty box 70. The multiple stress concentrating members 20 unfold each of the multiple corners 74 where the side surfaces 73 on the inside of the empty box 70 intersect. The stress concentrating members 20 may include a blade portion 21 having a portion extending in a plane including the movement direction R and the Z-axis direction in which the corners 74 extend. For example, the blade portion 21 has a cutting edge (also called a cutting edge) 22, a ridge 23, and a tip 24.

[0023] The ridge 23 extends in the movement direction R. The ridge 23 may have a portion parallel to the XY plane perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. This allows the ridge 23 to serve as a seating surface on which the bottom surface 72 of the empty box 70 is placed. The outer end of the ridge 23 forms the tip 24. The tip 24 connects the ridge 23 and the blade 22.

[0024] The blade 22 has a downward component. The blade 22 is inclined at a reverse gradient. Specifically, the blade 22 may be inclined inward from the tip 24. The blade 22 has a reverse gradient that protrudes outward as it goes upward. When the empty box 70 is placed on the stress concentrating member 20 in the space 12, the blade 22 protrudes toward the corner 74 as it goes toward the bottom 72 of the empty box 70. The blade 22 may also be closer to the corner 74 as it goes toward the bottom 72 of the empty box 70. This prevents the empty box 70 from lifting up during the cutting process with the stress concentrating member 20, and prevents the stress concentrating member 20 from being unable to cut into the corner 74.

[0025] If the blade 22 had a taper that protruded outward as it went downward, there was a risk that the empty box 70 would float upward when the stress concentration member 20 moved outward during unfolding. Even if the empty box 70 had high rigidity, it would deform under the load of unfolding, and as a result, the empty box 70 could escape upward during processing. In this embodiment, the blade 22 has a reverse slope, so the tip 24 can be inserted into the corner 74, and the processing load can hold the empty box 70 down.

[0026] The stress concentrating member 20 slides along the movement direction R by the movable part 30. When the unfolded empty box 70 is placed in the space 12, the stress concentrating member 20 is positioned in the space 12. In this way, the unfolded empty box 70 is placed on the stress concentrating member 20. The empty box 70 may be supported at four points by the stress concentrating member 20. The empty box 70 can be said to be in a floating state with respect to the frame 11 of the mounting table 10.

[0027] Another method for unfolding the empty box 70 is to press and secure the empty box 70 near the center from above and below. However, with this method of pressing and securing from above and below, the upper presser structurally interferes when setting the empty box 70. The lower presser prevents the empty box 70 from being dropped as is after the unfolding process. In contrast, in this embodiment, the empty box 70 is in a floating state, so there is no interference when setting it, and the empty box 70 can be dropped as is onto the receiving stand 13 after the unfolding process.

[0028] The stress concentrating members 20 move in a direction that pushes the empty box 70 outward from the inside. This allows the multiple stress concentrating members 20 to simultaneously deploy multiple corners 74 while centering the floating empty box 70. Generally, empty boxes 70 are lightweight yet highly strong and rigid, so the resistance to the stress concentrating members 20 deploying the corners 74 is smaller than the resistance to the stress concentrating members 20 sliding to the corners 74 while the empty box 70 is floating. Therefore, all of the stress concentrating members 20 move outward in a balanced manner, and deployment of the corners 74 begins after all of the stress concentrating members 20 have moved to the corners 74 simultaneously. In this way, the multiple stress concentrating members 20 can simultaneously deploy multiple corners 74 while centering the floating empty box 70 relative to the frame 11 in the space 12.

[0029] After all the stress concentrating members 20 have reached the corners 74, each stress concentrating member 20 moves outward. As a result, the stress concentrating members 20 expand (cut) the corners 74 of the empty box 70. In this way, the multiple stress concentrating members 20 expand the corners 74 of the empty box 70 from the inside outward.

[0030] <Movable part> The plurality of movable parts 30 are respectively attached to the plurality of stress concentrating members 20. The movable parts 30 are arranged together with the stress concentrating members 20 at the four corners of the upper frame 11 arranged around the space 12. The movable parts 30 transmit the power transmitted via the power transmission part 40 to the stress concentrating members 20.

[0031] <Power transmission section> The power transmission unit 40 transmits power to the stress concentrating members 20 via the movable unit 30 to move the stress concentrating members 20. Specifically, the power transmission unit 40 transmits power to the stress concentrating members 20 to move the stress concentrating members 20 so that the stress concentrating members 20 come into contact with the corners 74. Furthermore, the power transmission unit 40 transmits power to the stress concentrating members 20 to move the stress concentrating members 20 so that the stress concentrating members 20 tear and open the corners 74, thereby expanding the corners 74. The power transmission unit 40 transmits power to the stress concentrating members 20 to move the stress concentrating members 20 so that the multiple stress concentrating members 20 each tear and open the multiple corners 74 from the inside to the outside of the empty box 70.

[0032] The power transmission unit 40 includes, for example, a gear 41, a shaft 42, and a weight 43. The power transmission unit 40 may include other components. The gear 41 is attached to the shaft 42. The gear 41 transmits the power input by the operating lever 50 to the shaft 42 and the movable unit 30. By rotating in one direction, the gear 41 transmits the power for the stress concentrating member 20 to deploy the corner portion 74 to the stress concentrating member 20 via the movable unit 30. In this way, the power transmission unit 40 can achieve a series of operating processes in a single operation by connecting the deployment of the empty box 70 with the same system of power transmission structure.

[0033] The shaft 42 may be, for example, a rod-like shape extending along the frame 11, and may have a plurality of gears 41 attached thereto. The shaft 42 transmits power input to a given gear 41 to other gears 41.

[0034] The weight 43 is attached to the gear 41 via the gear 41 or the shaft 42. For example, when power is input by the operating lever 50 of the robot 80, the gear 41 rotates in one direction, causing the weight 43 to rise. After the empty box 70 is unfolded, when the input of power to the operating lever 50 is removed, the weight 43 descends, causing the gear 41 to rotate in the opposite direction. As a result, the weight 43 returns the stress concentrating member 20 to its position in the space 12.

[0035] Specifically, for example, when the robot 80 releases the operating lever 50, the weight 43, which has been raised by the power transmitted by the operating lever 50, descends. As the weight 43 descends, the stress concentrating member 20 moves inward and is positioned in the space 12. As a result, the stress concentrating member 20 is positioned to place the next empty box 70. The side retainers 60 are positioned to act as a guide for inserting the next empty box 70. In this way, the descending of the weight 43 allows the components of the cross-type deployment device 1 to return to their original positions.

[0036] <Operation lever> The operating lever 50 is an operating part that inputs power to unfold the empty box 70 in a cross shape. For example, after the robot 80 places the empty box 70 in the space 12, it operates the operating lever 50 to input power. This causes the cross-unfolding device 1 to start unfolding the empty box 70 in a cross shape.

[0037] In typical device designs, devices that operate each function independently can reduce problems, but require a long processing time. The cross-shaped unfolding device 1 of this embodiment has a power transmission unit 40, which allows the unfolding of the corners 74 of the empty box 70 in a single action. In other words, the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 is operated by the robot 80 using the operating lever 50, which operates the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 to unfold the empty box 70 and drop the unfolded empty box 70. Therefore, the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 utilizes the operation of the operating lever 50 and the weight (mechanism) of the weight 43, eliminating the need for a power source. This allows unfolding processing to be done in a short time and reduces problems.

[0038] <Side clamp> The side retainers 60 may be attached to the frame 11. When the unfolded empty box 70 is placed in the space 12, the side retainers 60 have a shape that opens outward as it approaches the top. When the unfolded empty box 70 is placed in the space 12, the side retainers 60 may come into contact with the outer side of the empty box 70. This allows the side retainers 60 to function as a guide for the empty box 70 set in the space 12.

[0039] The side retainers 60 may be provided with anti-slip treatment on the surfaces that come into contact with the empty box 70. Anti-slip treatment includes, for example, spike treatment and knurling treatment. The side retainers 60 are preferably disposed near the destinations where the stress concentrating members 20 move while unfolding the corners 74 of the empty box 70.

[0040] If there are no side presses 60 and the resistance to the unfolding process of the multiple corners 74 of the empty box 70 varies greatly, the unfolding process of the multiple corners 74 may not be completed simultaneously, and unfolding of other corners 74 may finish before the unfolding of a corner 74 with high resistance to the unfolding process is completed. This reduces the pressing load of the stress concentrating member 20 on the corners 74 whose unfolding has not finished, and the unfinished corners 74 may remain unprocessed. In this case, the stress concentrating member 20 will not be able to unfold the unfinished corners 74 and will simply drag the empty box 70.

[0041] In this embodiment, since the side presser 60 is provided, even if the resistance to the unfolding process at multiple corners 74 varies greatly, the stress concentrating members 20 at corners 74 where unfolding process has finished can move outward, pushing past the finished corners 74. The stress concentrating members 20 at corners 74 where unfolding process has not yet finished press the corners 74 against the side presser 60, thereby limiting the movement area of the empty box 70. Therefore, the stress concentrating members 20 continue unfolding the corners 74, allowing the unfolding process to be completed.

[0042] In this way, the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 has side retainers 60, which absorbs variations in the processing resistance of the empty boxes 70 while preventing unprocessed portions from remaining due to loss of load at all corners 74. In this case, it is desirable that the contact surfaces of the side retainers 60 also function as anti-slip surfaces to prevent the empty boxes 70 from slipping away. Furthermore, the closer the side retainers 60 are to the stress concentration member 20, the greater the effect described above.

[0043] The side retainers 60 may be movable around the frame 11 as a rotation axis. For example, the side retainers 60 may be rotatable so that the empty boxes 70 after unfolding are dropped onto a receiving stand 13 for empty boxes 70 arranged below.

[0044] After unfolding, the empty box 70 may fall in a variable position or take a variable trajectory due to accidental snagging or the like. The three-dimensional rigidity of the empty box 70 after unfolding is significantly reduced. Therefore, the side presser 60, which functions as a guide when the empty box 70 is inserted, is connected to the gear 41 and rotates synchronously with the unfolding process. This causes the empty box 70 after unfolding to be pressed from above, causing it to fall onto the receiving platform 13. In this way, the cross-unfolding device 1 of this embodiment allows the side presser 60 to function not only as a guide when the empty box 70 is inserted, but also to hold the empty box 70 during unfolding and to assist the empty box 70 in reaching the receiving platform 13 after unfolding.

[0045] <Safety cover> The stress concentration member 20 may further include a safety cover 25 in addition to the blade portion 21 having the blade 22. The safety cover 25 stores the blade 22. The upper part of the safety cover 25 extends in the movement direction R. The upper part of the safety cover 25 may have a portion parallel to the XY plane perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. This allows the upper part of the safety cover 25 to serve as a seating surface on which the bottom surface 72 of the empty box 70 is placed. In other words, the empty box 70 is placed on the upper part of the safety cover 25. The safety cover 25 moves the empty box 70 floating relative to the frame 11 while centering it in the space 12.

[0046] Of the stress concentrating member 20, the safety cover 25 is attached to the movable part 30 via the spring 26. Of the stress concentrating member 20, the blade part 21 having the blade 22 is attached directly to the movable part 30. Therefore, the power transmission part 40 transmits the power for moving the safety cover 25 to the safety cover 25 via the spring 26 and the movable part 30. The power transmission part 40 transmits the power for moving the blade 22 to the blade 22 via the movable part 30.

[0047] The power transmission unit 40 transmits power to the safety cover 25 to move the safety cover 25 storing the blade 22 so that the safety cover 25 comes into contact with the corner 74, and further transmits power to the blade 22 to move the blade 22 so that the blade 22 is exposed from the safety cover 25 that has come into contact with the corner 74 and the blade 22 tears and spreads the corner 74, thereby expanding the corner 74.

[0048] <Cross expansion method> Next, a cross-shaped unfolding method using the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 will be described. Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a cross-shaped unfolding method using the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 according to embodiment 1. As shown in step S10 of Fig. 5, the robot 80 sets the empty box 70. Specifically, the robot 80 sets the empty box 70 and places the empty box 70 by bringing the stress concentration member 20 positioned in the space 12 into contact with the inside of the empty box 70 from the opening 71 side of the empty box 70.

[0049] Next, as shown in step S20, the robot 80 operates the operating lever 50 and transmits power to the stress concentrating member 20 via the power transmission unit 40 to move the stress concentrating member 20. In step S20, the power to move the stress concentrating member 20 so that the stress concentrating member 20 contacts the corner 74 is transmitted to the stress concentrating member 20. Furthermore, the power to move the stress concentrating member 20 so that the stress concentrating member 20 tears and widens the corner 74, thereby expanding the corner 74, is transmitted to the stress concentrating member 20.

[0050] Specifically, step S20 includes operating the operating lever (step S21), moving the stress concentration member 20 (step S22), centering the empty box 70 while holding it (step S23), unfolding the four corners 74 (step S24), performing a drop assist operation (step S25), and dropping the empty box after unfolding (step S26).

[0051] Next, as shown in step S30, the robot 80 returns the cross-type unfolding device 1 to its original position by releasing the operating lever 50. For example, by releasing the operating lever 50, the weight 43, which was raised by the power transmitted by the operating lever 50, descends. As the weight 43 descends, the stress concentration member 20 moves inward and is positioned to support the next empty box 70. The side retainers 60 are positioned to act as guides for inserting the next empty box 70.

[0052] Specifically, step S30 includes releasing the operating lever 50 (step S31) and returning the weight 43 to its original position by descending (step S32).

[0053] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. The cross-shaped deployment device 1 of this embodiment moves the stress concentration members 20 using power transmitted via the power transmission unit 40. As a result, the multiple stress concentration members 20 deploy the corners 74 from inside the empty box 70 outward (in the +R axis direction). Therefore, the empty box 70 can be deployed in a cross shape in a short time.

[0054] The cross-shaped unfolding device 1 of this embodiment operates by power input from the operating lever 50. For example, by setting an empty box 70 with a three-dimensional lid or the like that the robot 80 has lifted during unpacking work into this device and simply operating the operating lever 50, the cross-shaped unfolding device 1 can drop the empty box 70 in a cross-shaped unfolded state. This allows the robot 80 to process the empty box 70 stably in a short amount of time.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure includes appropriate modifications that do not impair the objects and advantages thereof, and is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the configurations in embodiments 1 and 2 may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, the following matters are also within the scope of the technical concept of the present embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Cross deployment device 10 mounting base; 11 frame; 12 space; 13 receiving base 20 stress concentration member; 21 cutting edge; 22 blade; 23 ridge; 24 tip; 25 safety cover 26 Spring 30 Moving parts 40 power transmission part; 41 gear; 42 shaft; 43 weight 50 Operating lever 60 Side clamp 70 Empty box; 71 Opening; 72 Bottom; 73 Side; 74 Corner 80 Robot

Claims

1. A cross-shaped deployment device for an empty box, a loading frame that provides a loading space for loading the opened empty box before unfolding; a plurality of stress concentration members that respectively expand a plurality of corners where side surfaces intersect on the inside of the empty box; a plurality of movable parts attached to the plurality of stress concentrating members, respectively; a power transmission unit that transmits power for moving the stress concentration member via the movable unit; Equipped with The stress concentration member positioned in the placement space places the empty box in contact with the inside of the empty box from the opening side of the empty box, the power transmission unit transmits to the stress concentrating member the power for moving the stress concentrating member so as to bring the stress concentrating member into contact with the corner portion, and further, the power transmission unit transmits to the stress concentrating member the power for moving the stress concentrating member so as to tear and widen the corner portion, thereby expanding the corner portion. Cross deployment device.

2. the power transmission unit transmits the power to the stress concentrating members to move the stress concentrating members so that the stress concentrating members each tear and spread the corners from the inside to the outside of the empty box; the plurality of stress concentration members simultaneously deploy the plurality of corners while centering the empty box floating with respect to the mounting frame in the mounting space; The cross deployment device according to claim 1 .

3. Further provided is a side presser that contacts the outer side surface of the empty box, The side presser is the stress concentrating member is disposed in the vicinity of a destination of the corner portion as it moves while unfolding, be fixed or movable, The cross deployment device according to claim 1 .

4. The side presser has a surface that comes into contact with the empty box and is treated to prevent the empty box from slipping. The cross deployment device according to claim 3.

5. A cross-shaped deployment device for an empty box, a loading frame that provides a loading space for loading the opened empty box before unfolding; a plurality of stress concentration members that respectively expand a plurality of corners where side surfaces intersect on the inside of the empty box; a plurality of movable parts attached to the plurality of stress concentrating members, respectively; a power transmission unit that transmits power for moving the stress concentration member via the movable unit; Including, placing the empty box by bringing the stress concentration member located in the placement space into contact with the inside of the empty box from an opening side of the empty box; transmitting the power to the stress concentrating member to move the stress concentrating member; Equipped with In the step of transmitting the power to move the stress concentrating member to the stress concentrating member, a cross-shaped deployment method, comprising: transmitting to the stress concentrating member the power for moving the stress concentrating member so as to bring the stress concentrating member into contact with the corner portion; and further transmitting to the stress concentrating member the power for moving the stress concentrating member so as to cause the stress concentrating member to tear and spread the corner portion, thereby deploying the corner portion.

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