Empty box processing device

Abstract

To provide an empty processing device that can easily process an empty cardboard box.SOLUTION: An empty box processing device 1, which expands an empty cardboard box, is provided with: a placement part 11 on which an empty box not yet expanded is placed; a blade part 12 that cleaves corner parts of the empty box; a moving part 13 that moves the blade part 12 so that the blade part contacts the corner parts of the empty box; a guide part 14 that performs operation of moving down the cardboard box expanded by being cleaved by the blade part 12; a control lever 15 that applies power for operating the moving part 13 and the guide part 14; and a power transmission part 16 that transmits, to the moving part 13, power generated in response to control of the control lever 15 and also can change a plan which the power is transmitted to the guide part 14 or not. The power transmission part 16 starts to transmit the power to the guide part 14, after the blade part 12 cleaves the corner parts of the empty box.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an empty box handling device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, mass production lines in factories and other facilities have been using general-purpose returnable containers for logistics to prevent cardboard waste. However, when the items being transported are batteries or other products, they may be transported in cardboard packaging depending on the product size, maritime transport regulations, and other factors.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a cardboard box unpacking system for automatically unpacking cardboard boxes containing products and placing the products on a tray. [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] There is a demand for reducing the volume of rectangular cardboard waste by opening the lids, spreading it out in a cross shape, and stacking it flat. However, packaging materials such as cardboard require manual work to unpack and dispose of the waste. For example, to spread a rectangular box out in a cross shape and stack it flat, a worker must cut the edges that make up the solid shape with hand tools such as scissors or a cutter, which is time-consuming. On the other hand, when using robots, it is common to use large crushers that crush the boxes as they are. Therefore, there is a demand for a system that can easily spread out and stack the cardboard.

[0006] The present disclosure provides an empty box processing device that easily processes empty cardboard boxes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The empty box processing device according to the present disclosure is an empty box processing device that unfolds empty cardboard boxes, The device comprises a placing section for placing empty boxes before unfolding, a blade section for cutting the corners of the empty boxes, a movable section for moving the blade section so that it abuts the corners of the empty boxes, a guide section for lowering the cardboard box unfolded by the cutting of the blade section, an operating lever for providing power to operate the movable section and the guide section, and a power transmission section that transmits power generated in response to operation of the operating lever to the movable section and can change whether or not to transmit the power to the guide section, and the power transmission section begins transmitting power to the guide section after the corners of the empty boxes have been cut by the blade section. This allows the cardboard to be dropped by the guide section after the cardboard has been unfolded using the blade section, without the need for an additional operating lever to generate power. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an empty box processing device that can easily process empty cardboard boxes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of an empty box processing device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of an empty box processing device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the empty box processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Embodiment 1 1 is a diagram showing a main part of the configuration of an empty box processing device 1. As shown in FIG.

[0011] The empty box processing device 1 comprises a placing section 11, a blade section 12, a movable section 13 that operates the blade section 12, a guide section 14, an operating lever 15, a power transmission section 16, and a collection box 17. Here, the empty box processing device 1 is a processing device that processes cardboard boxes 2 used to transport large lithium batteries, and in particular, it spreads the lids of the cardboard boxes 2 in a cross shape. Note that the cardboard boxes 2 before spreading are sometimes referred to as empty boxes.

[0012] Here, the cardboard box 2 is assumed to be long in the predetermined X and Y directions before being unfolded, and shorter in the Z direction than in the X and Y directions. The X, Y, and Z directions are mutually perpendicular, and the directions corresponding to the horizontally extending sides of the cardboard box when placed on the loading section 11 of the empty box processing device 1 will be referred to as the X and Y directions, and the direction corresponding to the vertically extending side will be referred to as the Z direction. Note that when an empty box is placed on the loading section 11 of the empty box processing device 1, the corner side of the empty box will sometimes be referred to as the corner side of the empty box processing device 1.

[0013] The placing unit 11 is a platform on which an empty box before being unfolded is placed. For example, the placing unit 11 is a platform that supports the vicinity of the four corners of the empty box from below, and the empty box is placed so that the opening thereof faces downward. For example, the placing unit 11 only needs to support the lower part of the four corners or the sides of the empty box before being unfolded in the placed state, and the shape of the placing unit 11 can be changed arbitrarily as long as it does not hinder the descent of the cardboard box 2 into the collection box 17 by the operation of the guide unit 14 when the unfolded cardboard box 2 is moved downward.

[0014] 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the cutting section 12. The cutting section 12 and the movable section 13 are disposed at positions near the four corners of the empty box placed on the placement section 11.

[0015] The blade portion 12 is a stress concentration portion that cuts the corners of the empty box to unfold it. The blade portion 12 moves in response to the operation of the movable portion 13 and comes into contact with the corners of the empty box. As a result, the empty box is torn apart by the blade portion 12 and unfolded.

[0016] The movable unit 13 is a mechanism for moving the blade unit 12. The movable unit 13 can be moved so that the blade unit 12 comes into contact with the corner of an empty box. For example, the operation of the movable unit 13 to move the blade unit 12 can be performed by power generated when the user operates the operating lever 15.

[0017] The guide unit 14 is disposed near a corner of the empty box processing device 1 and is positioned to abut against the side of an empty box. The guide unit 14 is a movable guide whose role changes depending on the processing status of the empty box, and can be switched between a feed guide that adjusts the position of the empty box when it is fed onto the loading unit 11, a side holder that holds down the side of the empty box when it is placed on the loading unit 11, and a drop guide that guides the cardboard box 2 that has been opened by the cutting of the blade unit 12 downward while lowering it so that it enters a collection box 17 provided below. Note that the guide unit 14 is driven to rotate when operating as a drop guide.

[0018] The operating lever 15 is a lever that is operated by the user to operate the blade section 12 and the guide section 14 when unfolding an empty box using the blade section 12 in the empty box processing device 1. Typically, part of the operating lever 15 is a rack, which meshes with a pinion (gear) that the power transmission section 16 has.

[0019] The power transmission unit 16 is a mechanism that transmits power generated when a user operates the operating lever 15 to the movable unit 13 and the guide unit 14. The power transmission unit 16 transmits power to the movable unit 13 so that the blade unit 12 changes from a state in which it is not in contact with the empty box to a state in which it is in contact with the empty box. On the other hand, the power transmission unit 16 can transmit power to rotate at least a part of the guide unit 14 when the guide unit 14 drops the unfolded cardboard box 2 into the collection box 17 below.

[0020] Here, the power transmission unit 16 transmits the power generated in response to the operation of the operating lever 15 to the movable unit 13, and can change whether or not to transmit the power to the guide unit 14. In other words, the power transmission unit 16 can switch between a state in which power is transmitted to the guide unit 14 and a state in which it is not transmitted.

[0021] The power transmission unit 16 has a shaft and multiple gears to transmit the power generated by the operating lever 15 to the movable unit 13 and the guide unit 14, and can transmit the power using a rack and pinion structure, but the components used in the power transmission unit 16 are not limited to these.

[0022] As an example, a pinion of power transmission unit 16 meshes with a rack provided on movable unit 13, so that the power applied from operating lever 15 is transmitted to movable unit 13 via power transmission unit 16. Meanwhile, a belt for transmitting force to guide unit 14 is provided on the pinion of power transmission unit 16, and the rotating part of guide unit 14 rotates via this belt, so that guide unit 14 can act as a drop guide to drop unfolded cardboard box 2.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the empty box processing device 1, a pulley is provided as a power transmission unit 16 near the operating lever 15 or the guide unit 14 as a power transmission path to the guide unit 14, and the pulley is used to connect the operating lever 15 and the guide unit 14 with a belt, so that power can be transmitted; however, the power transmission path to the guide unit 14 is not limited to this.

[0024] Here, while the movable part 13 is being operated to unfold the empty box with the blade part 12, the power transmission part 16 operates the stopper to prevent power from being transmitted to the guide part 14, allowing the guide part 14 to function as a side support wall for the empty box. On the other hand, when unfolding by the blade part 12 is completed, the power transmission part 16 releases the stopper to allow power to be transmitted to the guide part 14. In other words, the power transmission part 16 starts transmitting power to the guide part 14 after the blade part 12 has cut away the corners of the empty box. As a result, the guide portion 14 operates as a drop guide that performs a rotational movement to drop the cardboard box 2 into the collection box 17.

[0025] The collection box 17 is a box provided below the placement section 11. The cardboard box 2 unfolded on the placement section 11 is inserted into the collection box 17 by the guide section 14, to which power is transmitted by the power transmission section 16, operating as a drop guide.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the empty box processing device 1.

[0027] First, an empty box is set in the empty box processing device 1 (step S1). At this time, the guide unit 14 operates as a loading guide that guides the empty box so that it is loaded into a predetermined position in the empty box processing device 1.

[0028] The user operates the operating lever 15 (step S2). In response to the operation of the operating lever 15, the placement unit 11 and the blade unit 12 move (step S3).

[0029] At this time, the empty box processing device 1 centers the empty box in a floating state (step S4). This centering of the empty box in a floating state can be performed because, in the process of moving the blade sections 12 arranged inside the empty box at the corners of the empty box in a direction that pushes the blade sections 12 outward, the empty box has high strength and rigidity despite its light weight, and therefore the floating free movement resistance is smaller than the cutting start resistance.

[0030] The empty box processing device 1 unfolds the four corners of the empty box (step S5). That is, the empty box processing device 1 transmits power generated by the operating lever 15 to the movable part 13 via the power transmission part 16, thereby moving the blade part 12 and unfolding the four corners of the empty box simultaneously. More specifically, as described in step S4, the blade part 12 is disposed inside the empty box at each corner, and therefore can unfold each corner by moving toward the outside of the empty box in accordance with the power transmitted to the movable part 13 by the power transmission part 16. At this time, no power is transmitted to the guide part 14, and it functions as a side restraint that holds down the side of the empty box, i.e., a side support wall.

[0031] The empty box processing device 1 performs an assisting operation to drop the unfolded cardboard box 2 into the collection box 17 (step S6). Specifically, in the empty box processing device 1, the power transmission unit 16 switches from a state in which it transmits power only to the movable unit 13 to move the blade unit 12 to a state in which it also transmits power to the guide unit 14. That is, in the empty box processing device 1, when power is being transmitted to the movable unit 13, the power transmission to the guide unit 14 is blocked by a stopper, but when the blade unit 12 finishes cutting the empty box, the stopper is automatically released, allowing power transmission to the guide unit 14 to begin. As a result, a portion of the guide unit 14 is driven to rotate, and begins operating as a drop guide to assist the descent of the unfolded cardboard box 2.

[0032] In the empty box processing device 1, the unfolded cardboard box 2 is dropped (step S7). That is, in the empty box processing device 1, the guide part 14, which is driven to rotate as a drop guide, comes into contact with the cardboard box 2, thereby causing the cardboard box 2 to drop into the collection box 17.

[0033] Thereafter, the user returns the operation lever 15 that was operated in step S2 to its original state (step S8), whereby the empty box processing device 1 enters a standby state in which the next empty box can be set.

[0034] In this way, in the empty box processing device 1, the power transmission unit 16 transmits the power generated by the operating lever 15 as power to move the blade unit 12 relative to the movable unit 13, and also as power to cause the guide unit 14 to drop the cardboard box 2 into the collection box 17 after the cardboard box 2 has been unfolded.

[0035] Here, the power transmission unit 16 starts transmitting power to the guide unit 14 so that it rotates as a drop guide when the blade unit 12 unfolds the cardboard box 2. In other words, the empty box processing device 1 is designed so that the stopper that starts transmitting power to the guide unit 14 automatically disengages when the blade unit 12 completes cutting the corners of the empty box, allowing the guide unit 14 to start assisting the drop of the unfolded cardboard box 2. This simplifies operation for the user and improves operational efficiency in the empty box processing device 1.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In other words, the above description has been omitted or simplified as appropriate for the sake of clarity, and a person skilled in the art can easily modify, add, or convert each element of the embodiment within the scope of the present invention.

[0037] In the above, it has been explained that the power generated by the operating lever 15 is switched at the power transmission section 16 to be transmitted to the guide section 14 or not, that is, the state in which power is transmitted only to the movable section 13 is changed to the state in which power is transmitted to both the movable section 13 and the guide section 14. However, it is also possible to have a state in which power is not transmitted to the movable section 13 and power is given only to the guide section 14.

[0038] For example, it has been described that the change in the state of the stopper, which switches the state of transmitting power from the power transmission section 16 to the guide section 14, is achieved by the stopper automatically releasing when the blade section 12 cuts the empty box, but this may also be achieved by the stopper automatically releasing when the physically movable section 13 makes a predetermined movement, or the empty box processing device 1 may be provided with a function to detect the unfolded state of the cardboard 2, and the state of the stopper may be changed depending on the detection result.

[0039] The empty box processing device 1 may be provided with a function that allows the user to remove the stopper at will and operate the guide section 14.

[0040] In the above description, in Figures 1 and 2, it has been described that power is transmitted from the operating lever 15 to the guide unit 14 by the power transmission unit 16 having multiple pulleys and a belt hung on the pulleys. However, for example, power may be transmitted to the guide unit 14 by using a shaft that transmits power from the operating lever 15 to the movable unit 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Empty box handling equipment 2 cardboard boxes 11 Placement section 12 Blade 13 Moving parts 14 Guide section 15 Operating lever 16 Power transmission section 17 Collection Box

Claims

[Claim 1] An empty box processing device that unfolds empty cardboard boxes, a placement section on which an empty box before being unfolded is placed; A blade unit that cuts off the corners of the empty box; a movable part that moves the blade part so that the blade part abuts against a corner of the empty box; A guide section that lowers the cardboard box that has been opened by the cutting section; an operating lever that applies power to operate the movable portion and the guide portion; a power transmission unit that transmits power generated in response to operation of the operating lever to the movable unit and is capable of changing whether or not power is transmitted to the guide unit, The power transmission unit is After the corner of the empty box is cut by the blade portion, power transmission to the guide portion is started. Empty box handling equipment.

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