Packaging material separation apparatus

Abstract

To provide a packaging material separation apparatus which is less likely to cause a burden on a package by simplifying a structure of a table moving the package.SOLUTION: A packaging material separation apparatus comprises: a table 11 movable in a lateral direction in a state where a package P1 is placed at the upper side; a suction part 12 approaching / separating to / from the table 11 at the lower side; and a cutting part 13 for cutting a packaging material P2 of the package P1 placed on the table 11 within a range capable of taking out a content P3. The table 11 includes a through hole 111 penetrating in a vertical direction. The suction part 12, when moving so as to approach the table 11 on which the package P1 is placed, passes through the through hole 111 and its tip end moves onto an upper surface of the table 11, and sucks the packaging material P2 positioned at the lower part of the package P1, thereby the package P1 is positionally held in the lateral direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging material separating device that separates packaging material from a package in which contents are wrapped in the packaging material. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a packaging material separating device is the "packaging unwrapping device" described in Patent Document 1. This device is configured to place a package on a conveyor table, make a horizontal slit in the wrapping paper of the package, open the slit, and remove the contents (multiple stacked paper sheets). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-67233 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The conveying table described in Patent Document 1 is configured as an air table. With this configuration, a suction mechanism must be incorporated into the conveying table itself, resulting in a thicker conveying table compared to a case where a suction mechanism is not provided. If the conveying table is thick, for example, when attempting to insert the conveying table between multiple stacked packages to place packages on the conveying table, the packages may be forcibly deformed into a curved or bent shape (e.g., a dogleg shape) by the thickness of the conveying table being inserted, which could damage the contents, which is undesirable.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging material separating device that simplifies the structure of the table that moves the packaging material and that places less strain on the packaging material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a packaging material separation device that separates packaging material from a package in which contents are wrapped, the packaging material separation device comprising: a table that can move laterally with the packaging material placed on top; a suction unit below the table that moves toward and away from the table; and a cutting unit that cuts the packaging material of the package placed on the table to an extent that allows the contents to be removed. The table has a through hole that penetrates in the vertical direction, and the suction unit generates a suction force by sucking air from its tip. When the table moves toward the table on which the packaging material is placed, the tip advances through the through hole onto the top surface of the table and suctions the packaging material located at the bottom of the package, thereby holding the package in position in the horizontal direction.

[0007] According to the above configuration, there is no need to incorporate a mechanism for suction-holding the packaging material of the package into the table itself.

[0008] Furthermore, a plurality of the suction portions may be arranged in parallel in the lateral direction.

[0009] According to the above configuration, appropriate suction can be performed depending on the size of the lateral dimension of the packaging material.

[0010] The cutting device may further include an upper suction section above the table that moves toward and away from the table, the upper suction section generating suction force by sucking air from its tip, and after the cutting section cuts the packaging material to separate it into upper and lower parts, the upper suction section may repeat the movement toward and away from the table multiple times while sucking the packaging material located at the top of the package.

[0011] According to this configuration, the contents adhering to the packaging material located above the packaging body can be dropped.

[0012] The suction unit may continue to suction the packaging material while the cutting unit is cutting the packaging material.

[0013] According to the above configuration, even when the cutting section is moving while cutting the packaging material, the position of the packaging material is maintained by the suction section, so the packaging material can be cut appropriately.

[0014] The cutting device may also include a content holding section that holds the contents removed from the packaging material, and a transfer section that supports the contents from below while they are moving between the content holding section and the movement range of the table, and a part of the cutting section may be provided on the transfer section.

[0015] According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to support a part of the cutting portion with a separate member, and therefore the arrangement of the members can be made compact. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, since there is no need to incorporate a mechanism for suction-attaching the packaging material of the package into the table itself, it is possible to provide a packaging material separation device that simplifies the structure of the table and puts less strain on the package. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of an automatic paper stacking machine including a packaging material separating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram (part 1) showing the operation of each part in the order of steps. [Figure 2] 8 is a schematic plan view showing a main part of the automatic paper stacking machine (corresponding to FIG. 7 in terms of state). FIG. [Figure 3] 10 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps (part 2). FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps (part 3). FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps (part 4). FIG. [Figure 6]5 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps (part 5). FIG. [Figure 7] 6 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps; FIG. [Figure 8] 7 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps (part 7). FIG. [Figure 9] 8 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps. FIG. [Figure 10] 9 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps; FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the automatic paper stacking machine, showing the operation of each part in the order of steps; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A packaging material separation device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention and an automatic paper stacking machine A into which this packaging material separation device 1 is integrally incorporated will be described below with reference to the drawings. Directions in the following description refer to directions in Fig. 1 (side view) and Fig. 2 (plan view). Furthermore, the "front-to-rear direction" is based on the conveying direction of the packaging material or contents, with the left side in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 being the "front" and the right side being the "rear." Furthermore, the "depth direction" is the up-down direction in Fig. 2. Furthermore, "side" is an expression in the depth direction.

[0019] The packaging material separating device 1 of this embodiment is a device for opening a package P1 in which contents P3 are wrapped in packaging material P2 by separating the packaging material P2 from the package P1. In this embodiment, the contents P3 are stacked sheets of printed paper (each of which has the same shape, specifically, a rectangular shape in a plan view), and the packaging material P2 is a sheet-like wrapping paper that wraps the multiple sheets together (its three-dimensional shape is shown, for example, in Figure 1 of Patent Document 1). The packaging material P2 is arranged so as to surround the contents P3 by gluing or applying adhesive tape. Each package P1 is plate-shaped, specifically, a rectangular parallelepiped whose thickness is smaller than its planar dimensions. Therefore, the packaging material P2 surrounds each of the six faces of the contents P3.

[0020] For example, at a printing factory, a package P1 containing multiple paper sheets wrapped in wrapping paper (also called "wrap") serving as packaging material P2 is delivered from a paper manufacturer or paper wholesaler. After delivery, the multiple packages P1 to P1 are stacked in the thickness direction (hereinafter referred to as the "unopened stack (P10)"). Because the sheets must be fed to the printing press in the bare state, they must be opened by separating the packaging material P2 from the package P1. Conventionally, this separation work was performed manually by an operator, but a device that automates this work is called a "packaging material separation device." Furthermore, an "automatic paper stacker" is a device that removes multiple paper sheets from the package P1 (or multiple packages) and stacks them in the thickness direction before feeding them to the printing press.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the automatic stacking machine A of this embodiment is housed within a frame 4 made of metal or the like. The automatic stacking machine A is typically stationary in a fixed location in a printing factory or the like, but wheels attached to the bottom of the frame 4 allow the entire machine to be moved as needed. The automatic stacking machine A includes an inlet section 2 on the right side of the figure, a packaging material separation device 1 in the center, and a stacking section 3 on the left side of the figure, each of which is adjacent to the other. The opening process for a package P1 involves the flow of contents P3 (including the state of the package P1) from the inlet section 2 through the packaging material separation device 1 to the stacking section 3 (two left-pointing arrows in FIG. 2 ). The automatic stacking machine A is equipped with a control unit C (FIG. 2 shows a control box housing the control unit C) that controls the operation of each component. Although only some components are shown, cylinders (hydraulic or pneumatic), links, motors, gearboxes, sprockets, chains, and the like are provided to operate each component. In addition, blowers and air nozzles are provided where necessary.

[0022] The loading section 2 is a section that holds multiple packages P1 to P1 that have been loaded into a printing factory or the like in a stacked state (the unopened stack P10). The loading section 2 is equipped with a loading-side lifting platform 21 that can be raised and lowered by a motor, and the packages P1 are placed on this loading-side lifting platform 21 via a general-purpose transport pallet PA. At this time, the longitudinal direction of the packages P1 (sheets) is aligned with the depth direction of the loading section 2, and the lateral direction of the packages P1 is aligned with the left and right direction of the loading section 2. The unopened stack P10 placed on the transport pallet PA is loaded into the loading section 2 from the right side in the figure by a forklift or the like. The loading-side lifting platform 21 is raised depending on the number of packages P1 stacked in the unopened stack P10 so that the height of the top surface of the unopened stack P10 becomes a height that is convenient for inserting a table, which will be described later.

[0023] A positioning unit 22 and a lifting unit 23 are provided on the upper part of the loading unit 2. The positioning unit 22 adjusts the position of the packaging body P1 relative to the upper surface of the table 11 by contacting the packaging body P1 in the front and depth directions after the packaging body P1 has been moved onto the table 11. The front positioning unit 221, which contacts the packaging body P1 in the front, retracts (more specifically, moves upward) after positioning so as not to interfere with the movement path of the packaging body P1. On the other hand, the side positioning units 222, which contact the packaging body P1 on the sides in the depth direction (both the front and back sides), maintain their contact state even after positioning. This is because the side cutting units 132, which will be described later, cut the side surfaces of the packaging body P1.

[0024] The lifting section 23 is a section that lifts the topmost package P1 of the unopened stack P10 by air suction. This lifting is performed when inserting the table 11 below the topmost package P1 (FIG. 3). The lifting section 23 is positioned to one side toward the front of the unopened stack P10. By lifting the topmost package P1, a space is created between the front side of the unopened stack P10 and the package P1 below it. This space opens toward the table 11, allowing the table 11 to be inserted into this space from the front to the rear. The lifting section 23 moves up and down to abut against the top surface of the topmost package P1. Furthermore, the lifting section 23 is rotatable so that it can tilt in the front-to-rear direction, as shown in FIG. 3, to match the tilt of the package P1 when the table 11 is inserted.

[0025] The pile unit 3 is a content holding section that holds the contents P3 (plurality of sheets) in a stacked state after the packaging material P2 has been separated and removed from the packaging material P2 by the packaging material separating device 1. Similar to the carry-in section 2, the pile unit 3 is equipped with a pile-side lifting platform 31 that moves up and down depending on the amount of packaging bodies P1 stacked, and the contents P3 are placed on the pile-side lifting platform 31 via a general-purpose transport pallet PA.

[0026] The stacking unit 3 is equipped with a paper alignment mechanism 32. The paper alignment mechanisms 32 are arranged in front and on the sides of the stacking unit 3 (front paper alignment mechanism 321, side paper alignment mechanism 322). The paper alignment mechanism 32 adjusts the position of the package P1 relative to the top surface of the table 11 by contacting the contents P3 (multiple stacked paper sheets) in the front and depth directions. The paper alignment mechanism 32 is provided with a nozzle (not shown), which can align the paper sheets and separate them at the same time by spraying air from the nozzle. The paper alignment mechanism 32 can align the stack of multiple paper sheets so that they can be fed to the printing press.

[0027] Next, we will explain the packaging material separation device 1. In the packaging material separation device 1, the main components related to the present invention are a table 11, a suction section 12, a cutting section 13, an upper suction section 14, a content gripping section 15, and a transfer section 16. Other components include a front suction section 17, a sweeping section 18, a collection box 19, etc.

[0028] The table 11 is flat and can move laterally with the packaging material P1 placed on top. The table 11 moves back and forth between the loading section 2 on the right side of the figure and the packaging material separation device 1 in the center of the figure. The table 11 is rectangular in plan view and has plan dimensions that are larger than the maximum expected handling dimensions of the packaging material P1 (corresponding to the plan dimensions of the paper sheets). At least the top surface of the table 11 is flat. A notch 11a penetrating vertically is formed in the center of the front end of the table 11 in the depth direction. A front suction unit 17 (described later) is located below this notch 11a. In this embodiment, the table 11 is configured by connecting a plate-like body located in the front that is narrow and thick in the front-to-back direction and a plate-like body located in the rear that is wide and thin in the front-to-back direction. The thick plate-like body is divided into two pieces in the depth direction, and the notch 11a is located in the center of the depth direction where the plate-like body is not located. The shape of the table 11 is not limited to this, and for example, the entire table can be formed integrally from a single piece.

[0029] As shown in the plan view of Fig. 2, the table 11 has through-holes 111 that penetrate in the vertical direction. In the table 11 of this embodiment, a plurality of circular through-holes (specifically, 13 in total, divided into three rows) are provided in the rear region. Because the packaging P1 is adsorbed by the adsorption section 12, there is no need to provide any other structure for adsorption on the table 11 other than the through-holes 111. This allows the thickness of the table 11 to be thin.

[0030] A guide roller 112 that rotates around an axis extending in the depth direction is provided at the rear end (the tip on the carry-in section 2 side) of table 11. This guide roller 112 first inserts table 11 into the space created between the uppermost package P1 and the package P1 below it, and then the guide roller 112 rotates while abutting against the underside of the uppermost package P1, allowing table 11 to be smoothly inserted rearward between packages P1, P1 while pushing the upper and lower packages P1, P1 apart.

[0031] The suction portion 12 is a portion located below the table 11 that moves toward and away from the table 11. The suction portion 12 generates suction force by sucking air (air suction) from the tip of a pad-like (suction cup-like) portion. The suction portion 12 moves up and down (vertically) relative to the table 11. The tip of the suction portion 12 has a circular shape in plan view with a diameter smaller than that of the through-hole 111 (see FIG. 2). When the suction portion 12 moves upward to approach the table 11 on which the packaging body P1 is placed, the tip of the suction portion 12 passes through the through-hole 111 and advances onto the upper surface of the table 11, adsorbing the packaging material P2 located below the packaging body P1. This holds the packaging body P1 in position in the horizontal direction (front-rear direction in this embodiment). A plurality of suction portions 12 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction (front-rear direction) corresponding to the movement direction of the table 11. Therefore, appropriate suction is possible depending on the size of the lateral dimension (short dimension in this embodiment) of the packaging material P2.

[0032] The multiple suction units 12-12 are arranged in three rows in the front-to-back direction. In the front row, four suction units 12-12 are arranged in the depth direction. In the central row, four suction units 12-12 are arranged in the depth direction, with wider spacing between them than in the front row. In the last row, five suction units 12-12 are arranged in the depth direction. Therefore, a total of 13 suction units 12-12 are arranged. These multiple suction units 12-12 are collectively provided on a flat lifting plate 121. The suction units 12 located in each row are used depending on the size (left-to-right direction) of the packaging body P1. Air suction is stopped at suction units 12 that are not used because the packaging bodies P1 do not overlap. Furthermore, the multiple suction units 12-12 in each row perform suction simultaneously.

[0033] The cutting unit 13 is a section that cuts the packaging material P2 of the packaging body P1 placed on the table 11 to an extent that allows the contents P3 to be removed, thereby leaving the inside and outside in a connected state. The cutting unit 13 is equipped with a blade that cuts the packaging material P2 horizontally. The cutting unit 13 is composed of a front cutting unit 131 that cuts the packaging material P2 located on the front of the packaging body P1 and a side cutting unit 132 that cuts the packaging material P2 located on the side of the packaging body P1. The front cutting unit 131 and the side cutting unit 132 cut the packaging material P2 at the same vertical position on three side surfaces of the packaging body P1, namely the front and two side surfaces in the depth direction. In this embodiment, due to the process described below, the side cutting unit 132 cuts the packaging material P2 before the front cutting unit 131. The order of cutting by the front cutting unit 131 and the side cutting unit 132 is not particularly limited.

[0034] The front cutting section 131 is configured so that the blade moves in the depth direction relative to the table 11. The front cutting section 131 also has a guide plate (not shown). The guide plate is a long, narrow rectangular plate-like body with its longitudinal direction extending in the depth direction. It is spring-supported from the front at the bottom of the transfer section 16 and is configured to move in the front-to-rear direction. The guide plate is brought into elastic contact with the packaging P1 before the blade cuts the packaging material P2. The guide plate functions as a "cutting ruler" that guides the blade so that it moves linearly in the depth direction when cutting the packaging material P2, using an edge extending in the longitudinal direction or a long hole that penetrates the guide plate in the thickness direction and extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0035] In this embodiment, the side cutting section 132 is provided in the positioning section 22 on the side of the loading section 2, and as described above, the positioning section 22 abuts against the packaging body P1 on the sides in the depth direction (on both the front and rear sides), and then as the table 11 moves forward, the packaging body P1 moves relative to the side cutting section 132, thereby cutting the packaging material P2 located on the sides of the packaging body P1. The cutting is performed along the entire side of the packaging body P1 (all of the short edge sides of the packaging body P1).

[0036] The upper suction portion 14 is a portion located above the table 11 that approaches and moves away from the table 11. The upper suction portion 14 generates suction force by sucking air from its tip. After the cutting portion 13 (front cutting portion 131) cuts the packaging material P2 located at the front of the packaging body P1, the upper suction portion 14 approaches the table 11 and sucks the top surface of the packaging material P2.

[0037] The content gripping unit 15 includes a fixed claw 151 located below and a movable claw 152 located above the fixed claw 151 and moving toward and away from the fixed claw 151. The combination of the fixed claw 151 and the movable claw 152 in the content gripping unit 15 opens laterally (rearward). Two content gripping units 15 are arranged side by side with a gap between them in the depth direction, allowing the content P3 to be gripped at two locations in the depth direction. The entire content gripping unit 15 moves in the front-to-rear direction. The content gripping unit 15 moves to the front end of the package P1 after the packaging material P2 has been cut and clamps only the content P3 from above and below. At this time, the fixed claw 151 is located below the content P3, and the movable claw 152 is located above the content P3. The content gripping unit 15 moves forward while clamping the content P3. This allows the content P3 to be removed from the cut packaging material P2. The contents P3 are carried to the pile-up unit 3 as the contents gripper 15 moves.

[0038] The transfer section 16 supports from below the contents P3 being moved to the pile section 3 by the contents gripping section 15 between the pile section 3 and the left-right movement range of the table 11. The transfer section 16 is plate-shaped. The contents P3 slide along the upper surface of the transfer section 16. The transfer section 16 is configured to be movable up and down. A front cutting section 131 (including a guide plate), which is part of the cutting section 13, is provided at the lower rear side of the transfer section 16. When the front cutting section 131 operates, the transfer section 16 rises so that its upper surface is higher than the upper surface of the table 11, as shown in FIG. 8 . This configuration eliminates the need to support the front cutting section 131 with a separate member, thereby enabling the components in the packaging material separation device 1 to be arranged compactly. When the transfer section 16 is raised, the packaging material P2 is being cut and the contents P3 are not above the transfer section 16, so the operation of the packaging material separation device 1 is not hindered.

[0039] The front suction portion 17 passes through the notch 11a of the table 11 and sucks the front end of the packaging body P1 from below, pulling down the lower packaging material P2. This reliably prevents the lower packaging material P2 from being pinched together when the content gripping portion 15 sandwiches the contents P3 between the top and bottom. The front suction portion 17 is configured to move up and down in an arc-shaped trajectory relative to the table 11. Note that the front suction portion 17 may not be provided if, after cutting, the front end of the lower packaging material P2 sags due to its own weight or the like, preventing the content gripping portion 15 from gripping the lower packaging material P2 together with the contents P3.

[0040] In this embodiment, the sweeping unit 18 is a portion that is long in the front-to-rear direction and is equipped with a brush. The sweeping unit 18 is configured to be above the table 11 in a forward-extending state, wait at a standby position on the front side when not in operation (see FIG. 2), and move to the rear side and then return to the standby position on the front side when in operation. By this movement, the packaging material P2 on the table 11 after the contents P3 have been removed is moved to the rear side and placed into the collection box 19. Note that the sweeping unit 18 may be equipped with a rubber block or sponge in addition to a brush. It may also be equipped with a rotating roller, and the packaging material P2 may be moved by rotation. The packaging material P2 may also be moved by an air current caused by air jetting or by air suction.

[0041] Next, the outline of the processing will be explained in order, while showing the side views of Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 11 in the order of steps. Note that in Figures 3 to 11, only parts necessary for the explanation of the operations shown in each figure are given reference numerals. Also, in Figures 3 and 5 to 11, the sweeping unit 18 and the collection box 19 are not shown.

[0042] 1 shows the state before the start of operation. The loading platform 21 in the loading section 2 is raised (indicated by the upward arrow in the figure). The loading platform 21 is raised so that the space between the topmost level and the packages P1, P1 below it is approximately at the same height as the table 11.

[0043] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the table 11 is inserted between the topmost package P1 and the packages P1 below it. During insertion, the guide rollers 112 rotate along the surface of the package P1, allowing for smooth insertion. Note that FIG. 3 shows a transitional state in which the table 11 is being inserted, with the leading edge of the table 11 below the lifting portion 23. Here, the table 11 itself only has a through-hole 111, and does not incorporate a suction mechanism as in the past. This allows the table 11 to be as thin as possible while still able to support the weight of the package P1. Therefore, even when the table 11 is inserted, the package P1 does not bend as much as in the configuration described in Patent Document 1. Furthermore, even if the packages P1 and P1 are glued together, the inserted table 11 can remove the glue and separate the packages P1 and P1. FIG. 4 shows the state after insertion is complete. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the positioning unit 22 positions the package P1 on the table 11 in the inserted state (superimposed on the unopened laminate P10).

[0044] Next, as shown in Fig. 6, the table 11 moves forward (leftward arrow in the figure). As this movement occurs, the side cutting units 132 cut both depthwise side surfaces of the packaging material P2 in the horizontal (front-to-back) direction. Next, as shown in Fig. 7 (the corresponding plan view is Fig. 2), the suction unit 12 rises (upward arrow in the figure) and begins suctioning air, sucking the underside of the packaging body P1. Next, as shown in Fig. 8, after the transfer unit 16 rises relative to the table 11 that has advanced forward, the front cutting unit 131 operates and cuts the packaging material P2 located in front of the packaging body P1.

[0045] Here, the suction unit 12 continues to suction the packaging material P2 while the cutting unit 13 is cutting the packaging material P2. By operating the suction unit 12 in this manner, even when the cutting unit 13 is moving while cutting the packaging material P2, the position of the packaging body P1 (packaging material P2) is maintained by the suction unit 12, so that the packaging material P2 can be cut appropriately. In other words, poor cutting caused by the movement of the packaging body P1 accompanying the movement of the cutting unit 13 can be prevented.

[0046] 9, the upper suction unit 14 rises (indicated by the upward arrow in the figure) to lift the upper packaging material P2. In response to this, the front suction unit 17 descends (indicated by the downward arrow in the figure) to pull down the lower packaging material P2. During this process, the upper suction unit 14 repeatedly moves toward and away from the upper packaging material P2 while adsorbing the upper packaging material P2 located on the packaging body P1 after the cutting unit 13 has cut the upper and lower packaging material P2. The so-called "lifting" that occurs when the upper packaging material P2 is lifted causes the contents P3 attached to the upper packaging material P2 of the packaging body P1 to fall through this multiple movement (swing). This movement of the upper suction unit 14 exposes the front of the contents P3 as shown in the figure.

[0047] Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the content gripping unit 15 moves rearward and grips the content P3 with the fixed claw 151 and the movable claw 152. In this state, the content gripping unit 15 moves forward (indicated by the left-pointing arrow in the figure), moving the content P3. During the movement, the transfer unit 16 supports the content P3 without it dripping. As shown in FIG. 11, the content P3 that has reached the stacking unit 3 is aligned and separated by the stacking mechanism 32, and then held in the stacking unit 3 until it is removed. Note that the boundary line between the (top) content P3 that has just been moved and the content P3 below it shown in FIG. 11 is shown for ease of understanding and does not actually exist.

[0048] Next, although not shown in the side view, the packaging material P2 remaining on the table 11 after the contents P3 have been removed is swept out in the depth direction (towards the back) by the sweeping section 18 (see FIG. 2) and placed in a collection box 19 (see FIG. 2). This completes the opening operation for one package P1. The above process is repeated for the number of packaging materials P2 that need to be opened. Once the required number of openings have been completed, the stacked contents P3 are removed from the pile section 3.

[0049] According to the configuration and operation of this embodiment configured as described above, there is no need to incorporate a mechanism for suction-holding the packaging material P2 of the packaging body P1 into the table 11 itself. This simplifies the structure of the table 11, reducing the manufacturing cost of the device. Furthermore, because the thickness of the table 11 can be reduced, less strain is placed on the packaging body P1 before the packaging material P2 is separated.

[0050] The above has described a packaging material separating device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and an automatic paper stacking machine A including the same, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0051] For example, the contents P3 may be various objects as long as they maintain their shape after the packaging material P2 is separated. Furthermore, if the contents P3 are printing paper, they may be rolled paper in addition to the sheets of paper in the above embodiment. In this case, the shape of the packaging body P1 changes to a cylindrical shape, and the physical configuration and operation of the packaging material separating device 1 and the automatic paper stacker A also change. Furthermore, the material of the printing paper may be other than paper (such as resin). Furthermore, if the contents P3 are sheets of paper, there is no particular limitation on their thickness (they may be thin paper or thick paper).

[0052] Furthermore, although the through-hole 111 of the table 11 is plural in the above embodiment, it may be singular. Also, although there are plural rows as in the above embodiment, each row may be singular. When there is a single through-hole 111, it may be, for example, a long hole. In this case, the suction portion 12 may be elongated in plan view to match the shape of the through-hole 111.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the suction unit 12 is configured so that when it moves closer to the table 11, its tip passes through the through-hole 111 and advances onto the upper surface of the table 11. However, this is not limiting, and for example, the tip may move to the lower surface of the table 11, and the suction unit 12 may communicate with the through-hole 111, thereby indirectly suctioning the package P1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1...packaging material separation device, 2...feed-in section, 3...content holding section (paper stacking section), 4...frame, 11...table, 11a...notch, 12...suction section, 13...cutting section, 14...upper suction section, 15...content gripping section, 16...transfer section, 17...front suction section, 18...sweeping section, 19...recovery box, 21...feed-in side lifting platform, 22...positioning section, 23...lifting section, 31...paper stacking side lifting platform, 32...paper alignment mechanism, 111...through Through hole, 112...guide roller, 121...lifting plate, 131...front cutting section, 132...side cutting section, 151...fixed claw, 152...movable claw, 221...front positioning section, 222...side positioning section, 321...front paper alignment mechanism, 322...side paper alignment mechanism, A...automatic paper stacker, C...control section, P1...package, P2...packaging material, P3...contents, P10...unopened laminate, PA...transport pallet

Claims

1. A packaging material separating device for separating packaging material from a package in which contents are wrapped in the packaging material, a table that can move laterally with the package placed on top, a suction unit that moves toward and away from the table below the table, and a cutting unit that cuts the packaging material of the package placed on the table to an extent that allows the contents to be removed, the table has a through hole extending in the vertical direction, The suction portion generates suction force by sucking air from its tip, and when it moves closer to the table on which the packaging body is placed, the tip passes through the through hole and advances onto the top surface of the table, adsorbing the packaging material located below the packaging body and thereby holding the packaging body in position in the horizontal direction.

2. The packaging material separating device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the suction units are arranged in parallel in the lateral direction.

3. an upper suction portion that approaches and moves away from the table above the table; 2. The packaging material separation device according to claim 1, wherein the upper suction section generates suction force by sucking air from its tip, and after the cutting section cuts the packaging material to separate it into upper and lower parts, the upper suction section repeats the approaching and separating movement multiple times while suctioning the packaging material located at the upper part of the packaging body.

4. The packaging material separating device according to claim 1 , wherein the suction unit continues to suction the packaging material while the cutting unit is cutting the packaging material.

5. a content holding section for holding the content removed from the packaging material, A transfer section is further provided between the content holder and the range of movement of the table to support the content from below during movement, The packaging material separating device according to claim 1 , wherein a part of the cutting section is provided in the transfer section.

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