Band recovery device and band recovery method

Abstract

To provide a band recovery device and a band recovery method that can efficiently recover cut bands when cutting a band wrapped around a box body.SOLUTION: A band recovery device cuts and recovers a band 11 wrapped around a box body 101. The band recovery device includes a transport part 5 that transports the box body 11 placed on a mounting part 51 in the front-to-rear direction, a cutting part that cuts the band 11, and a band storage part 41 that has a drop opening 42 that opens toward the mounting part 51 and stores the band 11 that has fallen from the drop opening 42 under their own weight. Because the box body 10 passes through the drop opening 42 with the band 11 partially peeled off from the box body by the peeling part, the band 11 falls smoothly without getting caught on the box body 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a strap recovery device and a strap recovery method, and more particularly to a strap recovery device and a strap recovery method for recovering a strap from a box around which the strap is wound. [Background technology]

[0002] A cutting device for cutting cable ties wrapped around a cardboard case has been known for some time (see Patent Document 1). In the cutting device, a cardboard case on a roller conveyor is clamped from the left and right by clamping pieces, and then the bottom wall of the cardboard case is pushed up by a case bottom wall pushing-up piece. A predetermined space is formed between the bottom wall and the cable ties, and the cable tie cutter is raised and moved horizontally to cut the cable ties. This allows the cable ties wrapped around the case to be automatically cut without damaging the case.

[0003] In another band cutting and recovery device, the unit movement means is driven to move the cutting unit close to the side of the laminated sheet and move the cutting unit parallel to a position facing the band wrapped around the laminated sheet. The arm movement means is driven to clamp and pull the band wrapped around the laminated sheet with the clamping arms, and the band is cut with the cutter of the cutting unit while still separated from the laminated sheet. The band immediately after cutting is clamped and pulled between the feed roller and pressure roller, cut into short lengths with the rotary blade and fixed blade, and recovered in a recovery box. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-8927 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-89718 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the cutting device in Patent Document 1 requires the cardboard case to be clamped and lifted by clamping pieces, which increases the size of the cutting device and manufacturing costs. Also, clamping the cardboard case from the left and right with enough strength to lift it could deform the cardboard case. Furthermore, because the cable tie cutter is raised to cut the cable ties on the bottom wall, there is a possibility that the bottom wall of the cardboard case could be damaged depending on the raised position of the cable tie cutter.

[0006] In the band cutting and recovery device described in Patent Document 2, the band is pulled and cut with a clamping arm, which can damage the laminated sheet when the band is pulled. Also, the cut band is clamped and transported between rollers, which requires multiple sensors, drive mechanisms, motors, etc., resulting in high manufacturing costs.

[0007] The cutting device of Patent Document 1 may leak contents when clamping the cardboard case from both sides, depending on the contents, making it difficult to apply to boxes containing liquids, powders, viscous fluids, etc. Furthermore, the band cutting and recovery device of Patent Document 2 uses a clamping arm to pull the band, which may damage the laminated sheet when the clamping arm's pressure plate is inserted between the laminated sheet and the band, making it difficult to apply to boxes containing liquids, powders, viscous fluids, etc. For these reasons, even slight damage to boxes containing bags filled with liquids, etc., can cause the contents to leak, so many work sites require manual cutting of the bands. However, due to the poor workability of unpacking, there was a need for a band recovery device that could cut and efficiently recover the bands without damaging the contents and that could be manufactured at low cost.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a strap recovery device and a strap recovery method that can efficiently recover cut straps when cutting the straps wrapped around a box body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a band recovery device that cuts and recovers bands wrapped around a box body, characterized in that it has a conveying section that conveys the box body placed on a loading section in a conveying direction, a cutting section that cuts the bands, and a band storage section that is downstream of the cutting section in the conveying direction and has a drop opening that opens toward the loading section, and that stores the bands that fall from the drop opening under their own weight.

[0010] The drop opening that opens toward the mounting portion means that the drop opening of the band storage portion is formed so as to communicate with the mounting portion.

[0011] It is also preferable that the sheet feeding device further includes a peeling section that is arranged between the cutting section and the band storage section in the conveying direction and that peels at least a portion of the band from the box by coming into contact with the box and the band.

[0012] It is also preferable that the cutting portion cuts the band on the top surface of the box body, and the peeling portion is arranged so as to be able to contact at least one side surface of the box body, and peels at least a portion of the band from the box body by contacting the band on the side surface.

[0013] It is also preferable that the drop opening be wider than the box in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and longer than the width of the band in the conveying direction.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a band recovery method for cutting and recovering a band wrapped around a box body, the method comprising the steps of: transporting the box body placed on a loading section in a transport direction; cutting the band; and forming a drop opening downstream in the transport direction that opens toward the loading section, and storing the band that has fallen from the drop opening under its own weight. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] With this configuration, the bands cut at the cutting section fall into the band storage section under their own weight, eliminating the need for a device to remove the bands from the box. This allows for a band recovery device that can recover bands from the box at low cost. Furthermore, the band storage section has a drop opening that opens toward the loading section, allowing for recovery of the bands from the box with a simple structure. Because the band storage section is located downstream of the cutting section in the conveying direction, the bands wrapped around the box can be cut and recovered.

[0016] This configuration has a peeling section that comes into contact with the band on the box body and peels it off from the box body, preventing the band from getting caught on the box body and falling under its own weight in the band storage section. Furthermore, because the peeling section is located between the cutting section and the band storage section in the conveying direction, the cut band can be peeled off from the box body. This allows the band to be smoothly peeled off from the box body and fall under its own weight in the band storage section.

[0017] With this configuration, the peeling portion can contact the side surface of the box body, thereby separating the side surface and the band. This allows the band to be smoothly peeled from the box body in the band storage section and dropped under its own weight. Furthermore, the cutting portion peels the band off the side surface of the box body where the band on the top surface has been cut, allowing the band to be peeled off from the box body at the corner of the cross section perpendicular to the conveying direction. In a box body where the band is tightly wrapped around it, the band may be partially embedded in the box body at the corner. In such cases, it is difficult to peel the band from the box body at the embedded portion. However, since the peeling portion can contact the band on the side surface and peel off the band from the box body at the corner, the band can be smoothly peeled off from the box body in the band storage section and dropped under its own weight.

[0018] With this configuration, the drop opening is wider than the box body and longer than the width of the band, so that when the box body passes through the drop opening, the band can be dropped into the band storage section by its own weight.

[0019] According to the above-described invention, it is possible to provide a strap recovery device and a strap recovery method that can efficiently recover the cut strap when cutting the strap wrapped around a box body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cutting unit and a peeling unit of a band recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a side view of a band recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 3 is a side view of a cutting unit and a pressing unit of the band recovery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view of a cutting unit of a band recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a peeling unit of the band recovery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a plan view of a recovery unit of a band recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a side view of a recovery unit of a band recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 3 is a flowchart of the band recovery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9(a) and 9(b) are side views showing the state in which the avoidance mechanism avoids contact when the cutting part of the band recovery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention comes into contact with the front surface of the box body, FIG. 9(b) is a side view showing the state in which the cutting part 21 has moved by the avoidance mechanism, and FIG. 9(c) is a side view showing the state in which the protecting part comes into contact with the top surface. [Figure 10] 10(a) is a side view of the band recovery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the cutting part cuts the band, where FIG. 10(a) is a side view of the pressing part pressing the upper surface, FIG. 10(b) is a side view of the protective part entering the gap, and FIG. 10(c) is a side view of the band being cut by the rotary blade. [Figure 11]11(a) and 11(b) are plan views of a peeling roller of a band recovery device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 11(a) is a plan view of a peeling roller having a brush on its outer circumferential surface, and FIG. 11(b) is a plan view of a peeling roller having an elastic body on its outer circumferential surface. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a side view of a recovery unit of a band recovery device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a front view of a recovery unit of a band recovery device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] A strap recovery device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 10. As shown in the drawings, up, down, front, back, left and right directions are defined. The strap recovery device 1 cuts and recovers a strap 11 wound around a box body 10.

[0022] Box 10 has top surface 10A, side surfaces 10B, front surface 10C, rear surface 10D, and bottom surface 10E. In this embodiment, box 10 is a cardboard box, but is not limited to this and can also be made of other materials such as resin, wood, or ceramic. In this embodiment, the contents packed in box 10 are fluid, powder, granular, or viscous food, feed, or materials placed in an inner bag, but are not limited to these and may be any other contents. Top surface 10A is an example of a target surface in the present invention, and front surface 10C is an example of an entry surface in the present invention.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, the band recovery device 1 is mainly composed of a cutting unit 2 that cuts the band 11, a peeling unit 3 that peels the band 11 from the box body 10, a recovery unit 4 that recovers the band 11, and a conveying section 5 that conveys the box body 10. The band recovery device 1 is arranged in the order of the cutting unit 2, peeling unit 3, and recovery unit 4 from the rear to the front. A 3D camera (not shown) is provided upstream (rear) of the cutting unit 2, which recognizes the shape of the box body 10 and the position of the band 11. The direction from the rear to the front is an example of the conveying direction in the present invention.

[0024] The cutting unit 2 has a cutting section 21, a pressing section 22, and a clamping section 23. As shown in Fig. 3, the cutting section 21 and the pressing section 22 are integrally configured and can be moved in the vertical direction by a moving section 2A.

[0025] The cutting unit 21 is composed of a rotary blade 24 and a protective unit 25 located below the rotary blade 24. The rotary blade 24 is polygonal and comes into contact with and cuts the band 11 while rotating. The protective unit 25 is configured to extend rearward from below the rotary blade 24 and has a guide unit 25A that is inclined obliquely upward and forward to guide the band 11 to the rotary blade 24. The rear end of the protective unit 25 is located rearward of the rotary blade 24. The cutting unit 21 cuts the band 11 between the protective unit 25 and the rotary blade 24. The rotary blade 24 is an example of a cutter unit of the present invention.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 9, the cutting unit 21 has an avoidance mechanism 21A that holds the cutting unit 21 rotatably and vertically movable. The avoidance mechanism 21A is composed of a rotating unit 21B, a movement groove 21C, and a spring 21D. The rotating unit 21B rotatably supports the cutting unit 21 and allows it to move vertically within the movement groove 21C. The spring 21D presses the rotating unit 21B downward. When the protection unit 25 collides with the front surface 10C of the box 10 as shown in FIG. 9(a), the avoidance mechanism 21A rotates the cutting unit 21 counterclockwise and moves it upward as shown in FIG. 9(b), thereby avoiding a situation in which the protection unit 25 comes into contact with the front surface 10C and the box 10 cannot move forward.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pressing unit 22 is located behind the cutting unit 21 and presses the top surface 10A of the box body 10 from top to bottom. The pressing unit 22 has a first pressing roller 26 and a second pressing roller 27 located to the left of the first pressing roller 26. The first pressing roller 26 and the second pressing roller 27 are spaced apart in the left-right direction, with the cutting unit 21 located in front of them. The vertical positions of the first pressing roller 26 and the second pressing roller 27 can be finely adjusted using an adjustment mechanism (not shown). When the first pressing roller 26 and the second pressing roller 27 are moved downward by the moving unit 2A and come into contact with the box body 10, they move while rotating on the top surface 10A, slightly indenting the top surface 10A downward. The downward direction in which the pressing unit 22 indents the top surface 10A is an example of a pressing direction in the present invention.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4 , the clamping units 23 are disposed on the left and right sides of the box body 10, are movable in the left and right directions, and transport the box body 10 forward while clamping it from the left and right. The clamping units 23 include clamping belts 28 for transporting the box body 10 and guides 29 for guiding the box body 10. The clamping belts 28 rotate while in contact with the side surfaces 10B of the box body 10, thereby transporting the box body 10 forward. Furthermore, by clamping the left and right sides of the box body 10 with the clamping belts 28, the box body 10 is prevented from lifting up or tilting when the top surface 10A is pressed by the clamping units 23.

[0029] The guide 29 is located at the rear of the clamping sections 23 and is configured to incline toward the right front, guiding the box 10 between the clamping sections 23. As a result, even if the box 10 enters the cutting unit 2 in an inclined state, the corners of the box 10 are guided inward by the clamping belts 28 of the guide 29, so that the box can be placed between the clamping sections 23.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5 , the peeling unit 3 abuts against the side surface 10B of the box body 10 to partially peel the band 11 from the box body 10. The peeling unit 3 has a pair of peeling sections 31 spaced apart in the left-right direction and a peeling plate 32 attached to each peeling section 31. The peeling sections 31 are movable in the left-right direction and each includes two peeling plates 32. The peeling plates 32 are flat metal plates that protrude inward and are spaced apart in the front-to-back direction. The peeling plates 32 have a movable mechanism that rotates their tips when they abut against the side surface 10B of the box body 10. This prevents the peeling plate 32 from moving and interfering with the transport of the box body 10, even if the front surface 10C of the box body 10 comes into contact with the peeling plate 32. The peeling plate 32 contacts the band 11 at the step between the side surface 10B and the band 11, thereby peeling the band 11 from the box body 10.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the recovery unit 4 recovers the bands 11 partially peeled from the box body 10 by the peeling unit 3. The recovery unit 4 has a band storage section 41 that stores the bands 11. The band storage section 41 is provided below the conveying section 5, and is formed with a drop opening 42 through which the bands 11 fall under their own weight. As shown in FIG. 7, the drop opening 42 is formed so as to open toward the mounting section 51 on which the box body 10 of the conveying section 5 is placed. In other words, because the drop opening 42 opens upward in the mounting section 51, the bands 11 partially peeled by the peeling plate 32 fall under their own weight into the band storage section 41. In other words, the mounting section 51 is partially separated, and the separated space serves as the drop opening 42.

[0032] The drop opening 42 has a left-right distance that is at least wider than the left-right width of the box 10 that can be transported by the transport unit 5, and a front-rear distance that is longer than the width of the band 11. This allows the band 11 to drop into the band storage unit 41 without getting caught in the drop opening 42.

[0033] In the recovery unit 4, the transport section 5 upstream of the band storage section 41 is preferably a belt conveyor, which prevents the bands 11 peeled by the peeling unit 3 from falling. Note that the transport section 5 downstream of the band storage section 41 may be a roller conveyor.

[0034] 2, the conveying section 5 is provided across the cutting unit 2, peeling unit 3, and collection unit 4, and conveys the box bodies 10 to downstream processes. The conveying section 5 has a placement section 51 on which the box bodies 10 are placed. The conveying section 5 has a portion where the placement section 51 is partially discontinued at the collection unit 4, and this portion becomes the drop opening 42.

[0035] Next, the process by which the band recovery device 1 cuts and recovers the band 11 of the box 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0036] In the band collecting device 1, the shape of the box 10 and the position and shape of the band 11 are recognized by a 3D camera (not shown), and the data is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) (S1). In the band collecting device 1 of this embodiment, the band 11 on the upper surface 10A is placed on the placement unit 51 so that it extends to the left and right.

[0037] The box body 10 conveyed by the conveying section 5 is clamped from the left and right by the clamping section 23 in the cutting unit 2 (S2). At this time, even if the box body 10 is conveyed at an angle, it is adjusted so as to be straight by the clamping belt 28 and the guide 29. The distance that the clamping section 23 moves inward is determined based on the shape of the box body 10 recognized in S1.

[0038] When the box body 10 is conveyed forward by the clamping belts 28 and reaches a predetermined position, the moving part 2A lowers the cutting unit 2. The predetermined position here refers to a position where the front surface 10C exceeds the pressing part 22 when viewed from above. The timing for lowering the cutting unit 2 is preferably a position where the first pressing roller 26 and the second pressing roller 27 can press the band 11, but this can be set arbitrarily depending on the distance between the cutting part 21 and the pressing part 22 and the shape of the box body 10.

[0039] Depending on the shape of the box 10 and the conveying speed of the conveying unit 5, as shown in FIG. 9, when the moving unit 2A lowers the cutting unit, the protective unit 25 may collide with the front surface 10C. In this case, the protective unit 25 becomes an obstacle, preventing the box 10 from being conveyed forward, resulting in an emergency stop of the band recovery device 1. To avoid this situation, the cutting unit 21 is configured to rotate counterclockwise and rise by the avoidance mechanism 21A, so that it can avoid a collision with the front surface 10C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9(a), when the tip of the guide unit 25A collides with the front surface 10C, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the box 10 is conveyed forward, pushing the cutting unit 21 forward, rotating counterclockwise and rising, and climbing over the corner of the box 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 9(c), the protective unit 25 rotates clockwise and moves over the top surface 10A.

[0040] 10(a), when the upper surface 10A comes into contact with the first pressure roller 26 and the second pressure roller 27, the upper surface 10A is depressed downward (S4), as shown in FIG. 10(a), thereby forming a gap 11a between the band 11 and the upper surface 10A.

[0041] As the box 10 is conveyed forward by the clamping belt 28, the protective portion 25 enters the gap 11a, protecting the box 10 from damage caused by the rotary blade 24, as shown in FIG. 10(b). As the box 10 is further conveyed forward, the rotary blade 24 cuts the band 11 at the portion of the band 11 that is positioned in the gap 11a and in contact with the protective portion 25, as shown in FIG. 10(c) (S5). After the cutting portion 21 passes the rear surface 10D, the moving portion 2A raises the cutting unit 2 and returns it to its initial position. This allows all of the bands 11 to be cut, even if multiple bands 11 are wrapped around the box 10. The timing for raising the moving portion 2A is determined based on the shape of the box 10 and the number of bands 11 recognized in S1.

[0042] The box 10 from which the band 11 has been cut is transported to the peeling unit 3 by the transport section 5. At this time, the band 11 has been cut at the top surface 10A, so the band 11 is partially raised on the top surface 10A, but the side surface 10B may be in contact with the band 11.

[0043] In the peeling unit 3, the conveying section 5 conveys the box body 10 forward while the peeling plate 32 comes into contact with the side surfaces 10B on both the left and right sides, and comes into contact with the band 11 at the step between the band 11 and the side surfaces 10B, thereby partially peeling the band 11 from the box body 10 (S6). Specifically, the peeling section 31 moves inward at the timing when the front corner of the box body 10 comes into contact with the peeling plate 32. The distance that the peeling section 31 moves inward is determined based on the shape of the box body 10 recognized in S1.

[0044] If band 11 is tightly wrapped around box 10 and the corners of box 10 are deformed, simply cutting band 11 may not cause it to fall under its own weight. In this embodiment, peeling unit 3 comes into contact with band 11 on side surface 10B to partially peel band 11 from top surface 10A and side surface 10B, creating a condition in which band 11 can easily fall under its own weight.

[0045] After the bands 11 are partially peeled off by the peeling unit 3, the conveying unit 5 conveys the box 10 to the recovery unit 4. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the box 10 conveyed to the recovery unit 4 passes through the drop opening 42, the bands 11 fall by their own weight and are automatically stored in the band storage unit 41 (S7). Thereafter, the bands 11 are cut, and the recovered box 10 is conveyed by the conveying unit 5 to the next process.

[0046] With this configuration, the bands 11 cut by the cutting unit 21 fall into the band storage unit 41 under their own weight, eliminating the need for a device to remove the bands 11 from the box body 10. This makes it possible to realize a band recovery device 1 that can recover the bands 11 from the box body 10 at low cost. Furthermore, the band storage unit 41 is formed with a drop opening 42 that opens toward the placement unit 51, making it possible to recover the bands 11 from the box body 10 with a simple structure. Because the band storage unit 41 is provided in front of the cutting unit 2, the bands 11 wrapped around the box body 10 can be cut and recovered.

[0047] With this configuration, since the peeling portion 31 is provided, which comes into contact with the band 11 of the box body 10 and peels the band 11 from the box body 10, it is possible to prevent the band 11 from getting caught on the box body 10 in the band storage portion 41 and not falling under its own weight. Furthermore, since the peeling portion 31 is disposed between the cutting portion 21 and the band storage portion 41 in the front-rear direction, the band 11 can be peeled off from the box body 10 after cutting. This allows the band 11 to be smoothly peeled off from the box body 10 in the band storage portion 41 and fall under its own weight.

[0048] With this configuration, the peeling portion 31 can come into contact with the side surface 10B of the box body 10, thereby separating the side surface 10B and the band 11. This allows the band 11 to be smoothly peeled from the box body 10 in the band storage portion 41 and fall under its own weight. Furthermore, the band 11 on the side surface 10B of the box body 10, where the band 11 on the top surface 10A has been cut by the cutting portion 21, is peeled off, so the band 11 can be peeled off from the box body 10 at a corner of the cross section of the box body 10 perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. In a box body 10 in which the band 11 is tightly wrapped, the band 11 may be partially embedded in the box body 10 at the corner. In such a case, it is difficult to peel the band 11 from the box body 10 at the embedded portion. However, the peeling portion 31 comes into contact with the band 11 on the side surface 10B, thereby allowing the band 11 to be peeled off from the box body 10 at the corner and fall under its own weight.

[0049] According to this configuration, the drop opening 42 is wider than the box body 10 and longer than the width of the band 11, so that when the box body 10 passes through the drop opening 41, the band 11 can be dropped into the band storage section 41 by its own weight.

[0050] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 11. The same components as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] The band recovery device 101 according to the second embodiment is provided with a peeling roller 132 instead of the peeling plate 32 of the peeling unit 31. The peeling roller 132 shown in Fig. 11(a) is rotatably supported by the peeling unit 31 and has a brush 133 provided on its outer circumferential surface. When the brush 133 comes into contact with the side surface 10B of the box body 10 transported by the transport unit 5, friction of the brush 133 causes the band 11 to be partially peeled off from the side surface 10B and the top surface 10A.

[0052] 11(b), a peeling roller 142 is provided on its outer circumferential surface with a gripping rubber elastic body 143. When the brush 133 comes into contact with the side surface 10B of the box 10 being conveyed by the conveying unit 5, the grip of the elastic body 143 causes the band 11 to be partially peeled off from the side surface 10B and the top surface 10A.

[0053] With this configuration, the band 11 can be partially peeled off from the side surface 10B and the top surface 10A by the peeling roller 132 and the peeling roller 142. This prevents the band 11 from getting caught on the box 10 in the collection unit 4, and allows the band 11 to be separated from the box 10 by its own weight.

[0054] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. The same components as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0055] The recovery unit 204 of the band recovery device 201 is provided with a bottom moving part 241, a bottom pressing part 242, and a bottom hooking part 243 in the band storage part 41. The bottom moving part 241 moves the bottom pressing part 242 and the bottom hooking part 243 in the up and down direction.

[0056] 13, the bottom pressing portions 242 are generally U-shaped with rollers 242A at their tips, which come into contact with the bottom surface 10E and press upward to form a gap 242a between the band 11 and the bottom surface 10E. The bottom hooking portion 243 is provided in front of the bottom pressing portion 242 and between the rollers 242A. When inserted into the gap 242a formed by the bottom pressing portion 242, the bottom hooking portion 243 hooks the band 11 and causes it to drop into the band storage portion 41 under its own weight.

[0057] When the box 10 is transported and positioned at the drop opening 42, the recovery unit 204 raises the bottom moving part 241 so that the roller 242A contacts the front end of the bottom surface 10E. Specifically, the bottom moving part 241 raises the bottom pressing part 242 at the timing when the roller 242A contacts the lower end of the front surface 10C of the box 10. This presses the bottom surface 10E upward, and as shown in FIG. 12 , a gap 242a is formed between the band 11 and the bottom surface 10E. When the transport part 5 transports the box 10 further forward, the bottom hook part 243 enters the gap 242a and separates the band 11 from the box 10.

[0058] With this configuration, even if the stripping unit 3 is unable to sufficiently strip the band 11 from the box 10, the recovery unit 4 can strip the band 11 from the box 10 and recover it in the band storage section 41.

[0059] The band recovery device and band recovery method according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention described in the claims.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the shape of the box 10 and the position of the band 11 are recognized by a camera (not shown), but this is not limiting. For example, various sensors may be arranged in the multiple conveying sections 5 to set the timing for lowering the cutting unit 2 and the left-right positions of the clamping section 23 and the peeling section 31.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, guide portion 25A is provided on protector 25, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by providing a roller at the tip of protector 25, band 11 can be smoothly guided, and avoidance mechanism 21A can be smoothly operated even if the tip of protector 25 comes into contact with front surface 10C, as shown in FIG.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, the box 10 around which a single band 11 is wound is used, but the box 10 that can be processed by the band recovery device 1 is not limited to this. For example, even in the case of a box 10 around which two or more bands 11 are wound, the bands 11 can be cut and recovered according to the flow of Fig. 8. Note that if the bands 11 are wound in a cross shape, the bands 11 can be cut and recovered by arranging two band recovery devices 1 side by side and placing a unit that rotates the box 10 by 90 degrees between them.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the cutting unit 2 presses the top surface 10A to form the gap 11a and cuts the band 11, but this is not limiting. For example, the band 11 may be cut on the side surface 10B or the bottom surface 10E.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, the peeling plate 32 in the peeling unit 3 comes into contact with the band 11 on the side surface 10B to partially peel it off, but this is not limiting. For example, the peeling plate 32 may come into contact with the band 11 on the top surface 10A or the bottom surface 10E to partially peel off the band 11. Also, although the peeling portion 31 is provided on both the left and right sides of the box body 10, it may be provided on at least one side.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the avoidance mechanism 21A allows the cutting unit 21 to rotate counterclockwise and move upward, but this is not limited to this. The avoidance mechanism 21A may be capable of at least one of rotation and vertical movement. This allows the band 11 to be smoothly cut even if the guide unit 25A collides with the front surface 10C by avoiding the collision with the avoidance mechanism 21A. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1, 101, 201 Band recovery device 2 cutting units 3 Peeling unit 4 Recovery Unit 5. Conveyor 10 box body 10A top 10C front 11 bands 11a Gap 21 Cut section 21A Avoidance mechanism 22 Pressing section 23 Clamping part 24 Rotary Blade 31 Peeling section 32 Peeling board 41 Band storage section 42 Drop Hole 132, 142 peeling roller

Claims

1. A band recovery device that cuts and recovers a band wound around a box body, a conveying unit that conveys the box placed on the placing unit in a conveying direction; a cutting portion that cuts the band; a band storage section, downstream of the cutting section in the conveying direction, having a drop opening that opens toward the placement section, and which stores the bands that have fallen from the drop opening under their own weight.

2. The band recovery device according to claim 1, further comprising a peeling section disposed between the cutting section and the band storage section in the conveying direction and contacting the band to peel at least a portion of the band from the box body.

3. The cutting unit cuts the band on the top surface of the box body, The band recovery device according to claim 2, characterized in that the peeling portion is arranged to be able to contact at least one side surface of the box body, and peels at least a portion of the band from the box body by contacting the band on the side surface.

4. The band recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the drop opening is wider than the box body in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and longer than the width of the band in the conveying direction.

5. A band recovery method for cutting and recovering a band wound around a box body, conveying the box placed on the placement unit in a conveyance direction; cutting the band; a drop opening formed downstream in the conveying direction and opening toward the placement section, and a step of storing the bands that have fallen from the drop opening under their own weight.

Images