Box manufacturing device for packaging

Abstract

To provide a box-making apparatus for a packaging box that can smoothly perform a box-making work of a packaging box having a well-finished appearance at a high yield rate including a packaging step.SOLUTION: A box-making apparatus for a packaging box for forming a flat blank sheet α into a box-like shape includes box-raising means including a forming base 1 that holds the blank sheet α, and a forming head 2 that forms the blank sheet α held by the forming base 1. The forming base 1 includes holding means that performs adsorption and releasing with respect to every region of the blank sheet α. The forming head 2 rolls a guide block that supports, from the inside, respective side faces when making a box and the forming head 2 on the forming base 1 and raises the box while sequentially adsorbing a region released from the adsorption by the forming base 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a box manufacturing apparatus for assembling a packaging box from a blank sheet.

Background Art

[0002] Goods such as pharmaceuticals and foods to be boxed are loaded into the packaging box in the process of a three-dimensional expansion from a blank sheet to a packaging box and sealing the top and bottom surfaces (hereinafter referred to as "box manufacturing operation"). Although the box manufacturing operation and the loading of goods into the packaging box are still mostly done manually, they may also be performed by an automatic box manufacturing apparatus. The blank sheet is made of a sheet material such as paper or resin, and is cut into a contour shape planned to form a packaging box.

[0003] Conventional box manufacturing operations are, for example, as described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 below. A large number of flat intermediate materials in which both ends of a blank sheet are connected by a heat-melted resin (hereinafter referred to as "hot melt") are prepared in advance in a magazine, and a box raising process of expanding into a cylindrical shape by an automatic box raising apparatus, a bottom closing process of folding and sealing a flap or the like at one opening, and a packaging process of filling goods are performed, and finally, a sealing process of folding and sealing a flap or the like at the other opening is adopted (see Patent Document 4 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, since all of the above conventional methods adopt a form of applying stress to the surface of the intermediate material in the erecting process, there is a problem that the intermediate material of the packaging box is damaged due to interference with the erecting unit or the like. Also, even in the sealing process, in a state where the shape retention of the unfinished carton is insufficient, while folding the flaps or the like extended to the opening with a forming unit, hot melt is appropriately applied and sealed. Therefore, it not only hinders the sealing process involving folding or inserting the flaps or the like, but also obstructs the product filling.

[0006] Moreover, at that time, it is required to bend the corners of the packaging box at an angle (for example, 90 degrees) defined by the folding line. However, if excessive stress is applied in a state where the shape retention of the unfinished carton is insufficient, there is a problem of damaging the appearance of the box and reducing the yield.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a box-making apparatus for a packaging box that can smoothly perform box-making of a packaging box with a good appearance and a high yield including the packaging process.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In the present invention made to solve the above problems The box manufacturing device for packaging by [device name] In a box-making apparatus for forming a flat blank sheet into a box shape, it includes an erecting means having a forming base for holding the blank sheet and a forming head for forming the blank sheet held by the forming base. The forming base For each area is provided with holding means for performing adsorption and release, and the forming head is provided with guide blocks that support each side surface from the inside during box manufacturing, rolls (rolls) the forming head on the forming base the area where the blank sheet is released from being adsorbed to the forming base and sequentially adsorbs and erects while doing so. Here, the region refers to a series of ranges with the outer edge being the visually recognizable boundary of a plurality of surfaces constituting the packaging box, such as the top surface and the bottom surface. The blank sheet is cut from a sheet material such as thin paper used for drug packages, thick paper like cardboard, aluminum laminated sheet paper, or resin sheets.

[0009] The box-forming means includes sealing means for sealing the opening of the carton formed by the box-forming means. The sealing means can adopt a configuration including a forming roller that advances and retreats while pressing the formed region of the blank sheet in the folding direction on the guide block, and an adhesive means for applying an adhesive to the adhesive region where the formed regions overlap.

[0010] The forming head can adopt a configuration in which a plurality of guide blocks are supported in a manner that supports the side surface of the carton after box formation from the inside, and the holding surface of the guide block is provided with suction holes for sucking and releasing the back surface of the blank sheet. Also, the forming base can adopt a configuration including a plurality of base blocks corresponding to the arrangement of each side surface of the blank sheet, and the support surface of the base block is provided with suction holes for sucking and releasing the front surface of the blank sheet.

[0011] The box-making apparatus for the packaging box includes a sheet holder for positioning and stocking a plurality of blank sheets in the same direction, a carrier that secures the topmost blank sheet of the sheet holder, transfers the secured blank sheet to the forming base, and places the transferred blank sheet at a fixed position on the forming base. The carrier can adopt a configuration including gripping means for releasing the suction of the blank sheet placed at the fixed position region by region as the suction to the forming base occurs. The gripping means can adopt a configuration including peeling means for curving or bending the secured blank sheet after securing the blank sheet from the sheet holder.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the box manufacturing apparatus for packaging of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a box for packaging with a good appearance smoothly and with high yield including the packaging process. For example, in the box raising process and the forming process, after firmly fixing and maintaining the shape of the blank sheet to the forming base, while rolling the blank sheet with the back surface thereof being adsorbed by the forming head, the folding operation, the box raising operation, and the sealing operation are performed, thereby solving the problem that the intermediate material of the box for packaging is damaged due to interference with the box raising unit in the box raising process.

[0013] In addition, since the forming head can be formed by combining molds formed with high precision, it is possible to realize the processing of the blank sheet with high reproducibility according to the accuracy of the forming block, and it is possible to perform highly reproducible sealing processing in which the preset application position and application amount are accurately controlled. In addition, since the forms of the forming base and the forming head can be appropriately changed, it has the versatility that can be applied to the manufacture of boxes in various forms.

[0014] In addition, in the sealing process using the forming head, the unfinished carton after the box raising process is reliably maintained in shape from the inside, accurately positioned, and in a stationary state, and while folding the flap or the like extended to the opening part with the forming unit, it is possible to perform the operation of appropriately applying hot melt and sealing, so that the sealing process involving folding and inserting of the flap or the like becomes easy, and it is also possible to prevent any trouble from occurring in the product filling. Moreover, when bending the corners of the box for packaging at an angle defined by the folding line, excessive stress is not applied, so it is also possible to solve the problem of reducing the yield due to damage to the appearance of the box for packaging.

[0015] Furthermore, when adsorbing the blank sheet on the sheet table, since the take-out height, take-out angle, and take-out position are controlled constantly, the blank sheets stacked on the sheet table are brought into close contact in the vertical direction by constant pressurization by the carrier, and it has the effect of eliminating the vacuum adsorption between the blank sheets and the electrostatic charge adsorption. In addition, by providing the carrier with a peeling means for bending or flexing the blank sheet gripped during the adsorption and holding, the blank sheet loaded in the sheet holder can be reliably taken out without damage and without applying excessive pressure in a single-sheet unit. This can eliminate the reduction in yield associated with the transfer of a plurality of blank sheets to the forming base.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a box manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "box manufacturing apparatus") for a packaging box (hereinafter referred to as "carton") according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an example of manufacturing a box from a blank sheet α shown in FIG. 1 and the like. The box manufacturing apparatus shown in the figure is a box manufacturing apparatus that forms a flat blank sheet α into a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0018] This carton manufacturing device includes a carton forming means for manufacturing a cylindrical carton (hereinafter referred to as "empty carton β") for filling stick-shaped products (hereinafter referred to as "sub-packaged products") from the blank sheet α, a packaging means for neatly filling a specified number of sub-packaged products into the inner cavity of the empty carton β, and a bottom sealing means for sealing and adhesively fixing the lower end side flap J, lower middle side flap L, under flap M, and bottom flap K of the lower opening during or after filling the sub-packaged products.

[0019] <<Carton forming means>> The carton forming means includes a forming base 1 for holding the blank sheet α (Fig. 4), a forming head 2 for forming the blank sheet α held on the forming base 1 (Figs. 5 and 6), a top sealing means for sealing by closely adhering extension pieces such as the upper end side flap F, upper middle side flap H, upper flap I, and top flap G to the holding surface of the forming head 2 (Figs. 7 to 9), and a sheet feeding means (Fig. 10) for arranging the blank sheets α one by one on the forming base 1 of the carton forming means.

[0020] <Forming base> The forming base 1 is arranged and fixed with a plurality of base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d for individually placing the respective side surface regions B, C, D, E according to the arrangement of the respective side surface regions B, C, D, E of the carton formed by the blank sheet α (Fig. 4). When manufacturing a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped carton as in this example, generally, side surface regions B, C, D, E of the same height are continuous, a glue margin A is extended at one end in the continuous direction, and a blank sheet α with an upper end side flap F, top flap G, upper middle side flap H, and upper flap I as well as a lower end side flap J, bottom flap K, lower middle side flap L, and under flap M extended above and below each side surface region is used (Figs. 1 to 4).

[0021] The forming base 1 in this example is a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped metal block. Base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, each of which holds four side faces, are arranged linearly along the outer edge of the substrate, and the outer side faces of the supporting portions of all the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are flush with the upper or lower boundary line (the upper boundary line: the introduction line in this example) of the four side faces supported there.

[0022] Each of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d is provided with a supporting portion having an upward supporting surface for individually placing the side regions B, C, D, and E of the blank sheet α on one side (the outer side in this example), and a fixing portion having fixing means for fixing each of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d to be position-adjustable with respect to the substrate on the opposite side (the inner side in this example) of the supporting portion.

[0023] The supporting surfaces of the supporting portions are the same shape as the side faces B, C, D, and E that each supports, and the height of the fixing portion including the fixing means is set to be equal to or less than the height of the supporting portion. When, for example, fixing bolts are adopted as the fixing means, as fixing holes through which the bolts are inserted, long holes are formed along the arrangement of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d (the width of the side face supported by the supporting portion) so as to be long enough to adjust the arrangement of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d and perform screwing. The substrate is fixed to the upper surface of a frame fixed to a base so that the amount of protrusion with respect to the outer edge of the base can be adjusted. When, for example, fixing bolts are used as the fixing means of the substrate, similar to the fixing portion of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, long holes are formed in the protruding direction (the height of the side face supported by the supporting portion) (FIG. 4).

[0024] Each of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d is provided with independent holding means for each of the side regions B, C, D, and E with respect to the blank sheet α. The holding means in this example is a suction system that adsorbs and releases on its support surface with respect to the surface of the blank sheet α, and includes a ventilation passage that communicates from the suction holes 3 on the support surface to a single or a plurality of connection surfaces (surfaces to which other base blocks or joints are connected).

[0025] The number of base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d for holding each of the side surface regions B, C, D, E may be either a single or a plurality of them. When the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d for holding the side surface regions B, C, D, E are each composed of a combination of a plurality of base blocks, the ventilation passages of the holding means communicate for each of the assigned side surface regions B, C, D, E, and the timing of adsorption and release of each of the base blocks constituting the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is adjusted to be the same in principle.

[0026] On the forming base 1, there are provided a positioning pin 4 for regulating the arrangement of the blank sheet α and a positioning plate 5 for guiding the reference portion of the blank sheet α to the positioning pin 4 (FIG. 4). The positioning pin 4 is erected so as to be able to protrude and retract at the boundary of the side surface regions B, C, D, E on the stop line of the forming base 1, while the positioning plate 5 is arranged facing the introduction line of the forming base 1 and is arranged so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction perpendicular to the introduction line toward the stop line. Incidentally, the stop line is a virtual line on which the boundary lines between the side surface regions B, C, D, E and the lower flap regions J, K, L, M in the blank sheet α are arranged when each of the side surface regions B, C, D, E is accurately arranged on the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d to which they are assigned by the operation of the positioning plate 5, and the introduction line is a virtual line on which the boundary lines between the side surface regions B, C, D, E and the upper flap regions F, G, H, I are arranged at that time, and is a line that coincides with the outer edge of the support portion of the forming base 1.

[0027] Under such a configuration, by aligning the side regions B, C, D, and E of the blank sheet α with the planar shape of the support portion of each of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d and placing them, and pressing the placed blank sheet α with equal force toward each positioning pin 4 by each positioning plate 5, the deepest part of the valley between the lower flap regions J, K, L, and M extending from each side region of the blank sheet α is hung on the positioning pin 4, enabling extremely accurate positioning. At this time, the holding means maintains a released or weakened adsorption state in all the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d until positioning is completed, and adjusts the suction force so that it becomes a strong adsorption state capable of stably holding even when the positioning pin 4 and the positioning plate 5 retract when positioning is completed. Note that the molding base 1 is not limited to a metal block, and a block molded from synthetic resin or the like can also be used as long as it satisfies the function of the molding base 1.

[0028] <Molding head> The molding head 2 includes a plurality of guide blocks made of metal, synthetic resin, or the like, and each guide block is supported in an arrangement that supports the side regions B, C, D, and E of the empty carton β after box making from the inside. Each guide block is provided with suction holes 6 for adsorbing and releasing with respect to the back surface of the blank sheet α on each holding surface (FIGS. 5 and 6). The suction hole 6 is an air inlet of a suction means for adsorbing and releasing with respect to the back surface of the blank sheet α, and is provided with a ventilation path leading from the suction hole 6 on the holding surface to a single or a plurality of connection surfaces (surfaces to which other guide blocks or joints 7 are connected).

[0029] The forming head 2 in this example has the same height as the height of the side regions B, C, D, and E of the empty carton β (effective height: height of the inner empty part), has the same length as the length of the opposing long sides C and E of the same side regions B, C, D, and E, and has the same width as the length of the opposing short sides B and D of the same side regions B, C, D, and E. It is formed by nine guide blocks 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, and 2i arranged so as to form a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped forming head 2. With the axis passing through the centers of the top and bottom surfaces of the empty carton β (the center of the front holding surface of the forming head 2) as the rotation axis, it rotates with the side surface of the same empty carton β as the circumferential surface (Figs. 1 to 3). The rotation axis of the forming head 2 is attached to the rotatable tip member (hereinafter referred to as the "tip rod") of a six-axis articulated robot arm (hereinafter referred to as the "robot arm") 20 fixed to the base (Fig. 5).

[0030] The guide blocks in this example include four corner guides 2a, 2c, 2e, and 2g arranged at the four corners of the forming head 2 to form the four corners of the circumferential surface (the ends of the four side surfaces), one of which is a glue margin guide, short side guides 2b and 2f that are at the central parts of the short surfaces forming the circumferential surface and support the central parts of the short sides B and D of the empty carton β, long side guides 2d and 2h that are at the central parts of the long surfaces forming the circumferential surface and support the central parts of the long sides C and E of the empty carton β, and a central flap guide 2i arranged inside the short side guides 2b and 2f and the long side guides 2d and 2h to hold the flaps F, G, H, and I that seal the upper opening of the empty carton β (Figs. 1 and 6).

[0031] The guide blocks constituting the forming head 2 are all rectangular parallelepiped-shaped blocks. The rectangular parallelepiped shape formed by the forming head 2 has a side holding surface for holding the side regions B, C, D, and E of the empty carton β and a front holding surface for holding the upper flap regions F, G, H, and I of the same empty carton β as flat surfaces, and the respective surfaces of the guide blocks constituting these holding surfaces are connected so as to be flush with each other.

[0032] The forming head 2 is provided with guide lifting means 8 for advancing and retracting to switch the long side guide 2d between a guide position and a retracted position, and flap support means 9 for advancing and retracting to function as a support member for supporting the top flap G in a posture that does not cover the upper opening or to retract it. Here, the guide position is the arrangement position of the long side guide 2d in a form where the forming head 2 just fits into the inner space of the empty carton β, and the retracted position is the arrangement position of the long side guide 2d in the forming head 2 that does not interfere when inserting the insertion area of the upper flap I into the opening during the top surface sealing process.

[0033] In addition, the forming head 2 can be provided on its back surface with creasing means for creasing the lower end side flap J, bottom flap K, lower middle side flap L, and under flap M that seal the bottom surface, respectively, so as to spread outward from the boundary lines with the end short side B, middle long side C, middle short side D, and end long side E. The creasing means is a forming unit having creasing rollers that linearly move back and forth inside and outside the end short side B, middle long side C, middle short side D, and end long side E along the back surface of the forming head 2 (a virtual plane surrounded by the boundary line) from the back side of the forming head 2. The trajectory of the forming unit is regulated by its advancing and retracting means to cross the center of the boundary line at a right angle. By attaching the creasing means, an improvement in yield and processing speed can be obtained, and productivity can be increased.

[0034] <Top surface sealing means> The top sealing means includes an insertion molding means 100 for bending the insertion area of the upper flap I, a glue margin molding means 10 for bending the glue margin A along the molding head 2, an upper side flap molding means 11 for bending the upper end side flap F along the molding head 2, an upper middle side flap molding means 12 for bending the upper middle side flap H along the molding head 2, a first adhesive discharge means for applying hot melt to the glue margin A, an upper flap molding means 13 for bending the upper flap I along the molding head 2, a second adhesive discharge means for applying hot melt to the upper flap I, and a top flap molding means 14 for bending the top flap G along the molding head 2 onto the upper flap I coated with hot melt (Figs. 1 to 4, Figs. 8 and 9). In this example, an integrated case-opening adhesive discharge means 105 is used as the first adhesive discharge means and the second adhesive discharge means. When the upper flap molding means 13 operates, the guide lifting means 8 and the flap support means 9 of the molding head 2 operate together (Figs. 5, 6 and 9).

[0035] The insertion molding means 100 includes a bending rule 101 applied to the bending position of the insertion area, a bending unit 102 for pressing to bend the insertion area along the bending rule 101 in the insertion direction, a unit advancing and retreating means 103 for advancing and retreating the bending unit 102 with respect to the bending position so as to bend the insertion at the edge of the bending rule 101, and a unit lifting means 104 for lifting and lowering the bending unit 102 while maintaining parallelism with the bending rule 101 (Figs. 7 and 9). In this example, the bending rule 101 is a straight-edge-shaped guide arranged along the boundary line of the insertion area provided at the tip of the upper flap I, and the bending unit 102 is a unit provided with a molding roller that advances and retreats so as to pass through the straight front edge of the bending rule 101.

[0036] The paste margin forming means 10 uses a forming unit including a forming roller that presses the paste margin A against the side holding surface (circumferential surface) of the corner guide (paste margin guide) 2a of the forming head 2 by means of a lifting motion (FIG. 4). The upper side flap forming means 11 uses a forming unit including a forming roller that presses the upper side flap F against the corner guides 2a, 2c, the short side guide 2b, the long side guides 2d, 2h, and the center guide 2i by means of a lifting motion. The upper middle side flap forming means 12 uses a forming unit including a forming roller that presses the upper middle side flap H against the corner guides 2e, 2g, the short side guide 2f, the long side guides 2h, 2d, and the center guide 2i by means of a lifting motion.

[0037] The upper flap forming means 13 uses a forming unit including a forming roller that presses the upper flap I against the front holding surfaces of all the flap guides 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i by means of a lifting motion (FIGS. 4 and 9). The top flap forming means 14 is supported by a two-dimensional guide rail that moves forward and backward and up and down in the horizontal direction, and uses a forming unit including a forming roller that presses the top flap G against the upper flap I coated with hot melt by means of a lifting motion (FIGS. 7 and 9). The lifting and adhering adhesive discharging means 105 includes a hot melt gun that discharges hot melt, a servo actuator 106 that moves the hot melt gun up, down, forward, backward, left, and right, and a camera for inspecting the application state of the hot melt (FIG. 8). As the servo actuator 106, three-axis moving means such as a three-axis robot cylinder or a robot arm that discharges the hot melt material aiming at a preset three-dimensional coordinate position can be used. A six-axis articulated robot can be adopted for the robot arm.

[0038] Each forming unit has one or more forming rollers rotatably supported in one or a plurality of rows according to the width of the surface to be formed, etc., and moves forward and backward or up and down by the operation of its actuator. The actuator can employ an air cylinder or a servo actuator 106 similar to the lifting adhesive discharging means 105. Both are fixedly positioned adjustably on the base or mounted on a guide frame installed on the base.

[0039] <Sheet feeding means> The sheet feeding means includes a sheet holder (FIG. 10) for positioning and stocking the blank sheet α in the same direction, and a carrier 17 for picking up the blank sheet α one by one from the sheet holder and transferring it to a fixed position on the forming base 1 for placement (FIG. 5).

[0040] The sheet holder includes a sheet table 15 for horizontally stacking the blank sheet α in the same direction, a table lifter for raising and lowering the sheet table 15, and a level adjusting means for keeping the surface height of the uppermost blank sheet α among the blank sheets α stacked on the sheet table 15 constant (FIG. 10). The level adjusting means is composed of an upper limit sensor 16 for detecting the upper limit of the blank sheet α stacked on the sheet table 15 and a servo actuator for detecting the upper limit and performing the lifting and stopping of the table lifter.

[0041] The carrier 17 has grip means for evenly holding the blank sheet α over its entire area and transferring it to the forming base 1, and releasing the blank sheet α for each area as it is adsorbed to the forming base 1. The grip means is supported at the tip rod of the robot arm 20 supporting the forming head 2 in an arrangement that does not interfere with the forming head 2 (FIG. 5).

[0042] The gripping means includes a hanger 18 having a length extending over substantially the entire length of the blank sheet α, and suction fingers 19 supported by the hanger 18 and arranged so as to be able to evenly adsorb the back surface of the blank sheet α over substantially the entire surface. Each of the suction fingers 19 is provided with a suction port at its tip end that communicates with a ventilation pipe connected to a suction means. The hanger 18 is composed of a pair of holding frames 18a, 18a, a suspension frame 18b, and a drive frame 18c, and the suspension frame 18b is fixed to the tip rod of the robot arm 20.

[0043] Each of the holding frames 18a is provided with a connecting portion at an end closer to the outside and an end inside in the longitudinal direction of the holding frame 18a, and a pair of suction fingers 19 are mounted downward (in a direction away from the tip rod) on both the left and right sides along the longitudinal direction of the holding frame 18a. On the other hand, the suspension frame 18b is a member for swingably suspending the inner ends of both holding frames 18a, 18a, and includes a connecting member for connecting the pair of holding frames 18a, 18a in series, a stay fixed to the tip rod of the robot arm 20, a spacer for allowing the drive frame 18c to pass through between the stay and the connecting member in a vertically movable manner, and a drive means for moving the drive frame 18c up and down with respect to the suspension frame 18b. The drive frame 18c swingably connects each holding frame 18a, 18a with the outer connecting portions of both holding frames 18a, 18a as fulcrums, and moves forward and backward with respect to the stay while keeping its posture constant by the drive means. The drive means in this example is an actuator such as an air cylinder.

[0044] The spacer restricts the left and right movement of the drive frame 18c in a front-rear pair when the hanger 18 operates as a peeling means, and secures a gap for moving the drive frame 18c in the vertical direction. The suction fingers 19 are configured such that the lengths of the legs from the respective holding frames 18a, 18a can be individually adjusted. For example, the protruding length can be adjusted by a screw pair with screw holes drilled downward in the respective holding frames 18a, 18a.

[0045] When the hanger 18 descends onto the blank sheet α placed on the sheet table 15, the suction cups of all the suction fingers 19 supported by the hanger 18 are evenly arranged on the front surface of the blank sheet α (side surface regions A, B, C, D and upper and lower flap regions F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M) (it is not necessarily arranged in all regions), and the operation of the suction means holds substantially the entire area of one blank sheet α. At this time, when the blank sheet α is pressed through the hanger 18, the adhesion in the vertical direction is increased, thereby eliminating the vacuum suction and electrostatic adsorption between the blank sheets α.

[0046] While the suction means is operating, when the hanger 18 starts to rise after securing the uppermost blank sheet α from the blank sheets α placed on the sheet table 15, the drive frame 18c is operated by the drive means is pushed up of both holding frames 18a, 18a The outer connecting part is pulled up. Then, the hanger 18 is bent into an inverted U shape convex downward at its middle part, bends or curves the blank sheet α gripped during the suction holding of the blank sheet α, and functions as a peeling means that promotes the peeling and falling of the other blank sheets α attached to the blank sheet α directly held by the suction fingers 19 in combination with the effect of eliminating the vacuum suction and electrostatic adsorption.

[0047] <<<Set of blank sheets>>> The box-making device is configured as described above. Before the pick-up by the carrier 17, the sheet holder extends the table lifter until the uppermost position of the blank sheet α loaded on the sheet table 15 reaches the specified position by controlling the servo actuator of the level adjustment means according to the output of the upper limit sensor 16. When the table lifter stops upon detecting that the upper limit sensor 16 has reached the specified position, the carrier 17 moves the hanger 18 directly above the stacked blank sheet α with its orientation restricted and places it on the top (back side) of the blank sheet α. At this time, the hanger 18 is The forward movement of the drive frame 18c stretched linearly from the state of being bent in an inverted V shape as a whole due to the contraction of the driving means. Subsequently, the suction means operates to hold substantially the entire area of a single blank sheet α by suction force. By adopting such a precise pick-up operation that always secures the blank sheet α with a constant take-out height and positional relationship, it becomes possible to stably hold the blank sheet α without omission.

[0048] When a certain suction pressure is applied to the suction fingers 19 by the suction means, the carrier 17 raises the hanger 18 and conveys a single blank sheet α to the forming base 1. Conventionally, there was a risk that multiple closely adhered blank sheets α would be adhered together and conveyed as a single unit. In view of such a problem, when the hanger 18 of this example is lifted, due to the extension of the driving means, the The backward movement of the drive frame 18c causes a pair of holding frames 18a, 18a provided on the hanger 18 to bend in an inverted V shape, facilitating the separation of the blank sheets α other than the blank sheet α adsorbed to the suction fingers 19 of both holding frames 18a, 18a. As a result, even if there are a plurality of blank sheets α closely adhered at the top, in combination with the effect of eliminating vacuum suction and electrostatic adsorption by the pressurization, when the topmost blank sheet α is lifted, it is possible to obtain the effect of separating and dropping other extra blank sheets α.

[0049] Carrier 17 places the picked-up single blank sheet α on the forming base 1 with its back side facing up. At this time, the placement positions of the side surface regions B, C, D, and E of the blank sheet α are controlled so as to be generally arranged on the support surfaces of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d in charge of each. At this time, in order to project the positioning pin 4 from the surface of the forming base 1, the protruding positioning pin 4 will be applied between the upper flap regions F, G, H, and I of the blank sheet α.

[0050] As a result, the blank sheet α is set extremely precisely on the forming base 1. In this example, furthermore, the positioning plate 5 pressurizes and guides the deepest part of the valley between the upper flap regions F, G, H, and I of the blank sheet α toward the positioning pin 4, so that the reproducibility of the positioning position is further enhanced (Figure 4). After the above positioning operation is completed, the suction means of the forming base 1 operates (it may apply a weak suction force when the blank sheet α is placed on the forming base 1), the blank sheet α is held on the forming base 1 so as not to shift, and the positioning pin 4 is submerged below the support surface so as not to interfere with the forming.

[0051] <<<Upright forming (empty carton assembly)>>> Next, the carrier 17 operates the forming head 2 and starts the upright forming operation by the upright forming means. The upright forming means performs an upright forming operation of winding up the blank sheet α on the forming base 1 along the circumferential surface of the forming head 2 while rolling the circumferential surface of the forming head 2 along the forming base 1 (Figures 1 to 3). The upright forming means applies hot melt to the paste margin A during the upright forming operation (Figure 8), adheres the paste margin A to the back end of the end long side surface E to fix the blank sheet α in a cylindrical form, sequentially overlaps the formed cylindrical upper opening with the upper flap regions F and H, and then folds and adheres the upper flap I and the top flap G to seal (Figures 3 and 9).

[0052] In this example, since the unwinding of the blank sheet α starts from the short end side B, the blanking means accurately sets the side holding surfaces of the short side guide 2b of the forming head 2, and the side holding surfaces of the two adjacent corner guides 2a and 2c on the short end side B set on the base block 1a which is the starting point of the blanking operation (blanking positioning in Fig. 1(A)). At this time, the rotation axis (tip rod) of the forming head 2 is orthogonal to the arrangement of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, and is parallel to the support surfaces of the base blocks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d (hereinafter, these are referred to as "rotation conditions").

[0053] When the blanking positioning is completed, the blanking means operates the suction means of the short side guide 2b, stops the suction means of the base block 1a, pressurizes the upper side flap F to be in close contact with the front holding surfaces of the short side guide 2b, corner guides 2a, 2c, long side guides 2d, 2h, and central guide 2i by the upper side flap forming means 11, and pressurizes the adhesive margin A to be in close contact with the side holding surface of the corner guide (adhesive margin guide) 2a by the adhesive margin forming means 10. At this time, since the suction means of the suction holes 6 is functioning, the side flap F in close contact with the front holding surface of the forming head 2 is held in a state where the close contact state is maintained. Subsequently, the blanking means maintains the pressure applied to the blank sheet α by the forming head 2 and, while maintaining the rotation conditions, rotates (rolls) the forming head 2 so that the side holding surfaces of the long side guide 2d of the forming head 2 and the side holding surfaces of the two adjacent corner guides 2c and 2e are accurately set on the subsequent medium long side C of the blank sheet α to complete the second positioning (Fig. 1(B)).

[0054] When the second positioning is completed, the suction means of the long side guide 2d is operated, the suction means of the base block 1b is stopped, and the insertion piece of the upper flap I is bent by the insertion forming means 100. Subsequently, while maintaining the pressure applied to the blank sheet α by the forming head 2, maintaining a state where the suction force of the forming head 2 is greater than the suction force of the forming base 1, maintaining the rotation conditions, and maintaining the tension of the blank sheet α, the forming head 2 is rotated (rolled) so that the side holding surfaces of the short side guide 2f of the forming head 2, and the side holding surfaces of two adjacent corner guides 2e and 2g are accurately set on the subsequent medium short side surface D of the blank sheet α, and the third positioning is completed (Fig. 2(A)).

[0055] When the third positioning is completed, the suction means of the short side guide 2f is operated, the suction means of the base block 1c is stopped, and the upper middle side flap H is pressed against the front holding surfaces of the short side guide 2f, corner guides 2e and 2g, long side guides 2d and 2h, and the center guide 2i by the upper middle side flap forming means 12 (Fig. 2(B)). Subsequently, while maintaining the pressure applied to the blank sheet α by the forming head 2 and maintaining the rotation conditions, the forming head 2 is rotated (rolled) so that the side holding surface of the long side guide 2h of the forming head 2, and the side holding surfaces of two adjacent corner guides 2g and 2a are accurately set on the subsequent end long side surface E of the blank sheet α, and the fourth positioning is completed (Fig. 3(A)).

[0056] When the fourth positioning is completed, the guide lifting means 8 is advanced and retracted to switch the long side guide 2d of the forming head 2 from the guide position to the retracted position, the flap support means 9 is retracted, and the upper flap I is pressed against the front holding surfaces of the long side guides 2h and 2d, short side guides 2b and 2f, corner guides 2a, 2g, 2c and 2e, and the center guide 2i by the upper flap forming means 13, and its insertion piece is inserted into the upper opening (Figs. 3 and 9). Subsequently, while inspecting the coating state with a camera, hot melt is discharged onto the surface of the upper flap I as an adhesive (Fig. 3(B)), and the top flap G is pressed against the upper flap I immediately after the hot melt is applied by the top flap forming means 14 and waits for solidification.

[0057] With the above, the case-making process is completed, and an empty carton β with its lower opening released is supplied to the packaging means for packaging the subcontracted products (Fig. 20(A)). The case-making means repeats the above case-making operation while synchronizing with the packaging means and the bottom sealing means as long as there is a blank sheet α of a specified thickness in the sheet holder.

[0058] <<Packaging means>> The packaging means includes an aligning process for aligning the orientation and posture of the stick-shaped subcontracted products, an integrating means for unitizing the subcontracted products sorted in the aligning process in units of a specified number, a unitizing means for loading a specified number of small units into the shuttle 22 while maintaining the aligned state, a conveying means for sending the shuttle 22 loaded with the subcontracted products to the filling position, and a filling means for neatly filling the packaged products mounted on the shuttle 22 into the inner space of the empty carton β.

[0059] <Integrating means> In this example, the integrating means includes a sending-out means for sending out a plurality of subcontracted products in a vertical row with their bellies (bulging parts surrounded by the four-side crimping parts) facing forward, a pushing-in means for pressing a certain number (10 packages in this example) of the subcontracted products sent out by the sending-out means from the side and guiding them to the aligning process, and a collecting tray 21 having a tapered route through which a group of 10 packages of subcontracted products (small units) pushed in by the pushing-in means pass simultaneously in a uniform posture (Fig. 11). In this example, ten tapered grooves for passing the subcontracted products one by one in a uniformly inclined lying position are provided in the collecting tray 21.

[0060] In this example, the unitizing means includes a shuttle 22 for mounting three units of small units in parallel, and a transfer means for shifting the shuttle 22 by one unit width of the small unit during unitization and sending the shuttle 22 after unitization to the shuttle supply module 23 (Fig. 12). With the integrating means and the unitizing means, the loading of three units of small units is completed with three loading operations and two shifting operations (hereinafter, the shuttle 22 after the loading of the small units is referred to as the "full shuttle 22").

[0061] <Conveying means> The conveying means includes a shuttle supply module 23 that secures the full shuttle 22 and supplies it to the conveying module, a shuttle recovery module 24 that secures the empty shuttle 22 and supplies it to the unitizing means, a shuttle transfer module 25 that transports the full shuttle 22 from the shuttle supply module 23 to the filling position and the empty shuttle 22 from the filling position to the shuttle recovery module 24, and a transfer means 26 that transfers the full shuttle 22 and the empty shuttle 22 between the shuttle supply module 23 and the shuttle transfer module 25 and between the shuttle recovery module 24 and the shuttle transfer module 25 (Fig. 12).

[0062] The shuttle supply module 23 and the shuttle recovery module 24 are horizontal conveyor belts stacked in two layers parallel to each other vertically. In this example, the shuttle recovery module 24 is arranged at the lower position and the shuttle supply module 23 is arranged at the upper position. The platforms for the transfer means 26 in the shuttle supply module 23 and the shuttle recovery module 24 are arranged such that the shuttle recovery module 24 is made longer by about two or more times the length of the shuttle 22 compared to the shuttle supply module 23 in order to operate both securing means 27 provided in the transfer means 26 simultaneously. The platform for the transfer means 26 in the shuttle recovery module 24 is offset horizontally by at least the length of one shuttle 22 outside the platform for the transfer means 26 in the shuttle supply module 23, and the upper part of the upper end of the shuttle supply module 23 is open (Fig. 12).

[0063] The shuttle transfer module 25 includes a transfer base 25a that moves horizontally integrally along a route frame 34 connecting the filling position and the transfer position, and a lifting base 25b that moves forward and backward in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the route frame 34. The lifting base 25b is provided with a temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28 and a shuttle lifting lifter 29. The temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28 has the central part of the temporary bottom plate 30 fixed to the tip of one of two parallel rods, each of which independently performs a lifting and lowering operation along substantially the same track. On the other hand, the shuttle lifting lifter 29 has a shuttle tray 31 fixed to the tip of the other of the two rods so as to surround and support the temporary bottom plate 30 from below (Fig. 18).

[0064] The shuttle tray 31 and the shuttle 22 mounted thereon are each provided with a through-hole 32 through which the rod of the temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28 and the temporary bottom plate 30 fixed to the tip thereof can pass at the central part, and the shuttle tray 31 on which the empty shuttle 22 is mounted can independently move up and down below the temporary bottom plate 30. The temporary bottom plate 30 is a flat plate fixed via a connecting piece 33 that can pass through the gap between the lower side flaps J and L closed at the lower opening of the empty carton β, and has a structure that can support from below without dropping the sub-packaged products filling the lower opening of the empty carton β (in this example, a flat plate that closes about one-third to about one-half of the center of the depth of the opening). On the other hand, the shuttle 22 is formed in a dish shape that can ensure the state in which the sub-packaged products are aligned by the stacking means and the unitizing means. The shuttle tray 31 for mounting the shuttle 22 is provided with a pedestal that can detachably hold the shuttle 22 and prevent it from falling during the conveyance operation by the shuttle conveyance module 25.

[0065] The transfer means 26 is provided with two sets of lifting and lowering securing means 27 that move horizontally along a shared frame. The securing means 27 are each provided with an openable and closable claw for securing the sides of the full shuttle 22 and the empty shuttle 22 while maintaining a specified posture. One securing means (supply gripper) 27 stops at the platform of the shuttle supply module 23 at the upper position, and at the same time the other securing means (recovery gripper) 27 stops at the platform of the shuttle recovery unit 24 at the lower position (Fig. 12).

[0066] <Filling means> The filling means includes a filling base 35 that holds the empty carton β at the filling position with its opening facing downward, a filling lifter that inserts the shuttle 22 on which the grouped sub-packaged products are arranged in an aligned state at the filling position into the inner space of the empty carton β held by the filling base 35, and sealing means that bends and supports the left and right flaps and the front and rear sealing plates of the empty carton β in the direction of closing the opening.

[0067] The filling lifter includes a shuttle lifting lifter 29 that raises and lowers the shuttle 22, a temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28 that raises and lowers a temporary bottom plate 30 for retaining the grouped sub-packaged products in the inner space after the shuttle 22 has descended, a lifting base 25b that supports the shuttle lifting lifter 29 and the temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28, and advancing and retreating means that horizontally moves the lifting base 25b back and forth between the filling position and the retracted position.

[0068] With the above configuration, after the filling lifter inserts the shuttle 22 into the inner space of the empty carton β, it lowers the shuttle 22 leaving the temporary bottom plate 30, and after the left and right flaps are bent and supported by the sealing means, it horizontally disengages the lifting base 25b to the retracted position. The sealing means bends and seals the front and rear sealing plates (the under flap M and the bottom flap K in the above example). By adopting such a filling method for the grouped sub-packaged products, the sub-packaged products can be carried into the inner space of the empty carton β in an organized form as if the sashimi were stacked, and the grouped sub-packaged products can be retained without disturbing their organized state.

[0069] The filling means in this example is composed of bottom sealing means and the shuttle conveyance module 25. The bottom sealing means includes carton arranging means (Fig. 13) that receives the empty carton β after the production of the case with the upper opening sealed by the forming head 2 and transfers the empty carton β to the filling position and arranges it in the filling posture, and carton sealing means (Figs. 14 to 18).

[0070] The carton arranging means includes a filling base 35 for accommodating an empty carton β, a lifting frame 200 for supporting the filling base 35, a traveling base 201 for supporting the lifting frame 200, a base lifting means 202 for lifting the lifting frame 200 relative to the traveling base 201, a transfer means for moving the traveling base 201 along a guide frame 203 connecting a receiving position and a packaging position, and a turning means for switching the orientation of the filling base 35 relative to the lifting frame 200 to the side and downward (Fig. 13). Here, the receiving position is a position where the traveling base 201 is stopped to receive the empty carton β, and the packaging position is a position where the traveling base 201 is stopped to fill the sub-packaged products into the empty carton β. The configuration of supporting the filling base 35 so as to be transferable and orientation-switchable is not limited to the configuration including the base lifting means, the transfer means, and the turning means, and a robot arm can also be used.

[0071] The filling base 35 includes four holding blocks 35a, 35a, 35b, 35c combined so as to form a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped accommodation space having the same height as the heights of the four side surfaces B, C, D, E of the empty carton β, the same length as the lengths of the two long side surfaces C, E facing each other among the four side surfaces B, C, D, E, and the same width as the lengths of the two short side surfaces B, D facing each other among the four side surfaces (Fig. 13). Further, the filling base 35 has an axis arranged parallel to the rear of the line connecting the centers of the holding surfaces (inner surfaces) of the holding blocks 35a, 35a for holding the two short side surfaces B, D of the empty carton β as the turning axis of the turning means, and turns with the two long side surfaces C, E and the top surface of the empty carton β as the peripheral surfaces (Fig. 13). The turning axis of the turning means of the filling base 35 is rotatably supported by a bearing of the lifting frame 200.

[0072] In this example, the filling base 35 includes short holding blocks 35a, 35a that cover the surfaces of the short side faces B, D of the empty carton β, a long holding block 35b that covers the surface of the long side face E of the empty carton β, a long holding block 35c that covers the surface of the long side face C of the empty carton β and supports a bottom flap K extending from the long side face C toward the lower opening, and a sealing block 35d that supports these four holding blocks 35a, 35a, 35b, 35c and seals the upper opening of the holding space surrounded by the holding blocks 35a, 35a, 35b, 35c.

[0073] Each of the holding blocks 35a, 35a, 35b, 35c is a rectangular parallelepiped block or a combination thereof having a flat reference surface on the front surface and a flat holding surface on the inner surface. The reference surface of each holding block appropriately provides areas in the form required for operating the lower side flaps J, L, and the under flap M and the bottom flap K to be held. In particular, the long holding block 35c that holds the bottom flap K has a reference surface in a form that can hold the entire area of the bottom flap K. The long holding block 35b is provided with a telescoping means that expands the dimension between the long holding blocks 35b, 35c when loading the empty carton β and contracts after loading to press the long side faces C, E of the empty carton β.

[0074] Each of the holding blocks 35a, 35c, 35a, 35b is provided on its inner surface with holding means for performing adsorption and release for each surface of the surfaces of the end short side face B, the middle long side face C, the middle short side face D, and the end long side face E of the empty carton β. The 35c is provided on its surface with holding means for performing adsorption and release with respect to the bottom flap K of the empty carton β. The sealing block 35d is provided on its inner surface with holding means for performing adsorption and release on its surface with respect to the top flap G. The holding means of the holding blocks 35a, 35c, 35a, 35b in this example is a suction means for sucking and releasing with respect to the surface of the empty carton β, and has a holding surface for holding the short end side surface B, the medium long side surface C, the medium short side surface D or the long end side surface E, and a reference surface of the holding block 35c for holding the bottom flap K, and is provided with the single or plural suction holes 37 and a ventilation path leading from the suction holes 37 to the single or plural connecting surfaces (surfaces to which other holding blocks or joints 36 are connected).

[0075] In addition, each of the holding blocks 35a, 35a, 35b may also adopt a configuration in which holding means for sucking and releasing each surface with respect to the lower end side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, and the under flap M of the empty carton β is provided on each surface. At that time, the reference surfaces of the holding blocks 35a, 35a, 35b are also provided with suction holes 37 for holding the lower end side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, and the under flap M of the empty carton β and a ventilation path leading from the suction holes 37 to the single or plural connecting surfaces.

[0076] The single or plural blocks constituting each of the holding blocks 35a, 35a, 35b, 35c are divided into a system for holding on the inner surface and a system for holding on the reference surface, and the respective ventilation paths communicate with each other, and become holding means for sucking and releasing simultaneously for each system. The holding means of the sealing block 35d in this example is a suction means for sucking and releasing with respect to the surface of the top flap G by the suction holes 37 provided on the inner surface of the sealing block 35d, and is provided with a ventilation path leading from the suction holes 37 on the inner surface to the single or plural connecting surfaces (surfaces to which other holding blocks or joints 36 are connected). The single or plural blocks constituting the sealing block 35d have their respective ventilation paths communicating with each other and become holding means for sucking and releasing simultaneously.

[0077] In this way, since the filling base 35 can be configured by combining rectangular parallelepiped holding blocks that are formed with high precision, the unfinished empty carton β that has gone through the lifting process can be reliably shaped, accurately positioned, and held from the outside. While the flaps J, K, L, M, etc. extended to the opening are being folded by the forming unit, the work of appropriately applying an adhesive and sealing can be performed. As a result, the sealing process involving the folding or insertion of the flaps J, K, L, M, etc. becomes easier, and a highly reproducible sealing process can be achieved according to the form and assembly accuracy of each holding block 35a, 35c, 35a, 35b. Moreover, at that time, when bending the corners of the empty carton β at an angle defined by the folding line, excessive stress is not applied, so the problem of reducing the yield due to damage to the appearance of the carton can also be solved.

[0078] The carton sealing means, similar to the top surface sealing means, includes a lower side flap forming means 204 for opening and closing the lower side flap J, a lower middle flap forming means 205 for opening and closing the lower middle side flap L, an under flap forming means 206 for opening and closing the under flap M, a sealing adhesive discharge means 208 for applying an adhesive to the surface of the under flap M (Fig. 22), and a bottom flap forming means 207 for opening and closing the bottom flap K (Figs. 14 to 17).

[0079] The lower side flap forming means 204 and the lower middle side flap forming means 205 are forming units that include forming rollers that press the lower side flaps J, L against the reference surface of the short holding block 35a or move forward and backward following the reference surface of the short holding block 35a to press and support the sub-packaged products filled in the inner space of the empty carton β through the lower side flaps J, L.

[0080] The under-flap forming means 206 presses the under-flap M against the reference surface of the long holding block 35b, or advances and retreats following the reference surface of the long holding block 35b to press and support from below the sub-packaged products filled in the inner space of the empty carton β through the lower side flaps J, L and the under-flap M, and is a forming unit equipped with a forming roller. The bottom flap forming means 207 presses the bottom flap K against the reference surface of the long holding block 35c, or advances and retreats following the reference surface of the long holding block 35c to press and support from below the sub-packaged products filled in the inner space of the empty carton β by bringing the bottom flap K into close contact with and pressing against the lower side flaps J, L and the under-flap M, and is a forming unit equipped with a forming roller.

[0081] The lower end side flap forming means 204, the lower middle side flap forming means 205, the under-flap forming means 206, and the bottom flap forming means 207 are arranged surrounding the filling position (Fig. 18). The forming rollers included in each flap forming means 204, 205, 206, 207 are rotatably supported by a movable block as a part of a forming unit that moves back and forth between a retracted position and an operating position (filling position or sealing position), and the movable block is advanced and retreated along the direction of the side surface of the empty carton β where the flaps responsible for forming are continuous with respect to the operating position, and lifting means for lifting and lowering the movable block along the direction of the top surface of the empty carton β with respect to the filling height are provided respectively (Figs. 14 to 18).

[0082] In each of the forming units, one or more forming rollers are rotatably supported according to the form of the reference surfaces of the short holding blocks 35a, 35a and the long holding blocks 35b, 35c, and advance and retreat in the depth direction of the reference surfaces of the short holding blocks 35a, 35a and the long holding blocks 35b, 35c by the operation of the advancing and retreating means included in each forming unit (Figs. 14 to 18). Furthermore, the advancing / retreating means and the elevating means in this example can employ linear actuators such as air cylinders or combinations thereof, or servo actuators such as three-axis moving means or robot arms, and can be fixedly installed on the base in a position-adjustable manner, or can be installed movably along a guide frame installed on the base.

[0083] The sealing adhesive discharging means 208 (FIG. 22) is disposed facing the opening of the carton. The sealing adhesive discharging means 208 includes a hot melt gun that discharges hot melt, a unit including a servo actuator 106 or the like that moves the hot melt gun vertically, horizontally, and laterally, and a camera for inspecting the application state of the hot melt (FIG. 8). The servo actuator can employ, for example, three-axis moving means or a robot arm, and these are controlled so that the hot melt gun aims at a preset three-dimensional coordinate position, and a specified amount of hot melt material is discharged at a predetermined position.

[0084] <<<Packaging of Subcontracted Products>>> The packaging means is configured as described above. The forming head 2 loads an empty carton β onto the filling base 35 of the carton arranging means and releases the suction to the empty carton β. The filling base 35 operates the suction means of the suction holes 37 provided on the holding surfaces (inner surfaces) of the respective blocks forming the filling base 35. Subsequently, the carton arranging means presses the bottom flap K against the reference surface of the long holding block 35c and applies pressure. The long holding block 35c sucks the surface of the bottom flap K and adsorbs it to its reference surface. Next, the carton arranging means transfers the filling base 35 holding the empty carton β as it is to the filling position and stops in a filling posture with the opening facing downward (see FIG. 13).

[0085] At the filling position, each forming unit of the lower end side flap forming means 204, the lower middle side flap forming means 205, and the under flap forming means 206 descends surrounding the filling position, advances to a position facing the entrance of the lower opening of the empty carton β, and gathers. Then, by rising again to the reference surface (filling height) of each holding block, they are respectively arranged along the lower end side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, and the under flap M immediately before the lower opening (Fig. 14(A)).

[0086] Subsequently, each moves horizontally in a straight line along the reference surfaces of the lower end side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, the under flap M, and their respective holding blocks 35a, 35a, and 35b in a direction of separating from each other with the lower end side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, and the under flap M, pushing open the lower end side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, and the under flap M and supporting each from below (Fig. 14(B)). Next, the filling base 35 makes a reciprocating motion up and down once, allowing the lower end side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, and the under flap M, which are bent downward, to hang freely (Fig. 14(C)).

[0087] At the same time, the shuttle transfer module 25 secures the full shuttle 22 from the transfer position of the shuttle supply module 23 and conveys it to the filling position (Figs. 12 and 18). At that time, the temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28, the shuttle lifting lifter 29, and the full shuttle 22 on the shuttle tray 31 move horizontally as a unit. When arriving at the filling position, the temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28 and the shuttle lifting lifter 29 rise as a unit to the filling height, and fill the sub-packaged products of the full shuttle 22 into the inner cavity of the empty carton β (Figs. 19 and 20). When the sub-packaged products are filled, only the shuttle lifting lifter 29 contracts and only the shuttle tray 31 descends with the empty shuttle 22. At that time, the temporary bottom plate 30 supports the sub-packaged products stored in the inner cavity of the empty carton β at the filling height, and the temporary bottom plate 30 and its rod pass through the through holes 32 of the shuttle 22 and the shuttle tray 31 (Fig. 19(B)).

[0088] <<<Sealing>>> Next, the forming units of the lower side flap forming means 204 and the lower middle side flap forming means 205 advance to the filling position and come close together, and seal the lower opening of the full carton γ with the lower side flap J and the lower middle side flap L respectively (Fig. 15(B)). Subsequently, the bottom flap forming means 207 supports the first half of the lower side flap J and the lower middle side flap L that seal the lower opening of the full carton γ together with the lower side flap forming means 204 and the lower middle side flap forming means 205 (Fig. 15(C)). The lower side flap forming means 204 and the lower middle side flap forming means 205 wait for the bottom flap forming means 207 to be interposed as described above, and then retract to the side of the filling position (Fig. 16(A)).

[0089] Next, the under flap forming means 206 adheres the under flap M to the lower side flap J and the lower middle side flap L that support the sub-packaged products filled in the inner space of the full carton γ, and pressurizes the rear part thereof (Fig. 16(B)). At this time, the supporting means 210 advances a pair of flat bar-shaped support pieces 209, 209 that support the under flap M from below, and ensures the arrangement state of the sub-packaged products filled in the inner space of the full carton γ, the lower side flap J, the lower middle side flap L, and the under flap M. The supporting means 210 having the support pieces 209, 209 is arranged above the under flap forming means 206, and is provided with a retracting means for making the support pieces 209, 209 protrude and retract following the reference plane of the filling base 35 arranged at the filling height of the filling position. The under flap forming means 206 retracts from the filling position waiting for the advancement of the support pieces 209, 209 (Fig. 16(C)).

[0090] Subsequently, the shuttle transfer module 25 horizontally retracts the temporary bottom plate lifting lifter 28 and the shuttle lifting lifter 29 from the filling position while maintaining the height of the temporary bottom plate 30, extracts them from the full carton γ (Fig. 21), and releases the adsorption of the bottom flap K by the long holding block 35c. Finally, the adhesive is applied to the surface of the under flap M by the sealing adhesive discharging means 208, and the bottom flap forming means 207 makes the bottom flap K adhere to and press against the under flap M (Fig. 17(A)). After continuing the pressing for a certain period of time and waiting for the hot melt to solidify, the under flap forming means 206 and the bottom flap forming means 207 retract from the filling area, and the sealing of the full carton γ is completed (Fig. 17(B)).

[0091] In addition, the carton manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration for packaging the subcontracted products, and can also be applied by changing the forms (shapes, sizes, or combinations) of the forming base 1 and the forming head 2 in the carton manufacturing process for further packaging unpackaged solid products or boxed products.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0092] α blank sheet, β empty carton, γ full carton, A paste margin, B short end side, C medium long side, D medium short side, E long end side, F upper side flap, G top flap, H upper middle side flap, I upper flap, J lower side flap, K bottom flap, L lower middle side flap, M under flap, 1 forming base, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d base blocks, 2 forming head, 2a, 2c, 2e, 2g corner guides, 2b, 2f short side guides, 2d, 2h long side guides, 2i center guide, 3 suction holes, 4 positioning pins, 5 positioning plates, 6 Suction holes, 7 Joints, 8 Guide lifting means, 9 Flap support means, 10 Paste margin forming means, 11, 12 Side flap forming means, 13 Upper flap forming means, 14 Top flap forming means, 15 Sheet table, 16 Upper limit sensor, 17 Carrier, 18 Hanger, 18a Holding frame, 18b Suspension frame, 18c Driving frame, 19 Suction fingers, 20 Robot arm, 21 Collection tray, 22 Shuttle, 23 Shuttle supply module, 24 Shuttle recovery module, 25 Shuttle transfer module, 25a Transfer base, 25b Lifting base, 26 Transfer means, 27 Securing means, 28 Temporary bottom plate lifting lifter, 29 Shuttle lifting lifter, 30 Temporary bottom plate, 31 Shuttle tray, 32 Through hole, 33 Connecting piece, 34 Route frame, 35 Filling base, 35a Short holding block, 35b Long holding block, 35c Long holding block, 35d Sealing block, 36 Joint, 37 Suction holes, 100 Insertion forming means, 101 Bending ruler, 102 Bending unit, 103 Unit advancing and retreating means, 104 Unit lifting means, 105 Rising letter adhesive discharging means, 106 Servo actuator, 200 Lifting frame, 201 Traveling base, 202 Base lifting means, 203 Guide frame, 204 Lower end side flap forming means, 205 Lower middle side flap forming means, 206 Under flap forming means, 207 Bottom flap forming means, 208 Sealing adhesive discharging means, 209 Support piece, 210 Supporting means,

Claims

1. In a box-making device for forming a flat blank sheet into a box shape, it is provided with a forming base for holding the blank sheet and a box-making means having a forming head for forming the blank sheet held on the forming base. The forming base is provided with holding means for adsorbing and releasing the blank sheet for each region. The forming head is provided with guide blocks for supporting each side surface from the inside during box-making. The forming head is rolled on the forming base, and while sequentially adsorbing the regions where the blank sheet is released from adsorption to the forming base, it makes a box while adsorbing. A box-making device for a packaging box, characterized by this.

2. The box-making means is provided with sealing means for sealing the opening of the carton made by the box-making means. The sealing means is characterized in that it includes a forming roller that advances and retreats while pressing the formed region of the blank sheet in the bending direction on the guide block, and an adhesive means for applying an adhesive to the adhesive region where the formed regions overlap. The box-making device for a packaging box according to claim 1.

3. The forming head supports a plurality of guide blocks in an arrangement for supporting the side surfaces of the carton from the inside after box-making. The holding surface of the guide block is provided with suction holes for adsorbing and releasing the back surface of the blank sheet. The box-making device for a packaging box according to any one of claims 1 or 2.

4. The forming base is provided with a plurality of base blocks corresponding to the arrangement of each side surface of the blank sheet. The support surface of the base block is provided with suction holes for adsorbing and releasing the front surface of the blank sheet. The box-making device for a packaging box according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. It is provided with a sheet holder for positioning and stocking a plurality of blank sheets in the same direction, and a carrier for securing the topmost blank sheet of the sheet holder, transferring the secured blank sheet to the forming base, and placing the transferred blank sheet at a fixed position on the forming base. The carrier is provided with grip means for releasing the adsorption of the blank sheet placed at the fixed position for each region as the adsorption to the forming base occurs. The box-making device for a packaging box according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The grip means is provided with peeling means for bending or buckling the secured blank sheet after securing the blank sheet from the sheet holder. The box-making device for a packaging box according to claim 5.

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