Cardboard case

Abstract

To provide a compact cardboard caser which enables high-speed handling of a large volume of products.SOLUTION: A cardboard caser 4 comprises: first to third product conveyors 8, 10, and 12 respectively having first to third conveying paths 16, 18, and 20; first and second box conveyors 24 and 26 respectively having fourth and fifth conveying paths 30 and 46; and a robot 42 that holds a product P placed in a bucket 22 on the third conveying path 20 and packs it in a cardboard box B on the fourth conveying path 30. The first box conveyor 24 is provided with a positioning device 32 that holds and positions the cardboard box B delivered into the fourth conveying path 30, can perform direction change operation to change the direction of the cardboard box B in the conveying direction X of the fourth conveying path 30 to a perpendicular direction, and that is conveyed together with the cardboard box B on the fourth conveying path 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cardboard case packer, and more particularly to a cardboard case packer for packing products such as bagged products into cardboard boxes.

Background Art

[0002] A cardboard case packer for packing products such as bagged products into cardboard boxes is known. The cardboard case packer is used in combination with a case making machine for forming a cardboard sheet into a cardboard box and a case sealing machine for sealing the cardboard box in which the products are packed, such as by attaching a tape.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a direction changing device that controls one conveyor row of a conveyor at a first conveying speed, controls the other conveyor row of the conveyor at a second conveying speed different from the first conveying speed, and conveys an article while changing its direction by the speed difference between the conveyor rows.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The direction changing device of Patent Document 1 changes the orientation of the product in the conveying direction during the process of conveying the product along the conveying path of one linearly extending conveyor. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a long distance for the conveying path of the conveyor for direction change, and it also takes time for direction change. Accordingly, as the device becomes larger, it is difficult to perform at high speed the process of conveying a large number of products and packing them into cardboard boxes.

[0006] In Patent Document 1, no special consideration is given to the holding, positioning, and transfer of the cardboard boxes in which the products are packed. If devices for holding, positioning, changing the direction, and transferring the cardboard boxes are separately provided in the cardboard case erector, the cardboard case erector becomes even larger, and it becomes even more difficult to perform at high speed the process of transporting a large number of products in the cardboard case erector and packing them in the cardboard boxes.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a compact cardboard case erector capable of processing a large number of products at high speed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] To achieve the above object, a cardboard case erector according to one aspect includes a first product conveyor that conveys the loaded products in a first conveyance path, a second product conveyor that conveys the products conveyed in the first conveyance path in a second conveyance path orthogonal to the first conveyance path, a third product conveyor that receives the products conveyed in the second conveyance path with a bucket and conveys the products together with the bucket in a third conveyance path that is orthogonal to the second conveyance path and extends parallel to the first conveyance path, a first box conveyor that receives a cardboard box loaded from the same direction as the product loading direction into the first conveyance path, is located below the second conveyance path, and conveys the cardboard box in a fourth conveyance path that extends parallel to the first conveyance path, a second box conveyor that receives the cardboard box conveyed in the fourth conveyance path, is located below the third conveyance path, and conveys the cardboard box in a fifth conveyance path that extends parallel to the fourth conveyance path while being adjacent to the fourth conveyance path, and a robot that holds the products placed on the bucket in the third conveyance path and packs them in the cardboard box in the fourth conveyance path. The first box conveyor holds and positions the cardboard box loaded into the fourth conveyance path, and is capable of performing a direction-changing operation of changing the direction of the cardboard box in the conveyance direction of the fourth conveyance path by 90 degrees, and includes a positioning device that is conveyed in the fourth conveyance path together with the cardboard box.

[0009] It is possible to provide a compact cardboard case that can process a large number of products at high speed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connected integrated unit 1 that connects a case-making machine 2, a cardboard case 4, and a case-sealing machine 6. The case-making machine 2, the cardboard case 4, and the case-sealing machine 6 are each unitized, and these units form a connected integrated unit 1 that is connected in this order. Note that the case-making machine 2, the cardboard case 4, and the case-sealing machine 6 may be referred to as units 2, 4, and 6, respectively. Also, in the following description, descriptions of parallelism, orthogonality, right angles, etc. regarding directionality and angles are substantial and not strict.

[0012] The box-making machine 2 forms the corrugated cardboard sheet that has been carried in into a corrugated cardboard box. The corrugated cardboard caser 4 packs the products that have been bagged and carried in into the corrugated cardboard box that has been carried in from the box-making machine 2. The sealing machine 6 seals the corrugated cardboard box with the products packed by pasting a tape or the like. The conveyance direction of the corrugated cardboard sheet as a whole in the box-making machine 2 and the conveyance direction of the corrugated cardboard box in the corrugated cardboard caser 4 and the sealing machine 6 are the same direction as a whole.

[0013] Also, the conveyance direction of the products in the corrugated cardboard caser 4 is the same direction as the conveyance direction of the corrugated cardboard box as a whole. That is, the conveyance directions of the products and the corrugated cardboard boxes as a whole in each unit 2, 4, 6 and the connected integrated unit 1 are the same. Further, connection members such as brackets for connecting each unit 2, 4, 6 can be made unnecessary.

[0014] In this way, by unitizing the box-making machine 2, the corrugated cardboard caser 4, and the sealing machine 6 and forming the connected integrated unit 1 connected so that the conveyance directions of the products and the corrugated cardboard boxes in each unit 2, 4, 6 are the same direction as a whole, it is possible to realize the compactification of each unit 2, 4, 6 and the connected integrated unit 1.

[0015] Here, since both the products and the corrugated cardboard boxes are conveyed in the corrugated cardboard caser 4, the conveyance paths of these tend to become complicated, and the installation area also tends to become large. However, in the corrugated cardboard caser 4 of the present embodiment, both the products and the corrugated cardboard boxes are carried in from the same direction on the box-making machine 2 side, and the corrugated cardboard with the products packed is carried out to the sealing machine 6. Further, as will be described later, by intensively arranging each conveyor and installing the positioning device for the corrugated cardboard box described later, the corrugated cardboard caser 4 with a minimum installation area is realized. Also, the distance of the conveyance paths of the products and the corrugated cardboard boxes becomes short, and a large amount of products can be processed at high speed.

[0016] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cardboard case 4, and Figure 3 shows a top view of the cardboard case 4. The cardboard case 4 includes a first product conveyor 8, a second product conveyor 10, and a third product conveyor 12. These conveyors 8, 10, 12 are, for example, belt conveyors and constitute a product conveyance line 14. The conveyance direction of the product P in the product conveyance line 14 is indicated by the black arrow. The first product conveyor 8 conveys the product P introduced from the side of the case-making machine 2 of the cardboard case 4 in the first conveyance path 16.

[0017] The first conveyance path 16 extends parallel to the connection direction X of each unit 2, 4, 6. The second product conveyor 10 conveys the product P conveyed on the first conveyance path 16 in a second conveyance path 18 that is orthogonal to the first conveyance path 16. More specifically, a product direction-changing device 19 is provided between the first product conveyor 8 and the second product conveyor 10 in the cardboard case 4.

[0018] The direction-changing device 19 receives the product P conveyed on the first conveyance path 16 and performs a direction-changing operation to change the direction of the product P in the conveyance direction of the first conveyance path 16 by a right angle, and conveys the product P after the direction-changing operation toward the second conveyance path 18. The third product conveyor 12 receives the product P conveyed on the second conveyance path 18 with the buckets 22 respectively, and conveys the product P together with the buckets 22 in a third conveyance path 20. The third conveyance path 20 is orthogonal to the second conveyance path 18 and extends parallel to the first conveyance path 16.

[0019] Also, the cardboard case 4 includes a first box conveyor 24 and a second box conveyor 26. The first box conveyor 24 is, for example, a belt conveyor, and the second box conveyor 26 is, for example, a roller conveyor. These conveyors 24, 26 constitute a cardboard box conveyance line 28. The cardboard box conveyance line 28 is formed below the product conveyance line 14, and a two-stage structure of the conveyance line is constructed. The conveyance direction of the cardboard box B in the cardboard box conveyance line 28 is indicated by the white arrow.

[0020] The first box conveyor 24 receives the cardboard box B carried in from the box manufacturing machine 2, that is, the cardboard box B carried in from the same direction as the carrying-in direction of the product P to the first conveying path 16, and conveys it on the fourth conveying path 30. The fourth conveying path 30 is located below the second conveying path 18 and extends parallel to the first conveying path. More specifically, the first box conveyor 24 includes a positioning device 32 for the cardboard box B and a receiving device 34.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the cardboard box conveying line 28. The positioning device 32 is provided, for example, in two numbers, each holding the cardboard box B carried in from the box manufacturing machine 2 at the standby position and positioning each cardboard box B conveyed on the fourth conveying path 30 at the center in the width direction of the fourth conveying path 30. Further, each positioning device 32 is capable of a direction-changing operation of changing the direction of the cardboard box B at a right angle as required, and is conveyed on the fourth conveying path 30 together with the held cardboard box B.

[0022] The receiving device 34 receives the two cardboard boxes B conveyed together with each positioning device 32. Specifically, the receiving device 34 includes two receiving plates 36 and cylinders 38 respectively connected to each receiving plate 36. Suction pads 40 are respectively arranged on the upper surfaces of the receiving plates 36. First, the positioning device 32 holding the cardboard box B is conveyed to a predetermined position on the fourth conveying path 30.

[0023] Next, by driving the cylinder 38, the receiving plate 36 moves downward and upward below the positioning device 32, and the cardboard box B is placed on the upper surface of the receiving plate 36. Next, the bottom of the cardboard box B is adsorbed by the suction pad 40 of the receiving plate 36, and the cardboard box B is held by the receiving plate 36. Next, after releasing the holding of the cardboard box B, the positioning device 32 retracts downward and moves to a standby position where it can receive the cardboard box B carried in from the box manufacturing machine 2.

[0024] On the one hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cardboard case 4 is provided with a robot 42 having a structure of a 6-axis vertical articulated type, for example. The robot 42 is suspended from the ceiling via a bracket 44 above the fourth transport path 30. The robot 42 includes a hand and an arm, and picks up and holds the product P placed on the bucket 22 in the third transport path 20 with the hand. Next, the robot 42 moves and packs the product P held by the hand into the cardboard box B in the fourth transport path 30 by operating the arm. The packing operation of the product P by the robot 42 is performed until a predetermined number of products P are packed in the cardboard box B.

[0025] The second box conveyor 26 receives the cardboard box B in which the product P is packed in the fourth transport path 30 and conveys it in the fifth transport path 46. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fifth transport path 46 is located below the third transport path 20 and extends parallel to the fourth transport path 30 while being adjacent to the fourth transport path 30. More specifically, as also shown in FIG. 4, the fifth transport path 46 is provided with a retracting device 48 for the cardboard box B and a direction changing device 50.

[0026] The retracting device 48 is provided at the side end in the width direction of the fifth transport path 46, holds the cardboard box B in which the product P is packed in the fourth transport path 30, and retracts and moves it into the fifth transport path 46. Specifically, the retracting device 48 includes two retracting plates 52 and cylinders 54 respectively connected to the retracting plates 52. Suction pads 56 are respectively arranged at the tips of the retracting plates 52.

[0027] First, by driving each cylinder 54, each retracting plate 52 extends in a direction crossing the fifth conveying path 46 and abuts against the side portion of the cardboard box B in which the product P is packed on the fourth conveying path 30. Next, the side portion of the cardboard box B is adsorbed by each adsorption pad 56 of each retracting plate 52 and held by each retracting plate 52. Next, after releasing the holding of the cardboard box B by the receiving device 34, each cylinder 54 is driven to draw the cardboard box B into the fifth conveying path 46 and move it. As a result, the cardboard box B is positioned at the center in the width direction of the fifth conveying path 46.

[0028] The cardboard box B moved from the fourth conveying path 30 to the fifth conveying path 46 by the retracting device 48 has the holding by each adsorption pad 56 released and passes over the direction changing device 50 in the process of being conveyed on the fifth conveying path 46. The direction changing device 50 can change the direction of the cardboard box B at a right angle as required. Then, the cardboard box B in which the product P is packed is conveyed on the fifth conveying path 46 and carried out toward the sealing machine 6.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the positioning device 32. The positioning device 32 includes a clamp mechanism 58, a rotation mechanism 60, vertical guide rods 62, a first base 64, a second base 66, a lifting mechanism 68, and a control unit 70. The clamp mechanism 58 supports the bottom Bb of the cardboard box B and holds it by sandwiching a pair of side portions Bs of the cardboard box B. The lifting mechanism 68 is fixed to the lower surface of the second base 66 and has a cylinder rod 71 connected to the clamp mechanism 58 and extending downward. The lifting mechanism 68 raises and lowers the clamp mechanism 58 via the cylinder rod 71.

[0030] For example, two vertical guide rods 62 are provided. Each vertical guide rod 62 is connected to the clamp mechanism 58 and extends downward, and supports the clamp mechanism 58 so as to be horizontally rotatable. The first base 64 is disposed below the clamp mechanism 58 and has a belt fixing portion 74, a rod through hole 76, and a vertical rod moving hole 78. The belt fixing portions 74 are respectively provided on both side portions of the first base 64 in the width direction Y of the fourth conveying path 30.

[0031] To each belt fixing portion 74, the belt 24a of the first box conveyor 24 is fixed respectively. Thus, as the first box conveyor 24 operates and the belt 24a moves, the positioning device 32 is conveyed in the fourth conveyance path 30 together with the cardboard box B held by the clamp mechanism 58. In the rod through-hole 76, the cylinder rod 71 of the lifting mechanism 68 penetrates vertically. Two vertical rod movement holes 78 are provided around the rod through-hole 76, and the vertical guide rods 62 are respectively inserted therethrough.

[0032] Each vertical rod movement hole 78 is an arc-shaped long hole curved around the rod through-hole 76, and with the horizontal rotation of the clamp mechanism 58, the lateral movement of each vertical guide rod 62 in the horizontal direction is allowed, for example, within an angular range of about 90 degrees centered on the rod through-hole 76. The second base 66 is disposed below the first base 64, the cylinder rod 71 penetrates it, and vertical rod insertion portions 80 are respectively provided on both side portions in the width direction Y of the second base 66.

[0033] Each vertical guide rod 62 is respectively inserted into each vertical rod insertion portion 80. The rotation mechanism 60 is disposed between the first base 64 and the second base 66, the cylinder rod 71 penetrates it, and it has a drive shaft 72 fixed to the second base 66. The rotation mechanism 60 rotates the drive shaft 72 to horizontally rotate the clamp mechanism 58 via the second base 66 and each vertical guide rod 62, thereby performing a direction-changing operation of the cardboard box B held by the clamp mechanism 58.

[0034] Also, the first box conveyor 24 extends along the conveyance direction X (the same direction as the aforementioned connection direction X) of the fourth conveyance path 30 and has a pair of lateral guide rods 84 disposed at both ends in the width direction Y of the fourth conveyance path 30. The first base 64 has two pairs of lateral rod insertion portions 85 through which the pair of lateral guide rods 84 are respectively inserted. The positioning device 32 moves along each lateral guide rod 84 at each lateral rod insertion portion as the belt 24a moves.

[0035] More specifically, the clamp mechanism 58 includes support claws 86, clamping claws 88, first cylinders 90, and a support table 92. Four support claws 86 are erected in the vertical direction, for example, and each support claw 86 supports the bottom Bb of the cardboard box B. Four clamping claws 88 are erected in the vertical direction, for example, and each clamping claw 88 holds a pair of side portions Bs of the cardboard box B facing each other in the transport direction X by clamping them.

[0036] Two clamping claws 88 located on the same side portion Bs side are connected to each other via a connecting portion 88a. Two first cylinders 90 are provided, and the cylinder rod 90a of each first cylinder 90 is connected to the connecting portion 88a. Each first cylinder 90 moves each connecting portion 88a, and thus each clamping claw 88, in the direction of sandwiching and supporting each side portion Bs of the cardboard box B, that is, in the clamping direction.

[0037] Each support claw 86 and each first cylinder 90 are fixed to the support table 92. The cylinder rod 71 and each vertical guide rod 62 are connected to the lower surface of the support table 92. The lifting mechanism 68 includes a second cylinder 94 that raises and lowers the cylinder rod 71. The rotation mechanism 60 includes a rotary actuator 96 that rotationally drives the drive shaft 72.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary actuator 96 and a portion in the vicinity thereof, and FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotary actuator 96 as viewed in the A-A cross-sectional direction of FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotary actuator 96 rotationally drives the drive shaft 72 by converting the reciprocating motion of two racks 98 in the horizontal direction into the rotation of the drive shaft 72 via a pinion gear 100. The rotation mechanism 60 horizontally rotates the clamp mechanism 58 via the drive shaft 72 by the operation of the rotary actuator 96.

[0039] As described above, a rod through-hole 76 is formed in the first base 64. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a rod through-hole 66a is formed in the second base 66, a rod through-hole 72a is formed in the drive shaft 72, a rod through-hole 100a is formed in the pinion gear 100, and a rod through-hole 76 is formed in the first base 64. A cylinder rod 71 extending upward from the second cylinder 94 of the elevating mechanism 68 passes through each of the rod through-holes 66a, 72a, 100a, 76 in sequence, protrudes above the first base 64, and is connected to the support table 92 of the crank mechanism 58.

[0040] When the second cylinder 94 operates and the cylinder rod 71 moves up and down in the direction indicated by the arrow, the support table 92 and thus the crank mechanism 58 move up and down. On the other hand, each vertical guide rod 62 fixed at each vertical rod insertion portion 80 of the second base 66 is connected to the support table 92 of the clamp mechanism 58. The rotary actuator 96 is fixed to the first base 64 with bolts, and the drive shaft 72 is fixed to the second base 66 with bolts. Therefore, when the drive shaft 72 rotates with the operation of the rotary actuator 96, the second base 66 rotates as indicated by the arrow. As a result, the support table 92 and thus the crank mechanism 58 also rotate as indicated by the arrow via each vertical guide rod 62.

[0041] The control unit 70 controls the operation of the positioning device 32 by controlling each first cylinder 90 of the clamp mechanism 58, the rotary actuator 96 of the rotation mechanism 60, and the second cylinder 94 of the elevating mechanism 68. Specifically, when the cardboard box B is carried into the fourth transport path 30, the control unit 70 raises the clamp mechanism 58 by the elevating mechanism 68.

[0042] Next, the control unit 70 holds the cardboard box B by the clamping mechanism 58, and then, if necessary, performs a direction-changing operation of the cardboard box B by the rotation mechanism 60. Next, when the positioning device 32 is conveyed along the fourth conveyance path 30 together with the cardboard box B and the cardboard box B is received by the receiving device 34, the holding of the cardboard box B by the clamping mechanism 58 is released. Then, the clamping mechanism 58 is lowered and retracted by the elevating mechanism 68. Next, the positioning device 32 moves to the standby position of the fourth conveyance path 30 to receive the next cardboard box B, and a series of operations of the positioning device 32 is completed.

[0043] As described above, the cardboard case 4 of the present embodiment forms a product conveyance line 14 by the first to third product conveyors 8, 10, 12 each having the first to third conveyance paths 16, 18, 20, and forms a cardboard box conveyance line 28 by the first and second box conveyors 24, 26 each having the fourth and fifth conveyance paths 30, 46. The starting ends of the product conveyance line 14 and the cardboard box conveyance line 28 are on the side of the case-making machine 2 in the connection direction X, and the ending ends of the product conveyance line 14 and the cardboard box conveyance line 28 are on the side of the case-sealing machine 6 in the connection direction X.

[0044] Also, the product conveyance line 14 and the cardboard box conveyance line 28 construct a two-stage structure in which the minimum necessary number of linear conveyance paths are aggregated. Further, the first box conveyor 24 is provided with a positioning device 32. The positioning device 32 holds and positions the cardboard box B carried into the fourth conveyance path 30. Also, the positioning device 32 is capable of performing a direction-changing operation of changing the direction of the cardboard box B in the conveyance direction X of the fourth conveyance path 30 at a right angle, and is conveyed along the fourth conveyance path 30 together with the cardboard box B.

[0045] Due to these features, the installation area of the cardboard case 4 can be minimized as much as possible, and the distance of the conveyance path of the product P and the cardboard box B can be minimized as much as possible. Therefore, a large number of products P can be conveyed at high speed and boxed. Accordingly, a compact cardboard case 4 that can process a large number of products P at high speed can be provided. In particular, the positioning device 32 of the present embodiment collectively imparts functions of holding, positioning, direction-changing operation, and transfer to the receiving device 34 to the cardboard case 4.

[0046] More specifically, the positioning device 32 includes the clamp mechanism 58, the rotation mechanism 60, the vertical guide rod 62, the first base 64, the second base 66, the lifting mechanism 68, and the control unit 70 described above. Further, the clamp mechanism 58 includes the support claws 86, the clamping claws 88, the first cylinders 90, and the support table 92 described above. The support table 92 of the clamp mechanism 58 is connected to the cylinder rod 71 of the lifting mechanism 68.

[0047] Also, the support table 92 of the clamp mechanism 58 is connected to each vertical guide rod 62 to which the rotation of the drive shaft 72 of the rotation mechanism 60 is transmitted. Further, the rotary actuator 96 of the rotation mechanism 60 is fixed to the first base 64, and the drive shaft 72 is fixed to the second base 66. Thereby, a positioning device 32 is configured in which the clamp mechanism 58, the rotation mechanism 60, and the lifting mechanism 68 are integrally connected and unitized.

[0048] In addition, the three functions of clamping, rotating, and lifting of the cardboard box B can coexist in the positioning device 32 which is one unit. Therefore, since it is not necessary to separately provide devices for holding, positioning, and direction-changing operation of the cardboard box B in the cardboard case 4, high-speed processing and compactification of the cardboard case 4 can be realized.

[0049] Further, each belt fixing portion 74 is provided on the first base 64, and the positioning device 32 itself moves along the fourth conveyance path 30. As a result, there is no need to separately provide a device for transferring the cardboard box B to the receiving device 34 in the cardboard case 4, so that further high-speed processing and downsizing of the cardboard case 4 can be achieved. Further, the vertical guide rods 62, the vertical rod moving holes 78 of the first base 64, and the vertical rod insertion portions 80 of the second base 66 stabilize the posture of the clamp mechanism 58 during rotation and lifting.

[0050] Further, the horizontal guide rods 84 and the horizontal rod insertion portions 85 of the first base 64 stabilize the posture of the positioning device 32 when it is conveyed along the fourth conveyance path 30. In addition, since the rotation mechanism 60 includes a rotary actuator 96, the rotation of the clamp mechanism 58 can be performed at high speed and with high precision in a space-saving manner. These features further enable high-speed processing and downsizing of the positioning device 32, stabilize the operation of the positioning device 32, and further improve the reliability of the positioning device 32.

[0051] Further, the positioning device 32 is controlled by the control unit 70. After the cardboard box B is carried into the fourth conveyance path 30, the control unit 70 causes the positioning device 32 to perform the above-described series of operations and finally moves to the standby position on the fourth conveyance path 30 to accept the next cardboard box B. As a result, the positioning device 32 collectively imparts functions of holding, positioning, changing the direction, and transferring to the receiving device 34 of the cardboard box B to the cardboard case 4. Therefore, the positioning device 32 of the present embodiment greatly contributes to high-speed processing and downsizing of the cardboard case 4.

[0052] This concludes the description of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the positioning device 32 is not strictly limited to the configuration and shape of the positioning device 32 shown in FIG. 5 as long as it can realize the functions of the above-described mechanisms and members. Further, the above-described cylinders and actuators can be driven by various working media such as pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0053] 4 - stage cardboard case erector 8 First product conveyor 10 Second product conveyor 12 Third product conveyor 16 First conveying path 18 Second conveying path 20 Third conveying path 22 Bucket 24 First box conveyor 24a Belt 26 Second box conveyor 30 Fourth conveying path 32 Positioning device 34 Receiving device 42 Robot 46 Fifth conveying path 58 Clamping mechanism 60 Rotating mechanism 62 Vertical guide rod 64 First base 66 Second base 68 Lifting mechanism 70 Control unit 71 Cylinder rod 72 Drive shaft 74 Belt fixing part 76 Rod through hole 78 Vertical rod moving hole 80 Vertical rod insertion part 84 Horizontal guide rod 85 Horizontal rod insertion part 86 Support claw 88 Clamping claw 90 First cylinder 92 Support table 94 Second cylinder 96 Rotary actuator 98 Rack 100 Pinion gear B Ball box Bb Bottom Bs Side P Product X Conveying direction Y Width direction

Claims

1. A first product conveyor that conveys the loaded product in a first conveyance path; A second product conveyor that conveys the product conveyed in the first conveyance path in a second conveyance path orthogonal to the first conveyance path; A third product conveyor that receives the product conveyed in the second conveyance path with a bucket and conveys the product together with the bucket in a third conveyance path that is orthogonal to the second conveyance path and extends parallel to the first conveyance path; A first box conveyor that receives a cardboard box loaded from the same direction as the loading direction of the product into the first conveyance path, is located below the second conveyance path, and conveys the cardboard box in a fourth conveyance path that extends parallel to the first conveyance path; A second box conveyor that receives the cardboard box conveyed in the fourth conveyance path, is located below the third conveyance path, and conveys the cardboard box in a fifth conveyance path that extends parallel to the fourth conveyance path while being adjacent to the fourth conveyance path; A robot that holds the product placed on the bucket in the third conveyance path and packs it into the cardboard box in the fourth conveyance path and comprises; The first box conveyor holds and positions the cardboard box loaded into the fourth conveyance path, and is capable of a direction-changing operation of changing the direction of the cardboard box in the conveyance direction of the fourth conveyance path at a right angle, and comprises a positioning device that is conveyed in the fourth conveyance path together with the cardboard box, a cardboard case packer.

2. The positioning device is a clamp mechanism that holds the bottom and side portions of the cardboard box; a lifting mechanism that is connected to the clamp mechanism and has a cylinder rod that extends downward, and raises and lowers the clamp mechanism via the cylinder rod; a plurality of vertical guide rods that are connected to the clamp mechanism and extend downward, and support the clamp mechanism so as to be horizontally rotatable; a first base that is disposed below the clamp mechanism and has a belt fixing portion to which the belt of the first box conveyor is fixed, a rod through hole through which the cylinder rod passes, and a plurality of vertical rod movement holes that allow lateral movement of the respective vertical guide rods as the clamp mechanism rotates horizontally; a second base that is disposed below the first base, has a plurality of vertical rod insertion portions through which the cylinder rod passes and through which the respective vertical guide rods are inserted, It is disposed between the first base and the second base, has a drive shaft through which the cylinder rod penetrates and is fixed to the second base, and by rotating the drive shaft, the second base and each vertical guide rod are used to horizontally rotate the clamping mechanism via the vertical guide rod, and a rotation mechanism that performs the direction-changing operation; A control unit that controls the clamping mechanism, the rotation mechanism, and the lifting mechanism; The cardboard case according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The first box conveyor has a pair of lateral guide rods that extend along the fourth conveyance path and are disposed at both ends in the width direction of the fourth conveyance path; The cardboard case according to claim 2, wherein the first base has a pair of lateral rod insertion portions through which the pair of lateral guide rods are respectively inserted.

4. The clamping mechanism includes: A plurality of support claws that support the bottom of the cardboard box; A plurality of clamping claws that sandwich and hold a pair of side portions of the cardboard box that face each other in the conveyance direction of the fourth conveyance path; A first cylinder that moves each of the clamping claws in the clamping direction of the cardboard box; A support table to which each of the support claws and the first cylinder are fixed; Comprising: The cardboard case according to claim 3, wherein the cylinder rod and each vertical guide rod are connected to the support table.

5. The rotation mechanism includes a rotary actuator that rotationally drives the drive shaft by converting the reciprocating motion of the rack in the horizontal direction into the rotation of the drive shaft via a pinion gear; The cardboard case according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the rotary actuator is fixed to the first base, and the drive shaft is fixed to the second base.

6. The cardboard case according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the lifting mechanism includes a second cylinder that is fixed to the second base and raises and lowers the cylinder rod.

7. The first box conveyor further includes a receiving device that receives the cardboard box conveyed together with the positioning device in the fourth conveyance path. When the cardboard box is carried into the fourth conveyance path, the control unit raises the clamp mechanism by the elevating mechanism, then positions and holds the cardboard box by the clamp mechanism, then performs the turning operation of the cardboard box by the rotation mechanism, and then the positioning device is conveyed along the fourth conveyance path together with the cardboard box. When the cardboard box is received by the receiving device, the control unit releases the holding of the cardboard box by the clamp mechanism, then lowers and retracts the clamp mechanism by the elevating mechanism, and then the positioning device moves to the standby position of the fourth conveyance path to accept the next cardboard box to be carried in. The cardboard case according to any one of claims 2 to 6.

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