Cardboard case

Abstract

To provide a compact cardboard caser which enables high-speed handling of a large volume of products and to / from which a bucket can be easily attached / detached.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 third product conveyor 12 has a timing belt 58, and a bucket attaching mechanism 62 for attaching the bucket 22 to the timing belt 58. The bucket attaching mechanism 62 slides the bucket 22 in the width direction Y of the timing belt 58 to detachably support it.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cardboard case, and more particularly to a cardboard case that packs products, such as bags, into cardboard boxes. [Background technology]

[0002] Cardboard casers are known for packing bagged products into cardboard boxes. These cases combine a box-making machine that forms cardboard sheets into boxes and a box-sealing machine that seals the boxes by applying tape or other methods to the boxes containing the packed products.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a direction-changing device that controls one conveyor row of a transport conveyor at a first transport speed and the other conveyor row of the transport conveyor at a second transport speed different from the first transport speed, and transports articles while changing their direction due to the speed difference between the conveyor rows. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-67863 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The direction-changing device in Patent Document 1 changes the direction of products in the conveying direction as they are transported along a linear conveyor path. This requires a long conveyor path for the direction change, and it takes time to change direction. This increases the size of the device, making it difficult to transport a large number of products and pack them into cardboard boxes at high speed.

[0006] In addition, in a cardboard case, it is assumed that the products to be transported are received in a bucket, and the bucket together with the products is transported along the transport path of the product conveyor, and the products placed in the bucket are held by a robot and packed into a cardboard box. In this case, if the size or number of products to be packed into the cardboard box is changed, it is preferable to also change the size of the bucket in which the products are placed.

[0007] However, because the size of the buckets is predetermined based on the specifications of the cardboard case, it is difficult to attach and detach the buckets after the cardboard case is completed. Therefore, there is a need for a cardboard case that allows the bucket size to be easily changed depending on the size and number of products to be packed in the cardboard box.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a cardboard case that can process large quantities of products at high speed, is compact, and has bucket sizes that can be easily changed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of a cardboard caser comprises a first product conveyor that conveys products that have been delivered along a first conveying path, a second product conveyor that conveys the products that have been delivered along the first conveying path along a second conveying path that is perpendicular to the first conveying path, a third product conveyor that receives the products that have been delivered along the second conveying path in a bucket and conveys the products together with the bucket along a third conveying path that is perpendicular to the second conveying path and extends parallel to the first conveying path, and a fourth product conveyor that receives cardboard boxes that are delivered from the same direction as the products that are delivered into the first conveying path and conveys the products together with the bucket along a fourth conveying path that is located below the second conveying path and extends parallel to the first conveying path. The system is equipped with a first box conveyor that transports cardboard boxes, a second box conveyor that receives cardboard boxes transported on the fourth transport path and transports the cardboard boxes on a fifth transport path that is located below the third transport path and extends adjacent to the fourth transport path and parallel to the fourth transport path, and a robot that holds products placed in buckets on the third transport path and packs them into cardboard boxes on the fourth transport path, and the third product conveyor has a timing belt and a bucket attachment mechanism for attaching buckets to the timing belt, and the bucket attachment mechanism supports the buckets so that they can be attached and detached by sliding them in the width direction of the timing belt. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] To provide a cardboard case that can process a large amount of products at high speed, is compact, and allows the bucket size to be easily changed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connected integrated unit that connects a box former, a cardboard caser, and a box sealer. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a top view of a cardboard box conveying line. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a third product conveyor. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the third product conveyor with buckets attached, taken along the line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the third product conveyor when viewed from a different angle than FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a partial view of the third product conveyor before the buckets are installed. [Figure 9] 9 is a view showing a state in which the guide member is removed in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the first bucket element is attached in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a third bucket element is attached in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which a second bucket element is attached in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the timing belt in FIG. 12 has been moved in the extension direction. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which a guide member is attached in FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connected, integrated unit 1 made up of a box former 2, a cardboard caser 4, and a sealing machine 6. The box former 2, the cardboard caser 4, and the sealing machine 6 are each unitized, and these units are connected in this order to form the connected, integrated unit 1. The box former 2, the cardboard caser 4, and the sealing machine 6 may also be referred to as units 2, 4, and 6, respectively. In the following explanation, the terms parallel, perpendicular, right angle, etc., used in relation to directionality and angles are merely descriptive and not strict.

[0013] The box making machine 2 forms the delivered cardboard sheets into cardboard boxes. The cardboard caser 4 packs the delivered products, such as bags, into the cardboard boxes delivered from the box making machine 2. The box sealing machine 6 seals the packed cardboard boxes delivered from the cardboard caser 4 by applying tape or the like. The overall conveyance direction of the cardboard sheets in the box making machine 2 and the conveyance direction of the cardboard boxes in the cardboard caser 4 and the box sealing machine 6 are the same overall.

[0014] Furthermore, the overall conveyance direction of the products in the cardboard case 4 is the same as the conveyance direction of the cardboard boxes. That is, the overall conveyance direction of the products and cardboard boxes is the same in each of the units 2, 4, 6 and the connected integrated unit 1. Furthermore, connecting members such as brackets for connecting the units 2, 4, 6 can be eliminated.

[0015] In this way, by unitizing the box making machine 2, cardboard caser 4, and sealing machine 6 into individual units and forming a connected integrated unit 1 in which the conveying directions of the products and cardboard boxes in each unit 2, 4, and 6 are all the same overall, it is possible to make each unit 2, 4, and 6 and the connected integrated unit 1 compact.

[0016] Here, the cardboard caser 4 transports both products and cardboard boxes, so the transport paths tend to be complicated and the installation area tends to be large. However, in the cardboard caser 4 of this embodiment, both products and cardboard boxes are transported from the same direction, which is the box-making machine 2 side, and the cardboard boxes with the products boxed are transported to the box-sealing machine 6. Also, as will be explained later, by arranging each conveyor in a concentrated manner and further installing various devices described below, the cardboard caser 4 can be realized with as small an installation area as possible.

[0017] In addition, the distance of the conveying path for the products and cardboard boxes is shortened, allowing for high-speed processing of large quantities of products. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by providing a bucket attachment mechanism (described later), a highly versatile cardboard caser is realized in which the bucket size can be easily changed depending on the size and number of products to be packed into the cardboard box.

[0018] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the cardboard case 4, and Fig. 3 shows a top view of the cardboard case 4. The cardboard case 4 is equipped with a first product conveyor 8, a second product conveyor 10, and a third product conveyor 12. These conveyors 8, 10, and 12 are, for example, belt conveyors, and constitute a product conveying line 14. The conveying direction of the products P on the product conveying line 14 is indicated by a solid black arrow. The first product conveyor 8 conveys the products P inserted from the box-making machine 2 side of the cardboard case 4 along a first conveying path 16.

[0019] The first conveying path 16 extends parallel to the connecting direction X of the units 2, 4, and 6. The second product conveyor 10 conveys the products P conveyed along the first conveying path 16 on a second conveying path 18 that is perpendicular to the first conveying path 16. The third product conveyor 12 receives the products P conveyed along the second conveying path 18 in buckets 22, and conveys the products P together with the buckets 22 on a third conveying path 20. The third conveying path 20 is perpendicular to the second conveying path 18 and extends parallel to the first conveying path 16.

[0020] The cardboard caser 4 is also equipped with 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, and these conveyors 24, 26 constitute a cardboard box conveying line 28. The cardboard box conveying line 28 is formed below the product conveying line 14, creating a two-tiered conveying line structure. The conveying direction of the cardboard boxes B on the cardboard box conveying line 28 is indicated by an outline arrow.

[0021] The first box conveyor 24 receives the cardboard boxes B carried in from the box-making machine 2, i.e., the cardboard boxes B carried in from the same direction as the products P are carried in to the first conveying path 16, and conveys them 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 fourth conveying path 30 is provided with a positioning device 32 for the cardboard boxes B and a receiving device 34.

[0022] 4 shows a top view of the cardboard box conveying line 28. For example, two positioning devices 32 are provided, each of which holds a cardboard box B and positions each cardboard box B conveyed along the fourth conveying path 30 in the center of the width direction of the fourth conveying path 30. Furthermore, each positioning device 32 can change the orientation of the cardboard box B at a right angle as necessary, and the cardboard box B is conveyed along the fourth conveying path 30 together with the cardboard box B it holds.

[0023] The receiving device 34 receives the two cardboard boxes B that have been transported together with the positioning devices 32. Specifically, the receiving device 34 includes two receiving plates 36 and a cylinder 38 connected to each of the receiving plates 36. A suction pad 40 is disposed on the upper surface of each receiving plate 36. First, the positioning device 32 holding the cardboard box B is transported to a predetermined position on the fourth transport path 30.

[0024] Next, by driving the cylinder 38, the receiving plate 36 moves below the positioning device 32 and rises, 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 sucked by the suction pad 40 of the receiving plate 36, and the cardboard box B is held on the receiving plate 36. Next, the positioning device 32 releases its hold on the cardboard box B, and then retreats downward, and moves to a position where it can receive the cardboard box B carried in from the box making machine 2.

[0025] 2 and 3, the cardboard case 4 is equipped with a robot 42 having, for example, a six-axis vertical articulated structure. The robot 42 is suspended from the ceiling above the fourth conveying path 30 via a bracket 44. The robot 42 is equipped with a hand and an arm, and uses the hand to pick up and hold the products P placed in the bucket 22 on the third conveying path 20. Next, the robot 42 moves the products P held by the hand into a cardboard box B on the fourth conveying path 30 by operating the arm, and packs the products P. The robot 42 continues packing the products P into the cardboard boxes B until a predetermined number of products P have been packed into the cardboard boxes B.

[0026] The second box conveyor 26 receives cardboard boxes B packed with products P on the fourth conveying path 30 and conveys them on the fifth conveying path 46. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fifth conveying path 46 is located below the third conveying path 20 and extends adjacent to and parallel to the fourth conveying path 30. More specifically, as also shown in FIG. 4, the fifth conveying path 46 is provided with a drawing device 48 for the cardboard boxes B and a direction changing device 50.

[0027] The drawing device 48 is provided at a side end in the width direction of the fifth conveying path 46, and holds a cardboard box B in which products P are packed on the fourth conveying path 30, and draws and moves the box into the fifth conveying path 46. Specifically, the drawing device 48 includes two drawing plates 52 and a cylinder 54 connected to each drawing plate 52. A suction pad 56 is disposed at the tip of each drawing plate 52.

[0028] First, by driving each cylinder 54, each pull-in plate 52 extends in a direction transverse to the fifth conveying path 46 and abuts against the side of a cardboard box B in which products P are packed on the fourth conveying path 30. Next, the side of the cardboard box B is sucked by each suction pad 56 of each pull-in plate 52 and held by each pull-in plate 52. Next, after the receiving device 34 releases its hold on the cardboard box B, each cylinder 54 is driven to pull and move the cardboard box B into the fifth conveying path 46. As a result, the cardboard box B is positioned at the center of the fifth conveying path 46 in the width direction.

[0029] The cardboard box B, which has been moved from the fourth conveying path 30 to the fifth conveying path 46 by the retraction device 48, is released from the suction pads 56 and passes over the direction changing device 50 as it is conveyed along the fifth conveying path 46. The direction changing device 50 can change the orientation of the cardboard box B at a right angle as necessary. Then, the cardboard box B with the product P packed in it is conveyed along the fifth conveying path 46 and carried out towards the sealing machine 6.

[0030] Figure 5 shows a partial perspective view of the third product conveyor 12. The third product conveyor 12 is a belt conveyor having two endless timing belts 58 (hereinafter simply referred to as belts) that can run independently and in parallel. Each belt 58 forms the third transport path 20 and can run intermittently or continuously under the drive control of a servo motor (not shown). Specifically, the servo motor is connected to a drive shaft (not shown) of the third product conveyor 12, and a large number of pulley teeth (not shown) are formed on the circumferential surface of this drive shaft.

[0031] The third product conveyor 12 is equipped with three adapter guides 60A, 60B, and 60C. Each adapter guide 60A, 60B, and 60C extends in the extension direction X of the belt 58 (the same direction as the connection direction) and is fixed to the main body of the third product conveyor 12 on both sides in the width direction Y of the belt 58. Figure 5 shows only a base 68, which is part of an attachment 64 that constitutes a bucket mounting mechanism 62, which will be described later.

[0032] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the third product conveyor 12 when the bucket 22 is attached, as seen from the cross section along the AA direction in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of Fig. 6 seen from a different angle. Only one of the belts 58 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Also, Fig. 6 shows only the adapter guide 60A, which is located on the outer side of one of the belts 58 in the width direction Y, of the adapter guides 60A, 60B, 60C. Also, Figs. 6 and 7 show the bucket 22 in a state where it is divided at the center in the width direction Y.

[0033] The third product conveyor 12 has a bucket attachment mechanism 62 for attaching the bucket 22 to each belt 58. The bucket attachment mechanism 62 detachably supports the bucket 22 by allowing the bucket 22 to slide in the width direction Y of the belt 58. The bucket attachment mechanism 62 includes an attachment 64 and an adapter 66. The attachment 64 extends in the width direction Y of the belt 58 and is attached to the belt 58.

[0034] The adapter 66 extends in the width direction Y, is fixed to the underside 22a of the bucket 22 with screws or the like, and is slidably attached to the attachment 64. The attachment 64 includes a base 68 and a rail 70. The base 68 extends in the width direction Y and is attached to the belt 58. The rail 70 is attached to the base 68 so as to be slidable in the width direction Y, and supports the adapter 66 so as to be slidable in the width direction Y.

[0035] 5 restricts movement of the adapter 66 in the width direction Y when the bucket 22 and the bucket attachment mechanism 62 travel together with the belt 58 on the third conveying path 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the two adapter guides 60A, 60C located on the outer sides of each belt 58 in the width direction Y each include a detachable guide member 72.

[0036] Specifically, guide member 72 is made of, for example, resin, and has a complementary recess 72a or protrusion 72b formed on an end surface of guide member 72 in extension direction X. By fitting guide member 72 while fitting recess 72a and protrusion 72b together, a series of adapter guides 60A, 60C including guide member 72 is formed. Meanwhile, by releasing the fitting of recess 72a and protrusion 72b and moving guide member 72 upward, guide member 72 can be removed from adapter guides 60A, 60C.

[0037] The base 68 has a pair of first claw portions 68a extending downward from both ends in the width direction Y, each bent toward the underside of the belt 58. The belt 58 has a large number of belt teeth 59 that mesh with the pulley teeth of the drive shaft of the third product conveyor 12. The belt teeth 59 extend in the width direction Y on the underside 58b of the belt 58 and are formed at intervals at a predetermined pitch in the extension direction X.

[0038] The base 68 is fixed to the belt 58 by engaging each of the first claw portions 68a between adjacent belt teeth 59. Therefore, the base 68, and therefore the attachment 64, can move in the extension direction X by disengaging each of the first claw portions 68a between adjacent belt teeth 59.

[0039] The adapter 66 has a U-shaped cross section and is a slider that slides in the width direction Y relative to the rail 70, covering the rail 70 from above. As shown in Fig. 7, the adapter 66 has, in order from the top, a fixed portion 66a, a downward extension portion 66b, and a second claw portion 66c. The lower surface 22a of the bucket 22 is fixed to the fixed portion 66a. The downward extension portions 66b extend downward from both ends of the fixed portion 66a in the extension direction X and respectively come into contact with both side surfaces 70a of the rail 70 that are widened in the extension direction X.

[0040] The second claw portions 66c are bent from the respective downward extending portions 66b toward the lower surfaces 70b that are continuous with both side surfaces 70a of the rail 70. The adapter 66 is slidable along the width direction Y at the respective downward extending portions 66b relative to the rail 70, and the adapter 66 is prevented from falling off the rail 70 at the respective second claw portions 66c.

[0041] The bucket 22 is composed of a first bucket element 22A, a second bucket element 22B, and a third bucket element 22C. A first partition wall 22Aw is erected on the first bucket element 22A at the outer end in the extension direction X of the bucket 22. A second partition wall 22Bw is erected on the outer end in the extension direction X of the second bucket element 22B. The third bucket element 22C is located between the first bucket element 22A and the second bucket element 22B, and a third partition wall 22Cw is erected on each end of the third bucket element 22C in the width direction Y.

[0042] An adapter 66 is fixed to each of the first bucket element 22A, the second bucket element 22B, and the third bucket element 22C, and each adapter 66 is attached to a corresponding attachment 64, and each attachment 64 is attached to the belt 58 at intervals in the extension direction X. Note that by using a third bucket element 22C with a different mounting area, the mounting area for the product P in the bucket 22 can be easily changed.

[0043] As described above, the third product conveyor 12 has two belts 58 that run parallel to each other. Each belt 58 transports a group of buckets 22 arranged in the extension direction X via a bucket attachment mechanism 62. More specifically, one belt 58 that supports the group of buckets via the bucket attachment mechanism 62 runs intermittently by being driven by a servo motor.

[0044] As a result, on the third conveying path 20, each bucket 22 constituting the bucket group can be positioned in a stepwise manner at a picking position of the product P by the robot 42. Therefore, the robot 42 can pick up the product P sequentially and quickly between the buckets 22 without any time lag.

[0045] Meanwhile, the other belt 58, which supports the other bucket group via the bucket attachment mechanism 62, is driven by a servo motor to continuously move in order to return the bucket group that has finished picking the products P to the receiving position for the products P on the third conveying path 20. This allows the products P conveyed on the second conveying path 18 to be received by each bucket 22 quickly and sequentially without any time lag.

[0046] 8 to 14, the work of attaching the bucket 22 to the third product conveyor 12 will be described. Fig. 8 shows a partial view of the third product conveyor 12 before the bucket 22 is attached. First, the guide member 72 that constitutes the adapter guide 60A is removed.

[0047] 8 with the guide member 72 removed. By removing the guide member 72, a gap 74 corresponding to the length of the removed guide member 72 in the extension direction X is formed in the adapter guide 60A. For example, the ends of two attachments 64 in the width direction Y are positioned in the gap 74. This allows the bucket 22 and adapter 66 to slide in the width direction Y via the gap 74, and the bucket 22 can be attached to and detached from the attachment 64 together with the adapter 66 in the width direction Y.

[0048] Fig. 10 shows the state in Fig. 9 after the first bucket element 22A has been attached. Next, the adapter 66 fixed to the first bucket element 22A is fitted into the end of the rail 70 of the attachment 64 through the gap 74, and the first bucket element 22A is slid in the width direction Y to be attached to the rail 70. When the adapter 66 is slid and attached to the attachment 64, the first bucket element 22A is positioned directly above the adapter guides 60A located at the center and one end side in the width direction Y as viewed in Fig. 10.

[0049] Therefore, the first bucket element 22A does not come into contact with the adapter guides 60 when attached to the attachment 64, and does not interfere with the running of the belt 58. The same applies to the third bucket element 22C and the second bucket element 22B, which will be described later.

[0050] Fig. 11 shows the state in Fig. 10 after the third bucket element 22C has been attached. Next, the adapter 66 fixed to the third bucket element 22C is fitted into the end of the rail 70 adjacent to the first bucket element 22A through the gap 74, and the third bucket element 22C is slid in the width direction Y to be attached to the rail 70. A distance that does not interfere with the attachment of the third bucket element 22C is secured in advance for the interval between the rails 70 to which the third bucket element 22C and the first bucket element 22A are attached.

[0051] Next, the belt 58 to which the first and third bucket elements 22A and 22C are attached is moved in the extension direction X. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11 , the end of the rail 70 of the third attachment 64 is positioned in the gap 74, making it possible to attach the second bucket element 22B.

[0052] Fig. 12 shows the state in Fig. 11 after the second bucket element 22B has been attached. The distance between the rails 70 to which the third bucket element 22C and the second bucket element 22B are attached is secured in advance to a distance that does not interfere with the attachment of the second bucket element 22B. The second bucket element 22B is attached to the rails 70 via the adapter 66 in the same manner as when the first and third bucket elements 22A and 22C were attached. This completes the attachment of the bucket 22 made up of the first bucket element 22A, second bucket element 22B, and third bucket element 22C.

[0053] 13 shows a state in which the belt 58 has been moved in the extension direction X in FIG. 12. Next, the belt 58 is further moved in the extension direction X to move the attached bucket 22 to a position where it is removed from the gap 74. This movement of the bucket 22 makes it possible to fit the removed guide member 72 into the gap 74.

[0054] Figure 14 shows the state in Figure 13 where guide member 72 has been attached. Finally, the removed guide member 72 is fitted into gap 74, and adapter guide 60A is restored, completing the series of operations for attaching bucket 22 via bucket attachment mechanism 62. Note that bucket 22 can be removed by performing the above-described operations in reverse order.

[0055] As described above, the cardboard caser 4 of this embodiment forms the product conveying line 14 with the first to third product conveyors 8, 10, 12 having the first to third conveying paths 16, 18, 20, respectively, and forms the cardboard box conveying line 28 with the first and second box conveyors 24, 26 having the fourth and fifth conveying paths 30, 46, respectively. The starting ends of the product conveying line 14 and the cardboard box conveying line 28 are on the box making machine 2 side in the connecting direction X, and the ending ends of the product conveying line 14 and the cardboard box conveying line 28 are on the box sealing machine 6 side in the connecting direction X.

[0056] Furthermore, the product conveying line 14 and the cardboard box conveying line 28 form a two-tier structure that consolidates only the minimum necessary number of linear conveying paths. Furthermore, the first box conveyor 24 is provided with a positioning device 32. The positioning device 32 holds and positions the cardboard box B that is conveyed onto the fourth conveying path 30. The positioning device 32 is also capable of performing a direction-changing operation to change the orientation of the cardboard box B at a right angle in the conveying direction X of the fourth conveying path 30, and is conveyed along the fourth conveying path 30 together with the cardboard box B.

[0057] These features allow the installation area of ​​the cardboard caser 4 to be minimized, and the distance of the conveying path for the products P and cardboard boxes B to be shortened as much as possible, so that a large amount of products P can be conveyed and packed at high speed. Therefore, a compact cardboard caser 4 that can process a large amount of products P at high speed can be provided.

[0058] In particular, in this embodiment, the third product conveyor 12 has a bucket attachment mechanism 62 for attaching the bucket 22 to the belt 58, and the bucket attachment mechanism 62 detachably supports the bucket 22 by sliding it in the width direction Y of the belt 58. This makes it possible to easily change the size of the bucket 22 depending on the size and number of products P to be packed into the cardboard box B.

[0059] In detail, as mentioned above, the bucket mounting mechanism 62 has an attachment 64 and an adapter 66, and the third product conveyor 12 has adapter guides 60A, 60B, and 60C, and the adapter guides 60A and 60C, which are located on the outside of the belt 58 in the width direction Y, each have a removable guide member 72.

[0060] By removing the guide member 72, a gap 74 is formed in either the adapter guide 60A or 60C, and the bucket 22 and adapter 66 can slide in the width direction Y through the gap 74. This allows the bucket 22 to be attached and detached by sliding it in the width direction Y of the belt 58.

[0061] As described above, the attachment 64 has the base 68 and the rails 70, and the base 68 has the first claws 68a. The attachment 64 can be moved in the extension direction X by disengaging the first claws 68a between adjacent belt teeth 59. This allows the attachment 64 to be moved to any position, making it easy to adjust the spacing between the buckets 22. Therefore, buckets 22 of various sizes can be easily installed, and a bucket group in which multiple buckets 22 are lined up can be easily formed.

[0062] As described above, the adapter 66 has the fixed portion 66a, the downward extension portions 66b, and the second claw portions 66c, and is slidable along the width direction Y at the downward extension portions 66b relative to the rail 70, and the second claw portions 66c are prevented from falling off the rail 70. This makes it possible to smoothly attach and detach the bucket 22 to and from the rail 70 in the width direction Y, and also enables the bucket 22 to be stably supported on the rail 70.

[0063] As described above, the bucket 22 has the first bucket element 22A on which the first partition wall 22Aw is provided, the second bucket element 22B on which the second partition wall 22Bw is provided, and the third bucket element 22C on which the third partition walls 22Cw are provided. Adapters 66 are fixed to the first bucket element 22A, the second bucket element 22B, and the third bucket element 22C, respectively, and each of the adapters 66 is attached to an attachment 64, and each of the attachments 64 is attached to the belt 58 at intervals in the extension direction X.

[0064] This allows the first bucket element 22A, the second bucket element 22B, and the third bucket element 22C to be stably supported by the belt 58. Furthermore, by forming the bucket 22 from the first bucket element 22A, the second bucket element 22B, and the third bucket 22C, the mounting area of ​​the bucket 22 can be easily changed.

[0065] As described above, the third product conveyor 12 has two belts 58 that run independently in parallel, and each belt 58 individually transports a group of buckets consisting of a group of buckets 22 lined up adjacently in the extension direction X via a bucket attachment mechanism 62. This allows the third product conveyor 12 to pick and receive products P on the third transport path 20 using the two belts 58 without waiting for the buckets 22. Therefore, a servo loop can be created in which the two belts 58 are driven by individual servo motors to run intermittently or continuously, thereby further facilitating high-speed processing of the cardboard casers 4.

[0066] Although the description of the embodiment of the present invention has been completed above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the bucket attachment mechanism 62 is not strictly limited to the configuration and shapes of the constituent members of the bucket attachment mechanism 62 shown in Figures 5 to 7 as long as the above-described functions can be realized.

[0067] Furthermore, multiple guide members 72 may be provided on adapter guides 60A, 60C. In this case, by removing multiple adjacent guide members 72 in the state shown in Figure 9, a long gap 74 is secured in the extension direction X. This makes it even easier to attach and detach bucket 22. Furthermore, if multiple guide members 74 are removed in advance, it is not necessary to move belt 58 in the state shown in Figure 11, making it even easier to attach and detach bucket 22. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 4 Cardboard Caser 8. First product conveyor 10 Second product conveyor 12 Third product conveyor 16 First transport route 18 Second transport route 20 Third transport route 22 Bucket 22a Bottom side 22A First bucket element 22Aw 1st partition wall 22B Second bucket element 22Bw Second partition wall 22C Third bucket element 22Cw Third partition wall 24 1st box conveyor 26 2nd box conveyor 30 4th transport route 42 Robot 46 5th Transport Route 58 Timing belt 58a side 58b Bottom side 59 belt teeth 60A Adapter guide located on the outer side of the timing belt width 60B Adapter Guide 60C Adapter guide located on the outer side of the timing belt width direction 62 Bucket attachment mechanism 64 Attachment 66 Adapter 66a Fixed part 66b Lower extension part 66c Second claw 68 Base 68a 1st claw part 70 Rail 70a side 70b Bottom side 72 Guide member 74 Gap B. Cardboard box P product X Extension direction Y width direction

Claims

1. a first product conveyor that conveys the received products along a first conveyance path; a second product conveyor that conveys the products conveyed on the first conveying path on a second conveying path that is perpendicular to the first conveying path; a third product conveyor that receives the product conveyed on the second conveying path in a bucket and conveys the product together with the bucket on a third conveying path that is perpendicular to the second conveying path and extends parallel to the first conveying path; a first box conveyor that receives a cardboard box carried in the same direction as the product carrying direction onto the first conveying path, and transports the cardboard box on a fourth conveying path that is located below the second conveying path and extends parallel to the first conveying path; a second box conveyor that receives the cardboard box transported on the fourth transport path and transports the cardboard box on a fifth transport path that is located below the third transport path and adjacent to the fourth transport path and extends parallel to the fourth transport path; a robot that holds the products placed in the bucket on the third conveying path and packs the products into the cardboard boxes on the fourth conveying path; Equipped with the third product conveyor has a timing belt and a bucket attachment mechanism for attaching the buckets to the timing belt; The bucket mounting mechanism detachably supports the bucket by sliding it in the width direction of the timing belt.

2. The bucket attachment mechanism includes: an attachment extending in the width direction and attached to the timing belt; an adapter extending in the width direction, fixed to the underside of the bucket, and slidably attached to the attachment; and the third product conveyor extends in an extension direction of the timing belt, is fixed to a main body of the third product conveyor on both sides of the timing belt in the width direction, and has adapter guides that restrict movement of the adapter in the width direction when the bucket and the bucket attachment mechanism travel together with the timing belt on the third transport path; the adapter guides positioned on the outer sides of the timing belt in the width direction each have a detachable guide member; 2. The cardboard case according to claim 1, wherein removing the guide member forms a gap in the adapter guide, allowing the bucket and the adapter to slide in the width direction through the gap, and allowing the bucket and the adapter to be attached and detached in the width direction to the attachment.

3. The attachment is a base extending in the width direction and attached to the timing belt; a rail that is attached to the base so as to be slidable in the width direction and supports the adapter so as to be slidable in the width direction; and the base has first claws extending downward from both ends in the width direction and bent toward the underside of the timing belt, the timing belt has, on the lower surface thereof, a plurality of belt teeth extending in the width direction and formed at intervals in the extending direction; The base is fixed to the timing belt by engaging each of the first claw portions between adjacent belt teeth, The cardboard caser according to claim 2, wherein the attachment is movable in the extending direction by disengaging each of the first claw portions between adjacent belt teeth.

4. The adapter is a fixing portion to which the bucket is fixed; a lower extension portion extending downward from both ends of the fixing portion in the extension direction and contacting each of both side surfaces of the rail in the extension direction; second claw portions bent from the lower extension portions toward the lower surface of the rail; and 4. The cardboard case according to claim 3, wherein the adapter is slidable along the width direction at each of the lower extension portions relative to the rail, and the adapter is prevented from falling off the rail at each of the second claw portions.

5. The bucket is a first bucket element having a first partition wall erected at an outer end of the bucket in the extension direction; a second bucket element having a second partition wall erected at an outer end of the bucket in the extension direction; a third bucket element located between the first bucket element and the second bucket element, the third bucket element having third partition walls erected at both ends in the width direction; and 5. The cardboard case according to claim 2, wherein the adapters are fixed to the first bucket element, the second bucket element, and the third bucket element, respectively, and the adapters are attached to the attachments, respectively, and the attachments are attached to the timing belt at intervals in the extension direction.

6. the third product conveyor has two timing belts that run independently and in parallel; 6. The cardboard case according to claim 2, wherein each of the timing belts individually transports a plurality of bucket groups consisting of a plurality of the buckets arranged adjacent to each other in the extension direction via the bucket attachment mechanism.

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