Compressor

Abstract

To provide a compression apparatus having a conveying part and a compressing part properly configured, which can efficiently and appropriately compress an object.SOLUTION: The compression apparatus is provided with: a conveyor part B having a first conveyor 11 and a second conveyor 12 for compressing an object, on which objects are placed and conveyed and which are oppositely arranged so that an interval therebetween becomes narrower towards a downstream in a conveying direction; a compressing part C, positioned at a downstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor part B, which has a first roller 31 and a second roller 41 which compress the objects conveyed on the conveyor part B; and a plurality of girder materials 15 and 25 across which the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are hung in a width direction that is orthogonal to the conveying direction, which is further provided with protrusion parts 16 and 26 protruded towards the object sides and a rear side in the conveying direction with respect to the girder materials 15 and 25, inclined with respect to the girder materials 15 and 25 and arranged to cover front end parts of the girder materials 15 and 25 positioned at the rear side in the conveying direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a compression apparatus. [Background Art]

[0002] The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is known for efficiently disassembling objects that are corrugated cardboard boxes. This apparatus includes two transport conveyors arranged such that the carrying-in side for carrying in objects is wide and the carrying-out side is narrow, and a pair of compression and discharge rollers provided downstream of the discharge end of the transport conveyors. Further, a guide plate is provided between the transport conveyor and the compression and discharge roller, and the object to be compressed after being transported by the transport conveyor is supplied to the compression and discharge roller after passing through the guide plate. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 161931 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the distance between the transport conveyor and the compression and discharge roller needs to be large because of the presence of the guide plate. If the object is small, it may be difficult to supply the object from the transport conveyor to the compression and discharge roller, and the compression operation may not be performed efficiently. Further, during compression, debris such as torn paper pieces and paper dust are generated from the object, and the debris contaminates the inside and outside of the apparatus, so regular cleaning is required. In this case, since it is necessary to stop the apparatus, it is conceivable that efficient compression may be hindered. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] The present invention A conveyor section having a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged opposite each other so as to narrow in the downstream direction of transport, for placing and transporting objects and for compressing the objects, A compression section located downstream of the conveying direction of the conveyor section, having a first roller and a second roller for compressing the object conveyed by the conveyor section, The first and second conveyors are equipped with a plurality of beam members that span in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, A projection is provided that protrudes from the girder towards the object and towards the rear in the transport direction, and is positioned at an angle to the girder so as to cover the front end of the girder located at the rear in the transport direction, A compression device characterized by comprising: It relates to.

[0006] This invention further, Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction. The normal to the inclined surface of the leading projection, which is located in front of the conveying side, is directed toward the intermediate portion between the first roller and the second roller, relative to the trailing projection that reaches the end of the conveying surface of the conveying section. A compression device characterized by, It relates to.

[0007] This invention further, Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the direction of transport. When the projection that is lagging behind in the conveying direction begins to separate from the conveying surface, the projection that is leading in the conveying direction is positioned between the first roller and the second roller. A compression device characterized by, It relates to.

[0008] This invention further, The first roller is positioned higher than the starting end of the first conveyor, and the conveying direction of the first conveyor is inclined upward as it moves downstream in the conveying direction, thereby creating space below the conveyor section and the compression section. The space is provided with a slope that inclines downward from the first roller toward the starting end of the first conveyor. A compression device characterized by, It relates to.

[0009] This invention is A conveyor section having a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged opposite each other so as to narrow in the downstream direction of transport, for placing and transporting objects and for compressing the objects, A compression section located downstream of the conveying direction of the conveyor section, having the first roller and the second roller for compressing the object conveyed by the conveyor section, The first and second conveyors are equipped with a plurality of beam members that span in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, A projection is provided that protrudes from the girder towards the object and towards the rear in the transport direction, and is positioned at an angle to the girder so as to cover the front end of the girder located at the rear in the transport direction, A compression method using a compression device equipped with, A process of primary compression is performed in which the protrusions of the conveyor section create a wedge-shaped recess in the object locally, A process of performing secondary compression, which forms a continuous rectangular wave shape by the convex portion of the compression section, A compression method using a compression device including, It relates to.

[0010] This invention further, Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction. The normal to the inclined surface of the leading projection, which is located in front of the conveying side, is directed toward the intermediate portion between the first roller and the second roller, relative to the trailing projection that reaches the end of the conveying surface of the conveying section. A compression method characterized by the following: It relates to.

[0011] This invention further, Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the direction of transport. At the time point when, among said protruding portions, said protruding portion that trails in the conveyance direction starts separating from the conveyance surface, the protruding portion that leads in the conveyance direction is located between the first roller and the second roller, a compression method characterized by relates to.

Effects of the Invention

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a compression device that can efficiently and appropriately perform compression by properly configuring a conveyance section and a compression section.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] [Figure 1] It is a side view of a compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a conveyor section and a compression section. [Figure 2] It is a front view of a compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged view of essential parts of a compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a power transmission system on the right-hand side in the conveyance direction. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged view of essential parts of a compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a power transmission system on the left side in the conveyance direction. [Figure 5] It is an explanatory diagram illustrating compression step 1 of the compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the front end of a beam member of a first conveyor has reached the rear end portion of the conveyance surface. It shows a state where a preceding beam member located downstream of this beam member in the conveyance direction has descended from the conveyance surface. [Figure 6] It is an explanatory diagram illustrating compression step 2 of the compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the front end of the beam member approaches the rear end portion of conveyance and starts descending from the conveyance surface. [Figure 7] It is an explanatory diagram illustrating compression step 3 of the compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the rear end portion of the beam member and the protruding portion reach the rear end portion of conveyance and start descending. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory diagram illustrating compression step 4 of the compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the rear end portion of the beam member and the protruding portion have started to descend from the conveyance surface. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram showing the compression process 5 of a compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the rear end and projection of the girder material are lowered from the conveying surface, and the front end of the girder material behind the first conveyor, located upstream of this girder material in the conveying direction, has reached the rear end of the conveying surface. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram showing the compression process 6 of a compression apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the entire process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] An embodiment of the compression device A according to this invention will be described with reference to the figures. Specifically, the object W to be compressed by the compression device A is assumed to be a cardboard box, which is a box-shaped object. Compression device A has a conveyor section B.

[0015] The conveyor section B carries and transports the object W and has a first conveyor 11 and a second conveyor 21, as shown in Figures 1 and below. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are positioned opposite each other so that the distance between them decreases as they move downstream in the transport direction, compressing the object W. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are positioned so that the distance between them gradually decreases as they move backward in the transport direction. The object W sandwiched between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 is gradually compressed as it moves backward in the transport direction.

[0016] The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 each have chains 14 wrapped around a starting end rotating shaft 12 and a rear end rotating shaft 13 that are parallel to each other, and chains 24 wrapped around a starting end rotating shaft 22 and a rear end rotating shaft 23 that are parallel to each other, positioned at both ends in the width direction of the rotating shaft with respect to the conveying direction. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are constructed by continuously attaching slats, called beam members 15 and 25, to the chains 14 and 24 in the direction of conveying. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 each have a plurality of beam members 15 and 25 that are stretched in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0017] The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are sometimes called slat conveyors. As shown in Figures 1 and 10, the first conveyor 11 is positioned with its starting end 11A lower and its rear end 11B, which is downstream in the conveying direction, higher than the starting end 11A. This allows the object W placed on the starting end 11A of the loading surface, which is the conveying surface 17 on the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 and is facing the second conveyor 21, to be conveyed upward and toward the rear end.

[0018] The second conveyor 21 is located above the first conveyor 11, with its rear end (rear end) 21B in the conveying direction positioned lower than its starting end (starting end) 21A. The surface of the second conveyor 21 facing the first conveyor 11 functions as a pressing surface 27 and moves backward, similar to the mounting surface of the first conveyor 11. Primary compression is performed by pressing the object W, which is moving upward on the placement surface of the first conveyor 11, with the pressing surface 27 of the second conveyor 21. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 rotate at the same speed, crushing the object W in an almost vertical direction relative to the placement surface. Since the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 do not tear the object W, the object W is compressed without being unnecessarily torn, suppressing the generation of waste such as paper dust and paper scraps.

[0019] Let me explain the compression section C. As shown in Figures 1 and below, the compression section C is located downstream of the conveying section B in the conveying direction and has a first roller 31 and a second roller 41 installed opposite each other. The first roller 31 and the second roller 41 compress the object W conveyed by the conveying section B. The object W, which has been primarily compressed in conveyor section B, is further compressed in compression section C located downstream in the conveying direction. Compression section C has a cylindrical first roller 31 positioned at the same height as or slightly higher than the rear end rotation axis 13 of the first conveyor 11, and a cylindrical second roller 41 positioned above the first roller 31 and at the same height as or slightly lower than the rear end rotation axis 23 of the second conveyor 21. The rotation axis 33 of the first roller 31 is parallel to the rotation axis 43 of the second roller 41, and the rotation axes 33 and 43 are also positioned parallel to the starting end rotation axis 12, the starting end rotation axis 22, the rear end rotation axis 13, and the rear end rotation axis 23, respectively. In this explanation, the rotation axes 33 and 43 may also be referred to as the rotation axis core 33 and the rotation axis core 43.

[0020] Secondary compression is performed by arranging the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 so that the distance between them is narrower than the distance between the rear ends of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21. More specifically, secondary compression is performed, which compresses at a higher compression ratio than primary compression, by setting the distance between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 to be narrower than the minimum distance formed between the girder member 15 of the first conveyor 11 and the girder member 25 of the second conveyor 21. Since the first roller 31 is positioned close to the rear end of the first conveyor 11 and the second roller 41 is positioned close to the rear end of the second conveyor 21, the object W that has been primarily compressed in the conveyor section B can be smoothly supplied toward the compression section C.

[0021] Convex portions 32 and 42 are arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, respectively, in the circumferential direction. The rotational radii of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, including the convex portions 32 and 42, are arranged to overlap with each other's rotational radii. Furthermore, the convex portions 32 and 42 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 are positioned offset in the circumferential direction of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 so as not to interfere with each other. 34 is the rotational diameter of the first roller 31, and 44 is the rotational diameter of the second roller 41. As shown in Figures 5 to 9, the rotational diameters 34 and 44 overlap each other. In other words, the object W passing through the compression section C is pressed alternately from both above and below by the convex portions 32 and 42. Secondary compression by the convex portions 32 and 42 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 alternately creates a state where the object is pressed from above by the convex portion 42 and a state where it is pressed from below by the convex portion 32 with respect to the conveying direction, thereby compressing the object W into a rectangular wave shape with respect to the conveying direction. This compression causes friction in the planar direction between the compressed surfaces in the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the object tries to return to its original shape. This effectively brings the upper and lower parts of the object W into close contact and suppresses the springback that occurs when the compressed object W tries to return to its original shape.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1 and below, the first roller 31 is positioned higher than the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11, and the conveying direction of the first conveyor 11 is inclined upward as it moves downstream in the conveying direction, thereby creating space below the conveyor section B and the compression section C. A slope 51 is provided in the space that slopes downward from the first roller 31 toward the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11.

[0023] The protrusions 16 and 26 will now be described. With respect to the girder member 15 provided on the first conveyor 11, the projection 16 protrudes from the rear end of the girder member 15 toward the object W and toward the rear in the conveying direction, and is positioned at an angle to the girder member 15 so as to cover the front end of the girder member 15 located toward the rear in the conveying direction. With respect to the girder member 25 provided on the second conveyor 21, the projection 26 protrudes from the rear end of the girder member 25 toward the object W and toward the rear in the conveying direction, and is positioned at an angle to the girder member 25 so as to cover the front end of the girder member 25 located toward the rear in the conveying direction.

[0024] Multiple projections 16 and 26 are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction. The normal 161 of the inclined surface shown in Figure 6, which is located in front of the transport side of the preceding projection 16 that is located in front of the transport side of the transport surface 17 of the conveying surface 17 of the conveying section B, is directed toward the intermediate part of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. When the projection 16 and 26 that is behind in the conveying direction begins to move away from the conveying surface 17, the projection 16 and 26 that is ahead in the conveying direction are positioned between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41.

[0025] In the embodiment, the projections 16 and 26 are provided with a width approximately equal to the width of the girder members 15 and 25 in the conveying direction. In the case of the first conveyor 11, projection 16 is above the conveying surface 17 and protrudes toward the rear in the conveying direction, while in the case of the second conveyor 21, projection 26 is below the pressing surface 27 and protrudes toward the rear in the conveying direction. In other words, projections 16 and 26 are positioned to form an obtuse angle with respect to the girder members 15 and 25 to be installed.

[0026] The protrusions 16 and 26 are installed at intervals relative to the girder members 15 and 25 of the conveyor section B. In this embodiment, the protrusions are placed at equal intervals, with one protrusion between each girder member, relative to the girder members 15 and 25 which are arranged in a line in the direction of transport. In addition, as an example, the projections 16 and 26 may be placed at equal intervals on two or more girders 15 and 25, on all girders 15 and 25, or placed consecutively on multiple girders 15 and 25, with a gap of one girder length between them, and there are no limitations on the order of placement. The placement of the projections 16 and 26 can be freely adjusted and changed depending on the condition of the object W to be compressed and the environment in which it is compressed.

[0027] The protrusions 16 and 26 have the effect of partially crushing the object W by forming wedge-shaped recesses during the primary compression process, and also the effect of feeding it into the compression section C. Specifically, even if the object W to be crushed, such as cardboard, is made of a hard material or is made of a thick material that is difficult to crush, the protrusions 16 and 26 bite into the object W, effectively performing primary compression. Furthermore, even if the object W is relatively small, about the width of the beam members 15 and 25, the protrusions 16 and 26 have the effect of hooking it and releasing it into the compression section C, thus feeding it in.

[0028] Therefore, when projections 16 and 26 are placed on all beam members 15 and 25, primary compression can be effectively achieved when there are many objects W that are difficult to crush. Also, when there are many small objects W, the objects W can be effectively sent to the compression section C without falling from the end section 11B of the conveyor section B. Furthermore, when there are objects W that are difficult to crush, debris such as paper scraps and paper dust is likely to be generated during compression. Therefore, by placing projections 16 and 26 on all beam members, the front ends of beam members 15 and 25 can be covered, preventing debris from entering the chains 14 and 24.

[0029] In contrast, if the object W is large and made of a soft material, it is easy to crush and feed it into the compression section C. Therefore, it is not necessary to install protrusions 16 and 26 on all the girder members 15 and 25, and primary compression can be achieved by placing two or more girder members 25 apart. Also, since there is often little debris generated from the object W, it is possible to prevent debris from entering the chains 14 and 24 without placing protrusions 16 and 26 on all the girder members. In other words, the configuration of the conveyor section B can be simplified by reducing the number of protrusions 16 and 26.

[0030] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, when the girder members 15 and 25 are placed one by one apart, this configuration is suitable when the characteristics of the object W described above are at an intermediate level, that is, when the hardness and size are relatively intermediate compared to the examples of object W described above. In other words, the embodiment uses a standard configuration and is suitable when there are many objects W that fall within this intermediate range. Furthermore, if the characteristics of the object W to be compressed are irregular and not fixed, arranging multiple girder members 15 and 25 consecutively, and then leaving a gap the length of one girder member 15 or 25 between them, simplifies the configuration while making primary compression and feeding to the compression section C more efficient. As described above, the protrusions 16 and 26 placed on the girder members 15 and 25 can be freely changed and adjusted according to the characteristics of the object W, the operating environment of the compression device, and the desired configuration of the worker.

[0031] The projection 16 covers the upper part of the front ends of the girder members 15 and 25 located directly behind the conveying direction in the first conveyor 11. In the second conveyor 21, it covers the lower part of the front ends of the girder members 15 and 25 located directly behind the conveying direction. This prevents debris generated from the object W during primary compression in conveyor section B from falling through the gaps between the girder members 15 and 25 installed in the first conveyor 11, and prevents debris that rises upward from the object W from entering the gaps between the girder members 15 and 25 installed in the second conveyor 21. Therefore, since it is possible to prevent waste from falling into or entering the inner circumference of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21, the frequency of stopping the operation of the compression device A in order to maintain the conveyor section B can be reduced, contributing to efficient compression.

[0032] Furthermore, since the protrusions are inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the girder members 15 and 25, especially in the case of the first conveyor 11, when the girder members 15 and 25 and the protrusions 16 and 26 that have reached the transport end 11B reverse direction and head towards the starting end 11A, the debris that has fallen onto the protrusions 16 and 26 and the girder members 15 and 25 can fall without getting caught on the protrusions. In this example, the inclination is set to an obtuse angle of 135 degrees, which is 45 degrees backward from a right angle, but any obtuse angle of around 120 to 150 degrees would suffice.

[0033] The height of the projections 16 and 26 relative to the beam members 15 and 25 should preferably be 1 / 2 or less of the length of the beam members 15 and 25 in the transport direction. Alternatively, it should preferably be 1 / 3 or less of the distance at which the beam members 15 and 25 are closest together. By doing so, the strength of the projections 16 and 26 against primary compression is ensured, and while avoiding interference with each other, it is possible to compress the object W locally during primary compression. Furthermore, since the projections 16 and 26 are inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the beam members 15 and 25, they press against the object W in a wedge-like or mountain-like manner. Therefore, compared to, for example, the case where the projections 16 and 26 are formed at a 90-degree right angle, the projections 16 and 26 penetrate the object W in a very small area, causing the object W to tear and suppressing the generation of paper dust and paper scraps. The protrusions 16 and 26 positioned on the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 do not necessarily have to coincide symmetrically with each other, and the above effect remains unchanged.

[0034] Furthermore, since the projections 16 and 26 are inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the girder members 15 and 25, even when they reach the end of the conveying direction 11B, the tips of the projections 16 and 26 can be positioned closer to the conveying surface 17 than the girder members 15 and 25 on which they are installed. In other words, the tips of the projections 16 and 26 that have reached the end of the conveying direction 11B can support the object W after primary compression, preventing it from getting caught along the end of the conveying section B and allowing it to be supplied to the compression section C. This makes it possible to efficiently supply the object from primary compression to secondary compression.

[0035] Let's explain the drive system. The rotational drive of the conveyor section B and the compression section C is performed by transmitting rotational power generated by the motor 81. In this embodiment, the motor 81 is located at the bottom of the compression section C. As shown in Figure 3, sprockets 82 are placed at the right end of the first roller 31 of the compression section C and the motor 81 in the downstream direction of the conveying direction, and a chain 83 is wrapped around them. Furthermore, a sprocket 82 is placed at the right end of the first roller 31 and the end section 11B of the first conveyor 11 in the downstream direction of the conveying direction, and a chain 83 is wrapped around them.

[0036] As a result, the motor 81, the first roller 31, and the first conveyor 11 are driven in conjunction. In addition, gears 84 of the same diameter are placed at the left end of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 in the direction of transport and meshed together so that they rotate at the same speed. A sprocket 82 is placed at the left end of the end section 21B of the second roller 41 and the second conveyor 21 in the direction of transport, and a chain 83 is wrapped around it. The conveyor section B and the compression section C are all driven in conjunction by a single motor 81.

[0037] The conveying speed is set to be the same for the moving speed of the conveying surface 17 of conveyor section B and the rotational outer peripheral speed including the convex parts 32 and 42 of compression section C. Regarding the moving speed of the projections 16 and 26 of conveyor section B, the conveying surface 17 moves at the same speed as the girder members 15 and 25 because it moves in a straight line, but at the folded-back portions of the end section 11B and the start section 11A, the radius of the tip of the projections 16 and 26 is larger than the folding radius of the girder members 15 and 25, so the moving speed of the tip of the projections 16 and 26 is greater than that of the girder members 15 and 25.

[0038] The transport route, transport surface 17, etc. will be explained. Here, the object W placed on the conveying surface 17 of the first conveyor 11 moves upward as it moves downstream in the conveying direction, and when it reaches the end 11B of the first conveyor 11, it changes direction to move almost horizontally toward the compression section C, following a conveying path. The conveying surface 17 in the conveying section B refers to the upper surface of the conveying part of the first conveyor 11, which is a straight section; the end 11B refers to the part where this straight section ends and the conveying direction is reversed; and the starting end 11A refers to the part where the conveyor that has turned back from the end 11B turns back onto the straight section of the conveying surface 17 again.

[0039] I will now explain the waste collection section D. As shown in Figures 1 and 10, a space is provided below the conveyor section B and the compression section C, and the waste collection section D is installed in this space. The waste collection section D has a ramp 51 and a collection box 53. By arranging the first conveyor 11 at an incline, a large space can be secured between the rear end of the first conveyor 11 and below the first roller 31. The ramp 51 is an inclined plate, with its upper end positioned behind the rear end of the first roller 31 in the conveying direction, and at approximately the same height as the lower end of the first roller 31.

[0040] The slope 51 does not obstruct the horizontal discharge of the secondary-compressed object W from the compression section C, and can also catch any debris that falls from the secondary-compressed object W as it passes through the compression section C. The slope 51 is inclined downward as it approaches the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11. Therefore, debris that falls from between the conveyor section B and the compression section C can be caught in the middle of the slope 51. In this embodiment, the lower end of the slope 51 is located below the middle of the first conveyor 11. The slope 51 catches and slides downward any debris such as paper scraps and paper dust generated during compression in the conveyor section B and the compression section C.

[0041] A collection box 53 is positioned below the lower end of the slope 51. The collection box 53 is a drawer-shaped container, and the debris that slides down the slope 51 is collected in the collection box 53 and can be recovered by pulling it out from the compression device. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an auxiliary slope 52 is provided. The upper end of the auxiliary slope 52 is positioned at the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11, and the lower end is positioned below the middle section of the first conveyor 11. The auxiliary slope 52 catches and slides down debris that is generated and falls from the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11.

[0042] The presence of space allows the slope 51 to have a large inclination angle from the horizontal plane, which in this embodiment is 40° or more. As a result, the waste received by the slope 51 slides down easily and can be efficiently collected in the collection box 53. Furthermore, since the slope 51 can be positioned in the space below the conveyor section B and the compression section C, there is no need to install the slope 51 outside the compression device A, and the entire compression device A can be made compact.

[0043] A roller conveyor 71 is positioned at the leading end of the first conveyor 11. The roller conveyor 71 is a conveyor with multiple small-diameter cylindrical rollers arranged parallel to each other at intervals, and it does not have a driving force. That is, an object W placed on the roller conveyor 71 can move in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical rollers. In this embodiment, the cylindrical rollers are arranged so that they gradually become lower towards the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11. When an object W is placed on the starting end 11A, which is above the roller conveyor 71, the object W moves on the roller conveyor 71 by its own weight and can reach the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11. Then, the first conveyor 11 transports the object W downstream in the transport direction, compresses it once in the conveyor section B, and then reaches the compression section C for secondary compression. In this way, when placing an object W on the compression device, the worker can place the object W on the conveyor section B without having to approach the drive-driven conveyor section B.

[0044] As shown in Figures 1 and 10, an opening 61 is provided on the downstream side of the compression section C in the transport direction. The compressed object W is discharged by passing through the opening 61. A discharge chute 63 is provided at the opening 61, and the compressed object is stored in a storage box 64 located at the tip of the discharge chute 63. The opening 61 is also provided with a rotatable flap 62, and when the object W passes through, the object W pushes the flap 62 aside, causing it to rotate and the opening 61 to open. When no object W is passing through, the flap rotates downward due to its own weight, closing the opening 61.

[0045] Examples of this invention are: A conveyor section B has a first conveyor 11 and a second conveyor 21 that are positioned opposite each other so as to narrow in the downstream direction of transport, for placing and transporting an object W and for compressing the object W, A compression section C is located downstream of the conveying direction of the conveyor section B and has a first roller 31 and a second roller 41 that compress the object W conveyed by the conveyor section B, The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are equipped with a plurality of beam members 15 and 25 that are stretched in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, Projections 16 and 26 are positioned to protrude toward the object W side and toward the rear in the transport direction relative to the girder members 15 and 25, and are also inclined relative to the girder members 15 and 25 to cover the front ends of the girder members 15 and 25 located toward the rear in the transport direction. A compression method using a compression device A equipped with, A primary compression process is performed in which the projections 16 and 26 of the conveyor section B form a localized wedge-shaped recess in the object W. A step of performing secondary compression to form a continuous rectangular wave shape by the convex portions 32 and 42 of the compression section C, This is a compression method using a compression device A that includes [a specific component].

[0046] Let's explain the compression process. The compression process will be explained in the order of transport, including the primary and secondary compression steps.

[0047] (1) The worker or other person places the object W at the starting end of the roller conveyor 71.

[0048] (2) The object W moves along the roller conveyor 71 by its own weight and reaches the end of the roller conveyor 71.

[0049] (3) The lower front end of the object W reaches the starting end 11A of the first conveyor 11, catches on the girder 15 and projection 16 of the first conveyor 11, and the object W is placed on the conveying surface 17 as the first conveyor 11 rotates.

[0050] (4) As the first conveyor 11 rotates, the object W moves downstream in the transport direction of the first conveyor 11.

[0051] (5) As the object W moves downstream of the first conveyor 11, it is gradually pressed from the front end by the pressing surface 27 of the second conveyor 21 located above and the transport surface 17 of the first conveyor 11, initiating primary compression. Since the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 21 are circulating at the same speed, the object W is compressed as if being pushed from above. Primary compression is performed by the girder members 15, 25 and projections 16 and 26, and the parts of the object W that come into contact with the projections 16 and 26 are locally pierced, forming wedge-shaped recesses spaced apart in the transport direction.

[0052] (6) When the object W reaches the end 11B of the first conveyor 11 and the end 21B of the second conveyor 21, the primary compression is completed. After the primary compression is completed, the object W is supplied to the compression section C by being pushed out onto the conveyor section B.

[0053] (7) The process of supplying the object W from the end sections 11B and 21B of the conveyor section B to the compression section C will be described in detail. In the description, unless otherwise specified, the first conveyor 11 will be the focus. In addition, in order to clarify the positional relationship before and after transport, the preceding projection 16 will be referred to as T1, and the projection 16 located immediately after projection T1 will be referred to as T2. Compression step 1 is in a state where the leading projection T1 has reached the end 11B of the conveyor section B and is about to fold back away from the transport surface 17, and the primary compression of the front end of the object W is completed by projection T1. The trailing projection T2 is still located on the transport surface 17 and is in the process of compressing the object W. As shown in Figure 5, an explanatory diagram illustrating the compression process 1 of the compression device, the front end of the girder member 15 to which the projection T2 at the rear of the first conveyor 11 is attached has reached the rear end of the conveying surface 17. The preceding girder member 15, located directly in front of the projection T2, is descending from the conveying surface 17. At this time, the inclined surface of the preceding projection T1 faces the intermediate part of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, and in the side view shown in Figure 5, the normal (imaginary line) 161 based on the inclined surface of the preceding projection T1 passes between the rotation axes 33 and 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, respectively, and the tip of the projection T1 is located near the conveying surface 17.

[0054] (8) In the compression process 2, as shown in Figure 6, the front ends of the girder members 15 and 25 to which the trailing projection T2 is attached have reached the end section 11B and the end section 21B, and the trailing projection T2 is positioned on the conveying surface 17, and primary compression at the projection T2 is continuing. The leading projection T1 is moving in a reverse direction at the end section 11B of the first conveyor and is descending further away from the conveying surface 17. At this time, the inclined surface of the leading projection T1 is still facing the middle of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. In other words, the normal (imaginary line) 161 based on the inclined surface of the leading projection T2 shown in Figure 6 passes between the rotation axes 33 and 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, respectively. Therefore, with the tip of the projection T1 facing upwards towards the second conveyor 21, the tip of the projection T1 located at the end 11B can be positioned near the conveying surface 17, supporting the leading end of the object W hanging down by its own weight in the conveying direction, lifting it upwards. Even if there is a girder 15 located behind the conveying surface 17 and away from the conveying surface 17, the tip of the projection T1 attached to this girder 15 can be positioned near the conveying surface 17. In other words, the object W is supported by the tip of the projection T1 located at the end portion 11B, thereby preventing the front end of the object W in the transport direction from moving along the circumferential motion of the end portion 11B of the first conveyor 11.

[0055] (9) Compression step 3, as shown in Figure 7, shows the state in which the trailing projection T2 has reached the terminal 11B and primary compression at projection T2 is complete. The leading projection T1 continues its folding movement and descends further away from the conveying surface 17. At this point, as the leading projection T1 descends further, it begins to move away from the leading edge of the object W. However, since the tip of the leading projection T1 is located above the rotation axis 33 of the first roller, if the leading edge of the object W sags, it is still possible to support it with projection T1. Whether the object W moves away from the tip of projection T1 or is supported by the tip of projection T1 in this step depends on the degree of softness of the object W, but at the very least, it is possible to prevent the leading edge of the object W in the conveying direction from following the circumferential motion of the terminal 11B of the first conveyor 11.

[0056] (10) In the compression process 4, as shown in Figure 8, the trailing projection T2 has reached the end 11B of the first conveyor 11 and has begun to reverse motion. At this time, the projection T2 switches from linear motion to circular motion at the end 11B of the first conveyor 11, so the speed at which the tip of the projection T2 moves becomes faster than the speed at which the girder 15 moves. As a result, the projection T2 acts on the object W, which is still behind the projection T2, as if to throw it between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 while pulling on the object W.

[0057] In this way, the front end of the object W reaches the first roller 31. Since the front end of the object W is prevented from pointing downward in the compression steps 2 and 3 above, it is pushed by the trailing projection T2 and the girders 15 and 25, allowing it to be positioned above the rotation axis 33 of the first roller 31, that is, between the rotation axes 33 and 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, respectively. In this example, the front end of the object W reaches the rotation diameter 34, which is the outer circumference above the rotation axis 33 of the first roller 31.

[0058] (11) Compression step 5 is a state in which, as shown in Figure 9, the front end of the object W has reached the portion of the outer circumference of the first roller 31 where the circumferential direction is directed towards the rear in the conveying direction, and the first roller 31 has started to pull the object towards the space between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41. The trailing girder 15 of the first conveyor and the trailing projection T2 attached to this girder 15 are descending from the conveying surface 17. Since the front end of the object W can be positioned between the rotational axes 33, 43 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, the first roller 31 can pull the front end of the object W towards the space between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41 through friction caused by rotation. Furthermore, because the first roller 31 has a convex portion 32, it is easier to hook the front end of the object W, allowing the object W to be pulled more smoothly towards the space between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41.

[0059] Furthermore, in the compression step 5 shown in Figure 9, the normal 161 of the trailing projection T2 to the inclined surface is directed towards the space between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, thus acting to release the object W toward the compression section C. Therefore, the object W can be supplied more efficiently from the end sections 11B and 21B of the conveyor section B to the compression section C. This effect also allows even small objects W (for example, objects small enough to reach the compression section C from the end section 11B of the first conveyor) to be easily supplied to the compression section C from the end sections 11B and 21B of the conveyor section B.

[0060] (12) When the front end of the object W reaches the space between the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, secondary compression is started as shown in Figure 10 (compression step 6). In secondary compression, the object W, which has been compressed in the primary step, is further compressed by the outer circumferences of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, and is also pressed alternately from above and below by the convex portions 32 and 42 of the first roller 31 and the second roller 41, respectively. Compression by the convex portions 32 and 42 causes the object W to be formed into a rectangular wave shape, which suppresses springback.

[0061] (13) Paper scraps, paper dust, and other waste generated during primary and secondary compression fall onto the slope as the conveyor section B and compression section C rotate, and are collected in the collection box 53.

[0062] (14) The object W that has been secondarily compressed in the compression section C is collected in the storage box 64 via the discharge chute 63. Since the object W in the storage box 64 is formed in a rectangular wave shape, springback is suppressed and it is prevented from increasing in volume in the storage box 64. Therefore, the compressed object W can be efficiently stored in the storage box 64. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 11. First Conveyor 12. Second Conveyor 15 Girder material 16 Protrusion 25 Girder material 26 Protrusion 31 First Laura 41. Second Laura A Compressor B Conveyor section C Compression section W Object (box-shaped object, cardboard box)

Claims

1. A conveyor section having a first conveyor and a second conveyor that are positioned opposite each other so as to narrow in the downstream direction of transport, for placing and transporting objects and for compressing the objects, A compression section located downstream of the conveying direction of the conveyor section, having a first roller and a second roller for compressing the object conveyed by the conveyor section, The first conveyor and the second conveyor are each provided with a plurality of beam members that span in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, A projection is provided that protrudes from the girder towards the object and towards the rear in the transport direction, and is positioned at an angle to the girder so as to cover the front end of the girder located at the rear in the transport direction, A compression device characterized by comprising:

2. Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction. The normal to the inclined surface of the leading projection, which is located in front of the conveying side, is directed toward the intermediate portion between the first roller and the second roller, relative to the trailing projection that reaches the end of the conveying surface of the conveying section of the conveying part. The compression device according to feature 1.

3. Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the direction of transport. When the projection that is behind in the conveying direction begins to move away from the conveying surface, the projection that is ahead in the conveying direction is positioned between the first roller and the second roller. The compression device according to feature 1.

4. The first roller is positioned higher than the starting end of the first conveyor, and the conveying direction of the first conveyor is inclined upward as it moves downstream in the conveying direction, thereby providing space below the conveyor section and the compression section. The space is provided with a slope that inclines downward from the first roller toward the starting end of the first conveyor. The compression device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A conveyor section having a first conveyor and a second conveyor that are positioned opposite each other so as to narrow in the downstream direction of transport, for placing and transporting objects and for compressing the objects, A compression section located downstream of the conveying direction of the conveyor section, having the first roller and the second roller for compressing the object conveyed by the conveyor section, The first conveyor and the second conveyor are each provided with a plurality of beam members that span in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, A projection is provided that protrudes from the girder towards the object and towards the rear in the transport direction, and is positioned at an angle to the girder so as to cover the front end of the girder located at the rear in the transport direction, A compression method using a compression device equipped with, A process of primary compression is performed in which the protrusions of the conveyor section create a wedge-shaped recess in the object locally, A process of performing secondary compression to form a continuous rectangular wave shape by the convex portion of the compression section, A compression method using a compression device that includes [a specific component].

6. Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction. The normal to the inclined surface of the leading projection, which is located in front of the conveying side, is directed toward the intermediate portion between the first roller and the second roller, relative to the trailing projection that reaches the end of the conveying surface of the conveying section of the conveying part. The compression method according to feature 5.

7. Multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the direction of transport. When the projection that is behind in the conveying direction begins to move away from the conveying surface, the projection that is ahead in the conveying direction is positioned between the first roller and the second roller. The compression method according to feature 5.

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