Packing device

Abstract

One aspect of a packing device according to the present disclosure is for packing an apparatus having a first metal fitting that protrudes horizontally from a side surface of an apparatus body. The packing device comprises: an outer box that is open to the upper side and accommodates the apparatus; an upper cover that covers the upper surface of the apparatus and closes the outer box from the upper side; and a corrugated cardboard protective member that has a first insertion hole through which the first metal fitting is inserted. The upper end surface of the protective member is positioned above the upper surface of the apparatus.

Description

Packaging Equipment

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a packaging machine.

[0002] A packaging device has been proposed that includes a cardboard top tray that protects the top surface of the equipment stored in the packaging device, and multiple polystyrene foam cushioning materials that are placed between the top tray and the top surface of the equipment (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2015-137109 A

[0004] When the packaging device is used in countries that do not have the technology to recycle polystyrene foam, it is difficult to increase the recycling rate of the packaging device because the cushioning material cannot be recycled. Therefore, there is a risk that the packaging device may cause environmental pollution.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide a packaging device that can increase the recycling rate.

[0006] One aspect of the packaging device according to the present disclosure is a packaging device for packaging equipment having a first metal fitting protruding horizontally from a side surface of the equipment body, comprising: an outer box that is open on the top and contains the equipment; an upper cover that covers the top surface of the equipment and closes the outer box from above; and a protective member made of cardboard having a first insertion hole into which the first metal fitting is inserted, the upper end surface of the protective member being positioned above the top surface of the equipment.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the recycling rate of a packaging device can be increased.

[0008] 1 is a perspective view showing a packing device in embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a packing device in embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a packing device and equipment in embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an indoor unit equipped with equipment in embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the equipment in embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a bottom tray in embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a protective member in embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a packing device and equipment in embodiment 2. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a protective member in embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a packing device and equipment in embodiment 3. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a protective member in embodiment 4. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a packing device and equipment in embodiment 4.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments and can be modified as desired within the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure. In addition, in the following drawings, the scale and number of each structure may differ from the scale and number of the actual structure in order to make each configuration easier to understand.

[0010] The drawings show the Z axis where appropriate. The Z axis indicates the vertical direction. The side of the vertical direction toward which the Z axis arrow points (+Z side) is the upper side in the vertical direction, and the opposite side of the vertical direction toward which the Z axis arrow points (-Z side) is the lower side in the vertical direction. In the following description, the upper side in the vertical direction will be simply referred to as the "upper side," and the lower side in the vertical direction will be simply referred to as the "lower side."

[0011] In the following description, the horizontal direction includes a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and a direction tilted from the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction by approximately the design tolerance of the packaging device and the equipment. In other words, in this disclosure, the horizontal direction is not strictly limited to the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0012] In the following description, of the outer surfaces of each part constituting the packaging device and each part constituting the equipment, the surface facing upward may be simply referred to as the upper surface, and the surface facing downward may be simply referred to as the lower surface.

[0013] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a packing apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the packing apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the packing apparatus 10 and devices 40 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 1, in Embodiment 1, the packing apparatus 10 is a packing apparatus that packs devices 40. The packing apparatus 10 prevents devices 40 from coming into contact with each other and from being subjected to external forces when the devices 40 are stored in a warehouse or the like, when the devices 40 are transported, etc. In this way, the packing apparatus 10 prevents damage to the devices 40 during storage, transportation, etc. The packing apparatus 10 is a box-like device with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The devices 40 are housed inside the packing apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the packing apparatus 10 includes an outer box 11, an upper cover 12, a sleeve 13, a bottom tray 14, and a protective member 20. In the first embodiment, the outer box 11, the top cover 12, the sleeve 13, the bottom tray 14, and the protective member 20 are each made of cardboard. That is, all of the components constituting the packaging device 10 are made of cardboard.

[0014] The outer box 11 has a rectangular cylindrical shape extending vertically. The outer box 11 houses the device 40. The outer box 11 is open at the top. The outer box 11 is made of cardboard. The outer box 11 has four side walls 11a and a bottom wall 11b. Each side wall 11a is plate-shaped and extends in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. When viewed horizontally, each side wall 11a has a rectangular shape. When viewed vertically, the four side walls 11a form side walls of the rectangular outer box 11. Each side wall 11a extends along a different main side surface 42a of the device 40. In the following description, the time when the device 40 is packed in the packing device 10 may be referred to as the "packing time."

[0015] The bottom wall 11b is a plate-like member extending in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The bottom wall 11b is connected to the lower ends of the side walls 11a. Although not shown, the bottom wall 11b has a rectangular shape when viewed vertically. During packaging, the bottom wall 11b supports the device 40 from below.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3 , during packaging, the top cover 12 is positioned above the device 40. As a result, the top cover 12 covers the top surface 44 of the device 40 from above. The top cover 12 also covers the outer box 11 from above. The top cover 12 is made of cardboard. As shown in FIG. 2 , in embodiment 1, the packaging device 10 includes four top covers 12. Each top cover 12 is a rectangular plate. Each top cover 12 is connected to the upper end of a different side wall portion 11 a. In embodiment 1, each top cover 12 and the outer box 11 are integrally configured. Each top cover 12 is rotatable around the upper end of the side wall portion 11 a. When each top cover 12 is rotated toward the inside of the outer box 11 and fixed to each other, the outer box 11 is covered from above by the four top covers. The upper cover 12 does not have to be integrally formed with the outer box 11, and the upper cover 12 and the outer box 11 may be separate bodies.

[0017] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an indoor unit including device 40 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a portion of device 40 in a packaged state according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, device 40 is an electrostatic precipitator provided in the indoor unit of an air conditioner. Device 40 may be a device other than an electrostatic precipitator. As shown in FIG. 4 , device 40 is fixed to both a main body 50 and a decorative panel 51 of the indoor unit to form a portion of the indoor unit of the air conditioning system. As shown in FIG. 5 , device 40 has a device main body 41, a first metal fitting 45, and a second metal fitting 47. As shown in FIG. 4 , device main body 41 has a case 41a and a dust collecting unit 41c.

[0018] The case 41a is a rectangular tube extending in the vertical direction. When viewed vertically, the case 41a is a roughly octagonal shape with slanted sides at the four corners of the rectangle. The side surfaces of the case 41a are the side surfaces 42 of the device main body 41. The side surfaces 42 face horizontally. The side surfaces 42 have four main side surfaces 42a and four sloped surfaces 43.

[0019] Each of the four main side surfaces 42a is arranged in a rectangular shape when viewed vertically. Each main side surface 42a is substantially rectangular with its long sides extending horizontally. Each of the four sloped surfaces 43 is located between a pair of main side surfaces 42a. The sloped surfaces 43 are connected to each of the corresponding pair of main side surfaces 42a. Each sloped surface 43 is substantially rectangular with its long sides extending horizontally. The sloped surfaces 43 face in different directions.

[0020] The dust collection unit 41c is disposed inside the case 41a and fixed to the case 41a. The dust collection unit 41c removes dust particles and the like from the air flowing inside the case 41a.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5 , the first metal fittings 45 are attached to the sloped portions 43. During packaging, the first metal fittings 45 are attached to the upper portions of the sloped portions 43. The first metal fittings 45 are made of metal. The device 40 has a plurality of first metal fittings 45. Although not shown, in embodiment 1, the device 40 has eight first metal fittings 45. Two first metal fittings 45 are attached to each sloped portion 43. On each sloped portion 43, the two first metal fittings 45 are arranged with a horizontal gap between them. The number of first metal fittings 45 attached to each sloped portion 43 may be one, or three or more. The first metal fittings 45 have a first fixing portion 45a and a first protruding portion 45b.

[0022] The first fixing portion 45a is in the form of a plate that extends along the slope portion 43. The first fixing portion 45a is fixed to the slope portion 43 with a screw. In this way, the first metal fitting 45 is attached to the slope portion 43.

[0023] The first protrusion 45b is a plate-like member with its plate surface facing vertically. The first protrusion 45b protrudes horizontally from the upper end of the first fixing portion 45a. This causes the first metal fitting 45 to protrude horizontally from the inclined surface 43. In other words, the first metal fitting 45 protrudes horizontally from the side surface 42 of the device body 41.

[0024] The second metal fittings 47 are attached to the sloped portions 43. During packaging, the second metal fittings 47 are attached to the lower portion of the sloped portions 43. The second metal fittings 47 are positioned lower than the first metal fittings 45. The second metal fittings 47 are made of metal. Although not shown in the figures, in the first embodiment, the device 40 has four second metal fittings 47. Each second metal fitting 47 is attached to a different sloped portion 43. The second metal fittings 47 have a second fixing portion 47a and a second protruding portion 47b.

[0025] The second fixing portion 47a is in the form of a plate that extends along the slope portion 43. The second fixing portion 47a is fixed to the slope portion 43 with a screw. In this way, the second metal fitting 47 is attached to the slope portion 43.

[0026] The second protrusion 47b is a plate-like member with its plate surface facing vertically. The second protrusion 47b protrudes horizontally from the lower end of the second fixing portion 47a. This causes the second metal fitting 47 to protrude horizontally from the inclined surface 43. In other words, the second metal fitting 47 protrudes horizontally from the device body 41.

[0027] The vertical orientation of the device 40 in the first embodiment when packaged, as shown in FIG. 5 , differs from the vertical orientation of the device 40 when in use, as shown in FIG. 4 . Therefore, when the device 40 is in use, the second metal fitting 47 is positioned above the first metal fitting 45. The second metal fitting 47 is fixed to the main body 50, which is positioned above the device 40, with screws (not shown). Although not shown, the main body 50 is fixed to suspension bolts installed in the ceiling space. As a result, the device 40 is fixed to the suspension bolts in the ceiling space via the main body 50. The decorative panel 51 is fixed to the first metal fitting 45 with screws (not shown). The decorative panel 51 covers the main body 50 and the device 40 from below, allowing ventilation and preventing the main body 50 and the device 40 from being viewed from the indoor side. Note that the vertical orientation of the device 40 when packaged and the vertical orientation of the device 40 when in use may be the same. In this case, the first metal fitting 45 is fixed to the main body 50, and the decorative panel 51 is fixed to the second metal fitting 47.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2 , the sleeve 13 has a rectangular cylindrical shape extending vertically. The sleeve 13 is open on both the top and bottom sides. The sleeve 13 may be open only on the top side. The sleeve 13 is made of cardboard. As shown in FIG. 3 , the sleeve 13 is disposed between the device 40 and the side wall portion 11 a. That is, the sleeve 13 is disposed between the device 40 and the outer box 11. The sleeve 13 surrounds the side surface 42 of the device main body 41. The lower end of the sleeve 13 contacts the bottom wall portion 11 b. As a result, the outer box 11 supports the sleeve 13 vertically. The upper end surface 13 a of the sleeve 13 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the bottom tray 14 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom tray 14 has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape that protrudes vertically. The bottom tray 14 is open on the upper side. The bottom tray 14 is made of cardboard. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom tray 14 is placed below the device 40. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom tray 14 has an annular portion 14a, a bottom portion 14b, and a support member 15.

[0030] The annular portion 14a is a substantially rectangular annular portion that protrudes in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the annular portion 14a is disposed between the device 40 and the sleeve 13. The annular portion 14a surrounds the device 40. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom portion 14b is plate-shaped and extends in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The bottom portion 14b is connected to the lower end of the annular portion 14a. When viewed in the vertical direction, the bottom portion 14b has a substantially rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom portion 14b is disposed below the device 40. The bottom portion 14b contacts the bottom wall portion 11b. This allows the outer box 11 to support the bottom tray 14 in the vertical direction.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 6 , the support member 15 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The support member 15 is made of cardboard. For example, the support member 15 is formed by vertically stacking cardboard sheets. Alternatively, the support member 15 may be formed by bending cardboard sheets into a rectangular tube shape. The bottom tray 14 has multiple support members 15. In the first embodiment, the bottom tray 14 has four support members 15. Each support member 15 is disposed near a different corner of the bottom tray 14. Each support member 15 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom 14b. As shown in FIG. 3 , each support member 15 vertically contacts the second protrusions 47b of different second metal fittings 47. As a result, the support members 15 support the second metal fittings 47 from below. Therefore, the support members 15 support the device 40 from below.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the protective member 20 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the protective member 20 is plate-shaped and extends in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. The protective member 20 is made of cardboard. The flute direction of the cardboard constituting the protective member 20 is vertical. As shown in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment, the packaging device 10 includes four protective members 20. Each protective member 20 is arranged along a different slope 43. As shown in FIG. 7, the protective member 20 includes a main plate portion 21. In the first embodiment, the protective member 20 is composed only of the main plate portion 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate surface of the main plate portion 21 faces the protruding direction of the first protrusion 45b. The plate surface of the main plate portion 21 faces the protruding direction of the first metal fitting 45. As shown in FIG. 7, the main plate portion 21 includes a first plate portion 22 and a second plate portion 23. The main plate portion 21 is provided with a first insertion hole 21a.

[0033] In the following description, the direction in which the first protruding portion 45b protrudes may be referred to as the "protruding direction of the first metal fitting 45" or simply as the "protruding direction." As described above, the first metal fitting 45 is attached to each inclined surface portion 43. Also, as described above, the inclined surface portions 43 face in different directions. Therefore, the protruding directions of the first metal fittings 45 are different from each other.

[0034] The first plate portion 22 has a plate shape that extends in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction. When viewed from the protruding direction, the first plate portion 22 has a generally rectangular shape with its long sides extending horizontally. The first plate portion 22 is made of a single piece of cardboard. A first insertion hole 21a is provided in the first plate portion 22. As a result, the protective member 20 has the first insertion hole 21a.

[0035] The first insertion holes 21a are holes that penetrate the first plate portion 22 in the protruding direction. In the first embodiment, two first insertion holes 21a are provided in the first plate portion 22. The first insertion holes 21a are arranged at a distance from each other in the horizontal direction. The first insertion holes 21a are provided in a portion of the first plate portion 22 above the vertical center. As shown in FIG. 3 , different first protrusions 45b are inserted into the first insertion holes 21a. In this way, the protective member 20 is attached to the first metal fittings 45. The four protective members 20 are attached to different first metal fittings 45.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 7 , the second plate portion 23 has a plate shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction. When viewed from the protruding direction, the second plate portion 23 has a substantially rectangular shape with its long sides extending horizontally. The second plate portion 23 is formed from a single piece of corrugated cardboard. The vertical dimension of the second plate portion 23 is smaller than the vertical dimension of the first plate portion 22. The second plate portion 23 is fixed by adhesive to a portion of the surface of the first plate portion 22 facing the protruding direction that is above the first insertion hole 21a. As a result, the portion of the main plate portion 21 above the first insertion hole 21a is formed from two pieces of corrugated cardboard overlapping in the protruding direction. In other words, at least the portion of the protective member 20 above the first insertion hole 21a is formed from multiple pieces of corrugated cardboard overlapping in the protruding direction. Furthermore, the thickness of the portion of the main plate portion 21 above the first insertion hole 21a in the protruding direction is thicker than the thickness of the portion of the main plate portion 21 below the first insertion hole 21a in the protruding direction. The number of cardboard sheets constituting the portion of the protection member 20 above the first insertion hole 21a may be three or more.

[0037] 3, the upper end of the main plate portion 21 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. Therefore, the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. In the vertical direction, the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20 and the upper end surface 13a of the sleeve 13 are preferably located at the same position. In the first embodiment, the protective member 20 is fixed to the side surface 42 of the device body 41 with adhesive tape (not shown). This prevents the protective member 20 from coming off the first metal fitting 45 due to vibrations or the like applied to the protective member 20 and the device 40 during transportation.

[0038] Next, a procedure for packaging the device 40 using the packaging device 10 in the first embodiment will be described. First, the sleeve 13 is placed inside the outer box 11. Next, the bottom tray 14 is inserted inside the sleeve 13. Next, the first metal fittings 45 are inserted into the first insertion holes 21a of each protective member 20 to attach each protective member 20 to the device 40. Next, the device 40 is inserted inside the sleeve 13 so that each second metal fitting 47 and each support member 15 are in vertical contact, and the device 40 is placed on each support member 15. The top covers 12 are rotated toward the inside of the outer box 11 to secure the top covers 12 to each other, completing the packaging of the device 40.

[0039] According to the first embodiment, a packing device 10 is provided for packing a device 40 having a first metal fitting 45 protruding horizontally from a side surface 42 of a device body 41. The packing device 10 includes an outer box 11 that is open upward and accommodates the device 40, an upper cover 12 that covers the top surface of the device 40 and closes the outer box 11 from above, and a protective member 20 made of cardboard and having a first insertion hole 21a into which the first metal fitting 45 is inserted, the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20 being located above a top surface 44 of the device 40. When the device 40 is stored in a warehouse or during transportation, another packaged product is stacked on top of the packaged product, which is the device 40 packed in the packing device 10, creating a so-called stacked state. In this stacked state, the weight of the other packaged product stacked on top (stacked load) is applied to the packaged product. When the stacked load is applied to the packing device 10 and the upper cover 12 or the like is deformed, the upper cover 12 may come into contact with the top surface 44 of the device 40. In this case, a stacking load is applied to the device 40, which may damage the device 40. In contrast, in the first embodiment, as described above, the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. Therefore, even if the upper cover 12 or the like is deformed, the protective member 20 can support the upper cover 12 from below. This prevents deformation of the upper cover 12 and prevents the upper cover 12 from contacting the device 40. Therefore, the stacking load is prevented from being applied to the device 40, thereby providing optimal protection for the device 40. Furthermore, as described above, the protective member 20 is made of cardboard, which is recyclable waste. Therefore, the recycling rate of the packaging device 10 can be increased compared to when the protective member 20 is made of a resin material such as polystyrene foam. Furthermore, when disposing of the packaging device 10, workers installing the device 40 do not need to separate resin materials such as polystyrene foam from recyclable waste such as cardboard. This reduces the time required for workers to install the device 40.

[0040] In the first embodiment, all of the components constituting the packing device 10 are made of cardboard. As described above, cardboard is a recyclable waste material, which further increases the recycling rate of the packing device 10. Furthermore, workers do not need to separate the components constituting the packing device 10 when disposing of the packing device 10. This allows for a more efficient reduction in the time it takes for workers to install the equipment 40.

[0041] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the protective member 20 is attached to the first metal fitting 45, which is made of a highly rigid metal. Therefore, even if a stacking load is applied to the protective member 20 via the upper cover 12, the first metal fitting 45 can stably support the protective member 20 in the vertical direction. This stabilizes the position of the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20, thereby more effectively preventing the stacking load from being applied to the device 40. Therefore, the device 40 can be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, etc.

[0042] According to the first embodiment, at least the portion of the protective member 20 above the first insertion hole 21a is composed of multiple pieces of cardboard stacked in the protruding direction of the first metal fitting 45. This increases the area of ​​the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20. This makes it easier to reduce the pressure applied to the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20 when the protective member 20 supports the upper cover 12 from below. This prevents the protective member 20 from being deformed by the stacking load, thereby more effectively preventing the upper cover 12 from being deformed. This more effectively prevents the stacking load from being applied to the device 40, thereby more effectively protecting the device 40 during storage, transportation, and the like.

[0043] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the contact area between the protective member 20 and the first metal fitting 45 can be increased. This makes it easier to reduce the pressure caused by the reaction force of the stacking load applied from the first metal fitting 45 to the protective member 20. This more effectively prevents the protective member 20 from being deformed, and more effectively prevents the stacking load from being applied to the device 40. Therefore, the device 40 can be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, etc.

[0044] According to the first embodiment, the protective member 20 has a plate-shaped main plate portion 21 whose plate surface faces the protruding direction of the first metal fitting 45. The first insertion hole 21a is provided in the main plate portion 21, and the thickness of the portion of the main plate portion 21 above the first insertion hole 21a in the protruding direction is greater than the thickness of the portion of the main plate portion 21 below the first insertion hole 21a in the protruding direction. This makes it easy to increase the area of ​​the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20. This also makes it easy to reduce the pressure applied to the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20 when the protective member 20 supports the upper cover 12 from below. This prevents the protective member 20 from being deformed, thereby more effectively preventing stacking loads from being applied to the device 40. This allows the device 40 to be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, and the like.

[0045] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, it is easy to increase the contact area between the protective member 20 and the first metal fitting 45. This makes it easy to reduce the pressure caused by the reaction force of the stacking load applied from the first metal fitting 45 to the protective member 20. This more effectively prevents the protective member 20 from being deformed, and more effectively prevents the stacking load from being applied to the device 40. Therefore, the device 40 can be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, etc.

[0046] According to the first embodiment, the packing device 10 includes four protective members 20, the device 40 includes a plurality of first metal fittings 45, and the side surface 42 of the device body 41 includes four main side surfaces 42a arranged in a rectangular shape when viewed vertically and four sloped portions 43 located between pairs of the main side surfaces 42a. A first metal fitting 45 is attached to each of the four sloped portions 43, and each of the four protective members 20 is attached to a different first metal fitting 45. Thus, the four protective members 20 can support the upper cover 12 from below. This more effectively reduces the pressure applied to the upper end surface 20a of each protective member 20 when each protective member 20 supports the upper cover 12 from below, compared to when the packing device 10 includes only one protective member 20. This more effectively prevents deformation of each protective member 20 due to a stacking load, thereby more effectively preventing deformation of the upper cover 12. Therefore, the stacking load applied to the equipment 40 can be more effectively prevented, and the equipment 40 can be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, etc.

[0047] The packaging device 10 includes a bottom tray 14 disposed below the device 40. The device 40 includes a second metal fitting 47 that protrudes horizontally from the device body 41 and is disposed lower than the first metal fitting 45. The bottom tray 14 includes a cardboard support member 15 that supports the second metal fitting 47 from below. Therefore, when the protective member 20 supports the upper cover 12 from below, the reaction force of the load applied to the support member 15 via the protective member 20 can be borne by the highly rigid metal second metal fitting 47. This allows the position of the protective member 20 to be more suitably stabilized in the vertical direction, thereby more suitably stabilizing the position of the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20. This effectively prevents the device 40 from being subjected to a stacking load, thereby more suitably protecting the device 40 during storage, transportation, and the like.

[0048] According to the first embodiment, the device 40 is provided with a sleeve 13 that is disposed between the device 40 and the outer box 11 and surrounds the side surface 42 of the device body 41, and the upper end surface 13a of the sleeve 13 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. Therefore, even if the top cover 12 is deformed due to the stacking load, the top cover 12 can be supported from below by the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 20 as well as the upper end surface 13a of the sleeve 13. This makes it possible to more effectively suppress deformation of the top cover 12 due to the stacking load. Therefore, since the application of the stacking load to the device 40 can be more effectively suppressed, the device 40 can be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, and the like.

[0049] Embodiment 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a protective member 220 in embodiment 2. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a packaging device 210 and equipment 40 in embodiment 2. In the following description, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments may be denoted by the same reference numerals as appropriate, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0050] As shown in Figure 8, the protective member 220 is in the shape of a plate that extends in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. The protective member 220 is made of cardboard. Although not shown, the packaging device 210 includes four protective members 220. Each protective member 220 is arranged along a different slope portion 43. The protective member 220 has a main plate portion 221. In the second embodiment, the protective member 220 is formed only by the main plate portion 221. The main plate portion 221 has a first plate portion 222 and a second plate portion 23. The main plate portion 221 is provided with a first insertion hole 21a and a second insertion hole 221c.

[0051] The first plate portion 222 has a plate shape that extends in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction. When viewed from the protruding direction, the first plate portion 222 has a generally rectangular shape with its long sides extending vertically. The first plate portion 222 is provided with a first insertion hole 21a and a second insertion hole 221c. Thus, the protective member 220 has the first insertion hole 21a and the second insertion hole 221c. The second insertion hole 221c is a hole that penetrates the first plate portion 222 in the protruding direction. The second insertion hole 221c is provided below the vertical center of the first plate portion 222. The second insertion hole 221c is located below the first insertion hole 21a. As shown in FIG. 8 , different second protrusions 47b are inserted into each second insertion hole 221c. Thus, the protective member 220 is attached to the first fitting 45 and the second fitting 47. Each of the four protection members 220 is attached to a first metal fitting 45 and a second metal fitting 47 that are different from each other.

[0052] The upper end of the main plate portion 221 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. Therefore, the upper end surface 20a of the protective member 220 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. The lower end surface 220b of the protective member 220 is located below the lower surface of the device 40. In the second embodiment, the bottom tray 214 does not have a support member. The lower end surface 220b of the protective member 220 contacts the bottom 14b in the vertical direction. That is, the lower end surface 220b of the protective member 220 contacts the bottom tray 214. As a result, the outer box 11 and the bottom tray 214 support the protective member 220 from below. Therefore, the outer box 11 and the bottom tray 214 support the device 40 from below via the protective member 220. Other configurations of the packing device 210 of the second embodiment are similar to those of the packing device 10 of the first embodiment described above.

[0053] According to the second embodiment, the packing device 210 includes a bottom tray 214 disposed below the device 40, and the bottom end surface 220b of the protective member 220 is located below the bottom surface of the device 40 and contacts the bottom tray 214. Therefore, when the protective member 220 supports the upper cover 12 from below, the stacking load can be absorbed by each of the protective member 220, the bottom tray 214, and the outer box 11. Therefore, the stacking load can be more effectively prevented from being applied to the device 40, and the device 40 can be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, etc.

[0054] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, as described above, the bottom tray 214 does not have a support member, which can prevent an increase in the number of parts of the packing device 210. Therefore, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the packing device 210 can be prevented.

[0055] According to the second embodiment, the device 40 includes a second metal fitting 47 that protrudes horizontally from the device body 41 and is positioned lower than the first metal fitting 45, and the protective member 220 includes a second insertion hole 221c into which the second metal fitting 47 is inserted. Therefore, the protective member 220 is supported vertically by the first metal fitting 45 and the second metal fitting 47. As a result, the stacking load applied to the protective member 220 is applied to both the first metal fitting 45 and the second metal fitting 47. This reduces the pressure applied to the protective member 220 from both the first metal fitting 45 and the second metal fitting 47. This more effectively prevents the protective member 220 from being deformed by the stacking load, thereby more effectively preventing deformation of the upper cover 12. Therefore, the stacking load can be more effectively prevented from being applied to the device 40, thereby more effectively protecting the device 40 during storage, transportation, and the like.

[0056] Embodiment 3. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a protective member 320 in embodiment 3. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing equipment 40 and protective member 320 in embodiment 3. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a packaging device 310 and equipment 40 in embodiment 3. In the following description, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments may be denoted by the same reference numerals as appropriate, and description thereof may be omitted.

[0057] As shown in Figure 10, the protective member 320 has a triangular cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The protective member 320 is made of cardboard. Although not shown, the packaging device 310 includes four protective members 320. Each protective member 320 is arranged along a different slope 43. The protective member 320 has a main plate 321 and a pair of side plates 324, 325.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 12 , the main plate portion 321 is plate-shaped with its plate surface facing the protruding direction of the first metal fitting 45. The main plate portion 321 faces the inclined surface portion 43 in the protruding direction. The main plate portion 321 is arranged along the inclined surface portion 43. As shown in Fig. 10 , the main plate portion 321 has a first plate portion 322 and a second plate portion 323. A first insertion hole 321a is provided in the main plate portion 321.

[0059] Each of the first plate portion 322 and the second plate portion 323 has a plate shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction. When viewed from the protruding direction, each of the first plate portion 322 and the second plate portion 323 has a substantially rectangular shape with long sides extending horizontally. Each of the first plate portion 322 and the second plate portion 323 is formed from a single sheet of corrugated cardboard. The second plate portion 323 is fixed by adhesive to the surface of the first plate portion 322 facing the protruding direction. As a result, the main plate portion 321 is formed from multiple pieces of corrugated cardboard overlapping in the protruding direction. As described above, the main plate portion 321 is provided with the first insertion hole 321a. Therefore, the portion of the protective member 320 above the first insertion hole 321a is formed from multiple pieces of corrugated cardboard overlapping in the protruding direction. Note that the number of sheets of corrugated cardboard forming the main plate portion 321 may be three or more.

[0060] The first insertion holes 321a are holes that penetrate the main plate portion 321 in the protruding direction. The first insertion holes 321a are provided in a portion of the main plate portion 321 that is above the vertical center. As shown in FIG. 12 , different first protrusions 45b are inserted into the first insertion holes 321a. In this way, the protective members 320 are attached to the first metal fittings 45. Each of the four protective members 320 is attached to a different first metal fitting 45.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 11 , each of the pair of side plates 324, 325 is connected to the main plate 321. The side plate 324 is connected to one horizontal end of the main plate 321, and the side plate 325 is connected to the other horizontal end of the main plate 321. The pair of side plates 324, 325 are connected to each other. The pair of side plates 324, 325 are disposed on the side of the main plate 321 from which the first metal fitting 45 protrudes. When viewed vertically, the pair of side plates 324, 325, together with the main plate 321, form a triangular shape. Although not shown, each protective member 320 is disposed between the two side walls 11a and the sloped surface 43. This allows each protective member 320 to be disposed in the approximately triangular space formed between the two side walls 11a and the sloped surface 43.

[0062] 12, the upper end surface 320a of the protection member 320 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. When viewed in the vertical direction, the upper end surface 320a has a triangular ring shape.

[0063] In the third embodiment, the protective member 320 is formed by bending three portions of a rectangular sheet of cardboard extending horizontally. By bending the three portions of the rectangular sheet of cardboard, a first plate portion 322, a side plate portion 325, a side plate portion 324, and a second plate portion 323 shown in FIG. 10 are formed. Other configurations of the protective member 320 of the third embodiment are the same as other configurations of the protective member 20 of the first embodiment described above. Other configurations of the packaging device 310 of the third embodiment are the same as other configurations of the packaging device 10 of the first embodiment described above.

[0064] According to the third embodiment, the protective member 320 has a triangular cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. This makes it easy to increase the area of ​​the upper end surface 320a of the protective member 320. Therefore, when the protective member 320 supports the upper cover 12 from below, it is easy to reduce the pressure applied to the upper end surface 320a of the protective member 320. This more effectively prevents the protective member 320 from being deformed by the stacking load, thereby more effectively preventing the upper cover 12 from being deformed. Therefore, the application of the stacking load to the device 40 can be more effectively prevented, thereby more effectively protecting the device 40 during storage, transportation, and the like.

[0065] According to the third embodiment, the outer box 11 has four side walls 11a extending along different main side surfaces 42a. The protective member 320 has a plate-shaped main plate 321 whose plate surface faces the protruding direction of the first metal fitting 45 and a pair of side plates 324, 325 that, together with the main plate 321, form a triangular shape when viewed vertically. The first insertion hole 321a is provided in the main plate 321, and the protective member 320 is disposed between the two side walls 11a and the sloped surface 43. Thus, as described above, each protective member 320 can be disposed in the substantially triangular space formed between the two side walls 11a and the sloped surface 43. This reduces the gap between the packing device 310 and the device 40. Therefore, the position of the device 40 relative to the packing device 310 can be stabilized during transportation of the device 40.

[0066] Embodiment 4. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a protective member 420 in embodiment 4. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a packaging device 410 and a device 40 in embodiment 4. In the following description, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments may be denoted by the same reference numerals as appropriate, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 13, the protective member 420 has a triangular tubular shape extending in the vertical direction. The protective member 420 is made of cardboard. Although not shown, the packaging device 410 includes four protective members 420. Each protective member 420 is arranged along a different slope 43. The protective member 420 has a main plate 421 and a pair of side plates 424, 425.

[0068] 14 , the main plate portion 421 is plate-shaped with its plate surface facing the protruding direction of the first metal fitting 45. The main plate portion 421 has a first plate portion 422 and a second plate portion 423. The main plate portion 421 is provided with a first insertion hole 321 a and a second insertion hole 421 c. As a result, the protective member 420 has the first insertion hole 321 a and the second insertion hole 421 c.

[0069] The first plate portion 422 and the second plate portion 423 are each shaped like a plate extending in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction. The second plate portion 423 is fixed by adhesive to the surface of the first plate portion 422 facing the protruding direction.

[0070] The second insertion holes 421c are holes that penetrate the main plate portion 421 in the protruding direction. The second insertion holes 421c are provided in a portion of the main plate portion 421 that is lower than the vertical center. The second insertion holes 421c are located lower than the first insertion holes 321a. As shown in FIG. 14 , different second protrusions 47b are inserted into each second insertion hole 421c. In this way, the protective member 420 is attached to the first metal fitting 45 and the second metal fitting 47. Each of the four protective members 420 is attached to a different first metal fitting 45 and second metal fitting 47.

[0071] 13 , each of the pair of side plate portions 424, 425 is connected to the main plate portion 421. The side plate portion 424 is connected to one horizontal end of the main plate portion 421, and the side plate portion 425 is connected to the other horizontal end of the main plate portion 421. The pair of side plate portions 424, 425 are connected to each other. When viewed vertically, the pair of side plate portions 424, 425 and the main plate portion 421 form a triangular shape.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 14 , the upper end surface 420a of the protective member 420 is located above the upper surface 44 of the device 40. When viewed vertically, the upper end surface 420a is triangular annular. The lower end surface 420b of the protective member 420 is located below the lower surface of the device body 41. The lower end surface 420b of the protective member 420 contacts the bottom 14b in the vertical direction. In other words, the lower end surface 420b of the protective member 420 contacts the bottom tray 214. When viewed vertically, the lower end surface 420b is triangular annular. The outer box 11 and the bottom tray 214 support the device 40 from below via the protective member 420. Other configurations of the packing device 410 of embodiment 4 are similar to those of the packing device 10 of embodiment 3 described above.

[0073] In the fourth embodiment, the protective member 420 has a triangular cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, as in the third embodiment, the area of ​​the upper end surface 420a of the protective member 420 can be more preferably increased, and deformation of the protective member 420 due to the stacking load can be more preferably suppressed. This more preferably suppresses deformation of the upper cover 12. Therefore, application of the stacking load to the device 40 can be more preferably suppressed, and the device 40 can be more preferably protected during storage, transportation, and the like.

[0074] Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the bottom end surface 420b of the protective member 420 is located below the bottom surface of the device 40 and contacts the bottom tray 214. Therefore, similar to the second embodiment described above, the stacking load can be absorbed by each of the protective member 420, the bottom tray 214, and the outer box 11. Therefore, the stacking load can be more effectively prevented from being applied to the device 40, and the device 40 can be more effectively protected during storage, transportation, etc.

[0075] Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the protective member 420 has a second insertion hole 421c into which the second metal fitting 47 is inserted. Therefore, similar to the second embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the pressure applied to the protective member 420 from each of the first metal fitting 45 and the second metal fitting 47. This makes it possible to prevent the protective member 420 from being deformed by the stacking load. Therefore, since it is possible to more effectively prevent the stacking load from being applied to the device 40, it is possible to more effectively protect the device 40 during storage, transportation, etc.

[0076] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and the following configurations and methods may also be adopted.

[0077] The equipment packed by the packing device is not limited to an electrostatic precipitator, but may be, for example, a main body provided in the above-mentioned indoor unit, or equipment other than equipment provided in an air conditioning device.

[0078] The device body may have other shapes such as a substantially dodecagonal or substantially hexagonal when viewed vertically. In this case, the device body may have five or more sloped portions, and it is preferable that a protective member be attached to a first metal fitting protruding from each sloped portion.

[0079] The packaging device may not have at least one of the sleeve and the bottom tray. In this case, the outer box may have appropriate dimensions and thickness, thereby preventing a decrease in the strength of the packaging device.

[0080] The configurations and methods described in this specification can be combined as appropriate within the scope of not contradicting each other.

[0081] 10, 210, 310, 410...packaging device, 11...outer box, 11a...side wall portion, 12...upper cover, 13...sleeve, 14, 214...bottom tray, 15...support member, 20, 220, 320, 420...protective member, 21, 221, 321, 421...main plate portion, 21a, 321a...first insertion hole, 40...device, 41...device body, 42a...main side surface, 43...inclined portion, 45...first metal fitting, 47...second metal fitting, 221c, 421c...second insertion hole, 324, 325, 424, 425...side plate portion

Claims

1. A packaging device for packaging equipment having a first metal fitting protruding horizontally from a side surface of the equipment body, comprising: an outer box that is open on the top and contains the equipment; an upper cover that covers the top surface of the equipment and closes the outer box from above; and a protective member made of cardboard that has a first insertion hole into which the first metal fitting is inserted, wherein the upper end surface of the protective member is located above the top surface of the equipment.

2. A packaging device as described in claim 1, wherein at least the portion of the protective member above the first insertion hole is made up of multiple pieces of cardboard that overlap in the direction in which the first metal fitting protrudes.

3. A packaging device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective member has a plate-shaped main plate portion whose plate surface faces the protruding direction of the first metal fitting, the first insertion hole is provided in the main plate portion, and the thickness of the portion of the main plate portion above the first insertion hole in the protruding direction is thicker than the thickness of the portion of the main plate portion below the first insertion hole in the protruding direction.

4. The packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective member is a triangular tube extending vertically.

5. A packaging device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising four of the protective members, the device having a plurality of first metal fittings, the side of the device body having four main side surfaces arranged in a rectangular shape when viewed vertically and four inclined portions located between pairs of the main side surfaces, the first metal fittings being attached to each of the four inclined portions, and each of the four protective members being attached to a different first metal fitting.

6. A packaging device as described in claim 4, comprising four of the protective members, the equipment having a plurality of first metal fittings, the side surfaces of the equipment body having four main side surfaces arranged in a rectangular shape when viewed vertically and four sloped portions located between pairs of the main side surfaces, the first metal fittings being attached to each of the four sloped portions, each of the four protective members being attached to a different first metal fitting, the outer box having four side wall portions extending along the different main side surfaces, the protective member having a plate-shaped main plate portion whose plate surface faces in the protruding direction of the first metal fittings and a pair of side plate portions which, together with the main plate portion, form a triangular shape when viewed vertically, the first insertion hole being provided in the main plate portion, and the protective member being positioned between the two side wall portions and the sloped portions.

7. A packaging device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a bottom tray arranged below the device, the device having a second metal fitting that protrudes horizontally from the device body and is arranged below the first metal fitting, and the bottom tray having a cardboard support member that supports the second metal fitting from below.

8. A packaging device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a bottom tray arranged below the device, wherein the lower end surface of the protective member is located below the bottom surface of the device and contacts the bottom tray.

9. The packaging device according to claim 8, wherein the device has a second metal fitting that protrudes horizontally from the device body and is positioned lower than the first metal fitting, and the protective member has a second insertion hole into which the second metal fitting is inserted.

10. A packaging device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a sleeve disposed between the device and the outer box and surrounding the side of the device body, the upper end surface of the sleeve being positioned above the top surface of the device.

Images