Boxing Device Orientation and Flap Support for Upright Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing boxing devices face issues where box flaps fall inward when articles are boxed with the opening facing upwards, leading to disrupted boxing operations and potential damage to contents.

Innovation Solution

A boxing device with a box-moving section that reorients the box from a sideways to an upright position, supported by a flap support section to maintain flaps outward, and a pushing section to load articles into the box, ensuring smooth operation and preventing flap inward folding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the box is placed with the opening facing upwards for boxing articles, then the boxing operation can proceed with articles being pushed in vertically, but the flaps of the cardboard box will fall inward disrupting the boxing process and potentially damaging contents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboxing operationVSAvoidflap stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flap support section is positioned to support the flaps before the boxing operation begins and maintains support throughout the process. The flaps are supported in an extended position before articles are pushed into the box, preventing them from falling inward during the boxing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flap support section acts as an intermediary element between the flaps and the boxing process. It provides a mechanical support structure that maintains flap position without interfering with the article pushing operation, allowing both functions to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the box is rotated 90° and stood up with opening facing upwards after side-loading, then the box can be positioned for upright boxing, but the flaps will have already fallen inward causing boxing disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebox positioningVSAvoidboxing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flap support section is configured to support flaps in the box's initial horizontal position before rotation. This preliminary support prevents flap collapse during the critical transition phase, enabling the box to be rotated and positioned upright without flap interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flap support section is designed to move with the box during rotation from horizontal to vertical position. It dynamically adjusts its position to maintain continuous flap support throughout the orientation change, ensuring flaps remain extended both during rotation and in the final upright position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4603398A1Boxing device
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 ISHIDA CO LTD
  • EP4603398A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4603398A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4603398A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A boxing device has a box-moving section, a flap support section, and a pushing section. The box-moving section moves a box from a box supply position to a boxing position. The box has flaps. The flaps are disposed continuously with respect to side walls that define an opening. At the box supply position, the box is supplied from the outside. At the boxing position, a plurality of articles are boxed in the opening. The flap support section supports the flaps. A pushing section pushes an article group, in which a plurality of the articles conveyed by an article-conveying section are aligned side-by-side, into the box in the boxing position. The box-moving section, before the pushing section pushes the article group into the box, moves the box so that the box changes in orientation from a first orientation, in which the opening of the box faces sideways in the box supply position, to a second orientation, in which the opening of the box faces upwards in the boxing position. The flap support section supports the flaps when the orientation of the box changes from the first orientation to the second orientation.