This application is the national stage in the United States of International Application No. PCT/JP2017/023103, filed Jun. 22, 2017, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-144575, filed Jul. 22, 2016. Both of those applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
The present invention pertains to a box-opening device. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a box-opening device that transforms a folded corrugated cardboard sheet to an opened state.
Conventionally, as disclosed in patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-6909), box-opening devices that transform a folded corrugated cardboard sheet into an opened state by holding two adjacent surfaces of the folded corrugated cardboard sheet respectively with holding parts, and changing a position of one of the holding parts that is holding one of the surfaces with respect to the other holding part that is holding the other surface. This type of box-opening device can efficiently open corrugated cardboard sheets into boxes without relying on manpower.
For cases in which two adjacent surfaces of a corrugated cardboard sheet are held to open into a box, the corrugated cardboard sheet is opened into a box by rotating one of the held surfaces with respect to the other held surface about a boundary line (fold portion) between the two held surfaces. In other words, a box-opening device such as that disclosed by patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-6909), changes the position of the holding part holding the one surface with respect to the holding part holding the other surface so that the one of the held surface rotates with respect to the other held surface about the abovementioned boundary line. However, depending on the way for changing the position of the holding part, there are cases that the one held surface cannot smoothly rotates with respect to the other held surface about the abovementioned boundary line. In such cases, depending on the characteristics and state of the corrugated cardboard sheet, problems, such that the corrugated cardboard sheet (corrugated cardboard box) is damaged or deformed while the sheet is opening into a box, or opening into a box is failed due to release of the holding of the corrugated cardboard sheet at an unintended timing, may occur.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a highly reliable box-opening device which can reliably open a corrugated cardboard sheet into an opened state by holding two adjacent surfaces of the corrugated cardboard sheet respectively with holding parts and changing the position of a holding part that is holding the one surface with respect to another holding part holding the other surface without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet.
A box-opening device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is provided with a first holding part, a second holding part, and a first holding part movement mechanism. The first holding part holds a first surface, which is one of two adjacent surfaces of a folded corrugated cardboard sheet. The second holding part holds a second surface, which is the other surface of the two adjacent surfaces of the corrugated cardboard sheet. The first holding part movement mechanism changes a position of the first holding part with respect to the second holding part and thereby transforms the corrugated cardboard sheet into an opened state. The first holding part movement mechanism has a support member that supports the first holding part so that the first holding part rotates on an arc track about a central axis of rotation that overlaps an imaginary line extending along a boundary line between the first surface and the second surface.
In the box-opening device disclosed by patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-6909), as illustrated in
In contrast, with the box-opening device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, a force can be applied on the first surface of a corrugated cardboard sheet held by the first holding part, solely in the direction in which a force should be applied to open the sheet into a box. Therefore, the corrugated cardboard sheet can be reliably opened into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet.
A box-opening device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure is the box-opening device according to the first aspect, wherein the central axis of rotation is immobile during rotation of the first holding part.
With the box-opening device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, it is easy to apply a force on the first surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet solely in the direction in which the force should be applied to open the sheet into a box, and it is therefore easy to reliably open the corrugated cardboard sheet into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet.
A box-opening device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is the box-opening device according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein a distance between the central axis of rotation and the first holding part is constant during rotation of the first holding part.
With the box-opening device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure, it is easy to apply a force on the first surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet solely in the direction in which the force should be applied to open the sheet into a box, and it is therefore easy to reliably open the corrugated cardboard sheet into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet.
A box-opening device according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the box-opening device according to any of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the support member includes an arm member and a bearing. The first holding part is attached to the arm member. The bearing defines a central turning axis disposed on the imaginary line, and rotatably supports the arm member.
With the box-opening device according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the arm member to which the first holding part is attached is rotatably supported by the bearing, which has a central turning axis disposed on an imaginary line of the boundary line between the first surface and the second surface. Therefore, it is easy to apply a force on the first surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet solely in the direction in which the force should be applied to open the sheet into a box, and it is therefore easy to reliably open the corrugated cardboard sheet into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet.
A box-opening device according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the box-opening device according to any of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the support member is a link mechanism. In an extension direction of the boundary line of the corrugated cardboard sheet that is opened by the first holding part movement mechanism, the link mechanism is disposed within a positional range at which the boundary line is present.
With the box-opening device according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the extension direction of the boundary line of the corrugated cardboard sheet that is opened into a box, the link mechanism is disposed within the positional range at which the boundary line is present. Therefore, the box-opening device can be made more compact in the direction along which the boundary line of the opened corrugated cardboard sheet extends.
A box-opening device according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the box-opening device according to any of the first aspect to the fifth aspect and is further provided with a second holding part movement mechanism that rotates the second holding part about a prescribed rotation axis.
With the box-opening device according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the second holding part can also be rotated, and the second holding part can be moved with respect to the corrugated cardboard sheet. Therefore, the corrugated cardboard sheet supplied to the box-opening device can be firmly held by the first holding part and the second holding part.
With the box-opening device according to the present disclosure, a force can be applied on the first surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet held by the first holding part, solely in the direction in which a force should be applied to open the sheet into a box. Therefore, the corrugated cardboard sheet can be reliably opened into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet.
Embodiments for carrying out the box-opening device according to the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are examples of the present invention, do not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and can be modified as appropriate.
In the description below, expressions such as top, bottom, front (front surface), back (rear surface), left and right may be used in order to describe positional relationships and orientation. Unless otherwise noted, the directions indicated by these expressions are in accordance with the directions of arrows illustrated in the drawings.
Furthermore, in the following description, expressions such as parallel, orthogonal, horizontal, vertical, and identical may be used, but these expressions do not refer to only relationships being parallel, orthogonal, horizontal, vertical, identical or the like in a strict sense. These expressions such as parallel, orthogonal, horizontal, vertical, and identical also include relationships being substantially parallel, orthogonal, horizontal, vertical, identical or the like.
A box manufacturing system 100 that includes a box-opening device 200 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described below.
The box manufacturing system 100 primarily includes a sheet supply unit 70, a box-opening unit 10, a bottom lid forming unit 80, a box supply unit 90, and a control unit 60 (see
The box-opening device 200 primarily has the box-opening unit 10 and the control unit 60 (see
The box manufacturing system 100 transforms a folded corrugated sheet S into an opened state as illustrated in
First, the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB and the corrugated cardboard sheet S are described with reference to
As illustrated in
The side surface section T forms the side surfaces of the corrugated cardboard box B. In the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB, the side surface section T has a square tube shape. As illustrated in
The top lid side flaps F2 are disposed at one opened side of the tubular side surface section T. The top lid side flaps F2 are flaps that are folded to form the top lid of the corrugated cardboard box B. The top lid formed by the top lid side flaps F2 closes an opening at one side of the side surface section T. As illustrated in
The bottom lid side flaps F1 are disposed at one opening side of the side surface section T (a side that differs from the side at which the top lid side flaps F2 are disposed). The bottom lid side flaps F1 are flaps that are folded to form a bottom lid BC of the corrugated cardboard box B. The bottom lid BC formed from the bottom lid side flaps F1 closes an opening at one side of the side surface section T (an opening of the side that is opposite the opening closed by the top lid). As illustrated in
The corrugated cardboard sheet S is the form of the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB when folded into a planar shape (see
In the corrugated cardboard sheet S, the side surface section T, which has a square tubular shape when in the form of the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB, is folded into a planar shape.
More specifically, the corrugated cardboard sheet S is in a state in which the side surface section T is largely bent along two opposing fold portions (the first fold portion X12 and the third fold portion X34). The corrugated cardboard sheet S is bent so that the angles formed by two adjacent surfaces that sandwich the first fold portion X12 and the third fold portion X34 respectively become substantially 0°. In other words, the corrugated cardboard sheet S is bent along the first fold portion X12 so that an inner wall of the first side surface T1 and an inner wall of the second side surface T2 are disposed adjacent to each other. Also, the corrugated cardboard sheet S is bent along the third fold portion X34 so that an inner wall of the third side surface T3 and an inner wall of the fourth side surface T4 are disposed adjacent to each other.
Furthermore, the corrugated cardboard sheet S is folded so that angles formed by two adjacent surfaces that sandwich the second fold portion X23 and the fourth fold portion X41 respectively become substantially 180°. In the corrugated cardboard sheet S, the second fold portion X23 is in an opened state so that the inner wall of the second side surface T2 and the inner wall of the third side surface T3 are separated from each other. In addition, in the corrugated cardboard sheet S, the fourth fold portion X41 is in an opened state so that the inner wall of the fourth side surface T4 and the inner wall of the first side surface T1 are separated from each other.
In the folded corrugated cardboard sheet S, the first side surface T1, and the flap F21 and the flap F11 connected to the first side surface T1 are disposed on the same virtual plane. In addition, the second side surface T2, and the flap F22 and the flap F12 connected to the second side surface T2 are disposed on the same virtual plane. Furthermore, the third side surface T3, and the flap F23 and the flap F13 connected to the third side surface T3 are disposed on the same virtual plane. Moreover, the fourth side surface T4, and the flap F24 and the flap F14 connected to the fourth surface T4 are disposed on the same virtual plane.
The box manufacturing system 100 is described.
The box manufacturing system 100 forms a corrugated cardboard box B with a closed bottom lid BC while moving the corrugated cardboard sheet S and the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB, and supplies the formed corrugated cardboard box B to a box packing device (not illustrated).
The sheet supply unit 70 of the box manufacturing system 100 takes out one of corrugated cardboard sheet S stacked in a stack section 71 each time (see
In the stack section 71, multiple corrugated cardboard sheets S are stacked in a state that the bottom lid side flaps F1 side is oriented downward and the top lid side flaps F2 side is oriented upward. The corrugated cardboard sheets S are stacked in the stack section 71 such that the second side surface T2 and the third side surface T3 are arranged at the back side and the first side surface T1 and the fourth side surface T4 are arranged at the front side. Also, the corrugated cardboard sheets S are stacked in the stack section 71 such that the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2 are arranged at the left side and the third side surface T3 and the fourth side surface T4 are arranged at the right side. While maintaining this posture (while maintaining a state in which the bottom lid side flaps F1 side is oriented downward, the top lid side flaps F2 side is oriented upward, the second side surface T2 and the third side surface T3 are arranged at the back side, the first side surface T1 and the fourth side surface T4 are arranged at the front side, the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2 are arranged at the left side, and the third side surface T3 and the fourth side surface T4 are arranged at the right side), the sheet supply unit 70 supplies corrugated cardboard sheets S stacked in the stack section 71 to the box-opening unit 10. Each time, the sheet supply unit 70 supplies a corrugated cardboard sheet S to the box-opening unit 10 to the same position so as not to cause the position aberration in the left-right direction.
The box-opening unit 10 unfolds the corrugated cardboard sheet S supplied by the sheet supply unit 70, and transforms the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a tubular corrugated cardboard box TB. In other words, the box-opening unit 10 transforms that folded corrugated cardboard sheet S supplied by the sheet supply unit 70 to an opened state, and forms the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB. The box-opening unit 10 moves the opened corrugated cardboard sheet S (tubular corrugated cardboard box TB) forward (see arrow D2 in
The bottom lid forming unit 80 close the bottom lid side flaps F1 and form the bottom lid BC for the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB with a flap closure mechanism (not illustrated), and thereby forms the corrugated cardboard box B in which the opening at the bottom lid BC side is closed. More specifically, the bottom lid forming unit 80 fold, with a flap closure mechanism (not illustrated), the bottom lid side flaps F1 of the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB so that the flap F12 and the flap F14 are arranged at the inside and the flap F11 and the flap F13 are arranged at the outside while moving the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB with a movement mechanism (not illustrated) (see arrow D2 in
The method for forming the bottom lid by the flap closure mechanism of the bottom lid forming unit 80 is merely an example, and it is not limited thereto. For example, the flap closure mechanism may form the bottom lid BC by folding the bottom lid side flaps F1 in an interleaved manner without using tapes. For example, more specifically, the flap closure mechanism may form the bottom lid BC by folding in the bottom lid side flaps F1 so that a portion of the flap F12 overlaps the outside of the flap F11, a portion of the flap F13 overlaps the outside of the flap F12, a portion of the flap F14 overlaps the outside of the flap F13, and a portion of the flap F11 overlaps the outside of the flap F14.
The box supply unit 90 turns, with a turning mechanism (not illustrated), the corrugated cardboard box B whose opening faces upward and which is delivered from the bottom lid forming unit 80 in the clockwise direction (see arrow D3 in
The configuration of the box supply unit 90 is an example, and it is not limited thereto. For example, instead of dropping the corrugated cardboard box B whose opening faces forward, the box supply unit 90 may move the box upward or downward with an elevator mechanism (not illustrated) to supply the corrugated cardboard box B to the box packing device (not illustrated). Also, for example, in case that the box packing device is a type of device in which articles are packed into the corrugated cardboard box B whose opening faces upward, the box supply unit 90 may supply the corrugated cardboard box B to the box packing device without turning the corrugated cardboard box B (so that the opening remains facing upward).
The control unit 60 controls each unit of the box manufacturing system 100 including the sheet supply unit 70, the box-opening unit 10, the bottom lid forming unit 80, and the box supply unit 90. The control unit 60 will be described in detail later.
The box-opening unit 10 converts the corrugated cardboard sheet S received from the sheet supply unit 70 to an opened state. In other words, the box-opening unit 10 opens the folded corrugated cardboard sheet S, and forms the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The holding mechanism 20 receives the corrugated cardboard sheet S supplied from the sheet supply unit 70, and holds the corrugated cardboard sheet S opened by the box-opening unit 10 (namely, the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB) until the opened corrugated cardboard sheet S is delivered to the bottom lid forming unit 80 for the next process.
The holding mechanism 20 includes two first suction cups 21, two second suction cups 22, a first suction drive unit 23, and a second suction drive unit 24 (see
The numbers of first suction cups 21 and second suction cups 22 presented here are merely specific examples, and the numbers are not limited thereto. The number of the first suction cups 21 and the number of the second suction cups 22 may be respectively one, three or more. In addition, the number of first suction cups 21 and the number of second suction cups 22 do not have to be the same.
The first suction drive unit 23 is a vacuum generator for suctioning air from the space between a suction attachment surface 21b (see
The second suction drive unit 24 is a vacuum generator for suctioning air from the space between a suction attachment surface 22b (see
The first suction cups 21 hold the first side surface T1 (side surface arranged at the front left side) of the folded corrugated cardboard sheet S supplied by the sheet supply unit 70 (see
The first suction cups 21 are attached to a link mechanism 31 of the below-described first holding part movement mechanism 30 (see
The first suction cups 21 are fixed at prescribed positions of the link mechanism 31 of the below-described first holding part movement mechanism 30 (see
The two first suction cups 21 are attached to the link mechanism 31 so that the first suction cups 21 stick to the first side surface T1 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S at the same height (see
The second suction cups 22 hold the second side surface T2 (side surface arranged at the back left side) adjacent to the first side surface T1 of the folded corrugated cardboard sheet S supplied by the sheet supply unit 70 (see
The second suction cups 22 are attached to an arm member 41 of the below-described second holding part movement mechanism 40 (see
In the present box-opening device 200, the first suction cups 21 contact the corrugated cardboard sheet S to change the orientation of the corrugated cardboard sheet S as described above, but such an arrangement is not provided by way of limitation. For example, the second suction cups 22 may be configured to contact the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S to change the orientation of the corrugated cardboard sheet S. For cases in which the second suction cups 22 contact the second side surface T2 to change the orientation of the corrugated cardboard sheet S, the second suction cups 22 preferably contact at positions which are lower than the center position of the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S in the height direction.
The first suction cups 22 are fixed at prescribed positions of the arm member 41 of the below-described second holding part movement mechanism 40 (see
The two second suction cups 22 are attached to the arm member 41 so that the second suction cups 22 stick to the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S at the same height (see
The first holding part movement mechanism 30 changes the orientation of the first suction cups 21 with respect to the second suction cups 22, and transforms the corrugated cardboard sheet S to an opened state.
The first holding part movement mechanism 30 primarily includes a link mechanism 31 and a link mechanism drive unit 35 (see
The link mechanism drive unit 35 is connected to the link mechanism 31, and drives the link mechanism 31. The link mechanism drive unit 35 is an air cylinder (see
The link mechanism 31 is one example of the support member. The link mechanism 31 has a plurality of links 32, and each link 32 is connected to another link through a joint (movable portion). In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
The link mechanism 31 is configured so that it can change its state between a first state such as that depicted in
When the box-opening unit 10 opens the corrugated cardboard sheet S, the rod 35a of the link mechanism drive unit 35 is driven so as to enter the cylinder 35b, and the state of the link mechanism 31 changes from the second state to the first state (see
When the state of the link mechanism 31 is changed from the second state to the first state in order for the box-opening unit 10 to open the corrugated cardboard sheet S, each first suction cup 21 rotates on an arc track about a central axis of rotation R that overlaps an imaginary line IL (see
Furthermore, when the rod 35a of the link mechanism drive unit 35 is driven so as to exit from the cylinder 35b the state of the link mechanism 31 is changed from the first state to the second state (see
In the extension direction (vertical direction in the present embodiment) of the boundary line A of the corrugated cardboard sheet S that is opened by the first holding part movement mechanism 30, the link mechanism 31 is disposed within a positional range at which the boundary line A is present. In other words, as illustrated in
The second holding part movement mechanism 40 rotates the second suction cups 22 about a prescribed rotation axis P (see
The second holding part movement mechanism 40 includes primarily the arm member 41, a turning shaft 42 coupled to the arm member 41, a bearing 43 that rotatably supports the turning shaft 42, a link 44, and an arm drive unit 45 (see
The bearing 43 rotatably supports the turning shaft 42 coupled to the arm member 41, and thereby rotatably supports the arm member 41.
The arm drive unit 45 is connected to the turning shaft 42 that is coupled to the arm member 41 through the link 44, and drives the arm member 41. The arm drive unit 45 is an air cylinder (see
The arm member 41 is a member elongating in the horizontal direction and formed in a U-shape in cross-section (see
The arm member 41 is configured so that it can change its state between a first state such as that depicted in
When the rod 45a of the arm drive unit 45 is driven so as to enter the cylinder 45b, the arm member 41 rotates about the central turning axis of the turning shaft 42 that is rotatably supported by the bearing 43, and the state of the arm member 41 changes from the first state to the second state. In addition, when the rod 45a of the arm drive unit 45 is driven so as to exit from the cylinder 45b, the arm member 41 rotates about the central turning axis of the turning shaft 42 that is rotatably supported by the bearing 43, and the state of the arm member 41 changes from the second state to the first state. When the state of the arm member 41 changes from the first state to the second state, or from the second state to the first state, the second suction cups 22 rotate approximately 90 degrees about the rotation axis P that overlaps the central turning axis of the bearing 43 (see
The movement mechanism 50 is a mechanism that moves the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40 in the front-back direction. The movement mechanism 50 moves the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB by moving the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40 while holding the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB with the first suction cups 21 and the second suction cups 22.
The movement mechanism 50 includes primarily a belt drive unit 51, the holding part movement mechanism support part 52, and a belt mechanism 53.
The first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40 are attached to the holding part movement mechanism support part 52. The holding part movement mechanism support part 52 is a member that supports the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40. The holding part movement mechanism support part 52 is coupled to the belt mechanism 53 that functions as a power transmission mechanism. When the belt mechanism 53 is driven by the belt drive unit 51, the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 moves forward and backward along the direction in which the belt of the belt mechanism 53 extends. When the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 is moved in the front-back direction, the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40 attached to the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 also move in the front-back direction. Furthermore, when the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 is moved in the front-back direction, the corrugated cardboard sheet S (including a corrugated cardboard sheet S in the opened state), held by the first suction cups 21 attached to the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second suction cups 22 attached to the second holding part movement mechanism 40, moves in the front-back direction.
More specifically, the movement mechanism 50 moves the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 forward with the belt mechanism 53, and thereby moves the corrugated cardboard sheet S (tubular corrugated cardboard box TB), which has been opened by the first holding part movement mechanism 30, forward to the bottom lid forming unit 80. Furthermore, after the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB has been delivered to the bottom lid forming unit 80, the movement mechanism 50 moves the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 rearward with the belt mechanism 53, and thereby moves the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40 rearward. More specifically, after delivering the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB to the bottom lid forming unit 80, the movement mechanism 50 moves the holding part movement mechanism support part 52, which supports the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40, rearward so that first suction cups 21 and the second suction cups 22 return to the position for receiving the corrugated cardboard sheet S supplied from the sheet supply unit 70.
In the following description, the position at which the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 is arranged in order to arrange the first suction cups 21 and the second suction cups 22 at the position for receiving a corrugated cardboard sheet S supplied from the sheet supply unit 70 is referred to as the first position. Furthermore, the position at which the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 is arranged when delivering the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB to the bottom lid forming unit 80 is referred to as the second position.
The control unit 60 is one example of a control unit for controlling the box-opening device 200. In the present embodiment, the control unit 60 controls not only the operation of the box-opening unit 10 of the box-opening device 200, but also the operations of the sheet supply unit 70, the bottom lid forming unit 80, and the box supply unit 90.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The storage unit 61 is configured from ROM, RAM, and a hard disk drive (HDD) and so on. For example, various programs executed by the control part 62 are stored in the storage unit 61. In addition, for example, various types of information, such as various parameters for control, necessary for the control part 62 to control the box manufacturing system 100 are stored in the storage unit 61.
The control part 62 is configured primarily from a CPU/CPUs. The control part 62 reads and executes a program/programs stored in the storage unit 61, and controls the operation of each constituent element of the box-opening unit 10 including the first suction drive unit 23, the second suction drive unit 24, the link mechanism drive unit 35, the arm drive unit 45, and the belt drive unit 51. The control part 62 also reads and executes a program/programs stored in the storage unit 61 to control the sheet supply unit 70, the bottom lid forming unit 80 and the box supply unit 90.
As a control of the box-opening unit 10, the control unit 60 controls, for example, the operations of the first suction drive unit 23 and the second suction drive unit 24 in order to switch between holding and releasing of the side surface section T of the corrugated cardboard sheet S by the first suction cups 21 and the second suction cups 22. In addition, for example, the control unit 60 controls the operations of the link mechanism drive unit 35 and the arm drive unit 45 in order to change the position (orientation) of the first suction cups 21 and the second suction cups 22. The control unit 60 also controls the operation of the belt drive unit 51 in order to deliver the corrugated cardboard sheet S (tubular corrugated cardboard box TB) in an opened state to the bottom lid forming unit 80. The specific control of the operation of the box-opening unit 10 by the control unit 60 will be described later.
The operation for opening the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a box using the box-opening device 200 is described while referencing the flowchart of
First, the state of each constituent element of the box-opening unit 10 before the box-opening operation is started (before the corrugated cardboard sheet S is supplied by the sheet supply unit 70) is described. Before the box-opening operation is started, the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 is arranged at the above-described first position. The link mechanism 31 is in the above-described first state. The arm member 41 is in the abovementioned first state. That is, before the box-opening operation is started, the box-opening unit 10 is in a state such as that depicted in
At first, in step 51, the sheet supply unit 70 that is controlled by the control unit 60 supplies a corrugated cardboard sheet S to the box-opening unit 10 as a preliminary step for the box-opening operation of the box-opening device 200. That is, in step S1, the sheet supply unit 70 controlled by the control unit 60 moves the corrugated cardboard sheet S to the position at which the corrugated cardboard sheet S is handed over to the box-opening unit 10.
Next, in step S2, the control unit 60 controls the link mechanism drive unit 35 of the first holding part movement mechanism 30, and changes the state of the link mechanism 31 from the first state to the second state (see
Next, in step S3, the control unit 60 operates the first suction drive unit 23 and the second suction drive unit 24 so that the first suction cups 21 stick and hold the first side surface T1 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S, and the second suction cups 22 stick and hold the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S. Note that the timing of the step S2 and timing of the step S3 may be partially or entirely overlapped.
Next, in step S4, the control unit 60 controls the link mechanism drive unit 35 of the first holding part movement mechanism 30, and changes the state of the link mechanism 31 from the second state to the first state (see
Next, in step S5, the control unit 60 operates the belt drive unit 51, and moves the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 forward from the first position to the second position. As a result, the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and the second holding part movement mechanism 40 attached to the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 also move forward. Furthermore, the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB that is held by the first suction cups 21, supported by the link mechanism 31 of the first holding part movement mechanism 30 and by the second suction cups 22 supported by the arm member 41 of the second holding part movement mechanism 40, is moved to the bottom lid forming unit 80.
Next, in step S6, the control unit 60 stops the operation of the first suction drive unit 23 and the second suction drive unit 24 so that holding of the corrugated cardboard sheet S by the first suction cups 21 and the second suction cups 22 is canceled. As a result, the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB is delivered to the bottom lid forming unit 80.
Next, in step S7, the control unit 60 controls the arm drive unit 45 of the second holding part movement mechanism 40, and changes the state of the arm member 41 from the second state to the first state.
Next, in step S8, the control unit 60 operates the belt drive unit 51, and moves the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 rearward from the second position to the first position.
The order of step S7 and step S8 may be reversed, or step S7 and step S8 may be simultaneously executed.
The abovementioned steps S1 to S8 are executed to each of the corrugated cardboard sheets S.
The box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment is provided with the first suction cups 21 as an example of the first holding part, the second suction cups 22 as an example of the second holding part, and the first holding part movement mechanism 30. The first suction cups 21 hold the first side surface T1, which is one of two adjacent surfaces (the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2) of the folded corrugated cardboard sheet S. The second suction cups 22 hold the second side surface T2, which is the other of the two adjacent surfaces of the corrugated cardboard sheet S. The first holding part movement mechanism 30 changes the position of the first suction cups 21 with respect to the second suction cups 22 and thereby transforms the corrugated cardboard sheet S to an opened state. That is, the first holding part movement mechanism 30 changes the position of the first suction cups 21 with respect to the second suction cups 22 and opens the corrugated cardboard sheet S to form the tubular corrugated cardboard box TB. The first holding part movement mechanism 30 has the link mechanism 31 as one example of the support member. The link mechanism 31 supports the first suction cups 21 so that the first suction cups 21 rotate on an arc track about the central axis of rotation R that overlaps the imaginary line IL extending along the boundary line A between the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S.
In the box-opening device illustrated in FIG. 5 of patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-6909), the central axis of rotation of a first suction pad that holds one of two adjacent surfaces of a corrugated cardboard sheet and is rotated to transform the corrugated cardboard sheet into an opened state, is not aligned with the boundary line (fold portion) between the two adjacent surfaces of the corrugated cardboard sheet. With the box-opening device illustrated in FIG. 5 of patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-6909), the fold portion between two adjacent surfaces of the corrugated cardboard sheet is arranged near a second suction pad that is separate from the central axis of rotation of the first suction pad and holds a surface that differs from a surface held by the first suction pad that is rotated in order to transform the corrugated cardboard sheet to an opened state. With such a configuration, the surface held by the rotating first suction pad cannot smoothly turn about the fold portion with respect to the surface held by the second suction pad. In other words, in the box-opening device disclosed by the patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-6909), on the surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet held by the first suction pad, a force is also applied in a direction (radial direction with respect to the boundary line (fold portion) as the central axis) that is different from the direction (circumferential direction about the boundary line as the central axis) in which the force should be applied to open the corrugated cardboard sheet into a box. Therefore, with the box-opening device of patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-6909), according to the characteristics and state of the corrugated cardboard sheet, problems, such that the corrugated cardboard sheet (corrugated cardboard box) is damaged or deformed during the sheet is opened into a box, or opening the sheet into a box is failed due to release of the holding of the corrugated cardboard sheet at an unintended timing, may occur. These types of problems tend to occur particularly in cases, for example, in which the corrugated cardboard sheet is thin and its strength is relatively low, and in which recycled corrugated cardboard sheets are used.
In contrast, with the box-opening device 200 according to the present embodiment, a force can be applied on the first side surface T1 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S held by the first suction cups 21, solely in the direction (circumferential direction with respect to the fold portion X12 as the center axis) in which a force should be applied to open the sheet into a box. Therefore, the box-opening device 200 according to the present embodiment can reliably open the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet S regardless of the characteristics and state of the corrugated cardboard sheet S.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, the central axis of rotation R is immobile during rotation of the first suction cups 21. With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, it is easy to apply a force on the first side surface T1 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S solely in the direction in which the force should be applied to open the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a box, and it is therefore easy to reliably open the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet S regardless of the characteristics and state of the corrugated cardboard sheet S.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, the distance between the central axis of rotation R and the first suction cups 21 is constant during rotation of the first suction cups 21. For example, during rotation of the first suction cup 21, a distance between the central axis of rotation R and the center 21a (see
With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, it is easy to apply a force on the first side surface T1 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S solely in the direction in which the force should be applied to open the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a box, and it is therefore easy to reliably open the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet S regardless of the characteristics and state of the corrugated cardboard sheet S.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, the link mechanism 31 is disposed within a positional range at which the boundary line A is present, in the extension direction of the boundary line A between the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S that is opened by the first holding part movement mechanism 30.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, in the extension direction (vertical direction here) of the boundary line A of the corrugated cardboard sheet S that is opened into a box, the link mechanism 31 is disposed within a positional range (height position) at which the boundary line A is present. Therefore, the box-opening device 200 (box-opening unit 10) can be made more compact in the direction along which the boundary line A of the opened corrugated cardboard sheet S extends.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, the second holding part movement mechanism 40 that rotates the second suction cups 22 about the prescribed rotation axis P is provided.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, the second suction cups 22 can also be rotated, and the second suction cups 22 can be moved with respect to the corrugated cardboard sheet S. More specifically, with the present box-opening device 200, the second suction cups 22 that are not contacting the corrugated cardboard sheet S can be rotated by the second holding part movement mechanism 40, and moved to positions at which the second suction cups 22 can hold the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S (positions at which the suction attachment surfaces 22b of the second suction cups 22 contact the second side surface T2). Therefore, with the box-opening device 200 according to the abovementioned embodiment, the corrugated cardboard sheet S to be supplied to the box-opening device 200 can be reliably held by the first suction cups 21 and the second suction cups 22.
A box-opening device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described below while referencing
With the box-opening device 200 of the first embodiment, the link mechanism 31 supports the first suction cups 21 so that the first suction cups 21 rotates on an arc around track about the central axis of rotation R that overlaps the imaginary line IL that extends along the boundary line A between the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S.
In contrast, the box-opening device 200 of the second embodiment has a first holding part movement mechanism 130 in place of the first holding part movement mechanism 30 of the first embodiment. Similar to the second holding part movement mechanism 40 of the first embodiment, the first holding part movement mechanism 130 includes primarily an arm member 131, a turning shaft 132 coupled to the arm member 131, a bearing 133 that rotatably supports the turning shaft 132, a link (not illustrated), and an arm drive unit (not illustrated) (see
The bearing 133 rotatably supports the turning shaft 132 coupled to the arm member 131, and thereby rotatably supports the arm member 131. The central turning axis of the bearing 133, or in other words, the central turning axis of the turning shaft 132 that is supported by the bearing 133, is arranged on an imaginary line IL extending along the boundary line A between the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S to be opened by the first holding part movement mechanism 130. In order to avoid contact with the corrugated cardboard sheet S that is opened by the first holding part movement mechanism 130, the bearing 133 is arranged at a position that is higher than the upper end of the corrugated cardboard sheet S (upper end of the top lid side flaps F2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S) (see
Driving of the arm member 131 by the arm drive unit is implemented in the same manner as the driving of the arm member 41 by the arm drive unit 45 in the second holding part movement mechanism 40 of the first embodiment, and therefore a description is omitted here.
The arm member 131 according to the present embodiment includes a first portion 131a extending horizontally from the turning shaft, a second portion 131b extending downward from the first portion 131a, and a third portion 131c extending horizontally from a lower end of the second portion 131b (see
The arm member 131 rotates about the central turning axis of the turning shaft 132 that is rotatably supported by the bearing 133, and thereby the first suction cups 21 attached to the third portion 131c of the arm member 131 rotate about a central axis of rotation R′ that overlaps the central turning axis of the turning shaft 132 (see
The box-opening device 200 of the second embodiment has the same characteristics as the characteristics (4-1) to (4-3) and (4-5) of the box-opening device 200 of the first embodiment.
Furthermore, the box-opening device 200 of the second embodiment also has following characteristics.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the second embodiment, the support member 135 of the first holding part movement mechanism 130 includes the arm member 131 and the bearing 133. The first suction cups 21 are attached to the arm member 131. The bearing 133 defines a central turning axis disposed on the imaginary line, and rotatably supports the arm member 131. The central turning axis of the bearing 133 is disposed on the imaginary line IL that extends along the boundary line A between the first side surface T1 and the second side surface T2 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S that is opened by the first holding part movement mechanism 130.
By adopting such a configuration, it is easy to apply a force on the first surface T1 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S solely in the direction in which the force should be applied to open the sheet into a box. In other words, a configuration such as that described above makes it easier to apply only a force that is necessary for turning the first side surface T1 around the first fold portion X12 of the corrugated cardboard sheet S on the first side surface T1. Therefore, it is easy to reliably open the corrugated cardboard sheet S into a box without damaging or deforming the corrugated cardboard sheet S.
With the box-opening device 200 according to the second embodiment, as described above, the bearing 133 of the support member 135 of the first holding part movement mechanism 130 is arranged at a position that is higher than the upper end of the corrugated cardboard sheet S to be opened, and therefore the height of the box-opening unit 10 of the box-opening device 200 tends to increase. Therefore, from the perspective of compactness of the box-opening unit 10, use of the link mechanism 31 as the support member, as with the first embodiment, is preferable.
In the abovementioned embodiments, after the corrugated cardboard sheet S is transformed to an opened state by the first holding part movement mechanism 30, 130, the opened corrugated cardboard sheet S (tubular corrugated cardboard box TB) is moved to the bottom lid forming unit 80 by the movement mechanism 50, but such an arrangement is not provided by way of limitation to the present invention. For example, the box-opening device 200 may be configured so that while the corrugated cardboard sheet S is being opened by the first holding part movement mechanism 30, 130, the movement mechanism 50 simultaneously moves the holding part movement mechanism support part 52 to thereby move the corrugated cardboard sheet S to the bottom lid forming unit 80 side.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2016-144575 | Jul 2016 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2017/023103 | 6/22/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/016264 | 1/25/2018 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6669616 | Bierenacki | Dec 2003 | B1 |
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8146972 | Petijean | Apr 2012 | B2 |
8181427 | Kobierzycki | May 2012 | B2 |
8282537 | Gebhardt | Oct 2012 | B2 |
9126380 | Dittmer | Sep 2015 | B2 |
20040110619 | Frank et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20070293383 | Gebhardt et al. | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20120122646 | Murano | May 2012 | A1 |
20130040795 | Murano | Feb 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
102574352 | Jul 2012 | CN |
204161669 | Feb 2015 | CN |
2323644 | Nov 1974 | DE |
2000-006909 | Jan 2000 | JP |
2009-012859 | Jan 2009 | JP |
2015107798 | Jul 2015 | WO |
Entry |
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The Office Action from the corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 201780040799.9 dated Jan. 6, 2020. |
The Search Report from the corresponding International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2017/023103 dated Aug. 1, 2017. |
The Preliminary Report on Patentability (with Written Opinion) from the corresponding International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2017/023103 dated Jan. 31, 2019. |
The Search Report from the corresponding European Patent Application No. 17830784.9 dated May 22, 2019. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20190184671 A1 | Jun 2019 | US |