JPH0555362B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention For example, when packaging a large number of paper containers called pack containers, which are used to hold milk or juice, a sheet made of cardboard or the like is used, and this is packed into a tray. A method is used to package a large number of paper containers by molding them into paper containers, and the packaging format (accumulation pattern) is, for example, 3 vertically and 8 horizontally (3 x 8) for a total of 24 containers, 3 vertically, 8 horizontally (3 × 8),
9 pieces horizontally (3 x 9), total 27 pieces or 3 pieces vertically, horizontally
In some cases, 10 pieces (3 x 10), a total of 30 pieces, are packaged together.

However, increasing the number of packages larger than this is not practical because the packaged items become heavier, which is inconvenient in terms of transportation, and the packaging machine becomes larger.

On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to reduce the number of stacks to a smaller value than in the above case because of the increasing capacity of filling machines and the capacity of packaging machines at present.

Despite this situation, for sales reasons, customers are purchasing a total of 12 pieces, 3 vertically and 4 horizontally (3 x 4).
Packed in a smaller stacking pattern than normal stacking patterns, such as a total of 9 pieces, 3 pieces vertically and 3 pieces horizontally (3 x 3), or a total of 15 pieces, 3 pieces vertically and 5 pieces horizontally (3 x 5). In many cases, customers would like to have their own packaging packaged.

The present invention makes it possible to divide a large number of articles into packages with a smaller accumulation pattern than in the case of 3×8, for example, when a large number of articles are packaged together using a tray sheet, and when packaging a large number of articles with a large accumulation pattern. The packaging method is made possible by using the same equipment used in the previous paper as it is, and it is possible to package smaller stacked patterns. By pulling down a flat single tray sheet formed into a sheet with a suction cup, a plurality of upwardly protruding bending plates 11a and one or more bending claws 11b come into contact with the bending portion of the tray sheet. Fold the tray sheet and mark each cut line c.
On the other hand, the articles flowing on the conveyor 1 for conveying articles are divided and accumulated into a plurality of article groups by the pusher 3 and the receiving plate 7 with the partition plate 4 in between. The article group is stored in each of the plurality of concave cavities d, and the feature of this device is that the conveyor 1 is placed in front of the conveyor 1 for conveying the articles. A pusher 3 for pushing articles that operates in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the pusher 3 is provided, and a receiving plate that moves to follow the movement of the articles pushed by the pusher 3 is provided in the article accumulation P in front of the pusher 3. 7, a partition plate 4 that moves in the vertical direction and moves to follow the movement of the article pushed by the pusher 3;
A pusher 8 for pushing out articles that operates in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction of the pusher 3 is provided, and one or more recesses d are provided in front of the pusher 8 to the side of the article accumulating section P. A bent plate 1 that protrudes upward in order to be molded into a shape with
A flap folding device 11 having a folding claw 1a and a folding claw 11b is provided, and a group of articles divided and stacked into a plurality of pieces across the partition plate 4 is folded into the flap folding device 11.
The point is to insert it into a plurality of recesses d formed by.

An embodiment of the group packaging method according to the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings.

Figure 8 shows the most common packaging form for a total of 24 articles A, for example, 3 vertically and 8 horizontally (3x8); in this case, the packaging is as shown in Figure 9. A tray sheet b ₁ is used, which is folded from each fold line to form tray B ₁ .

FIG. 10 shows the same number of articles A packaged by the packaging method of the present invention, in which case a tray sheet _b2 as shown in FIG. 11 is used. This tray sheet b ₂ is an individual tray sheet for packaging 3 x 4 items together.
b' and b' are arranged side by side through one cutting line c, and this one tray sheet b ₂ is
As shown in the figure, two concave holes d for storing goods are made on the left and right in one tray through one cutting line c.
A tray B 2 is formed by storing 3×4 articles A in both concave cavities d and d, and then folding the inner flap h and the outer flap g sequentially to form a tray B ₂ as shown in FIG. do. In this way, the 3 x 8 items are divided into two groups of 3 x 4 items and packaged on one tray, and the items can be handled as they are or separated from the cutting line c as needed. It can be sold separately.

In addition, Fig. 13 shows, for example, 3 vertically and 9 horizontally (3
This shows the most common packaging form for a total of 27 articles A (x9), in which case a tray sheet _B3 as shown in Figure 14 is used, which is folded along each fold line. Bend it to make tray sheet B ₃ .

FIG. 15 shows the same number of articles A packaged by the packaging method of the present invention, in which case a tray sheet _b4 as shown in FIG. 16 is used. This tray sheet b ₄ is an individual tray sheet for packaging 3 x 3 items in one package.
B'' are arranged in a row through two cutting lines c, and this one tray sheet _b4 is bent as shown in Fig. 17 to store three items in one tray. A recess d is formed, 3×3 articles A are stored in each recess d, and the rear inner flap h
Then, the outer flaps g are sequentially bent to form a tray sheet _B4 as shown in FIG. In this way, the 3 x 9 items are divided into three groups of 3 x 3 items and packaged on one tray, and can be handled as is or separated from the cutting line c as needed. It can be sold individually or divided into three pieces.

In this way, when a large number of items A are packaged together, even if the number of items is the same, they are divided into groups and stored in one tray, so it is possible to create smaller accumulation patterns as needed. It can be divided into packages, making it easier to handle during transportation, sales, etc.

Next, an embodiment of the packaging device according to the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings. In the embodiment, a case will be described in which 3×8 articles are divided into two groups of 3×4 articles and packaged on one tray.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right vertical belts 2, 2 are provided at the front end of a constantly driven conveyor 1 for transporting articles. The vertical belts 2, 2 are driven intermittently, and the articles A carried on the conveyor 1 are sent forward, for example, in groups of three.

A pusher 3 is provided in front of the vertical belts 2, 2, and by operating in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the conveyor 1, the article A
Push out three pieces forward (to the right in Figure 1). This position p is the article accumulation section, and there are second and third
As shown in the figure, one partition plate 4 is arranged perpendicularly to the operating direction of the pusher 3 (the left-right direction in Fig. 1), and a receiving plate is arranged on the right side of the partition plate 4 and parallel to the partition plate 4. A plate 7 and a pusher 8 for pushing out the accumulated articles to the side (downward in FIG. 1) are each provided. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the partition plate 4 is associated with two cylinders 5 and 6, and is advanced toward the pusher 3 by the operation of the cylinder 5, and is gradually closed by the exhaust pressure of the cylinder 5. fall back. Furthermore, due to the operation of the cylinder 6, the partition plate 4 lies horizontally as shown by the two-dot chain line 4' in FIG.

On the other hand, the receiving plate 7 advances toward the pusher 3 due to the operation of the cylinder 7a, and gradually retreats due to the exhaust pressure of the cylinder 7a.

To explain the accumulation of articles by the pusher 3, the partition plate 4, and the receiving plate 7, as shown in FIG. wait for it to come. In this case, the piston rod of the cylinder 5 is protruding and the partition plate 4 is raised and in a lying state.

The pusher 3 operates to push a set of three articles forward (to the right in Figures 1, 2, and 7). At this time, the receiving plate 7 receives this group of articles so that they do not fall.
By repeating this action four times, Figure 7c
As shown in the figure, four groups of three articles (12 groups in total) are stacked one after the other. In addition, Pushya 3
Each time a group of three articles is pushed out, the receiving plate 7 follows the movement of the articles and retreats one step at a time by the exhaust pressure of the cylinder 7a.

At the moment when four sets of three articles (total 12 articles) are stacked in the front and back, the cylinder 6 is actuated and its piston rod protrudes, and the partition plate 4 is lowered as shown by the chain line in Figure 7c. It is applied to the rear end face of a group of 12 accumulated items.

Then, the pusher 3 operates again and pushes the group of three items forward, but the previous stacked items12
As shown in FIG. 7d, a partition plate 4 is inserted between the group of articles and the group of articles to be accumulated this time, and the reciprocating movement of the pusher 3 As shown in Figure e, a total of 12 groups of articles are accumulated on the left side of the partition plate 4.

Note that each time a set of three articles is pushed into the left side of the partition plate 4 by the pusher 3, the piston rods of the cylinders 5 and 7a follow the movement of the articles and retreat one step at a time. 4 and the receiving plate 7 follow the movement of the article and retreat one step at a time.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, two groups of 3×4 articles are accumulated in the article accumulation section p with the partition plate 4 in between.

At this moment, the pusher 8 is actuated to push out the two groups of accumulated articles to the side. Note that when the pusher 8 returns to its original position, the cylinders 5, 6, 7a
The partition plate 4 and the receiving plate 7 are operated as shown in Fig. 7a.
The system returns to the previous state and waits for the next collection operation.

By repeating this operation, it is possible to accumulate two sets of 3×4 articles across the partition plate 4 and discharge them to the side. In the above case, the partition plate 4 etc. was operated to accumulate two groups of 3×4 articles on one tray, but
By changing the switch, the timing of operation of the cylinder 6 that moves the partition plate 4 up and down, or by not operating it at all, the accumulation pattern of articles can be easily changed.

A tray sheet folding device as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is provided on the side of the article stacking section p. This tray sheet folding device consists of a tray sheet lowering device 10 located inside a feeder 9 for transporting tray sheets, and a flap folding device 11.
The tray sheet lowering device 10 is composed of, for example, a pair of left and right suction cups, and lowers the tray sheets _b2 stacked above the feeder 9 one by one, starting from the one at the bottom, by the operation of a cylinder 10a. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the flap bending device 11 has two left and right bending plates 11a, 11a and a bending claw 11b located between them, each of which protrudes upward. cylinder 1
The tray sheet b can be moved up and down by the operation of the tray sheet b. ₂
The left and right outer flaps e, e and the bending flaps f, f, which are connected via the cutoff line c, are respectively bent as shown in FIG. Mold into a shape with d.

A group of 3×4 articles accumulated in the article accumulating portion p is neatly pushed by the pusher 8 into both the concave cavities d and d of the tray sheet b' ₂ formed in this manner. When the feeder 9 is driven, its claws 9a push the tray sheet _b'2 to the left in FIG.

During this conveyance, adhesive 1 is applied to the four unbent outer flaps g by the adhesive applicator 12.
3 is applied, and this tray sheet is pushed onto the discharge feeder 14. The discharge feeder 14 is driven (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1) to move forward, but in the middle of the movement, each inner flap h and outer flap g are bent by a flap bending device (not shown), and the 10th flap It is formed into a complete tray B ₂ as shown in the figure and discharged.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the tray sheet lowering device 10 is located within the frame of the flap folding device 11, and there is no problem in its vertical movement.

When packaging with the tray sheet b ₁ shown in FIG. 9 and the tray sheet b ₃ shown in FIG. Showing tray sheet b ₄
When packaging with a flap folding device 11
There are two left and right bending plates 11a and two bending claws 1.
1b, a flap folding device with a different number of folding plates and folding claws depending on the shape of the tray sheet is used, and a tray sheet lowering device is used depending on the shape of the tray sheet. 10 different numbers of suction cups, 2 left and right bending plates 1
1a and the bending claw 11b are made to move up and down independently by separate cylinders,
If each cylinder is activated or deactivated by switching a switch, packaging can be performed using tray sheets of various shapes.

According to the group packaging apparatus according to the present invention, a recess for storing articles is formed by folding the flap of one tray sheet, and a group of articles grouped by a predetermined number is assembled in the recess. Since each tray sheet can be automatically stored, it is possible to efficiently package articles using tray sheets without reducing the capacity of the packaging machine. Furthermore, by using tray sheets of different shapes, even if the number of articles to be packaged is the same, it is possible to package the articles in a smaller accumulation pattern.

Although the packages shown in FIGS. 8, 10, 13, and 15 may be shipped as they are, they may be wrapped with a polyethylene film and shrink-wrapped. In this case, it is advisable to make perforations in advance in the film along the perforation line c of the tray sheet so that there is no problem when dividing the film into two or more pieces.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a plan view of the entire collective packaging device, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged plan views showing the article accumulation mechanism that is a part thereof, and The front view, FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are an enlarged front view, an enlarged side view, and an enlarged plan view showing the tray sheet flap folding mechanism, and FIGS. 7 a to 7 e show the operation of the article accumulation mechanism FIG. 8 is a front view showing the state in the order of steps; FIG.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a tray sheet used in that case, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the entire package in which 3×8 articles are packaged by the packaging method of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of a tray sheet used in that case. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the tray sheet used, FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the state of the tray sheet in the middle of folding, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the tray sheet used in that case, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the entire package in which 3×9 articles are packaged by the packaging method of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a plan view of the tray sheet used in that case. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the tray sheet used in this case, and a perspective view showing the tray sheet in the middle of being folded. 1... Conveyor, 2... Vertical belt, 3
... Pusher, 4 ... Partition plate, 5, 6 ... Cylinder, 7 ... Reception plate, 7a ... Cylinder, 8 ...
...pusher, 9...feeder, 9a...claw,
10... Tray sheet lowering device, 10a... Cylinder, 11... Flap folding device, 11a...
Bending plate, 11b...Bending claw, 11c...Cylinder, 12...Adhesive applicator, 14...Discharge feeder, A...Article, _B1 , _B2 , _B3 , _B4 ...Tray, b ₁ , b ₂ , b ₃ , b ₄ ... tray sheet, c ... cutoff line, d ... recess, e ... outer flap, f ... bending flap, g ... outer flap, h ... inner Flap.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of upwardly protruding folds are formed by pulling down a single flat tray sheet, on which individual tray sheets are formed on the left and right sides of one or more cutting lines C, with a suction cup. Plate 11a and one or more bending claws 11
b comes into contact with the bending point of the tray sheet and bends the tray sheet to form a plurality of recesses d with each cut line c as a boundary, while the conveyor 1 for conveying the article
The pusher 3 and the receiving plate 7
A group packaging method using a tray sheet, characterized in that the articles are divided and stacked into a plurality of groups with a partition plate 4 in between, and the group of articles is stored in each of the plurality of concave cavities d. 2. In front of the conveyor 1 for conveying articles, there is provided a pusher 3 for pushing articles that operates in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the conveyor 1. A receiving plate 7 moves to follow the movement of the object being pushed, and a pusher 3 moves vertically.
A partition plate 4 that moves to follow the movement of the articles pushed by the pusher 3 and a pusher 8 for pushing out articles that operate in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction of the pusher 3 are provided, and an article accumulation section that is in front of the pusher 8 is provided. A flap folding device 11 is provided on the side of P, which has a folding plate 11a projecting upward and a folding claw 11b for shaping the tray sheet into a shape having one or more concave holes d. A collective packaging device using a tray sheet, characterized in that a group of articles divided and stacked into a plurality of pieces across the partition plate 4 is inserted into a plurality of concave cavities d formed by the flap folding device 11.