Abstract: A box packing apparatus is equipped with a first conveyor, a parallel link robot, and a flap folding mechanism. The first conveyor conveys an article. The parallel link robot takes hold of the article on the first conveyor and carries it into a cardboard box that has an upper opening. The flap folding mechanism folds open to the outside of the upper opening at least one of plural cover flaps of the cardboard box that are located around the upper opening.

Abstract: A light projection system is a light projection system projecting light on a plurality of processing apparatuses installed in a factory, and includes an acquisition unit acquiring, from each of the processing apparatuses, state information indicating abnormality in the processing apparatus, a light emission unit capable of projecting the light on each of the processing apparatuses, and a projection controller controlling a mode of the light projected from the light emission unit such that the mode of the light reflected from each of the processing apparatuses is changed, on the basis of the state information indicating abnormality.

Abstract: There is provided a lifting apparatus (16) comprising a lifting frame (16a) configured to be mechanically coupled to a packaging machine (12), and configured to couple with a feed device (14), wherein the lifting frame (16a) is configured to translate, raise and lower the feed device (14) relative to the packaging machine (12), and a packaging system comprising a packaging machine (12) with said lifting apparatus (16) wherein said packaging machine (12) is configured to detachably couple to a feed device (14), wherein the mass of the packaging machine (12) acts to counterbalance at least a portion of the mass of the feed device (14) whilst the feed device (14) is being translated, raised or lowered relative to the packaging machine (12). There is further provided methods of operating said packaging system for installing to and removing from the packaging machine (12) the feed device (14).

Abstract: A cardboard box erector that folds four flaps provided on edges of an opening of a cardboard box so as to surround the opening is disclosed. The four flaps include a locking flap folded last among the four flaps. The cardboard box erector includes a folding unit configured to fold each of the four flaps in a predetermined order to close the opening, and a pushing unit configured to perform an action to push the locking flap inside the cardboard box and pull the locking flap back. The pushing unit has a suction unit configured to such and hold the locking flap.

Abstract: A bag-making and packaging machine has a film supply unit that supplies film to a bag-making and packaging unit. The film supply unit has holding mechanisms each having a shaft that holds a film roll, a holding mechanism support frame supporting the holding mechanisms, a moving mechanism that rotates the holding mechanism support frame to move each holding mechanism between a film roll setting position and a film supply position, a splicing mechanism splicing a trailing end portion of the film of the roll of one of the holding mechanisms and a leading end portion of the film of the roll of another one of the holding mechanisms, and a film drawing mechanism that rotates the shafts of the holding mechanisms to draw the film independently from the film rolls attached to the shafts of the holding mechanisms and changes the drawing speed of the film during bag-making and packaging.

Abstract: A weighing and packaging system includes a plurality of weighing machines, a plurality of packaging machines, and a control unit. The plurality of weighing machines are configured to weigh articles supplied thereto. The plurality of packaging machines, each of which forms a weighing and packaging unit with a corresponding weighing machine among the plurality of weighing machines, are configured to receive a supply of the articles weighed and discharged by the corresponding weighing machine, and package the articles supplied thereto. The control unit is configured to, in a case where a problem occurs in at least one of weighing by the weighing machine and packaging by the packaging machine in any of the weighing and packaging units, change processing capacities of the weighing machine and the packaging machine of at least some of the weighing and packaging units other than the weighing and packaging units in which the problem occurs.

Abstract: An image generation device comprising: an image acquiring unit configured to acquire a set of a first non-defective-product image and a second non-defective-product image for the same article to be inspected; a first processing unit configured to change a pixel value of a first target pixel that is at least one pixel forming the first non-defective-product image, thereby generating a first virtual defective-product image that is the virtual defective-product image; and a second processing unit configured to change a pixel value of a second target pixel that corresponds to the first target pixel and is at least one pixel forming the second non-defective-product image, thereby generating a second virtual defective-product image that is the virtual defective-product image.

Abstract: An X-ray inspection device is configured to prevent water from flowing into areas of the X-ray inspection device during a washing operation. The X-ray inspection device is provided with an X-ray emitter, a cooler, a cooler cover, and an opening/closing member. The cooler cools the X-ray emitter. The cooler cover covers the cooler. Openings are formed in the cooler cover and, when open, provide interior-exterior air flow communication when the cooler is cooling the X-ray inspection device. An opening/closing member is configured for movement between an open orientation opening the opening and a closed orientation closing the openings formed in the cooler cover.

Abstract: A bag-making and packaging machine packages, in bags made from a film, articles discharged and dropped from an article discharge apparatus. The bag-making and packaging machine has a transverse sealing mechanism, a receiving member, a vertical moving mechanism, and a control unit. The transverse sealing mechanism transversely seals a film tube. The receiving member contacts an outer surface of the film tube above the transverse sealing mechanism and receives the articles A that drop through the inside of the film tube. The vertical moving mechanism moves the transverse sealing mechanism and the receiving member in the up and down direction. The control unit switches between a first mode and a second mode. In the second mode, the receiving member contacts the outer surface of the film tube at a lower height position than in the first mode.

Abstract: An X-ray inspection apparatus 1 includes a calculation unit that calculates a luminance conversion function of matching or approximating a first output value of a first element 11a based on a first transmission image G1 to a second output value of a second element 12a based on a second transmission image G2 of the second element disposed to face the first element 11a, for each of a plurality of the first elements 11a and a plurality of the second elements 12a; and a correction unit that corrects at least one of the first output value of each of the first elements 11a and the second output value of each of the second elements 12a based on the luminance conversion function calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: A load cell unit includes: a load cell that is provided with a distortional member including a free-end block, a fixed-end block, an upper beam portion connecting an upper end of the free-end block and an upper end of the fixed-end block, and a lower beam portion connecting a lower end of the free-end block and a lower end of the fixed-end block; a first temperature sensor that is disposed at the upper beam portion or the lower beam portion; and a second temperature sensor that is disposed at one of the free-end block and the fixed-end block.

Abstract: A weighing mechanism (1) includes: a hopper (105) configured to store an article; a hanger (2) on which the hopper is hung; a mass weighing instrument (3) configured to weigh the article stored in the hopper; a connection member (4) that connects the hanger and the mass weighing instrument; a main body member (6) having a through hole (5) through which the connection member penetrates; a diaphragm (7) that connects an outer edge of the connection member and an inner edge of the through hole of the main body member; and a waterproof cover (8) that covers at least part of the through hole between the diaphragm and the hanger. The waterproof cover is detachably attached only to the hanger among the main body member and the hanger.

Abstract: A combination weighing apparatus includes a combination weighing unit configured to store articles supplied from outside into each of a plurality of weighing hoppers, to select a combination of measured values from a plurality of measured values of the articles corresponding to each of the weighing hoppers such that a total value results in a target measured value, and to cause the hoppers corresponding to the combination to discharge the articles, in which a discharge chute that receives the articles discharged from the combination weighing unit and that supplies the articles to a processing device for a subsequent process is provided, and the discharge chute is provided to be movable between a first position where the discharge chute receives the articles discharged from the combination weighing unit and a second position where the discharge chute is made to be detachable from a frame supporting the combination weighing unit.

Abstract: Problem It is an object of the present invention to provide an article discharge system that can efficiently perform the operation of discharging articles. Solution An article discharge system 100 pulls out and discharges some articles A from an article group A1 disposed in a placement unit 50. The article discharge system includes plural grippers 30, weight acquisition units 40, and a control unit 70. The grippers grip the articles. The weight acquisition units acquire weight values of the articles that each of the plural grippers grips. The control unit causes the plural grippers to grip the some articles from the article group disposed in the placement unit and, based on the result of a combination calculation using the weight values of the articles that each of the plural grippers grips, causes a predetermined combination of the grippers to release and discharge the articles.

Abstract: A conveyance mechanism (1) includes: a trough (10) that conveys an article; a support member (20) to which the trough is detachably coupled, the support member including a vibrator that vibrates the trough; and a coupling member (30) that couples the trough and the support member. The trough includes a first abutting member (11) that is located on a back side of a conveyance face for conveyance of the article and abuts on the support member. The support member includes a second abutting member (21) that is plate-shaped and has a second circumferential edge (22) vertically identical to a first circumferential edge (12) that is a circumferential edge of the first abutting member. The coupling member couples the trough and the support member by fastening the first abutting member and the second abutting member with the first circumferential edge and the second circumferential edge in superposition. The second abutting member (21) is provided with a through hole (23) passing through the second abutting member.

Abstract: A conveyance mechanism (1) includes: a conveyance face (10) for conveyance of a plurality of articles having adhesion. The conveyance face includes: a first conveyance face (11); a second conveyance face (12) disposed downstream (D2) of the first conveyance face (11) in a conveyance direction (MD); and a protrusion (15) disposed between the first conveyance face and the second conveyance face, the protrusion protruding to space in which the plurality of articles glides. The protrusion protrudes beyond a first extension line (FL1) extending downstream in the conveyance direction along the first conveyance face, and protrudes beyond a second extension line (FL2) extending upstream in the conveyance direction along the second conveyance face.

Abstract: A case forming, packing, and sealing apparatus is disclosed. The case forming, packing, and sealing apparatus includes a cardboard box handling area and a product handling area. In the cardboard box handling area, case forming sheets including flatly collapsed cardboard boxes are erected into boxes that has openings which open in one direction, products are received into the boxes, and thereafter the openings are closed and sealed. In the product handling area, plural products are aligned and a predetermined quantity of the products are pushed in an accumulated state through the openings into the boxes. The cardboard box handling area and the product handling area are interconnected in a state in which they are mutually independently separable.

Abstract: An article accumulating apparatus that uses a robot to transfer to a predetermined location and accumulate an article conveyed thereto is disclosed. The article accumulating apparatus includes a conveyance unit, an accumulation unit, and a discharge unit. The conveyance unit is configured to convey the article. The accumulation unit is disposed in series with the conveyance unit and is configured to accumulate the article. The discharge unit is configured to discharge the article in the conveyance unit to an area outside the accumulation unit. The discharge unit is disposed in a robot movable range that is a range in which the robot holds and transfers the article to the accumulation unit.

Abstract: A product candidate presentation system (10) presents candidates of a product in order to allow a user to make a selection on the basis of a captured image of the product. The product candidate presentation system (10) comprises an acquisition part (13), an estimation part (14), a storage part (12), and a presentation part (15). The acquisition part (13) acquires an image of the product. The estimation part (14) estimates candidates of the product from a product group on the basis of the image. The storage part (12) stores products selected from the product group in the past as selection information. The presentation part (15) sorts candidates of the product estimated by the estimation part (14) as a first candidate group, sorts candidates of the product as a second candidate group on the basis of the selection information, and presents the first candidate group and the second candidate group.

Abstract: A product weight calculation system includes an accommodation section, a door portion that switches between a closed state and an open state, a weight detector that detects a weight of the products accommodated in the accommodation section and outputs an output value, a door detector that detects a state of the door portion, and a product weight calculation unit that calculates a weight value of a product taken out from the accommodation section based on a difference between a first output value and a second output value when an output value of the weight detector decreases from the first output value and becomes the second output value in a case where it is determined from a detection result of the door detector that the door portion is transitioned from the open state to the closed state, and sets an output value after the calculation as a new first output value.