Abstract: A box forming apparatus includes first holders configured to hold a first side surface of a cardboard sheet, second holders configured to hold a second side surface of the cardboard sheet, an arm, a first mover, and a second mover. The arm has a support that supports the first and the second holders. The first mover changes a position of the first holders relative to the second holders while the arm is being rotated to open the cardboard sheet. The second mover moves the arm in association with opening of the cardboard sheet so that, when the cardboard sheet has been opened, the second mover will have moved the support a predetermined distance in a second direction opposite a first direction, which is a direction heading from a rotational center of the arm to a distal end of the arm.

Abstract: A box packing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a group of articles arranged in a state in which at least some of the articles overlap with each other to a predetermined position, a holding unit configured to hold a cardboard box having an opening with long sides and short sides, and a transfer unit configured to transfer the group of articles from the predetermined position into the cardboard box. The holding unit can hold the cardboard box in a first posture in which the long side is located downward and the opening is directed laterally. The transfer unit transfers the group of articles in a state in which rows of the group of articles are arranged in a row along the long side of the cardboard box.

Abstract: A box forming apparatus includes first holders configured to hold a first side surface of a cardboard sheet, second holders configured to hold a second side surface of the cardboard sheet, an arm, a first mover, and a second mover. The arm has a support that supports the first and the second holders. The first mover changes a position of the first holders relative to the second holders while the arm is being rotated to open the cardboard sheet. The second mover moves the arm in association with opening of the cardboard sheet so that, when the cardboard sheet has been opened, the second mover will have moved the support a predetermined distance in a second direction opposite a first direction, which is a direction heading from a rotational center of the arm to a distal end of the arm.

Abstract: A box-opening device is disclosed. The box-opening device includes a first holding part that holds a first surface and a second holding part that holds a second surface. The first surface is one of two adjacent surfaces of a folded corrugated cardboard sheet, and the second surface is the other of the two adjacent surfaces of the corrugated cardboard sheet. The box-opening device also includes a first holding part movement mechanism which 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 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.

Abstract: A box moving device is disclosed. The box moving device changes the position of a box having four side surfaces. The box moving device is equipped with a conveyor and a movement control unit. The movement control unit drives the conveyor to cause the box to move from a first position to a second position. The conveyor can alternately switch between a first state, in which it is contracted along a moving direction of the box, and a second state, in which it is extended along the moving direction of the box. The movement control unit causes the box to move from the first position to the second position by driving the conveyor that is in a holding mode in which it holds at least one of the side surfaces of the box and simultaneously switching the conveyor from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A packing apparatus includes a sealing mechanism, a timing sensing section, and a control section. The sealing mechanism affixes tape continuously on portions of a cardboard box transported with major flaps thereof folded. The sealing mechanism includes an affixing roller to press the tape against a first side surface and the major flaps. The timing sensing section senses the timing at which the affixing of the tape on the first side surface is initiated. The control section controls pressing force exerted by the affixing roller, based on a result of the sensing performed by the timing sensing section, in such a way that the pressing force is reduced after the affixing of the tape on the first side surface is initiated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article alignment device that can inhibit posture disorderliness when articles land on a conveyor belt. The posture of bags when the bags transfer from an input conveyor to a first aligning conveyor is inclined in such a way that the portions of the bags that land on bags already placed on the first aligning conveyor are higher and the portions of the bags that land directly on the first aligning conveyor are lower, so the bags land on the first aligning conveyor before or at the same time that they contact the bags that were placed on the first aligning conveyor before them. Additionally, the frictional force between the first aligning conveyor and the bags is greater than the frictional force between the bags, so sliding between the bags is prevented, as is posture disorderliness.

Abstract: A box moving device is disclosed. The box moving device changes the position of a box having four side surfaces. The box moving device is equipped with a conveyor and a movement control unit. The movement control unit drives the conveyor to cause the box to move from a first position to a second position. The conveyor can alternately switch between a first state, in which it is contracted along a moving direction of the box, and a second state, in which it is extended along the moving direction of the box. The movement control unit causes the box to move from the first position to the second position by driving the conveyor that is in a holding mode in which it holds at least one of the side surfaces of the box and simultaneously switching the conveyor from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A box-opening device is disclosed. The box-opening device includes a first holding part that holds a first surface and a second holding part that holds a second surface. The first surface is one of two adjacent surfaces of a folded corrugated cardboard sheet, and the second surface is the other of the two adjacent surfaces of the corrugated cardboard sheet. The box-opening device also includes a first holding part movement mechanism which 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 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.

Abstract: A packing apparatus includes a sealing mechanism, a timing sensing section, and a control section. The sealing mechanism affixes tape continuously on portions of a cardboard box transported with major flaps thereof folded. The sealing mechanism includes an affixing roller to press the tape against a first side surface and the major flaps. The timing sensing section senses the timing at which the affixing of the tape on the first side surface is initiated. The control section controls pressing force exerted by the affixing roller, based on a result of the sensing performed by the timing sensing section, in such a way that the pressing force is reduced after the affixing of the tape on the first side surface is initiated.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus is disclosed which includes a delivery device that delivers an article supplied in a horizontal position from a conveyor to an accumulation and conveyance apparatus, and delivery tables which receive the article and move the same to a standing position by rotating to the standing position, and which also deliver the article while orderly placing the same from front to rear in a bucket by moving forward; and a drive unit comprising a synchronous pulley, a synchronous timing belt, and a motor, which rotate and move the delivery tables in synchronization with the movement of the bucket. In addition, a rotation shaft, which is a rotation support point of the delivery table, is located above a lower end portion of the delivery table in the standing position.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus is disclosed which includes a delivery device that delivers an article supplied in a horizontal position from a conveyor to an accumulation and conveyance apparatus, and delivery tables which receive the article and move the same to a standing position by rotating to the standing position, and which also deliver the article while orderly placing the same from front to rear in a bucket by moving forward; and a drive unit comprising a synchronous pulley, a synchronous timing belt, and a motor, which rotate and move the delivery tables in synchronization with the movement of the bucket. In addition, a rotation shaft, which is a rotation support point of the delivery table, is located above a lower end portion of the delivery table in the standing position.

Abstract: In a product supply apparatus 3 for successively receiving products X, transported from a previous processing station, and then supplying them towards a quality inspecting machine 4 positioned downstream thereof, there is provided upper and lower conveyors 33 and 35 for transporting the products X successively while sandwiching the products X from above and below; a photo-sensor 38 for detecting each of the products X; and a control unit 40 for controlling a motor 37, adapted to drive the conveyors 33 and 35, based on a result of detection by the photo-sensor 38 to adjust an interval between the forward and rearward neighboring products X and X to a target interval. Since simultaneously with adjustment of the interval while the product X is transported the product X is sandwiched from above and below by the conveyors 33 and 35, it is possible for the product X to be pressed by respective belts 33c and 35j of the conveyors 33 and 35 to flatten.

Abstract: The present invention provides a first transfer unit instead of a stationary chute. The first drive unit drives the first transfer unit and is controlled to maintain a bag ejection interval or bag posture. Thus, variation of the bag-to-bag pitch and bag posture even in a high-speed operation with an improved bag-forming capacity is prevented.

Abstract: In a product supply apparatus 3 for successively receiving products X, transported from a previous processing station, and then supplying them towards a quality inspecting machine 4 positioned downstream thereof, there is provided upper and lower conveyors 33 and 35 for transporting the products X successively while sandwiching the products X from above and below; a photo-sensor 38 for detecting each of the products X; and a control unit 40 for controlling a motor 37, adapted to drive the conveyors 33 and 35, based on a result of detection by the photo-sensor 38 to adjust an interval between the forward and rearward neighboring products X and X to a target interval. Since simultaneously with adjustment of the interval while the product X is transported the product X is sandwiched from above and below by the conveyors 33 and 35, it is possible for the product X to be pressed by respective belts 33c and 35j of the conveyors 33 and 35 to flatten.

Abstract: The present invention provides a first transfer unit instead of a stationary chute. The first drive unit drives the first transfer unit and is controlled to maintain a bag ejection interval or bag posture. Thus, variation of the bag-to-bag pitch and bag posture even in a high-speed operation with an improved bag-forming capacity is prevented.

Abstract: Two thin walled strain generating areas are provided in each of upper and lower two beams provided between a fixed rigid body and a movable rigid body. The strain generating area of the upper beam is adapted to have a convex-shaped cross section such that the neutral plane which develops no strain in response to a bending moment acting on the strain generating area is spaced from the top surface by a distance unequal to that from the bottom surface. In addition, a strain detecting element is provided on the top surface which is more remote from the neutral plane than the bottom surface.