BAGGING APPARATUS
A support has a loading surface that is formed for placement of a merchandise. A guide is disposed around the support and along an outer circumference of the loading surface. A drive unit changes a disposition of a main mechanical unit from a first disposition to a second disposition. A level of the support relative to the guide in the second disposition is lower than the level of the support relative to the guide in the first disposition. The main mechanical unit in the first disposition supports a bottom of a bag with the loading surface, while the bag with a bag mouth facing downward is put on the support and the guide from above. The main mechanical unit puts the merchandise into the bag by allowing a side periphery of the bag contiguous to the bottom of the bag to stand upward from the bottom of the bag via the guide by changing the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
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The present invention relates to bagging apparatuses, and particularly to a bagging apparatus for putting a merchandise into a bag.
BACKGROUND ARTA conventionally known automatic checkout system is used to sell a merchandise without cashier (as is disclosed in PTL 1). In the system described in PTL 1, a scanner reads a merchandise that is put on a plate through an input port. After that, the merchandise on the plate drops into a container basket from a discharge port.
CITATION LIST Patent LiteraturePTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H06-266958
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the system described in PTL 1, every merchandise drops into the container basket from the discharge port. This configuration can disadvantageously increase impact exerted on the merchandise compared to cases in which a person puts the merchandise into a bag such as a shopping bag, i.e. a person bags the merchandise.
In view of the problem described above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a bagging apparatus that can lessen impact exerted on a merchandise.
A bagging apparatus according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a main mechanical unit and a drive unit. The main mechanical unit includes: a support having a loading surface that is formed for placement of a merchandise; and a guide disposed around the support and along an outer circumference of the loading surface. The drive unit moves at least one of the support and the guide so as to change a disposition of the main mechanical unit from a first disposition to a second disposition. A level of the support relative to the guide in the second disposition is lower than the level of the support relative to the guide in the first disposition. The main mechanical unit in the first disposition supports a bottom of a bag with the loading surface, while the bag with a bag mouth facing downward is put on the support and the guide from above. The main mechanical unit puts the merchandise into the bag by allowing a side periphery of the bag contiguous to the bottom of the bag to stand upward from the bottom of the bag via the guide by changing the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
A bagging apparatus of a second aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the first aspect, wherein the drive unit is preferably configured to move only the support downward in the main mechanical unit so as to change the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
A bagging apparatus of a third aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the first or second aspect, wherein the main mechanical unit preferably further includes a holding mechanism to hold the bottom of the bag in place on the loading surface.
A bagging apparatus of a fourth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the main mechanical unit in the second disposition is preferably configured such that a level difference between the loading surface and an upper end face of the guide is greater than or equal to a total length of the bag in a vertical direction.
A bagging apparatus of a fifth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the loading surface is preferably quadrangular.
A bagging apparatus of a sixth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the guide is preferably shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, and the support is preferably configured to move relative to the guide in a space enclosed with the guide.
A bagging apparatus of a seventh aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the sixth aspect, wherein an inner circumference of an upper end face of the guide is preferably similar in shape to the outer circumference of the loading surface.
A bagging apparatus of an eighth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the upper end face of the guide preferably forms a bend projecting upward.
A bagging apparatus of a ninth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the upper end face of the guide preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the loading surface.
A bagging apparatus of a tenth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to ninth aspects and preferably further includes a bag supply mechanism to put the bag with the bag mouth facing downward on the main mechanical unit in the first disposition.
According to the present disclosure, the support moves downward relative to the guide such that the bag put on the support and the guide is drawn inside the guide. At the same time, the side periphery of the bag stands up owing to the guide around the support and thus the merchandise placed on the loading surface is put into the bag. This configuration is advantageous in that the bagging apparatus can lessen impact exerted on the merchandise.
A bagging apparatus according to this exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that is installed at a store of a retailer, such as a convenience store, a supermarket, a department store, a drugstore, a volume home electronics retailer, or a do-it-yourself store, and that is designed to bag a merchandise purchased by a customer. The “bagging” herein represents the work of putting (inserting) a merchandise or commodities into a bag. The “bag” may be any container that measures a size in which a merchandise can be stored and that has a mouth through which a merchandise can be put in and taken out. The bag may be a shopping bag (what is called a plastic shopping bag) that is made from polyethylene or polypropylene, for example.
With reference to
Support 2 has loading surface 21 that is formed for placement of merchandise 6. Guide 3 is disposed around support 2 and along an outer circumference of loading surface 21. Drive unit 5 changes a disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from a first disposition to a second disposition. The “disposition of main mechanical unit 4” herein represents a relative positional relationship between support 2 and guide 3. The level of support 2 relative to guide 3 in the second disposition is lower than the level of support 2 relative to guide 3 in the first disposition.
With reference to
More specifically, with reference to
Bagging apparatus 1 is installed in a cashier counter, a bagging table, or a similar platform at a store, for example and is used to bag merchandise 6 placed in a predetermined bagging space defined on loading surface 21. As a result, any customer can receive merchandise 6 put in bag 7 only by placing merchandise 6 he or she wants to purchase in the bagging space. This configuration enables workers (salesclerks) or customers at the store to save time and effort needed for bagging by use of bagging apparatus 1.
Bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment is combined with a settlement device or other similar devices to form a shopping support system for supporting customer's shopping. At a store where the shopping support system is installed, a customer can complete purchase of merchandise 6 by going through a series of processes of checking out merchandise 6 by the settlement device and bagging merchandise 6 by bagging apparatus 1. Consequently, involvement of salesclerks is not necessary in the processes that the customer goes through in purchasing merchandise 6 at the store. Details of the shopping support system will be described in the section of “(2.1) shopping support system”.
(2) DetailBagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will now be described in detail. In this regard, the configuration described below is only an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments, and besides the exemplary embodiments, various modifications are possible depending on design or the like without departing form the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.
In this exemplary embodiment, bagging apparatus 1 is installed at a convenience store taken as an example store. In this exemplary embodiment, a shopping bag (what is called a plastic shopping bag) that is made from polyethylene is taken as an example of bag 7. A subject that places merchandise 6 in a bagging space may be a salesclerk other than a customer. For example, if merchandise 6 is a packet of cigarettes or any other merchandise stored in a cashier counter, a salesclerk rather than a customer places merchandise 6 in the bagging space.
(2.1) Shopping Support SystemFirst of all, a configuration of entire shopping support system 8 that includes bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will be described below.
With reference to
Settlement device 81 performs a checkout procedure for merchandise 6 in accordance with merchandise information on merchandise 6. The “merchandise information” herein represents information about each merchandise, and this information includes a name and a price for the merchandise. Settlement device 81 acquires the merchandise information using a bar-code reader, an image sensor, a load cell (a weight sensor), a reader for reading two-dimensional bar codes, or a reader for reading merchandise information contactless from radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, for example.
Bagging apparatus 1 and settlement device 81 are installed on one counter table 82 provided in a cashier counter at a store (a convenience store in this exemplary embodiment), for example. Bagging apparatus 1 and settlement device 81 described herein are disposed such that settlement device 81 is positioned on the right-hand side of bagging apparatus 1 when viewed from a front of counter table 82. A plurality of bagging apparatuses 1 and settlement devices 81 may be installed at a single store. Bagging apparatus 1 and settlement device 81 may be enabled to communicate with a device such as a shop server installed at a store.
Settlement device 81 includes main unit 811 provided on counter table 82 and display panel (display unit) 812 electrically connected to main unit 811. Main unit 811 is primarily made up of a computer and performs a procedure for a checkout in accordance with merchandise information by executing a program stored in a memory. Main unit 811 includes a cash unit for handing and receiving cash, a card reader for reading various cards, a printer (a printing unit) for printing receipts, and an audio output unit for emitting sound.
Display panel 812 is made up of a touch panel display. In addition to displaying various data, display panel 812 acts as a user interface to accept input operation from a customer. The customer selects a payment method by operating display panel 812, for example, and settles his or her bill by paying a sum (an adjusted amount) displayed on display panel 812.
Since settlement device 81 is equipped with display panel 812, settlement device 81 may display various kinds of information to the customer other than the adjusted amount described above. Specifically, settlement device 81 may display an operating procedure for self-checkout system 8 to the customer, for example. This configuration can support the customer in using shopping support system 8 without involvement of salesclerks.
Bagging apparatus 1 is built in counter table 82. In
Bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment can bag merchandise 6 put in shopping basket 61 (see
Bagging apparatus 1 can bag merchandise 6 that is not put in shopping basket 61 other than merchandise 6 that is put in shopping basket 61. In this case, the customer can get bagging apparatus 1 to bag merchandise 6 by directly placing merchandise 6 on the bagging space.
(2.2) Bagging ApparatusA configuration of bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will now be described in more detail. Unless otherwise particularly specified, the description below is given on the assumption that bagging apparatus 1 is installed such that loading surface 21 is parallel to a horizontal surface. In other words, a direction orthogonal to loading surface 21 is a vertical direction (a perpendicular direction). These directions, however, should not be construed to limit the direction of any component of bagging apparatus 1 installed for use. Bagging apparatus 1 may be used with loading surface 21 tilted somewhat relative to a horizontal surface, for example.
(2.2.1) Overall ConfigurationWith reference to
Housing 9 is shaped like a boxy rectangular parallelepiped extending longitudinally along the vertical direction. Main mechanical unit 4, a part of drive unit 5, and bag supply mechanism 13 are contained in housing 9. Top plate 91 that constitutes a top surface of housing 9 includes quadrilateral window hole 911 formed to expose support 2 and guide 3 to the outside of the housing. While bagging apparatus 1 is built in counter table 82 (see
Bag supply mechanism 13 is a mechanism designed to supply bag 7 to main mechanical unit 4. Bag supply mechanism 13 operates so as to put bag 7 with bag mouth 71 facing downward on main mechanical unit 4 in the first disposition.
With reference to
Suction unit 132 faces container 131 through main mechanical unit 4. Suction unit 132 is a vacuum suction pad, for example. A surface of suction unit 132 opposed to container 131 is a surface designed to adhere to bag 7 by suction. Suction unit 132 is movable rectilinearly toward or away from container 131. Suction unit 132 operates so as to take one bag 7 at a time out of bag group 70 held in container 131.
Bag supply mechanism 13 has a vacuum suction pad at a location facing suction unit 132 through main mechanical unit 4. The vacuum suction pad is used to open bag 7 taken out with suction unit 132. This configuration enables bag 7 taken out with suction unit 132 to be pulled at both sides by suction unit 132 and the vacuum suction pad such that bag 7 is held with bag mouth 71 opened. Thus, as shown in
Bag 7 supplied by bag supply mechanism 13 has side periphery 73 contiguous to bottom 72. An end of side periphery 73 near bag mouth 71 is provided with a pair of handles 74 contiguous to side periphery 73. Bag 7 put on the main mechanical unit is turned inside out when merchandise 6 is put into bag 7. Thus, if bag 7 for use has a letter or character printed, the letter or the character is preferably inversed.
Main mechanical unit 4 further has holding mechanism 14 in addition to support 2 and guide 3. Details of support 2 and guide 3 will be described in the section of “(2.2.2) Support and guide”.
Holding mechanism 14 is a mechanism for holding bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21. Holding mechanism 14 is capable of switching between holding bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21 and releasing bottom 72. The “holding” herein means that loading surface 21 keeps supporting bottom 72. In other words, holding mechanism 14 maintains a state in which bottom 72 is in contact with loading surface 21 and is supported by loading surface 21 from below. In this exemplary embodiment, holding mechanism 14 holds bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21 by suction. Specifically, holding mechanism 14 constitutes a vacuum suction pad having a suction surface on the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21). For example, with support 2 having a hollow structure, holding mechanism 14 sucks out air from an internal space of support 2 through a hose connected to support 2 and thereby applies suction force to bottom 72 via a plurality of small holes that open at the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21).
With reference to
Rail 57 is shaped like a round bar extending along the vertical direction. Both ends of rail 57 in the vertical direction are fixed to housing 9. In this exemplary embodiment, a pair of rails 57 is provided in housing 9. First and second sliders 55 and 56 are attached to rails 57 such that each of the sliders is freely movable along rails 57 in the vertical direction. First slider 55 is disposed below second slider 56. First slider 55 is mechanically linked to support 2 via first arm 53. Second slider 56 is mechanically linked to guide 3 via second arm 54.
Elevating mechanism 51 is a mechanism for moving up and down first slider 55. In other words, elevating mechanism 51 indirectly moves up and down support 2 via first arm 53 by moving first slider 55 in the vertical direction. In this exemplary embodiment, elevating mechanism 51 is disposed beside housing 9. Elevating mechanism 51 includes an electric motor (a motor) and implements a pantograph linkage, rack-and-pinion gearing, or any other suitable mechanism to enable linear movement of first slider 55 in the vertical direction by driving force generated from the electric motor.
Lock mechanism 52 is a mechanism that regulates movement of second slider 56 along rails 57. Lock mechanism 52 is attached to rails 57. Lock mechanism 52 is disposed between first and second sliders 55 and 56. Lock mechanism 52 includes an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid. Lock mechanism 52 is capable of switching between two states, namely a lock state in which lock mechanism 52 is locked in place relative to rails 57 and a release state in which lock mechanism 52 is freely movable along rails 57 in the vertical direction.
Owing to weight of second arm 54 and guide 3, a load is applied to second slider 56. Thus, if lock mechanism 52 is in the release state, ascent or descent of first slider 55 by elevating mechanism 51 causes second slider 56 to move up or down together with first slider 55. If lock mechanism 52 is in the lock state, second slider 56 is held in place above lock mechanism 52 and thus elevating mechanism 51 moves up and down first slider 55 in isolation.
Drive unit 5 having the configuration described above can move up and down support 2 and guide 3 together or move up and down support 2 alone by combining the action of elevating mechanism 51 with the action of lock mechanism 52. Consequently, drive unit 5 can move support 2 and guide 3 to respective desired positions.
With reference to
Support 2 is shaped like a rectangular plate. The top surface of support 2 constitutes loading surface 21 on which merchandise 6 is to be placed. In other words, loading surface 21 is quadrangular. In this example, loading surface 21 is rectangular with round corners. Support 2 is made of a synthetic resin, for example. The “quadrangular” herein encompasses precise quadrangles and quadrangles having round corners, for example.
Guide 3 is shaped like a tube having a top face and an undersurface of which at least the top face forms an opening. In this exemplary embodiment, guide 3 is shaped like a square tube having an opening at each of a top face and an undersurface. Guide 3 is made of a synthetic resin, for example. The opening faces of guide 3 are each a size larger than loading surface 21. Guide 3 is disposed around support 2 and along the outer circumference of loading surface 21. An inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21. In other words, in common with loading surface 21, the inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is rectangular with round corners. In common with loading surface 21, an outer circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 as well is rectangular with round corners.
Support 2 and guide 3 are driven by drive unit 5 and thereby move in the vertical direction. When guide 3 is at an upper limit level within the motion range in the vertical direction (see
Support 2 is configured to move relative to guide 3 in a space enclosed with guide 3. In this exemplary embodiment, drive unit 5 moves only support 2 downward in main mechanical unit 4 and thereby changes the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition shown in
In this exemplary embodiment, a state in which support 2 is disposed at the upper end of guide 3 as shown in
More specifically, support 2 is fixed to one end of first arm 53 and moves in the vertical direction along with movement of first arm 53. The one end of first arm 53 is inserted inside guide 3 through the undersurface opening of guide 3 and is mechanically linked to the undersurface of support 2. Guide 3 is fixed to one end of second arm 54 and moves in the vertical direction along with movement of second arm 54. The one end of second arm 54 is mechanically linked to an outer circumferential surface of guide 3. In this exemplary embodiment, a pair of second arms 54 is provided. The pair of second arms 54 are each a plate-shaped part. First arm 53 is disposed between the pair of second arms 54. Hence, first arm 53 can move up and down support 2 while avoiding interference with guide 3 and second arms 54.
Guide 3 includes tubular wall 31 made of a plate-shaped part and cover 32 having a frame shape. With reference to
Upper end face 321 of guide 3, i.e. the upper end face of cover 32, forms a bend projecting upward. In other words, at least a part of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is a round surface. More specifically, an edge where upper end face 321 and an inner circumferential surface of guide 3 join and an edge where upper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface of guide 3 join are round-chamfered. Upper end face 321 has such a curved surface to prevent bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3. Upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of loading surface 21. Specifically, if a surface of cover 32 is made up of a fluorocarbon polymer or any other material having low friction properties, for example, upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a low coefficient of friction. This allows bag 7 to slide smoothly over upper end face 321 of guide 3.
(2.2.3) Control SystemWith reference to
Controller 11 is electrically connected with each of input unit 12, bag supply mechanism 13, elevating mechanism 51, lock mechanism 52, and holding mechanism 14. In response to an input signal from input unit 12, controller 11 sends a control signal to any of bag supply mechanism 13, drive unit 5 (elevating mechanism 51, lock mechanism 52), and holding mechanism 14. This configuration allows controller 11 to control bag supply mechanism 13, drive unit 5, and holding mechanism 14 individually.
In this example, controller 11 is primarily made up of a computer such as a microcomputer. Controller 11 executes a program stored in a memory on the computer through a processor of the computer and thereby performs a suitable procedure. The program may be stored in the memory in advance, may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be saved on a storage medium such as a memory card and provided via the storage medium. Controller 11 is installed inside counter table 82, for example. However, all functions of controller 11 are not necessarily converged in one housing. At least a part of the functions of controller 11 may be decentrally provided in drive unit 5, bag supply mechanism 13, or holding mechanism 14, for example.
Input unit 12 sends an input signal to controller 11 to at least let bagging apparatus 1 start bagging operation. Input unit 12 is electrically connected to a switch or any other device for accepting a customer's operation, for example and generates an input signal in response to the customer's operation. If bagging apparatus 1 works together with settlement device 81, input unit 12 may receive a trigger signal from settlement device 81 and send an input signal for starting bagging operation, for example.
(3) OperationOperation performed by bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will now be described.
First of all, with reference to
Specifically, while bag 7 is held in place by bag supply mechanism 13 with bag mouth 71 facing downward, bottom 72 facing upward, and bag mouth 71 being opened, bagging apparatus 1 inserts main mechanical unit 4 that is in the first disposition into bag 7 from below. At this time, drive unit 5 puts lock mechanism 52 into the release state and moves support 2 and guide 3 upward by moving first slider 55 together with second slider 56 upward using elevating mechanism 51. In this exemplary embodiment, drive unit 5 moves guide 3 from the lower limit level (see
In
When shopping basket 61 containing merchandise 6 is placed in the bagging space on loading surface 21, bagging apparatus 1 starts bagging merchandise 6. Shopping basket 61 has a slidable bottom plate, for example. With the bottom plate slid to an open position, merchandise 6 is transferred from shopping basket 61 to loading surface 21. Merchandise 6 is, properly speaking, placed on bottom 72 of bag 7 because bottom 72 is on loading surface 21.
Next, bagging apparatus 1 gets drive unit 5 to drive main mechanical unit 4 and puts merchandise 6 into bag 7 by changing the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. In other words, drive unit 5 puts lock mechanism 52 into the lock state and moves only support 2 downward in main mechanical unit 4 that is in the first disposition as shown in
Specifically, with reference to
In this exemplary embodiment, shopping basket 61 is removed from housing 9 in the process of
In this exemplary embodiment, main mechanical unit 4 in the second disposition as shown in
Next, bagging apparatus 1 gets drive unit 5 to drive main mechanical unit 4 and discharges bag 7 from the space enclosed with guide 3 by changing the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the second disposition to the first disposition. At this time, drive unit 5 puts lock mechanism 52 into the lock state and moves only support 2 upward in main mechanical unit 4 that is in the second disposition by moving first slider 55 upward using elevating mechanism 51. As a result, support 2 alone moves upward while guide 3 is kept at the upper limit level within the motion range and thus main mechanical unit 4 shifts from the second disposition to the first disposition.
In other words, with reference to
According to the operation described above, bagging apparatus 1 can put commodities 6 that are placed in the bagging space on loading surface 21 into bag 7 and pass commodities 6 put in bag 7 with handles 74 standing to the customer. When commodities 6 are gone from loading surface 21, bagging apparatus 1 puts new bag 7 in place and gets into the standby state.
(4) EffectAs described above, bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment puts commodities 6 into bag 7 by allowing side periphery 73 of bag 7 contiguous to bottom 72 of bag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 via guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. In other words, support 2 moves downward relative to guide 3 such that bag 7 put on support 2 and guide 3 is drawn inside guide 3. At the same time, side periphery 73 of bag 7 stands up owing to guide 3 around support 2 and thus commodities 6 placed on loading surface 21 are put into bag 7. This configuration is advantageous in that bagging apparatus 1 can lessen impact exerted on commodities 6. As a consequence, this bagging apparatus 1 can transform bag 7 containing commodities 6 (turn the bag inside out) and thereby put commodities 6 into bag 7 without shifting commodities 6 from loading surface 21. This configuration enables the bagging apparatus to lessen impact exerted on commodities 6 at the time of putting commodities 6 into bag 7.
Preferably, drive unit 5 is configured to move only support 2 downward in main mechanical unit 4 as shown in this exemplary embodiment and thereby change the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration enables bagging work inside housing 9 while preventing guide 3 from projecting above the top surface of housing 9.
Preferably, main mechanical unit 4 further includes holding mechanism 14 to hold bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21 as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration, even if commodities 6 are relatively small or light, prevents bottom 72 from being separated from loading surface 21 and helps bag 7 to be drawn inside guide 3 while support 2 is moving downward relative to guide 3. However, holding mechanism 14 is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1, and holding mechanism 14 may be omitted as appropriate.
Preferably, main mechanical unit 4 in the second disposition is configured as shown in this exemplary embodiment such that level difference L1 between loading surface 21 and upper end face 321 of guide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 of bag 7 in the vertical direction. This configuration enables handles 74 and other constituents of bag 7 containing commodities 6 to stand upright. This, in turn, provides an advantage in that the customer can readily grip handles 74 at the time of receiving commodities 6 from the bagging apparatus. This configuration, in which level difference L1 between loading surface 21 and upper end face 321 of guide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 of bag 7 in the vertical direction, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. Level difference L1 may be less than total length L2 of bag 7.
Preferably, loading surface 21 is quadrangular as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration enables the bagging apparatus to transfer commodities 6 put in shopping basket 61 with a quadrangular bottom to loading surface 21 while the disposition of these components remains as is. However, quadrangular loading surface 21 is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. Loading surface 21 may be elliptic, for example, other than quadrangular.
Preferably, guide 3 is shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, and support 2 is configured to move relative to guide 3 in a space enclosed with guide 3, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. According to this configuration, guide 3 forms a wall around support 2. Thus, even if any of commodities 6 topple over or collapse while support 2 is moving relative to guide 3, guide 3 supports commodities 6 and prevents commodities 6 from falling off loading surface 21.
Preferably, the inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration can keep a gap between guide 3 and support 2 to a relatively small. This configuration, in which the inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. The inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 may not be similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21.
Preferably, upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration prevents bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration, in which upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. Upper end face 321 of guide 3 may form a flat surface, for example.
Preferably, upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of loading surface 21, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration prevents bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration, in which upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. The coefficient of friction of upper end face 321 of guide 3 may be on a par with the coefficient of friction of loading surface 21.
Preferably, bagging apparatus 1 further includes bag supply mechanism 13 to put bag 7 with bag mouth 71 facing downward on main mechanical unit 4 in the first disposition, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration advantageously saves time and effort required to put bag 7 on main mechanical unit 4. However, bag supply mechanism 13 is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. Bag supply mechanism 13 may be omitted as appropriate.
(5) ModificationsModifications of the first exemplary embodiment will now be described.
Bag 7 into which bagging apparatus 1 puts (bags) merchandise 6 may be an ecological shopping bag and a mesh shopping bag, for example, other than the shopping bag described above, with proviso that bagging apparatus 1 is configured to put merchandise 6 into bag 7. The shopping bag may be made from polypropylene, for example, other than polyethylene.
Bag supply mechanism 13 may be configured to turn bag 7 inside out and supply bag 7 to main mechanical unit 4. In this case, the bagging apparatus puts bag 7 that is turned inside out on main mechanical unit 4, and again turns bag 7 inside out before putting merchandise 6 into bag 7. Thus, the original outer surface of bag 7 constitutes an outer surface of bag 7 containing merchandise 6. As a result, if bag 7 for use has a letter or character printed, no inversion of the letter or the character is required.
Bagging apparatus 1 may be installed and used at any stores other than convenience stores. In addition, bagging apparatus 1 may be installed at facilities such as offices and plants other than stores.
Drive unit 5 may be configured to move support 2 and guide 3 individually. In this case, drive unit 5 may move only guide 3 upward in main mechanical unit 4 and thereby change the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. Alternatively, drive unit 5 may move both support 2 and guide 3 and thereby change the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition.
Drive unit 5 may not include any power source such as an electric motor for generating driving force but drive main mechanical unit 4 using force applied by a person to a handle or any operation part, for example. In this case, bagging apparatus 1 bags merchandise 6 by letting drive unit 5 drive manually operated main mechanical unit 4. Accordingly, the range of application of bagging apparatus 1 is not limited to automatic bagging but includes manual bagging by persons.
Holding mechanism 14 may have any device other than the vacuum suction pad and may hold bottom 72 in place by suction through means other than vacuum suction. Alternatively, holding mechanism 14 may hold bottom 72 in place by adhesion other than suction or may hold bottom 72 of bag 7 in place by pinching, for example. If bottom 72 is held in place by adhesion, holding mechanism 14 includes an adhesive sheet that is pasted on the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21) to display proper adhesive strength, for example.
Only any one of an edge where upper end face 321 and the inner circumferential surface of guide 3 join and an edge where upper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface of guide 3 join may be round-chamfered. Alternatively, at least one of an edge where upper end face 321 and the inner circumferential surface of guide 3 join and an edge where upper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface of guide 3 join may be chamfered.
Corners at the inner and outer circumferences of upper end face 321 of guide 3 may not be rounded off. In this case, the corners of upper end face 321 of guide 3 are preferably formed at a level below the other sections (sides) of guide 3. This configuration means that bag 7 is less apt to get caught on the corners of upper end face 321 of guide 3.
Preferably, upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration prevents bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration, in which upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. Upper end face 321 of guide 3 may form a flat surface, for example.
Second Exemplary EmbodimentWith reference to
In this exemplary embodiment, guide 3A is formed along two opposing sides of loading surface 21. Specifically, guide 3A includes a pair of walls 31A that are each shaped like a plate and a pair of covers 32A attached to respective upper ends of walls 31A. Upper end faces of the pair of covers 32A are equivalent to upper end faces 321A of guide 3A.
Bagging apparatus 1A puts merchandise 6 (not illustrated) into bag 7 by allowing side periphery 73 of bag 7 (not illustrated) to stand upward from bottom 72 via guide 3A while a disposition of main mechanical unit 4A is changing from a first disposition shown in
A modification of the second exemplary embodiment may have guide 3A that includes pole-shaped components installed at four corners of loading surface 21, for example. This configuration as well can put merchandise 6 into bag 7 by allowing side periphery 73 of bag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 via guide 3A while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4A is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition.
An exemplary embodiment can be implemented by suitably combining some elements described in the second exemplary embodiment (including the modification) with some elements described in the first exemplary embodiment (including the modifications).
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYThe present invention is applicable to a bagging apparatus for putting a merchandise into a bag.
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
-
- 1,1A bagging apparatus
- 2 support
- 3, 3A guide
- 4, 4A main mechanical unit
- 5 drive unit
- 6 merchandise
- 7 bag
- 13 bag supply mechanism
- 14 holding mechanism
- 21 loading surface
- 71 bag mouth
- 72 bottom
- 73 side periphery
- 321, 321A upper end face
Claims
1. A bagging apparatus comprising:
- a main mechanical unit including: a support having a loading surface formed for placement of a merchandise; and a guide disposed around the support and along an outer circumference of the loading surface; and
- a drive unit to move at least one of the support and the guide so as to change a disposition of the main mechanical unit from a first disposition to a second disposition, a level of the support relative to the guide in the second disposition being lower than the level of the support relative to the guide in the first disposition,
- wherein
- the main mechanical unit in the first disposition supports a bottom of a bag with the loading surface, while the bag with a bag mouth facing downward is put on the support and the guide from above, and
- the main mechanical unit puts the merchandise into the bag by allowing a side periphery of the bag contiguous to the bottom of the bag to stand upward from the bottom of the bag via the guide by changing the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
2. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is configured to move only the support downward in the main mechanical unit so as to change the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
3. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main mechanical unit further includes a holding mechanism to hold the bottom of the bag in place on the loading surface.
4. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main mechanical unit in the second disposition is configured such that a level difference between the loading surface and an upper end face of the guide is greater than or equal to a total length of the bag in a vertical direction.
5. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the loading surface is quadrangular.
6. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- the guide is shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, and
- the support is configured to move relative to the guide in a space enclosed with the guide.
7. The bagging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an inner circumference of an upper end face of the guide is similar in shape to the outer circumference of the loading surface.
8. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper end face of the guide forms a bend projecting upward.
9. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper end face of the guide has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the loading surface.
10. The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bag supply mechanism to put the bag with the bag mouth facing downward on the main mechanical unit in the first disposition.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 5, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2018
Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Osaka)
Inventors: RYOJI INUTSUKA (Nara), SHOZO FUKUSHIMA (Osaka), MASATOMO KITADA (Osaka), NAOYA HABA (Osaka), TSUYOSHI SHINOHARA (Osaka), KAZUYA HIROSAKI (Shiga)
Application Number: 15/765,732