SHOCK ABSORBING MEMBER AND PACKING BODY

Abstract

A shock absorbing member includes a support part that supports a side of a product accommodated in a box, and a movable part provided on the support part and movable into a recessed portion formed in the side with the support part supporting the side.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing member comprising: a support part that supports a side of a product accommodated in a box; and a movable part provided on the support part and movable into a recessed portion formed in the side with the support part supporting the side.

2. The shock absorbing member according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling part that couples the support part and the movable part to each other and deforms to allow the movable part to move into the recessed portion.

3. The shock absorbing member according to claim 2, wherein: the coupling part includes a pair of arm portions coupling, to the support part, a first end portion and a second end portion of the movable part in an intersecting direction relative to a movement direction of the movable part and formed into an arc shape in plan view.

4. The shock absorbing member according to claim 1, further comprising: an acting part that exerts a moving force that moves the movable part outside the recessed portion.

5. The shock absorbing member according to claim 4, wherein: the acting part includes a pair of arm portions coupling, to the support part, a first end portion and a second end portion of the movable part in an intersecting direction relative to a movement direction of the movable part, formed into an arc shape in plan view, and configured to exert the moving force by using an elastic force.

6. The shock absorbing member according to claim 1, wherein: the movable part is movable from a first position where the movable part juts further outward than an outer surface of the support body and is positioned outside the recessed portion, to a second position where the movable part enters the recessed portion.

7. The shock absorbing member according to claim 6, wherein: the movable part, in the second position, does not jut further outward than the outer surface.

8. The shock absorbing member according to claim 6, wherein: the movable part includes a contact surface that moves the movable part from the first position to the second position by coming into contact with the box when the shock absorbing member is placed in the box whose up side is open.

9. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 1, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

10. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 2, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

11. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 3, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

12. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 4, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

13. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 5, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

14. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 6, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

15. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 7, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

16. A packing body comprising: a product; a box that accommodates the product; and the shock absorbing member according to claim 8, the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially illustrating a packing body according to the present exemplary embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view partially illustrating the packing body according to the present exemplary embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a product and shock absorbing members in the process of being placed in a box according to the present exemplary embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the shock absorbing member with the movable part according to the present exemplary embodiment being in a first position;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a front sectional view (specifically, a sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 4) of the shock absorbing member with the movable part according to the present exemplary embodiment being in the first position;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the shock absorbing member with the movable part according to the present exemplary embodiment being in a second position;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a front sectional view (specifically, a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6) of the shock absorbing member with the movable part according to the present exemplary embodiment being in the second position; and

[0016] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a shock absorbing member according to a modification example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Hereinafter, one example of an exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described based on the figures.

Packing Body 10

[0018] The configuration of a packing body 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially illustrating the packing body 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view partially illustrating the packing body 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0019] Note that an arrow UP in the figures indicates an up side of an apparatus. An arrow DO in the figures indicates a down side of the apparatus. An arrow LH in the figures indicates a left side of the apparatus. An arrow RH in the figures indicates a right side of the apparatus. An arrow FR in the figures indicates a front side of the apparatus. An arrow RR in the figures indicates a rear side of the apparatus. The above-described directions are defined for convenience of description, and the configuration of the apparatus is not limited by these directions. Note that, regarding each of the directions related to the apparatus, the term apparatus may be omitted. That is, for example, the up side of the apparatus may be simply referred to as the up side.

[0020] In addition, in the following description, an up-down direction may be used to mean both the up side and the down side or any one of the up side and the down side. A left-right direction may be used to mean both the right side and the left side or any one of the right side and the left side. Note that the left-right direction may also be referred to as a lateral direction, a transverse direction, a width direction, and a horizontal direction. A front-rear direction may be used to mean both the front side and the rear side or any one of the front side and the rear side. Note that the front-rear direction may also be referred to as a lateral direction, a transverse direction, a width direction, and a horizontal direction. Moreover, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction intersect one another (specifically, the directions are orthogonal to one another).

[0021] In the figures, a symbol in which x is in o means an arrow from the front to the back of the paper surface. In the figures, a symbol in which . is in o means an arrow from the back to the front of the paper surface. Dimensional ratios of parts illustrated in the respective figures in the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction may differ from the actual dimensional ratios.

[0022] The packing body 10 is provided for packing a product 12. Note that the packing body 10 conceptually includes the product 12 as a constituting element. Specifically, the packing body 10 includes, as FIG. 1 illustrates, the product 12 and a shock absorbing member 13. The packing body 10 further includes, as FIG. 2 illustrates, a box 20 and a shock absorbing member 15. Hereinafter, each of the parts of the packing body 10 will be described. Note that packing refers to packing the product 12 such that the product 12 is in a state suitable for transportation, storage, sale, and other situations.

Product 12

[0023] The product 12 is an object to be packed. The product 12 is an item manufactured from a certain material. As FIG. 1 illustrates, the product 12 includes an upper surface 12U, a bottom surface 12D, a front surface 12F, a rear surface 12B, a right surface 12R, and a left surface 12L. The upper surface 12U, the bottom surface 12D, the front surface 12F, the rear surface 12B, the right surface 12R, and the left surface 12L are surfaces facing the up side, the down side, the front side, the rear side, the right side, and the left side, respectively. The front surface 12F, the rear surface 12B, the right surface 12R, and the left surface 12L are each one example of a side. In the present exemplary embodiment, the product 12 has a recessed portion 14 in a part of the left surface 12L.

[0024] The recessed portion 14 is recessed rightward from the left surface 12L. The recessed portion 14 is recessed in an intermediate region, in the up-down direction, of the product 12. A portion 16 on the down side relative to the recessed portion 14 juts further leftward than a back surface 14D in the recessed portion 14. Since the portion 16 juts out as described above, the back surface 14D of the recessed portion 14 cannot be supported by either a bottom support body 30D or a left support body 30L (described later) of the shock absorbing member 13.

[0025] The product 12 is, for example, a component of an image forming apparatus that forms an image. Examples of such an image forming apparatus include image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic printer and an inkjet printer. For example, in the case of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, examples of such a component include units used for processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing.

[0026] Although the product 12 is illustrated as having a rectangular parallelepiped shape in FIG. 1, various shapes may be possible. In addition, each of the surfaces of the product 12 may have a recess and a protrusion other than the recessed portion 14.

Box 20

[0027] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the state in which the product 12 and the shock absorbing members 13 and 15 are accommodated in the box 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the product 12 and the shock absorbing members 13 and 15 in the process of being placed in the box 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0028] The box 20 is a container for accommodating the product 12. Specifically, the box 20 is a corrugated box. The box 20 includes, as FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate, a bottom wall 20D, a right wall 20R, a left wall 20L, a rear wall 20B, a front wall (not illustrated), and a lid part 22. The lid part 22 includes a right lid 22R and a left lid 22L.

[0029] The box 20 is brought into the state in which the up side is open, by opening the right lid 22R and the left lid 22L. In this state, the product 12 and the shock absorbing members 13 and 15 are placed in the box 20 through the opening on the up side.

Shock Absorbing Members 13 and 15

[0030] The shock absorbing members 13 and 15 are provided for mitigating impacts of, for example, drop, vibration, and collision. Expanded materials of, for example, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene are used for the shock absorbing members 13 and 15.

[0031] As FIG. 1 illustrates, the shock absorbing member 13 has an open-top, bottomed box shape. The shock absorbing member 15 has a closed-top, open-bottom box shape. The shock absorbing member 13 supports a bottom part including the bottom surface 12D of the product 12. The shock absorbing member 15 supports an upper part including the upper surface 12U of the product 12. The shock absorbing member 15 is stacked over the shock absorbing member 13 as FIG. 2 illustrates. Note that an outer peripheral surface and an upper surface of the shock absorbing member 15 have protruding portions 17 protruding outward. The protruding portions 17 are in contact with an inner surface of the box 20.

[0032] Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the shock absorbing member 13 will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the shock absorbing member 13 with a movable part 40 (described later) being in a first position. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view (specifically, a sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 4) of the shock absorbing member 13 with the movable part 40 (described later) being in the first position. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the shock absorbing member 13 with the movable part 40 (described later) being in a second position. FIG. 7 is a front sectional view (specifically, a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6) of the shock absorbing member 13 with the movable part 40 (described later) being in the second position.

[0033] The shock absorbing member 13 specifically includes, as FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate, a support body 30, the movable part 40, and a coupling part 50. The support body 30 is a constituent supporting the product 12 accommodated in the box 20. The support body 30 specifically includes the bottom support body 30D, a right support body 30R, the left support body 30L, a rear support body 30B, and a front support body 30F. With the bottom support body 30D, the right support body 30R, the left support body 30L, the rear support body 30B, and the front support body 30F, the shock absorbing member 13 is formed into a box shape.

[0034] The bottom support body 30D is in contact with the bottom surface 12D of the product 12 to support the bottom surface 12D. The bottom support body 30D is formed into a plate shape whose thickness direction is the up-down direction. An upper surface of the bottom support body 30D may have a recess and a protrusion according to the shape of the bottom surface 12D.

[0035] The right support body 30R is in contact with the right surface 12R of the product 12 to support the right surface 12R. The right support body 30R is formed into a plate shape whose thickness direction is the left-right direction. A left surface (that is, an inner surface) of the right support body 30R may have a recess and a protrusion according to the shape of the right surface 12R.

[0036] The left support body 30L is one example of a support part. The left support body 30L is in contact with the left surface 12L of the product 12 to support the left surface 12L. The left support body 30L is formed into a plate shape whose thickness direction is the left-right direction. A right surface (that is, an inner surface) of the left support body 30L may have a recess and a protrusion according to the shape of the left surface 12L.

[0037] The rear support body 30B is in contact with the rear surface 12B of the product 12 to support the rear surface 12B. The rear support body 30B is formed into a plate shape whose thickness direction is the front-rear direction. A front surface (that is, an inner surface) of the rear support body 30B may have a recess and a protrusion according to the shape of the rear surface 12B.

[0038] The front support body 30F is in contact with the front surface 12F of the product 12 to support the front surface 12F. The front support body 30F is formed into a plate shape whose thickness direction is the front-rear direction. A rear surface (that is, an inner surface) of the front support body 30F may have a recess and a protrusion according to the shape of the front surface 12F.

[0039] The bottom support body 30D, the right support body 30R, the left support body 30L, the rear support body 30B, and the front support body 30F each have a protruding portion 33 protruding outward. The protruding portions 33 are in contact with the inner surface of the box 20.

[0040] The movable part 40 is provided on the left support body 30L. Specifically, the movable part 40 is disposed in a front region of the left support body 30L. The movable part 40 is a constituent movable into the recessed portion 14 of the left surface 12L with the left support body 30L supporting the left surface 12L. The movable part 40 is movable from the first position to the second position. In other words, the movable part 40 is movable in the left-right direction between the first position and the second position.

[0041] The first position is the position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the first position, the movable part 40 is positioned outside the recessed portion 14. Moreover, in the first position, the movable part 40 juts further outward than an outer surface 30X of the left support body 30L. In other words, in the first position, an outer surface 40X of the movable part 40 is disposed on the left side relative to the outer surface 30X. The outer surface 30X is the outermost surface (specifically, the leftmost surface) in the left support body 30L. The outer surface 40X is the outermost surface (specifically, the leftmost surface) in the movable part 40.

[0042] The second position is the position illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the second position, the movable part 40 enters the recessed portion 14. In the second position, the movable part 40 does not jut further outward than the outer surface 30X of the left support body 30L. In other words, in the second position, the outer surface 40X of the movable part 40 is disposed at a position along the outer surface 30X. Specifically, in the second position, the outer surface 40X of the movable part 40 and the outer surface 30X are disposed on the same plane.

[0043] In the second position, the movable part 40 may be supported by the support body 30 (for example, the bottom support body 30D). Note that, in the first position, the movable part 40 may also be supported by the support body 30 (for example, the bottom support body 30D). Moreover, in the second position, the movable part 40 may be in contact with the support body 30 (for example, the bottom support body 30D) to be positioned. That is, in the second position, the rightward movement of the movable part 40 may be restricted by the contact with the support body 30 (for example, the bottom support body 30D).

[0044] The movable part 40 is formed into a substantially block shape (specifically, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape). The movable part 40 includes an entry portion 41 and a contact surface 42. The entry portion 41 enters the recessed portion 14 of the product 12 with the movable part 40 being in the second position. The entry portion 41 is in contact with the back surface 14D of the recessed portion 14 with the movable part 40 being in the second position.

[0045] As FIG. 3 illustrates, the contact surface 42 has a function of moving the movable part 40 from the first position to the second position by coming into contact with the box 20 when the shock absorbing member 13 is placed in the box 20. The contact surface 42 is formed in a diagonally lower left region of the movable part 40. The contact surface 42 is an inclined surface facing diagonally downward to the left. Specifically, the contact surface 42 moves the movable part 40 to the second position by coming into contact with a ridge portion 24 of the box 20.

[0046] The coupling part 50 is a constituent coupling the left support body 30L and the movable part 40 to each other. The coupling part 50 deforms itself to allow the movable part 40 to move into the recessed portion 14. Moreover, the coupling part 50 also functions as an acting part that exerts a force (hereinafter, referred to as a moving force) that moves the movable part 40 outside the recessed portion 14. The coupling part 50 is made of the same material as the shock absorbing member 13 and formed, with the shock absorbing member 13, into one body.

[0047] The coupling part 50 includes a pair of arm portions 52. The pair of arm portions 52 couples a front end portion and a rear end portion of the movable part 40 to the left support body 30L. The front end portion and the rear end portion are examples of a first end portion and a second end portion in an intersecting direction (specifically, the front-rear direction) relative to the movement direction. The pair of arm portions 52 is formed into an arc shape in plan view. The pair of arm portions 52 exerts the moving force by using its own elastic force. Thus, the movable part 40 is in the first position in a no-load state in which the movable part 40 does not receive any external force.

Operations According to Present Exemplary Embodiment

[0048] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the movable part 40 is movable into the recessed portion 14 of the left surface 12L with the left support body 30L supporting the left surface 12L of the product 12. Thus, before the shock absorbing member 13 is mounted onto the product 12, the need to attach another member to the recessed portion 14 may be eliminated.

[0049] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the coupling part 50 that deforms itself to allow the movable part 40 to move into the recessed portion 14 couples the left support body 30L and the movable part 40 to each other. Thus, the movable part 40 may be suppressed from being separated from the left support body 30L, compared with when the shock absorbing member 13 includes only the left support body 30L and the movable part 40.

[0050] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the coupling part 50 includes the pair of arm portions 52 coupling the front end portion and the rear end portion of the movable part 40 to the left support body 30L. Thus, the movable part 40 may be suppressed from being separated from the left support body 30L, compared with when the movable part 40 is coupled to the left support body 30L at only one spot.

[0051] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the coupling part 50 exerts the moving force that moves the movable part 40 outside the recessed portion 14. Thus, the need for an operation of moving the movable part 40 outside the recessed portion 14 may be eliminated.

[0052] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the pair of arm portions 52 exerts the moving force by using its own elastic force. Thus, a movement failure of the movable part 40 to the outside of the recessed portion 14 may be suppressed, compared with when the movable part 40 is coupled to the left support body 30L at only one spot.

[0053] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the movable part 40 is movable from the first position where the movable part 40 juts further outward than the outer surface 30X of the left support body 30L and is positioned outside the recessed portion 14, to the second position where the movable part 40 enters the recessed portion 14. Thus, the external force that moves the movable part 40 into the recessed portion 14 may be easily applied, compared with when the movable part 40 is always in a position where the movable part 40 does not jut further outward than the outer surface 30X of the left support body 30L.

[0054] According to the present exemplary embodiment, in the second position, the movable part 40 does not jut further outward than the outer surface 30X of the left support body 30L. Thus, the movable part 40, in the second position, may be less obstructive, compared with when the movable part 40, in the second position, juts further outward than the outer surface 30X of the left support body 30L.

[0055] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the movable part 40 includes the contact surface 42 that moves the movable part 40 from the first position to the second position by coming into contact with the box 20 when the shock absorbing member 13 is placed in the box 20. Thus, the need for an operation of moving the movable part 40 into the recessed portion 14 may be eliminated.

Modification Examples

[0056] In the present exemplary embodiment, although the coupling part 50 includes the pair of arm portions 52 coupling the front end portion and the rear end portion of the movable part 40 to the left support body 30L, this is merely one option. For example, the coupling part 50 may couple only one spot of the movable part 40 and the left support body 30L to each other.

[0057] In the present exemplary embodiment, although the coupling part 50 functions as the acting part configured to exert the moving force that moves the movable part 40 outside the recessed portion 14, this is merely one option. Separately from the coupling part 50, a spring, examples of which include a compression spring and a tension spring, may be provided on the shock absorbing member 13 as the acting part.

[0058] In the present exemplary embodiment, although one movable part 40 is provided on the left support body 30L, plural movable parts 40 may be provided on the left support body 30L according to the number of recessed portions 14 of the product 12. Instead of or in addition to the left support body 30L, one or plural movable parts 40 may be provided on any one or more of the right support body 30R, the rear support body 30B, and the front support body 30F according to the number of recessed portions 14 and the position of a recessed portion 14 of the product 12. Specifically, for example, as FIG. 8 illustrates, a movable part 40 may be provided on the right support body 30R in addition to the movable part 40 provided on the left support body 30L. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8, the movable part 40 is disposed in a rear region of the right support body 30R.

[0059] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, ones of the above-described modification examples may be appropriately combined.

[0060] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

APPENDIX

[0061] (((1)))

[0062] A shock absorbing member comprising: [0063] a support part that supports a side of a product accommodated in a box; and [0064] a movable part provided on the support part and movable into a recessed portion formed in the side with the support part supporting the side. [0065] (((2)))

[0066] The shock absorbing member according to (((1))), further comprising: [0067] a coupling part that couples the support part and the movable part to each other and deforms to allow the movable part to move into the recessed portion. [0068] (((3)))

[0069] The shock absorbing member according to (((2))), wherein: [0070] the coupling part includes a pair of arm portions coupling, to the support part, a first end portion and a second end portion of the movable part in an intersecting direction relative to a movement direction of the movable part and formed into an arc shape in plan view. [0071] (((4)))

[0072] The shock absorbing member according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))), further comprising: [0073] an acting part that exerts a moving force that moves the movable part outside the recessed portion. [0074] (((5)))

[0075] The shock absorbing member according to (((4))), wherein: [0076] the acting part includes a pair of arm portions coupling, to the support part, a first end portion and a second end portion of the movable part in an intersecting direction relative to a movement direction of the movable part, formed into an arc shape in plan view, and configured to exert the moving force by using an elastic force. [0077] (((6)))

[0078] The shock absorbing member according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))), wherein: [0079] the movable part is movable from a first position where the movable part juts further outward than an outer surface of the support body and is positioned outside the recessed portion, to a second position where the movable part enters the recessed portion. [0080] (((7)))

[0081] The shock absorbing member according to (((6))), wherein: [0082] the movable part, in the second position, does not jut further outward than the outer surface. [0083] (((8)))

[0084] The shock absorbing member according to (((6))) or (((7))), wherein: [0085] the movable part includes a contact surface that moves the movable part from the first position to the second position by coming into contact with the box when the shock absorbing member is placed in the box whose up side is open. [0086] (((9)))

[0087] A packing body comprising: [0088] a product; [0089] a box that accommodates the product; and [0090] the shock absorbing member according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))), the shock absorbing member including the support part that supports a side of the product.