EP0773867B1 - Device and method for forming a box from a blank - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and device (1) for forming a box (2) from a blank (3) of sheet material including means (8, 9, 10, 12, 13) for storing several blanks in a stack, means (14, 15, 21) for gripping and shifting the blanks one by one to a blank-prefolding mandrel (16). The prefolding mandrel (16) disposed at the outlet of the blank storage means (10) is associated with the prefolding means (33). The invention also comprises means (23, 25) for conveying the prefolded blank from the prefolding mandrel to a final folding mandrel (24), and blank coating means (42), the final folding mandrel (24) comprising a lower side. The device includes means (38) for compressing the intermediate blank flap onto the lower side (65) of the final folding mandrel.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the creation of a box from a blank of sheet material comprising a series of shutters rectangular connected to each other by first fold lines parallel to each other others, comprising an intermediate flap, and a first set of side flaps arranged with a side of said series of shutters, connected to it by second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the body, the device being of the type comprising means for storage of blanks in stacks, a pre-folding mandrel disposed on the outlet of the storage means, sizing means and blank transfer means thus pre-folded towards a final folding mandrel.

The invention also relates to a method of creation of a cash register, in particular using a device of the type defined above.

It finds a particularly application important although not exclusive in the field of the packaging of objects or groups of objects that are introduced from above into the preformed packaging, the closure of the packaging being carried out later, for example by a cover reported.

We already know (DE-4209141 - A1) a device of the type defined above.

This device has drawbacks.

In particular the transfer of the pre-wound blank around the mandrel involves risks of rearing and deformation of the cut. Plus the precision size depends on the tightening on the mandrel, and the folding the flaps used does not allow to obtain a perfectly squared case so repetitive.

The present invention aims to provide a method and a device of the type defined above, responding better than those previously known to the requirements of practice, especially in that it allows create a perfectly square box with a strong cadence, and this is easy to implement.

To this end, the invention proposes a device according to claim 1.

• les moyens de plaquage sont constitués par des profilés, lames ou équivalents agencés pour comprimer progressivement de façon élastique le volet intermédiaire du flan contre la face inférieure du mandrin de pliage définitif lors du transfert ;
• les moyens de plaquage comprennent des moyens de support à distance du volet intermédiaire au niveau du mandrin de pliage et des moyens agencés pour rapprocher progressivement et pour venir plaquer ledit volet intermédiaire sur la face inférieure du mandrin de pliage définitif ;
• les moyens de support sont constitués par une plaque mobile ;
• le mandrin de prépliage est de section présentant une forme différente de celle du mandrin de pliage définitif ;
• le mandrin de prépliage présente une section rectangulaire et le mandrin de pliage définitif présente une section octogonale ;
• les moyens de préhension et de déplacement desdits flans vers le mandrin de prépliage comportent des bras latéraux de préhension par ventouse du flan, situé à l'extérieur et pivotant de part et d'autre du mandrin de prépliage, et des moyens de reprise par ventouse dudit flan au travers dudit mandrin de prépliage, lesdits moyens de reprise par ventouse étant associés aux moyens de déplacement du flan préplié, du mandrin de prépliage au mandrin de pliage ;
• le dispositif comporte au niveau du mandrin de pliage définitif, des moyens de pliage intermédiaire des rabats de fond avant mise en pression d'une part des volets destinés à former les parois latérales, et d'autre part des rabats destinés à former ledit fond ;
• le dispositif comporte un système synchrone de plaquage du fond sur le mandrin de pliage définitif ;
• le mandrin de prépliage est disposé directement au dessus de la sortie des moyens de stockage des flans ;
• le mandrin de pliage est de section différente entre une première position de prépliage et une seconde position de formage de la caisse.

In advantageous embodiments, use is made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:

• the plating means consist of profiles, blades or the like arranged to compress the intermediate flap of the blank progressively against the underside of the final folding mandrel in an elastic manner during transfer;
• the plating means comprise means for supporting the intermediate flap at a distance from the folding mandrel and means arranged to progressively bring closer and to press said intermediate flap on the underside of the final folding mandrel;
• the support means consist of a movable plate;
• the pre-folding mandrel is of section having a shape different from that of the final folding mandrel;
• the pre-folding mandrel has a rectangular section and the final folding mandrel has an octagonal section;
• the means for gripping and moving said blanks towards the pre-folding mandrel comprise lateral arms for gripping by suction cup of the blank, located outside and pivoting on either side of the pre-folding mandrel, and means for taking up by suction cup said blank through said pre-folding mandrel, said suction-cup take-up means being associated with means for moving the pre-folded blank, from the pre-folding mandrel to the folding mandrel;
• the device comprises, at the level of the final folding mandrel, means for intermediate folding of the bottom flaps before pressurizing on the one hand flaps intended to form the side walls, and on the other hand flaps intended to form said bottom;
• the device comprises a synchronous system for plating the bottom on the final folding mandrel;
• the pre-folding mandrel is arranged directly above the outlet of the blank storage means;
• the folding mandrel is of different section between a first pre-folding position and a second box-forming position.

The invention also provides a method according to claim 15.

Advantageously, the method is characterized in that that to press said blank we compress gradually elastically the flap blank blank against the underside of the final folding mandrel during transfer.

In another advantageous embodiment, the process is characterized in that, to press the intermediate flap at the folding mandrel, we gradually bring said component closer middle of the underside of the mandrel definitive folding against which it comes entirely in support at the end of the tackle, through of a movable plate.

The invention will be better understood on reading a embodiment of the invention given below to by way of nonlimiting example.

La figure 1 est une vue schématique latérale en élévation d'un mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention.

La figure 2 est une vue schématique, latérale partielle du dispositif de la figure 1 après déplacement et formation de la caisse autour du mandrin de pliage définitif.

La figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon III-III de la figure 1 montrant plus particulièrement le mandrin de prépliage.

Les figures 4 à 10 montrent schématiquement en coupe transversale, au niveau du mandrin de pliage définitif, la formation de la caisse réalisée selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention plus particulièrement décrit ici.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic partial side view of the device of Figure 1 after movement and formation of the box around the final folding mandrel.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along III-III of Figure 1 showing more particularly the pre-folding mandrel.

Figures 4 to 10 schematically show in cross section, at the level of the final folding mandrel, the formation of the box produced according to the embodiment of the invention more particularly described here.

Figures 1 and 2 schematically show a device 1 for the production of a box 2 at from a blank 3 (in phantom in Figure 1) sheet material with a series of flaps rectangular 4 connected to each other by first fold lines 5 parallel to each other others, comprising an intermediate flap, and a first set of side flaps 6 arranged with a side of the suite of shutters, connected to it by second fold lines 7 and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box.

Device 1 includes a magazine 8 horizontal blanks or blanks dish including forklift 9 stack 10 blanks, kept at constant level during unstacking. Means 17 for positioning and precise setting of the blanks in x-y are provided.

At the end of each stack, it is replaced by a next pile 12, waiting on rollers 13, and suitable for being pushed on the forklift which came down for this purpose.

With the device more particularly described here, the unstacking is done directly above the stack 10 thanks to six or eight suction cups, namely on the one hand twice two suction cups 14, secured respectively to two lateral arms 15, arranged on either side of the pre-folding mandrel 16 and arranged to take a first position 17, gripping by suction of the top cutout 18, a second position 19, for leveling the cut horizontally substantially under said mandrel, and a third release position 20 arms up, for example using a 21 series of pneumatic or electric cylinders articulated, and on the other hand one or two sets of two articulated suction cups 22, for resumption of cutting, arranged through the mandrel 16, axially by relative to it and integral with the carriage 23 of transfer of the pre-folded blank, on at least part of the path, towards the final folding mandrel 24 (see figure 2).

The carriage 23, integral with the suction cups 22 is by example operated by an articulated crew 25 comprising an arm 26 actuated by a rod 27, the arm being mounted pivoting about a horizontal axis transverse 28 fixed to one of its ends. The arm 26 includes at its other end an articulated rod 29, one end of which is pivotally mounted on said other end of the arm 26 and the other end 30 on the one hand is guided horizontally by a rail horizontal guide arranged parallel to the mandrels, and on the other hand mobile in rotation by relative to a part 31 integral with the carriage 23, said part being provided with a pawl 32 arranged to come into contact with the rear part blank 3.

Means 33 for pre-folding or winding less partial blank on the mandrel 16 are provided, comprising 34 folding arms, suitable for compress vertically on the mandrel 16 both longitudinal flaps located on either side of the lower intermediate flap (see also figure 3). The arms are for example articulated around a axis 35 and movable parallel to the axis longitudinal of the mandrel between a retracted position, set back from the blank, and a position active compression of the flaps against the mandrel.

In the embodiment more particularly described here, the pre-folding mandrel is of section rectangular, with a central part longitudinal hollow, passage of the carriage 23 of transfer fitted at the bottom of the suction cups central 22 between the pre-folding position 36 (see Figure 2) and the folding position 37.

The mandrel 16 is for example constituted by four horizontal, metallic, parallel 16 'bars rectangular, forming the four corners of the mandrel.

The device 1 further comprises means 38 for plating comprising a movable plating plate 39 of the intermediate flap 40 of the blank folded on the face lower 41 hollowed out of the folding mandrel 24 definitive, gluing means 42 comprising by example of injection nozzles for applying a hot glue known by the Anglo-Saxon name "hot melt", and / or injection nozzles of cold glue known to those skilled in the art, arranged on the path between the pre-folding mandrel 16 and the folding mandrel 24 located in the extension horizontal to each other, the pre-folding mandrel thus transforming into a further folding mandrel low section in the embodiment more particularly described here.

The blank 3 pre-folded in a U on the mandrel 16 of pre-folding and which is transported via the carriage 23 does not undergo, during transport between the mandrel 16 and the mandrel 24, of friction resistance important due to the smaller section of the second mandrel, a gap between the device transfer and the pre-folding mandrel being provided with a value greater than the thickness of the material blank.

The blank is transferred by a system of vacuum (suction cup) and a mechanical pusher, to be permanently plated on the surface of the mandrel.

Guide rails are also provided, the whole being arranged so that it produces only one rolling friction during the transfer.

The device 1 also includes means 43 folding flaps 6 intended to form the bottom of packaging.

These means 43 include push cylinders 44, a closing plate 45 for example actuated by a cam device 46 between a position in horizontal shrinkage, and a plating position of the bottom on the mandrel, which has one side end 47 suitable for serving as a counter-support for bear the stresses during pressurization for gluing the background.

In the embodiment more particularly described here, the device 46 also allows actuate the carriage 23, via the rod 27, at the same time time as plate 45, which allows a perfect mechanical repeatability and therefore a very high precision, the movements being linked mechanically as will be described below.

To do this, the end 48 of the rod 27, opposite arm 26 is rotatably attached to a vertex 49 of a triangle 50, mobile in rotation around a transverse horizontal axis 51 located at another vertex and secured to the chassis of the device 1.

The third vertex 52 is united in rotation of a rod 53 fixed at its other end to a movable arm 54, integral with a cam 55 via a roller 56 between a low position where the carriage 23 is at the folding station, and a high position where the carriage is at the pre-folding station.

Plate 45 has its position controlled by cam 57 via a roller 59 fixed on the middle part of an arm 60, one end of which is fixed to the chassis 61 of the device 1 and the other is secured to a rod 62 for controlling the plate 45, a pneumatic cylinder 58 acting on a rod articulated itself secured to a rod, the other of which end is integral with the plate.

The plate 45 is therefore movable between a position vertical and a horizontal position, according to a determined mechanical time diagram, function of the position of the carriage 23.

Means for ejecting the box formed, by example via the cart 23 suitable for taking a extreme position located beyond the mandrel 24, and recovery means 63 of said box, for example including a treadmill, finally complete the device.

We will now describe with reference to the figures 4 to 10 showing in cross section part of the folding station 37, the final formation of the body before ejection.

In the following, we used the same numbers reference to represent the same elements.

In the embodiment more particularly described here, the folding mandrel 24 is of section octagonal, with cut corners 64, and a horizontal bottom face 65, the means 38 of plating comprising a plate 39 of shape complementary to the lower part of the mandrel.

As described above, the underside 65 can for example be hollowed out or appear of any another equivalent way for the skilled person. For example, the folding mandrel can be, so similar to the pre-folding mandrel, formed by four profiled bars, parallel and horizontal, metallic, forming the four cut corners of the mandrel.

The preformed U-shaped blank 3 on the mandrel pre-folding, is guided by side rails up to folding station, station with its intermediate flap 66 is located at a distance from the bottom of the plate 39 (see figure 4).

We bring together (see Figure 5) the plate 39 of the shutter intermediate 66 of the blank, for example via a jack hydraulic 67 by pressing said flap against the mandrel.

The cut corners of the body are thus plated on the cut corners of the chuck in one movement vertical from bottom to top. Also and for example, equivalently, two side cylinders of complementary shape at the corners cut can be provided to press the shutter intermediate on the underside of the mandrel just compressing the cut corners framing the intermediate flap on the cut corners opposite the folding mandrel, by a movement vertical, oblique or lateral of said cylinders.

Given the complementary forms, we just thus bring the side flaps 68 closer to the mandrel with which they are therefore in contact, the fingers pushers 44, also completing this bet in shape.

A tab 69 (FIG. 6), for example actuated by a jack 70, then presses the upper flap 71 on the mandrel, the tongue 72 also being applied by a piece 73 on the cut corner higher 74.

Then a part 75 having a form face complementary to the cut corner (figure 7) the end flap 76 connected to the flap 71 on the tab 72 to finish winding.

All or following the operations that come to be described, we also carry out the operations closing the bottom of the box (Figure 8 to 10).

Two push cylinders 77, lateral, close the vertical side flaps 78; then the flaps horizontal lateral 79 are folded down, in two stages, by a cylinder 80 (for the upper flap 81), then at using plate 45, after erasing the jack 80.

Once the bottom 81 is finished, the plate 45 disappears, plate 39 descends, controlled by the cam 57 and an internal ejection device for the mandrel (not shown) performs a longitudinal movement and ejects the box towards the means 63 for resuming the box, before loading.

As it goes without saying and as a result moreover from the above, the invention is not not limit to the embodiment more particularly described. She embraces contrary all the variants, and in particular those where the folding and pre-folding means are operated differently, for example by means pneumatic, electric or hydraulic servo to each other by a programmable controller, rather than a cam system.

Also the plating means on the mandrel of folding can be different, the main thing is that the plating function is performed, allowing obtain a checkout repeatedly and precisely.

We will now describe how the device 1 with particular reference to the figure 1.

The blank 3 located just below the mandrel 16 of pre-folding is gripped by the connected suction cups 14 in a manner known in itself to a setting device under vacuum, the device 21 then being in position low.

Then the arms 15 are mounted and the blank 3 comes place below the inside of the mandrel rectangular 16.

The suction cups 22 then grip the blank by inside the mandrel 16, the suction cups 14 being vented and the arms 15 are raised completely upright.

The arms 34 then pivot and grip at passage the side flaps of the blank 3 which is set U-shaped and plated on the mandrel.

The carriage 23 integral with the suction cups 22 is then automatically moved by the system to cam, pawl 32 pushing the blank up to folding position on the mandrel 24.

In passing, the sizing means 42 deposit the glue necessary for fixing the shutters together, and fixing the flaps together to form the bottom in known manner, up to the fold position on the mandrel 24.

The plate 39 is then approached and pressed on the mandrel before or simultaneously with folding the shutter upper by lug 69, tongue 72 being then compressed on the upper flap which has been previously glued on its contact part with the tongue.

Before applying the tongue or simultaneously, the small side flaps 75 at the bottom are folded down in pressure on the bottom 47 of the mandrel then the tongue 72 is applied; the top flap 77 is folded, the lower flap and flap assembly upper being then pressed against the bottom of the mandrel by plate 45.

During forming, the carriage 23 has returned to its initial position, actuated by the cam system sized accordingly, to take up a blank and repeat the operation.

Once the crate is finished, it is ejected when the carriage returns with a new blank, all cylinders and others devices having participated in the forming returning to their initial position, and so on.

Claims (17)

1. Device (1) for producing a box (2) from a blank (3) made of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular sections (4) connected to one another by first folding lines (5) parallel to one another, comprising an intermediate section (40, 66), and a first set of lateral flaps (6) arranged on one side of said series of sections, connected thereto by second folding lines (7) perpendicular to the first folding lines and intended to form at least partly the bottom of the box, said device comprising:

   means (8, 9, 10, 12, 13) for storing several blanks in a stack,

   a final folding mandrel (24),

   means (14, 15, 21) for gripping and displacing, one by one, said blanks to the final folding mandrel (24),

   means (42) for gluing the blank,

   and means for giving the blank (3) a U-shape and pressing it over the final folding mandrel (24),
   characterised in that the final folding mandrel (24) is extendible between a first retracted position and a second position for forming the box (2) and comprises an ejection device inside the mandrel effecting a longitudinal movement to eject the box.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the final folding mandrel (24) has an octagonal section.
3. Device according to any one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the device comprises means (38) for pressing the intermediate section (40, 66) of the blank over a lower face (41, 65) of the final folding mandrel (23), said pressing means (38) comprise means (39) for remotely supporting the intermediate section at the level of the folding mandrel and means (67) arranged for gradually bringing said intermediate section (40, 66) closer and for pressing it over the final folding mandrel.
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the support means (39) are constituted by a mobile plate.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said pressing means (38) comprise at least one jack (67) with vertical upwards action suitable for performing the function of pressing said intermediate section (40, 66) over the final folding mandrel (23).
6. Device according to Claim 5 dependent on Claim 2, characterised in that said pressing means (38) comprise two jacks with oblique or lateral vertical action, compressing the cut corners surrounding said intermediate section, over the cut corners facing said folding mandrel.
7. Device according to any one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the pressing means (38) are constituted by profiles, blades or equivalent arranged so as to compress the intermediate section of the blank gradually and resiliently against the lower face of the final folding mandrel at the time of transfer.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a section prefolding mandrel (16) having a shape that differs from that of the final folding mandrel (24).
9. Device according to Claim 8, characterised in that the prefolding mandrel (16) has a rectangular cross section and the final folding mandrel (24) has an octagonal cross section.
10. Device according to any one of Claims 8 and 9, characterised in that the means (14, 15, 21) for gripping said blanks and displacing them towards the prefolding mandrel comprise lateral arms (15) for gripping the blank by a sucker (14), located outside and pivoting from one side of the prefolding mandrel (16) to the other.
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterised in that it comprises means (22) for picking up said blank using a sucker by means of said prefolding mandrel (16), said sucker means for picking up being associated with the means (23) for displacing the prefolded blank, from the prefolding mandrel to the folding mandrel.
12. Device according any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises, at the level of the final folding mandrel (24), means (44) for intermediate folding of the bottom flaps before pressure is applied, on the one hand, to the sections intended to form the side walls, and on the other hand to the flaps intended to form said bottom.
13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a system (45, 46) for pressing the bottom over the final folding mandrel with dual cam (55, 57).
14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the prefolding mandrel (16) is arranged directly over the outlet of the storage means for the blanks.
15. Method for producing a box (2) from a blank (3) made of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular sections (4) connected to one another by first folding lines (5) parallel to one another, comprising an intermediate section (66), and a first set of lateral flaps (6) arranged on one side of said series of sections, connected thereto by second folding lines (7) perpendicular to the first folding lines and intended to form at least partly the bottom of the box, in which method:

    several blanks are stored in a stack,

    said blanks are taken and displaced, one by one, to the final folding mandrel (24) for said blanks,

    gluing takes place,

    said blank is rolled around said final folding mandrel, and

    to roll said blank around the final folding mandrel, the intermediate section (40, 66) of the blank is pressed over a lower face of the final folding mandrel, the bottom of the box is formed by folding the sections over, characterised in that the box thus formed is ejected by an ejection device inside the mandrel effecting a longitudinal movement.
16. Method according to Claim 15, characterised in that, in order to press said blank, the intermediate section of the blank is compressed gradually and resiliently against the lower face of the final folding mandrel at the time of transfer.
17. Method according to Claim 15, characterised in that, in order to press the intermediate section in the area of the final folding mandrel, said intermediate section is brought gradually closer to the lower face (41, 65) of the final folding mandrel against which it bears fully at the end of the pressing.

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