EP0152365B1 - Partition insert for packaging container and machine for its forming - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Divider for parallelepiped packing boxes, formed from a single panel of cardboard which is cut, scored and assembled in order to give several adjacent separate compartments, formed from rectangular or square panels (1 to 4 ; 7 to 15), joined to each other, separated by orthogonal or parallel cut or scored lines (5, 11, 16) which, when the divider is assembled, form a double central vertical partition (1, 2) obtained by folding the two central panels against each other ; two double lateral partitions (7, 8; 9, 10) in the same plane as and on both sides of the said central partition, also obtained by folding the two adjacent panels against each other ; and partitions (12 to 15) at right angles to the above-mentioned partitions and formed by single panels, the said single partitions (12 to 15) being joined to the said double side partitions (7, 8; 9, 10) along vertical fold lines (16) which roughly follow the vertical intersection axes of the partitions of the divider, and connected to the central double partition (1, 2) by means of linking panels (3, 4) which are perpendicular to both the double and single partitions and which can come into contact with the bottom of the box in which the rack is inserted ; the said divider, designed for packing objects in groups of twelve being characterized in that the said single partitions are extended by additional single panels (22) and the said connecting panels (3, 4) are extended by three single panels (19a, 19b, 19c) situated in the same plane and bent up so that they are parallel to the said double central partitions (1, 2; 7, 8; 9, 10) the said single central panels (19b) being the same width as the said connecting panels (3, 4).

Description

The present invention relates to a new structure of a separation box for a packaging box as well as to a machine for the automatic shaping of this box and its insertion into the receiving box.

In the packaging in parallelepeledic boxes of several objects arranged side by side it is necessary to provide in the boxes a sort of grid called a rack defining inside the box receiving cells objects thus separated from each other , wedged and protected. These racks are usually made of double-sided fluted cardboard and the current production techniques have a certain number of drawbacks.

For certain types of lockers, the cutting made in a cardboard blank does not allow rational and optimal use and leads to a percentage of falls which strikes the cost price. For other types of locker, several pieces must be made, which must be assembled by entanglement or gluing.

These manipulations lead to an increase in prices when they are mechanized, and difficult management of stocks.

Manual or mechanized assemblies are not functional and require either a lot of time (manual), or too much space and investment (mechanized). Document US-A-4157156 discloses a separation compartment with six compartments produced from the same blank of cardboard cut, grooved and shaped prior to its insertion into a packaging box.

In addition, document US-A-4303405 discloses a machine for shaping and placing cardboard in a box comprising a system for picking up cardboard one by one and for transferring it horizontally up to at the shaping station.

The object of the invention is, on the one hand, to improve the locker according to US-A-4157156 by adapting it to packaging in groups of twelve and making it suitable for being shaped and automatically placed in place. inside a packaging box reliably and with optimal protection of objects, in particular glass bottles or flasks, capable of being inserted in the rack.

The invention also aims, on the other hand, to provide a machine specifically designed to ensure automatically and at high speed the entry of the lockers objects of the invention, flat, their shaping and their insertion in said boxes. 'packaging.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a separation rack for a parallelepipedic packaging box, produced from the same blank of cardboard cut, grooved and shaped in order to form a plurality of individual boxes juxtaposed, consisting rectangular or square panels, integral with each other, separated by orthogonal or parallel cutting and / or creasing lines determining, during the shaping of the crate, a double central vertical separating partition obtained by folding one against the other of two central panels, two double lateral partitions in the plane and on either side of said central partition, also obtained by folding one against the other of two adjacent panels and partitions orthogonal to the above-mentioned partitions and formed by simple panels, said single partitions being integral with said double partitions along vertical fold lines substantially coincident with the vertical crossing axes of s partitions of the locker, however they are connected to the central double partition by means of connection panels perpendicular both to said double partitions and to said single partitions and capable of coming into contact with the bottom of the receiving box, said rack, intended for the packaging of objects in groups of twelve, being characterized in that said simple partitions are extended by complementary simple panels and said connecting panels are extended by three simple panels located in the same plane and raised at 90 ° from so as to be parallel to said central double partitions, said central single panels having the same width as said connecting panels.

The invention also relates to a machine for the automatic shaping and positioning of such a rack, comprising side by side a one-by-one entry station for cutouts stacked flat and a station for shaping the racks and insertion into a receiving box, characterized in that said gripping station comprises a carriage movable between an overhanging position of the stack of cutouts and an overhanging position of the shaping station, while said shaping station and insertion device comprises a shaping device through which is forced to pass each cut to end its stroke in said receiving box positioned below said shaping device, said gripping device comprising a first set of fixed suction cups and a second set of vertically movable suction cups and ensuring the introduction of the cutout in the former, the relative movement between said suction cups initiating the formation of the central double partition of said compartments.

• Figure 1 représente une découpe à plat d'un casier à douze compartiments conforme à l'invention ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un casier presque mis en forme à partir de la découpe de la figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 est une vue de dessus du casier de la figure 2 complètement mis en forme ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en élévation frontale d'une machine conforme à l'invention destinée à la mise en forme automatique des casiers selon la figure 1 ;
• Figure 5 est une vue de dessus de la machine de la figure 4 ;
• Figure 6 est une vue en perspective du conformateur assurant la mise en forme des casiers ;
• Figures 7a à 7c illustrent trois phases du processus de saisie des découpes de casiers ;
• Figures 8a à 8j illustrent différentes phases du processus de passage d'une découpe dans le conformateur jusqu'à son insertion dans la boîte réceptrice, et
• Figure 9 illustre une variante de réalisation du casier des figures 1 à 3.

Other advantages of the lockers according to the invention and of said machine will emerge from the description which follows of embodiments of said lockers and of the machine, description given by way of example only and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a flat cutout of a rack with twelve compartments according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a rack almost shaped from the cutout of the figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a top view of the locker of Figure 2 completely shaped;
• Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a machine according to the invention intended for the automatic shaping of lockers according to Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a top view of the machine of Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of the shaper ensuring the shaping of the lockers;
• FIGS. 7a to 7c illustrate three phases of the process for entering the cutouts of lockers;
• FIGS. 8a to 8j illustrate different phases of the process of passing a blank through the shaper until it is inserted into the receiving box, and
• Figure 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the locker of Figures 1 to 3.

In Figure 1 there is shown a crate cutout according to the invention and intended for the packaging of objects grouped by twelve.

The cut, made for example from a double-sided corrugated cardboard blank, comprises two central square panels 1 and 2, flanked by two external square panels 3 and 4, crease lines 5 individualizing said panels 1 to 4.

The other sides of the panels 1 and 2 are free thanks to cutouts 6 separating the said panels 1 and 2 from two pairs of adjacent rectangular panels 7, 8, and 9, 10. The adjacent panels 7, 8, on the one hand, and 9, 10, on the other hand, are separated by a double creasing line 11 intended to facilitate the folding down by folding of the panel 7 on the panel 8 and of 9 of 10 as will be seen below.

The external square panels 3 and 4 are each integral with two rectangular panels respectively 12, 13 and 14, 15 also integral with the respective adjacent panels 7, 9, 8 and 10. Creasing lines 16 individualize the different panels.

The crease line 16 between the panels 7, 12, and 10, 15 does not extend to the outer edge of the cutout but is interrupted and extended by a notch 17 delimiting a tab 18 secured to the panel 7 or 10 and encroaching in the surface of the adjacent panel 12 or 15.

Each panel 3, 4 is extended on its free edge by a panel 19 subdivided into three parts 19a, 19b, 19c separated by notches 20 connected by a cutting line 21 to the outer edge of the panel 19. The axis of the notches 20 is located in the extension of the cutouts 6.

The panels 14 and 15 are extended by two panels 22 partially encroaching on the surface of the facing parts 19a and 19c by a rounded cutout 23. In addition, a notch 24 is formed at the border between the panels 14, 22 and 15, 22 and to the right of the outer edge of the cutout of the locker.

The panels 12 and 13 are extended in the same way.

The volume or shape of the crate is made by simple folding along the various creasing lines shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.

This layout is illustrated in FIG. 2. Its principle consists in raising the two central square panels 1 and 2 towards the center of the rack until applying them one against the other so as to form a double central partition s extending from the bottom of the locker to a certain height. At the same time the panels 7, 8 and 9, 10 are also brought together and folded one against the other towards the outside of the rack in order to constitute two double partitions (7, 8 and 9, 10) located in the same plane and on either side of said double central partition 1, 2 (FIG. 3), the panels 7, 8, 12, 14 and 9, 10, 13, 15 being raised at 90 ° relative to the external square panels 3 and 4 which remain in the same plane, approach until becoming adjacent and will come into contact with the bottom of the receiver box.

The last shaping phase consists in raising the panels 19 at 90 ° around the fold line 25 in order to bring them parallel to the double partitions 7, 8 and 9, 10.

To this end, the notches 20 allow the easy insertion of the rounded end 22a of the panels 22 and, at the end of the race, the contiguous edges of the cutouts 21 snap into the notches 24 which locks the panels 19 in position vertical.

Considering FIG. 3, the creasing lines 16 at the border between the panels 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are found substantially at the two crossings of the partitions dividing the rack.

The lugs 18 are thus practically above and in the extension of the lower double partition 1, 2 and complete the separation and the protection of the objects on either side of said double partition 1, 2.

It should be noted that the two central cells of the locker, unlike the others, have a bottom (3, 4). The existence of these funds makes it possible to prop up objects vertically by compensating for the central depression that traditional boxes such as so-called American boxes have, because the short sides folded inwardly are not joined.

Such a cut is made in the same cardboard blank with the minimum amount of raw material scraps and is in one piece, the various panels all being integral with each other.

We will now describe, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a machine specifically designed for shaping the lockers according to the invention.

This machine consists of a frame 26 on which are arranged side by side a station 27 for entering the crate cutouts and a station 28 for shaping the crates and inserting them into a receiving box.

The station 27 comprises a horizontal lifting platform 29 supporting a stack 30 of crate cutouts superimposed flat and a device 31 for gripping and transporting one by one of each cutout, movable horizontally between a position (FIG. 4) for which it overhangs said stack 30, and a position for which it overhangs station 28.

The plate 29 is moved and guided using conventional means which need not be described in detail. Similarly, the device 31 is carried by a carriage 32 mounted mobile using also conventional means along the slides 33. On the latter can also move a second carriage 34 carrying a vertical cylinder 35 whose end of the rod carries a pushing plate 36 intended to complete the shaping of the crate in a shaper 37 and then its insertion in a parallelepipedic packaging box 38 previously opened and placed vertically below said shaper 37.

The box 38 moves on a conveyor shown schematically at 39 and passing through the machine, each open box brought by the conveyor under the shaper 37 being guided laterally by slides shown diagrammatically at 40.

The correct positioning of the box 38 under the shaper 37 is detected for example by photoelectric cells 41 (FIG. 5) and the box 38 is momentarily blocked on the conveyor 39 by a retractable stop 42 controlled by a jack 43 time (very brief ) inserting the locker into the box.

FIG. 6 shows in perspective and in more detail the shaper 37.

This essentially consists of a number of guide tracks, cams or deflectors, mounted fixed and responsible for carrying out the various folds by passing the cutouts through the conformator 37 in accordance. to the process illustrated by Figures 8a to 8j.

Shaper 37 consists of a rectangular frame 44 carrying inclined planes 45 intended for lifting the compartments 19a, 19b, 19c of the panels 19 (Figures 8e to 8h), side cams 46 for lifting the panels 12 to 15 (Figures 8c, 8d), lateral guides 47 for the folding against one another of the panels 7, 8 on the one hand, and 9, 10 on the other hand (FIG. 8i), as well as retractable fingers 48 of retained provisional of the cutout engaged in the former during the roughing (figure 8e) of the formation of the central double partition 1, 2.

The first phase of the machine operating cycle shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the entry of a rack cutout 49 on the top of the stack 30 using the device 31.

Figures 7a to 7c show the device 31 of Figure 4 in left view.

This device comprises a first pair of gripping suction cups 50 fixedly mounted on a plate 51 forming an integral part of the carriage 32, and a second pair of gripping suction cups 52 mounted movable vertically at the end of arms 53 mounted in pendulums oscillating around axes 54 carried by a horizontal crosspiece 55 located, when entering a cutout 49, substantially perpendicular to the square panels 1 to 4 of the cutout, each of the four suction cups 50, 52 sucking one of said four squares. The arms 53 have a width (FIG. 8d) slightly less than the side of the squares 1 to 4.

The cross member 55 is furthermore vertically movable by means of a jack 56 (FIG. 4) fixed on the carriage 32.

Finally, the alignment of the suction cups 50, 52 is flanked by two vertical fingers 57 movable vertically simultaneously with the cross member 55, also carried by the carriage 32, and the end of which is bevelled, these fingers being intended to initiate the correct folding of the panels 7, 8 and 9, 10 by forcing them to move outward (Figures 8b to 8e).

The cutout 49 above the stack 30 (which rises gradually as and when) is gripped by the suction cups 52, the cross member 55 remaining stationary (Figure 7b). The cutout 49 is lifted and brought into contact with the suction cups 50 (Figure 7c).

The device 31 is then brought into line with the shaper 37 (FIG. 8a). The outline of the formation of the central double partition 1, 2 (FIG. 8b) is carried out by the progressive descent of the cross member 55 and therefore of the arms 53 and suction cups 52. This descent begins the process of crossing the conformator 37 by cutting it out. 49, crossing during which the panels 12 to 15, 19 and 22 will be raised and the double partitions 1, 2 formed; 7, 8 and 9, 10 using the cams or guides 45, 46 and 47 as illustrated by FIGS. 8c to 8i.

During the insertion of the cutout, the arms 53 are progressively (FIG. 8e) pushed inwards by the ramps 45 so that at a given moment the crosspiece 55 ceases to descend and rises (FIG. 8f) to leave the place the pushing plate 36 which completes the volume of the rack (Figure 8i) by pressing on the upper end of the central part of the rack, then the insertion (Figure 8j) of the fully shaped rack in the receiver box 38 positioned directly above the former 37. As soon as the plate 36 is removed, the box provided with its rack is released by the jack 43 (FIG. 5) and evacuated by the conveyor 39, however a new box to be garnished is brought under the conformator.

During actuation of the pusher 36, the device 31 will seek a new cut and the cycle is repeated automatically.

The machine is suitable for treating cutouts 49 of different dimensions and different conformations by adjusting the wedging and guiding devices of the stack 30, boxes 38 to be filled, the spacings and dimensions of the active members 50, 52, 53, 57 of the gripping device 31 as well as the arrangement of the active members of the shaper 37, this can be done very easily simply by replacing the shaper with another suitable for the new type of crate to be shaped. This machine makes it possible to form and set up the lockers at a rate which can reach, for example, 750 to 1000 / h, in a single station, which has no measurement with current manual rates or even those of currently known machines.

Finally, the invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments shown and described above, but on the contrary covers all variants thereof, in particular with regard to the technology for producing the means ensuring the transfer of the blanks and their setting in volume. , in particular the conformator.

Likewise, the lockers can undergo modifications or arrangements without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. Figure 9 illustrates such arrangements. This figure shows in elevation a rack in accordance with Figure 2 and in which the cutouts made in 6 are sufficiently large so that after the volume of the rack is lowered edge 58 of the panels 9, 10 (and 7, 8) is set back compared to the underside of the central panels 3, 4. This has several advantages. Such a rack can indeed have its bottom (panels 3 and 4) integrated in a rectangular window such as that shown at 59 in a plate 60 constituting the bottom of the receiving box or attached therein. The window 59 has dimensions corresponding to those of the panels 3 + 4 which come to be embedded in it so that the plate 60 is level with the said panels 3, 4, the plate 60 not being able to go up along the rack since blocked by the edges 58 of the double partitions 9, 10; 7, 8.

The rack with its embedded plate 60, as shown in FIG. 9, can be used as it is for packaging, keeping the rack, the plate and the objects in their cells in place, being provided by partial covering of the together by shrink film or by tape. It should be noted that the plate 60 in place maintains the crate in the folded state, which facilitates handling during packaging.

Finally, it is possible to provide on the panels 19 extensions 61 shaped as handles for gripping the rack when it is used alone in association with the plate 60.

Claims (8)

1. Divider for parallelepiped packing boxes, formed from a single panel of cardboard which is cut, scored and assembled in order to give several adjacent separate compartments, formed from rectangular or square panels (1 to 4 ; 7 to 15), joined to each other, separated by orthogonal or parallel cut or scored lines (5, 11, 16) which, when the divider is assembled, form a double central vertical partition (1, 2) obtained by folding the two central panels against each other; two double lateral partitions (7, 8 ; 9, 10) in the same plane as and on both sides of the said central partition, also obtained by folding the two adjacent panels against each other; and partitions (12 to 15) at right angles to the above-mentioned partitions and formed by single panels, the said single partitions (12 to 15) being joined to the said double side partitions (7, 8 ; 9, 10) along vertical fold lines (16) which roughly follow the vertical intersection axes of the partitions of the divider, and connected to the central double partition (1, 2) by means of linking panels (3, 4) which are perpendicular to both the double and single partitions and which can come into contact with the bottom of the box in which the rack is inserted ; the said divider, designed for packing objects in groups of twelve being characterized in that the said single partitions are extended by additional single panels (22) and the said connecting panels (3, 4) are extended by three single panels (19a, 19b, 19c) situated in the same plane and bent up so that they are parallel to the said double central partitions (1, 2 ; 7, 8 ; 9, 10) the said single central panels (19b) being the same width as the said connecting panels (3, 4).

2. Divider as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the said three raisable single panels (19a, 19b, 19c) are equipped with slots (20) and means (21) of attachment to the said additional panels (22) which are equipped for this purpose (24) in order to facilitate the assembly of the divider and to help retain its shape.

3. Divider as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the walls of the double partitions (7, 8 ; 9, 10) flanking the said double central partition (1, 2) is extended by a tab (18) formed by a cut in an adjacent single partition and situated when the divider is assembled, above and in the same plane as the said double central partition (1, 2).

4. Divider as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said connecting panels (3, 4) are fixed in a slot (59) formed in a sheet of cardboard (60) on a level with the said panels (3, 4), the whole assembly being ready to use at it is, after binding or partial wrapping in shrink film.

5. Divider as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the said single panels (19a, 19b, 19c) are extended by tabs (61) which form gripping handles.

6. Machine for assembling and automatic insertion of the divider according to one of the claims 1 to 3, comprising a station (27) for grasping one by one the cut-outs (30) which are stacked flat, and beside this a station (28) for assembling the racks and inserting them into a packing box (38), characterized in that the said grasping station (27) compises a carriage (32) which can move between a position overhanging the pile of cut-outs (30) and a position overhanging the assembly station, whilst the station (28) for assembling and inserting the dividers comprises a shaping device (37) through which each cut-out (49) passes in order to reach the said waiting box (38) positioned below the said shaping device (37), the said grasping device (31) comprising a first set of stationary suction caps (50) and a second set of vertically mobile suction caps (52) which ensures that the cut-out (49) is introduced into the shaping device (37), the relative movement between the said suction caps (50, 52) beginning the action of forming the central double partition (1, 2) of the said racks.

7. Machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that it also comprises a pushing device (35, 36) designed to force the cut-out through the shaping device (37), the said pushing device comprising a plate (36) which can move vertically on a carriage this being horizontally mobile.

8. Machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the said shaping device (37) is detachable and is formed from a set of cams, guides or similar devices (45, 46, 47) disposed in such a way as to ensure, during the movement through the shaping device, that the single or double partitions of the divider are raised and formed.

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