EP0185564A1 - Automatic machine for filling and for transferring and closing a polygonal box - Google Patents

Abstract

1. An automatic machine for filling, and for transferring and closing a polygonal box, of the kind comprising : loading means for introducing objects into the box, for example elevating means (7, 8) for making this introduction through its open bottom ; transfer means (15-18) for transferring the box from the intake of the machine to its exit ; and closing means adapted to fold the various flaps (3-6) of the box automatically towards the interior of the box, and then to secure these flaps adhesively in a closed position, characterized in that the said transfer means comprise, on each side of a path for movement of the box therealong, at least one gripping shoe (15) mounted in such a way that it can move on the one hand along said path, and on the other hand transversely thereof, two opposed, longitudinally movable shoes (15) acting together being thus able, at predetermined positions, both to move towards each other in the manner of a vice, so as to grip the box and its contents between them, and to retract one from the other so as to allow the box free passage.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic case packing and transfer and closing machine for an American box, namely a box, the bottom and top of which can, in a conventional manner, be closed by folding inwards. pairs of small and large flaps, opposite two by two.

More specifically, the invention relates to a machine of the type comprising: introduction means making it possible to introduce objects into the box, for example lifting means making it possible to carry out this introduction through its open bottom; transfer means making it possible to transfer the box from the entry of the machine to its exit; and closing means making it possible on the one hand to automatically fold inward the various flaps of the box, and on the other hand to hold these flaps by gluing in the closed position.

The object of the invention is to create a machine which, for the purposes of the abovementioned operations, is of simple constitution and is particularly reliable in its operation.

To this end, a machine of the type mentioned at the beginning will, in accordance with a main arrangement of the invention, be characterized in that said transfer means essentially comprise, on each side of a passage passage of the body, at least one pressing pad mounted so as to be able to move on the one hand along said corridor, and on the other transversely thereto, two opposite pads with longitudinal displacements being carried out in a can thus being, at determined locations, either bring each other together like a pair of pliers, to press the checkout and its contents, or move away from each other, to allow free passage to the checkout.

Thanks to this essential arrangement of the invention, and as will be seen more clearly in the following, very secure transfer means are first obtained, while being very simple in design. In addition, it is thus possible, if necessary, and depending on the nature of the contents of the box, to press-hold the contents of the box in place, even without using a support, before the bottom flaps of checkout will not be closed.

As for the means for closing these flaps, they can, thanks to the adoption of transfer means of the aforementioned type, be produced in different ways, and this also in a simple and reliable manner, as will be seen more clearly below. reading the examples of execution of the invention, which will now be described.

• - les figures 1 et 2 représentent schématiquement, en perspective, les étapes successives de fermeture d'une caisse américaine par une machine réalisée conformément à l'invention ; et
• - les figures 3 à 9 représentent schématiquement des organes essentiels de la machine, en différentes étapes de la fermeture de la caisse.

This description is made with reference to the figures of the appended drawing in which:

• - Figures 1 and 2 show schematically, in perspective, the successive steps of closing an American box by a machine produced according to the invention; and
• - Figures 3 to 9 schematically show essential parts of the machine, in different stages of closing the box.

In the figures, there is referenced at I a stack of folded American boxes contained in a store and constituted, in a known manner, by large and small side walls opposite two by two, respectively referenced at 1 and 2, and by a set of closing flaps. The large upper and lower flaps were referenced 3-4 respectively, and the small upper and lower flaps were referenced respectively 5-6.

After unfolding by suitable conventional means, for example with suction cups, the boxes are brought to the loading station II of the machine, in which the objects to be packaged are introduced vertically into the boxes, for example through the open bottom thereof.

In FIG. 3, reference has been made to 7 an elevator plate, constituting the aforementioned lifting means, and which can be moved by motor means such as a pneumatic jack 8. These means thus make it possible to engage from below the body the objects to be packed.

For the execution of the following operations, the machine mainly comprises folding slides 9,10 and, between these slides and the loading station II, upper 11 and lower 12 movable plates, and a fixed plate 13, the mobile plates being able to here again be moved by pneumatic cylinders, one of which is referenced 14, for the small lower movable plate.

After loading, the box is transferred to the next station III for folding the small front flaps 5 and 6.

This transfer of the body loaded from station to station, either forwards or backwards, is carried out by at least one pair of pressing pads 15 (one of which is visible in a V in FIG. 1), mus, in transverse direction and in opposite directions, by pneumatic cylinders 16. Two pads 15 face each other, on either side of the passage passage of the body, and can be moved simultaneously, in perfect synchronism, so as to be able to grasp the case and its contents, and to be able to transfer it from station to station. Thanks to this system, the case can, at least when it contains certain types of products, such as bottles or incompressible objects, be moved with its bottom open, since these products can be sandwiched between the two opposite side walls 1 of the body, by the pinching effect of the two pads 15, and therefore can not slide down. It is understood that this arrangement makes it possible to greatly simplify the machine.

In V in FIG. 1, there are also shown at 17 two lateral guides for longitudinal guide of the pads 15, a carriage 18 for supporting the jack 16 being able to move on these slides (the drawing being generally schematic, there is no has not shown the slides, the shoe and other members located on the other side of the path of the body, the general arrangement of this assembly being symmetrical to the previous one).

This being the case, it can be seen that the transfer of the box from station II to station III allows, as indicated above, the folding of the small front flaps 5 and 6 inwards, due to the folding slides 9 and 10, the plates 11 and 12 being in the high position. During this operation (see Figure 4), we see that the small lower rear flap 6 is folded - like the front flap 6 - backwards (see also position III in Figures 1 and 2).

The jack 14 is then automatically controlled to cause the descent of the small plate 12 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), which allows the small lower rear flap 6 to unfold. Are then automatically controlled the ascent of the small plate 12 and the descent of the large plate 11, substantially to the respective levels of the slides 10 and 9 (see Figures 6 and 7).

Then, in accordance with an essential characteristic of the invention, there is a particularly original transfer phase, consisting of a retraction of the body, from position III then reached to a position referenced IV (see FIGS. 7 and 8). recoil being of course obtained by a recoil control of the two clamping pads 15. The body is therefore brought back from a position situated between the slides 9 and 10 to a position situated between the large plate 11 on the one hand, the movable plate 12, and the fixed plate 13 on the other hand. This rearward movement therefore causes the two small rear flaps 5 and 6 of the body to be folded inwards (position IV, FIGS. 1 and 8).

The large flaps 3 and 4 of the body being always in the open position, the body is then pushed forward, passes to a position III '(see Figure 2) located at the location of the previous position III, and arrives at a position V (cf. FIGS. 1, 2 and 9) for which the inward folding of the large upper 3 and lower 4 flaps begins, by means of suitable ramps (not shown).

Before the large flaps are completely folded, gluing heads 19 (see FIG. 1) - station VI project lines of glue for example on the small upper 5 and lower 6 flaps, after which at station VII pressing devices which keep the large upper 3 and lower 4 flaps fully folded and pressed, until the adhesive has completely set.

As goes without saying and as it already follows from the above, the invention is in no way limited to those of its modes of application and embodiments which have been more particularly envisaged; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants.

One could consider, for example, replacing the aforementioned transfer means, that is to say pressing tongs, at least in certain locations of the machine, by transfer means of another type, when possible, for example by a chain to cleats, a roller conveyor or the like, especially when it is no longer necessary to laterally enclose the body and its contents.

One can also, and on the contrary, envisage the cooperation of several pairs of clamps and transfer clamps (instead of a single pair in the machine described above by way of example), a pair of clamps can then take over from the previous pair of pliers, to reduce downtime that would otherwise be required to return a single pair of pliers from one end of the machine to the other.

One could also consider the use of additional jacks, for example for folding back the small front lower flap.

In another type of machine also in accordance with the invention, it could also be envisaged that the folding of the small flaps of the box takes place without recoil of the box. To do this, according to a variant, one could use judiciously placed jacks, to carry out successive folding of the small lower and upper flaps, as the body advances towards the exit, operations again carried out before gluing , folding and pressing of large flaps.

We could in particular first of all close the small lower rear flap by a jack acting from below, after erasing a small support plate similar to the fixed plate 13 of the previous embodiment, but which here would be vertically movable . Indeed, the objects would then be held in the box, above this small tray, by the two lateral clips 15. The small front lower flap would likewise be folded backwards, for example by another jack acting horizontally. As we can see, a cash withdrawal would then be useless.

As for the small upper rear flap, it could be folded forwards by a rotary pusher, and the small upper front flap could be folded backwards by introducing the body under conventional folding ramps.

Again, we see the great utility of side clamps.

Claims (7)

1. Automatic case packing and transfer and closing machine for an American box, of the type comprising: introduction means making it possible to introduce objects into the box, for example lifting means (7,8) allowing to carry out this introduction through its open bottom; transfer means (15-18) for transferring the body from the entry of the machine to its exit; and closing means making it possible on the one hand to automatically fold inward the various flaps (3-6) of the body, and on the other hand to hold these flaps by gluing in the closed position, characterized in that said means transfer essentially comprise, on each side of a passage passage of the body, at least one shoe (15) drive mounted so as to be able to move on the one hand along said corridor, and on the other hand transversely to this latter, two opposite skids (15) with longitudinal displacements being carried out in a manner which can thus, at predetermined locations, either come close to each other in the manner of a clamp, to drive the body and its contents between them, or s '' move away from each other, to allow free passage to the checkout. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said closing means essentially comprise, in particular for the transverse flaps (5,6) before the body, slides (9,10) suitable for keeping folded back said front flaps during transfer from the body to said outlet and, between said introduction means (7,8) and said slides, intermediate means (11-14) suitable for folding the transverse flaps (5,6) rear towards the 'before, before their introduction between said slides (9,10). 3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said intermediate means (11-14) comprise at least two vertically movable plates (11,12) associated with motor means (14), and adapted to move between a position for which they are located respectively at the level of said slides (9, 10), and a position spaced from the corresponding slide, such that passage is left to the transverse flaps (5,6) rear of the body, these flaps then being in vertical position . 4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means suitable for causing the body to move back between a position (III) for which the transverse flaps (5,6) before are folded back between said slides ( 9,10), and a position (IV) for which, said plates (11,12) being located at the level of said slides (9,10), the recoil of the body over a determined distance makes it possible to fold towards the 'front of said transverse flaps (5,6) rear of the box, the latter, with its transverse flaps (5,6) front and rear folded inwards, then being reintroduced between said slides (9,10), after whereby the large upper (3) and lower (4) flaps are also folded inwards, using appropriate ramps, and gluing is carried out. 5. Machine according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the vertically lower movable plate (12) is associated with a fixed plate (13) situated at the level of the lower slide (10), all of the plates (12, 13) being located opposite the upper movable plate (11). 6. Machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises an additional cylinder for folding towards the rear of the front lower transverse flap (6) of the boxes, before introduction of these between said slides (9,10). 7. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of pads (15) successive, a pair taking over from the previous pair, so as to reduce downtime.

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