EP0373025B1 - Machine, especially a cartoning machine, for automatically putting an article, especially a bottle, into a box - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a machine, in particular a cartoner, for automatically placing an article, in particular a bottle, in a case, of the type which includes, at a first level, a turret rotatably mounted around a substantially vertical axis. and comprising housings distributed around its periphery to receive the cases, when passing in front of a work station, and to drive them step by step, during the rotation of the turret, in various successive work stations, and, at a different level first, means for bringing the article to a station, vertically from a case in the open state, displacement means being further provided for introducing the article into the case by a movement substantially vertical, the machine comprising a magazine intended to receive a stack of precut sheets of corrugated cardboard, a mechanism for folding down parts of the corrugated cardboard and displacement means for introducing the article with the corrugated cardboard in the case.

A machine of this kind is known from GB-A-2 049 608. The stack of precut sheets of corrugated cardboard is at the level of arrival of the articles consisting of bottles. A sheet of corrugated cardboard is sort of wrapped around the bottle by rotating the bottle around its axis. This machine allows you to fold the sheet of corrugated cardboard essentially around the bottle, but the bottom and / or top of the bottle are not covered. In addition, the rotation of the bottle around its axis constitutes a constraining movement, causing jolts that can cause defects, such as scratches on fragile articles to handle.

The object of the invention is, above all, to provide a machine, in particular a cartoner, of the kind defined above, which ensures as gentle handling as possible of the article, in particular of the bottle, without imparting any shock or any kind of collision to it. It is desirable to avoid rotating the bottle around its axis.

The invention also aims to provide a machine which is compact, of a light mechanical design and which has a great flexibility to allow rapid format changes.

According to the invention, a machine, in particular a cartoner, for automatically placing an article, in particular a bottle, in a case, of the kind defined above, is characterized in that the stack of precut sheets of corrugated cardboard is located at an intermediate level between the level of the cases and the level of arrival of the articles, that the machine comprises a shaping device provided at the intermediate level, in correspondence with each housing of the turret, and means for gripping the sheets of corrugated cardboard one by one and introduce them into the shaping device, and that the machine includes means for introducing the article into the corrugated cardboard, the latter being in the shaping machine.

With such an arrangement, the article, in particular the bottle, is manipulated in its natural position, without being subjected to impacts or sudden movements. The corrugated cardboard takes place in the shaper and the bottle is not rotated about its axis. This vertical arrangement, with the superposition of the level reserved for the cases and the level of supply of the articles, makes it possible to produce a compact machine, with a reduced footprint, in particular less than 0.8 m × 0.9 m.

Preferably, the level of the cases is located above the level of arrival of the articles and the displacement means are arranged to lift the articles vertically and ensure their introduction into the case.

Each shaping device is mounted sliding in a vertical direction on guide columns going from the lower part of the intermediate level to the lower part of a housing of the turret, while a fixed rise ramp is provided to act on a roller. , or equivalent, linked to the former and ensuring a rise, in the vertical direction, of this former, in a predetermined angular zone.

The upper end of the former is advantageously provided with elastic blades converging upwards so as to form a sort of funnel which facilitates the entry of the former into the lower opening of the case. The shaping device can be constituted by a parallelepiped box whose vertical face located radially outwards with respect to the vertical axis of the machine is open, the lower part of this box being open, as well as the upper part which is surmounted by the elastic blades forming a funnel, the assembly being such that the introduction of the precut sheet of corrugated cardboard into the former takes place in the radial direction under the action of gripping means which apply the sheet against the large vertical face of the former closest to the axis of the machine, the lateral walls of the former and the edge of the funnel now folded down the lateral parts of the precut sheet and its upper part, additional means being further provided for folding up a tab before the corrugated sheet and a lower leg.

Preferably, the means for gripping the sheets of corrugated cardboard comprise a suction device supported by a vertical column provided at its base with a slide guided by a diametrical rib formed on a plate suitable for being rotated around. a vertical axis, means being provided for displacing said column in translation in the direction of the rib, while means are provided for driving the plate in rotation around its axis.

The means for driving the column in translation may include a horizontal arm situated above the plate and provided with a vertical sleeve freely traversed by the column in rotation, the movements of this arm being controlled from a rotary shaft coaxial with tray by appropriate transmission means while the tray is itself rotated from a hollow shaft coaxial with the aforesaid shaft. The rotation of each of these shafts can be ensured by a wheel driving a pinion wedged on the shaft considered, and a connecting rod-crank system driving the wheel in response to the rotation of a cam.

The machine comprises means for storing flat cases, these cases having a closed folded outline, gripping means being provided for gripping the cases one by one, while a thrust member, in particular formed by a ramp, is clean to act on one side of the flattened case, when it is driven, to cause the shaping of this case, the gripping means being mounted on a carriage movable in translation suitable for engaging the case in a housing of the turret.

The carriage carrying the gripping means is moved in an alternating rectilinear movement by being connected to a straight strand of a toothed belt which describes a closed contour, this belt being driven, in an alternating movement, from a pinion itself controlled by a wheel responding to the rotation of a cam.

Preferably, the machine comprises an inlet conveyor for the articles to be introduced into the cases and each article to be introduced is disposed in a bucket provided with an opening in its bottom and disposed on the conveyor, means for gripping the bucket being provided to disengage it from the conveyor and bring it to a station for introducing the article into the shaper.

The means for introducing the article into the shaper are arranged to, firstly, raise the whole of the bucket and of the article, so that the latter remains guided by the bucket while its upper part engages the shaper, then, in a second step, lift only said article by means of a pusher which crosses the open bottom of the bucket.

A device with a retaining blade is provided to support the article when it has been introduced into the former and the envelope of corrugated cardboard, while means with tilting rod are provided for folding down horizontally, the lower leg of the corrugated cardboard sheet, and for supporting it, as well as the article, when the aforesaid blade disappears; preferably, the corrugated sheet has a lower tab and tilting flap means are provided to raise this tab; advantageously, means are provided for laterally maintaining the corrugation during the folding of the tab, and serving as a stop.

The displacement means, for introducing the object into the case, comprise a movable pusher vertically, in particular by the action of a jack acting on a stroke multiplier device, for example with a pinion and toothed belt, extraction means being further provided for lowering the shaper, the upper end of which is in the form of funnel, was engaged in the lower part of the case.

Rotating blade means, in a substantially horizontal plane, are provided for folding down the lower and upper lateral tab of the case which is located behind in the direction of driving the case by the turret; the lower and upper lateral tab of the case, which is in front in the direction of drive of the case is folded down, during this drive movement by coming into contact against a stop, in particular formed by a ramp horizontal.

The machine comprises, for closing the case, an upper tab and a lower tab, rotatable about a horizontal axis, and provided with suction cups to close the cover and the bottom of the case, each tab being combined with a arm suitable for folding down the tab provided respectively on the edges of the cover and the bottom to ensure the engagement of this tab in the case and its locking.

To facilitate the introduction of the tab, provision is preferably made for holding the suction wall of the front wall of the case so as to slightly separate this wall and facilitate the introduction of the tab, said wall being then released.

To ensure smooth ejection of the filled case, a set of angle tilting, one wing of which comes under the case in a vertical position, is provided, this set being provided with rollers, the axes are parallel and located in a vertical plane when the case is received by the bracket, the assembly tilting so that the plane of the roller axes takes a slightly inclined position on the horizontal and allows evacuation by gravity , at reduced speed, of the case filled on a conveyor.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be more explicitly discussed below in connection with a particular embodiment described with reference to the attached drawings, but which is in no way limiting.

Figure 1 of these drawings is a simplified diagram illustrating the different work stations, followed step by step, of a machine according to the invention, and the different operations performed at each station.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a machine according to the invention.

Figure 3 is an elevational view along line III-III Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a simplified perspective view, with parts broken away, of the main central part of the machine with the turret for the cases.

Figure 5 shows, in perspective, on a larger scale, a detail of the locking device of a case in the turret.

FIG. 6 represents, in perspective, the device for controlling the locking of the corrugated in the shaper.

FIG. 7 is a simplified perspective view, with parts cut away, of a shaping device and means for gripping the corrugated material, for its introduction into the shaping device, these means being located radially outward relative to the turret and at a lower level corresponding to that of the conformers, to the right of the work station I.

Figure 8 is a simplified perspective representation of the mechanism for folding the front leg of the corrugated, this mechanism being, like that of Figure 7, at the position I.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of part of a device also provided at station I for folding and breaking the lower tab of the corrugated.

Figure 10̸ is a simplified schematic representation of a mechanism, also provided at station I, to conform the upper part of the corrugated.

Figure 11 is a simplified perspective view, with parts broken away, of the means provided in station II for taking the cases one by one and introducing them into a housing of the turret.

FIG. 11A is a partial perspective view of a case at the end of introduction into a housing of the turret.

Figure 12 shows a perspective detail of a device also provided in station II for marking the lower tab of the case.

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of one end of a conveyor provided with buckets containing bottles with means for gripping these buckets and removing them from the conveyor, at the level of station IV.

FIG. 14 shows the same end of the conveyor as FIG. 13 and means for taking over the buckets to allow vertical transfer of the bottle and evacuation of the bucket after transfer of the bottle.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a detail along line XV of Figure 13, these means being provided for in item IV.

Figure 16 shows, in perspective, a bottle being extracted from a cup, at station IV.

Figure 17 shows the bottle at the end of extraction and part of the control mechanism.

Figure 18 shows, in perspective, a mechanism to support the bottle at the end of introduction into the corrugated.

Figure 19 is a perspective diagram, with parts broken away, of a mechanism for breaking the lower leg of the corrugated, also provided at station IV.

Figure 20̸ is a perspective diagram of a mechanism for folding the lower tab of the corrugated, at station V.

Figure 21 is a perspective diagram with parts cut away of a mechanism for the lateral maintenance of the corrugated, still at station V.

Figure 22 is a perspective diagram, with parts broken away, of a mechanism for introducing, by vertical displacement, the bottle, surrounded by the corrugated, in the case, the mechanism in this Figure 22 being shown at the beginning of introduction, this mechanism being located at station V.

Figure 23 is a perspective diagram, with parts broken away, of a mechanism for the descent of the shaper, provided at station V.

Figure 24 is a perspective diagram, with parts broken away, of a mechanism for folding down an upper side tab and a lower side tab of the case, provided at station V.

Figure 25 is a perspective diagram of a mechanism for folding the cover and the bottom of the case at station VI.

Figure 26 is a perspective diagram of a mechanism for folding down the lower tab of the case, at station VI.

FIG. 27 is a perspective diagram of a mechanism for holding the front face of the case, to facilitate the introduction of the tab, at station VI.

Figure 28 is a perspective diagram of a blade control mechanism for holding the lower front leg of the case, still at the position VI.

Figure 29 is a perspective diagram, with parts broken away, of a mechanism for ejecting the case at station VIII.

Figure 30̸, finally, is a perspective diagram of a tilting assembly, provided following the means for ejecting the case, at station VIII.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, we can see a schematic representation of the overall organization of a machine according to the invention, to automatically put a bottle 1 in a case 2. The machine shown in the drawings is further provided to surround the bottle 2 with a sheet of corrugated cardboard 3 intended for the protection of the bottle against shocks. It is clear, however, that the machine can also be suitable when the presence of a corrugated sheet is not necessary.

The machine comprises, at a first level N1, represented diagrammatically by a dashed circle in FIG. 1, a turret 4 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) rotatably mounted around a vertical geometric axis 5. This turret, as visible in Figure 4, comprises two circular plates 6, 7 parallel and spaced from each other in the vertical direction. These plates are fixed in rotation on a shaft 8 of axis 5. The turret 4 comprises housings 9 distributed regularly on its periphery to receive the cases 2; these housings 9 are constituted by 10̸ notches of rectangular shape, opening radially outwards. A notch 10̸ of the upper plate 6 is located vertically of a notch 10̸ of the lower plate 7. In the example considered, eight housings 9, regularly distributed, are provided in the turret 4.

A mechanism 11 for stepping the shaft 8 is provided in the lower part of this shaft. This mechanism 11 comprises a horizontal disc 12 wedged on the shaft and provided with eight notches with which comes to cooperate, each time it completes a turn, a pin 13 driven in continuous rotation by a crank pin 14 rotating about a vertical axis located slightly outside the periphery of the disc 12. The crank pin 14 is driven in continuous rotation by the output shaft of a reduction gear 15 itself driven by an electric motor 16.

Each step taken corresponds to 1/8 of a revolution of the shaft 8 and therefore of the turret 4.

Thus, each housing 9 of the turret, at each complete revolution, will pass and stop in front of eight work stations numbered in Roman numerals from I to VIII in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Each housing 9 receives a case 2 at the work station II and drives it, during the rotation of the turret 4 in front of the various stations III to VIII. The closed case, containing the bottle 1 surrounded by the corrugated 3, is ejected at station VIII.

The machine comprises, at a level N3 (Fig. 1 and 2.) lower than the level N1, means A for bringing the bottles 1 to the workstation IV below and vertically from a case 2 which is found in the open state at this post IV.

The machine comprises, at an intermediate level N2 situated below the level N1 of the cases, but above the level N3 of arrival of the bottles, means for taking charge of a sheet of damping material, generally consisting of a sheet 17 (FIGS. 3 and 7) of pre-cut corrugated cardboard. This sheet 17, after suitable folding, is intended to be introduced into a case 2 so as to surround the bottle located inside this case. The sheet 17 is taken over at work station I. For this, the machine comprises, at the intermediate level N2 a shaping device 18, associated with each housing 9 of the turret and located below this housing.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the former 18 has the shape of a parallelepiped box, a large vertical face, the furthest from the axis 5 of the machine, is open. The other large vertical face 19, closest radially to the axis 5, is intended to be fixed, in particular by a quick-action lock, on a plate 20̸ mounted to slide, in the vertical direction, with guidance by two vertical columns parallel 21. These columns, fixed on two plates A and B, extend from level N2 to the underside of the plate 7, in correspondence with the notch 10̸, slightly back in the radial direction of the inner edge of this notch. Each housing 9 is thus associated with a shaper 18 and two guide columns 21.

The sliding plate 20̸ is provided on its rear face with an axis carrying a rotating roller 22 capable of coming into contact with a helical ramp 23 which ensures the rise of the plate 20̸ and of the shaper 18 during the rotation of the turret . The ramp 23 leaves from the lower part of level N2, towards workstation III; its pitch is chosen so that when the conformer arrives at station IV, the upper end 24 of this conformator is engaged in the open lower part of the case 2 held in the associated housing 9.

This upper end 24 of the shaper is provided with elastic blades forming a sort of funnel to facilitate the entry of this upper part into the lower opening of a case 2. This case 2 is held in the corresponding housing 9 of the turret 4 by a clamp such as 25 rotatably mounted on an edge of each notch 10̸ of the plates 6 and 7. Each clamp 25 is biased by a compression spring 26 so as to rotate in the direction which ensures the locking of the case 2 in the housing 9, a part of the clamp then projecting transversely into the opening of the notch 10̸. The plates of the two clamps 25 provided on the same side for each notch 10̸ of the same housing 9 are actuated both by a vertical rod 27 so that by exerting a push in a suitable direction on this rod 27 causes the simultaneous opening of the two superimposed clamps 25. A case 2 is held in a housing 9 by clamping its vertical wall closest to the axis 5 against the bottom of the housing 9 under the action of the clamps 25 which exert pressure on the external face of the case 2.

A device similar to clamp 28 (FIGS. 4 and 6) articulated on a vertical axis 29 is provided to maintain the corrugation in the shaper 18. The shaft 29 is closer to the shaft 8 than the bottom 19 of the shaper 18 ; the clamp 28 has substantially the shape of a U, located in a horizontal plane, and comes to cover a side wall of the shaper 18, so as to project transversely onto the open face of the shaper 18; the end of the branch of the clamp, projecting transversely in this opening, is provided with a vertical plate 30̸ suitable for exerting the clamping force (under the action elastic return means not shown) on the corrugated envelope (not shown) which would be inside the shaper 18. The clamp 28 is controlled in the direction of opening (in the example considered, rotation of the clamp 28 in the clockwise direction around the shaft 29) by a finger 31, which can rotate around a vertical shaft, under the action of a control cam 32 against which a roller 33 carried by an arm 34 linked in rotation to the finger 31. The arm 34 is urged against the cam 32 by elastic means not shown.

The profile of the cam 32 is such that for a determined angular displacement of the latter, which rotates with the shaft d , the arm 34 and the roller 33 move to the position indicated in phantom by turning in the opposite direction to clock ; the finger 31 performs a similar movement by pushing the rear branch of the clamp 28, which rotates the latter in the clockwise direction around the shaft 29 and causes the loosening.

As shown in Figures 3 and 7, storage means, very briefly shown, are provided for the sheets 17 of corrugated cardboard 3 which are stacked flat against each other, substantially vertically. The precut sheets have, in a plane, a large wall 35 in the center, bordered on each side by side walls 36, 37 and, at the top and bottom, by an upper leg 38 and lower 39. Each of these legs is extended by a tab 38 a, 39 a adapted to be folded 90 ° to the tab. The side tab 37 is extended by a front leg 37 has a slightly narrower, intended to be located, after folding, parallel to the large wall 35. The folds 40, between the various surfaces and walls are marked so that when a pushing force is exerted on one wall with respect to another, the folding takes place well along the desired line.

Gripping means P are provided for taking the plates or sheets 17 one by one and introducing them into the shaper 18. These gripping means comprise a suction device 41 which has been shown in several positions in FIG. 7, in particular the position for taking corrugated cardboard 3 in the stack, top left of this FIG. 7, and the position for placing the corrugated cardboard in the shaper 18, top right in this same figure 7. The device 41 is supported by a vertical column 42 to which it is linked in rotation. This column 42 is provided, at its base, with a slide 43 which can move in translation on a guide rib 44 extending along a diameter of a horizontal plate 45. This plate forms the cover of a drum at vertical axis which can be rotated by a hollow shaft 46 coaxial with the plate 45.

A pinion 47, fixed in rotation on the hollow shaft 46, meshes with a toothed wheel 48 which can rotate about a vertical axis and whose diameter is greater than that of the pinion. This toothed wheel 48 can be driven, in an alternating rotational movement of limited angular amplitude, by a connecting rod-crank system 49, the crank of which is controlled, in rotation about a vertical axis 50̸, by a cam 51, wedged in rotation on the shaft d and which cooperates with a cam follower roller carried by the crank of the system 49.

The shaft d is rotated from the parallel shaft m by a set 52 of pinions meshing with one another and wedged respectively on the shafts m and d .

Column 42 crosses freely in rotation a sleeve 53, of vertical axis, provided at one end of a horizontal arm 54 extending substantially radially; the other end of this arm 54, located radially outside the plate 45, is locked in rotation on one end of a vertical shaft 55 extending downward and freely traversing in rotation a sleeve 56, of axis vertical, provided at the end of a crank 57 locked in rotation on a vertical shaft 58 coaxial with the drum 45 and the shaft 46, and passing through the latter.

The shaft 55 is provided, at its end situated below the crank 57, with a pinion 59 of smaller diameter than that of a toothed wheel 60̸ wedged in rotation on the hollow shaft 46, below the crank 57. A toothed belt 61, in a closed loop, meshes with the pinion 59 and the crown 60̸. This belt device makes it possible, during a rotation of the hollow shaft 46, to amplify the angular movement of the arm 54 and to allow the axis 42 a straight path.

• pour la prise d'une plaque de carton ondulé, à partir de l'empilage, le plateau 45 est orienté de telle sorte que la nervure 44 soit orthogonale au plan moyen de la plaque à saisir, c'est-à-dire que la nervure 44 occupe une position décalée d'environ 90̸° par rapport à celle représentée sur la figure 7 ; simultanément, le bras 54 tourne dans un sens tel que la colonne 42 se déplace en translation, guidée par le coulisseau 43 sur la nervure 44, en direction de l'empilage des feuilles de carton ondulé pour que le dispositif 41 à ventouse vienne s'appuyer sur la plaque accessible de l'empilage ; la position correspondante de la colonne 42 est celle représentée en tirets sur la gauche de la figure 7 ;
• pour l'évacuation de la plaque de carton ondulé, le bras 54 est mis en rotation dans le sens qui provoque le recul de la colonne 42 coulissant sur la nervure 44 jusque vers le centre du plateau 45 ; simultanément, ce dernier est entraîné en rotation dans le sens contraire d'horloge selon la représentation de la figure 7, autour de l'axe géométrique du fourreau 46 de manière à amener la nervure 44 dans la position représentée sur cette figure 7, c'est-à-dire sensiblement orthogonale à la face ouverte du conformateur 18 ;
• le déplacement en coulissement de la colonne 42 en direction du conformateur 18, jusqu'à la position en tirets représentée sur la droite de la figure 7, assure l'entrée de la plaque en carton ondulée dans le conformateur 18, la grande paroi 35 de cette plaque étant appliquée contre la paroi verticale de fond du conformateur 18. Au cours de cette entrée de la plaque en carton ondulé dans le conformateur, les pattes latérales 36, 37 sont rabattues à 90̸°, l'une vers l'autre ; pour faciliter ce rabattement, le bord vertical de chaque paroi latérale du conformateur 18 est muni de rampes 66 formées par des portions de surfaces cylindriques à génératrice verticale tournant leur convexité vers l'ondulé.

The shaft 58 is driven in an alternating rotational movement, by means of a pinion 62 wedged on said shaft, pinion with which meshes a toothed wheel 63 coaxial with the wheel 48 and disposed below the latter. The wheel 63 is driven in an alternating rotational movement, of limited angular amplitude, by a connecting rod-crank system 64 similar to the system 49, located below the latter, with a crank articulated on the shaft 50̸. The control of the crank of the system 64 is ensured by a cam 65, wedged on the shaft d , below the cam 51. The profile of these cams, the characteristics of the crank-rod system and of all of the transmission are chosen so as to produce, at column 42 and plate 45, the following movements:

• for picking up a plate of corrugated cardboard, from the stack, the plate 45 is oriented so that the rib 44 is orthogonal to the mean plane of the plate to be gripped, that is to say that the rib 44 occupies a position offset by approximately 90 ° from that shown in FIG. 7; simultaneously, the arm 54 rotates in a direction such that the column 42 moves in translation, guided by the slide 43 on the rib 44, in the direction of the stacking of the sheets of corrugated cardboard so that the device 41 with suction cup comes press on the accessible stacking plate; the corresponding position of the column 42 is that shown in dashed lines on the left of FIG. 7;
• for the evacuation of the corrugated cardboard plate, the arm 54 is rotated in the direction which causes the column 42 to slide backwards sliding on the rib 44 as far as towards the center of the plate 45; simultaneously, the latter is rotated counterclockwise according to the representation of FIG. 7, around the geometric axis of the sheath 46 so as to bring the rib 44 into the position shown in this FIG. 7, it that is to say substantially orthogonal to the open face of the shaper 18;
• the sliding movement of the column 42 in the direction of the shaper 18, up to the dashed position shown on the right of FIG. 7, ensures the entry of the corrugated cardboard plate into the shaper 18, the large wall 35 of this plate being applied against the vertical bottom wall of the shaper 18. During this entry of the corrugated board plate into the shaper, the lateral tabs 36, 37 are folded back at 90 °, one towards the other; to facilitate this folding, the vertical edge of each side wall of the shaper 18 is provided with ramps 66 formed by portions of cylindrical surfaces with vertical generator turning their convexity towards the corrugated.

The lower horizontal edge 67 of the funnel-shaped upper part 24 is curved so as to turn its convexity downwards. This edge 67 facilitates the introduction of the corrugated into the former 18.

8 shows a mechanism for folding the front tab 37 is parallel to the major wall 35 of the corrugated. This mechanism is also provided in station 1, but has not been shown in FIG. 7 for the sake of simplification. This mechanism comprises a sort of shoe 68, the large dimension of which is horizontal and the end of which intended to press against the tab 37 a is curved substantially in the form of a half-cylinder, on the side opposite to the tab 37 a .

This shoe 68 is carried by one end of a horizontal plate 69 constituting one side of a deformable parallelogram 70̸; this plate 69 is parallel to a fictitious side of the parallelogram, formed by the segment joining the centers of the pivot axes 71, 72 on the other two sides 73, 74. The centers of the axes 71, 72 are fixed so that the plate 69 on which are articulated the ends of the sides 73, 74, remains parallel to a fixed direction during its movements. The other end of the side 73 is locked in rotation on the vertical axis 71. A rotation of limited angular amplitude of the axis 71 can be controlled from the shaft d by a cam 75 which acts on the crank of a connecting rod-crank system 76. The connecting rod of the system 76 is articulated at its end remote from the crank, on a radial extension 77 integral in rotation with the axis 71. Elastic return means, not shown, are provided to maintain the contact of the periphery of the cam 75 a roller 78 carried by the crank.

When the profile of the cam allows the roller 78 to approach the shaft d , represented by the arrow in phantom, the crank 76 rotates clockwise around its pivot shaft so that the side 73 rotates in the opposite direction of the clock, which separates the shoe 68 from the tab 37 a .

The folding of the tab 37 a is obtained, from the retracted position of the pad 68, by the reverse movement. During this folding, the clamp 28 is erased outward to allow the passage of the front tab 37 a of the corrugated. When the folding is carried out, the gripper 28 returns to the clamping position and holds the tab 37 is folded.

FIG. 9 represents part of a mechanism, also provided at station I, but not shown in FIG. 7 for the sake of simplification, making it possible to break the lower tab 39 of the corrugated before it enters the conformator 18. This mechanism includes a first ramp 79, the transverse leading edge of which is bent downwards. The tab 39 meets this ramp 79 during the movement of the corrugated between the storage and the shaper 18; the movement of the corrugated relative to the ramp 79 causes the tab 39 to break.

A second ramp 80̸, following the ramp 79, is articulated at its rear transverse horizontal edge 81. A jack 82, in particular with compressed air, is provided to act towards the end of the ramp 80̸ distant from the edge 81 and lift this ramp to finish breaking the tab 39 of the corrugated, when the latter is in place in the conformator.

Figure 10̸ shows a mechanism, also provided at station I, but not shown on the Figure 7 for simplicity, to achieve a rectangular recess 83 in the middle part of the dihedral formed by the large face 35 of the corrugated and the upper tab 38 which has been previously folded down by means not shown.

The edges such as 84 of this recess are cut beforehand in the corrugated sheet, while the folding zones 85 are marked beforehand. The operation consists in transforming into a concave dihedral the convex dihedral of the median part delimited by the cut edges 84.

A roller 86 mounted at the leading end of a part 87 capable of tilting around a horizontal transverse axis, is provided to press and depress the vertical face of the convex dihedral limited by the cut edges 84, so that 'there is a reversal of convexity, this vertical face becoming horizontal, during the displacement in translation of the corrugated along arrow 88 in phantom in Figure 10̸.

A linkage 89, with return lever, clearly visible in Figure 10̸, is provided to control the lifting of the part 87 by rotation about its axis, so as to pass through the roller 86 the vertical bottom wall of the recess 83 when it was completed. The linkage 89 is controlled by a cam 90̸ wedged on the vertical shaft d .

A roller 91 mounted on the shaft carrying the part 87 is provided to bear and roll on the upper tab 38 folded down; the radius of this roller 91 is sufficient to keep the roller 86 away from the folded tab 38.

FIG. 11 shows the mechanism located at station II and at level N1 making it possible to take the cases 2, one by one, to unfold them and give them a rectangular parallelepiped shape and for the insert into the housing 9 opposite the turret 4.

The cases 2 are stored vertically flat, these cases having a closed contour. In its folded form, the width of the case is greater since it is equal to the sum of the width of a large face such as 92 and a side wall such as 93.

Gripping means comprise a suction device 94 carried by an arm 95 fixed on a carriage 96 movable in translation, in a substantially radial direction relative to the turret 4. This carriage is guided by two parallel cylindrical rods 97.

The carriage 96 is moved with a reciprocating rectilinear movement, by an arm 96 is substantially vertical which it is attached. The lower end of this arm, remote from the carriage 96, is connected to a straight strand 98 of a toothed belt 99 which describes a closed contour. This belt is driven by a wheel 10̸0̸ wedged on a vertical shaft 10̸1, which is driven in a reciprocating rotational movement, from the shaft d , by a cam 10 cal2 wedged on this shaft, in a manner similar to that already previously described. In other words, the cam 10̸2 acts on a roller carried by a crank of a rod-crank system 10̸3, which drives a toothed wheel 10̸4 which meshes with a pinion 10̸5 wedged on the shaft 10̸1.

A thrust member formed by a ramp 10̸6, the mean plane of which is horizontal, in the form of an arc of a circle turning its convexity towards the cases 2, is provided fixed relative to the frame (not shown) of the machine. This ramp is arranged so as to come to interfere with the flattened side wall 93 when the suction cup device 94 drives in case 2 of the left to right in FIG. 11. This driving movement, combined with the effect of the pushing of the ramp 10̸6 on the wall 93, causes the case 2 to be shaped which, when flattened, becomes a rectangular parallelepiped .

The console 10̸7 which supports the guide rods of the carriage 96 can, during assembly, be oriented in an oblique non-radial position on the horizontal plane by rotation of its fixing around the axis 10̸1.

This pivoting makes it possible to optimize the trajectory of the transfer of the case relative to the latches 25 of the housing 9.

FIG. 12 shows a marking device 10̸8 comprising a clamp 10 pince9, controlled by a jack 110in to make a dry impression on the lower tab 111 of the cardboard case 2.

FIG. 13 shows an inlet conveyor 112 for the bottles 1 to be introduced into the cases 2; the arrival end of this conveyor is located at station IV. Each bottle 1 is placed in a cup 113 provided with an opening 114 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) at its bottom.

Each bucket 113 consists of a base 115 forming a sort of small tray surmounted by a rectangular parallelepiped envelope 116 open at the top, and whose cross section, smaller than that of the tray 115, is designed to receive with reduced play the bottle 1, the upper part of which protrudes from the envelope 116. The opening 114 is formed by a sort of well which passes through the entire thickness of the base 115 and opens into the envelope 116.

The buckets 113 are driven by the conveyor belt 112 in the direction of the arrow 117 (FIG. 13), that is to say from left to right according to the representation of this figure; the front and rear edges of each bucket 113, oriented transversely to the direction of advance 117, are provided with a groove 118.

FIG. 15 shows means for separating the bucket located on the far right of FIG. 13.

Means 120̸ (FIG. 13) for picking up the bucket are provided for disengaging it from the conveyor 112 and bringing it to an insertion station, in the vertical direction, of the bottle 1 in the corrugated film 3 and the shaper 18 containing this corrugated material . The means 120̸ comprise a bent horizontal arm 121 rotatably mounted around a vertical axis 122 and controlled by a motor means 123 such as a jack. The arm 121 comprises, at its end remote from the axis 122, a gripping member 124 of shape adapted to that of the bucket 113 so as to grip the bucket 113 during a rotational movement of the arm 121 in the direction of clock around the axis 122 according to FIG. 13, and driving this bucket 113 out of the conveyor belt 112, while maintaining the bucket.

The arm 121 and the axis 122 are arranged so that when the bucket 113 is removed from the conveyor belt 112, it describes a circular translational movement tangent to the horizontal direction orthogonal to the arrow 117.

The horizontal rod 119 (FIG. 14) is integral with the upper end of an arm 125 and is arranged transversely at the edge of the conveyor 112. The arm 125 is rotatably mounted at its lower part around a horizontal axis 126, parallel to the rod 119, motor means being provided for controlling the rotation of the arm 125. When the arm 121 evacuates the bucket 113 from the conveyor 112, the rod 119 is in the left-most position, the bucket 113 being raised by 20̸ mm . Arm 121 (Figure 13) can then return to its starting position by a counter clockwise rotation. The cup 113 containing the bottle 1 is kept away from the conveyor 112 to the right of the station for introducing the bottle into the case. The bottom of the cup 113 is then above means 127 for introducing the article into the corrugated 3 (FIGS. 16 and 17); for the sake of simplification of the drawing, these means 127 have not been shown in FIG. 14.

The above-mentioned means 127 comprise a jack 128 (FIG. 17) with a vertical axis, the rod of which is provided at its upper end with a transverse horizontal plate 129 capable of extending under the bucket 113 when it is at the insertion station. . The wafer 129 is integral with a vertical pusher 130̸ extending upwards, of rectangular section, suitable for engaging in the opening 114 of the bottom of the bucket. The plate 129 is guided in translation by a vertical shaft 131, for example cylindrical, extending downward and offset transversely relative to the pusher 130̸. A ramp 132 located in a vertical plane is integral with the wafer 129; this ramp 132 is, for example, cut from a wing of a bracket 133 oriented vertically and fixed on the plate 129. The upper end of the ramp 132 is closer to the axis of the shaft 131 than the end lower of said ramp 132.

A lever 134 rotatably mounted, at its lower end, about a horizontal axis 135 orthogonal to the wing of the angle iron provided with the ramp 132, is supported, by its rounded upper end, against the ramp 132. This lever 134 is integral, in rotation, with a radial rod 136 (Figure 16), whose end remote from the axis 135 is connected by a hinge to the lower end of a substantially vertical link 137 whose upper end is articulated on a lug secured to a horizontal crosspiece 138.

This cross member 138 is provided at each end with a vertical rod (not visible) which extends through a vertical guide bore provided in a fixed block 139. The part of each rod included between the cross member 138 and the underside block 139 is surrounded by a helical compression spring 140 ressort. The upper end of each of the rods is integral with a shelf 141 bordered, on a long side, by a vertical wall towards the bottom, and which comprises, on its lower face, a recess suitable for receiving the upper end of the block 139 against which said shelf 141 is normally held in abutment by the action of springs 140̸.

The means 127 for introducing the bottle 1 into the corrugated cardboard 3 and the shaper 18 operate in the following manner.

The upward stroke of the jack 128 causes the pusher 130̸ to engage in the opening 114 and the inclined part of the ramp 132 to cooperate with the upper end of the lever 134. The assembly is provided so that this lever 134 is requested by the ramp 132 before the pusher 130̸ acts against the bottom of the bottle 1.

The lever 134 rotates around the axis 135 in the opposite clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 17 and drives the rod 136 in the same direction of rotation so that the link 137 and the cross member 138 are pushed upwards against the resistance exerted by the springs 140̸. The shelf 141 will be lifted with the cross member 138 and move away from the block 139 as shown in FIG. 16. The movement of the shelf 141 stops when the upper end of the lever 134 has reaches the outer edge of the wing of the angle iron 133 which remains at constant distance from the axis 135. This first phase of the movement makes it possible to simultaneously lift the bottle 1 and the cup 113 whose envelope 116 holds the bottle 1 at the time of its engagement, in the upper part, in the corrugated cardboard 3 and the shaper 18 not shown in Figures 16 and 17 for the sake of simplification of the drawing.

The jack 128 continues its vertical upward stroke and the pusher 130̸ continues to rise while the plate 113 has stopped its vertical movement. The bottle 1, guided in the upper part by the corrugated cardboard 3, is completely out of the envelope 116.

FIG. 18 shows a device with a retaining blade 142 intended to support the bottle 1 when the latter has been introduced into the corrugated cardboard envelope 3 (the former is not shown in FIG. 18) so that the push-button 130̸ can descend without causing the bottle to descend 1. This blade 142 has a bent end which slides under the bottle 1. The movements of the blade 142 are controlled by two links 143, 144 articulated on this blade and forming with it a deformable parallelogram, said rods being articulated, at their ends remote from the blade 142, around fixed vertical geometric axes.

The rod 143 is rotated about the fixed axis 145 by a mechanism 146 with rod and return lever, controlled by a cam 147 wedged on the vertical shaft b and against which a cam follower belonging to the mechanism 146 bears. When the profile of the cam 147, following the rotation of the latter, moves the cam follower away from the shaft b , the blade 142 is moved in a direction which moves it away from the bottom of the bottle 1; the reverse movement, that is to say, the engagement of the blade 142 under the bottle 1 is obtained when the profile of the cam 147 allows the cam follower to approach the shaft b .

When the bottle 1 has been removed from the cup 113, the arm 125 (FIG. 14) is rotated in the clockwise direction around the axis 126 so as to advance the cup 113, which no longer contains a bottle.

Means 148 (FIG. 14) are provided for receiving the empty bucket 113 at the end of the stroke of the arm 125. These means 148 include two rods 149 of circular section, 150̸ of L-shaped section, parallel to the direction of advance of the bucket 113 and suitable for engaging respectively in front of the envelope 116 above the plate 115 and, for the rod 150̸, at the rear and below this plate 115.

The two rods 149 and 150̸ are offset in height and transversely so that the bucket 113 is held, by its own weight, in abutment against these rods, which are fixed, at their opposite end to the arrival of the bucket 113, on a upright 151 constituting a side of deformable parallelogram whose other sides are formed by rods 152, 153 parallel and articulated at one of their ends on said upright 151. The other end of each of the links 152, 153 is articulated around a horizontal axis parallel to the direction of advance of the arrow 117. Motor means 154 are provided for controlling the rotation of the rod 153. A rotation of this rod in the appropriate direction allows the empty bucket 113 to be released from the rod 119 and to lower it to a lower level on an evacuation conveyor 155 which moves in the opposite direction to the arrow 117 and drives the bucket 113 by freeing it from the means of socket 148 since the space between the ends of the rods 149 and 150̸ distant from the upright 151 is free.

In FIG. 19 we can see means with tilting rod 156 for folding the lower tab 39 of the corrugated cardboard horizontally 3. The rod 156 which has a bent part is articulated around a horizontal axis and its tilting is controlled by a mechanism 157 controlled by a cam 158 locked in rotation on a horizontal transverse shaft a . The tab 39 a is located in the extension of the folded tab 39.

Figure 20̸ shows an arm 158 suitable for tilting around a transverse axis 159 parallel to the large face of the corrugated 3, the arm 158 forming a flap means suitable for raising the tab 39 a substantially at right angles to at the bottom of the wavy. The end 160̸ of the arm 158 is widened and has a curved upper edge forming a cylindrical part convex upwards, of generatrices parallel to the axis 159.

The control of the tilting of the arm 158 is ensured by a linkage 161 controlled by a cam 162 fixed in rotation on the shaft e .

FIG. 21 represents a mechanism 163, also provided at station V, for laterally holding the face 36 of the corrugated 3 during the folding of the tab 39 a . This mechanism 163 comprises an arm 164 rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis 165 parallel to the large faces of the corrugated 3. The arm 164 comprises, at its end radially distant from the axis of rotation, a plate 166 suitable for coming against a side wall of the case 3 when the arm 164 is raised. The rotational movement of the arm 164, in a vertical plane, is provided by a mechanism 167, shown in Figure 21, controlled by a cam 168 keyed on the rotation shaft is horizontal, parallel to the axis 165.

FIG. 22 shows the vertical displacement means 169, provided at station V, for introducing the bottle surrounded by the corrugated 3 into the case 2 which is located above. These means 169 comprise a push rod 170̸ movable vertically and driven by a vertical strand of a toothed belt 171 wound in a closed loop in a vertical mean plane around two toothed wheels, of relatively large diameter, mounted on two parallel horizontal shafts 172, 173 located on different levels. These shafts carry, at another end, pinions of smaller diameter cooperating with a toothed belt 174 also forming a closed loop having a vertical mean plane. It can be seen that the entire mechanism constituted by these toothed belts, the wheels and the pinions, forms a stroke amplifying device 175. The movements of the belt 174 are controlled by a jack 176 with a vertical axis, the rod of which is linked in translation to a strand of said belt. The upper end of the push rod 170̸ is provided with a bracket 177 having a vertical wing which comes against the tab 39 has folded down.

Figure 23 shows, still at station V, a movable floor device 178 located next to the pusher 170̸ and leaving the passage, in the horizontal plane, to this pusher. The device 178 comprises, in its upper part, a sort of plate 179 suitable for supporting the corrugated 3 by pressing against the lower horizontal edge 39 of the corrugated 3. The plate 179 is carried by a vertical rod 180̸ secured to its lower part, of a block 181 driving, by a vertical rod 182 b , a fork 182 a receiving the roller 22 of the support 20̸ of the shaping station comprising a vertical bore crossed by a vertical guide column 182. The vertical rise of the block 181 and therefore floor mobile 178 is controlled by a synchronous action caused by the roller 22 rising on the ramp 23 (Figure 4) and driving the rod 182 b and by a cam 183 locked in rotation on a rotary horizontal shaft a . This cam 183 acts on a roller carried by an arm 184 of a mechanism 185, for transmitting movement with an articulated link as seen in FIG. 23.

When the roller 22 has reached the top of the ramp 23, the descent of the block 181, of the rod 182 b and of the movable floor 178 is controlled by the means 185.

The movable floor 178 is located in the extension of a fixed ramp (not shown) which supports the shaper 18, the bottle 1 and the corrugated 3 during the transfer from station IV to station V being supported by the rod 170̸.

When the push-button 170̸ at the end of the upward stroke has finished the introduction into the case 2 of the bottle and of its corrugated, the descent of the rod 180̸ and of the movable floor 178 is controlled by the means 185 so that the shaper 18 descends and the upper part 24 in the form of a funnel is completely released from the case. The bottle remains supported in the case by the push button 170̸ which is always in the high position.

FIG. 24 shows means with rotating blades 186, 187 in a substantially horizontal plane, provided at station V for folding down the lower side tab 2 a and upper side 2 b of the case. The blades are located behind according to the direction of the holster drive by the turret. It will be recalled that for the example considered, in FIG. 24, the direction of drive of the case 2 is the clock direction around the vertical axis of the turret, that is to say which case 2 is driven from right to left in Figure 24 when a turret pitch is performed. The pusher 170̸ and its upper end are provided sufficiently narrow and are located in the middle zone of the case 2 so as not to hinder the folding of the legs 2 a , 2 b . When this folding has been carried out, the bottle and the corrugated are maintained, in the case, by the rotary blade 186 so that the pusher 170̸ can descend so as not to hinder the next step of driving the case 2 .

The control of the rotation of the blades 186 and 187 is ensured by a rotary vertical shaft 188 driving, by means of pinions, respective toothed belts 189, 190̸. The upper rotary blade 187 is carried by a vertical shaft 191 provided, in the upper part, with a pinion directly driven by the belt 190̸. The lower blade 186 has a substantially square shape; an articulation is provided in the vicinity of the top of the bracket on a vertical axis 192 carried by the radial end of a horizontal crank pin 193. This crank pin is driven in rotation around an axis 194 by a pinion cooperating with the toothed belt 189. The small branch of the blade 186 at right angles serves to fold the tab 2 a ; the large branch of the bracket 186 is articulated, at its end remote from the axis 192, on a pivot 195 carried by the end of an arm 196 rotatably mounted around a fixed vertical axis 197. This mechanism allows communicating to the blade 186 an appropriate movement on the one hand to erase this blade from the path of the case 2 and on the other hand to fold the tab 2 a .

The shaft 188 is driven from the vertical shaft b by a chain transmission system 198 and return sprockets.

The two tabs 2 c , 2 d of the case located in front in the direction of driving the case will be folded down, during the movement of this case, by fixed ramps, not shown, which will allow maintain said legs in their folded position.

Figure 25 shows a mechanism, provided at station VI, comprising an upper tab 199 and a lower tab 20̸0̸ rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis. These two legs are controlled simultaneously by a rotary vertical shaft 20̸1 and by couples 20̸2, 20̸3 of bevel gearboxes. The assembly is arranged in such a way that for the rotation of the shaft 20 un1 in a determined direction, the upper tab 199 is lowered while the lower tab 20̸0̸ is raised, the opposite occurs for the rotation of the shaft 20̸1 in the opposite direction. The rotational movements of the shaft 20̸1 are controlled by a cam 20̸4 wedged on a vertical shaft c ; a radial arm 20̸5 is integral with the shaft 20̸1 in the lower part and carries a roller suitable for pressing against the cam 20̸4 under the action of elastic return means not shown.

Each tab 199, 20̸0̸ is provided, at its end remote from the axis of rotation, with at least one suction cup 20̸6, 20̸7 for gripping and closing respectively the cover 2 e and the bottom 2 f of the case.

Figure 26 shows an arm 20̸8 combined with the lower tab 20̸0̸ to fold the tab 2 h provided on the edge of the bottom 2 f . A similar arm (not shown) oriented upside down is combined with the upper tab 199 to fold the tab 2 g of the cover 2 e . For the sake of simplification of the drawings, the arm 20̸8 is shown in a FIG. 26 distinct from FIG. 25. The arm 20̸8 is rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis 20̸9 and is driven in rotation from the shaft 20̸1 by a system bevel gear partially shown. The end of the arm 20̸8 remote from the articulation axis forms a sort of spatula whose width is substantially equal to that of the 2 h tab; on its upper side planar, said end is provided with teeth 210̸ formed by sorts of plates parallel to one another, spaced from each other and orthogonal to the plane of the end of the arm 20̸8; the mean plane of these plates is also orthogonal to the fold line of the 2 h tab. These teeth 210̸ cooperate with the tab 2 h to ensure its drawdown substantially at 90̸ ° relative to the bottom 2 f .

Fig. 27 shows means 211 for holding the suction wall 212 of the front wall 2 i of the case, so as to slightly separate this wall 2 i to facilitate the introduction of the tab 2 h . The wall 2 i is then released.

The means 211 include an arm 213, for example in a square section tube, provided at its end facing the case 2 with a sort of comb or rake 214 whose teeth 215 are suitable for engaging in the spaces between the teeth 210̸ of Figure 26. Thus, the arm 213 is somehow nested in the arm 20̸8 when the latter is in the raised position, but, to make the drawings clearer, these two arms have been shown separately in Figures 26 and 27. The teeth 215 are oriented vertically downwards and have, at their lower part, a ledge projecting towards the case 2 suitable for exerting a push on the tab 2 h for its introduction into the case. The suction cup 212 is provided in the central part, deprived of teeth, of the comb 214; a corresponding free space is provided in the middle part between the teeth 210̸ (Figure 26) for the passage of this suction cup; by suction (creation of a relative vacuum by means not shown in the drawings) one can apply the face 2 i against the suction cup 212 and facilitate the entry of the tab 2 h .

The arm 213 is moved in circular translation parallel to itself by a mechanism 216 with articulated links forming a deformable parallelogram; the two links are articulated at one of their ends on the arm 213; at its other end one of the links is articulated on a fixed point while the other link is rotated by a horizontal shaft 217 parallel to the face 2 i of the case. This shaft 217 is driven from a vertical shaft 218 by a couple of bevel gears. The vertical shaft 218 is controlled by a cam 219 fixed in rotation on the shaft c .

A combination of similar means ensures work on the 2 g tab of the upper tab of the case.

FIG. 28 shows a mechanism 221, provided at station VI, for moving a blade 222 for holding the lower front tab 2 c of the case. When the 2 h tab has been inserted into the case 2 and has locked in a conventional manner, the bottom 2 f of the case no longer risks opening under the effect of the weight of the bottle and the blade 222 can therefore be removed and erased to allow the next step of the case 2 with the turret (not visible in Figure 28).

The blade 222 which has a bent part, is moved in circular translation parallel to itself by a system 223 with two horizontal links forming a deformable parallelogram. The rotation of one of the links is controlled by a vertical shaft 224, this shaft itself being controlled by a cam 225 fixed on the vertical shaft b and acting on a connection mechanism visible in FIG. 28.

FIG. 29 shows at the level of station VIII, part of the turret 4 and means 226 for ejecting from the turret the case 2 closed and filled with the bottle 1 surrounded by its corrugated, held in the housing 9.

The means 226 comprise a plate 227 extending radially outwards, and the upper surface of which is tangent to the lower part of the case 2. A pusher 228 is provided radially inwards, so as to extend transversely behind the large inner face of the case 2. This pusher 228 is fixed to a horizontal transverse branch of a traction member 229 in the form of a square, the other branch of which is oriented radially. The concavity of this member 229 is turned so as to be able to receive the base of the case 2 when the latter rotates clockwise, driven by the turret 4. The radial branch of the piece 229 is provided at its end remote from pusher 228, a vertical extension 230̸ directed downwards. This extension passes through a longitudinal slot 231 provided in the plate 227. The extension 230̸ is linked in translation, below the plate 227, to a block 232 slidably mounted on a guide rod 233 oriented radially, and which passes through with a clearance reduces a bore provided in block 232. The displacement in translation of block 232 is controlled by a jack 234 with a vertical axis, the rod of which is connected, at its free end, by an articulation, to an arm of a deflection device 235 rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis, in a direction orthogonal to that of the rod 233. The return device 235 comprises another arm, substantially offset by 90̸ ° relative to that connected to the rod of the jack 234; this other arm carries, at its end, a roller 236 engaged in a lateral vertical notch of the block 232.

A rotation in an appropriate direction of the return device 235 causes the displacement in translation of the block 232 radially outwards so that the pusher 228 drives the case 2 out of the turret 4. The turret having caused the clamps 25 to open at the end of its rotation, comes to bottom on the latter on a fixed bar.

FIG. 30̸ shows a tilting assembly 237 which is provided, at station VIII, at the outer radial end of the plate 227.

The assembly 237 comprises a chassis 239 which can tilt around a transverse horizontal axis 240̸ whose geometric axis is located substantially in the mean plane of the plate 227. The tilting of the chassis 239 is controlled by a jack 241 whose free end of the rod is articulated on the end of a rod 242, orthogonal to the axis 240̸ and linked in rotation to this axis.

The frame 239 comprises two lateral uprights in the shape of a rectangular trapezium, the small base of which is remote from the plate 227, the long side of the right angle of this trapezoid being orthogonal to the said plate 227 and turned towards the case 2 when the frame 239 is in the raised position shown in Figure 30̸.

Rollers 239 a , for example four in number, with parallel horizontal axes are arranged side by side between the uprights of the frame 239; the rollers 239 a can rotate freely around their axes carried by the above amounts. A guiding and holding element 238, in the form of a square, is fixed to the plate 227 for the lateral positioning of the case 2 relative to the chassis 239.

The chassis 239 comprises a plate 243 forming a square with the mean plane of the axes of the rollers and integral with the uprights of the chassis 239. When this chassis occupies its raised position of FIG. 30̸, the plate 243 comes to register in an opening of the plate 227; when the case 2 is pushed into contact with the rollers 239 a , the plane of which axes is vertical, the plate 243 is located below the bottom of the case 2.

When the jack 241 controls the tilting of the chassis 239, towards the front, the plate 243 drives the case 2 in this tilting. The tilting is controlled until the plane of the axes of the rollers 239 a is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal so as to ensure the evacuation of the case 2 by gravity on a conveyor 244.

This evacuation takes place at reduced speed and without any impact.

The operation of the machine according to the invention results from the foregoing explanations, without it being necessary to insist on this subject.

It will simply be recalled that the turret 4 rotates step by step so that the housings of this turret pass successively to stations I to VIII, stopping there.

At station I, the machine ensures the corrugation 3 is taken into the storage device and the introduction of this corrugated into the shaper 18 with flap of the side walls and of the upper and lower parts as well as of the front tab.

At station II, a case 2, taken flat in the stack, is shaped and introduced into a housing 9 of the turret.

At station III, the rise of the corrugated and the conformator is initiated by the ramp 23.

At station IV, the bottle is introduced into the corrugated, the empty cup which contained the bottle is ejected, and the lower flap of the corrugated is folded down.

At station V, the tab located at the edge of the lower flap of the corrugated film is folded down, the entire bottle and the corrugated film is introduced into the case 2, then the shaper 18 is lowered; the lower and upper rear side tabs of the case 2 are folded down, then the bottle plunger is lowered. The other side tabs of the case 2 are then folded down.

At station VI, the end tabs of the case are folded down with the tabs inserted into the case, by the combined action of pushers and suction cup devices.

At station VII, the closed case only passes.

At station VIII, the case is ejected.

The automatic cartoner machine according to the invention can be produced in a compact form with a floor area of approximately 0̸, 7 mx 0̸, 85 m for a total height of 1.35 m and ensuring a rate of around 10̸ to 20̸ strokes per minute. The machine is of a simple design and allows very rapid format changes obtained, not by adjustments, but by easy tool changes. Synchronization is obtained using cams mounted on rotary shafts driven from the same motor, which is an economical and robust solution.

The article, in particular the bottle 1, is always handled in its natural position, without any gripping system and without it being necessary to impart any impact or knocks to it.

The cases are closed at the last moment, which practically eliminates the risk of scratches on these cases.

Claims (18)

1. Machine, especially a boxing machine, for automatically putting an article, in particular a bottle, into a case, comprising, at a first level (N1), a turret (4) mounted so as to rotate about a substantially vertical axis (5) and comprising housings (9) distributed around its periphery so as to receive the cases (2), when passing in front of a workstation, and to take them step-by-step during the rotation of the turret to various successive workstations and, at a level (N3) different from the first, means (A) for bringing the article to a station, vertically in line with a case (2) in the open state; displacement means (169) further being provided so as to insert the article (1) into the case (2) by a substantially vertical movement, the machine comprising a magazine intended to receive a stack of precut sheets (17) of corrugated cardboard (3), a mechanism for folding down parts of the corrugated cardboard (3); and displacement means for inserting the article (1) with the corrugated cardboard (3) into the case (2); characterised in that the stack of precut sheets (17) of corrugated cardboard (3) is situated at an intermediate level (N2) lying between the level (N1) of the cases and the level (N3) at which the articles arrive; that the machine comprises a shaping device (18) provided at the intermediate level (N2), opposite each housing (9) of the turret, and means (P) for grasping the sheets (17) of corrugated cardboard one by one and inserting them into the shaping device (18); and in that the machine comprises means (127) for inserting the article (1) into the corrugated cardboard (3), the latter being in the shaper (18).
2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the level (N1) of the cases (2) is situated above the level (N3) at which the articles (1) arrive,and the displacement means (169) are arranged so as to raise the articles (1) vertically and insert them into the case (2).
3. Machine according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that each shaping device (18) is mounted so as to slide in the vertical direction on guiding columns (21) going from the bottom part of the intermediate level (N2) to the lower part of a housing (9) of the turret (4), whilst a fixed ascending ramp (23) is provided to act on a roller (22), or equivalent, linked to the shaper (18) and to raise this shaper (18) in the vertical direction within a predefined angular zone.
4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper end of the shaper (18) is fitted with elastic blades (24) converging upwards so as to form a sort of funnel which facilitates the entry of the shaper (18) into the lower opening of the case (2).
5. Machine according to Claim 4, characterised in that the shaper (18) consists of a parallelepipedal box whose vertical face situated radially outwards with respect to the vertical axis of the machine is open; the bottom part of this box being open, as well as the top part which is surmounted by the elastic blades (24) forming a funnel; the assembly being such that the precut sheet of corrugated cardboard is inserted into the shaper (18) in the radial direction under the action of grasping means (P) which apply the sheet against the large vertical face (19) of the shaper (18) closer to the axis of the machine; the lateral walls of the shaper (18) and the edge (67) of the funnel holding the lateral parts of the precut sheet and of its upper part; additional means (68, 70; 79, 80) further being provided for folding down a front tab (37a) of the sheet (17) of corrugated cardboard (3) and a lower tab (39).
6. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means (P) for grasping the sheets (17) of corrugated cardboard (3) comprise a device with a sucker (41) supported by a vertical column (42) fitted, at its base, with a slide (43) guided by a diametric rib (44) made on a plate (45) capable of being rotationally driven about a vertical axis, means (54, 56, 58, 59) being provided for translationally displacing the said column (42) in the direction of the rib (44), whilst means (46, 47, 48) are provided for rotationally driving the plate (45) about its axis.
7. Machine according to Claim 6, characterised in that the means for translationally driving the column (42) comprise a horizontal arm (54) situated above the plate (45) and fitted with a vertical sleeve (53) freely rotationally traversed by the column, the movements of this arm being actuated from a rotary shaft (58) coaxial with the plate (45) via suitable transmission means (59, 60, 61), whilst the plate (45) itself is rotationally driven from a hollow shaft (46) coaxial with the above-mentioned shaft (58).
8. Machine according to Claim 7, characterised in that the rotation of each of the shafts (46, 58) is ensured by a wheel (48; 63) driving a pinion (47; 62) wedged onto the shaft in question, and a connecting rodcrank system (49; 64) driving the wheel in response to the rotation of a cam (51; 65).
9. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means for storing the cases (2) flat, these cases having a folded closed contour, grasping means (94) being provided so as to grasp the cases (2) one by one whilst a thrust member, especially formed by a ramp (106), is capable of acting on one side of the flattened case when it is driven, so as to cause this case to be shaped, the grasping means being mounted on a carriage (96) which can be moved translationally and is capable of engaging the case in a housing (9) of the turret (4).
10. Machine according to Claim 9, characterised in that the carriage (96) carrying the grasping means (94) is displaced with a reciprocating rectilinear movement by being connected to a rectilinear length (98) of a toothed belt (99) which describes a closed contour, this belt being driven, with a reciprocating movement, from a pinion (100) itself actuated by a wheel responding to the rotation of a cam (102).
11. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an arrival conveyor (112) for the articles to be inserted into the cases (2) and each article to be inserted is arranged in a bucket (113) fitted with an opening (114) in its bottom and arranged on the conveyor, means (120) for taking the bucket (113) being provided so as to free it from the conveyor and bring it to a station for inserting the article (1) into the shaper (18).
12. Machine according to Claim 11, characterised in that the means for inserting the article into the shaper are arranged in order, in a first instance, to raise the bucket (113) and article (1) assembly so that the said article (1) remains guided by the bucket (113) whilst its upper part engages in the shaper (18), then, in a second instance, to raise only the said article (1) by means of a pusher (130) which passes through the open bottom (114) of the bucket.
13. Machine according to Claim 12, characterised in that a device with a holding blade (142) is provided so as to support the article when the latter has been inserted into the shaper (18) and the corrugated cardboard envelope (3), whilst means with a tilting rod (156) are provided for folding down, until it is horizontal, the lower tab (39) of the sheet of corrugated cardboard, and for supporting it as well as the article when the abovementioned blade (142) retracts.
14. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displacement means (169) for inserting the object (1) into the case (2), comprise a pusher (170) which can move vertically, especially through the action of a jack (176) acting on a stroke-amplifying device (175), extraction means (178, 179, 180) being further provided for the descent of the shaper (18) whose upper funnel-shaped end has been engaged in the lower part of the case.
15. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that means (186, 187), with a blade which can rotate in a substantially horizontal plane, are provided for folding down the lower lateral tab (2a) and upper lateral tab (2b) of the case which is to the rear according to the direction in which the case (2) is driven by the turret (4).
16. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises, for closing the case, an upper tab (199) and a lower tab (200) which can rotate about a horizontal axis, and are fitted with suckers (206, 207) for closing the lid (2e) and the bottom (2f) of the case (2), each tab being combined with an arm (208) capable of folding down the tag (2g, 2h) respectively provided on the edges of the lid and of the bottom to ensure that this tag is engaged and locked in the case.
17. Machine according to Claim 16, characterised in that it comprises means (211) for holding the front wall (2i) of the case with a sucker so as slightly to move this wall away and to facilitate the insertion of the tags (2g, 2h), the said wall then being released.
18. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a tilting assembly (237) with a bracket, one wing (243) of which comes under the case (2) in the vertical position, this assembly being fitted with rolls (239a) whose axes are parallel and situated in a vertical plane when the case (2) is received by the bracket, the assembly tilting so that the plane of the axes of the rolls assumes a position which is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal and allows the filled case to be removed by gravity at a slow speed on a conveyor (244).

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