Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/60—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping
  • B31B50/73—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by mechanically interlocking integral parts, e.g. by tongues and slots
  • B31B50/732—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by mechanically interlocking integral parts, e.g. by tongues and slots by folding or tucking-in locking flaps
  • B31B50/734—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by mechanically interlocking integral parts, e.g. by tongues and slots by folding or tucking-in locking flaps interengaging tongues and slots

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for erection of boxes having folded corners. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for erection of boxes that are made from a one-piece box blank sheet. Preferably, the invention relates to an apparatus of erection of boxes made from one single material but also boxes mad ⁇ from composite materials may be erected by means of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Boxes of various kinds are used in many fields in order to facilitate handling and packing of goods and articles. In addition, many various kinds of boxes are available that are adapted to suit various conditions and contents. For certain purposes it is of interest to have boxes that are not closed, i.e. boxes that are open upwards and have no top but yet are stable and strong enough to be stacked one on top of the other. This is the case for instance in boxes designed to contain fruit and vegetables. Boxes of this kind are formed with folded corners, which enhances the box stability generally and the corner stability specifically. Boxes of this type are known from e.g. SE93/00377.
• the box described in SE93/00377 is manufactured from one single box blank sheet, which sheet is illustrated in Fig 1 herein.
• the corner panels 4 projecting from the end walls 3 are initially folded inwards, towards the end walls along fold lines 20 so as to form an essentially right angle with the plane of the box blank sheet.
• the end walls are then folded along fold lines 23 into an upright position in which they extend essentially perpendicularly to the box bottom panel 1.
• the side walls 2 erected along fold lines 22 and flaps 11 are inserted into slits or slots 12 formed in corner panel parts 4b that are contiguous with the end walls.
• the flaps 11 are then folded upwards, whereby the side walls become interlocked with the corner panels and thus with the end walls.
• the parts 4a of the corner panels 4 that are spaced from the end walls 3 are then folded towards the end walls along fold lines 21.
• These panel parts 4a are secured to the end walls by engagement of flaps 13 formed in said panels in slits or slots 14 formed in the end walls, whereby also the flaps 11 will be fixed in their erected, interlocking positions. Owing to the resulting folded, triangular corners a stable box having excellent stacking properties, thus is obtained.
• one object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which boxes having folded corners may be erected and formed from a box blank sheet generally and more specifically boxes of the type described in Patent Specification SE93/00377.
• the object of the invention is achieved by means of an apparatus defined in claim 1.
• the present invention concerns an apparatus for erection of boxes having folded corners.
• the apparatus comprises pivotable units for erection of the end and side walls of the box.
• the inventive apparatus comprises corner folding devices comprising erecting means, folding means and fold-over means.
• the erecting means are operative to fold a corner panel of the box blank sheet into an upright position.
• the fold- over means then folds an upper part of said corner panel on top of the first folding means.
• the apparatus comprises retaining means for maintaining the box corner panels in the folded position during the erection of the end and side walls of the box.
• the apparatus may be provided with means for fastening the end and the side walls of the box to one another. This may be effected by inserting flaps into slits or slots formed for that purpose, or by stapling or gluing.
• Fig 1. illustrates a box blank sheet from which a box may be formed by means of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention
• Fig 2. is a schematic view showing the apparatus in accordance with the invention in a view from above.
• a box erection apparatus in accordance with the invention designed to fold box blank sheets configured as illustrated in Fig 1, is shown in Fig 2.
• the apparatus comprises a centrally disposed plunger device 101 which preferably is equipped with suction cups 102.
• the plunger device 101 In operation of the apparatus the plunger device 101 is extended against a supply of box blank sheets, the suction cups 102 adhering to the part 1 of the box blank sheet that corresponds to the box bottom panel.
• the extendible plunger device 101 is equipped with four suction cups 102 positioned in a rectangular pattern and preferably made from some rubber material in the interior of which vacuum pressure may build up with the aid of a pump connected to the cups, causing the cups to adhere to the sheet by suction.
• other types of retaining means for instance some type of clamps, securement by means of electric fields or the like.
• pivotable units 103, 104, 105 and 106 are located in a rectangular pattern about said plunger device 101.
• the pivotable units are pivotable about the one of their edges that faces the plunger device and the units are positioned in such a manner that two opposite members, 103 and 104, when pivoting, move into engagement with those panels 2 of the box blank sheet retained by the plunger device that correspond to the side walls of the box.
• the other pivotable units 105 and 106 which likewise are disposed opposite one anotner, are arranged to pivot in a similar manner into engagement with the panels 3 of the box blank sheet corresponding to the end walls of the box.
• projecting elements preferably are provided, onto which the box blank sheet may be fitted by means of recesses 10 formed in said blank sheet and having a configuration corresponding to that of the projecting elements for the purpose of ensuring safe application in the correct manner of the blank sheet in the apparatus and preventing displacement thereof during the operation of the apparatus.
• the projecting elements consist of raised edges 107.
• the pivotable units 103, 104, 105 and 106 are provided with locking means 110 and 111.
• the locking means ensure safe abutment of the box blank sheet against the pivotable units 103, 104, 105 and 106 during the erection of the box.
• these locking means consist of clamping means 110 and 111 which are positioned on the pivotable units.
• the clamping means 110 and 111 are pivotally mounted on the pivotable units spaced from the axis of rotation of the corresponding unit, thus allowing the clamping means to be lowered to clampingly engage the box blank sheet. Because the clamping means are positioned comparatively centrally lengthwise on the pivotable units, said units will cause the blank sheet to bulge if the pivotable units are at the same time formed with cavities or at least with impressions in the areas where the clamping means exert their clamping action. The magnitude of the bulge will depend, however, on the one hand on the type of material of the box blank sheet and on the thickness thereof and on the other, on the difference in levels between the impression or cavity and the surrounding surfaces.
• the pivotable units could for instance be formed with two ribs, one on either side of the clamping means and directed away from the bottom panel of the box blank sheet. Obviously, other embodiment modifications are possible to produce the level differences in the pivotable units.
• flap folding means 115 are provided which in accordance with the embodiment illustrated project from the edge of the pivotable units that is spaced from the rotational axis of said units, and the projecting parts of said flap folding means are bent in such a manner that they extend above the pivotable units towards the box blank sheet.
• These flap folding means force the flaps 11 projecting from the side wall panels 2 of the box blank sheet to be folded upwards upon actuation of the clamping means 111, whereby said flaps will assume a position essentially at right angles to the plane of the box blank sheet.
• cam faces 120 are used in accordance with the present embodiment. These cam faces 120 force the corner panels 4 to be erected into a position essentially at right angles to the rest of the box blank sheet when the sheet is applied in position in the apparatus by means of the plunger device 101 and the suction cups 102. Other ways of effecting erection of the corner panels can also be used, such as by means of plunger devices that may be extended against the corner panels, upwards pivotable plates, or the like.
• Folding downwards of the upper parts of the corner panels is effected in accordance with the shown embodiment with aid of two separate means.
• a first folding means 122 is activated. This means is displaced in a direction in parallel with fold line 22 intended for the side walls 2 of the box blank sheet into a position closely adjacent one of the erected corner panels and interiorly thereof, i.e. on the side facing away from the cam surface 120.
• this folding means is formed with a comparatively even upper edge which following the displacement will be positioned at a level corresponding to the intended corner panel folding line 21.
• the folding means are fixed to the pivotable units 104 and 105 for erection of the end walls and consequently this folding means accompany said units as the latter are pivoted upwards.
• the folding means also comprise curved hook-like end portions which, upon retraction of the folding means, ensure that the flaps 11 formed on the side wall panels and inserted into the corner panel slots 12 take part in the movement. This causes the flaps to be folded upwards into a position in which they extend approximately in parallel with the plane of the parts of the corner panels 4b into which they are inserted.
• a fold-over means 123 is used which in accordance with the embodiment shown comprises a plunge extendible from a stationary cylinder.
• the fold-over means serves to ensure that the upper part 4a of the corner panel is folded so as to extend essentially at right angles to the lower part 4b of the corner panel.
• the fold- over means 123 may be configured differently.
• retaining means 125 In order to retain the inwards folded upper parts 4a of the corner panels in position during the erection of the end walls 3 the apparatus is equipped with retaining means 125.
• these means are positioned in the areas of the pivotable members 104 and 105 designed to erect the end walls that are spaced from the respective pivot shaft of said units.
• Said means comprise at least one pivot shaft, allowing the means to be folded down across the panels 3 of the box blank sheet intended to form the box end walls and to exert a pressing action on the downwards folded parts 4a of the corner panels.
• these retaining means further comprise piston-and- cylinder units 126 forming those parts of the retaining means that are arranged to abut against the downwards folded upper parts 4a of the corner panels.
• the piston- and-cylinder units 126 are used for additional folding of the downwards-folded parts 4a of the corner panels after insertion of the side wall flaps 11 into the slots 12 of the corner panels and after folding upwards of said flaps into their position in which they are essentially parallel with the plane of the portions of the corner parts 4b into which they are inserted. This is effected by extending the pistons of the piston-and-cylinder units 126 outwards so as to press against said parts 4a.
• the plunger device 101 is extended and by means of the suction cups 102 it will grip a box blank sheet carrying it along in its retracting movement, so as to position said sheet in the apparatus.
• the cam faces 120 will force the box corner panels upwards into a position in which they extend essentially at right angles to the rest of the box blank sheet, and on the other, the box blank sheet will be fitted into the apparatus in such a manner that the edges 107 raised above the apparatus will project through the recesses 10 formed in the sheet, thus counteracting any tendencies in the box blank sheet to assume an incorrect position prior to the erection or to become displaced during said process.
• the locking means 110 and 111 are activated, being pivoted downwards and thus clamping in position respectively the end and the side walls of the box blank sheet.
• the upright flap folding means 115 will also cause the flaps 11 of box blank side walls to be folded upright into a position into which they are essentially perpendicular to the rest of the box blank sheet.
• the folding means 122 are extended, presenting the edge about which the upper parts 4a of the corner panels may be folded. This folding operation is effected by fold-over means 123 exerting a pressing action against the upper parts 4a of the corner panels on the faces thereof that are turned away from the folding means 122.
• the upper panel parts will be folded downwards so as to be positioned in a plane which is essentially perpendicular to the rest of the corner panels and thus essentially in parallel with the bottom panel 1 and side and end walls 2,3 of the box blank sheet.
• retaining means 125 are folded outwards, said means exerting a pressing action against the downwards-folded parts, where upon the fold-over means 123 are retracted.
• the end walls of the box are then erected with the aid of the pivotable units 105 and 106.
• the side walls of the box are then erected and the flaps 11 of the side walls are fitted into the slots 12 formed in the corner panels for that purpose.
• the upright flap folding means are retracted whereby, when the pivotable units 103 and 104 have reached their fully upwards-folded position and the flaps have already been inserted into the slots intended therefor, they no longer project further towards the box than do the upwards pivotable units.
• the folding means 122 are then retracted, the curved end parts thereof hooking into and pulling along the inserted flaps 11 into a position wherein the latter are essentially parallel with to the planes of the parts 4b of the corner panels into which they are inserted. In this position, with the flaps 11 being folded upwards, the side walls will be secured to the corner panels and because these corner panels are fastened to the end walls of the box, all walls of the box thus will be fixed to one another.
• the upper parts 4a of the corner panels are forced sufficiently far inwards towards the other parts 4b of the corner panels that the flaps 13 positioned on the outer edges of the inwards-folded parts 4a are caused to engage in the slits 14 formed in the end walls for that purpose, thus causing the inwards-folded parts 4a to be secured in position and the box is ready.
• the plunger device 101 lifts the box which is still gripped by the suction cups 102, whereupon the box is transported aside. The plunger device 101 is then again extended to fetch a fresh box blank sheet and the erection cycle is closed.
• All moveable parts of the apparatus preferably are driven by pneumatical or hydraulic means.
• the apparatus may be adapted, without having to be modified in any extensive way, to erect and assemble boxes of other types.
• boxes having folded corners that are not triangular are possible, in which case the piston of the piston-and-cylinder unit may also be prolonged.
• the box parts may be connected to one another by means of stapling, in which case the apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be supplemented with separate stapling means. Appararuses for assembly and erection of such boxes should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention, since only very small modifications, if any at all, with respect to the apparatus described in the embodiment above are required for this purpose.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

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• 1995
  • 1995-10-19 SE SE9503680A patent/SE505145C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1996
  • 1996-10-18 EP EP96935731A patent/EP0958134A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-10-18 WO PCT/SE1996/001335 patent/WO1997014552A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-10-18 AU AU73544/96A patent/AU7354496A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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