EP1256441A1 - Method of erecting and partial assembly of a package - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of making the packaging from a cardboard blank comprises stages of assembling the lateral walls (2-5) and stages of folding the flaps (6a-9a) around a rigid structure with an external section corresponding to the packaging internal section. During the different stages the rigid structure is moved alternately between a first position, in which the blank rests by a first wall on a corresponding face of the structure, and a second position where a part of the contiguous walls (4,5) and associated flaps (8a) occupy the folded position. Then the structure is returned to the first position where the other walls (2) and associated flaps (6a,7a,9a) occupy the folded and assembled position whilst the other opposite end remains open. The packaging is then disengaged from the structure.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for setting volume and partial assembly of a packaging in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, from a pre-cut blank and repressed.

It relates more particularly to the production by this process a package comprising a plurality of side walls hinged together by first fold lines and of which at least some have, at at least one of their ends, a flap called "flap" articulated on the adjoining wall by a second line folding lines, the second folding lines associated with the flaps arranged at the same end being arranged in the same transverse plane of the packaging, so that the folded flaps are arranged substantially in this plane in contact with adjoining and assembled flaps and locked in this position by means known in the art. technical.

The packaging to which this process applies are in particular of the general type of American cases or half cases American, straight prisms with parallel edges and section polygonal, or boxes shaped like a pyramid trunk triangular, quadrangular and, more generally, polygonal and, after when placed in volume, they remain open at one of their ends, so that they can be filled immediately.

Various continuous manufacturing processes have already been proposed for this purpose in the technique, but we're still looking for a reliable and easy to implement process, even at high speeds, which uses only readily available mechanical means.

• pendant la mise en oeuvre des différentes étapes, ladite structure rigide est animée d'un mouvement alternatif entre une première position, dans laquelle le flan de départ repose par une première paroi sur une face correspondante de la structure, et une seconde position, dans laquelle une partie au moins des parois contiguës et des rabats associés disposés à une même extrémité occupent la position repliée qui est la leur dans le conditionnement mis en volume, avec retour ensuite de la structure à la première position, dans laquelle les autres parois et les autres rabats associés disposés à la même extrémité occupent également la position repliée et assemblée qui est la leur dans le conditionnement mis en volume, tandis que l'extrémité opposée reste ouverte ;
• une partie au moins des opérations de pliage et/ou d'assemblage est effectuée pendant le trajet de la structure rigide entre la première et la seconde position et/ou entre la seconde et la première position, sous le sollicitation d'organes fixes en position, au contact desquels vient le flan au cours des déplacements de la structure rigide ;
• après retour de la structure rigide à la première position, la structure est immobilisée et le conditionnement mis en volume est dégagé par coulissement par rapport à celle-ci, tandis qu'un nouveau flan est mis en position sur la structure rigide.

It is this problem that the present invention aims to solve and, for this purpose, it relates to a method of setting volume and assembling a package of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard. of the type mentioned above, from a precut and pressed blank, this method comprising steps of setting in volume and assembling the side walls of the packaging and steps of folding the flaps arranged at the same end of some of these walls perpendicular to them and possible assembly of these flaps, the packaging of the volume being effected around a mobile rigid structure of external section corresponding at least partially to the internal section of the packaging to be formed, this process being characterized in that:

• during the implementation of the various stages, said rigid structure is driven by an alternating movement between a first position, in which the starting blank rests by a first wall on a corresponding face of the structure, and a second position, in which at least part of the adjoining walls and associated flaps arranged at the same end occupy the folded position which is theirs in the packaging placed in volume, with the structure then returning to the first position, in which the other walls and the others associated flaps arranged at the same end also occupy the folded and assembled position which is theirs in the packaging placed in volume, while the opposite end remains open;
• at least part of the folding and / or assembly operations is carried out during the path of the rigid structure between the first and the second position and / or between the second and the first position, under the stress of fixed members in position , in contact with which the blank comes during the displacements of the rigid structure;
• after return of the rigid structure to the first position, the structure is immobilized and the packaging set in volume is released by sliding relative to the latter, while a new blank is placed in position on the rigid structure.

Advantageously, during the transition from the first to the second position, two walls adjoining the first wall are folded by relation to it, as well as a flap adjoining this first wall. These operations can be carried out by fixed guides in position, which the blank encounters during the displacements of the fixed structure.

The rigid structure can then be immobilized in the second position, to bring a wall ensuring the closure of the body of the packaging in its final position and make it integral with the adjoining wall. These operations can also be performed possibly during the journey back to the first position, by example using fixed or mobile guides.

During the return of the rigid structure to the first position, a flap adjoining a wall opposite the first wall can be folded in its final position and the flaps adjoining the other walls can then be folded back and applied against flaps already folded so as to be optionally made integral therewith, for example in pre-glued locations.

After evacuation of the packaging thus placed in volume and assembled, a new blank can be placed on the rigid structure and a new cycle of operations can begin.

These operations are therefore very simple to implement, in especially due to the fact that we take advantage of reciprocating rigid structure, which limits the volume of the equipment used and makes it possible to have recourse to organs such as fixed guides to give movement to certain walls or to some flaps.

A form of implementation of this method will be described below in its application to a rectangular section packaging of the type "American box", but it will be clear to those skilled in the art that it applies to any other type of flap and section packaging polygonal, with or without parallel walls.

La figure 1 est une vue illustrant le transfert du flan de carton prédécoupé et refoulé destiné à la réalisation d'un conditionnement conforme à l'invention depuis un magasin jusqu'à une structure rigide mobile, destinée à sa mise en volume et apte à l'entraíner dans un mouvement alternatif ;

La figure 2 illustre le pliage de certains éléments de ce flan au cours du déplacement de la structure mobile, depuis sa position de départ jusqu'à une seconde position ;

Les figures 3 à 6 illustrent quatre autres phases successives de mise en volume et d'assemblage du conditionnement.

In the description which follows, reference will be made to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the transfer of the blank of pre-cut and repressed cardboard intended for the production of a packaging according to the invention from a store to a movable rigid structure, intended for its volume and suitable for l 'train in an alternative movement;

FIG. 2 illustrates the folding of certain elements of this blank during the movement of the mobile structure, from its starting position to a second position;

Figures 3 to 6 illustrate four other successive phases of packaging and assembly of the packaging.

In the example illustrated by the drawings, the starting blank 1 of corrugated cardboard comprises four walls 2, 3, 4, 5, hinged together by first parallel fold lines, at each end of which are hinged by lines of folding perpendicular to the previous flaps called "flaps", respectively 6 a -6 b , 7 a -7 b , 8 a -8 b , 9 a -9 b , intended to be folded perpendicular to the adjoining walls.

A so-called "bonding" tab 10, adjoining the free edge of the wall 5 by a line parallel to the first fold lines, is intended for to stick against the internal face of the closing wall 2 arranged at the other end of the blank. Alternatively, the bonding tab can be adjoining wall 2 and sticking against wall 5.

The method according to the invention, which will now be described, is intended for the volume and assembly of the walls 2-5 and the folding of the flaps 6 a - 9 a disposed at one end of these walls perpendicular to these, as well as their possible assembly.

According to the invention, after extraction in a known manner of a store, a blank 1, for example of the type just described, is brought mechanically into such a position, relative to a rigid structure 11, mechanically movable, only one face 4 of the blank 1 intended to constitute a side wall of the future packaging, either disposed opposite a face of the structure 11 having substantially the same shape and same dimensions.

The side 4 of the blank can be in contact with the corresponding side of the structure 11 or be arranged parallel to the latter. The blank can be placed in the same plane as side 4 or folded over relative to the lateral edges thereof forming a U more or less open. This U shape may have been imparted to the blank 1 by fixed and mobile guides during its transportation to the structure 11.

When the blank is in the starting position, here a low position relative to the structure 11 the flaps 6a - 9a, 8a - 9b are in the extension of the walls 2-5 of which they are articulated.

The structure 11 is driven back and forth, which can be vertical from the bottom and back, in the case of Figure 2, or vice versa, or obliquely, and it leads to its movement the blank 1 by its face 4 between two guides 20, fixed or mobile, defining a tight space.

When the structure 11 reaches a second position, here a high position, the gluing tab 10 previously glued is folded perpendicular to the adjoining wall 5, while the wall 2 is simultaneously folded at 90 ° to come and apply against the tab 10 (see figure 3). These operations can be carried out using a guide mobile or of the so-called "guillotine" type.

The structure 11 then returns to its starting position and in its downward movement, the inner flap 6 is opposed to the flap 8 has recovered to 90 °, using a fixed or movable guide, while outer flaps 7, 9a, optionally precoated, are applied against the flaps 6a and 8a (figures 4 and 5). The locking of the flaps can also be ensured by adhesive strips, in another implementation of the method of the invention.

When the structure 11 has returned to its starting position (FIG. 6), the packaging thus placed in volume and assembled, with its end opposite to the flaps 6 a - 9 a in the open position, is evacuated by sliding relative to the structure 11 immobilized and transferred to a filling station, while a new blank is then brought to the structure 11, for a new cycle of operations.

The fold lines between walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 and between the walls and the flaps, can be of the simple type, as shown on the drawings, or consist of multiple parallel fold lines, can ultimately define a portion of cylinder.

The process described here relates to a parallelepiped packaging, but it applies equally well to packaging with only three or more walls four walls, the fold lines between the walls can be parallel, as described here, or arranged obliquely to form a volume of general trapezoidal shape, or prism, or pyramid truncated.

Claims (4)

Method for setting in volume and partially assembling, from a precut and pressed blank, a package of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, of the type comprising a plurality of side walls articulated between them by first fold lines and at least some of which comprise, at at least one of their ends, a flap called "flap" articulated on the adjoining wall by a second fold line, the fold lines associated with the flaps arranged at the same end of the walls being arranged in the same transverse plane, so that the folded flaps are disposed substantially in this plane in contact with the adjoining flaps and assembled and locked by means known in the art, this method comprising steps of placing in volume and assembly of the side walls (2-5) of the packaging and the steps of folding the flaps (6 a -9 a ) arranged at the same end of certain nes of these walls perpendicular thereto and possible assembly of these flaps, the volume of the packaging being effected around a mobile rigid structure (11) of external section corresponding at least partially to the internal section of the packaging to forming, this process being characterized in that : during the implementation of the different stages, said rigid structure (11) is driven by an alternating movement between a first position, in which the starting blank (1) rests by a first wall on a corresponding face of the structure, and a second position, in which at least part of the adjoining walls (3, 4, 5) and associated flaps (8 a ) disposed at the same end occupy the folded position which is theirs in the packaging put into volume, with return then from the structure (11) to the first position, in which the other walls (2) and the other associated flaps (6 a , 7 a , 9 a ) disposed at the same end also occupy the folded and assembled position which is the them in the mounted packaging, while the opposite end remains open; at least part of the folding and / or assembly operations is carried out during the path of the rigid structure (11) between the first and the second position and / or between the second and the first position, under the stress of organs fixed in position, in contact with which the blank comes during the movements of the rigid structure; after return of the rigid structure (11) to the first position, the structure is immobilized and the packaging set in volume is released by sliding relative to the latter, while a new blank is placed in position on the rigid structure. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the transition from the first to the second position, two walls (3, 5) adjoining the first wall (4) are folded relative to the latter, as is a flap (8 a ) adjoining this first wall. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the rigid structure (11) is immobilized in the second position in order to bring the other walls (2) to their final position therein and to make a tab (10) attached to one (5) ) of them with a contiguous wall (2). Method according to claim 3, characterized in that during the return of the rigid structure to the first position, a flap (6 a ) adjoining a wall (2) opposite the first wall (4) is folded back into its position final and the flaps (7 a , 9 a ) adjoining the other walls (3, 5) are then folded in turn and applied against the already folded flaps (6 a , 8 a ), to be optionally made integral.

Images