EP1832413B1 - Method and device for making packages comprising cardboard boxes of variable volume - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves forming horizontal folding lines at convenient height on four flanks (5, 6) of a package (2) e.g. box, to delimit longitudinal flaps. The formation of folding lines is carried out after filling the package with products by marking on both inner and outer sides of the package for each flap using inner and outer marking tools (20, 21), respectively. An independent claim is also included for a device for making a cardboard package.

Description

The present invention relates, in general, the realization of cardboard packaging, also referred to here as "boxes", the variable volume that is to say adapted to the height of the packaged products in each case. This invention thus relates to the field of the preparation of orders and shipments of products of varying nature and quantity so that they occupy volumes and various heights.

It is already known, in this field, to use cardboard boxes of identical initial characteristics, but that can be adapted to each particular use, that is to say at each height of the products to be packaged, by appropriate processes.

A first solution, described in the patent French FR 2 710 580 in the name of the Applicant, consists in cutting a cardboard box, in the unfilled state, so as to eliminate the surplus of cardboard, made useless according to the more or less reduced height of the contents of the box. The cardboard chute thus created must be evacuated.

Other solutions already known to reduce the volume of a cardboard box, to adapt to the height of the packaged products without forming waste to be evacuated.

A particular solution consists in providing, on the four sides of the box, several parallel and close fold lines. Depending on the height occupied in each case by the products placed on the bottom of the box, one chooses the fold line according to which the flaps will be formed and folded. For example, here reference is made to the patent French FR 2 612 885 .

As it is easy to conceive, this solution requires, beforehand, on the four sides of the box, the realization by complex means of many fold lines of which only one will finally be used. In addition, the height adjustment of the body remains approximate, since it can only be performed discontinuously, according to the "pitch" corresponding to the spacing between two consecutive fold lines.

Another solution, avoiding these disadvantages, is to use a box whose parts, intended to form the upper flaps, are initially defined by any pre-formed fold line. Each use, and depending on the height of the products to be packaged, it is formed on each side of the box a fold line at the appropriate height, and the flap delimited by this line is folded above the contents of the box , previously filled. This principle is described, for example, in the patent French FR 2 606 367 .

However, such a method assumes that after formation of the fold lines, at the appropriate location, the flaps can be folded and held above the contents of the box, before being assembled together for example by gluing or by stapling or by adhesive tape or by simply nesting.

In the case of a thick cardboard box, in particular a double corrugated cardboard, the process which has just been exposed is difficult to implement, since the "natural" elasticity of the cardboard tends to bring back the flaps of the cardboard box. cashier up. In particular, in the case of a known machine implementing this method, the folding lines of the flaps are marked by means of a cutting blade acting only on the inside of the box, which may be suitable for single cardboard. flute, but proves insufficient in the case of a double-corrugated cardboard, as commonly used for so-called "American" boxes, or for trays or cardboard trays.

Moreover, in the case of the patent French FR 2606367 above, the box is formed around the products to be packaged, previously positioned, and therefore the fold lines delimiting the flaps are made before filling the box, on this box still flat. Thus, the method of this document is validly applicable only in the case of the packaging of products of predetermined height, therefore of very precise geometry; this method remains practically inapplicable to boxes receiving products whose nature, shape and quantity can be very variable, which is the case in the field of the preparation of orders and shipments of products. In addition, the device that implements this method uses a tool that makes the fold lines on the crates still flat, and running, which makes it difficult to change the position of the fold lines, a box to another.

Similarly, the patent US 3866523 provides the realization of folding lines on crates still flat, scrolling, without taking into account here the height of the products that will be packed in each box.

The present invention aims to avoid all the drawbacks mentioned above, and its main purpose, therefore, in the context of the production of a carton of variable volume, of the kind here considered, to provide an improved method and device, ensuring the folding and holding in place of the flaps, for a box already formed and filled, even in the case of a box made of thick cardboard, typically a double corrugated cardboard , so as to widen the field of application of this kind of process.

For this purpose, the first object of the invention is a method for producing a carton packaging, of the cashbox type, of variable volume adapted to the height of the packaged products in each case, the method providing, in known manner, the forming fold lines at the appropriate height, on the four sides of the box, to delimit upper flaps, and then folding these flaps above the contents of the box, this process being characterized by the fact that, in the step of forming the folding lines, performed after filling the box with the products to be packaged, it is made on each side of this box, for each flap, marking on the inside of the box and another marking on the outside of the fund.

Thus, the idea underlying the present invention consists in the realization of a "double marking" of the carton, on the sides of the box, so as to facilitate the folding of the upper parts of these flanks, even in the case thick cardboard, especially double-corrugated cardboard. Thanks to this double marking, carried out both internally and externally, the flaps are more easily folded above the contents of the box, previously filled and these flaps do not tend to rise by the elastic effect, which facilitates also their holding in position and their assembly together, before the introduction of the lid or the closure cap of the body.

Double labeling is feasible in various advantageous ways.

In particular, a slight difference in height is preferably provided between the marking made on the inside of the box and the marking made on the outside of the box, on each side of the box. ; the external marking is here advantageously made slightly higher than the internal marking, to facilitate the folding of the cardboard in a preferred direction, while avoiding interference of the tools performing the marking of the inner side and the outer side.

In addition, both for the internal marking and for the external marking, it is advantageously provided with a height offset, substantially equal to the thickness of the carton, between, on the one hand, the marking longitudinal flanks and, on the other hand, the marking of the flanks. transverse of the box, this to allow easy folding of the four flaps, without creating pressure and deformation at the four upper corners of the body.

The markings made internally and externally may be continuous markings or discontinuous markings, and more or less supported, going as far as a real pre-cutting of the outer sheet of the cardboard on the outside of the box. The marking may, for each sidewall of the body, be less supported in the center of this sidewall and more supported in the side portions of the same side, to ensure a good beginning of folding of the flaps at the four upper corners of the body.

The double markings of the four sides of the box can be realized simultaneously. They can also be shifted in time, for example by first making the double markings on the two longitudinal flanks, then the double markings on the transverse sides of the box.

The subject of the invention is also a device for producing a carton packaging, of the cashbox type, of variable volume adapted to the height of the packaged products in each case, this device implementing the "double marking" method defined above.

According to the invention, this device comprises, for the internal and external marking of the four sides of a cardboard box, for the delimitation of the upper flaps, a set of four pairs of marking tools, assigned respectively to the four flanks. of the box, each pair of tools comprising an internal marking tool, adapted to be lowered into the box to a suitable height, and an external marking tool, adapted to be brought externally against the corresponding side of the box, substantially to the same height as the internal marking tool.

The marking tools, both inside and outside, are advantageously constituted by toothed or corrugated blades, the teeth or corrugations of these blades being more or less pronounced. These marking blades are guided perpendicularly to the corresponding sides of the box, and they are movable, each in a plane perpendicular to the corresponding side of the cardboard box, by means of actuators pneumatic or hydraulic, or by means of mechanical, electrical or electromechanical actuators.

Advantageously, the four internal marking tools are movable by means of a common central actuator, of the jack type, connected by mechanical transmission means such as rods to each of the four internal marking tools.

In each pair of marking tools, the external marking tool is preferably slightly offset upwards with respect to the internal marking tool, to impose on the carton (after making the double marking) a folding direction preferential, while avoiding interference between the two marking tools, at the time of their actuation.

The set of four pairs of marking tools is advantageously carried by a common frame, movable vertically which, by lowering, is able to come to cap inside and outside the body, to position the marking tools inside and outside at a suitable height relative to this fund.

In addition or as an alternative to the foregoing, the device may also comprise a lift plate, arranged under the marking tools and designed to raise the box, at the time of the operation of marking the sides of the box. Such a lifting platform proves to be advantageous, in particular in the case of a box of low height (once it is reduced by folding the flaps).

The "double marking" device, object of the present invention, advantageously constitutes an intermediate station, a machine in which the boxes advance on a horizontal conveyor, the machine comprising successively, along the conveyor, a cutting station of the boxes along their vertical edges, over a certain height, the double marking station of the flanks of the boxes, internally and externally, a bending and pressing station of the flaps, and a station for fitting closure caps on the top of the boxes . This machine can also include a station for the introduction in the boxes of air bags for the wedging of packaged products.

• Figure 1 est un schéma illustrant en coupe, de façon très simplifiée, le principe d'un emballage en carton de volume variable ;
• Figure 2 représente, sous la forme d'une succession de schémas, les principales étapes de la réalisation d'un tel emballage ;
• Figure 3 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, d'une machine sur laquelle sont réalisables de tels emballages ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en perspective de l'outillage de marquage et de son ossature de support, appartenant au poste de marquage de cette machine ;
• Figure 5 est une vue en perspective correspondant à la figure 4 mais sans l'ossature, montrant plus particulièrement les outils de marquage ;
• Figure 6 est un schéma illustrant l'application de l'invention à un emballage en carton à double cannelure.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of example, an embodiment of this "double marking" device, and of the machine incorporating a such device:

• Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating in section, in a very simplified way, the principle of a cardboard packaging of variable volume;
• Figure 2 represents, in the form of a succession of diagrams, the main steps of the realization of such a packaging;
• Figure 3 is an overview, in perspective, of a machine on which such packagings can be made;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the marking tool and its support frame, belonging to the marking station of this machine;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view corresponding to the figure 4 but without the frame, showing more particularly the marking tools;
• Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the application of the invention to a double corrugated cardboard package.

The figure 1 shows, in vertical section, a cardboard packaging 2 of the cashbox type, which has an initial height indicated H. The package 2 receives, on its bottom 3, products 4 which occupy a height h, lower than the initial height H of this packaging. In this case, it is proceeded to a reduction in height of the package 2, the value (H - h), so as to lower the top of the package 2 by bringing it just above the top of the packaged products 4.

Referring to the figure 2 , are now described the various steps of the realization and closure of such a package 2, leading to the adaptation of its height.

In the initial state considered here, the package 2 has two longitudinal flanks 5 and two transverse sides 6 of the same height H, this package 2 is still open at its upper part. In a first step (a), the carton is cut along the four vertical edges of the package 2 to produce vertical slits 7 which extend, at a certain height, from the top of this package 2.

In a second step (b), the four flanks 5 and 6 of the package 2 are marked, that is to say that horizontal fold lines 8, which end towards the ends, are formed on these flanks. lower vertical slits 7 previously cut. The fold lines 8 thus formed delimit rectangular portions 9, initially directed upwards, designated as upper flaps or more simply as flaps.

In an intermediate step (c), the upper flaps 9 are glued, by the deposition of glue areas 10 to the upper corners of the longitudinal flaps 9.

In the next step (d), the flaps 9 are folded, by pivoting around the fold lines 8, and thus these flaps 9 are pressed downwardly so as to join together at the four upper corners of the body , thanks to the adhesive zones 10 previously deposited in step (c).

Finally, in step (e), the package 2 is closed at its upper part, by setting up a cap 11.

• un poste 13 de coupe, qui réalise les fentes verticales 7 sur les quatre arêtes verticales des emballages 2 ;
• un poste 14 de marquage des flancs 5 et 6 des emballages 2 ;
• un poste 15 de pliage et de pressage des rabats 9 ;
• un poste 16 de pose des coiffes 11, auquel est associé latéralement un magasin 17 de stockage des coiffes 11.

These different operations are performed successively on a single machine, represented as a whole on the figure 3 . The machine comprises several positions, arranged in line, which follow one another along a horizontal conveyor 12, for example a bar conveyor. Thus, the packages 2 enter at one end of the machine, along the arrow F1, and they are driven forward on the conveyor 12 which makes them cross, successively:

• a cutting station 13, which makes the vertical slots 7 on the four vertical edges of the packages 2;
• a station 14 for marking the sides 5 and 6 of the packages 2;
• a station 15 for folding and pressing the flaps 9;
• a station 16 for fitting the caps 11, to which is associated laterally a magazine 17 for storing the caps 11.

The filled and closed boxes come out, according to the arrow F2, at the end of the machine where the station 16 of laying the caps 11 is located.

The cutting station 13, the bending and pressing station 15, and the station 16 of laying the caps are made in a generally known manner, and therefore will not be further detailed.

Of particular interest here is the flank marking station 14, shown in more detail on the figures 4 and 5 and described below.

The flank marking station 14 comprises, above the conveyor 12, a vertically displaceable frame 18 by means of a central actuator 19. The frame 18 carries a marking tool, consisting of internal marking tools 20 and external marking tools 21.

The inner marking tools 20 are constituted by four movable corrugated blades arranged in a horizontal rectangle. Each marking tool 20 is guided horizontally in translation, perpendicularly to its longitudinal direction, and is fixed on a support block 22. A central pneumatic cylinder 23, arranged vertically, moves a rectangular horizontal plate 24 which is connected, by means of oblique rods 25 articulated on the four sides of this plate 24, with the respective support blocks 22 of the four internal marking tools 20.

The outer marking tools 21 are constituted by four movable toothed blades, arranged in a horizontal rectangle, each external marking tool 21 being placed parallel to an internal marking tool 20, and facing the latter. Each marking tool 21 is movable in translation horizontally, perpendicularly to its longitudinal direction, and it is attached to a support bar 26. Two pneumatic cylinders 27, arranged laterally, are coupled to each support bar 26 to move the tool marking 21 corresponding.

Thus, the marking tool is composed of four pairs of marking tools, each of which comprises an internal marking tool 20 and an external marking tool 21, located one opposite the other, the tool for marking. outer marking 21 may be slightly higher than the inner marking tool 20. In addition, as shown in FIG. figure 5 an offset in height is provided between the marking tools 20, 21 arranged in the longitudinal direction, on the one hand, and the marking tools 20, 21 arranged in the transverse direction, on the other hand, which allows in particular at the ends of the longitudinal marking tools 20 pass over the transverse marking tools.

• par la commande du vérin central 23, et par la transmission mécanique réalisée par les biellettes 25, les quatre outils de marquage intérieurs 20 sont rapprochés, par l'intérieur, des quatre flancs 5 et 6 correspondants de l'emballage 2 ;
• par la commande simultanée de tous les vérins 27, les quatre outils de marquage extérieurs 21 sont rapprochés, par l'extérieur, des quatre flancs 5 et 6 de l'emballage 2.

During operation of the machine, when a package 2 is transferred to the position 14 for marking the sidewalls by the advance of the conveyor 12, the frame 18 is lowered by the central actuator 19 so as to cap this package 2 , from the inside and the outside. The inner and outer marking tools 20 are thus brought, in a position still spaced from each other, facing the sidewalls 5 and 6 of the package 2, these tools being positioned at the appropriate height with respect to the reduction of desired volume in each case. It is then proceeded to the simultaneous operation of the inner marking tools 20 and outer 21, more particularly:

• by the control of the central cylinder 23, and by the mechanical transmission made by the rods 25, the four marking tools inner 20 are brought together, from the inside, the four sides 5 and 6 corresponding to the package 2;
• by the simultaneous control of all the cylinders 27, the four external marking tools 21 are brought together, from the outside, of the four sides 5 and 6 of the package 2.

Thanks to their corrugations, the tools 20 thus make an internal marking of the sides 5 and 6 of the package 2. Thanks to their teeth, the tools 21 also perform external marking of the sides 5 and 6 of the package 2. These markings mark on the packaging 2 the flaps 9.

Then, the cylinders 23 and 27 are controlled in the opposite direction, so as to cause the spacing of the marking tools 20 and 21, then the frame 18 is raised so as to clear the package 2. After reassembly of the tooling marking, the package 2 can be transferred by the conveyor 12 to the next station 15 folding and pressing, the sizing of the flaps 9 being achievable during this transfer.

As illustrated by figure 6 the invention is particularly applicable to a packaging 2 thick corrugated cardboard, double groove or two-ply packaging in single groove, as encountered in the case of trays. The simultaneous realization of an internal marking of the sides of the package by the tools 20, and an external marking of the same flanks by the tools 21, at the position 14 for marking the flanks, then facilitates the folding of the flaps at the next position 15 folding and pressing.

This figure 6 also shows the slight vertical offset, indicated d, which is advantageously provided between the external marking tool 21 and the corresponding internal marking tool 20.

• par des modifications de détail, concernant par exemple la forme des lames de marquage ;
• par le recours à tous équivalents, notamment en remplaçant les vérins pneumatiques d'actionnement des lames de marquage par des vérins hydrauliques, ou par des actionneurs mécaniques ;
• par l'adjonction de toutes fonctions complémentaires, par exemple en prévoyant que, dans tout ou partie des paires d'outils de marquage, il est associé à l'outil de marquage extérieur au moins un organe d'amorçage du pliage du rabat correspondant de la caisse ;
• par une adaptation sur tout type de machine, par exemple une machine qui traiterait les caisses en position couchée, l'ensemble des outils de marquage étant dans ce cas approché par un mouvement horizontal et non plus vertical, ou encore une machine qui, avant fermeture des caisses, introduirait de façon automatique dans celles-ci des sacs gonflés d'air destinés au calage des produits emballés, le volume de ces sacs de calage étant lui-même adaptable à la hauteur des produits emballés.

One would not depart from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims:

• by modifications of detail, for example concerning the shape of the marking blades;
• by the use of all equivalents, in particular by replacing the pneumatic cylinders for actuating the marking blades with hydraulic cylinders, or by mechanical actuators;
• by the addition of all complementary functions, for example by providing that, in all or part of the pairs of marking tools, it is associated with the external marking tool at least one folding initiation member of the corresponding flap of the box ;
• by adapting to any type of machine, for example a machine that would treat the boxes in supine position, the set of marking tools being in this case approached by a horizontal movement and no longer vertical, or a machine which before closing crates, automatically introduce into them air bags inflated for the wedging of packaged products, the volume of these dunnage bags itself being adaptable to the height of the packaged products.

Claims (19)

1. Method for making a cardboard package, of the box type, of variable volume adapted to the height (h) of the products (4) packaged in each case, the method involving forming fold lines (8) at the appropriate height, on the four side walls (5, 6) of the box (2), to define upper flaps (9), and then folding these flaps (9) down over the contents of the case, said method being characterized in that, in the fold line (8) forming step, which is performed once the box (2) has been filled with the products to be packaged, a mark is made on the inside of the box (2) and another mark on the outside of the box (2), on each side wall (5, 6) of this box (2), for each flap (9).
2. Double-marking method according to Claim 1, characterized in that a slight height difference (1) is provided between on the one hand the mark made on the inside of the box (2) and on the other hand the mark made on the outside of the box (2), and this on each side wall (5, 6) of the box (2).
3. Double-marking method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the outside mark is made slightly higher than the inside mark.
4. Double-marking method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for both the inside mark and the outside mark there is a height difference, approximately equal to the thickness of the cardboard, between the marks on the longitudinal side walls (5) on the one hand, and the marks on the transverse walls (6) on the other, of the box (2).
5. Double-marking method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the marks made on the inside and outside are continuous marks.
6. Double-marking method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the marks made on the inside and outside are discontinuous marks.
7. Double-marking method according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the marks comprise precutting the outer sheet of the cardboard, on the outside of the box (2).
8. Double-marking method according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, on each side wall (5, 6) of the box the mark is lighter in the centre of this side wall, and heavier in the lateral parts of the same side wall.
9. Device for making a cardboard package, of the box type, of variable volume adapted to the height (h) of the products (4) packaged in each case, the device employing the "double-marking" method according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, said device being characterized in that it comprises, for the inside and outside marking of the four side walls (5, 6) of a cardboard box, for the purpose of defining the upper flaps (9), a series of four pairs of marking tools (20, 21), each allocated to one of the four side walls (5, 6) of the box (2), each pair of tools comprising an inside marking tool (20) capable of being lowered into the box (2) to a suitable height, and an outside marking tool (21) capable of being positioned externally against the corresponding side wall (5, 6) of the box (2), at approximately the same height as the inside marking tool (20).
10. Double-marking device according to Claim 9, characterized in that both the inside and outside marking tools (20, 21) consist of toothed or undulating blades guided at right angles to the corresponding side walls (5, 6) of the box (2).
11. Double-marking device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the marking blades (20, 21) are moveable, each in a plane perpendicular to the corresponding side wall (5, 6) of the cardboard box, by means of pneumatic actuators (23, 27) or hydraulic actuators, or by means of mechanical, electrical or electromechanical actuators.
12. Double-marking device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the four inside marking tools (20) are moveable by means of a common central actuator (23) of the cylinder type connected by mechanical transmission means such as links (25) to each of the four inside marking tools (20).
13. Double-marking device according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that, in each pair of marking tools, the outside marking tool (21) is slightly higher than the inside marking tool (20).
14. Double-marking device according to any one of Claims 9 to 13, characterized in that there is a height difference between the marking tools (20, 21) arranged in the longitudinal direction on the one hand, and the marking tools (20, 21) arranged in the transverse direction on the other.
15. Double-marking device according to any one of Claims 9 to 14, characterized in that, in all or some of the pairs of marking tools, there is provided for the outside marking tool (21) at least one member for initiating the folding of the corresponding flap (9) of the box (2).
16. Double marking device according to any one of Claims 9 to 15, characterized in that all four pairs of marking tools (20, 21) are carried by a vertically moveable common framework (18) which, when lowered, is able to fit internally and externally over the box (2), to position the inside (20) and outside (21) marking tools at a suitable height relative to this box (2).
17. Double-marking device according to any one of Claims 9 to 16, characterized in that it comprises a lift platform arranged underneath the marking tools (20, 21) and designed to lift the box (2) when the side walls (5, 6) of this box (2) are being marked.
18. Double-marking device according to any one of Claims 9 to 17, characterized in that it constitutes an intermediate station (14) in a machine in which the boxes advance along a horizontal conveyor (12), the machine comprising in succession, along the conveyor (12), a station (13) in which the vertical edges of the boxes (2) are cut to a certain height, the double-marking station (14) for double marking the side walls (5, 6) of the boxes (2), inside and outside, a station (15) in which the flaps (9) are folded and pressed, and a station (16) in which closure lids (11) are placed on the tops of the boxes (2).
19. Double-marking device according to Claim 18, characterized in that the machine incorporating this device also includes a station for placing inflatable bags inside the boxes (2) to immobilize the packaged products.

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