EP1853482A1

EP1853482A1 - Machine for automated packaging of product(s) in a cardboard box

Info

Publication number: EP1853482A1
Application number: EP06707693A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Didier c/o SIDEL MOUGIN
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2005-03-03
Filing date: 2006-01-10
Publication date: 2007-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-10
Also published as: FR2882727B1; CN101132967B; JP4913757B2; US20080155945A1; US7607282B2; JP2008531421A; FR2882727A1; WO2006092342A1; DE602006001585D1; EP1853482B1; CN101132967A; MX2007009673A; PT1853482E; ATE399126T1; ES2309946T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine (10) for packaging a product or products (28) in a cardboard box (12), which comprises boxing means arranged along a longitudinal packaging line (16) comprising a first station (A) for making-up a box blank (14) and which comprises a conveying device (30) for transfer, in an outbound path, the box (12A) made up at the station (A) to a second, filling, station (B) for boxing the products (28) then on to a third station (C) where the box (12C) is sealed before it is discharged from the machine (10), characterized in that the conveyor device (30) comprises a carriage (32) which is mounted to be able to move longitudinally between an extreme upstream position and an extreme downstream position, and which bears box transfer means (34) comprising at least a first gripper (36) for transferring a made-up box (12A) from the first station (A) to the second station (B) and a second gripper (38) for simultaneously transferring another, filled, box (12B) from the second station (B) to the third station (C).

Description

"Machine for automated packaging of product (s) in a cardboard box"

The invention relates to a machine for automated packaging of product (s) in a cardboard box. The present invention relates more particularly to a machine for packaging product (s) in a cardboard box according to a crating cycle comprising at least three successive operations to form, fill and close the box, the machine comprising means of crating which are arranged along a longitudinal packaging line of the machine comprising, from upstream to downstream, a first shaping station which successively receives, at a determined cycle rate, a crate cutout intended to to be at least partially shaped, and comprising a conveying device for transferring, successively from upstream to downstream in a forward path, the body thus formed to a second filling station to which the products are crated through associated loading means able to deposit the products to be packaged in the box, then to a third closing station of the box before its evacuation out of e the machine.

Many packaging machines of this type are known for crating, or cashing, products, particularly prepackaged products, such as boxes, bottles, sachets, etc. that is to say, in general, of all types of packaged goods, in particular to protect them and facilitate their transport, for example shipping from a place of production to a point of sale.

The different types of packaging machines are conventionally developed according to the type of cardboard boxes used to cash or overwrap products.

The term "overpack" defines the operation of strengthening or protecting a grouping or lot (s) of prepackaged products. There are thus mainly "boxer" type machines using flap boxes, called "American" boxes, "over-pack" type machines using "wrap-around" boxes. Regardless of the type of packaging machine, the crating cycle usually includes at least the three operations, ie shaping, filling and closing. These operations are carried out successively along the packaging line by means of a device for conveying the boxes between the different stations.

For example, there is known a conveyor device comprising two chains mounted in parallel and each having cleats which are arranged to block the bottom of the box in the vicinity of its four corners to ensure the transfer of the boxes to each of the line positions. packing machine.

A side portion of the bottom of each box is in contact on a longitudinal section of each chain between two successive stops. The cleats are mounted integral with each chain and extend vertically above the chains to block the box longitudinally, in the direction of travel so as to achieve encashment.

The endless chains are rotated by drive means, such as a motor, which are connected to the two transverse axes, provided with toothed wheels, arranged at each of the upstream and downstream ends of the packaging line.

However, such chain conveyor devices are not entirely satisfactory.

Indeed, at high operating rates, chain conveyor devices generally do not allow to achieve accurate positioning of the cutouts or cartons between the cleats, which can cause operating incidents, especially during filling, due to bad blocking or positioning of the body. In addition, it has been noted that the articulated links constituting each chain were sensitive to the different soils to which the conveying device is exposed.

Therefore, such chain conveyor devices are unsatisfactory for certain applications such as in the field of cosmetics, especially as it is particularly sought in such packaging machines to improve reliability, especially productivity. by increasing the rates, as well as the flexibility of operation which must advantageously allow the fast handling of different sizes of cardboard boxes.

The invention therefore aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art and to provide a more reliable machine capable of operating at an increased rate. For this purpose, the invention proposes a machine for packaging of the type described above, characterized in that the conveying device comprises a carriage which is mounted movably longitudinally between an extreme upstream position and an extreme downstream position and which carries means of cash transfers (s) comprising at least a first gripper for transferring a cash box formed from the first item to the second item and a second gripper for simultaneously transferring another cashier filled from the second item to the third item.

According to other characteristics of the invention: each of the clamps comprises an upstream locking means and a downstream locking means, which are mounted movably between:

an active position in which the locking means cooperate with a part of the corresponding box to simultaneously transfer each box from a given station to the next station, and

an inactive position in which, after the transfer of said boxes, the blocking means are retracted from in order to allow the repositioning of the carriage in initial upstream position according to a return path;

the conveying device comprises means for evacuating the closed box from the machine closing station C which are mounted movably between an active position and an inactive position synchronously with the upstream blocking means;

- In the active position, the clamping means of each clamp or evacuation cooperate with at least a portion of the transverse faces which are adjacent to the horizontal bottom of the box so that, between two successive positions, the bottom of each body slides along a guide path;

- The guide path is constituted by the upper horizontal surface of support of two longitudinal rails of the packaging line and between which are arranged the locking means of the first and second clamps and / or the evacuation means;

- The locking means of each clamp and / or the evacuation means are pivotally mounted about a transverse axis orthogonal to the longitudinal rails, respectively between the active position in which the upstream and downstream blocking means and / or the means of evacuation extend vertically above the upper horizontal faces of the rails to cooperate with the body and the inactive position in which the upstream and downstream blocking means and / or the evacuation means are retracted below the upper horizontal face of the rails during the return journey of the carriage;

- The machine comprises immobilization means capable of temporarily maintain, at a given position, each box in the longitudinal position when the locking means and / or the evacuation means are retracted in the inactive position;

the temporary immobilization means consist of fingers which, arranged in each of the longitudinal rails, are movably mounted between a working position in which the fingers protrude above the plane of the upper horizontal face of the rails to immobilize the body and a rest position in which the fingers are retracted below the upper horizontal face, so as to not to interfere with the cashier on his transfer to the next position;

the carriage comprises a first vertical support wing for the upstream blocking means and / or the evacuation means, and a second vertical support wing for the downstream blocking means and in that the first and second wings are movably mounted; one in relation to the other in the longitudinal direction so as to allow adjustment of the longitudinal distance between the upstream and downstream blocking means and / or between the discharge means and the immobilizing means according to the dimensions of the cardboard box, in particular the length of the bottom;

each means for locking a clamp and / or the evacuation means is constituted by a pair of arms, at least one of which is mounted transversely movable so as to allow adjustment of the transverse spacing between each of the arms; depending on the dimensions of the cardboard box, in particular the width P of the bottom.

- The carriage is arranged transversely outside the packaging line so as to clear the space located vertically under the packaging line to facilitate access to this part of the machine, in particular to adjust the means transfer or maintenance operations, cleaning.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended figures among which: - Figure 1 is a side view of the right side of a product packaging machine in a box with a carriage conveyor device according to the invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a top view and an end view from the upstream end of the machine according to Figure 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an example of a flat box cutout intended, after shaping, to form a "wrap-around" box; FIGS. 5a to 5f are schematic perspective views illustrating the main steps of a crating cycle comprising operations for shaping the cut, filling and closing the crate;

- Figures 6 to 8 are respectively side views, top and end detail of the carriage of the conveying device comprising the simultaneous transfer clamps of boxes and the evacuation arms.

In the description and the claims, terms such as "upstream" and "downstream", "upper" and "lower", "external" and "internal" and the "longitudinal", "vertical" orientations will be used without implied limitation. "and" transverse "with reference to the trihedron (L, V, T) indicated in the figures and in the definitions given in the description.

In addition, identical, similar or analogous elements of the invention will be designated by the same reference numerals.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a machine 10 for automated packaging of product (s) in a cardboard box 12 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The machine 10 is here a machine of the "overwrapper" type, that is to say a machine in which the crates containing the packaged products, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, are obtained by successive shaping of a cutout 14 of the type of "wrap" or "wrap-around" which literally means "wrapping around" the product.

Preferably, the packaging of the products by the machine 10 is carried out according to a crating or cashing cycle mainly comprising at least the three successive operations of shaping, filling and closing the box 12.

These crating operations are carried out at separate workstations designated by agreement by the letters A, B and C, also in order to distinguish the crates, each crate 12 will be identified below by the corresponding letter to the position to which it belongs. found, respectively 12A for the box formed, 12B for the filled box and 12C for the closed box.

Thus, the machine 10 comprises conventional means of collection which are arranged along a longitudinal packaging line 16 of the machine, that is to say arranged upstream downstream according to the direction of movement of the boxes 12 during the cycle, and which are arranged here according to three work stations A, B and C successive, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. In known manner, the machine 10 comprises, upstream of the first station of the line d packaging 16, means not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, such as means for storing cutouts 14 of the box to which are associated means for bringing, at a determined cycle rate, each cutout 14 till the first station A to which the blank 14 is received to be shaped at least partially.

For ease of understanding, FIG. 4 shows an example of a box cut 14 "wrap" and in FIGS. 5a to 5f, the different transformation steps successively carried out on the packaging line 16 of the machine 10 according to FIG. cycle, that is to say since the shaping of the cutout 14 till the final closure of the box 12 wrap comprising the products. Before it is shaped, the cutout 14 of the box 12 wrap is flat and usually made of corrugated cardboard. The cutouts 14 of cash are therefore advantageously capable of being stacked flat, which facilitates the transport, handling or storage.

Of course, the dimensions of the cutout 14 of the box 12 are determined according to the dimensions of the products to be packaged.

The box 12 is a rectangular parallelepiped whose conventionally the height (H), the length (L) and the depth (P) respectively correspond to the vertical, longitudinal and transverse dimensions according to the trihedron L, V, T of FIG. and 5.

The body cutout 14 of FIG. 4 mainly comprises four faces, here of rectangular shapes, which are referenced 1 to 4 and which are respectively provided laterally with at least two opposing flaps in pairs (s), referenced 5 to 8.

As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 5a to 5f, the faces 1 to 4 will respectively form, after the different shaping operations, on the one hand two of the four faces 1, 3 of the box and, on the other hand , the bottom 2 and the cover 4 of the body 12. Thus, the vertical faces 1 and 3 here correspond to the transverse faces of the body 12 while the lateral faces are each constituted by the assembly, in particular by gluing, of four flaps. Lateral referenced 5, 6, 7 and 8 that respectively comprise the faces 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The transverse flap 9 is here secured to the free transverse edge of the lid 4 and is intended to be folded against the outer surface, alternatively internal, of the lateral face 1 and then secured to it during the closing operation of the the filled box 12B.

By convention, a face or surface is called "internal" when it is oriented towards the inside of the volume of the body 12 intended to receive the products and is called "external" in the opposite case.

In a variant, the flap 9 is integral with the free transverse edge of the transverse face 1 of the body cutout 14. We will now describe the various successive operations of the crating cycle performed by the packaging machine 10 and illustrated in Figures 5a to 5f.

Preferably, the machine 10 comprises a storage magazine 18 comprising a stack of cutouts 14 of the body which is associated with a transfer arm 20 forming the extraction means for bringing a cutout 14 from the store 18 to the first position A formatting.

Advantageously, the storage magazine 18 is fed automatically into cutouts 14 of the box by cutting supply means.

The transfer arm 20, shown in FIG. 5a, is mounted movable at one end of its ends about a transverse axis (not shown), respectively between a high position, called extraction, in which it extends globally vertically and a low position, called shaping, in which it extends globally horizontally.

The transfer arm 20 has at the other, upper end of its gripping means such as suction cups 22 for suction of the blank 14, which are pneumatic type here, alternatively mechanical, such as a matrix having a plurality of suction cups 22 associated with a suction device (not shown) that can be selectively controlled.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5c, when the transfer arm 20 is initially in the upper extraction position, the sucking suction cups 22 cooperate with the so-called proximal box cutout 14 by exerting, here on the bottom 2, a force suction downwards. The arm 20 causes the extraction out of the store 14 for cutting 14 proximal box when, driven in rotation, it pivots about its axis of rotation to the low position.

The magazine 18 comprises means for retaining the cutouts 14 of the box that are fixed or movable and are for example here constituted by vertical retaining bars 19 positioned in the vicinity of the flaps 5 to 8 so that the flaps 5 to 8 are closed. erase relative to the retaining bars 19 by folding to allow extraction of the proximal cutout 14 out of the store 18.

FIG. 5b more particularly illustrates the arm 20 in an intermediate position during the downward movement from the high position to the low position. During this movement, the cutout 14 cooperates with guide means 24, 26 which causes the folding of the faces of the cutout 14 of cash adjacent the bottom 2, in a substantially vertical position.

Preferably, the guiding means 24, 26 comprise, on the one hand, two curved arches 24 which, upstream, cooperate with the external surface of the transverse face 1 to cause a first folding along its common transverse edge with the bottom 2 and on the other hand, guide rods 26 which, downstream, cooperate with the external surface of the opposite face 3 and the cover 4 to cause a second folding along the opposite transverse edge, that is to say common edge of the bottom 2 and the face 3.

This first folding shaping operation is mainly intended to constitute the horizontal bottom 2 of the box 12 on which will be subsequently deposited the products to be packaged.

However, the bottom 2 does not necessarily constitute the subsequent bottom of the closed box 12C which is determined by the proper orientation of the packaged products which may differ from that adopted during filling. FIG. 5c illustrates, after the at least partial shaping of the body cutout 14, the box 12 wrap as it is received at the first station A for shaping the packaging line 16 of the machine 10. The suction device (not shown) is controlled to stop sucking when the transfer arm reaches its low position so that suction cups 22 then stop cooperating with the bottom surface of the bottom 2.

From the first station A shaping, the box 12A thus formed is then likely to be transferred, successively from upstream to downstream, by a conveying device 30 according to the invention, to a second filling station B where , as illustrated in FIG. 5d, products 28 to be packaged are deposited on the bottom 2 of the filled box 12B and then towards a third closing station C, illustrated in FIG. 5f, before the evacuation of the closed box 12C out of the machine 10.

During the transfer of the formed box 12A to the filling station B, the arm 20, again free, is then moved in the opposite direction or towards its upper extraction position so as to bring a new body cutout 14 of the store 18 at the first post A.

Advantageously, the arm 20 comprises a telescopic body so as to allow its release from its lower position in a kinematic having a first longitudinal displacement in translation from the downstream to the upstream and then the upper part carrying the suction cups 22 not risking any more. interfering with the bottom 2 of the body 12A, a second vertical displacement in rotation towards its upper extraction position, the arm 20 being actuated to return to its original length before reaching this position.

In known manner, the machine 10 comprises, laterally on either side of the packaging line 16, firstly means (not shown) for holding and / or positioning the various flaps 5 to 9 of the blank 14 who, willing longitudinally along the packaging line 16, intervene during successive crating operations and, on the other hand means (not shown) for gluing the flaps 5 to 9. The sizing means are for example constituted by "pistols" capable of accurately spraying heated glue on a given gluing area of each flap.

FIGS. 5c to 5f illustrate the folding movements of the various flaps 5 to 9 during the collection cycle by dashed arrows.

Preferably, the flaps 6 are positioned substantially horizontally at the station A and then held in this position to the station B, while the flaps 5 and 7 are respectively at the transfer between A and B and / or the station B folded towards the inside the box 12A, 12B so as to be positioned laterally, that is to say orthogonally to the transverse faces 1, 3 and the bottom 2.

The machine 10 also comprises a loading device (not shown) for taking and transferring products 28, generally packaged in batch (s), as illustrated by an arrow F in Figure 5d of the filling station B.

In known manner, the filling operation of the box formed 12A by the products 28 can be carried out either laterally by one open side faces of the box 12B, or vertically from top to bottom to deposit the products 28 on the bottom 2 horizontal box 12B, previously constituted at station A.

Many loading devices are known for making laterally or vertically the crating of the products 28, such as robotic arms comprising means for gripping a batch of products.

The gripping means (not shown) are in particular a function of the packaging and the type of product to be transferred into the box, so these means can be of the type mechanical, for example a clamp, or pneumatic such as vacuum suction cups.

When the filling is carried out vertically, each pair of flaps 5 and 7 is then advantageously maintained in said lateral position in order to receive an application of glue and to allow the attachment by gluing of each of the flaps 5 and 7 with the corresponding flap 6 during the transfer of the filled box 12B to the third station C closing.

To do this, each flap 6 is folded and folded vertically upwards and then advantageously pressed against the flaps 5 and 7 for a fixed time sufficient to ensure a solid assembly. The two other faces, that is to say the lateral faces, of the body 12 are thus partially constituted.

As can be seen by comparison of Figures 5e and 5f, the lid 4 is then folded and folded down until it extends parallel to the horizontal bottom 2 by folding / folding means (not shown) equipping the closing station C.

In the same way, the flaps 8 are folded and folded against the flaps 5 and 7, previously glued, to complete forming the lateral faces of the body 12 and the flap 9 folded and folded against the outer face, previously glued, of the transverse face 1 to complete the closure of the filled box 12B. Alternatively, the flap 9 is glued by means of gluing means which are integral displacement of the gripping means of the loading / filling device performing for example, after the removal of the products 28, a first transverse displacement to come to position at top of the box 12B and a second vertical movement to deposit the products 28.

In known manner, the closing station C advantageously comprises pressing means and / or squareness (not shown) to verify the formatting of the body parallelepiped and exert on the different glued parts, such as the flaps, a pressure force so as to ensure good fixation.

An exemplary embodiment of the conveying device 30 according to the invention, shown in detail in FIGS. 6 to 8, will be described below.

According to the invention, the conveying device 30 comprises a carriage 32 which is mounted movable longitudinally in both directions and alternately between an extreme upstream position and an extreme downstream position, and which carries means 34 for transfer of body ( s) here comprising a first clamp 36 for transferring a formed box 12A from the first station A to the second station B and a second clamp 38 for simultaneously transferring another filled box 12B from the second station B to the third station C.

Advantageously, each of the first and second clamps 36, 38 comprises at least one upstream locking means 40 and a downstream blocking means 42 of the box 12.

The upstream and downstream blocking means 40 are mounted movably between:

an active position in which the blocking means 40, 42 cooperate with a part of the corresponding box 12A, 12B in order to simultaneously transfer each box 12A, 12B from a given station to the next station, and an inactive position in which, after the transfer of said boxes 12A, 12B, the locking means 40, 42 are retracted so as to allow the repositioning of the carriage 32 in the upstream initial position, in a return path.

In the upstream end position of the carriage 32, the contoured body cutout 14 constitutes the formed box 12A shown at station A in FIGS. 1 and 6.

Indeed, as explained above, the case cutout 14 is fed by the transfer arm 20 to be shaped by the joint action of the guide means 24, 26 and the arm 20, the position of the body 12A as illustrated in FIG. 5c being obtained when the transfer arm 20 reaches its low position for shaping with the horizontal bottom 2.

The formed box 12A is then held in this position by the locking means 40, 42 of the clamps 36, 38 which are in the active position.

More specifically, in the active position, the locking means 40, 42 of each clamp 36, 38 cooperate with a portion of the upstream transverse faces 1, downstream 3 which are adjacent to the horizontal bottom 2 of the box 12 so that between two positions successive, the bottom 2 of each body slides along a guide path 44 horizontal.

Advantageously, the downstream guide means of the cutout 14 constituted by the rods 26 are mounted vertically movable between a low retaining position in which the rods hold the lid 4 of the body 12 in position at the station A and a high position of release towards which the rods 26 are displaced upwards so as not to hinder the transfer of the box 12A from the station A to the station B by the first clamp 36 of the conveying device 30.

The guide path 44 extends longitudinally along the packaging line 16 of the machine, that is to say from upstream to downstream and adjacent to the posts A, B and C which are arranged laterally, here from left side, relative to the guide path 44 and therefore to the packaging line 16.

Preferably, the guide path 44 is constituted by the upper horizontal face 46 bearing two longitudinal rails 48 which, parallel, delimit longitudinally and transversely the packaging line 16. The locking means 40, 42 of the first and second clamps 36, 38 of the carriage 32 are arranged transversely between the two rails 48 and are thus moved longitudinally along the packaging line 16 by the carriage 32, alternately between an extreme upstream position and a downstream extreme position along a forward path and a return path.

The locking means 40, 42 of each clamp 36, 38 are pivotally mounted about transverse axes orthogonal to the longitudinal rails 48, respectively between the active position in which the upstream and downstream locking means 42 extend vertically above the upper horizontal faces 46 supporting the rails 48 to cooperate with each box 12A and 12B and the inactive position in which the upstream blocking means 40 and downstream 42 are retracted below the upper horizontal faces 46 support of the rails 48 during the return path of the carriage 32 so as not to interfere with the funds 2 of the boxes 12A and 12B.

FIG. 6 shows the active and inactive positions of the blocking means 40, 42 of each of the clamps 36, 38, respectively in solid lines and dashed lines.

Preferably, each locking means 40, 42 comprises a pair of arms 50, respectively a left arm 50a and a right arm 50b, so that each clamp 36, 38 consists of four arms 50.

Advantageously, at least one 50b of the arms 50 of each locking means 40, 42 is mounted transversely movable relative to the support tubes 52, 53 constituting the transverse axis of pivoting of the arms so as to allow adjustment of the transverse spacing between each arm 50a, 50b depending on the dimensions of the body 12, in particular the depth P of the bottom 2.

More specifically, the arms 50a, 50b of the upstream blocking means 40 of each of the clamps 36, 38 are mounted on lower transverse tubes 52 and the arms 50a, 50b of the downstream blocking means 42 of each of the clamps 36, 38 on upper cross tubes 53, the axis tubes 52, 53 being vertically offset and globally superimposed. The arms 50a, 50b of each locking means 40, 42 of each clamp 36, 38 can be moved to adjust their transverse spacing, in particular according to the depth P. Advantageously, the arms 50a, 50b are immobilized in position. operating position by clamping means 54 preferably for manually performing the clamping of the arms 50 in a simple and fast manner.

The clamping means 54 of the arms 50 on the shaft tubes 52, 53 are here notch systems or self-locking screws, for example by a quarter turn, having a handle 56 and allowing adjustments to be made without resorting to any specific tools.

In known manner, such clamping means 54 are for example maneuvers manually through the handle 56 on which is exerted on the one hand, to unlock the system, a tensile force against a return spring of the system in position locked and, secondly, to adjust, one or more rotational movements. As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 6 to 8, the carriage 32 comprises a first vertical wing 58 and a second vertical wing 60 which respectively support the upstream blocking means 40 and the downstream blocking means 42 of the clips 36, 38. More specifically, the lower shaft tubes 52 carrying the pairs of arms 50a, 50b, upstream locking means 40 are integral at one of their ends of the first flange 58 and the upper tubes of axis 53 carrying the pairs of arms 50a, 50b, downstream blocking means 42 are integral at one of their ends with the second wing 60.

The first and second wings 58, 60 of the carriage 32 are movably mounted relative to one another in the longitudinal direction so as to allow adjustment of the longitudinal distance between the upstream locking means 40 and downstream 42 in the dimensions of the cardboard box, in particular the length L of the bottom 2.

The first wing 58 comprises, on its left side face, two wheels or lower pads 62 upstream and downstream forming a slide and an upper pad 63, which respectively slide on a lower longitudinal rail 64 and an upper rail 65 which are integral with the face right side of the second wing 60.

The second wing 60 has on its left side face a pair of upstream pads 66 and a pair of downstream pads 68, each pair of pads 66, 68 respectively comprising an upper pad and a lower pad, generally aligned vertically.

The pairs of pads 66, 68 are mounted on a lower longitudinal rail 70 and an upper longitudinal rail 72, which are here integral with a frame 74 of the machine 10 so as to allow the carriage 32 to slide between its upstream and downward end positions. downstream.

The conveying device 30 according to the invention also comprises means 76 for evacuating the closed box 12C from the station C closing the machine 10. The evacuation means 76 are constituted by a third pair of evacuation arms upstream, respectively a left arm 76a and a right arm 76b similar to the arms 50a, 50b of the upstream blocking means 40 of the clamps 36, 38.

The first wing 58 comprises, in addition to the arms of the upstream blocking means 40 of each of the clamps 36, 38, the evacuation arms 76a, 76b, which are arranged at its downstream end so as to come opposite the station C closing when the carriage 32 is in the extreme upstream position.

Advantageously, the evacuation arms 76 are movably mounted synchronously with the upstream locking means 40.

In the same way, the evacuation arms 76a, 76b are movably mounted between an active position in which they cooperate with the upstream transverse face 1 of the box 12C and an inactive position in which the arms 76 are retracted, such as the arms 50 of the clamps 36, 38, to allow the repositioning of the carriage 32 in a return path.

The evacuation arms 76 therefore have the function, during the forward travel of the carriage 32, of pushing the closed box 12C downstream to slide it on the upper horizontal face 46 of the rails 48 forming the guide path. 44, from the closing station C to outside the machine 10, where the box 12C is for example conveyed, automatically or not, by means of transport (not shown) to a shipping area.

The evacuation arms 76 thus also constitute transfer means 34 within the meaning of the present invention.

In a similar manner to the arms 50, the evacuation arms 76 are pivotally mounted around an orthogonal transverse axis 52 to the longitudinal rails 48, respectively between the active position in which the arms 76 extend vertically above the upper horizontal faces 46 rails 48 for cooperating with the body 12C and the inactive position in which the arms 76 are retracted below the upper horizontal face 46 of the rails 48 during the return path of the carriage 32.

Advantageously, at least one 76b of the evacuation arms 76 is mounted transversely movable so as to allow adjustment of the transverse spacing of the arms 76 depending on the dimensions of the cardboard box, in particular the width P of the box 12, here its bottom 2.

The operating kinematics of the conveying device 30 according to the invention will be described below according to the crating cycle illustrated by FIGS. 5a to 5f. When the carriage 32 is initially in the extreme upstream position, the first clamp 36 is arranged longitudinally at the station A shaping while the second clamp 38 is vis-à-vis the filling station B and arms 76 d evacuation of the box of the closing station C. The clamp 36 is then in the active position in which the arms 50a, 50b of its upstream locking means 40 and downstream 42 cooperate with the formed box 12A at the station A, and in the same way, those of the clamp 38 with the filled box 12B at station B and finally the evacuation arms 76a, 76b with the closed box 12C at station C.

The carriage 32 is moved longitudinally between its upstream end position and its downstream end position and vice versa, by means of a driving device 78 that the machine 10 comprises.

The driving device 78 comprises, for example, belt transmission means 80 which are driven by a servomotor 82.

The carriage 32 then makes a first longitudinal race from its extreme upstream position to its downstream extreme position which corresponds to the outward path in which the first gripper 36 transfers the formed crate 12A from the station A to the station B, the second clamp 38 transfers the filled box 12B from the station B to the station C and the evacuation arms 76a, 76b push the closed box 12C downstream out of the machine 10.

To make it possible to temporarily hold a given box in a longitudinal position, especially when certain blocking means 40, 42 or evacuation means 76 are retracted into the inactive position during the second stroke, in the opposite direction, of repositioning the carriage 32 in the upstream end position, the machine 10 comprises, at certain stations, immobilization means 84, which will be described in more detail later. The conveying device 30 comprises actuating means 86 for controlling, between the active and inactive positions, the displacement of the transfer means 34 constituted by the clamps 36, 38 and the evacuation arms 76. Preferably, the actuating means 86 comprise first means 88 for actuating the upstream locking means 40 and the evacuation arms 76a, 76b which are carried by the first wing 58. The first means 88 comprise at least one jack 90 which acts on a first main control lever 92, integral with one of the lower tubes 52, which causes the rotation of the shaft tube assembly 52 - arm 50a, 50b (that is to say upstream blocking means 40 ) between the active and inactive positions, here those of the second clamp 38.

The first main control lever 92 is displaceably connected to levers 94 and 96, respectively controlling the upstream locking means 40 of the first gripper 36 and the evacuation arms 76 by means of link rods 98.

In the same way, the actuating means 86 also comprise second means 100 for actuating the downstream blocking means 42 which are carried by the second flange 60. The second means 100 comprise at least one jack

102 which acts on a second main control lever 104 via a connecting rod 106, integral with one of the upper shaft tubes 53 carrying the arms 50a, 50b of the downstream blocking means 42 of the first gripper 36, which causes their rotation between the active and inactive positions.

The second main control lever 104 is integral in displacement of the lever 108 respectively controlling the upstream blocking means 40 of the second clamp 38 by means of a link rod 1 12. Advantageously, the link rods 98 and 1 12 constitute means for synchronizing the reciprocating reciprocating movement of the locking means 40, 42 of the clamps 36, 38 and the evacuation arms 76 between the active and inactive positions. Thus, the carriage 32 being in extreme downstream position, it then controls the actuating means 86 to rotate the arms of the clamps 36, 38 and the arms 76 to evacuate inactive position. The station A is then empty since the formed box 12A has been transferred to the station B by the clamp 36, the station A shaping does not include here means of immobilization 84 body.

Indeed, the new cutout 14 of cash brought by the transfer arm 20 is immobilized longitudinally upstream by the arches 24 and downstream by the rods 26 until the arms of the first clamp 36 come again, the carriage 32 being in extreme upstream position, return to the active position. However, at station B, this formed box 12A intended to be filled must instead be held in position, in particular longitudinally and at least as long as the locking means 40, 42 of the second clamp 38 are in the inactive position.

This is why the filling station B comprises, upstream and downstream, immobilization means 84 temporarily replacing the locking means 40, 42.

The closing station C also comprises similar immobilization means 84 which are arranged only downstream, and which constitute temporary stop means ensuring correct longitudinal positioning of the filled box 12B on which upstream means, known as squaring crate (not shown), which are for example arranged vertically above the station C.

Thanks to the immobilization means 84, the carriage 32 makes its return path to reposition itself in extreme upstream position and then the arms of the clamps 36, 38 and the arms 76 are actuated to pivot in the active position so as to return to the initial configuration shown in Figure 1 and 6. A complete crating cycle thus corresponds to a forward path and then to a return path of the carriage 32 comprising the transfer means 34.

The immobilizing means 84 are here constituted by upstream fingers 1 14 and / or downstream 1 16 which are preferably arranged and movably mounted in each of the longitudinal rails 48.

The pairs of upstream 1 14 and / or downstream 1 16 fingers are movably mounted between:

a working position in which the fingers 14, 16 project above the plane of the upper horizontal face 46 of the rails 48 to immobilize at least one of the boxes 12B, 12C at the corresponding station, and

- A rest position in which the fingers 1 14, 1 16 are retracted below the upper horizontal face 46 so as not to interfere with the body 12B or 12C during its transfer to the next station or its evacuation out of the machine.

More specifically, each upstream 1 14 and downstream 1 16 finger is mounted, at its lower end, pivoting about a transverse axis and is moved between its working and rest positions by actuating means 1 18 comprising here a jack 120 whose rod acts on a lever 122 causing the pivoting of the finger 1 14, 1 16.

Advantageously, the downstream finger 1 16 of positions B and C and its actuating means 1 18 are mounted integral with a support plate 124 to form a unitary subassembly which is mounted longitudinally movable, here by sliding in the rail 48, so as to allow adjustment of the longitudinal distance between the pairs of upstream fingers 1 14 or squaring means of the body 12C and the pairs of downstream fingers 1 16 according to the different body formats 12, including the length L.

For ease of understanding, there is shown for stations B and C of FIG. 1 such a subset comprising the downstream finger 1 16 of the post B which has deliberately been shifted longitudinally in an extreme upstream position corresponding to the greatest length L of body 12 may be implemented in the machine 10. In Figure 1, for the downstream finger 1 16 of station B, it has also been shown the two positions of the finger 1 16 of longitudinal immobilization of the boxes, namely the working position in which it protrudes out of the rail 48 in dashed line and the rest position retracted into the rail 48 in full line. Advantageously, the machine 10 comprises other means of immobilization, in particular pneumatic means, such as suction suction cups associated with a suction device allowing for example to maintain or immobilize a body part, such as the bottom or one of the flaps. The machine 10 comprises, here at the filling station B, a vacuum suction cup 126 which is arranged in the thickness of the straight rail 48 and flush with respect to the upper horizontal surface 46 for supporting the guide path 44 to apply on the external surface of one of the flaps 6 of the body 12 a vertical suction force, oriented downwards, to maintain it in a substantially horizontal position.

Advantageously, the machine 10 comprises adjustment means 128 for modifying the transverse spacing between each longitudinal rail 48 forming the guide path 44 on which the funds 2 of the boxes slide so as to allow, as for the transfer means 34 of the conveyor device 30, a simple and fast modification according to the different box formats 12.

The adjustment means 128 here comprises a steering wheel or a control crank 130 which drives in rotation a transmission chain 132 actuating a transverse shaft 134 acting by means of connection of the "screw-nut" type on the position of the rails 48. Advantageously, the transverse spacing of the means carried by the rails 48, such as the immobilizing means 84, 1 14, 1 16, is also simultaneously adjusted.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 3, the carriage 32 is arranged in the machine 10 transversely outside the packaging line 16, here offset laterally on the left side, so as to clear a space 136 situated vertically under the packaging line 16 so as to facilitate access, in particular on the right, to this zone of the machine 10. Advantageously, the clamping means 54 are thus easily accessed, which makes it possible to adjust the transverse spacing between the arms 50a. , 50b of the clamps 36, 38 or the evacuation arms 76a, 76b.

Moreover, the conveyor device 30 according to the invention thus arranged in the machine 10 is less sensitive to soiling than the chain-link conveyors according to the state of the art.

Indeed, the dust and / or fine particles of cardboard from the body cutouts, in particular during the shaping operation, are a source of permanent fouling of the conveying device likely to cause interruptions in operation and demanding, at the very least, regular maintenance and cleaning operations.

In addition, during the operation of the machine, the chain conveying devices are also directly exposed to being soiled or soiled by the very content of a product being packaged, which is particularly likely to spread on the chains, especially between the links.

Such would be the case, for example, of a bottle of shampoo whose sealing would be defective as a result of a shock received or even following an incident during the automatic loading / filling operation of the box during which a Escaping product can come crashing so that its contents are projected into the packaging line of the machine. It will be understood that such interruptions or operations are therefore particularly expensive, as well as the stops to make the settings of the machine 10 for a new box. Preferably, drive means (not shown) of the transfer arm 20 are arranged in the machine 10 upstream of the storage magazine 18 or the first station A, so as to also protect these drive means from said dirt coming from them. dust and / or fine particles of cardboard and to leave empty the space 136 under the packing line 16.

Advantageously, such a particular arrangement of the carriage 32 and, in general, of the other means of the machine 10, therefore contributes greatly to facilitating the accessibility of this space 136, in particular for the adjustment of the transfer means or the operations of maintenance, cleaning does not necessarily require stopping the machine 10.

Of course, the embodiment described above for a machine 10 type "over-pack" (crate wrap) is not limiting.

Alternatively, the conveying device according to the invention is implemented in a box-type machine using American boxes.

Claims

1. Machine (10) for the packaging of product (s) (28) in a carton (12) made of cardboard according to a crating cycle comprising at least three successive operations for forming, filling and closing the crate (12), the machine comprising means of collection which are arranged along a longitudinal packaging line (16) of the machine comprising, from upstream to downstream, a first forming station (A) which receives, successively, at a determined cycle rate, a cutout (14) body intended to be at least partially shaped, and comprising a conveying device (30) for transferring, successively from upstream to downstream in a forward path, the body (12A) thus formed to a second filling station (B) to which the products (28) are boxed by means of associated loading means able to deposit the products to be packaged in the box (12B), then to a third station ( C) closing the box (12C) before its evacuation n outside the machine (10), characterized in that the conveying device (30) comprises a carriage (32) which is mounted movably longitudinally between an extreme upstream position and an extreme downstream position and which carries transfer means (34) body (s) comprising at least a first clamp (36) for transferring a formed box (12A) from the first station (A) to the second station (B) and a second clamp (38) for simultaneously transferring another body filled (12B) from the second station (B) to the third station (C).

2. Machine (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the clamps (36, 38) comprises an upstream locking means (40) and a downstream locking means (42), which are mounted movably between:

an active position in which the locking means (40, 42) cooperate with a part of the box (12A, 12B) corresponding to simultaneously transfer each box from a given station to the next station, and

an inactive position in which, after the transfer of said boxes (12A, 12B), the locking means (40, 42) are retracted so as to allow the carriage to be repositioned in the upstream initial position along a return path.

3. Machine (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the conveying device (30) comprises means for evacuating (76) the closed box (12C) out of the station C closing the machine which are mounted movable between an active position and an inactive position synchronously with the upstream blocking means (40).

4. Machine (10) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that, in the active position, the locking means (40, 42) of each clamp (36, 38) or evacuation (76) cooperate with at least a portion of the transverse faces (1, 3) which are adjacent to the horizontal bottom (2) of the box (12A, 12B) so that, between two successive stations, the bottom (2) of each box slides along a guide path (44).

5. Machine (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide path (44) is constituted by the upper horizontal face (46) bearing two longitudinal rails (48) of the packaging line (16). ) and between which are arranged the locking means (40, 42) of the first and second clamps (36, 38) and / or the evacuation means (76).

6. Machine (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking means (40, 42) of each clamp (36, 38) and / or the evacuation means (76) are pivotally mounted around a orthogonal transverse axis (52, 53) to the longitudinal rails (48), respectively between the active position in which the upstream (40) and downstream (42) locking means and / or the evacuation means (76) extend vertically above the upper horizontal faces (46) of the rails (48) to cooperate with the box (12A, 12B, 12C) and the inactive position in which the upstream (40) and downstream (42) locking means and / or the evacuation means (76) are retracted below the upper horizontal face (46) of the rails (48) during the carriage return path ( 32).

7. Machine (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the machine comprises immobilization means (84) capable of temporarily maintain, at a given position, each box in longitudinal position when the locking means (40, 42 ) and / or the evacuation means (76) are retracted into the inactive position.

8. Machine (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the means of immobilization (84) temporary consist of fingers (1 14, 1 16) which, arranged in each of the rails (48) longitudinal, are mounted movable between a working position in which the fingers (1 14, 1 16) project above the plane of the upper horizontal face (46) of the rails (48) to immobilize the box (12A, 12B, 12C) and a position in which the fingers (1 14, 1 16) are retracted below the upper horizontal face (46), so as not to interfere with the body (12A, 12B, 12C) during its transfer to the next station .

9. Machine (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the carriage (32) comprises a first vertical flange (58) for supporting the upstream blocking means (40) and / or the means for (76), and a second vertical support flange (60) supporting the downstream blocking means (42) and in that the first and second flanges (58, 60) are movably mounted relative to each other in the longitudinal direction so as to allow adjustment of the longitudinal distance between the upstream and downstream blocking means (40, 42) and / or between the evacuation means (76) and the immobilizing means (84, 1 16 ) depending on the dimensions of the cardboard box, in particular the length of the bottom.

10. Machine (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that each locking means (40, 42) of a clamp (36, 38) and / or the evacuation means (76) consists of a pair of arms (50a, 50b, 76) of which at least one (50b, 76b) is mounted transversely movable to allow adjustment of the transverse spacing between each of the arms (50, 76) depending on the dimensions of the cardboard box, in particular the width (P) of the bottom.

Machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage (32) is arranged transversely outside the packaging line (16) so as to clear the space (136). ) located vertically below the packaging line (16) to facilitate access to this part of the machine, in particular to make adjustments to the transfer means (34) such as the tongs (36, 38, 76) or to maintenance, cleaning.