EP2015995B1 - Device for folding in at least one flap of a box - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for folding in at least one flap of a box includes a folding mechanism for folding the at least one flap and a pressing mechanism for pressing the flap into the inside of the box, where the pressing mechanism projects into the inside of the box. The flap is closed with only the two tool. Particularly by the use of the pressing means, the flap can be pressed against until such time as glue, applied in the preceding step, has bonded. To adapt to different widths of the package, only one tool has to be exchanged. The folding means need not be changed, since it is adapted for the widest possible package.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a device for folding at least one tab of a package according to the preamble of the preamble of the independent claim. From the EP 1389 166 B1 is already a device for inserting packaged goods in packaging, in particular of blister strips in cartons, known. After inserting the blister in the carton this is closed in a conventional manner. However, this device must be modified if, instead of in a carton blister strips in a so-called wallet packaging, a folding in the form of a wallet and re-closable carton to be kept. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide such a device and in particular to make sure that it is easy to adapt to different packaging sizes. This object is solved by the features of the independent claim.

From the EP-A-1020356 already a generic device for conveying a prefolded packaging blank in a packaging machine is known. Here, in the conveying direction of the packaging blank in the region of the side wall portions circulating conveyors are arranged. These conveyors receive drivers, wherein in each case a driver pair fixes one of the two side wall sections in the region of the end sides of this side wall section between them.

Disclosure of the invention Advantages of the invention

The inventive device for folding at least one tab of a package according to the features of the independent claim has the advantage that a secure fixing of the blister by means of a so-called fixing tab can be made possible. The tab is closed only with two tools, namely with folding and pressing. In particular, by the use of the pressing means, the tab can be pressed until a glue applied in the previous step has set Has. To adapt to different widths of the package, only one tool needs to be replaced. The bending material does not have to be changed because it is adapted to the widest packaging. Bending and / or pressing center according to the invention have a comb structure, wherein the comb structures of folding and pressing means are preferably intermeshable. This structure is particularly suitable for folding over particularly short tabs, where folding means and pressing means must act on the tab in a small space.

In an expedient refinement, drive means are provided which move the folding means and pressing means in such a way that the tab reaches the movement range of the pressing means during folding, which moves and presses the tab into the interior of the packaging. The output movement of the two tools always remains the same, even with different geometries of the packaging with tab.

In an expedient development, it is provided that the folding means folds the tab down by approximately or slightly less than 90 °. Thus, the folding means with an ascending or descending direction of movement, the pressing means according to a counter-rotating, i. descending or ascending direction of movement are operated. As a result, a secure folding the flap is achieved inside the package.

In an expedient refinement, it is provided that folding means and / or pressing means can be brought into a pivoting movement via at least one lever. In an expedient development it is provided that the pivoting movement of the lever can be generated by curves. This type of drive is characterized by a particularly simple design.

In an expedient refinement, it is provided that folding means and / or pressing means are displaceably arranged relative to the lever. This makes it particularly easy to make adjustments to different packaging geometries.

In an expedient development it is provided that at least one glue head is provided which applies glue to the flap. This can be in a module secure closing or fixing the tab make.

Further expedient developments emerge from further dependent claims and from the description.

drawing

An embodiment of the device for folding at least one tab of a package is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht der Verpackung mit noch ausgeklappten Deckla- schen,

Figur 2

eine Seitenansicht der Verpackung bei eingeklappten Decklaschen,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Verpackung,

Figur 4

die Verpackung mit ausgeklappter Seitenlasche beim Aufbringen des Leims,

Figur 5

eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung beim Abkanten der Lasche,

Figur 6

eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung beim Andrücken der Lasche,

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung,

Figur 8

die Draufsicht der Vorrichtung in einer ersten Arbeitsstellung,

Figur 9

den Querschnitt entlang des Linie A-A aus Figur 8,

Figur 10

eine Draufsicht der Vorrichtung in der Ruhestellung,

Figur 11

einen Querschnitt entlang der Linie B-B gemäß Figur 10,

Figur 12

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung in einer zweiten Arbeitsstellung,

Figur 13

einen Querschnitt entlang der Linie C-C nach Figur 12 und

Figur 14

einen Querschnitts entlang der Linie D-D nach Figur 12.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a side view of the packaging with cover flaps still unfolded,

FIG. 2

a side view of the package with folded cover tabs,

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the packaging,

FIG. 4

the packaging with the side flap unfolded when applying the glue,

FIG. 5

a schematic representation of the device when folding the tab,

FIG. 6

a schematic representation of the device when pressing the tab,

FIG. 7

a perspective view of the device,

FIG. 8

the top view of the device in a first working position,

FIG. 9

the cross section along the line AA FIG. 8 .

FIG. 10

a plan view of the device in the rest position,

FIG. 11

a cross section along the line BB according to FIG. 10 .

FIG. 12

a top view of the device in a second working position,

FIG. 13

a cross section along the line CC after FIG. 12 and

FIG. 14

a cross section along the line DD after FIG. 12 ,

At the in FIG. 1 The wallet shown here is a wallet 1. This wallet 1 can be unfolded like a wallet and closed again. It protects a blister 3 fixed therein. Furthermore, a card 4 is provided with recesses in the areas of the wells of the blister 3. This card 4 covers the blister 3 as in FIG FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shown. To fix the blister 3 with the wallet 1 side tabs 2 and cover plates are provided as part of the wallet 1 forming packaging. These are fixed with the device for folding by means of glue 5 described later with the card 4, so that the blister 3 located between card 4 and the bottom of the wallet 1 is firmly connected to the wallet 1. At the bottom of the wallet 1 can be provided on the blister pots tuned openings or punched out. About these openings can be found in the wells located objects. The wallet 1 essentially has the shape of a conventional folding box. However, the wallet 1 can be opened again closed, for example via an adhesive closure in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the sides are not closed contrary to a conventional carton, since the tabs 2 are folded inwards to connect the blister 3 directly or indirectly with the wallet 1.

Wallet 1 has a width A as in FIG. 3 indicated. To attach the blister 3 to the wallet 1, a glue head 6 is provided which applies a glue 5 to the top of the flap 2, compare FIG. 4 ,

This tab 2 is now to be folded into the interior of the wallet 1. For this purpose there is a folding means 7 below the tab 2 as in FIG. 5 shown. The folding means 7 is pivoted about a pivot 11 about a pivot point 9 upwards. In this case, the tab 2 is brought to the interior of the wallet 1 out in the working area of a pressing means 8. If the side flap 2 is located in the working region of the pressing means 8, this is pivoted about the lever 12 about the pivot point 10 towards the tab 2. According to FIG. 6 the working area of the pressing means 8 is selected so that it conveys the flap 2 into the interior of the wallet 1. As a result, the tab 2 is pressed against the card 4 or the blister 3 with the adhesive 5 now pointing down, as in FIG FIG. 2 shown. The device is characterized by adjustment of at least three variables. X1 is the length of the pressing means 8. X2 denotes the length of the lever 11 of the folding means 7. X4 is the distance between the surface of the wallet 1 and the tip of the folding means 7 when it reaches its maximum, upper vertical position. X3 denotes the length of the (deck) flap 2, to which the sizes x1, x2 and x4 are to be matched.

According to FIG. 7 leads a transport system 13 in the direction 14 a wallet 1, the cover plates 2 are to be glued to the lying on a blister card 3 4. First, the wallet 1 passes a glue head 6 which applies glue 5 to the top of the flap 2. It then arrives in the working area of the folding means 7 and the pressing means 8, as described in more detail below.

In the FIG. 7 is shown a working position in which the pressing means 8 presses the tab 2 to be bonded into the interior of the wallet 1. The head of the pressing means 8 has a comb-shaped structure 34 which terminates pointed towards the interior of the wallet 1. The head of the pressing means 8 can be displaced via a setting means 30 along a guide 32, so that it can be adjusted via x1 how far the pressing means 8 projects into the interior of the wallet 1. The head of the pressing means 8 is tilted over a lever 12, so that the head can be introduced perpendicular to the direction 14 in the wallet 1 and returned. The transmitted via a belt 24 movement sets a drive means 22 via a coupling rod 26 in a corresponding tilting movement of the lever 12 to. The belt 24 connects the drive means 22 of the pressing means 8 with the drive means 21 for the bending means 7. As shown in more detail later, the movement of the drive means 21 is converted into a tilting movement of the lever 11 which is mounted in a pivot point 10. The lever 11 is connected to the head of the folding means 7, which also has a comb structure 33, wherein the two comb structures 33, 34 engage each other.

In the FIG. 8 are the essential components of FIG. 7 shown again in plan view, in the working position of FIG. 7 , Since the components of those of FIG. 7 correspond and are provided with the same reference numerals, is waived renewed entry. In the sectional view along the line AA in the FIG. 9 the drive mechanism is visible. The drive means 22 for the pressing means 8 performs a movement substantially perpendicular to the running direction 14. This movement is made possible via the coupling rod 26 on the lever 12 in the sense of a pivoting movement in a plane whose normal vector is substantially parallel to the running direction 14. For this purpose, the lever 12 is tiltably mounted about the pivot point 9. The movement of the lever 12 is limited by the coupling rod 26, the other end is rotatably connected in a pivot point 27 with the lever 12. As a result, the desired pivoting movement is generated.

The corresponding rest position is in the Figures 10 and 11 shown. There, the position of the drive means 22 is so far away from the wallet 1 that the lever 12 has the tip of the pressing means 8 folded so far back that it is no longer in the interior of the wallet 1.

FIG. 9 can be further easily seen that the bottom of the pressing means 8 substantially parallel to the inside of the wallet 1, the tab 2 presses. The folding means 7 is still in a position in which the tab 2 has been erected substantially at almost 90 °, before the pressing means 8 conveyed the thus erected tab 2 by a further 90 ° in the interior of the wallet 1. The folding means 7 is about the lever 11 in a tilting movement offset, wherein the lever 11 is rotatably supported via the pivot point 10. The folding means 7 can preferably be moved along the longitudinal axis of the lever 11, so that thereby the length x2 is adjustable and thus the angle by which the folding means 7 the lug 2 is tilted, is adjustable to almost 90 °.

In FIG. 10 the essential components are shown in the rest position. In particular, the pressing means 8 is no longer in the interior of the wallet 1. This presentation can be particularly well the interlocked comb structures 33, 34 of bending means 7 and pressing means 8 refer. In particular, the vertical positions of folding 7 and pressing means 8 can be the sectional view along the line BB in FIG. 11 remove. Thus, the tip of the folding means 7 is below the tab 2. The drive means 22 for the pressing means 8 has its most remote from the wallet 1 position by the lever 12 is tilted about the pivot point 10 to the rear. In the following operation, the folding means 7 is moved upward about the pivot point 9, so that the tab 2 in a position after FIG. 5 is raised. In addition, the drive means 22 moves in the direction of the wallet 1, so that the lever 12 and thus the tip of the pressing means 8 is tilted towards the wallet 1 out. The movements of folding means 7 and pressing means 8 are coordinated so that the pressing means 8, the erected by the folding means 7 tab 2 into the interior of the wallet 1 transported in the in FIG. 9 shown position.

According to FIG. 12 is now shown a working position, the of the FIG. 8 and Figure 9 corresponds, but adapted to a smaller tab 2. The pressing means 8 is arranged by means of the adjusting means 30 and the guide 32 remote from the wallet 1 than with larger tab geometries. This results in that the tip of the pressing means 8 no longer protrudes so far into the interior of the wallet 1 for pressing the tab 2. The length x2 between pivot point 9 and tip of the folding means 7 has been extended accordingly, so that the top of the tip of the Bending agent 7 relative to the surface has a reduced length x4.

In FIG. 13 the section of the device is shown along the line CC in the small flap geometry pressing position x3. Compared to the setting at FIG. 9 was the size x2 changed by moving pressing means 8 along the lever 12 accordingly. X4 is adjusted by sliding a sliding block 15 on a slide 16 as shown FIG. 14 seen.

The sectional view along the section line DD to FIG. 14 can be taken from the drive mechanism for the folding 7. For example, via the belt 24, a curve 18 is set in rotation. The curve 18 has a screw 20 with a certain inclination. On the right side of the screw 20 is enclosed by two cam rollers 17. About this cam rollers 17, a linear slide 16 is moved up and down. A sliding block 15 is adjustably mounted on the slider 16. A link rod 19 transmits the movement of the sliding block 15 on the lever 11. This lever 11 carries the folding means 7. As a result, the lever 11 is set in a pivoting movement about the pivot point 9.

In summary, the device for folding at least one tab 2 of a package 1 works as follows. Wallet 1 enters the device. The glue head 6 carries the glue bead 5 on the tab 2. Then the transport movement stops. The folding means 7 edges the tab 2 by a little less than 90 ° upwards. The pressing means 8 then edges the tab 2 by more than 90 ° in the interior of the wallet 1 from. The pressing means 8 holds the tab 2 in this position. The glue 5 binds off. The pressing means 8 leaves the wallet 1 and pivots into the rest position, as well as the folding means 7. The wallet 1 leaves the station. At the same time the following Wallet 1 enters the station. From here, the sequence repeats as already described. The tab 2 is closed by only two tools, namely the folding means 7 and the pressing means 8. The movement of folding means 7 and pressing means 8 runs in opposite directions, that is, while the folding means 7, the flap 2 moves from bottom to top, the pressing means 8 in turn positioned the raised flap 2 by a movement from top to bottom inside the wallet 1. Die The chosen construction is characterized by high flexibility. For wallets 1 with different widths A only a single tool needs to be replaced, which is to be adapted to this width A.

This is the pressing means 8, which conveys the tab 2 into the interior of the wallet 1. The folding means 7 is to be chosen so that it safely covers the maximum width A of the wallets 1 to be processed.

As already described, the adjusting means 30, 32 serve to adapt the pressing means 8 to different tab heights x3. This is achieved, in particular, that folding means 7 and / or pressing means 8 are displaceably connected to the respective levers 11, 12. In addition, the end position in working position x4 of the folding means 7 can be adjusted via the sliding block 15. By adjusting the Nutseins 15 on the slider 16, the size x4 is adjusted so that x4 matches the tab length x3. As a result, although the end position is moved at rest, which is irrelevant to the function. Subsequently, the folding means 7 is moved on the lever 11 until the bending angle of the tab 2 is set to almost 90 °. The construction is also characterized by the fact that very flat wallets 1 can be processed with a short cover flap length x3. This is achieved in that comb structures 33, 34 are interlocked by folding means 7 and pressing means 8, respectively.

As a rule, two cover plates 2 are to be closed. For simplicity, however, only one page has been shown.

The skilled person numerous modifications are common to realize the device. Thus, folding means 7 and / or pressure means 8 can be driven by servomotors instead of curves. Instead of the pivoting movements also linearly moving folding means 7 and / or pressing means 8 are conceivable. Although simpler tools could be produced, but the effort for the adjustment would be greater. In particular, the risk of collision of the tools is greater due to incorrect settings.

Also, a knife could be provided with an additional movement, which holds down the creasing edge between tab 3 and the associated base of the wallet 1. This could improve the process of Abkantens the tab 2 by the folding means 7. The knife must be during the bending be in the lower position by the folding means 7. Subsequently, it would have to be brought into the upper position when the pressing means 8 carries the tab inside the wallet 1. However, this knife runs the risk of coming into contact with the glue bead 5.

The device described is particularly suitable for fixing blister 3 in wallets 1, but is not limited thereto. Thus, it generally serves the folding of at least one tab 2 in the interior of a package.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for folding in at least one flap (2) of a pack (1), comprising angling means (7) for angling the at least one flap (2) and pressure-exerting means (8) for subjecting the flap (2) to pressure, wherein the pressure-exerting means (8), for subjecting the flap (2) to pressure, project into the interior of the pack (1), characterized in that the angling means (7) and pressure-exerting means (8) have a comb structure (33, 34), wherein the comb structures (33, 34) of the angling means (7) and pressure-exerting means (8) can be meshed one inside the other.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by the provision of driving means (21, 22) which move the angling means (7) and pressure-exerting means (8) such that the flap (2), when angled, passes into the movement region of the pressure-exerting means (8), which moves the flap (2) into the interior of the pack (1) and subjects it to pressure.
3. Apparatus according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angling means (7) angles the flap (2) through approximately 90 degrees.
4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angling means (7) and/or pressure-exerting means (8) can be made to pivot via at least one lever (11, 12).
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the angling means (7) and/or pressure-exerting means (8) are arranged such that they can be displaced in relation to the lever (11, 12).
6. Apparatus according to either of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the pivoting movement of the levers (11, 12) can be produced by cams (18, 20, 21, 22).
7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the provision of at least one glue head (6) which applies glue (5) to the flap (2).
8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding Claims 4-7, characterized by the provision of a slide (16), the upward and downward movement of which is coupled mechanically to the lever (11) via a joint rod (19).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the slide (16) and joint rod (19) are connected via a sliding block (15).

Images