EP2094479A1

EP2094479A1 - Machine for shaping blanks of cardboard boxes

Info

Publication number: EP2094479A1
Application number: EP07858479A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michel Jannin; Pascal Murano
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2006-10-20
Filing date: 2007-10-19
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-19
Also published as: PT2094479E; WO2008047008A1; US20100210440A1; PL2094479T3; US8277367B2; FR2907368A1; FR2907368B1; MX2009004219A; ES2338941T3; EP2094479B1; ATE460268T1; CN101631669A; DE602007005281D1; JP2010506762A; BRPI0718165A2

Abstract

The machine according to the invention comprises a store containing the blanks; an extractor arm; means for shaping the blanks; and an upstream transport device for receiving and distributing the blanks of the boxes. The extractor arm and the shaping means are provided on the frame of a bench, which is inserted, as in a module, between the store and the upstream transport device. Said bench comprises: a ramp which is upwardly inclined at an angle of 45° in relation to the horizontal and acts as a guiding channel; a sole having an upper part, in the region of the shaping station, which can be retracted to enable the blank to pass via the ramp; a transport system for moving the blanks from the lower point to the upper point; a forming arm carried by a framework which extends above the ramp; and a transfer arm which participates in the shaping of the blank before moving it, once it has become a box blank on the downstream transport device.

Description

Machine for forming cardboard box blanks.

The present invention relates to a machine for forming box blanks from cardboard blanks and in particular cutouts of the "American box" type, with or without flaps. The preparation of a body blank is a series of operations that are linked to the forming machine: - a cutting extraction operation that is stored in a magazine, - an operation of setting the volume of the blank in the form of a body blank then - a transfer operation and evacuation of said blank. The machine thus comprises several juxtaposed posts and in particular: - a storage station, or store, of the "fifo" type at which cardboard blanks are stored, - a formatting station and - an evacuation station with in addition, as the case may be, a filling station which may be confused with the shaping station, and a finishing station of the crate or, for particular packages, one or more stations for operations which consist of adding a bottom and / or lid.

This type of machine finds its place in packing facilities, for example, to prepare blanks crates that can package and package various products and varied bottles, bottles or other. Given the wide variety of products to be packaged, the packing machines are more and more versatile, that is to say that they are able to process cuts of very different sizes to prepare boxes adapted to the products. to condition.

But this versatility tends to give rise to relatively complex machines and especially particularly cumbersome because they are designed taking into account the larger format cuts that must be shaped into boxes.

The space available for the integration of this type of machine in existing premises is sometimes restrictive and this integration may generate, for operators, working conditions that are not necessarily good, especially in terms of ergonomics.

Operators must indeed be able to circulate around the machine if only to feed it in cardboard cuttings. They must also be able to circulate around the machine to make the adjustments during the changes of formats of the cuts, during its maintenance, and be able to intervene in good conditions in case of any incidents.

The development of these machines becomes increasingly complex as the time to deliver these machines become shorter and shorter. The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of current machines by proposing an original concept which makes it possible, first and foremost, to respond more easily to the users' requirements, whether in terms of time, the size of the Machine ... etc.

It also aims to improve the overall ergonomics of the machine and the working conditions of the operators and in particular those of the operator responsible for positioning the cuts in the store.

It also minimizes the intervention on the machine to make the necessary adjustments during format changes.

The machine's original design also makes it possible to achieve high rates of preparation of box blanks and thus substantially increase the rates on the entire packing line.

The machine for forming cardboard box blanks according to the invention comprises, assembled on the same frame: - a storage station, or magazine, of the "fifo" type, in which the blanks are deposited, - shaped means suction cup arms for taking said cuttings one by one from said magazine, arm-shaped means also for setting each volume volume and a downstream conveyor device for supporting and evacuating the blanks of boxes, which sampling means and setting volume are gathered on the frame of a shaping bench that interposes, such a module, between said cutout magazine and said downstream conveyor device, which bench comprises:

- An inclined ramp, such as said frame, upwardly at an angle of between 30 and 60 °, of the order of 45 °, relative to the horizontal, which ramp acts as a guide corridor for the cuts and it consists of two angles arranged laterally with an adjustable gap which corresponds to the width of the cuts, which angles form both the sole and the side walls for said cuts, guiding them during their journey between the low point and the high point of said ramp, said ramp being divided into two parts: a lower part with a sole which is fixed and an upper part, at the shaping station, with a sole which is retractable to allow the passage of the blank through said ramp between the side walls for transfer to said conveyor device evacuation; - A transverse axis located at the lower part of the ramp and the frame, serving as an articulation to the extractor arms which take the cuts in the store, which extractor arms pivot under the effect of appropriate means of the kind jack;

a reference frame whose reference point is situated at the lower part of said ramp, opposite the exit edge of the magazine, for receiving and retaining the cuts brought by said extractor arms;

a second frame of reference whose reference point is located halfway up said ramp at the entrance of the shaping station to wedge the cuts before and during their shaping;

an inclined conveying system that extends over the lower half of the length of said ramp to move said blanks from one repository to the other, knowing that the distance between the two reference frames is substantially greater than the dimension of the largest cutting format;

- A shaping device of each cut, consisting of at least one forming arm, the suction cup type, which is articulated on a transverse axis and operated by appropriate means of the jack type, which transverse axis merges, to the thickness of cardboard near, with the angle of the dihedral of the higher reference system located at said formatting station;

- A transfer device, in the form of arms with suction cups also, articulated on a transverse axis and maneuvers by appropriate means, which transfer arm participate in the shaping of the cut before taking it, when it became a body blank on the downstream conveyor device.

This bank of volume of the blank in the form of a blank of a box makes it possible, because of its inclination, to reduce the space between the magazine and the downstream part of the machine and to have a constant space whatever the cutting formats to be processed with said machine.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the ramp of the shaping bench has, at its lower part, on its lateral angles, safety stops which are fixed, which stops also serve as a reference for the cut and they are located on a circular arc whose center corresponds to the axis of articulation of the extractor arm, which arc passes through the output edge of the store.

This constructive arrangement improves the ergonomic side of the machine. Indeed, the fact of having fixed stops that determine a fixed reference point regardless of the formats of the cuts, allows to have, for the store, a sole that is fixed also. The sole of the magazine being fixed, the operator carries out his loading operations, with the packages of cuts, always at the same height, which height is, for example, between 55 and 100 cm, preferably of the order of 85 cm.

Still according to the invention, the system for conveying the cuts on the shaping bench consists of an endless belt whose active strand is located in the plane of the sole of the ramp of said bench, which belt is centered between the two extractor arms and it is stretched between a lower pulley located upstream of the lower reference frame and an upper pulley located at the upper reference level, upstream of the entry of the shaping station, which belt comprises at least one stopper which is in the form of an L whose active surface, shaped heel, serves as a pusher for cutting, which heel serves as a positioning stop for said cutting at the reference point up, at the entrance of said forming station, and it is located substantially downstream of the anchoring point of said L-shaped cleat on said belt so as to avoid any interference between said conveying system and the blank e cash when the latter is supported by the transfer arms to be taken to the downstream conveyor device.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the belt of the conveying system comprises two diametrically opposed tabs which push the cuts in turn and these two catches serve, also in turn, positioning stop and reference for said cuts , at the fitness station.

Still according to the invention, the maneuvering means of the arms which transfer the blanks between the shaping station and the downstream conveyor device consist of a servomotor and a crank-rod system interposed between the latter and said arms. . The invention also relates to the "American box" type cutting process by means of the previously detailed machine, which method comprises:

- to take a cutout in the magazine by means of extracting arms; - Depositing said blank in the lower frame which is arranged on the inclined ramp of the shaping bench;

moving said cutout upwards to bring it to the level of the shaping station in the upper frame of reference;

- To set said volume by volume by means of transfer arms and forming;

moving the box blank thus formed by means of said transfer arms, between said bench and the downstream conveyor device.

Still according to the invention, the method of setting the volume of the blank by means of transfer arms and forming comprises: - to put the transfer arms in the active position of gripping the lower panel of the blank;

putting the forming arm (s) in the active position of taking charge of the adjacent upper panel of said blank, said blank being sandwiched between said transfer and forming arms; - Tilt the forming arm of a quarter circle to volume said cut in the form of a sleeve constituting the body blank;

releasing said adjacent upper panel, i.e. said blank, with respect to said forming arm;

- to retract the upper part of the sole of the ramp, at the level of the shaping station;

bringing said body blank by means of said transfer arms to deposit it on the downstream conveyor device, passing through said ramp;

- To return to active position said upper part of the sole to continue a new cycle. But the invention will be further detailed with the aid of the following description and the appended drawings, given as an indication, and in which:

- Figure 1 shows, in block diagram form, seen from the side, the constituent elements of the machine according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the downstream conveyor device also showing the two arms which perform, in particular, the transfer and removal of the blank on said downstream conveyor device;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cut-out shaping bench with, on the right-hand side of the figure, sectional representations, also diagrammatic, FIGS. 3a and 3b;

- Figure 4 is a graphical and chronological representation of the movements of the various elements that contribute to the volume of the cuts on the shaping bench; FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate, in connection with FIG. 4, some of the steps of shaping the blanks, which steps are marked on the graphical representation of FIG. 4.

The machine, shown schematically in Figure 1, allows the forming of cutouts (1) cardboard type "American box". A cutout (1) is shown on the left of the figure, partially in volume; it has sides L1 and L1, which may be large or small, and sides V and V ^y which, conversely, may be small or large. In the figure, the flaps are represented on one side; the cut can have two sides or be without flaps, in the form of a simple sheath. These cuts (1) are prepared in advance and, before being introduced into the machine, they are presented flat, delivered in package on a pallet, for example.

The formatting of these cuts is in fact to open them to make a sheath that is a blank cash register. The actual box is subsequently made at a so-called pressing station where the flaps are, for example, glued and folded after, as the case may be, a filling operation of the blank with the products to be packaged. .

This shaping machine comprises, arranged and assembled on a frame (2); a magazine (3) of the "fifo" type for storing the blanks (1), an M or bench module (4) which comprises all the elements necessary for the actual formatting of said blanks (1) and - a conveying device (5) arranged downstream to take care of the blanks (6) cash and move or evacuate to other stations or destinations not shown. The magazine (3) may comprise, as shown in the figure, a conveyor (13) which advances the cuts (1) to the bench (4). The cuts are arranged inclined towards the exit; the plumb with their upper edge is downstream of the edge (14) which is disposed at the outlet of the magazine (3). The upper run of the conveyor (13) acts as sole (15) for the cuts (1) and this sole comprises, beyond the downstream end of said conveyor (13), an extension in the form of a shelf (16) fixed which ends with the exit edge (14) of the store.

The shaping of a blank (1) is a series of operations which are linked on the bench (4) by means of several specific elements detailed below; these different shaping elements are all arranged on the same frame (20) which is itself secured to the frame (2) of the machine. This frame (20) is inclined upwards, at an angle of between 30 and 60 °, of the order of 45 °.

The first operation is to take a cutout (1) in the magazine (3). This operation is performed by means of a sampling device consisting of two arms (21) called extractor arms; these arms (21) extractors are articulated around an axis (22) which is located at the bottom of the frame (20); they are maneuvered by means of a jack (23) which is anchored on said frame (20).

The cutout (1) is deposited, by the arms (21), in an inclined corridor, as the frame (20), which forms a kind of ramp (24) whose detail will be given later in connection with Figure 3; this cutout (1) is in fact set in a frame arranged at the lower part of said ramp (24) and in particular at the reference point (B).

The next step is to bring the cutout (1) to the shaping station (30). This shaping is performed on this machine according to the invention, at a high point, that is to say at a level which, unlike that which is practiced on machines of this type, is situated well beyond above the floor level of the store (3) at the downstream conveyor device (5).

Movement of the blank (1) between the point (B) of the lower repository and the point (H) of the upper repository at the level of the shaping station (30) is effected by means of a system (32). ) of conveying.

The point (B) is a reference point which is materialized by a positioning stop, as detailed below, in connection with FIG. 3. The point (H) is a virtual reference point whose existence depends on elements which are associated with the conveying system (32) and whose implementation is carried out according to a cycle which is attached to the overall cycle of the shaping of the blanks (1). ).

This conveyor system (32) comprises a belt (34) of the endless type, which is stretched between pulleys (35, 36), one of which is motorized by means of a servomotor, not shown. The pulley (35) is located at the lower part of the ramp (24), clearly upstream of the point (B).

This conveying system (32) is also inclined, like the ramp (24) and the frame (20), at an angle of between 30 and 60 °, preferably of the order of 45 °. The blank (1) is supported and taken to point (B) ₅ by a cleat (37) which is integral with the belt (34). This cleat (37) has a particular shape L, as shown separately in Figure 1. Note that the large leg (38) of the cleat (37) is fixed on the belt (34) so that the heel ( 39) of said cleat (37) can advance beyond the downstream end of the conveyor system (32), that is to say beyond the upper pulley (36). In fact, the heel (39) of this cleat (37) serves as a stop for cutting (1) and serves as a reference for the positioning of said cutout (1) at the position (30) shaping; it establishes the virtual point (H) of the higher repository.

The belt (34) preferably comprises two cleats (37) which are diametrically opposed and which serve, in turn, repositories.

The pulley (35) of the belt (34) is located at the bottom of the ramp (24), sufficiently upstream of the point (B) to allow the cleat (37), and in particular the heel (39), to set up to take care of the cut (1) that is waiting, wedged at the point (B) of reference. The pulley (36) is located at half height of the ramp (24), upstream of the entrance of the station (30) shaping, that is to say upstream of the point (H) at the level which cut (1) is wedged by the heel (39) of the latch (37) when in the active position.

This position of the pulley (36), slightly recessed with respect to the point (H), avoids any interference between the latter and the blank (6) case when transferring the blank (6) to the device conveyor (5) downstream.

The point (H) of the upper repository is located at a distance from the point (B) of the lower repository which is at least equal to the dimension of the largest cutting format (1) that can be processed by the machine. This space between the two points reference is used to process all cut sizes (1) without having to make longitudinal adjustments.

The shaping operation itself is carried out by means of two devices consisting of sucker type arms: the arm (40) called the forming arm and the arm (41) which, in the present case, has several functions since it also acts as a transfer arm.

The forming arm (40) and the transfer arm (41) are generally, like the extraction arms (21), arranged in pairs to secure the operation of taking care of and collecting the panels of the blank (1). ). In the following text, the singular or plural will be used indifferently to designate all these arms because in some figures, we see only one arm.

The transfer arm (41) is mainly in this shaping operation, to maintain the side L1 of the blank (1) in the plane of the repository of the station (30). The actual shaping is performed by the forming arm (40). This arm (40), as detailed below, is disposed above the circulation plane of the blank (1); its hinge axis (42) coincides with the reference point (H) and is operated by means of a jack (43) which is anchored to the frame (20), as shown separately in FIG.

Upon arriving at the station (30), the blank (1) is sandwiched between the transfer arm (41) and the forming arm (40). The latter pivots about its axis (42), with an amplitude of the order of a quarter circle, leading the V side of the blank (1), while the arm (41) remains fixed, retaining the side LΛ

As soon as the cutout (1) is shaped, the arm (40) disengages from the side (e ') and the arm (41) is set in motion to transfer the blank (6) to the conveyor device (5) which supports for other operations.

The transfer arm (41) is articulated on an axis (44) located at the level of the conveyor device (5). It is maneuvered by means of a drive member, of the servomotor type; this servomotor actuates the arm (41) via, for example, a system of the crank-handle type, not shown, which provides a great smoothness of operation.

Above the conveyor device (5) is a guide (46). The purpose of this guide (46) is to maintain the blank (6) in the form that has been given to the volume-setting station (30), firstly during its transfer onto the conveyor device (5) and then, when it is moved by the latter.

This guide (46) forms the entrance and the beginning of a vault (47), visible in FIGS. 8 and 9, which materializes, with the conveyor device (5), a guide passage of the blank (6); to allow its adjustment, this guide (46) is secured to the frame (2) by means of a slide system (48).

This guide (46) is, in addition, movable longitudinally upstream, by means of a jack (49) which appears in FIGS. 8 and 9, to position itself on the blank (6) when it is placed on the conveyor device (5) and when it is released by the transfer arms (41).

The downstream conveyor device (5) is shown schematically in FIG. 2, seen from above. It consists in particular of two chains (50, 51) of the endless chains type which are provided with catches (52, 53), respectively, for gripping the blank (6). One of the chains, the chain (50) comprises the cleats (52) upstream that push the blank (6); the other chain, the chain (51), comprises the cleats (53) which are arranged on the downstream face of said blank (6). The two chains (50, 51) are independently mounted and can be offset relative to one another to adjust the spacing between the tabs (52) and (53) depending on the sizes of the blanks (6).

In this figure 2, we also note the presence of the transfer arms (41) which are arranged on either side of the conveyor device (5); these arms (41) are arranged to pass over the shaft (54) which carries the pulleys (55, 56) driving the chains (50, 51) respectively.

Figure 3 is a kind of schematic plan view which shows, with the sections shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the detail of the bench (4) shaping cutouts (1).

All the elements that appear in Figures 3, 3a and 3b are arranged directly or indirectly on the frame (20), which frame (20) is integral with the frame (2) general of the machine, as previously specified.

In these figures 3, 3a and 3b, there are: the conveyor system (32) which extends over the lower half of the ramp (24), which conveyor system (32) moves the cutouts (1) between the points (B) and (H) of the lower and upper frames, respectively, the extractor arms (21) which are arranged on either side of said conveying system (32),

the arms (41) which have a dual function: to maintain the cut (1) during its shaping and to ensure its transfer after its transformation into a blank (6), on the downstream conveyor device (5),

the arm (40) for forming, which is single or double, which arm (40) is shown, FIG. 3b, in the inactive position, and FIG. 3, in thin phantom, in the active position for taking over the V-side of the cut (1), as explained previously,

and, more detailed than in FIG. 1, the guideway of the cut (1), in the form of a ramp (24).

This ramp (24) is constituted, Figure 3a in particular, two brackets (60) arranged laterally to form the guide corridor cutouts (1).

These angles (60) are arranged on either side of the arms (21) and (41) and they form both the sole (61) and the side walls (62) for guiding the blanks (1); they are mounted in an adjustable manner relative to the frame (20) to adapt to the different formats of the blanks (1).

The level of the soles (61) is the same as that of the active upper run of the belt (34) of the conveying system (32).

In the lower part of the ramp (24), the angles (60) are arranged to act as a reference and ensure the setting of each cutout (1) when removed by the arms (21) extractors. This arrangement is shown separately in the bottom of Figure 3; it consists of a stop (63) shaped folded at the end of the floor (61) on the angle (60), which stop (63) is the reference point (B) of the lower frame; it makes it possible to keep the blank (1) in the waiting position, said blank (1) being, when the time comes, supported by the cleat (37) of the conveying system (32) to be taken to the station (30) formatting. This arrangement is made on each side of the ramp (24) at the lower end of the brackets (60).

The point (B) of reference is therefore fixed; it is constant and common for cuts (1) regardless of the formats. This point (B) is located on a circular arc which passes through the edge (14) of the outlet of the magazine (3), which arc is centered on the axis (22) of the arms (21) extractors. This arrangement makes it possible to store (3) whose sole (15) is at a constant level relative to the ground, between 55 and 100 cm, of the order of 85 cm, for example.

The ramp (24) which forms the guideway of the cuts (1) comprises two parts: - a lower part with angles (60) whose sole (61) is fixed and - an upper part with angles (60) including the sole (61 ') is retractable. This upper part is actually located at the position (30) for shaping the cutout (1). Indeed, when the forming operation of the blank (1) is completed, it is necessary to open the guideway of the blanks to transfer the blank (6) to the downstream conveyor device (5) because said blank (6 ) passes between the walls (62) of said corridor of the ramp (24).

As shown schematically in FIG. 3b, the soles (61 ') are articulated longitudinally about axes (64) to pivot under the effect of appropriate means of the jack type (s), not shown, and to retract, releasing and the passage to allow the transfer of the blank (6) which is moved by means of the arms (41) also visible in the figure.

According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the soles (61 ') can also retract in the manner of drawers, laterally, to release the passage between the walls (62).

Still in this figure 3b, there is the forming arm (40). This arm (40) is arranged cantilevered or, as shown in the figure, it is arranged on a kind of gantry (70) which straddles the ramp (24) and the guideway cuts (1). This gantry (70) is operated by means of the cylinder (43) which appears in Figure 1, apart, and it pivots about the axis (42) arranged transversely, which axis (42) coincides with the thickness of cardboard near, with the point (H) of the upper reference, that is to say with the angle of the dihedron formed by the sole (61 ') and the heel (39) of the cleat (37) when the latter is in position active high, at the entrance of the station (30) shaping.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in the form of a chronological diagram, the movements and positions of the various elements of the bench (4) which participate in the shaping of the blanks (1). This diagram is associated with FIGS. 5 to 9 which schematically illustrate some of the phases of the method of forming the blanks (1). In this Figure 4, the conveying system (32) comprises, on a cycle, a period (80) where it is in motion and a period (81) where it is at rest; during this rest period, the heel (39) of the cleat (37), which is in the up position, serves as reference point (H).

The cycle of the extractor arms (21) comprises a period (82) of rest which corresponds substantially to the time necessary to achieve the displacement of the blank (1) between the two points (B) and (H) of reference, by means of the system (32) conveying. The arms (21) pivot to take a cutout (1) in the magazine (3) and its period (83) of support and extraction of the cutout in the magazine (3) is substantially locked on the medium of the idle period of the conveying system (32); then the period (84) of said arms (21) corresponds to the transfer of the blank (1) in the lower repository, which cut (1) is wedged at the point (B), where it will be supported by the cleat (37) according to said system (32).

The cycle of the transfer arms (41) is substantially locked on that of the arms (21) extractors. It includes a period (85) of rest after the deposit (6) has been deposited on the conveyor device (5) downstream, the time for the latter to evacuate said blank (6) of cash, and a period ( 86) to support cutting (1) at the leveling station (30); at the end of shaping, the arm (41) transfers the body blank to the downstream conveyor device (5), which corresponds to the period (87) in the diagram.

The actual shaping of the blank (1) takes place by means of the forming arm (40). The cycle of this arm (40) is similar to that of the other arms; there is firstly a period (88) of support of the V side of the blank (1) and then the period (89) of formatting itself, at the end of which starts the period (90) of rest which is relatively long.

FIG. 5 shows a cutout (1) which is in path between the point (B) of the lower frame of reference and the point (H) of the upper frame, pushed by the heel (39) of the dog (37) of the system (32) of conveying. The extractor arms (21) and the transfer arms (41) are at rest, at the end of their periods (82) and (84) of rest, respectively. The forming arm (40) begins to pivot to support the V side of the blank (1) that arrives at the forming station (30). When the cutout (1) is positioned at the shaping station (30), set at the point (H) of the upper reference frame, the forming arm (40) plates said cutout (1) on the soles (61 ') and maintains it in the frame of reference to allow the arms (41) to be put in place. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the forming arm (40) pivots about its axis (42), taking with it the V side of the blank (1), while the arms (41) hold the L1 side in the repository superior. Note that the axis (42) of the forming arm (40) coincides with the edge common to sides V and L1 of the blank (1) and with the point (H) of the upper reference.

During this operation of setting the volume of the blank (1) as a blank (6) cash, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the arm (21) extractors pivot to take another cutout (1) at the exit of the magazine (3), actuated by the jack (23) for maneuvering. When the volume is completed, as shown in Figure 7, the forming arm (40) releases the V side by releasing the depression in its suction cups while the arms (41) maintain the L 'side to be able to take the blank (6) on the downstream conveyor device (5). To move the blank (6), the upper part of the ramp (24) opens, thanks to the retraction of the sole (61 '), as shown in Figure 8, and the transfer arms (41) are pivoted to lower the blank (6) and deposit it on the conveyor device (5). During this time, the extractor arms (21) have finished their course and they have deposited the new cutout (1) in the lower frame, wedged at the point (B), waiting for a support by the second cleat (37) of the conveying system (32). During its transfer between the station (30) shaping and the conveyor device (5), the blank (6) slides on the guide (46) which prevents it from being deformed. At the end of the stroke, FIG. 9, the blank (6) is deposited on the downstream conveyor device (5) by the transfer arms (41). Before being released by the arms (41), the guide (46) moves upstream on the blank (6), under the effect of its ram (49) maneuver, to maintain the blank which is then moved by the catches (51, 52) of the conveyor device (5) to a suitable destination.

As soon as the passage is released on the conveyor device (5), the transfer arms (41) return to the shaping station (30) to maintain the new cutout (1) which has just arrived in the upper reference frame and the cycle continues.

Claims

1 - Machine for forming blanks of cardboard boxes of the type comprising, assembled on the same frame (2): - a storage station, or store (3) of the "fifo" type, in which the blanks (1 ), sucker-type arm means (21) for taking said cut-outs (1) one by one from said magazine (3), arm-shaped means (40) also to volume each blank and - a conveyor device (5) downstream to support and evacuate the blanks (6) crates, characterized in that said means for sampling and setting volume are collected on the frame (20) of a bench (4) ) which interposes, as a module, between said magazine (3) of cuts and said downstream conveyor device (5), which bench (4) comprises:

- a ramp (24) inclined upwards at an angle of between 30 and 60 °, preferably of the order of 45 ° relative to the horizontal, which ramp (24) consists of two brackets (60) arranged laterally with a gap which corresponds to the width of the cuts (1), which angles (60) form both the sole (61) and the side walls (62) of said guiding said cuts (1) during their journey between the low point (B) and the high point (H) of said ramp (24), which ramp (24) is divided into two parts: a lower part with a sole (61) which is fixed and an upper part at the station ( 30), with a sole (61 ') which is retractable to allow the passage of the blank (6) through said ramp (24) between said side walls (62) for transfer to said exhaust conveyor device (5);

- a transverse axis (22) located at the bottom of said ramp (24) and said frame (20), serving as an articulation with the arms (21) extractors which take the cuts (1) in the magazine (2), which arm (21) extractors pivot under the effect of appropriate means of the type jack (23);

a reference frame whose reference point (B) is located at the lower part of said ramp (24), opposite the exit edge (14) of the magazine (3), to accommodate the cutouts ( 1) brought by said arms (21) extractors;

a second reference frame whose reference point (H) is located at the upper part of said ramp (24), at the entry of the shaping station (30), for wedging the cutouts (1) before and during their shaping; a conveying system (32), inclined as said ramp (24), which extends over the lower half of the length of said ramp (24), for moving said cutouts (1) from one reference system to the other , knowing that the distance between the two reference points (B) and (H) is substantially greater than the dimension of the largest size of said blanks (1);

- A shaping device of each cut, consisting of a forming arm (40) of the suction cup type, which is articulated on a transverse axis (42) and which is operated by appropriate means of the jack type (43). ), which transverse axis (42) merges, with the thickness of cardboard, with the angle of the dihedral of the upper reference level located at said station (30) shaping;

a transfer device, also in the form of arms (41), articulated on a transverse axis (44) and maneuvers by appropriate means, which transfer arms (41), of the suction cup type, participate in shaping the blank (1) before taking it, when it became a blank (6) of cash, on the conveyor device (5) downstream.

2 - Machine for forming cardboard box blanks according to claim 1, characterized in that the ramp (24) of the shaping bench (4) comprises, at its lower part, stops (63) which serve of reference points (B) for the cutout (1), which stops (63) are situated on an arc of a circle whose center corresponds to the axis (22) of articulation of the extractor arms (21), which arc of circle passes through the exit edge (14) of the magazine (3).

3 - Machine for shaping cardboard box blanks according to claim 2, characterized in that the magazine (3) comprises a sole (15) which is fixed relative to the frame (2), which sole (15) is arranged at a height from the ground of between 50 and 100 cm, preferably of the order of 85 cm.

4 - Machine for forming cardboard box blanks according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveying system (32) consists of an endless belt (34) whose active strand is located in the plane of the sole (61) of the ramp (24) of the bench (4), which belt (34) is arranged between the arms (21) extractors and it is stretched between a pulley (35) located upstream upstream of the lower frame and an upper pulley (36) located upstream of the entrance of the shaping station (30), which belt (34) has at least one cleat (37), which cleat (37) is under the shape of an L and its active surface, in bead form (39), which is in contact with the cutout (1), is located substantially downstream of the anchoring point of said cleat (37) on said belt (34), which heel (39) acts as a point ( H) for the input of said shaping station (30), in an area which is downstream of said conveying system (32) to avoid any interference between the conveying system (32) and the preform (6). crate when said blank (6) is supported by the transfer arms (41) and taken to the downstream conveyor device (5).

5 - Machine for forming cardboard box blanks according to claim 4, characterized in that the belt (34) of the conveyor system (32) comprises two diametrically opposed tabs (37) which push the cuts (1) to turn and the heels (39) of these two catches (37) serve, also in turn, positioning stops and reference points (H) at the entrance of the station (30) formatting .

6 - Machine for shaping cardboard box blanks according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means for operating the arms (41) which transfer the blanks (6) between the station (30) of shaping and the downstream conveyor device (5) consist of a servomotor and a connecting rod-crank system which is interposed between the two.

7 - A method of shaping a cutout type "American box" by means of the forming machine according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it consists:

- To take a cutout (1) in the magazine (3) by means of the arms (21) extractors;

- Depositing said blank (1) in the lower frame which is arranged on the inclined ramp (24) of the bench (4) shaping;

moving said blank (1) upwards to bring it to the level of the formatting station (30) in the upper frame;

- To volume said said blank (1) by means of the transfer arms (41) and the arm (40) of forming; - To move the blank (6) cash thus formed by means of said arms (41) of transfer, between said bank (24) and the conveyor device (5) downstream.

8 - Process for forming a cutout of the "American box" type according to claim 7, characterized in that it consists of: putting the transfer arms (41) in the active gripping position on the side L1 of the blank (1);

- To put the forming arm (40) in the active position of supporting the adjacent V side of said blank (1); - swinging said arm (40) forming a quarter circle to volume said blank (1) in the form of a sleeve constituting the blank (6) cash;

releasing said adjacent V-side, i.e., said blank (6), with respect to said forming arm (40); - To retract the upper part of the sole (61 ') of the ramp (24), at the position (30) shaping;

bringing said body blank (6) by means of said transfer arms (41) to deposit it on the downstream conveyor device (5), passing through said ramp (24); - To return said upper part of the sole (61 ') in place to start a new cycle.