Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
  • B65D5/4204—Inspection openings or windows
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
  • B65D5/62—External coverings or coatings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B2105/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by assembling separate sheets, blanks or webs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B2105/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by assembling separate sheets, blanks or webs
  • B31B2105/002—Making boxes characterised by the shape of the blanks from which they are formed
  • B31B2105/0024—Making boxes having all side walls attached to the bottom
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B2120/00—Construction of rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B31B2120/50—Construction of rigid or semi-rigid containers covered or externally reinforced
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/26—Folding sheets, blanks or webs
  • B31B50/44—Folding sheets, blanks or webs by plungers moving through folding dies
  • B31B50/46—Folding sheets, blanks or webs by plungers moving through folding dies and interconnecting side walls
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/60—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping
  • B31B50/73—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by mechanically interlocking integral parts, e.g. by tongues and slots
  • B31B50/732—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by mechanically interlocking integral parts, e.g. by tongues and slots by folding or tucking-in locking flaps
  • B31B50/734—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by mechanically interlocking integral parts, e.g. by tongues and slots by folding or tucking-in locking flaps interengaging tongues and slots
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/74—Auxiliary operations
  • B31B50/81—Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings
  • B31B50/82—Forming or attaching windows

Definitions

• the present invention concerns the field of apparatuses for moulding and covering cardboard boxes.
• a typical production line comprises, for example, a glui ng apparatus for glu ing the coveri ng sheets, an apparatus for moulding and joining the corners of a cardboard box starting from a pre-cut flat blank, a centring apparatus of the box with respect to the pre-glued covering sheet, and, finally, a covering apparatus the wraps the pre glued sheet around the box, so that it becomes fully coated.
• the covering apparatus in its simplest arrangement it comprises a working head consisting of a mould or mandrel, such as a parallelepiped block, fixed at one end of a stem linked with drive means for moving the stem-mould unit along a translation axis, corresponding to the direction of development of the stem (in most cases a substantially vertical direction).
• the translation of the mould which has a shape corresponding to that of the box being worked upon , serves to make the same box be wrapped around, carrying out the necessary folds, by the paper covering sheet.
• a mou ld comprisi ng two modules juxtaposed along the working/translation axis.
• the mould comprises two blocks (normally parallelepiped) that have substantially the same contour when seen on a plane perpendicular to the translation axis.
• the special feature of such a mould is the fact that such modules can translate relative to one another along the translation axis to make it possible, for example, to keep the first module (the lower one, or the actual mould in the strict sense of the word) pressing the box (for example in the area corresponding to the bottom of the box), and to move the second module (upper module, normally referred to as counter-mould) away from it, to allow for the covering sheet to be folded over the top edge of the box.
• the present invention concerns a device adapted to equip a covering apparatus of the aforementioned type, which advantageously makes it possible to automatically cover boxes in the bottom of which central or non-central windows are formed.
• the device according to the present invention has the essential characteristics defined by the first of the attached claims.
• figure 1 is a schematic and exploded perspective view of a device according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a front view of an apparatus for covering boxes equipped with the device according to the invention, in which some components have been omitted; in particular, in the figure it is possible to see a drive system for moving and supporting the device of figure 1 , along with locking means of the said drive system;
• figure 3 is a perspective view of the drive system of figure 2 with the device according to the invention represented in an exploded fashion;
• figure 4 represents a schematic perspective view of a box to be covered arranged on a covering flat blank, partially folded; it is also possible to see a window formed at a central position in a bottom face of the box itself.
• a box S (like the one represented in isolation in figure 4) with a covering sheet R is arranged on an automated production line like the one previously described, to be worked on a covering apparatus equipped with a covering device according to the invention in order to wrap the pre glued covering sheet R around the box S.
• the box S has an aperture or window F that, in the example described, is formed at a central position in a main face or bottom S1 of the box.
• the covering sheet R is in the example a cross-shaped sheet, with outer flaps A and B adapted to cover, as known, side walls S2 of the box 1 .
• the covering sheet R has also a window adapted to correspond with the window F, and inner flaps C and D to be folded around the edges of the window F, and to be glued over the inner face of the bottom S1 .
• the box S is stably arranged (with methods that are conventional as such, therefore not described in detail) on a stop unit 1 , shown in isolation in figure 1 .
• the stop unit 1 is part, together with mould means 2, of the covering device according to the invention.
• the mould means 2 are adapted to move along a working direction X, normally vertical and perpendicular to the ground plane on which a basement of the apparatus (not shown) rests.
• the stop unit 1 With reference for the moment to the stop unit 1 , it is carried and controlled by a drive system, an end lever 3 of which can be seen in figures 2 and 3.
• the drive system stands vertically substantially according to the working direction X.
• the lever 3 supports a body 3a from which columns 3b rise up in the direction X, supporting the stop unit 1 at its lower side. Therefore, the drive system makes it possible to move the stop unit 1 in the direction X, modifying its elevation with respect to the ground plane.
• the lever 3 is pivotal with respect to the frame of the apparatus at an end 31 opposite the body 3a, and is thrusted centrally via a thrust member 32 driven by a motor, not shown.
• locking means 4 are provided, in the depicted embodiment, as one can see in figures 2 and 3 , comprise a clamp 40, like for example, but not for limiting purposes, a pneumatic clamp actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 41 , which grips a crossbar 30 integral with the lever 3, in order to prevent the same from moving.
• the clamp and the cylinder 41 are fixedly supported by the frame of the apparatus through a plate 42.
• stop un it 1 comprises three superimposed components and in particular a bottom base 10, a frame 1 1 and a box supporting top plate 12.
• the base 10 is integral with the columns 3b and it generally has a profile substantially reproducing the outline of the box to be covered; therefore, in the described example it is rectangular in shape.
• the frame 1 1 and the top plate 12 rest on the base 10, on the opposite side with respect to that of connection with the columns 3b.
• the base 10, the frame 1 1 and the top plate 12 are assembled so as to be juxtaposed on one another according to the direction X so that the top plate 12 faces towards the mould means 2.
• the base 10, the frame 1 1 and the top plate 12 are also connected in a mutually sliding manner - again along the direction X - through corner spacers 15, which keep the aforementioned three components vertically spaced apart from one another or, under the action of the mould means (as will become clearer hereafter), allow them to become mutually tightened (again along the direction X) so as to allow the stop un it 1 to collapse.
• the spacers 1 5 have in fact a collapsable telescopic tubular structure, with inner springs (not shown) that in the absence of an external force keep the frame 1 1 and the top plate 12 lifted with respect to the base 10, in an expanded arrangement.
• the top plate 12 constitutes the support for the box S; in particular, the bottom of the box will rest on an upper face 12a of the top plate, so that the side walls S2 of the box extend upwards (i.e. so that the inside of the box faces in the opposite direction to the ground).
• the support plate can be lined with anti-slip material, like rubber or the like.
• the top plate 12 is shaped so as to have an opening 12b (of a shape and size substantially corresponding to the window F) at the centre; a similar opening is that which is encircled by the frame 1 1 , and it is through said openings that tuck blades 13 can operate on the flaps C and D of the covering sheet R.
• the frame 1 1 through tuck driving means 1 1 a, 1 1 b supports tuck blades 13 adapted to fold the inner flaps C and D of the covering sheet R over the edges defining the window F (see again figure 4 wherein the inner flaps C and D, contrary to the outer flaps A and B, are already folded).
• the tuck driving means comprise driving arms 1 1 a that are each integral, besides to a blade 13, with an axle 1 1 b parallel with the respective edge of the window and supported by the frame 1 1 pivotally (around the axis of the axle) and slidably (according to a direction orthogonal with the edge so as the axle, and with it the arm and the blade, can be slightly displaced towards and away the edge).
• the arms 1 1 a project slanting downwards so as to rotatably engage at a second end - the first end being the end integral with the axle 1 1 b and with the blade 13 - with a block 10a connected with the base 10.
• the arrangement is such that the blades are kept at a rest position slanting downwards flush from the edges of the opening 12b of the top plate 12 as in figure 1 .
• This rest position is kept naturally stable due to gravity or assisted by elastic means.
• the arms 1 1 a are forced to rotate about the blocks 10a, and by this causi ng the axles 1 1 b to rotate a nd sl ightly d isplace towards the frame 1 1 . Consequently, also the blades 13 rotate and displace so as to be adapted to superimpose over the top face 12a of the plate 12 (when the latter has been pushed downwards, as made clearer hereafter).
• the stop unit 1 cooperates with the mould means 2.
• the mould means comprise a separable upper mould or counter-mould 20 and a lower mould 21 and are adapted to be driven along the working direction X as in a known apparatus.
• the structure of the lower mould 21 is cup-shaped, i.e. concave with a concavity facing towards the stop unit 1 , so as to permit the movement of the tuck blades 13 through the opening 12b of the top plate 12.
• the lower mould 21 has a peripheral frame 21 a from which slanting walls 21 b extend to join with a substantially flat bottom 21 c orthogonal with said working direction.
• the slanting walls 21 b and the flat bottom 21 c th us define a concavity facing towards the stop unit 1 to provide enough space for the action of the tuck blades 13 and the folding of the inner flaps C and D.
• the apparatus arranged with the covering device as described above works therefore in the following way.
• the mould means 2 are driven downwards according to the direction X, inside the box S previously arranged on the stop unit 1 , with the pre-glued covering blank R arranged in between.
• the locking means 4 are switched on; the clamp 40 engages with the crossbar 30 preventing the movement of the drive system, and causing the stop unit 1 to be locked at the desired height from the ground.
• the lower mould 21 pushes the bottom of the box against the surface 12a of the top plate 12.
• the top plate approaches the frame 1 1 , with the blades 13 still remaining in the rest position.
• the blades project upwards from the surface 12a and through the opening 12b, and become housed within the concavity of the lower mould.
• the frame 1 1 Only when the lower mould, continuing its descent, forces also the frame 1 1 to displace downwards, so that the driving arms 1 1 a, and consequently the tuck blades, are made to rotate around respective rotation axes lying on the plane perpendicular to X and substantially corresponding with the edges of the window of the box, so as to push the covering flaps C and D upwards.
• the rotation of the tuck blades 13 allows the flaps C and D to be pushed up towards the slanting walls 21 b, as permitted by the concavity of the lower mould 21 .
• the mould means keep on descendi ng according to the direction X, continuing the thrusting action on the stop unit the elements constituting the same tighten completely on one another; in particular, the top plate 12 and the frame 1 1 continue to fall, impacting on the base 10.
• the stop unit 1 under the thrusting action of the mould means 2, collapses from the expanded position, in which the elements that make it up are vertically spaced apart from one another, to a tightened position in which the elements are juxtaposed and in contact with one another.
• the clamp is 40 is disengaged from the lever 3, if necessary upon a slight lifting of the mould means 2, so that a downward movement of the stop unit 1 is now permitted.
• the folding of the outer flaps A and B over the walls S2 of the box can thus be carried out, exploiting the displaceable counter-mou ld 20. I n this step the apparatus works as a coveri ng apparatus according to the prior art, cooperating with stationary folding blades arranged below and not shown.
• the invention therefore makes it possible to carry out, in a new and effective manner, the covering of boxes with windows, even non-central ones having any shape, with obvious preliminary adaptation in the structure (shape and number of openings) of the stop means 1 and of the mould means 2.
• a provision of various kits, each made for a different type of window and/or box, to be mounted in a replaceable manner on the covering apparatus will make it possible to meet a multitude of production requirements.
• the tuck means 13 can be arranged along all of the edges of the said openings or only in some of them, as required by the circumstances.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=43975325

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

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Family Cites Families (3)

• 2011
  • 2011-01-31 IT ITFI2011A000016A patent/IT1403570B1/it active
• 2012
  • 2012-01-26 EP EP12703170.6A patent/EP2670588A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-01-26 WO PCT/IB2012/050365 patent/WO2012104755A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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