EP3487646A1

EP3487646A1 - Shaped-box crimper with electronic cam

Info

Publication number: EP3487646A1
Application number: EP17736928.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Charles Marchadour
Original assignee: Tremark
Current assignee: Tremark France
Priority date: 2016-07-25
Filing date: 2017-07-04
Publication date: 2019-05-29
Also published as: AU2017303069B2; US11207724B2; NZ750102A; MA45705A; TN2019000017A1; PE20190869A1; EA039887B1; FR3054148A1; MY201955A; US20190247910A1; JP6841899B2; SG11201900326UA; CA3030986A1; EP3685935A1; CA3030986C; BR112019001208A2; KR102232376B1; PH12019500173A1; AU2017303069A1; EA201990366A1

Abstract

Crimping unit (1) comprising: – a first plate (10); a first lever (50) provided with a winding wheel (54); a second lever (60) provided with a crushing wheel (64); – a winding actuator connected to the first lever (50); – a crushing actuator connected to the second lever (60); the winding actuator and the crushing actuator being controlled by an electronic control unit (7) so as to vary the distance separating the winding wheel (54) and/or crushing wheel (65) from the first axis according to the angular position of the first plate (10) about the first axis.

Description

Seamer of boxes from form to

electronic cam

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of crimping containers, especially metal containers for receiving food products. The invention relates more particularly to bottom crimping machines on boxes called "shape", that is to say whose body is not a straight cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a canister 90 conventionally comprises a cylindrical body 91 on which is reported a bottom 92 held in place by a mandrel (not shown). For the boxes in the form of a straight cylinder, the bottom 92 is circular and comprises a first peripheral ply 93 extending parallel to the body of the box 90, a second ply 94 extending radially and intended to rest on the top of the body of the box and a third fold 95 extending parallel to the first fold 1. The three folds 93 to 95 thus form a groove whose section is substantially inverted U-shaped on a flared upper portion 96 of the body 91. The bottom 92 is crimped on the body 91 by means of a crimping unit. A crimping unit conventionally comprises a support on which the body 91 of the box 90 rests and a winding wheel and a crushing wheel respectively mounted on one end of a winding actuator and a control actuator. 'crushing. These actuators can selectively approach their wheels from the top of the body 91 and perform a circular path around it. During a first pass, the winding wheel comes into contact with the third fold 95 and clamps it against the mandrel. The winding wheel wraps the second and third folds 94 and 95 with the flared portion 96 of the box 90 so as to place the third fold 95 between the outer wall of the box 90 and the flared flange 96 (Figure 2.a). This operation takes place in one pass, during a relative rotation of 360 ° of the winding wheel and the edge of the box 90. At the end of the winding pass, the winding wheel is moved away from the winding wheel. edge of the box 90, and the crushing actuator comes to apply the crushing wheel against the edge of the box 90 and applies a crushing force on the fold 94 so as to tighten the second and third folds 94 and 95 against the outer wall of the box 90. The nesting and crushing of the folds 94-95 of the bottom 92 with the flange 96 of the box 90 form a tight crimp (Figure 2.b).

For crimping operations of so-called "shape" boxes, that is to say which are not straight cylinders, a different crimping unit is used. Indeed, the winding and crushing rollers must follow a path corresponding to the periphery of the box. This is usually done by rotating the wheels around a fixed box. Each wheel is mounted on the first end of a pivoting lever on a plate mounted to rotate about an axis of the crimping box. The second end of the lever is provided with a lever arm at the end of which is mounted a roller cooperating with a fixed annular cam whose inner face reproduces - generally with a coefficient of magnification depending on the length of the lever arm - the profile of the edge to be crimped. During a rotation of 360 ° of the plate, the rollers of each lever follow the cam, causing the displacement of their respective wheels along a path corresponding to the profile of the edge to be crimped. Such a crimping unit has several disadvantages. All first, the cam profile is the same for the winding and crushing rollers. The winding and crushing rollers therefore follow the same trajectory which can cause defects in the crimping. The winding of the folds is carried out in one pass, which requires a large deformation in a single pass, source of potential defects. Finally, changing the shape of the crimping box involves making a new cam, disassemble the previous to be able to mount the new cam on the crimping unit. These operations are expensive and require immobilization of the crimping unit. It is therefore not economical to produce small series or to process a production of boxes having different shapes using a single crimping unit.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to reduce the rejects following seam defects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, there is provided a unit for crimping a bottom on a box body comprising a first plate mounted to rotate about a first axis on a chassis and connected to first rotary drive means, a first lever pivotally mounted on the first plate and provided at one end with a winding wheel. A second lever is pivotally mounted on the first plate and is provided at a first end with a crush wheel. According to the invention, a winding actuator is connected to a second end of the first lever and a crushing actuator is connected to a second end of the second lever, the winding actuator and the crushing actuator. being driven by an electronic control unit so as to move the winding wheel and / or the crush wheel to vary the distance separating the winding wheel and / or crushing the first axis according to the angular position of the first plate about the first axis.

Thus, the positions of the crushing and winding wheels are controlled by independent actuators, controlled by a control unit allowing the programming of different trajectories for the winding wheel and the crushing wheel. It is then possible to carry out progressive deformations of the edge to be crimped and thus to reduce crimping defects. The electronic control unit can easily move from one prerecorded path of the wheels to another which then allows the use of the crimping unit 1 of the invention to realize small series of crimps, even of to take care of the unitary squeezing of boxes of different shapes without having to interrupt the supply of the crimping unit in boxes.

Advantageously, the winding actuator comprises a second plate rotatably mounted about the first axis and the second rotary drive means of the second plate, and the crushing actuator comprises a third plate mounted to rotate about the first axis and third drive means in rotation of the third plate. Thus, the speed management of the drive means makes it possible to influence the relative position of the second and third trays and thus makes it possible to modify the respective trajectories of the winding and crushing rollers. According to a preferred embodiment, the first means for driving the first plate in rotation comprise a first reduction servomotor whose driving shaft is integral with a first pinion cooperating with a first gear wheel secured to the first plate and the second gear means 'training in rotation of the second plate comprise a second reduction servomotor whose motor shaft is integral with a second pinion cooperating with a second toothed wheel integral with the second plate. Finally, the third rotation drive means of the third plate comprise a third reduction servomotor whose motor shaft is integral with a third pinion cooperating with a third gear integral with the third plate. An economical crimping unit is thus obtained which uses reliable components (servomotor reducer) and is commonly used in the industry, the maintenance methods of which are known and controlled, which contributes to the reliability of the crimping unit. and thus reduces crimping defects.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the first drive means comprise a shaft connecting the first pinion and the first plate, and the second and third drive means respectively comprise a second and a third hollow shaft respectively connecting the second and second pinions. pinion and the second plate as well as the third pinion and the third plate. The second hollow shaft extends around the first shaft. The third hollow shaft extends around the second hollow shaft. This allows a particularly compact construction of the crimping unit.

Advantageously, the control unit is configured so that each portion of a junction between the bottom and the form box receives two passages of a rolling wheel before receiving at least one passage of a wheel d 'crushing. This makes it possible to carry out the winding phase even more gradually and thus to reduce the crimping defects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference will be made to the appended figures among which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic sectional representation of a box of the prior art and its bottom before crimping;

- Figure 2.a is a schematic sectional detail view of the box of Figure 1 after a first winding pass;

- Figure 2.b is a schematic sectional detail view of the box of Figure 1 after a first crushing pass;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view from above of a crimping unit according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a crimping unit according to the invention;

- Figure 5.a is a partial schematic view in vertical section of a crimping unit according to the invention;

- Figure 5.b is a partial schematic view from below of a crimping unit according to the invention;

- Figures 6.a to 6.d are sectional views of a crimp form box at different stages of the method of the invention;

- Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a crimp form box;

- Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional detail view of the crimping head of the crimping unit according to the invention in a first configuration;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of broken vertical section detail along an IX-IX plane shown in FIG. 8 of the crimping unit of FIG. 8;

- Figure 10 is a sectional view along a plane XX shown in Figure 8 of the crimping unit of Figure 8; - Figure 11 is a view identical to that of Figure 8 of the crimping unit according to the invention in a second configuration;

- Figure 12 is a view identical to that of Figure 8 of the crimping unit according to the invention in a third configuration;

- Figures 13 to 25 are views identical to that of Figure 7 of the crimping head in different crimping phases.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 12, the weaving unit according to the invention, generally designated 1, is intended for crimping a bottom 92 on a body 91 of a box of shape 90. The crimping unit 1 comprises a crimping head 2 mounted on a frame 3 whose feet 4 are provided with jacks 5 to adjust the height of the frame 3. The crimping unit 1 is generally contiguous to a supply carousel 6 known to those skilled in the art and comprises a first plate 10 rotatably mounted about a first axis Oy, here a vertical axis, on a frame 4. The first plate 10 is rotated by a first reduction servomotor 11 whose the driving shaft 12 is integral with a first pinion 13 cooperating with a first toothed wheel 14. The first toothed wheel 14 is rotatably mounted around a mandrel support shaft 40 having a first end 41 integral with the chassis 4 and whose other end is a mandrel 42 for immobilizing a displacement of the bottom 90 in a horizontal plane. A first hollow shaft extends along the axis Oy about the mandrel support shaft 40 and connects the first toothed wheel 14 and the first plate 10. Thus, the first plate 10 is connected to the first reduction servomotor 11 via the first hollow shaft 15 and the gear formed by the first gearwheel 14 and the first gearwheel 13. The first tray 10 receives two levers 50 and 51 pivotally mounted on the first plate 10 and each provided at their respective first ends 52 and 53 of a winding wheel respectively 54 and 55. The respective pivots 56 and 57 of the lever 50 and 51 are located on a first diameter 58 of the first plate 10, on either side of the center of the first plate 10.

The first plate 10 also receives two levers 60 and 61 pivotally mounted on the first plate 10 and each provided at their respective first ends 62 and 63 of a crush wheel respectively 64 and 65. The respective pivots 66 and 67 of the levers 60 and 61 are implanted on a second diameter 68 of the first plate 10, on either side of the center of the first plate 10, the second diameter 68 being orthogonal to the first diameter 58.

The lever 50 constitutes a first lever and the lever 60 constitutes a second lever. The lever 51 constitutes a third lever and the lever 61 constitutes a fourth lever.

The crimping unit 1 also comprises a second plate 20 rotatably mounted around the first axis Oy. The second plate 20 is rotated by a second reduction servomotor 21 whose driving shaft 22 is secured to a second pinion. 23 cooperating with a second gear wheel 24. A second hollow shaft extends along the axis Oy around the first shaft 15 and links the second gear wheel 24 and the second plate 20. The outer face 16 of the first shaft 15 is coated with bronze to facilitate the relative rotation of the first shaft 15 and the second shaft 25. Thus, the second plate 20 is connected to the second reduction servomotor 21 via the second hollow shaft 25 and the gear formed by the second wheel toothed 24 and the second gear 23.

The second plate 20 comprises two ears 26 and 27 which respectively receive control pins 70 and 71 respectively connected to the second ends 72 and 73 of the first lever 50 and the third lever 51.

The crimping unit 1 also comprises a third plate 30 rotatably mounted around the first axis Oy. The third plate 30 is rotated by a third reduction servomotor 31, the driving shaft 32 of which is secured to a third pinion. 33 cooperating with a third gear 34. A third hollow shaft 35 extends along the axis Oy about the second shaft 25 and links the third gear 34 and the third plate 30. The outer face 26 of the second shaft 25 is coated with bronze to facilitate the relative rotation of the second shaft 25 and the third shaft 35. Thus, the third plate 30 is connected to the third reduction servomotor 31 via the third hollow shaft 35 and the gear formed by the third wheel 34 and the third pinion 33. The third plate 30 comprises two ears 36 and 37 which respectively receive control pins 74 and 75 respectively connected to the second ends. 76 and 77 of the second lever 60 and the fourth lever 61.

As shown in FIG. 5.a, the first, second and third plates 10, 20 and 30 as well as the first, second and third pinions 13, 23 and 33 and the first, second and third gears 14, 24 and 34 are located at different levels to avoid interference.

The first, second and third servo motors 11, 21 and 31 are connected to a control unit 7 comprising an electronic calculator 7.1. Within the meaning of the present invention, the term electronic computer designates a computer comprising components operating under low currents and intended to establish control instructions for electrical elements. exteriors.

The following elements :

second reduction servomotor 21;

- Gear consisting of the second gear 23 and the second gear 24;

second shaft 25;

- and second plate 20,

constitute a winding actuator 28. This actuator 28 is connected to the second end 72 of the first lever 50 by the control pin 70 engaged in the lug 26 and at the second end 73 of the third lever 51 by the control pin 71 engaged in the ear 27.

The following elements :

third reduction servomotor 31;

a gear consisting of the third gear 33 and the third gear 34;

third tree 35;

- and third tray 30,

constitute a crushing actuator 38. This actuator 38 is connected to the second end 76 of the second lever 60 by the control pin 74 engaged in the lug 36 and at the second end 77 of the fourth lever 61 by the control pin 75 engaged. ear 37.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, an electric jack 8 is fixed at the end 41 of the hollow shaft 40. The rod 8.1 of the electric jack 8 extends in the hollow shaft 40 to an orifice 43 passing through the mandrel 42 The electric cylinder 8 is also connected to the control unit 7.

Advantageously, and as visible in FIG. 4, the frame 3 comprises an electric jack 9 whose rod 9.1 extends along the axis Oy. The end 9.2 of the rod 9.1 carries a plate 9.3 intended to receive the body 91 of the box 90 to crimp. The control unit 7 is arranged to be able to control in real time the respective rotational speeds ω ₁₁ , ω ₂₁ , ω ₃₁ of the first, second and third servomotor reducers 11, 21 and 31 and thus their respective positions. respective gules.

The control unit 7 can then, by adjusting the speeds of rotation ω ₁₁ , ω ₂₁ , ω ₃₁ introduce:

a) an angular offset φ ₁ between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 (FIG. 12) and / or;

b) an angular offset φ ₂ between the first plate 10 and the third plate 30 (FIG. 13).

For example, a fixed angular offset φ ₁ can be established between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 by temporarily increasing the rotation speed ω ₁₁ of the first reduction servomotor 11 with respect to the speed of rotation ω ₂₁ of the second servomotor 21, then reducing the two rotational speeds ω ₁₁ of the first reducing servomotor 11 and ω ₂₁ of the second reducing servomotor 21 to the same value. Figure 11 shows a first configuration of the crimping unit 1 in which the angular offset φ ₁ between the first and the second plate is zero. In this first configuration, the axes 70, 71 and pivots 56 and 57 respectively of the first lever 50 and the third lever 51 are aligned on the same diameter 58 of a circle passing through the pivots 56 and 57 and whose center is located on the axis Oy. In this first configuration, the respective centers 54.1 and 55.1 of the winding rollers 54 and 55 are at a distance di from the axis Oy (distance taken in a plane perpendicular to the Oy axis). The first configuration shown in FIG. 11 also comprises a zero angular offset φ ₂ between the first plate 10 and the third plate 30. In this first configuration, the axes 74, 75 and pivots 66 and 67 respectively of the second lever 60 and the fourth lever 61 are aligned on the same diameter 68 of a circle passing through the pivots 66 and 67 and whose center is situated on the axis Oy. In this first configuration, the respective centers 64.1 and 65.1 of the moduli crushing letters 64 and 65 are at a distance ¾ from the axis Oy (distance taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis Oy). It should be noted that, in the particular case shown in FIG. 11, the pivots 56, 57, 66 and 67 are all located on the same circle and that the distances are equal.

In this first configuration, when the respective speeds of rotation ω ₁₁ , ω ₂₁ , φ ₃₁ of the first, second and third reduction servomotors 11, 21 and 31 are equal, the winding wheels 52 and 53 as well as the knurls crushing 62 and 63 follow a circle circular trajectory

FIG. 12 represents a second configuration in which the angular offset φi between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 is non-zero. Here, and according to the representation of FIG. 12, the angular offset φ ₁ between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 is negative. In this second configuration, the lever 50 has rotated around the pivot 56 equal to the value of the angular offset φ ₁ between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 from its position corresponding to the first configuration. tion and shown in dotted lines in Figure 10. the distance _d ^ between the centers 54.1 and 55.1 respective winding rollers 54 and 55 of the Oy axis is then greater than the distance di.

In the same way, a positive angular offset φ ₁ between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 results in a reduction in the distance d1 'separating the respective centers 54.1 and 55.1 of the winding wheels 54 and 55 of the spindle. Oy in relation to the tance d

As shown in FIG. 13, a negative angular offset φ ₂ between the first plate 10 and the third plate 30 causes the respective centers 64.1 and 65.1 to move away from the crimping wheels 64 and 65 of the Oy axis relative to each other. at their position shown in Figure 9. This corresponds to an increase in the distance separating the respective centers 64.1 and 65.1 of the crushing rolls 64 and 65 of the axis Oy with respect to the distance

In the same way, a positive angular offset φ ₂ between the first plate 10 and the third plate 30 causes a reduction in the distance separating the

respective centers 64.1 and 65.1 of the winding wheels 64 and 65 of the axis Oy with respect to the distance .

The operation of the crimping unit 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 25. For the sake of clarity, only the positions of the levers 50, 51, 60 and 61 relative to a box 90 are shown.

In a first preliminary step, the control unit 7 controls a negative angular offset φ ₁ between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 and a negative offset φ ₂ between the first plate 10 and the second plate 30. This situation is represented in FIG. 14. In the particular case represented in FIG. 14, the angular offsets φ ₁ and φ ₂ are equal. The winding wheels 54 and 55 and the crushing rollers 64 and 65 follow a circular clearance profile 80 in which they are not in contact with the crimping box 90.

According to a second step, the supply carousel 6 brings on the plate 9.3 a box 90 composed of a body 91 on the top of which The box 90 is a box of substantially rectangular cross-section, with edges 97 of greater length connected to edges 98 of shorter length by means of stretches. 99 (see Figure 7).

According to a fourth step, the control unit 7 controls a positive angular offset φ ₁ between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 which causes a bringing together of the winding wheels 54 and 55 which come into contact with the edges 97 of box 90 (FIG. 15). As the first, second and third plates 10, 20 and 30 rotate, the control unit 7 modifies the value of the angular offset φ ₁ so that the winding wheels 54 and 55 follow each other. wind a profile of first winding pass. During this step, the winding wheels 54 and 55 follow the edges 97 of the box 90 (FIG. 15), then the leaves 99 (FIG. 16) and then follow the edges 98 (FIG. 17) and the two FIGS. last leave 99 (Figure 18). The first winding pass is completed when the winding wheel 54 has reached the position occupied by the winding wheel 55 at the beginning of the fourth step (FIG. 19). During this first winding pass, the angular offset φ ₂ has not changed and the crushing wheels 64 and 65 have remained on the clearance trajectory 80. The edge of the box 90 has then a section shown in Figure 6.b. It should be noted that the joint use of the winding wheels 54 and 55 makes it possible to carry out the first winding phase in a 180 degree rotation of the first plate 10 relative to the box 90.

According to a fifth step, the control unit 7 controls a positive angular offset φi which further approximates the winding wheels 54 and 55 of the axis Oy (FIG. 20). As the rotation of the first 1, second and third plates 10, 20 and 30, the control unit 7 changes the value of the angular offset φ ₁ so that the winding wheels 54 and 55 follow a profile of the second winding pass. . During this step, the winding wheels 54 and 55 follow the edges 97 of the box 90 (Figure 20), then the leaves 99 (Figure 21) to then follow the edges 98 (Figure 22). When the winding wheels 54 and 55 respectively arrive at the edge media 98, the control unit 7 controls a positive angular offset φ ₂ between the first plate 10 and the third plate 30, which causes the dials to move closer together. 64 and 65 that come into contact with the edges 97 of the box 90 (Figure 23). These portions of the edges 97 have already received two winding passes and can be crushed. Thus, the crushing pass begins while the winding pass is not yet completed. The squeezing wheels 64 and 65 then crush the edges 97 and the leaves 99 of the box 90 while the winding wheels 64 and 65 complete the second winding pass of the edges 98 and the two last leaves 99 (FIG. ). The second winding pass is completed when the winding wheel 54 has reached the position occupied by the winding wheel 55 at the beginning of the fifth step (FIG. 24). The periphery of the box 90 then comprises two portions marked 90.1 and 90.2 which have a section shown in Figure 6.b and two portions marked 90.3 and 90.4 which have a section shown in Figure 6.c. It should be noted that the joint use of the winding wheels 54 and 55 makes it possible to carry out the second winding phase in a 180 degree rotation of the first plate 10 relative to the box 90. The winding of the edge to crimping of the box 90 is thus performed in two passes, which allows a more gradual deformation of the portions to crimp which reduces the defect rate of the final crimp.

According to a sixth step, the control unit 7 commands a negative angular offset φ ₁ which then brings the winding wheels 54 and 55 to the release profile 80 (FIG. 25). Simultaneously, the control unit 7 modifies the value of the angular offset φ ₂ as the first, second and third plates 10, 20 and 30 are rotated, so that the crushing wheels 64 and 65 complete the crushing of the edges 97 and leave 99 of the box 90 (Figure 25). The third crushing pass is completed when the crimping wheel 64 has reached the position occupied by the crush wheel 65 at the beginning of the fifth step (FIG. 25). The entire edge of the box 90 then has a section shown in Figure 6.d. It should be noted that the joint use of the crushing wheels 64 and 65 makes it possible to carry out the third phase of crushing in a 180 degree rotation of the first plate 10 and that this rotation could be carried out partly at the same time as the second crash pass. The relative rotation of the plate 10 and the box 90 for the realization of a complete crimping cycle is then 180 ° (first winding pass) + 90 ° (first half of the second winding pass) ) + 90 ° (second half of the second simultaneous winding pass at the first half of the crash pass) + 90 ° + 90 ° (second half of the crash pass), ie 270 ° . The invention thus makes it possible to reduce the cycle times.

According to a final ejection phase, the control unit 7 controls the deployment of the rod 8.1 of the electric jack 8 which then protrudes from the orifice 43 of the mandrel 42 and ejects the box 90 and its bottom 92 ser - ti. A rotation of the carousel 6 then evacuates the box 90 and brings a new set to crimp in line with the man- 42. The crimping cycle can then resume.

A crimping of the edge of the box 90 made in one and a half turn of the crimping head is then obtained, the winding of the crimped edge of which has been made in two passes, thus guaranteeing a more progressive deformation of the edge to be crimped. than in the machines of the prior art, thereby reducing the scrap rate.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In particular,

although here the crimping unit comprises a mandrel, the invention is also applicable to other types of support of the bottom, such as for example a roller moving along the first fold of the bottom facing the knobs. winding and crushing;

although here the control unit comprises an electronic calculator, the invention also applies to other types of electronic control unit such as for example a control unit implementing logic gates, a microprocessor, FPGA or other;

- Although here the feet of the crimping unit are provided with jacks for adjusting the height of the frame, the invention also applies to other means of adjusting the height of the frame such as for example screws, racks, eccentrics placed at the level of the feet or on the uprights of the frame;

although here the first, second and third plates are rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, the invention also applies to other orientations of the axis of rotation of the plates, such as, for example a horizontal orientation or any one;

- although here the first, second and third trays are rotated by servomotors reducers, the invention is also applicable to other first, second and third drive means for rotating the first, second and third plates, for example hydraulic or pneumatic motors;

- Although here the crimping unit comprises two levers carrying a winding wheel, the invention also applies to a crimping unit comprising a different number of levers carrying a winding wheel, such as for example a single or more than two levers carrying a winding wheel;

- Although here the crimping unit comprises two levers carrying a crushing wheel, the invention also applies to a crimping unit comprising a different number of levers carrying a crushing wheel, such as for example one or more levers carrying a crush wheel;

although here the respective outer faces of the first and second shafts are coated with bronze, the invention is also applicable to other types of arrangements allowing the relative rotation of the first, second and third shafts, as for example self-lubricating coatings, greasing, bearings or any particular arrangement, the relative rotation of the shafts between them being relatively small;

although the trays here are connected to the pins by hollow shafts, the invention also applies to other types of rotational connection such as for example cages, rods, or magnetic links. ticks;

although here the gears associated with each of the reduction gears are located at different heights, the invention also applies to other solutions that make it possible to avoid interference, for example axial motors. hollow, assemblies by belt or cable;

although here the crimping unit comprises an electric jack fixed at the end of the hollow shaft and connected to the control unit, the invention also applies to other ejection means such as a compressed air ejector or a rod moved by a cam. The triggering of the ejector can also be controlled independently of the control unit;

although here a rotary carousel brings the box to the plumb with the crimping head, the invention may also be contiguous with other means for feeding and evacuating the box, such as for example a robotic arm or a conveyor belt;

although here the pivots of the first, second, third and fourth levers are all located on one and the same circle, the invention also applies to other configurations such as, for example, lever pivots positioned on circles of different diameters;

although here the winding and crushing knobs are positioned on the release profile for equal angular offset values φ ₁ and φ ₂ , the invention also applies to angular offset values φ ₁ and φj different for positioning the winding and crushing rollers on the clearance profile;

although here the form box is of substantially rectangular cross-section, the invention also applies to the crimping of other shape-box shapes such as, for example, boxes of round, square, hexagonal or boxes of polygonal section whose side number can be equal to three or more.

Claims

Crimping unit (1) of a bottom on a box body comprising:

- a first plate (10) rotatably mounted about a first axis on a frame (3) and connected to first rotary drive means (11);

- a first lever (50) pivotally mounted on the first plate (10) and provided at a first end (52) of a winding wheel (54);

- a second lever (60) pivotally mounted on the first plate (10) and provided at a first end (62) of a crushing wheel (64);

characterized in that a winding actuator is connected to a second end (72) of the first lever (50) and a crush actuator is connected to a second end (76) of the second lever (60), 1 winding actuator and one crushing actuator being controlled by an electronic control unit (7) so as to move the winding wheel (54) and / or the crushing wheel (65) to vary. the distance separating the winding (54) and / or crushing (65) wheel from the first axis according to the angular position of the first plate (10) about the first axis.

Crimping unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the winding actuator comprises a second plate (20) rotatably mounted about the first axis and second rotational drive means. (21) of the second platen (20), and wherein the crushing actuator comprises a third platen (30) rotatably mounted about the first axis and third rotational drive means (31) of the third platen. (30) .

Crimping unit (1) according to claim 2 in which :

the first rotary drive means of the first plate (10) comprise a first reduction servomotor (11) whose driving shaft (12) is solid with a first pinion (13) cooperating with a first first toothed wheel (14) integral with the first plate (10);

the second rotating drive means of the second plate (20) comprise a second reduction servomotor (21) whose driving shaft (22) is solid with a second pinion (23) co-operating with a second X gearwheel (24) integral with the second plate (20);

the third rotation drive means of the third plate (30) comprise a third reduction servomotor (31) whose driving shaft (32) is solid with a third pinion (33) cooperating with a third second gear (34) secured to the third plate (30).

The crimping unit (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first rotation driving means comprises a first shaft (15) connecting the first gear (14) and the first plate (10), and wherein the second and third rotary drive means respectively comprise a second and a third hollow shaft (25, 35) respectively connecting the second gear (24) and the second gear (20), the third gear (34) and the third plate (30), and wherein the second hollow shaft (25) extends around the first shaft (15), and the third hollow shaft (35) extends around the second hollow shaft (25).

5. Crimping unit (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first shaft (15) is a hollow shaft extending around a mandrel support shaft (40).

Crimping unit (1) according to the claim 5, wherein the mandrel support shaft (40) comprises an ejector (8.1) for separating the box (90) from the mandrel (42) after crimping.

Crimping unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

a third lever (51) pivotally mounted on the first plate (10) and provided at one end (53) with a winding wheel (55);

- a fourth lever (61) pivotally mounted on the first plate (10) and provided at a first end (63) of a crushing wheel (65);

the second end (73) of the third lever (51) being connected to the winding actuator and the second end (77) of the fourth lever (61) being connected to a crushing actuator.

The crimping unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic control unit (7) is configured so that each portion of a junction between the bottom (92) and the box of shape (90) receives two passages of a winding wheel (54, 55) before receiving at least one passage of a crush wheel (64, 65).

9. Crimping unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising height adjustment means (5) of the frame (3).

10. Crimping unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising positioning means (9) of the form box (90) in line with the mandrel (42).

11. Crimping unit (1) according to claim

10, wherein the positioning means (9) of the form box (90) comprise an electric jack (9).