EP3519305B1 - Device for separating flap before filling for packing containers such as boxes, and equipped filling station - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to the field of packaging. More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic flap spacing device for packaging containers, such as multi-flap cardboard boxes, before these containers are filled with the articles which they are intended to contain. The invention also relates to a filling station equipped with such an automatic device for separating the flap.

Folder-gluer machines glue and fold flat folding boxes intended to contain products, such as medicine blisters or the like, for example packaged by a third-party industry. The boxes folded flat can then be stored efficiently in intermediate containers (for example cartons) to be transported to the manufacturer.

The document CH 659627 describes an example of a station for filling containers with folding boxes at the outlet of a folder-gluer machine. The folded boxes are placed in a sheet and then transported by a box transporter in containers, boxes or cardboard boxes, or "cartons". Each container can contain a large number of folded boxes, such as several tens or hundreds of boxes.

The carton is formed with four bottom carton flaps and four top carton flaps which are intended to close the carton. The four bottom or top cardboard flaps have two inner flaps and two outer flaps.

The filling station is often preceded by a cardboard former module operating in automatic or semi-automatic mode. The cardboard forming module receives the cardboard boxes arriving to it in folded form, sets them in volume and closes their bottoms, by folding and gluing the flaps, before transferring them to the filling station, in an open state by the top, to fill them with articles.

In this open state of the carton, the four top carton flaps are in a vertical position, substantially aligned in the same planes as those of the respective lateral sides of the carton, of which they form extensions. Folding the flaps towards the outside of the box is necessary to load tall and wide boxes. In fact, the height of the flaps must be added to the height of the flaps. Indeed, without this folding operation, the filling station must be much larger.

In the prior art, an operator is generally responsible for performing these flap spacing operations for each of the boxes arriving at the filling station. This flap spacing task is a tedious operation for the operator, because it is repetitive and has to be done systematically.

In packaging lines with very high production rates, several operator positions may be necessary and impact the required floor space and costs. Furthermore, the reproducibility of this task cannot be guaranteed, because it is linked to the personal vigilance of the operator (s).

The document JP 2007 176 492 A discloses a flap spacer comprising the technical features of the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the drawbacks exposed above of the prior art, by proposing a device capable of automatically ensuring a separation of the top flaps of the packaging container, or cardboard, by folding. towards the outside of the container of these flaps, thus ensuring proper clearance of the openings of the containers before filling them with articles.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device for separating the flap of a packaging container, the container being empty and comprising flaps extending vertically in an open upper part, the device being able to be integrated into a container. filling station for packaging containers.

According to the invention, the device comprising at least one flap spacing head, the flap spacing head being movable vertically for insertion thereof into the container and comprising first and second spacing blades of flap mounted on a pivot and an actuator capable of controlling the first and second blades in rotation, the first and second blades coming into contact during rotation with the first and second flaps and causing them to move apart by bending towards the outside of the container.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the device comprises lateral drive belts in parallel alignment with a conveying path of the empty and open container for transporting the container to a predetermined position in the device, at which position the position is achieved. flap spreading operation.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the first and second blades are mounted symmetrically in the flap spacer head relative to a vertical axis thereof, in a "V" shaped configuration when the first and second blades are folded into a rest position, the point of the "V" corresponding substantially to a pivot point of the blades.

According to yet another particular characteristic of the invention, the actuator controls rotations in the opposite direction of the first and second blades around their pivot point which come into contact with the first and second flaps facing the container and cause a separation of these by angled bends towards the outside of the container.

According to yet another particular characteristic of the invention, the device comprises an upper horizontal conveyor belt for discharging a container having the first and second facing flaps folded towards the outside of the container, the driving of the container being caused by rotation. of the upper horizontal conveyor belt in frictional contact with the high edges of the container.

According to yet another particular characteristic of the invention, the actuator comprises first and second jacks dedicated respectively to the first and second blades.

According to yet another particular characteristic of the invention, the device comprises a frame in the form of a bridge having first and second vertical pillars with parts forming bases resting on a ground surface and upper parts connected by a horizontal cross member supporting the head. flap spacing.

According to the invention, the device comprises two flap spacer heads. With two heads the bending forces are balanced on the flanks. The two heads allow to bend in the corners to benefit from the good rigidity of the cardboard in this area.

According to the invention, the two flap spacer heads are mounted on a horizontal transverse spar with an adjustable spacing and the spar is adjustable in height between vertical pillars of the device, so as to allow adequate positioning of the two heads of the device. flap spacing for different container sizes.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a filling station for packaging containers, the containers being empty and comprising flaps extending vertically in an open upper part thereof. According to the invention, the station comprises a flap spacing device as briefly described above.

Brief description of the drawings

• la Figure 1 représente une station de remplissage de récipients, tels que cartons, dans laquelle est implantée un dispositif d'écartement de rabat selon l'invention;
• la Figure 2 est une vue partielle en perspective d'un dispositif d'écartement de rabat selon l'invention dans un état correspondant à une arrivée d'un carton à traiter;
• la Figure 2a est une vue partielle en perspective d'une tête d'écartement de rabat du dispositif de la Fig. 2;
• la Figure 3 est une vue partielle en perspective du dispositif de la Fig. 2 dans un état correspondant à l'insertion de têtes d'écartement de rabat dans l'ouverture d'un carton à traiter;
• la Figure 4 est une vue partielle en perspective du dispositif de la Fig. 2 dans un état correspondant à une ouverture de lames des têtes d'écartement de rabat et un pliage de deux rabats en équerre vers l'extérieur du carton;
• la Figure 5 est une vue partielle en perspective du dispositif de la Fig. 2 dans un état correspondant à une évacuation d'un carton traité ayant des rabats pliés; et
• les Figures 6a à 6c sont des vues latérales montrant séquentiellement l'ouverture de lames des têtes d'écartement de rabat et un pliage de deux rabats en équerre vers l'extérieur du carton.

Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description below of several particular embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 shows a station for filling containers, such as boxes, in which a flap spacer device according to the invention is installed;
• the Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a flap spacing device according to the invention in a state corresponding to an arrival of a carton to be treated;
• the Figure 2a is a partial perspective view of a flap spacer head of the device of the Fig. 2 ;
• the Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the device of the Fig. 2 in a state corresponding to the insertion of flap spacers in the opening of a carton to be treated;
• the Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the device of the Fig. 2 in a state corresponding to an opening of the blades of the flap spacer heads and a folding of two flaps at right angles to the outside of the carton;
• the Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the device of the Fig. 2 in a state corresponding to discharge of a treated carton having folded flaps; and
• the Figures 6a to 6c are side views sequentially showing the opening of blades of the flap spreader heads and a folding of two flaps at right angles to the exterior of the carton.

Detailed discussion of preferred embodiments

With reference to the Fig. 1 , a particular embodiment 1 of the flap spacing device according to the invention is described here in the context of an application of the device 1 in a station 2 for filling cartons 3 with folding boxes. Station 2 is placed at the outlet of a folder-gluer machine (not shown) which is installed near a filling zone C at the Fig. 1 . In the filling zone C, the boxes 3 are filled with a large number of the folding boxes made up and supplied at the output by the folder-gluer machine. This folder-gluer machine glues and folds the folding boxes flat, which can then be stored, stored, glued and folded with a small footprint in 3 boxes for transport.

In general, in the following description, the longitudinal and transverse directions are defined with reference to the path of the boxes in a conveyor, along its median longitudinal axis. The upstream and downstream directions are defined with reference to the direction of movement along the path of the boxes.

As shown in the Fig. 1 , the filling station 2 comprises first conveyors for conveying boxes C1a and C1b comprising an input zone for boxes A and a flap spacing zone B, a flap spacing device 1 according to the invention installed in the flap spacing area B and in which the top flaps R1a and R1b of the cartons 3 are folded outwardly of the cartons 3, a second carton conveyor C2 having a filling area C, a conveyor - box filler 4 installed at the level of the filling zone C and ensuring the filling of boxes 3 with folding boxes 5 supplied by the folder-gluer machine, a cardboard transfer device 6 and a third cardboard conveyor C3.

The boxes 3 supplied by the cardboard former module (not shown), open at the top and with the flaps R1 a and R1b in vertical position, are received in the cardboard entry zone A. The boxes 3, in their state reception in zone A, are conveyed by the cardboard conveyor C1a, along a substantially rectilinear transport path La, to the flap spacing zone B to be processed by the flap spacing device 1. Once the folding operation of the flaps R1a and R1b towards the outside of the box is carried out by the device 1, the boxes 3 with the flaps R1a and R1b folded outwards are transferred by the cardboard delivery conveyor. C1b, along a substantially rectilinear transport path Lb, towards the second cardboard transport conveyor C2 which brings the cardboard boxes 3 to the filling zone C.

In the filling zone C, the box transporter-filler 4 is configured to pick up the folding boxes 5, for example laid in a sheet at the outlet of the folder-gluer machine, and to transfer them at very high speed and in an orderly manner in a box 3.

Once the carton 3 has been filled with the folding boxes 5, the latter is transferred by the carton transfer device 6, along a conveyor path Tc which is substantially straight and perpendicular to the paths La and Lb, to the third conveyor of C3 cardboard routing.

As shown in Fig. 1 , in this embodiment of the filling station 2, the third carton conveyor C3 is equipped with a vibrator device 7. The vibrator device 7 momentarily interrupts the transport of the cartons 3 filled by the conveyor C3, for a operation of vibrating the cartons allowing an orderly rearrangement of the folding boxes 5 contained in the cartons 3.

In the third cardboard conveying conveyor C3, the cardboard boxes 3, released by the cardboard transfer device 6, are conveyed, along a conveying path Ld1, parallel to the paths La and Lb but in the opposite direction, up to vibrator device 7. After the vibration operation carried out in the vibrator device 7, the routing by the conveyor C3 is resumed, along a routing path Ld2, extending the path Ld1, in order to remove the cartons 3 loaded with boxes folding 5 to an outlet 8 of the filling station 2.

Also with reference to Figs. 2, 2a , 3 to 5 and 6a to 6c , there is now described in detail the flap spacing device 1 as well as the cardboard conveyors C1a and C1b.

As shown in Fig. 2 , the box conveyor C1a conveys the boxes 3, empty and with the flaps R1 a and R1b of the box 3 in a vertical position, to the flap spacer area B where the flap spacer 1 is installed .

The conveyor C1a comprises two sets of free rollers 9a and 9b. The main direction of the rollers 9a and 9b extends in the transverse direction T. The rollers 9a and 9b are mounted idly, parallel to each other, in a horizontal plane along the transport path La. The transport conveyor cardboard box C1a further comprises a lateral drive device configured to drive in the longitudinal direction L the boxes 3 by clamping the base of their opposite side walls. For this, the lateral drive device comprises for example at least two lateral drive belts 10a and 10b, arranged on the free roller trains 9a and 9b in parallel alignment with the transport path La, symmetrically and in look at each other. In operation, the boxes 3 are conveyed along the roller trains 9a and 9b, driven and guided laterally by the belts 10a and 10b. The cardboard conveying conveyor C1a makes it possible to transport empty and open boxes 3 without deforming them to a predetermined position P1 in the center of the flap spacing zone B in the flap spacing device 1.

The arrival of the carton 3 at this position P1 is detected in this form of realization by an optical position detection cell (not visible). This detection of the arrival of the carton 3 at position P1, controls the stopping of the lateral drive belts 10a and 10b and immobilizes the carton 3 under two flap spacer heads 12a and 12b of the flap spacing device. 1.

As it appears at the Fig. 2 , the flap spreader 1 comprises a bridge-shaped frame with two vertical pillars 13a and 13b, having base parts which rest on a floor surface, on either side of the cardboard conveyors C1a, C1b and C3 of the filling station 2, and a high horizontal cross member 13c connecting the high ends of the pillars 13a and 13b.

The two flap spacing heads 12a and 12b are fixed and carried by an adjustable horizontal transverse beam 14 provided to be able to be adjusted in height H between the pillars 13a and 13b. The height adjustment of the transverse beam 14 allows adequate vertical positioning of the heads 12a and 12b for different heights of carton. The device 1 also allows a spacing adjustment of at least one of the two heads 12a and 12b, for example the head 12b, along the transverse beam 14 so as to be able to adjust the device 1 for different widths of cardboard.

The flap spacer head 12a is shown in detail at Fig. 2a , knowing that the two heads 12a and 12b have similar architectures and configurations. Representations of the heads 12a, 12b, in three different operating states are also shown to Figs. 6a to 6c .

To the Figs. 2 and 2a , the heads 12a and 12b are shown in a folded rest position, as shown in Fig. 6a , in which the heads have no contact with the cardboard 3. With particular reference to the Figs. 2a and 6a , the flap spacer heads 12a, 12b, each essentially comprise a body portion 120, a structure 120M ( Fig. 6a ) which is movable in height H relative to the body part 120, and support and guide rods 123 ₁ and 123 ₂ mechanically coupled to the movable structure 120M and sliding in corresponding bores (not visible) of the body part 120.

The body part 120 of the flap spacer head 12a, 12b is mechanically fixed to the adjustable horizontal transverse spar 14. A perforated sheet structure 15 is used for this mechanical attachment to the spar 14 and allows the heads 12a to advance. 12b, above the cardboard box 3 at a standstill, relative to the horizontal edge of the spar 14. This advance of the heads 12a, 12b, allows them to be positioned on a transverse vertical plane forming a central plane of symmetry of the cardboard 3 depending on its length.

The mobile structure 120M essentially comprises first and second flap spacer blades 121 ₁ and 121 ₂ , first and second jacks 122 ₁ and 122 ₂ associated respectively with the first and second blades 121 ₁ and 121 ₂ , and flanges of sheet metal assembly 124 ₁ and 124 ₂ for assembling the blades and jacks of the mobile structure 120M to the support and guide rods 123 ₁ and 123 ₂ . Although the flange 124 ₁ ( Fig. 2a ) or the only one visible in the figures, a symmetrical flange 124 ₂ and facing the flange 124 ₁ is present on the face opposite the head.

As shown in Figs. 2, 2a and 6a , in the folded rest position of the heads 12a, 12b, the blades 121 ₁ and 121 ₂ have a "V" configuration. In this position, the angular spacing EA ( Fig. 6a ) of the "V" formed by the blades is at its lowest value. The lower ends of the blades, in close proximity, are mounted on pivots held between the flanges 124 ₁ and 124 ₂ and are therefore movable in rotation about their respective pivot points.

To the Figs. 3 and 6b , the heads 12a and 12b are shown in an insertion position in the upper opening of the carton 3. At the Fig. 3 , the heads are brought inside the box 3 by sliding the mobile structure 120M along the rods 123 ₁ , 123 ₂ , the sliding of the mobile structure 120M is controlled by a pneumatic actuator (not visible) integrated between the two guide rod of the body part 120. In this position, a control for spacing or opening of the blades 121 ₁ , 121 ₂ by rotation about their respective pivot points has the effect of moving the flaps R1a and R1b away from the carton 3 in contact with the blades 121 ₁ , 121 ₂ , by folding them towards the outside of the box 3. The blade spacing control 121 ₁ , 121 ₂ , is implemented by actuating the jacks 122 ₁ , 121 ₂ .

To the Fig. 6b , the jacks 122 ₁ and 122 ₂ are therefore controlled in actuation. The blades 121 ₁ and 121 ₂ , set in motion by the jacks 122 ₁ and 122 ₂ , come to press on the upper edges of the flaps R1a and R1b of the box 3 which then move away progressively by being folded towards the outside of the box 3 , respectively. In this state, the actuation control of the jacks 122 ₁ and 122 ₂ continues until a total opening of the blades 121 ₁ and 121 ₂ , that is to say an alignment of the latter in the same horizontal plane and an angular separation EA of 180 °.

The state of total opening, EA = 180 °, of slats 121 ₁ and 121 ₂ is shown in the Figs. 4 and 6c . In this state, the flaps R1a and R1b are folded outwardly, at right angles to the corresponding side flanks F1a and F1b of the carton 3, respectively.

At this stage, the operation of separating the flaps by the device 1 by folding them at 90 ° towards the outside of the carton 3 is completed.

The operations which follow carried out by the device 1 consist essentially in evacuating the box 3 towards the conveyors C1b and C2 in the direction of the filling zone C, keeping the flaps R1a and R1b folded at right angles to the outside of the box 3, from the less during part of the journey so as to “fix” their position as well as possible.

With particular reference to the Fig. 5 , there is now a detailed description of the operations for removing the carton 3 mentioned above and carried out by the device 1. At the Fig. 5 , the box 3 is put back in motion and moves along the transport path Lb. As it appears at the Fig. 5 , the slats 121 remain open by 180 ° during the movement shown in Fig. 5 .

This re-movement of the carton 3 is controlled in the device 1 immediately after the state shown to Figs. 4 and 6c where the blades 121 ₁ , 121 ₂ , have reached the opening of 180 °. A re-rotation of the belts 10a and 10b is then commanded in the device 1, as well as the rotation of a horizontal upper conveyor belt 16 shown in Fig. 5 .

The upper conveyor belt 16 is arranged at a height H, relative to the rollers of the conveyors C1a and C1b, such that a horizontal lower face thereof can come into frictional contact, without excessive support, with high edges. SF1a, SF1b ( Figs. 4 and 5 ) side flanks F1a, F1b of box 3.

As the carton 3 advances along the transport path Lb, initiated by restarting the belts 10a and 10b immediately after the state shown in Fig. 4 , the flap R1b has progressively disengaged from the blades 121 to slide under the horizontal lower face of the upper conveyor belt 16. The top edge SF1b of the sidewall F1b then came into engagement with the lower face of the belt 16. A From this coming into engagement of the top edge SF1b with the belt 16, the latter begins its effective participation in the drive of the carton 3 along the transport path Lb.

In the state shown in Fig. 5 , the box 3 is conveyed along the path Lb by the joint action of the belts 10a and 10b on its base and by that of the belt 16 on the top edge SF1b. The carton 3 is also engaged at its base between guide bars 17a and 17b which are raised relative to the idle rollers of the conveyor C1b. These bars 17a and 17b guide the carton 3 along the transport path Lb to the conveyor C2 of the filling zone C.

Subsequently, as the carton 3 progresses on the transport path Lb, the flap R1a is completely released from the blades 121 and the base of the carton 3 is also completely released from the belts 10a and 10b. Box 3 is then towed in its progression by the rotation of the belt 16 in frictional contact with the high edges SF1a and SF1b. The flap spacers 12a and 12b are then folded back and returned to the rest position shown in Figs. 2, 2a and 6a .

The other two top flaps of the box 3 which remain vertical at the outlet of the device 1 can also be folded outwards from the box 3 by means of two guide plates (not shown) arranged longitudinally on either side of the heads. 12a and 12b.

The various possible embodiments of the invention are not limited to the modifications and variations indicated herein by way of example, other modifications and variations falling within the scope of the appended claims may be envisaged.

In some embodiments not forming part of the invention, for example for boxes of smaller dimensions, it could be envisaged to equip the flap spacer device with a single head, possibly provided with wider blades.

Claims (8)

1. A device for spreading flaps of a packaging container (3), the container being empty and comprising flaps (R1a, R1b) extending vertically in an open top part, the device (1) being adapted for integration into a packaging container filler station (2) and comprising at least one flap spreading head (12a, 12b), the flap spreading head being vertically movable for insertion thereof into the container (3) and comprising first and second flap spreading blades (121₂, 121₂) mounted on a pivot and an actuator (122₁, 122₂) adapted to actuate rotation of the first and second blades (121₂, 121₂), the first and second blades coming into contact during rotation with the first and second flaps (R1a, R1b) and causing spreading thereof by folds towards the outside of the container (3), characterised in that it comprises two flap spreading heads (12a, 12b) mounted on a horizontal transverse spar (14), with the distance between the two flap spreading heads (12a, 12b) being adjustable and the spar (14) is adjustable in height (H) between vertical pillars (13a, 13b) of the device (1), so as to allow appropriate positioning of the two flap spreading heads (12a, 12b) for different container (3) sizes.
2. Device according to claim 1, comprising lateral drive belts (10a, 10b) in parallel alignment with a conveying path (La) of the empty and open container (3) to transport the container to a predetermined position (P1) in the device (1), at which position (P1) the flap spreading operation is carried out.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, where the first and second blades (121₂, 121₂) are mounted symmetrically in the flap spreading head (12a, 12b) relative to a vertical axis of the latter, in a "V" shaped configuration when the first and second blades (121₂, 121₂) are folded into a rest position, the tip of the "V" substantially corresponding to a pivot point of the blades.
4. Device according to claim 3, where the actuator (122₂, 122₂) actuates rotation in the opposite direction of the first and second blades (121₂, 121₂) around their pivot point which come into contact with the first and second flaps (R1a, R1b) facing the container (3) and cause spreading thereof by right-angle folds towards the outside of the container (3).
5. Device according to claim 4, comprising a horizontal upper conveyor belt (16) for evacuating from the device (1) a container (3) having the first and second facing flaps (R1a, R1b) folded at right-angles towards the outside of the container (3), the driving of the container (3) being brought about by rotation of the horizontal upper conveyor belt (16) in frictional contact with the top edges (SF1a, SF1b) of the container (3).
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, where the actuator comprises first and second cylinders (122₁, 122₂) respectively dedicated to the first and second blades (121₂, 121₂).
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a bridge-shaped frame having first and second vertical pillars (13a, 13b) with base portions resting on a floor surface and upper portions connected by a horizontal cross member (13c, 14) supporting the two flap spreading heads (12a, 12b).
8. Filling station for packaging containers, the containers (3) being empty and having flaps extending vertically in an open upper part thereof, comprising a flap spreading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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