EP4272946A1

EP4272946A1 - Machine for forming containers from blanks

Info

Publication number: EP4272946A1
Application number: EP23170854.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Righetti; Luca MATRA'
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Current assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Priority date: 2022-05-02
Filing date: 2023-04-28
Publication date: 2023-11-08
Also published as: IT202200008552A1

Abstract

A machine for forming containers (500) from tubular blanks (300) comprises a feeding system (11) for feeding the tubular blanks (300) to the folding station (9); the feeding system (11) comprises an extraction system (12) for extracting the tubular blanks (300) from a magazine (100); the extraction system (12) comprises a plurality of carriages (13, 13a) movable along a closed path (P13) between an extraction station (14) for extracting the tubular blanks (300) and a delivery station (15) for delivering the tubular blanks (300); each carriage (13, 13a) is driven independently of the others and the extraction system (12) is configured in such a way that each carriage (13, 13a) passes through the extraction station (14) individually to receive a corresponding tubular blank (300) and stops in the delivery station (15).

Description

This invention relates to a machine and a method for forming containers from blanks.
These containers are used for packaging small-sized loose articles. For example, these containers may be used in the food industry for packaging loose confectionery products and the like. Generally speaking, these containers, for example, are shaped in such a way as to have a cross section that tapers from an upper portion of the container to a bottom portion of the container.
As is known, machines for forming containers are equipped with a conveyor provided with a plurality of pockets adapted to receive blanks (for example, tubular blanks, whether flat or pre-folded and partly glued) to move them along a path through operating stations which form them.
Document WO2021/024079 in the name of the present Applicant discloses a machine for forming containers from blanks.
The machine described comprises a plurality of shaping hoppers configured to receive respective blanks. Each hopper is internally provided with folding features giving the internal shaping channel a tapered cross-sectional shape in order to cause progressive folding of edges and/or side walls of the blank when the blank is inserted into the hopper.
The machine comprises a plurality of pushing elements, each operating on one of the hoppers to push the respective blank into the shaping channel, thereby causing the blank to be folded. The pushing elements are movable in such a way as to follow the respective shaping hoppers along a stretch of the feed path and have a to-and-fro operating movement towards and away from the respective hopper.
The machine also comprises positioning means for positioning the blanks and movable in such a way as to follow the respective shaping hoppers along at least a stretch of the feed path so that the pushing elements can transfer the blanks from the positioning means to the hoppers.
The solution proposed requires very precise synchronization between the moving parts and forming the containers in a machine cycle therefore takes a relatively long time.
Formation is carried out along a circular arc where the pushing elements and the positioning means follow the hoppers so as to have enough time for folding to be completed.
In the prior art machine, therefore, the pushing elements are mounted on a wheel and the positioning means are suitably coordinated.
The technical purpose of this invention is therefore to provide a machine for forming containers from blanks and a forming method to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
The aim of this invention is therefore to provide a machine and a method for forming containers from blanks to allow containers to be formed quickly and precisely in a simpler and more flexible manner than in prior art solutions. This aim is achieved by a machine for forming containers according to claim 1 and by a method for forming containers according to claim 8. The dependent claims correspond to possible different embodiments of the invention.
According to an aspect, this invention relates to a machine for forming containers from tubular blanks.
The machine comprises a conveyor comprising a traction system and a plurality of working units connected to the traction system and moved by the traction system along a feed path in a feed direction.
The working units each comprise at least one hopper configured to receive a tubular blank and to cause progressive folding of the tubular blank during insertion of the tubular blank into the hopper in an insertion direction orthogonal to the feed direction.
Each working unit may comprise one hopper or two hoppers.
The machine comprises a folding station for folding the blanks and comprising a plurality of pushing devices.
Each pushing device operates at at least one of the working units waiting in the folding station to push a respective tubular blank into the corresponding hopper thereby causing the progressive folding of the tubular blank.
The pushing devices are movable along the insertion direction between an extracted position where they are outside the respective hopper and an at least partly inserted position where they are at least partly inside it.
The machine preferably comprises a folding system for folding end flaps of the tubular blanks that are inserted in the respective hoppers and making a top closure and/or a bottom closure of the corresponding container.
The machine comprises a feeding system for feeding the blanks to the folding station.
The feeding system comprises an extraction system for extracting the tubular blanks from a magazine.
The extraction system comprises a plurality of carriages movable along a closed ring path between an extraction station for extracting the tubular blanks from the magazine and a delivery station for delivering the tubular blanks.
Each carriage is movable from the magazine to the delivery station independently of the others.
Preferably, the carriages are driven by at least one linear electric motor. Preferably, each carriage is driven by a corresponding linear motor to be able to move along the aforementioned closed path independently of the others.
Preferably, the closed path is defined by a stator of the linear electric motor which also comprises a plurality of sliders which are electromagnetically coupled to the stator.
Each carriage is coupled to the respective slider of the linear electric motor to be moved independently of the others.
Preferably, the extraction system is configured in such a way that each carriage passes through the extraction station individually to receive a corresponding blank and stops in the delivery station so that a train of tubular blanks, each loaded on a corresponding carriage, is formed in the delivery station.
Advantageously, driving the carriages independently of each other allows managing the extraction system in preferred modes depending on the dynamics of the forming machine upstream and downstream of the extraction system itself.
For example, the tubular blanks may be extracted from the magazine one at a time.
A plurality of flat folded blanks are stored in the magazine and each flat blank is fed to a corresponding carriage onto which it is loaded in "unfolded" condition, that is to say, in the form of a tubular blank. At the delivery station, on the other hand, the respective carriages are grouped together and groups of blanks can then be processed simultaneously.
Preferably, the delivery station corresponds to the folding station.
The carriages stop at the working units with the hoppers and the pushing devices are configured to transfer the tubular blanks from the carriages to the hoppers.
In another preferred embodiment, the feeding system may comprise a transfer system for transferring the tubular blanks from the delivery station to the folding station.
The transfer system transfers the tubular blanks from the delivery station to the folding station at the working units.
The pushing devices are configured to transfer the tubular blanks from the transfer system to the hoppers.
Preferably, the feeding system comprises a movement device for moving the tubular blanks from the extraction system to the transfer system. Preferably, the transfer system comprises a plurality of positioning means for positioning the tubular blanks themselves.
Preferably, the positioning means are movable along a closed path between the delivery station and the folding station and are configured to receive the tubular blanks from the movement device in the delivery station.
At the folding station, the positioning means are movable between a position near the hoppers and a position far from the hoppers.
The positioning means, when at the position near the hoppers, are interposed between the pushing means and the hoppers so as to allow a respective pushing device to engage the tubular blank at the near position and to allow the pushing device to push the tubular blank into the corresponding hopper at the far position.
According to an aspect, this disclosure relates to a method for forming containers from tubular blanks in a machine according to any of the aspects set out above.
The method comprises the steps of extracting the tubular blanks from the magazine one at a time via the extraction system and placing each blank on a corresponding carriage; feeding the individual tubular blanks to the delivery station via the extraction system; grouping and stopping a train of carriages at the delivery station.
In an embodiment, the delivery station corresponds to the folding station and the method comprises the step of transferring the blanks in a group from the train of carriages, each to a corresponding forming hopper, via the pushing means.
In an embodiment, the method comprises the step of transferring the blanks in a group from the delivery station to the folding station via the transfer system for transferring the blanks.
Preferably, the method comprises the step, at the folding station, of transferring the blanks in a group from the transfer system each to a corresponding forming hopper via the pushing means.
Advantageously, using independent carriages allows maximizing efficiency in extracting the blanks and then creating multiple compositions or trains of carriages at the stations that require more time to carry out the product cycle.
For example, the flat blanks can be inserted and formed into tubular blanks one by one, while for other operations, there may be relatively long stops of two or more carriages at a time.
Working simultaneously on two or more products optimizes both cycle times and stop times; thanks to the linear motors, it is possible to have only one magazine for extraction because the carriages are separate from each other and can be used one by one for single operations and in groups of two or more simultaneously for operations that can be carried out simultaneously on two or more products.
If a flat blank is not extracted for any reason, the carriages that should have received it can be stopped or made to return to the extraction station. Further features and advantages of the above aspects are more apparent in the exemplary, hence non-limiting description of a machine for forming containers from blanks.
The description is set out below with reference to the accompanying drawings which are provided solely for purposes of illustration without restricting the scope of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a machine for forming containers from blanks in accordance with the description, in a schematic plan view with some parts cut away for greater clarity;
Figure 2 illustrates a machine for forming containers from blanks in accordance with the description, in a schematic plan view with some parts cut away for greater clarity;
Figure 3 illustrates a detail of the machine of Figure 2 in a schematic perspective view;
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a machine for forming containers from blanks in accordance with the description, in a schematic plan view and in two operating configurations;
Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a blank for forming a container;
Figure 7 illustrates a container obtained from the blank of Figure 6 in a step of its formation;
Figure 8 illustrates a container obtained from the blank of Figure 6 after being completed.

With reference in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 denotes two examples of a machine for forming containers from blanks.
Hereinafter, parts that are the same or substantially the same in the two examples are described once only for both examples.
Figures 6 to 8 illustrate respectively an example of a blank 300, a semifinished item 400 obtained in the course of transforming the blank 300 into a container, and a container 500.
In the remaining drawings, only some blanks 300 are illustrated and indicated.
The blank 300 is, for example, a pre-glued tubular blank to which reference is made hereinafter without loss of generality.
The term "tubular blanks" is used to mean blanks 300 having a main body 301 defining side walls 302, a top opening 303 and a bottom opening 304. The blanks 300 illustrated have end flaps 305 at the openings 303, 304.
By "pre-glued" is meant that the blanks 300 that are originally flat are then folded, glued and flattened to define a partly formed blank that is ready to adopt the shape described above.
The flat blanks are denoted by the reference label 300a.
The flat blank 300a is folded and glued in such a way that, when processed, its flattened shape will easily adopt a tubular shape with, for example, a substantially rectangular cross section.
The blank 300 illustrated by way of example comprises four side walls 302 and four flaps 305 at the top opening 303 and four flaps 305 at the bottom opening 304 (only two of which are visible).
The example blank 300 has a main body 301 made in the shape of a square base parallelepiped, extending in height and hollow at the bottom and top bases. Other shapes of the blank 300 are imaginable but, for simplicity, this description hereinafter refers to the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7.
The blank 300 has a plurality of edges 306 and various different fold lines 307 located in proximity to the edges, and joining lines located between the flaps 305 and the side walls 302.
When the container 500 is fully formed, the flaps 305 at the opening 304 define a bottom closure 501 of the container 500.
When the container 500 is fully formed, the flaps 305 in the proximity of the opening 303 define a top closure or lid 502 of the container 500.
A preferred example of a container 500 has a box-shaped body, formed of the main body 301, whose cross section decreases from an upper portion to a lower portion of the main body 301.
The main body 301, the top closure 502 and the bottom closure 501 delimit a containing space in which to hold loose articles, specifically small-sized loose articles.
For example, the container 500 is suitable for use in the food industry for packaging loose confectionery products and the like. The closure 502 can be opened by a user to gain access to the containing space in order to take out the loose articles contained therein.
The machine 1 comprises a conveyor 2 comprising a traction system 3 and a plurality of working units 4, 5 connected to the traction system 3 and moved by the traction system 3 along a feed path P in a feed direction D. In the example of Figure 1, each working unit 4 comprises a hopper 6.
In the example of Figure 2, each working unit 5 comprises two hoppers 7, 8.
The hoppers 6, 7, 8 are preferably the same and are each configured to receive a blank 300 and to cause the blank 300 to be progressively folded while it is being inserted into the hopper 6, 7, 8 in an insertion direction D2 orthogonal to the feed direction D.
The direction D2 is orthogonal to the drawing plane of Figures 1 and 2.
The machine 1 comprises a folding station 9 for folding the blanks 300 and comprising a plurality of pushing devices 10. Each device 10 operates at at least one of the working units 4, 5 waiting in the folding station 9 to push a respective blank 300 into the corresponding hopper 6, 7, 8 thereby causing the progressive folding of the blank 300.
In the examples illustrated, ten blanks are folded at a time; in the example of Figure 1, there are ten working units 4 lined up in a row; in the example of Figure 2, there are five working units 5, also lined up with the hoppers 7, 8 to form two parallel rows.
In the example of Figure 1, there are ten pushing devices 10 lined up in a row; in the example of Figure 2, there are ten pushing devices 10 lined up in two parallel rows of five each.
In alternative embodiments, there may be different numbers and arrangements of pushing devices and corresponding hoppers according to machine process requirements.
The pushing devices 10 are movable along the insertion direction D2 between an extracted position where they are outside the respective hopper 6, 7, 8 and an at least partly inserted position where they are at least partly inside it.
The machine 1 preferably comprises a folding system, not illustrated, for folding end flaps 305 of the blanks 300 that are inserted in the respective hoppers 6, 7, 8 and making a bottom closure 501 and/or a top closure 502 of the corresponding container 500.
The machine 1 comprises a feeding system 11 for feeding the blanks 300 to the folding station 9.
The feeding system 11 comprises an extraction system 12 for extracting the blanks 300 from a magazine 100 in which the flat blanks 300a are stored.
The extraction system 12 comprises a plurality of carriages 13 movable along a closed ring path P13 between an extraction station 14 for extracting the flat blanks 300a from the magazine 100 and a delivery station 15 for delivering the tubular blanks 300.
Schematically, the extraction station 14 comprises an extraction wheel 14a of substantially known type, which picks up the flat blanks 300a from the magazine 100 and delivers each to a carriage 13.
The carriages 13 preferably comprise a portion 13a, having the shape of a C, for example, configured to hold the blank 300.
By carriages 13 is meant, in general terms, the units that are movable along the path P13 which can be provided with means and/or cleats and/or portions for transporting the blanks 300.
In the example of Figure 1, the delivery station 15 corresponds to the folding station 9.
The carriages 13 stop at the working units 4 with the hoppers 6 and the pushing devices 10 are configured to transfer the blanks 300 from the carriages 13 to the hoppers 6.
At the folding station 9, the carriages 13, or at least a portion 13a thereof, are movable between a position near the hoppers 6 and a position, shown by the dashed line in the illustration, far from the hoppers 6.
In the example of Figure 2, the feeding system 11 comprises a transfer system 16 for transferring the blanks from the delivery station 15 to the folding station 9.
The transfer system 16 transfers the tubular blanks 300 from the delivery station 15 to the folding station 9 at the working units 5.
The pushing devices 10 are configured to transfer the tubular blanks 300 from the transfer system 16 to the hoppers 7, 8.
Preferably, the feeding system 11 comprises a movement device 17 for moving the blanks 300 from the extraction system 12 to the transfer system 16, schematically represented by the dashed line in Figure 2.
With reference to Figure 2, it is noted that in the example illustrated, the machine 1 comprises two substantially similar transfer systems 16 for transferring the blanks 300 from the extraction system 12 to the hoppers 7 and 8, respectively, and two movement devices 17 for moving the blanks 300.
Each blank transfer system 16 comprises a plurality of positioning means 18 for positioning the tubular blanks 300.
The positioning means 18 are movable along a closed path P18 between the delivery station 15 and the folding station 9 and are configured to receive the blanks 300 from the movement device 17 at the delivery station 15.
In the folding station 9, the positioning means 18, or at least a portion 18a thereof, are movable between a position near the hoppers 7, 8 and a position far from the hoppers 7, 8.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an example of how the carriages 13 and/or the means 18, or of portions 13a, 18a thereof, are moved at the respective folding station 9.
In particular, Figure 4 shows the carriages 13 and/or the means 18 at the position near the path P, that is to say, near the working units 4 or the working units 5, and Figure 5 shows the carriages 13 and/or the means 18 at the position far from the path P, that is to say, far from the working units 4 or from the working units 5.
Each carriage 13 or means 18 is movable between an engaged configuration, where it engages a respective blank 300, corresponding to the position near the path P, and a disengaged configuration, where it is disengaged from the respective blank 300, corresponding to the position far from the path P.
By "engaged configuration" is meant a configuration in which the carriage 13 or the means 18 fits around the respective blank 300 in such a way that it can be engaged by a respective pushing device 10.
The engaged configuration corresponds to a position where the carriage 13 or the means 18 can keep the blank 300 aligned with the respective hoppers 6, 7, 8 and with the pushing devices 10. The engaged configuration is maintained until the pushing devices 10 start pushing a corresponding blank 300 into the corresponding hopper 6, 7, 8.
By "disengaged configuration" is meant a configuration in which the carriage 13 or the means 18 allows the respective pushing device 10 to push the blank 300 into the hopper 6, 7, 8.
The disengaged configuration thus corresponds to a position where the carriage 13 or the means 18 are far from the respective blank 300 so that the pushing device 10, which is by now engaged with the blank 300, can push the blank 300 into the hopper 6, 7, 8 without interference.
The carriages 13 can be driven independently of each other so as to be able to pass through the extraction station individually to receive a corresponding blank and to stop at the delivery station so that a train of tubular blanks 300, each loaded on a corresponding carriage 13, is formed in the delivery station 15.
In the preferred embodiments, the carriages 13 of the extraction system 12 are each driven by a linear electric motor 19 which moves it along the path P13.
In alternative embodiments, the carriages 13 may be driven in other ways, for example, with electronic cams or cam and cam follower mechanisms of substantially known type.
In the examples illustrated, the path P13 is defined by a stator 20 of the linear electric motor which also comprises a plurality of sliders 21 which are electromagnetically coupled to the stator 20. Each carriage 13 is coupled to a respective slider 21 of the linear electric motor 19 to be moved independently of the others. Each carriage 13 is preferably driven by a respective linear electric motor comprising the corresponding slider 21 and the stator 20.
Preferably, the extraction system 12 is configured in such a way that each carriage 13 passes through the extraction station 14 individually to receive a corresponding blank 300 and stops in the delivery station 15 so that a train 22 of tubular blanks, each loaded on a corresponding carriage 13, is formed in the delivery station 15.
In an embodiment, for example, the one illustrated in Figure 1, the conveyor 2 is a belt conveyor or a cleated conveyor, defining the traction system 3 which the working units 4 are attached to.
In an embodiment, for example, the one illustrated in Figure 2, the traction system 3 comprises a linear electric motor 23 comprising a stator 24 and a plurality of sliders 25 which are electromagnetically coupled to the stator 24. The stator 24 defines a closed, endless path for the sliders 25 of the conveyor 2.
In an embodiment, the sliders 25 are essentially in the form of permanent magnets.
Each working unit 5 is movable along the stator 24 independently of the others; depending on the operations to be carried out with the blanks 300, either on the blanks themselves or on the containers 500, the working units 5 may be, for example, grouped together or spaced apart.
Each working unit 5 is engaged with a corresponding slider 25.
In practice, each working unit 5 of the conveyor 2 is driven by its own linear electric motor, comprising the respective slider 25 and the stator 24; each working unit 5 is driven or drivable independently of the others.
When driven by linear motors, the working units 5 are hereinafter also referred to as "carriages".
In alternative embodiments, in the same way as in the embodiment of Figure 1, the traction system 3 comprises, for example, a movable cleated belt which the individual working units 5 are attached to.
The hoppers 7, 8 are disposed on opposite sides of the stator 24 and a main direction of extension D1 of the working units 5 is orthogonal to the feed direction D of the working units 5. Looking at Figure 2, the working units 1 move in a clockwise direction V.
The hoppers 7 follow a feed path P7 and the hoppers 8 follow a feed path P8, parallel to the path P7.
In the example illustrated, the path P7 and the path P8 each have four straight stretches joined by four curved stretches.
The row of working units 5 defines a succession of hoppers 7 along the path P7 and a succession of hoppers 8 along the path P8.
The pushing devices 10 have a to-and-fro operating movement towards and away from the hoppers 7, 8 along the direction D2 perpendicular to the paths P7, P8.
The pushing devices 10 are positioned over the feed paths P7, P8.
A preferred example of the pushing devices 10 and their operation is described in document WO2021024079 (pushing element 5) which is incorporated herein by reference for completeness of description.
The machine 1 comprises folding systems, not illustrated, for folding the end flaps of the blanks to form the top closure and/or the bottom closure of the containers 500.
The machine 1 comprises a filling station 26 for filling the containers, where the loose products are inserted into the containers 500 and which is located downstream of the station where the bottom closures 501 are formed.
As illustrated in Figure 1, ten working units 4 are positioned at the station 26 simultaneously.
The folding systems which make the top closure 502 may be located downstream of the filling station 26 to make the lid and close it.
In an embodiment, the folding systems may fold the flaps 305 to form the lid 502 upstream of the station 209 and close it downstream of the same station.
Preferably, the machine 1 comprises gluing means (not illustrated), located upstream of the folding systems (or of each folding system) and configured to glue portions of the flaps 305. That way, once the flaps 305 have been folded, the flaps 305 are glued to each other and define the bottom and top closures 501, 502.
As illustrated in Figure 2, five working units 5 are positioned at the station 26 simultaneously.
In an embodiment, illustrated for example in Figure 2, the machine 1 comprises a first and a second zone 27, 28 where, for example, the containers 500 can be closed and/or other operations can be performed on them.
As illustrated in Figure 2, thanks to the linear motors which drive the working units 5, five working units 5, that is to say, ten containers 500, are filled at the station 26 simultaneously, while in the zones 27 and 28, one and two working units 5 are processed respectively.
The machine 1 comprises an unloading station 29, where the finished containers 500 are unloaded from the conveyor 2. In the example illustrated in Figure 2, the working units 5 are unloaded one at a time at the unloading station 29.
In use, the flat blanks 300a are withdrawn from the magazine 100 by the extraction system 12 and then fed to the delivery station 15.
The blanks are withdrawn continuously one at a time by the carriages 13 in transit through the extraction station 14.
Downstream of the extraction station 14, the carriages 13 are positioned in groups or trains so that the corresponding blanks 300 can be processed in groups.
In the example of Figure 1, where the delivery station 15 corresponds to the folding station 9, the blanks 300 are transferred to the hoppers 6 by the pushing devices 10 and folded to form the containers.
In the example of Figure 2, two distinct groups of blanks 300 are transferred to corresponding positioning means 18 which transfer them to the folding station 9.
The two groups of blanks 300 are then pushed into the hoppers 7, 8 and folded.
In both examples, at the folding station 9, the working units 4, 5 are stationary and positioned so that the hoppers 6, 7, 8 are under the corresponding pushing devices 10.
The tubular blanks 300, via the carriages 13 or the means 18, are interposed between a respective hopper 6, 7, 8 and a corresponding pushing device 10.
At this point, the pushing devices 10 advance towards the respective hopper 6, 7, 8 with a to-and-fro movement.
Each device moves down towards the hopper 6, 7, 8 until it engages the respective blank 300 and is inserted into it. Once the device 10 has engaged the respective blank 300, the carriages or the positioning means or the respective movable portions 13a, 18a move to the far position.
The pushing devices 10 now move in such a way as to fully insert the blanks 300 into the hoppers 6, 7, 8.
This description also relates to a method for forming containers 500 from tubular blanks 300 in a machine 1 and comprising the steps of extracting the blanks 300, 300a from the magazine 100 one at a time via the extraction system 12 and placing each blank 300 on a corresponding carriage 13; feeding the individual blanks 300 to the delivery station 15 via the extraction system 12; grouping and stopping a train of carriages 13 at the delivery station 15.
In the case where the delivery station 15 corresponds to the folding station 9, the method comprises the step of transferring the blanks 300 in a group from the train of carriages 13, each to a corresponding forming hopper 6, via the pushing devices 10.
In the case where the delivery station 15 corresponds to the folding station 9, the method comprises the step of transferring the blanks 300 in a group from the delivery station 15 to the folding station 9 via the transfer system 16 for transferring the blanks.
The method comprises the step, at the transfer station 9, of transferring the blanks 300 in a group from the transfer system 16 each to a corresponding forming hopper 7, 8 via corresponding pushing devices 10.

Claims

A machine for forming containers (500) from tubular blanks (300), the machine comprising:
- a conveyor (2) comprising a traction system (3) and a plurality of working units (4, 5) connected to the traction system and moved by the traction system along a feed path (P) in a feed direction (D), the working units (4, 5) each comprising at least one hopper (6, 7, 8) configured to receive a tubular blank (300) and to cause progressive folding of the tubular blank (300) during insertion of the tubular blank (300) into the hopper (6, 7, 8) in an insertion direction (D2) orthogonal to the feed direction (D);

- a plurality of pushing devices (10) located in a folding station (9) and each operating at at least one of the working units (4, 5) waiting in the folding station (9) to push a respective tubular blank (300) into the corresponding hopper (6, 7, 8) thereby causing the progressive folding, the pushing devices (10) being movable between an extracted position where they are outside the hopper (6, 7, 8) and an at least partly inserted position where they are at least partly inside the hopper (6, 7, 8) along the insertion direction (D2);

- at least one folding system for folding end flaps of the tubular blank (300) that is inserted in the respective hopper (6, 7, 8) and making a top closure (502) and/or a bottom closure (501) of the corresponding container (500);

- a feeding system (11) for feeding the tubular blanks (300) to the folding station (9), the feeding system (11) comprising
an extraction system (12) for extracting the tubular blanks (300) from a magazine (100), the extraction system (12) comprising a plurality of carriages (13, 13a) movable along a closed path (P13) between an extraction station (14) for extracting the tubular blanks (300) and a delivery station (15) for delivering the tubular blanks (300), each carriage (13, 13a) of the carriages (13, 13a) being driven independently of the others, the extraction system (12) being configured in such a way that each carriage (13, 13a) passes through the extraction station (14) individually to receive a corresponding tubular blank (300) and stops in the delivery station (15).
The machine according to claim 1, wherein the extraction system (12) comprises at least one linear electric motor (19) for driving the carriages (13, 13a).
The machine according to claim 2, wherein the linear electric motor (19) comprises a stator (20), defining the closed path (P13), and a plurality of sliders (21), electromagnetically coupled to the stator (20), each carriage (13, 13a) being coupled to a respective slider (21) of the linear electric motor (19).
The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the delivery station (15) corresponds to the folding station (9), the carriages (13, 13a) stopping at the working units (4), the pushing devices (10) being configured to transfer the tubular blanks (300) from the carriages (13, 13a) to the hoppers (6).
The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the feeding system (11) comprises a transfer system (16) for transferring the tubular blanks (300) from the delivery station (15) to the folding station (9) to transfer the tubular blanks (300) from the delivery station (15) to the folding station (9) at the working units (5), the pushing devices (10) being configured to transfer the tubular blanks (300) from the transfer system (16) to the hoppers (7, 8).
The machine according to claim 5, wherein the feeding system (11) comprises a movement device (17) for moving the tubular blanks (300) from the extraction system (12) to the transfer system (16).
The machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the transfer system (16) comprises a plurality of positioning means (18, 18a) for positioning the tubular blanks (300), the positioning means (18, 18a) being movable along a closed path (P18) between the delivery station (15) and the folding station (9) and configured to receive the tubular blanks (300) from the extraction system (12) in the delivery station (15), the positioning means (18, 18a) being movable, in the folding station (9), between a position near the hoppers (7, 8) and a position far from the hoppers (7, 8), the positioning means (18, 18a), when at the position near the hoppers (7, 8) being interposed between the pushing means (10) and the hoppers (7, 8) so as to allow a respective pushing means (10) to engage the tubular blank (300) at the near position and to allow the pushing means (10) to push the tubular blank (300) into the corresponding hopper (7, 8) at the far position.
A method for forming containers (500) from tubular blanks (300), comprising
- extracting the tubular blanks (300) from a magazine (100) one at a time continuously by means of an extraction system;

- feeding the individual tubular blanks (300) to a delivery station (15);

- stopping the individual tubular blanks (300) in the delivery station (15);

- forming a group of tubular blanks (300) in the delivery station (15);

- pushing each of the tubular blanks (300) of the group into a corresponding hopper (6) so as to cause progressive folding of the tubular blank (300) as the tubular blank (300) is inserted into the hopper (6, 7, 8).
The method according to claim 8, comprising transferring the group of tubular blanks (300) to a forming station (9) where the progressive folding of the tubular blank (300) takes place as the tubular blank (300) is inserted into the hopper (6, 7, 8) in the case where the delivery station (15) does not correspond to the forming station (9).
The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the step of causing a progressive folding of the tubular blank (300) as the tubular blank (300) is inserted into the hopper (6, 7, 8) comprises transferring the tubular blanks (300) as a group, each into a corresponding hopper (6, 7, 8) using pushing means (10).
The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10 performed by a machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7.