Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/02—Feeding or positioning sheets, blanks or webs
  • B31B50/04—Feeding sheets or blanks
  • B31B50/042—Feeding sheets or blanks using rolls, belts or chains
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/60—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping
  • B31B50/62—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by adhesives
  • B31B50/624—Applying glue on blanks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B2120/00—Construction of rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B31B2120/50—Construction of rigid or semi-rigid containers covered or externally reinforced

Definitions

• This invention relates to an automated line and a method for producing wrapped cardboard boxes.
• the boxes are formed from specially shaped paper or cardboard forming blanks consisting of a base and a plurality of flaps connected to the base and designed to be folded relative to the base to form a lateral wall of the box.
• the box is wrapped by applying a pre-glued wrapping blank to it.
• the wrapping blank is a flat blank having a base shaped like the base of the box and flaps connected to the base and designed to be folded in such a way as to cover the lateral walls of the box.
• Automated lines for producing wrapped boxes comprise different stations, where respective operating machines are located.
• an automated line for producing wrapped boxes comprises a gluing device for gluing wrapping blanks, a forming machine which forms the boxes from respective cardboard blanks, a positioning device which receives the boxes from the forming machine, couples them to respective wrapping blanks received from the gluing device and a wrapping machine which receives from the positioning device the assembly consisting of the box coupled to the respective wrapping blank and makes the finished boxes available at the outfeed.
• patent documents B02012A000388 and B02010A000425 describe examples of prior art lines for making wrapped boxes. The Applicant has, however, realized that these lines have inherent disadvantages and can be improved.
• Another example of known lines for producing wrapped boxes is disclosed by patent document US2705905A.
• Another issue felt by the Applicant is that of facilitating transportation of the line to reduce the time and cost of moving; in effect, it is necessary to transport the line to the place of installation and, in some cases, even after installation, the line may have to be moved from one site to another within the same factory.
• This invention has for an aim to provide an automated line and a method for producing wrapped cardboard boxes to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
• the line comprises a conveyor belt.
• the conveyor belt preferably extends along a horizontal axis.
• the conveyor belt may have an inlet.
• the conveyor belt may have an outlet.
• the conveyor belt is configured to receive a succession of wrapping blanks at the inlet.
• the conveyor belt may also be configured to transport the paper wrapping blanks in an advancing direction. The advancing direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
• the line also comprises a gluing device.
• the gluing device is configured to apply glue on the wrapping blank.
• the line also comprises a box forming apparatus.
• the forming apparatus is configured to receive a succession of forming blanks and to form boxes from the forming blanks.
• Each box may comprise a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls connected to the bottom wall.
• the box is made preferably of cardboard.
• the line may comprise a positioning device.
• the positioning device is configured to receive the box from the forming apparatus and to place the box on the wrapping blank previously glued, in a coupling station.
• the positioning device is configured to place the box on the wrapping blank in such a way that the bottom wall of the box rests on a base of the wrapping blank.
• the line comprises a wrapping apparatus.
• the wrapping apparatus is configured to receive a succession of wrapping blanks with corresponding boxes coupled thereto and to apply a wrapping blank to a lateral surface of each box.
• the forming apparatus is positioned above the conveyor belt. This configuration allows reducing the overall dimensions (length) of the line.
• the forming apparatus includes an outlet.
• the outlet feeds the formed boxes out of the forming apparatus.
• the outlet of the forming apparatus is oriented longitudinally relative to the advancing direction.
• the outlet of the forming apparatus may be oriented vertically relative to the advancing direction.
• the positioning device is configured to receive each formed box at the outlet of the forming apparatus and to transport the box to the coupling station.
• the coupling station is spaced from the outlet of the forming apparatus both longitudinally in the advancing direction and vertically.
• the coupling station is at a first height and the outlet of the forming apparatus is at a second height. The second height is preferably greater than the first height.
• the wrapping apparatus is positioned along the longitudinal axis, downstream of the outlet of the conveyor belt.
• the line may also comprise a sort out device.
• the sort out device is configured to detect, pick up and automatically remove the wrapping blanks that are not correctly coupled to the respective cardboard boxes. Further, the sort out device may be positioned on the conveyor belt. The sort out device is positioned upstream of the wrapping apparatus. This allows the box to be positioned very precisely on the wrapping blank.
• the line comprises a platform.
• the platform may have a bottom face that lies operatively on the ground.
• the platform may have a front face that is provided with couplings for connection to the forming unit and to the wrapping unit.
• the platform is in the form of a plate made in a single piece.
• the Applicant intuited that providing an element for transporting all the apparatuses of the line simultaneously allows reducing the time and costs of moving the line.
• the Applicant has found that providing a platform having couplings for connection to the apparatuses of the line and a face that lies operatively on the ground makes it easier to transport the line after installation from one site to another within the factory.
• this disclosure also provides a method for making wrapped cardboard boxes.
• the method comprises a step of providing a conveyor belt.
• the conveyor belt preferably extends along a horizontal axis.
• the conveyor belt may have an inlet and an outlet.
• the method comprises a step of feeding a paper wrapping blank to the inlet of the conveyor belt.
• the method also comprises a step of transporting the wrapping blank in an advancing direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
• the method may also comprise a step of applying glue on the wrapping blank.
• the method comprises a step of feeding a foldable cardboard blank to a forming apparatus and forming a box.
• the box may have a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls connected to the bottom wall.
• the method comprises a step of receiving the formed box from the forming apparatus and placing the box on the wrapping blank previously glued, in a coupling station, so that the bottom wall of the box is placed on a base of the wrapping blank.
• the method comprises a step of receiving the wrapping blank at a wrapping apparatus with corresponding box coupled thereto and a step of applying the wrapping blank to a lateral surface of the box.
• the forming apparatus is positioned above the conveyor belt.
• the method comprises a step of releasing the formed box at an outlet of the forming apparatus.
• the outlet is oriented longitudinally relative to the advancing direction.
• the outlet may be oriented vertically relative to the advancing direction.
• the formed box is received by a positioning device at the outlet of the forming apparatus.
• the box may then be transported to the coupling station.
• the coupling station is spaced from the outlet of the forming apparatus both longitudinally in the advancing direction and vertically.
• the coupling station is at a first height and the outlet of the forming apparatus is at a second height. The second height is preferably greater than the first height.
• the method may comprise a step of positioning the wrapping apparatus along the longitudinal axis, downstream of the outlet of the conveyor belt.
• the wrapping blanks are fed to the conveyor belt from a stack.
• the wrapping blanks are arranged along vertical planes and each wrapping blank is rotated by 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation.
• the forming blanks are fed to the forming apparatus from a stack.
• the forming blanks are arranged along vertical planes and each forming blank is rotated by 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a line according to this disclosure in a perspective view from above
• FIG. 1 is a side view of line.
• the numeral 1 denotes a line for producing wrapped cardboard boxes.
• the line 1 comprises a conveyor belt 2.
• the conveyor belt may extend along a longitudinal axis L.
• the conveyor belt 2 has two ends along the longitudinal axis L and may have a head and a tail at its two ends.
• the conveyor belt 2 may include an inlet I at the head of the belt 2.
• the conveyor belt may also have an outlet O at the tail of the belt 2.
• the conveyor belt 2 is configured to receive a succession of wrapping blanks.
• the wrapping blanks are preferably made of paper.
• the wrapping blanks have a base and a plurality of flaps connected thereto.
• the conveyor belt 2 is configured to receive the wrapping blanks at the inlet I.
• the line 1 may comprise a feeding unit for feeding the wrapping blanks to the conveyor belt 2.
• the feeding unit comprises a structure for containing a stack of wrapping blanks.
• each wrapping blank is oriented along a vertical plane.
• the structure is elongated in a horizontal direction, between an inlet opening, for receiving new wrapping blanks, and an outlet oriented towards the inlet I of the conveyor belt.
• each wrapping blank, before being placed on the conveyor belt 2 may be made to perform a rotation so it is parallel to the longitudinal axis L.
• the conveyor belt 2 may be configured to transport the wrapping blanks in an advancing direction F, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis L.
• the line 1 may comprise a gluing device 3.
• the gluing device 3 is configured to apply glue on each wrapping blank.
• the glue may be spread on some parts of the wrapping blank. Alternatively, glue may be spread over the entire surface of the wrapping blank.
• the glue is preferably hot-melt glue.
• the gluing device 3 is positioned on the belt 2 and downstream of the inlet I.
• the line 1 comprises a box forming apparatus 4.
• the box forming apparatus 4 is configured to receive a succession of forming blanks.
• the forming blank is preferably a specially shaped sheet of cardboard (or paperboard or thick paper).
• the box forming apparatus 4 is configured to form boxes from the forming blanks. Each box comprises a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls connected to the bottom wall.
• the line 1 may comprise a positioning device 5.
• the positioning device is configured to receive the box from the forming apparatus 4 and to place the box on the wrapping blank previously glued, in a coupling station.
• the positioning device 5 is configured to place the box on the wrapping blank previously glued, in such a way that the bottom wall of the box rests on a base of the wrapping blank.
• the line 1 also comprises a wrapping apparatus 6.
• the wrapping apparatus 6 is configured to receive the wrapping blank with a corresponding box coupled thereto and to apply the wrapping blank to a lateral surface of the box.
• the wrapping apparatus 6 is configured to fold the wrapping blank onto the inside of each lateral wall of the box, so as to cover it.
• the forming apparatus 4 is positioned above the conveyor belt 2.
• the forming blanks are placed on a flat supporting surface 7.
• the flat supporting surface is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L.
• the flat supporting surface 7 may be movable along a vertical axis V so as to load the forming blanks and take them to the inlet of the forming apparatus 4.
• vertical axis V is meant an axis parallel to the force of gravity.
• the forming apparatus 4 also includes an outlet 401 to feed the formed box out of the forming apparatus 4.
• the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus is oriented longitudinally relative to the advancing direction F.
• the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus is oriented vertically relative to the advancing direction F.
• the inlet and the outlet of the forming apparatus 4 are located at a height above the conveyor belt 2.
• the positioning device 5 is configured to receive each formed box at the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus and to transport the box to the coupling station.
• the coupling station is preferably spaced from the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus both longitudinally in the advancing direction F and vertically.
• the coupling station is at a first height and the outlet of the forming apparatus is at a second height, greater than the first height.
• the wrapping apparatus 6 is positioned along the longitudinal axis L, downstream of the outlet O of the conveyor belt 2.
• the line 1 may also comprise a sort out device 8, configured to detect, pick up and automatically remove the wrapping blanks that are not correctly coupled to the respective cardboard boxes.
• the sort out device 8 is positioned on the conveyor belt 2 and upstream of the wrapping apparatus 6.
• the conveyor belt 2 is configured to receive the wrapping blanks at the inlet I and in a direction parallel to the advancing direction F.
• the feeding unit for feeding the wrapping blanks is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L downstream of the inlet I.
• the forming apparatus 4 is located above the wrapping apparatus 6. In this solution, the forming apparatus 4 is spaced from the wrapping apparatus 6 along the vertical axis V. This configuration allows reducing the length of the line.
• the flat supporting surface 7 may be at the same height as the forming apparatus 4. Alternatively, the flat supporting surface 7 may be located above the forming apparatus 4, hence the forming blanks may be made to perform a downward movement along the vertical axis V to be fed to the forming apparatus 4. This configuration therefore takes up more space in height.
• the line 1 may comprise screening means between the forming apparatus 4 and the wrapping apparatus 6. The screening means are configured to prevent vapour of the hot-melt glue spread on the wrapping blanks from reaching the forming apparatus 4. Further, the flat supporting surface 7 is stationary and the forming blanks are lifted by an operator in order to load them onto the flat supporting surface 7.
• the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus is oriented vertically relative to the advancing direction F.
• the box at the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus performs a downward movement along the vertical axis V.
• the positioning device is configured to receive the downwardly moving box and to place it on the wrapping blank 6. This solution, therefore, does not involve moving the box longitudinally to be placed on the wrapping blank.
• the line 1 may comprise a platform.
• the platform includes a bottom face operatively lying on the ground and a front face that provides couplings for connection to the forming unit and to the wrapping unit.
• the platform may include a plurality of fastening points.
• each fastening point is specific to a particular apparatus of the line 1 .
• the platform is in the form of a plate made in a single piece.
• this disclosure provides a method for making wrapped cardboard boxes.
• the method comprises a step of providing a conveyor belt 2.
• the conveyor belt may extend along a longitudinal axis L.
• the conveyor belt 2 has two ends along the longitudinal axis L and may have a head and a tail at its two ends.
• the conveyor belt 2 may include an inlet I at the head of the belt 2.
• the conveyor belt may also have an outlet O at the tail of the belt 2.
• the method comprises a step of feeding a paper wrapping blank to the inlet I of the conveyor belt 2.
• the wrapping blanks are fed to the conveyor belt 2 from a stack where the wrapping blanks are arranged along vertical planes and where each wrapping blank is rotated by 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation.
• the wrapping blank includes a base and a plurality of flaps connected thereto.
• the method may also comprise a step of transporting the wrapping blank in an advancing direction F parallel to the longitudinal axis L.
• the method may comprise a step of applying glue on the wrapping blank by means of a gluing device 3.
• the glue may be spread over the entire surface of the wrapping blank or only on some parts of it.
• the method comprises a step of feeding a foldable cardboard blank to a forming apparatus 4 and forming a box.
• the box has a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls connected to the bottom wall.
• the method may comprise a step of receiving the formed box from the forming apparatus 4 and placing the box on the wrapping blank previously glued, in a coupling station, so that the bottom wall of the box is placed on a base of the wrapping blank.
• the method comprises a step of receiving the wrapping blank at a wrapping apparatus 6 with a corresponding box coupled thereto and applying the wrapping blank to a lateral surface of the box. In this step, the wrapping blank is folded over onto the inside of each lateral wall of the box.
• the method may also comprise a step of positioning the wrapping apparatus 6 along the longitudinal axis L, downstream of the outlet O of the conveyor belt 2.
• the forming apparatus 4 is positioned above the conveyor belt 2.
• the method comprises a step of releasing the formed box at an outlet 401 of the forming apparatus.
• the outlet 401 is oriented longitudinally relative to the advancing direction F.
• the outlet 401 may be oriented vertically relative to the advancing direction F.
• the forming apparatus 4 includes an inlet, where the forming blanks are fed to the forming apparatus 4.
• the forming blanks are preferably placed on a flat supporting surface 7.
• the flat supporting surface is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L.
• the flat supporting surface 7 may be movable along a vertical axis V so as to load the forming blanks and take them to the inlet of the forming apparatus 4.
• the inlet and the outlet of the forming apparatus 4 are located at a height above the conveyor belt 2.
• the formed box is received by a positioning device 5 at the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus.
• the box is then transported to the coupling station.
• the coupling station is spaced from the outlet of the forming apparatus 4 both longitudinally in the advancing direction F and vertically.
• the coupling station is at a first height and the outlet of the forming apparatus is at a second height, greater than the first height.
• the outlet of the forming apparatus 4 may be vertical relative to the advancing direction F. More specifically, in this case, the coupling station is spaced only vertically from the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus.
• the box at the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus may be received by the positioning device 5.
• the positioning device 5 adjusts the position of the box relative to the wrapping blank.
• the box is then released by the positioning device 5 in such a way that the box can move downwards along the vertical axis V to be placed on the wrapping blank.
• the wrapping blanks that are not correctly coupled to the respective boxes are detected, picked up and automatically removed from the conveyor belt 2 by a sort out device 8.
• the wrapping blank and the box coupled to it are transported to the wrapping apparatus 6.
• the wrapping blanks may be fed to the conveyor belt 2 in a direction orthogonal to the advancing direction F and the forming blanks may be fed to the conveyor belt at the inlet I of the conveyor belt 2.
• the method may comprise a step of providing the forming apparatus 4 above the conveyor belt 2.
• the method may comprise a step of feeding the forming blanks at the same height as the forming apparatus 4.
• the forming blanks are fed to the forming apparatus 4 from above.
• the outlet 401 of the forming apparatus is preferably oriented vertically relative to the advancing direction F.
• An automated line (1 ) for producing wrapped cardboard boxes comprising:
• a conveyor belt (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) and having an inlet (I) and an outlet (O), the conveyor belt (2) receiving a succession of wrapping blanks at the inlet (I) and being configured for transporting the wrapping blanks made of paper in an advancing direction (F) parallel to the longitudinal axis (L);
• gluing device (3) configured to apply glue on the wrapping blank
• a forming apparatus (4) configured for receiving a succession of forming blanks made of cardboard and for forming boxes from the forming blanks, each box including a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls connected to the bottom wall;
• a positioning device (5) configured to receive the box from the forming apparatus (4) and for placing the box on the wrapping blank previously glued, in a coupling station, so that the bottom wall of the box is placed on a base of the wrapping blank;
• a wrapping apparatus (6) configured for receiving a succession of wrapping blanks with corresponding boxes coupled thereto and for applying the wrapping blank to a lateral surface of the box
• the forming apparatus (4) includes an outlet (401 ), for providing the formed box at the outlet of the forming apparatus, and wherein the outlet of the forming apparatus (401 ) is oriented longitudinally or vertically with respect to the advancing direction (F).
• the line (1 ) according to any of paragraphs A to A3, further comprising a sort out device (8) configured to automatically detect, pick up and remove the wrapping blanks which are not correctly coupled to the cardboard box, the sort out device being placed on the conveyor belt (2) and upstream of the wrapping apparatus (6).
• a sort out device (8) configured to automatically detect, pick up and remove the wrapping blanks which are not correctly coupled to the cardboard box, the sort out device being placed on the conveyor belt (2) and upstream of the wrapping apparatus (6).
• the line (1 ) according to any of paragraphs A to A4, comprising a platform having a bottom face operatively lying on the ground and a front face providing couplings for connection to the forming unit and to the wrapping unit.
• the line (1 ) according to any of paragraphs A to A5.1 , comprising a feeding unit for feeding the wrapping blanks to the inlet (I) of the conveyor belt (2), the feeding unit including a structure for containing a stack of wrapping blanks, each wrapping blank being oriented along a vertical plane, wherein the structure is elongated in a horizontal direction, between an inlet opening, for receiving new wrapping blanks, and an outlet oriented towards the inlet (I) of the conveyor belt (2).
• a method for manufacturing wrapped cardboard boxes comprising the following steps:

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• 2021
  • 2021-09-16 IT IT102021000023867A patent/IT202100023867A1/it unknown
• 2022
  • 2022-09-16 EP EP22789293.2A patent/EP4401970A1/de active Pending
  • 2022-09-16 WO PCT/IB2022/058762 patent/WO2023042140A1/en not_active Ceased

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