ES1301931U - STATION FOR FORMING BATCHES OF BOXES EMBEDDED FROM FLAT SHEETS OF SEMI-RIGID LAMINAR MATERIAL, AND BATCH OF BOXES OBTAINED (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Forming station (40) configured to form batches (L) of nested boxes (B), mutually inserted one inside the other at least partially, from flat sheets (P) of semi-rigid sheet material, comprising: a core (5) and a mold (20) mutually facing each other, wherein the core (5) comprises a plurality of inclined flat faces (7) that converge towards a lower bottom surface (65) of the core (5), surface of bottom (65) configured to push in the vertical direction (Z) a bottom portion (F) of a plate (P) into a cavity (29) of the forming station (40) delimited at least partially by some shaping elements (21, 22, 23) of the mold (20) arranged around the cavity (29), which cooperate with the core (5), for the formation of at least four side walls (PL) of each box (B) surrounding the bottom portion (F), mutually facing each other in pairs and forming converging slopes towards the bottom (F) of the box (B); and a batch-forming device (30), located vertically below some upper parts of the shaping elements (21, 22, 23), configured to form the batches (L) from the boxes (B) formed by the core (5) and mold (20); characterized in that the batch-forming device (30) comprises: first and second retaining elements (31, 32) that at least partially delimit the cavity (29), a first drive configured to move the first retaining elements (31) between yes between an approaching position and a distancing position, and a second drive configured to move the second retaining elements (32) relative to each other between an approaching position and a distancing position; the first retaining elements (31) have first lower ends (31a) located above second lower ends (32a) of the second retaining elements (32), the first retaining elements (31) in the approach position allow contact with a plurality of boxes (B) from the upper part of the batch (L) being shaped and fit the boxes (B), in cooperation with the core (5), and the second retaining elements (32) in the approach position allow contact at least with the lower part of the batch (L) being shaped to ensure the retention of the boxes (B) of the batch (L) being shaped; and wherein at least two second retaining elements (32) in the position away from each other and two retaining elements (31) in the position toward each other are configured to simultaneously evacuate out of the forming station (40) a first batch (L1) conformed and conform at least partially a second batch (L2). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

FORMING STATION FOR MATCHED BOXES FROM

FLAT SHEETS OF SEMI-RIGID LAMINATE MATERIAL, AND LOT OF BOXES

OBTAINED

SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE AND OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The technical field of the present invention is the manufacture of batches of containers of semi-rigid sheet material, for example cardboard, by folding a sheet in a forming station of the type that includes a core or mandrel that moves with a movement of reciprocating or oscillating in and out of a bending die or mold.

By semi-rigid sheet material is meant a material in the form of a sheet that maintains its shape unless subjected to external forces and has a certain rigidity when folded / folded.

Preferably, the sheet or sheet is punched with fold lines of weakness to facilitate its formation into a box by folding parts of the sheet around said lines of weakness.

Said semi-rigid sheet material includes the cases of a sheet (plate) of corrugated (corrugated) cardboard, a sheet of compact cardboard (also called cardboard cardboard, laminar cardboard, laminated cardboard or stretched cardboard), a sheet formed by a sheet of cardboard joined to one or more internal and/or external plastic sheets, a compact plastic sheet, a corrugated or extruded plastic sheet, a sheet that combines paper and plastic sheets, as well as any material processed in a paper-like manner.

According to a first aspect, the object of the present invention is a station for forming batches of nested boxes from flat sheets of semi-rigid sheet material.

According to the second aspect, the object of the present invention is a batch of nested boxes formed from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material, obtained with the forming station of the first aspect of the invention.

In the present invention, container, package and box are synonymous.

In the present invention the terms "nested boxes" and "embedded boxes" are synonymous and means to insert some boxes with others, at least partially, contacting side walls of one box with the side walls of another box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED

Document US2925758A describes a machine for forming containers from rigid metal sheets or similar combinations, where the material, once folded, maintains its folded position. Such a machine is not suitable for the production of cardboard or plastic boxes, since metallic materials have bending memory, and therefore a cardboard and/or plastic material needs to be kept in the folded position for a while until the adhesive joins some parts of the box to others. In this sense, the documents BE603605A and US2014374472A1 can also be cited.

Document US5123888A, published in 1992, discloses an automatic machine for the formation of cardboard containers intended to form a body and an open lid (Figs. 9-10), which includes a forming station with a core 23a with faces of formed inclined frustoconical configuration, and a mold where the male is insertable and removable. The mold comprises an opening 22 delimited by a series of forming elements: bending means 20, base plate 21, four benders 24, two mold assemblies 25, two members 26, and two pieces 27. The core is mounted on a column whose length depends on the depth of the box to be formed, and the core is movable by a mobile element formed by a pair of cylinders 102, 103 one after the other.

In document US5123888A, the shaping station has means 112 for retaining and releasing batches of boxes formed by means of a fixed wall 107 and another movable wall 108 around a hinge or pivot, horizontally movable from one side by means of an actuator cylinder 115. Fig. 10 shows that this arrangement allows stacks or columns of a controlled number of mutually nested open-top containers to be formed, thanks to the inclined walls of the boxes formed with the inclined forming faces of the core 23a and the mold, so that stacks/lots/case packs are removed from the machine.

The following web link dated on YouTube on January 3, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySquGSgqsHw&feature=emb_title with 2717 views as of April 1, 2023, corresponds to a video of the FT04 machine .01 of the Italian manufacturer of machines for forming corrugated and compact cardboard containers Teco Italy (http://tecoitaly.com/es/). The video shows the FT04.01 machine in operation with two forming stations, each station with a core with inclined faces in the shape of an inverted truncated pyramid, with an upper base with a larger surface than the lower base with a smaller surface, insertable in a mold with a series of fixed and mobile forming elements, as well as stops, for shaping the body of the container from the flat cardboard sheet in combination with the displacement of the male. Each plug is attached to a mobile element for driving the plug by means of an anchoring column or vertical bar of a length corresponding to that of the shaped container. Between moments 01:12 and 01:34 [mm:ss] of said linked video, at both forming stations of the machine, the containers are formed in batches by fitting one inside the other before being extracted by two pairs of pressing cylinders, mutually facing each other in pairs, horizontally movable between a position in which they are in contact with the shaped containers and a position in which they are separated from each other to extract the batch or stack of mutually nested containers, observing that the number of displacements of the core and the movement of the pressers is synchronized to obtain a desired number of containers in each batch formed in the machine from flat sheets of cardboard, necessarily by a control unit of the automatic machine connected to the cylinders of the pressers and a mobile element for driving the taps.

Said company TECO SRL (Teco Italy) has published many videos of these FT04 (also called FT4) machines, such as the video on the web link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v4DJ_4eVoI entitled "Teco - FT4”, dated on YouTube on September 24, 2020, and with 4,286 views as of April 1, 2023, where all the characteristics of the machine with two forming stations in the previous paragraph are disclosed, among others.

On the other hand, the document ES1254508U, of the year 2020, of BOIX MAQUINARIA SPAIN SLU concerns a forming station for a container-forming machine, equipped with a core 6, a mold where the core 6 is introduced and extracted, and some pressers 4 that have the possibility of forming batches or stacks of mutually nested containers with a body and a vertically open lid from a cardboard sheet with the integrated lid. Thus, the core has inclined forming faces in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid that allows, in cooperation with the mold, to form containers with a body in the shape of said pyramid to allow the containers to be fitted into batches, inserting them at least partially within each other, that is, nested. For its part, the mold comprises mobile forming elements 9 such that, when the cardboard sheet is arranged on the mold, the downward vertical displacement of the core 6 combined with a horizontal displacement of the mobile forming elements 9 approaching each other during the operation of the machine to form the container 2. This displacement in approach of the mobile forming elements 9 during the operation of the machine by means of cylinders (not referenced, but clearly shown in Figs. 3-4) determines the formation of the lid vertically open for subsequent fitting in the stack / batch and contributes to the formation of the body of the container 2.

Continuing in the document ES1254508U, the mobile forming elements 9 are arranged correspondingly to the smaller sides of the container 2 for, with the displacement of the mobile forming elements 9 during the shaping of the container, gluing on the smaller sides of the container with glue previously arranged in the smaller sides, while with said displacement the lid remains vertical, without closing.

In the document ES1254508U, the mold also includes some fixed forming elements 3 during the operation of the machine forming the container, arranged corresponding to the longest sides of the container 2, which, together with the mobile forming elements 9, and interchangeable stops 10 arranged the same height as the cardboard sheet when it arrives at the forming station, with the vertical displacement of the core 6 towards the mould, they form the body and lid of the container.

Continuing in the document ES1254508U, once the containers are shaped inside the mold by the fixed and mobile forming elements 3, 9, some fixed plates (Fig. 4) located between the mobile forming elements 9 and the pressers 4, guide the stack of already shaped containers and also favor the action of the glue on the smaller sides of the container, during the displacement of the container from the mobile forming elements 3, 9 of the mold to the two pressers 4.

In the document ES1254508U, once the containers leave the fixed plates behind, they are received in two mutually facing pressers 4 (Fig. 4) and which have a horizontal displacement thanks to the drive by a pair of cylinders 5 between a position in which they are in contact with the shaped packages 2 being formed into batches (Fig. 6) and a position in which they separate from each other (Fig. 4) to allow removal of the batch with nested packages 2 from the forming station.

In the machines of TECO SRL and BOIX MAQUINARIA SPAIN SLU, the productive speeds of box formation are between 2,500 and 3,500 containers per hour in each formation station to form nested boxes forming a continuous column of nested boxes, not forming batches of boxes. boxes with a controlled number of boxes each batch. In the machines of TECO SRL and BOIX MAQUINARIA SPAIN SLU, each machine has two forming stations, therefore the speed of forming containers of these machines is typically between 5,000 and 7,200 containers per hour, mutually nested, forming a continuous column in containers, without forming batches.

The documents ES2914929A1 and ES2864730A1, published in the years 2022 and 2021, respectively, by the same applicant and inventor of the present invention, have as their object a packaging-forming machine from plates, and describe that a substantial increase in speed is achieved. maximum production of containers, going from a production speed of the state of the art between 2,500 and 3,500 boxes per hour in each forming station, to a significantly higher speed of 6,000 boxes per hour in each station / forming line.

The machinery manufacturing company TECNOBOX ELECTROMECÁNICA SL, current licensee of these patent applications ES2914929A1 and ES2864730A1, granted to date, has sold a multitude of TBQ-PACK model machines that have these patents implemented and achieve production speeds of 6,000 containers per hour in each one of the two forming stations that the machine has, that is, the machine with two model TBQ-PACK forming stations has a production speed of up to 12,000 packages per hour, as can be seen in the following web link of the company TECNOBOX ELECTROMECÁNICA SL https://www.tecnobox.es/maquina/tbq-pack/.

However, to date, the stations for the formation of batches of containers from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material are not developed to be able to form batches of containers according to the production speeds of containers from significantly increased plates mentioned above. Disadvantageously, if the batches are to be formed from the packages, the production speed of the packages from the sheets must be undesirably reduced to make the batches post-formable. That is to say, to date it is not possible to form batches in a forming station of the aforementioned at a speed of 6,000 containers per hour, nor at a speed greater than 3,500 containers per hour, but at a speed even less than 2,500 and 3,500 containers per hour, considerably reducing the productivity of the containers produced per hour.

The technical problem of the present invention to be solved is to increase the production speed of batches of nested boxes from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material in a simple and efficient manner. That is, there is a need to increase the number of batches of mutually nested boxes produced per unit of time, starting from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material with simplicity and efficiency.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the drawbacks set forth in the previous section, according to a first aspect, the present invention presents a forming station configured to form batches of nested boxes, mutually inserted one inside the other at least partially, from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material. .

In the present invention, the forming station is configured to insert some boxes with others, at least partially, contacting some side walls of one box with the side walls of another box, fitting them together, forming columns or batches of boxes.

That is, the forming station is configured to work with semi-rigid sheet material. Said semi-rigid sheet material includes the cases of a sheet (plate) of corrugated (corrugated) cardboard, a sheet of compact cardboard (also called cardboard cardboard, laminar cardboard, laminated cardboard or stretched cardboard), a sheet formed by a sheet of cardboard joined to one or more internal and/or external plastic sheets, a compact plastic sheet, a corrugated or extruded plastic sheet, a sheet that combines paper and plastic sheets, as well as any material processed in a paper-like manner.

That is to say, the forming station is configured to work with semi-rigid sheet material, which will be understood to be a material that maintains its shape unless it is subjected to external forces and that has a certain rigidity when folded / folded.

Preferably, the forming station is configured to work with sheets or plates that are stamped with fold lines of weakness to facilitate their formation into a box by folding parts of the plate around said lines of weakness.

The forming station comprises a core, a mold, a cavity, and a batch forming device.

The core and the mold face each other, according to a vertical direction Z, perpendicular to the plane of the ground where the forming station is located.

The core comprises a plurality of inclined flat faces converging towards a lower bottom surface of the core.

The bottom surface is configured to push in the vertical direction Z a bottom portion of a plate downward into a cavity of the forming station.

The cavity of the forming station is delimited at least partially by mold-forming elements arranged around the cavity.

Thus, the cavity is a hole with a central region, positionally delimited on its periphery by some mold-forming elements.

Said cavity has a complementary shape to the base of the core to allow the insertion of the core and the plate in the cavity in a tight fit.

Said cavity has a certain depth that extends in the vertical Z linear direction of insertion and extraction of the core in the cavity.

The forming elements of the mold cooperate with the core to form at least four side walls of each box surrounding the bottom portion. The at least four side walls face each other in pairs and form converging slopes towards the bottom portion of the box. .

Preferably, said shaping includes folding and joining some parts of the sheet with respect to others to shape the at least four side walls of each box surrounding the bottom portion.

Optionally, said union can be by gluing or by fitting, among many other union options known per se in the state of the art.

The batch forming device is located vertically, along the vertical direction Z, below upper parts of the forming elements. Thus, the batch-forming device is configured to form the batches from the boxes formed by the core and the mould.

Differently from the state of the art, the forming station includes a series of characteristics described below.

In the forming station, the batch forming device comprises first and second retaining elements that at least partially delimit the cavity of the forming station.

The batching device comprises a first drive and a second drive.

The first drive is configured to move the first retaining elements relative to each other, between an approaching and a moving away position. In the approaching position, the separation distance between the first retaining elements is reduced by moving at least one of the first retaining elements laterally into the cavity. In the remote position, the separation distance between the first retaining elements is increased by moving at least one of the first retaining elements laterally out of the cavity.

The second drive is configured to move the second retaining elements relative to each other, between an approaching and a moving away position. In the approaching position, the separation distance between the second retaining elements is reduced by moving at least one of the second retaining elements laterally into the cavity. In the remote position, the separation distance between the second retaining elements is increased by moving at least one of the second retaining elements laterally out of the cavity.

In the forming station, the first retaining elements have first lower ends located, along the vertical direction Z, above second lower ends of the second retaining elements.

The first retaining elements in the approach position, in cooperation with the core, being configured to contact a plurality of boxes from the upper part of the batch being shaped and fit the boxes, mutually inserted one inside the other at least partially, contacting each other. side walls of one box with the side walls of another box.

The second retaining elements in the approach position are configured to contact at least the bottom of the batch being formed to ensure the retention of the boxes of the batch being formed.

Preferably, the second retaining elements in the approach position are configured to also engage the boxes of the batch.

In the forming station, at least two second retaining elements in the position away from each other and two retaining elements in the approaching position to each other are configured to simultaneously evacuate a first shaped batch out of the forming station and to form the least partially a second batch.

That is to say, at least two second retaining elements in the position away from each other and two retaining elements in the position of approaching each other, allow two functions to be produced at the same time, during the same interval of time: the evacuation of the boxes housed in the cavity towards the outside of the forming station and forming at least partially a second batch of interlocking boxes, corresponding to the boxes at the bottom of the batch once the second batch is formed.

The terms "first batch" and "second batch" must be understood in a broad and non-limiting sense, since they refer to any two consecutive batches formed in the forming station, one after the other. Thus, the second batch is the batch formed immediately after the first batch, consecutively.

Advantageously, in this forming station the production speed of batches of nested boxes from flat sheets of semi-rigid sheet material is increased in a simple and efficient manner.

That is, the present forming station solution increases the number of batches of mutually nested boxes produced per unit time, starting from flat sheets of semi-rigid sheet material with simplicity and efficiency.

Advantageously, the independence of the movement of the first retaining elements with respect to the movement of the second retaining elements thanks to the first and second actuation, and the structural arrangement of the first lower ends located above according to the direction of the second lower ends of the second elements retainers, makes it possible to eliminate necessary dead times related to the evacuation trajectory of each batch formed, since the first retainer elements can make up, at least partially, a subsequent batch (second batch) of production of mutually nested boxes, despite the fact that the batch already formed (first batch) has not yet left the cavity of the forming station on its trajectory, that is, although the batch below the second lower ends.

Thus, the increase in the speed of production of batches of nested boxes from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material is achieved thanks to an elimination of unnecessary downtime related to the evacuation trajectory of each shaped batch.

Preferably, the first drive comprises at least a first actuator provided with a first part and a second part with relative movement between them, and the second drive comprises at least a second actuator provided with a first part and a second part with relative movement between them. .

Preferably, each first actuator and each second actuator comprises a respective fluid dynamic cylinder, where the first part corresponds to the cylinder body and the second part corresponds to the cylinder rod linearly movable along the longitudinal gap of the cylinder body.

Optionally, the bodies of the fluid dynamic cylinders are positionally fixed, during operation of the forming station, to horizontally move the first and second retaining elements attached to the rods of the cylinders.

Advantageously, a linear movement of the first and second retaining elements, perpendicular to the vertical direction Z of movement of the tap, offers greater speed to reach the approaching and withdrawing positions, by reducing the positional displacement of the first and second retaining elements to a minimum. , resulting in an increase in production speed.

Alternatively, each first actuator and second actuator comprise a respective rotating electric motor, wherein the first part is fixed and corresponds to the motor stator and the second part corresponds to a motor rotor movable by the stator.

In an alternative, the first and/or second retaining elements can be moved by a tilting/pivoting movement of at least one first retaining element and at least one second retaining element about a respective tilting/pivoting axis.

Preferably, each of the first and second retaining elements comprises a respective front face facing the cavity. These front flat faces are essentially flat and essentially parallel to the vertical direction Z (slight inclinations are permissible) in the approach position. The lower ends of said front flat faces correspond to the first and second lower ends.

Advantageously, the flat faces are parallel to the vertical Z direction of movement of the core, avoiding undesired overturning, turning and/or falling of the batch while it is being formed or once formed, since the boxes of the batch are centered and adjusted to said faces, offering an adequate resistance to the advance by sliding of the boxes embedded inside the cavity, allowing the formation of batches at high production speeds.

Optionally, the front faces of the first elements are of smaller vertical extent along the vertical direction Z than the front faces of the second retaining elements.

Thus, the second retaining elements in the approach position are configured to contact most or all of the boxes of the batch, both from the bottom and the top of the batch being formed, to ensure the retention of the boxes of the batch. being shaped.

Preferably, the front faces of the first elements have a vertical extension along the vertical direction Z that makes it possible to retain, at the same time, at least two or three mutually nested boxes of a batch being formed.

Optionally, the surfaces of the front faces are smooth to facilitate the displacement of the batch being formed inside the cavity.

In one embodiment of the forming station, the batching device comprises two first retaining elements, each first retaining element being movable by at least a respective first actuator; and two second retaining elements, each second retaining element being movable by at least one respective second actuator.

Advantageously, this configuration makes it possible to improve the centering of the shaped batches, all while maintaining an increased production speed of batches.

Optionally, it may make it possible to control the orientation of the lot being evacuated and once the lot is evacuated, for example, it allows to evacuate standing lots, with the bottom of the lower box of the lot parallel to the ground plane, and/or upside down , with the bottom of the lower box of the lot perpendicular to the ground plane.

Optionally, the first two retainer elements face each other and the second two retainers face each other. This has the advantage of allowing an improvement in the centering of the shaped batches, all while maintaining an increased production speed of batches.

Optionally, the first two retaining elements are arranged in correspondence with two mutually opposed side walls of the box, and the two second retaining elements are arranged in correspondence with the other two mutually opposed side walls of the box. This has the advantage of enabling improved centering of the formed batches and enabling the formation of batches with boxes of a greater range of sizes in length and width, all at increased batching speed.

Preferably, the batching device comprises

- two first retaining elements, mutually facing each other, arranged in correspondence with two mutually opposite side walls of the box, each of them movable by a respective first actuator of the first drive; and

- Two pairs of second retaining elements, mutually facing each other, in pairs, arranged in correspondence with the other two mutually opposite side walls of the box.

This preferred option of two first retaining elements and two pairs of second retaining elements has the advantage of allowing improved centering of the batches. shaped and make it possible to form batches with boxes of a greater range of sizes in length and width, all at an increased production speed of batches.

This preferred option of two first retainers and two pairs of second retainers has the optional advantage of reorienting the formed batch.

In an example of this optional advantage, with the second retainers on one side of the pocket in the approach position and with the other two retainers on the opposite side of the pocket in the away position the carton stack can be flipped so that the bottom portion of the lower box of the batch is perpendicular to the ground plane, the column of nested boxes of the batch extending perpendicular to the vertical, once the batch is evacuated from the forming station.

In another example of this optional advantage, with the four second retainer members in the remote position, the stack box column extends parallel to the vertical, with the bottom portion of the lower batch box parallel to the ground plane, once the batch is evacuated from the forming station.

In an option of this preferred option, the second actuator includes four second actuators, each second actuator being linked to a respective retaining element to individually move each second retaining element.

In an optional lead example from the previous paragraph, with two second retainer elements arranged on opposite sides of the pocket and diagonally in the approach position, and with the other two second retainer elements arranged on opposite sides of the pocket and diagonally at In the away position, the stacked box column of the batch can be rotated and/or flipped to a desired orientation, once the batch is evacuated from the forming station.

In another option of this preferred option, the second drive includes two second actuators, each second actuator attached to a pair of retainers to move a respective pair of second retainers relative to the other pair of retainers.

Optionally, each of the second retainer elements is supported on a respective base support, the base supports being directly or indirectly supported on a frame.

Advantageously, this structural arrangement of the second retaining elements mounted on the base supports minimizes stop times to change the position. relative between the retaining elements, for example, due to a change in the width or length of the boxes to be formed in batches, resulting in an improved production speed.

Complementarily, in the forming station, the first and second retaining elements are supported on a pair of mutually parallel elongated bars, and

where the forming station also includes:

- a first eneal positioning device for changing the separation distance perpendicular to the elongated bars, according to a first horizontal direction X, and

- a second linear positioning device to modify the position of some base supports where the second retaining elements are supported along the elongated bars, according to a second horizontal direction Y.

Advantageously, these first and second positioning devices minimize the stop times to change the relative position between the retaining elements, for example, due to a change in the width or length of the boxes to be formed in batches, resulting in an improved production speed. .

In addition, the forming station also includes at least two pairs of retractable nails.

The two pairs of retractable claws face each other in pairs around the cavity, delimiting it.

The two pairs of retractable fingers are located in the vertical direction above the first movable elements and below the tops of the mold-forming elements.

The pairs of retractable claws are movable between a working position, towards the inside of the cavity, to retain the batch being shaped, preventing the batch from being dragged out by the movement of the core out of the cavity, and a retracted position, towards the outside of the cavity, to allow the insertion of the male during its vertical thrust inside the cavity.

Advantageously, the retractable claws define four fixing points that allow some boxes to fit together at high speeds, and without production stops that reduce the high production speed.

In the preferred embodiments, a device for positioning the first lower ends and a device for positioning the second lower ends that allow the position of elements to be varied in the forming station with a minimum time of stoppage of the forming station, all of which results in a high production speed of shaped batches.

In an alternative embodiment of the forming station, the batch forming device comprises two first retaining elements, a first retaining element being attached to a first actuator of the first drive, and the other first retaining element being in a fixed position during operation of the machine. forming station.

Optionally, the batch forming device comprises two second retaining elements, one second retaining element being attached to the second drive, and the other second retaining element being in a fixed position during operation of the forming station.

According to a second aspect, the present invention presents a batch of boxes formed from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material.

The batch comprises a plurality of boxes, wherein each box comprises a bottom portion and at least four side walls surrounding the bottom portion.

In each box of the batch, the at least four side walls face each other in pairs and form converging slopes towards the bottom of the box.

In the batch, the boxes are mutually nested inside each other at least partially, by contacting the inclined side walls of one box with the inclined side walls of another box, forming a column of inserted boxes.

In a way not known in itself in the state of the art, the present invention proposes that the batch is obtained with the forming station of the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made of the object of the invention and to help a better understanding of the characteristics that distinguish it, this specification is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by a set of plans, in which that the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the station for forming batches of boxes mutually nested one inside the other from flat sheets of semi-rigid laminar material of the present invention, according to a first preferred embodiment, and where the sheet being transported to the forming station, and a batch of boxes formed by the forming station and evacuated from the forming station; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan representation of the batching device of the forming station of Fig. 1, positioned in relation to a conveyor that transports plates to the forming station;

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of Fig. 2 at a later time, where the first box of the first batch to be formed is retained in the batch-forming device, and the conveyor transports a next sheet to be formed into a box ;

the Figs. 4A and 4B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch forming device corresponding to Fig. 3, where only one box is retained in the cavity of the forming station;

the Figs. 5A and 5B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch-forming device at a time after that shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, respectively, where a first batch is formed but not yet evacuated from the forming station;

the Figs. 6A and 6B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch-forming device at a time after that shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, respectively, where the first and second retaining members move from the approach position of Figs. 5A and 5B to a remote position;

the Figs. 7A and 7B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch-forming device where the top of the formed batch is vertically below the bottom ends of the first retaining elements;

the Figs. 8A and 8B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch-forming device where the first retaining elements move from the distancing position to the approaching position while the first formed batch is being evacuated;

the Figs. 9A and 9B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch-forming device in which a box to be part of a second batch is retained by the first retaining elements while the box is being evacuated;

the Figs. 10A and 10B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch-forming device where the second batch is being formed by contact with the first retaining elements during evacuation of the first formed batch;

the Figs. 11A and 11B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch forming device where the second batch being formed includes three mutually nested boxes with each other while the first batch has not been evacuated from the forming station;

Fig. 12A is a top perspective view of the mold and the batch forming device of the forming station, according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 12B is a view similar to that of Fig. 12A, but where the elements of the mold and the batch forming device are positioned in different positions from those of Fig. 12A to form batches with boxes of narrower (narrower) than those of Fig. 12A;

Fig. 13 is a top perspective view of part of the mold and part of the batch forming device of the forming station, according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 14 is a top perspective view of the mold and the batch forming device of the forming station, where some elements have been omitted for greater clarity, corresponding to the instant of operation of the forming station schematized in the Figs. 4A and 4B;

Fig. 15 is a top perspective view, corresponding to the instant of operation of the forming station schematized in Figs. 5A and 5B;

Fig. 16 is a top perspective view, corresponding to the instant of operation of the forming station schematized in Figs. 6A and 6B;

Fig. 17 is a top perspective view, corresponding to the instant of operation of the forming station schematized in Figs. 7A and 7B;

Fig. 18 is a top perspective view, corresponding to the instant of operation of the forming station schematized in Figs. 9A and 9B;

Fig. 19 is a top perspective view, corresponding to the instant of operation of the forming station schematized in Figs. 11A and 11B;

the Figs. 20A and 20B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of a batching device according to a variant of the first embodiment;

the Figs. 21A and 21B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch forming device according to a second embodiment which can be installed in the mold of the forming station shown in Fig. 12A; and

the Figs. 22A and 22B are schematic plan and side views, respectively, of the batch forming device according to a second embodiment which can be installed in the mold of the forming station of Fig. 12A.

DETAILED EXPOSURE OF PERFORMANCE MODES / EXAMPLES

According to a first aspect of the present invention, common to all embodiments, the forming station (40) is configured to form batches (L) of nested boxes (B), mutually inserted one inside the other at least partially, from flat sheets (P) of semi-rigid sheet material, for example, die-cut cardboard.

A series of features common to all embodiments of the forming station (40) are described below, although explicit reference may only be made to the figures of the first embodiment.

In all embodiments, the forming station (40) comprises a core (5), a mold (20), a cavity (29), and a batch forming device (30), as can be seen in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, the plate (P) has been represented as being transported by a conveyor (2) of a forming machine where the forming station (40) is installed.

Preferably, the conveyor (2) is equipped with two mutually parallel linear rails (3) and a horizontal pusher (4) that moves the plates (P) one by one according to a linear transport direction (T), until they are located between the male (5) and mold (20) of the forming station (40).

In Fig. 1, the core (5) and the mold (20) face each other, according to a vertical direction (Z), perpendicular to the ground plane where the forming station (40) is located.

Continuing in Fig. 1, the core (5) comprises a plurality of inclined flat faces (7) that converge towards a lower bottom surface (65) of the core (5).

Following in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom surface (65) is configured to push in the vertical direction (Z) a bottom portion (F) of a plate (P) downwards into a cavity (29) of the loading station. shaped (40).

In Figs. 1, 2 and 12, the cavity (29) of the shaping station (40) is delimited at least partially by shaping elements (21, 22, 23) of the mold (20) arranged around the cavity (29).

Thus, the cavity (29) is a hole or a central region, positionally delimited on its periphery by the forming elements (21, 22, 23) of the mold (20).

Said cavity (29) of Fig. 12B has a complementary shape to the lower bottom surface (65) of the core (5) of Fig. 1 to allow the insertion of the core (5) and the plate (P) in the cavity (29) in a tight fit.

The Figs. 1 to 12 show that said cavity (29) has a certain depth that extends in the linear vertical direction (Z) of insertion and extraction of the core (5) in the cavity (29).

The shaping elements (21, 22, 23) of the mold (20) cooperate with the core (5) to shape at least four side walls (PL) of each box (B) surrounding the bottom portion (F), mutually facing each other in pairs and forming convergent slopes towards the bottom (F) of the box (B).

Preferably, said shaping includes folding and joining some parts of the plate (P) with respect to others to shape the at least four side walls (PL) of each box (B) surrounding the bottom portion (F), such as show Figs. 1, 3 and 14.

Optionally, in Figs. 12A and 12B it can be seen that the shaping elements (21, 22, 23) comprise two first shaping elements (21) facing each other on two mutually opposite sides of the cavity (29), two second shaping elements (22) facing each other on two mutually opposite sides mutually opposite of the cavity (29), to form by folding and joining the at least four side walls (PL) of each box (B), mutually facing each other in pairs, surrounding the bottom portion (F).

Optionally, the shaping elements (21, 22, 23) also include four third shaping elements (23) mutually facing each other in pairs around the cavity (29), to bend some end flaps (S) of the side walls (PL) of the plate (S) shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the at least four side walls (PL) are joined together thanks to the union of these four flaps (S) with the side walls (PL), preferably by gluing, on the smaller sides of the box ( B) as shown in the figures or on the larger sides of the box (B) (not shown).

Continuing in reference to all embodiments, Figs. 1-3, 4A, 4B and 12B show that the batch-forming device (30) is located vertically, along the vertical direction (Z), below upper parts of the forming elements (21, 22, 23). Thus, the batch-forming device (30) is configured to form the batches (L) from the boxes (B) formed by the core (5) and mold (20).

At the forming station (40), Figs. 1-3, 4A, 4B and 12B show that the batching device (30) comprises first and second elements. retainers (31, 32) that delimit at least partially the cavity (29) of the shaping station (40), together with the shaping elements (21, 22, 23) of the mold (20).

In all embodiments of the forming station (40), the batching device (30) comprises a first drive and a second drive.

Preferably, as shown in Figs. 4A-B to 12A-B, the first drive comprises at least a first actuator (33) provided with a first part and a second part with relative movement between them, and the second drive (34) comprises at least a second actuator (34 ) provided with a first part and a second part with relative movement between them.

Preferably, as shown in Figs. 4A-B to 12A-B, each first actuator (33) and second actuator (34) comprises a respective fluid dynamic cylinder, where the first part corresponds to the cylinder body and the second part corresponds to the linearly movable cylinder rod. along the longitudinal bore of the cylinder body.

In Figs. 4A-B to 12A-B, the bodies of the fluid dynamic cylinders are positionally fixed, during the operation of the forming station (40), to horizontally move the first and second retaining elements (31, 32) attached to the stems of the cylinders. cylinders.

In Fig. 12A said positional fixing is by screws (8) that fix the first and second retaining elements (31, 32) to some supports (24) or elongated bars (27) whose position is fixed with respect to a frame (1) during the operation of the forming station (40).

The first actuation moves the first retaining elements (31) relative to each other, between an approach position of Figs. 4A-B and 8A-B, and a position away from Figs. 6A-B and 7A-B.

In the approach position of Figs. 4A-B and 8A-B, the separation distance between the first retaining elements (31) is reduced by moving at least one of the first retaining elements laterally into the cavity (29), as can be seen from Figs. 20, 21 and 22 for the rest of the embodiments.

In the away position of Figs. 6A-B and 7A-B, the separation distance between the first retaining elements (31) is increased by moving at least one of the first retaining elements laterally out of the cavity (29), as can be seen from Figs. 20, 21 and 22 for the rest of the embodiments.

The second drive is configured to move the second retaining elements (32) relative to each other, between the approach position shown in Figs. 4A-B, 5A-B and 11A-B, and the away position shown in Figs. 6A-B to 10A-B.

In the approach position of Figs. 4A-B, 5A-B and 11A-B, the separation distance between the second retaining elements (32) is reduced by moving at least one of the second retaining elements laterally into the cavity (29), as follows also from Figs. 20, 21 and 22 for the rest of the embodiments.

In the away position of Figs. 6A-B to 10A-B, the separation distance between the second retaining elements (32) is increased by moving at least one of the second retaining elements laterally towards the outside of the cavity (29), as also deduced from Figs. . 20, 21 and 22 for the rest of the embodiments.

In the first embodiment of the forming station of Figs. 1 to 19, the batching device (30) comprises two first retaining elements (31), each first retaining element (31) being movable by at least one respective first actuator (33). In addition, the batching device (30) comprises two second retaining elements (32), each second retaining element (31) being movable by at least one respective second actuator (34).

In the third embodiment of the forming station of Figs. 22A-22B, the batching device (30) comprises two first retaining elements (31), a first retaining element (31) being attached to a first actuator (33) of the first drive, and the other first retaining element (31) being ) of fixed position during the operation of the forming station (40).

In the third embodiment of the forming station of Figs. 22A-22B, the batching device (30) comprises two second retaining elements (32), one second retaining element (32) being attached to the second drive, and the other second retaining element (32) being fixed position during operation. of the forming station (40).

In all the embodiments of the forming station (40), as shown in Figs. 4B, 11B, 20B, 21B and 22B, the first retaining elements (31) have first lower ends (31a) located, according to the vertical direction (Z), above second lower ends (32a) of the second retaining elements. (32).

Following in Figs. 4B, 10B, 11B, 20B, 21B and 22B, the first retaining elements (31) in the approaching position, in cooperation with the male (5), being configured to contact a plurality of boxes (B) in the upper part of the batch (L) being forming and fitting the boxes (B), mutually inserted into one another at least partially, contacting side walls (PL) of one box (B) with the side walls (PL) of another box (B).

Common to all the embodiments, the second retaining elements (32) in the approach position are configured to contact at least the lower part of the batch (L) being shaped to ensure the retention of the boxes (B) of the batch (L, L2) being shaped, as shown in Figs. 5A-5B and 11A-11B.

Preferably, as shown in Figs. 5A-5B, the second retaining elements (32) in the approach position are configured to also engage the boxes (B) of the batch (L1).

Common to all embodiments, Figs. 10A-10B, 11A-11B show that, in the forming station (40), at least two second retaining elements (32) in the position away from each other and two retaining elements (31) in the position toward each other are configured to simultaneously evacuate out of the shaping station (40) a first shaped batch (L1) and to at least partially shape a second batch (L2).

That is, Figs. 10A-10B, 11A-11B show that at least two second retaining elements (32) in the position away from each other and two retaining elements (31) in the position toward each other allow two functions to occur at the same time. , during the same time interval:

• the evacuation of the boxes (B) housed in the cavity (29) out of the forming station, and

• the conformation of at least partially a second batch (L2) of mutually nested boxes, corresponding to the boxes (B) of the lower part of the batch (L) once the second batch is formed.

The terms "first batch" with reference L1 and "second batch" with reference L2 must be understood in a broad and non-limiting sense, since they refer to any two consecutive batches (L) formed in the forming station (40), one by one. continuation of the other. Thus, the second batch (L2) is the batch formed immediately after the first batch (L1), consecutively.

Preferably, common to all embodiments of the forming station (40), each of the first and second retaining elements (31, 32) comprises a respective front face facing the cavity (29).

These frontal flat faces are essentially flat and essentially parallel to the vertical direction (Z) in the approach position. The lower ends of said front flat faces correspond to the first and second lower ends (31a, 32a).

In the figures, for example, Figs. 4A-4B, 12A-12B, 20B, 21B and 22B, the front faces of the first retaining elements (31) have a smaller vertical extension according to the vertical direction (Z) than the front faces of the second retaining elements (32).

Preferably, in all the embodiments, the front faces of the first elements (31) have a vertical extension according to the vertical direction (Z) that makes it possible to retain, at the same time, at least two or three mutually nested boxes of a batch (L , L1, L2) being shaped, as shown in Figs. 5A-B, 11A-B, 19, 20B, 21B and 22B.

Optionally, said vertical extension according to the vertical direction (Z) of the first retaining elements (31) may be between 30 and 50 mm.

In Figs. 4A-4B, 12A-12B, 20B, 21B and 22B, the front faces of the second retaining elements (32) have a vertical extension corresponding to the height of the batch (L, L1, L2) to be formed.

Optionally, said vertical extension according to the vertical direction (Z) of the second retaining elements (32) may be between 30 and 50 mm.

Thus, the second retaining elements (32) in the approach position are configured to contact the majority and/or all of the boxes of the batch (L), both from the lower part and from the upper part of the batch (L), being shaped, to ensure the retention of the boxes (B) of the batch (L) being shaped.

Optionally, in all the embodiments, the surfaces of the front faces are smooth to facilitate the movement of the batch (L) being formed inside the cavity (29).

Optionally, in all embodiments, the first two retainer elements (31) face each other and the two second retainers (32) face each other.

Optionally, in the first, second and third embodiments of Figs. 1 to 19, 21A and 22A, the first two retaining elements (31) are arranged in correspondence with two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B), and the two second retaining elements (32) are arranged in correspondence with the other two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B).

In the optional embodiment of Fig. 20A, two first retaining elements (31) and four second retaining elements (32) are arranged in correspondence with two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B), leaving an assembly formed by a first retaining element (31) and two second retaining elements (32) in correspondence with each side wall (PL).

Specific features of the first embodiment of the forming station (40) of Figs. 1 to 19 and the second embodiment of Figs. 21A-21B, wherein, preferably, the batching device (30) comprises

- two first retaining elements (31), mutually facing one another, arranged in correspondence with two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B), each of them movable by a respective first actuator (33) of the first drive; and

- Two pairs of second retaining elements (32), mutually facing each other, in pairs, arranged in correspondence with the other two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B).

In the first embodiment of the forming station (40) of Figs. 1 to 19, the second drive includes four second actuators (34), each second actuator being linked to a respective retainer element (32) to individually move each second retainer element (32).

In the second embodiment of the forming station (40) of Figs. 21A-21B, the second drive includes two second actuators (34), each second actuator (34) attached to a pair of retainers (32) to move a respective pair of second retainers (32) relative to the other pair of retainers. retainers (32).

Continuing in the first and second embodiments, optionally, each of the second retaining elements (32) are supported on a respective base support (24), the base supports (24) being directly or indirectly supported on a frame (1), such as show Figs. 12A-12B and 21A-21B.

Continuing on the forming station (40) of the first embodiment of Figs. 1-3 and 12A-12B, the first and second retainer elements (31, 32) are supported on a pair of mutually parallel elongated bars (27).

This forming station (40) of Figs. 1-3 and 12A-12B also includes:

- a first linear positioning device (28) for changing the separation distance perpendicular to the elongated bars (27), according to a first horizontal direction (X), and

- a second linear positioning device (25) to modify the position of some base supports (24) where the second retaining elements (32) are supported along the elongated bars (27), according to a second horizontal direction (Y) .

The first positioning device (28) comprises guide supports (28) for moving the elongated bars (27) toward and away along some rods (not shown) where the guide supports (28) are supported.

The second positioning device (25) includes a slider element (25), for example, a one-piece recess, a clamp, or the like, to slide along the elongate bars (27).

The position of the elements is fixed and released by screws (8).

This forming station (40) of Figs. 1-3 and 12A-12B comprises at least two pairs of retractable fingers (39).

The Figs. 12A-12B show that the two pairs of retractable claws (39) face each other in pairs around the cavity (20), delimiting it.

The Figs. 12A-12B show that the two pairs of retractable claws (39) are located according to the vertical direction (Z) above the first movable elements (31) and below the upper parts of the forming elements (21, 22, 23 ) of the mold (20).

The pairs of retractable claws (39) are movable, for example by a spring that rotates a joint, between the working position of Figs. 15, 16 and 19, towards the interior of the cavity (29), to retain the batch (L) being shaped, avoiding the dragging out of the batch (L) by the movement of the core (5) outside the cavity (29). , and the retracted position (not shown), towards the outside of the cavity (29), to allow the insertion of the male (5) during its vertical thrust inside the cavity (29).

In the forming station (40), optionally, the position according to the vertical direction (Z) of the first lower ends (31a) of the first retaining elements (31) can be modified by a positioning device for the first lower ends (37 ), shown in Figs. 21A-21B, to adapt the shaping station (40) to a variation in the number of boxes (B) of the plurality of boxes (B) of the upper part of the batch (L) being shaped retained by the first retaining elements (31 ).

In Figs. 21A-21B, said device for positioning the first lower ends (37) comprises a vertical linear guide (37), for example, a slot or elongated slot aligned according to the vertical direction (Z), where a portion (31c) of the face front of the first retaining elements (31) is positioned at will along the vertical direction (Z) to modify the position of the first lower end (31a). Once the first lower end (31a) is positioned in the desired position, a fixing and releasing element, for example, a screw (8) shown in Fig. 21B that fixes the position of the portion (31c) of the face front of the first retaining elements (31).

In the forming station (40), optionally, the position according to the vertical direction (Z) of the second lower ends (32a) of the second retaining elements (32) can be modified by a positioning device for the second lower ends (36 ), shown in Figs. 21A-21B, to adapt the forming station (40) to a variation in the number of boxes (B) fitted in each shaped batch (L).

In Figs. 21A-21B said second lower end positioning device (36) comprises a horizontal linear guide (38), for example, a slot or elongated slot perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z), where a portion (32c) of the face front of the second retaining elements (32) is positioned at will along the horizontal to modify the position of the second lower end (32a). Once the second lower end (32a) is positioned in the desired position, a fixing and releasing element, for example, the screw (8) shown in Fig. 21B that fixes the position of the portion (32c) of the face front of the second retaining elements (32).

According to a second aspect, the present invention presents a batch (L, L1, L2) of boxes (B) formed from flat sheets (P) of semi-rigid sheet material, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 11 and 19.

In Figs. 1, 3, 11 and 19, the batch (L) comprises a plurality of boxes (B), where each box (B) comprises a bottom portion (F) and at least four side walls (PL) surrounding the bottom portion. bottom (F).

Optionally, the boxes (B) may be glued together arranged on two mutually opposite side walls of the box (B).

Optionally, said gluing may be of the "hot-melt" type or thermo-melt glue.

In each box (B) of the lot (L), the at least four side walls (PL) face each other in pairs and form converging slopes towards the bottom (F) of the box (B), as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 11 and 19.

Optionally, Figs. 1, 3, 11 and 19 show that the boxes (B) of the batch (L, L1, L2) comprise chamfered side walls also with a converging inclination towards the bottom portion (F) in the corner areas of the box (B ), sandwiched between two side walls (PL), adjacent to said chamfered side wall.

Thus, each box (B) may comprise eight side walls (PL) or more surrounding the bottom portion (F).

In Figs. 1, 11 and 19, in lot (L), the boxes (B) are mutually embedded one inside the other at least partially, by contacting the inclined side walls (PL) of a box (B) with the side walls (PL ) inclined from another box (B), forming a column of boxes (B) inserted.

Said batch (L) of Figs. 1, 11 and 19, is obtained with the forming station (40) of the first aspect of the invention.

The scope of the present invention is given by the following claims.

Claims (20)

1.- Forming station (40) configured to form batches (L) of nested boxes (B), mutually inserted one inside the other at least partially, from flat sheets (P) of semi-rigid sheet material, comprising: a core (5) and a mold (20) mutually facing each other, wherein the core (5) comprises a plurality of inclined flat faces (7) that converge towards a lower bottom surface (65) of the core (5), surface of bottom (65) configured to push in the vertical direction (Z) a bottom portion (F) of a plate (P) into a cavity (29) of the forming station (40) delimited at least partially by some shaping elements (21, 22, 23) of the mold (20) arranged around the cavity (29), which cooperate with the core (5), for the formation of at least four side walls (PL) of each box (B) surrounding the bottom portion (F), mutually facing each other in pairs and forming converging slopes towards the bottom (F) of the box (B); and a batch forming device (30), located vertically below some upper parts of the shaping elements (21, 22, 23), configured to shape the batches (L) from the boxes (B) formed by the core ( 5) and mold (20); characterized in that the batch-forming device (30) comprises: first and second retaining elements (31, 32) that at least partially delimit the cavity (29), a first drive configured to move the first retaining elements (31) between yes between an approaching position and a distancing position, and a second drive configured to move the second retaining elements (32) relative to each other between an approaching position and a distancing position; the first retaining elements (31) have first lower ends (31a) located above second lower ends (32a) of the second retaining elements (32), the first retaining elements (31) in the approach position allow contact with a plurality of boxes (B) from the upper part of the batch (L) being shaped and fit the boxes (B), in cooperation with the core (5), and the second retaining elements (32) in the approach position allow contact at least with the lower part of the batch (L) being shaped to ensure the retention of the boxes (B) of the batch (L) being shaped; and wherein at least two second retaining elements (32) in the position away from each other and two retaining elements (31) in the position toward each other are configured to simultaneously evacuate out of the forming station (40) a first batch (L1) conformed and conform at least partially a second batch (L2). 2. - Forming station (40) according to claim 1, wherein the first drive comprises at least a first actuator (33) provided with a first part and a second part with relative movement between them, and where the second drive ( 34) comprises at least a second actuator (34) provided with a first part and a second part with relative movement between them. 3. - Forming station (40) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each first actuator (33) and second actuator (34) comprises a respective fluid dynamic cylinder, wherein the first part corresponds to the body of the cylinder and the second part corresponds to the rod of the cylinder linearly movable along the longitudinal gap of the cylinder body. 4. - Forming station (40) according to claim 3, wherein the bodies of the fluid dynamic cylinders are positionally fixed, during the operation of the forming station (40), to horizontally move the first and second retaining elements (31, 32) attached to the cylinder rods. 5. - Forming station (40) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second retaining elements (31, 32) comprises a respective front face, facing the cavity (29), essentially flat and parallel to the vertical direction (Z) in the approach position, and the lower ends of said front faces correspond to the first and second lower ends (31a, 32a). 6. - Forming station (40) according to claim 5, wherein the front faces of the first retaining elements (31) are of less vertical extension according to the vertical direction (Z) than the front faces of the second retaining elements (32 ). 7. - Forming station (40) according to claim 6, wherein the front faces of the first elements (31) are of a vertical extension according to the vertical direction (Z) that allows to retain, at the same time, at least two or three mutually nested boxes of a batch (L) being formed. 8. - Forming station (40) according to any of claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein the surfaces of the front faces are smooth to facilitate the movement of the batch (L) being formed inside the cavity (29) . 9. - Forming station (40) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the batch forming device (30) comprises: - two first retaining elements (31), each first retaining element (31) being movable by at least one respective first actuator (33); and - two second retaining elements (32), each second retaining element (31) being movable by at least one respective second actuator (34). 10. - Forming station (40) according to claim 9, wherein the two first retaining elements (31) are mutually facing each other and the two second retainers (32) are mutually facing each other. 11. - Forming station (40) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the first two retaining elements (31) are arranged in correspondence with two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B), and where the two second retaining elements (32) are arranged in correspondence with the other two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B). 12. - Forming station (40) according to claim 11, wherein the batch forming device (30) comprises - two first retaining elements (31), mutually facing one another, arranged in correspondence with two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B), each of them movable by a respective first actuator (33) of the first drive; and - Two pairs of second retaining elements (32), mutually facing each other, in pairs, arranged in correspondence with the other two mutually opposite side walls (PL) of the box (B). 13. - Forming station (40) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the second retaining elements (32) are supported on a respective base support (24), the base supports (24) being supported directly or indirectly in a frame (1). 14. - Forming station (40) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second retaining elements (31, 32) are supported on a pair of mutually parallel elongated bars (27), and wherein the forming station (40) also comprises: - a first linear positioning device (28) for changing the separation distance perpendicular to the elongated bars (27), according to a first horizontal direction (X), and - a second linear positioning device (25) to modify the position of some base supports (24) where the second retaining elements (32) are supported along the elongated bars (27), according to a second horizontal direction (Y) . 15. - Forming station (40) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least two pairs of retractable nails (39), mutually facing each other in pairs around the cavity (20), located according to the vertical direction (Z ) above the first movable elements (31) and below the upper parts of the shaping elements (21, 22, 23) of the mold (20), the pairs of retractable nails (39) being movable between a working position , towards the interior of the cavity (29), to retain the batch (L) being shaped, avoiding the dragging out of the batch (L) by the movement of the core (5) outside the cavity (29), and a retracted position , towards the outside of the cavity (29), to allow the insertion of the male (5) during its vertical thrust inside the cavity (29). 16. - Forming station (40) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the position according to the vertical direction (Z) of the first lower ends (31a) of the first retaining elements (31) can be modified by a device for positioning of first lower ends (37), to adapt the forming station (40) to a variation in the number of boxes (B) of the plurality of boxes (B) of the upper part of the batch (L) being shaped retained by the first retaining elements (31). 17. - Forming station (40) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the position according to the vertical direction (Z) of the second lower ends (32a) of the second retaining elements (32) can be modified by a device for positioning of second lower ends (36), to adapt the forming station (40) to a variation in the number of boxes (B) fitted in each shaped batch (L). 18. - Forming station (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the batch forming device (30) comprises two first retaining elements (31), a first retaining element (31) being attached to a first actuator (33) of the first drive, and the other first retaining element (31) being in a fixed position during the operation of the forming station (40). 19. - Forming station (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or 18, wherein the batch forming device (30) comprises two second retaining elements (32), a second retaining element (32) being attached to the second drive, and the other second retaining element (32) being in a fixed position during the operation of the forming station (40). 20.- Lot (L) of boxes (B) formed from flat sheets (P) of semi-rigid sheet material, comprising a plurality of boxes (B), wherein each box (B) comprises a bottom portion (F) and at least four side walls (PL) surrounding the bottom portion (F), and where in each box (B ) the at least four side walls (PL) face each other in pairs and form converging slopes towards the bottom (F) of the box (B); and wherein the boxes (B) are mutually embedded one inside the other at least partially, by contacting the inclined side walls (PL) of one box (BH) with the inclined side walls (PL) of another box (B), forming a column of boxes (B) inserted; characterized in that the batch (L) is obtained with the forming station (40) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 19.