ES2204602T3 - PACKING MACHINE AND CONTROLLER. - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for regulating the flow of articles from an infeed stream at an infeed end of a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a plurality of article feed lanes for supplying a row of articles converging at a predetermined position, each feed lane having a regulator to control article flow, one of said regulators providing a reference position by which the relative positions of the articles may be controlled such that as the lanes converge one row of articles. The articles are subsequently arranged in groups wich are package in a carton formed by setting up a collapsed blank.

Description

Packaging machine and controller.

The present invention relates to the packaging of primary items such as cans or bottles in cardboard boxes of multiple packaging and refers, more particularly, to the feeding said cardboard boxes in a folded position from a hopper, to start and then complete a set of manipulations of cardboard boxes in succession.

A common procedure used by known packaging machines characteristically comprises move a folded cardboard box from the feeders of said cardboard boxes or prepared sheets. Then get up the folded cardboard box and cans, bottles or others are arranged items to be packed in said raised cardboard box. Alternatively, a box feeder can be provided. cardboard in the form of flat prepared sheets. Once he has retired the cardboard box of the supply point, this can be formed in first partially and then be arranged on the articles. Subsequently, said cardboard box is formed in the full packing

Most packaging machines are specialized machines that build only one box size of cardboard. Therefore, in the modern facilities of bottling is required to use a plurality of machines packed to pack different types of cardboard boxes, occupying each machine a considerable floor space and resulting faces in its acquisition and operation.

However, a limited number of machines packed can pack different types of cartons, by example six, eight or twelve packagings from a cardboard box envelope All machines of this type require adjustment when changing from one size or type of cardboard box to another. East adjustment includes manual removal of all cardboard boxes from the packaging machine and possibly mechanical adjustment of components of the machine During this period of change, which may be thirty minutes or more, the machine (which is known as "downtime"), which is an expensive delay in a bottling facility. Such a delay may even produce a downtime on the entire line of bottled, not only in the packaging machine, if they arise problems during the change procedure.

WO 98/52826 illustrates a machine for the preparation of cardboard boxes presenting a device aspiration to remove folded basket type cardboard boxes a hopper or tank parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, but off center with respect to it. The prepared leaves are stored with its lower lower panel and spun around a substantially vertical axis for transfer from the tank to the machine feed. To cardboard boxes the handle panel is then coupled to continue with the first stage of the lifting process.

The off-center nature of hopper media it implies that the machine requires more floor space, and the fact that the prepared leaves should be stacked on their lower fins weakens the battery, and can lead to supply problems and subsequent construction

PCT applications pending PCT / US98 / 19523, PCT / US98 / 19646, PCT / US98 / 196512 and PCT / US98 / 19619 disclose a machine that can be varied "quickly" between types of carton basket, fully enclosed and enveloping. Without However, the supply hoppers feed at right angles to regarding the direction of the process of lifting the boxes of paperboard.

The present invention seeks to overcome or so less mitigate the problems of the prior art.

One aspect of the present invention provides a apparatus for sequentially manipulating a hopper and starting the Preparation of folded cardboard boxes presenting the panels side and end arranged in opposition and a pair of panels to form a base, said apparatus comprising a device cardboard box collector for coupling form sequential to one of said opposite panels and to remove from the hopper a folded cardboard box, a feeder to move said cardboard box from said hopper to an end of feeding of a packing machine, a separator to separate the base panels in order to make one of said panels of base is attached to a conveyor, a guide to manipulate or guide the side and end panels towards a substantially flat vertical, and a lifting device to separate the panels opposite sides and ends to lift the cardboard box.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the feeder can be a rotary feeder Present the pickup device mounted on it.

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the separator may comprise a fixed guide which is coupled to one of said base panels and folds it out of the plane of the cardboard box.

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the guide can be a second guide fixed.

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According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the lifting device of the box cardboard can comprise a suction cup with partial vacuum, mounted on rotating shape in a drive shaft so that said suction cup can move according to a guided linear displacement, approaching and separating from the cardboard box during a turn Transmission shaft complete.

A second aspect of the invention provides a packaging machine comprising a sequential manipulator and / or a regulatory apparatus.

Preferably, the cardboard boxes may be contained in a hopper, with a side edge thereof facing down, in which the cardboard box pick-up device for moving said boxes cardboard from a substantially vertical position in the hopper at a substantially horizontal position in the feed chain of paper.

According to another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, said box collecting device cardboard is swivel around a fixed axis in a path orbital.

According to another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the packaging machine may comprise also an article loading mechanism and a closing mechanism of base panels.

A third aspect of the invention provides a controller for a packaging machine, said said controller a central processor, a manual input means, and separation means controlled by the central processor to synchronize the loading of a group of items in a box of paperboard.

According to an optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the controller can arrange the relative positions of three rows of articles at the end packing machine feeder.

According to another optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the controller can regulate a motor that actuates the lifting device of the cardboard box.

According to an optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the controller can regulate the motors that activate the feeding of cardboard boxes, synchronizing of this way the speed of circulation of the boxes that are not raised with the speed of circulation of the boxes raised.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a procedure for continuous feeding and preparation of a cardboard box, which has panels arranged in opposition side and end and a pair of base panels, from a flat folded position to an operating position, said procedure comprising the following steps: remove from sequentially a cardboard box stored in a hopper; transfer the cardboard box to a horizontal plane; separate the base panels to make one of the base panels fit to a conveyor; manipulate the side and end panels towards a substantially vertical plane; and separate the panels opposite sides and ends to lift the cardboard box.

According to an optional room feature aspect of the invention, the process may comprise additionally the stages of lowering the cardboard boxes on a grouping items and closing the base panels of the box cardboard each other.

Advantageously, as the present invention provides an online machine, the machine can work with a production high since no change of address is required from Circulation of cardboard boxes. In addition, the change of cardboard box it can be done with a short stop time, since the step of the machine does not require manual adjustment, and this time is reduced Stop

Below are some ways to embodiment, by way of example only, referring to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1a is a side view of an example. of a basket type cardboard box supplied in one position flat folding suitable for use with a machine according to the invention;

Figure 1b is a perspective view of the basket type box of figure 1, when fully raised

Figure 2 is a side view of an example of a fully enclosed cardboard box supplied in a flat folded position, suitable for use with the machine according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from down and to one side of the feed of a packaging machine, illustrating the feeding mechanism of an embodiment preferred of the invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view from down and to the other side of the box preparation station cardboard according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

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Figure 5 is a perspective view from above the cardboard box preparation station represented in figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view that illustrates the mechanism of grouping items according to a form of preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the mechanism of grouping of articles represented in figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view that illustrates the loading station of cardboard boxes according to the form of preferred embodiment of the present invention; Y

Figure 9 is a block diagram of a controller example.

The machine according to the embodiment preferred of the present invention can store, lift and load a variety of types of cardboard boxes, for example boxes of cardboard envelopes, completely closed and of basket type with one or more items, for example bottles or cans. Any Reference in this exposure to the type of cardboard box includes the different sizes or configurations of any type of box particular cardboard, for example completely cardboard boxes closed for 8 or 12 items in 4 x 2 and 4 x 3 configurations, respectively. In fact, it is planned that others can be packed sizes and configurations of cardboard boxes, by adjusting suitable on the machine, described below.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to figures 1a and 1b thereof, a example of the cardboard boxes treated by the machine of the present invention The cardboard box 10 is a basket type support represented in figure 1b in a ready position, ready for Your cargo on the items. The cardboard box is made to from cardboard or other suitable folding sheet material. Box cardboard 10 includes opposite side wall panels 12, 14 and opposite end wall panels 16, 18, each of they jointly linked to the following. This cardboard box it can also include a handle structure 20 that mutually joins the end wall walls 16, 18 and comprises partition panels cross-sections 22 that mutually join each side wall 12, 14. Preferably, the base panels 24, 26 are joined together articulated to each side panel 12, 14 respectively.

Referring below to figure 2 of the drawings, a second example of a different cardboard box treated by the machine of the present invention. The cardboard box 30 is a completely cardboard box closed, represented in its flat folded form. The prepared sheet cardboard includes opposite side wall panels 32, 34 and the opposite end wall panels 36, 38, each of them jointly linked to the following. The cardboard box can also comprise upper panels 40, 42 and panels of base 44, 46 joined together to the respective walls sides 32, 34. The cardboard box can be supplied optionally with an interior vertical partition panel.

Cardboard boxes are expected to vary according to the shape of the items or the quantity of the same that must be packed and, therefore, the machine of the present invention It is adjustable in many ways so that you can treat a wide variety of such cardboard boxes.

The main provisions that probably should be varied are represented in figures 1 and 2, in which "H" is the total height of the prepared cardboard box equivalent to the distance between the upper edge of the panel side and base wall, "L" is the total length of the box cardboard when the base panels have been closed. In this form of realization, the machine is set to pack in boxes of cardboard, two rows of items in the case of basket stands, or two, three or more rows in the case of cardboard boxes completely closed.

Returning to the construction of the machine, the upstream end depicted in figures 3 and 4 includes a tank or hopper in which a multiplicity of carton-type cartons or completely closed 10, 30 in one folded position for treatment. The hopper can be of the type of gravity feeding, or alternative means may be used known in the art to provide a positive supply. In prior art machines, cardboard boxes are stacked over its base wall panel edges. Like the lines of fold between the edges of the base wall panel and the panels sides are in the same position for both panels lower as the sides, the pile of cardboard boxes are weakens when in this orientation and more susceptible to twist, causing feeding problems. Advantageously, The present invention allows cardboard boxes to be stacked in the tank with its side edge 11, 31 in a lower position than Reduces the wear of cardboard boxes.

Adjacent to the hopper is arranged a rotary feeder, illustrated in figures 3 and 4, for transfer cardboard boxes from the hopper to the end of machine feed. The feeder mechanism includes a main shaft 70 rotating on a fixed shaft substantially horizontal. Tree 70 is generally supported at its end by a suitable bearing structure 71. To rotate the tree 70 is provided a suitable drive mechanism, such as a servomotor 74, which is regulated by the controller that described below.

In order to remove the box end of folded carton of the hopper unit, a device is provided pickup 68 that includes a box coupling means cardboard, for example suction cups 80, and a frame 82 driven using the tree around a predetermined path. In a preferred embodiment, four devices are arranged pickups 68 in respective racks and crossbars 84; however, for the sake of clarity only represented one in figures 3, 4 and 5.

In use, the feeder mechanism 55 supplies cardboard boxes continuously and sequentially from the hopper to the feeder end of the machine, rotating the pickup device 68 in the direction indicated by arrow A, depicted in figure 3. As the pickup device 68 rotates, the suction cups 80 move in contact with the wall of the cardboard box to be lifted. Then empty is applied to the suction cup assembly by means of a vacuum supply, as is well known, and the cardboard box is removed and transferred then on an endless conveyor, generally indicated by reference number 86 to move the cardboard box downstream in a forward direction continuous towards the preparation station and then on the station load.

Rotating feeder 55 around a substantially horizontal axis makes the box folded cardboard is moved from a substantially flat vertical in the tank (not shown) to a substantially flat horizontal as it is inserted into the tape set Power 86 as shown in Figure 3.

In this embodiment, the conveyor comprises a set of feed belts 86 provided by one or more pairs of separate upper and lower receiving tapes 88, 90 placed in relation to the hopper, to receive the walls Side and end of the flat folded cardboard box delivered by rotating feeder 55. Tape assemblies 88, 90 they maintain the transverse position of the cardboard box and the they move downstream towards a folding device. Preferably, the tape sets are controlled by the controller, described below, so that the timing of the sheets prepared in the feed can be synchronized with Other parts of the machine.

The folding device 92 is suitable for folding one of the base panels out of alignment with the cardboard box flat. However, in this embodiment the fins lower 24, 26; 44, 46 of the cardboard box, protrude from the edge of the upper and lower receiving tapes and, preferably, the lower fin is longer than the upper fin. In this way, in one embodiment, the folding device comprises a fixed guide that attaches to the lower flap 26; 44 to fold it in a substantially perpendicular relationship with the cardboard box, without folding the upper flap above 24, 46. Alternatively, a suitable form of impeller can be used mechanical or similar to push or guide the fin into position desired.

As the cardboard box advances current below, the lower upper flap 24, 46 engages in a second conveyor 94, 96. The bottom fin 26; 44 does not fit due to which is no longer aligned, as shown in figure 4.

Next, suitable guide means 93, for example a fixed guide 98, are coupled to the underside of the cardboard box arranged still horizontal and guide the panels side and end up out of the panel plane lower from top 24; 46 held by the second conveyor 94, 96. The side and handle panels of the cardboard box 32, 34, 40 are disposed at that time in a substantially vertical plane ready for transfer downstream to the next stage of Lifting process, the separation process of panels. Preferably, the opposite base flap is folded by means of suitable guiding means out of alignment with the following panel adjacent side.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the device of panel separation 100 that causes the panels to separate side and end of the cardboard box. This is achieved retaining one of the lower fins 24; 26 on the conveyor 94, 96 and optionally one side of the cardboard box and pulling the side and end panels out during travel forward by a suitable separation device, by example some lugs. In this embodiment, the device of separation 100 is similar to the mechanism disclosed in the International patent application pending WO98 / 52826, but uses a single separation device while one side of the cardboard box advances at a substantially uniform speed towards down to the second pair of feed belts 94, 96 at time the lower fin 24 is retained; 26. The device of panel separation 100 comprises one or more vacuum cups partial 102, 104 coupled by means of a control rod 106, 108 to a drive shaft 110. The drive shaft is operated preferably by means of a servo motor 112. The means of drive are regulated by a controller that can do vary the rotational speed of the panel separation means 100, and therefore vary the speed of the suction cup 102, 104.

The control rod 106, 108 is coupled preferably to a cam profile by means of a cam follower (no represented) contained in a box 114 or other suitable means to provide a uniform path for suction cups when rotates the drive shaft 110. In this way, the suction cups and the control rod moves under a guided linear movement "M" approaching the cardboard box and separating from it during a complete rotation "R" of the drive shaft.

In the present embodiment it is provided that a vacuum break is provided in the box 114 that is used together with the vacuum supply to fix the points of vacuum coupling and cutting, thereby determining when retains the cardboard box by means of the separation device 100 panels.

In this way, when the cardboard box 10, 30 move down towards the second conveyor 95, it is rotated to the suction cup 102, 104 of the panel separation device 100 to fit the side panel 14, 34 of the cardboard box and Apply the suction cup. During this process it may be necessary to increase the rotating speed of the suction cup for speed adaptation from the cardboard box forward, so that it can fit the cardboard box properly.

Then, by means of the controller it is done that decreases the rotational speed of the separation means of panels 100 so that the suction cup travel forward 102, 104 slow down in relation to the prepared cardboard sheet moving to start the panel separation process. By therefore, the suction cup 102, 104 is also caused to separate from the cardboard box by means of the cam effect of the device that said panel 14, 34 and the front end panel 18, 38 are separate and separate from the other side panel.

The preferred point of contact between the media of separation of panels 100 and the respective panels 12, 32 are found in a central part of the wall that is separating, however, the position will vary according to the type of cardboard box and, in particular, the dimensional variations of the walls side and end for each type of cardboard box and four different cardboard box sizes. It is planned that I can change the acceleration and / or deceleration according to the type of box cardboard that is being treated by machine, and machines that are required for the production volume are planned including Manual input capability in the controller. Of course the controller can be a specialized processor or it can be a controller for a packaging machine with which the apparatus of the invention. Alternatively, the control means it may preferably be a servo control system programmable.

Going back in particular at Figures 5 and 6, the end panels 16, 18, 36, 38 are kept in a perpendicular relationship with the side panels 12, 14, 32, 34 by lugs 116 mounted on an intermediate conveyor 118. Preferably, the lugs 116 are coupled to the leading edge of the cardboard box to keep it in its state particularly gotten up. The intermediate conveyor 118 moves thereto speed than the cardboard boxes on the second tape of feed 95. The cardboard box moves downstream until attaches to a locking lug 122 on the main conveyor 120.

Due to the panel separation process, the total length of the cardboard box "L" is reduced to the dimension L1 represented in figure 4. Therefore, in order to maintain the same feeding speed of cardboard boxes, and the same distance between them, the main conveyor 120 is shifts at a lower speed than the second tapes of feed 93 and intermediate conveyor 118. To ensure that the perpendicular relationship between the end panels and lateral, the main conveyor 120 preferably comprises adjustable means (not shown) to retain the two end panels of the cardboard box. This may be a additional conveyor mounted adjacent to the main conveyor 120, in which the lugs 122 have the same distance between they.

The drive means, for example, a servomotor can be regulated independently of the conveyor main through a controller, so that the distance between lugs 122 on the main and additional conveyor can fit for different sizes of cardboard box, reducing the effective separation between the lugs on the conveyors Main and additional. The operation of the controller is treated in more detail below.

Once the cardboard boxes have been prepared these are transferred to the charging station 130 represented in the Figure 8. In this way the cardboard boxes leave the coupling with the main conveyor 120 and said coupling is transferred gradually as the cardboard boxes move current down to a descent device 132, shown in Figure 8. The main conveyor travels at the same speed towards ahead of the descent device 132 so that it can Get the transfer. For the sake of clarity, only one of the descent devices 132 is shown. The Loading mechanism is described in more detail below.

Then we return to the mechanism of feeding and grouping illustrated in figures 6 and 7. It feed items such as bottles B or cans to the machine by means of a conveyor, for example, an endless belt in address D. In this embodiment, three are provided conveyors, moving each of them a continuous row of articles 142, 144, 146. The separate rows converge into a point and move towards the item grouping station 152.

Each row of items can be controlled independently by suitable feeding devices. In this embodiment, each device comprises wheels feeding star 140, 141, 143: each of them controls the pressure of the feed line, as well as the relative position of the items in the three rows 142, 144, 146 as they converge. Under normal circumstances, the row article center will converge with a half article diameter off-center with respect to the outer rows, forming a "arrowhead" setting, so that the two outer bottles push the central bottle forward, thus providing a positive diet for all articles, which improves the control of said articles. Bliss configuration is clearly illustrated in figure 7. For this be achieved, the star wheel of the central row 143 preferably provides the reference by which the relative rotation of outer star wheels 140, 141, using the controller Another advantage of this configuration is that the central star wheel 143 provides power positive to the central row of articles, which does not happen with the Feeding arrangements of the prior art.

Once the three currents have been gathered, they two other star wheels 148, 150 are attached to the articles exteriors that control the movement of items towards the grouping station 152, thus ensuring that the correct number of items in the grouping station. The grouping station 152 groups the correct number of items per carton using a series of grouping sets of articles 154, 156. These sets 154, 156 also control the circulation of the articles that in turn are controlled by the controller so that they can be inserted into the cardboard box in the charging station at the same speed as the circulation of said cardboard boxes. Grouped items move to the charging station 130 by means of an article conveyor 160 represented in figure 7. The power devices are actuated by means of drive, for example servomotors, regulated by a suitable controller so that the supply feed rate of articles of each row varying the rotating speed of the star wheels 140, 141, 143. Also, the speed of feeding a group of items to the device grouping can be adjusted by varying the wheel speed of star 148, 150 controlled by the control means.

The construction of the grouping station outlined above, substantially similar to the station of grouping disclosed in the PCT application pending PCT / US98 / 19651, described below with reference to the Figures 6 and 7 in particular. In this embodiment, on each side of the conveyor 160 a grouping assembly 154, 156. The two grouping sets 154, 156 are identical in construction and, therefore, only the set of the nearest side 156. Said set 156 includes two spacer elements 157 with one or more recesses for article 158, mounted on a slide guide (not shown) for its reciprocal displacement parallel to the direction of movement of the bottles

The set is operated by means of drive, for example, a servomotor to drive the element spacer 157 along a path in a plane parallel to the article conveyor 160. This provision allows the spacer element 157 move laterally to assist in smooth coupling and decoupling of items B in the rebates 158.

The grouping mechanism can treat boxes of cardboard comprising numerous configurations of groups of items covering a range of cardboard box sizes and shapes without undue time being used in the adjustment of the mechanism. The grouping station 152 and the star wheels may be mounted on platforms that are movable in one direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the articles, of so that the set can be adjusted to feed the clusters with two or three rows of bottles. If the station grouping moves down towards a two manipulation rows, one of the outer star wheels, preferably the star wheel 140 stops working, and the relative positions of the items fed by means of the two remaining rows so that the bottles are no longer off center

The present invention also provides the adjustment of the number of items per row, controlling the number of articles to grouping station 152 by the controller. It is planned that one or more can be selected rows of one two or three items using a corresponding number of rebates 158. If you wish to increase the number of items to five or more per row, then the device can be exchanged Endless chain of this embodiment with another device chain comprising spacer elements with more recesses.

Articles gradually leave their position of contact with grouping station 152 and are transported to the charging station 130 by the article conveyor 160. In charging station 130, which is substantially similar to that given to know in document PCT / US98 / 19619 as illustrated in the figure 8, the cardboard boxes are introduced into a group of items from above, such as cardboard box 10, 30, and item group G are moves forward continuously in unison. The box of cardboard is lowered over group G by tilting down of endless chain devices 132. If the clusters They comprise three rows of items to be loaded in the box cardboard, you get a variation of the configuration of "tip arrow "when the end panels of the descending box contact the front and back items of so that the panels guide the bottles towards their lateral alignment and longitudinal as they are loaded in the cardboard box. Since then, it is planned that the configuration adopted depends on the type of cardboard box that is loaded.

Once the cardboard boxes have been loaded with items, these are transported through the conveyor of articles and / or pressure tape to other chain devices without end with side lugs that are used to move the box cardboard at the end of the exit side of the machine. During this stage, the lower fins fold around the face bottom of the cardboard box, and they are joined together by a suitable closing mechanism known in the art.

Adequate means are provided to control the function of the modular elements and the total operation of the machine, thus ensuring that the number is supplied correct items to the charging station and that the correct number of cardboard boxes to the charging station so synchronized with the supply of items.

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In response to a user entry or to a Signal of an upstream machine in the packing facility of the production of cardboard boxes desired from the machine, the controller will set the rotational speed of the second wheels of star 148, 150. In order to ensure that they are supplied enough items to the second star wheels and that the relative positions of the bottles in the rows are correct, the three star wheels are individually controlled feeding 140, 141, 143, controlling the feeding of the two outer star wheels 140, 141 in relation to the center wheel 143.

The elements are also individually controlled spacers 157, the coupling frequency being determined with a grouping of articles by the feed rate of articles in order to form groups of articles that contain the correct number of items.

The required cardboard box feed is determines as a function of the feed rate of items, and the number of items per carton. The angular speed of the rotary feeder is determined in response to said number of articles. As the boxes of cardboard move towards the panel separation device 100, it Determine the position of each cardboard box. In a class of ways of realization, a detector sensor is provided to detect the cardboard box position. This information is provided to controller associated with the panel separation device, and activates the operation of the suction cups. Also provided information to the controller about the speed of the second conveyor 95, thereby allowing the angular velocity of the separation means to separate the panels correctly, as described above.

The partially raised cardboard box is then moved by intermediate conveyors and main 118, 120 towards inclined chain devices down 132. The distance between the cardboard boxes in these Chain devices are fixed for a cardboard box size particular, and can be adjusted for different sizes of boxes paperboard. Therefore, in order to synchronize the boxes of cardboard with the clusters, the speed of transmission of articles by increasing or decreasing it by consequence. Detecting means that detect the position of the item grouping and conveyor speed of articles provide the necessary data to determine if it is it is necessary to adjust the speed of the drive means (by example a servo motor) for the inclined conveyor 132 so Charge sync Due to the shorter length of the Cardboard boxes with separate panels, the conveyor intermediate 118 travels faster than the main conveyor in order to maintain the continuity of the circulation speed between the intermediate conveyor and the main conveyor 120. This speed difference is determined by the controller.

Depending on the type of cardboard box, they can Other mechanisms are used to complete the preparation process. Generally, basket-type brackets require a wheel with protruding lugs (not shown), to apply pressure to the handle panel before folding below the lower fins. The controller moves the pressure wheel to an operating position only for basket stands and also ensures that lugs are attached to the correct part of the handle panel.

Also, a tape is usually applied (not represented) to the top of the cardboard boxes fully closed in order to apply downward pressure. The controller ensures that it is used only for the types of boxes of correct cardboard, and that the tape is moving to it speed than the lower belt 160.

The controller additionally regulates preferred the closing mechanism (not shown), ensuring that the mobile arms that push through the lugs are synchronized with the circulation of cardboard boxes. When the box cardboard has lower fins of different sizes, and therefore both the locking lugs are off center, the means of control can move the locking mechanism to align with the closures in the cardboard box.

The controller can also include a mechanism reaction so that if there is a breakdown in the process of packed, the machine stops automatically. In addition, if it is reached the maximum travel speed of a module, it prevents the rest of the machine supercharge said module.

During the start-up procedure initial, the actuator mechanisms (for example wheels of star, conveyors) will gradually increase their speed until the desired travel speed is reached. Everybody these devices will be controlled so that this process is gradual and there is no deterioration in the articles or boxes of paperboard.

The controller is preferably a microprocessor, which can, through a suitable interface control each servomotor that drives the various mechanisms.

Figure 9 is a circuit block diagram illustrating an example of the electrical and electronic control of the packing machine

Figure 9 illustrates a controller 230 that It has a central processor 232, manual input means 234 through which instructions can be programmed specifics, and a 236 display indicating the useful information to the machine operator The central processor 232 and the display 236 can display operational information, such as the speed of operation of the machine and its compliance with the requirements of particular security, in the normal way. In addition, the processor central 232 and display 236 may also indicate a particular information to the machine present, such as the position of guide lugs 122 and 116 and position of feeder 55 and of the panel separation device 100. All this information it is provided by sensors indicated generally by the reference 238.

As stated above, the controller 230 also regulates component positions mobile as well as the speed of movement of the components Variable speed For example, central processor 232 regulates the 240 engines that drive the feeding means (transmission conveyor, star wheel and mechanism grouping) that move the items to be packed towards (the power end of) the machine.

The processor 232 also controls the position of the panel separation device 100 by control programmed and precise of the 244 X and Y servomotors. In addition, the central processor 232 also controls the power supply chain of paper 200 by controlling the two servomotors 146 that control the endless conveyors of which hang the guide lugs 116 and 122, as well as pneumatic cylinder 248 which controls the position of the support structure (not shown) and the engine for placing article grouping 242 for Change the grouping between two and three ways.

Suitable control means may be included to place the support tables of the box load module cardboard in the desired position for a particular type or size of cardboard boxes, controlling the pneumatic cylinder and / or the columns hydraulically operated (not shown). The controller can also regulate the motors that drive each of the endless conveyors to control and adjust speed and to synchronize the production of cardboard boxes according to the type and / or the size of cardboard boxes.

Additionally, controller 230 may check the feeding and loading apparatus of cardboard boxes envelopes to arrange the device in operational states or inoperative, as described below.

As stated above, the positions and speed of these devices can be entered manually or a specific written program can be loaded previously in the central processor for machine control of packed. Also, the controlled change in the machine of a kind or cardboard box size to another may be the result of a previously written program or a manual input signal.

Modifications can be made without departing of the scope of the present invention. In particular they can used alternative sensors and alternative means for placement of each of the mobile items, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the attached claims.

Alternatively, each module of the machine packed can present an individual controller. With the purpose of that the machine can work correctly, the controllers individual can interconnect with each other to share data.

By pre-programming the system control, the machine settings required for change from the packaging of one type of cardboard box to another type of cardboard box, thereby reducing the amount of time Stop when you exchange types or styles of cardboard box. According to the present invention, the speed of operation of the device as well as its effectiveness and durability. A advantage of the present invention is the flexibility offered by the system.

Advantageously, controller 230 ensures that the machine run efficiently and safely with a minimum amount of stops due to operational errors, and that the machine can Quickly adjust to support different sizes and types of cardboard boxes, and the different groupings of articles. Further, It should be understood that the change between cardboard boxes is achieved preferably almost completely automatically, if the controller has been preprogrammed to do this mode, being the only important manual adjustment necessary the replacement of cardboard boxes in the hopper.

Although the preferred embodiment described herein it is intended to load bottles in boxes of cardboard, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to boxes of cardboard for bottles. The invention can be used with machines for packing cans, cardboard bricks, bottles and others containers in cardboard boxes.

In addition, the various elements of the machine, by example the cardboard box manipulator, the device folder, prep station or charging station can be manufactured separately as a module to be incorporated in the new machines or supplied in a conversion, without departing of the scope of the invention.

On the other hand, although the embodiment Preferred described herein is illustrated as forming part of the machines for loading containers to maintain two types of cardboard boxes, the invention is not limited to boxes of cardboard of this type, as those skilled in the art will recognize, The invention can be used with both wrapping cardboard boxes and unloading or in case you want to manipulate cardboard boxes in any desired angle of rotation.

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It will be understood that the lifting mechanism and the mechanism of handling the cardboard boxes of the invention is have illustrated by referring to an embodiment determined and that numerous modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. The lifting mechanism can treat cardboard boxes that comprise numerous group configurations of items covering a range of sizes and box shapes of cardboard, without undue time being used to adjust the mechanism.

Claims (15)

1. Apparatus for sequentially manipulating a hopper and starting the preparation of folded cardboard boxes having side and end panels arranged in opposition and a pair of panels to form a base, said apparatus comprising a cardboard box collecting device (68) for sequentially coupling to one of said opposite panels and for removing a folded cardboard box and a feeder (55) from the hopper to transfer said cardboard box from said hopper to a feed end of a machine of packaging, characterized in that it further comprises a separator (92) for separating the base panels in order to cause one of said base panels to be coupled to a conveyor (94, 96), a guide (93) for handling or guiding the side and end panels towards a substantially vertical plane, and a cardboard box lifting device (100) for separating the opposite side and end panels for lifting Take the cardboard box. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeder (55) is a rotary feeder that presents the cardboard box collecting device (68) mounted on the same. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in the that the separator (92) comprises a fixed guide that is coupled to one of said base panels and that folds it out of the plane of the box paperboard. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide (93) is a second fixed guide (98). 5. Apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein the lifting device of cardboard boxes (100) comprises a vacuum suction cup (102, 104) rotatably mounted on a drive shaft (110) so that said suction cup (102, 104) can move in a movement linear guide approaching the cardboard box and separating from the same during a complete rotation of the transmission shaft. 6. Packaging machine comprising the apparatus sequential manipulator according to claims 1 to 5. 7. Packaging machine according to claim 6, in which the cardboard boxes are retained in a hopper with an edge side of them facing down and in which the Cardboard box collecting device (68) is arranged to move said cardboard boxes from a substantially position vertical in the hopper to a substantially horizontal position of the cardboard boxes feed chain. 8. Packaging machine according to claim 7, wherein said cardboard box collecting device (68) is rotating around a fixed axis in an orbital path. 9. Packaging machine according to any of the claims 6 to 8, further comprising a loading mechanism of articles (130) and a mechanism for closing base panels. 10. Controller for a packing machine according to any of claims 6 to 9, said said comprising controller a central processor, manual input means and separation means controlled by the central processor to synchronize the loading of a group of items in a box of paperboard. 11. Controller according to claim 10, in the that the controller sets the relative positions of three rows of items at the machine power end of packed. 12. Controller according to claim 10 or 11, in which the controller regulates a motor that drives the device for lifting cardboard boxes (68). 13. Controller according to any of the claims 10 to 12, wherein said controller regulates the motors that drive the feeding of cardboard boxes, synchronizing in this way the speed of circulation of boxes of cardboard that are not lifted with the circulation speed of the cardboard boxes raised. 14. Continuous feeding procedure and Preparation of a cardboard box with panels side and end arranged in opposition and a pair of panels from a flat folded state to a position of use, said procedure comprising the following steps:

(to)

withdraw so sequentially a cardboard box stored in a hopper;

(b)

transfer the box from cardboard to a horizontal plane;

(c)

separate the base panels to make one of said base panels be attach to a conveyor (94, 96);

(d)

manipulate the side and base panels towards a substantially vertical plane; Y

(and)

separate the opposite side and end panels to lift the box paperboard.

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15. Method according to claim 14, which It further comprises the following stages:

(F)

lower the boxes of cardboard on a group of articles; Y

(g)

close the panels From the base of the cardboard box to each other.