ES2381268B1 - SOLAPAS FOLDING DEVICE FOR CARTON BOX FORMING MACHINE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Flap folding device for cardboard box forming machine # The flap folding device comprises a folding member (1) associated with a mold of a cardboard box forming machine, which further comprises a male operated to press a flat preform inside said mold. The bending member (1) is located in a position suitable for acting against a flap of said preform and folding said flap to a position substantially perpendicular to a side wall of the cardboard box. The bending member (1) is mounted so that it can pivot about a rotation axis (2) supported on a support assembly (10) and an actuator (15) is supported on said support assembly (10) and operatively connected to rotate the bending member (1) around said axis of rotation (2) between a stretched position and a raised position in order to bend said flap of the preform.

Description

SOLAPAS FOLDING DEVICE FOR CARTON BOX FORMING MACHINE

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to a flap folding device for cardboard box forming machine, and more particularly to a folding device for folding up a flap of a flat preform to a position
substantially perpendicular to a side wall of the cardboard box immediately before the flat preform is introduced into a mold of the cardboard box forming machine by a male or mandrel provided with downward movement.

Background of the invention

Cardboard forming machines are known which comprise a mold on whose cavity a flat preform of die-cut cardboard and a driven male is placed to push the preform down into the mold so that a series of flaps and fins of the preforms interfere with corresponding passive mold elements and fold upward forming the side walls and other elements of the cardboard box.

These known cardboard box forming machines include in their molds a passive flap folding member whose purpose is to fold a flap or other element of the flat cardboard preform, which should be perpendicular to the side wall corresponding to the width of the box , when the flat preform is introduced into the mold by the male. Document ES-A-1060859 describes a passive bending member of the type described.

This conventional passive bending member requires, for its proper operation, that the preform be in very good manufacturing conditions, that is, that it has its punches and creases made in a clear and precise manner, which does not always occur. Thus, when a preform is badly punched, it is missing creases or has deformations or vices of the cardboard, the conventional passive bending member is not able to efficiently bend the corresponding flap, and in any case there is a friction between the passive bending member and the flap during the bending action.

To try to bend the flap before the male introduces the preform into the mold it is known to use a pneumatic cylinder, commonly referred to as a "blade breaker cylinder", located vertically in a suitable position with respect to the mold so that a bending member fixed to an extendable rod of said pneumatic cylinder,

when it is extended linearly in a vertical direction, act against one side

bottom of the flap of the flat preform in order to fold it up.

However, because the flap is forced to bend by making a

pivot movement around a bending line, such as a line

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weakened by a cleft, which connects the flap to the preform, the one mentioned

vertical movement of the bending member fixed to the extendable rod of the cylinder

tire in combination with the pivoting movement of the flap can cause

Breaks in the flap or make the flap bend around a fold line

wrong, especially if the weakened line is poorly defined or non-existent in the

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preform In addition, during the bending action there is a useless or pernicious friction

between the bending member and the flap although the preform is well stamped and has

well-defined weakened lines.

Exhibition of the invention

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The present invention helps to mitigate the above and other inconveniences.

providing a flap folding device for box forming machine

cardboard, comprising a folding member associated with a mold of said machine

cardboard box former, which also includes a male operated for

press a flat preform into said mold. The mentioned member

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bender is located in a suitable position in relation to the mold to act

against a flap of said preform and fold said flap to a position

substantially perpendicular to a side wall of the cardboard box.

The flap folding device of the present invention differs from the

state of the art in that it is an active bender device, in which said member

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bender is mounted so that it can pivot around an axis of rotation

preferably parallel to a fold line around which the flap should be

pivoted with respect to the preform, and an actuator is operatively connected to

rotating the bending member around said axis of rotation between a position

lying and a raised position in order to bend said flap of the preform.

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With this new active flap folding device, which is activated

preferably by a pneumatic actuator, it is possible to fold the flap with respect to the

preforms around the planned bending line, and in an efficient, fair manner

before the male introduces the preform into the mold for bending and gluing.

Thus, the active flap folding device of the present invention prevents

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   malfunction and damage caused by bender devices

liabilities of the state of the art and by the "motion-breaker cylinders" of linear movement

vertical that were conventionally installed in box-forming machines

cardboard to achieve a similar effect mediocrely.

Thanks to the active folding device of the present invention, a

correct folding of the flap even with preforms with a defective die cut or

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lacking creases, and even with those plates that have deformations or vices

of the cardboard. In addition, the active bender device of the present invention can be

supplied as a simple kit to install in box forming machines

existing cardboard in the market, without requiring specialized labor and without need

of making any modification.

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The flap folding device of the present invention includes means

adjustable fasteners for fixing to said structure of the forming machine

cardboard boxes, which allow to regulate the position of the folding member of the device

in relation to the mold of the machine and thereby adapt the device to different

box formats

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In general, a cardboard box forming machine will carry four of the

flap folding devices of the present invention, which may be

installed in elevated positions in respective corner assemblies

fixed to a structure of the machine forming cardboard boxes and delimiting

four corners of the mold, or they may be installed in low positions on

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two guide members connected to the structure of the box forming machine

cardboard on opposite sides of the mold and which serve to guide the horizontal sliding

of the preform and its positioning at the entrance of the mold.

Brief description of the drawings

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The above and other features and advantages will be understood more

fully from the following detailed description of some examples of

realization with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a folding device of

flaps according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

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Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the flap folding device

according to the first assembled embodiment and with the bender member in position

lying, showing opposite sides of it;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the flap folding device according to the

   first embodiment with the bender member in the raised position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the flap folding device according to the

first embodiment installed in a corner assembly of a mold of a machine

cardboard box former;

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a flap folding device

5

according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing different

sides of it;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the flap folding device according to the

second embodiment installed in a guide member of a mold of a machine

cardboard box former;

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Figs. 9 and 1 O are perspective views of a flap folding device

according to a third embodiment of the present invention, showing different

sides of it; Y

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the flap folding device according to

the third embodiment installed in a guide member of a mold of a machine

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cardboard box maker.

Detailed description of some embodiments

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4, they show a

flap folding device according to a first embodiment of the present

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invention, which comprises bending member 1 mounted on a support assembly

1 Or that includes a base support 11 configured to be fixed to a base structure 51

of a corner assembly 50 (Fig. 5) fixed to said structure of the forming machine

of cardboard boxes (not shown), and a pivoting support 12 mounted so that

it can pivot with respect to said base support 11 about an axis of rotation 2. The

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bending member 1 is fixed to said pivoting support 12 by means of screws

or the like (not shown) installed through respective holes aligned 1 b, 12a,

so that folding member 1 together with pivoting support 12 can pivot

around the axis of rotation 2.

The base support 1 comprises an upper portion 41 substantially

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horizontal that supports a cylindrical rod 17 defining the axis of rotation 2 and a portion

substantially vertical bottom 42 extending downward from said portion

upper 41. Said cylindrical rod 17 is inserted so that it can

rotate in a hole 12b of the pivot bracket 12 in cooperation with a bushing

friction 41. The base support 11 further comprises stops 43 that limit the rotation of the

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   pivoting support 12 and bending member 1 fixed thereon around the axis of rotation

2 in a lying position.

A linear actuator 15, such as a pneumatic cylinder, is mounted on said

support assembly 1 O and operatively connected to move the bender member 1

between a lying position (Figs. 2 and 3) and a raised position (Fig. 4) in order

act against a bottom flap side of the preform and fold it upward said.

5

Said linear actuator 15 has an extensible rod 15a connected to a ball joint 44 and a

body with a hole 15b at an end opposite the extensible rod 15a. The

lower portion 42 of the base support 11 supports a first pin 18 inserted from

so that it can rotate in said hole 15b of the body of the linear actuator 15

thus forming a first joint 4, and the pivoting support 12 supports, in a

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position separated from hole 12b, a second pin 19 inserted so that

it can rotate in a hole of said ball joint 44 connected to the extensible rod 15a of the

linear actuator 15 forming a second joint 5, which is separated from the axis

turn 2.

In an operational situation, the cylindrical rod 17 is parallel to a line of

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bending of the preform, generally defined by a line weakened by a cleft,

around which the flap must be folded, and the first and second pins 18,

19 are parallel to the cylindrical rod 17. Thus, when the extensible rod 15a of the

linear actuator 15 is retracted (Figs. 2 and 3), the pivoting support 12 and the member

bender 1 fixed to it rotate around the axis of rotation 2 to be arranged in said

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lying position, which is defined by the stops 43 of the base support 1, and when the

Extensible rod 15a of the linear actuator 15 is extended (Fig. 4), the pivoting support

12 and the bending member 1 fixed thereto rotate about the axis of rotation 2 to

adopt a raised potion limited by the extension of the extensible stem 15a.

Optionally, as shown in Fig. 4, the pivoting support 12 may include a

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cushion element 59, such as a block made of a soft or elastic material

inserted in a hole 12c formed in the pivoting support 12, to dampen the

tapping of pivoting support 12 against stops 43 when bending member 1

Reach the lying position.

One skilled in the art will understand that alternatively the linear actuator

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of the flap folding device according to the first embodiment may be different from the

pneumatic cylinder described in relation to Figs. 1 to 4, and can understand by

for example a hydraulic cylinder, or a ball screw driven by an electric motor,

with an equivalent result and without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The flap folding device according to the first embodiment shown in the

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   Figs. 1 to 4 is designed to be installed in a corner assembly 50 (Fig. 5) of the

cardboard box forming machine. In general, the box forming machine

cardboard comprises a mold delimited by four of said corner assemblies 50 and a male (not shown) actuated to press a flat preform of die-cut cardboard, which has previously been placed on the entrance of the mold, into a cavity of said mold . Thus, the cardboard box forming machine comprises four flap folding devices according to the first embodiment, each installed in one of the four corner assemblies 50.

Fig. 5 shows a flap folding device according to the first embodiment installed in one of the corner assemblies 50, so that the corresponding bending member 1 is located in an elevated position, suitable to be located below the preform when it It is placed on the inlet of the mold and to act against a lower side of the flap of the preform (not shown) and fold the flap to a raised position substantially perpendicular to a side wall of the cardboard box (not shown) when the actuator Linear 15 is driven to the extended position.

The corner assembly 50 is of the type described, for example, in documents ES-A-1060858 and ES-A-1061162, and essentially comprises a base structure 51 fixed to a bed of the carton-forming machine (not shown), and which supports, in addition to the flap folding device of the present invention with the bending member 1, other additional bending elements 53, 54, 55 for folding other portions of the preform when it is pushed by the male into the interior of the mold, a mobile support device 55 in the form of an endless band mounted on rotating rollers and adapted to press against a side wall of the cardboard box, and a retractable stop 56 actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 57 to temporarily support a wall of base of the cardboard box. One of said additional bending elements, namely the bending element 55, is mounted so that it can slide along a horizontal support bar 58 cantilevered supported on said base structure 51.

The base support 11 of the support assembly 1 O of the flap folding device of the present invention is connected to said base structure 51 of the corner assembly 50 by adjustable fixing means that allow the vertical position and the horizontal position of the base support to be regulated 11 with respect to the base structure 51. To this end, said adjustable fixing means of the support assembly 1 O include a clamp assembly formed by an anchoring element 13 and a closing cover 14 (see Fig. 1). The anchoring element 13 has on one side a horizontal guide channel 45 adapted to cooperatively slide with said horizontal support bar 58 of the corner assembly 50 and on another opposite side a channel of

vertical guide 46 adapted to cooperate slidingly with surfaces

verticals of the lower portion 42 of the base support 11.

The aforementioned closing cover 14 can be fixed to the anchoring element 13 by

means of screws or the like (not shown) installed through respective

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aligned holes 48, 47 trapping the horizontal support bar 58 between them (Fig.

5), so that the anchoring element 13 can be slid horizontally to the

length of horizontal support bar 58 when the screws or the like are loosened and

it can be fixed in any desired horizontal position along the bar of

horizontal support 58 when the screws or the like are tightened.

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The substantially vertical lower portion 42 of the base support 11 has a

elongated hole 49 extending along it, and the anchoring element 13

it can be fixed to the base support 11 by means of screws or the like (not shown)

installed through holes 40 of anchoring element 13 and said hole

elongate 49 of the base support 11. Thus, the anchoring element 13 can be slid

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vertically along the base support 11 when the screws or the like are

loosened and can be fixed in any desired vertical position along the support

base 11 when the screws or the like are tightened.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show a flap folding device according to

a second embodiment of the present invention, which comprises bending member

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1 mounted on a support assembly 20 that includes a configured base support 11

to be fixed to a guide member 52 (Fig. 8) connected to a structure of the

cardboard box forming machine in a position adjacent to the entrance of the

mold cavity. The mentioned guide member 52, which is shown only

partially in Fig. 8, it has an "L" shaped cross section with a branch

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vertical 52a and a horizontal branch 52b, and serves to guide and position the flat preform

of die-cut cardboard in the mold entry of the box-forming machine

paperboard.

The base support 11 has an upper portion 61, a lower portion 62 which is

extends downward from said upper portion 61, and a support arm 67 which is

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extends laterally from the upper portion 61. On a lower side of the

upper portion 61 there is a slot 63 configured to receive an upper edge of the

vertical branch 52a of the guide member 52 so that the base support 11 can

slide horizontally along guide member 52. The base support can be

fixed in any horizontal position along the guide member 52 by means of

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   screws or the like (not shown) installed through holes 64 in

communication with said slot 63.

The lower portion 62 of the base support 11 has a bearing carrier block fixed

65 which rotatably supports a pivot shaft 2 that extends overhang. In a

end of said axis of rotation 2 is fixed a pivoting support 12 on which it is

fixed in turn a bending member 1. The rotation shaft 2 also has a fixed arm

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lever 66. The movements of the pivoting support 12 are driven by a

linear actuator 25, such as a pneumatic cylinder, which has a body connected to

said support arm 67 of the base support 11 by a first joint 4 and a

extendable rod 25a connected to said lever arm 66 by a second

joint 5 separated from the axis of rotation 2.

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Since the lever arm 66 is connected to the pivoting support 12 by

middle of the axis of rotation 2, the extension and retraction movements of the rod

extensible 25a of the actuator 25 cause movements of the pivoting support 12 and the

bending member 1 fixed thereto between a stretched position (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) and a

position raised (not shown).

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The axis of rotation 2 is substantially parallel to a line around which the

flap must be pivoted with respect to the preform, and the bending member 1 is located

in a suitable position to be below the preform when it is

placed over the mold inlet and to act against a bottom side of the flap

(not shown) and fold the flap to a substantially raised position

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perpendicular to a side wall of the cardboard box (not shown) when the actuator

linear 25 is driven to the extended position.

In this second embodiment, the bending member 1 optionally has a

supplement 16, which is connected to bender member 1 by means of

adjustable fasteners that allow to regulate the overall width of the bending member 1 and

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said supplement 16. These adjustable fixing means comprise, for example,

screws or the like (not shown) installed through holes 68 of the

supplement and of elongated holes 69 of the bending member.

Figs. 9, 1 O and 11 show a third embodiment of the folding device of

flaps of the present invention, which comprises bending member 1 mounted

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on a support assembly 30 comprising a base support 11 configured for

be fixed to a guide member 52 (Fig. 11) analogous to that described in relation to the

second embodiment The base support 11 is analogous to that of the second embodiment

except that it does not have the support arm 67.

The lower portion 62 of the base support 11 has a central body 60 of a

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   rotary actuator 35, such as a pneumatic rotary actuator. This rotary actuator

35 has an output shaft that acts as an axis of rotation 2 on which a

pivoting support 12. The bending member 1 is fixed to the pivoting support 12, and

optionally

a supplement 16 is connected to bender member 1 per some

adjustable fixing means analogous to those described

in relationship with the second

realization. Activation of the rotary actuator 35 causes movements of the support

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pivot 12 and the bending member fixed thereto between a lying position (Figs. 9,

1 O and 11) and a raised position (not shown) to fold the flap of the preform of

a manner analogous to the second embodiment.

An important advantage of the flap folding device according to any of

the embodiments shown and described is that the support assembly 10, 20, 30 together

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with the bending member 1, the pivot shaft 2 and the actuator 15, 25, 35 installed on the

they form a kit configured to be installed in a box forming machine

of existing cardboard.

Modifications and variations will occur to one skilled in the art from

of the embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present

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   invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1.-Flap folding device for cardboard box forming machine, of the type comprising a mobile folding member (1) associated with a mold of said cardboard box forming machine, which further comprises a male actuated to press a preform flat inside said mold, where said bending member (1) is moved by an actuator (15, 25, 35) and is located in a position suitable to act against a flap of said preform and bend said flap to a substantially perpendicular position to a side wall of the cardboard box, characterized in that said folding member (1) is mounted so that it can pivot about a rotation axis (2) supported on a support assembly (10, 20, 30) configured to be fixed to a structure of the cardboard box forming machine, and said actuator (15,25,35) is mounted on said support assembly (10, 20, 30) and operatively connected to rotate the bending member (1) around said axis of rotation (2) between a stretched position and a raised position in order to bend said flap of the preform. 2.-Folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support assembly (10, 20, 30) comprises a base support (11) configured to be fixed to said structure of the structure of the carton-forming machine, and a pivoting support (12) mounted so that it can pivot with respect to said base support (11) around the axis of rotation (2), the bending member (1) being fixed to said pivoting support (12). 3.-Bender device according to claim 2, characterized in that said actuator (15, 25, 35) is operatively connected to move the pivoting support (12) And the bending member (1) fixed thereto between said stretched and raised positions. 4.-Bender device according to claim 3, characterized in that said actuator is a linear actuator (15, 25) having a body connected to the base support

(eleven)

by a first joint (4) And an extensible rod (15a, 25a) connected to the pivoting support (12) by a second joint (5) separated from the axis of rotation (2). 5.-Bender device according to claim 4, characterized in that said linear actuator (15, 25) is a pneumatic cylinder.

6.-Bender device according to claim 3, characterized in that said actuator is a rotating actuator (35) having a body connected to the base support

(eleven)

Yun output shaft, which acts as the axis of rotation (2), connected to the pivoting support (12).

7.-Bender device according to claim 6, characterized in that said rotary actuator (35) is a pneumatic rotary actuator. 8.-Bending device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said base support (11) is configured to be fixed to a base structure (51) of a corner assembly (50) fixed in turn to said structure of the cardboard box forming machine. 9.-Bender device according to claim 8, characterized in that the base support (11) is connected to said base structure (51) of the corner assembly (50) by means of adjustable fixing means that allow to regulate the vertical position and / or the horizontal position of the base support (11) with respect to the base structure (51). 10.-Folding device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said base support (11) is configured to be fixed to a guide member (52) connected to said structure of the carton-forming machine. 11.-Bending device according to claim 10, characterized in that the base support (11) is connected to said guide member (52) by means of adjustable fixing means that allow to regulate the horizontal position of the base support (11) with respect to the member of guide (52). 12.-Bender device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bender member (1) comprises a supplement (16) connected to the bending member (1) by means of adjustable fixing means that allow to regulate the overall width of the bending member (1) and said supplement (16). 13.-Folding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (2) is substantially parallel to a line around which the flap must be folded with respect to the preform. 14.-Bending device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the base support (11) comprises at least one stop (43) that limits the rotation of the pivoting support (12) and of the bending member (1) fixed the same around the axis of rotation (2) in said lying position. 15.-Bending device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support assembly (10, 20, 30) with at least the bending member (1), the axis of rotation (2) and the actuator (15, 25 , 35) installed on it form a kit configured to be installed in an existing cardboard box forming machine. 1 B / - / 15b  Fig. 1  15 ~ n4 ~! 1 ~  14 .J 13- [JJ / ~ 10 42 46  Fig. 2  Fig..J  Fig. 4  56 ---- 55 Fig. 5 2 12 67 68  Fig. 6  Fig. 7   twenty"  Fig. 8 Fig. 9 35 Fig. 10 Aug 11