ES2633956T3 - Improved device to automatically open boxes of different dimensions - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for fully opening the side and reclining walls of multiple boxes (1), preferably for agricultural products, provided with a bottom plane (2) and with two pairs of opposite walls (3, 3A - 4, 4A), each of them articulated in said bottom plane, which are arranged in the same way and arranged and arranged vertically one above the other to form a respective first stack (11), said apparatus comprising a) means for introducing said first stack (11) into a first charging station (S-1), b) first means for vertically lifting two opposite walls of the upper box by a respective rotation with respect to said bottom plane, c) second means for vertically lifting the other two opposite walls ( 4, 4A) of the upper case by a respective rotation with respect to said bottom plane, d) means for blocking (205, 205A) at least one (4A) of said side walls in an adjacent side wall (3A) cente, e) means for horizontally transferring said open box (1) to a position outside the vertical projection of said first stack, f) means for lifting (47, 47A, 48, 48A) said first stack (11) in such a way that the box in the upper position (1) and with the reclined side walls reaches a predetermined level at said first charging station (S-1) after introducing said first battery (11) into said first charging station (S-1 ), g) means for lowering (57, 57A, 58, 58A) said box to a support level of the respective background plane (2) in a second workstation (S-2) capable of forming a row of open boxes , said means being operated to block at least one (4A) of said side walls in an adjacent side wall (3A), and to horizontally transfer said open box (1) to a position outside the vertical projection of said stack, by means of the use of a central functional body (202) that can: - be initially lowered e until it is inserted into an open box, - to be modified in such a way that it increases a horizontal dimension and comes into contact with the lateral edges of two opposite walls, and that is coupled by pushing said two edges on corresponding edges of the other two walls, - staying coupled by pushing said box and being transferred in a horizontal direction, possibly after a lifting movement, to automatically transfer said box, - being able to be lowered in races (C1, C2), which can be selectively differentiated, with respect to a common initial level, characterized in that said first station (S-1) can raise, one by one, a row of closed box piles, and comprises: - two support frames (470, 480), which are parallel and extend in horizontal direction, each provided with a pair of respective lifting supports (47, 47A, --- 48, 48A), capable of supporting a respective stack of closed boxes, - work that can be carried out in said support frames a succession of changes, which includes: - increasing the reciprocal horizontal distance from a first distance (N1) to a second distance (N2), - synchronized descent (S) of said support frames (470, 480), - reapproximation of said support frames (470, 480) to the initial distance (N1), - additional final elevation of said support frames (470, 480) by a predefined magnitude (T).

Description

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IMPROVED DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING BOXES OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for opening boxes normally used to contain horticultural products; After they have been used and emptied, said boxes are closed again by folding their vertical walls inwards.

These boxes can be of different sizes, due to the type of content and mainly due to their different uses and market requirements.

The objective of this invention is to decisively reduce the total volume of said boxes, since, after their use, they must be reorganized to return them to the collection and filling centers.

This requirement has been clearly explained in WO 2012/156375, filed by the present owner and referred to here for short and therefore will not be discussed in more detail.

The same patent also presents a method to fully open the folded side walls of multiple boxes, preferably for horticultural products, provided with a bottom plane and with two pairs of opposite walls, individually articulated in said bottom plane, which are arranged in an identical and orderly manner, and are vertically deposited on top of each other forming a first stack, said method comprising the following operations:

a) transporting said first battery to a first arrival and loading station;

b) vertical lifting of two opposite front walls of the upper case by their respective rotation in relation to said bottom plane;

c) vertical lifting of the other two front walls of said upper case by their respective rotation in relation to said bottom plane;

d) blocking at least one of said side walls with an adjacent side wall;

e) transfer in horizontal direction of said open box to an external position with respect to the vertical projection of said first stack;

f) in which, preferably between the previous operations a) and b), said first stack is raised to a level in which the upper case, with the reclining walls, reaches a predetermined level (L) in a first workstation;

g) and, after said lifting up to said level, said upper box is locked with respect to said first work station through means acting laterally on said bottom plane of the upper box.

Said procedure and the corresponding apparatus have proven to be totally effective and adequate in all work environments in which they are used to solve the problem defined above.

However, it has often been proven that, in its actual operation, said apparatus imposes work limits that are increasingly evident as its application extends and optimizes, both in relation to the type of horticultural products transported and, in particular , in relation to the fact that the marketing and distribution chain after the opening and filling of the boxes is extremely fragmented and diversified, in the sense that it is necessary to load boxes with very different dimensions and capacities, including also the height of the walls of the boxes.

Obviously, to satisfy this bastard requirement with providing, installing and using an individual machine for each type and box size. However, this is not really an acceptable solution in the economic and operational level, as well as due to the wide required spaces that could be used in another way, as an expert in this field can immediately appreciate.

In fact, the optimal solution was to provide a single device to open the boxes and stack them later, which can operate with boxes of very different sizes, including their relative height.

Therefore, it is desirable, and this is the main objective of the present invention, to make an apparatus that is suitable for carrying out, in accordance with known methods, the fully automatic opening and locking of multiple closed boxes, specifically for use. as containers of horticultural products, supplied successively and associated as respective individual batteries and, after opening, to supply said open boxes still associated as respective batteries; In accordance with the invention, this apparatus must be provided with suitable devices to adapt it to the size of boxes having different dimensions, including their relative height, said devices being able, and the actuators thereof, to operate and be adjusted to "process "boxes of different dimensions, in a simple, immediate, safe and economical way.

This objective is achieved with an apparatus constructed in accordance with the appended claims.

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The features and advantages of the invention will be evidenced from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a vertical planar projection of a first subset of the apparatus of the invention in two different modes of operation.

Figures 3 and 3A illustrate two views from above of the subset of the previous figures, in two different and respective operating situations.

Figure 4 is a flat projection in a vertical plane and symbolic of the movement of the boxes and the relative support mounts, in their extreme positions, in the first stack of closed boxes.

Figure 4A illustrates a simplified perspective view of the boxes in the two extreme positions of Figure 4.

Figure 5 illustrates a flat projection from above of another subset of the apparatus of the invention.

Figure 5A shows a simplified perspective view of the subset of Figure 5, in relation to the piles of closed boxes.

Figures 5B and 5C illustrate paths, similar to those of Figure 5, of the same subset in two different operating situations.

Figure 6 illustrates a flat projection in a vertical and symbolic plane of the movement of the boxes and the corresponding support mounts, in the relative extreme positions, in the final stack of open boxes.

Figure 6A is a simplified perspective view of the boxes in the two extreme positions of Figure 6.

Figure 7 shows a flat projection from above of another subset of the apparatus of the invention, relative to the piles of open boxes.

Figure 7A shows a simplified perspective view of the subset of Figure 7.

Figures 7B and 7C illustrate paths, similar to those of Figure 7, of the same subset in two different operating situations.

Figure 8 is a side, vertical, flat and concise view of the apparatus of the invention.

Figure 9 illustrates a diagonal perspective view from above of the apparatus of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a flat projection from above of the apparatus of Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 illustrates a mode of construction of the apparatus, seen as in Figure 8.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate two perspective views of the apparatus shown in general in Figure 9, but separated at its two work stations.

• Figures 14 and 15 illustrate two perspective views of the apparatus of the invention seen from two points of view almost diagonally opposite each other.

Although the present invention refers specifically to an apparatus and a method that can theoretically be arranged in different positions and orientations, it is evident that its best normal embodiment consists of an apparatus supported in a horizontal plane and with vertically stacked boxes, both when closed Like when they are open. Therefore, the description must be read with particular reference to the drawings, and therefore the terms "above", "below", "superior", "inferior", etc. which are used logically refer to this normal arrangement of the apparatus.

Since an apparatus according to the invention is very complex and articulated in its construction due to the amount of components and devices, and the support and connection means, etc. which are generally to be assembled, the following description will refer to drawings and / or schematic and symbolic figures that are very different, in their representation, from the corresponding means and devices used in the actual apparatus of the invention. The purpose of this choice of representation type is exclusively to facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention, focusing their attention only on the elements that are being described.

On the other hand, if the suitability of said representations with the real apparatus according to the invention is to be verified, the attached figures 14 and 15 provide the experts in this field with the necessary and sufficient information to distinguish in said figures the assemblies or main functional groups that are represented in the detailed but symbolic figures, and described one by one.

In the following description, the numerical indications in parentheses refer to the patent WO 2012/156375 already mentioned. In addition, it is explicitly explained here that the present invention consists of a markedly improved evolution of the apparatus mentioned in said patent.

Here, only the parts, devices and operating processes that are individually and specifically included in the various aspects of the present invention will be described in detail. Therefore, it is understood that parts, subsets, functional devices and operating processes that are not

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expressly described herein are the same as those widely described in said patent WO 2012/156375 and, consequently, for greater concision and simplicity, are omitted in the present patent.

And, as in the above-mentioned patent, the apparatus of the present invention is composed - from a functional point of view, but not constructive - by two different work stations, that is, a first S-1 station, which arrives the succession of stacks of closed boxes and that is provided with devices and mechanisms to open the individual boxes one by one and to take them to a second S-2 station, in which the same succession of boxes, but now open, are stacked again and finally removed from the device as a whole.

WO 2012/156375 mentioned above discloses an apparatus suitable for fully automatically opening the reclined side walls of multiple boxes (1), preferably for agricultural products, provided with a bottom plane (2) and two pairs of opposite walls (3, 3A - 4, 4A), each articulated in said background plane, arranged identically and in an orderly manner, and placed vertically one on top of the other forming a first stack (11).

Said apparatus is designed to carry out the following operations:

a) transporting said first battery (11) to a first arrival and charging station (S-1);

b) vertical lifting of two opposite front walls (3, 3A) of the upper case by means of its

respective rotation in relation to said background plane (2);

c) vertical lifting of the other two opposite front walls (4, 4A) of said upper case by their respective rotation in relation to said bottom plane (2);

d) blocking at least one (4A) of said side walls with an adjacent side wall (3A);

e) transfer in the horizontal direction of said open box (1) to a position outside the vertical projection of said first stack (11).

With regard to this last phase "e", that is to say, in the horizontal direction of said open box (1) to a position outside the vertical projection of said first stack (11), the same patent mentioned indicates that said transfer operation e) is carried out by using a blocking and transfer device that can:

- be lowered initially until inserted into the open box;

- be operated to increase one of its horizontal dimensions to come into contact with the lateral edges (4S, 4S1) of two opposite walls, and be coupled by pushing said two edges (4S, 4S1) with corresponding edges (3C, 3C-A) of the other two walls;

- remain coupled with pressure with said box and be transferred in a horizontal plane, possibly also after a lifting operation, to transfer said box also automatically.

Said blocking and transfer device comprises a functional body (202) on which, from opposite sides, two horizontal bars (203, 203A) are applied which support individual control boxes (204, 204A) which are each provided with at least one locking means (205, 205A) that can be moved selectively and controllable inwards, that is, towards said functional body 202, or in the opposite direction, that is, outward.

Said functional body (202) is supported and is moved by a vertical bar (201) that can be extended and retracted telescopically and in a controllable manner and which is in turn supported by a central body (200), which can be raised and lowered. vertically controllable and that can be moved in a horizontal plane.

The above described is part of the prior art disclosed in WO 2012/156375 mentioned above.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, according to a first aspect of the present invention, said central body 200 and said underlying vertical bar move vertically not only for a downward stroke and a subsequent upward stroke, with a predetermined length offset for each type of box included in the underlying stack of closed boxes in order to push against a pair of opposite vertical walls of the newly opened underlying box, but the length of the downward and upward stroke of said predetermined length offset depends on the height of the same box, that is, in practice, of the height of the respective vertical walls.

The case in which, in a first stack of boxes "M", the upper case has a height h1 is illustrated in Figure 1, while in Figure 2 the case in which, in a second stack, is symbolically illustrated of "N" boxes, the upper box has a height h2> h1.

Therefore, when changing from one type of box to another type of box with different heights of the respective vertical walls, the two corresponding global downward movements C1, C2 of said bar

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vertical 201 and therefore of said functional body 202, and consequently of the respective subsets comprising the functional body 202 and the corresponding horizontal functional bars (203, 203A), in relation to the two different types of boxes, must be differentiate by a magnitude AR = C1 - C2.

This feature, that is, the ability to regulate the extent of the downward / upward displacement and therefore the position of the central body 200 and the functional body 202, is not only defined by predefined standardized parameters, such as mainly the position of the box which is to be opened at the top of the respective stack, but, according to this first aspect of the invention, said extension of the descending / ascending displacement is obtained through command and control means, known in sf and not further illustrated, which regulate said downward / upward displacement on the basis of specific commands and instructions sent to said command and control means and which naturally include the information, possibly coded, representative of the height of the vertical walls of the type of box that It is being prosecuted.

In a more general way, the summary information regarding the type of box being processed is introduced, including such information not only the information referring to the height of the vertical walls, but also the information about the plane dimensions of the box.

The fundamental aspect of said command and control means actuated according to the type of box will be discussed below, since it is an essential factor for the present invention.

A second aspect of the invention relates to the ways in which said horizontal bar engages and pushes against the vertical walls 4 and 4A (see Figure 3) of the open box at the top of the stack, which is to be held and raised.

To this end, to adjust the various possible widths of the box being processed, said horizontal bars 203 and 203A are provided with separate spacer members 203B and 203A-B, each capable of selectively extending and shortening the length of the bar 203 and 203A respectively.

Said spacer members are in turn controlled by suitable command and control devices, which are already known and will be described in detail below.

The two figures 3 and 3A illustrate schematically but clearly the case of two different boxes that are already open but have different "L1" and "L2" widths.

In addition, as shown in Figures 3 and 3A, said horizontal bars 203 and 203A support separate control boxes (204, 204A), each equipped with at least one locking means (205, 205A) that can be moved selectively and in a controllable way inwards, that is, towards said functional body 202, or in the opposite direction, that is, outwards.

Thus, by properly acting on said spacer members 203B and 203A-B, said horizontal bars 203 and 203A can be selectively sized at their horizontal extent such that the respective locking means (205, 205A) can come into contact with the opposite walls 4, 4A of the box and pressing in a controlled manner against them (for simplicity, the same numbers 4 and 4A are used to indicate the two opposite walls of boxes, although the boxes have different widths L1 and L2).

The difference with respect to the previous situation, when said spacer members 203B and 203A-B move to selectively increase and shorten the length of the respective bars 203 and 203A, lies in the fact that, in the case of the apparatus of the previous state of the technique, the race to increase and shorten the length of the respective bar 203 and 203A redprocally is a predefined run, that is, it has a fixed extension, while in this case the extension of said run is selectively controllable through command and control means that will be better specified later, naturally based on the width L1, L2, etc. of the type of box being processed.

Next, the ways and means with which the successive stacks of closed boxes are transported into the first lift and opening station S-1 to open them will be examined.

As is known from WO 2012/156375 mentioned above, individual stacks of closed boxes are progressively transported through means of transport, in particular conveyor belts, and stacked in said first station S-1.

Here two different descent structures and the corresponding locking means are arranged, which are used as means to support the individual and successive stacks of closed boxes.

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The aforementioned patent discloses the means and ways to raise the successive stacks of closed boxes one by one, which consist in raising said lifting structures at specific times an extension equal to the height of the closed box, so that each box closed is taken to the desired position for subsequent opening operation, and then for transport after the next station S-2.

This operation is repeated for all the battery boxes present in the first S-1 station, until the battery leaves.

Naturally, at this time the support structures used to lift the stack are in the upper position of their movement and, to enable the repetition of the cycle for the next stack, said support structures must be lowered again until they reach the position. bottom to enable loading on them of a new stack of closed boxes.

The composition and operation of said blocking means and corresponding lifting structures will now be described in detail.

With reference to Figures 4, 4A, the lifting means for successive stacks of closed boxes consist of pairs of lifting mounts 47, 47A - 48, 48A, which are initially applied under the stack of closed boxes to be raise, and then rise, with known means, to lift the stack located thereon in an upward displacement that is equal to the total thickness, or vertical dimension, of each closed box.

With respect to Figures 4 to 7C, we will use reference 47 to identify a first pair of lifting mounts that are aligned in a direction parallel to the feed direction "X" of the boxes and that are located, properly separated from each other in horizontal direction, essentially below a corresponding edge of the boxes, and similarly we will use reference 48 to indicate a second pair of lifting mounts that act on the other edges of the respective boxes and that are essentially symmetrical to the first pair of elevation 47 with respect to a plane of symmetry:

- vertical and parallel to said "X" address;

- and that vertically cuts the entire apparatus and normally passes through the central line of the means (conveyor belts, roller tables, etc.) that introduce the stacks of boxes into the apparatus and take them out of it.

In fact, as indicated in WO 2012/156375, the top case of the stack is opened, lifted and removed from the stack. This frees the space occupied by the upper box open and removed, and then each stack of closed boxes progressively rises in a staggered sequence or at subsequent times, so that this space houses the next underlying box.

Once all the boxes in a stack have been lifted successively and then opened and removed, the reden "processed" pile space is occupied by a new stack of closed boxes that are to be opened.

However, it is clear that the same lifting mounts of the successive stacks of boxes, after the last box on the top of the stack has been opened and taken to another place, must be lowered again to return to the position initial, which is where the same lifting mounts are coupled from below with a stack of newly arrived closed boxes.

However, it is clear that the downward movement of said lifting mounts cannot occur directly and only with a vertical displacement, since otherwise these mounts interfere, in their downward movement, with the new stack of empty boxes, which in between It has been transported to the same box opening station.

On the other hand, although it is technically feasible, it is not totally useful to move a new stack of closed boxes to the first station S-1 only after having lowered the supports / mounts, since this procedure required that the various operations be carried out in series (instead of "overlapping time" as in the solution described here), which, as is well known, "spends" a considerable amount of time and, as a final undesirable consequence, correspondingly reduces the overall productivity of the apparatus on the whole.

In order to bring the lifting mounts back to the lower position, and with reference to Figures 4 and 4A, the following features and actuation phases are implemented:

Said lifting mounts are lifted according to the following sequence:

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a) extension of the distance between the lift mounts, from the first initial distance N1 to a second distance N2, to enable the insertion with a horizontal movement of a new stack between the two pairs of lift mounts 47, 47A - 48, 48A;

b) synchronized lowering of the two pairs of lifting mounts 47, 47A - 48, 48A in an equal "S" path to bring them back below the lower initial position;

c) reapproximation of the same lift mounts 47, 47A - 48, 48A between them to take them to the initial distance "N1"; this allows the two pairs of frames to be adjusted according to a first plane dimension of the boxes;

d) elevation of the same mounts in a vertical path "L" so that they intercept a new stack of boxes from below and enable the subsequent stepped elevation of the same, which determines the start of a new processing cycle.

For simplicity, Figures 4 and 4A show the stack of boxes illustrating only the upper box 1; It is assumed that this simplification will not complicate the comprehension of the description, also taking into account Figures 1 and 2, in which the upper box of the closed box stack is identified with the number 1.

Therefore, it is evident that these movements of the two pairs of lifting mounts allow them to be returned easily and quickly to the initial position, the new battery having already reached the first station S-1, which allows to eliminate unnecessary wasted time doing that the different operating mechanisms and devices operate in "overlapping time", that is, carrying out different operations in the same time interval.

It should be noted that the main objective of the invention is to open boxes that could be even considerably different in their dimensions in the horizontal plane, that is, in their relative width and length.

In order to take this into account, and therefore to enable the lifting of closed box piles with different plane dimensions, it is necessary to be able to properly and sequentially adjust the pairs of support and elevation mounts (which are coupled from below with the box bottom of the stack and lift it progressively, to lift the entire stack until the entire stack is depleted) both in the direction of adjusting the distance between the blocking means of different pairs, that is, in fact, to take into account the WIDTH of the boxes, as in the sense of adjusting the distance between blocking means belonging to the same pair, that is, in practice, to take into account the LENGTH of the boxes.

As regards the WIDTH, it has already been examined in the previous description. In fact, the extension of the lift mounts to the new distance (in width) N2 will necessarily have to take into account the width of the boxes, so as not to interfere with the downward movement of the lift mounts.

It goes without saying, because it is so obvious that it does not require any other explanation, that if a battery is inserted that has boxes that, for example, are very narrow compared to the previous ones, said second distance N2 will have to take this into account, that is, it will have to change, since the previous distance N1 relative to wider boxes may be completely insufficient for a correct coupling with the base of these last much narrower boxes.

With regard to the second dimension in the horizontal plane, that is, the LENGTH of the boxes, to adjust the distance "Z" between the locking means of each pair of lifting mounts 47, 47A and 48, 48A, said Mounts are applied to two support frames 470 and 480, (see Figures 5, 5A), which perform the double function of:

- effectively transmit the upward / downward movement to the corresponding ones of said lifting mounts, and

- adjust the distance "Z" between the locking means of each pair of lifting mounts 47, 47A and 48, 48A.

In essence, given elevation mount 47, 47A and 48, 48A belonging to the same pair of mounts, it must be possible to distance from / near the other mount of the same pair in order to be able to adjust, as explained above, the second dimension horizontal, that is, the length, of the support base as a function of the effective length of the lower case of the stack of closed boxes overlying.

To this end, the position of said two pairs of lifting mounts 47, 47A and 48, 48A can be selectively controlled in the horizontal plane so that the redprocal distance between 47 and 47A can be modified, and between 48 and 48A, naturally on the basis of the "length" of the boxes being processed, and in an essentially parallel direction to said vertical symmetry plane and parallel to said "X" direction.

This result is obtained by mobile and translatable coupling each of said lifting mounts 47, 47A and 48, 48A with respect to the corresponding support frame 470, 480, such that, by

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For example, and with reference to Figures 5 to 5C, the two pairs of frames, that is, the two lifting mounts of the pair 47, 47A, and the two lifting mounts of the pair 48, 48A can be redprocally positioned at a distance which varies between the infinite value "Zmm" and the maximum value "Zmax".

Regarding the requirement to also adjust the support base in relation to the stack of the already opened boxes, this can be achieved through procedures, devices and modes in all similar aspects, although different in their implementation, to those just described above. to adapt the support base of the closed box stack.

To this end, and with reference to Figures 6 and 6A, the following features are implemented: in the case of upward / downward movement, that is, in practice, the controlled and progressive descent of the stack of open boxes contained in the second station S-2, two pairs of suitable lifting mounts 57, 57A and 58, 58A are arranged.

A first pair of frames 57, 57A is applied to the respective support and lowering frame 570 and, similarly, a second pair of frames 58, 58A is applied to the respective support and lowering frame 580.

As the figures show, said two descent frames, and the respective lifting mounts, are used as a support means for the open boxes that are being progressively carried there and stacked by said blocking and transfer device comprising the functional body 202 with horizontal bars 203, 203A and respective control boxes 204, 204A.

Suitably, the means and modes for lowering the successive stacks of open boxes are completely similar to that applied and described for lifting the stacks of closed boxes, but obviously the procedures for vertical movements are reversed, since in the present case said second station S-2 is made to lower the box batteries (and not to lift them, as in the S-1 station).

After having formed a stack of open boxes by the progressive stacking of successive open boxes, and consequently the corresponding drops of the relative stack formed, the stack is completely lowered.

At this time, as is known, the stack is removed from the S-2 station with known means, and the respective lifting pair pairs must be raised again to receive a new box and thus form a successive stack.

With reference to Figures 6 and 6A, this new elevation operation consists essentially of the following individual and sequential phases:

a1) extension of the distance between the lifting mounts of the first pair 57, 57A and the lifting mounts of the second pair 58, 58A, in other words from a first distance K1 to a second distance K2, to allow extraction with a horizontal movement of the newly formed stack composed of open boxes between the two pairs of lifting mounts, in a horizontal direction "Y" perpendicular to the "X" direction indicated above; b1) synchronized elevation of the two pairs of frames 57, 57A and 58, 58A in an equal "R" path to return them to the "V" level of the initial upper position; c1) new approach (again in the "Y" direction of the same lift mounts between sf to return them to the initial distance "K1"; this allows the two pairs of mounts to be adjusted according to a first plane dimension of the boxes , and that in this case it is based on their width.

On the basis of the description previously made in relation to the support frames of the lifting mounts in the first station S-1, it is quite evident that said vertical and downward movement of the two pairs of mounts 57, 57A and 58, 58A is obtained by applying the corresponding vertical movement to said respective support frames 570, 580.

In the present case it is not necessary to also apply a final vertical displacement to definitively level the position of the two pairs of elevation modules 57, 57A and 58, 58A, since the vertical elevation displacement "R" thereof can be stopped already in the most appropriate position.

With regard to the second horizontal dimension, that is, to also adjust the length of the support base formed by the two pairs of lifting mounts 57, 57A and 58, 58A, it is necessary to adjust the distance "T" correspondingly between the lifting mounts of each pair of mounts 57, 57A and 58, 58A. To this end, and in a manner completely similar to the previous case in the first station S-1, the effective upward / downward movement is first applied to said support frames 570 and 580 (see Figures 7 and 7C), which transmits it to said pairs 57, 57A and 58, 58A respectively.

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Each lift mount belonging to the same pair must be able to separate from / near the lift mount of the same pair in order to be able to adjust, as mentioned above, the second dimension in the horizontal plane, that is, the length, of the support frame to be supported by the lower case of the stack of open boxes to be removed from the apparatus of the invention.

To this end, the position of said two pairs of elevation modules 57, 57A and 58, 58A can be selectively controlled in the horizontal plane, that is, longitudinally, and in a direction parallel to said "X" direction (obviously , equal to the "X" address indicated above) and perpendicular to the widening / narrowing direction K1, K2 defined above.

This is obtained by mobile and translatable coupling each of said lifting mounts 57, 57A and 58, 58A with respect to the corresponding support frame 570, 580, such that, for example, and with reference to Figures 7B and 7C, the four elevation modules, in other words the two of the pair 57 and 57A and the two of the pair 58, 58a, can be redprocally positioned at a distance between the minimum value "Tmm" and the maximum value "Tmax ".

With reference to Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, said apparatus can be advantageously formed by joining two component frames, as follows:

- a first frame 400 (see Figure 12) is formed as a straight parallelepiped with a rectangular cross section and includes at least four vertical columns 100, 101, 102, 103 arranged in the corners of the parallelepiped, whose four faces are, two to two, parallel between sf or perpendicular to sf; these columns are joined at the top and bottom by two horizontal bars 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D; obviously, two horizontal bars are arranged in a vertical first plane "VL1", while the other two horizontal bars are arranged in a vertical second plane "VL2", obviously parallel to said first plane "VL1"; said planes are represented by the respective straight lines "VL1" and "VL2" (see Figures 12 and 13), which simply indicate the corresponding straight straight lines of the same planes, passing a horizontal plane through the lower horizontal bars 100B and 100D opposite.

It is essential that said first frame 400 has been individually described because it contains within it the first station S-1, which includes some of the devices described above, and which in particular contains the four lift modules corresponding to the closed box stacks, that is, the two of the pair 57 and 57A and the two of the pair 58, 58A.

As will be explained in greater detail below, these elevation modules will have to present a precise positioning with respect to said first frame 400.

Similarly, the second frame 401 (see Figure 13) essentially similar to the first frame 400, comprises at least four vertical columns 200, 201, 202, 203 arranged at the corners of the parallelepiped, whose four faces are two to two, parallel between sf or perpendicular to sf in the same vertical plane "VL2"; these columns are joined at the top and bottom by four horizontal bars 200A, 200B, 200C, 200D respectively; also in this case, two horizontal bars are arranged in the first vertical plane "VL1", while the other two horizontal bars are arranged in the second vertical plane "VL2", obviously parallel to said first plane "VL1".

Thus, said two frames 400, 401 are joined and integrated with other horizontal bars, not specifically indicated, in the sense that they are made to slide along said first vertical planes "VL1" and "VL2" to join and form a solid 1000 structure, like two parallel vertical walls and side by side.

In addition, as can be seen symbolically in Figure 9, said parallel vertical planes "VL1" and "VL2" are also parallel to the common direction "X" of alignment of the closed box stacks that powers the apparatus, and of alignment of the piles of open boxes that are removed from the same device.

Essentially, the basic structure of the apparatus comprises a support framework shown symbolically in Figures 8 to 11.

In particular, and with reference to figure 10, the various functions of the apparatus provided for adapting it to the different widths of the boxes (the term "width" meaning the transverse dimension "Y" exemplified by the dimensions L1 or L2, see the figures 3, 4, and which is perpendicular to said direction "X") can be obtained easily by simply separating or selectively approximating between each other in a previously selectable distance the parts of said framework that are essentially included in the vertical planes "VL1" and " VL2 "and mutually parallel of said two frames 400, 401 by means of a pair of endless screws 420, 421, aligned between sf and parallel to said transverse distance" Y ", said screws 420, 421 being applied, on the one hand, to a gearbox 330, and on the other side to a side part 500, 600

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respective and redprocally symmetrical, as shown schematically in Figure 10 (each of them being included respectively in one of said parallel planes "VL1" and "VL2"), of said frames 400, 401. In fact, these frames, once joined together, they can also be separated into two lateral parts 500, 600, symmetrically with respect to the central and parallel vertical plane of said "X" direction.

Said gearbox 330 is in turn connected, in a known manner, with a drive shaft 340 suitable for rotation, such that its rotation determines, through said gearbox 330, the separation movement or the movement of zooming between the parts of said portions 500, 600 of two frames 400, 401.

This action for adjusting the distance between said two frames allows to control the distance, in accordance with said "Y" direction, of all the functional bodies in accordance with the different and variable widths of the stacks of boxes that can be successively introduced into the device.

In particular, among other things, the adjustment of the distance between said two parts 500, 600 makes it possible to move said frames 470, 480 away from each other (for stacks of closed boxes) and similarly, and in a synchronized manner, also the frames 570 , 580 for stacks of open boxes.

Therefore, it is evident that the eight lifting mounts included in the four pairs of mounts, two pairs 47, 47A and 48, 48A in the S-1 loading station and two pairs 57, 57A and 58, 58A in the station of descent S-2, separate or approach in a completely equivalent way.

Finally, with reference to FIG. 11, it is advantageous that the box opening station as a whole, comprising in particular said vertical axis 201, and the respective central body 200 and functional body 202, and of course said pairs of mounting frames elevation 47, 47A and 48, 48A and the respective working devices, be symmetric with respect to a vertical plane "PV" that passes through the center of said vertical axis 201 and that is perpendicular to said common direction "X".

For greater clarity, Figures 5, 5B and 5C symbolically show with the straight line "PV" the line that cuts said plane of symmetry and a general horizontal plane.

In fact, this circumstance makes it possible to maintain the position of said vertical axis 201 completely stable and invariable even if changes occur in the width and especially in the length (direction "X") of different boxes of various batteries, since it is sufficient that:

- said boxes are "centered" on said "PV" plane and therefore on said vertical axis 201;

- and that said differences in the dimensions between one and another type of boxes are automatically transmitted to said command and control means, which recognize the different dimensions of the boxes and make an adaptation to them simply by correspondingly adjusting said distances "Zmm and Zmax "between the lift mounts 47 and 47A, and between the lift mounts 48, 48A of the respective pairs of lift mounts.

In addition, the positioning of the successive batteries of closed boxes is performed automatically by adjusting the introduction of the respective battery in said first station "S-1" to the point where the distance in length ("axis" X ") of the batteries respectively, it is centered exactly on said vertical plane "PV".

In summary, the devices and functional bodies described to adapt the device to boxes with different dimensions, including its height, are the following:

1) means for lowering the central functional body 202 by means of adjustable races C1, C2;

2) means for moving the respective horizontal bars 203B and 203A-B away and closer;

3) means for widening, lowering (S), narrowing and lifting (T) possibly in a limited way the two pairs of lifting frames 47, 47A and 48, 48A through the displacement of the respective support frames 470, 480, a those that are applied respectively said pairs;

4) adjustment of the distance (Z) between the lift mounts of each pair of lift mounts in the first station S-1;

5) means for widening, lifting (R) and redprocally approaching the two pairs of lifting mounts 57, 57A and 58, 58A through the displacement of the respective support frames 570, 580 to which said pairs are respectively applied;

6) adjustment of the distance (T) between the lift mounts of each pair of lift mounts in the second station S-2;

7) adjusting the distance between said two symmetrical parts 500, 600 of said two similar and opposite frames 401,401 through said gearbox 330 and the respective drive shaft 340.

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According to an improved embodiment of the invention, all these functional bodies, various actuators, lifting, lowering and rotating means, actuating means, approach and / or separation means, etc. they are connected to a command and control unit (not shown) in which all the controls have been previously stored to operate in a predetermined sequence, and in particular in a predefined measure, all said bodies, devices, means, etc. based on the full dimensions of each type of box to be opened.

In this way it is immediately possible to introduce a simple instruction in said command and control unit so that said bodies, devices, actuators, etc. they are automatically positioned or activated in respective positions suitable for processing a box of predefined dimensions already converted into corresponding respective parameters stored in said command and control unit.

In addition, the same unit is also suitable for storing in an orderly and appropriately combined the parameters corresponding to multiple types of boxes with different dimensions, so that, as one skilled in the art has already understood, it is immediately possible to introduce in said means of command and control a simple coded instruction representative of a particular type of box so that said command and control automatically process and transmit to said bodies, devices, actuators, etc. the appropriate signals appropriate to determine its correct positioning or in general the mode of operation corresponding to the type of box selected.

However, the implementation of said command and control unit, and the programming of the reports and relative instructions, is an activity that can be carried out entirely by experts in that field, and therefore is no longer described in detail.

Furthermore, said controls, structures, operating bodies, devices, actuators described in general above, which produce displacements, distances, rotations, operating sequences of control bodies, etc., can be implemented and operated through means and known modes, which can be ideally performed without any difficulty, based on existing requirements, by an expert in this field, and therefore will not be expressly illustrated.

Claims (1)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 Apparatus for fully automatically opening the side and reclining walls of multiple boxes (1), preferably for agricultural products, provided with a bottom plane (2) and with two pairs of opposite walls (3, 3A - 4, 4A), each of them articulated in said bottom plane, which are arranged in the same way and arranged and arranged vertically one above the other to form a respective first stack (11), said apparatus comprising a) means for inserting said first battery (11) into a first charging station (S-1), b) first means for vertically lifting two opposite walls of the upper case by a respective rotation with respect to said bottom plane, c) second means for vertically lifting the other two opposite walls (4, 4A) of the upper case by a respective rotation with respect to said bottom plane, d) means for blocking (205, 205A) at least one (4A) of said side walls in an adjacent side wall (3A), e) means for horizontally transferring said open box (1) to a position outside the vertical projection of said first stack, f) means for lifting (47, 47a, 48, 48A) said first stack (11) such that the box in the upper position (1) and with the reclined side walls reaches a predetermined level in said first charging station ( S-1) after inserting said first battery (11) into said first charging station (S-1), g) means for lowering (57, 57a, 58, 58A) said box to a support level of the respective background plane (2) in a second workstation (S-2) capable of forming a row of open boxes, said means being operated to block at least one (4A) of said side walls in an adjacent side wall (3A), and to horizontally transfer said open box (1) to a position outside the vertical projection of said stack, by using of a central functional body (202) that can: - be initially lowered into an open box, - be modified in such a way that it increases a horizontal dimension and comes into contact with the side edges of two opposite walls, and that is coupled by pushing said two edges on corresponding edges of the other two walls, - staying coupled by pushing said box and being transferred in a horizontal direction, possibly after a lifting movement, to automatically transfer said box, - be able to be lowered in races (C1, C2), which can be selectively differentiated, with respect to a common initial level, characterized in that said first station (S-1) can lift, one by one, a row of closed box piles, and comprises: - two support frames (470, 480), which are parallel and extend in a horizontal direction, each provided with a pair of respective lifting supports (47, 47A, - 48, 48A), capable of supporting a battery respective closed boxes, - work devices that can exert a succession of changes in said support frames, including: ■ increased redproca horizontal distance from a first distance (N1) to a second distance (N2), ■ synchronized descent (S) of said support frames (470, 480), ■ reapproximation of said support frames (470, 480) to the initial distance (N1), ■ additional final elevation of said support frames (470, 480) in a predefined magnitude (T). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said operating body (202) is connected with horizontal means for the transmission of movement (203, 203A) whose horizontal dimension is selectively controlled through respective distance members (203B, 203A-B) , whose opposite ends are connected with respective control boxes (204, 204A), each of which is provided with at least one locking means (205, 205A) oriented horizontally, said spacer members (203B, 203A-B) being able to increase selectively a corresponding size such that said pair of supports are coupled with two opposite walls (4, 4A) of the upper box, so that said box is raised and transferred successively in a horizontal plane. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said support frames (470, 480) include means that can selectively change the distance (Z) between the frames (47, 47A, - 48, 48A) of each pair of respective mounts. 4) Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said second station (S-2) can form and lower, one by one, a row of open box piles, and comprises: - two support frames (570, 580) two support frames (470, 480), which are parallel and extend in a horizontal direction, each provided with a pair of 5 lowering supports (57, 57A, - 58, 58A), capable of supporting a battery respective open boxes, - work devices that can exert a succession of changes in said support frames, including: ■ increased redproca horizontal distance from a first distance (K1) to 10 a second distance (K2), ■ synchronized elevation (r) of said support frames (570, 580), ■ reapproximation of said support frames (570, 580) to the initial distance (K1). 15 5) Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said support frames (570, 580) they include means that can selectively change the distance (D) between the supports (57, 57A. --- 58, 58A) of a pair of respective supports. 6) Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: 20 - a first frame (400) formed as a straight parallelepiped (100, 101, 102, 103) with at at least two vertical columns (100, 101) arranged in the same vertical plane ("VL1"), joined by the bottom and the top by two respective horizontal bars (100A, 100B), said first frame being able to accommodate said first station (S-1), - a second frame (400) extremely similar to the first frame (400) with at least two 25 vertical columns (202, 203) arranged in the same vertical plane ("VL2"), joined by the lower part and at the top by two respective horizontal bars (200C, 200D), said first frame being able to accommodate said first station (S-1), - said vertical planes ("VL1"), ("VL2") being parallel to each other and also parallel to the common direction ("X") of alignment of the closed box stacks, 30 - these two frames forming two lateral parts (500, 600), vertical and symmetrical, - and means that can modify the transverse distance ("Y") between said lateral parts (500, 600) in the direction perpendicular to said common direction ("X") through devices capable of adjusting said distance selectively, preferably a pair of adjusting screws (420, 421) that are aligned with each other and are parallel to said 35 transverse distance ("Y"), and are coupled on a respective side with a box of gears (330) and on the opposite side respectively with one of said structures (400, 401), said gearbox being connected with a control shaft (340) that can be activated to rotate. 7) Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vertical axis (201) and the relevant central body (200) and said functional organ (202), and said pairs of supports (47, 47A, - 48, 48A) are symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane ("PV") that passes through the center of said vertical axis (201) and is perpendicular to said common direction ("X"). 8) An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises control and command means that can: - store parameters / data corresponding to multiple types of box of different sizes, - introduce a coded instruction representative of said control and command means 50 a specific type of cash register so that said control and command automatically process and send to said operating devices, organs and actuating devices, a suitable signal capable of determining in them the correct operations corresponding to the type of box selected.