ES2907817B2 - MACHINE TO COVER BOXES OF DIFFERENT FORMATS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

MACHINE TO COVER BOXES OF DIFFERENT FORMATS

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a machine for covering conventional cardboard boxes that is capable of covering boxes of different formats without altering the continuous operation of the machine.

It finds special application in the field of the machinery industry for the manufacture of cardboard boxes.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current state of the art, machines for the lidding of cardboard boxes are already known. These machines incorporate an input area for cardboard sheets, a system for capturing the sheets to take them to a work area where they are deposited in an area where there is a closing core, located at a higher level than the shaped sheet. that, when a certain box passes through a conveyor belt, the closing plug is activated, presses on the sheet and pushes it to place it on the box and leave it closed. Before placing the sheet on the box, glue has been impregnated in certain areas of the sheet, so that the box remains with the lid on and configured to exit the machine.

However, this standard machine is only valid for forming boxes of a single format. In the case of needing to make a box with another format, either by a different size or by a different exterior marking, the different sheet must be in the stack in the entrance area, waiting to be captured when the time comes, something which is not feasible due to the processes related to the organization of production.

In the state of the art, there are already machines for covering boxes of different sizes, for which they incorporate two forming cores. However, this makes it possible to increase performance, but not cover different box formats, without stopping the machine. In this way, this type of machine can cover boxes of different sizes, but in individualized productions.

The present invention solves this problem by incorporating a modified capture system into the machine that has the capacity to capture sheets from two stacking areas, with which the sheets are separated by format and the organization of the machine is what decides where from. capture the sheet at all times.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the drawbacks mentioned above, the present invention describes a machine for covering boxes of different formats that comprises two sheet input areas with the corresponding sheet stacking areas, a sheet capture device and a work area, where two closing plugs are located. The machine also includes a guide for locating the sheets, a gluing device for applying glue to the sheets, and a pusher to move the sheets from the guide to the work area.

The closing cores can move according to the longitudinal direction of the machine so that any of them can be located in line with the guide and work with the sheet intended to be placed on a box to cover it.

However, the sheet pick-up device is the differentiating component with respect to known machines, in that it is configured to be able to pick up sheets from either of the two stacking areas and deposit them on the guide. For this, the sheet capture device comprises a head configured by means of a segment to which fixing arms are attached, preferably perpendicular to form a kind of grid. In each of the arms there is a series of suction cups, on two opposite sides, so that the suction cups are arranged to be able to capture sheets through the two opposite areas of the grid that configures the head and thus be able to capture sheets of each one of them. stacking areas.

The sheet capture device also incorporates a rotation lever, attached to the head, which is activated by a mechanism that is responsible for transmitting the rotation movement to the head and, therefore, to the suction cups. The turning lever causes the sheet pick-up device to pass from a practically vertical position for sheet pick-up to a horizontal position for depositing the sheets in the guide.

In addition, the sheet capture device also incorporates a casing that incorporates a rail that fits into a rail along which it has the ability to slide.

For its part, the guide comprises two brackets, on which the sheets are deposited, which are located on additional rails so that the spacing between the brackets can be adjusted to accommodate sheets of different sizes. The squares can be moved synchronously so that the center of the guide remains unchanged. In this way, the sheet is always centered with respect to the closure plug located in front of it.

In addition, each of the closing cores incorporates a supplementary guide that incorporates a pair of supplementary brackets that are aligned with the brackets of the guide where the sheets are deposited.

With this configuration, the sheet capture device can move between any of the two sheet stacking areas, to capture a sheet through the corresponding area of the head to be deposited in the guide brackets and later transferred by means of a pusher to the working area along the additional brackets of the closing plug that is working so that it presses on it and places it on the box destined to be covered.

The gluing system is preferably located at the ends of the squares closest to the work area, so that, while they are pushed to locate themselves in the additional squares, the sheets are impregnated with glue at the ends parallel to the squares and remain located in the supplementary brackets with the glue already applied.

Despite the fact that the movement is very fast, each of the supplementary brackets preferably incorporates a supplementary profile, so that the sheets are in elevation with respect to them. With this, contact of the glue with these squares is avoided, since the glue is applied to the sheets in the lower area, which is the one that faces the boxes intended to be covered, which circulate below. The location of the supplementary profiles can be regulated in such a way that the distance between them varies and thus allows different positions of the tail with respect to the sheet.

A final configuration alternative consists of incorporating suction cups into the closure plugs to fix the sheets and make the capping process more precise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To complete the invention that is being described and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of its embodiment, a set of drawings is attached where, for illustrative purposes and not As a limitation, the following figures have been represented:

- Figure 1 represents a plan view of the machine of the invention showing two sheet input areas, the capture system, two covering areas and the output area of the already covered box. Some arrows are also shown that represent the entry and exit direction with respect to the machine of the boxes destined to be covered.

- Figure 2 represents an elevation view of the machine where the sheet capture device and the two stacking areas are located.

- Figure 3 represents an elevation view of the machine where the sheet capture device has been moved to one of the two stacking areas for the capture of a sheet.

- Figure 4 represents an elevation view of the machine where the sheet capture device has rotated to deposit the captured sheet in the guide.

- Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the machine where the sheet capture device is in the process of depositing a sheet in the guide.

- Figure 6 represents a view of a sheet located in the brackets of the guide with the pusher that is going to introduce them into the supplementary brackets of the turn-closing plug.

- Figure 7 represents an enlargement of the guide and the sheet capture device shown in figure 5.

- Figure 8 represents a perspective view of the cardboard sheet capture system holding a sheet on one side and showing that the suction cups are located on both sides.

- Figure 9 represents a perspective view of the capture system represented in figure 7 from the opposite side holding a sheet with the suction cups on the other side.

- Figure 10 represents a perspective view of a closing core with an enlargement of a sectioned supplementary bracket to show in detail the supplementary profile that it incorporates to avoid contact with the glue deposited on the sheet.

- Figure 11 represents a perspective view of the closing plug seen from below, showing some suction cups for capturing the sheet and the folders intended to act on the sheet once it is located in the box to bend the ends.

The following is a list of the references used in the figures:

1. Sheet of cardboard.

2. Entrance area.

3. Sheet stacking area.

4. Work area.

5. Sheet capture device.

6. Suction cups.

7. Head.

8. Segment adjusting the height of the suction cups.

9. Fixing arms.

10. Rotation lever.

11. Casing.

12. Lane.

13. Mechanism.

14. Rail.

15. Guide.

16. Supplementary profile.

17. Closing males.

18. Tail.

19. Squads.

19'. Supplementary squads.

20. Additional rail.

21. Pusher.

22. Folders.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a machine for covering boxes of different formats that has the capacity to capture the sheets (1) from two different stacking areas (3), so that the machine does not need to stop to change format and go from covering a first type of box to cover a second type of box.

To do this, as shown in figure 1, the machine incorporates two entry areas (2) for cardboard sheets (1), in charge of performing the box lid function, which end in the corresponding sheet stacking areas. (3), each one located on one side of a sheet capture device (5) responsible for moving the sheets (1) from the stacking area (3) to a guide (15) from where a pusher (21) It will be moved to the work area (4), where two closing plugs (17) are located to place the lids on the boxes to cover them.

The boxes intended to be covered circulate through the machine as indicated by the arrows through an area below the work area (4) where the guide (15) is located. Thus, to place the sheet (1) on the box, the closing plug (17) only has to press the sheet (1) to bring it over the box and activate some folders (22) that are responsible for folding the perimeter areas of the box. the sheet (1), where strings of glue (18) have previously been applied, to place them around the open area of the box and thus remain permanently closed.

Located in front of the guide (15) and centered with respect to it, there is one of the closing plugs (17) that is working. Each of the closing plugs (17), as represented in figure 6 and in more detail in figures 10 and 11, incorporates additional brackets (19') that are aligned with the brackets (19) of the guide ( 15) to carry out the transfer of the sheets (1). The positions of the closing plugs (17) are interchangeable, so that it can be selected which of the two will work to be positioned facing and centered with respect to the guide (15), depending on what is needed at that moment.

Figure 2 shows the location of the two sheet stacking areas (3), the sheet capture device (5), with suction cups (6) on both sides and the guide (15) where they are to be located. the sheets from the stacking area (3).

Figures 3 to 5 show the sheet capture device (5) in different positions along the route from the stacking area (3) to the guide (15).

Figure 6 shows a closing core (17) with its supplementary brackets (19') aligned with the brackets (19) of the guide (15) where a sheet (1) is located. You can see the pusher (21) that is going to be in charge of moving the sheet (1) from an initial position in the brackets (19) to a final position in the supplementary brackets (19'). The pusher (21) is made up of a plate that, by means of an arm, is attached to a telescopic guide driven by a motor.

Figures 8 and 9 show the sheet capture device (5). As can be seen in the figures, the device (5) comprises a head (7) that incorporates a segment (8) and fixing arms (9) joined perpendicularly to the segment (8) and in which suction cups (6) are located. ), located on two opposite sides of the arms (9) to be oriented in two opposite directions of the head (7). The suction cups (6) can slide through the fixing arms (9) in the same way that the arms (9) can slide through the segment (8), which acts as a height adjuster for the arms (9) and, therefore, therefore, of the suction cups (6), so that both components (6, 9) can be fixed in certain positions depending on the size of the cardboard sheet (1) with which they are going to work.

The head (7) is attached to a turning lever (10) that is activated by a mechanism (13) in charge of transmitting the rotation movement so that the head (7) can move from one position with the blades (1) practically vertically, as they are captured from the stacking areas (3), to a position with the sheets (1) horizontally, as they are deposited in the guide (15).

On the other hand, the sheet capture device (5) incorporates a casing (11) that has a rail (12) for fixing to a rail (14) through which it can slide, in such a way that the capture device (5) can be moved to collect sheets (1) from either of the two sheet stacking areas (3).

The rotation lever (10) makes the head (7) rotate with the blade (1) to be deposited in the guide (15).

For its part, the guide (15) incorporates brackets (19) where the sheets (1) are supported. The brackets (19) rest on some additional rails (20), as reflected in figure 7, through which they can move closer or further apart to adjust to the size of the work sheet (1). This displacement of the brackets (19) preferably occurs symmetrically, so that the center of the guide (15) does not change its position.

In addition, in the event that the sheet (1) is intended to be placed by the second closing plug (17), the closing plugs (17) can move along the longitudinal axis of the machine so that any of them can be aligned through the additional brackets (19') with the brackets (19) of the guide (15) and thus remain in position to receive an already glued sheet to press on it and take it over the box to be covered to later activate the folders (22) and leave the sheet (1) definitively located on the box.

The gluing system that the machine incorporates can consist of applicators or simply glue applicator guns (18).

In one embodiment, the glue (18) is applied during the movement of the sheet (1) through the guide (15) to the work area (4) in order not to slow down the process. In this way, the glue (18) can be applied to the two parallel edges of the sheet (1) that rest on the brackets (19) of the guide (15), also being applied to the other two complementary edges of the box intended for to be closed by the sheet (1), so that it is ensured that the four edges of the box, with the sheet (1) already located, have glue (18) applied and the perimeter closure is ensured. The glue applicators (18) have not been shown in the figures because they are sufficiently well-known elements.

In addition, once a sheet (1) has been impregnated with a bead of glue (18), since the bead of glue (18) is located in the lower area of the sheet (1), which is the area that It faces the box where it is intended to be located, to avoid contact of the tail (18) with the supplementary brackets (19'), each of these brackets (19') incorporates a supplementary profile (16) in the most internal so that the sheet (1) is slightly raised, leaving the area impregnated with glue (18) cantilevered, as shown in figure 10. This supplementary profile (16) can be moved with respect to the supplementary bracket (19 ') in which it is located to facilitate different positions of the glue cord (18) in the sheet (1).

As shown in figure 11, the closing plugs (17) can incorporate suction cups to fix the sheet (1) and move it in a more controlled manner until it is deposited on the box. In this figure, the folders (22) can also be seen, which are located peripherally on the sheet (1) so that they act on the sheet (1) from the moment it is located on the box until the end of the movement.

Finally, it should be noted that the present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations can be made by those skilled in the art in view of the present description. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims (5)

1.- Machine for covering boxes of different formats that includes a sheet input area (2) with a sheet stacking area (3), a sheet capture device (5), a work area (4) that It comprises a closing plug (17), a guide (15) for locating the sheets (1), a pusher to move the sheets to the work area (4) and a gluing device configured to apply glue on a sheet. (1), the machine being characterized by: - It comprises a second sheet input area (2) with the corresponding second sheet stacking area (3), - it comprises a second closing plug (17) in the work area (4), - the guide (15) includes two brackets (19) for locating the sheets (1), - the sheet capture device (5) in turn comprises: - a head (7) configured by means of a segment (8) and fixing arms (9), where suction cups (6) are located, the arms (9) being attached to the segment (8), - a turning lever (10), attached to the head (7), which is activated by a mechanism (13) in charge of transmitting the rotation movement to the head (7), and - a casing (11) including a rail (12), where: - the rail (12) of the casing (11) fits into a rail (14) through which it can slide, - the brackets (19) of the guide (15) are attached to an additional rail (20) on which they can slide, - the suction cups (6) are located in two opposite planes of the head (7), - the closing plugs (17) have the ability to move, so that: - the brackets (19) of the guide (15) can be moved between them to adapt to the size of the sheet (1) intended to accommodate, - any of the two closing plugs (17) can be placed in line with the guide (15) to work on the sheet (1), - The pick-up device (5) can move along the rail (14) between any of the two sheet stacking areas (3), to pick up a sheet (1) and rotate to deposit the sheet (1) in the guide (15) to be subsequently transferred to the work area (4) so that the corresponding closing plug (17) places it on the box intended to be covered. 2. - Machine for covering boxes of different formats, according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the brackets (19) of the guide (15) incorporates a supplementary profile (16) for supporting the sheets (1), which are raised to avoid contact of the brackets (19) with the tail (18). 3. - Machine for covering boxes of different formats, according to claim 2, characterized in that the supplementary profiles (16) can be moved with respect to the respective brackets (19) in which they are located. 4. - Machine for covering boxes of different formats, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the displacement of the squares (19) is synchronized, so that the center of the guide (15) always remains unchanged. 5. - Machine for covering boxes of different formats, according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the closing cores (17) incorporates a pair of additional fixed brackets (19') with which the brackets (19) are aligned. of the guide (15).