FI106546B - Cardboard folding mechanism designed for a cardboard box around the product - Google Patents

Description

106546

The present invention relates to a device for use in a machine for packaging products into an enclosure enclosure formed by a blank having a pair of wall-5 paired together along a fold line and having a pair of flap supporting and blanking the product, the device having folding means for facing and folding a pair of flaps and for folding such flaps inwardly with respect to the housing, the folding means including a folding device adapted to cause a folding movement to progressively penetrate into the a receiving member and means cooperating with the actuator to cause the receiving member of the blank to rotate and fold during movement. Typically, such a housing is formed of a cardboard blank in which the side wall and the bottom wall are articulated along a fold line. Apertures for the product, such as apertures for supporting the bottom of the bottle, comprising articulated retaining flaps, are disposed between the side walls of the housing on either side of the fold line. The machine to which the mechanism of the present invention can be coupled comprises a conveyor for transporting the carton blank and the products to be packaged on a predetermined path. The mechanism then folds the retaining flaps in the desired position inwardly into the housing. The present invention relates to folding inwardly a pair of retaining flaps associated with each opening for supporting the product. The flaps of each pair of flaps are connected and folded. inwardly while maintaining adjacent portions of the carton blank by substantially lateral movement of suitable guide members.

It is generally known from EP-0 200 445 to provide features to support the product, such as openings for supporting the bottom of the bottle in the bottom and side walls of the enclosure surrounding the product, this case; * · *: when receiving the product, for example a bottle packed in this case. These bottom-supporting features are usually the side and bottom sides of the enclosure surrounding the product. ···. 30, and comprise flaps that are pivotally connected to the housing wall. In the smooth blank, the flaps close the apertures, which are to be provided with housing apertures for supporting the bottom of the bottle. It is generally known that, when applied to a product group, the blank is opened by a simple hook mechanism and thus allows the bottom of the product to enter the realized opening.

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Document ΕΡ-0 200 445 discloses a mechanism designed for attaching and folding inwardly into a housing a pair of flaps that support the base of a bottle. The folding mechanism comprises a pivotable folding device having a pair of pivoting hooks which are cam-guided for folding movement, whereby the hooks progressively arrive at the blank retention opening, folding the flaps and performing a return movement. These folding and return movements occur during a common linear feed movement of the casing blank and the rotating folding device. The rotating hooks act successively on the preform, opening the flap set which supports the base and moving along the preform with the preform. For sex triggered by rotating hooks, each rotating folding device engages a cam groove integral with the cam block and is conveyed through the working groove and return groove of the sprocket assembly.

The invention provides a device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that said cooperating means is radially movable with respect to the axis of the device and the receiving portion of the blank has a pair of pivoting fingers arranged to rotate radially relative to said cooperating means.

According to one feature of the invention, said cooperative means may comprise a cam guide passing through an endless cam groove shaped to cause said folding movement and said return movement.

According to another feature of the invention, said folding means may comprise a rotatable disc assembly including said folding device and said endless cam groove.

In the structures where the disk assembly is arranged, this disk assembly may comprise: • an axially arranged cam, a disc having said folding devices, and 25 topmost disks rotating relative to the cam. It is preferred that these plates are round discs.

• · · ♦ · ·

According to yet another feature of the invention, said folding device may comprise a radially movable base member having said cam guide mounted on said baffle. This base member may terminate in a pair of pivotable hooks forming a folding member portion of the folding device. that the rotating hooks '···' are rotated substantially simultaneously and cooperate with the parts of the said spacer to effect their rotational movement.

• · ·

According to yet another feature of the invention, said base member can be mounted to slide in a radial groove arranged in the middle plate.

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According to a further feature of the invention, said disc assembly may comprise a plurality of folding devices arranged in separate groups, whereby each individual folding unit takes care of each successive, switchable housing.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1-10 illustrate various steps of operation of the mechanism of the invention; Fig. 11 shows a schematic, partially exploded perspective view of the mechanism of the invention 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a plan view of a rotating hook forming part of a folding device according to the invention, and Figure 14 is a side sectional view of the hook of Figure 13.

1 through 10 of the drawings are schematic representations of the operation of the housing flap opening mechanism 10 of the invention. The mechanism comprises a plurality of turns of folding devices mounted in rotation, successively interacting with a housing blank suitable for providing two base-supporting openings on each side of the housing. Figures 1-10 illustrate the sequential steps of rotation of the rotating plate assembly 36, 38 • · 1 '.'Λ1 20 during which such a pair of folding devices 12 provides a base ·. 'Opening of the supporting openings A in each case by moving the flap pairs of the casing blank C • · 1: ·' fi, f2. In this case, the casing blank is of the type surrounding the product.

* · 1 The base portions of the pair of bottles Bi, B2 then enter the corresponding supporting apertures

: A

• · · A.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a rotating, circular plate mechanism 10 comprising an upper plate 38, a central plate 36, and a lower fixed plate 1. 1. 1. cam cam 34. may be, for example, an axis fixed to each plate and pivotally mounted through the center of the fixed cam plate.

Of course, the shaft may also be coupled to the engine by a suitable mechanical connection, such that the rotation speed of the wheel assembly, which is exactly uniform with the movement of the housing blank C, is achieved in the packaging process. * In this example, the opening mechanism 10 comprises three sets of 4 106546 four foldable folding devices spaced evenly apart. The number of each folding device 12 and the distance between them are determined by the type of casing used to package the product. In this particular example, the enclosures are intended to be packaged in a 4x2 arrangement such that a row of four products is positioned 5 along each side wall of the enclosure. Since there are three groups of four rotating folding devices, one rotation of the wheel assembly thus results in the opening of the rigid flaps in three successive housing blanks. The housing C comprises a sidewall having openings A for receiving the base portions of the products B and flaps "f" extending from the plane of the sidewall into the housing inwardly from the sidewall of the housing.

The pair of folding mechanism 10 is arranged to be mounted adjacent the feeding head of the packaging machine. Two such mechanisms are mounted in parallel so that the feed path of the blank to the product is trapped between these mechanisms. From now on, the explanation only applies to one mechanism of this pair, since the other mechanism is completely identical with it. The casing blank consists of a linear series of apertures A supporting the base of the product which extend along a fold line that engages the sidewall to fold the blank into the base plate. Such base support apertures are provided, for example, to support the base parts of the bottles to improve the retention of the bottles in a full carton. Each base supporting aperture is defined by partially foldable support flaps 20f which are folded to overlap the adjacent portions of the side wall of the blank and the base plate.

Figure 11 illustrates a single folding device belonging to one of three groups. 12, the first hook 14 and the second hook 16 of which are respectively shown as fully open, so that they protrude from the recess 40 of the plate 36. Each rotating folding device *. The I 25 comprises an elongated rod 26 which fits in a radial groove 28 formed by a central plate 36 for mutual movement. The beam 26 of the rod 26 has a radial: * outer end having a tip plate 24 having an oval transverse opening 22. The pivotable hooks 14 and 16 have respective upper alignment pins 18 and 20, respectively: 36 in the recess 50 formed in the protruding portion 37. The latter portions are shown in Figures 12-14. The plan view of Fig. 13 is • «·. It is seen that the pin 20 moves from the center of the pin 52, causing the hooks 14 and 16 to open during the radial movement of the rod 26. It is preferred that the angle '· * · * A facing the axis of the pin 20 on the axis of the pin 52 is joined by a line' R 'parallel to the radius R of the 35 hooks 16, this side forming a hook. 14 touching sides, is of the order of 45 °.

• t · · *> · 5 106546

The cam guide, in this case the roll assembly 30, depends on the underside of the rod 26 between its ends and rolls in the cam groove 32 formed by the cam plate 34. The pivoting hooks 14 and 16 actuate the cam 26 which radially inwardly and outwardly 1 to 10, so that the position of the hooks 14 and 16 relative to their position relative to the cam ground 32 can be simulated in each of these figures. As can be seen, the pivoting hooks open to their maximum (as shown in Figure 11) with the crank 26 at its radial outermost limit, that is, when the cam 10 is approached by the cam eccentric portion 32.

Fig. 11 is, of course, only diagrammatic and it will be understood that each projecting portion 13 of the top plate 38 is provided at its lower surface with a radial trough (not shown) receiving the tip plate 24, thereby enabling radial movement of the tip plate 24.

Further, it can be seen from Figures 1-10 that when the plate assembly 36, 38 is rotated clockwise, the first folding device 12 engages the housing blank and protrudes into the opening A, separating the flaps fi, f2 from the plane parallel to the side wall of the housing. In Fig. 1, the folding device 12 is pivoted to touch the side of the housing blank C, while in Fig. 2, further rotation has caused the folding device 12 to begin penetrating the opening 20 supporting the base.

Figure 3 illustrates the folding device 12 in a position where it is almost completely inserted into the aperture Aa to cause the flaps f1, f2 to fold inward substantially apart but in a position up to 90 ° with respect to the side wall of the housing. The situation is the same in the sequential phases up to and including '*. * · 25 o'clock. It should be noted that up to this position, the twisting hooks of the folding device 12 remain fixed, although they have penetrated into the subject.

• · · • · · · ·

In Fig. 6, the pivoting hooks 14 and 16 begin to pivot apart, thereby still opening the pivot flaps f1, f2.

• · * • * • *. * <<. In Figure 7, the flaps f1, f2 are folded so that their position is greater than 90 ° with respect to the associated sidewall of the enclosure and start to fold toward adjacent portions of the enclosure sidewall. The second folding device 12 begins to simultaneously push into the next adjacent opening A1, which has flaps f3 and U-% 4 «φ · a · 6 106546

In Figure 8, the cam guide 30 is radially disposed at the outermost position of the cam 32, whereby the connecting rod 26 brings the tip plate 24 in its radial position. This results in maximal opening of the pivoting hooks 14 and 15 due to the movement of the plate 24 over the alignment pins 18 5 and 20 fitted to the trough 22.

Fig. 9 shows that the cam guide 30 has passed the largest dimension in the radial direction of the cam 32 and that the rod 26 begins to retract, causing the pivoting hooks 14 and 16 to close back against each other.

In Fig. 10, the pivoting hooks 14 and 16 are brought closer to each other, which allows the hooks to retract from aperture A.

As the hooks thus rotate to their outermost position, they move apart to engage and fold the strips of the base retention opening and, as the hooks rotate to their fully retracted position, close to each other.

It will be apparent from the schematic figures 1-10 that the hooks rotated during this operation operate adjacent to the bottoms of the bottles Bi, B2. The bottoms of the bottles are then connected to their respective bottom openings as the side walls of the housing move inward. This is done by overlapping the bottom walls of the casing, which generally tightens the casing blank around the vial assembly. In this particular example, all four adjacent openings are opened before the enclosure enclosing the articles is closed around the group of bottles 20.

It is apparent from the drawings that the pivoting hooks 13, 14 of the folding apparatus have the appearance of • · 1 ;; Y curved, which improves their penetration into aperture A and allows progressive ·. its folding effect on fl5 f2 opening flaps. It is preferable that the opening mechanism 10 according to the invention can be easily modified, so that it can also be used * 25 for cartons having a shape different from that described herein.

In this case, the transition from one cardboard box to another requires only the removal of the used • · · Y: disk assembly and replacement with another suitable disk assembly whose diameter, rotating hook assemblies, and overall rotation speed are adapted to the type of enclosure fed to the machine. In this respect, the general. · · 1; The known mechanisms differ in that they require significantly more complex t; _ the number of exchanges and the number of twisted hooks and the distance between them often have to be '' · · '' individually matched to an endless chain.

• · · · · • · «• · · * • | · • ·

Claims (10)

Apparatus for use in a machine for wrapping products in an enclosure enclosure formed by a blank (C) having a pair of walls joined together by a fold line and having a pair of flaps supporting the product and reinforcing the blank (Fl, Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooperating means comprises a cam follower (30) which moves in an endless cam groove 20 (32) configured to cause the fingers (14, 16) to rotate. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the folding means (10) comprises a rotating plate assembly (34, 36, 38) comprising a folding device (12) and an endless groove (32) in the cam. «« · • · · β · Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the plate assembly 25 comprises, in axial series, a cam (34), a spacer (36) to which the folding devices (12) are connected, and a top plate (38) and that the spacer (36) and top plate (38). ) rotate with respect to nok- * "*. plate (34). • · · • ♦ · φ Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the plates (34, 36, 38) are discs. V · «· • · F2) disposed on either side of the fold line having folding means for facing and folding the flap pair (F1, F2) and folding such flaps (F1, F2) in relation to the housing, which folding means (10) includes a folding device (12) to cause the folding movement to progressively penetrate into the hole (A) in the blank (C) to fold the flaps (F1, F2) and then to exit the hole while moving the blank (C), which folding device (12) includes a blank receiving portion and ) cooperating with the actuator (32) to cause the receiving portion of the blank to rotate during folding and exit movement, characterized in that said cooperating means (30) is radially movable with respect to the axis of the device and the receiving portion of the blank has a pair (14, 16) adapted to rotate the co-operative radial movement of the member (30) with respect to said axis. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the folding device (12): ... · comprises a frame (26) mounted radially movable in the baffle ·: ··: (36) and that this body supports the follower of the beak (26). 30). ♦> »• 4 *« * • · s 106546 Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the body (26) terminates in an end (24) having a pair of pivoting fingers (14, 16) which form the receiving part of the preform of the folding device (12). 7 106546 Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pivoting fingers 5 (14, 16) are made to pivot substantially simultaneously. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the body (26) is mounted to slide in a radial groove (28) in the spacer (36). Device according to one of Claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the sheet assembly (34, 36, 38) has a plurality of folding devices (12) arranged in different groups, for each successive paperboard (B). has its own folding equipment group.