FR2482046A1 - DEVICE FOR MAKING A CARDBOARD FLAN AN OPEN TUBULAR SHAPE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO THE MANUFACTURE OF LIQUID-TIGHT CONTAINERS. THE DEVICE INTENDED TO GIVE A BOARDBOARD BLANK 100 A TUBULAR SHAPE OPEN AT ITS ENDS IS USED IN AN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CARDBOARD BOXES WATERTIGHT TO LIQUIDS FROM A BOARDBOARD BLANK 100 THAT CAN BE FOLDED, HAVING A CORE 304 WHICH PRESENTS AN EXTERIOR SHAPE DIMENSIONED TO GIVE THE DESIRED TUBULAR SHAPE TO BLANK 100. IT INCLUDES A 360 JAW ASSEMBLY, SEPARATED FROM CHUCK 304 AND SURROUNDING THE LATTER, AN ELEMENT 279 TO INSERT THE CARDBOARD BLANK BETWEEN THE JAW ASSEMBLY 360 AND THE CHUCK 304 SO THAT THE BLANK 100 SURROUND THE CHUCK 304 WITHOUT BEING FOLDED, AND AN ELEMENT 370 IS INTENDED TO CLOSE THE ASSEMBLY WITH 360 JAWS AROUND THE CHUCK 304 TO FOLD THE BLANK 100 AROUND THE CHUCK 304. FIELD OF APPLICATION: THE MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUE BOXES CONTAINING, FOR EXAMPLE, BEVERAGES, ETC.

Description

1. United States Patent Nos. 3,800,677 and 3,775,943

describe respectively a

  apparatus for forming cardboard boxes carrying a trawl

  and a device for filling and sealing such boxes.

  The apparatus and method of the present invention, described hereinafter, are intended for the formation, filling and sealing of like cardboard boxes. The cardboard box formed by means of the apparatus and the method of the invention is of the type described in the patent of the United States of America

  No. 3,749,930, and presents the improvements

  in United States Patent No. 4,011,984 and in the United States Patent Application

  No. 911,990, filed June 2, 1978 by Josef J. Buschor.

  Basically, the cardboard box described in each of these patents and in this application includes a container of rectangular cross section, formed from

  of a polyethylene-lined cardboard flan, having sensi-

  the shape of a T and consists of a single piece. The box may comprise, on one of its sides, an access flap inside which a torch is fixed. The liquid contained in the box can be consumed by lifting the access flap, which rotates the torch to expose an end by means of which the contents of the

  box can be sucked into the mouth, and what also makes

  move down the other end of the torch at an angle

of the box.

  In forming the cardboard box by means of the apparatus described in the aforementioned Patent No. 3,800,667, the

  two ends of the cardboard blank are sealed before the

  filling ration. As described in the aforementioned Patent No. 3,775,943, the access flap is raised and the box is filled through this flap, and the hole is closed by the application of a strip length. U.S. Patent 4,037,370 discloses an apparatus for closing and sealing the cardboard box or carton, wherein the carton is filled from the top of the container, before a covering member squeezed flat on the open end of the filled cardboard

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  2. and sealed to the latter by melting and cooling the polyethylene coating on the top of the open cardboard at its end. Although these prior art methods and apparatus for forming a cardboard box are useful in their limited application, they present certain problems of cost, space, production and

reliability.

  In particular, the previous devices of

  cardboard boxes require an extremely

  a large and elongated body in which an insulated cardboard blank is shaped, filled and sealed by progressing in a series of work stations oriented in the manner of an elongated production line. This large and elongated structure requires to allocate the device a large space inside a factory, which affects the overall performance of the device and allows its implementation in only in

  large production facilities.

  In addition, the apparatuses of the prior art are

  generally designed to facilitate training, fill it

  wise and sealing cardboard boxes in series along

  of the line or production line (ie the forma-

  carton boxes one by one) which, because of the time required for filling and sealing the boxes, limits productivity and necessarily increases the cost of packaging.

production.

  Moreover, because of the lengthened nature of

  cardboard boxes, mechanized

  my complexes and extensive transportation devices

  in such an apparatus, one or more qualified technicians

  must constantly monitor the device while it is running and make fine adjustments. In addition, the apparatuses of the prior art are unable to implement a simple and convenient method for the production

  containers of different sizes during different

  rents production runs. The flexibility of

  the prior art in this respect is therefore very limited.

  The apparatus and the method of forming a carton blank according to the invention constitute an improvement

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  3. important in relation to the apparatus and processes described in the aforementioned patents and in the aforementioned application and they

  substantially eliminate the defects presented by the prior art.

  laughing. The invention relates to a small apparatus for forming a cardboard box and wherein a cardboard blank having substantially the shape of a T is equipped with a torch and a tape sealing device, is folded according to a square tubular configuration around a shaping mandrel, is sealed along its side and at one end by an ultrasonic welding process, is preformed along its open end by a series of dies, is filled with a desired liquid by carrying out a two-stage filling process, then is sealed along its open end before being ejected

automatically from the device.

  The significant reduction in size and the low volume nature of the apparatus according to the invention are made possible by the transverse orientation of the mechanism for laying and sealing the torch on the cardboard blank with respect to the remaining portion of the invention. machine apparatus. This transverse orientation allows the cardboard blanks to serially receive (one at a time) the torch and the sealing strip, and then to move several (four at a time in the preferred embodiment) into parallel sealing stations and filling. Since most of the production time is taken by the sealing and filling operations, this simultaneous transport of several cartons in the remaining part of the apparatus substantially increases the productivity of the apparatus without the need for it. to multiply

  Preliminary stages capable of working at high speed.

  As such, the apparatus according to the invention can be effectively used in smaller installations, and it has a high productivity which until now could not have been achieved with prior apparatus without

unnecessary increase in cost.

  Moreover, because of its small dimensions, the apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to substantially reduce the complexity of the transport mechanisms as well as the length over which the cardboard blanks are transported in the apparatus. This reduction of the transport mechanisms substantially reduces the risk of misalignment of the cardboard blanks passing through the apparatus and, consequently, allows a greater uniformity of output. Moreover, in

  the preferred embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention

  There is a central hydraulic control system which drives the main transport devices, the separate work stations along the apparatus being pneumatically controlled to give the apparatus greater reliability.

  In the preferred embodiment, the appa-

  The method and method of the present invention utilize a novel tape and torch sealing mechanism which sealingly and sealingly secures a torch and tape length on the aperture formed in one side of the carton blank while this unfolded cardboard blank, T-shaped, is placed on a rotating drum. In addition, the apparatus and method of the invention facilitates the sealing of the ends and sides of the cardboard blank on a rotating beam, in a single workstation, without the need to transfer the cardboard blank to several mandrels for each of the separate sealing operations of the ends and

sides.

  In addition, the invention relates to an improved transport device with a mandrel or stirrup conveyor, firmly supporting and orienting the blank of cardboard when

  moves through the preforming apparatus, or

  the filling station, the closing station of the

  mity and the ejection mechanism. The invention also relates to

  a particular device with a nozzle and a positive displacement pump, using an internal reciprocating drawer for

  carry out precise filling and closing operations

ture.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which:

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  5. - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention, showing the arrangement in

  the space of several workstations (I-VIII) and the

  movement of the cardboard blank when transported

  in the apparatus; Figure 1A is a perspective view of the cardboard box formed by the apparatus and method of the invention;

  FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of

  showing the operations performed in each of the workstations (I-VIII) and the orientation of the cardboard blank as it moves in the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the carton blank of the invention used to form the liquid tight cardboard box of Figure 1A; Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the carton blank of Figure 3 showing the position of the sealing strip and the torch on this blank; FIG. 5 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the rear end of the apparatus according to the invention, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the carton blank feeding mechanism, the alignment and heat-sealing drum, the

  mechanism for inserting the torches and the application mechanism

  cation bands of the apparatus according to the invention;

  - Figure 7 is an elevation, with tear-off

  partially, the cardboard blank feed mechanism and the heat seal and alignment drum of Figure 6, this view showing the pneumatic cam control mechanism for the hot plate;

  FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view

  tive scale of the trapping mechanism

  meaux according to the invention; FIG. 8A is an enlarged scale sectional section along the line 8a-8a of FIG. 8, showing the process by which the separate torches are transferred from the device for isolating the torches to the torch supply mechanism. ; FIG. 8B is an enlarged perspective view, partially broken away, of the torch isolation device according to the invention, showing the inner return roller disposed in this device;

  FIG. 9 is a section of the mechanism for inserting

  torches along line 9-9 of Figure 8, showing the spatial relationship between the torch isolation device, the torch transport trough and the rotating drum; FIG. 10 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9, showing the detailed operation of the torch insertion mechanism, while it deposits a blowtorch on the

  peripheral surface of the heat-sealing drum and food

  gnement; Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the tape dispensing device according to the invention, showing the rotary knives and their relative orientation with respect to the heat-sealing and alignment drum; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of

  lower rotary knife of Figure 11, showing its con-

detailed truction;

  - Figure 13 is an elevation, with tear-off

  partially, the rotary knives of Figure 11 in an input position in contact with the strip length; FIG. 14 is an elevation of the rotary knives of FIG. 11 in the shearing or cutting position of the strip length;

  FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view

  heating plate heat-sealing and alignment drum showing the detailed realization of its lower surface; FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the disengagement wheel mechanism and the pivoting mechanism of the cardboard boxes according to the invention; 7. Fig. 17 is an enlarged elevation of the disengagement wheel mechanism of Fig. 16 showing its detailed operation; - Figure 18 is a view. in perspective of the pivoting mechanism of the cardboard boxes of Figure 16, showing the loop chain transport mechanism; FIG. 19 is a partial elevation of the disengagement wheel mechanism and pivoting mechanism according to the invention, showing the initial transfer of the cardboard blank to these mechanisms; FIG. 19A is a partial elevation, similar to that of FIG. 19, but showing the final position of the carton blank after its transfer from the disengagement wheel mechanism; FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the device for transporting the apparatus according to the invention

  pre-feed conveyor and horse carrier

  or stacking, showing their relative orientation with respect to the shaping mandrels and the mechanisms

winding and pleating; -

  Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing the position of a carton blank according to the invention upon its arrival on the stacking conveyor of Fig. 20, and also showing how the cardboard blanks are stacked at each other. below others; FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the position of an insulated cardboard blank upon arrival at the winding and crimping mechanism, the blank being arranged around the shaping mandrel; FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the winding and pleating mechanism according to the invention, showing the detailed construction of this mechanism; Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the winding and pleating mechanism of Fig. 23 disposed around the shaping mandrel; FIG. 25 is a cross-section of the winding and pleating mechanism according to the invention, showing its initial orientation with respect to the shaping mandrel while an insulated cardboard blank arrives in this mechanism; Fig. 26 is a cross-section of the winding and pleating mechanism, showing the initial pleating of the cardboard blank around the shaping mandrel; Fig. 27 is a cross-section of the winding and pleating mechanism, showing the final pleating of the cardboard blank around the shaping mandrel; FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the winding and pleating mechanism and the shaping mandrel of the apparatus according to the invention, showing the mechanism for transferring the cardboard blank to the cross mandrel shown in FIG. Figure 30; - Figure 28A is a cross section

  partial, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of the upper

  the shaping mandrel of FIG. 28 and the inset crosshead mandrels of FIG. 30; Figure 29 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the carton blank according to the invention, showing its configuration prior to its transfer to the cross mandrel of Figure 30; FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the spider mandrel according to the invention on which a cardboard blank is arranged, this view showing the spatial relationship between the end folding device, the sealing anvil of the sides and the anvil sealing ends; FIG. 31 is a perspective view of one end of the spider mandrel, showing the detailed construction of the forming die mounted rigidly on this mandrel;

  FIG. 32 is a partial perspective view.

  cardboard blank according to the invention, showing its confi-

  guration at the end of its travel in the end folding device of FIG. 30; FIG. 32A is a schematic view showing the initial step of the operation performed by the end folding device according to the invention;

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  Fig. 32B is a schematic view showing the next step of the operation performed by the folding device of Fig. 32A; Fig. 32C is a schematic view showing the final step of the operation performed by the folding device of Fig. 32A, this view showing the sealing tab folded tightly over the end of the cross mandrel; FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the spider mandrel according to the invention on which three cardboard blanks are arranged, this view showing the operation of the end-folding device and the end-sealing device; FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the blank

  of carton according to the invention disposed on the cross-mandrel

  lon, this view showing how the closure panel

  end is folded over the end of the cross-mandrel

  lon; FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the rotation mechanism of the cardboard blanks of the workstation IV;

  FIG. 36 is a partial perspective view

  the rotation mechanism of the carton blanks of Fig. 35, showing how the carton blank is transferred from the through mandrel of Fig. 30 to the inside of the rotation mechanism assembly; FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the rotation mechanism of the carton blank of FIG. 35, showing the rotation on 900, in the opposite direction of that of the clockwise, of the cardboard blank inside the mounting; Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the rotation mechanism of the carton blank, transferring a carton blank insulated from the assembly to the carrier of Fig. 39; Fig. 39 is a partial perspective view of the transport device according to the invention, showing its detailed construction and the orientation of the side loading mechanism located near an end of this transport device; - Figure 39A is a section along the line 39a-39a of Figure 39; FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the transport device and the side loading mechanism of FIG. 39, this view showing the operation of these devices and mechanisms; FIG. 40A is a perspective view of the side loading mechanism of FIG. 39, the transport device of which is removed for clarity; FIG. 41 is a cross section of the device for preforming or preforming the workstation

  V, along the line 41-41 of Figure 1, showing schematically

  the three preforming dies and their relative orientation with respect to the carton blank and the transport device; FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the carton blank according to the invention, showing its configuration at the end of the operation performed by the first preforming die, shown in FIG. 41; - Figure 43 is a perspective view of the first preforming die positioned above the carton blank according to the invention; FIG. 44 is a partial section of the first preforming die, along the line 44-44 of FIG. 43, showing its orientation with respect to the carton blank according to the invention; FIG. 45 is a perspective view of the second preforming die shown in FIG. 41, this second die being positioned above the open end of the cardboard blank, this figure showing the detailed construction of the second die;

  FIG. 46 is a partial perspective view

  cardboard blank according to the invention, showing the relationship

  space between the pleating punches of Figure 45 and the two front angles of the blank;

24 2 46

  Fig. 46A is a perspective view of the carton blank of Fig. 46, showing the configuration of its two front corners, after an extension movement of the pleating punches; Fig. 47 is a sectional view of the second preform die, taken along line 47-47 of Fig. 45, showing the movement of the work plates on this die;

  FIG. 48 is a partial perspective view

  a front angle of the carton blank according to the invention at the end of the second preforming operation; Fig. 49 is a perspective view of the third preform die of Fig. 41;

  FIG. 50 is a partial perspective view

  the anvil of the transport device, showing the chamfered upper edge and the cleared angle of this anvil;

  FIG. 51 is a partial perspective view

  cardboard blank according to the invention, showing the confi-

  gating of the sealing tab after the interaction of the matrix of Fig. 49 and the anvil of Fig. 50; FIG. 51A is a perspective view of

  cardboard blank at the end of the third pre-production operation.

mage; -

  FIG. 52 is a longitudinal section of the reciprocating inner spool nozzle and the volumetric dosing pump of the workstation VI; - Figure 52A is a longitudinal section of a variant of the filling nozzle in which the dosage is facilitated exclusively by a reciprocating inner drawer; Fig. 52B is an enlarged, partial cross-section of the cap seal used in the filler nozzle of Fig. 52A; FIG. 52C is a schematic elevation,

  partial section, of a conventional nozzle of the prior art

  laughing, showing the flow of liquid coming out of this nozzle;

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  12. - Figure 52D is a schematic elevation,

  partial section, of the inner slide nozzle with

  alternatively, shown in Figures 52 and 52A, this view showing the configuration of the flow of liquid exiting the nozzle; FIG. 53 is a diagrammatic elevation of

  control and synchronization mechanism according to the invention.

  connected to the nozzle and pump assembly of Figure 52; Fig. 54 is a schematic elevation of the control and timing mechanism of Fig. 53, shown during a normal intake stroke; FIG. 55 is a diagrammatic elevation of the control and synchronization mechanism of FIG. 53,

  showing the position of this mechanism in a mode without

  pleating; Fig. 56 is a perspective view of the cam plate mechanism of the work station VII, showing its relationship with the transport device; Fig. 57 is a section of the cam plate along line 57-57 of Fig. 56; Fig. 58 is a perspective view of the sealing die of the work station VII, showing how the open end of the container is sealed to form a liquid tight cardboard box; Fig. 59 is a perspective view of the support structure and the control mechanism of the sealing matrix of Fig. 58;

  - Figure 60 is a section along the line 60-

  of Figure 59; FIG. 61 is a perspective view of

  ejection device of the workstation VIII according to the invention.

  placed below the transport device, close to the

  from one of its extremities; Fig. 62 is a perspective view of the ejection device of Fig. 61, shown in its final position in which the carton blank is ejected from the transport device; and

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  13. - Figure 63 is a plan view of the device

  ejection nozzle of FIG. 61, showing the outward travel of

  FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 10 according to the invention which forms a particular type of container 12

  for liquids (shown in FIG. 1A) known generally

  under the name "Flip and Sip" container (a trademark of Nolex Corporation) and described in

  detail in U.S. Patent No. 3,749,330.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 according to the invention comprises a base or frame 14 that supports a plurality of element systems that work with each other to produce the sealed container 12 (FIG. 1A).

filled with a liquid substance.

  As an illustration and to show the relationship

  In the spatial arrangement between the element systems of the invention, the apparatus 10 has been divided into a series of workstations generally bearing numbers I through VIII. In progressing workstations I to VIII, a blank 100 of cardboard, initially loaded onto the apparatus 10 in the workstation I, is formed in a desired configuration, filled and sealed in a series of operations, then he

  is ejected from the apparatus 10 to the workstation VIII.

  Figures 1 and 2 provide an overview and a schematic representation of the operations performed in the workstations I to VIII. It should be noted that these figures complement each other, Figure 2 schematically showing the carton as and when it

  progresses in the workstations I to VIII of Figure 1.

  In workstation I (the position of application

  torch and sealing strip), the cardboard blanks are loaded onto the apparatus 10 and transferred individually to a rotating drum 146. While the blanks 100 rotate with the drum 146, torches (not shown) and Strip lengths (not shown) are permanently sealed on openings 126 made in cardboard blanks 100. Then, each blank 100 is removed

  of the rotary drum 146 by a device 150 with a clearance wheel

  14. gement that passes the blank 100 on a mechanism 152 of rotation or pivoting so that it can be next

  introduced in workstation II.

  In the workstation II (folding and winding station of the cardboard blank), the blank 100 of cardboard is transported transversely to the apparatus 10 and wound and

  folded in a particular way in order to take the

  feeding an open and square tube around a shaping or forming mandrel (not shown). Then, the blank 100 of cardboard moves to the work station III (sewing station and attachment of an end) being transferred to a rotating mandrel 400 to cross. Several operations performed in the workstation III result in welding a side seam of the carton and closing and securing an end of the blank 100 of cardboard to form a

liquid tight seal.

  In the workstation IV (carton transport and rotation station), the cardboard blank 100 is removed from the mandrel 400 through, rotated about 900 about its longitudinal axis, and placed on a carrier 550 on

  which the blank remains until it is ejected from the

  10. While it is disposed on this conveyor 550, the cardboard blank, held in a vertical orientation, passes into the workstation V (preforming station of the end closure) in which, during a series of three distinct operations, the open end of the blank 100

  is permanently folded to make a confi-

  suitable for the next operation of sealing the end. With the open end of the cardboard blank 100 properly folded, the blank 100 continues to be driven by the conveyor 550 to the workstation VI (filling station) in which the carton is filled with a desired liquid. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the filling of the blank 100 is carried out during

  two-step operation by means of a pre-emption nozzle.

  pleating that provides the bulk of the liquid, and a final fill nozzle that accurately fills the

24à2O46

  15. blank to the desired level, only this last nozzle being set for the two dimensions of carton boxes

produced on the device.

  Next, the cardboard blank 100, filled with liquid, is moved to the workstation VII (end sealing station) in which the open end of the blank is welded to the side walls of the square tube formed by the container 100 The liquid being contained hermetically inside the blank 100, the latter, which constitutes the carton box 100, is moved to the workstation VIII (ejection station of the box) in which a mechanism

  ejection (not shown) removes box 100 from the

  550 and ejects it from the end of the apparatus 10.

  As will evidently appear in

  the following description, the apparatus and the method of the invention

  They allow for a high production rate (about 240 cartons per minute) and they also allow significant space, reliability and regularity gains compared to carton carton boxes.

the prior art.

  Fig. 3 shows a blank 100 of cardboard having substantially the shape of a T and from which the carton box 12, sealed and liquid tight according to

  the invention (shown in Figure 1A) can be formed.

  The particular configuration of the blank 100 of cardboard is described in detail in the aforementioned application No. 911,990. The cardboard blank 100 basically comprises an elongate central portion and two end panels made in one piece with the central portion to which they are connected near one of its ends. During shaping of the cardboard box, the central portion is pleated to a square tubular configuration and is sealed along one of its edges to form the side walls of the box, the two end panels being then folded and sealed on the square tube (in a particular manner described below) to form the end walls of the box. As will become apparent hereinafter, the particular configuration of the carton blank allows a 4 to obtain a flat top container, reducing the amount of base paper entering the container construction and

  increasing handling and packaging operations.

  The blank 100 is preferably made of cardboard having a thickness of about 0.38 mm, and is coated, at least on its outer surface (which can be assumed to be the visible surface in FIG. 3) and preferably also on its inner surface, a substance rendering the paper impervious to liquids to be contained in

  the cardboard box. The substance of the coating has

  tagently heat-activated adhesive properties so that it is possible to seal

  liquid-tight elements of the blank 100 without the application

  separate cation of conventional adhesives at the time of shaping and processing of the blank. It has been found that a thin film of polyethylene, having a thickness of about 0.012 to 0.038 mm, exhibited these properties and was well suited to the present invention, particularly when the containers 12 were intended to be used to contain

  drinking drinks such as milk.

  As can be seen, the blank 100-comprises an elongate central portion preferably composed of four segments 102, 104, 106 and 108 of the same dimensions, separated or delimited by lines 110 of notches or notches. As described in more detail below, these cardboard segments 102 to 108 may be folded along the score lines 110.

  to form the side walls of a tubular configuration

  square sheet for the carton 12 according to the invention.

  tion. The cardboard segment 108 is made of a single

  piece with two closing panels 112 and 114

  which, in the preferred embodiment, have a roughly square configuration because the segments 102

  at 108 have the same width. These panels 112 and 114 of

  are identical in configuration except that the end panel 114 has two sealing flaps 116 projecting outwardly from the segment 108 along its opposite edges. In addition, the end panel 112 is delimited or separated from the cardboard segment 108 by a line 118 of notches. It appears that cardboard boxes of various sizes can be formed by changing the length of segments 102 to 108. A particular feature of the invention is that cardboard boxes of two different lengths (corresponding to capacities of 0.235 1 and 0.315 1) can be folded, sealed and filled at the price of only

minimal settings of the device 10.

  The cardboard segments 102, 104 and 106 each further comprise two sealing tongues 120 formed along their free edges by lines 122 of notches. At the intersection of the score lines 110 and 122, the sealing tongues 120 preferably have a

  notch notch 124 in V which, as will appear below

  after, facilitates the subsequent liquid-tight sealing operation of the end panels 112 and 114 on the

segments 102 to 108 of cardboard.

  The cardboard blank 100 also has an elongate opening 126 made near the score line 118 and extending partially along the length of the segment 108. As shown in FIG. 4 and as described in more detail below, this opening 126 provides access to the torch 220 and is covered with a length of 230A sealing strip which makes a seal

  liquid tight on the carton 100.

  The system of elements constituting the workstation I (post torch and sealing strip) of the apparatus according to the invention for forming cardboard boxes 12 containing liquids will now be described with regard to of Figure 5. Workstation I includes, as main subassemblies, a device

  loading device, a device 142 for inserting

  torch mechanism, cardboard blank feeding mechanism 144, alignment and heat sealing drum 146, tape dispenser 148, release wheel 150, and

  a mechanism 152 for pivoting cardboard blanks.

  Before going on to a detailed description of

  each of these main subsets, a brief review of the

24 20-4 6

  18. Operations performed in Workstation I will facilitate

  the complete understanding of the operation of the device.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cardboard blanks 100 are initially stacked on the carrier loading device 140 and move horizontally.

  to the rotary drum 146 for alignment. At the end

  of the charging device 140, the blanks 100 are

  in isolation in a vertical direction and transferred to the rotary alignment drum 146 by the blank feed mechanism 144. Before this transfer of a blank 100 to the drum 146, the torch insertion device 142 loads a torch 220 (as shown in FIG. 6) in a small gutter 226 (shown in FIG. 10) formed in the peripheral surface the drum 146 so that when the blank 100 is transferred to the drum 146, the torch 220 is placed directly below the small opening 126 (Figure 4) formed in the blank 100;

  in other words, the cardboard blank 100 (FIG. 4) is located

above the torch 220.

  The torch 220 and the blank 100 carried by the drum 146 are then driven to rotate in front; the tape dispenser 148 o a length of a band 230A (FIG. 4) consisting of a "Mylar" substrate

  coated with polyethylene, is applied to the blank 100,

  above the opening 126 and the torch 220. When the drum 146 continues to rotate counterclockwise, a heating plate 254, placed inside the drum 146, is moved by a cam outward and makes contact with the blank 100 in order to fix the torch 220 to the band 230 and at the same time seal the band 230 on the blank 100, above

the opening 126.

  Then, the blank 100 is removed from the drum 146 by the clearance wheel 150 which deposits the blank 100 in a horizontal plane. The blank 100 is then directed by the pivoting mechanism 152 to the workstation II of the apparatus and then wound and folded around a blank.

forming mandrel.

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  19. Thus, as described in more detail below, the cardboard blank 100, at the end of its run in the post of

  I, carries a torch 220 and a strip 230A of

  The detailed construction and operation of the conveyor loading device 140 appear in FIG. 5. The loading device 140 advantageously comprises two elongate conveyor belts 160. As can be seen in FIG.

  conventionally constituted of a rubber having a coefficient

  appropriate friction to prevent slippage

  on the surface of these bands. These strips 160 are stretched or held taut between two pairs of pulleys 162. Each pair of pulleys is mounted on an axis 164, one of which is connected to a control mechanism (not shown) for rotating the pulleys 162 in the direction opposite of clockwise (as shown on the

Figure 5).

  The blanks 100 of cardboard are initially stacked so as to form a row on the conveyor belts, in an orientation such that their T-shape is turned, so that the edge of the end sections 112 and 114 as well as the segment 108 (as shown in FIG. 3) are in contact with the trapezoidal belts or belts

  160. The vertical orientation of the pile formed on the courses

  Conveyor belts 160 are held by a pressure plate 166 which is resiliently biased in one direction.

  horizontally to move along the conveyor belts

  As is readily apparent, the rotation of the pairs of pulleys 162 counterclockwise causes the entire stack of blanks 100 to move continuously. cardboard with conveyor belts to the mechanism

144 blank feed.

  The loading device 140 also comprises

  at a first end, two L-shaped alignment blocks 167 disposed over one of the pairs 162 of pulleys. The distance vertically between the surface

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20.

  lower alignment blocks 167 and the upper surface

The upper of the conveyor belts 160 is determined so that a slight clearance is provided with the edges of the end panels 112 and 114 of the blank 100 of cardboard, and the distance between the blocks 167 is adjusted so that the tongues 120 for sealing the cardboard segments 106 are received closely. Thus, as the cardboard blank 100 moves along the moving conveyor belts, these alignment blocks 167 precisely center each blank 100 on the loading device 140 for

  the entry, subsequently, of the blank in the mechanism 140 of food

  mentation. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the outer alignment block 167 (as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5) is mounted so as to be able to move

  towards the plane of the carrier 160 so that the space

  between blocks 167 can be modified. This possibility

  The ease of adjustment makes it possible to process segments 102 to 108 of different lengths (FIG. 3) when the apparatus 10 is modified to produce cardboard boxes 12 of a capacity

  0.235 1 and a capacity of 0.315 1.

  When the stack of blanks 100 of cardboard moves beneath the L-shaped alignment blocks 167, the blanks 100 are transferred one after the other and one by one to the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146. by the feed mechanism 144. As shown in FIG. 6, the carton blank feeding mechanism 144 includes a lifting plate 180 and a pressing roller 182 which cooperate to separate a single blank 100 of cardboard from the stack and transfer it to the heat-sealing drum 146 and

alignment.

  The lifting plate 180 is a sensory plate

  is flat with an oblique rear wall 184 and a shoulder 186 formed transversely along its width near its leading edge. This shoulder 186 has a small notch or recess 188 formed near one of its ends and dimensioned to receive one of the flaps 116 for sealing the blank 100 of cardboard (as shown in FIG.

  Figure 3). The shoulder 186 is machined to a slight depth.

  24Ä204d 21. substantially less than the thickness of a single blank 100 of cardboard so that the edge of one carton blank at a time can

  contact the shoulder 186 or pass over the shoulder

186.

  A cam linkage (not shown) connected to the lower end of the lifting plate 180, is coupled in a conventional manner to the mechanism used to rotate the drum 146. This linkage transforms the rotational movement of the drum 146 into a movement. vertical lift plate 180, as indicated by the

arrow 187 in Figure 6.

  The carton blank feed mechanism 144 also has a pressure roller 182 which is

  placed above the lifting plate 180 and which is juxtaposed

  mounted on the rotary drum 146 for heat sealing and aligning

  is lying. The outer cylindrical surface of the pressure roller 182 has a reduced diameter section 190 which extends

  about 1800. As described in more detail below,

  thereafter, this reduced diameter section 190 allows the elevating plate 180 to elevate the insulated carton blank 100 to a maximum height before the pressure roller

  182 transfers the blank 100 to the rotary drum 146.

  The pressure roller 182 is mounted on a shaft

  192 which is connected in a classical way, by

  at the drum 146, so as to turn the pressure roller 182 clockwise as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6. The rotational speed of the pressure roller 182 is proportional to the speed of rotation of the pressure roller 182. drum 146 so that the speed of the peripheral surface of the drum 146 and the speed of the outer cylindrical surface of the pressure roller 182 are equal. The rotation of the pressure roller 182 is synchronized with the reciprocating movement of the elevator plate 180 so that the reduced diameter section 190 of the pressure roller 182 is adjacent to the peripheral surface of the drum 146.

  when the cardboard blank 100 is raised by the plate 180.

  As described below, these synchronized movements of the pressure roller 182 and the lifting plate 180 allow a

  pre-centering the blank 100 on the rotating drum 146.

24BO46

  22. The detailed operation and cooperation of the carrier loading device 140, the feed mechanism 144 and the heat seal drum 146 and

  alignment will now be described with reference to FIG.

  7. As the stack of cardboard blanks 100 is moved along the loading device 140 beyond the alignment blocks 167, the lifting plate 180 descends, so that the lower edge of the shoulder 186 descends. below the lower edge of the front blank 100 indicated by the reference

digital 200.

  In this position, the stroke of the loading device 140 has the effect of pushing the isolated front blank A out of the device 140 and onto the shoulder 186 of the

  lifting plate 180. Since the width of the

  186 is slightly less than the thickness of the blank

  OA and that the lift plate performs an alternating movement

  native in the immediate vicinity of the rear surface of the alignment block 167, a single blank 100A of cardboard is removed from the

  stack 100 and raised to the pressure roller 182. As a result,

  when the single blank 100A is high, it slides against the immediately adjacent blank, which is maintained in

  fixed position by the alignment blocks 167.

  As shown in Fig. 7, the lifting plate 180 elevates the insulated blank 100A between the rotating drum 146 and the pressing roll 182 to a height at which the leading edge of the blank 100A is slightly above

  the point of tangency between the drum 146 and the roller

  as previously mentioned and as represented

  clearly in Figure 7, during this upward movement

  100 of the cardboard blank 100A and the lifting plate 180, the reduced diameter section 190 of the pressing roller 182 is turned towards the peripheral surface of the drum 146 and is spaced from the latter to provide a small gap 202

  wherein the leading edge of the carton blank 100A can penetrate

trate.

  Therefore, as can be seen, this gap or gap 202 allows the cardboard blank 100A to pass between the rotary drum 146 and the rotary presser roller 182, and to remain in a fixed position between these two elements until the leading edge 204 of the larger diameter portion of the pressure roller 182 contacts the blank 100A. It has been found that by allowing the blank 100 to remain momentarily immobile in this elevation position, it was possible to perform a prior centering,

  with an accuracy of 0.8 mm, the blank compared to its posi-

  appropriate on the rotating drum 146.

  The cardboard blank 100A being raised in the posi-

  As shown in FIG. 7, further rotation of the pressure roller 182 clockwise brings the leading edge 204 of its large diameter portion into contact with the surface of the blank 100A. As a result of this contact, the gap 202 narrows substantially so that the blank 100A is pinched and propelled upwards between the peripheral surface of the drum 146 and the pressure roller 182. Since the relative velocities of the 146 and the pressure roller 182 are equal, the blank 100A is raised at a uniform speed, without

  sliding, and it is clear of the lifting plate 180.

  To facilitate the transfer of the cardboard blank 100A to the peripheral surface of the drum 146, this peripheral surface has a series of suction orifices 147 (shown in FIG. 11), preferably arranged in a certain configuration in the zone.

  covered by the blank 100A, and connected by a conventional system

  only valves and conduits (not shown) to a remote vacuum source (not shown). These orifices 147 act

  on the inner surface of the blank 100A of cardboard for holding

  effectively press the latter pressed against the peripheral surface.

  Therefore, since the outer diameter of the drum 146 is much larger than the thickness of the blank 100A, the slight curvature of the latter on the drum 146 is insufficient to cause a large amount of pressure.

  pleating or permanent deformation of the blank 100A.

  To ensure proper final alignment and centering of the cardboard blank 100A on the drum 146, two centering tabs 206 are placed along the two edges.

- 24.

  The distance of the tabs 206, in the circumferential direction, is set to be slightly greater than the width of the end sections 114 and 112, respectively, of the blank 100A (as shown in FIG. 3). In addition, the inner edge of each cleat 206

  of centering advantageously has a chamfer which facilitates

  inserting the panels 114 and 112 for closing the ends after the transfer of the cardboard blank 100A from the

  mechanism 144 feeding on the drum 146.

  Therefore, when the cardboard blank 100A is clamped between the roll 182 and the drum 146 and is pressed against the peripheral surface of the drum 146, these centering tabs 206 receive the closure panels 114 and 112, respectively. 100A ends of the cardboard blank at a point close to the interval 202. When the closing panels 114 and 112 arrive in the centering pins 206, any small offset of the position of the blank

  of cardboard on the drum 146 is removed by the adjustment

  The end panels 114 and 112 are closely spaced in the centering tabs 206 so that the blank is placed so as to float on the peripheral surface of the drum 146 to reach its proper position. Then, the vacuum is applied to the suction orifices 147 (shown in FIG. 11) in order to keep the blank 100 in its position

  aligned with the peripheral surface of the drum 146.

  It therefore follows from the preceding description that

  the carton blank feeding mechanism 144 effectively transfers the cardboard blanks 100 of the loading device 140 to a position in which these blanks are accurately aligned on the heat sealing drum 146

and alignment.

  As mentioned before, before the transfer

  of the cardboard blank 100 on the rotary drum 146, a

  The plastic material 220 (preferably made of polyethylene) is to be placed on the peripheral surface of the drum 146 and in the preferred embodiment this operation is performed by a torch insertion mechanism 142.

24824 6

25.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the mechanism

  The torch insertion mechanism 142 is rigidly mounted near the outer surface of the drum 146 and is held in a fixed position while the drum 146 rotates in a counterclockwise direction. The mechanism 142 is preferably composed of a torch storage hopper 222, a separation device 223 or

  isolation and a mechanism for feeding or transmitting

  Harbor. Several torches 220 are stored in the

  hopper 222 and oriented so that the longitudinal direction

  Each end of the torch 220 is parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum 146. At its lower end, the hopper 222 has an elongate opening 221 (shown in FIG. 8A) whose width is slightly greater than the outside diameter of the torch 220. As described in more detail below, this opening 221 allows the passage of a single torch 220 from the isolation device 223 to the

  mechanism 224 for transport or feeding.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 8A, the isolation device 223 is in the form of a cylindrical drum comprising an outer shell 201 which has a plurality of spaced semicircular grooves 225

  symmetrically along its outer peripheral surface.

  The width of the grooves 225 is preferably slightly greater than

  than the diameter of the torch 220 so that only one blowtorch

  220 can be housed in a groove.

  Two rollers 209, disposed inside the casing 201 and placed near the lower edge of this casing (as shown in FIG. 8A), are each mounted so as to be rotatable on an axis 211. The axes

  211 are spaced vertically from the axis of the outer envelope

  201 and protrude outwardly from the isolation device 223 to be supported at one end by

  a swivel arm 203. The rollers 209 can rotate freely

  on the axes 211 (in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8A), while the axes 211 are biased downwards by the springs 205 so as to tend to bring the rollers 209 continuously near the lower end of

24 2O46

  26. I wrap 201. In the preferred embodiment, the

  inner diameter of the casing 201 has two recesses

  227B which extend partly

  225 forming several openings 207. These recesses

  227B constitute a track or a path that aligns the rollers 209 with the envefoppe 201 while the openings 207 allow the rollers to penetrate substantially inside

throats 225.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, thanks to this particular arrangement, each roller 209 comes into selective contact with the section 220 of the torch

  directly above the openings 207 formed by the

  annular elements 227B, so that the torch 220 is subjected to an initial axial stress giving it an oval configuration near the lower end of the hopper 222. As described in more detail below, this prestressing of the torch 220 is used as a self-propelling means for transferring the torch 220 to the

  mechanism 224 for supplying or transporting torches.

  FIG. 8 shows that the isolation device 223

  or separation of the torches is mounted, for example by means of a central web (not shown), on an axis 227 which journalled in the walls of the hopper 222 so as to turn in the direction of clockwise as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8. Axis 227 carries a mechanism

  229 ratchet near one of its ends, this mechanism

  The control element 231 is connected to an external pressure source (not shown) and is controlled by a valve (not shown) to periodically rotate the shaft 227. and, therefore, the separation device 223 at an angle equal to the gap of the grooves

  adjacent 225 made in the peripheral surface of the separation device. It appears that during this periodic rotation,

  a single torch 220 moves towards the opening 221 formed in the bottom of the hopper 222, in order to be deposited

  in the power supply mechanism 224.

27.

  The feeding mechanism 224, disposed

  below the isolation device 223 and placed tangentially

  This device 223 rotates on a shaft 233A which is connected by means of a conventional gear to the control mechanism (not shown) of the rotary heat-sealing and alignment drum 146. The feed mechanism 224 preferably comprises an enlarged cylindrical end portion 235 in the peripheral surface of which an axial groove 237 is made. An axis 253 ejection disposed in this throat

  237 along which he can perform an alter-

  native, is connected to a mechanical linkage (not shown)

  arranged inside the cylindrical head 235 and synchronized with

  connected with the rotation of the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146. As described in more detail below, the 253 axis

  ejection unit transfers an insulated torch 220 to the

  the drum 146 during operation.

  An elongated wing 239 is rigidly attached to the shaft 233A and protrudes from the inner end of the cylinder 235 to a position substantially below the peripheral surface of the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146 (as shown in particular in FIG. 9). The upper surface of the wing 239 has a groove 241 having the configuration of a square tube whose area of the inner cross section is slightly larger than that of an insulated torch 220. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 this groove 241 is aligned with the groove 237 formed in the cylindrical end portion 235 so that a torch 220 can be transferred axially along the groove 237 and the groove 241. In the preferred embodiment, the groove 241 is of sufficient length

to receive three torches 220.

  The inner end of the riser 239 and the groove 241 has two access notches 243 which extend radially inwardly and to the shaft 233A to a depth slightly below the lower surface of the housing. the groove 241. In addition, the upper part of the groove 241 is eliminated in the vicinity of these

  notches 243 which, as indicated below, facilitates the removal of

  28. Vementing the torch groove 241. As shown in particular in Figures 9 and 10, these notches 243 are

  aligned with two cam fingers 245 which are fixed rigidly

  the frame (not shown) of the apparatus 10 and which are juxtaposed at the periphery of the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146. These cam fingers 245 contact the lower surface of the torch 220 contained in the groove 241 so as to transfer the torch 220 to the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 146 while the

  224 feed mechanism rotates in the direction of the

  a watch, as indicated by the arrow on the

figure 8.

  The peripheral surface of the heat drum 146

  sealing and alignment has a groove or groove allon-

  226 which extends over part of the periphery of the

  drum 146 (as shown in phantom in Figure 9).

  The depth of this groove 226 is slightly less than the diameter of the torch 220 so that, upon insertion of the torch 220 into the opening 226, a small portion of the diameter of the torch 220 protrudes above the surface

drum device 146.

  In the preferred embodiment, the groove 226 is formed in an insert member 247 which is attached to the peripheral surface of the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146, within the latter. As shown, an elevated portion 251 of the insert member is flush with the surface of the drum 146 and forms a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 146. In addition, to retain the torch 220 within the groove 226 until in that the cardboard blank 100 is applied to the drum 146 (as previously described), a housing 249 (FIG. 10) is placed at a minimum distance from the outer peripheral surface of the drum 146 and extends between the the upper end of the cam fingers 245 to a point immediately below the formed space

  between the drum 146 and the pressure roller 182 (Figure 7).

  During operation, when the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146 rotates in the direction

24BZU46

  29. inverse of that of the clockwise (as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8), the isolation device 223 is rotated a short distance (in the direction indicated by the arrow affixed to this device ), under the action of the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 231. This rotation of the isolation device 223 has the effect of moving a single torch 220A, initially at approximately the 5 o'clock position on the device 223. isolation (as shown in Figure 8A), towards the opening 221 of the hopper 222, to the position corresponding to approximately 6 hours. During this

  rotation, the section 220A of the torch being immediately

  above the openings 207 formed by the recesses

  227B contacts the periphery of the rollers 209 and is strongly pressed or pressed against the lower wall of the hopper 222 by the springs 205. This compression causes a deformation of the torch 220A which takes an oval configuration as indicated by the reference

220B in Figure 8A.

  In synchronism with the rotation of the isolation device 223, the feed mechanism 224 continues to

  turn clockwise (as indicated by

  8A) so that the groove 237 formed on the cylinder 235 of the feed mechanism 224 aligns with the opening 221 of the hopper 222 and with the groove 225B of the isolation device 223. This alignment, which

  because of the continuous rotation of the food mechanism 224

  tation, is maintained only for a moment, causes the output of the torch 220B of the groove 225B of the device 223 (in the direction indicated by the arrow in dash -sur 8A) and the introduction of the torch in the throat 237

  formed in the feed mechanism 224.

  Due to the downward force of the springs 205 as well as the oval configuration of the prestressed torch 220B, and also because of the good elastic memory characteristics of the polyethylene constituting the torch, it appears that the transfer between the Gorges 225B and 237 occur almost instantaneously, the blowtorch 220B propelling itself or ejecting

  isolation device 223 for penetrating the throat 237.

  After this transfer of the torch 220B, the mechanism

  224 continues to rotate on its shaft 23.3A in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8, so that since the width of the groove 237 is slightly greater than diameter of the torch 220B, the latter can resume its initial cylindrical form in the free state. During this rotation, a casing, which substantially surrounds the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 235 of the feed mechanism 224,

  keeps the torch 220 inside the groove 237.

  When the groove 237 and the torch 220 turn to substantially reach the 9 o'clock position, as

  shown in FIG. 8, the ejection axis 253 travels rapidly

  The groove 241 which, as previously mentioned, is made to receive three torches, has been preloaded with two torches 220, so as to pass the torch 220 which it contains into the groove 241. during the two previous reciprocating movements of the ejection axis 25-3. Therefore, this transfer of the torch 220 from throat 237 advances the outermost torch to

  it is placed near the end of the groove 241.

  Next, the further rotation of the feed mechanism 224 has the effect of introducing the leading edge of the cam fingers 245 into the notches 243 formed in the riser 239 (as shown in FIG.

  make contact with the bottom surface of the trawl

  220. Under the effect of finger contact 245 and because of

  continued rotation of the food mechanism 224

  tation, the torch 220 is displaced by camming along the concave upper surface of the cam fingers 245 and rises vertically towards the peripheral surface of the cam

drum 146. -

  The rotations of the drum 146 and the feed mechanism 224 are synchronized so that when the feed mechanism 224 turns beyond the fingers 245 of

24M2G46

  31. cam, the groove 226 made in the peripheral surface of the drum 146 is aligned with the groove 241. Therefore, the further rotation of the feed mechanism 224 causes the introduction of the torch 220, contained in the groove 241, in the groove 226 formed along the periphery of the drum 146. Once inserted in the groove 226, the torch 220 is held by the housing 249 (as shown in FIG. 10) which is spaced at least from the outer peripheral surface of the drum 146 and extending from the upper end of the cam fingers 245 to a point below the gap formed between the drum

146 and the pressure roller 182.

  After the feed axis 253 has been actuated and while the insulated torch 220 is transferred to the groove 241, the feed shaft 253 performs a fast reciprocating movement back to its initial position as shown in FIG. 8 so that the groove 237 is disengaged to accommodate another torch 220 of the isolation device 223, and the cycle described above can be repeated. Thus, it follows from the above that the mechanism 142 for inserting torches according to the invention constitutes a

  simple but effective way of transferring a series of trawlers

  Isolated cells 220 from the hopper 222 on the peripheral surface

drum 146.

  After the insertion of the torch 220 in the groove 226, the drum 146 continues to turn in the direction

  counterclockwise to the position-

  wherein the blank 100 of cardboard is transferred to the drum 146 by the blank feed mechanism 144, as previously described. The position of the groove 226 on the periphery of the drum 146 is determined so that when the blank 100 of cardboard is transferred to the drum 146, the groove 226 and the torch 220 are disposed below the opening 126 of the blank 100, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, under the action of the torch insertion mechanism 142 and the blank feeding mechanism 144, the cardboard blank 100 and the torch 220 are transferred to the drum 146 in a relative orientation

24 2046

  32. appropriate, suitable for subsequent fixation operations

  hot strip length and sealing.

  The continued rotation of the drum provoked by

  that the passage of the torch 220 and the blank 100 of cardboard

  below the tape distribution device 148 in which a tape length 230A is deposited on the opening

  126 of the cardboard blank 100 (as shown in FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tape dispensing device 148 comprises the following elements: a length of tape 230, two tape feed capstans 231 and 232, a tape guide 233, a tape guide

  chamber 234 against back pressure and a supply reel 236.

  The supply reel or supply reel 236 is rotatably mounted on a housing 238 and carries the length of the web 230 which, in the preferred form of

  realization is made of polyethylene coated with polyethylene

  lene. As shown, the web 230 from the delivery reel 236 passes into the guide 233 and is disposed between the two capstans 231 and. 232. During operation, the capstans 231 and 232 simultaneously bear against the length of band 230, so that the latter is cut and transferred to the blank 100 of cardboard disposed on the drum

  rotary 146 heat sealing and alignment.

  The detailed construction and operation of tape dispenser 148 will now be described with reference to FIG. 11. It can be seen that, for clarity, supply spool 236 and vacuum chamber 234 have been removed from the apparatus and are not shown in this figure. As shown, the capstans 231 and 232 are respectively mounted on control pins 235 and 237 which are connected, for example by means of a gear train, to the drum 146 to rotate in opposite directions (as indicated by the arrow). in Figure 11), in synchronism with the

  rotation of the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146.

  The upper capstan 231 comprises a frame 239 having substantially the shape of an L which comprises a branch

  241 extending radially. The capstan 231 also presents

  a central cavity 243 in which a pressure plate 245 is mounted which has a convex surface and a

set 247 with knife.

  The pressure plate 245 is preferably made to have a concave outer surface having a series of ridges or knurling. As shown in particular in FIG. 13, the pressure plate 245 is mounted inside the cavity 243, in the immediate vicinity of the wing or branch 241 of the frame 239, and it is held in position by a reesort 246 which is compressed between this plate 245 and the frame 239. This spring 246 pushes the pressure plate 245 radially outward while allowing said plate 245 to move inwardly when compressive forces

  are exerted on its upper surface.

  The knife assembly 247 is also housed in the cavity 243 and has an L-shaped mounting member 251 on which a blade 253A is attached. As shown in Fig. 13, the mounting member 251 is pivotably mounted to the frame or body 239 by means of an automatically aligned pin 249 which aligns the blade 253A with the other capstan 232 during rotation. , to assure

  the complete shearing of the band 230 over its entire width.

  In addition, the mounting member 251 and the blade 253A are biased in the opposite direction to the needles of a 2-5 clock, against the frame 239, by two springs 255. Thus, the blade 253A is constantly recalled against the pressure plate 245 and aligned with the other capstan 232 while the

  pressure plate performs a radial reciprocating movement

  inside and out, inside

the cavity 243.

  As shown in FIG. 12, it can be seen that the lower capstan 232 has a roughly semicircular configuration and has a boss or rib 257 that protrudes radially outwardly. As for the upper capstan pressure plate 231 231, the upper surface of the boss 257 is of convex shape, the radius of this surface being complementary to

  that of the upper capstan pressure plate 245 231.

2482È46

  34. In addition, the boss 257 has a knife 254 adjacent to one of its sides and aligned with the upper capstan blade 233A during operation to shear the strip length 230 in a manner described below. The upper surface of the boss 257 has several holes 259 which extend over the entire length of this boss and which

  connected to an external source of vacuum (not shown

  sented). As will be apparent from the following description,

  the application of vacuum to these holes 259 maintains the length of strip 230 applied against the boss 257 to then allow its application on the peripheral surface of the drum-146. As shown in FIG. 11, the capstans 231 and 232 are preferably placed in an approximately vertical orientation, and they are spaced from each other so that, during their opposite rotations, the convex surfaces of the plate 245 and the boss 257 tangentially contact each other. In addition, the lower capstan 232 is mounted nearby

  the rotating drum 146 so that the outer surface

  The boss 257 is positioned at a minimum distance from the peripheral surface of the rotatable drum 146 during rotation.

  Guide 233 of the Band consists of a structure

  261 and 265, which are rigidly mounted along the lower surface of the frame 261 and are pivotally mounted near the middle 261, respectively. The support frame 261 is further pivotably mounted at a point intermediate its length to a

  support 269 which is rigidly connected to the frame or casing 238.

  A pneumatic or hydraulic control element 271, connected to the upper end of the frame 261, makes it possible to adjust the orientation of the plates 263 and 265 with respect to the capstans 231 and 232. It appears that by soliciting the control element 271 , the support frame is rotated in the opposite direction to that of the needles of a

24 8246

  35. shows to position plates 263 and 265 nearby

  two capstans 231 and 232, as shown in FIG. 13.

  - The lower surface of the upper plate 265

  has a shoulder 267 which extends over its entire width.

  This shoulder 267 forms, in fact, a retaining catch which allows the upper plate 265 to pivot about its upper axis towards the capstans 231 and 232, but which prevents

  any pivoting of the upper plate 265 in opposite directions.

  In addition, the upper plate 265 is constantly biased away from the capstans 231 and 232 by a spring 273 which extends from the rear surface of the upper plate 265 to the rigid support 269. The length of

  230 being passed between the plates 265 and 263, the pivot

  The plate 265 downwardly is limited by the bottom plate 263 so that the length of strip 230 can only move towards the capstans 231 and 232, as

  indicated by the arrow in Figure 11.

  During the initial start-up procedure of the apparatus 10, the hydraulic control member 271 is actuated to rotate the plates 263 and 265 so that they are in the immediate vicinity of the capstans 231 and 232, in the position indicated in FIG. 13. As shown, in this initial position, the length of strip 230 preferably slightly exceeds the ends of plates 265 and 263 and is placed along a tangent plane

between the capstans 231 and 232.

  When the capstans 231 and 232 rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 13, the front edges of the boss 257 and the pressure plate 245 contact the faces simultaneously.

  opposite of the length of the band 230, in order to pinch

  this length 230 against the knurled upper surface

of the pressure plate 245.

  Continued rotation of the capstans 231 and 232 advances the length of web 230 from guide 233 across the width of the concave surface of boss 257. During this rotation, the clamping pressure exerted by boss 257 against the surface upper plate

24M2È46

36.-

  245 causes an alternating movement of the latter radia-

  Inwardly, against the force exerted by the return spring 246. During this operation, the strip length 230 is advanced from the guide 233 while the pressure plate 245 is reciprocating in

the cavity 243 of the rotary capstan 231.

  As shown in Figure 14, while

  the capstans 231 and 232 continue to turn in opposite directions.

  the pressure plate 245 performs an alternating movement

  in which it moves radially towards the

  beyond the upper edge of the blade 253A. In addition, during this rotation, two nozzles 248, which protrude radially outwardly from the edge remote from the blade 253A, come into contact with the rear edge of the knife 254 so that the blade 253A pivots slightly rearwardly. against the spring force 255. This slight rearward pivoting aligns the cutting blade 253A with the knife 254 so that the blade 253A shears the length of the belt 230 to

  near the trailing edge of boss 257 of the lower capstan

  232. The cut strip length 230A (as shown in FIG. 14) is then maintained on the outer surface of the lower capstan boss 232, while the capstans 231 and 232 continue to rotate, by the application

  depression by means of the holes 259 (Figure 12).

  The vacuum is maintained during the continued rotation of the capstan 232 to substantially the 7 o'clock position (as shown in FIG. 14), wherein the strip length is close to the peripheral surface of the drum 146 (shown in FIG. 11). In this position 7 hours, the application of the vacuum to the holes of the lower capstan 232 is interrupted, so that the vacuum application ports 147, presented by the peripheral surface of the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146 and acting by through the opening 126 of the blank 100 of cardboard, remove the strip length 230A from the surface of the boss 257 and apply it closely against the

  peripheral surface of the drum 146.

24É2046

37.

  Figure 4 shows the approximate size

  mative and the orientation of the strip length 230A on the blank 100 of cardboard. As shown, the length L of the strip 230A is sufficient for the latter to extend over the entire width of the opening 126. In addition, the width of the strip 230 is determined so as to exceed the ends of the strip. opening 126 of the cardboard segment 108 and the end closure panel 112. As described in more detail below, this extension of the band length 230A above the opening 126 is necessary to facilitate the heat sealing and fastening operation which is then

  performed on the rotary drum 146.

  The rotation speed and the relative orientation of the capstans 231 and 232 must be accurately synchronized with the rotation of the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146 to ensure the laying of the strip length 230A on the opening 126 of the blank 100 In addition, it appears imperative to interrupt the application of vacuum to the orifices 259 of the boss 257 of the lower capstan 232, in the appropriate position allowing the band length 230A

  to be transferred to the peripheral surface of the drum 146.

  In the preferred embodiment, it has been found that by directly engaging the pins 235 and 237 of the capstans 231 and 232, respectively, with the

  rotary drum control mechanism 146 and that

  Furthermore, a valve (not shown) with a sliding plate

  connected to the vacuum application ports 259, to regulate the application of the vacuum depending on the orientation in which the capstan 232 is turned, it was possible

  to obtain the necessary precision and repetition

  suitable dispensing of the tape dispenser 148.

  In addition, it has been found that, in order to maintain the proper orientation of the web length 230 arriving in the guide 233 and to prevent the distribution, from the guide 233, of an excessive belt length 230, it was desirable to forcing the tape length 230 from the supply reel 236 to the

2482 46

  38. Guide 233. In the preferred embodiment, this advance or this forced drive of the web is performed by driving the reel 236 by means of a motor (not shown) which is controlled by two pressure-sensitive switches ( not shown) placed at different points

  within a vacuum chamber 234 (Figure 5).

  As shown, the vacuum chamber 234 is preferably

  in the form of a rectangular box having a closed end and an open end. A vacuum application conduit 277 communicates with the chamber 234, near the closed end, and is connected to an external vacuum source (not shown). A sieve or wire mesh 275, disposed midway between the closed and open ends of the vacuum chamber 234, allows the passage

  vacuum while preventing the tape length 230 from penetrating

  The two vacuum switches (not shown) are disposed near the open end of the chamber 234 and are horizontally spaced apart from each other.

the other and the 275.

  As shown, the strip length 230 is wound on a spool 279 and inserted into the open end of the vacuum chamber 234 forming a loop. The vacuum, transmitted by the conduit 277, attracts the loop formed by the band towards the fabric 275 so as to act on the face of the length of the band 230 turned towards the fabric 275. It

  Therefore, the pressure switches (not shown)

  are exposed to the vacuum or the atmosphere depending on the position of the loop formed by the band inside the chamber 234. In the preferred embodiment, this alternating exposure to vacuum or atmospheric pressure is used to controlling the drive motor (not shown) of the spool 236, the motor being turned on when the switch farthest from the fabric 275 is vacuumed and stopped when the switch

  close to the fabric 275 is subjected to atmospheric pressure

  America. The length of strip 230 that can be advanced in the guide 233 is thus automatically adjusted so that this length of strip 230 can not be advanced excessively.

  during the tape distribution cycle.

24 2O46

  39 It also appears that due to the fact that the shear of the strip length 230A occurs at a point substantially spaced from the ends of the plates 263 and 265 (as shown in FIG. 14), a short strip length 230B exceeds plates 265 and 263 during this shearing operation. After the shearing has been done, the 230B end of the strip is therefore suitably

  positioned for the repetition of the advance cycle, of shear

  and application of the band. It therefore follows from the foregoing that, after passing below the tape dispenser 148 according to the invention, a tape length 230A

  is cut and placed over the opening 126, and now

  on the cardboard blank 100 disposed on the peripheral surface

  of the rotary drum 146 for heat sealing and aligning

is lying.

  The following operation performed in station I is the heat-sealing and fixing operation during which the torch 220 is glued to the strip length 230A at the same time as the latter is sealed to the blank 100 of cardboard, above the opening 126. In the preferred embodiment, this heat sealing and fixing operation is performed on the rotating drum 146 by means of an improved hot plate device which is held in the withdrawn position within the drum 146 and which is intermittently displaced outwardly, by cam action, through the peripheral surface of the drum

  146 to make contact with the blank 100 of cardboard.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the drum 146 has four square openings 250 which are symmetrically spaced around the periphery of this drum 146 (i.e. at intervals of 900). The leading edge 252 of each opening 250 is placed near the rear alignment stop 206 so that the opening 250 is placed in close proximity to the panel segment 108 when the carton blank 100 is held on the drum 146. A plate

  heating element 254, which cooperates with the opening 250, is

  abutted with a follower member 256 which moves in a cam 255 (shown schematically in FIG. 7) mounted 40. rigidly inside the drum 146. A hydraulic or pneumatic control element 257 is also mounted on the counter-cam or the follower member 256, near one end, and extends to the heating plate 254, at a point above the hinge between the plate

  heating and counter-cam. As described in more detail below

  after, during the rotation of the drum 146, the counter-cam 256

  moves within the fixed cam 255 to control

  Extending and withdrawing movements of the heating plate 254 into the opening 250. To perform an extension movement, the hydraulic control member 257 is actuated and advanced a short distance so that the lower surface 259 of the heating plate 254 is pressed firmly downward against the peripheral surface

drum 146.

  The heating plate 254 preferably comprises a heating resistor (not shown) which Joule heat the plate 254 to a temperature suitable for rapid gluing of the polyethylene torch 220 on the band 230A, as well as a connection or fixation polyethylene coating of the tape length 230A in "Mylar" on the blank 100 of cardboard. As shown in FIG. 15, the lower surface 259 of the heating plate 254 has a boss 261 in the form of a rectangular picture frame, the inner surface of which is surmounted by a projection 263, the boss and projection having preferably a smooth surface. The outer dimensions of the boss 261 are slightly larger than the dimensions of the opening 126 of the blank 100 of cardboard so that, when the heating plate 254 is pressed down on the blank 100 disposed on the peripheral surface of the drum 146, the

  boss 261 and projection 263 come into contact with

  the length of the band 230A and a localized area of the band length above the torch 220, as indicated by the dotted areas on the

figure 4.

  Figure 7 shows the cycle of operations performed by the hotplate 254 at each turn of the drum 416. When the insulated cardboard blank 100A is transferred to the peripheral surface of the drum 146 as previously described, the hotplate 254A shown in broken lines) is kept inside the drum 146 so as not to interfere with the transfer operation of the cardboard blank. As the drum rotates from the 3 o'clock position to the 12 o'clock position, the cam follower 256 moves within the cam 255 to advance the heating plate 254B radially outwardly by passing it through the cam. opening 250, then to advance it slightly in the opposite direction to that of the needles of a

  shows. In this extended position, the pneumatic element

  Control 257 is actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7, in order to firmly press the lower surface 259 of the heating plate 254B against the blank 100 of cardboard. In the preferred embodiment, the outward movement of the heating plate 254B and its direct contact with the cardboard blank 100 occurs rapidly and ends approximately at the 1 o'clock position.

  Figure 7. As mentioned earlier, the hotplate

  254 only comes into contact with the cardboard blank 100 in the localized area of the strip length 230A, the torch 220 and the opening 126 (as indicated by FIGS.

  dotted areas in Figure 4), so that the poly-

  ethylene covering the remaining portion of the blank 100 is not

  not heated or deteriorated during this operation.

  The hotplate 254B remains in contact with the cardboard blank 100 about 1/2 turn of the drum 146 or until the hotplate 254C rotates past the 9 o'clock position, as shown in FIG. this period, the heating plate 254B, which is at an elevated temperature due to the presence of a heating resistor (not shown) within this plate, causes the binding of the band length 230A to a portion of the torch 220 and, simultaneously, sealing the length of strip on the outer surface of the blank 100 of cardboard. 42. It appears that the temperature of the heating plate 254 must be maintained at a constant value which is sufficient to rapidly bond and seal the polyethylene torch 220 to the strip length 230A and to the cardboard blanks 100 coated with polyethylene, that temperature

  however, must be low enough to prevent vaporisation

  polyethylene or melting the "Mylar" substrate of the strip length 230A. Furthermore, since the polyethylene torch is substantially thicker than the polyethylene coating of the strip length 230A or the carton blank 100, and because of the insulating effect of the carton blank 100, the temperature of the heating plate and the time during which this hotplate 254 is in contact with the various elements must be carefully determined to ensure a satisfactory connection and sealing.

  In addition, it has been found that, due to

  Because of the different thermal expansion factors of "Mylar" and polyethylene, the length of strip 230A, if preheated, creases during the bonding operation. The heating plates 254 must therefore firmly press the strip length 230A against the blank 100 of cardboard and they must also seal and bind the elements rapidly.

between them.

  It therefore appears that, by means of the heating plate 254, the boss 261 and the projection 263, which perform a reciprocating movement, of the apparatus according to the invention, it is possible to carry out a direct heating and a pressure connection. 230A strip length, 220 torch and 100 cardboard blank (this

  operation being carried out, in the preferred form of

  within a time interval of about 0.5 seconds), this

  that it would be impossible to achieve easily by the application

  heating element placed at a distance or by preheating

  fage of the tape length. In addition, it should be noted that while in the preferred embodiment the heating element 254 uses a heating resistor, other heating and bonding methods may be adapted to the

242 0-46

  43. hotplate 254 with reciprocating movements (such as the

  ultrasonic welding), in an efficient manner.

  When the drum 146 continues to rotate around

  Beyond the 9 o'clock position, cam follower 256 and heating plate 254C begin their withdrawal cycle in which heating plate 254D is moved away from cardboard blank 100 and retracts below opening 250. As shown this withdrawal cycle is completed when the drum 146 reaches approximately, rotating, the 6 o'clock position. Therefore, when the drum 146 has completed one revolution (which in the preferred embodiment requires a second), the heating plate 254 has bonded the torch 220 to the tape length 230A and at the same time achieved a seal to the liquids on the opening 126, as

shown in Figure 4.

  Although, for the sake of clarity, the operation of a single hotplate 254 has been described, it is necessary to

  note that the drum 146 has four heating plates

  254 which cooperate with the four openings 250, so that four blanks 100 of cardboard are heat sealed and bound during a single rotation of the drum 146.

  It should also be noted that since the coating

  Polyethylene is only applied on one side of the strip length 230A and the "Mylar"

  a significantly higher melting point than the poly-

  ethylene, the strip length 230A does not stick or adhere to the bottom surface 259 of the heating plate 254

  when the latter is retracted from the blank 100 of cardboard.

  When the heat sealing and bonding process is completed, the blank 100 of cardboard is removed from the rotating drum 146 and transferred to the mechanism 152 of

  pivoting of the blanks by the device 150 with a release wheel

  is lying. As shown in FIG. 16, this device 150 comprises a disk 262 which is fixed on a rotating shaft 264. In the preferred embodiment, this shaft 264 rotates at a speed equal to exactly twice the speed of the drum 146 (FIG. that is, two revolutions per second) so that two blanks 100 of cardboard can be removed from the drum 146 44 at each turn of the disk 262. The outer peripheral surface 265 of the disk 262 is placed in close proximity to the peripheral surface of the drum 146 (as shown in particular in Fig. 17) and is separated from the drum 146 by a small gap 266. As described in more detail below, this gap 266 allows the blank 100 of cardboard to be removed from the drum 146 and to pass or be

driven on the disk 262.

  A release plate or housing 268, located approximately on one side of the disk 262 and fixedly mounted on the frame (not shown), has a concave inner surface 270 which is spaced concentrically from the surface

  disk peripheral 262. This concave surface 270 constitutes

  kills a deflecting surface for the cardboard blank 100 and

  it forces the latter to marry the shape of the disc 262.

  The disc 262 further comprises two pairs of transfer tabs 272, of "L" shape, placed on the two surfaces of this disc 262 and spaced apart by 1800, one of

  the other. These legs 272 extend to the outside of the surface.

  262, in a direction parallel to the shaft 264, so that they can extend over the width of the periphery of the drum 146. Each tab 272 further comprises two tabs 274 which have chamfered inner edges 276 engaging the panels 112 and 114 closing the ends of the blank 100 or now these panels 112 and 114 (Figure 3) during the transfer of the blank

from drum 146 to disk 262.

  The operation of the release wheel mechanism 150 can be readily understood from FIGS. 16 and 17. The illustrated drum 146 and disk 262 rotate in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. rotator 146, which carries the carton blank, approaching the mechanism 150 with a disengagement wheel (i.e., the 6 o'clock position), the communication between the vacuum source (not shown) and; the suction orifices 147 (shown in FIG. 11) are interrupted at

  immediate proximity of the mechanism 150 to escape wheel.

  This interruption of the vacuum of the orifices 147 allows the edge 45 of the cardboard blank 100 to be lifted from the surface of the drum 146 or to descend elastically into the space 266.

(as shown in Figure 17).

  In this position, the continued rotation of the drum 146, as well as the rotation of the disk 262, has the effect of pushing the blank 100 of cardboard into the formed passage

  between the release plate or housing 268 and the peripheral

  In the course of this movement, the cardboard blank 100 contacts the concave surface 270 of the plate 268 and flexes into a curved shape. When the drum 146 and the disk 262 continue their synchronized and opposite rotations, the tabs 206 of the drum 146 and the tabs 274 of the tabs 272 of the disk 262 come face to face in tangential positions, so that the tabs 206 and the cleats 274 make a provision to

  roughly parallel as shown in Figure 17.

  In this position, the blank 100 of cardboard is released from the centering tabs 206 and the peripheral surface of the drum 146 and is aligned by the tabs 274 of the tabs 272. As can be seen, since the

  tabs 206 and 274 each have a changeable inner edge

  braked, the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 between the stops 206 and 274 is smooth, without bending or distortion

of the blank 100.

  After the cardboard blank 100 has thus been transferred between the tabs 206 and 274, the continuation of the cardboard blank 100 is ensured exclusively by the rotation of the disc 262, the edges of the end panels 112 and 114 being in contact with the catches 274 in a manner analogous to that previously described for the rotary drum 146, and the plate or housing 268 of release now

  freely the cardboard blank 100 against the disk 262.

  Then, while the disk 262 is rotating on an arc of envi-

  1800, the cardboard blank 100 comes out of the mechanism 150 with a release wheel. near the lower end of the release plate 268, and the cleats 274 of the pair of tabs 272 are disengaged. Thus, the cardboard blank 100 is deposited on the horizontal pivoting mechanism 152, as shown 46. in FIG. FIG. 16 so that the torch 220 is turned

down.

  Once the cardboard blank 100 has disengaged from the tabs 272, the disc 262 may continue to rotate clockwise without further movement of the blank 100 and turn to the 12 position. to each other blank 100 of cardboard carried by the drum 146. Thus, as indicated, during each rotation of 1800, the clearance wheel mechanism 150 transfers a blank 100 of cardboard from the rotary drum 146, releasing it or lifting it from the peripheral surface of the drum 146, and depositing it in a

  horizontal plane so that this blank can then be transferred

back to workstation II.

  After it has been removed from the heat-sealing and alignment drum 146 and before it is completely clear of the disengagement mechanism 150, the cardboard blank 100 is transferred to the blank turning mechanism 152 which introduces the blank 100. in work station II (winding and folding station on mandrel). As shown in Figures 16 and 18, the pivoting mechanism 152 preferably comprises a drive chain 280 forming a continuous loop which passes over two pinions 284 and which is formed of several straight links 282 hinged together at each end. These links 282 of the chain and their flexible hinges allow the loop 280 formed by the chain to follow a substantially semicircular path by moving in the direction indicated by the arrows on the

figure 18.

  Two support plates 271 and 273 made of

  preferably in "Teflon" (trade mark of E.I.

  DuPont De Nemours) having respectively a concave edge and a convex edge, are rigidly mounted inside and outside the loop 280 and form a guide channel which maintains the semi-circular orientation of the loop 280 formed by chain. In the preferred embodiment,

  these support plates 271 and 273 rise slightly vertically.

  and at the top of the loop 280 to form a support surface 47 on which the three front segments 102, 104 and 106 of the carton blank 100 can rest during transport (as shown in FIGS. 19 and 19A). Although not shown for clarity, two analogous plates are obviously arranged near the lower end of the loop 280 formed by the chain to guide this loop.

  280 along his return journey.

  The loop 280 formed by the chain carries five pairs of L-shaped profiles 287 (only two pairs of profiles being shown in FIG. 18 for clarity) which extend approximately perpendicular to the loop and which move on the surface. upper plates 271 and

  273. As shown, the pairs of sections 287 are spaced

  regularly spaced from each other along the loop 280 and oriented to receive one after the other

  a carton blank 100 from the release mechanism 150

  in the manner described below. The height of the vertical wing 291 of these sections 287 is substantially smaller than the width of the horizontal wing 293 and the vertical wing has a centering catch 295 near each of its ends. These tabs 295 are made substantially similar to the centering tabs 147 of the release gear mechanism 150, and are designed to center the blank 100 of cardboard along the edges of the end closure panels 112 and 114. in a manner described

  previously. The distance between the adjoining sections

  cents of each pair 287 is determined to be slightly greater than the width of the panels 112 and 114 of

  closing the ends of the cardboard blank 100 (as shown in FIG.

  shown in Figure 3), so that the blank 100 can be received

between these profiles.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the loop 280 formed by the chain passes over two pinions 284 which are rigidly mounted on the opposite ends of a broken control shaft 283. This shaft 283 is engaged with a differential gear (not shown) mounted within a differential housing 285 which is driven by the main control system (not shown) of the rotary drum 146 48 to rotate the pinions 284 in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 18. The rotational speed of the shaft 283 and, consequently, the speed of the loop surface 280 formed by the chain are synchronized with the speed of the rotation of the disc 216 of the mechanism 150 with a release wheel so that when

  the cardboard blank 100 is deposited in a horizontal orientation

  By the clearance mechanism 150 (as previously described), one of the pairs of sections 287 of the loop

  280 is aligned below the axis of the disk 262.

  clearance 150 (as shown in FIG. 19).

  When the cardboard blank 100, carried by the disk alignment tabs 274 approaches the 6 o'clock position, the pair 287 of L-shaped sections disposed on the chain loop 280 at the same time passes over the pinions 284. to take the position shown in Fig. 19. In this position, the segments 102 to 106 of the blank 100 of cardboard rest on the support plates 271 and 273, while the front edges of the closure panels 112 and 114 of the ends of the flan 100 come into contact with the inner surface of the centering tabs 295 of the front section 287. Continued relative movement of the disc 262 and the loop 280 causes the contact 295 of the centering tabs of the rear section 287 to come into contact with the edge rear of the panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends, so that the blank 100 is completely clear of the tabs 274 of the disc 262 and the panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends, as well as the rear segment 10 8, be placed only inside the 287 sections of the 280 loop

  formed by the chain (as shown in Figure 19A).

  Once disposed between the two sections 287, the blank 100 of cardboard is driven on a semicircle by the continuous feed of the loop 280 formed by the chain (as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 18), and it is deposited near the other pinion 284 to be inserted into the pre-feed conveyor 300 (shown in phantom in FIG. 18). It should be noted that as the pairs of profiles 287 approach each other 49. pinion 284, the front segments 102-106 of the carton blank extend horizontally beyond the axis of the shaft 273 and are introduced between the pre-feed conveyor 300 and an inclined plate 309 disposed below (as shown in Fig. 18). Continued movement of the chain forming the loop 280 has the effect of lowering the two sections 287 on the pinion 284, so that the panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends of the blank 100 are clear of the centering pins 295 and that the pairs of profiles 287 return to their initial position along the lower run of the loop 280. Next, the pre-feed conveyor 300 contacts the closure panels 112 and 114 of the ends of the blank 100, in a manner described hereinafter, in order to transfer the blank 100 to the winding and pleating mechanism placed in the post

working II.

  It should be noted that during the

  150 of the blank pivoting mechanism 152, successive blanks 100 are received from the clearance mechanism 150 between the pairs of sections 287 at one end of the buckle 280, while at the same time one of the blanks 100 of

  cardboard, previously arrived, is driven to the transport

  300 pre-feed. Similarly, when a pair of profiles 287 carrying a carton blank moves toward the conveyor 300, another pair of profiles 287 returns to the release mechanism 150 along the bottom run of the chain loop 280, to then receive another flan 100 of cardboard from the mechanism

  clearance. It is therefore easy to see from the description

  Previously, when a blank 100 of cardboard passes into the workstation I, a torch and a sealing strip are bonded and sealed to the blank 100 and the blank 100 is placed on the front-loading conveyor 300 to enter

  then in workstation II.

  As represented in FIG. 5, the elements constituting the work station II (winding and winding station)

  folding the carton) according to the invention will now be described.

  Workstation II includes carrier 300 of

50.

  supply, a stacking or stacking conveyor 302

  forming or forming mandrels 304 and several winding and pleating mechanisms 360 (not shown in FIG. 5) which are arranged near each forming mandrel 304 and placed below the

302 stacking conveyor.

  Basically, in the workstation II, the insulated blanks 100 of cardboard are transported from the pivoting mechanism 152 of the workstation I and centered to be introduced into the stacking or stacking conveyor 302. the pre-feed conveyor 300. Before the introduction of the blanks 100 into the stacking conveyor 302, said blanks 100 are arranged in groups of four in each of which the blanks are arranged by the pre-feed conveyor so as to overlap or partially overlap so that the blank The leading edge of each rear flank is located below the rear edge of the blank 100 previously arrived (as shown in FIG. 21). In addition, as described in more detail below, the front carton blank 100 of each group of four blanks overlaps the preceding group of four blanks so that the front edge of the front blank overlaps the rear edge of the last blank.

previous group flan.

  So placed in this riding arrangement

  In this case, the blanks 100 of cardboard are conveyed in groups of four on the upper surface of the forming mandrels 304 by the conveyor 302. The blanks 100 are then assembled and each blank is wound freely around a blank.

  separate mandrel 304, and is separated from the conveyor 302.

  Next, the four blanks 100 of cardboard are simultaneously formed to assume a square tubular configuration around the forming mandrels 304, whose shape they conform to, by means of the wrapping mechanism 360

and pleating.

  After their side walls have been permanently pleated to form a square tubular configuration, the four blanks 100 of cardboard are pushed back or ejected from the shaping chucks 304 and transferred to the work station III (sewing station and fastening end closures). Thus, as described in more detail below, at the end of their passage in the

  workstation II, the cardboard blanks 100 show a ---

  square tubular shape, as shown in FIG. 29, the torch 220 and the strip length 230A being sealed on

these blanks.

  The detailed construction and operation of the apparatus constituting the work station II (winding and folding station of the cardboard blanks) will now be described. As shown in FIG.

  stacking or overlapping conveyor 302 and conveying

  pre-feed carrier 300 comprise conveyor belts 314 and 301, respectively, mounted at one end on two pairs of pulleys 310 and 311, in conventional manner. The two pairs of pulleys 310 and 311 are carried by a common shaft 312, the pair of pulleys 310 being rigidly mounted on the shaft 312 and the pair of pulleys 311 being mounted so as to be rotatable on the shaft 312 by means of

357. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 16, the belts 301 of the

  pre-feed conveyor 300 are held taut between the pulleys 311 and two further pulleys 313 which are rigidly mounted on a shaft 317 connected by a transmission gear (not shown) to the main control system (not shown) of the drum 146 of heat sealing and alignment. In a similar manner, as shown in FIG. 5, the conveyor belts 314 of the conveyor 302 lead to two further pulleys

  319. It appears that, by means of such an arrangement, the transpor-

  300 pre-feed is driven by the shaft 317 (shown in FIG. 16), while the conveyor 302

  overlapping and stacking is driven by the shaft 312.

  In the preferred embodiment, the strokes of the pre-feed 302 and the overlap 302 conveyors are synchronous, the speed of the pre-feed conveyor 300 being greater than that of the overlapping conveyor 302. As described in more detail below, 52. this difference in speed allows blanks 100 of cardboard arriving at the pre-feed conveyor 300 to be arranged in groups of four and so as to overlap or overlap partially with each other. to others before being picked up by the stacking conveyor 302. The belts 314 and 301 of the overlap conveyor 302 and the pre-feed conveyor 300 further include a plurality of pairs of cleats 316 and 315 of

  centering, respectively, which protrude perpendicularly

  the surfaces of the belts 314 and 301 are placed at predetermined intervals along the entire length of the two belts. As previously described for cleats

  206 and 274 of the rotary drum 146 and the disk 262, respectively

  the gap between the adjacent cleats

  and the adjacent cleats 315 is determined to receive

  see the panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends of the blanks 100 of cardboard (shown in Figure 3). In addition, as shown, the cleats 316 of the conveyor 302 are substantially longer than the cleats 315 of the pre-feed conveyor. As described in more detail below,

  this greater length of cleats 316 allows the trans-

  302 carrier to engage with the blanks 100 of cardboard placed on the conveyor 300 pre-feed a

  compensating for the difference in speed between trans-

carriers 300 and 302.

  As shown in particular in FIG. 20, the frontloader conveyor 300 is preferably oriented to form an angle with the overlap conveyor 302 and is disposed slightly above an inclined plate 309 which extends between the mechanism 152 of FIG.

  pivoting of the blanks (shown in FIG. 16) and the trans-

  carrier 302 overlap (as shown in Figure 20). This inclined plate 309 is pivotably mounted near its upper edge and is connected to a control cam 321 which rotates to intermittently raise and lower the plate 309 about its pivot. The plate 309 also preferably includes two side members 309A which rise vertically from the main flat surface of the plate 309. As described in more detail below, this plate 309 constitutes a lower support for the blank 100. of cardboard moving along the pre-feed conveyor 300, and further allows the blanks to be arranged in groups of four and to be placed partially below each other before

  to arrive in the overlapping conveyor 302.

  Four forming or forming mandrels 304, rigidly connected to the frame 320 at one end, are disposed below the plane of the conveyor belts 314 and evenly spaced along the conveyor 302. As shown, these mandrels 304 preferably have a cross section approximately square and each have a concave groove 322 and two recesses 324 formed along their upper and lateral surfaces, respectively, which extend partially over their entire length (as shown in particular in Figure 22). The concave groove 322 receives the torch 220 fixed to the blank 100 of cardboard during

  the folding operation, while the recesses 324 facilitate

  attempt to eject or transfer the blank 100 out of the mandrel 304. A separator plate device 326 cooperates with each mandrel 304 and is mounted near one side of the mandrel, which device is part of the winding mechanism 360. and pleating. As shown in FIG. 20, the partition plate device 326 has a sliding plate 328 from which side walls 330, and two elongated and rigid abutments 332, all of which are mounted on a shaft 334. shaft 334 is carried, near one of its ends, by a support arm 336 which has a bearing hole 338 in which

  the shaft 334 can rotate. The four trees 334 are also

  connected at one of their ends to a common control mechanism 340 which may typically include a drive linkage so that all the shafts 334

  can be rotated at the same time.

  During the operation of the workstation II, each of the cardboard blanks 100 (shown in FIG. 16) 54 is transported from the pivot mechanism 152 of FIG.

  workstation I by the 300 pre-food carrier

  receiving panels 112 and 114 for closing

  Means of each of the blanks 100 of cardboard between its centering cleats 315, in a manner previously described. During this transfer, the cardboard blanks 100 are transported between the lower loop of the pre-feed conveyor 300 and the upper surface of the inclined plate 309 (as shown in Fig. 20) and move toward the carrier shaft 312 302 overlap. As shown in Fig. 21, during this movement, the end closure panels 112 and 114 move along the surface

  upper side raised edges 309A of the plate 309.

  Therefore, the trailing edge of each carton blank 100 is raised slightly by the sidewalls 309A while the leading edge of the blank 100 rests directly on the surface

main plane of the plate 309.

  As shown in FIG. 21, this inclination

  The formation of the blanks 100 of cardboard on the inclined plate 309 allows successive blanks 100A, 100B, 100C and 100D, forming a group of four blanks, to be oriented along the plate 309 so that the leading edges of the three

  last 100B, 100C and 100D blanks (these edges being

  344B, 344C and 344D, respectively) are located below the trailing edges of the previous blanks A, 100B and 100C. Thus, successive blanks 100 overlap or are superimposed along the inclined plate

  309 before arriving in the 302 carrier of overlap

  is lying. This overlap along the inclined plate 309 allows the successive blanks 100A, 100B, 100C and D to be wound each on a separate forming mandrel 304, although the distance between two mandrels 304 is less than the length. In addition, this arrangement allows a small assembly of the mandrels 304 and equipment stages that follow, and it is an important factor.allowing the device according to

  the invention to occupy a very limited floor area.

  55. In addition to the overlap operation, the inclined plate 309 (as shown above) disposes in groups of four the blanks 100 of cardboard arriving so that they are then directed to the four forming cores 304. In the preferred embodiment, this grouping operation is performed by pivoting upwards (in the opposite direction of that of the clockwise as shown in FIG. 21) of the plate 309 under

  the effect of the rotation of the cam 321.

  In operation, the boss of the cam 321 rotates the plate 309 upwardly through all four blanks 100 of cardboard along the inclined plate 309 to the conveyor 302. This upward pivoting of the plate 309 has the effect of placing the leading edge 344 of one carton blank 100 out of four above the trailing edge of the preceding blank (i.e., superimposing it on the other group of four) on the slanted plate 309. Then, the cam 321 continues to turn so that the plate 309 is again placed in its normal and lowered position.

working.

  Therefore, the next three cardboard blanks 100 are placed one below the other, as previously described, so that the leading edge 344 of each blank 100 is below the trailing edge of the preceding blank. on the plate 309. As described in more detail below, this particular grouping by four of the blanks allows the first four blanks 100A to 100D to be folded into a square tubular shape around the forming mandrels 304 while a second group Four blanks 100 are driven by the overlapping conveyor 302 to the separate forming mandrels 304. As a result, the bending and shaping cycles performed by the machine are superimposed on the transport and grouping cycles, as

described in more detail below.

  During the operation during which the blanks are arranged to overlap on the inclined plate 309, the centering pins 316 of the overlapping conveyor 302 first receive the panels 112 and 114 of 56.

  closing ends of successive blanks 100A to 100D.

  Since the pre-feed conveyor 300 moves the cardboard blanks 100 at a speed greater than

  that of carrier 302, it is necessary to avoid

  mulation and blocking the blanks 100 on the inclined plate 309. Therefore, the conveyor 302 must remove the successive blanks 100A to 100D of the inclined plate 309 at a speed greater than the speed at which this carrier

  302 is actually moving. In the preferred form of

  This accelerated rate of removal of the blanks from the inclined plate 309 is achieved by increasing the length and radial spacing of the centering tabs 302 of the conveyor 302 coming into contact with the

  panels 112 and 114 of ends of blanks 100 of cardboard.

  It appears that by engaging the blanks 100A to 100D at a point adjacent to the outer radial end of the centering cleats 316, the useful diameter of the

  pairs of pulleys 310 and, therefore, the superficial speed

  In the preferred embodiment, the length of the catches 316 (and, therefore, their radial spacing) is determined so that, when coming into contact with the blanks 100A to 100D of the effective diameter of the pulleys 310 is such that

  given the rotation of the shaft 312, the speed super-

  pulleys exceeds the forward speed of the transpor-

* 300 pre-feed. Therefore, using such an arrangement, successive blanks 100A to 100D of cardboard are rapidly removed from the pre-feed conveyor 300 at a speed equal to the speed of this conveyor 300, and then they are transported horizontally to a lower speed by the conveyor 302, to the forming mandrels 304. Since the width measured between

  raised edges 330 of the sliding plate 328, is lightly

  less than the length of the cardboard segments 102 to 108 of the blank 100 (FIG. 3) during this transport by means of the overlap conveyor 302 to the shaping mandrels, the lower surface of the blanks 100 rests on 57. the raised edges 330 sliding plates 328 which support them. Therefore, the successive blanks 10OA, 100B, C, and 100D of carton placed on the conveyor 302 can move freely among the four shaping chucks 304. When the front edges 344 of successive blanks

  A, 100B, 100C and 100D cardboard, carried by the carrier

  302 (FIG. 21), approaching the corresponding forming mandrels 304, the control mechanism 340 of the winding and pleating device 360 is momentarily actuated to rotate the shafts 334 on a small arc, in the direction of the Clockwise. This short rotation causes the rigid stops 332 and sliding plates 328 to pivot around the shafts 334 and lift them vertically to their front edges. The cardboard blanks 100 directly above the sliding plates 328 (as shown for the blank 100A in FIG. 21) during this action are slightly raised, while the front edge 344B of the next blank (such as the blank 100B shown in Fig. 21) is deflected downwardly by the plate 328 to pass below this sliding plate 328. It thus appears that the fifth cardboard blank, which previously overlapped the previous blank 100D as a result

  the pivoting of the inclined plate 309 is again lightly

  raised during this pivoting of the sliding plate 328 so that said fifth blank 100 does not penetrate

  not at this time in the 360 pleating mechanism.

  After the leading edge 344 has reached below the sliding plate 328, the control mechanism 340 is stopped so that the plate 328 and the rigid stops 332 pivot back to their lower position (i.e. the position shown in Figure 20). Therefore, turning on and off the separator plate device 326 effectively separates or groups together the insulated blanks 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D of cardboard in the vicinity of each shaping chuck 304. In addition, since the sliding plates 328 are brought back to their original plane orientation, the next group of four 58. cardboard blanks 100 may be advanced in the same manner by the overlap conveyor 302 to the mandrels

  matching 304 formatting.

  After switching on and off the separator plate device 326, the panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends of the blank 100 of cardboard are still engaged with the conveyor 302 so that each of the blanks 100A, 100B, 100C and 100D continues its horizontal run below the sliding plates 328 for the front edge 344 of the blank 100 to contact the mechanism 360

  pleating, as shown in Figures 22 and 23.

  The pleating mechanism 360 comprises an articulated element 362 which comprises a reciprocating vertical wall 364 and an L-shaped pivoting jaw 366. As clearly shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the vertical wall 364 is rigidly mounted on a elongated sleeve 368 which is clamped at one end into a support bar 372. The sleeve 368 supports a rotating shaft 370 which protrudes at both ends of the sleeve and which carries a

  end cap 374 attached to this shaft 370.

  The L-shaped clamping jaw 366 is rigidly connected to this end cap 374 so that when the shaft 370 is rotated clockwise, the jaw 366 rotates towards the vertical wall. 364. As described below, this rotation of the jaw 366 towards the vertical wall 364 gives a permanent fold to the cardboard blank 100 in order to give the latter the form

  of a square tube. The inner surfaces of the vertical wall

  shim 364 and clamping jaw 366 each comprise two flexible plates 378, preferably made of Teflon (trademark registered by E.I. DuPont De Nemours) which effectively press the cardboard blank 100 against the mandrel.

  304 during the folding process. In addition, a deflected finger

  279 is rigidly connected to the vertical wall 364 and is arranged in a curve, consisting of segments forming angles between them, between the flexible plates 378 of the

  vertical wall 364 and the jaw 366, respectively.

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  59. As shown in Figure 22, the mechanism

  360 folding or pleating is arranged below the provision

  326 with separating plates and near the side and bottom surfaces of the forming mandrel 304. In this position, the pleating device 360 forms an obstacle which bypasses the horizontal stroke of the blank 100 of cardboard below.

  of the sliding plate 328 and it can work librse-

  without being disturbed by the device 326 with separating plates.

  ration and by the overlapping conveyor 302.

  The operation of the 360 pleating mechanism

  is illustrated in Figures 22 to 27. As mentioned above,

  Finally, during the operation of the separator plate device 326, the leading edge of the carton blank 100 passes beneath the sliding plate 328. After a

  additional displacement caused by the trans-

  carrier 314, the leading edge 344 of the blank 100 comes into contact with

  with the deflector finger 279 disposed on the integral surface

  the vertical wall 364 of the pleating mechanism 360 (as best shown in FIG. 23). This contact with the deflector finger 279 has the effect of deflecting the front edge 344 of the blank 100 of cardboard downwards and, under the effect of the continued horizontal movement of the blank 100 under the action of the overlapping conveyor 302 the elongate portion of the blank 100 (consisting of the segments 102 to 108) bears against the finger 279 which then behaves like a cam so that said elongate portion winds freely around the forming mandrel 304, as shown in FIG.

figure 25. -

  During this same horizontal movement, the front edge of the panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends of the cardboard blank 100 approaches the shaping mandrel 304 and comes into contact with the base of the elongated stops 332 of the plate device 326. separation. Since the ends of the stops 332 are bent upwards, the

  panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends slide

  below the lower surface of the stops 332, but

  above the upper surface of the forming chuck 304. Continued horizontal movement of the blank 100 of 60. carton under the action of the overlapping conveyor 302 brings the leading edge of the end closure panels 112 and 114 into contact or abutment with the shoulder 380 at the base of the 332. This direct contact with the shoulder 380 effectively stops the horizontal stroke of the cardboard blank 100 on the overlap conveyor 302 and centers the blank 100 on the mandrel 304 so that the end closure panels 112 and 114 and the segment 108 of cardboard (as shown in Figure 3) are exclusively on the upper surface of the mandrel 304, and that the torch 220 is disposed within the groove

concave 322.

  It appears that, when the cardboard blank 100 enters the pleating mechanism 360, below the abutment 332, the blank 100 is pulled continuously downwards from the conveyor 302 by the abutment 332. effect, during the winding process, to slowly slide down the panels 112 and 114 for closing the ends, along the centering pins 316, to move them away from the belts 314 so that the panels 112 and 114 enter into position. contact with the cleats near their lower end. As shown in Fig. 20, the leading edge of the cleats 316 is preferably inclined or formed at an angle which allows the blank 100 of cardboard

  to be easily cleared from the conveyor 302 when a resistance

  important movement is encountered. As a result

  as a result of the abutment against the shoulder 380, the increased resistance to the horizontal movement of the blank 100 of cardboard along the conveyor 302 has the effect of completely disengaging the centering pins 316 from the panels 112 and 114 of FIG. ends and slide them safely on the back edge of the blank 100 of cardboard. In this way, the blank is held on the shaping mandrel 304 and is clear of the conveyor 302 without permanent deterioration or wrinkling of the end closure panels 112 and 114

of the blank 100.

  When the cardboard blank 100 is cleared from the conveyor 302, the pleating mechanism 360 is actuated 61. to initiate the process of folding or pleating the carton. The progression of the operations performed by the pleating mechanism 360 is shown schematically on the

Figures 25 to 27.

  In its initial position (FIG. 25), the pleating mechanism 360 partially surrounds the forming mandrel 304 and carries the cardboard blank 100 near the

  deflector finger 279 along its interior surfaces.

  As shown in FIGS. 25 to 27, each of the shaping chucks 304 is preferably made to have a slightly sloped top surface and has a small locking member 381 protruding a short distance above it. the upper surface and which is rigidly mounted near one side. It therefore appears that because of this small projection above the upper surface of the mandrel 304, the blank 100 of cardboard can slide freely on the locking member 381 during the process.

  winding described above and that it remains slightly

  beyond the locking member 381 as shown in Figs. 25 to 27. Therefore, the trailing edge of the blank 100 of cardboard extends flat on the slightly inclined upper surface of the shaping mandrel 304 and the 381 prevents it from moving away from the 360 mechanism

pleating.

  Then, the entire pleating mechanism 360 is moved to the side surface of the chuck 304 of

  forming and abutting against this lateral surface

  (as shown in Fig. 26) under the effect of the transverse movement of the bar 372, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 23. By this movement, an angle 382 (shown in Fig. 26) is formed permanently or pleated in the cardboard blank 100, along the upper surface of the mandrel 304, the abutment member 381 preventing the cardboard blank 100 from sliding on top of the mandrel 304. The formation of this angle 382 is facilitated by the line 110 of notches or slots which follows the edge of the mandrel 304 and which is made on the blank 100 of cardboard (as shown in Figure 3), this line significantly reducing the folding resistance. 62.

  The vertical wall 364 of the folding mechanism 360

  While remaining in abutment with the mandrel 304 (as shown in Fig. 26), the L-shaped jaw 366 is rotated clockwise so that the flexible plate 378 applies the other segments (102-106). of the cardboard blank 100 against the shaping mandrel 304 (as shown

in Figure 27).

  In the preferred embodiment, the

  The jaw 366 is obtained by rapid rotation of the shaft 370 over a small arc. During closure, the jaw 366 forms a permanent fold in the cardboard blank 100, near the lower edges of this blank 100 (as shown in FIG.

  in Fig. 27) to form angles 384 and 386.

  As mentioned previously for angle 382, the formation of these edges 384 and 386 occurs along lines 110

  of notches made along the blank 100 of cardboard.

  Since the flexible tongs 378 contact the cardboard blank 100 near the corners of the shaping mandrel 304, during closure of the jaw 366, the blank 100 is stretched moderately against the flat sides of the mandrel 304 so that eliminate the risk of

  border between the edges 384 and 386. In addition, during the closing

  From the jaw 366, the deflector fingers 279 enter the opening 281 (as shown in Fig. 23) in the jaw 366 to descend below the jaw 366 as shown in Fig. 27. Therefore, the blank 100 of cardboard is pleated tightly around the mandrel without being disturbed by the deflector finger 279. It therefore appears that, due to the double movement of the pleating mechanism 360, first towards the mandrel 304, then upwards, against the surface lower and against the lateral surfaces of the

  mandrel 304, the cardboard blank 100 is folded in a permanent manner

  to form a tubular square shape.

  After the pleating mechanism 360 has permanently folded the cardboard blank 100 around the mandrel 304, the blank 100 must be removed from the shaping mandrel 304 and inserted onto the crossbar mandrel 400 or cross mandrel (as shown in FIG. shown in Fig. 30) which is part of workstation III (sewing and fastening station). However, prior to this transfer of the cardboard blank 100 into the workstation III, the sealing tab (as shown in FIG. 27), which protrudes above the upper surface of the mandrel 304, must be folded and folded in such a manner that on the upper surface of the mandrel 304. Moreover, this tongue 120 of

  sealing must be folded so as to be placed

  below the lower surface of the cardboard segment 108 (i.e. the segment 108 must cover the tongue

sealing).

  In the preferred embodiment, this folding of the tongue 120 is effected in a simple but effective manner during the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 from the forming mandrel 304 to the workstation III. Fig. 24 shows the apparatus for folding or folding the sealing tab 120 and transferring the cardboard blank 100 of the forming mandrel 304 to the workstation III. For clarity, it should be noted that in Fig. 24 the blank 100 of cardboard has been removed from between the forming mandrel 304 and the pleating mechanism 360. As shown, the vertical wall 364 and one of the flanges of the L-shaped jaw 366 of the pleating mechanism 360 comprise, at one end, a tab 388 projecting inwardly and towards the side surfaces of the mandrel 304 of formatting. As it appears, these tabs 388 move in the grooves 324 formed along

  lateral surfaces of the mandrel 304 so that the mechanism

  360 pleating can slide forward along

mandrel 304.

  A folding block 389, which is rigidly mounted on the frame (not shown) is disposed adjacent one end of the forming mandrel 304 near the upper surface thereof. The leading edge 390 of the block 389 has an enlarged radius 399 and is tapered inward to form an entrance camera surface, while the sidewall 392 is inclined so that only a reduced thickness portion of the block 64. 389 extends across the upper surface of the forming chuck 304. As described in more detail below, when so positioned, the block 389 comes into direct contact with the sealing tab 120, but only slightly raises the cardboard segment 108 during the transfer of the blank 100 of the mandrel 304. formatting to the

workstation III.

  The folding operation of the sealing tab and the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 from the mandrel 304 to the workstation III will now be described. The pleating mechanism 360 being maintained in its closed position

  and the cardboard blank 100 having been formed according to a configuration

  In a substantially tubular and square configuration, as shown in FIG. 27, the tabs 388 of the pleating mechanism 360 contact the rear edge of the blank 100 of cardboard. The entire pleating mechanism 360 then moves forwards or slides along the forming mandrel 304 to the workstation III. In the preferred form

  realization, this sliding is achieved by a displacement

  bar in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 23. However, other embodiments in which only the jaws 364 and 366 move along the

  mandrel 304 can be used.

  When this sliding movement is triggered

  In this case, the cardboard blank 100 passes beneath the stops 332 (as shown in FIG. 20) and is thus released from the restoring force of the stops 332 which previously held the end closure panels 112 and 114. and the cardboard segment 108 against the upper surface

inclined of the mandrel 304.

  Due to the slightly inclined upper surface of the mandrel 304 as well as the moderate elastic memory characteristics of the blank 100 of cardboard, during this sliding and when released stops 332, the panels 114 and 112 closing the ends and the cardboard segment 108 tend to return elastically and slightly upward away from the upper surface of the

  mandrel 304 to assume an inclined position. This orientation

  65. The sloping process facilitates the transfer process as well as the process of folding the sealing tongue into

  allowing the closing panels 114 and 112 to

  and the carton 108 to slide past the folding block 389 while the seal tab 120 is forced below the block 389. Therefore, during the movement of the carton blank 100 forward of the mandrel 304, the end panels 114 and 112 and the cardboard segment 108 move without damage against the chamfered upper edge 392 of the block 389 and exceed this

  block 389. However, the seal tongue 120 abuts

  against the cam edge 390 of the block 389 and is thus folded down against the upper surface of the mandrel 304. As shown in particular in FIG. 28A, the upper left angle of the mandrels 304 (as well as mandrels 402 of the assembly 400 with crosshead mandrels of Figure 30) has a small notch 383 whose depth is slightly greater than the thickness of the blank 100 of

  cardboard. Notch 383 preferably extends at least partially

  crosswise of the upper surface of the mandrels 304, over a length slightly greater than the width of the sealing tab 120. Therefore, the notch or recess 383 is intended to receive the tongue 120 of

  sealing during the crimping operation.

  It appears that the folding operation of the tongue 120 is facilitated by the flexible plate 378 which

  keeps the cardboard blank 100 pressed against the side surface

  29 of the mandrel 304 and the notch line 110 (as shown in FIG. 5) which weakens the cardboard blank 100 at a point adjacent to the edge of the shaping mandrel 304. Therefore, during the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 to the spider mandrel 400 (from the workstation III), the sealing tab 120 is folded and forced.

  between the lower surface of block 389 and the upper surface

  the mandrel 304 in order to fit into

  notch 383 (as shown in Fig. 28A).

  66. Fig. 28 shows the completion of the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 from the forming mandrel 304 to the spindle mandrel 400 (of the workstation III). As can be seen, the forming chuck 304 and the spider chuck 400 are aligned in end-to-end orientation so that when the blank 100 of cardboard is pushed past the end of the chuck 304 of formatting, it is inserted on the spindle mandrel 400. In addition, the mandrel 304 and individual mandrels 402 forming the spider mandrel 400 have concave grooves 322 and 422 which receive the torch 220 during dispensing operations.

  form and transfer, respectively.

  At the end of the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 to the spider mandrel 400 (of the workstation III), the sealing tab 120 (shown in broken lines) comes into contact with the upper surface of the spider mandrel 400 and below the segment 108 of the blank 100

  of cardboard. Therefore, it appears from the description

  preceding that at the end of its run through the workstation II, the blank 100 of cardboard is folded or folded permanently, in a square tubular configuration in which its tongue 120 of sealing is placed below the surface the bottom of the cardboard segment 108, as shown in FIG. 29, the blank 100 having, in addition, been transferred to the spider mandrel 400 of the

work III.

  After this transfer of blanks 100 of cardboard on the

  spindle 400, the bar 372 returns to its position

  tion and the 360 pleating mechanism also returns

  to its initial position adjacent to the forming mandrels 304 (as shown in FIG. 22) and is arranged to receive the next group of four blanks 100 of cardboard which have been simultaneously transported by

  the stacking conveyor 302 during the folding operation

wise.

  As an illustration, the description of the opera-

  in the workstation II concerned a

  only blank 100 of cardboard formed around a single mandrel 304.

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  67. However, it should be noted that the same process as that

  described for the single blank 100 of cardboard is repeated simultaneously

  nally on the other three mandrels 304 formatting. In addition, it should be noted that while in the preferred embodiment, four mandrels are used in this station, a smaller or larger number of mandrels 304, having their respective 360-fold and pleating mechanisms, can be used and pivoting the plate

  can be modified to group cardboard blanks in accordance with

  to the number of mandrels, without departing from the scope of the invention. After the transfer, described above, of the cardboard blank 100 from the forming mandrel 304, the blank -100 is subjected to a series of operations occurring in the workstation III and during which the blank 100 is permanently sealed along one edge to retain the square tubular shape, and one, 112, end closure panels is attached to the blank 100 to provide a liquid tight seal. In the preferred embodiment, all the operations performed in the workstation III are performed on the spider mandrel 400 (as shown in FIG. 30) in order to suppress the complex transfer systems associated with

the prior art.

  Essentially, in workstation III, the cardboard blank 100 is initially sealed by a lateral sealing device 430 along the edges

  previously placed in an overlapping position, at the

  120, 108, this overlap being formed during the operation

  winding in the workstation.

above.

  Next, the blank 100 of cardboard is moved radially

  the sealing tongues 120 formed along the edge of the blank 100 of cardboard partially beyond position, a folding device 440 comes into contact with the sealing tabs 120 and the

  folds tightly against the end of mandrel 402.

  68. Next, the spider mandrel 400, which carries the blank 100 of cardboard, is turned upward on an arc of 900. During this rotation, the end closure panel 112. comes into contact with a roll 446 which folds the panel 112 onto the end of the individual mandrel 402. At the end of the rotation of 90, the mandrel 402 is oriented vertically so that a matrix or horn 450 of ultrasonic sealing can be pressed on the end of cardboard blank 100 and mandrel 402 to seal the panel

  112 closing on the tabs 120 sealing.

  After the end of the blank 100 of cardboard has been sealed, the spider chuck 400 rotates on another arc 90 to align the blank 100 so that it can be removed from the mandrel 402 and introduced into the workstation. IV (position of rotation of the box). Therefore, the operations performed in Workstation III result in the formation of a liquid tight seal along

  on one side and at one end of the blank 100 of cardboard.

  The detailed construction and operation of workstation elements III will now be described with reference to FIG. 30. As shown, spider mandrel 400 includes four individual mandrels 402 which are preferably end-welded to a plate 404 of FIG. mounting. These mounting plates 404 are fixed on flats of a square shaft 408 by means of several members of

fastening 406.

  The free end of each individual mandrel 402 comprises a die 412 attached to the mandrel 402 by two screws 414 head and hollow cavity. As shown on the

  In Figure 31, the edges of the matrix 412 include bosses

  416 which delimit four hollow recesses 418 formed at corresponding angles. As described hereinafter, the bosses 416 have a hardened surface which facilitates the subsequent operation of attaching the ends, while the housings 418 provide relief from the stresses appearing in the corners of the blank 100 and also allow for excess board portions, overlapping at the corners, to be held below the outer surface of the 69. bosses 416 during fixation. The die 412 also has a concave groove 420 which extends across

  one of its edges and which is aligned with an anal groove

  422 extending partially along the length of each of the chucks 402 of the spider to receive the torch 220. A stop 410 is mounted near an edge of the

  spindle 400 and is connected to a mechanical linkage

  411 which selectively performs reciprocating movement in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

  410 is pressed tightly against an edge of the mandrel indi-

  402 by a spring 413 and has a shoulder 415 at an intermediate point of its length. As described below, the stop centers the blank 100 of cardboard on the

  individual mandrels 402 and, furthermore, when it is

  born, it moves the blank 100 radially outward along the mandrel 402 to make it come into contact with

  the folding device 440. The lower edge (not shown

  The stop 415 is preferably rounded so that when the shaft 408 rotates, the stop 415 can come into contact with each mandrel under the action of the spring.

  402, behaving like a cam.

  A side sealing device 430 forming part of the apparatus according to the invention is aligned with an edge of the mandrel 402 and is disposed vertically above this edge. This device welds the cardboard segment 108 to the sealing tab 120 to permanently hold the cardboard blank 100 in its square tubular shape. As shown, the side-sealing device 430 comprises an ultrasonic sealing horn 432 which has an elongated portion terminating at an end 434 formed to cam-catch or hold the end edge of the blank 100 of cardboard. As shown on the

  FIG. 28A, in the preferred embodiment, the

  Mite 434 has a substantially planar portion 434A and a curvilinear portion 434B projecting downwardly from portion 434A so as to extend above the corner of the blank 100 of cardboard. At the intersection between the portions 434A 70. and 434B, a tapered edge 434C is formed and constitutes, as described in more detail below, a cam which pulls the segment

  108 of cardboard to the angle of the mandrel 402.

  The sealing horn 432 is mounted on the piston 436 of a pneumatic cylinder 438 which advances. and back

  selectively the sealing horn 432 to do so.

  wear against the mandrel 402. The pneumatic cylinder 438 is

  attached to the frame (not shown) and is disposed towards the

  and at an angle to the mandrel 402 so that in the retracted position (as shown in FIG.

  33), the individual mandrel 402 of the mandrel 400 to cross

  The groove 432 can be rotated freely upwardly over an arc 900. In addition, the sealing horn 432 is mounted using means (not shown) which allow a slight freedom of movement in a direction parallel to the length of the horn 432. , but which oppose any movement in a plane - perpendicular to the length of the horn 432. Therefore, the horn 432 aligns itself with the mandrel 402 in order to achieve a proper bond or seal during

this operation.

  The folding device 440, disposed near an end of the mandrel 402 on which it is mounted, permanently bends the sealing tabs 120 formed along the ends of the blank 100 of cardboard against

  bosses 416 of die 412. The device 440 includes

  advantageously, a T-shaped jaw 442 disposed

  below the lower surface of the mandrel 402, and two lateral jaws 444 which are mounted near both sides of the mandrel 402. Each of these jaws is connected to a suitable linkage (not shown), generally cam-controlled, so that the T-shaped jaw 442 reciprocates in a vertical direction while the side jaws 444 reciprocate in a vertical direction.

  horizontal direction, as indicated by the arrows

in Figure 30.

  A roller assembly 446, shown diagrammatically

  Figure 30 is spring-loaded and vertically disposed above the individual mandrel 402 in a plane common to the mandrel 402. In a fundamental way, the roller 446 comprises a stepped cylinder 448 which has a section 449 of reduced diameter. The width of the section 449 is preferably determined to be equal to the width of the end closure panel 112, the angular intermediate area 451 between the reduced diameter section 449 and the large diameter sections 448. , being dimensioned to abut tightly against the edges of the cardboard blank. As shown, the roller 446 is rotatably mounted on an axis 450 which is connected, for example by means of springs (not shown), to the frame (not shown). The roller 446 is accurately positioned radially outwardly of the mandrel 402 so that as the individual mandrel 402 pivots upwardly over an arc of 90, the reduced diameter portion 449 of the barrel 448 contacts the panel 112. closing end of the blank 100 and rolls against this panel at a point tangent to the bosses 416 of the matrix 412. As it appears

  easily, by coming into contact with the panel 112 of

  end portion during the rotation of the mandrel 402, the roll 446 folds the panel 112 on the end of the

matrix 402.

  The operation of the elements of the

  Work III will now be described with reference to the structure

  described above. As shown in Fig. 30, the cardboard blank 100 is transferred to the individual mandrel 402 occupying the 9 o'clock position on the spider mandrel 400, in a manner previously described, so that an edge of the blank 100 comes into contact with the shoulder 415 of the

  stop 410. The latter is initially spaced from the former

  the end of the die 412 of a suitable distance and selected so that, when it abuts against the shoulder 415, the entire length of each of the segments 102 to 108 of the blank extends slightly radially

inwardly of the bosses 416.

  In this position, the pneumatic control cylinder 438 is actuated so as to lower the sealing horn 72. 432 and to make it come into contact with the cardboard blank near an edge of the mandrel 402. In this position, extension, the end 434 of the sealing horn 432 extends in part on both sides of the edge and firmly presses the cardboard portion 108 against the sealing tab. Since the end 434 has the particular configuration shown in FIG. 28A, when it comes into contact with the blank 100 of cardboard, the section 108 of the latter is grasped and pulled sharply towards the angle of the mandrel 402 by the tapered edge 434C and the curved protrusion 434B to form a tight angle. The horn 432 is then energized by means of a well-known control device and the sealing tab 120 is bonded to the cardboard segment 108 by an ultrasonic welding process which is well known to those skilled in the art. However, other methods of making the bond, for example a heat seal process, can be used. Therefore, this ultrasonic welding process makes it possible to produce a liquid-tight seal along the edge of the blank 100 of cardboard, this seal now definitively forming the tubular shape.

square of the blank 100.

  After this ultrasonic welding operation, the pneumatic cylinder 438 is released to retract the sealing horn 432 into a retracted position as shown in Fig. 33. Since, as previously described, the pneumatic actuator 438 is mounted internally with respect to the spider mandrel 400 and in such a manner as to form a certain angle with the plane of this mandrel 400, upon removal, the spider mandrel 400 is disengaged so as to be able to turn in the clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 33. Before this rotation of the mandrel 400, the sealing tongues 120 near the outer end of the individual mandrel 402, however, must be folded over the end of the die

412.

  In the preferred embodiment, this folding operation is performed quickly and easily by means of the folding device 440. Since the sealing horn 432 73 is retracted from the edge of the blank 100 of cardboard, the latter is held on the mandrel 402 only by frictional forces and can therefore easily be positioned along the mandrel 402. To expose the tabs 120 of sealing beyond the end of the die 412 to allow the next folding operation, the stop 410 is driven by the linkage 411 to move radially to

  outside of its initial position (as

  in the form of dotted lines in FIG. 33), in order to partially push the blank 100 of cardboard beyond the end of the mandrel 402. At the end of this movement over a short distance, the lines 122 of notches, formed at near the edges of the cardboard segments 102 to 106 of the -flan 100 (as

  shown in Figure 3) are aligned with the outer edges

  The aforesaid lines 122 of the notches weaken the carton blank, which ensures that the folding occurs at the same time.

  the desired location along the blank 100 of cardboard.

  The cycle of operations performed by the folding device 440 is schematically illustrated in Figs. 32A-32C. With the sealing tabs 120 extending above the edges of the bosses 416, the T-shaped jaw 442 of the folding device 440 rises vertically to a height placing it slightly above the lower surface of the mandrel. 402 (as shown in Figure 32A). During this movement, the jaw 442 contacts the seal tongue 120 along its upper edge and tightly folds the tongue 120 against the

boss 416 of the matrix 412.

  Then, the side jaws 444 are actuated and move partially inward, from their initial position shown in Fig. 32A, to the position shown in Fig. 32B in which their leading edge is in the vertical plane. 412. During this partial inward movement, the edge of each of the side jaws 444 contacts the lower corners of the sealing tongues 120 so that the lower corners are pleated 74.

  tightly between the T-shaped jaw 442 and the lateral jaws

  444. Since the T-shaped jaw 442 remains in its extended position above the lower edge of the mandrel

  402, the seal tongue 120 can not move away-elastically

  Matrix 412, which provides corner folding

  precise sealing tongue 120.

  Next, the T-shaped jaw 442 descends slightly

  to a position in which its unobstructed or cut off angles 442A are aligned with the lower corners of the die 412, and the side jaws 444 move fully inward beyond the front plane of the die 412, as shown in Figure 32C. As previously described

  for the T-shaped jaw 442, when they move fully

  Inwardly, the side jaws 444 contact the sealing tongues 120 of the cardboard blank 100 and fold or pinch them tightly onto the bosses 416 of the die 412. Then, the side jaws 444 return from the same way back up to their

  initial position as shown in Figure 30. As shown in

  32A, 32B and 32C, the right lateral jaw 444 is of a length slightly shorter than that of the left lateral jaw 444. It has been found that this difference in length is desirable to eliminate the

  risk of tearing the seal tab 120 close to

  mity of the upper corner because of its intersection

  (shown in Figure 3) with the end panel 112.

  Therefore, during this folding operation of the sealing tongue, the part of the sealing tongue located in the upper right corner is not folded tightly against the face of the die 412, but it is only applied against the die 412 in order to be then folded

by the roll 446.

  Therefore, at the end of the movement of the T-shaped jaw 442 and the side jaws 444, the sealing tabs 120 are folded over the end of the die 412 and are oriented towards the inside of the square tubular shape of the flange. 100 of cardboard, as shown in FIG. 32. In addition, it appears that, due to the presence of notches 75, 124 of notch, of V-shape, made in the cardboard blank 100 (shown in FIG. 5), the angles of the sealing tabs 120 are folded in a regular manner

  to fit cardboard segments 102 to 108 (any excess

  material tooth placed inside the cross-section

  square of the blank 100), which ensures an appropriate positioning

  ble of these tabs 120 for the sealing operation and

  fastening the end closure.

  With the sealing tongues 120 folded over the end of the die 412, the spider mandrel 400 then rotates clockwise over an arc of 90 as indicated by the arrows in FIG.

  During this rotation, the blank 100 of cardboard passes through

  under the roller 446 with which it comes into contact, which has the effect of folding the closure panel 112

  end on the end of the die 412.

  This rolling operation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 33 and 34. While the blank 100 of

  carton is carried by the individual mandrel 402 in the position

  At 9 o'clock, the end panel 112 extends beyond the end of the die 412 so that the score line 118 (shown in Fig. 3) is aligned with

  the upper edge of the boss 416. When the individual mandrel

  402 duel turns from the 9 o'clock position to the 12 o'clock position, the outer edges of the bosses 416 pass a little distance below the cylinder 448 of the roll 446, so that the end closure panel 112 comes into contact with the section 449 of reduced diameter of the cylinder 448. This contact forcibly moves the panel 112 downwards (to

  from its initial position - in which it is

  mixed lines in Figure 34) in order to apply it

  tightly against the upper surface of the matrix 412.

  The cylinder 448 tightly presses the end closure panel 112 against the bosses 416 of the die 412 and rolls on the end of the die in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 34. When the roll 448 rolls on the die At the end of the die 412, the angular intermediate portion 451, formed between the reduced diameter portion 76, 449 and the large diameter portion of the roll 448, fits closely with the sides of the blank 100 of cardboard to prevent these sides. as well as the tabs

  sealing of the blank to return elastically

  402. In addition, during this rolling operation, the excess carton being in the

  angles of the square tube (as mentioned above and

  32) is urged into the recessed housing 418 of the die 412 (as shown in FIG. 31) so that the angles of the sealing tongues 120 are held in a common plane with the remaining portion. tabs 120 in contact with the bosses 416 of the die 41-2. Therefore, by passing under durch 446, one end of the blank 100 of cardboard is folded and positioned on the die 412 so that it can then be attached. At the end of the 90 rotation of the spider mandrel 400, the cardboard blank 100 carried by the mandrel 402 is oriented in the vertical position 12 hours, as

  shown in Figure 33, and is centered or aligned with

  below the matrix or 450 seal cornet. In this 12 o'clock position, the sealing horn 450, which has

  been retracted into the erase position, vertically

  above the end of the mandrel 402 (as shown in Fig. 30), is lowered directly onto the end closure panel 112 (as shown in Fig. 33). In the preferred embodiment, this downward movement of the sealing horn 450 is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder

  (not shown) which is mounted by means of organs (not shown).

  felt) in order to allow the 450 horn to move slightly

  in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the die 412 in order to align itself with the mandrel 402. The lower surface of the sealing horn 450 advantageously has a shallow recess (not shown) whose the cross-section is slightly greater than that of the end panel 112 so that the seal core 450 can partially descend below the end of the carton blank 1-00 when in contact

* with end closure panel 112.

t 2482046 77.

  In this position of extension or ab-

  the sealing horn 450 firmly presses against the end closure panel 112, which

  prevents the latter from rising from the seal tongue 120

  The invention also avoids misalignment with the mandrel 402. Thereafter, ultrasonic energy is applied to the horn 450 by means of a device. control fitting (not shown) to bond the end panel 112 to the sealing tab 120 and to provide a liquid-tight seal along the end of the blank 100 of cardboard. After this binding operation, the de-sealing horn 450 is retracted vertically to its erasing position above the end of the mandrel 402 under the action of the pneumatic cylinder

(not shown)

  The end closure panel 112 being sealed to the sealing tabs 120, the spider mandrel 400 rotates on another arc 90 to place the individual mandrel 402, carrying the cardboard blank 100, in alignment for the transfer of the blank to the rotation and transport device in the post of

work IV.

  Although, for illustrative purposes, the description of

  The operations carried out in the workstation III concerned a single blank of cardboard, it should be noted that, during each rotation on 900 of the spider mandrel 400, another blank 100 of cardboard is transferred to an individual mandrel 402, so that three flanks of cardboard are carried, most of the time, by three corresponding mandrels 402 forming part of the spindle mandrel 400. In addition, it should be noted that since in the preferred embodiment four spindle-forming mandrels 402 are attached to shaft 408 (as shown in FIG. 5), four individual cardboard blanks are formed. simultaneously by the apparatus according to the invention. Each of these mandrels 402 moves intermittently over the arcs of 90 described

  previously and stops in fixed positions, corresponding to

  78. to quadrants, in order to enable the execution of

described operations.

  After having been subjected to the sealing operation carried out in the workstation III, the blank 100 of cardboard is transferred to the horizontal belt conveyor 550 which passes the cardboard blank 100 to the other positions of the apparatus according to FIG. 'invention. However, as shown on

  33, if the blank 100 of cardboard was transferred directly

  on the conveyor 550 in the orientation it presents on the spider mandrel 400, the other end closure panel 114, which exceeds the length of the

  segments 102 to 108 of cardboard would be oriented perpendicularly

  to the horizontal direction of movement of the transpor-

  550, which would be an inconvenience for the operations performed in workstations V, VI and VII. Therefore, to eliminate the problems posed by the inconvenience caused by the end closure panel 114, before the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 on the carrier

  550, this blank 100 is rotated about 900 about its horizontal axis.

  zontal so that the panel 114 is placed in a parallel plane

  leash to the 550 carrier race.

  FIG. 35 generally shows in 480 the rotation mechanism of the cardboard blanks, intended to transfer a blank 100 of the spindle mandrel 400 (from the workstation III) to the horizontal conveyor 550 and to rotate it axially on an arc of 900 Although, for the sake of clarity, only one blank rotation device 480 is shown, it should be noted that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, four blank rotation devices 480 are used, each device

  being placed near the end of the mandrel correspon-

400 dots.

  As shown in FIG. 35, the cardboard blank rotation device 480 includes a transfer and ejection mechanism, shown generally at 482, and a rotatable mounting device 484 which cooperates with the transfer and ejection mechanism to to transfer and rotate the cardboard blank 100 of the mandrel 400 to

  brace to the cargo carrier 550.

  79. The transfer and ejection mechanism 482 preferably comprises a transfer arm 486 and an ejection arm 488 which are mounted so as to be rotatable.

  on sliding mounting elements 490 and 492, respectively

  tively. The slide mount members 490 and 492 are vertically spaced from each other and are each mounted to reciprocate on a guide bar 494 and a spline shaft 496 extending between two columns. 498 support. The guide bars 494 are rigidly attached to the support columns 498, while the spline shafts 496 are rotatably mounted in these columns and pass through one of the support columns 498 at one end. The splined shafts 496 are further engaged with the transfer and ejection arms 486 and 488, respectively, of

  way that a rotation of these trees 496 causes a pivot

  correspondingly the two arms 486 and 488.

  As shown in Fig. 35, the spline shafts 496 carry control gears 500 and 502 which are connected to each other by a toothed belt 504 so that the two shafts 496 rotate simultaneously. In addition, the diameter of the gear 500 is preferably greater than that of the gear 502 so that the ejection arm 488 pivots over a larger arc for any rotation.

486 transfer arm data.

  A drive chain 506, mounted on the rear face of the support columns 498, is connected in a conventional manner, at one end, to a control mechanism which causes repeated reciprocating motion to this chain 506. The mounting elements at Sliding 490 and 492 are attached to this drive chain 506 so that when the motor (not shown) drives the chain 506, the mounting members move horizontally between the support columns 498 along. 494 bars from

  guiding and splined shafts 496. Since the

  mounting elements 490 and 492 are initially connected to the

  chain 506 drive while they are placed close

  The mounting member 490 is connected to the upper end of the loop formed by the chain 506 while the mounting member 492 is connected to the lower end of the loop. It appears that during a movement of the drive chain 506, the mounting members 490 and 492 move between the columns 498 in opposite directions, i.e., when the mounting member 490 moves from left to right as indicated by the arrow in Figure 35, the

  492 mounting plate moves from right to left.

  As described in more detail below, these opposing movements allow the rotation device 482 to start transferring the cardboard blank 100 from the workstation III, while simultaneously depositing the cardboard blank 100 on

the horizontal transporter 550.

  As shown, the arm 486 of. transfer comprises an extension 508 of L-shape which ends with a head 510 approximately rectangular. The extension 508 and the head 510 are preferably made to have an interior opening (not shown) which is connected to a vacuum source (not shown). The front face of the head 510 further has suction holes 512 which terminate in an inner opening (not shown) of the head 510 and the extension 508 so that the vacuum source is communicated by the

  orifices 512, with the front surface of the head 510.

  The rotating assembly device 484, which is

  fixed to the frame 514, is placed in a parallel plane and adja-

  cent to the transfer and ejection mechanism 482. This provision

  484 comprises a hollow rectangular assembly 516, preferably made of stainless steel sheet, having an open side wall. The assembly 516 is connected at its ends to two cylindrical bearing plates 518 which are rotatably mounted in support columns 520. The mount 516 also includes a bracket 522 attached to its bottom surface (as shown in Fig. 37)

  and connected to a linkage -524. As described below, a

  The movement of the linkage 524 causes the assembly 516 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction 81, as shown in FIG. 35, so that its open side is

  oriented facing the 482 transfer and ejection mechanism.

  The cycle of operations executed by the

  Figure 480 for rotation of the cardboard blanks (Workstation IV) is illustrated in Figures 35 to 38. As shown in Figure 36, the rotatably mounted device 484 (Figure 35) is aligned with the end of the rotating mandrel 400. spider of the workstation III, at a distance from said end. In this position, the arm

  486 transfer is advanced to the maximum and lowered vertical-

  in such a way that the face of the rectangular head 510 comes into contact with the closed end panel of the blank 100 of

  carton (as shown in phantom in FIG. 35).

  When this contact is established, the vacuum source, acting through the holes 512 of the face of the head 510, pulls the blank 100 of cardboard tightly against the face of the head 510 so that the blank 100 can be worn. exclusively

by the arm 486.

  It appears that the descent of the transfer arm 486 to the position shown in Fig. 35 is triggered by the clockwise rotation of the upper splined shaft 496. In addition, since the two splined shafts 496 are connected by the

  timing belt 504, this rotation in the direction of the

  The clockwise movement causes a similar descent of the ejection arm 488 from the position shown in FIG. 35 to that shown in FIG. 36. Descended in this position, the ejection arm 488 is placed internally with respect to the column. 520 of the device 484 rotational mounting, and it can then be moved horizontally on

  the length of the device 484, without being disturbed.

  The transfer arm 486 and the ejection arm 488

  Being arranged in proximity to the opposite support columns 498 (shown in FIG. 35), the control chain 506 is actuated to move the mounting members 490 and 492 horizontally along the guide bars 494 and the spline shafts 496. opposite direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 36. Since the carton blank 82 is held against the head 510 of the arm

  486 vacuum transfer, during this horizontal movement

  zontal, the cardboard blank 100 is removed from the mandrel 400 to

  brace, and driven into the square and hollow assembly 516.

  The square assembly 516 is dimensioned so that the area of its cross-section is slightly larger than that of the cardboard blank 100 and the head 510, so that

  the introduction into the square assembly can be done easily

  with a minimum of friction. Further, it appears that during this introduction of the blank 100 into the square mount 516, the L-shaped extension 508 of the transfer arm 486 is located within the open side of the square mount 516 and can move. on full-length

of this assembly 516.

  The opposite horizontal strokes of the transfer arm 486 and the ejection arm 488 continue until

  that the sliding mounting elements 490 and 492, respec-

  Actually, they are adjacent to the support posts 498 (as shown in FIG. 37). In this position, the cardboard blank 100 is completely disposed within the square assembly 516 and is aligned so that it can be rotated in the opposite direction of that of the clockwise, on a

  arc of e 90, by the device 484 with rotating mounting.

  In the preferred embodiment, this rotation of 90 is facilitated by the implementation of the linkage 524 in a direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 37. With this movement of the linkage 524, the assembly 516 revolves around the plates. bearing cylinders 518 mounted within the support posts 520, so that the open side of the assembly 516 (as shown in Fig. 35) is rotated to the transfer and ejection mechanism 482 and aligned to enable the transfer ulterior

  of the blank 100 of cardboard in the conveyor 550.

  After this rotation of the cardboard blank 100 and the

  square mounting 516, the fluted shafts 496 are rotated

  counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 38, so as to pivot the transfer arm 486 and the ejection arm 83. 488 vertically upwards their positions shown in FIG. 38. Thus raised in this position, the ejection arm 488 is aligned with the open side of the square assembly 516, a tab 518A of this arm protruding so as to bear against the end of the blank 100 of carton while transfer arm 486

  rises vertically above the axial plane of the assembly 516.

  Then, the driving mechanism 506 (as shown in Fig. 35) is actuated in the opposite direction to the previous one, so as to cause a displacement of the slide mounting member 492 and the ejection arm 488 in the indicated direction. by the arrow in Fig. 38 and simultaneously moving the slide mounting member 490 and the transfer arm 486 in opposite directions. Therefore, the cleat 518A of the ejection arm 488 contacts the edge of the blank 100 of cardboard and pushes the latter along the length of the square assembly 516. When the blank 100 is pushed out of the square assembly 516, it arrives on an L-shaped support 520A which supports it and aligns the end of this blank

  100 to introduce it into the horizontal conveyor 550.

  Therefore, it appears from the description

  that using the carton rotation device 480 of the invention, the blank 100 is transferred from the workstation III to the conveyor 550 and rotated 900 so that the end closure panel 114 of the blank 100 is disposed in a plane parallel to the stroke of the conveyor 550. In addition, it should be noted that at the end of the horizontal stroke of the ejection arm 488 during

  from which the blank 100 of cardboard is deposited on the conveyor

  550, the transfer arm 486 has moved to an extreme forward position and can be turned downward.

  to allow a repetition of the cycle described above

  is lying. In the same way, after the transfer of the cardboard blank 100 into the conveyor 550, the linkage 524 is actuated to return to its initial position as shown in Fig. 35 so that the open side of the square assembly 516

  is facing upwards in a vertical direction.

  84. The detailed construction of the conveyor 550 and the entry of the cardboard blank 100 into this conveyer will now be described with reference to Fig. 39. As shown, the conveyor 550 is preferably composed of a plurality of elongate bars 552 which can be arranged in pairs and oriented parallel to each other. Each pair of bars 552 is rigidly attached (preferably by a weld seam) at both ends to a connecting rod 554 which maintains the parallel orientation of the bars 552 of each pair. Successive pairs of

  bars 552 thus form a continuous length of transpor-

  A plurality of links 556 are rotatably mounted on the two adjacent link rods 554 and are connected to these links by means of fasteners 558. Each of these fasteners also carries a rolling roller 559 which engages with a toothed wheel 561 and which supports the conveyor 550 while resting on one of two horizontal rails 563. Thus

  realized, the 550 is a semi-structured structure

  rigid which is strong enough to support

  cardboard blank 100 during successive operations.

  However, this structure is flexible enough to form a conveyor. Four U-shaped anvils or stirrups 560, preferably made of hardened tool steel, are arranged on each pair of bars 552 to which they are rigidly attached, these stirrups closely following the shape of the

  outer surfaces of the blank 100 of cardboard. The upper surface

  the stirrup 560 has, adjacent to the walls

  In this bracket, a chamfered edge 562 is preferably formed at an angle of 450 and has an enlarged radius at each of its interior angles. As described in more detail below, this chamfered edge 562 cooperates with

  the preforming device of the workstation V for prepa-

  the blank 100 of cardboard at the end closing operation.

  mite, and it also corresponds to an ultrasonic horn (workstation VII) which

  at the open end of the blank 100 of cardboard.

  85. To ensure the rigid mounting of the stirrup or anvil 560 on the bars 552, a support plate 564, having substantially the same shape as the stirrup 560, but having an opening slightly larger than that of the stirrup 560 is aligned with the latter and fixed rigidly to the lower surface of the bars 552. Several fasteners (not shown) are preferably passed through the three elements, namely the support plate 564, the bars 552 and the stirrup 560, from the bottom surface of the conveyor 550, so as to prevent

  any relative movement between these elements.

  As can be seen, the conveyor 550 is held taut between two pairs of control gears 561 (one of these wheels being shown in FIG. 39) located at opposite ends of the conveyor and each mounted on a shaft 565. which is conventionally connected to the main hydraulic control system (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the teeth of each wheel of the control device engage with

  the carrier 550 is interposed between the adjacent rollers

  558, and they drive the conveyor 550 cyclically and intermittently (as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 39) so that each anvil 560 is momentarily immobilized at predetermined intervals along the path of the conveyor. As described in more detail below, this period of immobilization allows the devices of the workstations V to VIII to intervene on

the blank 100 of cardboard.

  To maintain the bars 552 between their ends, several pairs of rigid support tabs or lugs 557, preferably made of "Delrin" (a hard plastic material having a high wear resistance), are arranged below the conveyor. 550, at

  right of each of the workstations V to VIII. As a representative

  39A, the support plates 564 rigidly connected to the lower surface of the anvils 560 rest on the legs 557 to prevent any bending downwards.

  bars 552 and anvil 560 during work.

- 2482O45

  86. In addition to the support legs 557 placed at the workstations, the conveyor 550 comprises two rigid bars 567 which extend over its entire length. As shown in Fig. 39A, the rigid bars 567 are spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the width

  each of the segments 102 to 108 of cardboard and away from them

  Anchors 560 vary in their vertical direction so that they can hold the carton blank 100 in an orientation.

  vertical while being carried by the 550 carrier.

  A lower support bar 569, connected to a hydraulic control unit (not shown), is placed between the two rigid bars 567 of each pair and disposed substantially below the plane of the conveyor 550. As shown in FIG. lower support member 569 contacts the lower end of the carton blank to maintain the vertical height thereof on the conveyor 550. Further, as shown in phantom in FIG. 39A, the lower member 569 of support can be moved vertically under the action of the hydraulic control member (not shown) to take a position adapting to the containers of different

  dimensions (0.235 1 and 0.315 1) according to the invention.

  A lateral loading mechanism 570 disposed below the conveyor 550 and placed tangentially to

  near one of its ends, is vertically aligned

  Then, with several blanks 100 of cardboard as they are transferred from the rotation devices 480 (of the workstation IV, as shown in FIG. 38). In the preferred embodiment, this lateral loading mechanism 570 simultaneously loads the four separate blanks 100 of cardboard, received from devices 480

  rotation, directly on the 550 carrier.

  As best shown in Figs. 40 and 40A, the lateral loading mechanism 570 preferably comprises a plurality of C-shaped mounting plates 572 spaced apart from each other along a mounting beam 575, the plate gap being slightly greater than the distance between the parallel flat sides of 87. blank 100 of cardboard. This spacing allows a single blank 100 of cardboard to be housed between two adjacent assemblies 572, the

along the beam 575.

  As shown, the vertically oriented side walls 577 of each plate 572 have a

  inclined upper edge which, in the preferred embodiment of

  sation, forms an acute angle less than 45. Each of the assemblies 572 is fixed rigidly to the mounting beam 575, which itself is connected to a linkage 573. When

  the latter is actuated, the beam 575 and, consequently,

  that, the fixtures 572 execute a horizontal transverse movement towards the open end of the anvil 560. This

  The horizontal movement of assemblies 572 has the effect of

  to accurately position and position blanks 100 of

  cardboard in the anvil 560. As described in more detail below

  after, the inclined upper edge of the side walls 577 of each assembly 572 allows a transverse return movement of the assemblies 572 inside the conveyor 550, without contact with the cardboard blanks 100 previously loaded and

carried on the 550 carrier.

  The detailed transfer mode of the cardboard blank 100 between the rotation and transfer device 480 (of the work station IV) and the conveyor 550 is illustrated in FIG. 40. In the position shown in FIG.

  it appears that the transporter 550 is temporarily immobilized

  in order to be aligned tangentially with the

  FIG. 4 illustrates a plan of rotation and transfer of the blanks so that the front planes of the anvil 560 and the C-shaped mounting 572 are perpendicular to the stroke of the arm 488.

ejection.

  In this position, the gap between adjacent fixtures 572 is centered and aligned with the carton blank so that the latter can be transferred directly from the rotation and transfer mechanism 480. When the ejection arm 488 advances to the conveyor 550 as previously described, the cardboard blank 100, in contact with the latch 518 of the ejection arm 488, is transferred to the C-shaped fixtures 572 which receive it. between them. Since the interval between assemblies 572, as well as the distance between

  the bars 552 are slightly larger than the dimensions

  On the outside of the cardboard blank 100, the cardboard is readily received between the adjacent fixtures 572 without sagging or deforming. Once the blank is received between the mounts 572, the ejection arm 488 retracts and rotates downwardly (as previously described) and the cardboard blank 100 is carried by the mounting beam 575. Then the linkage

  573 connected to the beam 575 is actuated so as to provoke

  crosswise, towards the open end of the anvil 560, the assemblies 572 and the blank 100 of cardboard

that they carry between them.

  As shown in Fig. 40, during this movement toward the anvil 560, the cardboard blank 100, which protrudes substantially from the front edge of the mounts 572, penetrates into the open end of the anvil 560 whose inner surfaces come into contact with the flat sides of the blank 100. It appears that, since the mounts 572 are placed below the conveyor 550, during the transverse movement, the front edge of the mounts 572 moves backward from the bottom surface of the anvil 560 to allow the blank 100 of cardboard to penetrate without embarrassment

in the anvil 560.

  The C-shaped assemblies 572 continue their transverse travel until the front edge 574 of the carton blank comes into contact with the inner wall of the carton.

  the anvil 560 or abut against this wall.

  As previously mentioned, since the inner dimension of the anvil 560 is determined so that the anvil tightly receives the blank 100 of tubular cardboard, the blank 100 is embroidered slightly

by force in the anvil 560.

  Then, the conveyor 550 begins its intermittent stroke during which the cardboard blank 100, held in the anvil 560, rises by turning with the conveyor 550 to take an orientation of about 450 to 89. as indicated by the reference 100A in FIG. 39. With this stroke of the conveyor 550, the carton blank is removed from between adjacent C-shaped fixtures 572 and is carried exclusively by the anvil 560. In addition, since sidewalls 577 of the mounting 572 have an inclined upper edge, after the travel of the conveyor, the mounting beam 575 and the C-shaped fixtures 572 can return to their initial position to permit the execution of another loading cycle at the same time. during which another group of four blanks 100 of cardboard can be transferred from the rotation device 480 and

  transfer of blanks (from workstation IV).

  It appears that the transversal movement

  In the direction of the anvil 560, the blank 100 of the flank 100 inwardly of the anvil 560 allows the open end of the side panels of the blank 100 to flex moderately, thereby allowing the flan to fit tightly together. 100 inside the anvil 560. If the cardboard box were inserted into the anvil by its closed end, the previously welded angles would resist bending and the cardboard boxes would crush as they penetrated.

in anvils 560.

  Further, by transferring the blank 100 to the conveyor as previously described, the blank 100 is continuously supported by both sides of the C-shaped fixture 572 and the mounting beam 575 as it is inserted into the anvil. 560. It has been found that this retention of the cardboard blank 100 during its introduction into the anvil 560 is desirable to oppose any deformation of the square tubular configuration of the blank 100 under the effect of a relatively narrow fit between the blank 100 and the inner walls of the anvil 560. In addition, it has been found that this method of side insertion allows the blank 100 of cardboard to be positively positioned in the desired position within the interior of the wall. anvil 560, which ensures the accuracy of the following operations performed on the blank 100 while it is worn by the

carrier 550.

  90. As shown in FIG. 39, it can be seen that while the blank 100 of cardboard is carried by the

  carrier 550, its upper edge is placed slightly

  above the upper surface of the anvil 560, the end closure panel 114 being disposed in a plane parallel to the stroke of the blank 100 on the conveyor 550. This positioning and orientation of the blank 100 of cardboard on the conveyor 550 facilitate the following pre-forming, filling and sealing operations carried out in

  workstations V to VIII, respectively.

  With the blank 100 of cardboard placed on the conveyor 550 and driven inside the opening of the anvil 560, the continuation of the cyclic or intermittent horizontal movement of the conveyor 550 brings the blank 100 into the workstation V (station preforming of the extreme part). In this station, the end closure panel 114 and the upper edges of the end

  flan 100 are folded or folded during an operation.

  performed in three distinct phases, so as to take a desired configuration, suitable for the operation

  fixing and sealing of the closure of the

  mity, carried out in workstation VII.

  As described in more detail below, the provision of

  Workstation V carries out the various operations of folding and pleating without benefiting from the presence of inner chucks against which it can work, that is to say that all operations are performed without support means or forming mandrels placed inside the cardboard blank. This particular preforming or roughing configuration of the cardboard blank 100 made in the workstation V is described in detail in the application

  U.S. Patent No. 911,990, cited above.

  However, the apparatus intended to produce this configuration is substantially modified, according to the invention, and it will therefore be

described below.

  The overall construction and operation of Workstation V is shown in Figure 41.

  Work V includes a preforming or drafting device

  91. Chage, indicated generally by the reference 600, mounted on a frame member 602 and disposed vertically above the conveyor 550. This preforming device 600 preferably comprises a housing 604 which supports a mounting plate 606 to which it is rigidly connected. Three die bases 608, 610 and 612 are attached to the bottom surface of the mounting plate 606 and are spaced horizontally by intervals equal to those included

  between the anvils 560 mounted on the conveyor 550.

  The dies 608 and 610 comprise a plurality of work plates (shown in FIGS. 43 and 45, respectively) which, during operation of the preforming device 600, contact the carton blank 100 and cooperate with the sockets 608 and 610 of the carton. dies for permanently pleating the blank 100- following the

  desired configuration. These work plates are action-

  formed by pneumatic mechanisms 614 and 616 (shown schematically in Fig. 41) which are mounted on the upper surface of the mounting plate 606 and disposed within the housing 604, each mechanism having a suitable linkage (not shown) which passed through

  the mounting plate 606. As described in more detail below

  after, each of the bases 608, 610 and 612 of matrices ex-

  a work phase of the preforming device 600 and, when in contact with the cardboard blank 100, folds or folds the latter in a particular manner, so that after going through each of these work phases, the blank 100

  of cardboard is permanently folded according to the

  particular ration shown in Figure 51A and described in

the aforementioned application 911 990.

  Further, it should be noted that, although for clarity only a series of die bases 608, 610 and 612 are shown and described, in the preferred embodiment, four analogous series of manifolds 608, 610 and 612 dies mounted in the same way on the plate 606 and arranged to be centered on the four corresponding anvils 560, are carried by each pair

of conveyor bars 552.

  92. As shown in FIG. 41, the casing 604 of the preforming device 600 is slidably mounted close to its corners on four columns 620 which cooperate with four rings 622 rigidly fixed to the casing 604. Each of these casings 620 substantially penetrates, through one end, into the housing 604 and is fixed rigidly by its other end to the frame 602. Two pushers 603 (shown in Figure 1), disposed outside the carrier 550, are rigidly connected to 604 housing and engaged with the main control device (not shown) of the conveyor 550 to perform a vertical reciprocating motion. As can be seen, this arrangement allows the housing 604, as well as the bases 608, 610 and 612 of the matrices it carries to be raised and lowered in a vertical direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 41. In operation, the push-buttons 603 synchronize the stroke of the preforming device 600 with the travel of the conveyor 550 to ensure proper execution of the setting operations. shaped on each side

100 of cardboard.

  Although for clarity the housing 604 is shown in Figure 41 as being disposed substantially above the level of the anvil 560, it should be noted that during actual operation, the housing 604 only rises on a small distance (about 2.5 to 3.8 cm) so that, while in its low position, the lower surface of the die bases 608, 610 and 612 is slightly below the upper surface of the anvil 560 and that, when the housing is in its up position, the lower surface of the bases 608, 610 and 612 is slightly above the upper surface of the anvil 560, but below the upper edge of the end closure panel 112 of the blank 100 of cardboard. It has been found that this small vertical stroke of the preforming housing 604 substantially reduces the time required to actuate the preforming device 600 and, in addition, substantially eliminates any centering problem posed by a preforming device.

extended stroke of the device.

  93. The operating cycle of the bases 608, 610 and 612 of dies of the device 600 of preforming will be

  present described. To facilitate the illustration of the progress

  the operations performed by the preforming device 600, the cardboard blank is designated in FIG. 41 by the reference numerals 100A, 100B and 100C.

  which represent the three separate phases of work

  by the three bases 608, 610 and 612 of matrices.

  The preforming device 600 being initially

  Highly as shown in Figure 41, the carrier

  550, which carries the cardboard blanks 100, moves horizontally

  intermittently in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 41 and place the blank 100A of cardboard below

  of base 608. Since, as mentioned above,

  the horizontal run of the 550 is cyclic

  or intermittent, when the cardboard blank 100A is posi-

  below the die base 608, the carrier

  550 stops momentarily, which facilitates the exe-

  cut by the device 600 of preforming on the blank 100A

of cardboard.

  In this position, the housing 604 is lowered

  on the cardboard blank 100A and on the anvil 560 by the pushers

  evening 603, so that the first phase of work of the preforming device 600 is performed on the blank 100A. In this first operation, the cardboard blank 100A is accurately positioned within the anvil 560 and firmly seated on the lower support member 569, and is permanently pleated along the free edges of the panel 114. end closure to form three

  inclined surfaces 632 (as shown in Fig. 42).

  The detailed construction of the die base 608 and the first working phase of the preforming device are shown in FIGS. 43 and 44. As shown in FIG. 43, the base 608 has a roughly square and dimensioned cross-section. so as to be slightly larger than the blank 100A of cardboard, to overflow on three edges of this blank. The lower surface of the base 608 has a recess 621 made close to 94. three of its edges. This recess defines a boss 623 which is lodged inside the cardboard blank 100A during the operation, while a shoulder 625, also formed by the recess 621, comes into contact with the upper edge of the blank 100A. The rear surface (as shown in FIG. 41) of the base 608 has a shallow central cavity 634

  (Figure 44) with walls inclined at angles of about 450.

  A working plate 630 disposed outside the rear wall of the base 608 is hinged by linkages 631 and 633 on the base 608 and with a pneumatic element 614 (shown in FIG. 41) respectively, so as to be able to move towards and away from the rear wall of the base 608 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 43. The work plate 630 also comprises a projection 636 whose configuration corresponds to a reflected image of the cavity concave 634 formed in the surface

rear of the base 608.

  During the descent of the preforming device 600 to the conveyor 550, the working plate 630 is initially spaced outwardly from the die base 608 (as shown in FIG. 43) so that the closure panel 114 end can be housed between

  the surfaces of the work plate 630 and the base 608.

  Therefore, the further descent of the device 600 allows the boss 623 to penetrate the inside of the cardboard blank 100 while the shoulder 625 formed on the lower surface of the base 608 contacts the upper edges of the carton. 100A blank and press or firmly houses the latter against the lower support member 569 (shown in Figure 41). It therefore appears that this interlock firmly centers the blank 100A of cardboard inside the anvil 560, which ensures the accuracy of the following operations of pleating and folding performed by the

device 600.

  The base 608 of matrix being lowered against the

  upper edges of the cardboard blank 100A, the pneumatic element

  Control 614 is actuated so that the work plate 630 is moved to the base 608 through 95.

  linkages 633 and 631. In the preferred form of embodiment

  In fact, this movement of the work plate 630 is very fast, which communicates a high speed to the plate 630 so that the end closure panel 114 is folded between the cavity 634 and the projection 636. This folding action

  wise causes the introduction of the panel 114 of firm-

  end plate in the cavity 634 so that the panel permanently takes the recessed, shallow and angular shape of the cavity 634. Then, the pneumatic control element 614 is stopped so that the work plate 630 returns to its initial position in which it is remote from the base 608. The housing 604 and, therefore,

  the base 608 are then raised to their upper position.

  It follows from the preceding description that the

  operations carried out in the first phase of

  The preforming device 600 has the effect of properly accommodating the cardboard blank 100A in the anvil 560 and pleating it in a configuration shown in FIG. 42 so that three inclined or chamfered surfaces 632 having a shape similar to that of a picture frame, are formed along the edges of the

  end closing panel 114.

  At the end of the first phase of operation of the preforming device 600 (that is to say the correct placing of the blank 100A of cardboard inside the anvil 560 and the pleating of the closing panel 114 608 end of die), the conveyor 550 continues its intermittent horizontal movement to place the cardboard blank 100B in alignment below the base

  610 of matrix executing the second phase of work.

  Basically, in this second phase of work of the preforming device 600, the two corners of the cardboard blank 100B furthest from the end closure panel 114 are relieved of their stresses by stamping and pushing inwardly of the blank of the blank. carton (shown in Figure 46A). In addition, the sealing tabs 120 formed near the three upper edges of the cardboard blank 100B are folded or folded inside the blank 96B to be disposed in a plane perpendicular to the closure panel 114. end (as shown on

Figure 48).

  Figures 45 to 48 show the actual operations

  100B of cardboard blank and the respective elements used in this second phase of work of the device 600 of preforming. As shown in Fig. 45, the die base 610 preferably comprises three working plates 650 which are pivotally mounted at one end to the base 610 by means of pins 651 and

  connected at the other end to the pneumatic element

Corresponding 616 manual control by 653 linkages and a 655 buttstock. As described in more detail below, these working plates 650 pivot inwardly of the cardboard blank 100 when actuated to fold the tabs. 120 of the blank 100B, these tabs protruding slightly above the surface of the anvil 560

  (as shown in particular in Figure 47).

  Two pleating punches 652 disposed proximate

  mity of the two front angles of the base 610 (as shown in Figure 41), are controlled by pneumatic cylinders 654

  attached to the lower surface of the support plate 606.

  As best shown in Figs. 46 and 46A, these pleating punches are diagonally aligned with the front corners of the carton blank 100B and are angled at a certain angle downward so that, when actuated, they

  penetrate slightly inside the cardboard blank 100B.

  The detailed operations constituting the second phase of operation of the preforming device 600 will now be described. The cardboard blank 100B being aligned under the die base 610, the casing

  604 carrying this base 610 is lowered (as described above).

  for the first phase of preforming) on the blank B of cardboard. As shown in FIG. 47, when the base 610 is lowered as much as possible, the three working plates 650, articulated with the base 610, lie partially outside the edges of the blank 100B of cardboard and are inclined that their upper edges 97. extend inside the plane of the blank 100B of cardboard while their lower edges are partially inside the chamfered edges 562 of the anvil 560. In addition, in this low position, the working plates 650 are in light contact with the upper edge of the sealing tongues protruding from the three sides of the open blank 100B, which has the effect of causing the tongues 120 to bend slightly towards the inside of the carton blank 100B. as shown in Fig. 47. It has been found that this particular slight flexing substantially increases the stiffness of the front angles of the sealing tongues 120 and facilitates the next pleating operation of angles executed

  in the second phase of preforming the cardboard box.

  Then, the pneumatic control cylinders 654 of pleating punches 562 are actuated to make

  advance these punches 562 and move them in a direction

  indicated by the arrow in Fig. 46 to contact the two front corners of the carton blank 100B. As mentioned previously, since the stiffness of the sealing tongues 120 is increased by the

  contact of the working plates 650 with their superior

  when the punches come in contact with the blank,

  the angles of this blank 100B fold or deform easily

  and are pushed inwardly of said blank 100B, as well as slightly downwardly. Since the blank 100B is cut by V-shaped notches 124 (as shown in FIG. 3), made at these respective front angles, the

  angles are folded steadily according to a

  V-shaped, as shown in Figure 46A. It appears

  this V-orientation eliminates the constraints

  emerging at the corners of the cartonboard blank 100B during the folding operations and effectively tilts the front corners of the carton blank 100B to facilitate the next operation of

  folding the tabs 120 sealing.

  The corners of the cardboard blank 100B thus being disengaged, the pleating punches 652 are returned to their erasing position (shown in FIG. 46A) and the working plates 650 are actuated by their respective pneumatic mechanism 98 616 in order to contact the sealing tabs 120 and fold them. This particular folding operation is schematically illustrated in Fig. 47 which shows the working plates 650 in their initial position above the carton blank 100B, the sealing tabs 120 being adjacent to the lower surfaces of the plates. From their initial position, the working plates 650 pivot downwardly within the cardboard blank 100B, in a direction indicated by the arrows, to take a position shown in phantom in FIG. 47. It appears therefore, during this pivoting down of the work plates 650, the sealing tabs 120 are folded so as to

  find exclusively inside the blank 100B of cardboard.

  As in the previous operations of folding the sealing tongues, the regularity and accuracy of the positioning of the fold are ensured by the lines 122 of notches (shown in FIG. 3) made in the blank

  B, these lines substantially reducing the resistance

  bending at a specific point of the carton blank 100B.

  As shown in Fig. 47, the working plates 650 pivot on an arc substantially greater than 900 so that during the folding operation the upper edge of the sealing tongue 120 initially protrudes downwardly inwardly. of the blank 100B. This prolonged folding of the sealing tongue 120 compensates for the low elastic memory characteristics of the carton (as indicated above) so that, when the working plates 650 return to their initial position, the sealing tabs 120 rise slightly in an elastic manner, but remain in a plane perpendicular to

  outer walls of the cardboard blank 100B.

  It should be noted that in the ideal situation, the lower pivot 651 of the plates 650 should be located at the point of folding (i.e., at the score lines 122) of the carton blank 100B to ensure the application of a pure folding force. and constant at the sealing tab 120. However, since the 99. three seal tabs 120 must be folded together, the work plates 650 must be spaced from the score lines 122 and from each other in order to have sufficient space to allow them to swing. The outer pivot 651 of the apparatus according to the invention corresponds to a structure constituting a compromise

  according to which the working plates 650 are spaced

  each other to be able to rotate freely and simultaneously, without coming into contact with each other, and it appeared that this arrangement gave good results and in a constant manner. Therefore, during the pivoting of the plates 650, the sealing tongues 120 not only pivot downwards, but, moreover, slide

  or behave like cams along the inferior surface

  The sliding movement tends to force down the lower portion of the sealing tabs to bend them outward and into the chamfered recess 562 of the anvil 560. However, since that lines 122

  notches weaken the sealing tabs and

  in fact preferential fold lines, this outward bending is kept to a minimum value and does not affect the overall efficiency of the folding operation.

down.

  Then, the pneumatic mechanism 616 is stopped so that the working plates 650 return to their initial position as shown in FIG.

  604 of the preforming device 600 is high vertical

  calement, so as to disengage the base 610 matrix, and the pleating punches 652 it carries, the blank 100B of cardboard. Thus, it is easy to see that during the second working phase of the preforming device 600, the blank 100B of cardboard is given the shape shown in FIG. 48 in which the sealing tabs 120 are folded inside the blank 100B and are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the latter, the two front angles

  each forming an interface similar to a miter cut.

  100. At the end of the second phase of operation of the preforming device 600, the conveyor 550 resumes its horizontal intermittent stroke to place the carton blank 100C below the die base 612 for execution of the third the working phase of the

  preforming device (as shown in FIG. 41).

  In this third phase, the upper edges of the cardboard blank 100C are inclined outwardly to slightly protrude portions of the side walls of the blank 100C, and the front angles are stretched or expanded outwardly to form a suitable surface. at an end seal, as shown in Figure 51A and as described in more detail below. In the preferred embodiment, this operation is effected efficiently and easily by means of the die base 612 (shown in Fig. 49) which is lowered firmly to the upper edge of the carton blank 100C. As shown in Fig. 49, the die base 612 has a roughly square configuration and its lower edges have a chamfer 660. In the preferred embodiment, this chamfer forms an angle of about 45 with the bottom surface of the die. the base 612 in a manner that corresponds to the chamfered surfaces 562

  formed on the anvil 560 (shown in Figure 50).

  As shown, chamfered surfaces 562 of the anvil

  560 have a plurality of circumferentially extending striations 563

  and forming, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, a clamping surface for the anvil 560 during the next end sealing operation performed in the

workstation VII.

  The two front angles (as shown in FIG. 41) of the die base 612 project slightly from the flat side of this base 612 and are made in a conical configuration 662. The outer diameter of this conical projection 662 corresponds to a reflected image of the enlarged rays formed in the respective angles of the anvil 560 (shown in Figure 50). As a result, the lower edges of the die base 612 are formed 101.

  to fit tightly with the chamfer surface

  born 562 of the anvil 560 so that the base 612 and the anvil

  560 cooperate to form a mold-like arrangement.

  As previously described for the first two phases of operation of the preforming device 600, in order to perform its operation, the die base 612 is lowered towards the conveyor 550 in order to enter

  in contact with the upper edges of the carton blank 100C.

  When it is lowered to the maximum, the base 612 is in

  contact with the sealing tabs 120 (folded previously

  in order to be within a plane perpendicular to

  the flat sides of the blank 100C of cardboard) and it force down the tabs 120 sealing against the

  adjacent lower portion of the carton blank 100C (represented

shown in Figure 51).

  The continued application of the downward pressure by the base 612 causes the blank C of the cardboard and its sealing tabs 120 to be retained by force between the chamfered surfaces 562 of the anvil 560 and the chamfered edges 660 of the base 612. Therefore, the edges

  100C cardboard blanks are inclined outward

  slightly above the vertical planes of the segments 102 to 108 of the blank 100C (as shown in FIG. 51) and the streaks 563 are pressed slightly in the

  lower surface of the upper edges of the blank 100C.

  It should also be noted that during this operation, the front corners of the cardboard blank 100C are stretched to conform to the shape of the tapered corners 662 of the base 612 and the enlarged spokes formed in the anvil 560. therefore, the front corners of the carton blank 100C are formed according to an enlarged outer radius, as shown

clearly in Figure 51A.

  Then, the die base 612 is raised vertically by the pushers 603 (FIG. 1) in the manner previously described, so that the tongues 120 for sealing

  raise themselves elastically and slightly (due to the

  moderate elastic memory characteristics of the cardboard).

102.

  It therefore follows from the preceding description that

  at the end of the passage of the cardboard blank 100C in the device

  600 for preforming and after the operation in three phases

  cut on this blank 100C, the upper or open edges of the latter are preformed in a suitable configuration

  the next operation of sealing and fixing the end

  without the use of forming mandrels or other elements introduced inside the blank 100 of cardboard

  during this operation. In addition, the pre-

  Together with the upper edges of the blank 100 of cardboard, a pattern is made similar to an upwardly facing table frame, which corresponds to the configuration of the end closure panel 114. In addition, it is necessary

  to note that the three phases previously described and

  by the preforming device 600 occur simultaneously with each descent of the device 600 on the

cardboard blanks 100A, 100B and 100C.

  After having been subjected to the action of the preforming device, the cardboard blanks 100 are driven by the conveyor 550 to the work station VI (filling station). In this station, blanks 100 of cardboard, which then have the form of boxes. of cardboard, are filled with a desired liquoid during a two-phase operation in

  which, during the first phase, a pre-filled nozzle

  Sage introduces a little over half (about 60%) of the liquid into the cardboard box and, in the second phase, a complete filling nozzle accurately fills the carton to the precise level desired. In the preferred embodiment, the two nozzles, i.e. the pre-filling nozzle and the complete filling nozzle, have the same

  design, differences in the amount of liquid introduced

  picks in the box being determined by the race

  adjustable from a dosing pump fitted to each nozzle.

  As it appears, to use totally

  the reduction in space made possible by the configuration

  In a rectangular configuration of the container 12 (shown in FIG. 1A), the cardboard blank 100 must be filled with the desired liquid to a level close to 103. The open end of this blank 100.

  container 12 according to the invention is very subject to

  likely to occur during the filling operation.

  wise. In addition, since in the preferred embodiment, the operation of fixing and sealing the end closure (performed in the workstation VII) is performed by ultrasonic welding, it is desirable that, during the filling operation, the liquid does not splash or foam on the sealing tabs 120 formed

  the open end of the cardboard blank 100.

  To facilitate these operations, a new filling nozzle and metering pump device is used which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, are combined in a single device producing a positive discharge of liquid at low speed and high volume. and precisely interrupting this discharge, which

  significantly reduces the risk of overflow and splashing

  accidental wise of the liquid during filling. In addition, one. The nozzle variant, hereinafter described, has all the operating characteristics indicated above and is particularly suitable for use with a constant volume and constant pressure pump, in which the dosing of the liquid is carried out exclusively by means of 'a

  internal drawer with reciprocating movement.

  In addition, the apparatus according to the invention comprises an improved mechanism for controlling and synchronizing a pump and a distributor, this mechanism synchronizing the operation of the metering pump and the nozzle with respect to the movement of the blanks. carton on the carrier,

  and offering self-charging operation

  manual and manual, preventing any discharge of liquid when no blank 100 of cardboard is placed below the

  nozzle or when desired by the operator.

  The detailed construction of the nozzle 700 and the dosing pump 740 of the apparatus according to the invention is shown in FIG. 52. The nozzle 700, which is approximately

  cylindrical, is preferably made of stainless steel

  so that the corrosion effects of the liquid 104 passing through this nozzle are minimized. The nozzle 700 is traversed substantially over its entire length by a large

  central opening 702 which communicates with a toroidal cavity

  enlarged dale 704 concentrically formed at this opening.

  An orifice 706, adjacent to the closed end of the opening 702, radially extends from the outside to the inside of the nozzle 700 to open towards the upper end of the opening 702. The latter is enlarged to its lower end so as to form a discharge cavity 708 which

  has a chamfered or conical inner diameter 710.

  As described in more detail below, this chamfering surface

  710 is a valve seat for receiving a drawer 712, and it also directs inwards and towards the central axis of the nozzle 700 a liquid exiting at the end.

of this nozzle 700.

  A slide 712, slidable within the opening 702, is preferably made to have a tubular shape closed at its ends, and to have a length less than that of the opening 702. The slide 712 presents a plurality of elongated grooves 714 extending along its outer surface and arranged so that when the lower end of the drawer 712 is

  applied against the chamfered diameter 7-10, the upper edge

  each of the grooves 714 is slightly

  below the lower surface of the elongated toroldale cavity

704.

  The lower end of the slide 712 includes a valve cap 716 which has a chamfered edge 718 corresponding to the chamfered diameter 710 formed at the end of the nozzle 700. In the preferred embodiment, this valve cap 716 is made of "Delrin", a relatively hard plastic with a slight elasticity and when applied under pressure against

  chamfered diameter 710, effectively closes the nozzle 700.

  The upper end 720 of the spool 712 is preferably made to be closed and to have an outer surface slidable in the opening 702 and carrying an annular seal 721 which seals to the 105.

  between drawer 712 and opening 702.- As shown in

  721 is disposed in an annular groove 723 in the drawer 712 and moves with the latter during its reciprocating movements in the opening 702. The closed upper end 720 has a

  protrusion 722 turned upwards, having a sensitive shape

  conically and acting as a stop for the inner drawer 712 when the latter slides upwards to

  inside the opening 702. As shown, the end

  upper unit 720 advantageously comprises a linkage arm 711 which is rotatably mounted in a

  ball joint 713, at one end, which extends horizontally

  passing through an opening 706 made in the upper part of the nozzle 700. This linkage 711 is

  mounted so as to be able to pivot at an intermediate point

  length, on an axis 715 which is rigidly connected

  The other end of the linkage 711 is adjustably connected to a pusher 717 which itself is connected to a control linkage (not shown). It therefore appears that by vertically moving the pusher 717 in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG.

  alternative to the drawer 712 in the central opening 702.

  The inlet of the nozzle 700 is formed by an opening

  vertical section 724 which starts from the upper surface 726 of

  the nozzle and which opens into the enlarged toroldale cavity 704.

  The upper end of the inlet opening 724 is tapered to form a conical shoulder 728 which, in the preferred embodiment, cooperates with a ball check valve 730. The bottom surface of the valve 730 is supported by a cylinder 731 with a cross which has

  several sails 733 protruding radially and sliding

  along the cylindrical walls of the opening 724. The spider cylinder 731 and the check valve 730 are biased against the shoulder 728 in a conventional manner by a spring 732. This ball retainer valve 730 allows a flow towards opening 724 entry but opposes

any flow in the opposite direction.

  106. During operation, the spool 712 reciprocates vertically within the opening 702 and assumes both the shut-off valve function positively closing the discharge end of the nozzle, and flow control valve for dosing the flow

liquid through the nozzle.

  The particular flow control properties of the slide 712 are made possible by the design of the grooves 714. These grooves 714 are designed so that the

  ratio of their flow section to section 708 of

  The outlet area is substantially constant over the entire range of the opening and closing range of the nozzle 700, the outlet flow section being considerably larger than the flow section of the grooves. Therefore, as the liquid flows into the grooves 714, it can freely enter the larger discharge section 708, which dissipates the pressure and decreases the fluid velocity. Thus, the liquid leaves the nozzle 700 to

  a relatively reduced speed, in the form of a

  laminar, which makes it possible to fill the carton 100 without

  risk of splashing over the edges of this carton.

  In addition, since the nozzle 700 according to the invention uses a movable inner drawer 712 rather than a movable outer drawer, like that widely used in the prior art, at its exit from the nozzle the liquid is directed by the diameter conical 710 inwards and towards

  the central axis of the nozzle. This flow oriented towards the

  In this embodiment, the exit diameter of the nozzle is as large as the size of the open end of the carton 100 into which the liquid is introduced, which facilitates a high liquid flow rate. In addition, the reciprocating inner drawer 712 according to the invention eliminates in particular any air restraint under the outlet of

  the nozzle, which occurs in the nozzles of the prior art.

  This results in a substantial decrease in foam formation during filling. Fig. 52C shows at "N" a conventional prior art nozzle having an outwardly movable "S" drawer (in a 107. direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 52C) to open the discharge port "D". In general, the drawer "S" is normally biased to the closed position by a spring device (not shown) which allows the drawer "S" to move outward (i.e. nozzle) under the pressure of the inlet fluid. Such an arrangement always results in a minimum discharge opening for a given liquid flow rate, which leads to a maximum discharge rate. As shown, during operation, the conventional "N" nozzle discharges the liquid on the end of the "S" drawer producing an umbrella-like flow. This umbrella configuration has for

  the effect of holding air below the "S" drawer and

  above the level of the rising liquid, which causes a

  some foam formation in the liquid "L". The general

  Foaming impairs the accuracy of the filling and further promotes the passage of splashes over the edges of the container during filling. In addition, although in some nozzles of the prior art, it has been attempted to solve the problem posed by the air restraints by ventilating

  air through a central orifice (not shown) made axially-

  in the "S" drawer, these tests proved to be incapable of

  to provide a complete solution. Unlike the conventional prior art nozzle, the drawer 712 according to

  the invention, which performs an alternating movement

  of the nozzle, completely eliminates the problem posed by the air restraint during the filling operation. As shown in Fig. 52D, during filling, the spool 712 rises, allowing the liquid to flow through the discharge port 708 in a directed flow. Therefore, the umbrella configuration of the prior art is suppressed, as are the problems of air restraint and foam generation posed by this configuration. Thus, thanks to the flow rate of large volume and low speed obtained by means of the nozzle according to the invention, the filling of the cardboard 100 is made rapidly, without the risk of liquid splashing over the edge.

  upper box 100 of cardboard.

  -108. The detailed operation of the nozzle 700 according to the invention can be easily understood with reference to FIG. 52. In the preferred embodiment, the slide 712 is moved vertically inside the opening 702 of the nozzle 700 by a downward movement of the pusher 717, this movement being transmitted to the drawer 712 by the arm 711 linkage. During this movement, the drawer is pulled up and toward the closed end of the opening 702 until the projection 722 of the closed end 720 of the drawer contacts the top wall of the drawer.

  the opening 702. The drawer 712 is raised in this position.

  714 communicates with the enlarged cavity 704 and the "Delrin" lower cap 718 is disengaged from the seat 710, so that the nozzle 700 is opened and the liquid flows through the inlet opening 724 , the

  grooves 714 and the discharge cavity 708 of the nozzle 700.

  As a variant, the nozzle 700 may be closed or closed by a vertical displacement of the pusher 717 towards the

  up so that the drawer 712 is lowered by force to the inside.

  opening the groove 714 of the enlarged opening 704 and simultaneously applying the "Delrin" cap 718 in a narrow manner against the conical surface 710 of the nozzle 700. This narrow application of the cap 718 on the surface 710 effectively interrupts any flow in the nozzle 700 and suppresses any flow of liquid from

the end of the nozzle.

  Although, in the preferred embodiment, this reciprocating movement of the drawer 712 inside the opening 702 is controlled by the reciprocating movement of the

  pushbutton 717, it should be noted that, alternatively, the end

  The upper portion of the opening 702 may have a suction port (not shown) extending radially outwardly near the port 706 and communicating with a source alternately applying a vacuum and a pressure. In this regard, a three-way solenoid valve (not shown) may be mounted on the suction port (not shown) and connected to a constant pressure line and a constant vacuum line (not shown) which, 109.

  under the control of the coil, can be put alternately

  communicating with the suction port to facilitate rapid reciprocating movement of the slide 712 to

inside the opening 702.

  The quantity of liquid passing through the nozzle 700 is determined by the dosing pump 740 according to the invention

  which is preferably mounted rigidly on the upper surface

  As shown in FIG. 52, the dosing pump 740 has a bell-shaped cylindrical body 742 having an opening 744 therethrough along its length. Near the lower end of the body 742, this opening 744 is enlarged to form a pump chamber 746 which communicates directly with

  the inlet opening 724 of the nozzle 700.

  To prevent leakage between pump 740

  metering and the nozzle 700, a sealing ring 748 is

  along the periphery of the interface between the metering pump 740 and the nozzle 700, and this ring is tightened and held in position by a collar 750 which surrounds the

  outer surface of the pump 740 and the nozzle 700.

  A pump piston 752 disposed within the chamber 746 has an elongated upper portion 754 and a lower head 756. The diameters of the elongate portion 754 and the head 756 are determined to be slightly smaller than the diameters. the opening 744 and the pump chamber 746, respectively, so that the piston 752 can slide vertically within the body 742. In addition, the elongated portion 754 and the head 756 carry annular seals 758 and 760, respectively, which prevent any leakage of liquid between the diameters of the

piston and the openings of the body.

  An elongate opening 762, preferably concentric with the piston 752 and running the entire length thereof, provides a liquid inlet for the metering pump 740. As shown in FIG. 52, the inlet opening 762 includes a valve 764 which is biased into the closed position by a spring 766 and which is centered in the opening 762, near its two ends, by a plurality of guiding protrusions 768. It appears that the valve 764 allows the liquid to enter the pumping chamber 746, but that it opposes any flow of liquid

  in opposite direction through the opening 762 input.

  During operation, the pump piston 752 is initially raised along the chamber 746 of

  pumping by a rigid linkage 780 (shown schematically

  53 to 55) which is connected to the upper end of the elongated portion 754. During this rise stroke, the pressure of the liquid arriving in the inlet opening 762 (this pressure resulting from the height Static liquid in a storage tank 763, shown in Figure 1) has the effect of lifting the valve 764 from its seat or open the valve 764, allowing the liquid to fill the volume of the chamber 746. The pressure prevailing inside the opening 762 quickly becomes equal to that prevailing inside the chamber 746 at the end of this stroke so that, under the effect of the restoring force of the spring 766, the valve or check valve 764 closes or applies against the

lower surface of the piston 752.

  Then, the piston 754 is forced downwardly by the rigid linkage 780 (shown in FIGS. 53 to 551, which has the effect of pushing the liquid contained in the pumping chamber 746 by the ball check valve 730. of the nozzle 700. During this down stroke or pump stroke of the pump 740, the spool 712 of the nozzle 700 must be raised vertically within the opening 702 (as previously described) so that

  the grooves 714 communicate with the inlet opening 724.

  Therefore, during the reciprocating movement of the piston 754, the entire volume of liquid contained in the pumping chamber 746 flows through the nozzle 700 and is introduced into the carton 100. Then, at the end of the pumping stroke, the spool 712 of the nozzle 700 descends vertically and is applied against the conical surface 712 in order to force the nozzle 700 closed. It appears that, in its basic principle, the

  assay pump 740 according to the invention is of conventional design.

  because it is simply a positive displacement pump.

  piston comprising an inlet valve and an outlet valve.

  However, since in the apparatus according to the invention, the metering pump 740 is combined with the nozzle 700 to form a self-contained device, this device constitutes an important improvement over the

previous design.

  In addition to the obvious advantages of weight reduction and dimensions made possible by such a design, the invention substantially reduces the volume of the liquid flow channels on the outlet side of the metering pump 740, substantially reducing the risk. introducing air into the liquid in the case where the drawer 712 is not synchronized accurately to open and close at the beginning of the stroke of the piston 752 pumping. In addition, since the lower surface of the piston 752 bears directly against the upper surface of the nozzle 700 at the end of the pumping stroke, the entire volume contained in the pumping chamber 746 is discharged into the nozzle 700 of the pump. in such a way that any quantity of air entering the device is expelled during each successive cycle of pumping and does not accumulate in the pumping chamber. It therefore appears that this absence of air accumulation substantially increases the precision of the

  quantity of liquid delivered during each pumping cycle.

  In addition, since the inlet of the pumping chamber 746 is concentric with the piston 752, any leakage by the valve 764 during the pumping cycle is substantially eliminated by the firm support of the valve 764 due to the resulting increased pressure. of the downward movement of the piston 752. Fig. 52A shows a filling nozzle variant suitable for the invention as well as many other filling applications. This nozzle 950 comprises a substantially cylindrical shaped body consisting of upper and lower portions 952 and 954, respectively. Similarly, in the case of the nozzle 700 of FIG. 52, the nozzle 950 has a central hole 956 which is oriented axially and

  substantially over the entire length of the upper parts

  upper and lower 952 and 954 of the body. Near the opposite ends of the lower portion 954, the central opening 956 is enlarged to form two cavities

  958 and 960. As shown, the upper cavity

  958 communicates with the inlet 962 of the nozzle while

  the lower cavity 960 forms the outlet 964 of the nozzle 950.

  A drawer 966, disposed within the opening

  The central core 956 has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 956 so that the slide 966 can reciprocate. This drawer 966 may be equipped with an end cap 968 fixed rigidly near one of its ends and preferably made of "Delrin", so as to be tightly applied against the chamfered circumferential edge of the outlet 964 of the nozzle. It therefore appears that when this cap 968 is applied to the outlet orifice 964, the nozzle

  is closed to prevent flow through exit 964.

  The drawer 966 has, at an intermediate point along its length, a plurality of flow grooves 970 which are symmetrically spaced around the circumference of the drawer 966. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. flow selectively communicate the upper and lower cavities 958 and 960 to form a dosing channel for the flowing liquid

in the nozzle 950.

  At the junction between the upper and lower portions 952 and 954 of the body, respectively, a cap seal assembly 972 seals liquid between the body portions 952 and 954, and is also a

  low-friction seal surrounding the circumferential surface

  As shown best in FIG. 52B, this seal assembly 972 is housed in an annular groove 974 formed in the bottom portion 954 and includes a 976 ring and a C-shaped gasket 978. This gasket 978 is constantly recalled against the peripheral surface of the drawer 113. 966 by the ring 976 and is compressed between the upper and lower portions 952 and 954 to prevent any

  leakage between said parts 952 and 954.

  In the preferred embodiment, the gasket 978 is made of a resilient but moderately rigid elastomer, effectively sealing the liquids with the spool 966 while having a low coefficient of friction that allows the spool 966 to easily perform movement. alternative in opening 956. As described more

  in detail below, this low-cost fixed cap seal

  The friction effect eliminates any liquid displacement during closure of the nozzle due to the piston effect of a seal member (such as the annular seal 721 of the nozzle 700 of FIG.

  alternative with the 970 drawer in the 956 opening.

  The upper portion 952 of the body preferably has a control chamber 980 which communicates with the upper end of the central opening 956 and which receives the bumper 982 of the slide 966. As shown, the control chamber 980 communicates with a port 986. which can be connected to a source of vacuum and a source of pressure (not shown). As it appears, since the cap seal assembly 972 is disposed between

  parts 952 and 954 of the body and that it is applied hermetically

  tightly against drawer 966, control chamber 980 and the top of the central opening

  956 are isolated from the liquid passing through the nozzle. As a result

  As a result, the control chamber 980 can be used to raise and lower the reciprocating inner slide 966 into the central opening 956 in response to the alternative application of vacuum or pressure to

  port 986. In addition, in the preferred embodiment of

  tion, an additional orifice 984 is made and can be

  placed in communication with an air switch (not shown

  sent) or any other similar device for detecting

  ter when the nozzle 700 is in its closed position and

  when in its open position.

  In operation, the nozzle 950 is preferably connected to a constant pressure liquid supply source (such as the high fluid reservoir 763 shown in FIG. 1) which is connected to the inlet 962 of the 950 through the conduit 988. To allow the liquid to flow into the nozzle 950, the vacuum is applied selectively to the orifice 986, which has the effect of raising the drawer 966 inside the nozzle 950. opening 956 and to move the end cap 968 out of the outlet 964. The liquid entering the inlet 962 then flows through the

  grooves 970 in the enlarged cavity 960 and through the outlet 964.

  In the preferred embodiment, the effective area of the flow grooves 970 is determined to be smaller than the area of the lower cavity 960 so that the pressure of the inlet liquid can be dissipated and the velocity is decreased in the nozzle 950 (as previously described for the nozzle 700 of Fig. 52). In addition, the nozzle 950, due to the presence of its reciprocating internal slide 966 and the discharge orifice 964 with inclined and chamfered edges, produces a jet. of fluid that converges axially and which, as previously mentioned, prevents any air holding below the discharge orifice of the nozzle, as well as any generation of foam

  during the filling operation.

  To interrupt the flow of liquid in the nozzle 950, it interrupts the application of vacuum to the port 986 and the pressure is applied thereto, so as to lower the slide 966 to the outlet port 964. Since the hat seal 972 remains in a fixed position during this reciprocating movement, it appears that the area

  966 drawer remains constant during closing.

  This same useful area prevents any movement during operation.

* closing ration, as would be the case if the seal is

  The wheel moved with the slide 966, which eliminates the piston effect causing the rapid ejection, through the discharge port 964, during closure, of a portion of the liquid.

contained in opening 956.

  115. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the flow grooves 970 are made to give a substantially constant value to the ratio of the area of the flow section of the grooves 970 to the area of the section. orifice 964, between the opening and closing positions of the nozzle 950. Therefore, the fluid velocity remains constant during the closing of

  the valve, which makes it possible to obtain an annular flow.

  Thus, the flow grooves 970 produce a dosing effect which, in combination with the set 972 to

  cap seal, allows the nozzle to be closed effectively-

  avoid any piston effect during the closing

  ture and operate efficiently with one piece

mobile, namely the drawer 966.

  The mechanism 780 for controlling and synchronizing

  According to the invention, the invention is intended to synchronize and adjust the operations of the filling nozzles with respect to the movement of the cardboard blanks 100 carried by the conveyor 550, and will now be described with reference to FIG. 53. It should be noted that for more of clarity, the control and synchronization mechanism 780 is described in its use with

  the nozzle assembly 700 and metering pump 740 of FIG.

  However, the same control and synchronization mechanism 780

  can be modified for use with the nozzle variant shown at 750 in FIG.

depart from the scope of the invention.

  As shown in Fig. 53, the control and timing mechanism 780 comprises a mechanical linkage driven by a control cam 788 which is driven by a shaft 790 rotating at a constant speed and synchronized with the control system (not shown) of the conveyor. 550. The cam 788 converts the rotational movement of the shaft 790 into a reciprocating motion which drives a butt 792 through a pusher

  vertical 794. It appears that lacrosse 792 is fixed rigidly

  this vertical pusher 794 so that the latter and the stock move reciprocally in a single block, in a vertical direction, under the effect of the

rotation of the cam 788.

  116. The opposite ends of the stick 792 are connected to adjacent metering pumps 740 by means of control linkages 796, one end of which is articulated with the hook 792 and the other end of which is articulated on a rocking arm 798. As shown, the tilting arms or levers 798 are rotatably mounted at an intermediate point of their length on the piston 754 of the metering pump 740 so as to form a central pivot, and they comprise in addition to an adjustable pivot 800 at their opposite ends. Adjustable pivot

  800 connects one end of the swing arm to a pneumatic cylinder

  tick or hydraulic 802 which is mounted so as to be able

  rotate on the chassis 804 of the machine.

  Since the metering pump 740 and the nozzle 700 are additionally mounted rigidly on the frame 804 of the

  machine, it appears that during the vertical reciprocating

  stick of the stick 792 under the effect of the rotation of the cam 788, the pistons 754 of the dosing pumps 740 are raised and lowered (that is to say realize the pumping stroke of the pump 740 dosing) by the intermediate linkage

  vertical 796 and swing arms 798.

  The detailed operation of the mechanism 780 will now be described with reference to Figs. 53 to 55. Fig. 53 shows the mechanism 780 in its normal working position, after it has completed a pumping stroke and a filling operation, the piston 754 is then advanced in its lowest position against the upper surface of the nozzle 700 (as shown in Figure 52). In this normal position, the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders 802 are retracted to their uppermost position to form a rigid structure for pivot point 800

swing arms 798.

  Fig. 54 shows the operation of the mechanism 780 during the normal suction stroke of the metering pumps 740. In normal operation, the pneumatic cylinders 802 are pressurized so as to remain constantly retracted in their uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 53, so that the rotation of the cam 788-117 causes a vertical rise of the stick 792. During this vertical rise stroke of the stock 792, the swing arms 798 pivot about the points 800, which are held rigidly in a fixed position by the pressure exerted on the rolls 802, so as to raise the pistons 754 of the pumps. As described previously, during this rise of the pistons 754, the arrival liquid opens the valve

  764 and fills chamber 746 for pumping

  shown in FIG. 52) of the pumps 740.

  Continued rotation of the cam 788 provoked

  that a descent movement of the stick 792, which force down the pistons 754 dosing pumps 740 and causes the discharge of the liquid contained in these pumps by

  via the two nozzles 700.

  It should be noted that, since the vertical stroke of the pistons 754 depends on the ratio of the distances between each of the end pivots 800 of the rocking arms and the central pivots, small adjustments can be made independently on the stroke of the pump and, therefore, on the displacement of the pump, by the limited stroke of the adjustable pivot 800 along the corresponding swing arm 798. Therefore, the displacement of each of the metering pumps 740 can be fine-tuned in progress of operation by simple manual rotation of a corresponding knurled screw 805 placed on the end of the associated rocker arm 798. In addition, it should be noted that to accommodate significant differences in the displacement of the pumps 740 dosing, the cam 788 can be replaced by

  a larger cam with a greater degree of eccentricity

city.

  The operation of the mechanism 780 in the non-filling mode will now be described with reference to FIG. 55. To place one or the other of the metering pumps 740 or the two pumps 740 in the non-filling mode, at the end of the pumping stroke and before the start of the suction stroke of the metering pumps 740, the air pressure maintaining one of the pneumatic cylinders 802 or the two cylinders 802 in the retracted position is cut off, and a pressure 118. Nominal air is applied to the opposite side of the pneumatic cylinders 802. Under the effect of this inverted nominal pressure, the pneumatic cylinders 802 behave in the manner of shock absorbers elastically subjected to a certain force and performing a movement of downward extension, in proportion to the upward movement of the stick 792, which has the effect of vertically lowering the point

  800 of pivoting of the respective rocking arm 798. This movement

  The vertical descent of the pivot point 800 prevents the pump piston 754 from rising with the butt 742, while the piston 754 is held firmly at the lower end of its stroke against the upper surface of the nozzle 700. (shown in Figure 52). Therefore, the piston 754 does not execute a suction stroke and can not

  receive liquid to expel during its discharge run.

  Then, at the end of the 792 lacrosse relief run,

  the hydraulic cylinder 802 can be pressurized selectively

  as previously described, and raised to its normal working position for the continuation of the cycle of

pumping and discharging.

  Figure 55 -represents this mode of non-fulfillment

  wise of the mechanism 780, wherein the right pump 740 of

  dosage is placed in the non-filling position - (ie

  that the pneumatic cylinder 802 is biased downward) and the left pump 740 dosing is placed in the normal position (that is, the pneumatic cylinder 802 is retracted to its highest position). During the rotation of the cam 788 and the rise of the stick 792, the left pump 740 dosing rises to run its normal suction stroke, while the right pump 740

  is blocked so as not to be able to rise through the exten-

  proportional downward movement of the pneumatic cylinder 802.

  Therefore, only the left dosing pump 740 receives

  a charge of liquid during the suction stroke.

  In addition, during the next pumping stroke, the descent of the stick 792 has the effect of overcoming the nominal inverse pressure exerted in the pneumatic cylinder

  802, so that the latter is proportional-

-1 19.

  In this case, the piston of the right dosing pump 740 is held in its lower position against the upper surface of the straight nozzle 700 while the left dosing pump 740 delivers the liquid through the nozzle. associated 700, as previously described.

  Thus, by reversing the pressure exerted on a pneumatic cylinder

  corresponding tick 802, at the end of the preceding pump stroke, the operator can selectively prevent the following filling operation performed using one of the nozzles 700 without affecting the operation of the other nozzle 700 connected to the

mechanism 780.

  It should be noted that the cylinders 802 can be advantageously equipped with a simple dispensing device controlling their operation and can be operated by means of a switch placed on the control panel (not shown) available to the operator. Thus, the selective actuation of the cylinders 802 can be easily performed by manual operation of the switch. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the mechanism 780 is connected to an electronic device for detecting cardboard blanks (not shown) disposed on the conveyor 550. This electronic sensor, by detecting the absence of a blank 100 of carton on the conveyor 550, automatically reverse the pressure applied to the pneumatic cylinder 802, in order to place

  the corresponding nozzle 700 in non-filling mode.

  In the preferred embodiment, the nozzles

  pre-filling and the final filling nozzles (

  1) have their own control and timing mechanism 780, the final filling nozzle having a cam 788 which is substantially smaller than the pre-filling nozzle control cam so that the amount of liquid discharged by the final filling nozzle is much lower than that delivered by the pre-filling nozzle. Furthermore, it should be noted that, since the preferred embodiment comprises four pre-filling nozzles and four final filling nozzles, two control and timing mechanisms 780 are associated with two pre-filling nozzles 120 and two nozzles. final filling. In addition, although in the preferred embodiment, the control and synchronization mechanism 780 shown is of the mechanical type, it is obvious that, alternatively, a hydraulic or pneumatic control device, connected to each of the piston pistons 750 and including an appropriate distribution and dosing circuit, can be used without leaving the

framework of the invention.

  After having been subjected to the operation of

  wise carried out in the workstation VI, the carton 100, carried by the carrier 550, is driven to the workstation VII, namely the closing station and fixing the end. In this station, the closure panel 114

  end, which so far has risen vertically

  above the surface of the anvil 560, is folded over the

  open-end of the cardboard blank 100, then bound and sealed on the sealing tabs 120 (shown in FIG. 3)

  to produce the sealed container 12 shown in Figure 1A.

  In the preferred embodiment, this fixing operation is facilitated by the implementation of an ultrasonic welding process (described above with respect to the workstation III), which substantially eliminates the release of vapors emitted by the film of polyethylene, these vapors may contaminate the liquid contained in the cardboard 100, this process putting in place, in addition, the adjacent sealing surfaces of the cardboard 100 so that they are aligned perfectly, which ensures the

achieving an effective seal.

  Figures 56 to 60 show the device used in the workstation VII, namely the device for closing and sealing the end. As shown in FIG. 56, this device comprises a cam plate 850 which is rigidly mounted on a linkage 852 and which is disposed slightly above the upper surface of the anvil 560. This plate 850 is preferably made of Teflon® (trademark registered by the firm EI DuPont de Nemours), and it has a rectangular shape whose edge 854 is inclined so as to constitute a chamfered surface 121 or a cam surface. Although, for the sake of clarity, only one cam plate 850 is shown in FIG. 56, it should be noted that, in the preferred embodiment, four plates 850 are used and interconnected by linkage 852, each plate being disposed near a corresponding anvil 560 of the

carrier 550.

  In operation, the cardboard blank 100 is conveyed by intermittent cyclic control of the conveyor 550 to a position, shown in Fig. 56, wherein the anvil 560 is in proximity to the cam plate 850. In this position, the linkage 852 is actuated to reciprocate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 56 so that the inclined edge 854 of the plate 850 contacts the end closure panel 114. 100 and extends above this panel 114, in close proximity to the upper surface of the anvil 560. During this contact, the end closure panel 114 is pushed down as shown by the arrow in Fig. 57, so as to be folded between the lower surface of the plate 850 and the anvil 560 to be slightly below the upper surface of the anvil 560 (the chamfered panel 114 abutting the

  tongues 120 sealing which are presented as a box

painting).

  It should be noted that since the

  end closure panel 114 has been previously pleated

  by the preforming device of the workstation V

  in order to present chamfered edges similar to a box

  During this folding operation, the closure panel 114 fits over the cardboard sealing tabs 100 held against the chamfered surfaces 562 formed along the upper surface of the anvil 560. However, because of the moderate elastic memory properties of the carton, the end closure panel 114 tends to rise slightly elastically and move away from the sealing tabs 120 after the passage of 122. the cam plate 850, as shown in FIG. Figure 57. Thus, at the end of the stroke of the cam plate 850 on the end closure panel 114, the latter is substantially folded down on the open end of the carton blank 100 and it is thus positioned in advance to allow the following operation of sealing and fixing. Then, the carrier 550 resumes its intermittent stroke to place the carton 100 beneath a sealing die or cone 860 (shown in FIG. 59) which, in the preferred embodiment, seals the perimeter of the end panel 114 on the sealing tabs of the carton 100. As best shown in FIG. 58, the sealing horn 860 has a substantially square cross-section and a chamfered edge 862 formed near its lower surface, large radius 864 formed along its two front angles. The chamfered surface 862 and the broadly rounded angle 864 are tightly applied against the complementary surfaces 562 of the anvil 560 so that when the horn 860 is

  lowered on the anvil 560, the edges of the panel 114 close

  end-piece and the sealing tongues 120 are

  pressed firmly between the horn 860 and the anvil 560.

  As shown in FIG. 59, the horn 860

  is supported by a slide plate 861 disposed

  above the plane of the carrier 550. The plate 861 is constituted

  killed in two parts 861A and 861B which are kept together

  by means of a plurality of ball bearings (not shown) allowing these portions 861A and 861B to move slightly relative to each other in a common plane. As shown, the horn 860 is mounted on the lower portion 861B and is connected to an ultrasonic generator 866 which, itself, is rigidly mounted on the lower portion 861B. The plate 861 comprises two rings 863 which pass through its entire thickness, close to its

  two ends and which receive two inclined columns 865.

  As shown, these columns 865 are mounted rigidly, near one end, on two support beams 867 123. which are arranged transversely to the plane of the conveyor 550 and which form a certain angle with the vertical plane of the anvil 560. This angular orientation has the effect of placing the matrix 860 internally with respect to the end closure panel 114 of the carton 100 when it is held in the erasing position, above the plane of the

  transporter 550, as shown in FIG. 59.

  The sliding plate 861 also has a rigid extension 869 projecting near its rear edge and on which is mounted a hydraulic or pneumatic control member 871 connected to the frame of the apparatus (not shown). It therefore appears that by actuating the hydraulic cylinder 871, the sliding plate 861 is reciprocated along the columns 865, in a direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 59, to lower and raise the horn. 860 sealing on the panel

  114 end closure of the carton 100.

  During operation, the cornet 860 of

  sealing is lowered on the end closure panel 114.

  100 because of the inclination of the columns 865 with respect to the anvil 560, when it comes into contact with the end closure panel 114, in the angular direction as shown in FIG. , the die base pushes or cams the panel 114 down and toward the closed end of

  the anvil 560 so that this panel 114 is suitable-

  placed on the tabs 120 for sealing the carton 100 (as shown in FIG. 58). It should be noted that, since the sealing horn 860 can move freely in a plane perpendicular to the inclined columns 865 due to the bearing interface between the sliding plate portions 861A and 861B, the horn 860 aligns itself with the three chamfered sides 562 of the anvil 560 so as to produce a wedge effect between the end closure panel 114 and the sealing tabs 120. In this position, the chamfered edges 862 and the expanded radius angles 864 of the die 860 press 124. firmly the peripheral edges of the end closure panel 114 against the cardboard seal tabs 120.

  , these tongues being supported, on their inferior surface

  Then, the ultrasonic generator 866 is turned on so as to rapidly vibrate the sealing die 860. This important vibration has the effect of positioning the end closure panel 114 and the sealing tabs 120 in proper alignment, eliminating small discontinuities or small interstices formed between the adjacent sealing surfaces. Since the anvil 560 is held in a fixed position along the conveyor 550 and the lower surface of the sealing tabs 120 is retained by the ridges 563 formed on the chamfered edges 562 of the anvil 560 (shown in FIG. ), this relative vibration of the sealing horn 860 against the anvil 560 causes heat generation exclusively along the peripheral edges of the sealing tabs 120 and the end closure panel 114. This heating has the effect, due to the polyethylene covering the cardboard 100, to firmly bind the end closure panel 114 to the sealing tabs 120, which makes it possible to obtain a liquid-tight seal for the carton 100, as shown on the

figure 58.

  As mentioned above, this ultrasonic welding is performed in fractions of a second and, after the sealing of the panel 114 on the tabs 120 of the carton 100, the hydraulic cylinder 871 is stopped, so that the sliding plate 861 and the horn 860 rise obliquely along the 865 columns and come back in their

initial position.

  It should be noted that other methods of sealing the end closure panel 114 to the sealing tabs 120 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. However, it has been found that by using an ultrasonic welding process, the smoke release by the polyethylene-based substances is substantially eliminated and the polyethylene is heated 125. exclusively near the periphery of the closure panel 114, this eliminates any risk of deterioration of the coating of the remaining portion of the carton 100. Similarly, because of the significant vibration occurring in the ultrasonic welding process, the tabs 120 and the

  end panel 114 align firmly and properly

  nable by completely eliminating voids or air pockets

between the sealing surfaces.

  Since the liquid is hermetically sealed inside the carton 100, the last operation to be performed by the machine 10 according to the invention is the ejection of the carton

  carrier 550. In the preferred form of embodiment

  This ejection is carried out in a simple but effective manner in the workstation VIII (ejection station). The filled and sealed carton 100 is expelled from the machine 10.

  by an opening 901 formed in the frame 14 (as shown in FIG.

shown in Figure 1).

  Figures 61, 62 and 63 show the arrangement

  900 ejection device according to the invention. This device 900 mainly comprises a U-shaped assembly 902 which is

  rigidly mounted at one end on a linkage 904.

  As indicated below, in the preferred embodiment, four U-shaped fixtures 902 are symmetrically spaced apart.

  along the 904 linkage so that the four cartons 100, filled and sealed, carried by the carrier

  550, can be ejected simultaneously from the machine.

  The common linkage 904 is rigidly connected to a cam plate 905 which has a track 907 of cam having substantially the shape of a J and cooperating with a follower member 909 rigidly connected to the frame (not shown) of the machine 10. The walls 901 and 903 of the assembly 902 are preferably made to different lengths and they are sufficiently spaced from each other for

  that a carton 100 can be housed between them by sliding.

  As it appears, the device 900 is placed below the upper horizontal surface of the conveyor 550 and is disposed near one end of this conveyor to cooperate with the carton 100 when the conveyor 126. 550 begins its downward movement on the gear wheels 561 (similar to the gear wheel 561 shown in Fig. 39)

  and when he returns to workstation IV.

  In its erasing position, shown in FIG. 61 (this position corresponding to that shown in FIG.

  shown in dashed line in Figure 63), when the transpor-

  550 starts its downward movement on the toothed wheel 561, the U-shaped assembly 902 is aligned with

  the anvil 560 and the cardboard 100 it contains. As a result

  100, the carton 100 is received between the side walls 901 and 903 of different lengths of the assembly 902. This downward movement of the conveyor 550 continues until the carton 100 is disposed in a plane parallel to the mounting 902, (as shown in FIG. indicated in FIG. 61) in which the conveyor 550 stops momentarily in the manner previously described. During this stop in position, the control mechanism (not shown) connected to the linkage 904 is actuated so that the linkage 904 and the mount 902 begin to move outward and toward the carton, in the direction indicated by the arrow. in Fig. 61. It should be noted that during this initial movement, the follower 909 traverses the short straight section of the cam groove 907, in order to communicate only one outward movement component to the U-shaped assembly 902 (i.e. towards the anvil 560), which facilitates the abutment of the rear panel 906 of the assembly 902 against

  the lower end of the carton 100.

  Continued outward movement of the linkage 904 has the effect of further moving the mount 902 (which follows the cam groove 907) outwardly.

  to anvil 560 and move them at the same time transversely

  loosely or horizontally, across the plane of the anvil 560 (ie from right to left as shown in Figure 61), so that the carton 100 slides toward the open end of the anvil 560. Continuing this oblique (i.e., outward and transverse) movement of the linkage 904 has the effect of 127. pushing the carton 100 forward, through the anvil 560, and toward the outside, beyond the open end of the anvil, to the position shown in Figure 62. It appears that this oblique movement avoids any discomfort between the relatively rigid angles of the carton and the anvil 560. In this position , the carton 100 is no longer held relatively tightly fitted in the anvil 560, and because the inside dimensions of the U-shaped fixture 902 are slightly larger than the distance between the segments 102 to 108 of the carton 100 , it can fall from the 902 mount and it can be born away by an auxiliary packing carrier (no

- represent).

  It therefore appears that the ejection device 900 makes it possible to support the sides or segments 102 to 108 of the carton 100 when they are pushed outwardly through the anvil 560. It has been found that this holding of the carton 100 during the ejection operation eliminates any risk of sagging or deformation of said carton 100, as this

  could occur if carton 100 was ejected directly

  outwardly through the opening of the anvil 560.

  In addition, the ejection device 900 according to the invention automatically adapts to containers of different dimensions produced by the machine 10 (i.e., 0.235 1 and 0.315 1), the lower length of the small container of 0.315. 1 being compensated by the initial stroke of U-shaped assembly 902 which is made exclusively outwards

  and which penetrates properly into the carton placed in the

902.

  In summary, it appears that the machine and the method according to the invention constitute an important improvement over the machines of the prior art by offering a greater flexibility of production of cardboard boxes in two dimensions without the need to significantly modify the machine. In particular, to pass from the 0.235 1 container to the 0.315 1 container, the only modifications required by the present invention are (1) the adjustment of the L-shaped alignment block 167.

248204-6

128. 8

  so that it bears tightly against the smaller length of the cardboard segments 102 to 108, (2) the prior and initial loading of the cardboard blanks of different dimensions on

  the loading conveyor 140 (FIG. 5), (3) the

  Prior arrangement of thrust 410 more to the outside

  along the mandrel 402 to compensate for the shorter length of the cardboard segments 102 to 108 (as shown in FIG. 22), (4) the elevation of the lower supports 569 of the conveyor 550 to the position indicated in FIG. 39, and (5) adjusting the pivot 800 of the timing and metering mechanism 780 to decrease the amount of liquid discharged by the nozzle 700 (as shown in Fig. 53). It appears that these small adjustments can be made in a few minutes, which significantly facilitates the changes to be made to the machine and the method of the invention to produce containers 12 of different sizes. In addition, it should be noted that the invention eliminates the defects of place, reliability, flexibility and productivity of the machines of the prior art, these defects having hitherto prevented the adoption and more widespread use of cardboard boxes with built-in blowtorch,

  as described herein.

  The significant reduction of the floor space required specifically concerns each of the workstations I to VIII of the machine according to the invention. In particular, the laying of the torch on the cardboard blank, as well as the sealing of the strip length on the blank, have been studied so as to be performed during a cycle of operations performed on a single rotary drum. In addition, the carton blank is rotated to 1,800 at the end of its run in workstation I and is returned to a position close to its initial orientation on the machine. In addition, the mechanisms for collecting, wrapping and creasing the cardboard blanks around the forming mandrels are combined into a single device whereby the forming mandrels are spaced from each other by a distance less than the useful length of the blanks. 100 of cardboard. In addition, this 129. combined mechanism makes it possible to group and fold the blanks

of cardboard simultaneously.

  The use of the spider mandrel 400 of the workstation III allows the cardboard blanks to be sealed along their side and at one of their ends, without the need for multiple transport mechanisms. In addition, after the cardboard blanks have been inserted onto the conveyor 550, the remaining forming, filling and sealing operations are performed without changing the position or

  without transferring the cartons to a different support system

  rent. The reliability advantages made possible by the invention also appear clearly in each of the main subsets of the machine. In the workstations I and II, the cardboard blank 100 is continuously held by two centering cleats adjacent to the end panels 112 and 114, which ensures proper alignment of the blank 100 on the apparatus. Consequently, the sealing of the torch and the strip length on the cardboard blank, as well as the precision of the pleating and folding of this blank, are maintained within certain limits. In addition, the use of the 550 conveyor in workstations III to VIII significantly limits the possibilities of

  misalignment on the remaining part of the machine.

  The significantly increased productivity of the

  machine according to the invention in relation to prior art machines.

  This is made possible by the use of a serial track and parallel track transport system, which advantageously coincides serial and parallel transport with the least time consuming and intervention time. In addition, since the number of transfer mechanisms is kept to a minimum, the time of the overall work cycle performed on the cardboard blanks

  in the machine according to the invention is significantly reduced.

  In addition, it should be noted that reference has been made herein to a main or common control mechanism of the machine according to the invention, to 130.

  which all the main subsets are synchronized.

  Although the details of this control mechanism have not been indicated, the establishment of such a mechanism and the synchronization of the operations performed by the various devices of the machine, with this main mechanism of

  control, are in the field of those skilled in the art.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the machine described and shown

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

at

-131 2482046

REVEIDICATIONS

  A device for providing a car-on blank (100) with a tubular shape open at its ends, which device is used in an apparatus for manufacturing liquid-tight cardboard boxes from a cardboard blank ( 100) which can be folded, comprising a mandrel (304) which presents

  an outer shape sized to give the tubular shape

  desired blank (100) and being characterized in that it comprises a set (360) jaws separated from the mandrel (304) and surrounding the latter, an element (279) for inserting the carton blank between the assembly to jaws (360) and chuck (304)

  so that the blank (100) surrounds the mandrel (304) without being folded

  se, and an element (370) for closing the bit assembly

  (360) around the mandrel (304) to crimp the blank (100)

chuck turn (304).

  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in

  the jaw assembly (360) preferably comprises an element

  an L-shaped surround (366) surrounding two sides of the mandrel, and

  a substantially plane member (364) which can pivot on the element

  Means L-shaped to bear against a third side of the mandrel, the element (366) and the substantially planar member (364) comprising a flexible member (378) mounted on one of their surfaces and intended to tension the blank (100) tightly against the mandrel (304), and an element (368) for executing a

  reciprocating movement to the bit assembly (360) along the

  drin (304) to remove the blank (100) therefrom.

  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the I-shaped element (366) and the plane element (364) are attached to tabs (368) on the rear edge opposite the leading edge relative to in the sense of the reciprocating motion during the discharge of the blank, the tabs (368) grasping the trailing edge of the blank (100) and pushing it out of the chuck (304) during the reciprocating movement caused by the elements

(368).

  4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in

  the mandrel (304) has a slight upper surface

  and a small-sized blocking member (361) extending a short distance above the top surface and rigidly mounted near a side so that the rear edge of the board ( 100) is flat on the slightly-sloping upper surface of the mandrel (304) to prevent lateral movement out of the jaw assembly (360)

  by means of the locking element (381).

  5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mandrel (304) has hollow grooves (324) formed along the two side surfaces of sor-Ge mandrel (304) does not prevent the sliding of the elements to bit

(360).

  6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mandrel (304) has on its upper left corner a notch (383) whose depth is slightly greater

  to the thickness of the blank (100), the notch (383) extending

  substantially across the upper surface of the mandrel (304) over a length approximately equal to the width of a sealing tongue (120) formed as part of the

carton blank (100).

  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a device for folding the tongues

  sealing (120) on the cut (383) and a device

  tif (430) for sealing the tongue (120) on a segment (108)

  flan (100) to form a kind of cardboard tube, the element

  sealing member (430) having an ultrasonic sealing horn (432) mounted on a pneumatic cylinder (438) for advancing and removing the sealing horn (432). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that

  the sealing horn (432) has a sealing face

  having a substantially rectilinear portion (434A) and a curved portion (434B) projecting downward below the flat portion (434A)