FR2636305A1 - MACHINE FOR CLOSING RECEPTACLES - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine for closing containers, comprising a feed system (10), a closing mechanism (30) and a mechanism for synchronising the said feed system with the said closing mechanism. According to the invention, the machine comprises in addition an auxiliary drive system (20) synchronised with the said feed system and pushing the said containers to an upper level thereof.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for closing

  receptacles in particular made from blanks of cardboard or similar material and consisting of a plurality of flaps hinged to each other around fold lines and lower and upper end flaps hinged respectively to the flaps around

fold lines.

  Prior to their introduction into such a machine, each receptacle has a configuration for which the flaps are folded to form the side seam of the receptacle, as well as the lower end flaps to form the bottom of said receptacle, while the upper end flaps , intended to form the upper face opposite the bottom of the receptacle, are in the extension of the flaps forming the belt. Products are then generally disposed in the receptacle which

the upper face is open.

  At this point, the receptacles are transferred to the machine whose purpose is in particular to fold the upper end flaps to close the receptacle and form the face

  upper parallel and opposite to the bottom.

  Generally, a machine of this type comprises an advance system, driving one by one each receptacle by its bottom sliding on a transport path, and a closing mechanism of the upper end flaps. The feed system comprises, for example, two side chains disposed respectively on either side of said transport path and capable of being driven by a motor member. The two side chains are interconnected by bars arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the receptacles and spaced regularly

  each other, each of the bars being thus susceptible

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  l to come into contact with the back of the belt

  side of the receptacle to drive it along the track.

  Furthermore, a synchronization mechanism connects the feed system to the closing mechanism so that during the movement of each of the receptacles pushed by one of the transverse bars on the transport path, the closing mechanism acts on the upper flaps.

  to fold them, closing the receptacle.

  Although this machine gives satisfactory results, it nevertheless has drawbacks, especially when the products arranged in the receptacles are heavy. Indeed, to facilitate the movement of each receptacle and to avoid the deformation thereof, it is preferable that the corresponding bar comes into contact with the rear face of the side belt to a

  low level of said face, close to the bottom of the receptacle.

  Despite this, sometimes the side faces of the belt deform. In addition, when the closing means act on the upper flaps of each receptacle to fold them, the front and rear side faces of the belt tend to tilt backward relative to the direction of movement, deforming . The receptacles obtained then have a distorted appearance which is detrimental to their presentation. In addition, the edges of the upper flaps may, once folded, overlap which also affects the quality of presentation of said receptacles. Moreover, the deformation of the lateral faces may possibly cause damage to the products contained in the receptacles. In addition, this type of machine only solves

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  1 partially the following inconvenience, usually

  encountered with the receptacles described above.

  Indeed, before their shaping, the cardboard receptacles are flat, that is to say that the lateral belt of each of them is folded, so that the four components constituting the belt form two angles substantially zero opposites and two opposing angles

substantially flat.

  In this way, when the lateral belt of each receptacle is shaped, the section thereof is often parallelepipedic instead of having a rectangular section, since two of the fold lines

  opposing links between the components have already been solicited.

  Thus, when the receptacles are brought to the machine to be driven along the transport path by the corresponding transverse bars, each of the bars, by acting against the rear flap of the receptacle near its bottom, allows to straighten the part bottom of the receptacle so that its section is, at this level, rectangular. In contrast, the receptacle presents

  always, at its upper part, a parallelepipitic section

  pedic, the four vertical flaps of each receptacle

  presenting in a way a propeller profile.

  Therefore, in addition to the aesthetic appearance of the receptacle

  result in machine output, this defect of perpendicular

  the distance between the shutters harms the compressive strength of the receptacle since the flaps are in "helix". In addition, subsequent palletizing operations are

made more difficult.

  This disadvantage is even more accentuated when the products arranged in the receptacles have a circular section, whereas for products with a rectangular section, the four shutters, under the action of the perpendicular side faces of said products applying against the shutters, tend to spontaneously find their perpendicularity. The present invention is intended to overcome these disadvantages and relates to a machine for closing receptacles through which the receptacles obtained after folding the upper flaps; have a regular appearance

and neat.

  For this purpose, the machine for closing receptacles comprising side faces forming a belt, a bottom, and upper end flaps, arranged in the extension of the side faces and intended to form the upper face of said receptacles, said machine comprising :

  - an advance system capable of causing the

  one by one, said receptacles at their bottom along a transport path, said system comprising two side chains disposed respectively on either side of said transport path and capable of being driven by a motor member, by being interconnected by bars, arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the receptacles on said track and regularly spaced from each other, each of said bars being capable of coming into contact with the rear face of the belt of a receptacle for to drag it along the said path; a mechanism for closing the end flaps of said receptacles; and a synchronization mechanism connecting said feed system to the closing mechanism, so that during the movement of each receptacle pushed by one of the bars on the transport path, the closing mechanism acts on the end flaps the receptacle for

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  1 folding, is remarkable, according to the invention, in that it comprises an auxiliary drive system having two side chains interconnected by bars arranged transversely and regularly spaced from each other similarly to the bars of the system d in advance, each of said bars of the auxiliary drive system being capable of coming into contact with the rear face of a receptacle at a different level from the corresponding bar of the feed system, and in that means are provided for synchronization of the feed system with the auxiliary drive system so that two crossbars, one of which belongs to the feed system and

  of which the other belongs to the Auxiliary Training

  re, apply against the rear face of the belt of one of said receptacles at two distinct levels for the

  move along the transport path.

  Thus, thanks to the invention, since each of the receptacles moves on the transport path with two transverse bars resting against the rear face of the receptacle at two distinct levels thereof, the lateral faces of the receptacle belt. do not deform

  and remain orthogonal at the bottom while being perpendicular

  between them. In this way, we obtain, at the output of the machine, closed receptacles whose external appearance, and

  so the presentation is regular, clean and without distortion.

  Advantageously, the auxiliary drive system is located above and in correspondence of the feed system, the transverse bars of the drive system being capable of coming into contact with the rear face of the receptacles at a high level, close to the fold line of the corresponding end flap, while the transverse bars of the feed system are likely to come into contact with the rear face of the containers at a level

  low, near the bottom of the receptacles.

  This arrangement, providing a suitable spacing between the transverse bars of the advance and drive systems which act on the rear face of the receptacles, promotes the displacement of the latter along the transport path while preventing their deformation. In a preferred embodiment, the synchronization means of said feed system with the auxiliary drive system comprise the same drive member and a transmission by chains and toothed wheels connecting

  said drive member to each system.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the machine may comprise means for adjusting the phase between

  the feed system and the auxiliary drive system.

  These means advantageously allow to advance or retreat one of the systems relative to each other and, therefore, to phase out the systems together, while they are driven by the motor member. This arrangement is particularly interesting since it allows an operator to be able to control and adjust the shape of the receptacles during

  their movement on the transport route and, where

to correct it.

  For example, in the case where a receptacle, pushed by the corresponding bar of the feed system and the corresponding bar of the drive system, tends to tilt forward so that at this time the part upper side of the rear face of the receptacle is no longer in contact with the bar of the drive system, the operator acts on the phase shift means so that the feed system advances by a suitable distance so that the corresponding bar act more on the part

  lower part of the rear face, then straightening the receiver

  tackle. At this time, all the bars of the feed system is shifted, in this case, in avalt, with respect to all the bars of the drive system. The operator

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  1 can then act again on the phase shift means to roll back the supply system simultaneously causing the decline of the bars, so that the bar pushing the rear face of the receptacle to a low level is in phase with that of the system of auxiliary drive, the receptacle

  being then pushed again by the two bars.

  In a preferred embodiment, said means for adjusting the phase between the advance system and the system

  auxiliary drive act on the feed system.

  Advantageously, said means for adjusting the phase comprise a controllable threaded rod capable of acting, via a compass, pivoting about one of the axes of said transmission, and intermediate gears driven by a chain, on said transmission, so as to impart relative motion to the chains of said feed system while not driving in this movement the chains of said auxiliary drive system. According to another characteristic of the invention, the feed system and the auxiliary drive system can

  be movable relative to one another through

  control means, so that the distance separating the bars of each system, when these

  cause a receptacle, be adjustable.

  Thus, the distance between the bars of the

  systems according to the height of the receptacles.

  Preferably, the control means act on the

  auxiliary drive system.

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  In a particular embodiment, said control means comprise a motor driving a screw-nut system to which is connected a chassis carrying the system.

auxiliary training.

  According to another characteristic, said closure mechanism of the upper end flaps of said receptacles is advantageously associated with the system.

auxiliary drive.

  For example, said closing mechanism may comprise two plates, converging in the direction of movement of the receptacles and orthogonal to the transport path, for folding the end flaps of the sides of the receptacle parallel to the direction of movement, a plate inclined in the direction of movement and for folding the end flap of the front face of the receptacle, orthogonal to the direction of movement, and a set of articulated rods controllable to fold the flap

  end of the rear face of said receptacle.

  In this example, said set of articulated links is advantageously mounted, at one end, on an axle connected, parallel and eccentrically, to an axis of a toothed wheel, which is driven and synchronized with the transmission by chains and toothed wheels. moving said auxiliary drive system, and is provided at its other end with a member capable of acting on the upper end flap extending the rear face of each

receptacle to fold it.

  Moreover, the machine according to the invention may comprise a system for feeding said receptacles to the track of

transport.

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  In this case, the delivery system advantageously comprises a plurality of rollers parallel to each other and orthogonal to the direction of movement of receptacles on the transport path, said rollers being driven in motion by at least one belt surrounding them.

  This arrangement increases in particular the adhesion of the receptacles

  key on the rollers interconnected by the belt and increases, therefore, the rate of sending the containers to the transport path, Preferably, said rollers are carried by a tilting support can. occupy two distinct positions under the action of a power member, said support being articulated about a fixed axis so that, when the power member is inactive, said rollers are at a lower level of a stop, preventing the transfer of the receptacles to the transport path, and when the power member is active, said rollers are at a level higher than that of the stop, allowing the

  transfer of containers to the transport path.

  The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be realized. In these figures,

  identical references designate similar elements.

  FIG. 1 represents a diagrammatic and partially cutaway plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the

machine according to the invention.

  FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, the drive unit and the transmission by chains and gears of the feed system and the auxiliary drive system of said receptacles, as well as the means for adjusting the phase difference between the feed system and advance and the auxiliary drive system.

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  FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively views along arrow F of FIG. 2 and along line IV-IV of FIG.

figure 2.

  Figure 5 shows a portion of said transmission between the feed system and the drive system. FIG. 6 is a section of said transmission part

  along the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

  Fig. 7 shows an enlarged plan view of the container delivery system to the track.

  transport illustrated in Figure 1.

  FIG. 8 partially shows in plan view the

  feeding system according to the arrow F1 of FIG.

  FIG. 9 represents a system of rollers allowing

  press the end flaps when folded.

  FIG. 10 is a side view of said system of FIG. 9. FIGS. 11a, 11b and 11c show schematically the different phases for straightening a receptacle from the means for adjusting the phase between the system

  in advance and the auxiliary drive system.

  The machine 1 according to the invention is particularly intended, in this embodiment, for closing receptacles 2 made from cardboard blanks and

  having a parallelepipedic shape.

  In FIG. 1, the receptacle 2, when introduced into the machine 1, has four lateral faces 3, opposite in pairs, forming the lateral belt of the

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  1 receptacle, and a bottom 4 obtained after folding around fold lines of lower end flaps. In contrast, the upper end flaps 6 are in the extension respectively of the side faces 3 and are intended, thanks to the machine 1, to be folded so as to obtain a closed upper face 7, opposite to the

  bottom 4, as shown in the receptacle 2A.

  Referring to Figure 1, the machine 1 comprises a feed system 10 capable of causing the displacement, one by one, receptacles 2 by their bottom 4 along a transport path 11. The system of advance 10 includes two side chains 12 disposed respectively on either side of the transport path 11 and likely to be

driven by a driving member 14.

  In Figure 1, the two side chains 12 are merged since they are then located in the same plane. The chains 12 are interconnected by bars 16, arranged transversely to the direction of displacement D of the receptacles 2 on the transport path 11 and spaced regularly from each other. In this embodiment, five transverse bars 16 are provided, each of them being capable of coming into contact with the rear face 3a of the belt of the receptacle at a low level of the face 3a, close to the bottom 4. Each receptacle is

  thus pushed along the track 11 by a transverse bar

  dirty 16, as shown in Figure 1.

  Furthermore, the machine has a rigid structure 18 consisting of rails and cross members assembled, appropriately, to each other and on which are mounted

  the different components of the machine.

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  According to the invention, the machine 1 comprises an auxiliary drive system 20 of similar design to the feed system 10. Thus, the drive system 20 comprises two side chains 21 interconnected by bars 22, arranged transversely to the direction of movement D and regularly spaced from each other,

  similarly to the bars 16 of the feed system 10.

  Each bar 22 of the drive system 20 is able to come into contact with the rear face 3a of a receptacle 2, at a different level from the corresponding bar 16 of the feed system 10. While the bars 16 come into contact respectively of the rear faces 3a of the receptacles at a low level, close to the bottom thereof, the bars 22 of the drive system 20 come into contact respectively with the rear faces 3a at a high level, close to the folding line of the flap upper 6a extending each rear face 3a. As seen in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the auxiliary drive system 20 is

  located above and in correspondence of the feed system 10.

  The two systems 10 and 20 are driven simultaneously by synchronization means 9, comprising the motor 14 and a transmission 15 by chains and toothed wheels, so that each receptacle is pushed.

  along the transport route by two bars, respectively

  16 and 22. Thus, each receptacle is held and driven by two bars acting at two distinct levels on the rear face 3a of said receptacle, preventing it from deforming and straightening the sides of the lateral belt of said receptacle if they have a parallelepiped section before their introduction into the machine,

  so as to then have a rectangular section.

  The drive system 20 is, moreover, mounted on ur.

  frame 24 that can be moved between two sleepers

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  1 vertical 25 of the structure 18 of the machine 1, orthogonal

  11. For this purpose, control means 26 are provided and comprise an electric motor 27 fixed to one of the crosspieces 25 and driving a screw-nut system 28 associated with each cross member and to which the chassis is connected. 24. The two screw-nut systems 28 are, for

  for example, driven by a chain.

  Alternatively, the drive system 20 may be positioned in accordance with the height of the receptacles which may be variable from one set of receptacles to another. The spacing between the bars 22 of the system 20 and the bars 16 of the

  system 10 is adapted to the height of said receptacles.

  It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the frame 24 carrying the drive system 20 also has a closing mechanism 30 intended, as will be seen in more detail later, to fold around their fold line

  end flaps 6 to close the receptacles.

  The drive member 14, such as an electric motor, drives through the transmission 15, which will be described later, both the chains 12 and 21 located on the same side of the machine 1, and the chains 12 and 21 located on the other side of the machine. The two chains 12 of the feed system 10 and the two chains 21 of the auxiliary drive system 20 are thus synchronized in

their movement.

  Furthermore, the machine 1 comprises means 32 for adjusting the phase between the two systems, so that the transverse bars connecting the two chains of a system can be out of phase forwards or backwards relative to the transverse bars connecting the two chains of the other system. In this embodiment, the phase adjusting means 32 act, via the transmission 15, on the

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  In this way, the chains 12 can, by actuating the means 32, move, in a limited way, of a relative movement thus causing the bars 16 to be out of phase with respect to the bars 22 connected to the bars. The means 32 allow an operator to be able to straighten the receptacles in the event that they tend to incline by causing the deformation of the lateral belt of said receptacles. The operator can thus control the shape of the receptacles moving along the track, possibly acting on the

means 32.

  In this way, instead of the bars 16 and 22 of the systems and 20 are, when they push a receptacle along the transport path 11, in the same vertical plane, orthogonal to the track 11, as shown on In Figure 1, the bars 16 may be slightly forward or backward of the corresponding bars 22. An example of operation of said means 32 will be described

later.

  The combination of such means 32 with the transmission 15

  involves a particular conception of these.

  For this, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, it can be seen that the drive member 14 can drive, via a pinion 33 mounted on its rotation shaft 34 and a transmission chain 35 cooperating with the pinion 33, a toothed wheel 36 mounted on an axis 37, parallel to the shaft 34 and connected to a housing 38 which is fixed to the structure of the machine. On this drive shaft 37 is also mounted externally to the housing 38, a toothed wheel 39 on which one of the chains 12 of the feed system 10 meshes. Of course, the axis 37, partially shown on

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  1, FIG. 3, is extended to carry, in the vicinity of its other end, not illustrated, a toothed wheel, similar to the wheel 39, on which the other chain 12 of the

advance system 10.

  Furthermore, on another axis 40, parallel to the axis 37 and connected to the casing 38, is mounted externally to the casing 38, a toothed wheel 41 free to rotate around the shaft 40 and

  with which the corresponding chain 12 cooperates again

  dante. The other end of this axis, not shown, carries a toothed wheel similar to the toothed wheel 41 and on which

the other chain engages 12.

  In addition, it can be seen, particularly with reference to FIG. 4, that the axis 40 is provided with a toothed wheel 43, for example, external to the casing in this embodiment, with which a chain 44 meshes, the part of which this cooperating with the wheel 43 is shown in Figure 2, while the other part of the chain 44, then cooperating with a gear wheel 45, is shown in Figure 5. The

  wheels 43 are rotatably connected to the axis 40.

  In FIGS. 5 and 6, the toothed wheel 45 is mounted, by means of bearings 46, on an axis 47. This latter is carried at its ends by two arms 48 which are also mounted about the axis 40 (FIG. Figures 1 and 2). In FIG. 6, the axis 47 and the arms 48 can slide in slots 50 formed in a support 51 disposed between the arms 48 and enclosing the toothed wheel 45. The bearings 46

  also carry a toothed wheel 52, coupled with the wheel 45.

  The rotation of the toothed wheel 52 causes, through the interme-

  of a chain 53, that of a toothed wheel 54, housed in the support 51 and mounted on a rotating axis 55.

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  1 moving the arms 48 carrying the axis 47 relative to the lights 50 formed in the support 51, can thus adjust the tension of the chain 53. The axis 55 is carried by the support 51 through bearings 56 and it is also linked to the frame 24 in which it opens. In this way, on the axis 55 is provided a toothed wheel 58 arranged in the

  frame 24 and on which the corresponding chain meshes

  21 of the auxiliary drive system 20. As shown in Figure 6, the axis 55 is partially shown but is extended to carry at its other end a toothed wheel, similar to the wheel 58, with which the other cooperates

  chain 21 of the drive system 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the means 32 for adjusting the lapse of the feed system 10 with respect to the auxiliary drive system 20 comprise a threaded rod 60, mounted at one end, around a ball 61, on the structure 18 of the machine, and on which can move, via a threaded ring 62, a

  articulated compass 63 pivotally mounted about the axis 40.

  It can be seen in particular in FIG. 4 that the compass 63 consists of two pairs of arms 63a and 63b, respectively, connected to each other by pins 64. The ring 62, placed between the two arms 63a, is connected to these arms. In this embodiment, the arms 63a of the compass are pivotally mounted, by means of bearings 66, on the axis 40. Furthermore, a pinion 67 is carried by an axis 68 connecting the arms. 63a, while a pinion 69 is carried by an axis 70 connecting the arms 63b. In addition, it is seen in particular in FIG. 4, that a toothed wheel 71 is mounted around the axis 40, being

disposed between the arms 63a.

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  As shown in Figure 2, around the gears 67,69 and the gear 71 meshes a chain 72 also wrapping around a gear wheel 73 mounted on the axis 37

and paired with the toothed wheel 36.

  Furthermore, other toothed wheels and rollers 74 are distributed in different places of the feed systems 10 and

  20 so that the chains 12 and 21 respectively

  ment of these systems are guided and

  is lying. Also, there is provided a spring 75 connecting around an axis 75a the arm 63a of the compass to the arm 63b about an axis b. The spring makes it possible to automatically tighten the chains 12 of the feed system, since the arms 63a and 63b

  of the compass 63 can pivot around the pins 64.

  In the schematic figure 11a, it can be seen that a receptacle 2B, coming from a delivery system 10 which will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, is driven by its bottom 4 along the

  transport path 11. Receptacle 2B has an inclination

  for example, forward, so that when the bars 16 and 22 respectively of the feed system 10 and the

  auxiliary drive system 20, both synchronized

  In this case, only the bar 16 comes into contact with the rear face 3a of the receptacle 25.

at a low level.

  The operator, perceiving this, acts on the means of

phase adjustment 32.

  Thus, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the rotation of the rod 60 causes, by means of the ring 62, the pivoting of the compass 63 with respect to the axis 40 thanks to the bearings 66. Simultaneously, the chain 72 , by the pinions 67, 69 and the toothed wheel 71, prints a movement to the toothed wheel 73 mounted on the axle 37 which transmits it to each wheel

  toothed 39 driving the corresponding chain 12.

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  The chains 12 will, in the case illustrated in FIG. 11b, advance along the arrow F in a limited manner, so that

  that the bars 16 connecting these will also move forward.

  The bar 16 shown in FIG. 11b advances to act on the rear face 3a of the receptacle which, under the action of the bar, recovers to occupy the position illustrated in the figure. So we see that there is a phase difference between

bars 16 and 22.

  This operation does not entail any modification on the chains 22 of the drive system 20 since they are driven by the toothed wheels 43 connected to the axis 40 whereas the toothed wheels 41, with which the

  chains 12, are mounted crazy on the axis 40.

  Since the faces of the belt of the receptacle 2B are again orthogonal to the raceway 11, the operator can act in the opposite direction on the means 32 and then move the chains 12 of the advance system 10 back by a relative movement. the arrow F1, so that the rear face 3a of the receptacle 2B is pushed by the transverse bars 16 and 22 (Figure 11C). During the progression of the receptacle 2B, the upper die flaps 6

  can be folded down by the mechanism 30.

  For this, the closure mechanism 30 of the upper end flaps 6 of the receptacles, associated with the frame 24, comprises, for example, two plates 80 converging in the direction of the moving direction D

  receptacles 2 along the transport path 11 and -

  fixed to the frame 24. As each receptacle 2 moves, the two plates act on the flaps 6 arranged parallel to the direction D, which flaps fold around their respective fold line.

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  The mechanism 30 also comprises a plate 81 connected to the frame 24 and inclined towards the direction of displacement D. The plate 81 acts on the front end flap 6 which extends the front face 3 of each receptacle, to be folded progressively around its fold line. Finally, the mechanism 30 comprises a set of articulated connecting rods 82 which makes it possible to fold, around its folding line, the rear end flap 6a extending the face.

rear 3a of each receptacle.

  In FIG. 1 illustrating the mechanism 30, the assembly 82 is represented, by continuous lines, in the raised position, and, by mixed lines, in the lowered position, for

which the flap 6a is folded.

  The operation of the assembly 82 of articulated links is synchronized with the movement of the auxiliary drive system 20. For this, as shown in Figures 1, 9 and 10, a pinion 83 is mounted on the drive shaft 55

  chains 21 and said pinion 83 is connected via

  chain end 78, to another pinion 84, mounted on an axis 85 to the frame 24. The end of a connecting rod 86 of the assembly 82 is fixed about an axis 87 to a lug 79 mounted on the 85. The tab 79 and the axis 85 form a crank, the axis 87, to which is connected the connecting rod 86, being

  eccentric parallel to the axis 85.

  The connecting rod 86 is connected at its other end to a lever 88 around an axis 89. The lever 88 can pivot about a fixed axis 90 linked to the frame 24. One end of another connecting rod 91 is connected by an axis 92 to the lever 88, while the other end of the connecting rod 91 is mounted around an axis 93, on an elbow member 94. It can pivot about a fixed axis 95 connected to the frame 24, as indicated by

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  1 two positions respectively in solid lines and in

  mixed lines illustrated in Figure 1.

  Thus, the upper end flaps 6 of each receptacle 2, pushed by its rear face 3a respectively by a bar 16 to the feed system 10 and by a bar 22 of the drive system 20, are folded progressively by the plates 80 and 81 and the member 94 to form the upper face 7 of the receptacle, opposite the bottom 4. The flaps can be previously glued to, once folded,

  to be united to each other.

  Furthermore, the machine 1 may comprise a delivery system 100 of said receptacles 2 to the track of

transport 11.

  The feed system 100, represented in particular by FIGS. 7 and 8, comprises a plurality of rollers 101 parallel to each other and orthogonal to the direction of displacement D. The receptacles, not shown on the FIG.

  Figures, rest by their bottom 4 on the rollers 101.

  In these figures 7 and 8 and in this embodiment, five of said rollers 101 are rotated by a belt 102 surrounding them and provided at each end of the rollers. The belts 102 can be moved by means of a chain transmission 103 cooperating with one of the toothed wheels driving the

  chains 12 of the feed system 10 (Figure 1).

  The arrangement of the belts 102 increases the adhesion of the receptacles on the rollers, distributes the pressure exerted by each receptacle on several rollers interconnected in rotation, and increases the rate of introduction of the receptacles to the track

transport 11 of the machine.

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  The five rollers are carried by a rocking support 104 that can occupy two distinct positions under the action of a jack 105, the support 104 being pivotally mounted around

  a fixed axis 106 linked to the system 100.

  In the position illustrated in Figure 7 and imposed by the cylinder 105, the rollers 101 are located above a fixed stop 107, so that the receptacles can pass to the transport path 11 of the machine and then being driven , one by one, by the bars 16 and 20 of the systems

in advance 10 and drive 20.

  In contrast, in the second position of the cylinder not shown, the rollers 101 are located below the stop since the support 104, under the action of the cylinder 105, has pivoted about the axis 106 downwards. In this way, the

  receptacle comes into contact with the stop 107.

  Actuation of the cylinder can be advantageously

  synchronized with the advance and drive systems.

  Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the machine 1 also has series of upper rollers 110 which act on the upper end flaps, then folded, to obtain at the machine output a receptacle whose face

  upper 7 has a clean and regular appearance.

  These rollers 110 are carried by arms 111 mounted, pivotally, about pins 112 fixed to the frame 24. In FIG. 9, there is shown a receptacle 2 whose upper face 7 is, at this moment, in contact with three last rollers 110, which press the flaps 6 against each other. In these figures, there is the chain transmission 78 synchronizing the auxiliary drive system 20 with the set of connecting rods 82 1 of the closure mechanism 30. Furthermore, there are provided series of rollers 115 pivoting about axes 116 connected to the frame 24. These rollers 115 act on the faces

  orthogonal to the front and back of the receptacles.

  Also, in FIG. 1, it can be seen that as the receptacles pass over the various series of rollers and 115, the bottom of these rolls on rollers 118 provided on the transport path 11. In this way, each receptacle 2 is, at this level of the machine, in contact with the rollers and rollers that allow formatting

  regular of each receptacle 2.

  Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, there is provided at the entrance of the machine and under the transport path 11, a mechanism 120 for pressing the bottom end flaps of the bottom 4 of each of the receptacles. This mechanism comprises a flat support 121 articulated to the structure of the machine and can occupy two positions

  separate under the action of a jack 122.

  The mechanism, shown in FIG. 1, is in a position for which the support does not act against the flaps forming the bottom 4. On the other hand, when the jack 122 is actuated, the support 121 pivots to come into contact with the bottom 4 and pressing the flaps constituting it, so as, on the one hand, to secure them to each other, in the case where they tend to peel off, and, on the other hand, to properly present the receptacles along

  on the elements constituting the transport route 11.

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Claims (10)

  1 - Machine for closing receptacles comprising side faces (3) forming a belt, a bottom (4), and upper end flaps (6) arranged in the extension of the lateral faces and intended to form the upper face said receptacles (2), said machine comprising: - an advance system (10) capable of causing the displacement, one by one, of said receptacles by their bottom along a transport path (11), said system comprising two side chains (12) disposed respectively on either side of said transport path (11) and capable of being moved by a motor member (14), being interconnected by bars (16), arranged transversely to the direction of movement of   receptacles (2) on said track (11) and spaced regularly   each of said bars being able to come into contact with the rear face (3a) of the belt of a receptacle for driving along said path; - a closing mechanism (30) of the end flaps (6) of said receptacles; and a synchronization mechanism connecting said feed system to the closing mechanism, so that during the movement of each receptacle pushed by one of the bars on the transport path, the closing mechanism acts on the end flaps the receptacle to fold them,   characterized in that it comprises a training system   auxiliary element (20) comprising two lateral chains (21) interconnected by bars (22) arranged transversely and regularly spaced from one another in a manner analogous to the bars of the feed system, 24 2636305   each of said bars (22) of the auxiliary drive system being capable of coming into contact with the rear face (3a) of a receptacle at a different level from the corresponding bar (16) of the feed system (10), and in that there is provided synchronization means (9) of the feed system (10) with the auxiliary drive system (20) so that two transverse bars, one of which belongs to the feed system and whose other   belongs to the auxiliary drive system, apply   against the rear face (3a) of the belt of one of said receptacles at two distinct levels for the   move along the transport path (11).   2 - Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary drive system (20) is located above and in correspondence with the feed system (10), the transverse bars (22) of the drive system being capable of coming into contact with the rear face (3a) of the receptacles (2) at a high level, close to the fold line of the corresponding end flap (6), while the transverse bars (16) of the advance (10) are capable of coming into contact with the rear face (3a) of the receptacles at one level.   low, close to the bottom (4) receptacles.   3 - Machine according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the synchronizing means (9) of said feed system with said auxiliary drive system comprises a single driving member (14) and a chain and gear transmission (15) connecting   said drive member to each system.   4 - Machine according to any one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that it comprises means (32) for adjusting the phase between the feed system (10) and the   auxiliary drive system (20). 2636305   - Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said means (32) for adjusting   of the phase act on said feed system (10).   6 - Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said means (32) for adjusting the phase comprise a controllable threadable rod (60) capable of acting, via a compass (63) pivoting around one (40) of the transmission shafts (15) and intermediate gears (67, 69, 71 and 73) driven by a chain (72) on said transmission (15) so as to impart relative movement to the chains (12) of said feed system while not causing in this movement the links (21) of said auxiliary drive system (20).   7 - Machine according to any one of the claims   previous 1 to 6, characterized in that the feed system (10) and the auxiliary drive system (20) are displaceable relative to one another via control means (26), so that the distance between the bars of each system, when they lead to a receptacle, be adjustable.   8 - Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the control means (26) act   on the auxiliary drive system (20).   9 - Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said control means (26) comprise a motor (27) driving a screw-nut system (28) which is connected to a frame (24) carrying the system auxiliary drive (20). 26363305   1 10 - Machine according to any one of the claims   previous 1 to 9, characterized in that said closing mechanism (30) of the upper end flaps (6) of said receptacles (2) is associated with the auxiliary drive system (20). 11 - Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said closure mechanism (30) comprises two plates (80) converging in the direction of movement of the receptacles and orthogonal to the transport path (11), allowing fold the end flaps of the sides of the receptacle parallel to the direction of movement, a plate (81) inclined in the direction of travel direction and for folding the end flap of the front face of the receptacle, orthogonal to the displacement direction, and a set (82) of controllable articulated rods for folding the end flap (6a) of the rear face (3a) of said receptacle. 12 - Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the assembly (82) of articulated rods is mounted at one end on an axis (87) connected in parallel and eccentric manner, to an axis (85) of a toothed wheel (84), which is driven and synchronized with the chain and gear transmission (15) displacing said auxiliary drive system (20), and is provided at its other end with a member (94) capable of to act on the upper end flap (6a) extending the face   rear (3a) of each receptacle to fold it.   13 - Machine according to any one of the claims   previous 1 to 12, of the type comprising a delivery system (100) of said receptacles (2) to the transport path (11), characterized in that said delivery system (100) comprises a plurality of rollers (101) parallel to each other and 27 2636305   1 orthogonal to the direction of movement of the receptacles on the transport path, said rollers being driven   in motion by at least one belt (102) surrounding them.   14 - Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that said rollers (101) are carried by a tilting support (104) which can occupy two distinct positions under the action of a power member (105), said support (104) being articulated about a fixed axis (106) so that when the power member (105) is inactive, said rollers (101) are at a lower level of a stop (107), preventing transfer of the receptacles (2) to the transport path (11), and, when the power member is active, said rollers are at a level higher than that of the stop (107), allowing the transfer of the receptacles to the transport path.