FR2696127A1 - Fabrication of cardboard dividers for stacks of food - using programmable controller to determine size and format of cardboard divider and operate fastening machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The dividers are fabricated to variable formats in a machine that transports (1) the sheets of cardboard to a cutting and folding area (2), then removes (3) them. The cutting and folding area has a shaping well (20) with a wall (21) mobile in translation, driven by two motorised screws (22) that also position the machine (27) that fastens the walls of the divider. This machine is controlled by a programmable controller set by the user to produce the required format from various stored formats. ADVANTAGE - Rapid modification of format of folded divider used to separate layers of food products stacked on a pallet.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for making cardboard trays which can be used in particular for packaging products on pallets, said device being particularly suitable for making trays of different formats.

 Some consumer products, especially food, are, after manufacture, packaged on pallets. According to their dimensions, these products are distributed on several levels on the pallet, and in order to facilitate palletizing the products of the same level are placed in a tray made of a sheet of cardboard, the bards of which are raised and secured to each other by gluing, snap-fastening, a tray returned to 1800 that can act as a cover.

 Depending on the nature of the products and their destination, the trays are of different formats, two sizes of tray being most frequently used, one with the dimensions of a standard pallet, and the other corresponding to half, in the direction of the length of said standard pallet.

 Devices are known which allow the high-speed production of these trays from a pre-cut and pre-folded sheet of cardboard, by using means for folding the edges of said cardboard sheet, means for securing said edges together. , and transfer means.

 However, these devices have a drawback, namely that during the manufacture of trays the passage from one format to another requires intervention, mechanical or manual, which is detrimental to the manufacturing yield.

 The present invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a device allowing the passage from one format to another without substantially mossing the production rate.

 The device which is the subject of the present invention comprises a succession of means managed by a programmable automaton which, when the format is changed, and more particularly when one passes from a pallet to a half-pallet, and conversely, controls the technical modifications to be made to said means without outside intervention.

 The device according to the invention comprises, in a manner known per se, a means of supplying cardboard blanks on a lifting table; centering means; means for unstacking and transferring said blanks such as suction cups mounted on a carriage movable in horizontal translation and themselves movable in vertical translation under the action of a jack secured to said carriage, a means of positioning each cutout above a formation cavity, by suction, of the tray; means for securing together the edges of the tray, for example by gluing or stapling, a means of evacuating the finished tray, and a means for operating its inversion in order to form a cover, controlled by electronic system allowing programming on demand.

 The supply and transfer means comprising centering means and stops, the transition from the manufacture of a tray to that of a half-tray, and vice versa, requires adaptation only at the level of shaping. the tray and the joining of its edges.

 To this end, in accordance with the invention, a wall of the cavity allowing shaping by suction is moved automatically under the action of motorized endless screws, as well as two of the four sets of sLf pressing or stapling, depending on the mode of attachment chosen.

 The advantages and characteristics of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

In the attached drawing
- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a device of a tray according to the invention
- Figure 2 shows a plan view of the same device.

 For the purpose of simplification, the description which follows will state only two different formats, it being understood that others can be produced using the device according to the invention.

 If one refers to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the device according to the invention comprises several working sectors, a sector 1 for transferring sheets of cardboard, a sector 2 for forming trays and a sector 3 for discharging trays and possibly turning them over to make lids.

 Sector 1 includes a lifting table II carrying a tray 12 on which are stacked cardboard sheets 13, shown in dotted lines for large formats and in solid lines for small ones. It further comprises a system for unstacking and transferring the cardboard sheets 13 consisting of a carriage 14 movable in translation in a horizontal plane, guided by a rail 17 and set in motion using belts 18, to which is secured. by means of a jack 16 a frame 161 carrying eight suction cups 15, the jack 16 allowing a vertical translation of the frame 16 ′, therefore of the suction cups 15.

 Sector 2 comprises a formation well 20, the wall 21 of which is movable in horizontal translation on two motorized endless screws 22, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1, and a set of suction cups 23 secured to a jack 24 d 'vertical axis at the base of which is secured the end of the rod of a cylinder 25 of the same vertical axis. The conveyor belts 26 'of a conveyor 26 are stretched longitudinally on either side of the jack 24. The endless screws 22 also allow the displacement of pressers, not shown, and of two pressing counterparts 27', two other counterparts pressing 27 being fixed.

 Sector 3 comprises a conveyor 30 placed in the extension of the conveyor 26 and a turning device 31 mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis 32.

 The production of a tray takes place according to the following sequence: the lifting table 11 rises so as to position the upper cardboard sheet 13 at a certain level, the frame 16 ′ under the action of the jack 16 descends and the suction cups 15 take over the sheet 13, which and the carriage 14 brings above the training well 20, fixed glue guns 28 positioned in front of the training well 20 above the horizontal plane in which the sheet 13 passes, depositing glue on its edges during this movement, then under the action of the jack 24 the suction cups 23 take care of the sheet 13 underneath and pass it through the forming well 20, where the edges of the sheet 13 are folded and joined together by the pressers and the pressing counterparts 27 and 27 '.

 The tray thus formed is then brought to a lower level under the action of the jack 25 and deposited on the conveyor belts 26l of the conveyor 26, which translates it towards the conveyor 30, which discharges it after it has been, if not , returned by the turning device 31.

 The change from one tray format to another takes place quickly and automatically, the necessary adaptation being made on the one hand at the elevating table 11, the stack of sheets 13 being brought into abutment, on the other hand at the level of gluing, the application of glue being adapted, and on the other hand at the level of the formation of the tray, the wall 21 and the counterparts 27 'being brought into the appropriate position by the endless screws 22.

Claims (2)

1) Device for manufacturing cardboard trays of variable formats which can be used in particular for packaging products on pallets, particularly food products, comprising means (1) for transferring cardboard sheets (13), means (2) for forming trays and means (3) for evacuating and turning over said trays, characterized in that the means (2) for forming the trays comprise a forming well (20) of which a wall (21) is movable in horizontal translation over two motorized endless screws (22) which further allow the movement of the means (27, 27 ') for securing the edges of the trays, the movement of said wall (21) and said securing means (27, 27') being controlled by a programmable controller according to the formats required for the trays. 2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the formation well (20) comprises a set of suction cups (23) secured to a jack (24) with a vertical axis at the base of which the end of the rod of a jack (25) with the same vertical axis, conveyor belts (26 ') of a conveyor (26) being stretched longitudinally on either side of the jack (24) so as to receive for its evacuation the tray formed from a sheet (13) supported beneath by the set of suction cups (23).