FR2704178A1 - Method for manufacturing cases with lateral gussets and installation for implementing it - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the manufacture of cases (E) with lateral gussets (3, 4), which are produced from a sheath (16) and include, at one end, a closure flap (5) with an adhesive part (8), whilst the other end is closed by a transverse weld (12) and is provided, optionally, with a hanging hook (9). The initial sheath (16) is cut into portions (1) of specific length and one end of each portion of the sheath is cut obliquely (at 6, 7) at its two corners, so as to produce two flaps. One of the two flaps is removed by cutting transversely and the remaining flap is made adhesive on one face, in order to constitute the closure flap (5). Application to the production of packages for textile products.

Description

"Method for manufacturing lateral bellows cases, and
installation for its implementation "
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing lateral bellows cases, produced from a sheath and comprising, at one end, an adhesive closure flap or with an adhesive part, the end opposite to the closure flap being closed from permanently and optionally provided with a hanging hook. The invention also relates to an installation for the industrial implementation of this process.

 Cases of the type concerned, produced from a sheath made of flexible synthetic material, preferably transparent, are known in particular for constituting packaging for textile products, such as clothing articles or bedding articles.

The side bellows make it possible to give the packaging a certain thickness, including on its edges, to receive the articles concerned. The closing flap with adhesive part makes it possible to open the packaging and to close it at one of its ends. When it is present, the hook allows the case to be suspended from a suitable display, at points of sale.

 In the industrial manufacture of this type of case, each case is produced from a section of sheath, of determined length. The technical difficulty encountered here consists in providing only one of the two main faces of the case, at one end, with a closure flap itself provided with an adhesive part, this flap having cut angles. Up to now, this difficulty has been resolved by making the closure flap as an added piece, in the form of a tab to be welded to the rest of the case, which complicates and makes the manufacture of the case more expensive.

 The present invention aims to simplify the manufacture of cases of the type under consideration, and to make this manufacture more economical, by providing an improved process making it possible to form the closure flap, with its cut angles, in one piece with the rest of the 'case.

To this end, in the process according to the invention for manufacturing lateral bellows cases of the kind specified above,
- the initial sheath, with two lateral bellows, is cut into sections of determined length,
each sheath section is closed, near a first end, by a transverse weld,
- at its opposite end, the sheath section is cut obliquely at its two angles so as to release two flaps initially located in coincidence,
- one of the two flaps is eliminated by a cut made transversely,
- The remaining flap is made adhesive, on one side, in particular by depositing an adhesive element.

 Thus, the closure flap is produced in the same material of the sheath, and no longer by an insert. It will be noted that, given the presence of the two lateral bellows, the oblique cuts are essential in order to be able to produce the two flaps, only one of which remains on the completed case.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the two flaps released at one end of the sheath section are spaced from one another, by a relative pivoting, to allow easy separation of one flaps by a cross section, before depositing the adhesive element on the other flap becoming the closure flap.

 According to another aspect of the method according to the invention, in the case of the manufacture of a case with hanging hook, the transverse welding is carried out at a certain distance from the first end of the sheath section, so as to form two lips at this end, and the two lips are spaced from one another so as to receive between them the base of the suspension hook, after which these two lips are welded on either side of the base of the hook .

The operation of fitting the hanging hook is possible simultaneously with the operation of forming the closure flap and of depositing the adhesive element on this closure flap, since these operations are carried out at two distinct ends of the case. during manufacture.

 Overall, the invention thus provides a rational manufacturing process for cases of the kind concerned, allowing production of these cases economically, at a high rate. The method according to the invention can be implemented in a fully automated installation.

More particularly, the present invention provides an installation for manufacturing lateral bellows cases, implementing the method defined above, which essentially comprises, in combination
means for feeding the sheath with lateral bellows and for cutting this sheath,
- transverse welding means, for closing each section of sheath, near its first end,
- cutting means, provided for the oblique cut of the two angles of the sheath section, at its opposite end,
- transverse cutting means, for the elimination of one of the two flaps released by the cutting of the angles,
- Adhesive means for the remaining flap, on one of its faces.

 According to a particular embodiment, the installation consists of three successive work stations, comprising a first station for receiving the sheath sections and for changing the axis of movement of these sheath sections, a second station comprising the means for transverse welding for the closure of each sheath section and the means making the oblique cut of two angles of this sheath section, and a third station comprising the transverse cutting means eliminating one of the flaps and the adhesive means of the flap remaining, transfer means being provided for moving the cases during manufacture, from one station to the next, and for removing the finished cases from the last station.

 In the case of the manufacture of cases with suspension hook, the invention also comprises means for fitting the suspension hook on each section of sheath, means which, in the case of the previously defined configuration, are provided in the third station. of work.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, the means of transverse cutting eliminating one of the two flaps and the means of adhesiveizing the remaining flap comprise a combined block of transverse cutting and depositing of an adhesive, movable in transverse direction, making it possible to carry out the two operations in question simultaneously. To approach this block, and to be sure to cut only one of the flaps, it is advisable to separate the two flaps from one another. For this purpose, there is also advantageously provided a suction plate, pivotally mounted, which is able to entrain with it the non-eliminated flap becoming the closing flap, the combined block of cross section and removal of the adhesive being movable in front of this activated suction plate.

 In the case of an installation further comprising means for fitting a suspension hook, these means advantageously comprise, on either side of the plane occupied by the case during manufacture, towards one end of the latter , suction means such as series of suction cups, and transverse welding means, while a drawer is mounted movable longitudinally, substantially in the plane occupied by the case, to introduce the base of a hook suspension between the two lips separated by the aforementioned suction means, before welding of these lips on either side of the base of the hook by said transverse welding means.

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing illustrating, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of this process for manufacturing cases with side bellows, and representing an installation for the implementation of this process
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a side bellows case, with suspension hook ion, achievable by the method according to the present invention
Figure 2 is an overall view, in plan from above, of the installation for the implementation of this process, with its three workstations
Figure 3 is a front view of the case transfer device, during manufacture, between the different stations of the installation visible in Figure 2
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, along IV-IV of Figure 5, of the first station of this installation
Figure 5 is a plan view from above of this first station
Figure 6 is a plan view from above of the second station of the installation;
Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of this second station, along VII-VII of Figure 6
Figures 8 to 12 are side views of the third station of the installation, illustrating the successive stages of its operating cycle
Figure 13 is an end view of this third station, along arrow XIII of Figure 11
Figure 14 is a partial plan view from above of this third station, illustrating the hook insertion operation.

 As shown in Figure 1, the invention is concerned with the manufacture of a case, designated as a whole by the reference E, the main part of which is a section of sheath 1 made of a sheet of flexible synthetic material, preferably transparent , such as polypropylene or PVC. The sheath is itself obtained from an initially flat sheet, closed on itself, the edges of which are welded together according to a longitudinal weld line 2. Two lateral bellows 3 and 4 are formed, by means of conformers along the two longitudinal sides of the duct section 1.

 At one end, the case E is initially open and has a closing flap 5, made in one piece with one of the large faces of the sheath section 1 and extending the latter. The flap 5 has two cut corners 6 and 7, and it carries a section of adhesive tape 8 on its face intended to be applied against the section of sheath 1. It is preferably a "double-sided" adhesive, initially coated with a protective film.

 At its end opposite to the closing flap 5, the case E is provided with a hanging hook 9, also made of polypropylene or PVC, composed of a hook proper 10 and a base in the form of a bar 11 , of length slightly less than the width of the case. The bar 11 is introduced and welded between the two opposite faces of the sheath section 1, at the end considered. In addition, at this end, the case is closed permanently by a transverse weld 12.

The installation for the production of such cases
E, shown very diagrammatically in FIG. 2, comprises three work stations 13, 14 and 15, arranged in line.

 The first station 13, which is simply a station for receiving and changing the axis of movement, receives the sheath 16 produced with its two lateral bellows 3 and 4, brought in a direction indicated by an arrow F perpendicular to the line formed by the three stations 13, 14 and 15. The machine for manufacturing the sheath 16, and for shaping the latter, is known and will not be described here in detail.

 As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer of the cases during manufacture, from the first station 13 to the second station 14, from the second station 14 to the third station 15, and from the third station 15 to an evacuation conveyor not shown, is provided by a device comprising three pairs of pivoting clamps 17, 18 and 19, mounted under a common support rail 20, animated by a horizontal reciprocating movement according to an arrow 21 and by an ascending movement and-drop along an arrow 22, movements which are for example controlled by means of respective jacks 23 and 24. The two clamps 17, 18 and 19 of each pair grip the sheath section 1 belonging to a case during manufacture, by its opposite longitudinal edges, in the region of the lateral bellows 3 and 4.

 The detail of the first station 13 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The sheath 16 arrives at this station 13 passing between two superimposed drive rollers 25 and 26, then between a cutting blade 27 and a counter blade 28. Thus , the sheath 16 is cut into successive sections 1, of determined length corresponding to the dimensions of the cases to be manufactured.

 The sheath section 1, cut to the desired length, falls on a horizontal plate 29 of the station 13, where it is moved by two drive fingers 30 in the direction of an adjustable stop 31. The plate 29 has two longitudinal slots 32 allowing the passage of the drive fingers 30, themselves actuated by means of a horizontal cylinder 33 disposed under this plate 29. The sheath section 1 is thus pushed, by one end, always in the direction of arrival of the sheath 16 (arrow F), until its opposite end meets the stop 31.

 The support rail 20 of the transfer device is then lowered, the first pair of pliers 17 closes on the bellows edges of the sheath section 1, and the support rail 20 is moved horizontally towards the second station 14, while a new sheath section 1 arrives at the first station 13.

 The second station 14, more particularly visible in Figures 6 and 7, is provided on the one hand to form the cut angles 6 and 7 of the closure flap 5, and on the other hand to realize, at the opposite end of the case during manufacture, the transverse weld 12 for closing this case.

 The angles 6 and 7 are cut by means of two movable cutting blades 34 and 35, arranged obliquely and vertically movable by means of respective jacks 36, each blade cooperating with a fixed counter blade 37. It will be noted that this cutting of angles are made over the entire thickness of the sheath section 1, and thus releases two flaps, only one of which will ultimately be retained.

 The transverse weld 12 is produced, a short distance from the end edge of the sheath section 1, by means of a mobile welding electrode 38, cooperating with a fixed counter electrode 39. The mobile electrode 38 is actuated by means of a jack 40.

The second pair of pliers 18 of the transfer device then takes up the case during manufacture, to bring it to the third station 15, where the following operations are carried out
- deletion of the unnecessary flap;
- removal of the adhesive 8 on the closing flap 5
- fitting the hanging hook 9.

 To this end, the third station 15 includes a clamp, with a fixed upper cheek 41 and a lower plate 42 pivoting about a horizontal axis 43 and suction - see Figures 8 and following. Opposite the suction plate 42 is mounted a combined movable block 44 for cutting and depositing the adhesive 8, also visible in FIG. 13, the block 44 being movable horizontally, parallel to the suction plate 42.

 The suction plate 42 initially occupies a vertical rest position (Figure 8). The case during manufacture is engaged between the fixed jaw 41 and the suction plate 42, only the two flaps protruding in front of these elements. The upper flap 45 is to be eliminated, while the lower flap, which is kept, is intended to constitute the closing flap 5.

 The suction plate 42 then describes a pivoting movement of approximately 90, around the axis 43, which brings it under the lower flap 5. The depression induced in the plate 42 applies the flap 5 against this plate (FIG. 9) .

 Then, the suction plate 42 is brought back to the vertical position, the vacuum being maintained so that the flap 5 is driven by this plate 42 and brought into a substantially vertical plane, thus being spaced from the upper flap 45 (FIG. 10) .

 The block 44 is then approached the suction plate 42, then it is moved horizontally, parallel to this plate 42, so that its cutting blade 46 comes to separate the upper flap 5 from the rest of the case (Figure 11).

 Simultaneously, during the horizontal movement of the block 44, the adhesive tape 8 unwinding from a roller 47, and passing over a deflection roller 48, is driven and is deposited and glued on the flap 5 applied against the suction plate 42 (Figures 11 and 13).

 At the end of movement of the block 44, the upper flap 45 cut, constituting a waste to be eliminated, is blown and arrives in a collecting tank, while the adhesive tape 8 is cut to form an adhesive element of length adapted to that of the flap closing 5. At the end of the cycle, the block 44 is again moved away from the suction plate 42, and the vacuum in this plate is removed so as to release the closing flap 5 (FIG. 12).

 Simultaneously, the suspension hook 9 is placed at the end of the case opposite the closure flap 5. For this purpose, the third station 15 comprises a series of upper movable suction cups 49, a series of lower movable suction cups 50, a upper mobile welding electrode 51 and a lower mobile welding counter electrode 52. In addition, a magazine 53 contains a stack of hooks 9 on standby, and a drawer 54 is provided under the magazine 53 for the introduction of the hook 9. The series of suction cups 49 and 50 are pivotally mounted around horizontal axes, so that they can be moved towards or away from each other; the same is true for the electrode 51 and the welding counter electrode 52.

Finally, the drawer 54 can be moved in translation, in a longitudinal reciprocating movement, by means of a jack 55 - see FIGS. 8 to 12 and 14.

 In the rest position, the two series of suction cups 49 and 50 and the welding electrodes 51 and 52 are separated from the case during manufacture (FIG. 8).

 A pivoting of the two series of suction cups 49 and 50 brings them against the end of the sheath section 1, in front of the transverse weld 12 (FIG. 9). Then, the suction cups 49 and 50 are activated, and separated from one another, so as to separate the two lips from the end of the sheath section 1 (FIG. 10).

 The suction cups 49 and 50 now keep these two lips apart, the drawer 54 is actuated by the jack 55 and it introduces between the two aforementioned lips the bar 11 of the hook 9 located at the base of the magazine 53 (Figures 11 and 14).

 The suction cups 49 and 50 then release the sheath section 1, and the two welding electrodes 51 and 52 are brought closer to one another and weld the two aforementioned lips, belonging to the sheath section 1, on both sides and d 'other of the bar 11 of the hook 9 (Figure 12).

 The case being thus entirely made, the two welding electrodes 51 and 52 are spaced from one another, and the completed case E is taken up by the third pair of pliers 19 of the transfer device, to be deposited on the evacuation conveyor (not shown).

 The following case undergoes the same series of operations, and so on ...

 It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the single mode of implementation of this process for manufacturing cases which has been described above, by way of example; on the contrary, it embraces all variants of implementation and application respecting the same principle. Thus, in particular, that certain operations described above as being simultaneous can be carried out successively, or vice versa, and that the same process is also applicable to cases with lateral bellows but without hook, in which case the last operations previously described, and the corresponding parts 49 to 55 of the installation, are simply deleted or unused. Finally, the various parts of the installation for implementing the method can be replaced by any equivalent, and in particular the jacks can be replaced by any mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical actuation means, without any departs from the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

 1. Method for manufacturing cases (E) with lateral bellows (3,4), produced from a sheath (16) and comprising, at one end, an adhesive closing flap (5) or with an adhesive part ( 8), the end opposite to the closing flap (5) being permanently closed and optionally provided with a hanging hook (9), characterized in that it stinks  the initial sheath (16), with two lateral bellows (3,4), is cut into sections (1) of determined length,  each sheath section (1) is closed, near a first end, by a transverse weld (12),  - at its opposite end, the sheath section (1) is cut obliquely at its two angles (6,7) so as to release two flaps (5,45) initially located in coincidence,  one of the two flaps (45) is eliminated by a cut made transversely,  - The remaining flap (5) is made adhesive, on one side, in particular by depositing an adhesive element (8).  2. A method of manufacturing lateral bellows cases according to claim 1, characterized in that the two flaps (5,45) released at one end of the sheath section (1) are separated from one another by a relative pivoting, to allow the separation of one of the flaps (45) by a cross section, before the removal of the adhesive element (8) on the other flap becoming the closure flap (5).  3. Method of manufacturing lateral bellows cases with hanging hook (9), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transverse weld (12) is produced at a certain distance from the first end of the sheath section (1), so as to form two lips at this end, and in that the two lips are spaced from one another so as to receive between them the base (11) of the suspension hook (9), after which these two lips are welded on either side of the base (11) of the hook (9).  4. A method of manufacturing lateral bellows cases with hanging hook according to claim 3, characterized in that the operation of fitting the hanging hook t9) is carried out simultaneously with the operation of forming the closing flap (5 ) and depositing the adhesive element (8) on this closing flap (5).  5. Installation for manufacturing cases (E) with lateral bellows (3,4), for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises, in combination  means for feeding (25,26) the sheath (16) with lateral bellows (3,4) and for cutting off (27,28) this sheath (16),  - transverse welding means (38, 39, 40) for closing each sheath section (1), near its first end,  - cutting means (34,35,36,37) provided for the oblique cut of the two angles (6,7) of the sheath section (1), at its opposite end,  - transverse cutting means (44,46), for the elimination of one of the two flaps (45) released by the cutting of the angles (6,7),  - Adhesive means (44,47,48) of the remaining flap (5), on one of its faces.  6. Installation for manufacturing lateral bellows cases according to claim 5, characterized in that it consists of three successive workstations (13,14,15), comprising a first station (13) for receiving the sections of sheath (1) and change of axis of movement of these sheath sections (1), a second station (14) comprising the transverse welding means (38,39,40) for the closure of each sheath section (1 ) and the means (34,35,36,37) making the oblique cut of the two angles (6,7) of this section of sheath (1), and a third station (15) comprising the transverse cutting means (44, 46) eliminating one of the flaps (45) and the adhesive means (44,47,48) of the remaining flap (5), transfer means (17 to 24) being provided for moving the cases during manufacturing, from one station (13,14) to the next (14,15), and for the evacuation of the finished cases (E) from the last station (15).  7. Installation for manufacturing lateral bellows cases according to claim 6, characterized in that the three stations (13,14,15) are arranged in line, and in that the aforementioned transfer means comprise three pairs of pivoting clamps (17,18,19) mounted under a common support rail (20), animated by a horizontal reciprocating movement (arrow 21) and a rising and falling movement (arrow 22), the two clamps ( 17,18,19) of each pair being provided to grip the sheath section (1) by its opposite longitudinal edges in the region of the side bellows (3,4).  8. Installation for manufacturing lateral bellows cases according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the cross-cutting means eliminating one of the two flaps (45) and the means of adhesiveizing the remaining flap (5) comprise a combined block (44,46) of cross section and deposit of an adhesive (8), movable in transverse direction.  9. Installation for manufacturing lateral bellows cases according to claim 8, characterized in that there is provided a suction plate (42), pivotally mounted (at 43), which is capable of driving with it the non-eliminated flap becoming the closing flap (5), the combined block (44,46) of cross section and deposit of the adhesive (8) being movable in front of this activated suction plate (42).  10. Installation for manufacturing lateral bellows cases with suspension hook according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it also comprises means for fitting (49 to 55) the suspension hook (9) on each sheath section (1), these means being in particular provided at the third work station (15).  11. Installation for manufacturing lateral bellows cases with suspension hook ion according to claim 10, characterized in that the means for fitting the suspension hook (9) comprise, on either side of the plane occupied by the case during manufacture, towards one end thereof, suction means such as series of suction cups (49.50), and transverse welding means (51.52), while a drawer (54 ) is mounted movable longitudinally, substantially in the plane occupied by the case, to introduce the base (11) of a suspension hook (9) between the two lips separated by the aforementioned suction means (49, 50) , before welding of these lips on either side of the base (11) of the hook (9) by said transverse welding means (51,52).