FR2723338A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BOX FROM A BLANK - Google Patents

Abstract

It is a method and a device (1) for producing a box (2) from a blank (3) of sheet material comprising means (8, 9, 10, 12 , 13) for storing several blanks in a stack, means (14, 15, 21) for gripping and moving one by one of said blanks towards a mandrel (16) for pre-folding said blanks, said pre-folding mandrel (16), arranged on the outlet of the means (10) for storing said blanks and associated with pre-folding means (33), means (23, 25) for transferring the blank thus pre-folded from the pre-folding mandrel to a definitive folding mandrel (24), means (42) for gluing the blank, and said mandrel (24) for final folding comprising a lower face. The device comprises means (38) for plating the intermediate flap of the blank on the underside (65) of the final folding mandrel.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A

BOX FROM A BLANK

  The present invention relates to a device for producing a box from a blank of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular flaps connected to each other by first fold lines parallel to each other, comprising an intermediate flap , and a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side of said series of flaps, connected thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, the device being of the type comprising means for storing blanks in stacks, a pre-folding mandrel disposed on the outlet of the storage means, sizing means and means for transferring the blank

  thus pre-folded towards a final folding mandrel.

  The invention also relates to a method for producing a cash register, in particular using a

  device of the type defined above.

  It finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of packaging objects or groups of objects which are introduced from above into the preformed packaging, the packaging being closed later, for example by an attached cover. We already know (DE- 4209191 - A1) a device

of the type defined above.

  This device has drawbacks.

  In particular, the transfer of the pre-wound blank around the mandrel involves risks of rearing and deformation of the blank. Plus the precision

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  size depends on the tightening on the mandrel, and the folding of the flaps used does not make it possible to obtain. a body that is perfectly squared repeatedly. The present invention aims to provide a method and a device of the type defined above, better meeting those previously known to the requirements of practice, in particular in that it makes it possible to produce a perfectly squared box, with strong

  cadence, and this is easy to implement.

  To this end, the invention essentially proposes a device for producing a box from a blank of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular flaps connected to each other by first fold lines parallel to each other, comprising an intermediate flap, and a first set of lateral flaps arranged

  on one side of said series of shutters, connected to it

  ci by second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, said device comprising: - means for storing several blanks in stack, - means for gripping and moving a by one of said blanks to a pre-folding mandrel of said blanks, - said pre-folding mandrel, disposed on the outlet of the storage means of said blanks and associated with pre-folding means, - means for transferring the blank thus pre-folded from the pre-folding mandrel to a definitive folding mandrel, means for gluing the blank, - and said definitive folding mandrel comprising a lower face,

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  characterized in that the device comprises means for plating the intermediate flap of the blank on

  the underside of the final folding mandrel.

  In advantageous embodiments, recourse is had to one and / or the other of the following arrangements: - the plating means are constituted by sections, blades or the like arranged to progressively compress the flap in an elastic manner intermediate of the blank against the underside of the final folding mandrel during transfer; the plating means comprise means for supporting the intermediate flap at a distance from the folding mandrel and means arranged to progressively bring closer and to press said intermediate flap on the underside of the final folding mandrel; - The support means are constituted by a movable plate; - The pre-folding mandrel is of section having a shape different from that of the definitive folding mandrel; - The pre-folding mandrel has a rectangular section and the final folding mandrel has an octagonal section; - The means for gripping and moving said blanks towards the pre-folding mandrel comprise lateral arms for gripping by suction cup of the blank, located outside and pivoting on either side of the pre-folding mandrel, and means for taking up by suction cup of said blank through said pre-folding mandrel, said suction recovery means being associated with means for moving the pre-folded blank, from the pre-folding mandrel to the folding mandrel;

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  - The device comprises, at the level of the final folding mandrel, means for intermediate folding of the bottom flaps before pressurizing on the one hand flaps intended to form the side walls, and on the other hand flaps intended to form said bottom ; - The device includes a synchronous system for plating the bottom on the final folding mandrel; - The pre-folding mandrel is arranged directly above the outlet of the blank storage means; the folding mandrel is of different cross section between a first pre-folding position and a

  second box forming position.

  The invention also provides a method for producing a box from a blank of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular flaps connected to each other by first fold lines parallel to each other, comprising a flap intermediate, and a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side of said series of flaps, connected thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, process in which: - several blanks are stored in a stack, - one takes and moves said blanks one by one towards a pre-folding mandrel of said displaced blank, - one pre-folds said blank, - one transfers the blank thus pre-folded from pre-folding mandrel to a definitive folding mandrel, - the blank is glued during the transfer, - and the blank is wound around said definitive folding mandrel comprising a lower face,

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  characterized in that, during the winding of said blank around the mandrel, the intermediate flap of the blank is pressed onto the underside of the

final folding mandrel.

  Advantageously, the method is characterized in that, in order to press said blank, the intermediate flap of the blank is progressively compressed elastically against the underside of the

  final folding mandrel during transfer.

  In another advantageous embodiment, the method is characterized in that, to press the intermediate flap at the folding mandrel, said intermediate flap is progressively brought closer to the underside of the final folding s15 mandrel against which it comes entirely in support at the end of the tackle, via

of a movable plate.

  The invention will be better understood on reading an embodiment of the invention given below in

by way of nonlimiting example.

  The description refers to the drawings which

  accompany it in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view in elevation of an embodiment of the device

according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a schematic partial side view of the device of Figure 1 after displacement and formation of the box around the

final folding mandrel.

  Figure 3 is a sectional view along III-III of Figure 1 showing more particularly the mandrel

pre-folding.

  Figures 4 to 10 show schematically in cross section, at the level of the final folding mandrel, the formation of the box produced according to

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  the embodiment of the invention more

particularly described here.

  Figures 1 and 2 schematically show a device 1 for the production of a box 2 from a blank 3 (in phantom in Figure 1) of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular flaps 4 connected to each other by first fold lines 5 parallel to each other, comprising an intermediate flap, and a first set of lateral flaps 6 arranged on one side of the series of flaps, connected to the latter by second fold lines 7 and intended to train in

  at least partially the bottom of the box.

  The device 1 comprises a magazine 8 for supplying horizontal blanks or flat blanks comprising a forklift 9 of the stack 10 of blanks, kept at constant level during unstacking. Means 17 for positioning and

  precise setting of the blanks in x-y are provided.

  At the end of each stack, it is replaced by a next stack 12, waiting on rollers 13, and suitable for being pushed on the forklift

which came down for this purpose.

  With the device more particularly described here, the unstacking is done directly above the stack 10 thanks to six or eight gripping suction cups, namely on the one hand two suction cups 14, respectively secured to two lateral arms 15, arranged on either side of the pre-folding mandrel 16 and arranged to take a first position 17, for gripping by suction of the cutout from above 18, a second position 19, for leveling the cutout horizontally substantially under said mandrel, and a third position 20 for raising the arms upwards, for example using a

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  series 21 of pneumatic or electric articulated cylinders, and on the other hand one or two series of two articulated suction cups 22, for resumption of cutting, arranged through the mandrel 16, axially with respect thereto and integral with the carriage 23 of transfer of the pre-folded blank, over at least part of the path, to the mandrel 24 for final folding (see

figure 2).

  The carriage 23, integral with the suction cups 22 is for example actuated by an articulated assembly 25 comprising an arm 26 actuated by a rod 27, the arm being mounted so as to pivot about a transverse horizontal axis 28 fixed at one of its ends. The arm 26 comprises at its other end an articulated rod 29, one end of which is pivotally mounted on the said other end of the arm 26 and the other end 30 is on the one hand guided horizontally by a horizontal guide rail disposed parallel to the mandrels, and on the other hand movable in rotation relative to a part 31 integral with the carriage 23, said part being provided with a pawl 32 arranged to come into contact with the rear part

blank 3.

  Means 33 for pre-folding or at least partially winding the blank on the mandrel 16 are provided, comprising arms 34, suitable for compressing vertically on the mandrel 16 the two longitudinal flaps located on either side of the lower intermediate flap (see also figure 3). The arms are for example articulated around an axis 35 and movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel between a retracted position, set back from the blank, and a position

  active compression of the flaps against the mandrel.

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  In the embodiment more particularly described here, the pre-folding mandrel is of rectangular section, having a hollowed-out longitudinal central part, for passage of the transfer carriage 23 equipped in the lower part of the central suction cups 22 between the pre-folding position 36 (see

  Figure 2) and the folding position 37.

  The mandrel 16 is for example constituted by four bars 16 'horizontal, metallic, parallel

  rectangular, forming the four corners of the mandrel.

  The device 1 further comprises plating means 38 comprising a movable plate 39 for plating the intermediate flap 40 of the pre-folded blank on the underside 41 hollowed out of the mandrel 24 for final folding, gluing means 42 comprising for example nozzles injection for application of

  hot glue known by the English name

  Saxon "hot melt", and / or cold glue injection nozzles known to those skilled in the art, arranged on the path between the pre-folding mandrel 16 and the folding mandrel 24 located in the horizontal extension one on the other, the pre-folding mandrel thus transforming into a folding mandrel of smaller cross section in the embodiment more

particularly described here.

  The blank 3 pre-folded in a U on the pre-folding mandrel 16 and which is transported via the carriage 23 does not undergo, during transport between the mandrel 16 and the mandrel 24, significant friction resistance due to the smaller cross section of the second mandrel, a gap between the transfer device and the pre-folding mandrel being formed with a value greater than the thickness of the material

blank.

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  The blank is transferred by a vacuum system (suction cup) and a mechanical pusher, to be

  permanently plated on the surface of the mandrel.

  Guide rails are also provided, the assembly being arranged so that it produces only rolling friction during the transfer process. The device 1 also comprises means 43 for folding the flaps 6 intended to form the bottom of

packaging.

  These means 43 include push cylinders 44, a closing plate 45, for example actuated by a cam device 46 between a position in horizontal withdrawal, and a position for pressing the bottom on the mandrel, which has a clean end face 47 to serve as a counter-support to withstand the stresses during pressurization

for gluing the background.

  In the embodiment more particularly described here, the device 46 also makes it possible to actuate the carriage 23, via the rod 27, at the same time as the plate 45, which allows perfect mechanical repeatability and therefore very high precision, the movements being linked

  mechanically as will be described below.

  To do this, the end 48 of the rod 27, opposite the arm 26 is fixed in rotation to a vertex 49 of a triangle 50, movable in rotation around a transverse horizontal axis 51 located at another vertex

  and secured to the chassis of the device 1.

  The third apex 52 is in turn integral in rotation with a rod 53 fixed at its other end to a movable arm 54, integral with a cam 55 via a roller 56 between a low position o the carriage 23

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  is at the folding station, and a high position where the

carriage is at the pre-folding station.

  The plate 45 has, in turn, its position controlled by the cam 57 via a roller 59 fixed on the middle part of an arm 60, one end of which is fixed to the chassis 61 of the device 1 and the other is integral with 'a rod 62 for controlling the plate 45, a pneumatic cylinder 58 acting on an articulated rod itself secured to a rod whose other end is secured to the plate The plate 45 is therefore movable between a vertical position and a horizontal position, according to a determined mechanical time diagram, function of

the position of the carriage 23.

  Means for ejecting the box formed, for example via the carriage 23 suitable for taking an extreme position located beyond the mandrel 24, and means 63 for recovering said box, for example comprising a conveyor belt, finally complete the

device.

  We will now describe with reference to Figures 4 to 10 showing in cross section a portion of the folding station 37, the final formation of the

body before ejection.

  In the following, we used the same numbers

  reference to represent the same elements.

  In the embodiment more particularly described here, the folding mandrel 24 is of octagonal section, having cut corners 64, and a horizontal bottom face 65, the plating means 38 comprising a plate 39 of shape

  complementary to the lower part of the mandrel.

  The U-shaped blank 3 preformed on the pre-folding mandrel is guided by lateral rails to the folding station, a station at which its intermediate flap Il 2723338 66 is located at a distance from the bottom of the plate 39 (see

figure 4).

  The plate 39 of the intermediate flap 66 of the blank is brought closer (see FIG. 5), for example via a hydraulic cylinder 67 by pressing said flap against

the mandrel.

  Given the complementary shapes, the lateral flaps 68 are thus brought closer to the mandrel with which they are therefore in contact, the pusher fingers 44, also completing this placing.

in shape.

  A tab 69 (Figure 6), for example actuated by a jack 70, then presses the upper flap 71 on the mandrel, the tongue 72 also being applied by a piece 73 on the cut corner

higher 74.

  Then a part 75 having a face of complementary shape to the cut corner (FIG. 7) presses the end flap 76 connected to the flap 71 on the

  tab 72 to finish winding.

  Together or following the operations which have just been described, the operations are also carried out

  closing the bottom of the box (Figure 8 to 10).

  Two push cylinders 77, lateral, close the vertical lateral flaps 78; then the horizontal lateral flaps 79 are folded, in two stages, by a jack 80 (for the upper flap 81), then at

  using plate 45, after erasing the jack 80.

  Once the bottom 81 is finished, the plate 45 disappears, the plate 39 descends, controlled by the cam 57 and an internal ejection device for the mandrel (not shown) makes a longitudinal movement and ejects the body towards the means 63 resumption of

the box, before loading.

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  As is obvious and as it follows from the above, the invention is not limited to the embodiment more particularly described. On the contrary, it embraces all variants, and in particular those where the folding and pre-folding means are actuated differently, for example by pneumatic, electric or hydraulic means slaved to each other by a programmable controller,

  rather than a cam system.

  Also the means of plating on the folding mandrel can be different, the main thing being that the plating function is performed, allowing

  obtain a checkout repeatedly and precisely.

  We will now describe the operation of the device 1 with particular reference to the

figure 1.

  The blank 3 located just below the pre-folding mandrel 16 is gripped by the suction cups 14 connected in a manner known per se to a vacuum device, the device 21 then being in the low position. Then the arms 15 are mounted and the blank 3 is placed below the inner face of the mandrel

rectangular 16.

  The suction cups 22 then grip the blank from the inside of the mandrel 16, the suction cups 14 being vented and the arms 15 are raised

  completely upright.

  The arms 34 then pivot and grip the side flaps of the blank 3 which are set in

  U-shaped and plated on the mandrel.

  The carriage 23 integral with the suction cups 22 is then automatically moved by the system to

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  cam, pawl 32 pushing the blank up to

  folding position on the mandrel 24.

  In passing, the gluing means 42 deposit the glue necessary for fixing the flaps together, and for fixing the flaps together to form the bottom in a known manner, up to the folding position on

the mandrel 24.

  The plate 39 is then approached and pressed on the mandrel before or simultaneously with the folding of the upper flap by the tab 69, the tongue 72 then being compressed on the upper flap which has been previously glued on its contact part with

the tongue.

  Before applying the tongue or simultaneously, the small lateral flaps 75 of the bottom are folded under pressure on the bottom 47 of the mandrel and then the tongue 72 is applied; the upper flap 77 is folded, the lower flap and upper flap assembly then being pressed against the bottom of the mandrel

by plate 45.

  During forming, the carriage 23 returned to its initial position, actuated by the cam system dimensioned accordingly, to take up a blank and

repeat the operation.

  Once the box has been formed, it is ejected when the carriage returns with a new blank, all of the jacks and other devices having participated in forming come back to

  their initial position, and so on.

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Claims (14)

  1. Device (1) for producing a box (2) from a blank (3) of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular flaps (4) connected to each other by first fold lines ( 5) parallel to each other, comprising an intermediate flap (66), and a first set of lateral flaps (6) disposed on one side of said series of flaps, connected to the latter by second fold lines ( 7) perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, said device comprising: means (8, 9, 10, 12, 13) for storing several blanks in a stack, means (14 , 15, 21) for gripping and moving one by one of said blanks to a mandrel (16) for pre-folding said blanks, - said mandrel (16) for pre-folding, arranged on the outlet of the means (10) for storing said blanks and associated to means (33) for pre-folding, - means (23, 25) for transferring the blank thus prepared linked from the pre-folding mandrel to a definitive folding mandrel (24) - means (42) for gluing the blank, and said definitive folding mandrel (24) comprising a lower face, characterized in that the device comprises means ( 38) for plating the intermediate blank of the blank on the underside (65) of the final folding mandrel. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plating means (38) consist of profiles, blades or 2723338   equivalents arranged to compress the intermediate blank of the blank progressively against the underside of the final folding mandrel in an elastic manner during the transfer.   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plating means (38) comprise means (39) for remote support of the intermediate flap at the level of the folding mandrel and means (67) arranged to gradually bring together and to press said intermediate flap (66) on the lower face (65) of the final folding mandrel.   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the support means (39) are constituted by a movable plate.   5. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   pre-folding mandrel (16) is of section having a shape different from that of the mandrel (24) of final folding.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the pre-folding mandrel (16) has a rectangular section and the mandrel (24)   definitive folding has an octagonal section.   7. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   means (14, 15, 21) for gripping and moving said blanks towards the pre-folding mandrel comprise arms (15) for lateral gripping by suction cup (14) of the blank, located outside and pivoting on either side of the pre-folding mandrel (16), and means (22) for sucking up said blank by means of said pre-folding mandrel (16), said sucking means being associated with 16 2723338   means (23) for moving the pre-folded blank,   pre-folding mandrel to the folding mandrel.   8. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that it   comprises at the level of the mandrel (24) for final folding, means (44) for intermediate folding of the bottom flaps before pressurizing on the one hand the flaps intended to form the side walls, and   on the other hand flaps intended to form said bottom.   9. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that it   comprises a system (45, 46) for plating the bottom on   the final folding mandrel with double (55, 57).   10. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   pre-folding mandrel (24) is disposed directly at the   above the outlet of the blank storage means.   11. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   folding mandrel (24) is extendable between a first retracted position and a second position box forming.   12. Method for producing a box (2) from a blank (3) of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular flaps (4) connected to each other by first fold lines (5) parallel to each other, comprising an intermediate flap (66), and a first set of lateral flaps (6) arranged on one side of said series of flaps, connected to the latter by second fold lines (7) perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, process in which: - several blanks are stored in a stack, 17 2723338   - taking and moving one by one said blanks to a mandrel (16) for pre-folding said blanks, - pre-folding said blanks, - transferring the blank thus pre-folded from the pre-folding mandrel to a mandrel (24) for final folding, - the said blank is glued during the transfer, - and the said blank is wound around the said final folding mandrel comprising a lower face, characterized in that, to wind the said blank around the mandrel, the intermediate flap (16) of the blank is pressed onto the face lower chuck final folding.   13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that, in order to press said blank, the intermediate flap of the blank is compressed progressively in an elastic manner against the underside of the   final folding mandrel during transfer.   14. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that, to press the intermediate flap at the folding mandrel, said intermediate flap is progressively brought closer to the underside (41) of the final folding mandrel against which it comes to fully support at the end of the tackle.