FR2775658A1 - Procedure for making octagonal crate with cut corners from cardboard blank - Google Patents

Abstract

The crate made from a cardboard blank (1) has four principal faces (2,4,6,8) separated in pairs by four secondary side faces (3,5,7,9) forming cut corners. The side faces are formed by encircling eight flaps ended by a folding tab. The flat blank is placed on a mandrel and wound around it. The crate bottom (14) is folded down against the mandrel bottom and one side face is doubled by folding the first secondary flap (17) on the edge of the crate bottom around the third folding line (16).

Description

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR MAKING A CASE
OCTAGONAL WITH CORNERS CUT IN SHEET MATERIAL
The present invention relates to a method of forming a box around a mandrel having an octagonal section, from a blank of material of corrugated cardboard sheet or equivalent, said box comprising four main lateral sides separated two by two by four secondary side faces forming cut corners, said side faces being formed by a belt of eight flaps ending in a folding tab, namely four main flaps intended to form the four main side faces and four intermediate flaps intended to form the four side faces secondary, said flaps being interconnected by first parallel fold lines, and at least one end face, namely a bottom face forming the bottom of the box, said bottom face being formed by a first main flap connected to a main flap by a second fold line, and comprising a first r secondary lampshade connected to said first main flap by a third fold line.

 The present invention also relates to a machine for forming such a box.

 It finds a particularly important although not exclusive application in the field of the manufacture of cases for packaging objects or groups of objects which are introduced by the cover remained open, once the case formed, the closure of the cover being realized only after introduction of the objects.

 Such an octagonal box is particularly advantageous for products to be packaged in a cylindrical shape such as bottles or cans, of significant weight.

 Thanks to its octagonal shape, it makes it possible, in a known way, to optimize the volumes and to avoid the salient angles and the dead volumes inside the box, taking into account the products to be packaged.

 There are already known (EP 0 468 060) methods and machines suitable for forming octagonal boxes around a mandrel.

 This known method allows in particular the manufacture of a box whose bottom is formed by two contiguous flaps which themselves are laminated with two small adjacent flaps.

 The formation of such a box requires a winding of the belt around the mandrel and makes it possible to obtain a box of very good resistance to compression and of optimized interior volume.

 However, such cases are not easily gripped by a user who must enter it in a pile.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback in particular.

 To do this, it aims to provide a process and a machine that better meet those previously known requirements of the practice, in particular in that it allows to manufacture a box which has significant maneuverability advantages, making easier the handling of checkout for the user.

 The new machine or the new process can moreover be implemented by adapting in a simple, easy and inexpensive manner the processes and / or the machines existing to date to form this type of octagonal box.

 For this purpose, the present invention essentially proposes a method of forming a box around a mandrel having an octagonal section, from a blank of material made of corrugated cardboard sheet or equivalent, said box comprising four separate main lateral faces. two by two by four secondary lateral faces forming cut corners, said lateral faces being formed by a belt of eight flaps terminated by a folding tab, namely four main flaps and four intermediate flaps linked together by first fold lines, and at least one end face, namely a bottom face forming the bottom of the box, said bottom face being formed by a first main rectangular or substantially rectangular flap connected to a main flap, by a second fold line and comprising a first secondary flap connected to said first main flap by a third fold line ge, characterized in that - after gluing, the blank is presented flat opposite a mandrel, - the belt is wrapped around the mandrel, - the bottom of the body is folded against the bottom of the mandrel, - and at least one main lateral face is doubled by folding the first secondary flap, on an edge of the bottom of the box around the third fold line, by applying said first secondary flap previously glued to the external face of said main lateral face by displacement of the box formed towards and in transverse folding means, said first secondary flap being at least in part of width greater than that of the main lateral face thus doubled and of width at least in part less than that of said end face , to form two symmetrical recesses between cut corners and lateral peripheral edges of the first secondary flap, on either side of the body, said recesses allow being the subsequent gripping by a user of said box.

 Such a possibility of lateral reinforcement to form a double gripping wall was not described or suggested by the prior art taking into account in particular the absence of identification of any interest prior to this improvement.

In advantageous embodiments, use is made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements.
the main lateral face is doubled by the at least partial superposition of two secondary flaps, namely said first secondary flap and a second secondary flap connected by a fifth fold line to the opposite end face
- two opposite main lateral sides are doubled, each by at least one respective first flap
- Said end face has a second peripheral edge opposite the first, with cut corners each provided with a bonding tab which is folded over the cut corners by means of push cylinders, the body being held on the mandrel
- the other opposite main lateral face being provided with a flap forming a tongue, this is applied beforehand to the mandrel after gluing, then the lower face is applied and glued over
- the underside being provided with two secondary flaps on either side, two opposite side walls of the body are thus folded and glued
- the box further comprising an upper end face intended to form the cover, the latter comprising a second secondary flap, the box is finished forming, after filling, by folding up said face and folding and gluing said second flap secondary on the first secondary flap of the bottom glued to the side.

 The present invention also provides a machine for forming a box according to the method which has just been described.

More precisely, it proposes a machine for forming 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 and a first set of flaps. lateral disposed on one side of said series of flaps, connected to them by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, said machine comprising
- a mandrel whose external section corresponds to the internal section of the body to be obtained
means for freely placing an intermediate flap of the series of flaps at least approximately opposite the corresponding face of the mandrel, and for winding said blank around the mandrel,
- Means for then pressing the flaps of the first series around the bottom of the mandrel by successive pusher means
- and means for fixing said flaps thus folded to each other, more precisely by prior gluing of the various flaps,
characterized in that said machine further comprises transverse folding means arranged to press the first secondary flap against the main side face to be doubled, said means being adapted to fold said first secondary flap around an edge of the bottom of the body , then to apply it on the lateral side of the body, for fixing by gluing to the external face of said main lateral face.

 Advantageously, the transverse folding means are doubled, on either side of the mandrel, so as to make it possible to double by flaps two opposite main lateral faces.

 In an advantageous embodiment, the transverse folding means are fixed, the machine comprising means for conveying the box opposite said folding means.

 The present invention will be better understood on reading the following description of an embodiment of the method, and of the machine that it implements, given by way of nonlimiting example.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blank to form a box according to the method of the invention, arranged to be brought flat above or below the forming mandrel.

 - Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the wrapping of the blank of Figure 1 around the mandrel.

 - Figure 3 shows the next step of forming the box according to the method of the invention more particularly described here, from the start of forming the bottom of the box against the bottom of the mandrel.

 - Figure 4 shows the next step of starting to press the bottom of the box against the bottom of the mandrel.

 - Figure 5 is the final plating step of the bottom and removal of the pistons.

 - Figure 6 shows the positioning of the box of Figure 5 vis-à-vis the transverse folding means, fixed.

 - Figure 7 shows the plating of the first secondary flap by said transverse folding means allowing the formation of the doubled face.

 - Figure 8 shows the body thus formed, which is ejected transversely from the mandrel.

 - Figures 9 to 13 show the end of the formation of the box placed vertically, comprising the successive closing of the various flaps, and their bonding one on the other, after filling the box with the products to be transported.

 - Figures 14 and 15 are schematic elevational views of an embodiment of a machine for the manufacture of the box according to the invention.

 - Figures 16 and 17 are partial perpendicular side views of Figures 14 and 15.

 - Figures 18 and 19 are schematic views from above of the machine of Figures 14 to 17 corresponding to the formation of the box with double side wall.

 In the following description, the same reference numbers will be used, where appropriate, to designate the same elements.

 FIG. 1 shows a blank 1 of double-sided corrugated cardboard comprising a series of eight rectangular flaps, namely four main rectangular flaps 2, 4, 6, 8 intended to form the main lateral faces of the box, separated in pairs by four intermediate flaps 3, 5, 7, 9 suitable for forming the secondary lateral faces.

 The flaps are connected two by two by parallel fold lines 10 and the series ends with a rectangular fixing tongue 11.

 More precisely, the main flaps comprise two large first main flaps 4, 8 identical, interspersed with two small second main flaps 2, 6 identical.

 The intermediate flaps 3, 5, 7, 9 are identical, rectangular and devoid of flaps.

 The blank 1 comprises a first set 12 of flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second fold lines 13, in one aligned case, or in another case substantially aligned, that is to say slightly offset from each other, of a thickness of cardboard, to allow the overlapping of the flaps during the forming of the box around a mandrel.

 The first assembly 12 comprises a first substantially rectangular main flap 14 connected to the first main flap 4 over its entire length by the second fold line 13.

 The first main flap 14 is substantially the size of the body. It comprises, on its lateral edge 15 perpendicular to the series of flaps, and connected by a third fold line 16, a first secondary flap 17 according to the invention.

 The flap 17 extends over the entire width L of the first flap 14, which is rectangular at right angles to the connecting side.

 The width L of the flap 14 is greater than the length Lo of the second main flap 2.

 The second main flap comprises, located on either side, notches 18 extending for example over half the height H of the flap 17, H being equal to h height of the first main flap 2, the notch being by elsewhere and for example of width equal to l, with 1/20 LS 1 <1/4 L.

 Such indentations will allow access to the recesses formed between the cut corners of the box formed and the side edges of the flap, as described above.

 The first main flap 14 has, on the edge opposite to the third fold line 16, a peripheral edge 19 provided with rounded corners 20, which will for example slightly protrude with respect to the faces forming cut corners 5, 7, which will prevent the embedding of corners when stacking boxes formed with such blanks.

 The first assembly 12 further comprises two other small flaps, namely a first small flap 21, substantially rectangular, for example provided with an angle 22, slightly oblique towards the inside of the flap, connected to the second main flap 6, for minimize overlapping of flaps during the formation of the box, and a second small flap 23, connected to the first main flap 8, of substantially rectangular shape, of width equal for example to a quarter of L, and comprising two lateral sides 24, symmetrical , at least partly at an angle towards the outside of the flap, from the second fold lines 13, to coincide with the edge of the adjacent cut corner when the box is formed.

 The blank 1 further comprises a second set 26 of lateral flaps arranged on the other side of the main flaps and connected to said main flaps by fourth fold lines 27 perpendicular to the first fold lines and arranged identically to the second fold lines 13.

 The second set 26 of flaps comprises a second main flap 28, to form the cover of the box, identical to the first main flap 14 and connected to the same first main flap 4 as the first main flap 14.

 The second main flap 28 comprises a second secondary flap 29 connected by a fifth fold line 30 to the peripheral edge of the second main flap 28.

 The second secondary flap 29 comprises two corner corners 18 ′ which are hollow, identical in shape to that of the ends of the notches 18 with which they overlap when the body is formed.

 The second set 26 of flaps also includes two other flaps 31 and 32 respectively identical to the flaps 21 and 23 and connected respectively to the same main flaps 6 and 8.

 We will now describe the method of forming a box from the blank 1, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

 The blank 1 is brought in a manner known per se, by gripping means for example with suction cup (not shown), and is arranged in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the eight-sided mandrel, of the same section as the section internal of the cash register.

 In the following, the mandrel is not shown to simplify the understanding of the figures.

 In the mode described, the blank is moved under the mandrel, but it can also be placed on top.

 Before being placed on the mandrel, for example by belt or roller means, the blank is glued, that is to say and, for example, are deposited in a known manner by glue gun under pressure known as hot melt, small lines of glue 33 on the edge of the flap 14 opposite the fold line 13, lines of glue 34 on the one hand on the flap 17 and on the other hand on the end 19 of the flap 14 opposite the flap 17, and a line glue 35, on the tongue 11.

 The blank 1 is then wound around the mandrel according to the method and the machine described with reference to patent EP 0 468 060 which is incorporated here by reference, using on the one hand a rigid plate with cut corner to precisely lay down the shutter 4 on the underside of the mandrel and on the other hand a movable assembly (not shown) comprising tilting arms for winding the rest of the blank as shown in FIG. 2.

 As there is no glue on the flaps furthest from the mandrel (flaps 6, 7, 8 and 9) there is no limit to the winding speed, a limit coming from the risks of glue splashing due to centrifugal force.

 The flaps 21 and 23 are then pre-folded on the bottom of the mandrel, by pushing means 36 and 37, for example retractable jacks (see Figures 3 and 4).

 Given the rates, and the bottom in one piece formed by the flap 14, the folding of the bottom (arrow 38) can be initiated, while the pushing means 36 and 37 of the flaps 21 and 23 are not yet retracted, this which speeds up the pace.

 The bottom is then definitively pressed against the mandrel, at the same time as the tongue 11 (Cf. figure 5) and the partially finished box is ready to be ejected (Cf. figure 6).

 Then simultaneously with the ejection of the box thus formed, the first secondary flap 17 is folded and it is put under pressure to form the double gripping wall of the box as sought by the invention.

 To do this, the body 40 is evacuated lying down thanks to a set of six noria belts 41, 42, for example of rubber, two upper 41, two lower 41 and two lateral 42, actuated in rotation so that the plating of the first secondary flap 17 is made during the horizontal displacement of the body, at the same time as its ejection by said belts 41, 42.

 The box 40 is then placed vertically (FIG. 9). After filling, at a specific station, the flaps 31 and 32 are glued at 43 and 44, then the cover 28 is closed, and the box is sent to the final plating of the second secondary flap 29, for final closure of the box.

 The latter then has the lateral recesses 45 between cut corners formed by the intermediate flaps and the edges which are narrower than the body, of the two superimposed secondary flaps 17 and 29.

 We will now describe an embodiment of a machine implementing the method according to the invention with reference to FIGS. 14 to 19.

 FIGS. 14 and 15 show a machine 46 in elevation, making it possible to manufacture the box 40, with the cover open, as shown in FIG. 8.

 These figures are, for the sake of clarity, voluntarily partial and simplified and they each include only the elements necessary for understanding the manufacturing phases that they illustrate.

 The machine 46 comprises a mandrel 47 whose external shape corresponds to the internal shape of the box 40 to be obtained from the blank 1.

 To this end, the section of the mandrel 47 is rectangular with cut sides.

 As shown in the figures, the length of the mandrel 47 can be different from the height of the box 40.

 The mandrel 47 may be full or only made up of a frame delimiting its edges 48.

 In these figures, it has been assumed that the mandrel 47 consists of profiles, parallel and of rectangular section with a cut corner, defining lateral bearing faces for the flaps of the blank 1, folding edges corresponding to the folding lines 10 between the flaps, and a front support face 49 for the flaps 14, 21 and 23, the contour of said support face 49 forming fold edges corresponding to the fold lines 13 of said flaps.

 In FIGS. 14 and 15, the process of positioning the blank 1 relative to the mandrel 47 is illustrated diagrammatically, when it is desired to apply the first main flap 4 against the corresponding lower face of the mandrel 47.

 By known means, for example those shown in document FR-A-2 629 012, the blank 1 is brought in the vicinity of the mandrel 47, so that its flap 4 is disposed at least approximately opposite the bearing face. of the mandrel.

 More precisely, the machine 46 comprises a frame 50 with respect to which the mandrel 47 is mounted and a pressure plate P.

 It further comprises a device (not shown), of any known type, making it possible to take one by one of the blanks 1 in a store to bring them under the mandrel 47.

 Glueers 51, 52 and 53, mounted on the frame 50, make it possible to deposit lines of adhesive 33, 34 and 35 (see FIG. 1) during the supply of the blank 1 under the mandrel 47.

 They are for example movable perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel.

 Thus, thanks to the glueers 51 to 53, the blank 1 is arranged, already glued, under the mandrel 47 above the pressure plate P, moved by a jack 57, carried by the frame 50.

 To wind the flaps 2 to 9 and the tongue 11 around the mandrel 47, the machine comprises a mechanism comprising a movable assembly 58 which can be raised or lowered by means of a jack 59, bearing on the frame 50.

 The moving element 58 comprises two articulated arms 60 and 61, for example respectively driven by a linkage 62 connected to the frame 50 and by a cam 63 mounted on the frame.

 Actuators 36, 37 and 67, such as jacks for example, are mounted on the frame 50 and can fold the flaps 23, 21 and 14 respectively.

 Pressers 68 and 69, also mounted on the frame 50, are provided for applying the tongue 11 and the flap 9 against the face 70 of the mandrel 47.

 A blank 1 being brought under the mandrel 47 so as to be in the position of FIG. 1 (cf. FIGS. 14 and 15), the jacks 57 and 59 are actuated so that, on the one hand, the pressure plate P approaches the mandrel 47 and that, on the other hand, the articulated arms 60 and 61, in response to the rise of the movable assembly 58, fold the flaps of the blank 1, respectively arranged on either side of the flap 4 .

 The blank 1 then takes, relative to the mandrel 47, successively the relative positions illustrated in phantom in FIG. 14.

 Then, the rise of the moving assembly 58 continuing, the arms 60 and 61 respectively press the flaps against the corresponding faces 27, 28 and 31 of the mandrel 47.

 The presser 68 then applies the tongue 11 against the face 70 of the mandrel, after which the other presser 69 applies the flap 9 against the tongue 11 and the face 70. Thanks to the line of adhesive 35, the flap 9 is therefore secured with tab 11.

 Then, the actuators 36 and 37 fold the flaps 23 and 21 against the front face 49 of the mandrel 47 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) after which the actuator 67 applies the flap 14 against the flaps 23 and 21.

 Thanks to the lines of adhesive 33 and 34, the flaps 23, 21 and 14 are secured to one another to form the bottom of the box 40.

 Finally (see Figures 18 and 19), the machine 46 includes the belt means 41 and 42 as described with reference to Figure 6.

 The belts are in the form of loops of rubber or elastic material driven in rotation in the direction of the axis of the mandrel by means 71, for example constituted by motorized cylinders, to recover the body already partially ejected, for example by a pusher internal to the mandrel (not shown), and close the flap 17 by pressing said flap 17 on the face 2 by means of the belt 42 disposed laterally at a distance and in the horizontal plane, with a driving branch parallel to the axis of the mandrel and located in the extension of said wall 2, as shown in the figures.

 The flap 17 is folded around the fold line 15 which bears on the edge formed by the lower edge of the flap 2 of the box.

 The belts 41 are arranged in the vertical plane and located a little after the mandrel, in the direction of ejection of the body, respectively below and above, at a sufficient distance to allow the travel of the presser 67 and that of the mobile equipment.

 The body is then conveyed, placed vertically downstream of the belts and treated as described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.

 As is obvious and as follows from the above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments more particularly described but on the contrary embraces all variants and in particular those where the body has two lateral reinforcements.

 The present invention has many advantages. Indeed, it implements a machine which does not require adjustment, with a lightened mechanism allowing high performances (speeds, accelerations), for example the manufacture of cases at fifty strokes per minute.

Claims (10)

 1. A method of forming a box around a mandrel having an octagonal section, from a blank (1) of material of corrugated cardboard sheet or equivalent, said box comprising four main lateral faces (2, 4, 6, 8) separated two by two by four secondary lateral faces (3, 5, 7, 9) forming cut corners, said lateral faces being formed by a belt of eight flaps ending in a folding tab, namely four main flaps ( 2, 4, 6, 8) and four intermediate flaps (3, 5, 7, 9) interconnected by first fold lines (10), and at least one end face, namely a bottom face (14 ) forming the bottom of the body, said lower face being formed by a first rectangular or substantially rectangular main flap (14) connected to a main flap (4) by a second fold line (13) and comprising a first secondary flap (17 ) connected to said first main flap by a e third fold line (16), characterized in that - after gluing, the blank (1) is presented flat opposite a mandrel, - the belt is wrapped around the mandrel, - the bottom is folded ( 14) of the body against the bottom of the mandrel, and at least one main lateral face (2) is doubled by folding the first secondary flap (17) on an edge of the bottom of the body around the third fold line (16 ), by applying said first secondary flap (17) previously glued, on the external face of said main lateral face (2) by displacement of the box formed towards and in transverse folding means (41, 42), said first secondary flap (17) being at least partly of width greater than that of the main lateral face (2) thus doubled and of width at least partly less than that of said end face (14), to form two symmetrical recesses (45 ) between cut corners and lateral peripheral edges to the first secondary flap, on either side of the box, said recesses allowing subsequent gripping by a user of said box.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the main lateral face is doubled by the at least partial superposition of two secondary flaps, namely said first secondary flap (17) and a second secondary flap (29) connected by a fifth fold line (30) at the opposite end face (28).  3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two opposite main lateral sides (2, 6) are doubled, respectively by at least one first flap.  4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end face (14) has a second peripheral edge opposite (19) to the first, with cut corners each provided with a bonding tab that the folded over the cut corners by means of push cylinders, the body being held on the mandrel.  5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other opposite main lateral face (8) being provided with a flap (23) forming a tongue, the latter is previously applied to the mandrel after gluing, then the lower face (14) is applied and glued from above.  6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower face being provided with two secondary flaps on either side, two opposite side walls (2, 6) are thus folded and glued. the box.  7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box further comprising an upper end face (28) intended to form the cover, the latter comprising a second secondary flap (29), one finishes to form the body, after filling, by folding said face (28) and folding and gluing said second secondary flap (29) on the first secondary flap (17) of the bottom (14), glued to the lateral face (2) .  8. Machine for forming a box from a blank of sheet material comprising a series of rectangular flaps connected to each other by first fold lines (10) parallel to each other and a first set (12 ) side flaps (14, 21, 23) arranged on one side of said series of flaps, connected to these by second fold lines (13) perpendicular to said first fold lines (10) and intended to form at at least partially the bottom of the body, said machine comprising  - a mandrel whose external section corresponds to the internal section of the body to be obtained  means for placing an intermediate flap of the series of flaps at least approximately opposite the corresponding face of the mandrel, and for winding said blank around the mandrel,  - means for then pressing the flaps of the first series around the bottom of the mandrel by successive pusher means (36, 37, 67)  - and means for fixing said flaps thus folded to each other, more precisely by prior gluing of the various flaps,  characterized in that said machine further comprises transverse folding means (41, 42) arranged to press the first secondary flap (17) against the main side face (2) to be doubled, said means being suitable for folding said first flap secondary around an edge of the bottom of the box, then to apply it to the lateral side of the box, for fixing by bonding to the external face of said main lateral face.  9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the transverse folding means (41, 42) are doubled, on either side of the mandrel.  10. Machine according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the transverse folding means (41, 42) are fixed, the machine comprising means for conveying the body opposite said means drawdown.