FR2781181A1 - Machine for folding container blanks has retractable wing on side of base to form reinforcing folds in containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The container folding machine has a base (1) with a side wing having a retractable foldable extension (4) and lifting actuators to position the base sections. The foldable extension has a pivoting trough (10) to guide and press the foldable wing.

Description

Machine for making containers of which at least one of

  angles has a reinforcing fold.

  The invention relates to the field of design of machines for producing containers intended mainly for packaging, such as cardboard boxes. More specifically, the invention relates to the production of such containers, at least one of the corners of which has a reinforcing fold. Such containers are produced by the volume of flat cardboard or other cutouts.

  material with similar characteristics.

  The use of reinforcing folds in the corners of such containers makes it possible to improve the rigidity of these containers and thus to increase the mass of products that they can contain. These reinforcing folds can be produced from the same cutting used to make the container. To this end, such flat cutouts have, in the context of containers of essentially cubic or parallelepiped shape, a bottom provided with four lateral flaps, two of these flaps each being extended by two foldable flaps intended to form the

corner reinforcement folds.

  There are several machines on the market allowing the volume of such cuts and the formation of corner reinforcement folds. The reinforcement folds conventionally used generally have a dihedral shape with an essentially triangular cross section. For the production of such reinforcing folds, the foldable flaps have three parts delimited by fold lines. When folding, the first part of the foldable flaps is kept in contact with one of the side flaps, the intermediate part is positioned between two side flaps arranged perpendicularly one at

  the other, the third part being glued to the other of the side flaps.

  The most conventional machines make it possible to first make the reinforcing folds by folding the foldable flaps on a first work station, then to volume the cutout on a second work station after having previously glued the appropriate parts thereof. ci Such machines have the disadvantage of requiring the production of two work stations, namely a first station for folding the foldable flaps to form the corner reinforcements and a second station for setting the volume of the blank. Such a machine is therefore expensive to produce and, due to the implementation of two main stages, have a relatively low productivity. Another type of machine for producing containers with reinforced angles from flat cardboard blanks has been proposed in the state of the art and makes it possible to carry out the step of volume setting of the blank and the step of folding foldable flaps simultaneously. Such a machine includes folding fingers which can act on the foldable flaps at the time of the setting of the blank to allow them to be folded and thus the corner reinforcements to be produced. However, to allow the implementation of such folding fingers, the cutout must have flaps provided with holes allowing the passage of

  fingers in question to fold the foldable flaps.

  This type of machine has many drawbacks. Firstly, it requires the use of cutouts on which holes have been previously made allowing the use of the folding fingers of the foldable flaps. Such holes can weaken the mechanical structure of the container made from such machines. Furthermore, the folding fingers are relatively

  complicated to implement and which increase the cost of the machines.

  The main objective of the present invention is to propose a machine making it possible to set up blanks to make containers and to simultaneously form reinforcing folds in the angles thereof, machine

  not having the drawbacks of the state of the art.

  In particular, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide such a machine which can be used on very conventional cuts.

  not requiring the production of holes in some of their side flaps.

  Another objective of the present invention is to provide such a machine which allows higher productivity than machines of the art

prior.

  Another objective of the present invention is to produce such a machine

  which has a lower cost price than state of the art machines.

  These various objectives are achieved thanks to the invention which relates to a machine for producing containers of which at least one of the angles has a reinforcing fold, from flat cutouts each consisting of a bottom provided with at least a first flap lateral and at least one second lateral flap extended by at least one foldable flap intended to form said reinforcing fold, said machine comprising means for setting the volume and simultaneous formation of said corner reinforcing fold including first lifting means making it possible to raise said foldable flap, second lifting means making it possible to raise the assembly formed by said side flap and said foldable flap so as to position these essentially perpendicular to said bottom, third means for raising said first flap in a position essentially perpendicular to said bottom, and means for folding said foldable flap to form said reinforcing fold, characterized in that said means for folding said foldable flap include at least one pivoting element for guiding and pressing said foldable flap and actuator means for said pivoting element designed to allow the latter to adopt the at least two positions, namely a first position in which it guides said flap when it is raised by said second lifting means and a second position in which it folds said flap and presses it

  at least part against said second side flap.

  The present invention allows the means for folding the foldable flap to be implemented not from the outside of the container but inside of it

  of its volume. The invention therefore differs from the prior art cited above.

  top in which the means for folding the foldable flap include a finger which folds the foldable flap against a side flap and folds a part of this flap against the internal face thereof, this finger acting after the adjacent side flap has been raised, this first flap must therefore be provided with a hole allowing

  finger to enter the interior of the container.

  According to the invention, the guide and pressure element is positioned perpendicular to the bottom of the planar blank. This element being pivotally mounted, it first helps to guide the flap, then, thanks to the actuator means, to press a part of this flap against the internal wall of the second side flap. It will of course be understood that both the machine according to the present invention and those of the prior art have means for gluing certain parts of the blank with a quick glue so that when certain parts of the blank are brought into contact with one another. with each other they

  can quickly be joined to each other.

  It will also be understood that it will be possible to envisage several embodiments of the means for raising the flaps and flaps of the blank. However, according to a particularly advantageous variant, these lifting means are provided fixed and are organized in folding wells, said pivoting guide and pressure element being provided on a movable plate making it possible to drive the cutout into this folding well. In a conventional manner, the lifting means can thus be at least partly in the form of bars or plates arranged in a quadrilateral of section slightly greater than the diameter of the bottom, the depression of the cutout in these means judiciously arranged allowing the various constituent elements of the

  cut to allow its setting in volume.

  According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, said means for folding said foldable flap additionally include at least one fixed forming element which is interposed between said flap and said second flap at least

  when said guide and pressure element is in said second position.

  It will be understood, however, that such a fixed forming element is not compulsory since the foldable flap may be provided with more or less weakened fold lines designed to fold under a given pressure exerted by the guide and folding element. However, such a forming element makes it possible to

  ensure that the fold in question is always well formed.

  According to another preferred variant of the invention, said pivoting guide and pressure element has a guide face of said flap when it is raised by said second lifting means and a pressure face of a part of said flap against said second flap lateral, said guide face and said pressure face forming an angle between them c. Preferably, this

angle is about 45.

  Still according to another preferred variant of the invention, the pivoting guide and pressure element has a section essentially in the shape of a trapezoid, and the forming element has a cross section

essentially triangular.

  Several means could be envisaged for producing the actuator means of the pivoting element. However, according to a preferred variant, these

  actuator means include at least one cylinder.

  It will be understood that the machine according to the present invention can be used to produce containers of cubic, parallelepipedal shape but also in some cases of packaging having another shape, for example triangular or trapezoidal. Generally, these containers will be provided with reinforcing folds at each of their angles. The machine will therefore generally include more than one pivoting guide and pressure element. In this case, the actuator means used may include a double-rod cylinder allowing

  to control two guide and pressure elements at the same time.

  Preferably, such a double-rod cylinder will be provided with compensation means making it possible to distribute the pressure exerted on each of the pivoting elements substantially equally on the foldable flaps. Such compensation means may for example be in the form of an element

constituent spring.

  Note that it is also possible to use actuator means acting on more than two guide and pressure elements or, on the contrary, an element

  actuator dedicated to a single guide and pressure element.

  Preferably, for producing containers of essentially cubic or parallelepiped shape, the machine according to the invention will have four pivoting guide and pressure elements intended to form

  four reinforcing folds in each of the corners of said container.

  According to a particularly advantageous variant, the machine according to the invention will have adjustment means making it possible to adjust the spacing between these four pivoting elements and will constitute a machine capable of adapting to several formats of containers. The invention, as well as the different benefits it will have more

  easily understood thanks to the following description of an embodiment of

  this one with reference to the figures in which: - Figure 1 represents a front view of a cutout intended for the production of a container of essentially parallelepiped shape having at each of these angles a reinforcement folding of triangular section; - Figure 2 shows a top view of a container produced after setting in volume and folding the corner reinforcements of the cutout shown in Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows a partial view of an embodiment of a machine according to the invention showing all of the innovative features thereof; - Figures 4 to 7 show different stages of the volume setting

  cutting and folding the corner reinforcements.

  With reference to FIG. 1, a cardboard cutout of conventional invoice for producing a packaging of essentially parallelepiped shape is shown. This cutout has a bottom 1 extended by four flaps 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b opposite two by two. This cut shows conventionally stacking lugs 5 and corresponding stacking notches 6. The flaps 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b are connected to the bottom 1 by fold lines shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines. Two of the side flaps 3a, 3b are extended by foldable flaps 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d which are also linked to these flaps by fold lines. Each of the flaps 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d have three parts delimited by lines folds intended to form reinforcing folds on each corner of the container produced at

  from cutting These three parts are referenced 7, 8, 9 for each flap.

  The parts 7 form proximal parts connected directly to the side flap, the parts 8 form an intermediate part, and the parts 9 form distal parts. Referring to Figure 2, the cutout shown in Figure 1 once set in volume with the machine according to the present invention is shown above ue. The corresponding container has four folds of corner reinforcement formed by the folding of the different parts 7, 8, 9 of each foldable flap 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. Such dihedral-shaped reinforcing folds have an essentially triangular cross section and make it possible to reinforce the structure.

container mechanics.

  FIG. 3 represents a part of the machine for setting up blanks of the type of that shown for FIG. 1 for producing packaging containers of the type of that shown in FIG. 2. This part groups together all of the innovative features of the machine according to the present innovation. This part is mounted vertically movable by conventional displacement means (not shown for clarity of the

  description). The movement of this part is symbolized by the double arrow A

  appearing in FIG. 3. This part is intended to cooperate with first lifting means making it possible to raise the flaps of the cutouts and to place them essentially perpendicular to the side flaps to which they are connected, second lifting means making it possible to raise the 'assembly formed by these side flaps and these foldable flaps, and third means for raising the other side flaps on these sets. These means, of conventional invoice, are not shown in FIG. 3 for

  needs clarity of description and form a folding well.

  During the implementation of the machine according to the invention, cutouts of the type of that shown in Figure 1 are successively placed between the part shown in Figure 3 and the folding well, then the part shown in Figure 3 came down to come into contact with the cutout and make it cooperate with

the folding well.

  The part of the machine shown in Figure 3 comprises a plate 12 at the four corners of which are provided means allowing the production of reinforcing folds at the four corners of the containers. For clarity of the

  description, only the means equipping two of the four angles of the plate 12 have

  been represented. It will however be understood that symmetrical means are provided

  in the other two angles of the plate 12.

  Still with reference to FIG. 3, the means for folding the flaps of the cutout to form the corner reinforcement folds include for each angle a pivotally mounted element for guiding and pressing 10b, 10d. These folding means also include fixed forming elements 12b, 12d. As will be described below in more detail, the pivoting of the elements 10b, 10d is effected by means of actuators 11 constituted in the present embodiment by a jack 15 with double rod 17b, 17d cooperating with a toothed wheel 18b , 18d itself cooperating with a smaller diameter toothed wheel 19b, 19d on which the guide element 10b, 10d is rotatably mounted. In order to allow compensation for the pressure exerted by each of the elements 10b, 10d, the part of the double rod is equipped with a spring 16. As will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 , these guide and pressure elements and these forming elements allow the production of reinforcing folds

  angles from the foldable flaps.

  The part of the machine shown in FIG. 3 also comprises a lower plate 12a mounted parallel to the main plate 12 to which it is connected by spacers 20. This lower plate 12a is equipped with two systems 21 including a plate 22 mounted on return spring 23 allowing

  keep the side flaps 3a, 3b in position after they have been raised.

  The process of folding and producing the reinforcement angles using the machine according to the present invention will now be described in more detail in

reference to Figures 4 to 7.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the flaps 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are, first of all, placed in a position perpendicular to the flaps 3a, 3b by means of lifting of conventional structure (not shown and whose action is symbolized by the arrows B). Concomitantly, the part of the machine shown in FIG. 3 is brought into contact with the cutout so as to lower this cutout and make it cooperate with conventional means making it possible to raise the assembly constituted by the side flap 3b and the flaps 4c, 4d on the one hand and the assembly constituted by the side flap 3a and the flaps 4a, 4b on the other hand. The action of these second lifting means is symbolized by the arrows C. These second lifting means make it possible to position these

  sets perpendicular to the bottom 1.

  The descent of the part of the machine shown in FIG. 3 on the blank implies bringing the ends of the guide and pressure elements and the forming elements into contact with this blank. With reference to FIG. 5, in which the guide and pressure elements 10d, 10c are shown in a first guide position, the flaps 4c, 4d are guided by means of guide surfaces 13 of these elements 10c, 10d to come correctly position themselves at right angles to the side flap 3b, between the guide and pressure elements and the forming elements. This guidance is done progressively as the assembly constituted by the side flap and its two rises

flaps.

  It will be understood that FIG. 5 shows the positioning of the guide and pressure elements 10c, 10d intended to cooperate with the flaps 4c, 4d but that symmetrical elements are provided so as to act on the flaps 4a, 4b

  which is provided with the other side flap 3a.

  Referring to Figure 6, which shows a side view of the folding means in which the guide and pressure means 10c, 10d are in the first guide position, it will be noted that at this stage of the folding process, the a side flaps 2a, 2b are not folded and cooperate with the inclined end of the

elements 10c, lob.

  The part of the machine represented in FIG. 3 then continues its downward stroke and the guiding and pressure elements are then pivoted by means of the actuator means 11 as indicated in FIG. 7. The pivoting movement of these elements 10c, 0ld is symbolized by arrows D. These actuator elements, which have an essentially trapezoidal cross section, then make it possible to fold the central part 8 of the flaps against the forming elements 12c, 12d respectively and to press the distal parts 9 against the internal wall of the shutter 3a . A similar movement of the guide and pressure elements for the other two angles is carried out. These parts 9 having been previously glued, the guide and pressure elements make it possible to bond the distal parts 9 to the flap 3a and thus to form the

  reinforcing folds which have a dihedral shape.

  The part of the machine represented in FIG. 3 then continues its downward stroke so as to bring the side flaps 2a, 2b into contact with means making it possible to raise them against the parts 7 of the folded flaps. Certain parts of these flaps 2a, 2b having been previously glued, the flaps 2a, 2b

  can be glued against the parts 7 of the flaps.

  At the end of the stroke, the part of the machine shown in Figure 3 is raised and the container thus produced (shown in Figure 2) is ejected so that

  new planar cut can be brought under this part.

  The present machine therefore makes it possible to produce containers with angles fitted with reinforcing folds in a simplified manner without involving fingers acting on the flaps by means of holes provided in the flaps.

in the side flaps.

  The embodiment described here is not intended to reduce the scope thereof. Consequently, numerous modifications can be made to it without departing from its scope. It will be noted in particular that it may be envisaged to actuate the guide and pressure elements separately for each angle or on the contrary in common to the four angles by means of common means. In other embodiments, means may be provided for adjusting the distances between the means for producing the reinforcing folds for

  each angle in order to adapt the machine to different sizes of boxes.

Claims (12)

  1. Machine for producing containers of which at least one of the corners has a reinforcing fold, from flat cutouts each consisting of a bottom (1) provided with at least a first side flap (2a, 2b) and d '' at least one second side flap (3a, 3b) extended by at least one foldable flap (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) intended to form said reinforcing fold, said machine comprising means for setting the volume of the cut and simultaneous formation of said corner reinforcement folding including first lifting means making it possible to raise said foldable flap, second lifting means making it possible to raise the assembly formed by said side flap and said foldable flap so as to position them essentially perpendicular to said bottom, third means for raising said first flap in a position essentially perpendicular to said bottom, and means for folding said foldable flap to form said reinforcing fold, charac characterized in that said folding means of said foldable flap include at least one pivoting element (0lb, lOd) for guiding and pressing said foldable flap and actuator means (11) of said pivotable element designed to allow it to adopt at least two positions, namely a first position in which it guides said flap when it is raised by said second lifting means and a second position in which it folds   said flap and presses at least a portion against said second side flap.   2. Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that said first, second and third lifting means are fixed and organized in folding wells and in that said pivoting guide and pressure element is provided on a movable plate (12) allowing pushing said cutout into said folding well.   3. Machine according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that   said means for folding said foldable flap further includes at least one fixed forming element (12b, 12d) which is interposed between said flap and said second flap at least when said guide and pressure element is in said second position.   4. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that   that said pivoting guide and pressure element has a guide face (13) of said flap when it is raised by said second lifting means and a pressure face (14) of a part of said flap against said second lateral flap, said guide face and said pressure face forming between them an angle a.   5. Machine according to claim 4 characterized in that said angle oa is equal to about 45.   6. Machine according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that said pivoting guide and pressure element has a substantially shaped section trapeze.   7. Machine according to any one of claims 3 to 6 characterized in that   that said forming element has a cross section essentially triangular.   8. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that   that said actuating means of said pivoting guide and pressure element include at least one cylinder (15).   9. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that   that said machine includes at least two pivoting guide and pressure elements intended to form at least two folds of corner reinforcement actuated by common actuator means including at least one double-rod cylinder (17b, 17d). 10. Machine according to claim 9 characterized in that said double-rod cylinder has compensation means (16) making it possible to distribute the pressure exerted on each of said pivoting elements substantially equally. on the foldable flaps.   11. Machine according to any one of claims 9 or 10 characterized in   that it has four pivoting guide and pressure elements intended to form four reinforcing folds for the production of containers of essentially cubic or parallelepiped shape, each of the angles of which is provided of a reinforcement folding.   12. Machine according to claim 11 characterized in that it is provided with means for adjusting the spacing between said four pivoting elements of guidance and pressure.