FR3057204A1 - MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONTAINERS IN A BOTTOM AND / OR COVER BOX COMPRISING A DISC-BASED BASE AND A SIDE SURFACE DEFINED BY A BELT OR BELT CONNECTED TO THE PERIMETER OF THE DISC-BASE BASE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine for the production of box-shaped containers having a bottom and / or a lid, composed of a disk-like base and a lateral surface defined by a belt or belt comprising: a table (6) rotating about a vertical axis, a plurality of dies (9) being individually rotatable relative to said table (6), a first transfer station (10), a second transfer station (11), at least one station stapling (12) a belt (83) and a base (82) disposed on a same die (9) positioned in said stapling station (12), and a third transfer station (13).

Description

057204

59382 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

COURBEVOIE

©) Int Cl ⁸ : B 31 B 50/68 (2017.01), B 31 B 50/70, 50/06, 110/20, B 65 D 85/76

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 06.10.17. ©) Applicant (s): CORALI - S.P.A. - IT. (30) Priority: 06.10.16 IT 10201600010015. ©) Inventor (s): TROVENZI GIUSEPPE. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 13.04.18 Bulletin 18/15. (56) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: The latter was not established on the date of publication of the request. (© References to other national documents ©) Holder (s): CORALI - S.P.A .. related: ©) Extension request (s): @) Agent (s): NONY OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONTAINERS IN A BOTTOM AND / OR COVER COMPOSED OF A BASE LIKE A DISC AND A SIDE SURFACE DEFINED BY A BELT OR BELT CONNECTED TO THE PERIMETER OF THE BASE LIKE A DISC.

FR 3 057 204 - A1 (bp) The present invention relates to a machine for the production of containers in the form of a box having a bottom and / or a lid, composed of a disc-like base and a lateral surface defined by a band or belt comprising:

a table (6) rotating around a vertical axis, several dies (9) which can rotate individually with respect to said table (6), at least a first transfer station (10), a second transfer station (11), at least a stapling station (12) with a belt (83) and a base (82) arranged on the same matrix (9) positioned in said stapling station (12), and a third transfer station (13 ).

i

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONTAINERS IN A BOTTOM AND / OR LID COMPOSED OF A BASE LIKE A DISC AND A SIDE SURFACE DEFINED BY A BELT OR BELT CONNECTED TO THE PERIMETER OF THE BASE LIKE A DISC

The subject of the present invention is a machine for producing boxed containers with bottom and / or lid formed from a base similar to a disc and the lateral surface of which is defined by a band or belt connected to the periphery of the base similar to a disk.

It is known that in recent years the demand for canned containers made of natural materials, for example paper or cardboard, has increased, in particular for the packaging of food products. The present invention relates in particular to the sector of the production of containers formed by a bottom and / or a lid, each formed by a base similar to a disc with a circular, polygonal or elliptical perimeter, and by a surface. lateral formed in the form of a band or a belt which extends along the perimeter of a face of the disc-like base and which is fixed to the disc-like base by means of staples located at a mutual distance along the junction of the disc-like base and the lateral surface. These boxed containers are preferably made of wood and are used for packaging food products, in particular cheeses, the configuration of which usually corresponds to that of the container.

Boxed containers of this kind are currently produced manually by an operator who places the disc-like base and the belt on a support and then staples the disc-like base on the belt by means of a manually operated stapler.

This manual production technique poses various problems, among which: low productivity, quality of boxed containers which depends on the skill of the operator, work tiring for the operator and high production costs.

Some automatic machines are known for producing these boxed containers. These machines are equipped with automatic loading systems for bases similar to a disc and belts and are equipped with several stapling heads, the number of which depends on the number of staples to be applied in order to assemble the belt and the base similar to a disc on the bottom or lid of the boxed container.

These machines are generally produced according to the specific requests of certain producers of boxed containers and are therefore practically not present on the market. These machines present the problem of a very reduced production flexibility by the fact that in general, their design allows them to produce only one format of boxed containers. In addition, they are generally very noisy and require frequent handling operations which can stop the machine for long periods of time.

The main object of the present invention is to solve the problems set out above by making a machine for producing containers in bottom boxes and / or lids, consisting of a disc-like base and a defined lateral surface. by a band or a belt connected to the perimeter of the base similar to a disc, able to allow a high production as well as an optimal reliability and an accuracy of operation.

In this context, an object of the invention is to provide a machine which has a low noise operation.

Another object of the invention consists in making a machine capable of producing different formats of containers with simple modifications, implemented quickly.

Another machine object that handles.

of the invention consists in achieving a requires fewer interventions of

Another object of the invention consists in making a fully automatic machine which requires extremely little manual intervention and high safety for the operating operators.

which guarantees a responsible for its

This problem, as well as these objects, and others, which may appear later, are achieved with a machine for the production of containers in the form of a box having a bottom and / or a lid, composed of a base similar to a disc and a lateral surface defined by a band or a belt peripherally connected to the base similar to a disc, characterized in that it comprises at least one production unit which comprises:

- a first group of loading bases similar to a disc to a first transporter,

- a second group for loading belts or belts onto a transporter,

- a table arranged horizontally and rotating around a main vertical axis with respect to a main support structure,

- several essentially cylindrical dies, mounted on said table with their axis vertical and arranged at an angular distance from each other around said main axis, said dies being able to rotate individually around their axis relative to said belt table dies

a first transfer station provided with first cyclic transfer means from one of said bases similar to a disc of said first conveyor at the upper base of one of said dies arranged in said first transfer station,

a second transfer station provided with second cyclic transfer means from one of said belts of said second conveyor to one of said dies arranged in said second transfer station and means for winding each of said belts around a matrix corresponding to proximity to its upper base,

at least one stapling station provided with means for stapling a belt and a base similar to a disc arranged on the same die positioned in said stapling station,

- A third transfer station with third means for cyclic transfer of a bottom or a cover, consisting of a base similar to a disc and of a stapled, from one of said in said third transfer station to an output transporter,

means of intermittent rotation of said table about a said main axis for the successive positioning of said dies in one of said stations and

- Means for individual rotation of said dies around the respective axis with respect to said table, at least in correspondence with said second which is positioned there transfer station and with said stapling station. The invention may have the following additional characteristics, alone or in combination:

said first group for loading bases similar to a disc comprises:

a magazine of bases similar to a stacked disc and first loading means which can be actuated to carry out in a cyclic manner the grasping of the disc-like base situated at the lower end of the stack and its deposit on said first conveyor;

- said second group for loading belts comprises:

a store of stacked belts and second loading means which can be actuated to take hold of the belt located at the lower end of the stack and deposit it on said second conveyor;

- Said first conveyor and / or said second conveyor consist of skid conveyors which can be actuated in an intermittent forward movement to position cyclically, respectively, a base similar to a disc in said first transfer station and / or a belt in said second transfer station;

- Said first loading means comprise a movable suction cup for cyclically gripping said disk-like base located at the lower end of the stack of disk-like bases in said store and transferring it from said base store similar to a disc into said first conveyor;

- Said second loading means comprise a suction nozzle part of the end of cyclically engaging a belt located at the lower end of the stack of belts in the belt store and able to be moved on command to achieve separation of said end portion of the belt located below said stack of belts and means for gripping said end portion of the belt, adapted to be actuated to perform the lateral extraction of the belt from the stack belts and its positioning on said second conveyor;

- In said second transfer station are arranged means for dispensing an adhesive on the end portions of the belt which pass successively in said second transfer station;

- Said second transfer means comprise an arm rotating around a corresponding vertical axis of rotation and provided near one of its ends with a clamp capable of cyclically engaging an end portion of a belt disposed on said second conveyor, said arm being able to rotate about a corresponding axis of rotation to wear a belt cyclically so as to place said end portion on the lateral surface of one of said dies arranged in said second transfer station;

- said winding means comprise:

a first stop finger located in said second transfer station and actuated on command to cyclically push said end portion of a belt against the lateral surface of one of said dies arranged in said second transfer station, first means of individual rotation of the die arranged in said second transfer station about its axis with respect to said table, a second stop finger mounted on each of said dies and able to be actuated on command to push against the lateral surface of the arranged die in said second transfer station the two opposite ends of the belt superimposed on each other at the end of the winding;

- Said winding means comprise a lateral buffer located in said second transfer station and stationary with respect to the rotational movement of the matrix around its axis, said lateral buffer being able to be actuated to push the belt against the lateral surface of the matrix during the rotation of the matrix around its axis to realize the winding of the belt around the matrix;

- in said stapling station are arranged second means for individual rotation of the die around its axis relative to said table in an intermittent movement synchronized with the actuation of said stapling means for stapling the base similar to a disc on the belt disposed on the die positioned in said stapling station, by staples located at an angular distance from each other around the axis of the die;

- Said dies are linked in rotation about the respective axes to the rotation of said table around said main axis in order to maintain a predefined rotational position around their respective axis relative to said table, except when they are positioned in said second transfer station and in said stapling station, in which they are respectively connected to said first individual rotation means and to said second individual die rotation means;

- Each of said dies is provided with means for disengaging the bottom or the cover, consisting of a base similar to a disc and of a belt stapled to each other;

- Said means for disengaging the bottom or the cover comprise an annular body disposed coaxially on the lateral surface of each matrix below the zone occupied or capable of being occupied by the belt, said annular body being axially movable upwards relative to the bottom of the remaining part of the matrix concerned, to engage the lower edge of the belt and push up the bottom or the cover, said disengagement means being able to be activated near said third transfer station;

- in said second transfer station and / or in said stapling station is disposed a respective upper buffer which can be actuated on command to

repel the base similar to a disk sure the based superior of the matrix concerned; - each of said matrices is equipped sure her based superior of a suction cup detention of a based similar to a disc;

- Each of said dies houses pushers, one end of which is disposed in the region of the edge between the upper base and the lateral surface of the die concerned, said pushers cooperating with said stapling head to repel the staples applied to said head d 'stapling in said edge area;

- The machine comprises two twin production units arranged side by side, namely respectively a production unit for the production of bottoms and a production unit for the production of covers;

- It comprises a unit for coupling a bottom to a cover successively at the outlet of said two production units;

- Said coupling unit comprises positioning means which successively place, by their open side, a bottom at the outlet of one of said production units and a cover at the outlet of the other of said production units;

two ribs, one of said one and one

- Said positioning means comprise twin conveyor belts arranged side by side each supplied by the output conveyor of said two course conveyor units which has production, each binocular extending a horizontal part vertical part, the vertical part being adjacent an edge of support which holds the bottoms or the covers with their base similar to a disc in an essentially vertical position, each of said twin conveyor belts ending in a corresponding vertical guide adjacent to the vertical guide of the other of said twin conveyor belts, said vertical guides supplying a device coupling a bottom, provided by a vertical guide, to a cover provided by the other vertical guide.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge mainly from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the machine selonο according to the invention, shown for information and non-limiting in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents the machine according to the invention viewed in plan from above, certain elements having been omitted for the sake of simplification, FIG. 2 represents the machine according to the invention in side elevation, certain elements having been omitted for the sake of simplification for simplification, FIG. 3 represents the machine according to the invention in a perspective view, certain elements having been omitted for the sake of simplification, FIGS. 4 to 6 diagrammatically show in side elevation the operation of the first group for loading similar bases to a disc on the first conveyor, FIGS. 7 to 9 schematically represent in lateral elevation the operation of the second belt loading group on the second conveyor, FIGS. 10 and 11 schematically represent in lateral elevation the operation of the first transfer means from '' a base similar to a disc from the first transporter to the at the upper base of a matrix located in the first transfer station, FIGS. 12 to 14 schematically represent in a plan view from above the operation of the second means of transferring a belt from the second conveyor to a matrix of the second stations Figures 15 and 16 show schematically in side elevation the operation of the second transfer means under the operating conditions which correspond to Figures 12 and 14, Figures 17 to 19 show schematically, in a plan view from above partially in section and enlarged, the winding of a belt around a matrix of the second transfer station, FIG. 20 represents the operating conditions of FIG. 19 in a side view, FIG. 21 schematically represents, in a view in plan from above partially in section and enlarged, the end of the winding of a belt around a matrix located in the second transfer station, FIG. 22 represents the operating conditions of FIG. 21 in a side elevation view, FIG. 23 schematically shows in lateral elevation the stapling of a base similar to a disc and of a belt in the stapling station, Figure 24 shows schematically, in a plan view from above and partially in section, the operating conditions of Figure 23, Figure 25 shows schematically the operation of the third means of transfer of a bottom or a cover of a matrix at the outlet conveyor, in a side view, FIG. 26 represents the operating conditions represented in FIG. 25 in a plan view from the top and enlarged,

the figure 27 represents a detail enlarged of the figure 3, the figure 28 represents a detail enlarged of the figure 1, the figure 29 represents in a view lateral

partially in section the stapling station, Figures 30 to 35 show an axially cut and enlarged die, under different operating conditions, Figures 36 to 38 show in more detail an example of boxed containers formed from a bottom and 'a cover and suitable for being produced with the machine according 1'invention, Figure 36 shows the container in an exploded perspective view, Figure 37 shows the container in a perspective view with the bottom coupled to the cover and Figure 38 represents the container in axial section.

With reference to the figures cited, the machine according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises at least one operational unit A, B able to produce bottoms 81a or lids 81b of containers in box 80.

Figures 36 to 38 show an example of a boxed container 80 capable of being produced by the machine according to the invention. These boxed containers 80 are formed with a bottom 81a and a cover 81b, each consisting of a base similar to a disc 82 and a lateral surface defined by a band or belt 83 which is connected to the similar base. to a disc 82 corresponding to the perimeter of the latter and which extends over a face of said base similar to a disc 82. The strip or belt 83 is joined to the base similar to a disc 82 by means of staples 84 metal angles which are arranged along the edge of the junction of the base similar to a disc 82 to the strip or belt 83 and which are arranged at a distance from each other along this edge. The cover 81b is practically identical to the bottom 81a but the diameter of its disc-like base 82 is slightly greater than that of the disc-like base 82 of the bottom 81a, so that the bottom 81a can be inserted into the cover 81b.

The boxed container 80 shown in FIGS. 36 to 38 is presented purely by way of example and, as will appear more clearly in the following, the machine according to the invention is able to produce boxed containers whose conformation is different of the cylindrical conformation shown and in particular of a prismatic conformation, for example with a square, hexagonal, octagonal, or cylindrical base with an elliptical base.

In the embodiment shown, the machine according to the invention comprises two twin production units arranged one next to the other and designated respectively by the letters A and B: a production unit A by the production of funds 81a and a production unit B by the production of the covers 81b of the disc containers 80.

The machine concerned preferably also comprises a coupling unit C which is supplied with bottoms 81a and with covers 81b at the outlet of the two twin production units A and B and which ensures the coupling one by one of a bottom 81a and a cover 81b so as to produce, as required, a boxed container 80 consisting of the bottom 81a and the cover 81b.

As the two production units A, B are essentially identical to each other, to simplify the description which follows, only the production unit A which produces the funds 81a will be described, but retaining that what is described for production unit A also applies to other production unit B, the elements of which shown in the drawings have the same reference numbers as for production unit A.

The production unit A comprises: a first group 2 for loading bases similar to a disc 82 on a first conveyor 3 and a second group 4 for loading belts or belts 83, called belts below, on a second transporter 5.

The machine also comprises an essentially flat table 6 which is arranged horizontally and which is rotatably supported about a vertical main axis 7 by a main support structure 8 which is provided with feet for laying on the ground.

On the table 6 which preferably has a circular shape and the axis of which coincides with the main axis 7 are arranged several dies 9, preferably four or five in number, which are essentially cylindrical or prismatic and which are oriented with their axis vertical and therefore parallel to the main axis 7. These dies 9 are arranged at an angular distance from each other around the main axis 7 and have a conformation correlated to the conformation that is desired for the containers in box 80 to be produced. More particularly, these matrices 9 can have a circular or even polygonal base, for example square, hexagonal, octagonal or even elliptical, depending on whether it is necessary to produce containers in a cylinder with a circular base or in a prism, for example with a square, hexagonal base. , octagonal or even in cylinder with elliptical base, etc. The disc-like bases 82 used for the production of these containers have a conformation which corresponds to the conformation of the upper base of the dies 9.

Around the table 6 are defined several work stations corresponding to each of which are automatically executed the operations necessary for the realization of the boxed containers 80 that the machine will have to produce. More particularly, around the table 6, in zones located at an angular distance from each other around the main axis 7, there is provided a first transfer station 10, a second transfer station 11, at least one stapling 12 and a third transfer station 13.

In the first transfer station 10 are arranged first means 14 for cyclic transfer of one of the bases similar to a disc 82 of the first conveyor 3 to the upper base of a matrix 9 when the latter is located in the first transfer station 10.

In the second transfer station 11 are arranged second means 15 for cyclic transfer of one of the belts 83 of the second conveyor 5 towards one of the dies 9 when the latter comes to be placed in the second transfer station 11, and means of winding 16 of each belt 83 around a corresponding matrix 9, near the upper base of the latter.

In the stapling station 12 are arranged means 17 for stapling a belt 83 on a base similar to a disc 82, arranged on the same die 9 when the latter is placed in the stapling station 12.

In the third transfer station 13 are provided third means 18 for cyclic transfer to an outlet conveyor 19 from a bottom 81a or a cover 81b made up of the assembly obtained by stapling a base similar to a disc 82 on a belt 83 of one of the dies 9 when it is placed in the third transfer station 13.

The machine in question is provided with means for intermittent rotation of the table 6 around the main axis 7 at angles of fixed and constant amplitude, so as to position the dies 9 one by one in one of the positions mentioned above, and means for individual rotation of the dies 9 about their relative axis 9a with respect to the table 6, at least in correspondence with the second transfer station 11 and the stapling station 12, namely respectively first individual rotation means 21 and second individual rotation means 66, as will be seen more clearly below.

More particularly, the table 6 is rotatably supported about its axis which coincides with the main axis 7 by the main support structure 8 and the intermittent rotation means of the table 6 comprise a main geared motor, not shown, the output shaft 54 is connected via a chain transmission 53 to a ring gear 52 which is fixed below the table 6 and coaxially with respect to it.

The first group diagrammatically in loading 2 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 comprises a magazine 22 of bases similar to a disc 82 stacked essentially vertically or in a slight inclination relative to the vertical and third loading means 23 which can be actuated to operate cyclically, gripping the base similar to a disc 82 located at the lower end of the stack and depositing it on the first conveyor 3. The magazine 22 consists of guides 24 vertical or slightly inclined with respect to the vertical between which are arranged the bases similar to a disc 82 stacked. Corresponding to the lower end of the stack of disc-like bases 82 are provided in a manner known per se flexible supports, not shown, which hold the disc-like base 82 located at the lower end of the stack to proximity of its perimeter so as to support the entire stack of bases similar to a disc 82.

The first loading means 23 include a movable suction cup 25 on command, for example by the action of a hydraulic cylinder 26, for cyclically gripping the base similar to a disc 82 located at the lower end of the stack of similar bases to a disc 82 in the magazine 22 and to operate cyclically, taking advantage of its deformability and the collapse of the supports of the stack, its disengagement from the magazine 22 and its transfer to the first conveyor 3.

The first conveyor 3 consists of a pad conveyor, one end of which is disposed below the base magazine similar to a disc 82. The pads 3a of this conveyor 3 are arranged at regular distance from one another along the extension of said conveyor 3 and are connected to a pair of chains or parallel belts which are adjacent to each other at a mutual distance sufficient to allow the passage of the suction cup 25 of the first loading means 23. The end of arrival of the first conveyor 3 is arranged near the first transfer station 10. The first conveyor 3 is actuated intermittently so as to successively position the space surrounded by the two successive pads 3a below the store 22 of bases similar to a disc 82, to receive by the action of the suction cup 25 a base similar to a disc 82 and to cyclically position a base similar to a disc 82 to pro near first transfer station 10.

The first transfer means 14 schematically in particular in figures comprise an arm 27 which is arranged horizontally and which is supported in rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 28 which passes in an intermediate zone of its longitudinal extension, by the support structure main 8. This shaft 27 is also movable along said axis of rotation 28 so that it can be raised and lowered on command. The arm 27 has, near its longitudinal ends, two suction cups 29 and 30 which are equidistant from the axis of rotation 28 and which can be connected on command to a suction duct not shown for the sake of simplification. The arm 27 can rotate intermittently around the axis of rotation angles of 180 ° so as to be placed successively on a suction cup 29 or 30 above a base similar to a disc 82 carried successively at the arrival end shown and 11 so 28 on of the first conveyor 3 and with the other suction cup 30 or above a matrix 9 which is placed successively in correspondence with the first transfer station 10. In practice, when a base similar to a disc 82 is placed in correspondence with the first transfer station 10, the arm 27 is lowered and the suction cup 29 or located above the first conveyor 3 is activated so as to take the base similar to a disc 82 located below. By successive lifting and rotation of the arm 27 by an angle of 180 ° (FIG. 10) followed by a lowering, the base similar to a disc 82 which was previously removed by the first conveyor 3, is placed on the upper base of the matrix 9 which is located in correspondence with the first transfer station 10, while the other suction cup 30 or 29 engages another base similar to a disc 82 which in the meantime has reached the arrival end of the first conveyor 3 (FIG. 11).

The second loading group 4 for belts 83 shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 7 to 9 comprises a magazine 31 for stacked belts 83 and second loading means 32 which can be actuated to operate the gripping of the belt 83 located at the lower end of the stack and place it on the second conveyor 5.

The magazine 31 for belts 83 consists of guides 33 which are vertical or inclined with respect to the vertical, between which the belts 83 are stacked and which are supported on a pair of rollers 34 with free rotation.

The second loading means 32 comprise a suction mouth 35 which can be connected in a manner known per se to a suction duct and which cyclically engages an end portion of the belt located at the lower end of the stack of belts 83 in the magazine 31. The second loading means 32 also comprise gripping means which can engage this end portion of the belt 83 and which can be actuated to operate the lateral extraction of the belt 83 from the stack of conveyor belts to cause the to position it on the second

5. More particularly, the suction mouth 35 can engage an end portion of the belt 83 located on one side of the pair of freely rotating rollers 34 (FIG. 7) and can be moved downward on command. detachment of this end part of the belt 83 located at the lower end of the stack of belts 83 relative to the belt 83 located above, by bringing this end part upwards in contact with a roller 36 disposed with its transverse axis to the longitudinal extension of the belt 83 (Figure 8). The above-mentioned gripping means include this roller 36, a small contact roller 37 and a pair of rollers 38 rotating in opposite directions. The roller 36 can be made to move in rotation about its axis and the small contact roller 37 placed above the roller 36 can move towards the roller 36 to increase the contact of the belt portion 83 against the roller 36.

contact and rotation actuation of the roller 36, the belt 83 located at the lower end of the belt stack 83 is extracted laterally and passes through the pair of rollers 38 rotating in opposite directions from end to end which ends the extraction out of the belt store belt 83 and transports it to the second conveyor 5 (Figure 9). This second conveyor 5 also consists of a skid conveyor which is laterally ends by actuated in a arranged with one of its relation to the magazine 31 and which is intermittent advancement so as to successively position the space between the two skids 5a in correspondence with the extraction zone of the belt 83 outside the magazine 31 of stacked belts 83. In this way, the belt 83 extracted from the magazine 31 is placed on the second conveyor 5 between the two successive pads 5a.

The other end of the second conveyor 5 is arranged in correspondence with the second transfer station 11 so that the intermittent advancement of the second conveyor 5 successively brings the belts 83 and positions them in the second transfer station 11.

The second transfer means 15 arranged in the second station schematically include one of and shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 in a transfer plane 11 in detail in the arms 39 arranged essentially horizontal and supported around a vertical relative axis of rotation 40 disposed nearby. of one of its longitudinal ends, of the main support structure 8. This shaft 39 is provided near its end opposite the axis of rotation 40 with a clamp 41, for example a clamp with pneumatic actuation , which can cyclically engage an end part of the belt 83 disposed on the second conveyor 5. The arm 39 can rotate around the relative axis of rotation 40 to cyclically wear a belt 83 and place it with this end part on the lateral surface of one of the dies 9 arranged in the second transfer station 11.

Advantageously, in the second transfer station 11 are arranged means 42 for dispensing an adhesive on the end portion of the belt 83 near the area which is gripped by the clamp 41, before the arm 39 transports it to the second conveyor 5. More particularly, these means 42 for dispensing adhesive consist of at least one nozzle 43 supported by the main support structure 8 and oriented towards said end region of the belt 83 , in an area close to but not in contact with the area gripped by the clamp 41.

The winding means 16 comprise a first stop finger 44 which is stably located in the second transfer station 11, the first individual rotation means 21 of the matrix 9 arranged in the second transfer station 11 around its axis relative to the table 6 and a second stop finger 45 mounted on each of the dies 9 and actuated on command to clamp the two opposite ends of the belt 83, which are thus superimposed mutually at the end of the winding against the lateral surface of the die 9 arranged in the second transfer station 11.

In more detail, in correspondence with the second transfer station 11, the main support structure 8 rotatably supports around its axis 46a disposed vertically an arm 46 which has in correspondence at its lower end an upper pad 47. The shaft 46 is movable vertically relative to the main support structure 8, so as to engage the upper pad 47 against the disk-like base 82 disposed on the upper base of the die 9 located in the second transfer station 11. This shaft 46 also supports the first stop finger 44 which is movable on command along a radial direction relative to the axis 46a of the shaft 46 which coincides with the axis 9a of the matrix 9 which is located correspondence to the second transfer station 11. The actuation of the first stop finger 44 can be carried out in a manner known per se, for example by means of a first pusher 48 provided in correspondence e to the second transfer station 11, and which acts on command on a first slide 49 which carries the first stop finger 44 and which is mounted on the upper pad 47. This first slide 49 is integral with the shaft 46 and the upper buffer 47 in the rotation about the axis 46a.

The first individual rotation means 21 from the to the second station of the first toothed wheel a toothed wheel 51 matrix 9 in transfer 11 additional correspondence comprise a 50 which meshes correspondingly carried by each of the matrices 9.

More particularly, below the table arranged a main toothed ring 55, don1 coincides with the main axis 7, which is fixed main support structure 8 and which fixes during the rotation of the main table 6.

Table 6 is 55, of which 1 axis is fixed to the however rest around 1 axis

Each matrix 9 is fixed coaxially to the upper end of a can 56 supported in rotation about its axis by a collar 57 which is fixed on the upper face of the table 6. This can 56 is coaxially connected in a manner integral with the rotation about its axis to the toothed wheel 51 which meshes with the main toothed crown 55.

Following this coupling, during the rotation of the table 6 around the main axis 7, the dies 9 rotate around their respective axis 9a relative to the table 6. The coupling of the toothed wheel 51 of each matrix 9 with the main toothed crown 55 guarantees precise and prefixed angular positioning of each matrix 9 around its axis 9a in correspondence with the different stations which are positioned by means of the rotation of the table 6 around the main axis 7.

In correspondence with the second transfer station 11 where a belt 83 is wound around the lateral surface of a matrix 9, it is necessary to operate a complete rotation of the matrix 9 around its axis. For this reason, in correspondence with the second transfer station 11, the main ring gear 55 has a sleeve 55a not provided with teeth so as to allow the matrix 9 to rotate about its axis 9a. In correspondence with this sleeve 55a, below the main gear 55 is provided the first additional gear 50 whose teeth have the same module as the teeth of the main gear 55, and that engages the gear 51 of the matrix 9 when it is arranged in correspondence with the second transfer station 11. The first additional toothed wheel 50 is connected to an actuation motor of known type and not shown for the sake of simplification, capable of precisely controlling the rotation of its output shaft, and actuated to cause the rotation of the first additional toothed wheel 50 around its axis and therefore the rotation of the die 9 around its axis 9a relative to the table 6 over a prefixed amplitude angle which allows d '' obtaining the complete winding of a belt 83 around the lateral surface of the matrix 9.

It should be noted that each belt 83 has a length slightly greater than the development of the circumference of the lateral surface of the matrix 9 on which it is to be wound. For this reason, at the end of the winding, one end of the belt 83 is superimposed on the opposite end of the belt 83 precisely in the area on which the adhesive has been sprayed.

The second stop finger 45 is mounted on a second slide 58 which is also horizontal and which is slidably supported by the corresponding die 9 in a radial direction relative to the axis of the die 9. The second stop finger 45 rises vertically with respect to said second slider 58 and is placed on the lateral surface of the matrix 9. By sliding the second slider 58 in a radial direction relative to the matrix 9, the second finger can be approached or moved away stop 45 relative to the lateral surface of the die 9.

The second stop finger 45 is movable on command from an engagement position in which it engages the belt 83 wound around the lateral surface of the matrix 9 concerned to a first disengagement position in which it is distant from the lateral surface of the relative matrix 9 to a sufficient extent to disengage the belt 83 wound around the matrix 9 concerned, and to a second disengagement position in which it is distant from the lateral surface of the matrix 9 concerned in one measure larger than in the first disengagement position, which allows the first stop finger 44 to pass between the second stop finger 45 and the lateral surface of the matrix 9 concerned.

More particularly, a shaft 59 capable of sliding axially with respect to the can 56 is arranged coaxially inside the can 56. This shaft 59 projects from the bottom of the can 56 and can be engaged by a lifting cam and lowering 6 0 which is fixed on a plane of the structure of the main support 8 located below the table 6. The shaft 59 is connected to the second slide 58 by means of a lever

ratchet 61. In convenient, as represented in particular the succession figures 3 0 to 33, Commitment of The end lower than The tree 59 against section uphill 60a from cam 60 provokes the uprising from the tree 59 itself compared to the can 56 and therefore the rotation of the lever at pawl 61

which, by acting against the second slide 58, causes the second stop finger 45 to move away from the lateral surface of the die 9, which brings it from the engagement position (FIG. 30) to the first position disengagement (Figures 31 and 32). The engagement of the lower end of the shaft 59 against the descent line 60b of the cam 60 causes the lowering of the shaft 59 and therefore the rotation in opposite direction of the ratchet lever 61 with consequently the return, for example under the action of elastic means not shown for the sake of simplification, of the second stop finger 45 in the engagement position and thus against the belt 83 wound on the lateral surface of the matrix 9 or against the lateral surface of the matrix 9 if the belt 83 is absent (Figure 33).

As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, in addition to the axial displacement of the shaft 59, the second slide 58 can also be moved by means of a second assembly 62 provided in correspondence with the second transfer station 11 and capable of engaging the second slide 58 similarly to what happens with the first assembly 48 for the first slide 49 which carries the first stop finger 44.

The placement of the second stop finger 45 at a distance from the lateral surface of the matrix 9, obtained by means of the second assembly 62 (FIG. 35) in correspondence with the second transfer station 11 and over a greater amplitude than the displacement than the '' can be obtained on the lateral surface the complete winding of the engagement of the shaft 59 on the cam 60, brings the second stop finger 45 in the second disengagement position in which the first stop finger 44 can pass between the second stop finger 45 and the matrix 9 of a belt 83 lateral surface of the matrix 9 located in the second transfer station 11.

the to get around the

The return of the second stop finger 45 to the engagement position is obtained using elastic means of known type and not shown if the action of the second assembly 62 runs out (FIG. 34).

It should be noted that following its radial displacement relative to the matrix 9, the second slide 58 which carries the second stop finger 45 can be engaged or disengaged relative to a seat 63 defined in the can 56. When the second slide 58 engages this seat 63, the can 56 is integral with the rotation about the axis 9a and therefore with the corresponding matrix 9, while when it is disengaged from said seat 63, it is detached from the rotation of the can 56 and therefore of the matrix 9 around the axis 9a. The placement of the second slide 58 caused by the lifting of the shaft 59, and therefore the displacement which causes the passage of the second stop finger 45 in the first disengagement position, does not disengage the second slide 58 from the seat 63 of the can 56. Under these conditions, the second slide 58 and therefore the second stop finger 45 are integral with the corresponding matrix 9 in the rotation about the axis 9a.

The displacement of the second slide 58 caused by the second assembly 62 and therefore the displacement which causes the passage of the second stop finger 45 in the second disengagement position, causes the disengagement of the second slide 58 relative to the seat 63 of the can 56 Under these conditions, the second slide 58 and therefore the second stop finger 45 are separated from the rotation of the corresponding matrix 9 around the axis 9a.

In the second transfer station 11, a lateral buffer 64 is further provided which is stationary with respect to the rotational movement of the die 9 around its axis 9a and which can be approached or distant on command relative to the lateral surface of the matrix 9. This lateral buffer 64 is carried by an arm 65 which is supported by the main support structure 8 and which can be moved in a manner known per se, for example by the action of an actuator of the mechanical or pneumatic type, for s '' approach or move away from the matrix 9 towards the second transfer station 11.

In practice, as shown in the succession of FIGS. 15 to 22, when, following the rotation of the table 6 around its axis, a matrix 9 is placed in correspondence with the second transfer station 11, its toothed wheel 51 which comes in correspondence to the sleeve 55a, disengages from the main toothed crown 55 and engages on the first additional toothed wheel 50. When the matrix 9 arrives in the second transfer station 11, the upper pad 47 is lowered so as to grip the disk-like base 82 which has previously been placed on the die 9 against the upper base of said die 9, while the first stop finger 44 is spaced from the side surface of the die 9 and the second finger d 'stop 45 comes by means of the second assembly 62 to be placed in the second disengagement position in which it is disengaged from the matrix 9 as regards the rotation of the latter around its axis 9a with respect to table 6 (Figures 15 and 17). Under these conditions, the end of a belt 83 is placed against the lateral surface of the matrix 9 placed in correspondence of said second transfer station 11, by the movement of the arm 39 which has gripped said belt 83 in the second conveyor 5 .

The end of the belt 83 close to the matrix 9 is pushed against the lateral surface of said matrix 9 by means of the approach of the first stop finger 44 caused by the first assembly 48 (Figures 16 and 18). The first additional toothed wheel 50 is therefore actuated in a rotational movement which causes the matrix 9 to rotate about its axis 9a and the upper pad 47, with the first stop finger 44 engaged on the belt 83, rotates integrally with the matrix 9. As soon as this rotation has been started, the lateral buffer 64 is placed against the matrix 9 in correspondence with the zone occupied by the belt 83 which is wound on it following its rotation (FIGS. 19 and 20). An intermediate phase of winding the belt 83 around the matrix 9 located in the second transfer station 11 has also been shown diagrammatically in FIG. 14.

When the die 9 has made a complete revolution around its axis 9a with respect to the table 6, the belt 83 has been completely wound around the die 9 and its final end is superimposed on the initial end, with interposition of the adhesive.

It should be noted that during the rotation of the die 9 around its axis 9a, the second stop finger 45 is in the second disengagement position so as to allow the passage of the first stop finger which has pinched the end initial belt 83 near the area occupied by the adhesive and which rotates at the same time as the matrix 9.

At the end of the winding of the belt 83 around the matrix 9, by pinching the second assembly 62, the second stop finger 45 comes into the engagement position by pinching the superimposed ends of the belt 83 against the surface side of the matrix 9 (Figures 21 and 22). The first stop finger 44, by pinching the first assembly 48, comes into the disengagement position and is therefore distant from the lateral surface of the matrix 9. It should be noted that the passage of the second stop finger 45 in the engagement position causes the second stop finger 45 to become integral with the rotation of the matrix 9 about its axis, as explained above.

The upper pad 47 is therefore raised and the table 6 turns around the main axis 7 so as to position a new die 9 in correspondence with the second transfer station 11.

In the stapling station 12 are arranged the second individual rotation means 66 of the die 9 around its axis 9a relative to the table 6, in an intermittent movement synchronized with the actuation of the stapling means 17 so as to sew one on the other the disc-like base 82 and the belt 83, which are arranged on the matrix 9 placed in the stapling station 2, by means of staples 84 which are located at an angular mutual distance around of axis 9a of matrix 9.

In more detail, to allow the individual rotation of the die 9 arranged in the stapling station 12 around its axis 9a relative to the table 6, and also in correspondence with the stapling station 12, the main toothed crown 55 has a sleeve 55b devoid of teeth and, in correspondence with the sleeve 55b, below the main toothed ring 55, is disposed a second additional toothed wheel 67 whose teeth have the same module as the teeth of the main toothed ring 55 and which engages the toothed wheel 51 of the matrix 9 as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 23 and 24, and which can be actuated in an intermittent rotation movement.

The stapling means 17 shown in particular in FIG. 29 comprise a stapling head 68 of known type, able to execute stapling by staples84 at an angle. More particularly, the stapling head 68 has its own support structure 69 associated in an adjustable manner with the main support structure 8 in correspondence with the stapling station 12. The support structure 69 of the stapling head 68 supports a movable part 70 which slidably houses a hammer 71 which can be actuated to actuate cyclically the cutting of a metal wire 72, the formation of a staple and its expulsion at one end of the mobile part 70 which is then fixed on an area of the edge located between the upper base and the lateral surface of the die 9 positioned in correspondence with the stapling station 12. The movable part 70 of the stapling head 68 can be moved on command to approach and move away from the matrix 9 arranged in correspondence with the stapling station 12. The metal wire 72 which comes from a reel 73 is brought to the stapling head 68 by means of a pair of rollers co rotary 74, 75 between which it is caused to pass.

The displacement of the mobile part 70, of the hammer 71 and the actuation of the counter-rotating rollers 74, 75 is obtained by means of rod and crank systems 76 of known type which are not described in detail for the sake of simplification, by a single shaft 77 which is actuated in a rotational movement around its axis.

Inside each die 9, in correspondence with the zones which are intended to be successively fixed to the stapling head 68 to receive a staple 84, are arranged pushers 78 which can be actuated to fold down the staples84 when the latter are fixed in the base similar to a disc 82 and in the belt 83 disposed on the matrix 9.

These pushers 78 have an arcuate configuration and are slidably housed inside the curved seats 79 which are defined inside the body of each matrix 9 and which are located at mutual angular distance around the axis 9a of the matrix 9 corresponding, in correspondence with the amplitude of the angle of rotation which is imposed on the matrix 9 around its axis by the application of two contiguous staples 84. In this way, the intermittent rotation of the die 9 around its axis 9a relative to the table 6, in correspondence with the stapling station 2, successively places the pushers 78 in correspondence with the stapling head 68.

Each pusher 78 has an upper end situated near the edge formed between the upper base and the lateral surface of the die 9 and a lower end situated in correspondence with a window 90 for access to the corresponding curved seat 79 defined on the surface lateral of the die 9. Each pusher 78 can move along the curved seat 79 punch 91 the corresponding end to act, by means of its upper end, on the clip 84 which is fixed in the base similar to a disc 82 and in the belt 83, so as to activate its folding. The displacement of the pusher 78 along the corresponding curved seat 79 is caused by a punch 91 which is carried by the stapling head 68 and which is adjacent to the lateral surface of the die 9 placed in correspondence with the stapling station 12, at the level of the windows 90. This punch 91 is actuated by a cam 92 which is keyed onto the shaft 77 and which causes the actuation of the entire stapling head 68. In practice, when the stapling head 68 forms a clip 84 in the base similar to a disc 82 and in the belt 83 disposed on the die 9, enters it in the window 90 and acts on the bottom of the pusher 78 which is located adjacent to the punch 91, causing an upward movement of the pusher 78 which, in this way, actuates the folding of the clip 84 which has been applied. The intermittent rotation of the die 9 around its axis in the stapling station 12, actuated by the second additional toothed wheel 67, causes the successive positioning of the windows 90 in correspondence with the punch 91. The positioning accuracy of a window 90 in correspondence with the punch 91 is ensured by controlling the rotation of the second additional toothed wheel 67 during the stapling operation. It should be noted that the rotational position of the matrix 9 around its axis 9a is not always free but is constantly prevented, to ensure correct positioning of the matrix 9 at least in correspondence with the second transfer station 11 and the station stapling 12 following the engagement of the toothed wheel 51 of each matrix 9 on the main toothed crown 55 and the control of the rotation of the additional toothed wheels 50 and 67 where the engagement of the toothed wheel 51 on the crown main tooth 55 is missing.

Also in correspondence with the stapling station 12 is disposed an upper pad 93 which is movable on command along a vertical axis which coincides with the axis 9a of the die 9 positioned in the stapling station 12 so as to engage or disengage the disc-like base 82 deposited on the upper base of the die 9 positioned in the stapling station 12. The function of this upper pad 93 is to keep the disc-like base 82 as fixed as possible during the stapling operation.

Advantageously, each matrix 9 is provided in correspondence with its upper base with a suction cup 94 which operates the housing of a base similar to a disc 82 when the latter is placed by the first loading means 23 on the matrix 9.

In addition, each die 9 is provided with means 95 for disengaging the bottom 81a or the cover 81b following the stapling of the belt 83 on the base similar to a disc 82.

These disengagement means 95 comprise an annular body 96 which is arranged coaxially with respect to the matrix 9 on its lateral surface, below the zone occupied or able to be occupied by the belt 83. This annular body 96 is axially movable towards the high relative to the rest of the corresponding matrix 9, to engage against the lower edge of the belt 83 and push up the bottom 81a or the cover 81b. These disengagement means 95 can be activated near the third transfer station 13.

More particularly, the annular body 96 is connected to the shaft 59 and is integral with the latter in its translation along its axis relative to the body of the matrix 9.

For the activation of the disengagement means 95 of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b of the container near the third transfer station 13 is provided a cam 60 which, as described above, is applied on a horizontal plane fixed to the support structure main 8 and located below the table 6. This cam 60 has an outlet section 60a located immediately above the third transfer station 13, and this outlet section 60a can be engaged by the lower end of the shaft 59. The engagement of the shaft 59 with this outlet section 60a causes, as already described above, the passage of the second stop finger 45 from the engagement position to the first disengagement position, in which said second finger d 'stop 45 disengages from the belt 83 placed on the lateral surface of the matrix 9 (Figures 30 and 31), and therefore the lifting of the annular body 96 which, acting on the lower end of the c belt 83 which is now disengaged from the second stop finger 45, pushes it upwards relative to the body of the matrix 9, causing the disengagement of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b with respect to the matrix 9 (FIG. 32). At the bottom of the third transfer station 13, the cam has a descent section 60b which again causes the annular body 96 to be lowered and the second stop finger 45 to pass into the engagement position (FIG. 33).

The third transfer means 18 comprise, as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 25 and 26, an arm 97 arranged essentially horizontally and supported in rotation about an axis of rotation 98 located in a central zone of the longitudinal extension of the arm 97 Near its longitudinal ends, this arm 97 carries two bellows suction cups 99 which are equidistant from the axis of rotation 98 and which can be connected on command to a suction duct. The arm 97 can rotate around the axis of rotation 98 and is movable on command along this axis of rotation 98 so as to raise and lower the bellows suction cups 99.

two suction cups with respect to a

the

In practice, when a matrix 9 comes into correspondence with the third transfer station 13 following the rotation of the table 6 around the main axis 7, the annular body 96 has already pushed the bottom 81a or the cover 81b upwards to carry out its disengagement in the matrix 9. Under these conditions, the arm 97 which has been previously lifted by one of the bellows 99 arranged coaxially with the matrix 9 located in the third transfer station 13 is lowered and activates the suction inside this bellows suction cup 99 so that the bellows suction cup 99 engages the disc-like base 82 of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b. The arm 97 is therefore raised so that it ends the disengagement of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b above the matrix 9 and that it therefore rotates around the axis of rotation 98 at an angle essentially of 180 °. so as to bring the bottom 81a or the cover 81b above the outlet conveyor 19. Next, the arm 97 is lowered and the suction through the bellows suction cup 99 is deactivated so as to deposit the bottom 81a or the cover 81b on the outlet conveyor 19 while the other bellows suction cup 99 engages another bottom 81a placed meanwhile in correspondence with the third transfer station 13.

Advantageously, the machine according to the invention also comprises a unit C which successively couples the bottoms 81a and the covers 81b at the outlet of the two production units A and B.

This coupling unit C comprises positioning means 100 which successively carry out the output from the production unit A of a bottom 81a of the boxed container 80 by its open side, and of the cover 81b of the boxed container 80 at the output from production unit B. These positioning means 100 comprise, as shown in particular in FIGS. 27 and 28, two twin conveyor belts 101a and 101b which are adjacent to each other and which are each supplied by one of the output conveyors 19 of the two production units A and B, the bottoms 81a and the covers 81b of which are placed horizontally or with their base similar to a disc 82 horizontally.

Each of the conveyor belts 101a, 101b is wound around a roller 102a, 102b with a horizontal axis, located in correspondence with the arrival end of the outlet conveyor 19, and on a roller 103a, 103b with a vertical axis. In this way, each of the conveyor belts 101a, 101b develops along a path which begins with a horizontal line and ends with a vertical line. Corresponding to the vertical line is disposed an essentially vertical edge 104a, 104b which is adjacent to the corresponding conveyor belt 101a, 101b by providing lateral support to the bottom 81a or to the cover 81b carried by the corresponding conveyor belt 101a, 101b at the end of the passage of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b from the horizontal position to the vertical position. Each conveyor belt 101a or 101b opens into a corresponding vertical guide 105a or 105b adjacent to another vertical guide 105b or 105a into which the other conveyor belt 101b or 101a opens. These vertical guides 105a, 105b supply a device 106 of known type which is not defined here in detail for the sake of simplification, and which couples a bottom 81a supplied by a vertical guide 105a with a cover 81b supplied by the other vertical guide 105b.

The operation of the machine according to the invention is as follows.

The disc-like bases 82 are stacked inside the corresponding magazine 22 and the belts 83 are stacked inside the corresponding magazine 31.

One by one, as already described, the disc-like bases 82 are taken from the stack of disc-like bases 82 placed in the magazine 22 and are sent to the first transfer station 10 where they are gripped by one of the suction cups 29, 30 of the arm 27 and placed on the upper base of a matrix 9 arranged in correspondence with the first transfer station 10.

Similarly, and as already described, the belts 83 are taken one by one from the stack of belts 83 disposed in the magazine 31 and are sent to the second transfer station 11 where they are gripped by the clamp 41 of the arm 39 near one of its longitudinal ends and are placed with this longitudinal end against the lateral surface of a matrix 9 previously transported by the first transfer station 10 where it received the base similar to a disc 82, placed in correspondence with the second transfer station 11 following the intermittent rotation movement of the table 6 around the main axis 7.

When the matrix 9 arrives in correspondence at the second transfer station 11, the upper pad 47 comes down on the base similar to a disc 82 which was previously arranged on the upper base of the matrix 9. It should be noted that the clamp 41 of the arm 39 engages an end region of the belt 83 located at a distance from the longitudinal end proper of the belt 83 so that between the clamp 41 and the longitudinal end of the belt 83, there remains a zone on which an adhesive is sprayed by means of the nozzle 43. In correspondence with the second transfer station 11, this longitudinal end, in the zone between the clamp 41 and the adhesive, is pinched by the first stop finger 44 brought into the engagement position, which pushes it against the lateral surface of the die 9 while the second stop finger 45 is brought into the second disengagement position. The matrix 9 is then actuated in a rotational movement around its axis 9a so as to complete the winding of the belt 83 around its lateral surface by superimposing the final end of the belt 83 on the initial end of the belt 83 on which the adhesive was applied. These superimposed ends of the belt 83 are pushed back by the second stop finger 45 which is brought into the engagement position. The first stop finger 44 is therefore disengaged from the belt 83 and the upper pad 47 is raised so as to then allow the rotation of the table 6 around the main axis 7, which advances the matrix 9 towards the station stapling 12 while the following die 9 is placed in correspondence at the second transfer station 11.

It should be noted that in the embodiment shown, an intermediate station 20 is arranged between the second transfer station 11 and the stapling station 12. This intermediate station 20 could be occupied by optional devices which carry out subsequent operations on the bottom 81a of the container, for example to obtain the placement of stamps or labels, but could also be absent.

By a subsequent rotation of the table 6 around the main axis 7, the die 9 on which the belt 83 is wound is placed in correspondence with the stapling station 12 in which the upper pad 93 present in this station is lowered so to stably lock the disc-like base 82 on the upper base of the die 9. In the stapling station 12, the stapling head 68 is actuated in synchronism with the rotation of the die 9 around its axis relative to table 6, so as to carry out in the manner already described the stapling of the belt 83 on the base similar to a disc 82 by means of staples84 at an angle.

When the stapling is finished, the upper pad 93 is raised and the table 6 is turned by an angle of amplitude prefixed so as to position the die 9 carrying the bottom 81a or the cover 81b stapled in correspondence to the third transfer station 13 in which the arm 97 of the bellows suction cups 99 operates the removal of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b consisting of the assembly by stapling of the base similar to a disc 82 and of the belt 83, out of the matrix 9 and its deposition on the outlet conveyor 19. It should be noted that the disengagement of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b from the die 9 under the action of the arm 97 provided with bellows suction cups 99 is facilitated by the lifting of the bottom 81a or of the cover 81b relative to the matrix 9 concerned, operated by the annular body 96 in the manner already described.

The products present at the outlet of the two production units A and B, consisting of a bottom 81a and a cover 81b, are transported one by one by the corresponding outlet conveyor 19 to a corresponding conveyor belt 101a, 101b which operates the passage of the bottoms 81a or the corresponding lids 81b from a position in which they are arranged with the base similar to a disc 82 horizontally to a position in which they are arranged with the base similar to a disc 82 vertically . The pairs of products, each pair consisting of a bottom 81a and a cover 81b, are supplied via the vertical guides 105a, 105b inside the device 106 which ensures the coupling of a bottom 81a and of a cover 81b and transports them outside, for example on a conveyor.

It should be noted that when it is necessary to produce a container without a lid 81b, the machine can also be produced with a single production unit or only one of the two planned production units can be used.

It should also be noted that the machine according to the invention can produce containers with a base similar to a disc of different conformations by replacing the dies.

The machine was designed to produce boxed containers 80 consisting of a bottom 81a and / or a cover 81b consisting of a base similar to a disc 82 and a belt 83 made of wood or paper material, but it could also produce containers of other materials, as required.

It should be noted that the machine according to the invention could be provided instead of a single stapling station with several stapling stations arranged in succession, in each of which is applied a portion of the staples84 used to make the connection of the base similar to a disc 82 on the belt 83 of each bottom 81a or cover 81b. In this way, the time required for the stapling operation is reduced and therefore the productivity of the machine is increased. In the embodiment shown, the intermediate station 20 located between the second transfer station 11 and the stapling station 12 could be made as a stapling station 12 and used to perform part of the stapling of the base similar to a disc 82 on the belt 83, stapling which is then completed in the stapling station 12 which follows.

In practice, it has been found that the machine according to the invention fully achieves the objective set and is able to guarantee high productivity, extreme reliability and high operating precision with minimal operator intervention.

The machine thus designed is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants which are all covered by the scope of the invention; furthermore, all details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims (21)

Claims 1. Machine for the production of containers in the form of a box having a bottom and / or a cover, composed of a base similar to a disc and of a lateral surface defined by a band or a belt connected peripherally to the base similar to a disc, characterized in that it comprises at least one production unit (A, B) which comprises: a first group (2) of loading of bases similar to a disc (82) towards a first conveyor (3), a second group (4) of loading of bands or belts (83) on a second conveyor (5), a table (6) arranged horizontally and rotating about a main vertical axis (7) relative to a main support structure (8), several essentially cylindrical dies (9) mounted on said table (6) with their axes (9a) vertically and arranged at a mutual angular distance around said main axis (7), said dies (9) being able to rotate individually around their axes (9a) relative to said table (6), a first transfer station ( 10) provided with first means (14) for cyclic transfer from one of said bases similar to a disc (82) from said first conveyor (3) to the upper base of one of said dies (9) arranged in said first station transfer (10), a second transfer station (11) with second means (15) for cyclic transfer of one of said belts (83) from said second conveyor (5) to one of said dies (9) disposed in said second transfer station (11) and means (16) for winding each of said belts (83) around a corresponding matrix (9) near its upper base, at least one stapling station (12) provided with means (17) for stapling a belt (83) and d '' a disc-like base (82) arranged on the same matrix (9) positioned in said stapling station (12), a third transfer station (13) provided with third means (18) for cyclic transfer of a bottom (81a) or a cover (81b), consisting of a base similar to a disc (82) and a belt (83) which is stapled there, from one of said dies (9) positioned in said third transfer station (13) to an output conveyor (19), means (52, 53, 54) for intermittent rotation of said table (6) around a said main axis ipal (7) for the successive positioning of said dies (9) in one of said stations (10, 11, 12, 13) and means (21, 66) for individual rotation of said dies (9) around the respective axis with respect to said table (6), at least in correspondence with said second transfer station (11) and with said stapling station (12). 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first loading group (2) of bases similar to a disc (82) comprises: a magazine (22) of stacked disc-like bases (82) and first loading means (23) which can be actuated to cyclically capture the disc-like base (82) located at the end bottom of the stack and its deposition on said first conveyor (3). 3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said second loading group (4) of belts (83) comprises: a store of stacked belts (83) and second loading means (32) which can be actuated to take hold of the belt (83) located at the lower end of the stack and deposit it on said second conveyor (5) . 4. Previous machine, conveyor according to any one of claims characterized in that said first (3) and / or said second conveyor (5) consist of pad conveyors which can be actuated in an intermittent forward movement to position cyclically respectively a base similar to a disc (82) in said first transfer station (10) and / or a belt (83) in said second transfer station (11). 5. Machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said first loading means (23) include a movable suction cup (25) for cyclically gripping said base similar to a disc (82) located at the lower end of the stack of disc-like bases (82) in said magazine (22) and its transfer from said magazine (22) of disc-like bases (82) to said first conveyor (3) . 6. Machine according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said second loading means (32) comprise: a suction nozzle (35) cyclically engaging a part of the end of the belt (83) situated at the lower end of the stack of belts (83) in the magazine (31) of belts (83) and capable of be moved on command to separate said end portion of the belt (83) located below said stack of belts (83) and means (36, 37, 38) for gripping said end portion of the belt (83), capable of being actuated to perform the lateral extraction of the belt (83) out of the stack of belts (83) and its positioning on said second conveyor (5). 7. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said second transfer station (11) are arranged means (42) for dispensing an adhesive on the end parts of the belt (83) which pass successively through said second transfer station (11). 8. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second transfer means (15) comprise an arm (39) rotating around a vertical axis of rotation (40) corresponding and provided near a of its ends of a clamp (41) capable of cyclically engaging an end portion of a belt (83) disposed on said second conveyor (5), said arm (39) being able to rotate about an axis of rotation ( 40) corresponding to cyclically wear a belt (83) so as to place said end portion on the lateral surface of one of said dies (9) disposed in said second transfer station (11). 9. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said winding means (16) comprise: a first stop finger (44) located in said second transfer station (11) and actuated on command to cyclically push said end portion of a belt (83) against the lateral surface of one of said dies (9) disposed in said second transfer station (11), first means (21) for individual rotation of the die (9) disposed in said second transfer station (11) about its axis relative to said table (6), a second stop finger (45) mounted on each of said dies (9) and capable of being actuated on command to push against the lateral surface of the die (9) disposed in said second transfer station (11) the two opposite ends of the belt (83) superimposed on each other at the end of the winding. 10. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said winding means (16) comprise a lateral pad (64) located in said second transfer station (11) and stationary with respect to the rotational movement of the matrix (9) around its axis (9a), said lateral pad (64) being operable to push the belt (83) against the lateral surface of the matrix (9) during the rotation of the matrix (9) around its axis (9a) for carrying out the winding of the belt (83) around the matrix (9). 11. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said stapling station (12) are arranged second means (66) for individual rotation of the die (9) around its axis (9a) by relative to said table (6) in an intermittent movement synchronized with the actuation of said stapling means (17) for stapling the disc-like base (82) on the belt (83) disposed on the matrix (9) positioned in said stapling station (12), by staples (84) located at an angular distance from each other around the axis (9a) of the matrix (9). 12. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that said dies (9) are linked in rotation about the axes (9a) respective to the rotation of said table (6) around said main axis (7) in order to maintain a predefined rotational position about their respective axis (9a) relative to said table (6), except when they are positioned in said second transfer station (11) and in said stapling station (12), in which they are respectively connected to said first means (21) for individual rotation and to said second means (66) for individual rotation of the dies (9). 13. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said dies (9) is provided with means (95) for disengaging the bottom (81a) or the cover (81b), consisting of a base similar to a disc (82) and a belt (83) stapled to each other. 14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that said means (95) for disengaging the bottom (81a) or the cover (81b) comprise an annular body (96) arranged coaxially on the lateral surface of each matrix (9) in below the area occupied or capable of being occupied by the belt (83), said annular body (96) being movable axially upwards relative to the bottom of the remaining part of the matrix (9) concerned, to engage the lower edge of the belt (83) and push up the bottom (81a) or the cover (81b), said disengagement means (95) being able to be activated near said third transfer station (13). 15. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said second transfer station (11) and / or in said stapling station (12) is disposed a respective upper pad (47, 93) which can be actuated on command to push the base similar to a disc (82) on the upper base of the matrix (9) concerned. 16. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said dies (9) is provided on its upper base with a suction cup (94) for retaining a base similar to a disc (82). 17. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said dies (9) houses pushers (78) one end of which is disposed in the region of the edge between the upper base and the lateral surface of the die (9) concerned, said pushers (78) cooperating with a stapling head (68) to push the staples (84) applied to said stapling head (68) into said region of the edge. 18. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two twin production units (A, B) arranged side by side, namely respectively a production unit (A) for the production of funds ( 81a) and a production unit for the production of covers (81b). 19. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a coupling unit (C) from a bottom (81a) to a cover (81b) successively at the outlet of said two production units ( A, B). 20. Machine according to claim 19, characterized in that said coupling unit (C) comprises positioning means (100) which successively place, by their open side, a bottom (81a) at the outlet of one of said production units (A, B) and a cover (81b) at the outlet of the other of said production units (A, B). 21. Machine according to claim 20, characterized in that said positioning means comprise two twin conveyor belts (101a, 101b) arranged side by side, each supplied by the outlet conveyor (19) of one of said two production units (A, B), each of said twin conveyor belts (101a, 101b) extending along a path which has a horizontal part and a vertical part, the vertical part being adjacent to a support edge (104a, 104b) which maintains the bottoms (81a) or the covers (81b) with their base similar to a disc (82) in an essentially vertical position, each of said twin conveyor belts (101a, 101b) ending in a corresponding vertical guide (105a, 105b) adjacent to the guide vertical (105b, 105a) of the other of said twin conveyor belts (101b, 101a), said vertical guides (105a, 105b) supplying a coupling device (106) of a bottom (81a), brought by a guid e vertical (105a, 105b), to a cover (81b) provided by the other vertical guide (105b, 105a). 1/21 2/21 3/21 3.0¾ 5/21 6/21 7/21 8/21 9/21 46a 10/21 11/21 12/21 13/21 14/21 Ε = 3η.25 30S 720 ⁴ eZOÎ 16/21 100 17/21 18/21 19/21 20/21 21/21 81a