FR3085881A1 - CARTON CONFORMING MACHINE AND METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a carton shaping machine, comprising shaping devices which comprise an upper shaping device comprising an upper folder holder actuated to move between an inactive position and an active position; and a plurality of folders of upper flaps previously glued and pressed against interior surfaces of the side walls of the carton and side support walls supported in a movable frame, said side support walls being arranged to exert a back pressure; the lateral support walls of the upper shaping device being mobile, and a plurality of upper nozzles being grouped into several sub-assemblies coupled to at least expansion guides and at least one actuator, which move the support walls, so that the nozzles in their vertical displacement face the interior faces of the upper flaps of the carton. The invention also relates to a process for forming cartons. Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Description

Title of the invention: MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CONFORMING CARDBOARDS Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a machine and a method for forming cartons useful for conforming cartons of rectangular or octagonal configuration with a fully or partially closed bottom and a open upper part provided with a reinforced edge from a plurality of folded boxes stacked in an upright position.

Prior Art [0002] Cartons of rectangular or octagonal configuration which have side walls, a fully or partially closed bottom formed by several flaps which extend from the lower edges of the side walls folded and glued together, and an upper part open bounded by upper edges of the side walls, are known.

It is common to have, during the production of such cartons, and to facilitate transport and storage, a plurality of folded and stacked cartons, which must be unfolded and shaped individually to the rectangular or octagonal configuration mentioned with the bottom fully or partially closed and the top open. Folded cartons can be stacked in a horizontal or vertical position.

Each carton consists of a plate cut from corrugated cardboard or the equivalent and provided with split lines which define a plurality of panels corresponding to the side walls and to the lower flaps, in which the panels corresponding to the side walls are connected. to each other by their lateral edges forming a strip, and in which the lateral edges of the first and last panels of the strip are also connected together so that the strip constitutes a closed ring.

In the folded position, the closed ring is flattened so that half of the panels are superimposed on the other half of the panels. It is common that, in the folded position, and depending on the configuration of the carton, the split lines which define one half of the panels do not coincide with the split lines which define the other half of the panels.

Cartons of this type, which are called "pallet boxes" or "pallets", once shaped, are stackable, but do not stack directly on top of each other, each carton is indeed arranged on a pallet forming a carton and pallet assembly, and the carton and pallet assemblies stack on top of each other. The compressive strength of the carton in the vertical direction is high, because the corrugated cardboard grooves are oriented in the vertical direction. However, the resistance to expansion is lower, which is why it is useful to provide reinforcement at the upper edges of the side walls along the open upper part.

This upper reinforcement can be provided by providing the cardboard with upper flaps which extend from the upper edges of the side walls and by folding and gluing these flaps against an inner or outer surface of the side walls in order to double the thickness. sidewall material along an area adjacent to the open top of the carton.

Document ES 2660059 A1 presents a carton shaping machine which comprises a support structure, a reserve of folded cartons configured to accommodate a plurality of folded cartons stacked in a vertical position, a shaping station configured around a vertical axis and which includes a workspace sized to house a carton during its conformation, an unfolding device that can be actuated to hold a carton from the reserve of folded cartons and unfold it in a rectangular configuration and place it in a station intermediate, and a translatable device operable to move the cardboard in the rectangular configuration from the intermediate station to the workspace of the shaping station.

The machine described in document ES 2660059 Al cited further has an internal shaping device which has folding flaps lower configured to fold the transverse and longitudinal lower flaps of the cardboard during translation thereof from the intermediate station to the workspace, and a blank holder located in the shaping station above the working space, in which the blank holder is operable to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis between a position outside the workspace and a position in the workspace for pressing the transverse and longitudinal lower flaps of the carton, which have been previously glued, against the folding flaps of the lower flaps.

A disadvantage of the machine described in document ES 2660059 A1 cited is that it does not include a folding device for upper flaps which makes it possible to fold upper flaps to provide the carton with additional reinforcement along an area. side walls of the carton adjacent to the open top.

Another drawback of the machine described in document ES 2660059 A1 cited is that the arrangement of the intermediate station and the configuration of the folding flaps of the lower flaps so that they fold the transverse and longitudinal lower flaps of the cardboard during the translation of the cardboard from the intermediate station to the workspace, the space occupied by the machine in the factory is very large and the machine is particularly bulky.

US patent 4022116 describes a machine for shaping cartons which includes all the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention differs from said prior art in the arrangement of support walls supported in a frame which moves vertically and is actuable to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis (Z) between a position inactive outside of a work space and an active position in the work space, inside the carton to be conformed, said lateral support walls being arranged to exert a back pressure on internal surfaces of the side walls of the cardboard in the active position allowing cardboard to conform to polygonal contours. In US Patent 4022116, the nozzles shown in FIG. 6 and in the corresponding description, are arranged above the upper edge of the flaps of the carton 91, inclined towards the interior surfaces of only two opposite flaps of the said carton 91, that is to say that the technical solution described only allows '' apply glue on two opposite flaps, at the same time, and moreover, the nozzles 101, 102 remain spaced from said flaps and apply beads of horizontal glue in correspondence with the horizontal movement of the cardboard 91 pushed by the wall 65, this which results in an application of glue limited to two flaps and with possible inaccuracies, firstly due to the application with the displacement of the cardboard 91 which may have irregularities, and, secondly, due to the application said beads of glue with a relatively large distance between each nozzle and its corresponding flap due to the high arrangement of the nozzles to allow said horizontal displacement of the c arton 91.

Another important difference compared to US patent 4022116 cited lies in the provision of glue application nozzles supported in said vertical displacement frame, for applying glue on the inner faces of upper flaps of the cardboard during the vertical movement of the frame and allowing the application of adhesive on a group of two, four, six, eight or more flaps simultaneously with said vertical movement, that is to say with a single movement.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine and a method for shaping cartons which contributes to alleviating the previous drawbacks, as well as others.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a carton shaping machine which comprises a support structure, a shaping station which includes a working space sized to accommodate a carton during the conformation thereof, and conformation devices configured to conform the carton in the workspace of the conformation station.

The shaping devices include an upper shaping device located in the shaping station above the working space, supported in the support structure and arranged in relation to a vertical axis.

The upper shaping device comprises an actuatable armature for moving along a trajectory aligned with the vertical axis between an inactive position, outside the workspace, and an active position, in the space of work, side support walls supported in the frame, a plurality of upper glue application nozzles supported in the frame, an upper folder holder actuated to move along a path aligned with the axis vertical between an inactive position, outside the workspace, and an active position, in the workspace, and a plurality of folders with upper flaps installed in the upper folder holder.

Alternatively, it is envisaged that the plurality of upper glue application nozzles is supported in the support structure and associated with means for its movement along a vertical path.

The lateral support walls are arranged to exert a back pressure on the internal surfaces of the lateral support walls of the carton when the frame is in the active position. The glue application nozzles are arranged for applying glue to interior surfaces of upper flaps of the carton during a movement of the frame between the active position and the inactive position. The top flap folders are operable to fold the top flaps of the previously glued cardboard and press them against. With this construction, the machine of the present invention is capable of providing the cardboard with reinforcement along an area of the side walls adjacent to an open upper part of the carton, this reinforcement consisting of folded upper flaps and glued to the interior surfaces of the lateral walls of the carton.

In one embodiment, the lateral support walls of the upper shaping device are movable relative to the frame in a transverse direction and / or in a longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to extend the lateral support walls so that they come into contact internally with the side walls of the carton and to reduce the lateral support walls so that they do not interfere with the upper flaps folded and glued to the interior surfaces of the side walls of the carton during a movement of the frame from the active position to the inactive position.

Optionally, the upper folder support is fixed to the frame of the upper shaping device and is arranged around the side support walls. As a variant, the upper folder support can be actuated to move independently of the frame, and is configured so that the lateral support walls can be moved along the vertical axis by means of the upper folder support.

In one embodiment, the shaping station further includes a plurality of lower glue application nozzles supported in the frame and arranged to apply glue to external surfaces of transverse lower flaps or lower flaps longitudinal of the cardboard during a movement of the frame between the active position and the inactive position.

In another embodiment, the shaping devices further include a lower confirmation device located in the shaping station below the work space, supported in the support structure and arranged in relation to the axis vertical, and the plurality of lower glue application nozzles are arranged in this lower shaping device.

This lower shaping device includes a lower nozzle support which can be actuated to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis between an inactive position, outside the workspace, and an active position, in the workspace, and the lower glue application nozzles are located in the lower nozzle support and also arranged to apply glue to external surfaces of the transverse lower flaps or longitudinal lower flaps of the carton during movement of the support nozzles between the inactive position and the active position.

Whether the lower glue application nozzles are located in the frame or in the lower nozzle support, the lower shaping device further includes folders with lower flaps supported in the support structure and configured to fold the transverse and longitudinal lower flaps of the carton previously glued to form a fully or partially closed bottom of the carton.

Preferably, the shaping devices include an actuator which can be actuated to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis between an inactive position, outside the workspace, and an active position, in the workspace adjacent to the bottom flap folders. This blank holder is included in the upper shaping device. For example, the blank holder is fixed to the frame, or alternatively the blank holder is movable independently of the frame and the upper folder holder.

The folding flaps of the lower flaps can be actuated to fold the transverse and longitudinal lower flaps consecutively pasted with the cardboard beforehand and to press them against the blank holder of the upper shaping device when the holding blank is in the active position.

In one embodiment, the carton shaping machine of the present invention further comprises a reserve of folded cartons configured to house a plurality of folded and stacked cartons in a vertical position, and an unfolding and translating device which includes a movable gripper with suction cups.

The gripping member is supported by an arm connected to a carriage actuated to move along a transverse guide between a position adjacent to the reserve of folded cartons and a position adjacent to a side of the working space opposite to the reserve of folded cartons.

The unfolding and translating device can be actuated to hold a carton of the reserve of folded cartons, unfold it and place it unfolded in a rectangular configuration in the working space of the shaping station in a single operation. In the embodiment in which the lateral support walls of the upper shaping device are movable relative to the reinforcement in a transverse direction and / or a longitudinal direction, the lateral support walls are optionally configured and actuated to extend the cardboard from the rectangular configuration to an octagonal configuration in the workspace.

Optionally, the arm of the unfolding and translating device is extendable to move the finished cardboard from the working space of the shaping station to an output conveyor.

According to a second aspect, the present intention provides a method of conformation of cartons, comprising the following steps. First, place a carton to be conformed in a workspace of a shaping station configured in relation to a vertical axis, and then shape the carton using shaping devices in the shaping station.

The step of shaping the cardboard comprises applying glue to internal surfaces of upper flaps of the cardboard by means of a plurality of upper glue application nozzles supported in a frame movable along a trajectory aligned with the vertical axis in an upper shaping device of the shaping station, and the folding of the upper flaps of the cardboard previously glued and the pressure of these against interior surfaces of side walls of the cardboard by means of a plurality of upper flap folders installed in an upper folder holder of the upper shaping device of the shaping station.

Preferably, the method further comprises exerting a back pressure on the interior surfaces of the side walls of the carton by means of side support walls supported in the frame during the step of folding the flaps. cardboard.

In one embodiment, the carton shaping method further comprises applying glue to external surfaces of longitudinal bottom flaps or transverse bottom flaps of the carton by means of a plurality of application nozzles. lower glue located in the frame or in a lower shaping device of the shaping station, the movement of a blank holder of the upper shaping device along a path aligned with the vertical axis between an inactive position, outside working space, and an active position, in the working space, and folding of the transverse and longitudinal lower flaps of the carton by means of folding flaps of the lower shaping device for pressing the transverse and longitudinal flaps cardboard against the blank holder.

Optionally, the method further comprises the previous step of unfolding a carton from a folded configuration in which it is in a reserve of folded cartons to a rectangular configuration and its placement in the rectangular configuration in the working space of the shaping station by means of an unfolding and translating device.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the expansion of the cardboard from the rectangular configuration to an octagonal configuration by means of an expansion movement of the lateral support walls relative to the frame in a transverse direction and / or in a longitudinal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The prior characteristics and advantages, as well as others, will be better understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment which is only illustrative and not limiting with regard to the attached drawings, in which:

[Fig.l] is a perspective view of a carton shaping machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[Fig-2] is a schematic plan view of the machine of FIG. 1;

[Fig-3] is a schematic elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1;

[Fig.4] is a schematic plan view of expandable side walls which belong to an upper shaping device of the machine of FIG. 1;

[Fig-5] is a schematic plan view of expandable side walls which belong to an upper shaping device according to an alternative embodiment;

[Fig.6] is a front view of a cut sheet of corrugated cardboard or the equivalent corresponding to the planar development of a cardboard capable of being shaped with a machine according to the present invention; and [fig.7] is a perspective view of the cardboard unfolded in an octagonal configuration before lower and upper flaps thereof have been folded.

Description of the embodiments Concerning in the first place Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the reference number 100 generally designates a carton shaping machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a support structure 23 which integrates a reserve of crushed cartons 1 and a shaping station 5.

The reserve of folded cartons 1 is configured to accommodate a plurality of folded cartons 50 and stacked in a vertical position. The shaping station 5 is configured around a vertical axis Z and comprises an upper shaping device 6 supported in the support structure 23, a bottom shaping device 24, and a work space 28 located between the top shaping device 6 and the lower shaping device 24. The working space 28 is dimensioned to accommodate a carton 50 during the shaping of the latter in the shaping station 5.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a cut sheet of corrugated cardboard or the equivalent corresponding to the planar development of a cardboard 50 capable of being shaped with a machine according to the present invention. The cut plate includes slotted lines which define a plurality of panels corresponding to side walls 51 and to upper and lower flaps 52, 53, 54.

More particularly, the panels of the cut plate include eight side walls 51 connected consecutively by their side edges forming a strip. From lower edges of alternate side walls 51 extend longitudinal lower flaps 52 and lower transverse flaps 53, and from upper edges of side walls 51 extend upper flaps 54.

From a side edge of one of the side walls 51 located at one end of the strip extends a joining tab 55 intended to be joined, for example by means of an adhesive, to the side edge of the other side walls 51 located at the other end of the strip so that the strip of the cut plate constitutes a closed ring of octagonal configuration, as shown in FIG. 7. Optionally, the closed ring can go through a rectangular configuration before adopting the octagonal configuration.

The closed ring of each carton 50 when it is disposed in the folded position in the reserve of folded cartons 1 is flattened so that one half of the panels are superimposed on the other half of the panels. Because in the example shown, the panels corresponding to the side walls 51 have different widths, the vertical split lines which define one half of the panels do not coincide with the vertical split lines which define the other half of the panels.

For the conformation of the cardboard 50 from the closed ring shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to apply glue to the outer surfaces of the longitudinal bottom flaps 52 or of the transverse bottom flaps 53, then fold the longitudinal and transverse bottom flaps 52, 53 and press them against one another to join them between them and form a fully or partially closed bottom, and apply glue to the interior surfaces of the upper flaps 54, fold the upper flaps 54 inward and press them against the interior surfaces of the side walls 51 to form a reinforcement. along an area of the side walls 51 adjacent to an open upper part of the carton 50.

The machine includes an unfolding and translating device 27 configured to hold a carton 50 of the reserve of folded cartons 1, unfold it and place it in a rectangular configuration in the workspace 28 of the conformation station 5.

The unfolding and translating device 27 comprises a gripping member 2 provided with suction cups 3 supported by an arm 15 connected to a carriage 16 actuated by an actuator, such as a motor 29 in cooperation with a transmission mechanism of movement, to move in a transverse direction X along a transverse guide 4 between a position adjacent to the reserve of folded cartons 1 and a position adjacent to one side of the working space 28 opposite the reserve of folded cartons 1. The arm 15 is extendable in a longitudinal direction Y in order to move the finished carton 50 from the workspace 28 of the shaping station 5 to an outlet conveyor 17.

The upper shaping device 6 is centered relative to the vertical axis Z and has an armature 25 coupled to a first upper vertical guide 7. The armature 25 is actuated by an actuator, such as the motor 30 in cooperation with a movement transmission mechanism, so as to be able to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis Z between a position outside the working space 28 and a position in the working space 28.

On the frame 25 are installed side support walls 11 arranged to exert a back pressure on internal surfaces of the side walls 51 of the carton 50 during the shaping of the carton 50 in the shaping station 5. The walls lateral support 11 are expandable and are configured and actuated to extend the carton 50 from the inside from the rectangular configuration to the octagonal configuration by means of an expansion movement of the lateral support walls 11. FIG . 1 shows a carton 50 arranged in the octagonal configuration in the workspace 28 of the shaping station 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the lateral support walls 11 of the upper shaping device 6 are grouped into two subsets 11a, 11b coupled to longitudinal expansion guides 31 and actuators, such as, for example jacks tires 32 are connected to each of the two sub-assemblies 11a, 11b and to the frame 25, so that an activation of the pneumatic cylinders 32 displaces the two sub-assemblies 11a, 11b of lateral support walls 11 by relative to the frame 25 in opposite directions in the longitudinal direction Y. The lateral support walls 11 are configured to extend the carton 50 from the rectangular configuration to the octagonal configuration due to the expansion movement of the walls d side supports 11. As a variant, the expansion guides 31 could be transverse to effect the movements of two sub-assemblies 11a, 11b of side support walls 11 relative to the frame 25 in opposite directions in the transverse direction X.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment in which the lateral support walls 11 of the upper shaping device 6 are grouped into four subassemblies 11a, 11b, lie, lld coupled to expansion guides 33 oblique inclined both with respect to the direction transverse X than with respect to the longitudinal direction Y. The four sub-assemblies lia, 11b, lie, lld are actuated by respective actuators, for example by pneumatic cylinders 32, so as to be movable relative to the frame 25 in opposite directions in oblique directions with components in the transverse and longitudinal X, Y directions combined. Those skilled in the art can easily think of other mechanisms for moving the four sub-assemblies 11a, 11b, lie, 11d of lateral support walls 11 in the oblique directions mentioned.

At a lower end of the subassemblies 11a, 11b of lateral support walls 11 is fixed a blank holder 8 (Fig. 3) which moves with the frame 25 in the direction of the vertical axis Z between a position outside the working space 28 and a position in the working space 28. In another embodiment, not illustrated, the blank holder 8 can be actuated to move independently of the frame 25, by example by actuating an actuator along a vertical guide device.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in an upper part of the subsets 11a, 11b of side support walls 11 is installed an upper sizing device which includes a plurality of upper glue application nozzles 12 arranged to apply glue to inner surfaces of the upper flaps 54 of the carton 50 during the movement of the frame 25 with respect to the carton 50. The upper adhesive application nozzles 12 are grouped into two sub-groups and each sub-group of application nozzles upper glue 12 is installed in one of the two sub-assemblies 11a, 11b of lateral support walls 11 so that the different upper glue application nozzles 12 directly face the internal faces of the different flaps available in the carton. With such an arrangement, the vertical displacement of the frame 25 makes it possible to apply beads of vertical glue to the various upper flaps of the cardboard simultaneously, unlike the solution described in prior patent US 4022116 in which it is only possible to apply glue on two opposite flaps and having to move the cardboard transversely to the frame carrying the nozzles.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper glue application nozzles 12 are grouped into four sub-groups and each sub-group of upper glue application nozzles 12 is installed in one of the four sub-assemblies 11a, 11b, lie, lld of walls of lateral supports 11, with the nozzles 12 oriented against the inside of different peripheral parts of the flaps.

The upper shaping device 6 further comprises an upper folder holder 18 which has an annular shape and which is arranged around the path of the frame 25 and the sub-assemblies 11a, 11b of side support walls 11. The upper folder holder 18 is coupled to a second upper vertical guide 13 and is actuated by an actuator, such as a motor 26 in cooperation with a motion transmission mechanism, to move along an aligned path with the vertical axis Z between a position outside the working space 28 and a position in the working space 28.

In the upper folder support 18 are installed a plurality of top flap folders 14, which are mounted so that they can perform a pivoting movement around respective horizontal axes parallel to the side support walls 11 under l actuation of actuators, such as pneumatic cylinders (not shown), for folding the upper flaps 54 of the carton 50 previously glued and pressed against the internal surfaces of the side walls 51 of the carton 50. As an example, the folding machines for upper flaps 14 can be based on a mechanism like that described in patent ES 2432097 B1, by the same applicant.

With this arrangement, the upper folder support 18 is movable independently of the frame 25 and the lateral support walls 11 are movable along the vertical axis Z by means of the upper folder support 18 of annular configuration . In another embodiment (not shown), the upper folder support 18 is fixed to the frame 25 of the upper shaping device 6 and is arranged around the sub-assemblies of lateral support walls 11 so as to move with frame 25.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the lower shaping device 24 is located in the shaping station 5 below the top shaping device 6 and the working space 28 and centered with respect to the vertical axis Z. The bottom shaping device 24 includes a lower gluing device and lower flap folders 9, 10.

The lower sizing device includes a lower nozzle support 19 coupled to a lower vertical guide 20 and actuated by an actuator 37 so as to be able to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis Z between a position outside work space 28 and position in work space 28, and a plurality of lower glue application nozzles 21 located in the lower nozzle support 19 and arranged to apply glue to surfaces outside of the longitudinal lower flaps 52 of the carton 50 during a movement of the lower nozzle support 19 relative to the carton 50.

The bottom flap folders 9, 10 are installed in a bottom folder support 34, which is fixed to the support structure 23. Each of the bottom flap folders 9, 10 is pivotally connected to the bottom folder support 34 by a horizontal pivot axis 35, and an actuator, such as a pneumatic cylinder 36, is connected to each of the bottom flap folders 9, 10 and to the bottom folder support 34, so that activation of the pneumatic cylinders 36 rotates the bottom flap folders 9, 10 from an inactive vertical or inclined position below the pivot axes 35 (not shown) to an active horizontal position (shown in FIG. 3) to fold the transverse bottom flaps and longitudinal 52, 53 of the carton 50 and press them against the blank holder 8 of the upper shaping device 6 in order to form the partially closed bottom of the carton 50.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the lower sizing device is configured to apply glue to the outer surfaces of the longitudinal lower flaps 52 of the carton 50 and the pneumatic cylinders 36 of the folding flaps of the lower flaps 9, 10 are controlled to fold the longitudinal lower flaps 52 first and then the transverse lower flaps 53.

In another embodiment (not shown), the lower sizing device is configured to apply glue to the external surfaces of the transverse lower flaps 53 and the pneumatic cylinders 36 of the folding flaps 9, 10 are controlled to fold the transverse lower flaps 53 first and then the longitudinal lower flaps 52.

In yet another embodiment (not shown), the lower gluing device is omitted and the folding machines for lower flaps 9, 10 can be actuated to fold the transverse and longitudinal lower flaps 52, 53 consecutively, previously glued , cardboard 50 and press them against the blank holder 8 of the upper shaping device 6.

The machine of the present invention applies a method of shaping cartons which comprises, first of all, the application of glue to the inner surfaces of upper flaps 54 of the carton 50 by means of an upper gluing device which includes a plurality of upper glue application nozzles 12 supported in a frame 25 movable along a path aligned with the vertical axis Z in the upper shaping device 6, and the folding of the upper flaps 54 of the carton 50 to the previously glued and the pressure of these against internal surfaces of side walls 51 of the carton 50 by means of a plurality of upper flap folders 14 installed in an upper folder holder 18.

Alternatively, it is envisaged that the plurality of upper glue application nozzles is supported in the support structure 23 and associated with displacement means in a vertical path.

Preferably, the method further comprises exercising a back pressure on the interior surfaces of the side walls 51 of the carton 50 by means of side support walls 11 supported in the frame 25 during the step folding the upper flaps 54 of the carton 50.

Optionally, the method comprises the steps of applying glue to external surfaces of longitudinal lower flaps 52 or of transverse lower flaps 53 of the carton 50 by means of a plurality of lower glue application nozzles 21 located in the armature 25 or optionally in a lower shaping device 24 of the shaping station 5, the movement of a blank holder 8 of an upper shaping device 6 along a path aligned with the vertical axis Z between an inactive position, outside the working space 28, and an active position, in the working space 28, and the folding of the transverse and longitudinal bottom flaps 52, 53 of the carton 50 by means of folding flaps 9, 10 of the lower shaping device 24 when the carton 50 is located in the working space 28 of the shaping station 5 to press the transverse and longitudinal bottom flaps 52, 53 of the coach tone 50 against the blank holder 8.

The method comprises the prior step of unfolding a carton 50 from a folded configuration in which it is in a reserve of folded cartons 1 to a rectangular configuration and placing the carton 50 in the rectangular configuration in a working space 28 of a shaping station 5 in a single operation by means of the unfolding and translating device 27, the shaping station 5 being configured around a vertical axis Z.

Optionally, the method further comprises the step of expanding the carton 50 from the rectangular configuration to an octagonal configuration by means of an expansion movement of the side support walls 11 relative to the reinforcement 25 in a transverse direction X and / or in a longitudinal direction Y.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims (1)

[Claim 1] Claims Carton shaping machine, comprising: - a support structure (23); - a shaping station (5) including a workspace (28) sized to accommodate a carton (50) during the shaping thereof; and - shaping devices configured to conform the carton (50) in the working space (28) of the shaping station (5) in which the shaping devices include an upper shaping device (6) located in the shaping station (5) above the work station (28), supported in the support structure (23) and arranged in relation to a vertical axis (Z), the upper shaping device (6) comprising: - an upper folder holder (18) actuated to move along a trajectory aligned with the vertical axis (Z) between an inactive position outside the working space (28) and an active position in space working (28); and - A plurality of upper flap folders (14) installed in the upper folder support (18) and operable to fold the upper flaps (54) of the carton (50) previously glued and pressed against the inner surfaces of the side walls (51 ) of the carton (50) characterized in that the carton forming machine further comprises: - lateral support walls (11) supported in an armature (25) operable to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis (Z) between an inactive position outside the working space (28) and an active position in the working space (28), inside the carton to be conformed, said lateral support walls being arranged to exert a back pressure on internal surfaces of the lateral walls (51) of the carton ( 50) in the active position; and - a plurality of upper glue application nozzles (12) arranged to apply glue to interior surfaces of said upper flaps (54) of the carton (50) during a vertical movement of the upper glue application nozzles (12) between the active position and the inactive position; in which the lateral support walls (11) of the upper shaping device (6) are movable relative to the frame (25) in a transverse direction (X) and / or in a longitudinal direction (Y), and in which said plurality of nozzles are grouped into two or more sub-assemblies coupled to at least expansion guides (31, 33) and to the at least one actuator, which move the support walls, so that the nozzles in their vertical movement face the interior faces of said upper flaps (54) of the carton. [Claim 2] A carton forming machine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of upper glue application nozzles (12) are supported in the frame (25). [Claim 3] Carton shaping machine according to claim 1 or 2, in which the upper folder support (18) is fixed to the frame (25) of the upper shaping device (6) and is arranged around the lateral support walls ( 11). [Claim 4] Carton shaping machine according to claim 1 or 2, in which the upper folder support (18) is operable to move independently of the frame (25) and the lateral support walls (11) are movable along the vertical axis (Z) by means of the upper folder support (18). [Claim 5] A carton forming machine according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a plurality of lower glue application nozzles (21) supported in the frame (25) and arranged to apply glue, during a vertical movement, on external or internal surfaces of transverse lower flaps (52) or longitudinal lower flaps (53) of the cardboard (50) during a movement of the frame (25) between the active position and the inactive position. [Claim 6] A carton forming machine according to claim 5, wherein the shaping devices further comprise a bottom shaping device (24) located in the shaping station (5) below the supported workspace (28) in the support structure (23) and arranged in relation to the vertical axis (Z), the lower shaping device (24) comprising folding flaps of lower flaps (9, 10) configured to fold transverse and longitudinal lower flaps ( 52, 53) of the cardboard (50) previously glued. [Claim 7] Carton shaping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the shaping station (5) further comprises a bottom shaping device (24) located below [Claim 8] [Claim 9] [Claim 10] [Claim 11] [Claim 12] the working space (28) and centered with respect to the vertical axis (Z), the lower shaping device (24) comprising a lower nozzle support (19) operable to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis (Z) between an inactive position outside the working space (28) and an active position in the working space work (28), and a plurality of lower glue application nozzles (21) located in the lower nozzle support (19) and arranged to apply glue to external or internal surfaces of the longitudinal lower flaps (52) or transverse lower flaps (53) of the carton (50) during movement of the lower nozzle support (19) between the inactive position and the active position. The carton forming machine according to claim 7, wherein the bottom shaping device (24) further includes bottom flap folders (9, 10) supported in the support structure (23) and configured to fold the transverse bottom flaps and longitudinal (52, 53) of the cardboard (50) previously glued. Carton forming machine according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the upper shaping device (6) further comprises a blank holder (8) operable to move along a path aligned with the vertical axis (Z) between an inactive position outside the workspace (28) and an active position in the workspace (28) adjacent to the bottom flap folders (9, 10). Carton shaping machine according to claim 9, in which the blank holder (8) is fixed to the frame (25). Carton shaping machine according to claim 9, in which the blank holder (8) is movable independently of the frame (25) and the upper folder holder (18). Carton shaping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a reserve of folded cartons (1) configured to accommodate a plurality of cartons (50) folded and stacked in an upright position, and an unfolding device and translation (27) which includes a gripping member (2) provided with suction cups (3) supported by an arm (15) connected to a carriage (16) actuated to move along a transverse guide (4) between a position adjacent to the reserve of folded cartons (1) and a position adjacent to one side of the working space (28) opposite the reserve of folded cartons (1), the unfolding and translating device (27) being operable to hold a carton (50) from the folded carton reserve (1), unfold it and place the unfolded carton (50) in a [Claim 13] [Claim 14] [Claim 15] [Claim 16] rectangular configuration in the workspace (28) of the conformation station (5) in one operation. Carton shaping machine according to claim 12, comprising the arm (15) for moving the finished carton (50) from the workspace (28) of the shaping station (5) to an outlet conveyor (17) . Carton shaping machine according to claim 9, in which the bottom flap folders (9, 10) can be actuated in order to fold the transverse and longitudinal bottom flaps (52, 53) consecutively beforehand glued from the carton (50) and press them against the blank holder (8) of the upper shaping device (6). A carton forming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said plurality of upper glue application nozzles (12) are grouped into two, four, eight or more pairs of subgroups, and oriented directly against the interior faces said upper flaps and parts thereof capable of being folded against the inner walls of the carton, to provide an upper reinforcement ring. Method for forming cartons, comprising the steps of: placing a carton (50) to be conformed in a workspace (28) of a shaping station (5) configured in relation to a vertical axis (Z); and conforming the carton (50) by means of shaping devices in the shaping station (5); - characterized in that the step consisting in shaping the carton (50) comprises: - the application of glue by means of nozzles which move in a vertical trajectory and without displacement of the cardboard to be conformed, on internal surfaces of upper flaps (54) of the cardboard (50) by means of a plurality of nozzles application of upper glue (12) supported in a frame (25) movable along a path aligned with the vertical axis (Z) in an upper shaping device (6) of the shaping station (5), said nozzles being oriented towards said interior surfaces of the upper flaps (54); and - folding the upper flaps (54) of the cardboard (50) previously glued and pressing them against the interior surfaces of the side walls (51) of the cardboard (50) by means of a plurality of folders of upper flaps (14) installed in a folder holder for upper flaps (18) of the upper shaping device (6) of the shaping station (5). [Claim 17] A method of forming cartons according to claim 16, further comprising exerting back pressure on the interior surfaces of the side walls (51) of the carton (50) by means of side support walls (11) supported in the frame (25) during the step of folding the upper flaps (54) of the carton (50). [Claim 18] A carton shaping method according to claim 16, further comprising: - applying glue to external or internal surfaces of longitudinal lower flaps (52) and transverse lower flaps (53) of the carton (50) by means of a plurality of lower glue application nozzles (21) located in the frame (25) or in a lower shaping device (24) of the shaping station (5); - the movement of a blank holder (8) of the upper shaping device (6) along a path aligned with the vertical axis (Z) between an inactive position outside the working space (28) and an active position in the workspace (28); and - folding of transverse and longitudinal lower flaps (52, 53) of the carton (50) by means of folding flaps of lower flaps (9, 10) of a lower shaping device (24) for pressing the lower transverse and longitudinal flaps ( 52, 53) of the carton (50) against the blank holder (8). [Claim 19] A method of forming cartons according to claim 16, further comprising unfolding a carton (50) from a folded configuration in which it is in a supply of folded cartons (1) to a rectangular configuration and placing the carton (50) in the rectangular configuration in the working space (28) of the shaping station (5) by means of an unfolding and translating device (27). [Claim 20] The carton shaping method according to claim 16, further comprising expanding the carton (50) from the rectangular configuration to an octagonal configuration by means of an expansion movement of the side support walls (11) by relative to the reinforcement (25) in a transverse direction (X) and / or in a longitudinal direction (Y). 1/6