GB2200076A

GB2200076A - Apparatus for closing open-ended cartons

Info

Publication number: GB2200076A
Application number: GB08701020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hristo Lazarov Suchev; Kiril Zafirov Vulkov; Ivan Stoev Koemdjiev
Original assignee: BULGARTABAK
Current assignee: BULGARTABAK
Priority date: 1986-11-28
Filing date: 1987-01-19
Publication date: 1988-07-27
Also published as: DE3640664A1; GB8701020D0; FR2608555A1; FR2608555B3

Abstract

Apparatus for closing open ended cartons, in particular cartons (100) filled with packs of cigarettes, which cartons have flaps along each of their end edges, comprises a common supporting framework (9) having thereon a conveyor in the form of a descending transporter (1) on opposite sides of which there are disposed folding and paste applying mechanisms (11, 12) for acting on opposite ends of the cartons. Take-out means, (5) below the descending transporter receive said cartons and displace them from under the descending transporter (1) to an ascending screw transporter (3) for completing the pasting down of the flaps on the carton, there being associated with either the descending transporter (1) or the take-out means (5) means (19) for completing the folding over of flaps to close the carton. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING OPEN-ENDED CARTONS This invention relates to apparatus for closing open-ended cartons with adhesive bonding taking place to achieve closure at end flaps hinged to adjacent end edges of the carton. The apparatus is particularly applicable in the cigarette manufacturing industry to the closure of cartons after their filling with cigarette packs.

Conventionally closing of cartons containing cigarette packs takes place through closures involving adhesive bonding, hereinafter referred to as "pasting" irrespective of whether a water-based paste is used, to maintain closure of end flaps hinged to the body of the carton at adjacent end edges of the carton. Apparatus for producing such closures typically comprises a feed conveyor for conveying the cartons in their longitudinal direction, above which conveyor is mounted a folding mechanism with a fixed guide for bringing together by folding forwardiy directed front end flaps, over which are to be laid lateral end flaps hinged at right angles to the front end flaps. Beyond this fixed guide is located a moving folding device for folding rearwardly directed rear end flaps at the opposite end of the carton.This is followed by guiding arrangements for closing the remaining flaps of the carton over the adjacent end flaps. The carton then travels between spools located above and below it, the spools carrying pasting strips which pass through a braking mechanism, guide rollers and over moistening rollers, if a paste requiring moistening is used, the latter being partially immersed in a water container, through second guide rollers before being applied to the end of the carton at the position where the lateral flaps meet by means of pressing brushes.The pasting arrangement includes, downstream of the braking mechanism, at positions above and below the conveyor upper and lower pasting mechanisms each of which comprises a pneumatically driven cylinder (pneumatic cylinder) on the piston bar of which is secured a knife, as well as including two levers whose upper ends are resiliently biased and whose lower ends are equipped with rubber rollers which act to press the ends of the pasting strip to the front and rear walls of adjacent cartons. A roller system is mounted above the cartons to exert pressure on the pasted strip from above.

A disadvantage of such apparatus is that the folding mechanism and the pasting mechanism are both located in the same plane in linearly displaced arrangement as a result of which the apparatus overall is of large dimensions requiring a large factory floor area.

The supply of auxiliary materials is thus made more difficult owing to the length of supply lines which is required. Moreover, the cutting off of the pasting strip and the folding of end sections thereof to opposed vertical walls of two adjacent cartons takes place with the cartons needing to be held firm, thereby interrupting the flow of the overall process.

Indeed, insofar as the folding and pasting operations are concerned, they require four separate steps to be carried out at different locations disposed over a single horizontal plane, each of which has ancilliary equipment, thereby leading overall to considerable space requirements.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for closing the ends of parallelepipidic cartons formed from carton blanks to include flaps along each of the free edges, the apparatus comprising a common supporting framework having thereon a conveyor in the form of a descending transporter on opposite sides of which there are disposed folding and paste applying mechanisms for acting on opposite ends of the cartons, take-out means below the descending transporter for receiving said cartons and displacing them from under the descending transporter and, for receiving the cartons from the take-out means, an ascending screw transporter for completing the pasting down of the flaps on the carton, there being associated with either the descending transporter or the take-out means means for completing the folding over of flaps to close the carton.

The folding and paste applying mechanisms associated with the descending transporter each may comprise a rack mechanism having mounted in operative association therewith a folding and a paste applying roller for acting on horizontally hinged end flaps and below which there are mounted on the framework retaining rolls for retaining in the closed position the then folded over horizontally hinged end flaps.

The carton take-out means may comprise horizontal guides extending between the descending transporter and the ascending screw transporter and on which is mounted a sliding support element for receiving the cartons from the descending transporter and having associated reciprocating drive means. At the rear end are fixedly disposed folding members for folding over vertically hinged end flaps of the carton. The ascending screw transporter comprises a vertical screw device on which travels a nut connected to a platform for raising the carton from the sliding support element. Pivotally mounted arms are disposed on each side of the vertical screw transporter and terminate at their upper ends on horizontal plates for displacement by the arms towards and away from the screw transporter and operating to receive the carton from the platform.

Apparatus embodying this invention has a relatively compact construction, allows a continuous process flow with simultaneous closing and pasting operations with absence of delay in transferring the cartons from one operating station to another. The absence of delay in operation allows readily direct coupling of the apparatus to production lines both upstream and downstream thereof.

Apparatus embodying the invention, in having the folding and paste applying mechanism as well as the pasting mechanism located in a vertical arrangement, not only provides for a compact construction requiring little factory floor space but enables ready withdrawal of the cartons and onward transport thereof.

The folding and pasting down of the carton flaps thus overall follows a U-shaped course whose horizontal part can much smaller than its vertical parts. It is particularly such an arrangement of work stations which enables the folding and pasting operations to be carried out on a carton in a continuous process flow.

The presence of a descending transporter will only allow the arrangement to be coupled with one manufacturing flow line but the dead time involved in closing of the cartons and carrying out pasting will not disrupt operation of other flow lines in the plant.

The ascending screw transporter allows simultaneous folding over of the free ends of a pasting tape and holding of already pasted cartons in place ready for delivery thereto of the next carton to be processed.

Pressing on of both ends of the pasting tape to the upper surface of the carton will be achieved under the weight of the previously closed and pasted carton. This arrangement avoids the need for a mechanism for pressing in place the ends of the pasting tape and thereby further simplifies the construction.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same can be carried into effect, reference will be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a flow scheme showing the initial form of carton blank fed to an arrangement of the invention and its modified form as it is at stations A to D in the arrangement as shown in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a complete closing and pasting apparatus embodying the invention; FIGURE 3 is a like perspective view to that of Figure 1, showing, to a larger scale, only the pasting mechanism and take-out means for horizontal transfer of cartons; and FIGURE 4 is a like perspective view to that shown in Figure 2, again to a larger scale, of the ascending screw transporter and its associated tape pasting mechanism.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a part assembled carton 100 has short flaps 101 and 102 at the front and rear ends respectively and which are to be oriented so as to be horizontally hinged as the carton is closed by the arrangement of the invention, these being the first flaps to be folded and long flaps 103a and 103b at the front end and long flaps 104a and 104b at the the rear end of the carton which are to be folded over subsequently to become stuck down on areas 105 of adhesive by then applied to the short flaps, at which time the carton 100 will contain a stack of individual packs 106 of for example, cigarettes. Subsequently, pasted strips 107 having folded over upper and lower end portions 108 and 109 are stuck over the abutting long edges of flaps 103a and b and 104a and b to complete the end closure of the carton.

Referring next to the arrangement as shown in detail in Figures 2 to 4, the arrangement comprises the following main sections, namely a descending transporter 1, a folding and paste applying mechanism 2 operatively associated therewith, an ascending screw transporter 3 standing side-by-side with the transporter 1 and at both sides of which are located a pasting mechanism 4.

Forming the base of the U arrangement of which the descending transporter 1 and the screw transporter 3 form the limbs is a carton take-out mechanism 5.

The descending transporter 1 comprises a drive mechanism 6 in operative association with a vertical chain conveyor which has mounted on it guide supports 7.

The folding and paste applying mechanism 2 comprises pneumatic cylinders 8 vertically mounted on upright members of a framework 9 on which the entire arrangement is mounted. The piston rod of each cylinder 8 carries a rack mechanism 10 on which is mounted a folding and paste applying roller 11 below which is secured a paste supplying roller 12. Below the rollers 11 and 12 are mounted retaining rollers 13 for maintaining in the vertical position the lower small flaps 101 and 102 of the carton 100 which is being closed in the arrangement. The retaining rollers 13 are connected by rods 14 resiliently biased by springs 15 fixed to the framework 9 and in turn biasses the rollers 13 against the lower small flaps 101 and 102.A pneumatic cylinder 16 is mounted on the framework 9 for horizontal movement, its piston rod being connected through a hinge arrangement to a slidably displaceable support plate 17 mounted on horizontal guide members 18 which are connected with the ascending screw transporter 3. At the rear part of the support plate 17 are disposed vertical folding members 19 for effecting folding over of the vertical flaps 103a and 104b.

The ascending screw transporter 3 has associated power drive means which are not shown and is located, as already explained, adjacent the take-out and folding mechanism 2. It comprises a vertical screw 20 with associated nut 21 which is in fact comprised by a platform 22 moved up and down on the screw 20.

The pasting mechanism 4 comprises apparatus disposed each side of the vertical screw 20 for acting on each end of the carton. Each- such pasting apparatus is to supply pasting tape 107 to the ends of the carton and includes upper and lower drawing rollers 23 and 24 connected via a clutch mechanism (not shown) with the vertical screw 20. Beyond the upper and lower rollers 23 and 24 are mounted a pair of opposed upper and lower knives 25 and 26. The pasting tape 107 is supplied from fixedly mounted spools 27. Below the upper and lower rollers 23 and 24 is located a tub 28 containing water and into which the lower roller 24 dips.

Cantilevers 29 are mounted on the framework 9 on both sides of the ascending screw transporter, carrying pivotally mounted arms 30 at whose upper ends are mounted horizontally displaceable plates 31 which retain the carton 100. The arms 30 are connected by cross-bars 32 to horizontal pneumatic cylinders 33. Pressing brushes 34 are mounted on vertical columns 35 which are in turn fixed on the framework 9.

Operation of the arrangement takes place in the following manner.

The drive mechanism 6 imparts timed motion to the chain conveyor of the descending transporter 1. After the supporting guides 7 reach a convenient level for placing of an empty carton 100 in expanded form to lie across the arrangement, as shown at position A in Figure 1, the carton 100 with folded over short flaps 102 at the rear of the carton is placed on the guides 7. After the carton reaches the level at which individual packs are to be fed thereinto from a feeding machine which is not shown in the drawings, it is filled up with individual packs of for example cigarettes by precisely measured motion. At this stage the following supporting guides 7 will be placed in position and will, in their turn, receive the next carton ready for filling.

The filled carton 100 then descends to the region of the folding-paste applying mechanism 2 (position B) where the vertical pneumatic cylinders 8 act on the rack mechanisms 10 to operate the folding and paste-applying rollers 11 which at the same time fold to the contents of the carton the short flaps 101 at the front of the carton 100. As a result of oscillatory movement, the folding and applying rollers 11 take up paste from the paste supplying rollers 12 and ensure in this way the application of areas of paste to the short flaps 101 and 102 at the front and rear ends respectively of the carton 100.

In order to prevent self opening of the short flaps 101 and 102 as a result of elastic deformation, the retaining rollers 13 are biased against these flaps by the springs 15 acting through rods 14. At this stage operation of the take-out mechanism 5 for the cartons commences. This occurs under the action of pneumatic cylinder 16 which moves the carton forward on the support plate 17 over horizontal guide members 18 towards the ascending screw transporter 3. Before actuating the support plate 17, one portion of the stroke of the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder 16 acts to shift in a horizontal direction the vertical folding members 19 which fold over the long flaps 103a and 104a at the rear of the carton (in the sense of its transporting on the take-out device 3).The remaining portion of the stroke of the piston rod has the effect of ensuring that carton 100 is pushed to position C to rest on platform 22 of the ascending screw transporter 3. During the process of pushing the carton 100 into position C from position B, the long flaps 103b and 104b at the forward part of the carton 100 are folded over.

The platform 22 is raised by actuation of the vertical screw of the ascending screw transporter 3, the nut 21 which is raised on the screw being part of the platform 22. The vertical screw 20 also imparts motion to upper and lower drawing rollers 23 and 24 of the pasting mechanism 4. The upper and lower drawing rollers 23 and 24 positioned at each end of the carton pull up the upper ends of pasting tapes 107 from spools 27 until, when sufficient pasting tape 107 has been drawn, the drawing process is interrupted. The upper ends of the pasting tape 107 are moistened with water as a result of passage through water in the water tubs 28 and are laid over the carton 100.Pressure is applied to the upper portions of the tapes by the weight of a filled carton 100 thereabove which is allowed to rest thereon after release from horizontally displaceable plates 31 carried on cross-bars 32 mounted on arms 30 which are driven by means of horizontal pneumatic cylinders 33. The plates 31 will have received the upper carton 100 from the platform 22 at the end of a previous cycle of operations.

The platform 22 of the ascending screw transporter 3 which at this stage carries two cartons 100, one with its tapes already pressed down, i.e. the carton located at position D and one subject to application of pasting tape, the lower carton, continues its vertical motion during which time the moistened pasted tape 107 is applied to the lower carton 100 and pressed on both sides thereof by the pressing brushes 35. When the lower carton 100 has reached a level about 10 to 15 mm above the level of the horizontally displaceable plates 31, the horizontal pneumatic cylinders 33 will have returned the horizontally displaceable plates 31 to an initial position out of contact with either of the cartons 100.

Over a controlled time period before the horizontally displaceable plates 31 have taken up this initial position, the upper and lower cut-up knives 25 and 26 shear the ends of the pasting tapes 107 to complete the lengths required for the already pasted carton 100.

Simultaneously with the return of the horizontally displaceable plates 31 to this initial position, they act on the upper ends of the pasting tape 107 to press them down onto the lower carton. - During this operation, the upper already pasted carton 100 stays in position D where it is held by the pressing action of brushes 31 so as to complete the application of the tape 107 to the surface of the upper carton 100 to ensure that a good closure is achieved with the tape 107 and that the areas 105 of paste 36 dry thereby ensuring that during subsequent transportion of the upper carton 100 there will be no risk of it opening up.

The thus pasted carton in position D is then removed from the arrangement by any convenient handling facility which is chosen independently of the arrangement of the invention.

The arrangement of this invention enables the pasting of cartons also to take place with self-adhesive tapes. In such a case, the horizontally displaceable plates 31 may be dispensed with and in their place are used alternative types of equipment which may be linked to the pneumatic and electrical system of the arrangement. For this purpose it is necessary too to remove the components for ensuring wetting of the tape in the pasting mechanism 4.

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus for closing the ends of parallelepipidic cartons formed from carton blanks to include flaps along each of the free edges, the apparatus comprising a common supporting framework having thereon a conveyor in the form of a descending transporter on opposite sides of which there are disposed folding and paste applying mechanisms for acting on opposite ends of the cartons, take-out means below the descending transporter for receiving said cartons and displacing them from under the descending transporter and, for receiving the cartons from the take-out means, an ascending screw transporter for completing the pasting down of the flaps on the carton, there being associated with either the descending transporter or the take-out means means for completing the folding over of flaps to close the carton.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding and paste applying mechanisms associated with the descending transporter each comprises a rack mechanism having mounted in operative association therewith a folding and paste applying roller for acting on horizontally hinged end flaps and below which there are mounted on the framework retaining rolls for retaining in the closed position the then folded over horizontally hinged end flaps.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the take-out means comprises horizontal guides extending between the descending transporter and the ascending screw transporter and on which is mounted a sliding support element for receiving the cartons from the descending transporter and having associated therewith reciprocating drive means, there being fixedly disposed on the support element at the rear end thereof folding members for folding over vertically hinged end flaps of the carton.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ascending screw transporter comprises a vertical screw device on which travels a nut connected to a platform for raising a said carton from the sliding support elements, there being pivotally mounted on its side of the vertical screw transporter arms which terminate at their upper ends on horizontal plates for displacement by the arms towards and away from the screw transporter and operating to receive the carton from the platform.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which additionally comprises means for applying lengths of pasting tape to end regions of the closed carton, which means are provided bi-laterally with respect to the screw device and comprise tape feed means towards a position to be occupied by a carton, shearing means for cutting off a length of tape applied to a carton and pressing means for acting on the tape applied to the carton.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein holding means for a said carton is located above said horizontally displacable plates whereby an upper carton can be held in place on top of a lower carton to press down under its weight upper ends of tape applied to the lower carton.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein wetting means is additionally provided for wetting a pasted tape to be applied to the cartons.

8. Apparatus for closing open ended cartons, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.