GB2271743A

GB2271743A - Mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2271743A
Application number: GB9302976A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jaen Jose Boix
Original assignee: Boix Maquinaria SL
Current assignee: Boix Maquinaria SL
Priority date: 1992-10-26
Filing date: 1993-02-15
Publication date: 1994-04-27
Also published as: GB9302976D0; ES2066680R; IT1260625B; CA2089681A1; ITTO930168A0; BE1006383A6; NL9300371A; IL104719A0; BR9300830A; FR2697200A1; ITTO930168A1; ES2066680A2; DE4305323A1; PT101200A; MA22799A1; ES2066680B1

Abstract

A folding mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes comprises a chain 6 connected at one end to an adjustment screw 5 in a support 4 and at the other to a folding head or slipper 8 movable along a guide shaft 9 against a spring 10. The shaft 9 is joined to a main support 12 via a body 11, with the support 12 being connected to a rotatable input member 13. Rotating the input member 13 through 180 DEG will move the folding head 8 in such a manner as to form a triangular reinforcement at the edge of the box side wall 3. <IMAGE>

Description

227 1743 MECHANISM FOR LAP FOLDING AND REINFORCEMENT FORKING IN CARDBOARD

BOXES

Justas is expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention refers to a mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes. It is an extremely simple device, for which reason its operation turns out to be really effective in the folding and reinforcement of laps.

The operation is produced by means of rotating a tree, to which among other elements, a slipper which in principle pushes, directly on the lap forming the reinforcement of a box, is linked.

Presently, different devices to carry out the folding of laps and forming of reinforcement columns in cardboard boxes are known. Such devices include some pneumatic cylinders that act upon some elements that will turn the degrees necessary to effect the folding of the corresponding laps. At times the operation thereof entails some difficulties as far as the finish of the folds and reinforcement columns is concerned, since neither of them are optimal, but rather they have some defects.

On the other hand, these devices are comprised of numerous elements, therefore, they are excessively complex.

In order to overcome the problems mentioned in the above section, a mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement folding in cardboard boxes has been designed. It constitutes the object of the invention. It provides some relevant features over conventional devices and its structure and operation are very simple.

It comprises a base, to which a bottom support provided with an adjustable screw, to which an open chain is hooked, is connected. The free end of the chain is linked to a slipper movable along a guide-shaft, in which a spring that pushes said slipper forward upon tightening the chain, has been mounted. The guide-shaft is connected to a rear body, which is joined to a main body interlocked with an operating tree of the entire mechanism.

With this arrangement, the mechanism of the invention remains inoperative when the chain and spring are not tightened, the slipper in the most forward area and the lap to be folded is straight, with the previously premarked folding lines. Afterwards, when the mechanism begins to operate, the tree rotates 1809 in order to form the reinforcement column. In this process, the slipper pushes, in the first place, a lap until a first fold thereof is made, the chain and the spring becoming tightened, at the same time that the slipper moves backward. When the complete rotation of 1809 is produced, the spring tightens as much as possible and so does the chain, the slipper moving totally backward, at the same time that the outer part of the lap presses against the corresponding side wall of the box.

The entire mechanism returns to the inoperative position thanks to the spring, in the moment when the tree causing all the movements remains freed.

Hereinafter in order to provide a better understanding of this specification and as an integral part thereof, a series of figures in which the object of the invention has been represented with an illustrative and non-restrictive manner, is attached hereto.

Figure 1.- It is a view of the mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes, ob ject of the invention. This mechanism in question is in the inoperative position.

Figure 2.- It is a view of the mechanism of the invention, which, starting from the initial position, has rotated 1802, carrying out a first folding of the reinforcement lap of a box.

Figure 3.- It is a view of the mechanism of the invention, where the totally formed box reinforcement is shown, said mechanism having rotated entirely, in other words 1809.

Making reference to the numbering used in the figures, the mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes, has an extremely simple structure, at the same time that its operation is very simple. With this device notable quality of the folding and forming of reinforcements in cardboard boxes is achieved.

It is comprised from a base 1, connected to a support plate 2 of a side wall 3 of the box, a bottom support 4 that includes an adjustable screw 5, to which the end of an open chain 6 is anchored, is coupled, the free end of the chain connecting to an intermediate element 7 linked to a slipper 8, movable along a guideshaft 9, in which a spring 10 that pushes said slipper 8 forward when the chain is tightened due to the spring itself, has been mounted. Said guide-shaft 9 is connected to a rear body 11 which is joined to a main support 12 interlocked to a tree 13, through which the entire mechanism is operated. The slipper 8 includes on its innermost end a projection or stop 14 which will advantageously contact in the first place, with the outside part of the lap 15 forming the reinforcement column, when the latter is made.

Observing figures 1, 2 and 3, in this order, we see that in the first one, the device of the invention is in the inoperative position; chain 6 and spring 10 are not tightened, the slipper 8 is in the most forward area and the lap 15 of cardboard to be folded, forming a straight, reinforcement triangular column with its outside folding lines 16, intermediate folding lnes 17 and inside folding lines 18 already premarked.

In the second figure, the tree 13 has rotated 909, as well as the slipper 8, which in its forward movement has effected an intermediate folding of the lap 15 corresponding to line 17. In this situation, chain 6 and spring 10 have been tightened, ensuring the stable position of the slipper 8 that has moved backward a bit, always carried on the guide- shaft 9.

The first contact point of the slipper 8 on lap 15 is done advantageously, as it has already been said above, by means of a small stop 14 that will press near the free edge of the lap 15, thus producing the start of said intermediate folding.

Now in figure 3, a totally perfectly formed reinforcement triangular column corresponding to one of the corners of the box appears. In order to go from the intermediate position of figure 2 to the final position of figure 3, the tree 13 has rotated 909 in the same direction as before, whereby the slipper 8 has moved even further backward, the same pressing on the outer part of the lap that remains abutted against the corresponding side wall 3 of the box.

An intermediate support 19 for the seat of the tightened chain 6 just as the different positions are occupied as the tree 13 rotates, which moves the mecha- nism of the invention.

The initial position is recovered by means or spring 10 coupled to the guide-shaft 9 and located between the slipper 8 and the rear body 11, as long as the tree 13 remains freed.

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Claims

1.- MECHANISM FOR LAP FOLDING AND REINFORCEMENT FORMING IN CARDBOARD BOXES, of the type that include a turning means for the rotation of an element that acts upon the lap for its folding or for forming a reinforcement column; characterised because it comprises a bottom support (4) provided with an adjustable screw (5), to which an open or similar chain (6) has been hooked, connecting by its free end to a slipper (8), movable along a guide-shaft (9) that is connected to a rear body (11), which is joined to a main support (12) interlocked to an operating tree (13) of the mechanism; a push spring (10) moving the slipper (8) forward and a tension spring of chain (6) having been provided for.

2.- MECHANISM FOR LAP FOLDING AND REINFORCEMENT FORMING IN CARDBOARD BOXES, according to the above claim charac terised because the slipper (8), operating directly on the lap (15) forming the reinforcement column of a box, has in its outer area a stop (14) or the like of initial folding, with the particularity that a support element (19) of the tightened chain (6), preferably coupled to the main support (12), has been provided for.

3. Mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.