GB2282987A

GB2282987A - Box forming machine with exchangable components

Info

Publication number: GB2282987A
Application number: GB9321314A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Diane Hubbard; David John Collins
Original assignee: Field Group PLC
Current assignee: Field Group PLC
Priority date: 1993-10-15
Filing date: 1993-10-15
Publication date: 1995-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-15
Also published as: GB9321314D0; GB2282987B

Abstract

A machine (2) for performing operations on cardboard or the like blanks (26) (e.g. making cartons) has a plurality of separate components (8) arranged to operate on such blanks (26) as they are conveyed through the machine (2). The components (8) are securely mountable on a support member (14) which, with the components (8) mounted thereon, is arranged to be removably mounted on the machine (2). A number of support members with components set up for various sizes and configuration of blanks may be kept for use when required. <IMAGE>

Description

PERFORMING OPERATIONS ON CARTON BLANKS This invention relates to performing operations on blanks made of cardboard or the like, e.g. for making cartons, such as folding and/or gluing the same.

A number of different machines are known for carrying out folding and/or gluing operations during the partial or complete erection of a carbon blank. Such machines are designed to be flexible so as to be able to process a wide range of blanks. Accordingly, these machines are provided with a large number of different components for effecting folding and/or gluing which, for any particular operation, are selectively attached to the machine in the necessary configuration. Whilst such machines are indeed flexible, they do have the disadvantage that the setting up time, i.e. the time necessary to assemble the said components on the machine in the necessarily very precise locations and orientations for successful operation, can be long. For example, in the case of a relatively complicated blank, it can take as much as 3 to 4 days to set up the machine.Furthermore, it is time consuming to remove the components from the machine once again. Thus, such machines can spend a large part, for example up to 40%, of their time inoperative, which is obviously economically disadvantageous.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a method of operating a machine for performing operations on cardboard or like blanks, including the steps of securely mounting a plurality of separate components for operating on such blanks on a support member, and securely mounting said support member on said machine in removable fashion.

By mounting a number of the said components on a support member which is itself removably mounted on the machine, the time for which the machine is idle can be substantially reduced. Thus, if the machine is being set up with the components in question for the first time, the time taken to remove the components from the machine may be substantially reduced by removing them from the machine still attached to the said support member.More significantly, however, if the components in question, having been so removed, are kept securely attached to the support member in the same relative positions, then when the same arrangement of components is to be used again they may be very quickly mounted on the machine in the correct positions simply by remounting the support member thereon, thus saving a very considerable amount of idle time which would otherwise be involved in setting up the components afresh in their necessarily precise locations.

It will of course be appreciated that it will not usually be practicable for all of the components necessary to carry out all of the desired operations on a particular blank to be mounted on a single support member. Thus operation of the invention will usually involve the use of a number of support members each mounting a number of components. Clearly the user may advantageously keep, ready for use, support members mounting arrays of components for carrying out common operations on similar or different types of blanks.

In one form of the invention the said plurality of components are first mounted on said support member in preliminary fashion, then said support member is securely mounted on said machine, and then said components are secured to said support member in their operative positions-. Thus, the components may be preliminarily mounted on the support member off-machine, whilst the machine is being used to process another type of blank for example. Clearly this can reduce the onmachine setting up time significantly, as a substantial part of the work can be done off-machine.

In another form of the invention the said support member is first securely mounted on said machine without said components, and then said components are mounted on support member and secured thereto in their operative positions.

As already mentioned, the method of the invention may include the further steps of removing said support member from the machine with said plurality of components securely mounted thereon, and re-mounting the same on the machine at a later time.

Viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a machine for performing operations on cardboard or like blanks, including a plurality of separate components arranged to operate on such blanks as they are conveyed through the machine, and a support member on which said plurality of components are securely mountable, wherein said support member with the said components securely mounted thereon is arranged to be removably mounted on the said machine.

In a preferred form of this aspect of the invention the said support member comprises an elongate bar adapted to be securely clamped to the said machine and formed with a longitudinal key-way for receiving said components.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a known machine for performing folding and gluing operations on a carton blank; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the machine of Figure 1, as modified to embody the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the machine of Figure 2 along line III-III; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a support member and associated components as shown in Figure 2, but now separated from the machine; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the support member alone, together with a clamping member for securely mounting it on the machine of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows part of a known machine 2 for folding and gluing a carton blank. The machine includes a first belt conveyor 4 extending along the length thereof and a second belt conveyor 6 which, in the part of the apparatus illustrated, travels on top of the conveyor 4. These two conveyors 4 and 6 cooperate to convey carton blanks through the machine, the blanks being held between the conveyors 4 and 6 by friction.

A number of components 8 are provided for operating on the blanks as they are conveyed through the apparatus. The particular components 8 illustrated in Figure 1 do not in fact perform any folding function but are arranged to apply pressure to the blanks to activate pressure sensitive adhesive coatings on appropriate parts thereof so as to glue those parts together, for a purpose which need not be explained.

The components 8 are mounted on the machine by way of respective mounting devices 10 which are received in a T-shaped key-way 12 formed in the side wall of the machine. The key-way 12 allows the mounting devices 10 and their respective components to be removably mounted on the machine at any desired location lengthwise thereof. Then, when the machine needs to be reconfigured for handling a different type of blank, various components 8 are rearranged as necessary.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5, these show a part of the same machine but now set up to perform a different operation on a blank, by means in accordance with present invention. Corresponding parts of the machine are indicated by the same reference numerals, where appropriate.

The components 8 are now mounted, by means of respective mounting devices 10, on support members 14, two of which are illustrated in Figure 2. Each support member 14, one of which is shown in Figure 5 without any components thereon, comprises an elongate bar having a T-shaped key-way 16 extending the length thereof. The key-way 16 has the same dimensions as the key-way 12 of the machine of Figure 1. The method of mounting the components 8 in the key-way 16 is conventional and need not be described further. The support members 14 themselves are clamped on the machine over the existing key-way 12 as can be seen from Figure 3. Consequently the key-way 16 of the support member 14 effectively takes the place of the key-way 12.

The support members 14 are mounted on the side of the machine by clamping members 18 formed with rebates 20 to engage over the bottom edge of the support member 14. Bolts 22 extending through the clamping members 18 engage in tapped holes 24 in the side wall of the machine. Thus, in order to modify the machine of Figure 1 to enable it incorporates the present invention, it is only necessary to form the tapped holes 24 for the bolts 22 of the clamping members 18. The support members 14 can be made of any suitable material, although aluminium is preferred for its strength and light weight.

As shown particularly in Figure 2, the illustrated part of the machine is configured to carry out a folding operation on a blank. Initially, cardboard blanks 26 are conveyed on the first and second belts 4 and 6.

Component 8a guides the belt 6 into a substantially vertical position and thus moves a flap of the blank 26 into a vertical position. Components 8b and 8c then guide the belt 6 downwardly so as to fold the flap right over through 180 . Components 8d and 8e then apply pressure to the blank to activate pressure sensitive adhesive. Components 8f and 8g ensure that the blank remains correctly positioned relative to the conveyors 4 and 6 during this folding and gluing process.

As will be appreciated, the support members 14 with various components 8 mounted thereon can be quickly and easily removed from the machine by releasing the bolts 22 of the clamping members 18. The individual components 8 can then, if desired, be removed from the support member 14 off-machine. Alternatively the support member with the components thereon, as illustrated in Figure 4, can be kept intact for future use.

Claims

1. A method of operating a machine for performing operations on cardboard or like blanks, including the steps of securely mounting a plurality of separate components for operating on such blanks on a support member, and securely mounting said support member on said machine in removable fashion.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are first mounted on said support member in preliminary fashion, then said support member is securely mounted on said machine, and then said components are secured to said support member in their operative positions.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support member is first securely mounted on said machine without said components, and then said components are mounted on support member and secured thereto in their operative positions.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, including the further steps of removing said support member from the machine with said plurality of components securely mounted thereon, and re-mounting the same on the machine at a later time.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, including the further steps of removing said support member from the machine with said plurality of components securely mounted thereon, and then removing the plurality of components from the support member.

6. A machine for performing operations on cardboard or like blanks, including a plurality of separate components arranged to operate on such blanks as they are conveyed through the machine, and a support member on which said plurality of components are securely mountable, wherein said support member with the said components securely mounted thereon is arranged to be removably mounted on the said machine.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said support member comprises an elongate bar adapted to be securely clamped to the said machine and formed with a longitudinal key-way for receiving said components.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7, including a plurality of said support members each adapted to mount a plurality of said components.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 6, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.