NL2002069C - DEVICE FOR FORMING A BOX AND METHOD. - Google Patents

Description

P84373NL00

Title: Device for forming a box and method

The invention relates to a device for forming a box from a blank.

Plastic buckets and boxes are known from practice for storage and transport of moist products such as cut flowers incorporated in water. For environmental reasons, the plastic buckets and boxes are made, for example, from polypropylene, a reusable material. However, such materials are more expensive and less easy to recycle than cardboard. Cardboard boxes with a waterproof coating are also known from the literature. However, the manual manufacture of cardboard boxes is a time-consuming activity.

Furthermore, various devices are known from the literature for forming a box, for example a so-called hot melt packaging machine. However, the use of a glue connection has disadvantages, such as a difficult setting process with accurately dosing quantities of glue.

The object of the invention is to obtain a device in which a box can be formed from a blank in a simple manner, also without the use of an adhesive or adhesive product. To that end, the device comprises a stamp which is adapted to shift via a substantially linear movement from a rest position in which the blank can be brought near the stamp, to an extended position wherein the blank is deformed into a box provided with a lying bottom part and adjacent upright wall segments. The device furthermore comprises for this purpose a guide for guiding and folding the wall segments during the substantially linear movement of the punch.

By moving a stamp from the rest position to the extended position, the stamp exerts a force on the blank, so that a deformation of the blank can be achieved. Furthermore, by using a guide for guiding and folding the wall segments during the substantially linear movement of the punch, edges can be provided in the blank in a well-defined and reproducible manner to bring wall segments into an upright position. A box can thus be formed in a simple manner, also without the use of an adhesive or adhesive product.

The invention also relates to a method for forming a box from a blank.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a first schematic perspective partial view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a second schematic perspective partial view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a blank; and

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a box.

The figures are only schematic representations of the invention and are only given by way of non-limiting exemplary embodiments.

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention for forming a box from a blank without the use of an adhesive or adhesive product. The device 10 comprises a stamp module 11. The stamp module 11 has a frame 15 to which a stamp mechanism 30 is attached. The stamping mechanism comprises a stamp 12 which via a driving mechanism can carry out a substantially linear movement in a direction of movement L. In the embodiment shown, the driving mechanism comprises a rod 13 which is slidable via an electric motor 14 in the direction of movement L. It is noted that the drive mechanism can also be designed in a different way, for example with a hydraulically driven piston.

The punch 12 is slidable between the rest position and an extended position. In the rest position, the punch 12 is in a relatively high position, whereby a blank can be brought near the punch 12. In the extended position, the punch 12 is in a relatively low position, wherein the blank is deformed into a box provided with a lying bottom part and adjacent upright wall segments.

During operation of the device according to the invention, a blank is placed near the stamp 12 in the rest position. Then the stamp 12 shifts via the substantially linear movement in the direction of movement L to the extended position. Because the stamp 12 here exerts pressure on a bottom part of the blank, the blank deforms into a box with upright wall segments adjacent to the bottom part. The punch module 11 comprises a substantially form-retaining mold 16 for supporting the blank during forming into a box. The mold 16 can be closed at the bottom and sideways or with one or more openings as described below.

Furthermore, the punch module 11 comprises a guide for guiding and folding the wall segments of the blank during the substantially linear movement of the punch 12.

In the embodiment as shown in Figure 1, the punch 12 is conically shaped, with a square cross-section, to connect to practically the entire inside of the box. The punch 12 can be solid or hollow.

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Figures 2 and 3 show, respectively, a first and second schematic partial view of another embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. The stamp 12 here has a different geometry, namely a square plate. What is common here is that during operation of the stamp module at least a part of an outer surface of the stamp exerts force on the bottom part 43 of the blank so that the wall segments are folded upwards. Figures 2 and 3 show a specific embodiment of the guide, comprising a plurality of guide elements 30, 32, the position of which corresponds to foldable edges 41 between substantially flat, upright wall segments 40, 42 of a blank. The guide elements 30, 32 are thus arranged symmetrically so that a symmetrically designed blank can be guided into a box and folded.

Each guide element 30, 32 comprises a disc segment, so that a curved guide surface 31, 33 is formed which, viewed in a direction towards the punch 12, initially extends substantially transversely to the linear direction of movement T of the punch 12 and then gradually deflects towards the position of the punch 12 in the extended position. When folding the edges 41, the guide surfaces 31, 33 act as a support. By making the guide surfaces curved, the edges can be formed gradually, so that undesired sudden deformations in the blank material are prevented. Instead of curved guide surfaces, other shapes can in principle also be used, for example guide surfaces with a staggered profile. It is noted that the guide elements can not only be embodied as a disc segment, but also in a different manner, for example as an arc segment.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a blank 50. The blank 50 is designed to be formed into a box 60, a schematic perspective view of which is shown in Figure 5. The blank 50 has a bottom part 51 and adjacent wall segments 40, 52 , 59.

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The bottom part 51 is free of folding edges so that deformation of the bottom part 51 during box formation is prevented. The bottom part 51 therefore remains substantially flat so that a good supporting surface of the box 60 can be obtained. Furthermore, the bottom part is surrounded around 5 by an edge 58a-c which is provided with a shiver. Individual wall segments 40, 52, 59 are also interconnected via a shiver 41.

During the formation of the blank 50 into a box 60, the wall segments 40, 52, 59 are folded upwards from the plane in which the bottom part 51 extends along the edges 58a-d, 41 with a shiver. Here, a few segments 42 fold inwards in pairs. Each pair of segments 42 thus folding inwards are connected to each other via a fold line 54, also provided with a shiver. During or after the substantially linear movement of the punch 12 is carried out, the inwardly folded segments 42 are pressed from the inner space of the box against the inside of the box, for example with the aid of a pressure element attached to the punch 12.

By executing folding edges with a shiver, a well-defined folding edge can be realized. It is noted here that the shiver is designed as a pre-formed folding line.

Two opposite wall segments 52 comprise a folding segment 53 for folding inwards over an edge of the box 60, over inwardly folded segments pressed against the inside of the box. As a result, the orientation of the wall segments is more or less fixed, so that the construction of the box remains stable. For performing the folding operation, the stamp 12 is preferably provided with a folding module. The folding segment 53 further comprises two lips 55 which, after folding, can be slid through a slot into an adjacent upright wall segment. By applying a lip-slot connection, a simple but effective fixation of the wall segments 40, 52, 59 is obtained without the use of an adhesive or adhesive product. The fixation can also be easily lifted, so that the box can easily be brought into the position of the blank. This may, for example, be important for storage or waste processing. Of course, other fastening constructions are also applicable, such as a staple connection.

The blank is preferably made from cardboard, so that a cheap, easily re-usable and, depending on national regulations, inexpensive box can be traded. The blank can optionally be provided with printing on one or both sides. Furthermore, the blank can be provided on one side with a waterproof layer, for example a polyester coating, such that the inside of the box is watertight. The box can thus be used for receiving liquids, for example as a bucket for the transport and / or storage of cut flowers. Of course, the blank can also be made without a waterproof layer, for example for receiving dry objects and / or materials.

With reference to Figure 1, the device 10 further comprises an ejection element 17 which is displaceable through an opening into the mold 16 for ejecting a shaped box. The box can leave the mold, for example via a fold-out wall of the mold, or otherwise, for example via the open side of the mold that receives the stamp 12. The folding wall is preferably operated with an actuator 18a.

In addition, the device 10 comprises a feed unit for supplying a blank to the stamp. The supply unit comprises, for example, a conveyor belt 18 which transports individual blanks 20 from a storage unit 19 in a conveying direction Ti to the punch module 11. The storage unit 19 can be designed to be tiltable in an angular direction R with respect to the conveyor belt 18, for example to facilitate the insertion of blanks. In an advantageous embodiment, the drive of the ejector element 17 is coupled to the drive of the conveyor belt 18, so that an actuator can be saved.

Moreover, the device 10 may comprise a discharge device 21 for discharging a shaped box 22. The discharge device 21 may also comprise a conveyor belt 21 which discharges boxes in a conveying direction T2. The device 10 also has a separate transport unit 23 for transporting the boxes in a transport direction. The separate transport unit 23 may comprise a filling unit 24 for filling the boxes with a liquid, for example water.

It is noted that the device 10 can in principle be constructed in a modular manner, optionally with or without a supply unit, discharge device 21 and / or filling unit 24.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described here. Many variants are possible.

For example, the orientation of the substantially linear movement of the punch rather than vertically as described with reference to Figure 1 can be chosen differently, for example horizontally.

In principle, the drive mechanism of the punch can also be designed without motorization. A user of the device can then manually move the stamp to deform the blank.

Instead of a box with a substantially square cross-section, a different shape can of course also be realized, for instance a box with a hexagonal bottom part.

Such variants will be clear to those skilled in the art and are understood to be within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

2002069-

Claims (11)

Device for forming a box from a blank, comprising a stamp adapted to shift via a substantially linear movement from a rest position where the blank can be brought near the stamp, to an extended position where the blank is deformed 5 to a box provided with a lying bottom part and adjacent upright wall segments, further comprising a guide for guiding and folding the wall segments during the substantially linear movement of the stamp, further comprising a folding module provided on the stamp for inward folding of a folding segment of an upright wall segment over inwardly folded segments that are pressed against the inside of the box. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a plurality of guide elements, the position of which corresponds to edges to be folded between substantially flat, upright wall segments of a blank. 3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a guide element comprises a curved guide surface which, viewed in a direction towards the stamp, initially extends substantially transversely to the linear direction of movement of the stamp and then gradually deflects to the position of the stamp in the extended position. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a guide element comprises a disc segment. 5. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising a substantially form-retaining mold for supporting the blank during the formation into a box. 2002069- Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the stamp comprises a pressure element for pressing inwardly folded segments of the blank from the box against the inside of the box. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising an ejector element that is displaceable through an opening into the mold for ejecting a shaped box. 8. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising a supply unit for supplying a blank to the stamp. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising a discharge device for discharging a box. 10. Method for forming a box from a blank, comprising placing a blank close to a stamp located in a rest position, shifting the stamp via a substantially linear movement to an extended position, the blank being deformed into a box provided with a lying bottom part and adjacent upright wall segments, further comprising guiding and folding the wall segments during the substantially linear movement of the punch, the method also comprising the step of folding inwards of a folding segment of an upright wall segment over inwardly folded segments that are pressed against the inside of the box. 11. Method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a box is obtained without applying a glue connection. 2002069 "