NL2006204C2

NL2006204C2 - Box taper head, press rollers and box tapers provided therewith.

Info

Publication number: NL2006204C2
Application number: NL2006204A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Guido Maurinus Adriana Maria Aarts
Original assignee: Duoseal Automatics B V
Priority date: 2011-02-15
Filing date: 2011-02-15
Publication date: 2012-08-16

Description

P93646NL00

Title: Box taper head, press rollers and box tapers provided therewith.

The invention is related to sealing boxes having flaps. The invention also relates to box sealing machines for sealing boxes having flaps and to sealing heads for sealing boxes.

Cardboard, such as corrugated cardboard is commonly used for 5 forming boxes used for packaging. This can be primary or secondary packagings, such as but not limited to transport and storage boxes. In this disclosure reference will be made to these types of cardboard boxes as box or boxes. Cardboard boxes are generally formed from blanks, cut from sheets or rolls of sheet material, and can be preassembled at least partly and can be 10 shipped to a user in a collapsed state. The boxes can for example be assembled and sealed manually, by machine or a combination thereof.

The boxes referred to are commonly formed from blanks having wall forming panels and closure flaps for forming two opposite sides of the boxes. For example the flaps can form a bottom and top of a box, whereas the panels 15 form the sides of the boxes. When setting up such boxes the panels are brought into a position in which they enclose an inner space of the box, having a desired shape and dimension, whereas on one side the flaps can be folded inward, for forming for example a closed bottom wall. Two of the flaps will have a combined width equal to the corresponding width of the box between 20 the respective panels to which the flaps are connected, whereas there lengths will be equal to the length of the box, perpendicular to said width. Thus the said two flaps will have longitudinal facing edges which in said folded state will meet, flush with each other, and the bottom of the box will be fully closed by said flaps. The flaps are then fixed to each other by providing a strip of 25 pressure sensitive adhesive tape over the meeting side edges of the flaps and onto part of the panels forming two opposite ends of the box. In a similar 2 manner the opposite top side of the box is closed and sealed by flaps and adhesive tape. These boxes can be referred to as full flap boxes.

Cardboard is relatively low in cost as compared to other materials. Especially corrugated cardboard, often the material of choice for boxes.

5 Nevertheless the cost of cardboard, even of corrugated cardboard is relatively high compared to that of sealing tape, such as but not limited to plastic or paper tape, adhesive or not.

By reducing the amount of cardboard used for a box, significant reduction of material cost can be obtained and/or waist of material can be 10 reduced or even prevented. More blanks for boxes can be cut from the same sheet or roll of cardboard and/or blanks for bigger boxes can be cut from the same sheet or roll. This reduction in the amount of material to be used can be obtained for example by reducing the said width of the flaps closing the box to such a width that in the folded position a gap between said facing edges will 15 occur, for example a gap having a width of several centimetres in width. This will reduce the overall width of the blank, also referred to as piano, for such box and thus the amount of cardboard needed. Such boxes are known in the art and can be referred to as “shortened flap boxes”.

For sealing full flap or shortened flap boxes usually adhesive tape is 20 used, which will be provided using a box taper with a box taper head, which will provide lengths of adhesive tape adhered to adjacent edge portions of closing flaps at a top or bottom side of the boxes, and normally also to adjacent portions of a first and opposite second panel of the box. To this end a press roller will be provided in the box taper head with which the adhesive tape is 25 pressed against the relevant box portions. These press rollers are commonly smooth or knurled metal rollers, for providing sufficient pressure to the tape.

An object of the present description is to provide an alternative box taper head, box taper and method for sealing boxes using tape. Another object is to provide improved box taper head, box taper and method for sealing boxes 3 using tape, especially for using relatively wide tape, compared to the corresponding width direction of the box and to commonly used tape widths.

In a first aspect a box taper head according to this description can be characterised by at least one holder for a roll of tape and at least one press 5 roller, further comprising a guide for guiding tape fed from a roll of tape mounted on or in the holder to the at least one press roller. The press roller comprises a press surface, which press surface is at least partly provided by a compressible material.

In a second aspect a box taper head according to this description can 10 be characterised by the press roller having an axial direction along a roller axis, wherein the press surface comprises two press surface portions of a peripheral surface of the roller extending around the axis, axially separated by an intermediate portion.

In a third aspect a box taper according to this description can be 15 characterised by a box taper head according to the disclosure, wherein the box taper comprises a transport device for transporting a box to be sealed against a press roller of the box taper head, the press roller having an axial direction extending above the transport surface within a path of travel of frontal surfaces of boxes on the transport device to be sealed. The press roller can be 20 provided such that if a frontal surface of a box or tape provided between the press roller and the frontal surface is moved against the press roller such that if a first axial end of the press roller abuts against the frontal surface of the box before an opposite second axial end, the surface of the press roller at the first axial end will be compressed at least partly.

25 In a further aspect a method according to the present disclosure can be characterised in that a press roller of the tape head is pressed against tape provided between a surface of the box and the press roller, pressing the tape against the surface for adherence to at least part thereof, wherein when the direction of pressing of the press roller is not perpendicular to the surface of 30 the box, the press roller will at least partly be compressed, such that at least 4 two opposite axial ends or the press roller are brought in contact with the tape, which tape is thereby pressed against the surface of the box. The deformation of the press roller is preferably obtained substantially without deforming said surface.

5 In a still further aspect a method according to the present disclosure can be characterised in that a press roller of the tape head is pressed against tape provided between a surface of the box and the press roller, pressing the tape against the surface for adherence to at least part thereof, wherein when the direction of pressing of the press roller is not perpendicular to the surface 10 of the box, the press roller will at least partly be angularly adjusted relative to a frame of the head, such that at least two opposite axial ends or the press roller are brought in contact with the tape, which tape is thereby pressed against the surface of the box. The angular displacement of the press roller is preferably obtained substantially without deforming said surface.

15 Embodiments of the present disclosure shall be elucidated hereafter, with reference to the drawings, which are shown by way of example only and should in no way be considered as limiting the scope of the claimed invention. The drawings show:

Fig. 1 a piano or blank for a box, especially a shortened flap box; 20 Fig. 2 a box set up from a piano or blank of fig. 1, with flaps at an upper side folded over an inner space of the box;

Fig. 3 a box of fig. 2, with portions of two shortened flaps and portions of two opposite side panels having been provided with moisture and a strip being placed over said moisture portions; 25 Fig. 4 a box of fig. 2, with a strip being placed over portions of the shortened flaps and portions of opposite side panels of the box, with the strip at least partially moisturised;

Fig. 5 a box of fig. 2, with portions of two shortened flaps and portions of two opposite side panels having been provided with glue and a strip 30 being placed over said adhesive portions; 5

Fig. 6 an applicator;

Fig. 7 a full flap box, closed by tape;

Fig. 8 in perspective view, partly a box taper comprising two box taper heads with press rollers; 5 Fig. 8A schematically a box in a box taper according to the prior art;

Fig. 8B and C schematically a box in a box taper according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 schematically a first embodiment of a press roller of a tape head, shown in perspective view; 10 Fig. 10 schematically a second embodiment of a press roller of a box taper head, in perspective view;

Fig. 11 schematically a third embodiment of a press roller of a box taper head, in perspective view;

Fig. 12 in cross section a strip of tape, comprising in this 15 embodiment a first and second tape, superimposed; and

Fig. 12A schematically an embodiment of a press roller on said tape.

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be 20 embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. In the embodiments described 25 the same or similar elements will be provided with the same or similar reference signs. The drawings are schematic and are not necessarily to scale.

In this description a strip of tape has to be understood as including at least but not limited to single or multi layered tape, adhesive, non adhesive or partly adhesive.

6

In fig. 1 - 5 a shortened flaps box is discussed, by way of example, whereas in fig. 7 schematically a full flap box is shown. However, it should be understood that all kinds of boxes can be used with the present disclosure, as long as they have at least one side to be closed and sealed by tape, preferably 5 having closing flaps at said at least one side to which the tape can be adhered. The piano of a full flap box will be similar to that of fig. 1 but with closing flaps 2, 3 having a larger width W3, as is indicated in fig. 1 by broken lines.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a piano or blank, further to be referred to as blank 1, for a shortened flap box 100. Various blanks 1 for folding boxes are 10 known and can be referred to by their FEFCO or other, similar code. This blank 1 is for setting up a box 100 commonly known as an American folding box, but with closing flaps 2, 3 being shortened, as will be explained hereafter. Other blanks for other type boxes can have similarly shortened flaps or full flaps.

15 An advantage of using shortened flap boxes can be a reduction of cardboard material. A disadvantage is that a different way of closing will be necessary, in order to close the box. From the prior art it is known to use two parallel strips of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, one on each edge portion of a shortened flap. The strips of tape will be spaced apart over a distance at 20 least equal to the width of the gap between the shortened flaps. This leaves products within the box open to damage or tampering through said gap. Moreover this requires a more complicated and more expensive sealing instrument for applying the strips of tape simultaneously. Obviously it would be possible to use a wider strip of adhesive tape across the gap and said edge 25 portions of the shortened flaps, but this means that the adhesive of the tape will be exposed within the gap to the products within the box. However, obviously boxes can be used with the present disclosure having full closing flaps, as described in the introduction to the specification, at a bottom side, a top side or both. Therefore also combinations are possible of one side having 30 shortened flaps and one side full flaps.

7

The blank 1 of fig. 1 comprises in a known manner a first 4, second 5, third 6 and fourth 7 side panel, foldably connected in a straight line by parallel folding lines 8. A connecting flap 9 is provided, for connecting the first panel 4 to the fourth panel 7, for forming a substantially tubular body 10 5 having open top and bottom sides 11, 12, which can be collapsed for storage and transport and which can be set up for use. The panels 4, 7 have a height H measured along the folding lines 9, whereas the first and third panel have a first width Wi and the second and fourth panel have a second width W2, measured in a direction perpendicular to the height H. The closure flaps 2, 3 10 are connected to the respective panels 4 - 7 by further folding lines 15.

On opposite sides the panels 4 - 7 closing flaps 2, 3 are provided. These closure flaps 2, 3 are provided in a first series 13 and a second series 14. Each series 13, 14 comprises two first closure flaps 2 and two second closure flaps 3. The closure flaps 2, 3 preferably have the same width W3, measured in 15 a direction parallel to the height H, perpendicularly to folding lines 15. The width W3 is smaller than half the second width W2 of the second and fourth side panels 5,7. This means that they are shortened in that direction relative to similar flaps of a similar box without such shortened flaps, which would have a width W4 as indicated by the striped lines in fig. 1. Such non shortened 20 flaps would have a width W4 of half the second width W2, such that when they are folded over an open top or bottom side 11, 12 of the body 10 of the box, they would have meeting edges 16 extending parallel to the folding lines 15, so as to close off the entire side 11 or 12. In full flap boxes the width W3 will be about half the width W2. This will result in the flaps about meeting when closed.

25 As can be seen in e.g. fig. 2, the covering flaps 2, 3 can be folded over the open sides 11, 12 of the body 10 of the box, of which in fig. 2 only the one side 11 is shown. The other side 12 can be the same or can be conventional, having the above mentioned non shortened covering flaps 2, 3. In fig. 2 the flaps 2, 3 are shown, the flaps 3 having been folded inward first, to a position 30 substantially perpendicular to the panels 4, 7 forming sides of the body 10 f the 8 box 100, where after the other flaps 2 are folded into a similar position, extending partly over the first other flaps 3. The flaps 2, 3, and especially the flaps 2 leave a gap 17 between longitudinal edges 16 of the flaps 2. The gap 17 will have a width W5 which is equal to (W2 - 2*Wa) and can be significant, for 5 example but not limited to the order of centimetres. Since the other flaps 3 will also have a width W3 smaller than half the first width Wi their longitudinal edges 16A will also not meet. In the embodiment of fig. 2 the gap between these two edges 16A will be even wider, since Wi is larger than W2. In differently sized boxes this may differ, and may for example be the same or 10 smaller, depending basically on the ration of Wi and W2.

Through the gap 17 and especially between the flaps 2 and 3 part of the inner space 18 of the box and/or products packed therein can be reached from outside the box 100, running the risk of for example damage or tampering, contamination and the like. In order to prevent this and moreover 15 in order to close the box 100 solutions shall be described using a closing strip adhered to at least the first covering flaps 2, and preferably also to at least the two opposite second and fourth side panels 5, 7. This can be done for both the upper side 11 and lower side 12, or for one of them.

In fig. 3 a box 100 is shown, mainly at one of the sides 11, 12, which 20 can basically be a box of fig. 2 or a similar box 100. The second covering flaps 3 have been folded down, for example over products within the body 10 of the box 100, where after the first covering flaps 2 have been folded down over the second covering flaps 3 and the products. As can be seen a strip 20 of closing material is provided for sealing the box 100 and at the same time closing at 25 least the gap 17 between the flaps 2 and/or 3. The strip 20 can be of any suitable material, such as for example but not limited to backing, paper, plastic and cloth. The strip 20 can have a width W6 which is wider that the width W5 of the gap 17, and is positioned such that it covers at least edge portions 19 of the first covering flaps 2 adjacent to the gap 17, and is adhered 30 to said edge portions 19, without there being adhesive over the gap 17 which 9 could adhere to the products. This means that the strip 20 is free of adhesive where it extends over the gap 17.

In general terms, and relevant for all embodiments, unless otherwise specified, free of adhesive is to be understood as at least 5 encompassing that at the side of the strip facing the gap 17 and covering flaps 2, 3 there is no adhesive at the portion extending over said gap 17 and/or that if there is an adhesive at part or all of said portion of the strip 20 it is an adhesive that is to be activated by a means not present in said position and/or in or below said gap, at least not where the strip faces the inner space 18 or 10 products. Such adhesive can be but is not limited to moisture activated adhesive or two component adhesive, one of the components being provided on the strip and another on the edge portions of the flaps 2.

In the embodiment of fig. 3 the strip is shown in a position during sealing of the box 100. Part of the strip is already adhered, whereas part still 15 has to be sealed to the box 100. A first end portion 21 of the strip 20 has been adhered to a side panel 5, which can provide added strength to the closure and better closing. In this embodiment the edge portions 19 of the flaps 2 are provided with moisture, for example water or an aqueous solution or suspension, or at least a component for activating an adhesive on the side of 20 the strip 20 facing the box 100. By then pushing down the strip against the edge portions 19 the adhesive will be activated at the edge portions only, adhering the strip to the edge portions, sealing the box and at the same time covering the gap 17 in a non adhesive manner. In an embodiment all or part of the second flaps 3, especially the portions below the gap 17 may also be 25 moisturised, which can also be understood as wetting, for further adherence of the strip 20. The strip 20 will eventually be folded over the edge 22 of the box 100, for a second end 23 to be adhered to the other, opposite side panel 7 too, in a manner similar to the first end 21.

In an embodiment the edge portions can be wetted by for example 30 sprinkling, rolling with a wet roller over the edge portions or by pushing a wet 10 block against the edge portions. Other means will directly be clear to the person skilled in the art for wetting the edge portions. In an embodiment the wetting can occur before the flaps 2 are folded down over the other flaps 3 and products or at least the inner space 18. In another embodiment the wetting can 5 be done after the flaps have been folded down as indicated. In the latter case preferably means are used only wetting the edge portions, whereas the gap is kept free of moisture. For example two wetting rollers or wetting blocks can be used, one for each edge portion. In case another reactive or activating component is used for activating an adhesive on the strip, for example a 10 component not being susceptible to for example evaporating or otherwise disappearing or loosing its effect relatively rapidly, the component could be applied to the edge portions well in advance, for example on the blank or on the box in a collapsed state.

In fig. 4 a box 100 is shown, similar to the box of fig. 2 and/or 3, 15 having shortened flaps 2, in a similar position as the box of fig. 3, wherein the strip 20 is adhered to the flaps 2 by moisturising or wetting the strip 20 itself at a side facing the box prior to pushing the strip 20 against the edge portions 19 and the side panels 5, 7. This can for example be done by pulling the strip surface 24 over an applicator 26 for moisture, such as but not limited to water 20 or an aqueous solution, or another relevant activating component for an adhesive provided on the strip 20, directly before pushing the surface 24 against the box surface. In an embodiment such applicator can be provided with two parallel contact surfaces 25, as is shown for example in fig. 6 as will be explained further on, by way of example only, the surfaces 25 being spaced 25 apart about the width W5 of the gap 17, or preferably slightly further. The strip surface 24 can be provided with an adhesive component, to be activated by the component provided by the applicator 26. The adhesive component can be provided over the full surface 25, if the activating component is applied on contact portions 27 of the surface 25 corresponding to the edge portions 19 of 30 the flaps 2 only, or only on said corresponding surface portions 27, in which 11 case the reactive component can be applied to all of said surface 25 or only to the said corresponding contact portions 27 of the surface 25.

In the embodiment of fig. 5 a box is shown similar to the box of the previous figs. 2 - 4, wherein the strip 20 is adhered to the edge portions 19 of 5 the flaps 2 and to side panels 5, 7 by a suitable adhesive, such as but not limited to pressure sensitive adhesive. The adhesive can be provided on edge portions 19 of the flaps 2 and/or on corresponding contact portions 27 of the surface 25 of the strip 20. Thus the part of the surface 25 extending over the gap 17 will be kept free of adhesive.

10 In the embodiments where adherence between the box 100 and the side panels 5, 7 is obtained only by contact surface portions 27 formed along two opposite longitudinal sides 28 of the strip 20, leaving a strip of said surface 25 there between free of adhesive, part of the ends 21, 22 will not be adhered to the side panels 5, 7, which means that fingers or a tool can be inserted 15 under said ends 21 and/or 22, between the contact surface portions 27 adhered to the side panels 5, 7, providing an easy grip to the strip for opening the box 100 by tearing the strip from the box 100, whereas accidental opening is prevented by the adhered contact surface portions 27 of the end portions 21 and/or 22. In fig. 5 the contact surface portions 27 are schematically indicated 20 on the side panel 5, clearly showing a gap 29 in between.

Fig. 6 shows schematically an applicator 26 showing two contact surfaces 25 provided by rollers 30 spaced apart over a distance W7, for providing an activating component or adhesive to the surface 25 in respective contact surface portions 27. The distance W7 is preferably similar to or slightly 25 larger than the width W5 of the gap 17. The strip 20 is fed over the rollers 30 and pushed against them, for contact with the contact surfaces 25. By way of example the rollers 30 are shown provided with wetting rolls 31 in contact therewith, which roll through a bath 32 comprising the wetting or other activating component or an adhesive, depending on the embodiment to be 30 covered as discussed here above. Obviously one roller over the full width of the 12 strip could be provided in some applications as discussed here above, as will be directly clear to the person skilled in the art.

In fig. 7 a full flap box 100 is shown, closed and sealed using tape, which can be one strip of adhesive tape 20, 20A adhered to the edge portions 5 19 of the adjacent flaps 2, or can be according to one of the earlier described embodiments, having a non adhesive portion 25 between adhesive strips, such as edge portions 27.

In fig. 12 an alternative embodiment of a strip of tape 20 is shown, wherein a non adhering portion 25 is provided by superimposing a second strip 10 of tape 20A on the strip of adhesive tape 20, on an adhesive side thereof, leaving two strips 27 of adhesive free. These strips 27 can then be used for adhering the strip 20 to the box. This is possible both in full flap and in shortened flap boxes 100. A portion of such strip extending on a panel 5, 7 of a box 100 will make it easy to engage the strip for retrieval or removal from the 15 box 100, in order to facilitate opening the box 100 and/or unfolding the box for disposal and/or recycling. This can be used as an easy opening facility. When used for a shortened flap box 100 the non adhesive portion 25 can extend over the gap 17, as discussed before. The tapes 20, 20A can be provided superimposed or can be superimposed in the box taper. The adhesive strip 20 20 can be made of plastic, for example a transparent material, preferably entirely transparent and clear, for example a transparency or light transmission of above 70%, preferably above 80%, more preferably above 90% (ASTM D1003) and for example a clarity of above 85%, preferably above 90%, more preferably above 93% (ASTM D1003). The second tape 20A may be made of plastic or 25 paper, especially printable or provided with printing. The paper can be water resistant, for example by composition and/or coating. The adhesive can be water based. Alternatively the adhesive can be solvent based or hot melt. Water based is preferable, especially for reasons of environment, whereas when using a transparent adhesive strip water based may be preferable, 30 because of the transparency of such adhesive, which will be higher than of hot 13 melts, and can be comparable to the transparency and clarity of the film used for the adhesive tape 20, and stay transparent and clear longer. Initial tack of water based adhesive is less than that of solvent based and, especially, hot melt, but durability of the tack has proven to be far better, especially less 5 prone to influences from the environment, especially temperature differences, and aging.

By using a box taper head according to this description, close contact between at least edge portions of the strip 20 and a relevant surface of a box 100 is obtained, by the press roller or rollers being in close contact with at 10 least these edge portions of the strip 20, even if there is a bulging in a middle portion as a result of using a second strip 20A as discussed here above and/or when the alignment of the press roller or rollers with the surface of the tape and/or of the relevant surface of the box to which the tape is to be adhered is not exactly such that the axis of rotation of the press roller or rollers is parallel 15 to said surface or surfaces. This close contact will result in a good bonding without excess pressure of the press roller or rollers on the tape and/or box. This is especially advantageous when the initial tack of the adhesive may be sub optimal.

In the present disclosure strip 20 of tape can be used, especially in 20 the shortened flap versions, having a relatively large width W6 compared to the corresponding width W2 of the box 100 and compared to a width of tape ordinarily used for full flap boxes, which may be between 12 and 50 mm (0.5 and 2 inch). In the present disclosure tape widths W6 can be used in excess of 50 mm, for example 100 to 250 mm (4 to 10 inch) or more. In embodiments 25 widths W6 of tape can be used of about 150 mm (6 inch) or 200 mm (8 inch). In embodiments tape can be used having about the same width W2 as the box 100 or larger, especially when a non-flap box 100 or extremely shortened flap box 100 is used, in which the width W3 of the flaps 2, 3 may be very small, for example less than l/4th of the width W2 of the box, such as but not limited to 30 about l/5th thereof or less.

14

Boxes 100 used for packaging products as discussed here above can be primary or secondary packaging. They can be set up directly prior to packaging the products, and can be fed through a box taper 101, for example as shown in fig. 8 according to the present invention, for sealing the box by 5 applying the tape 20. This type of boxes 100 normally has a rectangular block shape, meaning that the bottom and top side, as well as the panels are supposed to be rectangular in shape. A press roller of a box taper head should be properly aligned with the surface on which the tape has to be applied, meaning that an axis of rotation of the known tape heads has to be parallel to 10 the relevant side of the box and especially parallel to a rib of the box perpendicular to a feed direction of the box taper, in order to properly apply the tape. However, in practice the rectangular shape is often, if not almost always compromised, for example by improper cutting of the blanks or pianos, by improper setting up of the boxes and/or by improper filling thereof, whereas 15 also the box taper and especially feeding mechanisms thereof can deform the boxes and push the boxes out of their rectangular shape. Furthermore the box taper heads of box tapers are not always properly aligned with the feeding direction of the boxes through the box taper. This can lead to an improper alignment of the press roller with a frontal and or rear panel of the boxes to be 20 sealed, as well as with a top or bottom side to be sealed. Such improper alignment may lead to improper adherence of at least part of the tape 20 to the relevant box surfaces 5, 7, 2 and/or 3, and thus improper closure and sealing of the box. This is especially important with tape that has a relatively low initial tack, such as water based adhesive, compared to solvent based adhesives or, 25 especially, hot melt adhesives. This problem becomes worse with an increase of the width W6 of the tape and/or, if applicable, the spacing W7 of stripes of adhesive.

By way of example only, if in the prior art a surface, for example a frontal surface 5, rear surface 7 or bottom or top surface of a box 100 is out of 30 alignment with the axis 103 of the press roller 104 over an angle a and thus of 15 its peripheral surface, as schematically shown in fig. 8A, a gap 102 will exist between a peripheral surface 105 of the roller 104 at one axial end 106 and the panel 5 of the box 100, when the peripheral surface 105 at the opposite axial end 107 is in contact with the panel 5 or at least with tape 20 comprised 5 between the roller 104 and the panel 5. Similarly a gap 102 could exist between the roller and other relevant planes of the box. For example, if the angle a is 1 degree and the tape 20 has a width W6 of 100 mm, the width of the gap 102 will be about 1 mm. For a tape width of 150 mm (6 inch) this gap will, given the same angular misalignment, be about 1.5 mm. For a misalignment of 10 2 degrees, the gap will be, for the same tape widths W6, about 2 and 3 mm. The wider the tape and/or the larger the misalignment, the bigger this gap 102 will become, increasing the adherence problem.

In order to nevertheless get full contact of the tape 20 with the relevant box panel 5, 7 and/or 2 in the prior art the press roller would have to 15 be pressed against the box so hard that the box deforms. This is undesirable because it will damage the box 100 and possibly also products contained within the box, whereas it may not be possible, for example if the box is fully filled with products.

In the present disclosure inter alia solutions are provided for this 20 problem.

Fig. 8 shows in perspective view a box taper 101 with a transport table 130 formed by or comprising rollers 107 such that a box 100 can easily be transferred over the table 130, for example bottom down. A box tape head 108 can be provided in or below the table 130, for sealing the bottom with tape 20. 25 In fig. 8 a box taper head 108 is shown above the table 130, for closing the top side of a box 100, which can be the same as the head below or in the table 130. The head 108 comprises a frame 109 mounted in a portal 110, such that it the height position of the head 108 above the table 130 can be defined, depending on the boxes 100 to be sealed. In another embodiment the height above the 30 table 130 can be a fixed height. On or just above the table 130 two parallel 16 guides 111 are mounted, spaced apart such that a box 100 can be guided by these guides 111 over the table 130 in a feed direction F. The tape head 108 is provided at a side facing the table 130 by a front pressing roller 104A and a rear pressing roller 104B, both mounted in a sub-frame 114 which is pivotable 5 relative to the frame 109, in order to be allowed to move up and down to have a box 100 pass below it, whereas the sub-frames 114 are spring-loaded in a position in which the respective press rollers are in a downward position, as shown in fig. 8, and can move upward, i.e. further away from the table 130. A holder 115 for tape 20 can be provided on or for the tape head 108, whereas the 10 tape head can have guides 116 in the form of stationary guides and/or rollers for guiding the tape strip 20 from the holder 115 to the box 100. So far this is or at least can be a box taper according to the prior art.

As can be seen in fig. 8 a box taper according to the present disclosure can be provided with a first holder 115, for holding a first roll of 15 tape 20 and a second holder 131 for holding a second roll of tape 20A. The first tape 20 can be a tape 20 as discussed before, preferably an adhesive tape 20. The adhesive can be a water based adhesive. The second tape 20A can have a width Ws smaller than the width W6 of the tape 20, such that it can be positioned on the adhesive side of the tape 20, in a middle part thereof, leaving 20 adhesive strips 27 free on either longitudinal side, the second tape 20A effectively forming a non-adhesive portion 25 as discussed before with reference to fig. 1 - 6 and as shown schematically in fig. 12 and 12A. The tapes 20, 20A can be brought together in the tape head 108, for example by or near the guides 116, such that they can be adhered to the box 100 combined. The 25 second tape 20A can be free of adhesive, can be any material and, if the combined tape 20, 20A is to be used for shortened flap boxes, preferably has a width Ws slightly larger than the corresponding width of the gap 17 between the edges of the flaps 3.

In a box taper head 108 of this description at least one press roller 30 104 can be provided comprising a peripheral, substantially cylindrical press 17 surface 120, which press surface 120 can at least partly be provided by a compressible material 120, forming at least part of said surface 105. The compressible material can for example be foam or an open or closed cell elastomeric material or rubber. Compressible has to be understood as meaning 5 at least but not limited to sufficiently soft and resilient to be compressed by a force exerted thereupon by a box or tape to accommodate for a gap 102 between an axial end portion of the press roller substantially without deformation of the relevant panel or flap of the box against which the tape is to be pressed. Substantially without deformation has to be understood as at least 10 encompassing but not limited to a deformation over the axial length of the relevant press roller which is smaller that the width of the gap, preferably less than 3/4 of the width of the gap, more preferably less than 1/2 of the width of the gap. The deformation preferably is less than 0.2 times the width of the gap.

In embodiments the said at least part of the press surface 120 can be 15 made of a foam material. The foam material can be a closed or open cell foam material, for example as defined by ASTM F1957; DIN 53577 / ISO 3386 CLD; ASTM D3574. In other embodiments the material can be a rubber or elastomeric material. In embodiments the material can have a shore A hardness about 45 or less, preferably less than 35, more preferably less than 30. The shore-A 20 hardness can for example be between 30 and 50, for example between 30 and 45, such as between 35 and 45. (ASTMD2240; ISO 7619 and ISO 868; DIN 53505; and JIS K 6301, which was discontinued and superceeded by JIS K 6253).

Preferably at least axial end portions 121 of the press roller 104 comprise a peripheral press surface part 122 which is made of the 25 compressible material, having at least an axial thickness Rs measured from the surface 122 itself of about 1 to 2 mm, preferably more, for example between 2 mm and about the full radius R of the press roller end portions 121 measured from the axis 103 thereof. The said surface material can extend over the full axial length L of the press roller 104, as for example shown in fig. 9. In such 30 embodiments the material can be softer in an axial intermediate portion 124.

18

In the embodiment shown in fig. 8B and 10 for example, the axial end portions 121 have an axial length Le which is less than half the axial length L of the roller 104. An axial intermediate portion 124 of the press roller 104 will therefore have an axial length L-(2* Le) and can have a diameter Dm smaller 5 than the diameter De of the end portions 121, such that between the end portions 121 a gap in the surface is created. The softer middle portion and/or the gap in the surface of the roller 104 can be provided for accommodating any bulge in the tape 20, 20A resulting from for example a narrower second strip 20A on the adhesive strip 20, as schematically shown in fig. 12 and 12A, or for 10 limiting or even preventing pressure on a middle portion of the tape, seen in the width direction of the tape 20, 20A, which can for example be the earlier discussed non adhesive portion. In general the compressible surface material may provide for better distribution of pressure on at least opposite edge portions 27 of the adhesive strip 20. The compressible material will allow for 15 example one axial end portion 121 to be compressed more than the opposite end portion 121, adapting for misalignment of the press roller and tape or box, as discussed.

In fig. 10 for example an embodiment of a press roller 104 is shown in which two axial end portions 121 are provided, connected by an 20 intermediate portion 124 which can for example be made of a different material, such as for example relatively hard plastic or metal, or can be made of a flexible material and/or construction, such as but not limited to a spring construction, which will allow the axial end portions 121 to move angularly relative to each other, in order to adapt to the before discussed misalignments. 25 The axial end portions 121 can again have a peripheral surface 122 which can at least over part of their axial length Le be defined by a compressible material. Alternatively the surface can be defined by a relatively hard material, such as but not limited to plastic or metal.

In fig. 8C and fig 11 an embodiment is shown of a press roller 104 30 mounted in a frame 126 that can at least angularly move, such that the axis of 19 rotation of the press roller 104 can be brought from a position extending for example perpendicular to the feed direction of the boxes, to a position in alignment with a panel or flap to which tape is to be pressed by the press roller 104. The frame 126 and/or press roller 104 can be biased in the position 5 perpendicular to the feed direction, for example by springs 127. The press roller can for example be according to fig. 9 or 10. Alternatively the press roller can be provided with a substantially non compressible peripheral surface, for example plastic or metal, and can be provided with a narrower intermediate portion 124 and wider axial end portions 121.

10 In fig. 12A an embodiment of a press roller is shown on a strip 20, in this embodiment a strip of tape 20 as shown in and discussed with reference to fig. 12. In this embodiment the strip 20 is adhered to the flaps 2 of a box with adhesive strip portions 27, whereas the intermediate portion, formed by strip 20A is or at least can be non adhering. The strip 20A can have a width W8 15 smaller than the width W6 of the strip 20, and can be centrally placed between the strip 20 and the box. As can be seen in fig. 12A the press roller 104 can have two end portions 121, with a first diameter and an intermediate portion 124 with a smaller diameter. The axial distance between the end portions 121 (measured along the rotational axis 103 of the roller 104) can be slightly larger 20 than the width W8 of the strip 20A. The transition between the end portions 121 and the intermediate portion 124 can be slightly rounded or chamfered, in order to provide a smooth transition and/or space for the portion of the tape 20 bulging.

The diameter Dm of the intermediate portion can be so much 25 smaller than the diameter Dm that the surface of the intermediate portion will not touch the strip 20, or at least at relatively low pressure when the end portions 121 are pressed against the tape 20A extending on either side of the strip 20A, forming the exposed portions 27. The end portions 121 can therefore press against the strip 20 with relative high pressure, without the 30 intermediate portion 124 significantly pressing the strip 20, 20A.

20

An advantage of using a press roller with a foam or elastomer or rubber surface can be a reduction of static electricity.

In all embodiments discussed the peripheral surface of a press roller 104 can be substantially smooth. In other embodiments the surface can be 5 structured, for example profiled. The surface can for example be grooved, ridged, knurled or the like, which may prevent too even pressure distribution over the tape surface.

In all embodiments the or each press roller can be such that substantially the same pressure can be exerted by the press roller on exposed 10 portions of the first layer of the tape as on the portion provided with the second layer when being pressed against a box, preferably a higher pressure.

The invention is by no means limited to the embodiments as discussed and shown. Many amendments are possible within the scope of the invention. For example other types of boxes can be sealed, whereas a hand 15 operated or mechanically operated sealer can be used. In stead of one press roller with two axial end portions two separate press rollers could be used for two opposite edge portions of the strip of tape 20, 20A. Such separate press rollers could individually adapt for misalignment, for example by compressible surface material as discussed and/or by angular adjustment of the axis of the 20 roller or rollers, similar to fig. 8C. Axial end portions could be provided on an axis of rotation such that they can individually shift in radial direction, for example by mounting a ring shaped peripheral surface portion on the axis by intermediate flexible and/or compressible mounting means, such as foam or rubber. If a box taper according to this description is provided with two 25 separate box taper heads, one or both of these box taper heads can be according to this description. These embodiments, as well as all combinations of embodiments disclosed and/or parts thereof are considered to have been disclosed herein as well.

Claims

A carton tap head comprising at least one holder for a tape roll and at least one pressure roll, further comprising a guide for guiding tape supplied to the at least one pressure roll from a tape roll attached to or in the holder, wherein the pressure roller comprises a pressure surface, which pressure surface is at least partially provided with a compressible material.

The box taper head of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is foam material.

The box taper head of claim 2, wherein the foam material 10 is closed cell foam material.

Box stapler head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the compressible material has a maximum shore-A hardness of about 45 or less, preferably less than 35, more preferably less than 30.

A box tap head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure roller has an axial direction along a roller axis, the pressure surface comprising two pressure surface parts of a peripheral surface of the roller extending around the axis, axially separated by an intermediate part.

6. Box taper head according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate part 20 has a peripheral surface that has a different shore-A hardness than the pressure surface parts and / or wherein the intermediate part has a smaller diameter than the pressure surface parts.

7. Box stapler head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure roller has a width of at least 10 cm, measured in an axial direction of the roller, preferably a length of at least 15 cm.

Box dispenser head as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least axial end parts of the roll are provided with compressible material.

9. Box stapler head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure roller is resiliently mounted in a frame, such that an axial direction thereof can be changed by pressurizing, preferably at least by pressurizing an end region thereof.

10. Box stack, comprising a box stack head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the box stack comprises a transport device for transporting a box to be sealed against a pressure roll of the box stack head, wherein the pressure roll has an axial direction extending above the transport surface within a route of movement of frontal surfaces of boxes on the conveyor to be sealed such that as a frontal surface of a box or tape provided between the pressure roller and the frontal surface is moved against the pressure roller such that as a first axial end of the the pressure roller abuts the frontal surface of the box before an opposite second axial end, the surface of the pressure roller at the first axial end is at least partially compressed.

11. Box stapler according to claim 10, wherein the pressure roller is mounted in a frame such that, seen in a conveying direction of boxes through and / or over the conveying device, the first axial end and the second axial end can move in the conveying direction relative to the other from the first to a second axial end.

12. Method for sealing boxes using a tape head, wherein a pressure roller of the tape head is pressed against tape provided between a surface of the box and the pressure roller, thereby pressing the tape against the surface for sticking to at least a part thereof, wherein if the printing direction of the printing roller is not perpendicular to the plane of the box, the printing roller will at least partly be compressed, such that at least two opposite axial ends of the printing roller are brought into contact with the tape, which tape is thereby pressed against the surface of the box, preferably substantially without deforming said surface.

13. Method for sealing boxes using a tape head, wherein a pressure roll of the tape head is pressed against tape provided between a surface of the box and the pressure roll, thereby pressing the tape against the surface for sticking to at least a part thereof, wherein if the printing direction of the printing roller is not perpendicular to the plane of the box, the printing roller will at least partly be adjusted at an angle with respect to a frame of the head, such that at least two opposite ends of the pressure roller be brought into contact with the tape, which tape is thereby pressed against the surface of the box, preferably substantially without deforming said surface.

14. Method as claimed in claims 12 or 13, wherein the box is moved in a direction of movement relative to the head, wherein the printing direction is substantially co-linear with the direction of movement.

A method according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein the box is moved relative to the head, such that tape is pressed against a frontal surface, an upper or lower surface of the box, in the upper or lower surface on at least sticking two closing flaps, wherein the pressure roller 20 is compressed at least in pressing against one of these surfaces and / or adjusted at an angle with respect to the head.

A printing roll for a box tap head or box tap or method according to any one of the preceding claims.