NZ222910A - Molding station with molding press and flap folders for erecting a container from a cardboard blank - Google Patents

Description

//* °;\ Patents form No 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PERFECTED MACHINE TO FORM CONTAINER STRUCTURES >M/VE 13EROA>!ERICANA DEL EMBALAJE, SA, a Spanish company of San Vicente Del Raspeinc, Alicante, Spain do hereby declare the invention for which #we pray that a Patent may be granted to riie/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: (followed by page la) 222010 222910 f the tray. These flaps comprise a seating onto which another tray which is situated on the next level up rests on another situated on a lower level. In these trays, the longest sides have their upper edge lowered so that when the trays are 5 superimposed, ample air space is formed between adjacent trays.

The trays which are provided with the arrangements mentioned, have in practice provided inferior results, because the orthogonal flaps which start from the upper edge of the 10 facings to form a seating for another superimposed tray, do not offer the necessary resistance to stand up correctly to the vertical pressures which develop when the seatings of the trays situated on the lower levels of the stack form, give way. To alleviate this serious problem, several solutions 15 have been put into practice, and the most frequent ones are those circulated by the international norms of the European Federation of Corrugated Cardboard Manufacturers (FEFCO), especially those marked with the reference numbers 0942, 0945 and 0946 which in the main, provide supports or props at the 20 four corners of the trays on which the aforementioned orthogonal seatings will rest, providing them with a relative mechanical resistance to the vertical compression stress.

In practice, the most widely used system for propping up the seatings is the formation of triangular 25 prisms, one at each corner of the tray. These prisms mean that either the facings or the longest sides have extensions divided by scored lines at their respective ends, in three similar successive sectors which are rolled inwards to form a vertical triangular prism at each corner of the container, 30 which is situated between the base of the tray and the lower level of the orthogonal seating which juts out overhanging from the upper edge of the facings. This solution does not solve the problem completely since the seating will be propped up only along its ends but not along the centre, which juts 35 out without any support and is therefore not strong enough to P V £ 5,- *88910 support, the vertical pressures developed by the boxes situated or: the upper levels. ■*ith the object of solving such a~ very important problem, Iberoamericar.a eel Embala;e» S.A.. cv.-r.er of the 5 present patent application, has developed - a new type of tray which underlines the important fact that the trays fit one onto the other materially; they connect successively so that each one, not only finds a complementary resting place during stacking, but is also held 10 along its four corners and reinforced laterally, both along the sices of the facings and also along the lengths.

In the tray under discussion, as a result of these arrangements, two of its opposite sides (preferably the shortest sides) are mace from two thicknesses of material 15 comprising the resistant walls of the container and the seating of one tray on another, and the weight of the trays superimposed on others in the same stacking column will rest on these walls.

This objective is achieved by the special design of 20 its facings which have an extension in their upper edge forming a longitudinal flap which when it is turned towards the inside of the tray, in some cases leaning its free longitudinal edge on the base of the container and in other cases not reaching this base, its ends fitting in which the 25 longest edges of the container. These housings can be very varied depending on the different designs offered by Iberoame-ricana del Einbalaje, S.A.

The container is very robust and it is mace from a base sheet of corrugated cardboard, shaped by means of a 30 stamping out process by which it is cut and provided with score lines for folding which mark the base, the longest sides and the facings and from these the flaps which form a double wall and the lateral end extensions which reinforce the corners of the tray which, as a consequence of its special 35 design and layout can be shaped by completely mechanical means which assures the attainment of a cheap quality tray with good mechanical strength.

According to the present invention there is provided a machine for manufacturing containers from preformed cardboard sheet blanks, said machine including a storage station for said blanks, a mechanism that extracts said preformed blanks from said storage station, a pair of movable parallel guides of angular section provided with means to regulate their separation between which the preformed blanks are deposited when they are extracted from said storage station, a pushing mechanism that moves the preformed blanks along the said guides to a moulding zone, a pasting station with a heating mechanism for thermomeltable adhesive and connected to an injector unit that applies adhesive onto the preformed blanks during their movement towards the moulding zone, a shaping chuck which introduces each blank into the cavity of a moulding mechanism to shape the container from the blank, folding means which operates when the shaping chuck withdraws to fold flaps that articulate on the upper edge of opposite sides of the container towards the inside, and said storage station formed by a pair of upright parallel facing walls arranged on said pair of guides which receive the blanks when it is extracted from said storage station, each of said upright parallel facing walls having an inwardly directed ledge on their lower edge which holds the blanks along two opposite edges of said blanks.

A preferred non-limitative embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a tray type container blank can be used with the machine of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a tray that is made by the machine of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a side view of a machine for making the tray shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of storage station for preformed cardboard sheet blanks of the machine shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an end cross-sectional view of the pushing mechanism for preformed cardboard sheet blanks of the machine shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a component of the pushing mechanism shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 represents in a somewhat schematic way, the end view of the pair of movable parallel guides of angular section and a portion of the pushing mechanism of the machine shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is an end cross-sectional view of a sliding mechanism which forms part of the pushing mechanism shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the components of the part of the pushing mechanism shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a side view of the moulding mechanism of the machine shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of the shaping chuck showing the moment in which the shaping chuck begins the introduction of the blank into the moulding mechanism; Fig. 12 is a similar view to that of Fig. 11 showing the shaping chuck withdrawn, and the folding means in an intermediate position; Fig. 13 is a similar view to that of Fig. 11 showing completion of the folding operation; Fig. 14 is a similar view to that of Fig. 11 showing expulsion of the formed container; Fig. 15 is a side view of the mechanism which operates the folding means of the machine shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15; and Fig. 17 is an end cross-sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 16. - a r* » c PfQ0 89 ~ 322910 The machine described m this preferred embcdisent has been specifically developed for the assembly or shaping of a tray type container, specifically the one shewn in Fig. 2. but it is emphasized "hat the machine is not limited to the shaping of such containers, since it is possible to shape other cardboard boxes m it, either directly or by the introduction of slight modifications.

Referring to Fig. 2 it can be seen that the container is formed preferably but net exclusively, from corrugated cardboard using a preformed blank which has beer, cut ar.c scored with fold lines which mark the base 1, the longest sides 2 and the facings or shortest sides 3.

The container has in two of its sides which are reciprocally parallel, preferably in its facings 3 two extensions at their ends, which form lugs 7, which when they are turned 9C° to be joinec with adhesive onto the outside of the longest sices 2. close ar.c consolidate the perimeter of the container.

The elevation of the sides and the turning of the lugs 7 is made in the first phase of a moulding process, i.e. when a shaping chuck descends, in which phase the enclosure of the container is formed with ail its parts positioned and the whole retained firmly, advantageously by means of strips of adhesive which have been applied to the inside of the end lugs 7 when passing through an injector equipment 17.

The second phase of the process consists of depressing the flaps 4 towards the inside of the already shaped container. These flaps articulate along the upper edge of the shortest sices 3. This phase is begun when the shaping chuck 19 beings its withdrawal, at which time a rotation mechanism beings its action displacing folders 59 and 60 which depress flaps 4 towards the inside of the container until they are leaning firmly against the inside wall of the corresponding facing.

As it can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, flaps 4, have ') o each of two extensions at their respective ends, and each of them is divided in two successive parts 9 and 10, the first of which is suitably deflected to form a bevelled edge or sloped surface at each corner of the container. The second part, marked with the number 10 is leaned against the inside of the nearest long side, to which it is joined by adhesive.

The folding mechanisms 59 and 60 have mechanical devices which are able to develop pressure at each corner of the tray, thereby obtaining a linking of the different parts affected and assuring the correct sticking of the outside flaps 7 and the inside flaps 10 on one side and the other, of the respective longest sides 2.

The container shaped thus, is remarkably robust and its shortest sides or facings have a double thickness of material due to the partitions which are reciprocally joined 3 and 4, both with the corrugated edges arranged in a vertical position; the upper edge presents a double thickness comprising a robust and excellent seating 5 so that on it another tray, which is arranged on the next level up, can rest with complete safety when several trays are stacked. The extensions 9 and 10 of the facings situated at each corner of the container form an extension of the said seatings 5 with their upper edge, thereby enlarging the capacity of the seating.

The stability of stacks is achieved by the fitment of one tray on another, for which end, in the lower edge of each corner it presents a groove which forms a rung 8 in which a ridge 6 lodges and adjusts, which is of a coinciding shape and which emerges from each corner of the tray.

Between the base 1 and the shortest sides 3 there are each of two grooves 11 which partially affect the double wall 4. When the flaps 4 are depressed, these grooves form a wide groove 12 in the centre of the upper edge of the facings, which has sufficient capacity to permit fingers to pass between each two stacked containers to make it easy to separate the containers.

-X- 2C2f;10 Now that the most features of the container have been pointed out, the machine made in accordance with the invention will be described.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, it can be apprecia-5 ted that by means of number 14, a station container is indicated, in which the preformed sheets of corrugated cardboard blanks are stored tidily. This station is formed by two robust reciprocally parallel walls 23 supported on guides 40 with no base, having each of two narrow orthogonal ledges 10 24 overhanging, in the lower edge of its vertical walls 23. The sheets of preformed cardboard blanks are introduced through the completely open upper part of the station in which they are kept stacked between the ledges 24. The operation to reload station 14 can be made by hand or by mechanical devices 15 capable of reloading the blanks from a storage bin (not shown).

The inside dimensions of this station can be varied at will, enabling them to be able to lodge cardboard blanks of several sizes in accordance with the model of container which 20 is to be made in each case.

The sheets of cardboard blanks are extracted one by one, through the lower part of the station 14 to be deposited between a pair of parallel guides 40 assembled along the general bed 13 of the machine, and these guides are formed by '25 a pair of angular sections which maintain one of the wings in a vertical position and the other in a horizontal position, which allows the sheets of cardboard blanks to slide with complete safety until they reach the moulding zone. It can be seen in Fig. 3 that the two walls that form the station are 30 joined by means of supports 88 to the guides 40, and means of regulation have been provided, 89, 90 to enable these guides to separate simultaneously with the walls of the station, to adapt them to the width of the sheet of cardboard blank in each case.

The extraction of the sheets of cardboard blanks '% Xr rit ^ 322M0 rrom tr.e scarier. -4 is .?.ace througr. me -ewer parr or the latter. if possible using the kr.cwr. system of vacuum air holes situated below rhe srarion, which are applied cc rhe clank situated cr. the lowest level of the station ar.c when vacuus*, is 5 applied they drag the blank with them. to which they are deposited between the reciprocally parallel angular guides 4C.

Once the blank has been extracted and depositee between the guides 40, it is displaced by a pushing mechanism, suspended by means of two pairs of bearings 22 and 32 which 10 lean, opposite each other cn each of two sloped surfaces of a pair of hexagonal sections 3c, 3!, which are reciprocally parallel, installed below the guides 40 or. the sides 28, 29 of the bed.

This pushing mechanism is an important feature of 15 the invention and it is formed by a central core 25, preferably of an octagonal section which in its upper level has a dovetail slot 26 in which an appendix is adapted with which it acts directly on the back edge of the blank to push it and slice it along the guides 4 0 until it situates it on the 20 moulding zone IS, precisely below the shaping chuck 19.

The octagonal core 25 in two upper sloped surfaces has a pair of bearings 32 whose axles are kept fixed on core 25, which causes tne ba^l sliding surface of such bearings to be applied to the upper sloped surfaces of a pair of guides of 25 hexagonal section 30 and 31.

It can be understood that by means of the guides 30, 31 and bearings 32, the central core of the pusher 25 will easily slice between the guides so that no undesirable oscillations can be produced on pushing the blank. 3 0 So that the pushing mechanism cannot lift up and stop acting cn the blank, the core 25 has a second pair of bearings 33 mounted in a floating manner on axles 37, linked together mechanically by means of a release spring 38. Each of these floating bearings works in opposition to the fixed 35 axle bearings 32 and therefore they take support on the 822910 respective _cwer sloped surfaces of the respective hexagonal guides 30, 31 on which the pushing mechanism slices.

The core 25 neves m an alternative rectilinear direction which or. each advance phase applies its pushing 5 ridge (not shewn) or. the blank deposited between the guides 40 and shifts it along the latter until it is situated m the moulding zone. The alternative movement of the core 25 provides it with a double chain conveyor movement 15 suspended between serrated wheels 15 which slide between the sice frames 10 of the bed 13, and there is a depending arm 27 installed between the chains which has a slot 36 m which a slip-way mechanism 3 4 is house whose transverse axle 48 is suspended between nylon sockets 46, 47 which lean laterally on a central bearing 45 located in axle 48.

The depending arm 27 links, by means of the slicing unit discussed, with the double chain transmission 15 which pulls them all along their journey forcing it to displace itself through the raised section, from the exit of the storage station 14 to the beginning of the moulding zone and 20 in the opposite direction along the lower section of the chains, whilst the arm 27 shifts with an alternative rectilinear movement dragging along the slipway mechanism 34 which moves from the upper section to the lower section of the transmission and viceversa, alteratively slipping along a slot 25 3 6 in arm 27.

The depending arm 27 has a length greater than the separation between the two upper and lower shifting sections of the chains 15, so that the arm is kept permanently situated at the same level; the movement of elevation and descent will 30 be made only by the slipway mechanism 34 which will have a shifting movement, i.e. advancing and retiring, following the journey of the chains 15 pulled around the pinions 16 and another movement in an upwards and downwards direction when the section of the chains in which it is retained, passes 35 above and later below the pinions 16. with such displacements 'v • r~ - "sV . ' V /; * f w C-W «■ V // W \\/C> 222910 of the slipway 34 the arm 27 will move, first front the exit of the storage station 14 to the area of the moulding tone 13 and after delivery of the sheet of cardboard blank" it will withdraw until it is again situated below the storage station 14 to take a new blank. These work cycles are produced successively without pause, sc that the supply of blanks to the moulding cone, happens without interruption, maintaining between one blank and another, the space and the line necessary sc that the shaping chuck can descend to shape the container and then withdraw to permit the action of the folders 33 ar.c SC.

It is understood that this first part of the machine is organized cn the bed 13 between whose side frames is found ail the pulling mechanism formed by the double chain conveyors with the pinions 15 and the pushing arm 27. Above the housing is found the storage station 14 ar.c the longitudinal angular guides 4 0 onto which the blanks will fall one by one, which are extracted from the station 14 by the suction until already known (not shewn).

The guide sections 40 and the walls of the station 14 for the blanks can be regulated in their separation to adapt to the dimensions of the sheets of cardboard blanks, in each case, and to regulate this, double threaded lead screws have been provided, i.e. they have a section with screwing at the right and another at the left, which thread respectively in the guiding sections 40. The lead screws can be activated easily by means of crank controls 90 without having to remove any part of the machine. with the delivery of the blank onto the moulding zone, the pushing mechanism is withdrawn by the slipway device 34, which is suspended between the pulling chains 15 by means of the rods 43 and 44 fixed respectively in caps 41 and 42 which enclose the axle 48 of the slipway and the bearings 46 and 47 between which the said axle is suspended. 3y means of these arrangements, the blanks are led 222910 to the moulding 2cr.e without suffering annoying oscillations while they are being pushed, since the pushing device advances with absolute regularity ar.c with a constantly even movement, sc that the blank does not find obstructions cn its passage 5 through the guides, therefore it is placed with absolute precision or. the moulding tone 13 to receive the chuck 19 which introduces it in the mould for shaping.

The displacements of the pushing arm are smooth sc that during transfer it is not necessary to make considerable 10 effort to achieve smooth dragging of the cardboard, since the whole pushing arm 27 slides in the slipway 34 mounted between the bearings. The slipway axle 4S is worth mentioning as it moves the bearing 49 centrally which slides alternatively inside the slot 36 of the arm 27, and whose axle 48 is 15 suspended between the nylon bearings 46 and 47.

As we have already indicated, when the blanks are transferred to the moulding zone and before reaching it, they pass under a unit of injectors which act at prefixed moments to apply strips of adhesive in particular areas of the blank. 20 In the specific case of production cf the container shewn in Fig. 2, the strips of glue are applied onto the inside surface of the iucs 7 and 10 cn passing under the injector equipment 17. when the tray is being formed, the end lugs 7 of 25 each facing will be turned 90° to apply them, onto the outside surface of the nearest long side 2 to which they will be stuck by means of adhesive, stabilizing the four sides cf the tray.

In the second stage of moulding, when the shaping chuck 19 is withdrawn, the folding arms 5 9 and 60 will begin 3 0 to act to push down the flaps 4 that articulate on the upper edge of each facing 3, towards the inside of the enclosure of the already formed container, and the lateral end lugs 10 of these flaps 4 which are impregnated with adhesive will be applied and stuck by means of adhesive to the inside surface 3 5 of the nearest long side 2, ail of this resulting in a totally 222910 finished container ready for use.

Referring now to rig. 13, the shaping chuck 19 is kept suspended inside the general housing of the machine by means of a vertical arm with a rack 20. cn which pinion 21 acts tc move the chuck alternatively up and down.

The chuck is made cf a hollow rectangular parallelepiped body, with its upper and lower sides open, and its longest sides 45. as well as the shortest ones SC. are preferably formed cf sheets cf nylon which present the characteristic that the longest sides 54, 55, have depressions 52 and 5 3 made in their outside surfaces; in the same way the shortest sides have depressions 54, 55 with the object of reducing the friction of the chuck with the sides of the tray formed, thereby assuring gentle and correct sliding in the enclosure of the tray.

Another important preferred feature in the chuck is that in its lower edges each of two leads 5 1 which have a border which is appreciably sharp, which facilitates the folding of the sides of the tray, on its line of articulation with the base 1. 3y means of this feature a container is obtained, whose sides form clean and streamlined edges with the base, which assures the fitting of one tray into another when they are superimposed to form stacks.

The leads 5! wmch help folding, are made of steel plates, one of whose sides is noticeably bevelled ail along its edge and its most prominent edge makes an incision in the striped lines that define the sides and the base of the container. These leads since they are independent pieces incorporated into the chuck 19 can be dismounted easily to be fixed or to substitute them for others when necessary.

In Fig. 10, the shaping chuck 19 is represented and in the complementary circle a lead 51 is represented in cross-section and on a larger scale, and its streamlined edge is imprisoned in bird mouth fashion, and it is this shape edge which accentuates the slitting of the fold lines situated 322910 between the sices 2 and 3 ar.c the base 1 of the container.

In the moulding zone cf the machine, the chuck 13 when it descends, rests on the sheet of cardboard 5c pushing it against the curvilinear guides 57, 59, which form curvili-5 near surfaces directed in noticeably convergent directions, until the sides 2 and 3 of the container turn 90° upwards; simultaneously the end flaps 7 of the facings 3 to which strips of adhesive had been applied previously, are turned until they are joined onto the outside surface of the nearest 10 long sides, to "which they will be firmly stuck, thereby stabilizing the body of the container.

In Fig. 14 a container is represented schematically in cross-section which has already been assembled and contains the shaping chuck 19 between its walls. After this phase of 15 the process of shaping or moulding; the folding mechanisms depress the flaps 4 that articulate in the upper edge of the facings 3 to introduce them into container and join their, on the inside surface of the facings.

The folding mechanism's purposes is to depress the 20 flaps 4 cf each facing in the manner shewn graphically in Figs. 11, 12 and 13.

This mechanism comprises a pair of opposing arms 5 9 and 50 having two axles 65, 67 which turn in different directions via a double rack 7 0 and 71. This mechanism can be 25 seen in detail in the Fig. 15, in which the double rack is shown and the pinions 68 and 69 with axles 66 and 67 that act on the folding arms. The folding mechanism has a double rack, arranged in a similar manner to a frame or rectangular enclosure, in which the side frames are joined together by 3 0 means of short end crosspieces 72, 73. Each of the side frames of this enclosure have a toothed rack 7 0 and 71 along its inside edge. Between the side frames the pinions move the folding arms 59 and 50 respectively in diametrically opposed directions in such a way that the pinion 68 engages rack 70 35 and the pinion 69 engages rack 71. >*vS\ J l4N0V'^ of ' / "• v * •v* c.-. 322910 The rectangular enclosure pivctally connected at one end to a link 74 which is pivotally connected to a connecting rod 75, "9 joined to a flywheel by mean's cf a bolt 7S.

The straight arm 7 5 of the connecting roc is pivotally connected to a fixed point 75.

It can he understood that on turning flywheel 77 the upper end of the connecting roc 75 will describe a movement is transmitted to straight am 74 to move the racks thus rotating pinions 55 and 59 in diametrically opposed directions. The arms 53 and 50 of the folders are ;cir.ed on their free end to each of two orthogonal arms 52 and 53. Each am comprises a robust core of nylon 54 and 55 in which preferably three successive surfaces can exist which would exert pressure at each corner of the tray on flaps 4, 9 and 10 forcing the flaps 4 and 10 to join, the first one on the inside surface cf the corresponding facing 3 and the sector 10 on the inside surface of the nearest long side 2, to which it will he joined by adhesive, by virtue of the strips of adhesive which were applied previously, when the sheet of cardboard is passed under the injector units 17.

The pinions 58 and 59 have cylindrical cores which extend laterally forming a wide cone 81 whose base has a wide central depression forming a peripheral crown with fine teeth 87. Opposite this conical core, there is a second core 84, whose opposite base has a regular crown cut of fine teeth which co-operate with teeth 37 of the first core 82. The opposing cores 59 and 84 are kept together by means of an axial pin 57, whose union is very efficient, since the crowns of fine teeth fit together correctly, there being between one core and the other, at least one expansion spring 83 in coinciding slots 82. 85, made in the opposing faces of the cores 81 and 84. This arrangement allows the pinions 58 and 69 to be assembled and dismounted very easily when necessary, without having to withdraw the folding arms.

The two pinions 58 and 69 are moved simultaneously 222910 by the corresponding racks 7 0 and 71 which m turn are supported cn bearings 30 which serve as a guide.

A final core 36 comprises the link with the folding arms that introduce the flaps 4 and their end extensions into 5 the body cf the tray formed.

Considering the machine in general, in accordance with the drawings, it can be seen that it comprises ail in all: - A general bed 13 formed by a first horizontal 10 sector comprises a bed cn wr.ich are arranged the parallel angular guides 40 between which the sheets cf cardboard slice. Cn these guides is installed the storage station 14, the feeder of sheets cf cardboard which have already been punched out, and which when they emerge from the said station are 15 situated between the guides 40. The separation of the guides is regulated by means of double threaded lead screws, which are rotated by cranks 89 and SO, to adjust for variations in width of the sheets of cardboard which, have to be shaped in each case. The guides 40 keep one of their wings in a 20 horizontal position and the other vertical, to hinder lateral movements cf the cardboard when they are driven to the moulding zone - The storage station 14 of the sheets of cardboard is made of two vertical walls, reciprocally parallel 23 which are 25 kept integrally joined to the guides 40 by means of strategically distributed supports 88. It can be understood that since the wails 23 cf the storage station are joined to the guides 40. the separation of its two walls will occur at the same time using the double threaded lead screws with crank 89 and 30 90.

The sheets of cardboard will contact two of their opposite edges (preferably the upper edges of the longest sides 2 of the tray) on the lower horizontal wing of the guides 39 and 4 0 and the whole central zone of the cardboard 35 will be free. This permits the pushing mechanism to act 222510 between the guides to be moved by the conveyor belts 15 which is suspended between pinions 16, one of them as a propellant and the other as a tensor. These chains 15 have the rods 4 3 and 44 opposite each other, which project from the slipway 5 mechanism 34 that moves the pushing unit to take the sheets of cardboard from the exit of the storage station 14 to the moulding zone 18, making them slide over the angular guides 39 and 40.

During this journey each sheet of cardboard will — 10 pass under the injector equipment 17 which will apply prefixed lines of adhesive to it e.g. the end lugs 7 and 10 integral to the facings 3 and their upper flaps 4.

The pasting station, in which the adhesive is applied is formed by a deposit which contains the adhesive and 15 is provided with suitable means of heating to keep it at the state of fluidity required so that it can be forced through the corresponding injectors 17 and so that its reaction or hardening is produced exactly during the moulding phase. When the already finished tray emerges from the machine, it will 20 have the areas in which the adhesive has been applied, correctly stuck to the sectors of the tray to which the said zones were joined and pressed to guarantee a perfect and secure finish of the tray.

The pasting units are known devices. Any of these --^25 known devices can be incorporated into the machine which is being described. Among these known devices, mention can be made of the "Nordson" device where the adhesive is loaded in a tank where it is melted and heated to the ideal temperature for application; a pump driven by compressed air and incorpor-'-^30 ated into the said tank, sucks up the material in the melted state and it pushes it through a filter towards the injector units which are strategically distributed so that they can force the adhesive in the prefixed zones of the sheet of cardboard.

The application of the adhesive onto the cardboard 'J* ~ 1 ~3~ A 7 a /v can be made, in each case, by suitable arrangements, bearing in mind the characteristics of the glue, especially its degree of fluidity, duration of the latter and the speed of reaction of the adhesive, area it has to cover, which circumstances will advise on the suitability of applying the adhesive in the form of strips or spaying in fine droplets.

The section for forming or moulding 18 of the trays, is arranged in the lower part of the second sector of the housing, underneath the zone that lodges the chuck 19. It is made of two robust plates with carefully rectified surfaces arranged upright and reciprocally parallel; their upper edge is rounded to facilitate penetration between both of the sheets of cardboard when it is pushed by the chuck 19. In a transverse position to the said sheets, are to be found two parallel rollers; between the plates and the rollers discussed, elevation of the sides 2 and 3 of the tray being formed is produced from the edges of the base 1 and the shaping chuck 19 is situated between this base and sides, and after carrying out this phase of the operation of assembly of the body of the tray it withdraws to its most backward position where it remains until the next cycle.

As we have indicated before, on discussing the two walls of the storage station 14 and the guides 39 and 40, means 89, 90 have been provided to regulate the separation between the said walls and guides in order to be able to supply trays of different sizes. Consequently the parts that form the shaping mould of the trays will likewise be endowed with mechanical means by which the separation between the rectified plates is modified, on which the longest sides 2 of the tray rest. With this in mind, the said rectified plates are found assembled in the general frame in a slidable manner and they are provided with a means of adjustment (preferably double threaded lead screws) installed in the side frames or right legs of the general housing.

Likewise the parallel rollers on which the facings 3 - 2$ - /A ^ °'s if/ 2225±0 of the cray slide Co cake them co Che vercical posicion on che base 1, can be approximaced or separated reciprocally adjusc-ing cheir separation to the length that the tray being shaped has to have. This adjustment, like the one for the rectified 5 plates can be made by means of double threaded lead screws suspended between the side frames or the cross pieces of the general housing.

It can be readily understood that the elevation of the facings 3 of the tray is produced by the movement of the 10 chuck 19 which on descending is placed with precision on the sector 1 which has to comprise the base of the tray and it continues its descent pushing the plate, making it slide its shortest sides 3 on the rollers mentioned and introducing it in che moulding enclosure, in which they are situated in an 15 upright position; at 90° with regard to the base 1, being forced, by the inside surface, by the vertical wall corresponding to the chuck 19 and by the corresponding roller.

The possibility that in the moulding zone 18 the separation between the two robust rectified plates can be 20 regulated has been pointed out and also between the two rollers which are transversal to these. However, it is obvious that such a possibility requires the shaping chuck 19 also to be modified proportionally in its volume which can obviously be achieved by means of a mechanical chuck with 25 extendable walls, but such a solution could be complicated and what is more important - the chuck could lose its firmness. Therefore, without dismissing such a possibility, the invention considers it to be convenient to substitute the said element in each case with one which complies with the nece-30 ssary measurements in each case.

This chuck 19, in a general way, is formed by a rectangular parallelepipedic body with smooth sides, usually made of sheets of nylon, whose perimeter coincides with the enclosure of the tray being formed; it is usually open, along 35 its upper and lower surfaces, so that when pressure is exerted - M- /f V o • • on the sheets of cardboard to introduce them in the mould, there is no resistance for the evacuation of air. The said body has a cross piece between two opposite walls in which a vertical arm is fixed which has a toothed sector 20 carved or added lengthwise in which a pinion 21 engages which turns alternatively to provide the arm mentioned and consequently the moulding chuck. 19 reciprocal rectilinear movements upwards and downwards, in its downwards journey it acts on the sheet of cardboard 56 introducing it in the zone 18 to mould it shaping the tray 61. Straight away, it makes the upwards journey withdrawing from the body of the tray formed, returning to its most backward position in which it remains until the arrival of the next elementary sheet of cardboard 56 which already has the strips of adhesive applied, beginning the next cycle when it forces this second sheet making it enter the moulding zone. When the said second sheet of cardboard 56 is forced downwards passing through the shaping devices, it will press exactly on the upper edge of the facings of the previous tray formed 61 adjusting its lower corner grooves 8 on the angular ridges 6 formed in the upper edge of each corner of the first tray shaped 61, which when it is pushed thus from the open lower part of the moulding enclosure, will fall onto a conveyor belt 22 which will take it to the filling section or else to a stacking device to store it until the time it is used.

From everything pointed out in the present description, it can be understood that the machine that the invention proposes, has been adapted to be able to accept preformed sheets of cardboard blanks of different sizes with which special stackable containers of the characteristics shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are formed.

One of the improvements introduced in the machine refers to the mechanical devices that have been conceived to push down towards the inside of the tray, the longitudinal flaps 4 which articulate in the upper edge of each facing 3 -X- ■7/0 ' « A. T r- 22iGiO and join at least with adhesive, the ends of these flaps onto the inside surface of the respective short sides 3 of the tray and also its end lugs onto the longest sides 2.

This operation is verified when the chuck 19 5 withdraws after having shaped the body of the tray, at which moment a pair of pushing arms 59 and 60 start to act. which are assembled in a revolving way on a pair of axles 66. 67 which are reciprocally parallel situated one at each side of the moulding sector, specifically immediately after each —-10 roller or cylinder which folds the facings.

The parallel axles 66 and 67 of the pushing arms link with each of two pinions 68 and 69 which are located in a frame 72, 7 3 formed by a pair of side frames separated from each other by cross pieces and the side frames have two racks 15 70 and 71 which act simultaneously, one on each pinion 68, 69, providing them with alternating rotation movements in diametrically opposed directions making the pushing arms 59 and 60 act equally in opposite directions, which allows the flaps 4 to be pushed down simultaneously towards the inside of the 20 tray, withdrawing immediately to leave the moulding zone clear because it has to receive the next sheet of cardboard, which is pushed by the chuck 19.

The frame in which the racks 70 and 71 are located is coupled to a connecting rod mechanism 74, 75, 79 and a — 25 flywheel 77 which provides the housing with an alternative rectilinear movement, whose journeys are synchronized with those of the chuck 19 so that when the latter withdraws from the mould, the pushing arms 59 and 60 start to work and viceversa. ^30 As it is being explained, the pushing arms 59, 60 have, at their free end each of two orthogonal extensions 62, 63 which each have a core 64, 65 fixed, which is of a shape that is suitable to apply it to the corners of the tray, collaborating in the folding of the successive flaps 9 and 10 and in the adhesive joining of these latter ones to the inside - Zf '-"V ll * Sa-, - *£© 89 ■ / 222SiO surfaces of che longest sides 2. wich all che above, the machine produces a container or stackable Cray without needing to use manpower.

Throughout the preceding description, a storage 5 station for sheets of cardboard has been described, from which they are extracced one by one for moulding. In practice, replenishment of the sheets yielded by the scorage scacion is usually done periodically by an operator, but in the machine described the possibility exists of incorporating mechanical ,—.10 arrangements capable of replenishing periodically and automatically the quantities of preformed sheets. r 7go. /V' $9^

Claims (33)

222920 What; we claim is: -

1. A machine for manufacturing containers from preformed cardboard sheet blanks, said machine including a storage station, for storing said blanks, a mechanism that extracts said preformed blanks from said storage station, a pair cf movable parallel guides of angular section provided wich means to regulate their separation between which the preformed blanks are depositee when they are extracted from said scorage station, a pushing mechanism that moves the preformed blanks along che said guides to a moulding zone, a pasting station with a heating mechanism for heating thermomeltable adhesive connected to an injector unit that applies adhesive onto the preformed blanks during their movement towards the moulding zone, a shaping chuck which introduces each blank incc a cavity of a moulding mechanism co shape che container from che blank, folding means which operates to fold flaps that articulate on the upper edge of opposite sides of the container towards the inside when the shaping chuck withdraws, and said storage station formed by a pair of upright parallel facing walls arranged on said pair of guides which receive the blanks when it is excracced from said scorage scacion, each of said uprighc parallel facing wails having an inwardly direccec ledge cn their lower edge which holds che blanks along cwo opposice edges of said blanks.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said means for regulating Che separation of said movable parallel guides include lead screws wich left and righc handed chreaded seccions Co allow said movable parallel guides co be moved closer or furcher away respectively.

3. The machine of claim i or 2, wherein said movable parallel guides are formed by angular seccions wich one of Cheir wings arranged in a horizontal posicion on which said blanks resc along cwo opposice edges, and said guides prevent said blanks from undesirable laCeral displacemenc by means of cheir vertical walls. *3. -JX - 222910

4 . The machine of any preceding claim, wherein said pushing mechanism includes a pair of chain conveyors rotatable between a pair of pinions mounted on respective parallel axles, and a sliding mechanism for moving said blanks is movable in alternative rectilinear directions by being coupled to said conveyors.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein said sliding mechanism is moved by means of two pairs of rods which project laterally therefrom in diametrically opposed directions and are linked to said chain conveyors.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein said sliding mechanism has an axle which has a carriage or central graduation produced in it which delimits the penetration of a bearing in said axle, and said axle is suspended between nylon sockets arranged at each side of said bearing and said sockets are located within two opposing caps having said pair of rods secured thereto.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein said sliding mechanism is suspended between the chains of said conveyors and is constrained within a slot in a depending arm of said pushing mechanism, said bearing being located within said slot facilitating its sliding along said arm when the section of the chains to which it is joined, passes from an upper level to a lower level, and by means of its displacements along said arm the pushing mechanism carries out a rectilinear journey from said storage station to the moulding zone and then it is moved in the opposite direction returning to said storage station.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein said arm on its upper end is joined integrally to a head on which a core of octagonal section is held, said core having in its upper surface a dovetail slot into which is received tightly a ridge piece which leans on the back edge of each blank forcing it to slide between the movable parallel guides to said moulding zone. ^4 223910 S.

The machine of claim 3, wherem the sloped upper surfaces cf said octagonal section have respective axles bearing pulley wheels ar.c hexagonal guide "sections are arranged along the bed cf the machine along which said bearing pulley wheels run.

10. The machine of claim 5, wherein said octagonal core cn its lower sloped surfaces has a pair of further pulley wheels spring-leaded on each lower sloped surface of said hexagonal guide sections m opposition to the upper pulley wheels.

11. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein said shaping chuck is suspended frcm a rack cn which a pinion acts to enable elevation or descent cf said shaping chuck, said shaping chuck on its descent pushes said blank between a wall ar.c rollers which form the moulding mechanism, said moulding mechanism is open above and below to form the body of the container by applying two longer sides thereof between two robust reciprocally parallel sheets and making two shorter sides thereof slice cn the two wheels which are transverse to said blanks to cause upward folding of the saic longest and shortest sides with regard to the base of the container, said shaping chuck having a rectangular parallelepipecic body which coincides with the shape of the container being shaped, and said shaping chuck is open along its upper and lower surfaces and in its lower borders it has ribs or ledges jutting out which extend with or without interruption along the said borders and these ribs are applied onto the folding lines formed between the edges of the base and the sides, facilitating their folding.

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein ridges that jut cut from the lower edges of the shaping chuck are made from steel plates held in the body of the shaping chuck and from which they can be readily disassembled.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein said steel plates on the lower edge of the walls of the shaping chuck jut out sufficiently to accentuate a slotted line for folding the 2^2910 sices of the container with regard to its base.

14. The machine of clai.T. 13, wherein said steel plates attached to the lower part cf the shaping chuck have their outside edge sloped lengthwise to accentuate the slotting of the lines produced during the punching process, between the base ar.c the sides cf the container.

15. The machine or any one of claims 7 1 ~o 14, wherein said folding means includes a pair of folding arms in the shape of an angle iron which operate when the shaping chuck is withdrawn and are fixed cn each cf two axles which move then in opposite directions in a revolving direction, saic. arms are introduced into the container to push flaps that articulate on the upper edge of the shortest sides of the container formed, said flaps enter said enclosure ar.c are applied to the insice surface of the respective shortest sides, said axles having pinions which receive alternative rotative movement which is transmitted to the folding arms to introduce them and withdraw them from the enclosure of the container.

15. The machine of claim 15, wherein said folding arms comprise a pair of angular arms in which their free ends have nylon fingers of a shape which coincides with the corners of the container, and these fingers press onto the ends of the flaps of the blank joining and sticking said flap by means of adhesive to the inside surface of the nearest long side of the container and the folding arms are fixed on a revolving first core provided in its biggest base with a crown with a regular alignment of teeth, said toothed crown facing a second core provided laterally with a sector with teeth which face the ribbed crown of said first core to which it transmits rotary movement alternatively, and both cores are joined by means of a common axial axle formed by a threaded fastener which threads into said first core.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein means are provided between the crowns of the first and second cores to separate the cores when the common axle is loosened, and said means 2i2910 comprises at least one spring loaded in the complementary slots made in opposite surfaces of said cores.

IS. The machine of claim 17, wherein each of said second cores of each folding arm contain said pinions and two racks co-operating with said pinions are moved in diametrically opposed directions to rotate said pinions.

19. The machine of claim IS, wherein said racks that operate the pinions of the folding means are arranged opposite each other in a rectangular frame which slides reciprocally and is suspended between bearings.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the frame in which the opposite racks are arranged is joined in an articulated fashion to the end of a straight arm which, on its opposite end is articulated to the upper end of a connecting rod which articulates on its opposite end on a fixed point, and said connecting rod has an intermediate orthogonal branch eccentrically coupled to a rotatable wheel.

21. A machine for forming containers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawings.

22. A stackable container formable by a machine of any of the preceding claims, comprising a preformed blank including a base portion and peripheral edge portions folded to define side walls, the side walls for two opposite sides each comprising two parts of a said edge portion folded to overlie one another with the region of the fold therebetween defining a support surface for a said tray stacked thereon, / Ay* "* - 27 - '5?* \ L T 2^2910 said edge portions defining at the corners of the tray projections and recesses so arranged that the projections can be received in the recesses of an overlying said tray for stacking thereof.

23. A tray according to claim 22, wherein the base is rectangular and said side walls with said fold regions are on the two shortest opposite sides of the base.

24. A tray according to claim 23, wherein the base is rectangular and side walls with said fold regions are on the two longest sides of base.

25. A tray according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the outermost ones of said parts have end extensions folded around said corners and have upstanding portions defining said projections.

26. A tray according to claim 25, wherein said outermost parts define at the tray corners castellated projections and corresponding recesses for the projections of another said tray.

27. A tray according to any one of claims 22 to 26 wherein the innermost ones of said parts include end extensions which extend diagonally across the corners between the side walls, said diagonal extensions forming support surfaces for the base of a stacked further said tray.

28. A tray according to claim 27, wherein said diagonally extending extensions include folded end parts attached to the side walls.

29. A tray according to claim 28 wherein said folded end parts are inserted in a cut or recess. - 28 - ? * j £,v^\ c -A. 4O£c !?89 222310

30. A tray according to claim 29 wherein said folded end parts are glued onto the side walls.

31. A tray according to any one of claims 22 to 30 wherein said side walls with said fold regions are provided with openings therein in said fold regions to permit a hand to be inserted to separate stacked ones of said trays.

32. A tray according to any one of claims 22 to 31 wherein the innermost parts of the side walls with fold regions do not touch the base.

33. A tray according to claim 25 or any claim when appendent thereto wherein said end extensions, said projections and said folded regions define support surfaces for a stacked said tray, at three respective different levels. WEST-V/AIKER. McCABE ,r ATTORNEYS FOfl wHfftlCAKt - 29 - •/V -0^