SE2150569A1 - Carton sealing tool and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A carton sealing tool (14), for sealing cartons having two side tabs and at least one closing tab and being moved along a predetermined path relative to said carton sealing tool (14), comprises a first body part (70). The first body part (70) has a first concavely V-shaped edge (72) and a surface (74) perpendicular to the concavely V-shaped edge (72). Thereby, the carton, when being moved towards the concavely V-shaped edge (72) with the closing tab in a direction along the surface (74) and with side tabs interacting with the concavely V-shaped edge (72), is caused to fold the side tabs inwards. A carton sealing arrangement comprises a manipulator system and the carton sealing tool is also disclosed. A method for sealing a carton is also disclosed.

Description

lO CARTONSEMLHKETOOLANDNEHHOD TECHNK%LFElD The here presented technology relates in general to packing devices and methods and in particular to cartoners and methods for cartoning.

BACKGROUND Most products of today are packaged in some Way before they are distributedand sold. Typically, there is an inner package, also called primary package,such as a bottle, a vacuum polymer film, or a blister package. These innerpackages often serve the purpose to ensure the hygienic conditions, tamperprotection or the like. In many cases, these inner packages are then loadedinto outer packages also called secondary packages, typically different kindsof cartons. These cartons typically serve the purpose of enclosing one orseveral inner packages, facilitate ease of handling and/ or providing additionalprotections against transport damages. The cartons often include batch information, tamper evidence and a user instruction for the primary package.

For products manufactured in very large quantities, specialized automaticcartoning lines can be built, in Which the equipment is particularly adaptedto the type of inner package and the size and type of carton. For productsproduced in quantities that do not occupy a cartoning line in full, suchspecialized lines are typically too expensive and infleXible to use. Manualloading can then be used, or fleXible cartoning lines, having possibilities to beadapted e.g. to different carton sizes can be utilized. In many industries, e.g.pharmaceutical industries or food industries, human activities during the packaging are to be avoided due to hygienic reasons.

A problem With fleXible packaging lines is that there is typically a need for extensive changeover actions When changing from one type of package to lO another. Magazines sizes, transport carriers, folding devices etc. have to beadapted, typically by mechanical readjustments. Such changeover activitiesneed labor resources and they also cause the equipment to be unutilizedduring the changeover time. Such aspects considerably increase the costs for packaging of medium and small batches of products.

SUMMARY A general object is to provide devices and methods enabling a fast changeover cartoner.

The above object is achieved by methods and devices according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims.

In general words, in a first aspect, a carton sealing tool, for sealing cartonshaving two side tabs and at least one closing tab and being moved along apredetermined path relative to said carton sealing tool, comprises a first bodypart. The first body part has a first concavely V-shaped edge and a surfaceperpendicular to the concavely V-shaped edge. Thereby, the carton, whenbeing moved towards the concavely V-shaped edge with the closing tab in adirection along the surface and with side tabs interacting with the concavely V-shaped edge, is caused to fold the side tabs inwards.

In a second aspect, a carton sealing arrangement comprises a manipulatorsystem and a carton sealing tool according to the first aspect. The manipulatorsystem is configured for moving a carton along the predetermined path relative the carton sealing tool.

In a third aspect, a method for sealing a carton having two side tabs and atleast one closing tab, comprises moving the carton along a predetermined pathrelative a carton sealing tool. This moving of the carton along a predeterminedpath comprises moving the carton relative said carton sealing tool towards a concavely V-shaped edge of the carton sealing tool with the closing tab in a direction along a surface of the sealing tool perpendicular to the concavely V- shaped edge and with side tabs interacting with the concavely V-shaped edge.

One advantage with the proposed technology is that a fast changeover betweendifferent carton types is enabled. Other advantages will be appreciated when reading the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may bestbe understood by making reference to the following description taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment of a cartoner; FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an embodiment of an entrance section; FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an embodiment of a loading section; FIG. 4 illustrates schematically an embodiment of an exit section; FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a transport system; FIG. 6A illustrates an embodiment of a pair of carriers; FIG. 6B illustrates another embodiment of a pair of carriers; FIG. 6C illustrates yet another embodiment of a pair of carriers; FIG. 6D illustrates another view of the embodiment of the pair of carriersof FIG. 6C; FIG. 7A illustrates one embodiment of a transport system with onecommon rail; FIG. 7B illustrates one embodiment of a transport system withseparated rails; FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a carton sealing tool; FIG. 9-10 illustrate the embodiment of FIG. 8 when a carton is folded; FIG. 1 1 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 8 in a side view in onesituation during a carton folding; FIG. 12 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 8 when the cushion protrudes from the table surface; and lO FIG. 13 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 8 in a side view in another situation during a carton folding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Throughout the drawings, the same reference numbers are used for similar or corresponding elements.

In the present disclosure, a “cartoner” is an arrangement or apparatus forfolding a carton and filling it with some items. Likewise, a method for cartoningis to be understood the procedures for folding a carton and filling it with some items.

For a better understanding of the proposed technology, it may be useful tobegin with the description of a few general aspects. In an efficient cartoner,different sections are provided, e.g. an entrance section, a loading section andan exit section. The entrance section may provide equipment for pickingcarton blanks from a magazine and folding a first short side of the carton. Theloading section may provide equipment for loading a product into the cartonthat has the first short side folded. The loading section may optionally allowalso other actions, such as loading of user instructions. The eXit section mayprovide equipment for closing a second side of the loaded carton. The exitsection may optionally allow also other actions, such as marking of the carton,e.g. provision of batch information, or provision of tamper protections. Eachsection can be composed by one or more modules, where each module may bedesigned for a particular task. Between these sections, the cartons are transported by some kind of transport system.

In prior art, the different sections, and even modules within the same section,are basically operating independently of each other. When the entrancesection has finished its operations and has put the carton on the transportsystem to the loading section, there is no further connection with the subsequent activities. Analogously, when the loading section receives the lO folded carton, it does not know anything about the previous handling of theparticular carton, since all cartons are intended to be treated in the samemanner. Since there is no general communication between the differentsections, the entire system has to be adjusted to a certain carton and product.For instance, preferably, the rate of handling cartons in each section has tobe adapted so that there is no build-up of waiting cartons, or section inactivity periods due to lack of available cartons.

One basic idea for enabling a fast changeover is thus to treat each carton asan individual object. Adjustments, settings etc. of each section should beadapted to the carton that presently is processed. This means that theentrance section could treat a carton of one type simultaneously as the loadingsection treats a carton of another type. The instructions for operating eachsection should therefore “follow” each carton individually. In other words, theoperation of a section should depend on the type of carton that is undertreatment, independently of what concurrently is performed in the other sections.

In order to achieve such flexibility, it is necessary to manage all adaptationsof the section operations without any manual interference. This could beachieved by giving each section its own detection system for identifyingdifferent cartons. However, this approach is believed to be complex andexpensive. In a more efficient approach, a controller, communicating with allsections, can be used. Such a controller can keep track on which types ofcartons that are entered into the system and how they move through thedifferent sections. In other words, the controller is arranged for controlling anoperation of the entrance section, the loading section, the exit section and any transport system, following each carton through the cartoner.

Another requisite for enabling fast changeover is the availability of cartonblanks of different sizes. If a single magazine is to be used, the different carton blanks have to be placed in a well specified order in the magazine and the lO magazine has to be compatible with sizes and shapes of all used carton blanks.

Such an approach is thus less likely to be useful.

Instead, the entrance section comprises a plurality of magazines for cartonblanks. The magazines are each one typically adapted for a single size andshape of the carton blanks, but may differ from each other. Multiple magazinesopens up for changing instantaneously between different cartons. Differentcartons are then available simultaneously in the entrance section and thecontroller can select which ones to be used from one cartoon to the next. Thecontroller is thereby arranged for controlling the entrance section, for eachcarton, to pick the carton blank from a particular one of the plurality of magazines.

Multiple magazines may also assist in avoiding unnecessary stops during anoperation phase of a single carton type due to loading of a new pile of cartonblanks. By entering a new magazine of a same carton blanks type before theprevious pile of carton blanks is finished, the operation can be continuous without stop for unloading and loading of magazines.

The operation of the entrance section can be different for different selectionsof cartons. For example, different folding tools or folding operations can beused depending on the selected carton. However, if the cartons are of similartypes, common tools and/or operations may be used. Examples will be discussed further below.

When a carton is folded at a first short side, it is typically to be provided to theloading section. This is typically performed by a first part of a transportsystem. In order to provide a safe and well defined transport of the carton,some arrangements for defining the position of the carton in relation to the transport system are to be provided.

Many prior art transport systems are based on a rail, and carriers that are moved along the rail. The carriers are typically provided with some kind of lO geometrical shape or gripping arrangement, into which a product to betransported is provided. The carriers are then typically controllable in theirmotion along the rail, enabling stops when loading, unloading and queuing isto be performed, and displacements with suitable speed during the actualtransports. This is easily achieved in systems having a single size and shape for the transported products.

However, in the present case, the demands on the transport system is that itshould be adaptable for different sizes and/ or shapes of the transported items,and furthermore on an item-to-item basis. One approach for achieving aflexible use would be to introduce gripping arrangements on the carriers thatare individually controllable. However, since the carriers are moving,communication with the individual carriers for controlling individual parts thereof is not a simple task and certainly not ineXpensive.

In the technology presented here, in one embodiment, the controllability of thecarriers along the rail is used in carrier pairs. A certain distance between twoconsecutive carriers of the transport system can be set by moving one or bothof the carriers in the pair. By adapting this distance to be in agreement withe.g. a width of a carton to be transported, a carton of this width can safely beplaced between the carriers. By then moving the pair of carriers along the railwith the relative distance maintained, a safe transportation of the carton can be assured, all controlled by the controller.

In other words, the controller is arranged for adapting, for each carton, adistance between two consecutive carriers of the transport system independence to a size of the f1rst-side-folded carton and for driving the twoconsecutive carriers along the rail maintaining the distance. The controller isthen also arranged to control the entrance section to place the f1rst-side-foldedcarton between said two consecutive carriers and/ or to control the loading section to place the loaded carton between the two consecutive carriers.

An embodiment Will be described below, illustrating these general ideas as Well as different preferred detail embodiments.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment of a cartoner 1. The cartonercomprises an entrance section 10, a loading section 20 and an exit section 30.A transport system 40 connects entrance section 10 and the loading section , and also the loading section 20 and the eXit section 30, respectively.

The entrance section 10 is typically provided With magazines holding piles ofcarton blanks 110. The entrance section 10 is configured for picking cartonblanks 110 from the magazine. This is performed by a manipulator system 12,typically a robot. The manipulator system 12 is arranged for folding a first sideof the carton. The one-side-folded carton is moved from the entrance section10 to the loading section 20 by means of the transport system 40, controlled by a transport controller 42.

The loading section 20 is configured for loading a product 120 into the first-side-folded carton. The products 120 are provided into the loading section 20and placed at a position from Which a manipulator system 22, typically arobot, can pick it up. The actual loading may be performed When the first-side-folded carton still is placed in the transport system 40. Alternatively, thefirst-side-folded carton may first be moved from the transport system 40 to aloading position by means of the manipulator system 22. The loading can thentake place at this loading position and finally, the loaded carton can bereturned to the transport system 40. Optionally, additional material 122 canalso be loaded into the carton, such as e.g. leaflets or chock damping means.The loaded carton is moved from the loading section 20 to the exit section 30by means of the transport system 40, controlled by the transport controller 42.

The details of the loading section depends heavily on the actual nature of theproduct to be loaded. The technology for achieving such loading is, as such, Well known in this field of technology, and has no crucial impact of the present novel ideas. Therefore, the details of the loading section 20 are assumed to beconfigured according to well-known technology and is therefore not discussed in detail.

The eXit section 30 is configured for closing a second side of the loaded carton.The second side is opposite to the first side. In analogy with the other sections,the eXit section 30 comprises a manipulator system 32, typically a robot. Themanipulator system 32 picks the loaded carton from the transport system 40and closes the second side of the loaded carton. Optionally, outer features ofthe carton can be provided, e.g. labels, printing, tampering proof in the eXitsection. Material 132 for such outer features are provided to the eXit section30. The manipulator system 32 finally places the packed carton 130 in a position from which it can be further transported.

The transport system 40 is in other words configured for transporting the first-side-folded carton from the entrance section 10 to the loading section 20 andthe loaded carton from the loading section 20 to the eXit section 30. This istypically controlled by the transport controller 42. The transport system, aswill be discussed more in detail below, comprises a rail and carriers running along the rail.

The cartoner 1 also comprises a controller 50. The controller is arranged forcontrolling an operation of the entrance section 10, the loading section 20, theeXit section 30 and the transport system 40, following each carton throughthe cartoner. The controller is further arranged for adapting, for each carton,a distance between two consecutive carriers of the transport system independence to a size of the f1rst-side-folded carton. The controller is furtherarranged for driving the two consecutive carriers along the rail maintainingthe distance. The controller is further arranged to control the entrance section10 and/ or the loading section 20 to place the first-side-folded carton and/ orsaid loaded carton, respectively, between the two consecutive carriers. This will be discussed more in detail below.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an embodiment of an entrance section 10.A plurality, of which two are drawn, of magazines 16 holding carton blanks110 are provided within reaching distances of the manipulator system 12, inthis embodiment an entrance robot. The magazines are provided at definedpositions. When a new carton, typically having an assigned carton ID number,is to be folded and loaded, the manipulator system 12 is informed by thecontroller about the intended features of the carton and load. A carton typeidentification is typically provided, which is associated with dimensions of thecarton and the position of the magazine holding the carton blanks. Either, allthis information can be transferred from the controller to the manipulatorsystem 12. As an alternative, a carton type ID can be transferred, informingthe manipulator system 12 how to retrieve necessary information from a datastorage, in which the actual carton dimensions and magazine positions are pre-stored.

Based on the carton type identification data, the manipulator picks up theappropriate carton blank from the intended magazine. In this embodiment,the manipulator system 12 moves the carton blank in a predetermined pathrelative to a folding tool 14, causing a first side of the carton to be folded. Thisparticular folding tool 14 is only very schematically drawn in this Figure, but a preferred embodiment will be discussed more in detail further below.

In other words, the entrance section 10 comprises a plurality of magazines 16for carton blanks 1 10. The controller is arranged for controlling themanipulator system 12 of the entrance section 10, for each individual carton,to pick the carton blank 1 10 from a particular one of the plurality of magazines 16.

When the manipulator system 12 is informed about the carton typeidentification for a carton ID number, the transport system 40 is also informedabout the carton type identification, in particular the carton size. Thetransport system 40 thereby assigns two carriers 46A and 46B to this carton ID number and instructs the carriers 46A and 46B to move coordinated along 11 a rail 44 with a constant distance d there between. This distance d is adaptedto correspond to the carton size of that particular carton ID number. Thecarriers 46A and 46B assigned to the present carton ID number are placed in a carton loading position.

When the manipulator system 12 has finished the folding of the first side, thecontroller is arranged to control the manipulator system 12 entrance section10 to place the first-side-folded carton 18 between the two consecutive carriers46A and 46B. The transport system 40 is notif1ed about that the first-side-folded carton 18 is in place and transports the two carriers 46A and 46B to the loading section.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an embodiment of a loading section 20.Different kinds of products 120A and 120B are provided within reachingdistance of a manipulator system 22, in this embodiment a robot. When twocarriers 46A and 46B with a first-side-folded carton 18 is provided in apredetermined loading position, the manipulator system 22 is informed aboutthe properties of that particular carton ID number. Typically, the manipulatorsystem 22 is informed about the content intended to be loaded into the carton.Typically, the manipulator system 22 receives or retrieves information aboutthe type of product, size and position of the primary package. Additionalmaterial 122, such as leaflets or shock damping material could also beinstructed to be loaded, depending on the particular carton ID number. Theactual loading is performed according to, as such, well-known procedures by the manipulator system 22.

In other words, the controller is arranged for controlling the loading section20 to load appropriate content 120A, 120B adapted to the carton size of each individual carton.

The loading may in some embodiments be performed directly at the transportsystem rail 44, while the f1rst-side-folded carton 18 is held by the two carriers46A and 46B. A loaded carton 28 is thereby provided. 12 Alternatively, the manipulator system 22 may pick the first-side-folded carton18 from the transport system 40 and place it in a particular loading location,at which the actual loading takes place. Thereafter, the loaded carton 18 isagain placed between the two carriers 46A and 46B. In other words, thecontroller is in such an embodiment configured to control the manipulatorsystem 22 of loading section 20 to place the loaded carton 18 between the two consecutive carriers46A and 46B.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically an embodiment of an exit section 30. Whentwo carriers 46A and 46B with a loaded carton 28 is provided in apredetermined exiting position, a manipulator system 32, in this embodimenta robot, is informed about the properties of that particular carton ID number.Typically, the manipulator system 32 is informed about the size of the cartonand if there are any type of intended post-treatment. Typically, themanipulator system 32 receives or retrieves information about the size of thecarton in order to enable a pick-up of the loaded carton 28 from the twocarriers 46A and 46B. The manipulator system 32 of the exit section 30cooperates or comprises in this particular embodiment a carton sealing tool34 capable of sealing a multitude of carton sizes. In this way, the top, orsecond side, of the carton is folded. The carton sealing tool 34 may be the same as the carton sealing tool 14 of the entrance section 10.

The exit section 30 may also comprise additional tools 36 or equipment fortreating the folded carton. Non-exclusive examples of additional tools 36influencing the outer surfaces or appearance of the carton could e. g. differenttypes of printing, labeling or tamper-securing devices. For instance, the cartoncan be provided by batch numbers, packing date and time or content lists. Allsuch information necessary to perform such post-treatment can be supplied individually for each carton by the controller.

After post-treatment, if any, the loaded and folded carton 130 is placed on a pallet 38 or in an outer box for further processing and/ or transport. 13 The two carriers 46A and 46B are now free to be moved back to the entrance section for being associated with a new carton.

Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of a transport system 40 that can be usedin connection with the above presented technology. The transport system 40in this embodiment comprises a rail 44 shaped as a race track. Along the rail44, carriers 46, 46A, 46B, also referred to as movers, are movable in aprogrammable manner. In this embodiment, the carriers are associated inpairs 46A, 46B with a particular carton 18, 28 and the pairs are movedtogether in the lower part of the race track with a certain distance d betweenthem. This distance d can be different for different pairs of carriers 46A, 46B,depending on the size of the carton it is supposed to transport. A slide surface45 is provided below the rail 44. Cartons, either one-side folded cartons 18 orloaded cartons 28 are placed by the manipulator systems of the respectivesection between the pairs of carriers 46A, 46B associated with that particularcarton. The carton 18, 28 is thereby captured between the pairs of carriers46A, 46B. When the pairs of carriers 46A, 46B thereafter is moved along therace, keeping the relative position constant, the carton 18, 28 is transported,sliding on the slide surface 45. Since the relative distance between the pairsof carriers 46A, 46B is programmable for each individual pair, the size of the transported carton can be varied from one carton to the next.

The carriers and the transport system can be designed in many differentgeometrical configurations. In Figures 2-4, it was indicated that the maintransport system 40 was positioned below the path along which the cartons18, 28 are transported, and the cartons 18, 28 were supported by the carriers46A-B. In Figure 5, the main transport system 40 was instead positionedabove the path along which the cartons 18, 28 are transported, and thecartons 18, 28 were supported by the slide surface 45. The carriers 46A-B here only supplied the moving action. 14 Figure 6A illustrates a similar setup is illustrated in a side view. Two carriers46A and 46B are movable along a rail 44 with a separation distance d. A carton18, 28 of width d can thereby be captured and be forced to follow the motionof the carriers, sliding at the slide surface 45. The plane of the rail 44 loopmay be provided in any direction, vertical as well as horizontal, depending on the design of the entire arrangement.

Figure 6B illustrates another embodiment of a transport system 40 in a sideview. Here the carriers 46A and 46B are provided on the rail 44 below thecartons 18, 28 to be transported. The distance d is here adapted in such away that the edges of the carton is supported by upwards direction supportsurfaces 43 of the carriers 46A and 46B. In such a design, the carriers 46Aand 46B have to be capable of carrying the weight of the carton 18, 28 as wellas of the loaded product therein, if any. Also here, the plane of the rail 44 loopmay be provided in any direction, vertical as well as horizontal, depending on the design of the entire arrangement.

Figure 6C illustrates yet another embodiment of a transport system 40 in atop view. In this embodiment, the rail 44 is provided at the side with respectof the transport path of the cartons 18, 28. Also here, the carriers 46A and46B are provided with supporting surfaces 43 carrying the cartons 18, 28. Thedistance d is therefore adapted so that the distance between the verticalsurfaces 41 above the supporting surface for receiving the width of the cartons18, 28. Figure 6D is a side view of the same embodiment. Also here, the planeof the rail 44 loop may be provided in any direction, vertical as well as horizontal, depending on the design of the entire arrangement.

As illustrated in Figure 7A, in one embodiment, the transport system 40comprises one common rail 44 for carton transport both between the entrancesection 10 and the loading section 20 and between the loading section 20 and the exit section 30.

As illustrated in Figure 7B, in another embodiment, the transport system 40comprises one rail 44A for carton transport between the entrance section 10and the loading section and another rail 44B for carton transport between theloading section and the eXit section. There is thus a re-loading of the cartonsin the loading section 20. This may be convenient if the loading section 20 isdesigned for performing the actual loading at a location separate from the transport system 40.

One of the advantages with the here presented technology is that it enables afast switch between cartons of different types. This is enabled among otherthings by the common controller having access to carton property data that may be unique for each individual carton.

In a typical example, each carton is assigned a carton ID, typically a runningnumber. Each carton is also typically defined by a carton type ID. Each suchcarton type ID is predefined to have a certain size. Alternatively, the cartontype ID may be exchanged for the size data directly. In some embodiments,the carton type ID may comprise or may be complemented by a position of themagazine of corresponding carton blanks, as was discussed above. Finally, apair of carriers is assigned to each carton. This data is provided to themanipulator system of the entrance section, either directly or as a link to a data storage from which it can be retrieved.

For the loading section, content data may also be necessary. This content datamay be a content ID, associated with pre-defined content data, or may be adirect group of data for each carton. The content data may e.g. comprise atype of primary packing, e.g. a bottle or a blister packing, as well as numbersand sizes of primary packings to be loaded in the carton. The content datamay also comprise e.g. positions for the primary packings, batch numbers.Also data concerning additional objects to be loaded, such as informationleaflets or shock damping objects may be included. This content data, and preferably also the carton type data is typically provided to the manipulator lO 16 system of the loading section, either directly or as a link to a data storage from which it can be retrieved.

As mentioned further above, different kinds of post-treatment may be ofinterest. Therefore the data associated with the carton may also comprise suchinformation. Examples of post-treatments could be different kinds of printingsat the cartons or labeling thereof. Batch numbers or production time and dateare typical information that may be added on the outside of the carton. Alsodifferent tamper-indication arrangements may be added. This post-treatmentdata, and preferably also the carton type data is typically provided to themanipulator system of the eXit section, either directly or as a link to a datastorage from which it can be retrieved. Typically, the intended final position, where the carton is intended to be left is communicated to the eXit section.

When designing a system that should be able to rapidly switch betweencartoning of cartons of different sizes, the entrance and eXit sections shouldbe able to handle cartons of different shapes and sizes. In a straightforwardsolution, a separate dedicated folding tool can be provided for each of thecarton types that the system has to switch between. This typically requiresspace for storing the tools when not used, and since typical robots haverestricted areas of operation, this might be a disadvantage, at least if many different sizes are to be covered.

Therefore, in one preferred embodiment, the entrance section and/ or the eXitsection comprises a carton sealing tool 14 that is capable of sealing a multitude of carton sizes.

Furthermore, since a respective manipulator system is available at eachsection, it would typically be advantageous if the motion possibilities of themanipulator system also could be utilized for achieving the actual foldingoperation as well. One type of carton sealing tool that would be advantageousto use in this concept is a tool that is predominantly passive, and where the main action is achieved by moving the carton along a predetermined path 17 relative to the carton sealing tool. The carton sealing tool has thus ageometrical shape that folds tabs of the carton. The entrance section and /orthe eXit section preferably comprises a robot arranged for moving the carton along that predetermined path.

A sealing tool 14 of this kind is schematically illustrated in Figure 8. Thesealing tool 14 of this embodiment is adapted to cartons having two side tabsand at least one closing tab. The sealing tool 14 has a first body part 70, whichat one side has a first concavely V-shaped edge 72. Flat edge sides areeXtending on both sides of a bottom 76 of the concavely V-shaped edge 72.These sides are intended to interact with carton tabs. The first body part 70has at its bottom a surface 74 that is perpendicular to the concavely V-shapededge 72. In other words, both the sides of the V-shape are perpendicular tothe surface 74 at the bottom.

This first body part 70 serves to fold the side tabs of the carton. This isillustrated in Figures 9 and 10. A carton 18, 28, when being moved towardsthe concavely V-shaped edge 72 with the closing tab 92 in a direction 78 alongthe surface 74 and with side tabs 90 interacting with the concavely V-shapededge 72 with a center of said carton 18, 28 aligned with a bottom 76 of theconcavely V-shaped edge 72, is caused to fold the side tabs 90 inwards. Theclosing tab 92 is there pushed below the first body part, parallel to the surface74. The side tabs 90 of the carton 18, 28, reach the surfaces of the concavelyV-shaped edge 72 in an angle. This angle causes the side tabs to be foldedinwards when the carton 18, 28 continues to move in the direction 78. Thisaction is achieved for different sizes of cartons as long as the side tabs hit the V-shaped edge 72.

The side tabs are not completely folded by this motion, but if the carton thenis moved sideward, still parallel to the surface 74, and slightly rotated to haveits opening perpendicular to one of the shanks 71 of the V-shaped edge 72,the last part of the folding is completed. 18 The carton is further moved along the shank 71 towards a second body part80 such that the closing tab 92 is stuck into a slit 88 between a beam 86 anda table surface 81. At the same time, the opening of the carton is allowed tofollow a curved surface 73 of the shank 71, which results in that the closing tab is at least partially folded.

Figure 11 illustrates the second body part 80 in a side view. Here it can beseen that the closing tab 92 is positioned between the beam 86 and the tablesurface 81 in the narrow slit 88. The carton is positioned sideward in order toplace the tip part 94 of the closing tab 92 outside the slit 88. In other words,the, in the figure right, edge of the beam 86 can then operate as a foldingsupport for the tip part 94.

The second body part 80 also comprises a cushion 84 movable within a cavity82. In Figure 11, these parts are illustrated by broken lines, since they arecomprised within the second body part 80. When the cushion 84 is moved inthe direction 96, it will protrude from the table surface 81 and eventually bend the tip part 94 of the closing tab 92.

The sealing tool 14, with the protruding cushion 84 is illustrated in Figure 12.

Figure 13 illustrates a side view of the second body part 80, when the cushion84 is protruding. The tip part 94 is bend and can be f1tted into the carton 18,28 by tilting the carton 18, 28 further in the direction 98. When the tip part94 is f1tted into the carton 18, 28, the carton 18, 28 is moved, towards theview as illustrated, to be released from the beam 86. The carton is thereby sealed.

In other words, operating on a carton having two side tabs and at least oneclosing tab, the sealing tool has a second body part having a beam 86separated from a table surface 81 by a slit 88, and a cushion 84 movablewithin a cavity 82 in a direction perpendicular to the table surface 81. The edge of the cushion 84 is moved in a plane in a vicinity of an edge of the beam lO 19 86, Whereby a closing tab 92 inserted into the slit 88 and protruding outsidethe edge of the beam 86 is bent by the motion of the cushion 84.

This procedure and tool can, as indicated, be used both at the entering sectionfor folding a first end of the carton, as Well as at the exit section to close thesecond end of the carton. The tool can be positioned in any direction. In Figure2, it is indicated that the tool is provided in a horizontal direction, While inFigure 4, the tool is provided in a vertical direction in order not to risk that the objects loaded into the carton Will fall out.

The embodiments described above are to be understood as a few illustrativeexamples of the present invention. It Will be understood by those skilled in theart that various modif1cations, combinations and changes may be made to theembodiments Without departing from the scope of the present invention. Inparticular, different part solutions in the different embodiments can becombined in other configurations, Where technically possible. The scope of the present invention is, however, defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A carton sealing tool (14), for sealing cartons having two side tabs (90)and at least one closing tab (92) and being moved along a predetermined pathrelative to said carton sealing tool, said carton sealing tool (14) comprising: - a first body part (70) having a first concavely V-shaped edge (72) anda surface (74) perpendicular to said concavely V-shaped edge (72); whereby said carton (18, 28), when being moved towards saidconcavely V-shaped edge (72) with said closing tab (92) in a direction (78) alongsaid surface (74) and with side tabs (90) interacting with said concavely V- shaped edge (72), is caused to fold said side tabs (90) inwards.

2. The carton sealing tool according to claim 1, characterized by furthercomprising: - a second body part (80) having a beam (86), being a continuation toa shank (71) of said V-shaped edge (72); wherein said shank (71) presents a curved surface (73) configured for allowing said carton (18, 28) to follow.

3. The carton sealing tool according to claim 2, characterized in thatsaid beam (86) is separated from a table surface (81) of said second body part(80) by a slit (88), and whereby said second body part further comprises acushion (84) movable within a cavity (82) in a direction perpendicular to saidtable surface (81); wherein an edge of said cushion (84) is moved in a plane in a vicinityof an edge of said beam (86); whereby a closing tab (92) inserted into said slit (88) and protruding outside said edge of said beam (86) is bent by said motion of said cushion (84).

4. A carton sealing arrangement comprising:- a manipulator system; and - a carton sealing tool according to any of the claims 1 to 3; 21 wherein said manipulator system is conf1gured for moving a carton (18, 28) along said predetermined path relative said carton sealing tool (14).

5. A method for sealing a carton (18, 28) having two side tabs (90) and atleast one closing tab (92), comprising the step of: - moving said carton (18, 28) along a predetermined path relative acarton sealing tool (14); wherein in said step of moving said carton (18, 28) along apredetermined path comprises moving said carton (18, 28) relative said cartonsealing tool (14) towards a concavely V-shaped edge (72) of said carton sealingtool (14) with said closing tab (92) in a direction (78) along a surface (74) ofsaid sealing tool (14) perpendicular to said concavely V-shaped edge (72) andwith side tabs (90) interacting with said concavely V-shaped edge (72).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that said movingof said carton (18, 28) relative said carton sealing tool (14) towards saidconcavely V-shaped edge is performed with a center of said carton (18, 28) aligned with a bottom (76) of said concavely V-shaped edge (72).

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that saidmoving said carton (18, 28) along said predetermined path further comprisesmoving said carton (18, 28) sidewards relative a shank (71) of said V-shapededge (72) of said carton sealing tool (14) and rotating said carton (18, 28)relative said carton sealing tool (14) to position an opening of said carton (18, 28) perpendicular to said shank (71).

8. The method according to any of the claims 5 to 7, characterized inthat said moving said carton (18, 28) along said predetermined path furthercomprises: - inserting a closing tab (92) into a slit (88) between a beam (86) and atable surface (81) of said carton sealing tool (14), protruding outside an edge of said beam (86); and simultaneously lO 22 - letting said opening of said carton (18, 28) follow a curved surface(73) of said shank (71); Whereby said closing tab becomes at least partially folded.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized by the further stepof: - moving a cushion (84) of said carton sealing tool (14) Within a cavity(82) of said table surface (81) in a direction perpendicular to said table surface(81) in a plane in a vicinity of said edge of said beam (86) ; Whereby a tip part (94) of said closing tab (92) being bent by saidmotion of said cushion (84) ; andWherein said moving said carton (18, 28) along said predetermined pathfurther comprises: - tilting said carton (18, 28) to fit said bent tip part (94) into said carton(18, 28).