FR2467142A1 - MACHINE FOR COVERING BOXES WITH FLANKS OF SHEET MATERIAL - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine for covering prismatic boxes, with side walls parallel in pairs, with blanks of sheet material, for example cardboard. For the boxes S and for the blanks M respectively, one of two SM or KM magazines is provided, from which the boxes S and the blanks M are taken one by one, and provision is made for assembling and gluing the boxes S and the blanks. blanks M a workstation (stations I and II) operating in rhythm. (CF DRAWING IN BOPI)

Description

The invention relates to a machine for covering boxes

  prismatic, whose side walls are parallel in pairs, with blanks of sheet material, for example cardboard. - Until now, it took a lot of manual labor to cover or wrap boxes, including expanded polystyrene boxes, with such blanks, so these

boxes were very expensive.

  The object of the invention is to provide an at least partially automatic machine for carrying out these operations, in order to

  allow more economical manufacturing of such boxes.

  This object is achieved according to the invention in that the boxes and the blanks are respectively provided with one of two magazines from which the boxes and the blanks are taken one by one, and that , to assemble and stick the boxes and

  blanks, a workstation operating at a fixed rate.

  With the machine according to the invention, the covering of boxes - especially expanded polystyrene boxes, with prefabricated blanks of cardboard or sheet is largely or fully automated. All you have to do is feed the two stores in boxes and blanks; in the machine, a box is each assembled with a blank and the two parts are fixed together in the correct position by the workstation

  operating in rhythm, after application of an adhesive.

  The invention will be well understood on reading the description of

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a prefabricated expanded polystyrene box; Figure 2 shows a cardboard blank for covering the box of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial section through an angle of a box according to Figure 1 after covering with a cardboard blank according to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the machine according to the invention; Figure 5 is a section along line A-B-C-D of Figure 4;

2 2 46 7 1 4 2

  Figure 6 is a section along line E-F of Figure 4; and

  Figure 7 shows on a large scale a trans-

  The machine shown in detail in FIGS. 4 to 7 serves to cover expanded polystyrene boxes with

  cardboard blanks. Figure 1 shows a box

  manufactured S which has a rectangular bottom B, two longitudinal walls L1 and L2 standing perpendicular to the bottom B, and two transverse walls K1 and K2 perpendicular to the longitudinal walls and the bottom. FIG. 2 shows a cardboard blank M which is constituted by a central part, by two edge strips R 1 and R 2 intended to cover the longitudinal walls L 1 and L 2 and by two edge strips R 3 and R 4 intended for the transverse walls K 1 and K 2 of the box, which are delimited, with respect to the central part of the blank

  of cardboard M, by folding lines indicated in phantom.

  The edge strips R1 to R4, on their side, have narrow edge areas N1 to N4 which are intended to be applied on the free end faces of the side walls of the box S. To fold the edge areas Nl to N4, folding grooves P are prepared in the cardboard blank M. The edge strips R1 and R2 are extended on their two short sides by tongues X which will be subsequently folded inwards along the ends of the fold lines L, so that after folding,

  the cardboard blank is closed at the corners.

  The box S has a mark a (Figure 1) which indicates the posi-

  correct introduction into the machine. On the cardboard blank M is also provided a mark b for the introduction

correct blank in the machine.

  The cardboard can be coated on one or both sides with polyethylene or polypropylene. As a binding substance

  between the cardboard blank and the box, a thermal glue is

  plastic which is applied in the machine by projection in the form of ribbon or cord. The position of two of these ribbons

  is indicated in c and d in Figure 3.

  The machine shown in Figure 4 has a basic frame

  or base 1 with four guide columns 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.

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  To these guide columns are connected, by cooperation of shapes, two upper guide bars 3a and 3c and two

  lower guide bars 3b and 3d. These bars are available

  in pairs so that the guide bars 3a and 3b are placed one above the other and between the guide columns 2a and 2b, while the guide bars 3c and 3d are also placed therein. one above the other and between the guide columns 2c and 2d. On the two upper guide bars 3a and 3c is mounted a horizontal support beam 4a and on the two lower guide bars 3b and 3d a horizontal support beam 4b. These support beams can move by sliding parts 41a, 41b along the corresponding guide bars 3a, 3c and 3b, 3d. On the lower support beam 4b are fixed supports 44 and 45 of U cross-section, and on the upper support beam 4a are fixed supports 46 and 47 also of U-section. In the lower supports 44 and 45 are guided two cylinders push rods acting as lifting cylinders Z7 and Z9, and in the upper supports 46 and 47 are guided pressure cylinders Z4 and Z5. The pistons of the two lifting cylinders Z7 and Z9 carry lifting plates 44a and 45a. The pistons of the two pressure cylinders Z4 and Z5 are fixed with

pressure plates 46a and 47a.

  On the guide columns 2a to 2d are further fixed four horizontal crosspieces 5a to 5d. The two crosspieces 5a and c are placed one above the other and extend between the guide columns 2a and 2d. The other two crosspieces 5b and 5d are between the guide columns 2b and 2c and also one above the other. In addition, the two guide columns 2a and 2b are connected by horizontal beams 6a and 6b, which are arranged such that the beam 6a extends in a plane above the crosspieces 5a and 5b, while the beam 6b is in a plane between the pairs of

crosspieces 5a, 5b and 5c, 5d.

  The machine comprises a workstation consisting of two positions I and II (Figure 6). The lift cylinder Z7 and the pressure cylinder Z4 form part of the first station I which is shown in FIG. 7 as a partial view on a large scale. On the two crosspieces 5c and 5d are screwed two bearing rails 7, which are

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  constituted respectively by two individual rails 7a and 7b (Figure 7). On the outer side of each carrier rail 7 is

  fixed a support 29 for a projection head 30 (Figs 6 and 7).

  On the two upper rails 5a and 5b are fixed two clamping supports 8. The support rails 7 and the clamping supports 8 can be moved laterally depending on the size of the box S to be covered. On the clamping supports 8 are fixed clamping rods 9. One of these clamping rods can move about one to two millimeters against the force of a spring 48. On the clamping supports 8 are screwed to the top of the plates In addition, on the clamping supports 8 are placed bent joints 11, on which jaws 12 can pivot.

  under the action of adjustment cylinders Z8.

  The jaw 12 shown in Figure 7 is shown in solid lines in its working position, retracted. The lines in phantom in Figure 7 represent the jaws 12 in the waiting position. In this position of the jaws 12, a box S can be moved upwards in the direction of the arrow by the lifting plate 44a of the lifting cylinder Z7. On each side above each projection head is arranged a guide rail 13. These two guide rails

  are suspended, adjustable in height and laterally, to

  5a and 5b verses with bands 13a and 13b fasteners.

  In these guide rails are introduced cardboard blanks M so that, each time, a blank M is located above a box S supported by the carrier rails 7 and having its bottom B

turned up.

  When the blank M is introduced into the two guide rails 13, the two nozzles 30a and 30b of each of the projection heads 30 are open and project adhesive on the locations of the edge strips R1 and R2 indicated in c and d in FIG. 3, and the edge regions N1 and N2 are coated at the same time (see FIG. 2). When exiting the piston of the cylinder

  Z7, the lifting plate 44a thereof enters the box

  open down until it presses against the bottom of the

  box. While the lifting plate 44a continues its movement

  upward, the box is raised so that the outer side of the bottom of the box presses against the blank M which is

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  then driven by the box while the upward movement continues. The edge strips R1 and R2 are folded down as soon as the box S with the cardboard blank M enters between the clamping rods 9. During the upward movement of the box, the jaws 12 are tilted towards the outside. -

  so that they do not touch the cardboard blank.

  When the box is completely inserted between the clamping rods 9, the jaws 12 pivot inwards so that, by their end portions bent, they pass under the box. In doing so, the edge regions Nl and N2 protruding vertically downward are folded and applied to the

  front side of the corresponding side wall of the box.

  Then, the piston of the pressure cylinder Z4 exits, so that its pressure plate 46a protruding from all sides beyond the box presses its entire surface against the bottom of the box and presses the walls of the box against the jaws 12 by the front surfaces covered by the edge areas Nl and N2 of the blank M. Several boxes are thus successively glued with a blank, so that at station I several boxes are stacked one on the other and that the stack is mounted in cadence

  each time from the height of a box.

  A pusher 14 carries each time the box from above the station I to the station II (Figs 4 and 6). The pusher 14 is controlled by a jack Z2 and carries lateral bearings 15 which slide on horizontal carrier bars 15a. On the pusher 14 are blocked guide pieces 16 which can be adjusted according to the length of the boxes (Figure 4). In the bearings 15 is pressed a stirrup-ejection 17 which can be

  moved in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction (figs.

  4 and 5). From the station I, the top box is each pushed on the carrier rails 18 of the station 11 by the pusher 14. On each carrier rail 18 is screwed a lateral guide rod 19 which prevents the box from moving laterally. Same

  time a box is introduced, the box of the complete top-

  The coating is expelled from the station II by the ejector 17 and can then be transported further by an inclined plane 49 (FIG. 6). The semi-finished box pushed on the carrier rails 18 is pushed by the pusher to the stops 20 which are constituted by brackets and are fixed on fasteners (Figures 4 and 6). The carrier rails 18 are fixed on

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  the beam 6b and can be adjusted according to the size of the boxes. On the outer sides of the carrier rails 18 are placed supports for the projection heads 21. In the area above the carrier rails 18 are clamping supports 22 with clamping bars 23 and clamping plates 24. The clamping supports are fixed, adjustable, on the beam 6a. One of the clamping bars 23 can be moved laterally about 1 to 2 mm by the force of a spring. On the clamping supports 22 are mounted on bent joints lla adjustable jaws 25 which pivot under the action of cylinders Z10. This arrangement corresponds to the clamping supports 8, to the clamping bars 9 and to the

  clamping plates 10 of station I (Figure 7).

  In addition to the two stations I and II, the machine has a box magazine SM and a cardboard magazine KM for the cardboard blanks (Figure 4). The box magazine SM has a console 26 which is fixed on the crossbar 5d. The console 26 is further supported by a foot 26a on the ground (Figure 5). Another foot may be attached to the bottom plate of the base frame or to the base 1 (not shown). On a central strip 26b of the console 26 are screwed plates 27 with their edges 27a bent downwards so as to form between the plates 27 a gutter whose bottom is formed by the upper side of the strip 26b of the console. In this channel is guided the piston of a cylinder Zi which serves to actuate a pusher 50. The plates 27 serve as a support for the boxes and have slots 27b in which are guided L-shaped supports 28 which can be moved laterally. and be blocked by their feet 28a. The legs have longitudinal slots so that the supports 28 can also be moved perpendicularly to the slots 27b. From the SM store, the box at the bottom of the stack of boxes S is each time pushed onto the support rails of the station I by means of

pusher 50.

  The cardboard magazine KM has a console 31 with two guide bars 32 screwed on it and a threaded rod 33 and it is fixed and aligned on the base 1. A lifting plate 35 is fixed on a support 34 which, by its bearings outer, is threaded on the guide bars 32 and can be raised and lowered by means of the threaded rod 33. It is intended to lift the support

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  34 and the lifting plate 35 which is connected thereto a cylinder Zll, which rotates step by step a ratchet wheel fixed on the threaded rod 33. According to the number of teeth of the ratchet wheel and the pitch of the threaded rod 33 , the lifting plate 35, on which a stack of cardboard blanks M is raised, is raised by a fixed amount which is adjusted according to the thickness of a carton. In elongated holes of the lifting plate 35 vertical guide bars can be moved, of which three, 36a, 36b and 36c are shown in FIG. 4, which serve to align the cardboard blanks M.

  On a transverse support 37a which is based on the

  5a, is mounted a pivoting arm 37 in two parts (fig.4) on which is fixed a cylinder Z3. On the piston rod of the cylinder

  Z3 is mounted a suction head 38 with an actuator cylinder

  vertically aligned. The suction head 38 lifts the cardboard blank from the top of the stack each time. Then, the piston rod of the cylinder Z3 exits, so that the suction head arrives in the position shown in FIG. 4. The driven cardboard blank is moved forward between two plates

  side entryways 39 in the area of drive rollers.

  Two drive rollers 40 are mounted adjustable on a shaft

  42 driven by a geared motor 42a. Another roller of training

  Also actuated (not shown in the drawing) is disposed before the drive rollers 40 in the direction of insertion and in the middle with respect to them. Above this center drive roller is a pressure roller which is squeezed by a ram against the drive roller and against the cardboard blank therein. The tight carton blank between

  the two rollers can thus be conveyed to the rollers of

  40. To these two drive-action rollers

  born 40 are also associated with upper pressure rollers which are pushed by springs towards the drive rollers 40. The drive rollers carry the cardboard blank on the guide rails 13 to a stop

terminal.

  The machine can be electropneumatically controlled or

  electronic device, and in this case a total

  automatically as well as a semi-automatic control.

  Instead of pneumatic cylinders, it is also possible to use

hydraulic cylinders.

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  A work cycle will be described below.

  The pusher 50 of the cylinder Zi pushes at the station I of the machine the box at the bottom of the stack of boxes in the box magazine SM. When placing the boxes in the store, make sure that the bottom B of the boxes is facing upwards. Upon introduction, each box S rests by the end faces of its side walls on the two lower support rails 7 and is guided on both sides by the guide rods 7a. The KM cardboard magazine is located on the opposite side of the machine opposite the SM box magazine. Carton blanks M are placed in the cardboard magazine

  with their printed side up and they are stacked up

  than at a height of about 40 to 50 cm. The stack is held in the position set by the guide bars 36. When placing the stack, the swivel arm 37 is swung upwardly, so that the cardboard magazine is freely accessible. At the beginning of the work cycle, the pivoting arm is tilted into the working position (Figure 4) and the top carton blank is sucked by the suction head 38 which is then raised about 2 cm by means of the vertical jack associated with it. The jack Z3 is fed so that its piston rod displaces the suction head 38 with the cardboard blank which adheres to it between the two introduction plates 39. The cardboard blank is held at a height such that it arrives between the anterior drive roller and the associated pressure roller. Then, the depression is interrupted in the head 38 and the piston of the cylinder Z3 back. The pressure roller is then moved by a jack in the direction of the associated drive roller,

  so that the cardboard blank is squeezed between the two pebbles.

  Since the drive roller is actuated, the blank of

  cardboard is mechanically driven and brought to the training rollers.

  40. These drive rollers carry in connection with their pinch rollers the cardboard blank in the

  guide rails 13 which position the blank laterally (Figs.

  4 and 7). A spring stop prevents the cardboard blank from being pushed too far. The blank is then with its inner folding edges L exactly above the lateral edges of the box S introduced beforehand. In one of the introduction plates 39 is provided a fork which produces a dam

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  photoelectric vertical 43 that the cardboard blank passes when

  it enters the station I. The photoelectric barrier 43 then sends a signal to the adhesive projection heads 30

  mounted on each side of the support rails 7 (Figs 6 and 7).

  The nozzles 30a and 30b of these projection heads are opened as soon as the cardboard blank M enters its front edge into the station I. The nozzles project underneath cords of adhesive on the incoming carton blank, so that the strips R1 and R2 are coated in the form of ribbons along their entire length. The lifting plate 35 of the cardboard magazine with the stack of cartons is lifted at each cycle of the thickness

  of a cardboard blank, by means of the threaded rod 33.

  The supply of the jack Z7 (Figure 7) causes the lifting plate 44a to move upwards, which raises the box S

  which, in doing so, drives the cardboard blank M resting on it.

  During the introduction of the box between the clamping rods 9, the carton blank M resting on the box is folded down on the two longitudinal edges of the box and is pressed on the side faces thereof. The strips of adhesive applied can then establish a connection by bonding between the cardboard blank and the walls of the box; if necessary, heat can be used. Because one of the chucks 9 is laterally spring loaded, measurement inaccuracies of the boxes can be compensated. As soon as the box S is fully inserted against the chucks 9, the two jaws 12 are tilted from their position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7, so that they penetrate about 12 mm under the side walls of the box. In doing so, the jaws 12 fold 90 edge areas Nl and N2 of the carton blank, so that these edge areas are parallel to the front surfaces of the side walls of the box. The width of these edge areas is most of the time chosen according to the wall thickness of the box. As soon as the jaws 12 pass under the box, the pressure jack Z4 is energized; its pressure plate 46a

  go down and press on the bottom of the box introduced first.

  Next, the edge regions N1 and N2 of the cardboard blank resting on the jaws 12 are pressed onto the front surfaces of the side walls of the box and adhered to these front surfaces by means of the adhesive beads. After the first start of the

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  machine, it is always at the station I several boxes above one another, the number of which depends on the height of the boxes. The top box is each pushing the station I by the pusher 14 controlled by the cylinder Z2 on the carrier rails 18 of the station II. The box is then guided by the lateral guide rods 19 of the carrier rails 18 and pushed to the fixed stop 20 of the station II. At the same time, the completely covered top box is ejected from this station by means of the ejector 17. Upon introduction of the box to the station II, strings of adhesive are projected by means of the heads of projection 21 on the two edge strips still free R3 and R4 of the cardboard blank. Simultaneously with the introduction of the box at station II, the four tabs X of the carton blank (FIG. 2) are folded, so that

  the envelope is closed at the corners of the finished box.

  At station II, the edge strips R3 and R4 are connected to the associated side walls of the box in the same way as the edge strips R1 and R2 at station I. A particular advantage of the machine according to the invention

  is that the boxes are completely covered on the outer

  with the cardboard blanks - possibly printed - from

  so that all the outer edges of the box are also

  covered. The separate introduction of prefabricated boxes

  and covering material allows for automatic

  of the recovery of cans with a very high yield

of the machine.

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Claims (10)

  1.- machine for covering prismatic boxes, with parallel side walls in pairs, with blanks of sheet material, for example cardboard, characterized in that it provides for the boxes (S) and for the blanks (M ) respectively one of two stores (SM or KM), o are taken one by one the boxes (S) and the blanks (M), and it is expected to assemble and paste the boxes (S) and the blanks (M) a   workstation (positions I and II) operating in rhythm.   2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the workstation (positions I and II) comprises   push cylinders (Z7 and Z9) and parallel clamping rods   in pairs (9 and 23), between which each box (S) is introduced with its blank (M) by means of push cylinders (Z7 and Z9), the edge regions (R1; R2; R3; R4) of the blank (M) intended to be applied on the side walls of the box being folded and pressed against the side walls (L1; L2; K1; K2) of the box (S).   3. Machine according to claim 1 or claim   cation 2, characterized in that the workstation is con-   staggered by two co-operating stations (I and II) which are respectively provided for applying two edge strips   (R1 and P2, R3 and R4) on the side walls corresponding to   (L1 and L2, K1 and K2) of the box (S).   4. Machine according to claim 2 or claim   cation 3, characterized in that the pistons of the push cylinders (Z7 and Z9) can move vertically and carry each   a lifting plate (44a; 45a), which plates are parallel   at the bottom (B) of the boxes (S) at the workstation. vail (items I and II).   5.- Machine according to any one of the claims   2 to 4, characterized in that associated with each push cylinder (Z7 and Z9) is a pressure cylinder (Z4; Z5) working in the opposite direction, which is arranged on the opposite side to the push cylinder (Z7; Z9) the box (S) at the station, or a stack of boxes, and whose piston can come out against the bottom (B) of the box (S) facing him.   6. Machine according to any one of the claims   3 to 5, characterized in that a thrust cylinder is provided transverse (Z2) for conveying the boxes (S) of the first position (I) at the second position (II).   7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the transverse thrust cylinder (Z2) is coupled to an ejection device, in particular an ejector (17).   oriented towards the box above the second station (II).   8. Machine according to claim 6 or claim   7, characterized in that the push-thrust cylinder   Versale (Z2) has a direction of horizontal thrust.   9. Machine according to any one of the claims   from 1 to 8, characterized in that it provides for the   vail (positions I and II), for each of the edge strips (R1 to R4) of the blank (M) not yet folded beyond the bottom (B)   of the box, at least one projection head (21; 30) for to glue.   10. Machine according to any one of the claims   1 to 9, characterized in that it provides for the   (positions I and II), pivoting jaws (12)   in pairs, which, by pivoting, pass under the boxes (S) to be glued and, in so doing, fold back, against the free end surfaces of the box walls, the edge zones (N1 to N4) of the blank   (M) protruding beyond the box walls (L1 and L2, K1 and K2).