HK1187028A - Process and machine for reducing the height of boxes with a square or rectanqular cross section - Google Patents

Description

Method and machine for reducing the height of boxes of square or rectangular section

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and a machine for reducing the height of boxes (boxes) made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or similar rigid and deformable sheets (sheets), wherein the boxes are square or rectangular in cross-section.

The technical field of the present invention is machines for packaging, cutting, making or closing packages (packaging articles), or for making and material-wedging of such packages.

The invention relates in particular to the reduction of the height of such boxes for the preparation for the distribution of single or multiple articles and more generally for the packaging and transport of different articles, wherein the number and unit volume and therefore the total volume vary from box to box.

Background

Boxes of this type are known to be formed by machine starting from one or more foldable rigid panels comprising different wings or folded portions assembled with adhesive or adhesive tape.

These boxes are known to consist of 5 walls after forming, i.e. a square or rectangular bottom and a waist (surround) consisting of four side walls. Known boxes of this type are the so-called "american half-boxes", "boat-shaped boxes" or "bell-jar boxes". The boxes are closed by a lid after filling. The known lid has four wings which are depressed and glued to the sides of the box. It is also known that different wings of the cover plate are shaped in advance by fitting or bonding; these flaps are inserted over the box and are integrated into the box by adhesion, snap-in or by metal or plastic connectors.

Boxes are also known which, like the boxes described above, consist of five walls and four upper wings after formation. Each of the upper flaps is connected to one side wall of the box by a folding line. A known box of this type is called "american box". These boxes are closed after filling by folding four upper wing portions, which are maintained in position by adhesion, snapping or by metal or plastic connectors.

A common feature of all the cases described above-and more generally the cases used for the most part for packaging different articles-is the provision of a constant volume after manufacture and closure.

Different keying articles are often employed by users or integrated on machines for forming or closing boxes, often differing from one another in overall volume, in order to secure different articles.

This solution has a number of disadvantages. In fact:

wedging the article tends to be costly;

unless made in the same material as the package itself, the respective chips must be disengaged from the cardboard package before they are collected and recycled; on the other hand, the materials used tend to be difficult to recycle; their collection and recycling operations are therefore complex and very costly;

implementation difficulties and the need to either use complex automated machines or consume a large number of man-hours; the cost of these operations is therefore high;

the volume delivered is equal to the volume of the box made, which tends to be much greater than the useful volume equal to the volume of the articles placed inside the box, so that the transport costs of the box rise.

Methods are also known which consist in lowering the height of the box so as to bring it closer to the height of the packaged product.

In particular, a method is known which comprises cutting and removing the upper part of the box above the article, so as to reduce the height of the box to a useful height.

This method has some disadvantages:

the cutting of the box is a delicate operation and uses dangerous cutting tools;

the automatic removal of the upper part cut from the box is a difficult operation and it also generates waste that needs to be collected and discharged;

the automation of the method thus needs to be carried out with complex machines.

A method is also known which comprises cutting the four vertical edges of the box from its upper part until reaching a height substantially corresponding to the level of the apex of the pile of articles to be packaged, then realising horizontal notches at each of the four side walls of the box at this same height, and finally folding the upper parts of these four vertical walls towards the inside of the box around these horizontal notches and at an angle substantially equal to 90 °. This method also allows the height of the box to be reduced to a useful height.

This method also has some drawbacks:

cutting of four vertical edges is a delicate operation, with dangerous cutting tools;

-said cutting produces a powder which contaminates the contents of the box;

said cutting reduces the overall strength of the box, in particular the vertical compression strength.

Finally, a method is known which comprises the following steps:

-forming a horizontal groove on each of the four vertical walls of the box, at a height corresponding to the level of the apex of the stack of packaged articles;

-forming an oblique groove at each corner of the box, one end of which is located at the level of the intersection between two horizontal grooves and the other end is located at the level of the upper edge of one side wall, so that said oblique groove forms an angle with the horizontal plane substantially equal to 45 °;

-subsequently, finally folding the upper portions of the four vertical walls towards the inside of the box around the horizontal grooves and at an angle substantially equal to 90 °, so as to fold the different wings separated by the oblique grooves one on the other.

The above-mentioned method and the machine for carrying out the method are described in particular in document WO-2006/053989.

The invention relates in particular to improvements to the method and machine described in this document.

This method offers the following advantages in this respect compared to the above-described method:

it also allows lowering the height of the tank to a useful height;

it does not use a cutting tool;

it does not reduce but rather increases the strength of the box, in particular its vertical compression strength.

On the contrary, it has the following disadvantages:

it does not allow to reduce the height of the box by a value greater than half the width of the box; in fact, beyond this value, the upper edges of the upper portion of the side walls interfere with each other at the moment of folding, failing to fold completely at an angle substantially equal to 90 °;

after the realization of the above-mentioned grooves, the folding of the different wings one over the other, generates stresses due to the strength of the material from which the box is made, and more particularly stresses which have a strong tendency to restore its original position when the angle of folding between the 2 wings is substantially equal to 180 ° and which, for example, are difficult to maintain in the folded position by adhesion, said stresses having a tendency to break the connection established by the adhesion;

when the box is packed very little and the distance between the horizontal groove and the bottom of the box is reduced, the upper parts of the side walls are difficult to fold around the horizontal groove, that is, the side walls have a tendency to pivot around the horizontal edge connecting the bottom of the box.

The problem posed is therefore to provide a device which requires the height of the box to be reduced by more than half the width of the box and which, without removing a part of the material of the box and without making any cuts, can reduce the height of the box substantially to the level of the articles previously packed in said box.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is thus to address the problems posed, proposing a solution by establishing a method and a machine that allow reducing the height of a box made of foldable rigid material and comprising a bottom and at least four side walls, folding the upper parts of the side walls of the box at the vertices of a pile of articles placed in said box, whereby the reduction in height can be greater than the half-width of the box.

The method for lowering the height of a box of the present invention comprises the steps of:

-realizing (forming) a horizontal groove on each side wall of the box at an elevation (height) at a distance from the bottom of the box;

-realizing two inclined grooves in the upper part of each of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box, such that each inclined groove has one end at the level of one of the two ends of a horizontal groove realized on said wall, while the other end of the inclined groove is at the level of the upper edge of said wall, such that said inclined grooves form an angle with the horizontal plane substantially equal to 45 °;

-folding the upper part of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box by an angle substantially equal to 90 ° around said horizontal groove towards the centre of the box, while folding the upper part of the two side walls parallel to the width of the box by an angle substantially equal to 90 ° around said horizontal groove towards the centre of the box, this pivoting of the upper part of the side walls of the box simultaneously driving the folding of the different wings comprised in the upper part of the side walls parallel to the length of the box and separated by said inclined grooves one on the other by an angle substantially equal to 180 ° around the inclined grooves.

The method is characterized in that the horizontal groove is realised at an elevation substantially equal to the vertex of the stack of articles, the distance between said vertex and the height of the box being greater than the half-width of said box; and in that, during the folding of the upper portions of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box towards the centre of the box simultaneously, and before the upper edges or borders of the upper portions meet, the upper portions are made to have different inclination angles from each other, so that when the upper portions meet, the upper border of one of the upper portions overlaps the upper border of the other upper portion, which upper portion slides over the other upper portion in the final stage of folding of the upper portions.

The box height is then reduced by a value that may be greater than the half width of the box without having to remove a portion of the material of the box and without having to make any cuts to the box.

In an advantageous mode of execution of the method of the invention, during the folding phase, the upper edge of the upper part of one of the side walls parallel to the length of the box is first deflected downwards by the deflector, while the upper edge of the upper part of the other side wall parallel to the length of the box is deflected upwards by said deflector, said deflector then being retracted under the thrust of at least one of said edges, so that these do not interfere with each other, whereas the central part of the upper part of the side walls parallel to the length of the box should partially coincide on a substantially horizontal plane at an angle substantially equal to 90 °.

Advantageously, each horizontal groove and each inclined groove are obtained by flattening the material used to make the box, under the action of a tool, for example with a square, rectangular or triangular section, against the bottom of a groove with a section substantially complementary to that of said groove.

In an advantageous embodiment, on each of the two side walls parallel to the width of the box, at a height substantially equal to the vertex of the pile, a horizontal double groove is realised, consisting of two horizontal grooves parallel and close to each other.

Advantageously, two inclined double grooves are realised on the upper part of each of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box, each consisting of two inclined grooves substantially parallel and close to each other, each of said inclined double grooves having one end at the level of one of the two ends of the horizontal groove or horizontal double groove realised on said wall and the other end at the level of the upper edge of said wall, and such that said inclined double grooves form an angle with the horizontal plane substantially equal to 45 °.

In an advantageous embodiment, the lower parts of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box are simultaneously kept in a vertical position when the upper parts of the two walls are folded towards the centre of the box, for example by means of vacuum cups.

As a result of these operations, the height of the box is reduced to a useful height corresponding to the height of the stack of articles previously placed in the box, the reduction in height then being greater than the half-width of said box.

The result is also that the volume of the box is reduced to a volume close to the useful volume corresponding to the volume of the articles previously placed in said box.

As a result, on the other hand, the wedging action of the article placed in the box can be easily enhanced by the flap placed in the upper part of the box, and by the presence of the folded different wings of the upper part of the side walls of said box, between the article and the flap.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the items placed inside the box are completely wedged and the volume of the box is reduced, which allows a reduction in the transport costs of the box, without having to add any wedging material, apart from the box itself, neither removing a part of the material from the box nor making any cuts to the box.

The invention also relates to a machine for reducing the height of a box consisting of a bottom and at least four side walls, which machine allows the upper part of the side walls of the box to be folded on the apex of a pile of articles previously placed in the box, the reduction in height being greater than the half-width of said box, if necessary.

The type of machine according to the invention is known, for example, from document WO-2006/053989, comprising:

-means for realising a horizontal groove on each lateral wall and at an elevation substantially equal to the vertex of the stack of articles;

-means for realising two inclined grooves in the upper part of each of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box, wherein each inclined groove has one end at the level of one of the two ends of a horizontal groove realised on said wall and the other end at the level of the upper edge of said wall, and such that said inclined grooves form an angle with the horizontal plane substantially equal to 45 °;

-means for folding the upper part of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box around said horizontal groove towards the centre of the box by an angle substantially equal to 90 °;

-means for folding simultaneously the upper portions of the two lateral walls parallel to the width of the box around said horizontal groove towards the centre of the box by an angle substantially equal to 90 ° and for folding simultaneously the different wings comprised in the upper portions of the lateral walls parallel to the length of the box and separated by said inclined grooves one above the other;

the machine is characterized in that it comprises means for realising horizontal grooves on each longitudinal and transversal side wall, at a height such that the distance between said grooves and the height of the box is at least equal to half the width of the box; and in that it comprises means for giving the upper parts, parallel to the length of the box, different inclination angles during their simultaneous folding towards the centre of the box and before their meeting at their upper edges or upper borders, so that when the upper parts meet, the upper edge or upper border of one of these upper parts passes over the upper edge or upper border of the other upper part, one upper part sliding over the other in the final stage of their folding.

In an advantageous embodiment, the machine comprises means for deflecting the upper edge of the upper part of one of the side walls parallel to the length of the box downwards, and means for simultaneously deflecting the upper edge of the upper part of the other side wall parallel to the length of the box upwards during folding of the upper part of the side wall parallel to the length of the box.

Advantageously, in order to realise the above-mentioned horizontal grooves and the above-mentioned inclined grooves, the machine comprises an assembly of a groove having a square, rectangular, semicircular or triangular section and a tool whose end has a section substantially complementary to that of the groove.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the machine comprises means for realising at least one horizontal double groove on each of the two side walls parallel to the width of the box, the horizontal double groove being constituted by two horizontal grooves parallel and close to each other.

Advantageously, the machine comprises means for realising at least two inclined double grooves on each of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box, each inclined double groove being composed of two inclined grooves substantially parallel and close to each other.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the machine comprises means for maintaining the lower portion of each of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box in a vertical position during the folding of the upper portion of each of said two side walls towards the centre of the box.

Drawings

The advantages offered by the present invention will be better understood by reading the following description of specific embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, given as an example and without any limitation. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an empty box that may be used to perform the method and machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away isometric view of the same type of case loaded with a number of articles of different shapes and sizes;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the box after a first phase of the machine cycle has been performed;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the box after other stages of the machine cycle have been performed;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the box after the machine has performed a full cycle of operation;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a portion of a machine according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a detail cross-sectional view of a swingable deflector of a schematic nature, which allows the upper part of the parallel side walls to deflect when it is folded towards the centre of the box;

figures 8 to 13 are transverse cross-sections of the box and of the machine part shown in figure 7, in which 6 successive steps of the operating cycle of the folding method of the upper part of the side wall parallel to the length of the box are shown;

fig. 14 to 16 are detailed sectional views of a part of a machine, in which different implementation possibilities of the method and the implementation of the machine according to the invention are shown;

FIGS. 17 to 19 are detailed cross-sectional views of wings of foldable material for making the box;

figure 20 is a detail view in section of a part of the machine according to the invention;

figures 21 to 23 are cross-sectional views of wings of foldable material for making the box;

FIG. 24 is an isometric view of the case after a first stage of the machine cycle has been performed;

FIG. 25 is an isometric view of the case after the full cycle of operation of the machine has been performed; and

figure 26 is a cross-sectional view of a box and a part of a machine according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a meaningful but in no way limiting embodiment of the implementation of the method and of the machine according to the invention.

As mentioned above, the present invention relates to the field of methods for packaging different articles, in which upper portions of the side walls of the box are notched and these upper portions are folded towards the centre of the box, and to a machine allowing these methods to be carried out.

Advantageously and more particularly, the object of the present invention is a device which allows to expand the application of the method and of the machine described in document WO-2006/053989, to which reference may be made if necessary for a better understanding of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a box 1 consisting of a bottom 1e and side walls 1a, 1b, 1c and 1 d.

According to the example shown, the bottom is rectangular, so that the box is a rectangular parallelepiped, whereas according to this embodiment the side walls 1a and 1c are parallel to the length of the box 1, while the side walls 1b and 1d are parallel to the width of the box.

It is emphasized that the bottom and the side walls may have different shapes, for example, square or substantially square or rectangular with cut corners.

As shown, the box 1 can be made of different materials that are foldable and have the rigidity typical of such articles, such as corrugated cardboard, solid cardboard or all other equivalent sheet materials that are foldable.

Fig. 2 shows a box 1 consisting of a bottom 1e and side walls 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, which contains a number of articles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of different shapes and sizes. The number and size of the articles may be arbitrary, as may their arrangement in the case. If necessary, the articles may be stacked one on top of the other. In order to make it possible and rational to handle the boxes with the machine according to the invention, the stacking height of the articles should be significantly less than the height of the boxes. If, for some boxes, the stacking height of the articles may be substantially equal to or even greater than the height of the boxes, these so-called "full" boxes cannot be introduced into the machine, or a special operating mode is set for the machine, for which the boxes can pass through the machine without the main phase of the machine operating cycle having to be achieved.

It is envisaged that the innovative result of the present invention allows for wedging of articles, one or more of which have a height such that the distance between the high point of the article and the height of the box 1 is greater than the half width of the box.

Fig. 3 shows the box 1 after the first phase of the machine cycle has been carried out.

It can be seen that horizontal grooves 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are formed on each of the side walls 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d on the drawing. Said horizontal grooves 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are substantially located on a horizontal plane horizontal to the apex of the stack of articles, that is to say, realized at the level of the upper surface of the article 2.

It is also possible to see the oblique grooves 8aa and 8ab formed in the upper part of the wall 1c and the oblique grooves 8ca and 8cb formed in the side wall 1 c. One end of the inclined groove 8aa is located at the height of one of the two ends of the horizontal groove 7a, and one end of the inclined groove 8ab is located at the height of the other end of the horizontal groove 7 a. On the other hand, one end of the inclined groove 8ca is located at the height of one of both ends of the horizontal groove 7c, and one end of the inclined groove 8cb is located at the height of the other end of the horizontal groove 7 c. Each of the above-mentioned oblique grooves 8aa, 8ab, 8ca and 8cb forms an angle substantially equal to 45 ° with the horizontal plane, that is, with the longitudinal groove 7a or 7 c.

Horizontal groove 7a and inclined grooves 8aa, 8ab delimit the three wings 1aa, 1ab and 1ac that make up the upper part of wall 1a, while horizontal groove 7c and inclined grooves 8ca, 8cb likewise delimit the three wings 1ca, 1cb and 1cc of the upper part of wall 1 c.

Also visible on fig. 3 are the upper edge or border 9a of the wall 1a and the upper edge or border 9c of the wall 1 c. It will be understood that the distance between the horizontal groove 7a and the upper edge 9a is equal to the distance between the horizontal groove 7c and the upper edge 9c, both distances being substantially greater than the half-width of the box, which in itself is equal to the distance between said side walls 1a and 1 c.

Figure 4 shows the box 1 at the end of the machine cycle.

As can be seen in the figures, the upper part of the side walls 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d is in the process of folding towards the centre of the box 1 by pivoting around the horizontal grooves 7a, 7b, 7c, 7 d: the upper part of wall 1a pivots about horizontal groove 7a, the upper part of wall 1b pivots about horizontal groove 7b, the upper part of wall 1c pivots about horizontal groove 7c, and the upper part of wall 1d pivots about horizontal groove 7d, which horizontal grooves constitute folding lines.

It will be appreciated that at the end of the folding movement, when the upper portion of the side wall is turned into a substantially horizontal plane, the angle through which the upper portion pivots about the horizontal groove is about 90 °.

It can also be seen from the figures that the different wings separated by the oblique grooves are likewise and simultaneously folded one onto the other by pivoting about said oblique grooves: wing 1aa is folded onto wing 1ac by pivoting about oblique groove 8aa, wing 1b is folded onto wing 1ac by pivoting about oblique groove 8ab, wing 1ca is folded onto wing 1cc by pivoting about oblique groove 8ca, and finally wing 1cb is folded onto wing 1cc by pivoting about oblique groove 8 cb. It will be appreciated that at the end of the movement, when the wings are all turned to a substantially horizontal plane, the pivoting angle between the wings is about 180 °.

The upper portion of sidewall 1a forms wing portions 1aa, 1ac and 1ab, and the upper portion of sidewall 1c constitutes wing portions 1cb, 1cc and 1ca, thereby constituting the longitudinally folded portions, respectively.

Fig. 5 shows the box 1 at the machine outlet after the upper part of the side walls 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d has been completely folded, said upper part being folded again on a substantially horizontal plane at the level of the horizontal grooves 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d or substantially at the level of the vertices of the stack of items previously placed in the box 1, wherein the height is such that the distance between said vertices and the height of the box 1 is greater than the half-width of said box. It will be understood that in order to obtain this result, during the folding of these walls, the upper portion of wall 1c comes above the upper portion of wall 1a, as can be seen in figure 5, the central wing 1cc of the upper portion of wall 1c is folded in a horizontal plane, overlapping the central wing 1ac of the folded upper portion of lateral wall 1a, and lying on a portion of its surface.

The horizontal grooves 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and the inclined grooves 8aa, 8ab, 8ca and 8cb can be realized by means of a machine described in document WO-2006/053889.

Only the station for folding the upper part of the side walls of the box, arranged after the station for forming the recesses, is shown in fig. 6, the invention relating only to the upper part folding station for ensuring the closing of the box.

The figure shows, inter alia, the mould 10 and the elevator 13 for effecting folding of the upper part of the side walls of the carton 1.

The station also comprises a deflecting device 11, in which the lower part comprises two pressure devices 12a, 12b, each having the concave profile of a cam, and which, in a first phase, when the lift 13 is raised, exert a force on the upper edges 9a and 9c of the side walls 1a and 1c of the box 1 positioned on the lift parallel to its length, the horizontal component of which tends to fold the upper parts of the side walls 1a and 1c towards the centre of the box 1.

It will be appreciated that the edges 9a and 9c have a tendency to approach each other under the action of the deflecting means 11.

It will also be appreciated that in this first stage the folding of the upper parts of the side walls 1a and 1c simultaneously forces the upper parts of the side walls 1b and 1d of the box parallel to the width of the box to fold towards the centre of the box 1 and join together at the level of the vertical edges of the box.

Also visible in this figure are two pressure means 12a and 12 b. Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the press 12b so that the deflector 11 can be clearly seen. The press 12b is the same shape as the press 12a, and both of the presses have substantially planar lower surfaces. In the second phase, during the lifting movement of the elevator 13, said pressers 12a and 12b apply to the upper part of the side walls 1b and 1d a vertical force causing them to fold, so as to fold to a horizontal plane substantially at the level of the apex of the stacked articles.

It will be appreciated that in this second stage, the folding of the upper parts of the side walls 1b and 1d simultaneously drives the upper parts of the side walls 1a and 1c to fold towards the centre of the box 1 in question, and they are joined together at the level of the vertical edges of the box 1, so that they also fold on a horizontal plane substantially at the level of the apex of the stacked articles.

The height of the upper part of the longitudinal side walls 1a, 1c of the box 1 is greater than the half-width of the box, so that the upper edges 9a, 9c of the walls 1a, 1c may interfere with each other during folding of the upper part of the walls. The method and machine according to the invention allow to eliminate this problem, allowing the upper parts to be completely folded without the upper edges 9a, 9c of the walls 1a, 1c interfering with each other during this folding phase.

The method according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the horizontal grooves 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are formed at a height substantially equal to the apex of the stack of articles so that the distance between said apex and the height of the box is greater than the half-width of the box, and in that during simultaneous folding of the upper parts of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box towards the centre of the box and before the upper edges or upper borders of said upper parts meet, the upper parts are given different angles of inclination from each other so that when these upper parts meet and the upper border of one upper part is to cover the upper border of the other upper part, said upper parts slide over each other in the final stage of folding of the latter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the inclination of at least one of these upper parts or both upper parts is changed during the simultaneous folding of the upper parts of the side walls 1a, 1c parallel to the length of the box.

According to an advantageous mode of execution, during the folding phase of the upper portion of the side walls 1a, 1c parallel to the length of the box 1, the upper edge 9a of the upper portion of one of said side walls parallel to the length of the box is first deflected downwards by the deflector 14, while the upper edge 9c of the upper portion of the other of the side walls parallel to the length of the box is deflected upwards by said deflector, which then retracts under the thrust of at least one of said edges, so that these do not interfere with each other, so that the central wings 1ac, 1cc of the upper portion of the side walls parallel to the length of the box should be folded by an angle substantially equal to 90 ° so that they coincide, at the end of the folding, in a substantially horizontal plane.

On the other hand, the machine according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises means allowing the realization of horizontal grooves 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d at a height substantially equal to the vertex of the pile, the distance between said vertex and the height of the box being greater than the half-width of said box, and also in that it comprises means 14 allowing the upper parts of the two side walls 1a, 1c parallel to the length of the box 1 to have different angles of inclination during their simultaneous folding towards the centre of the box and before their upper edges or borders 9a, 9c meet, so that the upper edge or border 9a or 9c of one upper part passes over the upper edge or border 9c or 9a of the other upper part when these upper parts meet, in the final stage of folding of the upper parts, the upper parts slide one over the other.

According to a preferred embodiment, the machine comprises means for deflecting downwards the upper edge 9a of the upper portion of one of the side walls 1a parallel to the length of the box, and means 14b for simultaneously deflecting upwards the upper edge 9c of the upper portion of the other one of the side walls 1c parallel to the length of the box during the folding of the upper portion of the side walls parallel to the length of the box.

According to another preferred embodiment, said means for deflecting the upper edges 9a, 9b of the upper part of the side walls 1a, 1b parallel to the length of the box downwards and upwards consist of a swingable deflector 14 placed on the trajectory of the upper borders or edges 9a, 9c of said upper part when said upper part is pivoted towards the centre of the box.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the deflector 11. As can be seen from the figure, the deflector comprises a deflector 14 which is rotatable about a rotation axis 15. The amplitude of the rotational movement of the deflector 14 is limited by stops 16 and 17. In fig. 7 it can be seen that said deflector has an L-shaped profile and comprises, in the lower part, a zone or flank 14c, which is triangular in section and comprises two active surfaces, a lower surface 14a and an upper surface 14 b.

Figures 8 to 13 are cross-sectional views of the box 1 and the deflecting device 11 in successive different folding stages of the upper part of the side walls 1a and 1c of said box 1 as the elevator 13 is raised.

In fig. 8 it can be seen that the edges 9a and 9c are first in contact with the lower surfaces 11a and 11b of the deflector 11.

It can then be seen in fig. 9 that the upper parts of the side walls 1a and 1c are folded towards the centre of the box 1 in a turning movement around the horizontal grooves 7a and 7c under the action of the horizontal component of the force applied by the biasing means 11 to the edges 9a and 9 b.

Fig. 10 shows edges 9a and 9c contacting the deflector 14, edge 9a contacting the lower surface 14a and edge 9c contacting the upper surface 14b of the deflector. It will be appreciated that the edge 9a then deflects downwards, as well as the upper part of the side wall 1a to lose contact with the deflection means 11, and the edge 9c deflects upwards, as well as the upper part of the side wall 1c to deflect upwards to maintain contact with said deflection means 11.

As can be seen in fig. 11, with the folding movement, the edge 9a then loses contact with the lower surface 14a of the deflector 14 and then with the lower surface of the folded upper portion of the side wall 1c, while the edge 9c exerts a force on the deflector 14 which tends to pivot it about its axis of rotation 15 until it is fully retracted.

Figure 12 shows that in the final phase of the folding movement, the edge 9c likewise loses contact with the deflector 14 and, as seen previously, the action of the presses 12a and 12b now causes the folding of the upper part of the side walls 1b and 1d, which, thanks to the action of the lower surface of the wall 1c on the edge 9a, causes the folding of the upper part of the side wall 1c, as well as the folding of the upper part of the wall 1 a.

Fig. 13 shows the box 1 after the upper parts of the side walls 1a and 1c have been completely folded. It will be appreciated that this complete folding can be achieved as described above due to the action of the presses 12a and 12 b. It can be seen that the folded upper portions of the side walls 1a and 1c lie in a substantially horizontal plane, the folded upper portion of the wall 1c overlapping the folded upper portion of the wall 1a over a part of its surface. It can also be seen that the deflector 14 returns to its initial position under the action of its own weight or, for example, under the action of a spring or other element not shown in figure 13.

It is emphasized that other means than a swingable deflector may be used to achieve different swing angles of the upper part of the side walls parallel to the length of the box. In fact, it is possible to make the support surfaces 11a, 11b of the deflector 11 different, either in their shape or in their height. It is likewise conceivable to use only one of these support surfaces for this purpose.

Figures 14 to 16 are sectional views illustrating different possibilities of forming recesses in a box 1 for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Figure 14 shows a groove 18 of square or rectangular cross-section and a tool 19 whose ends are likewise of square or rectangular cross-section. It will be understood that for the type of recess to be achieved on the box for carrying out the method of the invention, it is possible to place the area of material of the box where the recess is to be made between the groove 18 and the tool 19, which tool then approaches the groove and presses the area of material under pressure. It will be appreciated that the end of the tool 19 is complementary to the section of the groove 18, thereby allowing the tool to be inserted at least partially into the groove under pressure, thus collapsing the material, characterized by a section of material along a small width with a greatly reduced thickness.

Fig. 15 and 16 show two further possibilities for realizing said grooves.

In fig. 15, a groove 20 with a semicircular cross section and a tool 21 with an end section which is likewise semicircular in cross section are visible. In fig. 16, a groove 22 with a triangular cross section and a tool 23 with an end section which is likewise triangular in cross section can be seen. Thus, said tools 21 and 23 have an end with a section substantially complementary to the grooves 20 and 22, respectively, and can likewise be used in association with said grooves 20 and 22, respectively, to realize the recess according to the same operating mode as the groove 18 and the tool 19.

Figures 17 to 19 are material wings 24 of the various foldable materials used to make the luggage 1.

Figure 17 shows the wings in a vertical position. On this wing 24 can be seen a groove 25 of the type realised on a box for carrying out the method according to the invention. As shown, along a section perpendicular to the section plane, the function of the groove 25 is to greatly reduce the local thickness of the wing 24, with the understanding that the result is to facilitate the folding of said wing at this section. It can also be seen that the groove 25 delimits the boundary between the wing portion 24a and the wing portion 24b of the wing 24.

Fig. 18 shows the wing 24 after the wing portion 24a has been folded around the groove 25 by an angle substantially equal to 90 ° with respect to the wing portion 24b in order to reach a substantially horizontal plane. It will be appreciated that the elasticity of the material generates a stress in the region of said recess 25 which opposes the folding and tends to return the wing portion 24a to the initial position. It will also be appreciated that if the wing portion 24b is maintained in a fixed position, the end 24c of the wing portion 24a may not move horizontally without compressing or stretching the material of the wing portion 24.

Fig. 19 shows the wing 24 after the wing portion 24a has been folded by an angle substantially equal to 180 ° with respect to the wing portion 24b in order to arrive on a substantially vertical plane. It will be appreciated that the elasticity of the material generates a very large stress in the region of the groove 25, which counteracts the folding and tends to return the wing portion 24a to the initial position. It will also be appreciated that if the wing portion 24b is maintained in a fixed position, the end 24c of the wing portion 24a may not move vertically without compressing or stretching the material of the wing portion 24.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view showing the possibility of realising double grooves on a case 1 for carrying out the method according to the invention. Two channels 26a and 26b, square or rectangular in cross-section, are visible in fig. 20, it being understood that these channels are substantially parallel. Also visible is a tool 27 having two ends of square or rectangular cross-section, each facing one of the grooves 26a or 26 b. It will be understood that for a double flute of this type to be realized on a box for carrying out the method according to the invention, the zone of material of the box in which the double flute is to be realized can be placed between the flutes 26a and 26b and the tool 27, which is then brought close to the flutes, the material of said zone being flattened under the effect of the pressure. It will be appreciated that, since the cross-section of the two ends of the tool 27 is complementary to that of the respective grooves 26a and 26b, the tool can be inserted at least partially into the grooves under pressure and press the material so as to substantially reduce the thickness of the material along two sections that are substantially parallel and close to each other. It will also be understood that the double groove can also be realized by two grooves with a semicircular or triangular section and by a tool with a semicircular or triangular section at both ends, the shape of the section being not limitative.

Figures 21 to 23 are cross-sectional views of the wings 28 of material of the foldable material used to make the luggage 1.

Figure 21 shows the wings in a vertical position. On said wing 28 is visible a double groove 29 formed on the box for carrying out the method according to the invention. It can be seen that the double recess 29 has the effect of causing the wing 28 to be substantially reduced in local thickness along the two sections perpendicular to the section plane, and it can be understood that the result is to facilitate the folding of said wing at said sections. It can also be seen that double groove 29 delimits the boundaries between wing portions 28a, 28b and 28c of wing portion 28.

Fig. 22 shows the wing 28 after the wing portion 28a has been folded by an angle substantially equal to 90 ° with respect to the wing portion 28b so that the wing portion 28a has been lowered onto a substantially horizontal plane. It will be appreciated that, in view of the balance of the elastic forces, the wing portions 28c are also folded and form angles substantially equal to 45 ° with the wing portions 28a and 28b, respectively. It will also be appreciated that the double recess 29 reduces the stresses associated with the elasticity of the material opposing the fold and tending to return the wing portion 28a to its original position, compared to a single recess. It will also be appreciated that the double recess 29 increases the freedom of the wing portion 28a and that, for example, if the wing portion 28b is maintained in a fixed position, it is possible for the end 28d of the wing portion 28a to move horizontally without compressing or stretching the material of the wing portion 28, but with the angle formed by the wing portions 28a and 28b, respectively, and the wing portion 28c changing.

Fig. 23 shows the wing 28 after the wing portion 28a has been partially folded by an angle substantially equal to 180 ° with respect to the wing portion 28b in order to reach a substantially vertical plane. It will be appreciated that, in view of the balance of the elastic forces, the wing portion 28c is also folded and forms an angle substantially equal to 90 ° with the wing portions 28a and 28b, respectively. It will also be appreciated that the double recess 29 reduces the stresses associated with the elasticity of the material resisting folding and tending to return the wing portion 28a to its original position, compared to a single recess. It will also be appreciated that the double recess 29 increases the freedom of the wing portion 28a and that, for example, if the wing portion 28b is maintained in a fixed position, it is possible for the end 28d of the wing portion 28a to move vertically without compressing or stretching the material of the wing portion 28, but with the angle formed by the wing portions 28a and 28b, respectively, and the wing portion 28c changing.

Figure 24 is an isometric view of the box after the first phase of the operating cycle has been carried out on the machine according to an advantageous mode of execution of the method according to the invention.

In fig. 24 it can be seen that horizontal grooves 7a and 7c are formed in both side walls 1a and 1c parallel to the length of the case 1. Said horizontal grooves 7a and 7c are formed in a horizontal plane located substantially at the level of the apex of the stack of articles.

It can also be seen in fig. 24 that horizontal double grooves 30b and 30d are formed in both side walls 1b and 1d parallel to the width of the case 1. The horizontal double recesses 30b and 30d are also formed in a horizontal plane located substantially at the level of the apex of the stack of articles.

It can also be seen that the wall 1a is formed with inclined double grooves 31aa and 31ab, while the wall 1c is formed with inclined double grooves 31ca and 31 cb. It can be seen that the inclined double groove 31aa has one end located at the level of one of the two ends of the horizontal groove 7 a. It can be seen that the inclined double groove 31ab has one end located at the level of the other end of the horizontal groove 7 a. It will be appreciated that the inclined double groove 31ca has one end located at the level of one of the two ends of the horizontal groove 7 c. It can be seen that the inclined double groove 31cb has one end located at the height of the other end of the horizontal groove 7 c. It can also be seen that the inclined double grooves 31aa and 31ab, 31ca and 31cb each form an angle with the horizontal plane substantially equal to 45 °.

It can also be seen that horizontal groove 7a and inclined double grooves 31aa and 31ab establish three wings 1aa, 1ab and 1ac in the upper half of wall 1a, and horizontal groove 7c and inclined double grooves 31ca and 31cb likewise establish three wings 1ca, 1cb and 1cc on the upper part of wall 1 e.

Fig. 25 shows the box 1 after the machine according to an advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention has achieved a full operating cycle. It can be seen on fig. 25 that the upper parts of the different side walls 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d have been folded so as to lie on a substantially horizontal plane at the level of the horizontal grooves 7a and 7c, while the horizontal double grooves 30b and 30d are substantially at the level of the vertices of the pile of articles previously placed in said box 1. It can be seen in particular that the upper portions of the side walls 1b and 1d, parallel to the width of the box 1, form an angle substantially equal to 90 ° with the lower portions of the side walls 1b and 1d, respectively. It will be appreciated that the presence of the horizontal double grooves 30b and 30d allows to reduce the stresses associated with the elasticity of the material tending to return the upper portions of the walls 1b and 1d to the vertical position, compared to a single groove.

It will also be appreciated that the different wings 1aa, 1ab, 1ac, 1ca, 1cb and 1cc, separated by the slanted double grooves 31aa, 31ab, 31ca and 31cb, are folded one onto the other by pivoting around said slanted double grooves. It is particularly understood that wing 1aa is folded over wing 1ac about oblique double groove 31aa and thus forms an angle substantially equal to 180 ° with wing 1ac, wing 1ab is folded over wing 1ac by pivoting about oblique double groove 31ab and thus forms an angle substantially equal to 180 ° with wing 1ac, wing 1ca is folded over wing 1cc by pivoting about oblique double groove 31ca and thus forms an angle substantially equal to 180 ° with wing 1ca, and finally wing 1cb is folded over wing 1cc by pivoting about oblique double groove 31cb and thus forms an angle substantially equal to 180 ° with wing 1 cc. It will be appreciated that the presence of the slanted double grooves 31aa, 31ab, 31ca and 31cb allows to reduce the stresses linked to the elasticity of the material tending to restore the wing portions 1aa, 1ab, 1ac, 1ca, 1cb and 1cc to their vertical position, compared to a single slanted groove.

Fig. 26 is a sectional view of the box 1 and the biasing means 11 during folding of the upper parts of the side walls 1a and 1c around the horizontal grooves 7a and 7c, respectively. It will be appreciated that if the distance between the horizontal grooves 7a and 7c and the bottom 1e of the case 1 is reduced, the upper portions of the side walls 1a and 1c have a greater tendency to pivot about the horizontal edges connecting the walls 1a and 1c to the bottom 1e, respectively. On fig. 26, two systems are visible which are intended to maintain the lower portions of the side walls 1a and 1c in a vertical position. It can be seen that the first system is constituted by a vacuum cup 32a and a vacuum generator 33a, wherein it can be understood that it abuts against the lower part of the side wall 1a in order to maintain the vertical and force the pivoting of the upper part of the side wall 1a around the horizontal groove 7 a. It can also be seen that the second system is constituted by a vacuum cup 32c and a vacuum generator 33c, wherein it can be understood that it abuts against the lower part of the side wall 1c in order to maintain the vertical and force the pivoting of the upper part of the side wall 1c around the horizontal groove 7 c.

Claims (16)

1. Method for reducing the height of a luggage (1) formed of a foldable material, the luggage comprising a bottom (1e) and at least four side walls (1a, 1b, 1e and 1d), the height of the luggage being reduced until the apex level of a pile of articles (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) previously placed in said luggage, wherein the height is less than half the width of the luggage, the method comprising the steps of:

-forming a horizontal groove (7a, 7b, 7c and 7d) on each side wall (1a, 1b, 1e and 1d) of the box at an elevation at a distance from the bottom (1e) of the box;

-forming two inclined grooves (8aa, 8ab, 8ca and 8cb) in the upper part of each of two side walls (1a and 1c) parallel to the length of the box, wherein each inclined groove has one end at the level of one of the two ends of a horizontal groove (7a, 7c) formed in said wall and the other end at the level of the upper edge (9a, 9c) of said wall, so that said inclined grooves form an angle substantially equal to 45 ° with the horizontal plane;

-folding the upper part of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box around said horizontal groove towards the centre of the box by an angle substantially equal to 90 °, while folding the upper part of the two side walls parallel to the width of the box around said horizontal groove towards the centre of the box by an angle substantially equal to 90 °, while folding the different wings (1aa, 1ab, 1ac, 1ca, 1cb and 1cc) on the upper part of the side walls parallel to the length of the box, separated by said inclined grooves, around said inclined grooves by an angle substantially equal to 180 ° and one above the other;

the method is characterized in that the horizontal grooves (7a, 7b, 7c and 7d) are formed at an elevation substantially equal to the apex of the stack, the distance between said apex and the height of the box being greater than the half-width of the box; and in that, during the phase of simultaneous folding towards the centre of the box of the upper portions of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box, before the upper edges or upper borders of said upper portions meet, they are made with angles of inclination different from each other so that, when they meet, the upper border of one of them overlaps the upper border of the other, said upper portions sliding one over the other in the final phase of folding of these upper portions;

thereby reducing the height of the box by a value greater than the half-width of said box without removing part of the material of the box and without any cutting of the box.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that during simultaneous folding of the upper parts of the side walls (1a, 1c) parallel to the length of the box, the angle of inclination of at least one of these upper parts is changed or the angles of inclination of both upper parts are changed.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that during folding of the upper part of the side walls (1a, 1c) parallel to the length of the box (1), the upper edge (9a) of one of said side walls parallel to the length of the box is first deflected downwards by the deflector (14), while the upper edge (9c) of the upper part of the other of the side walls parallel to the length of the box is deflected upwards by said deflector, and then said deflector is retracted under the thrust of at least one of said edges, so that said edges do not interfere with each other, so that the central wings (1ac, 1cc) of the upper part of the side walls parallel to the length of the box are folded at an angle substantially equal to 90 ° and partially coincide on a substantially horizontal plane at the end of folding.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the horizontal grooves (7a, 7b, 7c and 7d) and the inclined grooves (8aa, 8ab, 8ca and 8cb) are obtained by flattening the material used to make the box to the bottom of a groove (18, 20, 22), for example having a square, rectangular, semicircular or triangular cross section, under the action of a tool (19, 21, 23) whose end has a cross section substantially complementary to that of said groove.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on each of the two side walls (1b, 1d) parallel to the width of the box, at an elevation substantially equal to the apex of the stack of articles, a horizontal double flute (30b, 30d) is formed consisting of two horizontal flutes substantially parallel and close to each other, wherein the distance between said apex and the height of the box is greater than the half-width of said box.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that two oblique double grooves (31aa, 31ab, 31ca, 31cb) are formed in each of the two side walls (1a, 1c) parallel to the length of the box, each of which is formed by two oblique grooves substantially parallel and close to each other, each of which has one end at the level of one of the ends of the horizontal groove (7a, 7c) or horizontal double groove (30b, 30d) formed in said wall and the other end at the level of the upper edge (9a, 9c) of the wall, so that said oblique double grooves form an angle with the horizontal plane substantially equal to 45 °.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper parts of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box are folded towards the centre of the box while the lower parts of the two side walls are maintained in a vertical position.

8. Machine for lowering the height of a box (1) comprising a bottom (1e) and at least four side walls (1a, 1b, 1c and 1d), by folding the upper parts of the side walls of the box to the vertices of a pile of articles (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) previously placed in the box, the height being lowered by an amount that may, if necessary, be greater than half the width of the box, the machine comprising:

-means (18, 19) for realising horizontal recesses (7a, 7b, 7c and 7d) on each lateral wall and at an elevation substantially equal to the vertex of the pile;

-means (18, 19) for realising two inclined grooves (8aa, 8ab, 8ca and 8cb) in the upper part of each of two side walls (1a, 1c) parallel to the length of the box, each inclined groove having one end at the level of one of the two ends of a horizontal groove formed in said wall and the other end at the level of the upper edge (9a, 9c) of said wall, so that it forms an angle substantially equal to 45 ° with the horizontal plane;

-means (11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) for folding the upper part of the two side walls (1a, 1c) parallel to the length of the box around said horizontal grooves (7a, 7c) towards the centre of the box by an angle substantially equal to 90 °;

-means (12a, 12b, 13) for simultaneously folding the upper portions of the two lateral walls parallel to the width of the box towards the centre of the box around said horizontal grooves (7b, 7d) by an angle substantially equal to 90 °, and for simultaneously folding the different wings (1aa, 1ab, 1ac, 1ca, 1cb and 1cc) contained in the upper portions of the lateral walls parallel to the length of the box and separated by said inclined grooves one above the other;

characterized in that it comprises means allowing said horizontal grooves (7a, 7b, 7c and 7d) to be realised at an elevation substantially equal to the vertex of said pile and such that the distance between said vertex and the height of the box is greater than the half-width of said box; and in that the machine comprises means (14) for causing the upper portions of the two side walls (1a, 1c) parallel to the length of the box (1) to have different inclination angles from each other during their folding simultaneously towards the centre of the box and before the upper edges or upper borders (9a, 9c) of said upper portions meet, so that when the upper portions meet, the upper edge or upper border (9a or 9c) of one upper portion passes over the upper edge or upper border (9c or 9a) of the other upper portion, one of said upper portions sliding over the other in the final stage of folding of these upper portions.

9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises means (14a) for deflecting downwards the upper edge (9a) of the upper part of one of the side walls (1a) parallel to the length of the box, and means (14b) for simultaneously deflecting upwards the upper edge (9c) of the upper part of the other one of the side walls (1c) parallel to the length of the box during folding of the upper part of the side walls parallel to the length of the box.

10. Machine according to claim 8, characterised in that the means for deflecting the upper edges (9a, 9b) of the upper part of the side walls (1a, 1b) parallel to the length of the box downwards and upwards are constituted by a swingable deflector (14) placed on the trajectory of the upper borders (9a, 9c) of said upper part when said upper part is pivoted towards the centre of the box.

11. Machine according to claim 10, characterised in that said deflector (14) comprises an L-shaped profile, the lower branch or flank (14c) of which is triangular in section and has two opposite active surfaces, an upper surface (14b) and a lower surface (14 a).

12. Machine according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that, in order to realize said horizontal grooves and said inclined grooves, the machine comprises an assembly of grooves (18, 20, 22), for example square, rectangular, semicircular or triangular in cross-section, and tools (19, 21, 23), the cross-section of the ends of which are substantially complementary to the cross-section of the grooves.

13. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that it comprises means (26a, 26b, 27) for realising at least one horizontal double groove (30b, 30d) on each of the two side walls (1b and 1d) parallel to the width of the box, the horizontal double groove being constituted by two horizontal grooves parallel and close to each other.

14. The machine according to any of the foregoing claims from 7 to 13, characterised in that it comprises means (26a, 26b, 27) for realising, on each of the two side walls (1a and 1c) parallel to the length of the box, at least two inclined double grooves (31aa, 31ab, 31ca, 31cb), each constituted by two inclined grooves substantially parallel and close to each other.

15. A machine according to any one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that it comprises means (32a, 32c, 33a, 33c) for maintaining the vertical position of the lower part of each of the two side walls (1a and 1c) parallel to the length of the box during folding of the upper part of each of said two side walls towards the centre of the box.

16. Machine according to claim 15, characterized in that the means for maintaining the vertical position of the lower part of each of the two side walls (1a and 1c) parallel to the length of the box during folding thereof towards the centre of the box comprise vacuum cups (32a, 32b) associated with one or more vacuum generators (33a, 33 c).