US3811368A

US3811368A - Machine for forming containers, trays and the like out of corrugated cardboard or similar

Info

Publication number: US3811368A
Application number: US00249888A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Bragaglia; F Grossi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-05-05
Filing date: 1972-05-03
Publication date: 1974-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-21
Also published as: ES402206A1; FR2135653A1; FR2135653B1; CH550658A; GB1388141A; DE2220788A1

Abstract

A machine for forming trays and the like, which comprises a device for removing blank sheets of cardboard from a magazine, another device for inserting the sheets individually into a hopper for forming the sides, a further device for folding the sides inwardly, doubling the thickness of the cardboard, and a still further device to compress the folds inside the container folding tray.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Bragaglia et a1.

[111 3,811,368 [451 May 21, 1974 1 MACHINE FOR FORMING CONTAINERS,

TRAYS AND THE LIKE OUT OF CORRUGATEDCARDBOARD OR SIMILAR [76] Inventors: Giorgio Bragaglia, 33/2 Via Pelagio Palagi; Francesco Grossi, 75 Via S. Stefano, both of Bologna, ltaly 22 Filed: 'May3, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 249,888

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 5,1971 Italy 3421/71 52 us. Cl. .1. 93/55, 93/53 LF [51]. Int. Cl B3lb 17/00, B311) l/76 [58] Field of Search 93/51 R, 52, 53 R, 53 M, 93/53 LP, 53 AC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Levkoff 93/53 LF 3,443,487 5/1969 Knight 93/51 R 2,844,076 7/1958 Hoffmeister 93/51 R, 1,889,574 11/1932 Schmiedel 93/51 R 2,762,274 9/1956 Kerr 93/53 M 3,242,827 3/1966 Winters 93/53 M Primary Examiner-Andrew R. .luhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden 5 7] ABSTRACT A machine for forming trays and the like, which com- 7 A prises a'device for removing blank sheets of cardboard from a magazine, another device for inserting the sheets individually into a hopper for forming the sides, a further device for folding the sides inwardly, doubling the thickness of the cardboard, and a still further device to compress the folds inside the container folding tray.

10 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures MACHINE FOR FORMING CONTAINERS, TRAYS AND THE LIKE OUT OF CORRUGATED CARDBOARD OR SIMILAR This invention relates to a machine able to continuously and automatically form containers such as boxes, trays and the like, out of corrugated cardboard.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1a is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a plan view of a blank from which the finished tray is produced.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a drive portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged fragmentary view of the righthand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a longitudinal lateral folder;

FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 5 in another position;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the operating mechanism for several units;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the final folding stage;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a portion of FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 11-14 are elevational views of a transverse internal folder in different positions respectively.

The production of the containers is effected by the machine, commencing with a blank 2, as seen in FIG. 2, in such a way that after a sequence of operations has been carried out, the sides and ends are formed with double thickness folds. At no time does anything have to be done manually and the finished container is pro duced in a fully automatic fashion.

The object of the invention is to enable an automatic machine of the aforementioned type to be built and to be constituted by a combination of a plurality of operational units, suitably synchronized one with the other; each .unit being responsible for one particular stage in the production; this ensemble allowing the containers to be continuously and rhythmically produced.

The figures on the accompanying tables exemplify, in

schematic form, the various component parts, whilst FIG. I provides a general view of the machine, seen from one side, wherein the following can be seen: a Geneva wheel 3 for providing an intermittent motion, operated by acontinuously variable speed drive 4 (FIG. 3) with a handwheel 5 to regulate the speed; a double chain drive 6 with articulated and interchangeable container forming trays 7, the sizes of which vary according to the dimensions of the containers to be formed, made by the Geneva drive mechanism 3 to undergo displacements or constant steps P for each working cycle. On shaft 8 of the drive of the Geneva wheel which turns the machine, are mounted the cams 9 and the microswitches 10 belonging to all the electrovalves used to operate the pneumatic cylinders distributed throughout the machine, mention of which will be made in more detail later on in this text.

In order that the description of the operation of the E longitudinal internal folder F transverse lateral folder G transverse internal folder A finished tray 1 1 is shown in FIG. 2a. FIG. 3a shows the magazine 1 for the blanks with the guide walls 12 and a terminal member 13 provided with micrometer adjustment which makes it possible for one blank to be removed at a time. The cardboard blanks rest on the bottom of special lattice supports 14 (FIG. 4) andare disposed alternately with respect to the teeth 15 on the bars 16 mounted on the chains 17. When the chains 17 are moved by the chain drive 6 through a transmission system 18, the teeth 15, the protrusion of which is less than the thickness of the blank to be removed, hookon to a sheet of cardboard and pull it out from underneath the magazine 1 following the direction of the arrow and, with the aid of the thrust rollers 20 which are rapidly rotated by an autonomous motor 21, the sheet of cardboard is carried to the trip 19. Once the sheet of cardboard which is kept centred by normal lateral guides 22, reaches the trip 19, it contemporaneously energizes the microswitch 23, The chain drive is then at a standstill and a container forming tray 7 is centered on the axis of the hopper. The chain 17 is, at this stage, also at a standstill, its movement being derived from the chain drive 6 and is ready for the next blank to be picked up. I

The plate 24, operated by the pneumatic cylinder 25 tripped by the microswitch 23, is lowered and pushes the blank inside the hopper 26 until it reaches the bottom of the container forming tray 7. Whilethe blankis being pushed down'inside the hopper, the tray is folded along the score lines into a box shape and, due to its insertion in the container forming tray 7 and to the fixed walls 27, it remains in this condition.

Because the hopper 26 has a special open shape through which the tall flaps of the smaller side of the tray can pass, it is possible, unlike that which is the case with other similar types, to quickly change from one size to another.

In the subsequent stage, the tray is transferred along the axis of the D-E units (FIG. 4).

The longitudinal lateral foldef D is duplicated on the two sides (FIG. 5) and its operation is as follows: Through the fork 29 and the shaft 30, the cylinder 28 (FIG. 4) moves the folders 31 which, as can be seen from FIG. 5, are initially raised since the roller of the lever 32, to which they are connected, is pulled by the spring 33 so that it rests on the lower part of the fixed cam 34. As it moves, however, the roller of the lever 32 moves up on the profile of the cam 34, causing the folder 31 to be lowered. Although FIG. 5 shows the folders in their non operative position, on the opposite side the folders 31 are visible after they have performed their operation.

This operation, as is obvious, is carried out with a combined forward thrust and top to bottom rotation.

At this point, while the folders are at 31', the longitudiv nal internal folders E which are operated by the pneumatic cylinder 35 (FIG. 5) and slide along the guides 36, are lowered into the position shown in FIG. 6 and further fold the flaps 37 while the

folders

31 and 31 return to their non-operative position as shown in FIG. 5. In the way that will be clarified later on, the internal folders are made to expand by the pneumatic cylinder 38 and this permits the double folders 39 to undergo a travel x so that the tabs 40 (FIG. 2) are put inside their respective grooves 41. Once this operation which naturally takes place duringrthe period of immobility the Geneva wheel allows the chain drive 6 to have, has been completed, the folders 39 retract and the unit E rises ready to receive the following tray.

FIG. 7 shows the operating mechanism used for the E-G units. The pneumatic cylinder 42 connected with a spiral pipe 43, operates a rack 44, the far extremity of which has mounted on it either the double folder 39 (FIG. 8) of the unit E or the triple folder 45 (unit C). The movement of the rack '44 is split by means of the double spool 46 (FIGS. 7 8: 8), on to the rack 47, the lower extremity of which can have mounted on it either the part 39 or the part 45. With this system, the action of the cylinder 42 generates two expansion paths for the internal fold and these are identical and symmetrical. It should be noted that, as indicated in FIGS. 7 & 7a), the displacements y towards the outside or towards the inside, make the necessary variations in sizes possible.

FIG. 9 provides a planview of the final folding stage I in which the operations are as follows: the shafts 48 driven by the cylinders 49 through the racks 50 and the spools 51 (FIG. 10) have mounted on them the rotary folders 52 which, as can be seen from F IG. 11, are horizontal at the time they arrive at the tray. The unit G internal folders is also raised. In FIG. 12, the folders 52 have rotated through 90 and have commenced folding the inside of the flaps 53. At this juncture, the units F-E-G which are all together on one common frame (FIG. 11) which, operated by the pneumatic cylinder 54 (FIG. 12), slides along the guides 55-56 (FIG. 9), is lowered and this contributes in completing the folding of the flaps 53. During the transition from FIG. 12 to FIG. 13, the folders 52 have returned to their original position whilst the triple folders 45 have further plunged the flaps 53.

It can be noted from FIG. 14 that the unit G, repeating the previously described expansion action, inserts, by means of the triple folders 45, the tabs 57 (FIG. 2)

. in theirrespective slots 58.

The folders 45'are then withdrawn and the complete and carrying the 'units'F-G is raised to receive a fresh tray whilst the one just completed moves towards the exit'on the machine and on to a conveyor belt 59 (FIG. 1).

The invention as illustrated and described herein as an example is subject to modifications and variants, all of which fall within the scope of the under mentioned claims.

What we claim is:

1. Machine for forming boxes and thelike, comprising a magazine,

means for removing unfolded blank sheets of cardboard from said magazine one at a time,

a hopper means,

means for inserting said sheets individually into said hopper means, said former means cooperating with said hopper means for forming said sheets into a box shape with longitudinal and transverse vertical sides, said sides defining uppermost halves, container folding trays complementary in shape to that of said box shape and disposed in position aligned with said hopper means to receive one of said box shape sheets, respectively,

means spaced laterally of said hopper means for folding said uppermost halves inwardly and downwardly relative to said box doubling the thickness of said sides and compressing said halves of said sides inside said container-folding trays.

2. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1, wherein I said removing means comprises a continuous chain,

a Geneva drive means for driving said chain,

said magazine having a bottom opening,

said chain disposed in part tangential to said bottom opening,

teeth disposed on said chain spaced apart and projecting therefrom by a distance less than the thickness of each of said sheets, whereby, each individual sheet is removed one at a time from said magazine and,

roller means adjacent said chain for receiving each of said sheets from the latter and for feeding same, individually to said hopper means.

3. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 further comprising a chain carrying a plurality of said container folding trays,

means for intermittently driving said chains, said container folding trays and said hopper means having variable walls so that the size of said boxes can be modified.

4. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 wherein I said folding means includes means to fold the upper most halves of said longitudinal vertical sides and comprises a moving unit operated by a piston, moving from top to bottom.

5. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 wherein,

said folding means comprises,

a cylinder with a piston,

a double rack having an angular disposition and operatively connected to said piston folders disposed at ends of saiddouble rack and oriented so as to move from inside said box in a direction towards the outside thereof and effecting a final folding and compressing of said halves of said sides.

6. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1, wherein said folding means includes transverse folding means and comprises,

rotary folders,

a rack means for operating said rotary folders.

7. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 further comprising electrical control means for initiating said inserting means and said folding means upon actuation thereof.

8. The machine for'forming boxes, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said folding means comprises,

a first folder means adjacent an outside of said container forming trays and for folding said uppermost halves inwardly substantially in a parallel position to a bottom of said trays, and

a second folder means insertable into said trays and for further folding said uppermost halves from said parallel position downwardly vertically and against the other corresponding halves of said sides.

, 9. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in claim 8, wherein ond racks, and

first folder arms disposed on each of said racks at lower ends thereof.

10. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in 5 claim 9, wherein said first folder means comprises,

third pneumatic cylinder means connected to said frame laterally of said first folder arms,

a third rack connected longitudinally to said third pneumatic cylinder,

a second spool meshing with said third rack, and

a rotary folder arm mounted on said second spool.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 l,368 v Dated May 21 1974 Inventofls) Glorglo Bragaglla v "m It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [30] "3421/7l"'should read Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOMM-OC GOING-P69 u.sv GOVIRNMENT murmur, ornce: sash 93o ORM PO-OSO (10-69)-

Claims

1. Machine for forming boxes and the like, comprising a magazine, means for removing unfolded blank sheets of cardboard from said magazine one at a time, a hopper means, means for inserting said sheets individually into said hopper means, said former means cooperating with said hopper means for forming said sheets into a box shape with longitudinal and transverse vertical sides, said sides defining uppermost halves, container folding trays complementary in shape to that of said box shape and disposed in position aligned with said hopper means to receive one of said box shape sheets, respectively, means spaced laterally of said hopper means for folding said uppermost halves inwardly and downwardly relative to said box doubling the thickness of said sides and compressing said halves of said sides inside said container folding trays.

2. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1, wherein said removing means comprises a continuous chain, a Geneva drive means for driving said chain, said magazine having a bottom opening, said chain disposed in part tangential to said bottom opening, teeth disposed on said chain spaced apart and projecting therefrom by a distance less than the thickness of each of said sheets, whereby, each individual sheet is removed one at a time from said magazine and, roller means adjacent said chain for receiving each of said sheets from the latter and for feeding same individually to said hopper means.

3. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 further comprising a chain carrying a plurality of said container folding trays, means for intermittently driving said chains, said container folding trays and said hopper means having variable walls so that the size of said boxes can be modified.

4. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 wherein said folding means includes means to fold the uppermost halves of said longitudinal vertical sides and comprises a moving unit operated by a piston, moving from top to bottom.

5. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 wherein, said folding means comprises, a cylinder with a piston, a double rack having an angular disposition and operatively connected to said piston folders disposed at ends of said double rack and oriented so as to move from inside said box in a direction towards the outside thereof and effecting a final folding and compressing of said halves of said sides.

6. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1, wherein said folding means includes transverse folding means and comprises, rotary folders, a rack means for operating said rotary folders.

8. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said folding means comprises, a first folder means adjacent an outside of said container forming trays and for folding said uppermost halves inwardly substantially in a parallel position to a bottom of said trays, and a second folder means insertable into said trays and for further folding said uppermost halves from said parallel position downwardly vertically and against the other corresponding halves of said sides.

9. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second folder means comprises, a frame, a first pneumatic cylinder means connected to said frame for vertically lowering same toward said container folding trays, a second pneumatic cylinder means oriented substantially at 45 with respect to said first pneumatic cylinder means, a first rack connected at one end longitudinal to said second pneumatic cylinder means, a second rack disposed in said frame substantially perpendicular to said first rack, a double spool meshing with both said first and second racks, and first folder arms disposed on each of said racks at lower ends thereof.

10. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first folder means comprises, third pneumatic cylinder means connected to said frame laterally of said first folder arms, a third rack connected longitudinally to said third pneumatic cylinder, a second spool meshing with said third rack, and a rotary folder arm mounted on said second spool.