AU777291B2

AU777291B2 - Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes

Info

Publication number: AU777291B2
Application number: AU54060/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jose Boix Jaen
Original assignee: Los Pinos Finca Agricola SL
Current assignee: Boix Maquinaria SL
Priority date: 2000-06-29
Filing date: 2001-06-26
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-26
Also published as: NZ512421A; HK1042867A1; ES2179739A1; CN1211198C; AU5406001A; CN1331008A; HK1042867B; ES2179739B1

Description

I

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): LOS PINOS, FINCA AGRICOLA, S.L.

Invention Title: DEVICE FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING CARDBOARD BOXES The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 DEVICE FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING CARDBOARD BOXES OBJECT OF THE INVENTION As expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention refers to a device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes, a device that is based on a mold defined by four corner elements in correspondence with the hypothetical vertexes of a rectangle that will logically correspond to the contour of the box to be formed. The mold is complemented by a male part arranged in the top as a means for pushing the cardboard sheet from which the box in question is going to be obtained.

The device is characterized in that it includes means that permit longitudinal movement as well as transversal movement of the corner elements and that allow the mold to be adapted to the different box formats or sizes. It is also characterized in using means that permit the extendibility of the male part and in that it has means that permit the assembly thereof to be varied in order to likewise adapt to the different box formats and sizes without the need to change the male part or any component thereof, as long as the base of the box is maintained.

Therefore, the basic purpose of the invention is to provide a device that permits different sized cardboard *:il boxes to be formed and assembled, without the need to interchange elements and components and without having to carry out complex operations, since the structure of the device is simple and has an efficient reliability and high operating ettfficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The forming and assembling of cardboard boxes is currently carried out by means of machines or devices in which there are two basic elements, one defined by a mold where the sheet from which the box itself is obtained is located and another one defined by a male part assembled 35 with the ability to move upward and downward in order to o 3 push the sheet down onto the mold and to carry out the forming of the box in the mold by lifting perpendicularly the sides and front ends thereof, as well as by folding the flaps and laps thereof.

Obviously, there are numerous box sizes and hence industrialists of the sector have the need to have various molds and various male parts, or at the very best to have complex arnd highi cu6L iUiechiiu iIi u ueiL LU beU able to adapt each device or machine to the size of the box to be formed at each moment.

Hence, there are mechanisms tending to adjust the size of the molds, in other words, to vary their dimensions in order to be able to adapt them to the format or size of the box to be obtained, though the known mechanisms operate poorly. Furthermore, they are very complex and this all gives rise to a high cost and more importantly, to low operating efficiency.

As to the male parts used to carry out the pushing of the cardboard sheets inside the mold, there should logically be a male part for each box format, and though nowadays extendible male parts have been provided for in order to cover a specific range of formats, it is certain that the extending of the male parts is carried out by pneumatic expansion devices that have ball bearings, pneumatic cylinders, etc. and hence, they are not interchangeable. Obviously, the extendible male parts are only required in those cases in which the boxes to be formed are going to have the classic top bridges of the front ends, since in this case once the box has been formed, the amplitude of the top part is logically smaller than the amplitude of the bottom part, hence the male part cannot be dissociated from the box. Consequently, a male part is required for each type of box, or the male parts have to be extendible/foldable in 35 order to permit dissociation thereof from the boxes that 4 are formed with top bridges in the front ends.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes a device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes that, based on simple solutions, solves the problems mentioned in the preceding part, with optimum functional efficiency.

In this sense, the device of the invention, since it i- uulventional, is comprised of a mold formed by rour corner elements between which the cardboard sheet used to form the box and a male part movable upward and downward are placed. In its downward movement the cardboard sheet is pushed onto the mold and the forming and assembling of the box itself are achieved.

Likewise, and since it is conventional, the device of the invention is likewise based on the fact that the corner elements that comprise the mold can move longitudinally as well as transversally in order to adapt to the different formats or sizes of box to be formed. Furthermore, it is based on the fact that the male element is also extendible in order to likewise adapt to the different box sizes, above all when the boxes are formed with classic top bridges of the front ends.

As of these characteristics, one of the novel characteristics of the device of the invention consists in that the longitudinal movement of the corner elements is **carried out on the basis that said corner elements are assembled on some guides, with respect to which the corner elements can move apart and/or draw close to each other, and hence, a larger or smaller amplitude of the mold is achieved and this permits larger or smaller boxes to be formed.

~Another one of the improvements consists in the corner elements having some other plates that act as pressing elements on the laps or flaps that fold in the forma- 35 tion of the boxes in order to achieve a correct and opti- 5 mum assembling thereof. There are likewise support elements for the bottom part of the box and the box is kept in its position during the assembly process, the support elements being operable by means of a pneumatic cylinder or the like that withdraws when the assembly phase has ended, which enables and permits the assembled box to drop by gravity and hence the forming of the following Another improvement consists in a part of the corner elements being assembled, with respect to the support thereof, drawn close thereto or moved away therefrom, for the purpose of thus varying the width of the mold, that in combination with the variation of the longitudinal direction, permits a mold with larger or smaller dimensions to be achieved.

Another improvement consists in the cited corner elements having an elongated arm in an inclined arrangement, constituting a considerably thick rod that, converging in pairs, carries out the correct folding and attachment of the end laps corresponding to the front ends of the box, these arms collaborating in the collapsing towards the inside of the sides themselves of the box.

Another novel characteristic applicable in this case to the corresponding male pushing element, consists in that the extendibility of the male element itself is achieved on the basis of two tiltable flaps that are assembled between a pair of vertical side plates, fastened together by means of an intermediate bridge, and where the flaps, that may have a rectangular shape or else a U shape, may tilt between two stops defined by respective rods, a top one and another bottom one, for the purpose of thus limiting the extendibility and folding of the flaps, since the flaps are capable of being tiltable in the direction of extendibility when the male element 35 pushes the sheet from which the box is going to be ob- 6 tained, until the maximum amplitude of the sides of the bottom of the box is achieved, whereas when the box has been formed, these flaps due to their tiltable nature will allow, in the event that the box has top bridges in the front ends, the withdrawal or tilting in the opposite direction permitting the male element to come out of the box.

AAL ther nG-ve-l characteristic. Consi.As-Sts in tihe til table flaps being connected to some springs that tend to keep the flaps in a permanently raised position, which is the same as the position of maximum extension.

Another novel characteristic likewise provided for in the cited male element consists in the bridge that is assembled between the two side and vertical plates between which the above-mentioned flaps are likewise assembled in a tiltable manner, being capable of being assembled in a fixed manner or else with the possibility of varying the height thereof, so that in the latter case it may adapt to different strokes that the male element itself has to carry out in its operation.

Another novel characteristic consists in that the cited bridge, whether it is fixed or whether its position is adjustable, has an ample notch on its bottom surface that permits the height thereof to be varied by simply reversing the position of the cited bridge, all without the need to have means that can carry out the fastening in one point or another of the bridge between the corresponding side and vertical plates.

Another novel characteristic consists in the bridge of the male part having a hole through which the element or rod that fastens the bridge to the machine support passes, with the collaboration of a strip as a nexus between the bridge and the support of the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 35 In order to complement the description that is going 7 to be made hereinafter and for the purpose of providing a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present invention is accompanied by a series of drawings wherein the following has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner.

Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of the device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes made in W.L Lilt je O Ll e IIv J including the four corner elements as well as the male part located in a top plane.

Figure 2 shows a raised view of the device represented in the preceding figure.

Figure 3 is a side raised view of the device represented in the preceding figures.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of one of the corner elements with one part separated from the general support, so that it is possible to see the possibility of movement of that part of the corner element to a larger or smaller degree as well as the possibility to increase or decrease the transversal amplitude of the mold so that it may adapt, in combination with the corresponding longitudinal movement, to the different formats of boxes to be obtained.

Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the means that intervene in the anchoring or fastening of the male element to the corresponding support of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As it can be seen in the cited figures, the device of the invention comprises a mold formed by four corner elements that are assembled on side guides with respect to which the corner elements can move longitudinally. The device is complemented by a male element whose characteristics will be explained hereinafter.

Each one of the corner elements comprises two 35 parts and the latter comprising a support 8 for the assembling and sliding of each corner element (1) with respect to the corresponding side guide Now then, the mold that defines the four corner elements is prepared to receive an appropriately stamped cardboard sheet from which a box will be formed and assembled, each corner element having some flat parts comprising means that will press on the sides of the box to be forme. Thpre will also h= ome siep folrirs as well as some arms comprised by some other rods or cylindrical rods arranged obliquely and convergingly in pairs in order to define means for folding the flaps or laps corresponding to the front ends of the box and that are to connect to the sides of the box. Furthermore, these rods or pushing elements collaborate in lifting perpendicularly the sides themselves of the box to be formed.

The cited corner elements move by means of the operation of a spindle (not represented in the drawings) in combination with some slides that with the rotation of the respective spindle cause the movement of the cited corner elements (1) Aside from the pressing parts a vertical guide in which a support for the bottom of the box slides, is included on part of each corner element so that the box is supported by these supports (8) and so that the box can be totally formed, since the box has been previously formed by the male element itself In other words in the support position of the box on .oe.oi S"the supports the final forming operations, as well as the folding of certain flaps and/or laps, are carried out.

When the box is totally assembled, the box will come out of the mold when it is released by the supports for which purpose these supports should withdraw, an op- 35 eration that is carried out by the tilting of the verti- .i 9 cal guides where these supports are precisely assembled. This tilting will logically have to be outward by the action of a pneumatic cylinder for each guide, in such a way that as the guides tilt outward, around a top pivoting point (10) the supports will also move outward permitting the assembled box itself to drop by gravity.

The variatinn in mpnlituldP nf the mnld fnrmpr hv t.hp corner elements is achieved by combining the longitudinal movement of said elements on the guides and the transversal movement thereof, in such a way that this second movement is achieved as a result of part of each corner element being able to move away from or drawing close to part 1 1 that comprises the assembly support of the corner element itself all in such a way that moveable part has a strip (11) acting as an axis that is movably housed in an opening (13) established between a part (12) of the fixed part and a closing plate as clearly shown in figure 4, all in such a way that the housing of the strip (11) acting as an axis in the opening (13) can be carried out to a greater or lesser degree. Hence, part is further away from or closer to part which involves an increase or reduction of the transversal amplitude of the mold that the cited corner elements form. The strip (11) acting as an axis for movement of part in order to adjust the position thereof with respect to part has in its free end a stop (15) that limits the maximum •movement of the strip (11) acting as an axis with respect to the opening (13) in which it is introduced, so that the strip does not come out of the opening.

In turn, the male element is comprised of a pair of vertical plates between which there is a transversal bridge (17) that can be fixed between these plates (16) or the position thereof may be variable. In the 9 10 second case, the ends of this bridge (17) slide on vertical inside guides (18) established for this purpose in the vertical plates They can be fastened at any height by means of screws passing through holes (19) of the plates (16) and they are fastened in a hole provided for in the ends or sides of the bridge (17) for this purpose.

Nonetheless, the c it ed 1-dg -t1 7) Na In n es (0 along most of its length which permits the reversal of its position between the plates (16) and thus it permits the variation of the corresponding height of the male element assembly in its assembly on the support of the machine in which it is applied. In this case, without adjustment means like the ones defined above and simply by varying the position of the bridge two heights of the male element can be achieved.

Likewise and for the purpose of permitting easy disassembly of this male element it has been provided for that the bridge (17) has a hole (21) in which a pin or rod (28) with a top head that is housed in a hole (29) of a strip is housed. By means of the strip, said bridge (17) is fastened to the support of the machine The strip (30) has a transversal hole in which a bolt or pin (32) with a side recess and a head with suitable operating means is housed. Said bolt (32) is the one that blocks the head of the fastening rod when turning and making the part without the side recess coincide with said head (28') S"provided with a ring-shaped throttling.

The extendibility of the male element is achieved as a result of the fact that between the side plates there are respective flaps (22) that can be rectangular with a center recess, as shown in the figures, or else they may be U-shaped, in such a way that in any 35 case these flaps (22) are assembled by their ends or side 11 edges in a pivoting manner between the side plates (16), whereby the flaps can tilt upward and downward a stroke limited by respective rods (23) and (24) provided for at different heights and unaligned in the vertical plane, between the cited plates Said flaps (22) are required towards the position of maximum extension by means of some springs is obvious that the device permits the forming and assembling of cardboard boxes of different dimensions, by simply varying longitudinally the position of the corner elements as well as by varying transversally the position of parts of these same elements On the other hand, the pushing male element permits use of the device in different types of machines, by virtue of the characteristics of the bridge (17) thereof, as well as the applicability in the forming of boxes of different sizes. The device may even be used with boxes that include classic top bridges in the front ends, in such a way that the male element can come out once the box has been formed. For this reason, the flaps (22) that give more or less amplitude to the male element (3) have been provided for. The flaps spread as they rest on the bottom of the box when the male element drops in the formation of the box, whereas when the male element is removed, the flaps (22) withdraw by the action of springs permitting the box to come out even when the box has the cited bridges of the front ends.

Finally, it should be said that figure 1 shows some bars (26) that will be conveniently assembled with the ability to rotate, normally Y or a turn, and different means or devices used to fold the flaps or tongues of the box formed will be assembled on these rods. Likewise, said figure 1 shows an angular profile (27) comprised of 35 a guide for sliding the sheet of cardboard from which the goi 12 box itself is going to be formed up to the forming station.

For the purposes of this specification it is to be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.

o*

Claims

13- CLAIMS Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes, being of the type of those that are comprised of four corner elements arranged in correspondence with the hypothetical vertexes of a rectangular contour, de- fining a mold on which a stamped sheet of cardboard is placed, a sheet that is pushed downward by a male element in ordv- t-r them f 4 F 1, that are to form the sides and front ends, as well as the folding of the flaps and laps that are fastened to said sides and/or front ends, even the ones that are going to comprise the top bridges of the front ends in certain types of boxes, essentially characterized in that the corner elements are assembled movably on the corre- sponding longitudinal guides these elements also be- ing able to move transversally so that, in combination with the cited longitudinal movement, the variation of the amplitude of the corresponding mold and the possibil- ity to assemble boxes of different sizes are achieved; it being provided for that the male element for pushing the cardboard sheet for the forming of the box has some tiltable flaps (22) assembled between a pair of side ver- tical plates permitting the male element to come out of the formed box provided with top bridges of to" 0 25 the front ends. e:e2.- Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes according to claim i, characterized in that the corner elements are comprised in each case by two parts and this part being the one that is assembled slidingly on the longitudinal guides whereas part has means that permit same to draw close to and/or move away from part of each corner element in order to increase or decrease the width of the mold and to adapt to, in combination with the lon- 35 gitudinal movement of these corner elements the for- e el 14 mat of the box to be formed. Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the means to permit the adjustment of distance in the assembly of part with respect to part of each corner element are comprised of an axis-type strip (11) that, being integral to part is housed with the ability of movement in an openinq (13) estab- lished in part and fixable in any specific position by the length of the strip itself (11) acting as an axis in the inside of the opening the free end of the strip (11) acting as an axis having a stop (15) that pre- vents the strip from coming out of the opening (13) in order to prevent the releasing of part from part Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the moveable parts of the corner elements (1) have respective flat parts acting as pressing ele- ments of the sides of the box to be formed, as well as a vertical guide where a support to support the box during the final forming of the box slides upward and downward, the guide being operable by a pneumatic cylinder that carries out the tilting of the guide 25 in order to separate the supports and to permit the box to drop once it has been formed. 9. Device for forming and assembling cardboard rce.ding Clairid, characterized in .oeeo that the corner elements have corresponding arms formed as rods converging in pairs, defining means for folding the flaps of the front ends that are to superpose o o on the sides of the box to be formed. Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes according to claim i, characterized in that the 35 bridge (17) provided for between the two vertical plates 9° .9 9o 15 (16) of the male element is capable of being placed at different heights in order to adapt to the different length of movement of the male element itself with the particularity that said bridge (17) has a recess that permits by simple reversal of the position of the bridge (17) two different heights to be achieved. Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes accordinq to claims 1 and 6 charartPri7onrl in that the bridge (17) has a hole (21) for the passing of a rod (28) for fastening to the respective support (31) of the machine, with the interposition of a strip (30) having a hole (29) for placement of the head of the rod as well as a transversal hole (291) for an operat- ing bolt (32) by means of which the head (281) is blocked and hence the bridge (17) is fastened. Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes according to claims 1, 6 and 7, characterized in that the tiltable flaps (22) provided for between the side plates (16) of the male element are required to- wards a position of maximum extension by the correspond- ing springs it being provided for that the means limiting the tilting of said flaps (22) between the maxi- mum extendibility and the maximum foldability thereof are defined by transversal rods (23 and 24) provided for be- tween the side plates themselves (16). see 0 .00. 16 Device for forming and assembling cardboard boxes substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. uated this 26th day of June 2001 LOS PINOS FINCA AGRICOLA, S.L. By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK