EP3263469A1 - Machine for extracting, shaping, filling and closing an american box - Google Patents

Machine for extracting, shaping, filling and closing an american box Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3263469A1
EP3263469A1 EP17173835.4A EP17173835A EP3263469A1 EP 3263469 A1 EP3263469 A1 EP 3263469A1 EP 17173835 A EP17173835 A EP 17173835A EP 3263469 A1 EP3263469 A1 EP 3263469A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
box
machine
flaps
folding
along
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP17173835.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3263469B1 (en
Inventor
Anthony FORGET
Frédéric Barreau
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unista
Original Assignee
Unista
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP3263469A1 publication Critical patent/EP3263469A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3263469B1 publication Critical patent/EP3263469B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
    • B65B5/024—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles for making containers from preformed blanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/126—Feeding carton blanks in flat or collapsed state
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B65B43/145—Feeding carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/265—Opening, erecting or setting-up boxes, cartons or carton blanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/30—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated
    • B65B43/305—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated specially adapted for boxes, cartons or carton blanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/44—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation from supply magazines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/60—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation rotatable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
    • B65B5/105—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by grippers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/16—Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/20—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of packaging, in particular casing.
  • the present invention relates to an automatic machine type "casing”, that is to say using boxes flaps called “American boxes”, and, more particularly, a machine for extracting and volume of the side walls of a box and fold the four flaps forming its bottom, to support the box thus formed during its filling and to close the bottom and the lid of said filled box.
  • An American box generally comprises a belt forming the four side walls of the box, at each end of which are reported four flaps arranged in line with each side wall, forming the bottom and the lid of said box.
  • the bottom and the lid may be closed by folding in pairs of small and large flaps, opposite two by two, one pair of flaps being provided to overlap the other pair.
  • Such packers generally comprise a storage magazine having a stack of blanks which is associated with a transfer arm for bringing a blank from the store to a first formatting station.
  • the first shaping station comprises guiding means capable of cooperating with the blank to cause folding of the flaps forming the bottom of the box, as well as means of fastening, especially sizing means, for securing the folded flaps forming the bottom.
  • the crate thus formed with its closed bottom is then transferred by a conveying device to a second filling station where products to be packaged are deposited in the box, then to a third position of constitution of the lid of the box by folding and securing the flaps that constitute it, before the evacuation of the closed box out of the machine.
  • the present invention aims to solve the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a machine adapted to form a box without securing the flaps constituting its bottom before filling, and to fill the box while maintaining its bottom. closed position but not yet secured.
  • the French patent application FR 2 493 805 A1 discloses a machine according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the bottom of the box is secured after the filling of the box, so that the volume of the box and its filling are made in a small space, with a bottom maintained in closed position but not secured, which allows to obtain a compact machine.
  • the displacement means comprise an upper plate movable in a horizontal plane, the lower plate being placed below the upper plate, the upper plate having at least one receiving cavity, the or each receiving cavity. being able to receive a box during the movement of the latter along the line of casing, the recess of the lower plate being opposite a receiving cavity during the constitution of the bottom of the box by the means of constitution of the bottom of the box, the first folding means being placed between the upper plate and the lower plate and extending along the line of casing so that the pair of large flaps constituting the bottom of the box is kept folded in closed position between the first folding means and the lower plate during movement of the box by the means of transport along the line of packing.
  • the or each box receiving cavity rectangular in shape, may comprise longitudinal rails for projecting above the cavity, along each of the long sides of the cavity. This facilitates guiding and alignment of the body in the receiving cavity.
  • the or each box receiving cavity comprises a transverse stop, extending along one of the short sides of the cavity and able to be moved by a jack between an advanced position and a position. back, the volume setting means being able to press the body against the stop once the small bottom flaps folded in the closed position.
  • the first folding means comprise a fixed guiding path in the form of a metal sheet, where appropriate whose width is smaller than the width of the receiving cavity of the upper plate, against which the means of volume are able to support the small flaps of the box, one after the other, to initiate their folding movement.
  • the packing line can follow a rectilinear trajectory.
  • the packing line extends along a circular path, the transport means being in the form of a carousel.
  • the transport means being in the form of a carousel.
  • the upper plate and the lower tray are thus in the form of a carousel and the upper plate is a turntable
  • the upper plate preferably comprises three receiving cavities disposed at 120 ° from one another.
  • the second folding means may comprise at least one jack type actuator positioned below the first folding means to fold the large flaps upwardly.
  • the volume-building means may comprise a robotic arm provided with a gripping head capable of grasping a blank disposed flat in the magazine and lifting the blank so as to make the side walls of the box in volume under the effect of gravity and handling of the blank by the gripping head.
  • the blank magazine is preferably a rotating carousel, which allows the magazine to be loaded in masked time.
  • the filling means may comprise a conveyor for supplying the contents to be collected and a robot for gripping and transferring.
  • the machine 1 combines in a single machine the steps of forming, packing and closing a body. Such a machine 1 or packing cell is thus intended to be placed upstream of a palletizer (not shown).
  • the machine 1 makes it possible to set the volume of the side walls of a flap box 2 from a blank 3 by means of setting up volume 4 of a blank 3 of a box in a box 2 ( Figure 2 ), folding the flaps forming the bottom of the box 2 through means 5 of constitution of the bottom of the box ( Figures 3 to 5 ), to transfer the body 2 thus formed to a filling station via means 6 of transport ( Figures 9A and 9B ), to fill the box 2 by means of filling means 7 ( Figures 5 and 6 ), then transfer the filled box 2 to the closing and evacuation station 8 ( Figure 8 ).
  • the boxes 2 are formed from blanks 3 folded and stored flat in a magazine 9.
  • the blanks 3 are folded so that the side walls of the belt of the body 2 are plated two two to one against the other, and the flaps arranged in the extension of the side walls are also pressed two by two against each other.
  • the machine 1 comprises a frame (not shown for the sake of clarity of the drawings) on which are fixed amounts (not shown) carrying the magazine 9.
  • the magazine 9 comprises a rotating carousel, about a vertical axis, having a rotating platform 9a for receiving the blanks 3 box folded flat.
  • the rotating platform 9a is separated into two compartments by at least one substantially vertical wall 9b extending from one end to the other of the platform 9a.
  • Each compartment comprises an inclined bottom 9c having an upper end and a lower end.
  • An inclined abutment wall 9d is provided at the lower end of the inclined bottom 9c.
  • one of the compartments of the magazine 9 is located outside the machine 1 and therefore accessible to an operator, while the other compartment is located on the inside of the machine 1, in the vicinity of the extraction means 4 and 2.
  • the operator loads the accessible compartment in blanks 3 box, positioning the blanks 3 stacked one above the other and abut against the wall forming abutment 9d.
  • the carousel of the magazine 9 is rotated 180 degrees in order to bring the loaded compartment 3 in the cash register inside the machine 1, in the vicinity of the volume setting means 4.
  • the operator loads the other compartment in 3 cash flanks. Therefore, the rotating carousel can load the magazine 9 in masked time, while the machine 1 is in operation.
  • Each blank 3 is extracted from the magazine 9 by the volume-setting means 4 which conventionally comprise at least one gripping head 41 in two articulated parts, on which several suction cups 42 are distributed, and fixed at the end of the blank.
  • a manipulator robot arm 43 The suction cups 42 are connected by flexible conduits 44 to a vacuum generator located on the frame of the machine 1 or on the robot.
  • the suction cups 42 of a first part of the head 41 are intended to catch the short side of the box 2 while the suction cups 42 of the other part of the head 41 are intended to catch the long side of the box 2.
  • the arm 43 is movable in at least three degrees of freedom.
  • the robotic arm 43 is controlled so as to grip a blank 3 stored in the magazine 9, by pressing the suction cups 42 of a part of the head 41 on the exposed face of the blank 3, which will form one of the long sides of the belt of the body 2.
  • the arm 43 is then controlled to lift the blank 3 to extract it from the magazine 9 and bring it above the next station, namely the 2.
  • the other part of the head 41 When the blank 3 is lifted by the robotic arm 43, the other part of the head 41 is folded so that the suction cups 42 it carries catch the short side of the belt of the box 2, then the two parts of the head 41 are pivoted to extend at 90 ° from each other, the side walls forming the belt of the box 2 then folding at 90 degrees, the flaps intended to form the bottom of the body 2 thus unfolding under the effect of gravity and manipulation by the t te 41, so that the volume of the box 2 is formed.
  • the box 2 is brought to cooperate with the means 5 of constitution of the bottom of the box, namely means 51 for folding small flaps ( Figure 3 ) and means 52 for folding the large flaps ( Figure 4 ).
  • the body 2 volume is moved by the robotic arm 43 being gripped by two adjacent side walls of the belt of the box 2, so that one of the small flaps intended to form the bottom, including the small flap located forward in the direction of movement, bears against a guide path 50 disposed along the packing line of the machine 1, while being inclined relative to the guide path 50.
  • This movement initiates the folding of this small flap towards the inside of the body 2.
  • the arm 43 is then manipulated to initiate the movement folding the other small flap, namely the back flap, intended to form the bottom, again by pressing against the guide path 50.
  • the small flaps forming part of the bottom of the box 2 are supported on the guide path 50 and prevented by the latter from pivoting downwards under their own weight.
  • the guide path 50 thus constitutes the folding means 51 of the small flaps.
  • the guide path 50 is in the form of a flat sheet having a first portion 50a in a circular path, from one end of which extends a second portion 50b which follows a rectilinear path ( Figure 9B ).
  • This guide path 50 is interposed and fixedly mounted between two plates 61, 62, including a movable upper plate 61 and a fixed lower plate 62, as shown in FIGS. Figures 9A and 9B .
  • the fixed lower plate 62 is a plate supported by the frame of the machine 1.
  • the guide path 50 is supported by the lower plate 62 and disposed above it with a small spacing therebetween, which spacing corresponds substantially to the thickness of a large flap forming the bottom of the body 2.
  • the upper plate 61 is under the shape of a circular sheet.
  • the sheet comprises, in its center, a through hole 61a for the passage of a vertical shaft around which the upper plate 61 may be rotated by a motor, well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the upper plate 61 also comprises three receiving cavities 61b distributed along the plate 61. Each cavity 61b opens on one end of the plate, so that the cavity 61b comprises two lateral edges 61b1 and a transverse edge 61bt. The length of each receiving cavity 61b is greater than the length of a box 2 and the width of the cavity 61b is substantially equal to the width of a box 2.
  • a longitudinal rail 63 extends over the entire length of each of the lateral edges 61b1 of the receiving cavities 61b.
  • Each longitudinal rail 63 has a substantially V-shaped section, having a first leg fixed against the upper face of the upper plate 61, and a second leg, formed of a square with the first leg, projecting above the upper plate 61 , in the extension of the edge of the cavity 61b.
  • a transverse stop 64 extends along the transverse edge 61bt of each receiving cavity 61b.
  • the stop 64 is in the form of a plate controlled by a jack 65.
  • the jack 65 makes it possible to move the stop 64 between an advanced position, in which the stop extends inside the receiving cavity 61b, and a retracted position, in which the stop 64 comes to bear against the transverse edge 61bt along which it extends.
  • this stop 64 makes it possible to facilitate the folding of the small bottom flaps of the box 2 (advanced position) and also to wedge the box 2 received in the receiving cavity 61b in order to allow its transfer without risk of damaging the box 2 ( retracted position).
  • the upper plates 61 and lower 62 and the guide path 50 are arranged one above the other so that the portion along a circular path of the guide path 50 extends under two successive receiving cavities 61b and that the part following a straight path of the guide path 50 extends under the remaining receiving cavity 61b.
  • the lower plate 62 comprises, in the area in the vicinity of the magazine 9 and volume-setting means 4, a recess 62a whose dimensions are substantially equal to the dimensions of a box 2.
  • This recess 62a allows the passage of large flaps constituting the bottom of the box 2, between the edges of the recess 62a and the edges of the guide path 50.
  • the position of the upper plate 61 is rotated to place facing the recess 62a a receiving cavity 61b, through which will extend a portion of the guide path 50 against the upper surface of which the small flaps can be folded.
  • actuators such as cylinders 52a, which form the second folding means 52, each actuate a respective pivot arm assembly 52b whose upper end 52c rotates the two large bottom flaps to bend them upwards.
  • the Large bottom flaps are each caused to bend inwards from below, so as to be interposed between the guide path 50 and the upper ends 52c of the arm assemblies 52b.
  • the upper plate 61 can be rotated, in which case the small flaps are held in the closed position by the guide path 50 on which they press, and the large flaps become kept closed by the guide path 50 and the lower tray 62 between which they are received and sandwiched, as can be seen on the Figure 5 .
  • the lower plate 62 'and the upper plate can each be in the form of a rectangular plate, the guide path 50' next then a rectilinear trajectory, as represented on the Figures 10 and 11 .
  • the means for forming, filling, closing and evacuation of the body 2 are the same as in the first embodiment described.
  • the upper plate is movable in translation and only the shape of the means for transporting and holding the flaps constituting the bottom in the closed position differs.
  • the movable upper tray could also be replaced by any system for moving the box along the line of casing, such as a cylinder placed behind the body and pushing it on the guide path 50 '.
  • the movable top plate 61 is rotated to move the receiving cavity 61b into which is received the box 2 to the filling station.
  • the receiving cavity 61b is then in the vicinity of the filling means 7 for the casing.
  • the filling means 7 may comprise a conveyor 71 for supplying the contents to be collected and a robot 72 for gripping and transferring, possibly upstream with means for locating the contents on the conveyor 71.
  • the supply conveyor 71 is presents, for example, in the form of a treadmill on which the content to be cased is loaded and moved.
  • a conventional gripping robot 72 then takes, for example by means of suction cups, the contents to be collected and deposited at the bottom of the box 2, through the open lid of the box 2. It is therefore a case vertical vertical.
  • the movable upper plate 61 is again rotated to the closing station and evacuation.
  • this station comprises, at the end of the rectilinear portion of the guide path 50, closure means 8 (shown schematically) adapted to secure the flaps forming the bottom of the body 2, in particular by applying an adhesive tape.
  • closure means 8 allow, in a conventional manner, to close the flaps forming the lid of the box and to secure them.
  • the body 2 is displaced in translation from the position represented on the Figure 6 to the closing means 8 by any appropriate means, such as for example by a cylinder pushing the body 2 along the straight portion of the guide path 50. Once closed, the box 2 can be removed from the machine 1, in particular to a palletizer.
  • the machine 1 of simple and reliable structure, thus makes it possible to form the body 2 and to fill it in a small space, the forming and filling stations being next to one another along the carousel formed by the upper trays 61 and lower 62 and the guide path 50.
  • the upper trays 61 and lower 62 and the guide path 50 allow the body 2 to be moved along the packing line while maintaining the flaps forming the bottom of the box 2 folded in the closed position.
  • such an arrangement makes it possible to move the box 2 with its bottom maintained folded in the closed position regardless of the content to be packaged, including both incompressible objects that compressible objects and fragile.
  • transport means 6 in the form of a rotary carousel with three receiving cavities arranged at 120 ° from one another, makes it possible to maintain a high rate: when the bottom flaps of a first box 2 were folded to the bottom formation station (in the vicinity of volume setting means 4) and that the carousel was rotated 120 ° to bring the first box 2 to the filling station, a receiving cavity 61b is located opposite the recess 62a of the lower plate 62 and a second box 2 can be put in volume and folded its bottom flaps at the bottom formation station.
  • the carousel is rotated 120 ° and the first box is then at the closing station, from which it can to be closed and evacuate, while simultaneously the second crate is at the filling station to be filled and a third crate has its bottom flaps folded in the closed position at the bottom formation station.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une machine (1) pour l'encaissage dans des caisses (2) de type caisse américaine, la machine (1) comportant des moyens de mise en volume (4) d'un flan (3), des moyens (5) de constitution du fond de la caisse (2), des moyens de remplissage (7), des moyens de fermeture (8) de la caisse (2) et des moyens de transport (6) permettant de déplacer la caisse (2) le long de la ligne d'encaissage formée entre les moyens de constitution de fond (5) et les moyens de fermeture (8). La machine (1) est caractérisée par le fait que les moyens de remplissage (7) sont placés en aval des moyens de constitution de fond (5) et en amont des moyens de fermeture (8), et que les moyens de transport (6) sont aptes à déplacer la caisse (2) le long de la ligne d'encaissage tout en maintenant le fond en position fermée.The invention relates to a machine (1) for packing in crates (2) of the American box type, the machine (1) comprising means for setting the volume (4) of a blank (3), means ( 5) constituting the bottom of the box (2), filling means (7), closing means (8) of the box (2) and transport means (6) for moving the box (2) along the casing line formed between the bottom forming means (5) and the closing means (8). The machine (1) is characterized in that the filling means (7) are placed downstream of the bottom forming means (5) and upstream of the closing means (8), and that the transport means (6) ) are able to move the box (2) along the line of packing while keeping the bottom in the closed position.

Description

La présente invention se rapport au domaine du conditionnement, en particulier de l'encaissage.The present invention relates to the field of packaging, in particular casing.

La présente invention concerne une machine automatique de type « encaisseuse », c'est-à-dire utilisant des caisses à rabats dites « caisses américaines », et, plus particulièrement, une machine permettant d'extraire et de mettre en volume les parois latérales d'une caisse et de plier les quatre rabats formant son fond, de supporter la caisse ainsi formée lors de son remplissage et de fermer le fond et le couvercle de ladite caisse remplie.The present invention relates to an automatic machine type "casing", that is to say using boxes flaps called "American boxes", and, more particularly, a machine for extracting and volume of the side walls of a box and fold the four flaps forming its bottom, to support the box thus formed during its filling and to close the bottom and the lid of said filled box.

Une caisse américaine comprend généralement une ceinture formant les quatre parois latérales de la caisse, à chaque extrémité de laquelle sont rapportés quatre rabats disposés au droit de chaque paroi latérale, formant le fond et le couvercle de ladite caisse. Le fond et le couvercle peuvent être fermés par pliage vers l'intérieur de paires de petits et de grands rabats, opposés deux à deux, une paire de rabats étant prévue pour recouvrir l'autre paire de manière jointive.An American box generally comprises a belt forming the four side walls of the box, at each end of which are reported four flaps arranged in line with each side wall, forming the bottom and the lid of said box. The bottom and the lid may be closed by folding in pairs of small and large flaps, opposite two by two, one pair of flaps being provided to overlap the other pair.

On connaît de nombreuses machines de type encaisseuse permettant la mise en forme, le remplissage et la fermeture de caisses américaines. De telle encaisseuses comprennent généralement un magasin de stockage comportant un empilement de flans de caisse auquel est associé un bras de transfert destiné à amener un flan depuis le magasin jusqu'à un premier poste de mise en forme. Le premier poste de mise en forme comprend des moyens de guidage aptes à coopérer avec le flan pour provoquer le pliage des rabats formant le fond de la caisse, ainsi que des moyens de solidarisation, notamment des moyens d'encollage, permettant de solidariser les rabats pliés formant le fond. La caisse ainsi formée avec son fond fermé est ensuite transférée par un dispositif de convoyage vers un deuxième poste de remplissage où des produits à emballer sont déposés dans la caisse, puis vers un troisième poste de constitution du couvercle de la caisse par pliage et solidarisation des rabats qui le constituent, avant l'évacuation de la caisse fermée hors de la machine.Numerous box-type machines are known for shaping, filling and closing American boxes. Such packers generally comprise a storage magazine having a stack of blanks which is associated with a transfer arm for bringing a blank from the store to a first formatting station. The first shaping station comprises guiding means capable of cooperating with the blank to cause folding of the flaps forming the bottom of the box, as well as means of fastening, especially sizing means, for securing the folded flaps forming the bottom. The crate thus formed with its closed bottom is then transferred by a conveying device to a second filling station where products to be packaged are deposited in the box, then to a third position of constitution of the lid of the box by folding and securing the flaps that constitute it, before the evacuation of the closed box out of the machine.

Cependant, dans de telles machines, étant donné que le poste de mise en forme de la caisse permet à la fois le pliage des rabats constituant le fond et la fermeture du fond de la caisse par solidarisation de rabats, il est nécessaire de faire avancer la caisse sur au moins une fois sa longueur dans le poste de mise en forme. Par conséquent, ce poste occupe une place importante et la machine est volumineuse.However, in such machines, since the shaping station of the body allows both the folding of the flaps constituting the bottom and the closure of the bottom of the box by joining flaps, it is necessary to advance the crate on at least one time its length in the shaping station. Therefore, this post occupies an important place and the machine is bulky.

Il existe donc un besoin pour une machine compacte, à encombrement au sol réduit, dans laquelle les postes de formage et d'encaissage sont agencés dans un espace restreint.There is therefore a need for a compact machine with reduced floor space, in which the forming and packing stations are arranged in a small space.

La présente invention vise à résoudre les inconvénients de l'état antérieur de la technique, en proposant une machine apte à mettre en forme une caisse sans solidariser les rabats constituant son fond avant le remplissage, et à remplir la caisse tout en maintenant son fond en position fermée mais non encore solidarisé.The present invention aims to solve the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a machine adapted to form a box without securing the flaps constituting its bottom before filling, and to fill the box while maintaining its bottom. closed position but not yet secured.

La demande de brevet française FR 2 493 805 A1 divulgue une machine selon le préambule de la revendication 1.The French patent application FR 2 493 805 A1 discloses a machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

La présente invention a donc pour objet une machine automatique d'extraction, de mise en volume, de remplissage et de fermeture de caisse à rabats de type caisse américaine, ladite machine comportant :

  • des moyens de mise en volume aptes à extraire un flan hors d'un magasin de flans, notamment pliés à plat et empilés, et à mettre en volume les parois latérales de la caisse, lesdits flans comportant deux grands côtés opposés prolongés chacun aux deux extrémités par deux grands rabats et deux petits côtés opposés prolongés chacun par deux petits rabats ;
  • des moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse par pliage des petits rabats et des grands rabats destinés à constituer le fond de la caisse, les moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse comprenant des premiers moyens de pliage pour plier la paire de petits rabats en position fermée et des seconds moyens de pliage pour plier la paire de grands rabats en position fermée ;
  • des moyens de remplissage de la caisse permettant de remplir la caisse par un contenu ;
  • des moyens de fermeture permettant de solidariser les rabats formant le fond et le couvercle de la caisse avant son évacuation ; et
  • des moyens de transport permettant de déplacer la caisse le long de la ligne d'encaissage formée des moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse aux moyens de fermeture,
les moyens de remplissage étant placés en aval des moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse et en amont des moyens de fermeture, et les moyens de transport étant aptes à déplacer la caisse le long de la ligne d'encaissage tout en maintenant les rabats formant le fond pliés en position fermée,
la machine étant caractérisée par le fait que les moyens de transport comprennent un moyen de déplacement de la caisse le long de la ligne d'encaissage, un plateau inférieur fixe comportant un évidement en regard des moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse, les premiers moyens de pliage étant placés au-dessus du plateau inférieur et s'étendant le long de la ligne d'encaissage de telle sorte que la paire de grands rabats constituant le fond de la caisse est maintenue pliée en position fermée entre les premiers moyens de pliage et le plateau inférieur lors du déplacement de la caisse par les moyens de déplacement le long de la ligne d'encaissage.The subject of the present invention is therefore an automatic machine for extracting, putting into volume, filling and closing of American box type flap box, said machine comprising:
  • volume-setting means capable of extracting a blank from a magazine of blanks, in particular folded flat and stacked, and to set the volume of the lateral walls of the box, said blanks comprising two large opposite sides each extended at both ends two large flaps and two small opposite sides each extended by two small flaps;
  • means for constituting the bottom of the box by folding the small flaps and large flaps intended to constitute the bottom of the box, the means of constitution of the bottom of the box comprising first folding means for folding the pair of small flaps in closed position and second folding means for folding the pair of large flaps in the closed position;
  • means for filling the box to fill the box with a content;
  • closure means for securing the flaps forming the bottom and the lid of the body before its evacuation; and
  • means of transport making it possible to move the box along the line of casing formed by the means of constitution of the bottom of the box to the closing means,
the filling means being placed downstream of the means constituting the bottom of the box and upstream of the closing means, and the transport means being able to move the box along the line of packing while maintaining the flaps forming the bottom folded in the closed position,
the machine being characterized by the fact that the means of transport comprise a means of moving the box along the line of casing, a fixed lower plate having a recess facing the means of constitution of the bottom of the box, the first folding means being placed above the lower plate and extending along the line of packing so that the pair of large flaps constituting the bottom of the box is kept folded in the closed position between the first folding means and the lower plate during the movement of the body by the moving means along the line of casing.

Ainsi, selon la présente invention, le fond de la caisse est solidarisé après le remplissage de la caisse, de telle sorte que la mise en volume de la caisse et son remplissage sont réalisés dans un espace restreint, avec un fond maintenu en position fermée mais non solidarisée, ce qui permet d'obtenir une machine compacte.Thus, according to the present invention, the bottom of the box is secured after the filling of the box, so that the volume of the box and its filling are made in a small space, with a bottom maintained in closed position but not secured, which allows to obtain a compact machine.

Selon un mode de réalisation particulier, les moyens de déplacement comprennent un plateau supérieur mobile dans un plan horizontal, le plateau inférieur étant placé au-dessous du plateau supérieur, le plateau supérieur comportant au moins une cavité de réception, la ou chaque cavité de réception étant apte à recevoir une caisse pendant le déplacement de cette dernière le long de la ligne d'encaissage, l'évidement du plateau inférieur se trouvant en regard d'une cavité de réception lors de la constitution du fond de la caisse par les moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse, les premiers moyens de pliage étant placés entre le plateau supérieur et le plateau inférieur et s'étendant le long de la ligne d'encaissage de telle sorte que la paire de grands rabats constituant le fond de la caisse est maintenue pliée en position fermée entre les premiers moyens de pliage et le plateau inférieur lors du déplacement de la caisse par les moyens de transport le long de la ligne d'encaissage.According to a particular embodiment, the displacement means comprise an upper plate movable in a horizontal plane, the lower plate being placed below the upper plate, the upper plate having at least one receiving cavity, the or each receiving cavity. being able to receive a box during the movement of the latter along the line of casing, the recess of the lower plate being opposite a receiving cavity during the constitution of the bottom of the box by the means of constitution of the bottom of the box, the first folding means being placed between the upper plate and the lower plate and extending along the line of casing so that the pair of large flaps constituting the bottom of the box is kept folded in closed position between the first folding means and the lower plate during movement of the box by the means of transport along the line of packing.

Avantageusement, la ou chaque cavité de réception de caisse, de forme rectangulaire, peut comprendre des rails longitudinaux destinés à faire saillie au-dessus de la cavité, le long de chacun des grands côtés de la cavité. Ceci permet de faciliter le guidage et l'alignement de la caisse dans la cavité de réception.Advantageously, the or each box receiving cavity, rectangular in shape, may comprise longitudinal rails for projecting above the cavity, along each of the long sides of the cavity. This facilitates guiding and alignment of the body in the receiving cavity.

Avantageusement, la ou chaque cavité de réception de caisse, de forme rectangulaire, comprend une butée transversale, s'étendant le long de l'un des petits côtés de la cavité et apte à être déplacée par un vérin entre une position avancée et une position reculée, les moyens de mise en volume étant aptes à plaquer la caisse contre la butée une fois les petits rabats de fond pliés en position fermée.Advantageously, the or each box receiving cavity, of rectangular shape, comprises a transverse stop, extending along one of the short sides of the cavity and able to be moved by a jack between an advanced position and a position. back, the volume setting means being able to press the body against the stop once the small bottom flaps folded in the closed position.

De préférence, les premiers moyens de pliage comprennent un chemin de guidage fixe se présentant sous la forme d'une tôle, le cas échéant dont la largeur est inférieure à la largeur de la cavité de réception du plateau supérieur, tôle contre laquelle les moyens de mise en volume sont aptes à appuyer les petits rabats de la caisse, l'un après l'autre, afin d'initier leur mouvement de pliage.Preferably, the first folding means comprise a fixed guiding path in the form of a metal sheet, where appropriate whose width is smaller than the width of the receiving cavity of the upper plate, against which the means of volume are able to support the small flaps of the box, one after the other, to initiate their folding movement.

La ligne d'encaissage peut suivre une trajectoire rectiligne.The packing line can follow a rectilinear trajectory.

De préférence, la ligne d'encaissage s'étend le long d'une trajectoire circulaire, les moyens de transport se présentant sous la forme d'un carrousel. Une telle configuration permet d'obtenir une ligne d'encaissage encore plus compacte. Dans une telle configuration, dans laquelle, le cas échéant, le plateau supérieur et le plateau inférieur se présentent ainsi sous la forme d'un carrousel et le plateau supérieur est un plateau tournant, le plateau supérieur comporte, de préférence, trois cavités de réception disposées à 120° l'une de l'autre.Preferably, the packing line extends along a circular path, the transport means being in the form of a carousel. Such a configuration makes it possible to obtain an even more compact packing line. In such a configuration, where, where appropriate, the upper plate and the lower tray are thus in the form of a carousel and the upper plate is a turntable, the upper plate preferably comprises three receiving cavities disposed at 120 ° from one another.

Les seconds moyens de pliage peuvent comprendre au moins un actionneur de type vérin placé au-dessous des premiers moyens de pliage pour plier les grands rabats vers le haut.The second folding means may comprise at least one jack type actuator positioned below the first folding means to fold the large flaps upwardly.

Les moyens de mise en volume peuvent comprendre un bras robotisé doté d'une tête de préhension apte à saisir un flan disposé à plat dans le magasin et à soulever le flan afin de mettre en volume les parois latérales de la caisse sous l'effet de la gravité et de la manipulation du flan par la tête de préhension.The volume-building means may comprise a robotic arm provided with a gripping head capable of grasping a blank disposed flat in the magazine and lifting the blank so as to make the side walls of the box in volume under the effect of gravity and handling of the blank by the gripping head.

Le magasin de flans est, de préférence, un carrousel rotatif, ce qui permet un chargement du magasin en temps masqué.The blank magazine is preferably a rotating carousel, which allows the magazine to be loaded in masked time.

Les moyens de remplissage peuvent comprendre un convoyeur d'amenée du contenu à encaisser et un robot de préhension et de transfert.The filling means may comprise a conveyor for supplying the contents to be collected and a robot for gripping and transferring.

Pour mieux illustrer l'objet de la présente invention, on va en décrire ci-après, à titre illustratif et non limitatif, un mode de réalisation préféré, avec référence au dessin annexé.To better illustrate the object of the present invention will be described below, by way of illustration and not limited to, a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Sur ce dessin :

  • la Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, de la machine selon l'invention, sur laquelle se trouvent des caisses et un contenu à encaisser ;
  • la Figure 2 est une vue de détail, en perspective, des moyens de mise en volume, dans une position d'élévation de la caisse pour sa mise en volume ;
  • la Figure 3 est une vue de détail, en perspective, des moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse, les petits rabats formant le fond de la caisse étant pliés par les premiers moyens de pliage ;
  • la Figure 4 est une vue de détail, en perspective, des moyens de constitution du fond de la caisse, les grands rabats formant le fond de la caisse étant pliés par les seconds moyens de pliage ;
  • la Figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale au niveau du poste de constitution du fond de la caisse, après que les grands rabats et les petits rabats ont été repliés ;
  • la Figure 6 est une vue de détail, en perspective, des moyens de remplissage de la caisse ;
  • la Figure 7 est une vue de dessus de la caisse au niveau du poste de remplissage ;
  • la Figure 8 est une vue de détail, en perspective, des moyens de fermeture de la caisse et d'évacuation de celle-ci ;
  • les Figures 9A et 9B sont des vues de détail, d'ensemble et éclatée respectivement, en perspective, des moyens de transport comportant le plateau supérieur, le plateau inférieur et le chemin de guidage, selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention dans lequel la ligne d'encaissage est circulaire ; et
  • les Figures 10 et 11 sont des vues respectivement en perspective et de dessus d'une ligne d'encaissage linéaire selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, au niveau des moyens de constitution de fond.
On this drawing :
  • the Figure 1 is an overview, in perspective, of the machine according to the invention, on which there are boxes and a content to be cashed;
  • the Figure 2 is a detail view, in perspective, means of setting volume, in an elevation position of the box for its setting volume;
  • the Figure 3 is a detail view, in perspective, the means of constitution of the bottom of the box, the small flaps forming the bottom of the box being folded by the first folding means;
  • the Figure 4 is a detail view, in perspective, the means of constitution of the bottom of the box, the large flaps forming the bottom of the box being folded by the second folding means;
  • the Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view at the bottom body formation station, after the large flaps and flaps have been folded;
  • the Figure 6 is a detail view, in perspective, the filling means of the body;
  • the Figure 7 is a top view of the box at the filling station;
  • the Figure 8 is a detailed view, in perspective, the means of closing the body and evacuation thereof;
  • the Figures 9A and 9B are detail, overall and exploded views respectively, in perspective, of the transport means comprising the upper plate, the lower plate and the guide path, according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the line of boxing is circular; and
  • the Figures 10 and 11 are views respectively in perspective and from above of a linear packaging line according to a second embodiment of the invention, at the level of the background constitution means.

Si l'on se réfère à la Figure 1, on peut voir que la machine 1 selon la présente invention combine en une seule machine les étapes de formage, d'encaissage et de fermeture d'une caisse. Une telle machine 1 ou cellule d'encaissage est ainsi destinée à être placée en amont d'un palettiseur (non représenté).If we refer to the Figure 1 it can be seen that the machine 1 according to the present invention combines in a single machine the steps of forming, packing and closing a body. Such a machine 1 or packing cell is thus intended to be placed upstream of a palletizer (not shown).

La machine 1 selon la présente invention (Figure 1) permet de mettre en volume les parois latérales d'une caisse à rabats 2 à partir d'un flan 3 par l'intermédiaire de moyens de mise en volume 4 d'un flan 3 de caisse en une caisse 2 (Figure 2), de plier les rabats formant le fond de la caisse 2 par l'intermédiaire de moyens 5 de constitution du fond de la caisse (Figures 3 à 5), de transférer la caisse 2 ainsi formée jusqu'à un poste de remplissage par l'intermédiaire de moyens 6 de transport (Figures 9A et 9B), de remplir la caisse 2 par l'intermédiaire de moyens 7 de remplissage (Figures 5 et 6), puis de transférer la caisse 2 remplie vers le poste de fermeture et d'évacuation 8 (Figure 8).The machine 1 according to the present invention ( Figure 1 ) makes it possible to set the volume of the side walls of a flap box 2 from a blank 3 by means of setting up volume 4 of a blank 3 of a box in a box 2 ( Figure 2 ), folding the flaps forming the bottom of the box 2 through means 5 of constitution of the bottom of the box ( Figures 3 to 5 ), to transfer the body 2 thus formed to a filling station via means 6 of transport ( Figures 9A and 9B ), to fill the box 2 by means of filling means 7 ( Figures 5 and 6 ), then transfer the filled box 2 to the closing and evacuation station 8 ( Figure 8 ).

Si l'on se réfère à la Figure 2, on peut voir que les caisses 2 sont formées à partir de flans 3 pliés et stockés à plat dans un magasin 9. En particulier, les flans 3 sont pliés de telle sorte que les parois latérales de la ceinture de la caisse 2 sont plaquées deux à deux les unes contre les autres, et les rabats disposés dans le prolongement des parois latérales sont également plaqués deux à deux les uns contre les autres.If we refer to the Figure 2 it can be seen that the boxes 2 are formed from blanks 3 folded and stored flat in a magazine 9. In particular, the blanks 3 are folded so that the side walls of the belt of the body 2 are plated two two to one against the other, and the flaps arranged in the extension of the side walls are also pressed two by two against each other.

La machine 1 selon l'invention comprend un bâti (non représenté dans un souci de clarté des dessins) sur lequel sont fixés des montants (non représentés) portant le magasin 9. Le magasin 9 comporte un carrousel rotatif, autour d'un axe vertical, ayant une plateforme tournante 9a destiné à recevoir les flans 3 de caisse pliés à plat. En particulier, la plateforme tournante 9a est séparée en deux compartiments par au moins une paroi 9b sensiblement verticale s'étendant d'un bout à l'autre de la plateforme 9a. Chaque compartiment comprend un fond incliné 9c ayant une extrémité haute et une extrémité basse. Une paroi formant butée 9d inclinée est prévue à l'extrémité basse du fond incliné 9c.The machine 1 according to the invention comprises a frame (not shown for the sake of clarity of the drawings) on which are fixed amounts (not shown) carrying the magazine 9. The magazine 9 comprises a rotating carousel, about a vertical axis, having a rotating platform 9a for receiving the blanks 3 box folded flat. In particular, the rotating platform 9a is separated into two compartments by at least one substantially vertical wall 9b extending from one end to the other of the platform 9a. Each compartment comprises an inclined bottom 9c having an upper end and a lower end. An inclined abutment wall 9d is provided at the lower end of the inclined bottom 9c.

En fonctionnement, l'un des compartiments du magasin 9 est situé côté extérieur de la machine 1 et donc accessible à un opérateur, tandis que l'autre compartiment est situé côté intérieur de la machine 1, au voisinage des moyens 4 d'extraction et de mise en volume de la caisse 2. Ainsi, l'opérateur charge le compartiment accessible en flans 3 de caisse, en positionnant les flans 3 empilés les uns au-dessus des autres et en butée contre la paroi formant butée 9d. Puis, le carrousel du magasin 9 est tourné sur 180 degrés afin d'amener le compartiment chargé en flans 3 de caisse à l'intérieur de la machine 1, au voisinage des moyens de mise en volume 4. Tandis que le compartiment chargé est vidé par lesdits moyens de mise en volume 4, l'opérateur charge l'autre compartiment en flans 3 de caisse. Par conséquent, le carrousel rotatif permet de charger le magasin 9 en temps masqué, tandis que la machine 1 est en fonctionnement.In operation, one of the compartments of the magazine 9 is located outside the machine 1 and therefore accessible to an operator, while the other compartment is located on the inside of the machine 1, in the vicinity of the extraction means 4 and 2. Thus, the operator loads the accessible compartment in blanks 3 box, positioning the blanks 3 stacked one above the other and abut against the wall forming abutment 9d. Then, the carousel of the magazine 9 is rotated 180 degrees in order to bring the loaded compartment 3 in the cash register inside the machine 1, in the vicinity of the volume setting means 4. While the loaded compartment is emptied by said volume setting means 4, the operator loads the other compartment in 3 cash flanks. Therefore, the rotating carousel can load the magazine 9 in masked time, while the machine 1 is in operation.

Chaque flan 3 est extrait du magasin 9 par les moyens de mise en volume 4 qui comprennent, de manière classique, au moins une tête de préhension 41 en deux parties articulées, sur lesquelles sont réparties plusieurs ventouses 42, et fixée à l'extrémité d'un bras 43 de robot manipulateur. Les ventouses 42 sont reliées par des conduits souples 44 à un générateur de vide situé sur le bâti de la machine 1 ou sur le robot. Les ventouses 42 d'une première partie de la tête 41 sont destinées à attraper le petit côté de la caisse 2 tandis que les ventouses 42 de l'autre partie de la tête 41 sont destinées à attraper le grand côté de la caisse 2. De plus, le bras 43 est mobile selon au moins trois degrés de liberté. Ainsi, lors du fonctionnement de la machine 1, le bras robotisé 43 est commandé de manière à saisir un flan 3 stocké dans le magasin 9, par appui des ventouses 42 d'une partie de la tête 41 sur la face exposée du flan 3, qui formera l'un des grands côtés de la ceinture de la caisse 2. Le bras 43 est ensuite commandé pour soulever le flan 3 afin de l'extraire du magasin 9 et de l'amener au-dessus du poste suivant, à savoir le poste de constitution du fond de la caisse 2. Lorsque le flan 3 est soulevé par le bras robotisé 43, l'autre partie de la tête 41 est rabattue pour que les ventouses 42 qu'elle porte attrapent le petit côté de la ceinture de la caisse 2, puis les deux parties de la tête 41 sont pivotées pour s'étendre à 90° l'une de l'autre, les parois latérales formant la ceinture de la caisse 2 se dépliant alors à 90 degrés, les rabats destinés à former le fond de la caisse 2 se dépliant ainsi sous l'effet de la gravité et de la manipulation par la tête 41, de sorte que le volume de la caisse 2 est formé.Each blank 3 is extracted from the magazine 9 by the volume-setting means 4 which conventionally comprise at least one gripping head 41 in two articulated parts, on which several suction cups 42 are distributed, and fixed at the end of the blank. a manipulator robot arm 43. The suction cups 42 are connected by flexible conduits 44 to a vacuum generator located on the frame of the machine 1 or on the robot. The suction cups 42 of a first part of the head 41 are intended to catch the short side of the box 2 while the suction cups 42 of the other part of the head 41 are intended to catch the long side of the box 2. From moreover, the arm 43 is movable in at least three degrees of freedom. Thus, during the operation of the machine 1, the robotic arm 43 is controlled so as to grip a blank 3 stored in the magazine 9, by pressing the suction cups 42 of a part of the head 41 on the exposed face of the blank 3, which will form one of the long sides of the belt of the body 2. The arm 43 is then controlled to lift the blank 3 to extract it from the magazine 9 and bring it above the next station, namely the 2. When the blank 3 is lifted by the robotic arm 43, the other part of the head 41 is folded so that the suction cups 42 it carries catch the short side of the belt of the box 2, then the two parts of the head 41 are pivoted to extend at 90 ° from each other, the side walls forming the belt of the box 2 then folding at 90 degrees, the flaps intended to form the bottom of the body 2 thus unfolding under the effect of gravity and manipulation by the t te 41, so that the volume of the box 2 is formed.

Une fois la caisse 2 mise en volume, la caisse 2 est amenée à coopérer avec les moyens 5 de constitution du fond de la caisse, à savoir des moyens 51 de pliage des petits rabats (Figure 3) et des moyens 52 de pliage des grands rabats (Figure 4).Once the box 2 is put in volume, the box 2 is brought to cooperate with the means 5 of constitution of the bottom of the box, namely means 51 for folding small flaps ( Figure 3 ) and means 52 for folding the large flaps ( Figure 4 ).

Avec référence à la Figure 3, la caisse 2 mise en volume est déplacée par le bras robotisé 43 en étant saisie par deux parois latérales adjacentes de la ceinture de la caisse 2, de telle sorte que l'un des petits rabats destiné à former le fond, notamment le petit rabat situé en avant suivant le sens de déplacement, vient en appui contre un chemin de guidage 50 disposé le long de la ligne d'encaissage de la machine 1, tout en étant incliné par rapport au chemin de guidage 50. Ce mouvement permet d'initier le pliage de ce petit rabat vers l'intérieur de la caisse 2. Le bras 43 est ensuite manipulé de manière à initier le mouvement de pliage de l'autre petit rabat, à savoir le rabat situé en arrière, destiné à former le fond, encore par appui contre le chemin de guidage 50. Ainsi, les petits rabats formant partie du fond de la caisse 2 sont en appui sur le chemin de guidage 50 et empêchés par ce dernier de pivoter vers le bas sous leur propre poids.With reference to the Figure 3 , the body 2 volume is moved by the robotic arm 43 being gripped by two adjacent side walls of the belt of the box 2, so that one of the small flaps intended to form the bottom, including the small flap located forward in the direction of movement, bears against a guide path 50 disposed along the packing line of the machine 1, while being inclined relative to the guide path 50. This movement initiates the folding of this small flap towards the inside of the body 2. The arm 43 is then manipulated to initiate the movement folding the other small flap, namely the back flap, intended to form the bottom, again by pressing against the guide path 50. Thus, the small flaps forming part of the bottom of the box 2 are supported on the guide path 50 and prevented by the latter from pivoting downwards under their own weight.

Ledit chemin de guidage 50 constitue ainsi les moyens de pliage 51 des petits rabats. Dans le mode de réalisation représenté sur la Figure 3, le chemin de guidage 50 se présente sous la forme d'une tôle plane ayant une première partie 50a suivant une trajectoire circulaire, à partir d'une extrémité de laquelle s'étend une seconde partie 50b qui suit une trajectoire rectiligne (Figure 9B).Said guide path 50 thus constitutes the folding means 51 of the small flaps. In the embodiment shown on the Figure 3 , the guide path 50 is in the form of a flat sheet having a first portion 50a in a circular path, from one end of which extends a second portion 50b which follows a rectilinear path ( Figure 9B ).

Ce chemin de guidage 50 est interposé et monté de manière fixe entre deux plateaux 61, 62, dont un plateau supérieur mobile 61 et un plateau inférieur fixe 62, comme représenté sur les Figures 9A et 9B.This guide path 50 is interposed and fixedly mounted between two plates 61, 62, including a movable upper plate 61 and a fixed lower plate 62, as shown in FIGS. Figures 9A and 9B .

Le plateau inférieur fixe 62 est une tôle supportée par le bâti de la machine 1. Le chemin de guidage 50 est supporté par le plateau inférieur 62 et disposé au-dessus de celui-ci avec un faible espacement entre ceux-ci, lequel espacement correspond sensiblement à l'épaisseur d'un grand rabat formant le fond de la caisse 2.The fixed lower plate 62 is a plate supported by the frame of the machine 1. The guide path 50 is supported by the lower plate 62 and disposed above it with a small spacing therebetween, which spacing corresponds substantially to the thickness of a large flap forming the bottom of the body 2.

Dans le mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, le plateau supérieur 61 se présente sous la forme d'une tôle circulaire. La tôle comprend, en son centre, un trou traversant 61a pour le passage d'un arbre vertical autour duquel le plateau supérieur 61 pourra être amené à tourner par une motorisation, bien connue en soi de l'homme du métier.In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper plate 61 is under the shape of a circular sheet. The sheet comprises, in its center, a through hole 61a for the passage of a vertical shaft around which the upper plate 61 may be rotated by a motor, well known to those skilled in the art.

Le plateau supérieur 61 comprend également trois cavités de réception 61b réparties le long du plateau 61. Chaque cavité 61b débouche sur une extrémité du plateau, de sorte que la cavité 61b comprend deux bords latéraux 61bl et un bord transversal 61bt. La longueur de chaque cavité de réception 61b est supérieure à la longueur d'une caisse 2 et la largeur de la cavité 61b est sensiblement égale à la largeur d'une caisse 2.The upper plate 61 also comprises three receiving cavities 61b distributed along the plate 61. Each cavity 61b opens on one end of the plate, so that the cavity 61b comprises two lateral edges 61b1 and a transverse edge 61bt. The length of each receiving cavity 61b is greater than the length of a box 2 and the width of the cavity 61b is substantially equal to the width of a box 2.

Un rail longitudinal 63 s'étend sur toute la longueur de chacun des bords latéraux 61bl des cavités de réception 61b. Chaque rail longitudinal 63 présente une section sensiblement en forme de V, ayant une première branche fixée contre la face supérieure du plateau supérieur 61, et une seconde branche, formée d'équerre avec la première branche, faisant saillie au-dessus du plateau supérieur 61, dans le prolongement du bord de la cavité 61b. Ces rails 63 permettent de faciliter le guidage de la caisse 2 dans la cavité de réception 61b et également de maintenir une caisse 2 reçue dans la cavité de réception 61b alignée pendant son déplacement le long du chemin de guidage 50.A longitudinal rail 63 extends over the entire length of each of the lateral edges 61b1 of the receiving cavities 61b. Each longitudinal rail 63 has a substantially V-shaped section, having a first leg fixed against the upper face of the upper plate 61, and a second leg, formed of a square with the first leg, projecting above the upper plate 61 , in the extension of the edge of the cavity 61b. These rails 63 make it possible to facilitate the guiding of the box 2 in the receiving cavity 61b and also to maintain a box 2 received in the receiving cavity 61b aligned during its movement along the guide path 50.

Une butée transversale 64 s'étend le long du bord transversal 61bt de chaque cavité de réception 61b. La butée 64 se présente sous la forme d'une plaque pilotée par un vérin 65. Le vérin 65 permet de déplacer la butée 64 entre une position avancée, dans laquelle la butée s'étend à l'intérieur de la cavité de réception 61b, et une position reculée, dans laquelle la butée 64 vient en appui contre le bord transversal 61bt le long duquel elle s'étend. Ainsi, cette butée 64 permet de faciliter le pliage des petits rabats de fond de la caisse 2 (position avancée) et également de caler la caisse 2 reçue dans la cavité de réception 61b afin de permettre son transfert sans risque de détériorer la caisse 2 (position reculée).A transverse stop 64 extends along the transverse edge 61bt of each receiving cavity 61b. The stop 64 is in the form of a plate controlled by a jack 65. The jack 65 makes it possible to move the stop 64 between an advanced position, in which the stop extends inside the receiving cavity 61b, and a retracted position, in which the stop 64 comes to bear against the transverse edge 61bt along which it extends. Thus, this stop 64 makes it possible to facilitate the folding of the small bottom flaps of the box 2 (advanced position) and also to wedge the box 2 received in the receiving cavity 61b in order to allow its transfer without risk of damaging the box 2 ( retracted position).

Les plateaux supérieur 61 et inférieur 62 et le chemin de guidage 50 sont agencés les uns au-dessus des autres de telle sorte que la partie suivant une trajectoire circulaire du chemin de guidage 50 s'étend sous deux cavités de réception 61b successives et que la partie suivant une trajectoire rectiligne du chemin de guidage 50 s'étend sous la cavité de réception 61b restante.The upper plates 61 and lower 62 and the guide path 50 are arranged one above the other so that the portion along a circular path of the guide path 50 extends under two successive receiving cavities 61b and that the part following a straight path of the guide path 50 extends under the remaining receiving cavity 61b.

De plus, le plateau inférieur 62 comprend, dans la zone au voisinage du magasin 9 et des moyens de mise en volume 4, un évidement 62a dont les dimensions sont sensiblement égales aux dimensions d'une caisse 2. Cet évidement 62a permet le passage des grands rabats constituant le fond de la caisse 2, entre les bords de l'évidement 62a et les bords du chemin de guidage 50.In addition, the lower plate 62 comprises, in the area in the vicinity of the magazine 9 and volume-setting means 4, a recess 62a whose dimensions are substantially equal to the dimensions of a box 2. This recess 62a allows the passage of large flaps constituting the bottom of the box 2, between the edges of the recess 62a and the edges of the guide path 50.

Lors de la phase de constitution du fond de la caisse 2, la position du plateau supérieur 61 est commandée en rotation pour placer en regard de l'évidement 62a une cavité de réception 61b, en travers desquels s'étendra une partie du chemin de guidage 50 contre la surface supérieure duquel les petits rabats pourront être repliés.During the constitution phase of the bottom of the body 2, the position of the upper plate 61 is rotated to place facing the recess 62a a receiving cavity 61b, through which will extend a portion of the guide path 50 against the upper surface of which the small flaps can be folded.

Comme on peut le voir sur la Figure 4, des actionneurs, tels que des vérins 52a, qui forment les seconds moyens de pliage 52, actionnent chacun un ensemble bras pivotant respectif 52b dont l'extrémité supérieure 52c vient faire pivoter les deux grands rabats de fond pour les plier vers le haut. Ainsi, en fonctionnement, une fois que les petits rabats ont été pliés en position fermée, les grands rabats de fond sont chacun amenés à se plier vers l'intérieur depuis le dessous, de manière à être interposés entre le chemin de guidage 50 et les extrémités supérieures 52c des ensembles bras 52b. Après cette opération de pliage, le plateau supérieur 61 peut être amené à tourner, auquel cas les petits rabats sont maintenus en position fermée par le chemin de guidage 50 sur lequel ils appuient, et les grands rabats deviennent maintenus fermés par le chemin de guidage 50 et le plateau inférieur 62 entre lesquels ils sont reçus et pris en sandwich, comme on peut le voir sur la Figure 5.As can be seen on the Figure 4 actuators, such as cylinders 52a, which form the second folding means 52, each actuate a respective pivot arm assembly 52b whose upper end 52c rotates the two large bottom flaps to bend them upwards. Thus, in operation, once the small flaps have been folded in the closed position, the Large bottom flaps are each caused to bend inwards from below, so as to be interposed between the guide path 50 and the upper ends 52c of the arm assemblies 52b. After this folding operation, the upper plate 61 can be rotated, in which case the small flaps are held in the closed position by the guide path 50 on which they press, and the large flaps become kept closed by the guide path 50 and the lower tray 62 between which they are received and sandwiched, as can be seen on the Figure 5 .

Il convient de noter que, selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention, le plateau inférieur 62' et le plateau supérieur (non représenté) peuvent se présenter chacun sous la forme d'une tôle rectangulaire, le chemin de guidage 50' suivant alors une trajectoire rectiligne, comme représenté sur les Figures 10 et 11 . Dans ce second mode de réalisation linéaire, les moyens permettant le formage, le remplissage, la fermeture et l'évacuation de la caisse 2 sont les mêmes que dans le premier mode de réalisation décrit. Le plateau supérieur est déplaçable en translation et seule la forme des moyens de transport et de maintien des rabats constituant le fond en position fermée diffère.It should be noted that, according to a second embodiment of the invention, the lower plate 62 'and the upper plate (not shown) can each be in the form of a rectangular plate, the guide path 50' next then a rectilinear trajectory, as represented on the Figures 10 and 11 . In this second linear embodiment, the means for forming, filling, closing and evacuation of the body 2 are the same as in the first embodiment described. The upper plate is movable in translation and only the shape of the means for transporting and holding the flaps constituting the bottom in the closed position differs.

Le plateau supérieur mobile pourrait également être remplacé par tout système permettant de déplacer la caisse le long de la ligne d'encaissage, tel qu'un vérin placé en arrière de la caisse et la poussant sur le chemin de guidage 50'.The movable upper tray could also be replaced by any system for moving the box along the line of casing, such as a cylinder placed behind the body and pushing it on the guide path 50 '.

Une fois la caisse 2 mise en forme et ses rabats formant le fond pliés en position fermée dans la cavité de formage 61b, le plateau supérieur mobile 61 est amené à tourner pour déplacer la cavité de réception 61b dans laquelle est reçue la caisse 2 vers le poste de remplissage.Once the box 2 has been shaped and its flaps forming the bottom folded in the closed position in the forming cavity 61b, the movable top plate 61 is rotated to move the receiving cavity 61b into which is received the box 2 to the filling station.

La cavité de réception 61b se trouve alors au voisinage des moyens de remplissage 7 pour l'encaissage.The receiving cavity 61b is then in the vicinity of the filling means 7 for the casing.

La présente invention n'est pas limitée à un type particulier de moyens de remplissage. Par exemple, comme on peut le voir sur la Figure 6, les moyens de remplissage 7 peuvent comprendre un convoyeur 71 d'amenée du contenu à encaisser et un robot 72 de préhension et de transfert, avec éventuellement en amont des moyens de localisation du contenu sur le convoyeur 71. Le convoyeur d'amenée 71 se présente, par exemple, sous la forme d'un tapis roulant sur lequel le contenu à encaisser est chargé et déplacé. Un robot de préhension 72 classique prélève alors, par exemple au moyen de ventouses, le contenu à encaisser et le dépose au fond de la caisse 2, en passant par le couvercle ouvert de la caisse 2. Il s'agit donc d'un encaissage vertical classique.The present invention is not limited to a particular type of filling means. For example, as can be seen on the Figure 6 , the filling means 7 may comprise a conveyor 71 for supplying the contents to be collected and a robot 72 for gripping and transferring, possibly upstream with means for locating the contents on the conveyor 71. The supply conveyor 71 is presents, for example, in the form of a treadmill on which the content to be cased is loaded and moved. A conventional gripping robot 72 then takes, for example by means of suction cups, the contents to be collected and deposited at the bottom of the box 2, through the open lid of the box 2. It is therefore a case vertical vertical.

Une fois la caisse 2 remplie, le plateau supérieur mobile 61 est à nouveau amené à tourner vers le poste de fermeture et d'évacuation.Once the box 2 filled, the movable upper plate 61 is again rotated to the closing station and evacuation.

Comme on peut le voir sur la Figure 8, ce poste comprend, à l'extrémité de la partie rectiligne du chemin de guidage 50, des moyens 8 de fermeture (représentés schématiquement) aptes à solidariser les rabats formant le fond de la caisse 2, notamment par application d'un ruban adhésif. De même, ces moyens 8 permettent, de manière classique, de fermer les rabats formant le couvercle de la caisse et de les solidariser. La caisse 2 est déplacée en translation de la position représentée sur la Figure 6 jusqu'aux moyens 8 de fermeture par tout moyen approprié, comme par exemple par un vérin poussant la caisse 2 le long de la partie rectiligne du chemin de guidage 50. Une fois fermée, la caisse 2 peut être évacuée de la machine 1, notamment vers un palettiseur.As can be seen on the Figure 8 , this station comprises, at the end of the rectilinear portion of the guide path 50, closure means 8 (shown schematically) adapted to secure the flaps forming the bottom of the body 2, in particular by applying an adhesive tape. Similarly, these means 8 allow, in a conventional manner, to close the flaps forming the lid of the box and to secure them. The body 2 is displaced in translation from the position represented on the Figure 6 to the closing means 8 by any appropriate means, such as for example by a cylinder pushing the body 2 along the straight portion of the guide path 50. Once closed, the box 2 can be removed from the machine 1, in particular to a palletizer.

La machine 1 selon la présente invention, de structure simple et fiable, permet donc de former la caisse 2 et de la remplir dans un espace restreint, les postes de formage et de remplissage étant l'un à côté de l'autre le long du carrousel formé par les plateaux supérieur 61 et inférieur 62 et le chemin de guidage 50. De plus, les plateaux supérieur 61 et inférieur 62 et le chemin de guidage 50 permettent de déplacer la caisse 2 le long de la ligne d'encaissage tout en maintenant les rabats formant le fond de la caisse 2 pliés en position fermée. Par ailleurs, un tel agencement permet de déplacer la caisse 2 avec son fond maintenu plié en position fermée quel que soit le contenu à emballer, notamment aussi bien des objets incompressibles que des objets compressibles et fragiles.The machine 1 according to the present invention, of simple and reliable structure, thus makes it possible to form the body 2 and to fill it in a small space, the forming and filling stations being next to one another along the carousel formed by the upper trays 61 and lower 62 and the guide path 50. In addition, the upper trays 61 and lower 62 and the guide path 50 allow the body 2 to be moved along the packing line while maintaining the flaps forming the bottom of the box 2 folded in the closed position. Moreover, such an arrangement makes it possible to move the box 2 with its bottom maintained folded in the closed position regardless of the content to be packaged, including both incompressible objects that compressible objects and fragile.

On souligne ici que des moyens de transport 6 sous la forme d'un carrousel rotatif avec trois cavités de réception disposées à 120° l'une de l'autre, permet de maintenir une cadence élevée : lorsque les rabats du fond d'une première caisse 2 ont été repliés au poste de constitution de fond (au voisinage des moyens de mise en volume 4) et que le carrousel a été amené à tourner de 120° pour amener la première caisse 2 au poste de remplissage, une cavité de réception 61b se situe en regard de l'évidement 62a du plateau inférieur 62 et une seconde caisse 2 peut être mise en volume et ses rabats de fond repliés au poste de constitution de fond. Une fois que les opérations de remplissage de la première caisse et de constitution du fond de la seconde caisse sont finis, le carrousel est amené à tourner de 120° et la première caisse se situe alors au poste de fermeture, à partir de laquelle elle peut être fermée et évacuer, tandis que simultanément la seconde caisse se situe au poste de remplissage pour être remplie et qu'une troisième caisse a ses rabats de fond repliés en position fermée au poste de constitution de fond.It is emphasized here that transport means 6 in the form of a rotary carousel with three receiving cavities arranged at 120 ° from one another, makes it possible to maintain a high rate: when the bottom flaps of a first box 2 were folded to the bottom formation station (in the vicinity of volume setting means 4) and that the carousel was rotated 120 ° to bring the first box 2 to the filling station, a receiving cavity 61b is located opposite the recess 62a of the lower plate 62 and a second box 2 can be put in volume and folded its bottom flaps at the bottom formation station. Once the filling operations of the first box and constitution of the bottom of the second box are finished, the carousel is rotated 120 ° and the first box is then at the closing station, from which it can to be closed and evacuate, while simultaneously the second crate is at the filling station to be filled and a third crate has its bottom flaps folded in the closed position at the bottom formation station.

Il est bien entendu que les modes de réalisation ci-dessus de la présente invention ont été donnés à titre indicatif et non limitatif et que des modifications pourront y être apportées sans que l'on s'écarte pour autant du cadre de la présente invention.It is understood that the above embodiments of the present invention have been given for information and not limitation and that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

Machine (1) automatique d'extraction, de mise en volume, de remplissage et de fermeture de caisse à rabats (2) de type caisse américaine, ladite machine (1) comportant : - des moyens de mise en volume (4) aptes à extraire un flan (3) hors d'un magasin (9) de flans (3), notamment pliés à plat et empilés, et à mettre en volume les parois latérales de la caisse (2), lesdits flans (3) comportant deux grands côtés opposés prolongés chacun aux deux extrémités par deux grands rabats et deux petits côtés opposés prolongés chacun par deux petits rabats ; - des moyens (5) de constitution du fond de la caisse (2) par pliage des petits rabats et des grands rabats destinés à constituer le fond de la caisse, les moyens (5) de constitution du fond de la caisse (2) comprenant des premiers moyens de pliage (51) pour plier la paire de petits rabats en position fermée et des seconds moyens de pliage (52) pour plier la paire de grands rabats en position fermée ; - des moyens (7) de remplissage de la caisse (2) permettant de remplir la caisse (2) par un contenu ; - des moyens de fermeture (8) permettant de solidariser les rabats formant le fond et le couvercle de la caisse (2) avant son évacuation ; et - des moyens de transport (6) permettant de déplacer la caisse (2) le long de la ligne d'encaissage formée des moyens de constitution du fond (5) de la caisse (2) aux moyens de fermeture (8), les moyens de remplissage (7) étant placés en aval des moyens (5) de constitution du fond de la caisse (2) et en amont des moyens de fermeture (8), et les moyens de transport (6) étant aptes à déplacer la caisse (2) le long de la ligne d'encaissage tout en maintenant les rabats formant le fond pliés en position fermée,
la machine (1) étant caractérisée par le fait que les moyens de transport (6) comprennent un moyen de déplacement (61) de la caisse (2) le long de la ligne d'encaissage, un plateau inférieur (62) fixe comportant un évidement (62a) en regard des moyens (5) de constitution du fond de la caisse (2), les premiers moyens de pliage (51) étant placés au-dessus du plateau inférieur (62) et s'étendant le long de la ligne d'encaissage de telle sorte que la paire de grands rabats constituant le fond de la caisse (2) est maintenue pliée en position fermée entre les premiers moyens de pliage (51) et le plateau inférieur (62) lors du déplacement de la caisse (2) par les moyens de déplacement (61) le long de la ligne d'encaissage.Automatic machine (1) for extracting, stacking, filling and closing flap cases (2) of the American box type, said machine (1) comprising: volume-setting means (4) capable of extracting a blank (3) from a magazine (9) of blanks (3), in particular folded flat and stacked, and to make the side walls of the box (2), said blanks (3) having two large opposite sides each extended at both ends by two large flaps and two small opposite sides each extended by two small flaps; means (5) for constituting the bottom of the box (2) by folding the small flaps and large flaps intended to constitute the bottom of the box, the means (5) for constituting the bottom of the box (2) comprising first folding means (51) for folding the pair of small flaps in the closed position and second folding means (52) for folding the pair of large flaps in the closed position; - Means (7) for filling the box (2) to fill the box (2) with a content; - Closing means (8) for securing the flaps forming the bottom and the cover of the box (2) before its evacuation; and transport means (6) making it possible to move the box (2) along the boxing line formed by the means for constituting the bottom (5) of the box (2) to the closing means (8), the filling means (7) being placed downstream of the means (5) for constituting the bottom of the box (2) and in upstream of the closing means (8), and the transport means (6) being able to move the box (2) along the line of casing while maintaining the flaps forming the bottom folded in the closed position,
the machine (1) being characterized by the fact that the transport means (6) comprise a means of displacement (61) of the box (2) along the packing line, a fixed lower plate (62) comprising a recess (62a) opposite the means (5) for constituting the bottom of the box (2), the first folding means (51) being placed above the lower plate (62) and extending along the line of casing so that the pair of large flaps constituting the bottom of the box (2) is kept folded in the closed position between the first folding means (51) and the lower plate (62) during the movement of the box ( 2) by the moving means (61) along the packing line. Machine (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que les moyens de déplacement (61) comprennent un plateau supérieur (61) mobile dans un plan horizontal, le plateau inférieur (62) étant placé au-dessous du plateau supérieur (61), le plateau supérieur (61) comportant au moins une cavité de réception (61b), la ou chaque cavité de réception (61b) étant apte à recevoir une caisse (2) pendant le déplacement de cette dernière le long de la ligne d'encaissage, l'évidement (62a) du plateau inférieur (62) se trouvant en regard d'une cavité de réception (61b) lors de la constitution du fond de la caisse (2) par les moyens (5) de constitution du fond de la caisse (2), les premiers moyens de pliage (51) étant placés entre le plateau supérieur (61) et le plateau inférieur (62) et s'étendant le long de la ligne d'encaissage de telle sorte que la paire de grands rabats constituant le fond de la caisse (2) est maintenue pliée en position fermée entre les premiers moyens de pliage (51) et le plateau inférieur (62) lors du déplacement de la caisse (2) par les moyens de transport (6) le long de la ligne d'encaissage.Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement means (61) comprise an upper plate (61) movable in a horizontal plane, the lower plate (62) being placed below the upper plate (61). ), the upper plate (61) having at least one receiving cavity (61b), the or each receiving cavity (61b) being adapted to receive a box (2) during the displacement of the latter along the line of casing, the recess (62a) of the lower plate (62) facing a receiving cavity (61b) during the constitution of the bottom of the box (2) by the means (5) constituting the bottom of the box (2), the first folding means (51) being placed between the upper plate (61) and the lower plate (62) and extending along the line of packing so that the pair of large flaps constituting the bottom of the box (2) is kept folded in the closed position between the first folding means (51) and the lower plate (62) during the movement of the box (2) by the transport means (6) along the packing line. Machine (1) selon la revendication 2, caractérisée par le fait que la ou chaque cavité de réception (61b) de caisse, de forme rectangulaire, comprend des rails longitudinaux (63) destinés à faire saillie au-dessus de la cavité (61b), le long de chacun des grands côtés de la cavité (61b).Machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the or each receiving cavity (61b) body, rectangular in shape, comprises longitudinal rails (63) for projecting above the cavity (61b) along each of the long sides of the cavity (61b). Machine (1) selon l'une des revendications 2 et 3, caractérisée par le fait que la ou chaque cavité de réception (61b) de caisse, de forme rectangulaire, comprend une butée transversale (64), s'étendant le long de l'un des petits côtés de la cavité (61b) et apte à être déplacée par un vérin entre une position avancée et une position reculée, les moyens de mise en volume (4) étant aptes à plaquer la caisse (2) contre la butée une fois les petits rabats de fond pliés en position fermée.Machine (1) according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the or each receiving cavity (61b) body, rectangular in shape, comprises a transverse stop (64), extending along the l one of the short sides of the cavity (61b) and adapted to be moved by a jack between an advanced position and a retracted position, the volume-setting means (4) being able to press the box (2) against the abutment a folded bottom flaps in the closed position. Machine (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée par le fait que les premiers moyens de pliage (51) comprennent un chemin de guidage fixe (50) se présentant sous la forme d'une tôle, le cas échéant dont la largeur est inférieure à la largeur de la cavité de réception (61b) du plateau supérieur (61), tôle contre laquelle les moyens de mise en volume (4) sont aptes à appuyer les petits rabats de la caisse (2), l'un après l'autre, afin d'initier leur mouvement de pliage.Machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first folding means (51) comprise a fixed guide path (50) in the form of a sheet, if any of which the width is less than the width of the receiving cavity (61b) of the upper plate (61), plate against which the volume setting means (4) are able to support the small flaps of the body (2), the one after the other, to initiate their folding movement. Machine (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée par le fait que la ligne d'encaissage s'étend le long d'une trajectoire circulaire, les moyens de transport (6) se présentant sous la forme d'un carrousel.Machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the packing line extends along a circular path, the transport means (6) being in the form of a carousel. Machine (1) selon la revendication 6 prise en dépendance de la revendication 2, le plateau supérieur (61) et le plateau inférieur (62) se présentant ainsi sous la forme d'un carrousel et le plateau supérieur (61) étant un plateau tournant, caractérisée par le fait que le plateau supérieur (61) comporte trois cavités de réception (61b) disposées à 120° l'une de l'autre.Machine (1) according to claim 6 taken in dependence on claim 2, the upper plate (61) and the lower plate (62) being in the form of a carousel and the upper plate (61) being a turntable , characterized in that the upper plate (61) has three receiving cavities (61b) arranged at 120 ° from each other. Machine (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée par le fait que les seconds moyens de pliage (52) comprennent au moins un actionneur de type vérin (52a) placé au-dessous des premiers moyens de pliage (51) pour plier les grands rabats vers le haut.Machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second folding means (52) comprise at least one jack-type actuator (52a) placed below the first folding means (51) to fold the large flaps up. Machine (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisée par le fait que les moyens de mise en volume (4) comprennent un bras robotisé (43) doté d'une tête de préhension (42) apte à saisir un flan (3) disposé à plat dans le magasin (9) et à soulever le flan (3) afin de mettre en volume les parois latérales de la caisse (2) sous l'effet de la gravité et de la manipulation du flan (3) par la tête de préhension (42).Machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the volume setting means (4) comprises a robotic arm (43) with a gripping head (42) capable of gripping a blank (3) laid flat in the magazine (9) and lifting the blank (3) to volume the side walls of the body (2) under the effect of gravity and manipulation of the blank (3) by the gripping head (42). Machine (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisée par le fait que le magasin (9) de flans (3) est un carrousel rotatif.Machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the magazine (9) of blanks (3) is a rotating carousel.
EP17173835.4A 2016-06-29 2017-05-31 Machine for extracting, shaping, filling and closing an american box Active EP3263469B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1601030A FR3053316B1 (en) 2016-06-29 2016-06-29 MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING, VOLUME FILLING, FILLING AND CLOSING AMERICAN BOX

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EP3263469A1 true EP3263469A1 (en) 2018-01-03
EP3263469B1 EP3263469B1 (en) 2019-02-06

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FR (1) FR3053316B1 (en)

Cited By (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109850264A (en) * 2019-02-28 2019-06-07 广州市谊博机械设备有限公司 A kind of trailing type packing case wrapped one machine
DE102019113105A1 (en) * 2019-05-17 2020-11-19 Illinois Tool Works Inc. PACKAGING MACHINE FOR PACKING PRODUCTS IN CARTONES AND METHOD FOR THEREFORE
FR3112330A1 (en) 2020-07-13 2022-01-14 Unista Machine for packing products in an American box type flap box

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112357152B (en) * 2020-10-23 2022-09-27 岳西县经丰智能设备有限公司 Method for carrying out carton packaging on cone yarn

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FR2493805A1 (en) * 1980-11-07 1982-05-14 Thimon Ets Folding feed for container blanks - has powered rotary conveyor with gripping jaws to pass containers to working stations
US4398381A (en) * 1980-12-24 1983-08-16 Durable Packaging Corporation Carton packing station fixture
FR2564422A1 (en) * 1984-05-18 1985-11-22 Realisa Indles Et Robotised flexible station for boxing batches of parallelepipedal articles of varied dimensions
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US5454776A (en) * 1993-10-14 1995-10-03 Durable Packaging Corporation Carton bottom folder and sealer
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FR2267244A1 (en) * 1974-04-11 1975-11-07 Hermier Gonzague Automatic packaging device using cartons - has pivotal table erecting blanks and vertically movable platform
FR2493805A1 (en) * 1980-11-07 1982-05-14 Thimon Ets Folding feed for container blanks - has powered rotary conveyor with gripping jaws to pass containers to working stations
US4398381A (en) * 1980-12-24 1983-08-16 Durable Packaging Corporation Carton packing station fixture
FR2564422A1 (en) * 1984-05-18 1985-11-22 Realisa Indles Et Robotised flexible station for boxing batches of parallelepipedal articles of varied dimensions
EP0202998A1 (en) * 1985-05-20 1986-11-26 Compagnie Gervais-Danone Method and apparatus for erecting and partially closing carton crates or boxes
US5454776A (en) * 1993-10-14 1995-10-03 Durable Packaging Corporation Carton bottom folder and sealer
US20120011814A1 (en) * 2008-11-24 2012-01-19 Niklas Pettersson Manual feed box erector and sealer

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109850264A (en) * 2019-02-28 2019-06-07 广州市谊博机械设备有限公司 A kind of trailing type packing case wrapped one machine
CN109850264B (en) * 2019-02-28 2024-01-26 广州市谊博机械设备有限公司 Follow-up packing box opening and sealing integrated machine
DE102019113105A1 (en) * 2019-05-17 2020-11-19 Illinois Tool Works Inc. PACKAGING MACHINE FOR PACKING PRODUCTS IN CARTONES AND METHOD FOR THEREFORE
FR3112330A1 (en) 2020-07-13 2022-01-14 Unista Machine for packing products in an American box type flap box

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3263469B1 (en) 2019-02-06
FR3053316B1 (en) 2019-04-05
FR3053316A1 (en) 2018-01-05

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