EP3530578A1

EP3530578A1 - Packaging machine and related operating method

Info

Publication number: EP3530578A1
Application number: EP19158941.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enrico ROSSETTO; Gianpaolo BENOTTO
Original assignee: CMA 2 Srl Costruzioni Meccaniche Auotomazioni
Current assignee: Cma 2 Srl Costruzioni Meccaniche Automazioni
Priority date: 2018-02-22
Filing date: 2019-02-22
Publication date: 2019-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-22
Also published as: IT201800002950A1; EP3530578B1

Abstract

A packaging machine (1) comprising: a supporting framework (2) resting on the ground; a linear conveyor (3) adapted to feed said object (100) along a substantially straight and horizontal path (p); a pair of movable shoulders (4), which are arranged one in front of the other above the linear conveyor (3), so as to define a longitudinal aisle (7); and a first moving device (5) selectively adapted to move the movable shoulders (4) towards or away from one another; each movable shoulder (4) being provided with a first folding assembly (10), which is located inside the longitudinal aisle (7) and adapted to L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding lateral flap (102a) of the flat sheet (102) upwards and substantially against the superjacent lateral side of the product to be packaged (101), a second folding assembly (15), which is located at the outlet of the longitudinal aisle (7) and adapted to L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding front flap (102b) of the flat sheet (102) upwards and substantially against the superjacent front side of the product to be packaged (101), and a third folding assembly (16), which is located at the inlet of said longitudinal aisle (7) and adapted to L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding rear flap (102c) of the flat sheet (102) upwards and substantially against the superjacent rear side of the product to be packaged (101).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102018000002950 filed on 22/02/2018 .

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a packaging machine and to the related operating method.
More in detail, the present invention relates to a packaging machine capable of bending, in a fully automatic manner, a large rectangular honeycomb cardboard sheet, which is placed to cover the base of a stack or pack of substantially parallelepiped-shaped, wood panels. Use to which the following description will make explicit reference without thereby losing generality.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, the packaging machines that are used to package a succession of stacks of large wood panels currently comprise: a linear roller conveyor which is capable of feeding, parallel to its longitudinal axis, an object formed by the stack or pack of wood panels and by two large, substantially rectangular-shaped, honeycomb cardboard sheets that are placed to cover the base and the top of the pack of panels and moreover protrude in cantilever manner from the four vertical sides of the pack of panels; two movable shoulders that are arranged one in front of the other immediately above the linear conveyor, extend parallel to the feeding direction of the load, and are capable of moving on the linear conveyor perpendicularly to the feeding direction of the load; and an electrically-operated moving device that, on command, is capable of moving the two movable shoulders on the linear conveyor one towards the other, orthogonally to the feeding direction of the load, so as to arrange the two movable shoulders in abutment against the two lateral sides of the pack of panels.
Each movable shoulder of the machine, in turn, is provided with a first folding assembly which is located at the height of the top cardboard sheet and is capable of L-bending the facing protruding lateral flap of the top cardboard sheet downwards and against the lateral side of the pack of panels; and a second folding assembly which is located at the height of the bottom cardboard sheet and is capable of L-bending the facing protruding lateral flap of the bottom cardboard sheet upwards and against the lateral side of the pack of panels.
In the most sophisticated packaging machines, each movable shoulder of the machine is additionally provided with a third folding assembly which is located near the protruding flap of the top cardboard sheet extending in cantilever manner from the front or rear side of the pack of panels and is capable of L-bending the aforesaid protruding flap downwards and against the front or rear side of the pack of panels; and with a fourth folding assembly which is located near the protruding flap of the bottom cardboard sheet extending in cantilever manner from the front or rear side of the pack of panels and is capable of L-bending the aforesaid protruding flap upwards and against the front or rear side of the pack of panels.
Although working very well, the packaging machines currently on the market are not able to quickly bend the entire honeycomb cardboard sheet, so as to form, on their own, the honeycomb cardboard tray that accommodates the base or the top of the stack or pack of wood panels. Accordingly, the palletizing lines for wood-panel packs are currently equipped with two packaging machines of the type described above, placed one after the other.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to improve the packaging machines currently on the market so as to increase the hourly productivity of the palletizing line.
In compliance with these aims, according to the present invention there is provided a packaging machine as defined in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims dependent thereon.
According to the present invention there is moreover provided an operating method of a packaging machine as defined in Claim 13 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims dependent thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are two isometric views of a packaging machine realized according to the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity's sake;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are isometric views of the front part of the packaging machine shown in Figure 1, in different operating configurations and with parts removed for clarity's sake;
Figure 6 is an isometric view of a movable shoulder of the packaging machine shown in Figure 1, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity's sake; whereas
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate some steps of the operation of the packaging machine shown in Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity's sake.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, number 1 denotes as a whole a packaging machine particularly adapted to automatically bend the flat honeycomb cardboard sheet, or other similar semi-rigid protective material, of an object/ item 100 comprising: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, product/body to be packaged 101, and a flat honeycomb cardboard sheet 102, or other similar protective material, which is placed to cover the base of the product to be packaged 101 and moreover protrudes in cantilever manner from the four vertical sides or faces of the product to be packaged 101.
Preferably, furthermore, the flat honeycomb cardboard sheet 102 or the like is substantially rectangular in shape.
More in detail, the packaging machine 1 is particularly adapted to fold the four protruding flaps of a flat honeycomb cardboard sheet 102, or other semi-rigid protective material, that is located beneath a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, solid and large product to be packaged 101, so as to form a large honeycomb cardboard tray that accommodates and protects the base of the product to be packaged 101 and, in turn, is suitable to form the base of a large block which is easily transportable and substantially parallelepiped-shaped, traditionally called a pallet or palletized load.
Preferably, the product to be packaged 101 furthermore consists of a stack or pack of substantially rectangular-shaped panels made of wood or other material.
In other words, the packaging machine 1 is particularly adapted to automatically bend the four flaps of the flat honeycomb cardboard sheet 102, or other semi-rigid protective material, that protrude in cantilever manner from the base of a stack or pack of panels 101 made of wood or other material, so as to form a large, substantially rectangular-shaped honeycomb cardboard tray, that accommodates and protects the base of the stack or pack of panels 101 made of wood or other material.
Clearly, the stack or pack of panels can be replaced by any other large-sized, substantially parallelepiped-shaped article.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, firstly the packaging machine 1 comprises: a rigid supporting framework 2 which is preferably made of metal girders and is adapted to stably rest on and, optionally, be anchored to the ground; and a linear conveyor 3 which is located on the upper part of supporting framework 2 and is adapted to feed, along a substantially straight and horizontal path p, the object 100 consisting of the flat honeycomb cardboard sheet 102 or the like, with the product to be packaged 101 resting in the middle.
More in detail, the linear conveyor 3 is preferably structured so as to be able to selectively feed the object 100 along path p, in two substantially horizontal directions d₁ and d₂ opposite to each other.
Preferably the object 100, i.e. the ensemble made up of the product to be packaged 101 and the flat sheet 102, is moreover arranged roughly straddling the mid-plane M of the linear conveyor 3.
In the example shown, in particular, the linear conveyor 3 is preferably a motorised roller conveyor that preferably has an electric motor capable of rotating the rollers in both directions, so as to be able to selectively move the object 100 forward or backward in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the same conveyor.
Alternatively, the linear conveyor 3 could also be a succession of preferably bidirectional, electrically-operated belt conveyors.
The packaging machine 1 furthermore comprises: a pair of movable shoulders 4 that are arranged one in front of the other directly above the feeding plane of the linear conveyor 3, preferably in a substantially specular position on opposite sides of the conveyor mid-plane M, extend parallel to the feeding path p of object 100, and are fixed on the supporting framework 2 so as to be able to move horizontally above the linear conveyor 3, substantially perpendicular to the feeding path p of object 100; and a preferably electrically-operated, moving device 5 which is adapted to move the two movable shoulders 4 one towards and away from the other, horizontally and orthogonally to feeding path p.
More in detail, the two movable shoulders 4 define, above linear conveyor 3, a substantially straight and horizontal longitudinal aisle 7 along which the object 100 is fed.
The moving device 5, on the other hand, is selectively adapted to arrange the two movable shoulders 4 in abutment against the two opposite lateral sides of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. of the stack or pack of wood panels, which is temporarily stationary between the two movable shoulders 4, preferably so as to centre the object 100 to the mid-plane M of linear conveyor 3.
Preferably, the moving device 5 is moreover capable of moving/displacing the two movable shoulders 4 in a synchronized manner, so as to be able to bring substantially at the same time the two movable shoulders 4 into abutment against the two opposite lateral sides of the product to be packaged 101 which is temporarily stationary between the two movable shoulders 4, i.e. into abutment against the two opposite lateral sides of the stack of wood panels which is temporarily stationary between the two movable shoulders 4.
With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 6, each movable shoulder 4, in turn, preferably comprises: a rigid frame 8 with a substantially gantry structure, which is directly fixed to the supporting framework 2, preferably beneath the linear conveyor 3, with the capability of freely moving in an horizontal direction perpendicular to the feeding path p, stands in a cantilever manner above the linear conveyor 3 in a substantially vertical direction, and finally extends parallel to the feeding path p and the conveyor mid-plane M; and preferably a longitudinal beam 9 which is firmly fixed to the rigid frame 8 in a substantially horizontal position and above the feeding plane of linear conveyor 3, so as to be substantially parallel to the feeding path p and the conveyor mid-plane M, and is adapted to abut against the lateral side of the product to be packaged 101 that is temporarily stationary between the two movable shoulders 4.
In addition, each movable shoulder 4 is provided with a first folding assembly 10 which is located inside the longitudinal aisle 7 and is selectively adapted to L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding lateral flap 102a of flat sheet 102 upwards and substantially against the superjacent lateral face or side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. against the superjacent lateral face or side of the stack of panels.
More in detail, the folding assembly 10 is preferably fixed to the rigid frame 8 beneath the longitudinal beam 9 and at the height of the flat sheet 102, i.e. at the height of the feeding plane of linear conveyor 3, and is preferably vertically movable so as to be able to lift and L-bend upwards the facing/adjacent protruding lateral flap 102a of flat sheet 102, substantially against the superjacent lateral face or side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. against the superjacent lateral face or side of the stack of wood panels.
Preferably, the folding assembly 10 moreover extends inside the longitudinal aisle 7, substantially for the whole length of the same longitudinal aisle 7.
With reference to Figures 1 to 6, in the example shown, in particular, the folding assembly 10 preferably comprises: a longitudinal rod 11 that extends parallel to longitudinal beam 9, i.e. substantially horizontally, beneath the longitudinal beam 9 and is butt fixed to the two vertical uprights of rigid frame 8 with the capability of moving in the vertical direction; an electrically-operated moving device 12 which is preferably interposed between the rigid frame 8 and the longitudinal rod 11 and is adapted to move the longitudinal rod 11 along the vertical uprights of rigid frame 8, clearly in the vertical direction; a comb-like structure 13 protruding in cantilever manner from the longitudinal rod 11 and towards the conveyor mid-plane M, preferably in a substantially horizontal direction; and preferably also a set of vertical idle wheels 14 that lie on planes orthogonal to the conveyor mid-plane M, and are fixed in axially rotatable manner each to the distal end of a respective tooth/prong of the comb-like structure 13.
Preferably, the moving device 12 moreover includes a pair of double-acting pistons, or similar linear actuators, that are arranged in a substantially vertical position, between the longitudinal rod 11 and the superjacent upper crosspiece of rigid frame 8.
In addition, with reference to figures 1 to 6, each movable shoulder 4 is moreover provided with a second folding assembly 15 which is located at a first end of the longitudinal aisle 7 and is adapted to selectively L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102 (i.e. the protruding flap of flat sheet 102 extending in cantilever manner from the front side of the product to be packaged 101) upwards and substantially against the superjacent front face or side of the product to be packaged 101; and a third folding assembly 16, which is located at a second end of longitudinal aisle 7 and is adapted to selectively L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102 (i.e. the protruding flap of flat sheet 102 extending in cantilever manner from the rear side of the product to be packaged 101) upwards and substantially against the superjacent rear face or side of the product to be packaged 101.
More in detail, the folding assembly 15 is located at the outlet of longitudinal aisle 7, beneath the feeding plane of linear conveyor 3, and is adapted to selectively protrude in cantilever manner above the feeding plane of linear conveyor 3 (see Figure 3), so as to be able to lift and L-bend upwards the adjacent protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102, against the superjacent front side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. against the superjacent front side of the stack or pack of panels.
Preferably, the folding assembly 15 is moreover firmly fixed to the rigid frame 8 of movable shoulder 4 so as to be able to move horizontally and transversely to the feeding path p of object 100, together with the folding assembly 10.
In other words, the folding assembly 15 is preferably fixed to the rigid frame 8, more or less aligned with the front vertical upright of the frame.
On the other hand, the folding assembly 16 is located at the inlet of longitudinal aisle 7, beneath the feeding plane of linear conveyor 3, and is adapted to selectively protrude in cantilever manner above the feeding plane of linear conveyor 3, so as to be able to lift and L-bend upwards the protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102, against the superjacent rear side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. against the superjacent rear side of the stack or pack of panels.
Preferably, the folding assembly 16 is moreover firmly fixed to the rigid frame 8 of movable shoulder 4 so as to be able to move horizontally and transversely to the feeding path p of object 100, together with the folding assembly 10 and the folding assembly 15.
In other words, the folding assembly 16 is preferably additionally fixed to the rigid frame 8, more or less aligned with the rear vertical upright of the frame.
With reference to Figure 6, in particular, the folding assembly 15 is preferably rigidly fixed to the distal end of a support bracket 18 that protrudes in cantilever manner from the rigid frame 8 at the lower end of the front vertical upright, and extends more or less towards the conveyor mid-plane M while remaining beneath the linear conveyor 3.
Preferably, the folding assembly 15 moreover comprises: a double-acting piston 19 or similar linear actuator, which is fixed to the distal end of support bracket 18 in vertical position, with the movable rod turned upwards; and a folding head 20 that is fixed to the distal end of the movable rod and is shaped so as to L-bend upwards the protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102 when the piston 19 lifts the folding head 20 and arranges the head above the resting plane of the flat sheet 102 (see Figure 3) that obviously lies/rests on the feeding plane of linear conveyor 3.
Preferably, the folding head 20 is furthermore provided with a second double-acting piston 21 or similar linear actuator, which is arranged horizontally with the movable rod oriented parallel to the mid-plane M, and is selectively adapted to push a portion of the folding head 20 into abutment against the adjacent front face or side of the product to be packaged 101 (see Figure 3).
Similarly to the folding assembly 15, the folding assembly 16 is preferably rigidly fixed to the distal end of a support bracket 22 that protrudes in cantilever manner from the rigid frame 8 at the lower end of the rear vertical upright, and extends more or less towards the conveyor mid-plane M while remaining beneath the linear conveyor 3.
Preferably, the folding assembly 16 moreover comprises: a double-acting piston 23 or similar linear actuator, which is fixed to the distal end of support bracket 22 in vertical position, with the movable rod turned upwards; and a folding head 24 which is fixed to the distal end of the movable rod and is shaped so as to L-bend upwards the protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102 when the piston 23 lifts the folding head 24 and arranges the head above the resting plane of the flat sheet 102 that obviously rests on the linear conveyor 3.
Similarly to the folding head 20, also the folding head 24 is preferably provided with a second double-acting piston 25 or similar linear actuator, which is arranged horizontally with the movable rod oriented parallel to the mid-plane M, and is adapted to selectively push a portion of the folding head 24 into abutment against the adjacent rear face or side of the product to be packaged 101.
With particular reference to figures 1 to 6, preferably each protruding lateral flap 102a of flat sheet 102 is preferably provided with two foldable end tabs 102e, each of which can be L-folded against the front or rear side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. the stack or pack of panels, preferably placing itself underneath the adjacent front 102b or rear 102c protruding flap of flat sheet 102.
In other words, each end tab 102e of protruding lateral flap 102a is preferably adapted to be L-folded against the front or rear side of the product to be packaged 101 before the adjacent front 102b or rear 102c protruding flap.
Clearly, each end tab 102e of the protruding lateral flap 102a could also be L-folded against the front or rear side of the product to be packaged 101 after the adjacent front 102b or rear 102c protruding flap, so as to overlap the latter.
In addition, each movable shoulder 4 is preferably moreover provided with a fourth folding assembly 26, which is located at the outlet of longitudinal aisle 7 and is adapted to L-bend the front end tab 102e of the facing/ adjacent protruding lateral flap 102a of flat sheet 102 towards the front side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. towards the front side of the stack or pack of panels, preferably while also firmly gluing said end tab 102e on the adjacent protruding front flap 102b of the same flat sheet; and/or a fifth folding assembly 27 which is located at the inlet of longitudinal aisle 7 and is adapted to L-bend the rear end tab 102e of the facing/adjacent protruding lateral flap 102a of flat sheet 102 towards the rear side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. of the stack or pack of panels, preferably while also firmly gluing said end tab 102e on the adjacent protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102.
More in detail, the folding assembly 26 is preferably rigidly fixed to the vertical upright of rigid frame 8, immediately above the linear conveyor 3 and substantially next to a first end of the longitudinal rod 11 of folding assembly 10, so as to face the front end tab 102e of the protruding lateral flap 102a of flat sheet 102.
With reference to Figures 1 to 6, preferably the folding assembly 26 comprises, in particular: a double-acting piston 28, or other similar linear actuator, which is rigidly fixed on the side of the vertical upright of rigid frame 8, substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the conveyor mid-plane M, with the movable rod turned towards the conveyor mid-plane M of the and, thus, towards the end tab of the protruding flap 102a; and a folding head 29 which is fixed to the distal end of the movable rod, so as to be brought/ placed by the double-acting piston 28 into abutment against the adjacent vertical corner/edge of the product to be packaged 101.
Preferably, the folding head 29 is additionally shaped so as to be able to L-bend, when pushed in abutment against the adjacent vertical corner/edge of the product to be packaged 101, the front end tab 102e of protruding lateral flap 102a against the front side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. against the front side of the stack or pack of panels, over or underneath the end of the adjacent protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102.
In addition, the folding assembly 26 preferably furthermore comprises a glue-apply device 30 which is located next to the piston 28 and is provided with a glue spraying head 31, which is movable substantially horizontally towards and away from object 100 (see figures 3, 4 and 5) and is adapted to spray a given amount of glue on the portion of protruding front flap 102b that will overlap the front end tab 102e of protruding lateral flap 102a, and/or on the face of front end tab 102e that will be covered by the protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102.
The folding assembly 27, on the other hand, is preferably rigidly fixed to the vertical upright of the rigid frame 8, directly above the linear conveyor 3 and substantially next to the second end of longitudinal rod 11, so as to face the rear end tab 102e of the protruding lateral flap 102a of flat sheet 102.
With particular reference to figures 1 and 6, preferably the folding assembly 27 furthermore comprises: a double-acting piston 32 or other similar linear actuator, which is rigidly fixed on the side of the vertical upright of rigid frame 8, substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the conveyor mid-plane M, with the movable rod turned towards the conveyor mid-plane M and, thus, towards the end tab 102e of protruding flap 102a; and a folding head 33 which is fixed to the distal end of the movable rod, so as to be brought/ placed by the double-acting piston 32 into abutment against the adjacent vertical corner/edge of the product to be packaged 101.
Preferably, the folding head 33 is additionally shaped so as to be able to L-bend, when pushed in abutment against the adjacent vertical corner/edge of the product to be packaged 101, the rear end tab 102e of the protruding lateral flap 102a against the rear side of the product to be packaged 101, i.e. against the rear side of the stack or pack of panels, over or underneath the end of the adjacent protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102.
In addition, the folding assembly 27 preferably furthermore comprises a glue-apply device 34 which is located next to the piston 32 and is provided with a glue spraying head 35, which is movable substantially horizontally towards and away from object 100 and is adapted to spray a given amount of glue on the portion of the protruding rear flap 102c that will overlap the rear end tab of protruding lateral flap 102a and/or on the face of the rear end tab that will be covered by the protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102.
Finally, the packaging machine 1 is provided with an electronic control unit (not shown) which is adapted to command the linear conveyor 3, the moving device 5 of the movable shoulders 4, and the folding assemblies 10, 15, 16, 26 and 27 present on the machine.
Operation of packaging machine 1 will be described below while making explicit reference, for simplicity, to the forming of the honeycomb or similar cardboard tray, beneath a large stack or block of wood panels 101 having a parallelepiped shape. Clearly, the stack or block of panels 101 can be replaced by any other solid and substantially parallelepiped-shaped body having.
First of all, the linear conveyor 3 feeds the stack of panels 101 with the honeycomb or similar cardboard flat sheet 102 underneath, along the longitudinal aisle 7 up to align the rear side of the stack of panels 101 with the inlet of the longitudinal aisle 7 of packaging machine 1.
With reference to Figure 7, the moving device 5 then moves the movable shoulders 4 one towards the other until the longitudinal beams 9 of the two movable shoulders 4 are in abutment against the two opposite lateral sides of the stack of panels 101, preferably so as to align and centre the stack of panels 101 and the honeycomb or similar cardboard flat sheet 102 to the conveyor mid-plane M.
After the object 100 has been centred to the mid-plane M of linear conveyor 3, the folding assemblies 10 present on the two movable shoulders 4 L-bend the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102 upwards, so as to arrange the aforesaid flaps in abutment against the superjacent opposite lateral sides of the stack of panels 101.
After the two folding assemblies 10 have L-bent upwards the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, the folding assemblies 27 present on the two movable shoulders 4 preferably L-bend the rear end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102 towards the rear side of the stack of panels 101.
In addition, after the rear end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102 have been L-bent, the folding assemblies 27 preferably additionally apply glue to the portions of the protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102 that will overlap the rear end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a.
After the two folding assemblies 10 have L-bent upwards the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, and preferably the two folding assemblies 27 have additionally L-bent the rear end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, the folding assemblies 16 present on the two movable shoulders 4 L-bend the protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102 upwards, so as to arrange the aforesaid flap in abutment against the superjacent rear side of the stack of panels 101, preferably over the rear end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a.
Clearly, the rear end tabs 102e of protruding lateral flap 102a could also be L-bent against the rear side of the stack of panels 101 after the protruding rear flap 102c, so as to overlap the latter.
After the two folding assemblies 16 have L-bent the protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102, and preferably the two folding assemblies 27 have L-bent the rear end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, the moving device 5 distances by a few centimetres the movable shoulders 4 from the two opposite lateral sides of the stack of panels 101, and immediately after the linear conveyor 3 moves the stack of panels 101 with the honeycomb or similar cardboard flat sheet 102 underneath, along the longitudinal aisle 7, up to align the front side of the stack of panels 101 with the outlet of the longitudinal aisle 7 of packaging machine 1.
With reference to Figure 8, after the front side has been aligned with the outlet of longitudinal aisle 7, the moving device 5 again brings the movable shoulders 4 in abutment against the two opposite lateral sides of the stack of panels 101, so as to align and centre the stack of panels 101 and the honeycomb or similar cardboard flat sheet 102 to the conveyor mid-plane M.
After the object 100 has again been centred to the mid-plane M of linear conveyor 3, the folding assemblies 10 present on the two movable shoulders 4 L-bend upwards again the parts of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102 that could possibly have detached/moved away from the opposite lateral sides of the stack of panels 101, so as to arrange again the aforesaid flaps in abutment against the superjacent opposite lateral sides of the stack of panels 101.
After the two folding assemblies 10 have again L-bent upwards the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, the folding assemblies 26 present on the two movable shoulders 4 preferably L-bend the front end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102 towards the front side of the stack of panels 101.
In addition, after having L-bent the front end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, the folding assemblies 26 preferably additionally apply glue to the portions of the protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102 that will overlap the front end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a.
After the two folding assemblies 10 have L-bent upwards the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, and preferably the two folding assemblies 26 have additionally L-bent the front end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, the folding assemblies 15 present on the two movable shoulders 4 L-bend upwards the protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102, so as to arrange the aforesaid flap in abutment against the superjacent front side of the stack of panels 101, preferably over the front end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a, thus completing the formation of the honeycomb cardboard tray underneath the stack of panels 101.
Clearly, the front end tabs 102e of the protruding lateral flap 102a could also be L-bent against the front side of the stack of panels 101 after the protruding front flap 102b, so as to overlap the latter.
Once forming of the honeycomb cardboard tray underneath the stack of panels 101 is completed, the moving device 5 distances the movable shoulders 4 from the two opposite lateral sides of the stack of panels 101, and immediately after the linear conveyor 3 moves the stack of panels 101 inferiorly covered by the honeycomb cardboard tray beyond the outlet of longitudinal aisle 7, so that the packaging machine 1 can process a new stack of panels 101.
The advantages connected with the particular structure of the movable shoulders 4 are considerable and remarkable.
A single packaging machine 1 is capable of quickly bending the four flaps of the honeycomb or similar cardboard flat sheet, directly forming therein the entire tray of the palletized load. Accordingly, palletizing lines for wood panel packs can now use a single packaging machine 1, with the drastic reduction in costs that this entails.
It is finally clear that modifications and variations may be made to the packaging machine 1 and its operating method without however departing from the scope of the present invention.
For instance, the packaging machine can firstly form the front part and then the rear part of the honeycomb cardboard tray.
In other words, the linear conveyor 3 first moves the stack of panels 101 with the honeycomb or similar cardboard flat sheet 102 underneath, along the longitudinal aisle 7, up to align the front side of the stack of panels 101 with the outlet of longitudinal aisle 7, so as to allow the two folding assemblies 15 to L-bend the protruding front flap 102b of flat sheet 102, and preferably the two folding assemblies 26 to L-bend the front end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102.
Subsequently, the linear conveyor 3 moves backwards the stack of panels 101 with the flat sheet 102 underneath, still along the longitudinal aisle 7, up to align the rear side of the stack of panels 101 with the inlet of longitudinal aisle 7 of packaging machine 1, so as to allow the two folding assemblies 16 to L-bend the protruding rear flap 102c of flat sheet 102, and preferably the two folding assemblies 27 to L-bend the rear end tabs 102e of the two protruding lateral flaps 102a of flat sheet 102, thus completing the honeycomb cardboard tray.

Claims

A packaging machine (1) adapted to fold the flat sheet of protective material (102) of an object (100) that preferably comprises: a product to be packaged (101) substantially parallelepiped in shape, and a flat sheet of protective material (102) that is placed to cover the base of said product to be packaged (101) and also protrudes in a cantilever manner from the sides of the same product to be packaged (101) ;
said packaging machine comprising: a supporting framework (2) resting on the ground; a linear conveyor (3) which is located on the supporting framework (2) and is adapted to feed said object (100) along a substantially straight and horizontal path (p); a pair of movable shoulders (4) that are arranged one in front of the other above the linear conveyor (3), extend parallel to said path (p) so as to define, above the linear conveyor (3), a longitudinal aisle (7), and are horizontally movable above the linear conveyor (3) substantially perpendicular to said path (p) ; and a first moving device (5) adapted to move said movable shoulders (4) towards and away from one another;
said packaging machine being characterised in that each movable shoulder (4) comprises: a first folding assembly (10) which is located inside the longitudinal aisle (7) and is adapted to L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding lateral flap (102a) of the flat sheet (102) upwards and substantially against the superjacent lateral side of the product to be packaged (101); a second folding assembly (15) which is located at the outlet of said longitudinal aisle (7) and is adapted to L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding front flap (102b) of the flat sheet (102) upwards and substantially against the superjacent front side of the product to be packaged (101); and a third folding assembly (16) which is located at the inlet of said longitudinal aisle (7) and is adapted to L-bend the facing/adjacent protruding rear flap (102c) of the flat sheet (102) upwards and substantially against the superjacent rear side of the product to be packaged (101).
The packaging machine according to Claim 1, wherein said first folding assembly (10) extends inside the longitudinal aisle (7) substantially for the whole length of the same longitudinal aisle (7).
The packaging machine according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each movable shoulder (4) comprises: a rigid frame (8) with a substantially gantry structure, which is fixed on the supporting framework (2) with the capability of moving in a horizontal direction perpendicular to said path (p), and stands in a cantilever manner above the linear conveyor (3); a longitudinal beam (9) which is firmly fixed on said rigid frame (8) in a substantially horizontal position and above the linear conveyor (3), so as to be substantially parallel to said path (p), and is adapted to be arranged in abutment against the lateral side of the product to be packaged (101) stationary between the two movable shoulders (4) .
The packaging machine according to Claim 3, wherein said first folding assembly (10) is fixed to the rigid frame (8) of the movable shoulder (4) beneath the longitudinal beam (9) and at the height of the feeding plane of the linear conveyor (3), and vertically movable so as to be able to lift and L-bend upwards the facing/adjacent protruding lateral flap (102a) of the flat sheet (102).
The packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second folding assembly (15) is located beneath the feeding plane of the linear conveyor (3), and is adapted to protrude in cantilever manner above the feeding plane of the linear conveyor (3) so as to be able to lift and L-bend upwards the protruding front flap (102b) of the flat sheet (102).
The packaging machine according to Claim 5, wherein said second folding assembly (15) is fixed to the rigid frame (8) of the movable shoulder (4).
The packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said third folding assembly (16) is located beneath the feeding plane of the linear conveyor (3), and is adapted to protrude in cantilever manner above the feeding plane of the linear conveyor (3) so as to be able to lift and L-bend upwards the protruding rear flap (102c) of the flat sheet (102).
The packaging machine according to claim 7, wherein said third folding assembly (16) is fixed to the rigid frame (8) of the movable shoulder (4).
The packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each movable shoulder (4) additionally comprises: a fourth folding assembly (26) which is located at the outlet of the longitudinal aisle (7) and is adapted to L-bend the front end tab (102e) of the facing/ adjacent protruding lateral flap (102a) of the flat sheet (102) towards the front side of the product to be packaged (101); and/or a fifth folding assembly (27) which is located at the inlet of the longitudinal aisle (7) and is adapted to L-bend the rear end tab (102e) of the facing/adjacent protruding lateral flap (102a) of the flat sheet (102) towards the rear side of the product to be packaged (101).
The packaging machine according to Claim 9, wherein said fourth folding assembly (26) is additionally adapted to glue the front end tab (102e) to the adjacent protruding front flap (102b) of the flat sheet (102); and/or wherein said fifth folding assembly (27) is additionally adapted to glue the rear end tab (102e) to the adjacent protruding rear flap (102c) of the flat sheet (102).
The packaging machine according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein said fourth (26) and/or said fifth (27) folding assembly/s is/are fixed to the rigid frame (8) of the movable shoulder (4).
The packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the linear conveyor (3) is a motorised roller conveyor.
An operating method of a packaging machine (1) which is adapted to fold the four protruding flaps (102a, 102b, 102c) of a flat sheet of protective material (102) located beneath a product to be packaged (101) substantially parallelepiped in shape, which comprises: a linear conveyor (3) adapted to feed the flat sheet (102) with the product to be packaged (101) on top, along a substantially straight and horizontal path (p); a pair of movable shoulders (4) which are arranged one in front of the other above the linear conveyor (3), extend parallel to said path (p) so as to define, above the linear conveyor (3), a longitudinal aisle (7), and are movable horizontally above the linear conveyor (3) substantially perpendicular to said path (p) ; and a first moving device (5) which is adapted to move said movable shoulders (4) towards or away from one another;
the operating method being characterised in that it comprises the steps of:
- feeding the flat sheet (102) with the product to be packaged (101) on top, along the longitudinal aisle (7), up to align the front or rear side of the product to be packaged (101) with a first end of the longitudinal aisle (7);

- bringing the movable shoulders (4) in abutment against the two opposite lateral sides of the product to be packaged (101);

- L-bending upwards the two protruding lateral flaps (102a) of the flat sheet (102), so as to arrange said protruding lateral flaps (102a) substantially in abutment against the superjacent opposite lateral sides of the product to be packaged (101);

- L-bending upwards the front (102b) or rear (102c) protruding flap of the flat sheet (102), so as to arrange said front (102b) or rear (102c) protruding flap substantially in abutment against the superjacent front or rear side of the product to be packaged (101);

- distancing the movable shoulders (4) from the lateral sides of the product to be packaged (101) and then moving the flat sheet (102) with the product to be packaged (101) on top, along the longitudinal aisle (7), up to align the rear or front side of the product to be packaged (101) with a second end of the longitudinal aisle (7) opposite to said first end;

- bringing again the movable shoulders (4) in abutment against the two opposite lateral sides of the product to be packaged (101);

- L-bending upwards the two protruding lateral flaps (102a) of the flat sheet (102), so as to bring back said protruding lateral flaps (102a) substantially in abutment against the superjacent opposite lateral sides of the product to be packaged (101);

- L-bending upwards the remaining rear (102c) or front (102b) protruding flap of the flat sheet (102), so as to arrange said rear (102c) or front (102b) protruding flap substantially in abutment against the superjacent front or rear side of the product to be packaged (101), thus forming a tray;

- distancing the movable shoulders (4) from the lateral sides of the product to be packaged (101) and then moving beyond the outlet of the longitudinal aisle (7) the flat sheet (102) folded into a tray and having on top the product to be packaged (101) .
The operating method of a packaging machine according to Claim 13, wherein the method additionally includes, after the step of L-bending upwards the two protruding lateral flaps (102a) of the flat sheet (102), the step of L-bending the front end tabs (102e) of the two protruding lateral flaps (102a) of the flat sheet (102) towards the front side of the product to be packaged (101), preferably gluing the same front end tabs (102e) on the protruding front flap (102b) of the flat sheet (102); and the step of L-bending the rear end tabs (102e) of the two protruding lateral flaps (102a) of the flat sheet (102) towards the rear side of the product to be packaged (101), preferably gluing the same rear end tabs (102e) on the protruding rear flap (102b) of the flat sheet (102) .
The operating method of a packaging machine according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the flat sheet (102) having on top the product to be packaged (101) is first fed along the longitudinal aisle (7) up to align the rear side of the product to be packaged (101) with the inlet of the longitudinal aisle (7), and is then fed along the longitudinal aisle (7) up to align the front side of the product to be packaged (101) is aligned with the outlet of the longitudinal aisle (7).