EP3988458A1

EP3988458A1 - Machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats

Info

Publication number: EP3988458A1
Application number: EP21202927.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jose Boix Jaen
Original assignee: Boix Maquinaria SL
Current assignee: Boix Maquinaria SL
Priority date: 2020-10-26
Filing date: 2021-10-15
Publication date: 2022-04-27
Also published as: MX2021012747A; BR102021020923A2; ES2907817A1; PE20220913A1; CN114476171A; ES2907817B2

Abstract

The present invention describes a machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats which comprises two inlet areas (2) for sheets (1) with the corresponding sheet stacking areas (3), two closing male elements (17), a sheet capturing device (5) with a head (7) that incorporates suction cups (6) on two opposite sides in order to catch sheets (1) from any of the stacking areas (3) and deposit them, by activating a mechanism (13), on a guide (15) with brackets (19) to be inserted by means of a pusher (21) into additional brackets (19') comprised by each of the closing male elements (17), which are movable to align with the guide (15) depending on the type of box selected from the stacking area (3) and to subsequently move the sheet (1) over the box to put a lid on it.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a machine for putting lids on conventional cardboard boxes which is capable of putting lids on boxes of different formats without altering the continuous operation of the machine.
The invention is especially applicable to the industry of machinery for manufacturing cardboard boxes.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current state of the art, machines for putting lids on cardboard boxes are already known. These machines incorporate a cardboard sheet inlet area, a sheet capturing system for taking the sheets to a work area where they are deposited in an area wherein there is a closing male element, located at a higher level than the sheet such that, when a specific box passes along a conveyor belt, the closing male element is activated, presses on the sheet and pushes it in order to place it on the box and leave it closed. Before placing the sheet on the box, certain areas of the sheet have been impregnated with glue, such that the box is left with the lid in place and configured to exit the machine.
However, this type of machine is only valid for forming boxes of a single format. In the case of needing to form a box with another format, either due to having a different size or a different external marking, the different sheet must be in the stack of the inlet area, waiting to be captured when the time comes, something that is not feasible using the processes related to the organisation of production.
In the state of the art, there are already machines for putting lids on boxes of different sizes, for which they incorporate two forming male elements. However, this enables increasing performance, but not putting lids on different box formats, without stopping the machine. In this way, this type of machine can put lids on boxes of different sizes, but in individualised productions.
The present invention solves this problem by incorporating a modified capturing system in the machine which is able to capture sheets from two stacking areas, so that the sheets are separated by format and the organisation of the machine is the that which decides from where the sheet is to be captured at all times.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention describes a machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats which comprises two sheet inlet areas with the corresponding sheet stacking areas, a sheet capturing device and a work area, where two closing male elements are located. The machine also comprises a guide for placing the sheets, a gluing device for applying glue on the sheets, and a pusher for moving the sheets from the guide to the work area.
The closing male elements can be moved according to the longitudinal direction of the machine so that any of them can be placed aligned with the guide and work with the sheet intended to be placed on a box which is to receive the lid.
However, the sheet capturing device is the differentiating component with respect to known machines, insofar as it is configured to be able to capture sheets from either of the two stacking areas and deposit them on the guide. To this end, the sheet capturing device comprises a head configured by means of a segment to which fixing arms are attached, preferably perpendicularly to form a sort of grid. A series of suction cups are located on each of the arms, on two opposite sides, so that the suction cups are arranged to be able to capture sheets through the two opposite areas of the grid configured by the head and thus be able to capture sheets from each of the stacking areas.
The sheet capturing device also incorporates a rotation lever, attached to the head, which is activated by a mechanism that is responsible for transmitting the rotational movement to the head and, therefore, to the suction cups. The rotation lever causes the sheet capturing device to go from a practically vertical position for capturing sheets to a horizontal position for depositing the sheets on the guide.
Furthermore, the sheet capturing device also incorporates a casing that incorporates a track that fits into a rail along which it is able to slide.
Moreover, the guide comprises two brackets, on which the sheets are deposited, which are located on additional rails so that the separation between the brackets can be adjusted to accommodate sheets of different sizes. The brackets can be moved synchronously so that the centre of the guide is always unchanged. In this way, the sheet is always centred with respect to the closing male element located opposite it.
Furthermore, each of the closing male elements incorporates a supplementary guide that incorporates a pair of supplementary brackets that aligned with the brackets of the guide whereon the sheets are deposited.
With this configuration, the sheet capturing device can be moved between any of the two sheet stacking areas, to capture a sheet through the corresponding area of the head in order to be deposited on the guide brackets and subsequently transferred by means of a pusher to the work area along the supplementary brackets of the closing male element which is working so that it presses on it and places it on the box which is to receive the lid.
The gluing system is preferably located at the ends of the brackets closest to the work area, so that, while they are pushed in order to be placed on the supplementary brackets, the sheets are impregnated with glue at the ends parallel to the brackets and they remain located on the supplementary brackets with the glue already applied.
Although the movement is very fast, each of the supplementary brackets preferably incorporates a supplementary profile, so that the sheets are raised with respect to them. This prevents the glue from coming in contact with these brackets, since the glue is applied to the sheets along the lower area, which is the one that faces the boxes which are to receive the lid, which circulate underneath. The placement of the supplementary profiles can be adjusted so that the distance between them varies and thus enables different positions of the glue with respect to the sheet.
A final alternative configuration consists of incorporating suction cups on the closing male elements to fix the sheets and make the process for placing lids more precise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To complete the description of the invention, and for the purpose of helping to make the features thereof more readily understandable, according to a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is included wherein, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following figures have been represented:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the machine of the invention wherein two sheet inlet areas, the capturing system, two areas for putting lids on and the outlet area of the box that has already receive the lid are shown. Arrows are also shown which represent the inlet and outlet direction with respect to the machine of the boxes which are to receive a lid.
Figure 2 represents an elevation view of the machine wherein the sheet capturing device and the two stacking areas are located.
Figure 3 represents an elevation view of the machine wherein the sheet capturing device has been moved to one of the two stacking areas for capturing a sheet.
Figure 4 represents an elevation view of the machine wherein the sheet capturing device has rotated to deposit the captured sheet on the guide.
Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the machine wherein the sheet capturing device is in the process of depositing a sheet on the guide.
Figure 6 represents a view of a sheet located on the guide brackets with the pusher that is going to introduce it onto the supplementary brackets of the corresponding closing male element.
Figure 7 represents an enlargement of the guide and of the sheet capturing device represented in Figure 5.
Figure 8 represents a perspective view of the cardboard sheet capturing system holding a sheet on one side and showing that the suction cups are located on both sides.
Figure 9 represents a perspective view of the capturing system represented in Figure 7 from the opposite side holding a sheet with the suction cups on the other side.
Figure 10 represents a perspective view of a closing male element with an enlargement of a cross-sectioned supplementary bracket to show in detail the supplementary profile that it incorporates to avoid contact with the glue deposited on the sheet.
Figure 11 represents a perspective view of the closing male element seen from below, showing suction cups for capturing the sheet and the folders intended to act on the sheet once it is placed in the box to bend the ends.

A list of the references used in the figures is provided below:

1. Cardboard sheet.
2. Inlet area.
3. Sheet stacking area.
4. Work area.
5. Sheet capturing device.
6. Suction cups.
7. Head.
8. Height-regulating segment of the suction cups.
9. Fixing arms.
10. Rotation lever.
11. Casing.
12. Track.
13. Mechanism.
14. Rail.
15. Guide.
16. Supplementary profile.
17. Closing male elements.
18. Glue.
19. Brackets.
19'. Supplementary brackets.
20. Additional rail.
21. Pusher.
22. Folders.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats that is able to capture the sheets (1) from two different stacking areas (3), so that the machine does not need to stop to change the format and go from putting lids on a first type of box to putting lids on a second type of box.
To do this, as shown in Figure 1, the machine incorporates two inlet areas (2) for cardboard sheets (1), responsible for acting as the lid of the boxes, which end in the corresponding sheet stacking areas (3), each located on one side of a sheet capturing device (5) responsible for transferring the sheets (1) from the stacking area (3) to a guide (15) from where a pusher (21) will transfer them to the work area (4), wherein there are two closing male elements (17) intended for placing the lids on the boxes which are to receive lids.
The boxes which are to receive lids circulate through the machine as indicated by the arrows in an area below the work area (4) where the guide (15) is located. Thus, to place the sheet (1) on the box, the closing male element (17) only has to press the sheet (1) to bring it onto the box and activate folders (22) which are responsible for folding the perimeter areas of the sheet (1), wherein previously some glue beads (18) have been applied, to place them around the open area of the box and thus remain definitively closed.
Located opposite the guide (15) and centred with respect to it is one of the closing male elements (17) that is working. Each of the closing male elements (17), as represented in Figure 6 and in more detail in Figures 10 and 11, incorporates supplementary brackets (19') that are aligned with the brackets (19) of the guide (15) to carry out the transfer of the sheets (1). The positions of the closing male elements (17) are interchangeable, so that it is possible to select which of the two is going to work in order to be positioned opposite and centred with respect to the guide (15), depending on what is required at that time.
Figure 2 shows the location of the two sheet stacking areas (3), the sheet capturing device (5), with suction cups (6) on both sides and the guide (15) where the sheets from the stacking area (3) will be located.
Figures 3 to 5 show the sheet capturing device (5) in different positions along the path from the stacking area (3) to the guide (15).
Figure 6 shows a closing male element (17) with the supplementary brackets (19') thereof aligned with the brackets (19) of the guide (15) where a sheet (1) is located. A pusher (21) can be observed which is going to be responsible for transferring the sheet (1) from an initial position in the brackets (19) to a final position in the supplementary brackets (19'). The pusher (21) is made up of a plate that is attached to a telescopic guide driven by a motor by means of an arm.
Figures 8 and 9 show the sheet capturing device (5). As can be seen in the figures, the device (5) comprises a head (7) that incorporates a segment (8) and fixing arms (9) perpendicularly attached to the segment (8) and in which suction cups (6) are placed, located on two opposite sides of the arms (9) in order to be oriented in two opposite directions of the head (7). The suction cups (6) can slide along the fixing arms (9) just as the arms (9) can slide along the segment (8), which performs the functions of a height regulator of the arms (9) and, therefore, of the suction cups (6), so that both components (6, 9) can be fixed in certain positions depending on the size of the cardboard sheet (1) to be worked with.
The head (7) is linked to a rotation lever (10) that is activated by a mechanism (13) responsible for transmitting the rotation movement so that the head (7) can move from a position with the sheets (1) practically vertical, as they are captured from the stacking areas (3), to a position with the sheets (1) horizontal, as they are deposited on the guide (15).
Furthermore, the sheet capturing device (5) incorporates a casing (11) having a track (12) for fixing to a rail (14) along which it can slide, so that the capturing device (5) can be moved to capture sheets (1) from either of the two sheet stacking areas (3).
The rotation lever (10) causes the head (7) to rotate with the sheet (1) to be deposited on the guide (15).
Moreover, the guide (15) incorporates brackets (19) whereon the sheets (1) rest. The brackets (19) rest on additional rails (20), as reflected in Figure 7, by means of which they can be moved closer to or away from each other to adjust to the size of the work sheet (1). This movement of the brackets (19) preferably occurs symmetrically, so that the centre of the guide (15) does not vary in position.
Furthermore, in the event that the sheet (1) is intended to be placed by the second closing male element (17), the closing male elements (17) can move according to the longitudinal axis of the machine so that any of them can be aligned through the supplementary brackets (19') with the brackets (19) of the guide (15) and thus remain in position to be able to receive a sheet already glued to press on it and take it onto the box to receive a lid in order to subsequently activate the folders (22) and leave the sheet (1) definitively placed on the box.
The gluing system that the machine incorporates may consist of applicators or simply glue applicator guns (18).
In one embodiment, the glue (18) is applied during the movement of the sheet (1) along the guide (15) to the work area (4) in order to not slow down the process. In this way, the glue (18) can be applied on the two parallel edges of the sheet (1) that rest on the brackets (19) of the guide (15), also being applied on the other two complementary edges of the box intended to be closed by the sheet (1), so that it is ensured that the four edges of the box, with the sheet (1) already in place, have glue (18) applied and the perimeter closure is ensured. The glue applicators (18) have not been represented in the figures as they are sufficiently known elements.
Furthermore, once a sheet (1) has been impregnated with a glue bead (18), since the glue bead (18) is located in the lower area of the sheet (1), which is the area that faces the box where it is intended to be located, to avoid contact of the glue (18) with the supplementary brackets (19'), each of these brackets (19') incorporates a supplementary profile (16) in the innermost area so that the sheet (1) is slightly raised, the area impregnated with glue (18) being cantilevered, as shown in Figure 10. This supplementary profile (16) can be moved with respect to the supplementary bracket (19') in which it is located to facilitate different positions of the glue bead (18) on the sheet (1).
As shown in Figure 11, the closing male elements (17) can incorporate suction cups to fix the sheet (1) and move it in a more controlled way until depositing it on the box. The folders (22) can also be seen in this figure, which are located peripherally on the sheet (1) so that they act on the sheet (1) from the moment it is located on the box, until the end of the movement.
Finally, it must be taken into account that the present invention must not be limited by the embodiment described herein. Other configurations may be carried out by those skilled in the art based on the present description.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

A machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats comprising a sheet inlet area (2) with a sheet stacking area (3), a sheet capturing device (5), a work area (4) comprising a closing male element (17), a guide (15) for placing the sheets (1), a pusher to transfer the sheets to the work area (4) and a gluing device configured to apply glue on a sheet (1), the machine being characterised in that:
- it comprises a second sheet inlet area (2) with the corresponding second sheet stacking area (3),

- it comprises a second closing male element (17) in the work area (4),

- the guide (15) comprises two brackets (19) for placing the sheets (1),

- the sheet capturing device (5) in turn comprises:
- a head (7) configured by means of a segment (8) and fixing arms (9), wherein suction cups (6) are located, the arms (9) being attached to the segment (8),

- a rotation lever (10), attached to the head (7), which is activated by a mechanism (13) responsible for transmitting the rotation movement to the head (7), and

- a casing (11) including a track (12),

wherein:
- the track (12) of the casing (11) fits on a rail (14) along which it is able to slide,

- the brackets (19) of the guide (15) are attached to an additional rail (20) along which they can slide,

- the suction cups (6) are located in two opposite planes of the head (7),

- the closure male elements (17) are able to move,
such that:
- the brackets (19) of the guide (15) can move between them to adapt to the size of the sheet (1) to be accommodated,

- either of the two closing male elements (17) can be positioned aligned with the guide (15) to work on the sheet (1),

- the capturing device (5) can move along the rail (14) between any of the two sheet stacking areas (3), to capture a sheet (1) and rotate to deposit the sheet (1) in the guide (15) to be subsequently transferred to the work area (4) so that the corresponding closing male element (17) places it on the box which is to receive a lid.
The machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats, according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the brackets (19) of the guide (15) incorporates a supplementary profile (16) intended to support the sheets (1), which are raised to avoid contact of the brackets (19) with the glue (18).
The machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats, according to claim 2, characterised in that the supplementary profiles (16) can be moved with respect to the respective brackets (19) on which they are located.
The machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats, according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the movement of the brackets (19) is synchronised, so that the centre of the guide (15) is always unchanged.
The machine for putting lids on boxes of different formats, according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the closing male elements (17) incorporates a pair of additional fixed brackets (19') with which the brackets (19) of the guide (15) are aligned.