Patent Application
20080081754
Referring to the exemplary embodiments of the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, it is seen that an embodiment of the present invention includes a container forming machine 10 having a mandrel 11 that is capable of movement along a generally path between retracted and extended positions. A feed 13 provides a base panel 41 for a Bliss style container, the base panel 41 including integral end panels 43A and 43B separated from base panel 41 by score lines 45. Base panel 41 also includes side panel flaps 47A and 47B. A pair of sidewall hoppers 20 are provided along both sides of the mandrel path. One or more rollers, plows and guides are provided along the path of the mandrel 11 for forming a Bliss style container, as described hereinbelow.
The exemplary embodiment illustrated in
It is to be understood that while the following is a description of an exemplary embodiment used to form a sidewall 51A on one side of the mandrel, in this embodiment a mirror image set of the same components may also be provided on the other side of the mandrel path. In this embodiment, each sidewall 51A and 51B includes one or more sets of score lines 53 to form diagonal or V-shaped support pillars 55 in the sidewalls. In some embodiments, sidewalls 51A and/or 51B may also be provided with additional score lines 53 to form pillars of different shapes, and/or score lines 56 to form diagonal corner reinforcement panels 57 at one or both ends of the sidewall.
In the illustrated embodiment, two sets of score lines 53 are provided on each sidewall to form two V-shaped pillars 55. However, in other embodiments, a single set of score lines 53 may be provided, such that only a single group of devices is provided on the apparatus or in a machine or method to form such a single pillar in the sidewall. In other embodiments, multiple pillars may be formed on each sidewall, requiring a corresponding number of devices to form such pillars. In some embodiments a different number of pillars (including none) may be provided on first sidewall 51A than on second sidewall 51B.
The sidewalls 51A and 51B are provided in hoppers 20 in generally vertically oriented stacks on either side of the mandrel 11, at locations along the mandrel path that are encountered by the mandrel before the base panel 41 is encountered when the mandrel is moving forward. The sidewalls 51A and 51B are preferably loaded such that orientation of the lowermost sidewall of each stack is generally perpendicular to base panel 41, so that the first or lowermost sidewall 51A or 51B of each stack rests against or is pressed against a side of mandrel 11.
The illustrations of
In the illustrated embodiment of
Referring to
As the mandrel moves forward, the folding initiated by the contact between the discs 61 and the score lines 53 on the sidewall 51 causes the sidewall to slide relative to the mandrel. The upper portion of the sidewall slides toward the center (down), and the lower portion of the sidewalls also slides toward the center (up). The teeth on the grippers 31 and 33 prevent these portions from backsliding, becoming misaligned, or dislodging. Side rollers 64 assist in this movement.
In some embodiments such as that illustrated in the drawings where corners are to be formed, as forward motion of the mandrel continues, panels 57 of the upper and/or lower ends of the sidewalls 51 encounter rollers 66 which are angled relative to the horizontal. Rollers 66 push the bend the panels 57 along score lines 56 forming the corner reinforcement(s); rollers 66 also push the sidewalls toward the center, further defining the V-shaped support pillars 55 along the folds 53 started by the discs 61. As forward motion continues, a set of guides 67 behind the rollers 66 put pressure on the outside edges 58 of the side panel 51, further folding the side panel 51 so that it has the appearance shown in the second phase of
As the mandrel moves forward, the side panel 51 moves from discs 61 to a set of forming guides 63 further along the mandrel path from the discs 61, which further define the folded pillars 55 of the sidewalls as they move forward, preventing them from going back to flat. In some embodiments guides 63 are capable of lateral movement (towards and away from mandrel 11) in order to engage, and then disengage pillars 55. It is to be appreciated that guides 63 should have the same shape as the pillars 51 to be formed. In the illustrated embodiments (
As the mandrel has been moving forward, it has also picked up the base panel 41 which has been sprayed or coated with adhesive at certain locations where it will eventually bond with the sidewalls 51A and 51B. After the V-shaped pillars 55 are formed as described above, two edges 47A and 47B of the base panel (which have adhesive on them) are pressed against portions of the sidewalls using side compression rollers 70 and press plates 72 which press the two edges 47A and 47B of the base panel 41 firmly against the sidewalls 51A and 51B. At this point, the machine stops briefly to allow the adhesive between these surfaces to bond and set the V-shaped pillars in position against panels 47A and 47B. At this point, plates 72 move inward to press side panels 51A and 51B against edges 47A and 47B of the base panel 41. An example of this is shown in the last phase illustrated in of
It is to be appreciated that some embodiments of the present invention may require the formation of additional or fewer V-shaped pillars 55 in each side panel 51A, 51B, that the diagonal corner reinforcement panels 57 or other reinforcement features may be implemented or removed, or that any of the features may need to be moved to other locations on the side panels 51A, 51B. Such requirements may be satisfied by adding, removing or relocating the motion-restricting grippers 34, toothed grippers 31/33, rotating discs 61, side rollers 64, 66, 70 and/or forming guides 63. It is also to be appreciated that such customization may be easily made by utilizing movable and/or removable components, and installing tracks and multiple connection points for said components. It is to be appreciated that any number of reinforcement features, including additional V-shaped pillars or multi-layered paperboard, may be formed by utilizing different combinations of the above forming components.
After the pause, plates 72 retract and mandrel 11 continues forward along the path, forming the remainder of a container in a traditional fashion. The mandrel then retracts, and the process repeats: a base panel 41 is dropped in front of the retracted mandrel 11 while adhesive is applied, another pair of sidewall panels 51 are brought alongside the mandrel path, the rotating discs 61 and guides 63 form the pillars as upper and lower portions of the sidewalls slide along the mandrel, the teeth on the mandrel grippers 31 and/or 33 prevent backsliding, the corners are formed using rollers 66, the mandrel pauses briefly to set the position of the V-shaped pillars 55, then the mandrel moves forward to form the remainder of the box, etc.
It is to be appreciated that any number of discs 61, guides 63, and related devices (toothed mandrel grippers 31 & 33, rollers 66, compression rollers 67, plates 72, etc.) may be provided for each sidewall panel 51A or 51B, depending upon the number of pillars to be formed on the particular sidewall panel.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing specification.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/848,065, filed on Sep. 29, 2006, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60848065 | Sep 2006 | US |
