Patent Grant
8277367
This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/FR2007/001725 filed Oct. 19, 2007, the contents of all which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
This invention relates to a machine for shaping box blanks using cardboard cutouts and in particular “American box”—type cutouts, with or without flaps.
The preparation of a box blank involves a series of operations that are linked together on the shaping machine: —an operation of extracting the cutout that is stored in a storage site, —an operation of erecting the cutout in the form of a box blank, then—an operation of transferring and removing said blank.
The machine therefore comprises a plurality of juxtaposed stations, and in particular: —a storage station, or storage site, of the “fifo” type, where the cardboard cutouts are housed, —a forming station, and—a removal station with, in addition, depending on the case, a filling station that can be combined with the forming station, and a box finishing station or, for special wrappings, one or more stations for operations that consist of adjoining a base and/or a lid.
This type of machine is used in boxing installations, for example, for preparing box blanks that enable diverse and varied products, such as flasks, bottles and the like, to be wrapped and packaged.
In consideration of the wide variety of products to be wrapped, the boxing machines are increasingly versatile, i.e. they are capable of handling cutouts with a wide variety of formats in order to prepare boxes suitable for the products to be packaged.
However, this versatility has a tendency to result in relatively complex and especially bulky machines because they are designed in consideration of the largest format of cutout to be shaped in the form of boxes.
The space available for integrating this type of machine at existing sites is sometimes limited, and this integration can cause, for the operators, working conditions that are not necessarily ideal, in particular with regard to ergonomics.
The operators must indeed be capable of moving around the machine if only to supply it with cardboard cutouts. They must also be capable of moving around the machine to perform adjustments when the cutout formats are changed, or during maintenance, and they must be capable of intervening under good conditions in the event of any incident.
The development of these machines is therefore becoming increasingly complex while the delivery times for these machines are decreasing.
The invention is intended to overcome the disadvantages of the current machines by proposing an original concept that enables, first, the user requirements to be satisfied more easily, whether concerning time periods, the bulk of the machine, and so on.
It is also intended to improve the general ergonomics of the machine and the working conditions of the operators, and in particular the working conditions of the operator responsible for positioning the cutouts in the storage site.
It also enables the interventions on the machine in order to perform the necessary adjustments when changing formats to be minimized.
The original design of the machine also enables high box blank preparation speeds to be reached, and therefore enables the speed over the entire boxing line to be substantially increased.
The machine for shaping cardboard box blanks according to the invention includes, combined on a single chassis: —a storage station, or storage site, of the “fifo” type, in which the cutouts are deposited, —arm-type means with suction cups for picking up said cutouts one by one in said storage site, —arm-type means also for erecting each cutout, and—a downstream conveyor device for taking over and removing the box blanks,
which pick-up and erecting means are combined on the frame of a forming bench that is placed, as a module, between said cutout storage site and said downstream conveyor device,
which bench includes:
This bench for assembly of the cutout in the form of a box blank enables, due to its inclination, the space between the storage site and the downstream portion of the machine to be reduced, and enables a constant space to be provided regardless of the formats of the cutouts to be processed with said machine.
According to another arrangement of the invention, the ramp of the forming bench comprises, in its lower portion, on its lateral corners, safety stops that are stationary, which stops also act as a repository for the cutout, and they are located on an arc of circle of which the center corresponds to the pivot shaft of the extractor arm, which arc of circle passes through the edge of the storage site outlet.
This structural arrangement enables the ergonomics of the machine to be improved. Indeed, having stationary stops that determine a stationary reference point regardless of the cutout formats enables the storage site to have a soleplate that is also stationary. With a stationary storage site soleplate, the operator performs the loading operations, with cutout packets, always at the same height, for example between 55 and 100 cm, and preferably approximately 85 cm.
Also according to the invention, the system for conveying cutouts on the forming bench consists of an endless belt of which the active side is located in the plane of the soleplate of the ramp of said bench, which belt is centered between the two extractor arms and extends between a lower pulley located upstream of the lower repository and an upper pulley located at the level of the upper repository, upstream of the inlet of the forming station, which belt comprises at least one L-shaped cleat of which the active surface, in the form of a heel, serves as a push member for the cutout, which heel acts as a positioning stop for said cutout at the level of the top reference point, at the inlet of said forming station, and it is located clearly downstream of the anchoring point of said L-shaped cleat on said belt so as to avoid any interference between said conveying system and the box blank when the latter is taken over by the transfer arms in order to be brought to the downstream conveyor device.
According to another arrangement of the invention, the belt of the conveying system comprises two diametrally-opposed cleats that push the cutouts in turns, and said two cleats serve, also in turns, as a positioning stop and a repository for said cutouts, at the level of the forming station.
Also according to the invention, the means for maneuvering the arms that transfer the blanks between the forming station and the downstream conveyor device consist of a servomotor and a connecting rod-crankshaft system inserted between the latter and said arms.
The invention also relates to the process for shaping “American box”—type cutouts by means of the machine described above, which process consists of:
Also according to the invention, the process for assembling the cutout by means of transfer and forming arms consists of:
The invention will be further detailed in the following description and appended drawings, provided for indicative purposes, in which:
The machine, diagrammed in
A cutout 1 is shown at the left of the figure, partially assembled; it comprises sides L′ and L″, which can be large or small, and sides l′ and l″, which, conversely, can be small or large. In the figure, the flaps are shown from a single side; the cutout can include them on both sides or be without flaps, in the form of a simple sheath.
These cutouts 1 are prepared in advance and, before being introduced into the machine, they are flat, and delivered in a packet on a pallet, for example.
The forming of these cutouts consists in fact of opening them up in order to create a sheath that constitutes a box blank. The actual box is then made at a so-called pressing station where the flaps are, for example, coated with glue and folded after, depending on the case, an operation of filling the blank with products to be packaged.
This forming machine includes, arranged and assembled on a chassis 2; —a storage site 3 of the “fifo” type for storing cutouts 1, —a module M or bench 4 that comprises all of the elements necessary for the actual forming of said cutouts 1 and—a conveying device 5 arranged downstream in order to take over the box blanks 6 and move them or take them away to other stations or destinations not shown.
The store 3 can comprise, as shown in the figure, a conveyor 13 that moves the cutouts 1 toward the bench 4. The cutouts are inclined toward the outlet; the alignment of their upper edge is downstream of the edge 14 that is arranged at the outlet of the storage site 3.
The upper side of the conveyor 13 acts as a soleplate 15 for the cutouts 1 and this soleplate comprises, beyond the downstream end of said conveyor 13, an extension in the form of a stationary shelf 16 that ends with the edge 14 of the storage site outlet.
The forming of a cutout 1 involves a series of operations that are linked together on the bench 4 by means of a plurality of specific elements detailed below; these different forming elements are all arranged on the same frame 20, which is itself secured to the chassis 2 of the machine. This frame 20 is inclined upward, by an angle of between 30° and 60°, on the order of 45°.
The first operation consists of picking up a cutout 1 in the storage site 3. This operation is performed by means of a pick-up device consisting of two arms 21 called extractor arms; these extractor arms 21 are pivotably connected around a shaft 22 that is located at the lower portion of the frame 20; they are maneuvered by means of an actuator 23, which is anchored on said frame 20.
The cutout 1 is deposited, by the arms 21, in an inclined passage, such as the frame 20, which forms a sort of ramp 24, which will be described in detail below in reference to
The next operation consists of bringing the cutout 1 to the forming station 30. This forming is carried out, on said machine according to the invention, at a high point, i.e. at a level that, in a manner unconventional in machines of this type, is located well above the level of the soleplate of the storage site 3, at the level of the downstream conveyor 5.
The movement of the cutout 1, between point B of the lower repository and point H of the upper repository at the level of the forming station 30, is performed by means of a conveying system 32.
Point B is a reference point that is formed by a positioning stop, as described below, in reference to
This conveying system 32 includes an endless-type belt 34, which extends between pulleys 35, 36, of which one is powered by means of a servomotor, not shown. The pulley 35 is located at the lower portion of the ramp 24, clearly upstream of point B.
This conveying system 32 is also inclined, like the ramp 24 and the frame 20, according to an angle of between 30° and 60°, and preferably approximately 45°.
The cutout 1 is taken over and brought, to the level of point B, by a cleat 37 that is secured to the belt 34. This cleat 37 has a specific L-shape, as shown to the side in
The belt 34 preferably comprises two cleats 37 that are diametrally opposed and that act, in turns, as repositories.
The pulley 35 of the belt 34 is located at the lower portion of the ramp 24, sufficiently upstream of point B in order to enable the cleat 37, and in particular the heel 39, to be positioned so as to take over the cutout 1 that is waiting, wedged at the level of the reference point B. The pulley 36 is located at mid-height on the ramp 24, upstream of the inlet of the forming station 30, i.e. upstream of point H at the level of which the cutout 1 is wedged by the heel 39 of the cleat 37 when it is in the active position.
This position of the pulley 36, slightly retracted with respect to point H, enables any interference between the latter and the box blank 6 to be avoided during the transfer of said blank 6 to the downstream conveyor device 5.
Point H of the upper repository is located at a distance from point B of the lower repository, which is at least equal to the dimension of the largest cutout 1 format capable of being handled by the machine. This space between the two reference points enables all cutout 1 formats to be handled without having to perform longitudinal adjustments.
The actual forming operation is performed by means of two devices consisting of arms of the type with suction cups: the arm 40 called the forming arm and the arm 41, which, in this case, has a plurality of functions since it also acts as a transfer arm.
The forming arm 40 and the transfer arm 41 are generally, like the extraction arm 21, arranged in pairs in order to secure the operation of taking over and sensing the panels of the cutout 1. In the remainder of the text, the singular or plural will be used indifferently to designate all of these arms since, in certain figures, only one arm can be seen.
The transfer arm 41 is primarily intended in this forming operation to keep the L′ side of the cutout 1 in the plane of the repository of station 30. The actual forming is performed by the forming arm 40. This arm 40, as described in detail below, is arranged above the plane of circulation of the cutout 1; its pivot shaft 42 coincides with point H of the repository and it is maneuvered by means of an actuator 43, which is anchored on the frame 20, as shown to the side in
When it arrives at the station 30, the cutout 1 is sandwiched between the transfer arm 41 and the forming arm 40. The latter pivots around its shaft 42, with an amplitude on the order of a quarter of a circle, bringing side l′ of the cutout 1, while the arm 41 remains stationary, holding side L′.
Once the cutout 1 has been formed, the arm 40 is detached from side l′ and the arm 41 is moved so as to transfer the blank 6 to the conveyor device 5, which takes it over for other operations.
The transfer arm 41 is pivotably connected to a shaft 44, which is located at the level of the conveyor device 5. It is maneuvered by means of a drive member, of the servomotor type; this servomotor actuates the arm 41 by means, for example, of a connecting rod-crankshaft-type system, not shown, which ensures smooth operation.
One will note a guide 46 above the conveyor device 5. This guide 46 is intended to hold the blank 6 in the shape that it was given at the erecting station 30, first during its transfer to the conveyor device 5, and then when it is moved by the latter.
This guide 46 forms the inlet and the opening of an arch 47, which can be seen in
This guide 46 is moreover capable of moving longitudinally in the upstream direction, by means of an actuator 49, which is shown in
The downstream conveyor device 5 is diagrammatically shown in
In this
All of the elements shown in
These
This ramp 24 consists, in particular in
These corners 60 are arranged on each side of the arms 21 and 41 and they form both the soleplate 61 and the lateral walls 62 for guiding the cutouts 1; they are mounted adjustably with respect to the frame 20 in order to adjust to the various formats of the cutouts 1.
The level of the soleplates 61 is the same as that of the upper active side of the belt 34 of the conveying system 32.
In the lower portion of the ramp 24, the corners 60 are arranged to act as a repository and ensure the wedging of each cutout 1, when deposited by the extractor arms 21. This arrangement is shown to the side at the bottom of
The reference point B is therefore stationary; it is constant and common for the cutouts 1 regardless of their formats. This point B is located on an arc of circle that passes through the edge 14 of the outlet of the storage site 3, which arc of circle is centered on the shaft 22 of the extractor arms 21. This arrangement enables a storage site 3 to be provided, of which the soleplate 15 is at a constant level with respect to the ground, between 55 and 100 cm, and approximately 85 cm, for example.
The ramp 24, which forms the guide passage of the cutouts 1 comprises two portions: —a bottom portion with corners 60 of which the soleplate 61 is stationary and—a top portion with corners 60 of which the soleplate 61 ′ is retractable. This top portion is in fact located at the level of the station 30 for forming the cutout 1. Indeed, when the operation for forming the cutout 1 is terminated, it is necessary to open the cutout guide passage in order to transfer the blank 6 to the downstream conveyor device 5 because said blank 6 passes between the walls 62 of said ramp passage 24.
As shown diagrammatically in
According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the soleplates 61 ′ can also be retracted like drawers, laterally, in order to free the passage between the walls 62.
This
The cycle of the extractor arms 21 comprises a rest period 82, which corresponds substantially to the time necessary for moving the cutout 1 between the two reference points B and H, by means of the conveying system 32. The arms 21 pivot in order to go pick up a cutout 1 in the storage site 3, and the period 83 for picking up and extracting the cutout in the storage site 3 is substantially based on the middle of the rest period of the conveying system 32; then, the period 84 of said arms 21 corresponds to the transfer of the cutout 1 in the lower repository, which cutout 1 is wedged at the level of point B, where it will be taken over by the next cleat 37 of said system 32.
The cycle of the transfer arms 41 is practically based on that of the extractor arms 21. It comprises a rest period 85 after the box blank 6 has been deposited on the downstream conveyor device 5, the time for the latter to remove said box blank 6, and a period 86 of taking over the cutout 1 at the level of the forming station 30; at the end of the forming, the arm 41 transfers the box blank to the downstream conveyor device 5, which corresponds to period 87 in the diagram.
The actual forming of the cutout 1 is performed by means of the forming arm 40. The cycle of said arm 40 is similar to that of the other arms; there is first a period 88 of taking over side l′ of the cutout 1, then the actual forming period 89, at the end of which the rest period 90, which is relatively long, begins.
When the cutout 1 is positioned at the forming station 30, wedged at point H of the upper repository, the forming arm 40 presses said cutout 1 on the soleplates 61′ and holds this cutout 1 in the repository so as to enable the arms 41 to be positioned.
Then, as shown in
During this operation of assembling the cutout 1 in the form of a box blank 6, as shown in
When the assembly is complete, as shown in
During its transfer between the framing station 30 and the conveyor device 5, the blank 6 slides over the guide 46, this prevents it from being deformed. At the end of the course (
Once the passage is freed on the conveyor device 5, the transfer arms 41 return to the forming station 30 in order to hold the new cutout 1, which has just arrived in the upper repository, and the cycle continues.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 09200 | Oct 2006 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2007/001725 | 10/19/2007 | WO | 00 | 7/30/2009 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008/047008 | 4/24/2008 | WO | A |
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| 4157058 | Vogel | Jun 1979 | A |
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| 7131941 | Makar et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 7316642 | Martelli | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 8075467 | Monti | Dec 2011 | B2 |
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|---|---|---|
| 44 14 018 | Nov 1994 | DE |
| 197 00 236 | Jul 1998 | DE |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100210440 A1 | Aug 2010 | US |
