Method and an Apparatus For Picking Up Flat Folded Tubular Blanks From a Magazine and for Moving Them to an Erecting Station

Abstract

In an apparatus for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving the blanks to an erecting station, a horizontal transmission shaft transmits a rotational movement about a first articulation axis to a functional arm hinged with one side to a terminal portion of the transmission shaft. Another side of the functional arm is hinged to an arrangement control mechanism for controlling arrangement of the functional arm about a second articulation axis. The functional arm is also operated into rotation about the first articulation axis between a position in alignment with the functional arm, and a square position arranged at 90 degrees with respect to the functional arm, and vice versa. A pick up arm is connected to arrangement control mechanism and carries suction cups for picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of the magazine. The arrangement control mechanism is moved with respect to the second articulation axis for operating the apparatus, beside the operation of the functional arm affected by the transmission shaft, between a picking up station and an erection station for erecting the tubular blank, and vice-versa.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristic features of the invention are pointed out in the following description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments, with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are schematic, front views of the apparatus proposed by the invention, in as many successive work steps, being a part of a cycle;

FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A are perspective views in different scale, of the above apparatus in the work steps mentioned above;

FIGS. 4B, 4C are top views of the apparatus in working configuration of FIGS. 4, 4A, in one case with the flat folded blank, and in the other case with the blank squared by external means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving the blanks to an erecting station, with two opposite sheets defined in each tubular blank of said tubular blanks and connected to each other at two opposite ends, so as to define a flat folded configuration, said blank having longitudinal creasing lines for facilitating folding, so that a box to be obtained will assumes a substantially parallelepiped shape with a longitudinal axis passing through two opposed openings of a thus obtained box, and transversal creasing lines for facilitating folding of relevant flaps of said blank, and with said magazine having an open bottom for picking up the above mentioned flat folded tubular blanks one by one, with one end of the two connecting ends of said blank turned downwards, the apparatus including: a horizontal shaft for transmission of a rotation movement, the shaft having a rotation axis parallel to opposite, lower and upper edges of said open bottom of said magazine, said shaft being operated by first actuating means and situated beside said open bottom of said magazine;a functional arm hinged at one side to a projection of said transmission shaft about a first articulation axis, perpendicular to the shaft, so as to receive a motion transmitted by said shaft;second actuating means for rotating said functional arm about said first articulation axis, in time relation with activation of said first actuating means, between an alignment position, with said functional arm in alignment with said transmission shaft, and a square position, with said functional arm forming a 90 degrees angle with respect to the rotation axis of said transmission shaft, and vice versa;functional arm about a second articulation axis orthogonal to said first articulation axis;a pick up arm, fastened to said arrangement control mechanism and carrying pick up means for picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of said magazine;said arrangement control mechanism being operated in suitable time relation with activation of said first and second actuation means, to operate, together with the latter, said apparatus between a pick up station for picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of said magazine, with said functional arm located in the alignment position and said pick up arm arranged with an arm longitudinal axis parallel to the open bottom of said magazine, and a tubular blank erecting station, with said functional arm located in the square position and the tubular blank arranged with said longitudinal axis vertical, and vice-versa.

2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement control mechanism includes: a plate with a central part hinged to said functional arm at said second articulation axis, said plate being connected at one side to said pick up arm;a tie rod having one end connected, by means of a ball joint, to one side of said plate opposite to said side of the plate connected to said pick up arm, and one end connected, by means of another ball joint, to a turret, rotating about a rotational axis parallel to the transmission shaft.

3. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the arm longitudinal axis of said functional arm in said square position, is substantially horizontal.

4. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the arm longitudinal axis of said functional arm in said square position, is substantially horizontal and aligned with said pick up arm.

5. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said pick up arm is perpendicular to the arm longitudinal axis of said functional arm during the picking up, in the corresponding station, of a flat folded tubular blank from the open bottom of said magazine.

6. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein the open bottom of said magazine is inclined.

7. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus cooperates functionally, in said erecting station, with means for erecting each tubular blank.

8. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said functional arm is coupled, by means of a ball joint, to a stem, operated by the same second actuating means operating the functional arm.

9. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the open bottom of said magazine is inclined.

10. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said transmission shaft is at a lower level with respect to the open bottom of said magazine.

11. A method for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving the blanks to an erecting station, with two facing sheets defined in each tubular blank of said tubular blanks and connected to each other at two opposite ends, so as to define a flat folded configuration, said blank having longitudinal creasing lines so that a box to be obtained will assumes a substantially parallelepiped shape with a longitudinal axis passing through two opposed openings of a thus obtained box, and transversal creasing lines for facilitating folding of relevant flaps of said blank, and with said magazine having an open bottom for removing the above mentioned flat folded tubular blanks one by one, with one end of the two connecting ends turned downwards, the method including in a process cycle: picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of said magazine, by gripping a first lateral wall of the blank, turned outward with respect to the magazine, and by downward rotation of the blank to make the blank assume a horizontal arrangement;moving the gripped blank to an erecting station, with a combined motion of translation and rotation by 90 degrees with respect to an axis parallel to the transversal creasing lines of the blank, so that the blank assumes, in said erecting station, a vertical arrangement, with said longitudinal axis oriented vertically.

12. A method, according to claim 11, wherein the translation and rotation of the blank by 90 degrees with respect to an axis parallel to the transversal creasing lines of the latter are performed at the same time, so as to make said blank, in said erecting station, assume a vertical arrangement with said longitudinal axis arranged vertically.

13. A method, according to claim 11, wherein said gripped blank, after having been rotated to assume a horizontal orientation, is moved to said erecting station with a horizontal translation component inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis of the blank.

14. A method, according to claim 11, wherein said first lateral wall of the tubular blank is gripped by suction means.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein a second lateral wall of the tubular blank is gripped by suction means to be opened.

16. A method, according to claim 11, including, after arrival of said blank at said erecting station and vertical orientation of said blank, with said longitudinal axis arranged vertically, a motion of at least one second lateral wall of said blank, adjacent to said first lateral wall, subjected to the gripping action, to define arrangement of said second lateral wall at 90 degrees with respect to the first lateral wall, so that said blank is erected to assume a parallelepiped form.

17. A method, according to claim 11, wherein said open bottom of said magazine is inclined.