Method and device for assembling paper box

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6616585
  • Patent Number
    6,616,585
  • Date Filed
    Monday, June 24, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 9, 2003
    20 years ago
Abstract
A method of assembling a paper box, comprising a 1st step of carrying a paper box (10a) with unfolded both side wall members (26) and (27) into a clearance between a fixed stand (101) and a guide member (100) in the condition that the positions of folded parts (22) and (23) aligned with the positions of both outer end parts of the guide member (100) at a folding station (47) where the guide member (100) is disposed with a slight clearance provided above the fixed stand (101) and a clearance at both end parts thereof set equal to a clearance at the folded parts (22) and (23), a 2nd step of driving a folding member (105) so as to fold both side wall members (26) and (27) to the inside with reference to the outer end part of the guide member (100) in contact with the folded parts (22) and (23), and a 3rd step of extracting the paper box (10a) with bent both side wall members (26) and (27) from the folding station (47) by holding the front side of the paper box (10a) in its moving direction.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




This invention relates to a method and device for assembling a paper box by automatically folding an unfolded box paper along predetermined fold lines, and more specifically to a paper box assembling method and device applicable to making of a box body (lower box) and a lid box (upper box) for covering the box body, which can be transported and stored in its flat folded state and easily assembled fully in use with a simple operation.




BACKGROUND ART




The applicant has disclosed, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 9-219960(A1), a pullout-type paper box made of cardboard and comprising a square box bottom part having four sides, outer wall parts respectively connected to the sides of the box bottom part through double fold lines, inner wall parts respectively connected to the outer sides of the outer wall parts through double fold lines, and box-bottom abutting parts respectively connected to the outer sides of the inner wall parts through fold lines. That is, the disclosed paper-made box has double side walls formed of the outer wall parts and inner wall parts.




The aforenoted paper box made of cardboard having relative thick is formed in the flat state at a paper box factory and easily assembled in use. After assembled, the paper box can be returned to its flatly unfolded original state as occasion arises.




On the other hand, an ordinary paper box having fold-line parts opposite to each other in parallel on both sides has been assembled and subjected to usage in the customary way.




In most cases, the aforementioned pullout-type paper box has so far been assembled manually or marketed in its foldaway state. Thus, one worker can produce only 300 to 400 paper boxes of this type per day, and therefore, could not supply growing demand for paper boxes.




Furthermore, the conventional method for assembling the paper box was practiced manually, but the conventional assembling work consumes much time.




The present invention was made in the light of the aforenoted circumstances and has an object to provide a method and device for assembling a paper box capable of being produced on a large scale by automating the assembling of an ordinary paper box and pullout paper box and transported compact in its flatly folded state.




DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




To attain the object described above according to the present invention there is provided a method for assembling a paper box having both side wall members unfolded and connected to a box bottom panel through a pair of parallel fold lines, which comprises a first process of carrying the aforesaid paper box having the aforesaid both side wall members unfolded at a folding station at which long guide members each being longer than the longitudinal length of the aforesaid paper box into spaces between the aforesaid fold lines and the aforesaid guide members with a minute clearance each formed on fixed stands and having both outer end portions between which a distance substantially equal to a distance between the aforesaid both side wall members is defined, so as to coincide the aforesaid fold lines with the both outer end portions of the aforesaid guide members in position, a second process of folding inward the aforesaid both side wall member on the basis of the outer end portions of the aforesaid guide members in contact with the aforesaid fold lines by operating interfolding means disposed on both sides of the aforesaid fixed stands, and a third process of pulling out the aforesaid paper box having the both side wall members folded from the aforementioned folding station while gripping the front side in relation to the forwarding direction of the aforesaid paper box.




The interfolding termed herein implies not only steadying of fold lines by folding, but also making of fold lines. The both side wall members mean portions on the outside of the parallel fold lines of the paper box.




The formation of the paper box as described above enables the fold lines to be steadily folded and a large number of paper boxes to be manufactured in a short period of time.




Besides, since the guide members are left secured in use, moving elements can be reduced in number, thus to decrease mechanical failure rate in operation.




On the upstream side of the folding station, there may be disposed an adhesive applying station to previously apply adhesive to prescribed inner portions of the both side wall members of the aforesaid paper box. By applying adhesive before interfolding the paper box, the folded parts can be maintained firmly and easily.




A paper box assembling device in a first embodiment according to the present invention for assembling a paper box having both side wall members unfolded and connected to a box bottom panel through parallel fold lines, comprises a folding station with fixed stands for placing the unfolded paper box thereon and a pair of guide members each being longer than the longitudinal length of the aforesaid paper box, which guide member is supported at the rear side in relation to the forwarding direction of the aforesaid paper box with a minute clearance formed on the fixed stands, which clearance has both outer end portions between which a distance substantially equal to a distance between the fold lines, and an interfolding mechanism including interfolding means disposed on both sides for folding inward the both side wall members of the aforesaid paper box placed on the aforesaid fixed stands, and a driving source for driving the interfolding means.




With the structure described above, the unfolded paper box can be steadily folded along the fold lines with securing the guide members.




The aforesaid interfolding mechanism may comprise a flexible sheet having basal portion fixed along the side end portions of the aforesaid fixed plates, an outer guide plate disposed on the intermediate part of the aforesaid flexible sheet and having the front end essentially abutting on the fold lines of the aforesaid paper box at the time of folding the paper box, the interfolding means secured on the front part of the aforesaid flexible sheet so as to cover the aforesaid side wall members at the time of folding, a lifting rod connected to the aforesaid interfolding means through a link member and disposed below the aforesaid fixed stands, and a drive means for driving the aforesaid lifting rod.




By lifting the lifting rod, the link member, interfolding means and outer guide plate are rotated to fold inward the paper box along the fold lines.




Since the flexible sheet is rotated simultaneously, the rotating axis is shifted in accordance with displacement of the fold lines of the paper box to be folded so as not to exert excessive force on the device.




On the front side of the aforesaid interfolding means, there may be provided an elastic plate for pressing the front side of the interfolding means at the time of folding the paper box.




According to the structure described above, the both side end portions of the paper box can be folded up into the inside of the fold line and firmly attached to each other. Moreover, in case of adhering, adhesion strength can be increased.




By adjusting the thickness of the guide member, the aforesaid fold line may be a double fold line. Even when adopting the double fold lines, the paper box can be neatly folded.




A paper box assembling device in a second embodiment according to the present invention for assembling a paper box having front, rear, left and right outer wall members connected to a square box bottom panel through pairs of first and second parallel fold lines, front, rear, left and right inner wall members connected to a square box bottom panel through pairs of third and fourth parallel fold lines, and side-panel connecting members connected to the respective side end portions of the adjoining outer wall members and provided on their intermediate portions with diagonal inward fold lines, which comprises a first folding station for allowing the aforesaid left and right inner wall members to be folded back inwardly along the aforesaid fourth fold line and adhered to the aforesaid left and right outer wall members through a first adhesive layer formed beforehand, a second folding station for allowing the aforesaid left and right outer wall members to be folded back inwardly along the aforesaid second fold line, folded up so as to overlap left and right peripheral edge portions of the aforesaid box bottom panel and allowing the aforesaid side-panel connecting members formed at the four corners thereof to be fold back inwardly along connecting fold lines extending from the aforesaid second fold line and adhered to the left and right peripheral edge portions of the aforesaid front and rear outer wall members corresponding to the aforesaid side-panel connecting members formed at the four corners through a second adhesive layer formed beforehand, a third folding station for allowing the aforesaid front and rear inner wall members to be folded inwardly along the aforesaid third fold line and adhered to the aforesaid front and rear outer wall members through the third adhesive layer formed beforehand, which first to third folding stations are each provided with fixed stands for allowing the aforesaid paper box to be placed thereon and a pair of interfolding mechanisms having interfolding means for folding the aforesaid outer or inner wall members inwardly, which interfolding means is disposed on both sides of the aforesaid fixed stands to fold inward the aforesaid outer wall members or inner wall members of the aforesaid paper box placed on the aforesaid fixed stands, while being in contact with the aforesaid outer wall members or inner wall members, and a driving source for driving the aforesaid interfolding means, which first and third folding stations each have a pair of guide members each being longer than the longitudinal length of the aforesaid paper box, which guide member is supported at the rear side in relation to the forwarding direction of the aforesaid paper box with a minute clearance formed on the fixed stands, which clearance has both outer end portions between which a distance substantially equal to a distance between the fold lines.




The front, rear, left and right are termed herein for the convenience of description for accounting for the paper box assembling device according to the present invention, but the front-to-rear and left-to-right relationships may of course be reversed.




With this mechanism, automation of assembling the paper box can be achieved by use of the multiple folding stations.




The paper box assembling device of the invention may further comprise a first adhesive applying station for forming the aforesaid first and second adhesive layers, which is placed on the upstream side of the aforesaid first folding station, and a second adhesive applying station for forming the aforesaid third adhesive layer, which is placed on the upstream side of the aforesaid third folding station, so that the aforesaid first adhesive layer is formed on a part of the inside of each of the aforesaid left and right outer wall members, the aforesaid second adhesive layers are formed on the forward-facing end portion of the front piece of the side-panel connecting members disposed at the four corners and the backward-facing end portion of the rear piece of the side-panel connecting members, and the third adhesive layer is formed on the outer sides of the front and rear inner wall members or the inner sides of the front and rear inner wall members. The distance between the inner end portions of the left and right outer wall member is substantially equal to the distance between inner side end portions of the left and right side-panel connecting members.




Thus, the first and second adhesive layers can be formed by allowing the paper box to pass a spray nozzle or coating roller for forming the adhesive layer. Since the first and second adhesive applying stations are on the respective upstream sides of the first and third folding stations, applying of the adhesive and folding of the portions applied with the adhesive can be carried out continuously so as to prevent the adhesive power of the adhesive applied to the paper box from being decreased on the way to the folding station.




The first adhesive applying station, first folding station and second folding station may be located on a first transfer conveyor, and the aforesaid second adhesive applying station and third folding station may be located on a second transfer conveyor arranged orthogonal to the first transfer conveyor for turning the aforesaid paper box 90 degrees. With this mechanism, the direction in which the paper box is fed can be changed, so that the direction in which the paper box is folded by the third folding station can be made parallel to that in which the paper box is folded by the first and second folding stations. The processes from applying the adhesive to the paper box to adhere the paper box can be continuously carried out with respect of each of the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a developed view showing a pullout paper box to which one embodiment of an assembling device for producing a paper box according to the present invention is applied,





FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing the finished state of the pullout paper box,





FIG. 3

is a conceptual diagram showing the entire paper box assembling device of the invention,





FIG. 4

is a front view showing a cut-out station and adhesive applying station of the paper box assembling device,





FIG. 5

is a plan view showing a gripper used in a transfer conveyor in the paper box assembling device,




FIGS.


6


(A) and


6


(B) are side views of the same,





FIG. 7

is a side cross section showing an interfolding mechanism in the paper box assembling device,





FIG. 8

is a perspective view showing the principal portion of the interfolding mechanism in the paper box assembling device,





FIG. 9

is a perspective view showing the principal portion of the interfolding mechanism in the paper box assembling device,





FIG. 10

is a perspective view showing an interfolding means used in the interfolding mechanism in the paper box assembling device,





FIG. 11

is an explanatory diagram showing the principal portion of the interfolding mechanism in the paper box assembling device,




FIGS.


12


(A) and


12


(B) are an explanatory diagram showing the principal portion of a first creasing device in one embodiment of the paper box assembling device according to the present invention and an explanatory diagram showing the principal portion of the first interfolding mechanism,





FIG. 13

is an explanatory diagram showing the principal portion of the first interfolding mechanism, and





FIG. 14

is a perspective view showing a first order assembled state of the pullout paper box to which the paper box assembling device of the invention is applied.











BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION




(Construction of Pullout Paper Box)




First, a pullout paper box


10


as one example of the paper box produced by a paper box assembling device A (shown in FIG.


3


and the subsequent drawings) will be concretely described with referent to FIG.


1


and FIG.


2


. In

FIG. 1

, the pullout paper box


10


is illustrated in its unfolded state, and the paper box


10


in the unfolded state is referred to as a box board


10




a


.

FIG. 2

illustrates the assembled state of the pullout paper box


10


.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the box board


10




a


has a square box bottom panel


11


, and front, rear, left and right outer wall members


16


-


19


connected to the box bottom panel


11


through first parallel fold lines


12


and


13


and second parallel fold lines


14


and


15


, which are arranged in pairs on the front, rear, left and right sides thereof, front, rear, left and right inner wall members


24


-


27


connected to the outer sides of the front, rear, left and right outer wall members


16


-


19


through third parallel fold lines


20


and


21


and fourth parallel fold lines


22


and


23


, which are arranged in pairs on the front, rear, left and right sides thereof, and side-panel connecting members


32


-


35


having diagonal inward fold lines, which are formed at four corners of the paper box and connected to the adjacent outer wall members


16


-


19


. In this embodiment, the first to fourth fold lines


12


-


15


and


20


-


23


are each formed of double fold lines.




On the inner sides of the left and right outer wall members, there are partially formed first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


. Second adhesive layers


36


-


39


are formed on the forward-facing end portion of the side-panel connecting members


32


and


33


placed on the front side of the side-panel connecting members


32


-


35


at the four corners. Third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


are formed on the center portions (in part) of the outer sides of the front and rear inner wall members


24


and


25


. The first to third adhesive layers


18




a


,


19




a


,


36


-


39


,


24




a


and


25




a


may be formed of hot melt adhesive or the like.




On parts of the outer end portions


26


and


27


, into contact with which the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


come when the left and right inner wall members


26


and


27


are folded back inwardly along the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


, there are formed first adhesive surfaces


26




a


and


27




a


sticking to the first adhesive layer


18




a


and


19




a.






Second adhesive surfaces


16




a


,


16




b


,


17




a


and


17




b


sticking to the second adhesive layers


36


-


39


are formed on left and right peripheral edge portions of the front and rear outer wall members


16


and


17


which are stuck to the second adhesive layers


36


-


39


when the side-panel connecting members


32


-


35


are folded back inwardly along connecting fold lines


65


-


68


extending from the second fold lines


14


and


15


.




Third adhesive surfaces


16




c


and


17




c


sticking to the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


are formed on the center portions of the inner sides of the front and rear outer wall members


16


and


17


which are stuck to the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


when the front and rear inner wall members


24


and


25


are folded back inwardly along the third fold lines


20


and


21


. The arrangement of the first to third adhesive layers


18




a


,


19




a


,


36


-


39


,


24




a


and


25




a


and the counterpart first to third adhesive surfaces


26




a


,


27




a


,


16




a


,


16




b


,


17




a


,


17




b


,


16




c


and


17




c


may be reversed.




The aforementioned box board


10




a


is temporarily assembled into a flat plate (flat state) so as to be made portable for carrying convenience by using the paper box assembling device A as described below (see FIG.


14


). Thereafter, the temporarily assembled box board is delivered to a user and assembled there into a completed pullout paper box


10


shaped in a regular hexahedron as shown in FIG.


2


.




(Construction of Paper Box Assembling Device A)




Next, the paper box assembling device A for forming the box board


10




a


shown in

FIG. 1

into the primary assembled pullout paper box


10


will be concretely described hereinafter with reference to FIG.


3


through FIG.


13


.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, the assembling device A for the pullout paper box comprises first transfer conveyor


61




a


and second transfer conveyor


64


for intermittently feeding the box board


10




a


, and first to third folding stations for folding inwardly the outer wall members


18


and


19


and inner wall members


24


-


27


of the box board


10




a


, which are formed along the first and second transfer conveyors


61




a


and


64


and provided with fixed stands


101


(see FIG.


7


through

FIG. 11

) for placing the box board


10




a


thereon.




In addition, the paper box assembling device A further comprises a plurality of processing stations arranged in series for producing the primary assembled pullout paper box


10


.




That is, the assembling device A for the pullout paper box includes the first cut-out station


40


disposed on the first transfer conveyor


61




a


, first adhesive applying station


41


, first creasing station


46


, first folding station


47


, second creasing station


48


, second folding station


49


, second cut-out station


43


disposed on the second transfer conveyor


64


for feeding the box board


10




a


upon turning 90 degrees, second adhesive applying station


44


, third folding station


45


, and baling station which is not shown in the drawings.




The first cut-out station


40


in the aforementioned device is a station for feeding the box boards


10




a


one by one from a box board stacker


50


for stacking lots of box boards


10




a


toward the first adhesive applying station


41


.




The first adhesive applying station


41


is located on the upstream side of the first folding station


47


and serves to form the first and second adhesive layers


18




a


,


19




a


and


36


-


39


on the box board


10




a


fed from the first cut-out station


40


.




The first creasing station


46


serves to preliminarily bend the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


formed between the left and right outer wall members


18


and


19


and the corresponding inner wall members


26


and


27


of the box board


10




a


to form definite fold lines.




The first folding station


47


serves to allow the left and right inner wall members


26


and


27


to be folded back inwardly along the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


and stuck to the left and light outer wall members


18


and


19


through the medium of the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


formed previously.




The second creasing station


48


service to preliminarily bend the second fold lines


14


and


15


formed between the left and right outer wall members


18


and


19


and the box bottom panel


11


of the box board


10




a


to form pliant parts in the fold lines.




The second folding station


49


serves to allow the left and right outer wall members


18


and


19


of the box board


10




a


to be folded back inward along the second fold lines


14


and


15


and placed on the left and right peripheral edge portions of the box bottom panel, and folding back the side-panel connecting members


32


-


35


at the four corners inwardly along the connecting fold lines


65


-


68


to be stuck to the left and right peripheral edge portions facing the side-panel connecting members


32


-


35


through the medium of the second adhesive layers


36


-


39


formed previously.




The second cut-out station


43


serves to feed the box boards


10




a


one by one from a storage unit


60


for temporarily storing the box boards


10




a


in piles, which box boards each have the left and right outer wall members


18


and


19


stacked thereto, toward the second adhesive applying station


44


.




The second adhesive applying station


44


is located on the upstream side of the third folding station


45


and serves to form the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


on the box board


10




a


fed from the second cut-out station


43


.




The third folding station


45


serves to allow the opposed front and rear inner wall members


24


and


25


to be folded back inwardly along the third fold lines


20


and


21


and stacked to the front and rear outer wall members


16


and


17


through the medium of the third adhesive layer


24




a


and


25




a


formed previously, thus to form the primary assembled pullout paper box


10


.




The baling station serves to transfer the primary assembled pullout paper box


10


produced by folding the paper box at the third folding station


45


to a baling machine that is not shown in the drawings.




Next, each of the aforementioned stations will be described in detail with reference to FIG.


3


through FIG.


13


.




(First Cut-Out Station)




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the first cut-out station


40


is disposed on a cut-out conveyor


52


forming the first transfer conveyor


61




a


and includes the box board stacker


50


formed above the cut-out conveyor. The box board stacker


50


comprises a rear end holding plate


53


arranged aslant so as to raise the rear portion of the box board


10




a


stacked therein, a front end holding plate


54


provided at its lower portion with a slot being open in accordance with the thickness of the box board


10




a


so as to allow the box boards


10




a


to pass therethrough one by one, and a guide plate


56


which is adjustable in width in accordance with the width of the box board


10




a


. By operating the cut-out conveyor


52


in the box board stacker having the aforenoted structure, the box boards


10




a


stacked therein can be sent out one by one from the lower portion of the stacker toward the first adhesive applying station


41


.




(First Adhesive Applying Station)




On the downstream side of the first cut-out station


40


, the first adhesive applying station


41


is located The first adhesive applying station


41


is disposed on the transfer conveyor (first transfer conveyor)


57


arranged in series with the first cut-out conveyor


52


, and includes supply rollers


58


mounted on the upstream end part of the transfer conveyor


57


so as to feed the box board


10




a


in conjunction with rollers mounted on the upstream end part of the transfer conveyor


57


, paired spot nozzles


59


for spraying hot melt adhesive, and upper rollers


60


having a plurality of rollers provided in a connected row arrangement so as to press down the box board


10




a.






The height of the carrying surface of the transfer conveyor


57


formed of a belt conveyor is on the substantially same level with the height of the carrying surface of the cut-out conveyor


52


. The spot nozzles


59


are formed in line in the width direction just above the position at which the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


are formed on the box board


10




a


as shown in

FIG. 1

, so as to splay the hot melt adhesive in the molten state toward the box board


10




a


at the predetermined intervals. According to this structure, the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


and the second adhesive layers


36


-


39


placed on the extension of the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


can be formed with the single set of spot nozzles


59


.




(First Transfer Conveyor)




The first transfer conveyor


61




a


comprises the aforementioned cut-out conveyor


52


, the transfer conveyor


57


, and the subsequent transfer conveyor (second transfer conveyor)


61


.




As shown in FIG.


3


and

FIG. 4

, the transfer conveyor


61


includes a plurality of gripper


92


spaced in the circumferential direction. With the grippers


92


, the front portion of the box board


10




a


fed from the transfer conveyor


57


to the transfer conveyor


61


can be grasped securely.




As shown in FIG.


5


and

FIG. 6

, the gripper


92


comprises an upper stationary plate


95


mounted above a chain conveyor


88




a


constituting the transfer conveyor


61


at parallel intervals by using mount shafts


93


and


94


located before and behind viewed from the side, a lower moving plate


97


having a base (front side) coupled to the lower surface base (front side) of the upper stationary plate


95


and a leaf spring provided on its tip portion (rear side) with a claw


96


, and an open-dose operating rod


99


protruding on the upper surface of the lower moving plate


97


and having the upper end extending upward through a long hole


98


formed in the upper stationary plate


95


.




With the structure described above, the lower moving plate


97


takes its upper position at normal times by the open-dose operating rod


99


in the free state as illustrated in FIG.


6


(A), so that a box board insertion opening is not formed between the rear portion of the upper stationary plate


95


and the rear portion of the lower moving plate


97


.




However, when the gripper


61


moves to the position confronting a stopper, which is not shown in the drawings, disposed between the upstream side end of the transfer conveyor


61


and the downstream side of the transfer conveyor


57


by diving the transfer conveyor


61


, the open-dose operating rod


99


is urged downward by a lower cam surface


99




b


of a cam plate


99




a


disposed above the upstream side edge portion of the transfer conveyor


61


, as shown in FIG.


6


(B). With the depressing force to the open-dose operating rod


99


, the lower moving plate


97


rotates downward against the urging force of the leaf spring, consequently to form the box board insertion opening between the rear portion of the upper stationary plate


95


and the rear portion of the lower moving plate


97


.




Then, by pushing down the stopper, the leading end of the box board


10




a


is inserted into the box board insertion opening. Thereafter, by driving the transfer conveyor


61


, the open-close operating rod


99


is made free again, to strongly clamp the leading end of the box board


10




a


by the rear portion of the upper stationary plate


95


and the claw


96


of the lower moving plate


97


.




While keeping the box board in the clamping state, the box board


10




a


is reliably transferred to the first creasing station


46


, first folding station


47


, second creasing station


48


, and second folding station


49


in intermittent sequence.




(First Creasing Station)




The first creasing station


46


is defined on the transfer conveyor


61


arranged on the downstream side of the transfer conveyor


57


in series and having the carrying surface on the substantially same level with that of the transfer conveyor


57


.




As shown in FIG.


11


and FIG.


12


(A), the first creasing station


46


comprises the fixed stand


101


for placing the box board


10




a


transferred thereon, interfolding means


105


for folding the inner wall members


26


and


27


inward, which are disposed on both sides of the fixed stand


101


and come into contact with the left and right inner wall members


26


and


27


of the box board


10




a


placed on the fixed stand


101


, a first creasing mechanism


69


having a driving source for driving the interfolding means


105


, which mechanism is shown as one example of the folding means provided in pairs and, and guide members


100


having longer length than the longitudinal length of the box board


10




a


and supported by the rear side with respect to the forwarding direction of the box board


10




a


with a minute clearance on the fixed stand


101


, which minute clearance has its end-to-end distance substantially equal to the distance between the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


.




The first creasing mechanism


69


includes a flexible sheet


102


made of, for example, cloth (which may be made of vinyl sheet incorporating wires) and having its base secured along the side portions of the fixed stand


101


, an outer guide plate


103


disposed at the intermediate portion of the flexible sheet


102


so as to bring the front end thereof into essential contact with the fourth folding lines


22


and


23


of the box board


10




a


through the flexible sheet


102


, the interfolding means


105


secured on the front side of the flexible sheet


102


so as to cover the inner wall members


26


and


27


from outside when folding the box board, a lifting rod


107


connected to the interfolding means


105


through a link member


109


and positioned below the fixed stand


101


, and a not-shown driving means for driving the lifting rod


107


through a reciprocating lift mechanism


108


(see FIG.


7


).




The interfolding means


105


comprises an interfolding plate


105




b


coming in contact with the inner wall members


26


and


27


, and a fixed plate


105




a


, so as to hold the flexible sheet


102


tight between the interfolding plate and the fixed plate. The link member


109


and fixed plate


105




a


are coupled through a connecting member


104


. Since the component parts are connected to one another through the flexible sheet


102


, the rotational center can be shifted to achieve smooth movement in rotation even if the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


are displaced. Incidentally, the flexible sheet


102


may be divided to be used separately for the respective rotating components. By replacing the interfolding means


105


with another one having different thickness, adjustment in folding another box board having different thickness can easily be carried out.




As shown in FIG.


7


and

FIG. 8

, the reciprocating lift mechanism


108


serves to not only move up and down the lifting rod


107


, but also adjust the width distance between the guide member


100


and the fixed stand


101


.




That is, the guide members


100


and the fixed stands


101


, which are opposed to each other on the both side portions of the transfer conveyor


61


, are disposed on a pair of traversal moving racks


110


arranged symmetrically on the both sides of the transfer conveyor


61


. To be more precise, each guide member


100


is mounted on the tip end portion of a guide supporting arm


100




b


extending like a cantilevered beam from the upper end of a guide mounting pillar


100




a


standing on the upper outside of the traversal moving rack


110


. Each fixed stand


101


is mounted on the upper portion of the fixed stand mounting pillar


101




a


standing on the upper inside of the traversal moving rack


110


.




On the lower portion of the paired traversal moving racks


110


, there is disposed rotating shaft


113


supported rotatably by stationary bearing frames


111


and


112


. The rotating shaft


113


is formed by coaxially connecting left- and right-hand screw rods


114


and


115


having opposite screwing directions with each other through a joint


116


. The left- and right-hand screw rods


114


and


115


are screwed respectively into female screw cylinders


117


and


118


juncturally connected to the lower parts of the traversal moving racks


110


. The right-hand screw rod


115


is provided at its end portion with a rotating handle


119


.




Each traversal moving rack


110


is provided with a rod guide cylinder


110




a


. Each of the paired lifting rods


107


extends downward through a rod guide hole formed in the rod guide cylinder


110




a


in a slidable state and has the lower end connected to a connecting member


107




a.






Each of the connecting members


107




a


is provided on its lower surface with a rotating wheel


107




b


. The rotating wheel


107




b


is supported by a rectangular lifting plate


120


in a rotatable state in the width direction. The lifting plate


120


is provided on its lower surface with a rotating roller


121


. The rotating roller


121


comes in contact with the peripheral surface of a rotating tangent cam


122


. On the peripheral surface of the lifting plate


120


, there is mounted a lifting guide shaft


120




a


. The lifting guide shaft


120




a


is fitted in a lifting guide cylinder


120




b


in a slidable state.




In this embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 8

, each of the lifting rods


107


is provided on its side surface with a rack


107




c


. The rack


107




c


is meshed with a pinion


107




d


. The pinions


107




d


are secured on the both ends of the pinion mounting shaft


107




e


supported rotatably on the traversal moving rack


110


.




According to the aforementioned mechanism, when the box board


10




a


is sent to the first creasing mechanism


69


by driving the transfer conveyor


61


, the side edge portions of the outer wall members


18


and


19


confronting the both side portions of the transfer conveyor


61


are held between the guide member


100


and the fixed stand


101


while bringing the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


in agreement with the both outer end portions of the guide member


100


, as shown in

FIG. 7

,

FIG. 9

,

FIG. 10

, FIG.


11


and FIG.


12


(A).




Thereafter, by rotating the tangent cam


122


serving as the reciprocating lift mechanism


108


, the lifting plates


120


and lifting rods


107


move upward in the forwarding process, coming in contact with the outer guide plate


103


, to allow the outer guide plate


103


to turn over 90 degrees. The lifting rods


107


further move upward to rotate the interfolding means 180 degrees in conjunction with the lifting rods


107


moving upward, thus to allow the inner wall members


26


and


27


of the box board


10




a


corresponding to the both side portions of the transfer conveyor


61


to be rotated toward the inside by 180 degrees relative to the outer end portions of the guide members


100


around the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


, and consequently folded inward onto the outer wall members


18


and


19


as shown in FIG.


11


.




Since the guide mounting pillars


100




a


for securing the guide members


100


is mounted on the upstream end portions of the guide members


100


, the box board


10




a


can be folded away from the guide mounting pillars


100




a


upon passing through the guide members


100


and stopping there. Thus, the guide members


100


can be operated in the stationary state, consequently to make the mechanism of the device simple.




In the returning process of the rotating movement of the tangent cam


122


, the lifting plate


120


and lifting rods


107


move downward, to allow the interfolding means


105


to rotate downward 180 degrees and return to its standby position.




In the vertical movement of the guide members as noted above, the lifting rods


107


can move downward smoothly due to return springs


107




f


as shown in FIG.


7


and FIG.


8


. In addition, since the lifting rods


107


moves up and down synchronously by means of the meshed racks


107




c


and pinions


107




d


, the smooth vertical movement of the lifting rods


107


can be assured.




As shown in

FIG. 7

, by turning the rotating handle


119


, it is possible to widen or narrow the space between the paired traversal moving racks


110


. Likewise, the distance between the guide members


100


located on the side, portion of the transfer conveyor


61


and the fixed stands


101


can be adjusted to easily deal with the box board


10




a


having a different size.




(First Folding Station)




Next, the first folding station


47


will be described. Now, the first foldaway mechanism


89


, which is one example of the interfolding mechanism forming a counterpart to the first folding station


47


, is equivalent in structure to the first creasing mechanism


69


of the first creasing station


46


except for a press-contact plate


106


as shown in FIG.


12


(B). Therefore, the identical components of this embodiment are denoted by like numerical symbols, and thus, the description thereof is omitted below.




On the upper surface of the front end portion of the interfolding means


105


, there are mounted the press-contact plates


106


, which are illustrated by way of example of elastic plates having elasticity for depressing the front portions of the inner wall members


26


and


27


when folding the box board


10




a


. The left and right press-contact plates


106


are positioned so as to bring pressure on the rear sides of the first adhesive surfaces


26




a


and


27




a


on the front portion of the inner wall members


26


and


27


.




With the mechanism described above, when the box board


10




a


is fed to the first folding station


47


by driving the transfer conveyor


61


, the left and right peripheral edge portions of the box board


10




a


, i.e. the side edge portions of the outer wall members


18


and


19


corresponding to the both side portions of the transfer conveyor


61


, are held between the guide members


100


and the fixed stands


101


.




Then, by operating the first interfolding mechanism


89


, the lifting rods


107


move upward to rotate the interfolding means


105


180 degrees, consequently to bring the first adhesive surfaces


26




a


and


27




a


formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right inner wall members


26


and


27


into press contact with the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right outer wall members


18


and


19


. As a result, the folded state of the box board can be kept steadily.




(Second Creasing Station)




Next, the second creasing station


48


will be described with reference FIG.


7


and FIG.


13


. The second creasing mechanism


70


, which is one example of the interfolding mechanism of in the second creasing station


48


, serves to align the guide members


100


with the insides of the second fold lines


14


and


15


of the box board


10




a


by narrowing the distance between the paired traversal moving racks


110


by rotating the rotating handle


119


of the first creasing mechanism


69


. The second creasing mechanism is similar in structure to the first creasing mechanism


69


, and therefore, the identical components of this embodiment are denoted by like numerical symbols, and thus, the description thereof is omitted below.




When the box board


10




a


is sent to the second creasing station


48


by operating the transfer conveyor


61


, the both peripheral edge portions of the box board


10




a


, i.e. the both end portions of the box bottom panel


11


confronting the both side portions of the transfer conveyor


61


, are held between the guide member


100


and the fixed stand


101


.




By operating the second creasing mechanism


70


, the lifting rods


107


move upward to allow the creasing the interfolding means


105


to rotate 180 degrees, consequently to fold back the outer wall members


18


and


19


along with the inner wall members


26


and


27


. As a result, the second fold lines


14


and


15


are definitely formed so as to be folded easily.




(Second Folding Station)




Next, the second folding station


49


will be described with reference to FIG.


7


and

FIG. 13. A

second foldaway mechanism


90


which is a counterpart of the second folding station


49


is provided with press-contact plates


140


(shown by a chain double-dashed line) in place of the guide member


100


. Other components in the second foldaway mechanism are identical with those in the second folding station, and thus, the description of the identical components is omitted below.




The interfolding means


105


is provided on its upper surface with the elastic press-contact plates


140


designed to align with the both end portions of the box board


10




a


. The two press-contact plates


140


are mounted for each of the second adhesive layers


36


-


39


of the box board


10




a


so as to be pressed from the rear sides thereof.




When feeding the box board


10




a


to the second folding station


49


by driving the transfer conveyor


61


, the both end portions of the box board


11




a


confronting the both side portions of the transfer conveyor


61


are set on the fixe stations


101


.




Then, by operating the second foldaway mechanism


90


to move the lifting rods


101


upward, the interfolding means


105


rotates 180 degrees to fold back the outer wall members


18


and


19


together with the inner wall members


26


and


27


along the second fold lines


14


and


15


, consequently to be folded up onto the left and right peripheral edge portions of the box bottom panel


11


. Concurrently, the side-panel connecting members


32


-


35


are folded inward along the connecting fold lines


65


-


68


, sticking the second adhesive layers


36


-


39


onto the second adhesive surfaces


16




a


,


16




b


,


17




a


and


17




b.






Although a guide means for aligning the side-panel connecting members with the second adhesive surfaces


16




a


,


16




b


,


17




a


and


17




b


is not provided on the second foldaway mechanism


90


, the side-panel connecting members can be assuredly folded due to the definite fold lines formed by the creasing mechanism. Furthermore, since the transfer conveyor


61


is provided with the gripper


92


, displacement of the box board


10




a


in the width direction can be prevented to exactly determine the folding positions.




(Second Cut-Out Station)




As shown in

FIG. 3

, change-direction rollers


128


are disposed on the terminal side portions of the transfer conveyor


61


on the downstream side of the second folding station


49


and arranged in the direction orthogonal to the transferring direction of the transfer conveyor


61


. On the side portion opposite to the position at which the change-direction rollers


128


of the transfer conveyor


61


, there are disposed a pressure plate


130


for pressing the box board


10




a


toward the change-direction rollers


128


, and an air cylinder, which is not shown in the drawing, for moving the pressure plate


130


backward. Besides, on the terminal side portion of the transfer conveyor


61


, there is disposed a cam plate


99




a


for releasing the box board


10




a


from the gripper


92


.




When one of the box boards


10




a


, which are intermittently fed at regular intervals, arrives at the terminal point


62


of the transfer conveyor


61


, the box board


10




a


caught by the gripper


92


is free from the gripper by the action of the cam plate


99




a


. Subsequently, the pressure plate


130


operates to push the box board


10




a


toward the change-direction rollers


128


. Thus, the box board


10




a


changes its traveling direction without rotating and moves in the direction of the change-direction rollers


128


.




The second transfer conveyor


64


for intermittently sending the box board


10




a


is disposed behind the change-direction rollers


128


and has a lower carrying surface. On the upstream side of the second transfer conveyor


64


, the second cut-out station


43


is placed. On the second transfer conveyor


64


, there are arranged grippers


92


at the predetermined intervals.




The second cut-out station


43


includes a storage unit


63


for storing the box boards


10




a


, a plurality of holding plates for holding the box board


10




a


, embracing the periphery of the storage unit


63


, and a not-shown feeding device disposed on the upper portion of the storage unit


63


so as to feed the box boards


10




a


one by one to the downstream of the second transfer conveyor


64


while holding the box board


10




a


by using a sucking force.




In the storage unit


63


, the box boards


10




a


processed by the second folding station


49


are stored. The box boards


10




a


are sucked out from the upper portion of the storage unit


63


one by one and fed to the downstream side of the second transfer conveyor


64


.




Incidentally, the second cut-out station


43


may be identical in structure with the first cut-out station


40


.




According to the mechanism described above, when the device falls into difficulties in such a state that the box board


10




a


is applied with adhesive to cause one of the first and second transfer conveyors


61




a


and


64


to stop operation, the other first and second transfer conveyors


61




a


and


64


are continuously operated to applying adhesive to the box boards


10




a


which are not yet coated with the adhesive by using the second cut-out station


43


with the storage unit


63


. As a result, occurrence of defective box board can be diminished.




(Second Adhesive Applying Station)




The second adhesive applying station


44


is identical in structure with the first adhesive applying station


41


except for the direction of transferring the box board


10




a


, the location of the spot nozzles, and the portion to which the adhesive is applied. Therefore, the identical components of this embodiment are denoted by like numerical symbols, and thus, the description thereof is omitted below.




Spot nozzles, which are not-shown in the drawing, in the second adhesive applying station


44


disposed on the both sides with respect to the width direction are mounted on the upper portion of the box board


10




a


, on which the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


are formed.




When one of the box board


10




a


intermittently fed arrives at the second adhesive applying station


44


, hot melt adhesive is sprayed from the spot nozzles to form the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


thereon.




(Third Folding Station)




Next, the third folding station


45


will be described with reference to FIG.


7


.




Now, a third folding mechanism


91


shown as one example of the folding mechanism which is a counterpart of the Gird folding station


45


serves to widen the space between the paired traversal moving racks


110


by turning the rotating handle


119


and align the guide members


100


with the insides of the third fold lines


20


and


21


of the box board


10




a


. The third folding mechanism further comprises a press-contact plate which is not shown. The components other than these noted here are identical with those of the first folding mechanism


89


, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted below.




On the upper surface of the interfolding means


105


, the press-contact plates


106


are mounted. The left and right press-contact plates


106


is so arranged that the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


of the box board


10




a


can be pressed from the rear side thereof.




When the box board


10




a


is fed to the third folding station


45


by driving the second transfer conveyor


64


, the outer wall members


16


and


17


confronting the both side portions of the second transfer conveyor


64


are held between the guide members


100


and the fixed stands


101


.




Then, by operating the third folding mechanism


91


, the lifting rods


107


move upward to allow the interfolding means


105


to rotate 180 degrees and the inner wall members


24


and


25


to be folded up onto the outer wall members


16


and


17


. Thereafter, the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


formed on the inner wall members


24


and


25


are pressed against the third adhesive surfaces


16




c


and


17




c


, to accomplish the desired adhesion.




The third fold lines


20


and


21


are sufficient long, so that the box board can be surely folded with adhering operation without being previously creased to form definite fold lines. However, in a case of dealing with a box board of large size, a creasing device for folding the box board beforehand to form definite fold lines may be disposed.




The mechanism noted above makes it possible to produce a primary assembled pullout paper box


10


(formed like a flat plate) as shown in FIG.


14


.




The pullout paper box


10


thus produced is sent to the not-shown baling station to be packed and then shipped.




Next, the assembling method for producing the pullout paper box by use of the first embodiment of the paper box assembling device A according to the present invention will be described.




The box boards


10




a


with the inner wall members


24


facing the forward are stacked in the box board stacker


50


in the first cut-out station


40


. By diving the cut-out conveyor


52


, the box boards


10




a


stacked in the box board stacker


50


are sent out from under the front end holding plate


54


one by one and forwarded toward the first adhesive applying station


41


by the supply rollers


58


.




The box board


10




a


sent to the first adhesive applying station


41


placed on the upstream side of the first creasing station


46


is coated in part with hot melt adhesive sprayed from the spot nozzles


59


to form the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


thereon.




Subsequently, the box board


10




a


moving to the downstream side by means of the transfer conveyor


57


and upper rollers


60


is transferred over the transfer conveyor


61


in the state held by the grippers


92


passing through beneath the cam plate


99




a


mounted on the end portion on the upstream side of the transfer conveyor


61


.




The assembling method for producing the pullout paper box comprises the following processes.




(First Process)




The box board


10




a


having the unfolded inner wall members


26


and


27


is fed into the space between the fixed stands


101


and the guide members


100


, having the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


aligned with the both outer end portions of the guide members


100


at the first creasing station


46


.




(Second Process)




By driving the interfolding means


105


disposed on the both sides of the fixed stands


101


, the inner wall members


26


and


27


are folded inward with reference to the outer end portions of the guide members


100


in contact with the fourth fold lines


22


and


23


.




(Third Process)




The box board


10




a


with the folded inner wall members


26


and


27


is drawn out from the first creasing station


46


, having the front side thereof with respect to the forwarding direction held by the grippers


92


.




At the first folding station


47


, the adhesive surfaces


26




a


and


27




a


and the first adhesive layers


18




a


and


19




a


are formed on the box board


10




a


in the substantially same manner as the aforementioned first to third processes. Then, at the second creasing station


48


and the third folding station


45


, the outer wall members


18


and


19


are folded inward along the second fold lines


14


and


15


, thus to be stuck to the second adhesive layers


36


-


39


and the second adhesive surfaces


16




a


,


16




b


,


17




a


and


17




b.






Thereafter, the box board is stacked in the storage unit


63


of the second cut-out station


43


placed on the upper end portion of the second transfer conveyor


64


orthogonal to the transfer conveyor


61


by the pressure plate


130


at the terminal position


62


of the transfer conveyor


61


. On the box boards


10




a


stacked in the storage unit


63


, which are sent out one by one, the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


are formed at the second adhesive applying station


44


. At the third folding station


45


, the inner wall members


24


and


25


are folded inward along the third fold lines


20


and


21


, and the third adhesive layers


24




a


and


25




a


and the third adhesive surfaces


16




c


and


17




c


are formed on the box board.




Thus, the primary assembled pullout paper box


10


(formed like a flat plate) shown in

FIG. 14

can be produced in such a manner as described above. The pullout paper box


10


thus produced is sent to the not-shown baling station to be packed and then shipped.




Although the invention has been described in its preferred form, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been changed in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. For example, the first to fourth fold lines


12


-


15


and


20


-


23


are each formed of double fold lines, but may be formed of a single fold line. In such a case, the guide members


100


may be increased in thickness.




Also, the first adhesive applying station


41


is located on the upstream side of the first creasing station


46


in the aforementioned embodiment, but it may be located between the creasing station


46


and the first folding station


47


.




Further, another adhesive applying station may be disposed between the second creasing station


48


and the second folding station


49


. According to these structures noted above, it is possible to shorten the time required for applying the adhesive to the box board and sticking the adhesive layers and increase the adhering strength.




INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY




As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to the assembling method for producing the paper box of the present invention, since the side wall members are folded inward with respect to the outer side portions of the guide members, they can be steadily folded along the fold lines. Thus, a large number of paper box can be dealt with in a short period of time.




Furthermore, since the guide members can be used in their stationary state, it is possible to decrease a number of moving component parts and diminish occurrence of mechanical troubles during operation.




Specifically, by tuning the interfolding means by using the flexible sheet, the axis of rotation of the wall member can be shifted in accordance with displacement of the fold lines of the box board to be folded, consequently to lessen the burden on the device.




The assembling device for producing the paper box according to the present invention can effectually fold the both end portions of the box board inwardly along the fold lines and bring the folded parts into press contact with each other. Thus, when sticking the folded parts to each other, adhesion strength resultantly obtained can be increased.




Moreover, since the assembling device of the invention adopts the double fold lines along which the wall members are folded up, the thickness of the guide members can be adjusted to produce a posh paper box having the fleshy side walls by surely folding the wall members of the box board along the fold lines.




Also, the assembling device for producing the paper box according to the present invention has the first to third folding stations, so that assembly of the paper box can be automated.




Especially, by disposing the first and second adhesive applying stations on the respective upstream side of the first and third folding stations, applying of adhesive and folding of the portions applied with the adhesive can be consecutively performed, thus to prevent the adhesion force of the adhesive applied to the box board from weakening on the way to the succeeding process.




Since the assembling device of the invention is provided with the first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor arranged orthogonal to the first transfer conveyor to turn over the paper box 90 degrees, the box board can be folded at the third folding station in the same direction as that in which the box board is folded at the first and second folding stations. Accordingly, the device of the invention makes it possible to use the processing mechanisms having the same structure. Besides, applying of adhesive onto the box board and folding of the portions of the box board applied with the adhesive in the longitudinal and transverse directions can be continuously carried out.



Claims
  • 1. A device for assembling a box having both side wall members unfolded and connected to a box bottom panel through parallel fold lines, comprising:a folding station for placing the unfolded box thereon, said folding station being provided with fixed stands for allowing said box thereon and a pair of guide members formed on fixed stands with a minute clearance and supported directing forwardly so as to have both outer side end portions between which a distance substantially equal to a distance between said both side wall members is defined, and an interfolding mechanism having an interfolding means mounted rotatable from the outside to the upper inside thereof around the outer side end portions of said guide members, said interfolding mechanism including a flexible sheet having basal portion fixed along the side end portions of said fixed stands, and having said interfoldirig means secured on the front side of said flexible and being arranged so as to operate said guide members by moving vertically lifting rods connected to said interfolding means through a link member.
  • 2. A device for assembling a paper box set forth in claim 1, wherein said interfolding mechanism comprises a flexible sheet having basal portion fixed along the side end portions of said fixed stands, an outer guide plate disposed on the intermediate part of said flexible sheet and having the front end essentially abutting on said fold lines of said paper box at the time of folding said paper box, said interfolding means secured on said front part of said flexible sheet so as to cover said side wall members at the time of folding, a lifting rod connected to said interfolding means through a link member and disposed below said fixed stands, and a drive means for driving said lifting rod.
  • 3. A device for assembling a paper box set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an elastic plate for pressing the front side of said interfolding means at the time of folding said paper box is provided on the front side of said interfolding means.
  • 4. A device for assembling a box set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the thickness of said guide member is adjustable.
  • 5. A device for assembling a box having front, rear, left and right outer wall members connected to a square box bottom panel through pairs of first and second parallel fold lines, front, rear, left and right inner wall members connected to a square box bottom panel through pairs of third and fourth parallel fold lines, and side-panel connecting members connected to the respective side end portions of the adjoining outer wall members and provided on their intermediate portions with diagonal inward fold lines, comprising:a first folding station for allowing said left and right inner wall members to be folded back inwardly along said fourth fold line and adhered to said left and right outer wall members through a first adhesive layer formed beforehand, a second folding station for allowing said left and right outer wall members to be folded back inwardly along said second fold line, folded up so as to overlap left and right peripheral edge portions of said box bottom panel and allowing said side-panel connecting members formed at the four corners thereof to be fold back inwardly along connecting fold lines extending from said second fold line and adhered to the left and right peripheral edge portions of said front and rear outer wall members corresponding to said side-panel connecting members formed at the four corners through a second adhesive layer formed beforehand, a third folding station for allowing said front and rear inner wall members to be folded inwardly along said third fold line and adhered to said front and rear outer wall members through said third adhesive layer formed beforehand, said first to third folding stations being each provided with fixed stands for allowing said box to be placed thereon and a pair of interfolding mechanisms having interfolding means for folding said outer or inner wall members inwardly, said interfolding means being disposed on both sides of said fixed stands to fold inward said outer wall members or inner wall members of said box placed on said fixed stands, while being in contact with said outer wall members or inner wall members, and a driving source for driving said interfolding means, and a flexible sheet having its base secured along the side portions of said fixed stands, said interfolding means being secured on the front side of said flexible sheet and being arranged so as to operate guide members by moving vertically lifting rods connected to said interfolding means through a link member, said first and third folding stations each having a pair of said guide members each being longer than the longitudinal length of said box, said guide member being supported directing forwardly at the rear side in relation to the forwarding direction of said box with a minute clearance formed on said fixed stands, said minute clearance having both outer side end portions between which a distance substantially equal to a distance between said fold lines.
  • 6. A device for assembling a paper box set forth in claim 5, further comprising a first adhesive applying station for forming said first and second adhesive layers, said first adhesive applying station being placed on the upstream side of said first folding station, and a second adhesive applying station for forming said third adhesive layer, said second adhesive applying station being placed on the upstream side of said third folding station,said first adhesive layer being formed on a part of the inside of each of said left and right outer wall members, said second adhesive layers being formed on the forward-facing end portion of the front piece of the side-panel connecting members disposed at the four corners and the backward-facing end portion of the rear piece of the side-panel connecting members, said third adhesive layer being formed on the outer sides of the front and rear inner wall members or the inner sides of the front and rear inner wall members.
  • 7. A device for assembling a paper box set forth in claim 6, wherein said first adhesive applying station, first folding station and second folding station are located on a first transfer conveyor, and said second adhesive applying station and third folding station are located on a second transfer conveyor arranged orthogonal to the first transfer conveyor for tuning said paper box 90 degrees.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
11/364892 Dec 1999 JP
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/JP00/08972 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO01/45925 6/28/2001 WO A
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5916079 Haring et al. Jun 1999 A
5971906 Tharpe et al. Oct 1999 A
6322486 Waechter Nov 2001 B1
6537187 Gamberini Mar 2003 B1