The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §§ 371 national phase conversion of PCT/EP2015/025079, filed Nov. 10, 2015, which claims priority of European Patent Application No. 14020095.7, filed Nov. 24, 2014, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The PCT International Application was published in the French language.
The present invention relates to the field of packaging manufacture, and specifically packaging made from precut strips or sheets, in particular of paper, plastic or cardboard blanks, which may be flat, corrugated or mixed.
In particular, the present invention relates to the machine or module that takes a pre-creased cardboard blank and firstly folds the two lateral flaps down towards a central assembly line, with a partial overlap of the external edge of these flaps, and secondly glues these two flaps in the overlap zone to hold same in the folded position imposed by the machine. Such machines are referred to as folder-gluers.
Numerous machines in the prior art perform these combined folding-gluing operations along the route of the longitudinal axis of the folder-gluer. During these processing operations of each cardboard blank, the two flaps often suffer from positional deviations, from the desired position of same, once they have been folded and glued, either due to a deviation of the movable elements of the machine, and/or due to an offsetting of all or part of the blank in relation to the machine during processing of same and/or due to a blank having geometric properties that are slightly different from the ideal model of the cardboard blank.
When flat (see
Two longitudinal dotted lines show the fold lines, formed by the right-hand longitudinal crease 15 and the left-hand longitudinal crease 16, which delimit the central flap 19. The right-hand flap 17 is located between the right-hand crease 15 and the right-hand edge 13. The left-hand flap 18 is located between the left-hand longitudinal crease 16 and the left-hand edge 14.
Two main positioning anomalies of the two lateral flaps 17 and 18 can in particular be identified. A first positioning anomaly of the two lateral flaps, referred to as a gap, corresponds to an excessively large gap between the right-hand and left-hand edges 13, 14 of the two folded and glued flaps 17, 18: this first anomaly is shown in
A second positioning anomaly of the two lateral flaps 17, 18, referred to as fishtailing, is a paralleling fault between the edges 13 and 14 of the two folded and glued lateral flaps 17, 18, usually accompanied by the same paralleling faults between the sides 15′ and 16′. A first arrangement of this second anomaly is shown in
Document EP 1932658 describes a method and a folder-gluer machine that uses, in two successive alignment modules, an alignment rule oriented adjustably in relation to the longitudinal direction of the machine such that it enables, by means of this angular offsetting applied to one and then the other of the sides of the folded blank, at least a portion of the alignment fault between the right-hand and left-hand edges 13, 14 to be corrected. However, this solution makes it possible to systematically correct the portion of the alignment fault caused by mechanical movements of the machine and not by the shape or the reaction to folding or other processes specific to each cardboard blank.
In the machines in the prior art, position sensors detect these anomalies after the blank is processed to identify and eject packaging with anomalies that exceed a predetermined dimensional tolerance threshold. Moreover, in the machines in the prior art, the anomalies identified are systematically corrected by modifying the settings of the movable parts of the machine, but do not take account of the deformation of the blank caused specifically by the incorrect positioning of same in the machine, incorrect folding, incorrect cutting (contour) or even incorrect creasing.
One objective of the present invention is to propose a method and a device for processing a blank in a folder-gluer that enables the position of the right-hand and left-hand flaps to be corrected once they have been folded onto one another, without the limitations of known machines. Another objective is to provide a method and a device that enables the folded position of the right-hand flap and/or of the left-hand flap of a blank to be corrected in consideration of the individual situation of each blank. Another objective is to enable the folded position of the right-hand flap and/or of the left-hand flap of a blank to be corrected or otherwise, on a case-by-case basis, to obtain admissible blanks in most cases. Consequently, a maximum number of blanks can be kept for subsequent processing, with only a limited number of blanks being discarded. This results in material savings since only a few blanks are ejected from the machine to be discarded.
According to the invention, these objectives are achieved in particular by means of a method for processing a blank intended to form, after folding-gluing, a folded flattened box, comprising the following steps:
a) providing a substantially flat blank having a right-hand edge, a left-hand edge, a front edge, a rear edge, a right-hand longitudinal crease and a left-hand longitudinal crease, the right-hand longitudinal crease and the left-hand longitudinal crease delimiting, with the right-hand edge and the left-hand edge, at least three flaps including a right-hand flap, a left-hand flap and a central flap,
b) applying of glue to a zone of the right-hand flap adjacent to the right-hand edge and/or to a zone of the left-hand flap adjacent to the left-hand edge, such that the glue is present in an overlapping portion between the right-hand flap and the left-hand flap,
c) 180° folding of the right-hand flap about the right-hand longitudinal crease towards the central flap, and 180° folding of the left-hand flap about the left-hand longitudinal crease towards the central flap,
d) closing the folded right-hand flap and of the folded left-hand flap that are positioned one above the other at least in the overlapping portion,
e) checking the folded position of the right-hand edge and of the left-hand edge and comparison of this actual position with a predetermined position in order to determine a positional deviation,
f) if the positional deviation exceeds an admissible deviation value, implementing the following sub-steps before the glue sets:
g) pressing between the right-hand flap and the left-hand flap in the overlapping portion until the glue sets, and
h) releasing of the central flap, of the right-hand flap and of the left-hand flap.
The use of partially vacuumized suction cups makes it possible to hold then correct the position of the folded right-hand flap and/or of the folded left-hand flap, without causing any damage.
This solution has been notable advantage over the prior art of correcting the position of the folded flaps only if the positional check reveals that this is necessary, and that the correction is adapted to the specific geometric position of each individual blank.
Such a method can be used when the position of the blank, in the longitudinal direction of the folder-gluer, is substantially the same throughout the correction procedure. According to another embodiment, the method is implemented while the blank is moving in the longitudinal direction of the folder-gluer, either continuously or intermittently.
According to one embodiment, the fixing of the central flap during step f1) is realized via the lower face of same using fixing means using vacuum-induced negative pressing of the lower face. In this way, the central flap is held in a manner not damaging the blank and it is easy to activate or stop this rapidly.
According to the invention, these objectives are also achieved in particular using a device for correcting the position of a blank in a folder-gluer, for a substantially flat blank having a right-hand edge, a left-hand edge, a front edge, a rear edge, a right-hand longitudinal crease and a left-hand longitudinal crease, the right-hand longitudinal crease and the left-hand longitudinal crease delimiting, with the right-hand edge and the left-hand edge, at least three flaps including a right-hand flap, a left-hand flap and a central flap, the device comprising:
Such a device makes it possible to simultaneously fold, from the top, the right-hand flap and the left-hand flap above the central flap, to fold down the folded right-hand flap and the folded left-hand flap, which are positioned one above the other at least in an overlapping portion, to apply the glue, to check the position of the right-hand and left-hand flaps, to correct the position of the right-hand flap, of the left-hand flap or of the right-hand flap and of the left-hand flap simultaneously if necessary, and to hold the corrected position while the right-hand flap and the left-hand flap are being held together in the overlapping portion until the glue sets. The order of the operations mentioned above is not fixed, and the glue may be applied before or after folding, before or after the positional check, or even before or after any correction applied.
The present invention also relates to a folder-gluer machine fitted with a correction device as described in this text.
Example embodiments of the invention are given in the description, which is illustrated by the attached figures, in which:
For this purpose, the four suction cups 21, 23, 24 and 26 are lowered until they come into contact with the upward oriented face of the folded right-hand flap 17 and with the upward oriented face of the folded left-hand flap 18. The four suction cups 21, 23, 24 and 26 are vacuumized and securely hold the right-hand flap 17 at two points and the left-hand flap 18 at two points. Subsequently, as a function of the value of the lateral positional deviation (G′-Gréf) between the right-hand edge 13 and the left-hand edge 14, and any need to center this gap on a longitudinal midline of the blank (superposed on the axis X-X′), as identified by a positional check of the right-hand and left-hand edges 13, 14, the right-hand flap 17 or the left-hand flap 18 or both the right-hand flap 17 and the left-hand flap 18 will be moved laterally by moving some or all of the suction cups 21, 23, 24 and 26.
To do so, the position of the left-hand flap 18 and/or of the right-hand flap 16 is corrected by the sideways movement of the two suction cups 21, 23 of the right-hand flap 16 and/or of the two suction cups 24, 26 of the left-hand flap 18, in order to adjust the distance between the right-hand edge 13 and the left-hand edge 14 to bring same within the admissible range.
In a preferred embodiment, the two right-hand suction cups 21 and 23, including the front right-hand suction cup 21 and the rear right-hand suction cup 23, are moved jointly. Thus, in
Following fixing of the central flap 19, the following is carried out simultaneously:
For this purpose, the four suction cups 21, 23, 24 and 26 are lowered in right- or left-hand pairs until they come into contact with the upward oriented face of the folded right-hand flap 17 and with the upward oriented face of the folded left-hand flap 18. In the example illustrated, only the front suction cup 21 and 24 of each pair is vacuumized. Consequently, holding results in the right-hand flap 17 being held securely at a single point (in this case at the front) and the left-hand flap 18 being held securely at a single point (in this case at the front). Subsequently, as a function of the value of the lateral positional deviation between the right-hand edge 13 and the left-hand edge 14 (identified in this case as G1-Gréf at the front and G2-GRéf at the rear, with the angle α1 or α2 measured between the right-hand edge 13 and the left-hand edge 14 possibly being taken into account), and any need to center this gap on a longitudinal midline of the blank (superposed on the axis X-X′), as identified by a positional check of the right-hand and left-hand edges 13, 14, the right-hand flap 17 or the left-hand flap 18 or both the right-hand flap 17 and the left-hand flap 18 simultaneously are moved by moving one or both of the front suction cups 21 and/or 24 sideways. Alternatively, in a correction method not shown, this angular movement is obtained by moving one or both of the rear suction cups 23 and/or 26 sideways.
Thus, in
In
Consequently, if the positional deviation detected is a non-paralleling fault between the right-hand edge 13 and the left-hand edge 14, the angular position of the left-hand flap 18 and/or of the right-hand flap 16 is corrected using, for the right-hand flap 16 and for the left-hand flap 18, a single suction cup that is vacuumized to hold the corresponding flap, and which remains vacuumized during the sideways movement of same, as a result of which the orientation of the right-hand flap 17 and/or of the left-hand flap 18 is altered to bring the right-hand edge 13 and the left-hand edge 14 substantially parallel to one another.
This action to change the angular position of the right-hand flap 17 or of the left-hand flap 18 or of the right-hand flap 17 and of the left-hand flap 18 simultaneously also works through the partial vacuumizing and sideways movement of one or other of the front suction cup 21 (24) and the rear suction cup 23 (26): this holding at a single point of the flap in question makes it possible to adjust the angle formed between the edge of this flap and the axis X-X′ provided that this holding point of the flap by the suction cup is not positioned at the middle of the length (along the axis X-X′ of the folder-gluer).
In this case, not shown, where the folded blank 10 has both an inadmissible gap and an inadmissible paralleling fault, the invention enables both anomalies to be addressed and corrected. In practice, the gap is corrected first through the sideways movement of the two suction cups in each pair (right and left), the four suction cups 21, 23, 24 and 26 being engaged with the right- and left-hand flaps 17, 18, as explained above with reference to
The correction means include a pair of right-hand suction cups 21, 23 and a pair of left-hand suction cups 24, 26 (see
Equally, for each pair of suction cups, a first suction cup 21 (24) is located at the front and a second suction cup 23 (26) is located at the rear. Furthermore, the vacuumization of the first suction cup 21 (24) is controlled independently from the vacuumization of the second suction cup 23 (26).
To facilitate assembly and control, the two suction cups 21, 23 in the pair of right-hand suction cups are assembled on a right-hand supporting element 31 making it possible to simultaneously move both suction cups 21, 23, and both suction cups 24, 26 in the pair of left-hand suction cups are assembled on a left-hand supporting element 32 making it possible to simultaneously move both suction cups 24, 26. In particular, in order to ensure the correction as described above, the simultaneous movement of the two suction cups in each pair is done in a transverse direction (orthogonal to the direction of forward movement A) and vertically.
Furthermore, as shown in
The compression module 40 feeds air in a partial vacuum to the right-hand suction cups 21, 23 via a right-hand pipe 41 and feeds air in a partial vacuum to the left-hand suction cups 24, 26 via a left-hand pipe 42 (
Optical detection means (not shown) are preferably used to check the position of the right-hand edge 13 and of the left-hand edge 14 after folding of the right-hand flap 17 and of the left-hand flap 18. For example, optical detection as described in document EP 0937573 is used.
These detection means measure the gap between the right-hand edge 13 and the left-hand edge 14 after folding of the right-hand flap 17 and of the left-hand flap 18, at several positions along the longitudinal direction. In this way, calculation means are used to compare each of these measured values with the reference gap, with a predetermined value Gréf, and the need for a correction is determined. In this case, the correction required to bring the blank within the admissible deviation range is calculated.
Numerous different cases are possible, such as a correction of the left-hand flap 18 only, of the right-hand flap 17 only, of the left-hand flap 18 and the right-hand flap 17 simultaneously, and, for the flap or flaps, using both suction cups in the pair (right or left) in question (gap only), a single suction cup in the pair (right or left) in question (fishtailing only), both suction cups and then a single suction cup in the pair (right or left) in question (gap and fishtailing).
By way of example, the right-hand supporting element 31 and the left-hand supporting element 32 have a longitudinal travel (along the axis X-X′ of the folder-gluer) of 200 mm thanks to the linear motors 37 and 38. This longitudinal travel makes it possible to follow the blank 10 during a portion of the forward movement of same while performing the correction during the forward movement in the direction of forward movement A. Also by way of example, the right-hand supporting element 31 and the left-hand supporting element 32 have a transverse travel (in the direction orthogonal to the axis X-X′ of the folder-gluer) of between 10 mm and 30 mm. This transverse travel is sufficient to correct the anomalies found in most cases relating to blanks of maximum size, for example 1100 mm by 1700 mm. Pressing means used to create a pressing contact between the right-hand flap 17 and the left-hand flap 18 in the overlapping portion.
The lower portion of the correction device completes the elements used to enable the forward movement of the blank in the longitudinal direction using means for fixing the central flap 19 (see
As shown in
The boom 71 is assembled (
For easy and quick starting, the linear motor 80 is placed along the conveyance means that move the blank forwards in the longitudinal direction of the folder-gluer. In the embodiment illustrated, as shown in
The linear motors 80 accompany the longitudinal travel of the blank 10 in all cases, regardless of whether a correction is performed. Furthermore, the linear motors 80 are retracted and returned to their initial position soon after the blank 10 leaves the correction device and before arrival of the following blank 10 in the correction device.
Advantageously, the correction means, i.e. the suction cups 21, 23, 24, 26, and the fixing means, i.e. the booms 71, can move in the longitudinal direction (X-X′) of the folder-gluer machine at the same speed as the blank 10 during the longitudinal travel of same. In practice, the motor controlling the longitudinal travel of the right-hand supporting element 31 and of the left-hand supporting element 32 is synchronized with the motor controlling the linear motors 80 bearing the suction nozzles 72.
Preferably, gluing is performed, for example, by glue applicator/gluing means 8, before folding of the right-hand flap 17 and of the left-hand flap 18. It is nonetheless essential that the glue is prevented from setting in the overlapping portion between the right-hand flap 17 and the front left-hand flap 18 before and during the positional check (i.e. during steps d), e)) and during any positional correction performed (step f)). For this purpose, according to an advantageous arrangement illustrated partially in
In the machine, the correction device preferably also includes an element 90 that can be inserted between the right-hand flap and the left-hand flap before same is folded, and that can be removed before the correction.
In another embodiment, this element 90 can be removed. The position of the right-hand flap 18 and of the left-hand flap 17 in relation to the central flap 19 is corrected quickly enough to enable this correction to be made before the glue sets.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated. Numerous modifications can be made without thereby moving outside the scope of the claims. A folder-gluer may also be a folder-gluer unit, assembled for example in an on-line machine, downstream of a flexo press and of a rotary die-cutter.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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14020095 | Nov 2014 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2015/025079 | 11/10/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2016/082937 | 6/2/2016 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180339479 A1 | Nov 2018 | US |