Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to an automatic
machine for packing products of parallelepiped shape,
particularly reams of paper. It has been found that for
packing products of parallelepiped shape, such as reams of
paper, the cardboard boxes of the type customarily used have
certain shortcomings related to the fact that the product
support area is not perfectly flat due to the presence of
cardboard overlap areas and that this results in damage being
caused to the reams.
In order to overcome this problem it has been proposed
to effect the packing using boxes and lids formed out of
,,:
flattened material in which folding and cutting lines define
a substantially rectang~lar central area which has along its
sides sections that can be folded at a right angle theretG,
the front and rear sections extending laterally with corresponding
pairs of flaps that can be arranged at a right angle to the
said sections and to the said central area and can go over
and be glued to the lateral sections.
The automatic machines currently to be found on the
market which produce a packing out of the aforementioned boxes
and lids do not give satisfactory results both because of their
somewhat slow running speed and because of the packing created
not being perfect.
The present invention therefore provides an automatic
machine for packing products of parallelepiped shape,
particularly reams of paper, which has an especially high
output speed and is able to turn out packs that are practically
perfect.
The present invention also provides a machine that
is highly reliable, operates efficiently and can be easily
suited to boxes, lids, and products of various sizes.
According to the invention there is provided an
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automatic machine for packing products of parallelepiped shape
which comprises a magazine for boxes having a central area,
front, rear and lateral sections, and flaps extending from
said front and rear sec~tions respectively and adapted to be
glued to said lateral sections of said boxes to hold the boxes
together, and a magazine for lids also having a central area,
front, rear and lateral sections, and flaps extending from
said front and rear sections respectively and adapted to be
glued to said lateral sections of said lids to hold the lids
together, said lids and boxes in said magazines being in a
flattened configuration, a line for infeeding the parallelepiped
products, means for moving a box in its flattened configuration
from the relevant magazine to a substantially coplanar charging
zone outside said infeed line, pusher means for transferring
the products from the infeed line exit to the central area
of the box, a first presser that acts vertically on the
,
:- productsarranged in the central area of the box to push
` downwards the box and products a distance corresponding to
- the height of the said products, fixed lateral locators which,
with the step by step downward motion brought about by the
presser, cause the front and rear sections of the box to ~ ~:
be folded upwards, a pair of spatulas rotatable around vertical
shafts adapted to be operated subsequently to the lowering .:
of the box, and able to fold inwards the flaps of the rear
section,a line for moving forward the said boxes, on the sides
of which are positioned fixed locators for folding inwards
the flaps of the front section as the boxes advance and the
folding upwards of the lateral sections, means for distributing
the glue over the lateral sections, a plurality of opposite
rollers arranged at the sides at the line for moving boxes
for pressing the lateral sections against the inwardly folded
flaps in order to permit them to be glued together, means for
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moving a lid in lts flattened configuration from the relevant
magazine to an area overlying the exit from said set of
rollers, a second presser for pressing downward the said lid,
said second presser being provided with a plurality of rungs,
curved downwards and of various heights, for causing the
subsequent folding of the sections and flaps of the lid after
the central area thereof has been positioned over the products,
means being provided for distributing the glue over said
flaps of the lid.
The present invention will be further illustrated
by way of the aocompanying dr~wings in which,
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view of box and lid;
Fig. 2 is a front diagrammatic view of the machine
according to one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a lateral view of the said machine; and
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine.
With particular reference to the drawings, at 1 there S
is the complete automatic machine designed to pack the parallel-
epiped shape product 2 in boxes and lids fashioned out of
flattened material 3-4. The material 3-4 is customarily made
of corrugated cardboard and is provided with cutting and folding
lines which define the central areas 3a-4a, the front, rear and --
~
'' lateral sections, 3b-4b, 3c-4c, 3d-3e and 4d-4e, respectively,
as well as the flaps 3f-3g, 3h-3i, 4f-4g and 4h-4i. ~-
`
~ The machine 1 comprises the magazines 5 and 6 for
`~. the boxes and lids in flattened configuration, the line 7 for
., .;
i infeeding the products 2, the pusher 8, the pressers 9 and 10,
the infeed line 11 and the set of rollers 12 carried by the
frame 13 consisting of a structure of upright members 14, cross
members 15a and longitudinal members 15b, welded one to the
other.
The magazines 5 and 6 belonging to the boxes and the
lids are carried, overhanging fashion, from the support frame 13
by the corresponding frames 16 and 17. Apart from ~heir
dimensions, the magazines and the means for moving the individ-
ual boxes and lids from the magazines to the utilization zones
are virtually identical one with the other, and they are
described and numbered cumulatively hereinafter.
The boxes 3 and the lids 4 are arranged one on the
other and~ on one side they rest on the rollers 18, and on the
other, on the rollers 19, these being carried by the frames 16
and 17, respectively. The rollers 19 revolve first in the
direction of the arrow A and then in that of the arrow B, the
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purpose of this being to first cause the extremities i-d-f of
the cardboard material to be made by the roller 18 to drop on
to a cardboard support platform 20 (line in dots and dashes
marked I) and then to cause the extremities g-e-h to drop on to
the same platform, Underneath the cardboard support platforms
are arranged the pairs of gearwheels 21 and 22 around which are
wound the chains 23. Between the platform and the upper part of
the chain along the frames 16 and 17 are fixed the horizontal
; tracks 24 for guiding the rollers 25 of the carriages 26. To
the carriages 26 are articulated the link rods 27 which, in turnr
are articulated to the chains 23. As the latter are wound, the
-i eyes of the link rods 27 are moved alternately along the upper3 and along the lower portions of the chains and this displaces the
~S carriages 26 alternately in the direction of the arrows C and D.
t Fixed above the carriages 26 there are teeth 28 which pass
through corresponding longitudinal flutes in the support platforms
20 and are designed to move the boxes and the lids deposited
thereon in the direction of the arrow C and to arrange them in
the areas of the machine marked II, with the boxes resting on the
support brackets 29. The product infeed line 7 is of the type
that consists of an endless conveyor belt 30 mounted over driven
; and idling rollers carried by the frame 31. The latter is pro-
vided with lateral guide walls 32 and is supported by an adjust-
able height leg 33. A drive group 34 of known type is positioned
beneath the frame 31. At the exit from line 7 which infeeds the
products 2 in the direction of the arrow E, a pneumatic jack 35
is secured to the frame 13 and this is parallel with the longitu-
dinal axis (a) of the machine and has a horizontal piston carrying
the pusher 36 which is guided along the two horizontal shanks 37.
As the hack 35 operates in the direction of the arrow F, the said
pusher contacts the products in order to carry them into the area
3a of the boxes arranged in position II. A locator 38 is fixed
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j to the frame 13 to ensure the correct positioning of the produc~
in the box. In the specific case illustrated in the drawing, ~t
is envisaged that products arranged in superimposed pairs are
J to be arranged in the box and thus the width of the pusher 36
is slightly less than that of the two closely united products.
At the exit from line 7, the frame 13 has fixed to it the longit-
udinal member 39 for locating and guiding the pairs of products
coming from line 7 (position 21).
Above area 3a of the box in position II, the machine
frame has fixed to it a cross member 40 which is integral with
the vertic-~l shaft mounted pneumatic jack 41 whose height, with
respect to the cross member 40, is adjustable through a screw ~ -~
:
j connected handwheel 42. Underneath the piston of the jack 41 is
~, fixed the horizontal bracket 43 of the presser 9. The piston is
operated alternately in the direction of the arrows G and H, its
travel corresponding to the height of the products and its
operation in direction G subsequently to the arrival of each pair
of products in position 211 causes the products and the boxes to
be lowered. Below the bracket 43 is the support bracket 44 which,
guided along the vertical shanks 45 and actuated by the jack 46, -~
lowers step-by-step with each operation of the brackets 43. On
the sides of the frames are the pairs of members 47 which fold
upwards the sections 3b and 3c as the boxes are lowered.
Once a predetermined number of pairs of products have
been arranged in the box, the boxes and products are in position
III shown with dots and dashes in the drawing, with sections 3b
and 3c of the box substantially at right angles to area 3a.
Practically corresponding to the rear edges of the box, the
machine frame has articulated to it pivotally the vertical
spindles 48 and 49 with which the corresponding spatulas 50 are
integral. With the rotation in the direction of the arrows I of
the spatulas - the said rotation being achieved advantageously
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with means of the pneumatic jack type which are not shown on the
: drawings - the flaps 3h and 3i are folded forwards in such a way
as to render them practically at right angles to areas 3a and 3c.
Under the support platform 51 of the boxes in configuration III
` which extends up to the set of rollers 12, there is a longitudinal
` member 52 which is articulated to the upper extremities of the L
` shaped arms 53 and 54. These L-shaped arms 53, 54 are centrally
pivoted to the upright members 55 of the machine and the lower
extremity of the arm 53 and an intermediate portion of the lower
part of the arm 54 fastened to the spindle 56 which together
with the longitudinal member 52 and the arms 53 and 54 forms an
articulated parallelogram. The lower extremity of the arm 54 is
guided by the cam 57 which is so shaped that its rotation causes
the raising and the lowering (arrows L) of the longitudinal mem-
ber 52.
Up above the latter is fixed the horizontal track 58
for guiding the carriage 59 which through the connecting rod 60
is linked to the endless chain 61 that turns around the gear-
wheels 62 and 63. As the chain unwinds, the rod 60, carried
alternately along the upper and the lower portions thereof,
causes the carriage 5g to undergo a to-and-fro motion (arrows
M-N). The carriage 59 has articulated to it the front extremities
of the L shaped arms 64 which carry the idle rollers 65 that
rest on the longitudinal members 52. The gearwheel 63 and the
cam 67 have one and the same drive and between one and the other
the transmission ratio is such that when the carriage moves in
the direction of the arrow M, the longltudinal member 58 is dis-
placed upwards, whilst when the carriage moves in the direction
of the arrow N,` it is displaced downwards. In the latter con
figuration, along with the lowering of the longitudinal member 58,
the roller 65 is also lowered and the arms 64 are carried into a
configuration whereby their upper extremities remain below the
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platform 51.
During the movement in the direction of the arrow M,
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the arms 64 act on the box and its products and cause it to move
from position III. On the sides of the frame are positioned
converging curved locators 66 which determine the folding back
of the flaps 3f-3g to carry them into a condition whereby they
are at right angles with the area 3a and the section 3b.
~orresponding to where the locators 66 are to be found
`~ on the frame 13, glue distribution devices 67 are mounted and
these are designed to spread predetermined quantities of glue on
the sections 3d-3e. In order to achieve a faster glue open time,
hot melt should ideally be used. Following on after the locators
66 there are tubular locators 68 which, commencing from the
! height of the platform 51, project upwards and converge towards
the central area of the platform 51. As the boxes move forward,
the locators 68 cause the folding upward of the sections 3d-3e
until they are carried at right angles to the area 3a resting
~ against the flaps 3i-3f and 3h-3g, respectively.
j Downstream of the locators 68 there is the set of
vertically mounted rollers 12 carried by the frames 69. The
latter have integral with them pairs of transverse shanks 70
guided in the horizontal axis bushes 70a fixed to the frame 13,
~` the distance the frames 69 are away from the axis (a) of the
machine being adjustable through the handwheels 71 integral with
corresponding adjusting screws.
Endless belts a_e mounted around the rollers 12, the
latter being held pressing in the direction of the arrows (O) by
elastic means of known type in such a way as to press the sections
3d-3e against the flaps 3i-3f-3h-3g and to allow the glue to grip.
The drive group 73 is anchored to the frame 13 and
through suitable reduction means, it actuates the gearwheel 63,
the cam 57 and the rollers 12.
The boxes now formed around the products continue to
move forward in the direction of thç arrow M resting on a set of
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belts mounted around and supported by the transVerse rollers 74
''~, which are powered in a known ~ashion by the drive group 74a
`~ until they trip against the transverse stop 75. The latter is
fixed to the piston of the pneumatic jack 75a, the operation of
,~ which is designed to move the stop 75 downwards underneath the
:~
plane on which the boxes travel along in order to allow the
'~ forward movement subsequent to the arrangement of the lid.
Each individual lid carried into position II by the
means described previously in respect of the boxes, is supported
~ 10 in that position by the lateral brackets 76 connected to the curved,
j rungs 77 which point downwards and are fixed underneath the plate
~j 78. The latter is fastened to the piston of the pneumatic jack
~ 79 by the pressor 10 and it carries integral with it the shanks
,~ 80 which are guided in corresponding vertical axis bushes fixed
;~ to the frame 13 of the machine.
-i~ Underneath the plate 78, the-platform 81 is supported
:j
by means of the spindles 82 which pass through the plate 78 in ~'
sliding fashion, helical compression springs 83 being interposed
q between the plate and the platform.
With the lowering of the plate 78 in the direction of
~, the arrow P brought about by the operation of the jack 79, the lid
in a flattened configuration rests first of all on the box and
a
on the products arranged in configuration IV. Subsequently the
platform 81 pushes the area 4a of the lid on to the products.
With the further lowering of the plate and whilst the platform 81
is stopped by the products, the said rungs 77 determine first of
all the downward folding of the sections 4b-4c, then the rungs
77a fold the flaps 4i-4h-4f-4g forwards and backwards and finally
the rungs 77b fold the sections 4d-4e downwards. This folding
succession is achieved thanks to the vertical parts of the curved
~ungs 77-77a-77b being of different lengths.
It should be noted that at the exit from the magazine
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6 a pair of upper glue distribution device 83 are positioned
and that these deposit glue on to the upper surface of the
$1aps 4i-4h-4f-4g in such a way that when the sections 4d-4e-
are folded and pressed on to the aforementioned flaps 4i-4h-
4f-4g, so that they remain glued thereto to form the completed
lids. Underneath the said glue distribution devices 84,
spaced away therefrom a distance e~ual to the thickness of
the lid, à pair of further glue distribution devices (not
visible on the drawings since they are covered by the
distributors 84) are positioned and these attend to spreading
the glue on the lower surface of the flaps 4i-4h-4f-4g and the
front and rear sections 4b-4c to enable the lid to be secured -
to the box. The succession of operational sequences is
achieved through the use of electronic detection and control
- groups.
The present invention thus makes it possible to
rapidly pack products of parallelepiped shape in a way that
is practically perfect.
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