MECHANISM FOR LAP FOLDING AND REINFORCEMENT FORMING IN CARDBOARD BOXES

MECANISME DE PLIAGE ET DE RENFORCEMENT DE BOITES DE CARTON

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
It is a simple device by means of which top quality
folding of laps, as well as of reinforcements of card-
board boxes, is obtained.
It consists of a base (1), to which a bottom sup-
port (4) provided with an adjustable screw (5) is con-
nected, to which an open chain (6), whose free end is
linked to a slipper (8), movable by a guide-shaft (9),
in which a push spring (10) of the slipper (8) and tension
spring of the chain (6) have been mounted, is connected.
The guide-shaft (9) is connected to a rear body (11) which
is joined to a main support (12) interlocked to an opera-
ting tree (13) of the entire mechanism.
With this arrangement, upon the tree (13) rotating
180°, a reinforcement column will be formed from a lap
(15), previously provided with the precise folding lines
and pushed by the slipper (8.)

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1.- MECHANISM FOR LAP FOLDING AND REINFORCEMENT FORM-
ING IN CARDBOARD BOXES, of the type that include a turning
means for the rotation of an element that acts upon the
lap for its folding or for forming a reinforcement column;
characterised because it comprises a bottom support (4)
provided with an adjustable screw (5), to which an open or
similar chain (6) has been hooked, connecting by its free
end to a slipper (8), movable along a guide-shaft (9) that
is connected to a rear body (11), which is joined to a
main support (12) interlocked to an operating tree (13)
of the mechanism; a push spring (10) moving the slipper
(8) forward and a tension spring of chain (6) having been
provided for.
2.- MECHANISM FOR LAP FOLDING AND REINFORCEMENT FORM-
ING IN CARDBOARD BOXES, according to the above claim charac-
terised because the slipper (8), operating directly on the
lap (15) forming the reinforcement column of a box, has in
its outer area a stop (14) or the like of initial folding,
with the particularity that a support element (19) of the
tightened chain (6), preferably coupled to the main sup-
port (12), has been provided for.

Description

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1 MECHANISM FOR LAP FOLDING AND REINFORCEMENT FOLDING IN
CARDBOARD BOXES
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
Justas is expressed in the title of this specifica-
S tion, the present invention refers to a mechanism for lapfolding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes. It
is an extremely simple device, for which reason its opera-
tion turns out to be really effective in the old~ng and
reinforcement of laps.
The operation is produced by means of rotating a
tree, to which among other elements, a slipper which in
principle pushes, directly on the lap forming the rein-
forcement of a box, is linked.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently, different devices to carry out the fold~
ing of laps and forming of reinforcement columns in card-
board boxes are known. Such devices include some pneuma-
tic cylinders that act upon some elements that will turn
the degrees necessary to effect the folding of the cor-
responding laps. At times the operation thereof entails
some difficulties as far as the finish of the folds and
reinforcement columns is concerned, since neither of them
are optimal, but rather they have some defects.
On the other hand, these devices are comprised of
numerous elements, therefore, they are excessively com-
plex.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the problems mentioned in the
above section, a mechanism for lap folding and reinforce-
ment folding in cardboard boxes has been designed. It
; constitutes the object of the invention. It provides
some relevant features over conventional devices and
~ its structure and operation are very simple.
- It comprises a base, to which a bottom support pro-
~ ~5 vided with an adjustable screw, to which an open chain
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1 is hooked, is connected. The free end of the chain is
linked to a slipper movable along a guide-shaft, in which
a spring that pushes said slipper forward upon tightening
the chain, has been mounted. The guide-shaft is connect-
ed to a rear body, which is joined to a main body inter-
locked with an operating tree of the entire mechanism.
With this arrangement, the mechanism of the invention
remains inoperative when the chain and spring are not
tightened, the slipper in the most forward area and the
lap to be folded is straight, with the previously pre-
marked folding lines. Afterwards, when the mechanism
begins to operate, the tree rotates 180Q in order to form
the reinforcement column. In this process, the slipper
pushes, in the first place, a lap until a first fold there-
of is made, the chain and the spring becoming tightened,at the same time that the slipper moves backward. When
the complete rotation of 180Q is produced, the spring
tightens as much as possible and so does the chain, the
slipper moving totally backward, at the same time that
the outer part of the lap presses against the correspond-
ing side wall of the box.
The entire mechanism returns to the inoperative posi-
tion thanks to the spring, in the moment when the tree
causing all the movements remains freed.
Hereinafter in order to provide a better understand-
ing of this specification and as an integral part thereof,
a series of figures in which the object of the invention
has been represented with an illustrative and non-restric-
tive manner, is attached hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1.- It is a view of the mechanism for lap
folding and reinforcement forming in cardboard boxes, ob-
ject of the invention. This mechanism in question is in
the inoperative position.
Figure 2.- It is a view of the mechanism of the
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2089681
1 invention, which, starting from the initial position,
has rotated 180Q, carrying out a first folding of the
reinforcement lap of a box.
Figure 3.- It is a view of the mechanism of the
invention, where the totally formed box reinforcement is
shown, said mechanism having rotated entirely, in other
words 180Q.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Making reference to the numbering used in the figures,
the mechanism for lap folding and reinforcement forming
in cardboard boxes, has an extremely simple structure, at
the same time that its operation is very simple. With
this device notable quality of the folding and forming of
reinforcements in cardboard boxes is achieved.
It is comprised from a base (1), connected to a sup-
port plate (2) of a side wall (3) of the box, a bottom
support (4) that includes an adjustable screw (5), to which
the end of an open chain (6) is anchored, is coupled, the
free end of the chain connecting to an intermediate ele-
ment (7) linked to a slipper (8), movable along a guide-
shaft (9), in which a spring (10) that pushes said slip-
per ~8) forward when the chain is tightened due to the
spring itself, has been mounted. Said guide-shaft (9)
is connected to a rear body (11) which is joined to a main
support (12) interlocked to a tree (13), through which
the entire mechanism is operated. The slipper (8) in-
cludes on its innermost end a projection or stop ~14),
which will advantageously contact in the first place,
with the outside part of the lap (15) forming the rein-
forcement column, when the latter is made.
Observing figures 1, 2 and 3, in this order,we see that in the first one, the device of the invention
-' is in the inoperative position; chain (6) and spring (10)
are not tightened, the slipper (8) is in the most forward
area and the lap (15) of cardboard to be folded, for~ing a
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1 straight, reinforcement triangular column with its
outside folding lines (16), intermediate folding lines
(17) and inside folding lines (18) already premarked.
In the second figure, the tree (13) has rotated 90,
as well as the slipper (8), which in its forward movement
has effected an intermediate folding of the lap (15) cor-
responding to line (17.) In this situation, chain (6) and
spring (10) have been tightened, ensuring the stable posi-
tion of the slipper (8) that has moved backward a bit, al-
ways carried on the guide-shaft (9.)
The first contact point of the slipper (8) on lap (15)
is done advantageously, as it has already been said above,
by means of a small stop (14) that will press near the
free edge of the lap (15), thus producing the start of
lS said intermediate folding.
Now in figure 3, a totally perfectly formed reinforce-
ment triangular column corresponding to one of the corners
of the box appears. In order to go from the intermediate
position of figure 2 to the final position of figure 3,
the tree (13) has rotated 90 in the same direction as
before, whereby the slipper (8) has moved even further
backward, the same pressing on the outer part of the lap
that remains abutted against the corresponding side wall
(3) of the box.
An intermediate support (19) for the seat of the
tightened chain (6) just as the different positions are
occupied as the tree (13) rotates, which moves the mecha-
nism of the invention.
The initial position is recovered by means or sprlng
(10) coupled to the guide-shaft (9) and located between
the slipper (8) and the rear body (11), as long as the
tree (13) remains freed.
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Representative Drawing