Stacking module for a converting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a stacking module (28) for a folding glue machine (1). The stacking module comprises a loading surface (90) configured to receive a plurality of folded boxes and to vertically descend as the number of folded boxes on the loading surface increases, and a linearly movable ejector (76) configured to move from a retracted position (RP) to an extended position (DP). The stacker further comprises an upper guide (110) configured to move between a clearing position (CP) vertically away from an upper surface of the stack and a guiding position (GP) in which the upper guide is positioned closer to the upper surface of the stack, wherein the upper guide is in the guiding position when the ejector moves from the retracted position to the emptying position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a conversion machine for producing folding boxes from sheet blanks. In particular, this invention relates to an adjustment section for stacking and bundling the folding boxes together. Background Technology

[0002] Conversion machines are used in the packaging industry to convert sheet blanks (such as cardboard or paperboard blanks) into folding boxes (sometimes called flat-fold boxes). These machines are often referred to as folding glue machines and are configured to convert blanks into folding boxes by continuously folding and gluing the blanks. The produced folding boxes have a flat shape, and multiple boxes can be stacked and adjusted together in bundles for easy transport and storage.

[0003] However, when forming a calibrated stack of folded boxes in a folding adhesive machine, there are many movable mechanical parts that come into contact with the edges of the boxes. This can result in uneven stacking and damage to the boxes, potentially impairing their functional and aesthetic properties. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, one object of the present invention is to prevent damage to the folding box when adjusting multiple stacked boxes.

[0005] This problem is solved by the stacking module according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 15, and other advantageous features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, a stacking module for a folding adhesive machine is provided, the stacking module being located downstream of a conveying module in the transport direction of the folding adhesive machine, and configured to receive folding boxes from the conveying module.

[0007] The stacking module includes a loading surface and a linearly movable ejector. The loading surface is configured to receive multiple folded boxes and descend vertically as the number of folded boxes on the loading surface increases. The linearly movable ejector is configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position and eject a stack of folded boxes from the loading surface.

[0008] The stacking module further includes an upper guide configured to move between a clean position and a guide position, the clean position being vertically away from the upper surface of the stack, and the guide position being positioned closer to the upper surface of the stack, wherein the upper guide is in the guide position when the discharger moves from the retracted position to the empty position.

[0009] This invention is based on the understanding that the upper guide can prevent the folded box from moving upwards due to the "stack spring effect" during transport to downstream modules (e.g., strapping modules). Therefore, the upper guide helps maintain stack alignment during transport.

[0010] The loading surface can be configured to descend gradually as each batch of folded boxes is supplied. Alternatively, the loading surface 90 is configured to descend continuously as boxes are placed on the loading surface during continuous supply.

[0011] During the emptying and descent of the completed stack on the loading surface, the upper guide can be synchronized to a guide position and configured to follow the downward movement of the loading surface.

[0012] The upper guide may include a first elongated guide member and a second elongated guide member extending along the transport direction. In one embodiment, the lateral distance between the first guide member and the second guide member may be modified.

[0013] In one embodiment, the ejector includes a first and a second actuator arranged laterally to each other, wherein each actuator is linearly displaceable in the transport direction and is configured to move uniformly between a retracted position and an extended position.

[0014] Preferably, the first and second pushers of the discharge device are arranged transversely to the first and second upper guide members.

[0015] In one implementation, the first and second pushers may be laterally and longitudinally displaced relative to each other, such that their retracted and extended positions in the transport direction are different.

[0016] In one embodiment, the stacking module may further include a front abutment guide configured to move between an abutment position and a clean position, in which the front abutment guide is positioned in front of the front edge of the front of the folded box when the folded box is placed on the loading surface, and in the clean position, the front abutment guide is positioned away from the stack so that the ejector can empty the stack from the loading surface.

[0017] The front adjacency guide may include a first adjacency plate and a second adjacency plate arranged side by side.

[0018] In one implementation, the front adjacent guide remains stationary when the loading surface descends. Alternatively, the front adjacent guide may move vertically upwards when the loading surface descends.

[0019] The ejector can be connected to an actuator and is configured to move at a first speed when the stack is present in the stacking module and at a second speed when the stack is present in the strapping station, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for calibrating a stack of folded boxes in a stacking module according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of:

[0021] - Receive a batch of folded boxes on the loading surface in the stacking module.

[0022] - Lower the loading surface in the stacked module to the empty position.

[0023] - Move the upper guide from a clean position, which is vertically away from the top surface of the stack, to a guide position, where the upper guide is positioned closer to the top surface of the stack.

[0024] - Move the ejector from the retracted position to the extended position, causing the stack to be emptied / displaced from the loading surface.

[0025] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a conveying module for a folding adhesive machine is disclosed, the conveying module comprising a lower conveying device and an upper conveying device for receiving a folded box between them and conveying the folded box in a transport direction toward a loading surface in a downstream stacking module.

[0026] The upper conveying device of the conveying module extends further in the transport direction than the lower conveying device, and the upper conveying device extends above the loading surface in the stacking module.

[0027] This is based on the understanding that the limited space defined for the folding box can be formed by the positions of the upper and lower conveying devices. This prevents undesirable movement and misalignment of the folding box and guides it downwards to form an aligned stack on the loading surface within the stacking module.

[0028] In one embodiment, the upper conveying device is configured to extend across the loading surface by at least 50%.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the upper conveying device includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, each conveyor belt having a distal inlet end and a distal outlet end, wherein the distal outlet end of the first conveyor belt and the distal end of the second conveyor belt can be individually displaced in the transport direction, such that their extension on the loading surface in the stacker can vary.

[0030] In one embodiment, the distal exit end of the first upper conveyor belt and the distal exit end of the second upper conveyor belt may be positioned at different longitudinal locations relative to each other. The first and second conveyor belts are preferably arranged parallel to each other.

[0031] In one embodiment, each of the first upper conveyor belt and the second upper conveyor belt is mounted on a top frame portion having a fixed portion and a movable frame portion, wherein the movable frame portion includes a distal exit roller defining a distal exit end of the top conveyor belt.

[0032] In one embodiment, the lower conveyor includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, wherein the first lower conveyor belt and the second lower conveyor belt each have an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the outlet end is movable in the transport direction so that the distance between the outlet end of the lower conveyor and the loading surface in the stacking module can be changed.

[0033] In one embodiment, each of the first and second lower conveyor belts is mounted on a bottom frame portion having a fixed portion and a movable frame portion, wherein the movable frame portion includes a distal roller defining the distal exit ends of the first and second conveyor belts.

[0034] In one embodiment, the roller assembly is connected to a movable frame component and configured to move with it.

[0035] In one embodiment, the distal entrance ends of the first and second upper conveyor belts are provided with first and second vertically movable entrance rollers and configured to move between an entrance position and a clamping position, wherein the entrance rollers are spaced apart from the lower conveyor belt in the entrance position to form a funnel-shaped gap and are positioned closer to the lower conveyor belt in the clamping position.

[0036] In one embodiment, the inlet roller is mounted on a vertically movable shaft, which is movably attached to the upper fixed frame portion. The first and second lower conveyor belts, as well as the first and second upper conveyor belts, can be laterally movable, allowing the lateral distance between the conveying devices to be modified.

[0037] The first and second lower conveyor belts and the first and second upper conveyor belts may also be guided by movable compensating rollers located in the fixed frame portion, wherein the rollers are configured to change the travel path of the conveyor belts and change their contact length against the folding box.

[0038] In one embodiment, a support surface in the conveying module is located between the upper conveying device and the lower conveying device, wherein the support surface is inclined upward in the transport direction at an angle of 1° to 15°, preferably 3° to 7°, and most preferably 5°.

[0039] This allows the folded box to move by gravity caused by the ramp, so that the rear edge of the folded box abuts the surface of the discharger and can form an aligned stack.

[0040] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a conveying and stacking assembly for a folding adhesive machine is provided, the assembly comprising a conveying module and a stacking module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stacking module includes a loading surface and an ejector, wherein the loading surface is inclined upward in the transport direction.

[0041] In one implementation, the support plane in the conveying module and the loading surface in the stacking module have substantially the same angle of inclination. "Substantially" means a deviation of 1 to 2 degrees. Optionally, the storage surface in the downstream strapping module may have the same angle.

[0042] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the discharger is located upstream of the distal exit rollers of the first and second lower conveyor belts. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings, wherein like features are indicated by like reference numerals, wherein:

[0044] Figure 1a A schematic diagram of a folding adhesive machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0045] Figure 1b It shows Figure 1a A schematic diagram of the adjustment section in a folding adhesive machine;

[0046] Figures 2a to 2d It shows in Figure 1a Exemplary types of blanks and folding boxes produced in a folding adhesive machine;

[0047] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the adjustment section according to an embodiment of the present invention, including a conveying module, a stacking module, and a bundling module;

[0048] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the adjusting part according to the present invention when receiving a batch of folding boxes.

[0049] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a transmission module according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0050] Figure 6 This is a schematic perspective view of the transmission module according to the present invention.

[0051] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of the transmission module;

[0052] Figure 8 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the stacking module according to the present invention;

[0053] Figure 9 This is a detailed schematic perspective view of the upper guide in a stacking module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 10 This is a detailed schematic perspective view of the front adjacency guide in a stacking module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figures 11a to 11c are schematic perspective views of the loading surface of a stacked module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 12a and 12b This is a schematic diagram showing two exemplary positional arrangements of an ejector having a movable first and second actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the adjustment of the speed and acceleration of the discharger in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 14 It is a schematic perspective view of a shingled inverter; and

[0059] Figure 15 This is a schematic perspective view of a stacked module according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen in the direction of transport. Detailed Implementation

[0060] Refer to the attached diagram, especially Figure 1a , Figure 1a A conversion machine in the form of a folding adhesive machine 1 is shown, wherein the folding adhesive machine folds and adhesives as follows: Figure 2b and 2c The blank 2' shown is used to form a blank as shown in the figure. Figure 2a and 2d The folding box 2 shown. The blank 2' has a peripheral edge 4 that defines the shape of the wing 6, and is provided with a crease line 8 that allows the intermediate blank 2' to be folded along a predefined line.

[0061] Such blanks 2' are typically produced in another conversion machine (e.g., a flatbed die-cutting machine or a rotary die-cutting machine). These machines receive flat and typically rectangular sheets of cardboard or paperboard substrate and convert them into blanks 2'.

[0062] Return to reference Figure 1aThe folding and gluing machine 1 of the present invention includes a series of different workstations, from inlet to outlet: a feeding module 10, a folding pre-cutting module 12, a gluing module 14, a folding module 16, a conveying module 18, and a delivery station or collection table 19. After the folding and gluing modules of the converter, an adjustment section 20 can be provided to count and separate a batch of folded boxes 2 and arrange them into bundled stacks. Figure 1b As shown, this adjustment section 20 of the folding adhesive machine 1 includes a counter and separator unit 22, an optional shingled reverser 24, a conveyor module 26 arranged after the shingled reverser 24, a stacking module 28 configured to arrange the folded boxes in a stack, and a strapping module 30.

[0063] The folding adhesive machine 1 further includes a control system, which may include a main centralized control system and separate peripheral control systems. For example, the adjustment section 20 may include a separate peripheral control unit 43. The combination of the centralized control system and the peripheral control system allows specific modules to locally retrieve and process some data, while the central control unit 13 of the centralized control system can be dedicated to controlling the overall operation of the folding adhesive machine 1.

[0064] The counter and separator unit 22 is configured to count and regulate a series of folded boxes into batches with a predefined number of separations. The separated batches can then be provided with a wrapping tape and bundled together in a downstream bundling module 30.

[0065] A shingled reverser 24 can be disposed downstream of the counter and separator unit 22. The shingled reverser 24 is configured to rotate every two batches of boxes by 180° while allowing a subsequent batch to pass directly through. Such a shingled reverser is described in patent EP3481756B1, and... Figure 14 It is shown schematically in the middle.

[0066] Rotating multiple batches of boxes 180° ensures a uniform stack height and better alignment, resulting in a substantially vertical stack. This is advantageous for some types of folded boxes with uneven thickness due to the folded shape. Uneven thickness typically occurs when folding results in several sheets of thickness being stacked on top of each other. Figure 14 As shown, the shingled reverser 24 includes an upper belt conveyor 25a and a lower belt conveyor 25b, and is rotatable about axis A, such that when the shingled reverser rotates, a batch of folded boxes 2 can be received between the upper conveyor 25a and the lower conveyor 25b and rotated 180°.

[0067] As in Figure 4As best shown, the folded boxes 2 from the shingled reverser 24 or directly from the counting separation module 22 are further transported downstream to the conveyor module 26, the stacking module 28, and the bundling module 30. The conveyor module 26 transports multiple batches of folded boxes 2 and positions them in the downstream stacker 28, where they are stacked. The stacking module 28 collects the boxes 2, forming a stack of aligned and stacked boxes that are then fed into the bundling module 30.

[0068] Now refer to Figures 3 to 7 The conveying module 26 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in further detail. As shown in the figures, the conveying module 26 includes an outer housing and a structural frame 34 on which an upper conveying device 36 and a lower conveying device 38 are mounted. Folded boxes 2 are received from an upstream module (such as a shingled inverter 24) or directly from a counting and separating module 22. The upper conveying device 36 and the lower conveying device 38 are configured to convey a batch of folded boxes 2 between them and to position the folded boxes 2 into a downstream stacking module 26. Therefore, a support surface S is defined between the upper conveying device 36 and the lower conveying device 38.

[0069] The transfer module 26 may further include a control interface 40 and a display 42. A peripheral control unit 43 may be arranged close to the control interface 40 and operably connected to it, allowing the operator to monitor and change settings related to the transfer module 26. Alternatively, the peripheral control unit 43 may be located in the counting separation module 22 and operably connected to the transfer module 26.

[0070] The upper conveyor 36 and the lower conveyor 38 are provided with longitudinal extensions E that coincide with the longitudinal direction D of the folding adhesive machine 1. The longitudinal direction D in the folding adhesive machine 1 can be defined as the transport direction D of the blank 2' or the folding box 2 through the folding adhesive machine 1.

[0071] In the illustrated embodiment, the upper conveyor 36 includes a first upper conveyor belt 36a and a second upper conveyor belt 36b arranged as a pair. Similarly, the lower conveyor 38 includes a first lower conveyor belt 38a and a second lower conveyor belt 38b arranged as a pair. The conveyor belts 36 and 38 are in the form of annular belts and are guided by rollers 37 mounted on the upper frame member 46 and the lower frame member 45, thereby maintaining their positions. The upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b are connected to a drive mechanism 48 including a drive roller 50 and a motor (not shown) that drives the conveyor belts. Similarly, the lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b are further connected to a drive mechanism 41 including a drive roller 82. For this effect, the conveyor belts 36a, 36b, 38a, and 38b may be provided with a contact side and a traction side, wherein the traction side may be recessed to engage with a corresponding recessed drive roller 50.

[0072] Each of the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b has an extension between an inlet end 56 and an outlet end 58 in the conveyor module 26, the inlet end 56 being defined by inlet rollers 60a and 60b, and the outlet end being defined by outlet rollers 62a and 62b. These ends 56 and 58 define the total longitudinal contact length of the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b in contact with the folding box 2.

[0073] Therefore, the first upper conveyor belt 36a and the second upper conveyor belt 36b may include a first inlet end 60a and a second inlet end 60b, as well as a first outlet end 62a and a second outlet end 62b. Similarly, the first and second lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b include first and second inlet ends 67a and 67b, and first and second outlet ends 65a and 65b. The inlet ends 60a, 60b, 67a, 67b and the outlet ends 62a, 62b, 65a, 65b may be defined by rollers.

[0074] The first upper conveyor belt 36a and the second upper conveyor belt 36b may include a pair of movable inlet rollers 60a, 60b configured to move between a receiving position R and a conveying position T. The inlet rollers 60a, 60b may be attached to an elongated frame 63, which is received in a mating guide rail 64 within the upper frame 46 of the conveying module 26. The vertical movement of the first inlet roller 60a and the second inlet roller 60b of the upper conveyor belts 36a, 36b may be determined by a sensor 61 located upstream.

[0075] like Figure 7 As shown, at the receiving position R, the movable first inlet roller 60a and second inlet roller 60b of the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b are positioned at a first distance d1 from the lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b, away from the lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b. This creates a funnel-shaped inlet between the upper and lower conveyor belts 36a and 36b, allowing a batch of folded boxes to be guided between the upper and lower conveyor belts 36a and 36b. At the conveying position T (shown as a dashed line), the movable distal inlet rollers 60a and 60b of the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b are positioned at a second distance d2 from the lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b. In this second position, the movable distal inlet rollers 60a and 60b are positioned closer to the lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b, clamping the folded boxes 2 between the upper and lower conveyor belts 36 and 38. Therefore, the second distance d2 is less than the first distance d1.

[0076] The vertical movement of the first and second distal inlet rollers 60a and 60b of the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b is coordinated with the alignment control and batch position of the folding adhesive machine 1. The control unit 43 of the adjustment section 20 or the control unit of the counting separation module 22 can be configured to determine the time when a batch of folded boxes arrives at the inlet 56 of the conveyor module 26 and activate the actuator 57 to move the distal inlet rollers 60a and 60b accordingly.

[0077] At the exit end 58 of the conveying module 26, the distal ends 62a, 62b of the first and second upper conveyor belts 36a, 36b extend further in the longitudinal direction D than the distal exit ends 66a, 66b of the first and second lower conveyor devices 38a, 38b. Preferably, the protrusion length can be varied, i.e., the distance d3 between the distal exit ends of the upper conveyor devices 62a, 62b and the distal exit ends 66a, 66b of the lower conveyor belts 38a, 38b. Advantageously, this distance d3 corresponds to the longitudinal lengths Lb1, Lb2 of the folding box 2 produced in the longitudinal direction D (see...). Figures 2a to 2d This allows for adjustment relative to different longitudinal lengths Lb1, Lb2 of the folding box 2. During the transport of a batch of folding boxes 2, the distal outlet ends 62a, 62b, 66a, 66b can be movable, while the distal inlet rollers 60a, 60b, 67a, 67b can be kept in a fixed longitudinal position.

[0078] The distal exit ends 62a and 62b of the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b are preferably provided with a protruding length d3 such that they are adjacent to the front abutment guide 70 of the stacking module 28. The front abutment guide 70 includes at least one abutment surface 72a and 72b, preferably two abutment surfaces 72a and 72b. The first front abutment surface 72a and the second front abutment surface 72b may be in the form of a first abutment plate 72a and a second abutment plate 72b. The term "adjacent" can be defined as a protrusion distance d3 corresponding to more than 50% (e.g., 75% or 90%) of the longitudinal length of the folding box 2. A small distance between the abutment surfaces 72a and 72b and the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b is preferred because this will ensure maximum guidance of the folding box 2 while preventing the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b from contacting the abutment surfaces 72a and 72b. This allows the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b to create an enclosed space, allowing the folding box 2 to be accommodated below the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b.

[0079] like Figures 2a to 2d , Figure 12a and Figure 12b As shown, some folding boxes 2 do not have a straight front edge 3 or a straight rear edge 5. This is indeed the case for certain types of boxes, such as straight boxes or bottom-hinged boxes. The longitudinal protrusion lengths d3 of the first upper conveyor belt 36a and the second upper conveyor belt 36b can be different from each other. Therefore, the front abutment guide 70 may include corresponding first front abutment surfaces 72a and second front abutment surfaces 72b, which can also move in the longitudinal direction D to ensure that the first front abutment surfaces 72a and the second front abutment surfaces 72b are adjacent to the distal exit ends 62a, 62b of the first and second upper conveyor belts 36a, 36b.

[0080] like Figure 3 and Figure 7 As best shown, the first and second upper conveyor belts 36a, 36b are received in an upper frame assembly 46, which includes a fixed frame member 46a and a movable frame member 46b. The movable frame member 46b and the fixed frame member 46a are movably connected to each other. Advantageously, a slide rail connection can be provided between the fixed frame member 46a and the movable frame member 46b, allowing the movable frame member 46b, on which the conveyor belts 36a, 36b are mounted, to slide slidably in the transport direction D. This allows for an improvement in the protruding length d3 of the upper conveyor belts 36a, 36b. This further results in the distal exit ends 62a, 62b of the first and second upper conveyor belts 36a, 36b being movably arranged in the transport direction D.

[0081] like Figure 3 As best shown, the movable frame component 46a can be connected to the actuator 47, which is movable via a motor 49. The actuator 47 can be a mechanical actuator, but a pneumatic / hydraulic actuator can also be used. The actuator 47 is preferably motorized and configured to move automatically based on information from the main control unit 13 or the peripheral control unit 43. For example, the protruding length d3 of the upper conveyor belts 36a, 36b can be determined by the dimensions of the folding box that enters the user interface 40.

[0082] When the longitudinal positions of the first and / or second distal exit ends 62a, 62b of the upper conveyor 36 and the first and / or second distal exit rollers 66a, 66b of the lower conveyor 38 change, the total longitudinal contact length of the corresponding conveyor belts 36a, 36b, 38a, 38b changes. To accommodate different longitudinal lengths of the same conveyor belt, the travel path P of the conveyor belts 36, 38 is changed. This can be achieved by adjusting compensating rollers 39a, 39b arranged in the fixed frame components 45a, 46a. The adjusting compensating rollers 39a, 39b can be linearly movable to modify the travel path P of the conveyor belts 36, 38. This allows the distal exit rollers 62a, 62b, 66a, 66b to be positioned at different longitudinal positions while keeping the distal inlet rollers 60a, 60b, 67a, 67b stationary.

[0083] First and second lower conveyor belts 36a, 36b are positioned around first and second roller assemblies 80a, 80b, which include a series of idle rollers closely positioned together. Roller assemblies 80a, 80b provide a stable support surface for the batch of folded boxes and guide the lower conveyor belts 38a, 38b. A drive roller 82 is located in the lower frame structure 45 and may be provided with a lateral length such that it contacts the first and second lower conveyor belts 38a, 38b and is configured to co-drive the first lower conveyor belt 38a and the second lower conveyor belt 38b.

[0084] The distal exit ends 66a and 66b of the first and second lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b can also move independently in the longitudinal direction D. This allows the lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b to be positioned at different longitudinal locations and also at different longitudinal locations relative to each other. Therefore, the first and second lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b have variable protrusion lengths in the longitudinal direction D. This allows for adjustment according to the geometry of the rear edge 5 of the folding box 2.

[0085] As previously described, similar to the upper conveyor belts 36a and 36b, the lengths of the first and second lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b can also be modified by providing first and second longitudinally movable distal exit rollers 65a and 65b. For this purpose, the lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b are located in the lower frame 45 and connected to the movable frame member 45b, which is slidably connected to the fixed frame member 45a.

[0086] like Figure 7 As shown in the detailed view, first and second roller assemblies 80a, 80b are provided, having variable contact lengths with the first and second lower conveyor belts 38a, 38b. The roller assemblies include a series of rollers 82 mounted in a chain. The roller assemblies 80a, 80b are arranged within the loop of the annular conveyor belts 38a, 38b in such a manner that there is no interference between the roller assemblies and the conveyor belts 38a, 38b. The roller assemblies 80a, 80b include a plurality of pin-shaped links 84, which are engaged together by a plurality of pivots 86. The rollers 82 are rotatably connected to a roller frame component 88, which is connected to the pivots 86.

[0087] Roller assemblies 80a and 80b are connected to movable frame component 45b, and roller assemblies 80a and 80b move along with the movable frame component 45b as it extends or retracts in the longitudinal direction D.

[0088] The conveying module 26 stores the folded box 2 into the stacking module 28. For example... Figure 4 As shown in the best embodiment, the stacking module 28 includes a loading surface 90, a front abutment guide 70 including a first front abutment surface 72a and a second front abutment surface 72b, and an ejector 76.

[0089] The folding boxes 2 are intended to be stored on the loading surface 90 in the stacking module 28, such that they are pre-formed into a calibrated stack of boxes 2. The term "calibrated" refers to the boxes being aligned along their edges and the stack being set with a consistent vertical height, such that the stack is straight. The conveying devices 36, 38 and the front abutment surfaces 72a, 72b of the conveying module 26 are configured to accommodate the folding boxes 2 within a confined space. As the folding boxes 2 are moved along the transport direction D, a large amount of kinetic energy is provided simultaneously, preferably by first aligning the folding boxes with their front leading edges 3 using the first and second front abutment surfaces 72a, 72b as abutments. The abutment surfaces 72a, 72b act as stop surfaces, preventing further forward movement of the front leading edges 3.

[0090] The ejector 76 is arranged to empty the stack from the loading surface 90 in the stacking module 28 and further transport the stack to the strapping unit 30. The ejector 76 is located behind the stack in the transport direction D and can be further aligned with the rear rear edge 5 of the folding box 2. For this effect, the ejector 76 includes a vertical contact surface 78 having a vertical length exceeding the maximum height of the stack.

[0091] like Figure 4 As shown, the distal exit ends 66a, 66b of the first and second lower conveyors 38a, 38b can be vertically aligned with the vertical contact surface 78 of the ejector 76, which limits the distance between the ejector 76 and the rear trailing edge 5 of the folded box 2. This also reduces the distance required for the ejector 76 to push the resulting stack of folded boxes 2 into the strapping unit 30. This mitigates the potential problem that the further the ejector 76 displaces the stack, the more damage is caused to the rear trailing edge 5 of the folded boxes 2 in the stack.

[0092] The first and second lower conveyor belts 38a and 38b in the conveying module 26 and the loading surface 90 in the stacking module 28 can be provided with an upwardly inclined surface S in the transport direction D. Therefore, the conveying module 26 is configured to guide the front leading edge 3 of the folding box 2 upward.

[0093] The transfer module 26 stores the folded boxes 2 in the stacking module 28 such that their front leading edges 3 contact the first and second front abutment surfaces 72a, 72b of the front abutment guides 70. The loading surface 90 may have an upward tilt angle of 2° to 7°, preferably 5°, which causes the boxes 2 to perform additional rearward movement in order to align by means of their rear trailing edges 5 against the vertical contact surface 78 of the ejector 76. This helps to calibrate the stack and ensures that the ejector 76 contacts the rear trailing edges 5 of the folded boxes 2. The tilt angle in the transfer module 26 facilitates the positioning of the folded boxes 2 with the corresponding tilt angle of the loading surface 90 in the stacking module.

[0094] Loading surface 90 is configured to receive one or more batches of reversed and non-reverse boxes 2, and descends until a predefined number of boxes are loaded onto loading surface 90. This predefined number typically depends on the number of boxes 2 that should be included in each bundle from bundling module 30.

[0095] As shown in Figure 11b, the loading surface 90 can move between an initial loading height h1 and an emptying height h3. The initial loading height h1 and the emptying height h3 can be fixed distances that can be modified and defined in the control system. However, when the desired number of boxes per bundle changes, a vertical discharge distance needs to be provided between the final loading height h2 and the emptying height h3. Therefore, an emptying descent is defined between heights h2 and h3. During this emptying descent distance, no boxes are placed on the loading surface 90. The distance of the emptying descent can vary depending on the resulting stack height. This is because the final loading height h2 can depend on the number of folded boxes 2 in the stack.

[0096] As shown in Figures 11a to 11c, the loading surface 90 is connected to a drive actuator 92, which is configured to apply a descent speed to the loading surface 90. This speed can be set relative to the speeds of the upper conveyor 36 and the lower conveyor 38 in the conveyor module 26. During ascent and / or descent, the speed of the loading surface 90 can also be set to a maximum value, independent of the speeds of the conveyors 36 and 38.

[0097] In one embodiment, the loading surface 90 descends continuously. In another embodiment, the loading surface 90 may descend gradually in a discontinuous manner. The gradual and discontinuous descent can be configured to include a series of predetermined distances for each batch received on the loading surface 90. This is advantageous because the loading surface 90 remains stationary when the folded box 2 is stored. Therefore, potential friction and misalignment can be prevented.

[0098] The loading surface 90 can be composed of two elongated and spaced-apart support tracks 90a and 90b. Tracks 90a and 90b minimize the contact surface between the stacked surfaces, thereby reducing friction. In addition, the loading surface 90 is lightweight and can be easily moved up and down in the vertical direction.

[0099] When the ejector 76 pushes against the back edge of the stack, the loading surface 90 enables the stack to slide toward the strapping module 30. In one embodiment, a low-friction surface such as Teflon can be used. Alternatively, in an advantageous embodiment, the loading surface 90 may include rollers 94. The rollers 94 may be idle, as the moving force for transport can be provided by the ejector 76. Alternatively, at least some of the rollers 94 may be motorized.

[0100] The loading surface 90 can be inserted between the rear sliding surface 96 and the front sliding surface 98 in the form of a track provided by rollers, whereby these sliding surfaces extend in the transport direction D. The rear sliding surface 96 and the front sliding surface 98 can be fixedly arranged. The rear sliding surface 96 represents an extension of the loading surface 90, on which the rear of the folding box 2 can be supported. The front sliding surface can be advantageously configured as a transition between the loading surface 90 and the downstream storage surface 101 in the strapping module 30.

[0101] The front sliding surface 96 and the rear sliding surface 98 may have a fixed height and are preferably aligned with the storage surface in the strapping area 100 of the strapping module 30. The front sliding surface 98 also enables a longer travel distance, allowing the ejector 76 to push the stack from the stacking module 28, whereby the stack can be ejected from the loading surface 90, then transported on the front sliding surface 98 and stored in the strapping area 100. Thus, the loading surface 90 and the front sliding surface 98 enable the ejector 76 to directly position the stack in the strapping area 100, where strapping is applied around the stack.

[0102] As shown in Figure 11a, the discharger 76 moves linearly and reciprocally between the retracted position RP and the extended position DP. Figure 4 As shown, the discharger 76 can be arranged such that at least a portion of the discharger 76 is positioned upstream of the distal outlet ends 66a, 66b of the first and second lower conveyors 38a, 38b.

[0103] like Figure 8 , 11c As best shown in 12a and 12b, the discharger 76 may include a first pusher 76a and a second pusher 76b, wherein the first pusher 76a and the second pusher 76b can be positioned at different longitudinal positions. Thus, the first pusher 76a can be positioned at a different longitudinal position than the second pusher 76b. This is advantageous for a box 2 with a non-uniform rear edge, such that the first pusher 76a and the second pusher 76b can be positioned corresponding to the geometry of the rear edge 5. Furthermore, this allows the pushers 76a and 76b to be aligned with the most rigid portion of the folding box 2. The first pusher 76a and the second pusher 76b can also be laterally adjustable. This allows the first pusher 76a and the second pusher 76b to fully adapt to the size, length, and overall geometry of the rear edge 5 of the folding box.

[0104] The pushers 76a and 76b include a linear vertical contact surface 78 corresponding to or exceeding the maximum height of the stack. The vertical contact surface 78 is advantageously positioned such that it aligns with the distal exit ends 66a and 66b of the lower conveyors 38a and 38b. The longitudinal positions of the first pusher 76a and the second pusher 76b can be set accordingly as the lower conveyors 38a and 38b of the conveyor module 26 shift in the longitudinal direction D (for adjustment to different sized folding boxes). The vertical contact surface 78 restricts backward movement of the stack.

[0105] like Figure 13 As schematically shown, the movement of the ejector 76 can be adjusted such that its trajectory includes multiple distances with different speeds and accelerations. This trajectory corresponds to the transport distance of the formed stack from the loading surface 90 to the strapping area 100 in the strapping module 30. Therefore, the ejector 76 has a trajectory from its initial position behind the distal ends 66a, 66b of the lower conveyors 38a, 38b, and can travel all the way to the strapping area 100 in its extended position DP. The strapping module 30 may be provided with a central cutout adapted to receive the ejector 76 when it is present in the strapping module. During strapping, when there is a stack in the strapping module, the ejection speed and acceleration are reduced to ensure strapping accuracy and avoid leaving marks on the folding box 2.

[0106] During the transition between stacking module 28 and strapping module 30, speed and acceleration have an impact on potential damage to the folding box 2. Meanwhile, it is advantageous to set the height and optimized speed of the ejector 76 so that the overall production speed of the regulating section 20 can be maintained. It has been found advantageous to provide varying speed and acceleration over several different segment distances.

[0107] The acceleration and deceleration in these predefined distance segments can be modified. As shown in the figure, the segment distance is:

[0108] T1 - Acceleration Distance

[0109] T2 - Approaching the strapping module area

[0110] T3 - Deceleration Distance

[0111] T4-Binding Module Insertion Speed

[0112] Deceleration in T5-Binding Module

[0113] The first distance T1 for which the first acceleration is applied can depend on the longitudinal length of the folding box 2. Folding boxes 2 with shorter longitudinal lengths Lb1, Lb2 must travel a longer distance before reaching the strapping area 100 in the strapper. In segment T2, once the optimal speed is reached, the acceleration is 0. The speed is reduced by deceleration as the ejector 76 approaches the strapping area 100. The insertion speed in the strapping area 100 is then constant in segment T4 to ensure controlled positioning of the tape around the stack. Further deceleration can be applied in distance segment T5 as the stack is ejected from the strapping area 100, allowing the strapped stack to be carefully stored at the exit of the folding adhesive machine 1.

[0114] These distance segments T1 to T5 can be automatically defined by a program stored in the memory of the control circuit of the adjustment section 20. The program can calculate acceleration and velocity based on the format and paper / cardboard characteristics (such as mechanical resistance). Optionally, production modes that define the velocity and acceleration in different distance segments T1 to T5 can be selected on the control interface 40 of the folding gluing machine 1.

[0115] like Figure 4 , 8 As best shown in 10, the front abutment guide 70 is arranged in front of the loading surface 90 in the transport direction. As previously described, the front abutment guide 70 may include a first front abutment surface 72a and a second front abutment surface 72b.

[0116] The first front abutment surface 72a and the second front abutment surface 72b can be in the form of a first plate 72a and a second plate 72b that are movably attached to the transverse frame 73. The transverse frame extends laterally or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction D of the folding adhesive machine 1.

[0117] Depending on the format of the folding box, especially the lateral length of the front leading edge 3, the lateral distance between the first plate 72a and the second plate 72b can be adjusted. Generally, the longer the front leading edge 3 of the folding box 2, the greater the distance between the first plate 72a and the second plate 72b. The front adjacent surfaces 72a, 72b can also move in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the transport direction D) of the folding adhesive machine 1. This further improves the support of the front leading edge 3, which, as previously mentioned, is not straight. Therefore, the first and second plates 72a, 72b can be positioned in different lateral and longitudinal positions corresponding to the geometry of the front leading edge 3 of the folding box 2.

[0118] like Figure 8As best shown, the first plate 72a and the second plate 72b are connected to the actuator 74 and the motor 75, and can be further connected to the control units 13 and 43 of the folding adhesive machine 1. The control unit 43 can be a peripheral control unit for adjusting the section 20. During folding, the optimal position of the first and second plates 72a and 72b can be automatically calculated by the control units 13 and 43 relative to the dimensions of the folding box 2.

[0119] A sensor 77 (e.g., a linear encoder 77) can be placed on the preceding adjacent actuator 74 and connected to the control units 13, 43 and the motor 75. The sensor 77 can detect the positions of the first plate 72a and the second plate 72b and transmit the detected positions to the memory 39. This allows the motor 75 to retrieve position feedback to control its movement and the final positions of the first and second adjacent plates 72a, 72b. For subsequent operations with folding boxes 2 of different sizes, the actual positions of the first plate 72a and the second plate 72b can be retrieved from the memory 39, and the actuator 74 and the motor 75 can move the first plate 72a and the second plate 72b to a new optimal position.

[0120] Alternatively or as an alternative, the first and second plates 72a and 72b can be manually positioned. They can be used as the main settings or manually moved and adjusted by the machine operator.

[0121] like Figure 3 and 10 As schematically shown, the first plate 72a and the second plate 72b are vertically movable between an adjacent position SP and a clean position CP. In the adjacent position SP, plates 72a and 72b are positioned at their lower position to abut against the front leading edge 3 of the folding box 2. In the clean position CP, plates 72a and 72b are positioned higher than their positions in the support position SP, such that the vertical surface 7 of the entire stacker and ejector 76 can be displaced undisturbed below plates 72a and 72b.

[0122] The vertical reciprocating motion of plates 72a and 72b is adjusted by control unit 43 so that it is synchronized with the displacement of discharger 76. As previously mentioned, the lateral distance between the first and second contact plates 72a and 72b can be modified, for example, for boxes of different shapes. For this purpose, the movement system for recurring orders can be based on the predefined format and geometry of the folding box 2 stored in memory 39.

[0123] like Figure 10 and 15 As shown, the stacking module 28 may further include an upper guide 110 configured to guide the stack from the stacking module 28 to the strapping module 30 during transport. The upper guide 110 prevents the folded box 2 from moving upwards to the strapping module 30 during transport and can also calibrate or compress the height of the stack.

[0124] The upper guide 110 can move vertically between the clean position CP and the guide position GP. Once the stack is ready to be ejected from the stacking module 28 and moved into the strapping module 30, the upper guide 110 descends from the clean position CP to the guide position GP to position itself close to the top surface of the stack. The upper guide 110 can be dynamically arranged so that it can be set according to the height of the stack. The upper guide 110 also helps avoid the "stack spring effect" by keeping the stack aligned to ensure that the stack is delivered to the strapping module 30.

[0125] Additionally, in an advantageous embodiment, the upper guide 110 may be further configured to abut the upper surface of the stack as the stack descends from the final loading height h2 to the emptying height h3 (see FIG. 11b). The final loading height h2 corresponds to the height of the loading surface 90 when the number of folded boxes 2 included in a bundle is placed on the loading surface 90. The upper guide 110 can maintain stack alignment during descent by following the downward movement of the loading surface 90. Furthermore, since the upper guide 110 can be programmed to be positioned at a predetermined distance relative to the loading surface 90, the stack can be aligned to compress to a predetermined height.

[0126] The upper guide 110 may include a first guide member 110a and a second guide member 110b. The guide members 110a and 110b may be in the shape of an elongated rod or a blade. The guide members 110a and 110b have a longitudinal extension between the outlet 58 of the conveying module 26 and the storage surface 101 in the strapping module 30. The first guide member 110a and the second guide member 110b may be laterally displaced in a direction either laterally or perpendicular to the transport direction D.

[0127] Lateral displacement can be achieved by guiding a motor 111 or a pair of guiding motors 111a, 11b and actuator 112. Lateral displacement allows for lateral offset of the upper guide members 110a, 110b relative to the upper and lower conveyor belts 36a, 36b, 38a, 38b in the conveyor module 26. This reduces potential interference between these elongated sections. Furthermore, lateral adjustment allows for better adaptation to different widths of the folding box 2, enabling the first guide member 110a and the second guide member 110b to fit boxes 2 of different widths. Vertical displacement of the guide members 110a, 110b can be provided by a guiding descent motor 113 and actuator 114, which can be arranged to move the first and second guide members 110a, 110b uniformly between an initial loading height h1 and an emptying height h3.

[0128] like Figure 8As best shown in 11, the stacking module 28 may further include first and second lateral side guides 120a, 120b. The lateral side guides 120a, 120b may have upwardly inclined surfaces to form receiving funnels in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction D, such that the lateral sides of the folded box 2 in the folding adhesive machine 1 are aligned when positioned on the loading surface 90. Additionally, a vertical wall may be arranged vertically below the first lateral side guide 120a and the second lateral side guide 120b. The wall maintains the stack's lateral orientation as the stack is transported to the strapping unit 28, and is particularly suitable for long folded boxes 2. In one embodiment, the wall may be transparent to allow an operator to visually monitor the stack alignment before strapping the module.

[0129] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is by no means limited to the exemplary embodiments described. Although the invention has been shown in detail in the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description, such illustrations and descriptions are to be considered illustrative or exemplary, and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

1. A stacking module (28) for a folding-gluing machine (1), said stacking module being located downstream of a conveying module (26) in a transport direction (D) of the folding-gluing machine and being configured to receive folded boxes (2) from the conveying module, wherein the stacking module comprises a loading surface (90) configured to receive a plurality of folded boxes and to vertically descend as the number of folded boxes on the loading surface increases, and a linearly movable ejector (76) configured to move from a retracted position (RP) to an extended position (DP) and to eject a stack of folded boxes from the loading surface, wherein the stack module further comprises an upper guide (110) configured to move between a cleaning position (CP) vertically away from an upper surface of the stack and a guiding position (GP) in which the upper guide is positioned closer to the upper surface of the stack, wherein the upper guide being in the guiding position when the ejector moves from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein the upper guide comprises a first and a second elongated guide member (110a, 110b) extending in the transport direction, the lateral distance between the first and the second elongated guide member being modifiable.

2. The stacking module according to claim 1, wherein the loading surface (90) is configured to descend stepwise each time a batch of folded boxes is supplied.

3. The stacked module of claim 1, wherein, the loading surface (90) is configured to continuously descend when the folded boxes are placed on the folding loading surface in a continuous supply manner.

4. The stacked module of any of the preceding claims, wherein, the upper guide is synchronized to be in the guiding position (GP) during the emptying descent of a completed stack located on the loading surface, and is configured to follow the downward movement of the loading surface.

5. The stacked module of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, the ejector comprises a first and a second pusher (76a, 76b) arranged laterally to each other, wherein each of the pushers is linearly displaceable in the transport direction and is configured to move in unison between the retracted position and the extended position.

6. The stacking module according to claim 5, wherein the first and the second pusher (76a, 76b) of the ejector are arranged transversely to the first and second elongated guide members (110a, 110b).

7. The stacking module according to claim 5, wherein the first and the second pusher are transversally and longitudinally displaceable relative to each other such that their retracted and extended positions in the transport direction (D) are different.

8. The stacking module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a front abutment guide (70) configured to move between an abutment position (SP) in which the front abutment guide is positioned in front of a front edge (3) of the folded boxes when the folded boxes are deposited onto the loading surface, and a clearing position (CP) in which the front abutment guide is positioned away from the stack so that the ejector can empty the stack from the loading surface.

9. The stacking module according to claim 8, wherein the front abutment guide comprises a first and a second abutment plate (72a, 72b) arranged side by side.

10. The stacking module according to claim 8, wherein the front abutment guide (70) remains stationary when the loading surface (90) is lowered.

11. The stacking module according to claim 8, wherein the front abutment guide (70) moves vertically upwards when the loading surface (90) is lowered.

12. The stacked module of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The ejector is connected to an actuator (79), the ejector being configured to move at a first speed (T2) when the stack is present in the stacking module (28) and at a second speed (T4) when the stack is present in the bundling station (30), wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed.

13. A method of calibrating a stack of folded boxes in a stacking module according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: - receiving a batch of folded boxes on the loading surface in the stacking module, - lowering the loading surface (90) in the stacking module to an emptying position, - moving the upper guide (110) from a clearing position (CP) vertically away from the upper surface of the stack to a guiding position (GP) in which the upper guide is positioned closer to the upper surface of the stack, - moving the ejector (76) from a retracted position to an extended position such that the stack is emptied / displaced from the loading surface.

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