Auxiliary jig for folding paper box

Abstract

The invention discloses an auxiliary jig for folding a paper box. The auxiliary jig is used for folding the paper box comprising a bottom plate, four side plates and side lugs. The jig comprises a frame, four positioning pieces and a plurality of blocking pieces. The four positioning pieces are arranged at the four corners of the frame correspondingly, and a space suitable for containing the carton bottom plate is defined. The positioning piece is configured to guide and fold at least part of side lugs at the corners of the paper box when the paper box is pressed to move downwards; the multiple blocking pieces are arranged on the front side, the rear side, the left side and the right side of the frame respectively, and the blocking pieces are configured to block four side plates of the paper box and guide the four side plates towards the inner side when the paper box is further pressed, so that the four side plates are folded upwards to be formed. Tedious manual multi-step folding is converted into simple one-way downward pressing action, the forming and packaging efficiency and the corner folding squareness of the paper box are improved, and the operation labor intensity is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of packaging box technology, and more particularly to a paper box folding auxiliary fixture. Background Technology

[0002] Packaging boxes are widely used in logistics, e-commerce, and the outer packaging of various products. During the forming and assembly process of the box, the side panels around the bottom plate of the box (such as the front side panel, rear side panel, left side panel, and right side panel) and the side lugs at both ends of the side panels need to be folded inward in sequence and interlocked or fixed together.

[0003] Currently, in many small-batch production or semi-automated packaging production lines, the folding and forming of cardboard boxes still largely relies on manual labor. Manual folding is not only labor-intensive and inefficient, but also results in inconsistent quality of the folded cardboard boxes, easily leading to problems such as non-square corners and loose assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, a cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention is used for folding cardboard boxes. The cardboard box includes a base plate and four side plates connected to the four sides of the base plate. The four side plates are a front side plate, a rear side plate, a left side plate, and a right side plate. The front side plate has front ears at both ends, the rear side plate has rear ears at both ends, the left side plate has left ears at both ends, and the right side plate has right ears at both ends. The fixture includes:

[0006] frame;

[0007] Four positioning members are respectively disposed at the four corners of the frame, and the space between the four positioning members is suitable for accommodating the base plate to position the cardboard box placed on the frame; the positioning members are also configured to guide at least part of the side ears of the cardboard box to fold when the cardboard box is compressed, wherein each positioning member can act on two side ears at that corner.

[0008] Multiple blocking members are respectively disposed on the front, rear, left and right sides of the frame; the multiple blocking members are configured to block and guide the front side panel, rear side panel, left side panel and right side panel of the cardboard box respectively when the cardboard box is further pressed, so that the front side panel, the rear side panel, the left side panel and the right side panel are folded upward;

[0009] The positioning element is movable in the front-back or left-right direction to adjust the size of the space defined by the four positioning elements.

[0010] The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture provided by the present invention effectively integrates the structural positioning and folding action of the cardboard box by setting positioning members at the four corners of the frame and arranging blocking members around the perimeter. In practical applications, the operator only needs to place the bottom plate of the cardboard box within the space defined by the four positioning members and apply downward pressure. The positioning members can complete the folding of at least part of the side ears at each corner in the initial stage of the cardboard box being pressed down. As the cardboard box is further pressed down, the blocking members around the perimeter provide blocking and inward guiding forces to each side plate, thereby continuously achieving the upward folding and forming of the four side plates. This fixture transforms the originally cumbersome manual multi-step folding into a relatively simple single downward pressing action, which not only helps to significantly improve the forming and packaging efficiency of cardboard boxes and reduce the labor intensity of operators, but also, with the inherent limiting and guiding effect of machinery, can better improve the squareness of the cardboard box after forming and improve the consistency of batch folding quality. In addition, by adjusting the size of the space defined by the movement of the positioning members, it is possible to adapt to cardboard boxes of different sizes and improve its versatility.

[0011] In addition, the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to the above embodiments of the present invention may also have the following additional technical features:

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the cardboard box is an airplane box, the positioning member is configured to fold the front ear, the rear ear, the left ear and the right ear toward the inside of the base plate when the cardboard box is compressed.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the cardboard box is a top and bottom box, the positioning member is configured to fold the left side ear and the right side ear inward toward the bottom plate when the cardboard box is pressed; and when the cardboard box is pressed further, the positioning member blocks the front side ear and the rear side ear so that the front side ear and the rear side ear fold outward toward the bottom plate.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the positioning members has a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side being arranged at an included angle;

[0015] The first side is used to position the front or rear side panel and fold the front or rear ear inward; the second side is used to position the left or right side panel and position the left or right ear and fold it inward.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the positioning members has a first side, a second side, and a third side, wherein the first side and the second side are arranged at an included angle; the first side is used to position the front side plate or the rear side plate.

[0017] The second side is used to position the left or right side plate and to fold the left or right ear inward;

[0018] The third side is opposite to the second side and is located on the side of the positioning member facing outward of the space; the third side is used to block the front or rear ear when the cardboard box is pressed further, so that it folds outward.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the top ends of the first side and the second side are provided with guide portions, which are used to guide the paper box between the plurality of positioning members when the paper box moves downward.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion is an inclined surface or a rounded corner.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the front, rear, left and right sides of the frame has two blocking members, and the two blocking members are respectively disposed close to the positioning members at both ends of that side.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fixture further includes at least one intermediate blocking member disposed between two blocking members on the same side of the frame.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate blocking member is slidably connected to the side of the frame on which it is located, so as to adjust its position on the frame;

[0024] The bottom of the intermediate blocking member is provided with an intermediate locking member, which is used to lock and fix the intermediate blocking member after it slides to the target position.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate blocking member includes a support base and at least two first guide wheels rotatably mounted on the support base;

[0026] At least two of the first guide wheels are spaced apart in the vertical direction for rolling contact with the corresponding side plate surface when the cardboard box is pressed.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the cardboard box is pressed, the blocking members located on the front and rear sides of the frame contact the cardboard box before the blocking members located on the left and right sides, so that the front and rear side panels fold upwards before the left and right side panels, thereby placing the front and rear side ears inside the folded left and right side panels.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the height of the blocking members located on the front and rear sides of the frame is greater than the height of the blocking members located on the left and right sides.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member is provided with a guide slope on the upper part facing the inner side of the frame, the guide slope being inclined from top to bottom toward the inner side of the frame, for providing a guiding force for the side plate to fold inward.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member is rotatably mounted with at least one second guide wheel toward the inner side of the frame, for rolling contact with the corresponding side plate during the process of the carton being pressed down and moved, so as to guide the corresponding side plate to fold upward.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame includes two first guide rails arranged opposite to each other in the front-back direction, and two second guide rails arranged opposite to each other in the left-right direction;

[0032] The two first guide rails are capable of moving relative to each other in the front-to-back direction, and the two second guide rails are capable of moving relative to each other in the left-to-right direction, so as to adjust the size of the frame and make the fixture adapt to the cardboard boxes of different sizes.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the positioning members is respectively disposed at the intersection of the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and each of the blocking members is respectively disposed on the corresponding first guide rail or second guide rail.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning member corresponding to the same corner and two blocking members disposed near the positioning member are fixedly connected to each other to form a corner assembly;

[0035] In the same corner assembly, one of the two blocking members is slidably connected to the adjacent first guide rail, and the other of the two blocking members is slidably connected to the adjacent second guide rail.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fixture further includes a plurality of end locking members, which are correspondingly disposed at the sliding connection between the blocking member and the first guide rail or the second guide rail, for locking and fixing the blocking member to the corresponding first guide rail or the second guide rail after the blocking member slides along the first guide rail or the second guide rail to the target position, so as to maintain the position of the corner assembly.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it further includes a plurality of shims, the plurality of shims being arranged at intervals around the frame, each of the shims being disposed on the frame or the blocking member and being switchable between a first position and a second position.

[0038] When the shim is in the first position, the plurality of shims are located inside the space and together form a supporting surface to support the bottom plate of the cardboard box. When the shim is in the second position, the plurality of shims are located outside the space.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the shim is slidably connected to the frame or the blocking member and is slidable between the first position and the second position.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the shim is rotatably connected to the frame or the blocking member and is rotatable between the first position and the second position.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cardboard box further includes a cover plate connected to the rear side panel, wherein after the cardboard box is pressed and folded, the rear left ear and the rear right ear are located inside the folded cover plate.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the cardboard box is pressed, the front blocking member guides the front left ear and the front right ear inward.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the area on the third side surface that contacts the front or rear ear is formed as an inwardly offset slope or arc surface.

[0044] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0045] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of die-cutting of an airplane box for which the paper box folding auxiliary fixture of this invention is applicable.

[0047] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the paper box folding auxiliary fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the corner component in the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention from one perspective;

[0049] Figure 4This is a structural schematic diagram of the corner component in the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the corner component in the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the intermediate blocking member in the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention from one perspective;

[0052] Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of the intermediate blocking member in the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the paper box folding auxiliary fixture in an embodiment of the present invention when the shim is rotated to the first position;

[0054] Figure 9 This is a top view of the paper box folding auxiliary fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention when the shim is rotated to the first position;

[0055] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the folding operation of the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention (the cardboard box is placed on the fixture and the side ears are folded);

[0056] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the folding operation of the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture in an embodiment of the present invention (the cardboard box is pressed and each side panel is folded);

[0057] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the paper box folding auxiliary fixture of the present invention for further manual folding of the airplane box after the folding operation;

[0058] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of die-cutting of a top and bottom box for which the paper box folding auxiliary fixture of this invention is applicable;

[0059] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the folding operation of the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention (the top and bottom boxes are placed on the fixture and the left and right ears are folded inward);

[0060] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the folding operation of the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture in an embodiment of the present invention (the top and bottom boxes are pressed and each side panel is folded inward, and the front and rear side ears are folded outward);

[0061] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the manual folding of the upper half of the front and rear side panels after the folding operation of the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] Figure 17This is a schematic diagram of the manual folding of the upper half of the left and right side panels after the folding operation of the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Figure 18 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the paper box folding auxiliary fixture in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] Figure label:

[0065] 10. Cardboard boxes;

[0066] 101. Base plate; 102. Front side plate; 1021. Front side lug; 103. Rear side plate; 1031. Rear side lug; 104. Left side plate; 1041. Left side lug; 105. Right side plate; 1051. Right side lug; 106. Cover plate;

[0067] 20. Framework;

[0068] 201. First guide rail; 202. Second guide rail;

[0069] 30. Positioning components;

[0070] S301, First side view; S302, Second side view; S303, Third side view;

[0071] 40. Blocking components;

[0072] 41. Second guide wheel;

[0073] 42. End locking components;

[0074] 50. Intermediate blocking component;

[0075] 501. Support base; 502. First guide wheel;

[0076] 51. Intermediate locking component;

[0077] 60. Elevating components.

[0078] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0079] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0080] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "circumferential," and "radial," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0081] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0082] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0083] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0084] The following describes in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the paper box folding auxiliary fixture of the present invention.

[0085] Reference Figures 1 to 12As shown, the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is mainly used to assist in the rapid manual folding of a cardboard box 10. Before describing the structure of the fixture in detail, the unfolded structure of the cardboard box 10 to be folded is first described. The cardboard box 10 to be folded is usually die-cut from a single piece of cardboard, and mainly includes a base plate 101 and four side plates connected to the four sides of the base plate 101. The four side plates are a front side plate 102, a rear side plate 103, a left side plate 104, and a right side plate 105. In addition, the front side plate 102 is provided with front side ears 1021 at both ends, the rear side plate 103 is provided with rear side ears 1031 at both ends, the left side plate 104 is provided with left side ears 1041 at both ends, and the right side plate 105 is provided with right side ears 1051 at both ends.

[0086] In order to achieve efficient folding of the aforementioned cardboard box 10, the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture provided in this embodiment includes a frame 20, four positioning members 30 and multiple blocking members 40.

[0087] Specifically, frame 20 forms the base of the entire fixture, providing a stable assembly foundation for other components. In actual packaging operations, frame 20 can be placed stably on the workbench to facilitate material feeding and force application by operators.

[0088] Four positioning elements 30 are respectively disposed at the four corners of the frame 20, and the four positioning elements 30 define a receiving space suitable for accommodating the base plate 101, so as to position the cardboard box 10 placed on the frame 20. That is, in terms of spatial layout, the inner boundaries of the four positioning elements 30 cooperate with each other to jointly define a rectangular space suitable for accommodating the base plate 101 of the cardboard box 10. When the operator lays the unfolded cardboard box 10 flat on the fixture, the primary function of the four positioning elements 30 is to perform preliminary external limiting and centering positioning of the cardboard box 10, ensuring that the base plate 101 of the cardboard box 10 is aligned with the top of the space, and preventing the cardboard box 10 from shifting or tilting when it is subsequently pressed down.

[0089] The positioning element 30 is also configured to guide at least a portion of the side ears of the cardboard box 10 to fold over when the cardboard box 10 is compressed, wherein each of the positioning elements 30 is capable of acting on two side ears located at the corner, the two side ears being one of the front side ear 1021 or the rear side ear 1031, and one of the left side ear 1041 or the right side ear 1051.

[0090] It should be noted that, in addition to its basic positioning function, the positioning member 30 also guides the folding of the side ears of the cardboard box 10. When the cardboard box 10 is pressed downwards, the positioning member 30 first contacts at least part of the side ears of the cardboard box 10. As the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10 continues to move downwards, the inner solid structure of the positioning member 30 will force the various side ears of the cardboard box 10 to fold (for example, depending on the type of cardboard box being folded, folding towards the inside or outside of the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10). It is particularly noteworthy that the positioning member 30 located at each corner has a bidirectional function, capable of acting on two adjacent side ears at that specific corner. That is, each positioning member 30 can process (synchronously or sequentially) one of the front side ear 1021 or the rear side ear 1031, and one of the left side ear 1041 or the right side ear 1051, thereby completing the folding action of each side ear at the four corners. For example: during the initial pressing phase, fold the ear in that corner simultaneously. Or, during the initial pressing phase, fold only one ear, and then fold the other ear during subsequent pressing phases.

[0091] Multiple blocking members 40 are respectively disposed on the front, rear, left and right sides of the frame 20; the multiple blocking members 40 are configured to block and guide the front side panel 102, rear side panel 103, left side panel 104 and right side panel 105 of the paper box 10 to the inward side when the paper box 10 is further pressed, so that the front side panel 102, the rear side panel 103, the left side panel 104 and the right side panel 105 fold upward.

[0092] After at least part of the side ears have been folded, the multiple blocking members 40 will then complete the folding of the side panels. Since the multiple blocking members 40 are respectively located on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the frame 20, i.e., distributed around the outer edge of the aforementioned receiving space, when the cardboard box 10 is pressed further down by the operator, these blocking members 40 respectively and correspondingly form upward mechanical obstructions on the front side panel 102, rear side panel 103, left side panel 104, and right side panel 105 of the cardboard box 10. As the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10 continues to move downward under the pressure, while the surrounding side panels are blocked by the blocking members 40 and subjected to a guiding force towards the inside of the frame 20, this relative movement will force the front side panel 102, the rear side panel 103, the left side panel 104, and the right side panel 105 to fold upward along the indentation lines connecting them to the bottom plate 101, ultimately making them stand up and cover the previously folded side ears, completing the three-dimensional pre-forming of the cardboard box 10. Finally, the subsequent folding steps can be completed manually, such as folding the locking edges of the left side panel 104 and the right side panel 105 inward to snap them together, ultimately forming a fully formed cardboard box 10.

[0093] Furthermore, in embodiments of the present invention, the positioning members 30 are movable in the front-back or left-right directions to adjust the size of the space defined by the four positioning members 30. In use, the position of the positioning members 30 can be adjusted according to the size of the cardboard box to be folded, so that the space defined by the four positioning members 30 is adapted to the size of the base plate 101 of the cardboard box to be folded, thereby accommodating the folding of cardboard boxes of that size.

[0094] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture effectively integrates the structural positioning and folding action of the cardboard box 10 by setting positioning members 30 at the four corners of the frame 20 and arranging blocking members 40 around the perimeter. In practical applications, the operator only needs to place the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10 within the space defined by the four positioning members 30 and apply downward pressure. The positioning members 30 can simultaneously complete the folding of at least part of the side ears at each corner in the initial stage of the cardboard box 10 being pressed down. As the cardboard box 10 is further pressed down, the blocking members 40 around the perimeter provide blocking and inward guiding forces to each side plate, thereby realizing the upward folding and forming of the four side plates in a continuous manner. This fixture transforms the originally cumbersome manual multi-step folding process into a relatively simple one-way downward pressing action. This not only significantly improves the forming and packaging efficiency of the cardboard box 10 and reduces the labor intensity of operators, but also, with the inherent limiting and guiding function of the machine, can better improve the squareness of the cardboard box 10 after forming and improve the consistency of batch folding quality. In addition, by adjusting the size of the space defined by the movement of the positioning component 30, it can adapt to cardboard boxes of different sizes and improve its versatility.

[0095] It should be understood that the cardboard boxes to which the cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture of this invention embodiment is applicable include, but are not limited to, airplane boxes, top and bottom boxes, etc.

[0096] Reference Figures 2 to 5 and Figure 10 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, when the applicable cardboard box 10 is an airplane box, the positioning member 30 is configured to fold the front side ear 1021, the rear side ear 1031, the left side ear 1041 and the right side ear 1051 toward the inside of the base plate 101 when the cardboard box 10 is compressed.

[0097] Specifically, the structural characteristics of the cardboard box dictate that during its molding and assembly, all the side lugs at its four corners must be folded inwards beforehand so that they can be wrapped by the adjacent folded-up side panels in subsequent steps. In actual operation, when the operator lays the unfolded cardboard box flat on the fixture and applies downward pressure to its base plate 101, as the cardboard box 10 sinks as a whole, the positioning pieces 30 located at the four corners of the frame 20 will first and simultaneously make physical contact with the front side lug 1021, rear side lug 1031, left side lug 1041, and right side lug 1051.

[0098] Utilizing the inner solid structure of the positioning element 30, it can convert the downward pressing force into a pushing force that causes each side ear to fold inward toward the bottom plate 101 of the carton 10. Through this mechanical spatial guidance constraint, the fixture can smoothly and simultaneously complete the inward pre-folding action of all eight side ears of the carton within the initial short stroke of the carton 10 being pressed down. This not only eliminates the tedious step of manually folding each side ear inward one by one, but also ensures the consistency and regularity of the inward angle of each side ear. When the carton 10 continues to be pressed down against the resistance, the surrounding blocking elements 40 guide the front side plate 102, rear side plate 103, left side plate 104, and right side plate 105 to fold upward. At this time, these upward-standing side plates can naturally and smoothly wrap and hide the previously inward-folded side ears inside, thereby improving the overall packaging forming efficiency, structural compactness, and squareness of the folded corners of the carton.

[0099] Reference Figures 13 to 17 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, when the applicable cardboard box 10 is a top and bottom box, the positioning member 30 is configured to fold the left side ear 1041 and the right side ear 1051 toward the inside of the base plate 101 when the cardboard box 10 is pressed; and when the cardboard box 10 is pressed further, the positioning member 30 blocks the front side ear 1021 and the rear side ear 1031 so that the front side ear 1021 and the rear side ear 1031 fold toward the outside of the base plate 101.

[0100] Specifically, the molding process of the top and bottom box differs from that of ordinary airplane boxes. Its corner structure often requires bidirectional folding: some side ears (such as the left side ear 1041 and the right side ear 1051) need to be folded inward first, while other side ears (such as the front side ear 1021 and the rear side ear 1031) need to be folded outward so that they can be reversed and snapped inward or glued in subsequent processes.

[0101] In the actual dynamic folding operation, when the unfolded cardboard box is laid flat on top of the fixture and the operator applies downward pressure, the entire cardboard box 10 begins to sink. During the initial sinking stroke, the inward-facing solids of each positioning member 30 first abut against the left ear 1041 and right ear 1051, thereby pushing and folding these two side ears towards the inside of the base plate 101.

[0102] As the cardboard box 10 is pressed further and moved deeper, the positioning member 30 begins to engage with the external space. At this time, because the movement trajectory of the front side ear 1021 and the rear side ear 1031 is forcibly blocked by the outer wall of the positioning member 30 during the descent of the side panel, they cannot fold inward like the left and right side ears. Under the combined pressure of the operator's continuous downward pressing force and the rigid external blocking force of the positioning member 30, the front side ear 1021 and the rear side ear 1031 are forced to fold in the direction away from the bottom plate 101 (i.e., outward) along the indentation line connected to the side panel.

[0103] Through this spatial interference design, the fixture, during the operator's continuous downward pressure stroke, utilizes the physical positional differences between the inner and outer surfaces of the positioning element 30 to precisely and continuously achieve the combined actions of "folding the left and right side ears inward" and "folding the front and back side ears outward." This not only adapts to the complex folding process requirements of top and bottom boxes but also transforms the forward and reverse folding actions, which were originally highly dependent on manual experience, into stable, purely mechanical guidance, significantly improving the squareness of the top and bottom box folding angles and the efficiency of mass production packaging.

[0104] Reference Figures 2 to 5 and Figure 10 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, each positioning member 30 has a first side surface S301 and a second side surface S302, which are arranged at an angle. This angle preferably matches the angle between adjacent side panels when the cardboard box 10 is in its formed state (e.g., they intersect at a 90-degree right angle), thereby forming a folding area on the inner side of the positioning member 30 that matches the corner shape of the cardboard box 10. This solid side surface structure with an angle not only provides corner restraint when the cardboard box 10 is initially laid flat, but also constitutes a reliable folding surface during the subsequent pressing and forming process of the cardboard box 10.

[0105] The first side surface S301 is used to position the front ear 1021 or the rear ear 1031 located at the corresponding corner and fold it inward, and the second side surface S302 is used to position the left ear 1041 or the right ear 1051 located at the corresponding corner and fold it inward.

[0106] This embodiment is applicable to the scenario of folding airplane boxes. Specifically, during the folding process, when the cardboard box 10 moves under downward pressure, the first side S301 and the second side S302 respectively undertake the folding tasks in mutually perpendicular directions. At any fixed corner, the first side S301 first contacts the front ear 1021 or the rear ear 1031 located at the corresponding corner, and as the cardboard box 10 continues to move downward, it uses its own rigidity to force the front ear 1021 or the rear ear 1031 to fold inward toward the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10; at the same time, the second side S302 synchronously contacts and positions the left ear 1041 or the right ear 1051 located at the corresponding corner, and folds the left ear 1041 or the right ear 1051 inward with the same physical compression principle. Through the cooperation of the first side S301 and the second side S302 in three-dimensional space, the positioning member 30 can smoothly complete the inward movement of the two adjacent side ears at the corner within the same stroke of the cardboard box 10 descending.

[0107] By employing the aforementioned positioning element 30 structure with its sides angled, the lateral and longitudinal folding actions, which originally required different workstations or time sequences, are integrated into a single positioning element 30, enabling simultaneous folding of the double ears at the corners of the cardboard box 10. This not only greatly simplifies the overall mechanical complexity of the fixture and the space required, but also effectively ensures the tightness and squareness of the folded corners of the cardboard box 10 through the rigid constraint of the geometric angle, further improving the overall yield rate of the packaging.

[0108] Reference Figures 14 to 17 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, each of the positioning members 30 has a first side S301, a second side S302, and a third side S303 (specific reference numerals are not shown in the figure, but can be added as needed, such as S303). The first side S301 and the second side S302 are also arranged at an angle to define the accommodating space of the bottom plate 101 of the paper box 10.

[0109] In this embodiment, the functional division of each side has been adaptively adjusted to suit the scenario of a folding top and bottom box. The first side S301 is mainly used to position the front side panel 102 or the rear side panel 103 located at the corresponding corner; the second side S302 is used to position the left side panel 104 or the right side panel 105 located at the corresponding corner, and to fold the left side lug 1041 or the right side lug 1051 inward; while the third side S303 is opposite to the second side S302 and is located on the side of the positioning member 30 facing the outside of the receiving space.

[0110] In the actual operation of folding the top and bottom box, when the cardboard box 10 is initially pressed down, the second side S302 guides the left and right side ears to fold inward, while the first side S301 and the second side S302 together maintain the square positioning of the side plate; when the cardboard box 10 is pressed further, as the front side ear 1021 or the rear side ear 1031 descends with the side plate, it is rigidly blocked by the outer third side S303, thereby forcing the front side ear 1021 or the rear side ear 1031 to fold outward towards the bottom plate 101.

[0111] By adopting the aforementioned multi-sided integrated positioning component 30 structure, the lateral and longitudinal folding actions that originally needed to be performed at different workstations or in different sequences are integrated into a single positioning component 30. This not only greatly simplifies the overall mechanical complexity of the fixture and the space required, but also effectively ensures the tightness and squareness of the folded corners of the cardboard box 10 through the rigid constraints of the geometric angles and the obstruction of the inner and outer sides, further improving the overall yield rate of the packaging.

[0112] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, guide portions 30a and 30b are provided at the top ends of the first side surface S301 and the second side surface S302, respectively. The guide portions 30a and 30b are used to guide the paper box 10 to the space between the plurality of positioning members 30 when the paper box 10 moves downward. Preferably, the guide portions 30a and 30b are inclined surfaces or rounded corners. That is, the specific structural form of the guide portions 30a and 30b can be set as an inclined surface that slopes inward from top to bottom, or a rounded corner with a smooth transition curvature.

[0113] When the operator places the cardboard box 10 into the fixture and applies pressure, if the placement of the cardboard box 10 is not perfectly aligned, the edge of the cardboard box 10 will first slide onto the inclined surface or rounded corner. At this time, the guide parts 30a and 30b can utilize their inclined or rounded geometric characteristics to convert the vertical downward pressure into a horizontal component that causes the cardboard box 10 to converge towards the center of the fixture. Through this physical sliding guidance, the fixture can dynamically fine-tune and center the cardboard box 10, preventing the edge of the cardboard box 10 from directly hitting or getting stuck on the top plane of the positioning member 30. At the same time, when the side ear contacts the inclined surface or rounded corner, the inclined surface or rounded corner guides the side ear, causing the side ear to fold upwards gradually.

[0114] The aforementioned structural design with guide sections 30a and 30b at the top solves the problems of edge jamming, folding, or cardboard crushing that easily occur during the initial pressing stage of the cardboard box 10, giving the fixture a higher tolerance for material feeding errors. The smooth transition and automatic centering capability provided by the beveled or rounded corners not only reduce the difficulty of human eye alignment during operation and improve the continuity of folding actions and overall production efficiency, but also ensure that the cardboard box 10 is not subjected to rigid mechanical damage before being folded under force, ensuring the integrity and aesthetics of the final packaging appearance.

[0115] Reference Figure 2 , Figures 8 to 12 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, there are two blocking members 40 on each of the front, rear, left and right sides of the frame 20, and the two blocking members 40 are respectively disposed close to the positioning members 30 at both ends of that side.

[0116] In other words, the two blocking members 40 located on the same side of the frame 20 are distributed with a span towards both ends of that side, so that the two blocking members 40 are respectively set close to the corresponding positioning members 30 at both ends of that side. This layout forms a dual-point support and blocking structure on each edge of the fixture.

[0117] During the dynamic process of the cardboard box 10 being pressed downward and undergoing side panel formation, when a side panel of the cardboard box 10 (such as the front side panel 102) moves downward to the height of the corresponding side blocking member 40, the two blocking members 40 arranged near both ends can act on the two end areas of the side panel in the length direction almost simultaneously. This two-point contact force mode can provide the side panel with a relatively balanced and large-span upward folding torque, thereby guiding the side panel to smoothly fold upward along the indentation line at its junction with the bottom plate 101.

[0118] This embodiment provides synchronous support and folding guidance at both ends of the side panel, which helps to reduce the twisting, uneven force or local deformation that may occur when the side panel is folded on one side under force, thereby improving the regularity of the paper box 10 after it is formed to a certain extent.

[0119] Reference Figure 2 , Figures 8 to 12 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, the fixture further includes at least one intermediate blocking member 50, which is disposed between the two blocking members 40 on the same side of the frame 20.

[0120] To provide more reliable folding support for longer or softer cardboard boxes 10, this embodiment also includes at least one intermediate stop 50. The intermediate stop 50 is specifically disposed between the two stops 40 on the same side of the frame 20. That is, on a certain edge of the frame 20 (e.g., the front or rear side with a larger length span), in addition to the two stops 40 arranged near the end positioning members 30, the aforementioned intermediate stop 50 is added in the span area between them, thereby forming a multi-point support and guidance structure with two end positions and one intermediate position on that side. It is understood that the number of intermediate stops 50 can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual length of the frame 20 on that side to meet the support requirements of different spans.

[0121] During the dynamic process of the cardboard box 10 moving downward under pressure and folding its side panels, when the longer side panels of the cardboard box 10 move downward and gradually fold upward under force, due to the flexibility of the cardboard material itself and the large span of force, if only the blocking members 40 at both ends apply the folding guiding force, the middle area of ​​the side panel is prone to bulging or bending deformation towards the outside of the frame 20 when it is bent under pressure. At this time, the intermediate blocking member 50 set between the blocking members 40 at both ends can physically abut against the outer surface of the middle part of the side panel in a timely manner. The intermediate blocking member 50 can effectively fill the support blind area between the blocking members 40 at both ends, provide a stable inward support force for the middle part of the side panel, force the middle part of the side panel to maintain a basically consistent folding trajectory and folding angle with the two end areas, and thus guide the entire side panel to achieve an overall flush upward folding action along the crease line at the junction with the bottom plate 101.

[0122] By adding the aforementioned intermediate blocking member 50, additional mechanical support is provided at the center of the span of the side panel or in areas where the structure is weaker. This effectively suppresses or reduces the outward bulging deformation that easily occurs in the middle of longer cardboard boxes 10 when they are pressed and formed under pressure, helping to maintain the straightness and overall regularity of the side panels after folding. In addition, this multi-point coordinated blocking structure enhances the fixture's adaptability to different cardboard materials, thicknesses, and aspect ratios, ensuring improved appearance quality and assembly stability of the final formed cardboard box 10.

[0123] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate blocking member 50 is slidably connected to the side of the frame 20 to adjust its position on the frame 20.

[0124] For example, the corresponding side of the frame 20 can be made of aluminum profile guide rail, and the bottom of the intermediate blocking member 50 is adapted to a slider structure that slides with the guide rail, so that the intermediate blocking member 50 can smoothly slide linearly along the side of the frame 20.

[0125] Based on this sliding connection structure, on-site operators can flexibly adjust the specific position of the intermediate blocking member 50 on the frame 20 according to the specific length and width ratio of the cardboard box 10 to be folded, the actual stress span of the side plate, and even the special local design of the cardboard crease line (such as avoiding the opening or easily damaged area on the side of the cardboard box 10).

[0126] The bottom of the intermediate stop 50 is provided with an intermediate locking member 51, which is used to lock and fix the intermediate stop 50 after it slides to the target position. In order to ensure that the intermediate stop 50 can remain stable during the folding operation of the cardboard box 10 after the above position adjustment is completed, the intermediate stop 50 is provided with an intermediate locking member 51. Exemplarily, the intermediate locking member 51 can be a quick-clamping wrench with an operating handle, a set screw, or a T-bolt, etc., as a locking mechanism.

[0127] Once the operator slides the intermediate blocking member 50 along the side of the frame 20 to the desired target position, the intermediate locking member 51 only needs to be pressed or screwed on. The intermediate locking member 51 will then generate frictional resistance or mechanical interference with the side of the frame 20, thereby securely locking the intermediate blocking member 50 in its current position. This prevents the intermediate blocking member 50 from accidentally slipping or deviating due to lateral reaction force or vibration from the cardboard during subsequent continuous pressing and dynamic folding of the cardboard box 10.

[0128] The structural design, which combines the sliding connection with the intermediate locking component 51, allows the same folding auxiliary fixture to be compatible with paper boxes 10 of different lengths or with different support requirements within a certain dimensional tolerance and specification range, thereby improving the versatility of the packaging production line. At the same time, this structure provides the fixture with flexible space for fine-tuning of support points, while the locking component fully ensures structural rigidity and support stability under folding stress.

[0129] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate blocking member 50 includes a support base 501 and at least two first guide wheels 502 rotatably mounted on the support base 501. Exemplarily, the support base 501 is provided with sliding holes that slide in contact with the side of the frame 20, allowing the position of the intermediate blocking member 50 to be adjustable. Simultaneously, an intermediate locking member 51 is provided on the support base 501, enabling selective locking and fixing of the support base 501 to the side of the frame 20.

[0130] At least two of the first guide wheels 502 are spaced apart in the vertical direction for rolling contact with the corresponding side plate surfaces when the cardboard box 10 is pressed. Exemplarily, the wheel surfaces of the two first guide wheels 502 together form a downwardly inclined guide ramp.

[0131] During the process of the cardboard box 10 being pressed downwards and undergoing side panel folding, as the longer side panel of the cardboard box 10 moves downwards and gradually folds under force, due to the certain height of the side panel itself, multiple first guide wheels 502 distributed along the vertical direction can timely and continuously make rolling contact with the corresponding outer surface of the side panel throughout the entire downward pressing stroke from flat to upright. This rolling contact method allows the side panel to slide downwards along the surface of the first guide wheels 502 extremely smoothly while being subjected to inward folding guiding force.

[0132] The structure design with the first guide wheels 502 spaced vertically and vertically has several advantages. First, the rolling contact mode can significantly reduce the frictional resistance during the pressing process of the cardboard box 10. This not only reduces the pressing load on the operator during continuous operation but also effectively reduces the risk of scratches, discoloration, or crushing on the outer surface of the cardboard caused by forced sliding friction, thus helping to protect the appearance of the cardboard box 10. Second, the multiple first guide wheels 502 distributed vertically provide guidance and support for the taller or softer side panels of the cardboard box 10. This can effectively suppress the bending or uneven flipping phenomenon that easily occurs when the side panels are folded in the middle, thereby enabling the large-size cardboard box 10 to be formed with high quality.

[0133] Reference Figures 3 to 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, when the cardboard box 10 is pressed, the blocking members 40 located on the front and rear sides of the frame 20 contact the cardboard box 10 before the blocking members 40 located on the left and right sides, so that the front side panel 102 and the rear side panel 103 fold upward before the left side panel 104 and the right side panel 105, thereby making the front side ear 1021 and the rear side ear 1031 located inside the folded left side panel 104 and the right side panel 105.

[0134] In this embodiment, the contact time difference caused by the arrangement difference directly determines the order of the folding actions of each edge of the cardboard box 10. As the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10 continues to move downward, the front side plate 102 and the rear side plate 103 will be the first to be pushed upward and guided inward by the front and rear side blocking members 40, thus performing the upward folding action before the left side plate 104 and the right side plate 105.

[0135] As the front side panel 102 and the rear side panel 103 are erected, the front side lugs 1021 and the rear side lugs 1031 attached to their ends are also pre-folded into the four corner spaces of the fixture. When the cardboard box 10 continues to move to a deeper position, the blocking members 40 on the left and right sides begin to abut against the left side panel 104 and the right side panel 105, thereby guiding these two side panels to perform a delayed upward folding action. Since the front side lugs 1021 and the rear side lugs 1031 have been folded in advance and occupied the inner space of the corners, the folded-up left side panel 104 and the right side panel 105 will naturally adhere to and cover the periphery of these side lugs. Ultimately, relying on this purely mechanical sequential touch logic, the front side ear 1021 and the rear side ear 1031 can be accurately and smoothly stored and positioned inside the folded left side panel 104 and the right side panel 105, successfully completing the overlap and assembly at the corners of the cardboard box 10.

[0136] Reference Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the height of the blocking member 40 located on the front and rear sides of the frame 20 is greater than the height of the blocking member 40 located on the left and right sides.

[0137] Based on the aforementioned height difference distribution, during the forming stroke of the cardboard box 10 as it moves downwards under the operator's pressure, the four side panels of the cardboard box 10 descend synchronously with the base plate 101. Since the front and rear blocking members 40 are relatively high, their upper parts will inevitably come into contact with the outer surfaces of the descending front side panel 102 and rear side panel 103 first, thus preferentially triggering the upward folding action of these two side panels. As the cardboard box 10 continues to be pressed down against resistance, the relatively lower left and right blocking members 40 begin to make substantial physical contact with the left side panel 104 and right side panel 105, thereby initiating the subsequent folding action. Through this physical blocking method that relies purely on spatial height differences, the fixture smoothly and precisely transforms the single vertical movement of pressing down the cardboard box 10 into a step-by-step folding action with distinct time intervals.

[0138] In other words, by utilizing the dimensional differences of different blocking components 40 in the vertical direction, this structure locks in the timing rule that the front and rear side panels 103 must be folded before the left and right side panels 105 in a highly simplified and reliable purely mechanical manner. This not only makes the overall structure of the fixture more compact and durable, but also allows the side ears of the cardboard box 10 to be precisely retracted and prevents interference from the cardboard, thus ensuring the reliability and stability of the folding and forming of the cardboard box 10.

[0139] Reference Figures 4 to 5As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member 40 is provided with a guide slope on the upper part facing the inner side of the frame 20. The guide slope is inclined from top to bottom toward the inner side of the frame 20 to provide a guiding force for the side plate to fold inward.

[0140] When the unfolded cardboard box 10 is pressed down and moved downward as a whole, the outer surfaces of each side plate that descends with the base plate 101 will first slide into the guide ramp above the corresponding blocking member 40.

[0141] As the downward pressure continues, the guide ramp, with its geometric slope, smoothly transforms the vertical downward movement of the cardboard box 10 into a guiding force that continuously pushes the side panel inward to fold. Under the action of this guiding force, the side panel does not suffer a sudden, rigid right-angle collision in the initial stage of folding. Instead, it follows the smooth trajectory of the guide ramp and gradually rises upward along the indentation line connected to the base plate 101, thus smoothly transitioning to an upright, fully supported state by the lower part of the blocking member 40.

[0142] In this embodiment, the guide ramp structure provides a gentle force transition zone for the force-bearing folding of the side panel of the cardboard box 10 with a simplified and low-cost static mechanical surface. This not only helps to reduce the risk of local deformation or outer surface damage to the cardboard due to sudden force changes when it first contacts the blocking member 40, but also reduces the downward pressure resistance of the operation to a certain extent, making the folding action of the entire side panel more coherent and smooth.

[0143] Reference Figures 2 to 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, at least one second guide wheel 41 is rotatably mounted on the blocking member 40 toward the inner side of the frame 20, for rolling contact with the corresponding side plate during the process of the cardboard box 10 being pressed down and moved, so as to guide the corresponding side plate to fold upward.

[0144] For example, the second guide wheel 41 can be fitted or attached to the blocking member 40 via a pivot pin or a rotating column or other movable connection assembly. This assembly method allows the smooth outer cylindrical surface of the second guide wheel 41 to protrude slightly from the surface of the blocking member 40, enabling it to directly contact the cardboard.

[0145] During the specific forming operation, when the operator presses down on the entire cardboard box 10 and moves it downwards, the side panels around the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10 descend and gradually move towards the surrounding blocking members 40. At this time, the outer surface of the corresponding side panel will first touch the cylindrical surface of the second guide wheel 41. As the downward pressing action continues, the second guide wheel 41 will adaptively and passively rotate along with the downward displacement of the side panel. This transformation of traditional surface sliding friction into rolling contact can continuously and smoothly apply an inward pushing and upward folding guiding force to the side panel during the descent of the side panel, thereby causing the corresponding side panel to smoothly and steadily fold upwards along the connecting indentation line at its bottom.

[0146] This reduces the frictional resistance experienced by the side panels of the cardboard box 10 during pressure application and folding. This not only helps to moderately reduce the downward pressing load during construction, improving the smoothness of operation, but also largely avoids defects such as wear, scratches, or localized crushing of the cardboard's outer surface printing layer caused by harsh scraping. Furthermore, the introduction of the second guide wheel 41 makes the folding process of the side panels smoother and more continuous, thereby improving the overall forming quality and appearance integrity of the packaging cardboard box 10.

[0147] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the frame 20 includes two first guide rails 201 arranged opposite each other in the front-back direction, and two second guide rails 202 arranged opposite each other in the left-right direction.

[0148] The two first guide rails 201 can move relative to each other in the front-back direction, and the two second guide rails 202 can move relative to each other in the left-right direction, so as to adjust the size of the frame 20 and make the fixture adapt to the cardboard box 10 of different sizes.

[0149] In other words, the two first guide rails 201 and the two second guide rails 202 are interwoven in space, forming a roughly rectangular or grid-like frame 20. Furthermore, the two first guide rails 201 can move closer to or further away from each other along the front-back direction, and the two second guide rails 202 can move closer to or further away from each other along the left-right direction. Exemplarily, this relative movement can be achieved through a linear displacement mechanism such as a lead screw drive assembly or a manually operated push-pull mechanism for guide sliders. When an operator drives the first guide rail 201 or the second guide rail 202 to translate, the length and width of the space enclosed by the first guide rails 201 and the second guide rails 202 will change accordingly, thereby adapting to different sized cardboard boxes 10.

[0150] The frame 20, employing the aforementioned bidirectional adjustable guide rail structure, allows the same fixture to flexibly match the specific length and width proportions of the cardboard box 10 to be folded in independent front-back and left-right dimensions. This not only significantly enhances the fixture's adaptability to packaging production lines with multiple varieties and different batches but also helps reduce the cost of frequent purchases and replacements of specialized fixtures for enterprises.

[0151] Correspondingly, each of the positioning members 30 is respectively disposed at the intersection of the first guide rail 201 and the second guide rail 202, and each of the blocking members 40 is respectively disposed on the corresponding first guide rail 201 or second guide rail 202. This spatially related component layout design not only makes the overall structure of the fixture more compact and regular, but also ensures that the positioning members 30 are always in the corner position of the cardboard box 10 to be folded, and the blocking members 40 are always aligned with the edge of the side panel, thus providing a spatially accurate physical structure for the fixture to adapt to cardboard boxes 10 of different sizes.

[0152] Reference Figures 2 to 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning member 30 corresponding to the same corner and the two blocking members 40 disposed near the positioning member 30 are fixedly connected to each other to form a corner assembly.

[0153] In the same corner assembly, one of the two blocking members 40 is slidably connected to the adjacent first guide rail 201, and the other of the two blocking members 40 is slidably connected to the adjacent second guide rail 202.

[0154] In other words, the positioning element 30 at any given corner, and the two blocking elements 40 positioned spatially close to that positioning element 30, are connected in a relatively fixed manner, such as by bolt fastening, positioning pin engagement, welding, or direct integral molding. This fixing combines these three originally independently functioning components into a linked corner assembly, ensuring that the relative distance and spatial angle between the positioning surface at that corner and the two adjacent blocking surfaces remain constant throughout the entire operation and adjustment of the fixture.

[0155] Within the same corner assembly, one of the two blocking members 40 has a slider or guide groove at its bottom, thus forming a smooth sliding connection with the adjacent first guide rail 201. Simultaneously, the other of the two blocking members 40 also has a sliding structure at its bottom, thus forming a sliding connection with the adjacent second guide rail 202. When the first guide rail 201 and the second guide rail 202 move relative to each other to change the length-to-width ratio of the underlying rectangular frame 20, the corner assembly can smoothly and adaptively slide along the extension trajectories of the first guide rail 201 and the second guide rail 202, relying on these two mutually perpendicular sliding connection structures. This bidirectional sliding constraint ensures that regardless of how the first guide rail 201 and the second guide rail 202 are adjusted, the corner assembly as a whole can be precisely anchored and follow the new intersection point after the dynamic change of the first guide rail 201 and the second guide rail 202.

[0156] This ensures that the folding gaps within each corner component will not shift or deviate even when the fixture size is adjusted or during long-term operation. This not only significantly simplifies the tedious process of individually loosening, aligning, and repeatedly calibrating multiple scattered parts when adapting to different sized cartons 10, improving the convenience of size switching and machine setup efficiency, but also, from a mechanical linkage perspective, effectively guarantees that the cartons 10 achieve highly consistent folding quality and neat corner forming appearance across different size specifications.

[0157] Reference Figures 2 to 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the fixture further includes a plurality of end locking members 42, which are correspondingly disposed at the sliding connection between the blocking member 40 and the first guide rail 201 or the second guide rail 202, for locking and fixing the blocking member 40 to the corresponding first guide rail 201 or second guide rail 202 after the blocking member 40 slides along the first guide rail 201 or the second guide rail 202 to the target position, so as to maintain the position of the corner assembly.

[0158] For example, the end locking member 42 can be a quick-clamping clamp with an operating handle, a T-bolt, or a set screw that generates strong friction on the end face through thread engagement. During production line changeover or tooling size adjustment, when the operator smoothly moves the blocking member 40 and the entire corner assembly fixed to it along the first guide rail 201 or the second guide rail 202 to a position matching the target size cardboard box 10 by relatively moving the first guide rail 201 and the second guide rail 202, a simple screwing or pressing locking operation is applied to the end locking member 42. Through physical and mechanical interference or strong frictional resistance between the components, the blocking member 40 and the corresponding first guide rail 201 or second guide rail 202 are firmly locked and fixed, thereby strictly locking the entire corner assembly in the current position.

[0159] The locking structure design of the end locking member 42 described above can more easily adapt to size adjustment operations, and at the same time, it can ensure that the corner component is locked and fixed reliably during use.

[0160] Reference Figure 2 , Figures 8 to 9 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, the fixture further includes a plurality of shims 60, which are spaced apart around the frame 20. Each shim 60 is disposed on the frame 20 or the blocking member 40 and is switchable between a first position and a second position.

[0161] When the shim 60 is in the first position, the plurality of shims 60 are located inside the space and together form a supporting surface to support the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10. When the shim 60 is in the second position, the plurality of shims 60 are located outside the space.

[0162] The number of shims 60 can be determined according to actual needs. For example, one shim 60 can be set at each of the four corners of the space, or a shim 60 can be set in the middle of each side to provide more even support. Each shim 60 can switch between a first position and a second position.

[0163] When folding a thin cardboard box 10, the operator first rotates all the multiple shims 60 to the first position, extending them into the rectangular space to form a supporting surface. Then, the flattened cardboard is placed on the device, with the bottom plate 101 aligned with the space, and the side plates resting against the surrounding blocking members 40. The operator presses down on the bottom plate 101 of the cardboard box 10, causing it to sink until it is blocked by the supporting surface formed by the shims 60. During this process, the side plates of the cardboard box 10 fold inward under the support and obstruction of the blocking members 40 above, completing the fold. Due to the presence of the supporting surface, the bottom of the folded thin cardboard box 10 is higher than the bottom of the frame 20, and the upper edge of the cardboard box 10 is still partially exposed above the frame 20, allowing the operator to easily remove it from the device.

[0164] When folding a thicker cardboard box 10, the operator rotates multiple shims 60 to a second position, completely removing them from the space. At this point, the flattened cardboard of the thick cardboard box 10 is placed on the device, its base 101 suspended directly in the space defined by the frame 20, with each side panel resting on the blocking member 40. The operator presses down on its base 101, causing it to sink to the bottom of the frame 20 or its surface, thus utilizing the full depth of the frame 20 to complete the folding. Because the thick cardboard box 10 itself has a certain height, its upper edge is also easily removed after folding.

[0165] This embodiment effectively solves the problem of difficulty in removing thin cardboard boxes 10 after folding by adding multiple elevating components 60 that can switch between a first position and a second position. When folding a thin cardboard box 10, the elevating components 60 can be rotated to the first position. At this time, the multiple elevating components 60 together form a supporting surface to support the bottom surface of the cardboard box 10, so that the thin cardboard box 10 will not be completely embedded inside the frame 20 when folded and pressed down, but will be stopped above the supporting surface. When it is necessary to fold a thicker cardboard box 10, the elevating components 60 can be switched to the second position to restore the original depth of the frame 20. This adjustable design allows the same folding device to adapt to cardboard boxes 10 of different thicknesses, ensuring effective folding of cardboard boxes 10 of various specifications and facilitating the removal of the folded cardboard box 10, significantly improving the efficiency and versatility of cardboard box folding.

[0166] In one embodiment of the invention, the shim 60 is slidably connected to the frame 20 or the blocking member 40 and is slidable between the first position and the second position.

[0167] For example, to achieve a sliding connection, a groove can be provided on the frame 20 or the stop 40. This groove extends in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the frame 20. Accordingly, each riser 60 has a slider integrally formed or connected to its bottom that matches the groove. For example, the groove can be designed as a T-slot or dovetail groove structure, and the slider of the riser 60 is formed as a corresponding T-shaped protrusion or dovetail protrusion. This fit ensures smooth movement of the riser 60 during sliding.

[0168] In one embodiment of the present invention, the shim 60 is rotatably connected to the frame 20 or the blocking member 40 and is rotatable between the first position and the second position. Exemplarily, the shim 60 is connected to the frame 20 or the blocking member 40 via a pivot, which can be a pin, hinge, or other type of rotating shaft. The pivot can be perpendicular to the plane of the frame 20, i.e., the axis of the pivot extends vertically.

[0169] By employing a rotating connection, the shim 60 can flexibly switch between a first position and a second position. Operation is simple and intuitive; position adjustment can be completed with a gentle rotation. This design is compact and offers high mechanical reliability.

[0170] It is understood that the cardboard box 10 may also include a cover 106 attached to the rear side panel 103, and the cardboard box is typically an airplane box. When the cardboard box is pressed and folded, the rear left and right ears are located inside the folded cover 106.

[0171] Specifically, for this type of airplane box, when the operator places the cardboard box 10 with the cover plate 106 on top of the fixture and applies downward pressure, the two positioning members 30 located behind the frame 20 contact the left ear 1041 and the right ear 1051 behind it, and use their inner solid structure (such as the first side) to push and fold the two side ears inward.

[0172] As the cardboard box 10 continues to sink despite resistance, the blocking member 40 located at the rear of the frame 20 abuts against and pushes upward against the rear side panel 103, forcing the rear side panel 103 to stand up along the crease line between it and the bottom plate 101. The cover plate 106 connected to the rear side panel 103 will also rise accordingly. Since the left side ear 1041 and right side ear 1051 at the rear have been retracted inward in advance by the positioning member 30, after the cardboard box 10 is pressed and folded into place, these two side ears will avoid the movement trajectory of the cover plate 106 and will eventually be located in the inner space of the folded rear side panel 103 and the cover plate 106.

[0173] This well-defined mechanical interference and avoidance design not only effectively prevents the side ears from jamming or physically colliding with the cover plate 106 during the folding and forming process of the cardboard box, but also provides internal corner support for the hinged transition area between the rear side plate 103 and the cover plate 106 by utilizing the pre-folded left and right side ears on the inside. This enhances the overall compressive rigidity of the cardboard box 10 after it is formed and ensures the flatness and airtightness of the cover plate 106 when it is closed subsequently.

[0174] Furthermore, regarding the airplane box, when the cardboard box 10 is pressed, the front blocking member 40 guides the front left ear 1041 and the front right ear 1051 inward.

[0175] During the actual folding dynamic process, when the cardboard box 10 is pressed down, due to the flexibility of the cardboard material or the release of stress from the initial indentation, the left ear 1041 and the right ear 1051, which are respectively connected to the front ends of the left side plate 104 and the right side plate 105, tend to shift or expand outwards towards the jig. At this time, the blocking member 40 located in front of the frame 20 will physically abut against these two front side ears in a timely manner, pushing and guiding them towards the inside of the bottom plate 101.

[0176] The purpose of this inward guidance is that after the cardboard box 10 is pre-formed by the fixture, when the upper parts of the left side panel 104 and right side panel 105 (i.e., the locking structure) are subsequently manually folded, the front left ear 1041 and right ear 1051, which are pre-positioned and limited inward, can be precisely aligned, thus smoothly and without interference, and inserted into the inside of the front side panel 102. This reusable design not only effectively prevents manual insertion jamming caused by the outward expansion of the side ears, making human-machine collaborative folding smoother, but also eliminates the need for additional dedicated side ear guide parts on the fixture, making the overall structure of the equipment more compact and improving the overall yield and operational efficiency of the packaging.

[0177] Reference Figure 18 As shown, in one example of the present invention, the area on the third side surface S303 that contacts the front ear or the rear ear is formed as an inwardly offset inclined surface or arc surface S3031.

[0178] In other words, for the application scenario of the cardboard box, the third side surface S303 has been optimized. The area on the third side surface S303 that contacts the front side ear 1021 or the rear side ear 1031 is formed as an inwardly offset slope or arc surface. During the actual downward folding dynamic process, when the cardboard box 10 is further pressed, when the front side ear 1021 or the rear side ear 1031 descends with the corresponding side plate and touches the third side surface S303 on the outside of the positioning member 30, the inwardly offset slope or arc surface S3031 forms a smooth transition zone. The side ear will not collide sharply with the positioning member 30, but will slide smoothly along the contour trajectory of the slope or arc surface.

[0179] As the downward stroke deepens, the inclined or curved surface S3031 utilizes its tilted or curved geometry to guide the front ear 1021 or the rear ear 1031 to fold gently and smoothly outward toward the base plate 101.

[0180] This prevents the side ears from curling, crushing, or breaking during forced outward folding. At the same time, it reduces the resistance encountered by the operator during continuous downward pressure, making the entire outward folding action smoother and less strenuous.

[0181] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0182] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture for folding cardboard boxes, the cardboard box comprising a base plate and four side plates connected to four sides of the base plate, the four side plates being a front side plate, a rear side plate, a left side plate, and a right side plate, wherein the front side plate has front ears at both ends, the rear side plate has rear ears at both ends, the left side plate has left ears at both ends, and the right side plate has right ears at both ends; characterized in that, The fixtures include: frame; Four positioning members are respectively disposed at the four corners of the frame, and the space between the four positioning members is suitable for accommodating the base plate to position the cardboard box placed on the frame; the positioning members are also configured to guide at least part of the side ears of the cardboard box to fold when the cardboard box is compressed, wherein each positioning member can act on two side ears at that corner. Multiple blocking members are respectively disposed on the front, rear, left and right sides of the frame; the multiple blocking members are configured to block and guide the front side panel, rear side panel, left side panel and right side panel of the cardboard box respectively when the cardboard box is further pressed, so that the front side panel, the rear side panel, the left side panel and the right side panel are folded upward; The positioning element is movable in the front-back or left-right direction to adjust the size of the space defined by the four positioning elements.

2. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the cardboard box is an airplane box, the positioning member is configured to fold the front ear, the rear ear, the left ear and the right ear toward the inside of the base plate when the cardboard box is compressed.

3. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the cardboard box is a top and bottom box, the positioning member is configured to fold the left and right ears toward the inside of the base plate when the cardboard box is pressed; and when the cardboard box is pressed further, the positioning member blocks the front and rear ears so that the front and rear ears fold toward the outside of the base plate.

4. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the positioning elements has a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side being arranged at an angle; The first side is used to position the front or rear side panel and fold the front or rear ear inward; the second side is used to position the left or right side panel and position the left or right ear and fold it inward.

5. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the positioning elements has a first side, a second side, and a third side, wherein the first side and the second side are arranged at an angle; the first side is used to position the front side plate or the rear side plate; The second side is used to position the left or right side plate and to fold the left or right ear inward. The third side is opposite to the second side and is located on the side of the positioning member facing outward of the space; the third side is used to block the front or rear ear when the cardboard box is pressed further, so that it folds outward.

6. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The top of both the first side and the second side are provided with guide portions, which are used to guide the cardboard box between the plurality of positioning members when the cardboard box moves downward.

7. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 6, characterized in that, The guide portion is an inclined surface or a rounded corner.

8. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The frame has two blocking members on each of the front, rear, left and right sides, and the two blocking members are respectively positioned close to the positioning members at both ends of that side.

9. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 8, characterized in that, The fixture further includes at least one intermediate blocking member, which is disposed between the two blocking members on the same side of the frame.

10. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 9, characterized in that, The intermediate blocking member is slidably connected to the side of the frame on which it is located, so as to adjust its position on the frame; The bottom of the intermediate blocking member is provided with an intermediate locking member, which is used to lock and fix the intermediate blocking member after it slides to the target position.

11. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The intermediate blocking member includes a support base and at least two first guide wheels rotatably mounted on the support base; At least two of the first guide wheels are spaced apart in the vertical direction for rolling contact with the corresponding side plate surface when the cardboard box is pressed.

12. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that, When the cardboard box is pressed, the blocking members located on the front and rear sides of the frame contact the cardboard box before the blocking members located on the left and right sides, so that the front and rear side panels fold upwards before the left and right side panels, thereby placing the front and rear side ears inside the folded left and right side panels.

13. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 12, characterized in that, The height of the blocking members located on the front and rear sides of the frame is greater than the height of the blocking members located on the left and right sides.

14. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The blocking member has a guide slope on its upper part facing the inner side of the frame. The guide slope is inclined from top to bottom towards the inner side of the frame to provide a guiding force for the side plate to fold inward.

15. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The blocking member is rotatably mounted with at least one second guide wheel facing the inside of the frame, for rolling contact with the corresponding side panel during the process of the carton being pressed down and moved, so as to guide the corresponding side panel to fold upward.

16. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The frame includes two first guide rails arranged opposite each other in the front-to-back direction, and two second guide rails arranged opposite each other in the left-to-right direction; The two first guide rails are capable of moving relative to each other in the front-to-back direction, and the two second guide rails are capable of moving relative to each other in the left-to-right direction, so as to adjust the size of the frame and make the fixture adapt to the cardboard boxes of different sizes.

17. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 16, characterized in that, Each of the positioning components is respectively disposed at the intersection of the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and each of the blocking components is respectively disposed on the corresponding first guide rail or second guide rail.

18. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 17, characterized in that, The positioning member corresponding to the same corner and the two blocking members disposed near the positioning member are fixedly connected to each other to form a corner assembly; In the same corner assembly, one of the two blocking members is slidably connected to the adjacent first guide rail, and the other of the two blocking members is slidably connected to the adjacent second guide rail.

19. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 18, characterized in that, The fixture also includes a plurality of end locking members, which are correspondingly disposed at the sliding connection between the blocking member and the first guide rail or the second guide rail. The end locking members are used to lock and fix the blocking member to the corresponding first guide rail or the second guide rail after the blocking member slides along the first guide rail or the second guide rail to the target position, so as to maintain the position of the corner assembly.

20. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It also includes a plurality of shims, which are spaced apart around the frame, each of which is provided on the frame or a blocking member and is switchable between a first position and a second position. When the shim is in the first position, the plurality of shims are located inside the space and together form a supporting surface to support the bottom plate of the cardboard box. When the shim is in the second position, the plurality of shims are located outside the space.

21. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 20, characterized in that, The shim is slidably connected to the frame or the blocking member and is slidable between the first position and the second position.

22. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 20, characterized in that, The shim is rotatably connected to the frame or the blocking member and is rotatable between the first position and the second position.

23. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that, The cardboard box also includes a cover plate connected to the rear side panel, and after the cardboard box is pressed and folded, the left and right rear ears are located inside the folded cover plate.

24. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that, When the cardboard box is pressed, the front blocking element guides the front left ear and the front right ear inward.

25. The cardboard box folding auxiliary fixture according to claim 5, characterized in that, The area on the third side surface that contacts the front or rear ear is formed as an inwardly offset slope or arc surface.

Images