A method and machine for folding and pressing a box

Abstract

This invention proposes a folding and pressure-sealing method and machine for carton sealing, belonging to the field of packaging equipment technology. The method includes: fixing the target carton at a first station; applying pressure to the goods inside the carton and bending the inner lid; pushing the outer lid to a partially closed position, and causing the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms to retract from and reset within the coverage area of ​​the outer lid; maintaining the outer lid in a partially closed position and conveying the carton to a second station; when the target carton reaches the second station, resetting the left and right pneumatic folding lid assemblies; during the conveying process, the second station gradually presses the outer lid to a fully closed state and completes the sealing. The servo system matches the preset carton specifications on the touchscreen, enabling one-click quick changeover of different sized cartons within the specification range, and supports flexible compaction parameter switching for expanding materials. It effectively solves the problems of front and rear pressure plate mechanism retraction, outer lid springback, and carton deformation under pressure, improving sealing efficiency and quality, while significantly enhancing the equipment's flexible production capabilities.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of packaging equipment technology, and in particular to a method for folding and pressing a box to seal it, as well as a box sealing machine. Background Technology

[0002] On automated packaging lines, for boxes that are not fully filled or require compression (such as clothing, fluffy items, and multi-layered electronic products), pressure needs to be applied to the contents before sealing to ensure the box maintains a neat shape after folding, a secure seal, and prevents the goods from shifting during transport. This is especially important for materials with expansion properties, such as clothing, sponge products, and fluffy fabrics, which will gradually expand and recover after packing due to their elasticity. If effective compression is not applied before sealing, the box will bulge, the lid will not close completely, and this will severely affect the sealing quality and stacking stability.

[0003] In the existing technology, sealing equipment for corrugated cardboard box packaging typically handles cuboid or cubic boxes. These boxes generally have a pair of relatively small inner flaps (usually the flaps on the shorter sides) and a pair of relatively large outer flaps (usually the flaps on the longer sides). Most existing sealing equipment can only perform the single functions of flap folding and sealing with tape.

[0004] For boxes requiring pressurization, existing technologies present the following technical challenges: First, interference issues: After pressurization, the pressure head (front and rear pressing plate mechanism) needs to retract, but the outer cover may already be partially or fully closed, preventing the pressing plate mechanism from retracting directly in the vertical direction (Z-axis) and causing it to be jammed by the outer cover. Second, outer cover springback issues: After the pressure head retracts, the outer cover is prone to springing back and tilting, preventing the subsequent automatic sealing assembly from successfully pressing the outer cover and applying the tape, resulting in sealing failure or poor quality. Third, timing coordination issues: Existing equipment lacks a reasonable action timing design, making it difficult for various components (pressure head, folding mechanism) to work efficiently and without interference. Fourth, when dealing with boxes of different sizes, existing equipment requires tedious manual mechanical adjustments, hindering rapid changeovers and severely impacting production efficiency and automation. Fifth, for flexible compaction of expanding materials, existing equipment mostly uses rigid pressing, lacking pressure adaptive adjustment capabilities, making it difficult to ensure compaction while avoiding material damage. Therefore, this application proposes a method and machine for folding and pressurizing boxes to at least partially solve the aforementioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the aforementioned problems, this application is proposed to provide a folding and pressurizing carton sealing method and machine that overcomes or at least partially solves the problems. This method automates and coordinates a series of actions, including pressurizing the goods inside the carton, folding the inner lid, pre-folding the outer lid, and pressurizing and conveying. Specifically, it addresses the technical challenges of the front and rear pressing plate mechanisms not being able to directly and vertically retract during the folding process and the outer lid springing back during conveying. Furthermore, it optimizes the timing of each action to improve efficiency. Simultaneously, by matching the preset carton specifications with a servo system and a touchscreen, it enables rapid and automatic switching between cartons of different sizes.

[0006] The first aspect of this application provides a method for sealing a box by folding and pressurizing, comprising the following steps: fixing a target box at a first station; applying pressure to the goods inside the target box and then bending the inner cover of the target box; pushing the outer cover of the target box to a partially closed position, and causing the front and rear pressing plate mechanisms to retract from and reset within the coverage area of ​​the outer cover; maintaining the outer cover in the partially closed position and conveying the target box to a second station; when the target box reaches the second station, resetting the left and right pneumatic folding assemblies used to push the outer cover; and during the conveying of the target box to the second station, gradually pressing the outer cover from the partially closed position to a fully closed state and completing the sealing.

[0007] Preferably, the step of applying pressure to the goods inside the target container and then bending the inner lid of the target container includes performing the following steps through a front and rear pressure plate mechanism: It descends vertically to apply pressure to the cargo inside the target container; Raise it vertically to a height higher than the inner cover; Move along the front-back direction to the outside of the inner cover, and descend to a position below the top of the inner cover and above the bottom of the inner cover; It moves towards each other in the front-to-back direction while descending in the up-down direction to bend and press the inner cover together.

[0008] Preferably, the step of pushing the outer cover of the target box to a partially closed position and retracting and resetting the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms from the coverage area of ​​the outer cover includes: The left and right pneumatic flap assembly moves in the left and right direction, pushing the outer cover towards the opening to the incompletely closed position; The front and rear pressure plate mechanism moves in the front and rear direction until it completely exits the coverage area of ​​the outer cover; The front and rear pressure plate mechanisms reset along the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0009] Preferably, the step of pushing the outer cover of the target box to a partially closed position and retracting and resetting the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms from the coverage area of ​​the outer cover further includes: During or after the movement of the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies, the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms release their clamping on the target box.

[0010] Preferably, maintaining the outer cover in the partially closed position and conveying the target box to the second station includes: maintaining the outer cover in the partially closed position, and after the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms move to a position that does not obstruct the movement of the target box along the conveying direction, the conveying of the target box to the second station begins.

[0011] A second aspect of this application provides a box-sealing and pressurizing machine for performing the above-described method, comprising: a support frame; a powered roller conveyor mechanism disposed within the support frame for conveying a target box along the Y-axis direction, the powered roller conveyor mechanism being sequentially divided into a first station and a second station along the conveying direction; wherein the first station includes: a first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism movably disposed on both sides of the powered roller conveyor mechanism along the X-axis direction for positioning the box in the X-axis direction; a servo lifting box-clamping and limiting mechanism movably disposed along the Y-axis and Z-axis directions for positioning the box in the Y-axis direction; and a left... A right pneumatic servo clamping mechanism is used to clamp and fix the box body; a pair of front and rear pressure plate mechanisms (preferably T-shaped) are symmetrically arranged to pressurize the goods inside the box and bend the inner lid; a pair of left and right pneumatic lid-folding assemblies are symmetrically arranged and can move along the X and Z axes to bend the outer lid; a servo system is connected to each drive mechanism to drive each component to perform actions according to the preset carton specification parameters and matching position parameters; and a servo system, which is connected to each drive mechanism to drive each component to perform actions according to the preset carton specification parameters and matching position parameters to implement the lid-folding, pressurizing, and sealing method.

[0012] Preferably, the inner side of the support frame, corresponding to the first and second workstations, is vertically provided with two sets of Z-axis guide rails. Each set of Z-axis guide rails is provided with a first drive mechanism at its end; A pressure plate servo lifting mechanism is slidably mounted on the first set of guide rails at the first workstation. The first drive mechanism is connected to the pressure plate servo lifting mechanism and is used to drive the pressure plate servo lifting mechanism to move along the Z-axis. The pressure plate servo lifting mechanism is provided with two sets of pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanisms and a second drive component for driving the two sets of pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanisms to move along the Y-axis; the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms are fixedly connected to the lower end of the pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanism. Below the pressure plate servo lifting mechanism, there are two folding cover component servo lifting mechanisms arranged opposite each other. Each of the flap assembly servo lifting mechanisms is provided with a linear telescopic component at its upper end. The linear telescopic component is connected to the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies and is used to drive the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies to move along the X-axis. The clamping box servo lifting mechanism is installed on the folding cover assembly servo lifting mechanism and is located below the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies; The left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms are slidably mounted on the clamping servo lifting mechanism, and the end of the clamping servo lifting mechanism is provided with a third drive component connected to the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms. An extension plate is also provided on the servo lifting mechanism of the folding cover assembly on the side opposite to the servo lifting mechanism of the pressure plate. The extension plate is located at the lower end of the servo lifting mechanism of the clamping box. The end of the servo lifting clamping box limiting mechanism is slidably connected to the extension plate. The end of the extension plate is provided with a fourth drive component connected to the servo lifting clamping box limiting mechanism.

[0013] Preferably, the part of the left and right pneumatic flap assembly that contacts the top cover of the target box is an arc-shaped surface.

[0014] Preferably, the linear telescopic component is a cylinder.

[0015] Preferably, the left and right pneumatic flap assembly includes a connecting portion and a flap portion that is at least partially arc-shaped; The connecting part is connected to the cylinder, and the folding cover part is connected to the connecting part.

[0016] Preferably, the folding cover is cylindrical.

[0017] Preferably, it also includes an automatic box sealing assembly disposed at the second work station; The automatic box sealing assembly includes two box sealing assembly servo lifting mechanisms and a second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism. The servo lifting mechanism of the sealing assembly is slidably mounted on the Z-axis guide rail of the second work station and connected to the first drive mechanism on the guide rail; The servo lifting mechanisms of the sealing assembly are connected by a transverse support frame; The second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism is connected to the slide rail at the lower end of the support frame via a slider; The support frame is equipped with a downward pressing cylinder at its front end; the downward pressing cylinder faces downward and its output end is connected to a cover pressing wheel, which is used to completely press down the outer cover of the target box. The support frame is located at the rear end of the pressing cylinder and is also equipped with a tape unwinding arm and an elastic pressing roller; the initial position of the pressing roller during operation is lower than the height of the target box.

[0018] Preferably, the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism includes a first belt and a first belt cover disposed on the outside of the first belt; The first belt has a first opening on the side facing the box, so that the surface of the first belt protrudes from the first opening.

[0019] Preferably, the second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism includes a second belt and a second belt cover disposed on the outside of the second belt; The second belt has a second opening on the side facing the housing, so that the surface of the second belt protrudes from the second opening.

[0020] Preferably, the bottom of the support frame is provided with casters and adjustable feet.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following advantages or beneficial effects: First, the complete inner cover folding action logic clarifies the rapid inner cover folding action of the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms after pressurization, requiring them to first lift, then move horizontally, then lower, then slide, and then press down again. This ensures that the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms can smoothly reach the outer side of the inner cover, avoiding interference with the box or goods. Second, the optimized reset timing of the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms allows them to reset during the pre-folding process of the outer cover, eliminating the need to wait for subsequent steps, shortening auxiliary time, and improving the overall cycle time. Third, the flexible retreat and reset strategy of the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms allows them to retreat out of the outer cover coverage area in the Y direction and then reset through a Y / Z combined movement. This ensures that the conveying action can start in advance (as long as the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms do not obstruct the box conveying), further improving efficiency. Fourth, the pressure holding and transfer mechanism ensures that the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies maintain pre-pressure constraint on the outer cover throughout the process of the box being conveyed from the first station to the second station, only resetting after the second station begins to take over the pressing, preventing the outer cover from springing back. Fifth, the positioning and left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms have multiple functions. The first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism, the servo lifting clamping limit mechanism, and the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms not only fix the target box in the first working position, but also provide support and protection for the box from different directions when the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms pressurize the goods inside the box: the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism and the servo lifting clamping limit mechanism provide lateral support on different sides of the target box to prevent the box from expanding outward under internal pressure; the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms form clamping protection at the four edges of the target box, further enhancing the structural stability of the box and avoiding damage or deformation of the box due to pressure, thereby ensuring the sealing quality. Sixth, the servo adaptive type-changing function, through data matching between the servo system and the touch screen preset carton specifications, allows for one-click switching or automatic identification and matching of cartons of different sizes within the equipment specification range. Each actuator (front and rear pressing plate mechanism, left and right pneumatic flap folding components, various positioning mechanisms, etc.) automatically adjusts to the corresponding position according to preset parameters, eliminating the need for tedious manual mechanical adjustments and significantly improving the flexibility and changeover efficiency of the production line. Seventh, the flexible compaction and servo data flexible switching function, for expandable materials such as clothing, sponge products, and fluffy fabrics, the servo system supports preset and automatic switching of process parameters such as pressure, pressing speed, and holding time. This enables flexible adjustment from rigid rapid compaction to flexible slow compaction, ensuring compaction effect and eliminating material expansion margins while avoiding damage to the material or carton, significantly improving the equipment's adaptability to different material process characteristics. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of a folding and pressurizing box sealing machine provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a second-view structural schematic diagram of a folding and pressurizing box sealing machine provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of the automatic sealing component of a folding and pressurizing carton sealing machine provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a second-view structural schematic diagram of the automatic sealing component of a folding and pressurizing carton sealing machine provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0024] In the diagram, 100 is the target box; 101 is the powered roller conveyor mechanism; 102 is the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism; 121 is the first belt; 122 is the first belt cover; 103 is the servo lifting clamping limit mechanism; 104 is the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanism; 105 is the front and rear pressing plate mechanism; 106 is the left and right pneumatic folding cover assembly; 161 is the connecting part; 162 is the folding cover part; 201 is the support frame; 202 is the guide rail; and 203 is the pressing plate servo lifting mechanism. ; 204. Servo-driven front and rear centering positioning mechanism for the pressure plate; 205. Servo-driven lifting mechanism for the folding cover assembly; 206. Servo-driven lifting mechanism for the clamping box; 207. Extension plate; 300. Automatic box sealing assembly; 301. Servo-driven lifting mechanism for the box sealing assembly; 302. Second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism; 321. Second belt; 322. Second belt cover; 303. Support frame; 304. Pressing cylinder; 305. Pressure cover wheel; 306. Tape unwinding support arm; 307. Pressure roller. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0026] It should be noted that, for ease of description, this application defines the following directions: the conveying direction (front-back direction, i.e., the Y-axis direction) as the conveying direction of the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101; the first horizontal direction (left-right direction, i.e., the X-axis direction) as the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; and the vertical direction (up-down direction, i.e., the Z-axis direction) as the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane. Subsequent movements of each component along these directions are based on these definitions.

[0027] The folding and pressure sealing method and sealing machine provided in this application are mainly applied to corrugated cardboard box packaging production lines. The target box 100 to be processed is usually a cuboid or cube, and its lid structure has typical characteristics. The target box 100 has relatively small inner lids at both ends (usually the lids on the shorter sides), while the target box 100 has relatively large outer lids on both sides (usually the lids on the longer sides). Since the goods inside the target box 100 may not be completely filled or may be loose, pressure needs to be applied to the goods before sealing to make the box shape regular, facilitating subsequent folding and sealing with tape. Based on the above box structure characteristics, the sealing machine of this application adopts a symmetrical design at the first station. Specifically, it is equipped with a pair of front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 and a pair of left and right pneumatic folding lid assemblies 106, corresponding to the symmetrical lids on both sides of the box, capable of simultaneously processing the inner and outer lids on both sides.

[0028] This carton sealing machine is equipped with a servo system and a touchscreen human-machine interface. Users can preset equipment parameters for different carton specifications (different lengths, widths, and heights) via the touchscreen. These parameters include, but are not limited to, the X-axis travel of the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor 102, the Y and Z-axis positions of the servo lifting clamping limit mechanism 103, the Z-axis height of the pressing plate servo lifting mechanism 203, the Y-axis position of the pressing plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanism 204, and the X-axis travel of the left and right pneumatic flap folding components 106. Within the equipment specifications, when changing carton specifications, the operator only needs to select or input the corresponding carton specification model on the touchscreen. The servo system then automatically drives each actuator to move to the matching position according to the preset parameters, achieving one-click quick changeover without the need for tedious manual mechanical adjustments, significantly improving the flexibility of the production line. The servo system of this application not only supports switching position parameters for different carton specifications but also supports flexible switching of servo data for flexible compaction parameters, specifically tailored to the compaction process characteristics of expanded materials (such as clothing, sponge products, and fluffy fabrics). Specifically, operators can preset process parameters such as pressing pressure, pressing speed, and holding time for materials with different expansion characteristics via touchscreen. When switching carton specifications or material types, the servo system automatically adjusts the downward pressure, pressing speed, and holding time of the front and rear pressing plate mechanisms 105 according to the preset data. This ensures that the goods inside the carton are fully compacted to eliminate expansion excess while avoiding damage to the material surface or deformation of the carton due to excessive pressure or speed. This function allows the equipment to flexibly switch between rigid rapid compaction and flexible slow compaction modes to adapt to the physical characteristics of different materials, achieving multi-purpose functionality and significantly improving the equipment's process adaptability.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a folding and pressurizing box sealing machine for implementing the folding and pressurizing box sealing method described in this application.

[0030] The main structure of the folding and pressurizing box sealing unit, together with the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101, is based on a support frame 201. The bottom of the support frame 201 can be equipped with casters and adjustable feet for easy movement and leveling. The powered roller conveyor mechanism 101 (e.g., a roller conveyor or chain conveyor) is positioned within the support frame 201 along the Y-axis (i.e., the conveying direction). The powered roller conveyor mechanism 101 is divided into two stations: a first station located upstream (primarily for positioning, pressurizing, folding the inner cover, and pre-folding the outer cover) and a second station located downstream (primarily for final pressing and sealing with tape).

[0031] For the first station component structure and positioning adjustment function, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the first workstation integrates multiple components, all of which are precisely controlled by a central servo system. This servo system employs a programmable logic controller (PLC), whose outputs are electrically connected to the control inputs of the second, third, and fourth drive components and the first drive mechanism, respectively, to output control commands to each drive component according to a preset timing sequence.

[0032] The first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism 102 is arranged on both sides of the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101 along the X-axis direction for centering and positioning in the X-direction. The first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism 102 includes a first belt and a first belt cover disposed on the outside of the first belt. The side of the first belt facing the box body has a first opening, so that the surface of the first belt protrudes from the first opening. When the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101 transports the target box body 100 to the first station and stops, if the target box body 100 is misaligned or off-center, the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism 102 can fine-tune the position of the target box body 100 through the flexible contact and active movement of the first belt to center it.

[0033] The servo lifting clamping limit mechanism 103 can move along the Y-axis and Z-axis for precise positioning in the Y-axis. When the target box 100 is in the unfolded inner cover state, the servo lifting clamping limit mechanism 103 also serves to position and protect the inner cover. Specifically, its end abuts against the outside of the inner cover to prevent the inner cover from accidentally lifting or shifting during subsequent pressurization, while ensuring that the inner cover is in the correct position when folded.

[0034] When the target box 100 is conveyed to the first station, it is fixed in place by the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor 102, the servo lifting clamping limit mechanism 103, and the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104. Specifically, the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104 are used to firmly clamp the box in the X-axis direction. The aforementioned first pneumatic centering belt conveyor 102, servo lifting clamping limit mechanism 103, and left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104 not only fix the target box 100 in place, but also play a protective role in the subsequent pressurization process: the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor 102 and the servo lifting clamping limit mechanism 103 form lateral supports on different sides of the target box 100 to prevent the box from expanding outward under internal pressure; the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104 are located at the four edges of the target box 100 to form clamping protection, further enhancing the structural stability of the box and preventing the box from bursting or deforming due to pressurization.

[0035] A pair of front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 are provided, symmetrically located above both sides of the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101. Each front and rear pressure plate mechanism 105 is connected to the first drive mechanism through a pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanism 204, a second drive assembly, and a pressure plate servo lifting mechanism 203, enabling independent movement of the Z-axis (lifting) and Y-axis (front and rear). The cross-section of the front and rear pressure plate mechanism 105 is T-shaped, with the horizontal plate at the bottom used to press the goods and the vertical plate used to bend the inner cover.

[0036] A pair of left and right pneumatic flap assemblies 106 are provided, symmetrically located on both sides of the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101. Each left and right pneumatic flap assembly 106 includes a connecting part 161 and a cylindrical flap part 162, the arc-shaped surface of which can gently bend the outer cover.

[0037] To improve the positioning accuracy and smoothness of movement of each component, this embodiment uses toothed belts or chains as the main transmission method. Specifically, the first drive mechanism (e.g., a chain drive motor) connects the pressure plate servo lifting mechanism 203, the cover folding assembly servo lifting mechanism 205, and the clamping box servo lifting mechanism 206 via chains, driving these support plates to move along the Z-axis (vertical direction). Chain transmission has the advantages of strong load-bearing capacity, good synchronization, and high positioning accuracy, ensuring that the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 and the left and right pneumatic cover folding assemblies 106 accurately reach the predetermined position in the Z-axis direction. The second drive assembly drives the pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanism 204 to move along the Y-axis direction, preferably using toothed belt transmission to achieve precise positioning and high-speed response of the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 in the Y-axis direction. The third and fourth drive assemblies also use toothed belts or precision lead screw structures to ensure the position control accuracy of the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104 and the servo lifting clamping box limiting mechanism 103.

[0038] A linear telescopic component (preferably a cylinder) is mounted on the servo lifting mechanism 205 of the flap folding assembly to drive the left and right pneumatic flap folding assemblies 106 to move along the X-axis. The cylinder features fast response and compact structure, making it suitable for the rapid advance and retraction required for flap folding.

[0039] The following is combined Figures 1 to 4 The working process of this embodiment will be explained in detail. For ease of understanding, a typical rectangular corrugated cardboard box is used as an example. The box has a pair of relatively small inner lids (short side) and a pair of relatively large outer lids (long side).

[0040] The first step is conveying and positioning. The powered roller conveyor 101 delivers the target box 100 loaded with goods into the first workstation. If the box's position is off, the first belt of the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor 102 will activate first, pushing the box into center through flexible contact. Subsequently, the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor 102 (X-axis) and the servo lifting and clamping limit mechanism 103 (Y-axis) extend respectively to precisely position the box. The servo lifting and clamping limit mechanism 103 simultaneously abuts against the outside of the inner cover, providing protection. Afterward, the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104 activate to firmly fix the four edges of the box.

[0041] The second step is pressurization. A pair of front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 descend synchronously under Z-axis drive, pressing the goods inside the box with a set pressure. At this time, the lower horizontal plates of the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 are in close contact with the upper surface of the goods. For different materials (especially expandable materials such as clothing and sponges), the control system executes the pressurization action according to preset flexible compaction parameters through the servo system, including precise control of the pressing speed, pressure curve, and holding time, ensuring that the goods are fully compacted while avoiding damage to the materials or the box due to impact or overpressure. During the pressurization process, the first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism 102, the servo lifting and clamping box limiting mechanism 103, and the left and right pneumatic servo clamping box mechanisms 104 jointly support the box from multiple directions to prevent the box from expanding and deforming outward due to internal pressure.

[0042] The third step is to fold the inner cover. After pressurization, the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 need to move to the outside of the inner cover at both ends of the box before folding the cover. However, since the current height of the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 is lower than the height of the inner cover (because the position is lower when pressing the goods), direct horizontal movement would cause it to hit the side wall of the box or the inner cover. Therefore, the servo system first drives the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 to lift a certain height along the Z-axis, so that its lower end is higher than the upper edge of the inner cover. Then, it drives the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 to move along the Y-axis (forward or backward) to reach the predetermined position on the outside of the inner cover. Next, it drives the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 to descend along the Z-axis, using its vertical part to bend and flatten the inner cover. At the same time, the servo lifting and clamping limit mechanism 103 has been reset along the Y-axis before folding the inner cover, making room for the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105.

[0043] The fourth step is the pre-folding and avoidance of the outer cover. After the inner cover is folded, a pair of left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies 106 extend from both sides along the X-axis, pushing the outer covers on both sides of the box towards the opening. Due to the large area of ​​the outer cover, it will gradually cover the space above the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 during the pushing process. At this time, the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104 have completed their mission and can be reset and released from the box for subsequent transport. This reset action can be performed immediately during or after the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies 106 push the outer cover, without waiting for subsequent steps. At the same time, the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 need to exit the coverage area of ​​the outer cover. However, since the outer cover has been pushed to a partially closed state by the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies 106, the space above the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 is blocked by the outer cover and cannot be directly reset upward along the Z-axis. Therefore, the servo system controls the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 to first move horizontally along the Y-axis, so that it completely exits the coverage area of ​​the outer cover.

[0044] Step 5: Reset of the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms. After the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 have completely exited the coverage area of ​​the outer cover, they may still be located on the side or below the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies 106. In order to fully reset to the initial position (usually located higher above the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101, without affecting the subsequent passage of the box), the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 need to continue moving to avoid the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies 106. The servo system will drive the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 to move along the Y-axis and / or Z-axis until they reach above the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies 106 or other standby positions that will not interfere with any components. This process is collectively referred to in this application as the reset of the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105.

[0045] Step 6, pressure-holding conveying. While the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 are resetting but not yet fully reset, as long as they have moved to a position that will not obstruct the conveying of the target box 100 along the Y-axis (e.g., risen above the top of the box, or moved horizontally out of the conveying path), the powered roller conveyor mechanism 101 can be activated to convey the box to the second station without waiting for the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 to fully reset. This saves time and improves production efficiency. Throughout the conveying process, the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies 106 remain in their current positions, continuously pressing down on the outer cover to maintain it in the first, not fully closed position, effectively preventing the outer cover from springing back and tilting due to elasticity.

[0046] Step 7: Lid Folding and Resetting. When the target box 100 reaches the second station, the left and right pneumatic lid folding assemblies used to advance the outer lid are reset, and the second station completes the full compression and sealing of the outer lid. After the box is transported to the second station, the automatic sealing assembly 300 at the second station takes over the box. When the target box 100 reaches the second station, the second station will fully close the outer lid if it is not fully closed. At this time, the left and right pneumatic lid folding assemblies no longer need to be held and can be reset. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the automatic box sealing assembly 300 includes two box sealing assembly servo lifting mechanisms 301, a transverse support frame 303, a second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism 302, a pressing cylinder 304, a capping roller 305, a tape unwinding support arm 306, and a tape pressing roller 307. The second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism 302 first performs final positioning of the box in the X-axis direction. The pressing cylinder 304 drives the capping roller 305 to press down, pressing the outer cover of the box from a previously incompletely closed position to a fully closed state. At this point, the left and right pneumatic capping assemblies 106 have completed their pressure-holding mission. The control system then drives the left and right pneumatic capping assemblies 106 to reset, ready to process the next box.

[0047] Step 8: Sealing with tape. The box continues to move forward, passing in sequence the tape unwinding arm 306 and the pressure roller 307. The pressure roller 307 is elastic, and its initial position during operation is lower than the height of the target box by 100 mm. This design aims to ensure that during the sealing process of corrugated boxes, the tape typically starts to be applied from the side of the box slightly below the lid, covering the lid surface upwards, and then extending to the other side of the box below the lid, forming a "C" shape to enhance the sealing strength. The elasticity of the pressure roller 307 allows it to adapt to the slight undulations of the box surface, and its initial position lower than the box height ensures that the tape is first pressed against the side of the box, and then gradually rolled onto the lid surface as the box moves, thus achieving a complete adhesion of the tape from the side of the box to the lid. After the tape application is completed, the sealing process is finished.

[0048] The folding and pressure sealing machine provided in this embodiment achieves efficient and interference-free folding and pressure sealing of cartons through rapid inner lid folding via "lift-shift-lower-shift (fold)-lower (press)" mechanism, timely reset of left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms 104 during the pre-folding of the outer lid, timely reset of front and rear pressure plate mechanisms 105 (from Y-axis retraction to combined movement reset), and outer lid pressure holding mechanism from pre-pressure holding to displacement intersection. It also optimizes the conveyor start-up timing. Simultaneously, by matching the servo system with the preset carton specifications on the touchscreen, it can quickly and automatically switch between different sized cartons within the equipment's specification range, significantly improving the equipment's flexible production capabilities.

[0049] It should be noted that the servo system, such as the PLC system, in this application is a conventional and mature technology. In this application, it is only used to perform corresponding actions in conjunction with various movable parts. As a conventional technology, how it is connected to other devices can be found in the technical manuals or related books of the programmable logic controller series, and will not be described in detail here.

[0050] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0052] Although preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or terminal device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or terminal device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or terminal device that includes said element.

[0054] The above provides a detailed description of the folding and pressurizing box sealing method and box sealing machine provided in this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A method for sealing a box by folding the lid and applying pressure, characterized in that, Applied to a folding and pressure sealing carton machine, the method includes the following steps: Fix the target box in the first station; After applying pressure to the goods inside the target container, the inner lid of the target container is bent. Push the outer cover of the target box to a partially closed position, and remove and reset the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms from the coverage area of ​​the outer cover; While maintaining the outer cover in the partially closed position, the target box is conveyed to the second workstation; When the target box reaches the second station, the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies used to push the outer cover are reset; during the process of the target box being transported to the second station, the outer cover is gradually pressed from a partially closed position to a fully closed state and the box is sealed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of applying pressure to the goods inside the target container and then bending the inner lid of the target container includes: The following steps are performed via the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms: It descends vertically to apply pressure to the cargo inside the target container; Raise it vertically to a height higher than the inner cover; Move along the front-back direction to the outside of the inner cover, and descend to a position below the top of the inner cover and above the bottom of the inner cover; It moves towards each other in the front-to-back direction while descending in the up-down direction to bend and press the inner cover together.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of pushing the outer cover of the target box to a partially closed position and retracting and resetting the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms from the coverage area of ​​the outer cover includes: The left and right pneumatic flap assembly moves in the left and right direction, pushing the outer cover towards the opening to the incompletely closed position; The front and rear pressure plate mechanism moves in the front and rear direction until it completely exits the coverage area of ​​the outer cover; The front and rear pressure plate mechanisms reset along the vertical and horizontal directions.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The step of pushing the outer cover of the target box to a partially closed position and retracting and resetting the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms from the coverage area of ​​the outer cover further includes: During or after the movement of the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies, the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms release their clamping on the target box.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Maintaining the outer cover in the partially closed position and conveying the target box to the second station includes: The outer cover is kept in a partially closed position, and after the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms move to a position that does not obstruct the target box from moving along the conveying direction, the target box is conveyed to the second station.

6. A folding and pressurizing box sealing machine, characterized in that, include: Supporting framework; A powered roller conveyor mechanism is disposed within the support frame and is used to convey the target box along the conveying direction. The powered roller conveyor mechanism is provided with a first station and a second station in sequence along the conveying direction. The following components are installed at the first workstation: a first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism, movable along a first horizontal direction, for positioning the box in the first horizontal direction; a servo lifting and clamping box limiting mechanism, movable along the conveying direction and the vertical direction, for positioning the box in the conveying direction; left and right pneumatic servo clamping box mechanisms, for clamping and fixing the box; front and rear pressure plate mechanisms, for pressurizing the goods inside the box and bending the inner cover; and left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies, movable along the first horizontal direction and the vertical direction, for bending the outer cover. And a servo system, which is connected to each drive mechanism and is used to drive each component to perform actions according to the preset carton specification parameters and matching position parameters, so as to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The carton sealing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner side of the support frame is vertically provided with two sets of guide rails corresponding to the first workstation and the second workstation, and the end of each set of guide rails is provided with a first drive mechanism. A pressure plate servo lifting mechanism is slidably mounted on the first set of guide rails at the first workstation. The first drive mechanism is connected to the pressure plate servo lifting mechanism and is used to drive the pressure plate servo lifting mechanism to move along the vertical direction. The pressure plate servo lifting mechanism is provided with two sets of pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanisms and a second drive component for driving the two sets of pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanisms to move along the conveying direction; the front and rear pressure plate mechanisms are fixedly connected to the lower end of the pressure plate servo front and rear centering positioning mechanism. Below the pressure plate servo lifting mechanism, there are two folding cover component servo lifting mechanisms arranged opposite each other. Each of the flap assembly servo lifting mechanisms is provided with a linear telescopic component at its upper end. The linear telescopic component is connected to the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies and is used to drive the left and right pneumatic flap assemblies to move along the first horizontal direction. The clamping box servo lifting mechanism is installed on the folding cover assembly servo lifting mechanism and is located below the left and right pneumatic folding cover assemblies; The left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms are slidably mounted on the clamping servo lifting mechanism, and the end of the clamping servo lifting mechanism is provided with a third drive component connected to the left and right pneumatic servo clamping mechanisms. An extension plate is also provided on the servo lifting mechanism of the folding cover assembly on the side opposite to the servo lifting mechanism of the pressure plate. The extension plate is located at the lower end of the servo lifting mechanism of the clamping box. The end of the servo lifting clamping box limiting mechanism is slidably connected to the extension plate. The end of the extension plate is provided with a fourth drive component connected to the servo lifting clamping box limiting mechanism.

8. The carton sealing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The part of the left and right pneumatic flap assembly that contacts the outer cover is an arc-shaped surface; The left and right pneumatic flap assembly includes a connecting part and a flap part that is at least partially arc-shaped. The connecting part is connected to the linear telescopic assembly, and the flap part is connected to the connecting part.

9. The carton sealing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes an automatic box sealing assembly installed at the second workstation; The automatic box sealing assembly includes two box sealing assembly servo lifting mechanisms and a second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism. The servo lifting mechanism of the sealing assembly is slidably mounted on the guide rail of the second work station and connected to the first drive mechanism on the guide rail; The servo lifting mechanisms of the sealing assembly are connected by a transverse support frame; The second pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism is connected to the slide rail at the lower end of the support frame via a slider; The support frame is equipped with a pressing cylinder at the front end. The pressing cylinder faces downward and its output end is connected to a cover roller, which is used to press the outer cover down completely. The support frame located at the rear end of the pressing cylinder is also equipped with a tape unwinding arm and an elastic pressing roller. The initial position of the pressing roller during operation is lower than the height of the target box.

10. The carton sealing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first pneumatic centering belt conveyor mechanism includes a first belt and a first belt cover disposed on the outside of the first belt. The side of the first belt facing the housing has a first opening, such that the surface of the first belt protrudes from the first opening; and / or, The second pneumatic centering belt conveyor includes a second belt and a second belt cover disposed on the outside of the second belt. The side of the second belt facing the housing has a second opening, so that the surface of the second belt protrudes from the second opening.

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