Method for packaging articles in boxes and packaging device operating according to such a method

Abstract

A method for packing articles (1) in a box comprises the steps of depositing at least one article (1) on a bottom (21) of a mandrel (10), and of at least partially folding a blank (7) around the mandrel (10), in order to form a box containing the article. The method provides that, before depositing the article, the side wall (22) is lowered relative to the bottom (21) so as to define a first height (H1) of the side wall (22) of the mandrel and that, before folding the blanks around the mandrel, the side wall (22) is raised relative to the bottom (21) so as to define a second height (H2) of the side wall (22) of the mandrel, which is greater than the first height (H1).

Description

[0001] Method for packaging articles in boxes and packaging device operating according to such a method

[0002] The present invention concerns a method and device for packaging articles in boxes, that are particularly suitable for packaging articles in accordance with a process, known in the field as "wrap-around" process, wherein the box is formed around the article to be packaged.

[0003] The content of the following patent applications in the name of the same Applicant, is considered to be fully incorporated herein:

[0004] - Italian patent application no. 102021000029750 entitled "Method for packaging articles in boxes and packaging device operating according to such a method" filed on 24 November 2021, and

[0005] - Italian patent application no. 102021000029753 entitled "Method for packaging articles in boxes and packaging device operating according to such a method" filed on 24 November 2021.

[0006] The present invention finds a preferred, though not exclusive, application in the field of packaging articles which have variable geometry and which are relatively delicate, into boxes, such as for example bags of cereal flakes, a field to which reference will be made in the following without losing generality.

[0007] In particular, in the relevant technical field, it is known to package articles into a box according to two distinct manners.

[0008] A first manner provides for a first step of forming a box, which is open at least at one end thereof, the subsequent insertion of the article to be packaged into the open box and, then, the closure of the open end.

[0009] A second manner envisages instead that the box is formed by wrapping a blank, for example a shaped and creased cardboard, around a mandrel made of rigid material, for example made of metal, containing the article to be packaged. This manner envisages that the blank is wound around the mandrel so as to form a box that is closed laterally but open at one end thereof, from which the mandrel is then extracted leaving the article inside the newly formed box. Also in this case, the open end can be conveniently closed, so that the package thus made can be sent to the final steps of packaging and shipment to the points of sale.

[0010] In this description as well as in the accompanying claims, some terms and expressions are deemed to have, unless otherwise expressly indicated, the meaning set forth in the following definitions.

[0011] The term "article" means any product which can be packaged in boxes.

[0012] The articles can have a predefined geometric shape or they can have a variable geometry.

[0013] Preferably, the articles are food and confectionery articles, in bulk or contained inside bags or other types of wrapping, such as for example cereal bags or coffee capsules or other infusion beverages, single chocolates (wrapped or not), candies (wrapped or not), pouches containing solid, liquid or semi-solid food products; in addition, articles of the ceramic industry, absorbent articles for hygienic use, articles of the tobacco industry, articles of the cosmetic industry, articles of the pharmaceutical industry, articles of the "personal & home care" industry.

[0014] "Packaging" one or more articles in a box means obtaining a box containing said one or more articles. Such packaging can be obtained by inserting one or more articles into an already formed box or, preferably, it can be obtained by forming a box around the one or more articles to be contained. By "mandrel" is meant a container capable, on the one hand, of accommodating and supporting the article to be packaged and, on the other hand, of providing an effective abutment for folding the blank when wound around it.

[0015] For this purpose, a mandrel comprises a bottom, mainly intended to support the article to be packaged, and at least one side wall, intended to contain the article inside the mandrel and to abut part of the blank when wound around the mandrel.

[0016] Preferably, the mandrel comprises more side walls.

[0017] Preferably, the side wall is erected from the bottom. With this expression it is intended to specify that the side wall extends with a different orientation relative to that of the bottom, typically along a transverse plane relative to the bottom, more preferably along a perpendicular plane relative to the bottom.

[0018] It is specified that accommodating and supporting the article does not in itself imply that the article must be entirely accommodated inside the mandrel or completely supported by it, but it is sufficient for it to be accommodated in the moment in which the blank is wound around the mandrel.

[0019] Likewise, it is specified that also the abutment of the blank does not imply in itself that the blank is abutted by the mandrel for its entire surface, but it is sufficient for it to be abutted to an extent such as to allow the correct folding necessary for the formation of the box.

[0020] In particular, this means that the side wall and the bottom are not necessarily in contact with each other for their entire development and that the bottom and / or the side wall do not necessarily have a continuous surface. On the contrary, both the side wall and the bottom may have empty spaces or interruptions, even large ones, as long as they allow the mandrel to correctly perform its function of accommodating the article and of abutting the blank. The mandrel can be formed by a single component, or by a plurality of units. The latter can be directly connected to each other, or they can be "separate units", with this expression meaning distinct mandrel portions (units), not directly connected to each other, and preferably movable independently of each other.

[0021] A mandrel is "composed" of the separate units when the latter are mutually positioned in such a way as to correctly fulfil the functions of the mandrel indicated above, that is of accommodating and of supporting the article to be packaged and of providing an effective abutment for the folding of the blank.

[0022] On the contrary, a mandrel is "decomposed" in its separate units when it is no longer able to correctly perform its functions of accommodating and supporting the article and of abutting the blank.

[0023] With reference to the vertical direction, defined by the force of gravity, by "upper edge" of a side wall, it is understood to mean the side of the side wall positioned at a higher elevation.

[0024] By "height" of a side wall relative to the bottom of the mandrel is meant the distance of the upper edge of the side wall from the bottom.

[0025] "Blank" means a shaped sheet of suitable material and thickness suitable to be wound by means of folding around a mandrel to form a box.

[0026] Preferably, the blank is made of cardboard.

[0027] Preferably, the blank has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm, more preferably less than 4 mm. In a greatly preferred manner, the blank has a thickness comprised between 0.25 mm and 1.6 mm, more preferably between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, even more preferably between 0.4 and 0.8 mm. A "folding line" of a blank is a predefined line around which two blank portions are expected to rotate relative to each other so as to fold the blank, preferably around the mandrel.

[0028] The folding line is preferably defined by a weakening line obtained on the blank, e.g., a creasing, or an incision or a plurality of aligned holes.

[0029] In general terms, a first element "abuts" a second element when the first element touches the second element and is able to at least partially oppose a relative displacement of the first element against the second element.

[0030] "Box" means any container adapted to contain a plurality of articles for the purpose of packaging them, which is capable of being made starting from a blank by means of folding around a mandrel and subsequent fixing at one or more of its edges or panels.

[0031] Preferably, the box has at least one closed contour section, more preferably it is closed laterally around the mandrel while at least one longitudinal end of the box is kept open, to allow extraction of the mandrel from the box.

[0032] The Applicant has preliminarily observed that the wrap-around type packaging process briefly illustrated above allows to obtain significant advantages in terms of production flexibility compared to the packaging process with insertion of the article in the preformed box. In fact, in the wrap-around type packaging process, the times to switch from one format to another or to bring new formats into production are significantly reduced.

[0033] The Applicant has noted, however, that the wrap-around packaging process briefly illustrated above is often little suitable for packaging fragile articles, such as for example bags containing cereal flakes. In fact, the latter can easily break forming crumbs and powders that lower the quality of the final product. In particular, the Applicant has noted that one of the critical steps in moving the articles in the box packaging process, is depositing them in the mandrel around which the box is formed, during which the articles may be subject to even violent impacts.

[0034] In fact, the Applicant has noted that articles are often thrown or dropped into the mandrel at high speeds, resulting from the high production capacity required.

[0035] The Applicant has therefore thought of using gentler systems for depositing the articles in the mandrel, for example by using grippers that may support the articles from underneath and can then lay them directly on the bottom of the mandrel.

[0036] However, the Applicant has verified that this operation can be particularly complicated when the articles to be deposited on the mandrel do not have a fixed and predefined geometry, such as for example in the case of envelopes containing bulk granular material or liquid material. In these cases, in fact, it may happen that a part of the article, not adequately supported, overflows from the gripping member and protrudes downwards, risking to hit the mandrel in the step of approaching the gripping member.

[0037] In particular, the Applicant has verified that in these cases the article may hit one or more of the side walls erecting from the bottom that delimit the mandrel containment region, resulting in the possibility of damage to the article or even its breakage.

[0038] The Applicant has also verified that a gripping member correctly configured to adequately support a specific article, could instead be unsuitable to support an article of different sizes, such that the replacement of the gripping member at each format change of the article is required, resulting in longer downtime, operator intervention and the need for a greater number of components to be managed in the warehouse.

[0039] The Applicant has therefore perceived that in order to facilitate a correct operation of depositing the articles on the mandrel, it could be useful to rethink the design of the mandrel so as to make it able to adapt to the variable geometries of the different articles to be packaged, while ensuring the correct performance of its functions, in particular its ability to effectively abut the blank when wound around the mandrel to form a box.

[0040] On the basis of this insight, the Applicant finally found that a method and a device for packaging articles in a box in which the mandrel comprises at least one side wall with an adjustable height relative to the bottom of the mandrel, which can be advantageously lowered, to facilitate the depositing of the article of the mandrel, and subsequently raised both to contain the article inside the mandrel and to correctly abut the blank to be wound around the mandrel, is able to overcome this inconvenience in a simple and effective way.

[0041] Therefore, the present invention, in a first aspect thereof, is directed to a method for packaging articles in boxes.

[0042] Preferably, said method comprises the step of providing at least one mandrel including a bottom and a side wall erecting from said bottom.

[0043] Preferably, said method comprises the step of depositing at least one article of said articles on said bottom of the mandrel.

[0044] Preferably, said method comprises the step of at least partially folding a blank around said mandrel in order to form a box containing said at least one article. Preferably said box is at least partially closed around said article deposited in said mandrel.

[0045] Preferably, said method comprises the step of lowering said side wall relative to said bottom so as to define a first height of said side wall relative to said bottom.

[0046] Preferably, said lowering is performed before said depositing.

[0047] Preferably, said method comprises the step of raising said side wall relative to said bottom so as to define a second height of said side wall relative to said bottom.

[0048] Preferably said second height is greater than said first height.

[0049] Preferably, said raising is performed before said folding.

[0050] The present invention, in a second aspect thereof, concerns a device for packaging articles into boxes.

[0051] Preferably, said device comprises a deposit station, in which at least one article of said articles is deposited on a mandrel.

[0052] Preferably, said device comprises a folding station, in which a blank is folded around said mandrel in order to form one of said boxes.

[0053] Preferably, said folding station is subsequent to the deposit station relative to a displacement direction of said mandrel.

[0054] Preferably, said mandrel comprises a bottom configured to support said at least one article when deposited inside the mandrel.

[0055] Preferably, said mandrel comprises a side wall configured to abut said blank when wound at least partially outside said mandrel.

[0056] Preferably, said side wall is erected from said bottom.

[0057] Preferably, said device comprises an adjusting member configured to move said side wall relative to said bottom so as to define a first height and a second height of said side wall relative to said bottom, wherein said second height is greater than said first height.

[0058] Preferably, said device comprises a control unit configured to control said adjusting member so as to move said side wall relative to said bottom.

[0059] Preferably, before said deposit station, said side wall is moved relative to said bottom so as to define said first height.

[0060] Preferably, before said folding station, said side wall is moved relative to said bottom so as to define said second height.

[0061] Thanks to these characteristics, the packaging method and device according to the present solution also allow articles with very different variable geometry to be easily packaged, avoiding, or at least substantially limiting, the possibility that the article may hit the mandrel during the deposition step.

[0062] The mandrel, in fact, before arriving at the article deposit station is brought into a configuration with reduced height of the side wall, so as to reduce as much as possible its encumbrance along the vertical direction, which, actually, represents the direction along which the article is deposited in the mandrel.

[0063] It is specified that the adjusting member can be any mechanism capable of moving the side wall of the mandrel relative to the bottom and it can be represented by a pneumatic or electric or hydraulic actuator.

[0064] The present solution, in at least one of the aforementioned aspects, may have at least one of the further preferred features indicated below.

[0065] In some embodiments, said first height of said side wall is less than 70% of said second height, preferably it is less than 50% of said second height, in a greatly preferred manner it is less than 40% of said second height.

[0066] In some embodiments, said first height of said side wall is comprised between 30 mm and 120 mm, preferably comprised between 35 mm and 115 mm, extreme values of the range included.

[0067] In some embodiments, said second height of said side wall is comprised between 35 mm and 200 mm. In some embodiments, said second height of said side wall is comprised between 35 mm and 100 mm, preferably comprised between 38 mm and 95 mm. In other embodiments, said second side height is comprised between 115 mm and 200 mm, preferably comprised between 118 mm and 175 mm.

[0068] In some embodiments, the difference between said first height and said second height of said side wall is greater than 5 mm, preferably greater than 10 mm, more preferably greater than 20 mm, even more preferably greater than 40 mm.

[0069] In some embodiments, the difference between said first height and said second height of said side wall is less than 100 mm, preferably less than 80 mm, more preferably less than 70 mm.

[0070] Preferably, said second height corresponds to a maximum height for abutting said blank when folded around said side wall.

[0071] In particular, said second height of the side wall corresponds to the dimension of the blank panel intended to be folded around the mandrel.

[0072] Preferably, said side wall is substantially perpendicular to said bottom.

[0073] Preferably, said side wall comprises an upper edge, spaced from said bottom and defining said first height and said second height.

[0074] Preferably, said upper edge is substantially parallel to said bottom.

[0075] In some embodiments, said depositing comprises transporting by means of a gripping member said at least one article over said bottom of said mandrel. The gripping member is a mechanical device capable of selectively retaining an article, transporting it from a pick-up point to a mandrel and releasing it into the mandrel. Examples of gripping members are represented for example by a gripper having one or more jaws that are hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically movable in opening or closing so as to grasp or release an article, or it may comprise one or more suction cups capable of retaining to themselves the article by suction, or, again, it may comprise both retaining systems.

[0076] Preferably, the gripping member is capable of raising the article to transport it towards the mandrel.

[0077] The gripping member is movable on any suitable vehicle, such as for example a guided trolley, or a mechanical arm of a carousel or a robotic arm.

[0078] Preferably, said depositing comprises releasing said at least one article on said bottom by releasing said at least one article from said gripping member.

[0079] Preferably, said side wall is raised relative to said bottom up to said second height after said transporting and before said releasing.

[0080] In this way, the article is brought by the gripping member over the bottom of the mandrel when the side wall of the mandrel is held in a lowered position, limiting as much as possible the possibility of the article hitting the side wall which, actually, makes up the portion of the mandrel that protrudes more upwards.

[0081] Furthermore, as soon as the article is positioned over the bottom of the mandrel the side wall is raised, bringing it up to the second height, before the article, preferably laid on the bottom, is released by the gripping member. In this way, the article once released can be effectively contained within the mandrel also by the side wall. Preferably, the article is deposited on the bottom of the mandrel by moving the gripping member closer to the mandrel along a substantially vertical direction. In some embodiments, said depositing is performed while said mandrel is moving.

[0082] In some embodiments, said raising is performed while said mandrel is moving. In some embodiments, said lowering is performed while said mandrel is moving.

[0083] In this way it is possible to obtain packaging devices that operate continuously, increasing the production potential of the plant.

[0084] In some embodiments, said mandrel is moved along a displacement direction. Preferably, said displacement direction, at least between said deposit station and said folding station, is contained in a horizontal plane.

[0085] Preferably, said side wall is substantially perpendicular to said displacement direction.

[0086] Preferably, said side wall is positioned downstream of said bottom relative to said displacement direction.

[0087] In other words, the side wall with reference to the displacement direction of the mandrel, is in a forward position relative to the bottom. It follows that the side wall abuts the blank, intended to be wound around the mandrel, before the bottom and before the other portions of the mandrel.

[0088] In some embodiments, said releasing is performed after laying said at least one article on said bottom.

[0089] In this way, the risk of damage to the article to be packaged is minimised.

[0090] Preferably, said article is laid on said bottom by raising said mandrel towards said gripping member. In this way, the article is subject to less accelerations, further safeguarding its integrity.

[0091] In some embodiments, said mandrel is cyclically driven along a closed working path.

[0092] Preferably, said depositing, said folding, said lowering and said raising are provided in each working cycle in order to form a respective box containing at least one article of said articles.

[0093] In some embodiments, said mandrel is formed by a plurality of separate units. In some embodiments, said mandrel is composed of said separate units along the entire closed working path.

[0094] In some embodiments, said mandrel is decomposed into said separate units in a first section of said closed working path. In some embodiments, said mandrel is composed of said separate units in a second section of said closed working path.

[0095] In this way, the movement of the mandrel along the working path can be managed more flexibly. In particular, when the mandrel does not perform its function of accommodating an article and of abutting a blank (for example in the section of the working path that returns the mandrel from an end station or station for unloading the box containing the article to an initial station for receiving the next article to be packaged) it can advantageously be decomposed into two or more separate units that can be driven along said first section of path following different trajectories.

[0096] Preferably, said second section of closed working path comprises at least said deposit and folding stations.

[0097] Preferably, said mandrel is decomposed by moving said separate units away from each other. Preferably, said mandrel is composed by moving said separate units closer to each other.

[0098] In some embodiments, said mandrel is composed before said depositing.

[0099] In some embodiments, said gripping member is moved from said bottom and / or towards said bottom through an opening defined in said side wall.

[0100] The provision of an opening in the side wall advantageously allows to define a passage for the gripping member which can therefore move further closer to the bottom and deposit the article more gently on it. Similarly, the opening in the side wall may allow the gripping member to widen so as to release the article on the bottom and move away from it.

[0101] In some embodiments, said separate units are moved closer to each other to compose said mandrel so as to leave said opening defined in said side wall.

[0102] In some embodiments, said mandrel is formed by moving said separate units closer to each other until they come into direct contact with each other.

[0103] In some alternative embodiments, said mandrel is composed by moving said separate units closer together without coming into direct contact.

[0104] Preferably, said mandrel is composed by moving said separate units closer to each other at a distance of less than 200 mm, more preferably at a distance comprised between 60 mm and 170 mm.

[0105] Preferably, each separate unit comprises a portion of said bottom and a portion of said side wall.

[0106] In this case, said opening, in addition to said side wall, extends along the entire perimeter of a cross section of said mandrel.

[0107] In some embodiments, said mandrel comprises two side walls.

[0108] Preferably, said side walls are erected by a pair of opposite sides of said bottom. Preferably, said side walls are parallel to each other.

[0109] Preferably, said side walls are substantially equal to each other.

[0110] In this way, all the structural and functional features described above in relation to the side wall are extended to both side walls.

[0111] Preferably, said side walls are lowered and raised in a synchronized manner relative to said bottom.

[0112] Preferably, before said depositing, said side walls are moved away from each other.

[0113] In this way, by spacing apart the side walls from each other, the access space to the bottom of the mandrel is increased, facilitating the deposition of the article on it.

[0114] Preferably, before said folding, said side walls are moved closer to each other.

[0115] In this way, by moving the side walls closer to each other, the correct dimensions of the mandrel are restored for the operation of winding the blank around the mandrel, thus allowing the correct formation of the box.

[0116] In some embodiments, said packaging device comprises a plurality of mandrels substantially identical to each other and to said mandrel.

[0117] Preferably, said mandrels are driven in rotation along a closed, substantially circular working path.

[0118] In some embodiments, said packaging device comprises an article feeder provided with a member for gripping said article.

[0119] Preferably, said gripping member is configured to deposit said article on the bottom of said mandrel, more preferably while said gripping member and said mandrel are moving.

[0120] The article feeder may be any device capable of inserting an article into a mandrel, according to what is provided by the prior art.

[0121] The article feeder may comprise a gripping member and a gripping member movement system.

[0122] Examples of article feeders are represented by grippers, clamps, pushers or suction cups (which represent the gripping members) mounted on the arms of a carousel or on robotic arms or on linear actuators.

[0123] It is specified that some steps of the method described above may be independent of the order of execution reported, unless a sequentiality or contemporaneity between two or more phases or steps is expressly indicated as necessary. Furthermore, some steps can be optional. Furthermore, some steps of the method can be performed repetitively, or can be performed in series or in parallel with other steps of the method.

[0124] The features and the advantages of the present solution will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0125] - figure 1 is a partial schematic and top perspective view of a device for packaging articles into boxes realized in accordance with the present solution;

[0126] - figure 2 is a perspective view on enlarged scale of a mandrel of the packaging device of figure 1;

[0127] - figures 3 to 7 are schematic perspective views of a relevant portion of the packaging device of figure 1 in respective operating positions during the process of packaging an article in a box.

[0128] With reference to the attached figures, a packaging device realized in accordance with the present solution is indicated as whole with 100. The packaging device 100 is provided to package an article or more articles 1 inside boxes.

[0129] The articles 1 are, in this preferred embodiment example, bags of loose, granular food products, for example cereal flakes.

[0130] The bags to be packaged can have different formats and therefore different dimensions, for example passing from dimensions of about 45 mm x 200 mm x 320 mm to dimensions of about 65 mm x 260 mm x 420 mm.

[0131] The packaging device 100 comprises, in its most general units, an article feeder 3, a blank feeder 4 and a packaging unit 5.

[0132] The article feeder 3 can be made in any form adapted to pick up an article 1 from a working station (or from a warehouse) and deliver it to the packaging unit 5 at a deposit station A. For example, the article feeder 3 can comprise a plurality of gripping members 3a, mounted on a carousel 3b rotatable around an axis substantially parallel to a vertical direction, indicated in the figures generically with Z. The gripping members 3a may comprise suction cups 6a and a gripper provided with a pair of prongs 6b, movable, extending towards each other to retain and support the article 1 laterally and from below.

[0133] The blank feeder 4, in turn, is configured to pick up a single blank 7 from a group of blanks stacked in a hopper and to bring it in the packaging unit 5, at a folding station B. For example, the blank feeder 4 may comprise a plurality of gripping members 4a mounted on a carousel 4b, also with a vertical axis.

[0134] The packaging unit 5 is provided to receive the articles 1 from the article feeder 3 and to form a box around them starting from a blank 7 provided by the blank feeder 4.

[0135] For this purpose, the packaging unit 5 comprises a plurality of mandrels 10, substantially equal to each other and all mounted on a carousel 8, rotatable around a vertical axis, so as to be moved along a displacement direction F defining a closed, substantially circular working path.

[0136] In this way, each mandrel 10 is continuously driven along the circular working path between a deposit station A, in which the mandrel 10 receives an article 1 from the article feeder 3, a folding station B, in which a blank 7 supplied by the blank feeder 4 is abutted by the mandrel 10 and subsequently folded around it so as to form a box containing the article 1, and an unloading station, not shown, in which the box, containing the article 1, is delivered to the subsequent working stations. The mandrel 10 is then driven from the unloading station to the deposit station A to perform a new working cycle.

[0137] In the preferred embodiment described herein, each mandrel 10 comprises a first unit 11 and a second unit 12, distinct and separate from each other, both mounted on an arm 14 extending radially from the carousel 8 and passing under a fixed working plane 9 of the packaging unit 5.

[0138] In particular, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are mounted on the arm 14 by means of a respective upright Ila, 12a erecting from the arm 14 so as to support the units 11 and 12 on opposite sides of the working plane 9 and above the level defined thereby.

[0139] With reference to the vertical axis around which the carousel 8 rotates, the first unit 11 is in a radially inward position relative to the working plane 9, while the second unit 12 is in a radially outward position relative to working plane 9.

[0140] The first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are substantially identical to each other and are arranged facing each other symmetrically relative to the working plane 9. The two units 11 and 12 actually each represent a respective half of the mandrel 10.

[0141] The first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are further movable relative to each other between an operating position, in which the two units 11, 12 are moved closer to each other so as to compose the mandrel 10, and a non-operating position, in which they are moved away from each other, so as to decompose the mandrel 10.

[0142] In particular, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are movable along a radial direction of the carousel 8, which, in this case, also corresponds to a longitudinal direction X defined on the mandrel 10.

[0143] In the embodiment described and illustrated herein, the two units 11 and 12 are moved closer to each other at a distance of about 100-120 mm, thereby defining an opening 17a extending along the entire perimeter of the crosssection of the mandrel 10.

[0144] In an alternative embodiment it is also provided that the two units 11, 12 are moved closer to each other until they touch.

[0145] It will be appreciated in any case that, even without direct contact between them, when the two units 11, 12 are moved closer in the operating position they form, overall, a mandrel, since they are able to perform the functions specified for its definition, that is, to accommodate and support the article 1 to be packaged as well as to provide an effective abutment for the folding of the blank when wound around it.

[0146] The possibility of forming a mandrel 10 without necessarily bringing the two units 11 and 12 into direct contact also makes it possible to vary, within certain limits, the dimension of the mandrel 10 parallel to the longitudinal direction X, in other words, the length of the mandrel. The mandrel 10, on the other hand, is decomposed by moving the two units 11, 12 away from each other along the longitudinal direction X until the nonoperating position is reached.

[0147] Such position is reached when the two units 11, 12 are moved away from each other to such a distance that they cannot accommodate and support the article to be packaged, or they cannot provide an effective abutment for folding the blank. In other words, in the non-operating position, the two units 11 and 12 are not considered as a mandrel altogether.

[0148] In the embodiment described and illustrated herein, the two units 11 and 12 when moved into the non-operating position are moved away from each other to a distance greater than 200 mm, e.g. about 500 mm.

[0149] Each mandrel 10 is decomposed into the two units 11, 12 in a first section of the circular working path, between the unloading station up to the deposit station A, while it is composed of the two units 11, 12 just before the deposit station A to be held in such a configuration in the folding station B and up to the unloading station.

[0150] Preferably, the entire second section of the working path of the mandrel 10 is contained in a horizontal plane, while in the first section of the working path, it is provided that the mandrel, decomposed into the two units 11 and 12, can be lowered below the working plane 9.

[0151] On the mandrel 10, composed of the two units 11 and 12 moved closer to each other, a bottom 21, defining a lying surface on which the article 1 is deposited, as well as a pair of side walls 22 and 23 erecting perpendicularly from the bottom 21 so as to delimit it at the opposite longitudinal sides, are identified. The side walls 22 and 23 define respective abutment surfaces of the mandrel 10, configured to abut a blank 7 when wound around the mandrel 10 to form the box.

[0152] The side walls 22 and 23 are substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal direction X of the mandrel 10 and substantially perpendicular to the displacement direction F of the mandrel 10 along the circular working path. In particular, with reference to the displacement direction F, the side wall 22 is located downstream of the bottom 21 while the side wall 23 is located upstream of the bottom 21.

[0153] It can be noted that both the bottom 21 and the side walls 22, 23 are formed by respective portions provided both in the first unit 11 and in the second unit 12.

[0154] In particular, each unit 11 and 12 comprises a respective first element 15 and a respective second element 16, which are substantially L-shaped.

[0155] A respective base sheet 17 and a projection 18 erecting from a longitudinal edge of the base sheet 17 are defined on each first and second element 15, 16. The base sheets 17 lie substantially in a horizontal plane, while the projections 18 lie substantially in a vertical plane.

[0156] The respective base sheets 17 of the first and second element 15, 16 are positioned in partial overlap on top of each other with the respective projections 18 in a parallel and opposite position, thereby forming, in each unit 11, 12, both a portion of the bottom 21 and respective portions of the side walls 22 and 23 of the mandrel 10.

[0157] Each unit 11 and 12 further comprises a pair of angular elements 19, extending substantially parallel to a respective projection 18 on the side opposite the base sheet 17. Each angular element 19 has an L-shaped section, with a first wall 19a substantially coplanar with the projection 18, and a second wall 19b, substantially parallel to the base sheet 17 and coplanar with the corresponding second wall 19b of the other angular element 19 provided in the same unit 11 or 12.

[0158] In each unit 11 or 12, the first wall 19a of the angular element 19 in combination with the projection 18 therebelow forms a portion of the side wall 22 or 23.

[0159] The corner joining the first wall 19a and the second wall 19b of the angular element 19 forms an upper edge 19c of the respective side wall 22 or 23, parallel to the bottom 21, the distance of which from the bottom 21 defines the height of the side wall.

[0160] Each mandrel 10 further comprises a first adjustment mechanism (not illustrated in the attached figures) configured to move the first element 15 relative to the second element 16 along a direction Y, substantially perpendicular to both the vertical direction Z and to the longitudinal direction X, sliding the respective base sheets 17 over each other.

[0161] It is thereby possible to vary the dimension of the first unit 11 or of the second unit 12 parallel to the direction Y, in other words the width thereof. Consequently, when the units 11 and 12 are in the operating position, it is possible to vary the width of the bottom 21 of the mandrel 10.

[0162] The mandrel 10 further comprises an adjusting member (not illustrated in the attached figures) which is provided to change the distance of the angular elements 19 from the respective base sheet 17. This is achieved by raising or lowering the angular elements 19 vertically relative to the projections 18. In this way it is possible to vary the height of the side wall 22 and 23. The adjusting member is preferably configured to lower or raise the angular elements 19 relative to the projections 18 in a synchronized manner, so that the height of the side walls 22 and 23 varies homogeneously.

[0163] In particular, it is provided that the angular element 19 can be lowered relative to the bottom 21, possibly until it joins with the projection 18, so as to define a first height Hl of the side wall 22 or 23 relative to the bottom 21, and it can also be raised relative to the bottom 21, spacing apart from the projection 18, so as to define a second height H2 of the side wall 22 or 23, greater than the first height Hl.

[0164] Both the first and second units 11, 12 is also associated with a respective positioning element 24 which is provided to retain the article 1 inside the box when the first and second unit 11, 12 are extracted from the box.

[0165] In particular, the positioning element 24 comprises a piston with a head 26 attached at one end of a rod 25 extended longitudinally within the first unit 11 or, respectively, the second unit 12.

[0166] The head 26 is oriented in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and is positioned between the projections 18 resting on (or in proximity to) the base sheets 17.

[0167] Thus, when the first and second unit 11, 12 are in the operating position, the mandrel 10 composed of them has a chamber for accommodating an article 1 delimited inferiorly by the bottom 21, defined by the base sheets 17, laterally by the side walls 22 and 23, defined by the projections 18 and by the angular elements 19, and longitudinally by the heads 26 of the positioning elements 24. The positioning element 24 is movable relative to the respective first or second unit 11, 12 along the longitudinal direction X. The blank 7 is made of cardboard with a thickness comprised between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, for example about 0.5 mm, and is suitably shaped to form a box when folded around the mandrel 10.

[0168] For this purpose, folding lines, preferably creases, are obtained on the blank 7, which divide the blank 7 into a plurality of panels 7a, 7b, 7c intended to form the different faces of the box.

[0169] The packaging unit 5 further comprises at least one folding element 30 configured to cooperate with the mandrel 10 to fold the blank 7 around the mandrel.

[0170] In particular, the packaging device 100 may comprise several folding elements 30, each intended to fold one or more panels of the blank 7.

[0171] A first example of a folding element 30 is represented by a pair of plates 31 positioned on the circular working path of the mandrels 10 in the folding station B, immediately downstream of the point where the blank 7 is delivered to the packaging unit 5 by the blank feeder 4.

[0172] The packaging device 100 further comprises a control unit, not depicted in the figures, configured to command and control all the aforementioned components.

[0173] The packaging device 100, thanks to the action of the control unit, operates as described below.

[0174] The carrousel 8 rotates around its own vertical axis of rotation Z of continuous motion, carrying the mandrels 10 along the circular working path along the displacement direction F with the first and second unit 11 and 12 on the radially opposite sides of the working plane 9.

[0175] In the first section of the working path, between the unloading station and the deposit station A, the two units 11, 12 are spaced apart so that the mandrel 10 is decomposed, while just before the deposit station A, the first and second unit 11, 12 are moved closer to each other so as to compose the mandrel 10.

[0176] Preferably, at this step, the first and second elements 15 and 16 of the first and second unit 11, 12 are adjusted by the adjustment mechanism to a width slightly greater than the width provided for the formation of the box, so as to favour accommodating an article 1 deposited on the bottom 21 of the mandrel 20 by a gripping member 3a of the article feeder 3.

[0177] Furthermore, in the first section of the working path, the angular elements 19 are lowered close to the respective projections 18, so that the side walls 22, and 23 are extended from the bottom 21 by a measure equal to the first height Hl, for example equal to 35 mm.

[0178] The carrousel 8 and the article feeder 3 are synchronised with each other, so that when the mandrel 10 arrives at the deposit station A it is in vertical alignment with a corresponding gripping member 3a carrying an article 1 (figure 3).

[0179] In particular, the article 1 is brought over the bottom 21 keeping the side walls 22, 23 at the first height Hl, so as to avoid interferences and impacts with parts of the article 1 that may protrude downwards.

[0180] Maintaining the vertical alignment between the bottom 21 and the article 1, the mandrel 10 is raised towards the gripping member 3a and, at the same time, the angular elements 19 are raised away from the respective projections 18, so that the side walls 22, and 23 are extended from the bottom 21 by a measure equal to the second height H2, for example equal to 95 mm (figure 4).

[0181] In the case of larger-sized articles, the measurements of the first height and of the second height may be set differently, for example the first height Hl may be 115 mm and the second height H2 may be 175 mm.

[0182] It will be noted that, thanks to the provision of the opening 17a, the prongs 6b of the gripper can access inside the mandrel 10 to gently lay the article 1 directly on the bottom 21 without having to drop it from above (figure 5).

[0183] Once the article 1 lays on the bottom 21 of the mandrel 10, the suction cups 6a are deactivated and the prongs 6b of the gripper open, passing through the opening 17a (figure 6). In this way, the article 1 is released and completely delivered to the mandrel 10 which, in this step, has the side walls 22, 23 raised to the second height H2 and the bottom 21 slightly enlarged relative to the width dimension of the box.

[0184] The first and second elements 15 and 16 of the first and second unit 11, 12 are then moved by the adjustment mechanism to move the side walls 22 and 23 closer together so as to return the width of the bottom 21 to the correct width, provided for the formation of the box.

[0185] The mandrel 10, continuing its motion along the displacement direction F, is driven towards the deposit station B where it abuts a blank 7, carried by the blank feeder 4 on the path of the mandrel 10, at an interruption point of the working plane 9, right at the mouth of the plates 31.

[0186] The blank 7 is positioned on a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the displacement direction F, in such a way that the central panel 7a of its front surface is abutted by the side wall 22 of the mandrel 10 which, in this way, drags the blank 7 through the pair of plates 31 which fold the upper panel 7b and the lower panel 7c of the blank 7 against the mandrel 10.

[0187] Upon exiting from the pair of plates 31, respective closing members fold further flaps of the blank 7 against the side wall 23 of the mandrel 20 so as to laterally close the box.

[0188] Preferably, one of the two further flaps is suitably provided with glue points so as to be fixed on the other further flap by gluing.

[0189] At the end of the folding station B, the box thus formed is closed laterally and open at the two opposite longitudinal ends.

[0190] At this point, in the unloading station, the first and second unit 11 and 12 are moved to the non-operating position, moving them away along the longitudinal direction X until they completely come out of the longitudinal ends of the box.

[0191] If desired, the extraction of the units 11 and 12 from the box can be further facilitated by slightly reducing the width of the bottom 21.

[0192] In this step, the positioning elements 24 initially remain fixed inside the box, so as to prevent the article 1 from being removed from the box dragged by the first or second unit 11 and 12.

[0193] Once the first and second unit 11 and 12 have exited, the positioning elements 24 are also extracted from the box and the box, with the article 1 therein, is picked up by the appropriate gripping members of the unloading station to be sent to the subsequent work stations, where the box is closed also at the longitudinal ends and taken to the final packaging and shipping steps.

[0194] The mandrel 10, decomposed, is then returned to the initial deposit station along the first section of the working path, where the first and second unit 11 and 12, already moved away in the non-operating position, can be independently lowered below the level of the working plane 9, so as not to interfere with any other parts of the packaging unit 5.

[0195] Furthermore, along said first section of the working path, all the angular elements 19 are lowered close to the respective projection 18, so as to reduce the height of the respective side wall to the value of the first height Hl and further decrease the overall size of the units 11 and 12.

[0196] It goes without saying that, in order to meet specific and contingent application needs, a person skilled in the art will be able to make further modifications and variants to the solution described above that are nevertheless within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Method for packaging articles in boxes comprising:- providing at least one mandrel (10) including a bottom (21) and a side wall (22) erecting from said bottom (21),- depositing at least one article (1) of said articles on said bottom (21) of the mandrel (10),- at least partially folding a blank (7) around said mandrel (10), in order to form a box containing said at least one article (1), wherein it is provided to:- before said depositing, lower said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21) so as to define a first height (Hl) of said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21), and- before said folding, raise said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21) so as to define a second height (H2) of said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21), said second height (H2) being greater than said first height (Hl).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first height (Hl) of said side wall is lower than 70% of said second height (H2).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second height (H2) corresponds to a height suitable to abut said blanks (7) when folded around said side wall (22).

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said depositing comprises: transporting by means of a gripping member (3a) said at least one article (1) over said bottom (21) of said mandrel (10),- releasing said at least one article (1) on said bottom (21) by disengaging said at least one article (1) from said gripping member (3a), and wherein said side wall (22) is raised relative to said bottom (21) up to said second height (H2) after said transporting and before said releasing.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mandrel (10) is moved along a displacement direction (F) and said side wall (22) is substantially perpendicular to said displacement direction (F).

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mandrel (10) is moved along a displacement direction (F) and said side wall (22) is positioned downstream of said bottom (21) relative to said displacement direction (F).

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said depositing is performed while said mandrel (10) is moving.

8. Method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said releasing is performed after laying said at least one article (1) on said bottom (21).

9. Method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein said at least one article (1) is laid on said bottom (21) by raising said mandrel (10) towards said gripping member (3a).

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mandrel (10) is cyclically driven along a closed working path, and said depositing, said folding, said lowering and said raising are provided in each working cycle in order to form a respective box containing at leastone article (1) of said articles.

11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mandrel (10) is cyclically driven along a closed working path and is formed by a plurality of separate units (11, 12), wherein said mandrel (10) is decomposed into said separate units (11, 12) in a first section of said closed working path, and wherein said mandrel (10) is composed of said separate units (11, 12) in a second section of said closed working path.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein said mandrel (10) is composed before said depositing.

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said depositing comprises:- transporting by means of a gripping member (3a) said at least one article (1) over said bottom (21) of said mandrel (10),- releasing said at least one article (1) on said bottom (21) by disengaging said at least one article (1) from said gripping member (3a), and wherein said separate units (11, 12) are moved closer to each other to compose said mandrel (10) so as to leave an opening (17a) defined at least in said side wall (22), and wherein said gripping member (3a) is moved from said bottom (21) and / or towards said bottom (21) through said opening (17a).

14. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mandrel (10) comprises two side walls (22, 23) erecting from a pair of opposite sides of said bottom (21), and wherein said two side walls (22, 23) are synchronously lowered and raised relative to said bottom (21).

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein said two side walls (22, 23) are moved away from each other before said depositing and are moved closer to each other before said folding.

16. Device for packaging (100) articles into boxes, comprising a deposit station (A), in which at least one article (1) of said articles is deposited on a mandrel (10), and a folding station (B), subsequent to the deposit station (A) relative to a displacement direction (F) of said mandrel, in which a blank (7) is folded around said mandrel (10) in order to form one of said boxes, wherein said mandrel (10) comprises:- a bottom (21) configured to support said at least one article (1) when deposited inside the mandrel (10) and- a side wall (22), rising from said bottom (21), and configured to abut said blank (7) when wound at least partially outside said mandrel (10),- an adjusting member configured to move said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21) so as to define a first height (Hl) and a second height (H2), greater than said first height (Hl), of said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21), and- a control unit configured to control said adjusting member so as to move said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21) so as to define said first height (Hl) before said deposit station (A), and subsequently to move said side wall (22) relative to said bottom (21) so as to define said second height (H2) before said folding station (B).

17. Device according to claim 16, wherein said mandrel (10) is composed ofseveral separate units (11, 12).

18. Device according to claim 17, wherein each separate unit (11, 12) comprises a respective portion of said bottom (21) and a respective portion of said side wall (22).

Images