Punch for forming boxes and / or trays with an upper perimeter flap

Abstract

Punch for a forming machine for forming boxes / trays (30) with an upper perimeter flap (32). The punch (1) moves in a main direction (D1) and comprises an upper assembly (10) and a lower assembly (20) that move relative to each other in a secondary direction (D2). The lower assembly (20) comprises first and second stops (22a, 22b) with recesses (23). The upper assembly (10) comprises additional movement means; a frame (11) to which are joined, by means of joining means (13), first and second plates (12a, 12b) that are housed in the recesses (23) during the movement of the upper assembly (10); and third plates (12c) with a chamfered stop (15). The plates comprise height-adjusting means (14) which, in conjunction with the joining means (13), allow the relative position of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) to be adapted with respect to the frame (11), adapting the size and shape of the punch (1).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of the manufacture of boxes and / or trays, for example cardboard boxes and / or trays.

[0002] More particularly, it relates to a punch for forming a box and / or tray with an upper perimeter flap.TECHNICAL PROBLEM AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the current state of the art, different machines intended for forming cardboard boxes / trays are used. These machines incorporate an infeed area for die-cut cardboard sheets (from which the boxes / trays are obtained) and a system to take these sheets to a forming area where the following are located: at least one forming punch (the configuration of which determines the size and shape of the box / tray) that is located, in a standby position, at an upper level above the die-cut sheet; and at least one forming die which is located in a lower area, below the sheet, and in the same vertical alignment as the punch.

[0004] When the movement of the punch is actuated, the punch moves vertically towards the die, pressing on the sheet arranged between the punch and the die, pushing it downwards into the die, configuring the shape of the box / tray. In the process of forming the box / tray, glue is previously applied to certain sections of the sheet from which the box / tray is formed.

[0005] When these forming machines for forming boxes / trays are to be used for forming small-sized products of different proportions or shapes, these machines are not very versatile when it comes to adapting the different mechanisms responsible for the assembly of the boxes / trays. Therefore, it is very important to equip the machines with means that allow for adjusting and adapting said mechanisms so as to be able to manufacture boxes / trays with different formats.

[0006] Moreover, cardboard boxes / trays with an upper perimeter flap in their opening have been known for a long time, but it is only now, in the light of the social rejection of the use of some materials such as plastic, that they are increasingly being introduced in the food distribution sector. Current sealing technologies allow for the production of boxes / trays to which a sealing film or sheet can be applied on the upper perimeter flap with an airtight seal. The cardboard can also be lined with waterproof material to allow its use with moist / hydrated products such as meat, fish, etc.

[0007] In all known forming machines for forming boxes / trays, to form the box / tray, the die-cut sheet, which is preferably made of cardboard, is pressed against the punch (when the punch moves downwards in a main direction until it is pushed into the die). In addition, the machines generally have four clamping mechanisms with respective dolly plates, each of which is configured to form a side wall of the box / tray. Some boxes / trays have side walls with certain inclinations, which makes it necessary to adapt the forming machines by changing the dolly plates, which are normally fixed elements and are usually made of polymeric materials such as Teflon, polyamides, etc.

[0008] Document ES1273399Y1 discloses a forming machine for forming boxes, preferably cardboard boxes of the type having a truncated pyramid configuration formed by a bottom, two first side walls and two second side walls, (with all four walls) converging towards the bottom, and an upper perimeter flap around the opening of the box. The upper perimeter flap is formed by portions that are a continuation of the side walls, and said upper perimeter flap is configured so that a closure lid can be glued to the opening in order to preserve the product contained inside the box. The described machine comprises a punch arranged in a bending and assembly station where the punch comprises a lower section, according to the interior space of the box to be formed, and an upper section configured to be connected to a driving means of the machine. The upper sector comprises a fixed frame and a movable frame, configured to move with respect to the lower sector, and said movable frame allows the assembly of the box to be finished by pressing part of the cardboard sheet onto the dolly edges of side presses to form the upper perimeter flap. This operation is carried out by lowering the movable frame with the punch in the position of maximum insertion into the folding and assembly station of the machine (i.e. in the lower position).

[0009] This document represents a first improvement to the existing equipment, allowing an additional operation (in addition to the longitudinal movement in a main direction to be inserted into the die) to be carried out with the punch to form the upper perimeter flap of the box. However, the described machine has a significant technical problem associated with it, which is that it does not allow being adapted to different models of boxes / trays to be formed and it is necessary to replace the entire punch when changing the type of box / tray to be formed. The need for different frames for each application leads to increased costs, working constraints and difficulties associated with manufacturing and storing different frames and changing frames each time.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention describes a punch for forming boxes and / or trays with an upper perimeter flap, which is preferably installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays. The advantage of this punch is that it allows more effective and versatile folding of an upper perimeter flap on the box / tray to be formed when installed in a forming machine for forming boxes / trays. For this purpose, the punch comprises a plurality of adjustable elements that allow adaptation to different shapes and sizes of boxes / trays to be formed. This prevents the need to change the punch in the forming machine every time the model or size of the box / tray to be formed is changed.

[0011] The punch is movable in a main direction and comprises an upper assembly and a lower assembly, joined together and movable relative to each other in a secondary direction.

[0012] The lower assembly has a body which, when the punch is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, determines the shape and size of the receptacle of the box / tray to be formed when the punch is moved in a main direction. In addition, the lower assembly comprises first and second stops with recesses. The stops are configured to form an upper flap on the box / tray when the punch is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays.

[0013] The upper assembly comprises additional movement means configured to actuate movement of the upper assembly in a secondary direction to move said upper assembly closer to / further away from the lower assembly. Said secondary address coincides with the main direction. Therefore, when the punch is installed in a forming machine and the machine is in operation, the punch moves in the main direction towards a sheet from which the box / tray is formed. When it has travelled its maximum distance (in cases where the first direction is a vertical direction the punch is in the lowest position), then the upper assembly moves in the secondary direction towards the lower assembly.

[0014] The upper assembly also comprises a frame to which are joined first and second plates, which are parallel two by two, and which are at least partially housed in the recesses of the stops during the movement of the upper assembly. Preferably, the first and second plates comprise projections and said projections are what are housed in the recesses of the stops of the lower assembly.

[0015] The upper assembly also comprises third plates which are arranged in chamfered areas between the first and second plates. When the punch is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, these third plates allow the corners / chamfers of an upper perimeter flap of the box / tray to be formed to be glued. The third plates comprise a lower section in which there is a chamfered stop. This chamfered stop is what contacts the sheet from which the box / tray is formed when the punch is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays.

[0016] In order to be able to adapt the punch to different shapes and sizes, the plates comprise height-adjusting means and joining means, which can be combined to select and modify the height at which the plates are joined to the male frame.

[0017] The present invention also comprises a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays comprising a punch such as the one described.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] To complete the description, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the platform more readily understandable, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represents the following: Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of the punch of the invention. Figure 2 shows the punch (1) installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays (which is not shown) forming a tray with a receptacle having an octagonal prismatic configuration. Figures 3A-3B show front views of the punch with the upper assembly in a first position and with the upper assembly in a second position, respectively.

[0019] Below, a list is provided of the different elements represented in the figures: 1: punch; 2: fixed frame; 3: upper frame of the punch; 4: columns; D1: main direction; D2: secondary direction; 10: upper assembly; 11: frame; 12a: first plate; 12b: second plate; 12c: third plate; 13: upper joining means; 14: height-adjusting means; 15: chamfered stop; 20: lower assembly; 21: body; 22a: first stop; 22b: second stop; 23: recess; 24: lower joining means; 30: tray; 31: cavity; 32: flapDETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations may be carried out by those skilled in the art based on the present description. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a view of the punch (1) of the invention which solves the aforementioned limitations of punches in forming machines for forming boxes and / or trays. In addition, the punch (1) simplifies the forming machine in which it is installed, as it can be adapted to different sizes and / or shapes of boxes / trays to be formed; the rest of the folding and gluing devices of the machine can be adjusted independently. This simplifies the chassis and improves the versatility of both the punch and the equipment itself, with a wide range of geometries that can be achieved with a single piece of equipment.

[0022] The boxes / trays (30) being formed with the punch (1) are of a type comprising at least one receptacle (31) and an upper perimeter flap (32) at the upper perimeter of the opening of the receptacle (31).

[0023] The object of the present invention is a punch (1) for forming boxes and / or trays with an upper perimeter flap from a die-cut sheet. The punch (1) is movable in a main direction (D1) and comprises: a lower assembly (20) with: a body (21) (which determines the shape and size of the receptacle (31) of the box / tray (30) to be formed); and first and second stops (22a, 22b) comprising recesses (23); an upper assembly (10), joined to the lower assembly (20), that are movable relative to each other, where said movement is in a secondary direction (D2) that coincides with the main direction (D1), and comprises: additional movement means configured to regulate the relative movement of the upper assembly (10) with respect to the lower assembly (20); a frame (11) to which are joined first and second plates (12a, 12b), which are parallel two by two, and which are at least partially housed in the recesses (23) of the first and second stops (22a, 22b) during the movement of the upper assembly (10), such that they can move through said recesses (23) when the upper assembly (10) moves in the secondary direction (D2) towards the lower assembly (20); third plates (12c) arranged in chamfered areas between the first plates (12a) and the second plates (12b), and where said third plates (12c) comprise a lower section in which a chamfered stop (15) is located; and where the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) comprise height-adjusting means (14) and are joined to the frame (11) by joining means (13) which, in conjunction with the height-adjusting means (14), allow the relative position of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) to be adapted with respect to the frame (11), thus allowing the punch (1) to be adapted to different size and shape configurations which, in turn, allow boxes / trays with different sizes and shapes to be obtained.

[0024] Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the punch (1) has been installed in a machine for forming boxes and / or trays (which is not shown) and is being used to form a tray (30) with a receptacle (31) having an octagonal prismatic configuration and with an upper perimeter flap (32).

[0025] Figures 3A-3B show front views of the punch (1), in which the upper assembly (10) and the lower assembly (20) can be seen, in which the upper assembly (10) is in a first position and a second position, respectively, where, in the second position, the upper assembly (10) has moved in a secondary direction (D2) towards the lower assembly (20) such that the plates (12a, 12b) have moved through the recesses (23) of the corresponding stops (22a, 22b).

[0026] Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the punch (1) is shown, and there can be seen a tray (30) formed by said punch (1) installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, also the object of the invention, which is not represented. As can be seen in said Figure 3, the punch (1) has been used to form a tray (30) with a receptacle (31) with an octagonal prismatic configuration and with an upper perimeter flap (32).

[0027] When the punch (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays and moves in the main direction (D1), the lower assembly (20) is the first to contact the sheet from which the box / tray is formed. When the lower assembly (20) moves in the main direction (D1) and pushes the sheet that will form the box / tray, the lower assembly (20) performs the bending, giving the sheet the shape of the box / tray.

[0028] The stops (22a, 22b) of the lower assembly (20) are designed so that the sections of the sheet that are to remain on the inside of the box / tray (30) (i.e. forming the receptacle (31)) are folded before the sections of the sheet that are to remain on the outside of the box / tray (30) forming the upper perimeter flap (32). For this purpose, when the die (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, with the help of a counter-die or female die of the corresponding forming machine, the stops (22a, 22b,) are designed and installed in shape and height to fix the position of the upper perimeter flap (32).

[0029] As described above, the lower assembly (20) comprises a body (21), and said body (21) comprises at least four sides, parallel two by two, these being two first sides and two second sides. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first sides are shorter than the second sides. Preferably, the stops (22a, 22b) of the lower assembly (20) are arranged in correspondence with the sides of the body (21) such that the lower assembly (20) comprises at least first stops (22a) arranged on the first sides and second stops (22b) arranged on the second sides. Therefore, the lower assembly (20) comprises at least two pairs of stops (22a, 22b), facing each other two by two. These stops (22a, 22b) are joined to the body (21) of the lower assembly (20) by means of mechanical fasteners (24) in a removable manner such that they can be changed out if necessary.

[0030] In embodiments in which the body (21) is octagonal prismatic and the box / tray (30) to be formed therefore has a receptacle with eight sides, to form the flap (32) in the chamfered areas (joining areas between the first sides and second sides), the punch (1) comprises third plates (12c) in the upper assembly (10) which are arranged in chamfered areas between the first plates (12a) and the second plates (12b), and said third plates (12c) comprise a lower section in which a chamfered stop (15) is located. Preferably, the chamfered stops (15) have a wedge-shaped configuration.

[0031] In embodiments in which the punch (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, the chamfered stops (15) contact the cardboard sheet from which the box / tray is formed with a certain inclination, exerting pressure on the sheet in a manner proportional to the movement of the upper assembly (10) in the secondary direction (D2) towards the lower assembly (20). In the lowest position of the upper assembly (10), the chamfered stops (15) will press against the entire surface of the sheet corresponding to the flap into the chamfered area. In one exemplary embodiment, two third plates (12c) are arranged in each chamfered area (therefore, there are four pairs of third plates (12c)). Each of said third plates (12c) in turn has a chamfered stop (15) such that each chamfered stop (15) contacts an area of the sheet on which a drop of glue (for joining the parts of the sheet forming the flap (32)) has been previously applied to ensure uniform distribution.

[0032] As described, the punch (1) allows for relative movement of the upper assembly (10) with respect to the lower assembly (20). When the punch (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming cardboard boxes and / or trays, after moving in the main direction (D1) towards the sheet, pressing it, and being in the maximum lower position after having formed the receptacle (31) of the carton / tray (30), the upper assembly (10) moves in the second direction (D2) towards the lower assembly (20) so that the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) contact the sheet, forming the perimeter flap (32) of the box / tray (30).

[0033] In this regard, it should be noted that in order to ensure correct gluing of the corresponding sections of the sheet for forming the box / tray, the entire gluing surface must be acted on. Therefore, by adjusting the position of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) with respect to the frame (11), it is possible to adjust the surface area that will contact the surface of the sheet to be glued, pressing on the entire area.

[0034] Both the stops (22a, 22b) and the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) of the punch (1) are interchangeable, and their geometry can be modified as required, or some of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) or stops (22a, 22b) can be dispensed with if they are not required.

[0035] The punch (1) comprises a fixed frame (2) which is joined to the lower assembly (20), preferably by means of columns (4) (preferably four) on which the upper assembly (10) is mounted, which is movable along said columns, moving closer to / further away from the lower assembly (20).

[0036] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the punch comprises a plurality of columns (4) which are part of the lower assembly (20), and the upper assembly (10) comprises a plurality of through holes in which the columns are housed such that the movement of the upper assembly (10) in the secondary direction (D2) is performed on said columns (4). When the punch (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, the forces of the machine's main arm are transmitted through said columns.

[0037] The upper assembly (10) of the punch (1) comprises secondary movement means, which may be actuating cylinders, configured to allow said movement in a secondary direction (D2), which is a movement of the upper assembly (10) with respect to the lower assembly (20) in the same longitudinal direction as that of the forward movement of the punch (1), i.e., the main direction (D1).

[0038] The fixed frame (2) is configured to be joined to the main shaft of a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays. When the punch (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, the main shaft of the machine is the element which transmits the movement in the main direction (D1).

[0039] In an exemplary embodiment, the body (21) of the lower punch assembly (20) of the punch (1) has an octagonal configuration so that when it is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, the formed boxes and / or trays comprise a receptacle with an octagonal prismatic configuration. This embodiment of the punch (1) can be seen in Figure 2, where the punch (1) of the invention can be seen in an embodiment in which it is used to form a cardboard tray (30) with a receptacle (31) with an octagonal prismatic configuration and with an upper perimeter flap (32).

[0040] In addition, the punch (1) comprises an upper frame (3) in which the secondary movement means are located. In one embodiment, the secondary movement means comprise two hydraulic servomotors.

[0041] In this example of the invention, the second stops (22b) (which are arranged on the long sides in an exemplary embodiment) have a contact section, configured to contact the cardboard sheet from which the box / tray is formed when the punch (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays. Said contact section in at least the second stops is preferably wedge-shaped. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the contact section of the second stops (22b) is located above the contact section of the first stops (22a). That is, the contact section of the second stops (22b) is arranged higher than the contact section of the first stops (22a) with respect to the body (21).

[0042] With this exemplary embodiment, when the punch (1) is installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, it can be used to form boxes of the type that require the contact and folding of two of their sides (long sides) to be located on the outside, and therefore, in the folding sequence during the forming of the box / tray, the folding of said sides is carried out after the folding of the other two sides parallel to each other (short sides).

[0043] The upper assembly (10) comprises a frame (11) which, in an exemplary embodiment, has an octagonal geometry to which plates (12a, 12b, 12c) are joined. When the secondary movement means (which may be hydraulic servomotors, for example) are activated, the upper assembly (10) moves in the second direction (D2) towards the lower assembly (20).

[0044] The first stops and the second stops (22a, 22b) comprise recesses (23) configured to receive the first plates and the second plates (12a, 12b) of the upper assembly (10) when the secondary movement (D2) to bring the upper assembly (10) closer to the lower assembly (20) is performed. All the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) comprise height-adjusting means (14), which are preferably elongated holes arranged in an upper section of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c). The upper section faces the frame (11) in such a way that the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) are connected to the frame (11) by means of first connecting means (13) which are linked to the height-adjusting means (14). The height adjustment of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) with respect to the frame (11) is achieved thanks to the height-adjusting means (14), vertically moving the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) to the desired position with respect to the frame (11) along the elongated holes, and thanks to the joining means (13) which are housed inside the said elongated holes, and which ensure the joining between both elements (plates (12a, 12b, 12c) and frame (11)) in the desired relative position. The joining means (13) can be threaded bolts, for example, such that the position is adjusted by screwing them into the frame (11), passing through the height-adjusting means (14) (preferably an elongated hole) of the corresponding plate (12a, 12b, 12c), moving it along said elongated hole to the desired position in which it is fixed.

[0045] In the case of the first and second plates (12a, 12b), these are preferably flat parts the geometry of which comprises two extensions intended to be housed in the recesses (23) of the corresponding stops (22a, 22b). The third plates (12c) are arranged in the free areas between parallel sides and comprise, in an exemplary embodiment, two independent plates that work in parallel, the position of which can be adjusted independently of each other, i.e., each plate has height-adjusting means (14) (elongated hole) and is joined to the frame (11) by means of corresponding joining means (13).

[0046] Therefore, the present invention allows for the modification of the height of the punch which, when installed in a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays, determines the depth of the receptacle (31) of the formed box / tray (30). It also allows for the position in which the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) are placed to be adapted vertically with respect to the frame (11) thanks to the height-adjusting means (14) (elongated holes) and the joining means (13). In this way, when the punch (1) is installed in forming machines for forming boxes and / or trays, that same punch (1) can be configured for forming different types of boxes by adapting its height and the arrangement of the first stops and second stops (22a, 22b). This prevents the need to change the punch (1) of the machine with each different type of box / tray to be formed.

[0047] Additionally, the upper assembly (10) can be fully sectored as required, including more or fewer plates (12a, 12b, 12c) or using plates (12a, 12b, 12c) with different geometries, as required. In this way, the invention is highly versatile and the punch can be used to be installed in forming machines for forming boxes and / or trays in which multiple different box / tray geometries and assemblies can be formed without changing the punch (1).

[0048] Similarly, an object of the invention is a forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays comprising a punch (1) as described above.

Claims

1. A punch for a forming machine for forming boxes / trays (30) with an upper perimeter flap (32), where the punch (1) is movable in a main direction (D1) and comprises an upper assembly (10) and a lower assembly (20) that move relative to each other, and the punch (1) is characterised in that: - the lower assembly (20) comprises: • a body (21); and • first and second stops (22a, 22b) comprising recesses (23); - the upper assembly (10) is joined to the lower assembly (20) that are movable relative to each other, where said movement is in a secondary direction (D2) that coincides with the main direction (D1), and the upper assembly (10) comprises: • additional movement means configured to regulate the relative movement of the upper assembly (10) with respect to the lower assembly (20); • a frame (11) to which are joined first and second plates (12a, 12b), which are parallel two by two, and which are at least partially housed in the recesses (23) of the first and second stops (22a, 22b), respectively, during the movement of the upper assembly (10), such that they can move through said recesses (23) when the upper assembly (10) moves in the secondary direction (D2) towards the lower assembly (20); • third plates (12c) arranged in chamfered areas between the first plates (12a) and the second plates (12b), and where said third plates (12c) comprise a lower section in which a chamfered stop (15) is located; • and where the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) comprise height-adjusting means (14) and are joined to the frame (11) by joining means (13) which, in conjunction with the height-adjusting means (14), allow the relative position of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c) to be adapted with respect to the frame (11), thus allowing the punch (1) to be adapted to different size and shape configurations.

2. The punch according to claim 1, wherein the height-adjusting means (14) are a set of elongated holes arranged in an upper section of the plates (12a, 12b, 12c).

3. The punch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second stops (22a, 22b) are joined to the body (21) of the lower assembly (20) by means of threaded connections and are interchangeable.

4. The punch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stops and the second stops (22a, 22b) comprise a contact section and the contact section of the second stops (22b) is located above the contact section of the first stops (22a).

5. The punch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second stops (22b) comprise a contact section and said contact sections are wedge-shaped.

6. The punch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (21) of the lower assembly (20) has an octagonal prismatic configuration.

7. The punch according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of columns (4) which are part of the lower assembly (20), and the upper assembly (10) comprises a plurality of through holes in which the columns are housed such that the movement of the upper assembly (10) in the secondary direction (D2) is performed on said columns (4).

8. A forming machine for forming boxes and / or trays comprising a punch (1) as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images