Apparatus for closing a package and method for closing a package

Abstract

An apparatus (80) for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means, comprising means (84) for retaining the package (4) in a folded configuration, the package (4) comprising at least one rear flap (8) and at least one front flap (12), superimposed onto the rear flap (8), on the opposite side of a containment volume (16) delimited by the package (4), wherein the retaining means (84) comprise at least one lateral bracket (88) that interfaces with the front flap (12) and at least one locking device (76) of said rear flap (8), so as to keep said front (12) and rear (8) flaps locked in the position of mutual contact, at least one pusher (92) having an actuation stroke adapted to move a closing tab (44) of the front flap (12), hinged along a closing line (52), towards the rear flap (8) so as to interlock said closing tab (44) in a notch (40) on the rear flap (8). Said pusher (92) is provided with a front protrusion (96) that is advanced with respect to a front wall (100) of said pusher (92).

Description

"APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A PACKAGE AND METHOD FOR CLOSINGA PACKAGE" DESCRIPTIONFIELD OF APPLICATION

[0001] The present invention relates to a folded package without gluing means , an apparatus for closing a folded package without the use of gluing means , and the method for closing a folded package thereof .PRIOR ART

[0002] In the prior art , there are automatic machines for the packaging of products (primary packaging) in cartons ( secondary packaging - wraparound and RSC ) which may use two carton closure systems , i . e . , a hot-glue closure system and / or adhesive tape .

[0003] Both technologies result in the plant having high production and maintenance costs for the operation of these two systems .

[0004] Furthermore , the use of glue and / or adhesive tape renders the cardboard packaging partially recyclable . In fact , before the carton may be sent to the recycling process , a step o f removing the glue or adhesive tape i s required .

[0005] Currently, there are wraparound cardboard packages with interlocking closure systems that are free of glueand / or tape , which, however, may only be closed by means of a manual closure process .

[0006] Moreover, such solutions are unable to ensure the sealing of the closure over time , or in any case do not ensure the same sealing performance that may be obtained with the aid of glue and / or adhesive tape .

[0007] In other words , known solutions of folded and closed packaging without the aid of glues and / or adhesive tape may not be automated on production lines but instead must be closed manually : this limitation involves considerable increases in production time and costs . Furthermore , the known solutions without glue and / or adhesive tape do not ensure the same closing performance as the solutions that instead make use of them .

[0008] Thus , the technological constraint to overcome is that of finding a closure embodiment that may be automated and resistant in the same way as closing using glue or adhesive tape .DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The need to solve the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art is therefore f elt .

[0010] In other words , there is a need to make a package , for example a wraparound type carton, using closuresthat do not use hot glue or adhesive tape , which may be automated in the process of forming and closing the package . The closed packaging must also have the same features of resistance to opening as classic hot glue or adhesive tape systems .

[0011] There is also a need to provide an automated apparatus capable of automatically forming and closing a wraparound carton using a specially made interlocking closure system . The process of forming and closing the package must also ensure the same performance in speed, ef ficiency and strength as the known hot glue or tape closure systems .

[0012] Such need is satis fied by an apparatus for closing a folded package according to claim 1 and by a method for closing a folded package according to claim 13 . DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the fol lowing detailed description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof , wherein :

[0014] Fig . 1 is a partial perspective view of a package that has been closed according to one possible embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Fig . 2-20 are perspective views from di f ferentangles , or at least partially sectional views , of a closing apparatus according to the present invention, according to a possible closing sequence o f a package .

[0016] Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same numerical references .DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] With reference to the aforesaid figures , the reference numeral 4 globally indicates an overall schematic view of a package according to the present invention .

[0018] For the purposes of the present invention, the si ze or shape of the package to be closed is not relevant .

[0019] Furthermore , for the purposes of the present invention, the material of the packaging is not relevant . In other words , the invention may be applied to packaging obtained from suitably shaped and folded dies starting from sheets of cardboard but also from other materials , such as , for example , plastics materials .

[0020] The package 4 comprises at least one rear flap 8 and at least one front flap 12 which may be folded onto the rear flap 8 in such a way that , in a folded configuration, it is superimposed upon the rear flap 8 on the opposite side of a containment volume 16 del imitedby the package 4 .

[0021] The rear flap 8 comprises at least one pair of rear strips 20 , partially cut out from a rear window 24 and mutually facing each other along a separation line 28 and hinged with respect to hinge l ines 32 opposite said separation line 28 .

[0022] The rear strips 20 are flanked, at a closing side 36 , by a notch 40 that is contiguous to said hinge lines 32 , so as to delimit said rear window 24 .

[0023] The front flap 12 comprises at least one closing tab 44 , cut out from a front window 48 and hinged with respect to a closing line 52 arranged in proximity to said notch 40 .

[0024] The front window 48 is at least partially aligned and superimposed onto the rear window 24 in a folded configuration .

[0025] In order to obtain a stable closure of the package , the closing tab 44 is inserted in an interlocking manner into said notch 40 .

[0026] The closing tab 44 has a height 56 which is greater than the height 58 of the corresponding notch 40 , said heights being measured parallel to the closing line 52 : this arrangement helps to ensure that the closing tab 44 is locked within the relative notch 40 .

[0027] The rear strips 20 are parallel and contiguous with each other so as to close said rear window 24 : in this way, on the one hand, they contribute to locking the closing tab 44 in the interlocking position and, on the other hand, by closing the rear window 24 , they prevent access to and / or being viewed from, the outside of the containment volume 16 of the package 4 .

[0028] In turn, the closing tab 44 influences the rear strips 20 in the closing position of the rear window 24 .

[0029] Preferably, the hinge lines 32 of the rear strips 20 are perpendicular to the closing line 52 of the closing tab 44 .

[0030] According to one possible embodiment , the rear strips 20 , at the notch 40 , i . e . , on the closing side 36 , have guide chamfers 60 , diverging from the separation line 28 towards the same notch 40 .

[0031] Said guide chamfers 60 help to facilitate the return of the rear strips 20 in closing the rear window 24 under the thrust of the closing tab 44 .

[0032] According to one possible embodiment , the closing tab 44 , at the closing line 52 , has opening chamfers 64 , diverging from the hinge line 32 toward the front window 48 . Said opening chamfers 64 facilitate the insertion of the closing tabs 44 into the rear window 24 and the notch40 .

[0033] According to one possible embodiment , the closing tab 44 , in a non- folded configuration, is parallel to the front flap 12 and defines , with the front flap 12 on the side opposite the hinge line 32 , an opening 68 , said opening 68 being aligned at least partially with the rear strips 20 of the rear flap 8 .

[0034] This speci fic configuration gives a particular advantage to the invention : in fact , by virtue of the opening 68 , it i s possible to push the rear strips 20 directly towards the containment volume 16 using a pusher, as better described below, without having to apply a force through the closing tab 44 . In such case there is a risk of damaging the closing tab 44 and / or the rear strips 20 during the step of closing the package 4 .

[0035] On the other hand, by virtue of the opening 68 , it is possible to initially move the rear strips 20 and subsequently also the closing tab 44 , which will therefore encounter less resistance and will not be damaged .

[0036] According to one possible embodiment , the front flap 12 comprises at least one front through hole 72 , so as to allow access to a portion of the underlying rearflap 8 in a folded configuration, for inserting a locking device 76 (better described below) on the side of the front flap 12 and selectively locking the rear flap 8 in abutment against the front flap 12 during the step of closing the package 4 through the closing tab 44 .

[0037] Preferably, but not necessari ly, said front hole 72 is arranged in proximity to the front window 48 , so as not to intercept the rear window 24 , in a folded configuration .

[0038] An apparatus 80 for closing a folded package 4 without the use of gluing means will now be described .

[0039] In particular, the apparatus 80 comprises means 84 for retaining the package 4 in a folded configuration, i . e . , having at least one rear flap 8 and at least one front flap 12 , superimposed onto the rear flap 8 , on the opposite side of the containment volume 16 delimited by said package .

[0040] The retaining means 84 comprise at least one side bracket 88 , which interfaces with the front flap 12 , and at least one locking device 76 of said rear flap 8 , so as to keep said front 12 and rear 8 flaps locked in the position of mutual contact .

[0041] According to one possible embodiment , the locking device 76 of said rear flap comprises at least onesuction cup that abuts against a portion of the rear flap 8 .

[0042] The apparatus 80 further comprises at least one pusher 92 having an actuation stroke adapted to move the closing tab 44 o f the front flap 12 , hinged along the closing line 52 , towards the rear flap 8 so as to interlock said closing tab 44 in the notch 40 on the rear flap 8 .

[0043] According to one possible embodiment , said suction cup 76 is arranged in proximity to said pusher 92 : in this way, the possible deformation of the grooves 8 , 12 during the actuation stroke of the pusher 92 is avoided or otherwise limited .

[0044] The actuation stroke of the pusher 92 may be straight but is preferably curvi linear .

[0045] Preferably, the actuation stroke of the pusher 92 is of the circular type , and the pusher 92 is hinged about a vertical hinge axis Y-Y, parallel to said closing line 52 .

[0046] According to one possible embodiment , said pusher 92 is provided with a front protrusion 96 that is advanced with respect to a front wall 100 of said pusher 92 ; in other words , the front protrusion 96 protrudes from the front wall 100 so as to intercept the grooves8 , 12 before the front wall 100 .

[0047] In this way, the front protrusion 96 may impact the rear strips 20 be fore the front wall 100 , for example by passing through the opening 68 . The pusher 92 is configured in such a way that , during the closing step, the front wall 100 enters within the containment volume 16 so as to cooperate with the front protrusion 96 in order to open the rear strips 20 and / or to interlock the closing tab 44 in the notch 40 on the rear flap 8 .

[0048] According to one possible embodiment , the front wall 100 is perpendicular to the front protrusion 96 and is directly parallel to a transverse plane Z-Z .

[0049] Preferably, the front protrusion 96 extends along a front direction F-F perpendicular to said transverse plane Z-Z . According to one embodiment , the front protrusion 96 is arranged at a lateral end 95 of the front wall 100 ; preferably the front protrusion 96 is arranged asymmetrically on the front wall 100 so as to extend between said lateral end 95 and a centerline plane M-M of the front wall 100 . Such asymmetrical positioning facilitates the movement of the closing tab 44 .

[0050] According to one possible embodiment , said pusher 92 , on the side opposite the front protrusion 96 , i . e . , on the side oppos ite the lateral end 95 with respect tothe centerline plane M-M, comprises a pair of ribs 104 protruding laterally with respect to the front wall 100 . Said ribs 104 are configured to facilitate the return to closure of the rear strips during the retraction stroke of the pusher 92 .

[0051] According to one possible embodiment , said pusher 92 is provided with a compressed air supply channel (not shown) leading into said front wall 100 .

[0052] In this way, the compressed air may assist the mechanical thrust action exerted by the pusher 92 .

[0053] The compressed air supply channel is preferably located inside the pusher 92 .

[0054] The operation of a closing apparatus and the relative closing method according to the present invention will now be described .

[0055] In particular, the closing method firstly provides for, during an initial step or step 0 , the arrival at the closing apparatus 80 of an already preformed carton or package 4 to be subj ected to the step of closing the j oint ( see Fig . 2-3 ) . In particular, during such initial step, the front flap 12 and the rear flap 8 are folded and overlapping each other so as to at least partially align the front window 48 and the rear window 12 therebetween .

[0056] During the subsequent STEP 1 (Fig. 4-7) , the closing apparatus 80 advances in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the package 4 until it comes into contact with the carton.

[0057] The lateral brackets 88 hold the package 4 in place and the locking device 76, such as the suction cups, comes into contact with the rear flap 8 (through the front holes 72 in the front flap 12) so as to hold it taut and prevent it from closing inwards during the process of closing the joint.

[0058] Therefore, in step 1, said front and rear flaps 12,8 are kept in a folded configuration, and the rear flap 8, together with the entire package 4, is locked in place .

[0059] In the subsequent step 2 (Fig. 8-16) , the closing apparatus 80 actuates the pushers 92. Preferably, said pushers comprise hooks which rotate on a hinge axis Y- Y, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the closing line 52 of the closing tab 44.

[0060] The initial rotation (20°) pushes the front protrusion 96 into the opening 68 so as to begin to open the rear strips 20 before pushing the closing tab 44. By increasing the rotation (40°) , the separation line 28 of the rear strips 20 is fully opened and the closing tab44 enters the gap that has been created as a result of the opening of said rear strips .

[0061] Upon completion of the rotation ( 60 ° ) of the pusher 92 , the closing tab 44 enters completely inside the carton and is inserted into the notch 40 of the rear flap 8 , which is specially formed so as to accommodate the thickness of the closing tab 44 .

[0062] In the subsequent step 3 ( Fig . 17- 19 ) , the pusher 92 retracts and returns to the initial starting position, exiting the footprint of the carton 4 .

[0063] During the return movement of the pusher 92 , the rear window 24 closes again due to the elastic recoil of the rear strips 20 of the rear flap 8 , and the closing tab 44 present in the front flap 12 remains interlocked therein . In this way the carton is sealed at the same points where hot glue would have been applied . At this point the lateral brackets 88 loosen the grip on the carton 4 and the suction pads 76 cease to function .

[0064] During the last step 4 ( Fig . 20 ) , the carriage containing the apparatus 80 for locking the carton and closing the closing tab 44 retracts , thereby allowing the closed carton 4 to advance in the process so that it makes room for a new package 4 that is ready to be closed using the same method .

[0065] As may be appreciated from that which has been described, the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art .

[0066] In particular, the present invention, compared to current solutions using tape or hot-melt closures , has a plurality of technical and economic advantages that are listed below .

[0067] First of all , there is a lower plant production cost insofar as the module of the plant used for the application of glue and / or adhesive tape , with all of the associated maintenance problems , is completely absent .

[0068] In addition, there is a considerable saving on the cost of purchasing the glue and / or the adhesive tape .

[0069] Furthermore , there is an annual energy saving regarding the cost of the energy necessary for the operation and heating of the glue to be applied .

[0070] In addition, greater plant ef ficiency is achieved by eliminating stoppages due to mal functions in the glue and / or tape application apparatus .

[0071] For the same reason, there are lower maintenance costs insofar as the checks and maintenance of the glue and / or tape application system are eliminated . Obviously, also transport due to the provision of glueand / or tape is eliminated .

[0072] Advantageously, insofar as the packaging is completely free of glue and / or tape , it is possible to obtain 100% recycl ing of the packaging without polluting elements .

[0073] At the same time , the performance ensured by the present invention in terms of closure , durability and reliability of said closure is entirely comparable to , or higher than, that which may be obtained from known solutions involving the use of glue and / or adhesive tape .

[0074] A person skilled in the art , for the purpose of satis fying contingent and speci fic needs , may make numerous modi fications and variations to the solutions described above .

[0075] The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the following claims .LIST OF REFERENCES:4 : package8 : rear flap12 : front flap16: containment volume20: rear strips24: rear window28: separation line32 : hinge lines36: closing side40: notch44: closing tab48: front window52: closing line56: height58: notch height60: guide chamfers64 : opening chamfers68 : opening72 : front hole76: locking device80: apparatus84: retaining means88: lateral bracket92 : pusher95: lateral end96: front protrusion100: front wall 104: ribsY-Y : hinge axisZ-Z: transverse planeF-F: front directionM-M: centerline plane M-M

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus (80) for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means, comprising:- means for retaining (84) the package (4) in a folded configuration, the package (4) comprising at least one rear flap (8) and at least one front flap (12) , overlapping the rear flap (8) , on the side opposite to a containment volume (16) delimited by the package (4) , the retaining means (84) comprising at least one lateral bracket (88) which interfaces with the front flap (12) and at least one locking device (76) of said rear flap (8) , so as to keep said front (12) and rear (8) flaps locked in a mutual contact position,- at least one pusher (92) having an actuation stroke suitable to move a closing tab (44) of the front flap (12) , hinged along a closing line (52) , towards the rear flap (8) so as to interlock said closing tab (44) in a notch (40) on the rear flap (8) ,- said pusher (92) being provided with a front protrusion (96) which is advanced with respect to a front wall (100) of the said pusher (92) .

2. Apparatus (80) according to claim 1, wherein the pusher (92) is configured in such a way that, during the actuation stroke, the front wall (100) enters into thecontainment volume (16) in such a way as to cooperate with the front protrusion (96) in order to interlock the closing tab (44) in the notch (40) on the rear flap (8) .

3. Apparatus (80) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the actuation stroke of the pusher (92) is of the curvilinear type.

4. Apparatus (80) according to claim 3, wherein the actuation stroke of the pusher (92) is of the circular type, and the pusher (92) is hinged about a vertical hinging axis (Y-Y) , parallel to said closing line (52) .

5. Apparatus (80) according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said pusher (92) , on the side opposite to the front protrusion (96) , comprises a pair of ribs (104) which protrude laterally with respect to the front wall (100) .

6. Apparatus (80) according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein said pusher (92) is provided with a compressed air supply channel which opens near said front wall (100) .

7. Apparatus (80) according to claim 6, wherein the compressed air supply channel is obtained inside the pusher ( 92 ) .

8. Apparatus (80) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the locking device (76) of said rear flap (8)comprises at least one suction cup which abuts against a portion of the rear flap (8) .

9. Apparatus (80) according to claim 8, wherein said suction cup is arranged in proximity to said pusher (92) .

10. Apparatus (80) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the front wall (100) is perpendicular to the front protrusion (96) and is directly parallel to a transverse plane (Z-Z) .

11. Apparatus (80) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the front protrusion (96) is arranged at a lateral end (95) of the front wall (100) .

12. Apparatus (80) according to claim 11, wherein the front protrusion (96) is arranged asymmetrically on the front wall (100) so as to extend between said lateral end (95) and a centerline plane (M-M) of the front wall (100) .

13. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means, comprising the steps of:- arranging a package (4) comprising at least one rear flap (8) and at least one front flap (12) , which may be folded onto the rear flap (8) in such a way that, in a folded configuration, it is superimposed onto the rear flap (8) , on the opposite side of a containment volume(16) delimited by the package (4) ,- wherein the rear flap (8) comprises at least one pair of rear strips (20) , partially cut out from a rear window (24) and mutually facing each other along a separation line (28) and hinged with respect to hinge lines (32) opposite said separation line (28) ,- wherein the rear strips (20) are flanked, at a closing side (36) , by a notch (40) that is contiguous to said hinge lines (32) , so as to delimit said rear window (24) ,- wherein the front flap (12) comprises at least one closing tab (44) , cut out from a front window (48) and hinged with respect to a closing line (52) arranged in proximity to said notch (40) , said front window (48) being at least partially aligned and superimposed onto the rear window (24) in a folded configuration, wherein the closing tab (44) is inserted in an interlocking manner into said notch (40) , wherein the rear strips (20) are parallel and contiguous with each other so as to close said rear window (24 ) ,- wherein the closing tab (44) influences the rear strips (20) in the closing position of the rear window (24) ,- folding and overlapping the front flap (12) and the rear flap (8) with each other so as to at least partially align therebetween the front window (48) and the rearwindow (24 ) ,- keeping said front (12) and rear flaps (8) in a folded configuration, and locking the rear flap (8) in position,- pushing first at least partially the rear strips (20) towards the containment volume (16) of the package (4) and then simultaneously also pushing the closing tab (44) so as to interlock it in the notch (40) , in such a way that the closing tab (44) overhangs the rear strips (20) towards the containment volume (16) of the package (4) and, when pushing is no longer applied, the closing tab (44) influences the rear strips (20) to at least partially close the rear window (24) of the rear flap (8) .

14. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means according to claim 13, comprising the steps of:- arranging the package (4) in such a way that the front flap (12) comprises at least one front through hole (72) , in such a way as to allow access to a portion of the underlying rear flap (8) in a folded configuration,- inserting a locking device (76) , on the side of the front flap (12) and selectively locking the rear flap (8) in abutment against the front flap (12) , before at least partially pushing the rear strips (20) towards thecontainment volume (16) of the package (4) and then simultaneously also pushing the closing tab (44) so as to interlock it in the notch (40) , in such a way that the closing tab (44) overhangs the rear strips (20) towards the containment volume (16) of the package (4) and, when pushing is no longer applied, the closing tab (44) influences the rear strips (20) so as to at least partially close the rear window (24) of the rear flap (8) .

15. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means according to claim 14, comprising the step of arranging said front through hole (72) in proximity to the front window (48) , in such a way as not to intercept the rear window (24) , in a folded configuration,16. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the hinge lines (32) of the rear strips (20) are perpendicular to the closing line (52) of the closing tab (44) .

17. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the rear strips (20) , at the notch (40) , have guide chamfers (60) , diverging from the separationline (28) towards the same notch (40) .

18. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means according to any one of claims 13 to17, wherein the closing tab (44) , at the closing line (52) , has opening chamfers (64) , diverging from the hinge line (32) toward the front window (48) .

19. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means according to any one of claims 13 to18, wherein the closing tab (44) has a height (56) which is greater than the height (58) of the corresponding notch (40) , said heights (56, 58) being measured parallel to the closing line (52) .

20. Method for closing a folded package (4) without the use of gluing means according to any one of claims 13 to19, wherein the closing tab (44) in a non-folded configuration, is parallel to the front flap (12) and defines, with the front flap (12) , on the side opposite the hinge line (32) , an opening (68) , said opening (68) being aligned at least partially with the rear strips (20) of the rear flap (8) .

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