Cardboard box molding and printing machine

Abstract

A machine (1) for forming and printing corrugated boxes (B) from a continuous corrugated web (M) for automatically packaging items (O), each box (B) having a bottom wall (P F ) and two pairs of side walls (P L1 , P L2 ;P L3 , P L4 ) and the blocking wall (P S The machine (1) includes a supply means (3) for supplying a continuous web (M), a first cutting means (4) for cutting the continuous web (M), and a top surface (S U ) and bottom (S L a first cutting means (4) configured to form an elongated member (E) having a first pair of side walls (P) of the box (B) in the elongated member (E); L1 , P L2 ) and bottom wall (P F ) and the obstruction wall (P S ) and a first panel (E1) designed to define a second pair of side walls (P L3 , P L4 The machine (1) further comprises a printing means (17) interposed between the first cutting means (4) and the second cutting and creasing means (7), the printing means (17) printing a mark on the bottom surface (S) of the elongated member (E). L ) of the elongated member (E), and at least one lower printing unit (17') configured to print on the top surface (S U ) of the box (B), and at least one upper printing unit (17") configured to print on all the walls (P F , P S , P L1 , P L2 , P L3 , P L4) or onto a predetermined number of walls, both on the outside and inside of the box (B), in one pass.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention generally finds applications in the field of packaging, and in particular relates to a machine for forming and printing corrugated cardboard boxes from a continuous corrugated cardboard web. [Background technology]

[0002] Machines that manufacture custom-sized boxes from a continuously supplied corrugated web or corrugated sheet have been known for a long time.

[0003] Generally, these machines include a feeding means for supplying corrugated cardboard sheets, and a means for cutting and folding the sheets in their corresponding longitudinal and transverse directions, thereby forming corrugated cardboard blanks.

[0004] Furthermore, these machines include means for introducing and positioning the articles to be packaged onto a blank, in which case the blank is folded around such articles to form a box.

[0005] A drawback of these known machines is that they do not provide means for printing on the outer surface of the box.

[0006] Therefore, the boxes are either printed by a separate printing unit configured to print corrugated web or corrugated sheets designed to be supplied to the machine, or manually printed by an operator who applies pre-printed labels onto the outside of the box, which significantly increases the processing and packaging time for the goods.

[0007] Furthermore, if printing is performed using additional devices, this drawback increases the overall dimensions and structural complexity of the entire plant.

[0008] An example of these machines is known from WO 2014 / 117817, which discloses a system for forming boxes from a continuous cardboard web and further for automatically packaging articles inside the boxes.

[0009] In particular, the articles to be packaged inside the boxes are placed onto a conveyor belt moving in a predetermined direction either manually or by suitable automatic means, and the conveyor belt is provided with a plurality of sensors configured to control the position and number of the articles to be packaged.

[0010] Below the conveyor belt, there is a region for preparing the cardboard sheet that will form the box, and within this region, the sheet is cut and scored based on a volume measurement performed on the articles to be packaged. Thereafter, the sheet thus cut and scored is conveyed towards introducing means for introducing the articles to be packaged.

[0011] Finally, by folding the sheet around the articles to be packaged, the side walls and the lid of the box are formed.

[0012] A first drawback of this solution is that the system is coupled to a single printing device for printing the images to be transferred onto the boxes.

[0013] Nevertheless, this printing device cannot perform custom printing on all the outer surfaces of the box, nor can it print images on both sides of each face of the box.

[0014] A further drawback is that processing a continuous cardboard web involves a significant waste of material in obtaining the unfolded sheet that will later be folded, which cannot be reused for manufacturing further boxes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0015] In light of prior art, the technical problem addressed by the present invention is to achieve simultaneous molding and printing of the inner and outer surfaces of a box while minimizing the waste of base materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The objective of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a highly efficient and cost-effective machine for forming and printing boxes.

[0017] A particular object of the present invention is to provide a box forming machine capable of automatically and synchronously forming a box, packaging an article, and printing on the inner and / or outer surfaces of the box.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a box forming and printing machine that achieves high print quality by having an inkjet printing means for printing the inner and outer surfaces of the box at high resolution.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a box molding and printing machine that can limit the amount of processing waste in the box manufacturing process.

[0020] These and other objectives are achieved by providing a machine for forming and printing corrugated boxes from a continuous corrugated web for automatically packaging articles, as defined in claim 1, with each box having a bottom wall, two pairs of side walls, and a closing wall, as will be more clearly shown below.

[0021] The machine includes a means for supplying a continuous corrugated web, a first cutting means for cutting the continuous web and configured to form a long member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a second cutting and crimping means for forming a first panel designed to define a first pair of side walls, a bottom wall and a closing wall of a box, and separate second and third panels designed to define a second pair of side walls of the box.

[0022] Furthermore, a first adhesive means is provided for bonding a pair of panels together along the side edges of the first panel at opposite positions, thereby forming a substantially cross-shaped integrated blank, and a printing means is also provided for printing on the outer surface of the box.

[0023] According to a specific aspect of the present invention, the printing means is configured to print on the bottom surface and the top surface of a long member, and is interposed between a first cutting means and a second cutting means and a creasing means.

[0024] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention can be obtained based on the dependent claims.

[0025] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer by reading a detailed description of preferred non-exclusive embodiments relating to a machine for forming and printing corrugated boxes from a continuous corrugated web as described above, as illustrated in part with the following drawings in reference to non-limiting examples. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0026] [Figure 1] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the machine of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the cutting and folding means in the machine of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view showing the lower printing unit in the machine shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the upper printing unit in the machine shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This is a partial perspective view showing the printing unit. [Figure 6] This is an overhead perspective view showing the first work unit for folding the walls of the box. [Figure 7] This is a plan view showing a continuous corrugated cardboard web. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a plan view showing a long corrugated cardboard member obtained from the web. [Figure 9] This is a plan view showing the elongated member of Figure 8 after the printing step on that surface. [Figure 10] This is a plan view showing a panel obtained from a long member. [Figure 11] This is a plan view showing the arrangement of panels to obtain a cross-shaped blank. [Figure 12] This is a plan view showing a cross-shaped blank obtained from the elongated member shown in Figure 8. [Figure 13] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing an assembled box obtained from a blank. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] Specifically referring to the drawings, the machine shown is a machine for forming and printing corrugated boxes B from a continuous corrugated web M for automatically packaging articles O, and is collectively designated by reference numeral 1.

[0028] Generally, a continuous web M has a standardized continuous width, which may vary depending on the type of packaged goods provided by an external manufacturer.

[0029] In particular, each box B, after assembly, has a bottom wall P F and two pairs of side walls P L1 , P L2 ;P L3 , P L4 And, the obstructing wall P S This includes,

[0030] Advantageously, the corrugated cardboard box B may be any known prismatic or parallelepiped box, such as the box disclosed in the present applicant's international application No. 2018122756(A1).

[0031] The article O, designed to be packaged inside the cardboard box B, may be selected from different classes without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 1, the machine 1 has an area 2 for introducing one or more articles O to be packaged and for introducing a continuous cardboard web M, and a discharge area for the formed box B.

[0033] Conveniently, supply means 3 are provided for supplying the continuous web M from a holding station or storage station not shown.

[0034] For example, the supply means 3 can be of a well-known type and may include one or more rollers that rotate about respective axes for driving the web M.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the machine 1 includes first cutting means 4 for cutting the continuous web M, and the first cutting means 4 forms a long member E having a top surface S U and a bottom surface S L configured to form a long member E.

[0036] The first cutting means 4 is configured to remove a predetermined portion of the cardboard along the periphery of the continuous web M where further cutting or creasing will be performed at a later time.

[0037] As is well known, the first cutting means 4 is generally at least one circular tool rotatably mounted about a substantially horizontal axis as shown in Fig. 2 and may include at least one circular tool forming part of a head installed on the machine.

[0038] The device 1 includes supply means 5 for the long member, and the supply means 5 is configured to supply the long member in the longitudinal direction as indicated by the arrow F and to bring the bottom surface S L into contact with the sliding surface.

[0039] The supply means 5 includes a series of first conveyor belts 6, which are arranged in a continuous manner and have sliding surfaces defined by inclined plates. TT It is substantially inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0040] Here, the supply means 5 receives a continuous web M from the supply means 3, transports the continuous web M toward the first cutting means 4, and then continuously transports the long member E toward the second processing unit.

[0041] This second processing unit may include a second cutting and creasing means 7, which, in the long member E, cuts the first pair of side walls P L1 , P L2 And, bottom wall P F And, the obstructing wall P S The first panel E1 is designed to define the first and second pair of side walls P of box B. L3 , P L4 It is intended to form with the second panel E2 and third panel E3, which are separate from each other and designed to define the same.

[0042] As most clearly shown in Figure 2, the second cutting and creasing means 7 is mounted on the first carriage 9 and consists of a first series of transverse tools 8 that are driven transversely with respect to the supply direction F of a continuous web M, and a plurality of transverse cutting lines and creasing lines L on the elongated member E. T It includes a first series of longitudinal tools 10 configured to form a shape.

[0043] In addition, the second cutting and creasing means 7 is attached to the second carriage 12 and is driven laterally with respect to the supply direction F of the elongated member E, thereby creating multiple longitudinal creases L on the elongated member. L It includes a second set of lateral tools 11 configured to form a shape.

[0044] Long fold line LL It is formed along the entire length of the elongated member E with respect to the first lateral flap W1.

[0045] Horizontal cutting line and fold line L T In the first panel E1, the side wall P L1 , P L2 And, bottom wall P F It is designed to define a closed wall Ps having a second flap W2, and to separate the second panel E2 and the third panel E3.

[0046] Therefore, as shown in Figures 7 to 13, the long member E is positioned from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the supply direction F, and the first side wall P of the box B L1 and bottom wall P F and the second side wall P L2 and the occluding wall P S The first panel E1 is designed to define the and the third side wall P of box B. L3 The second panel E2 is designed to define the second panel E2 and the fourth side wall P of box B. L4 It is configured to include a third panel E3, designed to define, and in succession.

[0047] Advantageously, a discharge belt 13 for transporting scrap from the first cutting means 4 and scrap from the second cutting means and creasing means 7 is located below the first conveyor belt 6, and the discharge belt 13 is designed to transport the scrap toward a shredding unit (not shown).

[0048] Therefore, the processed cardboard scrap can be removed from machine 1, thereby preventing clogging and allowing it to be collected for reuse or disposal as needed.

[0049] The machine 1 further includes a first bonding means 14 for bonding a pair of panels E2 and E3 along the side edges of the first panel E1 at positions opposite to each other, thereby forming a substantially cross-shaped integral member blank H.

[0050] The first bonding means 14 includes a first applicator 15 for applying a hot melt adhesive strip onto the side edge of the first panel E1, and a pair of suction cup manipulators 16 for picking up the second panel E2 and the third panel E3, and for obtaining a cross-shaped blank H by applying the second panel E2 and the third panel E3 onto the first panel E1 at the location of the adhesive strip.

[0051] In other words, the first applicator 15 applies the adhesive strip to the bottom wall P of the first panel E1. F The material is deposited onto the two lateral flaps W1, while the suction cup type manipulator 16 collects the second panel E2 and the third panel E3, and the flaps W1 of the second panel E2 and the third panel E3 are placed on the bottom wall P F It is aligned with the lateral flap W1 having an adhesive strip.

[0052] This provides a substantially cross-shaped corrugated cardboard blank H for forming a box B designed to hold and package an item O.

[0053] According to a particular aspect of the present invention, the machine 1 includes a printing means, collectively denoted by reference numeral 17, interposed between a first cutting means 4 and a second cutting means and creasing means 7.

[0054] Advantageously, the printing means 17 includes at least one lower printing unit 17' and at least one upper printing unit 17'', wherein the lower printing unit 17' has a corresponding lower print head 18', which is preferably of an inkjet type, and the upper printing unit 17'' has a corresponding upper print head 18'', which is preferably of an inkjet type.

[0055] As most clearly shown in Figure 3, at least one print head 18' is positioned on the top surface S of the elongated member E. U With the long member E sliding while in contact with the first plate 19', the bottom surface S LTo deposit ink upwards, the slide surface defined by the first plate 19' TT It is located below it.

[0056] As most clearly shown in Figure 4, at least one print head 18" is located on the bottom surface S of the elongated member E. L With the long member E sliding while in contact with the second plate 19", the top surface S U To deposit ink upwards, the slide surface defined by the second plate 19" TT It is positioned above it.

[0057] In this case, the printing units 17' and 17'' are located on the bottom surface S of the long member E. L and top surface S U It is designed so that printing is applied from top to bottom.

[0058] Machine 1 includes a microprocessor control unit (PLC) in a separate cabinet (not shown), and this microprocessor control unit (PLC) is located on all walls P of box B. F , P S , P L1 , P L2 , P L3 , P L4 The operation of the printing units 17', 17”, and the operation of the corresponding print heads 18', 18”, respectively, are designed to control simultaneous one-pass printing both on the outside and inside of box B, either upward or onto a predetermined number of those walls.

[0059] Alternatively, by properly configuring the PLC control unit, printing can be performed on a single wall or on a predetermined number of walls.

[0060] Based on the unique characteristic of being interposed between the first cutting means 4 and the second cutting means and creasing means 7, the printing units 17' and 17'' form the top surface S of the long member E, which will form the various walls of the box B after processing by the second cutting means and creasing means 7. U On the entire surface and / or the base SL You may print in monochrome and / or color on the entire surface.

[0061] In one embodiment shown in Figure 5, at least one lower printing unit 17' is attached to a long frame 20 that extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal supply direction F of the long member E.

[0062] Preferably, the lower portion of the frame 20 is provided with at least one pair of guides 21, which allow at least one box-shaped support 22 to slidely guide, the support being configured to house at least one printing unit 17', each having at least one corresponding inkjet print head 18'.

[0063] Optionally, to increase the printing speed, multiple support members 22 may be mounted on the guide 21 at laterally offset positions.

[0064] The support 22 is driven along the guide 21 by appropriate driving means 23 located below the guide 21.

[0065] The printing unit 17” has a similar configuration to the printing unit 17', but with a configuration that is essentially upside down. A detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0066] The advantage of this configuration is that, after the packaged item O is prepared, necessary information such as technical data, the recipient's and / or sender's address, logo and / or trademark can be automatically printed onto the wall of the box B without requiring a printer before or after packaging.

[0067] After a substantially cross-shaped blank H is printed, processed by the first cutting means 4, and further processed by the second cutting and creasing means 7, it becomes ready to receive the packaged article O.

[0068] In one embodiment, the machine 1 is a conveyor means 26 for transporting articles O introduced into a box B, and includes a conveyor means 26 having a series of second conveyor belts 27 positioned above a first conveyor belt 6.

[0069] Advantageously, the first conveyor belt 6 and the second conveyor belt 27 may be operably connected by a control unit (PLC), which has software developed to synchronize their movements and software developed to check for a proper match between item O and box B when box B is being manufactured.

[0070] At the point when a cross-shaped blank H is formed, the top surface S of the blank H U The item O is ready to be placed upwards.

[0071] For this purpose, machine 1 has a bottom wall P of blank H. F Top surface S U Includes a cantilever belt 28 configured to position an item O upwards.

[0072] The blank H derived from the second cutting and creasing means 7 is driven by the first conveyor belt 6 toward a transfer system using, for example, belt 29, while the article O is moved toward the bottom wall P using a cantilever belt 28. F It is positioned upwards.

[0073] Conveniently, machine 1 is a closure station 30 located downstream of the cantilever belt 28, and includes a closure station 30 for closure the blank H with the article O positioned on the bottom wall Ps.

[0074] As shown in Figure 1, the closure station 30 may include a robotic arm 31, which has a second adhesive means 32 for applying hot melt adhesive to the edge of the blank H, thereby firmly closing the blank H during the subsequent folding step, which will result in the formation of a closed box B.

[0075] A bending mechanism 33 is provided below the belt system 29, and as shown in Figure 6, this bending mechanism 33 includes a first manipulator group 34 having a plurality of lifting actuators 35, each of which has a side wall P L1 , P L3 , P L4 Each includes a corresponding suction cup member 36 configured to hold the blank H at that point and to fold those side walls along the fold lines of those side walls.

[0076] Conveniently, the bending means 33 includes a second group of manipulators 37 designed to close the box B at the top by bending the top wall Ps.

[0077] Furthermore, the second manipulator group 37 includes a plurality of pressure rollers 38 designed to facilitate adhesion between the various flaps W, thereby improving the stability of the box B.

[0078] Boxes B, sealed in this manner, each containing the corresponding item O, are collected and stored in an appropriate location before shipment.

[0079] All major moving parts within Machine 1 are motor-driven and independently controlled in synchronous motion using a microprocessor control unit (PLC).

[0080] From the above, it will be understood that the machine of the present invention can achieve its intended purpose, in particular, that it can automatically package articles into appropriately printed cardboard boxes.

[0081] The machine of the present invention is subject to numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed in the appended claims.

[0082] Although the machine has been described with particular reference to the attached drawings, the reference numerals used in the disclosure and in the claims are used solely for the purpose of a better understanding of the invention and are not intended in any way to limit the claims.

[0083] Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “embodiment,” or “several embodiments” indicates that a particular feature, structure, or component being described is included in at least one embodiment of the inventive subject matter.

[0084] Furthermore, specific features, structures, or components may be combined with each other in any suitable manner to provide one or more embodiments. [Industrial applicability]

[0085] Because this invention can be manufactured on an industrial scale in the field of packaging machinery, it may find industrial applications.

Claims

1. A machine (1) for forming and printing corrugated boxes (B) from a continuous corrugated web (M) in order to automatically package goods (O), wherein each box (B) includes a bottom wall (PF), a first pair of side walls (PL1, PL2), a second pair of side walls (PL3, PL4), and a closing wall (PS), - A supply means (3) for supplying the continuous web (M), - A first cutting means (4) for cutting the continuous web (M), the first cutting means (4) is configured to form a long member (E) having a top surface (SU) and a bottom surface (SL), - A second cutting and folding means (7) for forming the long member (E) a first panel (E1) designed to define the first pair of side walls (PL1, PL2), the bottom wall (PF), and the closing wall (PS) of the box (B), and a second separate second panel (E2) and third panel (E3) designed to define the second pair of side walls (PL3, PL4) of the box (B), In machine (1), The machine (1) includes a printing means (17) interposed between the first cutting means (4) and the second cutting means and creasing means (7), wherein the printing means (17) has at least one lower printing unit (17') configured to print on the bottom surface (SL) of the elongated member (E) and at least one upper printing unit (17'') configured to print on the top surface (SU) of the elongated member (E), and includes a microprocessor control unit provided for controlling the at least one lower printing unit (17') and the at least one upper printing unit (17'') to perform simultaneous one-pass printing on all the walls (PF, PS, PL1, PL2, PL3, PL4) of the box (B), or on a predetermined number of the walls, both on the outside and inside of the box (B).

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one lower printing unit (17') is provided with at least one lower inkjet print head (18'), and at least one upper printing unit (17'') is provided with at least one upper inkjet print head (18'').

3. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a supply means (5) for supplying the long member (E) in the longitudinal direction (F) with the bottom surface (SL) of the long member (E) in contact with the sliding surface.

4. The machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the supply means (5) includes a series of first conveyor belts (6) arranged continuously along the slide surface (TT).

5. The at least one lower printing unit (17') is provided with at least one lower inkjet print head (18'), and the at least one upper printing unit (17'') is provided with at least one upper inkjet print head (18''), The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one lower inkjet print head (18') is positioned below the slide surface (TT) to deposit ink onto the bottom surface (SL) of the elongated member (E).

6. The at least one lower printing unit (17') is provided with at least one lower inkjet print head (18'), and the at least one upper printing unit (17'') is provided with at least one upper inkjet print head (18''), The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one upper inkjet print head (18") is positioned above the slide surface (TT) to deposit ink onto the top surface (SU) of the elongated member (E).

7. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each printing unit (17', 17") is attached to a long frame (20) that extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal supply direction (F) of the long member (E).

8. The machine according to claim 4, comprising a discharge belt (13) for transporting scrap from the first cutting means (4) and scrap from the second cutting means and creasing means (7), wherein the discharge belt (13) is positioned below the series of first conveyor belts (6) and is designed to transport both scraps toward a shredding unit.

9. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a first bonding means (14) for bonding the second panel (E2) and the third panel (E3) along the side edge of the first panel (E1) at opposite positions from each other, thereby forming a cross-shaped integral member blank (H).

10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the first bonding means (14) includes a first applicator (15) for applying a hot melt adhesive strip onto the side edge of the first panel (E1), and a pair of suction cup manipulators (16) for picking the second panel (E2) and the third panel (E3), and for applying the second panel (E2) and the third panel (E3) onto the first panel (E1) at the location of the adhesive strip to obtain the cross-shaped integral member blank (H).

11. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the elongated member (E) is configured to include, in a continuous manner from upstream to downstream with respect to the supply direction (F), a first panel (E1) designed to define one side wall (PL1) of the first pair of side walls (PL1, PL2) of the box (B), the bottom wall (PF), the other side wall (PL2) of the first pair of side walls (PL1, PL2), and the closing wall (PS); a second panel (E2) designed to define one side wall (PL3) of the second pair of side walls (PL3, PL4) of the box (B); and a third panel (E3) designed to define the other side wall (PL4) of the second pair of side walls (PL3, PL4) of the box (B).

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