Box forming machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a box forming machine. The machine comprises a forming station with a core (5) and a mould between which a sheet (1) is arranged, a lower face (1.2) of said sheet having strands of adhesive (8) to form a box (2) with side walls (3) and a flap (4) folded outwardly and attached to the outer surface of a side wall (3). The core (5) comprises a main body and at least one mobile hook (6) attached to said main body, said hook being actuated by a linear actuator (7). The mobile hook (6) moves rotationally between a rest position and a work position, thereby moving the flap (4) and folding said flap (4) outwardly from the box, such that the flap (4) is attached to the outer surface of the side wall (3) of the box by means of the adhesive (8).

Description

[0001] BOX FORMING MACHINE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object of the present invention falls within the technical field of machines for forming cardboard packaging from pre-die-cut laminated cardboard.

[0005] TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Cardboard box forming machines are known from the state of the art. The cardboard used is generally corrugated.

[0007] Various cardboard box forming systems are known from the state of the art, such as those described, for example, in document ES2908722T3, which discloses a male element for a box forming machine, document ES1149136U, which discloses a device for forming cardboard boxes, document ES1042743U, which proposes a mould for forming boxes with a roof, or document ES1036533U, which also proposes a transversely extendable mould for forming boxes with a roof.

[0008] However, none of the currently known documents describe the possibility of folding and gluing the flaps of the box to be formed to the outside.

[0009] Thus, the technical problem to be solved is related to the formation of cardboard boxes comprising at least one flap that is adhesive and folds towards the outside of the box, that is, it folds against one of the outer side surfaces of the box and not against one of the inner side surfaces as is usually the case.

[0010] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a box-forming machine that allows this type of flap folding outward. Furthermore, the adhesive (glue threads) will have to be applied to the lower areas of the cardboard sheet so that, when the flaps are folded outward, they remain adhered to the corresponding outer side surface. This creates a new technical problem to solve, which is ensuring that the cardboard sheets, once glued, can be moved through the machine without the adhesive thread staining other surfaces (of the box and / or the machine) or being damaged as the sheet moves through the machine. Finally, the flaps must be properly pressed after folding to ensure proper adhesion to the outer side surfaces of the box.

[0011] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The invention relates to a box-forming machine from cardboard sheets. The key elements of the invention are arranged in the forming station of the machine, where there is a die that can move vertically (up and down) and a mold. The mold is formed by a plurality of benders, presses, etc. When the die descends, the elements that form the mold act to perform the various folds that form the base and side walls of the box.

[0013] The box-forming machine of the present invention is configured to form boxes with at least one flap folded externally and attached to an outer surface of a side wall of said box. To this end, the die comprises a main body and movable hooks, attached to said main body and actuated by linear actuators. The key to said movable hooks is that they rotate between a rest position in which they do not influence the movement of the die, and a working position, to which they pass when the die is preferably in its lowest position for folding the at least one flap.

[0014] The sheet used to form the box includes, on its underside, adhesive arranged on what will later become the outer surface of the corresponding side wall. Thus, when the flap is folded outward, it is attached, by means of the adhesive, to the outer surface of the box's side wall.

[0015] After folding, to ensure proper gluing of the flap to the side wall, the machine comprises at least one press capable of horizontal movement (perpendicular to the direction of travel of the die). Thus, after folding the flap, the press moves toward the box until it comes into contact with the flap, pressing it toward the outer wall of the box. The pressure is maintained for a specific time (the time considered most appropriate to ensure said gluing depending on the materials, type of adhesive, etc.). Preferably, the machine comprises two presses (side presses). During assembly of the cardboard box, in a first phase, these side presses are extended, while in a second phase, these side presses are retracted to allow the flap to be folded down, which will be glued against the outer side surface of the box.On the one hand, it is necessary to allow for the flap's natural movement, and on the other, it is necessary to prevent the press from coming into contact with the adhesive before gluing is complete. The side presses are then extended again to press the sidewall of the box for a predetermined time, allowing the adhesive to work and ensuring a proper bond of the flap to the outer side surface of the sidewall.

[0016] Finally, when the box has been formed (with the corresponding flap or flaps already folded outwards and attached by means of adhesive to the corresponding lateral surfaces of the box), when the male returns to its original position (moving upwards), a new sheet of cardboard is moved to the forming station such that, when the male moves downwards to form the new box, the new sheet of cardboard pushes the previously formed box downwards with its own movement. These steps of removing the formed box are the usual ones in known box forming machines, that is, these steps do not form part of the present invention as such.

[0017] Thus, the machine of the present invention comprises effective means for the flap to be glued in the opposite manner to other constituent parts of the box, which are traditionally folded inwards.

[0018] The box formed in the machine has the particularity that its assembly parts are designed to ensure good airtightness, so that it can even be used to store and / or transport food of a certain degree of humidity (such as fish).

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] To complete the description and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

[0021] Figure 1 represents a view of some of the key elements of the forming station of the machine of the invention.

[0022] Figures 2A-B represent views of the top and bottom sides of a pre-die-cut sheet from which a box is to be formed and to which adhesive threads have already been applied for joining at least one flap to an outer side surface of the box.

[0023] Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a box being formed and the male can be seen, with the movable hooks in the working position, folding the flap that is attached to the outer side surface of the box.

[0024] Figures 4A-I represent movements and positions of different elements of the forming station of the machine by means of which, from a pre-die-cut cardboard sheet, a box with at least one flap folded and joined to an outer side surface of the box is formed.

[0025] Figures 5A-B represent respectively a side view of the sheet placed on the folders, and a detail of said view in which an interchangeable plate can be seen in the folder, on which the sheet rests to prevent the adhesive on the lower face of the sheet from coming into contact with the machine.

[0026] Figure 6 shows a detail of the adhesive placed on the underside of the sheet, which, having been folded, is now on the outer side of the box. You can see how the side clamp is currently retracted to avoid contact with the adhesive.

[0027] Figure 7 shows a movable hook in working position, housed in a recess of a press.

[0028] The following is a list of the different elements represented in the figures that make up the invention: 1: sheet; 1.1: upper face; 1.2: lower face; 2: box; 3: side wall; 4: flap; 5: male; 6: movable hook; 7: linear actuator; 8: adhesive; 9: bender; 9.1: upper surface; 10: interchangeable plate; 11: press; 12: inlet; 13: removable plate

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations may be realized by those skilled in the art in light of this description. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the most relevant elements of the forming station of the box forming machine (2) of the invention. The key to this box forming machine (2) is that it is configured to form boxes (2) with at least one flap (4) folded towards the outside of the box (2). The forming station of the machine, as can be seen in this figure 1 , comprises at least one core (5) and a mold. Between them is arranged the sheet (1) from which the box (1) is to be formed such that, when the core (5) moves in a vertical direction, downwards or upwards, approaching or moving away from the mold respectively.

[0032] In the machine of the invention, cardboard boxes (2) are formed from pre-die-cut cardboard sheets (1), with an upper face (1.1) and a lower face (1.2) as shown in Figures 2A-B. The box (2) to be formed is one of those that comprise at least a base and side walls (3) and, as previously described, at least one flap (4) folded externally and attached by means of adhesive (8) to an outer surface of one of the side walls (3) of the box (2), where said adhesive (8) is arranged on the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1). In Figure 2B, the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1) can be seen with the adhesive (8) arranged thereon. As can be seen, preferably the adhesive is arranged in the form of adhesive threads (8).

[0033] The male (5) of the machine of the invention is shown in Figure 1 as part of the forming station. Likewise, in Figure 3 a box (2) can be seen being formed and the male (5) can be seen, which comprises mobile hooks (6) that are configured to fold, externally, flaps (4) of the cardboard sheet (1). The key to the male (5) of the invention is that it comprises a main body with at least one mobile hook (6) attached to said main body and actuated by a linear actuator (7).The at least one mobile hook (6) moves, with a rotational movement, between a rest position and a working position, displacing with its movement the flap (4) of the sheet (1) to be folded, on an exterior lateral surface of a side wall (3) of the box (2), thus folding said flap (4) towards the outside of the box (2) such that the flap (4) is joined to the exterior surface of the side wall (3) of the box through the adhesive (8).

[0034] Preferably, as can be seen in the figures, the male (5) comprises four movable hooks (6) arranged two by two such that two of the movable hooks (6) are configured to fold a flap (4) of the cardboard sheet (1) towards an outer side surface of the box (2) and the other two movable hooks (6) face each other such that they are configured to fold a flap (4) of the cardboard sheet (1) towards an opposite outer side surface of the box (2). This embodiment is clearly seen, for example, in figure 3.

[0035] Figures 4A-I show a plurality of movements and positions of the sheet (1) and the elements of the forming station of the machine. As can be seen, the sheet (1) arrives at the forming station with adhesive (8) at some points on its inner face (1.2). These points correspond to what, when the box

[0036] (2) is formed, it is the outer surface of a side wall (3) of the box (2). In the embodiment shown in the figures, the adhesive (8) is arranged as adhesive threads (8).

[0037] In this sequence shown in figures 4A-I it can be seen how, when the sheet (1) is already in the forming station, the male (5) descends towards the mould (it moves downwards in a vertical direction approaching the mould). With the downward movement of the male (5) the sheet (1) comes into contact with some benders (9) (which are shown later in more detail in figures 5A-B) that shape some side walls

[0038] (3) of the box (2). Preferably, when the male (5) is in the lowest position, and the side walls (3) have already been formed, the movable hooks (6) move from the rest position (in which they are during the lowering / raising movements of the male (5)), by means of a rotational movement, to a working position. This movement can be seen between figures 4E and 4F. In figure 4G it can be seen how some lateral presses (11) have moved horizontally (in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the male (5)), until they come into contact with the flap (4) that has been folded externally. The objective of these presses (11) is to maintain a certain pressure on the flap (4) to ensure that it is correctly joined (by means of the adhesive (8)) to the external surface of the side wall (3) of the box (2).

[0039] In Figure 4H it can be seen that the movable hooks (6) return to the rest position once the folding and gluing operations of the flap (4) have been completed. In Figure 4I two boxes (2) can be seen already formed, stacked one on top of the other in the forming station of the machine.

[0040] Another key element of the present invention, in addition to the mold (5), are some folders (9) that can be seen in all the figures and especially in Figures 5A-B. The presence of folders (9) in the forming station of this type of machines is already known from the state of the art. However, as previously described, in this particular case in which one of the flaps (4) of the box (2) is folded outwards and therefore adhesive (8) must be placed on the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1), it is necessary to find a solution that allows working with the sheet (1) without the adhesive (8) coming into contact with the machine.

[0041] As can be seen in figure 5A, the benders have inclined faces (common in the state of the art) to fold down the side walls (3) of the box (2) and, additionally, they comprise an upper surface (9.1) on which there is an interchangeable plate (10).

[0042] The interchangeable plate (10) is designed to receive the cardboard sheet (1) such that said cardboard sheet (1) rests on the interchangeable plate (10). In this way, during the movement of the sheet (1) to the forming station, the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1) which is the one that faces the upper surface (9.1) of the folders (9), is separated a certain distance from said upper surface (9.1) and rests only on the interchangeable plate (10) which is joined to the upper surface (9.1) of the folder (9) in a position in which there is no adhesive (8). Thus, the interchangeable plate (10) has a configuration and is arranged in a position such that contact of the machine (and more specifically of the folders (9)) with the adhesive is avoided as seen in figure 5B.

[0043] In one embodiment, the interchangeable plate (10) comprises a longitudinal body that is arranged oriented in the direction of advance of the sheet (1) through the machine (through machine guides, which can be seen for example in figure 4A). The position of the interchangeable plate (10) on the upper surface (9.1) of the folder (9) is such that it is offset with respect to the position in which the adhesive (8) of the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1) is located, that is, they do not face each other at any time. Figure 5B shows in detail what this offset is between the position of the interchangeable plate (10) and the adhesive threads (8) that the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1) carries.

[0044] The interchangeable plates (10) serve as raised support for the sheet (1) and, preferably, are leveled with the machine guides along which the sheet (1) moves to the forming station.

[0045] The forming station also comprises at least one press (11) that can move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the die (5). The function of this press (11) is to exert and maintain sufficient pressure to ensure correct joining of the flap (4) to the side wall (3) of the box (2). As can be seen in figure 6, when the side walls (3) of the box (2) are being formed, the adhesive (8) that was on the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1) remains on the outer wall (3) (necessary to glue the flap (4)). Therefore, to avoid contact of the adhesive (8) with the machine, in this part of the assembly of the box (2), the press (11) is retracted (in the position furthest possible from the box (2) and furthest possible from the press (11) opposite it in the case that there are two presses (11) which is the most common case).

[0046] Preferably, the press (11) comprises a body with at least one recess (12) arranged in a position such that, when the male (5) is facing the press (11) and the corresponding movable hook (6) is in the working position, it is housed in the recess (12). Figure 7 shows a detail of a sectional view of the press (11) at a time of assembly of the box (2) in which the movable hooks (6) are in the working position. The position of the elements represented in Figure 7 coincides with the time of assembly in which the external folding of the flap (5) has been carried out (for this reason the movable hooks (6) are in the working position) and the pressing is being carried out (for this reason the presses (11) are in contact with the box (2) to ensure that the gluing of the flap (4) to the side wall (3) is carried out correctly).

[0047] In one embodiment, the at least one recess (12) is a slot. Thus, in addition to housing the movable hook (6) when it is in the working position, it allows its rotational movement between the rest and working positions and vice versa.

[0048] As previously described and as can be seen in the figures, in a preferred embodiment the machine comprises two presses (11), facing each other, arranged so that their movement brings them closer or further away.

[0049] In order to achieve correct gluing of the flap (4) and in the event that the central area of ​​said flap (4) is separated from the side wall (3) of the box (2) due to the existence of parts that make gluing difficult, the presses (11) may comprise removable plates (13) responsible for exerting greater pressure on the central areas of the flap (4). Preferably, the removable plate (13) is arranged in a central section of said press (11) and extends projecting from the body of the press (11).

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Box forming machine of the type comprising a forming station with a male (5) and a mould between which a sheet (1) of pre-die-cut cardboard is arranged with an upper face (1.1) and a lower face (1.2) from which a box (2) is to be formed comprising at least one base and side walls (3) and at least one flap (4) folded externally and joined by means of adhesive (8), where said adhesive (8) is arranged on the lower face (1.2) of the sheet (1), to an outer surface of one of the side walls (3) of the box (2) and the machine is characterized in that the male (5) comprises a main body and comprises at least one mobile hook (6) connected to said main body and actuated by a linear actuator (7), and where said mobile hook (6) moves, with a rotational movement, between a rest position and a working position, moving with its movement the flap (4) of the sheet (1) to be folded, on an outer lateral surface of a side wall (3) of the box (2), thus folding said flap (4) towards the outside of the box such that the flap (4) is joined to the outer surface of the side wall (3) of the box through the adhesive (8).

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the male (5) comprises four movable hooks (6) arranged two by two such that two of the movable hooks (6) are configured to fold a flap (4) of the cardboard sheet (1) towards an outer side surface of the box (2) and the other two movable hooks (6) face them such that they are configured to fold a flap (4) of the cardboard sheet (1) towards an opposite outer side surface of the box (2). 3.- Machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising, in the forming station, a folder (9) comprising inclined faces configured to allow the folding of the side walls (3) and comprising, on its upper surface (9.1), interchangeable plates (10) intended to receive the cardboard sheet (1) such that said cardboard sheet (1) rests on the interchangeable plates (10).

4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a press (11) that can move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the male (5), and comprising a body with at least one 5. Machine according to claim 4, wherein the recess (12) is a slot such that, in addition to housing the movable hook (6) when it is in the working position, it allows its rotational movement between the rest and working positions and vice versa. 6.- Machine according to any one of claims 4 to 5 comprising two presses (11), facing each other, arranged so that their movement brings them closer or further away. 7.- Machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the press (11) comprises a removable plate (13) arranged in a central section of said press (11) which extends projecting from the body of the press (11).

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