Box-forming device comprising at least one punch with corners that can be adjusted in two directions

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a box-forming device comprising a movable head comprising at least one punch (Pn) comprising at least a first corner (Pn1) that can be adjusted to several positions in relation to a second corner (Pn2) of the punch (Pn).

Description

Description Title of the invention: A case-forming device comprising at least one punch with adjustable corners in two directions TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of the folding and forming of cardboard sheets in order to form boxes, for packaging one or more products.

[0002] The present invention relates to a case forming device comprising a punch with adjustable corners to fit a folding die. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A crate has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, which can be opened like a cardboard box, also called a tray or "wrap crate," or be closed like a carton, and is designed for packaging products. The crate has an internal volume capable of holding one product or a group of products arranged in columns and rows, either in a single layer or several layers of superimposed products.

[0004] The automated production of cardboard boxes is known to be carried out by folding pre-cut and pre-formed cardboard sheets, also called "cutouts." One known technique is the folding of cardboard sheets using a die, also called "die bottom folding." Die bottom folding is performed by a forming device, by cold deforming a material within a press, equipped with a fixed die in alignment with a moving punch from which the punch has corners corresponding to the internal corners of the box to be formed within the die.

[0005] The case-forming device, of the die-bottom folding type, comprises a magazine for cardboard sheets and a station for folding a cardboard sheet into a case using a die. Before folding, such cardboard sheets are arranged in the magazine as stacks of several sheets stacked horizontally or vertically. The sheets are extracted one after the other during a handling step and transported from the magazine to the folding station.

[0006] This handling step may involve extracting the sheets one by one and transporting them by conveyor belt along guided angle brackets. However, the angle brackets are fixed to a frame and shaped to fit the cardboard sheets being formed. This setup therefore cannot adapt to different cardboard sheet sizes, or requires significant maintenance time to change or adjust the various angle brackets according to the different sheet sizes.

[0007] Currently, due to the diversity of products to be manufactured, production lines must be able to handle the production of several different product formats. Consequently, these different product formats are packaged in separate crates, with dimensions complementary to the products themselves, as well as to the number of products to be packaged per crate. A single line must therefore be able to process several sheet formats in order to fold them and obtain the desired crates, depending on the products they will contain.

[0008] To adapt more easily to several formats, the handling of plates can be carried out via a dedicated station, mounted mobilely along several axes of movement, via a multi-axis chassis or a multi-axis robotic arm.

[0009] Figure [Fig. 1] represents a schematic diagram from a front view of such a forming device.

[0010] Device 1 thus comprises a gripping head 3 for the cardboard sheet 100, which moves from magazine 2 to folding station 4, shown during the transfer of a cardboard sheet 100. The movable head 3 includes a gripping device V, which can be operated by various means of gripping, notably as shown here by suction using a suction cup. The suction cup makes contact with the face of a cardboard sheet 100 and creates suction, ensuring that said cardboard sheet 100 is held in place for its extraction from magazine 2 and its movement to folding station 4. It is known from document FR3105082A1 that the gripping device of the movable head 3 includes a suction cup for each corner of a punch P in order to correct any misalignment between the punch P and a cardboard sheet 100, once gripped and during the die-bottom folding operation.

[0011] The movable head 3 includes a punch P that may incorporate an internal shape of the die. Suction gripping is maintained during the bending operation to hold the plate relative to the die and the punch. The suction cups grip the upper surface of the base, which remains flat during the movement of the deformed plate within the die under the action of the moving punch P.

[0012] Once the box 110 is formed, the suction is stopped in order to release the box. The punch P is raised and the box 110 is removed, for example by a conveyor 9.

[0013] To adapt to different case formats, as documented in FR3105082A1 describes, different moving heads 3 each have a punch reference corresponding to a die size M and therefore a case size. An operator manually changes the moving head 3 according to the size of the die M and thus according to the size of the case 110 to be produced. However, this handling operation is costly. From the human side, the line downtime is linked to the changeover time of the moving head 3. In addition, this results in the storage of at least one moving head 3 per reference, which can be problematic in terms of storage space in a building when a large number of references are required, potentially more than a hundred different references.

[0014] The forming device can also include several dies M at the folding station 4, and at the magazine 2, a stack of 100 cardboard plates per die M. The moving head 3 then includes a punch P and a gripping device, for example a suction cup per punch P, which are moved at the same time by the moving head 3 from the magazine 2 to the folding station 4. This allows the formatting of several boxes in parallel.

[0015] This forming device has the advantage of increasing the rate, but requires a much larger number of punches per punch reference, which increases the labor cost, the punch change operation time and the storage volume.

[0016] Therefore, there is a need for a forming device that can work with several punch references for different die formats while reducing the cost of changing references. Summary of the invention

[0017] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above, by allowing at least one corner of at least one punch to be moved in two directions in relation to another corner in an automated manner to adapt to the format of the die at the bending station.

[0018] One aspect of the invention relates to a device for forming boxes by folding cardboard sheets, comprising at least: • a fixed chassis, • a movable head comprising: • a movable base relative to the chassis between a first adjustment position and a final folding position, • at least one punch, mounted on the base and capable of cooperating with a folding die, in the end-of-folding position, said at least one punch comprising a first corner and a second corner diagonally opposite each other, • characterized in that: • The movable head includes • a first means of movement in a first direction, of the first corner relative to the second corner of the first pair of the same punch, • the device includes a second means of moving the second corner in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, relative to the first corner of the same punch.

[0019] By displacement along a direction of a corner A with respect to another corner B, we mean that we move either only corner A or only corner B or both corners A and B so as to change their relative distance, with respect to the base of the head.

[0020] Thanks to the invention, the change of punch format in the first and second directions, which can be longitudinal and transverse, is automated, making it faster and less expensive. Indeed, changing the (diagonal) distance between two diagonally opposite corners of a punch reduces the changeover time required to change the format according to the width and length of the die.

[0021] By corner we mean a piece of a punch intended to deform the cardboard plate in the die, comprising at least two walls perpendicular to each other forming an internal angle of 90° and an external angle of 270°, the external angle being intended to bend the cardboard plate against an internal 90° corner (angle) of the die.

[0022] Two diagonally opposite corners are defined as two corners with an internal angle of 90° rotated 180° from each other. In other words, the angle bisector of one of the two corners (from the internal angle at 90° to the internal angle of the other corner) is parallel to that of the other corner.

[0023] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the box forming device, according to one aspect of the invention, may have one or more additional characteristics among those described in the following paragraphs, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the device includes a cardboard plate folding station, equipped with at least two removable and interchangeable dies with other dies of different formats, each die including corners.

[0025] According to one embodiment: • the first corner is movable along the first direction by the first means of movement relative to the base, and the second corner is stationary along the first direction relative to the base, and • The first corner is stationary along the second direction relative to the base, and the second corner is movable along the second direction by the The second means of movement relative to the base. Having movement via corners simplifies the head design.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the device includes a movable head movement device, in which the head comprises at least one transverse arm fixed to the base, the second wedge being mounted movable in translation on the transverse arm, in which the second means of movement comprises: • the mobile head movement device: • a hook on the second corner for attaching to the frame • A locking and unlocking device for the second corner to lock and unlock the second corner position on the corresponding cross arm. This allows the existing movement head and chassis to be used to create the second means of movement, thereby reducing cost, maintenance, and breakdowns.

[0027] In one embodiment, the device comprises at least a second punch having the same number of corners as the first punch, wherein the first direction is longitudinal, the respective first corners are aligned longitudinally, and the respective second corners are aligned longitudinally. This allows two forming operations to be performed simultaneously according to different die sizes.

[0028] According to an example of this embodiment, the first direction is longitudinal and the at least two punches are aligned longitudinally.

[0029] In one embodiment, the first punch includes a third corner and a fourth corner, the first and second means of movement allowing the third corner to be moved relative to the fourth corner, respectively, in the first and second directions. This allows the number of punch formats to be multiplied by the number of punches. For example, the first direction corresponds to the length between two internal corners of a die (subtracted from two or four times the thickness of the cardboard sheet), and the second direction corresponds to the width between two internal corners of a die (subtracted from four or two times the thickness of the cardboard sheet, respectively).

[0030] In one example of this embodiment, the second and third corners are movable simultaneously in the second direction by the second means of movement relative to the first and fourth corners and the base. This allows the distance between two corners to be changed automatically in another direction for each punch simultaneously, thus saving handling time for format changes.

[0031] This allows the distance between two corners to be changed automatically for each punch simultaneously, thus saving handling time for format changes.

[0032] According to one example of this embodiment, the first and third corners are movable in translation along the first longitudinal direction relative to the base. In this example, the device includes at least one first and one second type of longitudinal matrix adjustment, along a matrix length. The device may include: • a first corner adjustment position, in which the longitudinal distance between the first and fourth corners is equal to a first longitudinal value (corresponding to a length of a first matrix format) and is equal to the longitudinal distance between the second and third corners, • a second corner setting position, in which the distance between the first corner and the fourth corner is a second longitudinal value (corresponding to another length of a second matrix format) greater than the first longitudinal value.

[0033] According to one example of this embodiment, the device includes a first corner setting state, in which the first corner of each punch is distanced by a first diagonal value from the second corner of the same punch, and a second corner setting state, in which the first corner of each punch is distanced by a second value from the second corner, the first diagonal value being less than the second diagonal value.

[0034] According to one example of this embodiment, the second and third corners are movable in translation along the second transverse direction relative to the base. In this example, the device includes at least one first and one second type of transverse matrix adjustment, along a matrix width, wherein: • In the first type of transverse adjustment, the transverse distance between the first and third corners is equal to a first transverse value (corresponding to the width of a first matrix format) and is equal to the transverse distance between the second and fourth corners, • in a second transverse adjustment position, the transverse distance between the first corner and the third corner is a second transverse value (corresponding to another width of a second matrix format) greater than the first longitudinal value.

[0035] According to an example of this embodiment, the forming device includes a type of two-corner adjustment in which: • the first and second corners or the third and fourth corners are separated from each other by a diagonal value less than: • the value of the longitudinal distance between the first and fourth corners and • the value of the longitudinal distance between the second and third corners.

[0036] This allows the use of a single punch with different punch format references, including: • those using only two corners for matrices with a width less than the external distance between two adjacent corners, and • Those using at least four corners for matrices with sufficient width for the use of one corner per matrix corner.

[0037] According to an example of this embodiment, the second means of movement is a means of moving the movable head and allows the movable corners to be moved simultaneously transversely with respect to the base.

[0038] In one embodiment, the second means of movement displaces the corners of each pair of each punch relative to the base such that the first, second, third, and fourth corners are movable by the second means of movement relative to the base. This allows for a faster second means of movement.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the device comprises a movable head movement device, in which the head comprises at least one first and second transverse arm per punch, in which each third corner of a punch is movably mounted on a corresponding first transverse arm and each second corner of each punch is movably mounted on the corresponding second transverse arm, the second movement means comprising: • the device for moving the mobile head, • a hook at the third and second corners, fixed to the third and second corners, to hook onto the frame. • a locking and unlocking device by third and second corners to lock and unlock the position of the third and second corners on the corresponding cross arm.

[0040] This allows for a second, simpler and less expensive means of movement (no additional movement device since the movement device of the head is used) and allows the first and second corners of each punch to be moved simultaneously.

[0041] According to one embodiment, in which the head comprises at least two punches, each comprising at least four corners, the first means of movement comprises: • a longitudinal rail that moves in longitudinal translation relative to the base, • the first and third corners of each punch being mounted rigidly in longitudinal motion with the longitudinal rail movable relative to the base, • the second and fourth corners of each punch being mounted rigidly in longitudinal motion with the base, • wherein the first means of displacement in a first longitudinal direction is configured to move the longitudinal rail relative to the base between a minimum longitudinal position and a maximum longitudinal position, the displacement of the longitudinal rail causing the first and third corners of each punch to be displaced relative to the second and fourth corners of each punch.

[0042] This maximizes the number of possible length formats. Since the head has a defined length, by not using one or more punches, the remaining punches can extend longitudinally beyond a maximum length that would be required if the head used all punches. In one example, the first movement means includes an actuator between the base and the rail to move the rail relative to the base. The actuator, which can be a simple motor or cylinder, allows all the corners attached to the rail to be moved simultaneously. In another variation, the first movement means includes a hook mounted to the rail and a means for locking the rail to the base. The second means moves the movable head relative to the chassis. The first movement means moves the rail relative to the base by hooking the rail to the chassis, unlocking the locking mechanism, and moving the head longitudinally relative to the chassis.

[0043] In one embodiment, the punch includes at least one gripping tool per corner, mounted on the corresponding corner. This allows for correction of any misalignment between the punch and a cardboard plate, while also enabling a single gripping device to adapt to different formats, thus reducing the cost of format changes.

[0044] According to one embodiment, • The head includes: • a base, • a first longitudinal arm fixed to the base • a first transverse arm perpendicular to the first longitudinal arm and attached to the first longitudinal arm, • a second transverse arm perpendicular to the first longitudinal arm, • in which the first displacement device comprises an actuator and a second longitudinal arm movable by means of the actuator relative to the base, the second transverse arm being mounted integrally with the second longitudinal arm to move longitudinally, • in which the first corner of each punch is mounted movably on the first transverse arm in a removable manner, • in which the second corner of each punch is mounted movably on the second transverse arm in a removable manner, • in which a third corner of each punch is mounted on the first cross arm, • in which the fourth corner of each punch is mounted on the second arm, • in which the first and second removable corners of the punches are aligned longitudinally and the third and fourth corners of the punches are aligned longitudinally.

[0045] An example of this implementation: • the second displacement device comprising: • the means of moving the movable head: • a fixed bar on a frame, at least one means of picking the lock, • The head includes: • a locking mechanism for each first and second corner to lock them securely to the second crossbar and to unlock them and make them removable from the second crossbar, • a male or female hook per corner to hook into the hooking means of the fixed bar.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the first means of movement comprises an actuator and a rail attached to the first corner.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the device includes a device for moving the movable head relative to the chassis along at least two transverse axes.

[0048] According to an example of this embodiment, the device for moving the mobile head is a robot having an arm articulated along the two transverse axes, the base of the mobile head being fixed in a rigid manner to the articulated arm.

[0049] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for adjusting automated punches of a forming device according to the first aspect of the invention, with or without a feature or features of the embodiments described in the preceding paragraphs, the method comprising: • A validation step for a die format at the folding station • A movement step along the first direction of the first corner relative to the second corner of at least one punch by the first means of movement over a predetermined diagonal distance corresponding to the format of the validated die, • A movement step along the second direction of the second corner relative to the first corner of at least one punch by the second means of movement along a predetermined diagonal distance corresponding to the format of the validated die.

[0050] According to one embodiment, in which the device is, according to one of the embodiments, comprising at least four corners per punch, the method further comprises a step of moving along the second direction the second and third corners of each punch relative to the base by the second means of movement, according to a predetermined width corresponding to the validated die format.

[0051] According to an example of this embodiment, in which the device, according to one of the embodiments, comprises a frame and a hook per second and third corner, removable or per transverse arm, the step of transverse movement of the second and third corners comprises: • a step of moving the head until it hooks onto the frame, the second and third corners of each punch or the first and second transverse arms, • a step to unlock the second and third corners of each punch corresponding to a change in width of a validated die format, • a head movement step according to the validated die width relative to the chassis, modifying the transverse distance between the second and third unlocked corners and the first and fourth corners of the corresponding punch, • a locking step for the second and third unlocked corners of each punch.

[0052] According to one embodiment, in which the device is, according to one of the embodiments, comprising a longitudinal rail, the longitudinal displacement step is carried out by moving the longitudinal rail relative to the base of the head, causing the simultaneous displacement of the first corner and the second corner relative to the third and fourth corners of each punch.

[0053] Another aspect of an unclaimed invention relates to a device for forming boxes by folding cardboard sheets, comprising at least: • a fixed chassis, • a movable head comprising: • a movable base relative to the chassis between a first adjustment position and a final folding position, • at least two punches, mounted on the base, comprising at least a first pair of corners including a first and second corner, the first and second corners of the first pair being adapted to cooperate each in a die with one of the internal corners of said die in the end-folding position; • characterized in that the movable head comprises: • a first means of movement in a first direction, to move along the first direction simultaneously for each punch, the first corner relative to the second corner of the first pair of the same punch, • a first state of corner setting, in which the first corner of each punch is distanced by a first value from the second corner of the same punch, and • a second state of corner setting, in which the first corner of each punch is distanced by a second value from the second corner, the first value being less than the second value.

[0054] This other invention may include one of the features of the first aspect of the invention described above.

[0055] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0056] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting to the invention.

[0057] [Fig.1] shows a schematic representation of a device according to a first embodiment.

[0058] [Fig.2A] shows a schematic representation according to a principle view of an example of a forming device according to a first embodiment.

[0059] [Fig.2B] shows a schematic representation of two corners of a punch from the example device in [Fig.2A], with a cardboard plate and a die.

[0060] [Fig.2C] shows a schematic representation of different positions of two corners of a punch from [Fig.2B].

[0061] [Fig.2D] shows a schematic representation of four corners of a punch of a device according to a second example of the first embodiment with a cardboard plate and a die.

[0062] [Fig.3] shows a schematic representation of four corners of a punch of the device with a cardboard plate and a die.

[0063] [Fig.4A] shows a schematic representation according to a three-dimensional view of a forming device according to a second embodiment.

[0064] [Fig.4B] shows a schematic representation from a top view of a head of a forming device according to a variant of [Fig.4A].

[0065] [Fig.5] shows a schematic representation, in three-dimensional view, of an example of the forming device according to the second embodiment.

[0066] [Fig.6A] shows a schematic representation of a section AA of [Fig.5].

[0067] [Fig.6B] shows a schematic representation of a BB section of [Fig.5].

[0068] [Fig.7A] shows a schematic representation of different positions of different corners of a punch according to the first or second example of the second embodiment.

[0069] [Fig.7B] shows a schematic representation of different positions of different corners of a punch according to a third example.

[0070] [Fig.7C] shows a schematic representation of different positions of different corners of a punch according to a third example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting to the invention.

[0072] [Fig. 2A] shows a schematic diagram of a box forming device 1 110 by folding 100 cardboard plates, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0073] The forming device 1 includes a folding station 4 for cardboard plates 100, comprising removable dies 41, 42, of which there are N, such that N can be equal to or greater than 1. In the example shown, N is equal to 2. Each die 41, 42 includes four internal corners to form a box 110.

[0074] The dies 41 and 42 comprise an internal volume, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with a height along the internal corners, a length between the first and second internal corners, and a width between the first and fourth internal corners. This internal volume defines the format of the crate 110.

[0075] Matrices 41, 42 are interchangeable with other matrices 41', 42', each with a different format. Two examples of matrices 41', 42' with a different format are shown as dashed lines, with the length between the first and second corners being longer than the format length of matrices 41, 42.

[0076] The forming device 1 includes a frame 5 fixed relative to the bending station 4.

[0077] Optionally, the forming device 1 includes a handling device comprising, for example, a conveyor per die allowing the following movement the horizontal direction of a cardboard plate 100 from a store to the matrix or any other known moving / handling device.

[0078] The store comprising at least one stack of several superimposed cardboard plates, for example one stack per matrix 41, 42.

[0079] The forming device 1 includes a movable head 3 that can be positioned relative to the frame 5 and therefore relative to the bending station 4. In this example, the movable head 3 is movable in a vertical direction, but it could also be movable in the horizontal direction. The movable head 3 is moved by a displacement device 35, such as a cylinder or a motor, between a first position shown in [Fig. 2A] and a final bending position explained below.

[0080] The movable head 3 includes a base 30 movable in the vertical direction relative to the chassis 5 by a movement device 35 of the movable head 3. The movable head 3 includes a punch Pl, P2 by die 4, 42, i.e. in this example two punches Pl, P2 mounted on the base 30 but could include only one punch.

[0081] Each punch Pl, P2 comprises a first pair of corners including at least one first and second corner Pl i, P12, P21, P22 diagonally opposite each other. Hereafter, the reference following the letter P for a corner of a first punch begins with PI, and the reference for a corner of a second punch P2 begins with P2; the following number is the corner number.

[0082] A corner in the demand includes at least one shape comprising two plane surfaces perpendicular to each other corresponding to an internal corner of the matrix.

[0083] The first corner P1, P21 and the second corners P12, P22, of the first pair of punches P1, P2, each cooperate internally with one of the internal corners of the die 41, 42 in the end-folding position. The two internal corners of the die 41, 42 are diagonally opposite, i.e., their bisectors are parallel. Figure 2B shows the first punch P1 positioned above a cardboard plate 100. In a pre-folding position, the cardboard plate 100 is sandwiched between the first or second die 41 and, respectively, the corners of the first or second punch P1, P2. In the end-folding position, the corners of punch P1, P2 are lowered towards the bottom of the die, forming the box 110.

[0084] The movable head 3 further includes a first means of movement 33 in a first direction, here longitudinal, for moving longitudinally (here simultaneously) for each punch Pl, P2, the first corner Pl1, P21, relative to the second corner P12, P22 of the first pair of the same punch Pl, P2. The means of movement 33 includes, for example, a rail 330 mounted on the base 30 and an actuator 331, such as a motor or cylinder, moving the rail 330 relative to the base 30.

[0085] In this example, the first corner Pl 1, P21 of each pair of punches is mounted on rail 330 and is movable relative to base 30 by moving rail 330. dotted lines represent the first corner Pl 1, P21 of each punch Pl, P2 at another position corresponding to the die 41', 42' of another format.

[0086] The first means of movement 33 can be according to other means, such as a motor and a worm screw on which are mounted the first corners Pl 1, P21 of each punch Pl, P2, further mounted each sliding longitudinally in the base 30.

[0087] In this example, each punch Pl, P2 includes only one pair of corners Pl i, P12, P21, P22. The pair of corners makes it possible to transform a cardboard plate 110, for example the one shown in [Fig.2B] with a corresponding die 41, 42, into boxes 110 of different lengths.

[0088] The device includes a second means for moving the second corner P12, P22 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the first corner Pl1, P21 of the same punch Pl, P2. In this example, the movable head 3 includes, for each punch Pl, P2, a rail on which the second corner P12, P22 is mounted, and a jack for moving the second corner P12, P22 relative to the base 30, together forming the second means of movement 319, 329. According to another example, the first corner of the second punch, or of each punch, is moved relative to the base 30 by the second means of movement.

[0089] Each case 110, die 41, 42, has a variable width W (which may differ from one another) measured in the second direction, and each punch Pl, P2 adjusts the transverse distance between the first corner P12, P21 and the second corner P12, P22 by moving the first corner P12, P21 to match the width W of the die. Each case 110, die 41, 42, has a variable length L measured in the first direction between: • a minimum length L1, represented in [Fig.2C], corresponding to the distance between the first corner Pl1 closest possible to the second corner P12 and • a maximum length L2, represented in [Fig.2C], corresponding to the distance between the first corner Pl 1 closest possible to the second corner P12.

[0090] The same applies when moving the first corner P1, P21 relative to the base 30 by the second means of movement allowing the width W1 to be varied.

[0091] In this example, the corners Pl 1, P12, P21, P22 of each punch Pl, P2 have a complementary shape, allowing them, when positioned closest to each other, to be in contact and form at least one PV zone, in this case two zones. The PV zone can allow a gripping tool to be left to hold the part forming the base of the cardboard plate relative to the die during positioning. punch Pl, P2 in the pre-bending position and / or relative to the punch when it is inserted into the die.

[0092] Device 1 thus includes a first type of longitudinal spacing adjustment, in which at least each corner Pl 1, P12, P21, P22 of each punch Pl, P2 is in a folding position cooperating with the corners of a corresponding 4N die along a length to fold the cardboard plate 100 into a container 110.

[0093] Device 1 thus includes a second type of transverse spacing adjustment, in which at least each corner Pl i, P12, P21, P22 of each punch Pl, P2 is in a folding position cooperating with the corners of a corresponding 4N die according to a width to fold the cardboard plate 100 into container 110.

[0094] The corner setting process for the two automated punches of the forming device 1 comprises: • A validation step for a matrix format 41, 42 at the folding station, • A movement step along the first direction of the first corner PI 1, P 12, relative to the second corner P 12, P22 of each punch Pl, P2 by the first movement means 33 according to a predetermined distance corresponding to the format of the validated die, • A movement step along the second direction of the first corner relative to the base modifying the distance between the second corner P 12, P22 and the first corner Pl i, P21 by the second movement means 319, 329 of each punch Pl, P2 according to a predetermined distance corresponding to the format of the validated die.

[0095] The forming process in this example includes: • the movement of the cardboard plate 100 by a handling means for a stack of cardboard plates, until the cardboard plate 100 is above the corresponding matrix 41, 42, • the movement of the movable head from an initial position until each punch PI, P2 is in the pre-bending position, • the movement of each punch Pl, P2 in the die 41, 42 deforming the corresponding cardboard plate 100 in the corresponding box 110.

[0096] According to another example of this first embodiment, each punch Pl, P2 comprises a second pair of wedges P13, P14, of which only the first wedge P13 is shown in [Fig. 2D]. The third wedge P13 of each punch Pl, P2 corresponds to the first wedge of the second pair and is therefore movable longitudinally and transversely relative to the fourth wedge P14 of the corresponding punch Pl, P2. Optionally, in this example shown in [Fig. 2D], each punch Pl, P2 comprises a movable wedge block P13 comprising the first wedge P14 and the third corner P3 and a fixed corner block Pif including the second corner PI and the fourth corner P3.

[0097] Of course, each punch Pl, P2 could include four separate corners (no corner block) as in the example shown in [Fig.3], of a forming device according to a second embodiment described below.

[0098] Figure [Fig. 4A] represents a schematic diagram of a forming device 1 according to a first example of a second embodiment.

[0099] The forming device 1 differs from that of the first embodiment in that a single second means of movement allows to move simultaneously for each punch Pl, P2, at least one corner of at least one pair of each punch PI, P2 relative to another corner of the corresponding punch.

[0100] In this example the first corner Pl 1, P21 and the third corner PI 3, P23 are mobile by the first means of movement relative to the other corner of the corresponding pair, here in this case the second and fourth corners P12, P22, P14, P24.

[0101] The second means of movement moves the second corner P 12 and the third P13 relative to the first and fourth corners Pl 1, P21, P14, P24 in a second direction different from the first longitudinal direction moved by the first means of movement 33. In this example the second direction is a transverse direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction.

[0102] On [Fig.4A], the squares with a checkerboard pattern represent the sliding link along the second (transverse) direction and the hatched square, the sliding link along the first (longitudinal) direction, also schematically represents the actuator 331 of the first means of movement.

[0103] In this example, the movement device 35 of the moving head 3 is an articulated arm along at least two axes of direction, here in this case a three-axis robot.

[0104] The base 30 is fixed to the movement device 35. The rail 330 is mounted on the base 30 as in the first embodiment, and is movable relative to the base 30 by means of an actuator 33.

[0105] The head 3 includes at least one first transverse arm 311, 321 per punch PI, P2 fixed to the rail 330 mounted on the base 30. The third corner P13, P23 of each punch Pl, P2 is mounted movably in the transverse direction, on the first transverse arm 311, 321. The first corner Pl 1, P21 of each punch Pl, P2 is mounted fixed to the first transverse arm 311.

[0106] The head 3 includes at least one second transverse arm 312, 322 per punch Pl, P2 fixed to the base 30. The fourth corner P14, P24 of each punch Pl, P2 is mounted fixed to the second transverse arm 312, 322. The second corner P12, P22 of each punch Pl, P2 is mounted movable in the transverse direction, on the corresponding second transverse arm 312, 322.

[0107] The third and second corners P13, P12, P23, P22 can be moved by an actuator mounted between them, and respectively the first and second transverse arm, for example at the level of the sliding joint.

[0108] Optionally, in this example, the movable head 3 is also a handling head, in that it includes a handling device V. In this example, the handling device V includes a gripping tool, for example, the one described in document FR3105082A1, per wedge, which is in this case a suction cup VI 2, V13, V14, V22, V23. Each gripping tool is mounted relative to the wedge by means of a ball joint connection via a rod 513, 523. In addition, each punch PI, P2 includes a cylinder 514, 524, in this case pneumatic, mounted between the wedge and a ring 525 that moves in translation on the wedge, surrounding the rod 513, 523 that supports the gripping tool V14. The deployment of the cylinder 514, 524 ensures the sliding of the ring 525 towards a locking position, and unlocking during its folding, as explained in document FR3105082A1.

[0109] In this first example, as in those of the first embodiment, the movable head 3 includes two punches Pl, P2 but could include many more, as shown in [Fig.4B] representing a schematic diagram seen from above of the movable head 3 according to a variant of the first example of the device 1 according to the second embodiment, including N punch Pn.

[0110] In the following, the lowercase letter "n" in a reference represents the punch number. For example, reference 3nl is the reference for the first transverse arm of punch Pn, reference 3n2 is that of the second transverse arm of punch Pn, reference Pnl is that of the first corner of a punch Pn, etc.

[0111] Figure 4B represents, in dotted lines: • different transverse positions of the third and second movable corners Pn3, Pn2 (with their gripping tool) relative respectively to the first arm 3n and second arm 3n2, and • different longitudinal positions of each first corner of each pair of corners, i.e. the first and third corner Pnl, Pn3 in relation respectively to the base 30 and therefore to the second and fourth corner Pn2, Pn4.

[0112] In this example and the variant described, each corner Pnl, Pn2 movable transversely with respect to the first or second corresponding transverse arm 3nl, 3n2 can be moved by its own actuator, such as a pneumatic cylinder mounted between the corresponding transverse arm 3nl, 3n2 and the corner Pnl, Pn2.

[0113] The device thus includes a first type of adjustment allowing the distance along the first direction and the distance along the second direction between the corners according to the width and length of the 4n matrix. This allows, in a folding position in the 4n matrix, that the four corners Pn1, Pn2, Pn3, Pn4 of the at least a punch Pn, cooperate with the internal corners of the die 4n to fold the cardboard plate 100 into container 110.

[0114] According to an unshown variant, the first corner Pnl and optionally the fourth corner Pn4 can also be translationally movable relative to the first arm by means of a separate actuator. Figure 7B shows different positions of different corners of the first punch PI relative to the base 30 according to this variant, and a third example of the second embodiment is explained below.

[0115] Device 1 may thus include a type of two-corner adjustment for one of the 4n matrix formats (low width), wherein the fourth and third corners are moved to opposite ends in the transverse direction or are removed automatically or manually, wherein the second and first corners Pn2, Pnl are moved away from each other diagonally such that the second corner is moved along the second longitudinal direction by a distance from the first corner (measured only in the second direction by projection) substantially equivalent to that of the width of the 4n matrix and are moved away from each other along the longitudinal direction by a distance substantially equivalent to that of the length of the 4n matrix.This allows, in a folding position of the punch 30, that only the second and first corner Pn2, Pnl cooperate with the corners of the die 4n in the folding position to conform the cardboard plate 100 into container 110.

[0116] A second example of device 1 of this second embodiment includes a movable head 3 shown in figures 5, 6A, 6B, similar to that of the first example of this second embodiment, except that the second means of movement is different.

[0117] [Fig.5] represents a three-dimensional view of the movable head 3 according to this second example of this second embodiment, [Fig.6A] represents a section AA of [Fig.5], and [Fig.6B] represents a section BB of [Fig.5].

[0118] In this example, the number N of punch is 5. Cuts AA and BB are made at the level of the third punch P3.

[0119] In this example, each corner Pnl, Pn2, which moves transversely relative to the corresponding first or second transverse arm 3nl, 3n2, includes a hook Pn35, Pn25, P335, P325, here in this case a pin visible in Figures 6A and 6B. The hook Pn35, Pn25, P335, P325 is mounted in a hook fixed to the chassis 5, here in this case a longitudinal rail 50 fixed to the chassis, comprising a groove corresponding to the pins of each corner Pnl, Pn2, which moves transversely to hook them.

[0120] In this example, each corner Pn3, Pn2, which is movable transversely, includes a locking device Pn38, Pn28, P338, P328, to lock or unlock the sliding link with respect to the first or second transverse arm 3nl, 3n2.

[0121] In this case, the second means of transport includes: • the movement device 35 which allows the movable head 3 to be moved to an adjustment position, such that each corner Pnl, Pn2 movable transversely is hooked by its hook Pn35, Pn25, P335, P325 to a hook 50 fixed to the chassis 5, • the locking device to lock or unlock the sliding link of each corner Pnl, Pn2 mobile transversely with respect to the first or second corresponding transverse arm 3nl, 3n2.

[0122] The adjustment process therefore includes the following steps: • movement of the movable head 3 to the adjustment position, • unlocking of each corner Pn3, Pn2 movable relative to the first or second corresponding transverse arm 3nl, 3n2, • displacement by the movement device 35 of the movable head 3 in a transverse direction to slide the first and second transverse arms 3nl, 3n2 relative to the movable corners Pn3, Pn2 hooked to the hook 50 fixed to the frame 5, thus allowing each movable corner Pn2, Pn3 to be moved closer to or further from the other corner Pnl, Pn4 mounted fixed to the corresponding first or second transverse arm 3nl, 3n2, • Lock the locking device Pn38, Pn28, P338, P328 immobilizing the sliding connection between the corresponding transverse arm 3nl, 3n2 and the movable corner Pn3, Pn2, • Move the movable head 3 to an initial position by removing the hook from the corner Pn3, Pn2 movable from the hook attached to the chassis 5.

[0123] In this example, optionally, the longitudinal rail 330 is a male profile sliding in ball guides of one (or more) connecting piece 301 (not visible on the [Fig.5]) fixed to the first movable transverse arms 3nl of each punch Pn.

[0124] Fig. 7A represents different positions of different corners of the first punch PI relative to the base 30 according to the first or second example of the second embodiment.

[0125] Optionally, in this example, all the transverse arms 3nl, 3n2 are mounted to slide relative to the base 30, which comprises two longitudinal profiles 305, 305' housed in ball bearing guides mounted on the transverse arms 3nl, 3n2. This guides the movement of the first transverse arms during their longitudinal movement. The second transverse arms 3n2 are locked onto the base 30. either by manually mounted bearings or by an automatic locking device locking the sliding connection between the base 30 and the second transverse arms 3n2.

[0126] Optionally, according to a third example in the case of an automatic locking device for each second transverse arm 3n2, the moving head 1 includes a robot 7 sliding longitudinally on the base 30, or the longitudinal rail 330 to move the second transverse arms 3n2 one by one if necessary.

[0127] Fig. 7B represents different positions of different corners of the first punch PI relative to the base 30 according to this third example of the second embodiment.

[0128] According to a fourth example, the corners P14 and P13 of the second pair and the corners P1 and P12 of the first pair of each punch Pn are movable simultaneously in the transverse direction, either moving away from or towards each other. The corners move simultaneously relative to the first or second arm supporting them. Figure 7C shows different positions of different corners of the first punch relative to the base 30 according to this fourth example of the second embodiment.

[0129] Device 1 may thus include at least one second type of longitudinal spacing adjustment according to a longitudinal size of die, in which at least one punch Pn is in an out-of-use position in an area outside a die 4n when at least one other punch Pn is in a folding position cooperating with the corners of a corresponding die 4n by cooperating together to fold the cardboard plate 100 into a container 110.

[0130] According to another embodiment not shown, identical to the second example of this second embodiment, except that the transverse movement means is the first movement means, the first direction is therefore the transverse direction. Furthermore, optionally the moving head 1 includes a robot 7 sliding longitudinally on the base 30 to move the second transverse arms 3n2 or the first transverse arms 3nl one by one, if necessary. In this case, the device lacks a connecting piece 301 between the longitudinal rail 330 and each first transverse arm 3nl, 331. The device further includes, in this case, an automatic locking device for each first transverse arm 3nl, 331 to lock or unlock the sliding connection between the corresponding first transverse arm 3nl, 331 and the base 30.

[0131] Automatic locking devices between two parts can be, for example, a cylinder, such as a pneumatic cylinder, mounted on one part that fits into a hole in the other part, or, for example, a cylinder or motor mounted on a pivoting part. a latch fitting into a hook on the other piece or any other automatic locking device.

[0132] In the various examples, the movable head 3 comprises: • a first state of wedge setting, in which the first wedge Pnl of the wedge pair of at least one punch Pn is distant along the first direction by a first longitudinal value from the second wedge Pn2 of the same wedge pair, • a second corner setting position P, in which the first corner Pnl of each punch Pn is distanced by a second longitudinal value from the second corner Pn2, the first value being less than the second value.

[0133] The longitudinal value is measured in the first direction by projecting into the transverse direction from the first or second corner.

[0134] The first value corresponds to a spacing distance between two corners of a first type of 4n matrix and the second value corresponds to a spacing distance between two corners of a second type of 4n matrix.

[0135] In the various examples, the longitudinal direction of the corner displacements is along the length of the rectangular parallelepiped shape of the box or the internal volume of the matrix, but it could also be along the width. If the longitudinal direction is along the width, the transverse direction would be along the length of the rectangular parallelepiped shape of the box or the internal volume of the matrix.

[0136] The method for setting automated punches of the forming device 1, according to one of the various examples of the different embodiments, comprises: • a validation step of a 4n matrix format at folding station 4, • a displacement step along the first direction, for example longitudinal, of each first and third corner Pn1, Pn3 simultaneously, relative to the base 30, moving them respectively away from the fourth and second corner Pn4, Pn2 of each punch by the first means of displacement over a predetermined distance, for example a length, corresponding to the format of the validated matrix and • a movement step in a second direction, optionally simultaneously, of the second and third corners Pn2, Pn3 of each punch Pn relative to the base 30 by the second means of movement moving them away respectively from the fourth and first corner Pn4, Pnl, according to a predetermined width corresponding to the validated matrix format.

[0137] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

Claims

Demands

1. Device (1) for forming boxes (110) by folding cardboard sheets (100), comprising at least: - a fixed chassis (5), - a movable head (3) comprising: • a base (30) movable relative to the chassis (5) between a first adjustment position and an end-of-folding position, • at least one punch (Pn), mounted on the base (30) and capable of cooperating with a folding die (4n) in the end-of-folding position, said at least one punch (Pn) comprising a first corner (Pn1) and a second corner (Pn2) diagonally opposed to each other, - characterized in that: • the movable head (3) includes a first means of displacement (33) in a first direction, of the first corner (Pnl) relative to the second corner (Pn2) of the first pair of the same punch (32), • the device includes a second means of moving the second corner (Pn2) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the first corner (Pnl) of the same punch (Pn.

2. A forming device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein: - the first corner (Pnl) is mobile along the first direction by the first means of displacement relative to the base (30) and the second corner (Pn2) is immobile along the first direction relative to the base (30), and - the first corner (Pnl) is stationary in the second direction relative to the base (30) and the second corner (Pn2) is mobile in the second direction by the second means of movement relative to the base

3. Forming device (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a movement device (35) for the movable head (3), in which the head (3) comprises at least one transverse arm (3n2) fixed to the base (30), the second wedge (Pn2) being mounted to move in translation on the transverse arm (3n2) in which the second movement means comprises: - the movement device (35) of the movable head (3): - a hook on the second corner (Pn2) to hook onto the frame (5), - a locking and unlocking device for the second corner (Pn2) to lock and unlock the position of the second corner (Pn2) on the corresponding cross arm (3n2).

4. Forming device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a second punch (Pn) comprising the same number of corners as the first punch (Pn), wherein the first direction is longitudinal, the respective first corners are aligned longitudinally and the respective second corners are aligned longitudinally.

5. Device (1) for forming boxes (110) by folding cardboard plates (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the first punch (Pn) comprising a third corner (Pn3) and a fourth corner (Pn4), the first and second means of displacement allowing to move, respectively in the first and second direction, the third corner (Pn3) relative to the fourth corner (Pn4).

6. Forming device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the second and third corners (Pn2, Pn3) are movable simultaneously along the second direction by the second means of displacement relative to the first and fourth corner (Pn1, Pn4) and the base (30).

7. Forming device (1) according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the first corner and third corner (Pnl, Pn3) are movable in translation along the first longitudinal direction relative to the base (30).

8. Forming device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second and third corners (Pn2, Pn3) are movable in translation along the second transverse direction with respect to the base (30).

9. A forming device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, comprising a type of two-wedge adjustment in which • the first and second corners (Pn1, Pn2) or the third and fourth corners (Pn3, Pn4) are separated from each other by a diagonal value less than:

1. the value of the longitudinal distance between the first and fourth corners and 2. the value of the longitudinal distance between the second and third corners.

10. A forming device (1) according to claim 4 and any one of claims 5 to 9, comprising a movement device (35) for the movable head (3), wherein the head (3) comprises at least one first and second transverse arm (3n1, 3n2) per punch (Pn), wherein each third corner (Pn3) of a punch (Pn) is movably mounted on a corresponding first transverse arm (31) and each second corner (Pn2) of each punch (Pn) is movably mounted on the corresponding second transverse arm (3n2), the second movement means comprising: - the movement device (35) of the movable head (3), - a hook at the third and second corners (Pn3, Pn2) attached to the third and second corners (Pn3, Pn2) to hook onto the frame (5), - a locking and unlocking device by third and second corners (Pn3, Pn2) to lock and unlock the position of the third and second corners (Pn3, Pn2) on the corresponding cross arm (3nl, 3n2).

11. Forming device (1) according to claim 4 and any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the first displacement means (33) comprises: - a longitudinal rail (330) movable in longitudinal translation relative to the base (30), - the first corner (Pnl) and third corner (Pn3) of each punch (Pn) being mounted rigidly in longitudinal movement with the longitudinal rail (331) relative to the base (30), - the second and fourth corners (Pn2, Pn4) of each punch (Pn) are mounted rigidly in longitudinal movement with the base (30), - wherein the first means of displacement in a first longitudinal direction is configured to move the longitudinal rail (331) relative to the base (30) between a minimum longitudinal position and a maximum longitudinal position, the displacement of the longitudinal rail (331) causing the displacement of the first and third corners (Pnl, Pn3) of each punch (Pn) relative to the second and fourth corners (Pn2, Pn4) of each punch (Pn).

12. Forming device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the punch (Pn) comprises at least one wedge gripping tool (Pnl, Pn2, Pn3, Pn4), mounted on the corresponding wedge (Pnl, Pn2, Pn3, Pn4).

13. A method for setting the corners of at least one automated punch of a forming device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: - A validation step of a matrix format (4n) at a folding station (4), - A movement step along the first direction of the first corner (Pnl), relative to the second corner (Pn2) of at least one punch (Pn) by the first means of movement (33) over a predetermined distance corresponding to the format of the validated die, - A movement step along the second direction of the second corner (Pn2), relative to the first corner (Pnl) of at least one punch (Pn) by the second means of movement (33) according to a predetermined distance corresponding to the format of the validated matrix.

14. A method for setting automated punches of a forming device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 11, comprising - A movement step along the second direction, of the second and third corners (Pn2, Pn3) of each punch (Pn) relative to the base (30) by the second means of movement, according to a predetermined width corresponding to the validated die format.

15. A method for setting an automated punch according to the preceding claim, wherein the forming device (1) is according to claim 10, comprising: - a step of moving the head (3) until the second and third corners (Pn2, Pn3) of each punch (Pn) are hooked to the frame (5), - a step of unlocking the second and third corners (Pn2, Pn3) of each punch (Pn) corresponding to a change in width of a validated die format, - a step of moving the head (30) according to the validated die width relative to the frame (5), modifying the transverse distance between the second and third corners (Pn2, Pn3) and the first and fourth corners (Pnl, Pn4) of the corresponding punch (Pn), - a locking step of the second and third corners (Pn2, Pn3) unlocked from each punch (Pn).

16. Automated punch setting method according to the preceding claim, wherein the forming device (1) is according to claim 11, wherein the longitudinal displacement step is carried out by moving the longitudinal rail relative to the base of the head causing the simultaneous displacement of the first corner (Pn1) and the second corner (Pn2) relative to the third and fourth corners (Pn3, Pn4) of each punch.

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