FR2493805A1 - Folding feed for container blanks - has powered rotary conveyor with gripping jaws to pass containers to working stations - Google Patents

Abstract

The feed is for making, filling and closing containers of parallelepiped form from flat sheet. In the first phase the shape is bent and in the last phase the folded shape is maintained. This includes several successive operations. The machine has plate grips (13,14) at right angles. The folding parts (9) are separated from the grips. The plates are pivoted and can be closed against each other or opened to 90 degrees. A drive rotates the plate grip assemblies. One of the plates can have a table (17) and suction grips (18).

Description

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR CONSTITUTING, FILLING, CLOSING A
CONTAINER OF GENERAL FORM PARALLELEPIPEDIC FROM
OF A FLATTENED FORM
The invention relates to a method and a machine for constituting, filling, closing a container of generally rectangular shape from a flattened shape.

 Methods and machines are already known for constituting, filling, closing a container of generally parallelepipedal shape t from a flattened shape.

 In the known method, in a first phase, the shape is unfolded and in a second subsequent phase, this unfolded shape is maintained to carry out a succession of operations such as closing the legs of the bottom of the container, filling, marking the container, closing upper legs.

 In the known method, the unfolded shape is maintained, in the second phase, by gripping either two opposite faces, or three adjacent faces of the container. It follows that the treatment of containers of different dimensions requires very significant adjustments of the means for unfolding the form and also means for maintaining the unfolded form. This difficulty is all the more important as the machine comprises a path of displacement of nonlinear unfolded forms.

 It has also been found that the machines known for implementing these methods were bulky, ill-suited to the problem of adjusting according to the dimensions of the containers used. In a first possible variant, the holding means such as ramp, shaper, etc. are fixed . The machine then includes means for driving the shapes acting directly on them to slide them onto the holding means. I1 then follows inevitable friction problems and risks of jamming, etc. In a second known variant, the holding means such as cleats, cells, etc. are mobile and allow the training of forms. The problem of adjusting the holding means, according to the dimensions of the containers is therefore particularly difficult.

 The present invention aims to remedy these various drawbacks and others presented by the known method and machines.

 To this end, the invention provides a method and a machine for constituting, filling, closing a container of generally parallelepipedal shape from a flattened shape.

 This process comprises a first phase in which the shape is unfolded and a second subsequent phase in which the unfolded shape is maintained, this phase comprising a plurality of successive operations (closing the bottom legs, filling, marking, closing the top legs ). In this second phase, in order to maintain the unfolded shape, two retaining faces of the container are grasped, adjacent to each other and to a main stop and are held in their final relative position.

 A machine for implementing the method comprising means for storing flattened and superimposed shapes, means for feeding the shapes to unfolding means, means for holding the unfolded shapes, means for driving the shapes, means for carrying out operations on the container such as closing the bottom or top tabs, filling, marking. According to the invention, the holding means are in the general form of two adjacent plates and 90 from one another, normally.

In the invention, the container is therefore grasped on only two faces adjacent to each other and to a
fish bone. I1 follows that this method and this machine are particularly suitable for treating containers of different shapes and this easily, at high speed.

The other characteristics of the invention will result from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the different phases of the method according to the invention, in a first variant.

 Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating the different phases of the method according to the invention, in a second variant.

 Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E are five schematic views, illustrating the delivery of the shapes before their maintenance.

 FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E are five schematic views, illustrating the successive phases of unfolding a shape and maintaining this unfolded shape, in a first variant.

 FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E are five schematic views illustrating successive phases of unfolding a shape and maintaining this unfolded shape, in a second variant.

 Figure 6 is a schematic view, in section, through an axial plane, illustrating a possible embodiment of a machine according to the invention, in a first variant.

 Figure 7 is a schematic view, in section, on an axial plane, illustrating a possible embodiment of a machine according to the invention, in a second variant.

 Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the unfolding means of a variant machine.

 FIG. 9 is a schematic view, in elevation, illustrating a possible form of a container used in a machine according to the invention, partially open.

 FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, illustrating a folded form from which a container is made; FIG. 11 illustrates the folded form represented in FIG. 10 viewed from the end.

 According to the invention, there is provided a method and a machine for constituting, filling, closing, a container of generally parallelepipedal shape from a flattened shape.

In the remainder of the text, Fp denotes a folded shape, Fd a shape that is unfolded or being unfolded, that is to say a container that has not yet been completed, and finally by
CO a finished container.

 The container CO has a general pedic parallelepi shape comprising two first parallel faces 1, two second also parallel faces 2, a bottom 3 and a cover 4. The bottom 3 and the cover 4 preferably consist of a plurality of tabs adjacent to the faces 1,2. We denote by 5 each of the edges between a first face 1 and a second face 2.

 The CO container can be made of any suitable material, in particular cardboard, having a certain resistance. The dimensions of such a container can vary between on the order of a centimeter and on the order of several decimeters.

 In the initial state, the container CO is presented as a folded form Fp, two adjacent faces 1, 2 being coplanar, the faces 1, 2 being applied one on the other, the shape Fp therefore being flattened, the bottom 3 and the cover 4 open, that is to say the corresponding tabs located in the extension of the faces 1, 2.

 The invention relates to a method and a machine for constituting, filling, closing continuously, at a high rate, and with the possibility of adjustment, such a CO container, from the form Fp.

 In a first phase of the process, the form Fp is unfolded to bring its faces 1,2 to square as they are in the finished CO container.

 In a second subsequent phase, the Fd shape thus unfolded is maintained, that is to say with the faces 1, 2 perpendicular. This second phase comprises a plurality of successive operations such as closing the legs of the bottom 3, filling with the contents, marking, closing the legs of the cover 4.

 According to the invention, to maintain the unfolded shape; in the second phase, two retaining faces of the latter are grasped, adjacent to a main edge, and they are held in their final relative position.

 In this case, a first face 1 and a second face 2 are grasped adjacent to an edge 5 and they are held perpendicular to each other.

 According to another characteristic of the methods according to the invention, during the first and the second phase an overall pivoting is carried out, of the folded form Fp or unfolded Fd and of the container CO around an axis 6 parallel to an edge 5.

 According to another characteristic of the method according to the invention, it comprises an initial phase of supplying a folded form Fp, at the end of which at least one of the two retaining faces is grasped, ie for example the first face 1 (Figure 3A to 3E).

 In a first possible variant, to unfold the folded form Fp, a working face is grasped, parallel and opposite to the first holding face -that is to say a first face 1- and a relative displacement of the first holding face and the working face to bring them into their final relative position, after which one ceases to grip the working face as soon as the second holding face has been gripped (FIG. 4A to 4E).

 In a second possible variant, the second retaining face is grasped and a relative displacement of the second retaining face and the first retaining face is carried out in order to bring them into their relative end position (in this case perpendicular one to the other) after which, the two working faces are maintained in this final relative position.

A machine according to the invention comprises means 7 for storing the folded forms Fp flattened and superimposed on each other; supply means 8 for the folded forms Fp from the storage means 7; means 9 for unfolding the folded forms Fp brought by the supply means 8; means 10 for maintaining the unfolded forms Fd; means 11 for training unfolded forms
Fd means 12 for performing operations such as filling, closing, marking, etc.

 According to the invention, the holding means 10 are in the general form of two plates, a first plate 13 and a second plate 14 adjacent and 900 from one another in their holding position.

 In a first alternative embodiment (FIG. 1, 4A to 4E) the unfolding means 9 are structurally distinct from the holding means 10. In a second variant (FIG. 2, 5A to 5E) the unfolding means 9 are constituted by the holding means 10 themselves having a variable geometry, as will be seen later.

 According to the invention, the drive means 11 act on the holding means 10.

 Preferably, the drive means 11 drive the holding means 10 to pivot about the pivot axis 6.

 The axis 6 is either vertical, horizontal, or inclined.

 Preferably, the machine is in the form of a carousel comprising a series of holding means 10, regularly arranged around the axis 6, each station corresponding to a phase or an operation to be performed on the folded form Fp, the unfolded form Fd or container CO. In practice, the different positions of the machine include a form or a container for the phase or the operation to be carried out.

In a possible, non-limiting form of execution, the machine thus comprises eight stations P1, P2, P3, P4,
P5, P6, P7 and P8. The station P1 is, for example, the reception station for folded forms and for this purpose, it is placed opposite the storage means 7. The station P2 immediately downstream of the station P1 is the unfolding or finishing station unfolding of the folded form Fp. From the successive station
P3 and following positions P4 to P7, the various operations relating to the unfolded form are carried out. For example, the bottom 3 is formed on the post P3, the filling of the unfolded form with content is carried out on the post P4.

On the P5 station is placed in the unfolded form documentation or similar. On station P6, the unfolded form Fd is marked. The CO container is permanently closed on station P7 and evacuated. The post P8 is then free to be able to receive a new folded form Fp returning opposite the storage means 7.

 The drive means 11 are then designed to operate continuously or intermittently, a moment of stopping of the holding means 10 being provided at each station. According to the invention, the initial feeding phase consists in grasping the first face for holding the first folded shape which can be removed from the storage means 7; then to move this first holding face, therefore the whole of the folded form Fp to bring it closer to the holding means 10 in particular of the first plate 13 (FIG. 3A and 3B). Then, this first holding face is applied to the holding means 10, in particular the first plate 13 (FIG. 3C). Next, the edge 5 which constitutes the main stop is brought against the second plate 14 (FIG. 3D).

Finally, the feeding means 8 are removed from the holding means 10, the feeding means 8 being able to restart a work cycle.

 Preferably, the first holding phase is made to slide on the first plate 13 until the main edge A is brought against the second plate 14. The holding means 10 associated with the first plate 13 (suction member) are inactive as long as The main edge A is not against the second plate 14. The holding means 10 are made active, on the contrary, as soon as the main edge A is against the second plate 14. They are then kept active.

 The supply means 8 can, for example, be in the form of suction members 15 carried by arms 16 kinematically driven according to a cycle, corresponding to the cycle of the machine, in which the suction members 15 pass storage means 7 to the holding means 10 to return to the storage means 7.

 The plates 13, 14 each comprise a table 17 on which the corresponding face 1, 2 of the folded form Fp or unfolded Fd can be applied and one or more suction members 18 associated with the table 17, either in the active state or in the inactive state, allowing the active state to maintain said face 1, 2 applied firmly on the table 17, without risk of untimely separation. In the inactive state, the suction members 18 have no action on the faces 1, 2 which can therefore be moved relative to the corresponding table 17.

 In the rest of the text, it will be said of a plate 13, 14 that it is active or inactive when the suction members 18 which it comprises are respectively active or inactive. In the figures, the active suction members are shown in black and the inactive suction members in clear.

In the first variant illustrated by FIGS. 1, 4A to 4E, the unfolding means 9 are distinct from the holding means 10 and comprise one or more suction members 19 mounted on an arm 20 kinematically driven in a movement cycle corresponding to the cycle of the machine, these unfolding means 9 being placed opposite the station 2 of the machine. In this case, the unfolding is carried out as follows: the suction member 19 is initially inactive and brought closer to a working face of the folded form
Fp held by a first holding face 1 by the holding means 10, in particular the first active plate 13. The working face is then a first face 1.

(Figure 4A) .When the suction member 19 is applied against the working face 1, the suction member 19 is made active (Figure 4B). The suction member 19 is then kept active and a relative movement of this suction member 19 is effected relative to the first plate 13, having the effect of separating the two first faces 1 from each other. by bringing them opposite one another (Figure 4C) until the second faces 2 are perpendicular to the first faces 1 (Figure 4D).

The second plate 14 hitherto inactive is made active, a second face 2 being applied against it. The form Fd is thus unfolded and maintained unfolded by suction on the two faces 1, 2 adjacent to the main edge A.

The suction member 19 is then rendered inactive and then moved away from the working face 1. In this first variant, the first plate 13 and the second plate 14 form a rigid, non-deformable assembly.

In a second possible variant (FIGS. 2, 5A to 5E) the unfolding means 9 are constituted by the holding means 10 which are of variable geometry, the two plates 13, 14 constituting jaws which can be closed and opened (for unfold the form Fp) until it comes to the end of the course perpendicular to each other, as explained previously in the first variant. In this case, the unfolding is carried out as follows
Initially, the form Fp is brought to the first active plate 13, the second plate 14 being perpendicular to the first plate 13 and inactive (FIG. 5A).

Then, the second plate 14 is brought closer to the first plate 13, the two plates 13, 14 thus closing one on the other, the folded form Fp being placed between them (FIG. 5 B). When the second plate 14 has reached the end of the closing stroke, it is made active (FIG. 5C).

In this position, it is applied to the second face 2 of the folded form Fp. While keeping the second plate 14 active, the two plates 13, 14 are opened, which therefore has the effect of unfolding the shape Fp (FIG. 5D) until it is fully unfolded, the second faces 2 being perpendicular to the first faces 1 (Figure 5E).

In this case, it is clear that the holding means 10 comprise an articulation 21 between the two plates 13, 14 and means making it possible to open and close the two plates 13, 14.

 As can be understood and as is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, once the shape is unfolded, it is held by two holding faces 1, 2 adjacent to a main edge A. More precisely, the shape is held by all or only part of the retaining faces 1, 2, this part being adjacent to the main edge A.

 It is therefore clear that the machine can receive, without substantial modification, means for holding 10 shapes of different dimensions.

 We will now describe two possible embodiments, schematic and non-limiting, of machines according to the invention with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Such a machine comprises a frame 22 receiving a main plate 23 of axis 6, mounted on the frame 22 by a central axis 24 cooperating with bearings. At the periphery of the main plate 23 are mounted the holding means 10 constituting the various successive positions of the machine.

 The machine comprises a central hollow tube 25, co-axial with the axis 34, integral in rotation with the latter, comprising at its lower free end a rotary connector 26 on which are mounted non-vacuum or vacuum means. representations. At its upper free end, adjacent to the main plate 23, the central tube 25 has a connector 27 to which are connected conduits 28 extending substantially radially and associated with each station of the holding means 10. The conduits 28 are integral ' in rotation of the main plate 23. Preferably, a pair of conduits is provided for each station associated, one with the first plate 13 of this station and the other with the second plate 14. The conduits 28 are therefore associated at their ends free opposite the coupling 27 to the suction members 15 of the holding means 10.

 Valves 29 are interposed on the conduits 28 to allow the suction members 18 to be placed in the active or inactive state. Control members 30 allow the valves 29 to be operated according to the desired working sequence. In one possible embodiment, the control members 30 consist of fixed ramps or cams, carried by a fixed plate 31 of the frame 22, placed below the movable plate 23, with which the movable members of the valves 29 cooperate. It is clear, however, that any other form of execution of the control members 30 is part of the invention.

 The storage means 7 are in the form of a box having a front face 32 directed towards the main plate 23 open for the progressive evacuation of the folded forms Fp and a rear face 33 also open, crossed by a pusher 34 urging the forms folded towards the front face 32, whatever the number of folded forms contained in the storage means 7. This pusher 34 comprises for example a plate 35 urged towards the front face 32 by a counterweight 36. To avoid untimely exit of the folded forms of the storage means 7, the front face 32 is provided with retaining pins 37.

The arm 16 of the supply means 8 is articulated
to a crank connecting rod assembly 38 driven by a shaft 39 pivotally mounted on the frame 22. The conformation of the crank connecting rod assembly 38 and of the arm 16 is such that the suction members 15 can be placed at the location of the face front 32 then at the location of the supply means and at the location of the holding means 10 of the first station of the machine. The suction members 15 are naturally associated with suction or vacuum means, not shown, by means of suitable flexible conduits. Preferably, the suction members 15 are spaced transversely from one another to allow passage between them holding means 10 as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and also in Figures 3A to 3E. Of course, it It goes without saying that the supply means 8 can be the subject of many other forms of execution, all falling within the scope of the invention.

 The machine also comprises means 40 for adjusting the position of the shapes along the axis 6. These means comprise for example a secondary plate 41, of axis 6, pivoting in synchronism with the main plate 23, the two plates being integral in rotation with respect to each other by means of coupling members 42 such as a rod associated with one of the plates cooperating with a hole drilled in the other plate. The coupling members 42 nevertheless allow the relative spacing or approximation of the two plates 23, 41. The secondary plate 41 is placed below the main plate 23 and, in the embodiment shown, of the fixed plate 31. secondary plate 41 is mounted by bearings on a support plate 43, fixed enrotation, belonging to the frame 22. The support plate 43 is in turn associated with the frame by support means 44 of adjustable length, constituted for example by a threaded rod of adjustment can be moved by an adjustment handle.

In this embodiment, the folded forms Fp unfolded Fd and the containers CO rest by their lower edge on the secondary plate 41. It should be observed that the position of the secondary plate 41 is substantially independent of the size of the forms
In the first variant illustrated by FIG. 6, the unfolding means 9 are distinct from the holding means 10. The suction members 19 which compose them are associated with suction means or for creating a vacuum not represented by flexible conduits . The suction members 19 are fixed to the arm 20 carried by kinematic drive means 45 which can be the subject of numerous embodiments, one of which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8.

 In this embodiment, there is provided an axis 46 supporting two cams 47, 48. With the cam 47 cooperates a roller 49 placed at the first free end of a bent lever 50 mounted with free pivoting at the place of its elbow around an axis 51 and comprising at its second free end an eyelet 52 with which a return 53 cooperates constituting the extreme free part of the arm 20 opposite to the suction means 19.

 With the cam 48 cooperates a roller 54 mounted at the first free end of a lever 55 mounted with free pivoting, in its middle part, around an axis 56 and comprising at its second free end an articulation 57 with the first free end a return lever 58 comprising at its second free end an articulation 59 with a sheath 60 mounted with free pivoting in its median part around an axis 61. The arm 20 comprises a rectilinear section 62, adjacent to the return 53, mounted free sliding in the sleeve 60. Naturally, the profile of the cams 47, 48 the lengths of the different levers 50, 55, 58, the position of the axes 51, 56, 61 are such that the suction members 19 have a kinematics of displacement corresponding to what has been described above with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4E.

 Preferably, the axis 46 is supported by the frame 22.

 In the second embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 7, the unfolding means 9 are constituted by the means 10 themselves, the two plates 13, 14 being articulated around an axis 21. In this case, one plates, for example the plate 13 is rigidly fixed to the main plate 23, the other plate 14 being articulated to the plate 13. The plate 14 is then associated with the free end of a lever 63 or set of levers comprising at its other free end a roller 64 cooperating with a peripheral cam or ramp 65 carried in particular by the fixed plate 31.

 The profile of the ramp or cam 65 is such that the plate 14 is moved with the kinematics described above with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E.

 Naturally, the invention also includes means 66 for driving the various axes in synchronism, in particular the axis 34, the shaft 39, the optional shaft 46.

 The machine finally comprises means making it possible to carry out the various operations-such as closing the bottom 3, the cover 4, filling, marking, etc. These means are for example with regard to the closing of the bottom 3 and the cover 4 in the form of appropriately curved rods, carried by the frame 22 and driven in rotation by the drive means 66.

Claims (19)

1. Method for constituting, filling, closing a container of generally parallelepiped shape from a flattened form in which in a first phase the form is unfolded and in a second subsequent phase the unfolded form is maintained, this phase comprising a plurality of successive operations such as closing the bottom, filling, marking, closing the lid, characterized in that in order to maintain the unfolded shape, in the second phase, two phases of shape retention are entered, adjacent to a main edge A and they are kept in their final relative position. 2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that during the first and the second phase, an overall pivoting of the form FP, Fd is carried out around an axis 6 parallel to its main edge A. 3. Method according to any one of claims 1 and 2 characterized in that it comprises an initial feeding phase, at the end of which one grasps the first face to maintain the form Fp. 4. method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that to unfold the shape Fp, we take a working face of this parallel and opposite to its first holding face and we realize a relative displacement of the first holding face and the working face to bring them into their final position, after which we stops grasping the working face as soon as the second holding surface is grasped 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that to unfold the shape Fp, the second retaining face is grasped and a relative displacement of the first retaining face and the second retaining face is carried out to bring them into their final position, after which the two retaining faces are held in this final relative position . 6. Machine for forming, filling, closing a container of generally parallelepiped shape from a flattened shape, comprising storage means of folded shape, superimposed; means for supplying the folded forms to means for unfolding these forms; means for holding the unfolded forms; means for training the forms; means for carrying out operations on the unfolded forms such as closing the bottom, the cover, filling, marking, characterized in that the holding means 10 are in the general form of two plates 13, 14 adjacent and at 900 l 'one of the other. 7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the unfolding means 9 are distinct from the holding means 10. 8. Machine according to claim 7 characterized in that the unfolding means 9 are constituted by the holding means 10 themselves, the two plates 13, 14 comprising a hinge 21, these two plates 13, 14 can be closed l 'against each other or open at 900 to each other. 9. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 8 characterized in that the drive means 11 are means for driving the holding means 10. 10. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 9 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of stations each comprising holding means 10, these different stations corresponding to the different phases or successive operations for a form Fp, Fd or a CO container. 11. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 10 characterized in that a plate 13, 14 comprises a table 17 and suction members 18. 12. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 11 characterized in that the supply means 8 comprise at least one suction member 15 carried by an arm 16 kinematically driven. 13. Machine according to any one of claims 7, 8, 10 to 12, characterized in that the unfolding means 9 comprise at least one suction member 19 carried by an arm 20 driven by kinematic means 45. 14. Machine according to any one of claims 7, 9 to 13, characterized in that the plate 14 is associated with a lever 63 terminated by a roller 64 cooperating with a ramp 65.  15: Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 14 characterized in that it comprises adjustment means 40 comprising a secondary plate 41, coupling members 42 of the secondary plate 41 and the main plate 23, a plate support 43, associated with the frame, for the secondary plate 41 and means 44 for adjusting the plate 43. 16. Machine according to any one of claims 7, 8, 10 to 14, 15, characterized in that the kinematic drive means 45 comprise an axis 46 supporting two cams 47, a roller 49 cooperating with the cam 47, associated with a lever 50 pivotally mounted about an axis 51, comprising an eyelet 52 with which a return 53 of the arm 20 cooperates; a roller 54 cooperating with the cam 48, driving a lever 55 mounted pivoting about an axis 56 articulated at 57 to a lever 58 articulated at 59 to a sleeve 60 mounted pivoting about an axis 61, sleeve 60 in which is mounted sliding a section 62 of the arm 20. 17. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 16 characterized in that the storage means 7 are in the form of a box having a front face 32 open and a rear face 33 also open traversed by a pusher 34 biased towards the front face 32. 18. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 17 characterized in that it comprises a central tube 25 comprising a rotary connector 26 and a connector 27 on which are mounted conduits 28 on which are interposed valves 29 controlled by control members 30 such as a ramp or cam carried by a fixed plate 31. 19. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 18 characterized in that the means for closing the bottom 3 or the cover 4 are constituted by a curved rod carried by the frame 22 of the machine