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KR-102963958-B1 - CLOSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLOSING FOLDABLE PACKAGES

KR102963958B1KR 102963958 B1KR102963958 B1KR 102963958B1KR-102963958-B1

Abstract

The closing device (2) has a first support element (26) having a first support surface (28) on which the bottom flap (8) of the package (4) can be arranged, and a second support element (30) having a second support surface (32) on which the top flap (10) of the package (4) can be arranged. The first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) of the closing device (2) can move along a movement path (B) having a component parallel to the first transverse direction (Q1) in some parts to push the package (4) in the first transverse direction (Q1). By doing so, the bottom flap (8) and the top flap (10) are folded toward the frame (6) of the package (4).

Inventors

  • 로디, 볼프강

Assignees

  • 울만 팍-시스테메 게엠베하 운트 코. 카게

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240207
Priority Date
20230207

Claims (15)

  1. As a closing device (2) for closing a foldable package (4), Each package (4) has a frame (6), a bottom flap (8) and a top flap (10), and the closing device (2) is, A transfer device (16) for transferring the above package (4) along a transfer path (18) in a transfer direction (F)—the transfer device (16) comprises a plurality of receivers (20), each receiver (20) has a bearing surface (22) on which the package (4) can be arranged, which divides the receiver (20) in a first transverse direction (Q1) perpendicular to the transfer direction (F)—; A first support element (26) having a first support surface (28) and a second support element (30) having a second support surface (32)—the first support surface (28) and the second support surface (32) are arranged in a single plane and spaced apart from the bearing surface (22) of the plurality of receivers (20), and the first support element (26) and the second support element (30) are arranged spaced apart from each other in a second transverse direction (Q2), and a bottom flap (8) of one open package (4) can be arranged on the first support surface (28), and a top flap (10) of the open package (4) can be arranged on the second support surface (32), and a frame (6) of the open package (4) can be arranged on the bearing surface (22), and the second transverse direction (Q2) is oriented perpendicular to the first transverse direction (Q1) and the transport direction (F)—; and A first push-in bar (34) and a second push-in bar (36), each extending substantially parallel to the transfer direction (F)—each of the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) may periodically move along a movement path (B) having a component parallel to the first transverse direction (Q1) in at least a portion, in order to push the package (4) in the first transverse direction (Q1) while simultaneously folding the bottom flap (8) and the top flap (10) toward the frame (6)— A closed device (2) including
  2. In paragraph 1, A closing device (2), wherein in the first moving part (A1), the moving path (B) has a component parallel to the second lateral direction (Q2) to move the first push-in bar (34) over the bottom flap (8) and the second push-in bar (36) over the top flap (10), and in the second moving part (A2), the closing device (2) has a component parallel to the first lateral direction (Q1) to push the package (4) in the first lateral direction (Q1).
  3. In paragraph 1, A closed device (2), wherein the first push-in bar (34) is connected to the first drive (46) by the first coupling gear (44), and the second push-in bar (36) is connected to the second drive (50) by the second coupling gear (48).
  4. In paragraph 3, Each of the first coupling gear (44) and the second coupling gear (48) comprises a first member (52), a second member (54), a third member (56), and a fourth member (58), wherein the first member (52) and the second member (54) are pivotally mounted on the base frame (60) of the closed device (2), the third member (56) is pivotally connected to the first member (52) and the second member (54), the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) are each firmly connected to the third member (56), the fourth member (58) is pivotally connected to the first member (52), and the first drive (46) and the second drive (50) are each connected to the fourth member (58), the closed device (2).
  5. In paragraph 1, The first support element (26) has a first operating surface (66) adjacent to the first support surface (28) and inclined toward the transfer path (18) with respect to the first lateral direction (Q1) and the second lateral direction (Q2) in the starting area (12) of the closed device (2), and the second support element (30) has a second operating surface (68) adjacent to the second support surface (32) and inclined toward the transfer path (18) with respect to the first lateral direction (Q1) and the second lateral direction (Q2) in the starting area (12), the closed device (2).
  6. In paragraph 1, The first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) each have a substantially triangular cross-section, forming a closed device (2).
  7. In paragraph 5, The first push-in bar (34) has an inclined side surface (40) inclined with respect to the first transverse direction (Q1) and the second transverse direction (Q2) at least in the starting region (12), and the second push-in bar (36) has an inclined side surface (40) inclined with respect to the first transverse direction (Q1) and the second transverse direction (Q2) at least in the starting region (12), and at least in the starting region (12) of the closing device (2), the first operating surface (66) and the inclined side surface (40) of the first push-in bar (34) are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and the second operating surface (68) and the inclined side surface (40) of the second push-in bar (36) are arranged substantially parallel to each other, the closing device (2).
  8. In Paragraph 7, The inclination of the first operating surface (66) corresponds to the inclination of the inclined side surface (40) of the first push-in bar (34), and the inclination of the second operating surface (68) corresponds to the inclination of the inclined side surface (40) of the second push-in bar (36); and A closing device (2) in which the slope of the first operating surface (66) and the second operating surface (68) changes continuously along the transfer direction (F) to further fold the bottom flap (8) and the top flap (10) toward the frame (6).
  9. In paragraph 1, A closed device (2) configured such that the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) are tapered in the transfer direction (F).
  10. As a method for closing the foldable package (4), Each package (4) has a frame (6), a bottom flap (8) and a top flap (10), and the method is, A step of arranging an open package (4) such that the bottom flap (8) of the package (4) is supported against the first support surface (28) of the first support element (26), the top flap (10) of the package (4) is supported against the second support surface (32) of the second support element (30), and the frame (6) of the package (4) is arranged on the bearing surface (22) of the receiver (20) for the package (4) in a state spaced apart from the bearing surface (22) in the first transverse direction (Q1); A step of arranging a first push-in bar (34) on the lower flap (8) and arranging a second push-in bar (36) on the upper flap (10); A step of moving each of the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) along an individual movement path (B) having a component parallel to the first transverse direction (Q1) in at least a portion; and A step of pushing the package (4) toward the bearing surface (22) in the first lateral direction (Q1) by the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) while moving along the above movement path (B)—the bottom flap (8) and the top flap (10) are each folded toward the frame (6) by the first support element (26) and the second support element (30)— A method for closing a foldable package (4) including
  11. In Paragraph 10, The step of arranging the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) comprises the step of moving the first push-in bar (34) over the bottom flap (8) along the first moving portion (A1) of the moving path (B) and the step of moving the second push-in bar (36) over the top flap (10)—the moving path (B) has a component parallel to the second lateral direction (Q2) oriented perpendicularly to the first lateral direction (Q1); and A method for closing a foldable package (4), wherein the step of moving the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36) includes moving along a second moving portion (A2) of the moving path (B) having a component parallel to the first transverse direction (Q1).
  12. In Paragraph 10, The lower flap (8) and the upper flap (10) push the package (4) in the first transverse direction (Q1) to fold it into an intermediate position, The above method is, A step of transferring the package (4) in a transfer direction (F) by a transfer device (16) including a receiver (20) while simultaneously folding the bottom flap (8) and the top flap (10) from the intermediate position to the final position by the first support element (26) and the second support element (30), respectively—the transfer direction (F) is oriented perpendicular to the first lateral direction (Q1) and the second lateral direction (Q2)— A method for closing a foldable package (4) that further includes
  13. In Paragraph 12, A method for closing a foldable package (4), wherein, after the step of pushing the package (4) toward the bearing surface (22) in the first lateral direction (Q1) by the first push-in bar (34) and the second push-in bar (36), the bottom flap (8) is received in the first gap between the first push-in bar (34) and the first support element (26), the top flap (10) is received in the second gap (64) between the second push-in bar (36) and the second support element (30), and the inclination of the first gap and the second gap (64) with respect to the first lateral direction (Q1) and the second lateral direction (Q2) is changed according to the transport direction (F).
  14. In Paragraph 10, A method for closing a foldable package (4), wherein the first support surface (28) and the second support surface (32) are arranged in a plane spaced apart from the bearing surface (22), and the first support element (26) and the second support element (30) are arranged at a first distance (D1) from each other in the second transverse direction (Q2), and the first distance (D1) is larger than the dimensions of the frame (6) of the package (4) in the second transverse direction (Q2) and smaller than the dimensions of the entire open package (4) in the second transverse direction (Q2).
  15. In Paragraph 10, The above package (4) is a foldable tray comprising a frame (6) having at least four side walls (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d), at least a first bottom flap (8a) and a second bottom flap (8b), and at least a first top flap (10a) and a second top flap (10b); when the package (4) is in an upright state, adjacent side walls (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) of the frame (6) are oriented substantially perpendicularly to each other, the first bottom flap (8a) and the first top flap (10a) are each adjacent to the first side wall (6a) of the frame (6) along the fold, and the second bottom flap (8b) and the second top flap (10b) are each adjacent to the second side wall (6c) on the opposite side of the first side wall (6a) along the fold, and when the package (4) is in an open state, the first A method for closing a foldable package (4), wherein the bottom flap (8a) and the first top flap (10a) are arranged substantially in one plane with the first side wall (6a).

Description

Closing Device and Method for Closing Foldable Packages The present invention relates to a closing device and method for closing a foldable package, in particular a foldable box or a foldable tray. A foldable package, such as a foldable box or foldable tray, includes a frame or base, typically having multiple side walls, and at least one bottom flap and at least one top flap to close the package. Such a foldable package can be stored, transported, and supplied to a packaging process in a space-saving manner in the form of a substantially flat blank. The blank is then erected, and at least one bottom flap and at least one top flap are closed by a suitable device. To this end, at least one bottom flap and at least one top flap must be folded along a fold in the direction of the frame. This operation is often performed by a correspondingly configured guide and deflector system, and the package is moved along said guide and deflector system by a conveying device. Depending on the size of the package to be processed, the bottom and top flaps of the package, the brittleness of the package, and the design of the conveying device, a suitable guide and deflector system may not always be readily available when installation space is limited. FIG. 1 illustrates a closed device in a perspective view. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the closed device of Figure 1. FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrate, in perspective view, details of the closing device of FIG. 1 during a method for closing a package. FIGS. 8 to 11 show a front view of the details of the closing device of FIG. 1 during a method for closing a package. FIG. 12 shows the details of region XII of FIG. 11 in a cross-section along line XII-XII of FIG. 5. A closing device (2) according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, where FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the closing device (2), FIG. 2 is a plan view of the closing device (2), and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the closing device (2). The closing device (2) serves to close a foldable package (4) having a frame (6), at least one bottom flap (8), and at least one top flap (10) in each case. In FIG. 1, the first package (4a) of the package (4) is shown in a state before being inserted into the closed device (2), and the second package (4b) is shown in a state after being inserted into the closed device (2). The frame (6) of each package (4) may have four side walls (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) oriented substantially perpendicularly to each other when the package (4) is in an upright position. As a result, the frame (6) is substantially rectangular and has two sides open. In the illustrated embodiment, each package (4) has a lower first bottom flap (8a), an upper second bottom flap (8b), a lower first top flap (10a), and an upper second top flap (10b). The first bottom flap (8a) and the first top flap (10a) are each adjacent to the first side wall (6a) of the frame (6) along the fold, and the second bottom flap (8b) and the second top flap (10b) are each adjacent to the second side wall (6c) of the frame (6) opposite to the first side wall (6a) along the fold. The first bottom flap (8a) and the second bottom flap (8b) are provided on one side of the first opening of the frame (6), and the first top flap (10a) and the second top flap (10b) are provided on the opposite side of the second opening of the frame (6). In the open state of the package (4), the first bottom flap (8a) and the first top flap (10a) are arranged substantially in one plane with the first side wall (6a) of the frame (6). In this state, the package (4) is arranged in the starting area (12) of the closing device (2) by, for example, being transferred to the starting area (12) by a transfer device (not shown) or by being inserted into the starting area (12) by a transfer device (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the foldable package (4) is formed by a foldable tray for receiving solid products, such as, for example, containers, small bottles, vials, or syringes. To this end, each tray has at least one recess (14) in at least one side wall (6c) to receive these solid products. However, the package (4) may be a different package, such as a foldable box that can be used to receive cosmetics or medicines, such as blister packs. Additionally, it may be considered that each package (4) has only one bottom flap (8) and one top flap (10). In this case, for example, each package (4) may have only the first bottom flap (8a) as the bottom flap (8) and the first top flap (10a) as the top flap (10). Unless otherwise described, all specifications described herein apply to such embodiments. The closing device (2) includes a transfer device (16) for transferring a package (4) along a transfer path (18) in a transfer direction (F). The transfer device (16) includes a plurality of receivers (20) for receiving the package (4) in each case, and each receiver (20) has a bearing surface (22) capable of arranging the package (4) by dividing the receiver