US-12617172-B2 - Apparatus and method for wrapping a cardboard box

US12617172B2US 12617172 B2US12617172 B2US 12617172B2US-12617172-B2

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) for automatic wrapping of a wrapping blank ( 3 ) on lateral walls of a cardboard box ( 2 ), the wrapping blank ( 3 ) having a base ( 301 ) and a plurality of flaps ( 302, 303, 304, 305 ) connected thereto, comprises a plurality of folding heads ( 5 ) for folding the flaps of the wrapping blank ( 3 ) and tucking in their outer portions. Each folding head ( 5 ) includes a pair of fingers ( 502 A), positionable inside the box ( 2 ) and movable reciprocally towards and away from each other so that the fingers ( 502 A) can be reciprocally moved in sliding contact with the wrapping blank ( 3 ) on the internal surface of the lateral wall of the box ( 2 ).

Inventors

Alessio GIOVANNESCHI
Pablo BARONI

Assignees

EMMECI S.P.A.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220916
Priority Date: 20210916

Claims (18)

1 . An apparatus for automatic wrapping of a wrapping blank on lateral walls of a cardboard box, wherein the wrapping blank has a base and a plurality of flaps connected thereto, and wherein the box is coupled to the base of the wrapping blank, the apparatus comprising: a support structure, configured to support the base of the wrapping blank, so that the wrapping blank and the box coupled thereto are movable in a vertical direction; a plurality of folding heads, configured to fold the flaps of the wrapping blank from a horizontal position to a vertical position, so that an inner portion of each flap adheres to an external surface of the lateral wall of the box and an outer portion of each flap protrudes vertically from the box, and configured for folding the outer portions of the flaps from a vertical position to a horizontal position, and further to fold the outer portions of the flaps towards the inside of the box from the horizontal position to a vertical position so that they adhere to an internal surface of the lateral wall of the box, wherein each folding head includes a pair of fingers, movable reciprocally towards and away from each other, wherein the pair of fingers is displaceable inside the box, so that the fingers can be reciprocally moved in sliding contact with the wrapping blank on the internal surface of the lateral wall of the box, wherein each folding head further includes a horizontal blade connected to an actuator to move horizontally, parallel to a bottom wall of the box, and to approach and move away from a corresponding wall of the box, wherein the blade is to fold the outer portion of the flaps of the wrapping blank from the vertical position to the horizontal position, and wherein the horizontal blade includes a groove, wherein the respective pair of fingers is operatively inserted inside the groove.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each pair of fingers is further movable along a first horizontal axis, towards and away from a corresponding wall of the box, wherein the reciprocating movement of the fingers of the pair is along a second horizontal axis, orthogonal to the first horizontal axis, and wherein the support structure and each pair of fingers are further movable relative to one another vertically, from a raised configuration, wherein the pair of fingers is located above the box, to a lowered configuration, wherein the pair of fingers is located inside the box.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, for each folding head, the fingers of the corresponding pair of fingers are movable reciprocally between a first position, where they are positioned at a reciprocal minimum distance, and a second position, where they are positioned at a reciprocal maximum distance, the pair of fingers is displaceable inside the box with the fingers in the first position, the folding head is configured to move the fingers away from each other from the first position to the second position, with the pair of fingers in the lowered configuration.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each folding head is configured to move the fingers approaching each other from the second position to the first position, with the pair of fingers in the raised configuration.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising: a control unit, adapted to receive input data representative of the size of each box to be wrapped and programmed to derive a setting for the apparatus, based on the input data; a plurality of actuators connected to the control unit and configured to move the folding heads, wherein the plurality of actuators includes a sliding actuator, configured for moving the fingers reciprocally towards and away from each other, between a first position, where they are positioned at a reciprocal minimum distance, and a second position, where they are positioned at a reciprocal maximum distance, and wherein the second position is set responsive to the setting of the apparatus.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising: a control unit, adapted to receive input data representative of the size of each box to be wrapped and programmed to derive a setting for the apparatus, based on the input data; a plurality of actuators connected to the control unit and configured to move the folding heads, wherein the plurality of folding heads includes pairs of folding heads, wherein, for each pair of folding heads, the folding heads are operatively active simultaneously on a respective pair of sides of the box, the folding heads of the pair are spaced from each other along a respective working direction, and wherein the support structure includes plurality of pairs of supporting bars, corresponding to the plurality of pairs of folding heads, wherein, for each pair of supporting bars, the bars are oriented transversally to the working direction of the respective pair of folding heads and are movable towards and away from each other, so that they are displaceable, responsive to the setting of the apparatus, to support corresponding edges of a bottom wall of the box.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , including: a first wrapping station and a second wrapping station placed distanced from each other along a horizontal direction, orthogonal to the vertical direction; a transport device, configured for transporting the box from the first wrapping station to the second wrapping station, through a translation of the box along the horizontal direction, without rotation of the box.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of columns, movable both vertically and horizontally, so that the columns of the plurality of columns contact an internal face of a bottom wall of the box at least in every vertex of the box.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising: a rod movable along a vertical direction; a disk connected at a lower end of the rod and configured to contact a central portion of the internal face of the bottom wall of the box.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure is adapted for moving along the vertical direction between a first stop at a first height and a second stop at a second height lower than the first height and wherein the folding heads are configured to fold the flaps of the wrapping blank from the horizontal position to the vertical position, with the support structure located at the first stop, and are configured for folding the outer portions of the flaps from the vertical position to the horizontal position, and further from the horizontal position to the vertical position so that they adhere to an internal surface of the lateral wall of the box, with the support structure located at the second stop.
11 . A method for wrapping a cardboard box with a wrapping blank, the wrapping blank having a base and a plurality of flaps to be applied on lateral walls of the box, the method comprising the following steps: receiving the box coupled to the base of the wrapping blank; placing the base of the wrapping blank and the box coupled thereto on a support structure movable along a vertical direction; folding the flaps of the wrapping blank from a horizontal position to a vertical position so that an inner portion of each flap adheres to an external surface of the lateral wall of the box and an outer portion of each flap protrudes vertically from the box; folding the outer portions of the flaps from the vertical position to a horizontal position; further folding the outer portions of the flaps of the wrapping blank towards the inside of the box, from the horizontal position to a vertical position, so that they adhere to an internal surface of the lateral wall of the box; providing a plurality of folding heads, wherein each folding head includes a pair of fingers movable reciprocally towards and away from each other; placing the fingers at least partially inside the box and moving the fingers reciprocally, in sliding contact with the wrapping blank on the internal surface of the lateral wall of the box, wherein the folding of the outer portion of the flaps from the vertical position to the horizontal position is carried out by horizontal blades, moving horizontally and parallel to a bottom wall-of the box with respect to a corresponding side of the box, and wherein each pair of fingers is operatively inserted inside a groove provided in a corresponding blade.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising the following steps: for each pair of fingers, moving the fingers along a first horizontal axis, towards and away from a corresponding wall of the box into the horizontal position parallel to a bottom wall of the box; for each pair of fingers, vertically moving the support structure and each pair of fingers-relative to one another, from a raised configuration, wherein the pair of fingers is located above the box, to a lowered configuration, wherein the pair of fingers is located inside the box in order to fold the outer portion of the flaps into the vertical position inside the box, for each pair of fingers, in the lowered configuration, reciprocatively moving the fingers along a second horizontal axis, orthogonal to the first horizontal axis, in sliding contact with the internal surface of the lateral wall.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein, in the step of placing the fingers inside the box, the pair of fingers is moved from the raised to the lowered configuration, with the fingers located in a position wherein the fingers are near each other, at a central portion of the corresponding lateral wall of the box, and wherein the fingers, in the lowered configuration, move reciprocatively away from each other along the second horizontal axis.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the fingers are moved from the lowered configuration to the raised configuration when they are positioned away from each other, and wherein the fingers are moved reciprocally towards each other when they are in the raised configuration.
15 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising the following steps: providing a first wrapping station and a second wrapping station distanced from each other along a horizontal direction, orthogonal to the vertical direction, wherein the plurality of folding heads includes a first pair of folding heads, spaced from each other along a first working direction, and a second pair of folding heads, spaced from each other along a second working direction orthogonal to the first working direction, and wherein the first pair of folding heads is part of the first wrapping station and the second pair of folding heads is part of the second wrapping station, for each pair of folding heads, wherein the pairs of folding heads are operatively active simultaneously on a respective pair of sides of the box; wherein the supporting structure includes in the first wrapping station, a first pair of supporting bars, oriented transversally to the first working direction, and, in the second wrapping station, a second pair of supporting bars, oriented transversally to the second working direction, wherein, for each one of the first and second pairs of supporting bars, the bars are movable towards and away from each other, such that they are displaceable, responsive to a setting of the apparatus derived by a control unit, to support corresponding edges of a bottom wall of the box; transporting the box from the first wrapping station to the second wrapping station through a translation movement without a rotational movement of the box.
16 . The method according to claim 11 , comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of columns; moving the columns downwards, relatively to the support structure, in contact with an internal face of a bottom wall of the box at least in every vertex of the box, so that the bottom wall of the box is interposed between the support structure and the plurality of columns at least in every vertex of the box; moving the box and the wrapping blank vertically between a first stop at a first height and a second stop at a second height lower than the first height, wherein the folding of the flaps from the horizontal position to the vertical position occurs at the first stop, and wherein the folding of the outer portion of the flaps inside the box occurs at the second stop.
17 . An apparatus for automatic wrapping of a wrapping blank on lateral walls of a cardboard box, wherein the wrapping blank has a base and a plurality of flaps connected thereto, and wherein the box is coupled to the base of the wrapping blank, the apparatus comprising: a support structure, supporting the base of the wrapping blank, so that the wrapping blank and the box coupled thereto are movable in a vertical direction; a plurality of folding heads, each folding head of the plurality of folding heads being operable to fold the respective flap of the wrapping blank from a horizontal position to a vertical position, so that an inner portion of each flap adheres to an external surface of the lateral wall of the box and an outer portion of the flap protrudes vertically from the box in a vertical position, fold inwardly the outer portion of the flap from the vertical position to a horizontal position, and fold the outer portion of the flap inside of the box towards the bottom wall of the box, from the horizontal position to a vertical position so that the flap adheres to an internal surface of the respective lateral wall of the box, wherein each folding head includes a pair of fingers, wherein, in one operative configuration of the machine, the fingers of the pair of fingers are arranged inside the box and are moved away from one another in sliding contact with the wrapping blank folded in adhesion to the internal surface of the lateral wall of the box, wherein each folding head further includes a horizontal blade connected to an actuator to move horizontally, parallel to a bottom wall of the box, and to approach and move away from a corresponding wall of the box, wherein the blade is to fold the outer portion of the flaps of the wrapping blank from the vertical position to the horizontal position, and wherein the horizontal blade includes a groove, wherein the respective pair of fingers is operatively inserted inside the groove.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein, for each folding head of the plurality of folding heads, the pair of fingers is movable along a first horizontal axis, the fingers of the pair of fingers being movable away from each other along a second horizontal axis, orthogonal to the first horizontal axis, and along a vertical direction, orthogonal both to the first horizontal axis and to the second horizontal axis, from a raised configuration, wherein the pair of fingers is located above the box, to a lowered configuration, wherein the pair of fingers is located inside the box.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for wrapping a cardboard box. BACKGROUND ART In the industry, automated lines for making wrapped boxes comprise two distinct stages. In a forming stage, the boxes are formed from specially shaped paper or cardboard forming blanks consisting of a base and a plurality of flaps connected to the base and designed to be folded relative to the base to form a lateral wall of the box. In a subsequent stage, the box is wrapped by applying a pre-glued wrapping blank to it. The wrapping blank is a flat blank having a base shaped like the base of the box and flaps connected to the base and designed to be folded in such a way as to cover the lateral walls of the box. Automated lines for making wrapped boxes comprise different stations, where respective operating machines are located. Typically, an automated line for making wrapped boxes comprises the following: a gluer for gluing the wrapping blanks, a forming machine which forms the boxes from respective cardboard blanks, a positioning device which receives the boxes from the forming machine, couples them to respective wrapping blanks received from the gluer (positioning the base of the box on the base of the flat wrapping blank) and a wrapping machine which receives from the positioning device the assembly consisting of the box coupled to the respective wrapping blank and makes the finished boxes available at the outfeed. More specifically, wrapping includes two steps. In the first step, the side flaps of the wrapping blank are moved upwards to an erect position. In the second step, on the other hand (also referred to as tucking), the flaps are folded towards the inside of the box so that the flaps at least partly cover an inside surface of the lateral wall of the box. Conventionally, in the wrapping stage, a die block is used which operates on the base of the box and which is movable along a vertical direction. The die block is inserted snugly into the box and held inside the box in contact with the walls and bottom of the box. The die block acts in conjunction with a plurality of folding elements to interact with the flaps of the wrapping blank to fold them upwards to a vertical position so that the flaps can then be further folded towards the inside of the box. The applicant has noted that there is an increasing market demand for automated lines for making wrapped boxes of different formats or sizes, even in small batches, when necessary. These lines, when it comes to changeover, that is to say, changing one or more components of the line, specifically the die block, which must be the same size as the box, are flexible in terms of changing over from making boxes of a first format to making boxes of a second format. The Applicant has observed that these operations have some disadvantages, however. Every time the format of the boxes to be made changes, an operator has to change the die block used to wrap the boxes, since the die block must be the same size as the box to be wrapped. This takes time and, what is more, makes it necessary to have (hence to keep a stock of) as many different die blocks as there are box formats to be made, with all the stock management problems that this inevitably involves. Some solutions have therefore been developed to do away with the need for the die block. Patent documents WO2015/079342A1 and BO2010A000658, in the name of the same Applicant as the present, describe examples of known folding over or tucking devices for wrapping a box without using a die block to fold the flaps of the wrapping blank towards the inside of the box. Another example of known apparatus for wrapping a cardboard box is disclosed by patent document CN111516295A. In this regard, however, the Applicant feels the need for further improvement in the context of wrapping without a die block, in order to tackle different problems. One problem felt by the Applicant in the context of automated lines for making wrapped boxes is that of further reducing machine downtime during format changeover. Another problem that the Applicant feels the need to tackle is that of making the line (with particular regard to the wrapping machine) a particularly high-performing one in terms of speed, or production capacity. Another problem that the Applicant feels the need to tackle is that of making the line particularly flexible, that is to say, suitable for making boxes in a wide variety of formats. Another problem that the Applicant feels the need to tackle is that of being able to make boxes of particularly high quality, for example, by minimizing creasing or other imperfections in the wrapping blank, or by making the edges and corners of the box particularly sharp (“clean edges”). DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The aim of this disclosure is to provide an apparatus and a method for wrapping cardboard boxes to improve the state of the art described above. This aim is fully achieved by the apparatus and method of this disc