Apparatus and method for wrapping a cardboard box

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 to the wrapping blank on a support structure;
• through a plurality of folding heads, 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 outer 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 folded horizontal position;
• further folding the outer portions of the flaps of the wrapping blank towards the inside of the box, from the folded horizontal position to folded a vertical position, so that they adhere to an internal surface of the lateral wall of the box;
• providing a plurality of columns;
• moving the columns horizontally, so that at least every vertex of the box is vertically aligned to a corresponding column of the plurality of columns,
• moving the columns vertically, relative to the folding heads, in contact with an internal face of the bottom wall 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, during the folding of the flaps from the horizontal position to the vertical position, and
• by an adjustment system for format change, moving the columns horizontally towards and away from each other to adapt the columns to the dimensions of the box to be wrapped, so that the columns can be positioned inside the box on the internal face of the bottom wall of the box, at least in each vertex of the box.

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 to the base, 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 at least at every vertex of the box;
• a folding arrangement, operable 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 outer surface of the lateral wall of the box and an outer portion of each flap protrudes vertically from the box,
• fold the outer portions of the flaps from the vertical position to a folded horizontal position, and
• fold the outer portions of the flaps towards the inside of the box from the folded horizontal position to a folded vertical position so that they adhere to an internal surface of the lateral wall of the box,
• a plurality of columns, wherein the columns of the plurality of columns extend along a vertical direction and are movable
• horizontally, so that the columns are positioned in vertical alignment with vertexes of the bottom wall of the box
• vertically, so that the columns are moved from a raised position, above the box, to a lowered position, where they are placed inside the box and exert a pressure on an internal face of the bottom wall of the box at the vertexes thereof, with the bottom wall of the box interposed between the plurality of columns and the support structure,
• wherein the plurality of columns is configured to be in contact with the internal face of the bottom wall of the box, in an active position, and to be spaced from the internal face of the box, in an inactive position, and wherein the columns, in the active position, are configured to cooperate with the support structure to press the bottom wall of the box interposed therebetween,
• the apparatus further comprising:
• a rod movable along a vertical direction;
• and
• a disk connected at a lower end of the rod, wherein the disk is configured to contact a central portion of the internal face of the bottom wall of the box, when the columns are spaced from the box in the inactive position.