US 5,311,723 AGranted

Method and device for simultaneously closing pairs of boxes

AssigneeG. D. Societa per Azioni

InventorsSilvano Boriani, Antonio Gamberini

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method and device for simultaneously closing a first and adjacent second box having respective lateral openings, each closed by a pair of lateral tabs, which are folded one on top of the other by a first and second folding device on either side of the two boxes; the tabs being arranged, prior to folding, facing and parallel to one another, so as to define two inner tabs and two outer tabs; and each folding device moving along a respective path for folding the outer tab of the adjacent box and the inner tab of the other box.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method of simultaneously closing a pair of boxes comprising a first and second box (4, 5), each having a pair (2, 3) of lateral tabs, which are folded one on top of the other for forming the lid (11) of the respective said box (4, 5);

said method comprising the steps of:
arranging said boxes (4, 5) adjacent to each other;
whereby individual tabs (12, 13, 14, 15) in said two pairs (2, 3) of tabs are arranged, prior to folding, facing and parallel to each other, so as to define a series of tabs with two inner tabs (13, 14) relative to said series and two outer tabs (12, 15), relative to said series;
wherein the two inner tabs (13, 14) are located between the two outer tabs (12, 15);
wherein each of said first and second box (4, 5) comprises one of said outer tabs (12, 15) and an inner tab closest thereto, respectively (13, 14);
adjacently stationarily positioning said boxes (4, 5) between first and second folding means (19, 20) with said first and second folding means being
adjacent to said first and said second box (4, 5) respectively and moving said first and second folding means along separate folding paths (21, 25) relative to the stationarily positioned boxes;
folding, via each of said folding means (19, 20), the outer tab (12;
15) of the box (4;
5) adjacent thereto and the inner tab (14;
13) of the other box (5;
4);
wherein said inner tabs (13, 14) are folded successively;
with a first (13) of the two inner tabs (13, 14) being directly accessible by the second folding means (20) as the second foldings means (20) travels along its folding path (25), and said first inner tab (13) being folded first;
and wherein the other inner tab (14) is directly inaccessible by the first folding means, until said first inner tab is folded by said second folding means, with the other inner tab (14) being made accessible to the respective folding means (19), subsequent to folding of said first inner tab (13);
with said other inner tab (14) being folded thereafter.

13 more elements

A device (1) for simultaneously closing a pair of boxes comprising a first and second box (4, 5), each having a pair (2, 3) of lateral tabs, which are folded one on top of the other for forming the lid (11) of the respective said box (4, 5);

said device comprising means for arranging and holding said boxes (4, 5) adjacent to each other whereby the individual tabs (12, 13, 14, 15) in said two pairs (2, 3) of tabs are arranged, prior to folding, facing and parallel to each other, so as to define a series of tabs with two inner tabs (13, 14) relative to said series, and two outer tabs (12, 15), relative to said series;
the two inner tabs (13, 14) being located between the two outer tabs (12, 15);
wherein each of said boxes (4) (5) comprises one of said outer tabs (12;
15) and an inner tab (13;
14) closest thereto, respectively;
said means for arranging and holding comprising a folding station (18) for receiving said two boxes (4, 5) and fixedly holding the two boxes in position adjacent each other;
said device further comprising first and second folding means (19, 20) mounted on either side of said folding station (18) and located, in use, respectively adjacent to and outside of said first and said second box (4, 5);
means for moving said first and second folding means (19, 20) along respective folding paths (21, 25), for each of said first and second folding means (19, 20), to fold the outer tab (12;
15) of the box adjacent thereto (4;
5) and the inner tab (14;
13) of the other box (5;
4).

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

said method comprising the steps of:
arranging said boxes (4, 5) adjacent to each other;
whereby individual tabs (12, 13, 14, 15) in said two pairs (2, 3) of tabs are arranged, prior to folding, facing and parallel to each other, so as to define a series of tabs with two inner tabs (13, 14) relative to said series and two outer tabs (12, 15), relative to said series;
wherein the two inner tabs (13, 14) are located between the two outer tabs (12, 15);
wherein each of said first and second box (4, 5) comprises one of said outer tabs (12, 15) and an inner tab closest thereto, respectively (13, 14);
adjacently stationarily positioning said boxes (4, 5) between first and second folding means (19, 20) with said first and second folding means being
adjacent to said first and said second box (4, 5) respectively and moving said first and second folding means along separate folding paths (21, 25) relative to the stationarily positioned boxes;
folding, via each of said folding means (19, 20), the outer tab (12;
15) of the box (4;
5) adjacent thereto and the inner tab (14;
13) of the other box (5;
4);
wherein said inner tabs (13, 14) are folded successively;
with a first (13) of the two inner tabs (13, 14) being directly accessible by the second folding means (20) as the second foldings means (20) travels along its folding path (25), and said first inner tab (13) being folded first;
and wherein the other inner tab (14) is directly inaccessible by the first folding means, until said first inner tab is folded by said second folding means, with the other inner tab (14) being made accessible to the respective folding means (19), subsequent to folding of said first inner tab (13);
with said other inner tab (14) being folded thereafter.

13 more elements