US 8,075,467 B2 · Device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks

Abstract

The device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks supplied in flat-folded form comprises a collecting group provided with first gripping means which are mobile between a pick-up station of the single tubular blanks from a store and an opening station of the single tubular blanks. An opening group is arranged in the opening station and provided with second gripping means for gripping the single flat-folded tubular blanks at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface engaged by the first gripping means. The second gripping means are mobile between a gripping position of the single tubular blanks and a distanced opening position thereof. A folding organ is destined to progressively engage a free side of the single tubular blanks during the course of opening, for completing the erecting of the tubular blanks.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims19

Dependent claims

A device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks supplied in flat-folded form, which comprises:

a collecting group provided with first gripping means for gripping flat-folded single tubular blanks at a first surface thereof, which gripping means are alternatingly mobile in a longitudinal direction and in a phase relation with a transport line of the tubular blanks when erected, between a pick-up station of the single tubular blanks from a store, in which the tubular blanks are predisposed in a flattened folded form, and an opening station of the single tubular blanks;
an opening group arranged in the opening station and provided with second gripping means for gripping the single flat-folded tubular blanks at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface engaged by the first gripping means, the second gripping means being mobile in a substantially vertical direction between a near gripping position of the second surface of the single tubular blanks and a distanced opening position thereof;
a folding organ arranged in the opening station for progressively engaging a free side of the second surface of the single tubular blanks during the course of the opening thereof as the second gripping means move between the gripping position and the opening position, the folding organ being oscillatable about a folding axis which is parallel to a score line of the first surface and the second surface of the single tubular blanks, for moving the free side towards an upright position for completing the erecting of the tubular blanks.

A device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks supplied in flat-folded form, which comprises:

a collecting group provided with first gripping means for gripping flat-folded single tubular blanks at a first surface thereof, which gripping means are alternatingly mobile in a longitudinal direction and in a phase relation with a transport line of the tubular blanks when erected, between a pick-up station of the single tubular blanks from a store, in which the tubular blanks are predisposed in a flattened folded form, and an opening station of the single tubular blanks;
an opening group arranged in the opening station and provided with second gripping means for gripping the single flat-folded tubular blanks at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface which is then disengaged by the first gripping means, for return to pick up a subsequent single tubular blank, the second gripping means being movable in a vertical translation between a near gripping position of the second surface of the single tubular blanks and a distanced opening position thereof;
a folding organ arranged in the opening station for progressively engaging a free side of the second surface of the single tubular blanks during the course of the opening thereof by the second gripping means operating between the gripping position and the opening position, the folding organ being oscillatable about a folding axis which is parallel to a score line of the first surface and the second surface of the single tubular blanks, for moving the free side towards an upright position for completing the erecting of the tubular blanks.

A device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks supplied in flat-folded form, which comprises:

a collecting group provided with first gripping means for gripping flat-folded single tubular blanks at a first surface thereof, the first surface being bisected by a score line to define two sides on the first surface, the first gripping means of the gripping group engaging the two sides of the first surface of the single tubular blanks, the gripping means being alternatingly movable in a longitudinal direction, and in a phase relation with a transport line which receives the tubular blanks when erected, between a pick-up station of the single tubular blanks from a store, in which the tubular blanks are predisposed in a flattened folded form, and an opening station of the single tubular blanks;
an opening group arranged in the opening station and provided with second gripping means for gripping the single flat-folded tubular blanks at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface engaged by the first gripping means, the second surface having a portion thereof forming a bottom base of the erected blank, the second gripping means engaging the bottom base portion of the second surface of the single tubular blanks arranged anteriorly according to an advancement direction of the blanks, the second gripping means being movable in a substantially vertical direction between a near gripping position of the second surface of the single tubular blanks and a distanced opening position thereof;
a folding organ arranged in the opening station at a side of the opening group for progressively engaging a free side of the second surface of the single tubular blanks during the course of the opening thereof by the second gripping means moving between the gripping position and the opening position, the folding organ being oscillatable about a folding axis which is parallel to a score line of the first surface and the second surface of the single tubular blanks, for moving the free side towards an upright position for completing the erecting of the tubular blanks;
wherein the first surface and the second surface of the single tubular blanks are respective upper and lower surfaces thereof, and the folding organ comprises a shaped rod, the shaped rod connected to an actuator for controlling the shaped rod, the shaped rod being oscillatable by the actuator in order to complete the erecting of the tubular blanks.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,357 words

Summary563 words

#The invention relates to a device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks, destined for use in packing machines.

#In the prior art, various types of articles are packed in containers obtained from cardboard blanks. These blanks are supplied in a flat-folded tubular form and must therefore be opened-out to full volume so that articles to be packed can be inserted therein.

#Packing machines therefore have to be provided with suitable devices for opening and folding the tubular blanks predisposed initially in flat-folded form in a store. The tubular blanks are opened and folded along prefixed preferential folding lines, usually known as score lines, so that they can receive articles in a vertical or horizontal direction.

Brief description of the drawings2 figures

#The characteristics of the invention are set out in the following, with particular reference to the figures of the drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of the device for erecting tubular blanks in flattened form of the present invention;

#FIGS. from 2 to 8 illustrate the same lateral view of the device in successive operating stages.

Detailed description1,734 words

#With special reference to the figures, 1 denotes in its entirety the device for erecting tubular blanks 2 provided in flat-folded form from a store 3. In more detail, the tubular blanks 2 are supplied in piles to the store 3 by a supply line 4.

#The device 1 comprises a collecting group 5 provided with first gripping means 6, for example a plurality of sucker organs arranged in order on several rows which are transversal of the advancement direction, in order to grip single flat-folded tubular blanks 2 lying on the top of the pile of blanks predisposed in the store 3. In particular, the first gripping means 6 act on first upper surface of the tubular blanks 2. To this end, the first gripping means 6 are borne by a mobile frame 7 in a substantially vertical direction on command of a suitable actuator organ 8, between a lowered gripping position, denoted by a broken line 6a in the figures, and a raised removing position.

#The frame 7 of the gripping means 6 is guided, by guide stems 9, to a carriage 10 which is alternatingly mobile in a longitudinal direction and in suitable phase relation with a transport line 11 of the erected tubular blanks 2. The transport line 11 is formed in a known way by a pair of conveyor belts 12, 13, an upper belt and a lower belt, which face one another and which rotate in opposite directions. The carriage 10 is activated on sliding guides 14 by motor organs of known type, not illustrated for the sake of simplicity, between a pick-up station of the single tubular blanks 2 from the store 3 and an opening station of the tubular blanks 2.

Facts

Application

12/391,295Filed 24 Feb 2009

Priority

IT BO2008A019427 Mar 2008

Published

US 2009/0247380 A11 Oct 2009

Granted

13 Dec 2011

Term ends

23 Jan 2030

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 333 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

B65B 43/305
By grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated: specially adapted for boxes, cartons or carton blanks
B65B 43/28
Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks: by grippers co-operating with fixed supports
B31B 50/80
Opening and distending flattened articles: pneumatically
B31B 2100/00
Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by folding single-piece sheets, blanks or webs

Timeline

27 Mar 2008Priority claimedIT BO2008A0194
24 Feb 2009Application filedUS 12/391,295
24 Feb 2009Assigned to Marchesini Group S.P.A.assignment of assignor's interest
1 Oct 2009PublishedUS 2009/0247380 A1
13 Dec 2011GrantedUS 8,075,467 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
23 Jan 2030Term endsEstimated, includes 333 days of adjustment

Device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks

Life of this patent

Device for erecting flat-folded tubular blanks

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims19

Description2,357 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,357 words