Patent ID: 6588175
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A Device for folding vertical flaps of containers, the containers (1) being moved in a forward direction (W) along a line (100) for packaging products (3) into the containers (1), each container (1) including at least one fore vertical flap (4) and at least one rear vertical flap (5), which are to be folded toward the inside of a corresponding aperture (6) of the container, so as to define respective head walls of the container (1);at least one stationary striker (7) situated beside said packaging line (100) and in a path of said aperture (6), for intercepting said fore vertical flap (4) while said container is moving and for folding said fore flap (4) toward the inside of said aperture (6); folding means (10) for folding said rear vertical flap (5), situated upstream of said stationary striker (7) with respect to said forward direction (W), said folding means (10) moving cyclically along a trajectory (T) including at least one first part (T1), in which said folding means move close to said container (1), and at least one second part (T2), in which said folding means (10) touch said rear flap (5) and fold it toward inside of said aperture (6), said first part (T1) being substantially perpendicular to said forward direction (W), upstream of said rear flap (5), and said second part (T2) being substantially parallel to said forward direction (W) and concordant therewith; supporting and operating means (20) for supporting and guiding said folding means (10) along a circumference arc concentric with a first axis (A1); trajectory correcting means (30) guided by said folding means (10) for constraining said folding means (10) while rotating about a second axis (A2), said second axis (A2) being substantially parallel to said first axis (A1), with a combination of a shift and rotation movements causing said folding means (10) follow said trajectory (T); transmission means (80), aimed at moving said operating means (20) in step relation with the packaging line (100) forward movement; the device wherein said folding means (10) include; a cam member (11) in height shorter than, or at least equal to, said rear vertical flap (5), for intercepting said rear vertical flap (5) while following said second part of said trajectory (T); and a substantially horizontal bar (13) with one fastened to a lower surface of said cam member (11) in the region of a common rotation center (C), and hinged to said support and operating means (20), said bar (13) being also fastened to said trajectory correcting means (30).