Box sheet bending apparatus and method

Abstract: An apparatus for bending a box sheet (1) along a fold (2) formed at a predetermined position in the box sheet comprising a hook (5) which can hang a tip (1a) of the sending box sheet, a sensor (6) which can detect said tip of the sending box sheet, and a lifting means (7) which can lift apart between said tip and a first fold of the sending box sheet up, wherein a tip of said hook is positioned above a sending route of the box sheet, and wherein, when said sensor detects said tip of the sending box sheet, said lift means can lift said part between the tip and the first fold of the sending box sheet up to said position of said hook.

Description: The present invention relates to the field of box-making machines, specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus for bending a sending box sheet or a sending box sheet blank along a fold formed at a predetermined position in the box sheet according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method of bending a box sheet according to claim 3. The closest prior art GB-A-2 165 042 discloses that an apparatus for bending a sending box sheet along a fold formed at a predetermined position in the box sheet comprises a hook, which can hang a tip of the sending box sheet, and a sensor which can detect said tip of the sending box sheet. Accordingly, said sensor can detect said tip of the sending box sheet, and said hook can bend the sending box sheet along a first fold by holding a tip of the sending box sheet. Namely, as shown in Fig. 8(a), in a typical device for bending a sending box sheet along a fold, a hook 5 is provided. The hook 5 is pressed for an opposite direction (left direction of Fig. 8(a)) of a sending direction of a box sheet 1 and can move in the sending direction (right direction of Fig. 8 (a)) of the box sheet 1. A tip 5a of the hook 5 is positioned on a sending route of the box sheet. Therefore, when the box sheet 1 is sent, the tip 5a ofthe hook 5 holds the tip 1a of the sending box sheet 1. When the box sheet is further sent, the hook 5 moves in the sending direction of the sending box sheet 1. Then, as shown in Fig. 8(b), the box sheet 1 is bent along a first fold by a force of the spring. The box sheet is further sent, as shown in Fig. 8(c), and because the tip 5a of the hook 5 is left of the tip 1a of the box sheet 1, the hook 5 is restored by force of the restitution of the spring, and then the bending box sheet 1 is sent frontwards. The typical device for bending a sending box sheet along a fold being thus described, it is possible to bend the box sheet automatically during the process of sending the box sheet. However, because the tip of the hook is on a sending route of the box sheet, when the hook is restored, the tip of the hook hits on a face of the sending box sheet, thereby making a noise. In cases where the box sheet is sent at high speed, the noise increases. Furthermore, certain countries regulate the importation of a device which makes noise beyond a prescribed level. DE 11 69 271 B relates to an apparatus for bending a box sheet along a fold. This apparatus comprises a spring biased plate 5 for lifting a tip end of the box sheet during movement along a sending route for the transportation of the box sheet. The spring biased plate is lifted, if a sensor detects a tip of the moving box sheet. A stationary guide provided above the sending route completes the folding action. An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is achieved with the features of the claims. An apparatus for bending a box sheet along a fold formed at a predetermined position in the box sheet is provided comprising the features defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan View of an apparatus for bending a box sheet according to the present invention: Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken from line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are schematic plan views of an apparatus for bending a box sheet according to the present invention, which indicate a movement of the apparatus; Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of control system according to the present invention; Fig. 8 is schematic plan views of an apparatus for bending a box sheet according to the prior art. Fig. 1 and 2 show an apparatus for bending a box sheet according to the present invention. It is the apparatus for automatically bending a box sheet 1 along a fold 2 formed at a predetermined position in the box sheet 1. The apparatus for bending a box sheet comprises two pairs of belts 3, 4 which can send the box sheet 1, a pair of hooks 5, a sensor 6 which can detect a tip 1a of the sending box sheet 1, and a lifting arm 7 which can lift a part 1b between the tip 1a and a first fold 2 of the sending box sheet up. Hook 5 is provided and is pressed by a spring (not pictured) from an opposite direction (left direction of Fig. 1 and 2) of the sending direction of the box sheet 1 and for moving in the sending direction (right direction of Fig. 1 and 2) of the box sheet 1. A tip 5a of the hook 5 is bent into the opposite direction of the sending direction of the box sheet 1 and therefore can hold the tip 1a of the sending box sheet 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the tip 5a of the hook 5 is positioned above a sended route of the box sheet 1, which is sending between belts 3 and 4. The lifting arm 7 comprises a pair of arms shaped in a letter of "L". Each of the arms is combined back to back. The lifting arm 7 can rotate so as to move the tip 7a of the lifting arm 7 at same speed and direction as the sending box sheet 1, when the tip 7a of the lifting arm 7 is positioned at the most upper part. As shown in Fig. 3, the lifting ann 7 is set up below the belts 3, 4 so as to lift the part 1b between the tip 1a and a first fold 2 of the sending box sheet at the time when each tip 7a is nearly positioned at the most upper part. As shown in Fig. 7, the lifting arm 7 is connected to a controlled device, 8, which can control the lifting arm 7. The sensor 6 is provided so as to be above the belts 3, 4 and to be in the same position as the lowest reaches of the tip 7a of the lifting arm 7. As shown in Fig. 7, the sensor 7 is connected to the control device 8. When the sensor 6 detects the tip 1 a of the sending box sheet 1, the sensor 6 sends an information concerning the detection of the tip 1a of the sending sheet 1 to the control device 8. When the control device 8 receives the information, the control device 8 makes the lifting arm 7 rotate from a horizontal position of the lifting arm 7. A roller 9, a brush 10 and a guide rail 11 are provided above the belts 3, 4 and at the upper reaches of the hook 5. A space between the belt 3 and roller 9, brush 10 and a guide rail 11, is shorter than the part 1b between the tip 1a and a first fold 2 of the sending box sheet. Therefore, the box sheet 1 is sent with bending by passing through this roller 9, brush 10 and guide rail 11. Next. an operation of the apparatus for bending the sending box sheet according to the present embodiment is described. First, the box sheets 1 are sent one after another by operating the belts 3, 4. When the tip 1a of the box sheet 1 is passed through the sensor 6, the sensor 6 detects the tip 1a of the box sheet 1, and then sends the information concerning the detection of the tip 1a of the sending sheet 1 to the control device 8. When the control device 8 accepts the information, the lifting arm 7 begins to rotate. When the lifting arm 7 begins to rotate, as shown in Fig. 3, a back face of the part 1b between the tip 1a and a first fold 2 of the sending box sheet is pressed by the tip 7a of the lifting arm 7, and then, the box sheet 1 is bent along the fold 2 until the tip 1a of the box sheet 1 reaches the height of the tip 5a of the hook 5. In this time, because the tip 7a of the lifting arm 7 is rotating at the same direction and speed as the sending box sheet 1, when the lifting arm 7 presses the back face of the box sheet 1, almost no noise is made. When the box sheet 1 is further sent, as shown in Fig. 4, the tip 1a of the box sheet 1 is held by the tip 5a of the hook 5. When the box sheet 1 is further sent, the hook 5 moves at the sending direction of the box sheet 1. And, when the box sheet 1 is further sent, as shown in Fig.5, the box sheet 1 is bent along the fold 2. When the box sheet 1 is further sent as shown in Fig. 6, the tip 5a of the hook 5 is left of the tip 1a of the box sheet 1, and the hook 5 is restored by a restitution force of the spring. Then, the bended box sheet 1 is sent to the roller 9, brush 10 and guided rail 11. In this time, as shown in Fig. 6, the hook 5 left from the tip 1a of the box sheet 1 is restored, but because the tip 5a is positioned above the sending route of the box sheet 1, the noise is reduced and the face of the box sheet 1 is not damaged. A result of a test for measuring a noise of the apparatus for bending the box sheet which does not send the box sheet, and the apparatus for bending the box sheet according to the present embodiment, as well as a typical apparatus for bending the box sheet are all indicated in Chart 1. Chart 1 Sending Speed 50m/m 100m/m 150m/m The Apparatus for Bending the Box Sheet which is not sending the box sheet 62db 65db 70db The Apparatus for Bending the Box Sheet according to 68db 74db 79db the present invention The Typical Apparatus for Bending the Box Sheet 76db 80db 83db In the present embodiment, although the part 1b between the tip 1a and a first fold 2 of the sending box sheet is lifted up by rotating of the lifting arm 7, the part 1b may be lifted up by a cylinder. And although the lifting arm 7 is electrically controlled, it may be mechanically controlled. The present invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as being a departure from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims, and all such modification as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims: An apparatus for bending a box sheet (1) along a fold (2) formed at a predetermined position in the box sheet (1) by a movable hook (5) which contacts a tip (1a) of the moving box sheet, comprising: a sensor (6) for detecting a tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) moving in a moving direction along a sending route for the transportation of the box sheet (1), is characterised in that the hook (5) which is pressed by a spring opposite to the moving direction of the box sheet (1) and can move in the moving direction of the box sheet (1), comprises a tip (5a) positioned above the sending route of the box sheet (1) for holding said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1); and a lifting device (7) is provided for lifting a part (1b) of the box sheet (1) between said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) and said fold (2) until said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) comes in contact with said tip (5a) of the hook (5) positioned above the sending route of the box sheet (1) when said sensor (6) detects said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1); wherein said tip (5a) of the hook (5) operates above the sendin route of the box sheet (1) to hold said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) when said part of the box sheet (1) is lifted by said lifting device (7) thereby bending the box sheet (1) along said fold (2) and releasing said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) as the box sheet (1) moves along the sending route. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lifting device comprises a lifting arme (7) which rotates so that a tip (7a) of the lift arm (7) moves in the same direction and at the same speed as the box sheet (1) to thereby minimize noise when said tip (7a) of the lifting arme (7) presses the backface of said box sheet (1). A method of bending a box sheet (1) along a fold (2) at a predetermined position in the box sheet (1), comprising the step of: moving the box sheet (1) along a sending route for the transportation of the box sheet (1); dectecting a tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) moving along the sending route of the box sheet (1), sending an information concerning the detection of the tip (1a) of the sending sheet (1) to a control device (8) and thus controlling the lifting of a part of the box sheet (1) between said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) and said fold until said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) comes in contact with a hook (5), which is pressed by a spring opposite to a moving direction of the box sheet (1) and can move to the same as the moving direction of the box sheet (1), comprising a tip (5a) positioned above the sending route of the box sheet (1), when said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) is detected: wherein said tip (5a) of the hook (5) operates above the sending route of the box sheet to hold said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) when said part of the box sheet (1) is lifted, thereby bending the box sheet (1) along said fold (2) and releasing said tip (1a) of the box sheet (1) as the box sheet (1) moves along the sending route.

Inventors: TORIYAMA DAIGORO, TORIYAMA,DAIGORO
Applicants: TANABE MACHINERY, TANABE MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B31B1
IPC codes: B31B1