Automatic machine for the preparation of half-packages starting from corresponding blanks

Abstract: An automatic machine (50) for the preparation of half-packages (40) starting from corresponding blanks (20) preferably made of cardboard, the automatic machine (50) comprising: a frame (51); at least one mould (53) designed to receive a blank (20); a feed device (52) for feeding the mould (53) along a pre-defined path (P); and a plurality of devices (57, 58, 59, 64, 66) set along the path (P) for folding respective portions (29a, 27, 23, 26) of the blank (20) on the mould (53) so as to form a corresponding half-package (40); the automatic machine (50) being characterized in that at least one part of the plurality of devices (57, 58, 59, 64, 66) is fixed with respect to the frame (51) and to the feed device (52) and in that a device (80) is provided which is designed to maintain the faces (53a-53f) of the mould (53) constantly parallel to themselves at any point of the path (P).

Description: The present invention regards an automatic machine for the preparation of half-packages starting from corresponding blanks preferably made of cardboard. In the packaging sector, automatic machines are known that box articles inside corresponding cartons or boxes. These cartons or boxes are generally obtained starting from a blank made of cardboard or similar material. For example, in the published European Patent Application EP-A-0 906 865 an automatic machine is described in which the blank, suitably configured, is folded directly onto the product to be packaged while the product is being fed along a pre-set path inside the machine itself. Albeit yielding excellent results, the above machine has not, however, proved suitable for the preparation of empty half-packages, which are open on one side through which it is possible to insert, subsequently, a product and, possibly, a corresponding explanatory leaflet. Furthermore, EP 0 286 846 describes a machine for handling half-packages wherein the devices able to fold portions of the starting blank are rotated by a wheel. Therefore, the starting blank and the relevant half-package follow a circular path. Moreover, the folding apparatuses are complicated and it is extremely difficult to synchronize the working such folding apparatuses. In this connection it should be said that, in the present context, by "half-package" is meant a blank folded in a cup-like manner and having a substantially a box-like shape in which at least one side is left open for the subsequent introduction of a product, and possibly of a corresponding explanatory leaflet, by means of a further machine set downstream of the automatic machine according to the present invention. Consequently, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic machine that is able to produce half-packages of the type described above and has the lowest possible number of moving members. In addition, in an accessory way, the machine that forms the subject of the present invention may make ample use both of a vacuum and of compressed air distributed on the faces of a mould which is fed along a path defined inside the machine itself. Since the machine according to the invention has only a limited number of moving members, transition from the starting blank to the corresponding half-package occurs in a very short time, avoiding at the same time the complicated management of the inertia of the moving machine parts. Furthermore, the machine according to the invention enables simultaneous processing of a plurality of blanks set one after another and being fed along the same path. In addition, the few moving members are simple to build and easy to synchronize together, not requiring complicated electronic programs for managing the movements involved. Even though in what follows, to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the blank described in the above-mentioned published European Patent Application EP-A-0 906 865, it remains understood that the automatic machine described and claimed herein can be used for making half-packages starting from any type of blank. It is evident that, if the type of blank changes, it will be necessary to reprogram at least one part of the steps that make up the cycle of folding of the blank on the mould. Consequently, according to the present invention it is provided an automatic machine for the preparation of half-packages starting from corresponding blanks preferably made of cardboard, the automatic machine comprising: a frame; at least one mould designed to receive a blank; a feed device for feeding the mould along a pre-defined path; and a plurality of devices set along the path for folding respective portions of the blank on the mould so as to form a corresponding half-package; the automatic machine being characterized in that at least one part of the plurality of folding devices is fixed with respect to the frame and to the feed device and in that a device is provided which is designed to maintain the faces of the mould constantly parallel to themselves at any point of the path. The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention and in which: Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a blank usable in the machine that forms the subject of the present invention to obtain a corresponding half-package; Figure 2 shows a trimetric view of a half-package obtained by folding the blank shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a cycle which the blank of Figure 1 may undergo according to the various devices that make up the machine according to the invention; Figure 4 illustrates front views of the blank of Figure 1 during the various steps of the cycle illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 5 illustrates side views of the blank of Figure 1 during the various steps of the cycle illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a schematic overall view of the machine according to the invention; Figure 7 shows a plan view of the mould combined with the corresponding vacuum and compressed-air distributor illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 8 shows one first front view, according to the arrow V 1 , of a mould combined with a corresponding vacuum and compressed-air distributor illustrated in Figure 7; Figure 9 illustrates a second front view, according to the arrow V 2 , of a mould combined with a corresponding vacuum and compressed-air distributor illustrated in Figure 7; Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the devices represented in the foregoing Figures 7-9, taken along the line X-X; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view (at a different scale), along the line XI-XI, of the vacuum and compressed-air distributor illustrated in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view (at a different scale), along the line XII-XII, of the vacuum and compressed-air distributor illustrated in Figure 10; and finally Figure 13 shows the moving members of the machine illustrated schematically in Figure 6. Before proceeding to a detailed description of the automatic machine that forms the subject of the present invention, it is necessary to make some remarks about the blank 20 with reference to Figures 1 and 2. This blank 20 has already been amply described in the published European Patent Application EP-A-0 906 865. The blank 20 illustrated in Figure 1 is obtained starting from a length 30 of a strip of cardboard (not shown). From the said length of cardboard 30, which has a rectangular shape, the portions A1 and A2, which are at one end of the length of cardboard 30, have been sheared and removed in order to define an outer border, as shown in Figure 1. In addition, a number of cuts L1, L2, L3, and L4 have been made in the blank 20 by using appropriate devices and by performing deep creases represented by dashed lines in Figure 1. Moreover, on the blank 20 it is possible to identify a front edge 20a and a rear edge 20b. More specifically, the blank 20 comprises a front wall 23 and a rear wall 24 which are joined together along one side by a front side 25 and have, laterally, respective pairs of square end folds 26, 27, which are designed to overlap in the assembly configuration of the half-package 40 (Figure 2). On the side opposite to the front side 25, i.e., on the rear wall 24, there is a rear side 28 provided externally with a foldable tab 28a, by means of which it is possible to open the complete package (not illustrated). The square end folds 27 have moreover, set transversely to them, respective pairs of small square end folds 29a, 29b for slotting in, which are a consequence of the cuts L1, L2, L3, L4. Figure 2 illustrates the blank 20 folded in such a way as to make a half-opened half-package 40. In particular, the configuration of the half-package 40 shown in Figure 2 is basically the one obtained at output from the automatic machine that forms the subject of the present invention. In Figure 3, the reference number 50 designates an assembly diagram of the automatic machine which forms the subject of the present invention, with the aim of illustrating the cycle which a blank 20 must undergo for obtaining a half-package 40 (Figure 1 and 2). For convenience of representation, Figure 3 shows only some of the members making up the machine 50. The machine 50 first of all comprises a frame 51 (figure 13) designed to support a feed device 52 for feeding a plurality of moulds 53. In the case in point, the feed device 52 is represented by a belt 52, preferably, but not necessarily, made of a plastic material having a certain flexibility, the belt 52 being wound around four snub pulleys 54a, 54b (Figures 6 and 13) set in rotation by means of a device illustrated in greater detail later (Figure 13). The belt 52 is set in such a way as to cause each mould 53 to travel along a path P in a clockwise direction in the embodiment of Figure 3. Associated in an integral way to each mould 53 is a shaft 55, which is idle (Figures 7 and 10) with respect to the belt 52 but is supported by the latter by means of a supporting system described hereinafter. Figures 3-5 illustrate in detail the cycle that each mould 53 combined to a respective blank 20 undergoes. At a station S 0 , the blank 20 has not yet been associated to the corresponding mould 53. The faces 53a-53f of the mould 53 are translated parallel to themselves by the aforesaid supporting belt 52. It should be said incidentally that, to perform a translation of the mould 53 along the aforesaid path P in such a way that the faces 53a-53f of the mould 53 remain constantly parallel to themselves, a particular device is used which will be described in greater detail in what follows (Figure 6). Each mould 53 is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped connected in an integral way to the aforementioned shaft 55. Consequently, as shown in greater detail in Figures 7-10, each mould 53 has a top face 53a, a bottom face, 53b, a front face 53c, two side faces 53d, 53e, and a rear face 53f which is connected in an integral way to the aforementioned shaft 55. At least the top face 53a and the bottom face 53b are provided with pneumatic means for the creation of suction-cup gripping points 56a and 56b, respectively, on these two surfaces, whilst the front surface 53c can be provided with an outlet for compressed air, for purposes that will emerge more clearly in the sequel. Proceeding in the analysis of the path P shown in Figure 3, after the station S 0 , a station S 1 is provided, at which the first contact between the blank 20 and a mould 53 occurs. In particular, the blank 20 is inserted crosswise to the path P by means of a mechanical device (not shown), which is in itself known, so as to encounter the top face 53a of the mould 53, which, in the meantime, is translating along the path P, being drawn along by the belt 52 (Figure 4a). As shown in Figure 5a, the blank 20 is inserted in such a way that its rear edge 20b (Figure 1) is at a point corresponding to the corner edge formed by the intersection of the two faces 53a, 53f of the mould 53. It is also evident that if the blank 20 is positioned with respect to the mould 53 in such a way that the cuts L1, L2, L3, L4 and the deep creases represented by the dashed lines (Figure 1) facilitate folding of the various portions of the blank 20 on the corresponding moulds 53 to obtain the desired half-package 20 (figure 2). When the station S 1 is reached, also blocking of the blank 20 on the top face 53a of the mould 53 occurs by means of the above-mentioned plurality of top suction cups 56a (figures 7 and 8) connected, via suction pipes, to a vacuum generator (not shown). The way in which the vacuum is distributed on the faces 53a, 53b will be better described in what follows (Figures 6-13). As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the mould 53 has a width 1 substantially equal to that of the portions 23, 24, 25, 28, 28a of the blank 20 (figure 1) , in such a way that on its top face 53a the portions 24, 28, 28a of the blank 20 rest and are withheld as a result of the vacuum applied to the suction cups 56a. In addition, as has already been said, the rear edge 20b of the blank 20 must be at the edge of intersection between the top face 53a and the rear face 53f of the mould 53. At this point the blank 20, which is gripped to the corresponding mould 53 as a result of the suction action of the suction cups 56a, proceeds in its travel along the path P and reaches a station S 2 , where the small square end folds 29a are folded by means of a pair of rollers 57 set laterally with respect to the mould 53. The small square end folds 29a thus set themselves perpendicular to the face 53a of the mould 53. Consequently, the blank 20 assumes the configuration represented in Figures 4b and 5b. As shown again in Figures 3, when a station S 3 is reached, simultaneous folding of the square end folds 27 and small square end folds 29b is performed by means of a pair of rollers 58, the said square end folds 27 and 29b thus being set perpendicular to the face 53a of the mould 53, and hence also perpendicular to the portions 24, 28, 28a of the blank 20. At the same station S3, by means of a roller 59 set transversely with respect to the aforementioned pair of rollers 58, the front wall 23, the front side 25, and the square end folds 26 of the blank 20 are folded at 90° with respect to the face 53a (Figure 1). Advantageously, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the height of the mould 53 must be equal to the width h of the front side 25 and of the square end folds 29a of the blank 20 (Figure 1), so that both the front side 25 and the square end folds 29a may rest completely against the front face 53c of the mould 53. The new configuration of the blank 20 with respect to the mould 53 is shown in Figures 4c and 5c. Proceeding in the journey along the path P, at the station S 4 the external surfaces of the square end folds 26 undergo marking. The operation of marking the data on the package (date, place, etc. ) can be carried out by means of two pairs of marking rollers 60, as in the solution shown in Figure 6d 1 , or else by means of a pair of marking nozzles 61 (only one being shown in Figure 5d 2 ), each of which is designed to spray an ink jet on the respective square end fold 26, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6d 2 . In a station S 5 , instead, an adhesive substance is applied, by means of a pair of gumming nozzles 62, on the internal surfaces of the same square end folds 26 that in the station S 4 had been marked externally. To facilitate application of the adhesive, it is possible to provide also contrast elements 63 (only one being shown in Figure 5e), each being set on the opposite side of the respective gumming nozzle 62. As shown in Figure 1, an adhesive area 26a is consequently formed on each one of the internal surfaces of the square end folds 26. As may be noted observing Figure 3, between the station S 1 and the station S 5 the mould 53 travels along a substantially vertical branch P 1 of the path P, at the same time maintaining the top face 53a constantly parallel to itself. After the station S 5 , the mould 53 starts to move horizontally, again as a result of it being drawn along by the belt 52, along a branch P 2 which is substantially horizontal and set in series with respect to the above-mentioned branch P 1 . In a station S 6 , which is situated at the beginning of the stretch P 2 , is provided an inclined plane 64, which is the hypotenuse of a right-angle triangle having a height d equal to the height of the front wall 23 and of the square end folds 26. In the horizontal translation of the mould 53, with the corresponding faces 53a-53f constantly parallel to themselves, the front wall 23 and the square end folds 26 meet the inclined plane 64, which folds them at 90° with respect to the face 53c of the mould 53. As shown in Figure 7, the bottom face 53b of the mould 53 is provided with the aforesaid suction cups 56b which undergo the action of a vacuum-generating device (not illustrated). The said suction cups 56b enable reversible blocking of the front wall 23 of the blank 20 on the bottom face 53b of the mould 53. The configurations of the blank 20 with respect to the mould 53 before and after the action on the blank 20 of the inclined plane 64 are represented in Figures 4f and 4g, respectively. Subsequently, the blank 20 conveyed by the respective mould 53 arrives in a station S 7 , from which a third branch P 3 , which is substantially vertical and parallel to the first branch P 1 , starts. At this point, the blank 20, with respect to the corresponding mould 53, is configured as shown in Figures 4g and 4h. In the station S 7 , then, the square end folds 26 are set horizontally. The internal surfaces of the said square end folds 26 having the adhesive areas 26a are ready to be folded towards the external surfaces of the square end folds 27, each of which lies on a respective side face 53d, 53e of the mould 53. To ensure blocking of the square end folds 27 on the side faces 53d, 53e, also the latter may be provided with respective suction cups 65a, 65b (Figures 7-9) connected to the same vacuum-generating system to which the aforesaid suction cups 56a, 56b are connected, as will emerge more clearly later on. In order to achieve the desired 90° fold of the square end folds 26, provided on the branch P 3 is a pair of belts 66 which are motor-driven by means of pulleys 67 and of mechanical means that are not illustrated in Figure 3. The said belts 66 accompany the movement of descent of the moulds 53 at the same linear speed as the feed speed of the moulds 53 themselves along the path P, so as to prevent any scratching on the external surfaces of the folded blank 20. In an embodiment which is not illustrated, the belts 66 may be idle on the pulleys 67. The belts 66 not only enable folding of each square end fold 26 on the respective square end fold 27, but press the square end folds 26, 27 against each other, so facilitating gluing of the internal surface of each square end fold 26 on the external surface of the respective square end fold 27, thanks to the respective adhesive area 26a (Figure 1). In this way, the half-package 40 shown in Figures 2 and 4i is obtained. To accelerate the gluing process, the third vertical branch P 3 of the path P may be equipped with a drying device (not illustrated) of any kind, for example a generator of hot air. Half-way along a fourth branch P 4 and at a station S 8 , the half-package 40 is ejected from the mould 53 by means of a jet of compressed air coming out of a mouth 68 (Figures 9 and 10) provided on the front face 53c of the mould 53. In greater detail, the jet of compressed air issuing from the mouth 68 acts on the bottom of the half-package 40, which is made up of the front side 25 and the two small square end folds 29a superimposed on the said front side 25, so sliding the half-package 40 out of the mould 53 and causing the rear wall 24, the rear side 28, and the tab 28a to slide on the face 53a, the front wall 23 to slide on the face 53b, and the internal surface of each square end fold 27 to slide on the side faces 53d, 53e. As has already been said, in series to the branch P 3 , a further branch P 4 is provided, which is horizontal and parallel to the branch P 2 . In this branch P 4 the mould 53, by now without the half-package 40 since, as has been said, the latter has been unloaded in the station S 8 , is fed by the belt 52 towards the station S 0 , and is ready to resume a new cycle for producing a new half-package 40. In practice, the path P, which consists of the four branches P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , and P 4 set in series one after another, has a substantially rectangular form on the plane of the sheet. It is evident that all the operations carried out in the stations S 0 -S 8 can be governed and controlled by means of an electronic control unit (not shown). As has been said previously, it has been necessary to find a system for fixing the mould 53 to the belt 52 in such a way as to enable drawing-along of the mould 53 by the belt 52, but also to enable at the same time a rotation of the mould 53 with respect to the belt 52 itself. In order to do this, the solution illustrated in Figures 7 and 10 has been adopted. Fixed by gluing on the belt 52 are four blocks 70, preferably, but not necessarily, made of plastic material, each of which is traversed by a respective through hole 71, the axis of symmetry of which is parallel to an axis A of longitudinal symmetry of the mould 53 and of the shaft 55 (Figures 7 and 10) and is transverse with respect to the direction of advance of the belt 52. The four blocks 70 are glued in twos at the edges 52a, 52b of the belt 52. The four blocks 70 can be considered as two separate pairs, each of which is made up of a first block 70 located on the edge 52a and a second block 70 located on the edge 52b. A respective spindle 72 traverses a pair of through holes 71 and protrudes slightly with respect to the two edges 52a, 52b. The ends 72a of the spindles 72 located on the side where there is the edge 52a are joined together by a plate 73, and likewise the ends 72b that are located at the edge 52b. Each plate 73, in turn, is provided with a respective through hole 74, which may be traversed by the aforesaid shaft 55, the shaft 55 being integral with the mould 53. The spindles 72 are fixed to the respective plates 73 by means of Seeger rings 73a, whereas for the shaft 55 a Seeger ring 73b is provided. As shown again in Figures 7 and 10, between the mould 53 and the edge 52a of the belt 52 there is a vacuum and compressed-air distributor 75 connected to a distribution device, as shall be described in greater detail hereinafter. The distributor 75 has a through hole 76 traversed by the shaft 55, which, as has been said, is integral with the mould 53. In addition, the distributor 75 is rendered integral with the plate 73 facing the side where there is the edge 52a by means of a pair of screws 77 (Figures 7 and 8). Consequently, the distributor 75 is idle with respect to the shaft 55, but is integral with the plates 73, and hence, in practice, with the belt 52. For the aforementioned reasons, it is necessary, during translation of the mould 53 along the aforesaid path P, whilst each face 53a-53f of the mould 53 remains constantly parallel to itself, to cause the distributor 75 to follow, instead, the path of the belt 52. In this way, a relative rotation of the distributor 75 with respect to the mould 53 is achieved, this rotation enabling, according to a procedure which will be described in greater depth in what follows, the distribution of the vacuum or of the compressed air over the faces 53a-53e of the mould 53. As has already been mentioned, the machine 50 has a device 80 (Figure 6) to ensure that, during translation of the mould 53 along the aforesaid path P, each face 53a-53f of the mould 53 remains constantly parallel to itself. This device 80, represented in greater detail in Figure 6 and removed for reasons of clarity from Figure 3, is itself also integral with the frame 51 (Figure 13) and comprises, in one of its particular embodiments, a second belt 81, which defines a path T (Figure 6). On this belt 81, for each mould 53 is provided a system for fixing a shaft 82 similar to the shaft 55 seen in connection with the belt 52. In fact, fixed by gluing on the belt 81 are four blocks 83 (only two being shown in Figure 6 - see also Figures 10 and 13), preferably, but not necessarily, made of plastic material, each of which is traversed by a respective through hole, the axis of symmetry of which is parallel to the aforementioned axis A. The four blocks 83 are glued in twos at the edges 81a, 81b of the belt 81. The four blocks 83 can be considered as two separate pairs, each of which is made up of a first block 83 located on the edge 81a and a second block 83 located on the edge 81b. A respective spindle 84 (Figure 6) traverses a pair of through holes and protrudes slightly with respect to the two edges 81a, 81b. The ends of the spindles 84 located on the side where there is the edge 81a are joined together by a plate 86 (Figure 6), as likewise are the ends that are located at the edge 81b. Each plate 86, in turn, is provided with a respective through hole 87 which may be traversed by the aforesaid shaft 82. The shafts 55 and 82 are connected in an integral way together by means of a connecting rod 88 (Figures 10 and 13). The connecting rod 88, the shaft 82, and the shaft 55, which is integral with the mould 53, have a configuration defined by the position occupied by the device 80 with respect to the belt 52, whilst the length of the connecting rod 88 depends upon the distance between the belt 52 and the device 80. As shown in particular in Figures 7-10, the distributor 75 has a substantially parallelepipedal structure and has a front face 75a resting on the face 53f of the mould 53, a rear face 75b connected to the plates 73 by means of the screws 77, and a bottom face 75c (Figure 10) provided both with an opening 89 for connection of the distributor 75 with the vacuum generator (see later) and of an opening 90 for connection with a compressed-air generator (see later). It is evident that, instead of the aforesaid belt device 80, any other device that is suitable for the purpose may be used, such as a guide which extends substantially parallel to the belt 52 and on which a pad mechanically connected to the shaft 55 may slide. Figure 10 and Figures 11 and 12 show, respectively, a vacuum-distribution system and a pressurized-air system controlled by the distributor 75. In fact, as regards vacuum distribution inside the distributor 75, a semi-annular channel 91 is provided, which is in continuous pneumatic connection with the opening 89 via a threaded hole 92, whilst the shaft 55 is provided, at its periphery, with a pair of inlets 93, 94 set at 180° with respect to one another, each being connected to a pipe 95, 96 of its own which creates a vacuum, respectively, on the bottom face 53b and on the top face 53a of the mould 53 (Figure 10). As is shown in greater detail in Figure 11, the relative rotation of the distributor 75 with respect to the shaft 55, which, as already said, is integral with the mould 53, sets the inlet 93 and/or the inlet 94 in pneumatic communication, and in a possibly selective way, so creating suction of the suction cups 56b or of the suction cups 56a, respectively, on the desired portions of the blank 20. In other words, from the fluid-dynamics standpoint, the semi-annular channel 91 and the inlets 93, 94 can work as a two-way valve. It is evident that, for both the pipes 95, 96 to be able to work simultaneously, the angle of opening of the semi-annular channel 91 must exceed 180°. The width of this angle is determined by the law that governs opening and closing of the pipes 95, 96, so as to have instants along the path P at which the vacuum is created simultaneously on the faces 53a, 53b. It is evident that the other suction cups present on the other faces 53c, 53d, 53e of the mould 53 can be pneumatically connected to the pipes 95, 96 according to the portions of the blank 20 that are to undergo suction on the various faces 53c-53e, as represented in the cycle of Figure 3. The system for distribution of compressed air is similar to the system described for the vacuum. In fact, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 12, inside the distributor 75 an annular channel 97 is provided, which is pneumatically connected to the opening 90 via a channel 98. On the shaft 55, an inlet 99 is provided which is pneumatically connected to a pipe 100, parallel to the axis A, by means of a channel 101 perpendicular to the axis A. The pipe 100 leads to the aforesaid mouth 68. The compressed air can therefore be sent to the mouth 68 to carry out the desired ejection of the half-package 40 at the station S8 shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 12, the opening 90 is connected to the annular channel 97 by means of a threaded hole 98. As illustrated in Figures 6 and 13, in order to create a vacuum or to deliver compressed air on the faces 53a-53e of the mould 53, the distributor 75 is pneumatically connected to a distributor disk 102 set in rotation at the same speed as the belts 52, 81 through means which will be illustrated in greater detail in what follows. For this purpose, the openings 89, 90 located on the face 75c of the distributor 75 are pneumatically connected, by means of respective coiled elastic tubes 103, 104, each to a respective pipe 105, 106 which is basically L-shaped (Figure 13). The pipes 105, 106, starting from the outer edge 102a of the distributor disk 102, let out onto a face 102b of the distributor disk 102 itself. The distributor disk 102 is supported by the frame 51 by means of a shaft 107 which is integral with the frame and is supported by a pair of bearings 108 inside a sleeve 109. The sleeve 109 traverses a through hole 51a provided in the frame 51 and, in turn, is rendered integral with the frame 51 by means of a flange 110 fixed to the frame 51 with screws 111 (only one screw being shown in Figure 13). The shaft 107 has one first end 107a, at which the above-mentioned distributor disk 102 is fixed using traditional methods, and one second end 107b on which a pulley 112 is fitted, which is set in rotation by a toothed belt in a way which will be described in greater detail in the sequel. As shown in Figure 13, the system for distribution of the vacuum and compressed air on the faces 53a-53e of the mould 53 further comprises a fixed disk 113 which is rendered integral with the frame 51 by means of a pair of rigid cups 114, 115 and of a pin (not shown in Figure 10) set at 120° with respect to each other. The cup 114 passes through a hole 51b provided on the frame 51 and is fixed to the latter by screwing. The cup 114 hydraulically connects a vacuum generator (not illustrated) with a pipe 116, which in turn is in communication with a semi-annular groove 117 (see also Figure 6) made out of the face 113a of the fixed disk 113, the said groove 117 following for a stretch the form of the edge 102a of the distributor disk 102. In order for one face 113a of the fixed disk 113 to be constantly pressed against the face 102b of the distributor disk 102, the end of the cup 114 that is inserted in the pipe 116 is provided with a helical spring 118. Likewise, the cup 115 passes through a hole 51c provided in the frame 51 and is fixed to the latter by screwing. The cup 115 hydraulically connects a compressed-air generator (not illustrated) with a pipe 119, which in turn is in communication with a port 120 (see also Figure 6) provided on the face 113a of the fixed disk 113. In order for the face 113a of the fixed disk 113 to be constantly pressed against the face 102b of the distributor disk 102, the end of the cup 115 that is inserted in the pipe 119 is provided with a helical spring 121. Also to the aforementioned pin (not shown), which, as has been said, completes the set of three elements for fixing the fixed disk 113 to the frame 51, there is associated a respective spring (not illustrated) for purposes similar to those already seen for the springs 118 and 121, which are associated, respectively, to the cup 114 and to the cup 115. In use, the distributor disk 102 is set in rotation by means of the pulley 112 in a way whereby its face 102b slides on the face 113a of the fixed disk 113. Meanwhile, the pipe 105, which is associated to a respective coiled elastic tube 103, is periodically set in communication with the semi-annular groove 117 provided on the fixed disk 113 to create, when so desired, a vacuum on the faces 53a-53e of the mould 53 only for a stretch of the path P (Figure 3). Operation of the suction cups 56a or of the suction cups 56b is controlled, as has been seen, by the distributor 75 during its rotation with respect to the shaft 55 which is integral with the mould 53. Possibly, by means of pipes (not illustrated) connected to the pipes 95, 96 for vacuum distribution (Figure 10), it is possible to activate the above-mentioned suction cups 65a, 65b, located, respectively, on the face 53d and on the face 53e, or else pads 65c associated to the face 53c, to carry out the entire cycle of suction of portions of the blank 20 on the said faces 53c-53e for at least one part of the path P (Figure 3). Following the rotation of the distributor disk 102, which rotates with respect to the fixed disk 113, the pipe 106, connected to the coiled elastic tube 104, enters into fluid connection with the port 120, through which the compressed air coming from the cup 115 and the pipe 119, which are set in series, passes. Consequently, at the instant at which the outlet of the pipe 106 on the face 102b comes into contact with the port 120, on the face 113a a jet of compressed air is generated, which, via the coiled elastic tube 104 and the pipe 100, is sent, as has been seen, to the mouth 68 located on the face 53c to bring about ejection of the half-package 40, as has been shown in connection with the station S 8 of Figure 3. It should be said incidentally that compressed air is generated continuously but does not come of the port 120, because the said port 120 is closed by the face 102b of the distributor disk 102, except for the instant in which, as has been said, during rotation of the distributor disk 102 with respect to the fixed disk 113, the outlet of the channel 106 on the face 102b of the distributor disk 102 coincides with the port 120 provided on the face 113a of the fixed disk 113. In addition, particular care must be paid in making the surfaces 102b and 113a so that their reciprocal sliding does not generate heat due to friction which would be harmful to proper operation of the vacuum and compressed-air distribution systems. With particular reference to Figure 13, the mechanisms moving the two belts 52, 81 and the system of rotation of the distributor disk 102 will now be illustrated. As has already been said, the belts 52, 81 and the distributor disk 102 must have values of their peripheral speeds that are substantially the same for two effects to be obtained: accompanying of the belt 52 by the belt 81 in order to achieve the desired effect of parallelism of the faces 53a-53f with respect to themselves during translation of the mould 53 along the path P (Figure 3), and the following of the respective mould 53 by each pair of tubes 103, 104. It is evident that the tubes 103, 104 are made of an easily deformable plastic material wound in coils so that they may follow the respective mould 53 also in the corner portions of the path P, i.e., in the points of transition from the branch P 1 to the branch P 2 , from the branch P 2 to the branch P 3 , etc. Rotation of the moving parts of the machine 50 is generated by a driving shaft 122 being rotated by means of a motor assembly (not shown). The driving shaft 122 is connected to a first toothed driving pulley 123a by means of a circular plate 124 and a plurality of screws 125 (only one of which is illustrated in Figure 13). In addition, the first driving pulley 123a is idle on a pair of bearings 126 supported by a spindle 127 rendered integral with the frame 51 by known mechanical means. Furthermore, since the first driving pulley 123a is toothed, it is able to set the belt 81, which is also toothed, in motion. As has been seen, the belt 81 connects the first driving pulley 123a with a set of three pulleys 123b (only one of which is shown in Figure 13) located at the corners of the path T of the belt 81, the path T substantially coinciding with the path P (Figure 3) of the mould 53. Each pulley 123b is supported by a spindle 128 fixed with known means to the frame 51 via a pair of bearings 129. As will be recalled, the shaft 82 ,which is integral with the connecting rod 88, the shaft 55 and the mould 53, is fixed to the belt 81. The pulleys 123b have outer diameters equal to the diameter of the first driving pulley 123a. As shown again in Figure 13, on the face of the first driving pulley 123a set facing the frame 51, a recess 130 is made, which is provided with an internal toothing 131. On the side opposite to the first driving pulley 123a with respect to the frame 51, a second toothed driving pulley 54a is located, this driving pulley being shaped in a way similar to the first driving pulley 123a. This second driving pulley 54a is supported by a pair of bearings 132 fitted on a spindle 133 fixed to the frame 51 with known mechanical means. Also for the second driving pulley 54a, which is toothed externally to perform pulling of the belt 52, a recess 134 is provided, which is equipped with a corresponding internal toothing 135. In order to transmit motion between the first driving pulley 123a and the second driving pulley 54a, a device 136 for transmission of motion is made, which is set astride the frame 51. This device 136 comprises a bushing 137 which is fixed with known means to the frame 51 and which carries inside it a pair of bearings 134 fitted on a spindle 139. The spindle 139 is inserted in a hole 51d which traverses the frame 51. In addition, at each one its two ends the spindle 139 is provided with a respective pinion gear 140, 141, each of which meshes, respectively, with the internal crown gear 131 of the pulley 123a and with the internal crown gear 135 belonging to the pulley 54a. The toothed pulley 54a sets in motion the toothed belt 52, which also passes through the set of three snub pulleys 54b, which are also located at the corners of the path P. By means of the device 136, the two driving pulleys 123a, 54a are made to rotate in the same direction, so as to advance the shaft 82 along the path T in the same direction as the mould 53, which, as has been said, travels along the path P in the clockwise direction. A further pulley 142 is fitted on the motion-input driving shaft 122 so as to obtain the aforementioned rotation of the toothed pulley 112, and hence of the distributor disk 102, by means of a toothed belt (not shown). It is evident that rotation of the pulley 142 is simultaneous with rotation of the driving pulleys 123a and 54a. To sum up, by setting the driving shaft 122 in motion, the pulleys 123a, 54a and 142 are set in rotation simultaneously and in the same direction, and in turn set in motion, respectively, the belt 81, the belt 52, and the distributor disk 102 with the same peripheral speed. In this way, the desired effect is obtained of following of the mould 53 by the shaft 82 and of the distributor disk 102 together with the corresponding tubes 103, 104, which distribute, respectively, the vacuum and compressed air on the faces 53a-53e of the mould 53. The advantages of the present machine are the following: a limited number of devices with moving parts, wherein a particular device is provided which is designed to maintain the faces of the mould constantly parallel to themselves at any point of the path; therefore, it is possible to adjust the different devices in a suitable manner in order to handle moulds and the relevant blanks presenting different dimensions; ease of synchronization of movements between advance of the mould together with the corresponding blank, and folding of the portions of blank on the faces of the mould; reliability of blocking of the portions of blank on the faces of the mould, this reliability being due to the selective use of the vacuum on the faces; selective distribution of the vacuum and of compressed air on the faces of the mould by means of a distribution device of simple conception but high reliability, which conveniently exploits the movement of the mould itself along a given path to selectively distribute the vacuum and/or compressed air according to the various stations occupied by the mould and by the corresponding blank along its path; and finaly noiseless operation and almost absolute absence of vibrations of the mechanical parts; possibility of getting a number of moulds, set one after another, to travel simultaneously along the same path so as to occupy at the same time all the stations of the path with a mould provided with a corresponding blank; in the illustrated embodiment it is consequently possible to process nine blanks simultaneously at the nine stations provided, with a consequent reduction in the times of passage from the blank to the half-package.

Claims: An automatic machine (50) for the preparation of half-packages (40) starting from corresponding blanks (20) preferably made of cardboard, the automatic machine (50) comprising: a frame (51); at least one mould (53) designed to receive a blank (20); a feed device (52) for feeding said at least one mould (53) along a pre-defined path (P); and a plurality of devices (57, 58, 59, 64, 66) set along said path (P) for folding respective portions (29a, 27, 23, 26) of said blank (20) on said mould (53) so as to form a corresponding half-package (40); the automatic machine (50) being characterized in that at least one part of said plurality of devices (57, 58, 59, 64, 66) is fixed with respect to said frame (51) and to said feed device (52), in that a device (80) is provided which is designed to maintain each face (53a-53f) of said mould (53) constantly parallel to itself at any point of said path (P), and in that said path (P) comprises, in its turn, four branches (P1, P2, P3, P4) set in series one after another in a substantially rectangular form. An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 1, in which said device (80) includes a belt (81) designed to follow a path (T), said path (T) being substantially parallel to said path (P) followed by said mould (53). An automatic machine (50) as per any of the foregoing claims, in which said at least one mould (53) is provided with pneumatic means (56a, 56b, 65a, 65b, 65c) for withholding, in a selective manner, on its walls (53a-53e) portions (24, 28, 28a, 23, 27) of said blank (20) so as to form a half-package (40). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 3, in which said half-package (40) is ejected at the end of the path (P) by means of a jet of compressed air. An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 4, in which the vacuum and compressed air are distributed in a selective manner by the assembly consisting of a plurality of devices (75, 102, 103, 104, 113). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 5, in which at least one part of said devices (75, 102, 103, 104) move in synchronism with the movement of said mould (53) along said path (P). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 6, in which said device (75) for distribution of the vacuum and compressed air is idle on a shaft (55) integral with said mould (53), and in which said device (75) can rotate with respect to said shaft (55) so as to perform the desired selective distribution of the vacuum and compressed air on the faces (53a-53e) of the mould (53). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 7, in which said device (75) is provided inside with a semi-annular channel (91) for distribution of the vacuum and with an annular channel (97) for distribution of compressed air on a face (53c) of said mould (53). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 8, in which said shaft (55) is provided on its external surface with inlets (93, 94) which can enter into pneumatic communication with said semi-annular channel (91) to create the vacuum on a bottom face (53b) and/or on a top face (53a) of said mould (53). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 9, in which said faces (53a, 53b) are provided with respective suction cups (56a, 56b) to withhold portions of said blank (20). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 10, in which said suction cups (56a, 56b) are pneumatically connected to said inlets (94, 93) by means of respective pipes (96, 95). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 11, in which said pipes (96, 95) are pneumatically connected with suction cups (65a, 65b, 65c) provided, respectively, on the faces (53d, 53e, 53c) of said mould (53). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 5, in which belonging to said assembly are a disk (113), which is fixed, and a disk (102), which is mobile with respect to said frame (51), one face (102b) of said mobile disk (102) resting on one face (113a) of said fixed disk (113) during rotation of said mobile disk (102) with respect to said fixed disk (113). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 13, in which said mobile disk (102) is pneumatically connected with said means (75) via a pair of coiled elastic tubes (103, 104). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 13, in which said fixed disk (113) is pushed against said mobile disk (102) by elastic means (118, 121). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 7, in which said shaft (55) integral with the mould (53) is supported by a belt (52) by means of a pair of plates (73) supported by two pairs of blocks (70) glued to said belt (52). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 16, in which said shaft (55) is free to rotate with respect to said belt (52). An automatic machine (50) as per Claims 2 and 17, in which said shaft (55) and said belt (81) are connected together by means of a connecting rod (88) and a shaft (82) which is drawn by said belt (81) but is free to rotate with respect to said belt (81). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 18, in which the mould (53), the shaft (55), the connecting rod (88), and the shaft (82) are integral with one another. An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 19, in which said belt (52) is set in motion by pulleys (54a, 54b), said belt (81) is set in motion by pulleys (123a, 123b), and said mobile disk (102) is set in rotation by a pair of pulleys (112, 142) connected together by means of a belt. An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 20, in which the pulleys (54a, 54b, 123a, 123b, 112, 142) are set in rotation by means of a single driving shaft (122). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 21, in which a driving pulley (54a) of said belt (52) and a driving pulley (123a) of said belt (81) have respective internal toothings (135, 131) connected together by a device (136). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 22, in which said device (136) comprises a spindle (139), the ends of which have a respective pinion gear (141, 140), each of which meshes, respectively, with the internal toothing (135) and with the internal toothing (131). An automatic machine (50) as per Claim 3, designed to fold a blank (20) on a mould (53) to obtain a half-package (40), said blank (20) comprising a front wall (23) and a rear wall (24), which are joined together along one side by a front side (25) and have respective pairs of square end folds (26, 27), and further comprise a pair of slot-in small square end folds (29a) set between said square end folds (26) and said square end folds (27); the automatic machine (50) being characterized in that it further comprises along the path (P): means (57) for folding said pairs of slot-in small square end folds (29a); means (58) for folding the pair of square end folds (27); means (59) for folding the front side (25) and for a first folding of the rear wall (23) and of the pair of square end folds (26); means (62) for applying an adhesive substance on the internal surfaces of the pair of square end folds (26); marking means (60; 61) for marking said square end folds (26); means (64) for a second folding of the rear wall (23) and of the pair of square end folds (26); and means (66, 67) for a third folding of the pair of square end folds (26) on the pair of square end folds (27) so that each square end fold (26) is glued on the respective square end fold (27).

Inventors: GAMBERINI ERNESTO, GAMBERINI, ERNESTO
Applicants: H P F S R L, H.P.F. S.R.L.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65B19
IPC codes: B65B43, B65B19, B65B5