Patent GB-881863-A (GB)
Title: Machine for folding box blanks
IPC: B31B50/62
Filed: 1959-11-25
Abstract: 881,863. Making cartons. INTERNATIONAL PAPER BOX MACHINE CO. Nov. 25, 1959 [Nov. 25, 1958], No. 40078 /59. Class 18. A machine for forming collapsed tubular boxes from blanks 47 comprises blank carrier means 31, 38, 39, 45 to advance the blanks through a panel overfolding zone 21 in the machine ; two pairs 87, 89 and 88, 90 of rigid guides ; a number of belt pulleys 121, 122, 123, 124, rotatably mounted along the guides ; a pair of endless fold belts 164, 165 trained over and under the pulleys 121, 122 and 123, 124 respectively for upfolding and then downfolding the panels 61, 64 of each blank 47 ; motorised lateral adjustment means to move each pair of guides laterally towards or away from the longitudinal centre line 36 of the path of the blanks and vertical adjustment means 214 to flex each pair of guides to vary their inclination or declination to the path of travel. The blanks 47 are advanced by a lower centre carrier belt 32 (not shown) and a pair of lower belts 38, 39 and an upper carrier belt 45 is also provided. Folder swords 53, 54 extend along the inside of longitudinal creases 66, 68 of the blank. The belts 164, 165, extending over the pulleys 121, 122, turn panels 61, 64 upwardly about the hinge lines 66, 68 respectively and then these belts, extending beneath the pulleys 123, 124, fold the panels downwardly until the panel 61 overlies and adheres to a flap 65 which has previously been coated with glue. The forward ends 92 of each of the guides 87, 88 are linked to sleeves 98, 99 threaded on shafts 100, 101 the turning of which causes the ends 92 to move laterally towards or away from the centre line 36 and further lateral adjustment may be made by manually overcoming the clamping action of springs 103, Fig. 3. The rearward end 105 of the guide 89 is mounted by a swivel joint 106 on the depending arm 109 of a bracket 111 laterally slidable on a keyed shaft 110 and threaded on a shaft 119 the rotation of which moves the bracket 111 laterally. Similarly the end of the guide 90 is mounted on a bracket 112 threaded on a shaft 114. The folder swords 53, 54 are carried for lateral movement by brackets 57 on rotating shafts 58, 59. A counterweight 176 on a rod 177 depending from a bracket 175 applies constant tension to the belts 164, 175. The bracket 175 together with a bracket 179 both supporting a frame piece 156 of the machine are laterally adjustable on threaded shafts 182, 183 respectively and slide on shafts 185, 186. Each frame piece 156 carries a side bar 187 or 188 positioned close to the outside of the crease line 66 or 68 to prevent twisting of the blank. Frame pieces 180 supporting the pulleys of the carrier belts 38, 39 are carried by brackets 189, 190 threaded on shafts 181, 184. The brackets 175, 179 move laterally more rapidly than the brackets 189, 190 so that the bars 187, 188 expose more of the belts 38, 39 for larger blanks. The vertical adjustment means comprises a tiltable post 145 to which adjacent ends 138, 139 of the guides 87, 89 are connected by universal joints 141, 142, Fig. 12. A sleeve 152 mounted on a bracket 154 is threaded on the post 145. A hand crank 157 mounted on the bracket 154 is rotated to vary the effective length of the post 145 to change the inclination of the guides 87, 89. Similarly the inclination of the guides 88, 90 may be varied. As the post 145 is raised or lowered the arms 94, 96 flex and yield longitudinally whereas the swivel connection 106 and arm 109 do not so the post 145 tilts. The post 145 may be moved laterally by rotation of the shafts 182, 183. Before use the apparatus is laterally adjusted and then vertically adjusted for the size of blank to be used. The drives of the various belts in the machine are synchronised with each other. A speed change device 204 may be provided.