EP2377764B1 - Carton folding device and method for folding a carton - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a Kartonfaltvorrichtung, in particular for folding a carton with a base and four side walls, with a feed device for feeding carton blanks and with a folding device for folding the carton blanks. Conveniently, a carton blank or a cardboard to be folded in the plan view is rectangular or square. It is within the scope of the invention that the cardboard to be folded is designed to be open at the top.

Carton folding devices of the aforementioned type are known in various embodiments, for example WO 99/06283 A1 and US 2,624,248 , These known devices are usually characterized by relatively complex or time-consuming steps. In many known devices of the type mentioned a picking tool is provided, with which a carton blank is aufgenormen of a carton blank stack. From this recording tool, the recorded cardboard blank is then transferred to a feed tool and the carton blank is fed to the folding device with the feed tool. The operating speed and / or the safety of this known Kartonfaltvorrichtungen leaves to be desired. The procedure is relatively expensive and prone to failure in these devices. The cardboard folding devices known from practice furthermore have the considerable disadvantage that they are relatively space-consuming or voluminous.

In contrast, the invention, the technical problem of providing a Kartonfaltvorrichtung of the type mentioned above, with a high operating speed with simple, less expensive and reliable and trouble-free process management is feasible and which is characterized mainly by a small space requirement.

To solve this technical problem, the invention teaches a Kartonfaltvorrichtung, in particular for folding a carton with a base and four side walls, - with a feed device for feeding carton blanks and with a folding device for folding the carton blanks, wherein a carton blank is receivable with the feed device, wherein the carton blank can be fed directly to the feed device of the folding device and via at least one vertical feed section, and wherein the carton blank is foldable in the folding device to the carton,

wherein the feeding device has a receiving position in which a cardboard blank is picked up, wherein the feeding device has a dispensing position in which the carton blank is delivered to the folding device and wherein the feeding device is vertically movable from the pickup position to the dispensing position,
wherein the feeding device has a guided in a rail guide receiving device for receiving a carton blank and wherein a carton blank is receivable by the receiving device, when the receiving device is guided or positioned in first linear rail sections
and wherein the rail guide has transversely to the first linear rail sections arranged second rail sections and wherein the receiving device with a picked carton blank in the second Rail portions is guided or positioned when the feeder is moved from the receiving position to the dispensing position.

The cardboard blank picked up by the feeding device is fed directly to the folding device with this feeding device. Immediately here means, in particular, that no further feeding elements are interposed between receiving the carton blank by the feeding device and delivering the carton blank to the folding device.

It is within the scope of the invention that the carton blank or the carton consists of cardboard and in particular of corrugated cardboard. Conveniently, in the carton blank are the base and the side walls, in particular four side walls in a plane. It is also within the scope of the invention that after folding a carton blank to cardboard, the carton has a base surface and side walls perpendicular thereto, or substantially perpendicular thereto, or substantially perpendicular thereto. Preferably, after the folding of the carton blank, a plankton rectangular or square carton with four side walls results. Conveniently, the carton is open at the top. The inventively produced Cartons are particularly suitable for packaging products or goods on pallets.

A carton blank is expediently received by the feed device from a carton blank magazine or from a carton blank stack, wherein the carton blank magazine or the carton blank stack preferably has a plurality of carton blanks stacked on top of one another. Empfohlenermaßen the folding device and the carton blank magazine or the carton blank stack are arranged vertically one above the other or at least partially vertically stacked. Advantageously, the carton blank magazine or the carton blank stack is arranged vertically or at least partially vertically below the folding device or below a folding table of the folding device.

According to the invention, the feeding device can be positioned in a receiving position in which a carton blank is picked up by the feeding device and the feeding device can be positioned in a dispensing position in which the carton blank is dispensed from the feeding device to the folding device or deposited on the folding table of the folding device. The feeding device can be moved vertically from the receiving position into the dispensing position and vice versa, and more preferably exclusively vertically. Empfohlenermaßen the feeder is moved with a recorded carton blank from the receiving position vertically upwards to the dispensing position and after dispensing the carton blank to the folding device from the dispensing position to the receiving position vertically moved down, etc ..

According to the invention, the feed device is guided in a rail guide

Receiving device for receiving a carton blank on. It is within the scope of the invention that a carton blank is received by the receiving device from a carton blank magazine or from a carton blank stack. Preferably, the picked cardboard blank is dispensed in the dispensing position of the feeder of the receiving device to the folding device. Conveniently, the rail guide with the receiving device is vertically movable from the receiving position to the dispensing position and vice versa.

The rail guide for the receiving device preferably has at least two rails, which are recommended to be arranged parallel to one another. According to the invention, the rail guide has first linear or essentially linear rail sections. Conveniently, two mutually parallel linear rail sections are provided, which are preferably aligned horizontally. According to the invention, a carton blank is received by the receiving device when the feeding device is in the receiving position and when the receiving device is guided or arranged in the first linear rail sections.

According to the invention, the rail guide has second rail sections arranged transversely to the first linear rail sections. When the feeding device is moved from the receiving position to the dispensing position, the receiving device with the picked cardboard blank is positioned or arranged in the second rail sections. With this position of the receiving device, it is therefore recommended that the feeding device be moved from the receiving position to the folding device into the dispensing position. Preferably, at least two and preferably two second rail sections are provided, which are recommended are arranged parallel to each other. Advantageously, the second rail sections are round or curved and preferably circular arc-shaped. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second rail sections extend over a circular arc which corresponds to one third to two thirds and preferably half or approximately half of a circle. Conveniently, the second rail sections close directly to the first linear rail sections at. The rail guide then consists only or substantially of the first rail sections and the second rail sections.

The first linear rail sections of the feed device are expediently guided past the receiving position into the dispensing position during the process or during the vertical movement of the feed device, and vice versa on opposite sides of the folding table of the folding device. In this way, a particularly reliable working device and in particular a less bulky or less bulky device is realized.

It is within the scope of the invention that in the dispensing position of the feed device, the receiving device for dispensing a carton blank is positioned or guided on the folding device in the first linear rail sections. Conveniently, in the dispensing position of the feeding device, the receiving device is positioned above the folding table of the folding device and the carton blank received by the receiving device is released by the receiving device above the folding table and deposited on the folding table.

It has proven to be expedient that the folding device has centering elements with which the carton blank stored in the folding device can be centered or centered on the folding table. As already explained above, it is preferably a carton blank which is rectangular or square in plan view. Empfohlenermaßen is assigned to each of the four side edges of such a carton blank at least one centering element or a centering element. Expediently, the centering elements are vertically oriented centering plates, which can be moved to the center of the carton blank and act upon the side edges of the carton blank during centering.

After preferably centering the carton blank, it is recommended to fold the carton blank. For this purpose, the folding device has at least one lifting ram and during the action of the lifting ram on the base of the carton blank, the carton blank is guided past folding elements or stationary folding elements of the folding device, so that the side walls of the carton blank are erected or unfolded relative to its base. Appropriately, the at least one lifting ram is moved downwards, so that it acts on the base of the cardboard cut. Empfohlenermaßen then pushes the at least one lifting punch the carton blank on the Fattelementen or stationary folding elements over, so that the side walls of the carton blank are erected.

A very preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the folding device has a plurality of Hubstempeln, with which Hubstempeln the base of the carton blank is acted upon and that acted upon by the Hubstempeln and resting on the folding table of the folding carton blank with the folding table on the folding elements or, is guided past the stationary folding elements, so that the side walls are erected or folded, Appropriately, at least four lifting rams are provided for applying the side walls preferably act on the corner regions of the base of the cardboard to be formed. It is recommended that the lifting rams move from top to bottom and then act on the carton blank or the corner areas of the base of the carton to be formed. It has proven to be expedient that the lifting rams move the carton blank with the folding table downwards and past the folding elements or stationary folding elements, so that the side walls of the carton blank are erected. It is within the scope of the invention that the folding elements or stationary folding elements have vertical folding surfaces, which cause the erection of the passing sidewalls.

It is recommended that the erecting of the side walls takes place with the proviso that at least two side walls each have at at least one of its ends a projecting over the adjacent side fixing flap and that a fixing device is provided with which the fixing straps on the outer sides of the adjacent side walls fixed Empfohlenermaßen have two opposite side walls at their two ends in each case a fixing tab, which is fixable with the fixing device on the associated outer side of the adjacent side wall. It is within the scope of the invention that the fixed fixing tabs lie flat on the outer sides of the adjacent side walls.

Empfohlenermaßen the at least one lifting ram is raised again after fixing the fixing straps or the lifting rams are raised again. Conveniently, after fixing the fixing tabs of the folding table with the finished folded cardboard thereon back to its original position or raised.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the receiving device of the feeder has at least one suction element and with this suction element is a carton blank - in particular of a carton blank magazine - under the influence of negative pressure absorbable. The carton blank is thus sucked by the at least one suction element and received in this way by the receiving device. The carton blank is expediently held by the at least one suction element until it is delivered to the folding device or to the folding table. Preferably, a suction element in the form of a suction cup is formed. Empfohlenermaßen, the receiving device on a plurality of suction cups for receiving a carton blank. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least four suction cups are provided on the receiving device and each of the four suction cups is associated with a corner region of the cardboard blank or a corner region of the base of the carton blank. Assignment to a corner area here means that when receiving a carton blank each of the four suction cups acts on a corner region of the carton blank or a corner region of the base area of the carton blank.

To solve the technical problem, the invention further teaches a method for folding a carton, in particular a carton having a base and four side walls,
wherein a carton blank feeder is placed in a pickup position,
wherein a carton blank is received by a receiving device positioned in first rail sections of the feed device,
wherein the receiving device with the picked cardboard blank is then positioned in the second rail sections of the feed device,
wherein the feeding device is subsequently moved into a dispensing position,
wherein the receiving device with the picked cardboard blank is then positioned again in the first rail sections,
wherein the carton blank arranged above the folding table of a folding device is then released by the receiving device and placed on the folding table,
wherein the receiving device is then positioned again in the second rail sections,
wherein the carton blank is folded with the folding device into a carton
and wherein the feed device is moved back to the receiving position for receiving a further carton blank.

The folding of the carton may be performed prior to moving to the picking position or simultaneously with the picking position method or picking up method.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the feeding device from the receiving position to the dispensing position and vice versa moved vertically and the first and the second rail sections and arranged in the second rail sections receiving device with the recorded carton blank are in this vertical method on the folding device or on the Falttisch the folding device moved past.

The invention is based on the finding that the cardboard folding device according to the invention can be operated at a higher operating speed in comparison with the devices known from the prior art. In particular, a rapid, functionally reliable, trouble-free and damage-free feeding of cardboard blanks is possible. The carton blanks can be precisely transferred to the folding device and in the folding device is a functionally reliable and proper folding of the cartons instead. In addition to a high operating speed, the Kartonfaltvorrichtung invention is characterized by a relatively simple and less complex structure. The device according to the invention can be realized with relatively simple components and can thus be manufactured inexpensively. Particularly noteworthy is that the device according to the invention is characterized by a significantly lower space requirement compared to the devices known from practice and is very compact.

Fig. 1

einen Kartonzuschnitt für eine erfindungsgemäßeKartonfaltvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

einen aus dem Kartonzuschnitt gemäß Fig. 1 fertig gefalteten Karton,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Kartonfaltvorrichtung in einer ersten Funktionsstellung,

Fig. 4

den Gegenstand gemäß Fig. 3 in einer zweiten Funktionsstellung,

Fig. 5

den Gegenstand nach Fig. 3 in einer dritten Funktionsstellung,

Fig. 6

den Gegenstand gemäß Fig. 3 in einer vierten Funktionsstellung und

Fig. 7

eine Aufnahmevorrichtung mit Saugnäpfen.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment. In a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a carton blank for a carton folding device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

one from the carton blank according to Fig. 1 ready-folded box,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the carton folding device according to the invention in a first functional position,

Fig. 4

the object according to Fig. 3 in a second functional position,

Fig. 5

the object after Fig. 3 in a third functional position,

Fig. 6

the object according to Fig. 3 in a fourth functional position and

Fig. 7

a receiving device with suction cups.

The invention relates to a carton folding device and in particular to a folding device for folding a carton having a base G and four side walls S. The carton is made from a carton blank 2. In this carton blank 2 ( Fig. 1 ) is the base G with the four side walls S in a plane. There are kinked lines K provided, which are expediently designed as material weaknesses. With the cardboard folding device according to the invention, the side walls S are erected or unfolded with respect to the base G, so that the side walls S are arranged perpendicular to the base G. Two of the side walls S each have at their two ends fixing tabs F, which are folded over for the production of the carton with the Kartonfaltvorrichtung by 90 ° and respectively on the outer sides of the be fixed adjacent side walls S. Fig. 2 shows a finished cardboard formed with a Kartonfaltvorrichtung invention. The cardboard is expediently square in plan view and further formed open towards the top.

The Fig. 3 to 7 show the cardboard folding device according to the invention. This carton folding device has a feed device 1 for feeding the carton blanks 2 and a folding device 3 for folding the carton blanks 2 den Fig. 3 to 6 can be removed that vertically below the folding device 3, a carton blank magazine in the form of a carton blank stack 4 is arranged with a plurality or with a plurality of carton blanks 2. The feeding device 1 has a rail guide 5 with two mutually parallel rails 6. In the rail guide 5 and on the rails 6, a receiving device 7 for recording, for the transport and for the delivery of a carton blank 2 is guided and this receiving device 7 is movable in the rail guide 5 and on the rails 6. The receiving device 7 will be explained in more detail below. The rail guide 5 has, moreover, two first linear rail sections 8 and two second circular rail sections 9.

Fig. 3 shows a first functional position of the cardboard folding device according to the invention, in which the feed device 1 and the rail guide 5 is in the receiving position. The linear rail sections 8 are arranged here below the folding table 10 of the folding device 3. The receiving device 7 is positioned in the receiving position of the feeding device 1 in the first linear rail sections 8. In this functional position of the carton blank stack 4 top carton blank 2 is received by the Aufnahmevor device 7. As explained below, the receiving device For this purpose, suction cups 11, on which the carton blank 2 is sucked.

After receiving a carton blank 2, the receiving device 7 is then moved with the recorded carton blank 2 in the rail guide 5 to the second circular-arc-shaped rail sections 9. This functional position is in the Fig. 4 shown. Subsequently, the feed device 1 or the rail guide 5 with the receiving device 7 from the receiving position ( Fig. 3 and 4 ) vertically upwards into the dispensing position ( Fig. 5 and 6 ). In this case, the linear rail sections 8, the circular arc-shaped rail sections 9 and the receiving device 7 are moved vertically past the folding table 10 of the folding device 3.

The Fig. 5 shows the feeder 1 and the rail guide 5 in the dispensing position. Here, the receiving device 7 is still positioned with the recorded carton blank 2 in the circular arc-shaped rail sections 9. The receiving device 7 is then moved with the recorded carton blank 2 in the rail guide 5 to the linear rail sections 8. Subsequently, the carton blank 2 is released by the receiving device 7 and stored on the folding table 10, so that the functional position according to Fig. 6 can be achieved. The feeding device 1 or the rail guide 5 is then expediently moved from the dispensing position back into the receiving position vertically downwards.

Conveniently, the folding device 3 in the figures not shown centering for centering a carton blank 2 on the folding table 10. It is within the scope of the invention that after centering four lifting rams 12 go down and the base G of the recorded on the folding table 10 carton blank 2 preferably in the four Apply to corner areas E. The lifting rams 12 then press the folding table 10 with the carton blank 2 received thereon downwards, namely past stationary folding elements not shown in detail, so that the side walls S of the carton blank 2 are erected or unfolded. Conveniently, then at the two ends of two opposite side walls S on the adjacent side wall each protruding fixing tabs are attached to the outer sides of the adjacent side walls S.

In the Fig. 7 the receiving device 7 of the feeder 1 is shown. The receiving device 7 preferably has, and in the exemplary embodiment, two rods 13 connected to one another in an articulated manner. At each of the rods 13, two suction cups 11 are arranged. The suction cups 11 engage to receive a carton blank 2 in the four corner regions of this carton blank 2. The suction cups 11 are subjected to negative pressure for receiving the carton blank 2, so that the carton blank 2 is aspirated, as it were, by the suction cups 11.

The folding device 3 is otherwise sealed in a manner not shown towards the bottom or to the carton blank stack 4 out. In this way, it is achieved that, for example, adhesive residues or the like do not reach the cardboard blanks 2 of the cardboard blank stack 4. In that regard, the Kartonfaltvorrichtung invention is characterized by a clean operation.

Claims (11)

1. A carton-folding device, in particular for folding a carton with a bottom surface (G) and four side walls (S), with a feeding unit (1) for feeding carton blanks (2) and with a folding unit (3) for folding carton blanks (2),
   wherein a carton blank (2) can be picked up by the feeding unit (1), wherein the carton blank (2) can be fed by means of the feeding unit (1) of the folding unit directly and via a vertical feeding section and where the carton blank (2) can be folded in the folding unit (3) to create a carton,
   wherein the feeding unit (1) comprises a pickup position in which a carton blank (2) is picked up, wherein the feeding unit (1) comprises a hand-over position, in which the carton blank (2) is handed over to the folding unit (3) and wherein the feeding unit (1) can be moved vertically from the pickup position into the hand-over position,
   wherein the feeding unit (1) comprises a pickup device (7) guided in a rail guide (5) for picking up a carton blank (2) and wherein a carton blank (2) can be picked up by the pickup device (7), when the pickup device (7) is guided or positioned in first linear rail sections (8),
   and wherein the rail guide (5) comprises second rail sections (9) arranged transversely to the first linear rail sections (8), and wherein the pickup device (7) is guided or positioned with a picked up carton blank (2) in the second rail sections (9), when the feeding unit (1) is moved from the pickup position into the hand-over position.
2. The carton-folding device according to claim 1, wherein using the feeding unit (1) a carton blank (2) can be picked up from a carton blank magazine with a plurality of carton blanks (2), and wherein the folding unit (3) and the carton blank magazine are arranged vertically one above the other.
3. The carton-folding device according to claim 2, wherein the carton blank magazine is arranged vertically below the folding unit (3).
4. The carton-folding device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second rail sections (9) are shaped so as to be round or bow-shaped or shaped in a circular arc.
5. The carton-folding device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the hand-over position of the feeding unit (1) the pickup device (7) is guided or positioned in the first linear rail sections (8) for handing over a carton blank (2) to the folding unit (3).
6. The carton-folding device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the feeding unit (1) is moved from the pickup position into the hand-over position and vice versa, the first linear rail sections (8) of the feeding unit (1) are guided past opposite sides of the folding table (10) of the folding unit (3).
7. The carton-folding device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pickup device (7) comprises at least one suction element and wherein a carton blank (2) can be picked up by the pickup device (7) by sucking it onto the suction element.
8. The carton-folding device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the hand-over position of the feeding unit (1) the pickup device (7) can be positioned above the folding table (10) of the folding unit (3), and a carton blank (2) picked up by the pickup device (7) can be released above the folding table (10) and deposited on the folding table (10).
9. The carton-folding device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the folding unit (3) comprises at least one lifting stamp (12), and wherein when the lifting stamp (12) acts upon the bottom surface (G) of the carton blank (2), the carton blank (2) can be guided past folding elements or stationary folding elements of the folding unit (3), so that the side walls (S) of the carton blank (2) are raised or folded upwards relative to the bottom surface (G).
10. A method for folding a carton, in particular a carton with a bottom surface (G) and four side walls (S),
    wherein a feeding device (1) for carton blanks (2) is arranged in a pickup position,
    wherein a carton blank (2) is picked up by a pickup device (7) positioned in first rail sections (8) of the feeding unit (1),
    wherein the pickup device (7) with the picked up carton blank (2) is then positioned again in the second rail sections (9) of the feeding unit (1),
    wherein the feeding unit (1) is then moved into a hand-over position, wherein the pickup device (7) with the picked up carton blank (2) is again positioned in the first rail sections (8),
    wherein the carton blank (2) arranged above the folding table (10) of a folding unit (3) is then released by the pickup device (7) and deposited on the folding table (10),
    wherein the pickup device (7) thereafter is again positioned in the second rail sections (9),
    wherein the carton blank (2) is folded by the folding unit (3) to produce a carton,
    and wherein the feeding unit (1) is again moved into the pickup position for picking up a further carton blank (2).
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the feeding unit (1) is moved from the pickup position into the hand-over position and vice versa, and wherein the first and second rail sections (8, 9) and the pickup device (7) arranged in the second rail sections (9) with the picked up carton blank (2), can be moved by this vertical method past the folding unit (3) or the folding table (10) of the folding unit (3).

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