Folding unit for folding cardboard blanks, folding apparatus comprising such folding unit and method for folding cardboard blanks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190134-A1
Application number	US-201615341907-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2016
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Folding unit for folding cardboard blanks having an end panel, a corner panel and a side panel, said folding unit comprising an end panel folding element actuable to pivot about a first axis and a side panel folding element actuable to pivot about a second axis, said folding unit comprising a corner panel folding element, said corner panel folding element comprising a guiding plate, said guiding plate being actuable to move about at least one axis in order to initiate folding a corner panel about an axis being substantially parallel to said second axis.

First claim

1 . A folding unit to fold cardboard blanks having an end panel, a corner panel and a side panel, said folding unit comprising:
an end panel folding element actuable to pivot about a first axis, a side panel folding element actuable to pivot about a second axis, and, a corner panel folding element, said corner panel folding element comprising a guiding plate, said guiding plate actuable to move about at least one axis in order to initiate folding the corner panel about an axis that is substantially parallel to said second axis.

2 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said at least one axis is an actual axis of a hinge running at an angle of about 0° to 60° with respect to said first axis.

3 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said at least one axis is an actual axis of a hinge running at an angle of about 40° to 50° with respect to said first axis.

4 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said at least one axis is a virtual axis of movement of said guiding plate provided by one or more hinges.

5 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said guiding plate is actuable to move about one further axis, said further axis substantially parallel to said first axis or to said second axis.

6 . The folding unit according to claim 5 wherein said guiding plate is actuable to move about two axes, one of the two axes at least substantially parallel to said first axis and another one of the two axes at least substantially parallel to said second axis.

7 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said guiding plate substantially has the form of a quarter disk having a rounded tip shaped to make smooth contact with a corner panel to be folded.

8 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said guiding plate comprises a least one of:
a straight edge, which in an end position of the movement of the guiding plate about said at least one axis will run substantially parallel to said second axis, and
a flat surface, which in an end position of the movement of the guiding plate about said at least one axis will form a plane forming an angle of about 45° to 90° with the plane of a bottom panel or top panel positioned on respectively at the folding unit.

9 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said guiding plate comprises a least one of:
a straight edge, which in an end position of the movement of the guiding plate about said at least one axis will run substantially parallel to said second axis, and
a flat surface, which in an end position of the movement of the guiding plate about said at least one axis will form a plane forming an angle of about 60° to 80° with the plane of a bottom panel or top panel positioned on respectively at the folding unit.

10 . The folding unit according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one electro-mechanic, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator coupled to move said guiding plate about said at least one axis.

11 . The folding unit according to claim 1 wherein said end panel folding element comprises a panel fixing element, in particular a suction cup, for fixing an end panel of a cardboard blank.

12 . A folding apparatus to fold cardboard blanks into boxes, the folding apparatus comprising:
at least a first folding unit, said first folding unit comprising an end panel folding element actuable to pivot about a first axis, a side panel folding element actuable to pivot about a second axis, and a corner panel folding element said corner panel folding element comprising a guiding plate, said guiding plate actuable to move about at least one axis in order to initiate folding the corner panel about an axis that is substantially parallel to said second axis; and a supporting station that moveably supports the first folding unit such that the first folding unit is moveable to a plurality of different positions to fold blanks of a plurality of different sizes.

13 . The folding apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a second folding unit; a third folding unit; and at least a fourth folding unit, the second, the third and the fourth folding units each moveable to a respective plurality of different positions to fold blanks of the plurality of different sizes.

14 . The folding apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a fifth folding unit; and a sixth folding unit, the fifth and the sixth folding units each moveable to a respective plurality of different positions to fold blanks of the plurality of different sizes.

15 . A method for folding a cardboard blank for packaging boxes, said blank having an end panel, a corner panel and a side panel, comprising:
folding an end panel along a first crease line; folding a side panel along a second crease line; and bending a corner panel along a third crease line prior to folding said end panel by pivoting a guiding plate about at least one axis.

16 . The method according to claim 15 wherein said guiding plate is pivoted about an axis running at an angle of about 0° to 60° with respect to said first crease line.

17 . The method according to claim 15 wherein said guiding plate is pivoted about an axis running at an angle of about 40° to 50° with respect to said first crease line.

18 . The method according to claim 15 wherein said guiding plate is pivoted about at least one further axis, said further axis being substantially parallel to said first crease line or to said second crease line.

19 . The method according to claim 15 wherein said guiding plate is moved from an idle position to a final working position and from the final working position back to the idle position along the same paths.

20 . The method according to claim 15 wherein said guiding plate is moved from an idle position to a final working position and from the final working position back to the idle position along different paths.

Assignees

• Neopost Tech

Inventors

• Van Der Dong Harm
• Huizinga Erik

Classifications

• B65B43/265

  Opening, erecting or setting-up boxes, cartons or carton blanks · CPC title

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title

• B31B2100/0024

  having all side walls attached to the bottom · CPC title

• B65B7/20

  by folding-down preformed flaps · CPC title

• B65D5/66

  Hinged lids ({B65D5/325} takes precedence) · CPC title