Packing method and unit for producing a rigid package with a hollow rib

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9738406-B2
Application number	US-201214232301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2012
Priority date	Jul 15, 2011
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A packing method and unit ( 26 ) for producing a rigid package ( 1 ) with a hollow rib ( 12; 13 ); an end portion of a blank ( 21 ) is folded about a contrasting body ( 36; 39 ) onto a panel ( 11 ′) of the blank ( 21 ) to form the hollow rib ( 12; 13 ); a fastening tab ( 16; 19 ), which forms the end part of the end portion, is glued to the panel ( 11 ′) to stabilize the hollow rib ( 12; 13 ); and the contrasting body ( 36; 39 ) is extracted from the hollow rib ( 12; 13 ) once the end portion is folded.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packing method for producing a rigid package with a hinged lid, which has a top wall with first, second, and third hollow ribs extending along the perimeter of the top wall, and forming together a U-shape; the packing method comprising the steps of:
applying glue to fastening tabs of a blank, wherein the blank comprises a panel that corresponds to the top wall of the hinged lid, and first, second, and third end portions extending along three sides of the perimeter of the panel, and the fastening tabs form the end part of each of the end portions and are glued to the panel to stabilize each hollow rib when the hollow rib is formed;
feeding a blank along a straight folding path to a first folding station;
positioning, at the first folding station, a first contrasting body close to the first end portion of the panel;
folding the first end portion in a direction parallel to the folding path about the first contrasting body to form the first hollow rib;
extracting the first contrasting body from the first hollow rib once the first end portion is folded;
feeding the blank along the straight folding path to a second folding station that is downstream of and separate from the first folding station;
positioning, at the second folding station, second contrasting bodies close to the second and third end portions, respectively;
folding each of the second and third end portions in a direction perpendicular to the folding path about the respective second contrasting body to form the second and third hollow ribs, respectively;
extracting the second contrasting bodies from the second and third hollow ribs once the second and third end portions are folded;
exerting pressure on a first fastening tab using a first pressure device, after the first hollow rib is formed, to keep the fastening tab in firm contact with the panel;
applying the blank to an article downstream from the first and second folding stations; and
folding the blank about the article to form the rigid package enclosing the article and having the hinged lid; exerting pressure on second and third fastening tabs using two second pressure devices, after the second and third hollow ribs are formed
wherein each pressure device is movable perpendicular to the panel and up and down with respect to the fastening tab, as well as parallel to the folding path to follow the blank along the folding path downstream from the respective folding station where the hollow rib is formed.

2. A packing method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the contrasting bodies is the same shape as the respective first, second, and third hollow rib formed therefrom.

3. A packing method as claimed in claim 1 , and comprising the further steps of:
placing the first contrasting body in a fixed position along the folding path, so the blank moves along the folding path into position beneath the first contrasting body; and
extracting the first contrasting body from the first hollow rib by feeding the blank along the folding path.

4. A packing method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first contrasting body is elongated parallel to the folding path.

5. A packing method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first contrasting body is only supported in projecting manner at one end located upstream in the travelling direction of the blank along the folding path.

6. A packing method as claimed in claim 1 , and comprising the further step of moving each second contrasting body, with respect to the blank, from an engaged position to a release position, to extract each of the second contrasting bodies from the respective second and third hollow ribs.

7. A packing method as claimed in claim 1 and comprising the further steps of:
placing the first contrasting body in a fixed position along the folding path at the first folding station, so the blank moves along the folding path into position beneath the first contrasting body;
extracting the first contrasting body from the first hollow rib by moving the blank along the folding path; and
moving each second contrasting body at the second folding station, with respect to the blank and in a straight direction parallel to the second and third hollow ribs, from an engaged position to a release position, to extract each of the second contrasting bodies from the respective second and third hollow ribs.

8. A packing method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each pressure device is only movable perpendicular to the panel, and only exerts pressure on the fastening tab as long as the blank is stationary at the folding station where the hollow rib is formed.

9. A packing unit for producing a rigid package with a hinged lid, which has a top wall with three hollow ribs extending along the perimeter of the top wall and forming together a U-shape; the packing unit comprising:
at least one gumming device for applying a glue to one or more fastening tabs of a blank, wherein the blank comprises a panel that corresponds to the top wall of the hinged lid, and first, second, and third end portions extending along three sides of the perimeter of the panel, and the fastening tabs form the end part of each end portion and are glued to the panel to stabilize each hollow rib when the hollow rib is formed;
a first folding station comprising:
a first contrasting body, which is positioned close to the panel before folding the first end portion;
a first folding device, which folds the first end portion about the first contrasting body in a direction parallel to a straight folding path to form the first hollow rib; and
a first actuating device for extracting the first contrasting body from the first hollow rib once the first end portion is folded; and
a first pressure device which exerts pressure on a first fastening tab, after the first hollow rib is formed, to keep the first fastening tab in firm contact with the panel;

a second folding station separate from and positioned downstream of the first folding station, the second folding station comprising:
second contrasting bodies, each second contrasting body positioned against one of the second or third end portions;
a second folding device, which folds the second and third end portions about the respective second contrasting body in a direction perpendicular to the folding path about the respective second contrasting body;
a second actuating device for extracting the second contrasting bodies from the second and third hollow ribs, respectively, once the second and third end portions are folded; and
two second pressure devices which exert pressure on second and third fastening tabs, after the second and third hollow ribs are formed, to keep the second and third fastening tabs in firm contact with the panel;

a conveyor for feeding the blank along the straight folding path through the first folding station and through the second folding station; and
a packing unit for applying the blank to an article downstream from the first and second folding stations, and folding the blank about the article to form the rigid package enclosing the article and having the hinged lid;
wherein each pressure device is movable perpendicular to the panel and up and down with respect to the fastening tab, as well as parallel to the folding path to follow the blank along the folding path downstream from the respective folding station where the hollow rib is formed.

Assignees

• Bertuzzi Ivanoe
• Campagnoli Enrico
• Garganelli Marco
• Biondi Andrea
• Gd Spa

Inventors

• Bertuzzi Ivanoe
• Campagnoli Enrico
• Garganelli Marco
• Biondi Andrea

Classifications

• B31B2100/0024

  having all side walls attached to the bottom · CPC title

• B31B50/81

  Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings · CPC title

• B65B49/00 Primary

  Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents · CPC title

• B31B2120/102

  with a hinged cover · CPC title

• B65B5/024

  for making containers from preformed blanks · CPC title