Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
  • B65D81/05—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
  • B65D81/051—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using pillow-like elements filled with cushioning material, e.g. elastic foam, fabric
  • B65D81/052—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using pillow-like elements filled with cushioning material, e.g. elastic foam, fabric filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
  • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
  • B65B55/20—Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/001—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/003—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/02—Arrangements to enable adjustments to be made while the machine is running
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/20—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
  • B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
  • B65B7/285—Securing closures on containers by deformation of the closure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B2210/00—Specific aspects of the packaging machine
  • B65B2210/04—Customised on demand packaging by determining a specific characteristic, e.g. shape or height, of articles or material to be packaged and selecting, creating or adapting a packaging accordingly, e.g. making a carton starting from web material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
  • B65B43/52—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using roller-ways or endless conveyors

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to the production and filling of packaging usually cardboard, here more simply referred to as "boxes", which is adapted to the height and volume of the products filling in each case the box.
• This invention relates more particularly to the field of the preparation of orders and shipments of products, nature and variable amount so that the products grouped in a box can occupy volumes and various heights.
• a first solution described in patent FR 2 710 580 in the name of the Applicant, is to cut a cardboard box before filling, so as to eliminate the surplus of cardboard made useless according to the more or less reduced height of the content of the box. It is thus formed a waste cardboard, more or less important, which must be evacuated.
• cushioning can take the form of bags or cushions inflated with air - see for example patents FR 2 580 597 and FR 2 385 606, and patent applications WO 2005/077784 and US 2006/0090421.
• the reduction of the height of the body for its adaptation to the height of its contents would be combined, and the filling of the residual free spaces (already minimized) around the packaged products and above these products, by one or more bags of padding inflated or inflatable, bags whose volume or number are thus also minimized.
• the volume of the dunnage bag, deposited in the box could be such that the upper part of the bag coincides substantially with the marking height of the sidewalls in view of their folding, while providing however a height initially slightly higher for the upper part of the bag, so that after closing the box, a slight compression of the bag ensuring a good maintenance of the packaged products.
• the present invention aims to solve all of the above problems by a solution that allows a direct adaptation of the inflation of the bags to the free volume to be filled, so as to avoid measurements and / or calculations, while remaining compatible with cardboard boxes of a common type, and without the position of the inflation means obstructing the advance of the boxes on a conveyor.
• the subject of the invention is a method for producing a carton packaging, of the cashbox type, of variable volume adapted to the height of the packaged products in each case, the method providing for the cutting of the box along of its vertical ridges, from its top and on a partial height, as well as the formation of fold lines at a suitable height, on the flanks of the box, to delimit upper flaps, the flaps being folded over the contents of the box previously filled, at least one inflated or inflatable cushioning bag being placed in the box, around and / or above the packaged products, after the formation of the fold lines which delimit the upper flaps, and before the folding of these flaps above the contents of the body, this method being essentially characterized by the fact that the degree of inflation of the cushioning bag or bags is adjusted to the free volume existing around and / or at-of packaged products, after introduction of the bag or bags in the box but before the closure of the box by folding flaps.
• the or each dunnage bag is introduced inside the body in the uninflated state, and this dunnage bag is inflated inside the body in a volume delimited upwards by the introduction into the box of a rigid horizontal element of the plate type.
• the wedging bag can here have a variable length, depending on the difference in height remaining between the top of the body and the highest product, especially if the inflation of the bag is made at a constant level above the body ; more simply, the bag can have a constant length, adapted to the size of the body, especially if the inflation of the bag is made at a variable level inside the body.
• the or each inflation bag is first inflated to a predetermined maximum degree of inflation, independently of the volume to be filled in the box, and then this calibration bag is introduced. in the box and partially deflated and finally sealed, so as to adapt to the volume to be filled in each case.
• the or each sacking bag previously inflated "to the maximum” is pierced, once set up in the box, so as to evacuate the excess air, after which the sacking bag is welded to permanently enclose the amount of air kept in this bag.
• the wedging bag adapts directly to the volume to be filled, which makes it possible to overcome uncertainties of volume calculation, which may adversely affect the proper wedging of the products in the box.
• the invention also relates to a combined machine for the implementation of the previously defined method, that is to say a machine for cutting and closing crates, with inflated or inflatable bags laying, the machine comprising a conveyor on which advance the boxes previously filled and successively encountered along the conveyor: a product height detection station inside each box, a cutting station crates along their vertical edges, on a certain height , a box flank marking station for forming the fold lines, a flap folding station above the contents of the box, and a closing cap placement station on the top of the boxes, the machine further comprising between the flank marking station and the flap folding station, a station for preparing and placing inside the crates inflatable cushioning bags, the preparation and setting station.
• chock bags comprising means for unwinding a continuous material film or sheath, wherein the chock bags are formed and separated by welding and cutting, means for inflating and closing each bag, and means laying of each bag inside a box, these laying means comprising a rigid plate adapted to be lowered inside each box, substantially at the fold lines formed in each case, this to achieve a inflating the bags corresponding to the volume to be filled and the position that will take the flaps, after folding, or to partially deflate the bags and adapt to the volume to be filled and the position that will take the flaps, after folding.
• the means for inflating the chock bags can be maintained at a constant height above the top of the boxes, as well as the means for closing, in particular by welding, inflated chocking bags.
• the means for inflating the chock bags, as well as the means for closing, in particular by welding, inflated chock bags are located at variable height and able to be introduced inside the boxes; in the latter case, said means may be associated with the means for laying bags.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first mode of implementation of the method of the invention
• Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a variant of this first embodiment
• Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the inflation and welding operations of a wedging bag, in the case of the embodiment of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a similar or previous diagram, but illustrating the inflation and welding operations of a wedging bag in the case of the variant of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to the previous, illustrating another embodiment of this method.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows the successive stations of a machine, these stations being arranged in line along a horizontal conveyor 2, such as a conveyor with bars, belts or belts on which cardboard boxes 3 advance advance filled with products 4 having various heights.
• a horizontal conveyor 2 such as a conveyor with bars, belts or belts on which cardboard boxes 3 advance advance filled with products 4 having various heights.
• a first station 5, encountered by the crates 3 at their entry into the machine, comprises optical organs "vision", or alternatively one or more mechanical probes that detect the height of the products 4 inside each box 3.
• a second station 6 comprises cutting tools 7 which cut the boxes 3 along their four vertical edges 8. More particularly, the tools 7 make on the edges 8 of each box 3 a vertical section which extends over a certain height, from the top 9 of the body 3, interrupting this section above the product 4 the highest.
• a third station 10 carries out, by means of specific tools 11, a horizontal marking of the four sides 12 of the boxes 3, to form fold lines 13. More particularly, the marking is carried out on each box 3 at the same level as the lower end of the slots, made at the second station 6 along the vertical edges 8 of the box 3.
• a fourth station 15 a detail A is also shown in an enlarged manner, follows the marking station 10 and is a station for preparing and placing inflated or inflatable cushion bags 16, as described in detail below.
• a fifth station 17 folds the flaps 14 along the lines 13, above the contents of each box 3, that is to say above the products 4 packed in the box and of the sacking bags 16 introduced into this box 3 at the previous station for holding said products in place 4.
• a sixth and last station 18 ensures the installation of a cardboard cap 19 on the top of each box 3, so above the flaps 14 folds, to achieve the closure of the body 3.
• a head storage magazine is associated laterally with the latter station 18.
• the boxes 3 filled, and closed at station 18, are finally discharged at the downstream end of the conveyor 2.
• the station 15 for preparing and setting up dunnage bags 16 comprises a lateral unwinder for a coil 20 of continuous material film or sheath 21.
• This station 15 comprises means for drawing and guiding the material 21, bringing it above each box 3 arriving at said station.
• the cutting means 22 are associated with means for laying the bags, in the form of a rigid plate 23 adapted to be lowered inside each box 3, as well as inflation means in the form of a nozzle 24. and welding means in the form of a pair of welding jaws 25 - see FIG. 3. In the case considered here, the inflation nozzle 24 and the welding jaws 25 are held at a constant height above the top 9 crates 3.
• the bag 16 is then inflated with air, using the nozzle 24, then it is closed by welding by means of the jaws 25.
• the bag 16 is thus inflated to the maximum that allows the position of the plate rigid 23, this bag 16 then filling all the free space between the products 4 and the rigid plate 23.
• FIGS. 2 and 4 in which the elements corresponding to those described above are designated by the same references, relate to a variant in which the inflation means, comprising the nozzle 24 and the welding jaws 25, are carried by the rigid plate 23 and can thus be lowered, with this plate 23, inside each box 3.
• the wedging bag 16 has here a constant length "L + H", L being the portion of fixed horizontal length of the bag 16 inside the box 3, and H being the difference in height, also fixed, between the top of the products 4 and the corresponding level to which the nozzle 24 and the jaws 25 are brought.
• this variant in which the inflation and welding means of the wedging bags 16 are "embedded" in the tooling of these bags, is particularly suitable in the case where the bags 16 detached are already welded in part, before inflation, only a rather short area is left un-welded on one side during the preparation of the bag; thus the welding means such as the welding jaws 25 are of reduced length and can be easily placed on the laying tool and introduced inside the boxes 3.
• FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the method of the invention, in which the wedging bags 16 are inflated to a predefined maximum degree, before being put into place in the boxes 3.
• each bag 16 is detached by the cutting means 22, then the bag 16 is inflated with air to its maximum by means of a nozzle. Then, the inflated cushioning bag 16 is lowered and placed inside the corresponding box 3, above the products 4 as illustrated in particular by the enlarged detail A of FIG. 5.
• the bag 16 considered can be pinched at its center by a tab 26 formed on its upper face along a center line.
• each bag 16 is adapted in each case to the volume remaining to be filled. inside the box 3, around the products 4 and above, without a measurement or a preliminary calculation of the available volume is necessary.
• a mechanical device or suction cups or other it is advisable to provide, at the position of preparation and implementation of the chock bags, a mechanical device or suction cups or other, to separate the two main faces, initially close together, each bag.
• inflated bags 16 are used before they are put in place, or inflatable bags which are inflated only after they have been placed in boxes 3, the method and the machine of the invention make it possible in all cases to optimize the packaging of products 4 of various heights, adapting and minimizing the volume and in particular the height of each box 3, and adapting and also minimizing the volume of the bag 16 necessary for setting products 4.
• the method of the invention is applicable not only by marking on each side of the boxes a fold line whose level corresponds exactly to the height of the products placed in the boxes, but also following "Bearings" of predefined height and approaching the height of the products which allows an automatic palletization of crates, with constitution of layers of uniform height.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=39092834

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (37)

Family Cites Families (33)

• 2007
  • 2007-08-02 FR FR0705666A patent/FR2919520B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-11-28 US US11/987,258 patent/US7823367B2/en active Active
• 2008
  • 2008-07-31 CN CN2008801007744A patent/CN101801794B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-07-31 RU RU2010107452/13A patent/RU2468978C2/ru active
  • 2008-07-31 AT AT08839140T patent/ATE516211T1/de active
  • 2008-07-31 EP EP08839140A patent/EP2185424B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2008-07-31 WO PCT/FR2008/001144 patent/WO2009050350A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2008-07-31 CA CA2694995A patent/CA2694995C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-07-31 PL PL08839140T patent/PL2185424T3/pl unknown
  • 2008-07-31 ES ES08839140T patent/ES2369227T3/es active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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