ES1316976U - MOULD FOR NESTING TRAY FORMING MACHINE WITH INTEGRATED LID FROM SEMI-RIGID SHEETS (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Mold (20) for a machine (100) for forming mutually nestable trays (B) with an integrated lid (T) made from semi-rigid sheets (S), comprising: a cavity; a plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) that perimeter delimit the cavity on a front side, a rear side, and two lateral sides, comprising: four corner forming elements (21) to fold about four gluing flaps (SP) of the plate (S), two lateral forming elements (22) mutually facing each other on lateral sides of the cavity, to fold some lateral walls (P) of the plate (S), and two transversal forming elements (23) mutually facing each other on front and rear sides of the cavity to fold the front and rear walls (P) of the plate and arrange the cover (T) oriented upwards, and where in the cavity it is susceptible to being moved vertically, between inserted and extracted positions, a male (60) with an inverted truncated pyramidal body connected to the lower end of a column element (64) of height corresponding to the height of the cover (T) to push a plate (S), initially supported between two longitudinal transport guides (1) below the male (60) in the extracted position and above the mold (60), to the interior of the cavity, for the formation of trays (B) with flat walls (P) inclined convergently towards its bottom (F) and with the lid (T) arranged vertically by folding and joining parts of the plate (S), characterized in that it also comprises two folding faces (42g), both arranged on the front side or both arranged on the rear side of the cavity, each folding face (42g) being arranged on an auxiliary support (42) and located below the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23), and both folding faces (42g) having the capacity to contact the same wall (P), front or rear, flat and inclined, of the tray (B), previously folded by part of the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23), to position the corner portions of the front or rear wall (P) of the tray (B). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

MOULD FOR NESTING TRAY FORMING MACHINE WITH LID

INTEGRATED FROM SEMI-RIGID SHEETS

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The technical field of the present invention is the manufacture of boxes made of semi-rigid sheet material, for example, cardboard, by folding a sheet in a forming station of the type that includes a male or mandrel that moves with a back-and-forth or oscillating movement in and out of a folding die or mold.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mould for a machine for forming nestable trays with an integrated lid from semi-rigid sheets.

A semi-rigid sheet is a sheet-like material that maintains its shape unless subjected to external forces and has a certain rigidity when folded/bent.

Said semi-rigid sheet material includes cases of a sheet (sheet) of corrugated cardboard (corrugated), a sheet of solid cardboard (also called cardboard cardboard, laminated cardboard, laminated cardboard or stretched cardboard), a sheet formed by a sheet of cardboard joined to one or more internal and/or external plastic sheets, a sheet of compact plastic, a sheet of corrugated or extruded plastic, a sheet that combines sheets of paper and plastic, as well as any material worked in a manner analogous to paper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

The manufacture of trays with side walls inclined convergently towards their bottom, which optionally allow the insertion or fitting (nesting) of empty product trays inside others for handling, storage, and/or transport, has been known for several decades.

Document US2925758A describes a machine for forming containers from rigid metal sheets or similar combinations, where the material, once folded, maintains its folded position. Such a machine is not suitable for the production of cardboard or plastic boxes, since metallic materials have memory when bent, and therefore, a cardboard and/or plastic material must remain in the folded position for a period of time until the adhesive bonds the box parts together. In this regard, documents BE603605A and US2014374472A1 can also be cited.

Document US5123888A, published in 1992, discloses an automatic machine for forming cardboard containers intended to form a body and an open lid (Figs. 9 10), which includes a forming station with a male 23a with inclined forming faces of truncated conical configuration, and a mold where the male is insertable and removable. The mold comprises an opening 22 delimited by a series of forming elements: folding means 20, base plate 21, four folders 24, two mold assemblies 25, two members 26, and two pieces 27. The male is mounted on a column whose length depends on the depth of the box to be formed, and the male is movable by a mobile element formed by a pair of cylinders 102, 103 one after the other.

In document US5123888A the forming station has means 112 for retaining and releasing batches of formed boxes by means of a fixed wall 107 and another wall 108 movable around a hinge or pivot, movable from one side horizontally by means of an actuating cylinder 115. Fig. 10 shows that this arrangement allows stacks or columns of a controlled number of mutually nested open-lidded containers to be formed by the inclined walls of the formed boxes with the inclined forming faces of the male 23a and the mould, so that stacks/batches/packs of boxes are extracted from the machine.

On the other hand, document ES1254508U discloses a forming station where a truncated pyramidal male 6 (truncated pyramid) connected to an anchoring column 8, inserted between the male drive and the male 6, has a determined length, to advance the male vertically downwards, in accordance with a vertically arranged lid of the formed container 2. The formation of the body of the container with the lid open is determined by a mold with fixed forming elements 3 of the larger sides of the container 2, mobile forming elements 9 of the smaller sides of the container 2 and interchangeable stops 10, in cooperation with the movement towards the interior of the mold of the male 6. Only the smaller sides of the body of the container 2 are glued beforehand so that, during forming, with the movement of the mobile forming elements 9, they are joined to the larger sides of the container 2. Between the mobile forming elements 9 and pressers 4 for forming batches of nested / fitted boxes there are fixed plates with convergent entry and made of metal (not numbered, shown in Fig. 3) that guide the stack of already formed containers 7, favoring the action of the glue until the pressers 4 actuated by the cylinders 5 between a contact position to form batches of fitted boxes and a separation position to eject the batch formed in the mold. Fig. 3 shows that the two fixed plate glue-pressing devices are centered on respective facing sides of the cavity and are mounted on a support structure which fixedly supports the movable forming elements 9 of the container and the batch-forming device with pressers 4 (Fig. 3).

The technical problem of the present invention is how to minimize production downtime in a machine for forming nestable trays with integrated lids of different sizes, for example, of the parts of such tray (width and/or length and/or height), shapes and configurations.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the drawbacks described in the previous section, the present invention presents a mould for a machine for forming mutually nestable trays with an integrated lid made from semi-rigid sheets.

In the present invention, the terms "nestable trays" and "insertable trays" are synonymous and mean that the trays can be inserted into each other, at least partially, with the flat walls of a tray inclined convergently towards its bottom being able to come into contact with the flat inclined walls of another similar tray, so as to be able to form a batch of trays, whether continuous or discrete.

Throughout the present invention, tray, box and container are synonymous.

A semi-rigid sheet is a sheet-like material that maintains its shape unless subjected to external forces and has a certain rigidity when folded/bent.

Said semi-rigid sheet material includes cases of a sheet (sheet) of corrugated cardboard (corrugated), a sheet of solid cardboard (also called cardboard cardboard, laminated cardboard, laminated cardboard or stretched cardboard), a sheet formed by a sheet of cardboard joined to one or more internal and/or external plastic sheets, a sheet of compact plastic, a sheet of corrugated or extruded plastic, a sheet that combines sheets of paper and plastic, as well as any material worked in a manner analogous to paper.

The mold comprises a plurality of forming elements and a cavity delimited along its perimeter by said plurality of forming elements. Thus, the plurality of forming elements delimit (define) a front side, a rear side, and two lateral sides of the cavity.

The plurality of forming elements comprises four corner forming elements for folding four bonding flaps of the plate; two lateral forming elements facing each other on lateral sides of the cavity, for folding side walls of the plate; and two third transverse forming elements, facing each other on front and rear sides of the cavity, for folding the front and rear walls of the plate and providing a lid flap connected to the upper part of the front and/or rear wall facing upwards.

In said cavity, a male with an inverted truncated pyramidal body connected to the lower end of a column element with a height corresponding to the height of the lid can be moved vertically in insertion and extraction directions between inserted and extracted positions, to push a plate, initially supported between two longitudinal transport guides below the male in the extracted position and above the mold, into the cavity, to form trays with flat walls inclined convergently towards their bottom and with the lid arranged vertically by folding and joining parts of the plate.

Thus, the mold and the male cooperate to form trays with flat walls inclined convergently towards their bottom and with the lid arranged vertically by folding and joining parts of the plate.

In a manner not known in the state of the art, the present invention proposes that the mould object comprises, in combination with the aforementioned characteristics, the characteristics described below.

The mold further comprises two folding faces, both arranged on the front side or both arranged on the rear side of the cavity.

Each folding face is arranged on an auxiliary support and located below the plurality of forming elements.

The bending faces delimit the contour of a tunnel-like structure resembling the cavity. The bending faces can have a wide variety of geometries, for example, they can be vertical surfaces, vertically inclined surfaces (e.g., between 1 and 30 degrees), a curved or rounded surface, or a combination of these options, with the bending faces facing the operational space of the cavity.

Both folding faces have the capacity to contact the same wall, front or rear, flat or inclined, of the tray, previously folded by the plurality of forming elements, to position the corner portions of the front or rear wall of the tray.

Advantageously, these two strategically positioned folding faces, each on a respective auxiliary support, improve the positioning of the corner portions of the tray, allowing and ensuring the subsequent closing of the tray with the integrated lid, either manually and/or by machine, all of which avoids production downtime.

Advantageously, the intentional strategic location of the pair of folding faces, both arranged on the front or rear side, compensates for possible friction forces and/or asymmetries caused by the lid of the tray to be formed, for example:

• by making a second fold on that wall opposite the lid wall, for example, of trays with only one lid that arises from a single wall, interacting with the front or rear wall without a lid connected to it, or

• compensating for different friction forces by trays with two lid flaps of different length (measurement), they are positioned on the rear or front side to interact with a lid flap for folding in a second phase;

• are positioned on the rear or front side to interact by folding a lid flap to compensate for different friction forces by trays with two lid flaps of different coating material (plastic film, amount of wax on the cardboard/paper, cardboard/paper finish, etc.),

among other options.

Thus, the present invention proposes to correct a deficient formation of the tray, to allow the closing of the tray with the lid, either by gluing or by inserting a tongue of the lid into a cut or groove of another part of the tray, thus combining the first folding carried out by the plurality of forming elements, in a first phase, with the addition of folding faces located at a lower level in the direction of introduction of the male into the cavity, to carry out a second folding, in a second phase.

Advantageously, the two folding faces provide the mold and associated machine with great versatility, since it is capable of processing trays with integrated lids with different transverse and/or height measurements, and/or with different height measurements of inclined flat walls as well as with different lid heights.

In the exposition of the embodiments described below, some optional characteristics of the present invention will be explained and the advantages and technical effects that they provide will be detailed, fundamentally related to intentional constructions that shorten downtime and provide the mold with versatility in the face of changes in measurement (width and/or length, and/or height), shape and configurations in the tray with lid and/or parts thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made of the object of the invention and to help better understand the characteristics that distinguish it, a set of drawings is included in this descriptive report, as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan views of the sheet from which a tray with a lid integrated with the mould for the tray forming machine of the present invention is obtained;

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the tray with integrated lid obtained from the plate of Fig. 1, with the mold of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of the tray with integrated lid obtained from the plate of Fig. 2, with the mold of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the mold of the present invention installed in a forming station of a tray forming machine;

Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a partially exploded top perspective view of the mold of Figs. 5 to 7;

Figs. 9 to 12 are different perspective views of one of the corner assemblies of the mold of Figs. 5 to 8, with the auxiliary support and folding face in the retracted position; and

Figs. 13 to 16 are different perspective views of one of the corner assemblies of the mold of Figs. 5 to 12, with the auxiliary support and folding face in working position.

DETAILED EXPOSURE OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS / EXAMPLES

Throughout Figs. 5 to 8, reference 20 generically designates the mold (20) for a machine (100) for forming mutually nestable trays (B) with an integrated lid (T) from semi-rigid sheets (S) of the present invention.

The trays (B) of Figs. 3 and 4 obtained with the mold (20) from the plates of Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, are capable of being inserted into each other, at least partially, being capable of contacting flat walls (P) of a tray (B) inclined convergently towards its bottom (F) with the flat inclined walls (P) of another analogous tray, to be capable of forming a batch of trays (B), whether continuous or discrete.

The tray (B) may have chamfered corner areas forming additional inclined flat walls (P) as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or may lack such chamfers thus giving the trays (B) four inclined walls (P) (not shown in the figures).

In Fig. 3, the lid (T) includes a panel of dimensions corresponding to the bottom (F) of the tray (B) and is connected to the top of a wall (P) by a horizontal score line. The lid (T) has an optional extension with a snap-in tab intended to be inserted into a cutout in the bottom of the opposite wall (P) to close the container.

In Fig. 4, the tray (B) has two lids (T), extending from two mutually opposite walls (P), one of the lids has a tab for engaging this lid (T) with a groove in the opposite lid (T) intended for closing the container.

The mold (20) comprises a plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) and a cavity (operational space) delimited along the perimeter by said plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23).

The plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) delimit the cavity on a front side, a rear side, and two lateral sides.

Figs. 5 to 8 show that said plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) includes in the example of the figures, four corner forming elements (21) where the plate (S) first contacts the downward thrust of the male (60) to fold the gluing flaps (SP) towards the interior of the tray (B). Located vertically below the upper part of the corner forming elements (21) are two lateral forming elements (22) of the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) located on two mutually opposite sides of the cavity parallel to the transport guides (1) to fold the lateral walls (P) of the plate. Next, located vertically below the top of the two forming elements (22) are two transverse forming elements (23) of the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23), located on two mutually opposite sides, front and rear, of the cavity, perpendicular to the transport guides (1), to fold the front and rear walls (P) of the plate and arrange the cover (T) facing upwards as in Figs. 2 and 4.

The geometry/shape of the transverse forming elements (23)

In said cavity, a male (60) with an inverted truncated pyramidal body attached to the lower end of a column element (64) whose vertical extension corresponds to the vertical extension of the cover (T) can be moved vertically, according to the vertical direction (Z), between inserted and extracted positions.

In Figs. 5 to 8 the male (60) is in the position extracted from the cavity, and in Fig. 7 the male (60) in broken lines is inserted into the cavity and the male (60) in solid lines is in the position extracted from the cavity.

The trochus-pyramidal body of the male (60) is formed by a series of inclined lateral faces (62) converging towards a thrust bottom (63) of the male to push the plate (S) against the mold (20).

Optionally, Figs. 6 and 7 show that the male (60) includes a suction device with one or more suction mouths (65) arranged in the thrust bottom (63), the suction device being configured to retain the plate of Figs. 1 and 3 during at least a section of the vertical movement of the male (60) inside the cavity. This avoids production stops when processing plates of different lid sizes, especially those that are asymmetrical, as shown by the plate (S) in Fig. 1.

Thus, the mold (20) and the male (60) cooperate to form trays (B) with flat walls (P) inclined convergently towards their bottom (F) and with the lid (T) arranged vertically by folding and joining parts of the plate (S).

Prior to the introduction of the plate (S) into the cavity of the mould (20) by the male (60), the plate (S) is supported between two longitudinal transport guides (1) of the machine (100), below the male (60) in the extracted position and above the mould (60).

The transport direction (L) and the positioning of the plate (S) above the mold (20) on the plates (1) is indicated by Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, where preferably the longitudinal transport guides (1) transport the plate (S) with the cover (T) located at the rear (as shown in the figures) or alternatively with the cover (T) located at the front (not shown), the longitudinal transport guides (1) being able to support and guide the side walls (P), which greatly simplifies the positioning and centering of the plate (S) inside the mold (20) reducing production stops; as opposed to a feed with the cover (T) on one side, with one guide in contact with a wall (P) or a cover (T) and another guide in contact with the cover (T). See Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 6 to 8, the mold (20) further comprises two folding faces (42g), both arranged on the front side or both arranged on the rear side of the cavity.

In Figs. 5 to 16, each folding face (42g) is arranged on an auxiliary support (42) and is located below the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23).

Optionally, in Figs. 5 to 16, the folding faces (42g) are an integral surface of the auxiliary support (42).

Alternatively, in an option not shown in the figures, the folding faces are pieces joined, for example by screws or welding, to the auxiliary supports (42).

The folding faces (42g) of Figs. 5 to 16 delimit a contour of the cavity, that is, they are walls that delimit the type of tunnel that corresponds to the cavity.

The folding faces (42g) may have a very varied geometry, for example, they may be vertical surfaces as in Fig. 5 to 16, or in options not shown, they may be vertically inclined surfaces, for example, between 1 and 30 degrees, a curved or rounded surface, or a combination of these options, with the folding faces (42g) in all cases oriented towards the operational space corresponding to the cavity.

Continuing in Figs. 5 to 8, both folding faces (42g) have the capacity to contact the same wall (P), front or rear, flat and inclined, of the tray (B), previously folded by the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23), to position the corner portions of the front or rear wall (P) of the tray (B).

Preferably, the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 8 further comprises two lateral surfaces (39), mutually facing each other, on the two opposite lateral sides of the cavity parallel to the longitudinal transport guides (1), the two lateral surfaces (39) being configured to press glue arranged between two mutually opposite flat lateral walls (P) and four gluing flaps (SP), two associated with each flat lateral wall (P), for joining them.

In this preferred option, furthermore, in the mould (20), the two folding faces (42g) are situated above the lateral surfaces (39), both folding faces (42g) having the capacity to contact the same wall (P), front or rear, flat and inclined, of the tray (B), previously folded by the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23), before the glue pressure union of the lateral surfaces (39).

Advantageously, the walls (P) and corner portions/areas thereof, as well as the gluing flaps (SP) are perfectly positioned, with adequate precision and repeatability, before the gluing operation between walls (P) through the gluing flaps (SP), avoiding production stops.

Optionally, in Figs. 5 to 8, the mold (20) comprises four lateral surfaces (39), mutually facing each other in pairs, on the two opposite lateral sides of the cavity parallel to the longitudinal transport guides (1).

Preferably, Figs. 5 to 8 show that the mold (20) further comprises a front guide bridge (25a) and a rear guide bridge (25b), located perpendicularly to the longitudinal transport guides (1), on the front and rear sides of the cavity, respectively.

In Figs. 5 to 8, the guide bridges (25a, 25b) are elongated plates or bars oriented transversely, parallel to the front and rear sides of the cavity.

Continuing with these Figs. 5 to 8, the mold (20) comprises four corner assemblies (40), mounted in pairs on each of the guide bridges (25a, 25b). Each pair is capable of sliding along one of the guide bridges (25a, 25b). Each corner assembly (40) has a main support (41) on which one of the corner forming elements (21) is mounted.

Additionally, in the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 8, each auxiliary support (42), where each folding face (42g) is arranged, is in turn mounted on one of the respective main supports (41).

Advantageously, this positioning and construction in the mold (20), of the folding faces (42g) and auxiliary supports (42) where the folding faces (42g) are arranged, provides versatility to the machine (100) for forming trays (B) with lid (T), being able to form trays of different sizes, for example, in the length and/or width of the tray (B) and/or lid (T).

Optionally, in Figs. 5 and 8 to 16, the mold (20) further comprises two auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), each arranged on a main support (41). Each auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f) comprises a transverse auxiliary horizontal guide (42e) and an auxiliary fixing and releasing element (42f), for changing the transverse position of the auxiliary support (42) where the folding face (42g) is arranged, with respect to the main support (41), along the auxiliary horizontal guide (42e).

Advantageously, the auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f) offer the possibility of forming trays (B) with an asymmetrical lid (T) and of forming other different formats and/or configurations of trays (B), for example, trays with a symmetrical lid or trays without a lid, by changing the position of the auxiliary supports (42) with the auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f) along the auxiliary horizontal guide (42e) between working and retracted positions.

In the working positions of Figs. 13 to 16, the auxiliary supports (42) are in transverse approach to each other to make said contact with the front or rear wall (P).

In the retracted position of Figs. 9 to 12, the auxiliary supports (42) are separated transversely from each other so that the folding faces (42g) do not make said contact, in case that, in the tray (B) to be formed, said contact to make an additional fold by the folding faces (42g) is not necessary.

In the option of Figs. 5 to 16, in each horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f), the auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42e) includes an elongated hole (hole or slot) and the auxiliary fixing and releasing element (43) includes a screw element.

In another option, not shown in the figures, in each horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f), the auxiliary transverse horizontal guide (42e) includes a transversely oriented tongue and groove projection, and the fixing and release element (42f) includes a screw element.

In another second alternative option not shown in the figures, in each horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f), the auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42e) includes a carriage on a carriage guide and the auxiliary fixing and releasing element (42f) corresponds to the thread edges of a transverse spindle guided by the auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42e), such that, when the spindle is turned in one direction or another, the carriage is moved along the auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42e) changing the position of the folding faces (42g) in positions stabilized by said thread edges.

The present invention covers these horizontal positioning device options (42e, 42f) and any combination thereof, among others.

Optionally, Figs. 9 to 16 show that the mold (20) further comprises two second auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42a, 43).

Each auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42a, 43) is arranged on a respective main support (41) where one of the auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f) is arranged.

Each second auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42a, 43) comprises a second auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42a) and a secondary fixing and releasing element (43), to change the transverse position of the corner forming element (21) with respect to the main support (41), along the second auxiliary horizontal guide (42a), independently of the position of the folding face (42g) determined by the auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f).

Advantageously, this positional independence between folding faces (42g) and corner forming elements (21) thanks to the construction of the auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42a, 43) improves the versatility of the mold (20) and of the machine (100) where the mold (20) can be installed, all of which results in a reduction of downtime.

In the option of Figs. 5 to 16, in each second horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f), the second auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42e) includes a transversely oriented tongue and groove projection, and the fixing and releasing element (43) includes a screw element that fixes and releases the corner forming element (21) with respect to the main support (41).

In an option, not shown in the figures, in each second horizontal positioning device (42a, 43), the second auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42a) includes an elongated hole (hole or slot) and the secondary fixing and release element (43) includes a screw element.

In another option, not shown in the figures, in each second horizontal positioning device (42a, 43), the second auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42a) includes a carriage on a carriage guide and the auxiliary fixing and releasing element (43) corresponds with the thread edges of a transverse spindle guided by the second auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42a), such that, when the spindle is turned in one direction or another, the carriage is moved along the second auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42e) changing the position of the corner forming element (21) in positions stabilized by said thread edges.

The present invention covers these options of second horizontal positioning devices (42a, 43) and any combination thereof, among others.

Optionally, in Figs. 5 to 8 the two folding faces (42g) are mounted on the front guide bridge (25a) to have the capacity to contact the front wall (P), and the mold (20) further comprises two other folding faces (42g) mounted on the rear guide bridge (25b) to have the capacity to contact the rear wall (P). Said capacity to contact the front and rear walls (P) are flanged by the auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), previously described, being configured to change the position of the auxiliary supports (42) and folding faces (42g) arranged therein transversally.

Advantageously, the fact of having four folding faces (42g) arranged, with a pair of folding faces (42g) mounted on each guide bridge (25a, 25b), gives versatility to the mold (20) since trays (B) can be formed with a wider range of configurations, shapes and/or measurements, and also enables the correct formation of the walls (P) to allow subsequent closing with the lid (T), whether the plate (S) is fed with the lid (T) arranged at the front or at the rear of the plate (S) according to the transport direction (L).

In addition, in Figs. 5 to 8, the mold (20) also comprises two other auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), the mold (50) having four auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), each arranged in one of the four main supports (41), as detailed in Figs. 9 to 16.

Optionally, in Figs. 5 to 8, for the formation of the tray (B) of Fig. 3 from the plate (S) of Fig. 1, with a single flap for the lid (T) connected to a wall (P), the folding faces (42g) mounted on the front guide bridge (25a) have been positioned in a working position, in transverse approach to each other, with the auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f) to form the wall (P) that does not have a lid (T) connected to it, which in this case corresponds to the front wall (P), folded on the front side of the cavity.

Also optionally, in Figs. 5 to 8, for the formation of the tray (B) of Fig. 3 from the plate (S) of Fig. 1, the two folding faces mounted on the rear guide bridge (25b) have been positioned in a position of transversal distance from each other with the auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f) since the vertically arranged cover (T) is on the rear side of the cavity, the plate being correspondingly fed with the cover (T) arranged behind it, with respect to the transport direction shown in Fig. 7.

In another option, for the formation of the tray (B) of Fig. 4 from the plate (S) of Fig. 2, with two lid flaps (T), connected to walls (P) opposite each other, the four folding faces (42g) mounted on the two guide bridges (25a, 25b) have been positioned transversely away from each other, with the auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f) to form the walls (P) that do not have a lid (T) connected to it, without contacting the folding faces (42g).

Additionally, in Figs. 5 to 8 the mould (20) also comprises two other second auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42a, 43). Thus, the mould has (50) four second auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), each one arranged in one of the four main supports (41), as detailed in Figs. 9 to 16.

Optionally, Figs. 9 to 16 show that in the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 8, each auxiliary support (42) has a horizontal recess (42b). Additionally, in the mold (20), two transverse forming elements (23) of the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) are perpendicular to the longitudinal transport guides (1). In addition, each transverse forming element (23) is guided in the horizontal recesses (42b) of the two auxiliary supports (42) supported on a single guide bridge (25a, 25b).

Optionally, Figs. 9 to 16 show that in the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 8, each auxiliary support (42) has an auxiliary horizontal recess corresponding to the auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42a). On the transverse horizontal guide (42a) is mounted a secondary support (44) slidable along the auxiliary horizontal recess (42a) and fixed by the secondary fixing and releasing element (43), to change the transverse position of the corner forming element (21) supported on the auxiliary support (42).

Optionally, Figs. 9 to 16 show that, in the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 8, in each corner assembly (40), a supplementary support (45) is mounted on a vertical recess (46) of the secondary support (44). In addition, the supplementary support (45) is vertically slidable along the vertical recess (46) and is fixed by a supplementary fixing and releasing element (47), to change the vertical position of the corner forming element (21) supported on the auxiliary support (42).

Optionally, in Figs. 9 to 16, each corner assembly (40) of the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 8 comprises a longitudinal guide (48) and a complementary fixing and releasing element (49) to change the longitudinal position of the corner forming element (21) along the longitudinal guide (48) and positionally fix the corner forming element (21) with the complementary fixing and releasing element (49).

Preferably, Figs. 9 to 16 show that each auxiliary support (42) has at least one spacing face (42c, 42d) arranged thereon, which provides a respective cornered operational working space of the cavity of Figs. 5 to 7, capable of being crossed by the corner area of the front or rear wall (P) to which the cover (T) is connected and the corner area of the cover (T), without folding said corner areas of said wall (P) and said cover (T), in the event of a transverse positioning of the auxiliary supports (42) away from each other by the auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f).

In the example of Figs. 9 to 16, each auxiliary support (42g) has two spacing faces (42c, 42d) perpendicular to each other.

In another embodiment, not shown in the figures, each auxiliary support (42g) has a spacing face, for example, a chamfer-like spacing face, for example, forming 30 or 45 degrees with respect to the vertical folding face (42g).

In another embodiment, not shown in the figures, each auxiliary support (42g) has a curved or rounded spacing face.

Optionally, in Figs. 5 to 8 the mold (20) comprises four corner forming assemblies (40), best shown in Fig. 8. Figs. 9 to 16 show that each corner forming assembly (40) has one corner forming element (21) of the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) mounted on a main support (41).

In the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 8, two corner assemblies (40) are mounted on each of the guide bridges (25a, 25b) through a clamp (26) or recess of the main support (41) with the capacity to slide along them and be fixed in fixed positions by complementary fixing and releasing elements (27), and where each horizontal guide (31) of Figs. 14 and 15 is mounted on conjugate guides (41b) arranged in the main supports (41).

Optionally, in Figs. 5 to 9, 14 and 15 the mold (20) comprises two side assemblies (30), located between the guide bridges (25a, 25b) on the lateral sides of the cavity, each side assembly (30) comprising two mutually connected parallel horizontal guides (31). In addition, each horizontal guide (31) is mounted on a conjugate guide arranged on the main support (41).

Preferably, in the mold (20) of Figs. 5 to 9, 14 and 15, four horizontal guides (31) are each mounted on a respective conjugate guide (41b) arranged on the main support (41) above the guide bridges (25a, 25b), while another four horizontal guides (31) are each mounted on a respective conjugate guide (41b) arranged on the main support (41) below the guide bridges (25a, 15b), each side assembly (30) resting on four conjugate guides (41b).

Optionally, in Figs. 5 and 8, these horizontal guides (31) allow the mold cavity (20) to be adapted to different tray (B) measurements, reducing downtime.

In order to form trays (B) of longer/shorter bottom panel (F) length, by separating/bringing together the guide bridges (25a, 25b) by rotating two longitudinal spindles (28) parallel to each other by means of a crank (29), the main supports (41) slide along the horizontal guides (31) to change the position of the corner forming elements (21) and the position of the transverse forming elements (23) supported on the guide bridges (25a, 25b) through the main supports (41).

To form trays (B) with a longer/shorter bottom (F), guide screws (38) fixed to one end of two horizontal guides (31) and resting inserted in a slot (37) fixed in the machine chassis (100), slide along the slot (37), guiding the lateral forming elements (22) transversely, perpendicular to the transport direction (L) of the plate (S).

The scope of the present invention is given by the following claims.

Claims (13)

1.- Mold (20) for a machine (100) for forming mutually nestable trays (B) with an integrated lid (T) made from semi-rigid plates (S), comprising: a cavity; a plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) that delimit the cavity on a front side, a rear side, and two lateral sides, comprising: four corner forming elements (21) for folding four gluing flaps (SP) of the plate (S), two lateral forming elements (22) mutually facing each other on lateral sides of the cavity, to fold lateral walls (P) of the plate (S), and two transverse forming elements (23) mutually facing each other on front and rear sides of the cavity to fold the front and rear walls (P) of the plate and arrange the lid (T) facing upwards, and wherein in the cavity a male (60) with an inverted truncated pyramidal body connected to the lower end of a column element (64) of height corresponding to the height of the lid (T) is susceptible to being moved vertically, between inserted and extracted positions, to push a plate (S), initially supported between two longitudinal transport guides (1) below the male (60) in extracted position and above the mold (60), into the cavity, for the formation of trays (B) with flat walls (P) inclined convergently towards its bottom (F) and with the lid (T) arranged vertically by folding and joining parts of the plate (S), characterized in that it further comprises two folding faces (42g), both arranged on the front side or both arranged on the rear side of the cavity, each folding face (42g) being arranged on an auxiliary support (42) and located below the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23), and both folding faces (42g) having the capacity to contact the same wall (P), front or rear, flat and inclined of the tray (B), previously folded by the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23), to position the corner portions of the front or rear wall (P) of the tray (B). 2.- Mold (20) according to claim 1, further comprising two lateral surfaces (39), mutually facing each other, on the two opposite lateral sides of the cavity parallel to the longitudinal transport guides (1), the two lateral surfaces (39) being configured to press glue arranged between two mutually opposite flat lateral walls (P) and four gluing flaps (SP), two associated with each flat lateral wall (P), for joining them, and where the two folding faces (42g) are located above the side surfaces (39), both folding faces (42g) having the capacity to contact the same wall (P), front or rear, flat and inclined, of the tray (B), previously folded by the plurality of forming elements (21,22, 23), before the glue pressure union of the side surfaces (39). 3. - Mold (20) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a front guide bridge (25a) and a rear guide bridge (25b), located perpendicularly to the longitudinal transport guides (1), on the front and rear sides of the cavity, respectively; four corner assemblies (40), mounted in pairs on each of the guide bridges (25a, 25b), each pair capable of sliding along one of the guide bridges (25a, 25b), each corner assembly (40) having a main support (41) on which one of the corner forming elements (21) is mounted; and where each auxiliary support (42), where each folding face (42g) is arranged, is in turn mounted on one of the respective main supports (41). 4. - Mold (20) according to claim 3, further comprising two auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), each arranged on a respective main support (41), each auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f) comprising a transversal auxiliary horizontal guide (42e) and an auxiliary fixing and releasing element (42f), to change the transversal position of the auxiliary support (42) where the folding face (42g) is arranged, with respect to the main support (41), along the auxiliary horizontal guide (42e). 5. - Mold (20) according to claim 4, further comprising: two second auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42a, 43), each arranged on a respective main support (41) where one of the auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f) is arranged, each second auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42a, 43) comprising a second auxiliary horizontal transverse guide (42a) and a secondary fixing and releasing element (43) for changing the transverse position of the corner forming element (21) with respect to the main support (41), along the second auxiliary horizontal guide (42a), independently of the position of the folding face (42g) determined by the auxiliary horizontal positioning device (42e, 42f). 6. - Mold (20) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, where the two folding faces (42g) are mounted on the front guide bridge (25a) to have the capacity to contact the front wall (P), and where the mold (20) also comprises two other folding faces (42g) mounted on the rear guide bridge (25b) to have the capacity to contact the rear wall (P). 7. - Mold (20) according to the combination of claims 4 and 6, further comprising two other auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), the mold (50) having four auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), each arranged on one of the four main supports (41). 8. - Mold (20) according to claim 7, further comprising two other second auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42a, 43), the mold (50) having four second auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f), each arranged on one of the four main supports (41). 9. - Mold (20) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 8, wherein each auxiliary support (42) has a horizontal recess (42b), and wherein two transverse forming elements (23) of the plurality of forming elements (21, 22, 23) are perpendicular to the longitudinal transport guides (1), each transverse forming element (23) being guided in the horizontal recesses (42b) of the two auxiliary supports (42) supported on the same guide bridge (25a, 25b). 10. - Mold (20) according to claim 5, wherein each auxiliary support (42) has an auxiliary horizontal recess corresponding to the transversal auxiliary horizontal guide (42a), wherein a secondary support (44) is mounted slidable along the auxiliary horizontal recess (42a) and fixed by the secondary fixing and releasing element (43), to change the transversal position of the corner forming element (21) supported on the auxiliary support (42). 11. - Mold (20) according to claim 10, wherein in each corner assembly (40), a supplementary support (45) is mounted on a vertical recess (46) of the secondary support (44), the supplementary support (45) being slidable vertically along the vertical recess (46) and the supplementary support (45) being fixed by a supplementary fixing and releasing element (47), to change the vertical position of the corner forming element (21) supported on the auxiliary support (42). 12. - Mold (20) according to claim 11, wherein each corner assembly (40) comprises a longitudinal guide (48) and a complementary fixing and releasing element (49) to change the longitudinal position of the corner forming element (21) along the longitudinal guide (48) and positionally fix the corner forming element (21) with the complementary fixing and releasing element (49). 13. - Mold according to any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein each auxiliary support (42) has at least one spacing face (42c, 42d) arranged, which provides a respective cornered operational working space of the cavity, capable of being crossed by the corner area of the front or rear wall (P) to which the cover (T) is connected and the corner area of the cover (T), without folding said corner areas of said wall (P) and said cover (T), before a transverse positioning of the auxiliary supports (42) away from each other by the auxiliary horizontal positioning devices (42e, 42f).