Field of the invention The present invention pertains to the technical sector concerning automatic machines for the packaging of products into packages or boxes and particularly refers to a method and an apparatus for the production of boxes for vials, bottles or similar products.

State of the art It is known that the packaging of such products inside the relative boxes is carried out with the aid of automatic machines having various stations which, beginning with the cardboard blank, for example flattened, carry out the operations required each time, until a closed box containing the product is obtained.

In practice, such machines are generally provided with a conveyor belt that conveys the blanks coming from a feed station towards a first forming station that carries out a first folding operation of the blank according to some of the creasings already present on the same.

There is a filling station downstream the first forming station where the product are put into the previously formed box and then the whole is conveyed towards a closing station which sees to the definitive closing of the box by folding the remaining flaps so as to form the box.

Generally, there is also a sealing or gluing station, before or after the filling station, in which at least one flap is fixed to the corresponding flap facing it so as to produce a closed box with a kind of guarantee seal.

The boxes thus closed are directed onto a conveyor belt that allows their emission from the machine and conveys them towards other types of machines that carry out for instance labelling, marking and external packaging in single or grouped boxes.

Two apparatus types are generally known: the so-called"alternating" machine and the"continuous"one, in which respectively the box advances alternately since it is pre-formed open, then is halted to be filled with the product, and then moved on again to be definitively closed and evacuated from the machine, or the box continually advances as it is pre-formed in sequence, filled and definitively closed without being halted at any station.

The main disadvantage of the known automatic machines, both alternating ones and continuous ones the more, is chiefly due to the large number of stations and, above all, of elements destined to produce each box, particularly handling elements for the anchorage, support and transfer of boxes in the forming, filling and definitive closing steps.

Aims of the invention The main purpose of the present invention is therefore to propose a method and a apparatus for the production of boxes for vials, bottles and similar products that make use the smallest possible number of manipulating elements, mainly for the support and transfer of boxes during the forming, filling and closing steps.

An additional purpose is to provide a method and an apparatus able to produce boxes for vials or miniature bottles in an extremely rapid and accurate manner, almost totally excluding machine halts due mainly to incorrect or, in any case, inaccurate manipulation of boxes at their forming.

Another purpose is to provide a compact machine, of simple and economic production which also functions reliably.

Summary of the invention The aforesaid purposes are attained according to the content of the claims.

Brief description of the drawings.

The features of the invention are hereinafter disclosed with particular reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: -figure 1A shows an axonometric view of the operational sequences of the production method of packages for vials or bottles object of the present invention; -figure 1 B shows an outline plan view of the machine object of the present invention in which some parts have been removed to better illustrate others; -figure 2A shows an axonometric view of the feed station of the machine of figure 1 B ; -figure 2B shows a part of the grip elements of the feed station of the machine of figure 2A; -figures 3 and 4 show axonometric views respectively of the erection position of the vial/bottle holder insert and its immobilization ; -figures 5A and 5B each show an axonometric view of a first station of vials and bottles insertion respectively into a box; -figures 6A and 6B each show an axonometric view of a first checking station for vials and bottles respectively; -figures 7A and 7B each show an axonometric view of a second station of vials and bottles insertion respectively into a box; -figures 8A and 8B each show an axonometric view of a second checking station for vials and bottles respectively; -figure 9 shows an axonometric view of first lower edges closing means; -figures 10 and 1 1 each show an axonometric view respectively of a first and a second lifting position of a dorsal flap of the blank; -figure 12 shows an axonometric view of the glue application to side flaps of the blank;

-figure 13 shows an axonometric view of a reversal position of the side flaps of the blank and of the transfer of the relative box onto a second conveyance line ; -figure 14 shows an axonometric view of second upper edges closing means ; -figure 15 shows an axonometric view of the box at the insertion position of an illustrative leaflet into the latter ; -figure 16 shows an axonometric view of the box at the closing position of its upper edge; -figure 17 shows an axonometric view of checking means of the closing of the box; -figure 18 shows an axonometric view of the ejection station of incorrectly made boxes; -figure 19 shows an axonometric view of the evacuation station of the boxes made; -figure 20 shows a cutaway side view of a box in which a row of vials and one of bottles are inserted ; -figures 21 and 22 each show a plan view of a blank respectively extended and with the internal support partially folded ; -figure 23 shows an axonometric view of a partially folded blank.

Description of the preferred embodiments With reference to figures 1 A, 1 B, 150 refers, as a whole, to an apparatus for the production of boxes C for articles 18 such as vials, miniature bottles (hereinafter bottles) or similar products, starting from partially closed tubular blanks F in flattened form.

Figures 21,22 and 23 each show a blank F including a primary structure having at least one closing tab 2 and a flap 1 forming an opening/closing portion of the package or box C, and a plurality of edges forming a back wall 3 laterally having second tabs 12, a base 4,

a front wall 5 laterally having first tabs 13 having tongues 23 made out of them, and a portion 6-10 forming the internal support or insert S in which the vials or bottles 18 are housed.

The portion of support or insert S includes two edges 6 and 10 suitable to be glued on the front wall 5, two edges 7 and 9 having housing holes F7 and retaining holes F9 respectively of the vials, and an intermediate edge or portion 8 placed as a bridge between the two perforated edges.

The holes F9 of the edge 9 have more or less the same dimensions as the neck of articles 18 and are smaller than the holes F7 of the edge 7 that are to enclose the relative bodies of the vials 18.

Around the holes F9 cross notches 9a are made in the cardboard of the blank F, having retention points 21 and some weakening lines, made along the perimeter of polygons circumscribing the holes F9, that contribute to the immobilization of article 18 but give way easily when said article is removed from the box.

The tongues 23 of first tabs 13 are folded along predefined lines and inserted into insert S, as is schematically shown by dotted lines 24 of figure 23, to keep the insert S erect and square during the filling stage of box C in the packaging process. Such predefined folding lines are, for instance, creasing lines 25 or semi-cut or perforated lines.

With reference now to figures 1 A and 1 B, the machine 150 includes a series of cascade stations basically including a store 30, gripping means 65, a plurality of first supports 35 fixed to a first conveyance line 40, forming means 70, pushers 75, feeders 80, first folding means 90, lifting means 95, distributing means 105, transfer means 110, a plurality of second supports 45 fixed to a second conveyance line 50, second folding means 115, tilting means 125, evacuation means 135,

manipulating means 120, turning means 130, expulsion means 100, inverting means 140, and a conveyor belt 60.

First conveyance line 40 and second line 50, basically include each a closed ring chain 41, moved intermittently by at least one actuator 42, at which the first 35 and second 45 supports are fixed.

Each of the first 35 and second 45 supports, are"U"shaped as defined by side walls 36 fixed at a rear wall 37 having at least one slot 36.

Figure 2A shows store means 30 that includes cylinder means 31, i. e. two pneumatic cylinders operating at low pressure, destined to the compaction of the blanks F, folded at the transverse creasing present between back wall 3 and base 4.

Figure 2B shows gripping means 65 that include suckers 66 carried on rods 67 that move, through slot 38 with which each first support 35 is provided, and in a standstill position of the first conveyance line 40, from a gripping position P of the suckers 66 on the front wall 5 of each blank F in the store 30, to a release position R of each blank F within the relative first support 35.

Figure 3 shows forming means 70 that include at least one mobile reference 71, at a standstill position of the first conveyance line 40, between a lowered position A in which it touches the insert S in flattened position and a lifted position B in which the reference 71 keeps the set-up insert S erect and square.

Figure 4 shows the pushers 75 that include a pair of rods 76 the free ends of which carry relative wedges 77 able to push each tongue 23 within the insert S at a standstill position of the first conveyance line 40.

Figure 5A shows the feeders 80 that include pushers 81 of the bottom of the vials 18 located in rows and alignment elements 82 of the latter with the relative retaining and housing holes F9, F7 at a standstill position of the first conveyance line 40, in such a way that each vial 18

is pushed through the alignment elements 82 and the slots until the neck 18a engages in the slots or holes F9 that give way.

Figure 5B shows a variation of feeders 80 that include gripping elements 83 of the cap 18b of bottles 18 arranged in a row and that, at a standstill position of the first conveyance line 40, move from a withdrawal position H of bottles 18 to an insertion position I of the bodies of the bottles 18 in the insert S through retaining holes F9 that give way until the bottoms 18c rest on the base of the insert S. In fact, the holes F7 are not present in this variation which allows the support of the bottoms of the bottles by the internal wall of the edge 7.

It is advantageous that there is at least an equal number of feeders 80 as the number of rows of articles 18 to insert in each box C.

In fact, figures 7A and 7B show a second series of feeders 80 respectively identical to those shown in figures 5A and 5B, the only difference being that these act to insert the second row of vials and bottles 18 in the box C and therefore the feeders 80 are located in alignment with the outermost row of holes F9 of insert S.

Sensors 85 are located after the feeders of the innermost rows of vials or bottles inside the box C, as shown respectively in figures 6A and 6B, while figures 8A and 8B show the same sensors 85 located after the feeders 80 of the outermost row of vials or bottles.

Hence there are also at least an equal number of sensors 85 as the number of rows of articles 18 to insert in each box C, and act to detect the correct insertion of the vials or bottles both in terms of their number and arrangement.

Figure 9 shows the first folding means 90 that include a mobile reference 91 the movement of which allows the folding of a lower edge 19 at a standstill position of first support 35 and the maintenance of the folding at the following movement position of first support 35 in

which a fixed reference 92 of the first folding means 90 folds the remaining edge 19 towards the inside of blank F.

The fixed reference 92 has a stress raiser 92a so as to avoid any jamming of the edge 19 to be folded.

Figure 10 shows the lifting means 95 that include a rotating arm 96 hinged beneath the first support 35 and whose free end carries a rod 97 that contacts the back wall 3 in the passage of the latter from a coplanar position at the front wall 5 to a position opposite it at the movement of the first support 35.

The lifting means 95 include first reference 95a to lift the back wall 3 above a plane surface 99 more or less perpendicular to the front wall 5, and a second reference 95b to lift the back wall 3 from the plane surface 99 to a position more or less parallel to and opposite the front wall 5.

In the preferred embodiment shown in figures 10 and 11, the lifting of the back wall 5 and of the joined closing tab 2 and flap 1 takes place in two distinct steps and in two separate and consecutive stations.

Figure 12 shows the distributing means 105 that consist of vertically mobile nozzles 107 to distribute the glue 106 on the internal walls of the first tabs 13 at a standstill position of the first support 35.

In figure 13, the transfer means 110 include a pusher 111, of the box C, transversely mobile in the advancement direction of first 40 and second 50 conveyance lines, through a slot 38 of the rear wall of the first support 35 at one of its standstill positions facing a second support 45 of the second conveyance line 50.

In the forced transfer of the folded blank from first support 35 to second support 45, and hence the forced insertion of the open box C in the latter, the necessary pressure is created between the first tabs 12

and the second tabs 13 to ensure they are glued together.

Figure 14 shows the second folding means 115 that include a mobile reference 116 the movement of which allows the folding of an upper edge 11 at a standstill position of the second support 45 and the maintenance of the folding at the following movement position of the second support 35 in which a fixed reference 117, having a stress raiser 117a, of the second folding means 115 folds the remaining upper edge 11 towards the inside of box C.

Figure 15 shows the manipulating means 120 of at least one illustrative leaflet 29 that is inserted in box C after the transfer of each blank F from the relative first support 35 to the second support 45 and preferably when the edges 11 are kept folded in virtue of the fixed reference 117.

It is advantageous to highlight that leaflet 29 is inserted inside box C between back wall 3 and packaged products 18.

Figure 16 shows the tilting means 125 that include a lever 126 at the end of which a bar 127 is fixed which interferes with the closing tab 2 in the folding of the latter from the erect position on the upper edges 11.

Figure 17 shows the turning means 130 that reverse the flap 1 fixed at the closing tab 2 and are located after tilting means 125.

Figure 18 shows the expulsion means 100 of the box C from the relative second support 45 placed after the tilting means 125 slaved to a control unit 55 destined to control the activation of the expulsion means 100 at alarm signals received from the sensors 85 of the correct insertion of the articles 18 in the insert S or from the second detection means 86 of the correct closing of the box C.

Figure 19 shows the evacuation means 135 which include a pusher 136 that, moving through a slot 38 of the second support 45, will expel each box C on a conveyor belt 60 at a standstill position of second

support 45.

A variation of the machine shown in figure 19 shows the inverting means 140 of each box C on a conveyor belt 60 after the expulsion of the latter from the relative second support 45.

Figure 20 shows a cutaway view of the box C in which a row of bottles and one of vials are inserted so as to show how the vials are held by the neck in the insert S, while the bottles, inserted from holes F9, are held by the body by the latter and their bottoms rest on the edge 7 which, in this case, does not have holes F7.

The various stations of the machine 150 and hence the various means are slaved by actuators controlled at least by control unit 55 that guarantees their activation and deactivation in relation to phase so as to ensure the synchronization between the various operations that the machine must perform and is therefore able to carry out.

The method for the production of boxes C for vials or bottles 18 implemented by the machine described above provides for: -the withdrawal of the blanks F from a store 30 ; -the insertion of blanks F in relevant first supports 35 of a first conveyance line 40 ; -the setting-up of insert S of each blank F; -the contact of at least one tongue 23 of the blank F with the internal support S to keep it erected; -the insertion of a first internal row of articles 18 in the relative housing and retaining holes F7, F9 of the support S; -the checking of the presence of the articles 18 in holes F7, F9.

-the insertion of a second internal row of articles 18 in the relative housing and retaining holes F7, F9 of support S; -the checking of the presence of articles 18 in holes F7, F9, particularly those of the second row;

-the folding inwards of lower edges 19 of each blank F; -the folding and lifting of the back wall 3 and the closing tab 2 of each relevant blank F; -the gluing of first tabs 13 envisaged at the sides of said front wall 5 to second tabs 12 envisaged at the sides of said back wall 3; -the transfer of each said blank F from the relevant first support 35 to an opposite second support 45 of a second conveyance line 50 so as to close said blank F to form an open box C; -the folding inwards of upper edges 11 of each blank F; -the insertion of at least one illustrative leaflet 29 in said box C after the transfer of each blank F from the relative first support 35 to the second support 45.

-the folding of at least the closing tab 2 on said upper edges 11 ; -the checking of the correct folding of the closing tab 2; -the expulsion of incorrectly made boxes C; -the evacuation of each closed box C from the relative second support 45.

The method also envisages a variation that consists in the reversal of a flap 1 fixed at the closing tab 2 after the folding of the latter.

An additional variation of the method envisages the reversal of each box C on a conveyor belt 60 after the expulsion of the latter from the relative second support 45.

It is advantageous to highlight that the method envisages the insertion of the vials 18 in the insert S from the bottom upwards, while the bottles 18 are inserted from the top downstream until the their bottom correspond with the edge 7 of the support S.

Besides, the insertion of each blank F in the corresponding first support 35 envisages the U-folding of first tabs 13 along the longitudinal creasings of blank F.

It is also important to highlight that the contact of the two tongues 23 in support S takes place by the folding of one of its edges 23a along creasings 25 so as to avoid tongues 23 from protruding from inside support S.

The main advantage of the present invention consists in providing a method and a machine for the production of package boxes for vials, bottles and similar products that uses the smallest possible number of manipulating elements mainly for the support and transfer of the blank/box in the forming, filling and closing steps, so as to considerably reduce the packaging times and the costs of the machine itself.

An additional advantage is that of providing a method and an apparatus able to produce boxes for vials or bottles in an extremely rapid and accurate manner to the extent of almost totally excluding the machine halts due mainly to the incorrect or, in any case, inaccurate manipulation of the boxes at their forming.

Another advantage is that of proposing a compact machine, of simple and economic production which also functions reliably.

It is understood that the above described is illustrative and non- limiting, for which any structural variations are understood as coming within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as described above and claimed as follows.