PACKAGING AND FOR FOLDING THIS PACKAGING FROM A SHEET OF FOLDABLE MATERIAL

The invention relates to a method for packing an object in a packaging and folding this packaging from a sheet of foldable material, comprising the steps of (i) providing a sheet of a foldable material provided with at least one pair of parallel sides, (ii) arranging four crease lines parallel to the parallel sides, wherein five adjacent parts are bounded by the parallel sides and the crease lines, (iii) depositing the central first part of the sheet on a

substantially horizontal carrier, and (iv) folding the adjacent second part upward along a first crease line bounding the first part.

Known from the Netherlands patent no. 1020213 is a so- called folding table for the purpose of folding a

substantially closed packaging from a sheet of a foldable material .

The known folding table comprises a surface which is horizontal in the situation of use and which is provided with an elongate channel with a predetermined width and depth for receiving and deforming a sheet of a foldable material laid on this surface. The channel is provided with engaging means displaceable in vertical direction for engaging a sheet laid on the surface and extending over the channel and for

receiving and deforming this sheet in the channel by downward displacement of these engaging means.

When an object is packed using the known folding table, a sheet is laid over the channel and on the engaging means, after which the object is laid on the sheet and above the channel. The sheet with the object is then pulled by the engaging means into the channel, wherein the sheet is

deformed and folded round the object. The dimensions of the packaging for folding are defined here by the width to be set and the depth of the channel.

The dimensions of a packaging to be folded with the known folding table are limited in practice by the arm length of the person who has to lay the object for packing on the sheet, since the part of the sheet above the engaging means in the channel cannot be reached if the dimensions of the sheet are too large.

It is an object of the invention to propose a method according to which it is possible to at least largely fold a packaging mechanically in rapid and simple manner, to provide the thus folded packaging with the intended content and to further fold down and close the thus filled packaging, for instance using an applied glue, without the dimensions of the packaging being limited here by the dimensions of a channel or of an operative.

This object is achieved, and other advantages gained, with a method of the type stated in the preamble, which is characterized according to the invention by the steps of (v) folding the adjacent third part downward along a second crease line bounding the first part, (vi) arranging the object on the first part and against the second part, and (vii) folding the downward folded third part upward along the second crease line.

Other than in a prior art method, in the method

according to the invention a part of the sheet is folded first downward and then upward.

This unconventional handling of the sheet makes it possible for the bottom and a first standing wall of the packaging for forming to be directly accessible without a lying part, which will have to form the second opposite wall, forming an obstacle when the object for packing is being deposited on the bottom of the packaging.

In an embodiment the method according to the invention is followed by the step of (viii) folding the fourth and the fifth part over the object respectively along the third crease line bounding the second part and an outer fourth part and along the fourth crease line bounding the third part and an outer fifth part.

Two opposite covers are folded toward each other by performing step (viii).

By following this step (viii) with the step (ix) of mutually coupling the outer fourth and fifth parts, a packaging is obtained which is closed in a cross-section through the crease lines and open at its end surfaces in longitudinal direction of the crease lines.

In order to obtain a completely closed packaging, the step (viii) is followed by the step of (x) closing the end surfaces of the elongate packaging.

The sheet is preferably provided for this purpose with co-acting closing parts extending from the end surfaces.

The invention also relates to a packing device for packing an object in a packaging and folding this packaging from a sheet of foldable material, comprising a substantially horizontal, rectangular carrier for a first part of the sheet and a first and second folding member provided along two respective parallel sides of the carrier, wherein the first folding member is adapted to fold upward a second part of a sheet carried by the carrier.

This packing device has to be suitable for packing and folding as according to the above described method.

It is a further object to provide a packing device which is compact.

It is another object to provide a packing device which is suitable for providing with means for mechanically closing a folded packaging provided with glue.

These objects are realized with a packing device of the above specified type, wherein according to the method the second folding member is adapted to fold successively

downward and upward a third part of the sheet carried by the carrier .

In an embodiment of a packing device according to the invention the first and the second folding member are

provided with respective first and second engaging means for engaging a sheet carried by the carrier.

Using engaging means achieves that a sheet remains at the desired position during folding and is folded precisely along the desired crease lines in the desired manner.

The first and second engaging means comprise for instance at least one suction cup.

In a packing device provided with such folding members with a suction cup it is possible to fold a sheet in simple manner by placing the suction cup in the respective folding member such that the sheet for folding can be laid on the suction cup so that the suction cup can engage the sheet by creating a vacuum in the vacuum conduit coupled to this suction cup, after which the folding member with the suction cup is displaced while simultaneously deforming the sheet.

The at least one suction cup can for instance be operated by means of an electrically driven vacuum pump or by a pneumatic cylinder.

In a packing device according to the invention the first and the second folding member are preferably each provided by a surface rotatable about a shaft parallel to the parallel sides .

A surface as folding member provides the advantage that during folding it supports a sheet part for folding over the whole surface, which enhances uniform folding of the part.

In yet another embodiment of a packing device the carrier is provided by a conveyor belt, wherein the parallel sides are formed by the edges thereof.

A conveyor belt as carrier provides the advantage that a partially folded sheet, which forms a partially closed packaging after the object for packing therein has been arranged, can be transported in simple manner to a subsequent part of the packing device and there closed.

In a practical advantageous embodiment of a packing device the carrier and the first engaging means are

displaceable in a direction transversely of the parallel sides between a first position, in which the distance between first engaging means and the first folding member and the distance between the carrier and the first folding member are minimal, and a second position in which the distance between the first engaging means and the first folding member and the distance between the carrier and the first folding member are maximal .

Displacing the first engaging means and the carrier over a sufficient distance in transverse direction creates sufficient space to bend the third part of the sheet downward without the dimensions of the second folding member forming a limiting factor here.

The carrier is for instance mounted for displacement here by means of ball bushings .

In an embodiment of a packing device with first engaging means and carrier according to the invention displaceable in transverse direction, this device is provided with actuator means and control means for successively performing the steps of

bringing the folding members into a position which is suitable for the carrier to carry a first part of a flat sheet, wherein the carrier and the first engaging means are in the first position,

the first engaging means engaging a flat sheet carried by the carrier,

the first folding member folding upward a second part of a sheet carried by the carrier,

the second engaging means engaging the sheet, wherein the carrier and the first engaging means are in the first position,

simultaneously displacing the carrier and the first engaging means from the first position to the second position and the second folding member folding a third part of the sheet downward,

following placing of an object for packing on a first part of the sheet resting on the carrier, the second folding member simultaneously folding the third part of the sheet upward and displacing the carrier and the first engaging means from the second position to the first position, wherein the object is enclosed by the second part, the first part and the third part of the sheet,

releasing the first and second engaging means from the sheet, and

removing the sheet with the object from the carrier and bringing the folding members into a position suitable for allowing a subsequent flat sheet to be carried by the carrier .

In an embodiment of such a packing device the actuator means comprise a first and a second drive cylinder for displacing respectively the first and second engaging means.

In yet another embodiment the actuator means comprise a drive cylinder for simultaneously displacing the carrier and the first engaging means.

In a subsequent embodiment the actuator means comprise at least one electric motor for driving the folding members .

A practical advantageous embodiment of a packing device according to the invention is provided with a glue applicator for applying glue at predetermined positions on an at least partially deformed sheet.

In yet another embodiment the packing device is provided with guide means for guiding respective fourth and fifth parts of the sheet moved forward along and in contact with these guide means and extending upward from the second and third parts of a sheet, and folding the fourth and fifth parts over an ob ecr enclosed by the second, first and third parts of the sheet.

The invention will be elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings .

In the drawings

Fig. la, If and lh show perspective views of an

embodiment of a packing device according to the invention in three different situations,

Fig. 2a - 2h show in a schematic view in cross-section the packing device of fig. 1 on which a flat sheet of

cardboard for folding and an object for packaging are placed, at different stages of the folding, and

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the packing device of fig. 1, provided with a cutting machine, a closing machine for closing the cover parts, and a discharge belt.

Fig. la, If and lh correspond to respectively Fig. 2a, 2f and 2h, albeit that for the sake of clarity the sheet of a foldable material is not shown in Fig. If and lh.

Corresponding components are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals.

Fig. la shows packing device 1 in a situation as discussed under a below. Shown are a frame 36, a rear first folding surface 16 with suction cups 18 assembled from two coupled parts, a conveyor belt 14 and a front second folding surface 17 with suction cups 25 assembled from two coupled parts. The figure also shows a chain 27 which is driven by a linear motor 28 and with which folding surface 17 can be rotated downward and upward about a shaft 29, an electric motor 38 for driving belt 14, a placing strip 39 against which a sheet for folding can be laid in the correct

position, and a guide roller 40 for guiding a sheet which has been folded and provided with an object for packing.

Fig. If shows packing device 1 in a situation as

discussed under f below.

Fig. lh shows packing device 1 in a situation as

discussed under h below, with vacuum conduits 41.

Fig. 2a-2h show packing device 1 successively in rest situation, followed by situations in which a flat sheet of cardboard 2 for folding and an object 15 for packaging have been placed, at different stages of the folding. The

operation of packing device 1 is as follows.

a. In rest position the first folding surface 16, the upper side of conveyor belt 14 and the second folding surface 17 form a horizontal surface (Fig. 2a) .

b. A flat sheet 2 with parallel sides 3, 4 is supplied on the first folding surface 16, conveyor belt 14 and the second folding surface 17 by a cutting machine (shown in fig. 3) coupled to packing device 1. Arranged in sheet 2 parallel to the parallel sides 3, 4 are four crease lines 5, 6, 7, 8, wherein five adjacent parts 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 are bounded by the parallel sides 3, 4 and crease lines 5, 6, 7, 8 such that the central first part 9 of sheet 2 rests on conveyor belt 14 (Fig. 2b) .

c. A suction cup 18, which is incorporated just below the surface of the first folding surface 16, is pressed a short distance outward using a first pneumatic cylinder 19 incorporated in the first folding surface 16, wherein sheet 2 is suctioned fixedly onto suction cup 18 (Fig. 2c) .

d. The first folding surface 16 is rotated by a linear motor 21 coupled thereto by a chain wheel 20 to a vertical position about a shaft 22 parallel to the parallel sides 23, 24 of conveyor belt 14, wherein the second part 10 of sheet 2 is folded upward over the first crease line 5 (Fig. 2d) .

e. A second suction cup 25, which is incorporated just below the upper surface of the second folding surface 17, is pressed a short distance outward using a second pneumatic cylinder 26 incorporated in the second folding surface 17, wherein sheet 2 is suctioned fixedly by suction cup 25 (Fig. 2e) .

f. The second folding surface 17 is rotated downward by a linear motor 28 coupled thereto by a chain wheel 27 to a substantially vertical position about a shaft 29 parallel to the parallel sides 23, 24 of conveyor belt 14, wherein the third part 11 of sheet 2 is folded downward over the second crease line 6. As the second folding surface 17 is being rotated downward, the first suction cup 18 is displaced by a third cylinder 30 and conveyor belt 14, and thereby sheet 2, by a fourth cylinder (not shown) through a determined

distance (designated by arrows d) in transverse direction, whereby sufficient space is created to bend third part 11 of sheet 2 downward without the dimensions of the second folding surface 17 forming a limiting factor here. Once third part 11 has been bent downward, first part 9 of sheet 2 is accessible for placing an object 15 for packing thereon from the

direction indicated by arrow 31 (Fig. 2f ) .

g. Following placing of object 15 on first part 9 and against second part 10 of sheet 2, the second folding surface 17 is rotated upward, wherein the third part 11 of sheet 2 is folded upward over the second crease line 6 and object 15 is enclosed by second part 10, first part 9 and third part 11 of sheet 2. As the second folding surface 17 is being rotated upward, the first suction cup 18 is displaced by third cylinder 30 and conveyor belt 14, and thereby sheet 2, by the fourth cylinder (not shown) through the same distance in transverse direction as in step f, but in opposite direction (shown by arrows d) (Fig. 2g) .

h. The first suction cup 18 and the second suction cup 25 are then released from sheet 2 and these suction cups 18, 25 are retracted by the respective cylinders 19 and 26 to a position just below the upper surface of the respective folding surfaces 16 and 17 (Fig. 2h) . Prior to or immediately following the release of suction cups 18, 25, the packaging, which is closed in a cross-section through the crease lines and still open at its end surfaces in longitudinal direction of the crease lines, can in this situation be closed manually at its end surfaces, for which purpose sheet 2 is for

instance provided with co-acting closing parts extending from the end surfaces. The partially folded sheet 2 with the object 15 enclosed thereby can then be transported to a closing device (Fig. 3) by conveyor belt 14, after which folding surfaces 16, 17 are moved into the horizontal rest position (Fig. 2a), and the cycle can be repeated.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the packing device 1 of fig. 1 provided with a cutting machine 32, a closing machine 33 and a discharge belt 34. Arrows 35 indicate the transport direction .

Cutting machine 32 is adapted to cut from a length of a foldable sheet material of the required width plates with respective beginning and end profiles extending over the width, and is provided with wheels for the purpose of

arranging crease lines 5, 6, 7, 8.

Closing machine 33 is adapted to close the still open packaging manufactured in packing device 1, and is provided for this purpose with for instance guide means for guiding respective fourth and fifth parts 12, 13 (the cover parts) of sheet 2 moved forward along and in contact with these guide means and extending upward from the second and third parts 10, 11 of a sheet 2, and for folding down cover parts 12, 13 over object 15 along respective crease lines 7, 8. The closing machine is further provided for instance with at least one glue applicator, with which it is possible during folding of the last of the two cover parts 12, 13 to apply glue to the inner side of said cover part in order to fix said cover part.

After being closed, the packaging is discharged using a discharge belt 34 to a removal table, where the packaged object can be removed.