FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Forms of embodiment described here concern a plant and a method for the production of packs of objects that provide to make boxes and to package objects therein according to an in-line production logic.

In particular, forms of embodiment described here are applicable in various sectors of the state of the art for the production of packs containing objects, or groups of objects, of a size compatible with the possibility of each being maneuvered manually by a single operator or by a pair of operators.

Forms of embodiment described here can be used both in the production of packs that are homogeneous according to the type of objects, or groups of objects contained therein, and also in the production of heterogeneous packs for said purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to produce packs of objects using plants that, starting from blanks, or planar developments, of boxes, allow to obtain each box by folding and/or gluing parts of the corresponding blank. The boxes thus obtained each have a container bottom to which a lid is hinged that is kept open during subsequent operations of filling the container bottom with the objects it has to contain. Finally, the pack is completed by closing the box, folding the lid on the container bottom to which it is hinged and carrying out possible other operations to complete the pack, for example finishing or sealing it.

Known plants normally comprise a station to feed blanks, one or more stations to fold and/or glue the blanks, to make the boxes, one or more subsequent filling stations, generally manual, to fill the boxes, and a station to complete the packs by folding the lids and closing the boxes.

Normally, the stations are disposed in succession, along a working path, according to an in-line production logic.

One disadvantage of these known plants is that they are operatively not very flexible and not very efficient, in particular because of the presence of the open lids during all the operations comprised between the production of the boxes and the completion of the packs.

Each lid prevents the rapid execution of the filling operations, obstructing access to the corresponding loading bottom on the hinging side, and constrains the plant dimensionally, since along the entire production line a space must be provided suitable to contain the bulk of both the container bottom and the open lid.

This disadvantage is even more marked as the sizes of the boxes that must be obtained are increased, since the lids too will consequently have considerable bulk.

Document JP-A-2013018506 describes a packing device of the known type.

There is therefore a need to perfect a plant for the production of packs for objects that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to make a plant for the production of packs of objects that is compact and complete, that occupies an optimized space and is flexible and efficient.

Another purpose is to perfect a method that allows an optimized production of packs for objects, quick and efficient, and that allows to reduce the spaces occupied by the production plant of the packs.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a plant for the production of packs of objects contained in boxes, each provided with a container bottom and a lid glued to the container bottom, comprises at least a production line defining a direction of working. Along the direction of working at least a station to feed first blanks configured to feed first blanks to the production line, a station to shape first blanks, one or more filling stations to fill each container bottom with the objects and a station to complete the packs configured at least to close the boxes are all disposed in sequence.

In accordance with one form of embodiment, the station to shape first blanks, the one or more filling stations and the station to complete the packs are disposed in a line along the direction of working. Moreover, the one or more filling stations are disposed in line along the direction of working downstream of the station to shape first blanks and upstream of the station to complete the packs.

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the plant comprises a station to feed second blanks interposed, along the direction of working, between the one or more filling stations and the station to complete the packs and configured to feed second blanks to the production line, independent with respect to the first blanks. Moreover, the station to shape first blanks is configured to obtain each container bottom, separately from the corresponding lid, from a first shaped blank, and the station to complete the packs is configured to obtain each lid from a second blank independent from the first blank.

According to forms of embodiment described here, the station to complete the packs is configured to shape the second blank to automatically obtain the lid. In particular the station to complete the packs comprises a work machine provided at least with a folding unit for folding the second blank, and a gluing unit configured to deposit adhesive material on the container bottom and to automatically glue the lid to the container bottom.

In this way, in accordance with the forms of embodiment described here, the operations carried out in the filling stations are carried out working with only the container bottoms on the production line, which are without lids that normally remain hinged to one of the sides of the corresponding container bottom. This gives the advantage of optimizing the space occupied by the plant and speeding up the production process, given the same filling stations and necessary filling operations, since these can be closer compared with what happens in the state of the art.

Moreover, separating the production of the container bottoms from that of the lids, using distinct blanks and feed and shaping stations, allows to render the plant more flexible and efficient, since it allows an independent and improved management of the stations. In accordance with some aspects of the present invention, a method for the production of packs of objects contained in boxes using a plant for the production of the packs comprising at least a production line that develops along a direction of working provides first of all to feed first blanks to the latter.

According to the present invention, the method provides to shape the first blanks to obtain a container bottom of a box from each one, to fill each container bottom with objects and then to feed second blanks that are independent and separate from the first blanks to the production line. Moreover, it is provided to shape the second blanks to obtain a lid from each one, and subsequently to or simultaneously with the feed of the second blanks, and before shaping the second blanks, it provides to position each second blank automatically above a corresponding container bottom. The method also provides to complete the packs at least closing the respective boxes by joining and gluing a container bottom automatically to a corresponding lid.

In accordance with one form of embodiment, the filling of each container bottom with the objects is carried out in line along the direction of working, after the shaping of the first blanks in order to obtain from each a container bottom of a box and before each second blank is positioned above the corresponding container bottom and before the packs are completed.

The aforementioned method allows to optimize the production of packs of objects, to speed up the insertion of the objects in the container bottoms, which, being without lids, can easily be filled, and at the same time allows, separating the steps of obtaining container bottoms and corresponding lids, to reduce the spaces occupied by the production plant since it allows to bring the filling stations nearer.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of forms of embodiment, given as a non- restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a plan view of a plant for the production of packs of objects;

- figs. 2a to 4 are perspective views of assembly steps of a box obtained with the plant in fig. 1.

In the following description, the same reference numbers indicate identical parts of the plant for the production of packs for objects according to the present invention, also in different forms of embodiment. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Fig. 1 is used to describe forms of embodiment of a plant 10 for the production of packs 1 1 , each of which is defined by a box 12 in which one or more objects 13 are contained.

The plant 10 is configured to produce the packs 1 1 according to an in-line production logic, that is, carrying out a plurality of consecutive operations in series, and with at least one production line 14. The production line 14 defines an operative flow in a direction of working P, along which operative stations follow each other, each dedicated to one or more of the operations.

In some forms of embodiment, the plant 10 can include a station 15 to feed first blanks, a station 16 to shape first blanks, one or more filling stations 17, a station 18 to feed second blanks, and a station 19 to complete the packs.

In accordance with one form of embodiment, the station 16 to shape first blanks, the one or more filling stations 17 and the station 19 to complete the packs are disposed in line along the direction of working P. Moreover, the one or more filling stations 17 are disposed in line along the direction of working P downstream of the station 16 to shape first blanks and upstream of the station 19 to complete the packs. In a possible implementation, for example, the one or more filling stations 17 are directly downstream of the station 16 to shape first blanks in the direction of working P, meaning that, in this direction of working P, no other station or operating unit is provided between the station 16 to shape first blanks and the one or more filling stations 17.

In possible implementations, the manual discharge of the packs 1 1 can be provided, or it can be provided that the plant includes an automatic discharge station 20, located downstream of the station 19 to complete the packs along the direction of working P.

The station 15 to feed first blanks and the station 18 to feed second blanks are configured to feed respectively first blanks 21 and second blanks 22 to the production line 14.

The first blanks 21 and the second blanks 22 can be sheets of packaging material such as smooth or corrugated cardboard, millboard or plastic polymer materials such as, for example, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), however not excluding other materials with comparable characteristics of rigidity.

Each of the first blanks 21 defines the planar development of a container bottom 12a of a box 12, while each of the second blanks 22 defines the planar development of lid 12b of a box 12. Consequently, each box 12 derives from the assembly of a container bottom 12a and a lid 12b. Fig. 1 is used to describe possible forms of embodiment of the plant 10 in which the station 15 to feed first blanks is located laterally with respect to the production line 14 and is aligned along a first direction of feed A' transverse with respect to the direction of working P. In particular, the station 15 to feed first blanks is configured to feed the first blanks 21 along the first direction of feed A'.

Possible implementations can provide that the first direction of feed A' is perpendicular to the direction of working P.

In accordance with a variant, the first direction of feed A' develops parallel to the direction of working P.

Similarly, other forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, can provide that the station 18 to feed second blanks is located laterally with respect to the production line 14, aligned along a second direction of feed A" transverse with respect to the direction of working P and configured to feed the second blanks 22 in the second direction of feed A"

Possible implementations can provide that the second direction of feed A" is perpendicular to the direction of working P.

In accordance with a variant form, the second direction of feed A" develops parallel to the direction of working P.

The first A' and second A" direction of feed can be, for example, reciprocally parallel.

According to some forms of embodiment the first A' and the second A" direction of feed can be aligned or perpendicular with respect to each other.

The fact that the station 15 to feed first blanks and the station 18 to feed second blanks are both located laterally with respect to the production line 14 allows to reduce the bulk of the plant 10 along the direction of working P.

Once each first blank 21 has been fed to the production line 14 it is transferred along the direction of working P, for example by means of a transfer device, such as a conveyor belt 23, to the station 16 to shape first blanks, where it is shaped to obtain the corresponding container bottom 12a. The station 16 to shape first blanks can include, for this purpose, a shaping machine 1 16, which is configured at least to fold the first blanks 21 according to lines of intended folding.

Other solutions can provide that the shaping machine 1 16 is also configured to carry out other workings on the first blanks 21, for example gluing, cutting and/or pre-creasing.

Fig. 2a is used to describe example forms of embodiment of a prismatic container bottom 12a obtainable in the shaping machine 1 16, in which it is obtained by folding flaps 21a of the corresponding first blank 21 along pre- creases 21b.

The folded flaps 21a thus define lateral walls of the container bottom 12a, which surround a bottom wall 21c on which the objects 13 are rested.

In possible implementations, the flaps 21a can be partly overlapping after folding, and it can be provided that the shaping machine 1 16 also carries out the gluing of the overlapping portions.

After having been made, the container bottoms 12a are transferred to the subsequent filling stations 17 located downstream of the station 16 to shape first blanks along the direction of working P.

Simplified solutions of the plant 10 can include only one filling station 17.

In the filling stations 17, the manual insertion of objects 13 is provided inside each container bottom 12a, for example thanks to the presence of one or more operators 1 17 in each filling station 17.

In some forms of embodiment, the operators 1 17 can be disposed adjacent along the direction of working P all on one side of the production line 14.

Other solutions can provide that the operators 1 17 are disposed adjacent along the direction of working P on both sides of the production line 14. These solutions are intended to speed up the filling operations, rendering the packing process in its entirety rapid and economically convenient. The disposition of the operators 1 17 on both sides of the production line 14 is made possible by the fact that the one or more filling stations 17 receive the container bottoms 12a without the respective lids 12b and therefore with their inside accessible from all sides of their perimeter. In accordance with a possible variant, the operations to insert the objects 13 in each container bottom 12a can be carried out automatically by suitable manipulators, instead of operators 1 17 as described above. For this form of embodiment too, a positioning of the manipulators can be provided similar to that for the operators 1 17.

In one form of embodiment, each container bottom 12a is filled with the objects 13 in line in the direction of working P, after the shaping of the first blanks 21 in order to obtain from each one of them the container bottom 12a of a box 12 and before each second blank 22 is positioned above the corresponding container bottom 12a and before the packs are completed.

After having been filled according to specific needs, the container bottoms 12a containing the objects 13 are transferred by the conveyor belt 23 to the station 18 to feed second blanks, in which the second blanks 22 are fed to the production line 14. Each second blank 22, after or at the same time that it is fed, is positioned above a corresponding container bottom 12a.

Subsequently, the container bottom 12a and the second blank 22 are transferred to the station 19 to complete the packs, which is configured at least to close the boxes 12 automatically.

In possible implementations, in the station 19 to complete the packs at least the folding of the second blank 22 is automatically carried out, to obtain the lid 12b and thus the box 12 is assembled to obtain the corresponding pack 1 1.

The closing of the boxes 12, automatically carried out in the station 19 to complete the packs, provides to join a container bottom 12a to a corresponding lid 12b.

In some forms of embodiment, described for example with reference to fig. 1, a working machine 1 19 can be installed in the station 19 to complete the packs, configured to carry out the folding and assembly workings.

For example, it can be provided that the working machine 1 19 includes at least a folding unit 1 19a for the automatic folding of the second blanks 22.

According to possible solutions, shown by way of example in fig. 2b, the lid 12b can be obtained by automatically folding flaps 22a of the second blank 22 along lines of intended folding 22b, to make corresponding lateral walls of the lid 12b disposed around a covering wall 22c. In possible implementations, the assembly of the box 12 can provide that the working machine 1 19 carries out, automatically, before the folding of the second blank 22, the automatic deposition of adhesive material, glue for example, on the external surface of the lateral walls of the container bottom 12a. For this purpose, the working machine 1 19 can be provided with a gluing unit 1 19b.

The working machine 1 19 can also be configured to carry out, at the same time as the folding of the second blank 22, a pressing of the flaps 22a on the lateral walls to determine the gluing of the lid 12b to the container bottom 12a.

In other forms of embodiment, additional finishing and completion operations of the packs 1 1 with respect to that described heretofore can be provided, carried out in the station 19 to complete the packs, for example operations to package the packs 1 1 or to print on the box 12 details concerning the objects 13 contained therein.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the plant 10 and method for the production of packs of objects as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of plant and method for the production of packs of objects, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.