FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a machine and a method for wrapping a box- like element or suchlike, for example a box.

The box-like element to be wrapped can be, for example, a parallelepiped with at least one side open and having the function of a protective shell for one or more articles, objects or other, or also for another box-like element located inside the shell and containing in turn one or more articles, one or more objects or other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that different types of box-like elements or boxes exist, which can have the function of protective shells for articles, objects or other box-like elements located inside the shell. An example of another box-like element located inside the shell can be, for example, an object-holder drawer that can be inserted into and extracted from the corresponding shell.

A box-like element of a known type with which the shell can be made, and which is mentioned here by way of non-restrictive example, is the so-called wrapped box.

The wrapped box normally consists of a cardboard sheet, or suchlike, of suitable sizes depending on the object or objects that it will have to contain, and of a sheet of paper, suitably shaped, which externally covers the box-like element and sometimes also covers it internally. In the case where the box-like body is covered both on the inside and on the outside, it is usually referred to as a coupled cardboard box.

For the production of a wrapped box, with at least the external covering of the paper sheet, commercial machines are used that from a cardboard blank allow to obtain a rough box and then a box with a sheet of paper applied at least on the outside. The last step of this wrapping can be completed in a so-called covering machine, the aim of which is to cover the sides of the rough box and tuck the excess of paper toward the inside of the box.

It is desirable that the box-like element with the shell function is also covered with a layer of protective material, such as veil of paper or other, so as to protect it from possible impacts or also from reciprocal contact with other box-like elements in the transport operations or other.

The application of at least one veil or layer of protective material on the box- like element can naturally occur manually, or by means of machines that are expensive and complex in their construction and use. Furthermore, the protective wrapping of box-like elements with current systems can be an imprecise operation that can only be repeated with some difficulty.

Furthermore, since the box-like element is substantially a shell, it must have at least one side open so as to insert the article to be protected, or the box-like element containing the article or articles to be protected, therefore it is necessary to cover the box-like element so as to prevent closing the insertion side and this operation further increases the complexity of the current wrapping operations and the required precision.

There is therefore a need to perfect a machine and a method for wrapping a box-like element or suchlike which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for wrapping a box-like element or suchlike by means of which, in an automatic and repeatable manner, any box-like element whatsoever can be covered with at least one layer of protective material, such as paper or suchlike, in particular a box-like element having the function of a shell for one or more articles to be protected, of any type whatsoever, or for another box-like element inserted inside it and containing one or more articles to be protected.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for wrapping a box-like element which allows, in a rapid and precise manner, to wrap a box- like element, leaving free at least one side for the insertion and extraction of one or more articles to be protected, or of a box-like element which in turn contains the article or articles to be protected.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method to wrap a box- like element which allows to wrap any box-like element whatsoever with precision and in a repeatable manner, in particular a box-like element having the function of a protective shell into which one or more articles to be protected are inserted, or a box-like element containing one or more articles to be protected. The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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

In accordance with the above purposes and according to the present invention, a machine for wrapping a box-like element or suchlike comprises: an apparatus for transferring the box-like element to be wrapped toward an apparatus for feeding protective material; a device for extracting at least one layer of protective material from the feeding apparatus, wherein the extraction device is located on the side opposite the feeding apparatus with respect to a zone for wrapping the box-like element and wherein the box-like element is translated by means of the transfer apparatus in a given direction within the wrapping zone in such a way as to be wrapped on at least three sides by the layer of protective material which is retained at one end by the extraction device and automatically removed by the feeding apparatus.

The machine also comprises: a device for cutting the layer of protective material driven when the at least three sides of the box-like element have been wrapped; folding means, configured to make a fold of at least a first flap of the layer of protective material and of at least a second flap of the layer of protective material on a fourth side of the box-like element; and a device for attaching the first and second flaps to the fourth side of the box-like element.

Advantageously, by means of the present wrapping machine, a box-like element or suchlike can be covered with at least one layer of protective material, such as paper or suchlike, in an automatic and repeatable manner. In particular, the box-like element acts as a shell for one or more articles to be protected, of any nature whatsoever, or for another box-like element inserted inside it and containing one or more articles to be protected.

The wrapping machine allows to wrap the box-like element leaving at least one side open for the entry of the article or articles to be protected, or of the additional box-like element containing the article or articles to be protected. In some embodiments, the apparatus for feeding protective material can comprise at least one reel of protective material associated with a system for automatically unrolling the layer of protective material from the reel.

The device for extracting the layer of protective material can comprise at least one suction head associated with a suction pump or suchlike. In other embodiments, the extraction device could also be made by means of a mechanical system, such as a gripper system or other. translation and configured to join the flaps of the layer of protective material on the side of the box-like element.

The means for folding the flaps can comprise at least one rotating member associated with the apparatus for feeding the protective material.

The means for folding the flaps can also comprise at least one translating laminar member associated with the extraction device.

According to other aspects of the invention, the present machine can comprise be mobile in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of transfer of the box-like elements toward the wrapping zone.

In some embodiments, the transfer apparatus can comprise a translating platform provided with at least one seating for housing at least one box-like element and configured to transfer at least one box-like element toward the wrapping zone and the apparatus for feeding protective material.

The platform can comprise a plurality of the seatings for housing the box-like elements disposed substantially in a circle around an axis of rotation of the platform.

The invention also concerns a method to wrap a box-like element, or suchlike, comprising: the transfer of a box-like element to be wrapped toward an apparatus for feeding protective material; the extraction of at least one layer of protective material from the feeding apparatus by means of an extraction device located on the side opposite the feeding apparatus with respect to a zone for wrapping the box-like element; the translation in a given direction of the box-like element toward a wrapping zone and toward the layer of protective material thus extracted and retained by the extraction device and the simultaneous removal of protective material from the feeding apparatus so that, following the translation, the cutting of the layer of protective material once the at least three sides have been re-wrapped; the folding of at least a first flap of the layer of protective material and of at least a second flap of the layer of protective material on a fourth side of the box-like element; the attachment of the first and second flaps on the fourth side of the box-like element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of an apparatus for wrapping a box-like element according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a box-like element to be wrapped by means of a layer of protective material, such as paper or suchlike;

- fig. 2b is a schematic front view of a wrapped box-like element;

- figs. 3 to 5 are lateral section views of parts of the present machine during the wrapping process;

- fig. 6 is a plan view of the present machine during a functioning step;

- fig. 7 is a lateral section view of a part of the present machine during a functioning step;

- figs. 8 and 9 are three-dimensional views of part of the present machine during other functioning steps;

- figs. 10 and 11 are plan views of part of the present machine during other functioning steps;

- figs, from 12 to 15 are plan views of the present machine, in particular during the steps of positioning the box-like elements to be wrapped and of evacuating wrapped box-like elements.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, one or more characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be varied or adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

With reference to the attached drawings, see for example figs. 1 and 2 thereof, a machine 10 for wrapping a box-like element 11 or suchlike according to the present invention comprises: an apparatus 12 for transferring the box-like element 11 to be wrapped toward an apparatus 13 for feeding a protective material. The feeding apparatus 13 comprises a reel 14 or suchlike, see also fig. 3 and fig. 4, which can be associated with a system 30 for automatically unrolling the protective material. The feeding apparatus 13 can also be adjusted in height by means of a suitable movement system 43, for example a manually driven screw drive system.

The machine 10 also comprises a device 16 for extracting at least one veil or layer 17 of protective material from the feeding apparatus 13, see also fig. 2a and fig. 4. The extraction device 16 is located on the side opposite the feeding apparatus 13 with respect to a zone 18 for wrapping the box-like element 11.

The box-like element 11, see also fig. 1, figs. 2, 2a and fig. 5, is translated by means of the transfer apparatus 12 in a direction Al of translation within the wrapping zone 18 in such a way as to be wrapped on at least three sides 19, 20, 21, that is, the front side, the upper side and the lower side with respect to the direction Al of translation, by the layer 17 of protective material that is retained apparatus 13.

The machine 10, see in particular fig. 1 and fig. 8, comprises a device 23 for cutting the layer 17 of protective material once the at least three sides of the box- like element 11 have been wrapped, and folding means 24 and 25, see also fig. 2a and fig. 9, configured to make a fold of at least a first flap 26 of the layer 17 of protective material and of at least a second flap 27 of protective material on a fourth side 22 of the box-like element 11, that is, the rear side with respect to the direction Al of translation.

Substantially, the first flap 26 is positioned on the side of the apparatus 13 for feeding protective material, while the second flap 27 is positioned on the side of the extraction device 16. In fig. 2a, the flaps 26 and 27 are already folded correctly on the side 22 of the box-like element 11.

The machine 10, see in particular fig. 1, fig. 10 and fig. 11, also comprises a device 45 for attaching the first and second flaps 26 and 27 to the rear side 22 of the box-like element 11.

The extraction device 16, see for example fig. 3 and fig. 4, can comprise a suction head 28 associated with a suction pump or suchlike.

In other embodiments, the extraction device 16 could be made by means of a mechanical system, such as a gripper system or other.

The suction head 28 can be connected to a movement system 29, see fig. 3, for example a pneumatic actuator or other, which allows the suction head to be translated away from or toward the apparatus 13 for feeding protective material substantially in the direction A2.

The movement system 29 takes the suction head 28 into contact with the layer 17 of protective material unrolled from the feeding reel 14.

The suction pump associated with the suction head 28 is driven in such a way as to make the layer 17 adhere to the suction head 28, which for this purpose can be equipped with one or more holes facing toward the layer 17.

The movement system 29 translates in the opposite direction to the direction A2, that is, away from the apparatus 13, for example by a few millimeters, so as to slightly distance the layer 17 from the apparatus 13. The extraction device 16 is then translated in the direction A3, therefore substantially downward, see fig. 4, in such a way that the suction head 28 takes the layer 17 so that it is disposed substantially vertically at the entrance of the wrapping zone 18.

At the same time, the protective material is unrolled from the reel 14 thanks to the automated unrolling system 30.

The apparatus 12 for transferring the box-like element 11 toward the wrapping zone 18 is provided with a movement system 31 which allows it to be translated in the direction Al, in such a way as to take the box-like element 11 within the wrapping zone 18 and therefore below the apparatus 13, see also fig. 5 and fig. 6.

The apparatus 12 can comprise a platform 32 translating in the direction Al and configured to transfer one or more box-like elements 11 toward the apparatus 13 for feeding protective material.

The platform 32 can comprise at least one seating 33 for housing a box-like element 11 which can be of any shape whatsoever, for example made to measure for the box-like element 11 to be housed, but also of a different shape.

The seating 33, by way of a non-limiting example, can be provided with at least four open sides 34, 35, 36, 37, that is, a front side 34, a rear side 35, an upper side 36, a lower side 37. These open sides allow to reduce the inertia of the moving platform 32; however, they could also be solid sides.

In the embodiment shown, the platform 32 is substantially in the form of a carousel equipped with a plurality of seatings 33 for housing a plurality of box- like elements 11, being disposed equidistant from an axis V of rotation of the platform 32, see in particular fig. 1. The seatings 33 are therefore substantially disposed in a circle around the axis V of the platform 32.

The seatings 33 can be each one equidistant from the other, for example at intervals of 90°, as shown by way of a non-limiting example. Naturally, the seatings 33, as mentioned, can be of a shape and size different from what is shown and moreover they can be in a number different from what is shown.

The platform 32 will be associated with rotation means configured to allow it to rotate around the substantially vertical axis V.

By means of the translating and rotating platform 32, it is possible to place a box-like element 11 in the wrapping zone 18 on each occasion, and once the wrapping has been completed, extract it from the wrapping zone 18 and place

The machine 10 can also be provided with an apparatus 40 for evacuating the wrapped box-like elements 11.

Such apparatus 40 can be a conveyor belt or suchlike, mobile by means of corresponding drive means 39 in a direction A4, which can be substantially orthogonal to the direction Al of translation of the box-like elements 11.

Substantially, thanks to the structural conformation of the machine 10, see fig. 7, when the transfer apparatus 12 has completed its travel in the direction Al, the box-like element 11 will be completely inserted in the wrapping zone 18, therefore, the box-like element 11 will be completely wrapped on the sides 19, 20 and 21, that is, the front side 19, the upper side 20 and the lower side 21.

At this point, see fig. 8, the cutting device 23 configured to cut the layer 17 comes into function. This device 23 can comprise, for example, a blade 41 mobile in the direction A5 to cut the layer 17 that is above the box-like element 11. The blade 41 can be moved in this direction A5 by a drive system 42, for example a pneumatic actuator or other.

The folding means 24 and 25, see fig. 9, are configured to fold the flap 26 resulting from cutting the layer 17 by means of the cutting device 23 and the flap 27 which is retained by the extraction device 16. The folding means can comprise for example a member 24 rotating in the direction R1 around a substantially horizontal axis, in such a way that following this rotation the flap 26 is positioned in contact with the rear side 22 of the box-like element 11 , see also fig. 2a. The folding means can also comprise a laminar member 25 translating in the direction A6 and configured to position the flap 27 on the rear side 22, see also fig. 2a. The laminar member 25 is associated with a movement system 44, configured to translate it in one sense or the other in the direction A6. The movement system 44 can be a pneumatic actuator or other.

Once the flaps 26 and 27 have been folded as in the situation of fig. 2a, they are attached to the rear side 22 of the box-like element 11 by means of the attachment device 45.

The attachment device 45, see fig. 10 and fig. 11, can be for example a taping machine, configured to join the flaps 26 and 27 of the layer 17 of protective material. The attachment device 45 can be associated with a movement system configured to translate the attachment device 45 along a guide 38 in the direction A7 in order to apply, for example, a strip of tape on the rear side 22 of the box- like element 11 , that is, the side where the flaps 26 and 27 are present.

The attachment device 45 can comprise a taping head 47 that can be moved away from or close to the side 22 of the box-like element 11 by means of a corresponding movement system 15, for example a pneumatic actuator or other.

At the end of this attachment step, substantially the box-like element 11 has been covered on four sides 19, 20, 21 and 22 with at least one layer 17 of protective material.

The transfer apparatus 12, see figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15, is translated in the direction Al away from the apparatus 13 for feeding protective material. The apparatus 12 is also rotated in the direction R2 around the axis V in such a way as to take the seating 33’ for housing the wrapped box-like element 11 ’ out of the feeding apparatus 13, therefore substantially out of the zone 18 and of the processing line.

Once the rotation R2 is completed, the apparatus 12 appears as in fig. 13. In particular, the apparatus 12 will have rotated by 90° in the direction R2. In the meantime, a new box-like element 11” to be wrapped and housed in a seating 33” will have arrived in the proximity of the wrapping zone 18 below the apparatus 13 for feeding protective material.

The box-like element 11” is translated in the direction Al by the apparatus 12, see fig. 14, in such a way that it moves into the wrapping zone 18 and therefore under the apparatus 13 for feeding protective material.

Simultaneously, the box-like element 11’ already wrapped and out of the processing line is taken in correspondence with the evacuation apparatus 40. The evacuation apparatus 40 can be provided with a device 46 for removing the wrapped box-like element 11 ’. The removal device 46 can comprise, for example, a plurality of suckers associated with a system for removing and releasing the box-like element 11 ’ from the seating 33’, for example a compressed air system or other.

When the apparatus 12 translates in the direction Al away from the feeding apparatus 13 and from the evacuation apparatus 40, see fig. 15, the box-like element 11 ’ remains associated with the removal device 46, which can therefore therefore ready to accommodate a new box-like element 11 ’ to be wrapped.

The present wrapping machine 10, therefore, in addition to being compact and precise in operations, also allows high productivity, since it allows to position even a plurality of box-like elements 11 to be wrapped on the transfer apparatus 12.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and of steps may be made to the machine and to the method for wrapping a box-like element as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

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 wrapping machine and method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.