[0001] The invention relates to a device for adjusting height of a prefabricated package
box and for closing the box, wherein the box comprises a forehand made goods filling
to a certain height and the box comprises a wall, the thickness of which is not less
than 2 mm, wherein the device comprises:
- a measuring device for detecting the filling height in the box,
- a supporting means placeable inside the box and mounted against the box wall and being
adjustable of its height position,
- a work piece mounted outside the box said work piece being arranged to make horizontally
directed folding tracks in the outer surface of the box,
- cutting means for cutting open the horns of the box, and
- devices for turning the flaps formed in the upper edge of the box and for mounting
a cover onto the box.
[0002] Earlier is known a device according to the preamble above from publication
EP 1832413 where the adjustment of the box height is presented according to the height of the
goods filling. For adjusting the box height fold line markings, like pressings or
scorings round the box are made on the box walls on their both sides at the height
defined by the ware filling, after which in the next station the box wall portions
of each sides of the box above these height lines are folded as flaps closing the
box. The pressing lines are steering the foldings in desired points and are also facilitating
the folding.
[0003] The disadvantage for this known solution is that after their foldings the flaps are
trying to return back up, and therefore the flaps are needed to keep folded until
a cover can be mounted onto the box. In the known solutions the flaps are glued together
for securing that they keep folded. If the box wall is made of normal box cardboard,
like corrugated board thickness 3 - 4 mm, may the foldings break uncontrolled the
folding lines. Also one can meet difficulties when mounting cover, when in the folding
line level the folding line of the flap can locate either on the inner or outer surface
of the box.
[0004] For eliminating these disadvantages a new device has been developed for adjusting
the box height according to the filling volume and a device for closing the box using
flaps and cover. Characteristics for the device according to the invention is that
the work piece for making folding tracks in the outer surface of the box is cutting
work piece, which cuts from the outer surface of the box to an adjusted deep extended
cutting lines.
[0005] Advantageous for the invention is that the inner surface of the box stays unbroken.
The film of the inner surface in the box functions as a hinge for the folded flaps,
the folding does not comprise any binding which would turn the flaps back up. The
folding lines of the flaps become accuracy i.e. the flaps will fold according straight
lines and locating on correct levels. It is very easy to make outside the box cuttings
on adjusted level so, that the inner surface of the wall stays uncut. The filling
height of the boxes transported to the device can be automatically detected by means
of a scanner device or by means of a mechanical inside the box lowered measuring device,
which measures the highest location of the filling in the box and all in this way
of their fillings measured boxes can be manufactured so that their heights are minimized
for saving space.
[0006] In the following the invention is detailed described by referring to the enclosed
drawings where
Fig. 1 presents a prefabricated box when its filling level is measured.
Fig. 2 presents a mounting of inside the box placed supporting device as a side view.
Fig. 3 presents a supporting device in the box seen from top.
Fig. 4 presents a supporting device when supporting box walls seen from top.
Fig. 5 presents a cutting of the folding lines as a side view.
Fig. 6 presents a cutting of the box wall in folding point by means of a rotating
disc.
Fig. 7 presents a cutting open of the box horns above the folding line by a knife.
Fig. 8 presents flaps being folded to close the box and mounting of a cover.
[0007] In figure 1 there is measured by means of a scanning device 2, like inclined scanning
or distance-meter the highest height level of the goods or filling 4 in the box 1
which comes via a conveyor 3. This obtained measuring result adjusts immediately the
steering of a supporting device 5, 6, 7 presented next in the figure 2 to a correct
height level when it is lowered inside the box or the measuring result is led to a
control unit belonging to the device, in which unit the result is added to data of
the box in question, if the box 1 will go further on the conveyor 3 for later proceeded
closing function of said box 1. The supporting device 5, 6, 7 is placed inside the
box 1 for supporting the walls of the box 1 from inside, when cuttings are made in
the outer surface of the box 1 (Figs 4 and 5).
[0008] In figure 3 the supporting device 5, 6, 7 is moved by means of a bar 5 inside the
box 1 a little above the goods filling 4. The supporting device comprises counterparts
6 and 7 for each side wall of the box 1, said counterparts being moved against each
other when mounted inside the box 1 for facilitating the mounting and they are inside
the box 1 brought farther away from each other so, that they support the box 1 walls,
as described in figure 4. In the figures 3 and 4 there have been schematically presented
an articulated mechanism, by means of which the counterparts 6 and 7 of the supporting
device are brought closer and farther away from each other.
[0009] In figure 4 there is shown seen from top a partial cutting of the box 1 wall by means
of discs which function as a work piece 8. This example shows discs on each side wall
of the box and they are arranged to cut simultaneously their own side wall. It is
possible to arrange common driving for the discs by means of a pulling means, which
is circulating via all discs or each discs has own driving arrangement producing motion.
The discs are freely rotating or rotation motion is arranged for them either separately
for each or common rotation motion for all, for example by means of the pulling means
15 (Fig. 6) which circulates via all discs. Very advantageous way to move discs is
that each disc will move whole the time on the same wall side and will return until
is cutting the next box. For securing that the folding of the flaps will happen successful
it will be advantageous that some of the cutting lines L for example two opposite
lines are lifted to higher height level, wherein the height difference is the same
as thickness of the wall, wherein the folding of the flaps overlapped with each other
when closing the box does not cause any disturbance, like for example no force which
tries to open flaps or to turn them up does not exists.
[0010] The cutting discs locate in figure 5 on the line L and carry out cutting from outside
the box 1 according to the figure 6, wherein the outer surface of the box 1 wall is
cut and in this case also a portion from the corrugated board, which locates between
the inner and outer surfaces. The cutting is not extended to the inner wall surface.
The minimum wall thickness will be at least 2 mm, in order that the cutting blade
can be kept inside the wall without damaging the inner surface. It is used in connection
with the cutting work piece 8 in the figure 6 presented runners 16, which are pressing
the wall from outside against the counter parts 6. Also support rolls can be used.
The desired cutting depth can be got then accurately. In figure 6 there is shown also
pulling means 15, which circulates via the cutting work pieces 8, wherein the work
pieces 8 are moved simultaneously by means of said pulling means.
[0011] The figure 7 shows an example of the cutting open the corners locating above the
cutting line 9. It can be done according to the figure 7 by means of a knife blade
10, which is only pushed through the corner. Preferably all corners are cut simultaneously,
wherein the box 1 keeps its form. Also different kinds of cutting arrangements and
blades are possible, like rotating blades or scissors. The flaps 13, 14 which are
got when the corners are cut, are folded to close the box 1 and a cover 11 is placed
and glued onto the box 1, the edges of the cover are folded and glued to the wall
sides of the box said walls having covered by glue 12.
1. A device for adjusting height of a prefabricated package box (1) and for closing the
box, wherein the box (1) comprises a forehand made ware filling (4) to a certain height
(L) and the box (1) comprises a wall, the thickness of which is not less than 2 mm,
wherein the device comprises:
- a measuring device (2) for detecting the filling height (L) in the box (1),
- a supporting means (5),(6),(7) placeable inside the box (1) and mounted against
the box (1) wall and being adjustable of its height position,
- a work piece (8) mounted outside the box (1) said work piece being arranged to make
horizontally directed folding tracks in the outer surface of the box (1),
- cutting means (10) for cutting open the corners of the box (1), and
- devices for turning the flaps (13, 14) formed in the upper edge of the box (1) and
for mounting a cover onto the box (1),
characterized in that the work piece (8) for making folding tracks in the outer surface of the box (1)
is cutting work piece (8), which cuts from the outer surface of the box (1) to an
adjusted deep extended cutting lines.
2. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that said device comprises a control unit for adjusting the height level of the horizontally
in adjusted deep cutting work piece (8) to be essentially at least the filling height
level (L).
3. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the support device (5, 6, 7) is placed inside the box (1) and adjusted to support
the wall of the box (1) on the level of the filling height (L) or close above it.
4. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that there are cutting work pieces (8) one piece per each side of the box (1).
5. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cutting work pieces (8) are connected to carry out the cutting motion together
by means of the same driving means, like a pulling means which is led via the work
pieces (8).
6. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cutting work pieces (8) are adjusted to leave the inner surface of the box (1)
uncut.
7. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cutting work pieces (8) are free rotatable discs, rotated discs or incising knives.
8. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that there are several work pieces (10) cutting open the corners of the box (1) and they
are arranged inside the box (1) to cut open opposite corners simultaneously or to
cut out simultaneously adjacent corners, wherein the work pieces have opposite cutting
motion directions.
9. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least in one side of the box (1) the cutting height level of the work piece (8)
is steered to deviate from the height levels (L) of the cutting lines of the other
side walls a distance which is wall thickness of the box (1).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description