Method and device for manufacturing packages from a flat, shaped element of packing stuff

Abstract

 Method for manufacturing packages from a flat, shaped element of packing stuff, particularly having at least a cardboard or pasteboard material layer, which package is manufactured by folding partial areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1,A2) of predetermined shape and size, along predetermined folding lines and coinciding with the corners of the finished package, characterized in that it has folding means in contact with the surfaces of the partial areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of predetermined shape and size intended to form the external faces of the package and executing only rolling movements along said surfaces or in that said folders are brought to adhere in a removable and fixed way as regards the position relative to said areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A2) of the flat, shaped element (2) to be fold.
Object of the invention is also a device for carrying out the above method.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing packages from a flat, shaped element of packing stuff, particularly having at least a cardboard or pasteboard material layer, which package is manufactured by folding partial areas of predetermined shape and size, along predetermined folding lines and corresponding with the corners of the finished package.

[0002] Methods for manufacturing packages of the type described above are known and widely used and are employed for many kinds of different products.

[0003] According to what disclosed above there are basically two kinds of methods that are different one with respect to the other in providing the folding of the shaped element around a group of products to be packed, or in making a preventive and partial folding and successively filling the group of products to be packed, and for forming the package ending the folding after that the group of products has been filled in the partially formed package. The partial forming is intended to make a kind of tank or container that is open at least on a side and eventually even partially on a further side.

[0004] The importance of the package for commercial and characterization purposes of the product is a known fact. At present packages are studied in order to have improved aesthetic appearances and special materials are used which are very sensitive to scratches or rulings.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide a method of the type described hereinbefore, by means of which it is possible to make the forming folding of a package from a flat, shaped element, reducing to a minimum the dangers of damaging the external surfaces of the package.

[0006] In order to fold flat, shaped blanks for forming packages as boxes or the like, particularly from pasteboard or cardboard sheets on whose face intended to form the external face of the package are applied decoration layers in the shape of rolled sheets on the pasteboard or cardboard layer or decors applied by printing, at present it is known to use arrangements of stationary or mobile folders distributed along a path for forming the package by folding it, along which path a sequence of folding stations is provided having stationary or mobile folding means associated thereto for carrying out one or more folding steps according to a predetermined sequence of folding steps.

[0007] Moreover, the aim of the invention is to rationalize the existing methods allowing the automatic forming of particular kinds of package, particularly packages as boxes having a closing top that is hinged along a corner of the package and extending along a determinate upper side and even along a determinate front side and provided with a certain angle with respect to said upper side, as well as partially formed by a wall hinged to the top wall overlapping from the inside to a front wall in the shape of an open frame along the edge adjacent to the upper side.

[0008] The invention achieves the above aims by providing a folding method, wherein the folding means does not make relative sliding movements along the face of the flat, shaped element intended to form the external faces of the package.

[0009] Particularly, in the case of mobile folders, the method provides to match in a removable way the areas to be folded of the flat, shaped element to the corresponding folder.

[0010] This is possible for example by making said folding means in a suction way being alternately connectable to a vacuum source and to room pressure.

[0011] Instead of, or in addition, if it is required the use of stationary folders, these have rolling means along the corresponding surfaces of the flat, shaped element with which they cooperate.

[0012] The method according to the invention provides the folding of the flat, shaped element around predetermined folding lines, firstly without applying glue and with the simultaneous retaining of the shaped element in its folded state and the introduction of the finished product inside thereof, the subsequent opening of the areas of the package intended to form the walls overlapping internal gluing flaps, the subsequent new folding of the flat, shaped element in the finished state after having applied the glue.

[0013] Advantageously before the filling step, the areas of the shaped element that are folded in the finished folding and forming state of the package are taken backwards in a relative position of partial folding corresponding to a relative spread of the lateral shell walls of the package surrounding an open side for introducing the product therein.

[0014] According to a further feature of the method according to the invention it provides the following folding steps in combination with a flat, shaped element having a central portion divided in four portions separated one with respect to the other with lines coinciding with the folding lines and intended to form the front side, the bottom side, the rear wall, the top upper side and an overlapping flat behind the front side of the package, as well as joined to the portion intended to form the front side and the rear one respectively, for each side edge of said front and rear sides

[0015] The folding of the flat, shaped element areas corresponding to the front and rear side, lateral walls, top upper side, as well as to the overlapping tab behind the front side and to the inner gluing flaps upon which the lateral walls overlap in a proper angular position for forming the package, whose top upper side and the associated overlapping tab are in a state of full opening of the package;

[0016] The folding around the predetermined folding lines of the front and rear sides in the proper position angled with respect to the bottom side;

[0017] The simultaneously folding or the folding in the same step, around predetermined folding lines of the overlapping tab at the back of the front side with respect to the top upper side and the folding of said top upper side at least in a intermediate position with respect to the final one and relatively to the rear side;

[0018] The folding of the gluing flaps of the lateral walls;

[0019] The folding of the lateral walls against the gluing flaps.

[0020] Said areas of the flat, shaped element folded one with respect to the other, being retained in the folding state by folder/retaining means of the front, rear, side and top upper sides, and of the overlapping front tab behind the front side, whilst a step for filling said package in said folded state and a gluing step are provided.

[0021] Advantageously, in order to make easier the step of filling the package in said folded state, the method according to the invention provides the opening of the areas of the shaped element relative to the front, rear sides, and to the lateral walls in a position of non-complete folding, as well as the folding in the complete open position of the package or in the not overlapping position on the open upper side of the package of the top portion and of the associated overlapping tab behind the front side, the products to be packed being filled in the package through the open upper side in this not complete folding state.

[0022] According to a further feature the invention provides also to take subsequently the front and rear sides of the package in the definitive folding position and to retain the lateral flaps gluing the lateral walls in the proper folding position, whilst the lateral walls are again and further folded in an open and position and aligned in the plane of the bottom walls and a glue layer is applied thereon, subsequently said lateral walls being folded against the gluing flaps, whilst the lateral gluing flaps are progressively released.

[0023] According to an improvement, before the filling step with the product to be packed, the invention provides to fold backwards only the lateral walls, and the front side in a relative spreading position, whilst the rear side is steadily retained in the proper folding position with respect to the bottom side that is steadily retained in position.

[0024] In order to allow an easy closing of the package, above all regarding the overlapping tab behind the front side of the package associated to the front edge of the top upper side, the invention provides to retain in the partial folding position slightly spread outwards at least the front side of the package, and to take the top side and the overlapping tab at the back of the front side in the proper folding position simultaneously with the folding of the lateral walls against the gluing lateral flaps after that a glue layer has been applied thereon and simultaneously with the release of said lateral gluing flaps.

[0025] According to a further feature of the invention, as regards the front overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package, besides the fact to retain the folding flap in the proper position angled with respect to the top upper side, the invention provides to curve the free front edge of said overlapping tab such that it has the concave side towards inside the package and such that the free front edge, with reference to the angular displacement in the closing state of the package, moves along an angular path having a light recess towards inside the package with respect to the front side of the package.

[0026] To this end, it is advantageous to provide, at least in a middle area of said free front side of the overlapping tab, an extension cooperating with a stationary curved surface having a curve such that in the entrance area said folding curved surface extends substantially tangent or substantially parallel to the surface of the extension and/or of the overlapping tab, whilst said curve progressively and lightly gets narrower in the direction of a intermediate plane between the products housed inside the package and the front side thereof, and said curve being compared to the protuberance of said extension form the front side of the overlapping tab to such extent that the overlapping tab is not in sliding contact with its surface intended to form the on sight face during the whole folding path.

[0027] It should be noted that the method according to the invention provides the active retaining of all the front, rear, lower, top upper sides with the associated overlapping tab and of the lateral walls until the package is completely closed in the filled state thereof with the products to be packed, whilst possible folding and/or retaining means requiring relative sliding movements, such as the retaining means of the gluing flaps during the step for the glue application on the lateral walls and the means for curving the overlapping tab in combination with the extension cooperate with portions of the shaped element that have to be covered in this case by the lateral walls and the front side, respectively.

[0028] During the first folding step of the flat, shaped element wherein the areas corresponding to the front side, the rear one, and to the lateral walls, as well as the areas corresponding to the top upper side and to the overlapping tab are folded with respect to the bottom side and one with respect to the other, the invention provides to fold said sides against an inner, shaped counterpart by means of folders/pushers having rolling rolls against the corresponding areas of the flat, shaped element. Said inner counterpart has a shape corresponding to the inner space of the finished package and an extension at the side of said counterpart corresponding to the open upper side of the inner space of the package, which extension is shaped at the adhering side of the areas of the flat, shaped element corresponding to the top upper side and to the associated tab in a corresponding way to the relative angular position between said top upper side and of the overlapping tab and to an angular position of said top upper side with respect to the rear side of the package to which it is hinged along a predetermined folding line coinciding with the corresponding rear upper corner of the package, which angular position corresponds to a position of the top upper opening side of the upper open side of the inner space of the package.

[0029] Again according a further feature of the invention, the invention provides a single folder for the top upper side and for the associated overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package.

[0030] A preferred embodiment provides that the front side of the package has an open slot at the edge on the upper side of the package, which slot is closed by the overlapping tab behind said front side, said front side being made as an U-like frame and the extension of the overlapping tab being such that it overlaps at the back at least partially or for the complete surface of said front side of the package.

[0031] The method according to the invention provides the fact that the inner counterpart for initially folding the flat shaped element in the package form in its open state is composed of a suction block with a lateral suction extension that is the counterpart for the top side with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package, whilst when the flat shaped element is folded, the areas thereof corresponding to the lower, front, rear sides, to the lateral gluing flaps of the lateral walls and to the lateral walls overlapping said gluing flaps, as well as to the top and to the overlapping tab at the back of the front side firstly are retained by suction on the counterpart block, which block is taken inside a folding pocket comprising a suction bottom side, a fixed rear wall provided with rolling roll and front and side walls, as well as a folder of the top upper side and of the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package, which walls are suction walls too, are hinged to axis coinciding with corners and/or predetermined folding lines of the corresponding areas of the flat shaped element and they can be overturned between a closing position wherein they have a complete folding position of the corresponding side of the package and/or of the top and of the overlapping tab connected thereto and an open position wherein the corresponding sides of the package are angularly moved in a spreading position with respect to said proper folding position, the retaining in position of the sides of the package being transferred from the counterpart block to said walls of the housing pocket by stopping the suction action of the block and by starting the suction action by said walls of the housing pocket.

[0032] Particularly, the walls of the housing pocket of the package that are mobile with respect to the wall corresponding to the rear and bottom sides of the package, are the pocket walls corresponding to the lateral walls, to the front side and to the top upper wall. The walls of the housing pocket corresponding to lateral walls and to the front side of the package are articulated to the corresponding peripheral edge of the bottom side, whilst the wall of the housing pocket corresponding to the top upper side is articulated about an axis coinciding with the upper line hinging said top upper side to the rear side of the package that is coinciding with the upper edge of the rear wall of the housing pocket.

[0033] As regards the overlapping tab this is retained in position by a fixed and angled extension of the housing pocket wall corresponding to the top upper side.

[0034] As it is clearly shown above, the method provides a pocket for housing the flat, shaped element folded against the counterpart block in its definitive shape in open position, which housing pocket has walls for retaining the areas of the flat, shaped element folded in the proper position corresponding to said areas of the blank, said walls of the housing pocket being hinged at least partially one with respect to the other to make the same movements relative to the ones of the corresponding areas of the flat, shaped element and along axis coinciding with the predetermined folding lines of said areas of the flat, shaped element.

[0035] Said housing pocket is conveyed along a path between different stations wherein the steps of the method described above are carried out. Particularly, a first station for folding the flat, shaped element against the counterpart block in the finished folding state of the package and in the open state of the top upper side is provided, and in which station the block transfers the package formed on the block itself in the housing pocket that is initially open, the formed package being successively retained by the housing pocket that is closed taking the walls thereof in contact with the corresponding side of the formed package;

[0036] A subsequent station for partially folding in spreading or opening direction of the lateral walls and of the front one of the package by means of a partial outwards oscillation of the corresponding suction walls of the housing pocket, in which station the products to be packed are filled inside the partially spread package as disclosed above;

[0037] A subsequent gluing station wherein the lateral walls of the package are further outwards overturned by means of oscillation corresponding to the suction lateral walls of the housing pocket and wherein the gluing flaps of said lateral walls of the package are retained against the products to be packed housed inside the package by means of mobile retaining flaps that can be moved along planes tangential to the plane of said gluing flaps, whilst on the side faced of the lateral walls of the package outwardly overturned a glue layer is applied.

[0038] A subsequent station wherein the lateral walls of the package are again inwardly overturned against the gluing flaps of the oscillating lateral walls of the housing pocket, whilst simultaneously the mobile flaps retaining the gluing flaps are moved in a position of non interference with said gluing flaps and with the lateral walls and whilst simultaneously the top upper side with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package are overturned in closing position of the upper side of the package and in a position of the tab overlapping the rear side of the top with the oscillation in the closing direction about an axis coinciding with the upper edge of the housing pocket wall corresponding to the rear wall of the package of a folding wall of the housing pocket corresponding to said top upper side of the package with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package;

[0039] A last station for discharging the formed and closed package and for transferring it to a further treatment line.

[0040] Preferably, the path of the housing pocket is circular, a wheel for supporting said pocket being provided.

[0041] Such wheel advantageously has a number of housing pockets distributed along the perimeter, the various stations being provided at predetermined angular distances such to correspond to a predetermined angular advance step or to a multiple thereof, whereby when a pocket is in one of the stations, the other pockets are provided in one of the other stations.

[0042] The arrangement of the wheel as regards the moving, the passages for the suction ducts feeding the walls of the housing pocket with a vacuum and the starting and stopping of the suction are known per se and are widely used in the packaging or wrapping field. To this end the following patents of the same patentee can be seen.

[0043] The object of the invention is therefore also a device for manufacturing packages from a flat, shaped element according to the method disclosed above.

[0044] The features of the device and further improvements of the method according to the invention will be the object of the dependent claims for the device and the method.

[0045] Features of the invention, and the advantages derived therefrom, will be more clearly understood from the following description of a non limitative embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a front perspective view of a machine for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Fig.2 is an enlarged schematic view of the supply magazine and the conveyor for transferring blanks from a unit for forming and filling the package.

Fig.3 is an enlarged detail of the station for folding and transferring the flat, shaped element in a transporting and folding housing of a transferring and forming wheel.

Fig.4 is schematic side view of the wheel provided with pockets for housing shaped elements in the folded state.

Fig.5 is an enlarged side view of an housing pocket of the wheel according to the previous figure.

Fig.6 schematically shows the handling flow of the flat, shaped element in the process for folding and filling the package.

Figs.7 to 31 schematically show different steps for forming and filling the package, highlightening only the folder or retaining members of the flat, shaped element working or relevant in the single different steps for forming and filling the package.

[0046] Referring to figure 1, a packaging machine according to the method of the present invention, comprises a supply magazine 1 of individual flat, shaped elements 2 from the folding of which a finished package is obtained for containing a predetermined number of products. Particularly, as can be seen hereinafter, products are composed of separate packages of individual articles, particularly cigarette packets.

[0047] The flat, shaped elements 2 are drawn from the supply magazine 1 with withdrawal/transfer means 3 (fig.2) and located as a sequence of individual flat, shaped elements on a belt-type conveyer 4. This one transfers individual flat, shaped element in a station for folding the flat blank 2 designated with S1 in fig.1 wherein are further transferred after folding in a housing pocket 5 of a wheel 6 for transferring the shaped element 2' substantially folded in the definitive or almost definitive shape between one of more subsequent stations. The wheel 6 carries a plurality of housing pockets 5 distributed along the periphery thereof and angularly spaced in a way corresponding to the feed steps of the wheel itself which have a width such as to carry each housing pocket 5 in one or more subsequent stations distributed about the wheel, the whole in a way such that when an housing pocket is at a station, the other housing pockets are at the other stations.

[0048] Particularly, the provided stations are a station S2 for filling the shaped element 2' folded in the substantially finished shape, a subsequent gluing and closing package station S3 and a further station S4 for transferring the package filled and closed by the wheel 6 to a transfer wheel 7 and to a discharge conveyor.

[0049] In a position faced towards the station S2 for filling the shaped element 2' folded in the substantially finished state of the package a feed station is provided for product groups or individual packages in an ordered and predetermined arrangement corresponding to the order they are intended to have inside the package. A conveyer 8 carries individual products or individual packages to a transfer station S5 in housing pockets 109 of a transfer wheel 9 that rotates in steps and has a transfer position in the filling station S2 of the substantially finished package wherein the housing pocket 109 of the transfer wheel 9 is faced and aligned radially with respect to the housing pocket 5 of the wheel 6, individual products or packages P being ordered in the housing pocket 109 of the transfer wheel 9 by means of a radial translation of said transfer wheel in the substantially finished package formed by the shaped element 2' folded and housed in the housing pocket 5 on the wheel 6 waiting in the filling station S2.

[0050] The motion of wheels 6, 7, 9 and of conveyers, as well as of means for transfer the products P, the driving of the conveyer belts take place in a per se known manner and widely used in automatic machines for forming filled packages.

[0051] Particularly, the synchronized driving can occur by means of driving kinematic chains wherein the motion is transferred to the individual wheels, to the conveyers and to the transfer devices via a rigid mechanical transmissions from a single main motor or from two or more main motors synchronized one with respect to the other for example electronically. Alternatively and depending on the production speed it is possible to use single driving motors for different operative units all electrically synchronized one with respect to the other.

[0052] Particularly, the wheel 6 provided with housing pockets 5 for the shaped folded elements 2' is composed of a pair of annular parallel discs which are laterally spaced and fixed at a certain axial distance one with respect to the other. The two discs are rotatably mounted on a annular hub overhangingly carried and stationary, inside thereof it is possible to house radial pusher and/or radial guiding means for transferring the products in ordered groups and for transferring the filled and closed package to the transferring wheel 7 for discharging them from the device. The wheel 6 composed of two discs allows to have windows for the passage of the radial pusher/guiding means. Such manufacturing technique is per se known and it is disclosed for example in EP 739819 of the same patentee.

[0053] As a further preamble it should be noted that as will be described in more details hereinafter, the housing pockets 5 are provided with suction-type boundary walls, by means of which the housing pockets firmly retain the corresponding areas of the shaped element 2, 2' forming the various walls on the various sides of the package. Therefore the wheel 6 has passages for connecting said suction walls to a vacuum source and alternatively to the atmospheric pressure. Passages are obtained in the disc thickness constituting the wheel or in annular elements associated to said discs and are axially connected to stationary dispenser composed of circular or annular sector-like chambers coaxial to the axis of rotation of the discs by means of sliding seals. Such annular sector like chambers are connected to a vacuum source and/or to the atmospheric pressure of the environment via radial ducts and serve as commutators of the connection of the suction walls of the housing pockets 5 to the vacuum source and to the atmospheric pressure depending on the processing step of the shaped element 2' housed therein.

[0054] Such technique for manufacturing suction supply/delivering to the suction walls is also known per se and widely used and for example it is disclosed in EP739819 of the same patentee referring to a forming wheel of cigarette packets.

[0055] Fig.2 shows the wheel 6 with no housing pockets 5 and with the shaped element 2' in its folded state.

[0056] In the station S, that is illustrated in more details in the enlargement of fig.3 and with reference to the folding means and to the various folding steps in figures 7 and 16, the flat, shaped element 2' on the conveyor belt is stopped in an aligned and intermediate position between an housing pocket 5 and a folding block 11. The blank has various areas that are connected one with the other by means of predetermined folding lines and particularly an area that is intended to form the bottom side L1, an area intended to form the rear vertical side L2, an area intended to form the front side L3, and an area intended to form the top upper side L4 and a overlapping tab L5 behind the front side. All the said areas have the same or substantially the same length with reference to the folding lines that are oriented parallely to the axis of rotation of the wheel, while the area L3 intended to form the front side and the area L2 intended to form the rear side are connected to the edges opposite each other of the area L1 intended to form the bottom side. The areas L2, L3 intended to form the front and the rear side carry on both the edges transversal to the folding lines with the area L1 intended to form the bottom side a gluing flap A1, A2 respectively whereon a corresponding flap A3, A4 is intended to be fold forming the side wall of the package and connecting the corresponding edge of the area L1 intended to form the bottom side oriented transversally to the rotation axis of the wheel 6.

[0057] The shaped element is stopped in the station S1 in a position of the area L1 intended to form the bottom side aligned with the faced upper side of a suction liftable block 11 provided under the conveyor belt, while on the opposite side in alignment with the area L1 of the shaped element 2' and with the block 11 an housing pocket 5 is provided.

[0058] The block 11 is made as a suction one and it has a shape and sizes corresponding to the shape and sizes of the finished package.

[0059] In the station S1 the complete folding of all the areas and flaps of the flat, shaped element against the corresponding walls of the block 11 is carried out.

[0060] Such block is a suction block and can be moved from a position at a lower level with respect to the conveyor 4 to the inside of the housing pocket 5 located in the station S1 respectively. To this end the conveyor 4 is advantageously composed of a pair of endless chains and which are driven synchronously one with the other forming therebetween, especially in the station S1, a central opening having sizes for the passage without interferences of the block 11 in the displacement from behind the flat, shaped element towards the housing pocket 5.

[0061] The folding of the shaped element 2 around the block occurs by means of folders that cooperate only rolling on the surfaces of the areas of the shaped element 2 that will form the outside on sight faces of the package.

[0062] Particularly the areas L2 and L3 that are intended to form the front and rear sides of the package, are folded against the block 11 whose upper side which has been carried in contact with the area L1 intended to form the bottom side of the package.

[0063] The folding of the areas L2 and L3 of the shaped element 2 occurs along the predetermined folding lines coinciding with the corners of the block 11 between the adherence walls of the areas L2, L3 of the shaped element 2 and the upper adherence wall of the area L1 intended to form the bottom of the package. The folding occurs by means of folding rolls 12, 13 that come to adhere against the corresponding surfaces of the block 11 and the areas L2 and L3.

[0064] Rolls 12, 13, which can be provided as couples, are carried on each side of the block by an arm 112, 113 that is driven synchronously with the lifting displacement of the block. The displacement substantially is a translation from a position of the rolls 12, 13 spaced from the corresponding surface of the block 11 and an alignment position with the extension of the block surface turned towards the corresponding group of rolls 12, 13. Particularly, the two groups of rolls or the two rolls 12, 13 that are provided faced towards the opposite sides of the block 11 whereon the areas L2, L3 of the flat, shaped element are folded, are carried in a lift position with respect to the upper faced corners formed between the upper side of the block 11 and the lateral walls parallel to the rolls or to the roll groups 12, 13 and in a position tangent to the ideal extension plane of the corresponding faced side of the block 11, then the block is lifted causing the folding of the areas L2 and L3 against the corresponding walls of the block 11 cooperating with rolls 12, 13. This can be seen in figures 7 to 11.

[0065] In these figures it is clearly shown that in a position parallel to the upper side the block 11 has a rear extension 111 that overhangingly projects from the side of the block 11 corresponding to the rear side of the package. Said extension has a surface with shape and sizes corresponding to the area L4 intended to form the top upper side of the package and ending with a folding corner for folding the tab L6 with respect to the area L5. Even this surface is a suction one.

[0066] Rolls 13, or the group of rolls 13, cause the folding of the area L3 against the corresponding wall of the block as well as the folding of the area L5 against the surface 111, while a pair of further folding rolls 14 is translated against the area L6 constituing the tab by folding it around the corner on the end free edge of the surface 111.

[0067] In this state the package is partially folded as only foldings along the axis parallel to the wheel 6 have been carried out. Two opposite pairs of folders 15, 16 are composed of folding flaps 116, 115 tangential to the lateral walls of the block 11 and can be translate synchronously one with the other from a position of non interference with the block 11 in a position for folding gluing flaps A1 against the corresponding sidewall of the block 11.

[0068] Flaps A2 that are intended to form the lateral walls, are folded in the same way as the area L2 and L3 against the corresponding lateral walls of the block against which folder flaps 15,16 and gluing flaps A1 have been already folded each by means of a folding roller 17.

[0069] The block 11 has all the four shell walls that is the side, front, rear walls that are made as suction ones and retaining in position the areas L2, L3 and the gluing flaps A1 against thereof. As regards the flaps A2 intended to form the lateral walls, these cannot be retained by the suction action of the lateral walls of the block that already retain the gluing flaps A1 whereon the side flaps A2 are intended to overlap. To this end, the folder rolls 17 are overhangingly supported by arms 18 oriented towards the corresponding lateral wall of the block 11, which arms are carried towards the top by a sliding slide, the rolls 17 being carried by a fork end of the arm 18, which fork end enters to some extent in recesses 205 on the faced edge of lateral walls 105 of the housing pockets 5. Thus, the rolls folding the lateral walls of the package formed by flaps A2 of the shaped element 2 leave the flaps A2 folded against the block 11, only after they have entered to some extent inside the housing pocket and more precisely substantially totally inside the housing pocket.

[0070] It should be noticed how none of the various areas of the flat, shaped element intended to form the on sight surface of the package sides are processed with a folder sliding on it, but only by means of roller folder. It should be appreciated that the use of conventional folding flaps is kept for gluing flaps A1 whereon the flaps A2 overlap in order to form the lateral walls of the package.

[0071] In figure 3 it can be seen the control arms 22 of the arms 112, 113. It can be seen also the translation slides 19 of the folder flaps 115, 116 that are controlled by oscillating levers 20. Analogously, the translation vertical slides 21 of the arms 18 can be seen carrying the folder roller 17 cooperating with the flaps A2 forming the lateral walls of the package.

[0072] An oscillating lever 23 provides to displace the slides 21 along vertical guides shown by broken lines 24.

[0073] As results from figures 4, 5 and 16 to 31, the housing pockets are composed of a bottom wall with a size and shape corresponding to the area L1 forming the bottom side of the package and along the peripheral edges of which front 305, rear 405 and lateral walls 105 are provided with sizes corresponding to sizes of the corresponding flaps A2 and of the area L2 and L3 forming the lateral walls, and the front and rear walls of the package.

[0074] The rear wall 405 that is the wall that is intended to adhere with the area L2 of the shaped element 2 forming the rear side of the blank is fixed mounted with respect to the bottom wall, while the lateral walls 105 and the front wall 305 are hinged oscillating about an axis coinciding with the peripheral edges of the bottom wall and coinciding with the package corners that are also the folding lines of the various areas L3 and of the flaps A2 with respect to the bottom area L1.

[0075] In a position coincident with the upper edge of the wall 405 that is associated with the rear side of the package, an oscillating wall 505 is hinged having a shape and a surface corresponding to the area L4 intended to form the top upper side of the package. The axis of hinging of the oscillating wall 505 is coincident with the predetermined folding line provided between the top upper side composed by the area L4 of the shaped element and the rear wall composed by the area L2 of the shaped element.

[0076] The oscillating wall 505 associated to the area L4 forming the top upper side ends with an angled wall 605 intended to retain the tab L5 in an angled position with respect to the area L4. The lateral walls 105, the front one 305 and eventually the rear one and the bottom one as well as the oscillating wall 505 the angled extension 605 thereof are made as suction ones.

[0077] Particularly the front area L3 intended to form the front wall of the package has an open central recess at the edge joining the upper side and forms a sort of rectangular U-shaped frame, while the region of said recess 705 has to be covered by the tab L5 that in the finished state of the package overlaps at the back the U-shaped frame of the front wall of the package.

[0078] Due to this reason, the angled extension of the upper wall 505 is formed by two parallel and coplanar flaps that have sizes such as to enter in openings 805 of the front wall 305 of the housing pocket.

[0079] Moreover, the two openings 805 form a central rib 905 that is made as a concave curved surface on the side turned towards the inside of the housing pocket 5 and ending at its base with a surface lightly projecting over the plane including the flap surfaces delimitating the recesses 805 at the two external sides.

[0080] The curved surface of the central rib 905 is intended to cooperate with a coinciding extension E1 of the tab L5 and as will be evident from the following description allows to carry out the insertion of the tab L5 behind the front wall of the package in an automized way.

[0081] In a position suitably staggered radially with respect to the axis of hinging of the oscillating wall 505 associated to the area L4 of the top upper side an axis 25 parallel to said axis of hinging carries at its ends two oscillating retaining flaps 26.

[0082] The walls 105, 305, 505, the retaining flaps 26 can be moved in a plurality of oscillating positions by means of driven lever systems having control levers cooperating with ends provided with rollers with stationary driven cams and located along the path of the housing pockets 5 between the plurality of stations correspondingly to the movement of said walls required for carrying out the filling and forming actions of the package.

[0083] As shown in figure 5 the wheel 6 carries a plurality of housing pockets 5 that are angularly equidistant along the periphery of the wheel 6.

[0084] Figures 16 to 31 show various steps for filling and forming the package in the housing pockets 5.

[0085] After the full folding of the shaped element 2 on the suction block 11 and the transfer of the same inside the housing pocket 5 aligned with the forming station S1, the walls of the housing pocket 5 are started as regard the suction, while the block stops the suction action and it is again moved under the plane of the conveyor 4 supporting the subsequent shaped element 2.

[0086] The folded shaped element 2' is now firmly retained in the housing pocket and the rotation of the wheel takes said pocket in the filling station S2. In this station, the rear side 205 of the housing pocket 5 associated to the area L2 forming the rear wall of the package is aligned with a plane for sliding an ordered group 27 of products to be packed that are transferred by means of a pusher 28 or a pusher/guide couple, the guide of which is not shown but it is a counter pusher acting on the side of the product group opposite to the pusher 28, in the housing pocket 5. In this case, the side and front walls are lightly oscillating outwards as to give to the folded element 2' in the housing pocket 5 a frustum of cone shape facilitating the introduction of the product group 27 in the housing pocket 5, that is in the folded shaped element 2'. In this state, the oscillating wall 505 is in position such that the area L4 forming the top upper side of the package is in the full opening position. The lateral retaining flaps 26 are in external position with respect to the housing pocket 5. After the introduction of the ordered product group inside the housing pocket 5, the upper wall 505 is oscillated towards the closing direction of the open side of the housing pocket 5 and the retaining flaps 26 overlap to the gluing flaps A1 retaining them in position against the ordered product group, while the lateral walls 105 are further oscillated outwards in position of alignment in the plane of the bottom side thus taking the flaps of the shaped element 2' again in open or extended position.

[0087] A pair of glue applyicating nozzles 30 is taken at the sides of the flaps A2 associated to the side walls 105 of the housing pocket (Figs.22 to 25) and it applies one or more traces of glue 31 on the side of the flaps A2. After that said gluers 30 are taken again in a position of non interference, while after having obtained this position, the further rotation of the wheel 6 controls the oscillation in the closing position of the oscillating wall 505, the progressive displacement of the retaining flap in an external position with respect to the housing pocket when the lateral walls 105 progressively overturn inwards carrying the flaps A2 provided with glue against the gluing flaps A1.

[0088] Simultaneously to the oscillation in the closing position of the oscillating upper wall 505 and of the angled extension 605 associated to the tab L5, said tab L5 cooperates with the curved surface of the central rib 905 of the front wall 305 causing the curve of the tab 15 whose free edge is oriented towards the inside of the pocket and thus in such a way to enter behind the U-shaped frame of the area L3 that forms the front side of the package by means of the end part of the central rib 905 forming the front wall 305 of the housing pocket 5 and projecting inwardly of said pocket beyond the plane of the two lateral ribs against which the area L3 is retained forming the front wall of the package. This is shown in more details in figure 27. Said movements all occur simultaneously and progressively and at the end of the rotation of the pocket from the filling station S2 to the station S3, all the walls of the housing pocket are oscillated in complete closing position thereof, while the package is completely formed and while the retaining flaps are both moved in the position of non interference with the housing pocket 5. Obviously this is possible since the oscillation of the retaining flaps 26 is not correlated to that of the oscillating upper wall 505 of the housing pocket.
The further rotation of the wheel takes the housing pocket 5, that is in the state of retaining the folded shaped element 2', in the state of complete forming of the package in the station S4 for discharging the formed package and for feeding a discharge wheel 7 from which it is transferred to a discharge conveyor 8.
From above it can be even understood the method according to the invention for making packages. Firstly, in opposition to the manner to form a package from a flat, shaped element, according to the present invention, the foldings of the plurality of said flat, shaped element are all carried out in a single station. Secondly, the plane shaped element is folded on a mold by means of folders performing a rolling movement along the surface of the flat, shaped element.
Another advantage is the particular manufacturing of the housing pockets that are composed of walls substantially corresponding to the package walls and that are oscillating with respect at least to a stationary wall, particularly two stationary walls that is the bottom side and the rear wall. This allows to carry out the enlargement actions of the open side for an easier introduction of the ordered group of product, as well as the oscillation of the lateral walls in a position for applying glue and the subsequent oscillation thereof and of the top in the finished folding position. At the same time even the manner and the means with which the extension tab of the upper side in the open portion of the front side of the package is carried in an overlapping position at the back of said front side, between it and the products packed therein are advantageous. All this occurs without a friction action of the tab with the corresponding extension of the oscillating wall of the housing pocket intended to cooperate with the top upper side and with the tab of the package.

Claims

1. Method for making packages from a flat, shaped element of packaging stuff, particularly having at least a layer of pasteboard or cardboard material, which package is made by folding partial areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of predetermined shape and size, around predetermined folding lines and coinciding with the corners of the finished package, characterized in that it has folder means that came in contact with the surfaces of the partial areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of predetermined shape and size intended to form the external sides of the package and carrying out only rolling movements along said surfaces, and in that said folders adhere in an removable and fixed way with regard to the position relative to said areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of the flat, shaped element (2) to be fold.

2. Method according claim 1, characterized in that said folders have rolling rolls (12, 13, 14, 17) and/or suction means that can be alternatively connected to a vacuum source and the room pressure.

3. Method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the shaped element (2) has flaps (A1) upon which wall areas (A1) of the package are overlapped from the outside to which they are joined by means of gluing, folders (15, 16) of said gluing flaps (A1) being provided that are of the sliding type along the wall of said flaps (A1).

4. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides the following step sequence:

the complete folding of the areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of the flat shaped element (2) around predetermined folding lines, firstly without applying glue and with the simultaneous retaining of the shaped element in its folded state;

the introduction of the product (27) inside the folded shaped element (2') in the substantially finished shape of the package;

the subsequent backwards opening in the opening state of the areas (A2) of the package intended to form walls overlapping to the inner gluing flaps (A1);

the application of glue on the surfaces of said areas (A2) folded backwards in the opening state, which surfaces are intended to overlap to the gluing flaps (A1);

the subsequent new final folding of the flat, shaped element in the finished state after having applied glue.

5. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the step of filling the package formed with the flat, shaped element (2') substantially completely folded, the areas (L3, L4, L5, A2) of the shaped element are folded outwards and/or backwards in a relative partially folded position corresponding to a spreading relative of the lateral shell walls of the package surrounding an open side for entering the product, which side is the open upper side of the package.

6. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in combination with a flat, shaped element having a central portion divided at least in four areas or five areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5) separated one with respect to the other by lines coinciding with the folding lines and intended to form the front side, the bottom side, the rear wall, the top upper side and an overlapping flap intended to be placed behind the front side of the package, whilst connected to the areas (L3, L2) intended to form the front and the rear side respectively, for each lateral edge of said areas a lateral retaining flap (A1) by means of the gluing of a flap (A2) of sidewall, flaps (A2) of lateral walls being connected to the area (A1) of the bottom side provides the following folding steps:

folding the areas (L2, L3, A1, A2, L4, L5) of the flat, shaped element (2) corresponding to the front and rear side, to the lateral walls and to the top upper side, as well as to the overlapping tab behind the front side and to the inner gluing flaps upon which the lateral walls overlap in a proper angular position for forming the package, wherein the top upper side and the associated overlapping tab are in a complete open state of the package;

folding around the predetermined folding lines of the front and rear sides in the proper position angled with respect to the bottom side;

simultaneously folding or during the same step, around predetermined folding lines of the overlapping tab (L5) at the back of the front side with respect to the top upper side (L4) and the folding of said top upper side (L4) at least in an intermediate position with respect to the definitive position and regarding the rear side (L2).

folding the gluing flaps (A1) of the lateral walls;

folding the lateral walls (A2) against the gluing flaps (A1).

   Said areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of the flat, shaped element (2) folded one with respect to the other, being retained in the folding position by the folding/retaining means (5, 11) of the-front, rear, lateral and top upper sides and of the overlapping front tab behind the front side, whilst a step for filling said package in said folded state and a gluing step are provided.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that in order to make easier the step for filling the package in said folded state it provides to spread in a not complete folding position the areas (L3, A2) of the shaped element relative to the front and/or rear sides and to the lateral walls, as well as to fold in the complete open position of the package or in the non overlapping position on the open upper side of the top portion and of the associated overlapping tab behind the front side, the products (27) to be packed, during this not complete folding state, being filled in the package through the open upper side.

8. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides to subsequently carry the front and rear walls of the package in the final folding position and to retain (26) the lateral gluing flaps (A1) of the lateral walls in the proper folding position, whilst the flaps (A2) corresponding to the lateral walls are again folded and further in an alignment open position in the plane of the bottom wall and a glue layer (31) is applied thereon, said lateral walls being again folded against the gluing flaps (A1), whilst the lateral gluing flaps (A1) are progressively free released.

9. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides to fold backwards in a relative spreading position only the lateral walls and the front side before the filling step with the product to be packed, whilst the rear side is retained fixed in the proper folding position with respect to the bottom side that is fixedly retained in position.

10. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to close easy the package, above all as regards the overlapping tab (L5) behind the front side of the package which tab is associated to the front edge of the top upper side, it provides to keep in the partial folding position lightly spread outwards, at least the area (L3) corresponding to the front side of the package, and to bring the area (L4) corresponding to the top side and said overlapping tab (L5) at the back of the front side in the proper folding position simultaneously with the folding of the lateral walls (A2) against the gluing lateral flaps (A1) after the application thereon of the glue layer and simultaneously with the release in free state of said gluing lateral flaps (A1).

11. Method according to one more of the preceding claims, characterized in that particularly as regards the front overlapping tab (L5) at the back of the front side (L3) of the package, besides the fact to retain the tab (L5) in the proper angled position with respect to the top upper side (L4), it provides to curve the free front edge of said overlapping tab (L5) such that it has the concave side towards inside the package and such that the free front edge, with reference to the folding angular displacement in the close state of the package, can be moved along an angular path having lightly a recess towards inside the package with respect to the front side (L3) of the package.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that at least in a middle area of said free front side of the overlapping tab (L5) it provides an extension cooperating with a stationary arched surface (905) having a bending such that in the entrance area said arched folding surface extends substantially tangent or substantially parallel to the surface of the extension and/or of the overlapping tab (L5), whilst said bending lightly gets narrower in the direction of an intermediate plane between the products (27) housed inside the package and the front side (L3) thereof, said bending being compared to the protuberance of said extension from the front side of the overlapping tab (L5) to such extent that the overlapping tab (L5) is not in sliding contact with the surface intended to form the on sight surface during the complete folding path.

13. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active retaining (5, 105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605, 805, 905) of all front, rear, lower, top upper sides with the associated overlapping tab and of the lateral walls until the package is completely closed in the filling state thereof with the products (27) to be packed, whilst possible folding and/or retaining means (26) requiring relative sliding movements, such as means for retaining the gluing flaps (A1) during the step for applying glue on the lateral walls and means (905) for bending the overlapping tab (L5) in combination with the extension cooperate with portions of the shaped element (2, 2') that are covered in this case by the lateral walls and the front side of the finished package respectively.

14. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the first step for folding the flat, shaped element (2) wherein the areas corresponding to the front side, the rear one and the lateral walls, as well as those corresponding to the top upper side and to the overlapping tab are folded with respect to the bottom side and one with respect to the other, it provides to fold said sides against a inner shaped counterpart (11, 1119 by means of folders/pushers having rolling rolls (12, 13, 14, 17) against the corresponding areas of the flat, shaped element (2) and in that said inner counterpart (11) has a shape corresponding to the inner space of the finished package and an extension (111) to the level of the side of said counterpart corresponding to the open upper side of the inner space of the package, which extension (111) is shaped correspondingly to the adhering side of the areas of the flat, shaped element corresponding to the top upper side (L4) and to the associated tab (L5) correspondingly to the relative angular position between said top-upper side and of the overlapping tab and to an angular position of said top upper side with respect to the rear side of the package to which it is hinged along a predetermined folding line coinciding with the corresponding rear upper corner of the package, which angular position corresponds to a position of the top upper side opening the upper open side of the inner space of the package.

15. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat, shaped element (2) is completely folded in a single station around the inner counterpart (11, 111), whilst simultaneously with the folding, the areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) are retained by said inner counterpart (11, 111) by suction.

16. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front side of the package has a slot (705) which is open at the edge on the upper side of the package, which slot is closed by the overlapping tab (L5) behind said front side, said front side being made as a U-like frame and the extension of the overlapping tab being such that it overlaps at the back at least partially or the whole surface of said front side of the package.

17. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inner counterpart (11, 111) is a means for transferring the folded shaped element thereon in an housing pocket (5).

18. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner counterpart (11) for initially folding the flat, shaped element (29) in the open state of the package shape is composed of a suction block with a lateral extension (111) that is a suction one constituting the counterpart for the top side with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package, whilst when the flat, shaped element (2) is folded the areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) thereof corresponding to the lower, front, rear sides, to the lateral flaps for gluing the lateral walls and to the lateral walls overlapping said gluing flaps, as well as to the top and the overlapping tab at the back of the front side are initially retained by suction on the counterpart block, which block (11, 111) is taken inside an housing pocket (5) including a suction bottom side, a fixed rear wall provided with rolling rolls (405) and front (305) and lateral (105) walls, as well as a wall (405) corresponding to the top upper side with an extension (605) corresponding to the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package, which walls are made as suction ones, are hinged to axis coinciding with corners and/or with the predetermined folding lines of corresponding areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of the flat, shaped element (2) and can be overturned between a closing position in which they have the position of complete folding of the corresponding side of the package and/or of the top and of the overlapping tab connected thereto and an open position in which the corresponding sides of the package are angularly displaced in a outwardly spreading position partial or complete with respect to said proper folding position, the retaining in position of the sides of the package being transferred from the counterpart block (11, 111) to said walls of the housing pocket (5) stopping the suction action of the block (11, 111) and activating the suction action by said walls of the housing pocket (5).

19. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the walls of the housing pocket (5) of the package that are made mobile with respect to the wall corresponding to the rear side and to the bottom one of the package, are the pocket walls corresponding to the lateral walls (105), the front side (305) and to the top upper wall (4059 and they are articulated to the corresponding peripheral edge of the bottom side, whilst the wall (505, 605) of the housing pocket (5) corresponding to the top upper side is articulated around an axis coinciding with the upper line hinging said top upper side to the rear side of the package and that is coinciding with the upper edge of the rear wall (405) of the housing pocket (5).

20. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overlapping tab (L5) is retained in position by a fixed and angled extension (605) of the wall (505) of the housing pocket (5) corresponding to the top upper side.

21. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides an housing pocket (5) for the shaped folded element against the counterpart block (11, 111) in its open position of definitive shape, which housing pocket (5) has retaining walls (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) of the areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A2) of the shaped element (2') folded in the proper position and geometrically fitting to said areas of the flat, shaped element, said walls of the housing pocket (59 being hinged at least partially one with respect to the other in order to make the same movements of relative angular displacement one with respect to the other as those of the corresponding areas of the flat shaped element for folding the package in its finished shape said walls being hinged one with respect to the other along axis coinciding with the predetermined folding lines of said areas of the flat shaped element.

22. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing pocket (5) is then transferred along a path between various stations (S1, S2, S3, S4) in which and/or in the passage therebetween the folding, filling and gluing steps are carried out.

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that a first station (S1) is provided for folding the flat shaped element against the counterpart block in the finished folding state of the package and in open state of the top upper side and in which station (S1) the block transfers inside the initially open housing pocket the package formed on the block itself, successively the formed package being retained by the housing pocket (5) that is closed taking its walls in contact against the corresponding sides of the formed package;
   a second subsequent station (S2) is provided for partially folding the lateral walls and the front one of the package in spreading or opening direction by means of the partial outwards oscillation of the corresponding suction walls of the housing pocket, in which station the products to be packed are fill inside the package spread as disclosed above,
   a subsequent gluing station is provided wherein the lateral walls of the package are further outwards overturned by means of the corresponding oscillation of the lateral suction walls of the housing pocket and wherein the flaps gluing said lateral walls of the package are retained against the products to be packed housed inside the package by means of mobile retaining flaps that can be displaced along planes tangent to the plane of said gluing flaps, whilst a glue layer is applied on the faced side of the lateral walls of the package outwards overturned;
   a subsequent station (S3) wherein the lateral walls of the package are again inwardly overturned against the gluing flaps of the lateral oscillating walls of the housing pocket, whilst simultaneously the mobile flaps retaining the gluing flaps are displaced in a position of non interference with said gluing flaps and with the lateral walls and whilst simultaneously the top side with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package are overturned in the closed position of the upper side of the package and in the overlapping position of the tab on the rear side of the top with the oscillation in the closing direction about an axis coinciding with the upper edge of the wall of the housing pocket corresponding to said top upper side of the package with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package itself;
   A last station (S4) for discharging the formed and closed package and for transferring it to a further treatment line.

24. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that the path of the housing pocket is circular, a wheel (6) for supporting said pocket being provided.

25. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that the wheel (6) advantageously has a number of housing pockets (5) distributed along the perimeter, the different station (S1, S2, S3, S4) being provided at predetermined angular distances such to correspond to a predetermined angular progress step or to a multiple thereof, whereby when a pocket is in one of the stations, the other pockets are provided in one of the other stations.

26. Device for making packages form a flat, shaped element of packing stuff, particularly having at least a cardboard or pasteboard material layer, which package is manufactured by folding partial areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of predetermined shape and size, along predetermined folding lines and coinciding with the corners of the finished package according to the method according one or more claims 1 to 26, characterized in that it has folding means (12, 13, 14, 17, 105, 305, 505, 605) that came in contact with the surfaces of the partial areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of predetermined shape and size intended to form the external faces of the package and they carry out only rolling movements along said surfaces or in that said folders are brought to adhere in a removable and fixed way as regards the position relative to said areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A1, A2) of the flat, shaped element (2) to be fold.

27. Device according to claim 26, characterized in that said folders has rolling rolls (12, 13, 14, 17) and/or suction means that can be alternatively connected to a vacuum source and to the room pressure.

28. Device according to claims 26 or 27, characterized in that the shaped element (2) has flaps (A1) upon which wall areas (A2) are overlapped form the outside and gluing means (30) that can be displaced in active position to apply one or more glue traces (31) on said wall areas (A2) by means of gluing, folders (15, 16) being provided for said gluing flaps (A1) that are of the sliding type along the wall of said flaps (A1).

29. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a station (S1) for folding the flat, shaped element (2) wherein means (4) are provided for feeding a sequence of flat, shaped elements (2) in position of alignment with an inner folding counterpart (11, 111) of shape and size corresponding to the inner space of the finished package and with a counterpart for a top placed such that a folding of the corresponding areas of the shaped element (2) is obtained forming the top upper side of the package in a complete open position thereof, folding/pusher means being provided having rolls (12, 13, 14, 17) for rolling the corresponding areas of the flat, shaped element (2) against said inner counterpart (11).

30. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 29, characterized in that the counterpart block is a suction one and that it can be alternately connected to a suction source and to the room pressure.

31. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 30, characterized in that in the station (S1) in a position of alignment with the counterpart block (11, 111) a pocket (5) is provided for housing the shaped element (2') folded on the counterpart block (11, 111), which pocket (5) has an inner space corresponding to the external sizes of the finished package and it is composed of suction walls (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605, 805, 905) for actively retaining the folded shaped element (2') which walls have shape and size corresponding to the front, rear, lower, top upper sides with the associated overlapping tab and of the lateral walls of the package and which walls retain said package walls until the package is completely closed in its filled state with the products (27) to be packed, whilst means for folding and/or retaining the gluing flaps (A1) during the step for applying glue on the lateral walls and means (905) for bending the overlapping tab (L5) are provided.

32. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 31, characterized in that the walls of the housing pocket (5) of the package that are made mobile with respect to the wall corresponding to the rear side and to the bottom side of the package, are the walls of the pocket corresponding to the lateral walls (105), to the front side (305) and to the top upper side (405) and they are articulated to the corresponding peripheral edge of the bottom side, whilst the wall (505, 605) of the housing pocket (5) corresponding to the top upper side is articulated about an axis coinciding with the upper line hinging said top upper side to the rear side of the package and that is coinciding with the upper edge of the rear wall (405) of the housing pocket.

33. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 32 characterized in that the overlapping tab (L5) in retained in position by an angled and fixed extension (605) of the wall (505) of the housing pocket (5) corresponding to the top upper side.

34. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 33, characterized in that it provides an housing pocket (5) of the shaped element folded against the counterpart block (11, 111) in its definitive shape in open state, which housing pocket (5) has walls (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) for retaining the areas (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, A2) of the shaped element (2') that are folded in the proper position and geometrically suitable to said areas of the flat, shaped element, said walls of the housing pocket (5) being hinged at least partially one with respect to the other such to make the same relative angular displacement movements one with respect to the other such those of the corresponding areas of the flat, shaped element for folding the package in the definitive shape said walls being hinged o with respect to the other along axis coinciding with the predetermined folding lines of said areas of the flat, shaped element.

35. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 34, characterized in that the housing pocket (5) is mounted on conveyer means extending along a path between various stations (S1, applied on the faced side of the lateral walls of the package outwards overturned;
   a subsequent station (S3) wherein the lateral walls of the package are again inwardly overturned against the gluing flaps of the lateral oscillating walls of the housing pocket, whilst simultaneously the mobile flaps retaining the gluing flaps are displaced in a position of non interference with said gluing flaps and with the lateral walls and whilst simultaneously the top side with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package are overturned in the closed position of the upper side of the package and in the overlapping position of the tab on the rear side of the top with the oscillation in the closing direction about an axis coinciding with the upper edge of the wall of the housing pocket corresponding to said top upper side of the package with the overlapping tab at the back of the front side of the package itself;
   A last station (S4) for discharging the formed and closed package and for transferring it to a further treatment line.

37. Device according to claim 36, characterized in that the path of the housing pocket is circular, a wheel (6) for supporting said pocket being provided.

38. Device according to claim 37, characterized in that the wheel (6) advantageously has a number of housing pockets (5) distributed along the perimeter, the different stations (S1, S2, S3, S4) being provided at predetermined angular distances such to correspond S2, S3, S4) wherein and/or in the passage between them the folding, filling and gluing steps are carried out.

36. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 35, characterized in that a first station (S1) is provided for folding the flat shaped element against the counterpart block in the finished folding state of the package and in open state of the top upper side and in which station (S1) the block transfers inside the initially open housing pocket the package formed on the block itself, successively the formed package being retained by the housing pocket (5) that is closed taking its walls in contact against the corresponding sides of the formed package;
   a second subsequent station (S2) is provided for partially folding the lateral walls and the front one of the package in spreading or opening direction by means of the partial outwards oscillation of the corresponding suction walls of the housing pocket, in which station the products to be packed are fill inside the package spread as disclosed above,
   a subsequent gluing station is provided wherein the lateral walls of the package are further outwards overturned by means of the corresponding oscillation of the lateral suction walls of the housing pocket and wherein the flaps gluing said lateral walls of the package are retained against the products to be packed housed inside the package by means of mobile retaining flaps that can be displaced along planes tangent to the plane of said gluing flaps, whilst a glue layer is to a predetermined angular advance step or to a multiple thereof, whereby when a pocket is in one of the stations, the other pockets are provided in one of the other stations.

39. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 27 to 38, characterized in that the package comprises an overlapping tab (5) at the back of the front side whose middle area of said front side free from the overlapping tab (L5) has an extension cooperating with a stationary and arched surface (905) on the inner face of the front wall (305) of the housing pocket (5) having a bending such that in the entrance area said arched folding surface extends substantially tangent or substantially parallel to the surface of the extension and/or of the overlapping tab (L5), whilst such bending progressively lightly gets narrower in the direction of an intermediate plane between the products (27) housed inside the package and the front side (L3) thereof, and said bending being compared to the protuberance of said extension from the front side of the overlapping tab (L5) to such extent that the overlapping tab (L5) is not in sliding contact with the surface intended to form the on sight surface during the complete folding path.

Drawing