Technical field

This invention relates to a device for forming boxes provided with an internal partition wall which will form a package containing, preferably, creamy products.

The invention also relates to a machine for forming packages provided with an internal partition wall as well as a method for forming boxes provided with an internal partition wall.

Background art

Packages are currently known on the market which are obtained starting from a blank made of paper material which is suitably folded to form a single carton or box having a compartment in which a wrapper (for example, made of aluminium) containing a product (such as, for example, a creamy food product such as cheese) is housed.

The current machines for forming these packages comprise:

- a magazine for blanks made of paper material, wherein the blanks have longitudinal and transversal lines of weakness to define the walls of the box;

- a device for forming cartons or boxes starting from the individual blanks fed by the magazine configured to obtain a fold, along the lines of weakness, to form individual boxes having a compartment defined by side walls, a bottom and a lid for closing the compartment, when the package is obtained;

- a line for feeding cradles for housing boxes formed towards

- a station for forming and depositing the open and empty wrapper in the compartment of the box;

- a station for dosing the creamy product in the wrapper; - a station for closing the wrapper, and

- a station for closing the box (that is to say, at least one folding of the lid onto the compartment).

Currently, the box forming device comprises:

- an area for positioning and partly supporting the blank arriving from the magazine positioned between

- a forming head movable in both directions along a rectilinear trajectory and configured to intercept a portion of the blank (forming at least the base of the box formed) and

- a forming die with a tubular cross-section which is able to receive the blank pushed by the forming head and configured to fold the remaining part of the blank to define at least the side walls around the base of the box so as to obtain the housing compartment.

This system allows quick and easy formation of the box to be sent to the subsequent packaging line.

However, the current market requirements also require the possibility of having two different portions of creamy product enclosed in a respective wrapper inside each carton.

In order to be able to satisfy these requirements, there are prior art machines for the forming of cartons provided with an internal partition wall as described in patent documents US 4 283 188 A and US 4 398 901 A.

However, the above-mentioned machine should be widely modified in its structural layout and with extremely high overall costs.

Aim of the invention

The aim of the invention is to provide a device for forming boxes to form a package provided with an internal partition wall which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the aim of the invention is to provide a device for forming boxes for forming a package provided with an internal partition wall in a flexible fashion and according to the various requirements for packaging the product contained, without substantially modifying the structure of the production line.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a machine for forming packages provided with an internal partition wall which is able to make different types of packages with two or more wrappers inside it, without modifying the layout of the machine.

Yet another aim of the invention is to propose a method for forming boxes provided with an internal partition wall.

Said aims are fully achieved by a device for forming boxes to form a package provided with an internal partition wall, by a machine for forming packages provided with an internal partition wall and by a method for forming boxes provided with an internal partition wall as characterised in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of a device for forming boxes which will contain separate wrappers, according to the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the device of Figure 1 ;

- Figures 3 to 7 are perspective views of the device of Figure 1 in different operating configurations;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view from above of a box formed with the device according to the preceding drawings;

- Figure 9 is a perspective view from above of the box of Figure 8 housing two closed packages containing a product;

- Figure 10 shows a schematic side view of a machine for forming a package provided with an internal partition wall using the device of Figures 1-7.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figures 1 to 7, the device according to the invention, labelled 100 in its entirety, is used for forming boxes 1 provided with an internal partition wall which will form a package containing at least two separate wrappers. These wrappers may contain any type of product, in particular food products, for example of the creamy type.

The device 100 comprises a positioning area 2 for temporarily supporting a blank 3 (Fig. 3) arriving from a magazine 4 (Figure 10).

The positioning area 2 is positioned between a forming head 5 and a forming die 6.

In the example illustrated, the forming head 5 and the forming die 6 are a pair in order to double the production. In the description below, for simplicity of description, reference will be made to only one of the components for each pair.

As illustrated, the forming head 5 movable in both directions along a rectilinear trajectory T and configured for intercepting, in an operating position, a portion of the blank 3.

As illustrated, the forming die 6 has a tubular cross-section and is configured to receive the blank 3 pushed by the forming head 5 and is configured to form an open box 1 having a base 1 b and side walls 1a around the base 1 b which define a housing compartment V.

Again as illustrated, the forming head 5 has an operating end for contact with the blank 3 provided with a through seat 7 extending transversely with respect to the rectilinear trajectory T of movement of the forming head 5.

As illustrated, the device 100 for forming boxes 1 also comprises a strap feeding member 8 configured to feed a strap 9, preferably in a flattened condition, preferably along a strap feeding direction D which is transversal with respect to the rectilinear trajectory T of movement of the forming head 5, in the through seat 7, which is configured to temporarily accommodate the strap 9.

The device 100 also comprises a strap retaining member 10 configured to retain the strap 9 in the through seat 7 while the forming head 5 moves towards the blank 3.

When the forming head 5 has entered the forming die 6, the strap 9 is released by the strap retaining member 10 in the housing compartment V of the box 1 just formed, in such a way that the forming head 5 can come out from the housing compartment V with the strap 9 remaining in the housing compartment V to form a partition wall which separates two adjacent compartments in the housing compartment V of the box 1 (see Figures 8 and 9).

In other words, the device 100 can split the compartment V of the box 1 directly through the operation for forming the box 1 without operations after the definition of the box, but during the movement of the forming head 5 carrying the strap 9.

Obviously, if several chambers are to be obtained inside the housing compartment V of the box 1 , it is possible to make suitable modifications to the device 100 so that the forming head 5 can house two or more straps 9 simultaneously, simply by making several through seats 7 parallel to each other.

It should be noted that the strap 9 is configured to protrude from the through seat 7 (preferably from both sides of the seat 7).

The device 100 comprises a folding member 11 configured to intercept at least one end flap 9a or 9b of the strap 9 which protrudes from the through seat 7, during the movement of the forming head 5 towards the box forming die 6, in such a way as to fold the at least one end flap 9a or 9b transversely to the feeding direction D of the strap 9, so as to obtain an L- shaped configuration of the strap 9 before it is inserted into the housing compartment V.

Preferably, the folding member 11 is configured to fold a pair of opposite end flaps 9a, 9b protruding from opposite sides of the through seat 7 in such a way as to form a strap 9 having a Z-shaped configuration.

Preferably, the strap 9 has, near its two ends, pre-folding lines which facilitate the above-mentioned folding.

It should be noted that the folding member(s) 11 is/are fixed in a position such as to intercept the end flap(s) 9a and 9b of the strap 9 during the movement of the forming head 5 towards the forming die 6.

The folding member 11 is shaped to allow the folding of the intercepted flaps 9a and 9b.

In light of this, the folding member 11 may comprise two folding heads 11 a, 11 b, located on opposite sides of the transit zone of the forming head 5, and shaped in such a way as to fold the corresponding flap 9a or 9b in opposite directions during their intercepting whilst the head 5 moves towards the forming die 6 (Figures 4-7).

The device 100 also comprises a member 12 for distributing glue on the blank 3 and configured to distribute the glue in zones where the strap 9 is in contact with the inner faces of the box 1 (see Figure 3).

The glue distribution member 12 is located above the blank 3, when located in the positioning area 2, and comprises, for example, two glue distribution nozzles 12a at corresponding zones of contact between the strap 9 and the inner faces of side walls 1 a of the box 1 .

The glue distribution member 12 may be mounted in a fixed or movable position.

Preferably, the forming head 5 is provided with at least one containing seat 13 configured and sized to contain the folded end flap 9a or 9b of the strap 9 before the blank 3 is pushed by the forming head 5 into the forming die 6.

In light of this, the forming head 5 is provided with two seats 13 for containing the flaps 9a and 9b.

The containment seats 13 are made directly on the forming head 5 in the form of recesses which allow the flaps 9a and 9b to be kept inside the dimensions of the compartment V to be formed in such a way as not to interfere with the formation of the box 1 .

It should be noted that the forming die 6 has walls 14 protruding towards the forming head 5 having inclined surfaces configured to cause the folding of the blank 3 to obtain the side walls 1 a of the box 1 whilst the forming head 5 enters the forming die 6.

The walls 14 also define a part of the area 2 for positioning the blank 3 arriving from the magazine 4.

Preferably, the strap retaining member 10 in the through seat 7 comprises suction means (illustrated as a block in Figure 3).

The suction means are activated by a suction source 10s when the strap 9 is positioned in the through seat 7 and they are deactivated when the forming head 5 has formed the compartment V of the box 1 , in such a way that the strap 9 can be positioned in the compartment V in the correct and stable manner.

As illustrated, the forming head 5 has a tubular shape with quadrangular cross-section with the operating end open towards the forming die 6.

In light of this, the through seat 7 is open on three sides of the operating end of the forming head 5.

The through seat 7 is formed by two side slots formed on the operating end of the forming head 5 and open at the open operating end.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the member 8 for feeding straps 9 comprises a belt 15 for conveying the straps 9 along a direction parallel to the rectilinear trajectory T of movement of the forming head 5.

The conveyor 15 is configured to carry each strap 9 to a zone close to the forming head 5.

The feeding member 8 also comprises a strap gripping device 16 for the movement of one individual strap 9 at a time positioned close to the forming head 5 and configured to pick up the strap 9 from the conveyor belt 15 and position it in the through seat 7 of the forming head 5 along the direction D transversal to the rectilinear trajectory T of movement of the forming head 5. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the conveyor belt 15 moves individual straps 9, spaced from each other, up to a release point (positioned advanced with respect to the position of the forming head 5) and provided with a contact surface for the strap 9.

The strap gripping device 16 comprises a gripper head 22 (also using suction means) capable of picking up the strap 9 at the release point and bringing it into stable contact with at least one conveyor belt 23 positioned coplanar with the extension of the through seat 7.

The belt 23 then moves the strap 9 towards the forming head 5 until it is housed in the through seat 7.

The invention also provides a machine 200 for forming packages provided with an internal partition wall (see Figure 10).

The machine (200) comprises:

- the blanks magazine 4 which contain the blanks 3, each having longitudinal and transversal lines of weakness to define at least a bottom 1 b and side walls 1 a of the box 1 to form at least one housing compartment V;

- a device 100 for forming boxes as described above;

- a line 17 for feeding the boxes 1 formed with the device 100 for forming boxes towards, in succession:

- a forming station 18 configured to deposit on opposite sides of the strap two wrappers 24, preferably made of soft material, open and empty in each chamber of the compartment of the box 1 separated from the strap 9;

- a dosing station 19 for dosing a product, preferably creamy food, in each wrapper 24;

- a first closing station 20 for closing each wrapper present, and

- a second closing station 21 for closing the box 1 .

As illustrated in Figure 10, each box 1 formed with the forming device 100 is housed in a suitable cradle 25 associated with a conveyor belt 26 which is closed in a loop and defining the feeding line 17.

The belt 26 carries each cradle 25 to the above-mentioned operating stations to perform the steps for completing the package.

It should be noted that the presence of the strap 9 in each box 1 is also functional to the final shape which will be given to the product fed into each wrapper 24, if the latter is made of soft material (see Figure 9).

In other words, a wrapper made of soft material is placed in each of the two compartments, formed in the box by means of the strap, which will take a shape matching the corresponding compartment.

The nozzles then fill the wrappers with the creamy product (for example, processed cheese dosed with a very thin flow of product).

During filling, thanks to the strap, the product can be distributed uniformly in the wrappers thanks to its controlled deformation between the two compartments and allow the correct filling of both wrappers.

This will then allow a fast and precise closing of the wrappers to be obtained with a reduction in the overall operating times.

The invention also provides a method for forming boxes 1 provided with an internal partition wall, comprising the following steps:

- feeding a blank 3 from the blanks magazine 4 to the positioning area 2;

- driving the forming head 5 along the rectilinear trajectory T towards the positioning area 2;

- pushing the blank 3, placed in the positioning area 5, by means of the forming head 5 in the forming die 6, in such a way as to form the open box 1 having the base 1 b and side walls 1 a around the base 1 b which define the housing compartment V,

- feeding the strap 9 along the strap feeding direction D into the through seat 7 of the forming head 5;

- retaining, by means of a strap retaining member 10, the strap 9 in the through seat 7, while the step of pushing the blank 3 is performed; then

- releasing the strap 9 within the housing compartment V of the box 1 forming the internal partition wall which separates two adjacent chambers; and finally

- pulling the forming head 5 out of the housing compartment V of the box 1.

The device for forming boxes thus obtained achieves the preset aims thanks to a simple and reliable structure with a high level of operating flexibility which allows the box forming device to form a package provided with an internal partition wall, to be quickly adapted to the production requirements of several types of boxes without having to modify the basic composition of the device.