The invention relates to a machine for manufacturing of angle elements of cardboards for packings having different shapes and sizes for apparatuses of various kind.

As it is known, the packings of cardboard are utilized for enclosing apparatuses of various kinds, for protecting the same after their manufacturing against the impacts which are determined during the displacements thereof from the manufacturing sites toward the storage sites and towards the final users of these apparatuses.

These packings are normally constituted by a cardboard box which is made with the desired shapes and dimensions, in order to be able to adapt itself around the respective apparatuses to be packed, and in the angles of these cardboard boxes there are arranged some angle elements for protecting the edges of each apparatus against the impacts which are determined during the transport of the same apparatus.

In particular, the angle elements are made by means of materials withstanding the impacts, which are normally constituted by polystyrene or other suitable plastic materials, withstanding the mechanical stresses, or also by adequately shaped cardboard for forming enough thicknesses to ensure a good resistance to the impacts.

However, in the practice it has been found that the angle elements constituted by polystyrene or other plastic materials require that these expensive materials be employed and that particular workings be effected for obtaining an effective resistance to the impacts and other mechanical stresses of the angle areas of the packings and moreover they require that the angle elements be inserted manually or automatically into these angle areas of the packings, and these circumstances contribute to make burdensome the final cost of each packing. In turn, the angle elements of cardboard often require to perform different workings for folding the cardboard and making it thicker and more withstanding the mechanical stresses and besides they require also here that the angle elements be inserted manually or automatically in to the angle areas of each packing, and in spite that these particular workings be performed in the angle elements of cardboard, satisfying mechanical resistances to the impacts and the other mechanical stresses that each packing must withstand aren’t often obtained, so that even in these cases these operations often render more burdensome and less competitive the final cost of the packing.

The object of the present invention is to utilize some angle elements to be applied in the angle areas of the packings, for enclosing apparatuses of various kinds, which be not made of polystyrene or other plastic materials, but they be made exclusively of cardboard, and such angle elements be obtained with thicknesses and dimensions sufficient to ensure effective resistances against the impacts and other mechanical stresses, without increasing the final cost of the packings, in a manner that the same be competitive on to the market.

For obtaining these objects, the present invention foresees that a machine for manufacturing of angle elements of cardboard for packings of different shapes and dimensions for apparatuses of various kind be employed, which machine is made with such structural characteristics that to be able to load in a part thereof a plurality of original cardboards, prepared by the firms manufacturing them, which original cardboards be introduced selectively into another part of the machine, on which some cutting mechanisms are installed, which are such to cut each one of the original cardboards in an automatic and continuous manner, for obtaining a plurality of angle elements for packings having the desired shapes and sizes, and having the required structural robustness for withstanding the impacts and the mechanical stresses of the packings on their angle areas and the so obtained angle elements are then picked up from this part of the machine and made available for being introduced in to the angle areas of the relative packings of cardboard.

This machine for manufacturing angle elements of cardboard is made with the characteristics which will be described hereinafter, by way of a not-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

- Fig. 1 shows a front and schematic perspective view of a set of angle elements of cardboard obtained with the present machine, which must be inserted in the angle areas of a cardboard box, not shown, for protecting the correspondent edges of an underlying apparatus to be transported with the so obtained packing ;

- Fig. 2 shows a front and schematic perspective view, angled in a manner different than that of Fig. 1, of the angle elements of cardboard and the apparatus to be protected shown in the Fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 3 shows a perspective front view of the complete machine according to the invention, with all its main component parts ;

- Fig. 4 shows a front view of the complete machine of the Fig. 3 ;

- Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the complete machine of the Fig. 3 ;

- Fig. 6 shows a side view of the initial part of the machine of the Fig. 3 ;

- Fig. 7 shows a side view of the terminal part of the machine of the Fig. 3 ;

- Fig. 8 shows a front schematic view of the initial part of the machine of the Fig. 3, on to which a set of original cardboards to be engraved and cut in the subsequent part of machine is loaded, for obtaining a plurality of angle elements of cardboard identical to each other, such initial part being displaced in the rest position thereof, in which the cardboards aren’t introduced in the subsequent machine part ;

- Fig. 9 shows a front schematic view of the initial part of the machine of the Fig. 3, displaced in the working position thereof, in which the cardboards loaded in to this part are introduced selectively in the subsequent machine part, in which the cardboards are arranged for being introduced in the cutting and engraving part of the cardboards of the machine ;

- Fig. 10 shows a front schematic view of the engraving part of the cardboards of the present machine, with the schematic relative engraving mechanisms for folding the cardboards, and a set of cardboards in the engraving step thereof ;

- Fig. 11 shows a side schematic view of the engraving mechanisms of the cardboards of the present machine and a set of cardboards in the engraving step thereof ;

Fig. 12 shows a front schematic view of both the engraving mechanisms and the cutting mechanisms of the present machine, and a set of cardboards submitted to the engraving and cutting operations ;

- Fig. 13 shows a schematic plan view of the mechanisms of the Fig. 12, and a set of cardboards submitted to the engraving and cutting operations ;

- Fig. 14 shows a schematic side view of the cardboard engraving mechanisms, displaced in the working position thereof, and with a set of cardboards in the cutting step thereof, for being subsequently folded ;

- Fig. 15 shows a schematic side view of the cardboard engraving mechanisms, during the halving step thereof ;

- Fig. 16 shows a perspective front view of the machine part in which there are mounted the engraving mechanisms and the cutting mechanisms of the cardboards, with a cardboard introduced in to this machine part for being cut and manually folded ;

- Fig. 17 shows a front view of the machine part of the Fig. 16 ;

- Fig. 18 shows a plan view of the machine part of the Fig. 17 ;

- Fig. 19 shows a cutaway view along the line A-A of the Fig. 17 :

- Fig. 20 shows a cutaway view along the line P-P of the Fig. 17 ;

- Fig. 21 shows a view of a portion of the back side part of the Fig. 16 ;

- Fig. 22 shows a side view of the terminal part of the machine of the Fig. 16, without the upper shielding part shown in the Fig. 7 ;

- Fig. 23 shows a perspective side view of the cutting mechanism for the cardboards of the present machine ; - Fig. 24 shows a side view of the cutting mechanism of the fig. 23 ;

- Fig. 25 shows a front view of the cutting mechanism of the Fig. 24 ;

- Fig. 26 shows a perspective side view of the engraving mechanism of the cardboards ;

- Fig. 27 shows a front view of the engraving mechanism of the cardboards of the Fig. 26 ;

- Fig. 28 shows a plan view of the engraving mechanism of the cardboards of the Fig. 27 ;

- Fig. 29 shows a front view cutaway along the line H-H of the Fig. 27 of the engraving mechanism of the cardboards ;

- Fig. 30 shows a perspective side view of an engraving mechanism of the cardboards different than the previous one ;

- Fig. 31 shows a side view of the lower engraving mechanism of the cardboards of the Fig. 30 ;

- Fig. 32 shows a plan view of the lower engraving mechanism of the cardboards of the Fig. 31 ;

- Fig. 33 shows a side view cutaway along the line N-N of the Fig. 31 of the lower engraving mechanism of the cardboards ;

- Fig. 34 shows a front view of the different component parts of the engraving mechanism of the cardboards, during the halving steep ;

- Fig. 35 shows a side view of the same component parts of the Fig. 34, during the cutting step ;

- Fig. 36 shows a perspective front view of the transversal cutting mechanism mounted in the present machine ;

- Fig. 37 shows a front view of the cutting mechanism of the Fig. 36 ;

- Fig. 38 shows a plan view of the cutting mechanism of the Fig. 37 ;

- Fig. 39 shows a side view of the cutting mechanism of the Fig. 37 ;

- Fig. 40 shows a perspective front view of one of the engraving mechanisms which are mounted in the present machine ;

- Fig. 41 shows a front view of the engraving mechanism of the Fig. 40 ;

- Fig. 42 shows a plan view of the engraving mechanism of the Fig. 41 ; - Fig. 43 shows a side view of the engraving mechanism of the Fig. 41 ;

- Fig. 44 shows a perspective front view of another engraving mechanism of the cardboards ;

- Fig. 45 shows a front view of the engraving mechanism of the Fig. 44 ;

- Fig. 46 shows a plan view of the engraving mechanism of the Fig. 45 ;

- Fig. 47 shows s back view of the engraving mechanism of the Fig. 45 ;

- Fig. 48 shows a plan view of a rectilinear cardboard to be folded which has been engraved by the machine, for obtaining an angle element for packings ;

- Fig. 49 shows a side view of the cardboard of the Fig. 48, with the folding areas which have been engraved by the present machine ;

- Fig. 50 shows a front view of an angle element ready for being used, obtained by folding the cardboard of the Fig. 48 in the folding areas of the Fig. 49 ;

- Fig. 51 shows a schematic front view of the machine according to the invention, displaced in the first operative step thereof, in which the cardboard to be folded and cut has been loaded in the machine initial part;

- Fig. 52 shows a schematic front view of the machine according to the invention, displaced in the second operative step thereof, in which the cardboard to be folded and cut is ready for being loaded in the machine, and introduced in to the engraving and cutting part of the same machine, while the already introduced cardboard into this machine part is at first engraved in the folding areas and then cut at the desired extent ;

- Fig. 53 shows an enlarged view of the engraving and cutting mechanisms of the cardboard acting on to the cardboard already introduced in the machine part of the Fig. 52 ;

- Fig. 54 shows a side view of the terminal part of the machine according to the invention, displaced in the operative step in which the cardboard is cut is cut at the required extent in the transversal direction thereof ;

- Fig. 55 shows the operative step of folding the cardboard of the present machine, in which the Fig. 55 a is a front view of the rectilinear cardboard to be folded, with the engraved folding areas, and the Fig. 55 b is a plan view of the cardboard of the Fig. 55 a after its folding, constituting an angle element ready for the use.

The present invention relates to a machine for manufacturing of angle elements of cardboard for packings of cardboard having different shapes and sizes for enclosing apparatuses of various kinds, which cardboards shall withstand to the mechanical stresses an impacts which are determined during the transport of the apparatuses from the manufacturing sites toward the storage sites and towards the final users of the same apparatuses.

With the present machine, the angle elements of cardboard of the packings are obtained with the thicknesses and dimensions sufficient to ensure effective resistances against the impacts and other mechanical stresses without increasing the final cost of the packings, in a manner that the same be competitive on to the market. By referring now to the Figs. 1 and 2, it is illustrated schematically an apparatus 5 of any type which must be enclosed and protected by a relative packing (not indicated), in the angle areas of which there are inserted the angle elements of cardboard 6 which are manufactured automatically with the present machine. In the example referred to, the apparatus 5 is of metallic material or other solid material and shaped of parallelepiped form, anf has four angle areas 7 ad the same quantity of angle elements of cardboard 6, which are introduced into the cardboard box (not indicated) enclosing the apparatus 5 and covers such angle areas.

In the Fig. 3 it is shown schematically the present machine 8 for manufacturing automatically some angle elements 6, which is constituted by an initial part 9 shaped with a lower and lengthened metallic support structure 10 with horizontal extent, which rests at its lower side on to the floor of the room into which the present machine is installed.. The scope of this initial part of machine 9 is to permit to load a set of original cardboards (not indicated) of traditional type thereon, which cardboards must be engraved in the longitudinal direction and cut in the transversal direction at the desired measure in the subsequent part of the machine, for obtaining a plurality of cardboards forming the angle elements 6, such initial part of the machine 9 being displaced in the rest position thereof, which will be described accurately subsequently, in which the cardboards aren’t introduced in the subsequent part of the machine.

The present machine 8 is also constituted by another part of machine arranged aligned with and placed close frontwards the initial part of machine 9, and this part of machine is formed by a first part 11 for loading the cardboards coming from the the initial part of machine 9, and by a second part 12 for engraving and cutting as well as discharging the cut cardboards, which second part is arranged downstream the first part and joined therewith, wherein the first machine part 11 is shaped with a lower metallic support structure 13 with horizontal extent, which rests at its lower side on to the floor of the room in which the machine is installed, and the second machine part 12 is also shaped with a lower metallic support structure 14 with horizontal extent, which rests at its lower side on to the floor of the room in which the machine is installed. The first machine part 11 is provided with two lateral protection glasses 15 and 16, enclosed by a relative metallic frame 17 and 18 and arranged parallel and spaced away to each other along the longitudinal edges of this first machine part, for the entire length of this firs part and supported, together with their metallic frame, by the underlying metallic support structure 13, in a way to allow to see from the outside the cardboards loaded on to the same part and their displacement towards the subsequent machine part 12, which is effected as it will be described hereinafter. In turn, the second machine part 12 is provided with a set of protection glasses supported by the underlying metallic support structure 14 and articulated in the same structure, in a manner to be able to displace themselves into different positions, such glasses being formed by two lateral protection glasses 19 and 20 and two upper protection glasses 21 and 22, identical to each other and enclosed by relative metallic frames 23, 24, 25 and 26, articulated with the metallic support structure 14. Each one of the lateral protection glasses is also articulated with its frame to the frame of a correspondent upper glass, in a way that each pair of glasses articulated to each other be displaceable from a raised position to a lowered position thereof, wherein in the raised position the pairs of glasses allow the access to the interior of the operative cab delimited by these glasses of the second part of machine 12, when the machine does not operate, and wherein in the lowered position, when the machine is operating, the lateral glasses 19 and 20 arrange themselves parallel and spaced away from each other against the relative sides of the machine, thereby preventing the lateral access in the interior of the operative cab, while the upper glasses 21 and 22 arrange themselves aligned to each other in the upper side of the same operative cab, by preventing even here the access from the upper side in the interior of said operative cab. In the Fig. 3 it is noted that the pair of protection lateral and upper, right side, glasses, is raised, whereas the the pair of protection lateral and upper, left side, glasses is lowered.

Finally, the second part of machine 12 is further on provided with another transversal glass 27 situated in the terminal area of the machine and enclosed by a correspondent metallic frame (not indicated), articulated to the underlying metallic support structure 14 of the machine, by preventing here too the access from the back side of the machine inwards said operative cab.

Turning now to the Figs. 4 and 5 too, in which it is still shown with different views the machine of the Fig. 3 with the above described component parts, it is noted that the initial part of the machine 9 is constituted by both a lower rectilinear bed 28 forming a plane for supporting the cardboards, and a vertical rectilinear overturning element 29 articulated at its lower part with the bed 28 and oriented orthogonally to the same bed, wherein the bed 28 extends itself for a determinate length of the same metallic structure, and is constituted by a metallic structure forme by a set of rectilinear section bars (or by bars) 30 identical and parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the initial part of machine 9, which are secured to a a frame 31 having the free external end portion and the inner portion secured to a metallic transversal axle 32, the end portions of which are fixed articulated to the lower metallic structure 10 of said initial part of machine 9.

On to the so built bed 28 there may be stored from time to time various cardboards to be engraved and cut, not indicated in these two Figures, which are arranged parallel and put side by side in the transversal direction of the bed 28, for being subsequently loaded on to the first initial part of machine 11 as it will be described.

In turn, the overturning element 29 is formed, as visible particularly from the Fig. 3, by a metallic flat plate 33 enclosed by a metallic peripheral frame 34 provided with a free end portion fixed with both to the metallic frame 31 and the transversal axle 32. In this way, the assembly bed-overturning element may be rotated around the transversal axle 32, for being displaced, with the mechanism which will be described, from a horizontal position shown in the Fig. 4 to a position overturned frontally, visible from the Fig. 9, and vice versa. The mechanism for displacing the assembly bad- overturning element into these two positions in the described example is constituted by two pneumatic cylinders 35 and 36, identical to each other, which are arranged laterally the assembly bed-overturning element and fixed with a relative end portion thereof with a correspondent support 37 and 38 secured to the lower support structure 10 and with their other end portion with a correspondent support 39 and 40 fixed to the peripheral frame 34 of the overturning element 29. The pneumatic cylinders 35 and 36 are connected in the pneumatic circuit of the present machine and are controlled to be displaced automatically from the one to the other one of their two operative positions by acting on to some controls provided in the machine control board, which is situated in the position which will be described.

According to the invention, instead of the pneumatic cylinders there may be utilized other kind of devices for obtaining the same function, thus without departing from the protection field of the same invention. In the Fig. 4 there are also shown schematically the positions in which there are mounted in the machine the engraving mechanisms of the cardboards and the cutting mechanisms of the cardboards which are both included in the machine operative cab, where the engraving mechanisms are situated at the inlet of the second part 12 and are constituted by a set of upper engraving mechanisms 41, fixed to and supported by two sets of supports 42 and by a set of lower engraving mechanisms 43, fixed to and supported by two sets of supports 44, and such engraving mechanisms are made as it will be described later on and are provided for engraving each cardboard, respectively on to its upper surface and on to its lower surface, for its entire length in to established positions, for allowing then to fold the same cardboard along the relative longitudinal engravings. In turn, the cutting mechanism of the cardboards, after that the engravings on to the surfaces of the same have been effected, is marked with the reference numeral 45 and is made as it will be then described and is situated in the back outlet area of the machine.

The cardboards cut at the required measure are then let to go out automatically from the machine as it will be described and store themselves on to the upper flat surface of a metallic support 46 fixed to the external terminal part of the machine, where they are finally picked up for being folded for forming the angle elements. In the machine outlet areas moreover it is mounted an electric board 47, put side by side to the support 46, in which all the controls of the different electrical and pneumatic components of the machine, with the relative control push-buttons of these controls, are arranged, for ensuring the operation and the stop of the machine.

In the Fig. 6 it is shown a side view of the initial part of the machine 9, in which there are visible the lower support structure 10, the lower bed 28, supporting a set of cardboards 48, , the pneumatic cylinders 35 and 36, the first part of the machine 11 and the lateral glass 20 and upper glass 22, displaced in the raised position thereof. In turn, in the Fig. 7 it is shown a side view of the machine terminal part, in which there are visible the lower support structure 14, the second part of the machine 12, the lateral glass 20 and upper glass 22 displaced in the raised position thereof, the mechanism for cutting the cardboards 45 and other component parts mounted into the operative cab of the machine, the support 46 in which there are articulated some closing doors 49 and 50, and the electric board 47. Reference is now made to the Figs. 4, 5, 16, 17 and 18, for showing some component parts mounted in the first part 11 and the second part 12 of the machine.

In the first part of machine 11 it is arranged a horizontal support plane 51 supported laterally by the lower support structure 13 and situated between the lateral protection glasses 15 and 16 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5), which extends itself from the front end portion up to near the back end portion of this first part of machine 11, and has a width slightly smaller than that between the protection glasses 15 and 16, said support plane 51 being arranged at such a height as to be able to receive the cardboards loaded on to the bed 28, when the assembly bed-overturning element is displaced in its overturned position. In turn, as visible from the Figs. 3, 4, 16-18, in the second part of machine 12 there are installed at the upper side a first upper conveyor band 52 and a second lower conveyor band 53 with horizontal extent, which are extended in the longitudinal direction from the initial part of the second part of machine 12 along the machine, and in particular the upper band 52 up to near the upper engraving mechanisms 41 and the lower conveyor band 53 up to near the lower engraving mechanisms 43, such conveyor bands 52 and 53 being arranged parallel to each other and extended for almost the entire width of the machine, in a way to be fixed to the free end portions of two metallic upper horizontal crosspieces 54 and 55, secured to the upper portion of the support structure 14 of the machine, and supported at their free end portions by a relative horizontal shaft (not indicated) also fixed to said crosspieces.

Such conveyor bands 52 and 53 are slightly spaced away from each other in the vertical direction, of such an extent as to define a free space (not indicated) therefrom, for permitting the passage of the cardboards, and such free space being situated at the same level of the support plane 51, for receiving the cardboards loaded on to this latter. The distance between the two conveyor bands may be varied within determinate measures, with the mechanism which will be described soon, depending on the thickness of the cardboards loaded from time to time introduced into said free space. The conveyor bands 52 and 53 are driven contemporaneously in rotation in two opposite rotation directions by means of a relative electric motor 56 and 57 and a correspondent gearmotor 58 and 59 of per se known type, the first one of which is connected with the power shaft of the upper conveyor band 52 and the second one of which with the power shaft of the lower conveyor band 53. The electric motors 56 and 57 are fixed in the vertical direction. And in the overturned position from each other to the free end portion of the respective horizontal crosspiece 54 and 55, and are connected in the machine electric circuit, and operated by some push-buttons situated in the electric board 47, and the actuation in rotation of the motors 56 and 57 is controlled by electric sensors (not indicated) connected in the machine electric circuit when they detect the presence of the cardboards, and the sliding of the conveyor bands is effected in such a manner as to provide for the entrainment and the displacement of the cardboards by the bands in the advancing direction A, for displacing so the cardboards toward the engraving mechanisms 41 and 43.

In the second part of machine 12 moreover there are installed at the upper side a third upper conveyor band 60 and a fourth lower conveyor band 61 with horizontal extent, which are extended in the machine longitudinal direction, and in particular the upper band 60 from the upper engraving mechanisms 41 up to near the cutting mechanism 45 and the lower band 61 from the lower engraving mechanisms 43 up to near the cutting mechanism 45, such conveyor bands 60 and 61 being arranged parallel to each other and extended for almost the entire width of the machine, and for the same width of the previous conveyor bands 52 and 53, and are fixed with an end portion thereof with the horizontal upper crosspieces 54 and 55, by means of a relative horizontal shaft (not indicated), and with the other end portion thereof with by means of a relative horizontal shaft (not indicated) with two additional horizontal crosspieces, of which the sole crosspiece 62 is visible, which crosspieces also fixed on the upper part of the machine support structure 14.

Such conveyor bands 60 and 61 are also slightly spaced away from each other in the vertical direction, of the same extent of the previous conveyor bands 52 and 53, thereby defining the free space for permitting the passage of the cardboards engraved on to their upper and lower surfaces, and such free space is situated at the same level of the previous free space.

In this case too, the distance between the two conveyor bands 60 and 61 may be changed within determinate extents, with the mechanism which will be described soon, depending on the thickness of the cardboards coming from time to time from the mechanisms 41 and 43. for folding them. The conveyor bands 60 and 61 are driven contemporaneously in rotation in to two opposite rotation directions by means of a relative electric motor 63 and 64 and a correspondent gearmotor 65 and 66 of per se known type, the first one of which connected with the power shaft of the upper band 60 and the other one of which connected with the power shaft of the lower band 61.

Also in this case, the electric motors 63 and 64 are fixed in the vertical direction, and on the overturned position to each other, with said additional horizontal crosspieces and are connected in the machine electric circuit, and operated by some push-buttons situated in the electric board 47, and the actuation in rotation of the motors 63 and 64 is controlled by electric sensors (not indicated) connected in the machine electric circuit, when they detect the presence of the cardboards coming from the engraving mechanisms 41 and 43, and the sliding of the conveyor bands occurs in such a way as to provide for the entrainment and displacement by the bands of the cardboards engraved in the same advancing direction A, so as to displace the engraved cardboards toward the cutting mechanism 45. By referring now to the Figs. 4, 16-21, shown therein are the mechanisms for changing the vertical distance between the first and the second conveyor bands 52 and 53 and the vertical distance between the third and the fourth conveyor bands 60 and 61, depending on the thickness of the cardboards which must pass between the same bands. In the first case, see the Figs. 19 and 21, the mechanism is supported by two vertical stanchions 67 and 68, identical and fixed laterally in the lower support structure 14 of the second part of machine 12, and is constituted by movement transmitting mechanical members operable manually and connected electrically with the first upper band 52, for raising or lowering it with respect to the correspondent lower band 53.

In the described example, the mechanical members comprise a first and a second vertical screw nuts 69 and 70, of which the first screw nut 69 is included into and secured at the upper part of a vertical metallic box 71 which is fixed to the free end portion of the stanchion 67 and is extended downwards in the lower part, where it engages a correspondent inner thread (not indicated) of a bush 72 fixed to an opposite side edge of the upper conveyor band 52, such first nut screw 69 being actuatable in rotation, in either one of the rotation directions, by a relative gear of per se known type

(not indicated) fixed to a horizontal projected shaft 73 which can be driven manually by a tool, (not indicated) which can be coupled temporarily with the same shaft. In this way, through the projected shaft 73 the nut screw may be driven in either one of the rotation directions, thereby determining a relative limited raising or lowering of the threaded bush 72 and therefore of the upper conveyor band 52 with respect to the lower conveyor band 53, with consequent change of the free space existing between the two bands, for the passage of the cardboards.

In turn, the second vertical screw nut 70 is also included into and fixed at the upper part to a vertical metallic box 74 fixed to the upper end portion of the other stanchion 68 and is extended downwards at the lower part, where it engages a correspondent inner thread(not indicated) of another bush 75, fixed to the other side edge of the upper conveyor band 52, such second screw nut 70 being actuatable in rotation, in either one of the rotation directions, by a relative gear of per se known types (not indicated) included into the vertical box 74 (see Fig. 19), and actuatable in rotation in either one of its rotation directions through an upper transversal shaft 76, coupled with mechanical couplings 77 and 78 with the projected shaft 73, in a manner that when this latter is driven manually in rotation also a contemporaneous rotation of the gear of the second screw nut 70 takes place, and a consequent limited raising or lowering of the threaded bush 75 and therefore also of the upper conveyor band 52 with respect of the lower conveyor band 53 takes place, with consequent contemporaneous change of the free space existing between the two bands, for the passage of the cardboards. The mechanism for changing the vertical distance between the third and the fourth conveyor bands 60 and 61, depending on the thickness of the cardboards which must pass the same bands, is supported by two additional vertical stanchions 79 and 80 identical and fixed laterally in the lower support structure 14 of the second part of machine 12. Such mechanism is also constituted by mechanical members for transmitting the movement, which are operated manually, connected with the third upper conveyor band 60, for raising or lowering it with respect to the correspondent lower band 61. In the described example, the mechanical members comprise a third and a fourth screw nut 81 and 82 (see also Fig. 20) of which the third screw nut 81 is included into and fixed at the upper part in a correspondent vertical mechanical box secured to the free end portion of the stanchion 79 and is extended downward at the lower part, where it engages a correspondent inner thread (not indicated) of a bush 84, fixed to an opposite side edge of the upper conveyor band 60, such third screw nut 81 being controlled in rotation in either one of the rotation directions by a relative gear of per se known type (not indicated) secured to a horizontal projected shaft 85 which may be actuated manually with a tool (not indicated) couplable temporarily with the same shaft. In this way, through the projected shaft 85 the screw nut may be driven in rotation in either one of the rotation directions, thereby determining a relative limited raising or lowering of the threaded bush 84 and therefore of the upper conveyor band 60 with respect to the lower conveyor band 61, with consequent change of the free space existing between the two bands, for the passage of the cardboards. In turn, the fourth vertical screw nut 82 is also included into and fixed at the upper part in a vertical metallic box 86, fixed to the upper end portion of the stanchion 80 and is extended downward at the lower part, where it engages a correspondent inner thread (not indicated) of another bush 87, fixed to the other side edge of the upper conveyor band60, such fourth screw nut being actuatable in rotation, in either one of the rotation directions, by a relative gear of per se known type (not indicated) included in the vertical box 86 (see Fig. 20), and actuatable in rotation in either one of its rotation directions through an upper transversal shaft 88, coupled by means of mechanical joints 89 and 90, with the projected shaft 85, in a manner that when this latter is actuated manually in rotation there is determined also a contemporaneous rotation of the gear of the fourth screw nut, and a consequent limited raising or lowering of the threaded bush 87 and therefore of the upper conveyor band 60 too with respect to the lower conveyor band 61, with consequent contemporary change of the free space existing between the two bands, for the passage of the cardboards. By referring now to the Figs. 8-15, there are shown schematically the system for loading the cardboards to be engraved and to be cut with the conveyor bands 52, 53, 60 and 61 and the upper engraving mechanisms 41 and the lower engraving mechanisms 43, as well as the cutting mechanism 45 of the cardboards, of which the upper engraving mechanisms 41 and the lower engraving mechanisms 43 as well as the cutting mechanism 45 will be described accurately hereinafter. In the Fig. 8 it is noted that the cardboards 48 have been loaded on to the bed 28 which is oriented in the horizontal rest position, in which the overturning element 29 is oriented in the vertical position. From this Figure, in addition it is noted that the upper engraving mechanism 41 is formed by a set of blade carrying units 91 put side by side to each other in the machine transversal direction, of which a single blade carrying unit only is visible, and each blade carrying unit supports a metallic blade (not indicated) which is pushed against the upper surface of each cardboard for engraving the same in a manner to forma a set of longitudinal notchings, which are spaced away to each other in the transversal direction of the cardboard, so as to make easier the folding of the same cardboard in a determinate direction along the longitudinal notchings.

These blade carrying units 91 are arranged after the rear extremity of the upper conveyor band 52. In turn, the lower engraving mechanism 43 is also formed by a set of blade carrying units 92 put side by side in the machine transversal direction, of which a blade carrying unit only is visible, and each unit blade carrying unit supports a metallic blade (not indicated) which is pushed against the lower surface of each cardboard for engraving the same, in a manner to form a series of longitudinal notchings which are spaced away to each other in the transversal direction of the cardboard, so as to fold the same cardboard in the other direction along the longitudinal notchings.

These blade carrying units 92 are arranged after the rear extremity of the lower conveyor band 53. In the Fig. 9 it is noted that the assembly bed-overturning elements is on the overturning step, so as to load the cardboards 48 on to the horizontal support plane 51 of the first part of machine 11. In the Fig 10 it is noted that each cardboard so loaded on to the support plane 51 is introduced into the free space delimited between the upper conveyor band 52 and the lower conveyor band 53, which entrain it in the advancement direction A towards the upper blade carrying units 91 and lower blade carrying unit 92, which are so providing for the longitudinal upper and lower notchings on the cardboard. Thereafter, the so engraved cardboard is entrained by the bands 52 and 53 in the free space delimited between the remaining upper conveyor band 60 and lower conveyor band 61, which therefore entrain it towards the cutting mechanism 45.

In the Fig. 11 there are shown schematically the upper blade-carrying units 91 put side by side to each other and positioned in a determinate position with respect to the underlying cardboard, and the lower blade-carrying units 92 put side by side to each other and positioned in another position with respect to the upper units 91, for providing for the lower notchings in another position with respect to the upper notchings. In the Fig. 12 it is noted that the cardboard is gone out from the free space delimited between the bands 60 and 61 and is arriving below the cutting mechanism 45, for being cut for its entire width. Such cutting mechanism 45 is formed by at least a blade carrying unit (93) supporting a metallic blade (not indicated), which is driven in a way to cut the cardboard in the transversal direction for the entire thickness thereof, at the required measure of length.

The blade carrying unit 93 will be described hereinafter in detail. In the Fig. 13 there are now described an example of notchings produced on the cardboard by the different blade carrying units of the engraving mechanisms and by the blade carrying unit 93 of the cutting mechanism 45.

From this Figure, there are visible a series of longitudinal notchings 94 parallel and spaced away from each other in the transversal direction, which are provided on to the upper surface of the cardboard, together with further analogous longitudinal notchings (not visible) provided on to the lower surface of the cardboard. The so engraved cardboard is cut by the blade of the blade carrying unit 93 with a transversal cut 95, and such cardboard is then picked up from the machine, and folded as it will be described, for forming the angle elements. In turn, in the subsequent part of the cardboard there are engraved further longitudinal notchings 96 parallel to each other and identical to the preceding notchings 94, which will be thereafter also cut at the same measure on their back side by the blade of the same blade carrying unit 93, so as to obtain the same result.

In the Figs. 14 and 15 it is shown the blade carrying unit 91 of the upper engraving mechanism 41, which is driven at first in a transversal direction and then in the other one, for engraving the longitudinal notchings Oon to the upper surface of the cardboard.

There are now described in detail the upper engraving mechanisms 41, with reference to the Figs. 26-30 and 34-47, and the lower engraving mechanisms 43, with reference to the Figs. 30-35.

In particular, all the blade-carrying units 91 of the upper engraving mechanisms 41 are mounted and supported as it will be described, on a horizontal upper metallic crosspiece 97, fixed in the transversal direction of the machine among the supporting unit (42), in turn fixed laterally to the machine and are joined at the lower part with the respective horizontal upper crosspieces 54 and 55. The upper crosspiece 97 is provided at both its front and rear vertical surfaces with hollowed guide members, which will be described later on, for permitting the transversal sliding of some blade carrying units along the front surface into different operative positions and of other blade-carrying units along the back surface into different operative positions, which do not coincide with the previous operative positions, for permitting the transversal sliding of these other blade-carrying units along the back surface into different operative positions.

In the described example, as visible from the Figures 26, 27 and 28, there are provided a first assembly of three blade-carrying units 91’ along the front surface of the crosspiece 97, which units are slidable into the different operative positions along some transversal guide members 98 provided overlapped parallel to each other on to said front surface. Moreover, a second assembly of three blade-carrying units 91” is provided, which are slidable along the transversal guide members 99 of said rear surface. Of course, the number of blade-carrying units may be also different than that described above, for engraving the cardboard at the upper part, thus without departing from the protection field of the present invention.

There is now described one of the blade-carrying units 91’, with particular reference to the Figs. 40- 43, which is substantially constituted by a thin metallic V-shaped section bar 100, formed by a short horizontal portion 101 and a short inclined portion 102, which is inclined downward with respect to the horizontal portion 101, wherein the horizontal portion of section bar 101 is joined by means of a screwing with a vertical plate 103, which is arranged orthogonally with respect to said horizontal portion 101, and in the back surface of which there are joined two shaped metallic blocks 104 and 105, in each one of which a respective hollowed guide member 106, 107 is provided, which guide members are shaped for sliding in to the correspondent transversal guide members 98, and wherein in the block 104 there are housed some conduits 108 and 109 for circulating the pressurized air, which are joined with the pneumatic circuit of the machine, and the function of which will be described later on.

In turn, in the inclined portion of section bar 102 there are fixed at an end portion a pneumatic cylinder 110, connected to the pneumatic circuit of the machine and provided for the function which will be described, and at the other end portion a lengthened shaped rod 111 supporting at its free end portion the cutting blade 112. The scope of the pneumatic cylinder 110, when is supplied with the pressurized air, is to actuate the shaped rod 111 from a retracted position in which the cutting blade 112 is raised and not into contact with respect to the cardboard to be engraved, when the cardboard isn’t arrived in correspondence of the blade carrying unit 91’, to an extracted position in which the cutting blade 112 is lowered and into contact with respect to the cardboard to be engraved, when the cardboard is arrived in correspondence of the blade-carrying unit 91”, and vice versa. The slidable piston 113 of the pneumatic cylinder 110 is joined at its free end portion by means of a nipple 114 with the correspondent free end portion of the shaped rod 111, which nipple is foreseen for regulating the distance between said piston and said shaped rod, with consequent regulation of the stroke of the same shaped rod, and therefore of the cutting blade 112 too, depending on the thickness of each cardboard and the depth of the notchings which must be effected on to the upper surface of the cardboard. Each one of the blade-carrying units 91’ of the machine is supplied with the pressurized air, having a determinate supply pressure of said pneumatic circuit

(not indicated) by means of a relative conduit, and in the example referred to (see Fig. 27) it is noted a set of conduits 115 which are identical to each other and supported by a side vertical support 116 secured to one of the support units 42, wherein each one of such conduits 115 is connected with both the conduits 108 and 109 of the shaped block 104 and the pneumatic cylinder 110 of each blade-carrying unit 91’. The shaped block 104 acts as a pneumatic brake of per se known type, and is provided with a sprung inner small piston 117 acting against the opposite transversal guide member 98 of the upper crosspiece 97, and actuatable with respect to the relative transversal guide member 98 from a raised position, in which it isn’t compressed against the same guide member, thereby permitting the sliding of the shaped block 104 along the correspondent guide member, and therefore its displacement along this latter into different positions, to a lowered position in which such small piston is compressed against said guide member, thereby providing for the braking of the blade-carrying unit 91’ in the reached position, and therefore preventing the sliding of the same unit along the correspondent guide member 98. For determining the displacement of said pneumatic brake in either one of its not braked position and braked position, a manually operable control lever is provided (not indicated), the displacement of which into a position does not provide for the passage of the pressurized air through the conduits 108 and 109 of said shaped block, so that said small piston isn’t compressed against said transversal guide member, and wherein the displacement of the lever into the other position thereof determines the passage of the pressurized air through said conduits, so that the small piston is compressed against said transversal guide member. Furthermore, each blade-carrying unit 91’ is associated with a pneumatic system shaped in such a manner that to supply selectively the pressurized air toward the conduits 108 and 109 of said block, and not toward the pneumatic cylinder, or toward said pneumatic cylinder only and not toward said conduits. To this scope, such pneumatic system may comprise for example a pneumatic selection valve (not indicated) connected at a hand with the pneumatic circuit of the building and at the other hand with the conduits 108 and 109 of said block and the pneumatic cylinder 110. This pneumatic system is controlled by the electric control circuit of the machine, in a manner to supply with pressurized air said conduits 108 and 109 only, with consequent capacity to brake or not brake as described above the block 104 of each blade-carrying unit 91’ with respect to the transversal guide member 98, or to supply solely said pneumatic cylinder 110, with consequent capacity by said pneumatic cylinder to displace said lengthened rod 111 from the retracted position to the extracted position and from the extracted position to the retracted position thereof.

According to the invention, it is also possible to control automatically in the different operative positions both the shaped block 104 and the pneumatic cylinder 110, by installing a specific electronic control system with relative software paired with the electric control circuit of the machine, thus without departing from the protection field of the present invention.

One of the blade-carrying units 91’ is now described, with particular reference to the Figs. 45-47, which is substantially constituted by a thin rectilinear metallic section bar 118 identical to the inclined portion 102 of the previous blade-carrying unit 91’, and comprising their same component parts 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114 performing the same functions thereof, and such rectilinear section bar 118 being also arranged inclined like the inclined portion of section bar 102. Also the pneumatic cylinder 110 is connected with a pneumatic system identical with and set in the same manner of the previous one and performing the same functions. In this case, such rectilinear section bar 118 is additionally shaped with a side projection 119, which id joined in a per se known manner with a correspondent thin metallic square 120, in the back surface of which a shaped block 105 is fixed, which is identical to the previous shaped block 105 and performs the same function thereof, namely to be displaceable with its hollowed guide member 107 along one of the correspondent transversal guide members 98 of the upper crosspiece 97 into different operative positions. Furthermore, the side projection 119 is joined in a per se known manner with an end portion of the metallic square

120, which is folded in a manner to be able to enter through the transversal openings (not indicated) existing between a transversal guide member 98 and the other one, and to become shaped with the other end portion with a vertical flat portion 121, which is parallel and spaced away with respect to the side projection 119 and in which a shaped block 104 is fixed, which is identical to the previous one and performs the same function thereof of pneumatic brake, which is turned toward the other shaped block 105, and this block in inserted with its hollowed guide member 106 into the rear transversal guide members 99 of the upper crosspiece 97, and is slidable along these latter into different operative positions. The conduits 108 and 109 too of such shaped block 104 are connected to said pneumatic system and are supplied in the same manner with pressurized air for performing the same function, and in particular the pneumatic system or the pneumatic systems of all the bladecarrying units 91’ and 91 ” are set for determining, under the control of the electric control circuit of the machine, the contemporaneous displacement of all the pneumatic brakes from a not braked position to a braked position and the contemporaneous displacement of all such pneumatic cylinders 110, and therefore also of the relative of the relative cutting blades 112 from an operative position to the other one. By referring now to the Figs. 30-33, it is shown one of the lower bade-carrying units 92 which is secured to and supported in the machine by a horizontal lower crosspiece 122, fixed to and supported by the two lower vertical support units 44, in turn fixed laterally to the machine and joined at the upper part with the respective horizontal upper crosspieces 54 and 55 and at the lower part with the respective horizontal lower crosspieces 123, of which a crosspiece only is shown, and in turn these latter are joined at the lower part with the two horizontal crosspieces 124, fixed to the lower support structure 14. The lower crosspiece 122 is provided at both its front and back vertical surfaces of hollowed transversal guide members, which will be described later on, for permitting the transversal sliding of some blade-carrying units along the front surface into different operative positions and of other blade carrying units along the back surface into different operative positions, not coinciding with the previous operative positions, for permitting the transversal sliding of these other blade-carrying units along the back surface into different operative positions. In the described example, as visible from the Figs. 31 and 32, there are provided a first assembly of three blade-carrying units 92’ along the front surface of the crosspiece 122, which units are slidable into the different operative positions along some transversal guide members 125 provided overlapped parallel to each other in to said front surface.

Furthermore, a second assembly of two blade-carrying units 92” is provided, which are slidable along the transversal guide members 126 of said back surface. Of course, the number of the bladecarrying units may be also different than that described, for engraving the cardboard at the lower part, thus without departing from the protection field of the present invention.

The one of the blade- carrying units 92’ is now described, which is substantially constituted by a thin V-shaped metallic section bar 127, formed by a short horizontal portion 1128 and a short inclined portion 129, which is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal portion 128, wherein the horizontal section bar portion 128 is joined for example by means of screwing with a vertical plate 130, arranged orthogonally with respect to said horizontal portion 128, and in the back surface of which there are fixed (see the Fig 33) some shaped metallic blocks 131, in each one of which a hollowed guide member (not indicated), which are shaped for sliding into the correspondent transversal guide members 125, and wherein behind the plate 130 another shaped metallic block 132 is fixed, in which some conduits 133 and 134 are housed for circulating the pressurized air, which are joined with the pneumatic system of the machine and the function of which will be described hereinafter. In turn, in the inclined section bar portion 129 there are fixed at the lower end portion a pneumatic cylinder 135 connected in the pneumatic circuit of the machine and provided for the function which will be described, and at the upper end portion a lengthened shaped rod 136 supporting at the upper part the cutting blade 112. The scope of the pneumatic cylinder 135, when is supplied with the pressurized air, is to actuate the shaped rod 136 from a retracted position in which the cutting blade 112 is lowered and not into contact with the lower surface of the cardboard to be engraved, when the cardboard isn’t arrived in correspondence of the blade-carrying unit 92’, to an extracted position in which the cutting blade 112 is raised and into contact with respect to the cardboard to be engraved, when the cardboard is arrived in correspondence with the blade-carrying unit 92’, and vice versa.

The piston (not indicated) of the pneumatic cylinder 135 is joined at its free end portion by a nipple 137 with the correspondent extremity of the shaped rod 136, which nipple is provided for regulating the distance between said piston and said shaped rod, with consequent regulation of the stroke of the same shaped rod, and therefore of the cutting blade 112 too, depending on the thickness of each cardboard and the depth of the notches which must be effected on to the lower surface of the cardboard. Each one of blade-carrying units 92’ of the machine is supplied with the pressurized air having a determinate supply pressure of said pneumatic circuit (not indicated) by a relative conduit, and in the described example referred to by a set of conduits 138 identical to each other and supported by a side vertical support 139 secured to one of the support units 44, wherein each one of such conduits 138 is connected to both the conduits 133 and 134 of the shaped block 132 and the pneumatic cylinder of each blade-carrying unit 92’. The shaped block 132 acts as a pneumatic brake of per se known type, and is provided with a sprung inner small piston (not indicated) acting against the opposite transversal guide member 125 of the upper crosspiece 122, and is actuatable with respect to the relative transversal guide member 125, from a raised position in which it isn’t compressed against the same guide member, thereby permitting the sliding of the shaped block 132 along the correspondent guide member, and therefore its displacement along this latter into different positions, to a lowered position in which said small piston is compressed against said guide member, thereby providing for the breakage of the blade-carrying unit 92’ in the reached position, and therefore preventing the sliding of the same unit along the correspondent transversal guide member 125. For determining the displacement of said pneumatic brake from the one to the other one of its not braked position and braked positions, even in this case a control lever operable manually (not indicated) is provided, the displacement of which is a position does not provide for the passage of the pressurized air through the conduits 133 and 134, so that said small piston isn’t compressed against said transversal guide member, and wherein the displacement of the lever in the other position provides for the passage of the pressurized air through said conduits, so that said small piston is compressed against said transversal guide member. Moreover, each blade-carrying unit 92’ is associated as previously to said pneumatic system shaped in a manner to supply selectively the pressurized air toward said conduits 133 and 134 and not toward said pneumatic cylinder, or solely toward said pneumatic cylinder and not toward said conduits, with the same components and the same above described manners and functions. Also in this case, as previously, it is possible to control automatically in the different operative positions both the shaped block 132 and the pneumatic cylinder 135 too, with the same above specified electronic control system.

There is now described the one of the blade-carrying unit 92”, which is substantially constituted by a thin V-shaped metallic section bar 140, formed by a short horizontal section 141 and a short inclined portion 142, which is inclined upward with respect to the preceding horizontal portion 141, wherein the horizontal portion 141 is joined for example by screwing with a vertical plate 143, arranged orthogonally with respect to said horizontal portion 141, and in the back surface of which there are also fixed one or two metallic shaped blocks (not indicated), provided with a relative hollowed guide member (not indicated), which guide members are shaped for sliding into the correspondent transversal guide members 125, and wherein the inclined section bar portion 142 is joined at the upper part with a metallic shaped square 144, shaped with an upper flat portion 145 which is fixed over the lower crosspiece 122 and such square is further folded at the back side downward, by defining a back portion (not indicated) in which an additional shaped metallic block (not indicated) is fixed, in which there are provided some hollowed guide members (not indicated), adaptable by sliding into correspondent transversal hollowed guide members (not indicated) provided in the back surface of said crosspiece 122, and two conduits (not indicated) for circulating the pressurized air, which are joined with the pneumatic circuit of the machine, and the function of which will be described later on. In turn, in the inclined section bar portion 142 at the lower end portion 142 it is fixed a pneumatic cylinder 135 connected with in the pneumatic circuit of the machine and provided for the function which will be described, and at the upper end portion it is fixed a lengthened shaped rod 136 supporting at the upper part the cutting blade 112.

Such pneumatic cylinder 135 has the same scope than that of the cutting unit 92’, for actuating so the cutting blade 112 in either one of its operative positions and for performing the same above described functions. Also in this case, the piston (not indicated) of the pneumatic cylinder 135 is joined at its free end portion by a nipple 137 with the correspondent end portion of the shaped rod 136 performing the same function of that described above. Furthermore, in this case too, each one of the blade-carrying units 92” is supplied with the pressurized air circulating through the same pneumatic circuit of the machine, and the conduits 138 of said rear block are also connected with said pneumatic system, together with the pneumatic cylinder 135 of each blade-carrying unit 92”, and such block too performs the function of pneumatic brake made and operating like the above described one, and such pneumatic brake may be also controlled by a control lever in the same manner as described, and also here it is possible to control automatically in the different operative positions all the component parts of this blade-carrying unit 92” with the same above described electronic control system. By referring now to the Figs. 22-25 and 34-39, it is described the mechanism for cutting the cardboards 45 of the present machine. As already described, such mechanism is situated in the rear outlet area of the machine and is secured to and supported by a metallic frame 146, formed by two vertical metallic stanchions 147 identical to each other and fixed at the lower part and laterally to the lower support structure 14 of the machine, which stanchions have a determinate height and are joined to each other at their upper end portions by an upper and horizontal metallic crosspiece 148. The side stanchions 147 of the frame 146 besides are joined to each other by a horizontal intermediate crosspiece 149 and by a horizontal lower crosspiece 150, spaced away from each other and constituting the support structure 14, wherein on to the intermediate crosspiece 149 the metallic support 46 is arranged and fixed, on to which there are It to slide the cardboards to be engraved 48, which must be cut at the measure established by the present cutting mechanism 45. Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 45 is substantially constituted by at least a transversal cutting unit 151 fixed on and supported by a vertical rectangular metallic plate 152, in turn supported by the upper crosspiece 148 in the inner surface of the crosspiece, which is housed in the operative cab of the machine, said vertical plate 152 being provided with rear guide members (not indicated) slidable in the alternate direction into correspondent transversal rectilinear guide members 153 of said upper crosspiece, which are extended for almost all the distance between the two vertical stanchions 147. In turn, the vertical plate 152 is fixed to an upper track 154 supported by an upper metallic sheet 155 fixed to the upper part 156 of said crosspiece.

The track is connected to and driven by per se known mechanical members, controlled by the electric control circuit of the machine, in a manner to be able to displace itself in an alternate manner on to such upper sheet from a first to a second position of end-of stroke, together with the vertical plate 152 and the cutting unit, so as to displace the same cutting unit for the entire width of the underlying cardboards to be cut. The cutting unit 151 is substantially constituted by a thin V- folded metallic section bar 157, formed by a short horizontal portion 158 and by a short inclined portion 159, which is inclined downward with respect to the horizontal portion 158, wherein the horizontal section bar portion 158 is joined with the vertical plate 152 and in the back surface of said horizontal portion a metallic shaped block 160 is joined, into which a shaped guide member 161 is provided, which is shaped for being able to slide in the alternate direction in the correspondent transversal guide members 153 of the upper crosspiece 148. In turn, in the inclined section bar portion 159 there are fixed at an end portion a pneumatic cylinder 162, connected in the pneumatic circuit of the machine and foreseen for the function which will be described, and at the other end portion a lengthened shaped rod 163 supporting at its free end portion the cutting blade 112. The purpose of the pneumatic cylinder, when is supplied with the pressurized air, is to actuate the shaped rod 163 from a retracted position in which the cutting blade 112 is raised and not into contact with the cardboard to be cut, when the cardboard here positioned must not be cut in the transversal direction, to an extracted position in which the cutting blade 112 is lowered and into contact with respect to the cardboard, when the cardboard here positioned must be cut in the transversal direction, and vice versa. The slidable piston 164 of the pneumatic cylinder of the pneumatic cylinder 162 is joined at its free end portion by a nipple 165 with the correspondent free end portion of the shaped rod 163, which nipple is provided for regulating the distance between said piston and said shaped rod, with consequent regulation of the stroke of the same shaped rod, and therefore also of the cutting blade 112, depending on the thickness of each cardboard to be cut for all its thickness. The pneumatic cylinder 162 is supplied with the pressurized air, having a determinate supply pressure, from said pneumatic system (not indicated) of the machine, which system is controlled by the electric control circuit of the machine, and is set in a manner to supply with the pressurized air the pneumatic cylinder 162 both for actuating the lengthened rod 163 and the cutting blade 112 in the retracted and raised position, when the cardboard slidable in the machine is displaced in the cutting position, and in the extracted and lowered position when the cardboard displaced in the same position must be cut by the same cutting blade.

Thereafter, at the end of the transversal cutting, the pneumatic cylinder 162 actuates again the cutting blade 112 in the extracted and raised position, so that the so cut cardboard is extracted from the machine and then is folded in correspondence of the engravings which have been effected, in a way to form the angle element, as it will be described with reference to the subsequent Figures 49 and 50. In the Fig. 22 it is shown the terminal part of the machine, already shown in the Fig. 7.

In the Fig. 34 there are shown schematically both the mechanisms for folding the cardboards not yet positioned in the relative operative positions, and the cutting mechanism 45, while in the Fig. 35 there are shown such folding mechanisms positioned in to some operative positions, always together with the cutting mechanism. In the Figs. 48 and 49 it is shown a cardboard engraved with five longitudinal engravings 94, alternated from the one to the other one of its main surfaces and cut along the side surfaces 95, so as to form six portions of cardboard 166, 167, 168, 169, 170 and 171. The angle element 172 is formed by folding the cardboard along the various engravings 94 in a way to overlap said portions of cardboard, so as to form a first portion of angle element 173 with the desired thickness and a second portion of angle element 174 with the desired thickness, which is folded orthogonally with respect to the first portion of angle element 173, the whole without cutting never to each other the various portions of cardboard, and then by sticking to each other such first and second portion of angle element, and the so formed structure has a high resistance to the impacts and the mechanical stresses, and replaces the angle elements made of plastics.

In the Figs. 51-55 there are shown synthetically the various operative steps of the machine for obtaining the engraved and folded cardboards for forming the angle elements.

In the Fig. 51 it is noted the bed 28 in the rest position thereof, on to which the cardboards to be engraved and folded have been loaded, which cardboards must be loaded on to the machine.

Such a Figure corresponds to the Fig. 8, in which the operation of these components is described.

In the Fig. 52 it is noted the bed 28 in the overturned position thereof, together with thre cardboards 48, in the step of loading of the cardboards on to the machine. Such a Figure corresponds to the Fig. 9, to which reference is made for understanding the operation of these component parts.

In the Fig. 53 it is noted an enlarged item of the engraving mechanisms of the cardboards.

In the Fig. 54 it is noted the machine in the step of transversal cutting of the cardboards, which step can be understood from what described with reference to the Figs. 23-25. Finally, in the Fig. 55 it is noted the manner in which the cardboard is folded for obtaining an angle element, the description of which is explained in the Figs. 48-50.