FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a plant and a method to produce a box-like element or suchlike.

In particular, the present method and the present plant concern the production of a box or box-like element consisting of a drawer provided with a gripping element, such as a strip-like element or other, and a shell in which the drawer can be housed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that different types of box-like elements or boxes exist, provided with a drawer to which it is desirable to apply at least one strip-like element to make a grip, a handle or other. The strip-like element can be, for example, a strip made of flexible material, for example a fabric, such as cotton or suchlike.

Another component of the box in question is a kind of shell that acts as a drawer holder. The shell is substantially formed by a parallelepiped having an open side in which the drawer is inserted.

A known type of component for making the drawer and the shell, which is mentioned here by way of a non-restrictive example, is the so-called wrapped box.

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

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

The plants for producing box-like elements can often be very complex, bulky and also require large spaces for maneuvering inside the space in which they are installed.

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

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a plant for producing a box-like element or suchlike which is able, in an automatic and precise manner, to produce a box-like element or several box-like elements in sequence, provided in particular with a drawer housed inside a corresponding shell.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a plant for producing a box-like element or suchlike which is simple to manufacture and has limited overall sizes.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a production method for a box-like element or suchlike, by means of which it is possible to produce in an automatic, precise and repeatable manner a box-like element or several box-like elements in sequence, provided in particular with a drawer housed inside a corresponding shell.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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

In accordance with the above purposes, a plant according to the invention for producing a box-like element or suchlike, provided with at least one drawer and at least one shell for containing the drawer, comprises: at least one first line for producing drawers provided with at least one punching machine configured to make at least one through hole in said drawers, and at least one work machine configured to apply at least one element for gripping the drawer in said through hole; a station for assembling the shells and the drawers in such a way as to form box-like elements provided with at least one shell in which at least one drawer is inserted.

The assembly station can be a manual or automated workstation in which the drawers and shells are assembled.

With the present plant, advantageously, it is possible to produce, in an automatic and precise way, a box-like element or several box-like elements in sequence provided in particular with a drawer housed inside a corresponding shell. The present plant, as well as being extremely precise and reliable, is easy to build and has limited overall sizes.

According to other aspects of the invention, the present plant can comprise at least one second line for producing shells.

The plant can also be provided with at least one wrapping machine configured to cover said shells with at least one layer of protective material.

The shells, therefore, can be produced by means of a dedicated production line, for example alongside the line for producing the drawers, or they could arrive ready-made at the assembly station, where they are associated with the drawers. Before the assembly station, it can be provided to wrap the shells by means of the wrapping machine.

The present plant can also comprise an elevated conveyor configured to transfer each of said drawers and/or shells toward said assembly station.

Said line for producing the drawers can comprise at least two production sub- lines, each provided with at least said punching machine and at least said work machine, wherein one of said sub-lines for producing drawers is located directly upstream of said assembly station, while between the other sub-line and said assembly station there is positioned the elevated conveyor, configured to pick up each drawer from said work machine and transfer it to said assembly station.

Therefore, the line for producing drawers can be single, therefore comprising at least one punching machine and at least one work machine, or it can be split into other sub-lines, for example two sub-lines for producing drawers, each provided with at least one punching machine and at least one work machine.

In some embodiments, the present plant can comprise a sorting device configured to sort the drawers toward one or the other of said production sub- lines; said sorting device can be moved in one sense or the other in a direction toward or away from a station at which the drawers arrive from said production line.

Said elevated conveyor can comprise at least one elevator configured to take the drawers to an elevated height, at least one conveyor belt located downstream of said elevator and at least one slide located downstream of said conveyor belt. The elevated transfer of the drawers from one point of the plant to another advantageously allows to make the plant compact and to free up space on the ground, thus also allowing simple and immediate access to the various machines of the plant.

Said conveyor belt can comprise at least one curve so as to allow the drawers to enter in a first direction and the drawers to exit in a second direction different from said first direction.

The slide with which the elevated conveyor is equipped can comprise a device for breaking the drawers.

Said braking device can comprise at least one flexible element positioned in the sliding direction of the drawers along the slide; said flexible element can comprise at a first end an elevated support to allow the drawers to pass under said flexible element and in contact with the lower surface of said flexible element, and a second end located downstream of said first end and in contact with the upper surface of the slide.

Said flexible element can be wrapped in a reel in correspondence with said support.

The invention also concerns a method to produce a box-like element or suchlike, provided with at least one drawer and at least one shell for containing the drawer; the method comprises: producing drawers by means of at least one first production line, punching the drawers in order to make at least one through hole in them and working said drawers in order to apply at least one element for gripping the drawer in said through hole; assembling the shells and the drawers in such a way as to form box-like elements provided with at least one shell in which at least one drawer is inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

- fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a plant for producing a box-like element according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a drawer;

- fig. 3 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a shell;

- fig. 4 is a schematic view of a box-like element comprising a shell and a drawer;

- fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of an elevator apparatus according to the present invention in another operating phase;

- fig. 6 is a three-dimensional view of part of the elevator apparatus of fig. 5 in another operating phase;

- fig. 7 is a lateral view of the elevator apparatus of the present plant;

- fig. 8 is a front view of the elevator apparatus of the previous figs, from 5 to 8.

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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

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

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

With reference to the attached drawings, see for example from fig. 1 to fig. 4, a plant 10 for producing a box-like element 11 or suchlike, provided with at least one drawer 12 and at least one shell 13 for containing the drawer 12, comprises: at least one first line LI for producing drawers 12 provided with at least one punching machine 14 configured to make at least one through hole 29 in said drawers 12 and at least one work machine 15 configured to apply at least one element 16 for gripping the drawer 12 in said through hole 29; a station 19 for assembling the shells 13 and the drawers 12, in such a way as to form box-like elements 11 provided with at least one shell 13 in which at least one drawer 12 is inserted.

The shells 13 could reach the plant already ready to be assembled to the drawers 12, or possibly to be wrapped with protective material.

The plant 10 can therefore comprise at least one wrapping machine 18 configured to cover the shells 13 with at least one layer of protective material.

The plant 10 could comprise at least one second line L2 for producing shells 13. The line L2, as shown by way of a non-limiting example, could be substantially alongside the line LI.

The lines LI and L2 generally comprise conveyor belts 17 and 28, or suchlike, to respectively move the drawers 12 and the shells 13 along the plant 10.

The punching machine 14 can be for example a punching machine as described in the Italian patent application no. 102020000020494 belonging to the Applicant of the present application. The punching machine 14 can therefore comprise at least one punching head provided with at least one punch and translatable in a direction toward or away from a substantially vertical side of the box-like element, and at least one counter-head to contrast the punching head, wherein the side of the box-like element is positioned, during use, between the punching head and the counter-head, wherein the counter-head is configured to be inserted inside the box-like element and rest against an internal surface of the side in such a way as to keep the box-like element in position on a work plane, and wherein the punching head is translated toward the counter-head in said direction in such a way as to perforate the side by means of the punch and make at least one through hole therein.

The work machine 15 can be for example a work machine as described in the Italian patent application n. 102018000002993 belonging to the Applicant of the present application. The work machine 15 can therefore comprise at least one work apparatus provided with: at least one unit for cutting at least one strip-like element positioned on a corresponding lying plane in a first substantially flat position; at least one loading unit provided with at least one thrust blade translatable in a first direction; at least one folding and insertion unit provided with a seating to house the strip-like element; the housing seating is substantially directed in an orthogonal direction with respect to the lying plane of the strip-like element in the first substantially flat configuration, in such a way that following the translation of the thrust blade in the first direction, the strip-like element is introduced inside said housing seating, assumes a substantially U-shaped outline and has at least one pair of flaps and at least one connection part; the folding and insertion unit is translatable in a second direction toward the box-like element in such a way as to at least partly insert the pair of flaps into a slit made in the box- like element; and at least one unit for attaching part of the flaps of the strip-like element inside the box-like element on which the slit is made, in such a way that at least the connection part comes out of the box-like element.

The wrapping machine 18 can be for example a wrapping machine as described in the Italian patent application n. 102020000022915 belonging to the Applicant of the present application. The wrapping machine 18 can therefore comprise: an apparatus for transferring the box-like element to be wrapped toward an apparatus for feeding protective material; a device for extracting at least one layer of protective material from the feeding apparatus, wherein the extraction device is located on the opposite side to the feeding apparatus with respect to a wrapping zone of the box-like element and wherein the box-like element is translated by means of the transfer apparatus in a given direction within the wrapping zone, in such a way as to be wrapped at least on at least three sides by the layer of protective material which is retained at one end by the extraction device and automatically picked up by the feeding apparatus; a device for cutting the layer of protective material driven when the at least three sides of the box-like element have been wrapped; folding means, configured to make a fold of at least a first flap of the layer of protective material and of at least a second flap of the layer of protective material on a fourth side of the box-like element; and a device for attaching the first and second flaps to the fourth side of the box-like element.

The plant 10 can comprise an elevated conveyor 20 configured to transport each of said drawers 12 and/or said shells 13 to the assembly station 19.

The line LI for producing the drawers 12 can comprise at least two production sub-lines Lla and Lib each provided with at least of said punching machine 14 and at least said work machine 15.

It is understood that, as previously mentioned, the production line LI could also be a single line for producing drawers 12, therefore without the sub-lines Lla and Lib.

One of said sub-lines for producing drawers, for example the sub-line Lla, is located directly upstream of the assembly station 19, while between the other sub-line Lib and said assembly station 19 there is positioned said elevated conveyor 20, configured to pick up each drawer 12 from the work machine 15 and transfer it to the assembly station 19.

The drawers 12 can reach a work plane 21 of said assembly station 19 by means of conveyor belts 22 and 23 located downstream of the sub-lines Lla and Lib. On the work plane 21, each drawer 12 can be inserted into a corresponding shell 13 coming from the line L2.

The station 19 can therefore be a normal manual workstation in which the shells 13 are assembled to the drawers 12, or an automated station where the shells 13 and drawers 12 are assembled automatically.

Upstream of the wrapping machine 18 there can be provided a covering machine 24 of any type whatsoever to produce a covered box-like element, in this case a shell 13.

The line LI for producing drawers 12 can also comprise, upstream of the sub- lines Lla and Lib, a covering machine 25 of any type whatsoever to produce a covered box-like element, in this case a drawer 12.

The plant 10 can also comprise a sorting device 26 configured to sort the drawers 12 toward one or the other of said production sub-lines Lla and Lib.

The sorting device 26 can be mobile in one sense or the other in a direction Al toward or away from a station 27 at which the drawers 12 arrive from said production line L1. The covering machine 25 can be installed in this station 27.

The sorting device 26 can be an anthropomorphic robot configured to move in said direction Al, for example by means of a slider sliding on a guide 51 located on the ground. The sorting device 26 can also rotate around a substantially vertical axis and will be equipped with arms or suchlike to pick up at least one drawer 12 from the station 27 and transfer it alternately to the punching machine 14 of the line L la or to the punching machine 14 of the line Lib.

The movement of the sorting device 26 along the guide 51 allows to free the access zone to the station 27 in order to carry out, for example, a format change or other.

The elevated conveyor 20 is advantageously provided to prevent cluttering the ground floor of the plant 10 and prevent the use of additional conveyor belts or other that would make access to the various parts of the plant 10 difficult.

Moreover, thanks to the elevated conveyor 20, the drawers 12 are taken with precision to the desired point, that is, in the proximity of the assembly station 19.

With reference in particular to figs, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the elevated conveyor 20 comprises an elevator 30 configured to lift each of the drawers 12 from a first height at which the drawer 12 arrives from the work machine 15, to at least a second height at which the beginning of an elevated conveyor belt 31 is located.

The elevator 30 can consist of a series of cups 33 with vertical movement which collect the drawer 12 from the previous work, that is, from the work machine 15. Each drawer 12 enters the elevator 30 in correspondence with a loading zone 52, see for example fig. 8, and can intercept a photocell or suchlike which determines an upward step of the elevator’s 30 catenary, that is, the mechanism that drives the cups 33. Then a drawer 12 positioned in a cup 33 of the elevator 30 is raised step by step until it substantially arrives in the situation of fig. 6, where the corresponding cup 33 has reached the top of the elevator 30.

The cups 33, see in particular fig. 8, are substantially divided into two columns 34 and 35: an ascending column 34 of cups 33 and a descending column 35 of cups 33. The cups 33 move from the ascending column 34 to the descending column 35 and vice versa rotating in the sense R. During the step of ascent in the column 34 the cups 33 will transport a drawer 12 upward to the elevated conveyor 20, after which they will return downward, empty, along the descending column 35.

The movement of the cups 33 is carried out by means of suitable drive means 36, for example a gearmotor or suchlike. The elevator 30 comprises, for example, a box-like structure 37 in which an inspection aperture 38 can be provided, which can be provided with a corresponding door, and a seating 39 to house an electrical panel.

An extractor 40 can be provided at the top of the elevator 30, for example a slider extractor, configured to carry out an extraction of the drawer 12 from the cup 33 and to translate it in a direction A4, see fig. 6, toward the conveyor belt 31. The extractor device 40 can provide a slide 32 having a suitable inclination toward said conveyor belt 31, in order to facilitate the transfer of the drawers 12. The extractor 40 will comprise corresponding means 41 for movement in one sense or in the other in the direction A4.

The conveyor belt 31 can comprise at least one curve 50, see in particular fig. 1 and fig. 5, so that each drawer 12 is placed on said conveyor belt 31 according to a first direction A2 and exits from said conveyor belt 31 according to a second direction A3, different from said first direction A2. For example, it can be provided that the directions A2 and A3 are substantially orthogonal. The curved conveyor belt 31 allows additional space-saving compared to a rectilinear conveyor belt. Naturally, the radius of curvature of the curve 50 of the conveyor belt 31 can be chosen as a function of the requirements of the plant. Furthermore, it would also be possible to provide more curves in order, for example, to create a sinuous conveyor belt or other.

The conveyor belt 31 can have a substantially horizontal development, that is, the entry and exit are substantially at the same height.

The conveyor belt 31 can be driven to move in said directions A2 and A3 by means of corresponding movement means 42.

Downstream of the conveyor belt 31 there is provided a slide 43 able to allow the drawers 12 to reach the assembly station 19, for example on the work plane 21.

Between the conveyor belt 31 and the slide 43 there can be provided a connection element 44 provided with a suitable inclination so as to prevent jolts to the drawers 12 that pass from the conveyor belt 31 to the slide 43.

The slide 43 can also comprise a device 45 for braking the drawers 12. This device 45 substantially has the function of slightly braking the drawers 12 during the descent along the slide 43.

The device 45 can comprise for example a flexible element 46, such as a flap or a strip of fabric, a plastic film or other, which at an entry end of the box-like element 12 is connected to said support 47 which is raised with respect to the slide 43, and then gradually lowers until it reaches an end 48 opposite to said support 47, in which the flexible element 46 is in contact with the upper surface of the slide 43.

The flexible element 46 is substantially positioned in the sliding direction of the drawers 12 along the slide 43, and the support 47 for lifting the first end of the flexible element 46 allows the drawers 12 to pass underneath said flexible element 46. The descent of the drawers 12 toward the assembly station 19, by passing underneath the flexible element 46 and in contact with the lower surface of the flexible element 46, is suitably slowed down. Since the drawers of one determinate batch may have a different weight than the drawers of another batch, it is possible to optimize the braking along the slide 43 by lengthening or shortening the part of the flexible element 46 in contact with the slide 43. This can be done for example by providing that the flexible element 46 is gathered in a reel 49 on said support 47.

The braking device 45, of simple and effective construction, is very advantageous in that the drawers 12 could have dents or defects at the end of the slide 43, mainly due to the delicate materials with which they are made, for example cardboard or suchlike. Such dents could compromise the level of quality required for the drawers 12. Thanks to the braking device 45, the drawers 12 arrive at the assembly station 19 perfectly intact and free of dents.

Substantially, therefore, in the present plant 10 the line L2 for producing shells 13, if provided, is able to form and cover a box-like element made of cardboard covered with paper having as entry the development of the cardboard shell and the development of the paper covering. At the exit of the line L2, the shell thus formed can be sent to the wrapping machine 18 which applies a cover, for example made of paper, as a protection, leaving at least the side where the drawer 12 enters free.

The line LI for producing drawers 12 is able to form and cover a box-like element made of cardboard covered with paper having as entry the development of the cardboard drawer and the development of the paper covering. At the exit of the line LI, the drawer 12 is covered except for a flap on the long side that is not covered since this will be the task of a subsequent work that is carried out in the work machine 15. If the two sub-lines Lla and Lib are provided, the drawer 12 at exit from the covering machine 25 is picked up by the sorting device 26 which sorts the drawers 12 alternately toward the two punching machines 14 of the two sub-lines Lla and Lib.

For example, each drawer 12 is picked up by the sorting device 26 at the point Pl and positioned alternately in the deposit points P2 or P3, which substantially represent the beginning of the sub-lines Lla and Lib. This splitting of the line LI into the sub-lines LI and Lib can be provided in order to achieve an increase in production, since the machines positioned downstream of the deposit points P2 or P3 are slower than the covering machine 25.

Each drawer 12 is introduced by means of the sorting device 26 into the punching machine 14 of the sub-line Lla. The punching machine 14 automatically produces the housing hole which will subsequently house the element for gripping the drawer 12. The next drawer 12 is sent to the punching machine 14 of the sub-line Lib which has the same purpose as the first. The drawers 12, after being perforated, enter the respective work machines 15 which have the purpose of forming, inserting and attaching the gripping element and refining the flap left raised by the covering.

The work machine 15 of the sub-line Lib has a physical location such that the exit of the finished product is far from the point where the subsequent work is performed. In order to prevent positioning a series of conveyor belts on the ground that would make access to the various machines difficult, the elevated conveyor 20 is used. In this way, as mentioned, the overall sizes on the ground are greatly limited and the drawers are transported quickly and precisely to the desired point.

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

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of plant and/or method to produce a box-like element, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

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