ES2864730B2 - MACHINE FOR FORMING NESTING CARDBOARD BOXES OF DIFFERENT SIZES BY GLUING AND FOLDING FLAT SHEETS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

NESTING CARDBOARD BOX FORMING MACHINE OF DIFFERENT SIZES

FOR GLUING AND BENDING FLAT SHEETS

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention presents a machine for forming cardboard boxes that can be nested one inside the other and of different sizes, from the gluing and folding of flat sheets.

Throughout this description, the material of the flat plates or sheets with which the boxes are obtained is corrugated cardboard, compact cardboard, and/or the like. These plates have a certain bending stiffness and, preferably, have weakened lines made to facilitate the bending of parts of the plate and thus form a box.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO SOLVE AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem to be solved is the effective increase in the production speed of a machine for forming nestable cardboard boxes (insertable) one inside the other and of different sizes, by gluing and folding flat sheets.

This effective increase in speed is here defined as the combination of the scenarios of maximizing the maximum productive speed, and minimizing the downtime associated with a simple and efficient handling and use of the machine, including this handling and use tasks. of regulation to the different sizes of plates and box, contributing all this to the effective increase of the productive speed.

In terms of environmental sustainability, nesting boxes made of cardboard have an advantageous reduced biodegradation time and/or a higher percentage of recyclable material compared to plastic or metallic materials.

Since the present invention concerns a machine for obtaining boxes specifically made of cardboard, it needs to be adapted to the specific mechanical characteristics of sheet cardboard, for example: resistance to compression, resistance to bending, buckling, and deformation. of the same, in others.

Document US2014374472A1 explains that the machines used to form aluminum boxes by molding cannot be used to form cardboard boxes by molding because cardboard is not as malleable and ductile as aluminum; if the cardboard is fed into an apparatus for molding aluminum boxes, the cardboard would tear and/or break, thus preventing the box from being obtained due to the specific configuration of the elements that make up such machine. In this sense, documents BE603605A and US2925758A can also be cited.

The machine for forming cardboard boxes by gluing and folding of document US4861325A, considered the closest document of the state of the art, comprises two cores 186 with inclined side walls for the formation of a two-compartment container with respective bottoms 12 joined by an intermediate fold. 14, from a flat iron. The boxes successively formed with both cores are received in a box nesting device (elements 113) associated with a cavity 38 where both cores are inserted, this box nesting device placing the side walls of some boxes in contact with those of others. , forming a stack of boxes that are nested inside each other.

The box nesting device and the inclined wall tap enable a reduction in time in each production cycle and between consecutive production cycles, thus enabling high-speed machine formation, since the box requires few bending operations, and the Box nesting device makes it possible to reinforce the bonding of these folded boxes while the machine simultaneously continues to form successive boxes. Document US5123888A can be cited in this same sense.

However, to take advantage of this advantageous possibility of high-speed machine formation thanks to this core and the box nesting device, the machine must also carry out a core movement, a plate feed and a glue application to a corresponding high effective rate of formation for an increase in this rate to be plausible.

In US4861325A, the glue applicator is movable between the retracted position of Figs. 1 to 3 and the glue application position of Figs. 4 and 5. This application of glue occurs with the plates stopped and supported on the loader, and by means of glue nozzles 42 of the ball valve type that open before the contact pressure of these against the plate, applying a point of glue every one, causing all this a dead time in the training cycle.

In addition, the machine of document US4861325A is driven by an electric motor 222 that drives a rotation shaft 170 where a cam 62 is mounted, this assembly providing, through three respective pluralities of articulated bars, the pivoting movement of two suction heads 90 which transfer the plate from a loader to a position between the two cores and the cavity, the vertical movement of the two cores 186, and the pivoting movement of the glue nozzles 42, causing this configuration and excessive number of elements moved by the electric motor 222 a severe limitation of the productive speed.

On the other hand, to increase the speed of formation, documents US3176978A, US4861325A, ES2081235A2, and ES2739389A1 disclose respective forming machines by folding and gluing boxes where the plate is fed by means of a vertically inclined plate loader, and a movable suction head to suck plates supported on the charger by one of their faces and position them horizontally in another position with that same face facing upwards.

In documents ES2081235A2 and ES2739389A1, the suction head transfers the plates from the loader to a plate conveyor that introduces them into a forming station. However, these forming machines do not disclose means for nesting boxes within one another.

Document ES2081235A2 indicates that the suction head replaces the already known feed by means of rollers to provide greater speed and efficiency to the machine.

On the other hand, box-forming machines for folding and gluing plates are known, in which they are fed by making the plate pass through individually by friction between a pair of opposing feed rollers which, thanks to their sandwich effect and speed relative to each other, they catch and move the plate by friction for its transport from a first conveyor associated with a horizontal loader towards a second horizontal conveyor dimensioned to transport several plates at the same time. This feeding implies a transport of the plate at a higher speed on a third horizontal conveyor towards the forming zone, in order to control this feeding movement with respect to the movement of the core.

These machines are also typically provided with glue applicator rollers causing a contact sandwich effect during the movement of the plate between these applicator rollers and the second conveyor.

These glue applicator rollers, and the configuration and excessive number of conveyors for feeding the plate, complicate the adaptation of the machine to the different sizes of plate, requiring more qualified users, all of which incurs excessive downtime. productivity of the machine, and also increasing the cost of manufacturing the machine, and the length and surface of its installation.

Furthermore, these applicator and conveyor rollers, and a plate pitch distance from a vertical wall of the horizontal loader located above the first conveyor to deliver a plate from a stack of plates, are all critical and prone to frequent productive downtime of the machine, reducing its effective speed, since they produce undesirable effects such as slippage between the plate and rollers and/or plate jams, more considering the environment of suspended cardboard particles and cardboard foreign bodies than the machine itself produces for its use.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

To solve the aforementioned drawbacks, in addition to others, the present invention presents a machine for forming cardboard boxes that can be nested one inside the other and of different sizes by gluing and folding flat sheets.

In a way known in the state of the art, the machine comprises:

- a plate loader configured to support these plates with their vertical faces or with an inclination with respect to the vertical, and which preferably includes two lateral plates with adjustable separation from each other, located one on each side of the plates that can be supported;

- a suction head with one or more suction elements, the suction head being movable between a first position, where it is configured to individually hold these plates supported by one of their faces on the magazine by suction, and a second position, in where it is configured to position the plate horizontally with that same clamping face facing upwards, and, preferably, the location of the one or more suction elements in the suction head being modifiable;

- a glue applicator configured to apply glue to parts of the plate, including glue injectors and flexible and pressurizable glue pipes connected between the glue injectors and a glue tank associated with pressure means, these pressure means being configured to subject said flexible and pressurizable glue lines to pressure;

- a box forming station, comprising a mold, a plurality of forming elements that delimit a mold cavity, and a core movable linearly in opposite directions of insertion and extraction with respect to the cavity, the core including four or more lateral faces inclined with respect to the movement of the core and converging towards a lower base of the core configured to press a base of the plate positioned between the core and the mold and insert it inside the cavity to fold side panels of the plate attached to the bottom of the latter and join with the previously applied glue some side panels with other side panels, either directly or indirectly through additional panels such as flaps attached to the side walls, thus forming a box with side walls that laterally delimit the bottom of the box.

The inclinations of the lateral faces and the lower base of the core give it an essentially inverted truncated pyramid shape. These inclinations of the lateral faces of the core and of the lateral walls of the boxes allow some boxes to be inserted inside others with their lateral walls in contact, allowing a high speed of formation.

Optionally, the edges of the lateral faces of the core may be chamfered forming additional chamfered side walls of the box, determining a male with eight or twelve lateral faces.

Likewise, the machine is associated with a device for nesting boxes, configured to form a stack of boxes that crosses an outlet mouth of the cavity in a nested arrangement of some boxes with the others, by means of the contact of the side walls of one box with those of others, which also reinforces the union by means of the previously applied glue, keeping the boxes in the shape provided by the male while the aforementioned glue dries.

This box nesting device may or may not form an integral part of the machine, and/or may or may not be supported on the chassis of the machine.

The box nesting device and the sloping wall tap enable a time reduction in each production cycle and between consecutive production cycles, thus enabling high-speed machine formation, since the machine does not require numerous bending and/or bending operations. or gluing, and the box nesting device makes it possible to reinforce the bonding of these formed boxes while the machine simultaneously continues to form successive boxes.

The present invention also proposes, in combination, in a way not known in itself by the existing state of the art, a series of characteristics for the aforementioned box-forming machine that are listed below.

Said machine comprises a plurality of box-forming lines configured to form boxes individually and integrated into the same chassis. These lines are arranged parallel to each other and with the same plate transport directions along a horizontal linear longitudinal direction X. Each one of these box forming lines comprises a loader, a suction head, a box forming station, and a box nesting device of the aforementioned.

Each of these forming lines also comprises two longitudinal and horizontal plate side guides with adjustable separation between them along a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The suction head is configured to position the plate in the second position between the two side guides.

In addition, each of these forming lines comprises a pusher movable in the longitudinal direction X to transport plates one by one by pushing them from the rear between the two lateral guides from the second to a third position. Respective extensions of the two lateral guides extend to both sides and above the cavity to support each of these plates when they are positioned between the core and the mold in the third position. Each lateral guide and its extension can be an integral part of the same piece or individual pieces.

Likewise, each of these forming lines comprises one or more of the aforementioned glue injectors arranged a vertical separation distance on the plate when it is pushed between the lateral guides, respective one or more flexible and pressurizable glue pipes connected to these one or more glue injectors, and at least one solenoid valve configured to open and close a glue passage between one or more glue injectors and one or more flexible and pressurizable glue pipes.

The one or more glue injectors and the respective ends of the flexible and pressurizable glue lines connected to the one or more glue injectors are fixedly positioned together in desired positions along a crossbar of a transverse adjustment device perpendicular to the Lateral guides according to the size of the sheet to deposit strings of glue parallel to the longitudinal direction X.

The machine further comprises a core device configured to move the cores, comprising a first electric motor coupled to a first rotational monitoring device.

Similarly, the pushers and suction heads are movable by one or more additional electric motors of the machine, and one of these one or more additional electric motors is coupled to a rotational encoder.

Also, the electric motors, first rotational monitoring device, rotational encoder, and solenoid valves are connected to a controller device that includes a programmable controller device.

Also, the glue applicator is configured to apply glue on desired positions of each plate in two directions, longitudinal and transversal, during the guided push of these by means of the pushers and lateral guides without interfering with this continuous longitudinal movement of each one of the plates between their respective second and third positions, by means of the transversal regulation device and by means of glue application values associated with the position of the pushers obtainable by means of the rotational encoder, respectively.

Preferably, the programmable controller device is configured to store glue application values in a memory thereof, and these stored glue application start and end values may be modifiable.

These glue application values can correspond in a linear proportion with the linear positional advance of the pusher from the direct or indirect reading of the movement of the movable axis of an electric motor obtained by the rotational encoder coupled to it. Examples of these values may correspond to a number of electrical impulses (or pulses), to an average of the angle rotated (for example, degrees), or to a measure of distance (for example, millimeters), or to a measure of speed ( for example, mm per second), among others.

In the present invention, an effective increase in the speed of this machine is proposed, maximizing the maximum productive speed, avoiding unnecessary times within the productive one and between successive productive cycles, and minimizing the downtime associated with a simple and effective handling and use. of the machine that include the tasks of regulation to the different sizes of plates and boxes. The machine obtained here has a reduced number of elements and intuitive handling, again resulting in an easy adaptation to the change in size of the plate to be formed, making it possible for operators who are not highly qualified to operate the machine, constituting the machine, therefore, an efficiently fast production unit, and at the same time simple, economical and compact.

The present invention proposes, in order to effectively increase the speed of the machine even in the face of a change in the size of the box to be formed, to provide the machine with a plurality of parallel box forming lines with loaders, suction heads, and conveyors. of plates that integrate the respective lateral plate guides and pushers, as well as a specific machine glue applicator, which allow each box forming station to be individually fed a high number of plates per time interval with the glue already applied on the same, to take advantage of the short box formation time provided by the male with inclined lateral faces and the box nesting device.

The inclinations of the lateral faces of each male assembly and box nesting device jointly allow to increase the maximum speed of formation of the machine, since the necessary time of the male in the inserted position for the formation of the box is minimum, and that the nesting device allows the previously applied glue to join some lateral walls with others to dry in the stack of boxes formed by this device for nesting boxes while the male simultaneously forms boxes of later cycles.

The specific support configuration of the plates in the charger with respect to the vertical allows the distance traveled by the suction heads between the first and second positions to be shortened, increasing the speed of feeding the plates.

Preferably, in the machine, the magazines are configured to support plates with their faces inclined to the vertical between 10 and 30 degrees, and more preferably between 15 and 25 degrees.

The specific suction heads of this invention are especially useful to increase the maximum productive speed because the suction heads and the plates attached to them are above the lateral plate guides in all the movement positions of the suction heads, avoiding the introduction of unnecessary downtime due to interference between the movements of the suction and pusher heads, thus making these movements independent.

In each box forming line of the machine, the incorporation of the two plate and pusher guides between the loader and the forming station, provide a transition zone between them, substantially improving the production speed of boxes because it enables the core to be moved in the insertion direction inside the mold cavity even if the suction head is positioned with a subsequent plate between the lateral plate guides, eliminating unnecessary downtime between consecutive forming cycles, also contributing to making the movements of the suction head independent and male, which results in an improvement in the speed of box formation.

With the machine of the present invention, the injection of glue on any position of the plate, in both longitudinal and transverse directions, is advantageously configured to be carried out during the pushing of the plates by means of the pushers in a guided manner with the lateral guides without interfering with continued longitudinal movement of each of the plates between the respective second and third positions. This non-interference of the glue application on the continuous movement of the pusher and plate between the second and third positions is thanks to the vertical separation of the glue injectors of the machine on the lateral guides and to the capacity of the injectors of glue to apply the glue under pressure on the plate by means of pressure, which is also especially advantageous for forming boxes at high speeds.

The lateral guides, glue injectors and the ends of the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes can be positioned transversely in a very intuitive and simple way, shortening the downtime associated with frequent plate size changes. The longitudinal regulation of glue application is also very simple and intuitive by means of a value associated with the position of the pusher, obtainable by means of the rotational encoder coupled to an additional electric motor configured to move the pusher. This additional electric motor is different from and independent of a first electric motor that is part of a core device, which is configured to move the cores.

The rotational encoder and the specific glue application technology provide accuracy, precision and simplicity for the deposition of the glues on the plate in the event of possible changes in transport speed and/or plate averages.

Advantageously, preferably, the glue application values associated with the position of the pushers obtainable by means of the rotational encoder can be independent of the longitudinal thrust speed of the pushers, which simplifies the machine and its handling in the event of possible speed changes. of transport and/or the iron stockings.

In the machine of the present invention, each line of the plurality of box-forming lines is capable of forming by itself a box of the same and/or different formats and/or measurements than those of the other box-forming lines, at the will of the user of the machine. Thus, all the loaders are on one side of the machine to supply the plates to all the lines from this side, and all the forming stations have the outlet mouths of the box cavity formed on the opposite side of the machine, reducing thus, the productive downtime of the machine and increasing the effective speed of the machine, even in the face of frequent changes in size to which the machine may be subjected.

In the machine, the repetition of the box formation lines (repetition of elements in themselves known in the state of the art) contributes to solving the increase of the maximum productive speed of the same, maintaining at the same time the simplicity and simplicity of is. It is very predictable that the speed increases proportionally with the number of formation lines; however, it is especially advantageous that, additionally, the causes associated with downtime are the same for a two-line machine as for a machine with three, four or more lines, since the subsets machine mechanics (loaders, suction heads, pushers, side guides, forming stations, box nesting devices) are repeated, thus providing a machine with simplified manageability (manageable even by non-highly qualified operators), with simplified controllability and automation, and low-cost and compact, compared to state-of-the-art solutions where, in order to achieve high forming speeds, the manageability and controllability of the machine is complex, increasing production downtime, manufacturing costs and surface area. occupied by it.

Differentially, to move in a controlled manner the specific mechanical subassemblies of the machine (plurality of suction heads, pushers and males), now devoid of positional dependencies and unnecessary dead times, the present invention intentionally selects the nature and motor distribution of these, distinguishing This drive solution is materialized in several electric motors and rotational monitoring devices coupled to them, so that the maximum productive speed of the machine increases, while maintaining a simple and effective automation of the machine, including a simple adaptation of the same to different box sizes that minimizes downtime during production, resulting in an effective increase in the speed of machine formation.

In the present invention, the movement of the cores is controlled by the core device including the first electric motor and the first rotational monitoring device coupled to it, and this movement is independent of the controlled movement of the pushers and suction heads provided. by one or more additional electric motors and the rotational encoder coupled to one of these, to eliminate unnecessary dead time between the cores and suction heads and pushers in each case forming line.

Thus, advantageously, in the machine of the present invention, the cores can be moved or stopped at will with respect to the movement of the pushers and/or suction heads, or vice versa, eliminating unnecessary dead time between them, and at the same time adapting the machine for the formation of a wide variety of boxes at a high speed of formation, all this in a simple and efficient way.

This drive solution of monitored electric motors provides greater pressure and accuracy in the movements of these mechanical subassemblies of the machine, enabling high speeds compared to a fluid-dynamic drive solution (either hydraulic or pneumatic, for example, based on pneumatic cylinders), and also in the face of a mixed motor solution, based on a disadvantageous combination of electric motors and pneumatic cylinders, where the pneumatic cylinders determine a severe speed limitation.

The machine of the present invention, equipped with several electric motors, is very advantageous in terms of maximum production speed compared to state-of-the-art box-forming machines where cores, suction heads of a suction mechanism, and other movable elements of the machine are all moved or stopped at the same time by means of an electric motor as the only driving point, as occurs in document US4861325A). Disadvantageously, these machines with a single electric motor have an undesired excessive inertia, since this motor must move a large number of elements of considerable size and weight, limiting their maximum production speed to between 2,500 or 3,500 boxes per hour.

Very significantly, in some results obtained experimentally for a manufactured prototype of the machine of the linearly insertable male type in a mold of the present invention, the maximum productive speed of the machine of the present invention has been close to 6,000 boxes per hour in each male and mold assembly, compared to between 2,500 and 3,500 boxes per hour for each male and mold assembly of the linearly insertable male-type machines in a state-of-the-art mold.

Thus, the machine of the present invention practically doubles the maximum speed of box formation, at the same time obtaining a machine that is easy and intuitive to use even when changing the size of the box to be formed, minimizing the downtime associated with these operations, compact and of reduced costs, resulting in a substantial effective increase in the speed of formation of the machine.

Thus, the machine of the present invention can produce boxes at a speed of 6,000 boxes per hour for each forming line. The present invention expressly covers a greater number of box forming lines, and preferably this is two, three or four, being able to reach maximum production speeds of 12,000, 18,000 or 24,000 boxes per hour, respectively.

By "electric motor", it will be understood in this specification any rotary electric motor, that is, an electric motor provided with a rotationally movable shaft, and which can be embodied in a conventional rotary electric motor, in a servomotor (driveable servo motor), or a combination of these options, among other variants.

By "rotational monitoring device", it will be understood in this specification any monitored reading device, in particular associated with the rotationally movable shaft of an electric motor, which provides a response indicative of the rotary movement imparted by said motor, by means of an electrical signal that can be read by some type of controller device in a motion control device. This rotational monitoring device comprises a detector of the rotational movement of the movable shaft of the electric motor, for example, an inductive or photoelectric detector, or a rotational encoder (encoder) that monitors said movement, which can optionally form an integral part of a servomotor. , or a combination of these options, among others.

The term "rotational encoder" includes the cases of position translators, such as rotational encoders in general, whether incremental or absolute, that is, those equipped with a disk with slots in its rotor and an optical detection element in its stator capable of detecting opaque and translucent bands of the disk determining the angle rotated by its rotor; and for example "resolvers" (resolvers), ie devices with an electromagnetic sensor based on a transformer, one of the windings of the rotary transformer; and also including the case of speed translators, for example, those devices based on the frequency detection of a pulse generator, among other options.

The controller device may comprise one or more programmable controller devices. Thus, the control elements of the present invention, which include the electric motors, rotational monitoring devices, and glue injectors can be connected to a single programmable control device of the controller device, or they can be connected in a distributed manner in several devices. programmable control devices of the controller device, in which case, preferably, one of them (master) governs the rest (slaves).

Herein it will be understood that rotational monitoring devices are configured to directly or indirectly monitor rotational motion imparted by a movable shaft of the electric motor to which they are directly or indirectly coupled.

In direct monitoring, the rotational monitoring device is configured to monitor rotational motion imparted by a movable shaft of the electric motor to which it is coupled.

In indirect monitoring, the rotational monitoring device is configured to monitor the rotary motion imparted by an additional drive shaft driven by the electric motor drive shaft, thus monitoring the rotary motion imparted by the drive shaft of the electric motor to which it is indirectly coupled. . This additional shaft can form part of a reduction gear or alternatively it can be materialized in a pinion or toothed wheel.

In the present invention, the term "controller device" includes the terms "microcontroller", "controller", "programmable logic controller", "control system", "control unit", "programmable logic controller", "processor", "microprocessor". ”, “computer” and “computer”, among others.

The term "connected" includes directly or indirectly connecting two elements by means of cables or by means of a wireless connection, which can be, for example, communication buses, or multi-wire or single-wire cables, fiber optic cables or ethernet, for example, "etherCAT® ”.

Herein, each glue injector comprises one or more glue nozzles.

In a preferred option, the pushers and suction heads are all movable by the same additional electric motor corresponding to a second electric motor, and the plug device comprising the first electric motor, second electric motor, and rotational encoder are configured together to move the cores in a controlled manner independently of the controlled and synchronized movement of the pushers and suction heads.

In an alternative option, the pushers are movable in a controlled manner and independently of the suction heads by means of separate additional electric motors, corresponding to a second electric motor and a third electric motor, respectively, this third electric motor preferably being coupled to a third monitoring device optional rotational.

This alternative option expressly covers the possibilities that the pushers can be moved by a common second electric motor, or by individual second electric motors, one to move each pusher and coupled to a respective rotational encoder.

Furthermore, this alternative option expressly covers the possibilities that the suction heads can be moved by a common third electric motor, or by individual third electric motors, one to move each suction head and preferably coupled to a respective rotational monitoring device.

Preferably, the second electric motor is a single electric motor configured to move the pushers of all the forming lines in a controlled and synchronized manner.

Preferably, the third electric motor is a single electric motor configured to move the suction heads of all the forming lines in a controlled and synchronized manner.

In any of the embodiments described above, the cores may be driven by a common first electric motor, or by individual first electric motors, one to drive each core and coupled to respective first rotational monitoring devices.

Preferably, the cores of all the box forming lines are movable in a controlled and synchronized manner by means of a single electric motor corresponding to the first electric motor.

Up to this point, the present invention provides different solutions, selecting a specific number of electric motors in the box forming machine: one or more electric motors (first electric motor) to move the cores, and one or more additional electric motors to move pushers and/or suction heads (second rotary motor and/or third rotary motor).

This is especially advantageous to achieve a maximum high production speed, simplifying the manageability of the machine, including adjustment tasks to changing plate sizes, thus reducing downtime associated with this operation, as well as reducing manufacturing costs and complexity. and automation (programming) of the same.

This advantage lies in the fact that, in the machine, the start of the insertion movement of the cores, the movement of the suction heads, and the position and movement of the pushers, and the opening and closing of the passage between injectors and glue pipes by means of the solenoid valves, they form a series of controllable elements whose actuation can be determined in a controlled manner in each box formation line from a single reference value corresponding to the reading value of the rotational encoder sent to the controller device.

Especially advantageous is the particular preferred case where a single rotational encoder is configured to controllably move all the controllable elements of the plurality of case forming lines, and thus the entire machine.

With this specific configuration of the movable and controllable elements of the machine based on the values obtained by the rotational encoder, potential unnecessary downtime is eliminated within each production cycle, increasing the speed of the machine.

Thus, preferably, in each of the boxing lines of the machine, based on respective pusher positions configured to be determined by the rotational encoder and received in the controller device:

- the plug device is configured to start the plug insertion movement that causes simultaneous movements of the pusher and plug insertion; and - the at least one solenoid valve is configured to open and close the glue passage between one or more glue injectors and respective flexible and pressurizable glue pipes.

Preferably, the plug device is configured to start the movement of the plugs in the insertion direction when the position of the pusher obtainable by means of the rotational encoder coupled to the second electric motor is a position other than the third position to provide simultaneous movements of plug introduction and longitudinal of pusher.

Thus, also preferably, the suction heads are further configured to start their movement from the first to the second position based on a position of the pushers determined by the rotational encoder.

Optionally, in the machine, a plurality of box-forming members, preferably materialized in folders or pressers, arranged around the cavity of at least one mold and delimiting the cavity are movable by means of at least one actuator connected to the controller device, independently of the movements that are capable of providing the aforementioned electric motors.

Here the movement of the forming members becomes independent from the rest of the movements of the machine, which is very advantageous for relatively high forming speeds, and particularly beneficial in combination with the independence of the controlled movement of the cores from the controlled movement of the heads. suction and pushers for feeding the plate to respective forming stations.

Preferably, in the machine, the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes and the glue injectors are associated with respective heating resistances and respective temperature sensors for their controlled heating. In addition, the glue tank integrates tank heating means to heat and melt glue and a temperature sensor to control the heating means.

Also in this preferred option, the machine further comprises a plurality of flexible electrical hoses, each one connected between the controller device and the resistors and sensors associated with the flexible and pressurizable glue lines and glue injectors.

Continuing in this preferred option, the controller device is configured to receive information from the heating and pressure means, from the heating resistors, and from the temperature sensors.

Thus, it increases the drying speed of the glue in the box nesting device compared to other state-of-the-art solutions where adhesives or cold glue are used, providing a compact machine with intuitive handling, advantageously reducing downtime. productive and increasing its effective speed, since with this solution it is possible to use only this type of gluing technology, not necessarily combined with other additional gluing technologies such as cold glue or gluing, thus enabling its use by non-highly qualified users in different gluing technology at a time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made of the object of the invention and to help a better understanding of the characteristics that distinguish it, this description is accompanied, as an integral part of it, by a set of plans, in which that for illustrative and non-limiting purposes the following has been represented:

Fig. 1 is a front top perspective view of a first embodiment of the box forming machine of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is another top front perspective view of the machine in Fig. 1, where some elements have been omitted for a better view of the interior of the machine;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are respective top perspective views of boxes with inclined side walls obtainable with the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is the plate from which the box of Fig. 4 is obtained;

Fig. 7 is a top rear perspective view of the machine of Fig. 2, where a detail IV is indicated;

Fig. 8 is detail view IV of Fig. 7, cut away from above and in which the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes have been omitted;

Fig. 9 is a rear top perspective view of the machine of Fig. 7 with two box forming lines and where the cores and charger of each of these have been omitted;

Fig. 9a is detail view IV of Fig. 7 and in which the flexible and pressurizable glue lines have been omitted;

Fig. 9b is a schematic representation of the glue applicator with glue injectors and flexible and pressurizable conduits connected to the controller device, the transversal adjustment device, and the adjustable separation side guides of the machine in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9c is a schematic representation of one end of a flexible, pressurizable and heatable glue line connected to a glue injector with a glue nozzle;

Figs. 10 and 11 are views of the two suction heads and of the pushers of the machine, according to a top rear view and a bottom front view, respectively;

Fig. 12 is a front top perspective view of the plug device of Fig. 9 and where a plug is schematically represented in each vertical member;

Fig. 13 is a top side perspective view of the plug device of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side view of the machine of Fig. 9, where two of its four glue injectors have also been shown; Y

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are respective electrical diagrams of the first, second and third embodiments of the machine, where the controller device and the elements connected to it are represented, and where for greater clarity only two of the four have been represented. glue injectors, one for each box forming line.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS/EXAMPLES

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 1, 2, 7 to 9 and 14 show a machine (100) for forming cardboard boxes (B) nestable one inside the other and of different sizes by gluing and folding flat plates (P), such as the plate (P) from Fig 6.

The sheet (P) of Fig. 6 is made of corrugated or compact cardboard, and has an essentially rectangular base (F), with preferably chamfered corners, additionally delimited by four mutually parallel base lines (LF) two by two, which separate the base (F) from four side panels (PL).

These side panels (PL) have in their side extensions four side flaps (SL) arranged to join some side panels (PL) of the plate (P) once folded with others and thus form four side walls (WL) of the box ( B) of Fig.4.

Side Panels (PL) have on these side extensions one or more optional Chamfer Panels (PH) which will form optional Chamfer Sidewalls (WL) in the boxes (B) formed of Figs. 4 and 5. These chamfer panels (PH) are, in turn, adjacent to a respective side flap (SL). The box of Fig. 3 has four sidewalls (WL) and does not have these chamfer sidewalls (WL).

The machine (100) of this first embodiment is configured to deposit the beads of glue (CC) shown on the plate (P) of Fig. 6, to join, on each of the two opposite sides of the plate (P) , two respective side flaps (SL) derived from respective ends of side panels (PL) with another respective side panel (PL) and thus form two smaller and opposite side walls (WL) of the box (B). The other two larger side walls (WL) of the box (B) of Fig. 4 include larger side panels (PL) of the plate (P) of Fig. 6.

The plates (P) associated with Figs. 3 to 6, have weakened lines (LF, LL) to facilitate the folding of parts of the plate (P), and thus form a box (B), joining some parts of the plates (P) with others, by means of cords continuous or discontinuous tail fins (CC), shown in stitched tracing in Fig. 3 and hidden (although also present) in the boxes (B) of Figs. 4 and 5.

The machine (100) of the first embodiment comprises two box-forming lines configured to form boxes (B) individually and integrated into the same chassis (1). These lines are arranged in parallel and with the same plate transport directions according to a horizontal linear longitudinal direction (X).

Each of these box-forming lines comprises a loader (62), a suction head (93) that form an integral part of a suction mechanism (99) of the machine (100), a pusher (48) and two guides sides (49) that form an integral part of a machine conveyor (100), a box forming station, and a box nesting device (3).

In Figs. 1, 2 and 7, each of these chargers (62) has two side plates (63) with adjustable separation from each other, located one on each side of the plates (P) that can be supported, such as the one shown in Fig. 6. Each of these magazines (62) is additionally configured to support these plates (P) with their faces inclined to the vertical between 15 and 25 degrees.

In Figs. 7 to 9, 10 and 14, each suction head (93) has two suckers (94) embodied in suction cups. Each suction head (93) is movable between a first position (not shown), where it is configured to individually hold these plates (P) supported by one of their faces on the magazine (62) by suction, and a second position shown in Figs. 8 and 14, where it is configured to position the plate (P) horizontally with that same face facing upwards on a respective pair of side plate guides (49) (Figs. 2 and 8).

Figs. 2, 8, 9a, and 9b show that each of the two box-forming lines comprises two longitudinal and horizontal plate side guides (49) with adjustable separation from each other by means of an additional transversal adjustment device according to a transversal direction (Y ) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X). The suction head (93) of each box forming line is configured to position the plate (P) between the lateral guides (49) in the second position.

In Fig. 2, the machine (100) comprises four guide rails, each comprising a respective side plate (63) at one end, a respective side guide (49) and a respective extension of this at the opposite end. , being these integrated in a single piece.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), side plates 63 and side guides 49 and side guide extensions 49 are separate parts, preferably adjustable independently of one another.

In Fig. 2, the additional transversal adjustment device comprises two transversal guide elements (57) in each one of the box formation lines, preferably materialized in spindles configured to move the lateral guides (49) closer and further away by equal distances. In each case forming line, one transverse guide element is located in the case forming station and the other is located in the loader (62) and supports it.

In Figs. 2, 8, 9a, and 9b, each of the two box-forming lines comprises a pusher (48) movable in the longitudinal direction (X) to transport plates (P) one by one, pushing them from the rear between the two side guides (49), from the second to a third position. In the third position, respective extensions of the lateral guides (49) extend on both sides and above the cavity (51) to support each of these plates (P) when they are positioned between the core (6) and the mold. (fifty) .

Figs. 1, 8, 9a, and 9b show that the machine (100) further comprises a glue applicator configured to apply glue on parts of the plate (P), including glue injectors (4) and flexible and pressurizable glue lines ( 36) connected between the glue injectors (4) and an associated glue tank (30) and in communication with pressure means (35), such as the glue suction and discharge pump shown in Fig. 9b, and wherein the pressure provided thereby is configured to be detected by a pressure sensor (not shown).

In Fig. 9b, the flexible and pressurizable glue lines (36) connect respective glue injectors (4) with the glue tank directly.

Alternatively, the flexible and pressurizable glue lines (36) can connect respective glue injectors (4) with the glue reservoir (30) indirectly, through a glue distributor (not shown), so that at least a flexible and pressurizable glue line (36) is connected between the glue tank (30) and the distributor, and flexible and pressurizable glue lines (36) are connected between the glue distributor and the glue injectors (4).

Figs. 8, 9a and 9b show that each of the two box-forming lines comprises two of said glue injectors (4) of the glue applicator. That is, the machine (100) comprises four glue injectors (4) in total. Fig. 9c shows a glue injector (4) with a glue nozzle (4a).

Figs. 8, 9a and 9b show that, in each boxing line, the two glue injectors (4) of each boxing line are arranged and suspended a distance of vertical separation above the plate (P) when it is pushed. between the side guides (49).

Figs. 8, 9a and 9b show that each of the two box-forming lines comprises two flexible and pressurizable glue lines (36), two glue injectors (4) and two solenoid valves (Y4). Fig. 14 shows two of the four glue injectors (4) of the machine (100). Each solenoid valve (Y4) is configured to open and close a glue passage between each glue injector (4) and flexible and pressurizable glue line (36).

Each solenoid valve (Y4) is connected to a programmable controller device (9) of a machine control device (100), so that the programmable controller device (9) applies or removes voltage to its coil, which in turn preferably causes the opening and closing of said glue passage in an additional pneumatically controlled valve (not shown) located between a glue injector (4) and the end of a flexible and pressurizable glue line (36) connected to this glue injector (4).

Following in Figs. 9b and 9c, the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36) and the glue injectors (4) have associated respective heating resistances (33) and respective temperature sensors (32) for their controlled heating.

The heating resistances (33) and temperature sensors (32) of the glue injectors (4) are integrated in metallic blocks (39) in thermal contact with the glue injectors (4). Preferably, the heating resistors (33) of the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36) are heating resistive meshes, although in Fig. 9c these have been represented as resistors for a better understanding.

In Fig. 9b, the glue tank (30) integrates tank heating means (31), such as resistive means, to heat and melt glue and a temperature sensor (32) to control the heating means. heating (31).

Continuing in Fig. 9b, the machine (100) further comprises a plurality of flexible electrical hoses (38), each connected by electrical connectors (33a) between a control unit (34) of the controller device connected to the programmable controller device ( 9) and the resistors and sensors (32, 33) associated with the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36) and glue injectors (4). Each of these flexible electrical hoses (38) may or may not be totally or partially integrated into a glue hose that includes a respective flexible and pressurizable glue line (36) and also heated.

Figs. 8, 9a and 9b show that, in each boxing line, the two glue injectors (4) and the respective ends of the flexible and pressurizable glue lines (36) connected to them are jointly fixedly positioned in desired positions at along a crossbar (27) of a transversal adjustment device (26) of the machine (100). These positions are in accordance with the size of the plate (P) to deposit the beads of glue (CC) parallel to the longitudinal direction (X), and shown in Fig. 6.

This crossbar (27) is perpendicular to the lateral guides (49) and may be common to both box-forming lines or may be divided into two sections, one for each box-forming line.

In Figs. 9a and 9b, each of the glue injectors (4) is supported on a respective injector support (29) of the transversal adjustment device (26) whose fixed position is adaptable to the dimensions of the plate (P) to be formed, preferably, by means of a spindle (28). Thus, by turning this spindle (28) in one direction or another, the desired position of the glue injector is varied along the crossbar (27).

Alternatively, in an option not shown, each of the injector supports (29) are fixed in desired modifiable positions by means of fixing and release to the crossbar (27).

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 9a, each box-forming line of the machine (100) comprises one of these spindles (28), and this is also configured to move glue injectors (4) closer to or further away from each other symmetrical distances. .

In Fig. 9a, each of the glue injectors (4) is in turn supported on a respective auxiliary injector support (29a) supported on a respective injector support (29). Each of the auxiliary injector supports (29a) has positioning means to individually position each glue injector (4) according to the transverse direction (Y) and, preferably, also according to the longitudinal direction (X).

In Figs. 2, 9, 12 and 14, each of the two box forming stations comprises a mold (50), a plurality of forming elements (52, 53) that delimit a cavity (51) of the mold (50), and a male (6) movable linearly in opposite directions of insertion and extraction with respect to the cavity (51).

In Fig. 9, at each of the box forming stations, a forming element (52) is supported on each of the two guide bridges (55) of the mold (50). Additionally, each of four flanges (54) supported on the guide bridges (55) supports another forming element (53), these flanges (54) being positionable along the guide bridges (55). Thus, any one of these pluralities of forming elements (52, 53) form part of the mold (50).

In an alternative option (not shown), in each of the box forming stations, at least one forming element (52, 53) of this plurality can be attached to each of the two extensions of the lateral guides (49). .

In another alternative (not shown), at each of the box forming stations, the plurality of forming elements (52, 53) are supported on the box nesting device (3).

Fig. 12 shows that the core (6) of each box forming station includes four or more lateral faces (8) inclined with respect to the movement of the core (6) and converging towards a lower base (7) of the core (6). . This lower base (7) is configured to press a base (F) of the plate (P) positioned between the core (6) and the mold (50) and insert it inside the cavity (51) to fold side panels ( PL) of the plate (P) and join with the glue previously applied to each other and form a box (B) with side walls (WL).

Figs. 9 and 12 to 14 show that the machine (100) further comprises a tapping device (10) comprising a first conventional electric motor (11).

This first electric motor (11) is configured to vertically move the two males (6), thus being the males (6) of all the movable box forming lines in a controlled and synchronized manner by means of a single electric motor corresponding to the first motor. electrical (11).

The first electric motor (11) is operatively coupled to a first rotational monitoring device (15), configured to indirectly monitor the angle rotated by the first electric motor (11) through direct monitoring of the angle rotated by a moving shaft of a first reducer (65) coupled to the first electric motor (11). In Figs. 9 and 10 to 15 this first rotational monitoring device (15) is a rotational encoder.

In an alternative preferred option (not shown), the first electric motor (11) and a first rotational monitoring device (15) embodied in an encoder are integrated in a servomotor.

Figs. 9 and 12 to 14 show that the male device (10) comprises two vertical guides (21) fixed to a structural point of the chassis (1) of the machine (100), such as a fixed plate (20) mounted on a bridge (2) upper part of the chassis (1) arranged above the lateral guides (49) and the cavity (51).

This core device (10) also comprises two guide blocks (22) capable of sliding on each linear guide (21) and fixed on a carriage (23) that slides along the vertical guides (21).

The core device (10) additionally comprises said carriage (23), which is fixed to two vertical members (25) that support a core (6) each at their lower end. At a lower end of a vertical member (25) a male (6) is supported with a configuration of four inclined lateral faces (8) that can form the box of Fig. 3. At the lower end of the other vertical member (25) a male with a configuration of eight inclined lateral faces (8) is supported, which can form the box of Fig.4.

Thus, the machine (100) is configured to form boxes of different and/or identical shapes, sizes and/or formats at the same time.

The male device (10) further comprises a horizontal transverse guide (19) mounted on the carriage (23), and a rotating crank (16) provided with proximal and distal ends.

The crank (16) is indirectly connected at its proximal end to the first electric motor (11) by means of the first reducer (65), and articulated at its distal end at a third joint (17) to an additional guide block (18) with ability to slide in the cross guide (19).

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) each core (10) may be moved by a respective core device (10).

Continuing in Fig. 1, the machine (100) also has two box nesting devices (3) associated (only one is shown in Fig. 1), one associated with each mold (50) of each box formation line. boxes.

Each of these box nesting devices (3) is configured to form a stack of boxes (B) passing through an outlet mouth of a cavity (51) in a nested arrangement with one another, by contact of the side walls (WL) of a box (B) with those of others, which also reinforces the union by means of the previously applied glue.

In this example, each box nesting device (3) inserts a box (B), previously folded by the mentioned lateral faces (8) and by the forming elements (52, 53) materialized in folding elements, inside another, to contacting the flat sidewalls (WL) of one box (B) with the flat sidewalls (WL) of other boxes (B) forming said stack.

In each case forming line, the case nesting device (3) shown in Fig. 1 is additionally configured to, by means of this contact of flat side walls (WL) between cases (B), press the strings of glue ( CC) previously applied by the two corresponding glue injectors (4), to reinforce the union by gluing the side walls (WL) that laterally surround the base (F) thereof. The side walls (WL) include the folded side panels (PL), and the smaller side walls also include the folded side flaps (SL).

Each box nesting device (3) is located below a respective entry mouth of a cavity (51) of a respective mold (50) shown in Fig. 14, and is located at the exit mouth of the mold ( fifty).

Each box nesting device (3) of Fig. 1 comprises two formed box guides (3a) that hold them in a nested arrangement, one with the other, forming a stack of boxes (B) before exiting through a mouth outlet from the bottom of the cavity (51).

In this first embodiment of Fig. 1, the shaped box guides (3a) are not an integral part of the mold (50) but are associated with it, since they are located to receive the boxes (B) formed with walls inclined sides coming from the mold (50). The box guides (3a) of Fig. 1 are not necessarily supported on the chassis (1) of the machine (100).

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the two formed box guides (3a) can be supported on the chassis (1), preferably forming an integral part of the cavity (51) of the mold (50) and located in the area of the said outlet mouth of the mold (50).

In a second alternative embodiment (not shown), in the machine (100), said box nesting device (3) is configured to support the formed boxes (B), said box nesting device (3) being movable between a retracted position, where the surface of the outlet mouth associated with the mold (50) is larger to allow the fall of a stack of boxes (B) formed nested, and a support position, where the surface of the mouth of output associated with the mold (50) is smaller to allow the support of a stack of boxes (B) formed nested.

Figs. 9 to 11 and 14 show that the two pushers (48) of the plate conveyor and the two suction heads (93) of the suction mechanism (99) are all movable by means of the same additional electric motor (64) of the machine (100). ) corresponding to a second electric motor (64) coupled to a rotational encoder (67).

This rotational encoder (67) coupled to the second electric motor (64) forms an integral part of a second rotational monitoring device, and is configured to indirectly monitor, through the rotation of the shaft (66) of the secondary reducer (65), the angle rotated by the second electric motor (64).

The second rotational monitoring device (67) also includes an inductive type detector (69) to indirectly monitor, through the rotation of a cam (68) coupled to the shaft (66) of the second reducer (65), the angle rotated by the second electric motor (64).

Figs. 9 to 11 and 14 show that, in the machine (100), the core device (10) comprising the first electric motor (11), the second electric motor (64), the first rotational monitoring device (15) and the rotational encoder (67) are configured together to move the two males (6) in a controlled manner, independently of the controlled and synchronized movement of the two pushers (48) and the two suction heads (93).

In the suction mechanism (99), the second electric motor (64) and the secondary reducer (65) coupled to it, are configured to cause the rotation of two articulated bars (87) about respective horizontal joints (88). Each of these links (87) is configured, in turn, to cause rotation of a respective upside down link (89) about a respective second horizontal link (90).

Each articulated bar (87) is movable by the action of a respective pivoting bar (79) around a fourth lower articulation (78) of union with a respective lever (77), this being movable in turn by means of a secondary driven shaft (76) horizontal. The upper end of pivoting bar (79) is hinged to link bar (87) at a fifth upper hinge (83).

This secondary driven shaft (76) is movable by means of a primary driven shaft (70) and a secondary link chain (74) mounted on two secondary sprockets (75), one fixed on each shaft (70, 76), and capable of transmit the movement of the primary driven shaft (70) to the secondary (76).

The output shaft (66) of the secondary reducer (65) movable by the second electric motor (64) is configured to transmit the movement to the primary driven shaft (70) by means of a primary link chain (73) mounted on two primary sprockets ( 72), one fixed on each axis (66, 70).

In the machine (100), the plate conveyor comprises a connecting rod (41) indirectly coupled, through the secondary reducer (65) and at its proximal end, to the second electric motor (64).

The conveyor additionally includes a horizontal guide device (45, 46) connected to the distal end of said connecting rod (41), said connecting rod (41) and horizontal guiding device (45, 46) being configured to cause the guided advance and retreat of the two pushers (48) between their respective second and third positions.

This horizontal guide device (45, 46) comprises a horizontal linear guide (46) and a conveyor guide block (45) coupled to the horizontal linear guide (46).

At the distal end of the connecting rod (41), a primary guide block (42) is hinged and slidably connected, in turn coupled to a second inverted bar (43), which is directly or indirectly attached in a fixed manner. its upper end to a support guide (44) where the two pushers (48) are mounted.

Fig. 15 shows that the first and second electric motors (11, 64), first and second rotational monitoring devices (15, 67), and glue injectors (4) are connected to a programmable controller device (9) of a machine controller device (100), embodied in a single programmable logic controller (PLC).

Alternatively, these elements can be connected in a distributed way in several PLCs, and one of these PLCs (master) is the one that governs the rest (slaves).

In Fig. 9b, the programmable controller device (9) of the machine controller device (100) is configured to receive information from the heating and pressure means (31, 35), from the heating resistors (33), and of temperature (32) and pressure sensors (not shown) from a glue control unit (34).

This control unit (34) is preferably embodied in cards as interconnected electronic boards (34a, 34b), and/or in a PLC (not shown) connected to the heating means (31).

The control unit (34) is connected to the programmable device (9) by means of an electrical conductor configured to indicate that the temperature of the glue in the glue tank (30), flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36) and glue injectors (4), and the pressure in the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36) have reached the working values, leaving the glue applicator ready to apply glue.

In Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9a, and 9b, the glue applicator is configured to apply glue on desired positions of each plate (P) in the longitudinal and transverse directions (X, Y), during the guided push of these by means of the pushers (48) and lateral guides (49) without interfering with this continuous longitudinal movement of each of the plates (P) between their respective second and third positions, by means of the transversal adjustment device (26) and by means of associated glue application values with the linear position of the pushers (48) obtainable by the rotational encoder (67), respectively.

Returning to Fig. 15, a plurality of optional box-forming members (5a) delimiting the cavity (51) of at least one mold (50) are movable by means of at least one actuator (5), preferably materialized in at least a pneumatic cylinder, connected to the programmable controller device (9) of the controller device, independently of the movements that the aforementioned electric motors (11, 64, 80) are capable of providing.

In addition to those previously described, the machine (100) has, in each of the box-forming lines, additional adjustments to adapt to different sizes and/or shapes and formats of plate (P) and box (B).

Thus, Figs. 10 and 11 show that the location of the at least one suction element (94) in the suction head (94) is modifiable by suction positioning means, and the position of each of the pushers (48) in the third delivery position is adjustable with respect to the chassis (1), and preferably with respect to the guide support (44), by means of thrust regulation means. It is noted that the position of each pusher (48) is preferably individually adjustable by means of guides and fixings.

Also, in Fig. 9, the cavity (51) of the mold (50) is adjustable in the longitudinal and transverse directions by means of a mold regulation device that includes two mutually parallel second guide elements (56), preferably materialized in spindles, to regulate the position of one guide bridge (55) with respect to another, and also preferably includes four positionable flanges (54), two along each guide bridge (55).

Preferably, in Figs. 12 to 14, the connection end of each of the vertical members (25) with the male (6) is adjustable according to the vertical with respect to a structural point of the carriage (23), for example, with respect to the crossbar (24) fixed to the car (23).

An example of the automatic operating cycle of the machine of the first embodiment is detailed below, although this has been implicitly explained above.

Before the automatic operating cycle, the machine (100) has been adjusted to the dimensions of the plate (P) to be supplied and the box (B) to be obtained, including the adjustment of the glue application positions. For this last extreme, it is enough to pass test plates (P) through the pusher (48) with default glue application values previously stored in the programmable controller device (9), which are modified, preferably through the use of the touch screen (9a) by the user, in an iterative improvement process that consumes very little production downtime.

With the machine (100) regulated, both magazines (62) are fed with flat plates (P) that remain supported on them. The faces of the plates (P) are inclined between 15 and 25 degrees with respect to the vertical.

Next, in each case forming line, a suction head (93) of the suction mechanism (99) individually moves plates from the first to the second position, and during this movement the pusher (48) is positioned just behind the rear part of the plate (P) in a synchronized manner thanks to the driving link between the pusher (48) and the suction head (93) of the second electric motor (64).

Afterwards, the second electric motor (64) continues to rotate in a controlled manner by means of the rotational encoder (67), and prints a continuous linear horizontal movement to the flat plate (P), through the guide device (45, 46) and the side plate guides (49) of the plate conveyor.

During this horizontal movement of the plate (P), the glue injectors (4) apply hot glue beads (CC) under pressure on the plate (P) depending on the angle rotated by the second electric motor (64) indirectly monitored by the second rotational encoder assembly (67) including the rotational encoder (67) and the PLC.

For the application of the glue beads (CC), the PLC in Fig. 15 generates changing indicative signals and sends them to a relay (K4) associated with each glue injector (4), which in turn acts on the coil of a respective solenoid valve (Y4) to open and close the passage of glue between a respective flexible and pressurizable glue conduit (36) and a respective glue injector (4).

With the plate (P) of each box forming line in the third position arranged between a core (6) and a corresponding mold (50) and supported on some extensions of a pair of lateral guides (49), the core (6 ) contacts the plate (P) at a time previously selected at will by the user through a touch screen (9a) connected to the PLC, thanks to the independence of the movement of the male device (10) by means of the first electric motor ( 11), of the synchronized movement of the movable elements driven by the second electric motor (64).

Thus, in each of the two case forming lines, based on respective positions of the pusher (48) configured to be determined by the rotational encoder (67) and received in the programmable controller device (9) of the controller device:

- the male device (10) is configured to start the insertion movement of the male (6) which causes simultaneous movements of the pusher (48) (from an intermediate position between the second and third positions to the third position) and insertion of the male (6); Y

- the two solenoid valves (Y4) are configured to open and close the glue passage between respective glue injectors (4) and respective flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36), and

- the suction head (93) are additionally configured to start its movement of again, for a subsequent cycle, from the first to the second position based on a position of the pusher (48) determined by the rotational encoder (67).

In each box forming line, when inserting the plate (P) inside the cavity (51) of the mold (50), portions of the plate (P) come into contact with a plurality of formers (52, 53) materialized in folders to fold and join these portions with others and form a box (B), like the one shown in Fig. 4.

These doublers (52, 53), in cooperation with the inclined lateral faces (8) of the core (6), give the box (B) the aforementioned shape essentially of an inverted truncated pyramid.

With the male (6) in the position of maximum insertion, the box (B) has been folded and it is then nested with other boxes (B) formed in a box nesting device (3), passing through an exit mouth of the mold (50) in an arrangement nests with each other with their side walls (WL) in contact.

This operating cycle is repeated again for the formation of subsequent plates (P).

In Fig. 15, the PLC can move or stop the first electric motor (11) at will, activating or deactivating an output connected to the relay (K11), which in turn opens or closes the associated power contact (K011). to this engine.

Likewise, in Fig. 15, the PLC can move or stop the second electric motor (11) at will, activating or deactivating an output connected to the relay (K64), which in turn opens or closes the power contact ( K064) associated with this engine.

Also in Fig. 15, the PLC can position at will the movable part of the pneumatic cylinders (5) in their rest or activation positions, activating or deactivating an output connected to the relay (K5), which in turn governs a solenoid valve (K064) associated with the air passage to position the movable part of the cylinders (5) in one of the aforementioned positions.

Thus, the independence of the starting or stopping of the first and second electric motors (11, 64), of the application of the glue cords (CC), and of the movement of the forming members (5a), with respect to the synchronized movement and control of the pushers (48) and suction heads (93) of the plate feeder.

The second embodiment of the machine (100) of Fig. 16 comprises all the elements and characteristics of the first embodiment, except that the second electric motor (64) and the second rotational encoder (67) are integrated in a servomotor connected a servomotor controller (SC), in turn connected to the programmable controller device (9).

The third embodiment of the machine (100) of Fig. 17 comprises all the elements and characteristics of the second embodiment, except that the two pushers (48) are movable under control and independently of the two suction heads (93) by means of additional electric motors. (64, 80) different, corresponding to a second electric motor (64) and a third electric motor (80), respectively, this third electric motor (80) preferably being coupled to an optional third rotational monitoring device (81).

In Fig. 17, the second electric motor 64 of the machine 100 is a single electric motor configured to move the pushers 48 of the two forming lines in a controlled and synchronized manner.

The third electric motor (80) of the machine (100) is a single electric motor configured to move the suction heads (93) of all the forming lines in a controlled and synchronized manner, and is coupled to a rotational monitoring device ( 81), which in this example is a rotational encoder.

The PLC can move or stop the third electric motor (11) at will, activating or deactivating an output connected to the relay (K80), which in turn opens or closes the power contact (K080) associated with this motor.

Claims (14)

1.- Machine (100) for forming cardboard boxes (B) nestable one inside the other and of different sizes by gluing and folding flat plates (P), comprising: a loader (62) configured to support the plates (P) with their vertical faces or with an inclination with respect to the vertical; a suction head (93) with one or more suckers (94), and movable between a first position, where it is configured to individually hold these plates (P) supported by one of their faces on the charger (62) by suction, and a second position, where it is configured to position the plate (P) horizontally with that same face facing upwards; a glue applicator configured to apply glue on parts of the plate (P), including glue injectors (4) and pressurizable flexible glue lines (36) connected between the glue injectors (4) and a glue tank (30 ) associated with pressure means (35); a box forming station comprising a mold (50), a plurality of forming elements (52, 53) that delimit a cavity (51) of the mold (50), and a male (6) movable linearly in opposite directions of insertion and extraction with respect to the cavity (51), including the male (6) four or more lateral faces (8) inclined with respect to the movement of the male (6) and converging towards a lower base (7) of the male (6) configured to press a base (F) of the plate (P) positioned between the male (6) and the mold (50) and insert it inside the cavity (51) to fold some side panels (PL) of the plate (P) and join with the glue previously applied to each other and form a box (B) with side walls (WL); Y the machine (100) being associated with a box nesting device (3), configured to form a stack of boxes (B) passing through an outlet mouth of the cavity (51) in a nested arrangement with one another, through the contact of the lateral walls (WL) of a box (B) with those of others, which also reinforces the union by means of the previously applied glue; characterized in that it comprises a plurality of box-forming lines configured to form boxes (B) individually and integrated into the same chassis (1), these lines being arranged in parallel and with the same plate transport directions along a longitudinal direction (X) horizontal linear, each of these box formation lines comprising the loader (62), suction head (93), station of box formation, and box nesting device (3) referred to above, and also: two longitudinal and horizontal lateral plate guides (49) with adjustable separation between each other according to a transverse direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X), between which the suction head (93) is configured to position the plate (P ) in the second position, and a pusher (48) movable in the longitudinal direction (X) to transport plates (P) one by one, pushing them from the rear between the two side guides (49), from the second to a third position , where the two lateral guides (49) extend on both sides and above the cavity (51) to support each of these plates (P) when they are positioned between the core (6) and the mold (50); Y one or more of said glue injectors (4) arranged a vertical separation distance on the plate (P) when it is pushed between the lateral guides (49), respective one or more flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36) connected to these one or more glue injectors (4), and at least one solenoid valve (Y4) configured to open and close a glue passage between them, the one or more glue injectors (4) and the respective ends of the pipes being flexible and pressurizable glue (36) connected to these jointly positioned fixedly in desired positions along a crossbar (27) of a transversal adjustment device (26) perpendicular to the lateral guides (49) according to the size of the plate (P) to deposit strings of glue (CC) parallel to the longitudinal direction (X); the machine (100) further comprising a core device (10) configured to move the cores (6), comprising a first electric motor (11) coupled to a first rotational monitoring device (15); and where the pushers (48) and suction heads (93) are movable by one or more additional electric motors (64, 80) of the machine (100), and one of these one or more additional electric motors (64, 80) is coupled to a rotational encoder (67); the electric motors (11, 64, 80), first rotational monitoring device (15), rotational encoder (67), and solenoid valves (Y4) are connected to a controller device including a programmable controller device (9); Y the glue applicator is configured to apply glue on the desired positions of each plate (P) in the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y), during the guided push of these by means of the pushers (48) and lateral guides (49) without interfering with this continued longitudinal movement of each of the plates (P) between their respective second and third positions, by means of the transversal adjustment device (26) and by means of glue application values associated with the linear position of the pushers (48) obtainable by the rotational encoder (67), respectively. 2. - Machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein the pushers (48) and suction heads (93) are all movable by means of the same additional electric motor (64) corresponding to a second electric motor (64), and The core device (10), second electric motor (64), and rotational encoder (67) are configured together to controllably move the cores (6) independently of the controlled and synchronized movement of the pushers (48) and suction heads (93). ). 3. - Machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein the pushers (48) are movable in a controlled manner and independently of the suction heads (93) by means of additional electric motors (64, 80) different, corresponding to a second electric motor ( 64) and a third electric motor (80), respectively, this third electric motor (80) preferably being coupled to an optional third rotational monitoring device (81). 4. - Machine (100) according to claim 3, wherein the second electric motor (64) is a single electric motor configured to move the pushers (48) of all the training lines in a controlled and synchronized manner. 5. - Machine (100) according to claim 4, wherein the third electric motor (80) is a single electric motor configured to move in a controlled and synchronized manner the suction heads (93) of all the training lines. 6. - Machine (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the males (6) of all the box formation lines are movable in a controlled and synchronized manner by means of a single electric motor corresponding to the first electric motor (11) . 7. - Machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each of the box formation lines, based on respective positions of the pusher (48) configured to be determined by the rotational encoder (67) and received on the controller device: - the plug device (10) is configured to initiate the insertion movement of the plug (6) which causes simultaneous movements of the pusher (48) and insertion of the plug (6); Y - the at least one solenoid valve (Y4) is configured to open and close the glue passage between one or more glue injectors (4) and respective flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36). 8. - Machine (100) according to claim 7, wherein the suction heads (93) are additionally configured to start their movement from the first to the second position based on a position of the pushers (48) determined by the encoder rotational (67). 9. - Machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of box-forming members (5a) delimiting the cavity (51) of at least one mold (50) are movable by means of at least one actuator ( 5) connected to the controller device, regardless of the movements that the aforementioned electric motors (11, 64, 80) are capable of providing. 10. - Machine (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: the flexible and pressurizable glue pipes (36) and the glue injectors (4) have associated respective heating resistance (153) and respective temperature sensors (152) for their controlled heating; the glue tank (150) integrates tank heating means (31) to heat and melt glue and a temperature sensor (32) to control the heating means (31); the machine (100) further comprising a plurality of flexible electrical hoses (38) each connected between the controller device and resistors and sensors (33, 33) associated with the flexible and pressurizable glue lines (36) and glue injectors ( 4); and where the controller device is configured to receive information from the heating and pressure means (31, 35), from the heating resistors (33), and from the temperature sensors (32). 11. - Machine (100) according to the combination of claims 7 and 10. 12. - Machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the suction heads (93), and the position and movement of the pushers (48), and the opening and closing of the passage between injectors of (4) and tail pipes (36) through the solenoid valves (Y4) make up a series of controllable elements whose actuation can be determined in a controlled manner in each box formation line (B) from a single reference value corresponding to the reading value of the rotational encoder (67) sent to the controller device (9). 13. - Machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the programmable controller device (9) is configured to store the values of queue application in a memory thereof, and these stored queue application start and end values may be modifiable. 14.- Machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edges of the lateral faces (8) of each of the cores (8) can be chamfered, determining males (8) with eight or twelve lateral faces each one.