Method and machine for constructing a rectangular sided packing around an object of any shape

Claim 2

In a method for making a packing having folded rectangular side wall portions around an object which may be incapable of affording a support when folding said wall portions, and comprising starting with a pre-cut and pre-scored blank of sheet material, folding up from a first portion of said blank at least a second blank portion and a third blank portion which adjoin said first blank portion so as to constitute two parallel wall portions of the packing interconnected by an intermediate wall portion of the packing, introducing the object to be packed in the thus partly formed packing and folding remaining portions of the blank to form the finished packing; the feature that, before folding said remaining portions of the blank, rigid support means defining two parallel edges are introduced into said partlyformed packing and positioned parallel to said two parallel wall portions so that said edges are placed in adjoining relation to said two parallel wall portions to support said two parallel wall portions along fold lines about which edges and fold lines two portions of the blank among said remaining portions are folded, said support means being withdrawn from the partly-formed packing before folding the remaining portions of the blank.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least said second and third blank portions are folded up from said first blank portion around a punch which is held against said first blank portion and defines two parallel edges about which edges said second and third blank portions are folded, the punch being withdrawn from the blank before said object is introduced, the direction in which the punch is withdrawn and the direction in which the object to be packed is introduced being perpendicular to each other.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the direction in which the punch is withdrawn and the direction in which the rigid support means are introduced are perpendicular to each other, said Object being introduced at the same time as the introduction of said support means.

Claim 5

A machine for making a packing having folded rectangular side wall portions around an object which may be incapable of affording a support when folding said wall portions, by folding a pre-cut and pre-scored blank of sheet material, said machine having a substantially median longitudinal plane and comprising a frame, a punch which defines at least four faces of a rectangular sided figure, a first and a second of said faces being located on opposite sides of and parallel to said longitudinal plane and to each other and a third and a fourth of said faces being perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to said parallel first and second faces, said punch defining at intersections of said four faces edges and two adjacent trihedral corners which corners are located on opposite sides of said plane, a device for feeding a blank in a direction parallel to said third face to a packing station at which station the blank is positioned to be engaged by the third face of the punch, a device for relatively moving the punch and the blank toward and away from each other at said station, first mechanisms for folding at said station the blank around edges of the punch which edges are common to pairs of said four faces, a device for feeding an object to be packed to said packing station, movable rigid support means, a shifting device for placing said support means at said station and removing said support means for said station, said support means defining at said station two parallel rigid edges on opposite sides of said longitudinal plane in two planes respectively containing said first face and said second face of the punch, and second mechanisms comprising mechanisms for folding the blank about said two parallel edges of said support means at said station before withdrawal of said support means from said station by said shifting device.

Claim 6

A machine for making a packing having folded rectangular side wall portions around an object which may be incapable of affording a support when folding said wall portions, by folding a pre-cut and pre-scored blank of sheet material, said machine having a substantially median longitudinal plane and comprising a frame, a punch which defines at least four faces of a rectangular sided figure, a first and a second of said faces being located on opposite sides of and parallel to said longitudinal plane and to each other and a third and a fourth of said faces being perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to said parallel first and second faces, said punch defining at intersections of said four faces edges and two adjacent trihedral corners which corners are located on opposite sides of said plane, a device for feeding a blank in a direction parallel to said third face to a packing station at which station the blank is positioned to be engaged by the third face of the punch, a device for relatively moving the punch and the blank toward and away from each other at said station, first mechanisms for folding at said station the blank around edges of the punch which edges are common to pairs of said four faces, a device for feeding an object to be packed to said packing station, movable rigid support means, a shifting device for placing said support means at said station and removing said support means for said station, said support means defining at said station two parallel rigid edges on opposite sides of said longitudinal plane in two planes respectively containing said first face and said second face of the punch, and second mechanisms comprising mechanisms for folding the blank about said two parallel edges of said support means at said station before withdrawal of said support means from said station by said shifting device.

Claim 7

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device for feeding an object feeds the object in a direction which is perpendicular to a direction in which the device for relatively moving the punch and the blank relatively moves the punch and blank.

Claim 8

A machine for making a packing having folded rectangular side wall portions around an object which may be incapable of affording a support when folding said wall portions, by folding a pre-cut and pre-scored blank of sheet material, said machine comprising a frame, a punch, a device for feeding a blank to a packing station, at which station the blank is positioned to be engaged by the punch, a device for relatively moving the punch and the blank toward and away from each other for bringing the punch to bear on a first portion of the blank at said station and for moving the punch away from the blank, first mechanisms for folding at least a second portion of said blank and a third portion of said blank adjoining said first portion of said blank against the punch when the punch engages the blank in said first blank portion, a device for feeding said object to said station after the punch has been moved away from the blank, two rigid support means defining two parallel edges and a device for shifting said support means to said station in positions in which said edges are in parallel planes adjacent said second and third blank portions after said second and third blank portions are folded by said first folding mechanisms, said shifting device being capable of withdrawing said support means from the blank, and second mechanisms for folding the remaining portions of the blank including a fourth portion of the blank adjoining said third portion which is folded against one of said two edges and a fifth portion which is folded against the other of said two edges.

Claim 9

A machine for making a packing having folded rectangular side wall portions around an object which may be incapable of affording a support when folding said wall portions, by folding a pre-cut and pre-scored blank of sheet material, said machine comprising a frame, a punch, a device for feeding a blank to a packing station, at which station the blank is positioned to be engaged by the punch, a device for relatively moving the punch and the blank toward and away from each other for bringing the punch to bear on a first portion of the blank at said station and for moving the punch away from the blank, first mechanisms for folding at least a second portion of said blank and a third portion of said blank adjoining said first portion of said blank against the punch when the punch engages the blank in said first blank portion, a device for feeding said object to said station after the punch has been moved away from the blank, two rigid support means defining two parallel edges and a device for shifting said support means to said station in positions in which said edges are in parallel planes adjacent said second and third blank portions after said second and third blank portions are folded by said first folding mechanisms, said shifting device being capable of withdrawing said support means from the blank, and second mechanisms for folding the remaining portions of the blank including a fourth portion of the blank adjoining said third portion which is folded against one of said two edges and a fifth portion which is folded against the other of said two edges.

Claim 10

A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shifting device shifts the rigid support means along an axis perpendicular to an axis along which the punch and the blank are moved apart.

Claim 11

A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rigid support means Are bars carried by the device for feeding an object.

Claim 12

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the punch has five faces of a rectangular-sided figure and the device for relatively moving the punch and the blank relatively moves the punch and the blank in a direction perpendicular to said third face.

Claim 13

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device for relatively moving the punch and the blank is a jack having a rod connected to the punch.

Claim 14

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising a die having a bottom wall parallel to said third face of the punch and two walls perpendicular to said bottom wall and parallel to each other.

Claim 15

A machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bottom wall of the die is constituted by a plate, and a rod of a jack which is perpendicular to said plate of the die is integral with said plate.

Claim 16

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising two thrust shoes respectively adjacent said plane containing said first and second faces and adjacent a plane containing said fourth face and slidably mounted with respect to the frame of the machine and jacks which are perpendicular to said longitudinal plane and actuate said shoes.

Claim 17

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising a lever mounted with respect to the frame adjacent a plane containing said fourth face to pivot about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal plane and jacks for actuating the lever.

Claim 18

A machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising a lever mounted with respect to the frame adjacent said plane containing said first face to pivot about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal plane and a jack for actuating the lever.

Claim 19

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising three levers mounted on the punch to pivot about three axes, one of which axes is parallel to and adjacent said second face of the punch, the two other axes of said three axes being perpendicular to said longitudinal plane, and jacks for actuating the levers.

Claim 20

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising two thrust shoes contained in a plane on an opposite a side of the punch to a plane containing said fourth face and slidably mounted with respect to the frame of the machine and jacks which are perpendicular to said longitudinal plane for actuating the shoes.

Claim 21

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising a lever mounted relative to the frame adjacent a plane on an opposite side of the punch to a plane containing said fourth face to pivot about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal plane and jacks for actuating the lever.

Claim 22

A machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bottom wall of the die is constituted by a plate, and a rod of a jack which is perpendicular to said plate of the die is integral with said plate, and said lever is mounted to pivot on said plate of the die.

Claim 23

A machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first folding mechanisms comprise a mechanism comprising a die having a bottom wall parallel to said third face of the punch and two walls perpendicular to said bottom wall and parallel to each other, said lever being pivotably mounted on one of the walls of the die.