Packaging device for packaging articles into boxes and relative packaging method

Abstract

A packaging device for packaging articles in boxes includes a mandrel adapted to be wrapped at least partially by a blank to form a partially closed box, and a closing group arranged to at least partially overlap and fix an outer flap of the blank onto an inner flap of the blank. The closing group includes an abutting element and a displacement member. The abutting element is movable with respect to the mandrel between a rest position, in which the abutting element is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel, and a pressing position, in which the abutting element is in an abutting position to press the outer flap on the inner flap and against an abutment surface of said mandrel. The displacement member is configured to displace the abutting element between the rest position and the pressing position. The abutting element includes at least one contact surface intended to abut the mandrel at said abutment surface and one or more compensating elements configured to compensate for a misalignment between the abutment surface of the mandrel and the at least one contact surface of the abutting element.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A packaging device for packaging articles into boxes comprising:
 a mandrel configured to accommodate therein one or more of said articles, the mandrel adapted to be at least partially wrapped by a blank to form a partially closed box, and   a closing group arranged to at least partially overlap and fix an outer flap of the blank onto an inner flap of the blank when the blank is at least partially wrapped on the mandrel, the closing group comprising:
 an abutting element movable with respect to the mandrel between a rest position and a pressing position, the abutting element comprising:
 i) at least one contact element having at least one contact surface to abut the mandrel at an abutment surface of said mandrel, 
 ii) one or more compensating elements configured to compensate for a misalignment between the abutment surface of the mandrel and the at least one contact surface of the abutting element, and 
 
 a displacement member configured to displace the abutting element between the rest position and the pressing position, 
   
       wherein:
 in the resting position, the abutting element is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel, and 
 in the pressing position, the abutting element is in an abutted position to press the outer flap on the inner flap against the abutment surface of the mandrel, and the abutment surface of the mandrel and the at least one contact surface of the abutting element are parallel one to another. 
 
     
     
         19 . The packaging device according to  claim 18 , wherein said one or more compensating elements comprise at least one of: joints and elastically deformable elements. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein said one or more compensating elements comprise elastically deformable elements and said elastically deformable elements comprise at least one of: springs, cylinder-piston members, and inserts of polymeric material. 
     
     
         21 . The packaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein said one or more compensating elements comprise elastically deformable elements and said elastically deformable elements comprise cylinder-piston members. 
     
     
         22 . The packaging device according to  claim 21 , wherein said cylinder-piston members comprise pneumatic cylinder-piston members. 
     
     
         23 . The packaging device according to  claim 21 , wherein said cylinder-piston members are connected to a compressed air circuit to keep said at least one contact surface of the abutting element pressed on said overlapped outer flap and said inner flap of the blank against the abutment surface of the mandrel with a predetermined pressure in the pressing position. 
     
     
         24 . The packaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein said one or more compensating elements comprise joints and the joints comprise at least one of: ball joints and hinges. 
     
     
         25 . The packaging device according to  claim 18 , wherein said one or more compensating elements are at least two compensating elements. 
     
     
         26 . The packaging device according to  claim 25 , wherein the said at least two compensating elements are distributed along a longitudinal direction of the abutting element. 
     
     
         27 . The packaging device according to  claim 18 , said abutting element further comprising a support element engaged with the displacement member and with said at least one contact element,
 wherein said one or more compensating elements is interposed between said support element and said at least one contact element.   
     
     
         28 . The packaging device according to  claim 18 , wherein said one or more compensating elements are positioned at opposite end regions of said at least one contact surface. 
     
     
         29 . The packaging device according to  claim 18 , the packaging device further comprising a moving unit configured to move the mandrel,
 wherein the closing group is mounted on the moving unit.   
     
     
         30 . The packaging device according to  claim 29 , wherein the moving unit is configured to move both the mandrel and the closing group along a circular trajectory. 
     
     
         31 . The packaging device according to  claim 29 , wherein the moving unit comprises a carousel. 
     
     
         32 . The packaging device according to  claim 18 , the packaging device further comprising a plurality of mandrels and a closing group for each mandrel. 
     
     
         33 . A method for packaging articles into boxes comprising:
 a) arranging a blank at least partially around a mandrel, the mandrel containing one or more of said articles therein to form a partially closed box around said mandrel, an outer flap of the blank being at least partially overlappable on an inner flap of the blank, the outer flap and the inner flap being fixable on each other when pressed against each other;   b) arranging an abutting element movable with respect to the mandrel between a rest position in which the abutting element is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel, and a pressing position in which the abutting element is in an abutting position to press the outer flap on the inner flap and against an abutment surface of said mandrel, the abutting element comprising at least one contact surface to abut the mandrel at said abutment surface;   c) folding the inner flap at least partially towards the abutment surface of said mandrel;   d) folding the outer flap on the inner flap and against said abutment surface of said mandrel;   e) pressing the outer flap onto the inner flap and against said abutment surface of said mandrel by moving the abutting element to the pressing position, wherein, as a result of said pressing, the at least one contact surface of the abutting element is arranged parallel to the abutment surface of the mandrel to exert a substantially uniform pressure on said outer flap and on said inner flap.   
     
     
         34 . The method for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 33 ,
 wherein:
 at least one of said outer flap and inner flap bears an adhesive on an overlapping surface overlapping with the other flap, 
 said adhesive being a glue, and 
 the pressing further comprises the abutting element pressing in the pressing position the outer flap on the inner flap and against the abutment surface of said mandrel for a time equal to or longer than a drying time of the glue. 
   
     
     
         35 . The method for packaging articles into boxes according to  claim 33 , further comprising the abutting element pressing, in the pressing position, the outer flap onto the inner flap and against the abutment surface of said mandrel with a predetermined pressure.