Packaging device for packaging articles in boxes and relative packaging method

Abstract

A device for packaging articles in boxes includes a mandrel, configured to accommodate one or more of said articles inside it and to be wound at least partially by a blank to form a partially closed box, and a closing group provided to at least partially overlap and fix an outer flap of the blank on an inner flap of the blank. The closing group includes an abutting element movable with respect to the mandrel between a rest position, at least one folding position, and a pressure position, and a displacement member configured to displace the abutting element between the rest position, the at least one folding position, and the pressure position.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A device for packaging articles in boxes comprising:
 a mandrel configured to accommodate one or more of said articles inside the mandrel and adapted to be wound 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 when the blank is at least partially wound on the mandrel, the closing group comprising:
 an abutting element movable with respect to the mandrel between a rest position, at least one folding position, and a pressure position, and 
 a displacement member configured to displace the abutting element between the rest position and the at least one folding position, and between the at least one folding position and the pressure position, wherein: 
   in the rest position, the abutting element is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel,   in the at least one folding position, the abutting element is in a first position to fold the outer flap towards the mandrel, and   in the pressure position, the abutting element is in a second position to press the outer flap on the inner flap and against the mandrel.   
     
     
         18 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 17 , wherein the displacement member is configured to displace the abutting element with respect to the mandrel from the rest position to the at least one folding position and from the at least one folding position to the pressure position along a straight trajectory. 
     
     
         19 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the abutting element in the pressure position presses the outer flap on the inner flap against an abutment surface of the mandrel, and   the straight trajectory is inclined by an angle within a range of 10° to 60° with respect to the abutment surface of the mandrel.   
     
     
         20 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 19 , wherein the angle is within a range of 20° to 45° with respect to the abutment surface of the mandrel. 
     
     
         21 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 17 , wherein the abutting element comprises at least one of: a bar and an L-bent plate. 
     
     
         22 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the abutting element comprises an L-bent plate, and   the displacement member is configured to displace the abutting element into the pressure position so the abutting element presses simultaneously on the outer flap, on the inner flap, and on a further side of the at least partially closed box.   
     
     
         23 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 17 , wherein the closing group further comprises pneumatic elements configured to keep the abutting element pressed on the outer flap and the inner flap against the mandrel with a predefined pressure. 
     
     
         24 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 23 , wherein the pneumatic elements are pneumatic cylinders. 
     
     
         25 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 17 , the device further comprising a movement unit of the mandrel configured to displace the mandrel and wherein the closing group is mounted on the movement unit. 
     
     
         26 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 25 , wherein the movement unit is further configured to displace the closing group. 
     
     
         27 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 25 , wherein the movement unit comprises a carousel. 
     
     
         28 . The device for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 17 , the device further comprising a plurality of mandrels and a closing group for each mandrel of the plurality of mandrels. 
     
     
         29 . A method for packaging articles in boxes comprising:
 a) providing a blank at least partially around a mandrel to form a partially closed box around said mandrel, the blank having an outer flap and an inner flap, the outer flap being at least partially overlappable on the inner flap, the outer flap and the inner flap being fixable on each other when pressed against each other, the mandrel containing one or more of said articles;   b) folding the inner flap at least partially towards the mandrel;   c) folding the outer flap towards the mandrel by displacing an abutting element from a rest position to at least one folding position, wherein the abutting element is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel in the rest position, and the abutting element abuts said outer flap folding it towards the mandrel in the at least one folding position; and   d) pressing the outer flap onto the inner flap and against the mandrel by displacing the abutting element from the at least one folding position to a pressure position to fix the outer flap on the inner flap.   
     
     
         30 . The method for packaging articles into boxes according to  claim 29 , wherein the displacing the abutting element from the rest position to the at least one folding position and the displacing the abutting element from the at least one folding position to the pressure position is performed along a straight trajectory. 
     
     
         31 . The method for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 at least one of the outer flap and the inner flap bears an adhesive on an overlapping surface with an other flap, said adhesive being a glue, and   the pressing comprises the abutting element pressing the outer flap onto the inner flap and against the mandrel in the pressure position for a time equal to or greater than a time for drying the glue.   
     
     
         32 . The method for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 29 , the pressing comprising the abutting element pressing the outer flap onto the inner flap and against the mandrel in the pressure position with a predefined pressure. 
     
     
         33 . The method for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 29 , wherein the folding the inner flap is performed at least partially simultaneously with the folding the outer flap. 
     
     
         34 . The method for packaging articles in boxes according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 during the displacing the abutting element from the at least one folding position to the pressure position, the abutting element completes the folding of the inner flap against the mandrel.