AUTOMATED BOX GLUING DEVICE

摘要

A gluing device for automatically gluing and folding a gluable item. The gluing device includes a support structure upon which a gluing apparatus and a support plate assembly are mounted. The support plate is configured for supporting and aligning a gluable item for gluing and assembly by the gluing apparatus. The gluing apparatus includes a first clamp configured for selectively and securely holding a first portion of the gluable item on the support plate, a glue dispensing nozzle fluidly coupled to a glue supply, and a folding apparatus configured for folding the first portion of the gluable item onto a second portion of the gluable item after glue has been applied. A method for automatically gluing and folding a gluable item is also disclosed.

主权项

1. A gluing device, comprising:
a gluing apparatus having a glue dispensing nozzle fluidly coupled to a glue supply, wherein the glue dispensing nozzle is operatively coupled to a track structure and a motorized drive assembly to facilitate movement of the glue dispensing nozzle from a first position to a second position so as to enable application of glue along a length of at least one edge surface of a box blank, the box blank having a plurality of side-by-side panels and at least one glue tab extending from a first panel of the box blank; a support plate configured for supporting the box blank as the glue dispensing nozzle applies glue thereto; at least one alignment means for aligning the box blank on the support plate substantially below the glue dispensing nozzle; at least one sensor configured for detecting a first end and a second end of the glue tab, wherein the at least one sensor is operatively associated with the glue dispensing nozzle so as to cause the glue dispensing nozzle to apply glue to the box blank only between the first and second ends of the glue tab; a first clamp configured for selectively and securely holding at least a portion of glue tab on the support plate; a second clamp configured for selectively and securely holding a second portion of the packaging material on the support plate; and a folding apparatus configured for folding the glue tab onto an adjacent panel of the box blank after glue has been applied to at least one edge surface of at least one of the glue tab or the adjacent panel.