Patent attributes
In a method for packaging articles, a tubular blank is conveyed in flat folded configuration to an erecting station to be engaged and rotated by suction cups. The raised blank assumes a parallelepiped shape with a vertical axis, while a striker hits a lateral wall of the blank, so that the blank is erected in a box. While the box is being moved, first and second lower flaps are then folded before the blank is placed on a support plane and moved, by driving and guiding conveyors, to a filling station for insertion of articles, supplied along a vertical direction, into the box. Lastly, the box with the articles therein is moved by the driving and guiding conveyors to subsequent stations for folding lower lateral flaps and upper flaps to close the bottom and the cover of the box. A machine is provided for carrying out the method, with an erecting station and a filling station joined by a horizontal support plane. The blanks are erected in the erecting station and moved to the filling station along the horizontal plane. Flaps are closed during the motion of the blanks before reaching the filling station. After insertion of the articles, the boxes are closed.
