Patent ID: 6128887
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: B65B,B65H

Abstract:
A method for packaging flat articles, the articles having planes and different thicknesses at different ends in the direction of their planes, the method comprising:moving the articles in a continuous stack along a support level, the planes of the articles being upright from the support level, to a grouping station;separating a first stack portion including several articles from the continuous stack;gripping the first stack potion with a gripping device having two jaws;rotating the first stack portion, while being held by the gripping device, by movement of the gripping device around a rotation axis so its direction deviates less than 180.degree. from its original direction;placing the rotated first stack portion next to a second stack portion whose plane is also upright and whose direction relative to the rotation axis deviates 180.degree. from the direction of the first stack portion and less than 180.degree. from the original direction, the first and second stack portions placed next to each other forming a product batch to be placed in a package; andtransferring the first and second stack portions with the gripping device away from the continuous stack in upright positions next to each other on a product batch forming level.