Patent ID: 7033129

Claim:
A method for feeding blanks ( 2 ) along a continuous feeding line to a boxing machine (AS), the blanks fed in a forward movement direction (A), the method comprising: providing a horizontal pocket conveyor ( 10 , 11 ) for feeding blanks to the feeding line, picking up a group ( 20 ) of blanks ( 2 ) in a flat configuration from a support platform; releasing each group ( 20 ) of blanks ( 2 ) between two adjacent prongs ( 13 ) extending upwardly from said horizontal pocket conveyor, said adjacent prongs defining a relative pocket (V) therebetween; locating receiving and supporting means ( 23 ) within the pocket, said receiving and supporting means being movable for moving the receiving and supporting means between a raised position and a lowered position; receiving said group of blanks on said receiving and supporting means when disposed in the raised position where said receiving and support means ( 23 ) are slightly raised with respect to a surface of said feeding line ( 1 ); moving said receiving and support means ( 23 ) to said lowered position which is slightly lowered with respect to said surface of said feeding line for transferring said group of blanks onto the surface of the feeding line; and, moving said group of blanks on said feeding line ( 1 ) in the forward movement direction (A) to said boxing machine.