Patent ID: 7243481

Claim:
A method of packing a product in a flat tubular package having two first lateral walls; and two second lateral walls, each connected on one side to one first lateral wall, and on the other side to the other first lateral wall, by respective preformed fold lines; the method comprising the steps of engaging a first lateral wall of the flat tubular package and a second lateral wall of the flat tubular package by means of a first portion and a second portion respectively of a first suction gripping head, generating a rotational movement between the first and second portion of the first suction gripping head, to rotate the first and second lateral wall engaged by the first suction gripping head with respect to each other, and so convert the flat tubular package from the flat configuration to an open configuration, and inserting the product inside the open tubular package; wherein the first and second portion of the first suction gripping head are hinged and rotated about an axis of rotation not coincident with the fold line between the first and second lateral wall engaged by the first suction gripping head; wherein the first and second portion of the first suction gripping head comprise respective suction cups; and wherein the suction cups of the second portion are fitted to the second portion to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation during the rotational movement between the first and second portion of the first suction gripping head.