Patent ID: 6991422

Claim:
A method of transferring blanks, on a packing machine, from a platform ( 16 ) supporting a number of blanks ( 2 ) divided into stacks ( 5 ), to a store ( 10 ) where the blanks ( 2 ) are packed successively and seamlessly along a first supply path (P 1 ) of a pickup station (Si) of the packing machine; the method comprising the steps of forming, at a loading station (S 3 ) and by means of at least one gripping device ( 14 , 15 ), a group ( 13 ) of blanks defined byat least two stacks ( 5 ) superimposed and aligned in a container ( 12 ); feeding the container ( 12 ) along a second path (P 2 ) to an unloading station (S 2 ) at the store ( 10 ); transferring said group ( 13 ) of blanks all together from the container ( 12 ) to the store ( 10 ); and guiding the travel of said container ( 12 ) to alter the orientation of the container ( 12 ) and of the group ( 13 ) of blanks during transfer along said second path (P 2 ); wherein the blanks ( 2 ) in said store ( 10 ) and in said container ( 12 ) at the unloading station (S 2 ) extend perpendicularly to a first direction (D 1 ), and the blanks ( 2 ) on said platform ( 16 ) and in said container ( 12 ) at the loading station (S 3 ) extend perpendicularly to a second direction (D 2 ) crosswise to the first direction (D 1 ).