Apparatus for and method of packaging stackable 0bjects, in particular printed products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device ( 10 ) and a method for packaging stackable objects, particularly printed products, in a container, preferably a slip-lid box made of a bottom ( 23 ) and a lid ( 24 ). The device has a first slip-on device ( 34 ) for slipping the bottom ( 23 ) with the open side thereof on a product stack ( 3 a ) from above, a turnover device ( 7 ) for turning over the stack ( 3 b ) provided with the slipped-on container part ( 23 ) by 180 about a horizontal axis such that the open side of the first container part ( 23 ) after turning over is oriented upward, and a cover device ( 35 ) for closing the container after the turnover step. Closing occurs by slipping on a slip-lid box lid part ( 24 ) over the turned, slipped-on container part ( 23 ) in a second slip-on device ( 35 ).

1 .- 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for packaging stackable products, in particular printed products, in a container having a first container portion with a bottom and with side walls extending from the bottom, wherein the container portion has an open side in opposition to the bottom, said apparatus comprising:
 a first fitting-over device for placing the bottom of the container portion on a top side of a product stack;   a turning device for turning the product stack provided with the container portion in such a way that the open side of the container portion is oriented upwardly after a turning operation; and   a covering device for closing the open side of the container portion after the turning operation.   
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first fitting-over device is adapted to fit the first container portion over the product stack from above, wherein the turning device is adapted to turn the product stack provided with the first container portion about a horizontal axis and about an angle of about 180°, said turning device including retaining means to prevent products from falling out during the turning operation. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the product stack includes one or more individual stacks in-side-by-side relationship, each said stack of the product stack having one or more products. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the covering device is constructed in the form of a second fitting-over device which subsequently to the turning operation fits a second container portion, which has a lid and side walls extending from the lid and which has an open side in opposition to the lid, over the product stack having the first container portion. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising a transport device having a transport path, along which the product stack is fed in succession to the first fitting-over device, the turning device, and the covering device. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the first container portion is in the form of a telescope-type box bottom portion, and the second container portion is in the form of a telescope-type box lid portion, and further comprising a transport device for transporting the product stack along a predetermined transport section, wherein the first fitting-over device is adapted for fitting the telescope-type box bottom portion over the product stack in a first transport position of the product stack, wherein the second fitting-over device is adapted to fit the telescope-type box lid portion over the product stack provided with the bottom portion fitted thereover in a second transport position of the product stack, and wherein the turning device is arranged along the transport section between the first transport position and the second transport position. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the transport device is constructed to provide a cyclic transport of the product stack. 
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the turning device pivots about an axis of rotation which extends above the transport path. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the turning device is constructed to pivot the product stack substantially about its center of gravity. 
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a control device constructed to actuate the first fitting-over device, the covering device, the turning device, and the transport device for implementation of a cyclic operation. 
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising a first magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box bottom portions, and a second magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box lid portions, wherein the first and second magazines are adapted to receive the bottom and lid portions in a flat state thereof. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein at least one member of the group consisting of the first fitting-over device and the second fitting-over device has erecting means for erecting the side walls of the bottom portion and the lid portion, respectively. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the erecting means has at least one pivotal arm in the form of a suction gripper and a suction device engaging a side wall of the container or lid portion respectively. 
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of the first and second fitting-over devices has lowering means for lowering the respective one of the erected bottom or lid portions over the product stack. 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the lowering means is constructed in the form of abutment elements which are guided from beneath a transport path of the transport device along at least two opposite sides of the product stack, said abutment elements having upper ends provided with gripping elements which engage behind at least two oppositely disposed side walls of the first and second container portions to be fitted over, said abutment elements constructed to move downwardly and thereby pull the respective one of the first and second container portions over the product stack. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising a separating device for selective removal of an individual bottom or lid portion from a stock of bottom or lid portions. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the separating device has at least one brush bar constructed to laterally engage a lowermost container portion of a container portion stack during removal and thereby block a follow-on slipping movement of a container portion disposed above the container portion just being removed, wherein the at least one brush bar is brought out of engagement with the container portion stack to cause a follow-on slipping movement of a next container portion. 
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the transport device has a transport path extending along the transport section and at least one guide element for guiding the product stack on the transport path. 
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the transport path has at least three parallel rows of free-running roller tracks, wherein the guide element has at least two guide entrainment members which are coupled together and movable between the roller tracks in a vertical direction into and out of the transport path plane and in a horizontal direction parallel to the roller tracks. 
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the transport path has at least three pairs of said guide element for cyclic movement of product stacks along the transport path, wherein a first guide element pair is provided for moving a product stack from a starting position to the first fitting-over device, a second guide element pair is provided for moving the product stack from the first fitting-over device to the turning device, and a third guide element pair for moving the product stack from the turning device to the second fitting-over device, wherein each of the guide element pairs is moved from its starting position out of a plane of the transport path in such a way that the two guide elements of each guide element pair are disposed in a transport direction immediately in front of and behind the product stack to be transported, that the guide element pairs are then moved together with the product stack in the transport direction to a respective target position, and that then the guide element pairs are lowered again below the transport path and moved back to their starting position. 
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the transport device has at least one further guide element for moving the product stack from the second fitting-over device to a discharge position. 
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein a drive of the guide elements is constructed such that the two guide elements at least of the first guide element pair in the starting position are at a greater relative spacing in the transport direction than in the target position so that the product stack is oriented in the transport direction. 
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , further comprising a first magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box bottom portions, and a second magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box lid portions, wherein the first and third guide element pairs are constructed to lower an erected bottom or lid portion out of the magazines of the first and second fitting-over device. 
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein at least one of the first and second fitting-over devices is provided with a pair of side abutments for orientation of the product stack transversely relative to the transport direction, said side abutments being arranged laterally on the transport path and constructed to bear prior to a fitting-over operation against opposite sides of the product stack in parallel relationship to the transport direction. 
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , further comprising a first magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box bottom portions, and a second magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box lid portions, wherein the side abutments are constructed to lower an erected bottom portion or lid portion out of the magazines for the first and second fitting-over devices. 
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the turning device has a carrier arranged laterally of a transport path of the product stack and rotatable about a horizontal axis which extends transversely to a transport direction, and first and second turning forks arranged on the carrier for linear movement, wherein one of the first and second turning forks during the transport operation for the product stack into the turning device is positioned in a plane or beneath the plane of the transport path and the other one of the first and second turning forks is positioned above the transport path, wherein the first and second turning forks are constructed to move towards each other for realization of the turning operation, wherein the product stack is lifted off the transport path and clamped between the first and second turning forks, whereupon the carrier is rotated by about 180° and the turned product stack is lowered onto the transport path again. 
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising a device for automatic labelling of and/or inscription on a respective one of the bottom portion and the lid portion. 
   
   
       61 . A method of packaging stackable products, in particular printed products, in a container with a first container portion which has a bottom and side walls extending from the bottom, wherein the first container portion has an open side in opposition to the bottom, and a second container portion which covers the first container portion at the open side, said method comprising the steps of:
 fitting the first container portion with its open side over a product stack; and   closing the first container portion by placing the second container portion against the product stack in a direction in opposition to a movement during the fitting step.   
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the product stack is turned between the fitting and closing steps in such a way that the first container portion is open upwardly. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the closing step includes the step of lowering the second container portion onto the product stack. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the closing step includes the step of fitting the second container portion over the first container portion, with the second container portion including a lid and side walls, which extend from the lid, and having an open side in opposition to the lid. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the first container portion is constructed in the form of a telescope-type box bottom portion, and the second container portion is constructed in the form of a telescope-type box lid portion, said method further comprising the steps of:
 transporting the product stack along a predetermined transport path;   fitting the telescope-type box bottom portion over the product stack in a first transport position of the product stack;   fitting the telescope-type box lid portion over the product stack provided with the bottom portion fitted thereover, in a second transport position of the product stack; and   turning the product stack provided with the telescope-type box bottom portion fitted thereover in a turning position situated along the transport path between the first transport position and the second transport position, with the turning operation being effected between the step of fitting the telescope-type box bottom portion and the step of fitting the telescope-type box lid portion.   
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the closing step includes the step of folding the first container portion over closure elements provided on the first container portion into a closure position.