Method and device for packaging substantially flat products in a box

Abstract

A device for packaging substantially flat products ( 1 ) in a box ( 2 ), comprising a guide and a stop having a surface ( 7 ) perpendicular to said guide, said stop surface ( 7 ) being perpendicular to said guide, wherein a slot ( 8 ) extends between the end of said guide and said stop surface 7 ), means for holding a box ( 2 ) at the other side of said guide with its opening towards the slot, a reciprocating push member ( 23 ) arranged to push one or more products ( 1 ) through said slot ( 8 ) into said box ( 2 ) with each reciprocating movement, guide means ( 51 ) arranged to guide said products ( 1 ) into said box ( 2 ) such that they rest with one side against the bottom of the box and with their flat front side against a first end wall of the box ( 2 ) or against the flat back side of the one or more products that were previously pushed into the box, and box guidance means arranged to allow movement of the box relative to said slot from a start position to an end position such that the products fill the box from said first end wall towards the opposite end wall.

1 . A device for packaging substantially flat products in a box, comprising a guide and a stop having a surface perpendicular to said guide, wherein a slot extends between the end of said guide and said stop surface, means for holding a box at the other side of said guide with its opening towards the slot, a reciprocating push member arranged to push one or more products through said slot into said box with each reciprocating movement, guide means arranged to guide said products into said box such that they rest with one side against the bottom of the box and with their flat front side against a first end wall of the box or against the flat back side of the one or more products that were previously pushed into the box, and box guidance means arranged to allow movement of the box relative to said slot from a start position to an end position such that the products fill the box from said first end wall towards the opposite end wall. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said push member is plate shaped and has substantially the same thickness as the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said guide means extend from said slot towards and into the intended position of the opening of the box, and at least at its end extends obliquely towards the intended position of the first end wall of the box. 
     
     
         4 . Method for packaging substantially flat products in a box, wherein said products are transported along a guide towards the surface of a stop in a continuous flow wherein said products extend adjacent one another with their flat sides against each other, said stop surface being perpendicular to said guide, wherein a slot having a width of one or more products extends between the end of said guide and said stop surface, wherein a box is placed at the other side of said guide with its opening towards the slot, wherein repeatedly one or more products are pushed through said slot and guided into said box such that they rest with one side against the bottom of the box and with their flat front side against a first end wall of the box or against the flat back side of the one or more products that were previously pushed into the box, wherein the box is moved relative to said slot from a start position to an end position such that the products fill the box from said first end wall towards the opposite end wall. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the box is moved in the direction of the continuous product flow. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the box is moved by said products being pushed into the box. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said products are pushed through said slot by a push member which is plate shaped and has substantially the same thickness as the one or more products. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein, if said box is filled with products and at the end position, the movement of a push member is temporarily stopped while the filled box is being exchanged for an empty box at the start position. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said box is a carton box. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said box has the width and height of one product. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said box has a length so as to contain at least 20 of said products. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said products are paper booklets or folded papers. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said guide means extend from said slot towards and into the intended position of the opening of the box, and at least at its end extends obliquely towards the intended position of the first end wall of the box. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the box is moved by said products being pushed into the box. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said products are pushed through said slot by a push member which is plate shaped and has substantially the same thickness as the one or more products. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said products are pushed through said slot by a push member which is plate shaped and has substantially the same thickness as the one or more products. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, if said box is filled with products and at the end position, the movement of a push member is temporarily stopped while the filled box is being exchanged for an empty box at the start position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, if said box is filled with products and at the end position, the movement of a push member is temporarily stopped while the filled box is being exchanged for an empty box at the start position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein, if said box is filled with products and at the end position, the movement of the push member is temporarily stopped while the filled box is being exchanged for an empty box at the start position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said box has a length so as to contain at least 50 of said products.