Abstract: A method for packaging flat articles in a stack in a package such as a box. In particular, the method is used to stack articles having different thicknesses at different ends in the direction of their plane. A stack portion is gripped by a gripping device and rotated 180° from the direction of an adjacent stack portion.

Abstract: In a method for packaging flat articles, articles are brought in a continuous stack (P) along a support level to a grouping station so that their planes are upright from the support level, wherein product batches to be placed in a package, such as a box, are separated from the stack by an automatic grouping device. For grouping articles having different thicknesses at different ends in the direction of their plane, a stack portion (OP) is separated from the stack, the stack portion is gripped by a gripping device, and it is rotated around one axis so that its direction deviates from the original. The first stack portions (OP) so rotated are placed next to such second stack portions, whose directions in relation to said one axis deviate 180.degree. from the direction of the first stack portions, and the first and second stack portion so placed next to each other are formed to the product batch to be placed in the package.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for packaging goods from a continuous stack. A conveyor is arranged on a base to move the continuous stack in a conveying direction. A separator means separates a stack portion of a predetermined size from the continuous stack. The stack portion is pushed aside from the conveying direction to a position within reach of a gripper. The gripper is used to transfer the stack along a second direction to at least one packaging position in a box or on a packaging blank. The gripper comprises at least two jaws which compress and hold the stack during the transfer. The gripper is arranged parallel to the base so that the base supports the stack portion from below during the transfer. In the method of the present invention, the stack portion is moved onto a cover part of a packaging blank and the packaging blank is folded around the stack portion to form a box.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging article goods, such as paper goods, forming a stack comprises a conveyor adapted to carry a continuous stack formed by identical individual articles, such as envelopes, and a displacer device located along one side of the stack advancing path and provided with a detector for a count article constituted by one of identical articles and protruding from the stack. A separator element is adapted to penetrate into the stack for producing a gap between a stack portion to be separated first from the stack and the rest of the stack. The apparatus also includes a pusher element which is located at the front of the separator element in the advancing direction of the conveyor and is adapted to move across the stack advancing path for displacing the stack portion to a further processing unit located along the other side of the advancing path. The separator element is aligned with a gripper which is adapted to clasp the protruding count article and then release it to be left in the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging article goods fed in a stack comprises a feeding table for introducing the goods with the individual articles in an upright position in the form of a continuous stack, the table defining a feeding path for the stack, an aftertreatment unit for receiving the goods from the table and a grouping device provided on the table and including a pusher for moving a batch of a predetermined size aside form the rest of the continuous stack to the aftertreatment unit. The grouping device is arranged in a frame movable in a vertical direction to an upper position above the table to leave the table free for manual handling. The apparatus further comprises releasable locking members for securing the movable frame in the upper position.