CLOSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLOSING FOLDABLE PACKAGES

Abstract

A method for closing foldable packages and a closing device has a first support element having a first support surface on which a bottom flap of a package can be arranged, and a second support element having a second support surface on which a top flap of the package can be arranged. A first push-in bar and a second push-in bar of the closing device are moveable along a movement path which has in some portions a component parallel to a first transverse direction in order to push the package in the first transverse direction. By doing so, the bottom flap and the top flap are folded towards a frame of the package.

Claims

1. A closing device for closing foldable packages, each package having a frame, a bottom flap and a top flap, the closing device comprising: a conveying device for conveying the packages along a conveying path in a conveying direction, wherein the conveying device comprises a plurality of receivers, wherein each receiver has a bearing surface which delimits the receiver in a first transverse direction perpendicularly to the conveying direction and on which a package can be arranged; a first support element having a first support surface, and a second support element having a second support surface, wherein the first support surface and the second support surface are arranged in one plane and spaced apart from the bearing surfaces of the plurality of receivers, and wherein the first support element and the second support element are arranged spaced apart from one another in a second transverse direction, wherein the bottom flap of an open package is arrangeable on the first support surface, the top flap of the open package is arrangeable on the second support surface, and the frame of the open package is arrangeable above the bearing surface, wherein the second transverse direction is oriented perpendicularly to the first transverse direction and to the conveying direction; and a first push-in bar and a second push-in bar each extending substantially parallel to the conveying direction, wherein each of the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar is cyclically movable along a movement path which has at least in some portions a component parallel to the first transverse direction in order to push the package in the first transverse direction and, at the same time, to fold the bottom flap and the top flap towards the frame.

2. The closing device of claim 1, wherein, in a first movement portion, the movement path has a component parallel to the second transverse direction in order to move the first push-in bar above the bottom flap and the second push-in bar above the top flap, and, in a second movement portion, has the component parallel to the first transverse direction in order to push the package in the first transverse direction.

3. The closing device of claim 1, wherein the first push-in bar is connected to a first drive by means of a first coupling gear and the second push-in bar is connected to a second drive by means of a second coupling gear.

4. The closing device of claim 3, wherein each of the first coupling gear and the second coupling gear comprises a first member, a second member, a third member and a fourth member, wherein the first member and the second member are pivotably mounted on a base frame of the closing device, wherein the third member is pivotably connected to the first member and to the second member, wherein the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar are rigidly connected to the third member respectively, wherein the fourth member is pivotably connected to the first member, and wherein the first drive and the second drive are coupled to the fourth member respectively.

5. The closing device of claim 1, wherein the first support element has a first operative surface which adjoins the first support surface and which, in a start region of the closing device, is inclined relative to the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction towards the conveying path, and wherein the second support element has a second operative surface which adjoins the second support surface and which, in the start region, is inclined relative to the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction towards the conveying path.

6. The closing device of claim 1, wherein each of the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar has a substantially triangular cross section.

7. The closing device of claim 5, wherein the first push-in bar has an inclined side surface which, at least in the start region, is inclined relative to the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction, and wherein the second push-in bar has an inclined side surface which, at least in the start region, is inclined relative to the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction, wherein, at least in the start region of the closing device, the first operative surface and the inclined side surface of the first push-in bar are arranged substantially parallel to one another and the second operative surface and the inclined side surface of the second push-in bar are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

8. The closing device of claim 7, wherein an inclination of the first operative surface corresponds to an inclination of the inclined side surface of the first push-in bar and an inclination of the second operative surface corresponds to an inclination of the inclined side surface of the second push-in bar; and the inclination of the first operative surface and the second operative surface changes continuously along the conveying direction, in order to fold the bottom flap and the top flap further towards the frame.

9. The closing device of claim 1, wherein the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar are configured to taper in the conveying direction.

10. A method for closing foldable packages, each package having a frame, a bottom flap and a top flap, the method comprising the steps of: arranging an open package such that the bottom flap of the package bears against a first support surface of a first support element, the top flap of the package bears against a second support surface of a second support element, and the frame of the package is arranged above and spaced apart from a bearing surface of a receiver for the package in a first transverse direction; arranging a first push-in bar above the bottom flap and a second push-in bar above the top flap; moving each of the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar along a respective movement path which has at least in some portions a component parallel to the first transverse direction; and pushing the package in the first transverse direction towards the bearing surface by means of the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar during their movement along the movement path, wherein the bottom flap and the top flap are folded towards the frame by the first support element and the second support element, respectively.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of arranging the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar comprises the steps of moving the first push-in bar above the bottom flap and moving the second push-in bar above the top flap along a first movement portion of the movement path, in which the movement path has a component parallel to a second transverse direction which is oriented perpendicularly to the first transverse direction; and the step of moving the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar comprises a movement along a second movement portion of the movement path in which the movement path has the component parallel to the first transverse direction.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the bottom flap and the top flap are folded into an intermediate position by pushing the package in the first transverse direction, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: conveying the package in a conveying direction by means of a conveying device which comprises the receiver, and at the same time folding the bottom flap and the top flap from the intermediate position into an end position by means of the first support element and the second support element, respectively, wherein the conveying direction is oriented perpendicularly to the first transverse direction and to the second transverse direction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, after the step of pushing the package in the first transverse direction towards the bearing surface by means of the first push-in bar and the second push-in bar, the bottom flap is received in a first gap between the first push-in bar and the first support element and the top flap is received in a second gap between the second push-in bar and the second support element, wherein an inclination of the first gap and the second gap relative to the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction changes along the conveying direction.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first support surface and the second support surface are arranged in one plane spaced apart from the bearing surface, and the first support element and the second support element are arranged at a first distance from one another in the second transverse direction, wherein the first distance is larger than a dimension of the frame of the package in the second transverse direction and smaller than a dimension of the entire open package in the second transverse direction.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the packages are foldable trays each comprising a frame having at least four side walls, at least a first bottom flap and a second bottom flap and at least a first top flap and a second top flap, wherein in an erected state of the package adjacent side walls of the frame are oriented substantially perpendicularly to one another, wherein the first bottom flap and the first top flap each adjoin a first side wall of the frame along a fold, and the second bottom flap and the second top flap each adjoin a second side wall opposite the first side wall along a fold, wherein, in an open state of the package, the first bottom flap and the first top flap are arranged substantially in one plane with the first side wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a closing device in a perspective view.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows the closing device of FIG. 1 in a plan view.

[0069] FIGS. 3-7 show a detail of the closing device of FIG. 1 during a method for closing packages in a perspective view.

[0070] FIGS. 8-11 show a detail of the closing device of FIG. 1 during the method for closing packages in a front view.

[0071] FIG. 12 shows a detailed view of the region XII in FIG. 11 in a cross-sectional view along the line XII-XII in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] A closing device 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the closing device 2, FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the closing device 2 and FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the closing device 2. The closing device 2 serves for closing foldable packages 4 which in each case have a frame 6, at least one bottom flap 8 and at least one top flap 10.

[0073] In FIG. 1, a first package 4a of the packages 4 is shown before insertion into the closing device 2 and a second package 4b is shown after insertion into the closing device 2. The frame 6 of each package 4 may have four side walls 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d which are oriented substantially perpendicularly to one another in an erected state of the package 4. As a result, the frame 6 is substantially cuboidal and open on two opposing sides. In the embodiment shown, each of the packages 4 has a lower first bottom flap 8a, an upper second bottom flap 8b, a lower first top flap 10a and an upper second top flap 10b. The first bottom flap 8a and the first top flap 10a each adjoin a first side wall 6a of the frame 6 along a fold, and the second bottom flap 8b and the second top flap 10b each adjoin a second side wall 6c of the frame 6 opposing the first side wall 6a along a fold. The first bottom flap 8a and the second bottom flap 8b are provided on one side of the frame 6 on a first opening thereof, and the first top flap 10a and the second top flap 10b are provided on an opposing side of the frame 6 on a second opening thereof. In an open state of the package 4, the first bottom flap 8a and the first top flap 10a are arranged substantially in one plane with the first side wall 6a of the frame 6. In this state, the packages 4 are arranged in a start region 12 of the closing device 2, for example by being conveyed by means of a transport device (not shown) into the start region 12 or by being inserted by means of a transfer device (not shown) into the start region 12.

[0074] In the embodiment shown, the foldable packages 4 are formed by foldable trays for receiving solid products, such as for example containers, small bottles, vials or syringes. To this end, each tray has at least one recess 14 in at least one side wall 6c for receiving such a solid product. However, the packages 4 may also be different packages, such as for example folding boxes which can be used for receiving cosmetics or pharmaceutical products, such as blister packs.

[0075] It is also conceivable that the packages 4 each have only one bottom flap 8 and only one top flap 10. In this case, for example, each package 4 may have only the first bottom flap 8a as the bottom flap 8 and the first top flap 10a as the top flap 10. Unless described otherwise, all of the specifications herein also apply to such an embodiment.

[0076] The closing device 2 comprises a conveying device 16 for conveying the packages 4 along a conveying path 18 in a conveying direction F. The conveying device 16 comprises a plurality of receivers 20 for receiving a package 4 in each case, wherein each receiver 20 has a bearing surface 22 (see FIG. 3) which delimits the receiver 20 in a first transverse direction Q1 perpendicular to the conveying direction F and on which a package 4 can be arranged. The plurality of receivers 20 are preferably arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction F. The conveying device 16 may comprise a plurality of delimiting elements 24 which delimit the plurality of receivers 20 to the front and to the rear parallel to the conveying direction F. For example, the conveying device 16 is configured as a packaged goods transport device comprising a plurality of cell angles as the delimiting elements 24. Preferably, each delimiting element 24 has a first leg 24a and a second leg 24b which are oriented substantially perpendicularly to one another. The first leg 24a delimits the respective receiver 20 parallel to the conveying direction F. The second leg 24b delimits the respective receiver 20 parallel to the first transverse direction Q1 and defines the bearing surface 22.

[0077] The conveying direction F, the first transverse direction Q1 and a second transverse direction Q2 define a right-angled coordinate system in which the first transverse direction Q1 and the second transverse direction Q2 are oriented perpendicularly to one another and perpendicularly to the conveying direction F.

[0078] The closing device 2 further comprises a first support element 26 having a first support surface 28 and a second support element 30 having a second support surface 32. The first support surface 28 and the second support surface 32 are arranged in one plane and spaced apart from the bearing surfaces 22 of the plurality of receivers 20 in the first transverse direction Q1.

[0079] The first support element 26 and the second support element 30 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the second transverse direction Q2. The first support surface 28 and the second support surface 32 should be provided at least in the start region 12 of the closing device 2. In the start region 12 of the closing device 2, the conveying path 18 is defined between the first support element 26 and the second support element 30. A first distance D1 between the first and the second support element 26, 30 parallel to the second transverse direction Q2 corresponds at least to the dimension of the frame 6 of an inserted package 4 so that the package can be received between the first and the second support element 26, 30.

[0080] If an open, erected package 4 is arranged in a receiver 20 in the start region 12 of the closing device 2, the bottom flap 8a of this package 4 is at least partially arranged on the first support surface 28, the top flap 10a of this package 4 is arranged at least partially on the second support surface 32, and the frame 6 of this package 4 is arranged above and spaced apart from the bearing surface 22. The first distance D1 between the first and the second support element 26, 30 parallel to the second transverse direction Q2 is thus preferably smaller than a dimension of the open package 4 parallel to the second transverse direction Q2 including the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a protruding from the frame 6, so that the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a come to rest on the respective support surface 28, 32.

[0081] The closing device 2 further comprises a first push-in bar 34 and a second push-in bar 36 which extend substantially parallel to the conveying direction F. The first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 are configured to push the package 4 in the first transverse direction Q1 from the position in which the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are arranged on the support elements 26, 30, thereby folding the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a towards the frame 6. To this end, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 are movable cyclically back and forth along a movement path B which is indicated in FIGS. 8 and 12, and which has at least in some portions a component parallel to the first transverse direction Q1. A first movement path of the first push-in bar 34 (not shown) is identified in FIG. 8 by reference sign B1 and a second movement path of the second push-in bar 36 is identified by reference sign B2.

[0082] The bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a initially bear against the first support surface 28 and the second support surface 32, respectively. During their movement along the movement path B, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 come into contact with the package 4 and push the frame 6 in the first transverse direction Q1. The bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are retained by the first and by the second support element 26, 30 and are thereby folded about the fold between the first side wall 6a of the frame 6 and the respective flap 8a, 10a, as described herein in detail with reference to the method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, it is advantageous for the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 to come into contact with the package 4 in a region of the fold between the frame 6 and the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a, respectively. The folds extend parallel to the conveying direction F.

[0083] In order to be positioned as close as possible to the frame 6, and to be able to act on the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a in the region of the fold in a defined manner at the same time, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 may, at least in the start region 12, have a substantially triangular cross section, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 11 and 12. Referring now to FIG. 12, this is described by way of example on the basis of the second push-in bar 36, but applies equally to the first push-in bar 34. A first side surface 38 of the second push-in bar 36 is arranged in a plane parallel to the first transverse direction Q1 and to the conveying direction F and may therefore be positioned as close as possible to the frame 6, although, in a direction parallel to the conveying direction F, the push-in bar 36 protrudes on both sides over the package 4, and thus cannot enter the interior of the frame 6. An inclined side surface 40 of the second push-in bar 36, which is also denoted the second side surface 40, is inclined relative to the first transverse direction Q1 and the second transverse direction Q2. An angle ? is defined starting from a plane, which is oriented parallel to the conveying direction F and to the first transverse direction Q1, to the inclined side surface 40 and is less than 90?.

[0084] The first side surface 38 and the second side surface 40 meet in an edge 42 which extends parallel to the conveying direction F and is directed downwardly in the first transverse direction Q1. As a result, the edge 42 may be arranged above the fold between the top flap 10a and the first side wall 6a of the frame 6 and come into contact with the package 4 in the region of the fold. The inclined second side surface 40 permits the folding of the top flap 10a about the edge 42 towards the frame 6.

[0085] The first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 are preferably arranged and configured symmetrically to one another relative to a plane of symmetry S. The first movement path B1 and the second movement path B2 are preferably configured symmetrically relative to the plane of symmetry S. The plane of symmetry S is preferably oriented parallel to the conveying direction F and to the first transverse direction Q1. All of the features described with respect to one of the push-in bars 34, 36 may thus equally apply to both push-in bars 34, 36. Moreover, all of the features described with respect to one of the movement paths B1, B2 may equally apply to both movement paths B1, B2. Thus, when features are described which apply to both movement paths B1, B2, it is herein also referred to the movement path B.

[0086] For realizing the movement path B, it is possible to use coupling gears, for example in the form of double rockers, wherein the movement path B can be adapted particularly easily to the conditions in the closing device 2 by the configuration of the coupling gears. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 the first push-in bar 34 is connected to a first drive 46 by means of a first coupling gear 44, and the second push-in bar 36 is connected to a second drive 50 by means of a second coupling gear 48. The first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 may extend, for example, counter to the conveying direction F beyond the start region 12 and may be connected to the coupling gears 44, 48 outside the start region 12, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The first coupling gear 44 and the second coupling gear 48 are configured to convert a rotational drive movement of the first drive 46 and the second drive 50, respectively, into a movement of the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 corresponding to the movement path B.

[0087] The first coupling gear 44 and the second coupling gear 48 are preferably configured and arranged symmetrically relative to the plane of symmetry S. The second coupling gear 48 is described hereinafter in a representational manner on the basis of FIG. 8, wherein the first coupling gear 44 is configured in an analogous manner. The second coupling gear 48 may comprise a first member 52, a second member 54, a third member 56 and a fourth member 58. Each member is configured in a substantially bar-shaped or strip-shaped manner. The first member 52 and the second member 54 are pivotably mounted on a base frame 60 of the closing device 2. The third member 56 is pivotably connected to the first member 52 and the second member 54. The second push-in bar 36 is attached to the third member 56.

[0088] More specifically, the second push-in bar 36 is attached to a first end portion 56a of the third member 56, for example by means of a clamp 62 which secures a clamping portion of the second push-in bar positively and/or non-positively. As a result, the second push-in bar 36 can be easily mounted and replaced. Generally, the clamping portion of the second push-in bar 36 can have a substantially rectangular cross section.

[0089] A second end portion 56b of the third member 56 is connected to a first end portion 52a of the first member 52. A second end portion 52b of the first member 52 is connected to the fourth member 58, wherein the first member 52 is pivotably mounted on the base frame 60 between the first end portion 52a and the second end portion 52b. The fourth member 58 can be mounted eccentrically with respect to an axis of rotation of the second drive 50. The second member 54 is mounted on the base frame 60 in a first end portion 54a and connected to the third member 56 in a second end portion 54b.

[0090] A method for closing foldable packages 4 according to an aspect of the disclosure is described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 12, wherein FIGS. 3 to 7 are perspective views and FIGS. 8 to 12 are front views in conveying direction F. In FIGS. 8 to 11, the conveying device 16 is indicated only schematically in order to identify the bearing surface 22. The method is preferably carried out by the closing device 2 as described above. All of the features described in the context of the method also relate to the closing device 2 per se, substantially independently of the method.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8, initially an erected open package 4 is arranged in the closing device 2 such that the bottom flap 8a of the package 4 bears against the first support surface 28 of the first support element 26, the top flap 10a bears against the second support surface 32 of the second support element 30, and the frame 6 is arranged above the bearing surface 22 and spaced apart from the bearing surface 22. The package 4 can be received in a receiver 20, in particular between a front and a rear delimiting element 24 of the receiver 20. In the meantime, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 may be located in an outer extreme position of the respective movement path B, in which they are furthest away from the conveying path 18 in the second transverse direction Q2 in order to clear the receiver 20 for inserting the package 4.

[0092] As shown in FIGS. 4, 9 and 10, the first push-in bar 34 is then arranged above the bottom flap 8a and the second push-in bar 36 is arranged above the top flap 10a. To this end, the first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 may each be moved, starting from the outer extreme position, along the first movement portion A1 of the movement path B towards the package 4. In the first movement portion A1, the movement path B has a component parallel to the second transverse direction Q2 so that the first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 are also moved at least in the second transverse direction Q2 or substantially parallel to the second transverse direction Q2. The position of the package 4 remains substantially unaltered in the meantime.

[0093] Then, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 are moved along the second movement portion A2 of the movement path B in which the movement path B has a component parallel to the first transverse direction Q1, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11 and the detailed view in FIG. 12. In the second movement portion A2, the first and the second push-in bars 34, 36 also move at least in the first transverse direction Q1 or substantially parallel to the first transverse direction Q1. With this movement, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 come into contact with the package 4, in particular with an edge 42 of the push-in bars 34, 36 at the region of the fold between the bottom or top flap 8a, 10a and the frame 6. As a result, the first and the second push-in bars 34, 36 push the package 4 towards the bearing surface 22. The bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are retained by the first and by the second support element 26, 30 while the frame 6 is pushed towards the bearing surface 22. The bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are folded towards the frame 6 about the edge 43 of the first and second push-in bar 34, 36, respectively. The first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 are moved into a lower extreme position of the movement path B in which they have pushed the package 4 furthest into the first transverse direction Q1.

[0094] The movement path B of each push-in bar 34, 36 runs from the outer extreme position to the lower extreme position and from there back to the outer extreme position. The path of the movement path B from the outer extreme position to the lower extreme position may coincide with the path of the movement path B from the lower extreme position to the outer extreme position, such that as little space as possible has to be provided for the movement of the push-in bars 34, 36. Such a movement can be implemented by means of the coupling gears 44, 48.

[0095] By moving the first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 along the second movement portion A2, the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are folded into an intermediate position, which is shown in FIG. 12. In the intermediate position, the bottom flap 8a is received in a first gap between the first support element 26 and the first push-in bar 34 and the top flap 10a is received in a second gap 64 between the second support element 30 and the second push-in bar 36.

[0096] The first support element 26 preferably has a first operative surface 66 (see FIG. 3) which adjoins the first support surface 28 along a first edge. Correspondingly, the second support element 30 may have a second operative surface 68 (see FIGS. 7, 12) which adjoins the second support surface 32 along a second edge 70. In the start region 12, the first operative surface 66 and the second operative surface 68 are inclined relative to the first transverse direction Q1 and the second transverse direction Q2 toward the conveying path 18. An angle ? from the respective support surface 28, 32 to the corresponding operative surface 66, 68 is greater than 90? and preferably between 110? and 160? (see FIG. 12).

[0097] For forming the first gap and the second gap 64, it is preferred that, at least in the start region 12, the first operative surface 66 is oriented parallel to the inclined side surface 40 of the first push-in bar 34 and the second operative surface 68 is oriented parallel to the inclined side surface 40 of the second push-in bar 36. A distance between the inclined side surfaces 40 and the operative surfaces 66, 68 corresponds at least to the material thickness of the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a. As a result, in the intermediate position, the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are inclined according to the inclination of the operative surfaces 66, 68 and the inclined side surfaces 40.

[0098] The inclination of the first operative surface 66 and the inclination of the second operative surface 68 relative to the first transverse direction Q1 and the second transverse direction Q2 preferably changes along the conveying direction F until the first operative surface 66 and the second operative surface 68 are oriented substantially parallel to the first transverse direction Q1 and the conveying direction F or perpendicularly to the second transverse direction Q2. The inclination of side surfaces 40 of the first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 may change accordingly, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 7 on the first push-in bar 34.

[0099] In order to fold the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a from the intermediate position into an end position, in which they are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first side wall 6a, the package 4 is conveyed in the conveying direction F by means of the conveying device 16 as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are increasingly folded towards the frame 6 by the first operative surface 66 and the second operative surface 68, respectively.

[0100] Further, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 may be configured so as to taper in the conveying direction F, in order to permit the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a to approach the frame 6. Accordingly, the first operative surface 66 and the second operative surface 68 approach the conveying path 18 between the first support element 26 and the second support element 30. Finally, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 end, and the first operative surface 66 and the second operative surface 68 as well as the first and the second gap 64 phase out into the conveying path 18, as can also be seen in FIGS. 3 to 7. At this time, the bottom flap 8a and the top flap 10a are in the end position, and can be held in the end position by the first support element 26 and the second support element 30 or by components of the closing device 2 which follow thereafter.

[0101] The first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 remain in the lower extreme position until the package 4 has left the start region 12 in the conveying direction F and has passed the end of the push-in bars 34, 36. Then, a new package 4 may be inserted into the closing device 2 so that the method can be repeated for this new package. To this end, the first push-in bar 34 and the second push-in bar 36 are initially moved from the lower extreme position along the movement path B to the outer extreme position. As soon as the first and the second push-in bar 34, 36 clear a receiver 20 of the conveying device 16, the next package 4 can be inserted into the closing device 2. The first and the second push-in bars 34, 36 return to the outer extreme position and move back towards the lower extreme position, whereby a bottom flap 8a and a top flap 10a of the next package 4 are folded into the intermediate position, as described above.

[0102] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7, the upper bottom flap 8b and the upper top flap 10b, if present, are generally easily accessible and can be allocated and folded towards the frame 6 in a conventional manner. To this end, the closing device 2 may comprise a first rail 72 and a second rail 74 which are arranged and configured such that the upper bottom flap 8b and the upper top flap 10b initially approach the first and second rail 72, 74, respectively, along the conveying path 18. The first rail 72 and the second rail 74 then run increasingly in the first transverse direction Q1 and in the second transverse direction Q2 in order to come into contact with the bottom flap 8b and the top flap 10b from above and to fold the flaps increasingly towards the frame 6 while the package 4 is being moved in the conveying direction F. A hold-down device 76 may be provided in order to hold the package 4 in the receiver 20 in the meantime.

[0103] In this manner, the lower bottom flap 8b and the lower top flap 10b of the packages 4 can be reliably closed, even if they are only accessible with difficulty in the conveying device 16 and the use of conventional deflecting means for closing the flaps 8b, 10b is not possible or only possible with difficulty.

[0104] It goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in detail, and further modifications and alternatives within the scope of the accompanying claims are obvious to a person skilled in the art on the basis of the description of preferred embodiments contained herein.