Carton loading device comprising a gripper assembly

A carton loading device comprising a gripper assembly, which comprises at least one gripper arranged to grip and hold a product item from above and to lower the product item from above into a carton, wherein the carton along first parallel sides thereof comprises bottom side flaps and top side flaps and along second parallel sides thereof comprises bottom end flaps and top end flaps,

• characterized in that
• the gripper assembly is arranged to move said product item from a pick-up station of the carton loading device to a carton loading station thereof and to lower said product item into the carton while the carton in the carton loading station is presented in a sleeve state with all flaps unfolded,
• that the gripper assembly comprises a pinching means arranged to pinch and hold the top side flaps of the carton in the carton loading station,
• that the gripper assembly is arranged to hold and move the carton and said product item jointly to a carton closing station of the carton loading device, and
• that the gripper assembly is arranged to release said product item and the carton once the bottom side flaps and the bottom end flaps have been folded in and secured.