An apparatus for realising at least two continuous cardboard strips for packaging having different width by consecutively joining to one another at least two respective pluralities of cardboard sheets for packaging of different width, comprising:
- a first store, configured for containing a first plurality of cardboard sheets each having a first width, stacked on one another to form a first stack;
- a second store, configured for containing a second plurality of cardboard sheets each having a second width, stacked on one another to form a second stack, wherein the second store is arranged upstream of the first store (M1) and at a raised height with respect to the first store;
- a first operating station, arranged above the first store and configured to collect a first sheet having the first width from the first stack of sheets, to apply adhesive material on a first transversal end portion of the first sheet, to transfer the first sheet along a first longitudinal advancement direction with respect to the first store and position it downstream of the first store with the first transversal end portion of the first sheet arranged upstream, and then, in succession, to collect a second sheet having the first width from the first stack of sheets, to apply adhesive material on a first transversal end portion of the second sheet, to transfer the second sheet along the first longitudinal advancement direction and position it downstream of the first store in such a way as to superpose a second transversal end portion of the second sheet, opposite the first transversal end portion on which the adhesive material has been applied, above the first transversal end portion of the first sheet on which the adhesive material has been applied, and then to push and press the second transversal end portion of the second sheet against the first transversal end portion of the first sheet in such a way as to fix them to one another and form a first continuous cardboard strip having a width identical to the first width of the sheets present in the first stack of the first store,
- a second operating station, arranged above the second store configured to collect a first sheet having a second width from the second stack of sheets, to apply adhesive material on a first transversal end portion of the first sheet, to transfer the first sheet along a second longitudinal advancement direction, arranged superiorly to the first longitudinal advancement direction, with respect to the second store and to position the first sheet at a second side downstream of the second store with the first transversal end portion of the first sheet arranged upstream, and then, in succession, to collect a second sheet having the second width from the second stack of sheets, to apply adhesive material on a first transversal end portion of the second sheet, to transfer the second sheet along the second longitudinal advancement direction and to position the second sheet at the second side downstream of the second store in such a way as to superpose a second transversal end portion of the second sheet, opposite the first transversal end portion on which the adhesive material has been applied, above the first transversal end portion of the first sheet on which the adhesive material has been applied, and then to push and press the second transversal end portion of the second sheet against the first transversal end portion of the first sheet in such a way as to fix them to one another and form a second continuous cardboard strip having a width identical to the second width of the sheets present in the second stack of the second store;
- a final cutting station, arranged downstream of the first store and of the second store with respect to the first longitudinal advancement direction and to the second longitudinal advancement direction, comprising cutting means for cutting a cardboard sheet from a continuous cardboard sheet;
- first directing means, arranged downstream of the first store, configured to advance the first continuous cardboard strip and switch it in such a way that an advanced portion of the first continuous cardboard strip is fed into and positioned at the final cutting station;
- second directing means, arranged downstream of the second store, configured to advance the second continuous cardboard strip and switch it in such a way that an advanced portion of the second continuous cardboard strip is fed in and positioned at the final cutting station, above the advanced portion of the first continuous cardboard strip;
- first advancement means, arranged in the final cutting station and configured to contact the advanced portion of the first continuous cardboard strip;
- second advancement means, arranged in the final cutting station and configured to contact the advanced portion of the second continuous cardboard strip;
- wherein, the first advancement means and the second advancement means are alternatively activatable in such a way as to advance the first continuous cardboard strip or the second continuous cardboard strip to the cutting means so that the cutting means can be activated to cut the first continuous cardboard strip, and obtain a first cardboard sheet for packaging having the first width for packaging a respective first article, or a first group of articles, or to cut the second continuous cardboard strip, and obtain a second cardboard sheet for packaging having the second width for packaging a respective second article, or a second group of articles.