Packaging device for packaging articles into boxes and relative packaging method

A packaging device for packaging articles into boxes comprising:

• a mandrel configured to accommodate therein one or more of said articles, the mandrel adapted to be at least partially wrapped by a blank to form a partially closed box, and
• a closing group arranged to at least partially overlap and fix an outer flap of the blank onto an inner flap of the blank when the blank is at least partially wrapped on the mandrel, the closing group comprising:
• an abutting element movable with respect to the mandrel between a rest position and a pressing position, the abutting element comprising:
• i) at least one contact element having at least one contact surface to abut the mandrel at an abutment surface of said mandrel,
• ii) one or more compensating elements configured to compensate for a misalignment between the abutment surface of the mandrel and the at least one contact surface of the abutting element, and
• a displacement member configured to displace the abutting element between the rest position and the pressing position,
• wherein:
• in the resting position, the abutting element is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel, and
• in the pressing position, the abutting element is in an abutted position to press the outer flap on the inner flap against the abutment surface of the mandrel, and the abutment surface of the mandrel and the at least one contact surface of the abutting element are parallel one to another.

A method for packaging articles into boxes comprising:

• a) arranging a blank at least partially around a mandrel, the mandrel containing one or more of said articles therein to form a partially closed box around said mandrel, an outer flap of the blank being at least partially overlappable on an inner flap of the blank, the outer flap and the inner flap being fixable on each other when pressed against each other;
• b) arranging an abutting element movable with respect to the mandrel between a rest position in which the abutting element is in a remote position with respect to the mandrel, and a pressing position in which the abutting element is in an abutting position to press the outer flap on the inner flap and against an abutment surface of said mandrel, the abutting element comprising at least one contact surface to abut the mandrel at said abutment surface;
• c) folding the inner flap at least partially towards the abutment surface of said mandrel;
• d) folding the outer flap on the inner flap and against said abutment surface of said mandrel;
• e) pressing the outer flap onto the inner flap and against said abutment surface of said mandrel by moving the abutting element to the pressing position, wherein, as a result of said pressing, the at least one contact surface of the abutting element is arranged parallel to the abutment surface of the mandrel to exert a substantially uniform pressure on said outer flap and on said inner flap.