Transfer device for transferring foldable container

A transfer device for transferring a foldable container wherein said container is one which is formed from a thin flexible film material, has an approximately cubical shape when unfolded and is provided with a pour spout at one surface, wherein a plurality of said containers are folded into an approximately triangular shape by inverting one-half of said container within the other half of said container by folding along the diagonal plane which extends between a pair of diagonally opposing edges and passes through the center of said container, each folded container having an apex and an approximately rectangular bottom surface, wherein said containers are stacked to form a stacked configuration, having a top and a bottom, of said containers, wherein said transfer device comprises:

• a storage box which stores foldable containers including a pour spout, in a stacked configuration such that the apex of said foldable container is directed upward and the approximately rectangular bottom surface of said container is approximately horizontal and is supported by said storage box, wherein at least the bottom of said storage box is open and said storage box is provided with a shutter mechanism from which the container located at the bottom of the stack may be extracted;
• a container extraction mechanism disposed below said storage box and provided with a head part for sequentially extracting containers from the bottom of said stack of containers and subsequently inclining said container so that said pour spout is directed upward and, maintaining said container in this position, said head part is transported in the direction of said inclination of said container;
• and
• a transfer mechanism, disposed above said container extraction mechanism, said transfer mechanism having a chuck for grasping said pour spout on said container and transferring said container to a next processing step.