Method and device for stacking flat-folded boxes

Machine for building a stack of stiff flat articles, comprising:

• an input device for feed of a horizontal flow of flat articles in an overlapping shingled relationship and travelling in a first direction, the horizontal flow of articles being under-stacked;
• a pusher mechanism for engaging with a side of one of the flat articles and for driving a plurality of flat articles into a vertical stack at a first location;
• wherein:
• the pusher mechanism comprises:
• a transport means for movement in the first direction;
• a top pusher mechanism mounted on the transport means,
• the machine further comprising:
• a control device for controlling movements of the pusher mechanisms, the control device controlling the operation of the top pusher mechanism such that:
• the top-pusher mechanism at least pushes off a plurality of flat articles to form the vertical stack.

Machine for building a stack of stiff flat articles, comprising:

• an input device for feed of a horizontal flow of flat articles in an overlapping shingled relationship and travelling in a first direction, the horizontal flow of articles being top-stacked;
• a pusher mechanism for engaging with a side of one of the flat articles and for driving a plurality of flat articles into a vertical stack at a first location;
• wherein:
• the pusher mechanism comprises:
• a transport means for movement in the first direction;
• a bottom-pusher mechanism mounted on the transport means and including at least one pusher,
• the machine further comprising:
• a control device for controlling movements of the bottom-pusher mechanism, the control device controlling the operation of the bottom pusher mechanism such that:
• the bottom pusher mechanism engages a side of one of the flat articles and drives a plurality of the flat articles into the vertical stack,
• wherein the bottom-pusher mechanism comprises means to move the at least one pusher relative to the transport means in a second direction separately from the movement of the transport means in the first direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.