Methods for manufacturing and packaging floor panels, devices used thereby, as well as floor panel and packed set of floor panels

Method for manufacturing floor panels, wherein said floor panels are manufactured to have profiled edge regions on at least two opposite edges, said profiled edge regions including coupling parts with a plurality of locking parts configured such that, in a coupled condition of at least two of said floor panels, a mutual locking is obtained in a horizontal direction as well as in a vertical direction, said profiled edge regions on said at least two opposite edges being substantially in the form of a tongue, respectively substantially in the form of a groove defined at least in part by a lower lip and an upper lip, said tongue having an underside including at least one of said plurality of locking parts having a horizontally locking surface,

• said method comprising:
• forming in at least a lower side of the panels at least one guiding groove from a first cutting tool, said guiding groove being located near at least one of said two opposite edges and having first and second side walls, said second side wall being inwardly oriented with respect to said panel;
• and then subsequently introducing one or more guiding portions into the guiding groove;
• moving the panels by engaging the guiding groove with the one or more guiding portions;
• and
• forming at least a portion of said profiled edge regions while the panels are performing said guided motion;
• and
• forming, at said at least one of said two opposite edges near said guiding groove, said profiled edge region substantially in the form of a tongue from at least a second cutting tool different from the first cutting tool such that as seen in a cross-section of the panel and transverse to said guiding groove, said profiled edge region extends at the lower side of the panel at least up to said first side wall;
• and
• forming said horizontally locking surface proximate said first guiding groove side wall;
• wherein said horizontally locking surface and said guiding groove are formed from different cutting tools.