Method and apparatus for the production of a double package

Claim 1

A process for the production and filling of an outer package having two partial packages (20, 21) with two inner packages, said two partial packages being disposed side by side and formed from one uniform blank, the packages being interconnected by a central wall erected by pushing the partial packages toward each other to produce double tray packages open on top with central panels (24, 25) forming the central wall, lateral panels (26,27) and outside panels (28) forming outer walls, the process comprising: (a) horizontally conveying the blank, spread out flat, in cyclically changing periods of motion and stoppage, the central panels (24,25) being unfolded and extending in the direction of conveyance, (b) in a first station engaging two spaced inner packages located on one side of the conveying path with separate pushing elements and pushing said inner packages in a single path and in a single direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of the blank, during a first phase of stoppage of the unfolded blank, so as to position the two inner packages spaced from each other by the width of the central panels (24,25) on respective areas of the blank corresponding to the two partial packages; (c) thereafter, while still in the first station, folding the central panels (24,25) between said spaced inner packages and the outside panels (28) into an intermediate folded position, (d) pushing, in a second station, the two partial packages together, without changing the positions of the two inner packages relative to the two partial packages during a second phase of stoppage of the blank subsequent to and not continuous with the first phase of stoppage, thereby folding the central panels into an upright position (24,25) until the central wall abuts the two inner packages, and erecting the outer panels (28) into an upright position, and (e) then erecting the lateral panels (26,27) into an upright position.