DE102020121243A1 - Device and method for carrying out a packaging step when packaging flat cardboard goods which are designed as folding boxes - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (10) for carrying out a packaging step for flat cardboard goods (12) designed as folding boxes and a corresponding method are proposed.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for performing a packaging step when packaging flat cardboard goods according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for performing a packaging step when packaging flat cardboard goods according to the preamble of the independent claim.

Flat cardboard goods designed as folding boxes mean a product made of cardboard, which extends essentially in one plane and is designed to be many times larger in its flat extension than in its material thickness orthogonal to the flat extension. In the context of the present invention, this cardboard product is a folding box. A folding box is a box that can be transformed into a box shape by unfolding it. However, these folding boxes are packaged in their unfolded form, in which they are present as flat cardboard goods. Such cardboard goods designed as compartment boxes with which the invention is concerned are typically printed, coated or otherwise optically processed. Accordingly, the surfaces of the cardboard goods, especially the folding box, are very sensitive.

Following their production, the cardboard goods in question, designed as compartment boxes, are conventionally combined into stacks when not folded into a box and, if necessary, placed in a packaging, typically a cardboard box, using padding material.

The packaging of the carton goods must be carried out with great care and caution, otherwise the outer carton goods or the corners of the carton goods in particular will be damaged. For example, the manual packaging of folding boxes is known. To do this, a packer manually picks up a certain number of folding boxes, a stack, and inserts them into a corresponding packaging box. This approach is labor intensive and prone to human error. In addition, such an activity is physically and mentally very taxing for many packers. This approach also often involves the use of a variety of ancillary packaging materials, such as padding, to protect the boxed goods.

Machines are also known from practice that insert folding boxes one after the other into a carton and then close the carton. Such packaging systems are often difficult to adapt to different (folding box) formats. It can also happen that when the folding box is individually inserted into the packaging box, the surfaces of the folding box rub against each other in such a way that they are damaged and, for example, the printing does not retain its original quality. The requirements of the users (e.g. perfume manufacturers) of such folding boxes for the delivered packages with folding boxes are so high that typically if a single damaged folding box is contained in a delivery, the entire delivery is returned. There is therefore a great need to be able to pack cardboard goods, in particular folding boxes, reliably and without damage.

In the production of the folding boxes, these are typically produced in such a way that they leave the production plant in a continuous imbricated stream. Ideally, a packaging system can transfer the cardboard goods directly from this shingled flow into the corresponding packaging boxes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method that carry out a step in the process of packaging the folding box or cardboard goods safely, reliably and reproducibly.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of the independent claim.

The individual features of the device according to the invention and of the method according to the invention are explained and described in detail below. Developments are listed and explained in the dependent claims and in the following description and description of the figures. The statements on the device can also be understood as a further development of the method according to the invention and the statements on the method can also relate to advantageous configurations of the device according to the invention.

The device according to the invention for carrying out a packaging step for flat cardboard goods accordingly comprises a transport device for transporting the cardboard goods. The cardboard goods are designed as folding boxes. The transport device can be designed as a conveyor belt. The cardboard goods are transported by means of the transport device in a transport direction in an imbricated flow. In other words, the cardboard goods are transported on the transport device in an imbricated arrangement in the transport direction. They lie in a stream of scales individual cardboard goods slightly offset from one another and lying flat against one another on the transport device.

The device also has at least one separation unit. The separating unit is designed to separate the cardboard goods transported in the transport device in an imbricated arrangement (the cardboard goods are in surface contact in an inclined position against one another) as a continuous imbricated stream into individual subsets. The subsets in turn each include the number of cardboard items provided for a package of cardboard items. To put it simply, the separating unit interrupts the continuous imbricated stream in such a way that it is divided into individual parts, which are later to form a package.

The separating unit has at least one suction unit. The suction unit has a suction surface. This can be designed as a flat surface. The suction unit can be arranged above the cardboard goods transported by the transport device. The suction unit is designed in such a way that at least one piece of cardboard can be sucked onto its suction surface. This can be realized via openings distributed on the suction surface, at which a suction is generated. The suction can be realized by applying negative pressure to the suction unit and/or applying positive pressure to the suction unit (Bernoulli, Venturi, Coanda effect).

The suction unit also has at least one storage edge. This is designed in such a way that it represents a stop in the transport direction for at least one piece of cardboard.

The terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “oblique”, “upright”, “above” and “below” refer to the transport direction in the sense of the present application. The horizontal direction corresponds to the transport direction.

Advantageously, the damming edge can be arranged within the suction surface and/or adjacent to the suction surface.

The suction surface is a surface of the suction unit on which suction is generated in the direction of the suction unit. For this purpose, suction openings that can be subjected to negative pressure can be located in the area of the suction surface. This suction surface is preferably flat. If the damming edge is arranged adjacent to the suction surface, then the damming edge is arranged outside of the suction surface. This means that the dam edge does not affect the geometry of the intake surface. If the damming edge is arranged within the intake area, the damming edge can change the geometry of the intake area. In this way, the damming edge can divide a suction surface (e.g. of planar design) into at least two surfaces.

Advantageously, the suction unit can be designed in such a way that it can be subjected to excess pressure, in particular compressed air. The compressed air can be directed to the suction surface so that the cardboard goods sucked in at the suction surface can be blown off.

The suction unit can have an overpressure connection for supplying the suction unit with overpressure, in particular compressed air, and/or a vacuum connection for supplying the unit with underpressure.

The respective connections are connected to the suction openings of the suction surface via corresponding channels. A chamber-like cavity can be arranged inside the suction unit, into which parts of the channels open or from which further parts of the channels emanate. To a certain extent, the channels extend through the chamber-like cavity. Chamber-like means that the cavity has a significantly larger volume (e.g. at least a factor of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 times as large) than the channels.

The overpressure can be used to blow off the cardboard goods and/or to generate the underpressure (Bernoulli, Venturi, Coanda effect).

The suction unit can advantageously have an inlet surface. This is arranged at an acute angle, in particular at an angle of less than 45°, to the transport direction. In this way, individual cardboard products protruding from the shingled stream can be pressed down when passing the infeed surface. In other words, the cardboard goods in an imbricated stream are brought or forced to the same height by means of the infeed surface.

The suction surface can advantageously be arranged parallel to the transport direction. In particular, the suction surface is arranged parallel to the transport device. As a result, the cardboard goods transported on the transport device can be sucked in optimally.

The suction surface can advantageously have a coating. This can be elastic, for example made of rubber.

The suction surface can have a metallic base body with a coating made of a plastic material.

Instead of the coating, a separate element can also be provided, which in particular at least partially covers the suction surface. This separate element can consist at least partly of rubber and/or plastic material.

The device can advantageously have at least one height stop. This can be arranged parallel to the transport direction and above the transport device. The height stop is designed in such a way that the cardboard goods transported on the transport device do not exceed a specified height in a vertical direction. In the same way as the infeed surface of the suction unit, the height stop presses down the transported cardboard products protruding from the shingled flow to the same height.

Advantageously, the device can have at least one counting device. This is designed in such a way that it individually detects, in particular counts, the cardboard goods transported on the transport device. This can be implemented, for example, by means of a camera that films the transported cardboard goods, with the individual cardboard goods being detected or counted from the filmed material by means of an algorithm and/or software. Alternatively or additionally, the counting device can comprise an optical sensor which emits a signal for each piece of cardboard passing the sensor. This signal can be used to count the boxed goods.

By counting the cardboard goods, it can be determined how many cardboard goods are in an imbricated stream. If a certain number of cardboard products has been reached (counted), the shingled stream is separated into a partial quantity with a corresponding number of cardboard products by means of the separating unit.

Advantageously, the separating unit, the suction unit, the height stop and/or the counting device can be designed to be movable perpendicular to the transport direction, in particular along a vertical direction. This allows the individual components to be easily adapted to different formats and sizes of cardboard goods.

Advantageously, the separating unit, the suction unit, the height stop and/or the counting device can be immovable along the transport direction. As a result, the individual components are less sensitive to shocks and/or vibrations, which are caused, for example, by the transport of the cardboard goods. The components do not need to be readjusted or need to be readjusted to a lesser extent. The accuracy of the components can thus be increased.

Advantageously, the suction unit can have at least two, in particular four, accumulation edges. The accumulation edges can be arranged at equal distances from one another along the transport direction. The damming edge can be arranged within the suction surface and configured in such a way that they divide the suction surface into a number of sub-surfaces.

The sub-areas can be arranged parallel to one another. It is also conceivable that the partial surfaces are arranged at an angle to one another and in particular at an angle to the transport direction. Thus, the suction unit can be optimally selected and adapted to different formats or shape and size of the cardboard goods through a targeted geometry of the partial surfaces.

The separating unit can advantageously have at least two, in particular four, suction units. These can be arranged along the transport direction. The suction units can be arranged at equal distances from one another. Additionally or alternatively, the suction units can be arranged in rows along the transport direction. These can run parallel to the transport direction. It is also conceivable that the rows are arranged on straight lines that are skewed to one another and/or to the direction of transport. The separating unit can thus be optimally adapted to different formats or shape and size of the transported cardboard goods by varying the arrangement of the suction units in relation to one another and/or with respect to the transport direction 17

• Transportieren der Kartongüter in einem Schuppenstrom in eine Transportrichtung. Hierzu kann eine Transporteinrichtung, die insbesondere als Förderband ausgebildet ist, verwendet werden. Die Kartongüter in dem Schuppenstrom liegen leicht versetzt zueinander entlang der Transportrichtung aufeinander auf und sind schräg zur Transporteinrichtung ausgerichtet. Mit schräg ist eine Ausrichtung der Kartongüter gemeint, die zwischen einer horizontal orientierten Ausrichtung und einer vertikal orientierten Ausrichtung liegt. Mit anderen Worten, die Kartongüter in dem Schuppenstrom sind bezüglich der Transportrichtung gewinkelt angeordnet, wobei der Winkel zwischen 0° und 90° Grad beträgt..

The method according to the invention for carrying out a packaging step in the packaging of flat cardboard goods, which are designed as folding boxes, comprises:

• Transporting the cardboard goods in an imbricated stream in one transport direction. For this purpose, a transport device, which is designed in particular as a conveyor belt, can be used. The cardboard goods in the imbricated flow are slightly offset from one another along the transport direction and are aligned at an angle to the transport device. By skewed is meant an orientation of the carton goods that is between a horizontally oriented orientation and a vertically oriented orientation. In other words, the cardboard goods in the imbricated stream are arranged at an angle with respect to the transport direction, with the angle being between 0° and 90° degrees.

Separation of the continuous imbricated stream, in particular by means of a separating unit, into individual subsets.

The cardboard goods are separated by holding back at least one cardboard good in relation to the transported cardboard goods, counter to the direction of transport. The remaining cardboard goods are meanwhile transported on and thus at least partially run onto the retained cardboard goods.

The cardboard goods are held back by sucking in the cardboard goods. The suction can be carried out by means of a suction unit. The cardboard goods are sucked in perpendicularly to the transport direction in a vertical direction. In addition, a stowage edge is provided. This serves as a stop in the direction of transport for the cardboard goods that have been sucked in. Since the remaining cardboard products of the imbricated flow following the sucked cardboard are transported further and at least partially run onto the retained cardboard, they press the cardboard that has been sucked in in the transport direction and thus against the provided stop.

The transport device also exerts a force on the cardboard goods that are sucked in, provided that they are not completely lifted by the suction. In other words, when the cardboard product that has been sucked in makes contact with the transport device with its lower longitudinal edge, this pushes the lower longitudinal edge of the cardboard product 12 that has been sucked in further in the transport direction.

It is conceivable for the separating unit and/or the suction unit to move in the direction of transport with the cardboard goods that have been sucked in. In this way, the relative force that acts on the sucked-up cardboard goods and that is generated on the one hand by the cardboard goods running onto the sucked-up cardboard goods or the transport device and on the other hand by the retention of the sucked-up cardboard goods can be varied.

Advantageously, the sucked cardboard can be blocked in the direction of transport. In the context of the present application, blocking means that the cardboard product that has been sucked in is held in place with respect to the transport device, ie does not move along the transport direction. For this purpose, the separating unit and/or the suction unit can also be held or fixed in the transport direction.

Advantageously, the method can further include:

Detecting, in particular counting, individual cardboard goods transported on the transport device. A counting device can be used for this purpose. The separation of the cardboard goods is triggered depending on the detected or counted cardboard goods. In other words, when a specific number of cardboard items provided for a subset of the scale flow is reached, the scale flow is divided.

Advantageously, the method can further include:

Release of the sucked cardboard goods. This can be done by stopping the suction. However, this can also be carried out by blowing off the sucked cardboard goods by subjecting the suction unit to excess pressure (e.g. with compressed air).

After release, the sucked cardboard is no longer held back and is transported further in the direction of transport. The further transport can be carried out by means of the transport device.

Advantageously, the transport device designed as a conveyor belt can be operated at a constant speed in the transport direction during the separation of the imbricated stream. However, it is also conceivable that the transport speed can be varied.

• 1 eine Seitenansicht auf eine Vorrichtung;
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß 1;
• 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht von unten auf ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vereinzelungseinheit;
• 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vereinzelungseinheit und
• 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vereinzelungseinheit.

Further features, possible applications and advantages of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained with reference to the drawing, with the features being essential for the invention both individually and in different combinations, without this being explicitly pointed out again will. Show it:

• 1 a side view of a device;
• 2 a perspective view of the device according to FIG 1 ;
• 3 a perspective view from below of an embodiment of a separation unit;
• 4 a perspective view of a further embodiment of a separation unit and
• 5 a perspective view of a further embodiment of a separation unit.

In the following figures, corresponding components and elements have the same reference numbers. For the sake of better clarity, not all reference numbers are reproduced in all figures.

1 and 2 show a device 10. This includes a transport device 14, which before lying is designed as a conveyor belt. On the transport device 14 , cardboard goods 12 are transported in an imbricated flow 16 in a transport direction 17 . The transport direction 17 is in 1 indicated with an arrow. In addition, a vertical direction 19 is indicated with a further arrow, which runs perpendicularly to the transport direction 17 .

The imbricated stream 16 is divided into individual subsets by a separating unit 18 . The separating unit 18 is arranged above the transport device 14 and above the cardboard goods 12 transported on the transport device 14 .

The separating unit 18 has a suction unit 22 . This suction unit 22 has a suction surface 24 .

Furthermore, the suction unit 22 has an inlet surface 23 which is arranged at an angle to the transport direction 17 or transport device 14 .

The device 10 also has a height stop 28 . In the present case, this is in the form of two rails arranged above the transport device 14 and above the cardboard goods 12 transported on the transport device 14 . These run parallel to the transport direction 17 and in the middle of the transported imbricated stream 16.

The height reduction 28 thus prevents individual cardboard goods 12 from protruding from the imbricated flow 16 in the vertical direction 19 . However, should individual cardboard goods 12 protrude from the imbricated stream 16 in the vertical direction 19, for example due to individual cardboard goods 12 tilting, they are depressed by the inlet surface 23 counter to the vertical direction 19 (ie in the direction of the transport device 14). In order to bring all of the cardboard goods 12 to the same height as possible, the inlet surface 23 can have a width 25 which corresponds at least to the length of the upper edge of the cardboard goods 12 .

In the present case, the device 10 comprises a counting device 30. The counting device 30 is arranged above the transport device 14 and above the cardboard goods 12 being transported. The cardboard goods 12 thus pass the counting device 30. The counting device 30 detects and/or counts the cardboard goods 12 that pass the counting device 30, for example by means of an optical sensor and/or a camera. Thus, the number of cardboard goods 12 that have passed the counting device 30 can be determined. Depending on the counting result, the separating unit 18 can be activated and the imbricated stream 16 can be separated into a partial quantity at the desired point. In this way, the number of cardboard goods 12 that are to be separated as a subset of the imbricated flow 16 can be determined or set.

The separating unit 18 (and thus the suction unit 22), the height stop 28 and the counting device 30 are designed to be movable along the vertical direction 19 in the present case. Thus, these elements can be adjusted to different sizes, formats and thus also heights of different cardboard goods 12. In the present case, these elements are designed to be immovable along the transport direction 17 .

3 shows a perspective view from below of an exemplary embodiment of the separating unit 18 . In the present case, the separating unit 18 has two connections 27 . These serve to supply the suction unit 22 with negative and/or positive pressure (in particular in the form of compressed air).

The suction surface 24 of the suction unit 22 has suction openings 29 . The suction is transferred to the suction surface 24 via these suction openings 29 . In other words, the cardboard material 12 arranged under the suction surface 24 is sucked in by means of the suction openings 29 .

The suction unit 22 has a storage edge 26 . This is arranged inside the suction surface 24 and runs along the entire width of the suction unit 22. The accumulation edge 26 divides the suction surface 24 into a first partial surface 33 and a second partial surface 34. Both partial surfaces 33, 34 are arranged parallel to the transport device 14 and parallel to one another . The suction openings 29 are distributed on both surfaces 33,34. In the present case, the suction surface 24 thus includes the two partial surfaces 33, 34.

• Die Kartongüter 12 werden auf der Transporteinrichtung 14 in einem Schuppenstrom 16 in Transportrichtung 17 befördert. Dabei passieren die Kartongüter 12 eine Zähleinrichtung 30. Diese erfasst und zählt die passierten Kartongüter 12 (vgl. 1). Ist die gewünschte Anzahl an Kartongüter 12 erreicht, so wird die Vereinzelungseinheit 18 ausgelöst und eine entsprechende Teilmenge vom Schuppenstrom 16 abgeteilt.

The shingled stream 16 is separated by the separating unit 18 as follows:

• The cardboard goods 12 are transported on the transport device 14 in an imbricated flow 16 in the transport direction 17 . The cardboard goods 12 pass a counting device 30. This records and counts the cardboard goods 12 that have passed (cf. 1 ). If the desired number of cardboard goods 12 has been reached, the separating unit 18 is triggered and a corresponding partial quantity is separated from the imbricated flow 16 .

Suction is generated on the suction surface 24 of the suction unit 22 in order to separate the imbricated stream 16 into subsets. This is generated in that a negative pressure is applied to the suction openings 29 inside the suction unit 22 . This creates suction at the suction openings 29 and thus creates the suction at the suction surface 24.

The separating unit 18 is arranged above the transported cardboard goods 12 . If the separating unit 18 is now triggered, the cardboard goods 12 arranged under the suction surface 24 are sucked in in the vertical direction 19 , ie towards the suction surface 24 . In the process, the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in are at least partially erected from their oblique orientation and/or lifted by the transport device 14 . The separating unit 18 or the suction unit 22 is not moved in the transport direction 17 or is at least moved at a lower speed than the transport speed. In this way, the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in are held back with respect to the transport device 14 .

The cardboard products 12 following the cardboard products 12 that have been sucked in are transported further in the transport direction 17 . These therefore run onto the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in and press them in the transport direction 17 .

The transport device 14 also exerts a force on the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in, provided they are not completely lifted by the suction. In other words, when the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in contact the transport device 14 with their lower longitudinal edge, the transport device 14 pushes the lower longitudinal edge of the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in further in the transport direction 17.

Due to the above-described action of force on the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in in the transport direction 17 , they are pressed against the accumulation edge 26 . This acts as a stop. In this way, the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in can be prevented from slipping off or tearing away in the transport direction 17 (for example due to the action of force described above).

In order to release the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in, the suction on the suction surface 24 is interrupted. The cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in are detached from the suction surface 24 or the accumulation edge 26 due to gravity and/or the force described above by the transport device 24 or the cardboard goods 12 accumulating and are transported further in the transport direction 17 .

In addition, an overpressure, for example in the form of compressed air, can be applied to the suction openings 29 so that the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in are blown off the suction surface 24 . If, for example, the cardboard goods 12 sucked in and the accumulation edge 26 jam, the jam can be released again by this blowing off. The risk of tilting can thus be reduced. A malfunction of the device 10 due to the canting can be prevented.

In order to further reduce the risk of tilting, the accumulation edge 26 can be arranged at an angle to the transport direction 17 . As an alternative or in addition to this, the transport speed of the transport device 14 can be reduced when the cardboard goods 12 which have been sucked in are released in order to reduce the force (see above) acting on the cardboard goods 12 which has been sucked in. As an alternative or in addition to this, the suction unit 22, if it is designed to be movable along the transport direction 17, can reduce the force acting on the cardboard goods 12 that have been sucked in by moving in the transport direction 17. A combination of a suction unit 22 designed to be movable along the transport direction 17 and varying the transport speed of the transport device 14 is also conceivable. Both would counteract a possible canting.

4 shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of the separating unit 18 . In the present case, the separating unit 18 has two suction units 22 . These can be identical. The two suction units 22 are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction 17 and are arranged at the same height. Each suction unit 22 has a plurality of storage edges 26 . These are arranged at equal distances from one another and along the transport direction 17 within the suction surfaces 24 . In the present case, the accumulation edges 26 divide the respective suction surface 24 into four sub-surfaces 39. In the present case, the sub-surfaces 39 are arranged at an angle to the transport direction 17 and are arranged parallel to one another. The inclination of the partial surfaces 39 with respect to the transport direction 17 corresponds approximately to the inclination of the orientation of the transported cardboard goods 12 shown.

5 shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of the separating unit 18. In the present case, the separating unit 18 has four suction units 22, which are arranged at the same height. These can be identical. The four suction units 22 are arranged in pairs next to one another in two rows along the transport direction 17 . It is conceivable that the suction units 22 are arranged along different rows at different heights. For example, the separating unit 18 can be adapted to a complicated height profile of a carton 12 . A complicated height profile of a cardboard item 12 means a longitudinal edge of the cardboard item 12 that essentially runs from a straight line and, in particular, horizontally the shape deviates. Each of the four suction units 22 has a storage edge 26 . In the present case, the accumulation edges 26 are each arranged on an end of the suction surfaces 24 that terminates in the transport direction 17 .

Claims (17)

Device (10) for carrying out a packaging step for flat cardboard goods (12) which are designed as folding boxes, the device (10) comprising: - a transport device (14), in particular designed as a conveyor belt, for transporting the cardboard goods (12), in an imbricated flow (16) in a transport direction (17); - at least one separating unit (18) which is designed to subdivide the imbricated stream (16) transported by the transport device (14) into individual subsets, the separating unit (18) having at least one suction unit (22) with a suction surface (24). , wherein the suction unit (22) is arranged in particular above the cardboard items (12) transported by the transport device (14) and is designed in such a way that at least one cardboard item (12) can be sucked onto its suction surface (24); characterized in that the suction unit (22) has at least one accumulation edge (26) which is designed in such a way that it represents a stop in the transport direction (17) for at least one piece of cardboard (12). Device (10) after claim 1 , characterized in that the damming edge (26) is arranged within the suction surface (24) and/or adjacent to the suction surface (24). Device (10) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the suction unit (22) is designed in such a way that it can be subjected to overpressure, in particular compressed air, so that the cardboard goods (12) sucked in on the suction surface (24) can be blown off. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction unit (22) has an inlet surface (23) which is arranged at an acute angle, in particular at an angle of less than 45°, to the transport direction (17). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction surface (24) is arranged parallel to the transport direction (17). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction surface (24) has an in particular elastic coating, in particular the suction surface (24) has a metallic base body with a coating of a plastic material. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has at least one height stop (28) which is arranged in particular parallel to the transport direction (17) and above the transport device (14), the height stop (28 ) is designed in such a way that the cardboard goods (12) transported on the transport device (14) do not exceed a specified height in a vertical direction (19). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has at least one counting device (30) which is designed in such a way that it individually detects the cardboard goods (12) transported on the transport device (14), in particular counts. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating unit (18), the suction unit (22), the height stop (28) and/or the counting device (30) perpendicular to the transport direction (17), in particular along a vertical direction (19) are designed to be movable. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating unit (18), the suction unit (22), the height stop (28) and/or the counting device (30) are immovable along the transport direction (17). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction unit (22) has at least two, in particular four, accumulation edges (26), the accumulation edges (26) being at equal distances along the transport direction (17) within the suction surface (24) are arranged and are designed in such a way that they divide the suction surface (24) into a plurality of partial surfaces (39). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating unit (18) has at least two, in particular four, suction units (22), the suction units (22) along the transport direction (17), in particular at equal distances from one another , are arranged and/or the suction units (22) are arranged in rows along the transport direction (17), which in particular run parallel to the transport direction. Method for carrying out a packaging step for flat cardboard goods (12) which are designed as folding boxes, the method comprising the following steps: - transporting the cardboard goods (12), in particular by means of a transport device (14) designed as a conveyor belt, in a continuous imbricated stream (16) in a transport direction (17); - Separation of the continuous imbricated stream (16), in particular by means of a separating unit (18), into individual subsets, the separation of the cardboard goods (12) being achieved by holding back at least one cardboard product (12) in relation to the transported cardboard goods (12), contrary to the Transport direction (17) is carried out while the remaining cardboard goods (12) are further transported; characterized in that the cardboard goods (12) are held back by suction, in particular by means of a suction unit (22), perpendicular to the transport direction (17) in a vertical direction (19), and provision of at least one accumulation edge (26) which is suitable for the suctioned Cardboard goods (12) serves as a stop in the transport direction (17), is carried out. procedure after Claim 13 , characterized in that the sucked cardboard (12) is blocked in the transport direction (17). procedure after Claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that the method further comprises: detecting, in particular counting, individual cardboard goods (12) transported on the transport device (14), in particular by means of a counting device (30), the separation of the cardboard goods after a specific number of detected or counted cardboard goods (12) is triggered. Procedure according to one of Claims 13 until 15 , characterized in that the method further comprises: releasing the sucked cardboard goods (12), in particular by blowing off the sucked cardboard goods (12) by subjecting the suction unit (22) to excess pressure, in particular compressed air, so that the sucked cardboard goods (12) is no longer held back and is transported further, in particular by means of the transport device (14) in the transport direction (17). Procedure according to one of Claims 13 until 16 , characterized in that the transport device (14), designed as a conveyor belt, is operated at a constant speed in the transport direction (17) during the separation of the imbricated stream (16).

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