EP1225128A2

EP1225128A2 - Packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1225128A2
Application number: EP02075370A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lambertus Antonius Joseph Van Lunteren; Frank Marcus
Original assignee: Laj Van Lunteren Beheer Bv
Current assignee: Laj Van Lunteren Beheer Bv
Priority date: 2001-01-23
Filing date: 2002-01-23
Publication date: 2002-07-24
Also published as: EP1225128A3; NL1017176C1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for packing a number of objects into a box, comprising:

guide means (11) extending substantially straight for substantially guiding therealong and supporting a box during packing operations of the apparatus,
first transporting means (33) for feed transport of the objects,
ordering means (3) for ordering the objects in one or more rows of a predetermined number of objects above one another,
second transporting means for feed transport of a box in the form of a blank,
fold-out means (2) for folding out the box, and
third transporting means (34) for infeed transport of the objects into the box.

Description

In recent years mastic cartridges have become a much-used article for both professional building contractors and DIY enthusiasts. These mastic cartridges, also known as mastic tubes, are packed in different quantities in boxes. These quantities are determined by the wishes of customers and are varied. Machines are commercially available which can make the packaging operations easier. These machines are however of complicated construction and therefore expensive. Many operations are also necessary.
In addition, it is not possible with the present machines to package particular types of these cartridges. These include cartridges with long fixed nozzles.
The present invention provides an apparatus for packing a number of objects into a box, comprising:

guide means extending substantially straight for substantially guiding therealong and supporting a box during packing operations of the apparatus,
first transporting means for feed transport of the objects,
ordering means for ordering the objects in one or more rows of a predetermined number of objects above one another,
second transporting means for feed transport of a box in the form of a blank,
fold-out means for folding out the box, and
third transporting means for infeed transport of the objects into the box.

The present invention provides for the performing of all packing operations in a straight line, whereby the machine lay-out is simple.
A further preferred embodiment provides the fourth transporting means for transporting a folded-out box horizontally over the guide means in a straight line during filling and closing. Transport over the guide means by means of these transporting means is likewise an advantage which makes a simple lay-out possible.
A further aspect of the invention is that the fourth transporting means also comprise clamping means for holding a folded-out box in folded-out and form-retaining manner by means of vertically clamping the box along two sides and holding it clamped during transport thereof. The simple lay-out of this embodiment is possible because a folded-out full box is clamped in form-retaining manner by these transporting means during transport. The clamping holds a box firmly during transport in a straight line, whereby it is possible during the transport to seal and fasten the box.
A further preferred embodiment provides that the clamping distance of the clamping means is variably adjustable for different box sizes. The apparatus can hereby be used for a plurality of box sizes while making use of the other advantages of the invention.
One embodiment is further provided with folding means for folding shut flaps of the box while making use of the transporting movement of the fourth transporting means, and with sealing means for sealing a folded shut box. These means assisting the packaging can be arranged along the guide means such that the transport in a straight line automatically brings about the correct operation of the apparatus.
The sealing means can be embodied as adhesive means for sealing the box by making use of adhesive tape or glue. Placing of these sealing means along the guide means makes them very readily accessible, and replacing rolls of adhesive tape can therefore be carried out in very simple and easy manner.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is suitable for packing objects which are elongate and/or cylindrical objects. These may be for instance mastic cartridges or spray cans.
A subsequent aspect of the invention provides an ordering device for ordering objects, comprising:

lifting means for lifting rows of objects newly supplied by the first transporting means,
supporting means for supporting lifted rows of objects on the underside, and
holding means for thereby holding one or more rows of objects together on both sides thereof. The advantages hereof are that a number of tubes which are fed via the first transporting means are automatically ordered so as to enable automatic placing thereof in a box in one movement by the third transporting means.

The supporting means can then comprise two rows of support pins situated opposite each other and slidable in and out in the length direction of the objects, which pins:

are retracted sufficiently far in a first position to support on either side on the underside a row of objects lifted upward by the lifting means, and which
are extended sufficiently far in a second position so as not to prevent the lifting means from lifting a new row of objects. The advantages hereof are that it is possible to order a plurality of rows of tubes. Once a preceding row has been raised and the pins hold these up, a subsequent row which has to be packed into the same box can be supplied to a position below the preceding row. This method of ordering is very effective and also enables ordering of tubes with fixed nozzles.

Another aspect of this embodiment is that the holding means are two vertically placed parallel plates. During the ordering these plates hold fast those tubes which are not automatically held together by the pins. This is particularly the case for the outermost tubes of the second row of the already lifted row, as seen from below, and the two outermost tubes of the third row of the already lifted tubes, as seen from below, and so on.
A further embodiment of the invention provides third transporting means comprising one or more exchangeable plates. Depending on the number of rows and the number of tubes per row, a different form of the plate which slides the tubes into the boxes is necessary. This need is met by using a different exchangeable plate per series of boxes.
A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides fold-out means which are rotatable 180 on a rotation point. This provides the advantage that boxes with imprint can be fed into the apparatus from two sides, thus increasing the flexibility of use of the apparatus. These fold-out means are further provided with suction means for exerting force on the box for folding out purposes.
A further preferred embodiment of the invention is a nozzle dispensing device for use with the apparatus, comprising:

counting means for counting off nozzles, and/or
nozzle placing means for placing counted nozzles in a valley between two objects lying together at a moment when these are still situated on the first transporting means. If mastic cartridges are being packed with loose nozzles, it is advantageous that these latter can be automatically co-packaged. This device provides for this by automatically counting off and placing the nozzles.

The application of this embodiment for adding loose nozzles provides the innovative advantage that packaging of the same quantity of tubes of different sizes with different types of nozzles in one box becomes possible. Heretofore there occurred problems, if the boxes were of a certain oversize, with orienting already packed tubes. In such a case they then become completely disordered and this has the result that there are no longer any neatly formed holes between the tubes into which loose nozzles can be placed.
A further embodiment of the invention is a method for packing a number of objects in a box using the apparatus as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising the following steps of:

feeding the objects to the ordering means by the first transporting means,
ordering the fed objects into one or more rows of one or more objects above one another,
feeding a box in the form of a blank via the guide means to a box-filling position by the fourth transporting means,
folding out the box by the fold-out means,
clamping the box by the fourth transporting means for the purpose of holding the box in folded-out and form-retaining manner during transport,
placing the ordered objects in the box.

A further embodiment of the method comprises a step for transporting the box in one line by means of the fourth transporting means.
A further embodiment of the method comprises a step for placing nozzles onto the mastic tubes by the device according to claim 17 during transport by the first transporting means.
A further embodiment of the method comprises a step for sealing and/or adhesive fastening of the boxes during the movement of the fourth transporting means.
A further preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a method for ordering the objects by means of the ordering means, comprising the following steps of:

raising with the lifting means a row comprising one or more objects supplied by the first transporting means, while the supporting pins are situated in the second position,
moving the supporting pins toward each other until they are situated in the first position,
moving the lifting means downward,
supplying to the lifting means a new row of objects by the first transporting means,
moving the supporting pins apart until they are situated in the second position.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will become apparent on the basis of the description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the annexed figures, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a view in perspective of a component of the embodiment of figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a view in perspective of two other components of the embodiment of figure 1;
Figure 4 is a partly broken-away view in perspective of a component of the embodiment of figure 1 and an additional component for dispensing and placing nozzles;
Figure 5a is a view in perspective of a component of the embodiment of figure 1;
Figure 5b is a side view of the embodiment of figure 5a;
Figure 6 is a side view of the embodiment of figure 5a in a different position;
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment according to the present invention;
Figure 8 shows a view in perspective of the embodiment of figure 7 as seen from another position;
Figure 9 is a view in perspective of a part of the embodiment of figure 7;
Figure 10 is a detail view in perspective of a part of the view of figure 9;
Figure 11 is a view in perspective of a detail of the embodiment of figure 7;
Figure 12 is a view in perspective of a part of the embodiment of figure 7;
Figure 13 is a view in perspective of a part of the embodiment of figure 7;
Figure 14 is a view in perspective of a detail of the embodiment of figure 7;
Figure 15 is a view in perspective of a part of the embodiment of figure 7.
A preferred embodiment (fig. 1) is a mastic cartridge packing machine 1 which packages mastic cartridges fully automatically into boxes. Provided for this purpose is a central guide rail 11, over which the boxes into which the mastic cartridges will be packed are displaced in horizontal direction from right to left. A very significant advantage of this embodiment is that during the packaging process the boxes do not have to make any movement other than this horizontal sliding movement. The guide rail is provided with small guide wheels over which the box can slide or roll in practically frictionless manner. Further provided under guide rail 11 are transport suction cups (not shown) for supplying a box in the form of a blank. These transport suction cups are suitable for transporting a box from stack 6A to the filling and fold-out position 6B of the box. The box is here folded out using rotating fold-out suction cups 2.
A transport rail 14 is arranged in the main line centrally between the guide rail. This transport rail serves to guide advancing and transporting arms 12 while making use of guide rail 13.
At the height of the location where the box is folded out is situated stacking and ordering mechanism 3. This consists of a plate with positioning ribs 38, a mastic tube-feeding conveyor belt 33, a mastic tube-upholding assembly consisting of drive units 35 and 36 for driving mastic tube-upholding rods 31 and 32, mastic tube holding plates 37 and 38 and a slide plate 34 for sliding the stack of mastic tubes into the box. The operation hereof is as follows: the mastic tubes are fed over conveyor belt 33 onto positioning plate 38. Positioning plate 38 raises a predetermined quantity of mastic tubes corresponding to one layer in the box. The mastic tube upholding pins then slide toward each other, whereby the ends thereof slide some distance under the mastic tubes in the upper part of the interspace between the tubes, wherein the two mastic tube fixing plates 37 and 38 fix the outermost tubes between the adjacent tube lying thereagainst and the tube upholding rod lying thereagainst. The drive means 35 and 36 cause the horizontal displacement of the mastic tube upholding rods 31 and 32.
When the box has been folded out and clamped and a stack of the number of rows of the appropriate number of tubes fitting into the box has been disposed, tube sliding plate 34 slides the tubes into the box. Also provided here is a retaining plate (not shown) which ensures that tubes do not slide out of the box on the other side and that the tubes all slide equally far into the box. Transporting arms 12 subsequently displace the box in horizontal direction through the box flap closing system 4. This system consists of the flap guiding rods 41,42 which taper towards each other in a V-shape and which are situated pairwise on either side of transport rail 11 at a height such that the tip of the V is situated in vertical direction in the middle of the box, or in any case at the height where the flaps come together when folded shut. This height is adjustable for the purpose of different sizes of box. These V-shaped rods are suitable for closing the large outer flaps. For closing of the small inner flaps there are provided two guide plates 43,44 on either side which fold down the first flaps which pass therealong and there are provided flap pushing down arms 45,45 which are disposed on either side of the box guide rail 11 and which are driven by slide cylinders 46 for folding down the other two inner flaps. As soon as they are folded down by arms 45, these other two flaps are held in place by the two inner flap guide plates 43, 44 up to the moment that the V-shaped outer flap closing rods 41 and 42 have pushed shut the outer flaps such that the box is closed. The box then slides over the guide rail along the adhesive closing device 5. A roll of tape 51 is mounted on adhesive closing device 5 on either side of guide rail 11 at the height of the opening between the flaps of the box. Using the rolls 52 the adhesive closing device 5 pushes the adhesive side of the tape against the box and, making use of the movement of the box over the guide rail caused by transporting arms 12, the tape is automatically adhered over the flaps. This takes place at the height of the main position 6C.
An important advantage of this apparatus is the simplicity thereof, i.e. owing to the simple design and making use of a simple method, this embodiment, by displacing a box in only one horizontal direction, can perform quickly and efficiently all operations for packing the mastic cartridges into the box and closing thereof in one smooth movement over a single straight line. In this embodiment the box is tilted aside at the end of the guide rail 11 by means of a tilting member and comes to lie on a discharge conveyor belt 62 which carries the boxes away from the machine.
Figure 5A shows the fold-out means. Fold-out means 2 are arranged between guide rails 11. The fold-out means consist of suction cups 21 connected to rotating arms 22 which rotate on a shaft 24. Rotating arms 22 are driven by drive cylinder 23 which operates on the basis of compressed air. The box is situated at the filling and fold-out position 6B during these operations.
In this position 6B of the box, the arms of the transporting means also clamp the box, whereby transport becomes possible and the box is made form-retaining during the operations of this packing machine. Once the box has been folded shut and closed, it will retain its form without the support of these clamping arms being necessary.
Figure 5B shows the same components as in figure 5A, but now in a side view.
In figure 6 are shown the same components as in figure 5B, although here in a different position.
The box fold-out means as shown in figures 5 and 6 make it possible to operate the machine from two sides in mirrored manner. This is advantageous when the feed of the boxes, and particularly the tubes, is difficult to change, for instance because of the lay-out of the company premises in which the packing machine is being employed. Because of this two-sided arrangement the box can be folded out from both sides, whereby the tubes can always be carried into the box with the correct orientation.
In a further embodiment (fig. 7) the nozzles are added in nozzle adding device 100 while the nozzles are supplied on conveyor 33 which feeds the mastic tubes to the stacking and ordering mechanism 3. The nozzle adding device 100 is suitable for adding loose nozzles by means of loose nozzle adding device 102, these loose nozzles being placed in series of a suitable quantity in the recess between two successive mastic cartridges located on conveyor 33. Nozzle adding device 100 is further suitable for adding nozzles with clip, or clip nozzles, which are attached to short spouts situated on an end of the mastic cartridges by means of clip nozzle adding device 101.
The nozzle adding device for loose nozzles 102 comprises a so-called vibrating pan 105 for bringing the loose nozzles into the correct orientation. Fixed to vibrating pan 105 is a guide 107 which guides the nozzles in the direction of the counting tubes 108 situated at the position of the end of guide 107. Counting tubes 108 are reciprocally displaceable via guide rails 156. On the underside of counting tubes 108 are situated placing tubes 109 which are tiltable. The loose nozzles are placed by means of placing tube 109 in the interspace between the successive mastic rubes or mastic cartridges. The further operation of this device is described with reference to figures 12-15.
The placing device for clip nozzles 101 comprises a vibrating pan 104 which places the clip nozzles in a correct vertical orientation. Fixed to vibrating pan 104 is guide rail 120 which is provided with blow openings, to be further described below, for horizontal orientation of the nozzles with clip. Mounted on guide rail 120 is guide shaft 106 which guides the nozzles with clip to the correct placing position relative to the mastic tubes. On the end of guide rail 106 is placed pressing part 110 for pressing the nozzles with clip onto the spouts of the mastic tubes. The operation of the device 101 for arranging nozzle with clip is explained in greater detail in figures 9 and 10.
Figure 9 shows the device for placing the nozzles with clip in more detail. The nozzles are supplied in a manner not shown to vibrating pan 104. It is recommended that a conveyor automatically feeds the nozzles with clip to the vibrating pan, wherein a sufficient quantity is constantly maintained in the vibrating pan, although the feed can also take place in other manner. The vibrating pan is set into vibration by means of a motor (not shown) mounted on the underside thereof, whereby the nozzles are transported from the underside of the vibrating pan upward along the spiral ledge 115 in the direction of arrow J. A uniform feed of nozzles is realized by this construction. A slot 112 is arranged in the top side of ledge 115 of vibrating pan 104. This slot 112 continues into guide rails 120,106 in order to supply the nozzles to press-on part 110. Nozzles which reach slot 12 in the direction of arrow J above ledge 115 will drop with their tip into the slot. If one or more nozzles are situated (stacked) in a nozzle located in slot 112, these will make contact with the pin 113 during the transport of the nozzles. The nozzles situated in a nozzle lying in slot 112 will be flicked out of the nozzle lying in slot 112 by the pin 113 and then drop back into vibrating pan 104. Pin 113 therefore serves to prevent further transport of double or multiple nozzles in slot 112.
Figure 10 shows a detail of guide rail 120. Shown clearly is that slot 112 runs on into a slot of guide rail 120. Once the nozzles have acquired a correct vertical orientation in slot 112 of the vibrating pan, it is important that they also acquire a correct horizontal orientation. For the purpose of a correct operation of press-on unit 110, the correct horizontal orientation is such that the empty eye of the clip which has to be placed round the spout of the mastic tube is situated as seen in the transporting direction on the forward side of the nozzle. In order to achieve this it is important that nozzles with clip with an empty eye situated on the rear side when it leaves the vibrating pan 104 be rotated. This takes place at the position of guide rail 120. For this purpose blow openings 121,122 are arranged at suitable position in relation to guide rail 120. From these blow openings is blown a suitable quantity of compressed air 3 which sets the nozzle with clip into rotation in the direction of arrow R. For the necessary forward movement of nozzles in guide rail 120 it is possible to provide further blow openings (not shown) with a suitable blowing direction.
What is important for the present embodiment is the rotation of the nozzle with clip in the direction of arrow R.
For proper operation of the nozzle or clip press-on part 110 it is further of importance that a clip which has been placed in the correct orientation overlaps the preceding nozzle. In this orientation the nozzles are transported further along guide rail 106.
Nozzle counting part 134 is mounted on the underside of guide rail 106. When a mastic tube is available at the position of press-on part 110, this counting part causes the array of nozzles in guide rail 106, which are urged downward under the influence of the force of gravity, to move forward so that the bottom nozzle comes to lie on the available mastic tube such that the empty eye of the clip is located in front of the spout of the mastic tube. The clip of the bottom nozzle is then pressed on by press-on part 110. Force is herein exerted on the clip by means of press-on parts 125,126. U-shaped press-on part 125 presses on the lower edge 132 of the eye and rod-like press-on part 126 presses on the central part 133 of the clip.
It is important that, prior to pressing of the clips onto the spout, a mastic tube is positioned by the conveyor 33 sufficiently precisely relative to guide rail 106 and press-on part 110. The drive of the conveyor is provided for this purpose with a relatively advantageous three-phase motor which is controlled by means of an electronic control unit to cause accurate stopping of the conveyor so that a mastic tube is properly positioned. In the case that a time of 0.4 second is available, a high frequency (or voltage) of for instance 120 Hz (or Volt) is developed for 0.15 second which is then reduced again for 0.15 second to about 6 Hz (or Volt). During this 0.30 second the conveyor is carried to a position just short of the desired stopping position. Precise positioning then takes place during the final 0.1 second with the low frequency (or voltage) until the desired position has been reached.
Figure 12 shows the vibrating pan 105 of the feed device for loose nozzles 102. This vibrating pan 105 is provided with a spiral-shaped edge 141 which runs upward and is provided on the top side with slot 142. The loose nozzles are transported upward in spiral manner along this edge by a vibration generated by a motor (not shown). At the position of slot 142 the tips of the nozzles drop into the slot and are hereby correctly oriented vertically. Loose nozzles are not provided with a clip and do not therefore have to be oriented horizontally. In the case of loose nozzles a plurality of nozzles can also drop into slot 142 attached to one another. In order to remove excess nozzles there is provided a blow nozzle 143 which blows compressed air obliquely upward. This compressed air blows excess nozzles out of the nozzle situated in slot 142.
The loose nozzles are then transported along guide rail 107 in the direction of counting wheel 144. The forward speed is herein realized on the one hand by the force of gravity and on the other by compressed air blow nozzles (not shown). Sensor 147 is mounted on guide rail 107. This sensor 147 detects whether the feed of loose nozzles is sufficient. At the end of guide rail 107 the nozzles are held back by a counting pin pointing downward from counting wheel 144.
Counting wheel 144 is driven by a suitable motor, such as for instance a stepping motor 148. This rotates the counting wheel in the direction of arrow G.
Further provided in the device for arranging the loose nozzles are two arrays of tubes, viz. counting tubes 108 and placing tubes 109. Counting tubes 108 are used to receive nozzles counted off and allowed through by means of counting wheel 144. Placing tubes 109 are used to carry counted nozzles into horizontal position and to guide the loose nozzles during placing on the mastic tubes.
By separating the counting operation and the placing operation it becomes possible by means of a vibrating pan 105 and a guide rail 107 to obtain sufficient loose nozzles in the placing tubes to equal the speed of the packing machine. It is for instance possible to count and place in the count tubes at a speed more than 120 nozzles per minute. In the meantime the placing tubes can ensure an accurate positioning of the loose nozzles on the mastic tubes.
The operation of counting and placing of the loose nozzles in the count tubes 108 is now described further. Suppose that twelve nozzles must be placed on five mastic tubes. In this case the first four count tubes 108 are used and it is essential that a stack of three nozzles be placed in each of the count tubes. Such an operation starts with the position of count tubes 108 shown in figure 13. The count wheel will now count off three nozzles dropping along guide chute 145 into the first of the count tubes 108. A checking step is herein carried out by sensor 146 by for instance a light measurement of a light interruption caused by a loose nozzle dropping past sensor 146 or by a nozzle actually being counted by the count wheel. Count tubes 108 then displace along guide rails 156 such that the following count tube is positioned at the location of guide chute 145. Count wheel subsequently rotates again so that three further loose nozzles are counted off and drop via guide chute 145 into the second count tube. In similar manner three loose nozzles are placed in each of the following two count tubes. The twelve nozzles placed in count tubes 108 in this manner are held in place on the underside of count tube 108 by L-profile 151. This L-profile 151 is displaceable in horizontal direction as according to arrow F. Provided to make this displacement possible is the drive cylinder 162 which is driven by means of compressed air.
The placing tubes 109 are rotatable on rotation shaft 154 (fig. 15). The placing tubes are further mounted on mounting plate 155 which is fixed to rotation shaft 154. The rotation on rotation shaft 154 is driven by compressed air cylinder 153. The twelve nozzles placed in count tubes 108 as described in the foregoing must be transferred from count tubes 108 to placing tubes 109. Placing tubes 109 are rotated for this purpose into vertical position. The L-profile 151 is then displaced whereby the underside of count tubes 108 is opened and the twelve nozzles (4 stacks of 3) drop downward out of the respective count tubes to the respective placing tubes 109 thereunder.
Placing tubes 109 are subsequently rotated into horizontal position. During the preceding operation mastic tubes without nozzles are supplied by conveyor 133 such that the spaces between five successive tubes are situated at the position of the openings of the filled placing tubes. Pusher rods 114, driven by compressed air cylinder 152, are then displaced in the direction of arrow D such that the pusher rods slide in length direction through the horizontally placed placing tubes. The four stacks of three nozzles each are herein pushed out of the placing tubes onto the mastic tubes. Pusher rods 114 are then moved back to a starting position as shown in figure 15.
The mastic tubes thus provided with loose nozzles are further transported by the conveyor and are stacked and placed in boxes in the manner described in the foregoing.
Further shown in figure 14 are guide plate 160, guide rail 158 and guide rail 159. Guide rail 158 and guide plate 160 serve for an even guiding of the mastic tubes situated on conveyor 33 while they are being advanced in the direction of arrow A. Guide rail 159 is important during placing of nozzles with clip on the mastic tubes. As described in the foregoing, these nozzles are pressed vertically onto the mastic tubes. For the purpose of placing the mastic tubes in the boxes it is practical if the nozzles are situated in the intermediate spaces between the mastic tubes. Guide rail 159 urges the nozzles from their vertical position to an inclining position relative to the mastic tubes such that the nozzles are placed in this intermediate space between successive mastic tubes.
It must further be noted that nozzles with clips are shown in figures 14 and 15. These nozzles are shown here to elucidate the operation of guide rail 159. It should be noted that during processing of a determined batch of mastic tubes it is recommended to arrange either nozzles with clip or loose nozzles. In such a case nozzles with clips will of course not be present at the moment stacks of loose nozzles are being placed using placing tubes 109.

Claims

Apparatus for packing a number of objects into a box, comprising:

guide means extending substantially straight for substantially guiding therealong and supporting a box during packing operations of the apparatus,

first transporting means for feed transport of the objects,

ordering means for ordering the objects in one or more rows of a predetermined number of objects above one another,

second transporting means for feed transport of a box in the form of a blank,

fold-out means for folding out the box, and

third transporting means for infeed transport of the objects into the box.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising fourth transporting means for transporting a folded-out box horizontally over the guide means in a straight line during filling and closing.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and/or 2, wherein the fourth transporting means also comprise clamping means for holding a folded-out box in folded-out and form-retaining manner by means of vertically clamping the box along two sides and holding it clamped during transport thereof.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the clamping distance of the clamping means is variably adjustable for different box sizes.
Apparatus as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, further provided with folding means for folding shut flaps of the box while making use of the transporting movement of the fourth transporting means.
Apparatus as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, further provided with sealing means for sealing a folded shut box.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sealing means are adhesive means for sealing the box by making use of adhesive tape or glue.
Apparatus as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the objects are elongate and/or cylindrical objects.
Apparatus as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the objects are mastic cartridges.
Ordering device, comprising:

lifting means for lifting rows of objects newly supplied by the first transporting means,

supporting means for supporting lifted rows of objects on the underside, and

holding means for thereby holding one or more rows of objects together on both sides thereof.
Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the supporting means comprise two rows of support pins situated opposite each other and slidable in and out in the length direction of the objects, which pins:

are retracted sufficiently far in a first position to support on either side on the underside a row of objects lifted upward by the lifting means, and which

are extended sufficiently far in a second position so as not to prevent the lifting means from lifting a new row of objects.
Device as claimed in claim 10 and/or 11, wherein the holding means are two vertically placed parallel plates.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ordering means comprise an ordering device as claimed in claims 10-13.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third transporting means comprise one or more exchangeable plates.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fold-out means are rotatable 180 on a rotation point.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 15, wherein the fold-out means are provided with suction means.
Nozzle adding device for adding nozzles in a predetermined number to packing means, comprising:

counting means for counting off nozzles, and

nozzle placing means for adding counted nozzles to the packing means at a moment when they are still situated on the first transporting means.
Nozzle adding device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising orientation means for carrying the nozzles into a suitable vertical orientation.
Nozzle adding device as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the orientation means comprise a vibrating pan.
Nozzle adding device as claimed in claim 17 or 18, further comprising orientation means for carrying the nozzles into a correct horizontal orientation.
Nozzle adding device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the orientation means comprise guide means and blow openings for setting the nozzles into a rotation movement.
Apparatus as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims 1-16, comprising a device as claimed in one or more of the claims 17-21.
Method for packing a number of objects in a box using the apparatus as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising the following steps of:

feeding the objects to the ordering means by the first transporting means,

ordering the fed objects in one or more rows of one or more objects above one another,

feeding a box in the form of a blank via the guide means to a box-filling position by the fourth transporting means,

folding out the box by the fold-out means,

clamping the box by the fourth transporting means for the purpose of holding the box in folded-out and form-retaining manner during transport,

placing the ordered objects in the box.
Method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a step for transporting the box in one line by means of the fourth transporting means.
Method as claimed in claim 23 and/or 24, further comprising a step for placing of nozzles onto the mastic tubes by the device as claimed in one or more of the claims 17-21 during transport by the first transporting means.
Method as claimed in one or more of the claims 23-25, further comprising a step for sealing and/or adhesive fastening of the boxes during the movement of the fourth transporting means.
Method as claimed in one or more of the claims 23-26, wherein the ordering means order the objects, comprising the following steps of:

raising with the lifting means a row comprising one or more objects supplied by the first transporting means, while the supporting pins are situated in the second position,

moving the supporting pins toward each other until they are situated in the first position,

moving the lifting means downward,

supplying to the lifting means a new row of objects by the first transporting means,

moving the supporting pins apart until they are situated in the second position.