EP4357259A1

EP4357259A1 - Line and method for producing and packaging metal profiles

Info

Publication number: EP4357259A1
Application number: EP23190396.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Dallan
Original assignee: Dallan SpA
Current assignee: Dallan SpA
Priority date: 2022-10-19
Filing date: 2023-08-08
Publication date: 2024-04-24

Abstract

The present invention concerns a line (1) for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings comprising in sequence along a profile advance direction (X): - a profiling machine (10); - a cutting unit (20); - an extraction bench (30) comprising a first profile centering system (300); - a profile coupling bench (40); - a layer forming bench (50); - a strapping machine (60) comprising an equalizing system (600); - a layer centering bench (80) comprising a second layer centering system (800); - a package forming bench (90). Said line (1) comprises a management and control unit (100) provided with a control interface (110). The first centering system (300), the equalizing system (600) and the second centering system (800) are configured to be controlled by said management and control unit (100) so as to be automatically adjusted.

Description

Field of application

The object of the present invention is a line and method for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings.
In particular, the line according to the invention is intended for the production and packaging of metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings.

Prior art

As it is known, plasterboard walls and ceilings comprise a frame whereto plasterboard panels are fastened. In turn, the frame comprises U or C shaped metal profiles that are connected to each other.
Such metal profiles are produced according to standard lengths. Installers at a construction site cut the metal profiles to the sizes imposed by the specific installation requirements.
Such a method for the installation of plasterboard walls or ceilings is, however, costly in terms of both working time and wasted material. The operations for cutting the metal profiles are in fact time-consuming and result in a high production of waste (unusable metal profile sections).
Within the sector of plasterboard walls and ceilings installation there is therefore the requirement to render installation operations less burdensome, thereby reducing timescales and waste.
To date, however, this requirement has not been met insofar as any customized production of metal profiles would be excessively costly, especially due to the complexity that would be introduced into the packing operations of the metal profiles.
As is known, metal profiles are produced in batches of profiles with the same length to then be packaged in the form of packages consisting of pairs of profiles that are coupled with each other in order to reduce their volume. Each package takes the form of two or more layers formed from a plurality of pairs of profiles arranged one above the other.
A traditional plant for the production and packaging of metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings is structured as a profile production section and a profile packing section.
In more detail, the profile production section, comprises, sequentially:

a profiling machine, provided with a punching assembly and fed upstream by at least one metal strip reel supported by a winder;
a profile cutting unit;
a profile extraction bench which is suitable for centering each individual profile in length on a predefined first centering axis.

The profile packaging section, comprises, sequentially:

a profile coupling bench which is suitable for receiving the profiles centered in length on the first centering axis from the profile extraction bench to couple them together two by two;
a bench for forming layers of coupled profiles, which bench receives the coupled profiles from the coupling bench to place them side by side with each other in the lengthwise direction so as to form a layer of coupled profiles;
a strapping machine which is suitable for applying one or more straps around a layer of coupled profiles so as to make it a manipulable unit;
at least one single layer translation bench;
a bench for centering layers of coupled profiles which is suitable for centering a single package in length with respect to a predefined second centering axis;
a package forming bench which is suitable for taking single layers from the centering bench and laying them one on top of the other so as to form a package of profiles.

The single profile or single layer centering and levelling operations in the profile extraction bench, the coupled profiles layer forming bench and the layers centering bench are performed by means of mechanical stops and thrust paddles.
For every change in profile length it is necessary to reposition the mechanical stop in the profile extraction bench, in the coupled profiles forming bench and in the layers centering bench.
Such operations require that the profiling machine be stopped with more or less downtime depending on the frequency of the change of the profile length.
Currently, producing packages of profiles cut to length is extremely costly in terms of downtime due to the lack of flexibility of the production and packaging lines in relation to changing the length of the profiles.
There is therefore the need to have a line for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings that makes it possible to simplify the operations of changing the length of the profiles, thereby reducing downtimes.

Disclosure of the invention

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to eliminate, fully or partially, the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art, by providing a line for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings that makes it possible to simplify the operations of changing the length of the profiles, thereby reducing downtimes.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a line for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings that it is operationally simple to control.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a line for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings with manufacturing costs that are comparable to traditional apparatuses.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical features of the invention, according to the aforesaid objects, may be clearly seen in the contents of the claims below, and its advantages will become more readily apparent in the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent one or more purely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above of a line for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to one embodiment of the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 show two perspective views from two opposite sides of a component of the line shown in Figure 1, the component consisting of a profile extraction bench;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of some components of the line shown in Figure 1, consisting of a coupled profiles layer forming bench, a strapping machine, two single layer translation benches and a coupled profiles layer centering bench ;
Figures from 5 to 12 show, in sequence, some operational steps for the formation of one layer of coupled profiles, using perspective views of one part of the line shown in Figure 1 and in relation to a profile extraction bench, a profile coupling bench, a coupled profiles layer forming bench and a strapping machine, in which some parts have been removed in order to better illustrate others;
Figures 13 and 14 show two perspective views of the part of the line shown in Figure 12 wherein a system has also been shown for adjusting the position of the thrust paddle, the latter being shown in two different operating positions; and
Figure 15 shows a perspective view from above of the line of Figure 1, shown without the profiler and the cutting unit in an operating step wherein a layer of coupled profiles has arrived at layer centering bench in order to then be received by a package forming bench.

Detailed description

The line for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to the invention is indicated in the entirety thereof with the numeral 1 in the attached Figures.
Here and in the rest of the description and in the claims, reference will be made to the line 1 under usage conditions. Therefore, any references to a lower or upper position or to a horizontal or vertical orientation should be interpreted in this sense.
According to one general embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 1, the line 1 comprises, in sequence, along a profile advance direction X:

a profiling machine 10;
a cutting unit 20;
an extraction bench 30;
a profile coupling bench 40;
a profile pairs layers forming bench 50;
a strapping machine 60;
a layer centering bench 80; and
a package forming bench 90.

The line 1 comprises, furthermore, a management and control unit 100 provided with a control interface 110.
The profiling machine 10 is suitable for profiling a metal strip to obtain a continuous metal profile having a predefined transverse cross-section. Preferably, the transverse cross-section is U or C shaped. Preferably, the profiling machine 10 is provided with a punching assembly and is supplied upstream by at least one metal strip reel supported by a winder 11. The profiling machine 10 may be of any type and will not be described in further detail insofar as it is known by a person skilled in the art.
The cutting unit 20, arranged downstream of the profiling machine 10, is suitable for cutting the continuous metal profile into sections of predefined lengths which constitute the metal profiles P for plasterboard walls or ceilings. In particular, the cutting unit 20 may be controlled by means of the management and control unit 100 in order to automatically adjust the length of the cut sections (profiles). The cutting unit 20 may be of any type and will not be described in further detail insofar as it is known by a person skilled in the art.
The extraction bench 30, arranged downstream of the cutting unit 20, is suitable for extracting the profiles P1 from the profiling machine 10. The extraction bench 30 is provided with a first centering system 300 which is suitable for centering each individual profile P1 in length with respect to a predefined first centering axis Y1 by means of a first end-stroke abutment 301.
Advantageously, the extraction bench 30 defines a first advance lane 31 for the profiles P1.
In particular, the profile coupling bench 40 is arranged laterally with respect to said extraction bench 30 along said first advance lane 31, which is longitudinally open on the side facing said profile coupling bench 40 in order to allow for the passage of the profiles from the extraction bench 30 to the coupling bench 40.
Preferably, this first advance lane 31 is longitudinally open on both sides, at least in a terminal portion thereof. On a first side of the first lane 31 there is a waste profile collection plane 33; on a second side (opposite the first) there is the profile coupling bench 40.
Preferably, the extraction bench 30 may comprise pushing means 32 for pushing the profiles P1 from said first lane 31 to said coupling bench 40 or else from said first lane 31 to said waste profile collection plane 33. The pushing means 32 may be of any type and will not be described in further detail insofar as they are known by a person skilled in the art.
The profile coupling bench 40 is suitable for receiving the profiles P1 centered in length on the first centering axis Y1 from the profile extraction bench 30 to couple them two by two in the lengthwise direction so as to form a pair of profiles P2.
Preferably, the profile coupling bench 40 defines an inclined plane 41 that extends towards the base of the extraction bench 30 up to a coupling position 42, arranged in proximity to the inlet of the layer forming bench 50. By virtue of this inclined plane 41 the profiles P1 are able to slide towards the coupling position 42.
Advantageously, the coupling bench 40 comprises a profile flipping system 43 that is suitable for flipping the second profile of every pair at the coupling position 42 where the two profiles are placed side by side (see Figure 5). The second profile, whilst being flipped, is inserted into the first profile thereby forming a pair P2 (see Figure 6). The profile flipping system 43 may be of any type and will not be described in further detail insofar as it is known by a person skilled in the art.
The profile pairs layer forming bench 50 is suitable for receiving the pairs of profiles P2 from the coupling bench to lay them together side by side in the lengthwise direction so as to form a layer S of pairs of profiles P2. The layer forming bench 50 may be of any type and will not be described in further detail insofar as it is known by a person skilled in the art.
The strapping machine 60 is suitable for:

equalizing the profile pairs P2 of each layer S in the lengthwise direction and
applying one or more straps around said layer S of profile pairs P2 so as to make it a manipulable unit.

The strapping machine 60 is provided with an equalizing system 600 which is suitable for equalizing the profile pairs of a layer in the lengthwise direction through the cooperation of a second end-stroke abutment 601 and a thrust paddle 602 operating on a head end and on an opposite tail end of the layer S, respectively.
Preferably, the layer forming bench 50 and the strapping machine 60 are longitudinally aligned with each other and define a second advance lane 61 for the layers S.
Preferably, the first advance lane 31 and said second lane 61 are longitudinally offset from each other and are connected to each other by said profile coupling bench 40 which also acts as a profile transfer device from the first to the second lane.
The layer centering bench 80 is provided with a second centering system 800 which is suitable for centering a single layer S in length with respect to a predefined second centering axis Y2 by means of a third end-stroke abutment 801 acting on the head end of the layer S.
Advantageously, the layer centering bench 80 defines a third advance lane 81 for the layers S.
Preferably, said third advance lane 81 is longitudinally aligned with said second advance lane 61.
As shown in detail in Figure 1, at least one translation bench 70 of the single layer S may be inserted between the strapping machine 60 and the layer centering bench 80, which translation bench in particular may consist of a motorized or non-motorized roller transport device.
The package forming bench 90 is suitable for taking a single layer S at a time from the layer centering bench 80 and deposit it on a stacking structure 91 at which several layers S are stacked one on top of the other so as to form a package Q of layers S superimposed on each other in height and centered with respect to said predefined second centering axis Y2.
Advantageously, the stacking structure 91 is arranged laterally to said third lane 81.
In particular, said package forming bench 90 may comprise:

layer lifting means 92 for lifting each individual layer S from said third lane 81 to a predefined stacking height;
translation means 93 configured to translate the layer from said layer lifting means 92 to said stacking structure 91, keeping it at said predefined stacking height.

Operationally, the stacking structure 91 is movable in height so as to arrange the top of the last stacked layer in time order at said predefined stacking height on said stacking structure 91. In this way the translation means 93 may move the layer under manipulation directly above the package Q which is forming on the stacking structure 91.
The package forming bench 90 may be of any type and will not be described in further detail insofar as it is known by a person skilled in the art.
Preferably, the profiling machine 10 and the cutting unit 20 are provided with means thereof for moving both the continuous strip and the profile. In particular, in the case of the profiling machine 10, such a function may be performed by the profiling rollers.
Preferably, the extraction bench 30, the layer forming bench 50, the strapping machine 60 and the layer centering bench 80 comprise transport means that are suitable for moving the profiles P1, or the layers S of profile pairs, along the advance direction X. In particular, such transport means may consist of devices with a belt (as, for example, in the extraction bench 30) or rollers (as, for example, in the layer forming bench 50, the strapping machine 60 and the layer centering bench 80). Preferably, such transport devices are motorized. Advantageously, such transport devices define the advance lanes 31, 61 and 81.
According to the invention, the first centering system 300, wherewith the extraction bench 30 is provided, is configured to be controlled by the management and control unit 100 so as to automatically adjust the position of the first end-stroke abutment 301 with respect to said predefined first centering axis Y1 as a function of the length of the profiles P1 exiting from the cutting unit 20.
According to the invention, the equalizing system 600, wherewith the strapping machine 60 is provided, is configured to be controlled by the management and control unit 100 so as to automatically adjust the position of the thrust paddle 602 as a function of the length of the profiles P1 exiting from the cutting unit 20.
Furthermore, according to the invention, the second centering system 800, wherewith the layer centering bench 80 is provided, is configured to be controlled by the management and control unit 100 so as to automatically adjust the position of the third end-stroke abutment 801 with respect to said predefined second centering axis Y1 as a function of the length of the profiles P1.
By virtue of the invention, all of the interventions to be performed on the line 1, with the aim of assuring the operation thereof when changing the length of the metal profiles to be produced and packaged, may be directly performed in an automated manner by the management and control unit 100.
This significantly simplifies the execution of such interventions, increasing on the one hand the flexibility of the line 1, and on the other reducing the downtimes.
The increased production flexibility of the line 1 according to the invention makes it possible to rapidly adapt production requirements in implementing on-demand production plans. All of this makes it possible to perfectly adapt to the variability of market requirements.
The automation of the interventions regarding adjustments to the length of the profiles also reduces the margin of error associated with manual adjustment.
Advantageously, the management and control unit 100 may be programmed so as to execute adjustment sequences on said first centering system 300, on said equalizing system 600 and on said second centering system 800 so as to implement differentiated production plans for profiles P1.
In particular, each of said differentiated production plans may include the subdivision of the profiles P1 into packages Q comprising two or more layers S, which differ from each other at least for the length of the profiles which constitute them.
It is therefore possible to directly implement - in a simple and efficient manner - packages Q of profiles P1 composed according to the specific requirements of the user in terms of quantities of profiles having predefined lengths.
By virtue of the line 1, according to the invention, the production to length of metal profiles does not introduce any further complexity compared to the production of batches of metal profiles of standardized lengths, neither in terms of the production process, nor in terms of the packaging of the metal profiles.
The production of metal profiles to length allows for a method for the installation of plasterboard walls or ceilings that is less costly in terms of both working time and wasted material.
Preferably, as part of a differentiated profiles production plan, for each individual package Q the management and control unit 100 may be programmed in order to sequence the production of the profiles P1 according to an order of decreasing length of the profiles themselves so that the package forming bench 90 receives the layers of longer profiles first and then the layers of shorter profiles and may deposit them with this order on the stacking structure 91 thus creating packages Q having a scaled structure (also definable as pyramidal), as shown in Figure 1.
A package Q with a scaled or pyramidal structure is much more stable and, by virtue of the invention, may be implemented without any operational burden in terms of time and labor.
Operationally, the line 1 according to the invention may nonetheless also be programmed for the production of batches of metal profiles of a standardized length, organized in packages composed of layers of profiles of the same length.
Operationally, the line 1 according to the invention ensures greater production flexibility.
According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the aforementioned first end-stroke abutment 301, installed in the extraction bench 30, is movable by motorized means 302 along a guide 303 extending parallel to said first lane 31. Said motorized means 302 are controlled by said management and control unit 100 and, together with the guide 303, form part of the first centering system 300.
According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the thrust paddle 602, installed in the strapping machine 60, is movable by motorized means 603 along a guide 604 that extends parallel to said second lane 61. Said motorized means 603 are controlled by said management and control unit 100 and, together with the guide 604, form part of the equalizing system 600.
According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the third end-stroke abutment 801, installed in the layer centering bench 80, is movable by motorized means 802 along a guide 803 that extends parallel to said third lane 81. Said motorized means 802 are controlled by said management and control unit 100 and, together with the guide 803, form part of the second centering system 800.
The line 1 for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to the invention is therefore operationally simple to control.
The line 1 for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings has, furthermore, implementation costs that are comparable to those of traditional equipment.
A method for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings is also an object of the present invention.
The method according to the invention is implemented by means of a production and packaging line of metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings that is the object of the present invention and in particular as described above. For this reason, the method is described below using the same numerical references used to describe the line 1 for the production and packaging of metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to the invention.
More specifically, the method for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings comprises the following operational steps:

a) preparing a line 1 for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to the invention;
b) inserting in the management and control unit 100 of the line 1, through the control interface 110, a work plan which defines a time sequence of metal profiles to be produced and packaged at least in terms of profile lengths, quantities for each profile length and subdivision into packages Q;
c) controlling the cutting unit 20 so that it cuts the continuous profile exiting from the profiling machine 10, respecting a predefined profile cutting time sequence corresponding to said work plan.

According to the invention, the method comprises the operational step d) of controlling, through said management and control unit 100, said first centering system 300, said equalizing system 600 and said second centering system 800 to automatically adjust - as a function of the length of the profiles P1 exiting from the cutting unit 20 in accordance with said predefined profile cutting time sequence - respectively:

the position of the first end-stroke abutment 301 with respect to said predefined first centering axis Y1;
the position of said thrust paddle 602; and
the position of the third end-stroke abutment 801 with respect to said predefined second centering axis Y1,

Preferably, the aforementioned time sequence of metal profiles to be produced and packaged follows for each package a production order of decreasing profile length so as to generate packages Q having the layers of longer profiles at the base and the layers of shorter profiles at the top, thus making packages Q having a scaled structure (also definable as pyramidal), as shown in Figure 1.
The advantages associated with the method according to the invention are the same as those described in relation to the line and will not be presented again for brevity of description.
The invention allows numerous advantages to be obtained, which have already been described in part.
The line and method for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to the invention makes it possible to simplify the operations for changing profile length, thereby reducing downtimes, offering increased flexibility in terms of the production and packaging of metal profiles.
The line and method for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to the invention are operationally simple to control.
The line for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to the invention has, furthermore, implementation costs that are comparable to those of traditional equipment.
The invention thus conceived therefore achieves its intended objectives.
Obviously, in practice it may also assume different forms and configurations from the one illustrated above, without thereby departing from the present scope of protection.
Furthermore, all of the details may be replaced with technically equivalent elements, and the dimensions, shapes, and materials used may be any according to requirements.

Claims

Line (1) for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings comprising in sequence along a profile advance direction (X):
- a profiling machine (10) suitable to profile a metal strip to obtain a continuous metal profile;

- a cutting unit (20) placed downstream of the profiling machine (10) and suitable to cut said continuous metal profile into pieces of predefined lengths which constitute said metal profiles (P) for plasterboard walls or ceilings;

- an extraction bench (30) which is placed downstream of the cutting unit (20) and is suitable to extract the profiles (P1) from the profiling machine (10), said extraction bench (30) being provided with a first centering system (300) which is suitable to center each individual profile (P1) in length with respect to a predefined first centering axis (Y1) by means of a first end-stroke abutment (301);

- a profile coupling bench (40) which is suitable to receive the profiles (P1) centered in length on the first centering axis (Y1) from the profile extraction bench (30) to couple them two by two in the lengthwise direction so as to form a pair of profiles (P2);

- a layer forming bench (50) of profile pairs, which is suitable to receive the profile pairs (P2) from the coupling bench to place them side by side with each other in the lengthwise direction so as to form a layer (S) of profile pairs (P2);

- a strapping machine (60) which is suitable to equalise the profile pairs (P2) of each layer (S) in the lengthwise direction and to apply one or more straps around said layer (S) of profile pairs (P2) so as to make it a manipulable unit, said strapping machine (60) being provided with an equalising system (600) which is suitable to equalise the profile pairs of a layer in the lengthwise direction through the cooperation of a second end-stroke abutment (601) and a thrust paddle (602) operating on a head end and on an opposite tail end of the layer (S), respectively;

- a layer centering bench (80) provided with a second centering system (800) which is suitable to center a single layer (S) in length with respect to a predefined second centering axis (Y2) by means of a third end-stroke abutment (801) acting on the head end of the layer (S);

- a package forming bench (90) which is suitable to take a single layer (S) at a time from the layer centering bench (80) and deposit it on a stacking structure (91) at which several layers (S) are stacked one on top of the other so as to form a package (Q) of layers (S) superimposed on each other in height and centered with respect to said predefined second centering axis (Y2), wherein said line (1) comprises a management and control unit (100) provided with a control interface (110),
characterised in that:
- said first centering system (300) is configured to be controlled by said management and control unit (100) so as to automatically adjust the position of the first end-stroke abutment (301) with respect to said predefined first centering axis (Y1) as a function of the length of the profiles (P1) exiting from the cutting unit (20);

- said equalising system (600) is configured to be controlled by said management and control unit (100) so as to automatically adjust the position of the thrust paddle (602) as a function of the length of the profiles (P1) exiting from the cutting unit (20); and

- said second centering system (800) is configured to be controlled by said management and control unit (100) so as to automatically adjust the position of the third end-stroke abutment (801) with respect to said predefined second centering axis (Y1) as a function of the length of the profiles (P1).
Line (1) according to claim 1, wherein said management and control unit (100) is programmed to perform sequences of adjustments on said first centering system (300), on said equalising system (600) and on said second centering system (800) so as to implement differentiated profile production plans (P1), each of said differentiated production plans including the division of the profiles (P1) into packages (Q) comprising two or more layers (S), which differ from each other at least for the length of the profiles which constitute them.
Line (1) according to claim 2, wherein as part of a differentiated profile production plan for each individual package (Q), said management and control unit (100) is programmed to sequence the production of the profiles (P1) according to an order of decreasing length of the profiles themselves so that the package forming bench (90) receives the layers of longer profiles first and then the layers of shorter profiles and can deposit them with this order on the stacking structure (91) thus creating packages (Q) having a scaled structure.
Line (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said extraction bench (30) defines a first advance lane (31) for the profiles (P1) and wherein said first end-stroke abutment (301) is movable by motorised means (302) along a guide (303) extending parallel to said first lane (31), said motorised means being controlled by said management and control unit (100).
Line (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said layer forming bench (50) and said strapping machine (60) are longitudinally aligned with each other and define a second advance lane (61) for the layers (S) and wherein said thrust paddle (602) is movable by motorised means (603) along a guide (604) extending parallel to said second lane (61), said motorised means being controlled by said management and control unit (100).
Line (1) according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, wherein said first advance lane (31) and said second lane (61) are longitudinally offset from each other and are connected to each other by said profile coupling bench (40) which acts as a profile transfer device from the first to the second lane.
Line (1) according to claim 6, wherein said profile coupling bench (40) is arranged laterally with respect to said extraction bench (30) along said first advance lane (31) and wherein said first advance lane (31) is longitudinally open on the side facing said profile coupling bench (40), said extraction bench (30) comprising pushing means (32) for pushing the profiles (P1) from said first lane (31) to said coupling bench (40) .
Line (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said layer centering bench (80) defines a third advance lane (81) for the layers (S) and wherein said third end-stroke abutment (801) is movable by motorised means (802) along a guide (803) extending parallel to said third lane (81), said motorised means being controlled by said management and control unit (100).
Line (1) according to claim 8, when dependent on claim 5, wherein said third advance lane (81) is aligned longitudinally to said second advance lane (61).
Line (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said stacking structure (91) is arranged laterally to said third lane (81) and wherein said package forming bench (90) comprises:
- layer lifting means (92) for lifting each individual layer (S) from said third lane (81) to a predefined stacking height;

- translation means (93) configured to translate the layer from said layer lifting means (92) to said stacking structure (91), keeping it at said predefined stacking height
wherein said stacking structure (91) is movable in height so as to arrange the top of the last stacked layer in order of time on said stacking structure (91) at said predefined stacking height.
Method for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings comprising the following operating steps:
a) preparing a line (1) for producing and packaging metal profiles for plasterboard walls or ceilings according to one or more of the preceding claims;

b) inserting in the management and control unit (100) of the line (1) through the control interface (110) a work plan which defines a time sequence of metal profiles to be produced and packaged at least in terms of profile lengths, quantities for each profile length and subdivision into packages (Q);

c) controlling the cutting unit (20) so that it cuts the continuous profile exiting from the profiling machine (10) respecting a predefined profile cutting time sequence corresponding to said work plan;

d) controlling, through said management and control unit (100), said first centering system (300), said equalising system (600) and said second centering system (800) to automatically adjust - as a function of the length of the profiles (P1) exiting from the cutting unit (20) in accordance with said predefined profile cutting time sequence - respectively:
- the position of the first end-stroke abutment (301) with respect to said predefined first centering axis (Y1) ;

- the position of the thrust paddle (602); and

- the position of the third end-stroke abutment (801) with respect to said predefined second centering axis (Y1),

e) packaging the profiles (P1) in one or more packages (Q) consisting of two or more layers (S) of profile pairs having the same length superimposed on each other according to said profile cutting time sequence.
Method according to claim 11, wherein said time sequence of metal profiles to be produced and packaged follows for each package a production order of decreasing profile length so as to generate packages (90) having the layers of longer profiles at the base and the layers of shorter profiles at the top, thus making packages (Q) having a scaled structure.