A quality-control device (200) includes: an illumination system (202) for illuminating one peripheral face of each folding box, an image capture device (204) for forming a multiple image of the respective peripheral faces of a bundle of folding boxes, an image processing system (206) for: i) detecting within the multiple image each peripheral end of the slots of each box that separate its adjacent flaps, ii) generating a data set indicative of the geometry of each peripheral end, and iii) analyzing the data set to determine the width of each peripheral end.

A folder/gluer unit includes an upper transfer belt that transfers a corrugated sheet in a direction of transfer, a pair of forming belts that abut against a folding surface which is formed by folding both end portions of the corrugated sheet in a width direction orthogonal to the direction of transfer and fold both of the end portions of the corrugated sheet in the width direction, a pair of folding bars that are disposed in the direction of transfer, abut against the folding surface at both of the end portions of the folded corrugated sheet in the width direction, and guide both of the end portions of the corrugated sheet in the width direction, a moving mechanism that moves the pair of folding bars in the width direction and in a vertical direction, and a control unit that controls the moving mechanism to adjust a position of the folding bar.

A method for checking and correcting the position of a blank comprised of three flaps arranged in a row, the method including the following steps: closing the right- and left-hand flaps one above the other at least in an overlapping portion, gluing the flaps together; positional checking of the right-hand edge and the left-hand edge and comparing those edges with a predetermined position in order to determine a positional deviation of the flaps and, if the positional deviation exceeds an admissible deviation value, then before the glue sets, fixing the central flap at a location via the lower face of central flap using a fixing device using vacuum-induced negative pressing, then holding the upper face of the right-hand flap and of the left-hand flap by respectively at least one suction cup which applies vacuum, and correcting the position of the left-hand flap and/or of the right-hand flap by moving the suction cups sideways.

A foldable container moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration defining an interior area for holding bulk material is provided. The container includes opposed side panels and a bottom flap extending from a bottom edge of each side panel. A tab member extends from a distal end of each bottom flap and a tab finger extends from each tab member so as to define a hook at a distal end of each bottom flap. The hooks are interconnected so as to hingedly connect the distal ends of the bottom flaps together, thereby causing the bottom flaps to rotate between their respective stowed and deployed configuration positions as the end panels are translated between their respective stowed and deployed configuration positions. Locking tabs extending from distal ends of end flaps extend into the interior area of the container to secure the container in the deployed configuration.

An insulated container may include a rigid container surrounding an insulation layer formed from a post-industrial, pre-consumer card waste. The insulation layer may be characterized by a lack of any wrapping material. The insulation layer may be manufactured using a variety of converting processes including, carding, airlay, and needle punch to form a non-woven material for providing consistent density throughout the insulation layer. The insulation layer may include a natural fiber lamination layer on an outer surface of the insulation layer. The insulation layer may be biodegradable in an anaerobic environment.

A flap folding unit (90) for folding flaps of lids of boxes, comprising a hinged guiding element (94) adapted for contacting a flap to be folded upon relative movement of the guiding element and the flap and guiding the flap towards its intended final position and an extendable pusher (96) adapted for pushing the flap into its intended final position.

A method of forming a tray includes obtaining a blank, positioning the blank in a blank feeder assembly of a system for forming a tray, moving the blank from the blank feeder assembly to a nipping assembly, and moving the blank to a tray forming assembly, the tray forming assembly including a tray forming apparatus. The method further includes positioning the blank between a first tray forming portion of the tray forming apparatus and a second tray forming portion of the tray forming apparatus, the first tray forming portion includes a forming block that defines an interior, and the second tray forming portion includes a tray forming member, and driving the forming block into engagement with the blank and the tray forming member such that the blank and the tray forming member are at least partially received in the interior of the forming block to form a tray.

An apparatus and method for expanding a box blank into a box, the apparatus comprising an arm assembly, a controller, a camera and a box blank conveyor. The arm assembly includes a folding arm having a position in a first direction and a rotational angle controlled by the controller based on a position of a feature of the box blank in the field of view of the camera. The camera captures images of the box blank which are used to position the arm assembly and to evaluate the need to reject a box blank.

A packaging box is disclosed, able to have smoothly curved wall portions. The box includes a perimeter wall defining a void thereby. The perimeter wall includes a first fold line and a second fold line. The first fold line and the second fold line may be parallel. A distance around the perimeter wall from the first fold line to the second fold line measured in a first plane perpendicular to the first and second fold lines in a first rotational sense is the same as a distance around the perimeter wall from the first fold line to the second fold line in the first plane in a second rotational sense opposite to the first rotational sense. When the first fold line is fully unfolded, the perimeter has a continuous surface including the first fold line. A tube, blank, method and machine for forming the box are also disclosed.

A magnetising device in a web processing machine for magnetising a magnetisable area of a web of packaging material is disclosed. The magnetising device comprises a first magnetic component having a north pole and a south pole, and a second magnetic component having a north pole and a south pole. Poles of a first and same polarity are arranged adjacent in an opposed relationship and poles of a second and the same polarity are arranged remote from each other.