A cardboard box assembly device, that folds four flaps provided at edges of an opening in a cardboard box to surround the opening, is disclosed. The cardboard box assembly device includes a folding unit, a pushing unit, and a drive unit. The folding unit folds each of the four flaps in a prescribed sequence and closes the opening. The pushing unit pushes one of the four flaps, that is folded last, inward into the cardboard box as a locking flap, and overlaps the locking flap onto the other flaps. The drive unit contacts the cardboard box and imparts a prescribed displacement to the cardboard box. Parts that engage with one another are formed between the locking flap and at least one of the other flaps. The drive unit moves the locking flap relative to the other flaps due to the displacement when the pushing unit pushes the locking flap.

A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.

A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.

A method of near infrared (NIR) laser processing a resin based article includes the steps of applying a composition including a specific optothermal converting agent on a surface of the article, and exposing at least part of the applied optothermal converting agent with a NIR laser. The specific optothermal converting has an improved stability towards the environment and therefore renders the laser processing method more reliable.

Systems and methods for treating and packaging cannabis and cannabis-like materials, including systems and methods for sanitizing raw cannabis, and systems and methods for packaging cannabis products in receptacles for sale to and/or use by end users of the products. The systems include treatment systems for treating cannabis by utilizing a rotating conveyor and exposing cannabis on the conveyor to ultraviolet radiation. The systems further include packaging systems for filling receptacles with cannabis utilizing a feed funnel that has a tapering interior that slopes toward a funnel exit port, and an auger or a feed tool at the funnel exit port and extending into the receptacle to deliver a desired dose of the cannabis from the feed funnel.

Systems and methods for treating and packaging cannabis and cannabis-like materials, including systems and methods for sanitizing raw cannabis, and systems and methods for packaging cannabis products in receptacles for sale to and/or use by end users of the products. The systems include treatment systems for treating cannabis by utilizing a rotating conveyor and exposing cannabis on the conveyor to ultraviolet radiation. The systems further include packaging systems for filling receptacles with cannabis utilizing a feed funnel that has a tapering interior that slopes toward a funnel exit port, and an auger or a feed tool at the funnel exit port and extending into the receptacle to deliver a desired dose of the cannabis from the feed funnel.

The method for packaging articles provides to form a tubular wrapping of thermosealable sheet material inside which the articles to be packaged are prearranged, regularly distanced, and to feed said tubular wrapping to a cut station at which grip means, suitable to grasp in succession said articles, operate. The transverse cut of the tubular wrapping is performed in suitable step relationship in the section upstream the article grasped by said grip means and the prepackaged article is transferred to a closure rotatable head for closing the package, rotatable at a plurality of operative stations. In a first operative station the bellows folding of the open ends of the portion of tubular wrapping containing the article is performed. Successively, the sealing of said bellows folded ends of the wrapping is performed to obtain the airtight closure of the package.

The method for packaging articles provides to form a tubular wrapping of thermosealable sheet material inside which the articles to be packaged are prearranged, regularly distanced, and to feed said tubular wrapping to a cut station at which grip means, suitable to grasp in succession said articles, operate. The transverse cut of the tubular wrapping is performed in suitable step relationship in the section upstream the article grasped by said grip means and the prepackaged article is transferred to a closure rotatable head for closing the package, rotatable at a plurality of operative stations. In a first operative station the bellows folding of the open ends of the portion of tubular wrapping containing the article is performed. Successively, the sealing of said bellows folded ends of the wrapping is performed to obtain the airtight closure of the package.

A method of preparing a ready-to-use catheter by providing a catheter assembly that has a first compartment that includes a catheter therein. The catheter includes on at least a part of its surface an exterior coating designed to reduce the coefficient of friction after treatment with a liquid swelling medium, and a second compartment containing a liquid swelling medium. The method includes sterilising the catheter assembly, adding the liquid swelling medium to the first compartment for wetting/activating the exterior coating of the catheter, and storing the ready-to-use catheter. By using the method according to the invention, the sterilisation of the catheter is effectuated in a dry-state, ensuring that the known problems with wet-sterilisation are completely eliminated and the need for preparing complicated and expensive liquid swelling mediums are no longer required.

A method of preparing a ready-to-use catheter by providing a catheter assembly that has a first compartment that includes a catheter therein. The catheter includes on at least a part of its surface an exterior coating designed to reduce the coefficient of friction after treatment with a liquid swelling medium, and a second compartment containing a liquid swelling medium. The method includes sterilising the catheter assembly, adding the liquid swelling medium to the first compartment for wetting/activating the exterior coating of the catheter, and storing the ready-to-use catheter. By using the method according to the invention, the sterilisation of the catheter is effectuated in a dry-state, ensuring that the known problems with wet-sterilisation are completely eliminated and the need for preparing complicated and expensive liquid swelling mediums are no longer required.