A device for processing a plate element (35) has a rotable hub (52), two tools (57, 58), mounted on the hub (52) to process the element (35) when each tool is in a respective processing position; a drive to rotate the hub (52) and the two tools (57, 58); a rotatable counter-tool (64). The rotation (R) of the hub (52) varies during a rotation cycle of the hub (52), and includes two constant speed phases during each of which one of the two tools (57, 58) is, in succession, in the processing position; and at least one phase with each of the two tools (57, 58) in an intermediate position between the respective processing positions, so as to achieve a front lateral processing position and a rear lateral processing position on the element (35).

A device for processing a plate element (35) has a rotable hub (52), two tools (57, 58), mounted on the hub (52) to process the element (35) when each tool is in a respective processing position; a drive to rotate the hub (52) and the two tools (57, 58); a rotatable counter-tool (64). The rotation (R) of the hub (52) varies during a rotation cycle of the hub (52), and includes two constant speed phases during each of which one of the two tools (57, 58) is, in succession, in the processing position; and at least one phase with each of the two tools (57, 58) in an intermediate position between the respective processing positions, so as to achieve a front lateral processing position and a rear lateral processing position on the element (35).

The invention is directed to a balanced process for extrusion of a plastic corrugated sheet or blanks, and subsequent converting of the blanks into plastic boxes. The process includes conveying the blanks to a plurality of forming stations for incrementally forming features on the blank needed for forming a box. The present process is performed at a slower speed than typical paper corrugated forming.

The invention is directed to a balanced process for extrusion of a plastic corrugated sheet or blanks, and subsequent converting of the blanks into plastic boxes. The process includes conveying the blanks to a plurality of forming stations for incrementally forming features on the blank needed for forming a box. The present process is performed at a slower speed than typical paper corrugated forming.

It is generally a goal to reduce the height dimension of a case-making device. A case-making device 90 comprises a box-sheet-holding part 10 and an extraction part 20. The box-sheet-holding part 10 holds a plurality of box sheets S to be processed into container boxes B such that the box sheets S extend in an upright direction UR. The extraction part 20 extracts one box sheet S from the box-sheet-holding part 10. An upright-direction UR dimension of the box sheet S is a first dimension H1. The extraction part 20 moves the box sheet S in the upright direction UR by a second dimension H2 shorter than the first dimension H1.

A system and method of packing an order. A first sequence of bins corresponding to orders is transported on a first conveyor to a packing station. A case for each order is constructed by a case forming system, the case forming system able to construct cases from blanks of various sizes. The cases are transported from the case construction apparatus to the packing station in a second sequence, wherein the sequential order of the cases corresponds to the bins in the first sequence. The bin in the first sequence are brought to the packing station with the cases in the second sequence.

In erecting a carton from a knock-down carton blank, the blank is placed on a base of a bed of a shuttle such that a bottom side panel of the blank abuts the base. The bottom side panel of the blank is then gripped with a gripper of the base and a top side panel of the blank is raised while advancing the shuttle in a horizontal direction so as to open said knock-down carton blank into a carton sleeve.

The invention describes a system (1) for overprinting on formats, comprising at least one printing unit (2), having first actuation means (14), and also comprising format supplying means (6, 7), format collecting means (9), at least one conveyor belt (5), second actuation means (10), and control means (11, 12, 13). The at least one printing unit (2) comprises at least one rotatable printing cylinder (3), having printing zones at the surface, and also first actuation means (14), configured to drive, in a controllable manner, the rotation of the printing cylinder (3). The format supplying means (6, 7) are configured to supply the system with one or more formats (4), each being intended to be overprinted in preset zones to be overprinted. The format collecting means (9) are configured to collect the one or more formats (8) once printed. The at least one conveyor belt (5) is configured to arrange, for the aforementioned one or more formats (4), an advancement path comprised between the format supplying means (6, 7) and the format collecting means (9). The advancement path passes through the printing unit (2). The second actuation means (10) are configured to drive, in a controllable manner, the advancement of the conveyor belt (4) along the advancement path, upstream of the printing unit (2) in the advancement direction. The control means (11, 12, 13) are configured to control, in a coordinated manner, both the first actuation means (14) and the second actuation means (10), so as to determine at each moment a correspondence of the preset zones to be overprinted of the format (4) with respective printing zones of the printing cylinder (3).

A machine for forming a carton from a carton blank. The machine includes at least one mover including a picker for picking the carton blank from the hopper and associating the carton blank with the mover. A controlled motion track is provided for moving the at least one mover and picker along a path of travel to a stationary position for engaging the carton blank in the hopper. A further aspect relates to maintaining a suction force on the carton blank during conveyance, including along a linear portion of the track associated with a lugged conveyor for assisting in erecting the blank into a carton. Another aspect relates to a rotatable bucket for receiving and supporting the product, and a controlled motion track for positioning the bucket and associated product for delivery to the carton. Related methods are also described.

Methods and apparatus for forming containers from container blanks are provided. An apparatus comprises a blank holding apparatus operable to releasably hold a plurality of carton blanks in a first configuration. The apparatus also has a rotary apparatus operable to rotate an engagement device along a rotational path from a first retrieval location where the engagement device is operable to engage with and retrieve a blank from the plurality of blanks held in the blank holding apparatus, to a second operational location. The apparatus also has a movement apparatus inter-connected to the rotary apparatus. The movement apparatus is operable to move the rotary apparatus and the engagement device with the engaged blank away from the blank holding apparatus, which may be translational movement away from the blank holding apparatus.