The present disclosure provides a system and method for smart auto-vending during a pandemic. The purpose is to increase efficiency in order fulfillment of prepacked and non-prepacked products in terms of speed, low cost, and sterilization. The system comprises: a box station; dispensers/dispensing subsystems; sterilization stations with different sterilization methods; a packaging station with different packaging methods; a shipping station for smart shipping with automatic self-driving vehicles or drones; a main conveyor and sub-conveyors that move an order through the system. In addition, there may be one dispensing subsystem for weighing, bagging, and sterilizing non-prepackaged grocery products. The system's AI function is also used to optimize items stored in each dispenser/dispensing subsystem. All of these components and methods come together to form an integrated, streamlined, and optimized system and method for carrying out online order fulfillment efficiently.

A system for packing a case with articles, the system including a conveying device to convey articles to be packed, in a serial configuration and a support for a case to be packed with the articles in which the articles are configured to be placed in a plurality of rows, including a first row, a second row adjacent to the first row and a last row adjacent to a side wall of the case.

The technology described herein generally relates to particular form of folded package and the method of forming that folded package. The package packages loose particles into a conical container and secures the filling with a folded distal end. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied as filling and the package may further be provided with a fluid core.

The technology described herein generally relates to particular form of folded package and the method of forming that folded package. The package packages loose particles into a conical container and secures the filling with a folded distal end. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied as filling and the package may further be provided with a fluid core.

A carrier and related methods of use are provided for packaging irregular-shaped products. The carrier has a footing and a vertical support member partially enclosing at least one irregular-shaped product. The vertical support member has: (1) a pair of sidewalls facing one another and having lower tabs joined to opposite ends of the footing, and (2) a rear wall with edges along the junctures with the sidewalls and a lower edge along the juncture with the footing. A wrap encloses the irregular-shaped product(s) and the carrier. The method includes uniformly aligning the irregular-shaped product(s) in the carrier and securing the carrier and product(s) by enclosing them with a wrap.

A carrier and related methods of use are provided for packaging irregular-shaped products. The carrier has a footing and a vertical support member partially enclosing at least one irregular-shaped product. The vertical support member has: (1) a pair of sidewalls facing one another and having lower tabs joined to opposite ends of the footing, and (2) a rear wall with edges along the junctures with the sidewalls and a lower edge along the juncture with the footing. A wrap encloses the irregular-shaped product(s) and the carrier. The method includes uniformly aligning the irregular-shaped product(s) in the carrier and securing the carrier and product(s) by enclosing them with a wrap.

A blank used to form a hexagonal shaped box, the blank having a front sidewall and a back sidewall, a first sidewall having a first sidewall top flap and a first sidewall bottom flap, a second sidewall having a second sidewall top flap and a second sidewall bottom flap, a second sidewall bottom flap extension foldably connected to the second sidewall bottom flap, a third sidewall having a third sidewall top panel, a fourth sidewall having a fourth sidewall top flap and a fourth sidewall bottom flap, a fourth sidewall bottom flap extension foldably connected to the fourth sidewall bottom flap, an inner sidewall foldably connected to the fourth sidewall, an inner sidewall flap foldably connected to the inner sidewall, a top panel including an aperture for dispensing food product there through, a bottom panel foldably connected to the front sidewall, and a slide foldably connected to the front sidewall.

Folding unit for forming an empty cardboard box; the folding unit has a mandrel, around which a blank is folded to form the empty cardboard box. The mandrel has at least two parts, which are mobile in respect to one another between an expanded configuration, in which the two parts are further from one another so as to confer a maximum size to the mandrel, and a contracted configuration, in which the two parts are closer to one another so as to confer a minimum size to the mandrel.

Folding unit for forming an empty cardboard box; the folding unit has a mandrel, around which a blank is folded to form the empty cardboard box. The mandrel has at least two parts, which are mobile in respect to one another between an expanded configuration, in which the two parts are further from one another so as to confer a maximum size to the mandrel, and a contracted configuration, in which the two parts are closer to one another so as to confer a minimum size to the mandrel.

Modular containerization systems and methods may include a plurality of modular units that may be removably coupled together in various configurations. Each modular unit may receive a container, and each container may receive one or more objects. In addition, each modular unit may include various sensors and processing aid or indicators, such as a container presence sensor, a scale, a stow-to-light indicator, a container complete button and indicator, and a container removal indicator. Further, each modular unit of a modular container system may be in communication with a controller to coordinate various processes associated with the system, including container placement, container filling, and container removal processes using the various sensors and processing aids or indicators.