A system for automating packaging of varying shipment sets comprises a control unit for receiving from a database stored information on the size and number of items forming a shipment set according to a dispatch order, an information acquiring device for acquiring current information on the items being actually arranged for said shipment set, said information acquiring device being communicatively coupled with said control unit and said control unit being configured to calculate, either based on the information from said database or from the information acquiring device, the dimensions of a custom sized cardboard box for packaging the shipment set, a box forming station for forming said custom sized cardboard box having a bottom wall, four side walls and an open top, a packaging station for packaging the items forming the shipment set into said custom sized cardboard box, and a lid placing station for closing said custom sized cardboard box with an appropriate lid, wherein said control unit is configured for performing a verification using the current information from said information acquiring device and the stored information from said database to verify that the actual shipment set is formed according to the dispatch order.

A method of filling containers that can be used to fill containers during successive filling cycles with the same or different fluid compositions at high rates of speed, with little to no machinery changeover, and/or with little to no fluid waste.

An automatic packaging machine for enclosing packages in a pliable film includes a conveyor for moving a package through the packaging machine, an end seal bar configured to cut and/or seal a pliable film transversely to a longitudinal axis of the pliable film, and first and second side sealers disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor and configured to cut the pliable film along the longitudinal axis of the pliable film. The side sealers are automatically moved in a vertical direction to align the side sealers with a centerline of the package. The side sealers are also automatically moved in a horizontal direction to approximate a known width of the package.

A method for monitoring equipment and gathering consumption and diagnostic information can comprise receiving, at a server, a corrugate usage indicator. The corrugate usage indicator can comprise information relating to an amount of corrugate used by a first packaging system. The method can also comprise creating a usage profile for the first packaging system. The usage profile can comprise a corrugate usage profile. The corrugate usage profile can comprise an association between the amount of corrugate used by the first packaging system and the specifications and number of boxes created. Additionally, the method can comprise automatically generating, based upon the corrugate usage profile, a predicted time when a stock of corrugate associated with the first packaging system will be depleted.

A mailer machine including a mailer supply station (e.g., a rotary mailer supply station, a linear mailer supply station, a non-linear mailer supply station, or the like) and a handling station operatively coupled to the mailer supply station. The mailer supply station provides, on a selective basis, mailers having different attributes. The mailer supply station of the mailer machine provides for movement of magazines with respect to a robot in the handling station that may have a distal end secured in a stationary and fixed location. As such, different magazines with dissimilar mailers may be moved to a picking location adjacent the robot, as dissimilar mailers are required. Further, the mailers within the magazines may be moved to a pre-determined pick-up location such that the robot is repeatably picking a mailer from the pre-determine pick-up location.

A forming device for reforming a material web into a tube, comprising a shoulder part with a shoulder surface and a prism part with a prism surface, wherein the shoulder surface and the prism surface are connected to one another along a spatial reforming edge, which has at least one reforming edge portion with a slight curvature and at least one reforming edge portion with a strong curvature, wherein in the prism part, at least in the region of a reforming edge portion with a strong curvature, an inner former element with an inner former surface facing the prism surface is arranged in such a manner that between the prism surface and the inner former surface, a gap which runs along the reforming edge is formed, the width of said gap being adjustable.

A first scoreline, and a perforated line along which a lid can be severed are formed beforehand in a lid sheet. The portion of the lid sheet along its first adjustment side is cut off in a strip shape by a first cutter. The portion of the lid sheet along its second adjustment side is cut off in a strip shape by a second cutter.

A weigh-in-motion scale system for a linear synchronous motor conveyor and a method for weighing objects on a linear synchronous motor conveyor are described herein. In one embodiment, the weigh-in-motion scale system includes a support structure for supporting the following: a weigh cell, a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, a vehicle for transporting an object, and an object; and a weigh cell on the support structure on which a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track rests directly or indirectly. In one embodiment, the method includes transporting a vehicle with an object thereon along a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track; and at a weighing station while the vehicle with the object thereon is being transported, weighing the section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, vehicle, and object to determine the weight of the object.

A carrier and method of manufacture for a carrier that results in a package of containers includes a plastic sheet having an array of container apertures and a portion having a printed matte finish where the printed matte finish includes a lower coefficient of friction relative to a container than a remaining surface of the plastic sheet. A plurality of containers are each positioned within an aperture of the array so that the printed matte finish of the plastic sheet is positioned along an inner portion of the package and the remaining surface of the plastic sheet is positioned along an outer portion of the package.

An adaptive container loading assembly is provided and includes a container forming assembly, a container shuttle assembly, and a product transport assembly. The container forming provides a plurality of varying sized containers. The container shuttle assembly is positioned adjacent to the container forming assembly and includes a linear synchronous motor guideway shaped in an endless loop, and a plurality of transport vehicles moveable about the guideway, each transport vehicle a leading shuttle and a trailing shuttle spaced apart by a determined distance to accommodate and receive the plurality of varying sized containers. The product transport assembly is positioned adjacent the container shuttle assembly and includes a robot arm to position product in the plurality of varying sized containers.