The disclosure provides an automated container resizing apparatus and system, an automated method of resizing a container, and a cutting tool that can be used for the resizing. In one example, the system includes the cutting tool, a controller, a conveyor, and a moveable support that can be a robotic arm. The controller can operate the conveyor to position a container in a cutting zone. The dimensions of the box and product fill height within the container are obtained and translated by the controller into a programmed cutting pattern. The controller then operates the robotic arm to perform the programmed cutting pattern on the box with the cutting tool. The cutting tool can be mounted on the robotic arm that rotates about its axis to cut side walls of the container for resizing.

A system for packing items into cases includes a computer system for receiving information regarding items to be packed into a case, the computer system configured to determine a needed case size for loading based upon physical information regarding the items to be packed. A case handling machine includes multiple components that are position-adjustable according to case size to be held, formed and sealed, the case handling machine including a control system including a memory storing a plurality of machine set ups, wherein each machine set up includes data corresponding to positions for the multiple components. The computer system is configured to communicate needed case size information to the case handling machine, wherein the control system of the case handling machine is configured to implement component position adjustment based upon the needed case size information.

A carton sizing system that has a frame, a controller, one or more cutters movably mounted to the frame and operatively connected to the controller, one or more markers movably mounted to the frame and operatively connected to the controller. The carton sizing system also has a measuring means that is operatively connected to the controller and configured to determine, in use, the footprint of an open top carton and to determine the height of one or more objects contained within the carton. The controller is configured to position the one or more cutters based on the determined footprint and to cut vertical edges of the carton based on the determined height and also to position the one or more markers based on the determined footprint and height and to score or crease vertical walls of the carton between the vertical edges to at least partially define foldable panels.

A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

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 rectangular blank has sides X and Y, where a and b are side dimensions, h is height, and r is width, or width reduced by height h, of the periphery region R of the finished packaging. The method includes: producing folding lines B in the blank parallel to side Y at these distances from the latter: B.sub.1: a.sub.1=h; B.sub.2: a.sub.2=h+a; B.sub.3: a.sub.3=2h+a; severing of two severing lines T, each starting from opposite sides X, along one of the folding lines B, or the extension thereof; selecting the distance between two end points E.sub.T of the severing lines T which are closer to an axis of symmetry S.sub.1 parallel to the side X, such that the distance corresponds to a side B″ of the finished packaging or length of a side M of a packaging insert.

A rotary translational strapping apparatus and strapping method thereof are provided including a support frame, a rotary module, and a translational strapping module, the rotary module includes a rotary guide, a rotary frame, and a first driving mechanism, the rotary guide is disposed on top of the support frame, the rotary frame is rotatably disposed on the rotary guide, the first driving mechanism is used for driving the rotary frame to rotate relative to the rotary guide. The translational strapping module includes a sliding mount, a strapping head, a strapping chute, and a second driving mechanism. The sliding mount is slidably disposed on the rotary frame.

Embodiments herein provide an automatic packager (100) for medical products. One embodiment provides an automatic packager (100) including a universal feed cassette (105) and a packaging unit (110). The universal feed cassette (105) includes a plurality of cartridge slots (130) to receive cartridges (155). Each cartridge (155) includes a reservoir (170) for storing a plurality of medical products and a wheel (180) including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir (170). The wheel (180) rotatable with respect to the reservoir (170). Each cartridge (155) also includes a scooping member (185) provided on the wheel (180) to rotate with the wheel (185) and singulate a medical product from the reservoir (170), and a funnel extension (175) coupled to the reservoir (170) and extending outward and upward from the reservoir (170).

A package insert for cushioning an object during transport includes a plurality of support pins disposed in parallel with respect to each other, and a perforated sheet having a plurality of perforation holes disposed therein. Each of the plurality of supporting pins is disposed within a corresponding perforation hole of the plurality of perforation holes. Each of the plurality of perforation holes has a diameter or width that is equal to or smaller than a diameter or width of its corresponding supporting pin such that the corresponding supporting pin is kept in place by friction when inserted into the corresponding perforation hole.

A rotary translational strapping apparatus and strapping method thereof are provided including a support frame, a rotary module, and a translational strapping module, the rotary module includes a rotary guide, a rotary frame, and a first driving mechanism, the rotary guide is disposed on top of the support frame, the rotary frame is rotatably disposed on the rotary guide, the first driving mechanism is used for driving the rotary frame to rotate relative to the rotary guide. The translational strapping module includes a sliding mount, a strapping head, a strapping chute, and a second driving mechanism. The sliding mount is slidably disposed on the rotary frame.