A method and apparatus for producing trays that are or are not coated with a plastic film and that retain modified atmospheres and the trays obtained. The apparatus allows for obtaining trays with different structures, which include the forming of the trays from previously elaborated preforms, which may or may not have a separator inside the trays and optionally coated with a plastic film inside. It also consists of the method for obtaining the trays and the trays obtained. The trays coated with a plastic film have the capacity to contain atmospheres with a composition of gases different from that of the air inside them, to extend the time of storage and conservation of food products. This is achieved by means of a closed top seal of the tray. The trays also have a simple closure or capping, without modifying their atmosphere.

A machine for automatically manufacturing customized packaging items (I) from continuous laminar material, comprising at least one cutting and creasing unit (2) to form sheets (F) of laminar material with a plurality of cuttings and/or bendinglines (C), at least one variable-geometry forming unit (5) for forming the sheet (F) so cut and creased into a package (I) of predetermined dimensions, a multifunctional robotized manipulator (24) for automatically picking up one sheet (F) at a time from the cutting and creasing unit (2) and feeding the forming unit (5), the manipulator (24) being designed to automatically adapt to the predetermined dimensions of the packaging (I) on the forming unit (5) and interact therewith to form the packaging (I).

A system for creating custom-sized cardboard blanks for folding packagings comprises a first and at least a second supply for fanfold cardboard, a control unit (e.g., microprocessor) that calculates, based on order information regarding the desired minimum dimensions of a current packaging, under predefined optimization criteria a first blank layout for folding the packaging, said blank layout comprising a leading edge and an ending edge and transverse and longitudinal crease lines dividing the blank having a desired length and width into panels, defines, based on predefined criteria, areas around the transverse crease lines and the leading and ending edges, in which no transverse folds from fanfolding the cardboard should be present, sensors communicatively coupled with said control unit that sense information indicative of a presence of transverse folds in cardboard, a cutter to cut-off the piece of cardboard from the first or the second web and form the desired blank.

An apparatus to create corrugated cardboard on the site of a system for automatically forming packaging boxes for packaging an arrangement of one or more item(s) to be shipped, said corrugated cardboard having at least one corrugated layer between two flat layers, comprising at least two supply stations for supplying two different single-faced corrugated cardboards, each single-faced corrugated cardboard comprising a corrugated layer (having a closed side with an attached flat layer and an open side opposite to said closed side, a supply station for supplying a closing layer, a microprocessor communicatively coupled to obtain information on the arrangement to be shipped, the information relating to at least one of overall dimensions, weight, shape, shipping conditions, fragility, sensitivity to moisture, value, shipping destination, and the obtained information allowing selection, based on the obtained information, of at least one of said at least two different single-faced corrugated cardboards, and an attaching station that attaches the closing layer to the selected first single-faced cardboard to sandwich the corrugated layer between the flat layer and the closing layer.

The present invention relates to a method for positioning a plurality of tool heads in a converting machine for converting sheet material into box templates, comprising: providing a plurality of tool heads located at a first set of individual positions within a converting area, moving the plurality of tool heads within the converting area in a first movement by means of a transport mechanism that is arranged to be coupled individually to each tool head, moving at least one of the plurality of tool heads in relation to the transport mechanism in a second movement, wherein the plurality of tool heads are moved to a second set of individual positions by the first and second movement, and wherein the second movement takes place during the first movement. The invention also relates to a tool heads positioning device.

A system for forming a pressware product from a web of a roll of material includes a positive mold, a negative mold, a heating element, an actuator, a force sensor, and a control system. The positive mold forms a top surface of the pressware product. The negative mold forms a bottom surface of the pressware product. The heating element is coupled to the positive mold or the negative mold. The actuator shifts the positive mold or the negative mold to cut and form the pressware product in a single stroke. The force sensor detects the forming force applied by the actuator, and the control system directs the actuator to adjust the forming force.

A system for forming a pressware product from a web of a roll of material comprises a positive mold, a negative mold, a heating element, an actuator, a force sensor, and a control system. The positive mold forms a top surface of the pressware product. The negative mold forms a bottom surface of the pressware product. The heating element is coupled to the positive mold or the negative mold. The actuator shifts the positive mold or the negative mold to cut and form the pressware product in a single stroke. The force sensor detects the forming force applied by the actuator, and the control system directs the actuator to adjust the forming force.

A system for forming a pressware product comprises rollers, a scoring tool, a scoring station actuator, a forming tool, and a forming station actuator. The rollers pull the web along a path having an angle. The scoring tool receives the material from the rollers and includes a vertically shiftable scoring punch with an edge that extends about an outline of the pressware product and a striker plate. The scoring station actuator shifts the scoring tool to form a slot in the web. The forming tool receives the scored web and includes a vertically shiftable positive mold assembly and negative mold assembly. The forming station actuator shifts the positive mold assembly to press against the web and form the pressware product.

Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of sheet or box structures, corrugate sheets, or other products of varying size and structure often with pre-applied print (pre-print) are provided herein. The systems include various features and modules that enable automated control of the corrugator, including the knives, slitters, scorers and cut-to-mark detection system(s), are contemplated. Colored markings may be used to indicate an order change section between two order sections of a roll plan for the manufacturing process. The colored markings are detected as the corrugator runs and, once detected, a controller determines a next set of order instructionse.g., to match the upcoming order. Thus, an order change may occur, thereby enabling automated control of the corrugator based on the new order instructions. Computer readable markings may enable checking of the actual position in the roll plan to an intended position, enabling stopping or changing of the corrugator operation if needed.

In an apparatus and method for successively making plastic bags, webs of first and second panel materials are superposed and fed longitudinally. A plastic film is slit to form longitudinal slit lines so as to be divided into the web of the first panel material and a plurality of webs of a bottom gusset material before the webs of the first and second panel materials are superposed. Then, the webs of the bottom gusset material are guided and supplied to the webs of the first or second panel material by bottom gusset material guide devices. The bottom gusset material is not supplied from another supply roll, and a pattern discrepancy is not caused.