A creasing unit for creating fold lines in cardboard, comprising two crease rollers, each crease roller having a circumferential protrusion adapted for indenting cardboard to create a fold line, wherein the crease rollers are rotatably mounted next to each other such that each crease roller can rotate about its own center axis and each crease roller is movable between at least a first position for creating a fold line and a second position for either allowing cardboard to pass the respective crease roller without being indented by the respective crease roller or for creating an additional indented line being less deep than the fold line.

Die and counter-die systems, polymeric rule dies for such systems, and polymeric formulations suitable for producing such rule dies using digital rule writing. There is provided a rule die for pressure-contacting of a cardboard workpiece surface, including: (a) a die body; and (b) at least one elongate polymeric rule, each rule having: (i) a first elongate base surface adhesively attached to a surface of the die body; and (ii) an elongate protrusion, distally protruding from the die body, the elongate protrusion having an elongate die surface, the elongate die surface including a polymeric material, the elongate die surface having a contact surface adapted to contact the workpiece surface; the contact surface having a length of at least 5 mm and a first width (W) within a range of 0.4 to 1.0 mm, the rule having a height (H) within a range of 1.0 to 4.5 mm; wherein, over a total length of the contact surface, the contact surface having at most 5 surface pocks/meter, the pocks having a diameter above 0.1 mm.

A converting assembly performs a plurality of conversion functions on sheet material to convert the sheet material into packaging templates. The converting assembly includes a plurality of tool rollers. Each of the tool rollers has one or more conversion tools thereon. The one or more conversion tools on an individual tool roller are configured to perform a subset of the plurality of conversion functions that convert the sheet material into packaging templates.

A rotary cutting die assembly is provided that includes a die cylinder, an anvil, and a die board mounted to the die cylinder. The die board includes a series of trim cutting blades. Disposed on the outside of each trim cutting blade is a trim stripper. Secured to the die board adjacent the outside of the trim strippers is a series of retainers that generally retain the trim strippers between trip cutting blades and the retainers. This generally prevents cut pieces of trim from being packed and wedged into a gap between the trim cutting blades and the trim strippers.

The operation result evaluation system comprises: an operation result information generation part to generate operation result information including a production count and an achieved operating time period; and an operation result evaluation device for, after completion of production of corrugated paperboard boxes for a given order, evaluating an operation result of the box making machine. The operation result evaluation device is operable to: with respect to each order, calculate an additional operating time period which is a difference between a target operating time period and the achieved operating time period; generate analytical information regarding an operating time period (FIG. 8) in each order; with respect to each of the entirety or part of a given number of orders, generate comparative information (FIG. 9); and cause the generated comparative information to be transmitted to a user terminal.

A box formed from a plastic corrugated material with soft score lines is provided. The soft score lines are formed to enable the top flaps of the box to lay substantially flat against the outer surface of the box when folded to an open position.

A creasing plate (24) for creasing a sheet (12) from paper, cardboard, carton, foil or a similar material, the creasing plate (24) consisting of plastically deformable material and comprising at least one creasing projection (26) formed from a plurality of small, plastically deformed areas which merge into each other so as to form the creasing projection (26).

A method for converting a flat substrate (W) in a station (3) for converting a flat substrate (W) that includes a rotary cutting unit (9) and at least one rotary deformation unit (7, 8) positioned upstream of the rotary cutting unit (9) in the direction of movement (L) of the flat substrate (W), the method including: determining the conversion parameters of the flat substrate (W), such as the deformation layout and cutting layout; choosing a sleeve (13) carrying a form for carrying out the deformation depending on the deformation layout; mounting the sleeve (13) on a mandrel (12) in the rotary deformation unit (7, 8); choosing the cutting tools (91, 92) depending on the cutting layout; mounting the cutting tools (91, 92) in the rotary cutting unit (9); and starting the conversion of the flat substrate (W).

The invention relates to a creasing machine having a creasing tool (14, 20, 21), a counter element (22, 23) cooperating with the creasing tool, and a transportation system (10) for advancing sheets (12) through a creasing area between the creasing tool (14, 20, 21) and the counter element (22, 23), the creasing tool having a creasing plate (24) provided with at least one creasing projection (26), characterized in that the creasing projection (26) on the creasing plate is constituted by a plurality of small, plastically deformed areas which merge into each other so as to form the creasing projection (26). The invention also relates to a creasing plate (24) adapted for being used in a creasing machine according to any of the preceding claims, the creasing plate (24) being made from sheet metal and comprising at least one creasing projection (26) formed from a plurality of small, plastically deformed areas which merge into each other so as to form the creasing projection. Further, the invention relates to a method for creasing sheets (12), in particular made from paper, cardboard or foil, comprising the following steps: data regarding folding creases (30) to be applied to the sheet (12) is provided. A control (60) determines if a suitable creasing plate (24) is available in an inventory or if a new creasing plate (24) is to be manufactured. Based on the determination of the control (60), either an existing creasing plate (24) is retrieved from the inventory (62) or a new creasing plate (24) is manufactured by using a punching module (40) for applying a plurality of small deformations to a creasing plate blank (24), the deformations constituting at least one creasing projection (26). The creasing plate (24) is mounted on a creasing tool (20, 21), and the creasing tool (20, 21) cooperates with a counter element (22, 23) for applying folding creases (30) to sheets (12) advanced through a creasing area between the creasing tool (20, 21) and the counter element (22, 23).

A box formed from a plastic corrugated material with soft score lines is provided. The soft score lines are formed to enable the top flaps of the box to lay substantially flat against the outer surface of the box when folded to an open position.