An apparatus for production of corrugated cardboard pre-folded blanks includes: a frame defining a working plane; a feeding unit which receives a cardboard sheet and moves it in a longitudinal direction on the working plane; a sensor unit for detecting input data regarding the size of an item to be packed; a control unit which receives and processes the input data to generate a setting for the apparatus; a plurality of cutters and creasers to make cuts and folding lines on the cardboard sheet to form the blank; a plurality of actuators moving the cutters and the creasers relative to the frame based on the setting; a glue applicator for applying a strip of glue on a portion of the blank; a folding unit having first and second folding hands for folding front and rear flaps of the blank to overlap and be attached by the glue strip.

An apparatus for production of corrugated cardboard pre-folded blanks includes: a frame defining a working plane; a feeding unit which receives a cardboard sheet and moves it in a longitudinal direction on the working plane; a sensor unit for detecting input data regarding the size of an item to be packed; a control unit which receives and processes the input data to generate a setting for the apparatus; a plurality of cutters and creasers to make cuts and folding lines on the cardboard sheet to form the blank; a plurality of actuators moving the cutters and the creasers relative to the frame based on the setting; a glue applicator for applying a strip of glue on a portion of the blank; a folding unit having first and second folding hands for folding front and rear flaps of the blank to overlap and be attached by the glue strip.

By the method, a case having four sidewalls and at least four flaps at the bottom of the case is erected from a blank in a number of steps. The automated case erecting unit for use in erecting case blanks comprises a supporting device (9) and a picking and handling device (2), said picking and handling device being a robot with a robotic arm, wherein said robotic arm comprising a picking member (3) with a first leg and a second leg, which are placed perpendicularly and are locked in relation to each other, each leg comprising gripping means for picking up case blanks.

By the method, a case having four sidewalls and at least four flaps at the bottom of the case is erected from a blank in a number of steps. The automated case erecting unit for use in erecting case blanks comprises a supporting device (9) and a picking and handling device (2), said picking and handling device being a robot with a robotic arm, wherein said robotic arm comprising a picking member (3) with a first leg and a second leg, which are placed perpendicularly and are locked in relation to each other, each leg comprising gripping means for picking up case blanks.

A bi-directional carton opening system for opening cartons in left hand or right hand configuration. The system utilizes apparatus having a Y axis rail with a first X axis rail fixedly mounted thereto and a second X axis rail mounted moveably thereto. A carton is gripped by a carrier on the first X axis rail and a carrier on the second X axis rail. The carrier on one of the X axis rails is moved along the respective X axis rail while the carrier on the other X axis rail is held in place and the moveable X axis rail is moved along the Y axis to open the carton to a rectangular tubular shape.

A bi-directional carton opening system for opening cartons in left hand or right hand configuration. The system utilizes apparatus having a Y axis rail with a first X axis rail fixedly mounted thereto and a second X axis rail mounted moveably thereto. A carton is gripped by a carrier on the first X axis rail and a carrier on the second X axis rail. The carrier on one of the X axis rails is moved along the respective X axis rail while the carrier on the other X axis rail is held in place and the moveable X axis rail is moved along the Y axis to open the carton to a rectangular tubular shape.

An assembly for the automated folding of the corners of a box made of a relatively rigid laminar material, such as paper or cardboard, the box having a bottom wall, an upper wall, and two pairs of side walls, at least two walls having at least one tab to be folded to form a corner of the box, includes a first folding device to fold a first tab of at least one of the side walls along a first creasing edge, a second folding device to fold a second tab of at least one of the bottom or upper walls along a second creasing edge, and a mechanical connection kinematic mechanism between the first and the second folding device to fold the corner of the box in a coordinated manner. A method for the automated folding of a corner of a box using the assembly.

An assembly for the automated folding of the corners of a box made of a relatively rigid laminar material, such as paper or cardboard, the box having a bottom wall, an upper wall, and two pairs of side walls, at least two walls having at least one tab to be folded to form a corner of the box, includes a first folding device to fold a first tab of at least one of the side walls along a first creasing edge, a second folding device to fold a second tab of at least one of the bottom or upper walls along a second creasing edge, and a mechanical connection kinematic mechanism between the first and the second folding device to fold the corner of the box in a coordinated manner. A method for the automated folding of a corner of a box using the assembly.

A top forming part creasing mechanism for forming a top portion of a paper container, the top forming part creasing mechanism includes: a first creasing device (4) that valley-folds, along horizontal folding lines (111, 113), a right side panel (112) and a left side panel (114) of a carton blank (126) fitted onto a mandrel so as to spread out the right side panel and the left side panel from a center to an outer side of the carton blank; a second creasing device (5) that makes creases by inwardly mountain-folding a top upper surface panel (108) and a top upper surface auxiliary panel (110) along horizontal folding lines (107, 109); and a third creasing device (6) that makes a crease by outwardly valley-folding a sealing panel (117), which is provided on an edge of the top upper surface auxiliary panel, along a horizontal folding line (116).

A top forming part creasing mechanism for forming a top portion of a paper container, the top forming part creasing mechanism includes: a first creasing device (4) that valley-folds, along horizontal folding lines (111, 113), a right side panel (112) and a left side panel (114) of a carton blank (126) fitted onto a mandrel so as to spread out the right side panel and the left side panel from a center to an outer side of the carton blank; a second creasing device (5) that makes creases by inwardly mountain-folding a top upper surface panel (108) and a top upper surface auxiliary panel (110) along horizontal folding lines (107, 109); and a third creasing device (6) that makes a crease by outwardly valley-folding a sealing panel (117), which is provided on an edge of the top upper surface auxiliary panel, along a horizontal folding line (116).