The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus and system that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final folded packages. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus packs the crumbled leaves into the cones, applies air bursts to pack the material within the cone, closes the wide top portion of the cone, and then runs a quality control check to ensure that the final filled cone meets preset specifications.

The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus and system that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final folded packages. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus packs the crumbled leaves into the cones, applies air bursts to pack the material within the cone, closes the wide top portion of the cone, and then runs a quality control check to ensure that the final filled cone meets preset specifications.

The method includes defining a plurality of fold lines that divide the blank into a plurality of sidewall panels, forming at least one platform panel on a bottom end of the plurality of sidewall panels, and forming at least one foot panel on a first side edge of the plurality of sidewall panels near the bottom end, the at least one foot panel being configured to at least partially support the at least one platform panel once the blank is folded into an assembled package.

The method includes defining a plurality of fold lines that divide the blank into a plurality of sidewall panels, forming at least one platform panel on a bottom end of the plurality of sidewall panels, and forming at least one foot panel on a first side edge of the plurality of sidewall panels near the bottom end, the at least one foot panel being configured to at least partially support the at least one platform panel once the blank is folded into an assembled package.

Methods and apparatus for forming containers from container blanks are provided. An apparatus comprises a blank holding apparatus operable to releasably hold a plurality of carton blanks in a first configuration. The apparatus also has a rotary apparatus operable to rotate an engagement device along a rotational path from a first retrieval location where the engagement device is operable to engage with and retrieve a blank from the plurality of blanks held in the blank holding apparatus, to a second operational location. The apparatus also has a movement apparatus inter-connected to the rotary apparatus. The movement apparatus is operable to move the rotary apparatus and the engagement device with the engaged blank away from the blank holding apparatus, which may be translational movement away from the blank holding apparatus.

A box forming machine includes a converter assembly, a fold assembly, and an attachment assembly. The converter assembly converts sheet material into a box template. The fold assembly engages a first end of the box template and moves the first end of the box template to a predetermined position. The attachment assembly engages a second end of the box template and moves the second end of the box template toward and into engagement with the first end of the box template to attach the first and second ends of the box template together.

A box forming machine includes a converter assembly, a fold assembly, and an attachment assembly. The converter assembly converts sheet material into a box template. The fold assembly engages a first end of the box template and moves the first end of the box template to a predetermined position. The attachment assembly engages a second end of the box template and moves the second end of the box template toward and into engagement with the first end of the box template to attach the first and second ends of the box template together.

In erecting a carton from a knock-down carton blank, the blank is placed on a base of a bed of a shuttle such that a bottom side panel of the blank abuts the base. The bottom side panel of the blank is then gripped with a gripper of the base and a top side panel of the blank is raised while advancing the shuttle in a horizontal direction so as to open said knock-down carton blank into a carton sleeve.

The method includes first folding a plurality of sidewall panels to form sidewalls for an assembled package, a tear-off section being defined by at least a portion a lower end of at least some of the sidewalls, second folding one or more platform panels to form a supportive platform near the lower end of the sidewalls, and third folding at least one foot panel under the supportive platform to at least partially support the supportive platform of the assembled package.

The method includes first folding a plurality of sidewall panels to form sidewalls for an assembled package, a tear-off section being defined by at least a portion a lower end of at least some of the sidewalls, second folding one or more platform panels to form a supportive platform near the lower end of the sidewalls, and third folding at least one foot panel under the supportive platform to at least partially support the supportive platform of the assembled package.