An apparatus forms boxes with curved corners from a die-cut sheet. A forming matrix delimits a forming cavity by guides counterposed in pairs along two orthogonal axes. The guides define a die-cut sheet support plane. A forming head inserts inside the cavity to push the die-cut sheet to form a box. Vacuum gripping devices are arranged outside the cavity in opposite positions along the second axis and each grip from underneath the die-cut sheet to hold it on the support. Pusher devices are arranged outside and near one of the corners of the cavity. Each pusher device raises one side flap of the die-cut sheet from the support plane. An electronic control unit operates the main gripping devices, pusher devices and forming head according to the following sequence: actuating the gripping devices; actuating the pushers; deactivating the gripping devices; and inserting the forming head in the forming cavity.

A tray for holding one or more articles includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior space of the tray, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, at least one lower side panel, at least one upper side panel, and at least one end panel, and a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of panels forms a plurality of separably connected tray portions such that the tray is separable into respective tray portions.

A method of using a box can include obtaining the box, the box comprising a box top and a box bottom, the box top comprising a first main panel and a first end panel, at least one of the first main panel and the first end panel defining a locking tab separable from the box top; the box bottom comprising a second main panel and a second end panel, the second end panel defining a locking opening, a lateral width of the locking tab at an ear thereof being greater than-and at a neck thereof being less than-a lateral width of the locking opening; inserting the locking tab into a gap defined at least in part by the second end panel, thereby hiding a portion of the locking tab behind the second end panel; and engaging the locking tab with the locking opening.

A container formed from a blank of sheet material includes an outer tray having a bottom wall, front and rear walls, and first and second side walls. A fold-in tray is configured to nest within the outer tray. The fold-in tray is hingedly connected along an upper edge of at least one of the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the rear wall.

A box can include a box top including a first panel and a locking tab separably joined to the first panel, the locking tab comprising first and second tab subpanels; and a box bottom including a second panel defining a locking opening, a lateral width of the locking tab at an ear thereof being greater than-and at a neck thereof being less than-a lateral width of the locking opening, the locking opening sized to receive and capture the locking tab, the locking tab configured to engage an edge of the locking opening and thereby configured to prevent movement of the locking tab with respect to the locking opening in an opening direction of the locking tab; wherein engaged portions of the locking tab and the locking opening are hidden to an observer outside of the box when the box is in an assembled position.

Methods and systems for integrating multiple portions of a container are provided. The method and system are specifically designed for integrating multiple shell portions with ear lobe-shaped tabs. The method comprises: providing a first set of retention structures to be associated with a plurality of inter-connecting features formed on an edge of a first shell part, wherein the first set of retention structures comprise at least a lead-in feature and a retention feature; providing a second set of retention structures to be associated with a plurality of inter-connecting features formed on an edge of a second shell part, wherein the second set of retention structures comprise at least a deflection feature and a retention feature; and engaging the two shell parts with aid of the retention structures.

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a front portion having a front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a back portion having a back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a central portion extending from the front portion to the back portion, the central portion having a central panel overlapping a respective portion of each of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

A foldable container moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration defining an interior area for holding bulk material is provided. The container includes opposed side panels and a bottom flap extending from a bottom edge of each side panel. A tab member extends from a distal end of each bottom flap and a tab finger extends from each tab member so as to define a hook at a distal end of each bottom flap. The hooks are interconnected so as to hingedly connect the distal ends of the bottom flaps together, thereby causing the bottom flaps to rotate between their respective stowed and deployed configuration positions as the end panels are translated between their respective stowed and deployed configuration positions. Locking tabs extending from distal ends of end flaps extend into the interior area of the container to secure the container in the deployed configuration.

Methods and systems for integrating multiple portions of a container are provided. The method and system are specifically designed for integrating multiple shell portions with ear lobe-shaped tabs. The method comprises: providing a first set of retention structures to be associated with a plurality of inter-connecting features formed on an edge of a first shell part, wherein the first set of retention structures comprise at least a lead-in feature and a retention feature; providing a second set of retention structures to be associated with a plurality of inter-connecting features formed on an edge of a second shell part, wherein the second set of retention structures comprise at least a deflection feature and a retention feature; and engaging the two shell parts with aid of the retention structures.

A carton. The carton may include a floor panel; a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, a front tab formed at an upper edge of a front side panel, upper side flaps extending from upper edges of a first end side panel and a second end side panel, and wherein each flap includes a side receiving slot; foldable corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and foldable corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region; a hingeable lid, including: a lid panel, a front edge flap, a side tab formed on each opposing side edge of the lid panel, and a front receiving slot formed in the front edge flap, wherein the lid panel is configured to cover the compartment region when in a closed position; and wherein the front tab of the front side panel is configured such that when the hingeable lid is in the closed position, the front tab aligns with the front receiving slot and is receivable therein and each side tab aligns with its respective side receiving slot and are receivable therein.