Systems and methods for folding and retaining upper flaps of a box are disclosed. The system includes a conveyor system configured to advance the box at least partially through the system. A flap folding assembly is configured to fold the upper flaps of the box to an open or outwardly folded configuration. The upper flaps are folded outwardly and down towards outer sidewall surfaces of the box in the folded configuration. A bander assembly is configured to apply a band or other restraint to the upper flaps of the box to retain the upper flaps in the folded configuration.

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 instructions—e.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.

A sheet folding device includes forming belts which are disposed on both sides in a transfer direction of a corrugated board and move to a center side in a width direction of the corrugated board toward a downstream side in the transfer direction to press both end portions in the width direction from an outside so as to bend both the end portions; and a gauge roller group including several gauge rollers which are disposed along the transfer direction and come into contact with outer sides of both bent portions in the width direction of the corrugated board bent by the forming belts. In the several gauge rollers, recessed portions are provided on outer peripheral surfaces of the gauge rollers in a circumferential direction. Positions of the recessed portions are disposed to be offset downward in a vertical direction toward a downstream side in the transfer direction.

A sheet folding device includes forming belts which are disposed on both sides in a transfer direction of a corrugated board and move to a center side in a width direction of the corrugated board toward a downstream side in the transfer direction to press both end portions in the width direction from an outside so as to bend both the end portions; and a gauge roller group including several gauge rollers which are disposed along the transfer direction and come into contact with outer sides of both bent portions in the width direction of the corrugated board bent by the forming belts. In the several gauge rollers, recessed portions are provided on outer peripheral surfaces of the gauge rollers in a circumferential direction. Positions of the recessed portions are disposed to be offset downward in a vertical direction toward a downstream side in the transfer direction.

A slitter device includes an upper rotary shaft and a lower rotary shaft that are supported so as to be able to rotate. An upper slitter head that is supported by the upper rotary shaft so as to be able to rotate therewith. A lower slitter head that is supported by the lower rotary shaft so as to be able to rotate therewith and that is disposed on one side of the upper slitter head in the axial direction of the lower rotary shaft. An upper movement device that can move the upper slitter head in the axial direction of the upper rotary shaft. A lower movement device can move the lower slitter head in the axial direction of the lower rotary shaft. A control device that controls movement of the upper movement device and the lower movement device.

A slitter device includes an upper rotary shaft and a lower rotary shaft that are supported so as to be able to rotate. An upper slitter head that is supported by the upper rotary shaft so as to be able to rotate therewith. A lower slitter head that is supported by the lower rotary shaft so as to be able to rotate therewith and that is disposed on one side of the upper slitter head in the axial direction of the lower rotary shaft. An upper movement device that can move the upper slitter head in the axial direction of the upper rotary shaft. A lower movement device can move the lower slitter head in the axial direction of the lower rotary shaft. A control device that controls movement of the upper movement device and the lower movement device.

A method of producing a gable-top paper or paper-board based packaging container is disclosed, the packaging container having a plurality of top-closure sub-panels, including a top-closure sub-panel (132) configured to form a pouring spout of the packaging container when the packaging container is in an open position, the top-closure sub-panel being configured to form a pouring spout comprising top-fin panel sections (182a, 182b) being at least partially hot-sealed to each other prior to a first opening of the packaging container, the top-fin panel sections abutting one another in a contact region when the packaging container is in a closed position. The method comprises the steps of: producing a blank (100) from a laminate packaging material having an outside heat sealable layer; and treating the outside heat sealable layer in a sub-region (192a, 192b) of at least one of said top-fin panel sections (182a, 182b) reducing or eliminating the heat-sealing capacity of the outside heat sealable layer in the sub-region. A related blank and a packaging container produced from such a blank is also disclosed.

A method of producing a gable-top paper or paper-board based packaging container is disclosed, the packaging container having a plurality of top-closure sub-panels, including a top-closure sub-panel (132) configured to form a pouring spout of the packaging container when the packaging container is in an open position, the top-closure sub-panel being configured to form a pouring spout comprising top-fin panel sections (182a, 182b) being at least partially hot-sealed to each other prior to a first opening of the packaging container, the top-fin panel sections abutting one another in a contact region when the packaging container is in a closed position. The method comprises the steps of: producing a blank (100) from a laminate packaging material having an outside heat sealable layer; and treating the outside heat sealable layer in a sub-region (192a, 192b) of at least one of said top-fin panel sections (182a, 182b) reducing or eliminating the heat-sealing capacity of the outside heat sealable layer in the sub-region. A related blank and a packaging container produced from such a blank is also disclosed.

Provided are a slotter head, a slotter device and a box making machine comprising a cutter holder which is in a disk shape and is rotationally supported, a first cutting blade which is mounted to an outer peripheral portion of the cutter holder, a moving holder which is supported by the cutter holder movably along the circumferential direction, a second cutting blade which is mounted to an outer peripheral portion of the moving holder, a first drive device which rotationally drives the cutter holder, and a second drive device which rotationally drives the moving holder.

Provided are a slotter head, a slotter device and a box making machine comprising a cutter holder which is in a disk shape and is rotationally supported, a first cutting blade which is mounted to an outer peripheral portion of the cutter holder, a moving holder which is supported by the cutter holder movably along the circumferential direction, a second cutting blade which is mounted to an outer peripheral portion of the moving holder, a first drive device which rotationally drives the cutter holder, and a second drive device which rotationally drives the moving holder.