A robotic case packer is provided. The packer includes a case conveying apparatus, a case set up station, a case loading station, downstream of the case set up station, and a loaded case closure station, downstream of the case loading station, the case conveying apparatus receiving and conveying a case blank for case set up, case loading and loaded case closure operations, a process flow path as to case operations delimited by the case conveying apparatus. The case set up station, characterized by a case set up robot operable in a process flow path direction, secures a case blank from a source of case blanks and transfers the blank to the case conveying apparatus. The case loading station, characterized by a case loading robot operable across the process flow path direction, transfers an article group for case loading into a set up case conveyed by the case conveying apparatus. The case closure station, characterized by a loaded case closure robot operable in the process flow path direction, effectuates a compressed sealed closure of a loaded case conveyed by the case conveying apparatus.

A forming unit for a container from a blank of the container. The unit includes a conveyor and at least one equipment secured to the conveyor. The equipment includes a forming device moving with continuous movement and forming a container from the blank during a predetermined forming path on the conveyor.

A flap folding unit (90) for folding flaps of lids of boxes, comprising a hinged guiding element (94) adapted for contacting a flap to be folded upon relative movement of the guiding element and the flap and guiding the flap towards its intended final position and an extendable pusher (96) adapted for pushing the flap into its intended final position.

A packaging box including a base portion defining a first plane is disclosed. The packaging box includes at least one first side wall portion. The at least one first side wall portion is arranged at an angle to the base portion. The first side wall portion is joined to the base portion via a fold line at a first edge of the base portion. The first side wall portion has an extension portion extending from one side of the side wall portion so as to provide at least part of a second side wall portion arranged at an angle to the base portion and at an angle to the first side wall portion. The second side wall portion includes at least part of the extension portion. A connecting portion of the extension portion connecting the first side wall portion to the second side wall portion is smoothly curved.

A self-sealing container is formed from a blank comprising panels and end flaps connected along fold lines with the panels and the end flaps being foldable along the fold lines to form the container. The container includes a securing feature that seals the container in a closed position, with the securing feature providing a visual indication of opening if the container is opened from the closed position. After the container is opened, the securing feature provides a closure feature that allows the container to be closed.

A packaging machine includes a main conveyor configured to convey cartons and containers in a conveyance direction from a first end of the main conveyor where partially erected cartons and containers enter the conveyor to a second end where containers inside the cartons exit the conveyor. A plunger is operatively connected to the main conveyor to follow the main conveyor in the conveyance direction and to plunge in a plunge direction lateral to the conveyance direction to position a group of containers within a carton. A carton maintaining tool is operatively connected to the main conveyor to follow the main conveyor in the conveyance direction and to engage the carton to maintain position of the carton along the plunge direction in opposition to the plunger as the plunger positions the group of containers within the carton.

A flap folding unit (90) for folding flaps of lids of boxes, comprising a hinged guiding element (94) adapted for contacting a flap to be folded upon relative movement of the guiding element and the flap and guiding the flap towards its intended final position and an extendable pusher (96) adapted for pushing the flap into its intended final position.

A packing method and unit (26) for producing a rigid package (1) with a hollow rib (12; 13); an end portion of a blank (21) is folded about a contrasting body (36; 39) onto a panel (11′) of the blank (21) to form the hollow rib (12; 13); a fastening tab (16; 19), which forms the end part of the end portion, is glued to the panel (11′) to stabilize the hollow rib (12; 13); and the contrasting body (36; 39) is extracted from the hollow rib (12; 13) once the end portion is folded.

Provided is a method for labelling first packagings, including at least the following steps: transporting labels to a labelling zone, wherein an adhesive side of the labels is directed upward during the transport; removing the primary packagings to be labelled from a magazine device, wherein the packagings are provided in the magazine device as packaging blanks which are at least in sections flat, and are preferably removed individually from the magazine device; placing the primary packagings onto the labels and adhering the labels to the packagings, wherein the packagings are preferably pressed from above onto the labels; inserting the first labelled packagings into secondary packagings; and introducing several containers into the primary and secondary packagings.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for converting a sheet material into packaging templates can include a converting machine that performs conversion functions, such as cutting, creasing, and scoring, on the sheet material. Items to be packed into boxes formed of the packaging templates can be used as the pattern for determining the location of performance of the conversion functions on the sheet material. Accordingly, no intermediate measuring of the items may be required prior to performance of the conversion functions. Instead, longheads can be positioned adjacent to opposing sides of the items and cross heads can be advanced inward to the positioned longheads.