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 is disclosed, able to have smoothly curved wall portions. The box includes a perimeter wall defining a void thereby. The perimeter wall includes a first fold line and a second fold line. The first fold line and the second fold line may be parallel. A distance around the perimeter wall from the first fold line to the second fold line measured in a first plane perpendicular to the first and second fold lines in a first rotational sense is the same as a distance around the perimeter wall from the first fold line to the second fold line in the first plane in a second rotational sense opposite to the first rotational sense. When the first fold line is fully unfolded, the perimeter has a continuous surface including the first fold line. A tube, blank, method and machine for forming the box are also disclosed.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a box sealer including a first box measurer including a top flap engager configured to move downwardly from a disengaged position above a box at a box measuring position to an engaged position in which the top flap engager engages one or more of the four upright open top flaps of the box. The amount of movement of the top flap engager is partially used to determine the height of the box. The determined height is then used to position a combined flap closer and flap sealer at an appropriate position.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a box sealer including a first box measurer including a top flap engager configured to move downwardly from a disengaged position above a box at a box measuring position to an engaged position in which the top flap engager engages one or more of the four upright open top flaps of the box. The amount of movement of the top flap engager is partially used to determine the height of the box. The determined height is then used to position a combined flap closer and flap sealer at an appropriate position.

Systems and methods are disclosed, which permit filling containers with a product. A filling arm is disposed within a chamber and an optical sensor is configured to sense openings of the containers within the chamber. Locations of the sensed openings are used to guide the filling arm to fill the containers with a product.

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 frame (14) is useful in a packaging assembly including a box. The frame includes a panel (16) and a sheet (40). The panel has a panel length (L1) that is greater than the box length. The panel has a panel width (W11) that is greater than the box width. The panel defines a left slot (26) configured to receive the left closure flap of the box and a right slot (28) configured to receive the right closure flap of the box. The panel iincludes a left panel flap (30) extending from the left slot to the left edge (18) of the panel, a right panel flap (32) extending from the right slot to the right edge (20) of the panel, a front panel flap (34) extending from the left panel flap to the right panel flap; and a rear panel flap (36) extending from the left panel flap to the right panel flap. The left panel flap is foldably connected to the front panel flap and to the rear panel flap. The right panel flap is foldably connected to the front panel flap and the rear panel flap. The panel defines a panel opening (38) circumscribed by the left, right, front, and rear panel flaps. The sheet (40) is attached to the front panel flap and the rear panel flap and extends over the panel opening.

A frame (14) is useful in a packaging assembly including a box. The frame includes a panel (16) and a sheet (40). The panel has a panel length (L1) that is greater than the box length. The panel has a panel width (W11) that is greater than the box width. The panel defines a left slot (26) configured to receive the left closure flap of the box and a right slot (28) configured to receive the right closure flap of the box. The panel iincludes a left panel flap (30) extending from the left slot to the left edge (18) of the panel, a right panel flap (32) extending from the right slot to the right edge (20) of the panel, a front panel flap (34) extending from the left panel flap to the right panel flap; and a rear panel flap (36) extending from the left panel flap to the right panel flap. The left panel flap is foldably connected to the front panel flap and to the rear panel flap. The right panel flap is foldably connected to the front panel flap and the rear panel flap. The panel defines a panel opening (38) circumscribed by the left, right, front, and rear panel flaps. The sheet (40) is attached to the front panel flap and the rear panel flap and extends over the panel opening.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a box sealer including a first box measurer including a top flap engager configured to move downwardly from a disengaged position above a box at a box measuring position to an engaged position in which the top flap engager engages one or more of the four upright open top flaps of the box. The amount of movement of the top flap engager is partially used to determine the height of the box. The determined height is then used to position a combined flap closer and flap sealer at an appropriate position.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a box sealer including a first box measurer including a top flap engager configured to move downwardly from a disengaged position above a box at a box measuring position to an engaged position in which the top flap engager engages one or more of the four upright open top flaps of the box. The amount of movement of the top flap engager is partially used to determine the height of the box. The determined height is then used to position a combined flap closer and flap sealer at an appropriate position.