An automated case erector for erecting a one-piece insulating container and a method of automated case erecting are provided. The automated erector includes a case blank feeder for sequentially feeding a series of flat case blanks onto a conveyor, an insulation securing station for securing insulating members to the case blank, and a case erecting assembly for forming the combination of case blanks and insulating members secured thereto into a fully erected, three-dimensional container by simultaneously folding the combination of case blanks and insulating members.

A case forming, packing, and sealing apparatus is disclosed. The case forming, packing, and sealing apparatus includes a cardboard box handling area and a product handling area. In the cardboard box handling area, case forming sheets including flatly collapsed cardboard boxes are erected into boxes that has openings which open in one direction, products are received into the boxes, and thereafter the openings are closed and sealed. In the product handling area, plural products are aligned and a predetermined quantity of the products are pushed in an accumulated state through the openings into the boxes. The cardboard box handling area and the product handling area are interconnected in a state in which they are mutually independently separable.

A method for forming a container using a machine includes extracting a blank from a magazine, transferring the blank in a blank transfer direction X, and positioning the blank on a deck. The method also includes translating a pick-up assembly from a first end to a second end along a horizontal direction Y perpendicular to the blank transfer direction X, the translating including transferring a web from a first location proximate the first end to a second location proximate the second end. The method further includes depositing, at the second location, the web into an at least partially overlying relationship with the blank to form a blank assembly, transferring the blank assembly along the deck in the blank transfer direction X while translating the pick-up assembly from the second end back to the first end, and wrapping the blank assembly around a mandrel to at least partially form the container.

The present invention relates to a device for shaping a blank (1) of material in sheet form around a mandrel, in order to obtain a box or part of box of polygonal cross section, comprising: —a mandrel, —means for wrapping around the mandrel, —means for securing the tab, —means for folding the flaps, and—means for securing to one another, the flaps thus folded. The means for wrapping the panels and the means for securing the tab are supported by two cradles positioned one on each side of the mandrel, transversely and symmetrically with respect to the direction in which the blank is brought in from the glue-application workstation.

A case setup apparatus is generally provided. The apparatus is characterized by a robotic arm and a case engaging apparatus carried by the robotic arm. The case engaging apparatus is characterized by a picker arm assembly for picking a case blank from a source of case blanks, and a rack arm assembly for attaching to a picked case blank. The picker arm assembly is fixedly supported within the case engaging apparatus and the rack arm assembly is pivotably supported, relative to the picker arm assembly, within the case engaging apparatus. A flap folding subassembly is provided and translatably supported within the case engaging apparatus for reversible travel parallel to the picker arm assembly. The subassembly includes flap engaging members, a flap engaging member of the flap engaging members being forwardly extendable to disassociate adjacent flaps of a case blank in advance of folding a flap by the flap engaging members.

A case setup apparatus is generally provided. The apparatus is characterized by a robotic arm and a case engaging apparatus carried by the robotic arm. The case engaging apparatus is characterized by a picker arm assembly for picking a case blank from a source of case blanks, and a rack arm assembly for attaching to a picked case blank. The picker arm assembly is fixedly supported within the case engaging apparatus and the rack arm assembly is pivotably supported, relative to the picker arm assembly, within the case engaging apparatus. A flap folding subassembly is provided and translatably supported within the case engaging apparatus for reversible travel parallel to the picker arm assembly. The subassembly includes flap engaging members, a flap engaging member of the flap engaging members being forwardly extendable to disassociate adjacent flaps of a case blank in advance of folding a flap by the flap engaging members.

An automatic carton forming device includes a supporting table, a storage rack, a limiting part, a transporting part, and a folding part. The storage rack is configured to store folded paper boards, the limiting part is configured to limit the folded paper boards, the transporting part includes a moving base and a driving unit for driving the moving base to move. At least one first vacuum suction cup is disposed on the moving base, the limiting part includes an adsorbing base disposed on one end of the supporting table, at least one second vacuum suction cup is disposed on the adsorbing base. The folding part includes a first overturning plate, a vertical folding unit, a transverse folding unit, and a transmitting unit, and the transmitting unit drives the first overturning plate, the vertical folding unit, and the transverse folding unit to perform folding action.

An automatic carton forming device includes a supporting table, a storage rack, a limiting part, a transporting part, and a folding part. The storage rack is configured to store folded paper boards, the limiting part is configured to limit the folded paper boards, the transporting part includes a moving base and a driving unit for driving the moving base to move. At least one first vacuum suction cup is disposed on the moving base, the limiting part includes an adsorbing base disposed on one end of the supporting table, at least one second vacuum suction cup is disposed on the adsorbing base. The folding part includes a first overturning plate, a vertical folding unit, a transverse folding unit, and a transmitting unit, and the transmitting unit drives the first overturning plate, the vertical folding unit, and the transverse folding unit to perform folding action.

A system and method of at least partially forming reinforced packages. The method comprises moving a construct in a machine direction on a construct conveyor. The construct conveyor can comprise a primary lug belt with a primary lug, the construct can be disposed on the primary lug belt, and the moving the construct can comprise moving the primary lug belt in the machine direction to push the construct in the machine direction. The method further can comprise positioning a liner on the construct conveyor so that the liner at least partially extends over the construct and moving the liner in the machine direction on a secondary lug belt of the construct conveyor. The secondary lug belt can comprise a secondary lug and the moving the liner can comprise moving the secondary lug belt in the machine direction to push the liner in the machine direction.

A system and method of at least partially forming reinforced packages. The method comprises moving a construct in a machine direction on a construct conveyor. The construct conveyor can comprise a primary lug belt with a primary lug, the construct can be disposed on the primary lug belt, and the moving the construct can comprise moving the primary lug belt in the machine direction to push the construct in the machine direction. The method further can comprise positioning a liner on the construct conveyor so that the liner at least partially extends over the construct and moving the liner in the machine direction on a secondary lug belt of the construct conveyor. The secondary lug belt can comprise a secondary lug and the moving the liner can comprise moving the secondary lug belt in the machine direction to push the liner in the machine direction.