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 machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material including a glue panel and an overlap panel includes a frame, a mandrel mounted to the frame, a glue panel folder assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The glue panel folder assembly includes an actuator and a glue panel folding member operatively coupled to the actuator. The actuator is configured to cause the glue panel folding member to move in a curvilinear path of motion, contact the glue panel, and move the glue panel into at least partial contact with the mandrel. The glue panel presser assembly is configured to press the overlap panel into face-to-face contact with the glue panel to form a manufacturer joint of the container.

A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material including a glue panel and an overlap panel includes a frame, a mandrel mounted to the frame, a glue panel folder assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The glue panel folder assembly includes an actuator and a glue panel folding member operatively coupled to the actuator. The actuator is configured to cause the glue panel folding member to move in a curvilinear path of motion, contact the glue panel, and move the glue panel into at least partial contact with the mandrel. The glue panel presser assembly is configured to press the overlap panel into face-to-face contact with the glue panel to form a manufacturer joint of the container.

A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, two opposing end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first end panel, a first reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing side panel, a reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing side panel, and an inner end panel extending from a side edge of the reinforcing corner panel. The corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel are configured, upon articulation of the blank, to be positioned into face-to-face relationship to form a corner wall of the container extending from a side edge of an end wall of the container to an end edge of a side wall of the container.

A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.

A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material including a glue panel and an overlap panel includes a frame, a mandrel mounted to the frame, a glue panel folder assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The glue panel folder assembly includes an actuator and a glue panel folding member operatively coupled to the actuator. The actuator is configured to cause the glue panel folding member to move in a curvilinear path of motion, contact the glue panel, and move the glue panel into at least partial contact with the mandrel. The glue panel presser assembly is configured to press the overlap panel into face-to-face contact with the glue panel to form a manufacturer joint of the container.

A method and system are disclosed for forming a can from a re-configurable blank. A blank is also disclosed that may be a paper based blank and may be of multi-layer construction. The method may comprise: (a) supporting the blank in a first orientation; (b) positioning a first portion of an outward facing surface of a blank support device proximate a first portion of the blank while the blank is in the first orientation; (c) while the first portion of the blank is in the first orientation, rotating a second portion of the blank around a second portion of the outward facing surface of the blank support device; and (d) rotating a third portion of the blank from the first orientation, around a third portion of the outward facing surface of the blank support device. A generally tubular side wall may thus be formed for a can.

A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material includes a forming station and a compression station. The forming station is configured to form a reinforcing corner assembly from first and second reinforcing panels extending from an end panel of the blank. The compression station is configured to rotate side panels and end panels of the blank to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel of the blank. The compression station includes a plurality of plows at least partially defining a plunger opening, and a plunger vertically movable through the plunger opening. The plurality of plows are configured to rotate the side panels and the end panels towards the interior surface of the bottom panel.

A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, two opposing end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first end panel, a first reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing side panel, a reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing side panel, and an inner end panel extending from a side edge of the reinforcing corner panel. The corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel are configured, upon articulation of the blank, to be positioned into face-to-face relationship to form a corner wall of the container extending from a side edge of an end wall of the container to an end edge of a side wall of the container.

A method of forming a tray includes obtaining a blank, positioning the blank in a blank feeder assembly of a system for forming a tray, moving the blank from the blank feeder assembly to a nipping assembly, and moving the blank to a tray forming assembly, the tray forming assembly including a tray forming apparatus. The method further includes positioning the blank between a first tray forming portion of the tray forming apparatus and a second tray forming portion of the tray forming apparatus, the first tray forming portion includes a forming block that defines an interior, and the second tray forming portion includes a tray forming member, and driving the forming block into engagement with the blank and the tray forming member such that the blank and the tray forming member are at least partially received in the interior of the forming block to form a tray.