A machine is configured to transition a blank having a fold line extending therein directly between first and second panels thereof. The machine includes a side support configured to abut an underside of the first panel, and a vacuum gripper including a suction cup that is extendable into suctioning engagement with an underside of the second panel, and that is retractable while maintaining suctioning engagement with the underside of the second panel. The vacuum gripper is configured to pull the second panel downward by retraction of the suction cup while maintaining suctioning engagement with the underside of the second panel and while the side support abuts the first panel, whereby the first panel bends along the fold line upwardly relative to the second panel. A rod is extendable into engagement with the underside of the first panel for further bending of the first panel along the fold line.

Covering of raw boxes with a sheet blank in a box laminating machine with a rubbing-down device that sweeps or rolls over the surface to be covered and a counter-holder that interacts with said rubbing-down device, wherein the rubbing-down operation takes place during a transport movement of the box and the counter-holder plunges into the box in order to support the wall to be covered against the rubbing-down device.

Covering of raw boxes with a sheet blank in a box laminating machine with a rubbing-down device that sweeps or rolls over the surface to be covered and a counter-holder that interacts with said rubbing-down device, wherein the rubbing-down operation takes place during a transport movement of the box and the counter-holder plunges into the box in order to support the wall to be covered against the rubbing-down device.

A box laminating machine with two rubbing-down devices that lie opposite of one another with respect to the box to be covered, wherein each rubbing-down device has a counter-holder that plunges into the box and a rubbing-down element that sweeps over the wall to be covered, which is supported against the counter-holder. The rubbing-down operation of opposing walls takes place successively, wherein a movement of the box relative to the counter-holder takes place perpendicular to the wall to be rubbed down.

The disclosure describes techniques for erecting cases, and particularly example structures and example methods for use in a case erecting system using a robotic arm. A tool for use in robotic case erecting may be used in conjunction with a robotic arm. Use of the tool assists in keeping a case level as the case moves along a conveyor, where a plow closes the major flaps and a tape head tapes edges of the flaps together, thereby sealing the bottom of the case. The tool also assists in regulating the gap between the major flaps, so that the gap and/or any overlap of the flaps is minimized. Accordingly, the tool assists the robotic arm to close the case in a more precise manner.

The disclosure describes techniques for erecting cases, and particularly example structures and example methods for use in a case erecting system using a robotic arm. A tool for use in robotic case erecting may be used in conjunction with a robotic arm. Use of the tool assists in keeping a case level as the case moves along a conveyor, where a plow closes the major flaps and a tape head tapes edges of the flaps together, thereby sealing the bottom of the case. The tool also assists in regulating the gap between the major flaps, so that the gap and/or any overlap of the flaps is minimized. Accordingly, the tool assists the robotic arm to close the case in a more precise manner.

The present invention provides a shaping tool for shaping a package formed of a foldable blank, the tool comprising: —an overhead conveyor comprising a plurality of downwardly protruding spaced apart counter-means; —a first conveyor extending between a receiving end towards an output end, and adapted to receive the foldable blank from an incoming conveying line at the receiving end and to position the foldable blank below one of the downwardly protruding counter-means; —a shaping station extending away from the receiving end, the shaping station comprising: a pair of parallel shaping tracks, each positioned on one side of the first conveyor, the pair of generally parallel shaping tracks comprising a plurality of pairs of independently movable shaping lugs, each pair of shaping lugs having a predetermined shape and adapted to receive one of the foldable blanks there-between; the pair of lugs movable towards each other to form a package having a desired shape.

The present invention provides a shaping tool for shaping a package formed of a foldable blank, the tool comprising: —an overhead conveyor comprising a plurality of downwardly protruding spaced apart counter-means; —a first conveyor extending between a receiving end towards an output end, and adapted to receive the foldable blank from an incoming conveying line at the receiving end and to position the foldable blank below one of the downwardly protruding counter-means; —a shaping station extending away from the receiving end, the shaping station comprising: a pair of parallel shaping tracks, each positioned on one side of the first conveyor, the pair of generally parallel shaping tracks comprising a plurality of pairs of independently movable shaping lugs, each pair of shaping lugs having a predetermined shape and adapted to receive one of the foldable blanks there-between; the pair of lugs movable towards each other to form a package having a desired shape.

A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The method includes forming a corner wall by folding a first pair of a plurality of reinforcing panels inwardly towards a respective side panel and into face-to-face contact with a second pair of the plurality of reinforcing panels, rotating the side panels and end panels to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel such that an interior surface of at least one reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels is in contact with an interior surface of the first side panel, and coupling at least one other reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels to one of the end panels to form the container.

The invention relates to a method of creasing sheets (12) by using a creasing tool (14, 20, 21) cooperating with a counter element (22, 23), comprising the following steps: a creasing plate blank (24′) is provided with at least one creasing projection (26) by plastically deforming the material of the blank (24′) so as to form a creasing plate (24), the creasing plate (24) is mounted to a creasing tool (14, 20, 21), sheets (12) to be provided with at least one crease are advanced through a gap between the creasing tool (14, 20, 21) and the counter element (22, 23).