A tray formed from a blank of sheet material includes a bottom panel, a top panel, first and second side panels, and a locking band connected to the bottom panel at opposite upper and lower edges thereof. The locking band extends across the top panel and holds an underlying portion of the top panel in face-contacting relationship with the bottom panel. The tray is configured to transition from a first, substantially flat configuration into a second, erect configuration in which the top panel defines a concave surface configured to hold in place a rounded item. The tray is configured to be transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration by sliding the top panel relative to the bottom panel.

A method for producing boxes and a method for erecting a box from a box template (3), a box erecting system and a box production system, wherein said method for erecting boxes comprises the steps of: folding (S1) two first bottom flaps (28) and two second bottom flaps (29) of the box template (3), which first and second bottom flaps (28, 29) will constitute a bottom of the box when it is erected and which two first bottom flaps (28) are opposing each other and which two second bottom flaps (29) are opposing each other in the box when it is erected; attaching (S2) the box template (3) to a frame (5); rotating (S3) the frame (5) for wrapping the box template (3) around the frame.

A box forming machine includes a converter assembly, a fold assembly, and an attachment assembly. The converter assembly converts sheet material into a box template. The fold assembly engages a first end of the box template and moves the first end of the box template to a predetermined position. The attachment assembly engages a second end of the box template and moves the second end of the box template toward and into engagement with the first end of the box template to attach the first and second ends of the box template together.

A method of erecting a carton from a blank, including: engaging the blank with a punch head against which the carton is formed, folding side portions of the blank against the punch head to form sides of the carton; folding outer portions of the side portions of the blank away from the punch head and against an external side of the carton; folding end portions of the blank against the punch head to form end portions of the carton; folding outer portions of the end portions of the blank away from the punch head and against an external end of the carton; and securing corner gussets formed between the side and end portions against sides or ends of the carton.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier, and a blank (810) for forming the article carrier. An aspect of the invention provides an article carrier comprising a plurality of primary panels (812,814,816) at least partially extending around an interior of the article carrier. The plurality of primary panels comprises a first side panel (812), a top panel (814), a second side pane (816)1 and at least one bottom paneljoined together to form a tubular structure having first and second opposed open ends. The article carrier comprises a carrying handle (H) including a handle feature defined in at least the top panel and a foldable handle structure (HS) having opposed connecting panels and a handle strap. The handle strap extends (882) between the connecting panels.

A system and method are disclosed for forming a container from a generally flat re-configurable blank. A first portion of an outward facing surface of a blank support device is positioned proximate a first portion of a blank while the blank is in a first orientation. While the first portion of the blank is maintained in the first orientation, a second portion of said blank is rotated from the first orientation, around a second portion of the outward facing surface of the blank support device to form a blank that has a generally tubular configuration. The system and method may provide that during the rotating of said second portion of said blank, the blank is engaged on a surface side which forms an inner surface of the generally tubular configuration. Also disclosed is a system and method that includes retaining a reconfigurable blank in a holding apparatus; applying adhesive to a surface of the blank while said blank is retained in the holding apparatus.

Provided Is a technology whereby defects can be suppressed when blanks are rolled and end sections bonded, during molding of paper containers including paper cups and paper sleeves. The blank is embossed, one end of the blank is folded in towards the center of the container, a fold line L is formed, the blank is curled around to make a curved surface, one end 2 of the blank is arranged on the lower side and the other end 1 of the blank on the upper side, the one end 2 and the other end 1 of the blank are bonded, and an inverted cone or cylindrical shape is formed.

A container forming apparatus for forming a container from a blank includes a blank transfer station including an adhesive assembly having a plurality of adhesive applicators, and a compression station downstream of the blank transfer station, the compression station including a vertically movable mandrel and a forming tool below the mandrel. The forming tool defines a cavity therein and has an inner profile complementary in shape to an outer profile of the mandrel. Hot-melt adhesive is applied to a surface of the blank as the blank is transferred through the adhesive assembly. The blank is positioned beneath the mandrel, and the mandrel drives the blank downward into the cavity of forming tool. Compression plates fold panels of the blank, and the formed container includes a fully formed top flange.

A method for checking and correcting the position of a blank comprised of three flaps arranged in a row, the method including the following steps: closing the right- and left-hand flaps one above the other at least in an overlapping portion, gluing the flaps together; positional checking of the right-hand edge and the left-hand edge and comparing those edges with a predetermined position in order to determine a positional deviation of the flaps and, if the positional deviation exceeds an admissible deviation value, then before the glue sets, fixing the central flap at a location via the lower face of central flap using a fixing device using vacuum-induced negative pressing, then holding the upper face of the right-hand flap and of the left-hand flap by respectively at least one suction cup which applies vacuum, and correcting the position of the left-hand flap and/or of the right-hand flap by moving the suction cups sideways.

The present invention relates to a composite container comprising a bottom film layer and a top film layer at least partially adhered to the bottom film layer. The top film layer is scored to form at least one resealable flap and at least one pull tab which is not adhered to the bottom film layer. The bottom film layer comprises at least one cavity opening. A cardboard layer is adhered on its lower surface to the upper surface of the top film layer, wherein the cardboard layer has at least one cavity opening which is substantially aligned with the scoring of the top film layer resealable flap and the cardboard layer is perforated to define a perimeter of at least one pull tab which is substantially aligned with and adhered, on its underside, to the upper surface of the top film layer pull tab.