An apparatus for use in the packaging industry comprises a first member for collecting a tubular box in a flattened configuration from a store positions the tubular box in a lowered position, retaining the box with first suction means at a first wall of the box. A second member, a third member and a fourth member are provided for movement of a fifth member which, when activated in rotation, abuts and retains, via second suction means a second wall of the tubular box, causing it to rotate with respect to the first wall, to open out the tubular box. A sixth member is included, with third suction means which is moved by a system to abut and retain the box in the opened-out configuration and transfer it, following the disengagement of the first member and of the fifth member, at a receiving station.

An apparatus for use in the packaging industry comprises a first member for collecting a tubular box in a flattened configuration from a store positions the tubular box in a lowered position, retaining the box with first suction means at a first wall of the box. A second member, a third member and a fourth member are provided for movement of a fifth member which, when activated in rotation, abuts and retains, via second suction means a second wall of the tubular box, causing it to rotate with respect to the first wall, to open out the tubular box. A sixth member is included, with third suction means which is moved by a system to abut and retain the box in the opened-out configuration and transfer it, following the disengagement of the first member and of the fifth member, at a receiving station.

A box erecting machine includes a transport mechanism that can move an un-erected box from an entry portion of the box erecting machine to a forward portion of the box erecting machine. The transport mechanism can include pivot arm(s) and clamp(s) for securing and moving the un-erected box. The machine can also include a box erecting assembly that erects the un-erected box. The box erecting assembly can include an opening or unfolding mechanism that opens or unfolds the un-erected box into a generally rectangular tube. The machine can also include a folding mechanism and a closure mechanism for folding and securing the bottom flaps of the box.

A box erecting machine includes a transport mechanism that can move an un-erected box from an entry portion of the box erecting machine to a forward portion of the box erecting machine. The transport mechanism can include pivot arm(s) and clamp(s) for securing and moving the un-erected box. The machine can also include a box erecting assembly that erects the un-erected box. The box erecting assembly can include an opening or unfolding mechanism that opens or unfolds the un-erected box into a generally rectangular tube. The machine can also include a folding mechanism and a closure mechanism for folding and securing the bottom flaps of the box.

A system and method of packing an order. A first sequence of bins corresponding to orders is transported on a first conveyor to a packing station. A case for each order is constructed by a case forming system, the case forming system able to construct cases from blanks of various sizes. The cases are transported from the case construction apparatus to the packing station in a second sequence, wherein the sequential order of the cases corresponds to the bins in the first sequence. The bin in the first sequence are brought to the packing station with the cases in the second sequence.

Methods and apparatus for forming containers from container blanks are provided. An apparatus comprises a blank holding apparatus operable to releasably hold a plurality of carton blanks in a first configuration. The apparatus also has a rotary apparatus operable to rotate an engagement device along a rotational path from a first retrieval location where the engagement device is operable to engage with and retrieve a blank from the plurality of blanks held in the blank holding apparatus, to a second operational location. The apparatus also has a movement apparatus inter-connected to the rotary apparatus. The movement apparatus is operable to move the rotary apparatus and the engagement device with the engaged blank away from the blank holding apparatus, which may be translational movement away from the blank holding apparatus.

In erecting a carton from a knock-down carton blank, the blank is placed on a base of a bed of a shuttle such that a bottom side panel of the blank abuts the base. The bottom side panel of the blank is then gripped with a gripper of the base and a top side panel of the blank is raised while advancing the shuttle in a horizontal direction so as to open said knock-down carton blank into a carton sleeve.

A system is claimed for forming a container from a tubular blank comprising a plurality of panels and flaps interconnected to provide a generally flattened tubular configuration. A first and second panels are provided with the second panel being rotatable relative to the first panel. The system may comprise a first engagement device for engaging the first panel and a second engagement device for engaging the second panel, and being located on a panel rotating apparatus operable to rotate the second panel from an orientation generally parallel to the first panel to a second orientation at an angle to the first panel. The generally flattened tubular blank may be reconfigured from a generally flattened configuration to an open configuration.

In a carton feeding device for feeding cartons to a conveyor track, comprising a replaceable pick-up head attached to the carton feeding device at an attachment, where a pick-up head comprises a plurality of vacuum cups and an erecting means pivotally suspended at the pick-up head, where the attachment for the pick-up head is arranged on a rotor arm, where the attachment is adapted to receive different pick-up heads, and that the carton feeding device comprises an actuator means comprising a first interface adapted to actuate a leading edge erecting arm and a second interface adapted to actuate a trailing edge erecting arm. The advantage of the invention is that a carton feeding device that can easily be switched between leading edge erection or trailing edge erection of flat-folded cartons blanks is provided.

In a carton feeding device for feeding cartons to a conveyor track, comprising a replaceable pick-up head attached to the carton feeding device at an attachment, where a pick-up head comprises a plurality of vacuum cups and an erecting means pivotally suspended at the pick-up head, where the attachment for the pick-up head is arranged on a rotor arm, where the attachment is adapted to receive different pick-up heads, and that the carton feeding device comprises an actuator means comprising a first interface adapted to actuate a leading edge erecting arm and a second interface adapted to actuate a trailing edge erecting arm. The advantage of the invention is that a carton feeding device that can easily be switched between leading edge erection or trailing edge erection of flat-folded cartons blanks is provided.