An opening system including a cutting device for cutting an adhesive tape; a suctioning and lifting device for suctioning a upper panels, which are separated from each other because the adhesive tape is cut by the cutting device; rod members which are elongated to be inserted into gaps, when the gaps are formed between the upper panels and upper edges of side surfaces in the packaging box because the upper panels are spaced apart from the side panels by the suctioning and lifting device; and an opening device which moves the respective rod members while being in contact with lower surfaces of the upper panels such that the upper panels are rotated outward with respect to boundaries between the upper panels and the side panels.

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.

A device, system, and method for loading empty and formed six-pack bottle carriers into a larger case (i.e. a multi-pack) is provided. The packaging device includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The six-pack carriers are formed by unfolding them in the upper portion. Various components are associated with the upper portion of the packaging device. The case receives a plurality of six-pack carriers therein. The larger cases is formed by unfolding them in the lower portion of the packaging device. Various components are associated with the lower portion of the packaging device. The upper portion and lower portion operate simultaneously to efficiently produce a case have empty six-pack carriers placed therein for later filling with bottles at a downstream destination. The system includes the machine, the cases, the six-pack carriers, and the bottles, operating collectively.

A device for transferring folding boxes has a suction member arrangement, which has suction members and is supported rotatably around a stationary first rotational axis. The suction members transport a folding box through the device along a first path. The suction members are supported rotatably around a nonstationary second rotational axis. The device also has an opposing suction member arrangement, which comprises at least one opposing suction member. The suction members and the at least one opposing suction member cooperate in a box-opening area in such a way that they at least partially open the folding box. At least in the box-opening area, the at least one opposing suction member is arranged radially inside the suction members with respect to the stationary first rotational axis.

A fixture for unpacking a carton, wherein the fixture includes a fixed portion and a rotating portion. The fixed portion includes a first frame, a first plurality of suction components, and a first driving component arranged on the first frame. The a rotating portion includes a second frame connected to the first frame and capable of rotating or being fixed relative to the first frame under the driving of the first driving component, a third frame arranged on the second frame, a second plurality of suction components arranged on the third frame, and a second driving component connected to the second frame and the third frame.

An automated method and system for packaging a stack of flexible articles are disclosed. The method comprises: loading, by a pair of end effectors, the stack of flexible articles into an erected box having a first open end and a second open end, leaving a first gap therebetween; moving, by a first flap closing mechanism, the flap of the first open end from the open configuration to the closed configuration; pushing, by a pushing mechanism, the stack of flexible articles towards the first gap, thereby forming a second gap between the second open end and the stack of flexible articles; and moving, by a second flap closing mechanism, the flap of the second open end from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

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 gripper having jaws (11,12) is transported from a first position (FIG. 2) in which it grips a case blank (1) in a flat, folded condition to a second position (FIG. 4) in which the case (8) is erected. Gripping devices (13) on the jaws (11,12) are aligned with one another when the gripper is in its first position. The gripping devices (13) on the jaws (11,12) are oriented at right angles to one another when the gripper is in its second position. Mutual rotation is effected between the jaws (11,12) as the gripper is moved from its first to its second position, in order to unfold a case blank (1) gripped by the gripper jaws (11,12).

A method of fulfilling an order comprising at least one product is provided. The method includes receiving an order comprising at least one product, determining a suitable case from a plurality of available cases for holding the at least one product, said determining being a function of one or more characteristics of each product of the at least one product and one or more characteristics of the plurality of available cases; forwarding information identifying the suitable case to a case former; providing a case blank corresponding to said suitable case to said case former; erecting a suitable case from said case blank corresponding to said suitable case with said case former; and prior to the loading said suitable case with said at least one product, labelling said suitable case with at least one label.

A device, system, and method for loading empty and formed six-pack bottle carriers into a larger case (i.e. a multi-pack) is provided. The packaging device includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The six-pack carriers are formed by unfolding them in the upper portion. Various components are associated with the upper portion of the packaging device. The case receives a plurality of six-pack carriers therein. The larger cases is formed by unfolding them in the lower portion of the packaging device. Various components are associated with the lower portion of the packaging device. The upper portion and lower portion operate simultaneously to efficiently produce a case have empty six-pack carriers placed therein for later filling with bottles at a downstream destination. The system includes the machine, the cases, the six-pack carriers, and the bottles, operating collectively.