A tape head assembly—which tapes flaps of boxes on a conveyor—includes power-assist functionality to stretch a first spring used to power a trailing roller to press tape against a trailing case sidewall of a case. A force by the case moving on the conveyor acting upon a leading roller may provide some of the energy to stretch the first spring. However, a roller-assist air cylinder uses compressed air to assist or fully stretch the first spring. A knife assembly may be used to cut the tape applied to a case. A second spring may be stretched by the force of the moving case acting upon a knife arm. The second spring may be used later operate the knife blade. However, a knife-assist air cylinder uses compressed air to assist or fully stretch the second spring. Both assist assemblies may be turned off to operate the tape head in a conventional manner.

A system for packing items into cases includes a computer system for receiving information regarding items to be packed into a case, the computer system configured to determine a needed case size for loading based upon physical information regarding the items to be packed. A case handling machine includes multiple components that are position-adjustable according to case size to be held, formed and sealed, the case handling machine including a control system including a memory storing a plurality of machine set ups, wherein each machine set up includes data corresponding to positions for the multiple components. The computer system is configured to communicate needed case size information to the case handling machine, wherein the control system of the case handling machine is configured to implement component position adjustment based upon the needed case size information.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case-handling device including movable folding guides positionable relative to a case to facilitate folding the case's upper major flaps outwardly along their respective fold lines before the case's upper minor flaps are closed.

A taping unit for a box closing machine is disclosed, including: an enclosure frame; a gummed tape reel and a plurality of running rollers mounted on the frame; at least an applicator roller arranged in the bottom part of the enclosure frame; and a guiding and sliding path of the gummed tape within the enclosure frame. The taping unit further includes: an operating assembly provided with a respective frame movably mounted on the enclosure frame, whereon a drive motor of a drive roller and at least an actuator to operate a cutting blade are installed; and a wetting system provided with a tank storing wetting liquid arranged in a position below the operating assembly. Between the drive roller and the wetting system, the guiding and sliding path is provided, arranged according to a substantially vertical plane.

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.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.

A digital flatbed cutter is described. The cutter includes a flatbed on which a workpiece can be positioned. A head unit is movable in a plane above the flatbed. A tape applicator head and a cutter head are mounted to the head unit. The tape applicator head includes an applicator roller for applying a strip of tape to the workpiece that is rotatable about an axis that is normal to the plane so that strips of tape can be applied to the workpiece in any direction. The cutter head includes a knife or blade for cutting the workpiece. A creaser head that includes a creaser wheel for creasing the workpiece can also be mounted to the head unit.

A tape applicator consistent with the present disclosure may include a tape applicator configured for applying a tape, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton (e.g., for sealing and/or assembling the carton). One or more rollers may be utilized to aid in applying the pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton. Furthermore, a wiper aids in applying pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton (e.g., before and/or after the one or more rollers). The wiper may be a split wiper having a first portion and a second portion, which allows for applying adhesive tape to a carton when the carton is under-packed or over-packed, and thus, the flaps of the carton are not level with respect to each other (e.g., the edges are not located in the same plane).

For the purpose of erecting and filling a folding box which has closure flaps on two opposite sides, the folding box is removed from a store and erected such that the closure flaps are arranged on its upper side and its underside. The lower closure flaps are folded over and the underside of the folding box is thus closed, whereupon products are introduced into the folding box. Then, the upper closure flaps are folded over, as a result of which the upper side of the folding box is closed. Thereafter, both the upper closure flaps and the lower closure flaps are fixed in their closed position in a downstream fixing apparatus.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.