A transportable carton assembly is disclosed that includes a carton defining a bottom rear corner edge portion having a pair of longitudinally spaced apart apertures formed therein, and an elongated shield retained within the bottom rear corner edge portion of the carton and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart wheels positioned to extend through the longitudinally spaced apart apertures formed in the bottom rear corner edge portion of the carton for transporting the carton over a surface.

A box forming apparatus includes first holders configured to hold a first side surface of a cardboard sheet, second holders configured to hold a second side surface of the cardboard sheet, an arm, a first mover, and a second mover. The arm has a support that supports the first and the second holders. The first mover changes a position of the first holders relative to the second holders while the arm is being rotated to open the cardboard sheet. The second mover moves the arm in association with opening of the cardboard sheet so that, when the cardboard sheet has been opened, the second mover will have moved the support a predetermined distance in a second direction opposite a first direction, which is a direction heading from a rotational center of the arm to a distal end of the arm.

A tape applicator for applying tape to seal a case is disclosed wherein the pressure applied to the top of the case may be significantly reduced by activating an actuator at the appropriate time to lift the application mechanism or assembly and the cut-off mechanism away from the case being sealed

A tape head or tape applicator applies low impact to the leading face of the incoming carton and low pressure to the top of the carton and a higher pressure to wipe down the tape onto the rear or trailing face of the case by increasing the tension in the spring driving the wipe down and a high cutting force to the cut-off mechanism for fast response of the cut-off mechanism by increasing the tension in the spring driving the cut-off mechanism.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer configured to interrupt the case-sealing process upon detecting an object between the top-head assembly and the top surface of the case.

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.

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 method and the required apparatus for carrying out the manual application of a pre-set length of tape to seal a carton that uses a tape hold down and a tape dispenser. The tape dispenser stops the movement of tape being pulled therefrom when the desired pre-set length of tape has been dispensed and which is cut to provide a free tape portion is used to provide the tape portion that is to be applied manually to seal the carton. The flaps of the carton being sealed are held in place when the tape portion is being applied by a U-shaped flap holder formed by a pair of L-shaped legs that are spaced to permit application of the tape portion to the carton between the legs when the flap folder is in position holding the flaps closed.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer including a case lifter configured to lift a case out of engagement with a lower drive element 115 (such as a drive belt) of the case sealer as the case reaches a holding position beneath the top-head assembly 400 and, afterwards, to lower the case into engagement with the lower drive element once the top-head assembly has descended to within a designated distance of the top surface of the case. In certain of these embodiments, the case lifter includes a case blocker 215 positioned to stop the case from moving any further beneath the top-head assembly once it reaches the holding position.

A hand-held handle dispenser comprising: a main frame having a handle, an adhesive tape roll provided at a rear side of the main frame for delivering an adhesive tape, an application element provided at the front side of the main frame for applying the adhesive tape on a parcel and a cutting blade for cutting the adhesive tape, a cartridge for storing an insert strip roll and transport and affixing elements for conveying the insert strip from the cartridge to the application element and affixing it against the adhesive tape to form a handle.