A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.

A method for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes folding a first portion of the blank assembly about at least a first face of a first mandrel to form a partially formed container, and transferring the partially formed container towards a second mandrel using a transfer assembly that extends through the first face of the first mandrel. The method also includes transferring the partially formed container from the first mandrel to the second mandrel along a pair of guide rails extending between the first mandrel and the second mandrel, wrapping a second portion of the blank assembly about at least a first face of the second mandrel to form the container, wherein the first face of the second mandrel opposes the first face of the first mandrel with respect to a vertical direction, and ejecting the container from the second mandrel.

The method includes first folding a plurality of sidewall panels to form sidewalls for an assembled package, a tear-off section being defined by at least a portion a lower end of at least some of the sidewalls, second folding one or more platform panels to form a supportive platform near the lower end of the sidewalls, and third folding at least one foot panel under the supportive platform to at least partially support the supportive platform of the assembled package.

The method includes first folding a plurality of sidewall panels to form sidewalls for an assembled package, a tear-off section being defined by at least a portion a lower end of at least some of the sidewalls, second folding one or more platform panels to form a supportive platform near the lower end of the sidewalls, and third folding at least one foot panel under the supportive platform to at least partially support the supportive platform of the assembled package.

A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.

A plurality of camming surfaces (116) are actuated to move against the top portion of the side walls (38) of a container (36) to turn such top portion in an outward direction relative to the interior of the container sufficiently to enable the seal profile (90) of the top tool assembly (30) of a sealing apparatus (22) to press the outwardly disposed side wall top portions downwardly against an abutment formed by a bottom tool assembly (32) so as to create a horizontal, outwardly disposed sealing flange (40) to which a top film (34) is applied for closure of the container.

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.

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.

In a box assembly device, a holding mechanism causes one of bottom boards to contact a first jig and folds the bottom board inside, while the holding mechanism holding the box material in a state where the box material is developed in a cylindrical shape from a folded state. The folding mechanism folds the bottom flap inside so as to overlap with one of the bottom boards. The holding mechanism causes the other bottom board to contact the second jig while holding the box material and folds the other bottom board inside and upwardly so as to overlap with the bottom flap to engage the bottom boards with each other.

A method for automatically closing an open packaging box with a cardboard lid, said box comprising a polygonal bottom panel defined by three or more bottom panel edges and sidewalls joined over respective crease lines to said bottom panel edges, each sidewall forming a substantially right angle with the bottom panel, said lid comprising a polygonal top panel defined by three or more top panel edges and corresponding to the bottom panel of the box to be closed and flaps joined over respective crease lines to said top panel edges and adapted for being folded onto a corresponding one of said sidewalls, the method comprising a step of folding each flap along the respective crease line partially towards a position, in which the flap forms a substantially right angle with said top panel and placing the lid above said box such that the top panel and the bottom panel are substantially aligned and such that, seen onto each sidewall, each flap overlaps one of the sidewalls, a step of releasing the lid allowing it to be guided by the partially folded flaps into a position on the box, in which the top panel and the bottom panel are aligned, and a step of folding each flap onto the respective sidewall fully into said position, in which the flap forms a substantially right angle with the top panel.