A local connection of contact surfaces of top and bottom sheets is formed in a defined connection zone. The zone is polygonal and the top and bottom sheets jointly form within the periphery of this zone a connecting lip with their first side faces located opposite one another cut obliquely through their sheet thickness. These first side faces of the sheets and their adjacent obliquely-oriented second side faces in the zone are complementarily beveled in the form of a conical wall running downwards and inwards, so that in the vicinity of these second neighboring side faces the underside of the bottom sheet protrudes inwards past the top surface of the connecting lip at the location of the top outside edges of its first side faces. A method and an apparatus are arranged to implement the local connection.

Arrangement for cutting notches in box blanks fed along a feeding direction. A feeding portion feeds box blanks. At least a first-fourth cutting devices along the feeding direction. The first is arranged most upstream and the fourth is arranged most downstream. Each device includes: a first wheel rotating around a first axis transverse to the feeding direction, the first wheel being on a first side of the blanks; a second wheel rotating around a second axis extending transverse to the feeding direction parallel to the first axis, the second wheel being in the same plane as the first wheel on an opposite side of the blank; and a cutting element cutting notches. The cutting element extends from either the first or the second wheel towards the other. A control unit controls the operation of the first-fourth devices for different operation combinations.

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.

Arrangement for cutting notches in box blanks fed along a feeding direction L. A feeding portion feeds box blanks. At least a first-fourth cutting devices along the direction L. The first is arranged most upstream and the fourth is arranged most downstream. Each device includes: a first wheel rotating around a first axis transverse to the direction L, the first wheel being on a first side of the blanks; a second wheel rotating around a second axis extending transverse to the direction L parallel to the first axis, the second wheel being in the same plane as the first wheel on an opposite side of the blank; and a cutting element cutting notches. The cutting element extends from either the first or the second wheel towards the other. A control unit controls the operation of the first-fourth devices for different operation combinations.

A carton includes a tubular structure having a plurality of outer walls defining an interior volume for receiving one or more articles. The carton includes a major end closure flap hinged to a first outer wall and a minor end closure flap hinged to a second outer wall. The minor end closure flap at least partially overlies the major end closure flap. The carton has an automatically erecting article-retaining structure hingedly connected to the major and minor end closure flaps.

A foldable storage box has four hard side surfaces in a vertical direction, a soft bottom surface, and a hard support plate that matches the bottom surface and is disposed on the bottom surface. Each of the side surfaces has a non-woven fabric interlayer, and a hard plug board is inserted in the interlayer. At least one pair of the four side surfaces are capable of being folded along a vertical folding axis. Vertical flexible dividing lines are disposed at intersections of the four side surfaces and the vertical folding axis, and the flexible dividing lines confine and isolate the respective hard plug boards in a horizontal direction. The flexible dividing lines are formed by welding two layers of non-woven fabrics in an ultrasonic welding manner.

A foldable storage box has four hard side surfaces in a vertical direction, a soft bottom surface, and a hard support plate that matches the bottom surface and is disposed on the bottom surface. Each of the side surfaces has a non-woven fabric interlayer, and a hard plug board is inserted in the interlayer. At least one pair of the four side surfaces are capable of being folded along a vertical folding axis. Vertical flexible dividing lines are disposed at intersections of the four side surfaces and the vertical folding axis, and the flexible dividing lines confine and isolate the respective hard plug boards in a horizontal direction. The flexible dividing lines are formed by welding two layers of non-woven fabrics in an ultrasonic welding manner.

A machine for assembling a container accommodating perishable good comprises bag placing means configured for inserting a bag into a frame and everting a bag rim portion over the frame and bag securing means. The bag securing means further comprises: an internal member having a perimeter conformable with a cross section of the bag thereat the internal member insertable into a main portion of the bag; and at least one external member conformably pressing the rim portion everted over the frame to the main portion. The internal and external members are provided with cooperatively disposed effectors configured to secure the rim portion and the main portion together when the rim and main portions are pressed to each other.