A box-making apparatus includes an electronic controller assesses abnormalities in the affixing of tape on the basis of a timing at which a cardboard box passes a detection position Pd, and a timing at which a tape roll starts or stops an action of unreeling the tape. The electronic controller assesses abnormalities in the affixing of tape also when there is a discrepancy of at least a predetermined amount between the timing at which the cardboard box passes the detection position and the timing at which the tape roll starts or stops the action of unreeling the tape.

A method of applying a tape to an article. The method includes contacting a first activatable adhesive composition of an adhesive tape with a placement device. The adhesive tape has a carrier substrate, the first activatable adhesive composition disposed on a first surface of the carrier substrate, and a second activatable adhesive composition disposed on a second surface of the carrier substrate. The method includes activating the first activatable adhesive composition such that the adhesive tape adheres to the placement device through the first activatable adhesive composition, separating the adhesive tape from a tape delivery system, activating the second activatable adhesive composition, contacting an article with the second activatable adhesive composition, and separating the placement device from the adhesive tape such that the adhesive tape remains adhered to the article.

Methods, articles, and apparatus that provide a dual function closure/opening system that utilizes a tape serving as both a sealing closure and as an opening mechanism. For example, in one embodiment, a single adhesive tape is introduced between a container flap and a container panel and then the container flap and the container panel are pressed together forming a bond between the flap and the panel via the adhesive tape thereby closing the container. In another embodiment, one end of a container includes two overlapping flaps and a single adhesive tape is introduced between the overlap of the two container flaps and then the container flaps are pressed together forming a bond between the flaps via the adhesive tape thereby closing the container. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are directed to any container with at least one flap that overlaps a side panel of the container or that overlaps another flap.

A method and a sealing device for sealing a joint (5; 31) between two end sides (3, 13) of two contiguous panels (1, 11). The method comprises the steps of: holding (S1) an end side (3) of a first panel (1) close to an end side (13) of a second panel (11), whereby the joint (5; 31) to be sealed is defined by the adjacent end sides (3, 13) of the two panels (1, 11); sealing (S3) the joint (5; 31) with a first and a second adhesive tape (15, 17) by providing a first tape (15) to a first face (19) of the two panels (1, 11), said first tape (15) sealing the joint (5; 31) and being provided in the direction of the joint and providing a second tape (17) to a second face (21) of the two panels (1, 11), wherein the second face (21) of the two panels (1, 11) is the opposite face to the first face (19) of the panels, said second tape (17) sealing the joint (5; 31) and being provided in the direction of the joint.

In erecting a carton from a knock-down carton blank, the blank is placed on a base of a bed of a shuttle such that a bottom side panel of the blank abuts the base. The bottom side panel of the blank is then gripped with a gripper of the base and a top side panel of the blank is raised while advancing the shuttle in a horizontal direction so as to open said knock-down carton blank into a carton sleeve.

Systems and methods for folding and retaining upper flaps of a box are disclosed. The system includes a conveyor system configured to advance the box at least partially through the system. A flap folding assembly is configured to fold the upper flaps of the box to an open or outwardly folded configuration. The upper flaps are folded outwardly and down towards outer sidewall surfaces of the box in the folded configuration. A bander assembly is configured to apply a band or other restraint to the upper flaps of the box to retain the upper flaps in the folded configuration.

A retail ready package includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior space. Pairs of opposed flaps connect to opposed edges of the panels. On a first side of the interior space, respective pairs of the flaps overlap to form four side joints. At least one of the side joints includes adhesive joining the respective flaps, and at least one of the side joints is free of adhesive joining the respective flaps to facilitate conversion of the retail ready package for retail use.

In a method of handling a tubular carton blank, one side of an erected tubular carton blank is gripped with a gripper mounted to a pivot such that a fold line of a flap of the one side is aligned with an axis of rotation of the pivot. The gripper, and thereby the erected tubular carton blank, is then pivoted about the pivot. The flap is brought into abutting relation with an abutment during the pivoting so that the flap is progressively folded about the fold line by the abutment during the pivoting.

Systems and methods for folding and retaining upper flaps of a box are disclosed. The system includes a conveyor system configured to advance the box at least partially through the system. A flap folding assembly is configured to fold the upper flaps of the box to an open or outwardly folded configuration. The upper flaps are folded outwardly and down towards outer sidewall surfaces of the box in the folded configuration. A bander assembly is configured to apply a band or other restraint to the upper flaps of the box to retain the upper flaps in the folded configuration.

By the method, a case having four sidewalls and at least four flaps at the bottom of the case is erected from a blank in a number of steps. The automated case erecting unit for use in erecting case blanks comprises a supporting device (9) and a picking and handling device (2), said picking and handling device being a robot with a robotic arm, wherein said robotic arm comprising a picking member (3) with a first leg and a second leg, which are placed perpendicularly and are locked in relation to each other, each leg comprising gripping means for picking up case blanks.