An unwinding unit (400) for unwinding a strip (S) of heat sealing material for quadrangular machines (1) comprises a casing (401) adapted to be mounted on a quadrangular machine (1) and a puller (402) operatively associated with the casing (401) and configured to pull the strip (S) relative to the casing (401) along a feed path (P) and in a feed direction (V). A diverter (407) is configured to divert the strip (S) between an initial, preferably horizontal, stretch (P1) of the feed path and a final, substantially vertical stretch (P2) of the feed path, defining a curved, connecting stretch (P3) between the initial stretch and the final stretch. A deformer (413) operatively associated with the casing (401) are configured to make on the strip (5) an extended crease line (414) running along the strip itself starting from the curved stretch (P3) or downstream of the curved stretch (P3), in the feed direction (V) of the strip (S).

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.

The disclosure describes techniques for erecting cases, and particularly example structures and example methods for use in a case erecting system using a robotic arm. A tool for use in robotic case erecting may be used in conjunction with a robotic arm. Use of the tool assists in keeping a case level as the case moves along a conveyor, where a plow closes the major flaps and a tape head tapes edges of the flaps together, thereby sealing the bottom of the case. The tool also assists in regulating the gap between the major flaps, so that the gap and/or any overlap of the flaps is minimized. Accordingly, the tool assists the robotic arm to close the case in a more precise manner.

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier and including a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and a central panel extending from the front panel to the back panel. The central panel includes a reconfigurable lower portion that is positionable between respective bottom portions of adjacent containers of the plurality of containers. The carrier also includes a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps are at least partially overlapped to form a closed bottom of the carrier.

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.

A foldable box template includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments. Each of the segments has a length, a width, and one or more flaps. The first segment is positioned at a first end of the template and the fifth segment is positioned at a second, opposing end of the template. The sum of the lengths of the first segment and the fifth segment is generally equal to the length of the third segment. As a result, the first and fifth segments form a seam on a sidewall of a box formed from the box template. In some cases, the seam formed by the first and fifth segments is offset from seams formed in top and bottom surfaces of the box. The seam formed by the first and fifth segments is offset from a corner of the box.

The disclosure describes techniques for erecting cases, and particularly example structures and example methods for use in a case erecting system using a robotic arm. A tool for use in robotic case erecting may be used in conjunction with a robotic arm. Use of the tool assists in keeping a case level as the case moves along a conveyor, where a plow closes the major flaps and a tape head tapes edges of the flaps together, thereby sealing the bottom of the case. The tool also assists in regulating the gap between the major flaps, so that the gap and/or any overlap of the flaps is minimized. Accordingly, the tool assists the robotic arm to close the case in a more precise manner.

A foldable box template includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments. Each of the segments has a length, a width, and one or more flaps. The first segment is positioned at a first end of the template and the fifth segment is positioned at a second, opposing end of the template. The sum of the lengths of the first segment and the fifth segment is generally equal to the length of the third segment. As a result, the first and fifth segments form a seam on a sidewall of a box formed from the box template. In some cases, the seam formed by the first and fifth segments is offset from seams formed in top and bottom surfaces of the box. The seam formed by the first and fifth segments is offset from a corner of the box.

A foldable box template includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments. Each of the segments has a length, a width, and one or more flaps. The first segment is positioned at a first end of the template and the fifth segment is positioned at a second, opposing end of the template. The sum of the lengths of the first segment and the fifth segment is generally equal to the length of the third segment. As a result, the first and fifth segments form a seam on a sidewall of a box formed from the box template. In some cases, the seam formed by the first and fifth segments is offset from seams formed in top and bottom surfaces of the box. The seam formed by the first and fifth segments is offset from a corner of the box.

A Machine (1) for joining sheet material (20) includes a sheet-material joining station (2) arranged between two sheet-material storage regions (3, 4), and a control unit (5). The joining station (2) forms a guide path (6) for sheet material (20) that develops longitudinally from one of the storage regions (3, 4) to the other storage region. The guide path (6) has two edges (7) and, arranged between the edges (7), at least one driver (8) and a unit (9) for joining sheet material (20), each joining unit (9) having at least one gluing and/or stapling device (10). Each driver (8) has at least one drive member (81) and each joining unit (9) is an activatable/deactivatable unit, each joining unit (9) being in the inactive state when the at least one drive member (81) is in the driven state in one of the directions of rotation thereof.