An automated apparatus and method for configuring and producing packaging for orders of variable configurations of perishable items includes an automatic case erector-sealer; a packing liner dispenser; a cold pack dispenser; a control system; a point of sale ecommerce platform; and a data processor to capture order configuration, order destination, and available order points of origin. The control system captures and uses the order configuration, destination, and delivery date, to generate a time in transit (TNT), total volume, cold volume, and ambient volume, of items in the order. The total volume and cold volume are used to generate a product cube category (PCC). The TNT and the PCC are used to generate a packaging configuration for the order. The system uses the packaging configuration to generate and send operational directives to one or more of the automatic case erector-sealer, the packing liner dispenser, and the cold pack dispenser.

A cardboard box production device includes: a stocker that holds a plurality of vertically stacked folded original boxes in a cardboard box having the top and bottom thereof open; a expansion provided upstream in a conveyance direction that is substantially orthogonal to the stacking direction of the original boxes, moving one side surface of an original box away from a first side on the stocker side towards a second side, and expanding the one side surface such that openings are formed at the top and bottom; a folding-in device that folds in the bottom of an open box opened upstream in the conveyance direction; a feeding device that feeds boxes from the upstream side in the conveyance direction to the downstream side; a conveyance belt; and an adhesion device that applies an adhesive tape to the bottom of the box in the conveyance area of the conveyance belt.

An apparatus for making a multiplicity of packages including a feeding station, a separation station which is arranged downstream of the feeding station, a single feeding track which carries at least one multiplicity of multiple sheets from the feeding station to the separation station, at least two exit tracks which are arranged downstream of the separation station. Each multiple sheet of the multiplicity of multiple sheets includes at least two portions of sheet lying on a same geometric plane. Each portion of sheet is a single sheet of the package in a flat configuration. Each package of the multiplicity of packages includes at least one product and the single sheet of the package adapted to pass from a flat configuration to a configuration coupled with the at least one product.

An upholstered sofa sits in a protective tray with an integrated dust cover. The protective tray attached to a wood frame of the sofa around a frame opening at a dust cover portion of the protective tray. The tray having a separable juncture between an edge portion of the dust cover portion and the portions of the protective tray surrounding the dust cover portion, whereby portions of the tray surrounding the dust cover portion may be removed at a retail sales location or a user's home. The protective tray with the integrated dust cover is semi-rigid and may be attached robotically at the manufacturer's facility.

A product package includes a receiving space (1a), a covering film (7), an inner lining (6) and a body part (2) created out of a single blank. The body part (2) includes walls (2a, 2b, 2c, 8), a bottom (3) and a rim portion (4) as well as a plurality of slots (5) for shaping the receiving space (1a). The rim portion (4) of the body part (2) is a continuous, seamless and planar portion formed out of the same said blank and interconnecting the walls (2a, 2b, 2c, 8) of the body part (2).

An erecting aid for packaging materials is described and may include a table portion and a panel. A panel may be coupled to one side of the table portion. The table portion and the panel can be configured such that the table portion and panel form an acute angle and the panel acts as a type of back support wall with respect to the table portion. A clamp may cooperate with the table portion to produce a clamping force. The clamping force may occur by biasing at least a portion of the clamp towards a relaxed, closed. The combination of the table, panel and biased clamp provide the forces necessary to stabilize a partially folded corrugated box during the erecting process such that the partially folded corrugated box is stabilized and maintained in a partially assembled state while the operator can use both hands to complete the erecting process.

An apparatus for making a multiplicity of packages including a feeding station, a separation station which is arranged downstream of the feeding station, a single feeding track which carries at least one multiplicity of multiple sheets from the feeding station to the separation station, at least two exit tracks which are arranged downstream of the separation station. Each multiple sheet of the multiplicity of multiple sheets includes at least two portions of sheet lying on a same geometric plane. Each portion of sheet is a single sheet of the package in a flat configuration. Each package of the multiplicity of packages includes at least one product and the single sheet of the package adapted to pass from a flat configuration to a configuration coupled with the at least one product.

A tray packer includes a positioning-and-folding unit, an application unit, and a storage-and-feed unit. The positioning-and-folding unit arranges a container group on a packaging blank's bottom and places its sides against the group. The application unit places a material blank on the group opposite the bottom portion such as to form a bundle. The storage-and-feed unit stores and provides the material blanks to the application unit. The application unit comprises a pressing element that comprises a tool plate that moves continuously on a circular path in such a way that the tool plate adjusts between engagement positions with the containers. The circular path spans a plane oriented parallel to a transport plane along which the groups travel.

A packaging assembly including an outer sleeve, a tray, and an insert arranged within the tray. The tray may be arranged within and slidably engage with the outer sleeve. The tray may include a base, a first and second lateral sidewall, and a first and second longitudinal sidewall. The first and second lateral sidewalls each may include a first, a second, and a third portion. The first, second, and third portions are folded to form the first and second lateral sidewalls. The first and second longitudinal sidewalls each may include a first and a second flap. The first and the second flap may be arranged on opposite ends of the first and second longitudinal sidewalls. The first flaps may be arranged between the first and third portions of the first lateral sidewall, and the second flaps may be arranged between the first and third portions of the second lateral sidewall.

The invention provides a complex made up of consecutively stacked flat sheets configured for forming a package in a single run, wherein said complex comprises: at least a first die cut flat sheet configured for being folded and forming a wall of the package, comprising a continuous first rim demarcated by an outer contour and an inner contour, wherein said inner contour comprises a first portion and the outer contour comprises a second portion, wherein at least a first main flap extends along the first portion of the inner contour in the direction opposite the second portion of the outer contour; and an assembly comprising at least one additional flat sheet, wherein the perimeter of the at least one additional flat sheet is demarcated by the first rim of the first flat sheet. The invention furthermore provides a method for obtaining the complex, a method for manufacturing a package, and a method for packaging an item.