Abstract: Apparatus to create on demand customized cardboard for forming individually designed packaging boxes, said cardboard having at least one corrugated layer sandwiched between two flat layers, the apparatus comprising a joining station that attaches a second flat layer to a corrugated layer attached to a first layer, supply system to supply said corrugated layer with the first flat layer attached thereto to said joining station, supply system to supply said second flat layer to said joining station, a control system operable to obtain information on the dimensions of a packaging box to be formed and on a design selected for that box and further operable to match the selected design to the dimensions of the box and a printing unit to print the matched design on the first and/or on the second flat layer.

Abstract: System for transporting items to a packaging station comprising at least a first, a second and a third conveyor, said first conveyor configured for transporting arrangements of one or more items in a first transport direction to the third conveyor, said second conveyor configured for transporting arrangements of one or more items in a second transport direction to the third conveyor, said third conveyor configured for transporting said arrangements from the first and the second conveyor in a third transport direction, a fourth and a fifth transport direction towards a packaging station.

Abstract: Method and system for making custom-sized open packaging boxes from cardboard having a width WCBB and corresponding separate closing lids from cardboard having a width WCBL, the cardboard being continuously supplied to a system comprising structure for cutting, creasing and folding the cardboard to form custom-sized boxes and corresponding lids such that each box comprises a rectangular bottom panel having four edges, a first and a second rectangular end panel joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of said bottom panel, a first and a second rectangular side panel joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of said bottom panel, two first and two second rectangular corner panels, the first corner panels joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of the first end panel, and the second corner panels joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of the second end panel, each lid comprises a rectangular top panel having four edges, a first and a second rectangular end panel

Abstract: A device and a method for assembling items for shipment are described, that facilitate positioning the assembled items, e.g., in a pre-folded cardboard box having at least an open top and an open side or on a conveyor transporting the items. The device may include; a bottom panel, two side panels, a first and a second end panel, wherein the bottom panel is substantially orthogonal to the side panels and the end panels, wherein the first end panel is arranged on the device to be movable with respect to the bottom panel, the first end panel being movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom panel and wherein the second end panel is arranged on the device to be movable towards and away from the first end panel in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom panel.

Abstract: Method and system for making custom-sized open packaging boxes from cardboard having a width WCBB and corresponding separate closing lids from cardboard having a width WCBL, the cardboard being continuously supplied to a system comprising structure for cutting, creasing and folding the cardboard to form custom-sized boxes and corresponding lids such that each box comprises a rectangular bottom panel having four edges, a first and a second rectangular end panel joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of said bottom panel, a first and a second rectangular side panel joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of said bottom panel, two first and two second rectangular corner panels, the first corner panels joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of the first end panel, and the second corner panels joined via respective crease lines to opposite edges of the second end panel, each lid comprises a rectangular top panel having four edges, a first and a second rectangular end panel

Abstract: Prefolded cardboard blank for folding closed packaging boxes of varying height and length, said blank comprising a bottom panel, two side panels, each joined to opposite edges of said bottom panel and a first end panel joined with a first edge to said bottom panel, with a second edge to one of said side panels and with a third edge to the other one of said side panels such that the first end panel and the side panels when erected from the bottom panel form together with the bottom panel a box having an open top and an open side, the first end panel having an end portion intended to form a first top panel, each side panel having an end portion intended to form at least one second top panel and a corner panel, the bottom panel having an end portion intended to form a second end panel and a third top panel, and each side panel having a crease line running at an angle of 45° upwards from a corner, where the edges of the respective side panel, the first end panel and the bottom panel meet.

Abstract: An apparatus to create corrugated cardboard on the site of a system for automatically forming packaging boxes for packaging an arrangement of one or more item(s) to be shipped, said corrugated cardboard having at least one corrugated layer between two flat layers, comprising at least two supply stations for supplying two different single-faced corrugated cardboards, each single-faced corrugated cardboard comprising a corrugated layer (having a closed side with an attached flat layer and an open side opposite to said closed side, a supply station for supplying a closing layer, a microprocessor communicatively coupled to obtain information on the arrangement to be shipped, the information relating to at least one of overall dimensions, weight, shape, shipping conditions, fragility, sensitivity to moisture, value, shipping destination, and the obtained information allowing selection, based on the obtained information, of at least one of said at least two different single-faced corrugated cardboards, and an attac

Abstract: System for transporting items to a packaging station comprising at least a first, a second and a third conveyor, said first conveyor configured for transporting arrangements of one or more items in a first transport direction to the third conveyor, said second conveyor configured for transporting arrangements of one or more items in a second transport direction to the third conveyor, said third conveyor configured for transporting said arrangements from the first and the second conveyor in a third transport direction, a fourth and a fifth transport direction towards a packaging station.

Abstract: Prefolded cardboard blank for folding closed packaging boxes of varying height and length, said blank comprising a bottom panel, two side panels, each joined to opposite edges of said bottom panel and a first end panel joined with a first edge to said bottom panel, with a second edge to one of said side panels and with a third edge to the other one of said side panels such that the first end panel and the side panels when erected from the bottom panel form together with the bottom panel a box having an open top and an open side, the first end panel having an end portion intended to form a first top panel, each side panel having an end portion intended to form at least one second top panel and a corner panel, the bottom panel having an end portion intended to form a second end panel and a third top panel, and each side panel having a crease line running at an angle of 45° upwards from a corner, where the edges of the respective side panel, the first end panel and the bottom panel meet.

Abstract: Apparatus to create on demand customized cardboard for forming individually designed packaging boxes, said cardboard having at least one corrugated layer sandwiched between two flat layers, the apparatus comprising a joining station that attaches a second flat layer to a corrugated layer attached to a first layer, supply system to supply said corrugated layer with the first flat layer attached thereto to said joining station, supply system to supply said second flat layer to said joining station, a control system operable to obtain information on the dimensions of a packaging box to be formed and on a design selected for that box and further operable to match the selected design to the dimensions of the box and a printing unit to print the matched design on the first and/or on the second flat layer.

Abstract: An apparatus to create corrugated cardboard on the site of a system for automatically forming packaging boxes for packaging an arrangement of one or more item(s) to be shipped, said corrugated cardboard having at least one corrugated layer between two flat layers, comprising at least two supply stations for supplying two different single-faced corrugated cardboards, each single-faced corrugated cardboard comprising a corrugated layer (having a closed side with an attached flat layer and an open side opposite to said closed side, a supply station for supplying a closing layer, a microprocessor communicatively coupled to obtain information on the arrangement to be shipped, the information relating to at least one of overall dimensions, weight, shape, shipping conditions, fragility, sensitivity to moisture, value, shipping destination, and the obtained information allowing selection, based on the obtained information, of at least one of said at least two different single-faced corrugated cardboards, and an attac

Abstract: A system for automating packaging items that vary in size and number for shipment, comprising a packaging station for holding a pre-folded cardboard box to receive one or more items to be packaged, said pre-folded cardboard box having a bottom panel, two side panels and a first end panel, the first end panel being joined to each of said side panels, the side panels and the end panel being erected from the bottom panel to form a box having an open top and an open side, the bottom panel having an end portion intended to form a second end panel, each side panel having an end portion intended to form a corner panel, at least one cutting unit for adjustably shortening the end portions of the side panels and the end portion of the bottom panel and at least one folding unit for folding the corner panels and the second end panel to close said open side of the box.

Abstract: A device and a method for assembling items for shipment are described, that facilitate positioning the assembled items, e.g., in a pre-folded cardboard box having at least an open top and an open side or on a conveyor transporting the items. The device may include; a bottom panel, two side panels, a first and a second end panel, wherein the bottom panel is substantially orthogonal to the side panels and the end panels, wherein the first end panel is arranged on the device to be movable with respect to the bottom panel, the first end panel being movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom panel and wherein the second end panel is arranged on the device to be movable towards and away from the first end panel in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom panel.

Abstract: A method for packaging articles in a packaging device (10) includes: determining in a control unit inner box dimensions of a packaging box from overall dimensions of an article or group of articles to be shipped, preparing a packaging box blank satisfying said inner box dimensions, forming from said packaging box blank said packaging box around the article or group of articles, determining outer box dimensions of a resulting parcel from said packaging box blank, assigning a unique identifier to the resulting parcel, tying said outer box dimensions of the resulting parcel to said unique identifier and recording said unique identifier and outer box dimensions in a database that can be looked-up by various parties involved in the distribution of said resulting parcel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which documents and enclosures are fed by feeding stations to a supply track and subsequently transported along the supply track to a gathering station. A sensor downstream of the feeding stations is used for scanning markings. A divert station connected to the supply track allows clearing the supply track, when scanned markings indicate that the first sheet of a next set has been scanned in the supply track, by diverting the first sheet to the divert station. This allows enclosures of the set being gathered to be fed along the supply track and gathered at the gathering station. After the completed set has vacated the gathering station, the diverted sheet is transported to the gathering station and gathered with further documents of the next set.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described in which documents and enclosures are fed by feeding stations to a supply track and subsequently transported along the supply track to a gathering station. A sensor downstream of the feeding stations is used for scanning markings. A divert station connected to the supply track allows clearing the supply track, when scanned markings indicate that the first sheet of a next set has been scanned in the supply track, by diverting the first sheet to the divert station. This allows enclosures of the set being gathered to be fed along the supply track and gathered at the gathering station. After the completed set has vacated the gathering station, the diverted sheet is transported to the gathering station and gathered with further documents of the next set.

Abstract: A software architecture is used to control an apparatus with one or more hardware units that each perform one or more corresponding functions. The software architecture includes a device group data structure for each hardware unit and one or more device data structures for each hardware unit function. In a preferred, but an example embodiment, one or more device set data structures are defined in the software architecture. Each device set data structure is associated with the device group and includes one or more device data structures. The data structures defined in the software architecture are used to control the apparatus functionality physically performed by the hardware units.

Abstract: A software architecture is used to control an apparatus with one or more hardware units that each perform one or more corresponding functions. The software architecture includes a device group data structure for each hardware unit and one or more device data structures for each hardware unit function. In a preferred, but an example embodiment, one or more device set data structures are defined in the software architecture. Each device set data structure is associated with the device group and includes one or more device data structures. The data structures defined in the software architecture are used to control the apparatus functionality physically performed by the hardware units.