Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a blank is provided. The apparatus includes a blank feeder assembly, and a compression assembly including a mandrel assembly, an upper folding arm assembly including a plurality of folding arms moveable between a first position and a second position, a compression plate, and a rollover arm assembly.

Abstract: A machine for filling a tertiary container with secondary containers is provided. The machine includes a frame and a tray loading station positioned to receive a plurality of streams of the secondary containers. The machine also includes a front gate at an upstream end of the tray loading station, the front gate moveable between a first position, in which the secondary containers are obstructed from passing downstream, and a second position, in which the secondary containers are not obstructed. The machine further includes a back stop proximate a downstream end of the tray loading station, the back stop moveable between a first, upstream position and a second, downstream position. The tray loading station is sized such that when a first row of secondary containers is positioned against the back stop in the first position, a portion of an upstream row of secondary containers is positioned directly above the front gate.

Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The method includes forming a corner wall by folding a first pair of a plurality of reinforcing panels inwardly towards a respective side panel and into face-to-face contact with a second pair of the plurality of reinforcing panels, rotating the side panels and end panels to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel such that an interior surface of at least one reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels is in contact with an interior surface of the first side panel, and coupling at least one other reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels to one of the end panels to form the container.

Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.

Abstract: A method for forming a container using a machine includes extracting a blank from a magazine, transferring the blank in a blank transfer direction X, and positioning the blank on a deck. The method also includes translating a pick-up assembly from a first end to a second end along a horizontal direction Y perpendicular to the blank transfer direction X, the translating including transferring a web from a first location proximate the first end to a second location proximate the second end. The method further includes depositing, at the second location, the web into an at least partially overlying relationship with the blank to form a blank assembly, transferring the blank assembly along the deck in the blank transfer direction X while translating the pick-up assembly from the second end back to the first end, and wrapping the blank assembly around a mandrel to at least partially form the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a blank is provided. The apparatus includes a blank feeder assembly, and a compression assembly including a mandrel assembly, an upper folding arm assembly including a plurality of folding arms moveable between a first position and a second position, a compression plate, and a rollover arm assembly.

Abstract: A machine for forming a joined blank assembly from first and second blanks of sheet material includes a deck coupled to a frame, and a first transfer assembly associated with the frame. The first transfer assembly is configured to position the first blank on the deck. The machine also includes a second transfer assembly associated with the frame. The second transfer assembly is configured to position the second blank in at least a partially overlying relationship to the first blank on the deck. The machine further includes at least one compression member configured to compress the second blank and the first blank together against the deck to form the joined blank assembly.

Abstract: A machine including a first deck, a second deck, a first blank transfer assembly, and a second blank transfer assembly is provided. The first and second decks are coupled to a frame. The first blank transfer assembly extends from a first end to a second end and includes a first pick-up assembly moveable between the first end, proximate the second deck, and the second end, proximate the first deck. The second blank transfer assembly extends from a third end to a fourth end and includes a second pick-up assembly moveable between the third end, proximate the second deck, and the fourth end, proximate the first deck. The first blank transfer assembly and the second blank transfer assembly are operationally offset when moving between the first and second ends and the third and fourth ends, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a blank is provided. The apparatus includes a blank feeder assembly, and a compression assembly including a mandrel assembly, an upper folding arm assembly including a plurality of folding arms moveable between a first position and a second position, a compression plate, and a rollover arm assembly.

Abstract: A machine including a first deck, a second deck, a first blank transfer assembly, and a second blank transfer assembly is provided. The first and second decks are coupled to a frame. The first blank transfer assembly extends from a first end to a second end and includes a first pick-up assembly moveable between the first end, proximate the second deck, and the second end, proximate the first deck. The second blank transfer assembly extends from a third end to a fourth end and includes a second pick-up assembly moveable between the third end, proximate the second deck, and the fourth end, proximate the first deck. The first blank transfer assembly and the second blank transfer assembly are operationally offset when moving between the first and second ends and the third and fourth ends, respectively.

Abstract: A packaging system includes a plurality of feed conveyors configured to carry a plurality of carton units thereon and a stacking station. The stacking station includes a stacking conveyor and a plurality of lifting assemblies. Each lifting assembly of the plurality of lifting assemblies is selectively moveable over the stacking conveyor and a corresponding feed conveyor of the plurality of feed conveyors. The packaging system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the stacking conveyor and the plurality of lifting assemblies. The controller is configured to control a first lifting assembly of the plurality of lifting assemblies to retrieve a first carton unit from a first feed conveyor of the plurality of feed conveyors and control the first lifting assembly to deposit the first carton unit on the stacking conveyor in a stacked relationship with a second carton unit.

Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.

Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.

Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.

Abstract: Provided herein is a machine for forming a container from a blank including a tray and a lid. The machine has an upstream end where the blank is loaded and a downstream end where the container is discharged and includes a frame, a pre-forming assembly, and a mandrel assembly. The pre-forming assembly is configured to partially form the lid and the tray by folding each of a plurality of side panels of the blank and further form the tray by partially folding a front panel assembly of the blank, the front panel assembly including a front panel and a roll-over panel. The mandrel assembly is mounted to the frame and configured to engage a bottom panel of the tray to form each of a plurality of corners of the tray and fold the roll-over panel to form a front wall of the container.

Abstract: A method for forming a container using a machine includes extracting a blank from a magazine, transferring the blank in a blank transfer direction X, and positioning the blank on a deck. The method also includes translating a pick-up assembly from a first end to a second end along a horizontal direction Y perpendicular to the blank transfer direction X, the translating including transferring a web from a first location proximate the first end to a second location proximate the second end. The method further includes depositing, at the second location, the web into an at least partially overlying relationship with the blank to form a blank assembly, transferring the blank assembly along the deck in the blank transfer direction X while translating the pick-up assembly from the second end back to the first end, and wrapping the blank assembly around a mandrel to at least partially form the container.

Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The method includes forming a corner wall by folding a first pair of a plurality of reinforcing panels inwardly towards a respective side panel and into face-to-face contact with a second pair of the plurality of reinforcing panels, rotating the side panels and end panels to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel such that an interior surface of at least one reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels is in contact with an interior surface of the first side panel, and coupling at least one other reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels to one of the end panels to form the container.

Abstract: Provided herein is a machine for forming a container from a blank including a tray and a lid. The machine has an upstream end where the blank is loaded and a downstream end where the container is discharged and includes a frame, a pre-forming assembly, and a mandrel assembly. The pre-forming assembly is configured to partially form the lid and the tray by folding each of a plurality of side panels of the blank and further form the tray by partially folding a front panel assembly of the blank, the front panel assembly including a front panel and a roll-over panel. The mandrel assembly is mounted to the frame and configured to engage a bottom panel of the tray to form each of a plurality of corners of the tray and fold the roll-over panel to form a front wall of the container.

Abstract: A machine (1000) for forming a blank assembly having a blank and a retaining web coupled to the blank includes a deck (1250) coupled to a frame (1002), and a blank transfer assembly (1200) coupled to the frame. The blank transfer assembly is configured to position the blank on the deck. The machine also includes a web transfer assembly (1700) coupled to the frame. The web transfer assembly includes a pick-up assembly (1730) moveable between a first end and a second end of the web transfer assembly. The pick-up assembly is configured to pick up the web proximate the first end and deposit the web proximate the second end in an at least partially overlying relationship with the blank positioned on the deck. A first compression member (1750) is configured to compress a coupling region of the web against the blank on the deck to form the blank assembly.

Abstract: A machine for forming a blank assembly having a blank and a retaining web coupled to the blank includes a deck coupled to a frame, and a blank transfer assembly coupled to the frame. The blank transfer assembly is configured to position the blank on the deck. The machine also includes a web transfer assembly coupled to the frame. The web transfer assembly includes a pick-up assembly moveable between a first end and a second end of the web transfer assembly. The pick-up assembly is configured to pick up the web proximate the first end and deposit the web proximate the second end in an at least partially overlying relationship with the blank positioned on the deck. A first compression member is configured to compress a coupling region of the web against the blank on the deck to form the blank assembly.