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Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a carton. The system may comprise a magazine for storing a plurality of carton blanks in a generally flat configuration. The system also has a mandrel and a panel rotation apparatus. The mandrel has a first surface oriented at a first orientation and a s

Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a carton. The system may comprise a magazine for storing a plurality of carton blanks in a generally flat configuration. The system also has a mandrel and a panel rotation apparatus. The mandrel has a first surface oriented at a first orientation and a second surface oriented at a second orientation that may be generally orthogonal to the first orientation. The panel rotation apparatus is operable to engage a second panel of the carton blank and rotate the second panel to proximate to, and generally in the same orientation as, the second surface of the mandrel such that the second panel is oriented in a second orientation generally orthogonal to the first panel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for forming a carton from a generally flat carton blank, said system comprising: (a) a mandrel having a first surface oriented generally at a first orientation and a second surface oriented at a second orientation that is at an angle to said first orientation, wherein said carton blank h

1. A system for forming a carton from a generally flat carton blank, said system comprising: (a) a mandrel having a first surface oriented generally at a first orientation and a second surface oriented at a second orientation that is at an angle to said first orientation, wherein said carton blank has a first portion that is operable to be positioned proximate said first surface of said mandrel;(b) a first rotating apparatus operable to engage a second portion of said carton blank and while said mandrel is stationary, said first rotating apparatus operable to rotate so as to rotate said second portion of said blank from said first orientation while said first portion is maintained in a position proximate said first surface of said mandrel such that said second portion is oriented in said second orientation that is generally at said angle to said first portion of said carton blank and said second portion of said carton blank being positioned proximate said second surface of said mandrel. 2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said angle is approximately 90 degrees. 3. A system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a second rotating apparatus operable to rotate a third portion of said carton blank relative to said first and second portions to a third orientation. 4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said third orientation is generally parallel to said first orientation. 5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second rotating apparatus is a portion folding and guide apparatus. 6. A system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a movement apparatus, said movement apparatus operable for moving said mandrel towards said folding and guide apparatus while said first portion of said carton blank is positioned proximate said first surface of said mandrel and said second portion of said carton blank is positioned proximate said second surface of said mandrel, such that said third portion of said carton blank can be rotated relative to said first and second portions during movement of said mandrel by said movement apparatus by co-operation of said movement apparatus and said folding apparatus. 7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first rotating apparatus is coupled to said mandrel, such that said movement apparatus is operable for moving said mandrel and said first rotating apparatus towards said folding and guide apparatus. 8. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first rotating apparatus is de-coupled from said mandrel, such that said movement apparatus is operable for moving said mandrel, and not moving said first rotating apparatus, towards said folding and guide apparatus. 9. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first orientation is generally horizontal. 10. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first orientation is generally vertical. 11. A system for forming a carton comprising: (a) a magazine for storing a plurality of carton blanks in a generally flat configuration, each said carton blank comprising a first panel and a second panel;(b) a mandrel having a first surface oriented at a first orientation and a second surface oriented at a second orientation that is generally orthogonal to said first orientation;(c) a panel rotation apparatus operable to engage said second panel of said carton blank and while said mandrel is stationary, said rotation apparatus being operable to rotate so as to rotate said second panel to proximate to, and generally in the same orientation as, said second surface of said mandrel such that said second panel is oriented in a second orientation generally orthogonal to said first panel. 12. A system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a movement apparatus and a folding apparatus, said movement apparatus for moving said mandrel, while said mandrel is engaged with said carton blank, towards said folding apparatus, so that a third panel of said carton blank can be rotated relative to said first and second panels during movement of said mandrel by said movement apparatus by co-operation of said movement of said mandrel by said movement apparatus and said folding apparatus. 13. A system a claimed in claim 12 wherein said mandrel is movable by said movement apparatus from a first position to a second position, such that during said movement of said mandrel from said first position to said second position, said folding apparatus folds at least said third panel to produce at least part of a carton form. 14. A system a claimed in claim 13 wherein said mandrel is movable from said second position to a third position wherein said mandrel has disengaged from said carton form. 15. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first, second and third panels of said carton blank are arranged longitudinally in series, such that when said first, second and third panels have been oriented in said first, second and third positions, said first panel forms a base wall, said second panel forms an end wall and said third panel forms a forms a top wall of a carton. 16. A system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a PLC to control the operation of said panel rotation apparatus and said movement apparatus. 17. A system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a transfer mechanism for transferring a plurality of said carton blanks in series from said magazine to said mandrel. 18. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said carton blank further comprises fourth and fifth panels positioned on opposite sides of said first panel, and connected to said first panel, and wherein said folding apparatus is also operable during movement of said mandrel from said first position to said second position, to fold said fourth and fifth panels to fourth and fifth positions respectively, such that said fourth and first panels form opposed side walls of said carton. 19. A system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a panel holding mechanism for holding said first panel of said carton blank of said plurality of carton blanks in said first orientation and in a position proximate said first surface of said mandrel while said panel rotation apparatus engages said second panel of said carton blank and rotates said second panel to proximate to, and generally in the same orientation as, said second surface of said mandrel such that said second panel is oriented in said second orientation generally orthogonal to said first panel. 20. A method for forming a carton from a carton blank comprising: (a) Orienting said carton blank in a generally flat first orientation;(b) rotating a first portion and a third portion of said blank from said first orientation to a second orientation that is generally orthogonal to a second portion of said carton blank, while said second portion is stationary;(c) after (b), rotating said third portion of said carton blank relative to said first and second portions to a third orientation;wherein said rotating of at least a third portion of said carton blank comprises moving the carton blank longitudinally while said first portion of said blank is at said second orientation and said second portion is at said first orientation, and so that said third portion of said carton blank is rotated relative to said first and second portions during said movement and by co-operation of said movement and engagement with a folding apparatus. 21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said third orientation is generally parallel to said first orientation. 22. A method of forming a carton from a carton blank comprising: (a) providing a carton blank in a first generally flat orientation, said carton blank having first and second and third portions, said first portion of blank being generally adjacent and parallel to a first portion of a mandrel;(b) while said mandrel is stationary, rotating said second and third portions of said carton blank about said mandrel so said second and third portions remain generally aligned in the same plane and both are positioned at a second orientation that is generally orthogonal to said first portion. 23. A method as claimed in claim 22 further comprising moving said mandrel and said carton blank longitudinally while said first portion of said blank is at said first orientation and said second portion is at said second orientation, and so that a third portion of said carton blank is rotated relative to said first and second portions by co-operation of said movement and engagement with a folding apparatus. 24. A method for forming a carton from a carton blank comprising: (a) orienting a carton blank having first, second and third portions all oriented in a first planar orientation;(b) while said third portion is stationary, rotating said first and second portions of said blank together from said first orientation to a second orientation while maintaining said third portion in said first orientation, said first and second portions being located adjacent to each other;(c) further rotating said third portion of said carton blank relative to said first and second portions to a third orientation. 25. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein said third orientation is generally parallel to but spaced from said first orientation. 26. A method for forming a container from a container blank, said method comprising: (a) orienting a foldable container blank having a plurality of portions all oriented in a first substantially planar orientation;(b) rotating a first portion and a second portion of said plurality of portions, said first and second portions being joined together and located adjacent each other, together from said first orientation to a second orientation while maintaining a plurality of remaining portions of said blank stationary and in said first orientation;(c) orienting the second portion and the remaining portions of said blank relative to said first portion to form a container adapted for receiving an item. 27. A system for forming a container from a generally flat foldable blank having a plurality of panels which are all oriented in a first substantially planar orientation, said system comprising: (a) a mandrel having a first surface oriented generally at a first orientation and a second surface oriented at a second orientation that is at an angle to said first orientation, wherein said blank has a first panel that is operable to be positioned and held proximate said first surface of said mandrel;(b) a first rotating apparatus operable to engage a second panel and a third panel, said second and third panels being joined together and located adjacent each other, said first rotating apparatus operable to rotate said second and third panels together from said first orientation to a second orientation while a remaining plurality of panels remain in the first orientation and said first panel is maintained in a position proximate said first surface of said mandrel such that said second and third panels are both oriented in said second orientation that is generally at an angle to said first panel and said second panel being positioned proximate said second surface of said mandrel. 28. A system as claimed in claim 27 operable to rotate said third panel of said blank relative to said first and second panels to a third orientation. 29. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said third orientation is generally parallel to said first orientation. 30. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said system is operable to rotate said third panel of said carton blank by moving said carton blank longitudinally while said first panel of said blank is at said second orientation and said second panel is at said first orientation, and so that said third panel of said carton blank is rotated relative to said first and second panel by co-operation of said movement and engagement with a folding apparatus. 31. A system for forming a carton from a generally flat carton blank, said system comprising: (a) a mandrel having a first surface oriented generally at a first orientation and a second surface oriented at a second orientation that is at an angle to said first orientation, wherein said carton blank has a first portion that is operable to be positioned proximate said first surface of said mandrel;(b) a first rotating apparatus operable to engage a second portion of said carton blank and while said mandrel is stationary, rotate said second portion of said blank from said first orientation while said first portion is maintained in a position proximate said first surface of said mandrel such that said second portion is oriented in said second orientation that is generally at said angle to said first portion of said carton blank and said second portion of said carton blank being positioned proximate said second surface of said mandrel;(c) a movement apparatus, said movement apparatus operable for moving said mandrel towards a folding and guide apparatus while said first portion of said carton blank is positioned proximate said first surface of said mandrel and said second portion of said carton blank is positioned proximate said second surface of said mandrel, such said third portion of said carton blank can be rotated relative to said first and second portions during movement of said mandrel by said movement apparatus by co-operation of said movement apparatus and said folding and guide apparatus.