Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes

A system for automatically forming packaging boxes, said system comprising:

• a control unit for controlling operation of the system;
• at least four folding units at a supporting station, wherein the at least four folding units comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair of folding units, wherein the folding units of the front pair are positioned at a transverse distance from each other, and wherein the folding units of the rear pair are positioned at a transverse distance from each other;
• the folding units being configured for supporting a blank having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular side and end panels such that the folding units support the rectangular bottom panel;
• wherein at least one of the at least four folding units is provided with a controllable gripping element for gripping the bottom panel, wherein the control unit is configured for activating said controllable gripping element into an operative mode for gripping the bottom panel and for deactivating said controllable gripping element for releasing the bottom panel;
• wherein the at least one of the folding units is configured for folding respective side and/or end panels of the blank upwardly;
• wherein the at least one gripping element is suspended to move freely with respect to the folding units in a horizontal plane in order to be able to follow possible transverse movements of the rectangular bottom panel during gripping of the rectangular bottom panel;
• and
• wherein each of the folding units is provided with controllable end panel folding flaps and/or controllable side panel folding flaps and/or a controllable initiator for initiating the folding of a corner panel.