# US 2014/0155239 A1 · Heat-Assisted Carton Formation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155239 A1 - Document ID: US20140155239A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/085,912 - Filed: 2013-11-21 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Graphic Packaging International, Inc. - Applicants: Graphic Packaging International, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph C. Walsh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155239A1 ## CPC - B31B 50/741: {Moistening; Drying; Cooling; Heating; Sterilizing} - B31B 50/36: by continuously feeding the sheets, blanks or webs to stationary members, e.g. plates, ploughs or cores - B31B 2100/00: Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by folding single-piece sheets, blanks or webs - B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B) ## Abstract A method of at least partially forming a carton includes obtaining a blank comprising at least one fold line, heating an interior surface of the blank along the at least one fold line to form a heated fold line, and folding the blank about the heated fold line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of at least partially assembling a carton from a blank, the method comprising: obtaining a blank comprising at least one fold line; heating an interior surface of the blank along the at least one fold line to form a heated fold line; and folding the blank about the heated fold line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises an exterior surface having a coating and the interior surface is free from the coating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the blank comprises paperboard. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the blank proximate a heater in a direction of the at least one fold line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heater is configured to heat the interior surface of the blank to within a predetermined range of temperatures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fold line foldably connects at least a first panel and a second panel of the blank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the folding comprising folding the first panel to be in at least partial face-to-face contact with the second panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising adhering an attachment flap foldably connected to the second panel to at least a portion of the first panel to form a sleeve for the partially assembled carton. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising packaging the sleeve into a packaging system for transporting a plurality of sleeves for a plurality of cartons. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising visually inspecting an outer surface of the partially assembled carton proximate the heated fold line. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising determining if visual defects exist on the outer surface about the heated fold line. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising adhering and packaging the partially assembled carton in the absence of visual defects or altering a heating parameter in the presence of visual defects. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the heating parameter includes at least one temperature of the heater and distance between the heater and the at least one fold line. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the heater is at least one of a flame burner, a resistive heating element, and a blower of heated air. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein altering the heating parameter includes adjusting a gas feed to the flame burner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein altering the heating parameter includes adjusting a level of current / voltage to the resistive heating element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein altering the heating parameter includes adjusting an output air flow of the blower of heated air. ### Claim 18 A system for at least partially assembling a carton from a blank, the system comprising: a conveyor for transporting at least one blank within the system, the at least one blank having an interior surface and at least one fold line defined thereon; a heater configured to apply heat to the interior surface proximate the at least one fold line to form a heated fold line of the blank; and a folding mechanism for folding the heated fold line of the blank. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the conveyor is a belt or roller conveyor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the heater comprises at least one of a flame burner, a resistive heating element, and a blower of heated air. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising a gas source for feeding the flame burner and a valve for controllably releasing gas to the flame burner. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising a controller in operable communication with the valve, the conveyor, and the heater. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to alter a flow of gas through the valve and a speed of the conveyor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising a controller in operable communication with the conveyor and the heater. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, further comprising a temperature sensor proximate the heater and in communication with the controller. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one fold line foldably connects at least a first panel and a second panel of the blank. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, wherein the folding mechanism comprises at least one pressure roller configured to fold the first panel relative to the second panel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28 further comprising an adhesive applicator configured to apply adhesive to at least a portion of the first panel or the second panel. ### Claim 30 A method of improving visual quality of an outer surface of a carton assembled from a coated paperboard blank, the method comprising: obtaining a blank having an inner surface, an outer surface, the outer surface having a coating applied thereon, a first side panel foldably connected to a second side panel at a first fold line, and an attachment flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line; heating an interior surface of the blank along the first fold line to form a first heated fold line; positioning the first side panel to be in at least partial face-to-face contact with the second side panel by folding the blank at the first heated fold line; heating the interior surface of the blank along the second fold line to form a second heated fold line; positioning the attachment flap to at least partially overlap the first side panel by folding the blank at the second heated fold line; and adhering overlapping portions of the attachment flap and the first side panel.