Method and apparatus for closing a box

(canceled)

10-41. (canceled)

A method of closing an open end of a box, said box being carried downstream by a conveyor with the open end facing transversely, the method comprising:

• (a) with a trailing minor flap on the open end of the box being held in a substantially upstream-pointing open position, closing the opposing leading minor flap on the open end of the box from a substantially downstream-pointing open position to a substantially upstream-pointing closed position;
• and
• (b) with the leading minor flap being held in the substantially upstream-pointing closed position, closing the trailing minor flap from the substantially upstream-pointing open position to a substantially downstream-pointing closed position.

43-77. (canceled)

An apparatus for closing opposing first and second flaps on an open end of a box, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a device comprising a generally planar surface, said generally planar surface comprising a first slot and a second slot defined therein;
• and
• (b) a mechanism operable to provide a first relative motion between the first slot and the first flap of the box, the first relative motion operable to cause the first slot to receive and close the first flap, the mechanism also operable to provide a second relative motion, opposite to the first relative motion, between the second slot and the second flap of the box, the second relative motion operable to cause the second slot to receive and close the second flap.