Apparatus and methods relating to corrugated materials, containers, and packaging

A method of transitioning a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed box configuration, the method comprising:

• (a) facilitating halting, via a backstop, movement of a box cutout when it is located within a plunging area;
• (b) detecting, via a detector, the presence of the box cutout;
• (c) in response to the step of detecting, via the detector, the presence of the box cutout, applying downward force, via a plunger, to a central portion of the box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect at least partial collapsing of the box cutout and downward movement of the box cutout, the partial collapse being facilitated by one or more structures positioned and configured to effect at least partial folding of a box cutout being plunged by the plunger;
• and
• (d) engaging, via opposed grab wheels located below the plunging area, the box cutout that has been plunged downward by the plunger, the opposed grab wheels pressing opposite sides of the box cutout together and propelling the box cutout in a downward direction.

A method of transitioning a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed box configuration, the method comprising:

• (a) driving, via one or more drive wheels, a box cutout toward a plunging area;
• (b) detecting, via a first detector, the presence of the box cutout;
• (c) applying, via one or more glue applicators, glue to the box cutout;
• (d) facilitating halting, via a backstop, the movement of the box cutout when it is located within the plunging area;
• (e) detecting, via a second detector, the presence of the box cutout;
• (f) in response to the step of detecting, via the second detector, the presence of the box cutout, applying downward force, via a plunger, to a central portion of the box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect at least partial collapsing of the box cutout and downward movement of the box cutout, the partial collapse being facilitated by one or more structures positioned and configured to effect at least partial folding of a box cutout being plunged by the plunger;
• (g) guiding, via one or more guide wheels located below the plunging area, the descent of the box cutout as the box cutout is being plunged by the plunger;
• (h) engaging, via opposed grab wheels located below the one or more guide wheels, the box cutout that has been plunged downward by the plunger, the opposed grab wheels pressing opposite sides of the box cutout together and propelling the box cutout in a downward direction;
• and
• (i) effecting placement, using a collector, of the box cutout in a collection pen;
• (j) wherein the method further includes a step of deflecting, using a deflector adjacent the plunger, the box cutout downward;
• and
• (k) wherein the method further includes a step of detecting, via a third detector, plunging of the plunger, and wherein the collector is configured to, based on a count of plunges detected by the third detector, elevate the particular collected box cutout when effecting placement of the collected box cutout in the collection pen.