Systems and methods for creating a manufacturer's joint and closing a box
AssigneePacksize LLC
InventorsNiklas Pettersson, Ryan Osterhout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is disclosed for sealing a manufacturer's joint and/or the ends of a customized box. The system includes at least a first arm spaced apart from a second arm. The arms are arranged so that an end flap of a box blank can be inserted between the arms to align the box blank relative to the arms and secure and maintain at least two side panels of the box blank in an adjacent position to form a manufacturer's joint. Methods for forming and sealing a manufacturer's joint and/or the ends of a customized box are also disclosed. Such methods, are designed to, for example, reliably form, close, and seal the manufacturer's joint and/or the ends of a customized box in a simplified manner.
Claims29
An apparatus for sealing portions of a box blank to form a box, comprising:
- a first arm pivotable about a first axis;
- and
- a second arm pivotable about a second axis, the second arm being spaced apart from the first arm in a direction that is parallel to at least one of the first axis and the second axis, wherein at least one end flap of a box blank is configured to be inserted into the space between the first arm and the second arm to align a portion of the box blank with the first arm, and at least one of the first arm and the second arm being configured to maintain at least two side panels of the box blank in an adjacent position to form a manufacturer's joint.
A system for sealing portions of a box blank to form a box, comprising:
- a support structure having a support surface for supporting the box blank;
- a first arm linked to the support structure, the first arm extending a first distance across the support surface;
- a second arm linked to the support structure, the second arm extending a second distance across the support surface, the second distance being different than the first distance, the second arm being spaced apart from the first arm, wherein a first end flap of the box blank is configured to be inserted into the space between the first arm and the second arm to align a portion of the box blank relative to the first arm, at least one of the first arm and the second arm being configured to maintain at least two side panels of the box blank in an adjacent position to form a manufacturer's joint;
- and
- a tape dispenser configured for dispensing a specific length of tape sized for taping at least a portion of the manufacturer's joint.
A method for assembling a box, comprising:
- providing a box blank having a plurality of side-by-side panels and an end flap extending from each of the side-by-side panels;
- providing a sealing apparatus, including:
- a support structure;
- a first arm pivotally linked to the support structure and extending a first distance across the support structure;
- and
- a second arm pivotally linked to the support structure and extending a second distance across the support structure, wherein the first arm and the second arm are spaced apart from each other and a first end flap of the box blank is configured to be folded up and inserted between the first arm and the second arm;
- arranging the box so that at least two side panels are positioned adjacent to each other to form at least a portion of a joint;
- inserting the box blank into the sealing apparatus with the first end flap between the first arm and the second arm and such that the first arm extends a first distance across the box blank and the second arm extends a second distance across the box blank so that the two adjacently positioned side panels are maintained in a desired position by the first arm and the second arm;
- providing a selected length of tape sized for sealing the joint;
- and
- sealing the joint with the length of tape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.