Forming container for product items during production job

A system comprising:

• a computerized device receiving a single print job, said single print job comprising a container page, product pages, and a stacking pattern;
• a patterning device, operatively connected to said computerized device, automatically patterning a first material according to a container pattern specified by said container page of said single print job while processing said single print job to output a flat and patterned container sheet to a stacking location;
• a robotic folding device, operatively connected to said computerized device, automatically folding said flat and patterned container sheet at said stacking location while processing said single print job to form a three-dimensional container;
• a printing engine, operatively connected to said computerized device, automatically printing markings specified by said product pages of said single print job on additional sheets of material while processing said single print job, said patterning device automatically patterning said additional sheets of material according to a product pattern specified by said product pages of said single print job while processing said single print job, after said three-dimensional container is formed and said markings are printed, to output product items to said stacking location without producing intervening output between said three-dimensional container and said product items;
• and
• a robotic stacking device, operatively connected to said computerized device, automatically stacking said product items in said three-dimensional container according to said stacking pattern of said single print job while processing said print job,
• said container pattern of said container page of said single print job having a specific size and shape to accommodate said stacking pattern of said single print job.

A method comprising:

• receiving a single processing job into a computerized device, said single processing job comprising a container page, product pages, and a stacking pattern;
• automatically patterning a first material according to a container pattern specified by said container page of said single processing job while processing said single processing job to output a flat and patterned container sheet to a stacking location using a patterning device operatively connected to said computerized device;
• automatically folding said flat and patterned container sheet at said stacking location while processing said single processing job to form a three-dimensional container using a robotic folding device operatively connected to said computerized device;
• after said three-dimensional container is formed, automatically patterning additional sheets of material according to a product pattern specified by said product pages of said single processing job while processing said single processing job to output product items to said stacking location using said patterning device without producing intervening output between said three-dimensional container and said product items;
• and
• automatically stacking said product items in said three-dimensional container using a robotic stacking device operatively connected to said computerized device while processing said single processing job,
• said container pattern of said container page of said single processing job having a specific size and shape to accommodate said stacking pattern of said single processing job.

A method comprising:

• receiving a single print job into a computerized device, said single print job comprising a container page, product pages, and a stacking pattern;
• automatically patterning a first material according to a container pattern specified by said container page of said single print job while processing said single print job to output a flat and patterned container sheet to a stacking location using a patterning device operatively connected to said computerized device;
• automatically folding said flat and patterned container sheet at said stacking location while processing said single print job to form a three-dimensional container using a robotic folding device operatively connected to said computerized device;
• automatically printing markings specified by said product pages of said single print job on additional sheets of material while processing said single print job using a printing engine operatively connected to said computerized device;
• after said three-dimensional container is formed and said markings are printed, automatically patterning said additional sheets of material according to a product pattern specified by said product pages of said single print job while processing said single print job to output product items to said stacking location using said patterning device without producing intervening output between said three-dimensional container and said product items;
• and
• automatically stacking said product items in said three-dimensional container according to said stacking pattern of said single print job while processing said single print job using a robotic stacking device operatively connected to said computerized device,
• said container pattern of said container page of said single print job having a specific size and shape to accommodate said stacking pattern of said single print job.