Manual packaging creasing assembly and method

Abstract

A creasing assembly for creasing a strip of packaging material includes a support frame, a first creasing tool mounted to the support frame, a second creasing tool mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first creasing tool, and an end stop mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first creasing tool and the second creasing tool. The first and second creasing tools are manually activated. The first creasing tool can be fixed to the support frame and can serve as a calibration point for the end stop and the second creasing tool. The first and second creasing tools include respective rams and dies defining respective creasing passages through which a strip of packaging material can be fed. The respective rams and dies can crease the strip of packaging material simultaneously.

Description

MANUAL PACKAGING CREASING ASSEMBLY AND METHODField of the Invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a product packaging system, and more particularly, to a packaging system for supplying readily-foldable dunnage products for lining a shipping container.Background

[0002] When shipping a product from one location to another, the product is generally shipped in a container with a protective packaging material. A common shipping container is a cardboard box. The protective packaging material may be a plastic air bag, a paper pad, a foam pad, or another resilient material. In some cases, the product may require thermal insulation during shipping such that the product remains within a certain temperature range, in which case a thermally-insulating packaging material is used as the protective packaging material. The thermally- insulating packaging material may be a thermal liner made of materials such as cellulose foam. The packaging material is shaped or sized to fit within and line the inside surface of the box or container.Summary

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a packaging system for supplying readily-foldable dunnage products, including thermally-insulating packaging material, for lining a shipping container. The packaging system includes a manual creasing assembly which can easily crease a strip of packaging material across its length at proper locations such that the packaging material can fit snugly within chosen container dimensions. The creasing assembly may be adjustable to provide creases at different locations to facilitate folding the packaging material to closely fit within different sizes ofshipping containers. When packaging material is fit snugly along the walls of the container, free volume within the container is maximized, and thus there is more room within the container for a larger volume of products or cargo to be shipped. Further, when the packaging material is not snugly fit within the container, there can be a potential reduction in thermal performance by the packaging system, which can affect the shipped product within the packaging system. The packaging material may be a thermally-insulating packaging material, a cushioning material, or another type of packaging material.

[0004] The creasing assembly is characterized by a first creasing tool fixed to a support frame and serving as a calibration point for other components of the creasing assembly, a second creasing tool which is movable relative to the support frame on one side of the first creasing tool, with the first and second creasing tools each being independently activatable to form a crease that functions as a fold line, and an end stop movable in relation to the support frame. The spacing between the first creasing tool, the end stop, and the second creasing tool is adjustable based on one or more dimensions of a container. The folded dunnage or strip of packaging material can then be inserted into the container, for example to line the interior of the container. The strip of packaging material has a width dimension, a thickness dimension, and a length dimension generally orthogonal to each other, with the length dimension being greater than either the width dimension or the thickness dimension.

[0005] The creasing tools include respective rams and dies defining respective creasing passages therebetween. Each creasing tool also includes a handle that can be connected to the ram and die via a hinge. Hinging the handles inwardly can push the respective rams into the respective dies, thereby closing and opening the respective creasing passages.

[0006] The creasing assembly also includes an end stop. The end of the strip of packaging material can be pressed against a perpendicular surface of the end stop so that the strip of packaging material can be appropriately placed within the creasing passages and the creasing tools can be aligned with the desired creasing locations.

[0007] The strip of packaging material is placed in the open creasing passages. When the creasing passages are in the open state, the respective handles are rotated outwardly and the rams and dies are separated. Closing the creasing passages by inwardly hinging the handles causes the respective rams to enter the respective dies, thereby placing the creasing passages into a closed state. The movement of the rams into the respective dies while the strip of packaging material is in the creasing passage causes the rams and dies to cooperatively crease the strip of packaging material. The creases can form convenient fold lines for folding the packaging material for insertion into a shipping container. The location of the folds can allow the folded strip of packaging material to closely line the walls of the container. The creasing passage of the fixed creasing assembly and the creasing passage of the movable creasing assembly may be closed separately or simultaneously. Inwardly or downwardly rotating the handles simultaneously and simultaneously closing the creasing passages can enable a packer to crease two locations of the packaging material at once.

[0008] More particularly, an exemplary manual creasing assembly includes a support frame, a first creasing tool mounted to the support frame, a second creasing tool mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first creasing tool, and an end stop mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first creasing tool and the second creasing tool. The first creasing tool and the second creasing tool are manually activated.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the support frame includes a rail and indicia representing distance dimensions places along a side of the rail.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the first creasing tool includes a first handle, a first ram mounted to the first handle, a first die mounted to a first rail connector, and a first handle connector which movably connects the first handle to the first die. The second creasing tool is relocatable along the rail.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the first handle inwardly causes the first ram to move toward the first die.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, hinging the first handle inwardly causes the first creasing passage to close.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the second creasing tool includes a second handle, a second ram mounted to the second handle, a second die connected to a second rail connector, and a second handle connector which movably connects the second handle to the second die. The second creasing tool is relocatable along the rail.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, hinging the second handle inwardly causes the second ram to move toward the second die.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, hinging the second handle inwardly causes the second creasing passage to close.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the end stop includes an end stop rail connector and a perpendicular surface. The end stop rail connector attaches the end stop to the rail, and the perpendicular surface prevents the packaging strip from moving beyond the perpendicular surface parallel to the rail.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the first handle and the second handle are simultaneously movable, allowing the first ram and the second ram to simultaneously crease the packaging strip.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, indicia representing distance dimensions can be used to identify relative locations of the end stop, the first creasing tool, and the second creasing tool along the rail.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the first creasing tool is fixed to the support frame.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the first rail connector attaches the first creasing tool to the rail, and the second rail connector attaches the second creasing tool to the rail.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the second creasing tool is relocatable along the rail.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the first creasing tool is positioned between the second creasing tool and the end stop.

[0023] An exemplary method for creasing a strip of packaging material includes opening a first creasing passage of a first creasing tool wherein a first ram and a first die define the first creasing passage therebetween, opening a second creasing passage of a second creasing tool wherein a second ram and a second die define the second creasing passage therebetween, inserting the strip of packaging material into the first creasing passage, inserting the strip of packaging material into the second creasing passage, engaging a perpendicular surface of the end stop with an end portion of the strip of packaging material, and then closing a first creasing passage, causing the first ram of the first creasing tool to push a first portion of the strip of packaging material into the first die to create a first crease in the strip of packaging material, and closing a second creasing passage, causing the second ram to push a second portion of the strip of packaging material into a second die to create a second crease in the strip of packaging material which is spaced from the first crease.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the method includes simultaneously closing both the first creasing passage and the second creasing passage.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the method includes fixing the first creasing tool to the support frame.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the method includes measuring the distances between the first creasing tool, the second creasing tool, and the end stop along the support frame.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, the method includes spacing the second creasing tool from the end stop at a spacing distance which corresponds to a dimension of a container.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of an exemplary creasing assembly.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the creasing assembly of FIG. 1 .

[0030] FIG. 3 is a top right perspective view of the creasing assembly of FIG. 1 .

[0031] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the creasing assembly of FIG. 1 .

[0032] FIG. 5 is a front left perspective view of an exemplary creasing tool in which the creasing passage is open.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a front left perspective view of the first creasing tool of FIG. 5 in which the creasing passage is closed.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the creasing tool shown in FIG. 5.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a left elevation view of the creasing tool shown in FIG. 5.

[0036] FIG. 9 is a front left perspective view of the creasing tool shown in FIG. 5.

[0037] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the creasing tool shown in FIG. 5.

[0038] FIG. 11 is a front right perspective view of an exemplary end stop.

[0039] FIG 12 is a front right perspective view of the creasing assembly shown in FIG. 1 including a strip of packaging material within the creasing passages.

[0040] FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the creasing assembly shown in FIG. 1 including the strip of packaging material within the creasing passages.

[0041] FIG. 14 is the creasing tool of FIG. 5 including the strip of packaging material within the open creasing passage.

[0042] FIG. 15 is the first creasing tool of FIG. 6 including the strip of packaging material within the closed creasing passage.Detailed Description

[0043] An exemplary creasing mechanism and method for creasing a strip of packaging material with manually-formed transverse creases to facilitate precise and repeatable folding of the strip to line a packaging container. The strip of packaging material has a length. The creasing mechanism and method makes it easier to manually form creases across the length. The creases improve the ease of folding the strip of packaging material at specified locations along the length, such as at lengths determined to facilitate lining a shipping container. The improved accuracy of creasing allows the strip of packaging material to be folded to fit snugly within a packaging container.

[0044] Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS.1-4, an exemplary creasing assembly 100 is shown. The creasing assembly 100 includes a support frame 102 and a first creasing tool 104, a second creasing tool 106, and an end stop 108 arranged along the support frame 102. The support frame 102 has a pair of parallel elongate rails 110 and one or more cross-rails 1 1 1 that maintain the spacing of the elongate rails 110 and maintain their parallel configuration. The frame 102 can include rails having a groove, ridge, or other geometry that allows the creasing components to connect to the rails 110 either (a) in a movable or removable fashion, or (b) in a nonmovable or fixed fashion. The support frame 102 thus provides a support structure upon which the creasing components (the first creasing tool 104, the second creasing tool 106, and the end stop 108) of the creasing assembly 100 can be arranged.

[0045] The first creasing tool 104 is mounted on and fixed to the support frame 102 along the rails 110. The location along the rails 110 to which the first creasing tool 104 is fixed can serve as an orientation point 114 for other components of the creasing assembly 100. For example, the location of the fixed first creasing tool 104 can be used to calibrate the positions of the second creasing tool 106 and the end stop 108. Thecreasing tools 104, 106 include respective rams 120, 1 4 and dies 122, 126 defining respective creasing passages 154, 156 therebetween.

[0046] The elongate rails 110 may be of a shape and size that allows the components such as the first creasing tool 104, the second creasing tool 106, and the end stop 108 to attach to the rails 110 and be movable along the length of the rails 1 10. The rails 110 may be made of a material such as metal, plastic, composite, wood, or any other suitable material.

[0047] Along a side of the rails 1 10 are indicia 1 12 of dimensions such as a ruler, line markings, or any other suitable markings to facilitate measurement of dimensions between different components 104, 106, 108 of the creasing assembly 100 such that the components 104, 106, 108 can be appropriately spaced from each other to establish creases in the strip of packaging material 162. The indicia 112 may include an orientation point 1 14 to which the components can be calibrated. One or more indicia 1 12 and one or more orientation points 1 14 can allow for dimensions along the rails 110 to be viewed from multiple sides of the support frame 102 and / or can allow for different types of dimensions to be displayed on a single support frame 102 such that the creasing assembly 100 can be used for multiple packaging purposes and types of dimensions. Appropriate creasing dimensions can allow the packaging material 162 to be folded and fit snugly within the container or box or be appropriately creased for any other purpose.

[0048] The creasing tools 104, 106 include respective handles 1 16, 118 connected (via, for example, hinges 150) to the respective rams 120, 124 which are rotatable about the hinges 150 to move into and out of engagement with the respective dies 122, 126. The handles 1 16, 1 18 are mounted to pivot (meaning, to rotate about an axis between two positions) and act as levers to apply force to the respective creasing rams 120, 124 and dies 122,126. Consequently, the handles 1 16, 1 18 are connected to the rams 120, 124 at points removed from the pivot.

[0049] The rams 120, 124 can be made of any suitable material such as metal, plastic, rubber, or another suitable material. The rams 120, 124 can include pointed tipsor any other suitable tip geometries depending on factors such as the material to be creased and the required folding geometry.

[0050] The dies 122, 126 can include a valley, ridge, or other suitable geometry and, like the first ram, can be made of any suitable material. The dies 122, 126 are shaped to cooperate with the geometries of the respective rams 120, 124 during the creasing of the strip of packaging material 162.

[0051] The handles 1 16, 1 18 can be configured to rotate to one side such that movement of the handles 116, 1 18 can cause the respective rams 120, 124 and dies 122, 126 to move toward or away from each other. Alternatively or additionally, the handles 1 16, 1 18 can be guided for relative movement by a pair of guides that guide the ends of the movable rams 120, 124 into engagement with the respective dies 122, 126. The positions of the rams 120, 124 and the dies 122, 126 can be reversed or otherwise adjusted based on the application. A strip of packaging material 162 can be fed through the respective creasing passages 154, 156 to be creased by the rams 120, 124 and dies 122 of the respective creasing tools 104, 106.

[0052] The second creasing tool 106 can be placed on the support frame 102 along the rail 1 10. While the first creasing tool 104 is fixed, the position of the second creasing tool 106 is adjustable along the elongate rails 110 relative to the fixed position of the first creasing tool 104. The second creasing tool 106 can include a second housing 136 to house the second creasing tool components such as the second handle 1 18 which is connected, such as via a hinge 150, to the second ram 124 which can be pushed via the second handle 118 into the second die 126. A second rail connector 132 can be used to connect the second creasing tool 106 to the rail 110 such as via a hand tightened clamp 160, but can also be more permanently fixed using fixing means such as screws, welds, or other suitable fixing means.

[0053] A location indicator 158 can be included on the second rail connector 132. The location indicator 158 can be a marking such as a line, dot, engraving, or any other suitable marking on the second rail connector 132. The location indicator 158 can match up to the indicia 1 12 along the rail 1 10. The location indicator 158 can be used toensure that the second creasing tool 106 is placed at the appropriate location on the rail 1 10. The creasing passage 156 of the second creasing tool 106 can be independently closed and can also be closed simultaneously with the creasing passage 152 of the first creasing tool 104 and / or with creasing passageways of other creasing components that may be included with the creasing assembly 100 depending on the application.

[0054] The support frame 102 also can include one or more carrying handles 128 to facilitate transporting the creasing assembly 100 between locations, such as when moving between packaging operations in a facility, moving to another geographical location, and placing the creasing assembly 100 into or taking the creasing assembly 100 out of a vehicle for transport. The carrying handles 128 can be on a side of the support frame 102, on the top portion of the support frame 102, on more than one location of the support frame 102, or at any other suitable location such that the support frame 102 and / or the creasing assembly 100 can be transported or carried without damage to the creasing assembly 100 or its frame 102 or components.

[0055] Turning next to FIGS. 4-10, an exemplary creasing tool 104 is shown. The first creasing tool 104 and second creasing tool 106 can share some similarities and can also differ from each other based on the application. The first creasing tool 104 includes a first ram 120 and a first die 122 connected by a hinge 150 to open to one side via the movement of a first handle 1 16. Alternatively or additionally, the first ram 120 and first die 122 can be guided for relative movement by a pair of guides that guide the ends of a movable ram 120 into engagement with the die 122. The first ram 120 can include a pointed tip 152 which can be inserted into the first die 122. The first ram 120 and the first die 122 define a first creasing passage 154 through which the strip of dunnage material 162 can be fed and creased. The positions of the first ram 120 and the first die 122 can be reversed or otherwise adjusted based on the application.Closing the first creasing passage 154 with a strip of packaging material 162 in the first creasing passage 154, the first creasing tool 104 can create a crease, bend, shape, or other deformation of the strip of packaging material 162.

[0056] The first creasing tool 104 includes a first housing 134 which houses the first creasing tool components such as the first ram 124, the first die 122, and a first handle 116 which may be used to manually operate the first creasing tool 104 via causing the first ram 120 and the first die 122 to move toward or away from each other, thereby opening or closing the first creasing passage 154. The second creasing tool 106 can be structured similarly to the first creasing tool 104 shown in FIGS. 4-10.

[0057] The first creasing tool 104 can be connected to a location of the rail 110 via a first rail connector 130. The first rail connector 130 can include a clamp 160 with a hand tightening mechanism or any other suitable means to keep the first creasing tool 104 in place during creasing and / or fixed to the rail 1 10. The second creasing tool 106 (FIGS. 1-3) can be attached to the rail 110 via the second rail connector 132 such that it can be to be repositioned along the rail 1 10 to change the spacing between creases. The second rail connector 132 can include an indicator 158 that can allow the second creasing tool 106 to be accurately aligned with the indicia 1 12 along the rail 100 or accurately aligned with the desired location along the rail 110. The first creasing tool 104 and the second creasing tool 106 can be closed independently or can be closed simultaneously with other creasing tools or components in the creasing assembly 100 such as the second creasing tool 106.

[0058] Turning to FIG. 1 1 , an exemplary end stop 108 of the creasing assembly 100 is shown. The end stop 108 can be movable along the length of the rail 1 10 and attached to the rail 100 via an end stop rail connector 146. The end stop rail connector 146 can include a hand-tightened clamp 160 or any other suitable connection method. The end stop 108 may include a location indicator 158 such that the end stop 108 can be placed at a suitable location along the rail 110 determined by the indicia 112 along the side of the rail 110. The location indicator 158 can be a marking such as a line, dot, engraving, or any other suitable marking on the end stop 108. The location indicator 158 can match up to the indicia 112 along the rail 110. The location indicator can be used to ensure that the end stop 106 is placed at the appropriate location on the rail 1 10. One end of the strip of packaging material can be pushed against a perpendicular stopsurface 144 of the end stop 108 such that the packaging material 162 cannot move past the stop surface 144 in a direction parallel to the length of the elongate rails 1 10.

[0059] Turning to FIGS. 12 and 13, the creasing assembly 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown with a strip of packaging material 162 fed through the creasing passages 154, 156 and one end of the strip placed against the surface 144 of the end stop 108. The creasing tools 104, 106 and end stop 108 can be spaced from each other at appropriate distances from each other. This spacing allows for the strip of packaging material 162 to be creased at desired locations.

[0060] Turning next to FIGS. 14 and 15, the first creasing tool 104 is shown with the strip of packaging material 162 fed through the first creasing passage 154. FIG. 14 displays the strip of packaging material 162 within the first creasing passage 154 while the first creasing passage 154 is in an open position. FIG. 15 displays the strip of packaging material while the first creasing passage 154 is in the closed position, thereby creasing the strip of packaging material 162. The second creasing tool 106 operates similarly to the first creasing tool 104.

[0061] When using the creasing assembly 100, the first creasing tool 104 can be used as a calibration point for the end stop 108 and the second creasing tool 106. The indicia 1 12 can be used to position the stop 108 and the second creasing tool 106 at the desired respective locations on the rails 110. Once in a desired position, the end stop 108 and the second creasing tool 106 are fixed in position on the rails 110 of the support frame 102. The first handle 116 and the second handle 118 can be rotated upward to causes the respective rams 120, 124 and dies 122, 126 of the first and second creasing tools 104, 106 to separate. The separation of the rams 120, 124 and dies 122, 126 defines respective creasing passages 154, 156. The strip of packaging material 162 can then be fed through the creasing passages 154, 156 and the end of the strip of packaging material 162 can be placed against the stop surface 144 of the end stop 108. Then, the respective handles 116, 118 of the first and second creasing tools 104, 106 can be rotated downward, causing the respective rams 120, 124 to enter the respective dies 122, 126 with the strip of packaging material 162S therebetween,creasing the strip of packaging material 162. After creasing the strip of packaging material 162 at the desired locations, the handles 116, 1 18 can be rotated upward, separating the respective rams 120, 124 and dies 122, 126, opening the creasing passages 154, 156 and allowing the creased strip of packaging material 162 to be removed from the creasing passages 154, 156. The creasing tools 104, 106 can be operated simultaneously, if desired.

[0062] In summary, an exemplary creasing assembly 100 for creasing a strip of packaging material 162 which includes a support frame 102, a first creasing tool 104 mounted to the support frame 102, a second creasing tool 106 mounted to the support frame 102 and spaced from the first creasing tool 104, and an end stop 108 mounted to the support frame 102 and spaced from the first creasing tool 104 and the second creasing tool 106. The first and second creasing tools 104, 106 are manually activated. The first creasing tool 104 can be fixed to the support frame 102 and can serve as a calibration point for the end stop 108 and the second creasing tool 106. The first and second creasing tools 104, 106 include respective rams 120, 124 and dies 122, 126 defining respective creasing passages 154, 156 through which a strip of packaging material 162 can be fed. The respective rams 120, 124 and dies 122, 126 can crease the strip of packaging material 162 simultaneously.

[0063] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described integers (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a "means") used to describe such integers are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any integer which performs the specified function of the described integer (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:1 . A creasing assembly for creasing a strip of packaging material, comprising: a support frame; a first creasing tool mounted to the support frame; a second creasing tool mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first creasing tool; and an end stop mounted to the support frame and spaced from the first creasing tool and the second creasing tool; wherein the first creasing tool and the second creasing tool are manually activated.

2. The creasing assembly of claim 1 , or any other claim, wherein the support frame comprises: a rail; and indicia representing distance dimensions placed along a side of the rail.

3. The creasing assembly of claim 2, or any other claim, wherein the first creasing tool comprises: a first handle; a first ram mounted to the first handle; a first die mounted to a first rail connector; and a first handle connector which movably connects the first handle to the first die; wherein the second creasing tool is relocatable along the rail.

4. The creasing assembly of claim 3, or any other claim, wherein hinging the first handle inwardly causes the first ram to move toward the first die.

5. The creasing assembly of claim 4, or any other claim, or any other claim, wherein hinging the first handle inwardly causes the first creasing passage to close.

6. The creasing assembly of claim 5, wherein the second creasing tool comprises: a second handle; a second ram mounted to the second handle; a second die connected to a second rail connector; and a second handle connector which movably connects the second handle to the second die; wherein the second creasing tool is relocatable along the rail.

7. The creasing assembly of claim 6, or any other claim, wherein hinging the second handle inwardly causes the second ram to move toward the second die.

8. The creasing assembly of claim 7, or any other claim, wherein hinging the second handle inwardly causes the second ram to at least partially enter the second die.

9. The creasing assembly of claim 8, or any other claim, wherein the end stop comprises: an end stop rail connector; and a perpendicular surface; wherein the end stop rail connector attaches the end stop to the rail; and wherein the perpendicular surface prevents the packaging strip from moving beyond the perpendicular surface parallel to the rail.

10. The creasing assembly of claim 9, wherein the first handle and the second handle are simultaneously movable, allowing the first ram and the second ram to simultaneously crease the packaging strip.11 . The creasing assembly of claim 10, or any other claim, wherein the indicia representing distance dimensions can be used to identify relative locations of the end stop, the first creasing tool, and the second creasing tool along the rail.

12. The creasing assembly of claim 11 , or any other claim, wherein the first creasing tool is fixed to the support frame.

13. The creasing assembly of claim 12, or any other claim, wherein the first rail connector attaches the first creasing tool to the rail; and wherein the second rail connector attaches the second creasing tool to the rail.

14. The creasing assembly of claim 1 , or any other claim, wherein the second creasing tool is relocatable along the rail.

15. The creasing assembly of claim 1 , or any other claim, wherein the first creasing tool is positioned between the second creasing tool and the end stop.

16. A method for creasing a strip of packaging material using a creasing assembly, the method comprising: opening a first creasing passage of a first creasing tool wherein a first ram and a first die define the first creasing passage; opening a second creasing passage of a second creasing tool wherein a second ram and a second die define the second creasing passage; inserting the strip of packaging material into the first creasing passage; inserting the strip of packaging material into the second creasing passage; engaging a perpendicular surface of the end stop with an end portion of the strip of packaging material; closing a first creasing passage, causing the first ram of the first creasing tool to push a first portion of the strip of packaging material into the first die to create a first crease in the strip of packaging material; and closing a second creasing passage, causing the second ram to push a second portion of the strip of packaging material into a second die to create a second crease in the strip of packaging material which is spaced from the first crease.

17. The method according to claim 15, or any other claim, further comprising: simultaneously closing the first creasing passage and the second creasing passage.

18. The method according to claim 16, or any other claim, further comprising: fixing the first creasing tool to the support frame.

19. The method according to claim 17, or any other claim, further comprising: measuring the distances between the first creasing tool, the second creasing tool, and the end stop along the support frame.

20. The method according to claim 18, or any other claim, further comprising: spacing the second creasing tool from the end stop at a spacing distance which corresponds to a dimension of a container.

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