Patent ID: 6185912
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: G06F,G06T

Abstract:
A process for the manufacture of a blank of sheet material to be folded into a box for the storage and transport of at least one item, comprising the steps of:providing digitally stored details identifying a number of different types of items to be stored;providing digitally stored details of a predetermined number of basic shapes for boxes, including at least one visual representation of each shape;providing digitally stored relationships between the types of items and the basic shapes suitable for the different types of items;providing digitally stored details of basic designs for boxes which are based on the basic shapes, including at least one visual representation of each design;receiving details to identify one of the types of items;receiving optional additional parameters concerning the type of item and the requirements of the box;displaying a visual representation of each basic shape of box related to the type of item, taking into account any additional parameters received;receiving a selection for the basic shape of the box from the basic shapes displayed;receiving optional further parameters concerning the requirements of the box;displaying a visual representation of each basic design for the box based on the selected basic shape, taking into account any further parameters received;receiving a selection for the basic design of the box from the basic designs displayed;creating a final design for the box from the selected basic design;generating and digitally storing information representing a two dimensional blank of sheet material to be folded to form the final design of the box; andusing that digitally stored information to control cutting means to cut the blank from a sheet of material.