Patent ID: 8499530

Claim:
A method of processing a rectangular cuboid, comprising the steps of: providing first and second rectangular cuboids, each cuboid having first and second oppositely facing side surfaces generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cuboid, first and second flaps extending from edges of the first and second side surfaces, respectively, the first flap being shorter than the second flap, and a plane through the edges defining a generally planar open face of the cuboid; providing a closing apparatus along a generally linear drive path to move each flap from an open position to a closed position to close the open face, the closing apparatus having a pair of first flap closing guides; orienting the first cuboid in a first orientation with the longitudinal axis thereof being parallel to the drive path, the first side surface of the first cuboid being positioned in a first direction relative to the drive path and the open face being oriented in a second direction relative to the drive path; orienting the second cuboid in a second orientation with the longitudinal axis thereof being parallel to the drive path, the first side surface of the second cuboid being positioned in a third direction relative to the drive path and the open face being oriented in the second direction relative to the drive path, the first direction being opposite to the third direction; moving the first cuboid in an automated manner relative to the closing apparatus along the drive path, moving a first of the first flap closing guides to a desired position based upon a width of the first cuboid, whereby linear movement of the first cuboid along the drive path causes the closing apparatus to engage the first and second flaps of the first cuboid to close the first cuboid; and moving the second cuboid in an automated manner relative to the closing apparatus along the drive path, moving a second of the first flap closing guides to a desired position based upon a width of the second cuboid, whereby linear movement of the second cuboid along the drive path causes the closing apparatus to engage the first and second flaps of the second cuboid to close the second cuboid.