Abstract: A package accommodating a plurality of articles (c) arranged in two or more rows (R1, R2) and in at least one tier (T1, T2) comprises a top panel (18) and a pair of overlapped base panels (12, 24) forming a carton base which is spaced apart from the top panel by a pair of side wall panels thereby forming a tubular structure. One of the base panels (24) has a row of erected tabs (t) forming an interrupted separating keel between lower portions of one row of articles seated on the carton base and lower portions of an adjacent row of articles seated on the carton base. Each of the erected tabs has opposite wing portions (50, 52) which are supported against collapse by the outermost base panel (12) to maintain the tab in an erected position.

Abstract: A carrying handle (H) in a multi-unit carton for accommodating a number of primary containers comprising interconnected top (14), bottom (18) and side walls (12, 16). The carrying handle comprising an ovate slot (46) in the carton top wall (14), and a slit (48, 48a; 50, 50a) or other line of weakness extending from opposed ends of the slot and extending into respective ones of the two carton side walls. A handle panel (Ha, Hb) provided by part of the top wall is hinged along a fold line (64, 66) extending across the top wall the handle panel having a free edge defined in part by the slot and in part by the slits. Thus, either handle panel can be grasped and hinged upwardly away from the tops of the packaged containers so that the carton can more easily be held.

Abstract: A package accommodating a group of containers arranged in two tiers has an upper tier and a lower tier each comprising a plurality of like containers. The package includes an outer wrapper (10) which secures all the containers of the group together in a unit and a partition (30) provided between the bases of the containers in the upper tier and the tops of the containers in the lower tier. The partition includes end retention panels (58, 60) adapted to prevent endwise dislodgement of the containers in the upper tier.

Abstract: A composite package comprising a group of cans (C1-C6), a band (PB) of a plastics material which passes around the group of cans intermediate their tops and bases, an outer paperboard wrapper (10) passing around the group. The wrapper includes spacer portions each of which locates in a space at the top and base ends between an adjacent pair of cans so as to urge the cans apart whereby the cans exert a force on the plastics band tending to expand the band into tension around the group of cans.

Abstract: Panel interlocking means (45,46) for securing together a pair of panels (13,28) in overlapping relationship includes a locking tab (45) struck from one of the panels (12) and arranged to be driven through a locking aperture (46) struck from the other panel (28). The opposed lateral edges (45a, 45b) of the locking tab have deformable marginal portions (a) formed by cut lines (b, c) which are deformed by the opposed lateral edges (46a, 46b) of the locking aperture when the locking tab is driven through the locking aperture.

Abstract: A mechanism (10) and method for applying a top gripping type carrier carton onto the tops of a group of bottles (B) disposed within a crate comprises a carton transfer unit (34) for withdrawing a carton (c) from a supply (H) and transferring a carton from the supply to a position of application, a carton manipulating device (36) for at least partially erecting the carton during transfer, a pivotal arm (12) being provided for pivoting the transfer unit and the manipulating device together with the carton so that the carton is inverted during transfer into an attitude correct for applying it to the bottle group.

Abstract: The side edges and return end of an endless belt conveyor are sealed to prevent particulate material deposited thereon from leaking off the sides and being lost, or worse, from working its way beneath the belt, onto the slide pan, and into the pulleys and end rollers. The front or discharge end in a preferred embodiment is also provided with an air seal to prevent occurrence of the same problems there. The top of the conveyor is covered with a hood.

Abstract: A package (46) of the wrap-around type has a central row of articles (48) and an auxiliary row of articles (50,52) one on either side of the central row. The articles of the auxiliary rows are disposed in abutting nested relationship with respect to those in the group. A securing strap (S) is provided to hold together the articles of the central row and the strap is held in position closely to embrace the articles in the central row by the abutting articles in the auxiliary rows. An outer open-ended wrapper (54) is provided for maintaining the articles of the auxiliary rows in their abutting nested relationship with respect to the articles in the central row.

Abstract: A package accommodating a plurality of bottles, the package being of the type having a top wall (12) and a bottom wall interconnected by spaced side walls (22, 24) thereby providing a tubular structure and end retention panels (32, 32a) which partially close the ends of the tubular structure so as to assist in preventing endwise dislodgement of the bottles, stabilizing means (42, 42a) for better maintaining the bottles in spaced relationship and in a desired upright attitude. The spacing and stabilizing means comprising a top panel flap which is put into its operative position automatically upon folding of the end retention panels relative to the top panel into their end retention position.

Abstract: An article grouping technique is embodied in a machine which continuously end-loads groups of bottles into open-ended carton sleeves. The machine includes a fixed base plate 10 along which a line of bottles (B) move, a series of parallel metering bars (12) spaced apart to receive the open-ended carton sleeves which are mounted for movement together along the base plate. Fixed guides defining infeed conveyors (22, 24) are provided along which bottles to be loaded are fed into the machine. Each of the infeed conveyors converges towards the path of movement of the carton sleeves and each metering bar has a free end section which is movable obliquely across the path of movement of the bottles on the respective infeed conveyors so that a predetermined number of bottles are formed into a sub-group on each of the infeed conveyors between adjacent metering bars.

Abstract: An ultrasonic heatsealing mechanism and process for securing portions of a carton blank to at least one flanged container in which the surfaces to be secured are susceptible to ultrasonic heatsealing. The mechanism comprises a resiliently mounted ultrasonic horn and a series of movable counterpart elements spaced from an adjacent tip of the horn so that the counterpart elements move relative to the end of the horn one after the other. Means are provided to move the container and blank so that overlapping surfaces to be heatsealed together are passed with the counterpart elements longitudinally with respect to the horn tip means being provided to activate the horn at least when the surfaces and at least one counterpart element are present together adjacent said end of the horn so that heat-sealing can occur and causing the horn to move resiliently so that a constant gap between the tip of the horn and that counterpart element is maintained substantially constant during the heatsealing process.

Abstract: An extensible handle (22) spanning a top panel of a carton is being extensible from a flat stowed position in which a central hand gripping portion (26) of the handle lies substantially in the plane of the top panel to an extended position in which the hand gripping portion is raised out of the plane of the top panel. The handle includes a hinged gusset portion (40) which lies in superposed relationship with a part of the handle when the handle is in its stowed position and which is hinged out of its superposed relationship when the handle is grasped to lift the carton thereby to allow the handle to extend.

Abstract: A carton accommodating a group of articles disposed in at least three parallel rows (C) in which the arrangement of the articles in rows is such that a void (CR) is present at each end of the carton intermediate the outer rows (RL, RR) of articles. The carton has a top (22, 22a) and a base (12,32; 12a, 32a) interconnected by spaced side walls (14,24); 14a, 24a) thereby forming a tubular structure and end closure panels closing each end of the tubular structure. The end closure panels include a top closure panel (88,88a) hinged to the top which has a portion (94,94a) displaced into the void (CR) and a base end closure panel (50,50a) hinged to the base which has a portion secured to the displaced portion of the top end closure panel within the void. The bottom end closure panel is displaced into the void from a foldable connection (52,52a) to the base which is substantially aligned with opposed endmost articles in the outer rows.

Abstract: A method of forming a basket-style carrier in which a securing strip (16d) provided at a free end portion of a base panel (16) of the carrier is inserted into a space (42) created between a side wall (14a) and partition panels (14d) associated therewith so that the securing strip is secured to an inner face of that side wall internally of the carrier.

Abstract: A carton in which a plurality of containers (C) are held in a complementary set of apertures (A) provided in a main panel (16) of the carton so that portions of the containers are exposed to view while other portions are enclosed by other panels (30,32; 14,18; 12,20) of the carton. An opposed pair (30,32) of these other panels for flanking body portions of the packaged containers include positioning tabs (38,40; 42,44) which extend into the container receiving apertures so that during loading and formation of the package the containers are urged against the positioning tabs which automatically cause the flanking panels to be pivoted into and held in the container flanking position.