Abstract: A package accommodating a group of like flanged containers disposed in more than one row includes a top panel (16) and overlapping base panels (12,20) interconnected by spaced side walls (14,18) thereby providing a tubular structure in which the containers are received. The base panels include a keel (K) adapted to separate the containers in one row (R.sup.1) from those in an adjacent row (R.sup.2). One of the base panels is provided with locking elements (48) adapted to interlock with cooperating locking elements (46) provided by the other of the base panels thereby to maintain the package in its tubular form. Auxiliary cooperating locking elements are provided by the base panels and interlocked to minimize distortion of the keel, and portions of the top flanges (f) of the containers in one row (R.sup.1) are overlapped with portions of top flanges of the containers in an adjacent row (R.sup.2) and portions of the top panel are interposed between the overlapped portions of the container flanges.

Abstract: A package accommodating a group of flanged containers (C1-C4) includes two rows of containers in which portions of top flanges (f) of the containers (C1, C2) in one row are overlapped with portions of the top flanges of the containers (C3, C4) in the second row. The package includes a top panel having a locking tab (34) which is engaged beneath the top flanges of the containers in the second row.

Abstract: In a packaging machine in which bottles (P) or the like are drop-loaded into open topped article carriers (C), a device for interrupting the fall of bottles into a carrier. The device comprises a pivotal arm (32) which includes resiliently mounted support blocks (42, 44) adapted to displace a base panel (b) of a carrier upwardly at a drop-loading station of the machine and provide a temporary platform onto which the dead load of a bottle is transmitted during interruption of drop-loading while the base panel remains displaced. The pivotal arm is cam-actuated so that it pivots in one direction to cause the carton base panel displacement and thereafter in the opposite direction to allow completion of loading by withdrawal of the support blocks so that the dead load of the bottle is transferred from the support blocks to the carrier base.

Abstract: A machine (10) for erecting article carriers (C) of the basket type comprises feeder assembly (34; 62) for withdrawing from a supply (20) and depositing the carriers in flat, folded condition one after the other in a feed path (F), flight bars for feeding (22) each carrier to an erecting station (E) at which means suction cups (96) are provided for moving apart opposite side walls of the carrier to bring it into set-up condition and locking arms (100) operable on a base panel (b) of the carrier to move the base panel into engagement with panel retaining elements (h) provided by the carrier, thereby to locate the base panel in a position in which it discourages collapse of the set-up carrier.

Abstract: A cam assembly (10) for a carton blank feeder mechanism comprises a cam plate (16) having formed therein a first continuous cam track (44) and a second relatively shallower cam track (46). A cam track follower arm (26) includes a first follower (30,32) for relative movement within only the first continuous cam track and a second follower (28) for relative movement within the first and second cam tracks. Drive means (12,24) are provided for moving the follower arm relative to the cam plate and article pickup means is connected to the cam arm by an eccentric arm (34). The first and second cam tracks includes arcuate portions (44c, 46d) engaged sequentially by respective ones of the first and second followers so that the article pickup means is caused to move to an outwardly extended position and to an inwardly retracted position, respectively, relative to a central axis of the cam plate.

Abstract: An article carrier of the top-gripping type which connects together and supports a plurality of bottles by their flanged neck portions is formed from a single elongate blank (10) of foldable sheet material having a series of panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) joined together and the blank including terminal panels (12, 20) at opposing ends thereof and which, when assembled provides a top (16) and a base (12, 20) interconnected by spaced side wall panels (14, 18) and together form a tubular structure. The top and base each have a plurality of article receiving apertures (A1-A4:N1-N4) with the apertures in the top disposed in registry with the apertures in the base.

Abstract: Equipment for continuously feeding a supply of packaging blanks to a packaging machine comprises a feed magazine (10) for holding and sequentially feeding a series of stacks (S1-S5) of packaging blanks, a feed hopper (14) to receive at least one stack of blanks at a time from the feed magazine and present the blanks for use in the machine and a transfer mechanism (12) for transferring a stack of blanks from the feed magazine to the feed hopper. A sensor (66) is provided automatically to actuate the transfer mechanism when the supply of blanks held by the feed hopper reaches a predetermined level and a switch (70) is provided automatically to advance the series of stacks in the feed magazine so that the next succeeding stack is positioned for transfer to the feed hopper.

Abstract: An arrangement for securing together a pair of panels (10,12) comprising a locking tab (14) projecting from an end edge (16) of one of the panels (10) and a locking slit (28) provided adjacent an end edge (12a), of the other of the panels (12), the locking tab and the locking slit being interengaged by relative sliding movement therebetween. The locking tab includes an anchoring tab (20) hinged to one side edge of a main portion (18) of the locking tab and the locking tab sized for insertion into the locking slit when the anchoring tab has been folded into overlapping relationship with the main portion of the tab.

Abstract: A carton (Cn) accommodating two rows (R.sup.1, R.sup.2) of uniform containers (C) comprising a top panel (12) overlying the tops of the containers and a base panel (16,18,20,22) interconnected by spaced side wall panels (14,24) to form a tubular structure. The base panel includes a pair of outer base panels (16,22) adjacent respective ones of the side wall panels and on which base portions of the containers are seated and a pair of inner base panels (18,20) dislodged upwardly between two adjacent rows of containers to form a keel (72) therebetween. Each inner base panel is formed with apertures (54,56,58 and 60,62,64) which receive and locate lower portions of the containers so that they are held spaced relative to one another. A plurality of partition panels (66,68,70) extend from the keel separating adjacent containers in one row from those in the neighboring row, the partition panels being connected to the top panel thereby maintaining the structural rigidity of the keel.

Abstract: A spacer and conveyor mechanism for a packaging machine in which articles can be conveyed along a feed path and grouped together for subsequent packaging of each group into a discrete unit. The mechanism has a series of spacer and conveyor elements (94) constrained cyclically to execute a working and return motion such that the elements move along a working path in the feed direction of the articles during which the elements interfere with the articles in the feed path so as to form and convey said groups along the feed path and move along a return path opposite to the feed direction of the articles during which said elements are remote from said articles. The working and return paths are substantially parallel to the feed path, and the spacer and conveyor elements each have an operative face adapted to convey said articles in spaced relationship. The elements are mounted so that they are held throughout their cyclic movement with their operative faces facing towards the feed path.

Abstract: A packaging machine (10) for wrapping together a plurality of uniform containers (c) which machine includes an infeed section (12) having conveying means (18) for continuously feeding a series of wrapper blanks in substantially flat condition longitudinally towards an outfeed section of the machine and conveying means (22,24) for continuously feeding a linear series of containers to be wrapped in longitudinal alignment with said series of wrappers so that each container is moved into a position directly above a wrapper blank, a loading section (20) in which each container is caused to be located in an aperture (`a`) provided in a base panel of the wrapper while the container and wrapper are conveyed in synchronism, a forming section in which wrapping of further panels or each blank with respect to the containers is affected to complete the package and an outfeed section from which the completed packages leave the machine, characterized in that loading is achieved by causing the containers to enter the loading

Abstract: A unitized shipping and display carton comprising a plurality of packages (Pb.sup.1, Pb.sup.2), each having a top wall (16) and a base (12,20) interconnected by a pair of spaced side walls (14,18) so as to form a tubular structure, end wall means (30,32,38,40) to prevent endwise movement of the contents through the ends of said tubular structure, an opening panel (86) provided in the top wall and partially in at least one of the side walls and defined by tear lines. The packages are joined one to the next in side-by-side relationship by side wall portions of the opening panel. Tear lines (x,y) defining a top wall portion are in registry with those of the next adjacent package whereby removal of the opening panel of an endmost package of the carton can be continued to cause removal of the opening panel of the other packages in the carton.

Abstract: Applicator mechanism for fitting a sleeve (10) to at least one moving bottle (B) comprises supply means (44) holding collapsed sleeves, erecting means (WD) sequentially to bring each sleeve into a set-up condition, transfer means (96-104) to effect downward transfer of the set-up sleeve towards said article to be sleeved and applicator means (106-112) for fitting the sleeve around the article. The applicator means is operable to execute both a downward and forward motion to the sleeve such that the forward motion of the sleeve substantially is synchronized with that of the article during fitment of the sleeve thereto.

Abstract: The invention provides in a packaging machine, a locking device for securing together overlapping bottom panels of a wrapper wrapped about a group of articles, which device comprises tightening and locking components housed in a removable locking unit, said unit being movably mounted in the machine such that it can be moved transversely from a first operative position within the machine frame to a second non-operative position clear of the machine frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a locking mechanism for locking together overlapping base panels of a wrap-around type carton. The mechanism comprises a locking element (50) pivotally mounted on carton conveying means (10) for movement therewith and including a locking finger (60) for insertion into said base panels to form a lock therebetween, a rotatable cam disc (62) for cooperation with a first follower leg (56) provided by the locking element for pivoting the locking finger into a locking position, and a rotatable cam disc (66) for cooperation with a second follower leg (58) provided by the locking element for pivoting the locking finger into a retracted position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gravity-feed shelf and to low friction tracks for use in such shelves. The tracks comprise a web panel and an integral flange panel together providing an "L"-shaped structure and are characterized by a frangible zone by which a portion of the web panel can be broken away from an adjacent portion to reduce the width of the web panel, whereby the tracks readily can be adapted for use in conjunction with various sizes of packages and/or single bottles.

Abstract: A cellular basket-style carrier has a pair of side walls (2, 3) one of the side walls (2) having a base panel (5) hinged thereto and the other of the side walls (3) having a connecting flap (10) hinged thereto and joining the base panel to the other side wall (3). Medial panels (14, 14a; 18, 18a) together provide both a central longitudinal partition structure (5) of the carrier and transverse partition structures on either side of said longitudinal partition structure. Each of the medial panels (18, 18a) associated with the other of the side walls (3) has a separator panel (46, 46a) hinged thereto which together provide a multiply separator (M) centrally of the carrier in the plane of said longitudinal partition structure.

Abstract: A package (10) of the wrap-around type including a wrapper (12) formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material and accommodating containers arranged in two parallel rows, which package comprises a keel construction (32) providing support for each container and separating one row of containers from the other row, said keel construction being released by cuts from a base panel (14) of the wrapper and including a separator platform (34) held substantially parallel to said base panel by a plurality of support legs (36-42; 60-64) each of which is hinged to the base panel and to one side of the separator platform.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fully enclosed packaging case (c) for packaging a group of articles such as bottles. The case comprises a sleeve (10) formed from paperboard or similar sheet material and which includes end closure panels (20, 22, 28, 30, 32) at each of its ends, the sleeve being adapted for tightening about the group of articles, the tightening being accomplished by providing a gusset panel (46) in the top wall (12) of the sleeve. The gusset panel is folded downwardly and secured in overlapping relationship with the underside of an adjacent part of the top wall during the packaging operation so as to reduce the circumference of the sleeve. As a result a three-ply strip of material is provided by two adjacent portions of the top wall with the gusset panel disposed therebetween so providing a strong handle area for the package.