Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing two different types of carton, and for selecting and transferring cartons to be packaged, which apparatus includes a first hopper for storing a first carton type, a second hopper for storing a second carton type, and a carton engaging device that provides a first position for engaging cartons from the first hopper and a different second position for engaging cartons from the second hopper. A transfer device transfers the cartons from its respective first or second hopper to the infeed end of a packaging machine.

Abstract: A grouping mechanism and method for grouping articles delivered to the mechanism from an infeed stream at an infeed end of a packaging machine, which mechanism comprises a pair of opposed spacer elements, each said spacer element adapted to engage at least one article from the infeed stream and to convey said article through a working reach of said mechanism and transfer means being provided to return each said spacer element along a return reach such that they are returned upstream of said working reach.

Abstract: A carton and carton blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of containers, for example bottles, which carton is tubular in structure and comprises a first panel having a plurality of apertures, each of which has at least one foldable retention tab which operatively engages the underside of the radially protruding part of a container present in the aperture wherein a brace tab is connected to one of said retention tabs and is disposed between a pair of adjacent containers to minimize relative movement between those containers and wherein a free edge of said brace tab operatively engages the underside of the radially protruding part of one of said adjacent containers.

Abstract: A carton accomodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising a top (16, 26), a base (12, 30) and a pair of side walls (14, 28) interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular structure, said top being provided with two spaced rows of apertures (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) through which the top portions of said articles protrude and a carrying handle means (18, 20, 22) extending upwardly from said top characterised in that said handle means is located between said two rows of apertures and is off set from a plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures.

Abstract: A carton formed from sheet material for containers such as cans or bottles includes a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall interconnected to complete a tubular structure. A notional strip defined along the top wall extends between the end edges of the top wall, and has a width less than the distance between said the side edges of the top wall. A pair of finger apertures are defined in the top panel and disposed along one side of the notional strip, while a thumb aperture is defined in the top panel and disposed along an opposite side of the notional strip. The pair of finger apertures define therebetween a bridge of the sheet material, with the thumb aperture being disposed substantially across the notional strip from said bridge.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for panels includes a first panel, a locking tab extending from the first panel, a second panel having a main portion, and a leading portion connected thereto along a plurality of collinear panel fold lines, and a pair of locking slits defined in the second panel. Each locking slit extends at least from a first point disposed astride one of the panel fold lines, into the leading portion and to a second point disposed on the main portion, and the locking slits defining therebetween a strut panel. The locking tab is received into the slits, and is held between the strut panel and the second panel. A strut fold line may be disposed across the strut panel from the locking slit to the cut edge substantially in parallel to the panel fold line, the strut fold line being disposed in an offset relationship to the panel fold line in a direction toward the leading portion, whereby folding of the leading portion at least partially opens the locking slit for receiving the locking tab thereinto.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging articles into cartons has a carton conveyor including an endless series of carton conveying elements in which adjacent carton conveying elements are carried in similar but independent first and second endless series, the first endless series being adjustable relative to the second endless series so that the spacing between adjacent conveying elements can be varied in accordance with the size of a carton to be processed through the machine, the first and second endless series being adapted to operate in synchronism during processing of cartons through the machine.

Abstract: A carton formed from sheet material for containers such as cans or bottles includes a top wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall interconnected to form a tubular structure. A notional strip is defined along the top wall, having notional side edges, and extends between the end edges and has a width less than the distance between the side edges. A pair of hand apertures is defined in the top panel, disposed generally astride the notional strip and generally along the notional side edges. A cut line is formed in the top panel and extends from an end edge of the aperture along one of the notional side edges and curves away therefrom to a termination point, the cut line defining a radius of curvature and an area within the arc of curvature. At least one score line is defined in the top panel and extends from a first point disposed within the radius of curvature generally to an adjacent corner of the top panel.

Abstract: A carrier for a plurality of objects arranged in four rows includes substantially parallel first and second side walls, substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls, a medial panel extending between the first and second end walls, the medial panel being disposed between and substantially parallel to the first and second side walls, first primary partition structure extending between the first and second end walls, the first primary partition structure being disposed between and substantially parallel to the first side wall and the medial panel, second primary partition structure extending between the first and second end walls, the second primary partition structure being disposed between and substantially parallel to said second side wall and the medial panel, a primary bottom wall connected between lower portions of the first and second side walls, and a secondary bottom wall connected between lower portions of the first and second primary partition structure.

Abstract: A package for a food product such as a cylindrical sandwich includes an elongate central strip having a plurality of fold lines defining a series of panels. A central panel of the series includes a central flap connected at each side edge, and other closure flaps are connected to at least some of the other panels. The panels are folded with respect to each other so that the endmost panels are positioned to define a polygonal cross-section for the package. The closure flaps and central flaps are folded to close the package. An outer portion of each central flap is free from the remaining closure flaps to permit outward folding of the panels for access to the food product. Several alternative embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging articles such as beverage containers (c) or the like into cartons (ct) has a carton conveyor (14) including a pair of like conveying assemblies (16, 18), one or both of the assemblies being useable to convey cartons through the machine dependent upon the size of the cartons. The conveying assemblies are adjustable with respect to each other transversely of the machine direction, and carton supporting structure (70, 72) is mounted so as to be retractable from an operative position between the assemblies to partially support a carton when the assemblies are disposed relatively far apart, to a retracted non-operative position when the assemblies are disposed relatively close together.

Abstract: A carton for packaging primary containers arranged in at least three lateral rows in which the center of said rows has fewer containers than adjacent rows. The carton comprises a pair of superposed tray structures (70) which are connected together by a wrapper (10) having a handle structure (52). The trays each have a retaining keel (94) extending inwardly of the tray for retaining the center row of containers in an inwardly offset condition with respect to the adjacent rows of containers.

Abstract: A carton feeding and erecting mechanism is disclosed for a packaging machine for packaging articles such as beverage containers or the like into cartons, the packaging machine including a carton conveyor for conveying an open-ended carton through the machine. The feeding and erecting mechanism includes a vacuum conveyor for engaging a lower surface of a collapsed carton and moving the carton onto the carton conveyor, and a feeder disposed generally beneath the vacuum conveyor for selecting a collapsed carton from a carton supply and placing the carton on the vacuum conveyor. An erector is disposed above the vacuum conveyor and has vacuum engagement cups for engaging an upper surface of the collapsed carton and moving the panel upwardly with respect to the lower surface thereby erecting the carton.

Abstract: A carton formed from sheet material for containers such as cans or bottles includes a top wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall interconnected to form a tubular structure. A notional strip is defined along the top wall, having notional side edges, and extends between the end edges and has a width less than the distance between the side edges. A pair of hand apertures, each having at least one aperture edge, are defined in the top panel and disposed along opposite sides of the notional strip with at least a portion of the aperture edges disposed generally along the notional side edges. A plurality of preformed tear lines, one of the tear lines extending along an adjacent one of the notional side edges from substantially adjacent each end of each of the apertures toward a respective one of the top panel end edges but terminating at a termination point disposed remotely therefrom.

Abstract: A collapsed carton for subsequent setup to receive articles includes top and bottom panels and a pair of side panels. End closure flaps extend from opposite side edges of each of the side panels to close the tubular carton when set up. A divider panel is disposed within the tubular structure between the top and bottom panels. A pair of glue flaps are foldably connected to the divider panel side edges, each of the glue flaps being secured to an inner surface of one of the side panels to retain the divider panel within the tubular structure. At least one divider end flap is foldably connected to one of the divider panel end edges. A first aperture is defined through one divider end flap. A second aperture is defined through one of the end closure flaps at one of the tubular ends of the carton to coincide with the first aperture when the carton is collapsed.

Abstract: A carton has a bottom, side walls and top. A strap handle is attached to both sidewalls and extends over the top. The handle fits into slots that extend from the side wall into the top. The handles are attached to the side wall below these slots. The ends of the slots have enlarged areas that retain the handle as it extends through the slot. The enlarged areas can be any number of different shapes.

Abstract: A carrier is provided for a brick-type container. The brick includes interconnected side and end walls, and an upper closure structure having folded portions overlapping and extending downwardly along a portion of each of the end walls. The carrier includes a top wall panel, a pair of side wall panels foldably connected to the top wall panel, and a pair of retention strips substantially vertically disposed and extending between the side wall panels. Each of the retention strips defines an upper free edge spaced from the top wall panel. The retention strips are foldably connected to the side wall panels, whereby the side wall panels and the retention strips together surround the brick and the free edges engage a lowermost end of the folded portions of the upper closure structure of the brick.

Abstract: A carrier for a plurality of objects arranged in at least two rows includes substantially parallel first and second side walls, substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls, a medial panel extending between and connected to the first and second end walls, the medial panel being disposed between and substantially parallel to the first and second side walls, a primary bottom wall connected and extending between lower portions of said first and second side walls, and a lock for maintaining the carrier in an erect condition, the lock including a lock body connected to a lower edge of the medial panel and depending downwardly therefrom, a first retention tab disposed along a first side edge of the lock body spaced from the medial panel, and a second retention tab disposed along a second side edge of the lock body spaced from the medial panel, whereby the first and second retention tabs define a retention width for the lock extending between the outermost portions of the first an

Abstract: An article carrier has a plurality of interconnected panels, including a side wall panel and a second wall panel which are foldably interconnected. Article receiving and retention in the carrier along the side wall panel and second wall panel is provided by an aperture adapted to receive a portion of an article contained within the carrier, and a flap struck from and hingaably connected to an edge of the aperture, which flap is adapted to abut the article received in the aperture. The flap is pivotal into an operative position about its hinged connection inwardly of the carrier to provide portions thereof which protrude both inwardly and outwardly of the carrier so that a portion of the flap engages the article internally of the carrier and another portion of the flap engages the article externally of the carrier.