Abstract: A panel interlocking arrangement includes first and second panels to be disposed in an overlapping relationship and a pair of locking and retaining tabs struck from the first and second panels, respectively. The retaining tab defines in the second panel a locking aperture for receiving the locking tab. The locking tab is foldably joined along a fold line to the first panel and extends to its free end edge opposed to the fold line. The locking tab includes a wing defined along one of its opposite side edges. The wing extends away from the free edge of the locking tab beyond the fold line. One of the end edges of the locking aperture is adapted to engage the locking tab when the locking tab is received in the locking aperture whereas the other end edge of the locking aperture is foldably joined to the retaining tab. The retaining tab extends from the other end edge of the aperture to its distal end edge.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging articles into cartons has a carton conveyor for conveying an open-ended carton through the machine, an article infeed for directing articles along an infeed path toward the carton conveyor, and an article group-forming conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced metering bars moving along the conveyor for intersecting the infeed path to separate articles into groups of predetermined pattern. The metering bars at a first end of the group-forming conveyor are disposed away from cartons on the carton conveyor and, during movement along the group-forming conveyor, are moved laterally to extend at least partially between adjacent ones of the cartons. The group-forming conveyor further includes a series of carriers, the metering bars being detachably mounted to selected ones of the carriers in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A merchandising device comprises a display shelf including a plurality of elongate parallel tracks arranged side by side with a gap between adjacent tracks. Each track is designed to support a row of articles in such a manner that the articles are suspended from each track for movement along a path defined by that track and are removable from that track through its front end. The device further comprises a mask for providing the display shelf with an appearance of a unitary structure. The mask comprises an elongate mounting member extending along the front edge of the display shelf to fixedly position the mask relative to the display shelf, and a plurality of covering members arranged in a row along the mounting member. Each covering member spans the respective gap to provide a billboard surface extending between adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A modular merchandising device for bottles is disclosed. The merchandising device comprises a plurality of parallel elongate tracks, and support means for supporting the tracks so that each track is inclined downwardly toward its front end. Each track is designed to support a row of bottles such that the bottles in the row are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the respective track and are removable from the respective track through its front end. Because of the inclined position of the tracks, the bottles when supported by each track are allowed to gravity feed one after another to the track front end as the leading bottles in the respective row successively are removed from the respective track. The support means comprises a pair of front and rear transverse support members disposed generally perpendicularly to the tracks. Each track comprises means for removably mounting the respective track on at least one of the front and rear transverse members.

Abstract: A rack for flanged articles comprises a pair of front and rear opposed parallel transverse support members, and a pair of longitudinal members extending between the front and rear support members. Each of longitudinal member is formed of a wire strip and comprises a straight portion and an upturned forward end portion. The straight portions of the longitudinal members extend forward from the rear support member to positions below the front support member. The straight portions are disposed to form a pair of spaced parallel rails for receiving therebetween a row of articles such that the articles are slidably engaged at the undersides of their flanges with the rails, and thereby the articles are suspended by their flanges for movement along the rails. The upturned forward end portions of the longitudinal members extend upward to the front support member and secured to the same to form a brace for interconnecting the rails and the front support member.

Abstract: A shelf mounting assembly comprises front and rear opposed uprights and an adapter member on which a shelf is mounted. Each upright has engaging slots vertically disposed at spacings. The adapter member extends between the uprights and connected to the same by one or more of the engaging slots of each upright. This allows the adapter member to be supported at a selected elevation. The adapter member comprises a shelf-mounting flange for detachably and movably connecting a shelf to the adapter member so that the shelf may be mountable at different positions along the adapter member.

Abstract: The merchandising device includes an elongate track that defines a pathway extending therealong to support a row of articles, an arrangement for feeding the articles toward the front end of the track as leading articles in the row are successively removed one by one from the pathway, a stopper provided at the front end of the track, an attraction device for performing an attention-attracting activity, and a sensor for detecting movement of the articles in the row. The articles when supported by the track are movable along the pathway and are removable therefrom via the front end of the pathway. The stopper engages the leading articles so that all the articles in the row are prevented from being accidentally removed via the front end of the track. Due to the stopper, the leading articles are stopped and presented for removal from the pathway when arriving at the front end of the track.

Abstract: A display shelf device comprises a pair of opposing side walls and a shelf mounted on the side walls. The mutually facing inner upright surfaces of the side walls are formed respectively with a pair of substantially horizontal grooves. Each groove has a first section adjacent to the respective upright surface and a second section remote from the respective upright surface. Each groove has a vertical size greater at the second section than at the first section. The shelf is provided at its opposite side edges with mounting means. The mounting means are received in the grooves such that the side walls are interconnected by the shelf. The mounting means include locking means received in the second sections of the grooves to lock the mounting means in the grooves. The locking means have a vertical size greater than the vertical size of each groove at the first section.

Abstract: A device is used in a machine for packaging articles in a wraparound carrier. The carrier is formed from a blank having a pair of foldable flaps struck therefrom. The packaging machine is arranged to advance the blank and articles associated therewith along a predetermined path. The device is positioned along the path to fold the flaps inwardly of the blank. The device includes a rotational disc defining an axis of rotation, a fixed cam plate disposed adjacent to the rotational disc and having an endless cam track disposed around the axis, drive means for rotating the rotational disc about the axis in synchronization with movement of the blank and the articles, a pair of blank-engaging fingers carried by the rotational disc for pivotal movement about respective pins so as to engage the flaps, and an actuating mechanism carried by the rotational disc to pivotally move the fingers away from each other and toward each other.

Abstract: A support assembly for a display shelf, includes an upright for supporting the shelf in an elevated position, the upright having a plurality of slots disposed therealong at vertical spacings whereby the shelf may be supported at a selected elevation, an upper hook engaged with one of the slots of the upright, an elongate member connected to the upper hook and extending downward from the upper hook, a lower hook connected to the elongate member at the position lower than the upper hook to engage the shelf, and a spacer interposed between the upright and the lower hook to retain the lower hook at a predetermined position with respect to the upright.

Abstract: A display shelf comprises a back in and elongate parallel tracks arranged side by side along the lower side of the backing panel. Each track is adapted to support a row of articles such that the articles in the row are suspended from each track for movement along that track. The backing panel and the tracks are formed together as a unitary structure. A method of making the display shelf comprises forming moldable material into a unitary structure including a backing panel and parallel hollow longitudinal ribs arranged side by side along one of the opposite sides of the backing panel. Each longitudinal rib includes a pair of longitudinally extending opposed side walls interconnected by a longitudinally extending bridging wall. The method also comprises cutting a slot in the bridging wall of each longitudinal rib.

Abstract: A carton for beverage containers includes a series of hinged panels forming a sleeve and end closure panels hinged at least to one of the hinged panels for closing, at least in part, the opposite ends of the sleeve. The one panel includes a handle strap by which the canon can be carried. The handle strap is disposed in a stowed substantially coplanar relationship with the one panel when the carton subsists as an open-ended sleeve and is automatically put into a position of use when the end closure panels are hinged into their closed positions so that at least a user portion of the handle panel stands proud of the one panel.