Abstract: A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in an upright orientation and the cradle lugs and containers are reoriented to a substantially horizontal or sideways orientation before being pushed into their cartons by an inserter assembly. A transfer block or a support conveyor may be positioned between each of the cradle lugs and an aligned open container to support a container as it moves between a cradle lug and a carton.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel. An insert can comprise a central panel, an inner end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one crown guard flap foldably connected to the inner end flap adjacent a crown guard opening in the insert. The central panel can comprise a stop edge adjacent the crown guard opening, and the crown guard flap can comprise a first portion foldably connected to the inner end flap and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion. The top panel can at least partially overlap the central panel, and the second portion of the crown guard flap can be disposed adjacent the stop edge of the central panel.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel. An insert can comprise a central panel, an inner end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one crown guard flap foldably connected to the inner end flap adjacent a crown guard opening in the insert. The central panel can comprise a stop edge adjacent the crown guard opening, and the crown guard flap can comprise a first portion foldably connected to the inner end flap and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion. The top panel can at least partially overlap the central panel, and the second portion of the crown guard flap can be disposed adjacent the stop edge of the central panel.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The carrier comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a first top panel foldably connected to a second top panel and a back panel. The second top panel can be oblique with respect to the first top panel and the back panel. A crown retention feature can be in the back panel adjacent the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a first article of the plurality of articles. A crown receiving opening can be in the second top panel spaced apart from the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a second article of the plurality of articles so that the top portion of the second article extends at least partially through the crown receiving opening.

Abstract: A carrier includes a front portion with a first plurality of panels and a back portion with a second plurality of panels. The first plurality of panels at least partially surrounds a front interior space for receiving at least one container and includes a front panel, a front central panel, and at least one front side panel. The second plurality of panels at least partially surrounds a back interior space for receiving at least one container and includes a back panel, a back central panel, and at least one back side panel. The front central panel and the back central panel are separably connected at a line of weakening and are at least partially in face-to-face contact in a first configuration of the carrier, the carrier is positionable to a second configuration wherein the front portion and the back portion are at least partially separated at the line of weakening.

Abstract: A method of loading articles in cartons. The method can comprise moving a carton in a generally flat configuration in a downstream direction with a carton opening carousel, at least partially opening the carton while moving the carton with the carton opening carousel, and transferring the carton from the carton opening carousel to a carton loading carousel in a transfer region. The transferring the carton can comprise moving the carton in an upstream direction. The method further can comprise loading a plurality of articles into the carton while moving the carton in a downstream direction with the carton loading carousel.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can include a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a top panel, and an insert including a central panel, an inner end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one crown guard flap foldably connected to the inner end flap adjacent a crown guard relief in the insert. The crown guard flap can be connected to at least a portion of the central panel by a collapsing nick. The top panel can at least partially overlap the central panel, and the crown guard flap can be positioned for contact with at least one container of the plurality of containers with the collapsing nick being at least partially folded.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton and comprises at least a top panel. A handle is positionable between a first position and a second position. The handle comprises at least a first handle panel and a second handle panel, and at least one of the first handle panel and the second handle panel is foldably connected to the top panel. At least one of the first handle panel and the second handle panel is generally coplanar with at least a portion of the top panel in the first position of the handle. Each of the first handle panel and the second handle panel extends upwardly relative to the top panel and the first handle panel is spaced apart from the second handle panel in the second position of the handle.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton and comprises at least a top panel. A handle is positionable between a first position and a second position. The handle comprises at least a first handle panel and a second handle panel, and at least one of the first handle panel and the second handle panel is foldably connected to the top panel. At least one of the first handle panel and the second handle panel is generally coplanar with at least a portion of the top panel in the first position of the handle. Each of the first handle panel and the second handle panel extends upwardly relative to the top panel and the first handle panel is spaced apart from the second handle panel in the second position of the handle.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton and comprises at least a top panel. A handle is positionable between a first position and a second position. The handle comprises at least a first handle panel and a second handle panel, and at least one of the first handle panel and the second handle panel is foldably connected to the top panel. At least one of the first handle panel and the second handle panel is generally coplanar with at least a portion of the top panel in the first position of the handle. Each of the first handle panel and the second handle panel extends upwardly relative to the top panel and the first handle panel is spaced apart from the second handle panel in the second position of the handle.

Abstract: A packaging machine for placing articles into a carton includes rotating flight assemblies that receive a carton or carton blank, and rotate the carton blank and carton with articles while the flight assemblies move downstream. The flight assemblies each include two fixed segments and one segment that includes a block and associated bracket that rotate as the flight assembly is pulled through the machine by a conveying system. A method includes carton blanks being fed by a carton feeder onto the flight assemblies. Articles are formed into an article group, which is then placed onto a carton blank. As the blank and article group move in a downstream direction, the side panels of the carton blank are wrapped around the article group and the carton and article group are rotated to assist in closing the carton end flaps.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, and an insert comprising a central panel, an inner end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one crown guard flap foldably connected to the inner end flap adjacent a crown guard relief in the insert. The crown guard flap can be connected to at least a portion of the central panel by a collapsing nick. The top panel can at least partially overlap the central panel, and the crown guard flap can be positioned for contact with at least one container of the plurality of containers with the collapsing nick being at least partially folded.

Abstract: A conveyor carries products in a first lane so that first, second and third products are aligned with one another and arranged in series. Pushers move the second and third products laterally in opposite direction from the first lane to second and third lanes, respectively. The conveyor extends downstream from the pushers for carrying the first, second and third products in the first, second and third lanes, respectively. The first product may be temporarily held back in the first lane until the second product catches up to the first product, at which time the first product is released and the conveyor carries the first, second and third products in the first, second and third lanes. The third product catches up to the first and second products to least partially form a group of the products.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The carrier comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a first top panel foldably connected to a second top panel and a back panel. The second top panel can be oblique with respect to the first top panel and the back panel. A crown retention feature can be in the back panel adjacent the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a first article of the plurality of articles. A crown receiving opening can be in the second top panel spaced apart from the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a second article of the plurality of articles so that the top portion of the second article extends at least partially through the crown receiving opening.

Abstract: A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in an upright orientation and the cradle lugs and containers are reoriented to a substantially horizontal or sideways orientation before being pushed into their cartons by an inserter assembly. A transfer block or a support conveyor may be positioned between each of the cradle lugs and an aligned open container to support a container as it moves between a cradle lug and a carton.

Abstract: A carton for carrying a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprise at least a first top panel, a second top panel, at least one side panel, and a bottom panel. The first top panel and the second top panel are at least partially overlapped. At least one of the first top panel and the second top panel comprise a main portion foldably connected to the at least one side panel and a distal portion foldably connected to the main portion. The main portion has a first handle portion and the distal portion has a second handle portion. The distal portion has an exterior surface at least partially in face-to-face contact with the interior surface of the main portion. The carton further comprises a handle comprising at least the first handle portion and the second handle portion.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel. An insert can comprise a central panel, an inner end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one crown guard flap foldably connected to the inner end flap adjacent a crown guard opening in the insert. The central panel can comprise a stop edge adjacent the crown guard opening, and the crown guard flap can comprise a first portion foldably connected to the inner end flap and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion. The top panel can at least partially overlap the central panel, and the second portion of the crown guard flap can be disposed adjacent the stop edge of the central panel.

Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of articles includes a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, end flaps respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the end flaps comprising a first end flap and a second end flap being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton, and a handle formed in at least two of the end flaps, the handle comprising a handle panel in the first end flap for grasping the carton and a handle end portion in the second end flap for directing stress from the handle panel.

Abstract: A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in an upright orientation and the cradle lugs and containers are reoriented to a substantially horizontal or sideways orientation before being pushed into their cartons by an inserter assembly. A transfer block or a support conveyor may be positioned between each of the cradle lugs and an aligned open container to support a container as it moves between a cradle lug and a carton.

Abstract: A carton conveyer for a packaging machine has upper and lower flights to which sets of flight lugs are attached. Each set of flight lugs comprises leading flight lugs and trailing flight lugs and the leading flight lugs have recesses that face and oppose recesses on the trailing flight lugs. The recesses are formed to confine an open carton therebetween. Notches are formed in the flight lugs in such a way that movement of the leading and trailing flight lugs toward one another causes an un-erected carton between the lugs to be captured and erected.