Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels forming a front portion, a back portion, and a central portion extending from the front portion to the back portion, the front portion having a front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the back portion having a back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the central portion having a central panel, and locking features for maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier, the locking features including at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels.

Abstract: A tray for holding at least one food product includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel, and a plurality of end flaps including a plurality of top end flaps cooperating to form a rim extending from the plurality of panels, each top end flap of the plurality of top end flaps foldably connected to an adjacent top end flap of the plurality of top end flaps.

Abstract: A container for containing a cold fluid. The container includes a sidewall construct that includes an inner sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the container, an outer sleeve attached to the inner sidewall, and a cavity defined between the inner sidewall and the outer sleeve. The container also includes a closed bottom defining a bottom of the interior of the container, and insulating features that include the cavity and a plurality of annular bands, each annular band of the plurality of annular bands includes a spacer that extends in the cavity from the inner sidewall to the outer sleeve. Adjacent bands define a respective pocket of a plurality of pockets in the cavity such that the insulating features maintain a desired temperature of the cold fluid.

Abstract: A cover for at least partially overlying a tray holding one or more containers includes a central panel, at least one end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one attachment flap foldably connected to the central panel, the at least one attachment flap includes a base portion and an attachment portion separably connected to the base portion, the attachment portion for being attached to a portion of the tray.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels that includes at least one central panel and at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers. The at least one central panel includes a plurality of openings and is for being positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers.

Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of containers includes a bottom panel, at least one top panel, at least one side panel, at least one top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel, at least one bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel, and at least one side end flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel. The carton further includes a handle including a handle strap separable from the at least one top panel and foldably connected to a relief portion, the relief portion being defined by spaced apart cuts in the at least one top end flap, the relief portion for being positioned in a container gap defined by a nested arrangement of the plurality of containers when the handle is activated.

Abstract: A carton for holding at least one food product includes a plurality of panels at least partially extending around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, at least one side panel, at least one end panel, and an access panel. The carton further includes a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps including a lid flap foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for forming a closed end of the carton. The carton further includes leak-resistant features including a downwardly sloping arrangement of the at least one side panel and the at least one end panel toward the bottom panel to form a bottom receptacle for one or more fluids in the interior of the carton.

Abstract: A method of conveying articles includes moving a first plurality of articles in a first input lane and a moving second plurality of articles in a second input lane in a downstream direction to a lane combiner, and operating the lane combiner to combine the first plurality of articles and the second plurality of articles into a combined plurality of articles in an output lane. The operating the lane combiner includes engaging a first article from the first plurality of articles with a first combiner wheel, engaging a second article from the second plurality of articles with a second combiner wheel that is out of phase with the first combiner wheel, rotating the first combiner wheel and the second combiner wheel to move the first article and then the second article into the output lane, the combined plurality of articles includes the first article and the second article in sequence.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a front portion having a front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a back portion having a back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a reinforcement portion extending from the front portion to the back portion for reinforcing the carrier.

Abstract: A construct for holding a plurality of containers. The construct can comprise a tray portion comprising at least a bottom panel and a side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a cover portion comprising at least a top panel, an open configuration for inserting or removing the plurality of containers from the construct, and a closed configuration for at least partially retaining the plurality of containers in the construct. The top panel can be opposite to the bottom panel and the cover portion can be spaced apart from the side panel when the construct is in the closed configuration. The tray portion can be for at least partially receiving at least a first container of the plurality of containers, and the construct can be for receiving a second container of the plurality of containers between the first container and the top panel when the construct is in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A tray for holding at least one food product includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and cooperating to form a rim extending outwardly from the plurality of panels, and locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps, the at least one male locking feature at least partially inserted through at least one female locking feature in a respective panel of the plurality of panels to reinforce the rim.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels including a top panel foldably connected to at least one attachment panel, and attachment features for attaching the carrier to the plurality of containers and for selectively separating one or more containers from the carrier.

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 shipping and dispensing construct for engaging a plurality of product holding containers. The shipping and dispensing construct can comprise a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a bottom panel, and a back panel. One or more panels of the plurality of panels is for being attached to attachment features of the respective product holding containers of the plurality of product holding containers. Dispensing features can be for removal of a respective product holding container from the shipping and dispensing construct. The dispensing features can be in one or more panels of the plurality of panels.

Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel, and a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and forming at least one closed end of the carton, the plurality of end flaps including at least one top end flap, at least one bottom end flap, and at least one side end flap. The carton includes attachment features for attaching the carton to at least one other carton, the attachment features including at least one attachment flap removably connected to an end flap of the plurality of end flaps for attaching the carton to a portion of the at least one other carton.