Abstract: A carrier for holding at least one article includes a plurality of panels and a handle. The plurality of panels extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, and the plurality of panels includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel. The handle includes at least one handle feature in the top panel. The at least one handle feature includes a plurality of foldably connected handle sections that includes a first outer section and a second outer section each foldably connected to a central section and such that the at least one handle feature is positionable between a first, substantially flat configuration and a second, substantially recessed configuration wherein the handle is activated for carrying the carrier.

Abstract: A carton for holding one or more articles, the carton including a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and at least partially forming a body portion of the carton, a plurality of impact-resistant panels foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and a plurality of end flaps for forming a closed end of the carton. The plurality of end flaps includes a first end flap foldably connected to an impact-resistant panel of the plurality of impact-resistant panels and a second end flap foldably connected to a panel of the plurality of panels, a lateral edge of the second end flap is a folding edge about which the first end flap is folded to at least partially form the closed end.

Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank. The method can comprise obtaining a blank having a wall portion, a flange portion, and a coating on at least a portion of the flange portion. At least one score line can extend at least partially in the flange portion, and the coating can at least partially cover the at least one score line. The method further can comprise forming the container from the blank by forming a wall of the container from the wall portion and forming a flange of the container from the flange portion. The flange can extend from the wall. The forming the container further can comprise forming the at least one score line into at least one pleat in at least the flange. The coating can at least partially cover the at least one pleat to form a substantially continuous sealing surface on the flange.

Abstract: A system and method of at least partially forming reinforced packages. The method comprises moving a construct in a machine direction on a construct conveyor. The construct conveyor can comprise a primary lug belt with a primary lug, the construct can be disposed on the primary lug belt, and the moving the construct can comprise moving the primary lug belt in the machine direction to push the construct in the machine direction. The method further can comprise positioning a liner on the construct conveyor so that the liner at least partially extends over the construct and moving the liner in the machine direction on a secondary lug belt of the construct conveyor. The secondary lug belt can comprise a secondary lug and the moving the liner can comprise moving the secondary lug belt in the machine direction to push the liner in the machine direction.

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 containing at least one article. The carton includes a plurality of panels at least partially forming an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a top panel. The carton includes an article protection flap foldably connected to at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The article protection flap is moveable between a first position that is substantially parallel to the top panel and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the top panel. The at least one access feature in the top panel is for positioning the article protection flap from the first position to the second position.