Abstract: A package comprises an article group formed of at least two vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton comprises a top wall, opposed side walls, an end wall and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles of the group while the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side walls of the adjacent endmost articles. The dispenser includes a corner portion of the carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be removed from the carton to thereby define an opening for exposing at least some of the articles for removal. The opening is shaped to define a recess in each side wall to reveal at least a part of the endmost article in the lowermost tier of the article group.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the flow of articles from an infeed stream at an infeed end of a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a plurality of article feed lanes for supplying a row of articles converging at a predetermined position, each feed lane having a regulator to control article flow, one of said regulators providing a reference position by which the relative positions of the articles may be controlled such that as the lanes converge one row of articles is offset from the or each other rows of articles.

Abstract: A wraparound article carrier and a blank for forming a wraparound article carrier for packaging an article such as a pot of foodstuffs is disclosed. The carrier comprises opposed top and base walls interconnected by opposed side walls thereby forming a tubular structure. An aperture is provided in the base wall panel to accommodate a portion of the article. A bracing tab is formed at least in part from the base wall to define the aperture and folded so as to form a spacer for causing the top and base to be spaced by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A tray and a blank for forming a tray for holding foodstuff or the like which tray is formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material and can be erected from a flat collapsed condition into a position of use. The tray comprises a plurality of panels for forming a base, opposed side and end walls wherein the panels forming the tray are a composite structure comprising inner and outer panels forming the base, side and end walls. The insert is retained in the tray by means of a securing tab formed from the tray and engaged by an upper edge of the insert.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature is adapted for restraining articles within the carton until the consumer desires to remove the endmost articles from the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A first detachable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing articles from an upper or lower row of articles within the carton. A second detachable portion at the end of the carton borders the first detachable portion and may also be detached from the carton to enlarge the opening in an alternative embodiment. The second detachable portion restrains articles in an upper row of articles prior to detaching the second detachable portion from the erected carton.

Abstract: A package and two part blank for forming a package for carrying one or more articles comprising a carton having a plurality of wall panels for forming a tubular structure wherein each end of the carton is closed by a first panel hingedly connected to one of the wall panels, an intermediate panel hingedly connected to another wall panel of the carton and adapted to be placed in face contacting relationship within the inner face of the first panel. There further comprises within the carton an insert structure for supporting the one or more articles including a second panel. An aperture or recess is provided in the intermediate panel such that glue applied to an outer face of the second panel and the intermediate panel secures together said first, second and intermediate panels when placed together in face contacting relationship to close the end of the carton.

Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for forming an article carrier for carrying one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming the opposed sides and ends of the article carrier including a pair of laterally spaced top wall panels hingedly connected to the opposed side walls. A carrying handle is hinged to the top wall panels. The handle is movable between a retracted position when the handle does not extend above the top of the articles and a deployed position whereby the handle protrudes above the article tops.

Abstract: Known packaging machines are only able to package objects in a limited number of arrangements usually limited to a single pack type. The present invention provides a server and client arrangement in which a user makes a number of selections respectively based upon a number of criteria in order to custom design packed objects. A rendered simulation of the packed objects is displayed by the client and is viewable from user selected angles. Once designed, the user instructs the server, via the client, to control a laser printer, a cutting table and a robotic packaging machine in order to produce a selected printed pack type and pack selected objects into the selected printed pack type.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the condition of a packaging machine during operation and diagnosing potential problems in the performance of the machine. The system comprises an input device, an output device and a processing unit that supports a user interface presented by the output device. The processing unit is arranged to permit a user, when in use, to input via the user interface a number of pre-determined parameters to measure one or more elements or assemblies in the machine, to receive information from one or more sensors measuring the element or assembly and to analyse the information with the parameter to render via the output device a signal.

Abstract: The carton is convertible into two display trays on which tapered articles may be displayed. The trays can be pivoted about a fold line without disturbing each row of articles in the carton. The fold line is formed in the base of the carton whereas lines of weakening are formed in the top, front and rear. The top of the carton is provided with a pair of parallel weakened or tear lines that are parallel to the fold line in the base. The tear lines in the top extend all the way across the top to define between themselves a removable portion. The distance between the fold line and either tear line of the top is dimensioned such that the two rows of articles may be efficiently separated or uninterleaved from each other while held respectively in the two trays when the two trays are pivoted about the fold line.

Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for an article carrier for holding articles with tapered sides, for example connected plastic cups, comprising a top wall, opposed side walls and a base wall hingedly connected together to form a tubular structure. An article retention structure is hingedly connected to one of the side walls and the base panel. The article retention structure is formed by a plurality of panels including a side end flap so constructed and arranged to taper inwardly towards the base wall to substantially conform to the shape of an adjacent article.

Abstract: A carton and a blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of articles, for example bottles, comprising a collapsible tubular corner post formed from an extension of a carton side wall. The corner post is adapted to move from a flat collapsed condition when extending outwardly of the carton to be automatically erected by folding the corner post inwardly.

Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for forming an article carrier of the basket type comprising in sequence a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, a second side panel and a third end panel foldably connected together one to next. A base panel is hinged to respective one of the side panels and a handle structure comprising first and second handle panels is foldably connected to the second end panel. The first handle panel is foldably connected to the first end panel and the second hand panel is foldably connected to the third end panel. The first and second handle panels are adjacent to the first and second side panels respectively and are separated therefrom. The first and second handle panels are so constructed and arranged to be placed in face contacting relationship to form a two ply handle when the carrier is set up.

Abstract: A carton includes a base wall, a pair of side walls hingedly connected to opposed side edges of the base wall, a first top panel hingedly connected to an upper edge of one of the side walls, a pair of end flaps hingedly connected to opposed end edges of the top panel and extending toward the base wall, a finger aperture defined in the top panel, and a strap handle disposed slidably with respect to an underside of the top panel and exposed to view within the finger aperture. The strap handle includes a main strap having a medial portion extending parallel to opposed side edges of the top panel. The opposite ends of the main strap are hingedly connected to the end flaps along fold lines. Each fold line extends parallel to a notional line extending between the top panel and the base wall.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature with a built-in ad panel. A plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A displaceable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing the articles from within the carton. The opening partially defines a positionable portion which is moveable between a first position and a second position. The positionable portion may be used as an ad panel to allow greater promotional flexibility.

Abstract: An elongate blank for forming a tubular carton includes panels arranged in a row along the length of the blank. The panels are hingedly connected one to another in series. Each panel has a pair of opposed free end edges disposed generally along the length of the blank. Each panel is formed along either free end edge thereof with a cutout so that the blank is provided along either longitudinal edge thereof with a plurality of tabs each interposed between adjacent cutouts. The cutouts are dimensioned and configured such that the tabs have an identical size and configuration and are complementary to at least some of the cutouts.

Abstract: An article carrier for carrying one or more necked articles, has a plurality of panels including a pair of laterally spaced top panels, a pair of handle panels extending upwardly from the top panels to form a carrying handle, and a bridging panel provided to span the space between the top panels. One of the handle panels is formed with a medial fold line to cause the handle to be moved from an upright position downwards and/or to one side to reduce the height of the carrier.

Abstract: A carton and blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton includes a series of hinged wall panels forming a sleeve including a top panel and opposed side panels hingedly connected to the top panel. The carton further comprises a continuous strap handle formed from the carton and extending entirely across the top panel and one of the side panels. The strap is so connected at its opposite ends as to provide a surplus of material to enable a user part of the handle to be brought into a position of use.